Daily Current Affairs and GK | 16 July 2024

Topic: Environment and Ecology

1. Indore created a world record by planting 11 lakh saplings in a day.

• By planting over 1.1 million saplings in just 24 hours, Indore achieved a new Guinness World Record in the category of "the most trees planted by a team in 24 hours" on July 14.
• The state government organized this program.
• Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah participated in the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign and planted a sapling.
• On the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign.
• 51 lakh saplings will be planted during this campaign in Indore.
• The tree plantation drive was carried out in the Revati range of the BSF Academy, which was divided into nine zones and 100 sub-zones.
• In this plantation drive, apart from 2000 BSF jawans, more than 100 NRIs, NCC cadets from 50 schools, a large number of citizens and members of various social organisations participated.
• According to the Guinness World Records website, the previous record for the most number of saplings planted in 24 hours was 9,21,730.
• The record was achieved by the Forest Department of the Government of Assam (India) at Udalguri on September 13 and 14, 2023.

Topic: National Appointment

2. Robert J Ravi appointed CMD of BSNL by the Government.

• Robert Gerard Ravi has been appointed as the new Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) by the government from July 15.
• Whereas, extension of service has been denied to outgoing PK Purwar, who was serving as CMD of BSNL and MTNL since July 2019.
• This will be Ravi's second stint at BSNL.
• Prior to this, he had served as additional general manager at the state-run firm for nearly six years.
• Presently, he is working as Deputy Director General in the Department of Telecommunications.
• Earlier, he was working as Advisor (Consumer Affairs and Quality of Services) in the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Topic: State News/Maharashtra

3. Maharashtra government tabled a bill to curb ‘naxalism in urban areas’.

• The 'Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024, has been tabled in the assembly to curb Naxalism in urban areas.
• Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, tabled the bill in the state assembly.
• This bill gives power to the government and the police machinery to combat unlawful activities.
• This bill also proposes a jail term of three to seven years and a fine of Rs 3 to Rs 5 lakh.
• As per the government, the existing laws are "ineffective" and are "inadequate" to curb Naxalism.
• The opposition in Maharashtra has opposed the bill.
• Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have also enacted similar laws to prevent any such unlawful activities.

Topic: Art and Culture

4. Kharchi Puja was celebrated in Tripura.

• Kharchi Puja is also referred to as the Festival of the 14 Gods.
• It is observed annually on the Shukla Ashtami day, which falls on the eighth day of the lunar month of Ashadha.
• During this week-long festival, the people of Tripura pay homage to their ancestral deity, Chaturdasa Devata.
• This year, Kharchi Puja began on July 14.
• On this occasion, royal priests carry idols of the fourteen gods from the ancient Ujjayanta Palace in Agartala and dip them in the holy water of the Saidra River.
• The hymns and mantras are recited to invoke the blessings of the deities.