Current affairs 20 December 2024

Uttar Pradesh Tourism to Cross 1 Billion Visits by Maha Kumbh.

• Uttar Pradesh is set to surpass 1 billion tourist visits, with an estimated economic impact of ₹3 lakh crore.
• Key drivers include the development of corridors at religious sites and the Maha Kumbh, expected to attract 45 crore visitors.
• The state has already recorded 60 crore visits, bolstered by leadership at state and national levels.

Uttarakhand to Implement Uniform Civil Code in January 2025.

• Uttarakhand is all set to become the first state in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
• A five-member expert committee was formed under the chairmanship of retired judge Ranjana Prakash Desai.
• The UCC Bill 2024 was passed by the State Legislative Assembly on Feb 7, 2024.
• After getting the assent of the President on the bill, its notification was issued on March 12, 2024.

India Tags First Ganges River Dolphin in Assam.

• India achieved a historic milestone with the 1st-ever satellite tagging of a Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista Gangetica) in Assam.
• Conducted by MoEFCC, Wildlife Institute of India, Assam Forest Department, and Aaranyak, this initiative aims to study the dolphin's habitat, and migration.
• Ganges River Dolphins, India's National Aquatic Animal, are apex predators, crucial for river ecosystems.

Masali Village in Gujarat Became India’s First Solar Border Village.

• Masali village in Banaskantha district, Gujarat, near the Pakistan border, became the first 100% solar-powered border village in India under the PM Suryaghar Yojana.
• Solar rooftops were installed on 119 houses, generating over 225 kW of electricity, benefiting a population of 800.
• Efforts are underway to make 11 villages in Vav taluka and 6 in Suigam taluka fully solar-powered.

National Institute of Siddha Set Guinness World Record.

• The National Institute of Siddha (NIS), Chennai, set a Guinness World Record by conducting the largest Varmam therapy session with 567 participants treated simultaneously.
• Significance: Highlights Siddha medicine's growing recognition for non-invasive and drug-free therapies.
• Therapeutic Focus: Varmam therapy addresses musculoskeletal, neurological, and orthopedic conditions.