National
Book- “Sing, Dance and Pray – the inspirational story of Srila Prabhupada”
⇒ The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu released the book, “Sing, Dance and Pray – the inspirational story of Srila Prabhupada” at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas on 24 July 2024.
- The book authored by Dr Hindol Sengupta is the biography of Srila Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON.
» The Vice President said that Indian civilisation stands for the universal values of unity, peace and social harmony, and called for a ‘spiritual renaissance’ to preserve and propagate these age-old values.
» The Vice President asked youngsters to take inspiration from great saints and spiritual masters like Swami Prabhupada and imbibe qualities of discipline, hard work, patience and empathy to become better human beings. “You must always rise above narrow considerations of caste, gender, religion and region and work for bringing unity, harmony and peace in society,” he added.
Savner-Dhapewada-Goundkhairi section of National Highway 547-E
⇒ Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the Savner-Dhapewada-Goundkhairi section of National Highway 547-E with a length of 28.88 km and a cost of Rs 720 crore in Nagpur in July 2022.
The Minister informed the four-laning of the Savner – Dhapewada – Goundakhairi section will provide better connectivity to the pilgrims to the famous Ganesha Temple at Adasa and the Vitthal-Rukmini Temple at Dhapewada in the area.
He said the new 4-lane bridge over the Chandrabhaga River will relieve traffic jams in Dhapewada and make travel safer.
Release of three books published by Directorate of Publications Division
⇒ Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Anurag Thakur on 24 July 2022 released three books published by Directorate of Publications Division.
The three books are:
- Moods, Moments and Memories – Former Presidents of India (1950-2017) A Visual History
- First Citizen – Pictorial Record of President Ram Nath Kovind’s Term
- Interpreting Geometries – Flooring of Rashtrapati Bhavan
» The first book is a pictorial history that chronicles all the Presidents of India from the Dr. Rajendra Prasad till Shri Pranab Mukherjee and contains rare photographs sourced from Rashtrapati Bhavan archives. These photographs highlight some unique aspects of our Presidents’ lives in the historic building, both personal & public.
» The second book is dedicated to President Shri Ram Nath Kovind’s tenure and contains rare photographs from Shri Kovind’s village and his school days. It traces his journey from his village to Rashtrapati Bhavan, and will educate the readers on how a boy from humble beginnings went on to occupy the highest office in India.
» The third book is a pictorial volume put together by the Chandigarh College of Architecture and contains the historic & one-of-a-kind flooring of Rashtrapati Bhavan shown with its unique, repetitive motifs and designs & use of rare stones. Special study has gone into floral patterns embossed on geometrical backgrounds. The book displays the highest workmanship of the artisans who worked tirelessly for 18 years to build this residence. The meticulous designs on the floors, each different from the other, make the book a collector’s item.
About DPD:
- DPD is mandated to bring out books on India’s art culture, history, freedom fighters our freedom movement and many other areas of our diverse multi-cultural, multi ethnic country.
- Publications Division is in the business of publishing since 81 years and has carved a niche for itself in the field of publishing and bringing out books for both children & adults at affordable prices.
International
Maritime Partnership Exercise between Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and Indian Navy
⇒ A Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) was conducted between Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and Indian Navy on 23 Jul 2022 in Andaman Sea.
INS Sukanya, an offshore patrol vessel and JS Samidare, a Murasame class destroyer, undertook various exercises including seamanship activities, aircraft operations and tactical manoeuvres as part of the operational interaction.
Key Points:
- The two countries have been carrying out regular exercises in IOR towards reinforcing maritime association.
- The exercise was aimed at enhancing interoperability and streamlining seamanship and communication procedures.
- This exercise is part of the ongoing efforts between the two navies towards ensuring safe and secure international shipping and trade in Indian Ocean Region.
Sports
2022 World Athletics Championships
⇒ The 2022 World Athletics Championships were held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, United States, from July 15–25, 2022. It was the 18th edition of the World Athletics Championships.
» In the 2022 World Athletics Championships, India won a total of one medal.
Indian Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, with his fourth throw of 88.13m, sealed a silver medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon.
- Neeraj Chopra created history by becoming the first ever from his country to win a medal in men’s javelin throw competition at world athletics championships.
- Chopra, 24, became only the second Indian after Anju Bobby George to win a medal at the world athletics championships. Anju won the long jump bronze at the 2003 Paris Worlds.
» Anderson Peters defended his title with an outstanding effort of 90.54m to win the gold while Jakub Vadlejch took bronze with a throw of 88.09m.
About N. Chopra:
- Chopra won the gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to become the first ever Indian to win a yellow metal at the Summer Games in a track and field event last year.
- Apart from that, he has also won gold at CWG (2018), Asian Games (2018) and U-20 world junior championships (2016).
» The World Athletics Championships, Budapest 2023 will be held in the Hungarian capital from August 19-27, 2023.
Important Day
National Broadcasting Day
⇒ National Broadcasting Day is celebrated every year in India on 23rd July. The day aims to remind Indian citizens about the impact of radio on our lives.
History:
- On this day in 1927, the first-ever radio broadcast in the country went on the air from the Bombay Station under a private company, the Indian Broadcasting Company. This is the reason why July 23 is celebrated as National Broadcasting Day.
- Since 1927, Radio has been an important part of people’s life in India.
- On the 8th of June, 1936, the Indian State Broadcasting Service became All India Radio.
- The name Akashvani, which means voice or announcement from the skies, was formally adopted for the national broadcaster in 1956 and was based on a poem of the same name written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1938, for the inauguration of Kolkata’s first short-wave radio station, as noted by historian Chandrika Kaul.