Current Affairs 17 July 2024

Current Affairs 17 July 2024

01. Which oil company has launched the high-speed car racing fuel STORM-X?
(a) Bharat Petroleum
(b) Hindustan Petroleum
(c) IndianOil
(d) Reliance Industries

• IndianOil has launched STORM-X, a high-octane petrol for racing cars.
• The fuel is produced at IOC’s Paradip refinery in Odisha.
• IndianOil is the first Indian company to produce fuel used in F1 racing.
• STORM-X meets FIA 2024 specifications and includes advanced sustainable components.
• The fuel was developed at the IOC Research & Development Centre in Faridabad.
• IndianOil controls approximately 40% of the fuel market share in India.
• IOC has partnered with the Madras Motor Sports Club for the Indian National Racing Championship.
• A total of 55 barrels of STORM-X were dispatched for the racing event’s third round.
• The Paradip Refinery is noted for its advanced technological capabilities in fuel production.

02. Who is the chairperson of the reconstituted NITI Aayog?
(a) Narendra Modi
(b) Suman Bery
(c) B. V. R. Subrahmanyam
(d) Shivraj Singh Chouhan

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to be the chairperson of NITI Aayog.
• NITI Aayog has been reconstituted with some new ministers from the BJP and its allies.
• Narendra Modi remains the chairperson of NITI Aayog.
• There are no changes in the posts of Vice Chairman and full-time members.
• The reconstitution includes new ex-officio members and Special Invitees.

03. Who won the bronze medal at the World Junior Squash Championships 2024?
(a) Anahat Singh
(b) Kush Kumar
(c) Mohamed Zakaria
(d) Shaurya Bawa

• Shaurya Bawa won a bronze medal at the World Junior Squash Championships 2024 in Houston, Texas.
• He is the second Indian male squash player to achieve a medal at this championship.
• Bawa was seeded 17/32 in the men’s singles tournament.
• He reached the semi-finals but lost to top-seeded Mohamed Zakaria of Egypt in straight games.
• Bawa’s path included victories in the opening rounds and a comeback win in the quarter-finals against Low Wa Sern of Malaysia.
• His quarter-final match showcased his resilience, coming back from being 2-1 down to win the match.
• Anahat Singh, a two-time Asian Games medallist, reached the quarter-finals but did not win a medal.
• She lost a closely contested match against Nadien Elhammamy of Egypt, also going to a fifth game.

04. Who has been re-elected as President of Rwanda for a fourth term? (July 2024)
(a) Frank Habineza
(b) Philippe Mpayimana
(c) Paul Kagame
(d) Jeanette Kagame

• Paul Kagame has won the presidential election in Rwanda for the fourth term.
• He secured 99% of the votes in the election held on 15 July 2024.
• Kagame has been in power since 2000, first becoming president that year.
• The election included three candidates, with opponents securing minimal votes (Habineza: 0.53%, Mpayimana: 0.32%).
• Kagame’s rule is noted for ending the civil war and significant economic growth.
• He is considered an authoritarian leader, known for silencing opposition.
• The constitution was amended in 2015 to extend his terms.

05. What is the name of India’s first toll-free national anti-narcotics helpline, launched by Home Minister Amit Shah? (July 2024)
(a) MANAS 
(b) JANAK
(c) NISHEDH
(d) DAWAI

• The helpline is named 1933 and is known as MANAS (Madak Padarth Nisedh Asuchna Kendra).
• It will be launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 18, 2024.
• The helpline is managed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
• It provides a platform for citizens to report narcotics crimes and related issues confidentially.
• The service is available 24/7, ensuring accessibility for reporting drug-related matters.
• The initiative supports the government’s zero tolerance policy against drug trafficking.
• An NCB zonal office in Srinagar will also be inaugurated during the launch.
• The helpline is part of a broader strategy to achieve a drug-free India by 2047.

06. What is the revised GDP growth forecast for India by the IMF for FY25?
(a) 6.8%
(b) 6.5%
(c) 7%
(d) 7.5%

• The IMF has revised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY25 upward by 20 basis points to 7%.
• This increase reflects better consumption prospects, especially in rural areas.
• The growth forecast for the next financial year (FY26) is retained at 6.5%.
• India’s economy is expected to expand by 7%, up from the previous forecast of 6.8% in April 2024.
• Emerging markets and developing economies are seeing upward growth revisions, primarily driven by China and India.
• Global growth projections remain stable at 3.2% for 2024 and 3.3% for 2025.
• Services price inflation is impacting monetary policy, contributing to risks of higher interest rates.
• The IMF advises careful sequencing of policy mixes to maintain price stability and support growth.

07. Who received the 2024 Pioneer of the Year Award?
(a) Tom Cruise
(b) Kathleen Kennedy
(c) Michael D Eisner
(d) Greta Gerwig

• Greta Gerwig honored with the 2024 Pioneer of the Year Award by the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation (WRMPPF).
• The award recognizes Gerwig’s outstanding contributions to the motion picture industry.
• Gerwig’s notable works include ‘Lady Bird’, ‘Little Women’, and the Oscar-winning movie ‘Barbie’.
• She made history with ‘Barbie’ as the first film directed solely by a woman to surpass USD 1 billion in global box office earnings.

08. What is the objective of the ‘One Scientist-One Product’ scheme launched by ICAR?
(a) To increase agricultural exports
(b) To enhance research in agriculture and animal husbandry
(c) To develop new irrigation techniques
(d) To promote organic farming

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched the ‘One Scientist-One Product’ scheme on July 16, 2024.
• The scheme aims to improve research in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry.
• Over 5,500 scientists are tasked with developing a product, technology, model, concept, or publication.
• The progress of these projects will be monitored at institute and headquarters levels.
• The scheme will run for five years, with a focus on high-yielding oilseeds and pulses varieties this year.

09. What is the full form of the recently launched NE-RACE portal targeted for the farmers in northeast?
(a) North East Region Agricultural Commodity E-Connect
(b) North East Region Agro Commodity E-Connect
(c) North East Rural Agricultural Commodity E-Connect
(d) North East Rural Agri Commodity E-Connect

• Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the North East Region Agricultural Commodity E-Connect (NE-RACE) portal.
• NE-RACE is designed to support agricultural and horticultural products such as spices, fruits, vegetables, pulses, cereals, and minor forest products.
• The portal aims to position the Northeast as a hub of high-value horticultural products in the international market.
• NE-RACE promotes the Northeast as a reliable partner in the international agricultural value chain.
• The initiative will enhance the market accessibility for farmers in the Northeast region.

10. Which ship was awarded the Best Ship of the Eastern Fleet 2024?
(a) INS Kavaratti
(b) INS Shivalik
(c) INS Delhi
(d) INS Sumitra

• INS Delhi was named the Best Ship of the Eastern Fleet during the Fleet Awards Function held on July 14, 2024.
• The ceremony took place in Visakhapatnam to honor tactical successes over the past year.
• INS Kavaratti received accolades as the Best Ship in the Corvettes, OPVs, and LSTs category.
• The event was attended by key naval officers, with Vice-Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar as the Chief Guest.
• The Eastern Fleet was active in protecting naval interests in the Indian Ocean Region.
• The fleet participated in various operations, including naval drills, amphibious operations, and HADR exercises.
• The awards function included a cultural program to boost morale and celebrate naval history.
• INS Delhi is a guided-missile frigate, commissioned on November 15, 1997, and is the lead ship of the Delhi class.
• The ship is equipped with advanced weaponry and electronic warfare systems, enhancing its combat capabilities.