Current affairs 24 December 2024

Chennai-Born Sriram Krishnan Appointed as Trump's AI Policy Advisor.

• US President-elect Donald Trump has named Chennai-born Sriram Krishnan as Senior Policy Advisor for AI at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
• Krishnan will lead efforts to maintain US leadership in AI and coordinate government-wide AI policies.
• A former Microsoft engineer, he was part of the founding team of Windows Azure.

President Awards President’s Colours to College of Defence Management.

• President Smt. Droupadi Murmu awarded the President’s Colours, the highest honour for a defence institution, to the College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad.
• A Special Day Cover, commemorative medallion, and a revised book, Pearls of Ancient Indian Wisdom, were launched.
• CDM is celebrated for contributions in military education and strategic leadership in the Indian Armed Forces.

Centre Approves 47 Ethanol Projects in Bihar for Loan Subsidies.

• GoI has granted in-principle approvals for 47 projects in Bihar to receive interest subvention on bank loans for establishing or expanding distilleries.
• Bihar currently has 22 operational ethanol distilleries, including 8 molasses-based and 14 grain-based units.
• This initiative aligns with the national Ethanol Blended Petrol Program, targeting 20% ethanol blending with petrol by 2025-26.

Star Health Insurance Wins Runner-Up Award for Effective Penetration.

• Star Health Insurance secured the Runner-Up position for Most Effective Insurance Penetration at ASSOCHAM's 16th Global Insurance Summit & Awards 2024.
• The award highlights Star Health's efforts to democratize health insurance, achieving strong reach across diverse regions in India.
• Star Health Insurance is India's leading standalone health insurer, operating since 2006.

Lifetime Achievement Award for Dr. Vishakha Tripathi Ji.

• Dr. Vishakha Tripathi Ji received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asia Pacific Vascular Society (APVS) for her exceptional contributions to humanity.
• As the leader of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (JKP), she impacted millions through diverse humanitarian initiatives.
• His dedication to alleviating suffering and empowering lives was celebrated as a beacon of hope for future generations.