Daily current affairs 3 August 2024
- INS Tabar’s Visit to Russia: The Indian Navy’s leading frigate, INS Tabar, docked in St. Petersburg, Russia, on July 25, 2024, to join the 328th Russian Navy Day Parade. This visit was aimed at enhancing the enduring maritime collaboration and friendship between India and Russia.
- RBL Bank’s New RuPay Credit Cards: RBL Bank has integrated Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) services into its RuPay Credit Cards. This new offering merges multiple payment functionalities into a single card, enabling users to make secure UPI payments and enjoy hassle-free travel with the NCMC feature.
- India-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue: The 14th India-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue was held in New Delhi, focusing on bolstering bilateral defence cooperation. Key discussions included new areas of cooperation such as cyber security and military medicine, culminating in the signing of a Letter of Intent to enhance training exchanges.
- Novak Djokovic’s Olympic Gold: Novak Djokovic of Serbia won his first Olympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The 37-year-old tennis legend defeated Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling men’s singles final at Roland Garros, solidifying his place in tennis history.
- Turkey Blocks Instagram: On August 2, Turkey’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority announced that access to Instagram had been blocked for its 85 million citizens. According to Turkish media, the country has over 50 million Instagram users.
- RBI Re-approves Bank Appointments: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has re-approved the appointments of Inderjit Camotra and Govind Singh as Managing Directors and CEOs of Unity Small Finance Bank and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, respectively, reflecting their effective leadership in expanding their banks’ operations and reach.
- IRDAI Fines HDFC Life Insurance: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has fined HDFC Life Insurance Rs 2 crore for violating regulatory norms. The penalty, detailed in an order dated August 1, 2024, follows an inspection covering the financial years 2017-18 to 2019-20. The penalty must be paid within 45 days, and additional directives have been issued to address the violations.
- New Director at CMFRI: Dr. Grinson George has taken on the role of Director at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). Previously, he led the Marine Biodiversity and Environment Management Division at CMFRI and served as Senior Programme Specialist at SAARC in Dhaka.
- Kotak Mahindra Bank’s Smartwatch: Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd has partnered with GOQii to launch the Kotak – GOQii Smart Vital Plus smartwatch, revolutionizing the way customers make payments. Priced at INR 3499, this innovative wearable device combines contactless payments with health monitoring features, enabling seamless transactions up to INR 5000 without requiring a PIN.
- NIT Calicut’s New Web Portal: The National Institute of Technology Calicut (NITC) has launched its advanced web portal, ‘Nivahika.’ Inaugurated by Prof. Prasad Krishna, Director of NITC, the portal is set to transform how the Institute manages and reports data.
- India’s Ranking in Travel and Tourism Index: India has been ranked 39th in the Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024 by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The index provides a comprehensive evaluation of India’s position in the global tourism landscape.
- Conference of Governors: On August 2, 2024, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated a two-day Conference of Governors at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. The conference focuses on various issues crucial for shaping center-state relations and advancing welfare schemes.
- Youngest Olympic Boxing Referee from India: Lieutenant Colonel Kabilan Sai Ashok, an officer in the Indian Army, has made history by becoming the youngest Indian to serve as an Olympic boxing referee at the Paris 2024 Olympics. His achievement highlights his exceptional dedication, professionalism, and integrity, reflecting the high standards of the Indian Army12.
- Record Funding in India’s Space Tech Sector: India’s space technology sector has achieved new milestones, securing a record $126 million in funding for 2023. This marks a 7% increase from 2022 and an impressive 235% rise from 2021, as reported in the latest Tracxn Space Tech Geo Report 2024345.