Current Affairs Quiz 24th January 2024 Quiz

Exp. World’s tallest Ambedkar statue unveiled in Andhra Pradesh

World’s tallest statue of Dr BR Ambedkar, who is known as the architect and developer of the Indian Constitution, was unveiled in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh by the state government.

It is going to be the tallest statue of Ambedkar. One of the tallest Ambedkar statues outside India is situated in Maryland, US.

This Ambedkar statue is called the Statue of Justice and it is around 206 feet from the ground. This Ambedkar statue in Andhra Pradesh is under the list of top 50 tallest statues around the world, in which Statue of Unity tops.

The height of the Statue of Justice is around 125 feet and the pedestal where this statue stands is 81 feet, thus the total height of the statue becomes 206 feet from the ground.

The project to build the statue of justice cost around 404.35 crore.

The project is built and spread over 18.81 acres of land which is built as a green park.

Around 400 tonnes of steel were used to build the Statue of Justice.

About Andhra Pradesh

• Capital – Amaravati
• Chief Minister – YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
• Governor – Abdul Nazeer

Exp. IICF To Build ‘Masjid Muhammed bin Abdullah’ Mosque In Ayodhya

The Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) has announced the commencement of the construction of a grand mosque in Ayodhya, starting this May.

Haji Arfat Shaikh, the head of the development committee of the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) that is overseeing the mosque project.

The mosque, named “Masjid Muhammed bin Abdullah” after Prophet Muhammad, aims to foster unity and goodwill among people, transcending religious differences.

Hindu zealots razed a 16th-century mosque in the northern Indian city of Ayodhya in 1992, saying that it was built over an ancient temple on the site that marked the birthplace of Hindu god-king Ram.

The dispute had scarred relations between the communities for decades and the destruction of the mosque sparked nationwide riots that killed 2,000 people, mostly Muslims.

India’s top court said in 2019 that the razing of the mosque was unlawful, but ruled that evidence showed there was a non-Islamic structure beneath it.

It ordered that the site be given to Hindu groups to build a temple and Muslim community leaders be given land elsewhere in the city for constructing a mosque.

Exp. PM Modi launched ‘PM Suryodaya Yojana’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana’, a government scheme under which one crore households will get rooftop solar power systems.

According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s website, solar power installed capacity in India has reached around 73.31 GW as of December 2023. Meanwhile, rooftop solar installed capacity is around 11.08 GW as of December 2023.

In 2014, the government launched the Rooftop Solar Programme that aimed to achieve a cumulative installed capacity of 40,000 megawatts (MW) or 40 gigawatts (GW) by 2022 — watt is a unit of power and is calculated as the amount of energy used over time, specifically one Joule per second. However, this target couldn’t be achieved.

The Centre currently has a National Rooftop Scheme that provides financial assistance totalling 40% of the capital cost of a solar rooftop project

What is ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana’?

• ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana’, a government scheme under which one crore households will get rooftop solar power systems.
• The scheme aims to equip one crore poor to middle-class households with rooftop solar panels in a bit to provide electricity from solar energy.
• The scheme would not only reduce the electricity bill of the poor and middle class but would also make India self-reliant in the energy sector.
• Rooftop solar panels are the photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of a building which is connected to main power supply unit. Thus, it reduces the consumption of grid-connected electricity and saves electricity cost for the consumer.
• In a solar rooftop system, there is only an upfront capital investment and minimal cost for maintenance.

Exp. Indian Stock Market Surpasses Hong Kong To Become 4th Biggest Equity Market Globally

The Indian stock market has pipped Hong Kong to become the fourth-highest equity market globally.

The combined value of shares listed on Indian exchanges reached USD 4.33 trillion, versus USD 4.29 trillion for Hong Kong, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

That makes India the fourth-biggest equity market globally. Its value crossed $4 trillion for the first time on Dec 5, with about half of that coming in the past four years.

The top three stock markets are the U.S., China, and Japan.

Currently, the US is the world’s biggest market with a mcap of $50.86 trillion, followed by China with a mcap of $8.44 trillion and Japan at $6.36 trillion.

Exp. North Korea conducts test of underwater nuclear weapons system.

North Korea has conducted a test of its underwater nuclear weapons system in a protest against joint military drills by South Korea, the United States, and Japan.

The test of the “Haeil-5-23” system, a name North Korea has given to its nuclear-capable underwater attack drones, was carried out by the defence ministry’s think tank in the waters off its east coast.

Dubbed “Haeil”, which means tsunami, the new drone system was first reportedly tested in March 2023. it was intended to make sneak attacks in enemy waters and destroy naval strike groups and major operational ports by creating a large radioactive wave through an underwater explosion.

About North Korea

• Capital – Pyongyang
• Currency – won
• President – Kim Jong-un

Exp. WHO certifies Cabo Verde as malaria-free

The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Cabo Verde as a malaria-free country, marking a significant achievement in global health.

With this announcement, Cabo Verde joins the ranks of 43 countries and 1 territory that WHO has awarded this certification.

Cabo Verde is the third country to be certified in the WHO African region, joining Mauritius and Algeria which were certified in 1973 and 2019 respectively.

Malaria burden is the highest on the African continent, which accounted for approximately 95% of global malaria cases and 96% of related deaths in 2021.

Cabo Verde, an archipelago of 10 islands in the Central Atlantic Ocean, has faced significant malaria challenges. Before the 1950s, all islands were affected by malaria.

Since the last peak of malaria cases in the late 1980s, malaria in Cabo Verde has been confined to two islands: Santiago and Boa Vista, which have now both been malaria-free since 2017.

About Cabo Verde

• Capital- Praia
• Currency- Cape Verdean Escudo
• Continent – Africa
• Official language- Portuguese

About World Health Organization (WHO)

• Formation – 7 April 1948
• Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
• First President – Andrija Štampar
• Director General – Tedros Adhanom (Ethiopia)
• Deputy Director General – Soumya Swaminathan (Indian)
• Member Countries – 194

Exp. Tarun Khulbe appoints as CEO of Jindal Stainless

Tarun Khulbe has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jindal Stainless Ltd.

He has been serving as the Whole Time Director of the company since May 2018. He will continue to hold the post besides that of the CEO.

Khulbe has around 35 years of industry experience in business development, supply chain management, people practices, and IT enablement.

Khulbe joined JSL as a general manager for the cold rolling mills at Hisar, Haryana, in October 2004. Part of O P Jindal Group, Jindal Stainless is India’s largest stainless-steel manufacturer.

Recent Appointment

• CEO of PepsiCo India – Jagrut Kotecha (replace Ahmed El Sheikh)
• As a member of the UPSC – Sheel Vardhan Singh
• MD of Bangalore Metro – Maheshwar Rao
• MD of Experian India – Manish Jain
• Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution – Bharat Harbanslal Khera

Exp. UP Govt to Honour Dr. Ritu and Naveen with ‘UP Gaurav Samman’

The government of Uttar Pradesh has announced the prestigious ‘UP Gaurav Samman’ award for two distinguished personalities – eminent scientist Dr. Ritu and renowned entrepreneur Naveen.

This award highlights the government’s commitment to acknowledging excellence and inspiring future generations.

Dr. Ritu Karidhal Srivastava, who resides in Lucknow, played a crucial role in the development of India’s Mars Orbiter Mission, Mangalyaan. She also served as the Deputy Operations Director for this mission. Mangalyaan was one of ISRO’s greatest achievements, making India the fourth country in the world to reach Mars.

Eminent entrepreneur Naveen Tewari, a resident of Kanpur, who is regularly featured on the covers of magazines like Forbes and Fortune, has created two unicorns and given India its first unicorn.

He has established the world’s largest independent mobile ad tech platform, connecting local businesses in Uttar Pradesh and India with national and international audiences. His lock screen software is present on more than 40 crore smartphones globally.

Entrepreneur Naveen has established his presence in 26 countries, positioning India on the global stage. He has directly employed 3000 people while giving employment to thousands indirectly.

About Uttar Pradesh

• Capital – Lucknow
• Chief Minister – Yogi Adityanath
• Governor – Anandiben Patel

Exp. Japan achieved a historic soft moon landing with SLIM Mission

Japan has become the 5th country to achieve a soft moon landing with the successful deployment of the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft.

The mission, led by Japan’s space agency JAXA, marks a significant leap in precision landing technology with potential applications for future lunar exploration.

Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (Slim) spacecraft successfully touched down on the lunar surface on Friday, making Japan the fifth nation to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has confirmed the landing of the spacecraft equipped with a variety of instruments, including a camera, a laser altimeter, and a magnetometer, which will be used to study the Moon’s geology, environment, and resources

However, Slim’s solar panel had failed to generate power, which could shorten its activity on the moon, the Japanese space agency said.

Slim attempted to land within 100 metres (328 feet) of its target, versus the conventional accuracy of several kilometres.

About Japan

• Capital – Tokyo
• Currency – Yen
• Prime Minister – Fumio Kishida

Exp. Ravi Shastri received lifetime achievement award

World Cup-winning former India all-rounder and ex-head coach Ravi Shastri has received the prestigious lifetime achievement award in the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) Awards in Hyderabad.

While Shubman Gill received the Polly Umrigar Award for the best men’s cricketer of the year for 2023. Jasprit Bumrah won the honour in 2019, a year after making his Test debut.

Gill scored 2154 runs in international cricket, most by any batter in 2023. He hit 7 hundred, including an ODI double-hundred and his maiden T20I century.

Ravi Shastri played 80 Tests and 150 ODIs for India, scoring 6938 runs in international cricket, including 15 hundreds. He picked 280 wickets for India at the highest level. The left-arm spinner was part of India’s World Cup triumph in 1983 and the 1985 Champions of Champions triumph.

The BCCI Awards ceremony was held for the first time since 2019 after having seen multiple delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Recent Awards

• 4th Wings India Awards in the Civil Aviation Sector – Bangalore & Delhi Airports
• Best Airline of the Year award – Vistara
• SCOPE Eminence Award in category of Women Empowerment for the period of 2019-20 – Engineers India Limited
• Assam Baibhav Award by Assam government – Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi
• Environment Officer Award by VSI – Deepa Bhandare

Exp. Tai Tzu Ying clinches first women’s singles title at India Open

Tai Tzu Ying (Taiwan) secures her maiden women’s singles India Open title, defeating Chen Yu Fei in a dominant straight-game victory.

The former world number one from Chinese Taipei is set to retire after this season.

The summit clash rematch of the Tokyo Olympic final sees Tai Tzu Ying prevail 21-16, 21-12, highlighting her status as one of the game’s greatest players.

Exp. Madrid to host Spanish F1 GP from 2026

Madrid will become the new host of the Spanish Grand Prix starting from 2026.

This decade-long commitment will see the heart of Spain’s capital transformed into a thrilling F1 racing venue, with the action set to unfold around IFEMA Madrid’s exhibition center.

The announcement heralds a fresh era for the prestigious event, which has been traditionally held at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona since 1991.

The transition will see Madrid hosting the Grand Prix for 10 years, from 2026 to 2035, introducing a brand-new circuit to the world of Formula 1​​​.

The new circuit in Madrid, designed around the IFEMA exhibition centre, will feature a mix of street and non-street sections, spanning 5.47 kilometres with 20 corners.

It promises a thrilling and challenging experience for the drivers, with a qualifying lap time projected at 1 minute and 32 seconds. This innovative circuit layout is currently pending FIA homologation and final design specifications​​​.

Statements

(i) This exercise is conducted between India and Egypt. (Correct)

(ii) In January 2024, the 2nd edition of this exercise was conducted. (Correct)

(iii) In January 2024, this exercise was conducted at Meghalaya. (Incorrect)

Exp. India, Egypt begin 2nd edition of joint exercise ‘CYCLONE’

The Indian Army contingent comprising 25 personnel reached Egypt to take part in the 2nd edition of a joint exercise called ‘Cyclone’ between special forces of India and Egypt.

The exercise will be conducted at Anshas, Egypt from 22nd January to 1st February 2024. The first edition of the exercise was conducted last year in India.

The exercise is aimed to acquaint both sides with each other’s operating procedures in the backdrop of special operations in desert/semi-desert terrain under chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.

The exercise will involve the planning and execution of special operations in the sub-conventional domain and conducted in three phases.

The first phase will include military exhibitions and tactical interactions.

The second phase will focus on training on Improvised Explosive Device (IED), counter IED and Combat First Aid.

The third and final phase will encompass a Joint Tactical Exercise based on Fighting in Built-up Areas and Hostage Rescue Scenarios.

Recent Exercise

• 1st edition of Navy Exercise ‘Ex-Ayutthaya’ between India & Thailand
• 1st edition of Military Exercise ‘Desert Cyclone’ between India & UAE – Rajasthan
• 12th edition of multi-national naval exercise MILAN 24 – Visakhapatnam
• 1st edition of Military Exercise ‘Desert Cyclone’ between India & UAE – Rajasthan
• 4th edition of Military Exercise VINBAX-2023 between India & Vietnam – Hanoi, Vietnam

Exp. India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘Khanjar’ commences in HP

The 11th edition of India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise Khanjar started at the Special Forces Training School in Himachal Pradesh’s Bakloh.

The exercise is being conducted from January 22 to February 3.

The exercise will provide an opportunity for both sides to fortify defence ties while addressing common concerns of international terrorism and extremism.

The Indian Army contingent, comprising 20 personnel, is being represented by troops from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), according to the press release. Meanwhile, the Kyrgyzstan contingent comprising 20 personnel is represented by the Scorpion Brigade.

Exp. 24 January – National Girl Child Day

National Girl Child Day is observed every year on 24 January.

Objective- To raise awareness of the difficulties that girls in Indian society endure.

The day promotes equal opportunities in education, healthcare, and nutrition while raising awareness of the injustices that girls face.

Every year on January 24, people celebrate National Girl Child Day, which commemorates the inaugural anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Scheme (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child) on January 22, 2015.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched this day in 2008.