Current Affairs Quiz 24th August 2023 Quiz

Exp. Jitendra Singh unveils new lotus variety ‘Namoh 108’

Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh has unveiled a new variety of lotus flower with 108 petals, named “Namoh 108”, developed by the city-based National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI).

The “NBRI Namoh 108” lotus variety flowers from March to December and is the first flower whose genome is completely sequenced for its characteristics.

NBRI is a constituent institution of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Singh also released apparel made from lotus fibre and the perfume ‘Frotus’, extracted from lotus flowers and developed by the NBRI under the Lotus Research Programme in collaboration with Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre, Kannauj.

The minister also launched the Lotus Mission and this project was being undertaken in a mission mode like other priority schemes such as the National Honey and Bee Mission, National Bamboo Mission, National Food Security Mission, National Mission on Natural Farming, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture and Gokul Mission.

Exp. 4th G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) Meeting begins in Varanasi

The 4th G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) Meeting begins in Varanasi. It will culminate in the Culture Ministers’ Meeting (CMM) on the 26th of this month.

Delegates from G20 member nations, invitee countries, and various international organizations will attend it.

Building upon the success of the previous three CWG meetings in Khajuraho, Bhubaneswar, and Hampi, as well as the four Global Thematic Webinars, the 4th CWG meeting in Varanasi aims to arrive at actionable outcomes while positioning culture at the heart of policy-making.

During the meet, the delegates will have the opportunity to experience the world-renowned Ganga Aarti on the banks of the river Ganga and explore the beautiful history of the lion capital of Sarnath.

The G20 Global Orchestra performance titled “Sur Vasudha” celebrating the rich musical knowledge and heritage of G20 member nations and invitee countries will be presented in Varanasi.

The CWG will also release a special stamp to commemorate the Culture Unites All’ campaign to highlight India’s unwavering belief in multilateralism.

G20 in News (Note – All Meetings are Under the Presidency of G20 by India)

• 4th G20 Trade and Investment Working Group Meeting – Jaipur, Rajasthan (21 – 22 August 2023)
• G20 Film Festival – New Delhi (Opening film – Satyajit Ray’s “Pather Panchali”)
• Youth 20 Summit – Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (17 – 20 August 2023)
• 4th G20 Digital Economy Working Group Meetings – Bengaluru, Karnataka (16 – 19 August 2023)
• 3rd G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting – Kolkata, West Bengal (9 – 10 August 2023)
• Think20 Secretariat Summit – Mysuru, Karnataka (31 July – 2 August 2023)

Exp. ICG signs MoU with Philippine Coast Guard to enhance maritime cooperation

Indian Coastal Guard (ICG) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on enhanced maritime cooperation.

The MoU was signed by DG Rakesh Pal, Director General Indian Coast Guard and CG Admiral Artemio M Abu, Commandant, PCG at the Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi.

The MoU inked seeks to enhance the professional linkage between the two Coast Guards in the domain of Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE), Maritime Search & Rescue (M-SAR) and Marine Pollution Response (MPR).

The implementation of this MoU will enhance bilateral maritime cooperation between the two nations for ensuring safe, secure and clean seas in the region.

Recently India signed MoUs with others countries

• India signs MoU with Trinidad and Tobago on sharing INDIA STACK
• India and Laos sign MOUs for five quick impact projects in education, health, water facility, and IT.
• India & Argentina signs MoU for bilateral exchange of young researchers
• India & Sri Lanka sign MoU on cooperation in field of renewable energy
• India & Singapore sign MoU to co-operate on public administration

Exp. Singapore’s BOC Aviation signs financing pact with Indigo

Singapore-headquartered BOC Aviation Limited and India’s largest airline IndiGo have entered into a finance lease transaction involving 10 Airbus A320NEO aircraft to further expand its fleet.

All 10 aircraft powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines are scheduled for delivery in 2023, said BOC Aviation.

India is currently among the fastest-growing civil aviation markets in the world and these aircraft will help IndiGo consolidate its position in the region.

BOC Aviation is a leading global aircraft operating leasing company with a fleet of 652 aircraft owned, managed, and on order. Its owned and managed fleet was leased to 91 airlines in 42 countries and regions worldwide as of June 30, 2023

With its fleet of over 300 aircraft, the airline is operating about 1,900 daily flights and connecting 79 domestic destinations and will soon further grow its footprint to 32 international destinations.

Exp. OneElectric: The First Indian EV Company to Start Production in Africa

One Electric Motorcycles announced that the company has started manufacturing its flagship electric motorcycle “KRIDN” locally in Africa.

The company has entered into a JV with a local established vehicle manufacturing entity.

One Electric has provided complete components, technology, and know-how for the assembly of its motorcycles.

One Electric also has plans to set up a battery manufacturing plant in Africa by end of the current year as volumes soar. After consolidation in Africa, the company is already in talks to expand into other markets like South America and Southeast Asia.

Exp. First ABDM Microsite by National Health Authority launched in Aizawl

The National Health Authority (NHA) announced 100 microsites project to accelerate the adoption of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) nationwide.

In India, Mizoram became the first state to operationalize an ABDM microsite

All healthcare facilities, including the private clinics and labs, will be made ABDM-enabled and will offer digital health services.

The 100-microsite project under the ABDM is a vital initiative for reaching out to the bulk of small and medium-scale healthcare providers from the private sector.

The concept of microsites was envisaged to provide a strong impetus to healthcare digitization efforts across the country. The efforts by Mizoram team have resulted in Aizawl becoming the first ABDM microsite in India.

The ABDM microsites are geographical regions where efforts are made to onboard small and medium-scale private healthcare providers.  

Exp. Kerala’s first AI school launched in Thiruvananthapuram

The state of Kerala has introduced its first AI school situated at Santhigiri Vidyabhavan in Thiruvananthapuram.

It was inaugurated by the Former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.

The pioneering AI School has been developed in collaboration with iLearning Engines (ILE) USA, a globally renowned educational platform, and Vedhik eSchool.

According to Vedhik eSchool authorities, AI school introduces an innovative learning approach that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to offer students an international standard of education.

This unique system ensures quality learning experiences not only during school hours but also beyond, through the school’s online portal.

The AI-powered features of the school include Multi-Teacher Revision Support, Multilevel Assessment, Aptitude Tests, Psychometric Counseling, Career Mapping, Ability Enhancement, Memory Techniques, Communication and Writing Skills, Interview and Group Discussion Skills, Mathematical Skills, Behavioral Etiquette, English Language Proficiency, and the Development of Emotional-Mental Abilities Training.

About Kerala

• Capital – Thiruvananthapuram
• Chief Minister – Pinarayi Vijayan
• Governor – Arif Mohammad Khan

Exp. 6 Countries to join BRICS from 1 January 2024

In a significant geopolitical development, the BRICS alliance has announced the inclusion of six new member countries.

These countries are Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, and will join Brazil, Russia, China, India, and South Africa. The membership will take effect from 1 January 2024.

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, the host nation of the recent BRICS summit, made a historic announcement on August 24th, revealing the names of the new entrants to the alliance.

This move not only diversifies the alliance but also provides a platform for emerging economies from different regions to align their interests on the global stage.

Exp. LIC acquires 6.7% stake in Jio Financial Services via RIL demerger action

The Life Insurance Corporation of India has acquired 6.660 percent stake in Jio Financial Services owing to the de-merger action by Reliance Industries.

Jio Financial de-merged from Reliance Industries on July 13, as a part of which shareholders of RIL were allotted one share of Jio Financial for every share held.

The cost of acquisition is equivalent to 4.68 percent of the pre-de-merged cost of Reliance Industries. The country’s largest insurer held 6.49 percent stake in RIL at the end of June 2023.

Exp. CVC reconstitutes advisory board on bank frauds

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has reconstituted the Advisory Board on Banking and Financial Frauds (ABBFF) that conducts the first-level examination of bank frauds before recommendations or references are made to investigative by agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The reconstituted APBFF will be chaired by Suresh N Patel, the former Central Vigilance Commissioner.

Besides the Chairman, there are four Members and the tenure of the Chairman/ Members would be for two years with effect from August 21, according to an order issued by the CVC.

The four Members of the advisory board are Ravikant, a retired IAS officer; Rajnikant Mishra, former Director General, BSF; David Rasquinha, former MD of Exim Bank; and Partha Pratim Sengupta, former MD & CEO of Indian Overseas Bank.

The ABBFF has been empowered to examine the role of officials/ wholetime directors (including ex-officials/ ex-wholetime directors) in public sector banks, public sector insurance companies; and public sector financial institutions in case of frauds amounting to ₹ 3 crore and above

The CVC has now stipulated that all PSBs, public sector insurance companies, and public sector financial institutions should refer all matters of frauds involving ₹3 crore and above to the board for advice

Exp. IndusInd Bank launches multi-branded credit card with Qatar Airways

IndusInd Bank has launched a first-of-its-kind multi-branded credit card – ‘IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card’ for all customers, in partnership with British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club.

This credit card aims to offer best-in-class rewards and benefits to customers, across travel, wellness, and lifestyle experiences.

The card is available in a sleek ‘metal card’ variant, tailored to meet the needs of our valued customers.

Customers can opt for their preferred airline loyalty programme at the time of the application as well as select their preferred international destination to maximise the opportunity to collect Avios, the rewards currency for British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club, and enjoy a host of other benefits.

IndusInd Bank

• Founded – 1994
• Founder – S.P. Hinduja
• Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra,
• MD & CEO – Sumant Kathpalia
• Tagline – We Make You Feel Richer

Exp. Manoj Kohli appointed as Chairman of Smart eMobility

Manoj Kohli has been appointed as Chairman of Smart eMobility.

Manoj Kohli, who previously held the position of Country Head at SoftBank India, is a highly accomplished entrepreneur with a proven track record.

He is passionate about driving industry transformations in various fields, including mobile internet, renewable energy, digital unicorns, and electric vehicles.

Smart eMobility is a fast-growing PaaS provider that offers comprehensive platform and end-to-end solutions for stakeholders in the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem

Recent Appointment

• CEO of Viacom 18 for digital business – Kiran Mani
• Part-time chairperson of UIDAI – Neelkanth Mishra
• Chairman of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) – CJ of the Calcutta HC Prakash Shrivastava (replace Shiv Kumar Singh)
• Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) – Shrikant Madhav Vaidya (reappointment)
• Additional Director General of Indian Coast Guard – S Paramesh

Exp. Khelo India Women’s League officially be known as Asmita Women’s League

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur has announced that the Khelo India Women’s League will officially be known as Asmita Women’s League.

ASMITA refers to Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action.

The Asmita Portal serves as a comprehensive resource, offering valuable insights into upcoming leagues among other features. It will enable any school, college, government, or private organization to host the ‘Asmita Women’s League’ and be part of Khelo India’s march towards sporting excellence.

The Government’s resolute commitment to bolstering women’s sports has paved the way for enhanced opportunities, facilities, and world-class infrastructure at elite and grassroots levels.

Thakur appreciated the entire team of Khelo India for conceptualizing the idea and developing Asmita Portal and new logo saying that it is a significant stride towards the digitalization of Indian Sports.

Exp. India becomes the first country to Land on South Pole of the Moon

India has scripted history with the successful soft landing of its lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 on the south pole region of the Moon.

With this achievement, India has become the first country to land on the Moon’s challenging South Pole region.

Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third lunar mission aimed at studying the Moon’s geology, its water resources, and its potential for future human exploration.

This achievement marks India’s entry into an elite group of four nations that have touched the moon’s surface. Besides India, US, Russia and China are the only countries to successfully land a spacecraft on the lunar surface.

Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2, and its objectives included; demonstrate safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, roving on the Moon, and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments.

ISRO’s previous Moon mission Chandrayaan-2 had failed in its lunar phase when its lander ‘Vikram’ crashed into the surface of the Moon minutes before the touch-down following anomalies in the braking system in the lander while attempting a landing on September 7, 2019. Chandrayaan’s maiden mission was in 2008.

The Rs 615 crore third Moon mission was launched on July 14 onboard Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3) rocket, for a 41-day voyage to reach near the lunar south pole.

The moon’s south pole is one of the harder places on the lunar surface to land because it is heavily boulder strewn, without the wide, flat expanses that the Apollo astronauts and early uncrewed landers targeted in the equatorial regions of the moon’s Earth-facing hemisphere.

Of the spacecraft that have crashed in the south pole, none got close enough to try to negotiate the boulder fields. That ISRO was able to do so—briefly placing Chandrayaan-3 in hover mode when it was 850 m (2,800 ft.) above the surface while it looked for a clear parking spot—is a testament both to the nimbleness of the ship and the deft touch of the engineers in mission control.

India’s Chandrayaan-1, launched in 2008, proved those theories correct. An on-board spectrometer confirmed the existence of the icy regolith, and a 29 kg (64 lb.) impactor probe dropped on the south pole proved the existence of water there too just before it hit.

For future astronauts hoping to settle the moon and live off the land, that matters a lot. Not only can ice be harvested for drinking water, the H20 molecule can be broken down to provide breathable oxygen, and the hydrogen and oxygen can be recombined to make rocket fuel.

About Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)

• Founded – 15 August 1969
• Headquarters – Bangalore, Karnataka
• Founder / 1st Chairman – Vikram Sarabhai
• 10th Chairman – S Somanath
• Aryabhata India’s first satellites Launched on 19 April 1975