Daily Current Affairs- 4 July 2024

Daily Current Affairs- 4th July 2024

NATIONAL

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy Inaugurates DMF Gallery in Shastri Bhawan

• Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated DMF gallery in Shastri Bhawan Minister of State Shri Satish Chandra Dubey was also present. The DMF gallery will showcase products of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) formed under District Mineral Foundation/Pradan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojna & SHGs supported by Mining companies under their Corporate Social Responsibility, in the premises of Shastri Bhawan. 

SPORTS

Hardik, First Indian All-Rounder to be ranked No.1 in ICC T20I

• Hardik Pandya has become the first Indian all-rounder to be ranked No.1 in the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 Internationals (T20I). According to the ICC ranking released on 3 July 2024, Hardik Pandya was ranked No.1 along with Sri Lanka captain Wanindu Hasaranga. 

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Puma India ropes in Gen Z cricketers Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy as brand ambassadors

• Sports brand Puma India, has appointed Riyan Parag and Nitish Kumar Reddy, country’s promising cricketers and batters as brand ambassadors, This is in line with the brand’s commitment to nurturing young talent and solidifying the sports brand’s connect with youth culture in the country. 

Rajinder Khanna Appointed as New Additional NSA and more

• The government has recently made some changes in the National Security Council (NSC) by making several high-profile appointments. Former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief Rajinder Khanna has been promoted to Additional National Security Adviser (NSA). T V Ravichandran and Pavan Kapoor have also been appointed as Deputy NSAs. 

Champai Soren resigns as Jharkhand CM

• Champai Soren, who had taken oath as the 12th chief minister of Jharkhand on February 2 after Hemant Soren's arrest, gave his resignation to Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan in the presence of the JMM executive president. 

IMPORTANT DAYS

USA Independence Day

• Every year, US Independence Day is celebrated on July 4. This year, the Fourth of July falls on Thursday, It is a federal holiday in the United States which commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America. 

NIC & Spices Board of India Signed MoU

• The National Informatics Centre (NIC) and the Spices Board of India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop Artificial intelligence (AI) tools for detecting and classifying large cardamom diseases in Sikkim.
• The project, spearheaded by NIC’s Centre of Excellence in AI in Kolkata, aims to analyze images of cardamom leaves to identify diseases early. This initiative follows three months of discussions and marks a significant step in leveraging AI for agricultural advancements in Sikkim. 

RANKING

IMF releases AI Preparedness Index tracks 174 economies, including India

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released an Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index (AIPI) Dashboard on their website on June 25, 2024, tracking 174 economies globally for AI readiness. The Index ranks India at the 72nd position, with Bangladesh (0.38) at 113, Sri Lanka (0.43) at 92, and China (0.63) at 31, Singapore (0.80) topped the overall index. 

BANKING AND ECONOMY

ICICI Bank launches Sapphiro Forex Card for students

• Private sector lender ICICI Bank launched a pre-paid Sapphiro Forex Card, crafted specifically for students who are going abroad for higher education.
• The card, powered by Visa, provides exclusive benefits and convenience to students and their parents to manage education-related expenses abroad like admission fees, course-related fees and other day-to-day expenses, including travel, dining and groceries, among others, the bank said in a statement. 

Paytm Launches ‘Health Saathi’ Plan at ₹35 per Month

• One 97 Communications Limited (OCL) that owns the Paytm brand, has announced the launch of 'Paytm Health Saathi', an exclusive health and income protection plan for its merchant partners, available on the ‘Paytm for Business’ app, This initiative is part of Paytm's ongoing efforts to support its vast network of merchant partners by providing them with affordable, comprehensive healthcare benefits.