DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: July 25, 2024

Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing Assumes Role of Acting President of Myanmar

Tags: Person in news International News

On July 22, 2024, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the Prime Minister of Myanmar and Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC), assumed the role of Acting President.

An Overview of the News

• He succeeded Acting President Myint Swe, who was suffering from psychomotor retardation and malnutrition.

• As Acting President, Min Aung Hlaing will also lead the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC), an 11-member body responsible for security and defense matters in Myanmar.

• He will oversee important national decisions, particularly those related to security and military affairs.

About Min Aung Hlaing

• Chairman of SAC since February 2021 coup.

• Appointed himself Prime Minister in August 2021.

• Joined the military in 1974, became a senior general by 2013.

• First DSA graduate to lead a coup and become Commander-in-Chief.

About Myanmar

• Capital - Naypyidaw

• Official Language - Burmese

• President - Min Aung Hlaing (acting)

• SAC President and Prime Minister - Min Aung Hlaing

• SAC Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister – Soe Win

Abhinav Bindra Wins IOC’s Olympic Order Award, First Indian to Receive Honor

Tags: Awards

Abhinav Bindra, former Indian rifle shooter and the first Indian to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics, was awarded the Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

An Overview of the News

• Abhinav Bindra is the first Indian to receive this prestigious award. The ceremony will be held during the 142nd IOC Session in Paris, France on August 10, 2024.

• World Championship Gold: Bindra became the first Indian to win a World Championship gold in the 10-meter Air Rifle Men shooting event at the 49th International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Championship in Zagreb, Croatia, in 2006.

• Olympic Gold Medal: He won India’s first individual gold medal at the Olympics in the men’s 10m Air Rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

About Abhinav Bindra

• Commonwealth Games Achievements

  • 2002 Commonwealth Games: Gold in 10m Air Rifle pairs and Silver in singles, held in Manchester, UK.

  • 2006 Commonwealth Games: Gold in 10m Air Rifle pairs, held in Melbourne, Australia.

  • 2010 Commonwealth Games: Gold in 10m Air Rifle pairs, held in Delhi, India.

  • 2014 Commonwealth Games: Individual Gold in the 10m Air Rifle event, held in Glasgow, Scotland.

• Awards

  • Arjuna Award: Honored in 2000.

  • Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award: Youngest recipient in 2001 at the age of 18.

  • Padma Bhushan: Awarded for Sports by the Government of India in 2009.

Olympic Order Award

• Established in 1975, replacing the Olympic Diploma of Merit.

• Awarded to individuals who significantly contribute to the Olympic movement.

• Recipients are chosen by the IOC's Executive Board.

International Olympic Committee (IOC)

• Founded on 23 June 1894, as a not-for-profit organization.

• President: Thomas Bach.

• Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.

Assam Unveils Amrit Brikshya Andolan 2.0 App to Boost 3 Crore Tree Planting Campaign

Tags: State News

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Amrit Brikshya Andolan 2.0 app on July 19, 2024.

An Overview of the News

• The app enables individuals to register or renew their participation in the tree-planting campaign.

• The initiative aims to plant 3 crore saplings across Assam from August 1 to 15, 2024.

• The state has a total of 4 crore saplings, with 1 crore reserved for replacements.

Implementation and Distribution

• 4,000 distribution points have been established throughout the state for efficient sapling distribution.

• Saplings will be sourced from the State Government's nurseries.

Long-Term Goals

• The state government plans to plant 10 crore saplings in the coming years.

• The initiative highlights Assam’s commitment to environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation.

About Assam:

• It is a state located in the northeastern region of India. 

• It is bounded by Bhutan to the north, Arunachal Pradesh to the east, Nagaland to the northeast, Manipur to the southeast, Mizoram to the south and West Bengal to the west.

• Wildlife: Contains Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park and Nameri National Park.

  • Language: Assamese 

  • Formation (as a state) - 26 January 1950

  • Capital - Dispur

  • Chief Minister - Himanta Biswa Sarma

  • Governor - Gulab Chand Kataria

  • Rajya Sabha - 7 seats

  • Lok Sabha - 14 seats

  • Official Dance - Bihu Dance

  • Official river - Brahmaputra

Telangana CM Launches 'Rajiv Gandhi Civils Abhayahastam' Scheme

Tags: State News

On July 20, 2024, Anumula Revanth Reddy, the Chief Minister (CM) of Telangana, launched the 'Rajiv Gandhi Civils Abhayahastam' scheme.

An Overview of the News

• 'Rajiv Gandhi Civils Abhayahastam' Scheme launch took place at the Praja Bhavan in Hyderabad, Telangana.

• Under this scheme, financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh will be provided to Telangana's Civil Services aspirants who have qualified for the Mains exams of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

• This is the first time in the state's history that the government has provided financial support for UPSC Mains preparation.

'Rajiv Gandhi Civils Abhayahastam' Scheme:

• Objective: Break down financial barriers for aspiring civil servants from Telangana.

• Beneficiaries: Around 400 aspirants from the Telangana region who qualify for the Mains every year.

• Financial Support: Can be availed only once in their attempt to clear the civil services exam.

• Financial Support Provider

  • Organization: Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL)

  • Initiative Name: Noble Initiative for Rewarding Mains Aspirants of the National Civil Services Examination (NIRMAN)

• Eligibility Criteria

  • Residency Requirement: Candidates must be permanent residents of Telangana.

  • Eligible Categories: SC, ST, OBC, Women, and EWS.

  • Income Limit: Family annual income must be less than Rs 8 lakh.

About Telangana

• It is a state located in south-central India on the high Deccan Plateau.

• It is the eleventh largest state in India by area.

• Telangana was carved out of the northwestern part of Andhra Pradesh on June 2, 2014 and became the newly formed state of Telangana with Hyderabad as the capital.

• Telangana is bordered by Maharashtra to the north, Chhattisgarh to the northeast, Karnataka to the west, and Andhra Pradesh to the east and south.

• As of 2019, the state of Telangana is divided into 33 districts.

  • Capital - Hyderabad

  • Governor - C. P. Radhakrishnan

  • Chief Minister -  Revanth Reddy

  • Rajya Sabha - 7 seats

  • Lok Sabha - 17 seats

Kristen Michal Sworn in as Estonia's New Prime Minister

Tags: Person in news International News

On 23rd July 2024, President of Estonia Alar Karis swore in Kristen Michal, Chairman of the centrist Reform Party, as the new Prime Minister (PM) of Estonia.

An Overview of the News

• Kristen Michal succeeded Kaja Kallas, who resigned as PM of Estonia on July 15, 2024 to become the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union (EU).

• Kristen Michal previously served as the Minister of Climate since April 2023.

• On 22nd July 2024, Riigikogu, the parliament of Estonia, authorized Kristen Michal to form a new government with 64 Members of Parliament (MP) at the 101-seat parliament voting in favor, with 27 opposed.

• The new coalition agreement was triggered by the resignation of Kaja Kallas.

• The new coalition, made up of the Reform Party, the Social Democratic Party (SDE), and Estonia 200, is a continuation of its predecessor, which had been in office since May 2023.

About Kristen Michal:

• Kristen Michal is a first-time PM from the ruling Center-Right Reform Party.

• He served as an advisor to then PM Siim Kallas in 2002 and as Secretary General of the Estonian Reform Party from 2003 to 2011.

• He has been a member of the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Riigikogu (2004-2007, 2012-2015, and 2016-2021).

• Previously, he also served as the Minister of Justice (2011-2012) and the Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure (2015-2016).

About Estonia

• Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country located by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe.

• Bordered by:

  • North: Gulf of Finland across from Finland

  • West: Sea across from Sweden

  • South: Latvia

  • East: Lake Peipus and Russia

• Capital: Tallinn

• Currency: Euro

• Official language: Estonian

• President: Alar Karis