Daily Current Affairs and GK | 4 December 2024

Topic: State News/ West Bengal

1. West Bengal declared top destination for heritage tourism by UNESCO.

• On December 2, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said UNESCO had declared the state as a top destination for heritage tourism and the sector had generated employment for lakhs of youth.

• Minister of State for Tourism Indranil Sen said a record 2,489 homestays have been opened in the state and 65% of these are located in North Bengal.
• The Chief Minister also said that the Jagannath temple under construction in Digha will soon be opened for devotees.
• The CM also said that a tender has been issued for the construction of a bridge over the Muriganga river at Ganga Sagar Island, where the annual Gangasagar Mela is held.

Topic: Important Days

2. Indian Navy Day 2024: 4 December

• Navy Day in India is celebrated on 4 December to recognize the achievements and role of the Indian Navy.
• Indian Navy celebrates Navy Day to commemorate "Operation Trident", which was an attack by the Indian Navy on Karachi harbour during the 1971 War.
• The theme of Indian Navy Day in 2024 is "Strength and Power through Innovation and Indigenisation."
• The Indian Navy conducted a grand operational display at the iconic Blue Flag Beach in Puri, Odisha on December 4, 2024 to commemorate Navy Day.
• The event was attended by President of India Draupadi Murmu as the chief guest, and the ceremony was hosted by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff.
• This is the first Navy Day celebration off the Odisha coast, a historic moment highlighting the maritime heritage of the region.
• Over 15 warships, submarines and 40 aircraft took part in the event, supported by elite Marine Commandos (MARCOS) and Indian Army personnel.

Topic: Miscellaneous

3. Uber has launched Asia’s first water transport service on Dal Lake.

• Asia’s first water transport service, Uber Shikara, was launched on Dal Lake, Jammu, and Kashmir.
• Under this initiative, tourists can now enjoy hassle-free, pre-booked shikara rides through Uber’s ride-hailing app.
• Uber India and South Asia President Prabhjeet Singh inaugurated this service.
• This service is currently starting with seven local shikara operators. These shikaras will be located at Nehru Park, a scenic island in the heart of Dal Lake.
• Uber ensures fair pricing by adhering to government-regulated rates.
• One Uber Shikara can accommodate up to four passengers and offers one-hour rides daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• It is similar to service launched by Uber at different European locations like Venice, Italy.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Indian Economy

4. Government has decided to withdraw the windfall tax on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), crude oil, petrol, and diesel.

• It will be a major relief for oil companies like Reliance Industries and ONGC, which have been bearing the burden of this tax since its imposition in July 2022.
• The removal of the tax is expected to boost profits for these companies.
• As per the notification of the Ministry of Finance, the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on the production of petroleum crude and the export of ATF, petrol, and high-speed diesel will no longer apply.
• The windfall tax is reviewed every 15 days based on fluctuations in global crude oil prices.
• The windfall tax was started to get a portion of the excess revenue earned by oil companies due to soaring global crude prices and higher refining margins.