Current Affairs Quiz 24th April 2024 Quiz

Exp. Reliance Jio emerges as World’s largest mobile operator in data traffic

Reliance Jio become the world’s largest mobile operator in terms of data traffic, ahead of China Mobile.

The total traffic on the Jio network has reached 40.9 Exabytes, which is a 35.2 percent year-on-year increase. Also, Jio has a very strong and wide subscriber base of 481.8 million.

Jio has also become the first Indian company to cross the ₹100,000-crore threshold in pre-tax profits.

The annual data traffic has dramatically increased by 2.4 times since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the monthly per capita data usage has skyrocketed to 28.7 GB from just 13.3 GB three years ago.

Exp. Air India signed codeshare pact with Japan’s All Nippon Airways

Air India has entered into a codeshare partnership with Japan’s All Nippon Airways.

With the codeshare, effective for travel from May 23, Air India and All Nippon Airways passengers can fly to their desired destination by combining those flights between India and Japan with a single ticket.

Air India will add its ‘AI’ designator code on ANA’s flights between Tokyo Haneda and Delhi as well as Tokyo Narita and Mumbai.

ANA will add its ‘NH’ designator code on Air India’s flight between Tokyo Narita and Delhi.

Exp. India’s Gita Sabharwal Appointed as UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Gita Sabharwal of India as the United Nations resident coordinator in Indonesia.

Sabharwal, brings close to 30 years of experience in development supporting climate transition, sustainable peace, governance and social policy, while leveraging digital technology and data to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Previously, Sabharwal served as the UN resident coordinator in Thailand and as peacebuilding and development adviser for the United Nations in Sri Lanka.

Exp. Indian Bank ties up with Tata Solar Power to finance Central Rooftop Solar scheme

Indian Bank has entered into a strategic partnership with Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd. (TPSSL) to boost solar energy adoption by providing financial support to residential consumers for installations.

The collaboration aims to provide financial support under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana scheme for installations up to 3 KW, and from 3-10 KW under the regular scheme.

Residential consumers can avail loans up to ₹2 lakh at an annual interest rate of 7%, with a nominal margin money requirement of 10% and collateral-free financing. The repayment tenure is 10 years.

For installations exceeding 3-10 KW, eligible applicants can avail loans up to ₹6 lakh with a margin money requirement of 20%. Interest rate ranges from 8.4% to 10.8% per annum.

About PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

• The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is a central government scheme that PM Narendra Modi launched on 13 February 2024.
• The Scheme aims to provide free electricity to one crore households in India.
• Households can get 300 units of free electricity per month by installing a rooftop solar electricity generating unit.
• The government of India has allocated Rs 75,021 crore for PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.

Eligibility for the Scheme

• The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is for Indian citizens who own a house with a roof suitable for installing solar panels.
• The household must have an electricity connection. Also, the beneficiary household must not have been provided with any other subsidy for solar panels.

Features of the Scheme

• Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the government provides a subsidy for households to install rooftop solar units.
• For solar units up to 2KW capacity, a subsidy of 60% of the solar unit cost is provided and 40% of additional system cost for systems between 2 to 3 KW capacity.
• No subsidy is provided for rooftop solar units above 3 KW capacity.

Exp. BharatPe launches all-in-one payment device BharatPe One

BharatPe has launched a payments device that combines point of sale (POS), QR code, and speaker functionalities.

The payments startup will introduce BharatPe One in some 100 cities and expand to another 450 in six months.

BharatPe One will streamline transactions for merchants, offering versatile payment acceptance options including dynamic and static QR codes, POS, and speaker capabilities, said the company.

The device is part of BharatPe’s suite of simple, easy-to-use, and secure fintech products, which includes payments and business loans for its merchant partners.

The device provides a comprehensive payment solution for businesses, helping them manage transactions efficiently. The device’s versatility allows merchants to cater to various customer preferences, enhancing the overall payment experience.

Recent Facilities Launched in Banking & Insurance Sector

• Airtel Payments Bank launches NCMC-enabled Debit and Prepaid Cards
• SBI Life Insurance launched the 1st edition of ‘IdeationX’ to revolutionize the future of the insurance industry.
• BharatPe to launch a new app called ‘ZeroPe’, an app designed for medical loans.
• Bandhan Mutual Fund launched Bandhan Innovation Fund
• Canara Bank unveiled a series of new products Canara UPI 123PAY ASI, Canara HRMS Mobile App for Staff, Canara Angel, Canara Heal

Exp. Nidhi Jain appointed as CVO of Cotton Corporation of India

The Central Government has approved the appointment of Nidhi S Jain (IA&AS) as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of Cotton Corporation of India Limited (CCI).

She has been appointed to the post for an initial period of three years.

Nidhi is an Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) service officer of 2009-batch. Presently, she is posted as Director of Audit (Environment & Scientific Departments), Branch office, Mumbai.

Recent Appointment

• CEO of Pine Labs’ Setu – Anand Raisinghani (replace Sahil Kini)
• 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. Prof Naima Khatoon become the first women VC of AMU

Professor Naima Khatoon has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

The Ministry of Education appointed Khatoon after receiving approval from President Droupadi Murmu, who serves as the Visitor of the university.

With that, AMU has also become the third central university to have a woman Vice-Chancellor. While Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit is is the current VC of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Najma Akhtar completed her tenure as the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia in 2023.

Ms Khatoon is the first woman to be appointed to the post in the varsity’s 123-year history. Begum Sultan Jahan became the Chancellor of AMU in 1920, making her the first and only woman to hold the position.

About Naima Khatoon

• Naima Khatoon started her professional journey as a lecturer at AMU in August 1988.
• She gradually rose through the ranks, becoming an Associate Professor in April 1998 and eventually a Professor in July 2006.
• She served as the Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Psychology before being appointed Principal at Women’s College in July 2014.

About Aligarh Muslim University

• The Aligarh Muslim University was established in 1920 under the Aligarh Muslim University Act, 1920.
• The origin of the Aligarh Muslim University is traced to the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College set up on 7 January 1877 by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.
• The University has three study centers at Murshidabad in West Bengal, at Mallapurum in Kerala and at Kishanganj in Bihar.  

Exp. Medanta Gurugram ranks on Newsweek’s 2024 list of the ‘World’s Best Hospitals’

Medanta – The Medicity, Gurugram operated by Global Health Limited has once again been named as the best private hospital in India by the prestigious ‘Newsweek – World’s Best Hospitals 2024’ rankings.

This is the fifth consecutive year that Medanta has achieved the status as the best private hospital in India.

Medanta also remains the only private hospital from India to feature in the top 250 hospitals of the world.

Newsweek, in collaboration with Statista Inc., examined data from 2,400 hospitals across 30 countries. The final rankings are based on feedback from over 85,000 medical experts as well as patient survey results and public data from post hospitalization satisfaction.

Key metrics such as hygiene standards, patient-to-doctor ratios, as well as Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) have been used to ensure a holistic assessment of healthcare service quality on a global scale.

Exp. Puravankara bags CIDC Vishwakarma Award for Social Development and Impact

Puravankara Limited, one of India’s most trusted and admired real estate developers, has bagged the Achievement Award for Creating Social Development and Impact at the 15th Edition of the Vishwakarma Awards, hosted by the Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC).

CIDC is a  joint initiative by the Niti Aayog and the Indian construction industry.

The award recognises Puravankara’s exemplary efforts in driving positive change through its impactful campaigns, particularly its collaboration with the Biome Environmental Trust in rejuvenating heritage wells as part of the “Million Wells for Bengaluru” campaign.

This initiative reflects Puravankara’s commitment to environmental sustainability and community empowerment.

Recent Awards

• World Press Photo of the Year award 2024 – Mohammed Salem
• 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

Exp. The Oscar-nabbing success of Christopher Nolan’s Best Picture winner, Cillian Murphy emerged victorious once again at the 21st annual Irish Film & Television Awards (IFTAs), held in Dublin.

The actor secured the coveted Best Actor award for his portrayal of the titular American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, which swept up a majority of the award season last year.

The awards ceremony, held at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre and hosted by Baz Ashmawy, celebrated excellence in Irish cinema and television honouring established talents and emerging stars alike.

An adaptation of John McGahern’s novel about passion, war and migration – That They May Face the Rising Sun took home the top prize for Best Film at the ceremony.

Director Lisa Mulcahy received the Best Director award for Lies We Tell, while Elisabeth Gooch won Best Script for the same film.

Exp. Yuzvendra Chahal becomes first bowler with historic 200 IPL wickets

Yuzvendra Chahal became the first bowler to pick up 200 wickets in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The leg-spinner accomplished the milestone in RR’s match against Hardik Pandya’s MI at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

Chahal has been an asset for the Royals since he joined them in the 2022 edition of the T20 league.

in 2022, the veteran won the Purple Cap when RR finished as the runners-up after losing to Gujarat in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.  

Exp. Saurav Ghosal retires from Professional Squash

India’s finest men’s squash player Saurav Ghosal has announced his retirement from professional circuit after completing a glittering 22-year journey although he would continue representing the country at multi-discipline events for some more time.

Besides winning two gold medals in team events of Incheon and Hangzhou Asian Games, Ghosal has three Commonwealth Games medals and also bagged the yellow metal in the 2022 World Doubles Championships in mixed doubles in Glasgow.

Kolkata-born Ghosal also remains the only Indian man to reach the world’s top 10, achieving that career-high ranking in April 2019 and spending six months there.

Saurav Ghosal started his professional career in squash in 2003. He has won 10 Professional Squash Association (PSA) titles and has reached the finals of the 18 PSA tournaments.

Recently Retired Players

• Collins Obuya (Kenya) – International cricket
• Matthew Wade (Australia) – First-class cricket
• Neil Wagner (New Zealand) – International cricket
• Manoj Tiwary (West Bengal) – All forms of cricket
• Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa) – Test cricket
• David Warner (Australia) – International ODI & Test

Exp. 24-30 April – World Immunization Week

Every year for World Immunization Week, the last week of April, the global immunization community celebrates the lifesaving power of vaccines.

The day also aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease.

Theme 2024 – Humanly Possible

In May 2012, the World Health Assembly, the body that makes decisions for the World Health Organization (WHO), approved World Immunisation Week. More than 180 nations took part in the inaugural World Immunisation Week, which was held in 2012.

Exp. 24 April – National Panchayati Raj Day

India celebrates National Panchayati Raj Day every year on 24 April.

It marks the creation of the Panchayati Raj System, a way of governing that started in 1993 with the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act.

This system gives power to local groups, called Gramme Panchayats, to run their areas and decide how they develop.

The Panchayati Raj System is a big step for democracy, especially in rural places. It lets local groups make decisions about their communities. This makes democracy more active, with people taking part in choices that affect them directly.

Why Is Panchayati Raj Important?

• Panchayati Raj is important because it brings democracy down to the village level. People who understand the local needs and challenges can make decisions about things like:

Building roads and schools

Providing clean water and sanitation

Managing healthcare facilities

Exp. 24 April – International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace

International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace is observed every year on 24 April.

This day aims to promote the principles of multilateralism and diplomacy in resolving global challenges and conflicts.

The Day acknowledges the use of multilateral decision-making and diplomacy in achieving peaceful resolutions to conflicts among nations.

The first International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace was celebrated on April 24, 2019. It was first proposed by the delegation of Azerbaijan to the United Nations in 2018 as a way to promote and reinforce the principles of multilateralism and diplomacy in international affairs.