Daily Current Affairs and GK | 13 July 2024

Topic: Sports

1. Sabeera Haris won the bronze medal in the Shotgun Junior World Cup in Italy.

• India’s Sabeera Haris has bagged the bronze medal in the women’s trap event at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Porpetto, Italy.
• She has shot 29 out of 40 targets in the final.
• Carey Garrison of the US won the gold medal by shooting 40 out of 50 targets.
• Sofia Gori of Italy claimed the silver with 39 hits out of the full quota of 50 targets.
• Bhavya Tripathi ended up in 26th place with a score of 102 in the junior women’s trap event.
• Rajkuwar Ingle finished in 33rd place with 100 points.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

2. Government will launch the ‘Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises’ (AgriSURE).

• The 'Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises' (AgriSURE) fund will support start-ups and agripreneurs through sector-specific, sector-agnostic, and debt Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) investments.
• It will promote innovation and sustainability in India's agricultural sector by establishing a Rs 750 crore Category-II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).
• The fund will offer equity and debt support, specifically targeting high-risk, high-impact activities in the agriculture value chain.
• NABARD also launched the AgriSURE Greenathon 2024 to promote innovation in the agriculture sector.
• It will address three key problem statements: "Smart Agriculture on a Budget", "Turning Agri-Waste into Profitable Business Opportunities," and "Tech Solutions Making Regenerative Agriculture Remunerative".

Topic: Personality in News

3. UAE kept a street name on Indian-Origin Doctor in Abu Dhabi.

• The UAE has named a road in Abu Dhabi after Dr. George Matthew, an Indian-origin doctor.
• This honour is part of the “Honoring UAE’s Visionaries: Commemorative Streets” project initiated by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT).
• George Matthew Street is located near Sheikh Shakbooth Medical City in Al Mafraq.
• George Matthew made substantial contributions to the UAE’s healthcare sector.
• He earned the privilege of serving the royal family, including the late Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan.
• He is originally from Thumpamon, Pathanamthitta, in Kerala.

(Source: DD News)

Topic: India and its Neighbours

4. Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal loses the vote of confidence in Parliament.

• Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda lost his vote of confidence in Parliament, which led to the fall of his one-and-a-half-year-old government.
• After his coalition partner, the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) withdrew its support from the government, Kamal Dahal’s government had to prove majority.
• Out of the 258 parliamentarians present, 63 voted in Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s favour, while 194 voted against.
• In the 275-member Parliament, 138 votes are needed to prove the majority.
• The Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, the two largest parties in Parliament with 88 and 78 seats, have reached a deal to form the government.
• KP Sharma Oli, leader of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), has staked claim to become Prime Minister of Nepal.
• Oli will present his claim before President Ramchandra Paudel with the support of 165 lawmakers.

Topic: National Appointments

5. Rajat Sharma was elected president of the News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA).

• Rajat Sharma is a veteran television journalist and India TV chairman.
• He was unanimously elected president of NBDA at a meeting of its board.
• He replaces Avinash Pandey, who is the former CEO of ABP Network.
• NBDA is the largest organisation of news broadcasters and digital media in India.
• It was formerly known as the News Broadcasters Association.
• It is a private association of various current affairs and news television broadcasters in India. It was founded on 2007.
• It has currently 27 leading news and current affairs broadcasters as its members.

Topic: Important Days

6. The government has decided to observe the 25th of June every year as Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas.

• Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas will be observed on June 25 of each year by the government.
• Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a national emergency on this day in 1975.
• Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas will be observed by the Indian government on June 25th in remembrance of all those who battled against the abuse of power that occurred during the Emergency.
• Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas would serve as a reminder of what occurs when the Indian Constitution is violated.
• As per Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, people would never forget how the Constitution was killed on June 25, 1975, night.
• Emergency in India:
  • The Emergency in India was in effect from 25 June 1975 and ended on 21 March 1977.
  • It was officially issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed.
  • It was issued under Article 352 of the Constitution and because of internal disturbance.
  • It can now be imposed only on grounds of war or external aggression or armed rebellion.
  • After the 44th Amendment Act of 1978, it cannot be declared on the ground of internal disturbance.

Topic: Indian Economy

7. India’s retail inflation increased to 5.1% (5.08%) in June 2024 from 4.75% in the previous month.

• This was mainly due to rising food prices. Food inflation nearly doubled YoY. Food inflation increased to 9.55% in June 2024.
• In June, the Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation rate was 5.08% year over year, according to official statistics that was released on July 12.
• The data indicates that the rates of inflation in rural and urban areas were 5.66% and 4.39%, respectively.
• The increase in food costs is still a major concern.
• Monthly increases were observed in a number of food categories, including cereals, meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, oils, fats, fruits, vegetables, pulses, sugar, spices, and prepared snacks, according to government data.
• This rise in June 2024 comes after a period of easing inflation. In May 2024, a 12-month low inflation of 4.75% was recorded.
• The data was gathered from 1,181 villages and 1,114 urban markets in all states and union territories.
• It offers a complete picture of price trends throughout India.
• The next CPI data release is scheduled for August 12, 2024. This data release will be for the month of July 2024.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

8. NITI Aayog released the SDG India Index 2023-24.

• As per the NITI Aayog's SDG India Index 2023-24, India's overall Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) score has improved to 71 in 2023-24 from 66 in 2020-21.
• It has improved due to the progress made in poverty reduction, economic growth, and climate action.
• The scores for States now range from 57 to 79, while UTs score between 65 and 77.
• Uttarakhand and Kerala emerged as top-performing states with a score of 79 on this Index. It is followed by Tamil Nadu with a score of 78, and Goa comes next with a score of 77.
• Bihar (57), Jharkhand (62), and Nagaland (63) were the worst-performing states in this year's index.
• Among the union territories, the top five performers were Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Delhi.
• Between 2018 and 2023-24, Uttar Pradesh followed by J&K, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Haryana, Assam, Tripura and Punjab were the fastest progressing states.
• Punjab, Manipur, West Bengal, and Assam recorded the highest increase of 8 points as compared to 2020-21 scores.
• The SDG India Index give a ranking to states and UTs on 113 indicators aligned to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s National Indicator Framework (NIF).
• The SDG India Index computes goal-wise scores on the 16 SDGs for each state and UT.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: State News/ Maharashtra

9. PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple projects worth 29400 crore rupees in Mumbai.

• PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth 29400 crore rupees at NESCO Exhibition Centre, Mumbai.
• He will lay the foundation stone for the Thane Borivali Tunnel Project, worth 16 thousand 600 crore rupees.
• This twin-tube tunnel between Thane and Borivali will pass below Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
• It will reduce the journey from Thane to Borivali by 12 km, saving about 1 hour in travel time.
• He will also lay the foundation stone for Kalyan Yard Remodeling and Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal at Turbhe in Navi Mumbai.
• He will also launch the Mukhyamantri Yuva Karya Prashikshan Yojana with an outlay of around 5600 crore rupees.
• It is an internship program to address youth unemployment by providing opportunities for skill enhancement and industry exposure for youth aged 18 to 30 years.
• He will inaugurate new platforms at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and the extension of platforms at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Station.

Topic: India and its Neighbour

10. India and Bhutan agreed to work together in the field of environment and climate change.

• India and Bhutan have committed to cooperating on climate change, air quality improvement, forest conservation, wildlife management, and capacity building in environmental and climate change sectors.
• A Bhutanese delegation led by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jam Tshering met Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh in New Delhi.
• Mr Tshering pointed out that Bhutan is already a carbon-negative country and derives a large portion of its energy from hydropower.
• The two leaders discussed issues related to air quality, climate change, forests, natural resources, wildlife and renewable energy.
• India also suggested holding a meeting of the Joint Working Group.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

11. Vizhinjam International Sea Port, India's largest transshipment port in Kerala, has welcomed its first container ship.

• The large cargo vessel, named 'San Fernando,' arrived from China at Vizhinjam International Sea Port.
• India's largest transshipment port welcomed the ship's arrival with a water salute from four tugs.
• The ship arrived from Xiamen Port in China and is owned by the well-known shipping corporation Maersk. It has a capacity of 8,000 to 9,000 TEUs.
• San Fernando, a 300-meter-long cargo ship, will offload 1,900 containers at Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL).
• Vizhinjam port:
  • Equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and advanced automation and IT systems, Vizhinjam is set to become India's first semi-automated port.
  • Vizhinjam International Port is being developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ).
  • The construction work of the port began in 2016 and it is a public-private partnership project with a total investment of Rs 8,867 crore.
  • For the development of the port, the central government gave Rs 818 crore, and the Kerala state government contributed over Rs 5,595 crore.
  • It is expected to be fully operational in September or October 2024.

Topic: Indian Economy

12. Government hiked interest rate EPF annual interest rate to 8.25% for FY 2024-25.

• The Union Finance Ministry has approved the proposal to increase the EPF annual interest rate to 8.25% from 8.15%.
• The rate revision decision will benefit millions of EPF members across the country.
• Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has also informed that the revised EPF interest rates have been disbursed to retiring members as part of their final PF settlements.
• The rate of interest for EPF members is not declared quarterly.
• EPFO has also informed that 23,04,516 claims have been settled by disbursing an amount of Rs. 9260,40,35,488 to the members.
• Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) is responsible for the regulation and management of provident funds in India.
• On October 1, 2014, the Government of India launched a Universal Account Number for employees covered by EPFO.

Topic: State News/Maharashtra

13. Maharashtra government decided to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks near schools.

• The Maharashtra government has decided to impose a ban on the sale of energy drinks with high caffeine content within a 500-meter radius of schools.
• State Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Minister Dharmarao Baba Atram made this announcement during a session of the Legislative Council on July 12.
• The main aim of this directive is to safeguard student health by regulating caffeine intake.
• As per the existing rules, caffeine content between 145 ml and 300 ml is allowed in one litre of carbonated or non-carbonated drinks.
• Caffeine is a drug that stimulates the brain and nervous system.
• It increases breathing and heart rate, increases mental alertness, and physical energy.