• Current Affairs 2nd July 2019

    Updated : 02-Jul-2019

    Current Affairs 2nd July 2019 - Important Points

    • Amarnath Yatra 2019 begins with 1st batch of 2,234 Devotees on - 1st July 2019
    • National Doctor’s Day 2019 on - 1st July 2019
    • India sign Rs.200 crore pact with Russia to acquire  - Strum Ataka
    • Aparna Kumar becomes 1st IPS Officer to complete 7 Summits Challenge in - ITBP
    • Who has become 1st sitting US president to enter North Korea ?- Donald Trump
      Current Affairs 2nd July 2019 - Details

    Amarnath Yatra 2019 begins with 1st batch of 2,234 Devotees on - 1st July 2019

    Yearly Amarnath Yatra flagged-off on July 1st, 2019 from both Baltal and Pahalgam routes in JandK.
    The 1st batch of around 1200 pilgrims was flagged-off from Nunwan Pahalgam base camp by
    Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Khalid Jehangir and a batch of 1051 devotees was flagged-off from
    Baltal base camp. To make sure a safe Yatra, security arrangements have also done.
    Safety and Security arrangements

    • To make sure the smooth passage of the yatra, convoys on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, extra security have been put in place with JandK police, CAPF and the army.
    • Radio Frequency Identification tags have been attached in all vehicles.
    • For making sure actual security arrangements along the difficult tracks, only those devotees who are in possession of a Yatra Permit will be permitted to proceed beyond the Base Camps and Access Control Gates at both base camps.
    • Shri Amarnath Shrine Shrine Board has acquired “Group Accidental Insurance Policy” with a cover of three lakh rupees for three lakh registered Devotees and also for various categories of service providers including Pony carriers.
      1st Batch of Yatra
    • From Baltal base camp 793 male, 203 female, 10 children and 44 Sadhus were encompassed in a
      batch.
    • In Pahalgam base camp batch 1046 male, 130 female and 7 children were involved.
    • JandK government privileges that the arrangements are better than the former years and the state machinery is working round the clock to make sure better-quality facilities Children less than 13 years, elderly people more than 75 years and pregnant lady with six weeks of pregnancy shall not be allowed to undertake the pilgrimage. 
    • More than 2 lakh 85 thousand Devotees had darshan of Shivlingam past year.

    National Doctor’s Day 2019 on - 1st July 2019

    National Doctor's Day was celebrated to thank physicians and doctors for their devoted services to
    patients. After all, they have looked after us in our worst times. National Doctor’s Day is an
    opportunity to the individuals to express their thankfulness towards Doctors. This day is dedicated
    to all medical professionals who work and serve patients round the clock to save their patients’ lives.
    Doctor’s Day 2019 was celebrated for recognizing services of doctors and their huge contribution to
    the medical advancement in India.
    Doctor’s Day 2019 Theme
    Theme of Doctor’s Day 2019 is “Zero tolerance to violence against doctors and clinical establishment”. IMA proclaims the theme every year. The theme will spread awareness about the
    violence happening with the doctors across India. Freshly, violence against doctors in different
    parts of India was making headlines. Keeping in mind the safety and security of doctors during their
    working timings, this theme was proclaimed.
    History of Doctor’s Day
    National Doctors' Day is celebrated on July 1st all over India to honour the legendary physician and
    the 2nd CM of West Bengal, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. He was born on July 1st, 1882 and passed-away on the same date in 1962, aged 80 years. Dr Roy was facilitated with the nation’s highest
    civilian award, Bharat Ratna on February 4th, 1961.
    Significance of Doctor’s Day in India
    Doctor's Day in India was recognized by the Government of India in 1991 to be documented and
    observed every year on 1st of July as National Doctors day. It is observed to value doctors and their
    role in nation’s development. National Doctors Day in India is a mega consciousness campaign
    offering great opportunities to all residents to get aware about the roles, significance and
    responsibilities of the doctors and promote medical professionals to come closer and trail the
    responsibilities of their profession very dedicatedly.

    India sign Rs.200 crore pact with Russia to acquire  - Strum Ataka

    India has inked Rupees 200 crore pact with Russia for obtaining Strum Ataka anti-tank missile for
    its fleet of Mi-35 attack choppers of IAF. This pact comes in wake of an Indian Air Force’s attempt
    to keep itself battle-ready in situations like post-Balakot aerial attacks.
    Important Highlights

    • This Rupees 200 crore pact for Strum Ataka anti-tank missile would empower an added capability
      to Mi-35 attack choppers of Indian Air Force to take out enemy tanks and other armoured elements.
    • Mi-35s are planned to be replaced with Apache gunships being attained from US and slated to be
      delivered from August onwards.
    • For above a decade, India has been trying to acquire Russian missiles but the pact has been
      inked under emergency clauses via which missiles would be supplied within 3 months of contract
      inking.
      Emergency Clause
    • Within few weeks following 14th Feb Pulwama terrorist attack in which 40 CRPF troops were
      killed, emergency powers were issued to Indian Defence forces and India began increasing vigil at
      borders with Pakistan.
    • Under, emergency powers issued to 3 services, they can obtain equipment of their choice within 3
      months at a cost of around Rupees 300 crore/case.
    • Indian Air Force has emerged as front runner in terms of weapon attainment under emergency
      procurement, followed by Indian Army.

    Aparna Kumar becomes 1st IPS Officer to complete 7 Summits Challenge in - ITBP

    Indian Police Service officer and DIG Frontier in ITBP Aparna Kumar freshly scaled North America’s Highest Peak Denali with 20310 feet, in Alaska, United States. With this accomplishment, Aparna Kumar became 1st civil servant to climb the rare mountain. She scaled this summit in her third
    attempt.
    Important Highlights

    • Mount Denali in Alaska was her 7th Summit in her mission ‘Seven Summits’ Challenge. By scaling
      Mount Denali, she accomplished her ‘Seven Summits’ Challenge.
    • She is the 1st civil servant and Indian Police Service officer to attain this rare feat.
    • She also became 1st female Indian Police Service DIG and ITBP officer to effectively complete
      South Pole expedition.
    • Aparna Kumar is 2002 batch UP Cadre IPS officer. She has been posted at Northern Frontier HQ of Indo-Tibetan Border Police in Dehradun.

    ‘Seven Summits’ Challenge
    It is the name given to challenge of climbing highest point in each of the 7 continents.
    1st such challenge was accomplished in 1985 when Dick Bass, Texas oil tycoon touched summit
    of Mount Everest. Presently, more than 300 people have accomplished the ‘Seven Summits
    Challenge’.
    The Seven Summit includes-
    1. Carstensz Pyramid at 4884meters; Location at Oceania in Australia, New Guinea
    2. Kilimanjaro at 5892meters; Location at Africa.
    3. Elbrus with Location at Russia.
    4. Aconcagua with Height of 6962meters; Location at South America.
    5. Denali with Height: 6194meters; Location at North America.
    6. Vinson Massif with Height 4892meters; Location at Antarctica.
    7. Mt. Everest with Height 8848meters; Location at Asia.

    Who has become 1st sitting US president to enter North Korea ?- Donald Trump

    US President Donald Trump became 1st sitting United States president to set foot in Democratic
    People’s Republic of Korea when he met its leader, Kim Jong Un, in Demilitarised Zone between
    North Korea and South Korea.
    Important Highlights

    • President Donald Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at border village of Panmunjom in
      the Demilitarized Zone, South Korea and decided to restart stalled nuclear discussions.
    • This was the 3rd meeting between both leaders in just more than a year on old Cold War frontier
      that for decades has symbolised hostility between their nations, which are technically still at war.
      Unique 3-way Gathering
    • Trump while accompanied by Kim, briefly crossed a military separation line into North Korea and
      moments later, they returned to South Korean side and joined South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in
      for a brief talk, marking an unprecedented 3-way gathering.
      More about US-North Korea Meet
      1st summit
      In 2018 between North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un and United States President Donald Trump,
      first summit was organised in Singapore city, known as North Korea–United States Singapore
      Summit. At the summit a joint statement was inked between both agreeing to security guarantees
      for North Korea, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, new peaceful relations, recovery of
      soldiers’ remains, and follow-up negotiations between high-level officials.
      2nd summit
      It was organised in February 2019 in Hanoi, Vietnam known as 019 North Korea–United States
      Hanoi Summit/Hanoi Summit. This meet was cut short and that no contract was reached as both
      sides failed to narrow differences between United States demand for North Korea to give up its
      nuclear weapons and a North Korea’s demand for relief of authorizations.