Current Affairs Quiz 13th and 14th July 2024 Quiz

Exp. 7th India-Japan Medical Product Regulatory Symposium held at New Delhi

The 7th India-Japan Medical Product Regulatory Symposium, organized by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, was successfully held at the FICCI Convention Hall.

The event was conducted in accordance with the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan, aimed at fostering collaboration in medical product regulations.

The symposium brought together approximately 200 delegates from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India, and the Ministry of Health, Law and Welfare, Japan.

Regulatory authorities from CDSCO, India, and PMDA, Japan, along with industry representatives from the Pharmaceutical Sector, Medical Devices Sector, and Biologicals-Biosimilar sector, actively participated in constructive discussions.

Exp. Tata Power invests over Rs 4,200 cr in network expansion, upgrade in Odisha

Tata Power-led power distribution companies (Discoms) have invested Rs 4,245 crore in infrastructure expansion and network upgrade in Odisha over the past 3-4 years.

The company operates four Discoms in joint ventures with the government of Odisha.

These are TP Central Odisha Distribution (TPCODL), TP Western Odisha Distribution (TPWODL), TP Southern Odisha Distribution (TPSODL), and TP Northern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPNODL), collectively serving a customer base of over 9 million.

The investment includes Rs 1,232 crore through government-backed schemes, including laying 33 KV lines and adding 30,230 distributions.

This includes laying 2,177 circuit kilometres (Ckms) of 33 kilovolt (KV) lines and 19,809 Ckms of 11 KV lines, as well as adding 30,230 distribution transformers to improve the distribution network’s reliability across rural and urban areas.

Additionally, the company has commissioned 166 new primary substations (PSS), with 55 per cent of them being automated.

About Odisha

• Capital – Bhubaneswar
• Chief Minister – Mohan Charan Majhi (replace Naveen Patnaik)
• Deputy CM – KV Singhdeo and Pravati Parida
• Governor – Raghubar Das
• Legislative Assembly Seat – 147

Exp. Punjab National Bank signs pact with SAIL to offer loans

State-owned Punjab National Bank has signed a pact with Steel Authority of India to provide home loan, car loan and education loan to the latter’s employees at concessional rates.

This strategic partnership aims to enhance the financial well-being of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) employees while expanding PNB’s customer base within the steel sector.

A MoU was signed by PNB General Manager – Business Acquisition and Relationship Management Division Sudhir Dalal, SAIL General Manager – Finance Lavika Jain and SAIL General Manager – HR Bikram Uppal.

Recent MoUs Signed in Banking Sector

• Axis Bank join hands with Piramal Finance under co-lending business
• Truecaller partnered with HDFC ERGO general insurance company to launch Fraud Insurance.
• ADB & Aadhar housing partners to give housing loans to low-income women
• ACE partners with Bank of Baroda for construction equipment financing
• IPPB partners with Ria Money Transfer to enhance doorstep financial services nationwide
• Namdev Finvest partnered with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance to offer comprehensive financial solutions, including insurance and NBFC services, to its customers.

Exp. Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth launches GAINS 2024

Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth has launched “GRSE Accelerated Innovation Nurturing Scheme (GAINS 2024) of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata.

It is an innovative scheme which seeks solution to the problems related to the shipyards and promotes technology development using the start-ups created and nurtured in the country.

It encourages and enables MSMEs and Start-Ups to develop innovative solutions for further technological advancement. This initiative is in keeping with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Start-up India’ policies of the Government of India.

GAINS is a unique national scheme to encourage and enable MSMEs and Start-Ups to develop innovative solutions that GRSE may incorporate for further technological advancement.

The aim is to leverage the vast eco-system of MSMEs and Start-Ups to address present and emerging challenges in the ship design and construction industry, while achieving the objectives of Atmanirbhata.

Exp. Jio Financial Services gets RBI nod to become core investment company

Jio Financial Services has received the nod from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to convert into a Core Investment Company (CIC) from a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC).

According to the Reserve Bank of India, a CIC is a specialised NBFC with an minimum asset size of Rs 100 crore.

Jio Financial Services is the demerged entity of energy-to-telecom conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL).

One of the conditions stipulated by RBI is that the CIC holds not less than 90 percent of its net assets in the form of investment in equity shares, preference shares, bonds, debentures, debt or loans in group companies.

As a Core Investment Company, Jio Financial Services will primarily focus on investments in and the management of its subsidiaries companies.

Unlike typical NBFCs, CICs are non-deposit taking financial companies that have their assets predominantly invested in the equity shares, preference shares, or debt instruments of their group companies.

Exp. ACC approves appointment of 8 EDs in Public Sector General Insurance Cos

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of 8 Executive Directors in Public Sector General Insurance Companies (PGICs).

Rashmi Bajpai, currently General Manager (GM) in Oriental Insurance Company Ltd (OICL), has been appointed as Executive Director (ED) in the same Company.

Amit Mishra, currently GM of New India Assurance Company Ltd (NIACL), has been appointed as ED in OICL.

Hitesh Ramesh Chandra Joshi, currently GM in GIC Re, has been appointed as ED in the same Company.

Prasad C.G., currently GM in NIACL, has been appointed as ED in NICL.

Sunita Gupta, currently GM in Oriental Insurance Company Ltd (OICL), has been appointed as ED in UIICL.

Radhika C.S., currently GM in United India Insurance Company Ltd (UIICL), has been appointed as ED in GIC Re.

1. Babu Paul, currently GM in National Insurance Company Ltd (NICL), has been appointed as ED in the same Company.

Dasarathi Singh, currently GM in Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd, has been appointed as ED in the same company.

Exp. Shashi Kataria appointed as CFO of Quant MF

Quant Mutual Fund, under SEBI lens in a front-running case, has appointed Shashi Kataria as Chief Financial Officer.

Kataria has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer, Operations Head and Executive Director of Quant Money Managers in place of Harshal Patel, who has resigned due to personal reasons.

He has previously worked with PPFAS AMC as CFO, COO and Director. He was also associated with DSP Blackrock Investment Managers as Manager Finance.

Shashi Kataria has 20 years of overall experience in accounting, audit, direct and indirect taxation, financials & MIS, payroll, and labour law compliance, of which 13 years are from the Indian mutual fund industry, according to the fund house’s notice-cum-addendum.

Exp. MoPSW approves Research Proposal on “Valorization of Dredged Sediments”

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) has approved a research proposal on Valorization of Dredged Sediments.

The project, sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs. 46,47,380 will be implemented over a duration of three years by the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay).

The primary objective of this research is to create value from dredged sediments by converting them into aggregates suitable for various construction fields.

This innovative approach aims to transform dredged sediment, typically seen as waste, into a valuable resource, thus contributing to sustainable development and environmental conservation.

Exp. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda sworn in for second term

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda was sworn in for a second five-year term.

The ceremony commenced with a ceremonial event at the Lithuanian Parliament, the Seimas, where Mr. Nauseda took the presidential oath with his hand on the Constitution.

On this occasion, the 60-year-old economist, Mr. Nauseda proposed increasing Lithuania’s defense budget to four percent of GDP.

This would allow Lithuania to fund long-range air defense, a missile shield for the Baltic Sea coast, and border fortifications.

Newly Appointed Prime Minister & President

• President of Iran – Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
• PM of the United Kingdom – Keir Starmer;58th (replace Rishi Sunak)
• PM of Netherlands – Dick Schoof
• President of Slovakia – Peter Pellegrini
• President of South Africa – Cyril Ramaphosa (2^nd time)

About Lithuania

• Capital – Vilnius
• Currency – Euro
• Prime minister – Ingrida Šimonytė
• President – Gitanas Nausėda

Exp. James Anderson retires from Test Cricket

James Anderson has bid adieu to Test cricket for England. The veteran speedster has brought down curtains to his celebrated career, which spanned 21 years.

The 41-year-old bowler’s illustrious career, spanning an impressive 21 years, came to a close at the very ground where it all began – the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

Anderson holds the record for the most wickets taken by a fast-bowler with 704 in 188 Test matches.

Anderson’s former compatriot Stuart Broad, who has already retired, remains the only other pacer with over 600 Test scalps, i.e. 604.

Anderson has 32 fifers to his name, which is the sixth-most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket history. Muttiah Muralitharan has the most with 67, followed by Sur Richard Hadlee (36), Anil Kumble (35), R Ashwin (36), and Rangana Herath (34). Anderson’s tally also includes three 10-wicket match hauls.

Anderson retired with a record 188 Test appearances, the second-most for a player after Sachin Tendulkar, who played 200 Tests. Among the current active players, Australia’s Nathan Lyon is the next in line with 129 Test appearances.

Exp. NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index 2023-24: Kerala retains top rank, Bihar worst performer

Uttarakhand and Kerala have emerged as the top performer states in NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index 2023-24, which evaluates the progress of states and union territories on social, economic and environmental parameters.

While Bihar has been adjudged as the worst performer.

According to the NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index 2023-24, India’s overall Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) score increased to 71 in 2023-24, compared to 66 in 2020-21, supported by significant progress on eliminating poverty, providing decent work, economic growth, climate action and life on land.

Among states, Uttarakhand and Kerala have emerged as joint top-performing states with a score of 79, followed by Tamil Nadu (78) and Goa (77).

On the contrary, Bihar (57), Jharkhand (62) and Nagaland (63) were the worst performing states in this year’s index.

Among the union territories, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Delhi were the top five performers.

The index shows that out of the 16 goals, India’s overall score is below 50 only on the ‘Goal 5’ (gender equality).

Between 2018 and 2023-24, Uttar Pradesh was the fastest moving state as it increased its score by 25, followed by Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Sikkim.

The fourth edition of SDG India Index measured and tracked national progress of all states and UTs on 113 indicators

Exp. Shooter Sabeera Haris wins Bronze in Shotgun Junior World Cup

In Shooting, India’s Sabeera Haris has bagged the bronze medal in women’s trap event at the International Shooting Sport Federation, ISSF Junior World Cup in Porpetto, Italy.

Sabeera shot 29 out of 40 targets in the final.

Carey Garrison of the US won the gold, shooting down 40 out of 50 targets. While Sofia Gori of Italy claimed the silver with 39 hits out of the full quota of 50 targets.

In the junior women’s trap event, another Indian, Bhavya Tripathi, concluded her campaign in 26th place with a score of 102, while compatriot Rajkuwar Ingle finished in 33rd position with 100 points.

Exp. Haryana cabinet approves IT Saksham Yuva Scheme to provide 5k jobs in first phase

The Haryana Cabinet gave nod to launch the IT Saksham Yuva Scheme 2024, the target of which is to give jobs to 5,000 youths in the first phase.

The scheme has been designed in accordance with the ‘Mission 60,000’ announced while presenting the 2024-25 budget proposals aiming to give employment to at least 60,000 young individuals from poor families.

Under this scheme, employment will be provided to the youths who are graduate or postgraduate applicants from IT backgrounds.

The aspirants will have to undertake the Haryana IT programme (specially designed short-term courses) for minimum three months after which they will be deployed in various departments, boards, corporations, districts, registered societies, etc., in Haryana or private entities.

About Haryana

• Capital – Chandigarh
• Chief Minister – Nayab Singh Saini (replace Manohar Lal Khattar)
• Governor – Bandaru Dattatreya
• Legislative Assembly Seats- 90

Exp. Retail inflation hits 4-month high of 5.08% in June

Retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), accelerated to a four-month high of 5.08 per cent in June 2024, driven by a spike in food inflation to 9.36 per cent due to rising prices of vegetables and pulses.

This June 2024 reading is also higher than the 4.87 per cent recorded in the same month last year.

In May 2024, CPI inflation hit a 12-month low of 4.75 per cent, despite food inflation remaining high at 8.7 per cent. Retail inflation stood at 4.87 per cent.

Previous Months CPI-based Retail inflation

• January 2024 – 10%
• February 2024 – 09%
• March 2024 –85%
• April 2024 – 4.83%
• May 2024 –75%

Exp. Kannada Actress Aparna passes away

The popular Kannada actress and former Doordarshan and Akashvani presenter Aparna passed away.

In the 1990s, Aparna started working as a radio jockey in All India Radio and a presenter in DD Chandana.

She later worked in hit television serials such as Moodala Mane and Preethi Illada Mele, among others.