This is the current affairs of 29 June 2024. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. PM Modi decided not to attend the SCO Annual Summit 2024, who will represent India in his place?
a. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
b. Home Minister Amit Shah
c. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra
d. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar
Answer: d. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar
– This annual summit will be held on July 3 and 4, 2024, in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana.
– While this summit is primarily for heads of state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided not to participate in it.
– India will be represented at the summit by Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar.
– In fact, Prime Minister Modi has decided not to participate in the SCO summit, considering his planned visits to Russia and Austria.
– PM Modi will be on a trip to Russia from July 8 to 9, which will be his first visit to Russia in the past five years. After concluding his visit to Russia, he may travel to Austria for two days on July 9.
Kazakhstan:
– Most of it is in Central Asia, with a part in Eastern Europe.
– It is the ninth largest country in the world by land area.
– Capital: Astana
– Currency: Kazakhstani Tenge
– Population: 19.6 million (2022)
– Continents: Europe, Asia
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Members:
– China
– Russia
– Kazakhstan
– Kyrgyzstan
– Tajikistan
– Uzbekistan
– India (India became an observer in 2005 and became a full member of SCO at the Astana Summit in 2017)
– Pakistan
– Iran (joined in 2022 and became a full member in 2023)
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO):
– Establishment: June 15, 2001
– Headquarters: Beijing, China
PM Modi spoke with the President of Kazakhstan:
– PM Modi informed President Kassym-Jomart – Tokayev of Kazakhstan about India’s full support for the success of the summit.
– Indian Prime Ministers generally participate in SCO summits. It’s rare for PM Modi not to attend.
– India chaired SCO last year. He hosted the virtual SCO summit in July last year.
Summit Issues:
– There is hope for discussions on the situation in Afghanistan, the conflict in Ukraine, and enhancing comprehensive security cooperation among SCO member states at the summit.
SCO, the world’s largest organization:
– The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a political, economic, security, and defense organization.
– Geographically and in terms of population, it is the world’s largest regional organization, covering nearly 80% of Eurasia’s area and 40% of the world’s population.
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2. According to the report of the Health Effects Institute (HEI) associated with UNICEF, what was the second most common cause of death in South Asia in 2021 after malnutrition?
a. Air pollution
b. Asthma
c. Cancer
d. TB
Answer: a. Air pollution
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3. According to the report of HEI, an organization associated with UNICEF, 81 lakh people died in the world in the year 2021 due to air pollution, among them most people were from which two countries?
a. China and India
b. America and China
c. Nigeria and Pakistan
d. India and Pakistan
Answer: a. China and India
– Name of the Report: Health Effects Institute Annual Report 2023
– Released by: Health Effects Institute (HEI)
– Release Date: June 2024
– According to this report, in 2021, 23 lakh people died in China and subsequently 21 lakh in India.
– This accounts for 12% of total deaths worldwide.
Most deaths after malnutrition due to air pollution
– According to the report, in 2021, South Asia saw the highest number of deaths due to air pollution after malnutrition.
– This was followed by high blood pressure, diet, and tobacco use.
– Pollution-related health effects observed in children include premature birth, low birth weight, asthma, and lung diseases.
– Based on estimates from the Global Burden of Disease, the mortality rate due to air pollution among children under 5 years in South Asia is 164 per 100,000, compared to the global average of 108.
More deaths from Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5
– Fine particles in the air (measured as PM 2.5) are so small that they can reach the lungs, causing irritation to eyes, nose, throat, and lungs, leading to burning sensation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and difficulty breathing.
– According to the report, 90% of deaths are attributed to pollutants like PM 2.5 from transport, housing, forest fires, and biomass fuels.
– Additionally, indoor air pollution, ozone gas from vehicle emissions, and nitrogen dioxide are also responsible.
– The report highlights that air pollution has the most significant impact on children.
– Children are more vulnerable to diseases caused by polluted air.
– The report also states that the damage from air pollution begins in the womb, affecting health throughout life.
Child mortality figures in India
– In India, the highest number of deaths among children, 1,69,400, occurred due to diseases related to air pollution.
– All these children were under the age of 5.
After India, the highest numbers of deaths occurred in Nigeria (1,14,100), Pakistan (68,100), Ethiopia (31,000), and Bangladesh (19,100).
Health Policies Needed
– Dr. Pallavi, a global health expert at HEI, mentioned that air pollution’s impact is most pronounced on young children, the elderly, and low- and middle-income countries.
– When formulating health policies in such countries, special attention should be given to the impact of air pollution.
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4. Name the winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2024?
a. Sanjana Thakur
b. Preity Zinta
c. Rashmi Desai
d. Rajni Prabha
Answer: a. Sanjana Thakur
– Mumbai-based writer Sanjana Thakur has been awarded the Commonwealth Short Story Prize for her short story ‘Aishwarya Rai’.
– She received this award on June 26, 2024, in London, along with a cash prize of £5,000.
– The award was established in 2012.
Sanjana Thakur is the third Indian writer to win this award.
– Indian author Parashar Kulkarni won it in 2016 for his story ‘Cows and Company’, and Kritika Pandey in 2020 for ‘The Great Indian Tea and Snakes’.
‘Aishwarya Rai’:
– Sanjana’s story ‘Aishwarya Rai’ revolves around Avani, a young woman who navigates the lives of ordinary mothers living in a common household.
– The story contrasts Avani’s life with that of Aishwarya Rai, who appears to embody the essence of a beautiful life.
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5. According to the report of Henley & Partners, what is the rank of India in terms of migration of rich people?
a. First
b. Second
c. Third
d. Fifth
Answer: c. Third
1. China
2. UK (United Kingdom)
3. India
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6. According to the report of Henley & Partners, how many millionaires are expected to migrate from India in the year 2024?
a. 1,300
b. 2,300
c. 4,300
d. 5,300
Answer: c. 4,300
– In 2024, 15,200 millionaires can emigrate from China, and 9,500 from the United Kingdom (UK) to other countries.
– India follows in third place thereafter.
Around 4,300 Indian millionaires could leave the country in 2024.
– The report also states that the majority of them reside in the UAE.
– The report from international firm Henley & Partners counts those who possess at least $1 million in assets.
Decrease in India’s Third-Year Exodus
– However, the good news is that the number of millionaires emigrating from India has decreased consistently for the third year.
– In 2023, the number of emigrants among wealthy individuals was 5,100.
– In 2022, 8,000 Indian millionaires had left India.
Between 2013 and 2023, there was an 85% increase in migration to the UAE.
– In 2024, the most millionaires can emigrate from China (15,200) and the United Kingdom (9,500) to other countries.
Global Figures
– An estimate predicts that in 2024, around 128,000 millionaires worldwide could leave their countries.
– In 2023, a total of 120,000 millionaires had emigrated. This figure was 110,000 in 2019.
UAE as the Top Preference
– UAE and the USA are the two countries where the most wealthy individuals prefer to reside.
– The report indicates that in 2024, 6,700 millionaires could settle in the UAE.
– While an estimated 3,200 millionaires could settle in the USA.
– Singapore follows next, with an expectation of approximately 3,500 millionaires emigrating there.
– In 2023, the highest number of 4,700 wealthy individuals had settled in the UAE.
– Australia ranks second, with 4,000 millionaires.
– Singapore follows with 3,400 residents.
– The United States (2,200) and Canada (2,100) are fourth and fifth respectively.
Reasons for UAE’s Popularity
– Due to tax exemptions and a conducive business environment, UAE has become a favorite destination for the wealthy.
– In Dubai, wealthy individuals are not required to pay income tax, and there is a flexible tax structure for entrepreneurs.
India Ranks 10th in Millionaire Cases
– The report states that despite Indian millionaires emigrating from the country, they do not abandon their businesses and real estate.
– India has a total of 326,400 millionaires and 120 billionaires. In terms of millionaires, India ranks tenth globally.
– Over the past decade, the number of millionaires in India has increased by 85%.
– There are 1,044 individuals in India who possess $100 million in assets.
– In this regard, India ranks fourth globally.
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7. Which NATO member country has been removed from the money laundering grey list by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)?
a. Turkey
b. Pakistan
c. Azerbaijan
d. Bulgaria
Answer: a. Turkey
– On June 28, 2024, FATF removed the country from the grey list, considering its economic reforms as positive.
– Due to money laundering and terrorist financing, Turkey was placed on the “grey list” in 2021.
– Turkey’s Vice President, Sevdat Yilmaz, stated on social media platform X, “With this development, international investors’ confidence in our country’s financial system has become even stronger.”
FATF
– It is an intergovernmental organization that sets international standards to combat terrorism and financial crimes.
– It was established during the G-7 Summit in Paris, France, in July 1989.
Capital: Ankara
President: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Population: 85 million (2022)
Language: Turkish
Currency: Turkish lira
Neighboring countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
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8. Statistician Frank Duckworth, who gave the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) rule to cricket, has passed away. He was from which country?
a. Australia
b. England
c. New Zealand
d. South Africa
Answer: b. England
– Dakworth-Lewis-RS method used when rain or any other reason to keep the match going. To save time, the cuts are made in the overs.
– In 2001, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had shown this rule.
– After the retirement of Frank Dakworth and Tony Lewis, Australian statistician Steven Stern made some improvements to this method.
– For this reason, this rule was named Dakworth-Lewis-Stern.
– Dakworth and Lewis were honored with the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award in June 2010.
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9. When is International Parliamentarism Day observed?
a. 01 July
b. 30 June
c. 28 June
d. 27 June
Answer: b. 30 June
Theme of the year 2024:
– Parliamentary diplomacy: Building bridges for peace and understanding
– This day is declared by the United Nations.
– Every year, on June 30, International Day of Parliamentarism is celebrated, dedicated to the memory of the establishment of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
– The establishment of the IPU was aimed at promoting democratic governance, enhancing accountability, and encouraging cooperation among national parliaments.
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
– Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
– Founded: 1889
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