Current Affairs Quiz 22nd July 2024 Quiz

Exp. BJP govt renames Biju Patnaik Sports Award to Odisha Rajya Krida Samman

The newly elected BJP government has renamed Biju Patnaik Sports Award as Odisha Rajya Krida Samman’.

Odisha Sports and Youth Services Department issued guidelines for the Rajya Krida Samman’ which will be awarded in eight categories annually, subject to availability of suitable candidates. The cash rewards remain unchanged.

According to the guidelines, the lifetime achievement award for promoting sports will carry a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh, while Rs 2 lakh will be awarded for outstanding performance in sports, and Rs 1 lakh for excellence in coaching.

Similarly, a cash award of Rs 1 lakh will be given in each of the following categories – best contribution to sports promotion, excellence in sports journalism, para-sports person of the year, upcoming athlete of the year (junior category), and sports technical official/support staff of the year.

The award recipient must be a resident of Odisha and free of any criminal convictions.

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. G. Kishan Reddy launches Mineral Exploration Hackathon and National DMF Portal in Hyderabad

Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy has launched Mineral Exploration Hackathon focused on Innovative Mineral Hunt Techniques in Hyderabad.

This Hackathon aims to promote use of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for geophysical data, integration of multiple mineral exploration data sets such as baseline data, available exploration data, etc, to identify new Mineral targets, particularly for deep seated/concealed ore bodies.

1. Kishan Reddy also launched the National District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Portal. This portal is a centralized platform to gather the information on the District Mineral Foundations across the country. The aim for launching this portal is to facilitate the access to the DMF data and track the developments and utilizations thereunder.

This portal provides details of 645 DMFs in the country with enhanced transparency, featuring centralized visibility of activities, project oversight, and dynamic analytics, as well as a repository of best practices for effective implementation.

Exp. New Delhi host the 46th World Heritage Committee session of UNESCO

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

This is the first time India is hosting the World Heritage Committee Meeting. The event will run from 21st to 31st July at Bharat Mandapam.

The Committee, which meets annually, manages all matters related to World Heritage sites and decides on new sites to be added to the World Heritage list.

During this session, they will discuss nominations for new World Heritage sites, conservation reports for 124 existing sites, international assistance, and the use of World Heritage Funds. More than 2000 delegates from over 150 countries are expected to attend.

About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

• UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes cooperation among nations through education, science, culture, and communication.

• Formation – 16 November 1945
• Headquarters – Paris, France
• Director General – Audrey Azoulay (France)
• Member countries – 193

Exp. “Rajiv Gandhi Civils Abhayahastam” launched by Telangana CM

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has launched a unique programme to provide financial assistance to the Civil Services aspirants from Telangana, under which the candidates who qualify for the Mains exams will be provided with ₹1 lakh for preparation.

Named “Rajiv Gandhi Civils Abhayahastam”, the scheme will be helpful to about 400 candidates from Telangana region who qualify for the Mains every year.

Candidates from the SC, ST, OBC, Women and the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category are eligible for the scheme but their family annual income must be below ₹8 lakhs. The applicants must be permanent residents of Telangana.

About Telangana

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

Exp. BIS signs MoU with Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru to promote Standardisation

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru for the establishment of the ‘BIS Standardization Chair Professor’ at the latter.

This initiative formalised, marks a significant step towards institutionalising BIS’s collaboration with leading academic and research establishments across India.

The BIS Standardization Chair Professor aims to foster a robust partnership between BIS and IISc, promoting collaborative activities in Standardization and Conformity Assessment on the principles of equality and reciprocity.

Recent MoU

• Cisco and Tata Communications partner to launch Webex Calling in India
• AIIMS New Delhi signed MoU with University of Bolton Institute of Medicine
• Mahindra & Mahindra sign MoU with MSDE for ‘Drone Didi’ Pilot Project
• NHPC Limited to collaborate with Ocean Sun for implementation of Floating Solar Energy Technology
• Mines Ministry inks MoU with Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation for knowledge support on critical minerals
• NTPC inks pact with RINL for supply of limestone

Exp. MP tops in PM SVANidhi Scheme as Best Performing State

Madhya Pradesh has secured the first place under the ‘Best Performing State’ category in the Prime Minister SVANidhi scheme.

The micro-credit scheme for urban street vendors, which provides collateral-free loans up to Rs 50,000, was launched by the Narendra Modi government in 2020 during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Assam has been ranked second in the ‘Best Performing States- Innovation and Best Practices Award’ category.

In the ‘Best Performing ULBs – Loan Performance with mega and million plus cities’ category, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has received the first place, followed by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.

About Madhya Pradesh

• Capital – Bhopal
• Chief Minister – Dr Mohan Yadav (replace Shivraj Singh Chauhan)
• Deputy CM – Jagdish Devda & Rajendra Shukla
• Speaker of Madhya Pradesh Assembly – Narendra Singh Tomar
• Governor – Mangubhai C. Patel
• Lok Shaba Seats – 29
• Rajya Sabha Seats – 11
• Legislative Assembly Seats – 230

Exp. Vinay Mohan Kwatra appointed next Indian ambassador to US

Vinay Mohan Kwatra has been appointed India’s next Ambassador to the United States.

Vinay Mohan Kwatra is a retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Indian diploma.

He is known to have extensive expertise in dealing with India’s neighbourhood as well as the US, China and Europe.

Kwatra served as the 34th Foreign Secretary of India, taking over from Harsh Vardhan Shringla from May 2022 till July 14, 2024.

Previously, Kwatra served as the Ambassador of India to France and Nepal.

Recent Appointment in Foreign

• Vijay Khanduja appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to Cameroon.
• Bramha Kumar appointed as India’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe
• Sita Ram Meena appointed as India’s Ambassador to Niger
• Abhay Thakur appointed as India’s Envoy to Myanmar
• Soumendu Bagchi appointed as India’s Ambassador to Iraq
• Abhilasha Joshi appointed as India’s Ambassador to Chile
• Vinay Kumar appointed as India’s Ambassador to Russia

Exp. Sanjeev Krishan re-elected for second term as PwC India Chairperson

Sanjeev Krishan has been re-elected for a second term as Chairperson of PwC India for a four-year period beginning on April 1, 2025.

As Chairperson, Krishan will continue to lead PwC in India, representing them externally and internally. He will also continue to serve on the PwC Global Strategy Council.

Krishan, whose first term as Chairperson started on January 1, 2021, joined PwC in 1991 as an articled trainee.

He became a partner in 2006 and has successfully led the firm’s deals, transactions and private equity business, getting the firm to a pre-eminent position amongst Private Equity firms and their investee companies, family businesses and MNC clients over the years.

Recent Appointment

• Sub-regional representative for South Asia by the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) – Deepa Malik
• Co-Chair of Global CEO Climate Leaders Alliance – Sumant Sinha
• DG of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – Nallathamby Kalaiselvi
• Chairman of as MahaRERA – Manoj Saunik (replace Ajoy Mehta) effective from sep 2024
• CMD of BSNL – Robert Jerard Ravi (replave PK Purwar)

Exp. EESL to launch retail shops to distribute energy-efficient products

State-owned Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) will introduce retail franchisee shops called ‘Urja Dakshta Dukan’ which will offer affordable energy-efficient products like LED lights, ACs, and fans to consumers.

EESL, at present, distributes products through retail tie-ups with power distribution utilities to consumers.

Buyers can also purchase the products online from its web portal EESLMART.in. The first batch of franchisee outlets is expected to open in Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Telangana.

The invitation for pan India franchise tie-ups will be available on the EESL website from August.

The EESL’s energy efficiency solutions have saved over 47 billion kWh of energy annually while reducing 36.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions.

Founded in 2009, the EESL is promoted by the Ministry of Power as a joint venture of four public-sector undertakings NTPC Ltd, Power Finance Corporation Ltd, REC Ltd, and POWERGRID Corporation of India Ltd.

Exp. Arpit Jagdish Kabra honoured with International Excellence Award

CA Arpit Jagdish Kabra from Ajmer Rajasthan has received the prestigious International Excellence Award.

This accolade recognises his outstanding contribution to forensic investigation and his unwavering dedication to social impact initiatives.

The award, presented at the House of Commons, underscores the international recognition and impact of his work.

At a young age, Arpit Kabra assumed the role of Chairman of the Western India Regional Council (WIRC) of ICAI. His efforts towards the empowerment of women and youth, along with the initiatives undertaken under his leadership at WIRC, have made him deserving of this honour. Under his leadership, the WIRC team also set a world record for the Largest Human Mosaic in Mumbai.

Recent Award

• Global CSR ESG Award 2024 – Sri Kurumba Educational and Charitable Trust
• Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize 2024 – Madhu Khanna (For Tantra on the Edge)
• COSPAR Harrie Massey Award 2024 – Prahlad Chandra Agrawal
• Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity 2024 -Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming
• Spice Award 2024 – Sopna Kallingal

Exp. Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame

Former doubles world number one Leander Paes and tennis broadcaster, actor and player Vijay Amritraj became the first Asian men inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The first inductees from India were joined by British tennis journalist and author Richard Evans in enshrinement ceremonies at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

Paes recounted his youth playing football and hockey before turning to tennis and eventually following his hockey-captain father as an Olympic medalist.

Amritraj, 70, played from 1970 until retiring in 1993, winning 15 ATP singles titles and 399 matches and being ranked as high as 18th in the world and helped India to the Davis Cup finals in 1974 and 1987.

Paes, 51, was an 18-time Grand Slam champion in doubles and mixed doubles who was selected in the player category after honing his trade in an Amritraj youth academy.

Exp. Yuki Bhambri, Albano Olivetti clinch Men’s Doubles Title at ATP Swiss Open

India’s Yuki Bhambri and his French partner Albano Olivett clinched the men’s doubles title at the Swiss Open ATP Tour tennis tournament defeating French pair of Ugo Humbert and Fabrice Martin in the final in Gstaad, Switzerland.

This was the third ATP doubles title for the 32-year-old Bhambri.

The pair of Bhambri and Olivett, beat their French opponents 3-6 6-3 10-6 to win the title. This is the year’s second ATP Tour title for the Indo-French pair.

Bhambri and Olivetti also won the Bavarian International Tennis Championships in Munich in April.  

Exp. 22 July – Pi Approximation Day

Pi Approximation Day is celebrated every year on July 22nd because the date (22/7) is commonly used as an approximation for the mathematical constant π (pi).

This fundamental constant represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Since Ï€ is irrational, it cannot be expressed as a simple fraction, and its decimal form is infinite and non-repeating.

A casual and enjoyable approach to honouring mathematics and the intriguing characteristics of π is to observe Pi Approximation Day.

Exp. Renowned agriculturist Kamala Pujari passes away at 73

Agriculturist Kamala Pujari passed away at the age of 73

The government of India had accorded the prestigious Padma Shri on her for her contribution to the agriculture sector, in 2019.

Pujari was acclaimed worldwide for her contribution to organic farming and preserving indigenous paddy varieties.

Exp. Renowned cardiac surgeon Dr MS Valiathan passes away

Renowned cardiac surgeon and the founder of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Dr MS Valiathan passed away at the age 90 years.

Dr Valiathan was an alumnus of the first batch of Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram, after which he attended the University of Liverpool. In 1960, he was awarded a fellowship at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and England. He has also worked at multiple hospitals in the US and India.

Dr. Valiathan was also the first Vice-Chancellor of Manipal Academy of Higher Education and was awarded Padma Shri in 2002 and Padma Vibhushan in 2005 for his contributions to healthcare.

Exp. 22 July – World Brain Day

World Brain Day is celebrated every year on 22 July.

Objective – To raise awareness about brain diseases and promotes research for new treatments.

Theme 2024 – Brain Health and Prevention

This day serves as a reminder of the critical importance of brain health and the need to take proactive steps to prevent and manage neurological conditions.