Current Affairs One - Liner : 26th June 2024

• National:
• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has launched the "One Week One Theme" (OWOT) campaign. This initiative aims to promote focused efforts on various thematic areas each week to drive progress and innovation. By dedicating a specific week to a particular theme, the campaign seeks to ensure concentrated attention and resources towards achieving tangible outcomes in that area.

• India's Ministry of Coal launched the nation's first-ever pilot project for Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) on June 22nd, 2024, in Jharkhand's Kasta coal block. Led by Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) along with CMPDI Ranchi and EETI from Canada, this project aims to assess the viability of UCG technology for utilizing India's coal reserves.
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has launched a 100-day awareness campaign on women’s empowerment. This initiative, running from June 21 to October 4, 2024, aims to raise awareness about women-centric issues across India. Through enrollment drives and educational sessions, the MWCD seeks to empower women in areas such as education, health, livelihood, and social security.
• The Madhya Pradesh government will open one Prime Minister College of Excellence in all 55 districts, starting July 1st. These colleges aim to provide job-oriented education and promote Indian knowledge and skills in AI, drones, and aviation.
• The Bharat Centre of Olympic Research and Education (BCORE) was inaugurated on June 23, 2024, at Rashtriya Raksha University in Gandhinagar, India. It is a significant development for Indian athletics as it is the first Olympic research center in the country and the entire South Asian region.
• The International Workshop on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based Tolling organized by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) focuses on leveraging GNSS technology for toll collection. This technology aims to streamline toll operations, enhance efficiency, and reduce congestion on highways by enabling seamless toll collection using satellite-based positioning.
• Ladakh has achieved full functional literacy under the ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram. Led by Lieutenant Governor Dr. BD Mishra, Ladakh now stands as the first administrative unit to accomplish this feat, with over 97% literacy. The ULLAS program, aligned with NEP 2020, emphasizes foundational literacy, critical life skills, and vocational education through volunteer-driven initiatives.
• The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) (PMAY-U), launched in 2015, is set to undergo a revamp with new features. The revamped scheme will continue its mission of providing affordable housing to the urban poor, with a renewed focus on efficient implementation and timely delivery of benefits.
• JP Nadda, the national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), launched the National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2024. This initiative is aimed at addressing and reducing the incidence of diarrhoea, a major health concern, especially among children in India.
• The Indian government recently conducted a 5G spectrum auction to raise over ₹96,000 crore (approximately $12 billion). This auction allows telecom companies to bid on frequencies essential for offering 5G services.
• International:
• On June 24, 2024, United States President Joe Biden pledged to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally (MNNA), making Kenya the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to hold this designation. This decision was announced during Kenyan President William Ruto’s three-day visit to the US, and Biden described it as “a fulfillment of years of collaboration”.
• Banking:
• ICICI Bank launched a new feature called SmartLock for their iMobile Pay app to enhance security for their customers. SmartLock is a first-of-its-kind feature in the Indian banking sector, and it allows users to control various banking services without contacting customer support.
• Economy:
• For the fiscal year 2024-25, India’s GDP growth is projected to be approximately 7.5%, according to the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). These positive forecasts reflect improved economic activity and demand.
• As of the end of March 2024, India’s external debt reached $663.8 billion, marking a $39.7 billion increase compared to the previous year. Notably, the external debt-to-GDP ratio declined to 18.7% from the previous year’s 19.0%. The majority of this debt is denominated in US dollars, followed by the Indian rupee, yen, SDR, and euro.
• Apps & Portals:
• Flipkart, the Indian e-commerce giant, has quietly rolled out its own payments app called Super.money. This move comes more than a year and a half after Flipkart separated from PhonePe. The app, currently in beta on the Play Store, enables users to make mobile payments via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India’s popular online transaction network.
• Sports:
• At the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, held on June 23, Max Verstappen clinched victory, securing his seventh win in ten races this season. The intense battle against McLaren’s Lando Norris showcased Verstappen’s skill, while Lewis Hamilton secured third place for Mercedes.
• Important Days:
• The International Day of Women in Diplomacy was celebrated on June 24, 2024 to recognize women's contributions in global affairs. The theme was "Women's Leadership in Multilateral Diplomacy".
• The Day of the Seafarer was celebrated on June 25, 2024. The theme, chosen by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), was "Seafarers' contribution to making the maritime sector a safer workplace". It aimed to recognize seafarers' role in safety and raise awareness about safe work practices at sea.
• World Vitiligo Day was observed on June 25, 2024. The theme for 2024 was "United by the Skin". It promotes celebrating vitiligo as part of human diversity and recognizing the beauty of those with this skin condition.
• June 26th is the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The 2024 theme was "Voices Against Torture: A Call for Global Justice and Human Rights". It's a day to honor survivors, fight for eradication of torture, and ensure justice.
• Appointments:
• Rahul Gandhi was appointed as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the 18th Lok Sabha on June 19, 2024. This significant development marks the first time in a decade that the Lok Sabha will have a designated Leader of Opposition.
• Jagat Prakash Nadda, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President, was appointed as the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha on June 24, 2024. His designation reflects his seniority within the party and his experience in parliamentary affairs.
• Om Birla, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, has been re-elected as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha for the second term. This achievement is remarkable, as it sets a record for serving as the Speaker twice.
• India’s Universal AI University (UAIU) has appointed Simon Mak, an award-winning American professor, as its vice chancellor. Notably, Mak is the first foreign national to lead an Indian university.

Questions:

1 What was India's external debt as of the end of March 2024?

• A) $663.8 million
• B) $663.8 billion
• C) $39.7 billion
• D) $18.7%

Answer: B) As of the end of March 2024, India’s external debt reached $663.8 billion, marking a $39.7 billion increase compared to the previous year. Notably, the external debt-to-GDP ratio declined to 18.7% from the previous year’s 19.0%.

2 Who launched the "One Week One Theme" (OWOT) campaign?

• A) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• B) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
• C) President Ram Nath Kovind
• D) Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh

Answer: D) Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has launched the "One Week One Theme" (OWOT) campaign. This initiative aims to promote focused efforts on various thematic areas each week to drive progress and innovation.