Daily Current Affairs and GK | 5 July 2024

Topic: Awards and Prizes

1. Agri-entrepreneur Sopna Kallingal received the Spice Award 2024.

• Spice Award 2024, instituted by ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, has been presented to Sopna Kallingal of Kallingal Plantation.
• The award has been presented for her initiatives in enterprise diversification and integrated crop management strategies promoting sustainable spice-based cropping systems.
• Under her leadership, Kallingal plantation has a diverse range of crops, embodying a dedication to enterprise diversification and agriculture innovation.
• The main crop in the Kallingal Plantation is nutmeg.
• Through the intercropping method, the plantation has optimized space and productivity by integrating nutmeg trees, coconut palms, areca nuts and black pepper vines.

Topic: State News/Madhya Pradesh

2. 'Lokpath Mobile App' has been launched by Madhya Pradesh CM for resolving road problems.

• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has launched the 'Lokpath Mobile App' for the public to resolve road problems in seven days.
• The CM launched the Mobile App at the media centre in Bhopal.
• Through this app, people of the state can report problems on the routes and this app will also ensure the accountability of the officers.
• Anyone can register a complaint by taking a photo of the pothole/spoil on the roads registered in the app.
• This app has been developed by the Madhya Pradesh State Electronic Development Corporation Limited.
• It has been launched for a more transparent and accountable working system.
• This app is an important step towards strengthening the Road Information and Management System.

Topic: National Appointment

3. Hemant Soren took oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand for the third time.

• On July 4, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president Hemant Soren was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
• At a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan, Mr. Soren was given the oath of office and secrecy by Governor CP Radhakrishnan.
• He was sworn in as the state's chief minister for the third time a few days after the High Court released him on bail in an alleged money laundering case.
• In January 2024, he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on charges related to an alleged land scam and money laundering.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Bihar

4. MBBS course in Hindi will be started by Bihar Government from the next academic session.

• The government of Bihar has made the decision to offer Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programmes in Hindi.
• This makes Bihar the second state, after Madhya Pradesh, to offer such degrees.
• On July 2, state Health Minister Mangal Pandey announced that medical students will have the option to study MBBS in Hindi in the upcoming academic session.
• The government has taken this historic step after thorough deliberations on essential aspects including the availability of Hindi textbooks for the MBBS course.
• The new Hindi syllabus will follow the AIIMS Delhi syllabus for students who clear the NEET UG 2024 exam.

Topic: Summits/ Conference / Meetings

5. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit attended by EAM Jaishankar.

• On July 4, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the last day of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
• Earlier, Jaishankar also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO members Tajikistan and Russia and the newest member Belarus during the two-day summit that began on July 3.
• Belarus has become the newest member of the SCO and now the total number of SCO members has increased to 10.
• Earlier, Belarus and Iran held Observer Status in the grouping, while Iran formally joined it last year.
• Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO):
  • The SCO is a political and security association of 10 countries spanning most of Eurasia, including China, India and Russia.
  • It was formed in 2001 by Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which later included, India and Pakistan.
  • Afghanistan and Mongolia have observer status.
  • SCO’s dialogue partners include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Egypt, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Turkiye.
  • The official working languages of SCO are Chinese and Russian.
  • Its headquarters is located in Beijing, China.
  • India became a full member on 9 June 2017.

Topic: Corporates/Companies

6. ‘Health Sathi Plan’ launched by Paytm at just ₹35 per month.

• One97 Communications Limited, which owns the Paytm brand, has announced the launch of 'Paytm Health Saathi', an exclusive health and income protection plan for its merchant partners.
• It is available on the 'Paytm for Business' app.
• The initiative is a part of Paytm's continuous efforts to provide its wide network of merchant partners with comprehensive, reasonably priced healthcare benefits.
• 'Paytm Health Saathi' aims to protect the well-being of its merchants, and ensure their health and business continuity.
• Paytm Health Saathi provides a range of services, including unlimited doctor teleconsultation and OPD within its partner network.
• It also includes income protection cover in case of business interruption due to accidents or natural calamities such as flood, fire or strike.
• In May, the 'Paytm Health Saathi' pilot scheme was launched and so far, over 3,000 merchant partners have availed the plan.

Topic: National News

7. Guidelines for development of Standards and Regulatory Framework under NGHM have been released by the centre.

• Guidelines for financing testing facilities, infrastructure, and institutional support for development of Standards and Regulatory framework under NGHM have been released by centre.
• According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the scheme will be implemented till the fiscal year 2025–2026 at a total budgeted outlay of 200 crore rupees.
• The scheme will be implemented by the National Institute of Solar Energy.
• The scheme will assist in identifying the gaps in the current testing infrastructure for the parts, technologies, and procedures that make up the value chain of green hydrogen and its derivatives.
• According to the Ministry, in order to ensure secure and safe operations, the Scheme will finance the construction of new testing facilities as well as the upgradation of current testing facilities.
• The scheme envisages the development of reliable performance and quality testing facilities to ensure sustainability, safety, and high standards in the manufacturing and trade of green hydrogen.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) was launched on the 4th January 2023 with an outlay of over 19,700 crore rupees up to Financial Year 2029-30.
• The Mission will enable India to take the lead in green hydrogen technology and market share.
• It will significantly reduce the country's reliance on imported fossil fuels, and decarbonise the economy.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

8. Four-day Global Conclave on Plastic Recycling and Sustainability and International Exhibition has been inaugurated in New Delhi.

• Chemicals and Petrochemicals Secretary Nivedita Shukla Verma inaugurated the conclave and exhibition.
• It is a platform for start-ups, environmental experts and industry leaders to display their latest advancements.
• It is also a platform for them to share insights on achieving sustainability in the plastics industry.
• The exhibition brings together different stakeholders, including industry leaders, innovators, policy makers and environmental experts.
• The conclave is jointly organized by the All India Plastics Manufacturers' Association (AIPMA) and the Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturers' Association (CPMA).
• It focuses on the increasing use of plastic, its impact on the environment. It also focuses on the steps needed for its solutions.
• It is expected that the plastic recycling industry will grow to 6.9 billion dollars by 2033.

Topic: State News/ Madhya Pradesh

9. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav-led government presented the budget of Madhya Pradesh for 2024–25.

• Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Jagdish Devda presented the full budget for the financial year 2024–25.
• The budget has been presented with an outlay of ₹3,65,067 cores. The budget has increased by 16% as compared to FY23–24.
• The per capita income of the state has increased to ₹1.42 lakh in 2022–23 from ₹13,465 in 2003–2004.
• The state government is aiming to double the annual budget in five years.
• The government aims to increase capital investment in roads, irrigation, electricity, and quality health facilities.
• The government allocation for women and child development has increased from 81% to ₹26,560 crore. ₹18,984 has been allocated for the Ladli Behna Scheme. 
• The health sector received an allocation of ₹21,444 crore, which is 34% more than last year’s budget allocation.
• In 2024–25, three more government medical colleges will be operated in Mandsaur, Neemuch and Seoni.
• Capital expenditure is expected to increase by 15% as compared to last year.
• The fiscal deficit for FY24–25 is estimated to be 4.11% of the gross state domestic product.
• ₹53,460 crore has been allocated for infrastructural development in the state, and ₹44,588 crore has been given for rural and urban development.
• ₹27,900 crore have been allocated to the Scheduled Caste sub-scheme.
• The allocation to the education sector registered a rise from ₹38,375 crore in FY23-24 to ₹52,682 crore. ₹2,737 crore has been allocated to construct new buildings for 150 CM Rise Schools.

Topic: Geography

10. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan governments signed a pact for the Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal river linking project.

• The Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan governments signed a MoU for the implementation of the Rs 72,000 crore Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal river linking project.
• The Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal River Linking Project aims to provide drinking and industrial water in 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan, Malwa and Chambal regions of Madhya Pradesh.
• It will provide water in a minimum of 2.8 lakh hectare areas each in both states.
• This link project will use the available water resources of the Chambal basin optimally and economically.
• The Parbati River is the third largest tributary of the Chambal River flowing through Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. It originates from the Vindhyanchal ranges near Astha in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh.
• The River Kalisindh is a principal tributary of the Chambal. It originates near Bagli village in the Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh.
• The Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link Project envisages the diversion of surplus water from Parbati, Newaj (a tributary of Kalisindh) and Kalisindh River through the link canal and to the Gandhi Sagar or Rana Pratap Sagar reservoir.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

11. As a member elected on geographical basis (Asia), India participated in the 86th Session of the Executive Committee (CCExec) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).

• From July 1 to 5, 2024, Shri G Kamala Vardhan Rao, CEO, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) represented India in the session held at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Headquarters in Rome.
• The Codex Alimentarius Commission is an international body set up by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Its aim is to protect consumer health and promote fair practice in the food trade.     
• CCExec plays a key role in reviewing proposals for this new work and monitoring the progress of standards development.
• During the session, India strongly supported the progress on development of standards for various spices including cardamom, turmeric and vanilla.
• This initiative is of great significance for India in particular, as it is a major producer and exporter of these spices.
• An important proposal to develop Codex guidance on food safety considerations related to the use of recycled materials in food packaging was also supported.
• This initiative is vital in addressing global challenges such as climate change, environmental protection and sustainability.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Rankings

12. According to the study, every year, 33,000 people dies by Air pollution.

• According to a study published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal, the number of deaths due to air pollution in India is high even in cities that were previously thought to have relatively clean air.
• The report found that of the 33,000 annual deaths attributed to air pollution in the 10 cities surveyed, a significant portion were recorded in coastal hubs such as Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai, where air quality is considered moderate.
• The researchers studied 3.6 million deaths between 2008 and 2019 in the sampled areas.
• They overlapped this data with a detailed map of the distribution of PM 2.5, a compound of cancer-causing pollutants so small they can penetrate the bloodstream.
• They found that exposure to high levels of these particles for as little as 48 hours could collectively worsen life expectancy.
• Specifically, 7.2% of all fatalities were linked to PM 2.5 concentrations above the World Health Organization standard of 15 micrograms per cubic meter.
• The study found that even in the Himalayan city of Shimla, which had the cleanest air among the cities studied, 3.7% of deaths were pollution-related.

Topic: Indian Economy

13. India will implement the Rs 10,000 crore India AI Mission in the next two to three months.

• India will procure 10,000 or more graphics processing units (GPUs) under a public-private partnership.
• These graphics processing units will increase the efficiency of the industries.
• The IndiaAI Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet earlier in 2024.
• It would also help in procuring computing power for the domestic industry-run AI systems across the country.
• This will promote private companies setting up data centres in India.
• India's approach to the AI Mission will be all about democratising technology.

Topic: State News/Uttar Pradesh

14. UP Nirman Bill-2024 draft has been approved by the state cabinet.

• To make Uttar Pradesh’s economy 1 trillion, the state government passed the draft of the Uttar Pradesh Nodal Investment Region for Manufacturing (Construction) Area Bill (NIRMAN)-2024.
• This bill proposed to make a Special Investment Region (SIR). Four SIRs will be created in the four geographical areas of the state.
• SIR are the investment regions where cluster development takes place and the power vested in the state government or other departments is decentralised at the authority level.
• This step of the state government will promote the ease of doing business, and economic development will gain momentum.
• It will also help in creating new employment opportunities in the state.
• Uttar Pradesh has become the fourth state to propose such a law. Gujarat, Rajasthan and Karnataka have already such laws.
• For the favourable environment for industrial investment in the state, the proposal for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) was also approved by the cabinet.