Current Affairs Quiz 23rd and 24th December 2023 Quiz

Exp. Manipur Initiates “SAANS” Campaign to Counteract Pneumonia

In Manipur, the State Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Sapam Ranjan Singh has launched the Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) Campaign 2023-24 at Imphal.

The Minister also inaugurated the State Newborn Resource Centre at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal.

In connection to the launching of SAANS Campaign 2023-24, the Minister said that Pneumonia is a common, preventable, treatable disease if precautionary steps are taken up at the right time. Since the disease is preventable, the Health Department is emphasizing spreading awareness to the people.

About Manipur

• Capital – Imphal
• Chief Minister – Biren Singh
• Governor – Anusuiya Uikey

Exp. Jute Corporation of India introduced ‘Paat-Mitro’ app for farmers

The Jute Corporation of India has unveiled the ‘Paat-Mitro’ app aimed at aiding jute cultivation and income generation.

It is Launched by Rachna Shah, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, the application offers vital knowledge on jute farming.

It will also feature information on jute gradation parametres, farmer-centric schemes like ‘Jute-ICARE’, weather forecasts and procurement policies.

‘Paat-Mitro’ marks a significant step forward in supporting jute farmers and revitalizing the industry. With greater access to information, technical advancements, and market opportunities, Indian jute farmers can unlock a brighter future for themselves and contribute to the sustainable development of the sector.

Exp. French President Invited to India’s Republic Day 2024

India has invited France President Emmanuel Macron as chief guest for the January 26 Republic Day celebrations.

Notably, this is the 6th time a French leader will be the Chief guest at Republic Day celebrations in the national capital.

Prior to Macron, former French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac was the Chief guest on India’s Republic Day celebrations in 1976 and 1998, and former Presidents Valery Giscard d’Estaing, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Francois Hollande in the years 1980, 2008, and 2016 respectively.

Earlier in July, PM Modi had visited France to attend the Bastille Day Parade. PM Modi participated in the Bastille Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour on the invitation of President Macron.

PM Modi had visited France to mark the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

To mark the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership, a 241-member tri-service Indian armed forces contingent led by a military band also participated in the Parade.” The Indian Army contingent was led by the Punjab Regiment, followed by a complement from the Rajputana Rifles Regiment.

Later in September, French President Macron had visited India in September to attend the G20 Summit held under India’s Presidency.

About France

• Capital- Paris
• President- Emmanuel Macron
• Prime Minister- Elisabeth Borne
• Official language- French

Exp. Thakur sets to unveil Khelo India Youth Games logo and mascot

Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Information & Broadcasting, Sh. Anurag Singh Thakur has launched the official logo, jersey, mascot, torch, and theme song for the Khelo India Youth Games Tamil Nadu in Chennai.

The 6th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games is scheduled from January 19 to 31, 2024.

The previous 5 editions of the Youth Games have been held in Delhi, Pune, Guwahati, Panchkula, and Bhopal.

The upcoming edition will take place in four cities of Tamil Nadu – Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, and Coimbatore.

Exp. RBL Bank Introduces Electronic Bank Guarantee on NeSL Platform

RBL Bank has launched the Electronic Bank Guarantee (e-BG), signalling a significant step forward in trade finance digital transformation.

The e-BG product builds on the framework enabled by NeSL, incorporating their expertise in e-Stamping and e-Sign.

This integration eliminates the traditional physical signing and stamping processes, seamlessly transitioning into a secure and efficient digital format.

NeSL’s e-BG substantially transforms the trade finance space and marks a milestone in the digitization of banking services. e-BG envisages online and paperless procurement of stamp duty and thus the e-BG can be issued digitally in a couple of minutes and is made available to beneficiaries instantly in a secure, digital, and paperless form.

Recent Facilities Launched in Banking & Insurance Sector

• Reliance General Insurance unveils ‘Reliance Health Global’
• IndusInd Bank introduces ‘Indus Solitaire Program’ for the Diamond Industry
• Canara HSBC Life Insurance launches ‘Alpha Wealth’ plan with option to alter premiums
• IDFC FIRST Bank, LIC Cards, and Mastercard to co-launch Credit card
• Bank of India launched “Nari Shakti Savings Account”

Exp. Sandeep Batra reappoints as ED of ICICI Bank

Private sector lender ICICI Bank has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to re-appoint Sandeep Batra as the executive director (ED).

RBI vide its letter approved the re-appointment of Sandeep Batra as Executive Director of the bank with effect from December 23, 2023 to December 22, 2025.

The board of directors recorded that the current tenure of Batra as ED of the Bank as per RBI approval, which was for three years, ends on December 22, 2023. It unanimously approved the reappointment of Batra for a further period of two years with effect from December 23, 2023, to December 22, 2025.

About Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) Bank

• Founded – 1994
• Headquarters – Mumbai
• MD & CEO – Sandeep Bakhshi
• Tagline – Hum Hai Na Khayal Apka

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector

• CEO of Indifi Technologies – Sangram Singh
• Part-time member of PFRDA board – Parama Sen (replace Anne George)
• Chairman of Max Life Insurance – Rajiv Anand (replace Analjit Singh)
• Executive Director of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) – Jithesh John
• MD of State Bank of India – Vinay M. Tonse (till 2025; for 2 years)

Exp. Pramod Sharma appointed as Director (Works) of NHSRCL

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Pramod Sharma for the post of Director (Works) of National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).

NHSRCL is an implementation agency for high-speed rail projects in India.

Appointed on a deputation basis, his term extends until he reaches 60 years or further orders.

Sharma is an Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE) officer of 1989 batch. Presently, he is serving as Principal Executive Director (Contract) of NHRSCL.

NHSRCL was incorporated in 2016 to manage the High-Speed Rail Corridor in India. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways. The objective of this body is the development and implementation of high-speed rail projects in India.

Exp. Sanjay Singh becomes new president Wrestling Federation of India

Sanjay Singh has become the new president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

He beat Anita Sheoran in the 50-vote electoral college 42-7 to claim the post.

Associated with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for the past 12 years as part of the governing council, Singh, who hails from Varanasi, was promoted to the post of joint secretary in 2019.

Q.9. Who has been named Health Ambassador for Salaam Bombay Foundation?

सलाम बॉम्बे फाउंडेशन के लिए स्वास्थ्य राजदूत किसे नामित किया गया है?

(a) Anshika Singh / अंशिका सिंह

(b) Amrita Raichand / अमृता रायचंद

(c) Vasudha Gupta / वसुधा गुप्ता

(d) Ipsita Dasgupta / इप्सिता दासगुप्ता

(e) Parul Goel / पारुल गोयल

Exp. Amrita Raichand named Health Ambassador for Salaam Bombay Foundation

Amrita Raichand partners with Salaam Bombay Foundation, becoming a Health Ambassador for their Preventive Health Education Programme.

This incredible partnership is set to make a real difference in the lives of at-risk adolescents from the urban slums of Mumbai, promoting the importance of healthy living and simple nourishing recipes where it is needed most.

The initiative focuses on advancing nutrition knowledge in underserved communities, mainly among Mumbai's urban slum adolescents.

Recent Brand Ambassador

• Sourav Ganguly - Tripura Tourism
• R Madhavan - The insurtech company Acko
• Pankaj Tripathi - UPI Safety Ambassador
• MS Dhoni - State bank of India
• Katrina Kaif - Swiss Watchmaker ‘Rado’
• Chetan Bhagat - Henry Harvin Education
• Mahendra Singh Dhoni - Lay’s
• Mohammed Shami - Sports brand Puma

Exp. Uday A Kaole Takes Over as CMD of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd

Uday A Kaole has assumed the charge of the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of Coal India arm Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL).

Before joining MCL as its CMD, Kaole was the Director (Technical) at Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL).

Kaole has over 36 years of rich technical and administrative experience in the coal mining sector. He has a long experience of working in challenging underground coal mines operations, as well as in the opencast mines.

He had joined Coal India as Junior Engineering (Trainee) in 1987 and served at various important positions in Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) and South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL).

Exp. Bengaluru Airport Recognised As One Of World’s Most Beautiful Airports

The Terminal-2 (T2) of the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has secured recognition as one of the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Airports’ and has been awarded the ‘World Special Prize for an Interior 2023’ by the UNESCO’s Prix Versailles.

It is the only Indian airport to receive this recognition.

The Prix Versailles, established in 2015, focuses on “intelligent sustainability” as a cultural driver, acknowledging innovation, creativity, reflection of local heritage, ecological efficiency, and values of social interaction.

Encompassing 2,55,661 square metres, the terminal is built upon four foundational pillars: technological leadership, a terminal in a garden, environmental and ecological stewardship, and a celebration of Karnataka’s rich heritage and culture.

Phase 1 of T2, inaugurated on November 11, 2022, is designed to accommodate 25 million passengers per annum.

Recent Awards

• 11th FICCI Water Award 2023 under the “Industrial Water Use Efficiency” category – NTPC Kanti
• Leif Erikson Lunar Prize – ISRO for Chandrayaan-3 Moon Mission
• Bhutan’s National Order of Merit Gold Medal – Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh (WHO Regional Director (South-East Asia)
• Prestigious International Doctorate – Dr. Nitin Mohan Lal
• National Energy Conservation Awards 2023 – Reliance Nippon Life Insurance

Exp. President awarded Crompton-Most Energy Efficient Appliance of the Year

Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd. (CGCEL), one of India’s leading consumer electrical companies, has been conferred with the prestigious National Energy Conservation Award 2023.

The honor was conferred by the Hon’ble President of India, Droupadi Murmu and the Ministry of Power through its body viz. Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) on the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day.

The company secured this achievement in the category of the Most Energy Efficient Appliance of the Year 2023 for its storage water heater.

About Crompton

• With a brand legacy of 80+ years, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd. is India’s market leader in the category of fans and residential pumps.
• Over the years, the organization has continuously strived to produce a range of innovative products that cater to the modern consumer including superior quality and high-performance water heaters, anti-dust fans, antibacterial LED bulbs and a range of other categories like air coolers, food processors like mixer grinders, electric kettles and garment care like irons.
• The CGCEL’s BEE 5-star rated storage water heater model, Arno Neo 3015, provides energy savings and advanced features for consumers

Exp. Sai Sudharsan awarded ‘impact fielder of the ODI series

India’s debutant Sai Sudharsan was awarded the ‘Impact Fielder of the Series’ medal by India’s fielding coach Ajay Ratra after the KL Rahul-led side clinched the 3-match ODI series against South Africa 2-1

India defeated South Africa by 87 runs in the series decider as KL Rahul became only the second Indian captain after Virat Kohli to win an ODI series on South African soil.

Sudharsan was commended for a brilliant catch during the third ODI match, contributing to India’s 78-run victory.