These current affairs today are a part of our daily current affairs. We cover a wide range of topics from state, national, and international news that are relevant and important for competitive exams. Our team prepares today’s current affairs after going through many newspapers, such as The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, PRS, etc.
Scroll down for current affairs for 24 January 2024
PM Modi launches new rooftop solar power scheme
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled the ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana,’ a governmental initiative wherein a million households shall be endowed with rooftop solar power systems.
- This marks not the inaugural endeavor to advocate for the adoption of rooftop solar power systems. In 2014, the administration inaugurated the Rooftop Solar Programme, aspiring to attain an aggregate installed capacity of 40,000 megawatts (MW) or 40 gigawatts (GW) by the year 2022 — the watt, a unit of power, computed as the energy expended over time, precisely one Joule per second.
- Regrettably, this objective remained unattained. Consequently, the government extended the deadline from 2022 to 2026. The Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana emerges as a renewed endeavor to facilitate the realization of the 40 GW rooftop solar capacity target.
- India is poised to undergo the most substantial surge in energy demand globally over the next three decades, as per the latest World Energy Outlook by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
- Hence, it becomes imperative to augment the solar power capacity. The nation has escalated it from less than 10 MW in 2010 to 70.10 GW in 2023, as previously mentioned.
What constitutes India’s prevailing solar capacity?
- As per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s website, the installed solar power capacity in India has reached approximately 73.31 GW as of December 2023. Simultaneously, rooftop solar installed capacity stands at around 11.08 GW as of December 2023.
- Regarding the overall solar capacity, Rajasthan claims the pinnacle with 18.7 GW, while Gujarat secures the second position with 10.5 GW. In the realm of rooftop solar capacity, Gujarat commands the lead with 2.8 GW, trailed by Maharashtra with 1.7 GW.
- Significantly, solar power holds a substantial portion in the country’s extant renewable energy capacity, standing at approximately 180 GW.
Maharashtra Gymnast Aaryan Davande wins Boys Artistic All-Round Gold at Khelo India Youth Games in Chennai
- In the Khelo India Youth Games 2023, defending champions Maharashtra opened their gold medal account when gymnast Aaryan Davande clinched the Boys Artistic All-Round crown at the SDAT Aquatics complex in Chennai. Davande accumulated a total of 73 points to beat Uttar Pradesh’s Pranav Mishra. Harshit of UP clinched the bronze in the event.
- Girls team from Tamilnadu won the gold medal, Rajasthan bagged silver and Maharashtra got Bronze in Cycling team sprint event.
- In the 500-metre trial girls category, J. Srimathi won gold, Vimla from Rajasthan bagged silver and R. Tamilarasi from Tamilnadu got the bronze medal.
- In the Boys cycling event, Aashirwad Saxena from Telangana won the gold, Vedant Jadhav from Maharashtra bagged the silver and Gumoor Poonia from Haryana got the bronze medal. Kerala won the gold, Maharashtra bagged silver and Tamilnadu got the bronze medal in the team sprint cycling event.
- In the rhythmic gymnastics individual event of Khelo India Youth games, Sanyukta Kale from Maharashtra won the gold, Muskan Rana from Jammu and Kashmir won silver and Life Adlakha won the bronze medals.
- Pranav Mishra won the silver medal.
- In the women artistic individual gymnastics, Nishika Agarwal from Telangana won the gold, Soumili Karar from West Bengal won the silver and Sara Rawool won the bronze medals.
BCCI Awards 2023: Gill named cricketer of the year
- The BCCI’s Lifetime Achievement Award will be bestowed upon Ravi Shastri, the former India all-rounder, and head coach.
- Shubman Gill, recognizing his outstanding performance over the past year, will receive the Cricketer of the Year award. This comes on the heels of Gill achieving the fastest 2000-run milestone in ODIs and scoring five centuries in the format.
- Notably, the upcoming BCCI awards ceremony will mark the first occurrence since 2019.
- Ravi Shastri, aged 61, contributed significantly to Indian cricket, representing the country in 80 Tests and 150 ODIs. Post his playing career, he gained prominence in the broadcasting realm.
- Additionally, Shastri took on coaching responsibilities twice for the national team. Initially, he served as the team director from 2014 to 2016, and later returned as the head coach alongside captain Virat Kohli until the T20 World Cup in 2021.
- The recipient of the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award is none other than Ravi Shastri.
India-Kyrgyz Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘Khanjar’:
- The 11th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise Khanjar has commenced at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.
- It is an annual event conducted alternatively in both countries.
- The Indian Army contingent, represented by 20 personnel from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), is joined by the Kyrgyzstan contingent comprising 20 personnel represented by the Scorpion Brigade.
- The exercise aims to exchange experiences and best practices in Counter Terrorism and Special Forces Operations, specifically in Built-up Areas and Mountainous Terrain under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
- Emphasis will be on developing Special Forces skills and advanced techniques of insertion and extraction.
- The exercise serves as an opportunity to fortify defense ties and address common concerns related to international terrorism and extremism.
India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘Cyclone’:
- The Indian Army contingent, consisting of 25 personnel, has reached Egypt for the 2nd edition of the India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise Cyclone.
- The exercise is conducted at Anshas, Egypt, with the first edition having taken place in India last year.
- Troops from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) represent the Indian contingent, while the Egyptian contingent includes 25 personnel from the Egyptian Commando Squadron and Egyptian Airborne Platoon.
- The exercise’s aim is to acquaint both sides with each other’s operating procedures, focusing on Special Operations in desert/semi-desert terrain under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
- Exercise Cyclone is designed to enhance bilateral military cooperation and strengthen the bond between the two armies through discussions and tactical military drills in three phases.
- The exercise provides an opportunity for both contingents to share best practices and strengthen bilateral relations.
India’s Stock Market Overtakes Hong Kong:
- India’s stock market capitalization has surpassed Hong Kong’s for the first time, reaching $4.33 trillion compared to Hong Kong’s $4.29 trillion, making India the fourth-largest equity market globally.
- This milestone was achieved on Dec. 5, with half of the value added in the past four years.
- India’s equities are flourishing due to a growing retail investor base and robust corporate earnings.
- India, as an alternative to China, attracts global capital with its stable political setup and a consumption-driven economy among the fastest-growing.
Hong Kong:
Hong Kong officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China is a city and a special administrative region in China.
Chief Executive: John Lee
Chief Secretary: Eric Chan
Council President: Andrew Leung
Quinte Financial Technologies and Tamil Nadu Partnership:
- Global fintech firm Quinte Financial Technologies, based in the United States, has partnered with the Tamil Nadu government.
- The collaboration aims to establish technology development centers in Tier-II cities within the state.
- The memorandum of understanding signed between Quinte and Tamil Nadu focuses on utilizing skilled individuals in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), automation, and banking and finance for these development centers.
- Quinte specializes in automation and analytics for financial institutions, and the development centers are anticipated to enhance operational metrics.
Corning’s Joint Venture with Optiemus in Tamil Nadu:
- Corning, a U.S. electronics maker and key parts supplier for Apple, has entered a joint venture named Bharat Innovative Glass Technologies.
- This joint venture, in collaboration with Indian telecommunications company Optiemus Infracom, will invest $120.4 million in Tamil Nadu for manufacturing mobile phone front cover glass.
- The facility is Corning’s first manufacturing plant since the joint venture formation in September.
- The investment underscores India’s growing significance as a manufacturing hub, benefiting from a global shift in supply chains.
Satwik-Chirag Duo Reclaims World No. 1 Ranking:
- India’s badminton pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have regained the top spot in the BWF men’s doubles rankings.
- This achievement follows their impressive performances in the Malaysia Open super 1000 and India Open super 750 badminton tournaments.
- The duo previously attained world no. 1 status after securing a historic gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
- Other Indian players, including HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, and Priyanshu Rajawat, maintain their respective rankings.
Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2024:
- The Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2024 in the Institutional category is awarded to 60 Parachute Field Hospital, Uttar Pradesh.
- The annual award, instituted by the Government of India, recognizes outstanding contributions and selfless service in disaster management.
- Awarded on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary, the prize includes a cash award of Rs. 51 lakh and a certificate for institutions.
- 60 Parachute Field Hospital, established in 1942, has played a crucial role in various global crises, focusing on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
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