Current Affairs - National

The Chenab Bridge, part of the Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project, spans the Chenab River gorge in Jammu and Kashmir. It stands as the world's highest steel arch rail bridge, towering over the Chenab River at a height of 359 meters (approximately 1,178 feet), surpassing even the height of the Eiffel Tower. This engineering marvel by Indian Railways is a crucial link that will connect the Kashmir Valley to the national railway network, demonstrating significant progress in infrastructure development despite challenging geology, topography, and weather conditions.

India is poised to become the sixth country globally to launch its own Deep Sea Mission. This initiative aims to explore ocean depths, develop indigenous technologies like the Matsyayaan 6000 submersible, and advance ocean sciences for sustainable marine resource management. The mission underscores India's commitment to pioneering deep-sea exploration and enhancing its capabilities in oceanographic research and technology development.

Indian Railways achieved a milestone by being recognized in the Limca Book of Records for organizing the largest public service event, attended by a staggering 40,19,516 people across 2,140 venues. The event, which took place on February 26, 2024, marked the inauguration of several railway infrastructure projects, including road over/under railway bridges and the laying of foundation stones for new railway stations, underscoring Indian Railways' significant role in national development and public service initiatives.

The Malabar River Festival 2024, featuring the International White Water Kayaking Championship, will be hosted in Kerala's Kozhikode. This event will showcase the thrilling sport of white-water kayaking across several rivers including Thusaharagiri, Chalipuzha, and Iruvazhinjipuzha, attracting participants from around the world.

The India-IORA Cruise Tourism Conference concluded in New Delhi on June 14. The conference brought together officials and experts from member states of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to discuss and foster cooperation in cruise, coastal, and marine tourism across the region. New Delhi hosted the event, which aimed to enhance collaboration and strategic partnerships among stakeholders involved in promoting tourism within the Indian Ocean Rim.