18th July Daily Current Affairs – English

1. Karunanidhi Centenary Birth Commemorative Coin:

• The central government has approved Rs 100 commemorative coin for the birth centenary of former DMK leader and late former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
• It was decided to celebrate the centenary of the late former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for 5 times and was a member of the Legislative Assembly and Upper House for 13 times.
• One side of the coin features a lion-headed Ashoka pillar, ‘Satyameva Jayate’, ‘Bharat’ in Devanagari script and ‘India’ in English.
• The obverse bears the portrait of “Artist M. Karunanidhi” in the center of the coin and the words “Tamil Vellum” used by him below.
• Artist M. Karunanidhi Birth Centenary’ (1924-2024) will be featured in Devanagari script and in English.
• According to the Ministry of Finance, 50 percent silver, 40 percent copper, and 5 percent each of nickel and zinc are mixed in this Rs.100 coin weighing about 35 grams.
• The central government has decided that the price will be Rs.2,500.

Gujarat: ‘Chandipura’ virus

• The ‘Chandipura’ virus is spreading in Gujarat’s districts including Sabarkanda, Aravalli, Mehsana and Rajkot.
• The virus, which is transmitted by certain insects including mosquitoes, causes severe encephalitis with flu-like symptoms.
• Chandipura virus causes fever with symptoms like fever, body aches, diarrhea, vomiting and severe encephalitis.
• The pathogen belongs to the vesiculovirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family. It is spread by pathogens including mosquitoes, ticks and sand flies.
• The National Institute of Virology is located in Pune, Maharashtra.

Full shaped conch at Vembakottai Excavation:

• A fully shaped conch used for making conch bangles was found in Phase III excavations at Vembakottai.
• The 3rd phase of excavation work started on 18th in Mettukadu area on the north bank of Vaippar in order to know the last 5000 years micro stone age in Vijayakarisalkulam near Vembakkottai, Virudhunagar district.
• More than 300 items including glass beads, stone beads, a woman’s head with an ancient hairstyle, a 16th century AD coin, ornaments and conch bangles have already been found.
• Phase 2 excavations confirmed the presence of a conch bangle manufacturing industry here.

‘ PM SHRI’ Scheme:

• Under the National Education Policy 2020 brought by the Central Government, every school has been brought under the “PM SHRI” program and all educational activities including its infrastructure are being improved.
• The respective states and union territories have to enter into agreements with the Union Ministry of Education to avail the benefits of this scheme.
• Tamil Nadu has withheld Rs 2,000 crore central funds due to non-jointness in the ‘PM SHRI’ scheme.
• The ‘PM SHRI’ (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme is a centrally funded scheme for upgradation and development of around 14,500 schools across the country.
• Schools will be selected from schools run by Central Government, State Government and Local Bodies.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a new initiative called PM – SHRI on Teacher’s Day, September 5, 2022.
• The objective of this program is to provide quality teaching, learning and cognitive development.

July 17: World Day for International Justice

• International Day of International Justice is observed on 17 July every year. It is also known as International Criminal Justice Day or International Justice Day.
• The theme of the World Day of International Justice 2024 is: “Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities for Social Justice”.

July 18: International Nelson Mandela Day

• International Nelson Mandela Day is observed on 18 July every year.
• Nelson Mandela Day was first observed on 18 July 2010.

Important Facts:

1. National Paddy Festival and Traditional Food Festival held in Puducherry.
2. The Haryana State Government has announced 10% reservation benefits in the state police department for the soldiers returning after serving under the Agnipath scheme.
3. The state government has approved a bill to make 100 percent reservation for Kannada candidates in private companies in Karnataka.
4. According to international data, China is the world’s largest textile producer and consumer.
5. Madurai Branch of Madurai High Court celebrates 20th anniversary on July 20 Madurai Branch of Madurai High Court was established in 2004.
6. A Handloom Weaving Park is to be set up at Karur in Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs 1 crore.
7. Prem Anand Sinha took charge as the Chief of South Zone Police Department.