CURRENT AFFAIRS 12 August, 2024
- T.V. SOMANATHAN APPOINTED AS NEW CABINET SECRETARY –
- Senior IAS Officer T.V. Somanathan has been appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary of India, succeeding Rajiv Gauba, whose term ends this month. Somanathan will begin his two-year tenure on August 30, 2024. He will also serve as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Cabinet Secretariat until he formally assumes the role of Cabinet Secretary.
- Previous Positions: Somanathan, a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, has held several prominent positions, including Finance Secretary since April 2021, and Expenditure Secretary since December 2019. He has also served in the Prime Minister’s Office and various roles in his cadre state and abroad.
- EXERCISE UDARA SHAKTI 2024: STRENGTHENING INDO-MALAYSIAN AIR FORCE COOPERATION –
- The bilateral air exercise “Udara Shakti 2024” between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) concluded successfully on August 9, 2024. This exercise, hosted by the RMAF at its base in Kuantan, Malaysia, marked a significant milestone in military cooperation between the two nations.
- The IAF’s participation in Exercise Udara Shakti 2024 was notable, with a contingent of seven Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft. These advanced jets, along with their crews, returned to India on August 10, 2024, after four days of intensive joint exercises and knowledge exchange.
- AUGUST 12: INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY –
- International Youth Day is celebrated every year on August 12. This day is dedicated to recognizing the important role that young people play in making society better and to drawing attention to the challenges they face.
- It’s a time for various events like awareness campaigns, community gatherings, and concerts that address issues affecting young people around the world.
- Each year, International Youth Day has a specific theme that focuses on different aspects of helping and empowering young people. For 2024, the theme is ‘From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.‘
- This theme looks at how digital technology and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) connect, and it highlights how young people are involved in these areas.
- UNION CABINET APPROVES ₹24,657 CRORE RAILWAY PROJECTS FOR CONNECTIVITY –
- On August 9, 2024, the Union Cabinet in India approved eight new railway projects, with a total investment of ₹24,657 crore. These projects aim to improve connectivity, make travel more efficient, and be environmentally friendly by reducing logistics costs and cutting down on carbon emissions.
- The new projects will add 900 kilometers to the railway network, covering 14 districts in Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana, and West Bengal. The projects are expected to be finished by 2030-31.
The Railway routes include:
- Gunupur – Therbubali: 73.62 km
- Junagarh – Nabrangpur: 116.21 km
- Badampahar – Kandujhargarh: 82.06 km
- Bangriposi – Gorumahisani: 85.60 km
- Malkangiri – Pandurangapuram: 173.61 km
- Buramara – Chakulia: 59.96 km
- Jalna – Jalgaon: 174 km
- Bikramshila – Katareah: 26.23 km
- US TO RELEASE $3.5 BILLION MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL –
- The U.S. State Department announced the release of $3.5 billion in military assistance to Israel after Congress approved the funds amidst rising tensions due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This money is part of a larger $14 billion supplemental bill that was passed in April 2023.
- Amount: The $3.5 billion is specifically set aside for military financing.
- Purpose: The funds are to be used to buy U.S.-made weapons and military equipment.
- Congressional Approval: The U.S. Congress approved this funding while Israel was actively engaged in military action in Gaza.