Current affairs 26 December 2024

PM Modi Launches Ken-Betwa River Linking Project.

• The Linking Project aimed at channeling excess water from the Ken River in Madhya Pradesh to the Betwa River, benefiting the Bundelkhand region.
• The project is expected to provide drinking water to nearly 6.5 million people across 22 districts in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• Total cost - ₹44,605 crore.
• The project is projected to generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar energy.

Forbes' 2024 World's Most Powerful Women List.

• Forbes has unveiled its 21st annual list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women.
• Forbes' 2024 list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women features three Indians:
• Nirmala Sitharaman (ranked 28th)
• Roshni Nadar Malhotra (ranked 81st)
• Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (ranked 82nd)
• Top spots on the Forbes list: Ursula von der Leyen, Christine Lagarde, Giorgia Meloni.

Defence Ministry Launches Rashtraparv Website & App.

• Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh launched the Rashtraparv platform on Good Governance Day, offering event details, live streaming, ticket bookings, and route maps for national ceremonies.
• It includes a Tableau Management Portal for Republic Day preparations.
• The initiative promotes transparency, and citizen engagement, and honors Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

India Secures $500M ADB Loan for Green Infrastructure.

• India signed a $500M loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to fund green and sustainable infrastructure projects.
• The loan will support the India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) in integrating green practices and building institutional capacity.
• A sustainability unit, environmental framework, and scoring system will assess project sustainability ratings.

UP and AP receives grant under XV Finance Commission Grants.

• The Union Government released ₹1598.80 crores to Uttar Pradesh and ₹446.49 crores to Andhra Pradesh as XV Finance Commission grants for rural development.
• Funds target eligible district, block, and gram panchayats to address location-specific needs under the Eleventh Schedule.
• These grants empower Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), fostering local governance and accountability.