CURRENT AFFAIRS 14 August, 2024

CURRENT AFFAIRS 14 August, 2024

1. PARTITION HORRORS REMEMBRANCE DAY –

• Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, known in Hindi as “Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas,” is a solemn national memorial day observed annually on August 14th in India.
• This day serves as a poignant reminder of the immense suffering and loss experienced during the 1947 partition of India. Established in 2021 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this commemoration aims to honor the victims and acknowledge the profound impact of partition on millions of lives.
• The partition of India in 1947 marked the end of British colonial rule and the birth of two independent nations: India and Pakistan.
• This momentous event, while celebrated for granting independence, also brought about one of the largest mass migrations in human history and unleashed unprecedented violence.

The partition resulted in-

• Displacement of 10 to 20 million people along religious lines
• Estimated deaths ranging from 200,000 to 2 million
• Countless incidents of violence, including rape and abduction

2. HARYANA TO COMMENCE FIRST-EVER GLOBAL WOMEN’S KABADDI LEAGUE –

• The first-ever Global Women’s Kabaddi League will commence next month (September) in Haryana. Officially named the Global Pravasi Women’s Kabaddi League (GPKL), this groundbreaking tournament will feature female athletes from over 15 countries.
• The event represents a significant advancement in promoting Kabaddi internationally, supporting efforts to include the sport in the Olympic Games, and bolstering India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics.
• Organized by the Holistic International Pravasi Sports Association (HIPSA) in partnership with World Kabaddi, the League’s launch will take place in Haryana. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently signed between HIPSA and the Government of Haryana to facilitate this initiative.

3. RETAIL INFLATION EASES TO 5-YEAR LOW OF 3.5% IN JULY –

• India’s retail inflation rate, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), fell to 3.54% in July, reaching a nearly 5-year low. This decline is attributed to a high base effect and a significant drop in food prices.
• The inflation rate has dipped below the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) medium-term target of 4% for the first time since August 2019. Despite this, the RBI is expected to maintain its current policy stance.
• Food inflation decreased substantially to 5.42% in July from 9.36% in June. Key contributors to this decline include reduced price increases for vegetables (6.83%), cereals (8.14%), fruits (3.84%), milk (2.99%), and sugar (5.22%). However, pulses saw a double-digit rise of 14.8%, and protein-rich items like eggs (6.76%) and meat and fish (5.97%) experienced higher inflation.
• Government bond yields are anticipated to open marginally lower due to the lower-than-expected domestic inflation print for July. The actual inflation rate of 3.54% was below the market expectation of 3.8%.

4. NATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL RANKING FRAMEWORK (NIRF): 2024 –

• Union Minister for Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan on August 12, released the India Rankings 2024, which implements the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).
• The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) was officially introduced by the Ministry of Resource Development (HRD) on September 29, 2015, with the Minister of HRD formally launching initiative. The NIRF ranking event will be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The Minister of State Education Sukanto Majumdar shall also be present at this event.

5. MITRA SHAKTI 2024: STRENGTHENING INDO-SRI LANKAN MILITARY TIES –

• The Mitra Shakti military exercise, an annual bilateral engagement between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army, commenced on August 12, 2024.
• This year’s exercise, held at the Sri Lankan Army Training School in Maduru Oya, marks a significant milestone in the military cooperation between these two South Asian nations.
• Set to run until August 25, this combined training exercise exemplifies the commitment of both countries to enhance their military capabilities and foster stronger bilateral relations.