Current Affairs 24 July 2024

Current Affairs 24 July 2024

01. What is the recent achievement of the Jal Jeevan Mission? (as of July 2024)
(a) Providing sanitation facilities to 5 crore households
(b) Providing irrigation connections to 60% of the rural areas
(c) Providing tap water connections to 15 crore rural households
(d) Both A and C

• The National Jal Jeevan Mission has provided tap water connections to 15 crore rural households across the country.
• The mission was announced in 2019 with the aim to provide tap water supply to every rural home by 2024.
• Eight States and three Union Territories have achieved 100% coverage under this mission.
• The mission has significantly improved the quality of life for many rural households by providing access to clean drinking water.
• The mission has increased rural tap connection coverage from 3 crore in 2019 to 15 crore in five years.
• States and UTs achieving 100% coverage include Goa, Telangana, Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The initiative aims to ensure sustainability and long-term availability of water supply systems in rural areas.
• The mission also focuses on building robust institutions and creating awareness about the significance of water.

02. Which state has launched the unique model for TB-Free Municipalities under Project Swasthya Nagaram?
(a) Maharashtra
(b) Telangana
(c) Gujarat
(d) Rajasthan

• Telangana has launched the unique model for TB-Free Municipalities under Project Swasthya Nagaram.
• The project was launched in Hyderabad with the collaborative efforts of State Tuberculosis Cell, Municipal Corporations, Central TB Division, WHO India, USAID, and others.
• The initiative aims to demonstrate ending TB in an urban setting by addressing social determinants that impact the TB burden.
• The model will be implemented in Peerzadiguda, Boduppal, and Pocharam Municipal Corporations over three years to reduce TB incidence and mortality.

03. Which of the following IITs has C-DOT partnered with to develop ‘Cell-Free’ 6G Access Points?
(a) IIT Roorkee and IIT Mandi
(b) IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur
(c) IIT Bombay and IIT Madras
(d) IIT Kharagpur and IIT Hyderabad

• The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has partnered with IIT Roorkee and IIT Mandi to advance 6G standardization and connectivity.
• The agreement was signed under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). It focuses on developing ‘Cell-Free’ 6G access points.
• Unlike traditional networks with fixed cell boundaries, ‘Cell-Free’ massive MIMO will deploy multiple access points across a region, aiming to improve connectivity, eliminate dead zones, and enhance signal strength.
• This technology is expected to boost data speeds and improve user experience, particularly in densely populated areas.
•  The 6G project will develop access points for 6G networks and contribute to standardization efforts. It also aims to drive commercialization, generate intellectual property rights (IPRs), and create a skilled workforce.
• Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT, highlighted the importance of indigenously designed technologies for meeting communication needs and generating IPRs in the 6G domain.

04. Which organization launched the Advanced Frigate ‘Triput,’ the first of two advanced frigates being constructed for the Indian Navy?
(a) Hindustan Shipyard Limited
(b) Cochin Shipyard Limited
(c) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
(d) Goa Shipyard Limited

• The first of two Advanced Frigates, named Triput, was launched at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) on July 23, 2024. The event was attended by Mrs. Rita Sreedharan and Goa Governor P. S. Sreedharan Pillai.
• The Triput is designed for combat operations against enemy surface ships, submarines, and aircraft. It features stealth capabilities, advanced weapons, sensors, and platform management systems.
• The Triput class ships are 124.8 meters long, 15.2 meters wide, with a draught of 4.5 meters, and a displacement of about 3,600 tonnes. They can achieve speeds of up to 28 knots.
• The Triput class is being built at GSL as a follow-on to the Teg and Talwar class ships. This is the first time these frigates are being constructed indigenously by an Indian shipyard.
• The project aligns with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, featuring a significant proportion of indigenous equipment, including weapons and sensors. This approach supports domestic defense production, employment generation, and capability enhancement.
• The contract for the two Triput class frigates was signed between the Ministry of Defence and GSL on January 25, 2019.

05. Name the campaign launched by ALFA Hockey to generate support for the national hockey team ahead of the Paris Olympics.
(a) #HockeyIndiaHogiChampion
(b) #BankeDikhaAlpha
(c) #HitHardAtOlympics
(d) #GoForGoldIndia

• ALFA Hockey launched the #BankeDikhaAlpha campaign to support the Indian national hockey team for the Paris Olympics.
• This campaign is unique as it is the only dedicated hockey campaign launched by a brand in India.
• The campaign includes various events, digital engagements, and grassroots programs to reignite passion for hockey.
• Prominent players featured in the campaign include Manpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Shamsher Singh, Rajkumar Pal, PR Sreejesh, Abhishek Nain, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, and Sukjit Singh.

06. Which of the following organizations was recently labeled a terrorist group by the Israeli parliament (Knesset)?
(a) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
(b) World Health Organization (WHO)
(c) United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
(d) International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

• The Israeli parliament has given preliminary approval to a bill that designates the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) as a terrorist organization.
• The bill proposes severing relations with UNRWA, which provides aid and services to millions of Palestinians.
• The Israeli government accuses UNRWA of collaborating with Hamas and has called for its disbandment. The bill’s sponsor, Yulia Malinovsky, described UNRWA as a “fifth column” within Israel.
• The bill has been approved in a first reading and will be reviewed further by the foreign affairs and defense committee. UNRWA has a history of tense relations with Israel, which have worsened due to recent conflicts.
• Israel claims that many UNRWA staff are affiliated with terrorist groups but has yet to provide concrete evidence. Some donor countries have halted funding in response to these allegations, though some, like Britain, have resumed support.
• Both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority have condemned the move, urging the international community to oppose the bill and continue supporting UNRWA.
• UNRWA’s spokesperson criticized the bill as an unprecedented attempt to dismantle the agency, which plays a critical role in providing education, healthcare, and aid in Gaza, the West Bank, and neighboring countries.

07. Who has been appointed as the acting chief of the US Secret Service following the resignation of Kimberly Cheatle? (July 2024)
(a) Ronald L. Rowe Jr.
(b) Antony Blinken
(c) Thomas Matthew
(d) Eduardo Serenellini

• Ronald L. Rowe Jr. has been named the acting chief of the US Secret Service following Kimberly Cheatle’s resignation.
• Rowe was previously serving as the Deputy Director of the Secret Service.
• The appointment was confirmed by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
• Cheatle resigned after a Congressional hearing where she described the incident involving former President Donald Trump as “the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades.”
• The scrutiny follows an attempted assassination at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a 20-year-old, Thomas Matthew Crooks, armed with an AR-style rifle, managed to get close enough to injure Trump.

08. What is the coal production target set by the government for the fiscal year 2024-25 ?  
(a) 500 million tonnes
(b) 750 million tonnes
(c) 1,000 million tonnes
(d) 1,250 million tonnes

• The Indian government has set a coal production target of 1,080 million tonnes (MT) for the fiscal year 2024-25.
• As of July 19, 2024, coal production has reached 294.20 MT, marking a growth rate of 10.70% compared to 265.77 MT during the same period last year.
• The Ministry has dispatched 311.48 MT of coal as of July 19, 2024, an 8.49% increase from the previous year’s 287.12 MT.
• The Ministry emphasizes ensuring adequate coal supply at notified prices for the Power and Fertilizer sectors.
• The Ministry of Coal is working with the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Power, and other relevant departments to support energy demands and sustainable economic development.

09. Who has recently become the youngest president of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA)? (July 2024)
(a) Amol Kale
(b) Sanjay Naik
(c) Ajinkya Naik
(d) Sachin Tendulkar

• Ajinkya Naik has been elected as the youngest president of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) at 37 years old.
• Naik won by a margin of 107 votes, securing 221 votes compared to Sanjay Naik’s 114.
• Naik defeated the candidate backed by Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar.
• Naik expressed that his victory is a win for the Mumbai maidan and club secretaries, acknowledging his decade-long involvement in various committees. He emphasized continuing the legacy of the late Amol Kale and collaborating with the Apex Council.
•  Naik’s campaign was supported by ‘unseen powers,’ including notable political mentor Sharad Pawar.

10. Which State Legislative Assembly has passed a bill to curb unfair means in the public recruitment examinations in July 2024?
(a) Assam
(b) Sikkim
(c) Arunachal Pradesh
(d) Meghalaya

• Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the Arunachal Pradesh Public Examination (Measures to Prevent Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill, 2024 unanimously.
• The bill aims to curb irregularities and use of unfair means in public examinations in the state.
• It includes strict penal provisions with imprisonment of not less than three years and a fine of up to one crore rupees for convicted offenders.
• Convicted candidates can be barred for life from appearing in any recruitment examinations in the state.