Current Affairs One - Liner : 23rd & 24th June 2024

• National:
• The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has partnered with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to upgrade and repair the Biocontainment Facility at the Chaudhary Charan Singh National Institute of Animal Health (CCSNAIH) in Baghpat. The project, estimated at Rs. 160 crores, aims to enhance livestock health, maintain bio-safety, and facilitate national and international collaboration.

• The ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2024 reveals that India currently boasts 67 unicorns, 46 gazelles, and 106 cheetahs. This year, Zepto, InCred Finance, and Porter joined the unicorn club, while 25 start-ups, including Dunzo, Rapido, and Practo, dropped off the unicorn list due to funding constraints and valuation corrections.
• The Odisha government has reaffirmed its commitment to the development of hockey in India by extending its sponsorship with Hockey India. Under the newly-elected BJP government, the sponsorship will continue for another three years, until 2036.
• Russia has approved a draft logistics agreement with India. This agreement will enhance military cooperation, allowing for exchanges, training, port calls, and disaster relief efforts between the two countries. It strengthens their strategic partnership in defense matters.
• The Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) was inaugurated at Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. This is a big step towards smoother travel experiences for Indian nationals and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders.
• The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) has made a remarkable recovery. It has moved from being “endangered” to “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This positive change reflects a significant increase in its population. Since 2001, the number of mature Iberian lynxes has risen from 62 to 648 in 2022.
• The Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) secured a joint second prize in the Trinity Challenge’s second competition for their project on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Their initiative, “AMRSense: Empowering Communities with a Proactive One Health Ecosystem,” aims to engage community health workers (CHWs) in AMR surveillance and management.
• India recently announced a new e-medical visa facility for Bangladeshi citizens seeking medical treatment in India. This was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 22nd, 2024, following a meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina.
• International:
• The Tajikistan government recently passed a bill banning hijab and other traditional Islamic clothing. The legislation prohibits the wearing of “alien garments” and restricts children’s festivities during Islamic holidays.
• Banking:
• BharatPe and Invest India joined forces in June 2024 to promote financial inclusion among ODOP producers. This initiative aims to educate them on digital payments, equip them with tools to accept digital transactions, and create awareness about small business loans. It aligns with the Indian government's efforts to financially include rural businesses.
• The Mirae Asset Nifty EV and New Age Automotive ETF is India’s first Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) focused on Electric Vehicles (EVs) and New Age Automotive. It aims to track the Nifty EV and New Age Automotive Total Return Index, providing diversified exposure to companies involved in EVs, battery manufacturing, automation, and more. The NFO started on June 24, 2024, and closes on July 5, 2024.
• Science & Technology:
• On June 22nd, China and France successfully launched a powerful satellite called the Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) with the specific purpose of studying gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) – the most energetic explosions in the universe.
• Scientists discovered a new genus of freshwater diatoms named Indiconema in India. Indiconema is found in clean water rivers and helps produce oxygen. This finding highlights the rich biodiversity of India, particularly in the Eastern and Western Ghats.
• Researchers from the Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre of the Botanical Survey of India have discovered a new herbaceous plant species named Petrocosmea arunachalense in the Mandala region of West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh. This plant belongs to the Gesneriaceae family and represents only the second known species of the genus Petrocosmea in India.
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) accomplished a significant feat on June 23, 2024, with the successful completion of the third and final test landing of their reusable launch vehicle, named "Pushpak." This marked a major milestone in their Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Landing Experiment (LEX) program.
• Committees:
• The Ministry of Education has constituted a high-level committee of experts, led by former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan, to reform the process of competitive exams through the National Testing Agency (NTA). This seven-member committee will focus on recommendations for improving the examination mechanism, enhancing data security protocols, and refining the structure and functioning of the NTA.
• Sports:
• Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist wrestler Bajrang Punia has been suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for an anti-doping rule violation. According to NADA, Punia refused to provide his urine samples to the apex body after objecting to the usage of allegedly ‘expired kits’ by NADA.
• India’s Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) achieved an outstanding feat by clinching 32 medals at the 43rd World Medical and Health Games held in Saint-Tropez, France from June 16 to 23, 2024. Their impressive haul included 19 gold medals, 9 silver medals, and 4 bronze medals.
• Important Days:
• International Olympic Day, celebrated annually on June 23rd, commemorates the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) founding in 1894. The event took place in Paris, France, where Pierre de Coubertin revived the Olympic Games. The day promotes Olympic values such as excellence, friendship, and respect, encouraging people worldwide to participate in sports and lead active lifestyles.
• International Widows’ Day, observed annually on June 23, aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by widows worldwide. It focuses on addressing poverty, injustice, and discrimination that many widows and their dependents experience.
• Appointments:
• C. Ayyannapatrudu has been unanimously elected as the Speaker of the 16th Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. As the sole nominee for the position, his election was a mere formality. Ayyannapatrudu, a TDP MLA from Narsipatnam, assumed the role after being escorted to the Speaker’s chair by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
• Paul Thomas, the Managing Director and CEO of ESAF Small Finance Bank, has been elected as the Chairperson of Sa-Dhan. Sa-Dhan is a prominent association of microfinance and impact finance institutions in India.
• Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has announced that Gaurav Banerjee will be the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective on or before August 26, 2024, subject to regulatory approvals. Banerjee will take over from N.P. Singh has led SPNI to unprecedented heights over his remarkable 25-year tenure.
• Awards & Honours:
• Bilan Media, Somalia's all-women media team, secured the 2024 One World Media Press Freedom Award on June 20th, 2024. They were recognized for their bravery in reporting and empowering female journalists in Somalia. (Somalia)

Questions:

1 Which countries collaborated on the launch of the SVOM satellite?

• A) China and Russia
• B) France and Germany
• C) China and France
• D) USA and Japan

Answer: C) On June 22nd, China and France successfully launched a powerful satellite called the Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) with the specific purpose of studying gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) – the most energetic explosions in the universe.

2 Who is leading the high-level committee formed by the Ministry of Education to reform competitive exams through the National Testing Agency (NTA)?

• A) Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
• B) Dr. K. Radhakrishnan
• C) Dr. Raghuram Rajan
• D) Dr. C.N.R. Rao

Answer: B) The Ministry of Education has constituted a high-level committee of experts, led by former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan, to reform the process of competitive exams through the National Testing Agency (NTA).