Daily GK Update 30th Jan, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 4th Orange Festival 2024 In Nagaland: The fourth edition of the annual Orange Festival began at Local ground in Rusoma village Kohima, Nagaland. Theme 2024 – “Organic Orange” The two-day festival was inaugurated by Minister for Women Resources & Horticulture Salhoutuonuo Kruse.

With approximately 3400 attendees, this year’s event showcased the best of organic produce, community spirit, and rural entrepreneurship.

 

2. PM Modi Unveils Infrastructure Boost in Bulandshahr, UP: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 19,100 crore in Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. The projects are related to several sectors like rail, road, oil and gas and urban development and housing. The PM also dedicated a 173 km long double line electrified section between New Khurja – New Rewari on the Dedicated Freight Corridor. He dedicated the fourth line connecting the Mathura-Palwal section and the Chipiyana Buzurg-Dadri section.

 

3. Election Commission collaborates with Rajkumar Hirani for a short film: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has collaborated with filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani for a short film to spread awareness about voting. Titled ‘My Vote My Duty’, the short is compiled from video messages by cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar as well as actors Rajkummar Rao, Amitabh Bachchan, R Madhavan, Raveena Tandon, Vicky Kaushal, Boman Irani, Arshad Warsi, Bhumi Pednekar and Mona Singh. A short film ‘My Vote My Duty’ produced by #ECI in association with @RajkumarHirani featuring several renowned celebrities on the theme ‘Value of one vote’ was released on #NVD2024.

 

4. THDC dedicates India’s largest Green Hydrogen pilot project: THDC India Limited, a leading Power Sector PSU, has established a benchmark in Green Hydrogen production, by successfully implementing India’s one of the first pilot project aligned with the “National Green Hydrogen Mission”. The Project will be India’s largest electrolyser end fuel cell-based pilot project. THDC India Limited is under the ownership of National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, Ministry of Power, Government of India. It was incorporated in July 1988 to develop, operate and maintain the Tehri Hydro Power Complex and other Hydro Projects. THDC India Limited is a Mini Ratna Category-I Enterprise.

 

5. Odisha CM inaugurates 4th National Chilika Birds Festival: Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik has inaugurated the 3-day 4th National Chilika Birds Festival. The festival, jointly organised by the Department of Tourism, the Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change and the Chilika Development Authority, kicked off with a captivating photo exhibition. The exhibition showcased the pictures of renowned photographers including Shakti Nanda, Umakanta Biswal, Dhritiman Mukherjee and others. The festival witnessed the participation of 52 selected birders from across the country.

 

6. Anil Kumar Lahoti appoints as Chef of TRAI: Former Railway Board Chairman and CEO Anil Kumar Lahoti has been appointed as the Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The post of TRAI chairman has been lying vacant for four months since PD Vaghela’s retirement on September 30. The 1984 batch Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer has been appointed as TRAI chief for a period of three years from the date of assumption of charge of the post or until he attains the age of 65 years or until further orders, whichever is earlier. During his more than 36 years of career in railways, Lahoti worked in various capacities over Central, Northern, North Central, Western and West Central Railways and in Railway Board.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Sustainable Development Summit to be held in New Delhi: The 23rd World Sustainable Development Summit will be held in New Delhi from Feb 7-9. The summit is Organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), this independent international summit aims to address global challenges such as conflict, planetary crises, and setbacks in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Under the theme ‘Leadership for Sustainable Development and Climate Justice’, the summit will emphasise the crucial role of visionary leadership in steering the world toward sustainability. Expected to be inaugurated by the Vice President of India, the summit will host prominent speakers, including ministers from Fiji, Kiribati, and Spain, as well as representatives from the World Bank and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

 

2. 28 January 2024 – World Leprosy Day: World Leprosy Day is observed on the last Sunday of January, across the globe. Therefore, it was observed on 28 January, this year. However, in India, this day is annually celebrated on 30 January. World Leprosy Day helps to create awareness about the disease and eliminate the stigma and discrimination faced by those who suffer from the disease. Theme 2024 – Beat Leprosy The first World Leprosy Day was established in 1954 by French Journalist Raoul Follereau. He chose the date as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, who showed compassion and empathy towards people affected by leprosy.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Preeti Rajak Becomes Indian Army’s 1st Woman Subedar: Havildar Preeti Rajak, who is a champion trap shooter, has become the first woman to hold the rank of Subedar in the Indian Army. Subedar Preeti Rajak joined the Army in the Corps of Military Police in December 2022. Preeti Rajak has been awarded a promotion based on her spectacular performance in sports. During the 19th Asian Games, held at Hangzhou in China, Preeti Rajak won a silver medal in the trap women team event. Subedar Preeti Rajak is currently ranked sixth in India (trap women event) and is training at the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) in preparation for the Paris Olympic Games 2024.

 

2. 30 January – Martyrs Day or Shaheed Diwas: India commemorates Martyrs’ Day, also known as Shaheed Diwas, on January 30th each year. The death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is 30 January. He was shot and killed by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist, on 30 January 1948, while he was on his way to address an evening prayer meeting at Birla Bhavan, Delhi. Mahatma Gandhi is known as the ‘Father of the Nation’. He led the freedom movement in India and emphasised the use of non-violent and peaceful methods to fight the British rule.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Indian women’s hockey player Deep Grace Ekka announces international retirement: Indian women’s hockey team defender and penalty corner specialist Deep Grace Ekka has announced her international retirement. The 29-year-old was instrumental in India qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics. She was a vital cog in the team’s defence line at the Tokyo Games where India finished fourth. Ekka was also a member of the Indian team that won bronze in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. She also represented the Indian teams that won medals in 2014 and 2018 Asian Games. She was also a member of the title-winning Indian teams in 2016 Women’s Asian Champions Trophy and 2017 Asia Cup.

 

2. ICC lifts ban on Sri Lanka Cricket two months after suspension: The ICC Board has lifted the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with immediate effect. SLC was suspended in November for being in serious breach of its obligations as an ICC member, in particular, the requirement to manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government interference in the governance, regulation and/or administration of cricket in Sri Lanka. The Board have been monitoring the situation since the suspension and are now satisfied that SLC are no longer in breach of membership obligations.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. ‘India: Mother of Democracy’ clinches First Spot at Republic Day Parade 2024: The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) announced that its tableau Bharat: Mother of Democracy’ of the Ministry of Culture has secured the first prize at the Republic Day Celebration Parade 2024 at Kartavya Path, marking a significant triumph in the realm of cultural representation. The tableau, a stunning blend of tradition and innovation, captivated audiences with its masterful use of the anamorphic technique alongside a rich display of Bharat’s cultural heritage, often hailed as the mother of democracy. The anamorphic technique, skillfully employed in the presentation, added a contemporary touch, reflecting the dynamism of the culture.