Current Affairs One - Liner : 2nd July 2024

• National:
• Indian ministries including MoHFW, NITI Aayog, and MoEFCC are joining forces to create a legal framework for One Health. This collaboration signifies a multi-sectoral approach for addressing health issues at the human-animal-environment interface.

• The Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability (9th Amendment) Regulations, 2024 have been implemented as of July 1, 2024. These regulations pertain to mobile number portability, allowing users to switch their telecom service provider while retaining their existing phone number.
• The Hemis Festival takes place annually at the Hemis Monastery in Ladakh, celebrating the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. This vibrant event features Chham Dance, sacred plays by the Lamas, colorful traditional attire, and holds deep spiritual significance.
• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a whopping ₹125 crore prize money for the senior men’s Indian cricket team after their T20 World Cup 2024 title triumph over South Africa in Barbados.
• International:
• Denmark has pioneered by becoming the world’s first country to tax livestock farmers for the greenhouse gases emitted by their cows, sheep, and pigs. The aim is to reduce Danish greenhouse gas emissions by 70% from 1990 levels by 2030.
• Banking:
• The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) secured a significant loan of over Rs 850 crore from the German development bank KfW to improve urban infrastructure in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
• Bandhan Bank has recently introduced a new service for online collection of direct taxes. This facility allows both customers and non-customers across India to pay their taxes seamlessly. As an RBI-appointed agency bank, Bandhan Bank also accepts offline payments through its 1,700 branches.
• Union Bank of India recently launched "Union Premier" branches specifically aimed at high-value customers in rural and semi-urban (RUSU) markets. These branches offer a more personalized banking experience.
• The World Bank provided a $1.5 billion loan in June 2024 to accelerate India's development of green hydrogen, a clean fuel made from renewable energy. This is the second round of funding for India's low-carbon transition, totaling $3 billion. The loan aims to create a green hydrogen market in India, reducing emissions in key sectors.
• Economy:
• In June 2024, the gross GST collection in India stood at ₹1.74 lakh crore, marking a 7.7% year-on-year growth. Notably, this growth rate is lower than the increases recorded in April and May
• The HSBC final India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 58.3 in June, indicating growth in the manufacturing sector. This surge was driven by robust demand, leading to the fastest rate of hiring in more than 19 years, despite elevated inflationary pressures.
• The interest rates on various small savings schemes for Q2FY25 (July 1, 2024, to September 30, 2024) remain unchanged from the previous quarter. For instance, the Public Provident Fund (PPF) and National Savings Certificate (NSC) continue to carry annual interest rates of 7.1% and 6.8%, respectively.
• Committees:
• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has formed a 26-member committee, led by Biswantah Goldar, to update the base year for national accounts. The aim is to align key economic indices with current economic trends. This includes potentially shifting from the current base year of 2011-12 to 2020-21 for indices like the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), Producer Price Index (PPI), and Consumer Price Index (CPI)
• Science & Technology:
• On July 1, 2024, the Space Exploration and Research Association (SERA) announced India as a partner country for its human spaceflight programme. This partnership aims to bolster India's human space exploration capabilities, complementing its Gaganyaan mission, which is set to send Indian astronauts into space by 2025.
• Japan launched the Earth observation satellite AOLS-4 on its new H3 rocket on July 1st, 2024. ALOS-4 offers greater observation capabilities than its predecessor and the successful launch marks a major step for the H3 rocket program. This mission strengthens Japan's Earth observation abilities and spacefaring ambitions.
• Apps & Portals:
• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh recently launched two advanced geoportals developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Bhuvan Panchayat (Ver. 4.0) portal focuses on rural land records, supporting “Space-based Information Support for Decentralized Planning (SISDP).” The National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM Ver. 5.0) portal aids in disaster risk reduction, covering India and neighboring countries.
• Sports:
• Viswanathan Anand won his 10th title at the Leon Masters Chess Championship on June 30, 2024. The tournament took place in León, Spain. Anand defeated Jaime Santos 3-1 in the final match, showcasing his exceptional skill and strategic mastery.
• George Russell secured a dramatic victory at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix, held on June 30th at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. The Mercedes driver capitalized on a collision between championship contenders Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, who were battling for the lead.
• Defence:
• The Indian Navy bid a poignant farewell to the UH-3H helicopter after 17 years of distinguished service. The de-induction ceremony took place at INS Dega in Visakhapatnam on June 28, 2024. Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Chief of Staff of the Eastern Naval Command, presided over the event.
• Adani Defence & Aerospace, the defence arm of the Adani Group, has signed an agreement with Thales Group to manufacture 70mm rockets in India. This strategic collaboration aligns with the Indian government’s “Make in India” initiative, aimed at enhancing self-reliance in defence production.
• Important Days:
• International Asteroid Day already happened this year on June 30th, 2024 It was the 10th anniversary of the international day of awareness about asteroids and their impact.
• The International Day of Parliamentarism was observed on June 30, 2024. The theme was "Parliamentary diplomacy: Building bridges for peace and understanding." It focused on parliaments' role in international cooperation and dialogue to promote peace.
• World UFO Day is celebrated on July 2nd every year. It's a day for people to get together and share their interest in unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and to ponder the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
• Appointments:
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Shri Arnab Kumar Chowdhury as Executive Director (ED), effective from June 3, 2024. Prior to this promotion, Shri Chowdhury served as the Chief General Manager-in-Charge in the Department of Supervision.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Smt. Charulatha S Kar as the new Executive Director (ED), effective from July 01, 2024. Before her promotion as ED, Smt. Kar served as the Chief General Manager-in-Charge in the Human Resource Management Department.
• Sujata Saunik, a senior IAS officer, has made history in Maharashtra by becoming the first woman Chief Secretary of the state. She took over the position, replacing Nitin Kareer, who retired on June 30th. With this appointment, Maharashtra now has women occupying both of its top bureaucratic posts.
• Books:
• Piyush Pandey's biography, "Manoj Bajpayee: The Definitive Biography," explores the life of the renowned Indian actor. Released on March 29, 2024, it traces Bajpayee's journey from his humble beginnings to stardom.
• Obituaries:
• Former Indian midfielder Bhupinder Singh Rawat passed away at the age of 85 after a brief illness. He was part of the Indian team that played in the 1969 Merdeka Cup in Malaysia.

Question:

1 What is the annual interest rate offered on the Public Provident Fund (PPF) for Q2FY25?

• A) 7.1%
• B) 6.8%
• C) 8.2%
• D) 7.7%

Answer: A) The Public Provident Fund (PPF) and National Savings Certificate (NSC) continue to carry annual interest rates of 7.1% and 6.8%, respectively.

2 Who recently made history in Maharashtra by becoming the state's first woman Chief Secretary?

• A) Nitin Kareer
• B) Sujata Saunik
• C) Bhagwan Sahai
• D) Ramesh Kumar

Answer: B) Sujata Saunik, a senior IAS officer, has made history in Maharashtra by becoming the first woman Chief Secretary of the state. She took over the position, replacing Nitin Kareer, who retired on June 30th.