Current Affairs 17 and 18th July 2016

1. 18th July : Nelson Mandela International Day observed

2. Three Indian sites listed among UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites

i. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has listed Chandigarh's Capitol Complex and Sikkim's national park home to the world's third highest peak Mount Khangchendzonga among its World Heritage Sites, approving all three nominations linked to India this session. 

India now has 35 sites, including 27 cultural properties, seven natural sites, and one mixed site, notified as World Heritage Sites. A World Heritage Site is a place (such as a building, city, complex, desert, etc.) that is listed by UNESCO 

3. India's first e-court opened in Hyderabad

i. India's first e-court has opened at High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad. It is the common high court for the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. 

4. Government launches Transforming India portal

i. Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad has launched a website 'Transforming India', a repository for real-time sharing of the impact of various governance initiatives with citizens.

5. Govt releases Rs 100 Cr towards co-contribution in APY (Atal Pension Yojna)

6. Commerce Ministry starts e-marketplace for goods procurement

7. Vice President Hamid Ansari unveils Gandhi’s stone statue

i. Vice President Hamid Ansari has unveiled a stone statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Pethub Monastery in the Mongolian capital which is seen as a symbol of India-Mongolia cultural and spiritual ties.

8. Pema Khandu was sworn in as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh

9. Delhi CM launches live interactive programme TalkToAK

10. Terrapin acquires Yatra Online for $218 mn

11. 11th Asia–Europe Meeting Summit issues Ulaanbaatar Declaration

12. Sovereign Gold Bond scheme opened for subscription

i. The fourth tranche of the Sovereign Gold Bonds scheme has opened for subscription.
ii. The bond can be purchased from the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange, besides all Bank branches, select Post Offices and the Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited.

13. Coimbatore-based Air Carnival commences operations

14. Dabur and DRDO unit tie up for high altitude medicinal plants

i. Dabur, a leading ayurvedic FMCG firm has tied up with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO's) unit Defense Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), Leh, to promote sustainable cultivation of high-altitude medicinal plants in Ladakh. 

15. Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Saurav Ghosal clinch National Squash tittles

16. Vijender Singh beats Kerry Hope to clinch WBO Asia Pacific title