Daily Current Affairs 2 August 2024, OPSC Exam Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs for OPSC Exam

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Indian Army launches E-SeHAT Tele-Consultancy for Veterans

• The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) has launched the Electronic Services e-Health Assistance and Teleconsultation (E-SeHAT) module.
• The E-SeHAT Tele-consultancy would enable ECHS beneficiaries in obtaining online Teleconsultation for medical treatment from their homes without visiting the ECHS Polyclinic.
• The module aims to provide health care services through safe and structured video based clinical consultations
• The pilot project has been launched today at 12 ECHS Polyclinics including remote locations of Baramulla, Imphal, Churachandpur, Dimapur and Aizawal.
• The 12 ECHS Polyclinics tele-consulted remotely located ECHS beneficiary ex-servicemen before its pan India Roll Out planned in November 2024.
• The E-SeHAT initiative aligns with the Digital India vision of the Government of India aimed at promoting digital inclusivity and efficiency in public services.
• This pioneering effort will transform healthcare delivery for veterans, ensuring timely and quality medical attention from the comfort of their homes

Education Minister launches NATS 2.0 and Disburses Rs. 100 Crore Stipends

• Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan has launched the National Apprenticeship and Training Scheme (NATS) 2.0 Portal in New Delhi.
• As part of this initiative, Rs 100 crore in stipends has been disbursed to young graduates and diploma holders through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• These apprentices are receiving on-the-job training across various sectors, including IT/ITes, manufacturing, and automobile industries
• The launch of the NATS 2.0 portal represents a significant step toward democratising apprenticeship opportunities, bridging skill gaps, and fulfilling the aspirations of youth, ultimately preparing them for future careers.
• The portal aims to facilitate a large number of beneficiaries to register and apply for apprenticeships while allowing establishments and industries to manage vacancies and contracts efficiently

32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists in New Delhi

• India will host the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists at the Pusa Institute New Delhi from 2 to 7 August 2024.

• After a gap of 66 years, India will be hosting this prestigious Conference again, which it hosted in 1958. Theme 2024 – Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems The International Conference on Agricultural Economics is held every three years.
• The 2021 conference was held in a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists is being organized by the International Association of Agricultural Economists in collaboration with the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, the International Food Policy Research Institute, the Agricultural Economics Research Association (India), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research.
• Around 1,000 people, mainly agricultural economists from the world’s leading universities and agricultural institutions from 75 countries, are expected to attend the conference. Around 45 per cent of the delegates are women.

About International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE)

• The credit for setting up the ICAE is given to Leonard Elmhirst of England, who organised the first International Conference of Agricultural Economists in Devon, England, in 1929.
• ICAE brings together the leading Agricultural economists and scholars to discuss issues related to world agriculture.
• India hosted the 10th International Conference of Agricultural Economists held in Mysore in India in 1958.

India elected as Vice-Chair of the Supply Chain Council of IPEF

• India has been elected as the Vice-Chair of one of the three supply chain bodies set up under the IndoPacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Agreement relating to Supply Chain Resilience.

• India and 13 other IPEF partners have established three bodies under the IPEF’s agreement on supply chain resilience.
• The pact came into force in February 2024. The inaugural virtual meetings of the Supply Chain Council [SCC], Crisis Response Network [CRN], and Labor Rights Advisory Board [LRAB] marked a step forward for cooperation among partner countries for strengthening supply chain resilience in the region.

• Supply Chain Council: Chair-USA, Vice-Chair - India.
• Crisis Response Network: Chair-South Korea, Vice-Chair - Japan.
• Labor Rights Advisory Board: Chair- USA, Vice-Chair –

• IPEF is a USA led initiative which was launched by the American President Joe Biden on 23 May 2022 in Tokyo, Japan.
• The IPEF aims to promote economic interaction and cooperation among partner countries, advancing growth, economic stability, and regional prosperity.
• The 14 Member countries of IPEF are India, Japan, Australia, Brunei, Fiji, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the USA.

Mridu Pawan Das appointed as next High Commissioner of India to Rwanda

• The government of India has appointed Mridu Pawan Das as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Rwanda.

• He is presently Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.

DMRC wins Global Water Tech Award for environmental initiatives

• The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has received the ‘Global Water Tech Award 2024’ in the ‘organization’ category for its initiatives in environmental conservation.
• Global Energy and Environment Foundation (GEEF) presented the honor, recognising DMRC’s efforts in water conservation and efficient utilization of water resources across Delhi.
• Its key initiatives include rainwater harvesting pits, sewage treatment plants, and the use of treated effluent for construction, horticulture, and dust suppression at various sites.
• During its first phase of construction, DMRC rejuvenated the dry Sarpakar Lake in the ridge area using “dewatered water” obtained from one of its construction site near Delhi University.

Santosh Kumar Gangwar sworn in as Jharkhand Governor

• Former Union Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar was sworn in as the 12th Governor of Jharkhand.
• Gangwar succeeded C.P. Radhakrishnan, who was appointed as the Governor of Maharashtra.
• Acting Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court Sujit Narayan Prasad administered the oath of office to Mr. Gangwar.

• L ewis Hamilton has won the Belgian Grand Prix after teammate George Russell, who had originally come home in first, was disqualified following the race for an underweight car.
• With McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finishing third. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez ended the day down in P7, having been overtaken by Sainz in the latter stages amid continuing pressure around the Mexican’s place in the team.
• Fernando Alonso took eighth for Aston Martin with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and RB’s Daniel Ricciardo rounding out the top-10.

BFI sets up National Basketball Academy In Collaboration with CAA

• The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) has set up the National basketball academy in collaboration with Corvuss American Academy in Mumbai.
• For a start, the Academy will run with 30 boys and 30 girls from the school.
• There will be a nationwide hunt for talent to select 30 boys and 30 girls for the academy.
• The players in the academy will be free to represent their States in the State and national championships.
• These players will be under the guidance of a competent foreign coach.
• The partner institution will provide a comprehensive academic program, nutritional support, sports counselling, training and access to world class facilities for the trainees.

Kashmir, 4th Indian city to receive World Craft City Certificate

• Kashmir City received the Certificate of World Craft City from the World Crafts Council International in a ceremony held in Srinagar, capital of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, on 31 July 2024.
• The ceremony was attended by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Sa’ad Hani Al-Qaddumi, President of the World Crafts Council, and other prominent Council personalities. Earlier in June 2024, the World Craft Council announced its decision to include Kashmir in its World Craft City list.
• 4th Indian city to get a World Craft City certificate
• Kashmir is the fourth Indian city to be included in the World Craft City list of the World Crafts Council. Jaipur of Rajasthan and Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu were included in 2015, and Mysore in Karnataka was included in 2018.
• While Jaipur, Mamallapuram, and Kashmir have received the World Craft City tag, Mamallapuram has been recognised for its stone craft (World Craft City for Stone Carving).

• Kashmir, which has more than 4000 years of written history, is famous for its Carpet Weaving, Kani-Shawl, Paper Maachie, Khatamband, wood carving, Kandikari copperware, and Tilla Work. Kashmiri handicrafts are heavily influenced by Iranian and Central Asian art and culture.
• In 2021, Kashmir was recognised as UNESCO’s Creative City under Crafts and Folks Art. This fresh recognition is likely to boost the handicraft sector of the region.
• According to government figures, the export of handicrafts from the region has jumped from Rs. 1,000 to 2,000 crores in the last five years.
• With the World Craft Council tag, the global recognition and demand for Kashmiri handicrafts is expected to increase.
• It will boost exports from the region, boost tourism in the region, increase the income of the artisans, and support the skilled preservation of the region's cultural heritage.

• The World Crafts Council International was set up in 1964 by Ms Aileen Osborn Vanderbilt Webb, Ms Margaret Merwin Patch, and Ms Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay in New York, USA.
• The World Crafts Council International is a non profit organisation which works for the preservation, promotion, and advancement of global craftsmanship and traditional crafts.

Sanjay Shukla assumes charge as MD of the National Housing Bank

• Sanjay Shukla assumed charge as the Managing Director of the National Housing Bank on 30 July 2024. According to the National Housing Bank, Sanjay Shukla assumed the office after the government of India approved his name.
• Before joining as Managing Director of National Housing Bank, Sanjay Shukla was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Non -Banking Financial Company (NBFC) Centrum Housing Finance.
• Sanjay Shukla is a Chartered Accountant who started his career in 1991 as an officer in the LIC Housing Finance Limited.
• He has over 30 years of experience in housing and retail assets finance.
• About National Housing Bank
• The National Housing Bank (NHB) is a statutory body set up on 9 July 1988 under the provisions of the National Housing Bank Act 1987.
• It is the apex housing refinancing institution in India.
• It comes under the Union Ministry of Finance.
• Owner of NHB Initially, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) owned the National Housing Bank, but in March 2019, its ownership was transferred from the RBI to the Government of India.
• At present, the Government of India is the 100 per cent owner of the National Housing Bank.
• Headquarters of NHB: New Delhi

• Initially, the National Housing Bank was the regulator and supervisor of the housing finance sector in Ind ia.
• In 2019, the National Housing Bank Act 1987 was amended, and RBI was made the regulator of the housing finance sector.
• The National Housing Bank has supervisory power over the Housing Finance Company registered as NBFC with RBI.
• It also deals with grievances related to the housing sector. It has the power to audit the books of the Housing Finance Company NHB does not provide loans directly to an individual.
• It provides direct loans to public agencies directly or in partnership with private developers under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) for the development of eligible Housing projects.
• It provides a long-term refinancing facility to eligible institutions, which provides housing finance loans to individuals, builders, and corporate groups for the construction of new houses, repair of houses, etc.

Shooter Swapnil Kusale wins 3rd Medal for India at 2024 Paris Olympics

• The Indian shooting contingent bagged the third medal for India at the 2024 Paris Olympics Games. Shooter Swapnil Kusale of Maharstra won a bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 Positions final played at the National Shooting Center in Châteauroux, Paris, on 1 August 2024.
• He finished his match with 451.4 to settle for a bronze medal.
• ’ The gold medal was won by the world record holder Liu Yukun of China with 463.6 points, while the silver was won by Ukraine’s Serhiy Kulish with 461.3 points. Ukraine’s Serhiy Kulish had also won the silver medal in the same event at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
• 3rd Olympic medal in Rifle events for India
• Swapnil Kusale’s bronze medal was the 3rd medal for India in the Rifle event in Olympic history.
• Abhinav Bindra won the first medal for India in the rifle shooting event. He won a gold medal in the 10m air rifle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• Gagan Narang won a bronze in the 10m air rifle event at the 2012 London Olympics.
• The 28-year-old Swapnil Kusale won the gold medal in the men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions team event at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games held in 2023.
• Kusale also won three medals—one gold and two silver—at the 2023 World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan.
• India has so far won three medals in the Paris Olympics, all won by the shooters.
• India has sent a 117-member team to the Paris Olympics with a maximum of 29 participating in athletics and 21 in shooting. The 33rd Summer Olympics is being held in Paris, France, from 26 July to 11 August 2024.

• Famous for its Sambalpuri Saree, the Sambalpur District is the western part of state of Odisha.
• The District is surrounded by Deogarh District in the East, Bargarh Districts in the West, Jharsuguda District in the North and Sonepur and Angul Districts in the South. Sambalpur District was subsequently divided into four separate Districts.
• Bargarh District was separated in 1993, and Jharsuguda and Deogarh Districts were separated in 1994.

• World Wide Web Day is observed every year on 1 August.
• It aims to commemorate the creation of the World Wide Web (WWW) and how it changed the landscape of connectivity among humans.
• This day honours the groundbreaking invention by Tim Berners-Lee, an English scientist who invented WWW in 1989 while working at European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN).
• Tim Berners-Lee invented the WWW in 1989 while working at CERN.
• His vision was to combine computers, data networks and hypertext into a global information system that was powerful yet easy to use.
• Berners-Lee wrote the first proposal for the WWW in March 1989, followed by a second proposal a year later.
• Collaborating with Belgian systems engineer Robert Cailliau, who finalized the proposal in November 1990.
• By the end of the year, the scientist developed the first Web server and browser at CERN. The world’s first website, info.cern.ch, went live on August 6, 1991.
• It was a simple page explaining the WWW project and provided instructions on how to use it

• World Lung Cancer Day is observed every year on August 1.
• Objective – To raise awareness about the disease and the unhealthy lifestyle habits that we must change to stay safe.
• Theme 2024 – Close the care gap: Everyone deserves access to cancer care
• In 2012, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) decided that every year, August 1 will be observed as World Lung Cancer Day.