DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: May 11, 2024

Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla assumes role of Chief of Personnel in the Indian Navy

Tags: Person in news

Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, AVSM, NM, took over as the Chief of Personnel of the Indian Navy on May 10, 2024.

An Overview of the News

Leadership Roles of Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla:

• As Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF), he led important events such as the Presidential Fleet Review and the sea phase of MILAN-22.

• Held key staff positions at Naval Headquarters and contributed to officer training at the Naval Academy.

• Held diplomatic assignments abroad and served as Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Command.

Background of Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla

• Vice Admiral Bhalla, who joined the Indian Navy on 1 January 1989, has served for 35 years in various roles.

• Specialized in communications and electronic warfare and served on several front line warships.

• Commanded several notable ships including INS Nishank, INS Taragiri and INS Beas.

About Indian Navy:

• It is under the command of the President of India and headed by the Chief of the Naval Staff.

• It serves as a blue-water navy, active in areas such as the Persian Gulf, the Horn of Africa and the Strait of Malacca.

• The navy conducts anti-piracy operations and cooperates with regional navies.

• Regular deployments last two to three months and cover the South and East China Sea as well as the western Mediterranean.

Founded - 26 January 1950

Headquarters - Ministry of Defence, New Delhi

Motto(s)- Shaṁ No Varunaḥ (ISO)

transl. 'May the Lord of Water be auspicious unto us'

CCI Approves Greenko Energies' Stake Increase in Sikkim Urja

Tags: State News

Greenko Energies Private Limited's acquisition of additional shares in Sikkim Urja Limited (formerly Teesta Urja Limited) received approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on May 7th, 2024.

An Overview of the News

• Sikkim Urja Limited was established to execute a 1200 MegaWatt hydro power project, comprising 6 units of 200 MW each, in North Sikkim, India.

Acquisition Details:

• Greenko Energies Private Limited, a subsidiary of Greenko Mauritius, received approval to acquire additional shares in Sikkim Urja Limited.

Strategic Implications:

• The approval from CCI allows Greenko Energies to increase its stake in Sikkim Urja Limited.

• This acquisition strengthens Greenko Energies' presence and influence in India's renewable energy sector.

About Sikkim

• Capital: Gangtok

• Admission to union: 16 May 1975

• Bird: Blood pheasant

Coca-Cola India and Hockey India form first partnership for National Women's Hockey League

Tags: Sports

Anandana, Coca-Cola India Foundation has announced its first collaboration with Hockey India for the National Women's Hockey League 2024-2025, marking the inaugural edition of the tournament.

An Overview of the News

• The partnership aims to grow women's hockey by focusing on key aspects such as providing specialized coaching, training equipment, nutritional support and organizing camps and competitions to facilitate development.

• The partnership is in line with Coca-Cola India's #SheTheDifference campaign, which is dedicated to celebrating, empowering, and supporting women.

About National Women's Hockey League 2024–2025:

• The first phase of the tournament started on April 30, 2024, and is scheduled to end on May 9, 2024, in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

• The league consists of eight teams: Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Bengal, Mizoram, Manipur, and Odisha. 

• These teams secured the top eight positions in the 14th Hockey India Senior Women's National Championship 2024, to be held in Pune, Maharashtra, from March 13 to 23, 2024.

World Athletics Day - 7th May

Tags: Important Days

World Athletics Day is celebrated globally on May 7th each year with the goal of encouraging youth participation in athletics.

An Overview of the News

• The primary objective of this day, spearheaded by World Athletics, is to promote awareness about the advantages of physical activity.

• It seeks to inspire young individuals, including schoolchildren, to engage in athletics.

• The theme for the 2024 edition of World Athletics Day is the "World Mile Challenge."

Background of World Athletics Day:

• Initiative: Introduced by the IAAF (now World Athletics) as "Athletics for a Better World" for social responsibility.

• Inception: First observed on 15th May 1996.

Kids' Athletics Day 2024:

• Date: Celebrated on 7th May globally.

• Objective: Encourage children and young people to engage in sports, particularly athletics.

• Importance: Integral part of World Athletics' Kids' Athletics program.

About World Athletics:

• Establishment: Founded on 17th July 1912 in Stockholm, Sweden, after the Olympic Games closing ceremony.

• President: Sebastian Coe.

• Headquarters: Located in Monaco.

World Asthma Day (WAD) - 1st Tuesday of May

Tags: Important Days

World Asthma Day is observed annually on the 1st Tuesday of May to raise awareness of Asthma, a prevalent chronic non-communicable disease affecting both children and adults.

An Overview of the News

• World Asthma Day (WAD) 2024 was observed on May 7th, 2024.

• The annual observance is led by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA).

• The theme for World Asthma Day (WAD) 2024 is "Asthma Education Empowers."

Background of World Asthma Day:

• The first World Asthma Day was observed by GINA in 1998.

• It coincided with the first World Asthma Meeting in Barcelona, Spain, which saw participation from over 35 countries.

About GINA:

• GINA was launched in 1993 in collaboration with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, United States of America (USA), and WHO.

• MD and Chair: Arzu Yorgancioglu (Türkiye).

• Headquarters: Wisconsin, United States of America (USA).

India won 43 medals in the Asian Under-22 and Youth Boxing Championships

Tags: Sports News

The Indian boxing team clinched a remarkable 43 medals at the Asian U-22 and Youth Boxing Championships 2024, held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from April 25 to May 8.

An Overview of the News

• Among these medals, there were 12 gold, 14 silver, and 17 bronze, demonstrating India's prowess in both youth and U-22 categories.

• India secured the second position in the overall medal tally, trailing behind the host nation, Kazakhstan, which amassed a total of 48 medals.

• The U-22 Indian squad contributed significantly, earning a total of 21 medals, comprising seven gold, five silver, and nine bronze.

• Additionally, the youth category added to India's medal haul with 22 medals, including five gold, nine silver, and eight bronze.

• The championship was organized by the Asian Boxing Federation, showcasing the rising talent and competitive spirit within the Asian boxing community.

Tournament Highlights:

Men's Category

• Youth Category:

  • Brijesh secures India's first gold medal in the 48kg category by defeating Tajikistan's Muminov Muinkhodzha in the final.

  • Aryan continues India's success by winning gold in the 51kg category, defeating Kyrgyzstan's Kamilov Zafarbek.

• U-22 Category:

  • Vishvanath Suresh claims India's first gold in the U-22 category (48kg) by defeating Kazakhstan's Karap Yernar.

  • Akash Gorkha secures India's third gold in the U-22 category (60kg) by defeating Kazakhstan's Ruslan Kuzeubayev.

Women's Category:

• U-22 Category:

  • Olympic boxer Preeti clinches gold in the 54kg category by defeating Kazakhstan's Bazarova Elina.

  • Muskan secures gold in the 75kg category by defeating Uzbekistan's Zokirova Aziza, contributing to India's seventh U-22 gold medal.