Daily Current Affairs- 6 July 2024

Daily Current Affairs- 6th July 2024

NATIONAL

Bajaj Rolls Out World’s First CNG Bike

• Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday launched Bajaj Auto’s new bike Freedom, touted to be the world’s first CNG motorcycle, the minister called the bike “eco-friendly” and “sustainable”. It has a 12.5-litre (2 kg) CNG cylinder with a range of 100 km/kg, and users can switch between CNG and petrol modes via a switch on the left handlebar. 

SPORTS

Kolkata, Kokrajhar, Jamshedpur & Shillong to host 133rd Durand Cup

• The 133rd edition of the Durand Cup will kick off on 27 July 2024. Asia’s and India’s oldest club-based football tournament will end on 31 August 2024, The 133rd Durand Cup matches will be held in Kolkata, Kokrajhar (Assam), Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), and Shillong (Meghalaya). With the final being played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata, West Bengal. 

BPCL Partners with Indian Olympic Association as Principal Sponsor

• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a 'Maharatna' and a Fortune Global 500 Company, has proudly announced its partnership with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as the official principal partner for four years, starting from Paris Olympics '24 through Los Angeles Olympics '28. 

OBITUARY

Veteran Actor Smriti Biswas Dies Aged 100

• Veteran actor Smriti Biswas died on July 3 at the age of 100. The actor, best known for her work in Bengali, Hindi, and Marathi films, breathed her last at her house in Nashik due to age-related illness. Social media too is flooded with condolence posts for Smriti Biswas with many sharing pictures of the actor from her various films. 

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Dhirendra Ojha Appointed Principal Spokesperson of Central Government

• Senior Indian Information Service (IIS) officer Dhirendra K Ojha has been appointed as the principal spokesperson of the Central Government. Ojha, a 1990-batch officer, will also hold the charge of the principal director general, Press Information Bureau .Ojha succeeds Sheyphali B Sharan, who has been appointed as the director general of the Publications Division. Sharan, also a 1990-batch IIS officer, was given the charge of principal director general, PIB on April 1 this year. 

SUMMITS & MOUs

Ministry of Rural Development and Convergence Energy Services Limited signs MoU to facilitate Green Mobility for SHG Women

• The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) signed an MoU with Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), a wholly owned subsidy of EESL, to help facilitate “Sustainable Transport for Rural Entrepreneurs through Electric Bicycles” (STREE) for Self Help Group (SHG) Women under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). STREE intends to empower the rural economy, especially the rural women by providing them access to green mobility through the introduction of electric bicycles. 

IRS inks MoU with IIT Bombay to collaborate on developing ship trajectory prediction tool

• The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) to develop a ship trajectory prediction tool aimed at improving maritime safety. 

DPIIT signs MoU with NCAER for Development of Framework & Assessment of Logistics Cost in India

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry and National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi for the development of Framework & Assessment of Logistics Cost in India. The MoU was signed by Secretary and Operations Director, NCAER, Dr. Anil Sharma and Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Dr S K Ahirwar; the occasion was graced by Secretary, DPIIT, shri Rajesh Kumar Singh. 

BANKING AND ECONOMY

ENGIE Signs ₹14.6 Billion Loan with ADB for 400 MW Solar Project in Gujarat

• ENGIE group has signed a loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a 400 MW solar photovoltaic power project in Surendranagar District, Gujarat.
• ADB was the lead arranger for the loan of ₹14.6 billion (~$175.9 million), with ADB and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank providing ₹7.3 billion (~$87.42 million) each, this is the second project that ADB has financed for ENGIE in India, following the financing of the group’s main project in 2020. 

LIC launches project 'Jeevan Samarth' to meet customers' evolving needs

• The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) undertook an agency transformation project, 'Jeevan Samarth,' to meet the evolving needs of customers.
• The life insurance giant has partnered with A T Kearney to undertake the transformation project by reviewing the existing agency framework of LIC on an end-to-end basis.
• The project will review and revamp operations at all levels. CEO Siddhartha Mohanty emphasized aligning with industry changes and providing insurance solutions.