Current Affairs 26th July 2018

Current Affairs 26th July 2018 - Important Points

• Name of excercise of Australia, in which Indian Air Force participated for first time - Pitch Black Exercise
• Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2018 passed by - Parliament 
• Green Mahanadi Mission launched by - Odisha Government 
• Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2017 passed by - Lok Sabha
• 19th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas was celebrated on - 26th July
• West Bengal assembly passes resolution to change name of State to - Bangla

Current Affairs 26th July 2018 - Details

Name of excercise of Australia, in which Indian Air Force participated for first time - Pitch Black Exercise

On 24th July 2018, Indian Force aircrafts landed at Australia with a purpose to participate in Exercise Pitch Black-2018. Total 145 Indian Airforce personnel will take part in this exercise. This exercise will be three weeks long starting from 27th July to 17th August 2018.

Apart from India, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and the United States will join it.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) use to host Exercise Pitch Black which was started in 1981.

Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2018 passed by - Parliament 

On 24th July, 2018, Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2018 was passed by Parliament with an aim to enhance transparency and accountability of the government. Earlier we had Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA), 1988, which was amended in this bill.

As per this bill, Giving bribe will also be a direct offence. But person will not charged with it if person is compelled to give bribe provided that person report it within 7 days.
It also has provision to prosecute former officials too as currently it was only for serving officials.

Green Mahanadi Mission launched by - Odisha Government 

 On 24th July 2018, Green Mahanadi Mission was launched by Chief Minister of Odisha Mr. Naveen Patnaik. This mission is a plantation drive under which 2 crore saplings will be planted along the Mahanadi river and its tributaries. This will help in reducing soil erosion on river banks.

If we talk about Mahanadi then it is major river in East Central India. Hirakud Dam build over this river is longest major earthen dam in India which supplies 260 MW of hydroelectric power. Plantation will also help in improving water level of river which has been decreased in recent times.

Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2017 passed by - Lok Sabha

On 23rd July 2018, Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed in Lok Sabha. It was amendment in egotiable Instruments Act, 1881. This act has been amended to deal better with cheque bounce cases.

19th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas was celebrated on - 26th July

 On 26th July 2018, 19th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas was celebrated in India to mark the success of Operation Vijay. Nation remembered the supreme sacrifice of the Indian soldiers during Kargil war (1999).
Kargil war was fought for 73 days after intruders from Pakistan had captured positions of Indian Territory. On 26th July 1999, Indian Army took control of that positions. For the bravery in Kargil war four Param Vir Chakras were awarded to :

• Captain Vikram Batra, 13 JAK Rifles, Posthumous
• Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, 1/11 Gorkha Rifles, Posthumous
• Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, 13 JAK Rifles
• Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, 18 Grenadiers

West Bengal assembly passes resolution to change name of State to - Bangla

 On 26th July 2018, State assembly of West Bengal unanimously passed a resolution to change the name of state to Bangla. Now if Union home ministry give its approval then this name will become official.