Daily Current Affairs 16th July 2024, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

National News

Amit Shah Inaugurates ‘PM College Of Excellence

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, inaugurated the Pradhan Mantri Colleges of Excellence in all 55 districts of Madhya Pradesh from Indore on July 14. The event saw the presence of many dignitaries, including the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Mohan Yadav, and Union Minister Smt. Savitri Thakur.

All-India Institute of Ayurveda Successfully Hosts ‘Saushrutam 2024’

The All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi successfully concluded its Second National Seminar, SAUSHRUTAM Shalya Sangoshti, on July 15, 2024. The three-day event, which began on July 13, celebrated Sushruta Jayanti with live surgical demonstrations and expert discussions, honoring Sushruta, the father of surgery.

BRIC-THSTI Hosts SYNCHN 2024 Industry Meet

The Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), under the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), hosted SYNCHN 2024 on July 14, 2024. The event aimed to strengthen collaborations between academia and industry in the NCR Biotech Cluster, focusing on biomanufacturing and bio-innovation.

India Launches First National Toll-Free Anti-Narcotics Helpline

India is set to launch its first national toll-free anti-narcotics helpline, ‘1933’, along with an email service named MANAS (Madak Padarth Nisedh Asuchna Kendra). The helpline will be launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the seventh Narco-Coordination Centre meeting on July 18. It aims to provide a user-friendly platform for citizens to report drug-related crimes and seek assistance 24/7.

International News

Philippines Selected To Host The Board Of The Fund For Responding To Loss And Damage

The Philippines has been chosen to host the board of the “Loss and Damage” fund created by U.N. talks. This marks a significant step towards providing financial help for countries to recover and rebuild from the impact of global warming. Last month, the World Bank’s board approved a plan for the bank to act as interim host of the fund for four years.

Global Conference on Space Research in Busan, South Korea

The 45th Scientific Assembly of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) commenced in Busan, South Korea. This milestone event in space exploration, hosted for the first time by South Korea, gathered 3,000 scientists and industry leaders from 60 nations.

States News

Himachal Cabinet Approves Plan To Rationalise Provisions Of Zero Electricity Bill For Domestic Users

The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet approved a plan on July 12 to rationalize the provisions for zero electricity bills for domestic consumers. The subsidy will be restricted to ‘one family, one meter’ and power connections will be interlinked with ration cards.

Uttarakhand Opens Its First-Ever Bird Gallery In Dehradun

The research wing of the Uttarakhand Forest Department established the state’s first bird gallery at the Nature Education Centre, Jolly Grant, in Dehradun on July 15. The gallery showcases high-resolution images of Uttarakhand’s birds, offering visitors an eye-catching display of the state’s avian inhabitants.

Mamata Banerjee Reinstates Senior IPS Officer Rajeev Kumar As West Bengal DGP

On July 15, the West Bengal government reinstated senior IPS officer Rajeev Kumar as the Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal. He replaces Sanjoy Mukherjee, who was appointed the State’s DGP by the Election Commission of India during the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls.

Economy News

India’s Trade Performance: June 2024 and April-June 2024 Overview

In June 2024, India’s total exports (merchandise and services combined) reached an estimated USD 65.47 billion, marking a 5.40% increase from June 2023. Total imports for the month were estimated at USD 73.47 billion, a 6.29% rise compared to the same period last year. For the April-June 2024 quarter, total exports were estimated at USD 200.33 billion, reflecting an 8.60% growth, while total imports stood at USD 222.89 billion, up 8.47% from the previous year. The merchandise trade deficit for the quarter increased to USD 62.26 billion from USD 56.16 billion in April-June 2023.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) in India for June 2024, based on the 2011-12 base year

In June 2024, India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI) showed a provisional annual inflation rate of 3.36% compared to June 2023. This was driven by increased prices in food articles, manufactured food products, crude petroleum & natural gas, mineral oils, and other manufacturing sectors. The overall WPI for all commodities rose to 153.9 (base year 2011-12=100), marking a month-on-month increase of 0.39% from May 2024.

Summits and Conferences News

ICC Annual Conference 2024, A Landmark Event for Sri Lankan Cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to make history by holding its Annual Conference in Sri Lanka from July 19th to 22nd, 2024. This marks the first time the prestigious event will be hosted in the Asian region, highlighting the growing importance of Asian cricket on the global stage.

World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2024

India is hosting the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting for the first time, alongside the 2024 World Heritage Young Professionals Forum in New Delhi. From July 14 to 23, young professionals from around the world will gather to enhance their skills in heritage preservation and sustainable development. The forum, organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India, focuses on integrating global heritage concepts with local Indian heritage management.

India To Host 2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference On Civil Aviation

India is set to host the second Asia Pacific ministerial conference on civil aviation on September 11 and 12. Representatives from around 40 countries, including China and Pakistan, will attend. The Asia Pacific region is a significant contributor to global air traffic, and India is the world’s fastest-growing aviation market.

Sports News

Thomas Muller Retires from International Football

Thomas Müller, the German football icon, has announced his retirement from international football following the conclusion of Euro 2024. This decision marks the end of an illustrious international career that has spanned over a decade, leaving a lasting impact on German and world football.

Schemes News

ICAR To Launch ‘One Scientist, One Product’ Scheme

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is set to unveil a groundbreaking initiative called the ‘One Scientist-One Product’ programme on July 16. This initiative promises to revolutionize agricultural and animal husbandry research in India, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s commitment to advancing agricultural science and technology.

Important Days

ICAR Foundation and Technology Day 2024

The 96th Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Foundation and Technology Day is observed on 16th July at the Dr. C. Subramaniam Auditorium, NASC Complex, New Delhi. Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, led the inauguration.

Miscellaneous News

‘World’s First’ 3D-Printed Electric Abra Begins Trial Voyage In Dubai

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched the trial operation of the world’s first electric abra manufactured using 3D printing technology, in collaboration with the private sector. The abra, which can carry 20 passengers, was designed and built to retain the traditional abra identity.