Current Affairs Quiz 24th December 2024 Quiz

Exp. Arvind Kejriwal launches Dr Ambedkar Samman Scholarship for Dalit students

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal has launched a new scholarship programme aimed at Dalit students in Delhi.

The scheme, named the Dr Ambedkar Samman Scholarship, will cover all expenses for Dalit students wishing to pursue higher education abroad.

The Delhi government would bear the entire cost of tuition, travel, and accommodation for those Dalit students who are accepted into foreign universities.  

Exp. Govt to infuse Rs 500 cr in IFCI to improve its financial health

The government has decided to infuse Rs 500 crore capital in state-owned IFCI to improve its financial health ahead of the company’s proposed restructuring and consolidation into a group.

With the infusion, the government of India’s holding in the company is expected to further increase from existing 71.72 per cent as on September 2024.

The capital infusion plan for IFCI was approved through the passage of the first Supplementary Demand for Grants for 2024-25 in Lok Sabha last week.

The Supplementary Demand for Grants for 2024-25 made an allocation for an additional amount of Rs 499.99 crore for ‘Subscription to the Share Capital of Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI).

The Industrial Finance Corporation of India was set up by the government on July 1, 1948 as the first Development Financial Institution in the country.

In the second quarter ended September 2024, IFCI had booked a loss of Rs 22 crore and in the first half of FY24, a loss to the tune of Rs 170 crore.

Exp. ISRO-European Space Agency Sign Deal For Cooperation In Astronaut Training

 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has entered into an agreement with European Space Agency (ESA) for cooperation on activities related to astronaut training, mission implementation, and research experiments.

The agreement was signed by ISRO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space (DOS) Dr S Somanath and ESA Director General Dr Josef Aschbacher.

The agreement provides a framework for cooperative activities in human space exploration and research, especially in areas such as astronaut training, support for experiment development and integration, using ESA facilities on the International Space Station (ISS), human and biomedical research experiment implementation as well as joint education and outreach activities.

For the upcoming Axiom-4 mission in which ISRO’s Gaganyatri and ESA’s astronaut are crew members, both agencies are collaborating to implement shortlisted experiments by Indian Principal Investigators on ISS.

Exp. South Korea successfully launches 3rd spy satellite into orbit

South Korea successfully placed into orbit its third homegrown spy satellite launched from a US space centre.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the satellite normally lifted off  from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California as planned.

It is the third military satellite launched under South Korea’s plan to acquire five spy satellites by 2025. South Korea has previously relied largely on satellite imagery provided by the United States.  

Exp. Snack Brand Epigamia Founder Rohan Mirchandani Dies

Snack foods firm Epigamia’s founder Rohan Mirchandani died at the age of 41.

Mirchandani, an alumnus of NYU Stern and The Wharton School, founded Drums Food International in 2013.

Under his leadership, Epigamia transitioned from a modest venture into a household name in urban India, offering a diverse range of health-focused products. The brand’s reach extended to over 20,000 retail points across 30 cities, with plans for expansion into the Middle East by 2025-26.

Exp. Russian tennis player Daniil Savelev suspended for 2 years for doping

Russian tennis player Daniil Savelev has been handed a two-year suspension for violating anti-doping regulations.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced that Savelev tested positive for the prohibited substance meldonium during a test conducted in July 2024.

Consequently, he has been provisionally suspended since August of the same year, and his suspension will conclude in August 2026.

At the time of the violation, Savelev had achieved a career-high world doubles ranking of 1,486 in August 2022.

Exp. 23 December – National Farmer’s Day

 Kisan Diwas, or National Farmer’s Day, is observed annually on December 23 to honour the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, India’s fifth Prime Minister and a dedicated advocate for farmers.

This day is celebrated to express gratitude to the farmers who form the foundation of the country’s economy.

Theme 2024 – Empowering ‘Annadatas’ for a Prosperous Nation

 Kisan Diwas, or National Farmer’s Day, is observed annually on December 23 to honour the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, India’s fifth Prime Minister and a dedicated advocate for farmers.

In 2001, the Government of India designated December 23 as Kisan Diwas to commemorate Chaudhary Charan Singh’s contributions toward the upliftment of farmers.

Exp. IREDA Bags Triple Honours at 14th PSE Excellence Awards

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) has been honoured with three awards at the 14th PSE Excellence Awards ceremony, organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in New Delhi.

The company won Gold Awards in the Mini Ratna category for “Corporate Governance” and “Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability.”

Additionally, IREDA received the Silver Award for “Operational Performance Excellence.”

The awards were presented by Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, Former Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, and Shri Apurv Kumar Mishra, Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.

Recent Award

• Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi’ award for leadership – External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar
• Bhutan’s royal honour – Renowned Indian educationist Arun Kapur
• Jamsetji Tata Award by Indian Society for Quality (ISQ) – Kiran Mazumdars
• J C Daniel Award for 2023 – J C Daniel Award
• Social Security Good Practices at Asia-Pacific forum in Saudi – EPFO

Exp. DoCA to launch apps to empower consumers to identify dark patterns on website

The Department of Consumer Affairs  will launch the ‘Jago Grahak Jago App,’ and ‘Jagriti App,’ for public use on National Consumers Day 2024.

These apps will empower consumers with tools to identify dark patterns on e-commerce platforms.

Also, the Central Consumer Protection Authority is being strengthened with the ‘Jagriti Dashboard’ which is used to generate real-time reports on e-commerce URLs for the presence of dark patterns, enhancing the capability to monitor and regulate online consumer interactions effectively.

The ‘Jago Grahak Jago App,’ provides essential e-commerce information about all URLs during a consumer’s online activities, alerting them if any URL may be unsafe and requires caution. Meanwhile, the ‘Jagriti App,’ allows users to report URLs where they suspect the presence of one or more dark patterns declared illegal.

These reports are then registered as complaints to the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) for possible redressal and subsequent action.

 Through the above initiatives, the Department endeavours to create a transparent and fair digital marketplace where consumers can make informed decisions without being tricked or coerced; educate consumers about their rights and regulate e-commerce platforms to prevent practices such as subscription traps, where consumers are unknowingly signed up for recurring payments.

Exp. Govt forms committee to look into IAF’s overall capability development

The Defence Ministry has set up a committee to address the capability development of the Indian Air Force (IAF) amid critical shortage of fighter jets, weapons, and equipment.

Chaired by the Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, the committee includes senior ministry officials, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chairman Dr Samir V Kamat, and IAF representatives.

After comprehensive IAF briefings, the panel was tasked with preparing recommendations, which are expected to be submitted within two to three months.

Exp. RTE Amendments 2024: Schools now allowed to fail class 5 and 8 students

In a major shift in school education policy, schools will now have the authority to ‘fail’ students in classes 5 and 8 if their performance does not meet required standards.

The central government announced this amendment in the Right of Children and Free School Education Act 2010 (RTE Act 2010).

The new amendments allow states to hold regular exams for the students of class 5 and 8 and hold them back if they fail. These amendments come five years after the RTE Act was amended, in 2019. Under the new rules, states are allowed to conduct ‘regular examinations for Classes 5 and 8 at the end of the academic year’.

Students who ‘fail’ these exams will receive ‘additional instruction’ and have the chance to retake the examination two months later. If they still fail to meet the promotion criteria, they will be forced to repeat Class 5 or Class 8.

States like Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, and Delhi have already announced that children failing in classes 5 or 8 would be retained there. However, Karnataka had announced regular exams — essentially, public exams — for Classes 5, 8, 9, and 11. The effort was struck down by the Karnataka High Court in March 2024. States like Kerala have been entirely opposed to the idea of exams in Classes 5 and 8.

The original version of the Right to Education (RTE) Act included a ‘no-detention policy’, which prohibited the practice of failing primary school students in a lower grade. Under this policy, all students were promoted to Class 8 automatically, regardless of their academic performance.

Exp. Indians can travel to Malaysia without a visa for 30 days until Dec 2026

Malaysia has extended its visa exemption for Indian nationals until December 31, 2026, allowing them to visit the country without a visa for up to 30 days.

This announcement was made by Datuk Awang Alik Jeman, the Secretary-General of the Home Ministry, who emphasized that the extension aligns with Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN chairmanship and, the preparations for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

The visa liberalization plan, initially introduced in 2023, aims to enhance tourism and stimulate economic growth. A similar exemption also been granted to Chinese nationals, signaling Malaysia’s commitment to attracting more visitors from key markets.

Currently, two airlines operate flights between Kolkata and Kuala Lumpur.

wo years.

Exp. Poonawalla Fincorp Introduces AI in its HR Processes

Poonawalla Fincorp has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative by integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) across its Human Resources (HR) Strategic Business Unit (SBU).

This industry-first move, is set to transform operational standards and ignite innovation within the financial services sector.

Poonawalla Fincorp’s AI integration has revolutionized HR processes by drastically reducing the time to finalize job offers from traditionally around ten days to just under onea 90% decrease.

 This accelerated process is made possible by advanced AI tools that efficiently handle document verification and candidate screening. The use of AI has not only sped up the recruitment cycle but also achieved significant reduction in operational costs, significantly enhancing both efficiency and cost management.

Exp. 24 December – National Consumer Rights Day

National Consumer Rights Day is observed on December 24 every year in India to raise awareness about consumer rights and advocate for consumer protection.

The day commemorates the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, which provides a framework for protecting consumers from unfair trade practices.

It aims to educate consumers about their rights, including the right to safety, information, choice, and redress in cases of grievance.

Exp. Republic Day Parade 2025: Tableaux theme is ‘Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas’

The theme for showcasing tableaux at the upcoming Republic Day Parade is ‘Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas’, and 15 states and UTs have been selected for presenting them on the Kartavya Path on January 26.

These states and UTs are — Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Dadar Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

In addition, 11 ministries and department of the Union government have also been selected for the 2025 Republic Day celebrations.