CURRENT AFFAIRS 16 December, 2024
- REMEMBERING SARDAR PATEL ON HIS DEATH ANNIVERSARY –
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, known as the “Iron Man of India,” played an instrumental role in India’s freedom struggle and the integration of the country after independence.
- As the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India, his efforts in uniting the princely states and his contributions to the freedom movement were crucial for India’s sovereignty and unity.
- Born: October 31, 1875, in Nadiad, Gujarat.
- Family: Father – Zaverbhai Patel (served in the Army of Queen of Jhansi), Mother – Ladbai (spiritual).
- Education: Studied law and became a barrister in England.
- DARK EAGLE HYPERSONIC MISSILE TESTED BY US ARMED FORCES –
- The U.S. military has successfully tested its Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), also known as “Dark Eagle,” bringing it closer to being fielded as a crucial asset in modern warfare.
- The test, conducted at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, demonstrated the missile’s ability to travel at speeds exceeding 3,800 miles per hour (Mach 5), and its capability to strike distant and well-defended targets.
- This achievement marks a major milestone in hypersonic technology development for the U.S. military, with future operational deployment planned by 2025.
- GOVT UNVEILS ‘JALVAHAK’ SCHEME TO BOOST INLAND WATERWAYS CARGO MOVEMENT –
- The Indian government has launched the Jalvahak incentive scheme to encourage long-haul cargo transportation via national waterways. Aimed at decongesting road and rail networks and promoting sustainable transport, the scheme offers direct incentives for transporting goods over 300 km on waterways.
- The Jalvahak scheme, unveiled by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, covers National Waterways 1 (Ganga), 2 (Brahmaputra), and 16 (Barak). It incentivizes cargo owners by providing up to 35% reimbursement on operating costs, making waterway transportation an economical and eco-friendly alternative.
- This initiative is part of India’s broader effort to unlock the potential of its 20,236 km inland waterways network, which has been underutilized compared to global leaders like the US and China.
- DESERT KNIGHT: A STRATEGIC TRILATERAL AIR COMBAT EXERCISE –
- India, France, and the UAE have initiated the trilateral air combat exercise “Desert Knight” over the Arabian Sea.
- This operation aims to strengthen defence cooperation, enhance interoperability among their air forces, and prepare for complex combat scenarios.
- Conducted in a strategically important region, the exercise underscores growing trilateral ties amid evolving global security challenges and geopolitical tensions.
- VIJAY DIWAS 2024: CELEBRATING INDIA’S 1971 VICTORY –
- Vijay Diwas, observed annually on December 16, commemorates India’s decisive victory over Pakistan in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. This 13-day war, triggered by the humanitarian crisis in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), ended with the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani soldiers and the liberation of Bangladesh as an independent nation.
- On this day in 1971, Lieutenant General A.A.K. Niazi of Pakistan signed the Instrument of Surrender in Dhaka, marking a historic moment led by Indian leaders like Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, and Lt. General Jagjit Singh Aurora.
- This victory reshaped South Asia’s geopolitics, showcasing India’s commitment to justice, humanity, and democratic values.