Daily Current Affairs- 1 August 2024

Daily Current Affairs- 1st August 2024

NATIONAL

In a first, Periyar Tiger Reserve installs wind turbine in its forests for power generation

• Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady has become the first in India to install a wind turbine for power generation. This innovation will support real-time monitoring cameras and Wi-Fi connectivity,
• The PTR East Division, encompassing 17 forest sections, previously relied on solar power for wireless communication and operational needs. However, the inefficiencies caused by the foggy climate and heavy rainfall often hindered the effectiveness of solar panels. 

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Santosh Kumar Gangwar sworn in as Jharkhand Governor

• Former Union Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar was on July 31 sworn in as the 12th Governor of Jharkhand. Mr. Gangwar, 76, succeeded C.P. Radhakrishnan, who was appointed as the Governor of Maharashtra. 

India Appointed as Vice-Chair of IPEF’s Supply Chain Council

• India has been elected as the Vice-Chair of the Supply Chain Council under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). This appointment highlights India’s critical role in developing a resilient supply chain in the Indo-Pacific region. The election, part of a larger agreement on supply chain resilience, establishes India alongside 13 other IPEF partners in shaping regional supply chain policies. 

Preeti Sudan appointed as the new Chairperson of UPSC

• President of India Droupadi Murmu has appointed Preeti Sudan, a 1983 batch IAS officer and former Union Health Secretary, as the new Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on 31 July 2024. She will replace Dr Manoj Soni, who resigned earlier this month. 

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Wide Web Day

• World Wide Web Day is observed on August 1 each year. The day is marked in honour of the ability of people to browse information freely using the Web. The Web is the tool that billions across the globe use every moment to interact with the global system of interconnected computer systems that is the Internet. 

World Lung Cancer Day

• In 2012, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) decided that every year, August 1 will be observed as World Lung Cancer Day to raise awareness about the disease and the unhealthy lifestyle habits that we must change to stay safe. Since then, August 1 is observed as World Lung Cancer Day every year. 

National Mountain Climbing Day

• National Mountain Climbing Day is observed on August 1. It was initiated to honour Bobby Matthews and his companion Josh Madigan for successfully scaling all 46 peaks of the Adirondack Mountains, located in Northeastern New York. On the same day in 2015, the two conquered the final peak, Whiteface Mountain. On this day, climbers and outdoor enthusiasts often visit mountains, take part in climbing competitions or support initiatives aimed at protecting alpine areas. 

SUMMITS AND MOUs

iDEX and AFMS Sign MoU to Develop Medical Technologies for Armed Forces

• Innovations for Defence Excellence-Defence Innovation Organisation (iDEX-DIO) and Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the Medical Innovations and Research Advancement (MIRA) initiative. 

32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE-2024)

• India will host the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) in New Delhi from August 2-7, 2024, marking a 66-year hiatus since its last hosting in 1958. The conference, held every three years, will take place at the Pusa Institute and focus on - Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems. 

BANKING AND ECONOMY

Shriram Capital gets RBI’s NOD to launch ARC

• Shriram Capital has received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to establish an Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC). The approval, granted after Shriram Capital's application in November 2023. 

ADB to give $200 mn loan to India for solid waste management in 100 cities

• Asian Development Bank and the Government of India recently signed a $ 200 million (about Rs 1,700 crore) loan to improve solid waste management and sanitation in 100 cities across eight states in the country.
• The signatories to the loan agreement for the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 -Comprehensive Municipal Waste Management in Indian Cities Program were Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary, Finance Ministry, and Mio Oka, Country Director for Asian Development Bank (ADB). 

UGRO Capital & SIDBI ink co-lending partnership

• UGRO Capital and SIDBI tie-up aims to offer small businesses timely, affordable credit. UGRO Capital, a data-tech non-banking financial company (NBFC) has entered into a co-lending partnership with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for lending to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).