Current Affairs - July 27, 2024 Current Affairs

The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) was formed on June 6, 2007, under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The WCCB is headquartered in New Delhi and plays a crucial role in combating organized wildlife crime in India. It became fully operational in 2008 and focuses on various functions such as data collection, advisory roles, and international cooperation to curb wildlife offences and prevent illegal trade.

The Government has approved the setting up of 7 PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks with world-class infrastructure. These parks are intended to enhance the textile sector's infrastructure, aiming to generate significant direct and indirect employment. Each park is expected to provide 1 lakh direct and 2 lakh indirect employment opportunities. The initiative includes substantial investments and the establishment of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the implementation of these projects, particularly in Tamil Nadu, to boost exports and generate employment in the textile sector.

India has taken over the Chair of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) for the year 2024-25, succeeding China. This transition, formalized on July 25, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand, highlights India's leadership in disaster risk reduction and climate resilience. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has become a key player in advancing disaster risk reduction initiatives, including the establishment of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). The appointment of Shri Rajendra Singh from India's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) as Chair underscores this commitment.

World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on July 28th. This day serves as a global platform to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, a group of infectious diseases that cause inflammation of the liver and can lead to severe liver disease and cancer. The date of July 28th was chosen to honour the birthday of Dr. Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus and developed the first vaccine for it. The commemoration underscores the critical need for immediate and decisive actions to combat hepatitis worldwide, as highlighted by the 2024 theme, “It’s Time for Action.”

Chief Minister Bhajanlal of Rajasthan announced a 10% reservation for Agniveers in recruiting positions for police, forest guard, and jail guard roles. This decision aligns with similar announcements made by other BJP-ruled states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Uttarakhand. The Agnipath scheme, launched in 2022, involves recruiting youth for a four-year contract in the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and the reservation aims to provide these individuals with additional opportunities in state government jobs.

On July 26, 2024, India and the USA signed their first-ever Cultural Property Agreement (CPA) during the 46th World Heritage Committee meeting in New Delhi. This agreement aims to combat the illicit trafficking of Indian antiquities to the USA and aligns with the 1970 UNESCO Convention, highlighting a significant step towards protecting India's cultural heritage. The agreement restricts the importation of specific archaeological and ethnological materials into the USA and facilitates their repatriation to India if seized, reflecting a commitment to cultural heritage preservation and aligning with India’s broader cultural diplomacy strategy.

Suhel Ajaz Khan, who is currently serving as the Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has also been concurrently accredited as the Ambassador to Yemen. This dual role involves representing India's interests in Yemen from his base in Riyadh. Yemen is a sovereign state located in the southern Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the Indian Ocean. This appointment highlights Khan's expanded diplomatic responsibilities in the region.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $200 million loan for the Nagpur Metro Urban Mobility Project to enhance and expand metro rail connectivity. The project includes the construction of 43.8 km of elevated rail corridors with 32 stations, integrating with city transport services, promoting non-motorized transport, and developing a 5-year action plan. ADB, headquartered in the Philippines and led by President Masatsugu Asakawa, plays a crucial role in funding and supporting infrastructure projects across Asia.

The revised Model Skill Loan Scheme introduced by the Centre offers collateral-free loans up to Rs. 7.5 lakh. This scheme aims to provide financial support for advanced skill development courses, removing financial barriers for the nation's youth. By including Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), NBFC-Micro Finance Institutions (NBFC-MFIs), and small finance banks as eligible lenders, the scheme seeks to expand access to high-cost skill courses that are essential for meeting the demands of emerging industries, thus empowering young people to enhance their skills without the burden of collateral requirements.

OpenAI, the company known for its revolutionary AI model ChatGPT, announced the development of an AI-powered search engine called SearchGPT. This initiative aims to challenge Google's dominance in the $200 billion search market and signifies a significant advancement in AI technology. OpenAI is currently testing a prototype of SearchGPT, designed to combine the capabilities of their AI models with web information to provide fast and accurate answers with relevant sources. The prototype is available to a select group of users, with plans to integrate it into ChatGPT in the future.

India’s first integrated agricultural export facility is being developed at Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai. This initiative, valued at Rs. 284.19 crore, aims to streamline logistics, reduce multiple handling, and extend the shelf life of agricultural products, thereby enhancing India's export capacity. The facility will support prominent export items such as non-basmati rice, maize, spices, onion, and wheat. It will also include cold storage and frozen storage facilities, ultimately empowering farmers and small exporters, creating employment opportunities, and stimulating rural development.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was established on July 27, 1939, originally named the Crown Representatives Police. The force was created to maintain internal security during political turmoil in the princely states of India. It was later renamed CRPF on December 28, 1949, and has since evolved into a central paramilitary force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, playing a significant role in law and order, counter-insurgency, VIP protection, and disaster management.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is collaborating with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the Ramses project to study the Apophis asteroid. This collaboration focuses on monitoring the 375-meter asteroid Apophis, which is expected to pass 32,000 km from Earth in 2029. The Ramses spacecraft, developed for this mission, will closely approach and follow the asteroid to gather valuable data and assess potential threats to Earth. This international partnership highlights the importance of joint efforts in space exploration and planetary defence.

Veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, known for his acclaimed films such as "Mr India", "Bandit Queen", and "Elizabeth", has been appointed as the festival director for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Kapur will oversee the 55th and 56th editions of the festival, held annually in Goa. His career began with the family drama "Masoom" in 1983, and he gained international recognition with "Bandit Queen" and "Elizabeth". This appointment marks his return to IFFI, where he previously led the international competition jury.