Current affairs 31 July 2024

India accounts for about half of global Digital Payments: RBI Report.

• India accounts for 48.5% of global real-time payment volumes and leads in global remittances with USD 115.3 billion in 2023.
• The digital economy represents 10% of India's GDP, projected to reach 20% by 2026, with digital payments experiencing a CAGR of 50% in volume over 7 years.
• Cybersecurity threats are significant, with CERT-In handling 13,20,106 incidents in 2023.

India Sends Nine Tons of Medical Supplies to Haiti.

• India sent 9 tonnes of medical supplies to Haiti, including blood transfusion essentials, reagents for Immunohematology, Rapid tests, and ELISA kits.
• The consignment left New Delhi for Port-au-Prince to support Haiti amid its severe health crisis and ongoing violence.
• This assistance comes after a tragic boat fire off Haiti's coast.

US National Debt Surpasses $35 Trillion for the First Time.

• The US national debt reached $35 trillion, a significant milestone, as recorded by the Treasury Department.
• The debt surpassed $34 trillion seven months ago and $33 trillion three months prior.
• World GDP Ranking 2024: (USD Trillion)*
• 1st: United States - 28.7
• 2nd: China - 18.5
• 3rd: Germany - 4.5
• 4th: Japan - 4.1
• 5th: India - 3.9
• India's total debt: Rs 171.78 trillion

V. Vedachalam wins V Venkayya Epigraphy Award 2024.

• V. Vedachalam, a Tamil epigrapher and historian, was awarded the V Venkayya Epigraphy Award for 2024 in Chennai.
• He has authored over 25 books on epigraphy, numismatics, temple art, and history, contributing significantly to the field.
• Vedachalam's 33-year career in Tamil Nadu's archaeology department included notable excavations at Madurai, Karur, and Keeladi.

Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh clinched bronze in the mixed shooting.

• Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh clinch Bronze medal in mixed 10m air pistol shooting at Paris Olympics, taking India's medal tally to two.
• Manu Bhaker has become the first Indian after Independence to claim two medals in a single Olympics, having already won the women's 10m air pistol bronze.
• Sarabjot Singh is now the sixth Indian shooter to win a medal at the Summer Games.