Current Affairs 30 July 2024

Government Launched Vaccination Portal ‘U-WIN’ For Pregnant Women & Children

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has introduced an online vaccine management portal called ‘U-WIN’. This portal is designed to record every vaccination of pregnant women and children up to 6 years old under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). The aim is to maintain an electronic registry of routine immunizations. The U-WIN portal is a digital version of the COVID-19 vaccine management system Co-WIN and is part of the government’s 100-day health agenda.

IN-SPACe Granted Authorisation to Azista BST to Set Up Satellite Tracking Facility in Hyderabad

On 26th July 2024, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) authorized Azista BST Aerospace Private Limited to establish a ground station in Hyderabad, Telangana. This facility will operate in the Ultra High-Frequency (UHF) bands and will support Azista BST’s own satellites. It will also offer Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS) for Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&C) operations and data reception from remote sensing satellites to both Indian and international customers. The ground station will operate in the UHF band of 300 MegaHertz (MHz) to 3 GigaHertz (GHz), which is mainly used for satellite communications.

Overview of EAM Jaishankar’s Visit to Vientiane, Laos from 25-27 July 2024

Union Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, was on a 3-day official visit to Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) from 25th to 27th July 2024. During his visit, he attended the 57th ASEAN-Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) chaired by Lao PDR under the theme “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”. On 26th July, he and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei jointly launched a logo celebrating 40 years of diplomatic relations between India and Brunei. On 27th July, he held a bilateral meeting with Saleumxay Kommasith, the foreign minister of Lao PDR, and jointly released a special commemorative postage stamp set featuring Lord Ram Lalla of Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

3 Indian Destinations Listed in TIME’s ‘World’s Greatest Places of 2024’

TIME’s ‘The World’s Greatest Places of 2024’ featured three Indian destinations: the Museum of Solutions (MuSo) in Mumbai, Maharashtra; Manam Chocolate, a chocolate factory in Hyderabad, Telangana; and Naar, a restaurant in Himachal Pradesh. The 2024 list recognized 100 extraordinary destinations to visit and stay, including hotels, cruises, restaurants, attractions, museums, and parks from across the globe. The three Indian destinations were listed under the ‘Place to Visit’ category.

India is 2nd Largest User of Non-Tariff Measures in 2023: WTO-UNCTAD WTP 2024

On July 27, 2024, the World Trade Organization (WTO), in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), released the ‘World Tariff Profiles (WTP) 2024’ report in Geneva, Switzerland. According to the report, India ranked as the second-largest user of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) among WTO members in 2023, primarily through the initiation and imposition of anti-dumping duties. The United States of America (USA) took the first position. NTMs are policies, other than regular customs tariffs, that affect international trade in goods by altering traded quantities, prices, or both. India’s average tariffs decreased to 17% in 2023 from 18.1% in 2022.

Exercise Khaan Quest 2024 Initiated in Ulaanbaatar: IA Participates with Madras Regiment Battalion

On July 27, 2024, the 21st edition of Exercise ‘Khaan Quest (KQ24)’, a multinational peacekeeping exercise, began at the Five Hills Training Area in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The exercise will conclude on August 9, 2024. The aim is to enhance global peacekeeping capabilities and foster international military collaboration. The exercise features approximately 430 participants from 23 countries, including India, Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Türkiye, the USA, and the UK. The Indian Army contingent comprises 40 personnel from the Madras Regiment Battalion, including one woman officer and two women soldiers.

RBI Selected 5 Firms Under 5th Cohort of RS on the Theme ‘Neutral’

On July 26, 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) selected five entities out of 22 applications for the Test Phase under the 5th cohort of the Regulatory Sandbox (RS) on the theme ‘Neutral’. The selected entities will commence testing their products and solutions from August 2024. The selected entities are Connectingdot Consultancy Private Limited (CCPL), Epifi Technologies Private Limited (ETPL), Finagg Technologies Private Limited (FTPL), Indian Banks’ Digital Infrastructure Company (IBDIC) Private Limited, and Signzy Technologies Private Limited (STPL).

RBI Imposes Monetary Penalties On 3 Payment System Operators

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalties on three Payment System Operators (PSOs) for non-compliance with regulatory norms. The penalized entities are Manappuram Finance Limited (MAFIL), Ola Financial Services Private Limited (OFS), and Visa Worldwide Private Limited (VWPL). MAFIL was fined Rs 41.5 lakh for non-compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) directions. OFS was fined Rs 87.55 lakh for two separate violations, including non-adherence to KYC directions and regulatory compliance deficiencies. VWPL was fined Rs 2.4 crore for implementing a payment authentication solution without regulatory clearance from the RBI.

HSBC Mutual Fund Unveils Apne #SIPKoDoPromotion

HSBC Mutual Fund has launched a digital campaign called “Apne #SIPKoDoPromotion” to raise awareness and educate investors about the Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) Top-Up feature and its benefits for long-term wealth building. The campaign features three 30-second digital films promoting the concept of increasing SIP contributions through the Top-Up facility. This option allows investors to boost their contributions by a fixed amount or percentage at set intervals, helping them address inflation and changing financial needs.

Aditya Birla Group Launched Rs 5000 Crore Jewellery Business Brand “Indriya”

On 26th July 2024, Aditya Birla Group entered the branded jewellery business with an investment of Rs 5,000 crore, launching its brand “Indriya” under Novel Jewels Limited. The group aims to secure its position among India’s top 3 jewellery retailers over the next five years. Four stores were inaugurated in Delhi, Jaipur (Rajasthan), and Indore (Madhya Pradesh) on 27th July 2024, with plans to expand to 11 cities in the next six months.

Rigoberta Menchú Tum & Victor Gonzalez Torres Receive Gandhi Mandela Award 2020

Rigoberta Menchú Tum, a Nobel Prize winner and Guatemalan human rights activist, and Victor Gonzalez Torres, a Mexican politician and businessman, have received the prestigious Gandhi Mandela Award 2020. Menchú was recognized for her lifelong commitment to advocating indigenous rights and promoting peace and social justice. Torres was honored for his exceptional contributions to healthcare. The award was presented on Nelson Mandela’s 106th birth anniversary (July 18, 2024) in Mexico.

Nicolas Maduro Re-elected as President of Venezuela For 3rd Term

Nicolás Maduro Moros has been re-elected as the President of Venezuela for a third six-year term (2024-2030). He has been serving as the President of Venezuela since April 2013. Maduro won the presidential election by securing 51% of the vote, while the Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia finished second with 44% of the vote.

Formula 1: Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton won the Belgian Grand Prix 2024

On 28th July 2024, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, a British racing driver, won the Formula 1 (F1) Belgian Grand Prix 2024 held at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium. This marks Hamilton’s second GP title of 2024 after the Great Britain GP held in July 2024. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri secured second place, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc moved up to third position. Mercedes’ George Russell, who originally finished first, was disqualified for an underweight car.

A Book Titled Jamsetji Tata: Powerful Learnings for Corporate Success Set to Release

A book titled “Jamsetji Tata: Powerful Learnings for Corporate Success” has been co-authored by R Gopalakrishnan and Harish Bhat. The book, published by Penguin Random House India, is filled with real-life stories and anecdotes about the creation of iconic Indian brands like Tata Tea, Tata Motors, Titan, and Tanishq, illustrating Jamsetji Tata’s enduring legacy.

World Hepatitis Day 2024 – July 28

World Hepatitis Day (WHD) is observed annually on 28 July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver causing severe liver disease and cancer. The 2024 theme for World Hepatitis Day is ‘It’s time for action.’ The sub-theme is “Global hepatitis response: Closing the gap toward the 2030 elimination goals.”

World Nature Conservation Day 2024 – July 28

World Nature Conservation Day (WNCD) is observed annually on July 28 to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the environment and natural resources. The theme for WCND 2024 is ‘Connecting People and Plants, Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation.’

International Tiger Day 2024 – July 29

International Tiger Day, also known as Global Tiger Day, is observed annually on 29 July to highlight the importance of tiger conservation. The day was established during the International Tiger Conservation Forum held in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 2010. The first Global Tiger Day was observed on 29 July 2011.