Current Affairs One - Liner : 9th July 2024

The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) has been designated the nodal ministry for the Haj Committee of India. This means that MoMA will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating the activities related to the annual Haj pilgrimage, which is a significant event for the Muslim community in India.

The government reopened application for PLI scheme for ACs and LED lights. This aims to boost domestic manufacturing of these products. The application window is open from July 15, 2024 to October 12, 2024.
The Union Cabinet approved India’s signing of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement on July 2, 2024. This agreement aims to conserve and sustainably utilize marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, commonly known as the ‘High Seas.’

Punjab National Bank (PNB) has launched the “Safety Ring” feature within its internet and mobile banking systems to bolster security against cyber frauds. This optional feature empowers customers to set daily term deposit (TDs) transaction limits.
SBI Research recommends that the Indian government target a fiscal deficit of 4.9% for the financial year 2024-25. This prudent approach balances fiscal consolidation with growth promotion. The government intends to bring the fiscal deficit below 4.5% of GDP by the fiscal year 2025-26.

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have made an exciting discovery: a new horned frog species in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tale Wildlife Sanctuary. This forest-dwelling frog, previously misidentified as the Maoson horned frog, has been newly described as Xenophrys apatani.

On July 8, 2024! The Indian Navy inaugurated an Artificial Intelligence Experience Hub at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam. The aim is to familiarize personnel with AI tools and applications and explore its potential use cases across various naval domains.
The Indo-Russian Joint Venture (JV) IRRPL has successfully delivered 35,000 AK-203 rifles to the Indian Army. These rifles are part of an effort to modernize and enhance the Indian Army’s capabilities. The AK-203 is a variant of the iconic AK-47 rifle, designed for accuracy, reliability, and ease of use.

On July 7, 2024, the world celebrated the 3rd World Kiswahili Language Day at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. This year’s theme was “Kiswahili: Education and Culture of Peace.” Kiswahili, widely spoken in sub-Saharan Africa, plays a crucial role in promoting understanding and harmony across cultures.

Rachel Reeves, born on February 13, 1979, has made history by becoming the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer in the United Kingdom. She assumed this role in July 2024, marking a significant milestone for gender representation in politics.
Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the Head Coach of the Indian Men’s Cricket Team. He will take over from Rahul Dravid, whose tenure concluded after the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024. Gambhir’s role will commence with the upcoming away series against Sri Lanka, featuring 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is starting on July 27, 2024.
The Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) board announced leadership changes on July 5, 2024. Satyanarayan Goel (SN Goel) was reappointed Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) for a new three-year term starting August 10th, as his previous term as MD neared its end due to age regulations. Rohit Bajaj was also promoted to Joint Managing Director for a three-year term starting the same date

Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCLTech, was conferred the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) by France on July 8, 2024. This prestigious award recognizes her contributions to the business world, and her efforts to promote economic ties between France and India.
Dr. Arpit Chopra was honored with the Excellence Award for his outstanding work in homeopathy during the MSMES summit organized by NDTV in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The award ceremony took place at the Marriott Hotel in Bhopal on July 6, 2024.

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt. General KT Parnaik recently launched a book titled “Kargil War: The Turning Point” at the Rajendra Singhji Army Officers Institute (RSAOI) in Bengaluru. The book, authored by the late Col M B Ravindranath, Vir Chakra (VrC), provides detailed insights into the Indian Army’s operations during Operation Vijay in 1999.

Gajinder Singh Khalsa, the founder of Dal Khalsa, reportedly passed away in Pakistan on July 3, 2024, after a brief illness. He was 74 years old. Khalsa was one of the five men who hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-423 in 1981.

Questions:

1 Who has been appointed as the new Head Coach of the Indian men’s cricket team?

2 Who is the author of the book "Kargil War: The Turning Point"?