Current Affairs Quiz 11th September 2024 Quiz

Exp. Amit Shah releases documentary on Mumbai Samachar’s 200-year journey

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah released the documentary film Mumbai Samachar- 200 Not Out, which chronicles the remarkable 200-year journey of Asia’s oldest newspaper.

Entering its 203rd year of publication, Mumbai Samachar has become an integral part of Mumbai’s identity.

Mumbai Samachar- 200 Not Out delves into the newspaper’s pivotal role in the freedom movement, its unwavering commitment to unbiased reporting, and the secrets behind its enduring success.

The documentary was released simultaneously in 40 countries, offering a historical perspective not only for Mumbai Samachar but also for the entire newspaper industry.

Hormusji N Cama, the managing director of the Mumbai Samachar, was present at the event. The trailer for Mumbai Samachar- 200 Not Out was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the newspaper’s bicentenary event in June 2022.

Exp. Rajasthan Cabinet approves 33% reservation for women in police force

Rajasthan Cabinet has approved 33% reservation for women in the police force by deciding to amend the State Police Subordinate Service Rules, 1989.

The State Cabinet took the decision at its meeting held here, fulfilling a promise made by the BJP in its manifesto for the 2023 Assembly election to increase the representation of women.

This will enable the police to work with more sensitivity in matters related to women, while this decision will also provide more employment opportunities to women.

About Rajasthan

• Capital – Jaipur
• Chief Minister – Bhajan Lal Sharma (replace Ashok Gehlot)
• Deputy Chief Minister – Diya Kumari and Premchand Bairwa
• Speaker of Rajasthan Assembly – Vasudev Devnani
• Governor – Haribhau Bagade

Exp. Blostem Partners with Suryoday SFB to Revamp Digital Fixed Deposits

Blostem, a financial infrastructure platform, has partnered with Suryoday Small Finance Bank (SSFB) to transform the client experience.

This agreement allows SSFB to benefit from Blostem’s expertise in quick product development and deployment, deliver novel digital fixed deposit products, and reduce customer onboarding to a single day.

This relationship demonstrates SSFB’s commitment to digital innovation and growth.

The agreement would also assist the Bank in expanding its reach through digital media. With a customer-centric approach to digital banking, the Bank strives to simplify the overall banking experience for its clients.

The bank is also noted for providing attractive fixed deposit (FD) offerings among its peers, with interest rates of up to 9.10%, various tenure options, and hassle-free withdrawals.

Recent MoUs Signed in Banking Sector

• AU Small Finance inks pact with United India Insurance Co for distribution of insurance products
• Max Life Insurance Company Ltd partnered with CSB bank to boost insurance reach and market growth, aligning with their strategic goals
• Suryoday Small Finance Bank partnered with Tarrakki to offer digital fixed deposits
• Mastercard collaborates with Gramophone to Boost Credit Access for 2 mn Farmers in India
• ClearTax Join hands with Microsoft to Ease Tax Filing for Over 20 Mn Indian Gig Workers
• YES Bank inks pact with Newtap Finance to offer financing solutions

Exp. Amit Shah unanimously re-elected as the Chairperson of Parliamentary Committee on Official Language

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah has been unanimously re-elected as the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language.

After the formation of the new government, a committee meeting was held in New Delhi to reconstitute the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language.

Amit Shah has also served as the Chairperson of the committee from 2019 to 2024. The Parliamentary Committee on Official Language was constituted under the provisions of Section 4 of the Official Languages Act, 1963, in the year 1976.

The committee comprises 30 members of Parliament, out of which 20 are from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.

Recent Appointment

• Chairperson of Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR – Rajesh Verma
• State Mission Director of National Health Mission (NHM) – Vinay Goyal (replace K. Jeevan Babu)
• Chairman of Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) for 2024-25 – Partha Sinha
• MD of Philips Indian subcontinent – Bharath Sesha (replace Daniel Mazon)
• Chairman of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) – V Satish Kumar (replace SM Vaidya)

Exp. Rajesh Verma takes charge as Chairperson of Commission for Air Quality Management

Rajesh Verma, an officer of the 1987 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Odisha Cadre, took charge as the new full-time Chairperson of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM).

He also served as the Secretary to the President of India, Smt. Draupadi Murmu before his superannuation on August 31, 2024.

Rajesh Verma succeeds Dr. M.M. Kutty, who has completed his tenure as the full-time Chairperson of CAQM.

Recent Appointment

• Chairperson of NASSCOM – Sindhu Gangadharan
• Chairman of Texas Economic Development Corporation – Arun Agarwal
• CEO of Nestlé – Laurent Freixe (replace Mark Schneider)
• Chairman of Cognizant India – Rajesh Varrier (replace Rajesh Nambiar)
• President of NASSCOM – Rajesh Nambiar (replace Debjani Ghosh) effect from Oct 2024
• Chairman of Airports Authority of India – M Suresh (replace Sanjeev Kumar)

Exp. Vinay Goyal to be State Mission Director of NHM

Vinay Goyal has assumed office as the State Mission Director of the National Health Mission (NHM).

He takes over from K. Jeevan Babu, who has moved to the Kerala Water Authority as Managing Director.

A native of Haryana, Dr. Goyal, belongs to the 2016 IAS batch. He has formerly held the posts of CEO, of Thiruvananthapuram Smart City;

Managing Director of Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd. (KRTCL); Director of Backward Classes Development department; Secretary, Kerala State Housing Board among others.

Recent Appointment

• Chairman of Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) for 2024-25 – Partha Sinha
• MD of Philips Indian subcontinent – Bharath Sesha (replace Daniel Mazon)
• Chairman of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) – V Satish Kumar (replace SM Vaidya)
• Interim CMD of HPCL – Rajneesh Narang (replace Pushp Kumar Joshi
• Chairman and CEO of Railway Board – Satish Kumar (replace Jaya Varma Sinha)
• Chairman of International Cricket Council (ICC) – Jay Shah (replace Greg Barclay)

Exp. Subrata Mondal appointed as MD & CEO of IFFCO Tokio General Insurance

IFFCO Tokio General Insurance Company Limited (IFFCO Tokio) has appointed Subrata Mondal as its new Managing Director (MD) and

Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Mondal, who has been associated with the company since 2001, brings over 36 years of experience in the insurance industry to his new leadership role.

IFFCO-Tokio General is a 51:49 joint venture between the Indian Farmers Fertilisers Co-operative (IFFCO) and Tokio Marine Group – one of the world’s largest insurance companies based in Japan.

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector

• MD & CEO of Central Depository Services (India) Limited – Nehal Vora
• MD & CEO of Federal Bank – Krishnan Venkat Subramanian
• MD of State Bank of India – Rama Mohan Rao Amara (replace C S Setty)
• MD of NABCONS (NABARD Consultancy Services) – Y Haragopal
• MD & CEO of Shriram Capital Pvt Ltd. – Subhasri

Exp. Union Bank of India becomes first major Indian Bank to sign PCAF

Union Bank of India announced its decision to become a signatory to the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF).

This step aligns with the growing global emphasis on climate risk management and the recent draft guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on climate risk disclosures.

PCAF is a global partnership of financial institutions working to develop and implement a harmonized approach to assess and disclose greenhouse gas emissions associated with loans and investments.

By joining PCAF, Union Bank of India demonstrates its commitment to measuring and managing its financed emissions, a crucial aspect of climate risk management for banks.

Financed emissions, referred to as Scope 3 emissions, represent the indirect emissions that result from a Bank’s lending and investment activities. These emissions can significantly outweigh a Bank’s operational emissions and pose substantial risks to its portfolio in the face of climate change and evolving regulations.

About Union Bank of India (UBI)

• Founded- 11 November 1919
• Headquarters- Mumbai
• CEO- A. Manimekhalai

Exp. Algeria joins BRICS New Development Banks

Algeria has been approved as the newest member of the BRICS New Development Bank, joining other nations in seeking alternatives to international financial institutions like the World Bank and IMF.

The decision was taken and announced by NDB chief Dilma Roussef at a meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. The bank of the BRICS group of nations — whose name derives from the initials of founding members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Membership in the BRICS bank will offer Algeria — Africa’s leading exporter of natural gas — “new prospects to support and strengthen its economic growth in the medium and long term.

Created in 2015, the NDB’s main mission is to mobilize resources for projects in emerging markets and developing countries.

The NDB has expanded its membership to include Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates in 2021, and Egypt in 2023.

About New Development Bank (NDB)

• Founded – 2015
• Headquarters – Shanghai, China
• Membership (9) – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Bangladesh, UAE, Uruguay & Egypt
• President – Dilma Rousseff (Brazil)
• Vice President – Anil Kishora (Indian)

Exp. Syria wins the 4th Intercontinental Cup Men’s Football Tournament

Syria defeated India 3-0 in the last round-robin match to win the 4th Intercontinental Cup men’s football championship. India, the defending champions, could not score a single goal in the match.

Mahmoud Al-Mawas, Syrian captain, received the winners’ trophy and was named the Syed Abdul Rahim Player of the Tournament.

The

All-India Football Federation organised the 4th Intercontinental Cup football championship at the GMC Balayogi Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Exp. 1st India GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue held in Riyadh

The first India -GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue was held in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital.

This was the first Foreign Minister level meeting between India and the six-member GCC.

The first India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue was co-chaired by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar. Qatar holds the Presidency of the GCC.

About the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

• The Gulf Cooperation Council was formed in May 1981 as a political and economic alliance of six Islamic Arab countries -Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• The Presidency of the GCC rotates annually amongst the member countries.
• Headquarters – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Exp. 11 September – National Forest Martyrs Day

National Forest Martyrs Day is celebrated every year on September 11 in India to pay tribute to those who died for the protection of the forest and wildlife of the country.

The day honours protective environmentalists and personnel of the forest who have experienced certain risks in the process of conservation of natural resources.

Theme 2024 – Honoring the Guardians of Our Forests

The day goes back to the memory of the Khejarli Massacre, which took place in 1730 in the Marwar Kingdom. The then Maharaja Abhai Singh demanded Khejri trees from the Bishnoi village of Khejarli to be cut down to provide timber for his new palace.

However, his action was resisted by the Bishnoi community, which has always been very sensitive towards the natural community.

Exp. Gujarat to host 4th RE-INVEST meet on September 16-18

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 4th Global RE-INVEST Renewable Energy Investors Meet and Expo at Gandhinagar, on September 16.

A three-day flagship event of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, at Mahatma Mandir will bring together key players in the renewable energy sector.

The event will have a plenary session of all chief ministers on the first day and a similar session of all state energy ministers on the second day.

Representatives from Germany, Australia, Norway, Denmark, among others will be in attendance. Sessions will be held on topics including Green Hydrogen, Innovative Models for round the clock renewable energy, making India a hub in Battery energy storage and mainstreaming offshore wind in India.

Exp. India to organize First Global Cooperative Conference in November

India will organize the first Global Cooperative Conference in New Delhi from 25th to 30th November.

This five-day conference will focus on exploring innovative solutions, technologies, and best practices for the cooperative movement.

This will be the first time in the 130-year history of the International Cooperative Alliance that the conference will be held in India.

Q.15. Who has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)?

ओपन नेटवर्क फॉर डिजिटल कॉमर्स (ONDC) का अध्यक्ष किसे नियुक्त किया गया है?

(a) Nehal Vora

(b) Rama Mohan Rao

(c) RS Sharma

(d) Subhasri

(e) Y Harigopal

Exp. RS Sharma appoints as Chairperson of ONDC

A former chief of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and chief executive of National Health Authority (NHA), RS Sharma has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

Sharma, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS), 1978 batch officer with a distinguished career across the Central and state governments, is credited with leading reforms and leveraging Information Technology (IT) to simplify administrative processes.

Exp. 10 September – World Suicide Prevention Day

World Suicide Prevention Day is observed every year on 10 September.

The day gives a reminder that suicide prevention is a public health priority and urgent action is required to make sure suicide mortality rates are reduced.

Theme 2024 – ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide – Start the Conversation

The World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO). The day gives a clear message that suicides are preventable.

Suicide is a major public problem with far-reaching social, emotional and economic consequences. Suicide remains a critical global issue, affecting individuals and communities worldwide.