Daily Current Affairs and GK | 28 and 29 July 2024

Topic: Sports

1. Manu Bhaker made history by becoming the first Indian woman ever to win an Olympic medal in the shooting competition.

• On the second day of the Olympics in Paris, Indian shooter Manu Bhaker started the medal count for his country by winning a bronze in the women's 10-meter air pistol competition.
• In the women's and men's 10-meter air rifle competitions, Indian shooters Ramita Jindal and Arjun Babuta qualified for the finals, respectively.
• In Badminton women’s singles, India’s PV Sindhu won against Fathimath Nabaaha Abdul Razzaq of Maldives. 
• Nikhat Zareen, an Indian boxer, defeated Maxi Carina Kloetzer of Germany in the women's Boxing 50-kilogram competition.
• Balraj Panwar of India moved quickly to the men's single sculls quarterfinal in rowing.
• In the Repechage 2 race, he came in second, behind Quentin Antognelli of Monaco.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Indian Polity

2. President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Governors in various states.

• President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde as Governor of Rajasthan.
• Former Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura Jishnu Dev Varma has been appointed Governor of Telangana.
• Om Prakash Mathur has been appointed as Governor of Sikkim. He is former Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

3. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar participated in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting.

• S. Jaishankar was on a two-day visit to attend the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Tokyo.
• The Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting was held on 29th July. Diplomats from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States attended the meeting.
• Quad is committed to support an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that Quad has additional responsibilities of upholding a rules-based order and collaboration to ensure a free and secure Indo-Pacific.
• The Quad is a diplomatic partnership of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States.
• The idea of Quad was first mooted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007.

Topic: State News/ Gujarat

4. Gujarat is to establish ‘GRIT’ based on the Niti Aayog model.

• Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel announced the establishment of Gujarat State Institution for Transformation (GRIT), a think-tank modelled after NITI Aayog.
• It will serve as a public policy think-tank for the state.
• Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel unveiled the 'Gujarat@2047 Dynamic Document-Roadmap'.
• It is focused on pillars of 'Earning Well' and 'Living Well' aimed to enhance the quality of life and economic prosperity in the state.
• It will help the state in achieving development goals.
• CM affirmed that the government is committed to adopting the Prime Minister's 'GYAN' mantra, focusing on the advancement of the Garib (Poor), Yuva (Youth), Annadata (Farmers), and Naari (Women).

Topic: Space and IT

5. Gaganyaan astronauts will travel to ISS in a joint mission with NASA.

• As part of a collaborative effort with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), one of the four astronauts undergoing training for the Gaganyaan mission will travel to the International Space Station.
• ISRO had signed a Space Flight Agreement with the American firm Axiom Space for the joint mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
• India's Astronaut Selection Board had selected four astronauts from a group of pilots from the Indian Air Force for the Gaganyaan mission.
• In 2025, India will send its first human space flight.
• The design and realization of the crew escape system's solid motors have been completed, along with static testing of these motors.
• At present, astronauts are undergoing training at ISRO's Astronauts Training Facility (ATF) in Bengaluru for the Gaganyaan Mission.

Topic: Art and Culture

6. India's first sunken museum at Humayun’s Tomb has been inaugurated.  

• 'Where the Emperor Rests' is the first principal gallery of the museum.

• It highlights the architectural splendour of Humayun's mausoleum.
• The museum will open for visitors from 30 July.
• Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the museum.
• The layout of museum is inspired by mrdieval 'baolis', or traditional water tanks.
• It showcases the legacy of Mughal emperor Humayun. It also showcases 'farmans', an astrolabe, a celestial sphere of the 1840s era and a warrior's helmet from 16th or 17th century.
• Work on the construction of the country's first sunken museum at the 16th-century tomb began in April 2015.
• Biga Begum (also known as Hajji Begum), Humayun's widow, constructed his tomb between 1569 and 1570.
• As part of the urban renewal initiative, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) constructed the museum on behalf of the ASI.

Topic: State News/Rajasthan

7. Rajasthan government announced reservation for Agniveers in recruitment for state police, jail guards, and forest guards.

• This announcement was made on Kargil Vijay Diwas, which was celebrated on July 26.
• Rajasthan government has not yet revealed the specific percentage of reservation allocated for Agniveers in these sectors.
• The Rajasthan government’s announcement aligns with the Agnipath scheme, which was launched in 2022 by the central government.
• This also comes after the Arunachal Pradesh government made the announcement regarding a new initiative.
• With the help of this new initiative, retired Agniveers will be given preference when hiring for important positions in the state's emergency services, fire department, and police department.
• The Union Ministry of Home Affairs earlier allocated 10% of vacancies in the Central Armed Police Forces for ex-Agniveers.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

8. India- Saudi Arabia organised first meeting of High-Level Task Force on Investments.

• The meeting was co-chaired by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Mishra and the Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in the virtual mode.
• At the meeting, both sides reviewed measures that aim at promoting two-way investments in a mutually beneficial manner.
• Mr. Mishra restated the government of India's resolute resolve to actively support Saudi investments totalling 100 billion US dollars, which were committed during the Crown Prince and PM of Saudi Arabia's visit.
• Saudi Arabia was also invited to open a Sovereign Wealth Fund Public Investment Fund (PIF) office in India.
• Furthermore, the Principal Secretary extended an invitation to the Saudi Arabian Minister of Energy to visit India for the upcoming round of the meeting of the High-Level Task Force.
• The High-Level Task Force is a special body established to facilitate bilateral investments. 
• Senior representatives from both sides are represented, including CEO Niti Aayog and the Indian Secretaries of Commerce, Economic Affairs, MEA, DPIIT, Power, and Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Topic: Art and Culture

9. South Africa's historic sites linked to liberation struggle, Mandela received UNESCO World Heritage status.

• In South Africa, historical sites associated with the country's liberation struggle and human rights crusader Nelson Mandela were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 27.
• As soon as the announcement was made during a session of the World Heritage Committee, members of the South African delegation made celebration.
• The nomination was submitted by the African country under the name 'Human Rights, Liberation Struggle and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Site'.
• Various state parties supported the nomination, including Italy, South Korea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Japan, and Italy.
• World Heritage Sites are the places/monuments/areas that are included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO due to their cultural, historical, natural, or any other significance.

Topic: Sports

10. Sri Lanka won their maiden Women's Asia Cup title.

• On 28 July, Sri Lanka won their first Women's Asia Cup title by defeating India at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla.
• This was only the second time in nine finals that India failed to win the Women's Asia Cup.
• Samarawickrama was declared the Player of the Match in the final, while Chamari Athapattu received the Player of the Tournament award.
• It was the ninth edition of Women's Asia Cup, played from 19 to 28 July 2024.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

11. During the BIMSTEC meeting, NSA Doval calls for increased cooperation in counter-terrorism.

• On 26 July, on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC grouping’s meeting, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval met his Myanmarese counterpart Admiral Moe Aung.
• This meeting with the top leadership of the Myanmar government is important because since the military coup on February 1, 2021, massive violent protests are taking place in the country demanding the restoration of democracy.
• Fierce fighting is going on in many parts of Myanmar between the military junta and resistance forces, who have captured several cities.
• NSA Shri Ajit Doval led the Indian delegation to the 4th Annual Meeting of BIMSTEC Security Chiefs being held in Naypita on 27th July.
• During the BIMSTEC meeting, Doval called on member countries of the grouping to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism; combating drug trafficking, arms smuggling and organised crime.

Topic: International News

12. Kamala Harris officially announced her candidacy for the US presidential election.

• US Vice President Kamala Harris signed the form to officially announce her candidacy for the US presidential election, assuring that her people-powered campaign will win in November.
• After Biden's endorsement, Vice President Kamala Harris will be seen as the Democratic Party's candidate in the upcoming US presidential election on November 5.
• Former President Donald Trump is the nominee from the Republican Party.
• The President and Vice President of the United States are elected indirectly through the Electoral College for a term of four years.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

13. 628 tigers have died in India during the past five years.

• As per the government data, 628 tigers have died in India during the past five years due to natural causes and other reasons.
• In the last five years, 349 people were killed in tiger attacks. Maharashtra alone recorded 200 deaths.
• As per the NTCA, 96 tigers died in 2019, 106 in 2020, 127 in 2021, 121 in 2022, and 178 in 2023.
• The number of tiger deaths in 2023 is also the highest since 2012.
• 59 human deaths occurred due to the tiger attack in Uttar Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh reported 27 deaths due to the tiger attack.
• The number of tigers in India stood at 3,682, which is around 75% of the global wild tiger population.
• On April 1, 1973, India launched Project Tiger to promote tiger conservation.
• India has 55 tiger reserves covering more than 78,735 square km.

Topic: Indian Polity

14. Supreme Court allowed states to levy mineral cess.

• A nine-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court said that states have constitutional authority to levy taxes on mines and mineral-bearing lands.
• The Supreme Court ruled that the royalty paid by mining operators to the Central government is not a tax.
• This verdict will boost revenues of mineral-bearing states, mostly in eastern India.
• The Supreme Court’s judgment has also provided clarity on the division of power between states and the Center over taxing minerals.
• The bench ruled that the state legislatures have legislative power to tax mineral rights.
• The Supreme Court was hearing 80 appeals filed by private mining companies challenging state governments’ right to levy cess on mining within their territory.