DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: June 27, 2024

Ministry of Coal Initiates India's First Underground Coal Gasification Pilot Project in Jharkhand

Tags: National News

The Ministry of Coal has initiated India's first pilot project for Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) in Jharkhand.

An Overview of the News

• The project aims to revolutionize the coal industry by converting in-situ coal into valuable gases like methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.

Objectives

• Transform economically unviable coal resources through advanced gasification technologies.

• Produce synthetic natural gas, chemical feedstocks, fertilizers, and industrial products from converted gases.

Project Details

• Location: Kasta coal block, Jamtara District, Jharkhand.

• Led by Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) in collaboration with CMPDI Ranchi and Ergo Exergy Technologies Inc. (EETI) from Canada.

• Two-year project divided into two phases: feasibility study and pilot-scale gasification.

Phases

• Phase 1 (Started June 22, 2024): Conducting borehole drilling and core testing to prepare a Technical Feasibility Report.

• Phase 2: Implementation of coal gasification at a pilot scale.

Benefits

• Enhances energy security and promotes sustainable development.

• Demonstrates efficient utilization of India's coal reserves, contributing to energy self-reliance.

• Showcases innovative coal gasification technologies tailored to Indian geo-mining conditions.

Strategic Importance

• Aligned with the Ministry of Coal's policy framework for UCG in coal and lignite-bearing areas.

• Supported by the CIL R&D Board to foster R&D and innovation in the coal sector.

Future Outlook

• Expected to set new standards in coal resource utilization and pave the way for similar projects in India.

• Aims to establish India as a leader in adopting advanced coal gasification technologies.

Indian Table Tennis Stars Shine with 9 Medals at WTT Contender Lagos 2024

Tags: Sports

Indian contingents secured a total of 9 medals (3 gold, 1 silver, and 5 bronze) at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender Lagos 2024, held from June 19th to 23rd at Sir Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Lagos, Nigeria.

An Overview of the News

• Sreeja Akula of India achieved a historic milestone by winning the 2024 WTT Women's Singles title. 

• She defeated China's Yijie Ding in the finals, becoming the first Indian player to claim a Women's Singles title in the WTT Contender.

• Germany's Dimitrij Ovtcharov emerged victorious in the Men's Singles category, securing his second WTT Series Singles title by defeating compatriot Ricardo Walther in the finals.

Winners & Runners-up at WTT Contender Lagos 2024:

• Women's Singles:

  • Champion (Gold): Sreeja Akula (India)

  • Runner-up (Silver): Yijie Ding (China)

• Men's Singles:

  • Champion (Gold): Dimitrij Ovtcharov (Germany)

  • Runner-up (Silver): Ricardo Walther (Germany)

• Women's Doubles:

  • Champions (Gold): Sreeja Akula and Archana Kamath (India)

  • Runners-up (Silver): Yashaswini Ghorpade and Diya Chitale (India)

• Men's Doubles:

  • Champions (Gold): Harmeet Desai and Manav Thakkar (India)

  • Runners-up (Silver): Olajide Omotayo and Azeez Solanke (Nigeria)

Noteworthy Achievements:

• Sreeja Akula made history as the first Indian player to clinch the Women's Singles title at a WTT Contender event.

• Dimitrij Ovtcharov added another WTT Series Singles title to his resume with this victory.

Highlights of Indian Medal Winners at the WTT Contender Event

• Women's Singles: Ayhika Mukherjee and Suthirtha Mukherjee earned bronze medals after losing in the semifinals.

• Women's Doubles: Sreeja Akula and Archana Kamath claimed the gold medal by defeating Yashaswini Ghorpade and Diya Chitale in the finals. Yashaswini Ghorpade and Diya Chitale secured the silver medal.

• Women's Singles Rankings: Sreeja Akula climbed 19 spots to become India's highest-ranked player, reaching World No. 24.

• Men's Doubles: Harmeet Desai and Manav Thakkar won the gold medal by defeating the Nigerian pair of Olajide Omotayo and Azeez Solanke. They became the first Indian men's pair to win a WTT Contender title.

• Mixed Doubles: Archana Kamath and Manav Thakkar, along with Manush Shah and Diya Chitale, secured bronze medals after losing in the semifinals.

Max Verstappen Secures Third Consecutive Victory at 2024 Spanish Grand Prix

Tags: Sports

Max Verstappen, representing Red Bull, clinched victory at the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix on 23 June at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmeló, Barcelona, Spain.

An Overview of the News

• This win marks Verstappen's third consecutive title at the Spanish GP and his fourth overall at this track, having previously triumphed in 2016, 2022, and 2023.

• Lando Norris of McLaren secured the second position, while Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes finished third in the race.

Podium Finish:

1. Max Verstappen - Red Bull (25 points)

2. Lando Norris - McLaren (19 points)

3. Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes (15 points)

Key Performances:

• Lando Norris is the only driver to score points in all 10 races of the 2024 season.

• Lewis Hamilton achieved his first podium finish of the 2024 season.

Championship Standings:

• Max Verstappen leads with 219 points, followed by Lando Norris (150 points) and Charles Leclerc (148 points).

• Norris secures his first 2nd position in the drivers' championship.

Other Notable Points:

• Verstappen's 7th win of the season and 61st career win.

• Verstappen and Norris have finished 1-2 in 5 out of the last 6 races.

Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais Releases "Gateways to the Sea"

Tags: Books and Authors

On June 22, 2024, Ramesh Bais, Governor of Maharashtra, launched a book titled 'Gateways to the Sea: Historic Ports and Docks of Mumbai Region' at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.

An Overview of the News

• The book is published by the Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).

• Compiled by the Maritime Mumbai Museum Society (MMMS), it features 18 articles by esteemed authors.

• Focus:

  • Explores the history of ancient ports such as Sopara, Vasai, Versova, Mahim, Kalyan, Thane, Panvel, Alibag, Chaul, Mandad, and Janjira.

  • Covers the evolution of modern ports and docks in Mumbai, including Mazagon Dock, Mumbai Port, Bombay Dock, Sassoon Dock, and Ferry Wharf (Bhaucha Dhakka).

• Presentation: The book was presented at Raj Bhavan by the Publications Division in collaboration with the Asiatic Society.

Kozhikode Named India's First UNESCO 'City of Literature'

Tags: State News National News

On 23rd June 2024, Kozhikode in north Kerala became India's first UNESCO "City of Literature."

An Overview of the News

• PA Mohammed Riyas, Kerala's Tourism Minister, unveiled the UNESCO "City of Literature" logo.

• The "City of Literature" Day of Kozhikode was declared, starting from 2024, to be celebrated annually on 23rd June across Kerala.

• MB Rajesh, from the State Local Self Government Department (LSGD), made this announcement during an official event in Kozhikode.

Background and UNESCO Creative Cities Network:

• On 31st October 2023, Kozhikode and Gwalior were the only Indian cities among 55 cities globally designated in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

• Kozhikode was named UNESCO "City of Literature," while Gwalior was designated UNESCO "City of Music."

• UCCN includes 350 cities from over 100 countries across seven creative fields, including Literature.

About Kozhikode:

• Formerly known as Calicut during British rule, Kozhikode is historically significant as the city of Zamorins.

• It served as a crucial gateway to India for foreigners, including Persians, Arabs, Chinese, and Europeans, notably Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama in 1498.

• Kozhikode boasts over 500 functioning libraries and has been a hub for literary activities, home to renowned Malayalam writer MT Vasudevan Nair.

About UNESCO:

• Director General (DG):- Audrey Azoulay

• Headquarters:- Paris, France

• Established:-1945

National Consultation on One Health Legal Framework Launched in New Delhi by Dr. V. K. Paul

Tags: National News

Dr. V. K. Paul, NITI Aayog Member, inaugurated the 'National Consultation on Legal Environment Assessment for One Health Activities in India' in New Delhi.

An Overview of the News

• The event was also attended by Apurva Chandra, Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

• The workshop spanned two days and aimed to evaluate the current legal framework concerning One Health activities in India.

• Key objectives included identifying strengths, gaps, and overlaps in existing laws and regulations affecting One Health initiatives.

• Dr. Rajiv Mani from the Ministry of Law and Justice, Leena Nandan from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, and Isabelle Tschan, UNDP India Representative, were among the notable attendees and stakeholders.

Overview of One Health Approach:

• One Health emphasizes the interconnectedness of human health, animal health, and the environment.

• It has gained significance due to increased interactions between people, animals, plants, and the environment.

Factors Contributing to One Health Importance:

• Population Dynamics: Growing human populations are expanding into new areas, increasing contact with wild and domestic animals.

• Role of Animals: Animals serve multiple roles such as food, companionship, and economic livelihoods, fostering close human-animal interactions.

• Environmental Changes: Climate change, deforestation, and intensive farming alter landscapes, creating new opportunities for disease transmission among animals and humans.

• Globalization: Increased travel and trade facilitate rapid spread of diseases across borders and continents.

Impact of Zoonotic Diseases:

• Zoonotic diseases, which transfer between animals and humans, pose significant global health challenges.

• Examples include rabies, West Nile virus, Ebola, and various bacterial infections like Salmonella and Brucellosis.

• Animals can serve as early indicators of potential human health threats, as seen with diseases like West Nile virus.

Collaborative One Health Approach:

• Involves collaboration among experts from various fields such as disease control specialists, veterinarians, physicians, and environmental scientists.

• Aims to enhance the health of both humans and animals, including pets, livestock, and wildlife.

• Focuses on integrated efforts across human, animal, and environmental health to prevent and mitigate disease outbreaks.

Hunar Indian folk and tribal art exhibition opens in Dubai

Tags: International News

The Dubai Art Centre, a prominent and long-standing art institution, is hosting the "Hunar" exhibition.

An Overview of the News

• The exhibition showcases a captivating display of Indian folk and tribal art.

• Each piece offers a glimpse into the soul of Indian traditions.

• Cultural Highlights

• It highlights the rich cultural heritage of India's folk and tribal art forms.

Artistic Styles Featured

• Visitors can explore various artistic styles from across India, including:

  • Aipan Art from Uttarakhand

  • Madhubani Art from Bihar

  • Warli Art from Maharashtra

  • Vibrant Murals from Kerala

  • Intricate Muria Art from Chhattisgarh

Unique Opportunity for Art Enthusiasts

• The "Hunar" exhibition provides a unique opportunity for art enthusiasts in Dubai to immerse themselves in the diverse world of Indian folk and tribal art.

• Attendees can experience firsthand the cultural richness and artistic heritage of India.

About United Arab Emirates (UAE)

• Location: It is located in Western Asia.

• Geographical Boundaries: It shares borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia.

• Maritime Borders: It also has maritime borders with Qatar and Iran in the Persian Gulf.

• Religion: Islam is the dominant religion in the UAE, with the majority of the population being Sunni Muslim.

  • Capital - Abu Dhabi

  • Official language - Arabic

  • President/Crown Prince - Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

  • Prime Minister - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

  • Vice President - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan

International Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day - 27 June 2024

Tags: Important Days

International Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day or World MSME Day is observed across the world on 27 June every year.

An Overview of the News

• The day highlights the importance of MSMEs and their role as the backbone of the country's economy.

• The United Nations (UN) reported that MSMEs account for half of global GDP.

• This year, the theme for MSME Day 2024 is “Leveraging Power and Resilience of Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to Accelerate Sustainable Development and Eradicate Poverty in Times of Multiple Crises.”

Opportunities and Goals for Key Stakeholders

• The 2024 MSME Day provides an opportunity for key stakeholders to discuss and exchange ideas on supporting MSMEs.

• Key stakeholders include large corporations, financial institutions, policymakers, and the international community.

• The focus is on advancing the 2030 Agenda and contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals.

• Goals include poverty eradication and ensuring decent work for all.

History of International Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day

• The United Nations (UN) designated June 27 as Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day and this was done through a resolution passed in the United Nations General Assembly in April 2017.

• In May 2017, a program titled 'Enhancing National Capabilities to Unleash the Full Potential of MSMEs in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Developing Countries' was launched.

• The objective of the program is to support and enhance the capabilities of MSMEs, especially in developing countries, to maximize their contribution to achieving the SDGs.

• The program is funded by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sub-fund of the United Nations Peace and Development Fund.

June 2024 Days and Themes