Current Affairs Quiz 17th December 2024 Quiz

Exp. Britain Becomes First European Nation to Join CPTPP

Britain has become the first European nation to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), becoming the 12th member.

The bloc comprises Canada and Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

The UK, following its 2016 Brexit referendum, is attempting to establish new trade deals abroad after signing the accession treaty with most EU members.

Established in 2018, the bloc safeguards against Chinese hegemony in the region, providing British companies access to a market of over 500 million people, contributing over 15% of the world’s GDP.

Exp.  Mumbai defeats Madhya Pradesh to win the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Mumbai, led by Shreyas Iyer, defeated Madhya Pradesh to win the 2024-25 season  Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

In the final played at the Chinnaswamy stadium, Bengaluru, Mumbai defeated Madhya Pradesh by 5 wickets to win their second Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

The victory over Madhya Pradesh in Bengaluru was the second title win for the Mumbai team. Mumbai had earlier won the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy in the 2022-23 season by defeating Himachal Pradesh.

Award winner

Player of the Match: Suryansh Shedge (Mumbai)

Player of the Tournament : Ajinkaya Rahane (Mumbai)

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is a domestic championship organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is played in the T20 format.

Thirty-eight teams which participated in the Ranji Trophy played in this season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which was divided into five groups.

Exp. INCL Launches ‘CHARAK’- “Community Health: A Responsive Action for Koylanchal” in Singrauli

Under the guidance of the Ministry of Coal, Singrauli based Coal India arm Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) has rolled out ‘CHARAK’- “Community Health: A Responsive Action for Koylanchal”, an innovative health-centric CSR Initiative.

This project is aimed at providing free treatment for the patients suffering from identified Life- Threatening diseases belonging to Economically Weaker Sections of Singrauli region.

Under ‘CHARAK’, NCL will provide free treatment of identified life-threatening diseases at its dedicated hospital (NSC) or at specialised empanelled hospitals across the country.

Residents of Singrauli and Sonbhadra districts having annual family income below Rs. 8 Lakhs from all sources will be eligible for benefit under this scheme.

Under this scheme, Malignancy, TB and related complications, HIV and related complications, Cardiovascular diseases, Organ Transplant, Burns with contractures leading to permanent disability, Liver disorders, Sudden vision loss etc. are covered.

As a responsible Corporate, NCL is committed to improving the socio-economic profile of Singrauli region through its different CSR interventions. Notably, NCL touched the lives of around 10 Lakhs people and spent more than 1,000 Crores on various CSR initiatives in the previous 10 years.

Exp. Google appoints Preeti Lobana as India Head

Tech giant Google has appointed Preeti Lobana as its new Country Manager and Vice President for India.

Lobana succeeds Sanjay Gupta, who was recently transitioned to a bigger role as President of the Asia Pacific region.

A seasoned Googler with eight years of experience as Vice President of customer-centric solutions, Lobana will now spearhead Google India’s sales and operations, driving the company’s commitment to India’s burgeoning digital economy.

Google had also appointed Roma Datta Chobey, the managing director for the digital native industries division of Google India, as the interim country manager.

Recent Appointment

• Fielding coach of Mumbai Indians – Carl Hopkinson (replace James Pamment)
• Speaker of 6th Jharkhand Legislative Assembly – Rabindra Mahto
• Speaker of 15th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly – Rahul Narwekar of BJP
• Acting Secreatry of BCCI – Devajit Saikia (replace Jay Shah)
• Chairman of International Cricket Council (ICC) – Jay Shah (replace Greg Barclay)
• President of FICCI for 2024-25 – Harsha Vardhan Agarwal (replace Anish Shah)

Exp. India sets up its first diabetes biobank in Chennai

Aimed at facilitating advanced research on diabetes, the variations of the Indian type and other related disorders, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) has set up the country’s first diabetes biobank.

This repository of population-based biological samples established in Chennai will gather, process, store and distribute biospecimens to assist scientific studies.

A plethora of blood samples of different types of diabetes in the young, such as Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes, have been stored for future studies and research.

Exp. HPCL Signs Agreement with NLDS for Integration of API with Unified Logistics Interface Platform

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has signed an agreement with NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd. (NLDS) to integrate its APIs with Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP).

This partnership is a significant step towards enhancing transparency, operational efficiency, and innovation in India’s logistics sector.

The HPCL API of ULIP provides Fuel Station & Pricing Visibility, which offers real-time visibility into the location and pricing of HPCL fuel stations across India.

This API is expected to address critical logistics challenges, such as lack of clarity on refueling options and fluctuating fuel costs along various routes.

By utilizing this data, logistics service providers, traders and transporters can optimize their planning and operations, ultimately reducing costs and inefficiencies.

Exp. C-DOT ties up with Trois Infotech for ‘Face Recognition Using Drone” technology

In a significant step towards advancing indigenous, state-of-the-art, next-generation telecommunications technology, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier telecom R&D centre under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, has signed an agreement with Trois Infotech for its “Face Recognition Using Drone” technology.

The agreement has been signed under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) program of (Universal Service Obligation Fund) USOF, (Department of Telecommunications), with C-DOT as the Implementing Agency, GoI.

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in the development of state-of-the-art indigenous telecom technologies and solutions, aligning with the vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” through C-DOT’s Collaborative Programs (CCP).

The scheme is designed to fund Indian startups, academia, and R&D institutions, acting as a crucial enabler for the design, development, and commercialization of telecommunication products and solutions. It aims to facilitate affordable broadband and mobile services, playing a vital role in bridging the digital divide across India.

Trois Infotech is an innovative deep-tech startup, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Technopark, Trivandrum.

CEO of C-DOT – Dr. RajKumar Upadhyay.

Exp. India, Sri Lanka joint naval exercise SLINEX 2024 begins

The bilateral naval exercise SLINEX 2024 (Sri Lanka–India Exercise) will be conducted from 17 to 20 Dec 24 at Visakhapatnam under the aegis of the Eastern Naval Command.

The exercise will be held in two phases – the Harbour Phase from 17 to 18 December and the Sea Phase from 19 to 20 December.

Initiated in 2005, SLINEX is a significant series of bilateral naval exercises that have strengthened maritime cooperation between India and Sri Lanka over the years.

Indian Naval Ship INS Sumitra, a naval offshore patrol vessel of the Eastern Fleet, along with a Special Forces team will participate on behalf of India, while SLNS Sayura, an offshore patrol vessel, with an embarked Special Forces team will join on behalf of Sri Lanka.

During the harbour phase, participants will engage in professional and social exchanges to strengthen mutual understanding. The Sea Phase will feature joint exercises, including Special Forces operations, gun firings, communication drills, seamanship practices, navigation evolutions, and helicopter operations.

Recent Exercise

• Joint Military Exercise Harimau Shakti 2024 between India and Malaysia – Bentong camp, Pahang district, Malaysia.
• 1^st edition of Joint Tabletop Exercise, CINBAX between India and Cambodia – Foreign Training Node, Pune, Maharashtra.
• ICG conducted 11th National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2024) off the Kochi coast.
• Indian Coast Guard conducts maritime search and rescue exercises off Kochi coast
• 13th edition of Joint Military Exercise AGNI WARRIOR (XAW-2024) between India and Singapore – Field Firing Ranges, Devlali, Maharashtra

Exp. MABFSi & Axis Bank Launches Women-Exclusive Young Bankers Cohort to Drive Gender Inclusion in Banking

Manipal Academy of BFSI (MABFSI), a leading learning solutions provider for the BFSI sector, has partnered with Axis Bank to launch a Women-Exclusive Cohort under the Axis Bank Young Bankers Program (ABYB).

This initiative aims to strengthen gender diversity and inclusion in the banking workforce.

The ABYB program, which has trained over 16,000 graduates over the past 12 years, has introduced this exclusive women-only cohort to boost female participation.

With 700 women enrolled, the program has improved the gender ratio from 31% to 38% for FY 2024-25, marking a significant step forward compared to previous batches.

Exp. Newgen Unveils AI-enabled Captive Finance Solution to Revolutionize Lending and Leasing Operations

Newgen Software, a global leader in AI-driven digital transformation, has announced the launch of its AI-enabled Captive Finance Solution, powered by the NewgenONE low-code platform.

The solution is designed to help captive finance organizations and NBFCs optimize lending and leasing operations through intelligent automation and a customer-centric approach.

The newly launched solution addresses a wide array of financing needs for retail customers, dealers, and suppliers. It features specialized modules for lending, leasing, inventory financing, working capital loans, term loans, credit limit management, and invoice discounting.

Exp. Ecologist Madhav Gadgil honoured with UNEP Champions of Earth Award

Veteran Indian ecologist Madhav Gadgil has been chosen as one of the six persons/institutions to be honoured with the prestigious 2024 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) ‘Champions of the Earth’ award. 

Mr. Gadgil, the only Indian on the list of this year’s award recipients, chaired the government-constituted Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel to study the impact of population pressure, climate change, and development activities on the ecologically fragile region in India.

The ‘Champions of the Earth award is considered the United Nation’s highest environmental honour.

The panel recommended in 2011 that the entire hill range be declared an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) and divided into three Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ 1, 2, and 3) based on their environmental sensitivity.

It also recommended a ban on mining, quarrying, new thermal power plants, hydropower projects, and large-scale wind energy projects in ESZ 1. However, these recommendations faced opposition from State governments, industries, and local communities.

UNESCO declared the Western Ghats a World Heritage Site in July 2012 and in 2013, the Centre formed a High-Level Working Group led by rocket scientist K Kasturirangan to propose measures for the ecological protection and sustainable development of the region.

This group identified 37% of the Western Ghats, covering 59,940 square km, as ecologically sensitive.

List of the 2024 UNEP Champions of Earth Award winners

Exp. Rithvik Kumar wins Odisha Masters 2024 badminton men’s singles title

Rithvik Sanjeevi Satish Kumar won the men’s single title of the 2024 BWF Super100 Odisha Masters badminton tournament.

Rithvik was the sole Indian winner in the Odisha Masters, which was dominated by the Chinese players, who won three titles, and the Japanese claimed the women’s doubles title.

Chinese Cai Yan Yan won her second consecutive women’s single  BWF Super 100 title in Cuttack by defeating 15-year-old Tanvi Sharma in the final.

Last week, Cai Yan Yan won the 2024 BWF Super 100 Guwahati tournament’s singles title, defeating Anmol Kharb of India.

The $100,000 lakh prize money BWF Super 100 Odisha  Masters 2024 was held in Cuttack, Odisha. It was the third edition of the BWF Super 100 Odisha Masters after the inaugural edition in 2021 and 2023.

The  BWF Super 100 Odisha Masters 2024 was organised jointly by the Badminton’s governing body in India, the Badminton Association of India and the Odisha  Badminton Association.  

Exp. Indian Hockey team won Women’s Junior Asia Cup title at Muscat

Indian women’s junior hockey team successfully defended their Women’s Junior Asia Cup title in Muscat, Oman, by defeating China 3-2 in the final.

India, the previous 2023 edition winner, won the 10th Women’s Junior Asia Cup,3-2 in the penalty shoot-out in the final played at Muscat.

The top five finishers at the 2024 Women’s Junior Asia Cup -India, China, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia qualified for the 2025 FIH Women’s Junior World Cup in Chile.

The Indian women’s team emulated the Indian men’s hockey team, which won the 2024 Hockey Junior Asia Cup for the fifth time in Muscat, Oman.