Current Affairs Lecture (Jan 4 - Jun 4, 2024)

Introduction

• Presenter: Devashree Awasthi
• Overview of last six months' current affairs (Jan 2024 to Jun 2024)
• Aim: To help students prepare for upcoming exams with a comprehensive review of important events and updates
• Recently launched booklet on current affairs is available for order

Key Sections Covered

1. Important Days with Themes
2. Appointments
3. National News
4. International News
5. Science and Technology
6. Awards
7. Defence News
8. Sports News
9. Miscellaneous

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Important Days and Themes

Key Dates and Themes (Jan - Jun 2024)

• International Day of Yoga (21 June): Theme - Yoga for Self and Society. Celebrated in Srinagar's Dal Lake with PM Modi's participation.
• World Environment Day (5 June): Theme - Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience.
• World Food Safety Day (7 June): Theme - Food Safety - Prepare for the Unexpected.
• World Ocean Day (8 June): Theme - Awake New Depth.
• World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (17 June): Theme - United for Land - Our Legacy, Our Future.
• International Labor Day (1 May): Theme - Ensure Workplace Safety and Health Amidst Climate Change.
• World Press Freedom Day (3 May): Theme - Press for the Planet. Noted details on the 31st edition.
• World Red Cross Day (8 May): Theme - I Give with Joy and the Joy I Give is a Reward.
• National Technology Day (11 May): Theme - From Schools to Startups: Igniting Young Minds to Innovate.
• and more...

Key Homework and Trivia

• Homework: World Forestry Day date options given – March 21 or March 22
• Trivia: PM Modi inaugurated the first all-girls Sainik School in Mathura-Vrindavan.

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Important Appointments

Key Appointments (Jan - Jun 2024)

• First Woman President of Mexico: Claudia Sheinbaum
• UNICEF National Ambassador: Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan
• President of Iceland: Hala Thomasdóttir
• 79th UN General Assembly President: Dennis Ganger
• Chief of Army: Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi
• Principal Secretary to PM: PK Mishra
• SSB Director General: Daljeet Singh Chaudhary
• Bhutan Prime Minister: Te Kadachi Tobgay
• SSC Chairman: IAS Officer Ranjan
• Maharashtra’s first woman DGP: Rashmi Shukla
• First ITBP Chief: Rahul Rasgotra
• Russia President: Vladimir Putin (six-year term)
• and more...

Key Trivia

• Trivia: Tell the newly appointed first woman DG of Meghalaya.

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National News

Major Updates (Jan - Jun 2024)

• First Quantum Diamond Microchip Imager: Developed by IIT Bombay with TCS
• Brand Ambassador for Tobacco Control: P.V. Sindhu
• First High Court with Menstrual Cycle Leave Policy: Sikkim High Court
• India to host 81st IATA Annual General Meeting and Air Transport Summit (2025): New Delhi
• Bill Gates’ Book: Source Code
• R. Ashwin’s Autobiography: A Cut-up Cricket Story
• Indian Air Force’s first Multinational Air Exercise: Tarang Shakti 2024
• India’s first Graphene Innovation Centre: Kerala
• Longest Sea Bridge: Atal Setu, Mumbai, 21.8 km long
• and more...

Key Homework and Trivia

• Trivia: Newly inaugurated National Maritime Day 2024 theme.

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International News

Key Global Developments (Jan - Jun 2024)

• Swiss Peace Summit 2024: Held in Switzerland for Russia-Ukraine conflict resolution (Russia not invited).
• Global Gender Gap Index 2024: India’s rank - 129; Iceland topped.
• Environment Performance Index 2024: India’s rank - 176; Estonia topped.
• World Happiness Report 2024: India’s rank - 126; Finland topped.
• First country to lose all glaciers: Venezuela
• World’s highest observatory: Chile (University of Tokyo)
• and more...

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Science and Technology

Key Developments (Jan - Jun 2024)

• Gaganyaan Mission: Crew members - Prashant Balakrishnan, Ajit Krishnan, Angad Pratap, Shubhanshu Shukla
• ISRO unmanned mission (Vyommitra) planned for 2024
• Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) Technology: Integrated in Agni-V missile
• First Indian Pilot in Space Tourism: Gopika Thothathrikakkara on NS-25 mission
• India’s First Gene Therapy for Cancer: Launched at IIT Bombay by President Droupadi Murmu
• Project ‘Akash Teer’: Initiated by Bharat Electronics Limited
• and more...

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Awards

Key Recognitions (Jan - Jun 2024)

• First Indian recipient of the Datchyment Award: Vinod Ganatra
• Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion: National Institute of Mental Health Neurosciences, Bengaluru
• World Gold Award: Dr. Purnima Devi Barman
• International Booker Prize 2024: Janine Appernbach for Chaos, translated by Michael Hofmann
• ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2023: Virat Kohli
• Padma Awards 2024: Detailed list available in a linked video (5 Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan, 110 Padma Shri)
• and more...

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Defence News

Key Exercises and Developments (Jan - Jun 2024)

• Exercise Red Flag 2024: Indian Air Force partook, held in Alaska, USA
• Exercise Jim 2024: India and Japan, Yokosuka, Japan
• Exercise Desert Knight 2024: Involved India, France, UAE, held in Arabian Sea
• ISRO's AgniKul: World’s first rocket with fully 3D printed engine
• Employment of Project Aakash Teer: For low-level airspace security
• and more...

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Sports News

Key Achievements and Tournaments (Jan - Jun 2024)

• Australian Open Men’s Singles: Jannik Sinner (Italy)
• French Open Women’s Singles: Iga Swiatek
• Neeraj Chopra: Gold medal in Men's Javelin Throw at World Athletics Continental Gold Tour, Finland
• First Indian Rider to Ever Win Three-Star Grand Prix Event: Switti Bhora
• Women’s Premier League 2024: Winners - Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mascot - Shakti the Tigress
• Prof. Kamaleshwar Aklekar Honorary Tournament 2024, winners University of Karnataka
• and more...

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Miscellaneous

Notable Mentions (Jan - Jun 2024)

• New Marine Tardigrade Species: Named Betul Pace Chandrayaan discovered in Tamil Nadu
• Kens Film Festival 77th Edition: First Indian Winner of Best Actress Anusuya Sengupta for Shameless
• Mount Munga, Papua New Guinea: Landslide caused major casualties
• Miscellaneous: Lone State Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh

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Special Notes

• For detailed insights on Lok Sabha Elections 2024, Cabinet Ministers 2024, and State Assemblies updates, refer to linked videos.

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Conclusion

• This lecture covers all major current affairs from January to June 2024. The booklet is available for more comprehensive details, and its thorough review is recommended before exams.
• Special notes on upcoming exams and strategies to use this content effectively.

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Thank You and Best of Luck for Your Exams!