Current Affairs One - Liner : 7th August 2024

The Indian government has recently declared Adichunchanagiri in Karnataka and Choolannuar in Kerala as new peacock sanctuaries. This initiative, announced by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Mr. Bhupender Yadav, aims to protect the national bird, the peacock, and its habitat.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has received its first-ever order for demonstrating methanol firing in a gas turbine at the 350 MW Kayamkulam Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) of NTPC in Kerala. This project is significant as it marks the first such demonstration in India and aims to revive unutilized gas turbine sets that are currently inoperative due to the unavailability of natural gas and naphtha.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on 5th August 2024, announced `18,000 crore expenditure on setting up 100 export-oriented horticulture clusters in the next five years to boost farm income and said that he will meet all state ministers, irrespective of party, to resolve farmers’ issues as central schemes cannot be implemented without the states.
Hariyali Teej, celebrated on August 7th this year, is a significant festival for married Hindu women in North India. This festival is dedicated to the divine union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Women observe strict fasts, often refraining from food and water, to pray for the well-being and longevity of their husbands.

J&K Bank launched the “Kisan Ka Samman” initiative to honor and empower farmers in Jammu & Kashmir. This program, running until September 30, 2024, includes certificates of appreciation, additional loan products under the “Kisan Dost” scheme, and awareness campaigns about the Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI) under Kisan Credit Cards (KCC).
The Carlyle Group, through its entity Quality Investment Holdings, recently sold a 12.8% stake in PNB Housing Finance for approximately Rs 2,578 crore. This transaction involved the sale of 16.63 million shares at a price of around Rs 775 per share.
SBI plans to raise Rs 25,000 crore by issuing Tier-1 and Tier-2 bonds. This move aims to bolster the bank's capital reserves, enabling it to support loan growth, expand operations, and maintain financial stability. The funds will be raised in both Indian Rupees and US Dollars, subject to government approval.

The bill, titled Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 5, 2024. This bill aims to provide reservation for Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Goa Legislative Assembly by readjusting the assembly constituencies based on the revised population figures of STs.

China has successfully launched the first batch of 18 satellites for its “Thousand Sails” megaconstellation. The launch took place on August 6, 2024, from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province. These satellites, part of a larger plan to deploy 14,000 satellites, aim to provide global internet coverage.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren launched the ‘Upasthiti Portal’ on August 7, 2024. The portal is designed to monitor and ensure the attendance of healthcare staff in the state, aiming to improve the delivery and efficiency of healthcare services.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud launched the e-DHCR (Delhi High Court Reporting) portal, a digital platform for reporting and accessing judgments of the Delhi High Court. This initiative is aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency, and accessibility in the judicial system by providing easy access to court judgments.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has granted clearance to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for the production of 200 Astra Mark-1 air-to-air missiles. These missiles, developed by DRDO, will be integrated with the Su-30 and LCA Tejas fighter jets.

Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera assumed charge as the Director General (DG) of Assam Rifles on August 7, 2024. Assam Rifles is one of the oldest paramilitary forces in India, and the DG is responsible for overseeing its operations and administration.
Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik was appointed as the league ambassador for the SA20 on 5th August 2024. This strategic move aims to enhance the league's global reach, particularly in India where Karthik enjoys immense popularity.
The government has appointed Challa Sreenivasulu Setty as the new Chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI) for a period of three years. Setty, who is currently the senior-most Managing Director at SBI, will take over from Dinesh Kumar Khara on August 28, 2024. Additionally, Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh has been appointed as a Managing Director of SBI
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government. This decision follows the resignation and departure of long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid a mass uprising led primarily by students.

Renowned social worker and Padma Bhushan awardee, Shobhana Ranade, passed away on August 4, 2024. A staunch Gandhian, she dedicated her life to serving the underprivileged, especially women and children.

Questions:

1 Who has been appointed as the new Chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI)?

2 What is the primary purpose of the e-DHCR portal launched by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud?