22nd August, 2024 Current Affairs

NATIONAL
Strategic Alliance between NMCG, IIT (BHU) and Denmark unveils innovative Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers (SLCR) Project in Varanasi

• The Green Strategic Partnership between the Governments of India and Denmark has fostered significant collaboration leading to the establishment of the Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers (SLCR) in Varanasi. The alliance is a unique tripartite initiative between Government of India (Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation), the Indian Institute of Technology - Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU), and Government of Denmark, to bring excellence in small river rejuvenation and management.
• The SLCR aims to leverage the expertise of both nations to rejuvenate the river Varuna using sustainable approaches. Its objectives include creating a collaborative platform for government bodies, knowledge institutions and local communities to share insights and develop solutions for clean river water. The initiative features a hybrid lab model at the IIT-BHU and an on-field living lab at the Varuna River to test and scale solutions in real-world settings. The SLCR has a robust institutional and appraisal mechanism built into it to ensure the necessary due diligence, rigor in its functioning and for ensuring excellence in river management.
• The Indo-Danish Joint Steering Committee (JSC) is the highest forum for SLCR which provides strategic guidance and reviews progress. The Project Review Committee (PRC), with members from National Mission on Clean Ganga (NMCG), Central Water Commission (CWC), Central Ground Water Borad (CGWB), IIT-BHU and Denmark's Urban Sector Counsellor, will oversee quality control at project level.

Indian Navy Signs MoU with BEML Ltd

• The Indian Navy has signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BEML Ltd., a leading defence and heavy engineering manufacturer, on August 20, 2024. This strategic partnership, concluded at the Naval Headquarters in New Delhi, marks a pivotal step towards bolstering indigenous marine engineering capabilities in alignment with the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• The collaboration aims to enhance self-reliance in defence production, focusing on the Indigenous Design, Development, Manufacture, Testing, and Product Support of critical marine equipment and systems, thereby reducing dependence on foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

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INTERNATIONAL
PM Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli troops not to leave Gaza-Egypt border

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has denied that he agreed to withdraw military forces from the Gaza-Egypt border as part of a potential ceasefire deal with Hamas.
• The office of Mr. Netanyahu called the reports incorrect after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Israel has accepted withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Philadelphi Corridor, a key border area between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

SPORTS
Jay Shah To Be Named ICC Chairman

• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah is all set to replace the incumbent Greg Barclay as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). His decision comes after being informed of Jay Shah’s intentions to replace him in November. Shah has the backing of cricket boards from England and Australia, and hence, has the numbers to be crowned as the chief of the ICC.
• There are the only four Indians who have headed ICC in the past. Shah, who is also the son of India’s home minister Amit Shah, will become the third to do so when he officially replaces Barclay in November.

Published date : 22 Aug 2024 05:11PM