Current Affairs One - Liner : 12th July 2024

• National:
• On July 12, 2024, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, received the first Mother Ship ‘MV San Fernando’ at Vizhinjam, Kerala. This marks the beginning of operations at India’s first deep water container transhipment port.

• The Ibiza Wall Lizard (Podarcis pityusensis) has been reclassified as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List. This change reflects its vulnerable status and highlights the need for conservation efforts to protect its habitat and population.
• BNP Paribas and Mistral AI have entered into a comprehensive partnership agreement that covers all of Mistral AI’s current and future commercial models. This multi-year collaboration aims to provide access to Mistral AI’s cutting-edge Large Language Models (LLMs) across all of BNP Paribas’ business lines.
• India’s Supreme Court ruled that divorced Muslim women are entitled to alimony from their ex-husbands under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). This ruling came in the case of Mohd Abdul Samad versus State of Telangana. The Court clarified that if a Muslim woman gets divorced while her application under Section 125 CrPC is pending, she can also seek recourse under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019.
• Former Agniveers will now receive a 10% reservation in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Forces (BSF), and Railway Protection Forces (RPF). This decision was made by the Union Home Ministry last year. The move aims to boost morale and provide opportunities for ex-Agniveers in these vital security forces. Additionally, they will receive relaxation in the Physical Efficiency Test.
• Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved buying a Challenger 3500 jet for VVIP travel, replacing their crashed plane. They also approved the NEVA project to digitize the state assembly, aiming for a paperless system.
• India’s population is projected to peak at 1.7 billion around 2060, and then decline by 12% to approximately 1.5 billion by 2100. Currently, India’s population stands at around 1.45 billion, and it is expected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country in April 2023.
• Banking:
• Muthoot Finance has been selected as the only Indian NBFC to be included in The Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) Mutual Evaluation report 2023-24. This significant achievement reflects Muthoot Finance’s legacy as a trusted brand, not only in India but globally.
• Four public sector banks, including Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Indian Bank, and Bank of India, have collectively paid a dividend of Rs 6,481 crore to the government. This signifies improved financial health of these banks and will contribute to government revenue.
• Economy:
• Rajasthan Finance Minister Diya Kumari on Wednesday presented the state's full budget having an outlay of Rs 4.95 lakh crore for FY25 with announcements of 4 lakh recruitments in five years, development of nine greenfield expressways, and reduction in value-added tax on cooking gas and CNG from 14.5 per cent to 10 per cent.
• Science & Technology:
• A new species of shield-tail snake, Uropeltis caudomaculata, has been discovered in the Western Ghats. This small, non-venomous snake is distinguished by a yellow spot on its tail.
• Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have recently discovered a new species of deep-water dogfish shark off the Kerala coast. They’ve named it Squalus hima.
• Important Days:
• National Simplicity Day is celebrated every year on July 12 to honor the birthday of Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau was a proponent of simple living, believing that it was essential for a more fulfilling life. On this day, we’re encouraged to embrace simplicity, slow down, and focus on the things that truly matter.
• On July 11, 2024, the United Nations observed the first International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica. This solemn occasion honors the memory of approximately 8,000 Bosnian Muslims.
• International Malala Day, observed annually on July 12, celebrates the remarkable advocacy of Malala Yousafzai for women’s education and human rights. Born in Pakistan in 1997, Malala defied threats from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan to champion girls’ right to education. In 2014, she became the world’s youngest Nobel Prize laureate. This year’s theme is “Education for All,” emphasizing the importance of quality education for every child, especially girls.
• Appointments:
• On July 11, 2024, Bihar made history by appointing Manvi Madhu Kashyap as the state’s first transgender Sub-Inspector of Police. She expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and others for their support, highlighting the struggles she faced due to discrimination.

Questions:

1 Who made history on July 11, 2024, by becoming Bihar's first transgender Sub-Inspector of Police?

• A) Manvi Madhu Kashyap
• B) Priya Singh
• C) Ritu Sharma
• D) Anjali Mehta

Answer: A) On July 11, 2024, Bihar made history by appointing Manvi Madhu Kashyap as the state’s first transgender Sub-Inspector of Police.

2 Which Indian NBFC has been included in The Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) Mutual Evaluation report 2023-24?

• A) HDFC Finance
• B) Bajaj Finserv
• C) Muthoot Finance
• D) Tata Capital

Answer: C) Muthoot Finance has been selected as the only Indian NBFC to be included in The Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) Mutual Evaluation report 2023-24.