Current Affairs One - Liner : 21st June 2024

• National:
• The Indian government increased MSP for 14 Kharif crops, including pulses and oilseeds, to benefit farmers. This aims to raise their income by Rs 35,000 crore compared to last year. Paddy MSP also got a bump.

• The Union Cabinet approved the development of Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi on June 21, 2024. This decision aims to enhance infrastructure and connectivity in the region. The airport, named after the former Prime Minister of India, will serve both domestic and international flights.
• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has partnered with the Australian Government to enhance the skills of Indian farmers and agricultural workers. This collaboration aims to improve productivity and competitiveness in the Indian agriculture sector by leveraging emerging technologies and innovative practices.
• On June 20, Indian Railways achieved a significant milestone by successfully conducting a trial run of an eight-coach MEMU train on the world’s highest railway bridge, the Chenab Bridge, in Jammu and Kashmir. This iconic bridge is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
• The Jharkhand government has approved a caste-based survey in the state, following the model of neighboring Bihar. This survey aims to study not only the prevalence of various communities but also analyze social and economic issues faced by different population segments.
• The Indian Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for offshore wind energy projects. This initiative allocates a total of ₹7,453 crore (approximately $908 million) and aims to set up the country’s first-ever offshore wind energy projects.
• The Patna High Court recently struck down amendments made by the Bihar legislature, which had increased caste-based reservations in education and government jobs from 50% to 65%. The court declared these amended reservation laws unconstitutional.
• International:
• Suhas Subramanyam was born in Houston to Indian-American parents who migrated to the US from Bengaluru. Washington: Indian-American Suhas Subramanyam has won the Democratic primary for a Congressional seat in Virginia, defeating 11 other candidates including another fellow Indian-American Krystle Kaul.
• Banking:
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 170 million policy-based loan to enhance India’s health system preparedness and capacity to respond to future pandemics. This funding supports the implementation of the National Health Policy 2017, aiming to provide quality health care services to all.
• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has partnered with Ria Money Transfer to offer international inward money transfer services at over 25,000 Post Office locations, with an expected reach of over 100,000 locations. This collaboration aims to enhance financial inclusion in rural areas by providing convenient and affordable doorstep financial services.
• SabPaisa, a payment solutions provider, recently received final approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a Payment Aggregator (PA) under the Payments and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. As a PA, SabPaisa enables e-commerce sites and online merchants to accept various payment instruments from customers without the need for merchants to create their own systems.
• Economy:
• India’s seafood exports reached an all-time high during the financial year 2023-24 (FY24). The country exported 1,781,602 metric tons of seafood valued at Rs. 60,523.89 crore (approximately US$ 7.26 billion). Frozen shrimp remained the major export item, with the USA and China being the largest importers of Indian seafood.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) projects India’s GDP growth for Q1FY25 at 7.1%, with subsequent quarters estimated as follows: Q2 at 6.9%, and Q3/Q4 at 7% each. While rural demand is picking up, consumption is expected to support economic growth in FY25.
• Science & technology:
• Scientists in Pune found a new type of freshwater algae, called Indiconema, in India's clean mountain rivers. These tiny organisms are essential for life on Earth and the discovery highlights India's unique biodiversity.
• Important Days:
• World Music Day, also known as Fête de la Musique, is celebrated every year on June 21. Originating in France in 1982, this global celebration promotes music as a universal language, bringing together people of different nationalities, cultures, and races through the joy of music.
• World Hydrography Day is celebrated on June 21st. Its purpose is to increase public awareness of hydrography and its contribution to our understanding of the seas and oceans. This year’s theme is “Hydrographic Information - Enhancing Safety, Efficiency, and Sustainability in Marine Activities.”
• The summer solstice, which typically falls on June 21, marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. On this day, the Sun appears directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, resulting in the most hours of sunlight. It’s a fascinating astronomical event that heralds the official start of summer.
• Appointments:
• Girish Tanti, from Suzlon Group, became the new chairman of GWEC India on June 15, 2024. He will work with the Indian government to improve wind energy policies.
• Bhartruhari Mahtab, a Member of Parliament from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), was appointed as the pro tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha on June 19, 2019. His role is to administer the oath to newly elected members and oversee the election of the Speaker of the House.
• Akhil Gupta has been appointed as the Chairman of Bharti AXA Life Insurance, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bharti Group. Gupta, currently the Vice Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, brings over 40 years of professional experience to this role.
• Sudhakararao Papa has been appointed as the Director (Enterprise) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) following a selection process by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) on June 15, 2024.
• Obituaries:
• Donald Sutherland, the Canadian actor known for his roles in films like The Hunger Games and MASH*, has passed away at the age of 88 after a long illness on 20th June 2024.
• C. V. Chandrasekhar, the celebrated Indian Bharatanatyam dancer, academician, and choreographer, passed away on June 19, 2024 at the age of 89. His contributions to the world of dance were immense, and he left an indelible mark on the art form.

Questions:

1 Who has been appointed as the Director (Enterprise) of BSNL?

• A) Sudhakararao Papa
• B) Ramesh Sharma
• C) Anjali Patel
• D) Rajesh Kumar

Answer: A) Sudhakararao Papa has been appointed as the Director (Enterprise) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) following a selection process by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) on June 15, 2024.

2 Which countries were the largest importers of Indian seafood in FY24?

• A) USA and Japan
• B) Russia and Australia
• C) China and Brazil
• D) USA and China

Answer: D) India’s seafood exports reached an all-time high during the financial year 2023-24 (FY24). The country exported 1,781,602 metric tons of seafood valued at Rs. 60,523.89 crore (approximately US$ 7.26 billion). Frozen shrimp remained the major export item, with the USA and China being the largest importers of Indian seafood.