Current Affairs GK 31st August 2024

Daily Current Affairs (31 – Aug – 24)

Cyclone Asna has formed over the Kutch coast in Gujarat and adjoining areas of Pakistan, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on August 30.
The cyclonic storm – a rare land-originating one in August and headed to the Arabian Sea– is expected to move further away from the western coast in the next 48 hours.
Asna name has been given by Pakistan.
The name Asna, which means “the one to be acknowledged or praised”. Between 1891 and 2023, only three cyclonic storms formed in the Arabian Sea in August (in 1976, 1964, and 1944), according to the IMD.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off three new Vande Bharat trains around 12:30 pm on August 31. “These new Vande Bharat trains shall provide the people of the region the world-class means to travel with speed and comfort and will cater to three states – Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka,” the government said in a press release.

These “Vande Bharat Express will improve the connectivity on three routes: Meerut-Lucknow; Madurai-Bengaluru and Chennai-Nagercoil”.

The Meerut City-Lucknow Vande Bharat will help passengers save around 1 hour in comparison to the current fastest train between the two cities.
The Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil Vande Bharat train will cover the journey between the two cities saving more than 2 hours.
Madurai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat train will cover the journey between the two cities saving around 1 hour 30 mins.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman granted ‘Navratna’ status to four Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs): NHPC, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), Railtel Corporation of India (RCIL), and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN). This brings the total number of Navratna CPSEs in India to 25. The Navratna status provides these entities with increased financial and operational autonomy.
Railtel Corporation- The 22nd Navratna, with a turnover of ₹2,622 crore and a net profit of ₹246 crore for FY24.
Solar Energy Corporation- The 23rd Navratna, reporting an annual turnover of ₹13,035 crore and a net profit of ₹436 crore for FY24.
NHPC- The 24th Navratna, with an annual turnover of ₹8,405 crore and a net profit of ₹3,744 crore for FY24.
SJVN- The 25th Navratna, posting an annual turnover of ₹2,833 crore and a net profit of ₹908 crore for FY24.

T.V. Somanathan, a senior IAS officer of the 1987 Tamil Nadu cadre, has assumed the role of Cabinet Secretary for the Government of India, succeeding Rajiv Gauba after his superannuation.
Somanathan brings extensive experience from both central and state government positions, as well as international roles, notably at the World Bank. His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Economics, and he is a qualified Chartered Accountant, Cost Accountant, and Company Secretary.
Somanathan has held significant roles at the Centre, including Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, and Finance Secretary and Secretary of the Department of Expenditure. He also served as the Director of Corporate Affairs at the World Bank in Washington, D.C.

Para shooter Avani Lekhara created history on August 30, by becoming the first Indian woman to win two gold medals at Paralympics.
Avani, who became the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic Games gold medal during the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event at the Tokyo 2020 edition, retained her title in Paris.
This is Avani’s third medal at the Paralympic Games. She had also won a bronze medal in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 event in Tokyo.
Avani Lekhara set a new Paralympic record with a score of 249.7, becoming the first Indian woman to win two individual gold medals at the Paralympics. With this achievement, Avani joined Devendra Jhajharia as the only Indian Paralympian to win multiple individual gold medals.
Avani also known as Avani Lekhara is a rising Indian Paralympian rifle shooter, born on 8th November 2001 in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Due to her training and her success in shooting, she also gave a historic performance at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics by winning gold in the women’s 10m air rifle standing event SH1 and a bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions.