Current Affairs Quiz 12th September 2023 Quiz

Exp. ‘India-Middle East-Europe’ economic corridor, a modern-day spice route

PM Narendra Modi announced the project during the annual Group of 20 summit of the world’s top economies to launch the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor including shipping and railway links.

The first-of-its-kind economic corridor will be an initiative on cooperation on connectivity and infrastructure involving India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, EU France, Italy, Germany, and the US.

The United States, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates and others launched the initiative to link railways, ports, electricity and data networks and hydrogen pipelines on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi.

Although heavily trade-focused, the scheme could have wide-ranging implications — including developing contacts between long-time foes Israel and Saudi Arabia

One proposed project would link railway and port facilities across the Middle East — including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel — potentially speeding trade between India and Europe by up to 40 percent.

Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, South Asia practice head at the Eurasia Group, said a shipping container that today travels from Mumbai, through the Suez Canal to Europe could in the future go by rail from Dubai to Haifa in Israel and on to Europe, saving both money and time.

At present, the Suez Canal is a major bottleneck to world trade, handling roughly 10 percent of global maritime trade but often beset by disruptions.

Exp. ‘Bharat: Mother of Democracy’ portal launched at G20 exhibition

The Ministry of Culture has launched a portal for the mega exhibition—‘Bharat: The Mother of Democracy’—to be held at Bharat Mandapam for global leaders attending the conference.

The content on the history of democracy in India showcasing 7,000 years of democratic ethos starting from the Sindhu-Saraswati civilisation to 2019 is available in 16 languages including German, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Italian, Turkish, and Russian besides English and Hindi.

The portal is divided into five sections and 22 sub-sections starting from Sindhu-Saraswati Civilisation (6000-2000BCE), Mahajanapada and Gantantra (7-8 BCE), Vijaynagar Empire (14-16 century), and Mughal emperor Akbar reign (1556-1605) to Constitution of India (1947) and Elections in Modern India (1952 onwards). Each section has a brief with images.

The website– www.motherofdemocracyg20.com— is curated by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), which is a centre for research, academic pursuit and dissemination in the field of the arts under the ministry.

Exp. Google Cloud partners with MeitY to train government officials

Google Cloud has partnered with the government’s computer emergency response unit CERT-In to train 1,000 government officials and provide 1 lakh cybersecurity certificate scholarships to learners.

CERT-In is part of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which deals with cybersecurity threats, hacking, and other cyber-related issues.

The ‘cyber force’ of government officials will be trained in cyber defence best practices, including the use of generative AI, and conducting cybersecurity AI hackathons led by Google Cloud and Mandiant experts.

Cybersecurity is the cornerstone of our digital future, and harnessing the power of generative AI will help to stay ahead in this ever-evolving landscape.

The collaboration will ameliorate and crank up the generation of skilled manpower in the area of cybersecurity and generative AI in our country.” Google Cybersecurity Certificates are taught by experts at Google and equip people with in-demand skills needed for jobs in cybersecurity.

Recent MoU

• India Post and Shiprocket partner to strengthen e-commerce export
• Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) and IIT-Guwahati sign pact to develop green carbon from bamboo dust
• NITI Aayog and UNDP sign MoU on fast-tracking SDGs
• AICTE partnered with Jio Institute for faculty development programme
• BHEL signs MoU with Greenstat to explore opportunities in Hydrogen value chain

Exp. MP cabinet approves Mob Lynching Victim Compensation Scheme 2023

Madhya Pradesh government will provide Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the kin of any person killed in a mob lynching incident.

There will be a provision of compensation of Rs 4 to Rs 6 lakh for the injured.

This will also include all those incidents of mob lynching that occur due to religion, caste, language or any other reason. Under the scheme, mob lynching will be considered in which five or more accused are involved.

Besides the MP Mob Lynching Victim Compensation Scheme 2023, the cabinet also approved a housing scheme for homeless families and doubled the honorarium being given to guest faculty.

The cabinet has also increased the honorarium of guest teachers for class one from Rs 9,000 to Rs 18,000, class two from Rs 7,000 to Rs 14,000 and class three to Rs 10,000 from Rs 5,000.

About Madhya Pradesh

• Capital – Bhopal
• Chief Minister – Shivraj Singh Chauhan
• Governor – Mangubhai C. Patel

Exp. BRO to construct world’s highest fighter airfield in Ladakh’s Nyoma

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will construct the world’s highest fighter airfield in the Nyoma region of Ladakh.

The foundation stone of the project will be laid by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from Devak Bridge.

India is proactively working towards developing infrastructure along the 3,488 Km stretch of the Line of Actual Control.

295 projects have been completed worth Rs 11,000 crore in the last 2-3 years.

In 2008, the budget used to be approximately Rs 3,000 crore. In 2017 it increased to Rs 5,000-6,000 crore. In 2019, it went up to Rs 8,000 crore and increased thereafter. And in the last year around Rs 12,340 crore were spent.

Exp. Switzerland ranked No. 1 in the World Best Countries Report 2023

Switzerland has once again claimed the title of the world’s best country, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Countries rankings.

This marks Switzerland’s second consecutive year at the pinnacle and its sixth time overall as the No. 1 nation on the list.

Switzerland is followed by Canada at No. 2, Sweden at No. 3, Australia at No. 4, and the United States at No. 5. The United States has slipped one spot compared to its 2022 ranking.

In the 2023 rankings, European countries dominate the top tier, securing 16 of the top 25 spots. Notable shifts include Germany, which has fallen five spots since 2022, and Australia and New Zealand, both climbing three places year over year.

The Middle East is represented by the United Arab Emirates, while Asia boasts Japan, Singapore, China, and South Korea within the top 25.

The rankings are developed in collaboration with global marketing communications company WPP and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Based on a global survey encompassing 87 countries and more than 17,000 respondents, these rankings evaluate countries based on 73 attributes such as dynamism, safety, economic stability, and commitment to social justice.

Recent index

• Henley Passport Index 2023– India ranked 80th; topped by Singapore
• World’s most powerful military – Strongest (1. USA, 2 Russia, 3. China, 4. India, 5. UK); Weakest (1. Bhutan, 2. Benin, 3. Moldova, 4. Somalia, 5. Liberia)
• Global Peace Index 2022 – India at 126, topped by Iceland; last Afghanistan
• Global Competitiveness Index 2023: India ranked 40; topped by Denmark
• Global Liveability Index 2023 – Rank 1 Vienna, Austria; Cities from India (141 – New Delhi, 141 – Mumbai, 144 – Chennai, 147 – Ahmedabad, 148 Bengaluru)

Exp. WTO to have a fully functional dispute settlement system by 2024

The G20 leadership summit has declared it will work towards having in place a fully functional dispute settlement system at WTO by 2024.

It has been almost four years since the World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body, which is the dispute-settlement arm of the WTO, became defunct, thus affecting developing countries adversely.

There are two main ways to settle a dispute once a complaint has been filed in the WTO

First – The countries find a mutually agreed solution, particularly during the phase of bilateral consultations

Second -Through adjudication which includes ruling by a panel and if not satisfied, challenging that ruling at the appellate body.

The body was established at the WTO in 1995 when it appointed its first seven-member panel. Members are appointed by consensus, for a four-year term.

Appellate Body members must be persons of recognized authority, with demonstrated expertise in law, international trade, and the subject matter of the agreements concerned, and they must not be affiliated with any government.  

Exp. UK PM announces $2 bn aid for Green Climate Fund

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged $2 billion to the UN’s Green Climate Fund (GFC) to support vulnerable countries in dealing with climate change.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the biggest single funding commitment the UK has made to help the world tackle climate change.

It was established by 194 countries following the Copenhagen Accord at COP15.

The GCF is the largest global fund dedicated to supporting developing countries to reduce global emissions and support communities to adapt to the effects of climate change.

The recent contribution has marketed a 12.7 percent increase on the UK’s previous contribution to the GCF for the period of 2020-23. Previous funding, was itself, double amount of Britain’s initial funding to establish the fund in 2014.

The UK has pledged to spend 11.6 billion pounds on international climate finance between 2021 and 2026. This announcement marks a “major contribution towards this commitment and follows the Prime Minister’s announcement at COP27 that the UK would triple our funding for climate adaptation.

About United Kingdom (UK)

• Capital – London
• Currency – Pound sterling
• Prime Minister – Rishi Sunak

Exp. AU Small Finance launches Zenith Metal credit card

AU Small Finance Bank Ltd has introduced the Zenith + Super Premium Metal Credit Card, expanding its range of banking solutions.

This credit card includes features like premium lounge access, personalized concierge services, and a welcome with Premium Brand vouchers or Reward Points worth Rs 5000.

One of the card’s highlights is the Forex markup of 0.99 percent for international travel, making it advantageous for global transactions.

About AU Small Finance Bank Limited

• Founded – 1996
• Founder – Sanjay Agarwal
• Headquarters – Jaipur, Rajasthan
• MD & CEO – Sanjay Agarwal
• Tagline – Chalo Aage Badhein

Exp. 12 scientists selected for the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for 2022

The country’s top annual science award, the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, was announced after a gap of two years.  This year, 12 scientists were selected for the award in seven different scientific categories.

Director General of CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) Dr. N. Kalaiselvi officially announced the awards for the year 2022 in the presence of Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh.

Named after Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, the first director of CSIR, these awards are given every in seven scientific disciplines – physics, biology, engineering, mathematics, medicine, chemistry, and earth sciences.

Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh also launched the ‘One Week One Lab’ program at CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NISCPR).

Singh also released two books titled ‘Collection of 80 Articles of Vigyan Pragati Patrika’ and ‘CSIR@80: A Photo Journey’ on the occasion.

Exp. Praggnanandhaa secures third place in Tata Steel Chess India 2023 Open Blitz

World Cup runner-up R Praggnanandhaa has finished third at the Tata Steel Chess India 2023 Open Blitz tournament.

World Champion Alexander Grischuk clinched the Open Blitz title of Tata Steel Chess India 2023 in Kolkata.

Praggnanandha initially led the competition by remaining unbeaten in four games.

He suffered significant defeats against Nodirbek Abdusattorov (13th round), Alexander Grishuk (15th round), and Vidit Gujrathi (16th round).

Exp. Novak Djokovic wins 24th Grand Slam title at US Open 2023

Novak Djokovic created history by winning the 24th Grand Slam title in US Open 2023 Men’s Singles final 2023.

Serbian tennis star Djokovic defeated Russia’s Daniil Medvedev by 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 in the men’s singles final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

With this win, 36-year-old Novak Djokovic is now tied with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam tennis titles in history, with 24 titles to her name.

He already the oldest French Open singles champion, became the oldest US Open singles champion in the pro era.

In the women’s doubles event, the 16th-seeded pair of Erin Routliff of New Zealand and Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada won the title.

They defeated the 12th-seeded pair of Germany’s Laura Siegemund and Russia’s Vera Zvonareva with a score of 7-6, 6-3.

US Open 2023

Men’s Singles

• Winner – Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
• Runner Up- Daniil Medvedev (Russia)

Women’s Singles

• Winner – Coco Gauff (USA)
• Runner Up- Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)

Women’s Doubles

• Winner – Erin Routliff (New Zealand) & Gabriela Dabrowski (Canada)
• Runner Up – Laura Siegemund (Germany) & Vera Zvonareva (Russia)

Men’s Doubles

• Winner – Joe Salisbury (UK) & Rajeev Ram (USA)
• Runner Up- Rohan Bopanna (India) and Matthew Ebden (Australia)

Mixed Doubles

• Winner – Anna Danilina (Kazasthan) and Harri Heliovaara (Finland)
• Runner- up- Jessica Pegula (USA) and Austin Krajicek (USA)

Exp. India’s Kiran George clinches Indonesia Badminton Masters title

Young Indian shuttler Kiran George won the Indonesia Masters Super 100 men’s singles title defeating Japan’s Koo Takahashi in two straight sets.

Ranked No. 50, the Indian shuttler defeated Takahashi, ranked 82, with a scoreline of 21-19, 22-20. Earlier, Kiran also won the Odisha Open in 2022 for his maiden Super 100 title.

In the semifinals, Kiran upset Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia, establishing himself as a big-stage performer on the BWF World Tour.

Earlier this year, Kiran defeated Chinese star Shi Yuqi and Weng Hong Yang at the Thailand Open.

Exp. Moeen Ali becomes third England spinner to take 100 ODI wickets

England all-rounder Moeen Ali has completed 100 wickets in ODI cricket, becoming the only third spinner from the country to do so.

Moeen reached this milestone during England’s second ODI against New Zealand at Southampton. During the match, the spinner bowled well, taking 2/30 in five overs at a decent economy rate of 6.00.

He joined Graeme Swann and Adil Rashid as the only England spinners with more than 100 ODI wickets.