Current Affairs - National

The Smart Cities Mission in India, originally scheduled to conclude on June 30, 2024, has been extended until March 31, 2025. This extension reflects the government's commitment to further developing technologically advanced and sustainable urban environments across the country. The mission aims to enhance infrastructure, promote sustainability, and improve the quality of life for citizens through innovative urban solutions.

NITI Aayog has initiated the 'Sampoornata Abhiyan', also known as the Completeness Campaign, to accelerate development in 112 Aspirational Districts and 500 Aspirational Blocks. This campaign focuses on enhancing key indicators like healthcare access, nutrition, and agricultural productivity to foster inclusive growth in these regions. NITI Aayog's efforts aim to ensure comprehensive progress across these areas, addressing longstanding developmental gaps and promoting holistic development in India.

The 1st International Conference on Steel Slag Road, organized by CSIR, took place in New Delhi. The conference highlighted the utilization of steel slag in road construction, emphasizing its benefits such as strength, durability, and eco-friendliness. This technology aims to address India's infrastructure needs by using processed steel slag as an aggregate, reducing the dependency on natural aggregates and promoting sustainable construction practices.

The Simla Agreement, signed on 2nd July 1972, was a significant diplomatic effort between India and Pakistan following the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. It aimed to establish peace, normalise relations, and resolve conflicts through bilateral negotiations, particularly focusing on issues like Kashmir and the Line of Control (LoC). Despite its limitations and subsequent developments such as nuclearisation, the agreement remains a foundational document in the context of Indo-Pakistani relations and South Asian geopolitics.

Tata Group has been identified as India’s most valuable brand with a reported value of US$ 28.6 billion, marking a significant increase from the previous year. This underscores Tata Group's strong market presence and strategic brand management, positioning it ahead of other prominent entities like Infosys and HDFC Group in terms of brand value.