Current Affairs Quiz 12th and 13th August 2023 Quiz

Exp. Amit Shah lays foundation stone for IFFCO Nano Urea Plant

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has laid the foundation stone for the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited Nano Urea Plant at Gandhidham in Kutch, Gujarat.

India needs another green revolution in the form of natural farming under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which aims to ensure the highest value addition to farmers and protect farmlands from degradation.

The nano urea plant will provide multi-dimensional benefits to the agricultural economy. It will also help conserve the nutrients of the soil and ensure judicious use of fertilizers.

The plant will play a vital role to reduce imports of fertilizers and make India self-reliant in the field of fertilizers.

This will reduce imports of fertilizers and make India self-reliant in the field of fertilizers and conserve the nutrients of the soil and ensure judicious use of fertilizers.

About Gujarat

• Capital- Gandhinagar
• Chief Minister- Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel
• Governor- Acharya Devvrat

Amit Shah in News

• Amit Shah laid foundation stone of 108 feet tall statue of Lord Shri Ram in Kurnool
• Amit Shah inaugurated the newly established Aviation Security Control Centre (ASCC) at CISF Campus Mahipalpur in New Delhi.
• Amit Shah inaugurated mega conclave “Strengthening PACS through FPOs
• Amit Shah approved the release of Rs 6,194.40 crore to 19 states under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
• Amit Shah launches Akshar River Cruise Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad

Exp. SC launches ‘SuSwagatam’ online portal

The Supreme Court of India has launched ‘SuSwagatam’, an online facility to generate online electronic passes for visitors to enter the apex court’s premises.

“‘SuSwagatam’ is a web-based and mobile-friendly application that allows users to register themselves online and request for e-passes for various purposes such as attending court hearings, and meeting advocates.

The portal also provides role-based secure logins for different types of users where they can upload their proof of identity and capture their live photo during the registration process.

SuSwagatam’ will enable a user to avoid long queues, and have a paperless entry pass (e-pass) for access at the apex court.

Exp. NCLT Approves $10 Billion Mega-Merger Between Zee and Sony

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has approved the merger scheme of India’s homegrown entertainment company Zee Entertainment Enterprises with Culver Max Entertainment (erstwhile Sony Pictures Networks India or SPNI).

While announcing the order, the bench comprising Justice HV Subba Rao and member Madhu Sinha, gave approval to the scheme and dismissed all objections raised by some lenders including Axis Finance, JC Flowers Asset Reconstruction Co, IDBI Bank, Imax Corp, and IDBI Trusteeship.

Objective – To create a $10-billion Indian media giant.

ZEE will have 30 days to file with the registrar of companies, following which, the shares of the company will be de-listed from the stock exchanges and the merged company will get re-listed in another six weeks.

Exp. Telangana launches India’s first Agricultural Data Exchange

Telangana has launched India’s first Agricultural Data Exchange (ADeX) and Agriculture Data Management Framework (ADMF).

It is developed as a digital public infrastructure (DPI) for the agriculture sector. The ADeX is a collaboration between the Telangana Government, the World Economic Forum, and the Indian Institute of Science.

Both ADeX and ADMF provide the right platform to ensure fair and efficient usage of agricultural data by the industry and startups and provide a big boost to the data economy specifically in the agriculture sector.

These initiatives help Telangana lead the country from the front in using innovation and technology to drive food systems transformation and improve the livelihoods of farmers.

In Phase-I of the project, the ADeX Platform is currently deployed in Khammam district and will be expanded to the entire State over a period.

About Telangana

• Established – 2 June 2014
• Capital – Hyderabad
• Chief Minister – K. Chandrashekar Rao
• Governor – Tamilisai Soundararajan

Exp. Gujarat CM Unveils ‘Sinh Suchna’ Web App

On the occasion of World Lion Day, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel has virtually launched Lion Anthem’ and unveiled the ‘Sinh Suchna’ Web App.

The application will help the state forest department track the movement of lions through the information shared by common people using the app.

Using the ‘Sinh Suchna’ app, common people can directly inform the state forest department about the movement of lions in their area so that timely steps can be taken.

This mobile will help us in locating lions in real-time and also help the authorities in avoiding human-animal conflicts,” Patel said after launching the app.

The central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a budget of Rs 2,900 crore under ‘Project Lion’ for the conservation of Asiatic Lions, which are found only in Gujarat.

Under this project, we will set up a breeding centre for lions, an isolation centre, and more facilities to provide them timely treatment. The funds will also be utilised to install CCTV cameras, buy radio collars as well as drones.

Gir forest is the only abode of Asiatic lions in the world.

About Gujarat

• Capital- Gandhinagar
• Chief Minister- Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel
• Governor- Acharya Devvrat

Exp. CM Solar Mission launched in power deficit Meghalaya

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has launched the Rs 500 crore Chief Minister’s Solar Mission here aimed at minimizing the power deficit in this northeastern hill state.

The money will be invested by the government in the next 5 years.

The people-centric CM Solar Mission will be a flagship Renewable Energy intervention committed to fostering green and clean energy transformation across the state.

The mission will not only address power deficits but also usher in a new era of resilience, independence, and green progress for Meghalaya.

The state government will earmark investment of Rs 100 crore annually for the solar mission initially. It intends to attract and invite more partners to diversify the portfolio for funding, including from corporate social responsibility, carbon credits or investment by like-minded organisations from across the world.

The installed capacity of the mission is expected to be equal to the current installed capacity of the state in the next two to three years.

Net metering will be made available for the higher capacity hybrid solar units which can be fed to a local grid and then the national grid. The subsidy will range from 70 percent for individual households to 50 percent subsidy for schools, hospitals, hotels, and other commercial entities.

The state has an installed capacity of 378.38 MW supplied from hydel power projects, while the current peak power demand is over 500 MW. The demand is increasing every year by over 50 MW.

About Meghalaya

• Capital – Shillong
• Chief Minister – Conrad Kongkal Sangma
• Governor – Phagu Chauhan

Exp. RBI raises per transaction limit for UPI Lite to 500 rupees.

RBI has increased the offline transaction limit from 200 rupees to 500 rupees but the overall limit of small value digital transaction limit is kept unchanged at 2,000 rupees.

These initiatives will further deepen the reach of digital payments in the country.

Central Bank has also proposed to use Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in UPI transactions.

What is UPI Lite?

• UPI Lite is an ‘on-device wallet’ feature that will allow users to make real-time small-value payments without using a UPI PIN.

How to use UPI Lite?

• First, you have to add funds to or load money into the wallet on the app, from your bank account. Then, you can use those pre-loaded funds to pay from the wallet via UPI Lite.
• Do note that the total limit of UPI Lite balance for an on-device wallet will be Rs 2,000 at any point in time.
• In many remote areas, the data network is patchy and RBI’s move of increasing the limit on UPI lite transactions will help travellers in doing digital transactions.
• Further, RBI to introduce Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to facilitate offline payments. To promote the use of UPI Lite, it is proposed to facilitate offline transactions using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.
• This feature will not only enable retail digital payments in situations where internet/telecom connectivity is weak or not available, but it will also ensure speed, with minimal transaction declined.

Exp. Airtel Payments Bank Launched India’s 1st Eco-Friendly Debit Card

Airtel Payments Bank has launched an eco-friendly debit card for its customers with savings bank accounts, underlining the company’s ‘commitment to sustainability and promoting eco-friendly practices within the financial sector.’

The company will manufacture these debit cards from r-PVC (recycled polyvinyl chloride) material, which it claims to be eco-friendly.

Moreover, the payments bank stated that every batch of 50,000 cards produced would reduce carbon emissions by 350 kilograms, compared to conventional PVC cards in the market.

Producing these eco-friendly debit cards will also diminish petroleum consumption during manufacturing, cutting hydrocarbon usage by 43 percent. This manufacturing approach will conserve 6.6 million litres of water for every batch of r-PVC produced.

Airtel Payments Bank is developing two cards under the classic variant; a personalized Classic card and an Insta Classic card.

The former can be ordered through the Airtel Thanks app, while the latter will be available at select neighbourhood banking points by the end of the current quarter.

The cards come with rewards including e-commerce benefits of up to Rs 10,000 and complimentary dining experiences under the ‘One Dines Free’ programme across major cities of India.

Recent Facilities Launched in Banks & Insurance Sector

• AU Small Finance Bank to provide 24×7 video banking service
• Postal Life Insurance Launches Direct Incentive Disbursement (DID) for sales staff
• Federal Bank launches NR savings accounts named “NRE Eve+” for NRI women
• HDFC Bank launches co-branded credit card with Swiggy
• SBI to set up Trustee Company to manage Corporate Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF).

Exp. IIITD-IC partners with YES Bank to scale up Indian startups

Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi Innovation and Incubation Centre (IIITD-IC) has signed a MoU with YES Bank.

The partnership aims to enable IIITD-IC to strengthen its mentoring initiatives for startups, gain access to experts across the industry, as well as identify newer investment and funding opportunities that can benefit startups.

In this collaboration, YES Bank aims to provide banking services to startups in the developmental phase at IIITD-IC through the Bank’s specialized YES Head Startup programme.

YES Bank has brought the bank to Startups, adopting a horizontal approach and bundling up the most lucrative features possible.

Recent MoU in Banking Sector

• Bandhan Bank ties up with Odisha govt to strengthen Odisha Tourism Development Corporation
• Union Bank partners with IBM to co-create Digital Business platform
• HDFC Bank partners with Dvara KGFS for microloans
• Ministry of Culture signs MoU with Canara Bank to provide financial assistance
• Max Life, DCB Bank join hands to offer insurance products

Exp. India beat Malaysia clinch fourth Asian Champions Trophy

India beat Malaysia 4-3 and clinch a record fourth Asian Champions Trophy title at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai.

With four Asian Champions Trophy titles, India is the most successful team in the history of the tournament.

Pakistan, with three titles, is in the second spot now.

Japan take 3rd spot after beating South Korea 5-3. Japan finished behind Malaysia in the Asian Champions Trophy tournament after the beat defending champion South Korea 5-3 in the third-place playoff tie in Chennai.

Exp. 69th edition of Nehru Trophy Boat Race held at Punnamada Lake in Kerala

The 69th edition of the famous Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2023 is being held at the picturesque Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha district of Kerala.

72 boats, including 19 Chundan Valloms or Snake Boats vying for the coveted trophy, participated in the boat race, held every year on the second Saturday of August.

Chief Minister of Kerala Plnarayi Vijayan inaugurated the event.

The current champion, Pallathuruthy Boat Club from Alappuzha, has bagged the Trophy thrice.

About Kerala

• Capital – Thiruvananthapuram
• Chief Minister – Pinarayi Vijayan
• Governor – Arif Mohammad Khan

Exp. 13 August – International Lefthanders Day

International Lefthanders Day is celebrated every year on 13 August.

Objective – To raise awareness of the unique skills and talents of left-handed people

Theme 2023 – Left Handers in Sports

Left-handed people are often more creative and intelligent, and they are also more likely to be entrepreneurs and leaders.

International Lefthanders Day was first celebrated in 1976 by Dean R. Campbell, the founder of Lefthanders International, Inc.

The holiday was created to raise awareness of the challenges that left-handed people face in a world that is designed for right-handers. It is also a day to celebrate the unique skills and talents of left-handed people.

Exp. 12 August – International Youth Day

International Youth Day is observed every year on 12 August.

International Youth Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing young people around the world.

Theme 2023 – Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared August 12 as International Youth Day in 1999.

The UNGA decision was based on the recommendation of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, which was held in Lisbon in 1998.

The first IYD was observed on 12 August 2000.

Exp. 12 August – World Elephant Day

World Elephant Day is observed every year on 12 August.

The day aims to raise awareness about the threats facing elephants, including habitat loss, poaching, and human-elephant conflict, and to promote efforts to ensure the survival of both African and Asian elephant species.

Theme 2023 – Ending the Illegal Wildlife Trade

World Elephant Day was first launched in 2012 by Canadian filmmakers Patricia Sims and Michael Clark, along with the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation of Thailand.

The date, August 12th, was chosen to honor the iconic Asian elephant, which holds great cultural and ecological significance.

The day provides a platform for organizations, governments, and individuals to come together, share knowledge, and engage in initiatives aimed at protecting elephants and their habitats