Rajasthan

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Current Affairs Summary

Environment & Pollution

  • Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) by Chicago University:
    • Issued by Chicago University, based on PM2.5 levels.
    • Delhi is India's most polluted city, reducing life expectancy by an average of 8.2 years for its residents.
    • Bihar shows the highest reduction in life expectancy among states (5.4 years).
    • India's average life expectancy is reduced by 3.5 years due to air pollution.
    • Bangladesh is currently the most polluted country globally.

Wildlife Conservation

  • Eurasian Giant Tortoise (Manouria emys):
    • First artificial incubation (thermal incubation) in Asia was successfully carried out in Imphal, Manipur.
    • 28 hatchlings were successfully born.
    • The species is critically endangered and is affectionately called "small elephant" due to its large size.
    • These tortoises build nests in piles of leaves.
    • Related: Operation Olivian in Odisha protects Olive Ridley turtles, which undertake a mass nesting event called "Arribada" at Rushikulya Beach. A Marine Force for turtle protection was established in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Infrastructure & Development Projects

  • Puna Tsang Chhu-II Hydroelectric Project (Bhutan):

    • Located in Bhutan, this hydropower project was completed with India's cooperation.
    • India provided 30% as a grant and 70% as a loan at 10% interest.
    • The project has a total capacity of 1020 MW (six units of 170 MW each), with the sixth unit recently becoming operational.
    • Other India-Bhutan hydropower projects include Chukha, Kurichhu, Tala, and Mangdechhu.
    • Bhutan's capital is Thimphu, and it shares borders with Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh.

  • India's First Mondo Track:

    • India's first Mondo track was inaugurated at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi, on National Sports Day (August 29).
    • Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, inaugurated the track.
    • It is a synthetic, rubber-based, comfortable, and durable track manufactured by Mondo company, designed for athletics.
    • India is the 25th country globally to have a Mondo track.
    • The first competition to be held here will be the World Para Athletics Championship in September.
    • Related: The Men's Hockey Asia Cup has started in Rajgir, Bihar, where India won its first match against China (4-3). India has requested to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympic Games. The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Health Initiatives

  • Bharat BRAIN Health Initiative:
    • Launched by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in Amravati (at the Ratan Tata Centre).
    • BRAIN stands for Bio-Design Research and Innovation.
    • This healthcare initiative focuses on predictive and preventive healthcare services, aiming to forecast and address potential health issues to ensure quality health outcomes.

Road Safety

  • Road Accidents in India 2023 Report (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways):
    • In 2023, road accidents in India resulted in 1.73 lakh fatalities, implying one death every 3 minutes.
    • This marks a 2.6% increase in fatalities compared to 2022.
    • Potholes caused 2,161 deaths, with Uttar Pradesh accounting for over 50% of these.
    • Over-speeding was responsible for 68% of all road accident deaths.
    • The 18-45 age group accounts for 66% of road accident fatalities.
    • Tamil Nadu recorded the highest number of road accidents.

Energy Efficiency

  • State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEEI) 2024:
    • The 6th edition of the index was released for 2023-24 by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), established in 2002 under the 2001 Act.
    • Top performers by group:
      • Group 1: Maharashtra
      • Group 2: Andhra Pradesh
      • Group 3: Assam
      • Group 4: Tripura
    • "Frontrunner" states (score above 60%): Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu.
    • "Achiever" states (score 50-60%): Assam, Kerala.
    • "Contender" states (score 30-50%): Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana.

Parliamentary Affairs

  • National Conference of the Parliamentary Committee on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes:
    • Held for the first time outside Delhi, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
    • Inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla (Article 93 of the Constitution pertains to the Speaker and Deputy Speaker).
    • The conference aims to discuss and promote the interests of SC/ST communities.
    • The first such conference was held in Delhi in 1976.
    • The closing ceremony will be presided over by the Governor of Odisha, Dr. Haribabu Kambhampati.

Sports

  • Diamond League Final (Zurich, Switzerland):
    • Julian Weber of Germany won the gold medal in javelin throw with a throw of 91.51 meters.
    • India's Neeraj Chopra secured the silver medal with a best throw of 85.10 meters.

Appointments

  • International Monetary Fund (IMF):
    • Urjit Patel, former 24th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has been appointed as the Executive Director of the IMF.
    • He replaces K. Subramaniam.
    • Urjit Patel served as RBI Governor from 2016-2018, overseeing the demonetization of 2016. He was also instrumental in recommending the formation of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) and setting the inflation target at 4 +/- 2%.
    • The IMF was established as a result of the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference, with its headquarters in Washington D.C. Andora is its newest member country.

Technology & AI

  • Google AI Photo Editing Tool:
    • Google has launched a new AI-powered photo editing tool called "Nano Banana."
    • Related: Google also has Gemini 2.5, X (formerly Twitter) has Grok, and OpenAI developed ChatGPT.

Other Notable Current Affairs

  • 16th Census of India: Announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
  • Southern Pars Gas Field: Located in Iran, was reportedly attacked by Israel.
  • International Yoga Day: Visakhapatnam was declared the national host for the 10th International Yoga Day.
  • Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal: India's largest such terminal was inaugurated in Manesar, Haryana, by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
  • Ankita Raina: The Indian tennis star won the ITF Women's Tournament in Portugal.
  • ISRO Model Rocket Launch: Successful test launch in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
  • Desi Oon: Received the Jury Award for Best Commissioned Film at the International Animation Festival in France.
  • "The Stars Light the Way": A novel written by Sucheta Raj Khanna.
  • Energy Transition Index: India ranked 71st.
  • Performance Grade Index 2.0 (Education Ministry): Chandigarh was the best-performing state/UT.
  • C190 Convention: Related to biological hazards at the workplace, held by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
  • FASTag Annual Pass: A new scheme offers an annual pass for ₹3000, allowing 200 toll passes.
  • Birsa Munda Award: A ₹10 crore award for developing a drug for Sickle Cell Disease, named after tribal leader Birsa Munda.
  • First Rail Diesel Engine Export from Bihar: Exported to Guinea.
  • Pratibha Setu Portal: Launched by UPSC to connect unsuccessful interview candidates with private sector job opportunities.
  • Begging as an Offence: Mizoram became the first state to declare begging an offense (Indore was the first city).
  • U-Special Bus Service: Launched by the Delhi government for college students.
  • WOAH and FAO: National High-Security Animal Disease Institute in Madhya Pradesh designated as a Category A referral facility.
  • Linacapavir: A drug approved by the US FDA for HIV/AIDS treatment.
  • Digital Payment Award 2024-25: Awarded to India Post Payments Bank.
  • Rashtrapati Tapovan and Niketan: Inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
  • Project 17A Stealth Frigates: INS Nilgiri was the first; INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri have also been launched.
  • "Wings to Overhope Volume 2": A compilation of the President's speeches.
  • Global Peace Index: India ranked 115th.
  • Constitution Assassination Day: Observed for the first time on June 25, marking the 1975 Emergency.
  • Nandini Ksheera Samruddhi Cooperative Bank: Located in Karnataka.
  • National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): Dr. Pragati Kumar and Sonal Vaish appointed as members.
  • Supreme Court Order: CBI Director and Police Chief appointments require consultation with the Leader of Opposition.
  • TROPEX Naval Exercise: Held in the Indian Ocean.
  • Exercise Bright Star: Multinational military exercise held in Egypt.
  • 3-D Atlas: Created using telescopes in Chile to map the Galactic Center.
  • Mobile Phone Ban: South Korea banned mobile phones in school classrooms.
  • E-mobility Promotion: Delhi government initiatives.
  • Dosti Project: A collaborative project between Delhi and Oslo.
  • New Golden Visa Program: Launched by Oman.
  • Screw Worm Parasite: Spread by flies.
  • No Helmet No Fuel Policy: Implemented in Uttar Pradesh.
  • 20 Crore-Year-Old Phytosaur: Discovered in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
  • Onam Festival: Celebrated in Kerala.
  • Wetland Conservation Award: Awarded to Jayshree Venkatesan.