Current Affairs - August 2, 2024 Current Affairs

India and Vietnam are collaborating to develop the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Lothal, Gujarat. This partnership, marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, aims to celebrate and preserve the shared maritime heritage of both nations. The NMHC will showcase historical and cultural ties through artefact exchanges and shared expertise in design and technology. Located in Saragwala village, the complex's first phase is already more than 55% complete and is expected to open next year.

The three-day event for the Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum was held in New Delhi from August 1-3, 2024. Organized by the GLAM Division of the Union Ministry of Culture, this event marked a significant moment in India's cultural landscape. The 'State Museum Conclave' brought together key stakeholders, including Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Resident Commissioners of State governments, museum directors, and other cultural experts to discuss the creation of the world's largest museum in New Delhi.

The Electronic Human Resource Management System (e-HRMS) introduced by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh is designed to benefit government employees by streamlining and enhancing the management of their service matters through digitization. This system facilitates data-driven decisions related to training and personnel management, reduces transaction time and costs, and improves access to digital records, thus providing instant access to service details for all government employees (central and state) for better HR management.

The India International Hospitality Expo (IHE) 2024 will be held at the India Expo Centre & Mart in Greater Noida, Delhi NCR, from August 3rd to 6th. This seventh edition of the expo is expected to be a landmark event in the hospitality sector, featuring over 1000 exhibitors and more than 20,000 B2B buyers. The event will also include co-located hospitality-related events and international partnerships, enhancing its significance and offering a comprehensive industry showcase.

Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) partnered with RajCOMP Info Services Ltd (RISL) to enhance public service delivery and promote energy efficiency in Rajasthan. This collaboration utilizes the extensive e-Mitra network to offer UJALA products and services, including LED lighting and efficient cooling systems, on RISL's e-Mitra portal, thus promoting energy-efficient solutions throughout the state.

Kashmir City was awarded the prestigious Certificate of World Craft City by the World Crafts Council International in a ceremony held in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. This recognition highlights Kashmir's rich cultural heritage and craftsmanship, making it the fourth Indian city to receive this honour, following Jaipur, Mamallapuram, and Mysore. The award emphasizes the global significance of Kashmir's traditional crafts.

The Assam government is preparing for an impressive Jhumur dance performance involving 8,000 tea tribe artists. Jhumur is a traditional dance linked to the tea tribe communities in Assam, performed mainly during the Autumn season. This dance, characterized by rhythmic movements and accompanied by musical instruments like the Madal, flute, and Taals, reflects the everyday life and emotions of the community. This grand event highlights the cultural significance of Jhumur in Assam's heritage.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, along with his wife Anjali Pichai, was honoured by their alma mater, IIT Kharagpur. Pichai was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) degree during a ceremony in San Francisco. This honour acknowledged his significant contributions to the field of technology and his leadership at one of the world’s most influential companies. The event highlighted the global impact of IIT Kharagpur and fulfilled the aspirations of Pichai's family regarding higher education.

IIT Delhi transferred two indigenous healthcare technologies under the MeitY-funded NNetRA project. These technologies include the "DNA Aptamer for Prostate Cancer Detection" to HUMMSA Biotech Pvt. Ltd. and the "Photonic Chip based Spectrometric Biosensor" for pathogen detection to UNINO Healthcare Private Limited. The Photonic Chip, developed by Prof. Joby Joseph's team, is noted for its rapid and accurate pathogen detection capabilities.

On July 31, 2024, at the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva, the Ministry of Ayush, the Government of India, and the WHO signed a landmark Donor Agreement. This agreement specifies the financial terms for implementing the activities of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. The Indian government committed US$ 85 million over ten years to support the centre, recognizing it as a key hub for traditional medicine practices.

India retained its position as the 8th largest global agriculture exporter in 2023, with an export value of $51 billion, down from $55 billion in 2022. Despite a decline in export value, India maintained its ranking due to the overall decrease in agricultural exports among top exporters, except for Brazil, the EU, and Thailand. Geopolitical issues and export bans on wheat, rice, and sugar contributed to the decline in India's agricultural exports.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has received Stage-I approval from its Board of Directors to construct a greenfield marketing terminal in Bihta, Patna, Bihar. This project involves relocating the existing marketing terminal and pipeline pump station in Patna and is estimated to cost Rs 1,698.67 crore. The new terminal will be situated on the Barauni-Kanpur and Patna-Motihari-Baitalpur Pipelines, enhancing the infrastructure in Patna.