Exp. Narendra Tomar launches PM Kisan Mobile App with Face Authentication
The PM-Kisan Mobile App with Face Authentication Feature was launched by Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.
Through this App, remote farmers can do e-KYC by scanning their faces without OTP or fingerprint.
PM-Kisan is an innovative scheme whose benefits are being given by the central government to the farmers without any middlemen.
PM-Kisan is a very comprehensive and ambitious scheme of the Central Government and due to the support of States, the Centre is in a position to pay the installment to about 8.5 crore farmers after the completion of their KYC.
PM Kisan is one of the world’s largest DBT schemes in which farmers get six thousand rupees directly transferred through Aadhaar-linked bank accounts in three installments in a year. Two lakh 42 thousand crore rupees have been transferred to the accounts of more than 11 crore farmers till date.
Narendra Singh Tomar in News
Narendra Tomar launches PM Kisan Mobile App with Face Authentication
Narendra Singh Tomar launches Biological Control Lab in Hyderaba
Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurates Summit on Farm Machinery Technology
Narendra Singh Tomar launched the first of its kind ‘Millets Experience Centre (MEC)’ at Dilli Haat in New Delhi.
Narendra Singh Tomar introduced a new platform called ‘DigiClaim’ on the national crop insurance portal.
Q.2. The Odisha cabinet approved an additional outlay of over Rs 1,000 crore for the ABADHA Yojana. What is the full form of ABADHA Yojana?
(a) Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Agriculture
(b) Agriculture of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture
(c) Amenities of Basic Agriculture and Development of Heritage and Architecture
(d) Augmentation of Business Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture
(e) Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Hatt and Architecture
Answer & Explanation
Ans.2.(a)
Exp. Odisha cabinet approves Rs 1,000 cr for transforming Puri
The Odisha cabinet approved an additional outlay of over Rs 1,000 crore for the ABADHA Yojana.
In 2019, the Odisha government allocated Rs 3208 crore under the Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA) scheme in three years to transform Puri into a world heritage city.
Now, the State government decided to raise the amount to Rs 4224.22 crore.
Similarly, the Odisha cabinet also approved the implementation of the MMSY-Connecting Unconnected Villages in Difficult areas for a period of 2 years i.e. from 2023-24 to 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs 976 crore.
The Cabinet has approved the execution of projects with a length of 361.34 km approximately targeted to be taken up in 2023-24 & 2024-25.
The Odisha State Cabinet has also approved a projected outlay of Rs 3354.40 crore for the “Mukhyamantri Sampoorna Pushti Yojana (MSPY)”.
The yojana is aimed at transforming nutrition outcomes of adolescent girls (15-19 years), pregnant women & lactating mothers, SAM, MAM, and severely underweight children of under 6 years of age across the state over a period of five years commencing from FY 2023-24.
About Odisha
Capital – Bhubaneswar
Chief Minister – Naveen Patnaik
Governor – Ganeshi Lal
Q.3. Which of the following has launched Anti Money Laundering AI (AML AI) to help financial institutions detect money laundering more effectively and efficiently?
Exp. Google Cloud launches anti-money-laundering tool for banks
Google Cloud has launched Anti Money Laundering AI (AML AI) to help financial institutions detect money laundering more effectively and efficiently.
The product utilizes machine learning to assist banks and other financial institutions in meeting regulatory requirements for identifying and reporting suspicious activities.
The tool is designed to aid global financial institutions to detect money laundering more effectively and efficiently.
The risk score is based on the bank’s data including network behavior, and Know Your Customer (KYC) data.
Q.4. Which airline has placed an order for 500 Airbus A320 Family aircraft in the largest purchase agreement in aviation history?
Exp. IndiGo makes historic order for 500 Airbus planes worth USD 50 billion
India’s largest airline by market share, Indigo has placed an order for 500 Airbus A320 Family aircraft in the largest purchase agreement in aviation history.
This historic deal is pegged at $50 billion at list prices and the airline will take delivery of these new aircraft between 2030 and 2035.
The current order comprises a mix of A320 neo, A321 neo, and A321 xlr aircraft
The engine selection for this order will be done in due course and so will be the exact mix of A320 and A321 aircraft.
At the moment IndiGo operates over 300 aircraft and has previous orders totaling 480 aircraft which are expected to be delivered by the end of 2030.
With this additional firm order of 500 aircraft for 2030-2035, IndiGo’s order book has almost 1,000 aircraft yet to be delivered well into the next decade.
Currently, IndiGo operates flights to 26 international destinations, serving 75 international city pairs.
With its fleet of over 300 aircraft, the airline is operating well over 1,800 daily flights connecting 78 domestic destinations.
Q.5. Which of the following state / UTs has celebrated Vitasta Mahotsav?
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah addresses the Vitasta Mahotsav organized by the Ministry of Culture as the chief guest in Srinagar.
The objective of Vitasta Mahotsav is to acquaint the whole country with the great cultural heritage, diversity and uniqueness of Kashmir.
The festival focuses on the folk beliefs associated with the Vitasta (Jhelum) river.
Q.6. What is the rank of India in Global Gender Gap Index 2023 released by World Economic Forum (WEF)?
World’s Most Criminal Countries Ranking – India ranked 77th; topped by Venezuela
Stanford University’s annual Al Index report 2023 – India ranked 5th; topped by USA
Q.7. RBI has recently imposed a monetary penalty on which bank for non-compliance with certain provisions of the RBI’s directions on Prudential Norms on Income Recognition, Asset Classification, and Provisioning pertaining to Advances – Credit Card Accounts?
Exp. RBI imposes Rs 2.5 crore penalty on Jammu & Kashmir Bank, Axis Bank
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty on three private and public sector lenders.
The central bank charged Jammu & Kashmir Bank with ₹2.5 crore penalty, while the Bank of Maharashtra faced a fine of ₹1.45 crore. Axis Bank received the least amount of penalty among them to the tune of ₹30 lakh.
RBI imposed a ₹2.5 crore penalty on J&K Bank for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Creation of a Central Repository of Large Common Exposures-Across Banks.
The RBI has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 1.45 crore on Bank of Maharashtra for non-compliance with specific directions issued by the RBI.
Axis Bank has been levied a monetary penalty of Rs 30 lakh by the RBI for non-compliance with certain provisions of the RBI’s directions on Prudential Norms on Income Recognition, Asset Classification, and Provisioning pertaining to Advances – Credit Card Accounts.
About Axis Bank
Founded – 1993
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Chairman – Rakesh Makhija
MD & CEO – Amitabh Chaudhary
Tagline – Badhti Ka naam Zindagi
Q.8. Who has been appointed as the president of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry Women’s Vertical (BRICS CCI WE) for a three-year term?
तीनसालकेकार्यकालकेलिएब्रिक्सचैंबरऑफकॉमर्सएंडइंडस्ट्रीविमेनवर्टिकल (BRICS CCI WE) काअध्यक्षकिसेनियुक्तकियागयाहै?
(a) Ruby Sinha/ रूबी सिन्हा
(b) Aruna Miller / अरुणा मिलर
(c) Apsara A Iyer / अप्सरा ए अय्यर
(d) Janani Ramachandran / जननी रामचंद्रन
(e) Sonia Guajajara / सोनिया गुज्जारा
Answer & Explanation
Ans.8.(a)
Exp. Ruby Sinha appointed as the President of BRICS CCI WE
Ruby Sinha has been appointed as the president of BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry Women’s Vertical (BRICS CCI WE) for a three-year term.
Sinha takes over from Shabana Nasim, who has become the Executive Director of BRICS CCI and Chief Patron of BRICS CCI WE.
An entrepreneur herself, Ruby Sinha is the founder of SheAtWork, a knowledge hub for women entrepreneurs, and Kommune Brand Communications.
BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry works towards promoting active trade, commerce and entrepreneurship between the BRICS and other friendly nations.
BRICS CCI is a parent organisation that promotes commerce and industry in the BRICS and other friendly nations. The chamber, founded in 2012, is a not-for-profit and non-governmental organisation. BRICS CCI is a registered body under the Societies Registration ‘Act 1860, Government of India and empanelled with Niti Aayog.
The Women Vertical of BRICS CCI has been created with a prime focus on women empowerment initiatives and policies across geographies.
The objective of the women’s wing is to create an enabling support system for women entrepreneurs and professionals across geographies.
Q.9. Who has been appointed as the Chairman of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC)?
President Droupadi Murmu has appointed former Allahabad high court judge Umesh Kumar as the new chairman of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC).
This appointment comes after justice (retired) Rajeev Kumar Shrivastava (Madhya Pradesh high court), who had been proposed for appointment as DERC chairperson by the GNCTD.
The President of India has appointed him under the sub-section 2 of Section 84 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
Recent Appointment
MD & CEO of PTC India Financial Services Ltd (PFS) – Mahendra Lodha
Chairman of GIFT City – Hasmukh Adhia (replace Sudhir Mankad)
CEO of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) – Amit Agrawal
First Muslim woman federal judge in US history – Nusrat Chowdhary
Chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) – Ravi Sinha (replace Samant Kumar Goel)
Q.10. Who has received the Guinness World Record Award certificate to become the first men’s player to make 200 international appearances?
Exp. Cristiano Ronaldo receives Guinness World Record award
Portuguese football player, Cristiano Ronaldo has received the Guinness World Record Award certificate to become the first men’s player to make 200 international appearances.
He celebrated the milestone by scoring the winning goal in the 89th minute as Portugal beat Iceland in European Championship qualifying.
He received a Guinness World Records certificate before the game.
The closest to Ronaldo’s tally is Bader Al-Mutawa, who was capped by Kuwait on 196 occasions.
Recent Awards
Olympic Order by IOC – Tedros Ghebreyesus (DG of WHO)
First Prof. Kothapalli Jayashankar Award – Acharya Gopi
German Peace Prize 2023 – Salman Rushdie
45th European Essay Prize – Arundhati Roy (for ‘Azadi’ Essay)
‘Athi Uttam’ by the NABET – GSITI Hyderabad
Elizabeth Longford Prize 2023 – Ramachandra Guha (for Rebels Against the Raj)
Q.11. American firm General Electric has signed an MoU with which Indian company to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force (IAF)?
(d) Tata Advanced Systems / टाटा एडवांस्ड सिस्टम्स
(e) Bharat Electronics Limited / भारत इलेक्ट्रॉनिक्स लिमिटेड
Answer & Explanation
Ans.11.(a)
Exp. GE Aerospace signs MoU with HAL to produce fighter jet engines
American firm General Electric has signed an MoU with India’s state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The agreement includes the potential joint production of GE Aerospace’s F414 engines in India, and GE Aerospace continues to work with the US government to receive the necessary export authorization for this.
Once cleared, HAL will carry out the work at its Engine Division facility in Bengaluru and the co-production will not be through a joint venture.
The F414 engines will be co-produced in India to power the Indian Air Force’s Light Combat Aircraft Mk2.
Eight F414 engines have already been delivered as part of an ongoing development program for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk2.
Recent MoU
ICAR signed MOU with Amazon Kisan to empower farmers
NHPC signs MoU with Maharashtra for renewable energy projects
Microsoft, AirJaldi Networks collaborate to provide internet access
IIT-Kharagpur signed MoU with HCL for collaboration in petroleum engineering
Microsoft joins hands with Skill Development Ministry to train students, teachers
Q.12. Which IITs has successfully conducted a test flight for cloud seeding?
Exp. IIT Kanpur successfully conducts test flight for cloud seeding
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur has successfully conducted a test flight for cloud seeding.
Cloud seeding involves the utilization of various chemical agents such as silver iodide, dry ice, common salt, and other elements with the aim of enhancing the probability of rains.
The project was initiated a few years ago and is headed by the Computer Science and Engineering Department of IIT Kanpur.
The flight went up to an approximate height of 5,000 feet. It landed on the IIT Kanpur lab airstrip after successfully completing the test ride.
The experiment was conducted with due approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
IITs in News
YES Bank collaborates with IIT Kanpur to offer support to Incubated Startups
IIT Madras partnered with DRDO to develop sensor technology for underwater communications
IIT Madras will set up its first international campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania in October 2023
Q.13. Hockey Madhya Pradesh has won the 13th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2023 after defeating which team in the Final at the iconic Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium?
Exp. Madhya Pradesh won13th India Junior Men National Championship
Hockey Madhya Pradesh won the 13th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2023 after defeating Hockey Chandigarh in the Final at the iconic Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium.
Hockey Madhya Pradesh defeated Hockey Chandigarh by 4-2 in the Final.
Meanwhile, Hockey Haryana defeated Hockey Association of Odisha to finish third in the competition.
The goalscorers for Hockey Madhya Pradesh were Shreyas Dhupe (17’, 46’), Mohd Konain Dad (25’), and Ali Ahmad (52’). Meanwhile, Sumit (9′) and Surinder Singh (31′) scored for Hockey Chandigarh.
Q.14. Who is the author of a new book titled “Finance Ministers of India: From Independence to the Emergency (1947-1977)”?
Exp. 24 June – International Day of Women in Diplomacy
International Women’s Day in Diplomacy (IDWID) is observed annually on 24 June.
It is a day to honor and recognize notable women in the field of diplomacy and decision-making globally.
Theme 2023 – Breaking Barriers, Shaping the Future: Women in Diplomacy for Sustainable Development
IDWID was created just last year, at the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which began on September 14, 2021 and concluded on September 13, 2022. The resolution was adopted by the UNGA on June 20, 2022.
It recognised that as part of the 2030 SDG target, highlighting women’s contributions in diplomacy, the need for equal participation of women in decision-making was a vital need.
To this end the UNGA declared June 24 as the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.
