Daily Current Affairs 1st Aug, 2024: Your guide for daily General Knowledge Preparation
Dear Readers,
This post contains important current affairs of 1st Aug, 2024. It includes all Major National, International, Business and Sports related current affairs of 1st Aug, 2024. A brief explanation of every current affair is provided to further enhance your general knowledge. Once you have gone through these current affairs we would recommend to you to try 1st Aug, 2024 Current affairs test.
National News
Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar Seek Special Financial Packages from the Centre
- The states of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar have requested special financial packages from the Central Government, as detailed by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
- These requests span various sectors, including infrastructure development, irrigation projects, and social welfare.
IIT Mandi Establishes BioNEST-IIT Mandi Catalyst Centre for Biotechnology and Healthcare
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has announced the creation of the BioNEST-IIT Mandi Catalyst Centre, a Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)-sponsored initiative aimed at fostering entrepreneurial ventures in the biotechnology and healthcare sectors.
Initial Funding: The initiative is backed by an initial funding of Rs 5 crore, with the goal of addressing social, economic, and ecological challenges unique to India.
Banking & Finance News
Securities and Exchange Board of India Considers Measures to Curb Retail Trading Surge in Futures and Options
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed a series of near-term measures to prevent speculative trading, such as gambling in index derivatives, which include curbing multiple option contract expiries and increasing the size of options contracts.
SEBI proposed that the minimum contract size for index derivative contracts must be revised in two phases:
Phase 1: Minimum value of derivatives contract at the time of introduction to be between ₹15 lakhs to ₹20 lakhs
Phase 2: After six months, the minimum value of the derivatives contract will be between ₹20 lakhs to ₹30 lakhs.
The SEBI also proposed weekly options contracts to be provided on a single benchmark index of an exchange and brokerages to collect option premiums on an upfront basis from their clients.
It has also proposed an increase in margins on near-term expiry.
The SEBI has proposed a series of short-term measures to curb speculative trading in index derivatives (futures & options).
Small Industries Development Bank of India Collaborates with C2treds and UGRO Capital to Boost Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Loan Accessibility
- The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has partnered with C2treds and UGRO Capital to facilitate loans to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.
- C2treds offers liquidity to MSMEs within 24 hours via an online bidding process.
Securities & Exchange Board of India Launches Artificial Intelligence Chatbot Service ‘Seva’ for Investors
- For investor protection, the Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has started its Virtual Assistant (SEVA) – an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based conversation platform for investors.
- The Beta version of the chatbot includes features like citations for generated responses, speech-to-text and text-to-speech functionality for accessibility and follow-up questions.
One 97 Communications Unveils India’s First Paytm NFC Card Soundbox
- One 97 Communications (OCL), owner of the Paytm brand, has launched India’s first Paytm NFC Card Soundbox.
- Combines NFC technology with mobile QR payments.
- Allows customers to tap a debit or credit card or scan a QR code to make payments.
- Equipped with a 10-day battery life, instant audio confirmation, and a display screen for transaction amounts.
- Paytm had previously pioneered the Soundbox, which provides audio payment notifications.
- Supports audio payment notifications in 11 languages: English, Hindi, Gujarati, Bangla, Odia, Marathi, Punjabi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, and Kannada.
Business News
Indian Oil Corporation’s New Oil Jetty at Kamarajar Port
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) is constructing an exclusive oil jetty at Kamarajar Port in Ennore, Tamil Nadu.
The project, with an investment of ₹921 crore, is expected to be completed by December 2024.
Currently, all oil companies, including IOCL, HPCL, BPCL, Reliance, Shell, and Nayara, use a common oil jetty.
- IOCL will move to its dedicated facility once the new jetty is operational.
Awards And Honours News
MRPL Wins Greentech Pollution Control Award for Circular Economy Leadership
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) has been honoured with the Greentech Pollution Control Waste Management & Recycling Award
in the Circular Economy Leadership category.
- This award recognizes MRPL’s excellence in managing hazardous and various types of waste through environmentally sustainable practices and emphasizes its commitment to circular economy principles.
Appointments & Resignations
Former Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan, to Assume Role as Union Public Service Commission Chairman
- Former Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan will take charge as the Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on August 1, 2024, under Article 316 A of the Constitution.
- Sudan is currently a member of the Commission.
- She will take over from Manoj Soni who resigned a few days ago due to “personal reasons”.
Anish Dayal Singh was Assigned an Additional Role as Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force
Anish Dayal Singh, the Director General (DG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), has been assigned the additional charge of Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
- effective the day before the retirement of Nina Singh.
Sanjay Shukla Takes Over as Managing Director of National Housing Bank
- Sanjay Shukla has officially assumed the role of Managing Director (MD) of the National Housing Bank (NHB) as of July 30, 2024.
- About National Housing Bank :
- Founded: July 9, 1988, under the National Housing Bank Act, 1987.
- Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
- Role: Apex regulatory body for the regulation and licensing of housing finance companies in India.
- Jurisdiction: Operates under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
Mous And Agreement News
RITES Signs MoU with NHAI for Consultancy Services in Infrastructure Projects
- RITES, a leading engineering consultancy firm, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India.
- This collaboration is set to enhance the quality and safety of infrastructure projects across the country.
Sports News
National Basketball Academy in Collaboration with Corvuss American Academy
The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) has partnered with Corvuss American Academy to set up the National Basketball Academy in Mumbai.
- The academy is located 95 km away from both Pune and Mumbai at Corvuss, India’s first international residential school for student-athletes.
Important Days
World Wide Web Day 2024: August 1
- World Wide Web Day is celebrated globally on August 1st each year.
- The day is dedicated to web browsing and the online activities that bring global information to our fingertips.
- 1989: Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, a revolutionary internet-based communication system.
- 1991: The World Wide Web browser was made available on the public internet, marking its wider accessibility.
- 1993: Launch of the graphical browser Mosaic, which significantly enhanced user interaction with the web.
- 1994: Introduction of InternetWorks, which allowed users to open multiple tabs in a browser window.
- 1996: Integration of Internet Explorer into the Windows operating system, further popularizing web browsing.
