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- Vishvesh Negi Named India Ambassador To Iran | Dr. Annapurni Subramanyam
Today’s important current affairs, essential for students preparing for government jobs:
NATIONAL
1. Vishwesh Negi to be India’s new Ambassador to Iran
- On 3 August, Vishwesh Negi was appointed India’s next Ambassador to Iran.
- A 2002-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, he will replace the current Ambassador, Dr Mohammad Fatah Ali.
- He is currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.
- From 2002 to 2022, he handled bilateral diplomatic assignments in the Ministry and served in several key positions in Indian missions abroad.
- In September 2022, he was appointed Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence.
- India-Iran ties are important for energy security, the Chabahar port, regional connectivity, trade and West Asia’s strategic importance.
In 2023, Vishwesh Negi took charge as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and handled matters related to defence diplomacy and international cooperation.
2. FSSAI bans Dabur’s ‘100% pure’ claims
- On 4 August, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) barred Dabur India from using claims such as “100% pure” on products including honey, ghee and edible oils.
- FSSAI said such labels are misleading and may give consumers incorrect information.
- The regulator has sought a report from Dabur within 15 days, saying the claim violates the FSS Regulations, 2018.
- Earlier, in 2024, FSSAI had directed companies to remove claims such as “100% Fruit Juice” from fruit-juice products, calling them vague, unverified and misleading.
- Dabur India Limited is an Indian health, personal care and food products company. Its popular products include Dabur Honey, Chyawanprash and Hajmola.
FSSAI
- FSSAI is India’s apex food safety regulator.
- It ensures that food sold in the country is safe, hygienic and meets quality standards.
- It was established on 5 September 2008 and is headquartered in New Delhi.
INTERNATIONAL
3. Dr Annapurni Subramanyam receives the Vikram Sarabhai Medal
- On 4 August, Indian astronomer Dr Annapurni Subramanyam was awarded the COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal 2026.
- She is the first Indian woman scientist to receive the medal, and only four Indians have received it so far.
- She was honoured at the 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly in Florence, Italy, for her contribution to space research.
- Dr Subramanyam is Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, and Additional Director of the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS).
- She is known for her research on stars, star clusters and nearby galaxies.
- She also served as a calibration scientist for the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) on India’s first space observatory mission, AstroSat.
COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal
- The medal is awarded to scientists from developing countries for outstanding contributions to space research.
- It is jointly presented by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- The award was instituted in 1990 in honour of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme.
Dr Annapurni has also made significant contributions in the development and use of scientific instruments related to space and ground telescopes.
4. Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh’s Vietnam visit
- On 5 August, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh completed a three-day official visit to Vietnam.
- The visit aimed to strengthen defence ties and expand military cooperation between the two countries.
- He arrived in Hanoi and met India’s Ambassador, Shering W. Sherpa.
- During the visit, he held bilateral talks with Lieutenant General Vu Hong Son, Commander of the Air Defence–Air Force Service.
- The visit reflects the shared commitment of India and Vietnam to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership.
- Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar also said that India has signed a deal with Vietnam for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
Both sides reviewed the progress of existing defence cooperation and also discussed new ways to enhance cooperation.
5. Glaw Lake becomes India’s 101st Ramsar Site
- On 4 August, Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh was declared a Ramsar Site, becoming India’s 101st such site and the state’s first.
- The announcement was made by Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav.
- Located in the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, Glaw Lake is a freshwater lake in the Eastern Himalayas and a biodiversity hotspot.
- It is fed by perennial mountain streams and surrounded by dense forest.
- More than 150 species of trees and 49 species of orchids have been recorded in the wetland and its catchment area.
- The wetland is considered important for biodiversity conservation, migratory birds and the local ecosystem.
Ramsar Site
- A Ramsar Site is a wetland of international importance recognised under the Ramsar Convention, signed in Iran in 1971.
- India joined the convention on 1 February 1982. The treaty is named after the Iranian city of Ramsar, where it was signed.
- Member countries can nominate wetlands for international protection as Ramsar Sites.
- These wetlands are important for biodiversity, migratory birds, rare species and water conservation.
- India’s 100th Ramsar Site was the Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh.
Glaw Lake is known for its ecological importance and the uniqueness of the surrounding area.
DEATH
6. Former Governor Dr D. Y. Patil passes away
- On 4 August, Dr D. Y. Patil, former Governor of West Bengal, Bihar and Tripura, passed away at the age of 90.
- He was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from 1967 to 1978.
- In 1983, he founded the Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology (RAIT) in Mumbai, which became the foundation of the D. Y. Patil education group.
- He later established more than 182 colleges across the country.
- Dr Patil was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991 for his contribution to education.
- He served as Governor of Tripura from 2009 to 2013, became Governor of Bihar in 2013, and was Acting Governor of West Bengal in 2014.
Patil Group runs colleges as well as 7 deemed universities and several hospitals.
7. Justice M. S. Liberhan passes away
- On 3 August, Justice Manmohan Singh (M. S.) Liberhan, former Chief Justice and head of the Liberhan Commission that investigated the Babri Masjid demolition, passed away at the age of 87.
- He was regarded as one of India’s senior jurists and was closely associated with the Babri Masjid demolition inquiry.
- The Liberhan Commission was set up on 16 December 1992 to examine the circumstances surrounding the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on 6 December 1992.
- After nearly 17 years of investigation, the commission submitted its report to the central government in 2009, making it one of India’s longest-running inquiry commissions.
Judicial career
- Justice Liberhan became a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1987.
- He later served as Chief Justice of the Madras High Court and the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
- After retirement, he continued as Chairman of the Liberhan Commission until 2009.
Justice Manmohan Singh started practicing law in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1964.
MISCELLANEOUS
8. Varsha Agawale becomes new Director General of GSI
- On 3 August, Varsha Agawale became Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), becoming the first woman to hold the post in the organisation’s 176-year history.
- She took charge as the 54th Director General and succeeded Asit Saha.
- Earlier, she served as Additional Director General and Head of Department of GSI’s Eastern Region in Kolkata.
- Varsha Agawale is an expert in palynology, the study of pollen grains, spores and microscopic biological remains.
Geological Survey of India (GSI)
- GSI was established in 1851 and is one of India’s oldest scientific institutions. It functions under the Ministry of Mines.
- Its headquarters is in Kolkata.
- GSI was originally set up to explore coal reserves in India.
Varsha joined GSI in 1992, she has more than 30 years of experience in geology.
Today’s History
- In 1914, the first electric traffic light was installed in Cleveland city, America.
- In 2019, the Government of India abolished Articles 370 and 35A which granted special state status to Jammu and Kashmir.
- In 2020, ground-breaking ceremony was performed for the construction of the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya.
