1st JULY CURRENT AFFAIRS IN ENGLISH

1. Mumbai Airport Among Least Punctual Airports In The World: Study

Based upon a report by British aviation intelligence firm OAG, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport has been ranked as the fifth least punctual airport in the world with a rank of 509 out of the 513 airports globally.

• The Nagoya Komaki Airport in Japan topped the global ranking list with an ‘on-time performance’ (OTP) rate of 94.5 percent.
• Further, Air India is the lowest ranking Indian airline on the list, ranked at 64 out of 65 airlines.
• South Korea’s low-cost airline T’way Air topped the global ranking.

2. Tourism Minister inaugurates the Jodhpur Institute of Hospitality Management

The Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism Shri. K.J. Alphons inaugurated the Institute of Hospitality Management in Jodhpur.

• In his inaugural speech,the Minister highlighted that India is among the fastest growing Tourism economy in the world and in 2017, the Indian tourism receipts went up by 20.8% against a global growth rate of 7%.
• Shri. K. J. Alphons hoped that in three years we will be able to double the revenue from foreign tourists.

3. 1st July 2018 to be celebrated as ‘GST day’

Government of India is celebrating the 1st Anniversary of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) coming into force.  GST was launched on the 1st July, 2017.

• The first year has been remarkable both for the sheer variety of challenges that its implementation has thrown up and for the willingness and ability of policy makers and tax administrators to rise up to these challenges and respond befittingly.
• But more importantly, the first year of GST has been an example to the world of the readiness of the Indian taxpayer to be a partner in this unprecedented reform of Indian taxation.
• Accordingly, it has been decided that Sunday, the 1st of July, 2018 shall be commemorated as ‘GST Day’.
• Before implementation of GST, Indian taxation system was a farrago of central, state and local area levies.

4. India gets its 37th WORLD UNESCO World HERITAGE SITE

In yet another landmark achievement, India’s nomination of the “Victorian and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai” has been inscribed on  UNESCO's World Heritage list.

• The decision was taken at the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO at Manama in Bahrain.
• As recommended by the World Heritage Committee, India accepted the renaming of the ensemble as “Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai”.  
• India has been successful in securing the inscription of the "Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai” on UNESCO's World Heritage List under Criteria (ii) and (iv) as defined in the UNESCO's Operational Guidelines.    
• This makes Mumbai city the second city in India after Ahmedabad to be inscribed on the World Heritage List.

5. AI task force hands over Final Report

To study the whole gamut of issues surrounding strategic implications of AI in national security perspective, a Task Force was constituted in February 2018, under the Chairmanship of Shri N Chandrasekharan, Chairman, Tata Sons.

• The Task Force, on June 30, 2018 has handed over its Final Report with recommendations.
• The Task Force in its report has Studied the level of AI/ML development in India in general and specific in the context of defence needs.

6. Sriram takes charge as MD and CEO of IDBI Bank

B Sriram has assumed charge as Managing Director and CEO of IDBI Bank.

• Sriram was appointed MD and CEO in place of Mahesh Kumar Jain who recently took charge as deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Sriram has been working as the MD (Corporate and Global Banking) in SBI since July 2014.

7. S. Ramesh takes over as Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs

Shri S. Ramesh, IRS(C&CE:1981) has taken over as Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs [CBIC], on superannuation of Smt. Vanaja N. Sarna.

• Prior to his elevation, he was Member (Administration) in the Board.
• Shri S. Ramesh began his career in Mumbai as Asst Commissioner, Central Excise and thereafter in Mumbai Customs.
• He has worked in various capacities in Hyderabad, Nagpur, Chennai, Trichy etc.
• He was the Chief Commissioner, Chennai Customs Zone from 2013 to 2016.
• Thereafter, he took over as Director General, Systems & Data Management.
• He joined the Board in September, 2016 as Member (IT, Central Excise & Service Tax).

8. India clinch Kabaddi Masters title with easy win over Iran

Putting up yet another superlative show, India thrashed Iran 44-26 to emerge champions of the six-nation Kabaddi Masters Dubai.

• In a battle between the top two sides of the world, the three-time world champions did not give Iran any ground to recover.
• The six-nation invitational tournament was organised by International Kabaddi Federation in association with Star Sports and Dubai Sports Council.