Current Affairs Quiz 18th December 2023 Quiz

Exp. Surat joins the list of international airports

The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to declare Surat Airport an international airport.

Surat Airport will not only become a gateway for international travellers but will also facilitate seamless export-import operations for the thriving diamond and textile industries.

The airport’s international status is paramount for enhancing economic growth, attracting foreign investment, and providing impetus for regional development.

The Surat airport may be named after former prime minister the late Morarji Desai, who hailed from Valsad and had been elected from the Surat Lok Sabha constituency from 1957 to 1980.

Exp. Central Tribal University to be set up in Telangana

The Parliament passed the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023 bill to establish a central tribal university in Telangana.

The university will be built at a cost of ₹900 crore. The university is expected to be set up in Mulugu and is named after tribal goddesses Sammakka and Sarakka.

As per the state and objects of the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University aims to fulfil regional aspirations by enhancing access and quality of higher education in Telangana.

The new university is expected to promote higher education and research along with tribal art, culture, customs, and technological advancements for the tribal population of India.

The establishment of a central tribal university was obligatory under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014. He also said that the delay in the establishment of the university was due to a lack of prompt cooperation from the Telangana state government.

The Central Universities Act, of 2009 was enacted to establish and incorporate central universities to support and improve the education and research ecosystem across the states of India.

About Telangana

• Established – 2 June 2014
• Capital – Hyderabad
• Chief Minister – Revanth Reddy (replace K. Chandrashekar Rao)
• Deputy CM – Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka
• Governor – Tamilisai Soundararajan
• Speaker of Telangana Assembly – Gaddam Prasad Kumar
• Legislative Assembly Seats – 119

Exp. Indian Navy signed MoU with IIT Kanpur to promote technology development

Indian Navy has signed an MoU with Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur to promote technology development, innovative solutions and joint R&D.

Rear Admiral K Srinivas, Asst Chief of Materiel (Dockyard & Refits) and Professor Subramaniam Ganesh, Officiating Director IIT Kanpur concluded this MoU.

IN and IIT Kanpur share common interest in academic exchange of scientific research activities in the field of Engineering related to defence technologies.

The MoU would serve as a broader framework and enable both sides to enhance capacity building, provide solutions to field-level issues and enhance training effectiveness through exchange of faculty/ guest lectures.

The structured collaboration focuses on joint Research and Development initiatives involving teams from Centre of Excellence (Marine Engg) at INS Shivaji, Lonavla and IIT Kanpur.

IITs in News

• Global cyber security company Kaspersky and IIT Delhi signed an agreement to jointly work on cybersecurity-related research and educational initiatives at the institute.
• Airbus tie-up with IIT Kanpur to promote aerospace education
• IIT Guwahati signed MoU with the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) to build capacity/skills in international affairs and foreign policy
• IIT Guwahati researchers develop Al-based model for knee X-ray.

Exp. PM Modi inaugurated Surat Diamond Exchange

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Surat diamond exchange, a complex that has overtaken Pentagon as the world’s largest office.

It covers a constructed area of 6.7 million square feet and was completed in July at a cost of ₹ 32 billion. The US landmark, which opened in 1943, has an area of 6.5 million square feet.

The bourse comprises a state-of-the-art ‘Customs Clearance House’ for Import-Export; a jewellery mall for retail jewellery businesses; and a facility for international banking and safe vaults.

While Mumbai has long been the center of exports for diamonds in India, Surat, also known as “Diamond City,” dominates in processing of the precious gems, with about 90% of the world’s rough diamonds cut and polished there before they are sold to buyers in places like the US and China.

The new bourse aims to centralize the industry under one roof.

The new complex is located inside the Diamond Research and Mercantile City, a business district modeled after the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, or Gift City, another one of PM Modi’s flagship projects.

It has nine 15-story towers and about 4,700 offices. About 130 offices are already in use, according to Nagjibhai Sakariya, president of the Surat Diamond Bourse.

Exp. Denmark introduces green tax on air passengers from 2025

Denmark has agreed to impose a tax on air passengers to help finance the airline industry’s transition to greener practices, which will be gradually phased in from 2025.

The government in November proposed imposing an average tax of 100 Danish crowns ($14.35) on air travel to help finance the industry’s green transition, which aims to enable all domestic flights to use 100% sustainable fuels by 2030.

Under the agreement, the tax by 2030 will reach around 50 Danish crowns ($7.35) per passenger for intra-European flights, 310 crowns for medium-distance flights, and 410 for long-distance.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a study has found that aviation contributes to 3.5% of climate change.

The research indicates that two-thirds of this impact result from various factors, including contrails, nitrogen oxides, water vapor, sulfate aerosol, soot, and other aerosols.

The remaining one-third is attributed to the cumulative heat-trapping effects of long-lived CO2 emissions, totaling 32.6 billion tonnes between 1940 and 2018, roughly equivalent to the total global CO2 emissions in 2010.

The goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is not only crucial for the aviation industry but also aligns with the Paris Agreement’s objective to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees

About Denmark

• Capital- Copenhagen
• Currency- Danish krone
• Prime Minister – Mette Frederiksen

Exp. 67th National School Games started at New Delhi

Delhi Education Minister Atishi has inaugurated the 67th National School Games at Chhatrasal Stadium in New Delhi.

At the inauguration of the National School Games, Atishi stressed the need for integrating sports with education for nation-building.

Students from 44 units, including states, union territories and other boards, are participating to showcase their sporting skills and talent.

The Directorate of Education is hosting the games this year.

Exp. Canara HSBC Life Insurance launches ‘Alpha Wealth’ plan with option to alter premiums

Canara HSBC Life Insurance has launched ‘Alpha Wealth’ plan with comprehensive features to ensure financial security for the insured and their family.

It also encourages long-term savings with loyalty additions and wealth boosters. The product offers an array of options by investing in a wide variety of funds – debt/equity/liquid available in the market.

The insurance plan is flexible in terms of providing to choose from three plan options based on the life stages: ‘Alpha Invest Plus,’ ‘Alpha Premium Plus,’ or ‘Alpha Life Plus.’

Recent Facilities Launched in Banking & Insurance Sector

• IDFC FIRST Bank, LIC Cards, and Mastercard to co-launch Credit card
• Bank of India launched “Nari Shakti Savings Account”
• IDFC FIRST Bank launched youth-centric “FIRST SWYP” credit card in partnership with Mastercard.
• SEBI unveiled Investor Risk Reduction Access platform
• Federal Bank introduces UPI lite for small-value digital payments

Exp. RBI authorizes Bandhan Bank to disburse pensions to railway employees

Bandhan Bank has been authorized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the disbursement of pensions through e-PPOs on behalf of the Ministry of Railways.

This authorization enables Bandhan Bank to disburse pensions to all employees of the Ministry of Railways who have retired from their service.

This mandate also provides the Bank access to around 50,000 average Indian Railways retirees every year across all offices including 17 zonal railways and 8 production units of Indian Railways.

Authorization to disburse pensions to retired employees of railways provides an opportunity to serve them with the best products and services of the bank. It also allows retired employees to enjoy the most competitive rates provided by Bandhan Bank.

This will provide the existing as well as new customers of Bandhan Bank an opportunity to avail the world-class banking services, competitive interest rates along with senior citizen privilege provided by the Bank.

Pensioners also get access to more than 1640 branches and best in best-in-class digital banking platform of Bandhan Bank.

Indian Railways is the largest employer in the country with an employee strength of nearly 12 lakhs.

About Bandhan Bank

• Founded – 2001
• Founder – Chandra Shekhar Ghosh
• Headquarters – Kolkata
• MD & CEO – Chandra Shekhar Ghosh
• Chairperson – Anup Kumar Sinha

Exp. ICICI Pru Life, Ujjivan SFB enter into Bancassurance tie-up

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance (ICICI PruLife) and Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (Ujjivan SFB) have entered into a bancassurance partnership for the distribution of life insurance products.

Objective – To increase access to insurance solutions for the aspiring middle-class, enabling them to secure their financial.

Under the partnership, Ujjivan SFB will offer the entire suite of ICICI PruLife’s entire suite of protection, long-term savings and retirement products to its customers through its network of 700+ branches across 26 states and Union Territories.

This bancassurance partnership will help in bridging the demand gap for insurance services, and further strengthen Ujjivan SFB’s position in offering insurance solutions for its customers.

MD & CEO of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank – Ittira Davis

MD & CEO of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance – Anup Bagchi

What is Bancassurance?

• Bancassurance is an insurance distribution model where insurance companies partner with banks to sell policies

Recent MoUs Signed in Banking Sector

• SBI signed 70-million-euro LoC with Germany Bank’ KfW for solar projects
• Reliance Industries partners with DBS Bank for financing programme
• Intellect signs ₹80-crore deal with Indian Bank to deploy cash management system
• U GRO Capital joined hands with Laghu Udyog Bharati to empower MSMEs
• Union Bank collaborates with Accenture to boost operational efficiency

Exp. 58 Airports covered under “Krishi Udan” Scheme: Govt

The Government has said that 58 Airports in the country have been covered under the Krishi Udan Scheme.

The Scheme was launched in 2020 on international and national routes to assist farmers in transporting agricultural products to help improve their value realization.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr V K Singh said this in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

Krishi Udan Scheme 2.0 was also announced in 2021 focusing on transporting perishable food products from the hilly areas, North Eastern States, and tribal areas.

The scheme currently covers 25 airports focusing on North Eastern, Hilly and Tribal region besides 33 airports in other regions/ areas.

Exp. Indian-American medical student Rijul Maini crowned Miss India USA 2023

Rijul Maini, a medical student from Michigan, has been crowned Miss India USA 2023 at the annual pageant held in New Jersey.

While Sneha Nambiar from Massachusetts was declared as Mrs India USA and Saloni Rammohan from Pennsylvania won the title of Miss Teen India USA.

Maini, a 24-year-old Indian-American, is a medical student and model. She aspires to be a surgeon and hopes to serve as a role model to women everywhere.

Greeshma Bhat of Virginia was declared first runner-up and Ishita Pai Raikar of North Carolina was the second runner-up.

57 contestants from over 25 states participated in three different pageants – Miss India USA, Mrs India USA, and Miss Teen India USA.

This year marks the 41th anniversary of the pageant which is the longest-running Indian pageant outside of India.

Recent Awards

• Champion of Change Award 2023 – Bipin Chandra (Founder and CEO of Esyasoft Technologies)
• Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2023 – Ali Abu Awwad and Daniel Barenboim
• Telangana Business Awards – BBG Foundation
• Karmaveer Chakra Medal by ICONGO – Dr. Hemachandran Ravikumar
• Rex Karmaveer Global Fellowship by ICONGO – Dr. Hemachandran Ravikumar

Exp. Dr. Srinivas Naik Dharavath receives Visionary Leader Icon 2023 Award

Real Vision Homes Pvt Ltd Chairman, Dr. Srinivas Naik Dharavath has been honored with the Visionary Leader Icon Award 2023 by Advocates Association For Social Responsibility And Awareness (AASRAA)at the 5th National Conventions in Delhi.

Real Vision Homes Pvt Ltd, a leading name in the real estate sector, takes immense pride in Founder Chairman Dr. Srinivas Naik Dharavath’s well-deserved recognition as a visionary leader.

The award is a testament to his unwavering dedication, remarkable achievements, and commitment to excellence in both business and social endeavors.

The 5th National Summit of AASRAA served as the perfect platform to acknowledge and honor Dr. Srinivas Naik Dharavath’s significant contributions.

Recent Awards

• Diwali ‘Power of One’ Awards 2023 – Ban Ki-moon
• International Gender Equality Prize 2023 by Finland – Afghanistan NGO
• Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award at Ajanta-Ellora Film Festival – Veteran Javed Akhtar
• International Anti-Corruption champion by US Govt. – Nikhil Dey

Exp. 18 December – International Migrants Day

International Migrants Day is observed on December 18 to recognize the contributions of migrants and highlight the challenges they face.

The day sheds light on the socio-economic realities of migrants around the world.

Theme 2023 – Act Today for a Better Tomorrow for All: Improving the Health of migrants to Unleash the Power of Migration

On 4 December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed December 18 as International Migrants Day.

Over 281 million people were international migrants in 2020, according to a United Nations report. It added that over 59 million people were internally displaced by the 2021 end.

Exp. 18 December – Minorities Rights Day

Minorities Rights Day is observed every year on 18 December.

It serves as a poignant reminder of the dedication to safeguarding the rights of religious, ethnic, racial, and linguistic minorities within the nation.

Theme for 2023 – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion

The inception of Minorities Rights Day aligns with the adoption of the UN Declaration on December 18, 1992.

This day is celebrated by the National Commission for Minorities.