Current Affairs One - Liner : 30th May 2024

• National:
• On 28th May 2024, The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) partnered to advance skill development and lifelong learning. They aim to enhance employability and sustainable economic growth through the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), which will digitize skill development initiatives.

• India has assumed the Chair of the Colombo Process for the period of 2024-26. This is the first time India has taken up this role since the inception of the Colombo Process. The Colombo Process is a regional consultative forum comprising 12 member states of Asia.
• International:
• The Government of India (GoI) has announced an immediate relief aid of USD 1 million for Papua New Guinea, which was hit by a massive landslide on May 24, 2024. The landslide caused significant loss of life and property.
• Banking:
• On May 22, 2024, Disney sold its 30% stake in Tata Play to Tata Group. This deal valued Tata Play at about $1 billion. The transaction is part of Disney’s strategy to focus on its merger with India’s Reliance Industries, aiming to create an $8.5 billion entertainment giant.
• The CCI approved the demerger of ITC’s hotel business into a separate entity on May 29, 2024. A shareholders’ meeting is scheduled for June 6, 2024, to approve the demerger. Post demerger, ITC will retain a 40% stake in ITC Hotels, and the remaining 60% will be owned by ITC shareholders.
• Poonawalla Fincorp Limited and IndusInd Bank launched a co-branded credit card called ‘IndusInd Bank Poonawalla Fincorp eLITE RuPay Platinum Credit Card’ on May 28, 2024. The card offers various benefits including reward points on e-commerce transactions and a fuel surcharge waiver.
• Economy:
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has projected a 7% growth for the Indian economy in the fiscal year 2024-25, backed by solid investment demand. This follows a robust real GDP growth of 7.6% in fiscal 2024. The projection for each quarter of FY25 is around 7%.
• On May 29th, 2024, S&P Global Ratings upgraded India’s credit rating outlook from ‘stable’ to ‘positive’ while keeping the sovereign rating at “BBB-”. This change reflects India’s strong growth prospects and improved government expenditure.
• Science & Technology:
• Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos successfully launched their sub-orbital rocket, Agnibaan, on May 30th, 2024. This launch marked a first for a single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic engine and a major step for private space efforts in India.
• The new algal species, Oedocladium sahyadricum, was discovered in the natural forests of the Kumbhavurutty region in Kollam district, Kerala, part of the Western Ghats. The discovery was published on May 27, 2024, by a group of phycologists from the Department of Botany at Catholicate College in Pathanamthitta.
• Sports:
• The Indian arm wrestling team won seven medals at the Asian Championship 2024 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Shrimant Jha won gold in the Left-hand Para category and bronze in the Right-hand Para category. Laxman Singh Bhandari won two bronze medals in the Masters category. Sachin Goyal won bronze in the Right-hand Senior category, and Ibi Lollen won two bronze medals in the Women’s categories.
• Defence:
• Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) signed a Technology Transfer Agreement with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for a 50 kW alkaline electrolyser system on 28th May, 2024. This collaboration aims to scale up Indigenous Alkaline Electrolyser Technology for commercial use in various sectors, contributing to the ‘National Green Hydrogen Mission’ and ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the RudraM-II air-to-surface missile on May 29, 2024. The test was conducted from a Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force off the coast of Odisha.
• Important Days:
• World Digestive Health Day (WDHD) 2024 will be observed on May 29, 2024. The theme is “Your Digestive Health: Make It A Priority”. The day aims to raise awareness about digestive diseases and the importance of digestive health for overall well-being.
• International Potato Day was celebrated on 30th May 2024. The day promotes the potato as a significant global staple crop, contributing to food security, sustainable agriculture, and economic opportunities. The day was marked with various events worldwide, including folk music, dancing, and traditional food in Peru.
• Goa Statehood Day, celebrated on May 30th, marks the day in 1987 when Goa became a full-fledged state within the Indian Union after centuries of Portuguese rule. The day is celebrated with various cultural events across the state. Despite being India’s smallest state, Goa has the highest per capita income in the country, largely due to its thriving tourism industry.
• International Everest Day is celebrated on May 29th to commemorate the first successful ascent of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa in 1953. The day is marked with various activities and events, and in 2024, Sherpa mountain guide Kami Rita scaled Mount Everest for a record 30th time.
• Hindi Journalism Day, or Hindi Patrakarita Diwas, is celebrated annually on May 30 in India. It commemorates the launch of the first Hindi newspaper, ‘Udant Martand’, on May 30, 1826. The day honors the contributions of Hindi journalism in India and the journalists who work tirelessly to provide accurate information to the public.
• Appointments:
• Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran was elected as the new Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on 28th May 2024. She will serve a 5-year term from 2024 to 2029. Her election marks a significant milestone in WOAH’s commitment to global animal health.
• Awards & Honours:
• REC Limited was awarded the ‘Sustainability Champion – Editor’s Choice Award’ at the ‘Outlook Planet Sustainability Summit & Awards 2024’ on 27th May 2024. The award recognizes REC’s commitment to sustainability and its significant contributions towards India’s energy transition.

Questions:

1. Who has assumed the Chair of the Colombo Process for the period of 2024-26?

• A) China
• B) Japan
• C) India
• D) Sri Lanka

Answer: C) India has assumed the Chair of the Colombo Process for the period of 2024-26. This is the first time India has taken up this role since the inception of the Colombo Process.

2. When is Goa Statehood Day celebrated?

• A) May 15th
• B) May 30th
• C) June 1st
• D) June 15th

Answer: B) Goa Statehood Day, celebrated on May 30th, marks the day in 1987 when Goa became a full-fledged state within the Indian Union after centuries of Portuguese rule.