Top 10 Current Affairs July 2023

Hey folks, we're back again with our monthly wrap-up, dedicated to keeping you informed and up to date with the latest current affairs. The month of July has been nothing short of eventful and important for all you aspirants. From the historic launch of ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 to the Indian Men's football team's thrilling victory in the SAAF championship, there have been some remarkable moments. So, without any delay, let's dive into the current affairs for the month of July!

Top Current Affairs of July Month 2023

1. EU’s First Openly Gay President

Edgars Rinkevics, the former foreign minister of Latvia, has made history as the eleventh president of Latvia and the first openly gay person to hold this position. He publicly came out as gay in 2014, and now he joins the ranks of Europe's few LGBTQ+ heads of state. Rinkevics takes office for a four-year term, succeeding Egils Levits. Latvia joined the European Union in 2004, and the EU's headquarters are in Brussels. The current Prime Minister of Latvia is Krišjānis Kariņš.

2. ISRO's Successful Chandrayaan-3 Launch

India's space agency, ISRO, achieved another milestone with the successful launch of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft. This marks India's third lunar exploration mission following Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Chandrayaan-2 in 2019. If the landing is successful, India will be the fourth country to soft land on the moon, near its South Pole, after the US, Soviet Union/Russia, and China. Chandrayaan-3, developed by ISRO, includes the indigenous Lander module (Vikram), Propulsion Module (PM), and Rover (Pragyaan). The mission director of Chandrayaan-3 is Mohan Kumar, the Vehicle/Rocket Director is Biju C. Thomas, and the Spacecraft Director is Dr. P. Veeramuthuvel.

3. Tamil Nadu's Authoor Betel Leaves Receive GI Tag

The Geographical Indications Registry has granted a GI tag certificate for Tamil Nadu's Authoor Vetrilai (Authoor Betel Leaves) to Thoothukudi district administration. These betel leaves cultivated in Authoor village of Tamil Nadu received the GI tag in April 2023. Additionally, the Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai, under the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade (DIPIT) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), has granted GI tags to 7 handicrafts products from Uttar Pradesh, including Amroha Dholak, Kalpi Handmade Paper, Baghpat Home Furnishings, Barabanki Handloom Product, Mahoba Gaura Patthar Hastashlip, Mainpuri Tarkashi, and Sambhal Horn Craft.

4. Neeraj Chopra Wins Gold at Lausanne Diamond League

Indian athlete Neeraj Chopra achieved a remarkable feat by winning the gold medal in the Men's Javelin Throw at the Switzerland Lausanne Diamond League 2023 event. His impressive throw of 87.66 meters secured the top position. The Lausanne Diamond League 2023 is the 14th edition of this prestigious competition. Notably, Neeraj Chopra also made history in September 2022 by becoming the first Indian to win a Diamond League title at the Zurich Diamond League Final.

5. Indian Men's Football Team Clinches SAFF Championship 2023

The Indian men's football team emerged victorious in the SAFF Championship 2023 by defeating Kuwait in an exciting penalty shootout. The match took place at Bengaluru's Sree Kanteerava Stadium, and India's win marks their ninth SAFF Championship title out of 14 editions. India secured the top spot by defeating hosts Pakistan in the final. Sunil Chhetri was the highest goal-scorer with six goals, and Anisur Rahman Zico won the Best Goalkeeper award. The Fairplay Award went to the Nepal football team, and Sunil Chhetri was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP).

6. India's Passport Ranking Improves in Henley Passport Index

In the Henley Passport Index 2023 (3rd quarter), India's passport ranking improved to 80th place, allowing visa-free or visas on arrival access to 57 countries. This marks an improvement from India's previous ranking of 87th in the Henley Passport Index 2022. Singapore is the world's most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 192 travel destinations. The Henley Openness Index 2023 ranks India 94th with a score of 4, based on the number of nationalities it permits entry to without a prior visa.

Learn more about Henely Passport Index in our recent blog on Finology Legal Blogs 

7. India Ranks 126th in Global Peace Index 2023

India's ranking in the Global Peace Index 2023 has improved, climbing nine positions from the previous year to reach the 126th spot out of 163 countries. The index is released by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), and Iceland tops the list as the most peaceful country in the world. The ranking is based on indicators related to societal safety and security, ongoing conflicts, and militarization.

8. Rajasthan Introduces India’s First Gig Workers Bill 2023

The Rajasthan government introduced India's first-ever Gig Workers Bill, called the 'Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill 2023,' to provide social security to gig workers. The bill requires aggregators, including food delivery apps and e-marketing platforms, to submit a database of platform-based gig workers to the Rajasthan government within 60 days of the Act's implementation. It also proposes the establishment of 'The Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers Welfare Board' to register gig workers and aggregators in the state, with the Labour Minister serving as its Chairperson.

9. New Zealand Bans Plastic Produce Bags and Straws

New Zealand has become the first country to enforce a comprehensive ban on thin plastic bags used for supermarket fruit and vegetable purchases. The ban also includes a prohibition on plastic straws and silverware. This move is part of the government's ongoing efforts to tackle single-use plastics, which started in 2019 with the ban on thicker plastic shopping bags.

10. Peru Declares National Emergency Due to Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Peru has declared a state of national emergency in response to a surge in cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). The unusual increase in GBS cases led to this emergency declaration. Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a neurological condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the nervous system. The state of emergency is set to last for 90 days, during which authorities will take necessary measures to address the situation.

Conclusion

The month of July has been remarkable in terms of Current Affairs. As we move forward, it's vital to celebrate these achievements, learn from challenges, and strive to make our world a better place through progress and understanding. The coming months hold promises of more accomplishments, and it is essential to stay informed with Finology 😊