Dear Readers, Here we have given the list of Important Weekly Current Affairs of July 08th to 14th July 2024. Candidates those who are preparing for Upcoming SBIClerk 2024 and other competitive exams can make use of it.

Weekly Current Affairs July 08th to 14th PDF Download

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

• On July 11th of this current year, World Population Day 2024 is celebrated and observed all over the world as an awareness program.
• On July 12th, World Malala Day 2024 is celebrated and observed all over the world as an honouring event.
• On July 15th World Youth Skills Day 2024 is celebrated to mention the significance of developing skills among young people worldwide.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

• The Union Law Ministry is advancing efforts to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) for translating Central legislation into Indian languages, potentially operational by December
• Packaged food manufacturers will review the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) proposed amendments on nutritional information labelling and plan to submit their feedback
• India is on the verge of finalising a significant agreement with Zambia to enhance geological mapping and mineral exploration in the resource-rich African nation
• A five-member Indian delegation from the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka, for a three-day visit.
• The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods (ACs and LED Lights) application window is being reopened due to increased industry interest and investment potential.

• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) released draft rules to operationalise the Digital Bharat Nidhi, in a fresh attempt by the central government to increase telecom connectivity in rural areas
• Godrej Agrovet Ltd (GAVL) is aiming to revive oil palm cultivation in Tamil Nadu, where many farmers had switched to other crops like sugarcane or faced crop destruction due to cyclones over the past decade
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has revoked the manufacturing licenses of 111 spice producers across the nation
• India and Russia target increasing bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030.
• A recent report highlights that the Indian gaming industry is set to achieve a remarkable 20% growth, reaching a value of Rs 23,100 crore by FY25.
• The Agriculture Ministry is implementing a new system to create unique digital IDs for farmers.
• Bhoj Wetland in Bhopal is at risk of being delisted from the Ramsar Convention’s list of Wetlands of International Importance due to potential damage to its ecological character.
• India is set to invest US$1 billion to accelerate the construction of 12 hydropower stations in the northeastern Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh.

• The Indian Railways, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), and the Centre For Railway Information System (CRIS) have collaborated to launch the One India-One Ticket initiative aimed at simplifying travel for passengers

• Paradip Port Authority (PPA) has achieved a historic milestone in its operational history, handling an unprecedented 12 Million Metric Tons (MMT) of cargo within the first 100 days of the fiscal year 2024-25.
• Union Health Minister JP Nadda chaired the inaugural executive committee meeting of the National One Health Mission.
• The container ship 'San Fernando' from China berthed at Kerala's Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL), marking the first arrival of such a vessel at India's largest transshipment port
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is bolstering India's defence capabilities by awarding seven new projects to private sector companies
• The 43rd Foundation Day of NABARD commemorates on July 12^th, 2024 the dedication to rural development and agricultural growth in India
• By 2100, India's population is projected to reach around 1.5 billion, more than twice that of China's 633 million
• Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh will inaugurate more than 125 projects at the Fisheries Summer Meet in Madurai, Tamil Nadu
• The central government has declared June 25 as “Samvidhaan Hatya Divas” (Constitution Murder Day) to remember the “inhuman pain” suffered by those jailed during the Emergency imposed on June 25, 1975.
• India will host the first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit alongside the International Film Festival of India in Goa, scheduled from November 20-24.

• The Indian government is evaluating whether to transfer the operations of the public sector telecom operator MTNL to the larger BSNL instead of pursuing a full merger.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been awarded the Order of St Andrew the Apostle by Russia, marking the 15th prestigious international accolade of his career

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has approved the designation of 11 new biosphere reserves in 11 countries.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

• Tamil Nadu (TN) Chief Minister (CM) MK Stalin formed a one-man committee to study and recommend the amendments to be made at the state level in three criminal laws enacted by the Government of India.
• In a significant move, the Maharashtra government announced that higher education for girls belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) will be made free.
• Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath announced in Lucknow that the State would be exporting 40 tonnes of mangoes to Japan and Malaysia.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

• India's coal imports rose by 5.3% to 52.29 million tonnes (MT) during the first two months of the current fiscal year compared to the same period last year, which saw imports of 49.62 MT.
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has initiated discussions with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to jointly develop an AI Audit Tool aimed at enhancing corporate performance tracking and fraud detection in corporate India.
• ONGC plans to invest ₹2 lakh crore to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2038
• Moody’s has maintained India’s 2024 growth projection at 6.8%, consistent with its estimate from March
• The Indian government is likely to set a target of Rs 24 trillion for agricultural credit by commercial, cooperative, and regional rural banks for the fiscal year 2024-25
• India’s retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), likely rose to a four-month high of 4.9% in June 2024 due to an increase in vegetable prices amidst a delayed monsoon, according to a median poll of 18 economists.
• US investment bank Morgan Stanley has projected that the Indian central government is likely to retain its fiscal deficit target at 5.1% of GDP for FY25, consistent with the interim budget
• Apple notified some iPhone users in India about a potential attack by Pegasus-like “mercenary spyware” aiming for remote control of their devices
• Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be applied to 1% of corporate guarantee fees on an annual basis, starting from October 23, 2023
• Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ) plans to invest 100 billion rupees ($1.2 billion) to enhance the Vizhinjam port in Kerala.
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is set to establish a Section 8 company focused on mediation and arbitration activities
• Retail Inflation: India's Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation in June 2024 stood at 5.08%, the highest in four months

• Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL) has developed 'Renofluthrin', a patented mosquito repellent molecule.

• Michael Debabrata Patra, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, asserts that India can become the second-largest economy by 2031 and the largest by 2060

• India’s foreign exchange reserves rose by $5.158 billion to reach $657.155 billion for the week ending July 5, 2024.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND ECONOMY

• Greenko, a leading renewable energy company in India, is restructuring its overseas liabilities by prepaying over $1 billion of dollar bonds maturing next year through funds from the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NABFID).
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the licence of ShimshaSahakara Bank Niyamitha, Maddur, Mandya District, Karnataka, due to its worsening financial position.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the licence of Banaras Mercantile Co-operative Bank Limited, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP), due to inadequate capital and earning prospects.
• ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited, a private general insurer in India, has launched 'Elevate', a new health insurance product equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.
• According to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) KLEMS [Capital (K), Labour (L), Energy (E), Material (M) and Services (S)] database, Employment growth rate rose to 6% in FY24 against 3.2% in FY23.
• State Bank of India (SBI) Research has urged the Government to strike the right balance between fiscal consolidation and promoting growth and recommended that fiscal deficit be brought down at the most to 4.9% for FY25.
• Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an agreement dated February 29, 2024 with the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana (GO-GUY), for making available to the latter, Government of India (GoI) supported Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 2.50 million for installation of Solar PhotoVoltaic Power Plant at Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Guyana.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the certificates of registration (CoR) of 2 Non Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs), Star Finserv India and Polytex India, due to irregular lending practices.
• Ageas Federal Life Insurance has launched a new pension plan named ‘Golden Years Pension Plan’ that aims to provide a comprehensive solution for securing the financial futures of policyholders during their retirement years.
• Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has streamlined norms for passive funds, including index funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs).
• Public sector Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has unveiled a slew of upgradation facilities on savings schemes that offer enhanced features to its customers.
• Tata Asset Management has launched India's first-ever tourism index fund – the Tata Nifty India Tourism Index Fund.
• Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited, India's largest retail health insurance company announced a strategic corporate agency agreement with Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank (HPSCB), the leading bank of Himachal Pradesh.
• Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has infused additional capital amounting to Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) 500 million (approximately Rs 14 crore) into its subsidiary, Life Insurance Corporation (Lanka).
• Public sector lender Canara Bank plans to raise up to Rs 10,000 crore through infrastructure bonds for lending to projects in areas like roads, power and ports, among others, this financial year (FY25).
• Federal Bank, a private sector bank, has entered into a Bancassurance tie-up with Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, a private life insurer.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had constructed a composite Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) to capture the extent of financial inclusion across the country, which was first published in August 2021 for the Financial Year (FY) ending March 2021.
• The 16th Finance Commission has established an advisory council comprising 5 members to provide guidance on its Terms of Reference (ToR) and related subjects.
• State-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) introduced a new security feature 'Safety Ring' within its internet banking system and mobile banking system in response to the increasing number of cyber frauds.
• BNP Paribas, the European Union’s leading bank and a key player in international banking, has launched operations at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City - International Financial Services Centre (GIFT-IFSC) through a new branch.
• Private lender Bandhan Bank has introduced a range of products aimed at facilitating international trade.
• HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company, one of India’s leading private sector general insurers, has successfully processed its first health claim through the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) platform.
• MobiKwik has emerged as the largest digital financial services platform in terms of Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) Wallet transactions by value for April and May, 2024.
• ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has launched the ICICI Prudential Nifty Oil & Gas ETF, India's first exchange traded fund (ETF) in the oil and gas sector.
• State Bank of India (SBI) has invited expressions of interest (EoIs) from various entities to acquire its stressed loan exposure of Rs 14.97 crore in Amul Industries through an e-auction scheduled for August 7, 2024.
• State Bank of India (SBI) has raised ₹10,000 crore via a 15-year infrastructure bond issue at a coupon rate of 7.36%.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed banks to use ratings by Brickwork Ratings India Private Limited for loans up to ₹250 crore.
• 4 public sector banks (PSBs) presented dividend cheques worth Rs 6,481 crore to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the financial year 2023-24.
• According to the latest data released by the Association of Mutual Funds of India (AMFI), Inflows into equity mutual funds surged by 17% to Rs 40,608.19 crore (about $5 billion) in June,2024.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) expert working committee on derivatives trading has set the bar higher for retail investors.
• According to State Bank of India’s (SBI's) economic research department (ERD), the government needs to address the fault lines in the IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016) set-up to reduce the time taken for the corporate insolvency resolution process.
• Paytm has secured approval from a government panel that oversees investments linked to China to invest ₹500 million ($6 million) in a key subsidiary, Paytm Payment Services.
• Muthoot Finance is the only Indian Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) selected for the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) Mutual Evaluation Report 2023-24.
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the ENGIE group have signed a long-term local currency loan agreement to construct and operate a 400-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant in Surendranagar District, Gujarat, India.
• Canara Robeco Mutual Fund has launched a Balanced Advantage Fund (BAF), which is an open-ended dynamic asset allocation fund.
• Punjab National Bank (PNB) has signed a pact with Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) to provide home loans, car loans, and education loans to SAIL employees at concessional rates.
• NPCI International Payments (NIPL), the international arm of NPCI, signed an agreement with Qatar National Bank (QNB) to launch QR-code-based UPI payments in Qatar.
• According to the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Deposit growth of commercial banks slowed to 10.64% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) as of June 28, 2024.
• Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI's) working group is set to recommend a reduction in compliance burden for debenture trustees.
• State Bank of India (SBI) launched an online loan facility against mutual fund (MF) units via Internet Banking (INB) and the YONO App.
• State-run REC Limited has secured a green loan amounting to JPY 31.96 billion (equivalent to $200 million) from Deutsche Bank AG, GIFT City branch, marking a significant move towards financing sustainable development in India.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in a notification allowed resident individuals to open Foreign Currency Account (FCA) in International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) at GIFT City in Gujarat under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS).
• In June,2024 India's mutual fund industry achieved a record inflow of Rs 14,370 crore through 11 new fund offers (NFOs), marking the highest ever inflow in new fund offerings.
• National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) informed its arm that it has launched a Rs 750-crore agri fund for startups and rural enterprises.
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $100 million policy-based loan to support and facilitate reforms aimed at enhancing the financial sustainability of the power sector in Sri Lanka.
• Jio Financial Services received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to become a Core Investment Company (CIC) from a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC).
• Micro-finance Industry Network (MFIN), announced that Micro-credit indebtedness per borrower should be limited to Rs 2 lakh, while the number of lenders to a debtor should also be restricted to a maximum of four.
• According to the State Bank of India (SBI) study based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, India has created 12.5 crore jobs during FY14-23, compared to only 2.9 crore during FY04-14.
• ixigo, India's leading OTA for the next billion users and AU Small Finance Bank, the largest Small Finance Bank of India, announced the launch of the RuPay variant for its premium co-branded ixigo-AU Small Finance Bank travel credit card, enabling UPI-based payments and rewards.
• Gold accounted for 69% of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) reserves increase during the April-June quarter.
• Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund has launched the Kotak BSE PSU Index Fund, an open-ended scheme that replicates or tracks the BSE PSU Index.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

• Tamil author Sivashankari has been honoured with the prestigious Dr. C. Narayana Reddy National Literary Award by the Sushila Narayana Reddy Trust for her significant contributions to Tamil literature

• HCLTech chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra has been awarded France's highest civilian honour, the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour).
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was officially awarded the ‘Order of St. Andrew the Apostle’ by Russian President Vladimir Putin
• Nagendramma Nettem, a farmer from Anantapur district, and Vijay Kumar, Executive Vice Chairman of Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS), received the prestigious Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity in Lisbon, Portugal

• Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi honoured sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik for winning the Golden Sand Master Award at the International Sand Sculpture Championship in Russia.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

• Bandhan Bank's board of directors appointed Ratan Kumar Kesh as the interim Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
• Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, has been appointed as the United Kingdom's 58th Prime Minister, succeeding Rishi Sunak.
• Senior politician K. Keshava Rao,who joined the Congress recently from the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS), has been appointed as Adviser to the Telangana Government (Public Affairs) with Cabinet status.
• South African Revenue Services (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has been re-elected as the chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) for a second one-year term (2024-2025).
• Mahabaleshwara MS, has been appointed as Independent Director of Tourism Finance Corporation of India (TFCI) Limited.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the re-appointment of Govind Singh as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Utkarsh Small Finance Bank (Utkarsh SFB).
• Professor (Dr.) Soumya Swaminathan has been appointed as the Principal Advisor at the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) for the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme  (NTEP) on a pro bono basis.
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of 8 Executive Directors (EDs) in Public Sector General Insurance Companies (PGICs).
• Paytm Payments Bank, an associate entity of One97 Communications (OCL), which operates the Paytm brand, has appointed Arun Kumar Bansal as managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO).
• Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist and former Health Minister of Iran, won the 14th presidential election.
• The government has appointed Sandeep Kumar as Director (Finance) at Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFC).
• The Supreme Court has appointed former Chief Justice of India Uday Umesh Lalit as the chairperson of the search-cum-selection committees for shortlisting names for Vice-Chancellor appointments in West Bengal.
• The government has appointed Robert Jerard Ravi as the new  Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) chairman and managing director (CMD) for a period of 6 months.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

• Puma India has been announced as the Official Footwear Partner for the Indian contingent to the Paris Olympics

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND REPORTS

• Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Maharashtra had the highest share of informal sector enterprises in both rural and urban areas in 2022-23
• Eight of India's top-10 most valued companies saw a significant increase in their market valuations, collectively adding Rs 1,83,290.36 crore
• India ranks fifth globally in Generative AI (GenAI) innovations, behind China, the US, the Republic of Korea, and Japan

• Kerala and Uttarakhand secured the top spot in the SDG India Index 2023-24 with a composite score of 79 points

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE NEWS

• The Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) unveiled the "Zorawar" Light Tank at its facility in Hazira, Gujarat with an aim to propel indigenization and modernization efforts of the Indian armed forces.
• Lieutenant General Shankar Narayan, an alumnus of the 1982 class of the Armed Forces Medical College, has assumed the position of Commandant of the Army Hospital (Research & Referral).
• An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent landed at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Darwin, Australia for participating in Exercise Pitch Black 2024.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• Chinese geologists have discovered two new niobium-scandium minerals named Oboniobite and Scandio-fluoro-eckermannite.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

• The Delhi State Kabaddi Association has officially announced the launch of the inaugural Delhi Kabaddi League, aiming to captivate fans across the national capital
• World number two Fabiano Caruana successfully defended his Superbet Classic title by winning all three rapid games in a thrilling four-way tiebreaker
• Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh set a new world record in the women's high jump at the Paris Diamond League, clearing 2.10 meters and breaking a record that had stood since 1987
• Dhruv Sitwala and Anupama Ramachandran emerged victorious in the men’s billiards and women’s snooker categories respectively at the Asian championships held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Lewis Hamilton secured his 104th career victory in an emotional and long-awaited triumph at the British Grand Prix

• Shooter Gagan Narang, the 2012 Olympic Games men’s 10m air rifle bronze medallist, has been chosen to replace M.C. Mary Kom as the chef-de-mission of the Indian contingent for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, beginning on July 26, 2024.
• Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has been named the new head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, as announced by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah.

• Heimir Hallgrimsson, the Icelandic coach, is the new manager for the Republic of Ireland men's national football team.

• Former India cricket captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has become an owner of the Kolkata Royal Tigers Racing team ahead of the 2024 season
• President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the Durand Cup, the President's Cup, and the Shimla Trophy at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARIES

• Smriti Biswas, a veteran actress known for her roles in Hindi, Bengali, and Marathi cinema, passed away at the age of 100 in Nashik, Maharashtra.
• Jon Landau, an Oscar-winning producer who worked closely with director James Cameron on three of the biggest blockbusters of all time, Titanic and two Avatar films, has Passed away at the age of 63.