Current Affairs One - Liner : 27th June 2024

Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah recently inaugurated the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) at Terminal-3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. This visionary initiative aims to enhance travel efficiency for Indian nationals and OCI cardholders by providing faster, smoother, and safer immigration clearance through e-gates.

Uttar Pradesh has the potential to be a major producer of compressed biogas (CBG), contributing up to 24% of India’s CBG production. The state’s bioenergy policy allocates Rs 750 crore for CBG development, but challenges like bioslurry utilization and gas purchasing consistency remain.
India's biggest leopard safari opened at Bannerghatta Biological Park near Bengaluru. The 20-hectare zone, inaugurated on June 26th, 2024, houses eight leopards currently with plans to introduce more.
India's first museum dedicated to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, "Chadwick House: Navigating Audit Heritage", was inaugurated at Shimla on 24th June 2024. It features interactive displays, historical artifacts, and galleries showcasing the CAG's role in Indian governance.
The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet recently decided that state ministers will no longer have the state government cover their income tax. Instead, ministers will now pay their own income tax on salaries and allowances. This decision revokes a 52-year-old rule that previously allowed the state to bear this burden.

Paraguay became the 100th member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) on June 26, 2024. The alliance aims to increase solar energy use worldwide to support action against climate change. The ISA was launched in 2015 by India and France. The alliance is headquartered in Gurugram, India.

INSILLION, an Insurtech platform, bridges the gap between IRCTC (train booking) and Royal Sundaram (insurance) in India. This allows travelers to seamlessly purchase travel insurance while booking train tickets on IRCTC, making it easier and faster to get insured for their journeys.
Muthoot Microfin received a Corporate Agent License from IRDAI on June 25, 2024, allowing them to offer insurance products to their vast customer base, expanding their financial inclusion efforts. This strengthens their commitment to financial security, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

During April and May 2024, India’s trade deficit in steel widened to $516 million (approximately ₹4,284 crore). This represents 47% of the total deficit recorded in the fiscal year 2023-24. The increase is attributed to higher steel imports, particularly from China, while exports declined during the same period.
The United States has indeed emerged as India’s top destination for defence exports. Over the last five years, exports to the U.S. have accounted for more than 50% of India’s total defence exports, exceeding $2.8 billion.

David Warner, one of Australia’s greatest batters, has officially retired from international cricket after Australia’s exit from the T20 World Cup. His 15-year international career came to a close when Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh in the Super Eight phase of the tournament.

DRDO delivered the Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) to the Indian Navy on June 26, 2024. This new rocket technology creates a microwave cloud that hinders enemy radars from detecting ships, boosting the Navy's stealth capabilities.
India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with SpacePixxel on June 25, 2024 to develop miniaturized satellites for defense purposes. This 350th iDEX contract aims to miniaturize payloads for faster, cheaper deployment and promote innovation in space electronics.

June 27th, 2024 was indeed Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day (MSME Day) celebrated globally. The theme for MSME Day 2024 was: "Leveraging the Power and Resilience of Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises to Accelerate Sustainable Development and Eradicate Poverty in Times of Multiple Crises."
World Refrigeration Day 2024 was celebrated on June 26, 2024. This day recognizes the crucial role of the refrigeration sector in enhancing our quality of life. The theme for this year’s celebration was “Temperature Matters,”.
June 27th is Helen Keller Day, a day to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Helen Keller, an inspirational woman who overcame blindness and deafness to become a world-renowned author, disability rights advocate, and political activist.

On June 26, 2024, the North Atlantic Council decided to appoint Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the next Secretary General of NATO. He will succeed Jens Stoltenberg and assume his functions from October 1, 2024, after Mr. Stoltenberg’s ten-year term at the helm of the Alliance.
Jeegar Shah has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Citi’s India franchise, effective from June 1, 2024. In this role, he will oversee all financial matters in India and provide strategic financial management support to Ashu Khullar, Citi Country Officer for India.
Aksha Mohit Kamboj has been appointed as the Vice President of the India Bullion Jewellers Association (IBJA), effective from June 22, 2024. She brings years of experience and expertise in the bullion and jewelry sector, and her appointment aims to strengthen IBJA’s leadership within the industry.

Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Limited received the “Sustainable Governance Champion Award” at the Outlook Planet Sustainability Summit & Awards 2024. Their commitment to sustainable practices and governance excellence has a positive impact on the environment and operational efficiency. The award ceremony took place on June 27, 2024.
Arundhati Roy won the prestigious 2024 PEN Pinter Prize for her courageous writing and social activism. This recognition comes amid legal threats in India. The award ceremony will be held in London on October 10, 2024.

Frank Duckworth, who co-invented the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method used in cricket to determine results in rain-affected matches, passed away on June 21, 2024 at the age of 84.

Questions:

1 Who has been awarded the 2024 PEN Pinter Prize?

2 Who has been appointed as the Vice President of the India Bullion Jewellers Association (IBJA) effective from June 22, 2024?