Current Affairs 17 June: US NSA Jack Sullivan on India tour, Hindukush Himalayan region to receive lowest snowfall in 22 years in 2024
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- Current Affairs 17th June 2024 Updates; US NSA India Visit | Himalayan Snowfall
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The second annual meeting on Critical and Emerging Technology Dialogue was held between the National Security Advisors of India and America. India refused to sign the joint statement of the Ukraine Peace Summit. At the same time, according to ICIMOD’s Snow Update Report-2024, this year the Hindukush Himalayan region received the least snowfall in 22 years.
Let us take a look at such important current affairs of today, which are important for students preparing for government jobs…
International
1. 2nd Annual Meeting on India-US Technology Initiative: The 2nd Annual India-US Critical and Emerging Technology Dialogue (iCET) was held on 17 June in New Delhi.
India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and US National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan reviewed the strategic relations between the two countries.
- This is the first visit of an American official to India after the swearing-in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell has also come to India along with Sullivan to attend this meeting.
- Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
- During this, there was discussion on developing technology related to jet engine for Tejas Mark-2 fighter aircraft.
- During this time, the roadmap for creating a semiconductor supply chain between America and India is also likely to be considered.
- Through iCET, we will be able to work on new strategies for development with the help of Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, 5G-6G, Space Technology and Semiconductors.
- During this meeting in India, the 7th Annual Leadership Summit of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) will also be held in Washington, USA.
2. India did not sign the joint statement at the Ukraine Peace Summit: On June 17, India refused to sign the joint statement of the two-day Ukraine Peace Summit being held in Switzerland. India has decided not to be a part of any joint statement or document emerging from this summit.
Representatives from more than 90 countries, including Ukrainian President Zelensky, were present at the summit.
- In this proposal brought by Ukraine, to end the war, President Zelensky has demanded Russia to withdraw its army and liberate Crimea.
- On this, India said that only that option regarding peace can be permanent which is acceptable to both the countries.
- Foreign Ministry Secretary Pawan Kumar participated in this summit on behalf of India.
- Apart from India, among the participation of 90 countries, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates have also not signed this document.
- Russia was not invited to participate in this summit. While China did not attend it.
EVENTS & REPORTS
3. Hindukush Himalaya region receives lowest snowfall in 22 years: According to the Snow Update Report – 2024 of the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) released on June 17, there may be a water crisis in the Hindukush Himalayan region. Between November 2023 and April 2023, the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra river basins have recorded the lowest snowfall in the last 22 years.
12 major rivers originate from the Hindukush Himalayan region. About 23% of the total water flow of these rivers is produced by melting snow of the Hindukush Himalayan region.
- The water crisis will directly affect the 165 crore people living in this region.
- The Indus River basin has recorded a 23% reduction in snow cover, the Ganges River basin has recorded a 17% reduction in snow cover, and the Brahmaputra River basin has recorded a 15% reduction in snowfall.
- The Hindukush Himalayan region includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. These countries are also members of ICIMOD.
- ICIMOD is an intergovernmental body.
- ICIMOD was established in Paris in 1981 by the Government of Nepal and UNESCO as its founders. Germany and Switzerland are its founding members.
National
4. India will become the sixth country to launch a deep sea mission: On June 16, Union Earth Sciences Minister Jitendra Singh said that India will become the sixth country to launch a deep-sea mission. Singh said that through this mission, work will be done to improve the lives of people dependent on the sea for life.
Jitendra Singh has taken a meeting on 100 day action plan for the mission.
- Jitendra Singh said that minerals will be discovered through Deep Sea Mission.
- Work will be done on ocean science and study of marine biodiversity and maintaining biodiversity.
- During the meeting, Singh appreciated the efforts of the National Institute of Ocean Technology.
- Under the Samudrayaan Mission, this institute is developing ‘Matsyayan 6000 Deep Submergence Vehicle’, that is, a submarine that can work in the depths of the sea.
- The first phase trials of ‘Matsyayan 6000’ will begin from September this year and will be completed by 2026.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will develop a titanium rooftop for ‘Matsyaan 6000’ which will be able to withstand the pressure of deep ocean depths.
- Earlier, America, Russia, China, Japan and France have successfully launched deep sea missions.
5. Train trial conducted on the world’s highest bridge in Jammu and Kashmir: On June 16, the first trial run of the train was completed between Sangaldan and Reasi in Ramban, Jammu. The train will pass through the Chenab Bridge, which is the world’s highest steel arch bridge. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav posted on social media and informed about this successful test.
This bridge has been built under the Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
- The Chenab Bridge is higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The height of the Eiffel Tower is 330 meters, while this 1.3 km long bridge has been built at a height of 359 meters on the Chenab River.
- According to railway sources, after successful testing of the electric engine on the Sangaldan to Reasi route, the first train on this route will operate on June 30.
- This bridge has been completed after 20 years. In 2003, the Indian government decided to build the Chenab Bridge to connect the Kashmir Valley with other parts of the country in all weather conditions.
- The USBRL project was started in 1997 and under it a 272 km railway line was to be laid.
- Under this project, so far 209 km of line has been laid in different phases.
- By the end of this year, the last 17km line connecting Reasi to Katra will be laid, giving a train connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country.
6. DRDO will test short range air defense missile at high altitude: On June 16, DRDO i.e. Defense Research and Development Organization said that Very Short Range Air Defense Systems (VSHORADS) will soon be tested in Ladakh or Sikkim. These missiles will be able to destroy drones, fighter aircraft and helicopters in the air itself. These are being prepared for the Indian Army and Air Force.
In February this year, two flight tests of VSHORADS missile have been conducted at the Integrated Testing Range located at Chandipur in Odisha.
- VSHORADS is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD). It has been developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) of DRDO.
- According to DRDO, this missile has been designed to neutralise low-altitude aerial threats at short ranges.
- This missile and launcher have been designed in such a way that it can be easily carried anywhere.
- Existing VSHORAD missiles use an infrared homing guidance system.
- The Igla 1M VSHORAD missile system was de-inducted in 2013.
- This missile was inducted into service in 1989.
7. Smritivan included in the 7 most beautiful museums of UNESCO: On June 15, the Smritivan Earthquake Museum built in Bhuj, Gujarat has been included in the list of UNESCO’s 7 most beautiful museums. It has been nominated for the Prix Versailles Award. This award is given by UNESCO every year since 2015 for architecture and design. This museum has been built in memory of 12,932 people who lost their lives in the earthquake in Kutch and Bhuj in 2001.
The museum complex also houses a 300-year-old fort and a solar power plant.
- The names of the earthquake victims are written on the 50 check dams built in the museum.
- Smritivan Museum is built on the Bhujio hill in Bhuj, in an area of 470 acres.
- A museum has been built in 11,500 square feet in the center of Smritivan. Its main attraction is the advanced theater. Here one can feel the intensity of the earthquake of 2001 through sound, light and vibration.
- Prime Minister Modi inaugurated this museum on 28 August 2022.
- This museum has the world’s largest Miyawaki forest. It has 5 lakh trees.
- In 2001, an earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck Bhuj.
TODAY’S HISTORY
History of June 17: On June 17, 2004, stones similar to Earth’s rocks were found on Mars.
- On this day in 2002, the US Consulate in Karachi was reopened.
- In 1974, a bomb blast in the British Parliament injured 11 people.
- In 1938, Japan declared war on China.
- In 1917, Mahatma Gandhi made Hriday Kunj in Sabarmati Ashram his residence.
- In 1855 the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor.
- In 1799 Napoleon Bonaparte included Italy in his empire.
- In 1756, Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula attacked Calcutta with 50 thousand soldiers.
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