RIL becomes top-ranked Indian company in Fortune Global 500 list

NATIONAL NEWS

RIL becomes top-ranked Indian company in Fortune Global 500 list

• Diversified conglomerate Reliance Industries (RIL) has become the top-ranked Indian company to feature in the latest Fortune Global 500 list.
• The oil-to-retail major has toppled state-run Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) as the top-ranked Indian company.
• RIL has attained a rank of 106 in the latest list, recording an improvement of 42 positions from its previous ranking.
• On the other hand, IOC improved its position to 117th rank, registering a jump of 20 spots.
• Other Indian companies in the Fortune Global 500 list include ONGC (160), State Bank of India (236), Tata Motors (265), Bharat Petroleum (275) and Rajesh Exports (495).
• The 2019 ranking was led by Walmart, followed by Sinopec Group, Royal Dutch Shell, China National Petroleum and State Grid.

DCC approves imposing Rs 3,050 cr penalty on Airtel, Vodafone Idea

• The Digital Communications Commission, the telecom department's apex decision-making body, on approved imposing cumulative penalty of Rs 3,050 crore on Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea for not providing points of interconnection to Reliance Jio.

India’s first dragon blood-oozing tree

• A trio of researchers led by Assam forest officer Jatindra Sarma has discovered Dracaena cambodiana, a dragon tree species in the Dongka Sarpo area of West Karbi Anglong, Assam.
• This is for the first time that a dragon tree species has been reported from India.
• Dragon tree species whose sap turns bright red after coming in contact with air.

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) launches YouTube, Wikipedia like portals to train forces

• CISF recently launched Securitypedia, an on-line encyclopedia.
• With people spending better part of their free time on mobile phones watching videos and relying on online portals for information, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has launched a customized video interface on the lines of YouTube and portal on the lines of Wikipedia to update its personnel about security related issues, best practices in forces and latest technologies available across the world.

Sunil Kumar given additional charge as MTNL chairman

• State-owned MTNL (Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited) director Sunil Kumar has been given additional charge of chairman and managing director of the company.
• Kumar is currently Director (Human Resources and Enterprise Business) at MTNL and takes over from P K Purwar who was recently appointed chairman and managing Director of BSNL.

AWARDS

Nishagandhi award presented

• Minister for Tourism Kadakampally Surendran presented the inaugural Nishagandhi Sangeetha Puraskaram to musicians Parassala B. Ponnammal and T V. Gopalakrishnan at the valedictory function of the five-day music festival Nishagandhi Monsoon Ragas at Nishagandhi Auditorium.
• Instituted by Kerala Tourism, the award carries ₹1.5 lakh in cash, citation and memento.

6 firms honoured with CSR Journal Excellence Awards

• The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Journal Excellence Awards – Third Edition on July 22 at the iconic Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

• Tata Power   -Education and skill training,
• ReNew Power- Women empowerment and child welfare,                        
• Hindustan Zinc-Agriculture   and rural development
• Aditya Birla Capital ltd- Sports   
• YES Bank Ltd- Health and sanitation
• Mahindra & Mahindra- Environment.   

BOOKS AND AUTHOR

PM Modi releases book on former PM Chandra Shekhar

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, released the book Chandra Shekhar - The Last Icon of Ideological Politics.
• The book has been written by Shri Harivansh, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha; and Shri Ravi Dutt Bajpai.
• The book release event was held at the Balayogi Auditorium, Parliament Library Building.

Book on ‘Fire & Fury’ Corps released

• Coffee table book titled ‘Fire and Fury Corps– Saga of Valour, Fortitude and Sacrifice, ‘a repository of exemplary valour of Fire and Fury Corps and their utmost dedication to nation was released.
• The book was released in Leh, in J&K by Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh on the occasion of nation celebrating 20th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

SPORTS

Virat Kohli maintains number one spot in ICC Test Rankings

• India skipper Virat Kohli has retained his number one position in the latest ICC Test batsmen's rankings.
• Kohli, who last featured in India's 2-1 Test series win over Australia, is sitting on 922 points. New Zealand's Kane Williamson (913) is second and Cheteshwar Pujara (881) third in the rankings released.
• In the team rankings, India remains in the first place followed by New Zealand (2) and South Africa (3) with England (4) and Australia (5) rounding up the top five.

BCCI approves Indian Cricketers Association

• The BCCI has approved the Indian Cricketers Association (ICA), the body formed as per the board’s new constitution to look after the interest of former players.
• The ICA is not affiliated to Federation of International Cricketers’ Association (FICA) and is only open to former men and women cricketers, unlike the players’ associations in most countries.
• The functioning of ICA will be independent of BCCI’s functioning and the association will have to generate its own funds even though the board will provide some initial grants.
•  Former India cricketers Kapil Dev, Ajit Agarkar and Shantha Rangaswamy are the directors at ICA and will hold their positions until elections are held.

FACTS

BCCI President- C.K Khanna

Head Quarters- Mumbai.