Current Affairs 29 August 2024

5th Anniversary of Jal Jeevan Mission

On 15th August 2024, India celebrated the 5th anniversary of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), a flagship scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15th August 2019. This initiative, implemented by the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, aims to provide clean drinking water to every household. As of 12th August 2024, the mission has successfully provided tap water connections to 11.82 crore additional rural households, increasing the total coverage to 15.07 crore households, which is 77.98% of all rural households in India. Additionally, 188 districts, 1,838 blocks, 1,09,996 Gram Panchayats, and 2,33,209 villages have achieved the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ status.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana Completes 10 Years

The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), launched on 28th August 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has completed a decade of successful implementation. This financial inclusion initiative has integrated 53.13 crore people into the formal banking system as of 14th August 2024. Notably, 55.6% of the account holders are women, and 66.6% of the accounts are in rural or semi-urban areas.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Inaugurates Shooting Range

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurated a 10-meter air pistol shooting range at Jiwaji Club in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, named after Indian shooter Manu Bhaker. Bhaker, who won two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is the first Indian athlete post-independence to win two medals in the same Olympics. The new facility honors her achievements and is equipped with standardized features for competitive air pistol shooting events.

ICAR-CIFE and VAMNICOM Sign MoU

On 26th August 2024, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (ICAR-CIFE) and the Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperative management in the fisheries sector. This partnership aims to promote advanced technology and value addition in fishery cooperatives, supporting 14.46 million livelihoods in India.

Spices Board Launches SPICED Scheme

The Spices Board of India has launched the SPICED scheme, aimed at boosting spice exports and productivity with a budget of Rs 422.30 crore. The scheme will be implemented until FY2025-26 and focuses on value addition, clean and safe spices, and promoting GI-tagged spices. It also supports entrepreneurship through Spice Incubation Centres and targets farmer groups for post-harvest improvements.

MoRD Signs MoU with MicroSave

The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has signed an MoU with MicroSave Consulting to optimize the utilization of Community Investment Funds (CIF) and enhance the sustainability of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). This partnership aims to transform selected Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) into microcredit institutions, providing efficient financial services to Self Help Group (SHG) members.

Yes Bank Partners with Newtap Finance

Yes Bank has partnered with Newtap Finance to offer personalized financing solutions on the CRED platform. This collaboration aims to provide competitive rates and a superior digital experience to CRED members, aligning with Yes Bank’s strategy of fostering fintech partnerships.

HDFC Bank Ties Up with Zeta

HDFC Bank has partnered with Zeta to power its Credit Line on UPI (CLOU) offerings. This partnership will enable HDFC Bank to launch innovative credit products on the UPI platform, facilitating easier credit access for individuals and businesses.

RBI Cancels Registration of Margdarshak Financial Services

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has canceled the registration of Margdarshak Financial Services due to high net Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) and repayment defaults. The company failed to maintain the required financial standards and defaulted on significant repayments.

PayU Partners with Amazon Pay Later

PayU has partnered with Amazon Pay Later to offer instant digital credit to Indian shoppers. This integration aims to democratize access to quick online credit, enhancing customer loyalty and increasing transaction sizes for businesses.

Gujarat Replaces UP as Top Investment Destination

According to an RBI study, Gujarat has replaced Uttar Pradesh as the top investment destination in FY24. Gujarat received funds for 154 projects, accounting for 14.7% of the total projects financed by banks and financial institutions. The infrastructure sector, particularly ‘Roads & Bridges’ and ‘Power,’ attracted the most investment.

Jay Shah Becomes Youngest ICC Chairman

Jay Shah, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has been elected as the youngest-ever Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) at the age of 35. He will succeed Greg Barclay and will leave his current position as BCCI Secretary.

Satish Kumar Appointed Chairman and CEO of Railway Board

Satish Kumar has been appointed as the Chairman and CEO of the Indian Railway Board, becoming the first person from the Scheduled Castes community to hold this position. He will assume charge on 1st September 2024, succeeding Jaya Varma Sinha.

ISRO’s SAC Signs MoU with AlphaMERS

ISRO’s Space Applications Centre (SAC) has signed an MoU with AlphaMERS to develop an AI model to detect and profile marine pollution in India’s coastal waters. This partnership aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of identifying pollutants using remote sensing technology.

Axiom Space & Nokia Partner for 4G Technology in Lunar Spacesuits

Axiom Space has partnered with Nokia to integrate 4G/LTE technology into their next-generation spacesuits for NASA’s Artemis III lunar mission. This will enhance space exploration by allowing real-time HD video transmission from the lunar surface to Earth.

New Plant Species Discovered in Maharashtra

Three botany professors from Nagpur have discovered a new species of the Cleistanthus Collinus plant, named ‘Cleistanthus Deekshabhoomiana,’ in the Ambagad forest, Bhandara district, Maharashtra. This plant acts as a natural biopesticide and has unique features like red fruits and branches.

India Wins Silver in Maruhaba Cup at Asian Surfing Championships

The Indian surfing team won the silver medal at the Maruhaba Cup during the Asian Surfing Championships 2024 in the Maldives. This achievement secured India’s first-ever surfing spots for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.