Current Affairs : 26 December 2024

1. Ken-Betwa River Link Project

• The foundation stone for the Ken-Betwa River Link Project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25, 2024.
• This project aims to provide drinking water to approximately 44 lakh people in Madhya Pradesh and 21 lakh in Uttar Pradesh.
• The estimated cost of the project is ₹44,605 crore.

2. Appointment of New NHRC Chairman

• Justice V. Ramasubramanian was appointed as the new Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on December 23, 2024.
• This appointment was made by President Draupadi Murmu under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

3. New Managing Director of Jammu and Kashmir Bank

• Amitav Chatterjee has been appointed as the new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, effective from December 30, 2024.
• He has over three decades of experience in the banking sector.

4. Revenue Secretary Appointment

• Arunish Chawla has been appointed as the new Revenue Secretary in the Ministry of Finance following a bureaucratic reshuffle.
• He is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1992 batch.

5. Veer Bal Diwas Observance

• December 26 is observed as Veer Bal Diwas to honor the supreme sacrifice made by the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
• The day commemorates the martyrdom of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh.

6. Malaria Reduction Achievement

• India achieved a 97% reduction in malaria cases, with a target to become malaria-free by 2030.
• The Health Ministry reported that malaria cases dropped from 75 million at independence to 2 million by 2023.

7. New Governors Appointed

• President Draupadi Murmu appointed new governors for five states, including Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar as the Governor of Kerala.
• Other appointments include Ajay Kumar Bhalla for Manipur and General Vijay Kumar Singh for Mizoram.

8. Good Governance Day

• December 25 is celebrated as Good Governance Day, marking the anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• This year commemorates his 100th birth anniversary.

9. ADB Loan for Infrastructure Projects

• The Government of India signed a $500 million loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support green infrastructure projects.
• The loan will be extended to the India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL).

10. SIES National Eminence Award

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar received the 27th SIES Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati National Eminence Award for Public Leadership.
• The award includes a cash prize of ₹2.5 lakh and a citation.

11. New Prime Minister of Tonga

• Aisake Valu Eke was elected as the new Prime Minister of Tonga, succeeding Siaosi Sovaleni.
• He will serve until November 2025.

12. Indian Economy Update

• The Indian government aims to cut the fiscal deficit to 4.5% of GDP by FY26, focusing on quality spending and social security.
• The Gross Tax Revenue is estimated at ₹38.40 lakh crore.

13. SEBI Board Meeting

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) held its 208th meeting to discuss reforms in capital markets, including measures for SMEs and mutual funds.
• New initiatives were introduced to enhance transparency and accountability in the financial sector.

14. Indian Navy Warships Delivered

• Two advanced warships, Nilgiri and Surat, were delivered to the Indian Navy by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.
• These warships are part of India’s efforts to strengthen its naval capabilities.

15. Google Country Manager Appointment

• Preeti Lobana has been appointed as the new Country Manager and Vice President for India by Google, replacing interim head Roma Datta Chobey.
• This appointment reflects Google’s commitment to enhancing its operations in India.