This is the current affairs of 29 August 2024. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. The Union Cabinet approved a project worth Rs 28,602 crore to develop how many industrial smart cities in the country?
a. 5
b. 8
c. 12
d. 28
Answer: c. 12
– The Union Cabinet approved 12 new industrial cities to promote domestic manufacturing on August 28, 2024.
– These industrial cities will be in 9 states.
– Additionally, 6 corridors will be developed in 10 states.
– An estimated investment of ₹28,602 crore will be made for this.
– This project will be completed under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NIDCP).
List of proposed industrial towns
1. Khurpiya (Uttarakhand)
2. Rajpura-Patiala (Punjab)
3. Dighi (Maharashtra)
4. Palakkad (Kerala)
5. Agra (UP)
6. Prayagraj (UP)
7. Gaya (Bihar)
8. Zaheerabad (Telangana)
9. Orvakal (Andhra Pradesh)
10. Koppathi (Andhra Pradesh)
11. Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
12. Pali (Rajasthan)
About NIDCP
– Industrial smart cities will be developed under the National Industrial Development Corridor Programme (NIDCP).
– The National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) is the implementing agency under the administrative control of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
– NICDIT is India’s most ambitious infrastructure program aimed at developing new industrial cities as “smart cities” and integrating next-generation technologies into infrastructure sectors.
Investment Potential of ₹1.52 Lakh Crore
– Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the total cost of the project will be ₹28,602 crore. However, it has an investment potential of ₹1.52 lakh crore.
– This initiative will transform the country’s industrial landscape, creating a robust network of industrial hubs and cities, significantly boosting economic growth and global competitiveness.
– The NICDP is expected to generate significant employment opportunities, with an estimated one million direct jobs and around three million indirect jobs through planned industrialization.
– The NICDP is designed to promote a vibrant industrial ecosystem by facilitating investments from both industries and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
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2. Who took over as the Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board?
a. Lalit Yadav
b. Anil Lahoti
c. Ram Singh Verma
d. Satish Kumar
Answer: d. Satish Kumar
– The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Satish Kumar as the Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board on August 27, 2024.
– Satish Kumar will succeed Jaya Varma Sinha.
– Jaya Varma is retiring on August 31, 2024.
– Jaya Varma was the first woman to hold this position.
About Satish Kumar
– He is a 1986 batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME).
– He began his career in Indian Railways in March 1988.
– On November 8, 2022, he became the General Manager of North Central Railway, Prayagraj.
– This is another milestone in his public service career.
– He has made significant contributions to Indian Railways.
– He is the first Dalit Chairman of the Railway Board.
– He has nearly 34 years of experience.
Railway Board
– The Railway Board is the top decision-making body for the Ministry of Railways.
– The Railway Board came into existence in 1905.
– Headquarters: New Delhi
– Railway Minister: Ashwini Vaishnaw
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3. How many new wetlands of India got the status of global Ramsar site in August 2024, taking the number to 85?
a. 6
b. 5
c. 4
d. 3
Answer: d. 3
– Three new wetlands in India received the Ramsar site status on the eve of Independence Day 2024.
– This information was shared by the Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, according to the PIB.
– The number of existing wetlands has increased from 82 to 85.
– These 85 Ramsar sites cover an area of 1,358,068 hectares in India.
– According to PIB, the country has added 59 new wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites during 2014-2024.
List of New Ramsar Sites
Ramsar Site Name – State – Total Area (in hectares)
1. Nanjurayan Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu – 125.865
2. Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary – Tamil Nadu – 5,151.6
3. Tawa Reservoir – Madhya Pradesh – 20,050
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4. In which state are Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary and Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary, which have been included in the global Ramsar site list?
a. Uttar Pradesh
b. Bihar
c. Tamil Nadu
d. Assam
Answer: c. Tamil Nadu
Nanjurayan Bird Sanctuary
– Nanjurayan Lake is a large, shallow wetland located in the northeastern region of Uthukuli Taluk in Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu.
– The wetlands in this region mainly depend on weather conditions, particularly on the heavy rainfall runoff from the Nallar drainage.
– Its area is 125.865 hectares.
– It is situated about 10 km north of Tiruppur city on the Tiruppur-Uthukuli main road.
Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary
– Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary is located on the Central Asian Flyway.
– Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary was declared the 16th bird sanctuary in Tamil Nadu in 2021.
– It covers an area of 5,151.6 hectares.
– It is a brackish shallow lake located on the Coromandel Coast in the Villupuram district, north of Puducherry.
– The lake is connected to the Bay of Bengal by the Uppukalli Creek and the Edayanthittu estuary.
– It is one of the largest wetlands in peninsular India.
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5. Tawa Reservoir has been included in the global Ramsar site list, in which state is it located?
a. Uttar Pradesh
b. Bihar
c. Tamil Nadu
d. Madhya Pradesh
Answer: d. Madhya Pradesh
Tawa Reservoir
– The Tawa Reservoir is located near the city of Itarsi.
– It is constructed at the confluence of the Tawa and Denwa rivers.
– Malani, Sonbhadra, and Nagdwari rivers are the main tributaries of the Tawa Reservoir.
– Its total submerged area is 20,050 hectares.
What is a Wetland?
– A wetland is an area of moist land where water accumulates during the rainy season. Additionally, a large number of bird species are found in these areas.
– In recent years, many sites have been included as Ramsar sites. UNESCO provides assistance for their conservation.
Why is it called a Ramsar Site?
– Ramsar is a city in Iran.
– On February 2, 1971, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was signed by countries around the world in this city.
– Therefore, it is called the Ramsar Convention. Some people also refer to this convention as the Wetland Convention.
– It came into force in 1975.
– The formal name of this convention is the “Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat.”
– It is an intergovernmental treaty that provides guidance on the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
– India signed this convention in 1982.
– The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is designated as the nodal ministry for matters related to the conservation of wetlands in India.
85 Ramsar sites in India (by August 2024)
1. Asthmudi Wetland, Kerala
2. Beas Conservation Reserve, Punjab
3. Bhitarkanika Mangroves, Orissa
4. Bhoj Wetlands, MP
5. Chandertal Wetland, Himachal Pradesh
6. Chilka Lake, Orissa
7. Deepor Beel, Assam
8. East Kolkata Wetlands, West Bengal
9. Harike Lake, Punjab
10. Hokera Wetland, Jammu and Kashmir
11. Kanjli Lake, Punjab
12. Keoladeo Ghana NP, Rajasthan
13. Keshopur-Mian Community Reserve, Punjab
14. Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh
15. Loktak Lake, Manipur
16. Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, Gujarat
17. Nandur Madmaheshwar, Maharashtra
18. Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary, Punjab
19. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
20. Parvati Agra Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
21. Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
22. Pong Dam Lake, Himachal Pradesh
23. Renuka Wetland, Himachal Pradesh
24. Ropar Lake, Punjab
25. Rudrasagar Lake, Tripura
26. Saman Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
27. Samaspur Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
28. Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan
29. Sandi Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
30. Sarsai Nawar, Uttar Pradesh
31. Sasthamkotta Lake, Kerala
32. Sundarban Wetland, West Bengal
33. Surinsar-Mansar Lakes, Jammu and Kashmir
34. Tsomoriri Lake, Jammu and Kashmir
35. Upper Ganga River, UP
36. Vembanad Coal Wetland, Kerala
37. Wular Lake, Jammu and Kashmir
38. Asan Conservation Reserve, Uttarakhand
39. Kabartal (Kanwar Lake), Bihar
40. Keetham Lake (Surasarovar), UP
41. Lonar Lake, Maharashtra
42. ‘Startasapuk Tso’ and ‘Tso Kar’ Lake, Ladakh
43. Sultanpur National Park, Haryana
44. Bhidawas Wildlife Sanctuary, Haryana
45. Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat
46. Wadhwana Wetland Area, Gujarat
47. Haiderpur Wetland, Uttar Pradesh
48. Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, Gujarat
49. Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh
50. Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
51. Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu
52. Pichavaram Mangroves, Tamil Nadu
53. Pala Wetland, Mizoram
54. Sakhya Sagar Wetland, Madhya Pradesh
55. Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
56. Satkosia Gorge, Odisha
57. Nanda Lake, Goa
58. ‘Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve’, Tamil Nadu
59. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Karnataka
60. Vembannur Wetland Complex, Tamil Nadu
61. Velode Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
62. Sirpur Wetland, Madhya Pradesh
63. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
64. Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
65.Tampara Lake, Odisha
66. Hirakud Reservoir, Odisha
67. Anshupa Lake, Odisha
68. Yashwant Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
69. Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
70. Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex, Tamil Nadu
71. Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
72. Kanjirkulam Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
73. Thane Creek, Maharashtra
74. Haigam Wetland Conservation Reserve, Jammu and Kashmir
75. Shalbug Wetland Conservation Reserve, Jammu and Kashmir
76. Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, Karnataka
77. Aghanashini Sanctuary, Karnataka
78. Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve, Karnataka
79. Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
80. Longwood Shola Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu
81. Nagi Bird Sanctuary, Bihar
82. Nakti Bird Sanctuary, Bihar
83. Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
84. Kazuveli Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu
85. Tawa Reservoir, Madhya Pradesh
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6. When is the International Day against Nuclear Tests observed?
a. 28 August
b. 29 August
c. 30 August
d. 31 August
Answer: b. 29 August
– The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about the effects of nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions.
– The United Nations General Assembly has designated this day.
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7. When is International Whale Shark Day observed?
a. 31 August
b. 30 August
c. 29 August
d. 28 August
Answer: b. 30 August
– International Whale Shark Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of whale sharks and their conservation.
– This day has been observed annually since 2008.
– The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish on Earth and a keystone species in the marine ecosystem.
– Its maximum length can be around 18 meters, and it can weigh up to 21 tons.
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8. In which film industry, there was roil after the Justice Hima report on sexual harassment of actresses was made public and many actors resigned from their posts?
a. Malayalam film industry
b. Hindi film industry
c. Telugu film industry
d. Bhojpuri film industry
Answer: a. Malayalam film industry
– A storm erupted in the Malayalam film industry after Justice Hima’s report was made public.
– Mohanlal announced his resignation from the position of President of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) on August 27, 2024.
– He had a 17-member executive committee, and all the committee members have submitted their collective resignation.
– Earlier, actor T. Siddique had resigned from the position of General Secretary of AMMA after sexual harassment allegations were made by an actress.
– Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith resigned from the position of President of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy over allegations of misconduct with an actress.
– A junior actor has accused actor Baburaj and AMMA officials of sexual harassment.
Government Forms Committee
– In response to the turmoil in the Malayalam film industry, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called a high-level meeting and decided to form a seven-member special team to investigate the atrocities against female actors.
The 2017 Case
– In 2017, a Malayalam actress (famous for her roles in Tamil and Kannada films) was allegedly attacked in a moving car.
– Five people abducted her, filmed the attack, and then left her there.
– The actress filed a complaint with the police.
– The investigation revealed that a prominent figure in Kerala, Malayalam actor Dileep, allegedly conspired with others to ‘teach the actress a lesson.’
– The case against the actor is still ongoing in court.
– Director Balachandra Kumar claimed that actor Dileep was present at the magistrate’s court before the attack scenes were viewed.
– His allegations have proven to be a crucial turning point in the case.
Formation of Women in Cinema Collective
– Following the sexual harassment case involving a Malayalam actor, the Women in Cinema Collective group was established.
– A group of 10 women from the Malayalam industry, including Manju Warrier, Parvathy, Reema Kallingal, and Remya Nambeesan, took the initiative to form the collective to make the industry better and safer.
Hema Committee Formation
– In November 2017, a committee was formed under the chairmanship of Justice K. Hema (retired).
– Former bureaucrat K.B. Valsalakumari and talented actress Sharada were the other two members of the team.
– Over 80 women testified before Justice Hema.
– In 2019, the committee submitted a 296-page report to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. However, the report remained in cold storage for five years.
The Hema Committee Report Now Released
– On August 19, 2024, the 296-page report of the Hema Committee was made public.
– It includes testimonies from several women in the industry.
– In some places, the report mentions “girls” instead of “women,” indicating that minors can also be victims of sexual harassment.
– The report does not name the perpetrators and includes some recommendations.
– The report reveals some of the darkest truths about Malayalam cinema.
– It highlights that basic facilities for women, such as changing rooms and toilets, were not provided.
– However, what has deeply shaken everyone are the stories of sexual harassment, the existence of a powerful lobby (including top directors, producers, and technicians in the industry), and other systemic issues.
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9. What is the theme of 78th Independence Day (15th August 2024)?
a. Independent India
b. Emerging India
c. Shining India
d. Developed India
Answer: d. Developed India
78th Independence Day Theme: ‘Developed India’
– The theme for the 78th Independence Day is “Developed India.”
– This aligns with the Indian government’s vision to transform India into a developed country by 2047, marking the centenary of independence.
6,000 Distinguished Guests
– Approximately 6,000 distinguished guests have been invited for the 78th Independence Day.
– These guests come from various fields, including youth, the entire Indian Olympic team, tribal communities, farmers, women, ASHA workers, and other notable individuals.
– All of them have demonstrated excellence in various fields with the support of different government schemes and initiatives.
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10. Which naval officer was appointed the Director General (DG) of Project Seabird?
a. Vice Admiral VK Verma
b. Vice Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar
c. Vice Admiral Rajesh Kumar
d. Vice Admiral Vinod Pradhan
Answer: b. Vice Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar
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11. ‘Project Seabird’ is the code name of the biggest defense infrastructure project at which naval base, whose Director General (DG) was appointed Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti?
a. INS Shivaji
b. INS Jatayu
c. INS Kadamba or Karwar Naval Base
d. All of the above
Answer: c. INS Kadamba or Karwar Naval Base
– INS Kadamba, also known as Naval Base Karwar or Project Seabird, is an Indian Navy base located near Karwar in Karnataka.
– The codename for the base’s construction was Project Seabird.
– The first phase of its construction was completed in 2005, and the base was commissioned on May 31, 2005.
– The development of Stage II began in 2011.
– INS Kadamba is currently the third-largest Indian naval base and is expected to become the largest naval base upon the completion of the expansion Stage IIB.
– It is intended to be the largest naval base in Asia.
– The navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya is stationed in Karwar.
– The base features the country’s first Sealift facility, a unique “shiplift” and transfer system for docking and undocking ships and submarines.
– In the early 1980s, then Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Oscar Stanley Dawson envisioned a dedicated naval base between the rugged hills of the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea near Karwar in Karnataka.
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