The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, welcomes the inclusion of Assam's  Maidams of Charaideo as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.

• The ‘Charaideo Maidam’, a 700-year-old mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty in eastern Assam, has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list under the 'cultural property' category.
• The decision was taken during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) held in New Delhi.
• The Charaideo Maidam was India’s nomination for UNESCO's World Heritage Site status in the cultural category for 2023-2024.
• The burial mounds made pyramid-like structures known as 'Maidams', which were used by the erstwhile Tai-Ahom dynasty that ruled Assam for around 600 years from 1228.

The Paris 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony will feature over 7,000 athletes, with PV Sindhu and Sharath Kamal bearing the Indian flag at the iconic floating parade.

• The event, expected to last roughly 3:45 hours, will showcase the athletes passing by Paris's iconic landmarks.
• Attended by over 80 heads of state and government, the ceremony will also draw an audience of more than 300,000 spectators lining the riverbanks.
• This is the first time when a Summer Olympics ceremony will take place outside the stadium.
• The Games will kickstart not inside a stadium, but along the Siene river, as athletes ride on boats to raise their flags.

In a significant move to bolster India's agricultural export and import capabilities, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal approved the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA)'s project of 'Development of Export-Import cum Domestic Agricultural Commodity-Based Processing & Storage Facility at JNPA on PPP Mode' worth Rs. 284.19 Crore.

• The JNPA is set to establish an all-in-one state-of-the-art agricultural facility at the port, spanning 67,422 square meters.
• This pioneering facility will address inefficiencies in logistics, reduce multiple handlings, and extend the shelf life of agricultural products.
• Expected benefits include better prices for agricultural goods, job creation, and overall growth in the agricultural sector. It will empower farmers and exporters, stimulate demand, and foster rural development.

The board of AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) approved a proposal for its conversion into an universal bank.

• The small finance bank (SFB) said in a regulatory filing that it will file an application with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the transition into a universal bank.
• This is pursuant to RBI guidelines for ‘on tap’ licensing of universal banks in the private sector announced on August 1, 2016 and the banking regulator’s circular on voluntary transition of SFBs to universal banks of April 26, 2024.
• The Jaipur-based SFB added that its board has constituted a committee of directors to vet the application for submission with the RBI.

Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries, launched SIMS 2.0, the upgraded Steel Import Monitoring System in the presence of Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Shri Nagendra Nath Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Steel, and other senior officials from the Government of India.

SIMS 2.0 features API integration with multiple government portals, enhancing quality control and streamlining processes for improved efficiency and effectiveness.

The development of SIMS 2.0 is a collaborative effort, with contributions from the DGFT, BIS, and MSTC Ltd., a CPSE under the Ministry of Steel.

The Winter Olympic Games will make a return visit to Salt Lake City in 2034, while the 2030 Games have tentatively been set for the French Alps, officials said .

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and other organizing officials were in Paris this week, meeting with International Olympic Committee members and shoring up support for their bid to bring the Winter Games back to its 2002 site.

The Indian Army contingent departed for the 21st Multinational Military Exercise KHAAN QUEST. The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 27th July to 9th August 2024 at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

• The exercise will bring together military forces from around the world to collaborate and enhance their peacekeeping capabilities.
• Last edition of Exercise KHAAN QUEST was conducted in Mongolia from 19th June to 2nd July 2023. 
• The exercise first started as a bilateral event between USA and Mongolian Armed Forces in the year 2003.
• The Indian Army contingent comprising 40 personnel is being represented mainly by troops from a Battalion of the MADRAS REGIMENT along with personnel from other Arms and Services. 
• Aim of Exercise KHAAN QUEST is to prepare Indian Armed Forces for peacekeeping missions while operating in a multinational environment, thereby increasing interoperability and military readiness in peace support operations under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter. 

The Indian Army contingent departed for the Multinational Military Exercise KHAAN QUEST. The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 27th July to 9th August 2024 at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

• The exercise will bring together military forces from around the world to collaborate and enhance their peacekeeping capabilities.
• Last edition of Exercise KHAAN QUEST was conducted in Mongolia from 19th June to 2nd July 2023. 
• The exercise first started as a bilateral event between USA and Mongolian Armed Forces in the year 2003.
• The Indian Army contingent comprising 40 personnel is being represented mainly by troops from a Battalion of the MADRAS REGIMENT along with personnel from other Arms and Services. 
• Aim of Exercise KHAAN QUEST is to prepare Indian Armed Forces for peacekeeping missions while operating in a multinational environment, thereby increasing interoperability and military readiness in peace support operations under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Russia, marking his first bilateral trip in his third tenure, stirred significant reactions in the U.S. and Europe, with critical responses from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several U.S. officials.

• Global Reactions: The evident camaraderie between Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin drew disappointment from the U.S. State Department, National Security Adviser, and U.S. Ambassador to India, reflecting concerns over the visit’s implications.
• India’s Stance: Despite global reactions, New Delhi emphasized its “freedom of choice,” assuring that India’s worldview remains unchanged, though the visit itself conveyed significant geopolitical messages.
• Diplomatic Dynamics: The timing and context of the visit, amidst ongoing global tensions, highlight the nuanced diplomatic balancing act India is performing on the world stage.
• Strategic Implications: The visit suggests potential shifts in India’s foreign policy approach, underscoring the importance of understanding both the explicit outcomes and the broader strategic context.

A revamped ‘model skill loan scheme’ for skill development courses was launched by the government, with a fresh maximum loan limit of Rs 7.5 lakh — up from the previous amount of Rs 1.5 lakh.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced that the model skill loan scheme will be “revised to facilitate loans up to Rs 7.5 lakh, with a guarantee from a government-promoted fund”.

“This is expected to help 25,000 students every year,” Sitharaman had said.