CURRENT AFFAIRS 20 December, 2024
- GOA LIBERATION DAY 2024 –
- Goa Liberation Day is celebrated on December 19 every year to mark the freedom of Goa from Portuguese rule in 1961. This event symbolizes the end of 451 years of colonial rule and commemorates the bravery and sacrifices of the freedom fighters.
- Marks the end of 451 years of Portuguese colonial rule in Goa, Daman, and Diu. The day celebrates the relentless struggle of the people of Goa and the Indian army’s role in ending Portuguese rule.
- BHARAT MOBILITY GLOBAL EXPO 2025: INDIA’S AUTOMOTIVE MILESTONE –
- The Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 will take place from January 17-22 across Delhi NCR, marking India’s growing role as a global hub for mobility. With over 1,500 exhibitors and an expected 500,000 visitors, the event is set to become the world’s second-largest auto show.
- Key automotive giants such as Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, and BYD will showcase new models, with a focus on electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid technologies, and alternative fuels. In its second edition, the expo promises to build on the success of the inaugural 2024 event, reinforcing India’s commitment to sustainable mobility and engineering excellence.
- FORMER HARYANA CM OM PRAKASH CHAUTALA PASSES AWAY AT 89 –
- Om Prakash Chautala, the veteran politician and former Chief Minister of Haryana, passed away at the age of 89 on December 20, 2024, in Gurugram after suffering a cardiac arrest.
- A stalwart of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and a key figure in Haryana’s political history, his death marks the end of an era. Chautala was known for his leadership, serving as Haryana’s CM for four terms, with his first tenure beginning in 1989 and his final term running from 1999 to 2005.
- INDIA RANKS 39TH IN TRAVEL AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT INDEX 2024 –
- India has significantly improved its position in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2024, ranking 39th among 119 countries.
- This marks a sharp rise from its 54th place in the previous 2021 index, which was later adjusted to 38th after a revision in WEF’s methodology.
- The boost in India’s ranking reflects a strong recovery in global tourism, following the pandemic, and the country’s growing role as a hub for medical and cultural tourism.
- CHINA SETS NEW SPACEWALK RECORD –
- China has achieved a major milestone in space exploration with two astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station completing a nine-hour spacewalk, setting a new global record.
- Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong set a new global record with a 9-hour extravehicular activity (EVA) outside the Tiangong space station. The spacewalk was confirmed by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) as a “full success.”