Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 29th July 2024

 

National News 

India, US Sign Cultural Property Agreement to Repatriate Stolen Indian Artifacts 

• India and the United States of America have signed a Cultural Property Agreement to repatriate stolen Indian artifacts from the USA. 
• Under the agreement, both countries will work together to also prevent and prohibit illicit trade, import, export and trafficking of archaeological and ethnological materials. 
• This is India’s first-ever Cultural Property Agreement with the US. 

Recently India signed MoUs with others countries 

• MSDE partners with Australian Government to energise Agriculture Sector of India with emerging skills 
• India and Oman to jointly undertake research on sharks and rays in Arabian Sea 
• India to train Bangladeshi’s civil servants for the next 5 years 
• India signs MoU with Bulgaria to enhance collaboration, exchange auditing expertise 
• India and Nepal agree to promote Sanskrit research and education 
• India & Singapore sign MoU on Law and Dispute Resolution 

Government extends EMPS till September with more outlay of ₹778 crore 

• The government has extended the duration of Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) 2024 by two months up to September 30, with enhancement of outlay to ₹778 crore. 
• Earlier, the scheme was launched by Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) through a gazette notification on March 13, to boost the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across the country. 
• The EMPS was originally set to run from April 1 to July 31, 2024, with a total outlay of ₹500 crore. So, the total outlay becomes ₹1,278 crore now for the same scheme. 
• The eligible vehicles include electric two-wheelers (e-2W) and three-wheelers including registered e-rickshaws and e-carts and L5 (e-3W). 
• The scheme now targets to support 5,60,789 EVs, comprising 5,00,080 e-2Ws and 60,709 units of e-3Ws, it said adding that this includes 13,590 rickshaws and e-carts, as well as 47,119 e-3Ws in the L5 category. 
• In the earlier period (April-July), the scheme aimed to support 3,72,215 EVs including e-2W (3,33,387) and e-3W (38,828 including 13,590 rickshaws and e-carts and 25,238 e-3W in L5 category). 

Centre clears urban flood management projects worth ₹2,514.36 cr of 5 states 

• A high-level committee (HLC), chaired by the union home minister, approved six proposals of five states, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, West Bengal and Maharashtra — for urban flood management at a total cost of ₹2,514.36 crore. 
• The funds would be utilized for flood management in six metro cities of Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Pune. 
• Earlier in its meeting on November 27, 2023, the HLC approved the project proposal for integrated solutions for flood management in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, at a cost of ₹561.29 crore. 
• The HLC, comprising of Finance Minister, Agriculture Minister and Vice Chairman NITI Aayog as members, overall considered nine proposals for funding from National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to combat urban flooding in six cities, to mitigate Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in 4 hill states and to strengthen fire services in 3 states. 
• The ₹150 crore-worth proposals for GLOF risk mitigation are for Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. 
• The initiative will provide the necessary impetus to these four states in taking necessary mitigation measures to address GLOF risks. 

Amit Shah led High-level committee Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme (YAMS)

•  Amit Shah led High-level committee approved a proposal of Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme (YAMS) at an outlay of Rs 470.50 crore from NDRF. 
• It will be implemented in 315 most disaster-prone districts of the country for training of 1300 trained Aapda Mitra Volunteers as Master Trainers and 2.37 lakh volunteers exclusively from NCC, NSS, NYKS and BS&G (Bharat Scouts & Guides) in disaster preparedness and response. 
• Earlier, the government implemented “Aapda Mitra” scheme under which around 1 lakh community volunteers have been trained for disaster response in 350 most disaster-prone districts of the country.
• These skilled and trained ‘Aapda Mitras’ and ‘Aapda Sakhis’ are playing an important role in assisting the local administration in responding to any disaster. 
• During the current financial year, the Centre has released Rs 6348 crore to 14 states under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and Rs 672 crore to six states under State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF). 
• In addition, an amount of Rs 4265 crore has been released to 10 states under NDRF. 

Govt sets a target to open 25,000 PMBJKs by 31st March 2027 across India 

• The government has set a target to open 25,000 Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) by 31st March 2027 across the country. 
• In a written reply in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Anupriya Patel said, 547 PMBJ Kendras have been opened in Primary Agricultural Credit Societies across the country till June last month. 
• Under Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, 2047 medicines and 3000 surgical and medical consumables have been brought under the product basket for wider availability. 

Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates India’s 500th Community Radio Station- Apna Radio 90.0 FM at IIMC Aizawl 

• Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the winners of 10th National Community Radio Awards. 
• The Minister has also inaugurated India’s 500th Community Radio Station in presence of Union Minister of State for I&B Dr. L. Murugan and Chief Minister of Mizoram Shri Lalduhoma. 
• The station ‘Apna Radio 90.0 FM’ is a station run by Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Aizawl. 
• This initiative will bring a substantive change in the lives of people in the coverage area of Apna Radio station. This launch is also a significant milestone in the Government’s policy of Act East.
• Winners of 10th National Community Radio Awards 

Category: Thematic Award 

• First prize: Radio Mayur, District Saran, Bihar for programme: Tech Sakhi 
• Second Prize: Radio Kochi, Kerala for programme: Nirangal 
• Third Prize: Hello Doon, Dehradun, Uttarakhand for programme: Meri Baat 

Category: Most Innovative Community Engagement Award 

• First prize: Yerlawani Sangli, Maharashtra for programme: Kahani sunandachi 
• Second Prize: Vaylaga Vanoli, Madurai, Tamil Nadu for programme: Let’s Build a new Norm 
• Third Prize: Salaam Namaste Noida, Uttar Pradesh for programme: Maid Didi 

Category: Promoting Local Culture Award

• First prize: Radio Brahmaputra, Dibrugarh, Assam for programme: Igarekun 
• Second Prize: Radio Kotagiri, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu for programme: En Makkaludan Oru Payanam 
• Third Prize: Radio Active, Bhagalpur Bihar for programme: Ang Pradesh ki Adbut Dharohar 

Category: Sustainability Model Award 

• First prize: Radio Benziger run by Bishop Benziger Hospital Society, Kollam, Kerala 
• Second Prize: Radio Namskar, Konark, Odisha run by Young India 
• Third Prize: Radio Antarwani, Gulbarga, Karnataka run by Sharanbasbeswara Vidya Vardhak Sangh. 

International News 

Ajit Doval Represents India At 4th Annual BIMSTEC Security Chiefs Meeting In Naypyitaw 

• National Security Advisor NSA Ajit Doval led the Indian delegation at the 4th Annual Meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation BIMSTEC Security Chiefs in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. 
• He met with the Myanmar NSA Admiral Moe Aung and BIMSTEC Security Chiefs called on Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. 
• Delivering India’s national statement at the BIMSTEC meet, Mr Doval spoke on strengthening cooperation in counter-terrorism and combating drug trafficking, arms smuggling and organized crime. 
• He also spoke about BIMSTEC connectivity, holding the 2nd Ports Conclave and water security of Himalayan River systems. 
• Tagline – We Make You Feel Richer 

Iran's Khamenei formally grants Pezeshkian presidential powers 

• Iran's supreme leader Aya- tollah Ali Khamenei gave his official endorsement of Masoud Pezeshkian as the Islamic republic's ninth President on Sunday, fol- lowing snap elections won by the reformist camp's candidate. 
• In a message read by the director of Mr. Khamenei's office, he said: "I endorse the vote (for) wise, honest, popular and scho- larly Mr Pezeshkian, and 1 am appointing him as the president of the Islamic Re- public of Iran". 
• The new reformist President is due to be sworn in before parliament on Tuesday.The endorsement ceremony was held in the capital Tehran in the presence of senior Iranian officials and foreign diplomats, and broadcast on state TV. It took place as banks and most government offices were ordered shut na- tionwide on Sunday to tackle heat waves. an extreme Following the event, acting President Mohammad Mokhber handed over social responsibilities to 69-year-old Mr. Pezeshkian V-P appointed Later on Sunday, Mr. Pezeshkian appointed reformist Mohammad Reza Aref, 72, as his rst Vice-President, according to an announcement carried by state TV. 
• Mr. Aref has represented Tehran in parliamentand served as rst Vice-President and Communications Minister under Iran’s last reformist Presi-dent Mohammad Khatami, who held oce from 1997 to 2005. 

Economy news 

Not all require tax clearance certificate to go abroad: govt. 

• After outrage over a Union Budget proposal making it mandatory to get tax clea- rance certificates for going abroad, the government on Sunday said only those accused of financial irregu- larities or having huge tax arrears needed them.
•  "The proposed amendment does not require all the residents to obtain the tax clearance certificate," the Finance Ministry said in a statement. The Ministry, in the Finance Bill, has proposed to add the reference of the Black Money Act, 2015, to the list of Acts under which any person should clear his liabilities to obtain the certificate. 
• The Ministry said the Income Tax Department, through a 2004 notification, had specified that the certificate may be required only in case of serious financial irregularities and investigation of cases un- der the Income Tax ог Wealth Tax Act requiring a person's presence and leading to a tax demand, or if a person has direct-tax arrears exceeding ₹10 lakh, which have not been stayed. 
• The department said a person could be asked to get the certificate only after recording the reasons. 

Appointment 

DK Murali takes charge as CMD of BECIL 

• Cmde D.K. Murali has taken over as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL), a Mini Ratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. 
• Cmde Murali, who served in the Indian Navy for nearly 35 years, expressed his enthusiasm about his new role. 
• The Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) has selected Brijesh Dixit for the position of Managing Director at Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited (REIL), a Schedule ‘C’ Central PSU. ● Dixit, currently the Executive Director (Depot & Machineries) in the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers, was chosen from 12 candidates. 
• His appointment is subject to requisite clearances and ACC approval, with incumbent MD Rakesh Chopra set to retire on July 31, 2024. 

Paris Olympic 2024 

2024 Paris Olympics Opening Parade held on River Seine, Paris 

• The 33rd Summer Olympics opened with a first-of-its-kind opening ceremony in the French capital city of Paris on 26 July 2024. 
• For the first time in the Summer Olympics’ history, the traditional opening ceremony was not held in a stadium but in the open on the Seine. 
• Out of the 117-strong Indian side, 78 participated in the opening ceremony. The Indian contingent was led by four-time Olympian table tennis player Sharath Kamal and two-time Olympian badminton player P.V. Sindhu. 
• Paris will host the 33rd Summer Olympics from 26 July to 11 August and Paralympics for the physically challenged athletes from 28 August to 8 September 2024. 
• It is the third time Paris is hosting the Summer Olympics, having hosted in 1900,1924 and now in 2024. 

Mascot and Motto of the 2024 Paris Olympics

•  The 2024 Paris Olympics Mascot is Olympic Phryge. It is designed on the traditional French Phyrigian hat that represents the symbols of freedom and the French Republic. 
• It is coloured in blue, white and red, representing the flag of France with the golden Paris 2024 logo emblazoned across its chest. 
• Alone we go faster, but together we go further,” is the motto of the Paris Olympics and the Paralympic Games. A

About Indian Contingent in the Paris Olympics 

• India has sent 117 athletes to the Paris Games, the second-largest contingent ever after the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, which saw the participation of 121 athletes. 
• In the Paris Olympics, 70 male and 47 female Indian athletes are participating in the Paris Olympics. 

India to participate in 16 events 

• Out of the 32 sporting disciplines in the Paris Olympics, India will participate in 16: Men’s Hockey, archery, badminton, boxing, wrestling, equestrian, golf, athletics, tennis, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, and weightlifting. 
• Maximum 29 athletes will participate in athletics, while 21 will participate in the various shooting events. 
• Breaking, Surfing, sports climbing, and Skateboarding are the four new sports to be included in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. 
• The United States, with 640 athletes, has the maximum number of athletes competing in the Paris Olympics, followed by host France, which has 608 athletes. 

Youngest and Oldest Indian Athlete

•  Veteran Tennis player Rohan Boppana is the oldest Indian athlete at the age of 44 years
•  While the 14-year-old swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu is the youngest member of the Indian contingent. 

Sports 

Sri Lanka clinch maiden Women’s Asia Cup title with comprehensive win over India

•  Sri Lanka secured their first-ever Women’s Asia Cup title, defeating the defending champions India in front of an ecstatic home crowd. 
• In the final of the 9th Women’s Cricket Asia Cup played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla, Sri Lanka the host beat India by 8 wickets with 8 balls to spare. 
• This was also just the second time in their nine final appearances that India failed to win the Women’s Asia Cup. 
• The previous such instance was in 2018, when Bangladesh beat India by three wickets. 
• Samarawickrama was the Player of the Match in the Final, while Chamari Athapaththu was the Player of the Tournament for her 304 runs and three wickets in the event. 

Manu's historic bronze opens India's medal hunt 

• Three years ago, Ma- nu Bhaker broke down in tears at the conclusion of a dismal campaign at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics where she finished medalless across three events. 
• On Sunday at Chateau- roux, the 22-year-old, who is competing at her second Olympics, wiped away tears from her eyes once again. This time though they were of joy following the conclusion of the wo men's 10m air pistol event where she won a bronze medal, opening India's me dal count at the Paris 2024 Games. 
• The medal was also the first won by an Indian wo man shooter After qualifying for the final in third place, Manu hit the ground running. Of the 22 shots she took, just 7 were in the '9' ring. 
• She was never out of medal contention and was in silver medal place until her final shot of the competition where she was pipped by the narrowest of margins 0.1 by South 
• Korea's Kim Yeji. Another Korean took gold. Manu isn't done just yet. She will also be competing in the women's 10m pistol mixed team event on Mon- day and the women's 25m pistol events later in the competition. 

Important day 

27 July – CRPF Raising Day 

• The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is observing its Raising Day on 27 July 2024. 
• It was on this day the central government’s largest paramilitary force, CRPF was raised as Crown Representative Police in 1939 by the British rulers of India.
• CRPF is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) of the government of India, the others being the Assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Police Force (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). 
• CRPF is the largest CAPF and is dedicated to the task of internal security. 

Formation of CRPF 

• The CRPF was established as Crown Representative Police on 27 July 1939 by the British as a specialised force to maintain law and order in the country, especially in the princely states. 
• After Independence, the provisional Indian parliament passed the Central Reserve Police Force Act in 1949. 
• On 28 December 1949 the name of the force was changed to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as per the provision of the CRPF Act 1949. 
• CRPF was made a force of the government of India under the Home Ministry

 27 July – World Hepatitis Day 

• World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on July 28th. 
• Objective – To raise awareness about viral hepatitis, a group of infectious diseases that cause inflammation of the liver and can lead to severe liver disease and cancer. 
• Theme 2024 – It’s Time for Action 

What is Hepatitis? 

• Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, often caused by viral infections but also resulting from other factors such as alcohol consumption, certain medications, and autoimmune diseases. 
• The liver, a vital organ responsible for numerous essential functions, becomes compromised when affected by hepatitis, leading to potentially severe health consequences.