CURRENT AFFAIRS 03 August, 2024

CURRENT AFFAIRS 03 August, 2024

India has announced the selection of two astronauts, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission represents a significant step in strengthening human spaceflight cooperation between ISRO and NASA, as well as advancing India’s own human space program.
Primary and Backup Pilots: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as the primary mission pilot, while Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair will act as the backup mission pilot.
Training: Both astronauts will undergo training in the United States starting the first week of August.
Role: During the Axiom-4 mission, they will perform scientific research, technology demonstration experiments, and participate in space outreach activities.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently released its Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) for 2024, offering a comprehensive evaluation of India’s standing in the global tourism landscape.
This index is a crucial benchmark for assessing the competitiveness and sustainability of tourism sectors worldwide.
This table presents the top 10 countries ranked according to their scores, along with their change in rank, percentage change, and percentage difference from the leader (United States).

In July 2024, India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections rose by 10.3% to ₹1,82,075 crore, marking a significant increase from ₹1,65,105 crore in July 2023. This uptick highlights strong domestic consumption and economic resilience.
July 2024 Collection: ₹1,82,075 crore, a 10.3% year-on-year increase.
Year-to-Date 2024: Total GST collections stand at ₹7,38,894 crore, up 10.2% from ₹6,70,766 crore in the same period of 2023.
Monthly Records: April 2024 recorded ₹2,10,000 crore, May and June saw ₹1,73,000 crore and ₹1,74,000 crore, respectively.
2023-24 Fiscal Year: Gross GST collections amounted to ₹20,18,000 crore, an 11.7% increase from the previous fiscal year. The average monthly collection was ₹1,68,000 crore, surpassing the previous year’s average of ₹1,50,000 crore.
Positive Trajectory: The rise in GST collections reflects strong domestic demand and import activities, contributing to India’s economic recovery amidst global uncertainties.
Consumer Savings: Recent GST rate adjustments have reduced prices for essentials, saving consumers approximately 4% on monthly household expenses.

India has solidified its position as a global leader in mineral production, with impressive rankings across several key minerals. The country stands as the 2nd largest Aluminium producer, the 3rd largest lime producer, and the 4th largest iron ore producer in the world.
These rankings underscore India’s significant contribution to the global mineral industry and highlight its growing importance in the sector.
The fiscal year 2023-24 witnessed unprecedented levels of mineral production in India, setting a strong foundation for continued growth.
Two key minerals, iron ore and limestone, emerged as the backbone of India’s mineral sector, collectively accounting for an impressive 80% of the total MCDR mineral production by value. The production figures for these crucial minerals in FY 2023-24 were as follows:
Iron Ore: 275 million metric tons (MMT)
Limestone: 450 million metric tons (MMT)
These figures not only represent a significant achievement for India’s mineral sector but also indicate the robust demand from various industries that rely on these raw materials.

India will host its first multinational air exercise, ‘Tarang Shakti 2024’, in two phases starting on the 6th of next month in Sular, Tamil Nadu. In this exercise, nearly 30 countries will participate, and out of 30, ten countries will join the exercise with their fighter aircraft. The exercise will showcase India’s defence prowess and provide a platform for participating militaries to foster interoperability.
Invitations have been extended to 51 countries. Ten countries will be participating with assets and 18 as observers with one more country likely to join,” Air Marshal Singh said while briefing the media.
Indian Air Force’s LCA Tejas, Mirage 2000, and Rafale to take part in the mega exercise, they added. Air Marshal A P Singh, Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS), told that this exercise will also showcase India’s defence prowess and move towards ‘Atmanirbharta’ in defence.

Foreign aircraft in the ‘Tarang Shakti’ exercise

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