Current Affairs One - Liner : 26th July 2024

• National:
• The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals in India has taken a significant step by enforcing mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) standards for chemicals and petrochemicals. These standards ensure product quality, safety, and compliance with established norms.

• The Moidams, the unique burial mounds of Assam's Ahom dynasty, were officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 26, 2024. This historic achievement marks India's 43rd entry on the prestigious list and highlights the rich cultural heritage of Assam.
• The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has announced that Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) will be its official principal sponsor for the next four years. This partnership begins with the Paris Olympics in 2024 and extends through the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
• The Department of Posts has indeed paid a heartfelt tribute to the brave soldiers who fought in the Kargil War by releasing a commemorative postage stamp on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas Rajat Jayanti. This is a wonderful way to honor the sacrifices made by our armed forces and keep their memory alive.
• The National Feeder Monitoring System Control Centre was inaugurated by Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal on July 25, 2024. This initiative aims to enhance the monitoring and management of electricity feeders, improving the efficiency and reliability of the power supply system across the country.
• On July 25, 2024, President Droupadi Murmu announced the renaming of two iconic halls in Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Durbar Hall is now known as Ganatantra Mandap, and the Ashok Hall has been renamed as Ashok Mandap. These changes were made to align the ambience of Rashtrapati Bhavan with Indian cultural values and ethos.
• International:
• UNAIDS' 2024 Global AIDS Update reveals a critical moment in the fight against HIV. Despite progress, the world is off track to end AIDS by 2030. 39.9 million people lived with HIV in 2023, with millions still lacking treatment. Addressing inequalities, protecting human rights, and increasing funding are crucial to turn the tide and achieve the 2030 goal.
• On July 22, 2024, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) joined forces to enhance early warning systems for the agriculture sector. This collaboration aims to improve farmers' ability to anticipate and respond to climate-related risks and extreme weather events by providing more accurate and timely meteorological data.
• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially announced that Salt Lake City, Utah, will host the 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. This marks the event’s return to the Crossroads of the West and Utah’s capital city since the memorable 2002 Winter Games.
• Zimbabwe joined the UN Water Convention on July 24, 2024. This move demonstrates the country’s commitment to transboundary water management and cooperation across borders. It’s the 54th party to the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes.
• Banking:
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the license of Uravakonda Co-operative Town Bank Ltd., located in Uravakonda, Andhra Pradesh, on July 19, 2024. As a result, the bank ceased to carry on banking business from the close of business on July 20, 2024.
• Cashfree Payments secured the Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB) license from the RBI on July 16, 2024. This milestone allows the company to facilitate cross-border transactions for both imports and exports, expanding its services to global businesses and Indian exporters alike.
• Economy:
• The Telangana government unveiled its budget for the financial year 2024-25 on July 25, 2024. The budget, presented by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, totaled Rs 2.91 lakh crore. Key highlights include a focus on Hyderabad's development, social welfare schemes, infrastructure, and agriculture. The government aims to balance growth and fiscal discipline through this budget.
• Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein presented the Rs 993.08-crore deficit budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 on July 24, 2024. The budget focuses on infrastructure, urban development, and a “healthy human resource.” It’s worth noting that this budget estimate represents a 20.85% increase over the figure for the previous fiscal year.
• Index & Ranking:
• The Henley Passport Index, released by the Henley & Partners Group, assesses passport strength based on visa-free or visa-on-arrival access. As of July 2024, Singapore holds the top spot, granting its citizens access to 195 countries. India’s passport ranks 82nd, with access to 58 countries.
• Government Schemes:
• The Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, now provides free health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 55 crore individuals (corresponding to 12.34 crore families). All members of eligible families, regardless of age, are covered under this scheme.
• Defence:
• Russia has indeed launched two advanced stealth frigates for the Indian Navy. These frigates are part of the ongoing defense collaboration between India and Russia. The first ship, named Tushil, is ready and is expected to be scheduled for delivery to the Indian Navy in September this year. The second ship, Tamal, is anticipated to be delivered by February 2025.
• Important Days:
• July 26th, the last Friday in July, is celebrated as System Administrator Appreciation Day. It's a day to recognize and appreciate the hard work and dedication of system administrators who manage and maintain an organization's IT infrastructure.
• World Drowning Prevention Day was observed on July 25, 2024, to highlight the global issue of drowning. Every hour, 26 people die from drowning, making it a leading cause of injury-related death. This year's theme, "Anyone can drown, no one should," emphasized the universal risk.
• Appointments:
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) appointed senior IPS officer Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal as the new Director General of Police for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Before this role, Dhaliwal served as the special commissioner of police in New Delhi, overseeing traffic zone-II. His appointment was made on July 25, 2024.
• Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has been appointed as the Festival Director for the 55th and 56th editions of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The announcement was made on July 26, 2024. This appointment brings a seasoned cinematic expert to lead India's premier film festival.
• Ajinkya Naik was elected as the youngest-ever President of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on July 23, 2024. He defeated Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar’s candidate Sanjay Naik by 107 votes in a one-sided election.
• Awards & Honours:
• On July 25, 2024, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced the winners of the 10th National Community Radio Awards. During the same event, he also inaugurated India’s 500th Community Radio Station, called “Apna Radio 90.0 FM,” which is operated by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in Aizawl, Mizoram.
• The Rajbhasha Gaurav Samman for 2023-24 was awarded to PSUs in Visakhapatnam by TOLIC, hosted by NTPC, and presided over by Atul Bhatt. The winners were HPCL-Visakha Refinery (first), NTPC Simhadri (second), and the Airport Authority of India (third), recognizing their efforts in promoting Hindi as the official language.
• Obituaries:
• Father Francis D’Britto, a Vasai-based Catholic priest, writer, and environmentalist known for translating the Bible into Marathi, passed away on July 25, 2024, at the age of 81 after a prolonged illness.
• Former Indonesian Vice President Hamzah Haz has passed away at the age of 84. Hamzah Haz served as Vice President of Indonesia from 2001 to 2004 under President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Questions:

1 What is the free health cover provided per family per year under the AB-PMJAY scheme?

• A) 1 lakh
• B) 2 lakh
• C) 5 lakh
• D) 6 lakh

Answer: C) The Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, now provides free health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 55 crore individuals (corresponding to 12.34 crore families).

2 Which dynasty is associated with the Moidams in Assam?

• A) Maurya dynasty
• B) Ahom dynasty
• C) Gupta dynasty
• D) Mughal dynasty

Answer: B) The Moidams, the unique burial mounds of Assam's Ahom dynasty, were officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 26, 2024.