Current Affairs Quiz 16th and 17th March 2024 Quiz

Exp. Reliance to buy 13% of Paramount’s stake in Viacom18 for Rs 4,286 crore

India’s largest private company Reliance Industries has entered in a binding agreement to buy Paramount Global’s entire 13.01% stake in Viacom 18 Media for Rs 4,286 crore ($517 million).

The stake in Viacom18 was held by Paramount Global through its two subsidiaries.

Viacom18 is a subsidiary of TV18 Broadcast, which holds preferencial shares worth 57.48% in the company.

Post the transaction, TV18 Broadcast’s stake in Viacom18 will increase to 70.49%. Viacom18 has 40 television channels, including Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and MTV.

This transaction is subject to completion of Reliance’s previously announced merger with Walt Disney for their India TV and streaming media assets.

Exp. India ranked 134 out of 193 countries on UN Human Development Index 2022

India’s ranking on the United Nations Human Development Index improved by one position in 2022 to 134 out of 193 countries ranked compared to 135 out of 192 countries ranked in 2021 on the back of a marginal increase in its HDI value to 0.644 compared to 0.633 in 2021.

India, Bhutan and Bangladesh are all in the Medium Human Development category. Switzerland has been ranked number one. Nepal (146) and Pakistan (164) have been ranked lower than India.

The HDI is a composite index computed based on three parameters – life expectancy, mean years of schooling and average incomes – in contrast to gross domestic product (GDP), which is a gauge only of incomes or output in an economy.

In 2022, India saw improvements across all HDI indicators – life expectancy, education and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita.

Life expectancy rose from 67.2 to 67.7 years, expected years of schooling reached 12.6, mean years of schooling increased to 6.57 and GNI per capita saw an increase from $6,542 to $6,951, the report said.

Recent index

• International IP Index 2024 – India ranked 42nd; topped by USA
• Henley Passport Index 2024 – India at 85th; topped by Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain, France
• Corruption perception index 2023 – India ranked 93rd; topped by Denmark
• Mercer’s Quality of Living City Index 2023 – Rank 1. Vienna (Austria), Rank 2. Zurich (Switzerland), Rank 3. Vancouver (Canada), Hyderabad (153rd), Pune (154th), Chennai (161st), Mumbai (164th), Kolkata (170th), New Delhi (172nd), Khartoum (Sudan) at the bottom-most position (241st spot).
• Climate Change Performance Index 2023 – India ranked 7^th

Exp. India, ADB sign $23 million loan for Fintech Ecosystem Development

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $23 million loan agreement to enhance access to quality fintech education, research, and innovation at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT-City).

GIFT City is an initiative of the Government of India and the State Government of Gujarat to foster Indias financial services and fintech ecosystem.

The project is expected to establish an International Fintech Institute (IFI) to strengthen fintech education, boost start-up success rates, and drive fintech research and innovation.

The ADB programme will support research on innovative solutions and technologies in climate fintech, regulatory technology, social inclusion, and gender equality in finance.

The project will help establish a state fintech readiness index and develop new solutions to emerging technologies.

Recent Loan approved by ADB

• India ADB sign $200 million loan to tackle flood and erosion risk along Brahmaputra River
• India, ADB $250 million for Delhi-Meerut RRTS
• India, ADB sign $250 million loan for Industrial Corridor Development in India
• India, ADB signed $200 million loan agreement for Uttarakhand power system project
• India, ADB signed $175 million loan deal to improve Madhya Pradesh roads
• India, ADB approved $181 Million to Improve Ahmedabad’s Peri-urban Area

Exp. Shipping Ministry approves projects worth ₹645-crore in Assam to boost tourism

India’s Shipping Ministry has approved waterways projects worth ₹645 crore on Brahmaputra in Assam.

Projects, aimed at boosting river tourism, will be implemented with financial assistance from the Centre.

Projects will involve the creation of slipways at strategic locations in Dhubri and Majuli, new passenger terminals at Ghagor in North Lakhimpur and Bahari in Barpeta district of Assam. There will be additional passenger terminals in Goalpara, Guijan, Kurua, Dhubri, Disangmukh & Matmora.

Projects, which will be developed under the Sagarmala programme.

Exp. NHPC bags 200 MW capacity solar power project in Gujarat

State-run hydro power major NHPC has bagged a 200-megawatt (MW) capacity solar power project to be set up at the Gujarat State Electricity Corporation’s (GSECL) 1,125 MW RE Park in Khavda.

NHPC will develop the project on a build-own-and-operate basis at a tentative development cost of about ₹847 crore.

The project was secured at a tariff of ₹2.66 per unit and will be completed in a period of 18 months.

The project will generate about 473 million units (MU) in the first year of commissioning and the cumulative generation from the project over a period of 25 years would be about 10,850 million units.

The project will annually generate 11,223 MU of hydropower, which is clean and green energy and will be fed into the Northern Grid. The project has a construction period of 108 months and is scheduled to be commissioned in February 2032.

It has the potential of direct employment of 500 people during the construction phase and 300 during operation. Further, the project will provide indirect employment of 5,000 people during construction phase and 500 during operation phase.

Statements

(i) Greeshma Kuthar and Ritika Chopra jointly received the Chameli Devi Jain Award for 2024. (Correct)

(ii)  The award is given in the field of science. (Incorrect)

(iii) The award was set up by The Media Foundation in 1975. (Incorrect)

(iv) The award is named after Chameli Devi Jain, a freedom fighter and community reformer imprisoned during India’s independence movement. (Correct)

Exp. Greeshma and Ritika jointly won Chameli Devi Jain Award 2024

Chameli Devi Jain Award 2024 for Outstanding Woman Media Person of the Year has been given jointly to independent journalist Greeshma Kuthar, and Ritika Chopra of the Indian Express.

The Chameli Devi Jain Award 2024 honours the exceptional work and contributions of Greeshma Kuthar and Ritika Chopra in the field of journalism.

According to The Media Foundation, an independent jury comprising senior journalist and columnist Radhika Ramaseshan (Chair), award-winning journalist and author Mariyam Alavi, and Down to Earth managing editor Richard Mahapatra, selected the winners from more than 65 entries of women journalists.

About the Chameli Devi Jain Award

• The Chameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Woman Media Person of the Year was set up by The Media Foundation in 1980.
• It is named after Chameli Devi Jain, a freedom fighter and community reformer who was imprisoned during India’s independence movement.
• The award recognizes impactful journalism in fields such as social development, politics, gender justice, human rights, health, conflict, and consumer values.
• The first award was given in 1982, and since then, it has been presented annually.

Recent Awards

• IAA Golden Compass Award 2024 – Srinivasan Swamy
• Erasmus Prize 2024 – Amitav Ghosh (For highlighting the climate change crisis
• Measles and Rubella Champion Award – India
• National Youth Parliament Festival 2024 – Yatin Bhaskar Duggal (First prize); Vaishna Pitchai (Second); Kanishka Sharma (Third)
• USGA’s prestigious Bob Jones Award – Tiger Woods

Exp. B Sairam appoints as new CMD of NCL

B Sairam has been appointed as the new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL).

NCL is the Singrauli-based flagship Subsidiary of Coal India Limited. Sairam has assumed the charge for this post.

Sairam has a vast reservoir of knowledge and experience spanned over 33 years of dedicated service in the coal sector.

A distinguished graduate mining engineer from NIT Raipur, Sairam has traversed various domains within the coal industry, including mine operations, planning, logistics, and regulatory affairs.

Recent Appointment

• Foreign Secretary – Vinay Mohan Kwatra (tenure extended for 6 months)
• DG of Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association – Deepak Ballani
• CM of Haryana – Nayab Singh Saini (replace Manohar Lal Khattar)
• Vigilance Commissioner – AS Rajeev
• Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) – Kishor Makwana

Exp. Mohammad Mustafa elected as new PM of Palestinian

President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority (PA) has appointed Mohammad Mustafa as the new Prime Minister.

Mustafa, a U.S.-educated economist, is one of the leading Palestinian business figures with a track record of overseeing Gaza’s reconstruction efforts under Hamas’ rule.

The previous prime minister, Mohammad Shtayyeh, resigned along with his government last month.

Newly Appointed Prime Minister & President

• President of Pakistan – Asif Ali Zardari (14th)
• Prime Minister of Pakistan – Shehbaz Sharif (2^nd term)
• President of Indonesia – Prabowo Subianto

• President of Finland – Alexander Stubb
• Prime Minister of Kazakhstan – Olzhas Bektenov

Exp. Jaiswal and Sutherland crowned ICC Players of the Month for February

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month award winners for February 2024.

Yashasvi Jaiswal (India) wins the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award following a dominant series of batting performances as India battled back in February to secure series victory over England in the ICC World Test Championship.

Annabel Sutherland (Australia) is named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month after her stunning efforts with bat and ball set new records in Australia’s Test victory over South Africa in Perth.

ICC Men’s Player of the Month

• October 2023 – Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)
• November 2023 – Travis Head (Australia)
• December 2023 – Pat Cummins (Australia)
• January 2024 – Shamar Joseph (West Indies)
• February 2024 — Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)

ICC Women’s Player of the Month

• October 2023 – Hayley Matthews (West Indies)
• November 2023 – Nahida Akter (Bangladesh)
• December 2023 – Deepti Sharma (India)
• January 2024 – Amy Hunter (Ireland)
• February 2024 – Annabel Sutherland (Australia)

Exp. Mumbai Wins Ranji Trophy 2024 after beating Vidarbha

Mumbai has won the Ranji Trophy 2024 after beating Vidarbha by 169 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

It also happened to be their 42nd title for Mumbai, which showed why they are deemed as a brute force in Indian domestic cricket.

Mumbai also ended their 8-year-long wait to win the championship after they last got their hands on the title back in the 2015-16 edition.

In addition to the ₹5 crore prize money announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the Ranji Trophy champions, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has declared an additional ₹5 crore for the winning team. This means the Mumbai team will receive a whopping ₹10 crore as prize money for their triumph.

Exp. Max Verstappen triumphs at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clinched victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, starting from pole position.

It marked Red Bull’s second consecutive one-two finish in the 2024 Formula One season.

It was the first time Verstappen, winner of a record 19 of 22 races last year, has won the first two races of a season.

Sergio Perez (Red Bull) finished at second and Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari.

The victory was a ninth in a row for Verstappen, dating back to Japan last September, and the 56th of the 26-year-old Dutch driver’s career.

It was also his 100th career podium while Red Bull’s 115th win lifted them ahead of Williams in fourth place on the all-time list.

Exp. Parshottam Rupala release Book on Sagar Parikrama

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry Dairying Parshottam Rupala has release Book and Video on “Sagar Parikrama” at Rajkot, Gujarat.

The object of the book is to chronicle the Sagar Parikrama Yatra, encompassing content on diverse elements, such as the Maritime route, cultural and geographical explorations, and notable impacts from all 12 phases of Sagar Parikrama.

The Book on Sagar Parikrama contains 7 chapters covering genesis of Sagar Parikrama, Overview and detailed coverage of the journey of West coast, East coast and the key take away.

This document will provide an insight into the challenges of coastal fishermen, their culture, religious and traditional fisheries heritage of India.  

Exp. 15 March – World Consumer Rights Day

World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated annually on March 15 across the globe.

Objective – To raise awareness about the rights and responsibilities of consumers in the marketplace.

Theme 2024 – Fair and responsible AI for consumers.

On March 15, 1962, President John F. Kennedy spoke before the US Congress and addressed consumer rights. This incident marked the first time that a world leader spoke of consumer rights.

In 1983, the first World Consumer Rights Day was observed. Since then, the United Nations has recognised the special day.

Exp. 16 March – National Vaccination Day

National Vaccination Day or National Immunization Day is celebrated in India on 16 March every year to raise awareness about the significance of vaccines in the human body.

Vaccinations are a cornerstone of modern medicine, and they have played a significant role in improving public health and well-being worldwide.

In 1988, the World Health Organization (WHO) started the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to get rid of polio from the world.

In 1995, the government of India began the Pulse Polio Immunization Programme to eliminate polio from the country.

Since then, March 16th has been celebrated as National Vaccination Day.

Exp. Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas dies at 90

Former chief of the Indian Navy, Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas passed away at the age of 91.

Known for his heroic role during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, he later emerged as a leading peace activist, advocating for nuclear disarmament after his retirement.

Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas was born on September 5, 1933. He attended the Cambridge School in Srinivaspuri in Delhi and joined the Indian Navy’s 1st course of the Joint Services Wing (JSW) in Dehradun in 1949 when he was 15.