Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 1st September 2024

1. Vigyan Dhara scheme 

• The Union Cabinet decided to merge several existing science promotion programs being run by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under a new initiative called Vigyan Dhara. 
• It merges schemes including the INSPIRE programme that works to attract young talent to science research. 
• Vigyan Dhara has three broad components Science and technology institutional and human capacity building 
• Research and development; and Innovation, technology development and deployment. 
• Cabinet also approved the Bio E3-Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment policy to foster high-performance biomanufacturing. 
• The Bio E3 Policy will promote a future that is more sustainable, innovative, and responsive to global challenges. 

2. Blueberry imports from Poland 

• The government has mandated that the antioxidants-rich fruit imported from Poland be sourced from orchards registered with that country's National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO). 
• The certificates must include a declaration confirming that they are free from acalitus vaccinii (blueberry bud mites pest) and pseudomonas viridiflava (blossom blight disease). 
• NPPO is a country-level institution that works to curb the spread of pests and protect agriculture. 
• India is a signatory of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 
• The blueberry market in India is currently valued at around $60 million. 

3. Historic Winter Temperature– Australia Australia registered a record-high winter temperature, 41.6 degrees Celsius in part of northwest coast. 

• It is higher than the previous record by 0.4 C. 
• The previous record of 41.2C was set in August 2020 at nearby West Roebuck. 
• About 18 percent of Australia is desert and searing heat is common year-round away from temperate zones. 
• From January to July, the global temperatures were 0.7C above the 1991-2020 average. 
• Largest Cargo Drone– China 
• Chinese aviation tested a flight of an unmanned civilian drone capable of carrying up to 3.2 metric tons of cargo. 
• The aircraft can operate as high as 7,300 metres (24,000 feet) and fly as far as 2,200 kms (1,367 miles). 
• Cargo drones promise shorter delivery times and lower transport costs. 

4. Union Cabinet approved ‘Agriculture Infrastructure Fund’ for progressive expansion 

• The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi approved the progressive expansion in the Central Sector Scheme of financing facility under ‘Agriculture Infrastructure Fund’ to make it more attractive, impactful, and inclusive. 
• The government has announced a series of measures to expand the scope of Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme. These initiatives aim to expand the scope of eligible projects and integrate additional supportive measures to foster a robust agricultural infrastructure ecosystem. 
• Viable Farming Assets- To allow all eligible beneficiaries of scheme to create of infrastructure covered under ‘viable projects for building community farming assets’. 
• Integrated Processing projects--To include integrated primary secondary processing projects in eligible activities under AIF. However standalone secondary projects would not be eligible under MoFPI schemes. PMKUSUMComponent-A To allow convergence of Component-A of PM-KUSUM with AIF for farmers/groups of farmers/ Farmer Producer Organizations/ Cooperatives/ Panchayats. NABSanrakshan- In addition to CGTMSE, it is proposed to extend AIF credit guarantee coverage of FPOs through the NABSanrakshan Trustee Company Pvt. Ltd. also. 
• Since its launch by the Prime Minister in 2020, AIF has been instrumental in supporting the creation of 6623 warehouses, 688 cold stores, and 21 silos projects, resulting in additional storage capacity of about 500 LMT in the country. This includes 465 LMT of dry storage and 35 LMT of cold storage capacity. 
• In addition, infrastructure projects sanctioned under AIF have helped in generating more than 8.19 Lakh rural employment opportunities in the agriculture sector. 

5. Union Cabinet approves rolling out Private FM Radio to 234 uncovered new cities & towns

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet has approved a proposal for e-auctions to set up 730 channels in 234 new cities across the country with an estimated reserve price of ₹784.87 crore, as part of the initiative to expand the reach of private FM Radio channels. 
• The Cabinet decision on the rollout of private FM Radio to 234 cities and towns will enhance access to diverse and local content, thus encouraging creativity and encouraging local languages as well as cultures. 
• Many of these cities and towns are located in aspirational districts and areas affected by Left-Wing Extremism. A maximum of 100 channels are to be provided in 32 cities/towns of Uttar Pradesh, followed by 68 across 22 cities/towns of Andhra Pradesh, 61 in 20 cities/towns of Madhya Pradesh, and 59 in 19 cities/towns of Rajasthan. 
• While 57 channels will be made available in Bihar, 53 channels have been proposed for Karnataka’s 16 cities/towns, 42 in West Bengal, 36 in Maharashtra, 33 in Tamil Nadu, 31 in Telangana, 28 in Punjab, 24 in Gujarat, 27 in Haryana and 19 in Jharkhand. 

6. Cabinet approves 12 Industrial nodes/cities under NICD Programme 

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved 12 new greenfield industrial smart cities under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) to transform the country’s industrial landscape. 
• The combined estimated investment in these industrial areas will be 28,602 crore rupees. These projects will create ten lakh direct and up to 30 lakh indirect jobs. 
• The projects span across ten states and are strategically planned along six major corridors. These are Khurpia in Uttrakhand, Gaya in Bihar, Rajpura-Patiala in Punjab, Zaheerabad in Telangana, Dighi in Maharashtra, Orvakal and Kopparthy in Andhra Pradesh, Palakkad in Kerela, Jodhpur-Pali in Rajasthan, and Agra and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. 

7. India to host inaugural World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Goa 

• The Government of India will host the inaugural World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) to bolster India’s media and entertainment industry and extend its global influence.
• The Summit is being held in Goa from November 20th to November 25th this year. 
• The Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw launched 25 Challenges under the ‘Create in India Challenge– Season 1’ on August 22nd. 
• WAVES is poised to become a significant platform for icons of the media and entertainment fraternity worldwide, focusing on entertainment economics and technology.
• These challenges cover a wide range of disciplines including animation, filmmaking, gaming, comics, and music. From animation and gaming to music and emerging technologies, these challenges are designed to inspire and empower participants to explore new horizons, showcase their talents, and contribute to India’s evolving narrative in the global media and entertainment industry. 

8. Rajesh Dhankhar takes over as DG of Project Seabird 

• Vice Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar NM assumed duties of the Director General Project Seabird, with a charter to oversee the largest defence infrastructure project currently progressing at the Karwar Naval Base, from Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti. 
• Vdm Rajesh Dhankhar was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 July 1990 and is a specialist in Navigation & Direction. 
• The Flag Officer is an alumnus of the prestigious Naval Academy, Defence Services Staff College, and has undergone the Higher Command Course in Japan. 
• During his illustrious career spanning 34 years, the Flag Officer has tenanted specialist appointments onboard warships Pondicherry, Godavari, Kora, and Mysore. The officer has also done instructional tenures in the erstwhile Project 15 Training Team, Navigation & Direction School and at the MIDS Wing Officer’s Cadet School, Singapore. 
• The Flag Officer is a recipient of the Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) in 2015 for Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) of Indian nationals from Aden and Al-Hodeida, Yemen. 

Recent Appointment in Defence Sector 

• DG of National Security Guard (NSG)– B Srinivasan (replace Nalin Prabhat) 
• Additional DG of ITBP– Sanjeev Raina 
• Chief of Enforcement Directorate (ED)– Rahul Navin 
• Director General of Assam Rifles-Vikas Lakhera (22nd) 
• Director General of BSF– Daljit Singh Chawdhary (additional charge) 
• Additional National Security Adviser– Rajinder Khanna 

9. Shannon Gabriel retires from International Cricket 

• Shannon Gabriel of the West Indies has announced his retirement from international cricket. 
• Since his West Indies debut in 2012, the right-arm quick played 59 tests, 25 ODIs and two T20 Internationals finishing with 202 wickets across the three formats. 
• Gabriel was more successful in test matches and became a regular member of the West Indies team in 2017. 
• He last played for West Indies in a test match against India in July 2023. 

Recently Retired Players 

• Shikhar Dhawan (India)– All forms of Cricket 
• Ilkay Gundogan (Germany)– International Football 
• Andy Murray (UK)– International Tennis 
• PR Sreejesh (India)– International Hockey 
• James Anderson (England)– International Test Cricket 
• Dinesh Karthik (India, RCB)– IPL 

10. Aarti wins Bronze Medal in Women’s 10000m race walk event at World U20 Athletics Championships 

• In the World U20 Athletics Championships, Aarti won a Bronze medal in the Women’s 10000m race walk event with the National U20 record time to open India’s medal account at Lima in Peru. 
• She clocked 44 minutes 39.39 seconds to finish third in the gruelling event on the penutimate day of competitions. 
• The 17-year-old Aarti broke her own earlier national record of 47 minutes 21.04 seconds which she had clocked in March this year in the National Federation Cup U20 Championships in Lucknow. 
• Chinese race walkers Zhuoma Baima won the gold while and Meiling Chen clinched silver. 

11. Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 to begin from 11th Nov at Rajgir 

• Hockey India has announced that the 8th Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 will begin at Rajgir in Bihar on November 11th this year. 
• The event, a joint effort between Hockey India and the Bihar Government, will take place at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium between 11th November and 20th November. 
• Last year, Hockey Jharkhand hosted the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in Ranchi, where India emerged as the champion. 
• Besides the defending champions, India, reigning Olympic silver- medallists China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand are expected to participate in this tournament. 

12. 31 August– International Day for People of African Descent 

• International Day for People of African Descent observed every year on 31 August. 
• The International Day for People of African Descent marks a significant milestone in the global recognition of the contributions and challenges faced by individuals of African descent worldwide. 
• On June 19, 2020, the Council adopted a resolution on the “Promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officers.”