1 SBI launches MSME Sahaj: 15-minute online loan solution
State Bank of India (SBI) has introduced a revolutionary online business loan solution called “ MSME Sahaj ”, designed specifically for MSMEs. This web-based platform allows MSMEs to avail loans against their GST registered sales invoices swiftly and without any hassle. MSMEs can avail loans up to ₹ 1 lakh without any manual intervention, from application to disbursement in less than 15 minutes.
2 Hemant Soren took charge of Jharkhand, took oath as CM for the third time
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-JMM working president Hemant Soren took oath as the new Chief Minister of Jharkhand . Governor CP Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Soren at a ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan. He took oath as the Chief Minister of the state for the third time a few days after being released on bail by the High Court in an alleged money laundering case. Earlier, Champai Soren became the twelfth Chief Minister of Jharkhand after Hemant Soren’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 .
3 Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the DMF Gallery at Shastri Bhavan
Union Minister for Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the DMF Gallery at Shastri Bhawan . Minister of State Shri Satish Chandra Dubey was also present on the occasion. The DMF Gallery will showcase the products of Self Help Groups (SHGs) formed under District Mineral Institute/Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana and Self Help Groups supported by Mining Companies under Corporate Social Responsibility at Shastri Bhawan premises. The Ministers interacted with the Self Help Groups and appreciated the products prepared by the Self Help Groups of DMF Keonjhar and Koraput, Odisha and lauded the special efforts of Hindustan Copper Limited and Hindalco for supporting Self Help Groups in various districts of the country.
4 ISRO to partner with Japan, NASA and European space agencies to study Apophis asteroid
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S. Somanath has said that the Indian space agency will study the Apophis asteroid when it comes closest to Earth in 2029. Speaking at the Asteroid Day observation at ISRO in Bengaluru , S. Somanath said that the 340-metre-wide Apophis asteroid will be studied by Japan, NASA and European space agencies and ISRO will partner with them.
5 Centre issues funding guidelines for development of standards and regulatory framework under National Green Hydrogen Mission
The Centre has issued guidelines for funding of testing facilities, infrastructure and institutional support for development of standards and regulatory regime under the National Green Hydrogen Mission . The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has said that the scheme will be launched by FY 2025-26 with a total plan outlay of Rs 200 crore. The ministry has informed that the scheme, to be implemented by the National Institute of Solar Energy, will involve construction of new testing facilities and development of existing facilities to ensure safe operation. The scheme includes development of robust quality and performance testing facilities to ensure quality, consistency and safety in GH2 production and trading. The National Green Hydrogen Mission was launched on January 4 last year with a plan outlay of over Rs 19 thousand seven hundred crore by FY 2029-30. It aims to make India self-reliant through clean energy and work towards global clean energy transition.
6 Eminent economist N.K. Singh awarded prestigious Honorary Fellowship at the London School of Economics and Political Science
Leading economist and policy maker Mr N K Singh has said that the Indian era is beginning in the world. He said that India is moving towards becoming a developed nation by the year 2047. Mr Singh was addressing a gathering after being conferred with the prestigious Honorary Fellowship at the London School of Economics and Political Science . The prestigious university said that the honour recognises Mr Singh’s long-standing association with the London School of Economics and his efforts.
7 Amendment made in the rules of oath taking in Lok Sabha, any other comment or sloganeering will be prohibited during oath taking
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has amended the rules related to the oath taking of newly elected members in the lower house of Parliament . Under this, elected members have been banned from making any other comments and sloganeering during the oath. As per the latest amendments, a new clause has been included in the guidelines of the Lok Sabha Speaker. This new clause has been added to regulate some matters related to the running of the lower house, which were not specifically mentioned in the rules earlier. The new clause states that a member will take oath in the form prescribed in the Third Schedule of the Constitution of India and will not use any other word or expression at its beginning or end. This rule has been made after the swearing in of many elected members in the Lok Sabha, who had added some separate comments in the oath and many members opposed it.
8 SERA and Blue Origin declared India as partner nation for space human mission
Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) and Blue Origin have announced India as a partner nation for their manned spaceflight programme . The programme is for citizens of countries that have sent few or no astronauts to space. US-based agency SERA will offer six seats to citizens from around the world on future missions of Blue Origin’s reusable suborbital rocket New Shepard. New Shepard will send selected astronauts for 11 minutes beyond the Kármán line (about 100 km above the Earth’s surface) which is internationally recognized as the boundary of space. The astronauts will experience a state of weightlessness in the absence of gravity for several minutes before landing on the ground.
9 IAS Nikunj Srivastava appointed in World Bank
On July 3, the Central Government appointed Nikunj Srivastava as Senior Advisor to the Executive Director of the World Bank . He has been appointed in place of Gujarat cadre IAS officer Rajiv Topno . Nikunj Srivastava will serve on central deputation in Washington DC, USA for 3 years. He is currently appointed as Principal Secretary in the Revenue and Mining Department in the Madhya Pradesh government. The Central Department of Personnel and Training issued orders for the appointment of 5 officers to posts of the Central Government abroad. 1995 batch IAS officer of Tripura cadre , Ashutosh Jindal has been appointed Minister (Economic) in the Indian Embassy in Washington DC. 2008 batch IAS officer of Manipur cadre , Hrishikesh Arvind Modak has been appointed as Advisor to the Executive Director of the World Bank. 2010 batch IAS officer Anshika Arora will serve as a consultant in India’s Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva . Ashutosh Salil, a 2010 batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre , has been appointed as Advisor (Industry & Engineering) in the Embassy of India in Brussels.
10 Puma India signs Riyan Parag and Nitish Kumar Reddy as its ambassadors
Sports brand Puma India has roped in cricketers Riyan Parag and Nitish Kumar Reddy to deepen its engagement with Generation Z consumers. The move reinforces Puma’s commitment to nurturing young talent and strengthening the sports brand’s connect with the youth culture in the country.
11 International Plastic Bag Free Day 2024
International Plastic Bag Free Day is celebrated every year on July 3. The purpose of this special day is to raise awareness about the harmful effects of plastic bags on our environment. It encourages people to stop using plastic bags and find eco-friendly alternatives.
12 Smriti Biswas passed away at the age of 100
On July 3, Bollywood veteran actress Smriti Biswas died in Nashik. She breathed her last at the age of 100 due to age-related problems. She was cremated on July 4 with Christian rituals. Smriti was a top Bollywood actress from the 1930s to the 1960s. She worked in many films like ‘ Nek Dil ‘, ‘ Aparajita ‘ and ‘ Modern Girl ‘. Smriti debuted as a child actress in the Bengali film ‘ Sandhya ‘ at the age of 10. She worked in films of Guru Dutt , V Shantaram , Mrinal Sen , Bimal Roy , BR Chopra and Raj Kapoor.
