Current Affairs GK 24 July 2024

CURRENT AFFAIRS 24 July, 2024

1. WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL PASSPORTS 2024: SINGAPORE LEADS; INDIA AT 82ND –

• Singapore has reclaimed its title as the world’s most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to a record 195 global destinations according to the Henley Passport Index. India ranks 82nd, allowing visa-free entry to 58 countries.
• Singapore: Visa-free access to 195 destinations, ranking first.
• Joint Second: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, each with visa-free access to 192 destinations.
• Joint Third: Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden, each with 191 destinations.
• Fourth Place: UK, Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland with 190 destinations.
• Eighth Place: US with 186 destinations, continuing its decade-long slide.
• 82nd Spot: India, tied with Senegal and Tajikistan, allows visa-free entry to 58 countries.

2. 21.71% OF COUNTRY’S AREA UNDER FOREST COVER: MOS KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH –

• Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, an organization under the Ministry carries out the assessment of forest cover biennially. As per the latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR) published in 2021, the total forest cover of the country is 7,13,789 square kilometer which is 21.71% of the geographical area of the country. The State/UTs wise details of forest cover as per ISFR, since 2019 are given in Annexure.
• The tree cover increased by 721 square kilometer during 2019 to 2021. There is no loss of tree cover during 2019 and 2021. Therefore, the question of increase in emission of carbon dioxide due to loss of tree cover does not arise.
• The contradictions between India State of Forest Report 2021 and Global Forest Watch data may be because of the differences in the definition of forest cover and tree cover adopted in these two reports. At present there in no plan to amend the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhniyam, 1980.

3. UNION BUDGET 2024-25: RS 6.22 LAKH CRORE ALLOCATED TO MINISTRY OF DEFENCE –

• In the Regular Union Budget for FY 2024-25, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has received an allocation of Rs 6,21,940.85 crore (approximately US $75 billion), marking the highest allocation among all ministries. This represents a 4.79% increase over the previous fiscal year (FY 2023-24) and an 18.43% increase compared to FY 2022-23. The budget focuses on promoting self-reliance in defence technology and manufacturing, equipping the Armed Forces with modern weapons and platforms, and enhancing operational readiness and veterans’ healthcare.
• Capital Expenditure: Rs 1.72 lakh crore allocated to Defence Forces under capital head, a 20.33% increase from FY 2022-23 and 9.40% more than FY 2023-24.
• Operational Readiness: Rs 92,088 crore allocated for operational readiness, a 48% increase from FY 2022-23.
• Veterans’ Healthcare: Rs 6,968 crore allocated to the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), a 28% increase from the previous year.
• Border Infrastructure: Rs 6,500 crore allocated to Border Roads Organisations (BRO) under capital for BE 2024-25, a 30% increase from FY 2023-24 and 160% higher than FY 2021-22.
• Indian Coast Guard: Rs 7,651.80 crore allocated, a 6.31% increase over FY 2023-24.
• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO): Rs 23,855 crore allocated, with a major share for capital expenditure.
• Defence Pensions: Rs 1,41,205 crore allocated, a 2.17% increase from FY 2023-24.

4. CHINA UNVEILS WORLD’S FIRST CARBON FIBER HIGH-SPEED TRAIN –

• China has built the world’s first passenger train made from carbon fibre, a material that makes it much lighter and more energy-efficient than conventional trains. The metro train – known as Cetrovo 1.0 or the Carbon Star Rapid Transit – was unveiled in Qingdao, in the eastern province of Shandong, on July 17.
• It has completed in-factory testing and is ready to go into operation in the coastal city later this year, according to its developer Qingdao Sifang Rolling Stock Co, a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation.
• The train’s main load-bearing structures – including car body and bogie frame – are built with carbon fibre composite materials, the company said. That makes its body and frame 25 per cent and 50 per cent lighter, respectively, than those of a conventional train.
• Overall, it is 11 per cent lighter than a traditional train, and the company said energy consumption would be reduced by 7 per cent. That would mean a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of about 130 tonnes a year – equivalent to planting more than 40 hectares (100 acres) of trees.

5. BCCI GRANTS RS 8.5 CRORE FOR INDIAN OLYMPIC CONTINGENT –

• Jay Shah, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), told the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on July 20 that the BCCI would be giving Rs. 8.5 crore to help pay for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. India’s success at the Games will be improved by this financial help.
• India will send 117 runners to the 2024 Olympics, which is a little less than the number that went to Tokyo 2020. The total number of people in the contingent has grown to 257, though, because a lot of teachers and support staff are now with the athletes.
• There are a total of 140 support staff. Of those, 67 will be staying in the Games Village and 72 will be staying somewhere else, with government money paying for their stay. With this new plan, there will be a better mix of athletes to support staff.