Current Affairs Quiz 23rd April 2024 Quiz

Exp. PM inaugurates 2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan Mahotsav on occasion of Mahaveer Jayanti

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan Mahotsav on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

During the event, the PM released a commemorative stamp and coin to mark the occasion.

Bhagwan Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankar, illuminated the path of peaceful co-existence and universal brotherhood through Jain principles like Ahimsa (Non-Violence), Satya (Truthfulness), Asteya (Non-Stealing), Brahmacharya (Chastity) and Aparigraha (Non-attachment).

PM Modi in News

• PM Modi has inaugurated 15 airport projects, including the revamped Terminal 1 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, worth over Rs.9,800 crore.
• PM Narendra Modi has launched the Mahtari Vandan Yojana in Chhattisgarh.
• PM Modi unveiled a 125-foot bronze statue of ‘Ahom general’ Lachit Borphukan (Statue of Valour) in Assam’s Jorhat
• PM Modi lays foundation stone of “Experience of Spirituality at Chitrakoot Ghat” project in Chitrakoot
• PM Modi dedicated the Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh to the country

Exp. Khasi Tribe’s Seng Khihlang Festival Concluded in Meghalaya

The 34th Seng Khihlang festival concluded in Wahiajer, Meghalaya.

The Seng Khihlang festival holds immense significance for believers who follow the Khasi Indigenous Faith. It is a time of unity and celebration, and is under the stewardship of the Seng Khasi Sein Raij.

The Khasi people are an indigenous ethnic group residing in the eastern part of Meghalaya, in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills of north-eastern India.

They also have a significant population in the bordering state of Assam and in certain parts of Bangladesh.

Recent Fair / Mela in News

• Janakpurdham Cultural Festival – Nepal
• Chapchar Kut Festival – Mizoram
• Tawi Festival – Jammu
• International Puppet Festival – Chandigarh
• Divya Kala Mela – Agartala, Tripura
• Ethnic Mamani Festival – Ladakh

Exp. First ever Hindi radio broadcast started in Kuwait

The first-ever Hindi radio broadcast has started in Kuwait.

The Indian Embassy in Kuwait lauded Kuwait’s Ministry of Information for starting a Hindi programme on Kuwait Radio on FM 93.3 and AM 96.3 every Sunday.

This step taken will further strengthen the ties between the two nations.

India and Kuwait have long-standing trade ties, with the Indian rupee serving as Kuwait’s official currency until 1961.

The year 2021-22 commemorated the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

About Kuwait

• Capital- Kuwait City
• Currency- Kuwaiti Dinar
• Official language- Arabic

Exp. Rajasthan Royals Launch New Cricket Academy In Jaipur

Royals Sports Group-owned IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals (RR) has inaugurated their first-ever cricket academy in the Jaipur, Rajasthan.

The inaugural champions had announced its plans to come up with an Academy in Jaipur in October 2023.

The newly set-up Academy boasts of impressive infrastructure with the presence of two match playing grounds and 15 training strips with Natural Turf, AstroTurf, Matting, and Kota stone wickets.

The facility also has a residential setup that can accommodate up to 30 players, proving to serve as a convenient set-up for the young players to focus on training.

About Rajasthan

• Capital – Jaipur
• Chief Minister – Bhajan Lal Sharma (replace Ashok Gehlot)
• Deputy Chief Minister – Diya Kumari and Premchand Bairwa
• Speaker of Rajasthan Assembly – Vasudev Devnani
• Governor – Kalraj Mishra

Exp. Pine Labs’ Setu names former SAP India executive Raisinghani as its CEO

Pine Labs-owned API infrastructure company  Setu has appointed Anand Raisinghani as the company’s new chief executive officer (CEO).

Raisinghani, who succeeds Sahil Kini at the company, will work in the space of open banking, account aggregation, API platforms, embedded finance, and data gateway.

He is a former executive at SAP India where he was the vice-president (VP).

The company has also received a Certificate of Registration from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as an Account Aggregator.

Founded in 2018, Setu is an application programming interface (API) company offering services across account aggregation, data gateway, identity verification, embedded finance, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), WhatsApp Business, and BBPS.

Recent Appointment

• MD of Intel for India region – Santosh Viswanathan
• Secretary of the Department of Posts – Vandita Kaul (replace Vineet Pandey)
• National Judicial Academy (NJC) Bhopal – Justice Aniruddha Bose
• As a Member of University Grants Commission (UGC) –Sachidananda Mohanty
• As member of 16th Finance Commission – Manoj Panda

Exp. OpenAI hires first India-based official Pragya Misra

OpenAI has hired Pragya Misra, 39, its first official in India, in order to handle government relations.

Misra previously worked at Truecaller AB and Meta.

An intermediary between U.S.-based AI companies and the Indian administration is key as the country has started voting in its 2024 general elections.

The AI startup backed by Microsoft interacted with Indian tech policy and civil society representatives on February 12 as experts and activists flagged fears of generative AI being used to hurt India’s elections.

Exp. Net direct tax collection surges to over Rs 19 lakh cr during last fiscal

India’s net direct tax collections surged 17.7% year-on-year to ₹19.58 lakh crore in the fiscal year ended March 2024, surpassing the revised estimates.

Net direct taxes in 2023-24 exceeded the budget estimates by₹ 1.35 lakh crore (7.40%) and the revised estimates by ₹13,000 crore.

Higher direct tax collections will give the Centre headroom to meet its fiscal deficit target for FY24.

The Centre had budgeted ₹18.23 lakh crore as net direct tax revenue for 2023-24, which was later revised upwards to ₹19.45 lakh crore.

The Centre lowered its fiscal deficit target for FY24 to 5.8% from 5.9% projected earlier.

In personal income taxes, gross mop-up stood at 12.01 lakh crore rupees, growing 24.26 per cent on-year, while in net terms it grew 25.23 per cent to 10.44 lakh crore rupees registered in the preceding year.  

Exp. Ratan Tata receives prestigious KISS Humanitarian Award 2021

Industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata, chairman Emeritus of the Tata Group, was honoured with the prestigious KISS (Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences) Humanitarian  Award 2021.

The award ceremony was held at his residence in Mumbai, marking a significant recognition of his commitment to social development and exemplary corporate leadership.

The award was presented by the Founder of KIIT and KISS Achyuta Samanta.

Initiated in 2008 by Achyuta Samanta, the KISS Humanitarian Award is the highest honour of KIIT and KISS dedicated to recognising individuals and organisations that embody the spirit of humanitar an work worldwide.

Exp.  Mohammed Salem wins 2024 World Press Photo of the Year award

Reuters photographer Mohammed Salem has won the prestigious 2024 World Press Photo of the Year award for his image of a Palestinian woman cradling the body of her five-year-old niece in the Gaza Strip.

The picture was taken on October 17, 2023, at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, where families were searching for relatives killed during Israeli bombing of the Palestinian enclave.

Mr. Salem’s winning image portrays Inas Abu Maamar, 36, sobbing while holding Saly’s sheet-clad body in the hospital morgue.

99 journalists and media employees had been killed covering the war between Israel and Hamas since the Palestinian militant group attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel responded by launching a military offensive in Gaza.

Recent Awards

• International Fellowship by the Engineering Academy of Japan – Kaushik Rajashekara
• Earns Frost & Sullivan’s 2023 Indian Company of the Year Award – STT GDC India
• Honorary doctorate from the prestigious Vels University in Chennai – Ram Charan
• Young Global Leader in World Economic Forum’s Class 2024 – Adwaita Nayar
• South Asian Person of the Year award by Harvard University – Avantika Vandanapu
• American President’s Volunteer Award 2024 – Lokesh Muni

Exp. Microsoft announces VASA-1 AI model to turn images into videos

Microsoft has introduced a new VASA 1 AI model, a framework designed to generate lifelike talking faces for virtual characters, boasting appealing Visual Affective Skills (VAS).

With just a single static image and a speech audio clip, the company says its VASA-1 can create life-like short videos.

The model also gives several options to make changes to the video. Here is everything you need to know.

The VASA 1 can deliver high video-quality content with realistic facial and head dynamics. The model supports the online generation of 512 x 512 videos at up to 40fps with negligible starting latency

Exp. Indian Navy Conducted Exercise Poorvi Lehar On East Coast

The Indian Navy carried out an extensive exercise along the East Coast as part of efforts to check its preparedness to meet any maritime security challenges.

The exercise ‘Poorvi Leher’ witnessed participation of ships, submarines, aircraft and special naval forces.

The exercise was aimed at validation of procedures towards assessment of the Indian Navy’s preparedness to meet maritime security challenges in the region.

Recent Exercise

• 5th edition of Joint military exercise ‘Dustlik’ between India and Uzbekistan – Termez, Uzbekistan
• Coastal Security Exercise ‘Sagar Kavach’ – Lakshadweep Islands
• 2nd edition of India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise (IMT TRILAT 24) – Nacala, Mozambique.
• Exercise “TIGER TRIUMPH 2024” between India and USA – Eastern Seaboard
• 10th edition of Military Exercise LAMITIYE-2024 between India and Seychelles – Seychelles

Exp. 23 April – World Book and Copyright Day

World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated every year on April 23rd.

This day is dedicated to the celebration of literature in all forms and to promote the enjoyment of books. It is also a day to reflect on the past and the future through reading.

The idea for World Book and Copyright Day comes from a traditional celebration in Catalonia, which is a region in Spain. On April 23rd, people in Catalonia exchange books and roses as gifts. This tradition is called “La Diada de Sant Jordi” or Saint George’s Day.

Exp. 23 April – World Table Tennis Day

World Table Tennis Day is celebrated every year on 23 April.

It is not just a game of skill but also a medium for social change. The game brings people together and provides them with a peaceful and fun common goal.

The history of table tennis dates back to the British military, when officers in India learned to play the game during their time in the country. The game was originally played with a golf ball, and books were used as racquets.

In 1901, James W. Gibb, a British table tennis enthusiast, discovered that the better-suited celluloid balls were more suitable for the game. The modern racquet was invented by E.C. Goode in the same year.

Exp. 21 April – World Creativity and Innovation Day

World Creativity and Innovation Day is celebrated every year on April 21.

Objective – To raise awareness about the role of creativity and innovation in human development.

Theme 2024 – Inspire

The day is dedicated to showcasing how creativity can be used to drive economic, social, and sustainable development. It also aims to raise awareness about the role of creativity in the creation of future-ready products, services, and technologies.

The foundation of World Creativity and Innovation Day was in Toronto, Canada. Its founder, Canadian artist Marci Segal, began her studies in creativity in 1977 at the International Center for Studies in Creativity, SUNY Buffalo.