CURRENT AFFAIRS 25-06-2024

NATIONAL NEWS

Kozhikode Declared India's First UNESCO 'City of Literature'

• Kozhikode in northern Kerala was officially recognized as India's first UNESCO 'City of Literature'.

• This honor highlights Kozhikode's rich cultural heritage.

• In October 2023, Kozhikode was added to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) under the 'Literature' category.

• The efficient administration of the Kozhikode City Corporation was pivotal in securing this designation, surpassing culturally rich cities like Kolkata.

• Gwalior and Kozhikode are among the 55 new cities worldwide to join the UCCN.

• Gwalior, located in Madhya Pradesh, was recognized in the 'Music' category, while Kozhikode was acknowledged for 'Literature'.

• The Kerala state government announced that starting next year, June 23 will be celebrated annually as 'City of Literature' day in Kozhikode, in honor of literary icons such as S K Pottakkad and Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.

• Special awards across six categories will be introduced on this day.

• The newly designated creative cities are invited to the 2024 UCCN Annual Conference, themed ‘Bringing Youth to the Table for the Next Decade’, scheduled for July 1-5, 2024, in Braga, Portugal.

National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2024

• Launched by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, in New Delhi.

• The campaign was initiated with the distribution of oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc tablets to children.

• Campaign Duration: Runs from July 1 to August 31, 2024.

• Aim to reduce child mortality due to childhood diarrhoea to zero.

• Campaign Strategy: Transitioned from a two-week to a two-month long campaign.

• Children up to five years old will receive ORS solutions and zinc tablets.

• Includes extensive Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) through various platforms.

• Involves cooperation across multiple sectors including health, water and sanitation, education, and rural development.

BANKING, ECONOMY AND FINANCE

India Becomes the Third-Largest Domestic Airline Market

• India now ranks third globally in the domestic airline market, moving up from the fifth position.

• This shift places India ahead of Brazil and Indonesia, boasting an airline capacity of 15.6 million seats.

• The United States and China maintain the top two spots in domestic aviation.

• A decade ago, India had the smallest domestic airline market, with only 8 million seats.

• The annual growth rate of airline seat capacity in India has been 6.9%.

• Low-cost carriers (LCCs) make up approximately 78.4% of India’s domestic airline capacity.

• The number of airports in India has nearly doubled over the past ten years, increasing from 74 to 157, according to government data.

STATE NEWS

Haryana Government Increases OBC Reservation and Income Limit for Creamy Layer

• Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini announced an increase in the annual income limit for the creamy layer from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh, aligning with Central Government policies.

• Income from salary and agricultural sources will be excluded from this limit, similar to Central Government provisions.

• The reservation for backward classes in Group-A and Group-B jobs will be raised from the current 15% to 27%, as per Central Government policy.

• This new reservation limit will be applied to state government jobs after approval from the Haryana State Backward Classes Commission.

• The state government will prioritize filling the pending vacant posts for backward classes in Group A and B through special recruitment drives.

• Haryana is also supporting OBC children's education by offering scholarships ranging from Rs 12,000 to Rs 20,000 to ensure they receive quality education.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Women in Diplomacy 2024 observed on 24 June

• The International Day of Women in Diplomacy is observed annually on June 24.

• This day celebrates the crucial contributions of women in shaping international relations and promoting peace.

• The 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared June 24 as the International Day of Women in Diplomacy in 2022.

• Women have been integral to the United Nations since the UN Charter's creation and signing in 1945.

• Hansa Mehta, a prominent Indian feminist leader, activist, and diplomat, was honored by UNGA President Dennis Francis on this day.

• She played a key role in altering the phrase “All men are born free and equal” to “All human beings are born free and equal” in Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

• As president of the All India Women's Conference (AIWC) in 1946, Mehta led the drafting of the "Indian Charter of Women's Rights," advocating for gender equality, civil rights, and justice for women in India.

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