Daily Current Affairs 20th July 2024, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

National News

DoT’s NTIPRIT, NICF And WMTDC Merged Into Single Entity

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has merged three of its training institutes into one. The National Telecommunications Institute for Policy Research, Innovation and Training (NTIPRIT), the National Institute of Communication Finance (NICF), and the Wireless Monitoring Training & Development Centre (WMTDC) are now combined into a single entity called the ‘National Communications Academy’ (NCA). This merger was approved by the Minister of Communications based on recommendations from the Committee for Organisational Reforms.

International News

Ivory Coast Joins UN Water Convention as 10th African Nation

Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d’Ivoire, has become the 53rd member of the 1992 UN Water Convention. This convention is officially called the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. By joining, Ivory Coast becomes the 10th African country to be part of this treaty, which aims to improve cooperative water management amid growing water stress and climate change.

State News

Madhya Pradesh Tops in PM SVANidhi Scheme as Best Performing State

Madhya Pradesh has been named the ‘Best Performing State’ under the Prime Minister SVANidhi scheme. This scheme helps urban street vendors by providing them with collateral-free loans of up to ₹50,000. The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry announced this recognition, with Assam coming in second place in the ‘Best Performing States – Innovation and Best Practices Award’ category.

Appointments News

Vinay Kwatra Appointed as India’s New Ambassador to the U.S.

Vinay Kwatra, the former Foreign Secretary, has been appointed as India’s new Ambassador to the United States. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed his appointment. Kwatra will soon take over the position, which has been vacant since Taranjit Sandhu retired in January 2024.

Awards News

Nobel Laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum Receives Prestigious Gandhi Mandela Award 2020

Rigoberta Menchú Tum, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Guatemalan human rights activist, has been awarded the Gandhi Mandela Award 2020. This award honors her lifelong dedication to advocating for Indigenous rights and promoting peace and social justice.

RRR Star Ram Charan to be Honoured at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2024

Ram Charan, the star of the global hit movie “RRR,” will be the guest of honor at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2024. This recognition celebrates his significant contributions to Indian cinema and his growing international fame.

AIFF Awards 2024, Chhangte, Indumathi Win Top Male and Female Awards

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) held its annual awards ceremony to honor outstanding achievements in Indian football for the 2023-24 season. Lallianzuala Chhangte and Indumathi Kathiresan were named the male and female Players of the Year, respectively.

CBDT Awards Taxnet 2.0 Project to Bharti Airtel

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has awarded the Taxnet 2.0 project to Bharti Airtel Ltd. This project aims to provide advanced network connectivity, facility management services, and video conferencing services to the Income Tax Department (ITD). Bharti Airtel was selected through an open tender process, and this new system will enhance the digital infrastructure of the ITD by offering secure and reliable connectivity services.

Science and Technology News

What is Blue Screen of Death?

Many Windows 10 users around the world are experiencing major issues due to a new update from Crowdstrike. This update is causing PCs to get stuck on the recovery screen, leading to significant outages at airports, companies, banks, and government offices globally.

Important Days

International Chess Day 2024: A Global Celebration of Strategy and Intellect

International Chess Day is celebrated every year on July 20th. This day honors the ancient game of chess and its significant impact on global culture, education, and intellectual development. Recognized by UNESCO since 1966, International Chess Day promotes chess as a tool for education, logical thinking, and cultural exchange.

International Moon Day 2024, Celebrating Lunar Exploration and Peaceful Space Cooperation

International Moon Day is observed annually on July 20th. This United Nations-designated day commemorates humanity’s achievements in lunar exploration, marking the anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission’s first human landing on the Moon. It also aims to raise awareness about sustainable Moon exploration and utilization.