Daily Current Affairs 1st January 2024: Your guide for daily General Knowledge Preparation
Dear Readers,
This post contains important current affairs of 1st January 2024. It includes all Major National, International, Business and Sports related current affairs of 1st January2024. A brief explanation of every current affair is provided to further enhance your general knowledge. Once you have gone through these current affairs we would recommend to you to try 1st January2024 Current affairs test.
International News
1. Expansion of the BRICS Group with New Members
- The BRICS group, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is expected to significantly grow from January 1, 2024, with the inclusion of Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Egypt.
- This expansion, announced by South Africa’s BRICS representative, will double the group’s membership following invitations extended in August.
- The expansion aims to bring together leading energy producers and major consumers from developing nations, with Argentina being the only invited country to opt out under President Javier Milei’s new administration.
State News
2. 12th Divya Kala Mela 2023 Hosted in Surat
- The event, organized by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, showcased the skills and products of Divyang artisans from across India.
- Running from December 29, 2023, to January 7, 2024, the Mela was a platform for Divyang entrepreneurs to display their crafts.
3. Guinness Record Set by Gujarat in Mass Surya Namaskar
- On New Year’s Day, Gujarat achieved a Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous Surya Namaskar performance with over 4,000 participants across 108 locations in 51 categories.
- This event highlighted Gujarat’s commitment to cultural heritage and health.
Defence News
4. DRDO’s 66th Foundation Day Celebration
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India marked its 66th Foundation Day on January 1, 2024, emphasizing the nation’s strides in defence technology and self-reliance.
Economy News
5. Significant Surge in GST Collections for December 2023
- December 2023 saw GST collections reach ₹1.65 lakh crore, a 10.28% increase from the previous year’s same month, continuing a seven-month streak of surpassing ₹1.6 lakh crore.
Banking News
6. Record High in UPI Transactions for 2023
- Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions in December 2023 soared by 42% year-over-year, reaching a total value of ₹18 lakh crore, along with a 54% increase in transaction volume and a 7% rise from the previous month.
7. Notable Growth in Fastag Transactions
- Fastag transactions in December saw a year-over-year volume increase of 13%, reaching 34.8 crore, and a 19% value increase to ₹5,861 crore, 10% higher than November 2023’s figure.
8. 30th Tranche of Electoral Bonds Approved by Government
- The Indian government has sanctioned the sale of the 30th tranche of electoral bonds, scheduled from January 2 to January 11, 2024, as a transparent alternative to cash donations in political funding.
9. Remarkable Increase in Mudra Loans to ₹3 Lakh Crore
- December 2023 marked a milestone in the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) with a record disbursement of ₹3 lakh crore in loans, indicating a 16% year-on-year growth and significant support for small businesses.
Important Days News
10. Celebration of Global Family Day 2024
- Global Family Day, observed annually on January 1, is a day dedicated to promoting peace, unity, and shared values among families worldwide, with the 2024 theme focusing on “Embracing Diversity, Strengthening Families.”
Appointments News
11. Arvind Panagariya Takes Charge of the Sixteenth Finance Commission
- Arvind Panagariya, a former Niti Aayog vice chairman and Columbia University professor, has been appointed to lead the Sixteenth Finance Commission, responsible for determining the tax revenue sharing mechanism between India’s Centre and States starting April 2026.
12. Dong Jun Assumes Role as China’s New Defense Minister
- China’s defense ministry has seen a change in leadership with Dong Jun taking over as the new minister, succeeding Li Shangfu, who was last publicly seen in August and removed from his post two months ago.
Sports News
13. Silver Medal for Koneru Humpy at World Rapid Chess Championship
- Indian chess Grandmaster Koneru Humpy secured the women’s silver medal at the 2023 World Rapid Chess Championships in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, narrowly missing gold against Russian player Anastasia Bodnaruk in a tie-break sudden death match.
