- National:
- The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) launched the One DAE One Subscription (ODOS) on July 29, 2024. This initiative provides all DAE units with access to national and international research papers and journals under a single subscription.
.png "Current Affairs One - Liner : 30th July 2024")
- On July 29, 2024, Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, inaugurated the Ideas4LiFE initiative at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. This platform encourages innovative ideas related to products and services that promote environmentally friendly lifestyles.
- After a hiatus of 34 years, the Asia Cup is set to return to India in 2025. The tournament will feature a T20 format with six teams: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and a sixth team emerging from a qualifying event.
- Banking:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has selected five firms for its fifth cohort of the Regulatory Sandbox, focusing on a "neutral" theme. This initiative allows fintech companies to test innovative financial products and services in a controlled environment. The selected firms, including Connectingdot Consultancy, Epifi Technologies, Finagg Technologies, Indian Banks' Digital Infrastructure Company, and Signzy Technologies.
- The RBI has imposed monetary penalties on three payment system operators. Visa Worldwide Pte Limited was fined ₹2.4 crore for implementing a payment authentication solution without regulatory clearance. Manappuram Finance Limited faced a penalty of ₹41.5 lakh for non-compliance with KYC norms, while Ola Financial Services was fined ₹87.55 lakh in two separate cases related to KYC requirements.
- HSBC Mutual Fund has recently launched the Apne #SIPKoDoPromotion campaign. This digital initiative aims to raise awareness and educate investors about SIP Top-Up and its role in long-term wealth creation.
- Aditya Birla Group has made a significant foray into the branded jewellery retail business by launching a new brand called “Indriya.” With an investment of ₹5,000 crore, this venture aims to be among the top three national players in the next five years. The initial plan includes opening four stores in Delhi, Jaipur, and Indore on July 27, with further expansion to 11 cities within the next six months.
- Economy:
- In June 2024, Indian engineering exports surged by 10.27% year-on-year, reaching $9.39 billion. This growth was driven by increased shipments of electrical machinery, motor vehicles, iron and steel products, auto components, and industrial machinery.
- MoUs:
- The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has taken a significant step to enhance India’s defense capabilities. On July 30, 2024, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Lucknow, with the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) to establish three state-of-the-art testing facilities within the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC).
- Science & Technology:
- IN-SPACe has authorized Azista BST Aerospace Private Limited in Hyderabad to operate a ground station for satellite tracking. This facility will support Azista BST’s satellites and provide Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS) for Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&C) operations and data reception from remote sensing satellites for both Indian and international customers.
- Reports:
- According to the World Tariff Profiles (WTP) 2024 report released by the World Trade Organization (WTO), India ranked as the second-largest user of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) among WTO members in 2023. These NTMs primarily include the initiation and imposition of anti-dumping duties. India’s average tariffs decreased to 17% in 2023 from 18.1% in 2022. Trade-weighted average tariffs increased to 12% in 2023 from 11.4% in 2022.
- Sports:
- Rohan Bopanna, the Indian tennis icon and a veteran of three Olympic Games, has announced his retirement from the national team following a first-round exit in the men’s doubles event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He stated, “This will go down as my last event for the country.” Despite retiring from national duties, the 44-year-old Bopanna plans to continue competing on the ATP circuit.
- Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes won the Formula 1 Rolex Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, July 28, 2024, at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Stavelot, Belgium. Initially, his teammate George Russell crossed the finish line first but was later disqualified due to an underweight car, handing the victory to Hamilton.
- Jiya Rai, a remarkable 16-year-old from Mumbai, has achieved an extraordinary feat. She became the world’s youngest and fastest para swimmer to cross the English Channel. On July 28-29, she swam from Abbot’s Cliff in England to Pointe de la Courte-Dune in France, covering a distance of 34 kilometers in an impressive time of 17 hours and 25 minutes.
- Defence:
- The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) met on July 29, 2024, chaired by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh. During this meeting, they considered various capital acquisition proposals. Notably, they approved the procurement of the Advanced Land Navigation System (ALNS) for Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) of the Indian Army.
- Appointments:
- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has secured his third term in office, winning with 51% of the vote. The country’s electoral authority declared Maduro the winner despite exit polls suggesting an opposition victory.
- Awards & Honours:
- The Central Water Commission (CWC) has been honored with the GEEF Global WaterTech Award in the category of ‘Water Department of the Year’ at the prestigious Global Water Tech Summit 2024, held in New Delhi.
- Books:
- “Breaking Rocks and Barriers: Memoirs of a Geologist and Mountaineer” is a captivating book by Sudipta Sengupta, published by HarperCollins India. In this memoir, Sudipta shares her remarkable adventures as a geologist and mountaineer, spanning remote areas across the world.
Questions:
1 According to the World Tariff Profiles (WTP) 2024 report, which country ranked as the second-largest user of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) among WTO members in 2023?
- A) China
- B) India
- C) Brazil
- D) United States
2 Which organization was honored with the GEEF Global WaterTech Award in the category of ‘Water Department of the Year’?
- A) Central Water Commission (CWC)
- B) National Water Development Agency (NWDA)
- C) Ministry of Water Resources
- D) Water Resources Department
