Daily Current Affairs 1 August 2024, OPSC Exam Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs for OPSC Exam

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National Mission on Natural Farming

• As part of the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), the government intends to motivate farmers to adopt chemical-free farming and draw them towards adopting natural farming willingly on the system’s merit.
• The government believes that the success of the NMNF will require a behavioural change in farmers to shift from chemical-based inputs to cowbased, locally-produced inputs.
• The natural farming scheme under the ‘Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati ’ has a total outlay of ₹ 4,645.69 crore for six years (2019-20 to 2024-25)

Goa launches ‘Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan’ Scheme

• Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant has launched the ‘Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan’ in the state.
• ‘Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan’ scheme is in alignment with the Prime Minister’s Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. It aims to increase solar rooftop potential and empower residential homes to generate their own electricity.
• Goa launches ‘Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan’ Scheme The Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan has an initial investment of Rs 35 crore.
• Goa Energy Development Agency will cover the balance cost of rooftop installations up to 5kW. This support is for consumers who have used 400 or fewer units in the past year.

Masoud Pezeshkian sworn in as president of Iran

• Masoud Pezeshkian was sworn in as president of Iran news president.

• Pezeshkian takes office at a time of escalating Middle East tensions over Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza and cross-border fighting with Iran’s ally Hezbollah in Lebanon.
• Mr. Pezeshkian replaces hardline Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May.

SEBI launches SEVA Chatbot for Investors

• The capital market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced SEBI’s Virtual Assistant (SEVA) chatbot to help investors of the securities market.

• The SEVA Chatbot is an artificial intelligence-enabled chatbot that will answer certain investors’ questions.

• The chatbot will have multiple features, such as citations, answering follow-up questions, and the ability to convert speech-to-text and text-to-speech.

• The SEVA chatbots will enable users to ask questions about the securities market and SEBI’s complaint redressal platform (SCORES).
• SCORES (SEBI Complaint Redressal System) was launched by SEBI in June 2011 as an online platform which enables an investor.

About Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

• Founded - 12 April 1988
• Act - 1992
• Headquarters - Mumbai
• Chairman - Madhabi Puri Buch
• Executive Director - G Ram Mohan Rao
• SEBI Set up - Uday Kotak committee

Indian Team wins 4 medals at 56th International Chemistry Olympiad

• In the 56th International Chemistry Olympiad, the Indian team won one Gold, two Silver and one Bronze medal.

• The Competition was held in Riyadh city of Saudi Arabia.

• Devesh Bhaiyya from the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra won gold.

• While Mumbai’s Avanish Bansal and Hyderabad’s Harshin Posina grabbed silver medals.

• 327 students from 94 countries participated in the 56th International Chemistry Olympiad.
• Kashyap Khandelwal from Mumbai brought a bronze medal. Prof. Gulshanara Shaikh and Dr. Shraddha Tiwari were the guides of the Indian team.

• Kerala reported devastating floods in 2018 – the worst in its history – that killed 483 people.
• In just three days in August of that year, the southern state received a third of its average annual rainfall.In 2021, dozens of people died due to multiple landslides and floods in the districts of Kottayam and Idukki in Kerala.
• Several people died in the state due to rain-related incidents such as landslips and flash floods in 2022.
• Kerala is prone to heavy rains and flooding, with an estimated 14.5 per cent of land area seen as vulnerable.
• The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has identified 1,848 square kilometres, 4.75 per cent of the state’s total area, as High Landslide Hazard Zone.
• About 8 per cent of the area in the Western Ghats in the southern state is labelled as a critical zone for mass movements, including debris flow, landslides, rock falls and slumps.

Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh Killed In Iran's Capital

• Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed after their residence was targeted in Iran, the Palestinian group said in a statement.
• Iran's Revolutionary Guards also confirmed his death, saying Haniyeh's residence in Tehran was "hit" and he was killed along with a bodyguard.
• 1.Ismail Haniyeh was a prominent Palestinian political figure who has played a key role in the complex landscape of Middle East politics. Born in 1963 in Gaza's Shati refugee camp, Ismail Haniyeh attended United Nations-run schools and graduated from the Islamic University of Gaza with a degree in Arabic literature in 1987. While at university, he had become involved with Hamas.
• 2.Haniyeh became the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority government following Hamas's victory in the 2006 legislative election.
• 3.In 2016, Haniyeh succeeded Khaled Mashaal's head leadership of Hamas in elections.

Preeti Sudan :2nd Woman to be appointed Chairperson of UPSC

• President of India Droupadi Murmu has appointed Preeti Sudan, a 1983 batch IAS officer and former Union Health Secretary, as the new Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on 31 July 2024.
• She will replace Dr Manoj Soni, who resigned earlier this month.
• Preeti Sudan is the second woman to be appointed as the Chairperson of the UPSC after Mrs. R.M.Bathew (Kharbuli)(1992-96).
• 1983 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS officer Preeti Sudan has held key positions in the Central government’s Department of Food and Public Distribution, the ministries of Women and Child Development and Defence.
• Preeti Sudan has also played a crucial role in central government programmes such as Ayushman Bharat, Beti Bachao, and Beti Padhao, and significant legislations like the National Medical Commission and the ban on e-cigarettes.

• The Union Public Service Commission is an Independent constitutional body that came into existence on 26 January 1950 under the provisions of Article 378(1) of the Constitution.
• The first Chairman of the UPSC was R.N Banerjee.
• The constitution mentions that the UPSC will consist of a chairperson and other members.
• The president of India has the power to decide the number of members of the UPSC.
• The UPSC is a constitutional body as mandated under Article 315-323 Part XIV Chapter II of the Constitution of India.
• The Commission conducts several examinations on behalf of the Union government.
• It also conducts civil services examinations every year and recommends candidates for appointment to the IAS, Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Central Services - Group A and Group B.
• The Commission is headed by a Chairperson and can have a maximum of 10 members

• The Constitution provides that the central government will consult the Union Public Service Commission on the following;
• methods of recruitment to central government civil services and for civil posts,
• checkmark transfers from one service to another and promotion,
• checkmark disciplinary matters related to a central government employee,
• checkmark making rules or changing rules related to recruitment for various services and posts under the Government.
• It also conducts various exams and interviews for appointment to the services of the government of India.
• It advises the Government on any matter referred to the Commission by the President of India.

24 New sites included in UNESCO Heritage List at New Delhi Meeting

• 24 new heritage sites across the world were included in the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) Heritage List at the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, which concluded in New Delhi on 30 July 2024.
• India hosted the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in New Delhi from 21 to 31 July 2024 for the first time.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting on 21 July in the presence of UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
• The Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, addressed the closing ceremony on 30 July 2024.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced $1 million assistance to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre to support conservation projects in developing countries and enhance capacity-building initiatives.

1,223 Heritage sites are on the UNESCO World Heritage list

• At the New Delhi session, 24 new heritage sites -19 cultural, 4 natural, and 1 mixed site -were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

• Now, 1,223 heritage sites of the world are included in the UNESCO Heritage list, of which 952 are included under the cultural category, 231 under natural and 40 under mixed category.
• Italy leads the list with 60 sites, followed by China with 59 sites.
• India has 43 sites on the list, the latest being the Moidams of Assam, the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty.
• In 1983, three Indian heritage sites—Ajanta Cave and Ellora Cave (both in Maharashtra), the Taj Mahal in Agra, and the Agra Fort in Uttar Pradesh—were included in the UNESCO heritage list.
• At the New Delhi meeting, the World Heritage Committee removed Niokolo-Koba National Park in Senegal from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
• It included the Saint Hilarion Monastery/ Tell Umm Amer in Palestine in the List of World Heritage in Danger.

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was set up as a specialised agency of the United Nations.
• It was set up on 16 November 1945.
• Members : It has 194 Member Countries .
• Aim of UNESCO: It works to establish peace in the world through education and by promoting cultural heritage and the equal dignity of all cultures,
• Headquarters : Paris, France
• Director General: Audrey Azoulay (France)

World Day Against Trafficking In Persons

• The World Day Against Trafficking In Persons is observed on July 30 every year.
• Objective – To raise awareness, take global action, and support victims of human trafficking.
• Theme 2024 – Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking
• According to the Global Report of Trafficking in Persons (GLOTIP) by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), children are twice as likely as adults to face violence during trafficking
• The United Nations General Assembly established the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons back in 2013.
• This step was taken as a part of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, which was adopted in 2010.
• Its objective was to fight against human trafficking in the United Nations’ broader development and security agendas.

World Ranger Day

• World Ranger Day is celebrated worldwide on 31 July to commemorate Rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and to celebrate the work
• Rangers do to protect the planet’s natural treasures and cultural heritage.
• Theme 2024 – 30 by 30
• The history of World Ranger Day dates back to the International Ranger Federation (IRF), a group founded in 1992 with the aim of advancing and backing the efforts of park rangers across the globe.