Current affairs 21 July 2024

Niti Aayog: India must boost Electronics Exports to 5% by 2030.

• Niti Aayog report highlights India's heavy reliance on imported components and design in electronics.
• India's global value chain participation is under 1%; aims for 4-5% share by 2030 ($200-250 billion).
• Competing with Vietnam, Mexico, and Malaysia, India needs swift action and government incentives to boost electronics manufacturing.

IISR won Best Technology Award for Quick Soluble Turmeric Milk Powder.

• The Indian Institute of Spices Research won best technology award for its work in horticultural sciences, presented by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at ICAR's 96th Foundation Day.
• The award-winning technology, Process for instant soluble turmeric enriched spice flavoured milk powder, has been commercialised with Malabar Regional Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Limited.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy Inaugurates Landslide Forecast System.

• G Kishan Reddy inaugurated a landslide forecast system in Kolkata, with forecasts available from GSI for Darjeeling, Kalimpong (West Bengal), and Nilgiri (Tamil Nadu).
• The system, set to be nationwide by 2030, will cover 36 landslide-prone centers and transmit forecasts to state governments for dissemination.
• Reddy also launched a related portal and mobile app for landslide information.

President Murmu Presents 94 Distinguished Service Awards.

• President Murmu presented 94 Distinguished Service Awards to the serving and retired personnel of the Armed Forces and Indian Coast Guard.
• She conferred 31 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 4 Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, 2 Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medals and 57 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals.
• The President conferred the award during Defence Investiture Ceremony-2024 at Rahsrtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.

Turkey Imposes Ban on Defense Exports to India Amid Rising Tensions.

• The move comes months after New Delhi canceled the contract with a Turkish firm involved in a shipbuilding project in an Indian shipyard.
• The ban has put India on a blacklist of countries to which Turkey will not supply military and defense products.
• India is one of the world’s top five arms importers, a massive market, importing close to $100 billion.