14 May 2024 current affairs

National news

India to Operate Shahid Beheshti Terminal of Chabahar Port for Next 10 Years:

• India and Iran sign agreement for India to operate strategically vital Shahid Beheshti terminal of Chabahar Port for 10 years.
• Previous short-term contracts are replaced with a long-term agreement, marking India’s first international terminal operation.
• Signed in Tehran by Indian Ports Global Ltd and Port & Maritime Organisation of Iran, witnessed by respective ministers.

About Chabahar Port 

• The Chabahar port is Iran’s only oceanic port situated on the Gulf of Oman and provides Iran direct access to the Indian ocean.
• The Chabahar port is located on the Makran coast in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan Province. 
• The Chabahar port consists of Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti terminals. Each terminal has five berths each.

Importance of Chabahar Port for India

India’s access to landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asian countries is through Pakistan. However, due to the difficult relationship between Pakistan and India, Pakistan has almost consistently denied transit routes to the Indian goods destined for these countries.

• Afghanistan and Central Asian countries are strategically important for India, and to gain access to these regions, India has identified the Chabahar port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
• Both the Chabahar Port and the INSTC will bypass Pakistan and will provide an access to India to the Afghanistan and Central Asian markets.
• In 2013 India agreed to invest $100 million in the Chabahar port for its upgraditon. India has also invested in developing multi-modal connectivity from the Chabahar port to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

India Ports Global Limited 

• India Ports Global Limited is a public sector company which is a subsidiary of Sagarmala Development Company Limited. It is under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• It was set up in 2015 primarily to develop and operate the Shahid Beheshti terminal of the Chabahar Port.
• Managing Director: Sunil Mukundan 
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra

Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahṛdayāloka-Locana enter ‘UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register

• Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahṛdayāloka-Locana honored by UNESCO, highlighting India’s rich literary heritage.
• Recognition underscores global importance of preserving cultural narratives shaping humanity.
• Works authored by Goswami Tulsidas, Pt. Vishnu Sharma, and Acharya Anandvardhan pivotal in shaping Indian society.
• Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) pivotal in advocating for inclusion, showcasing commitment to cultural preservation.

Mahindra & Mahindra Partners with MSDE for ‘Drone Didi’ Pilot Project

• Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) collaborates with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. for ‘Drone Didi’ pilot projects in Noida and Hyderabad.
• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in New Delhi witnessed by Mahindra Group CEO Dr Anish Shah and MSDE Secretary Atul Kumar Tiwari.
• Pilot projects aimed at empowering rural women by training them to operate drones for agricultural purposes.
• Training to be conducted at National Skill Training Institute centers, focusing on drone flying, data analysis, and maintenance for agricultural tasks like crop fertilization and monitoring.

Defence news

Indian Army Enhances Surveillance with New Drone Inductions

• Indian Army strengthens surveillance capabilities along Pakistan border with advanced drones like Drishti-10 (Hermes-900).
• Induction ceremony scheduled for May 18 in Hyderabad, emphasizing indigenous manufacturing in line with ‘Make in India’ initiative.
• Deployment strategy focuses on positioning drones at Bathinda base in Punjab for comprehensive monitoring of desert sector and northern Punjab areas crucial for border surveillance.

Appointments News

Wipro Appoints Vinay Firake as CEO of APMEA Strategic Market Unit

• Vinay Firake appointed as CEO of Wipro’s Asia Pacific, India, Middle East, and Africa (APMEA) strategic market unit.
• Effective immediately, Firake will report to Wipro’s CEO and Managing Director, Srini Pallia, and join the executive board.
• Firake succeeds Anis Chenchah, who steps down to explore opportunities outside the organization.

Overview of Wipro

• Founded on December 29, 1945,
• headquartered in Bangalore, Karnataka.
• Executive Chairman Rishad Premji.

Dileep Sanghani Elected Chairman of IFFCO: 15th RGB Elections

• IFFCO conducts successful 15th RGB elections for its Board of Directors, marking a milestone in cooperative governance.
• Over two months, more than 36,000 cooperative societies nationwide participate in the extensive election process.
• Dileep Sanghani elected as Chairman and Balvir Singh as Vice Chairman of IFFCO, along with 21 Directors representing various constituencies on the Board

IFFCO:

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• CEO: Dr. Udai Shanker Awasthi (1993–)
• Founded: 3 November 1967

Sports news

Neeraj Chopra Claims Silver at Doha Diamond League 2024 Season Opener

• Reigning Olympic and world champion in javelin throw, Neeraj Chopra, starts 2024 season with a strong second-place finish.
• Chopra’s impressive throw of 88.36m on final attempt narrowly misses first place by just 2cm.
• Despite starting with a foul, Chopra showcases resilience, registering consistent throws throughout the competition.
• Chopra’s final throw secures him the silver medal position in the prestigious Doha Diamond League event.

Kami Rita Sets New Record with 29th Ascent of Mount Everest

• Kami Rita of Nepal achieved a remarkable feat by climbing Mount Everest for the 29th time, breaking his own world record. This impressive milestone underscores his unparalleled skill and determination in conquering the world’s highest peak.
• Consistent Success: Over the past 30 years, Kami Rita has maintained an exceptional track record, climbing Mount Everest an astonishing 29 times..
• Mount Everest’s Height: Mount Everest, standing tall at 8,848.86 meters or 29,031.69 feet, remains the world’s highest peak, attracting climbers from around the globe seeking to conquer its formidable summit.
• Kami Rita’s Profile: Born in Nepal on 17th, 1970, Kami Rita is hailed as a legendary mountaineer and a proud citizen of Nepal.
• Early Beginnings: Kami Rita embarked on his mountaineering journey in 1992, initially serving as a supporting crew member. Since then, he has steadily progressed to become one of the most accomplished climbers in history.
• Moniker: Everest Man: Kami Rita is affectionately known as the “Everest Man,” a testament to his unparalleled achievements and deep connection with the iconic peak.

Indian Climbers on Mount Everest 

• On 29 May 1953, New Zealand’s Sir Edmund Hillary became the first person in the world to climb Mount Everest. He was accompanied by Nepali-Indian Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
• The Government of India established the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award in his memory in 1994.
• The first woman to climb Mount Everest was Junko Tabei of Japan. She climbed the peak on 16 May 1975.
• The first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest was Bachendri Pal on 23 May 1984.
• The first woman to climb Mount Everest twice – Santosh Yadav in 1992 and 1993.
• The first amputee in the world to climb Mount Everest – Arunima Sinha in 2013 
• The youngest girl in the world to climb Mount Everest -Malvanath Poorna in 2014. She was 13 years and 11 months old.
• The oldest woman in the world to climb Mount Everest – Sangeetha Sindhi Bahi, in 2018 at the age of 53 years.

Japan Clinches Maiden Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Trophy, Defeating Pakistan

• Japan secures first Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy title, triumphing over Pakistan 4-1 in penalty shoot-out in final match.
• Historic victory for Japanese men’s hockey team at Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh, Malaysia, on May , 2024.
• Pakistani team, appearing in 10th final, previously won Sultan Azlan Shah trophy thrice.
• Six teams participated in 30th Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy, with Japan clinching top spot, followed by Pakistan, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Canada.

India and Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy Highlights:

• India, a regular participant, has won the Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy 5 times in 1985, 1991, 1995, 2009, and 2010.
• New Zealand, ranked 10th globally, was the highest-ranked team in the 2024 Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy.
• Japan improved to 15th rank, while Pakistan dropped to 16th after the final match.
• The Netherlands leads the global ranking, followed by Belgium, Australia, Germany, England, and India, currently ranked 6th.

Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy 

• The Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy is organised by the Malaysia Hockey Confederation and invites six countries to play in it. It started as a biennial tournament in 1983 and, after its popularity, was converted into an annual event in 1999.
• The trophy is named after the former Sultan of the state of Perak Malaysia, Sultan Azlan Shah. Sultan Azlan Shah was a pioneer of Hockey in Asia. He was the president of the Asian Hockey Federation from 1990 till his death in 2014.
• The Trophy named after him is played annually at Ipoh the capital of Perak state of Malaysia. 
• Australia is the most successful team, having won it 10 times. India is the second most successful team, with 5 titles, and Pakistan has 3 titles. 

Agreement and MoUs

UAE-India CEPA Council signed MoU with Indian Chamber of Commerce to enhance bilateral relations

• The UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), commencing a strategic partnership to bolster economic and trade ties between the UAE and India.
• In alignment with their respective mandates, the UICC and the ICC will synergize efforts, resources, and ideas, and collaborate on increasing awareness within the UAE and India of the significant potential of the UAE-India bilateral economic partnership.
• The MoU will help establish a broad-based partnership between the participants, focused on the public promotion of the UAE-India bilateral economic partnership and the UAE-India CEPA in particular.
• Both organisations will collaborate on increasing awareness within the UAE and India regarding the significant potential of the bilateral economic partnership, highlighting opportunities for UAE and Indian companies to leverage the UAE-India CEPA, and mobilising key UAE and Indian private sector stakeholders to support increased economic, investment, and trade engagement between the two nations.

UAE: United Arab Emirates

• Capital: Abu Dhabi
• Currency: United Arab Emirates Dirham
• Prime minister: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
• President: Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Award news

Matthew MacFadyen, Sarah Lancashire and Timothy Spall clinch BAFTA Award 2024

• The 70^th edition of British Academy Television Awards Awards (BAFTA awards) took place at London’s Royal Festival Hall was hosted by comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan.
• The ceremony, which honoured outstanding contributions to the industry, saw a lineup of presenters including Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Jeff Goldblum, Martine Freeman, and Lashan Lynch.
• The first-ever Awards, given in 1955, consisted of 6 categories.

Obituary News

Renowned Punjabi Poet Surjit Patar Passes Away at 79

• Surjit Patar, celebrated Punjabi poet and Padma Shri recipient, passes away in Ludhiana, Punjab, at the age of 79.
• Patar’s literary career marked by numerous accolades, including Sahitya Akademi Award for regional language writing.
• Conferred Padma Shri in 2012, recognizing his significant contributions to Punjabi literature and culture.