Current Affairs One - Liner : 27th December 2024

On December 27, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed over 50 lakh property cards under the SVAMITVA Scheme. This initiative benefits property owners in over 46,000 villages across 10 states and 2 Union Territories. The scheme aims to provide legal property titles to rural residents using drone and GIS technology.

On December 25, 2024, Punjab became the fifth state in India to achieve 100% piped water supply to rural households under the 'Har Ghar Jal' scheme. This milestone ensures clean drinking water access for all rural families in the state, significantly improving sanitation and quality of life.

On December 25, 2024, China approved the construction of the world's largest dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet. The project, estimated to cost $137 billion, will be built at a gorge where the river forms a U-turn before entering Arunachal Pradesh. This decision has raised concerns in India and Bangladesh about potential impacts on water flow and regional stability.
On December 25, 2024, President Joe Biden signed a law officially declaring the bald eagle as the national bird of the United States, correcting an oversight that lasted nearly 250 years. The bald eagle has long been a symbol of America's freedom and strength.

New and small businesses can now obtain GST registration within 3 working days. This streamlined process aims to facilitate easier and faster access to GST, supporting the growth and compliance of emerging enterprises.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lifted business restrictions on ECL Finance and Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC) on December 17, 2024. The restrictions, initially imposed in May 2024, were lifted after the companies implemented necessary remedial measures

On December 26, 2024, the Finance Ministry announced a 6.5% economic growth forecast for India for the fiscal year 2024-25. This projection is based on resilient domestic demand despite global uncertainties.

On December 19, 2024, the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Manipur signed an MoU in Lucknow to implement the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' programme. The initiative aims to enhance interaction and promote mutual understanding between the people of the two states through cultural exchanges.

On December 18, 2024, Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong set a new world record for the longest spacewalk, spending over nine hours outside the Tiangong space station. They broke the previous record of eight hours and 56 minutes, held by NASA astronauts since 2001.

India announced on December 15, 2024 that it will host its first-ever World Athletics Continental Tour event in Bhubaneswar on August 10, 2025. This bronze-level competition will bring international athletics back to India after decades.
Maheshwari Chauhan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka clinched the skeet mixed team national title at the 67th National Shooting Championship Competitions held at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi on December 25, 2024.

On December 17, 2024, Udupi Cochin Shipyard Limited (UCSL) launched the inaugural vessel of a series of six 3800 TDW General Cargo Vessels for Wilson ASA, a Norwegian short sea fleet operator. This marks a significant milestone for UCSL and supports the Atma Nirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.

On December 9, 2024, SEBI launched the official website for the Association of Registered Research Analysts of India (ARRAI). This platform aims to build a collaborative community among research analysts, promote best practices, and enhance investor trust.

On December 26, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 45th PRAGATI Meeting. The PRAGATI platform consists of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Union government secretaries, and chief secretaries of the states. The aim is to enhance governance, ensure timely project execution, and address public grievances.
On December 27, 2024, the 16th meeting of the Town Official Language Implementation Committee - TOLIC (PSU) was conducted at RINL, Visakhapatnam. The committee consists of representatives from various PSUs and is chaired by the CMD of RINL. The meeting aimed to review the progress of official language implementation and promote the use of Hindi in office work.
On December 26, 2024, the RBI announced an eight-member panel to develop a framework for the ethical use of AI in the financial sector. The panel, chaired by Professor Pushpak Bhattacharyya from IIT Bombay, aims to assess AI adoption, identify risks, and recommend mitigation strategies for financial institutions.

On December 27, 2024, Dr. Sandip Shah was appointed as the Chairperson of the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI).

On December 21, 2024, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw conferred the 69th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar 2024 to 101 railway officials at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
President Droupadi Murmu conferred the PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar on 26th December 2024 to 17 exceptional children. Notable awardees include Aaditya Vijay Bramhane (Bravery), Anushka Pathak (Art & Culture), Suhani Chauhan (Innovation), and Aryan Singh (Science & Technology).

Osamu Suzuki, former chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation, passed away on December 25, 2024, at the age of 94 due to malignant lymphoma. He was renowned for expanding Suzuki's presence in India through Maruti Suzuki.

Questions:

1. Who was appointed as the Chairperson of the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) on December 27, 2024?

2 What is the full form of ARRAI, for which SEBI launched an official website on December 9, 2024?