Daily Current Affairs 12 June 2024

Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi appointed as Next Chief of Army Staff

• Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, currently serving as the Vice Chief of Army Staff, has been appointed as the next Chief of the Army Staff, effective from 30 June 2024.
• He will succeed the incumbent General Manoj Pande.
• Commissioned into the Infantry (Jammu & Kashmir Rifles) in December 1984, Lt Gen Dwivedi has served in various command, staff, instructional, and foreign appointments over nearly 40 years.
• His notable roles include Director General Infantry, Northern Army Commander from 2022-2024, and Vice Chief of Army Staff.

Japan-India maritime exercise commences at Yokosuka

• The Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2024 (JIMEX 24) commenced at Yokosuka, Japan.
• The Indian Navy’s indigenous stealth frigate, INS Shivalik, is participating in this eighth edition of JIMEX.
• The exercise aims to enhance cooperation and interoperability between the navies of India and Japan.
• It includes both harbour and sea phases, with professional, sports, and social interactions, followed by complex multi-discipline operations in the surface, sub-surface, and air domains.
• The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) is represented by the Guided Missile Destroyer, JS Yugiri.

Sarod Maestro Rajeev Taranath passed away at 91

• Renowned sarod maestro Pandit Rajeev Taranath passed away at the age of 92 on 11 June 2024.
• Born on 17 October 1932, Taranath was a luminary in Hindustani classical music. He began his career as a singer and later became a distinguished disciple of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.
• His contributions to music earned him numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri in 2019 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 2000.

I&B Ministry announced 3rd edition of Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman

• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has announced the third edition of the Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman (AYDMS) 2024.
• This award was instituted in June 2019 to acknowledge the positive role and responsibility of media in disseminating the message of Yoga in India and abroad.
• The I&B Ministry has invited nominations for the 3rd Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman 2024.
• The award recognizes the media’s contribution to the promotion and development of Yoga. The guidelines for the AYDMS 2024 have been released.

ISRO released stunning images of sun captured by Aditya L1 Satellite

• The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Aditya L1 satellite has captured stunning full-disk images of the Sun.
• The images were taken by the Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) on board the Aditya-L1 spacecraft.
• The images, captured in the 200-400 nm wavelength range, reveal sunspots, plage, and quiet Sun regions. These images provide scientists with valuable insights into the Sun’s photosphere and chromosphere.
• The Aditya L1 mission, the first space-based Indian mission to study the Sun, is positioned in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system.

BJP leader Mohan Charan Majhi to be new Chief Minister of Odisha

• Mohan Charan Majhi, a BJP leader and MLA from Keonjhar, has been appointed as the new Chief Minister of Odisha.
• This marks the first time the BJP will form its own government in Odisha, ending the 24-year tenure of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik.
• Majhi, a prominent member of the tribal community, has served as an MLA four times and is known for his dedicated public service and exceptional organizational skills.
• The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for June 12, 2024.
• Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida will serve as Deputy Chief Ministers.

launch of LSAM 13 (Yard 81) the 5th Barge of 08 x Missile Cum Ammunition Barge project

• The Missile Cum Ammunition Barge, LSAM 13 (Yard 81), the fifth barge of the 08 x Missile Cum Ammunition Barge project, was launched on 10 June 2024.
• Built by MSME Shipyard, M/s SECON Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd (SEPPL), Visakhapatnam for the Indian Navy, the launch took place at M/s Vinayaga Marine Petro Ltd, Mira Bhayandar, Maharashtra.
• These barges, designed and built under relevant Naval Rules and Regulation of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), facilitate transportation, embarkation, and disembarkation of articles/ammunition to IN ships.

Sumit Nagpal wins his 6th ATP challenger tennis title

• Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal clinched his sixth ATP Challenger title at the Heilbronn Neckarcup 2024 in Germany.
• He defeated Switzerland’s Alexander Ritschard in a three-set thriller, with scores of 6-1, 6(5)-7(7), 6-3.
• This victory marks Nagal’s second title of the year, following his win at the Chennai Open.
• The win is expected to boost Nagal’s ATP ranking, making him eligible for the 2024 Summer Paris Olympics.

Visakhapatnam Port ranks in top 20 of World Bank CPPI

• Visakhapatnam Port has made it to the top 20 in the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index (CPPI).
• The terminal operator, M/s. Visakhapatnam Container Terminal Private Limited (VCTPL), secured the 18th place.
• The CPPI measures the operational efficiency of how ports receive and handle container ships, which is a critical factor for customers when choosing a port or terminal.
• This achievement reflects the port’s efficiency and the successful coordination efforts with terminal operators in serving customers. The port also serves as a gateway for Nepal-bound containers.

PhonePe partners with PickMe to offer UPI Payments for Indians in Sri Lanka

• PhonePe, a leading Indian fintech company, has partnered with Sri Lanka’s premier ride-hailing platform, PickMe, to offer UPI-based QR payments for Indian travelers in Sri Lanka.
• This collaboration aims to enhance the travel experience for Indian tourists by providing the convenience of cashless transactions.
• Jiffry Zulfer, CEO of PickMe, stated that they are the only ride-hailing platform in Sri Lanka to offer such a service to Indian travelers.
• Ritesh Pai, CEO-International Payments at PhonePe, added that their partnership with PickMe exemplifies the company’s commitment to provide Indian travelers with convenient and trusted payment solutions.