Current Affairs 20 July 2024

Current Affairs 20 July 2024

01. Who has been appointed as India’s Ambassador to the United States? (July 2024)
(a) Harsh Vardhan Shringla
(b) Taranjit Singh Sandhu
(c) Vinay Mohan Kwatra
(d) Randheer Jaiswal

• Former Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra has been appointed as India’s new Ambassador to the U.S., a position that has been vacant for over six months since Taranjit Singh Sandhu’s retirement.
• Kwatra will take up the role soon and is expected to address challenges in the India-U.S. relationship, including issues related to Russia, the Pannun case, and U.S. pronouncements on human rights in India.
• His appointment is notable for being a retired Foreign Service officer, a departure from the recent practice of appointing serving officers to this position.
• The U.S. and India have recently toned down their responses to criticism over strategic autonomy and Russia ties, with both countries seeking to maintain a cooperative stance despite differences.
• The U.S. State Department has reiterated India’s importance as a partner and urged support for peace efforts in Ukraine, while India has emphasized its commitment to its strategic autonomy and ongoing diplomatic consultations.
• Kwatra’s responsibilities will include preparing for potential high-level visits, including a possible visit by U.S. President Joe Biden for the Quad Summit hosted by India later this year.

•  He served as the 34th Foreign Secretary of India, taking over from Harsh Vardhan Shringla from May 2022 till July 14, 2024.

02. Who has been re-elected as the Chairperson of PwC India for a second term? (July 2024)
(a) Sanjeev Krishan
(b) Amitabh Chaudhry
(c) N. R. Narayana Murthy
(d) Keshav Murugesh

• Sanjeev Krishan has been re-elected as Chairman of PwC India for a second term, starting April 1, 2025.

• Tenure: His new term will last four years. Krishan initially began his first term on January 1, 2021.
• Roles: He will continue representing PwC both internally and externally and remain on the PwC Global Strategy Council.
• Career: Krishan joined PwC in 1991, became a partner in 2006, and has led the Deals, Transactions, and Private Equity business. He also worked briefly with PwC Sweden.
• Achievements: His re-election is attributed to his significant contributions towards enhancing PwC’s market presence and technological advancements.
• Statements: Krishan emphasized continuing to leverage capabilities to help clients capitalize on growth opportunities. He acknowledged the challenges and opportunities in the global economic landscape.
• Additional Roles: He is a member of FICCI’s National Committee on Stressed Assets, CII Corporate Governance Council, CII Economic Affairs Council, and SEBI Primary Market Advisory Committee.

03. What is the theme of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024?
(a) Embracing Digital Transformation
(b) The Future is Now
(c) Technological Horizons
(d) Innovations for Tomorrow

• The theme for India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024, ‘The Future is Now’, was unveiled by Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, highlighting India’s leadership in the global technology evolution.
• IMC 2024 aims to showcase innovative solutions and state-of-the-art technology use cases, facilitating over 500 one-to-one meetings with more than 1000 potential investors, angels, incubators, and VC funds.
• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) launched a testing scheme for startups and MSMEs, and signed an MoU for capacity building in cybersecurity, emphasizing support for technological advancement and security.

04. Where has the central government approved the construction of a new military airbase and upgrading of an existing airfield?
(a) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(b) Gujarat
(c) Kerala
(d) Lakshadweep

• The Indian government has approved the construction of two military airfields in Lakshadweep, including a new airbase at Minicoy and an extension of the existing airfield on Agatti Island.
• These airfields will serve both military and civilian purposes, aiming to enhance the armed forces’ reach and boost tourism in the region.
• The new Minicoy airfield will be integrated with the naval base INS Jatayu, which was commissioned in March and is the nearest major military installation to the Maldives.
• The extension of the Agatti airfield will support increased air traffic and operational capabilities.
• This strategic development aims to improve India’s surveillance and operational capabilities in the Arabian Sea, addressing regional security concerns amid rising Chinese activities.
• Minicoy is located approximately 100 km from Thuraakunu Island in the Maldives across the Vangaaru Channel, making it a significant site for monitoring activities in the region.

05. Who won the AIFF Player of the Year award for males in the recent AIFF awards 2024?
(a) Indumathi Kathiresan
(b) Lallianzuala Chhangte
(c) Sunil Chhetri
(d) Jeje Lalpekhlua

• Khalid Jamil was named Best Men’s Coach, and Sukla Dutta received the Best Women’s Coach award.
• David Lalhlansanga and Neha were recognized as Promising Men’s and Women’s Players.
• Ramachandran Venkatesh and Ujjal Halder were awarded Best Referee and Best Assistant Referee.
•  The AIFF Awards Night took place on July 19, 2024, in New Delhi. Dignitaries included Union Ministers Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Kiren Rijiju, and prominent figures from Indian sports like Yogeshwar Dutt and Rohit Rajpal.
• Chhangte scored 11 goals and provided 7 assists for Mumbai City FC during the 2023-24 season.
• He was also the top-scoring Indian in the Indian Super League and scored for the national team in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
• Chhangte expressed his gratitude to the Sports Minister, his family, Mumbai City FC, and the national team for their support. He attributed his success to divine guidance and his support system.

06. Who inaugurated the landslide forecast system in Kolkata?
(a) Amit Shah
(b) Narendra Modi
(c) Rajnath Singh
(d) G Kishan Reddy

•  G Kishan Reddy, the Coal and Mines Minister, inaugurated the National Landslide Forecasting Centre (NLFC) in Kolkata on July 19, 2024.
• The NLFC launch included the introduction of the ‘Bhusanket’ website and the ‘Bhooskhalan’ mobile app for disseminating landslide forecast data.
• The NLFC aims to integrate, generate, and disseminate daily landslide forecasts for multiple states, improving risk assessment and early forecasting to prevent loss of life and property damage.
• Forecasts will initially cover Kalimpong and Darjeeling in West Bengal, and Nilgiri in Tamil Nadu, with plans to expand to all landslide-prone states by 2030.
• The forecasting system will provide short-range (two days) and medium-range (seven days) forecasts.
• The NLFC will operate under the Geological Survey of India (GSI), providing early information to local administrations, updating landslide inventories, and integrating real-time data for improved accuracy.
• The GSI has mapped 4.3 lakh sq km of landslide-prone areas and developed a forecasting technique through the LANDSLIP research program.

07. Which of the following districts is included in the newly formed Lucknow State Capital Region (SCR) in Uttar Pradesh, on lines of NCR?
(a) Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnao, Rae Bareli, and Barabanki
(b) Sitapur, Hardoi, Sultanpur, Baharaich, and Gonda
(c) Hardoi, Kanpur, Sultanpur, Rae Bareli, and Orai
(d) Unnao, Rae Bareli, Barabanki, Gonda, and Sultanpur

• The Uttar Pradesh government has officially established the Lucknow State Capital Region (SCR), modeled after the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR).
• The SCR encompasses Lucknow and adjacent districts: Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnao, Rae Bareli, and Barabanki.
• The total area covered by the SCR is 27,826 square kilometers.
• A new authority, Uttar Pradesh State Capital Region Development Authority (UP-SCRDA), will manage development projects and resource allocation within this region.
• The UP-SCRDA will be chaired by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, with the Chief Secretary as vice-chairman and other key officials as members.
• The initiative aims to address population pressures and unplanned development in the growing capital region, with the project first proposed by Chief Minister Adityanath in September 2022.

08. Name the app and the website launched by Union Minister G Kishan Reddy for landslide forecasting and data dissemination?
(a) Bhoosankalan Mobile App and Geosafe Web Portal
(b) Bhooskhalan Mobile App and Bhusanket Web Portal
(c) Landslide Alert Mobile App and Bhumiksha Web Portal
(d) Disaster Ready Mobile App and GeoForecast Web Portal

• Union Minister G Kishan Reddy inaugurated the National Landslide Forecasting Centre (NLFC) and launched the Bhusanket Web Portal and Bhooskhalan Mobile App.
• The Bhusanket Web Portal and Bhooskhalan Mobile App aim to provide relevant data and real-time landslide forecasts to stakeholders.
• The NLFC will issue early warning bulletins for landslide-prone states and integrate real-time rainfall and slope instability data.
• These tools are part of GSI’s commitment to advancing disaster preparedness and safety in India.

09. Which Indian actor will be honoured as the Ambassador for Indian Art and Culture at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2024?
(a) Shah Rukh Khan
(b) Aamir Khan
(c) Ram Charan
(d) Rajinikanth

• Ram Charan will be honoured at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2024 (IFFM).
• He will be awarded the Ambassador for Indian Art and Culture for his contributions to Indian cinema.
• Ram Charan expressed his excitement about attending the festival and representing Indian cinema on an international platform.
• The IFFM will take place from August 15 to August 25, 2024.

10. What is the full form of “KIRTI” program that was recently launched by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya?
(a) Khelo India Rising Talent Identification
(b) Khelo India Rising Talent Initiative
(c) Khelo India Rising Training Initiative
(d) Khelo India Rapid Talent Identification

• The full form of KIRTI is Khelo India Rising Talent Identification.
• The KIRTI programme aims to spot talented athletes across India, including far-flung areas, and develop their skills.
• Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched the second phase of the KIRTI programme at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
• The government aims to identify 1 lakh budding young athletes within 100 days under the KIRTI programme.