Current Affairs - July 6, 2024 Current Affairs

Neeraj Chopra, the defending men’s javelin throw champion and India’s first track and field Olympic gold medalist, will lead the 28-member Indian athletics squad at the Paris 2024 Olympics. His historic achievement at the previous Olympics underscores his leadership role in the team, aiming to repeat and further enhance India's success in athletics on the global stage.

Sopna Kallingal, the agri-entrepreneur from Kallingal Plantation in Thrissur, was honoured with the Spice Award 2024 by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research. She was recognized for her innovative approaches to enterprise diversification and integrated crop management, particularly in promoting sustainable spice-based cropping systems. Her achievements underscore her commitment to agricultural innovation and holistic farming practices, combining diverse crops and livestock to optimize productivity and sustainability at Kallingal Plantation.

Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, succeeding Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra. His extensive legal career and experience, highlighted by his previous tenure as a judge in the Orissa High Court, positioned him as the choice for this prominent judicial role in Jharkhand.

India's defence production in fiscal year 2023-24 reached a record high of Rs 1,26,887 crore, marking a growth rate of 16.7% compared to the previous fiscal year. This substantial increase underscores India's advancing capabilities and commitment to bolstering domestic manufacturing in the defence sector, reflecting a significant milestone towards achieving self-reliance.

On July 6, 2024, cooperatives globally will observe the International Day of Cooperatives under the theme "Cooperatives Building a Better Future for All." This annual event emphasizes the significant role cooperatives play in fostering sustainable development and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.

Kerala recently reported the fourth case of amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare brain infection caused by a free-living amoeba found in contaminated waters. This infection has a high fatality rate, emphasizing the need for public health measures to prevent such cases in the future.

Siddhartha Mohanty, who previously served as the Chairman of LIC, has been re-designated as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the company from 30 June 2024. His extensive experience in various roles within LIC, coupled with his educational background in Political Science and Law, positions him as a seasoned leader capable of steering LIC through its strategic objectives in the insurance sector.

Kolkata, Kokrajhar, Jamshedpur, and Shillong will collectively host the 133rd edition of the Durand Cup in 2024. Known as Asia's oldest and India's most prestigious club-based football tournament, the Durand Cup spans from July 27 to August 31, culminating in the final at Kolkata's Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. This tournament, steeped in over a century of tradition, aims to promote football culture across diverse regions of India, making it a significant sporting event for football enthusiasts nationwide.

IRA Mumbai recently partnered with IIT Bombay to advance maritime safety through the development of a software tool for predicting ship trajectories. This collaboration aims to create a homegrown solution to enhance early warning systems and improve planning for rescue operations in scenarios involving disabled ships.

Bajaj Auto made headlines by launching Freedom, the world's pioneering CNG motorcycle. This innovative vehicle represents a significant step towards environmental sustainability and cost efficiency in the automotive sector. Endorsed by Nitin Gadkari for its eco-friendliness, Freedom features a dual-fuel capability (CNG and petrol), offering users substantial savings in daily operating expenses. With a 12.5-litre CNG cylinder and a range of 100 km/kg, it addresses concerns about fossil fuel dependency and pollution. Bajaj's introduction of Freedom underscores its commitment to advancing green technologies and reshaping the future of urban mobility with innovative solutions.

Signaltron, a Bangalore-based firm, provided the indigenous chip-based 4G mobile base station to the Indian Army. This base station, known as Sahyadri LTE, incorporates chips developed by Signalchip, an Indian semiconductor company. This development marks a milestone as it is the first time an Indian system using locally developed chips has been adopted for complex communication technology within the military. Signaltron's solution, procured through the government e-marketplace portal, underscores India's move towards self-reliance in critical defence technologies, enhancing security and operational control.

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) raised its stake in IDFC First Bank to 2.68% by acquiring additional shares through a private placement offer. This move underscores LIC's strategy to strengthen its investment portfolio in the banking sector, enhancing its position as a major shareholder in IDFC First Bank.