Current Affairs One - Liner : 29th June 2024

Mindspace Business Parks REIT, a company that owns and develops Grade A office spaces in India, was the first Indian REIT to issue sustainability-linked bonds. They secured Rs 650 crore from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for a tenure of seven years.

NITI Aayog reported that the government monetized Rs 1.56 lakh crore worth of assets under the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) in FY24, though short of the Rs 1.8 lakh crore target. This achievement marks a 159% increase compared to FY22. The initiative aims to attract private investment in infrastructure projects by monetizing existing assets.
Bornean Elephants are endangered due to habitat loss, fragmentation, human-elephant conflict, and poaching. Urgent conservation efforts are crucial to their survival.
The first plastic waste road at Jaipur Military Station was inaugurated on June 26, 2024. This 100-meter-long stretch connects the Sagat Singh Road underpass to the Cubs Corner complex. Major General R.S. Godara, the head of the 61 Sub Area, officially inaugurated the road by planting a tree, symbolizing progress and advancement.
The Pench Tiger Reserve uses AI to detect forest fires early, within 3 minutes. This is achieved through a combination of high-resolution camera footage and satellite data. The system can differentiate between smoke and clouds for highly accurate fire detection. This allows for a quicker response to minimize forest damage.

On 27th June 2024, RBI authorized Hitachi Payment Services as an Online Payment Aggregator. This allows them to offer a wider range of digital payment options and value-added services to Indian merchants and consumers.
On June 28, 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised the Ways and Means Advances (WMA) limit for state governments and Union Territories (UTs) by 28%. The revised aggregate WMA limit is ₹60,118 crore, effective from July 1, 2024. This increase aims to provide financial accommodation to states and UTs based on expenditure data and recommendations.
The Exchange Rate Automation Module (ERAM) by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) will be effective from July 4, 2024. ERAM aims to automate the determination and publication of exchange rates for 22 currencies, benefiting importers and exporters.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui) to acquire equity shares in Sneha Farms Private Limited (Sneha Farms). Mitsui’s proposed transaction includes a combination of primary subscription and secondary purchase, marking its entry into the Indian poultry industry.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has witnessed a decline in its overseas gold reserves, reaching a six-year low of 47% of total gold holdings as of March 2024. This trend aligns with other central banks globally, which are increasingly repatriating gold reserves to their own countries.
India's core sector growth, which is a measure of the output of eight key infrastructure industries, slowed down to 6.3% in May 2024 from 6.7% in April 2024. This decline was attributed to a contraction in the production of cement, crude oil, and fertilizers, along with a slowdown in refinery products and steel.

On June 26, 2024, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and Space Machines Company signed a historic Launch Service Agreement. This collaboration sets the stage for launching Space Machines Company’s second Optimus spacecraft, weighing 450 kg. The Optimus spacecraft is the largest Australian-designed and built spacecraft to date.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released an Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index (AIPI) Dashboard on June 25, 2024, tracking 174 economies globally for AI readiness. India's rank on the IMF's Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index is 72nd out of 174 economies. The United States holds the top position in the IMF’s AI Preparedness Index.

The culmination of the T20 World Cup 2024 was a thrilling encounter between India and South Africa on Saturday, June 29th, 2024, at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. Team India emerged victorious after a hard-fought battle, defeating South Africa by a narrow margin of 7 runs.

South Korea, the United States, and Japan conducted their first-ever trilateral multi-domain exercise in June 2024 at Jeju Island, South Korea. The exercise, named Freedom Edge, focused on strengthening their collective defense capabilities against various threats, including North Korea.

National Insurance Awareness Day is observed annually on June 28. On this day, we emphasize the importance of insurance and encourage individuals to understand the benefits of having adequate coverage. Whether it’s life insurance, health insurance, or property insurance, having the right coverage can help secure your future and protect your loved ones from unforeseen events.
The International Day of the Tropics is observed on June 29 each year. It commemorates the anniversary of the inaugural “State of Tropics Report”. The tropics cover approximately 40% of the world’s total surface area and are home to about 80% of the planet’s biodiversity.

The Bank of Baroda signed rising Indian tennis star Sumit Nagal as its brand endorser in June 2024. This aligns with the bank's strategy of supporting young Indian athletes competing on the world stage. Nagal is currently the highest-ranked Indian singles player.
Vikram Misri, a veteran diplomat, became India's Foreign Secretary on July 15th, 2024. Known for his China expertise, he previously served as Deputy NSA and ambassador to key countries.
The Central Government has extended the tenure of Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Neerabh Kumar Prasad by six months, until December 31. His tenure now runs from July 1 to December 31.
Ursula von der Leyen was accepted as president of the European Commission, António Costa as president of the European Council, and Kaja Kallas as the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The Indian Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) has recently reconstituted its governing board for the period 2024-29 Prithviraj Kothari, representing Riddi Siddhi Bullion Ltd, has been appointed as the national president.

Sanjana Thakur, a talented 26-year-old writer from Mumbai, has been named the overall winner of the 2024 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for her captivating story titled “Aishwarya Rai.”Out of an impressive pool of 7,359 entrants worldwide, Sanjana’s poignant tale stood out, earning her the prestigious £5,000 prize.
Dr. Usha Thakur, the esteemed figure known for her contributions to Hindi literature and culture, has been honored with the 12th Vishwa Hindi Samman. This prestigious award is conferred by the Government of India.
Vistara was named the Best Airline in India and South Asia at the 2024 World Airline Awards by Skytrax. The awards ceremony took place on June 24, 2024, at Fairmont Windsor Park in London, UK. Skytrax, an international air transport rating organization, organizes these awards to recognize excellence in the airline industry.

Questions:

1 Who has been appointed as the national president of the Indian Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) for the period 2024-29?

2 What is the name of the writer who won the 2024 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for “Aishwarya Rai”?