Current Affairs Quiz 14th May 2024 Quiz

Exp. Mahindra & Mahindra sign MoU with MSDE for ‘Drone Didi’ Pilot Project

To boost rural women’s empowerment, the Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has signed a MoU with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. to conduct two Pilot Projects under the Drone Didi Yojana at Noida and Hyderabad.

The pilot projects to train women to operate drones for agricultural purposes will be held at the National Skill Training Institute in Noida and Hyderabad.

The company will train 500 rural women farmers to operate drones for agricultural purposes, such as fertilising crops, monitoring crop growth, and planting seeds. Mahindra and Mahindra will also offer training in skills such as drone flying, data analysis, and drone maintenance.

About Drone Didi programme

• PM Narendra Modi launched the Namo Drone Didi scheme under the Sashakt Nari-Viksit Bharat programme on 11 March 2024 at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi.
• Under the Drone Didi scheme, the government aims to train and equip 15000 women-led Self Help Groups with agricultural drones to assist in tasks such as crop monitoring, spraying fertilisers and sowing seeds.

Recent MoU

• NHPC Limited to collaborate with Ocean Sun for implementation of Floating Solar Energy Technology
• Mines Ministry inks MoU with Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation for knowledge support on critical minerals
• NTPC inks pact with RINL for supply of limestone
• NGEL and ITL sign MoU for Renewable Energy Ventures
• CleanMax teams up with Apple to drive renewable energy adoption in India

Exp. India extends budgetary support of $50m to Maldives

In a goodwill gesture, India has decided to extend vital budgetary support to the Maldives government with the rollover of a USD 50 million Treasury Bill for another year on the Maldivian government’s special request.

The State Bank of India has subscribed for one more year to the USD 50 million Government Treasury Bill, issued by the Ministry of Finance of Maldives, upon maturity of the previous subscription.

These Government Treasury Bills are subscribed by SBI under government-to-government, a unique arrangement at zero cost (interest-free) to the Government of Maldives.

About Maldives

• Capital – Male
• Currency – Rufiya
• President – Mohamed Muizzu

Exp. China surpasses US, becomes India’s top trading partner with $118.4 billion business: GTRI

China has emerged as India’s largest trading partner in the FY 2023-24 with $118.4 billion two-way commerce, narrowly edging past the US, according to the data of economic think tank GTRI (Global Trade Research Initiative).

The bilateral trade between India and the US stood at $118.3 billion in 2023-24. Washington was the top trading partner of New Delhi during 2021-22 and 2022-23.

According to the report, India’s exports to China rose by 8.7 per cent to $16.67 billion in the last fiscal. The main sectors which recorded healthy growth in exports to that country include iron ore, cotton yarn/fabrics/madeups, handloom, spices, fruits and vegetables, plastic and linoleum.

Imports from the neighbouring country increased by 3.24 per cent to $101.7 billion.

Meanwhile, exports to the US dipped by 1.32 per cent to $77.5 billion in 2023-24 as against $78.54 billion in 2022-23, while imports dipped by about 20 per cent to $40.8 billion.

According to the Commerce Ministry data, China was India’s top trading partner from 2013-14 till 2017-18 and also in 2020-21. Before China, the UAE was the country’s largest trading partner. The US was the largest partner in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Exp. India signs 10-Year contract to operate Iran’s Chabahar Port

India and Iran have signed an agreement under which India will operate the strategically important Shahid Beheshti terminal of Chabahar Port of Iran for the next 10 years.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Iranian Minister for Roads & Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash.

Till now India operated the Shahid Beheshti Port of Chabahar on a short-term contract which was renewed periodically. This is the first international terminal which will be operated by India.

The Chabahar Port of Iran has two terminals, Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari. India has got the contract to operate the Shahid Beheshti terminal only.

As part of the agreement the India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL) will invest around $120 million in developing the Shahid Beheshti terminal.

To improve the rail and road infrastructure for better connectivity to the terminal the government of India has given $250 million to Iran.

About Iran

• Capital – Tehran
• Currency – Rial
• President – Ebrahim Raisi

Exp. Retail Inflation eases to 4.83% in April 2024

Retail inflation eased marginally to 4.83% in April on an annual basis from 4.85% in March last month, as per government data released

The inflation rate has stayed within the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) tolerance range of 2-6%.

The National Statistical Office (NSO) reported that inflation in the food basket rose to 8.7% in April from 8.52% in March.

CPI inflation in April 2024 continues the downward trend since December 2023. It is the second successive month when inflation is below 5%

Previous Months CPI-based Retail inflation

• November 2023 – 55%
• December 2023 –69%
• January 2024 – 10%
• February 2024 – 09%
• March 2024 –85%
• April 2024 – 4.83%

Exp. N. Chandrasekaran appointed Chairman of Tata Electronics

The current chairman of Tata Sons, N. Chandrasekaran will also serve as the chairman of Tata Electronics.

Chandrasekaran will replace Banmali Agarwal in this role, pending regulatory approval.

Chandrasekaran’s appointment reflects the Tata Group’s commitment to the semiconductor business.

Exp. Wipro appoints Vinay Firake as CEO for APMEA region

Wipro, a leading IT major, has appointed Vinay Firake as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Asia Pacific, India, Middle East, and Africa (APMEA) strategic market unit (SMU)

Mr. Firake will report to Srini Pallia and will also join Wipro’s executive board.

He succeeds Anis Chenchah, who is stepping down to pursue opportunities outside the organisation, the company said in a statement.

Mr. Firake will be based in Dubai. He has been with Wipro for 26 years, serving in various leadership roles.

Recent Appointment 

• Director of IFFCO – Vivek Bipindada Kolhe
• First woman DGP of Meghalaya – Idashisha Nongrang
• President of Larsen and Toubro – R Shankar Raman
• Director in Ministry of Ayush – Subodh Kumar
• Country Manager for Visa India – Sujai Raina

Exp. Sanjay Bhalla assumes role of Chief of Personnel in Indian Navy

Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla has assumed charge as Chief of Personnel (CoP) of Indian Navy.

Vice Admiral Bhalla, who joined the Indian Navy on 1 January 1989, has served for 35 years in various roles

He Specialized in communications and electronic warfare and served on several front-line warships.

Recent Appointment in Defence Sector

• DG of National Security Guard (NSG) – Nalin Prabhat (replace Daljit Singh Chaudhary)
• Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) – Sapna Tewari
• Chief of Naval Staff – Dinesh Kumar Tripathi (replace R. Hari Kumar)
• Joint Director in CBI – Anurag Kumar
• Inspector General in SPG – Love Kumar
• DG of National Investigation Agency (NIA) -Sadanand Vasant Date (replace Dinkar Gupta)

Exp. 6 Indian Wrestlers Qualify for Paris Olympics

At Paris Olympics 2024, India will have six wrestlers in its contingent with five quotas coming through women.

Aman Sehrawat and Nisha Dahiya took India’s number of quotas to six at the World Olympic Wrestling Qualifiers in Istanbul, Turkey.

Earlier, Vinesh Phogat in the 50kg category, Antim Panghal in 53kg, Anshu Malik in 57kg and Reetika Hooda in 76kg category had already qualified for Paris Games at different qualifying events.

Bajrang Punia did not make the Indian wrestling team for the qualifiers. While, Deepak Punia, who finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, missed out on a quota in the men’s 86kg in Istanbul.

The Istanbul meet was the final Paris Olympics qualifying event for wrestlers.

Exp. Indian Gymnast Srishti Khandagale wins Silver at Asian Championships

India’s Srishti Khandagale scripted history by becoming the first ever Indian to win a medal at the Asian Trampoline Gymnastics Championships.

She clinched the silver medal in Women’s Individual Age group category at the 6th Asian Trampoline Gymnastics Championship held in Hong Kong, China.

Kazakhstan’s Dolgopolova secured the gold medal, while Hong Kong’s S Hung won the bronze.

Exp. Rathika, Senthil to lead India in 22nd Asian Squash Championship

The Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) has announced the Indian team, which will participate in the 22nd Asian Team Squash Championships.

22nd Asian Team Squash Championship will be held in Dalian, China from 12 to 16 June 2024.

Velavan Senthilkumar will lead the Indian men’s team while Rathika Seelan will lead the women’s team.

The Indian team is highly optimistic after its spectacular performance in the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games. India won five medals—two gold, one silver, and two bronze at the Hangzhou Asian games.

The Indian men’s team is the current Asian Team Champion, having won the 2022 event in Cheongju, South Korea.

Exp. ITF Tournament Junior 30 inaugurated in Lucknow

International Tennis Federation, ITF tournament Junior 30 was inaugurated in Lucknow.

Uttar Pradesh ADG Traffic B.D Paulson graced the event as a chief guest.

About 125 international players of junior boys and girls category including players from Ukraine and America are participating in this competition. Many players from UP are also in the fray for the coveted title.

Exp. TCS announces creation of Global AI Center of Excellence in France

Tata Consultancy Services announced the creation of a Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre of Excellence in Paris, during the Choose France Summit.

The TCS AI Centre of Excellence in Paris will leverage TCS’ global ecosystem of startups, academia, and research organisations to bring the best of global capabilities to French companies.

The new AI centre will be based in the upcoming TCS PacePort in the La Défense area of Paris, which will be inaugurated in June 2024, becoming the seventh such facility in TCS’ global Pace network, following Amsterdam, London, New York, Pittsburgh, Toronto, and Tokyo.

Exp. P Shyaamnikhil becomes India’s 85th Chess Grandmaster

Tamil Nadu’s P Shyaamnikhil became India’s 85th chess Grandmaster (GM).

The 31-year-old chess prodigy, who started his career at the age of eight, finally secured his third and final GM norms at the 2024 Dubai Police Masters Chess Tournament.  R Vaishali was the 84th Indian Chess Grandmaster.

Before the start of the Dubai Police Master Chess Tournament, Shyaamnikhil needed just one win and eight draws to achieve the coveted GM title.

Shyaamnikhil had accumulated the required 2500 ELO rating points and two GM norms in 2012 itself. But he had to wait further 12 years to get the mandatory third GM norm to be accorded GM status.

He finally achieved the third GM norm in the Dubai Police Masters Chess Tournament.

Previous Chess Grand Masters

• 84th – Vaishali Rameshbabu (Tamil Nadu)
• 83rd – Aditya S Samant (Maharashtra)
• 82nd – Vuppala Prraneeth (Telangana)
• 81st – Sayantan Das (West Bengal)
• 80th – Vignesh N R (Tamil Nadu)

Exp. Former Deputy CM of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi passed away

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi passed away at the age of 72.

He became Deputy Chief Minister for the first time in 2005 when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had wrested power in the State from Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

Over 11 years between 2005 and 2020, in two stints, he had served as the Deputy of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.