In Current Affairs for 16 July 2024, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.
Current Affairs 16 July 2024
PM Modi Becomes Most Followed World Leader
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 100 million followers on his social media account X.
- This notable growth includes an increase of about 30 million followers over the past three years. Mr. Modi now holds the distinction of being the world’s most followed leader in office on X. Prime Minister Modi is far ahead of other world leaders including US President Joe Biden who has 38.1 million followers.
- After crossing 100 million followers, Mr. Modi said in a social media post that he is happy to be on this vibrant medium and cherishes the discussion, debate, insights, people’s blessings, constructive criticism and more.
India Signs MoU With Marshall Islands
- External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar said India and the Marshall Islands share a long history of friendly bilateral relations which has expanded over the years.
- Delivering a message on the occasion of the MoU signing for the implementation of Four Community Development Projects in the Marshall Islands, Dr. Jaishankar said the islands in the Pacific are not small islands but large ocean countries.
- He said India considers it a responsibility to support the Pacific Islands in their quest for sustainable development. He added that climate change, natural disasters, poverty alleviation, and healthcare are common challenges that India and the Marshall Islands need to address together. He stated that India is privileged to be a partner of the Pacific Islands in this regard.
Narco-Coordination Centre
- Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah will chair the 7th apex-level meeting of the Narco-Coordination Center (NCORD) on the 18th of this month in New Delhi.
- Mr. Shah will launch the National Narcotics Helpline ‘MANAS’ (Madak Padarth Nisedh Asuchna Kendra) and inaugurate the Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) zonal office at Srinagar.
- Mr Shah will also release NCB’s ‘Annual Report 2023’ and Compendium on ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’.
- This meeting will focus on coordinating and synergizing the efforts of various central and state government agencies involved in countering drug trafficking and abuse in India.
- In a statement, the Home Ministry said that a three-point strategy of strengthening institutional structure, coordination among all narco agencies, and extensive public awareness campaign will achieve the goal of a drug-free India by 2047.
First Tranche Of 2.5 Million Dollars
- India released the first instalment of 2.5 million dollars to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, for Palestine refugees for the year 2024-25.
- India’s Permanent Mission at the UN, in a X post said today that India has pledged to contribute 5 million dollars to support the UN agency’s core programmes and services.
- This includes healthcare, education, relief and social services provided to the Palestinian refugees.
- It said, over the years, in its endeavour to support the Palestinian refugees and their welfare, India has provided financial support to the tune of USD 35 million till 2023-24 for the UN Agency’s core programmes and services provided to Palestinian refugees.
- During the recent UNRWA Pledging Conference held in New York, India announced that in addition to financial assistance, it will provide medicines to UNRWA based on the Agency’s specific request, and reiterated its call for a safe, timely and sustained supply of humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine.
India’s G20 Task Force On Digital Public Infrastructure
- G20 Sherpa of India, Amitabh Kant said that India has achieved in 9 years what would have taken 50 years without Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
- Mr Kant said this on the occasion of the release of the final Report of India’s G20 Task Force on Digital Public Infrastructure. He said India is far ahead in terms of digitisation and with UPI being used from street vendors to large shopping malls, the country has the highest digital transactions globally.
- Mr Kant highlighted that with the transfer of 4.5 billion dollars into the bank accounts of 16 crore beneficiaries, India’s DPI proved to be a building block in steering the country through the pandemic.
- He also said that the report will be the guiding North Star for the world to follow.
- The Taskforce was established in January 2023 to oversee and facilitate India’s G20 Presidency agenda and priorities on DPI and Financial Inclusion.
Vikram Misri
- Mr. Vikram Misri assumed charge as the new Foreign Secretary. He has succeeded Vinay Mohan Kwatra whose tenure ended yesterday.
- Mr. Misri is a 1989 batch IFS officer. He was serving as Deputy National Security Advisor in the National Security Council Secretariat.
- He has served as Indian Envoy in China, Myanmar and Spain.
- Mr. Misri has the rare distinction of serving as Private Secretary to three Prime Ministers, Inder Kumar Gujral in 1997, Manmohan Singh in 2012 and Narendra Modi in 2014.
Global Conference On Space Research
- A global conference on space research kicked off in South Korea’s Busan city to foster international scientific research in space.
- According to the Korea Aero Space Administration (KASA), about 3,000 space scientists and industry officials from 60 nations attended the 45th Scientific Assembly of the Committee on Space Research.
- It marks the first time that South Korea is hosting the biennial global conference.
Indian Sand Artist Sudarshan
- Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik, won the Golden Sand Master award at an international championship in Russia.
- The world’s 21 master sculptors participated in the event. Sudarsan Pattnaik (born 15 April 1977) is an Indian sand artist from Puri, Odisha.
- In 2014, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, for his seashore sand arts.
- People’s Choice Award at Sand Sculpting World Cup 2014 at Atlantic City, US. First Indian to win the Italian Sand Art Award, 2019, at the International Scorrano Sand Nativity event held in Lecce, Italy.
- Pattnaik had created a 12-foot sculpture depicting a chariot and Lord Jagannath with his devotee Balaram Das, the famous Odia poet of the 14th century.
‘Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises’
- Government of India is set to launch the ‘Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises’ (AgriSURE) to support start-ups and agripreneurs through investments in sector-specific, sector-agnostic, and debt Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), as well as direct equity support to start-ups working in agriculture and allied sectors.
- This initiative aims to foster innovation and sustainability in India’s agricultural sector through the establishment of a Rs 750 crore Category-II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).
- The fund will offer both equity and debt support, specifically targeting high-risk, high-impact activities in the agriculture value chain.
- The announcement was made at the Pre-Launch Stakeholder meet held at NABARD Headquarters in Mumbai.
- The fund’s potential to create an ecosystem enhancing financing for the agriculture sector, benefiting small and marginal farmers.
- The CEO of NABVENTURES explained that the fund will be set up with an initial corpus of ₹750 crore, with ₹250 crore each from NABARD and the Ministry of Agriculture, and ₹250 crore from other institutions.
- The fund will focus on innovation in agriculture, enhancing the farm produce value chain, creating rural infrastructure, generating employment, and supporting Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs). It will also encourage IT-based solutions and machinery rental services for farmers.
- NABVENTURES, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NABARD, will be the Fund manager of AgriSURE. The fund is designed to operate for 10 years, extendable by two or more years.
Copa America Championship 2024
- Argentina won their second straight Copa America Championship, after beating Colombia 1-0 early this morning at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
- Lautaro Martínez scored the winning goal for the defending champions in the second half of extra time, after a brilliant one-touch through ball by Argentinian attacking midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.
- Argentina won the tournament for the record 16th time. Lautaro Martinez won the 2024 Copa America Golden Boot, awarded for the tournament’s top goalscorer. He scored a total of five goals in the tournament.
- Earlier in 2022, Argentina also won the FIFA World Cup, held in Qatar. The match started late by over one hour because of crowd trouble at Hard Rock Stadium.
Current Affairs 16 July 2024 Question
- Who Assumed Charge As New Foreign Secretary
A. Vikram Misri
B. Vinay Mohan Kwatra
C. Amitabh Kant
D. Pankaj Saran
ANSWER: A - Jimmy Anderson, Belongs To Which Country
A. Australia
B. South Africa
C. England
D. Ireland
ANSWER: C - Which State Government Has Recently Decided To Ban Sale Of High Caffeine
Energy Drinks Near Schools
A. Maharashtra
B. Uttar Pradesh
C. Rajasthan
D. Bihar
ANSWER: A - Who Appointed As Head Coach Of The Indian Men’s Cricket Team
A. Gautam Gambhir
B. MS Dhoni
C. Yuvraj Singh
D. Rahul Dravid
ANSWER: A - Philippines & Which Country Boosted Their Defence Ties By Signing A Reciprocal Access Agreement
A. Ukraine
B. Russia
C. France
D. Japan
ANSWER: D - India & Russia Agreed To Increase Bilateral Trade To 100 Billion Dollars By
Which Year
A. 2025
B. 2027
C. 2028
D. 2030
ANSWER: D - Which Organization Launched ‘Medical Devices Information System
A. World Health Organization
B. World Bank
C. UNICEF
D. UNDP
ANSWER: A - Which Country Becomes 5th Member Of Colombo Security Conclave
A. Myanmar
B. Nepal
C. Bangladesh
D. Bhutan
ANSWER: C - Primary Objective Of “GRSE Accelerated Innovation Nurturing Scheme
A. To Solve Problems Related To Shipyards And Promote Technology Development
B. To Increase The Maritime Security
C. To Provide Financial Aid To Large Corporations
D. To Promote Tourism In Coastal Areas
ANSWER: A - What Is The Theme Of ‘World Population Day 2024’
A. To Leave No One Behind, Count Everyone
B. Safeguard the health and rights of women and girls
C. Gender equality and reproductive health
D. Family Planning is a Human Right
ANSWER: A - Which Country Is The Host Of ‘Exercise Pitch Black 2024
A. India
B. France
C. Australia
D. New Zealand
ANSWER: C - What Is ‘Squalus Hima’
A. A New Species Of Dogfish Shark Discovered From Southwest Coast Of India
B. A Novel Type Of Coral Reefs Found In Arabian Sea
C. An Endangered Frog Species Found In Eastern Ghats
D. A Newly Discovered Species Of Spider Found In Northeastern Region
ANSWER: A - Which State Won The ‘Best State In Horticulture Award 2024’
A. Assam
B. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Nagaland
D. Sikkim
ANSWER: C - What Is ‘Bacteriophage’
A. It Is A Type Of Virus That Infects Bacteria
B. It Is A Type Of Fungus That Infects Cattle
C. It Is A Type Of Bacteria That Infects Virus
D. It Is A Parasitic Disease
ANSWER: A - Dengue (Break-bone Fever), Is Transmitted By Which Type Of Mosquitoes
A. Anopheles mosquitoes
B. Aedes mosquitoes
C. Culex mosquitoes
D. Culiseta mosquitoes
ANSWER: B - Technology Development Fund Scheme, Is A Programme Of Which Ministry
A. Ministry of Science and Technology
B. Ministry of Home Affairs
C. Ministry of Urban Development
D. Ministry of Defence
ANSWER: D - Who Won Bronze Medal In Shotgun Junior World Cup In Italy
A. Manu Bhaker
B. Anjali Bhagwat
C. Sabeera Haris
D. Nandita Das
ANSWER: C - Which State Government Decided To Ban Sale Of High Caffeine Energy Drinks
Near Schools
A. Maharashtra
B. Uttar Pradesh
C. Rajasthan
D. Bihar
ANSWER: A - Thane Borivali Tunnel Project, Is Associated With Which State
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Kerala
C. Maharashtra
D. Gujarat
ANSWER: C - Meerut Outbreak Was Sudden And Short-lived Like A Summer Gale”. Statement Reference To 1857 Mutiny Was Made By
A. S. N. Sen
B. R. C. Majumdar
C. S. B. Chaudhuri
D. V. D. Savarkar
ANSWER: A
