In Current Affairs for 29 August 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 29 August 2024
National Sports Day 2024
- National Sports Day was celebrated across India on 29 August.
- Objective: To commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
- First NSD: August 29, 2012.
- Significance: Encourages people of all ages to embrace physical fitness, regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle.
- Serves as a catalyst for developing a robust sports culture in India. National Sports Day 2024 is a celebration of the unbeatable spirit of sportsmanship and the enduring legacy of Major Dhyan Chand. It is a day to reflect on the importance of sports in our lives, promote physical fitness, and inspire the next generation of athletes.
Mixed Matrix Membrane
- Ministry of Science and Technology has said that it has developed a new composite membrane called Mixed Matrix Membrane, which helps in the detection of ammonia or other amine leaks in laboratories or industrial settings.
- Ammonia and other aliphatic amines, hazardous for human beings are used as raw materials for chemical, fertilizer and food industries.
- Therefore, detecting these chemicals is essential for effective environmental and water monitoring and is extremely important for preventing onsite gas leakage and disasters.
- The Research team of Dr Monika Singh at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali which is an autonomous Institute of the Department of Science and Technology have developed this membrane.
12 New Industrial Smart Cities
- Union Cabinet has approved twelve new greenfield industrial smart cities under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme to transform the country’s industrial landscape.
- Addressing media after the Cabinet meeting in New Delhi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, the combined estimated investment in these industrial areas will be 28 thousand 602 crore rupees.
- These projects will create ten lakh direct and up to 30 lakh indirect jobs. The projects span across ten states and are strategically planned along six major corridors.
- These are Khurpia in Uttrakhand, Gaya in Bihar, Rajpura-Patiala in Punjab, Zaheerabad in Telangana, Dighi in Maharashtra, Orvakal and Kopparthy in Andhra Pradesh, Palakkad in Kerela, Jodhpur-Pali in Rajasthan, and Agra and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.
- The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to conduct e-auctions for 730 Private FM channels in 234 new cities.
- The move aims to boost local content in the mother tongue and create new employment opportunities. Briefing media in New Delhi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, the decision will take the FM radio to uncovered tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
- The estimated reserve price for this auction is over 784 crore rupees. Under this, 32 new private FM channels will be auctioned in Uttar Pradesh, 22 in Andhra Pradesh, 20 in Madhya Pradesh, 19 in Rajasthan, 18 in Bihar, 11 in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu each, 13 in West Bengal and six private FM channels in Assam.
- Many of the approved cities are in Aspirational districts and left-wing extremist-affected areas and will further strengthen government outreach in these areas. It will also create new employment opportunities.
Indigenous RT-PCR Testing Kit Fo
- India has developed its own indigenous RT-PCR testing kit for Mpox. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has approved Siemens Healthineer’s IMDX Mpox Detection RT-PCR test for the viral disease.
- The test delivers result in just 40 minutes, significantly faster than traditional methods which takes 1-2 hours.
- World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Mpox Public Health Emergency of International Concern in view of its prevalence and spread across many parts of Africa. According to WHO, globally since 2022, more than 99 thousand cases and 208 deaths from 116 countries, had been reported due to Mpox.
PM JAN Dhan Yojna Completes A Decade
- Government’s flagship financial inclusion scheme Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana completed 10 years.
- More than 53 crore beneficiaries have been banked under the scheme so far. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated all beneficiaries and thanked those who made this scheme a success.
- Prime Minister said, Jan Dhan Yojana has been paramount in boosting financial inclusion and giving dignity to crores of people, especially women, youth, and marginalized communities.
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, the scheme integrates the poor into the economic mainstream and plays a crucial role in development of marginalised communities.
- She said, Jan Dhan-Mobile-Adhaar trinity enabled swift, seamless and transparent transfer of benefits of welfare schemes to eligible beneficiaries and promoted digital payments.
- In its 10 years since commencement, PMJDY has led to a total of 53.13 crore accounts.
- Of these 53 crore accounts, 55.6 per cent or 29.56 crore Jan-Dhan account holders are women and 66.6 per cent or 35.37 crore Jan Dhan accounts are in rural and semi-urban areas, as per a statement from the Ministry of Finance.
- Deposit balances under PMJDY account stand at ₹2,31,236 crore — this is a 15x increase as of August 14, 2024.
- The average deposit per account, according to the finance ministry stood at ₹4,352, as of 14 August 2024 -an 4x increase.
- Over 36.06 crore RuPay debit cards have been issued under PMJDY.
- As many as 89.67 lakh point-of-sale (PoS/mPoS) machines have been installed under PMJDY.
- Total number of digital transactions has risen from 2,338 crore in FY19 to 16,443 crore in FY24.
- Total number of UPI transactions has increased from 535 crore in FY19 to 13,113 crore in FY24.
- Total number of RuPay card transactions at PoS and e-commerce has increased from 67 crore in FY18 to 96.78 crore in FY24.
Pacific Policing Initiative
- In a move aimed at countering China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, along with other Pacific leaders, endorsed the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI).
- Marking a significant regional effort to bolster peace and security throughout the region, the PPI has been announced on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Meeting in Tonga.
- Initiative is aimed to enhance the capacity of Pacific nations to address law and order challenges, fulfil internal security needs, and provide mutual support in times of crisis.
- Australia has promised to commit approximately 400 million dollars over five years to ensure the PPI delivers on the aspirations of Pacific countries.
- The country’s contribution will include infrastructure costs associated with new policing Centres of Excellence in the region.
- Under the new initiative, Brisbane will host the PPI Policing Development and Coordination Hub, and four regional police training Centres of Excellence will be set up around the region, with one such facility already there in Papua New Guinea. Australian PM stressed that PPI is a Pacific-led, Australia-backed initiative, that will reflect the collective strengths of the region.
Amazon Launches Rufus
- Amazon, the global e-commerce giant, has announced the beta launch of Rufus, a cutting-edge generative AI-powered conversational shopping assistant, in India.
- This move signifies Amazon’s commitment to integrating advanced artificial intelligence technology into its core operations, aiming to revolutionize the online shopping experience for millions of customers.
- Rufus is designed to be a versatile and intelligent companion throughout the customer’s shopping journey. Its capabilities extend across various aspects of the shopping experience:
- Product Recommendations: Rufus can analyze user preferences and provide tailored product suggestions.
- Shopping List Advice: The AI assistant can help customers create and optimize their shopping lists.
- Requirement Analysis: By understanding customer needs, Rufus can offer more accurate and relevant assistance.
- Product Category Comparisons: Users can rely on Rufus to compare different product categories, aiding in informed decision-making.
- Gift Ideas: For special occasions, Rufus can suggest appropriate gift options.
- Customer Feedback Integration: The AI incorporates insights from other customers’ experiences and questions.
Shri Krishna Gaman Path
- Chief Ministers of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have announced plans to develop a new religious circuit called the ‘Shri Krishna Gaman Path’.
- This initiative aims to connect the birthplace of Lord Krishna in Mathura with the sacred city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, tracing the footsteps of one of Hinduism’s most revered deities.
- Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma made the official announcement on Monday, revealing the state’s commitment to this ambitious project.
- The announcement highlights the government’s focus on preserving and promoting religious heritage sites.
- The development of the Shri Krishna Gaman Path will be a joint effort between the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, demonstrating inter-state cooperation in the realm of cultural and religious tourism.
- The Shri Krishna Gaman Path holds immense religious and cultural significance as it aims to connect various locations associated with Lord Krishna’s journey from his birthplace to his place of education.
- Mathura, Uttar Pradesh: The starting point of the circuit, known as Krishna’s birthplace.
- Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh: The endpoint, famous for the Sandipani Ashram where Krishna received his education.
Asian Surfing Championships 2024
- India won a silver medal at the Maruhaba Cup, a team event, at the Asian Surfing Championships 2024 at Thulusdhoo, Maldives.
- In the final, Japan won the gold medal by a substantial margin, with a score of 58.40 ahead of India, who recorded a score of 24.13. Taipei (23.93) and China (22.10) placed third and fourth, respectively.
- Earlier, the Indian team, consisting of Kamali P, Ajeesh Ali, Srikanth D and Sanjay Selvamani, secured first place in the Heat 2 semi-final with a total score of 32.16.
- Both the Indian men’s and women’s surfing teams will compete at the Asian Games 2026, set to be hosted in Aichi-Nagoya in Japan.
- Harish Muthu also left a major mark at the Asian Surfing Championships. He became the first Indian to qualify for the quarter-finals before falling short in a hard-fought contest.
Current Affairs 29 August 2024 Question
- Which Country Secured Silver Medal At The Maruhaba Cup
A. Japan
B. India
C. China
D. France
ANSWER: B - Virupaksha Temple, Is Located In Which State
A. Maharashtra
B. Kerala
C. Karnataka
D. Gujarat
ANSWER: C - What Are ‘Sonobuoys’
A. A Stealth Guided Missile Destroyer
B. A Satellite Used For Monitoring Sea Levels
C. A Small, Expendable Device Used In Underwater Acoustics
D. None Of The Above
ANSWER: C - Primary Objective Of The ‘BioE3 Policy
A. To Promote Traditional Farming Practices
B. To Foster High-performance Biomanufacturing
C. To Increase Coal Production
D. To Enhance Organic Farming
ANSWER: B - Which Department Is Responsible For Managing ‘Vigyan Dhara Scheme
A. Department of Biotechnology
B. Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion
C. Department of Space
D. Department of Science and Technology
ANSWER: D - Which State Recorded Semi Wild Bovine Creature, Mithun (Bos Frontalis), For
The First Time
A. Assam
B. Sikkim
C. Manipur
D. Nagaland
ANSWER: A - Where Was ‘Under-17 World Wrestling Championship 2024’ Held
A. Tokyo, Japan
B. Amman, Jordan
C. Beijing, China
D. New Delhi, India
ANSWER: B - Which State Reported An Outbreak Of Bird Flu Or Avian Influenza
A. Odisha
B. Bihar
C. Uttar Pradesh
D. Jharkhand
ANSWER: A - Primary Objective Of The ‘New India Literacy Programme
A. To Promote Sports Among Children Aged 6-14
B. To Provide Food To 9th To 12th Students
C. To Provide Free Laptops To College Students
D. Promoting Literacy Among Non-literates Aged 15 And Above
ANSWER: D - Which State Government Has Launched “Mukhya Mantri Sukh Shiksha
Yojana”
A. Andhra Pradesh
B. Gujarat
C. Himachal Pradesh
D. Uttarakhand
ANSWER: C - Which Country Expanding Investments In Afghanistan
A. United States
B. Russia
C. India
D. China
ANSWER: D - In Which City Did Solu Open The First Aesthetic Clinic For The Transgender
Community In India
A. Chennai
B. Mumbai
C. Bangalore
D. Madurai
ANSWER: D - Who Appointed As Interim Chairman Of Airports Authority Of India
A. M Suresh
B. Sanjeev Kumar
C. Rakesh Singh
D. Rajiv Bansal
ANSWER: A - Which Organization Committed A $500 Million Loan To Improve Healthcare In
Maharashtra
A. World Bank
B. International Monetary Fund
C. Asian Development Bank
D. United Nations Development Programme
ANSWER: C - In Which Indian State Was First Cow Dung Gas Plant Inaugurated Under The
Gobar Gas Dhan Yojana
A. Bihar
B. Rajasthan
C. Uttar Pradesh
D. Madhya Pradesh
ANSWER: A - Avani Lekhara Plays Which Sport
A. Archery
B. Athletics
C. Swimming
D. Shooting
ANSWER: D - Which Company Signed Mou With GAIL To Explore A Bioethylene Plant In
India
A. Reliance
B. Bharat Petroleum
C. Petron
D. ExxonMobil
ANSWER: C - India’s First Athlete To Represent The Country In The Women’s 1500m T-11
Category At The 2024 Paris Paralympics
A. Rakhi Sharma
B. Anjum Mumtaz
C. Rakshitha Raju
D. Pooja Rani
ANSWER: C - Cabinet Declared Which Day As ‘National Space Day’ In India
A. August 20
B. August 23
C. August 25
D. August 27
ANSWER: B - Who Does ‘ Kanthaka’ Refer To, In The Context Of Gautam Buddha
A. His disciple
B. His chief advisor
C. His royal horse
D. His spiritual teacher
ANSWER: C
