Current Affairs by Saurabh Kr Pandey (3rd May, 2024

Lecture)
Bharat Ratna 2024

1. Karpoori Thakur
2. L K Advani
3. P V Narsimha Rao
4. Chaudhary Charan Singh
5. M S Swaminatahan

Mr. Karpoori Thakur, Son of a marginal farmer from the Nai (barber)
community, the socialist icon went on to serve twice as Chief
Minister of Bihar — first between December 1970 and June 1971 as
part of the Bharatiya Kranti Dal and later between December 1977
and April 1979 from the Janata Party.

Named Jannayak, or People’s Leader, Thakur was a freedom fighter,

incarcerated during the Quit India movement in 1942, and has been
seen as the architect of much of the social justice plank in Indian
politics. He was part of the anti-Emergency movement, along with
another great socialist leader, Jayaprakash Narayan.
During Thakur’s Chief Ministership in 1977, the Mungeri Lal
Commission submitted its report recommending that backward
classes be reclassified as extremely backward classes (including
weaker sections of Muslims) and backward classes. The report was
implemented in 1978. This paved the way for 26% reservation for
them in the government services in Bihar in November 1978.This
reclassification was also seen as a percussor of the Mandal
Commission report that recommended 27% reservations for Other
Backward Classes, implemented in the 1990s.

Former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, helmsman of the Ram

Rath Yatra that catapulted the movement for the Ram Temple to
national prominence, was conferred the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest
civilian honour. He was previously awarded the Padma Vibhushan,
India’s second highest civilian honour, in 2015.

His 1990 Ram Rath Yatra, which traversed India, whipping up

support for a campaign to build a temple on the site of the Babri
mosque, led not just to the mosque’s destruction in 1992, but also
redefined national politics for decades to come, along with the
Mandal Commission’s recommendations.

It gave the BJP a fillip in national politics to the point where it

formed the government in 1996 (for 13 days) and in 1998 (for
thirteen months), and finally, for a full term between 1999 and 2004.
Along with former PM Vajpayee, Mr. Advani was part of a duo that
ensured that the BJP has occupied the pole position in Indian politics
since the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

Mr. Advani went on to serve as the Union Home Minister in the BJP-
led National Democratic Alliance government from 1998 to 2004.
From 2002 to 2004, under Vajpayee’s leadership, he served as the
Deputy Prime Minister of India. He then remained the Leader of
Opposition during much of the Manmohan Singh-led UPA era (2004-
2014).

Along with Mr. Advani, the Modi government has acknowledged its
ideological underpinnings by also conferring the Bharat Ratna on
Vajpayee, as well as Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and RSS leader
Nanaji Deshmukh.

P. V. Narasimha Rao, the 9th Prime Minister of India (1991-1996),

initiated significant economic reforms, liberalizing the Indian
economy. His tenure saw the dismantling of the License Raj and the
introduction of the New Economic Policy, fostering economic growth.
Chaudhary Charan Singh, the 5th Prime Minister of India (1979-
1980), was a champion of farmers' rights. As a prominent political
figure, he focused on agrarian reforms and implemented policies to
address the concerns of the agricultural community.
M. S. Swaminathan is renowned as the "Father of the Green
Revolution in India." Serving as the Director General of the Indian
Council of Agricultural Research, he played a pivotal role in
revolutionizing Indian agriculture.
He was conferred with various awards & honours including 1 st world
food prize.
Note: Norman Borlaug (American Agronomist): Father of Green
Revolution in the World

About Bharat Ratna

‘Bharat Ratna’, the highest civilian Award of the country, was
instituted in the year 1954. Any person without distinction of race,
occupation, position or sex is eligible for these awards. It is awarded
in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order
in any field of human endeavour.

The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime

Minister himself to the President. The number of annual awards is
restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year.
On conferment of the award, the recipient receives a Sanad
(certificate) signed by the President and a medallion. The Award does
not carry any monetary grant.
In terms of Article 18 (1) of the Constitution, the award cannot be
used as a prefix or suffix to the recipient's name. However, should an
award winner consider it necessary, he/she may use the following
expression in their biodata/letterhead/visiting card etc. to indicate that
he/she is a recipient of the award
Facts on Bharat Ratna
1. The award was started by former President Dr. Rajendra Prasad on
January 2, 1954.
2. The Bharat Ratna can also be awarded to non-Indians as there is no
written rule against the same. Mother Teresa, a naturalised Indian
citizen was conferred with the award in 1980. Non-Indians, Khan
Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Nelson Mandela have also been awarded
with the Bharat Ratna.
3. The youngest Bharat Ratna awardee and the first sportsperson to
win the award was Sachin Tendulkar in 2014.
4. A maximum of three Bharat Ratna can be given each year. It was
awarded to four people in 1999 & five people in 2024.
List of Bharat Ratna Winners till date
Karpoori Thakur, L K Advani, P V Narsimha Rao, M S Swaminathan,
Chaudhary Charan Singh (2024)
Pranab Mukherjee (2019)- President
Bhupen Hazarika (2019)- Assamese Singer
Nanaji Deshmukh (2019)
Madan Mohan Malaviya (2015): Founder of BHU & Hindu
Mahasabha
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (2015)- PM
Sachin Tendulkar (2014)
CNR Rao (2014)
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi (2008)
Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar (2001)
Ustad Bismillah Khan (2001)- Shehnai Player
Prof Amartya Sen (1999)
Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi (1999)
Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan (1999)
Pandit Ravi Shankar (1999)- Sitar Player
Chidambaram Subramaniam (1998)
M. Subbulakshmi (1998)
Dr Abul Kalam (1997)- President
Aruna Asaf Ali (1997)
Gulzari Lal Nanda (1997)- PM
JRD Tata (1992)
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (1992)- 1st Education Minister
Satyajit Ray (1992)
Morarji Desai (1991): Conferred with Bharat Ratna as well as Nishan
e Pakistan (highest Civilian Honour of Pak)
Rajiv Gandhi (1991)- PM
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1991)
Dr B R Ambedakr (1990)- 1st Law Minister
Dr Nelson Mandela (1990)- Non Citizen
M G Ramachandran (1988)
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1987)- Non Citizen
Acharya Vinoba Bhave (1983)
Mother Teresa (Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu) (1980)
K. Kamraj (1976)
V V Giri (1975)- President
Indira Gandhi (1971)- 1st Woman PM
Lal Bahadur Shastri (1966)- PM
Dr P V Kane (1963)
Dr Zakir Hussain (1963)- President
Dr Rajendra Prasad (1962)- 1st President
Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy (1961)
Purushottam Das Tandon (1961)
Dr Dhonde Keshav Karve (1958)
Pt Govind Ballabh Pant (1957)
Dr Bhagwan Das (1955)
Jawaharlal Nehru (1955)- 1st PM
Dr Mokshagundam Vivesvaraya (1955)
C. Rajagopalachari (1954)
Dr C. V. Raman (1954)
Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan (1954)- 2nd President
Padma Awards

The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India,
after Bharat Ratna, announced annually on the Republic Day. The
Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for
exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished
service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service in any
field).
The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by
the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime
Minister every year. The nomination process is open to the public.
Even self-nomination can be made.
Padma Vibhushan 2024
S.
No. Name Field State/Region/Country

1 Ms. Vyjayantimala Bali Art Tamil Nadu

2 Shri Konidela Chiranjeevi Art Andhra Pradesh

Public
3 Shri M Venkaiah Naidu Affairs Andhra Pradesh

Shri Bindeshwar Pathak

4 (Posthumous) Social Work Bihar

Ms. Padma
5 Subrahmanyam Art Tamil Nadu

Padma Bhushan
S.
No. Name Field State/Region/Country
Ms. M Fathima Beevi Public
1 (Posthumous) Affairs Kerala
Literature &
Education -
2 Shri Hormusji N Cama Journalism Maharashtra
3 Shri Mithun Chakraborty Art West Bengal
Trade &
4 Shri Sitaram Jindal Industry Karnataka
Trade &
5 Shri Young Liu Industry Taiwan
 Shri Ashwin Balachand
6 Mehta Medicine Maharashtra
Shri Satyabrata
Mookherjee Public
7 (Posthumous) Affairs West Bengal
Public
8 Shri Ram Naik Affairs Maharashtra
Shri Tejas Madhusudan
9 Patel Medicine Gujarat
Public
10 Shri Olanchery Rajagopal Affairs Kerala
Shri Dattatray Ambadas
11 Mayaloo alias Rajdutt Art Maharashtra
Shri Togdan Rinpoche Others -
12 (Posthumous) Spiritualism Ladakh
13 Shri Pyarelal Sharma Art Maharashtra
Shri Chandreshwar
14 Prasad Thakur Medicine Bihar
15 Ms. Usha Uthup Art West Bengal
Shri Vijaykanth
16 (Posthumous) Art Tamil Nadu
Literature &
Education -
17 Shri Kundan Vyas Journalism Maharashtra

Note:-
Among the 110 Padma Shri Awardees, Some of the Important
Personalities Including India's first woman elephant mahout Parbati
Baruah, famous as "Hasti Kanya", tribal environmentalist Chami
Murmu, social worker Sangthankima who runs Mizoram's largest
orphanage and plastic surgeon Prema Dhanraj.
 Republic Day Chief Guest 2024: Emmanuel Macron (French
President)
 2023:- Abdel Fateh El Sisi (President of Egypt)
1st 1950:- Sukarno ( President of Indonesia)
Atal Setu

India's longest sea bridge, Atal Setu, was inaugurated on January 12,
2024 by PM Narendra Modi in Mumbai. The bridge connects
Mumbai to Navi Mumbai, significantly reducing travel time between
the two cities. Once a 42-km drive, Atal Setu reduced Mumbai-Navi
Mumbai commute to 20 minutes.
The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), also known as the Atal
Bihari Vajpayee Sewri Nhava Sheva Atal Setu. It is India’s longest
six-lane trans-harbour sea bridge covering 21.8 km out of which
16.5 km is over the sea, is expected to see the movement of more than
70,000 vehicles every day.
This project employed around 17,000 labourers and 1,500 engineers
while also creating employment opportunities in the transport and
construction industries.
According to the government, the project aligns with the prime
minister's vision to enhance the “ease of mobility" for citizens by
fortifying urban transport infrastructure and connectivity. The
foundation stone for Atal Setu was laid in December 2016.
The bridge is constructed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region
Development Authority (MMRDA).
Objective:
The primary objective of the bridge is to provide expeditious
connectivity to Mumbai International Airport, and Navi Mumbai
International Airport, and reduce travel time from Mumbai to Pune,
Goa, and South India.
Also, it aims to enhance connectivity between Mumbai Port and
Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
Ram Mandir

Architect: Chandrakant Sompura & his Son Ashish

Ram Lalla Idol: Sculptor: Arun Yogiraj (Karnataka)
Officially known as Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, it has been
constructed in the Nagara style of architecture, which is common in
northern India and features tall steeples and a stone platform with
steps leading up to the temple. It has been constructed in Nagara style
following all the Vedic rituals with an amalgamation of modern
technology.
It was designed by celebrated architect Chandrakant B Sompura, with
the help of his son Ashish, and incorporated his vision, which he
outlined 30 years back. Standing on 2.7 acres of land in the temple
town, the temple is 161 feet tall, 235 feet wide, and has a total length
of 360 feet.
Features of the temple
The built-up area of the temple is nearly 57,000 square feet and is a
three-floor structure. The height of the temple is about 70% of that of
the Qutab Minar.
It stands on a raised plinth, with the most sacred part of the temple
called ‘garbha griha’ or the sanctum sanctorum, towered over by the
tallest shikhara or the mountain peak on the third floor. A total of five
such shikharas are constructed over five mandapas. It also has 300
pillars across the mandapas, and 44 teak doors have been installed.
Nearly two lakh bricks inscribed with Lord Ram's name in different
languages and collected over 30 years are being integrated into the
temple.
The insides of the sanctum sanctorum were decorated using Makrana
marble, the same stone used to build the Taj Mahal.
No steel or iron was used
During the Gupta Period, from where the Nagara style emerged, the
use of iron or steel was not prevalent in the construction of temples.
The durability of iron is roughly 80-90 years. The temple is built
using granite, sandstone, and marble with a lock and key mechanism,
which ensures a lifespan of up to 1,000 years. Notably, no cement or
mortar has also been utilised in its construction.
The area was first excavated to a depth of 15 metres, and 47 layers of
engineered soil were laid to make a solid base. A 1.5-metre thick M-
35 grade concrete raft was laid, and a 6.3-metre thick plinth of solid
granite stone was placed on top to make it sturdy.
Science juxtaposing tradition
Few top Indian scientists have contributed to making the iconic Ram
Temple. ISRO technologies have also been used in the construction.
Pradeep Kumar Ramancharla, the director of the Central Building
Research Institute (CBRI), has been actively associated with the
project.
A special ‘Surya Tilak’ mirror, a lens-based apparatus, was designed
by a team of scientists from CBRI and the Indian Institute of
Astrophysics (IIA). It will be used for a ceremonial anointment of
Lord Ram on every Ram Navami day at noon with the sunlight on the
idol's forehead.
51-inch idol was revealed to the world. The idol has been sculpted by
Karnataka's Arun Yogiraj portraying Ram Lalla as a five-year-old.
Global Gender Gap Report
In the latest Global Gender Gap report released by the World
Economic Forum (WEF) in 2023, India has been ranked 127 out of
146 countries. India’s overall score did improve in 2023 by 1.4
percentage points and eight positions compared to the 2022 report.
Gender Equality is one of the prime goals of Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). Hence, the key highlights of the Global
Gender Gap Report tend to reflect on the performance of the world
towards the achievement of Goal 5 of the SDGs among other goals.
There are four dimensions based on which the Global Gender Index
evaluates the performance of the countries:

1. Economic Participation & Opportunity

2. Education Attainment
3. Health and Survival
4. Political Empowerment

Note:
India’s neighbouring countries’ ranks:

 Pakistan – 142
 Sri Lanka – 115
 Bangladesh – 59
  China – 107
 Bhutan – 103
 Nepal – 116

The most gender-equal country in the world is Iceland having been in

the first rank for 14 consecutive years. It is the only country to have
closed more than 90% of its gender gap followed by Norway, Finland.

106th C.A Act: 33% Woman Reservation in Lok Sabha &

State Legislative Assemblies
The Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, reserves one-third
of all seats for women in Lok Sabha, State legislative
assemblies, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital
Territory of Delhi, including those reserved for SCs and STs.
The reservation will be effective after the publication of the census
conducted following the Act’s commencement and endures for a 15-
year period, with potential extension determined by parliamentary
action.
The rotation of seats allocated for women will be governed by
parliamentary legislation after each delimitation process.
Currently, around 15% of the total members of the 17th Lok
Sabha (2019-2024) are women while in state legislative assemblies,
women on average constitute 9% of the total members.
JANANI SURAKSHA YOJANA
Janani SurakshaYojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention under
the National Health Mission. It is being implemented with the
objective of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality by promoting
institutional delivery among poor pregnant women. The scheme,
launched on 12 April 2005 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, is under
implementation in all states and Union Territories (UTs), with a
special focus on Low Performing States (LPS).

JSY is a centrally sponsored scheme, which integrates cash assistance

with delivery and post-delivery care. The Yojana has identified
Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) as an effective link
between the government and pregnant women.
Janani Suraksha Yojana was launched in April 2005 by modifying the
National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS). The NMBS came into
effect in August 1995 as one of the components of the National Social
Assistance Programme (NSAP). The scheme was transferred from
the Ministry of Rural Development to the Department of Health &
Family Welfare during the year 2001-02.
The NMBS provides for financial assistance of Rs. 500/- per birth up
to two live births to the pregnant women who have attained 19 years
of age and belong to the below poverty line (BPL) households. When
JSY was launched the financial assistance of Rs. 500/- , which was
available uniformly throughout the country to BPL pregnant women
under NMBS, was replaced by graded scale of assistance based on the
categorization of States as well as whether beneficiary was from
rural/urban area.
States were classified into Low Performing States and High
Performing States on the basis of institutional delivery rate i.e. states
having institutional delivery 25% or less were termed as Low
Performing States (LPS) and those which have institutional delivery
rate more than 25% were classified as High Performing States (HPS).
Accordingly, eight erstwhile EAG states namely Uttar Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand,
Rajasthan, Odisha and the states of Assam & Jammu & Kashmir were
classified as Low Performing States. The remaining States were
grouped into High Performing States.

Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram

After launch of Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Institutional deliveries
in India increased substantially. However, 25% women still hesitate to
access health facilities for delivery due to out of pocket expenditure
during stay at health facilities on drugs, diet, and diagnosis and
arrangement blood etc.
Building on the progress of this safe motherhood scheme, another
major initiative Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) was
launched in June 2011 to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for both
pregnant women and sick infants. Essential care is provided to the
mother and her neonate within 48 hours. This post-natal period is
critical for identification and management of complication of post-
delivery. In case of institutional delivery. accessing availing this care
is a little easier.
In 2014, the programme was extended to all antenatal & post-natal
complications of pregnancy and similar entitlements have been put in
place for all sick newborns and infants (up to one year of age)
accessing public health institutions for treatment.
Jan Samarth Portal
PM launches National Portal for Credit Linked Government schemes
- Jan Samarth Portal on 6th June 2022 to provide a common platform
for availing loan under certain credit-linked Government schemes.
The core objective of JanSamarth Portal is to promote inclusive
growth and development of various sectors by guiding and providing
them to the right type of Government benefits through simple and
easy digital processes.
The salient features of the “Jan Samarth” Portal are as under:
 It connects all stakeholders like beneficiaries, financial
institutions, Central/State Government Agencies, and Nodal
Agencies on a common platform.
 Applicants can initially access 13 credit-linked Government
Schemes catering to youth, students, entrepreneurs and farmers
viz. Education Loans, Agriculture Loans, Business Activity
Loans, and Livelihood Loans.
 The portal ensures end-to-end coverage of all the processes and
activities of all the linked schemes.
 The Portal uses cutting-edge technologies and smart analytics to
provide intuitive guidance to beneficiaries for checking subsidy
eligibility and auto recommendation system offers best suitable
schemes as per Beneficiary's requirements and credentials.
 Advanced technologies automate entire lending processes based
on digital verifications making the entire process simple, speedy
and hassle-tree.
Project Divyastra

On 11th March 2024, DRDO conducted the first successful flight test
of an indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with Multiple
Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicle ( MIRV) technology under
'Mission Divyastra'. It was carried out from Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Island in Odisha,
The weapon is equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-
entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology that enhances its effectiveness in
delivering multiple warheads to different targets with precision.
Sheena Rani was the program director for Agni-5, while Shankari
Chandrasekaran was the project director. Sheena Rani oversaw the
Agni-5 missile's MIRV-equipped development at DRDO's Advanced
Systems Laboratory.Usha Verma, Associate Director in the Advanced
Systems Laboratory (ASL), (DRDO) also played a pivotal role in the
development of advanced variants of Agni missiles. She has added
advanced avionics features in the latest variants of Agni missiles such
as Agni Prime, Agni-V Mk II, and now in Divyastra.
India has already deployed the Agni 1 to 4 missiles — with ranges
from 700 km to 3,500 km. The maiden flight test of Agni-V, India’s
longest range ballistic missile with a “range of more than 5000 kms”
was conducted in April 2012 and has since been tested multiple
times. It has also been canistered, which improves ease of handling
and operation. Agni-V uses a three-stage solid fuelled engine and is
capable of striking targets at ranges of over 5,000 Kms and can reach
most parts of China.
Agni series of missiles constitute the backbone of India’s nuclear
weapons delivery which also include the Prithvi short range ballistic
missiles and fighter aircraft. India has also completed its nuclear triad
and operationalised its second strike capability, with indigenously
built nuclear ballistic missile submarines.
Note:- According to the Centre for Arms Control and Non-
Proliferation, the U.S. was the first country to develop MIRV
technology, deploying a MIRVed ICBM in 1970 and a MIRVed
Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) in 1971. The Soviet
Union quickly followed suit and by the end of the 1970s had
developed their own MIRV-enabled ICBM and SLBM technology.
China which also fielded MIRV tech, is rapidly modernising its
nuclear arsenal. According to Swedish think tank Stockholm
International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the size of China’s
nuclear arsenal increased from 350 warheads in January 2022 to 410
in January 2023.
Miss World 2024

On 9th March 2024, Czech Republic's Krystyna Pyszkova won the

coveted Miss World 2024 title at a grand event in Mumbai. She
Succeeded Karolina Bielawska (Poland).
The 71st Miss World pageant, which witnessed participation of
contestants from 112 countries of the world, was held at the Jio World
Convention Centre in BKC, Mumbai. India hosted the event after 28
years, and this time India was represented by 22-year-old Sini Shetty.
Earlier, India has won the prestigious title six times — Reita Faria
(1966), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta
Mookhey (1999), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (2000), and Manushi Chillar
(2017).
96th Academy Awards (Oscars)
Conferred in Los Angeles (USA) on 10th March, 2024

Best Picture:- Oppenheimer

Best Actor:- Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer)
Best Actress:- Emma Stone (Poor Things)
Best Director:- Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer)
Some CA Points:
 PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the world's longest railway
platform of 1.5 kilometres at Sri Siddhaarooda railway station in
Hubballi (Karnataka). The second-longest platform is in
Gorakhpur measuring 1,366.33 metres. Meanwhile, the third-
longest platform is at Kollam Junction in Kerala measuring
1,180.5 metres.
 Four Stars of Destiny Book: Written by M M Narwane (Ex-
Army Chief)
 India-Saudi Arabia joint military exercise ‘SADA TANSEEQ’
commenced on January 29th in Rajasthan
 On January 12th, Surat and Indore were jointly adjudged India’s
cleanest cities as per the Centre’s annual Swachh Survekshan
city cleanliness rankings for 2023. Navi Mumbai secured third
place.
 The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
has developed and launched a new 7.62mm caliber assault rifle
named ‘Ugram’ intended as a standard-issue weapon for the
Indian Armed Forces replacing some aging INSAS rifles.
 France New PM: Gabriel Attal
 The Danish government has announced the launch of the Green
Fuels Alliance India (GFAI), a strategic initiative aimed at
advancing collaboration between Denmark and India in the
sustainable energy solutions sector.
 Tropical Cyclone Alvaro made landfall in southwest
Madagascar on January 1st, 2024. The name “Alvaro” was given
by Mozambique.
 India has signed an agreement with Mauritius to jointly develop
a small satellite, which will be launched by ISRO in early 2024.
 India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Uganda
from January 15-20, 2024, to attend the 19th edition of Non-
Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit.
 The Kerala Drug Control Department recently launched
Operation Amrith (Antimicrobial Resistance Intervention For
Total Health) to prevent the overuse of antibiotics in the state.
The aim is to conduct surprise raids in pharmacies to detect
over-the-counter (OTC) sales of antibiotics without a doctor’s
prescription.
 India and France have formulated a defence industrial roadmap
to boost collaboration in defence production and design of
military platforms. This comes amid progress on other strategic
agreements during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit
in 2024.
 Recently, Odisha announced the world’s first exclusive
melanistic tiger safari adjoining the Simlipal Tiger Reserve. The
aim is to boost tourism and allow better research and public
viewing access to these rare tigers that are hard to sight in
forests. The Simlipal Tiger Reserve is the only habitat where
these Tigers are found in the wild.
 Prime Minister Modi recently announced the ‘Pradhan Mantri
Suryodaya Yojana’, a new government scheme to promote
rooftop solar power systems. This scheme aims to boost India’s
renewable energy goals and reduce electricity bills for
households. It aims to rapidly expand rooftop solar capacity by
installing solar power systems on one crore houses. It will
provide incentives and financial assistance to make it affordable
for residential consumers to adopt rooftop solar.
 Smt. Jaya Varma Sinha took over the charge of new Chairperson
and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Railway Board (Ministry of
Railways) recently. She is the first woman to be appointed to this
top post of Indian Railways. Prior to this, She has worked as
Member (Operations and Business Development), Railway
 Board. She was responsible for the overall transportation of
freight and passenger services on Indian Railways.
 India’s first undersea tunnel, an arm of the Mumbai Coastal
Road between the iconic Marine Drive and Worli inaugurated
recently. Built at a cost of ₹13,983.83 crore, the undersea tunnel
is expected to reduce the commuting time to 8 minutes from the
present 45 minutes. The maximum speed on the coastal road is
set at 80 kmph with an initial average of 60 kmph to be set
initially. The high speed corridor stretches for 10.58 km between
Marine Drive and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL). After
inauguration, a 9.5 km-long stretch would be made operational.
 Operation Ajay: Indian Air Force Operation to facilitate return
of citizens from conflict-hit Israel in Oct, 2023.
 Operation Indravati: In March 2024 , Haiti, a Caribbean
country, has descended into chaos with armed gangs taking over
its streets. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced that
India had launched 'Operation Indravati' to evacuate Indians
from the violence-hit country Haiti to the Dominican Republic.