Current affairs 24 August 2024

Sri Lanka granted Visa-Free access to Indians and 34 other nations.

• Starting October 1, Sri Lanka will offer visa-free entry to 35 countries, including India, the US, UK, China, and Australia.
• The move is aimed at reviving tourism.
• Some of the major names include US, UK, China, Israel, New Zealand, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan.
• Sri Lankan Foreign Minister appreciated the development and called it the first step towards a visa-free regime.

Delhi Airport Achieves Net Zero Carbon Emission Status.

• Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport achieved Net Zero Carbon Emission status, becoming the first Indian airport with Level 5 certification by Airport Council International.
• Achieved 90% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions using renewable energy, EVs, and green infrastructure.
• Target set for net zero Scope 3 emissions by 2050.

India Surpasses China as Largest Importer of Russian Oil.

• India imported 2.07 million barrels per day of crude in July 2024, surpassing China's 1.76 million BPD.
• Indian refiners continue to buy crude at discounted rates due to Western sanctions, leading to a 12% year-over-year increase in imports.
• India's exploration efforts are expanding, with plans to explore up to 16% of its sedimentary basins in 2024 under the Open Acreage Licensing Program.

Himachal Launches Nutritious Food Scheme for Schoolchildren.

• CM Sukhu launched Mukhyamantri Bal Paushtik Aahar Yojana, adding eggs/fruits weekly to the midday meal for nursery to Class 8 students across 15,181 schools.
• Rs 12.75 crore allocated for additional nutrition; 17,510 teachers to get tablets for digital education.
• The government targets education quality improvement with global exposure for teachers and new day boarding schools.

PhonePe Launches "Credit Line on UPI" for Enhanced Flexibility.

• PhonePe's Credit Line on UPI lets users link bank credit lines to UPI, facilitating seamless payments across millions of merchants.
• The feature, enabled by RBI's recent UPI expansion, offers short-term credit, enhancing transaction ease and financial flexibility.
• Merchants using PhonePe PG can integrate this option to reduce cart abandonment and boost sales.