Former Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor and renowned economist Subir Gokarn passed away on July 30.

The news of his demise was shared by Shamika Ravi, member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM).

"I share this with a heavy heart...Subir Gokarn, my friend and colleague, passed away a few hours back," she tweeted.

Gokarn, who was 60, was battling cancer, according to a Business Standard report.

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday approved the appointment of Rajiv Kumar as the administrative head of one of the key economic policy making divisions of the government - the ministry of finance.

The finance secretary is the senior-most bureaucrat among the finance ministry’s five departments—economic affairs, revenue, expenditure, financial services and department of investment and public asset management (DIPAM). Kumar a veteran of power corridors of the North Block, is also secretary, financial services. He succeeded 1983 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Subhash Chandra Garg, who is currently the power secretary. Garg, who was also the economic affairs secretary, was transferred to the ministry of power in a major bureaucratic reshuffle on 24 July.

Lok Sabha today passed the Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 that aims at protecting the interests of consumers by establishing authorities for timely and effective administration and settlement of consumers’ dispute. 

It has a provision for Central government to set up a Central Consumer Protection Authority to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers. 

The authority will have the power to impose a penalty on a manufacturer or an endorser of up to 10 lakh rupees and imprisonment for up to two years for a false or misleading advertisement. 

India and Myanmar today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence co-operation. 

The MoU was signed in New Delhi after the talks between Minister of State for Defence, Shripad Yesso Naik and Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services of Myanmar, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. 

Defence Ministry in a release said, the talks were aimed at enhancing defence co-operation, review joint exercises and training provided to Myanmar Defence Services. It also aims to strengthen maritime security by joint surveillance and capacity building, medical co-operation, pollution response and for developing new infrastructure. 

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday announced in the State Assembly that the Sachivalaya or Secretariat building in Bhubaneswar will now be called ‘Lok Seva Bhavan’.

“In a democracy people are masters and we all exist to serve them,” said Mr. Patnaik while making the announcement during the budget discussion on the expenditures of the home and general administration departments.

“If our State has grown at a rate higher than the national growth rate, if the State has attracted investment worth crores of rupees, it is because of the peaceful law and order situation here,” said Mr. Patnaik.

Odisha has been vindicated! Odisha has received the geographical indication (GI) tag for its local version of the Rasgulla. Odisha that has also been claiming the sweet as its own, has received the GI tag for 'Odisha Rasagola'. The formal certification was issued by Chennai-based GI Registry on its website.

This tag comes amid a years-long debate between West Bengal and Odisha over where the sweet had originated. In November 2017, West Bengal was granted the tag which led people to erroneously believe that the GI Registry recognised Bengal as its place of origin, which is factually incorrect.

The Odisha Small Industries Corporation Ltd that has been awarded the GI tag said in its submission, "Odisha Rasagola is very soft to feel, juicy and non-chewy in consistency and can be swallowed without teeth pressure. The rasogolla/rasgulla prepared in other places is circular in shape, milk white in colour and basically spongy and chewy in consistency." The Odisha government had filed for geographical recognition of the 'Odishara Rasagulla' with the GI Registry in Chennai last year.

Former Congress Minister M. Mukesh Goud passed away on Monday afternoon at a corporate hospital after prolonged illness.

He was 60 and is survived by wife, two sons and a daughter.

The end came at around 3 p.m. The Congress leader was suffering from cancer, and was undergoing treatment for past seven months.

As his condition deteriorated, family members of the former Minister had shifted him to a corporate hospital late last night. Rumours flew thick and fast about his death on Sunday night, prompting his son and Youth Congress leader Vikram Goud to issue a statement. The hospital authorities too had said his condition was very critical.

Six-time world champion Mary Kom in 51kg category and Simranjit Kaur in 60kg category grabbed a gold each in 23rd President's Cup Boxing Tournament  in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. 

The Olympic bronze medallist Mary decimated Australian April Franks 5-0 in finals. Simranjit Kaur defeated Indonesia's Asian Games bronze medallist Hasanah Huswatun 5-0 in the final bout.

With this, Indian boxers finished their campaign in the Tournament with nine medals. The rich haul comprised seven gold and two silver. 

Meghalaya Assembly Speaker and former Chief Minister Donkupar Roy passed away today in a Gurugram hospital. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed anguish at the demise of Dr. Roy. Mr Modi said, Dr Roy, who was passionate about Meghalaya’s progress, served the state with great diligence and helped transform many lives. 

The Prime Minister offered condolences to family and supporters of Donkupar Roy. 

Rail traffic on Bihar's Darbhanga-Samastipur section of East Central Railways, ECR, has been suspended due to flood water posing threat to the track between Hayaghat and Thalwara station. 

Chief PRO of the ECR, Rajesh Kumar, told AIR News that thirteen trains including four express trains have been cancelled. Fifteen trains have been diverted and nine short terminated. 

Rail officials have reached the site for monitoring the situation. 

Meanwhile, the flood situation continues to be grim in Darbhanga, Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur.