Top Current Affairs 30 July 2020

Top Current Affairs 30 July 2020

Top Current Affairs 30 July 2020: We have collected the latest current affairs for 30 July 2020 that are important for all competitive exams like Bank, SSC, IBPS, SBI exams. The GK current affairs will help you score more in these competitive exams. Improve your general knowledge with our daily online current affairs. 

National News

Union Cabinet Approves New Education Policy (NEP) 2020; Renames HRD Ministry as Education Ministry

• The Union Cabinet has approved the new National Education Policy (NEP), to introduce several changes in the Indian education system, both at school to college level.
• This NEP 2020 will replace the 34-year-old NEP, which was framed in 1986 and revised only once in 1992.
• The Cabinet has also approved to rename the HRD Ministry as Education Ministry.
• The committee which suggested changes in the education system under the NEP, was headed by former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan.

Important Highlights of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020

• There would be a single regulator for all higher education institutions, except for legal and medical colleges.
• MPhil would be discontinued.
• National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) would be created to ramp up digital learning.
• E-courses will be developed in eight regional languages initially and virtual labs will be developed.
• Top 100 foreign colleges will be allowed to set-up campuses in India.
• Home language/mother tongue/regional language will be the medium of instruction upto Class 5
• School curriculum will be reduced to core concepts and there will be integration of vocational education from class 6
• Class 10, 12 board exams will be based on knowledge application and focus will be on testing concepts
• National Assessment Centre- ‘PARAKH’ has been created to assess the students.
• Target to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education including vocational education from 26.3 pc (2018) to 50 pc by 2035. At least 3.5 crore new seats will be added to higher education institutions.

Nirmala Sitharaman attends virtual 5th Annual Meeting of Board of Governors of AIIB

• The 5th edition of the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) was held on 28 and 29 July 2020 via video conferring.
• The theme of the 2020 annual meeting was ‘AIIB 2030-Supporting Asia’s Development over the Next Decade’.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman represented India in the meeting through video conference in New Delhi.
• This is the first time that the meeting was held virtually, due to coronavirus pandemic. The meeting brought together AIIB’s Governors and Senior Management in a virtual session to connect stakeholders and experts to discuss how to build a more inclusive and resilient tomorrow.

DRDO Launches Innovation Contest ‘Dare to Dream 2.0’

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has announced the launch of an innovative contest ‘Dare to Dream 2.0’, on the 27 July 2020 to mark the 5th death anniversary of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
• The ‘Dare to Dream 2.0’ has been launched as an open challenge to promote the Indian innovators and startups for innovations in defence and aerospace technologies.
• The detailed information about the contest will be available soon.
• The individual winner of the contest would receive a prize money of Rs 5 lakh, while the winning startup would get Rs 10 lakh.

Awards

Ministry of Earth Sciences announces National Awards for excellence in Earth System Science

• The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has announced the National Awards for excellence in Earth System Science for the year 2020.
• The Awards are given on 27 July every year on the occasion of Earth Sciences Foundation Day of the Ministry for the outstanding contribution of each winner in their respective field.
• The award is presented annually in the following three categories:
  1. Life Time Excellence Award in the sphere of Earth System Sciences
  2. National Awards in the field of:
     • Ocean Science & Technology
     • Atmospheric Science & Technology
     • Geoscience & Technology
     • Polar Science & Cryosphere
  3. Young Researcher/Achiever Award in the field of Earth System Science
• Winners for 2020 
  • Life Time Excellence Award – Professor Ashok Sahni for his significant contribution in the field of Geology, Vertebrate Paleontology and Biostratigraphy.
  • National Awards
    • Ocean Science and Technology – Dr. V. V. S. S. Sarma and Dr. M. Ravichandran
    • Atmospheric Science and Technology – Dr. S. Suresh Babu
    • Geoscience & Technology – Dr. N. V. Chalpathi Rao
    • Polar Science & Cryosphere – Dr.Atmanand
  • Young Researcher/Achiever Award – Dr. Indra Sekhar Sen and Dr. Arvind Singh

India’s first solar-powered ferry ‘Aditya’ wins global honour for best passenger ferry

• Aditya, India’s first solar-powered ferry has won the inaugural Gustave Trouve Award for Excellence in Electric Boats and Boating.
• The ferry ‘Aditya’ was adjudged the world’s best electric boat in the category of ferries designed for paid passenger service.
• Aditya is a sun-powered commuter ferry that commenced operations in 2017 in Kerala’s Vembanad backwaters.
• Aditya was the only ferry from Asia among the 12 vessels from across the globe shortlisted for the award.
• Gustave Trouve Award
  • The Gustave Trouve Award is the world’s only such honour given to individuals and companies building and innovating in state-of-the-art electric boats.
  • It has been instituted in honour of Frenchman Gustave Trouve for his groundbreaking work in mobility based on electric transport, moving away from conventional fossil fuels. He invented the world’s first outboard motor in 1881.

Appointment

Indian Activist Archana Soreng inducted in UN Chief’s New Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change

• Archana Soreng, a climate activist from India, has been named by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to his new Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change.
• Soreng joins six other young climate leaders, from across the world, who have been named by Guterres to his new advisory group comprising young leaders, aged between 18 and 28 years, who will provide perspectives and solutions to tackle the worsening climate crisis.
• It is an effort by the United Nations to bring more young leaders into decision-making and planning processes, as the UN works to mobilise climate action as part of the COVID-19 recovery efforts.
• The initial seven members of the group includes:
  1. Nisreen Elsaim – climate activist of Sudan,
  2. Ernest Gibson – the co-coordinator for 350 Fiji, a regional youth-led climate change network
  3. Vladislav Kaim – young economist of Moldova, committed to ensuring green and decent jobs for youth
  4. Sophia Kianni – founder of international nonprofit Climate Cardinals, United States, founder and coordinator of Generation Climate Europe and spokesperson for Youth and Environment Europe
  5. Nathan Metenier of France
  6. Paloma Costa – lawyer and human rights defender of Brazil
  7. Archana Soreng – climate activist, India

Varun Sridhar appointed as CEO of Paytm Money

• The investment & wealth management subsidiary of Paytm- Paytm Money, has appointed Varun Sridhar as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company on 29 July 2020.
• Sridhar will replace former MD and CEO Pravin Jadhav who resigned from the startup due to differences with the management of Paytm.
• He will be reporting to Amit Nayyar, the President at Paytm.

Sports

Jamie Vardy bags ‘Golden Boot’ while Ederson wins ‘Golden Glove’ of 2019-20 Premier League

• In Football, Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has won the 2019-20 Premier League Golden Boot award, which is presented to the leading goalscorer in the Premier League.
• The 33-year-old Vardy, became the top scorer after finishing the season with 23 goals.
• He is the ninth English player as well as the oldest player to win the award and the first from Leicester City.
• Apart from this, Manchester City’s Brazilian keeper Ederson has won the Premier League’s Golden Glove award,  which is given to the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets over the course of the season.
• He collected 16 clean sheet during the season.

Young Bangladesh Pace Bowler Kazi Anik handed two-year ban for doping violation

• The Bangladesh national cricket board has handed over a two-year ban to young pacer Kazi Anik Islam for failing a dope test in 2018.
• Kazi tested positive for Methamphetamine, a prohibited substance, during a 2018 National Cricket League game.
• The two-year ban of the 21-year-old has began on February 8, 2019.

Obituary

Child Rights Activist Achyutha Rao passes away of COVID-19 at 58

• Prominent child rights activist Achyutha Rao has passed away due to COVID-19 virus. He was 58 years old.
• He was the founder of Balala Hakula Sangam, a child rights organisation, in 1985 along with his wife Anuradha.
• Mr Rao had been a relentless activist on issues of child rights, including child labor, child marriages, and various atrocities against children and kept the media posted consistently on such issues.