Current Affairs One - Liner : 29th August 2024

The Jal Jeevan Mission celebrates its 5th anniversary, having increased tap water coverage from 3.23 crore to around 15 crore households. Eight states and three Union Territories have achieved 100% coverage. Despite significant progress, challenges like state disparities and water quality concerns remain. The mission has also empowered women through active participation in water management.

The Himachal Pradesh government recently amended the Himachal Pradesh Registration of Marriages (Amendment) Bill, 2024, raising the minimum legal age for marriage for women from 18 to 21 years. This move aims to promote women’s health, education, and overall well-being.
On August 28, 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the establishment of twelve new Greenfield industrial smart cities as part of the National Industrial Corridor Development Program. These cities aim to boost industrial growth, create job opportunities, and enhance infrastructure with smart technologies.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved three significant railway projects under the Ministry of Railways on August 29, 2024. These projects, with a total estimated cost of approximately ₹6,456 crore, are expected to be completed by the fiscal year 2028-29.
The Union Cabinet has approved ₹4,136 crore to support equity participation in hydropower projects across northeastern states. This initiative aims to develop 15,000 MW of hydroelectric capacity over the next eight years. The central assistance will cover up to 24% equity stake in joint ventures, with implementation between FY25-32 under the power ministry’s budgetary support.

On August 27, 2024, Yes Bank partnered with Newtap Finance to offer various financing solutions. This collaboration aims to enhance financial accessibility and provide innovative lending options to customers. The partnership is expected to leverage both institutions’ strengths to deliver tailored financial products.
PayU has partnered with Amazon Pay Later to offer instant digital credit to Indian shoppers. This integration aims to bridge India’s credit gap by providing flexible credit options at checkout, enhancing the shopping experience. It also helps merchants boost their revenues by offering more payment flexibility to customers.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the registration of Margdarshak Financial Services Ltd. on August 28, 2024. This decision was due to the company’s high net non-performing assets (NPAs) and defaults on repayment to lenders. Margdarshak Financial Services failed to maintain the required funds and capital ratio, raising concerns about its operational viability.
On 29th August 2024, The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) has recently secured an international credit rating from S&P Global Ratings. With a stable outlook, S&P assigned IREDA a ‘BBB-’ long-term and ‘A-3’ short-term issuer credit rating. This rating is expected to significantly boost IREDA’s ability to access international markets and secure funds at competitive rates.

Axiom Space has partnered with Nokia to integrate 4G/LTE communication capabilities into NASA’s next-generation lunar spacesuits. This collaboration aims to enhance real-time communication between astronauts on the Moon and mission control on Earth. The spacesuit’s Portable Life Support System (PLSS) will incorporate high-speed 4G/LTE network capability, allowing crewmembers to capture video and communicate while exploring the lunar surface.
In August 2024, three botany professors made an exciting discovery in the Ambagad forest of Maharashtra’s Bhandara district. They found a new species of the Cleistanthus Collinus plant, which they named Cleistanthus Deekshabhoomiana. This discovery marks the 135th species of Cleistanthus Collinus globally and the 9th found in India.
Researchers have initiated the world’s first-ever lung cancer vaccine trial, known as BNT116. This early phase I trial is taking place across 34 research sites in seven countries: Germany, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, Spain, the UK, and the US. The vaccine, developed by the German biotechnology company BioNTech, utilizes messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, similar to Covid-19 vaccines.

A joint technical committee has been formed to investigate the damage to the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Sindhudurg. This committee is led by the Indian Navy and includes representatives from the Maharashtra government and technical experts. The statue, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4, 2023, during Navy Day celebrations, was damaged due to exceptional weather conditions.

On 29th August 2024, Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Annapurna Devi, launched the new SHe-Box portal to enhance workplace safety for women. This platform allows women to register and track complaints of sexual harassment, ensuring timely processing by Internal and Local Committees across sectors. The initiative aims to create a safer and more inclusive working environment for women.

Karthik Venkataraman secured his second Indian National Chess Championship title by winning the 61st edition of the tournament. The event took place in Haryana, India, and Karthik emerged victorious on August 28, 2024, with an impressive score of 9 out of 11 points.
On August 26, 2024, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurated a 10m air pistol shooting range in Gwalior, naming it after double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker. Manu Bhaker made history at the Paris Olympics by becoming the first Indian athlete to win two medals at the same Olympics.
Dawid Malan has retired from international cricket at 36. He had a notable career, being one of only two England players to score a century in all three formats. Malan played 22 Tests, 30 ODIs, and 62 T20Is, and was once the world’s number one T20I batter. He expressed gratitude for his journey since debuting in 2017.

India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Arighat, was commissioned on August 29, 2024, in Visakhapatnam. Armed with indigenously made K-15 missiles, INS Arighat strengthens India’s naval defense strategy and enhances its nuclear deterrence capability.

Vice Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar assumed duties as the Director General of Project Seabird on August 28, 2024. Project Seabird is a naval infrastructure project located in Karwar, Karnataka, India. It serves as a strategic base for the Indian Navy and plays a crucial role in enhancing maritime security and operational capabilities in the region.
Subhasri has been appointed as the Managing Director and CEO of Shriram Capital, effective from September 1, 2024. She has a long history with the Shriram Group, having joined in 1991 as an officer in the NBFC business. Previously, she served as the executive director and CFO of Shriram City Union Finance (now Shriram Finance) before taking on this new role.

Questions:

1 Who won the 61st Indian National Chess Championship in 2024?

2 What international credit rating did IREDA receive from S&P Global Ratings for its long-term issuer credit?