Daily & Latest Current Affairs in 2026

Correct Answer :   Indira Gandhi International Airport

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Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport is all set to inaugurate its 2.1 km long dual lane Elevated Cross Taxiway on July 14, 2023. In addition to this, the fourth runway at the airport will also become operational on Thursday.

The inauguration of ECT will cut short the waiting time in an aircraft from 20-25 minutes to 10 minutes. India's first Elevated Cross Taxiway will be inaugurated by Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. Here are the key points you need to know about the amazing ECT at Indira Gandhi Airport.

Key highlights of India's first Elevated Cross Taxiway at Delhi's IG airport

* Total length of the dual-lane ECT is 2.1 kilometres. It will link the Northern and Southern airfields on the eastern side of the airport.

* Passenger experience : The waiting time inside the airplane after landing is expected to fall significantly, as planes will take lesser time after landing to reach Terminal 1. The same goes for the process of take-off. The distance that an aircraft needs to cover, after landing on the third runway and going to T1, will be reduced to 2 kms from the present 9 km.

* Less waiting time : As ECT will reduce the distance between the two airfields, it will also help in saving around twenty to seven minutes of passengers before take-off. However, it also depends upon factors like directions of aircraft landing, said Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL)

* Main benefits of the ECT : According to DIAL officials, after the inauguration of ECT, airport authority would be able to reduce aircraft emissions, save natural resources like ATF, and enhance operational efficiency. ECT will mainly cut short the taxiing distances of aircraft.

* Carbon emissions : A minor reduction in distance between airfields can make a big difference in CO2 emissions. The taxiway is expected to optimise taxiing routes and aircraft operations. With this, it would be able to save approximately 55,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum and will contribute to achieving a "Net Zero Carbon Emission Airport' by 2030.

* India's first elevated taxiway : The first-of-its-kind taxiway has made Indira Gandhi International Airport to be India's first airport to have ECT. "This historic feat is a testimonial to DIAL's commitment to creating environmentally sustainable architecture and becoming a 'Net Zero Carbon Emission Airport' by 2030. With Eastern Cross Taxiway, the Delhi Airport has become India's first Airport to have an elevated taxiway in the country, which will not only enhance passenger experience but also make Delhi Airport future-ready," said Prabhakara Rao, deputy MD of GMR Group.

 * Strong and sturdy structure of ECF : The dual lane elevated Code F taxiways are also capable of ensuring to the safe and simultaneous passage of two big aircraft..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   Voyager Space

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Voyager Space, a global leader in space exploration, is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), to foster collaboration in spacecraft launch and deployment opportunities on-board NSIL’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

* Under this MOU, Voyager Space and NSIL will explore launch and deployment opportunities for small satellites orbited by SSLV and PSLV.

* The two organizations will also study the use of space qualified components from NSIL in support of spacecraft manufacturing, deployment, operations, and other areas of interest.

* ISRO’s state-of-the-art launch infrastructure and NSIL’s experience in delivering payloads to orbit expands access to space for Voyager’s global customer base. Voyager Space has previously flown customer satellites on two PSLV missions.

* Clay Mowry, Chief Revenue Officer at Voyager Space stated, “We are thrilled to embark on this collaborative journey with NewSpace India Limited. This partnership is a unique opportunity as we join forces to drive innovation and advancement in the small satellite launch industry. We look forward to growing Voyager’s presence in India and providing additional opportunities for our customers.”

* NSIL Chairman and Managing Director Radhakrishnan shared, “We are delighted to enter into this alliance with Voyager Space. India’s space industry is open for business, and we are proud to serve the rapidly growing global small satellite launch service market. By working together, we will create a synergy that accelerates the development of a commercial space economy in India and abroad.”.

Source : Theprint

Correct Answer :   Gujarat

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Gujarat government inked 6 MoUs with private industries for the mangrove plantation under the MISHTI scheme at Dwarka in the presence of Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Bhupender Yadav.

* In Gujarat, the mangroves will be planted over 3000 hectares area of land to conserve coastal ecosystems.
 
* Addressing the Hariyali Mahotsav at Dwaraka in Gujarat, Mr. Yadav said India has devised a unique biodiversity conservation model through a holistic approach.

* He also underlined the critical role of mangroves in preventing coastal erosion.  Mr. Yadav also participated in the mangrove plantation drive in Dwarka and congratulated the Gujarat government for joining hands with private players for the plantation of mangroves in the State.
 
* He said the initiative will aid restoration and conservation of mangroves and achieve India’s carbon sink targets. Gujarat State Environment Minister Mulu Bera was also present on the occasion..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Naveen Patnaik

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Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday (6th July 2023) launched ‘Ama Pokhari’ Yojana to rejuvenate around 2,000 large water bodies in all 115 urban local bodies of the state.

The state government would invest 120 crore rupees in the implementation of the initiative.

Launching the project, the chief minister said the project will be implemented using natural and organic methodology to improve the climate of surrounding areas.

The water bodies will also be developed for recreation of citizens and their surroundings will get an aesthetic facelift.

The renovation and maintenance of the water bodies will be done in collaboration with members of Mission Shakti. “This will help in developing healthy public spaces for recreation and strengthen the ecological fabric of cities..

Source : Newindianexpress

Correct Answer :   K. Rajaraman

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The government has announced the appointment of senior bureaucrat and telecom secretary K Rajaraman as the next Chairperson of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), showed an official order.

Rajaraman is an Indian Administrative Service officer of 1989 batch. His appointment is for a period of 3 years. He succeeds the first IFSCA Chairperson Injeti Srinivas who led the authority since 2020.

Rajaraman’s term will be for three years from the date of his assumption of charge of the post, or till attaining the age of 65 years, or until further orders, whichever is the earliest, the order issued by the finance ministry said.

IFSCA was set up in April 2020 under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019, at GIFT City, Gandhinagar in Gujarat. IFSCA is a unified authority for the development and regulation of financial products, financial services and financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). At present, the GIFT IFSC is the maiden international financial services centre in India. Prior to the establishment of IFSCA, RBI, SEBI, PFRDA and IRDAI regulated the business in IFSC..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   Bhupendrabhai Patel

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The Urban 20 (U20) Mayoral Summit was inaugurated on 7th July 2023 by Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat, and Shri Kaushal Kishore, Hon’ble Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs.

Speaking of the State’s rich history of urbanization dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization, Shri Patel highlighted forward-looking urban initiatives being implemented in the State.

Shri Kaushal Kishore shared the key highlights of some of the policies and programmes initiated by the Government of India to promote green development, including the LIFE mission, promotion of renewable energy, policies on e-mobility and missions like Housing for All, Swachh Bharat Mission etc.

Ahmedabad, serving as the chair for the sixth U20 cycle, has brought together more than hundred and forty foreign city leaders from over 60 sixty cities across the G20 countries, seventy plus national and international speakers to deliberate on issues that affect urban areas and address challenges in achieving sustainable urban development. The Summit also saw the participation of over one hundred Indian delegates from more than thirty cities.

Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs spoke about the rapid pace of urbanization in India, where urban population is expected to increase from the current 450 million to about 800 million by 2050. Shri Joshi highlighted the need for building capacities and adequate finances to deal with the impact of climate change.

The Hon'ble Mayor of Ahmedabad Shri Kiritkumar J. Parmar welcomed the delegates and emphasized the need for an action-oriented agenda to ensure sustainable and equitable urban development through the outcome document of U20 deliberations- the Communiqué..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Ministry of Education

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Ministry of Education has released the Performance Grading Index (PGI) for States and UTs which assesses the performance of the school education system at the State/UT level by creating an index for comprehensive analysis.

The PGI - States/UTs was first released for the year 2017-18 and so far, has been released up to the year 2020-21.

The new PGI structure covers 73 indicators and focuses on qualitative assessment including digital initiatives and teacher education..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   29 Projects

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (7th July 2023) unveiled 29 development projects worth Rs 12,100 crores in his Varanasi parliamentary constituency.

* Arriving here from Gorakhpur, the prime minister launched the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction-Son Nagar railway line of the Dedicated Freight Corridor. Built at a cost of more than Rs 6,760 crore, the new line will facilitate faster and more efficient movement of goods.

* He also laid the foundation stones or inaugurated several other projects for Varanasi and adjoining districts.

* Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were present during the programme.

* Earlier in Gorakhpur, the prime minister attended the centenary celebrations of Gita Press and launched two Vande Bharat Express trains..

Correct Answer :   Taiwan

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Taiwan on Wednesday (5th July 2023) announced plans to enhance its official presence in India by setting up a new representative office in the financial hub of Mumbai, taking the number of such facilities in the country to three.

* India and Taiwan, which don’t have formal diplomatic relations, first established representative offices in each other’s capitals in 1995. Besides the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in New Delhi, Taiwan set up an office in Chennai in December 2012.

* India currently has the India-Taipei Association (ITA) office in Taipei. These facilities on both sides function as de facto missions and are responsible for promoting cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, education, and science and technology.

* Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the establishment of a TECC in Mumbai is aimed at further advancing “substantive ties” with India and deepening exchanges and cooperation.

* “In recent years, cooperation between [Taiwan] and the Republic of India has witnessed significant progress in numerous domains, including economics and trade, science and technology, critical supply chains, culture, education, and traditional medicine,” the statement said.

* Taiwan’s move comes at a time when India’s ties with China have been taken to their lowest point in six decades by the three-year-old military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). In recent years, the Indian side has sought to woo Taiwan’s semiconductor majors as part of efforts to create chip manufacturing capabilities.

* People familiar with the matter said Taiwan had raised the issue of setting up an office in Mumbai more than two years ago following a significant increase in trade ties in central India. Taiwan’s announcement was unlikely to have been made without the concurrence of the Indian side, they said.

* The office in Mumbai is expected to begin functioning by the final quarter of 2023 as Taiwan needs to find suitable premises and hire local staff, the people said.

* Since the TECC in Chennai was set up in 2012, nearly 60% of all Taiwanese businesses investing and opening factories in India have chosen to develop operations in the southern part of the country, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said. Chennai and its surrounding areas have benefited from investments by Taiwanese manufacturing industries and the new TECC in Mumbai is “expected to have a similar effect in western India”, the statement said.

* “The TECC in Mumbai will help expand mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities between Taiwan and India. Under Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy, it will also promote exchanges and cooperation in science and technology, education, culture, and people-to-people ties...,” the statement added.

* The office in Mumbai will provide visa services, document authentication and emergency assistance to businesspeople, tourists and Taiwanese nationals in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh and the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu..

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   Shraddha Kapoor

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Asics India Private Limited, a sports gear company, has appointed actor Shraddha Kapoor as its new brand ambassador.

The company said it will focus on the theme of ‘Sound Mind, Sound Body’ and the actor will endorse the brand’s footwear and women’s sportswear segment.

The association will also see ASICS India strengthen its market presence with a shared vision to promote a balanced and active lifestyle while ensuring style and comfort are not compromised.


About Asics India Private Limited :

* ASICS operates 88 stores in India with an aim to provide quality sportswear and footwear to Indian consumers. In absolute terms, celebrity brand valuations accounted for $1.6 billion in 2022 as compared to $1.4 billion in 2021, as per a report by corporate investigation and risk consulting firm Kroll titled Celebrity Brand Valuation.

* According to one research firm, the country’s footwear market saw a decline in the pandemic years. It stood at ₹79,900 crore in FY19 but fell to ₹53,300 crore in FY20, said Euromonitor. But according to other industry estimates, the global sneaker market was valued at $86.86 billion, and has a CAGR of 6.8%. It will reach $139.8 billion by 2032. India’s sneaker market was about $3.01 billion in 2023.