Current Affairs 2024

DRDO conducts successful maiden flight of Autonomous Flying Wing [01 Jul 2022]

Maiden flight of the Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator was carried out successfully by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga, Karnataka. Operating in a fully autonomous mode, the aircraft exhibited a perfect flight, including take-off, waypoint navigation, and a smooth touchdown. This flight marks a major milestone in terms of proving critical technologies for the development of future unmanned aircraft and is a significant step towards self-reliance in such strategic defense technologies. The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is designed & developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru, a premier research laboratory of DRDO. It is powered by a small turbofan engine. The airframe, undercarriage, and entire flight control and avionics systems used for the aircraft were developed indigenously.

India’s largest floating solar power project commissioned [01 Jul 2022]

India’s largest floating Solar Power Project is now fully operational. NTPC declared Commercial Operation of the final part capacity of 20 MW out of 100 MW Ramagundam Floating Solar PV Project at Ramagundam, Telangana. With the operationalization of the 100 MW Solar PV Project at Ramagundam, the total commercial operation of Floating Solar Capacity in the Southern Region rose to 217 MW. Earlier, NTPC declared Commercial operation of 92 MW Floating Solar at Kayamkulam (Kerala) and 25 MW Floating Solar at Simhadri (Andhra Pradesh).

The 2022 International Booker Prize [01 Jul 2022]

The 2022 International Booker Prize has been won by Tomb of Sand, written by Geetanjali Shree and translated by Daisy Rockwell. It is the first book originally written in any Indian language to win the prize, and the first novel translated from Hindi to be recognized by the award.

High speed Expendable Aerial Target - ABHYAS - successfully flight-tested off Odisha coast [29 Jun 2022]

ABHYAS – High Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) was successfully flight-tested from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. The performance of the aircraft at low altitudes including sustained level and high maneuverability was demonstrated during the test flight. The target aircraft was flown from a ground-based controller in a pre-designated low-altitude flight path, which was monitored by various tracking sensors deployed by ITR, including radar and an electro-optical targeting system. ABHYAS is designed & developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The air vehicle was launched using twin under-slung boosters which provide the initial acceleration to the vehicle. It is powered by a small gas turbine engine to sustain a long endurance flight at high subsonic speed. The target aircraft is equipped with Micro-Electromechanical Systems-based Inertial Navigation System for navigation along with the Flight Control Computer for guidance and control along with Indigenous Radio Altimeter for very low altitude flight and Data Link for encrypted communication between the Ground Control Station and Target Aircraft. The vehicle is programmed for fully autonomous flight.

Ranjit Rath Named Next CMD of Oil India Limited [29 Jun 2022]

Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has selected Geoscientist Ranjit Rath as the next Chairman and Managing Director(CMD) of Oil India Limited (OIL). He was serving as the CMD of Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd.(MECL). Sushil Chandra Mishra, the current CMD of OIL will superannuate on 30th June 2022.

T Raja Kumar appointed as president of the FATF [29 Jun 2022]

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has appointed T. Raja Kumar of Singapore as the President. He was appointed for the term of 2 years, which starts from July 1, 2022, to 2024. He succeeds Dr. Marcus Player of Germany.

Indigenously-developed Laser-Guided ATGM successfully tested by DRDO [28 Jun 2022]

Indigenously-developed Laser-Guided Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) was successfully test-fired from Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Army at KK Ranges with support of Armoured Corps Centre & School (ACC&S) Ahmednagar. In the test, the ATGM hit the bull’s eye with textbook precision and successfully defeated the target at minimum ranges. Telemetry systems recorded the satisfactory flight performance of the missile. The all-indigenous ATGM employs a tandem High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead to defeat Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) protected armoured vehicles. The ATGM has been developed with multi-platform launch capability and is currently undergoing technical evaluation trials from 120 mm rifled gun of MBT Arjun. Engaging the targets at lower ranges is a challenge due to the dimensional constraints of tank-launched ATGMs, which has been successfully accomplished by the ATGM for MBT Arjun. With the trial, the ATGM’s capability to engage targets from minimum to maximum range has been established. Earlier the trials have been successful for maximum range.

PADMA, the Centralised Pay System for Indian Coast Guard launched [28 Jun 2022]

Pay Roll Automation for Disbursement of Monthly Allowances (PADMA), an automated Pay & Allowances module for the Indian Coast Guard was inaugurated by Shri Rajnish Kumar, Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), Ministry of Defence. PADMA is an automated platform leveraging the latest technology which will provide seamless and timely disbursal of Pay & Allowances to around 15,000 Indian Coast Guard personnel. This module has been developed under the aegis of the Defense Accounts Department and will be operated by the Pay Accounts Office Coast Guard, Noida. The launch marked the beginning of the Centralized Pay System (CPS), the foundation of which is being laid down by the Defence Accounts Department Headquarters to provide one-stop pay accounting solutions for all organizations under the Ministry.

Indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter MK III squadron commissioned into Indian Coast Guard in Porbandar, Gujarat [28 Jun 2022]

835 Squadron (CG), an indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK III squadron, was commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard at its Air Enclave in Porbandar, Gujarat. The ALH MK III helicopters have been indigenously manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). They feature state-of-the-art equipment including advanced RADAR as well as Electro-optical sensors, Shakti engines, a full glass cockpit, high-intensity searchlight, advanced communication systems, an automatic identification system as well a SAR homer. The features enable them to undertake maritime reconnaissance as well as carry out SAR at extended ranges even while operating from ships during both day and night. The aircraft has the ability to switch roles from an offensive platform with a heavy machine gun to that of a benign one carrying a Medical Intensive Care Unit to facilitate the transfer of critically ill patients.

India Slips to 121st Place in Global SDG Index 2022 [28 Jun 2022]

The Sustainable Development Report(SDR) reviews progress made each year on the Sustainable Development Goals since their adoption by the 193 UN member states in 2015. India slipped to 121st place in Global SDG Index 2022.

Vienna Makes a Comeback as the World's Most Liveable City (2022) [27 Jun 2022]

The Austrian capital Vienna has made a comeback as the world's most liveable city, according to an annual report from the Economist while the capital of war-torn Syria, Damascus, retained its place as least liveable.

S.M. Krishna, Narayana Murthy & Prakash Padukone Conferred Inaugural Kempegowda International Award [27 Jun 2022]

Former Karnataka Chief Minister S. M. Krishna, Infosys founder and IT industry veteran N. R. Narayana Murthy, and former badminton player Prakash Padukone were felicitated with the inaugural Kempegowda Inter-national Award by Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai during the grand celebration on the 513th birth anniversary of Kempegowda, the architect of Bengaluru city, in Bengaluru.

Madhya Pradesh Clinches Ranji Trophy 2021-22 [26 Jun 2022]

Madhya Pradesh scripted history in domestic Indian cricket by winning its maiden Ranji Trophy as it defeated 41-time Ranji champions Mumbai by 6 wickets in the Ranji Trophy 2021-22 final at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.

Parameswaran Iyer as the new CEO of NITI Aayog [24 Jun 2022]

Government has appointed retired IAS officer Parameswaran Iyer as the new CEO of NITI Aayog. Iyer, 1981-batch IAS officer of UP cadre, will replace Amitabh Kant to become the third chief executive officer of the Government of India's public policy think tank.

Tapan Deka is new IB chief [24 Jun 2022]

Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) Tapan Deka has been appointed the new chief of the central intelligence agency. He will replace incumbent Arvind Kumar after his tenure comes to an end on June 30. Current chief of Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) Samant Goel, meanwhile, has been given another extension of one year in his tenure which comes to an end on June 30.

IISc is Top Indian University in QS World Rankings, 2022 [22 Jun 2022]

Rising 31 places in a year, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Benga¬luru has emerged as the highest-ranked Indian institute in the 2023 edition of the QS World University Rankings, pushing IIT-Bombay to the second position, followed by IIT- Delhi. Apart from IISc at 155, IIT-Bombay (IIT-B) and IIT-Delhi (IIT-D), which have risen five and 11 places to rank 172 and 174 respectively, are the only other Indian institutes in the global league of top 200, in continua¬tion of a trend since 2017. The total number of Indian institutes among the top 1,000 globally has risen to 27 from 22.

Ruchira Kamboj was appointed India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations [21 Jun 2022]

Senior diplomat Ruchira Kamboj was appointed India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. Kamboj is a 1987-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer presently serving as India's envoy to Bhutan becoming the first female Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Bhutan. She will succeed T S Tirumurti as the Indian ambassador to the UN.

Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra wins gold at Kuortane Games [18 Jun 2022]

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra clinched his first top podium finish of the season by winning the javelin throw event at the Kuortane Games in Finland, beating reigning world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada for the second time in four days.

Smt. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai nominated as Chairperson, Press Council of India [17 Jun 2022]

The Government of India has nominated Smt. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai as Chairperson of Press Council of India. Smt Justice Desai is a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India.

England register highest-ever ODI score of 498 runs against Netherlands [17 Jun 2022]

Liam Livingstone and Jos Buttler’s fireworks helped England mount a historic score of 498/4 against the Netherlands which is also the highest-ever score in a one-day cricket international.

The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico [17 Jun 2022]

The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first time the tournament will be shared by three different countries. World soccer governing body FIFA announced the 16 cities – 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada – that were successful from the 22 bids put forward in a special event at the Rockefeller Center in New York

India jumps 6 places on IMD's World Competitiveness Index [15 Jun 2022]

India has witnessed the sharpest rise among the Asian economies, with a six-position jump from 43rd to 37th rank on the annual World Competitiveness Index compiled by the Institute for Management Development, largely due to gains in economic performance. Denmark has moved to the top of the 63-nation list from the third position last year, while Switzerland slipped from the top ranking to the second position and Singapore regained the third spot from fifth, a global study showed.

First Liquid-Mirror Telescope to be Commissioned in India [15 Jun 2022]

A new telescope will keep a watch on the overhead sky to identify transient or variable objects such as supernovae, gravitational lenses, space debris, and asteroids. Unique Liquid-MirrorTelescope sees first light in the Indian Himalayas. The telescope, commissioned at Devasthal, a hill in Uttarakhand, will help in surveying the sky making it possible to observe several galaxies and other astronomical sources just by starting at the strip of sky that passes overhead. It is the first liquid mirror telescope in the country and the largest in Asia.

Former SC Judge Ranjana Desai is New Press Council of India Chief [14 Jun 2022]

Former Supreme Court judge, Justice (retd.) Ranjana Desai was appointed chairperson of the Press Council of India. She replaces Justice (retd.) C. K. Prasad who vacated office in November 2021. The office of the PCI chairman has been lying vacant since then.

Anand Mahindra, Venu Srinivasan, 2 others nominated as directors on RBI board [14 Jun 2022]

The government nominated industrialists Anand Mahindra, Pankaj Patel, and Venu Srinivasan as well as former IIM-A professor Ravindra Dholakia as part-time non-official directors to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) board. The appointments will be for four years with effect from June 14, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, the RBI said in a statement.

Cabinet approves MoA by India for establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Centre at Colombo, Sri Lanka [14 Jun 2022]

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved a Memorandum of Association (MoA) by India for the establishment of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Technology Transfer Facility (TTF) was signed by the BIMSTEC member countries at the 5th BIMSTEC Summit held at Colombo, Sri Lanka on 30th March 2022. The main objectives of the BIMSTEC TTF are to coordinate, facilitate and strengthen cooperation in technology transfer among the BIMSTEC Member States by promoting the transfer of technologies, sharing of experiences, and capacity building. The TTF shall facilitate the transfer of technologies among the BIMSTEC Member States, amongst other things, in the following priority areas Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Information and Communication Technology, Space technology applications, Agricultural technology, Food processing technology, Pharmaceutical technology automation, New and renewable energy technology automation, New and Renewable energy technology, Oceanography, Nuclear Technology Applications, E-waste, and solid waste management technology, Health Technologies, Technologies pertinent to Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation.

Cabinet clears ‘AGNIPATH’ scheme for recruitment of youth in the Armed Forces [14 Jun 2022]

The Union Cabinet approved an attractive recruitment scheme for Indian youth to serve in the Armed Forces. The scheme is called AGNIPATH and the youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers. AGNIPATH allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years. The AGNIPATH Scheme has been designed to enable a youthful profile of the Armed Forces. It will provide an opportunity to the youth who may be keen to don the uniform by attracting young talent from the society who are more in tune with contemporary technological trends and plough back skilled, disciplined, and motivated manpower into the society.

Cabinet approves Development of New Greenfield Airport Dholera, Ahmedabad [14 Jun 2022]

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for the development of Phase I of New Greenfield Airport at Dholera, Gujarat at an estimated cost of Rs. 1305 crore, to be completed within 48 months. The project is being implemented by Dholera International Airport Company Limited (DIACL), which is a Joint Venture Company comprising the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Government of Gujarat (GoG), and the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) holding equity in the ratio of 51:33:16.

G7 Summit 2022 hosted by Germany [12 Jun 2022]

At the invitation of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the Outreach Sessions of the G7 Summits on 12 and 13 June in virtual format. The UK currently holds the Presidency of the G7 and has invited India, along with Australia, the Republic of Korea, and South Africa, as Guest Countries for the G7 Summit. The meeting was held in hybrid mode. The theme for the summit is Build Back Better and the UK has outlined four priority areas for its Presidency. Group of Seven is an intergovernmental organization that was formed in 1975 and includes the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US. The G7 meets are held annually to discuss issues of common interest like global economic governance, internal security, and energy policy.

Indian diplomat Amandeep Singh Gill appointed as UN chief's Envoy on Technology [11 Jun 2022]

Amandeep Singh Gill of India has been appointed as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ Envoy on Technology. A thought leader in digital technology, Gill is the Chief Executive Officer of the International Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence Research Collaborative (I-DAIR) project, based at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, stated the UN Director general.

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What is Bitcoin?

In 2009, an unknown programmer by the name of Satoshi Nakamoto put forward a whitepaper that proposed a creation of new form of digital currency - cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency functions the same way as regular currencies do in that its used as a means of exchange, unit of account and a store of va →

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

Headquarter: New Delhi Function and Objective of the Organization: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which consolidates various acts & orders that have hitherto handled food-related issues in various Ministries →