Daily Current Affairs and GK | 26 July 2024

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

1. Ministry of Steel has launched the ‘Steel Import Monitoring System’ 2.0 Portal.

• Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries, H.D. Kumaraswamy, has launched the ‘Steel Import Monitoring System’ 2.0 Portal.
• Steel Import Monitoring System was launched in 2019. It plays a key role in providing detailed steel import data to the domestic industry.
• The Ministry of Steel has revamped the portal to develop a more effective SIMS 2.0.
• SIMS 2.0 features API integration with multiple government portals. It enhances quality control and streamlining processes for improved efficiency and effectiveness.
• The portal boasts a robust data entry system, ensuring consistent and authentic data, which promotes transparency and accountability.
• SIMS 2.0 has been developed from a collaborative effort with contributions from the DGFT, BIS, and MSTC Ltd.
• This enhanced portal will provide stakeholders with actionable intelligence and data-driven insights, enabling more effective decision-making and strategic planning.

Topic: National News

2. India's 500th community radio station has been launched by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

• India's 500th community radio station is Aizawl-based Apna Radio FM.
• The radio station is run by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Aizawl.
• Union Minister described it as a significant milestone in the government's 'Act East' policy.
• He said it will bring substantive change in the lives of the people in the area.
• He also announced the winners of the 10th National Community Radio Awards.

• Each award category included cash prizes of Rs. 1 lakh for first place.
• The awards celebrate the invaluable contribution of community radio stations to society.

Topic: Defence

3. Two Russian stealth frigates have been launched for the Indian Navy.

• On July 23, 2024, Goa Shipyard Limited launched the Indian Navy's first-ever indigenous Advanced P1135.6 Frigate, known as "Triput."
• The Triput class frigates have a displacement of roughly 3,600 tonnes and a maximum speed of 28 knots. They are 125 meters long and 15 meters broad.
• In October 2016, India placed a deal with Russia for four frigates.
• Two of these are to be built in Russia and the other two at the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).
• The Indian Navy is projected to plan the readiness of the first Russian ship, Tushil, for September 2024, and the second ship, Tamal, for February 2025.
• The first ship, Tushil, from Russia is ready. It is expected to be delivered to the Indian Navy in September 2024.
• The second ship Tamal from Russia is expected by February 2025.
• The first ship from GSL is expected to be delivered to the Navy in 2026. This will be followed by second ship six months later.

Topic: Sports

4. Salt Lake City will host the 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

• Salt Lake City was formally awarded the 2034 Winter Olympics after voting by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
• This gave Utah its second games after hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics.
• Salt Lake City is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. 
• Utah’s capital city was the only candidate for 2034 Winter Olympics.
• Climate change and high costs have lowered the number of candidate cities.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

5. National Feeder Monitoring System Control Centre inaugurated by Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal.

• On 25 July, National Feeder Monitoring System (NFMS) Control Centre was inaugurated on REC Limited’s 55th Foundation Day at REC Headquarters, Gurugram.
• As a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Power, NFMS provides access to detailed information related to real-time power supply, power outages and overall health of about 2.5 lakh feeders (11 kV outgoing) across the country.
• This system will enable stakeholders to make informed and implementable decisions.
• This will bring transparency, efficiency and accountability in the distribution utilities (DISCOMs), and ultimately improve the quality and reliability of power supply to the end consumers.
• The project involves integration of master and transactional data with 87 Discoms.
• A subsidiary of REC Limited, RECPDCL has developed NFMS for monitoring power quality and reliability at national level with the overall objective of achieving 24x7 uninterrupted power supply.
• REC Limited:
  • It was established on 25 July 1969 which focus on Power Sector Financing and Development across India.
  • It provides financial assistance to state electricity boards, state governments, and central and state power utilities.
  • It is engaged in projects related to Generation, Transmission, Distribution and Renewable Energy.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

6. ‘Model Skill Loan Scheme’ launched by Government to provide education and skill development opportunities to 25,000 youth.

• The revised Model Skill Loan Scheme launched by Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Education, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in New Delhi.
• It aims to provide access to skill courses to the youth of the country without any financial barriers.
• These include high-level courses, which often require high course fees. This initiative will help India's youth become a future-ready workforce.
• Under this scheme, education and skill development opportunities will be provided to 25 thousand youth across the country.
• The loan amount limit under the new scheme has been increased from 1.5 lakh rupees to 7.5 lakh rupees.
• Several non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), scheduled banks, and rural banks have also been roped in under the scheme, which will provide hassle-free loans to students.
• The new Model Skill Loan Scheme is designed to support advanced-level skills courses, which often come with high fees, causing a significant financial barrier for many eligible students.
• The aim of this initiative is to bridge that gap, and ensure that interested candidates receive the financial support they need for their skills training.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defence

7. A contingent of the Indian Army departed for Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for the Multinational Military Exercise "Khaan Quest."

• The exercise will take place from the 27th of July 2024 to the 9th of August 2024.
• There are forty people in this contingent. It includes soldiers from a Madras Regiment Battalion and personnel from other Arms and Services.
• The contingent also includes two female soldiers and one female officer.
• Preparing the Indian Armed Forces for peacekeeping missions is the goal of this exercise.
• In 2003, the exercise began as a bilateral event of the armed forces of Mongolia and the United States of America.
• The exercise advanced to a multinational peacekeeping exercise in 2006, and this year marks its 21st iteration.

Topic: Sports

8. Nita Ambani has been re-elected as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) member.

• She has been re-elected unanimously at the 142nd IOC session in Paris that is currently underway.
• Nita Ambani was first appointed to join the IOC in 2016, at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
• Nita Ambani has since achieved significant progress for the IOC as India's first woman to join the IOC.
• She is the Founder and Chairperson of the Reliance Foundation.
• Reliance Foundation is focused on promoting a variety of sports across India, especially in remote places.

Topic: State News/ Telangana

9. Telangana government presented a budget of Rs 2.91 Lakh Crore for FY2024-25.

• Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Ministry In-charge Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka presented the budget of Rs 2.91 Lakh Crore in the assembly.
• The government proposed a revenue expenditure of Rs 2.21 lakh crore and a capital expenditure of Rs 33,487 crore.
• The estimated revenue includes Rs 1,38,181.26 crore from own revenue, Rs 35,208.44 crore from non-tax revenue, and Rs 26,216.38 crore from tax revenue.
• In the budget, Rs 10,000 crore has been allocated for Hyderabad’s development.
• Telangana’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for 2023-24 stands at Rs 14,63,963 crore.
• The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for 2023-24 registered an 11.9 per cent increase over the previous year.
• The state’s growth rate of 7.4 per cent is behind the national average of 7.6 per cent.
• 72 thousand 659 crore rupees has been allocated to the Agriculture sector.
• Fiscal Deficit of Telangana remained Rs 49,255.41 crore.

Topic: National Appointments

10. Shekhar Kapur has been appointed as IFFI festival director.

• Veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has been appointed festival director for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
• He will head the International Film Festival of India, which is held annually in Goa.
• Shekhar Kapur has served as the head of the chairperson of the International competition Jury at the 54th IFFI.
• He was also the chairperson of the Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India from 2020-2023.
• The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was founded in 1952, and is one of the film festivals in Asia.
• The festival is conducted jointly by the National Film Development Corporation of India and the state Government of Goa.

Topic: Sports

11. Ajinkya Naik became the youngest president of Mumbai Cricket Association at the age of 37.

• On 23 July, Ajinkya Naik became the youngest president of the Mumbai Cricket Association after defeating Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar's candidate Sanjay Naik by 107 votes in a one-sided election.
• Ajinkya got 221 votes while Sanjay got 114 votes.
• Ajinkya was serving as the secretary of the association under Amol Kale.
• After Kale's death last month, MCA had to hold elections for the post of president.
• Ajinkya, a former school and club cricketer,  served as a member of the MCA Apex Council in 2019 and was later elected as the Secretary of the MCA in 2022.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

12. A customized gold coins have been honoured to Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan by the Grevin Museum in Paris.

• With this, Shah Rukh Khan became the first Indian actor to get a coin of his name in the Grevin Museum.
• The museum is known for its wax figures of celebrities. There is also a wax statue of Shahrukh Khan in the Grevin Wax Museum.
• After only Mahatma Gandhi, Shah Rukh Khan is the second Indian to be honoured with a coin at the Grevin Museum.
• In addition, the superstar will also be honoured with the Career Achievement Award by the Locarno Film Festival for his outstanding career spanning over 100 feature films in Indian cinema.
• The 77th edition of the Locarno Film Festival will be held from August 7 to 17 in Locarno, Switzerland.
• The award will be presented to him on August 10 in the open-air venue at Piazza Grande.

Topic: National News

13. Rashtrapati Bhavan's Durbar Hall and Ashok Hall have been renamed.

• President Droupadi Murmu has decided to rename Durbar Hall as ‘Ganatantra Mandap’ and ‘Ashok Hall’ as Ashok Mandap.
• The decision has been taken to make the ambience of Rashtrapati Bhavan reflecting Indian cultural values and ethos.
• Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence of the President of India.
• "'Durbar Hall' is the venue of important ceremonies and celebrations such as the presentation of National Awards.
• The term Durbar refers to courts and assemblies of Indian rulers and the British.
• "Ashok Hall" was originally a ballroom. The word Ashok refers to ‘free from all sufferings’.
• ‘Ashok Hall’ as ‘Ashok Mandap’ will bring uniformity in language.

Topic: Important Days

14. Kargil Vijay Diwas: 26 July

• Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed on 26 July to pay tribute to the Soldiers who fought the Kargil War.
• This year will be the 25th anniversary of the Kargil War.
• It also commemorates India victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War of 1999 and marks the successful culmination of Operation Vijay.
• The Kargil War was fought for over 60 days and ended with India gaining control of all the territories.
• The Kargil War took place between May 3 and July 26, 1999, along the Line of Control (LOC). India lost more than 500 military soldiers in the Kargil War.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Drass in Ladakh on July 26 to honour the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas.