Daily Current Affairs 30 July 2024, MPSC Exam Current Affairs

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International

EAM Jaishankar unveils commemorative postage stamp of Ram Lalla in Laos

• From July 25 to 27, 2024, Union Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India (GOI), paid an official three-day visit to Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR).
• Saleumxay Kommasith, the Deputy Prime Minister (PM) and Foreign Minister of the Laos PDR extended an invitation to him to take part in the Foreign Ministers' Meetings organized by the Association of South-East Asian (ASEAN) in the forms of the 31st ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Summit (EAS), and ASEAN-India.

57th Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Laos, PDR: -

• "ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience" was the theme of the 57th ASEAN-Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM), which was chaired by Lao PDR and attended by Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs (EAM), on July 25, 2024, at Vientiane, Lao PDR.
• The foreign ministers of China, Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, and the 10 ASEAN members—Burunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam—as well as its partners, attended the summit.
• Also present at the meeting were foreign ministers from Canada, Switzerland, Norway, and the United Kingdom (UK).

• In addition to holding a bilateral meeting with Saleumxay Kommasith, the Lao PDR's foreign minister, on July 27, 2024, EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar also jointly unveiled a commemorative postage stamp series picturing Lord Ram Lalla of Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh).
• This stamp is the first in the world to feature Ram Lalla of Ayodhya.
• Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on ten Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) for Laos under the Mekong Ganga Cooperation were exchanged during the bilateral meeting, along with cooperation in sharing successful digital solutions.

• The series of stamps has two images: one shows Lord Buddha from Luang Prabang, the former capital of Laos, and the other is Lord Ram from Ayodhya, the holy capital of Lord Ram.
• "Celebrating the shared cultural heritage of Lao PDR and India" is the stamp set's topic.
• The stamp also highlights the two nations' shared cultural assets, Buddhism and the Ramayana.
• Ramakien, also known as the Story of Phra Lak Phra Ram, is the Lao translation of the Ramayana. It is performed on auspicious occasions and is respected in Laos, just like in India.

National

High-level committee approves disaster mitigation and capacity-building projects

• Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, is the High-Level Committee (HLC) chair, which approved several disaster mitigation and capacity-building projects for different Indian states.
• On July 25, 2024, the HLC conference occurred in New Delhi, Delhi.
• Union Ministers Suman Bery, the Vice Chairman (VC) of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA & FW), and Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union Minister of Finance.

• Nine bids for funding from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) were reviewed by the HLC.
• The objectives of this effort are to boost fire services in three states, mitigate Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in four Hill states, and prevent urban flooding in six cities.
• A plan to introduce the Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme (YAMS) in each of the 28 states was also taken into consideration.
• With a combined budget of Rs. 2514.36 crore, six project proposals from the states of Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, West Bengal (WB), and Maharashtra have been approved. Mumbai, Kolkata (WB), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Hyderabad (Telangana), Ahmedabad (Gujarat), and Pune (Maharashtra) are the places where it will be put into practice.
• A project proposal for integrated flood management (IFM) solutions for Tamil Nadu (TN) in Chennai was previously authorized by HLC in November 2023 for Rs. 561.29 crore.
• Additionally, three project proposals totaling Rs. 810.64 crore for Assam, Karnataka, and TN have been approved under the 'Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the States' plan.
• For this plan, the Center has set out Rs. 5000 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), and it has already approved bids worth Rs. 1691.43 crore from 11 states.
• With a total estimated cost of Rs. 150 crore, the HLC accepted a project proposal for GLOF risk reduction for the states of Himachal Pradesh (HP), Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh (AR).
• These four states will receive incentives from the GLOF Risk Mitigation Project to put in place the necessary mitigation strategies to deal with GLOF threats.

• The committee also approved the YAMS proposal from NDRF, which came with a Rs 470.50 crore budget.
• It will be implemented in 315 districts that are prone to disasters to train 2.37 lakh volunteers exclusively from the National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), and BS&G (Bharat Scouts & Guides) in disaster preparedness and response, as well as 1300 trained Aapda Mitra Volunteers as Master Trainers.
• Under the government-initiated 'Aapda Mitra' project, about one lakh community volunteers have received training in disaster response within 350 of India's most disaster-prone districts.
• These knowledgeable and experienced "Apda Sakhis" and "Apda Mitras" play a critical role in supporting the local government's emergency response.

Economic

RBI imposes a monetary penalty on three payment system operators

• Three Payment System Operators (PSOs)—Manappuram Finance Limited (MAFIL), Ola Financial Services Private Limited (OFS), and Visa Worldwide Private Limited (VWPL)—have each been hit with a financial penalty by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for failing to comply with regulatory standards.
• The RBI has the authority to take these actions by Sections 30 and 31 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act of 2007.

• MAFIL: For failing to comply with certain Know Your Customer (KYC) directives, MAFIL (previously known as Manappuram General Finance and Leasing Limited) was fined Rs 41.5 lakh by the RBI.
• OFS: For two distinct infractions, OFS (previously known as Zipcash Card Services Private Limited) was fined Rs 87.55 lakh by the RBI.
• The failure to follow KYC instructions carries a fine of Rs 33.40 lakh.
• The Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 lists regulatory compliance violations for which the second penalties of Rs 54.15 lakh is applicable.
• VWPL: Due to the implementation of a payment authentication system without RBI regulatory permission, Visa Worldwide Private Limited (VWPL) has been fined Rs 2.4 crore for non-compliance.

• Incorporated:- 1992
• Headquarters:- Thrissur, Kerala
• MD & CEO :- V.P. Nandakumar

Appointment

Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro wins third term as President

• For a third six-year term (2024–2030), Nicolás Maduro Moros has been re-elected as president of Venezuela. Since April 2013, he has been the President of Venezuela.
• With 80% of the votes cast and 51% of the vote cast, he emerged victorious in the presidential contest against Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who received 44% of the vote.
• Since 2007, he has belonged to the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).

• 1998 saw the election of Nicolás Maduro Moros to the Chamber of Deputies of Venezuela, and 1999 saw him win a seat in the National Constituent Assembly.
• He was chosen to serve in Venezuela's National Assembly, the country's legislature, in 2000.
• Under President Hugo Rafael Chávez Frias, Maduro held the positions of Vice President of Venezuela from 2012 to 2013, President of the National Assembly from 2005 to 2006, and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2012.
• Following the passing of Hugo Chávez on March 5, 2013, Maduro became Venezuela's president.
• He ran for president in April 2013 and was officially chosen as the PSUV candidate. In 2018, he was re-elected to a second term in office.

• Capital:- Caracas
• Currency :-  Venezuelan bolívar
• President :- Nicolás Maduro Moros

Award

Guatemalan activist, Mexican politician conferred Gandhi-Mandela Award

• The prestigious Gandhi Mandela Award 2020 was given to Rigoberta Menchú Tum, a notable Nobel Prize laureate and human rights activist from Guatemala, and Victor Gonzalez Torres, a politician and businessman from Mexico. The award was given on July 18, 2024, Nelson Mandela's 106th birthday.
• Menchú was given the prize in appreciation of her lifetime efforts to advance social justice, peace, and indigenous rights.
• Torre was given the award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to medicine. The prize was presented at a Mexican event.

• The Gandhi Mandela Foundation states that the Gandhi Mandela Award is given to a person who upholds the principles of Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, including social development, community service, and the encouragement of harmony and peace.

• The prize was established in 2019 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of MK Gandhi's birth.

• A pine wood box, a gold medal crafted by the Indian Government Mint, and a certificate endorsed by a prestigious jury consisting of former Chief Justices (CJ) and Supreme Court (SC) justices from Bangladesh, Nepal, and India make up the prize.
• The Dalai Lama was granted the 2019 Gandhi Mandela Award in recognition of his exceptional efforts to promote world peace and harmony.

• Through the Catholic Church, Rigoberta Menchú Tum is involved in social reform initiatives and has turned into an activist in the local women's rights movement.
• She joined the Committee of the Peasant Union (CUC) in 1979 to inform Indigenous peasants and fight for the rights of farm workers.
• After being forced into exile in Mexico in 1981 as a result of her role, she carried on with her work and helped establish the United Representation of the Guatemalan Opposition (RUOG) in 1982.
• Her autobiography, "I, Rigoberta Mench," which described her life and hardships, was released in 1983 and attracted interest from all over the world.
• In 1992, Rigoberta Menchú Tum received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her unwavering pursuit of social justice and peacemaking among her fellow Guatemalans. Additionally, she was granted the Princess of Asturias Award in 1998

• Known as "Doctor Simi," Victor Gonzalez Torres is a politician and pharmaceutical tycoon from Mexico.
• He founded and serves as the director of the humanitarian organization Group for a Better Country (Grupo Por Un País Mejor), which aims to combat official corruption and offer affordable medical treatments.

Book

A Book Title Jamsetji Tata: Powerful Learnings for Corporate Success set to Release

• R Gopalakrishnan and Harish Bhat are co-authors of the book "Jamsetji Tata: Powerful Learnings for Corporate Success". Penguin Random House India is the publisher of this book in India.

• Jamsetji Tata's enduring impact is shown throughout the book with real-life tales and anecdotes about the founding of well-known Indian firms like Tata Tea, Tata Motors, Titan, and Tanishq.
• Nusserwanji Jamsetji India's largest conglomerate, the Tata Group, was founded by Tata.
• He was a trailblazing industrialist whose aspirational goals and vision helped propel India into the elite group of industrialized nations.
• During his 34 years with the Tata Group, Harish Bhat held important positions such as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Titan's watch and jewelry operations and Managing Director of Tata Global Beverages. It's his seventh novel.
• Ramabadran Gopalakrishnan worked for Unilever for thirty-one years before joining the Tata Group for eighteen. His 28th novel is this one.

Defence

Indian army contingent departs for multinational military exercise khaan quest

• The 21st iteration of the international peacekeeping exercise known as "Khaan Quest" (KQ24) got underway at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's Five Hills Training Area, on July 27, 2024. On August 9, 2024, the exercise KQ24 will come to an end.
• Goal: To strengthen international military cooperation and strengthen peacekeeping capacities worldwide.
• Approximately 430 people from 23 different countries—including Turkey, Australia, Canada, China, Japan, India, USA, and the UK—are taking part in the exercise KQ24).
• Atul Malhari Gotsurve, India's ambassador to Mongolia, Chief of the General Staff of the Mongolian Armed Forces Major General Ganbyamba Sunrev, and Mongolia's Minister of Defense, Byambatsogt Sandag, were among the guests at the inaugural ceremony.

• Exercise Khaan Quest (KQ) began in 2003 as a bilateral gathering of the armed forces of the United States of America (USA) and Mongolia. In 2006, Khaan Quest became a global peacekeeping exercise.
• The United States Army Pacific Command (USARPAC) and the Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) are co-sponsors of the exercise.
• The previous Khaan Quest competition took place in Mongolia from June 19–July 2, 2023.

• a military training team of instructors from the following seven nations: Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States. Eleven platoons from ten different countries—the USA, China, South Korea, Turkey, India, Japan (two platoons),
• Qatar, and Mongolia—participated in platoon field training.
• Observer nations including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Egypt, and Pakistan also took part in it.
• to improve defense collaboration among participating armies, the USA Army Pacific Command, and the Mongolian Armed Forces.
• to strengthen the MFA's capacity to carry out peacekeeping missions.
• to aid in armies' capacity-building so they can fulfill UN peacekeeping obligations.
• The exercise places a strong emphasis on coordination, physical preparedness, and tactical exercises such as setting up checkpoints, patrolling, counter-IED (improvised explosive device) drills, cordon and search operations, civilian evacuation, combat first aid, and casualty evacuation.
• Its objectives are to foster cooperation, friendship, and the exchange of best practices in strategies, methods, and approaches between the member countries.
• The 16th iteration of the joint military drill between Mongolia and India, dubbed "Nomadic Elephant," took place in Meghalaya from July 3– July 16, 2024.

• There are two female troops and one woman officer among the forty members of the Madras Regiment Battalion that make up the Indian Army (IA) contingent.
• India's engagement is concentrated on getting its military ready for peace support operations under UN Charter Chapter VII, improving interoperability, and preparing its armed forces for peacekeeping deployments.

Miscellaneous

Ministry of Earth Sciences celebrates 18 th Foundation Day

• At the inauguration event, which was attended by notable visitors such as senior government officials, scientists, workers, and important stakeholders, the MoES 18th Foundation Day celebrations got underway. As MoES approaches its 19th anniversary, we should be proud of the many accomplishments to date and get ready to tackle future issues, particularly those that are always pertinent and relate to food, water, energy, health, and climate change.

• The following publications were released by MoES to mark its 18th Foundation Day:
• The "Competency Framework for Monitoring and Forecasting High-impact Weather Events" and the "Standard Operation Procedure on "Cyclone Warning in India" were released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a subordinate office of MoES.
• An independent MoES institute, the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, has published a comprehensive report on the 14th Indian Arctic Expedition (2023–24), which includes the country's first-ever winter Arctic Expedition (which began on December 18, 2023).
• An exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in India is home to the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi, an associated office of MoES, which recently published a catalog titled "Taxonomy and Systematics of Anomuran Crabs (Paguroidea, Chirostyloidea and Galatheoidea)."
• Additionally released was the first edition of the MoES Newsletter, which is intended to be a quarterly publication that highlights news, events, and updates from MoES.

President Droupadi Murmu appoints new Governors for nine states

• On July 28, 2024, President Droupadi Murmu named lieutenants governors of Puducherry and governors of nine other states. The President has also accepted Banwarilal Purohit's resignation from his positions as Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, according to a press release from the President's office.

• Jishnu Dev Varma- Governor of Telangana.
• Om Prakash Mathur- Governor of Sikkim.
• Santosh Kumar Gangwar- Governor of Jharkhand.
• Ramen Deka- Governor of Chhattisgarh.
• C H Vijayashankar- Governor of Meghalaya.
• Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde- Governor of Rajasthan.
• C.P. Radhakrishnan-  Governor of Maharashtra (He was earlier Governor of Jharkhand with Additional Charge of Telangana ).
• Gulab Chand Kataria- Governor of Punjab. He has also been appointed as Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh  (He was earlier Governor of Assam).
• Lakshman Prasad Acharya- Governor of Assam and has also been given additional charge of the Governor of Manipur ( He was earlier the Governor of Sikkim).
• K. Kailashnathan-  Lt. Governor of Puducherry

Important Day

International Friendship Day – 30 Jul

• It is July 30th, the International Day of Friendship. This day celebrates friends and their vital contribution to making our lives better.
• Whether they are traveling with us or they are just there to listen to our problems and give us advice, friends truly make life so much easier.
• Not only is their presence crucial in trying times, but they also make a significant impact when they join us in sharing our happiness and celebrating our successes.
• It may be argued that life would be much more difficult without friends.

• In 2011, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared the day. Their goal was to spread the notion that "friendships between peoples, countries, cultures, and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities." According to their website, "The resolution emphasizes involving young people, as future leaders, in community activities that include different cultures and promote international understanding and respect for diversity."
• The United Nations (UN) urges countries, international organizations, and civil society organizations to organize events, programs, and campaigns on the International Day of Friendship to support international efforts to promote intercultural understanding, harmony, solidarity, and communication.

• The UN claims that problems including poverty and violations of human rights, among others, still exist and threaten social cohesion, development, security, and peace among people. In honor of International Friendship Day, we should strive to build solid relationships based on mutual trust so that we can work together to eliminate all the things that stand in the way of a peaceful future.
• This endeavor is noteworthy as well because it follows UNESCO's proposal. According to the proposal, a culture of peace is characterized by a set of beliefs, actions, and attitudes that work to avoid violence and resolve disputes by addressing their underlying causes.