During his visit to Vientiane, Laos, from 25 to 27 July 2024, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar unveiled the first postage stamp of Ram Lalla of Ayodhya.
The event took place during ASEAN-related foreign minister meetings.
Jaishankar, alongside Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, released two sets of stamps themed “Celebrating the shared cultural heritage of Lao PDR and India.”
One stamp depicted Ram Lalla’s idol from Ayodhya, while the other commemorated Lord Buddha from Luang Prabang, Laos’s ancient capital.
Although predominantly Buddhist, Laos’s culture is deeply influenced by Hinduism, including the Ramayana, known locally as Ramakien.
2. Nicolas Maduro has been elected as the President of which South American country? – Venezuela
Sports
3. Recently, who became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting with a bronze at Paris? – Manu Bhaker
Manu Bhaker of Haryana opened India’s medal account at the 33rd Summer Olympics in Paris, winning a bronze in the 10-meter air pistol event on 28 July 2024.
She became the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal in shooting.
The Paris Olympics, held from 26 July to 11 August 2024, features 32 sports, with India competing in 16 disciplines.
Bhaker, 22, scored 221.7 points to finish third in the eight-woman final.
South Korean Oh Ye Jin won gold with an Olympic record of 243.2 points, and silver went to South Korean Yeji Kim with 241.3 points.
4. Recently, which country secured their first Women’s Asia Cup title? – Sri Lankan
The host Sri Lankan women’s cricket team won their maiden Women’s Cricket Asia Cup, upsetting the defending champion Indian team.
In the final of the 9th Women’s Cricket Asia Cup, held on 28 July 2024 at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, the hosts defeated India by 8 wickets with 8 balls to spare.
Sri Lanka became the third team to win the Women’s Cricket Asia Cup, after India (seven times) and Bangladesh (once).
All matches were played in Dambulla. In the semi-finals, India defeated Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka beat Pakistan to reach the finals.
5. Men’s Asia Cup 2025 will be hosted in which country? – India
Short News
Important Days & Weeks
6. World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is observed every year on July 30, it was first declared by the United Nations General Assembly in which year? – 2013
State Current Affairs
7. Gulabchand Kataria has been appointed as the Governor of which state? – Punjab
8. Which state government has launched ‘Gom Vinamulya Vij Yojana’? – Goa
Miscellaneous
9. Recently Bohai Bay has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, Bohai Bay is located in which sea? – Yellow Sea
10. What is the main objective of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), recently seen in news? – To strengthen and maintain a decentralized laboratory-based IT-enabled disease surveillance system
In the past year, 1,862 disease outbreaks were reported to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), with Kerala recording the highest number.
The IDSP, launched in November 2004 with World Bank assistance, is a decentralized, state-based program by India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Its objectives include monitoring disease trends and responding to outbreaks through trained Rapid Response Teams (RRTs).
The program integrates surveillance activities at central, state, and district levels, utilizes ICT for data management, and strengthens public health laboratories.
Weekly data collection on epidemic-prone diseases helps identify trends, with RRTs investigating and controlling outbreaks as needed.
