Current Affairs One - Liner : 10th July 2024

Rajasthan is set to become the first Indian state to adopt a comprehensive 10-year Road Safety Action Plan. This plan aims to reduce road accidents by 50% by 2030. Backed by Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa, it involves a phased implementation strategy focusing on basic safety, safety behaviors, and advanced measures.

Karnataka has launched the ‘Digital Nagarik and AR-VR Skills Programme’ to empower 10 lakh students with digital safety knowledge and augmented reality/virtual reality (AR-VR) skills by 2025. The program, in collaboration with Meta, focuses on cybersecurity awareness and aims to create a cyber-safe environment.

UNESCO recently designated 11 new biosphere reserves, expanding the World Network of Biosphere Reserves to 759 sites across 136 countries. These new reserves recognize the importance of conserving biodiversity and cultural heritage around the world. Some of the new reserves are even the first for their countries, including Gambia and Chad.
The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan was signed on July 9, 2024, in Manila, Philippines. This agreement simplifies bureaucratic hurdles, allowing troops from Japan and the Philippines to enter each other’s territory for joint exercises and cooperative activities.

The Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) signed a Line of Credit (LoC) agreement worth USD 2.5 million with the government of Guyana. This agreement will be used to install a solar photovoltaic power plant at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Guyana.
On July 11, 2024, Star Health and Allied Insurance partnered with the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank (HPSCB) to enhance health insurance penetration in Himachal Pradesh. This collaboration aims to provide a wide range of health insurance products and services to HPSCB's customers, increasing access to healthcare and financial protection in the state, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.
Tata Asset Management (TAMPL) launched India's first-ever tourism index fund on July 8, 2024. The fund, called the Tata Nifty India Tourism Index Fund, tracks the Nifty India Tourism Index, which focuses on companies in the Indian tourism sector.

The Financial Inclusion-Index (FI-Index) in India did increase to 64.2 in March 2024, which is a positive sign for the country's financial development. This shows progress towards greater financial inclusion for the population.
In summary, India’s employment growth rate surged to 6% in fiscal year 2023/24, creating 46.7 million jobs and bringing the total employment to 643.3 million. Additionally, female unemployment declined from 9.2% to 8.5% during the same period.

On July 5, 2024, the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department signed an MoU with MakeMyTrip in Lucknow. This collaboration aims to boost tourism by leveraging MakeMyTrip’s insights and enhancing tourist experiences in the state.

Scientists have discovered hydrogen sulfide—a compound that smells like rotten eggs—on the exoplanet HD 189733b. This distant gas giant, located 64 light-years away, boasts extreme conditions, including scorching heat and sideways-blowing molten glass rain.

Badminton superstar PV Sindhu and table tennis ace Sharath Kamal have been confirmed as India’s flag bearers for the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, will be the female flag bearer, while Sharath Kamal will represent the men’s contingent.

Gagan Narang, an Olympic bronze medalist shooter, was appointed as the Chef-de-Mission for the Indian contingent at the Paris 2024 Olympics on July 8, 2024. He replaces Mary Kom, who resigned from the position in April due to personal reasons. This appointment was confirmed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and its President, PT Usha.
Former Chief Justice of India, Uday Umesh Lalit, has been appointed as the chairman of the search and selection committee for the appointment of vice-chancellors in all the state-run universities of West Bengal. This decision was made by a division bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice K V Vishwanathan on July 9, 2024.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the reappointment of Govind Singh as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Utkarsh Small Finance Bank. His new term will commence on September 21, 2024, and will last for three years. The approval was communicated through an RBI letter dated July 8, 2024.
Professor Soumya Swaminathan was appointed as the Principal Advisor at the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme on July 9, 2024. She will provide technical advice on the overall strategy to achieve program goals.

Maharashtra has been honored with the Best Agriculture State Award for 2024 by the 15th Agriculture Leadership Awards Committee. The announcement was made by the committee, which is chaired by former Chief Justice of India, Justice P. Sathasivam. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will receive the award at a ceremony in New Delhi on July 10

Prominent Indian businessman Ram Buxani died at 83 in UAE on July 7th. He led the ITL Cosmos Group and was a generous philanthropist. His passing leaves a void in the UAE's Indian community.

Question:

1 Which state received the Best Agriculture State Award for 2024?

2 How many students does Karnataka aim to empower through the 'Digital Nagarik and AR-VR Skills Programme' by 2025?