In a major boost to exports of exotic fruit, consignments of fiber and mineral rich dragon fruit, which are sourced from farmers of Gujarat and West Bengal, have been exported for the first time to London and Bahrain. The consignment of exotic fruit exported to London was sourced from farmers of Kutch, Gujarat, while the consignment exported to Bahrain was from West Bengal
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur launched the theme song “Kar De Kamaal Tu” for the Indian Paralympic contingent in New Delhi. The song “Kar De Kamaal Tu” is composed and sung by a Divyang cricket player Sanjeev Singh. The idea of the Paralympic Committee of India was to get the song composed from the Divyang community as a mark of inclusiveness.
Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi said that India has joined the Community of Portuguese Language Countries as Associate Observer. This sets a new platform for strengthening India’s historic bonds of friendship with Lusophone countries and pursuing cooperation in areas of mutual interest. This will enrich and strengthen India’s ties with the Portugal.
NITI released a report which presents reform pathways to transform the country’s power distribution sector. The report, titled ‘Turning Around the Power Distribution Sector’, is co-authored by NITI Aayog, RMI and RMI India. The report presents a review of reform efforts in the Indian and global power distribution sector.
NITI Aayog CEO : Amitabh Kant, Chairperson : Narendra Modi
Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari approved the appointment of retired Bombay high court judge Justice V M Kanade as the new Lokayukta of Maharashtra, on the advice of the chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. Maharashtra was without a full-time Lokayukta for almost a year. The previous Lokayukta, (retd) Justice M L Tahaliyani had completed his tenure in August 2020.
Miles Robinson scored on a goal in the 117th minute to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The U.S. won its 7th Gold Cup title, its first since 2017, matching Mexico for the most in the 15 tournaments. Canada won in 2000. The Gold Cup is the main association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF, determining the continental champion
The Gold Cup is held every two years
Frenchman Esteban Ocon won a chaotic Hungarian Grand Prix while Lewis Hamilton finished third to take the Formula One championship lead from Max Verstappen. Sebastian Vettel lost his second-place finish in Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix after being disqualified by stewards for a fuel irregularity. Verstappen placed 10th after being taken out early in the race
Sri Lanka left-arm seam bowling all-rounder Isuru Udana announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect, drawing curtains to a career spanning over a decade. Udana had a very modest international career with sporadic appearances over 12 years in which he played only 21 ODIS and 35 T20 Internationals with just 45 wickets to show for his efforts
Sprinter Man Kaur, who made several records for the over a hundred years old category, passed away. The 105-year-old athlete had taken up sprinting at the age of 93 and was able to win over 17 gold medals in her career. In 2020, the government of India had awarded her Nari Shakti Puraskar for her achievements in athletics by the President of India
She was known as the “miracle mom from Chandigarh”.
A sophisticated telecommunications satellite that can be completely repurposed while in space has launched.Developed under an ESA Partnership Project with satellite operator Eutelsat and prime manufacturer Airbus, Eutelsat Quantum has pioneered a new generation of satellites with the European space industry.The satellite was launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana
Russia's Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM), named "Nauka" ("Science" in Russian), docked to the space station, eight days after its more-than-decade-long delayed launch. The 20-tonne MLM is connected with the orbiting complex, using an open port that was recently vacated by the Pirs docking compartment on the Earth-facing side of the Zvezda service module.
Renowned economist Jagdish Bhagwati and C Rangarajan have been conferred with the inaugural Prof CR Rao Centenary Gold Medal (CGM). Bhagwati is professor of economics, law and international relations at Columbia University while C Rangarajan is the former chairman of the Economic Advisory Council of the Prime Minister and former governor of the Reserve Bank of India
Armenia's acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been officially appointed to the post by the country's president after Pashinyan's Civil Contract party won an early parliamentary election. Pashinyan had stepped down as prime minister, as required by law to hold the election, but has remained in charge as the country’s acting leader
Armenia's President : Armen Sarkissian
Indian Naval Ship Khanjar becomes the first Indian Navy ship to call at the heritage coastal port of Gopalpur in Odisha. The two-day visit was organised as part of Aazadi ka Amrit Mahotsav as well as Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Independence and 50th anniversary of the 1971 War.
Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar launched a website on the 75th Independence Day Celebrations 2021 (indianidc2021.mod.gov.in) in New Delhi. It is a platform to connect Indians from around the world over to celebrate the National Festival. For the first time ever, the platform will live stream the Independence Day from the Red Fort in Virtual Reality 360 degree format.