Current Affairs One - Liner : 21st & 22nd July 2024

Meghalaya has taken a significant step by launching its own Over-The-Top (OTT) platform called “Hello Meghalaya.” It’s the second state in India to do so, following Kerala. This platform aims to promote local talent, including content creators, musicians, and filmmakers.

The theme for India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024, ‘The Future is Now’, was unveiled by the Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, on July 18, 2024.
Madhya Pradesh has been recognized as the best-performing state under the Prime Minister Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme. This achievement is a testament to the state's effective implementation of the scheme, which aims to support urban street vendors by providing collateral-free loans up to ₹50,000.
The 13th edition of India Chem was launched with the theme “Advantage Bharat: Indian Chemicals and Petrochemicals Paving the Future.” The event, organized jointly by the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals (Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India) and FICCI, took place from 17th to 19th October 2024 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai.

India has announced a $1 million contribution to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. This grant will be used for capacity building, technical assistance, and conservation of World Heritage Sites. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that this funding will benefit countries in the Global South.

A record-breaking 19.5 lakh new members joined the Employees Provident Fund scheme. This significant increase points towards a growing workforce, especially among young people aged 18-25.
Bank of Baroda unveiled its Generative AI-powered Virtual Relationship Manager (VRM) on July 20, 2024 as part of its 117th Foundation Day celebrations. This innovative initiative is a first-of-its-kind in the Indian banking sector. The Virtual RM assists customers by providing real-time information on the bank’s wide range of products and services while also capturing customer requirements for specific banking services.

The Indian government has extended the Countervailing Duty (CVD) on new or unused pneumatic radial tyres imported from China for five years. Previously, this duty was set to end on July 23, but it will now continue. The CVD, which is set at 17.57%, aims to counter any unfair advantage due to government subsidies that Chinese manufacturers may have. This move is expected to benefit domestic tyre companies such as MRF, Apollo Tyres, and J K Tyres.

NASA has made an exciting discovery, unveiling six new exoplanets beyond our solar system. These newfound worlds include HD 36384 b, TOI-198 b, TOI-2095 b, TOI-2095 c, TOI-4860 b, and MWC 758 c, pushing the total number of confirmed exoplanets to 5,502.
China launched its new Earth observation satellite, Gaofen-11 05, on July 19, 2024, at 03:03 UTC. A Long March 4B rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China carried the satellite into orbit.

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy launched the Rajiv Gandhi Civils Abhayahastam scheme on 20th July 2024. This initiative aims to support youth preparing for the UPSC Mains by providing ₹1 lakh to aspirants who clear the preliminary examinations of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj were officially inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on July 20, 2024 in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. Their enshrinement into this prestigious club is historic, as they became the first Asian men to receive this honor.
Yuki Bhambri and Albano Olivetti secured the Swiss Open 2024 doubles title by defeating the French pair of Fabrice Martin and Ugo Humbert in the final. The match took place on July 20, 2024 at the Roy Emerson Arena in Gstaad.

Captain Supreetha C.T., hailing from Mysuru, has achieved a remarkable milestone. She is the first woman officer from the Corps of Army Air Defence to be operationally deployed at the formidable Siachen Glacier, which stands as the world’s highest battlefield.

National Flag Day in India, celebrated on July 22 every year, commemorates the adoption of the national flag and encourages respect for its significance. In 2024, the theme is "Unity and Diversity," highlighting the flag's role in representing India's diverse cultures while symbolizing national unity.
July 22 is celebrated as National Mango Day (or Mango Day) in many places. It's a day to celebrate and enjoy this popular and delicious fruit, known for its sweet and juicy flavor.
Pi Approximation Day is celebrated on July 22nd because the fraction 22/7 is a common approximation of the mathematical constant pi (π), which is approximately 3.14159. The date is written as 22/7 in the day/month format, matching the fraction used to approximate pi. It's a fun way to celebrate this important mathematical constant!

Deepa Malik, India's first female Paralympic medalist, was appointed as the Sub-regional Representative for South Asia by the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) on July 17, 2024.
Manolo Marquez, a Spanish professional football manager, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Indian men’s senior football team. The decision was made by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) during their Executive Committee meeting chaired by AIFF President Shri Kalyan Chaubey on July 20, 2024.
Sanjeev Krishan has been re-elected as the Chairperson of PwC in India for a second term. His four-year term began on April 1, 2025. Under his leadership, PwC’s revenue has surpassed $1 billion, with a strong focus on growth and expansion.

Eminent writer and poet Jukanti Jagannatham was nominated for the prestigious “Sri Dasarathi Krishnamacharya Award” for 2024 by the Telangana Government. The award, which includes ₹1 lakh in cash and a memento, will be presented to Mr. Jagannatham on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dasarathi Krishnamacharya.

Padma Shri awardee Kamala Pujari, a noted organic farmer, passed away in Cuttack on July 20, 2024. She was 74 years old and had made significant contributions to organic farming and the preservation of indigenous paddy seeds.

Questions:

1 Who is the first woman officer from the Corps of Army Air Defence to be operationally deployed at the Siachen Glacier?

2 Who has been re-elected as the Chairperson of PwC in India for a second term?