Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 23th July 2024

National News 

Amit Shah chairs 7th NCORD top-level meeting 

• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah chaired the 7th Apex Level Meeting of Narco-Coordination Center (NCORD) in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
•  On this occasion, the Home Minister launched National Narcotics Helpline ‘MANAS’ (Madak Padarth Nishedh Asuchna Kendra) and virtually inaugurated Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Office at Srinagar. 
• Shah also released NCB ‘Annual Report 2023’ and Compendium on ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’. MANAS will have a toll-free number 1933, a web portal, a mobile app, and a UMANG app so that citizens of the country can anonymously connect with NCB 24×7 to seek advice on de-addiction and rehabilitation and share information on drug trafficking. 
• And informed that, for capacity-building, the “Centre of Excellence for Narcotics Control” has been founded and ‘Mission Spandhan’ has been initiated to create awareness among the public regarding issues relating to drugs. 

2. Government of India inaugurates National Landslide Forecasting Centre in Kolkata 

• To mitigate landslide hazards and provide early warning to people affected by them, G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Government of India has established the National Landslide Forecasting Centre in Kolkata and launched the GeoSenset web portal and Landslide mobile app. 
• It will issue early warning bulletins for all landslide-prone states in due course, operationalise regional Landslide Early Warning Systems (LEWS) across the country by 2030. 
• The National Landslide Forecasting Centre has been set up at Geological Survey of India (GSI) Dharitri Complex, Salt Lake City, Kolkata, West Bengal. 
• The advanced National Landslide Forecasting Centre equipped with the latest technology will provide early warning information to the local administration, update landslide inventory and integrate real-time rainfall and slope instability data to enhance forecast accuracy. 
• The launch of the GeoSenset web portal is a major step towards disaster risk reduction. This web portal will facilitate dissemination of relevant data and information on landslide hazards, initiating short-range and medium-range landslide forecasting in the country. 
• A landslide is a large-scale sliding of soil, rocks or debris down a mountain slope due to the pull of gravity. It may occur suddenly or gradually over a long period of time. The most landslide-prone regions in India are the Himalayan region, followed by the northeastern mountain ranges, Western Ghats, Nilgiris, Eastern Ghats and Vindhya mountain ranges.
• Landslides cause chronic problems in the northeastern region, especially the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, Sikkim, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, causing economic losses worth billions of rupees, The Geological Survey of India (GSI) was set up in 1851 to find coalbearing areas for railways. It comes under the Union Ministry of Mines. 
• It is headquartered in Kolkata. GSI regional offices: Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Shillong and Kolkata 

3. GC Murmu inaugurates ‘International Centre for Audit of Local Governance’ in Rajkot 

• The Comptroller and Auditor General of India Girish Chandra Murmu inaugurated the International Centre for Audit of Local Governance (iCAL) at Rajkot in Gujarat. 
• The centre will serve as a think tank for addressing governance issues at the grassroots level across the nations.
• The centre will also serve as a platform for information sharing and play a key role in strengthening local self-institutions.
• CAG Girish Chandra Murmu also stressed on the transparency and accountability in the local self-governance and capacity building of local government auditors. 

4. Airbus to launch first ‘Made in India’ H 125 helicopter in 2026 

• Airbus and Tata are joining forces to manufacture India’s first FAL (Final Assembly Line) H125 helicopter, which is set to roll out by 2026. 
• This partnership aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and reflects Airbus’s commitment to investing in the Indian aerospace market despite regulatory challenges. 
• The initial production capacity will be 10 helicopters per year, with the potential to scale up to 50 helicopters annually in subsequent years. 

5. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia releases ‘The Future is Now’ as the theme for India Mobile Congress 2024 

• The theme of the India Mobile Congress 2024, ‘The Future is Now’, was unveiled today by Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region. 
• The theme signifies how India stands at the heart of the technological evolution and IMC 2024 bringing together global leaders – visionaries, pioneers, and innovators – to collaborate and actively shape the technologies transforming our world today, where the future isn’t just a concept – it’s happening. 
• The eighth edition of Asia’s premier digital technology exhibition, India Mobile Congress (IMC), co-hosted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) will be held from 15th October at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi this year. 
• Concurrent to IMC 2024, India is also hosting the prestigious international conferences – World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly New Delhi 2024 (WTSA 2024) and Global Standards Symposium (GSS 2024) from 14-24 Oct, 2024 at the same venue. 

6. Assam’s Charaideo Maidam nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Site 

• Charaideo Maidam, an ancient burial ground in Assam, is poised to become Northeast India’s first cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site.
•  This prestigious nomination was announced during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee held in New Delhi. 
• Previously, Northeast India boasted two natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites — Kaziranga National Park, famous for its one-horned rhinoceroses, and Manas National Park, a renowned tiger reserve. 
• Charaideo Maidam’s nomination fills a significant gap, recognizing Assam’s rich cultural heritage. 

About Charaideo Maidam 

• Located in Assam’s Charaideo district, Charaideo Maidam is the ancient burial ground of the Ahom dynasty. These impressive structures, similar to Egypt’s pyramids, house the remains of Ahom’s kings, nobles, and precious artefacts.
• The tradition of royal burials at Charaideo began with the first Ahom king, Chau-lung Siu-ka-pha, and continued for over 600 years in Assam. 
• Dedicated to kings, queens, princes, and princesses, these Maidams hold deep significance for the Ahom community, symbolising their rich history and culture.

 7. PM Modi announces One Million Dollar Grant to UNESCO World Heritage Centre

•  Prime Minister Modi announced that India will contribute one million dollars to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. 
• This grant will be used for capacity building, technical assistance and conservation of the world heritage sites. The grant will especially be used for the countries of the Global South. 
• The World Heritage Committee meets once a year and is responsible for managing all matters pertaining to World Heritage and deciding on sites to be inscribed on the World Heritage list. 
• During this meeting, proposals for nominating new sites on the World Heritage list, State of Conservation reports of 124 existing World Heritage properties, International Assistance and Utilisation of World Heritage Funds among others will be discussed. 
• Over two thousand international and national delegates from more than 150 countries attend the meeting. 

International News 

8. BBVA Colombia and IFC issue world’s first biodiversity bond 

• BBVA Colombia and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, issued the first tranche of the world’s first biodiversity bond worth US$15 million, amounting to US$50 million. 
• It aims to finance projects that address the key drivers of biodiversity loss, particularly focusing on reforestation, regeneration of natural forests on degraded lands, climate-smart and regenerative agriculture, restoration of wildlife habitats, etc. 
• BBVA is the issuing bank in Colombia and IFC acts as the structurer and investor. This operation includes advising on establishing eligibility criteria and reporting indicators for activities that help protect, maintain or improve biodiversity and ecosystem services, as well as promote optimal sustainable management of natural resources. 
• Additionally, IFC will build technical capacities within BBVA and raise awareness among its clients about financing opportunities for biodiversity in Colombia.
• During 2023, BBVA in Colombia financed more than 214.8 billion Colombian pesos in areas linked to biodiversity, such as land use, terrestrial habitats, ecotourism projects, smart agriculture and the conservation of marine habitats, mammals and birds. 
• Also, in 2023, the bank issued the first Blue Bond in Colombia, a financing solution that made it possible to mobilize financial resources and create opportunities related to the conservation of freshwater and coastal ecosystems. The first tranche of this bond totaled $50 million. 
• Climate change not only affects biodiversity in animals and natural species, but also affects communities, causing them to face situations such as displacement due to floods, crop losses due to droughts and fires. 

State News 

9. PGIMER, Chandigarh announces creation of India’s first ‘Medical Institutional Museum’ 

• PGIMER, Chandigarh announced the creation of India’s first medical institutional museum within a medical institution, dedicated to its glorious history and contribution to medical science. 
• Pankaj Rai, Deputy Director (Administration), PGI, who conceptualised the initiative, said, “This pioneering museum will be a milestone in the history of medical institutions in India. 
• The museum will house rare collections of manual notes from the time of the inception of PGI in 1962 to date. Some medical equipment, instruments, surgical drapes, etc. are also being collected from various departments. 
• This ambitious project honours the vision of the late Sardar Pratap Singh Kairon, the then Chief Minister of Punjab and eminent medical educationist of the United Punjab State, supported by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. 
• It is a testament to the visionary leaders who established PGI as a temple of learning and a symbol of excellence in medical education and research. This ambitious initiative, in fact, honours the vision of its founding fathers. 
• It will be a museum that will be a unique opportunity for alumni, current students and visitors to immerse themselves in the legacy and achievements of PGI. PGI recently celebrated its 61st Foundation Day. 

10. No Special Category Status for Bihar: govt. 

• The Union Finance Ministry, in a written reply to Parliament, has ruled out a "special status" for Bihar, quoting the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) report from 2012.
• Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, replying to JD(U) MP Ramprit Mandal, informed the Lok Sabha on Monday, "The request of Bihar for Special Category Status was considered by an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG), which submitted its report on March 30, 2012. The IMG came to the conclusion that based on existing National Development Council (NDC) criteria, the case for Special Category Status for Bihar is not made out." 
• He said that the Special Category Status for Plan assistance was granted in the past by the National Development Council to some States that were characterized by a number of features necessitating special consideration.

 Appointment 

11. Shikhar Dhawan announced brand ambassador of MotoGP India 

• Star India opener Shikhar Dhawan has been appointed the brand ambassador for MotoGP in India.
• Dhawan, known for his dynamic presence on the cricket field, will ignite his passion for racing through the latest campaign, ‘Face Kar Race Kar’. 
• The ‘Face Kar Race Kar’ campaign encapsulates the indomitable spirit of MotoGP, celebrating resilience and inspiring fan. 
• This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in the promotion of motorcycle racing in a country traditionally dominated by cricket fandom. 

Recent Brand Ambassador 

• Aditya Roy Kapur – Bisleri Limonata 
• PV Sindhu – Greenday’s Better Nutrition 
• PV Sindhu – Tobacco Control 
• Shah Rukh Khan – Muthoot Pappachan Group 
• Kareena Kapoor Khan – UNICEF India National Ambassador
• MS Dhoni – French carmaker Citroen 

12. Captain Supritha becomes first woman officer of Army Air Defence Corps to be operationally deployed at Siachen Glacier 

• In a landmark moment for gender equality and women empowerment in the Indian Armed Forces, Captain Supritha CT has etched her name in history by becoming the first woman officer of the Army Air Defence Corps to be operationally deployed at Siachen Glacier. 
• Captain Supritha CT hails from Mysore, Karnataka, with roots in Chamarajanagar district. Captain Supritha's father, Thirumalesh, serves as a sub-inspector of police at Talkad near Mysore.
•  Captain Supritha began her military career by joining the Indian Army as a Lieutenant in 2021. Her initial posting was in the Army Air Defence after extensive training in Chennai. 
• Prior to her historic deployment to Siachen, Captain Supritha underwent intense and rigorous training. This preparation was very important given the extreme conditions and challenges associated with serving at the world's highest battlefield. 
• The Siachen Glacier, located in the eastern Karakoram Range of the Himalayas, is renowned as the world's highest battlefield. Other prominent women military officers 
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent has landed at the Darwin Air Base of the Royal Australian Air Force to participate in the biennial Pitch Black exercise, 2024. For the first time, Bhawana Kanth, who was the first woman pilot of the IAF to fly Su-30MKI fighter jets, also participated in the Pitch Black exercise. 
• Anamika B. Rajeev, a Sub Lieutenant of the Indian Navy, became the first woman helicopter pilot of the Indian Navy. 
• Indian Air Force officer Air Marshal Sadhana Saxena Nair has been appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Military Hospital Service (MHS). Sadhana Nair has become the first woman officer in the country to hold this post. 

13. Indian CAPF force's dog squad to guard Paris Olympics

•  A group of ten highly skilled dogs from the Indian Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and special commando units have been deployed in France to ensure security of various venues during the upcoming Paris Olympics scheduled to begin from July 26, 2024. 
• These teams of dogs have been selected, along with their handlers, from multiple CAPFs, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), IndoTibetan Border Police (ITBP) forces, as well as the prestigious federal contingent commando unit, the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Assam Rifles. 
• These dogs, mostly of the robust Belgian Malinois breed, are known for their roles in infantry patrolling and anti-sabotage sniffing operations, including detection of bombs, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and miscreants in various internal security operations. 

14. Manolo Marquez appointed as the head coach of the Indian men's football team 

• Manolo Marquez was appointed as the new head coach of the Indian men's football team by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on July 20. Marquez will take over as the full-time national team head coach after ISL 2024-25. 
• Marquez, who hails from Barcelona, Spain, has an impressive coaching record in India. In his first stint, he made underdog Hyderabad FC the ISL champions, after which he became the coach of Goa.
• Last season, Goa finished third in the league and reached the semifinals of the playoffs. Before coming to India, Marquez has also coached several clubs in Spain such as Las Palmas (La Liga), Las Palmas B, Espanyol B, Badalona, Prata, and Europa. 
• Marquez Marquez has been coaching in India since 2020. He has coached two ISL clubs so far. His first stint was with Hyderabad FC (2020-23). He then joined the Goa team in the 2023 season. Under his coaching, Hyderabad FC won the ISL title in the 2021-22 season. 
• Shikhar Dhawan MotoGP India Brand Ambassador Eurosport India has announced the appointment of renowned Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan as the brand ambassador of MotoGP™ in India. Eurosport India has launched its latest campaign 'Face Kar Race Kar', featuring Dhawan as the face of MotoGP in India.
• The 2024 MotoGP™ season is in full swing, with 9 races completed so far, with 11 more races scheduled across Europe, Asia and Australia. The season will conclude on August 2. 

Awards 

15. Abhinav Bindra awarded prestigious Olympic Order by IOC 

• Olympic gold medal winning shooter Abhinav Bindra was awarded with Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 
• The award which was presented to Bindra for his outstanding services to the Olympic Movement, will be officially handed over to him during the 142nd IOC Session in Paris on August 10. 
• Bindra became India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist when he won the men’s 10m air rifle event at 2008 Beijing Games.

 About Olympic Order 

• The Olympic Order is the highest award of the IOC, given for distinguished contributions to the Olympic Movement. 
• It is awarded to recognize an individual who has illustrated the Olympic ideal through his/her action, has achieved remarkable merit in the sporting world, or has rendered outstanding services to the Olympic cause, either through his own personal achievement or his contribution to the development of sport. 
• Nominations are proposed by the Olympic Orders Council and decided upon by the Executive Board. 

16. Nobel laureate Rigoberta Menchu honoured with ‘Gandhi Mandela Award 2020’ 

• Renowned Nobel Peace Prize winner and Guatemalan human rights activist Rigoberta Menchu Tum has been awarded the Gandhi Mandela Award 2020. This prestigious honour recognises her lifelong commitment to advocating for indigenous rights and promoting peace and social justice. 
• The Gandhi Mandela Award was presented to Rigoberta Menchu Tum on the occasion of Nelson Mandela’s 106th birth anniversary on July 18, 2024. The date holds special significance as it aligns with the values of peace and equality, which both Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi espoused throughout their lives.
• Born on January 9, 1959, in a poor peasant family in Guatemala, Rigoberta Menchu Tum’s journey as an activist began in her teens. During the Guatemalan Civil War, Menchu’s family suffered heavily due to military persecution. 
• In 1982, she co-founded the United Representation of the Guatemalan Opposition (RUOG), further raising her voice for indigenous rights and social justice. 
• Her autobiography, "I, Rigoberta Menchú", published in 1983, attracted international attention. 
• Rigoberta Menchú's tireless work has earned her several prestigious awards, including: 
• The Nobel Peace Prize in 1992, the Princess of Asturias Prize in 1998. The Dalai Lama received the Gandhi Mandela Award for the year 2019. 
• he Gandhi Mandela Foundation established the award in 2019 on the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, MK Gandhi. The New Delhi-based Gandhi Mandela Foundation is a non-profit organization and a trust registered by the Government of India. 
• It is headquartered in New Delhi and has a global presence in the US, Africa, Russia, London, Switzerland, China, Nepal, Bangladesh. The Foundation is chaired by Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj, a Hindu spiritual leader from India. The patron is Swami Ram Dev. The jury committee comprises former Chief Justices of three countries (India, Nepal and Bangladesh). Poet Jukanti Jagannatham receives Sri Dasarathi Krishnamacharya Award 
• The Telangana government has nominated eminent writer and poet Jukanti Jagannatham for this year’s prestigious “Sri Dasarathi Krishnamacharya Award”. The state government announced that Mr. Jagannatham will be honoured with the award comprising Rs one lakh in cash and a memento on the occasion of Dasarathi Krishnamacharya’s birth anniversary. 
• Dasarathi Krishnamacharya, popularly known as Dasarathi, was an Indian Telugu poet and writer. Dasarathi holds the titles of Abhudaya Kavi and Kalaprapoorna. He also received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1974 for his poetic work Timiramato Samaram (Fight against Darkness). 

Sports 

17. India’s Kush Maini wins his first-ever Formula 2 Sprint Race at Hungarian GP 

• India’s Kush Maini won his maiden Formula 2 Sprint Race at the Hungarian Grand Prix after initial winner Richard Verschoor’s was disqualified due to a technical infringement. 
• Following the top of podium finish, the 23-year-old Invicta racing driver added 10 points to his season tally. 
• This victory marks Maini’s fifth podium of the season, placing him eighth in the championship standings, just three points behind Dennis Hauger. 
• With the win at the at Hungaroring, Maini surpassed Mercedes junior driver Kimi Antonelli in the Formula 2 Drivers’ Standings to P8 with 66 points under his belt. 

18. Oscar Piastri wins Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix 2024 

• Oscar Piastri won his first Formula One race after completing a McLaren one-two with Lando Norris at the Hungarian Grand Prix 2024. 
• Lewis Hamilton finished third behind the papaya-colored pair for his record-extending 200th career podium. 
• Points leader Max Verstappen finished fifth behind Charles Leclerc in a Ferrari and has now gone three races without a victory. Verstappen leads the standings with 265 points to Norris’ 189. 

Recent 2024 F1 Grand Prix Winner 

• Hungarian Grand Prix – McLaren’s Oscar Piastri (Australia) 
• British Grand Prix – Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton (UK) 
• Austrian Grand Prix – Mercedes’s George Russell (UK) 
• Spanish Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
• Canadian Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
•  Monaco Grand Prix – Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (Monacco) 
• Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) 
• Miami Grand Prix – McLaren’s Lando Norris (British) 
• Chinese Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) 
• Japanese Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) 
• Australian Grand Prix – Ferrari’s Carlos Saina (Spain) 
• Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) 
• Bahrain Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) 

19. Sania Mirza, Mary Kom & Rannvijay Singh join ‘Play Sports’ as brand ambassadors 

• Six-time Grand Slam winner and former World No. 1 in women’s doubles Sania Mirza, six-time World Champion and Olympic bronze medallist MC Mary Kom and actor Rannvijay Singha have joined ‘Play Sports’ as brand ambassadors. 
• Play Sport’s objective is to create a sustainable sports eco system in India by working with schools, developing sports, managing sports infrastructure, running academies and scouting talent from grassroots. 
• Play Sports aims to improve the sports infrastructure and training facilities at schools and societies in Delhi NCR and Jaipur in the first phase and then take it to the entire country. 
• India’s dream of hosting the 2036 Olympics is a vision that reflects the country’s growing stature on the global stage and its deep commitment to the development of sports.
•  This ambitious endeavour symbolizes India’s desire to showcase its rich cultural heritage, technological advancements, and burgeoning sports infrastructure to the world. 

Important day 

20. 23 July – National Vanilla Ice Cream Day

•  National Vanilla Ice Cream Day is celebrated every year on July 23 and marks a special occasion for the simple, yet all-time favorite dessert. 
• Vanilla is traditionally made by combining cream, sugar, and of course, vanilla. In fact, vanilla is added to other ice cream flavors as it helps to enhance their taste. 
• Vanilla ice cream has a wide fanbase as it is the single most popular ice cream flavor around the world. 
• Vanilla ice cream was so adored that Thomas Jefferson, who is often credited with the ice cream’s popularity in America, had it served to almost every guest at the White House. 

Science and Technology 

21. NASA sends hip-hop song “The Rain” to Venus for the first time 

• NASA’s Southern California-based Jet Propulsion Laboratory sent hiphop artist Missy Elliott’s song “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” as an inspirational message to Venus via the DSN (Deep Space Network). 
• As the largest and most sensitive telecommunications service of NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program, the DSN houses huge radio antennas that allow missions to track, send commands and receive scientific data from spacecraft traveling to the Moon and beyond. 
• The song traveled about 158 million miles (254 million kilometers) from Earth to Venus. Transmitted at the speed of light, the radio frequency signal took about 14 minutes to reach the planet. 
• The broadcast was made by the 34- meter (112-foot) wide Deep Space Station 13 (DSS-13) radio dish antenna, which is located on the DSN’s Goldstone Deep Space Communications Station near Barstow, California. The complex is located in the complex. Incidentally, DSS-13's nickname is also Venus. 
• NASA's two Venus missions selected in 2021 are 'DAVINCI' (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble Gases, Chemistry, and Imaging) to launch by 2029 and VERITAS (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy) by 2031. NASA cancels 'VIPER moon mission' after spending $450 million 
• After spending nearly $450 million on the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) mission to build a rover to search for ice on the moon, NASA announced it would cancel the program due to budgetary concerns. 
• NASA says other lunar missions will accomplish its goal of searching for ice in shadowed craters on the moon's south pole. 
• Canceling the mission will save NASA $84 million. The COVID-19 pandemic was indeed part of the problem, as it delayed the supply chain of key components for the mission. This caused major disruptions to the construction of both the rover and the Griffin lander. 

Ranks and Reports 

22. Slow progress on railway safety: Economic Survey 

• Safety issues are a concern after a spate of railway accidents, but the Economic Survey, 2023-24, released on Monday, indicates limited progress on safety-related works such as s deployment of the automatic train protection system Kavach and overhaul of signaling systems at all stations. 
• Kavach has been deployed on 1,465 route km in South Central Railway, the Survey says. This is just 2.14% of the total railway network of 68,426 route km and 7,349 railway stations. 
•  So far, of the 17 operational railway zones in India, eight have become free from mechanical signaling, the Survey says. 
• Capex deployment 
• Survey also states that the capital expenditure deployment in the Railways has increased by 77% over the past five years, to 2.62 lakh crore in 2023-24 with significant investments in construction of new lines, 
• However, by 2022-23, 2,981 railway stations had made the switch from mechanical signaling to electronic interlocking systems. This comes to only 40% of India's 7,325 railway stations. 
• The Survey points out that in 2023-24, 443 additional stations made the switch, with 46% of the stations now having electronic interlocking systems. 
• The system was introduced in India 12 years ago. "Until March 31, 2024, El has been provided at 3,424 stations," the Survey says. 
• Yet another signaling intervention, automatic block signaling, is a system that controls the movement of trains between the blocks using automatic signals, which helps trains operating in one direction move safely without any risk of collision from the rear.
•  The Survey says this proven low-cost signaling solution has been provided on 582 route km during 2023-24. Until March 31, since the time it was commissioned, the system has been commissioned on 4,431 route km on high-density network routes. This comes to a 6.47% coverage across the length of Indian Railways. 

23. Economy likely to grow by 6.5% to 7% this year: Survey 

• The Indian economy has broadly caught up with pre-COVID growth trends, averting any permanent scarring, and is likely to grow by 6.5% to 7% this year with prospects of clocking 7% plus growth in coming years, as per the Economic Survey for 2023-24 that also drew attention to the need to address inequality and unemployment as a policy priority. 
• Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran, the lead author of the Survey, made a pitch for the Union and State governments to let go of their myriad regulatory powers to ease the burden on businesses. He also prodded the corporate sector, "swimming in excess profits", to take responsibility for generating productive jobs in its own "enlightened self-interest". 
• Noting that IT sector hiring has slowed significantly in the last two years, the CEA urged Indian industry to think harder about how Al can augment labor rather than displace workers and wrote: "Deploying capital-intensive and energy-intensive Al is probably one of the last things a growing, lower-middle-income economy needs." 
• Skilling initiatives 
• The authors of the Survey, which was tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament on Monday, mooted steps to tackle inequality, improve the young population's health in the short to medium term, and bridge the education-employment gap. They also sought a reboot of skilling initiatives to help the industry find people with the "right attitude and skills". The corporates benefit from the higher demand generated by employment and income growth, while the financial sector benefits from channeling household savings for investment purposes, but "short-termism" can weaken these linkages, the CEA sought to convey to the industry.