Current Affairs - December 27, 2024 Current Affairs

The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States, symbolizing strength and freedom. It has been associated with the nation since its depiction on the Great Seal in 1782. Once on the brink of extinction, the bald eagle's population has recovered significantly due to stringent conservation laws, with current estimates surpassing 315,000. This majestic bird remains a powerful emblem of American identity.

Nvidia developed the Jetson Orin Nano Super, a powerful generative AI supercomputer for edge devices, delivering 67 TOPS of performance. This represents a 1.7x improvement over its predecessor, supporting advanced AI models such as vision transformers and large language models (LLMs). With a memory bandwidth of 102 GB/s and a 1.7 GHz CPU, it is revolutionizing AI applications in smart systems, robotics, and more, making it a significant advancement in AI technology.

The Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 is scheduled to take place at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, Odisha. The league will be held in two phases, with the first phase running from December 28 to January 18, and the second phase starting on January 19. The semifinals and finals will take place on January 31 and February 1, 2025, respectively.

Dr Arunish Chawla, a 1992-batch IAS officer from the Bihar cadre, has been appointed as Secretary of, the Department of Revenue, in the Ministry of Finance. With a strong academic background, including a Master’s and Doctorate in Economics from the London School of Economics, Dr. Chawla has previously served in significant roles such as Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Managing Director of Patna Metro, and Senior Economist at the IMF. His extensive experience in administration and economics makes him well-suited for this critical position.

Maheshwari Chauhan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka represented Rajasthan and won the Skeet Mixed Team Title at the National Shooting Championship in New Delhi. They narrowly defeated the Uttar Pradesh team with a score of 44-43. Their performance secured the gold medal for Rajasthan, showcasing their skill and teamwork in a highly competitive event.

RINL, the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, won the Gold Award at the Andhra Pradesh State Energy Conservation Awards 2024 for its significant energy-saving efforts in the iron and steel sector. This award recognized the company's innovative methods, particularly in utilizing waste energy to improve energy efficiency. The recognition was presented by the State Energy Conservation Mission of Andhra Pradesh, reflecting RINL's leadership in sustainability and energy conservation within the industry.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) is planning to invest $11 billion in a new refinery and petrochemical project in Andhra Pradesh. The project will include a 9 million metric ton per year refinery and an ethylene cracker, with a petrochemical intensity of 35%. BPCL has already initiated pre-project work, including land acquisition, for this large-scale development in southern Andhra Pradesh.

India's projected real GDP growth rate for FY25 and FY26 is estimated at 6.5%, supported by robust economic fundamentals despite some recent challenges. While Q2 FY25 GDP growth eased to 5.4% from 6.7% in Q1 FY25 due to factors like a decline in manufacturing PMI and a slowdown in private consumption, inflation trends show improvement with CPI falling to 5.5% in November. The 6.5% projection reflects optimism for sustained economic growth.

Vijayveer Sidhu from Punjab clinched his first national title in the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol event at the 67th National Shooting Championship. He triumphed over Rio Olympian Gurpreet Singh with a score of 28-25 in the final. Despite qualifying second behind Ankur Goel, who led the qualifications with 585 points, Vijayveer showcased exceptional skill and composure in the finals to claim the championship.

Queen’s University Belfast and Coventry University have received approval to establish campuses at Gujarat’s GIFT City. This decision aligns with the relaxed regulations introduced by the International Financial Services Authority (IFSCA) in 2022, which allow foreign universities to set up campuses in India. This initiative follows a trend started by Australian institutions and marks a significant step in the expansion of global educational institutions within India, especially at GIFT City, Gujarat.

China has approved the construction of the world's largest dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, with an estimated cost of $137 billion. This ambitious project, part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, is expected to generate over 300 billion kWh of electricity annually. The dam will be constructed at a massive gorge in the Himalayan region, where the river makes a dramatic U-turn before entering Arunachal Pradesh in India and flowing into Bangladesh. This development underscores China's focus on large-scale infrastructure projects.

The Dr. Ambedkar Samman Scholarship Scheme was launched by the Delhi government in New Delhi. This initiative, announced by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, aims to fund SC/ST students pursuing higher education abroad fully. It reflects the government's commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for marginalized communities. The scheme, approved by the AAP Cabinet in 2019, plans to support 100 Dalit students annually for overseas studies.