Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 2nd August 2024

Indian polity 

1. Disaster Management Bill tabled in Lok Sabha 

• Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai on Thursday introduced the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to create a "disaster database at national and State level" and makes pro- vision for constitution of "Urban Disaster Manage- ment Authority" for State capitals and large cities having municipal corpora- tions, except the Union Territories of Delhi and Chandigarh. The database will include disaster assessment, fund allocation detail, ex- penditure, preparedness and mitigation plan, risk register according to type and severity of risk, and such other relevant mat- ters, in accordance with such policy, as may be de- termined by the Union go- vernment. The Bill empowers the National Disaster Manage- ment Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities to prepare the disaster plan at national le- vel and State level, respec- tively instead of the plans made by National Execu- tive Committee and the State Executive Committees earlier. The NDMA may also ap- point experts and consul- tants as necessary to per- form its functions. Opposition members opposed the Bill as it creates several authorities and also encroaches upon the functions of the State governments.

 

2. Lieutenant Colonel Kabilan Sai Ashok became India’s youngest Olympic referee in boxing. 

• At the Paris Olympics 2024, Lieutenant Colonel Kabilan Sai Ashok became India’s youngest Olympic referee in boxing.
• Lt Col Ashok’s participation as an Olympic referee shows his strong commitment to fair play and sportsmanship.
• His role is crucial in ensuring that matches are conducted with fairness and respect.
• India's boxing contingent for the 2024 Paris Olympics consists of six pugilists, with two male and four female athletes. 

3. On August 1, nine agreements were signed by India and Vietnam. 

• The agreement were signed to deepen comprehensive strategic partnership and enhance cooperation in the fields of customs, agriculture, law, radio and television broadcasting, culture and tourism.
• Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was on a state visit to India where he held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. 
• The two leaders agreed to further deepen India-Vietnam relations by enhancing economic, strategic and cultural ties. 
• Vietnam is a fast growing economy and India-Vietnam bilateral trade has reached US$15 billion and both countries are focusing on increasing bilateral trade. 
• The two countries agreed on an action plan for the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during 2024-2028. 
• On August 1, the MoU between Central Agricultural University, Manipur and Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hanoi for cooperation in agricultural research and education was signed. 
• A MoU was also signed between Prasar Bharati, New Delhi and Voice of Vietnam, Hanoi for cooperation on radio and television. 
• Two-dollar credit line agreements between the two countries amounting to 300 million US dollars were also finalized.

5. Ramanagara district has been renamed as Bengaluru South by the Karnataka Government. 

• Chief Minister Siddaramaiah presided over a Cabinet meeting where the decision was made. 
• In October 2023, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had first proposed the move and he is also the minister-in-charge of Ramanagara. 
• The move was aimed at helping Ramnagar residents reap the benefits associated with Bengaluru's prestige. 
• In 2007, Ramanagara district was created by splitting it from Bangalore Rural district. 
• The district comprised the taluks of Ramanagara, Channapatna, Harohalli, Kanakapura and Magadi. There are total 31 districts in Karnataka. 

6. Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed an MoU to establish three testing facilities under the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC). 

• As part of the MoU, one facility will be set up in Lucknow in the Mechanical & Material (M&M) domain. 
• Under the MoU, two facilities will be set up in Kanpur - one each in Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and Communications domains. 
• For the M&M facility, MIDHANI is the lead SPV member. 
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is the lead SPV member for the UAS testing facilities. 
• Bharat Electronics Limited is the lead SPV members for Communications testing facilities. 
• Senior officials of MoD and Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) exchanged the MoU under the DTIS. 
• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) in May 2020. 
• DTIS was launched with an outlay of Rs 400 crore. It was launched to establish testing facilities in collaboration with the state and federal governments as well as the private sector. 
• The DTIS provides up to 75% government funding as ‘Grant-in-Aid’. Remaining 25% funded by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPVs). 
• The State/Central Governments and private companies in India make up the SPV. 
• Seven testing facilities were approved to provide impetus to the defence and aerospace sectors within the Defence Industrial Corridors. 
• Out of the seven facilities, four were in Tamil Nadu and three were in Uttar Pradesh. 
• On July 02, 2024, an agreement was signed to establish three facilities in Chennai, under the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor, in the fields of UAS, Electronic Warfare, and Electro Optics.

 7. India is ranked 39th in Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024.

•  According to Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024 report, India is ranked 39th among 119 countries. 
• Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024 report was published by the World Economic Forum. 
• As per the UN Tourism (UNWTO until 2023) barometer for May 2024, there were 975 million international tourist arrivals around the world in 2022.
•  India recorded 14.3 million international tourist arrivals. This represented 1.47% of the international inbound tourism market share. 
• The share of India’s international tourist arrivals in Asia and the Pacific was 15.66% in 2022. 
• Minister of Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that India’s scores have improved in three areas. 
• These areas were prioritisation of travel and tourism, safety and security, and health and hygiene. 

8. Supreme Court ruled that state governments have the power to sub-classify SCs, and STs for the reservation. 

• A seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud gave this verdict. 
• The court emphasised that state governments have the power to sub-classify SCs, and STs for the reservation but it should be on sufficient data demonstrating inadequate representation and differing levels of social backwardness. 
• The Supreme Court overruled a 2004 verdict by a five-judge Bench, which held that such sub-classification was not permissible since the SC/STs constituted “homogenous” classes. In 1975, the Punjab government issued a circular dividing its 25% SC reservation into two categories. 
• It is one of the earliest instances of existing reservations being ‘sub-classified’ by a State. Article 14 of the Constitution permits the sub-classification of a class that is not similarly situated for the law. 
• The court clarified that sub-classification would not violate Article 341(2) as long as it doesn’t provide exclusive benefits to certain castes. 

9. KIIT DU received the prestigious UN ECOSOC Special Consultative Status. 

• KIIT has received the distinguished Special Consultative Status from the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC). 
• It recognizes the University's substantial contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 476 applications from 19 organizations were selected for this prestigious honour. 
• The status was conferred during the UN ECOSOC management segment meeting.
• KIIT has also signed an MoU with UN Volunteers (UNV). It has opened a remarkable opportunity for students of KIIT DU to engage with various UN agencies to serve as 'National University UN Volunteers’. 
• It will equip KIIT students with valuable professional experience in international development. 

12. ‘State Museum Conclave on the upcoming Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum’ has been inaugurated. 

• Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the conclave at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. 
• It is a three-day conclave. Its goal is to increase stakeholder discussion on various aspects of the upcoming museum. 
• Speaking about the Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum, Mr. Shekhawat said that India is working to develop the largest museum in the world. 
• The conclave is being attended by over 150 stakeholders, 80 of whom are representatives of state museums and universities nationwide. 
• The Central Vista Redevelopment Project in New Delhi will include the development of the Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum. 
• The museum will be the biggest in the world, spread over one lakh fifty-four thousand square meters. 

13. Lt Gen Sadhna Saxena Nair has become the first woman to be appointed as Director General Medical Services (Army). 

• Lt Gen Sadhna Saxena Nair assumed the office on August 01, 2024. 
• Earlier, she was the first woman to hold the post of DG Hospital Services (Armed Forces).
• Lt Gen Nair graduated from the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune. 
• She is also the first woman Principal Medical Officer of Western Air Command, and Training Command, Indian Air Force (IAF). 
• She was nominated as an expert member of Dr Kasturirangan Committee. 
• This committee was for drafting part of the medical education component of the National Education Policy. 

National News 

Rapido becomes unicorn with fresh $120 million funding 

• Ride-hailing startup Rapido has raised a funding of $120 million Capital in its latest Series E funding round led by its existing investor West Bridge, thus making it the latest company to join the coveted unicorn club. 
• The investor poured in the fresh capital through three of its related entities – Setu AIF Trust, Konark Trust, and MMPL Trust, as per regulatory filings. 
• Rapido is the third Indian startup to become a unicorn this year after fintech Perfios and AI upstart Krutrim. 
• The firm’s operating revenue surged 3X to ₹443 crore during FY23. The steep growth in scale also caused a 54 per cent spike in losses which stood at ₹675 crore in FY23. 

KIIT DU Awarded Prestigious UN ECOSOC Special Consultative Status 

• KIIT Deemed to be University has been granted the distinguished Special Consultative Status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC), recognizing the University’s substantial contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 
• From a pool of 476 applications around the World, only 19 organizations, including KIIT DU, were selected for this prestigious honour. 
• The status was conferred during the UN ECOSOC management segment meeting held on July 23, 2024, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. 
• This recognition underscores KIIT’s unwavering commitment to the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 and the SDGs. 
• Attaining Special Consultative Status marks a significant milestone, positioning KIIT among a select group of universities globally that have earned this esteemed distinction. 

India Ranks 39th in Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024 

• India is ranked 39th among 119 countries, according to the Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024 report published by the World Economic Forum. 
• As per the UNWTO barometer for May 2024, there were 975 million international tourist arrivals around the world in 2022, wherein India recorded 14.3 million international tourist arrivals that represented 1.47 per cent of the international inbound tourism market share. 
• The share of India’s international tourist arrivals in Asia and the Pacific will be 15.66 per cent in 2022. India’s scores have improved in three areas: prioritisation of travel and tourism, safety and security, and health and hygiene. 

State Conclave on Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum inaugurated in New Delhi 

• Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has inaugurated a three-day ‘State Museum Conclave on the upcoming Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum’, organized by the Ministry of Culture at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. 
• This three-day gathering aims to foster collaboration among State Museums and the Central Government in realizing the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s vision for the ‘Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum’ that aims to exemplify global best practices. 

About Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum 

• The Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum is set to come up at North and South Block as part of the Central Vista Redevelopment project that seeks to revamp India’s central administrative area located near Raisina Hill, New Delhi. 
• The museum will be spread over 1,54,000 sqm, making it the largest museum in the world. 
• The Museum will be developed through Adaptive Reuse, in collaboration with France owing to their expertise in similar projects such as the Louvre, which too housed the French Ministry of Finance. 

Banking and Financial 

Tata Power Solar Systems partners with Bank of India for solar 

• Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd (TPSSL) has partnered with Bank of India (BOI) to facilitate easy financing for rooftop solar installations and establishment of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. 
• The partnership is a significant milestone with Tata Power Solar becoming the first solar company to collaborate with BOI for both solar and EV Charging Station financing and strengthening its leadership as a green energy solutions provider. 
• This collaboration supports the government’s initiatives to promote rooftop solar installations, targeting a wide spectrum of customers, including residential users under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, housing societies, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). 
• Under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, residential customers seeking to install solar systems up to 3 KW can avail loans up to Rs 2 lakh with only a 5 per cent margin money requirement. 

Recent MoUs Signed in Banking Sector 

• UGRO Capital, SIDBI ink co-lending partnership 
• Karnataka Bank partners with ICICI Lombard General Insurance
• IndusInd Bank collaborates with Inspire Institute of Sport to launch ‘Wrestle for Glory’ 
• Paytm partners with Axis Bank to provide payment technology solutions 
• Arka Fincap signs co-lending partnership with Central Bank of India for MSME loans 

ADB to give $200 mn loan to India for solid waste management in 100 cities 

• Asian Development Bank and the Government of India recently signed a $ 200 million (about Rs 1,700 crore) loan to improve solid waste management and sanitation in 100 cities across eight states in the country.
• The signatories to the loan agreement for the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 -Comprehensive Municipal Waste Management in Indian Cities Program were Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary, Finance Ministry, and Mio Oka, Country Director for Asian Development Bank (ADB) – India Resident Mission. 
• The objectives of the government’s Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission – Urban 2.0 by enhancing sanitation and solid waste management infrastructure, including waste segregation, collection and disposal. 

July GST mop-up at 3-month high, rises 10.3% to ₹1.82 lakh crore 

• Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections in July saw a significant increase, totaling Rs 182,075 crore, which marks a 10.3% rise compared to Rs 165,105 crore collected in July 2023. 
• This growth was observed across all categories: Central GST (CGST), State GST (SGST), Integrated GST (IGST), and cess.
• Year-to-date figures for 2024 show a 10.2% increase in GST collections, amounting to Rs 7.38 lakh crore, compared to Rs 6.70 lakh crore in the same period of 2023. 
• Notably, April 2024 saw a record high collection of Rs 2.10 lakh crore, followed by Rs 1.73 lakh crore in May and Rs 1.74 lakh crore in June. 

GST Collection of Previous Months 

• January 2024 – 72 lakh crore 
• February 2024 – 60 lakh crore 
• March 2024 – 78 lakh crore 
• April 2024 –1 lakh crore 
• May 2024 –73 lakh crore 
• June 2024 –74 lakh crore 
• July 2024 –82 lakh crore 

Appointment 

Lt Gen Sadhna Saxena Nair becomes first woman DG Medical Services (Army) 

• Lt Gen Sadhna Saxena Nair assumed the office of Director General Medical Services (Army), becoming the first woman to be appointed to this prestigious position. 
• Prior to this, she was the first woman to hold the post of DG Hospital Services (Armed Forces) on promotion to the rank of Air Marshal. 
• Lt Gen Nair graduated from the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune with a distinguished academic record and was commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in December 1985.
• For her meritorious service, she has been awarded the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command and Chief of the Air Staff Commendations as well as Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India. 

Recent Appointment 

• 2 New Members in CBDT – Ramesh Narain Parbat and Prabodh Seth 
• Chairman of UPSC – Preeti Sudan (replace Manoj Soni) 
• CMD of BECIL – D.K. Murali 
• Festival director for International Film Festival of India –Shekhar Kapur 
• President of Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) – Ajinkya Naik 
• International Olympic Committee Member from India – Nita Ambani 

Awards 

Vedachalam wins V Venkayya Epigraphy Award 2024 

• An eminent Tamil epigrapher and historian, V. Vedachalam has been conferred the V Venkayya Epigraphy Award for 2024. 
• Vedachalam, who has written and co-written more than 25 books on subjects such as epigraphy, numismatics, temple art, religion, and society. 
• The annual award, instituted by Sunitha Madhavan, the great-granddaughter of Mr. Venkayya, in association with the Tamil Heritage Trust, commemorates the pioneering epigrapher and celebrates exceptional contributions to epigraphy in any Indian language, including discovering new inscriptions, offering fresh interpretations, sharing knowledge through various media, and preserving epigraphic resources. 

Recent Award 

• Global Water Tech Award for environmental initiatives – Delhi Metro Rail Corporation 
• Customised Gold Coins by Paris’ Grevin Museum – Shah Rukh Khan 
• Olympic Order by IOC – Abhinav Bindra 
• International Excellence Award – CA Arpit Jagdish Kabra (for his significant contributions to forensic auditing) 
• Global CSR ESG Award 2024 – Sri Kurumba Educational and Charitable Trust 

Defence 

IAF set to host largest international air exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’ 

• India is set to host its first multinational air exercise, ‘Tarang Shakti 2024’, in two phases starting on August 6th in Sular, Tamil Nadu. 
• Around 30 countries will participate, with ten countries bringing their fighter aircraft. 
• The exercise aims to showcase India’s defence capabilities and enhance cooperation among the participating militaries. 
• The first phase will be held from August 6th to 14th in Sular, Tamil Nadu, and the second phase from August 29th to September 14th in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The ten countries bringing their aircraft include Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the USA, and Singapore. Eighteen other countries will attend as observers. 
• India will display its indigenous fighter aircraft and equipment, including the Tejas, Rafale, Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MIG 29. 

Sports 

Swapnil Kusale earns third bronze medal for India in shooting 

• Swapnil Kusale clinched his first Olympic bronze and third medal for India in the 50m rifle 3 positions event in the Summer Olympics games being held in Paris.
• Liu Yukun from China bagged the gold with 463.6 points, while Serhiy Kulish of Ukraine won the silver medal scoring 461.3. 
• Kusale scored an aggregate of 451.4 in six rounds. He had finished seventh in the qualification. 
• The last time a 50m rifle shooter made it to the Olympic finals was in 2012 London when Joydeep Karmakar finished fourth in 50m rifle prone event, a discipline which has been discontinued at the Olympics. 

Rohan Bopanna announces retirement from Tennis 

• Rohan Bopanna, from Karnataka, one of India’s most accomplished tennis players, has announced his retirement from representing India in international competitions following his exit from the Paris 2024 Olympics.
• This marks the end of an era for Indian tennis, as Bopanna has been a stalwart for the country for over two decades. 
• Bopanna’s Olympic journey came to an end in the men’s doubles first round, where he partnered with N. Sriram Balaji. The Indian duo faced a formidable French pair, Gael Monfils and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, ultimately succumbing to a 7-5, 6-2 defeat. 

Recently Retired Players 

• Thomas Muller (Germany) – International Football 
• Ravindra Jadeja (India) – T20 International cricket 
• Rohit Sharma (India) – T20 International cricket 
• Virat Kohli (India) – T20 International cricket
• Trent Boult (New Zealand) – International cricket 
• David Wiese (Namibia) – International cricket 
• Kedar Jadhav (India) – International cricket 

Lt Col Kabilan Sai Ashok, India’s youngest boxing referee at Olympics

•  A distinguished officer of the Indian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Kabilan Sai Ashok has made history by becoming India’s youngest Olympic referee in boxing at the Paris Olympics 2024. 
• This extraordinary accomplishment highlights his dedication, professionalism, and integrity, embodying the high standards of the Indian Army. 
• Serving as the Joint Secretary at the Services Sports Control Board, Lt Col Ashok’s participation as an Olympic referee showcases his strong commitment to fair play and sportsmanship. 
• His role is crucial in ensuring that matches are conducted with fairness and respect for the rules, upholding the Olympic spirit. 

Swapnil guns down third shooting medal for India 

• Swapnil Kusale had an Olympic debut to remem- ber, winning a bronze - India's third medal of the Games in the men's 50m rifle position event onThursday. The 29-year-old from Kambalwadi, near Kolhapur, was lying in fifth place at the end of the kneeling and prone segments of the event a whole one point behind the third-place shooter.He would then find his rhythm in the standing po- sition even as those around him lost theirs.Jiri Privratsky of the Czech Republic, who was in the fourth place, and Jon Herman Hegg of Norway, who was in the lead at the start of the series, both fell behind him and Swapnil held on to take a career-de- fining medal behind Serhiy Kulish of Ukraine and Liu Yukun of China. 

Important day 

1 August – National Mountain Climbing Day

•  National Mountain Climbing Day is observed on August 1. 
• It was initiated to honour Bobby Matthews and his companion Josh Madigan for successfully scaling all 46 peaks of the Adirondack Mountains, located in Northeastern New York.
• National Mountain Climbing Day was founded in 2015 to celebrate Bobby Matthews and Josh Madigan, who successfully climbed all 46 Adirondack peaks. On August 1, 2015, the duo summited the final peak, Whiteface Mountain.

 1 – 7 August – World Breastfeeding Week 

• World Breastfeeding Week is a global healthcare event celebrated annually from August 1st to 7th. 
• World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is a global campaign to raise awareness and galvanise action on themes related to breastfeeding. 
• Theme 2024 – Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all 
• WBW is celebrated every 1-7 August in commemoration of the 1990 Innocenti Declaration. 
• WBW started in 1992, with annual themes including healthcare systems, women and work, the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, community support, ecology, economy, science, education, and human rights. 

Obituary 

Former Indian Cricketer and Coach Anshuman Gaekwad passes away 

• Former Indian cricket player and coach of the Indian men’s cricket team Anshuman Gaekwad died at the age of 71. 
• Anshuman Gaekwad made his debut for India against the West Indies in a 1974 Test match played at Eden Garden, Kolkata. He played his last Test match against England at Eden Garden, Kolkata, in 1984-85. 
• Overall, he played 40 Tests and 15 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for India in a career that spanned from 1975 to 1987. 
• He made his debut for India in the ODIs against England in the first World Cup in 1975. 
• He scored 1985 runs in the Tests, with his highest score of 201 against Pakistan at Jalandhar in the 1982-83 series. The double-hundred he scored in 671 minutes was the slowest ever in test cricket at that time. 
• He was known for his slow and defensive batting, and he scored 269 runs in ODIs. 

Tamilnadu Maternal Mortality Ratio 2023-24 

• Tamil Nadu’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) recorded a significant drop during 2023-24. 
• MMR is declining by over six points to reach 45.5 per one lakh live births. 
• Virudhunagar Health Unit District (HUD) recorded nil maternal deaths during the same period. 
• MMR has dropped from 52.2 per one lakh live births during 2022-2023 to 45.5 during 2023-24.
• Earlier, MMR dropped each year by two to three points. 
• However, during 2023-24, the MMR dropped by 6.7 points. 
• Norway had the lowest MMR at 1.8 per one lakh live births. 
• Other European countries, such as Sweden and Finland, also have achieved the gold standard of having a single-digit MMR. 

Monastery of Tell Umm Amer 

• The World Heritage Committee (WHC) has decided to include the Palestinian site of Tell Umm Amer in both the UNESCO World Heritage Site List. 
• It is also known as the ‘Monastery of Saint Hilarion’ lies in the Gaza Strip. 
• The ancient Christian monastery was founded in the fourth century by Hilarion the Great (291-371 CE). 
• He is considered by some to be the father of Palestinian monasticism. 
• The present-day archaeological remains of the site span more than the four centuries, from the time of Hilarion to the Umayyad period. 
• UNICEF refers to it as “the first monastic community in the Holy Land”, and “a hub of religious, cultural, and economic interchange”. 
• The monastery was likely abandoned after a seventh century earthquake, only to be uncovered by local archaeologists in 1999.

 Impact of Climate Change on Education 

• The Most low and middle-income countries are experiencing the climate-related school closures every year, increasing chances of learning loss and dropout. 
• The Climate change has a negative impact on education indirectly through its displacement of people and the effects on people’s livelihoods and health. 
• Over the past 20 years, schools were closed in at least 75% of the extreme weather events, impacting five million people or more. 
• In the United States, without air conditioning, a school year hotter by 1-degree Celsius, reduced test scores by 1%. 
• During 2022, 32.6 million were internally displaced due to disasters. 
• Rainfall shocks over the first 15 years of life in India. 
• It negatively affected vocabulary at age five and mathematics and non-cognitive skills at the age of 15. 

World Heritage Committee’s 46th Session 

• The 46th World Heritage Committee Session held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. 
• This year, UNESCO has added 25 new landmark sites to the World Heritage List during this event.
• Two major boundary modifications have also been formalised by the Committee. 
• Among these, 13 new sites added including Japan’s Sado Island Gold Mines, Thailand’s Phu Phrabat Historical Park, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites for Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation, Italy’s Via Appia and China’s Beijing Central Axis amongst others.
• 19 of these sites have been inducted as Cultural Heritage Sites. 
• While 4 have been inducted under the Natural category and two have been under the “Mixed” category. 

Olympics 2024: Greenest Games Ever 

• Paris 2024 Olympics aims to hold the most eco-friendly Games ever. 
• The organising committee has committed to reduce the event’s carbon emissions by 50 per cent. 
• It was lowering them from around 3.5 million tonnes at Tokyo 2020, Rio 2016, and London 2012, to 1.75 million tonnes for the upcoming Games.
• It completely relies on renewable energy sources, including geothermal and solar power. 
• All Olympic venues are conveniently reachable via public transportation. 
• The city has created 1,000 km of exclusive bicycle lanes and will offer 3,000 rentable bikes throughout the Games.