CURRENT AFFAIRS 14 December, 2024
PADMA BHUSHAN USTAD ZAKIR HUSSAIN PASSES AWAY AT 73 –
- Born: 1951, Mumbai, India
- Father: Ustad Allah Rakha (Tabla Maestro)
- Famous Collaborations: Pandit Ravi Shankar, John McLaughlin, George Harrison, Mickey Hart
- Key Projects: Shakti, Planet Drum
- Awards: Padma Bhushan, Padma Visbhushan, Padma Shri, Grammy Award
- Legacy: Revolutionized the tabla and took Indian music global.
- FAME-III: NEW MILESTONE FOR ELECTRIC MOBILITY IN INDIA –
- India is aggressively advancing its electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, and the launch of the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme marks a significant step in this journey. With an outlay of Rs. 10,900 crore over two years (April 2024 to March 2026), the scheme aims to promote electric mobility and reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.
- The Faster Adoption & Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme is gearing up for its third phase (FAME-III), expected to roll out within the next two months. The government is determined to ensure that India becomes a global leader in electric mobility, with a vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat.’
- LIST OF 43 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN INDIA 2024 (UPDATED) –
- As of December 2024, there are 43 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India with the recent inclusion of “Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty from Assam. “The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala, the famed Hoysala temples of Belur, Halebid, and Somananthpura in Karnataka have been added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage list.
- This inclusion marks the 42nd UNESCO World Heritage Site in India and comes just a day after Rabindranath Tagore’s Santiniketan also received this distinguished recognition. The decision to include Santiniketan in the prestigious list was made during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Saudi Arabia, reaffirming its importance on the global stage.
- TRUMP NAMED TIME’S PERSON OF THE YEAR –
- Time magazine has named Donald Trump as its Person of the Year for 2024, marking the second time he has received this prestigious recognition.
- The decision highlights Trump’s substantial political influence, his historic comeback following his victory in the November 5 election over Vice President Kamala Harris, and his role in reshaping the American presidency. Time’s recognition of Trump underscores the significant impact he has had on American politics and the world stage.
- RATAPANI DECLARED INDIA’S 57TH TIGER RESERVE –
- India has expanded its tiger conservation footprint with the declaration of Madhya Pradesh’s Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary as its 57th tiger reserve. The creation of these reserves highlights India’s commitment to protecting its tiger population, which constitutes over 70% of the global wild tiger population.
- Tiger reserves are specially designated areas established under the Project Tiger initiative of 1973 to conserve tigers and their habitats. Each reserve comprises:
- Core Areas: Legally designated as national parks or sanctuaries, where human activity is minimal.
- Buffer Zones: A mix of forest and non-forest land maintained as a transition zone for both wildlife and human activities.