29th August 2024 Current Affairs

Current Affairs

NATIONAL

Cabinet Approves Setting Up of 12 Industrial Smart Cities In 10 States

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given the green light to 12 new project proposals under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP). This ambitious initiative, with an estimated investment of Rs. 28,602 crore, is set to transform India’s economic geography, creating a robust network of industrial nodes and cities that promise to significantly boost economic growth and enhance global competitiveness.
• The NICDP’s latest phase encompasses 10 states and is strategically planned along 6 major corridors. These industrial areas will be located in:
• Khurpia, Uttarakhand
• Rajpura-Patiala, Punjab
• Dighi, Maharashtra
• Palakkad, Kerala
• Agra and Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
• Gaya, Bihar
• Zaheerabad, Telangana
• Orvakal and Kopparthy, Andhra Pradesh
• Jodhpur-Pali, Rajasthan

INTERNATIONAL

Dhulikhel becomes Nepal’s first ‘healthy city’ and second healthiest city in Asia.

• WHO has declared Dhulikhel Municipality of Kavrepalanchok district as Nepal’s first ‘healthy city’ and second healthiest city in Asia. Since 2014, Dhulikhel Municipality has implemented various programmes to achieve the status.
• Dhulikhel Municipality, which initiated a campaign to become a healthy city, has been monitored by the World Health Organisation since 2021 to achieve the feat of becoming Nepal’s healthiest city. Dhulikhel scored 65.48 points on various indicators for healthy cities, joining the WHO Healthy City Network.  The evaluations were made on various indicators, including citizens’ access to health, their participation in health policy-making, political commitment to health, nutrition, child health and innovative health initiatives such as tuberculosis-free and nutrition-friendly programmes, among others. The municipality is awarded USD 5,000 for implementing various programmes under the Healthy City initiative.
• This news comes amidst reports of Nepal being the third most polluted country in the world, based on satellite-derived particulate matter 2.5 data.

S&T

India’s 2nd Nuclear Missile Submarine Commissioned by Rajnath Singh.

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to commission India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Arighat (S-3), at a quiet event in Visakhapatnam, marking a significant boost to India’s nuclear deterrence and second-strike capability. This submarine, armed with 750-km range K-15 nuclear ballistic missiles, will patrol the Indo-Pacific under India’s strategic command.
• India will soon launch a new class of larger submarines capable of carrying 3,000km range nuclear ballistic missiles with additional missile tubes. The Indian Navy is also set to bolster its fleet with the commissioning of INS Surat (guided missile stealth destroyer), INS Taragiri (stealth guided missile frigate), and INS Vagsheer (Kalveri class attack submarine), with orders for additional submarines expected this year.

SPORTS

Karthik Venkataraman Clinches Second Indian National Title.

• Karthik Venkataraman won the 61st edition of the Indian National Championship after scoring 9/11 points at the event organised by the Haryana Chess Association. This is the second victory in a national championship for Karthik, who had also won the tournament in 2022. Surya Ganguly and Neelash Saha scored as many points as the champion, but finished in second and third place on tiebreaks.
• Karthik had to win his game against Mitrabha Guha to entertain any hopes of winning his second Nationals (he was the champion at the 59the edition held early last year). He employed Caro-Kann Defence against English Opening and won in 58 moves, converting a superior rook-and-pawn ending.

 

Published date : 29 Aug 2024 08:20PM