Daily Current Affairs 15th May 2024

1. Commission’s 2nd Suo motu report on two month’s enforcement of MCC during GE 2024

• After two months of operation, the Commission has chosen to provide an update on the status of actions initiated under the MCC in response to complaints from political parties, as part of its unwavering commitment to transparency and disclosures.
• This is an extension of the Commission’s transparency initiative, which aims to provide MCC updates following the first month of implementation.
• The Commission has decided to make this information available to the public so that the most significant stakeholders—voters and political parties—can learn in real time about the steps being taken to preserve the fair and equitable playing field of which India is rightfully proud.
• Top party leaders—many of whom are well-known campaigners—are expected by the commission to set a positive example for the kind of campaign rhetoric that will be used in the current elections. This is especially true for the major national parties.

2. Maiden India Pavilion at World Hydrogen Summit 2024

• India has erected its own pavilion for the first time during the World Hydrogen Summit 2024, which takes place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, from 13 to 15 May, 2024.
• One of the biggest pavilions at the Summit, the India Pavilion was built by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and it was officially opened on 12 May 2024, by Secretary Bhupinder S. Bhalla.
• In the worldwide green hydrogen ecosystem, the World Hydrogen Summit is a prominent occasion.
• India has the chance to demonstrate to the world its advancements in the field of green hydrogen at the conference through the India Pavilion.

3. The 4th Technology Innovation in Cyber-Physical Systems (TIPS) workshop organised at the IIT, Bombay

• The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay hosted the 4th Technology Innovation in Cyber-Physical Systems (TIPS) workshop on 13 May 2024.
• Every two years, the 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) showcase their accomplishments and advancements during this workshop.
• It serves as a forum for communication, idea sharing, and observation of state-of-the-art technological advancements in the field of cyber-physical systems for all relevant parties, including the government, startups, investors, academia, and industry.
• In the near future, the cyber-physical systems will power every sector of our economy, as they are a field that is growing more and more significant in the increasingly digitalized world.

4. India – US dialogue on Africa held in Washington

• On 14 May, 2024, in Washington, DC, the India-US Dialogue on Africa will have its second round.
• The goal of the two-day India-US dialogue is to exchange views and ideas as well as investigate methods for creating bilateral, institutional, and technical synergies to cooperate in Africa.
• It also aims to identify cooperation and development projects and programs in Africa that align with African priorities and make use of US and Indian strengths.

5. US President Joe Biden imposed heavy tariffs on Chinese Electric Vehicles

• Significant duties have been levied by US President Joe Biden on Chinese electric cars, batteries, steel, aluminum, and solar cells.
• These comprise a 25% duty on each Chinese-made electric car battery, a 50% tariff on semiconductors, and a 100% tariff on electric automobiles.
• During his speech to the country from the White House Rose Garden, Mr. Biden stated that while the US would always be able to purchase any type of vehicle it desires, China will never be able to unfairly dominate the auto industry.
• The increase in tariffs will apply to goods from China worth $18 billion. Tariffs will go into force this year for EVs, steel, aluminum, and solar cells, and for semiconductors the next year.

6. Abha Khatua sets national record winning gold in Women’s shot put at National Federation Cup Athletics Competition

• Abha Khatua has set a national record and won gold medal in Women’s Shot Put with a massive throw of 18.41 metres at National Federation Cup Athletics Competition in Bhubaneswar.
• Representing Maharashtra at the event, Abha was the joint record holder of 18.06 metres with Manpreet Kaur before this event.

7. NASA plans to develop first railway systems on moon

• The United States Space Agency NASA intends to build the first lunar railway system in order to carry cargo on the moon more effectively.
• In a formal blog post, NASA mentioned the long-lasting robotic transport system that will be essential to the day-to-day functioning of a sustainable lunar outpost that is planned for the 2030s.
• This lunar railway system is a component of the Robotic Lunar Surface Operations 2 (RLSO2) mission concept and NASA’s Moon to Mars plan.
• Transporting regolith mined for ISRU consumables (H20, LOX, LH2) or building materials requires a solution.

8. Meghalaya gets its first woman Director General of Police

• Idashisha Nongrang, an IPS officer from the 1992 batch, is expected to become Meghalaya’s first female chief of police when she is selected as the state’s next DGP.
• On May 19, L R Bishnoi, the departing DGP, would give up his position; on May 20, Nongrang will assume leadership.
• Nongrang was appointed to the top position for a two-year tenure and is currently the Director General of Civil Defence and Home Guard for Meghalaya.

9. Russia discovers massive oil and gas reserves in British Antarctic Territory

• Huge oil and gas deposits are allegedly found in the British Antarctic Territory, which is currently under Antarctic Treaty protection.
• Russia may drill in the protected area after discovering significant oil and gas deposits in British Antarctic territory.
• The discovered oil deposits have around 511 billion barrels of crude oil, which is roughly ten times the North Sea’s output during the previous fifty years.
• The largest Russian geological exploration business, Rosgeo, is owned by the Kremlin, and the committee was evaluating inquiries about oil and gas research on its ships.

10. International Day of Families 2024

• International Day of Families, also known as International Family Day, is an annual event celebrated on 15 May 2024.
• The day promotes family well-being and awareness about the social, economic, and demographic changes that impact families.
• United Nations General Assembly established the International Day of Families in 1993 to raise awareness of family-related issues.
• The theme for International Day of Families 2024 is ‘Embracing Diversity, Strengthening Families’.

Happy reading!