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- Live in Partners Protection Rights | Willie Walsh Takes Charge As IndiGo CEO
Today’s major current affairs that are important for students preparing for government jobs:
1. Willie Walsh takes charge as IndiGo CEO
Willie Walsh took charge as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IndiGo on 3 August. His full name is William Matthew Walsh.
- He was appointed after IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers resigned in March.
- Walsh began his career as a pilot with Aer Lingus in 1979.
- He worked with British Airways from 2005 to 2011 and later became its CEO.
- He was serving as Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
- International Airlines Group (IAG) includes major airlines such as Aer Lingus (Ireland), Iberia (Spain) and Vueling (UK-based group airline).
IndiGo
IndiGo is India’s largest airline.
- IndiGo, formally InterGlobe Aviation, is India’s largest and busiest airline and was founded in 2006.
- It is a low-cost carrier (LCC) that offers affordable air travel.
- Its headquarters is in Gurugram, Haryana.
- The founders are Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal.
- IndiGo operates flights to more than 90 domestic and over 40 international destinations.
Walsh has previously served as the CEO of British Airways and International Airlines Group (IAG).
2. Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov visits India
Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov arrived in India on 3 August.
- On the first day of his visit, he met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
- During the visit, he will hold bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at Hyderabad House.
- The discussions are expected to cover trade, investment, energy, connectivity, education, culture and regional security.
- Saidov will also participate in a special business forum in New Delhi.
- The visit aims to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, energy and security.
- India and Uzbekistan signed the protocol for establishing diplomatic relations on 18 March 1992.
- On 27 May, the two countries signed a bilateral market access protocol related to Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
India and Uzbekistan launched their strategic partnership in 2011.
3. Legal protection for live-in partners under Section 498A principles
On 3 August, the Supreme Court said in a judgment that partners in a live-in relationship can seek legal protection under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the principles earlier associated with Section 498A of the IPC.
- Section 498A was intended to protect a married woman from cruelty by her husband or his relatives.
- The Court said protection from cruelty should not be restricted only to marriage.
- The Court clarified that a woman in a live-in relationship may also receive protection from domestic violence and cruelty if the case satisfies legal requirements.
- Merely calling a relationship a live-in relationship is not enough; courts will examine its actual circumstances.
- Courts may consider factors such as the nature of the relationship, duration, cohabitation, and other relevant facts before granting protection.
Section 498A (earlier IPC)
- The purpose of Section 498A was to provide legal protection against cruelty by a husband or his relatives.
- The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 has replaced the IPC, but courts may still refer to earlier legal principles in such matters.
- Cruelty can include physical assault, mental harassment, conduct driving a woman towards suicide, or behaviour that seriously endangers her life, health, or safety.
- The earlier provision carried punishment of up to three years’ imprisonment along with a fine.
- In serious non-compoundable circumstances, courts could issue non-bailable warrants.
SPORTS
4. India finishes fourth at Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026
The Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 concluded on 3 August. India won a total of 39 medals: 13 gold, 17 silver and 9 bronze.
- India finished fourth in the medal table.
- Australia topped the table with 171 medals, including 70 gold.
- England won 110 medals, while Canada finished third with 62 medals.
India’s medal performance
- Boxing made the biggest contribution with 10 medals (7 gold and 3 silver).
- Athletics brought 10 medals but no gold.
- Weightlifting won 8 medals.
- Para athletics won 6 medals.
- Judo won 4 medals.
- Para powerlifting won 1 medal.
- Out of 39 medals, 37 came from just five sports.
Closing ceremony
- The closing ceremony was held on Sunday night.
- Commonwealth Sport President Dr Donald Rukare handed over the baton to India, the host of the 2030 Games.
- Neeraj Chopra, Indian Olympic Association President P.T. Usha and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi were present.
Other important points
- Only 10 sports were included in Glasgow, compared with 19 in Birmingham 2022.
- Sports such as badminton, wrestling, shooting, hockey, table tennis and cricket were not part of the Glasgow Games; India had won 30 medals in these sports in 2022.
- India sent a contingent of 123 athletes, compared with 210 athletes in Birmingham.
- Thirty-eight Indian athletes returned with medals, giving a success rate of 31%, compared with 29% in Birmingham.
5. ‘Worlds Within Cloth’ exhibition to be inaugurated tomorrow
The Ministry of Textiles will inaugurate the exhibition “Worlds Within Cloth: New Orders of Woven Making” in New Delhi on 5 August.
- The exhibition is being organised as part of the programmes for the 12th National Handloom Day and will run from 6 to 19 August.
- It will feature contemporary textile artists, designers and craft collectives.
- Through research-based works, artist–artisan collaborations and immersive installations, the exhibition will explore the social, historical and cultural dimensions of textile making.
- The exhibition will be open to the public from 6 to 19 August 2026, daily from 11 am to 6 pm.
- Its objective is to promote India’s handloom and weaving heritage and showcase the creativity of contemporary textile artists and weavers.
National Handloom Day
- National Handloom Day has been observed since 2015.
- It commemorates the Swadeshi Movement of 1905.
- The day aims to honour weavers and promote the handloom sector in India.
6. BRICS Statistical Officers’ meeting held in Lucknow
A meeting of the heads of National Statistical Offices of BRICS countries was held in Lucknow on 3 August under India’s chairmanship.
- Representatives from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and the newer BRICS member countries participated.
- The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation and statistical data exchange among BRICS nations.
- Progress related to the BRICS Joint Statistical Publication 2026 was reviewed.
- Discussions focused on data transparency and the use of modern technology in official statistics.
- The meeting is considered an important step towards deeper cooperation in economic, social and demographic statistics.
The meeting discussed issues such as comparative analysis in development, trade, employment and social sectors.
This Day in History
- In 1929, renowned Indian playback singer and actor Kishore Kumar was born.
- In 1956, Apsara, the first nuclear research reactor in India and Asia, became operational at Trombay, Mumbai.
- In 1967, the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam in present-day Telangana, one of the world’s tallest masonry dams, was completed.
