Current Affairs Quiz 17th and 18th August 2024 Quiz

Exp. Three more Ramsar wetland sites now in India, taking total to 85

Three more Indian sites have been added to the list of wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, taking the total number of such highly-recognised waterlogged ecosystems in the country to 85.

The Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary and the Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, and the Tawa Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh are the three wetlands which have got the Ramsar site tag.

The 85 Indian wetlands on the Ramsar list span over 1.35 million hectares. Tamil Nadu has the maximum number of Ramsar sites (18) followed by Uttar Pradesh (10).

The number of Ramsar sites has increased from 26 to 85 in the last 10 years, of which 41 have been added in the last three years alone.

This takes our tally to 85 Ramsar sites, covering an area of 13,58,068 ha in India.

The aim of the Ramsar list is to “develop and maintain an international network of wetlands, which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life, through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes, and benefits”.

The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. It is named after the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the Caspian Sea, where the treaty was signed on February 2, 1971.

Exp. Rural fintech startup Jai Kisan gets RBI nod for NBFC acquisition

Rural fintech startup Jai Kisan has received regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India for the acquisition of a majority stake in NBFC Kushal Finnovation Capital.

With the NBFC subsidiary, Jai Kisan will be able create and deliver customized, innovative, and relevant products directly to its farmer and rural business customers in a more accessible and seamless manner making its products cheaper, faster, and more impactful.

Exp. Paetongtarn Shinawatra becomes new PM of Thailand

The Thai Parliament voted to make Paetongtarn Shinawatra the next as well as the youngest-ever prime minister of Thailand.

Paetongtarn succeeds Srettha Thavisin, who was removed from his post by a constitutional court ruling.

The parliament confirmed the nomination of Paetongtarn, 37, by the ruling coalition of her Pheu Thai party.

Thai and its partners hold 314 seats in parliament, and Paetongtarn needed the approval of more than half of the current 493 lawmakers to become prime minister.

About Thailand

• Capital- Bangkok
• Currency- Thai Baht
• Official language- Thai
• King- Maha Vajiralongkorn
• Prime Minister – Paetongtarn Shinawatra

Newly Appointed Prime Minister & President

• President of Rwanda – Paul Kagame (4th time)
• PM of Bulgaria – Goritsa Gruncharova-Kozhareva
• PM of Tunisia – Kamel Madouri
• Head of Bangladesh’s interim government – Muhammad Yunus
• President of Iran – Masoud Pezeshkian

Exp. NSE Hikes Ceiling Amount Payable Out Of Investor Protection Fund Trust

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has increased the maximum amount payable from its Investor Protection Fund (IPF) Trust from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 35 lakh.

This limit will be applicable for claims received against the trading members, who have been declared defaulter or have been expelled.

NSE established an Investor Protection Fund with the objective of compensating investors in the event of defaulters’ assets not being sufficient to meet the admitted claims of investors, promoting investor education, awareness and research.

Exp. Japan’s PM Fumio Kishid to resign in September

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will step down in September, ending a three-year term marred by political scandals.

Kishida’s decision to quit triggers a contest to replace him as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and by extension as the leader of the world’s fourth-biggest economy.

About Japan

• Capital – Tokyo
• Currency – Yen
• Prime Minister – Fumio Kishida

Exp. P Harish appointed as India’s Permanent Representative to United Nations

The Ministry of External Affairs has appointed seasoned diplomat Parvathaneni Harish as India’s next Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

Harish, a 1990-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is presently serving as India’s ambassador to Germany.

The position of India’s ambassador or permanent representative to the UN has been lying vacant after Ruchira Kamboj retired in June

About United Nations (UN)

• Founded – 24 October 1945
• Headquarters – New York, US
• Official languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian & Spanish
• Membership – 193 members (193^rd – South Sudan)
• 1st Secretary General – Trygve Halvdan Lie (Norway)
• 9th Secretary‑General – António Guterres (Portugal)
• Deputy Secretary-General – Amina J. Mohammed (Nigeria)
• India’s Permanent Representative to UN – Parvathaneni Harish (replace Ruchira Kamboj)
• United Nations Day is celebrated on October 24 every year

Exp. Govind Mohan appointed as new Home Secretary

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed 1989-Sikkim cadre IAS officer Govind Mohan as the next Home Secretary.

Mohan will replace Ajay Kumar Bhalla upon completion of his tenure on August 22. Mohan is currently posted as Secretary in the Ministry of Culture.

Bhalla, a 1984-batch IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, was appointed as Home Secretary in August 2019.

Mohan, who holds an electrical engineering degree from BHU-IIT Varanasi, has served as Union Culture Secretary since October 2021 and had two stints in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the past.

Other Important Secretaries

• Foreign Secretary – Vikram Misri
• Revenue Secretary – Sanjay Malhotra
• Defence Secretary – Giridhar Aramane
• Economic Affairs Secretary – Ajay Seth
• Finance Secretary – V. Somanathan
• Expenditure Secretary – T. V. Somanathan
• MoSPI Secretary – G. P. Samanta
• Cabinet Secretary – T V Somanathan

Exp. Acting ED Chief Rahul Navin appointed Full-Time Head

Acting Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief Rahul Navin has been appointed full-time director of the anti-money laundering agency.

The appointment of Mr Navin, a 1993-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the Income Tax cadre, has been made “for a period of two years.”

The ED director is an Additional Secretary (AS) rank post in the Union government and Mr Navin was empanelled as an AS in December last year.

Mr Navin, 57, joined the ED in November, 2019 as a Special Director (OSD) to spearhead the agency’s work on India’s mutual evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global body that leads action against money laundering.

The ED investigates financial crimes under two criminal laws — the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) apart from the civil provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

About Enforcement Directorate (ED)

• Established- 1 May 1956
• Headquarters- New Delhi, India
• Director – Rahul Navin
• Focus Area- Investigation and prosecution of financial crimes, money laundering, foreign exchange violations, and economic crimes.
• Administrative Control- Works under the administrative control of the Revenue Department.
• Ministry Affiliation- Part of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India

Recent Appointment in Defence Sector

• Director General of Assam Rifles -Vikas Lakhera (22nd)
• Director General of BSF – Daljit Singh Chawdhary (additional charge)
• Additional National Security Adviser – Rajinder Khanna
• Deputy National Security Adviser – TV Ravichandran, Pavan Kapoor & Pankaj Kumar
• Vice Chief of Army Staff – NS Raja Subramani
• Chief of Intelligence Bureau – Tapan Kumar Deka (reappointment for 1 year)

Exp. President Droupadi Murmu approves 103 Gallantry Awards for Armed Forces and CAPFs

President Droupadi Murmu has approved 103 Gallantry awards to Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel on the eve of Independence Day.

These are four Kirti Chakras including three posthumous, 18 Shaurya Chakras including four posthumous and one Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry).

Among the Gallantry awards are 63 Sena Medals (Gallantry) including two posthumous, 11 Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and six Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).

The President has also approved 39 Mention-in-Despatches, including posthumously to Army Dog Kent, for their significant contributions to different military operations.

She has approved one President’s Tatrakshak Medal (Distinguished Service), one Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry) and two Tatrakshak Medals (Meritorious Service) to the Indian Coast Guard personnel.

She also approved the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Services and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.  

Exp. Gus Atkinson and Chamari Athapaththu crowned as Player of the month award for July 2024

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the recipients of the ICC Players of the Month awards for July 2024.

England’s Gus Atkinson and Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu have been crowned as the standout performers in men’s and women’s cricket, respectively, for their exceptional contributions to the sport during the month.

Gus Atkinson made an unforgettable entrance into Test cricket during England’s ICC World Test Championship series against the West Indies. His remarkable performance played a pivotal role in England’s comprehensive 3-0 series victory on home soil.

Chamari Athapaththu, the influential captain of the Sri Lankan women’s cricket team, continued to demonstrate her exceptional leadership and batting prowess in July. Her performances were instrumental in Sri Lanka’s historic triumph in the Women’s Asia Cup.

ICC Men’s Player of the Month

• January 2024 – Shamar Joseph (West Indies)
• February 2024 — Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)
• March 2024 – Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka)
• April 2024 – Muhammad Waseem (UAE)
• May 2024 – Gudakesh Motie (West Indies)
• June 2024 – Jasprit Bumrah (India)

ICC Women’s Player of the Month

• January 2024 – Amy Hunter (Ireland)
• February 2024 – Annabel Sutherland (Australia)
• March 2024 – Maia Bouchier (England)
• April 2024 – Hayley Matthews (West Indies)
• Maay 2024 – Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)
• June 2024 – Smriti Mandhana (India)

Exp. Fintech co Navi collabs with Karnataka Bank to introduce credit line on UPI

Fintech firm Navi has partnered with Karnataka Bank to roll out a credit line on UPI product for customers on the platform.

At present, the Sachin Bansal-founded fintech company has introduced the offering to a closed group of select users. It plans to launch it to a wider user base based on feedback.

Navi’s expertise in digital lending and innovative financial solutions complements our goal of delivering innovative banking services.

Currently, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Indian Bank, Punjab National Bank (PNB), and State Bank of India (SBI) are some of the lenders live with this facility.

Among the apps, BHIM, Google Pay, Paytm, PayZapp, Navi, and Tata Neu are live on this product offering.

Recent MoUs Signed in Banking Sector

• Pine Labs-owned Setu partners Axis Bank for UPI-focused payments platform
• Chola MS General Insurance forges strategic partnership with Mahindra Finance
• Capital SFB and Edelweiss Life Insurance enter into bancassurance tie-up
• Nagaland govt, SBI General Insurance ink MoU on disaster risk management solution
• HDFC securities partners with Vested Finance to Offer Access to Global Investing for Indians and NRI

Exp. Odisha to bring five Royal Bengal tigers from Maharashtra, MP by September

To bolster big cat population in Odisha, forest officials have begun the process of relocating five Royal Bengal Tigers from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, with the transfer scheduled to be completed in September.

According to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF)-Wildlife, Susanta Nanda, three of these tigers will be released into the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Sambalpur, while the remaining two will be introduced into the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj.

In its latest tiger estimation conducted for the first time during 2023-24 in 47 forest divisions of Odisha, 30 tigers and eight cubs were found.Out of the 30 Royal Bengal Tigers, 27 were found in the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), while Keonjhar territorial and Keonjhar wildlife, Paralakhemundi territorial, and Hirakud wildlife had one tiger each.

The PCCF also said that the Nandankanan Zoological Park is all set to welcome two giraffes by the end of this month.

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. Renowned DRDO scientist Ram Narain Agarwal dies at 83

Renowned Indian scientist Dr Ram Narain Agarwal, a pivotal figure in the development of India’s missile system, died at the age of 84.

Known as the ‘Father of Agni Missiles’, Dr Agarwal played a key role in defence research and in the development of India’s long-range ballistic missile program, particularly the Agni series of missiles.

The Agni missile was the most ambitious of the five missiles sought to be developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme launched in 1983 by the Government of India. The others were Prithvi, Akash, Nag, and Trishul.

Dr Agarwal led India’s Agni missile programme from its inception in 1983 until his retirement in 2005.

He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 by the Prime Minister of India for his contributions to aerospace and the Agni missile. He also received the DRDO Technology Leadership Award and Chandrasekhara Saraswati National Eminence Award. He was honored with the Padma Shri in 1990 and Padma Bhushan in 2000 by the President of India.

Exp. Delhi Airport 1st In Country To Get ‘Net Zero Carbon Emission’ Status

Delhi’s IGI Airport has become the first Indian airport to achieve the status of ‘Net Zero Carbon Emission Airport’ (Level 5 certification) under the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme of Airport Council International (ACI).

Initially the airport had set a target of achieving a net zero carbon emission by 2030. But through various measures including use of renewable energy, promotion of electric vehicles and development of infrastructure for a green airport, DIAL achieved its target ahead of schedule.

Achieving carbon-neutral status in 2016 and level 4+ transition accreditation in 2020 were only the beginning. Achieving the level five net-zero emission accreditation in 2024, we have once again demonstrated our commitment to continuous improvement and green initiatives.’