CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 20th JULY, 2023

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 20^th JULY, 2023

1. United Nations’ International Chess Day or World Chess Day is annually observed on 20 July to commemorate the establishment of Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) or World Chess Federation in 1924 and to mark the significant role of chess as an affordable and inclusive activity.
2. United Nations’ designated International Moon Day is an annually observed on 20 July to mark the anniversary of the day on which astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin as the first human beings famously set foot on the Moon in 1969, as part of the Apollo 11 lunar mission.
3. India achieved a historic milestone by winning 27 medals, including six gold, twelve silver, and nine bronze at the recently concluded 25^th Asian Athletics Championship 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. India secured the third position overall, following China and Japan.
4. Rajay Kumar Sinha has officially assumed the position of Chief at SBI Capital Markets Limited (SBICAPS).
5. The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), the Maharashtra Government, and the Indian Ministry of Textiles joined hands by signing a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel Park (PM MITRA Park) in Amravati, Maharashtra.
6. Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD), an NGO, held the second edition of its Human Rights Film Festival in The Hague with a focus on women’s rights.
7. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, on 18 July 2023, officially inaugurated the CRCS–Sahara Refund Portal (https://mocrefund.crcs.gov.in/) in New Delhi.
8. Finance Ministry has appointed Pramod Rao, Executive Director, SEBI, as a Member in the Board of International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA) by replacing Sujit Prasad.
9. According to the Henley Passport Index, Singapore holds the title of the world’s most powerful passport, granting visa-free access to 192 out of 227 global travel destinations.
10. The Republic of Ireland is taking significant strides by introducing relationships and sex education (RSE) compulsory for 15 to 18-year-old students in their schools, integrating LGBTQ+ identities and teaching about consent and healthy relationships.
11. The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre launched ‘NMACC BACHPAN’, a special celebration designed for children between the ages of 2-14 years from 20 July, 2023.
12. Ajeet Singh displayed his exceptional prowess in the finals of the Men’s javelin throw F46 category, emerged as the champion and claimed the gold medal in the World Para Athletics Championships held in Charlety Stadium in Paris.
13. The Defence Acquisition Council approved the proposal to buy 26 Rafale-M fighter aircraft for the Indian Navy.
14. Pakistan’s Karachi has been ranked among the top five ‘least livable’ urban centres in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Karachi is ranked 169^th out of a total of 173 cities in the EIU’s Global Livability Index 2023.
15. According to the latest NITI Aayog report, India has achieved a remarkable feat in its efforts to reduce multidimensional poverty. Between 2015-16 and 2019-21, a staggering 13.5 crore people moved out of multidimensional poverty, showcasing the country’s commitment to sustainable and equitable development.
16. Meta and Microsoft have jointly announced the expansion of their artificial intelligence partnership by introducing their new large language model (LLM) called ‘Llama 2’, which aims to help businesses and individuals create applications and experiences powered by generative AI.