Current Affairs One - Liner : 20th December 2024

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) successfully implemented a framework on December 11, 2024, ensuring the traceability of all commercial SMS. This initiative mandates the use of blockchain-based Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) for message transmission paths, enhancing transparency and reducing spam.

India partnered with France to set up the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum on December 19, 2024. This collaboration aims to transform New Delhi's historic North and South Blocks into a world-class museum celebrating India's 5,000-year history.
Masali Village in Gujarat's Banaskantha district became India's first solar border village on December 18, 2024. The village, located about 40 kilometers from the Pakistan border, achieved 100% solar power generation, providing more than enough electricity for its 800 residents.

On December 19, 2024, the RBI canceled the registration of Zavron Finance due to non-compliance with regulatory requirements. This action was taken to ensure financial stability and regulatory discipline within the financial sector.

The Ministry of Coal announced on December 19, 2024, that India's coal imports declined by 3.1% in FY 2024-25, reaching 149.39 million tonnes (MT) compared to 154.17 MT in the previous year. This decrease is attributed to an increase in domestic coal production.
India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) projected the Indian economy to grow by 6.6% in FY26. This forecast was announced on December 18, 2024 and is driven by investments and recovery from a recent cyclical slowdown.

China launched four PIESAT-2 remote-sensing satellites on December 17, 2024, from the Taiyuan Cosmodrome in Shanxi Province. These satellites, carried by the Changzheng-2D (Long March) launch vehicle, aim to enhance Earth's observation capabilities.

The District-Level Climate Risk Assessment for India: Mapping Flood and Drought Risks Using IPCC Framework was released by IIT Guwahati, in collaboration with IIT Mandi and CSTEP Bengaluru, on December 13, 2024. The report provides a detailed analysis of flood and drought risks across India's districts, aiding in disaster risk reduction and adaptation planning.

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 final was held on December 15, 2024, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Mumbai defeated Madhya Pradesh by five wickets to win their second title in this T20 cricket tournament.
Kiran Jadhav won the National 50m Rifle 3 Position title on December 18, 2024, at the 67th National Shooting Championship Competitions held at the Madhya Pradesh Academy Shooting Range in Bhopal. He defeated Olympians Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Swapnil Kusale to clinch the title.

On December 5, 2024, Bloomberg released its annual list, Bloomberg's World's Richest Families 2024. Topping the list is the Walton family from the United States, with an astounding net worth of USD 432.4 billion. Representing India, the Ambani family secured the 8th position, highlighting their significant wealth on a global scale.
Forbes released the 2024 World's 100 Most Powerful Women list on December 12, 2024. The list was topped by Ursula von der Leyen from the European Union, and Nirmala Sitharaman from India secured the 28th position.

On December 18, 2024, Arvind Kejriwal announced the Sanjeevani Yojana, a new health scheme for Delhi's elderly population. This initiative aims to provide free medical treatment to residents aged 60 and above in both government and private hospitals, with no upper limit on treatment costs.
The West Bengal Government launched the Banglar Bari housing scheme on December 17, 2024. This initiative aims to provide financial assistance for constructing permanent houses, benefitting over 28 lakh economically weaker sections. The first installment of ₹60,000 has been disbursed to 12 lakh families.

The Indian Army unveiled the AI Incubation Centre (IAAIIC) in Bengaluru on December 18, 2024. This initiative, led by Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, aims to foster innovation in military technology and enhance operational capabilities through AI-driven solutions.

UN Arabic Language Day was celebrated on December 18, 2024. This day honors the cultural, scientific, and historical contributions of the Arabic language. The theme for 2024 was "Arabic and Artificial Intelligence: Stimulating Innovation and Preserving Cultural Heritage".

Dr. Shankar Prasad Sharma was reappointed as Nepal's Ambassador to India on December 18, 2024. His previous term was from March 2022 to July 2024. Dr. Netra Prasad Timsina was also appointed as the Resident Ambassador of Nepal to Malaysia.
Salman Khan was named the brand ambassador for the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025 on December 18, 2024. The event will be held in New Delhi from January 13 to 19, 2025. Salman Khan expressed his excitement, highlighting the sport's dynamic nature and global appeal.

The Sahitya Akademi Awards 2024 were announced on December 18, 2024. The awards honor 21 writers and poets from various Indian languages for their exceptional works in categories such as novels, poetry, short stories, essays, plays, and literary criticism. Notable winners include Hindi poet Gagan Gill for her poetry book Main Jab Tak Aai Bahar and English author Easterine Kire for her novel Spirit Nights.
Chennai-born Caitlin Sandra Neil was crowned Miss India USA 2024 on December 15, 2024, in New Jersey. Caitlin, a 19-year-old student at the University of California, Davis, aims to focus on women's empowerment and literacy.
Indian educationist Arun Kapur was conferred Bhutan's royal honor, the Bura Marp (red scarf) and Patang (ceremonial sword), by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel on December 17, 2024, during the 117th Bhutanese National Day celebrations in Thimphu.
Renowned tabla maestro Pt. Swapan Choudhary was awarded the 2023 National Tansen Samman on December 18, 2024. The award ceremony took place during the Tansen Sangeet Samaroh in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

Om Prakash Chautala, former Chief Minister of Haryana, passed away at the age of 89 on December 20, 2024. He succumbed to a cardiac arrest at his residence in Gurugram.
Meena Ganesh passed away on December 19, 2024, at the age of 81. She was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Ottappalam, Kerala, after suffering a stroke. Meena Ganesh was a prolific Malayalam actress and theatre artist.

Questions:

1 Who won the National 50m Rifle 3 Position title at the 67th National Shooting Championship Competitions held in December 2024?

2 Who was named the brand ambassador for the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup 2025?