Daily Current Affairs 4 July 2024, WBPSC Exam Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs for WBPSC Exam

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International

Former Spy Chief Dick Schoof Sworn In As Dutch Prime Minister

• The Netherlands' new prime minister, Dick Schoof, a former chief of the Dutch Secret Service, took office on Tuesday, breaking a seven-month political deadlock that had resulted from the far-right's election triumph in November of last year.

• Leading a broad coalition of right-wing ministers, he has pledged to enact the "strictest-ever" immigration laws in the nation.

• Schoof and his cabinet ministers took their oaths of office at the royal Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, under the auspices of King Willem-Alexander.
• Mark Rutte, who is expected to take over as NATO's next secretary-general later this year, is succeeded by the 67-year-old independent leader.
• Four coalition partners—the far-right Freedom Party (PVV) of Geert Wilders, the Farmers Party (BBB), the liberal-conservative VVD, and the recently formed anti-corruption party NSC—engaged in protracted discussions before appointing Schoof.
• Notwithstanding his party's electoral triumph, Wilders withdrew his ambition to become prime minister to preserve the shaky alliance.
• The newly appointed prime minister has promised to enact the most stringent asylum admissions policy in history and the most extensive immigration control package. This is in line with the right-wing goal of the coalition, especially when it comes to immigration.

• Capital:- Amsterdam
• Currency:- Euro

National

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy Launched NIRMAN portal

• An online platform called "Noble Initiative for Rewarding Mains Aspirants of National Civil Services Examination (NIRMAN)" was established in New Delhi, Delhi on July 2, 2024, by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy of the Ministry of Coal and Mines, Government of India (GoI). This project is in line with the goals of "Mission Karmayogi," which is being directed by Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi.

• Goal: To offer qualified Union Public Service (UPSC) exam applicants financial support up to Rs 1 lakh.
• This special Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program is run by Coal India Limited (CIL). It is open to deserving young people from its operating districts who passed the UPSC preliminary exam in 2024 (for the Forest Service and Civil Services).

• In attendance at the portal's debut were Amrit Lal Meena, Secretary of Coal, Satish Chandra Dubey, Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, senior ministry officials, and the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of coal corporations.
• Candidates who have advanced past the UPSC preliminary round must earn less than Rs 8 lakhs annually for their family to be eligible for the scheme's benefits.
• The qualifying candidates must be female, of the third gender, or members of a Scheduled Tribe (ST) or Scheduled Caste (SC).
• Additionally, candidates must be long-term residents of one of CIL's 39 operational districts.
• Among them are, among others, Nagpur (Maharashtra), Dhanbad and Ranchi (Jharkhand), Kolkata (West Bengal), and Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh).
• The NIRMAN portal is where qualified applicants can submit their online applications.
• This specific site will be used throughout the whole application process, ensuring complete transparency and streamlining the application screening procedure.

Economic

SBI Introduced Web-Based Digital Business Loans Solutions for MSMEs invoicing Financing, Known as "MSME-Sahaj"

• The largest Public Sector Bank (PSB) in India, the State Bank of India (SBI), has introduced "MSME- Sahaj," web-based digital business loan solutions for invoice financing for Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs).

• The goal is to provide "on tap" short-term loans to MSME units under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime to satisfy their capital needs.

• This data-driven invoice finance credit assessment engine will offer a full range of services, including loan application, documentation, and sanctioned loan payout, all in a matter of fifteen minutes.
• SBI customers can use MSME Sahaj to obtain up to Rs 1 lakh in financing or a loan against their GST-registered sales invoices.
• Based on a Machine Learning (ML) model, MSME-Sahaj leverages real data from sources such as Credit Information Company (CIC) data, client bank records, and GST Identification Number (GSTIN).
• With the You Only Need One (YONO) app, a digital application from SBI, current MSME clients can access this solution, which will rapidly release cash flows by addressing MSMEs' liquidity challenges.
• The product will also serve SBI's non-credit sole proprietor clients as long as they maintain a positive current account with the bank.

• Founded :- - 1st July 1955
• Headquarters:- Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Chairman:- Dinesh Kumar Khara

Science & Technology

ISRO's Aditya-L1 solar probe completes first orbit around Sun-Earth L1 point

• On 2nd July 2024, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft, India's 1st space-based solar observatory mission at Lagrangian point 1 (L1), completed its first halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L1 point. The spacecraft in the Halo orbit takes 178 days to complete one revolution around L1.

• During its travel into the halo orbit, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft undergoes Station-Keeping (SK) maneuvers to maintain its orbit due to various perturbing forces.

• The solar observatory has proven that it can continue on its intricate course since it was launched on September 2, 2023, and placed into its intended halo orbit on January 6, 2024.
• This accomplishment verifies the highly developed in-house flight dynamics software at the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru.
• To keep the SK in orbit, three maneuvers have been carried out on February 22, 2024, June 7, 2024, and July 2, 2024, respectively.
• The spacecraft's continuation into its second halo orbit path around L1 has been guaranteed by the third SK maneuver.

• Formed:- 15 August 1969
• Headquarters:- Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Chairman :- Sreedhara Somanath

Defence

Joint Military Exercise Nomadic Elephant Between India and Mongolia Commences in Meghalaya

• The 16 th edition of India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT commenced today, at Foreign Training Node, Umroi (Meghalaya).

• The Exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 03 rd to 16 th July 2024.
• Indian contingent comprising of 45 personnel is being represented by a Battalion of SIKKIM SCOUTS along with personnel from other arms and services.
• The Mongolian contingent is being represented by personnel from 150 Quick Reaction Force Battalion of the Mangolian Army.

• Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT is an annual training event conducted alternatively in India and Mongolia. The last edition was conducted in Mongolia in July 2023.
• The Opening Ceremony of the Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT was attended by His Excellency Mr. Dambajavyn Ganbold, Ambassador of Mongolia to India, and Major General Prasanna Joshi, General Officer Commanding 51 Sub Area of the Indian Army.
• The Exercise aims to enhance the joint military capability of both sides to undertake counter-insurgency operations in a sub-conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate. The exercise will focus on operations in the semi-urban and mountainous terrain.
• Tactical drills during the Exercise include Response to a Terrorist Action, Establishment of a Joint Command Post, Establishment of an Intelligence & Surveillance Centre, Securing of a Helipad/ Landing Site, Small Team Insertion & Extraction, Special Heliborne Operations, Cordon & Search Operations besides Employment of Drones and Counter Drone Systems amongst others. Major General Gyanbyamba Sunrev, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Mongolia is scheduled to attend the closing ceremony on 16 th July 2024 along with Lieutenant General Zubin A Minwalla, General Officer Commanding 33 Corps of the Indian Army.
• Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT will enable both sides to share their best practices in Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for conducting joint operations. The exercise will also facilitate the development of inter-operability, bonhomie, and camaraderie between the two armies. This will also enhance the level of defence cooperation, further augmenting bilateral relations between the two friendly nations.

Index

India ranked 72nd on the IMF's AI Preparedness Index, while Singapore topped the list

• The Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index (AIPI) Dashboard, which analyzes the degree of Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness across 174 nations, was announced by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on June 25, 2024. With a grade of 0.49, India has achieved the 72nd rank out of 174 countries according to AIPI.

• The United States of America (USA) (0.77), Denmark (0.78), and Singapore (0.80) ranked second and third, respectively, in the total ranking.

• Based on their performance in four major areas—digital infrastructure, human capital and labor market policy, innovation and economic integration, and regulation and ethics—the countries were ranked by the index.
• Each nation has been divided into three primary groups, including Low-Income Country (LIC), Emerging Market Economy (EM), and Advanced Economy (AE).

• Established:- 1944
• Headquarters :- Washington, D.C.(USA)
• Managing Director:- Kristalina Georgieva
• Member nations:-190

Important Day

American Independence Day - 4 July

• The United States observes Independence Day on July 4th of each year to honor the nation's 1776 declaration of independence from Great Britain.

• US Independence Day is a federal national holiday of great significance, commemorating the country's founding.
• The US Independence Day celebrates its 278th year this year.
• The people commemorate this day with tremendous fervor, and the themes of liberty, democracy, and the pursuit of happiness are ever-present.

• The US gained its independence on July 2, 1776, when the Continental Congress took a historic vote and chose to break away from Great Britain.
• With the declaration of independence by twelve of the thirteen colonies, the stage was prepared for the formation of a new nation.
• The Declaration of Independence, which outlined the colonies' complaints against the British authority and asserted their right to self-governance, was written by notables such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.
• The Declaration of Independence was formally adopted two days later, on July 4, 1776, establishing the colonies' position as independent and sovereign governments.
• With the US emerging as a light of democracy and freedom, this historic event signaled the start of a new age.

• July 4th is recognized as American Independence Day. It honors the principles of liberty, democracy, patriotism, and the pursuit of happiness upon which the nation was founded.
• In 1801, the White House hosted the first-ever Fourth of July festivities. It has been an annual event ever since.
• Americans honor the bravery and sacrifices made by the Founding Fathers on this day to preserve the concepts of liberty, equality, and self-government.
• Parades, fireworks, community get-togethers, and patriotic displays are held all around the nation to honor the country's enduring spirit of freedom.