Legal Bites July 2024: Monthly Legal Updates

Here are Legal Bites July 2024 monthly GK updates. The notable happenings of the months were related to the Digital Bharat Nidhi, the Road Safety Action Plan, India’s New Cricket Head Coach and so on. We have covered all the happenings in the gist so that it helps the readers to remember all legal and current updates about July 2024 most efficiently and easily.

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1. Elisa de Anda Madrazo – FATF Presidency

On 1st July 2024, Elisa de Anda Madrazo of Mexico began her two-year term as the president of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). She succeeded T. Raja Kumar of Singapore.

2. Ashwin Ramaswami, Gen-Z Democrat and Voting Security Expert, Endorsed by U.S. Senator

On 2nd July 2024, Ashwin Ramaswami, an Indian American Democrat, is a former expert in voting security and received the endorsement of U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff for the Georgia State Senate seat in District 48. Notably, Ramaswami is the first Gen-Z candidate to run for a U.S. state government position. He is competing against Republican State Senator Shawn Still.

3. New Horned Frog Species Discovered in Northeast India

On 2nd July 2024, researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered a new species of horned frog in the Talle Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh, India. The frog, named Xenophrys apatani or the Apatani horned frog, is dark brown, has small horns, and lives among tea leaves.

4. India-Russia Joint Venture Completes AK-203 Rifle Production Phase

On 5th July 2024, the India-Russia joint venture successfully delivered 35000 Kalashnikov AK-203 rifles to the Indian Ministry of Defense. It is important to note that this step has greatly benefited the "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" campaigns and highlighted a significant advancement in India's capability to produce defense products through domestic technology and industry.

5. Britain’s First Woman Finance Minister

On 5th July 2024, Rachel Reeves became Britain’s first woman finance minister. This came after the Labor Party badly lost to the Conservatives.

6. Tamil Writer Sivashankari Wins National Literary Award

On 5th July 2024, Tamil writer Sivashankari was selected for the Dr. C Narayana Reddy National Literary Award-2024, recognizing her significant contributions to literature, which includes a prize of Rs. 5 lakh.

7. Jharkhand Mica Mines Declared Child Labour Free

On 5th July 2024, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Chairperson declared Mica mines in Jharkhand as ‘Child Labour Free’. The NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo, during a programme organised by ‘Child Labour Free Mica’ in Koderma, emphasized that all child labourers have been withdrawn from the mica mines and are now enrolled in schools.

8. Digital Bharat Nidhi

On 7th July 2024, the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) was designed to enhance telecommunication services in underserved rural, remote, and urban areas. By introducing next-generation telecommunication technologies, DBN aims to make these services more affordable and accessible.

9. Yaroslava Mahuchikh’s new world record

On 7th July 2024, Yaroslava Mahuchikh broke a 37-year-old world record, jumping 2.10 meters (6'10 3/4'') and setting herself up as the person to beat here in France.

10. Philippines and Japan Sign Key Military Cooperation Deal

On 8th July 2024, under the agreement, Japanese forces will be able to deploy in the Philippines for joint military exercises and Filipino Forces will be able to carry out combat training in Japan. The pact will need to be ratified by both countries' legislatures to come into effect.

11. India-Taiwan Agreement Boosts Organic Product Trade

On 8th July 2024, the India-Taiwan Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for Organic Products was implemented. It was a plan to boost trade between India and Taiwan in the organic products sector.

12. Rajasthan Becomes First State to Adopt a Road Safety Action Plan

On 9th July 2024, Rajasthan became the first State in the country to adopt an action plan for road safety for the next 10 years. The action plan, to be accompanied by a government policy, is aimed at reducing road accidents in the State by 50% till 2030.

13. Maharashtra Wins Best Agriculture State Award 2024

On 9th July 2024, the 15th Agriculture Leadership Awards Committee announced that Maharashtra has won the Best Agriculture State Award for 2024.

14. Gautam Gambhir Appointed India’s New Cricket Head Coach

On 9th July 2024, in a significant development for Indian cricket, former opening batter Gautam Gambhir was appointed as the new head coach of the Indian men's cricket team. Gambhir, a World Cup winner, will take charge of the upcoming away series against Sri Lanka, which includes 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is starting on July 27, 2024.

15. IUCN Red List Update

On 9th July 2024, the IUCN recently updated the Red List which makes it more important to protect several lizard and cactus species. The Ibiza wall lizard has been reclassified as threatened, mostly because of invasive species and other problems caused by people.

16. Vietnam – Most Affordable Country for Expats in 2024

On 9th July 2024, for the fourth consecutive year, Vietnam was crowned as the most affordable country in the world for expats, ranking first out of 53 destinations when it comes to personal finances, according to a 2024 Inter Nations study.

17. Print sharing button Print Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Approves Purchase of New VVIP Jet

On July 10, 2024, the Madhya Pradesh government approved Rs 23.8 crore for the implementation of the National e-Vidhan Application (NEVA) in the state assembly. This project, part of the Union government's Digital India initiative, aims to digitize legislative proceedings.

18. Massive Black Hole Discovered in Omega Centauri

On 10th July 2024, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope found strong evidence for an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) in Omega Centauri, a globular cluster in the Southern Hemisphere.

19. Bangladesh Joins Colombo Security Conclave as Fifth Member

On 10th July 2024, the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), a regional security grouping, officially welcomed Bangladesh as its fifth member state on Wednesday. The announcement came during the 8th Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSA) level meeting, hosted virtually by Mauritius.

20. James Webb Telescope Captures Quasar’s ‘Einstein Ring’

On 11th July 2024, the James Webb Space Telescope captured a breathtaking image of a distant quasar, a super bright object powered by a black hole. This image isn't your typical space picture though. A cosmic phenomenon called gravitational lensing has transformed the quasar's light into a stunning "Einstein ring."

21. India Ranks Fifth in Global Generative AI Innovations

On 11th July 2024, new research shows that India is fifth in the world when it comes to innovations in Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). India is behind China, the US, the Republic of Korea, and Japan in terms of the number of GenAI patents it publishes each year.

22. Romania, Bulgaria, Greece sign deal to boost military mobility

On 11th July 2024, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece signed a pact to facilitate rapid movement of troops and weapons across their borders, enhancing NATO's readiness on the eastern flank amid heightened tensions following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

23. WHO launches online medical device platform

On July 11, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the Medical Devices Information System (MeDevIS), an online platform providing information on medical devices. MeDevIS aims to aid governments, regulators, and users in selecting, procuring, and using medical devices for diagnostics, testing, and treatment. It consolidates international data using the European Medical Device Nomenclature (EMDN) and the Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN) to streamline registration, procurement, and tracking, standardize device naming, and assist policymakers in creating procurement lists.

24. New Deep-Water Shark Species Discovered in Kerala

On 11th July 2024, Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered a new species of deep-water dogfish shark, Squalus hima, at the Sakthikulangara fishing harbour in Kerala along the Arabian Sea.

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25. Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPS) Act, 2024

On 11th July 2024, The Maharashtra government proposed a comprehensive new law, the Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPS) Bill, 2024, aimed at addressing the increasing presence of Naxalism in urban areas. The Bill has sparked significant controversy and debate due to its broad and stringent provisions.

26. Nagaland Wins Best State in Horticulture Award 2024

On 12th July 2024, Nagaland won the “Best State in Horticulture Award 2024” at the Agriculture Leadership Awards, which shows how clever its horticulture projects are. Minister Salhoutuonuo Kruse took the award in New Delhi and said that the government's policies are aimed at promoting prosperity in rural areas and long-term farming.

27. Second Phase Of Construction Begins On World’s Largest Ramayan Temple In Bihar

Recently, the second phase of construction for the "world’s largest Ramayan temple" commenced in the East Champaran district of Bihar. Upon completion, the Viraat Ramayan Mandir will be three times the size of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. With a budget of ₹500 crore, the temple will also feature the world’s largest Shivling.

28. Philippines Chosen to Host U.N. Climate Fund Board

On 12th July 2024, at the second meeting of the Loss and Damage Fund's board, the Philippines was chosen to host the fund board in Songdo, South Korea. The fund was created by the UN to provide financial help for countries to rebuild from the impact of global warming.

29. NABARD Launches Rs 750 Crore Agri-SURE Fund for Startups

On July 12, 2024, the government launched the 'Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises' (AgriSURE) to support startups and agripreneurs. The Sustainable Agriculture and Green Solutions Hackathon commenced during the prelaunch stakeholder meet in Mumbai. A Rs 750 crore Category-II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) will be set up to provide equity and debt investments to startups and agripreneurs.

Managed by NABVENTURES, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NABARD, the fund aims to support approximately 85 agri start-ups with investment sizes of up to ₹25 crore each by the end of its term.

30. IMF Agrees to $7 Billion Loan Program for Pakistan

On 13th July, The International Monetary Fund announced that it had reached a staff-level agreement with Pakistan for a $7 billion, 37-month loan program. This program aims to solidify stability and promote inclusive growth in the crisis-stricken South Asian nation.

31. Sabeera Haris Wins Bronze at ISSF Junior World Cup

On 13th July 2024, At the ISSF Junior World Cup in Porpetto, Italy, Indian shooter Sabeera Haris won third place in the women's trap category. It was an amazing sports event. With this win, India added another medal to its collection at this important event.

32. India’s Longest Urban Tunnel Between Borivali and Thane

On 13th July 2024, The Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel, inaugurated India's longest and largest urban tunnel, spanning 11.8 kilometres. The tunnel is part of a larger infrastructure initiative to improve connectivity in Mumbai and is expected to be completed by May 2028

33. Prestigious award for Indian scientist

On July 14, 2024, Indian space scientists Mr Prahlad Chandra Agrawal and Mr Anil Bhardwaj were honoured with prestigious awards from the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR).

34. New Micro continent Discovered Off West Greenland

On 14th July 2024, researchers at the University of Derby identified a 12–15 mile thick (19–24 km) block of continental crust beneath the Davis Strait, located between Greenland and Canada. They referred to it as the Davis Strait proto-micro continent, as it remained partially attached to the main continent. The discovery was achieved through the analysis of gravity maps, crustal thickness measurements, seismic reflection data, and plate tectonic models.

35. China and Russia Conducted Joint Pacific Naval Patrol

On 14th July 2024, China and Russia conducted a joint naval patrol in the northern and western Pacific. The two countries have drawn closer in recent years and tout their friendship as having "no limits". Both share hostile relations with the US-led Western defence alliance NATO.

36. NITI Aayog Launches Hackathon for Zero-Emission Trucks

On 14th July NITI Aayog launches a hackathon to accelerate zero-emission truck adoption in India. As part of the hackathon, students, transport service practitioners, academics, and researchers will develop innovative business models that address financial, technical, and operational challenges in the adoption of electric trucks

37. New High-Efficacy Malaria Vaccine Launched in Cote d’Ivoire

On 15th July 2024, Côte d'Ivoire makes history as the first nation to deploy the R21/Matrix-M™ Malaria Vaccine.

38. Asia’s First Pre-Clinical Network Facility Inaugurated in Faridabad

On July 16, 2024, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated Asia's first Pre-clinical Network Facility for health research at the Regional Centre of Biotechnology, Translational Health Science & Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad, and Haryana. The facility is part of the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and is the ninth network laboratory of its kind in the world.

39. Ivory Coast Joins UN Water Convention as 10th African Member

On 16th July 2024, Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) became the 53rd Party to the 1992 UN Water Convention, officially known as the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. This accession marks the Ivory Coast as the 10th African nation to join the treaty.

40. Cave on the Moon: New Discovery for Space Exploration

On 17th July 2024, Scientists confirmed the presence of a cave on the Moon, near the site of the first lunar landing 55 years ago. This discovery could provide astronauts with a potential habitat on the Moon in the future.

41. New Plant Species Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh Sanctuary

On 18th July 2024, researchers from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered a new plant species, Phlogacanthus Sudhansusekharii, in the Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh. The species is named after Dr. Sudhansu Sekhar Dash, a BSI scientist who has contributed significantly to plant and ecological research in the Indian Himalayan region.

42. NASA Discovers Six New Exoplanets

On 19th July 2024, Nasa has announced the discovery of six new worlds, pushing the total number of confirmed planets beyond our solar system to 5,502. This new milestone marks a significant advancement in our understanding of the universe and the potential for life beyond Earth and the Solar System.

43. Von Der Leyen Re-elected as EU Commission President

On 18th July, with 401 votes in favour, the European Parliament elected Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission in a secret ballot. This would be Ursula von der Leyen's second term as Commission President. She was first elected by MEPs in July 2019.

44. Andhra Pradesh Wins 2024 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity

On 18th July 2024, The Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity was given to the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) project in 2024 for its work on sustainable farming in India. This award shows how important Andhra Pradesh is to eco-friendly farming around the world.

45. OpenAI Launches Cost-Effective GPT-4o Mini AI Model

On 19th July 2024, OpenAI, with backing from Microsoft, introduced GPT-4o mini, a cost-effective version of its GPT-4o AI model. This model aims to make advanced AI technology more accessible, with pricing set at 15 cents per million input tokens and 60 cents per million output tokens.

GPT-4o mini is noted for its strong performance in tasks involving reasoning and comprehension, such as mathematics, coding, and structured data extraction from receipts. Additionally, it can generate high-quality email responses using the entire conversation history and produce detailed, contextually accurate text from visual inputs, making it ideal for reports, summaries, and in-depth analyses.

46. Two Flower Fly Species Reported from Kerala for the First Time

On 19th July 2024, researchers of the Shadpada Entomology Research Lab (SERL) of Christ College, Irinjalakuda, reported two species of flower flies for the first time from Kerala. Mesembrius bengalensis and quadrivittatus have been discovered from the Kole wetlands and Vilagan Kunnu hillocks of Thrissur district.

47. No 'angel tax' for investors

On 23rd July 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the government will abolish the 'angel tax' in her Budget 2024-2025 presentation, providing a boost to both angel investors and startups.

48. Delhi Coaching Centre Tragedy

On July 27, 2024, three students died in a basement flooding at a coaching centre in Old Rajender Nagar, raising safety concerns about UPSC coaching centres. In response, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi sealed the basements of 13 centres and introduced new guidelines mandating proper infrastructure and safety compliance.

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