West Bengal is a state known for its diverse culture, delicious sweets, and captivating history. In this blog post, we will look at “West Bengal Current Affairs 2024” to discover the stories, events, and news that are shaping this culturally rich region today.
As Eastern India’s cultural hub, West Bengal thrives on its rich history, diversity, and progressive ideas. The year 2024 has brought many important events, policy changes, and achievements that are adding new chapters to the state’s story. From cultural awards to economic efforts, West Bengal is experiencing exciting transformations.
Latest West Bengal Current Affairs, January to December 2024
November 2024
Asian Development Bank Approves USD 241.3 Million Loan for Power Distribution
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 241.3 million loan to improve the power distribution network in West Bengal, aiming to enhance energy reliability and efficiency.
Magnus Carlsen Shines at Tata Steel Chess India 2024
- Magnus Carlsen, a five-time world chess champion from Norway, won both the rapid and blitz titles at the 6th Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz 2024 tournament. The event took place from 13th to 17th November 2024 at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium, Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal.
October 2024
- Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) was awarded a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) by the West Bengal government for delivering 13 hybrid ferries to be operated by WBTIDCL on the River Hooghly.
- The ferries will feature a catamaran hull design and will be built using aluminium and fiber reinforced polymer.
- The 12th edition of the Joint Military Training (JMT) exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Air Force of Singapore has commenced at Air Force Station Kalaikunda, West Bengal.
September 2024
- Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, in West Bengal, has launched the “Bengal Middle East Express (BMEx)”, connecting the Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) with Jebel Ali Port, UAE.
- The proposed ‘Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024’ mandates that investigations into rape cases must be completed within 21 days of the initial report.
Key Provisions of the Aprajita Bill 2024:
- Amendments: The Bill proposes amendments to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) 2012.
- Applicability: Aims to protect survivors and victims across all age groups.
- Capital Punishment: Proposes capital punishment for convicted rapists if the act results in the victim’s death or a vegetative state.
- Penalties under BNS Laws:
- Rape: Minimum 10 years imprisonment and a fine.
- Gang Rape: Minimum 20 years imprisonment, which may extend to life imprisonment.
- Rape leading to death or vegetative state: Minimum 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, with the possibility of life imprisonment or death penalty.
- Investigation and Trial Timelines:
- Investigations into rape cases must be completed within 21 days of the initial report.
- Trials must be completed within 30 days, with extensions only possible with written justification from a senior police officer.
- Under BNSS laws, the investigation and trial time limit is 2 months from the date of FIR.
- Special Courts: Calls for the establishment of 52 special courts to expedite the handling of sexual violence cases.
- Specialized Task Force: Proposes the creation of a district-level task force, led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police, dedicated to investigating rape and other crimes against women and children.
- Life Imprisonment for Repeat Offenders: Proposes life imprisonment for repeat offenders, with the possibility of the death penalty in severe cases.
- Victim Protection: Includes provisions to protect the identities of victims, ensuring their privacy and dignity during the legal process.
- Penalties for Negligence: Introduces penalties for police and health officials who fail to act promptly or tamper with evidence.
- Unauthorized Publication: Imposes strict penalties for unauthorized publication of court proceedings related to sexual offenses, with imprisonment for 3 to 5 years.
August 2024
🔘 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has selected 5 entities for the Test Phase under the 5th cohort of Regulatory Sandbox (RS), including Connectingdot Consultancy Private Limited (CCPL), Kolkata, West Bengal.
🔘 Coal India Limited and Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) have signed an agreement to set up a coal-to-synthetic natural gas plant using surface coal gasification technology in the Raniganj area of West Bengal.
🔘 Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who recently passed away, was the former chief minister of West Bengal.
🔘 The West Bengal government has partnered with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to encourage fathers to play an active role in promoting breastfeeding among new mothers.
🔘 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a proposal by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to develop a New Civil Enclave at Bagdogra Airport, West Bengal, with an estimated cost of Rs. 1549 crore.
🔘 West Bengal has introduced a new initiative named ‘Rattierer Saathi – Helpers of the Night’, aimed at enhancing safety for women working night shifts.
April-May-July 2024
- West Bengal state government has launched the first-of-its-kind “Centralized Admission Portal” for admission to undergraduate courses in state government colleges and recognized universities.
- Cyclone Remal, expected to cross between Bangladesh and West Bengal coasts, is named by Oman.
- CSIR-CMERI recently launched an innovative Electric Tiller in Durgapur, West Bengal, reducing operational costs by up to 85%.
- The Indian Coast Guard conducted a pollution response seminar and mock drill to tackle oil spills at sea in West Bengal.
- DRDO has started a project to establish a test center for the country’s weapon systems in Junput, West Bengal.
- The Sevoke-Rangpo railway line, recently in the news, connects West Bengal and Sikkim.
✅ Also Read: List of Month-wise Latest State Government Schemes and Campaigns
March 2024
Multiple development projects by PM Modi
- PM Narendra Modi recently dedicated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth Rs 7,200 crore in Arambagh, Hooghly, West Bengal.
- He also inaugurated the Indian Oil Limited’s Haldia-Barauni Crude Oil Pipeline, which has a total length of 518 kilometres.
- Additionally, PM Modi inaugurated Indian Oil’s LPG Bottling plant in Vidyasagar Industrial Park, Kharagpur.
- The plant has a capacity of 120 Thousand Metric Tonnes Per Annum (TMTPA) and was developed at a cost exceeding Rs 200 crore.
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata Development Projects
Dedicated and Foundation Stones Laid
- PM Narendra Modi dedicated and laid the foundation stone for multiple projects aimed at strengthening infrastructure at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata.
- The total worth of these projects is approximately Rs 1000 crore.
Projects Included
- Reconstruction of Berth No. 8 NSD and mechanization of Berth No. 7 & 8 NSD of Kolkata Dock System.
- Augmentation of the firefighting system at oil jetties of Haldia Dock Complex, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port.
- Dedication of the third Rail Mounted Quay Crane (RMQC) at Haldia Dock Complex, with a lifting capacity of 40 Tonnes.
Rail Infrastructure Development Projects
Investment Worth Rs 2680 Crores
- Rail projects with a combined investment of approximately Rs 2680 crores have been initiated.
Projects Include
- Establishment of the third rail line connecting Jhargram to Salgajhari spanning 90 kilometers.
- Doubling of the Sondalia to Champapukur rail line covering a distance of 24 kilometres.
- Doubling of the Dankuni to Bhattanagar to Baltikuri rail line, extending over 9 kilometres.
Rail Projects Dedication
- Additionally, PM Modi dedicated four rail projects worth more than Rs 940 crore:
- Doubling of Damodar-Mohishila rail line.
- Third line between Rampurhat and Murarai.
- Doubling of Bazarsau-Azimganj rail line.
- New line connecting Azimganj to Murshidabad.
✅ Also Read: Festival Current Affairs 2024: Latest Current Affairs & GK
Wastewater Treatment and Sewerage Projects
Funded by the World Bank
- Three wastewater treatment and sewerage projects have been undertaken at a combined cost of approximately Rs 600 crore, funded by the World Bank.
Project Details
Howrah Project
- Includes Interception and Diversion (I&D) works and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in Howrah.
- STP capacity: 65 MLD (Megaliters per day).
- Sewage network length: 3.3 km.
Bally Project
- Comprises Interception and Diversion (I&D) works and STPs in Bally.
- STP capacity: 62 MLD.
- Sewage network length: 11.3 km.
Kamarhati & Baranagar Project
- Involves Interception and Diversion (I&D) works and STPs in Kamarhati & Baranagar.
- STP capacity: 60 MLD.
- Sewage network length: 8.15 km.
PM Modi’s Development Initiatives in West Bengal
Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station Phase II:
- PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station Phase II (2×660 MW) in Purulia district, West Bengal.
- This coal-based thermal power project, under the Damodar Valley Corporation, will be developed for Rs. 4,527.68 crore.
Flue Gas Desulfurization System Inauguration
- PM Modi inaugurated the Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system of Units 7 & 8 of Mejia Thermal Power Station, costing about Rs 650 crore.
- PM Narendra Modi inaugurated a 344-kilometer-long product pipeline stretching from Paradip in Odisha to Haldia in West Bengal.
Road Project Inauguration
- The PM also inaugurated the road project for the four-laning of Farakka-Raiganj Section of NH-12 (100 Km), developed at a cost of about Rs 1986 crore.
February 2024
- The inaugural cargo vessels from Maia Inland Customs Port in West Bengal to the Sultanganj Port in Bangladesh marked the beginning of the riverine trade. The riverine distance between the two ports is 16 kilometres.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the nation to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). These AIIMS are located in Rajkot (Gujarat), Bathinda (Punjab), Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh), Kalyani (West Bengal), and Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh).
January 2024
- The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has officially declared ‘Banglar Mati Banglar Jal’ as the State Song. This anthem, celebrating the spirit and identity of the state, is attributed to the renowned poet Rabindranath Tagore.
- West Bengal has bestowed Geographical Indication (GI) tags upon distinctive products such as Sundarban honey, Black Nunia rice, Tangail, Gorod, and Kadiyal sarees.
- West Bengal has taken a significant step towards empowering Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students by introducing the “Yogyasree” free training module.
- Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, a Member of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) representing West Bengal, has been honoured with the Sansad Ratna Award 2024.
- Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a Member of Parliament from the Indian National Congress in West Bengal, has been conferred with the prestigious Sansad Maha Ratna Award for his notable performance during the 17th Lok Sabha sessions.
- Union Minister Shri Parshottam Rupala launched Sagar Parikrama Phase-XII in West Bengal, showcasing the central government’s initiatives and focus on maritime activities in the state.
- Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, located in West Bengal, has achieved a milestone by housing the world’s largest number of snow leopards in captivity – 14, including 7 males and 7 females.
- West Bengal hosted the Gangasagar Mela 2024, a significant religious and cultural event attracting millions of devotees to the confluence of the Ganges River and the Bay of Bengal.
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has granted approval for the Coal-to-SNG (Synthetic Natural Gas) Project at Sonepur Bazari Area of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) in the district of Burdwan, West Bengal.
Sources:
- Affairscloud Daily Current Affairs
- StudyIQ Monthly Current Affairs PDF
