Current Affairs Quiz 19th September 2023 Quiz

Exp. Dharmendra Pradhan, Om Birla launch ‘Skills on Wheels’

Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla have launched the ‘Skills on Wheels’ initiative in Delhi.

The initiative is aimed at generating awareness around the government’s skill development mission, opportunities, and support system available for youths.

Skills on Wheels is a mobile vocational lab built on a truck chassis, equipped with Wi-Fi, audio-visual facilities, and a generator.

It serves as both a mobile lab and an advocacy tool, reaching out to 10th and 12th-grade students for career counseling and skill training. This program is designed for unemployed youths and school/college dropouts.

Trained vocational instructors accompany Skills on Wheels, providing skill training in areas like welding, plumbing, electrical wiring, food processing, basic healthcare, and mobile repairs.

The program also emphasizes digital literacy and skills, aligning with India’s global competency goals.

Exp. IIT Kanpur partners with ICICI Bank to foster startup innovation

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has signed an MoU with private lender ICICI Bank to support the startup ecosystem in the institute.

This partnership will empower startups and innovators at its Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC). SIIC is one of the oldest incubators in the country having been engulfed on its journey in 2000.

The partnership between the two will also focus on supporting incubates by improving their understanding of foreign trade policies by conducting several workshops and seminars.

Recent MoU in Banking Sector

• SIDBI partners with Tata Power for MSME solar rooftop financing
• BriskPe introduce BriskPe A2A with Yes Bank to enable seamless cross-border payment
• NABARD partners with UNDP to boost data-driven innovations
• IREDA signed MoU with the Union Bank of India and Bank of Baroda to co-finance renewable energy (RE) projects.

• Mastercard partners with KredX to Make B2B Payments Rewarding for Vendors

Exp. DMRC sign with BEL to develop Communication Based Train Control system

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Bharat Electronics Limited have signed an MoU to develop an indigenous Communication Based Train Control system.

This partnership will transform rail transportation in India, driving innovation, reducing costs, and fostering self-reliance in the field of train control signaling systems.

The Communication-Based Train Control System will optimize train operations, increase frequency, and enhance passenger services while efficiently utilizing rail infrastructure. The prototype i-CBTC Product will be deployed soon on a test track.

Recent MoU

• Amazon Web Services ties up with ISRO to advance its Al capabilities
• TCS collaborates with Dassault Systems in Living Heart Project
• NGEL partners with Nayara Energy for green hydrogen production
• Google Cloud partners with MeitY to train government officials
• India Post and Shiprocket partner to strengthen e-commerce export

Exp. Government launches UPAg platform

The Centre Government has launched the Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics (UPAg), an online platform for the management of agricultural data.

The UPAg, developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (DA & FW), was launched by NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand.

The platform is designed to generate crop estimates such as price, trade, procurement, and stock.

The UPAg Portal was being envisaged as a public good wherein users will benefit by reduced search costs and frictions and access to credible, granular, and objective data.

Exp. Last diesel-run double-decker bus of Mumbai retires

Mumbai bids farewell to the last diesel-run double-decker bus of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking.

Mumbai’s iconic red double-decker buses have been an integral part of the city’s public transport system for more than 80 years

New battery-operated double-deckers have replaced the old red diesel-run buses in Mumbai.

A total of 900 air-conditioned double-decker bus services will be provided to the people of Mumbai by the end of July 2024.

The first double-decker bus was introduced on Mumbai roads in 1937.

The era of red diesel-run double-deckers, introduced on the city streets 86 years ago, thus came to an end. New, shiny red-and-black battery-operated (EV) double-deckers have already begun to ply since February this year

The first double-decker bus was introduced on Mumbai roads in 1937, a decade after BEST launched its bus service in the growing city.

Till the mid-1990s, BEST had around 900 double-decker buses in its fleet. The number began to decrease and around 125 buses were left in 2010. By 2019, it had dwindled to 50.

Exp. Raipur hosts 4th meeting of the G20 Framework Working Group

The fourth and final G20 Framework Working Group Meeting is organized in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

More than 65 delegates from G20 members and invitee countries, and various international and regional organisations participated in the meeting.

The FWG facilitates discussions on the latest global economic outlook and policy guidance on key macroeconomic issues.

The deliverables from this working group under the 2023 Indian Presidency have been successfully concluded and are referred to in the New Delhi Leaders Declaration: G20 Report on Macroeconomic Impacts of Food and Energy Insecurity and G20 Report on Macroeconomic Risks Stemming from Climate Change and Transition Pathways.

The upcoming meeting will take stock of the discussions in the FWG in 2023 and explore future areas of work.

All G20 Framework Working Group (FWG) Meeting under India’s Presidency

• 1st G20 Framework Working Group (FWG) Meeting – Bengaluru, Karnataka (17 – 18 December 2022)
• 2nd G20 Framework Working Group (FWG) Meeting – Chennai, Tamil Nadu (24 -25 March 2023)
• 2nd G20 Framework Working Group (FWG) Meeting – Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, (19 – 21 June 2023)
• 4th G20 Framework Working Group (FWG) Meeting – Raipur, Chhattisgarh (18- 19 September 2023)

Exp. MP govt. inaugurate ‘Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Awas Yojana’

The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has inaugurated the Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Awas Yojana in Bhopal.

Under the scheme, the families who were left out of getting the benefit of housing facilities in various housing schemes will get their houses under it. Applications will be filled from September 17 to October 5 for the scheme.

Under the scheme, such families will get benefits whose applications under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Rural on the Awas Plus app portal and MIS portal of the Government of India have been automatically rejected. It will also benefit those families who are not included in the list of Social, Economic, and Caste Census 2011 and Awas Plus and who have not received the benefit of any housing scheme of the Center or the State.

About Madhya Pradesh

• Capital – Bhopal
• Chief Minister – Shivraj Singh Chauhan
• Governor – Mangubhai C. Patel

Recent Scheme/Campaign launched by Madhya Pradesh government

• Ladli Bahna scheme
• CM Learn and Earn’ scheme
• Chief Minister’s Residential Land Rights scheme
• Ladli Laxmi 2.0
• Launchpad Scheme
• Pankh Abhiyan
• Sickle Cell Mission
• Mukhyamantri Awasiya Bhu-dhikar Yojana

Exp. Udhampur railway station renamed after Captain Tushar Mahajan

Udhampur Railway Station was formally rechristened as Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan Railway Station days after Union minister Jitendra Singh made the announcement.

The Northern Railway notified the name change in honour of the Army braveheart following the approval by the Jammu and Kashmir administration.

Captain Tushar Mahajan was an officer in the Indian Army who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. He was a part of the 9 Para Special Forces unit, also known as the “9 Parachute Commando.”

He gained recognition and respect for his bravery and leadership during a counter-terrorism operation in Pampore, Jammu and Kashmir, in February 2016. During the operation, he displayed remarkable courage and skill in neutralizing terrorists who had holed up in a government building. Tragically, he was killed in action during the operation.

Captain Tushar Mahajan’s selfless dedication to his duty and his bravery in the face of danger earned him posthumous awards and honours, including the Shaurya Chakra, which is one of India’s highest peacetime gallantry awards.

Exp. Indian Bank rolls out IB SAATHI to provide basic banking services

Public sector Indian Bank has rolled out of ‘IB SAATHI’ initiative aimed at providing an integrated ecosystem for all stakeholders in the financial sector through the business correspondent route.

The IB Sustainable Access and Aligning Technology for Holistic Inclusion (SAATHI) offers an enhanced user experience through the simplified delivery of services, encompassing both basic and value-added offerings to customers.

Indian Bank, with the launch of the scheme, seeks to provide basic banking services at all centres for a minimum of four hours per day at fixed branches while the Banking Correspondents would extend their services directly at the doorsteps of the customers.

By March 2024, Indian Bank has planned to deploy about 5,000 banking correspondents and this is expected to bolster the bank’s reach and accessibility.

Currently, the bank offers 36 different services to customers through the Banking Correspondent channel and over 60 services would be added during the financial year 2024-25.

About Indian Bank

• Founded – 1907
• Headquarters – Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• MD & CEO – Shanti Lal Jain
• Tagline – Your Own Bank

Recent Facilities Launched in Banking & Insurance Sector

• Max Life Insurance launched new health, wellness plan SEWA
• Bharti AXA Life introduces “Life Income Laabh” to simplify insurance
• DBS Bank unveils metaverse adventure on ‘DBS BetterWorld’
• HSBC India became the first foreign bank in India to launch ‘ONDC in a Box’
• AU Small Finance launches Zenith Metal credit card

Exp. Srinivasan K Swamy elected as Chairman of Audit Bureau of Circulation

RK Swamy Hansa Group Executive Chairman, Srinivasan K Swamy was elected as the Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) for 2023-2024.

Srinivasan K Swamy is currently the Chairman of the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations.

He held leadership roles in various organizations including the International Advertising Association (IAA) and the Advertising Agencies Association of India.

He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI).

Hormuzd Masani held the position of Secretary General in the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

Recent Appointment

• Interim director of Enforcement Directorate (ED) – Rahul Navin (replace Sanjay Kumar Mishra)
• Vice Chairperson of NASSCOM – Sindhu Gangadharan
• Director (Finance) of Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) – Joshit Ranjan Sikidar
• MD & CEO Tata Steel – TV Narendran (reappointment)
• Chief Operations Manager of Central Railway – Shyam Sunder Gupta (replace Mukul Jain)

Exp. Payal Chhabra becomes 1st Woman Army Surgeon to become Para Commando

Major Dr Payal Chhabra, a surgeon serving at the Army hospital in Ladakh, has become the first woman surgeon to join the elite Para Special Forces of the Indian Army.

She completed her training and received the coveted Maroon Beret at the Paratroopers Training School in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.

She hails from Haryana and holds an MBBS degree and MS surgery degree.

Dr Chhabra became a senior resident doctor at the surgery department of Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College in Karnal, Haryana, in 2020.

She was commissioned into the Indian Army as a Captain in January 2021.

Recent Appointment

• Interim director of Enforcement Directorate (ED) – Rahul Navin (replace Sanjay Kumar Mishra)
• Vice Chairperson of NASSCOM – Sindhu Gangadharan
• Director (Finance) of Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) – Joshit Ranjan Sikidar
• MD & CEO Tata Steel – TV Narendran (reappointment)
• Chief Operations Manager of Central Railway – Shyam Sunder Gupta (replace Mukul Jain)

Exp. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Wins Singapore Grand Prix 2023

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz has won the Singapore Grand Prix to end Formula 1 leader Max Verstappen’s record run of 10 wins in a row and shatter Red Bull’s dream of going through the season unbeaten.

McLaren’s Lando Norris finished a close second and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton took third place as Red Bull ended up off the podium for the first time since last November’s Brazilian Grand Prix.

The Singapore Grand Prix was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent Grand Prix Winner

• Italian Grand Prix 2023 – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
• Dutch Grand Prix 2023 – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
• Hungarian Grand Prix 2023 – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
• British Grand Prix 2023 – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
• Austrian Grand Prix 2023 – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
• Canadian Grand Prix 2023 – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
• Spanish Grand Prix 2023 – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
• Monaco Grand Prix 2023 – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
• Miami Grand Prix 2023 – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
• Australian Grand Prix 2023 – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
• Bahrain Grand Prix 2023 – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands)
• Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023 – Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez (Mexico)
• Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2023 – Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez (Mexico)

Exp. Himanta Biswa Sarma awarded Singapore’s top fellowship

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been awarded the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship for his distinguished contribution to public service.

The Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship is conferred on outstanding individuals in recognition of bilateral relations with Singapore.

Sarma is the first Assam Chief Minister to have been bestowed with this prestigious fellowship.

Recent Awards

• Sangeet Natak Akademi Amrit Awards – 84 artists (70 men and 14 women)
• Ig Nobel prize 2023 – India, China, Malaysia, and the US researcher team
• Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) Award by France govt. – Famous Indian fashion designer Rahul Mishra
• Safety Innovation Award 2023′ in the ‘Construction’ category – RITES Limited
• Green Railway Certification by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) – Vijayawada Railway Station (Platinum rating)
• The Lifetime Achievement Award in Academia – VC of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) Najma Akhtar

Exp. Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan wins gold medal in ISSF World Cup 2023

Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan has won the gold medal in the women’s 10-metre air rifle event at the ISSF World Cup 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Olympian Elavenil Valarivan shot 252.2 from her series of 24 shots in the final and narrowly beat France’s Oceanne Muller.

A total of eight shooters qualified for the final. This was Elavenil Valarivan’s second individual ISSF World Cup medal.

Earlier, Elavenil Valarivan finished 9th in the qualification round with 630.5. The Rio meet is the last rifle and pistol ISSF World Cup of 2023.

The ongoing event in the Brazilian city will be followed by the finals in Doha, Qatar, scheduled from November 18 to 27.