DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Aug. 24, 2024

Rajesh Nambiar Appointed NASSCOM President-Designate

Tags: Person in news

Rajesh Nambiar, CMD of Cognizant India, has been appointed as the president-designate of the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM).

An Overview of the News

• Nambiar will succeed Debjani Ghosh after her term ends in November 2024.

• Nambiar will step down as CMD of Cognizant India effective September 2024.

Current Roles and Contributions:

• Serving as the Chairperson of NASSCOM since 2023.

• Member of the NASSCOM Executive Council.

• Executive Vice President (EVP) and CMD of Cognizant India.

• Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cognizant Foundation in India.

Previous Experience:

• Chairman and President of Ciena India, a leading network solutions partner.

• Global Delivery Leader at IBM.

• Led the eastern region in the US at Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS).

• Member of the global board of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF).

NASSCOM Announces New Chairperson

• Appointment: Sindhu Gangadharan, Managing Director of SAP Labs India, has been appointed as the new Chairperson of NASSCOM.

• Previous Role: Gangadharan was previously the Vice Chairperson of NASSCOM.

• Successor: She will succeed Rajesh Nambiar, who has been named the president-designate of NASSCOM.

About NASSCOM:

• Role: Apex body for India's technology industry.

• Established: 1988 as a non-profit organization.

• Membership: Over 3,000 companies, including both Indian and multinational firms.

• Scope: Covers the entire technology industry spectrum.

• Mission: Focuses on policy advocacy and strategic guidance for sector development.

• Founders: Nandan Nilekani and Devang Mehta.

• Headquarters: Noida and New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

India Surpasses China as Largest Buyer of Russian Oil

Tags: Economics/Business

In July, India became the largest buyer of Russian oil, surpassing China, as reported by Reuters on August 22.

An Overview of the News

• India imported 2.07 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian crude, while China imported 1.76 million bpd.

• This marked a significant shift, with India importing 12% more Russian crude than last year, and China reducing its imports by 7.4%.

Factors Influencing the Shift

• China's decline in Russian oil imports is attributed to weakening processing margins among refineries and low domestic demand for fuel.

• Both India and China have taken advantage of discounted Russian oil following Western sanctions and a G7-imposed price cap of $60 per barrel due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Implications for Russia and India

• Russia’s oil and gas revenues have surged, indicating Moscow's success in circumventing Western sanctions.

• An unnamed industry insider from India suggested that India’s demand for Russian oil is expected to increase, provided there are no further sanctions.

• In July, Russian crude accounted for a record 44% of India’s total oil imports.

Delhi's IGI Airport Becomes India's First Net Zero Carbon Emission Airport

Tags: National News

Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi has become the first airport in India to achieve net zero carbon emission status.

An Overview of the News

• The achievement was recognized under the Airport Council International's (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme.

• GMR Group-led Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) operates IGIA.

Early Achievement of Target

• Initially, IGIA aimed to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

• The target was achieved ahead of schedule due to various sustainability initiatives.

Key Sustainability Initiatives

• Adoption of renewable energy sources.

• Development of green airport infrastructure.

• Promotion of electric vehicles at the airport.

Level 5 Net Zero Emission Accreditation

• IGIA achieved Level 5, the highest accreditation level in the ACA programme, in 2024.

• This accreditation signifies a 90% reduction in scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions.

• Residual emissions were offset through approved carbon removal strategies.

JP Nadda Inaugurates First Policy Makers' Forum in New Delhi

Tags: National News

Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda inaugurated the 'First Policy Makers Forum' in New Delhi. The forum runs till 22 August 2024.

An Overview of the News

• Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, the Drugs Controller General of India and Secretary-cum-Scientific Director of IPC, along with Rajiv Wadhawan, Joint Secretary of the Union Health Ministry; Rohith Rathish, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs; and other senior officers of the Union government, were present at the event.

• Policy makers and drug regulators from 15 countries, including Burkina Faso, Ghana, Lebanon and Uganda, participated.

• The forum is hosted by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Key Initiatives Discussed

• Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP): Emphasis on the Janaushadhi Scheme, which provides high-quality, affordable generic medicines across India.

• Ayushman Bharat Scheme: Highlighted as the world's largest government-funded healthcare program, providing insurance coverage to over 500 million people.

Launch of Digital Platforms

• IP Online Portal: A digital platform for making drug standards more accessible globally, aligning with India’s 'Digital India' campaign.

• Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring System (ADRMS): India’s first indigenous software for monitoring adverse drug reactions, enhancing pharmacovigilance.

India’s First National Space Day: August 23, 2024

Tags: Science and Technology Important Days

August 23, 2024 is celebrated as the first National Space Day, marking the historic achievement of the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 mission on the Moon, which took place on this day in 2023.

An Overview of the News

• India became the fourth nation to land a rover on the moon and the first to reach the moon’s southern polar region.

2024 Theme and Celebrations

• Theme: “Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India’s Space Saga” - emphasizing the impact of space exploration on daily life.

• Events: Celebrations at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with live streaming on ISRO’s website and YouTube to engage a national audience.

Mission Background

• Chandrayaan-3 Mission: Launched on July 14, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

• Lander and Rover: The Vikram Lander carried the Pragyaan Rover, which landed near the moon’s southern pole.

National Space Day Declaration

• Prime Minister’s Announcement: Narendra Modi declared August 23 as National Space Day to honor this significant achievement.

• Government Commitment: Reflects India’s dedication to advancing space science and technology.