Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 26th July 2024

 

National News

 1. Parle continues to be the most-chosen in-home FMCG brand 

• Biscuit brand Parle continues to be the most chosen in-home brand according to the latest edition of the annual Brand Footprint Report released by Kantar. 
• The report ranks brands based on Consumer Reach Points (CRP’s). 
• CRP considers the actual purchase made by consumers and the frequency at which these purchases are made in a calendar year. The report measures CRPS of 445 brands. 
• With a CRP score of 7980 million, Parle holds the top spot as the most chosen in-home brand for a record 12 th year in a row.
• Other brands in the top five rankings include Britannia, Amul, Clinic Plus and Tata Consumer Products. 
• Seven brands in the top 25 in-home rankings witnessed more than 20 per cent penetration increase in the last decade. This includes Britannia followed by Surf Excel, Sunfeast, Haldiram’s, Patanjali, Brooke Bond and Vim. 
• In terms of out-of-home rankings, Britannia leads the way with 628 million CRP’s. It is followed by Haldiram’s, Cadbury, Balaji and Parle. The top 5 rankings are all snacking brands and remain the same as 2023. 

2. Union Budget 2024-25 Government exempts Customs Duty on Cancer Medicines to Enhance Drug Affordability 

• Government has exempted customs duty on Cancer medicines to improve the affordability of these drugs. 
• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the exemption of three additional cancer medicines from customs duty in the proposed Union Budget 2024-25 in Parliament. 
• These medicine are Trastuzumab Deruxtecan for Breast Cancer, Osimertinib for Lung Cancer and Durvalumab for Lung Cancer and Biliary Tract Cancer. 
• Union Health Ministry said, 27 lakh cancer patients in the country will benefit from this decision. 
• Finance Minister also revised the custom duty rates on X-ray tubes and flat panel detectors. These revised rates are expected to positively impact the X-ray machine industry by enhancing component availability at lower costs. 
• The Health Ministry has been allocated ₹90,958.63 crore in the 2024-2025 budget, an increase from ₹80,517.62 crore in the 2023-24 revised estimates. The budget allocation for the AYUSH Ministry has been increased from ₹3,000 crore to ₹3,712.49 crore. 
• Out of the ₹90,958.63 crore, ₹87,656.90 crore has been allocated to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, and ₹3,301.73 crore to the Department of Health Research. 
• The budget allocation for schemes under the Department of Health and Family Welfare has been increased from ₹77,624.79 crore to ₹87,656.90 crore. The government has also allocated ₹2,143 crore as production linked incentives (PLIs) for the pharmaceutical industry. 

3. Jaishankar pushes for urgency in resolving stand-off at LAC 

• This month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, with the two leaders high-lighting the need to resolve the four-year-old military stand-off at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with "purpose and urgency". 
• The meeting was among the first few bilateral meetings the External Affairs Minister had after landing in Vientiane, Laos for a number of ASEAN-related meetings (July 25-27), and comes three weeks after the two Ministers held talks on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Kazakhstan, in a signal that New Delhi and Beijing are fast tracking their efforts to resolve the LAC issue.
• "Their talks focused on finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
• Stressing the "ехсерtional significance" of India and China as the "two most populous nations and among the two key economies of the world", Mr. Jaishankar said stable bilateral ties were necessary between them. 
• "Our ability to ensure that they are stable and forward-looking is essential both for the prospects of Asia and that of the multipolar world. There are also issues on which our interests converge," Mr. Jaishankar told Mr. Wang in preliminary comments before their talks. 
• Both sides decided that an "early meeting" of the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) that includes External Affairs Ministry, border, and military officials would take discussions forward, the External Affairs Ministry said in its statement. 
• The two Ministers met for the fourth time in the past 12 months, and have been making a concerted push for complete disengagement of troops. 
• While the two sides had earlier achieved disengagement on several flashpoints from 2020-22, several rounds of WMCC and border commander talks have yielded no further breakthrough, which hinges on the PLA withdrawing from positions at the Demchok and Depsang sectors. In March, the WMCC grouping held its 29th meeting in Beijing.
•  Mr. Jaishankar hoped the meeting on Thursday would allow them to "give stronger guidance" to officials to complete the disengagement process which had "cast a shadow" over India-China ties. 
• He also said that both sides must ensure respect for the LAC and for past agreements, indicating that agreements from the 1990s on managing the boundaries are still relevant for India in resolving the military stand-off that began in April 2020, when the Chinese PLA transgressed along the LAC, leading to deadly clashes in Galwan. 
• The talks came amid speculation that the government is considering relaxing some of its restrictions on Chinese companies, fuelled by the Economic Survey released before the Budget this week that specifically favored encouraging more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from China. 
• On Thursday, the Chinese Embassy in Delhi also posted a video on its social media handles calling for India to take steps towards easing economic and business ties, citing falling FDI numbers, tourist footfall, as well as the lack of direct flights between the two countries. 

International News

4. Global Passport Index: India at 82nd with Visa-Free Access to 58 Countries 

• India has been ranked 82nd spot on a global passport index, allowing Indians visa-free entry to 58 countries, including popular destinations like Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
• According to the latest ranking by the UK-based Henley Passport Index, India’s passport now ranks at an improved 82nd spot. The ranking is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). 
• Singapore occupied the top spot in the Index with its citizens having visa-free entry to 195 countries. It dethroned Japan from the first place, which is now at the second place along with Spain, France, Germany and Italy. The passports of all five countries allow visa-free access to 192 destinations. 
• The Henley Passport Index is a global ranking of countries according to the travel freedom allowed by those countries’ ordinary passports for their citizens. 
• An unprecedented seven-nation cohort, each with access to 191 destinations without a prior visa- Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden — now sit in 3rd place on the ranking. 
• The UAE made it into the Top 10 for the first time, having added an impressive 152 destinations since the index’s inception in 2006 its current visa-free score 185. 

5. India among top 3 countries in most significant forest area gains: FAO

•  According to a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), India gained 2,66,000 hectares of forest area annually from 2010 to 2020, securing the third spot among the top 10 countries with the most significant forest area gains during this period. 
• China led the world with the maximum forest area gain of 1,937,000 hectares, followed by Australia with 4,46,000 hectares, and then India. 
• Other countries in the top 10 include Chile, Vietnam, Turkey, the United States, France, Italy and Romania. 
• The report highlighted a significant reduction in deforestation in some countries. For example, Indonesia saw an 8.4 percent decline in deforestation from 2021 to 2022. 
• While Brazil’s Amazon experienced a 50 percent reduction in deforestation in 2023. 
• The FAO report also said that the rate of gross global mangrove loss decreased by 23 percent during the periods from 2000 to 2010 and 2010 to 2020.

 Appointment 

6. Ajinkya Naik elected as the Youngest MCA President 

• 37 years old, Ajinkya Naik has been elected as the youngest president in the history of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). 
• Naik defeated Sanjay Naik, a candidate supported by Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar, by 107 votes in a one-sided election.
•  Ajinkya Naik secured 221 votes, while Sanjay Naik received 114 votes. The election was held following the passing of the former MCA President Amol Kale. 
• Naik, who was previously the MCA Secretary, cited his extensive experience and committee involvement as factors contributing to his victory. 

7. Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur appointed IFFI festival director

•  Veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has been appointed festival director for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). 
• Kapur will head the festival, held annually in Goa, for the 55th and 56th editions.
• He has directed films such as “Masoom”, “Mr India” and “Bandit Queen” in India. 
• Kapur served as the head of the chairperson of the international competition Jury at the 54th IFFI. 
• He also served as chairperson of the Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India from 2020-2023 

Sports 

8. Real Madrid become first football club in world to report €1 billion in revenue 

• Real Madrid have become the first football club to report revenue generation of over €1 billion ($1.08bn). 
• As per the financial report for 2023-24, the La Liga giants Real Madrid made €1.073bn in revenue, registering a rise of 27% and a total gain of €230 million. The revenue statement did not include player transfers. 
• They also registered after-tax profits of €16m, 32% higher than last season. 
• Real Madrid is valued at $6.07bn by Forbes – the most valuable football club in the world and the 11th most valuable sports team overall. 
• The Dallas Cowboys are the highest-valued sports team in the world as per Forbes with a valuation of $9bn. 

Important day 

9. 26 July – Kargil Vijay Diwas 

• Kargil Diwas, also known as Kargil Vijay Diwas, is celebrated annually on July 26 to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War. 
• On this day, in the year 1999, India successfully outed Pakistani Forces from their occupied positions on the mountain tops of Northern Kargil District in Ladakh. 
•  As the nation approaches the 25th anniversary of this historic victory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the Drass sector in the Union Territory of Ladakh. 

About The Kargil War 

• The Kargil War, a armed conflict between India and Pakistan, took place from May 8, 1999, to July 26, 1999. 
• This period was marked by intense fighting and strategic maneuvers that would shape the future of Indo-Pakistani relations. 

Miscellaneous News 

10.Two halls in Rashtrapati Bhavan get names reflecting republican ethos

•  President Droupadi Murmu has renamed two important halls at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, with the Durbar Hall now set to be called Ganatantra Mandap which translates to Republic Hall and Ashok Hall to be called Ashok Mandap. 
• The Durbar Hall is the venue of key ceremonies and celebrations such as the presentation of national awards.
•  "The term 'Durbar' refers to courts and assemblies of Indian rulers and the British. It lost relevance after India became a Republic, that is 'Ganatantra'. The concept of 'Gantantra' is deeply rooted in Indian society since the ancient times, making 'Ganatantra Mandap an apt name for the venue,"
•  Two halls in Rashtrapati Bhavan get names reflecting republican ethos, said a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement.
• Commenting on the move, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said: "There is no concept of 'Durbar', but that of 'Shahenshah'." Ms. Vadra has previously targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi by referring to him as a Shahenshah, which translates to 'king of kings', and it has been used as a title by emperors. 
• Removed anglicisation The Rashtrapati Bhavan statement noted that Ashok Hall was originally a ballroom. "The word 'Ash ok' connotes someone who is 'free from all sufferings' or is 'bereft of any sorrow'. Also, 'Ashoka' refers to Emperor Ashok, a symbol of unity and peaceful co-existence. The National Emblem of the Republic of India is the lion capital of Ashok from Sarnath.," it said. 
• Renaming both the halls will bring uniformity in language and remove traces of anglicisation while still upholding the key values associated with the word 'Ashok', it added.

 Schemes and Committees News 

11. Minister launches revamped Model Skill Loan Scheme 

• Skill Development Minister Jayant Chaudhary launched the revamped Model Skill Loan Scheme on Thursday, two days af-ter Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced hiking the eligible size of loans for high-end skilling courses under the scheme to 27.5 lakh from 1.5 lakh. 
• Skill Development Minister Ministry officials said the low fund utilization over the past decade under the scheme was due to low ticket size of loans (up to 21.5 lakh), even as course costs and fees rose due to inflation, leaving many high-cost courses out of the scheme. 
• "Only member lending institutes of the Indian Banking Association (IBA) were allowed to lend earlier, and there was low uptake by both private and public sector banks due to their limited reach," a Ministry official added. 
• Low fund uptake 
• The earlier Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Skill Development, notified in November 2015 to create a credit guarantee fund for courses aligned to the National Skills Qualification Framework, faced multiple challenges. As on March 31, loans amounting to 115.75 crore had been extended to just 10,077 borrowers. 
• Under the new scheme, the lending network has been broadened from only IBA banks to include Non Banking Financial Companies and small finance banks, with access to more skill courses and higher loan limits.