Weekly News Wrap : Indian Current Affairs

Neptune celebrated its birthday
  • The eighth planet of the solar system, Neptune celebrated its birthday on July 13. It completed first revolution this year since discovery.
India set to become most populous by 2025
  • Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Ajay Maken said India is on the path of becoming the most populous nation by 2025 surpassing China."The average age in India would be 29 years by 2020, while in China it would be 37 years and in Japan 48 years. This would help young India convert this challenge into an opportunity",he added at a National Workshop on ‘Youth for Population Stabilisation in NewDelhi.
Food Security Bill is on the way
  • The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Food cleared the crucial Food Security Bill, which seeks to entitle 75 per cent of the BPL (below poverty line) population and 50 per cent of the urban population to heavily subsidised food grains.
  • It also lifted the ban on export of non-basmati rice.The government aims to introduce the bill during the monsoon session of Parliament. The decision entitles 68 per cent of the country's population to food security.
  • The government estimates the additional subsidy burden at Rs. 13,000 crore, taking its total subsidy bill on food to about Rs. 95,000 crore. Lifting the ban on export of non-basmati rice, the EGoM allowed export of one million tonnes of staple rice in view of record production and overflowing godowns.
Chandrayaan-2 in 2013
  • The Chandrayaan-2 mission, carrying a Russian-built lander and a small Indian rover set off in 2013 to look for water and other volatile substances near the South Pole of the Moon.
  • It will be carried by India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark-II.
Cabinet Reshuffle
  • Jairam Ramesh promoted to the Cabinet rank and given Rural Development, a critical portfolio for the United Progressive Alliance, which includes Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
  • Law Minister Veerappa Moily was downgraded to Corporate Affairs and Salman Khursheed took Law Ministry.
  • Jayanthi Natarajan is the new Environment and Forests Minister.
  • Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi became the Minister for Railways.
Mumbai shocked again
  • 21 killed and 141 injured as terror strikes Mumbai again. Three bombs went off within 11 minutes at Zaveri Bazaar, Kabutarkhana, and Opera House.

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