Current Affairs Quiz 15th November 2024 Quiz

Exp. Mines Ministry signs MoU with International Energy Agency on Cooperation in the Area of Critical Minerals

The Ministry of Mines has signed an agreement with the International Energy Agency (IEA) on cooperation in the area of critical minerals.

This collaboration will provide India with access to reliable data, analysis, and policy recommendations in the critical minerals sector, enhancing the country’s decision-making capabilities and ensuring strategic resource management.

It will also enable the country to streamline its policies, regulations, and investment strategies in the critical minerals sector.

Recent MoU

• NTPC and Indian Army Join Hands for Round-the-Clock Power Supply using Green Hydrogen
• Reliance, Nvidia partner to build large-scale AI infrastructure in India
• IIM Shillong signs MoU with SIDBI to launch entrepreneurship training and incubation programme
• Government and Meta join forces for “Scam se Bacho” Campaign to tackle rising online scams
• BHP signed MoU with SAIL to accelerate potential pathways to steel decarbonisation

Exp. Amaravati capital project gets major boost with Rs. 13,500 crore loan from World Bank and ADB

The dream of a world-class capital for Andhra Pradesh is advancing with a major funding boost. The World Bank and Asian Development Bank have jointly agreed to grant a loan of Rs. 13,500 crore rupees for Amaravati development project.

The two-day long negotiations between executives of World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Union Finance Ministry and the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority in New Delhi concluded on a positive note with the World Bank and ADB giving final clearance to grant a loan of Rs. 13,500 crores for development of green field capital city, Amaravati.

Titled, “the Amaravati Inclusive and Sustainable Capital City Development Program,” the program aims to build a safe and sustainable city with focus on inclusive socioeconomic growth and community development, building resilient service delivery, and strengthening governance and financing frameworks.

Exp. Australian govt appoints country’s first anti-slavery commissioner

In Australia, the government has appointed the country’s first anti-slavery commissioner. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced that Chris Evans, a former senator and human rights official, will serve as the inaugural Australian anti-slavery commissioner for a five-year term commencing in December.

The new commissioner role will strengthen the work undertaken across government, business, and society in Australia to prevent and respond to modern slavery.

Walk Free’s 2023 Global Slavery Index estimated that 41,000 people were living in modern slavery in Australia in 2021.

A report released by the anti-slavery commissioner of the state of New South Wales in September estimated that there were 16,400 people in modern slavery in the state.

Exp. Civic bodies need major reforms to enhance revenue sources: RBI report

Municipal corporations need to enhance their sources of revenue through reforms in property tax, rationalisation of user charges, and better collection mechanisms, an RBI report has suggested.

The report titled ‘Own Sources of Revenue Generation in Municipal Corporations: Opportunities and Challenges’ analysed the budgetary data for 232 MCs, covering more than 90 percent of the total MCs in the country.

The elasticity of property tax revenues, the predominant source of tax revenue, can be improved through adopting property tax formulae which are more reflective of property valuation. While the revenue account of the MCs has remained in surplus, their heavy reliance on transfers and grants from upper tiers of government continues.

The own revenue sources are not adequate for meeting the revenue expenditure of most of the MCs. This affects their functional and financial autonomy.

The revenue receipts of MCs rose by 20.1 percent year on year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 1.7 trillion till March 2024 (FY24). In the preceding year, their revenues were Rs 1.42 trillion, and Rs 1.37 trillion in FY22.

The share of own resources in receipts stood at 61.9 percent (Budget estimates) in FY24, up from 59.7 percent (revised estimates) in FY23. The revenue expenditure of MCs grew by 13.9 per cent to Rs 1.49 trillion in FY24 from Rs 1.31 trillion in FY23 and Rs 1.23 trillion in FY22.

Exp. WPI inflation rises to 4-month high of 2.36% in Oct, food prices surge

Wholesale price inflation rose to a 4-month high of 2.36 percent in October as prices of food items, especially vegetables, and manufactured goods turned dearer, as per the government data released.

The wholesale price index (WPI) based inflation was 1.84 percent in September 2024. It was (-) 0.26 percent in October, last year.

As per the data, inflation in food items shot up to 13.54 percent in October, as against 11.53 percent in September. This was led by 63.04 percent inflation in vegetables, as against 48.73 percent in September.

The month of October witnessed the second consecutive month of rise in WPI inflation print. WPI higher than October’s level was recorded last in June 2024, when it was 3.43 percent.

The fuel and power category witnessed a deflation of 5.79 percent in October, against a deflation of 4.05 percent in September.

The consumer price index data released earlier this week showed retail inflation surged to a 14-month high of 6.21 per cent with a sharp rise in prices of food items.

Recent WPI-based Wholesale inflation in India

• June 2024 – 36%
• July 2024 –04%
• August 2024 – 31%
• September 2024 – 84%
• October 2024 – 36%

Exp. 14 November – World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day (WDD) is observed every year on 14 November.

Objective – To increase the awareness of diabetes, a chronic condition that affects millions of people around the world.

Theme 2024 – Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) organise the event, which focuses on diabetes prevention, health risks, and managing and living well with the disease.

The IDF and WHO established World Diabetes Day in 1991 in response to growing global concerns about diabetes as a major health concern. By adopting Resolution 61/225 in 2006, the UN formally recognized WDD and identified diabetes as a global health concern.

What is Diabetes?

• Diabetes mellitus, also known as diabetes, is a metabolic disease marked by consistently elevated blood sugar levels.
• Diabetes is a chronic illness in which the body either produces insufficient amounts of insulin or is unable to use the insulin that it does produce efficiently.

Exp. Galaxy Health Insurance launches its first product with comprehensive coverage options

Galaxy Health Insurance has launched its first product, Galaxy Promise, offering a range of health insurance plans designed to meet the needs of families seeking affordable and comprehensive coverage.

The plans, which provide sum insured options ranging from ₹3 lakh to ₹1 crore, come with four tailored options: Signature plan, Elite plan, Premier plan, and Enhanced Optional covers.

Designed with a customer-centric approach, Galaxy Promise addresses India’s escalating healthcare costs, which are influenced by factors such as inflation, advances in treatment, and the growing demand for specialized care.

The company, jointly promoted by the esteemed TVS family—represented by Shri. Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor Company and Sundaram–Clayton Limited—and Shri. V. Jagannathan, the founder of Star Health & Allied Insurance Co. Ltd., received its IRDAI license earlier this year, marking its official entry into the insurance market.

Exp. 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention to be organised in Bhubaneswar

The 18th PBD Convention will be organised from January 8 to January 10 next year in Bhubaneswar in collaboration with the Odisha government, and it will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Theme of PBD Convention for 2025 is “Diaspora’s contribution to a Viksit Bharat”

The official website of the 18th PBD Convention was jointly launched by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh also joined the launch ceremony. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is a flagship event of the government of India.It provides an important platform to engage and connect with the Indian diaspora.

The 18th PBD Convention will be inaugurated by Modi. A youth edition of the convention will be held in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. President Droupadi Murmu will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards and preside over the valedictory session.

Exp. Ministry of Labour and Employment and TeamLease EdTech sign MoU to enhance employment opportunities for National Career Service

The Ministry of Labour & Employment signed an MoU with TeamLease EdTech in New Delhi, marking a significant milestone in promoting employment opportunities across multiple sectors.

This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to leveraging the National Career Service (NCS) portal to expand job opportunities for jobseekers of NCS.

The partnership with TeamLease EdTech will marks a major step in broadening employment prospects for jobseekers registered on NCS, empowering them to find roles that align with their career goals and fostering growth.

Under the MoU, more than 15,000 open jobs available with TeamLease EdTech on daily basis, will be shared with NCS portal through integration. The collaboration will also introduce work-linked degree programs, combining academic learning with practical experience to boost youth employability and align education with industry needs.

The National Career Service (NCS) portal, operational since July 2015, has been a transformative platform in the employment landscape. Managed by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, it provides a wide range of services, including job search, career counselling, vocational guidance, and skill development resources.

Exp. Operation Dronagiri launched along with GDI marking a milestone in the National Geospatial Policy

Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Professor Abhay Karandikar has launched the Operation Dronagiri, a pilot project under National Geospatial Policy 2022 to demonstrate the potential applications of geospatial technologies and innovations in improving the quality of life of citizens and ease of doing business, at Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi.

The Operation Dronagiri is part of the numerous efforts of DST in liberalising geospatial data, developing geospatial infrastructure, geospatial skill and knowledge as well as standards in implementing the policy.

In the first phase, Operation Dronagiri will be implemented in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Assam, Andhra Pradesh & Maharashtra, where pilot projects will be run and use cases will be demonstrated to showcase the potential applications of integration of geospatial data and technology in 3 sectors –Agriculture, Livelihoods, Logistics and Transport.

Operation Dronagiri gains a powerful backbone with support from Integrated Geospatial Data Sharing Interface (GDI), also unveiled today, that will make spatial data accessible, bringing transformation similar to the process in which UPI has brought about financial inclusion.

Exp. Alix Didier Fils-Aime sworn in as Prime Minister of Haiti

Alix Didier Fils-Aime was sworn in as Prime Minister of Caribbean country Haiti.

Haiti faces severe humanitarian and security challenges. Gang violence has surged, leading to important casualties. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, approximately 2,500 individuals were killed or injured due to this violence. The new Prime Minister has pledged to address these issues head-on.

Newly Appointed Prime Minister & President

• PM of Japan – Shigeru Ishiba
• President of USA – Donald Trump (47th)
• Deputy President of USA – JD Vance
• President of Botswana – Duma Boko
• President of Vietnam – Luong Cuong

Exp. DBS Bank nominates Rajat Verma to be next India unit CEO

DBS’s India unit has nominated its head of institutional banking, Rajat Verma, to be the bank’s new chief executive officer.

He is slated to replace Surojit Shome, who plans to retire after leading DBS Bank India since 2015.

Verma was appointed DBS managing director and head of institutional banking for India last year.

Before joining DBS, he spent more than 26 years at HSBC, where he was head of commercial banking in India, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector

• Chief General Manager of SBI for New Delhi Circle – Debasish Mishra
• MD and CEO of IFCI Ltd. – Rahul Bhave
• MD and CEO of Punjab National Bank (PNB) – Ashok Chandra
• MD & CEO of Axis Bank – Amitabh Chaudhry (reappointment for 3 years)

Exp. PM Modi lays foundation stone of AIIMS Darbhanga

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone of AIIMS Darbhanga and inaugurated development projects worth Rs 12,000 crore in Bihar.

AIIMS Darbhanga will include a super-specialty hospital, AYUSH block, medical and nursing colleges, residential facilities, and a night shelter, providing tertiary healthcare to the people of Bihar and surrounding regions.

The prime minister also inaugurated multiple National Highway projects worth Rs 5,070 crore. He launched the four-lane Galgalia-Araria section of NH-327E, which will provide an alternate route from Araria to West Bengal via Galgalia.

The PM laid the foundation for eight more National Highway projects, including a two-lane road from Ramnagar to Rosera, Bihar-West Bengal border to Manihari section of NH-131A, and the Hajipur to Bachhwara section.

In the railway sector, PM Modi laid the foundation for projects worth over Rs 1,740 crore, including the Sonenagar Bypass Railway Line and the Jhanjharpur-Laukaha Bazar rail section. The Darbhanga Bypass Railway Line will help alleviate traffic congestion at Darbhanga Junction.

PM Modi also launched initiatives in the petroleum and natural gas sector worth over Rs 4,020 crore. He laid the foundation for the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network in five districts—Darbhanga, Madhubani, Supaul, Sitamarhi, and Sheohar, aimed at providing piped natural gas to households and clean energy to commercial and industrial sectors.

Additionally, the Prime Minister will also lay the foundation for a Bitumen manufacturing facility at the Barauni Refinery, which is being developed by Indian Oil Corporation Limited, to produce bitumen domestically and lessen imports.