Daily Current Affairs and GK | 14 and 15 July 2024

Topic: Sports

1. Spain defeated England to win its fourth UEFA Euro title.

• Spain win the UEFA Euro title in Berlin by beating England by 2-1.
• Neco Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal scored goals from Spain's side, while Cole Palmer scored a goal from England's side.
• Spain won the titles earlier, in 1964, 2008 and 2012.
• In the semi-finals, Spain defeated France while the Netherlands were defeated by England.
• Spain's Lamine Yamal was named Young Player of the Tournament, while his teammate Rodri was named Player of the Tournament.
• Yamal is also the youngest ever to play as well as a goal scorer in the Euro Championship.
• In another football tournament, Argentina defeated Colombia to win their 16th Copa America title.
• Lionel Messi became the first player in football history with 45 trophies.

Topic: State News/Madhya Pradesh

2. Prime Minister College of Excellence was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in all 55 districts of Madhya Pradesh from Indore.

• In this programme, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav also took part.
• Mr. Shah stressed that the goal of the new education policy is to reconnect Indian students with their rich cultural heritage and languages.
• He stressed that the new education policy also aims to prepare them to compete globally for the next 25 years.
• He highlighted that the goal of the initiative to establish Prime Minister Colleges of Excellence in each of Madhya Pradesh's 55 districts is to give children excellent and high-quality education.
• He praised the government of Madhya Pradesh for being the pioneer in implementing the new education policy.
• Additionally, he praised the Madhya Pradesh government for starting medical and engineering studies in Hindi.
• This will benefit children of economically disadvantaged families.

Topic: Sports

3. In Wimbledon Tennis, Carlos Alcaraz has won the Men’s Singles title.

• Carlos Alcaraz of Spain defeated Novak Djokovic of Serbia, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6.
• This was Alcaraz’s second appearance in a Wimbledon final.
• Djokovic is a seven-time champion of the championship.
• Alcaraz became the sixth man in the professional era to win the Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles in the same year.
• Barbora Krejcikova won her maiden Wimbledon women’s singles title.
• Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic defeated Jasmine Paolini of Italy 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 to.
• In the Mixed Doubles final, the Polish-Taiwan pair of Jan Zieliński and Hsieh Su-Wei won their second Grand Slam title of the season.
• They defeated the Mexican pair Giuliana Olmos and Santiago Gonzalez in straight sets.

Topic: Important Days

4. World Youth Skills Day: 15 July

• World Youth Skills Day is celebrated every year on 15 July.
• This day is celebrated to raise awareness among youth about the development of technical, vocational education training and other skills relevant to both local and global economies.
• The theme of World Youth Skills Day 2024 is Youth Skills for Peace and Development.
• The theme highlights the role of youth in peacebuilding and sustainable development.
• United Nations General Assembly established this day in 2014.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

5. ‘Niti Gearshift Challenge’ launched by NITI Aayog under the E-Fast India initiative.

• The launch of this initiative was announced by NITI Aayog in collaboration with IIM Bangalore, Smart Freight Centre India, Calstart/Drive-to-Zero and WRI India.
• The aim of this pioneering hackathon is to promote innovative business models for the adoption of zero-emission trucks (ZET) in India, addressing critical economic and environmental challenges of the country.
• The Niti Gearshift Challenge has invited students, transport service providers, academics and researchers to develop innovative business models that address the financial, technical and operational challenges in adopting electric trucks.
• The hackathon is taking place in two phases.
• In Phase 1, teams will present their initial business models, based on high-level strategies and research, that offer a solution to a specific barrier—technical, operational or financial.
• In Phase 2, selected teams will present a detailed business model supported by both primary and secondary research, including an implementation roadmap.
• India's freight sector is vital to the economy, ensuring the smooth delivery of goods to more than 1.4 billion people.
• With 55% of India’s annual diesel consumption and nearly 40% of road transport carbon dioxide emissions caused by road freight, there is an urgent need to adopt more sustainable solutions.

Topic: Indian Economy

6. In FY25, Net direct tax collections so far grew 19.5% to Rs 5.74 lakh crore.

• According to data released by the Income Tax department, the net direct tax collection for the financial year 2024-25 rose to Rs 5.74 lakh crore till July 11, 2024, showing a growth of 19.54% compared to the previous fiscal.
• Out of the ₹5.74 lakh crore, ₹3.46 lakh crore came from personal income tax, ₹2.10 lakh crore from corporate tax, ₹16,634 crore from securities transaction tax (STT), and ₹1,413 crore from 'other taxes'.
• Gross direct tax collection increased by 23.24% to Rs 6.45 lakh crore.
• As of July 11, 2024, out of the ₹6.45 lakh crore gross tax collection, ₹3.61 lakh crore came from personal income tax, ₹2.65 lakh crore from corporate tax, ₹16,634 crore from STT, and ₹1,426 crore from 'other taxes'.
• Meanwhile, income tax refund stood at Rs 70,902 crore, which is 64.49% higher than the corresponding figure for FY24.
• Out of the ₹70,902 crore in refunds, ₹55,063 crore was refunded to corporate taxpayers, ₹15,826 crore to personal income taxpayers, and ₹13 crore to 'other taxes'.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

7. From November 20 to 24, 2024, India will host the inaugural World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Goa.

• India is among the world's largest film producing countries, according to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
• Goa CM made this statement during the curtain-raiser event in Delhi.
• He said WAVES will be the major occasion to shape the future of India’s media and entertainment industry.
• Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw addressed the gathering and said that WAVES will mark a critical milestone in the growth of India's entertainment sector.
• WAVES will be a leading platform for discussion, trade cooperation, and innovation in the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector.
• The Summit will bring together innovators, stakeholders, and leaders in the M&E industry.

Topic: International News

8. On July 15, 2024, K P Sharma Oli took the oath of office as prime minister of Nepal.

• On July 14, 2024, Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed Oli as the new prime minister of the alliance between the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and the Nepali Congress (NC).
• The largest political party in parliament, the Nepali Congress, supports Oli.
• Oli was the only candidate with 166 legislators supporting him.
• A minimum of 138 members of the House of Representatives, which has 275 members, are required to form a government.
• Up until the next general elections in 2027, K P S Oli and Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba will alternately serve as prime ministers for 18 months each.
• For the third time, Oli was appointed prime minister to lead the new coalition government.
• He succeeds Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda. Prachanda lost the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives.

Topic: International News

9. Donald Trump distancing himself from Project 2025.

• The ‘2025 Presidential Transition Project’ known as ‘Project 25’ has published a 900-page document titled “The Mandate for Leadership 2025: The Conservative Promise”.
• This document contains a plethora of extremely contentious policy proposals.
• What is Project 2025?
  • It is a set of conservative policy proposals known as Project 2025.
  • Project 2025 has set up a personnel database to help the future president make administrative appointments and includes a training programme to develop future conservative leaders.
  • The Heritage Foundation, a Washington, DC-based conservative think tank, spearheads it.
  • Project 2025’s policy suggestions are on various issues, from foreign affairs to education.
  • It also proposes enforcing laws that make it illegal to mail abortion pills over state lines, criminalizing pornography and eliminating the Department of Education.
  • It also proposes a broad expansion in presidential power in political appointees and increasing the president’s authority over the Justice Department.
  • It also advocates the elimination of environmental regulations and a crackdown on programs to boost diversity in the workplace.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

10. Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) wins the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity 2024.

• The Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) program has received the prestigious Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity 2024.
• This announcement was made by Dr. Angela Merkel, chair of the Jury and former Federal Chancellor of Germany.
• The Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) is a program of the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
• It has been awarded for its significant contributions to global food security, climate resilience, and ecosystem protection.
• This initiative supports smallholder farmers, with a focus on empowering predominantly female farmers.
• The award comprises a prize of €1 million and is given for exceptional contributions to climate action and solutions.
• This award is instituted by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (CGF).
• The 2024 Prize emphasizes the interconnected nature of climate-related challenges, highlighting how they lead to systemic crises.

Topic: Indian Economy

11. For May 2024, the Quick Estimates of IIP with base 2011-12 stands at 154.2 against 145.6 in May 2023.

• The IIP growth rate for May 2024 over May 2023 is at a 7-month high of 5.9 %. The IIP growth rate in May 2023 was 5.7 %. 
• The Indices of Industrial Production for the Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors for May 2024 stand at 136.5, 149.7 and 229.3 respectively.
• The growth rates of Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors for May 2024 over May 2023 are 6.6 %, 4.6 % and 13.7 % respectively.
• In May 2024, overall manufacturing growth fell to 4.6%. The 13.7 per cent growth in electricity stood at seven-month high level.
• As per Use-based classification, the indices stand at 160.9 for Primary Goods, 105.2 for Capital Goods, and 160.8 for Intermediate Goods for May 2024.
• The indices stand at 185.1 for Infrastructure/ Construction Goods for May 2024.
• The indices for Consumer durables and Consumer non-durables stand at 129.8 and 153.3 respectively for May 2024.
• For April-May 2024, IIP grew 5.4%. This was higher than 5.1% in April-May 2023.
• Within the manufacturing sector, the top three positive contributors to the growth of IIP for May 2024 are basic metals (7.8%), pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemical and botanical products (7.5%), and electrical equipment (14.7%).
• Based on use-based classification, top three positive contributors to the growth of IIP for May 2024 are Primary goods, Consumer durables and Infrastructure/Construction goods.

Topic: State News/Haryana

12. IT Saksham Yuva Scheme has been approved by Haryana cabinet to provide 5,000 jobs in first phase. 

• The scheme has been designed in accordance with the ‘Mission 60,000’.
• ‘Mission 60,000’ was announced while presenting the 2024-25 budget proposals.
• It was announced aiming to give employment to minimum 60,000 young individuals from poor families.
• As part of this scheme, employment will be given to the youths who are graduate or postgraduate applicants from IT backgrounds.
• The aspirants will be required to undertake the Haryana IT programme for at least three months.
• After this, they will be deployed in various departments, boards, corporations, districts, etc., in Haryana or private entities.
• For the first six months, the IT saksham yuva will receive ₹20,000 per month in compensation; after that, they will receive ₹25,000.
• The state government will provide a ₹10,000 monthly unemployment allowance if any IT saksham yuva is not deployed.

Topic: State News/ Jammu and Kashmir

13. Government amended rules to give more power to Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor.

• The Ministry of Home Affairs has amended the rules of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 to give more power to the Lieutenant Governor.
• After this amendment, any elected government in the Union Territory will have limited powers in matters related to internal security, transfers, prosecution, and appointment of government lawyers, including the Attorney-General.
• As per the new rule, the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs will submit the proposal for the appointment of an Advocate-General and other law officers for approval from the Lt Governor through the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister.
• Any proposal regarding the grant or refusal of prosecution sanction or filing of an appeal will be placed before the Lt Governor through the Chief Secretary.
• It has given more powers to Lt Governor for taking decisions on police, and officers of all-India services such as the IAS and the IPS.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

14. Indian victimology expert K. Chockalingam has been selected for the Hans von Hentig Award.

• Renowned Indian Professor of Victimology, K. Chockalingam, has been selected for the Hans von Hentig Award by the World Society of Victimology.
• It is the highest award given by the society and is given in remembrance of the famous pioneer of victimology, Hans von Hentig.
• This award is presented once every three years to a person who has made a significant contribution to the field of victimology.
• Dr Chockalingam is known for his extensive contributions to the fields of education and youth development.
• He has received several awards for his studies in criminology and victimology.
• Dr. Chockalingam is currently a professor emeritus in victimology at the RV University in Bengaluru.