Current Affairs Quiz 25th September 2023 Quiz

Exp. SencoGold launches India’s 1st virtual jewellery showroom on Metaverse

Senco Gold & Diamonds has launched India’s “first virtual jewellery showroom” on the metaverse, christened ‘Sencoverse’.

The initiative offers a new and immersive way for customers to shop for jewellery from the comfort of their homes, the company said.

Metaverse is a virtual-reality space in which users can interact with a computer-generated environment and with each other.

The showroom provides 360-degree views of jewellery items in stunning 3D detail, along with interactive features for zooming in on details and learning more about the products.

The virtual space features a collection of over 100 jewellery products.

Exp. 4th edition of ‘Nadi Utsav’ commenced in Delhi

The 4th edition of Nadi Utsav has started at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in New Delhi.

The river-themed event will focus on Yamuna this year.

The three-day event will feature a wide range of programs including Cultural Performances, a book fair, a documentary film festival, and a puppet show. It will also showcase exhibition events featuring pictures, Sanjhi Art, and paintings by school children, all around the theme of river conservation.

The festival is an attempt to document riverine culture, its traditions, rituals, and water wisdom.

Exp. PM Modi flags off 9 new Vande Bharat trains

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off nine new Vande Bharat Express trains via video conferencing, taking the total number of semi-high-speed trains to 34.

The prime minister said the Vande Bharat Express trains being launched will significantly improve connectivity as well as boost tourism across India.

The nine trains will provide faster connectivity across 11 states — Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Jharkhand and Gujarat.

The new trains that were flagged off by Prime Minister Modi are Udaipur – Jaipur Vande Bharat Express, Tirunelveli-Madurai- Chennai Vande Bharat Express, Hyderabad –Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express, Vijayawada – Chennai (via Renigunta) Vande Bharat Express, Patna – Howrah Vande Bharat Express, Kasaragod – Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express, Rourkela – Bhubaneswar – Puri Vande Bharat Express, Ranchi – Howrah Vande Bharat Express and Jamnagar-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express.

Exp. Singapore Overtakes Hong Kong as World’s Freest Economy

Singapore has dethroned Hong Kong to become the world’s freest economy in 2023, according to a report released by Canadian think tank Fraser Institute.

Singapore is now the world’s freest economy, displacing Hong Kong after 53 years.

For the first time since the Economic Freedom of the World Index started in 1970, Hong Kong slipped to second place from the number one spot — and its score is about to drop even further.

Switzerland, New Zealand, and the U.S. occupy the third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.

Other notable mentions include the United Kingdom coming in ninth, while Japan and Germany claimed 20th and 23rd place respectively.

Some of the tenets used to gauge economic freedom index are measured based on ease of international trade, freedom to enter and compete in markets, as well as business regulations, amongst other yardsticks.

The findings in the 2023 report are based on data from 2021, the most recent year with available comparable statistics across the 165 jurisdictions. It measures the economic freedom of individuals — or their ability to make economic decisions on their own.

In 2020, China imposed a national security law in Hong Kong which critics slammed as a curtailment of the city’s autonomy. Under the new legislation, crimes of secession and sedition are punishable by up to life in prison.

Recent index

• Digital Quality of Life Index 2023 – India ranked 52nd; topped by Denmark
• Chainalysis’ Global Crypto Adoption Index 2023 – Rank 1 India, 2. Nigeria, 3. Vietnam, 4. US, 5. Ukraine.
• US News & World Report’s annual Best Countries – Switzerland (Rank 1), Canada (Rank 2), Sweden (Rank 3)
• Henley Passport Index 2023– India ranked 80th; topped by Singapore
• World’s most powerful military – Strongest (1. USA, 2 Russia, 3. China, 4. India, 5. UK); Weakest (1. Bhutan, 2. Benin, 3. Moldova, 4. Somalia, 5. Liberia)
• Global Peace Index 2022 – India at 126, topped by Iceland; last Afghanistan

Exp. ‘Free From Food’ Dubai event concluded

The ‘Free From Food’ Dubai event concluded at the Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre

Organized by Expo Business Communications in partnership with the UAE Food & Beverage Business Group, this edition of the event left a lasting mark on the Middle East’s Healthy, Organic, Vegan, Plant-Based, Functional, and Free-From food sectors.

Over the course of two days, the B2B event provided a valuable platform for international food manufacturers, importers, traders, and retailers to connect, share knowledge, and explore opportunities in the thriving Middle Eastern food industry.  

Exp. World’s oldest wooden structure discovered in Zambia

Archaeologists have discovered what is thought to be the world’s oldest known wooden structure near the border of Zambia and Tanzania.

Found along a riverbank in Zambia, the simple structure consists of two interlocking logs of a large-fruited willow tree. One log lies on top of the other and is held in place by a notch in its underside.

Marks on the wooden structure show that the logs were carved, chopped, and shaped with sharp stone tools. The structure predates modern humans and probably served as a walkway for human ancestors who lived along the Kalambo River nearly half a million years ago.

The structure dates back at least 476,000 years, well before the evolution of Homo sapiens, according to a study describing the find in the journal Nature. The earliest evidence of Homo sapiens is from around 300,000 years ago.

It is possible that the structure was the work of Homo heidelbergensis, thought to have lived in that region between 700,000 to 200,000 years ago.

A collection of wooden tools, including a wedge and a digging stick, were also discovered at the site.

About Zambia

• Capital- Lusaka
• Currency- Zambian Kwacha
• Official language- English

Exp. Axis Bank Launched ‘NEO For Business’ Banking Platform For MSMEs

Axis Bank has launched a transaction banking platform for the Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) called NEO for Business.

It will cater to the “real, current, and emerging” transaction needs of Indian MSMEs.

The NEO for Business platform offers features like digital self on-boarding, bulk payments, GST compliance invoicing, payment gateway integration, end-to-end transaction tracking, auto reconciliation, cash flow reports, and recurring collections, among others

India currently has over 65 million MSMEs, which contribute over 30 percent to India’s gross domestic product (GDP).

The MSME Business Banking landscape is evolving rapidly, and there is a need for a comprehensive solution for all their Banking and Beyond Banking requirements.

NEO by Axis Bank’ was launched as a platform for our corporate banking customers, offering a complete suite of digital banking products and services. Within this platform, our newly launched ‘NEO for Business’ is a one-stop solution for the business requirements of MSMEs.

Who can use NEO for Business?

• Existing Axis Bank Current Account customers can use NEO for Business on mobile by downloading a mobile app or through a simple web-based digital registration.
• It currently caters to sole proprietorship entities and individuals who form a considerable part of MSME addressable pool in the industry. Axis Bank will soon be extending the platform to companies, partnerships, and LLPs.

Exp. ICICI Lombard CEO Bhargav Dasgupta resigns, ADB appoints him as VP for market solutions

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Bhargav Dasgupta as vice-president for Market Solutions for three years.

This development follows Dasgupta’s resignation as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company.

Having joined ICICI Lombard in May 2009 as Managing Director and CEO, Dasgupta served the general insurance company for over 14 years.

Dasgupta also spearheaded ICICI Lombard’s initial public offering, making it India’s first listed general insurance company.

Initially, Dasgupta had been scheduled to step down from his position at ICICI Lombard in April 2024 after completing a 15-year term.

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector

• MD and CEO of HDFC Bank – Sashidhar Jagdishan (reappointment for 3 year)
• Chairman of Mastercard India- Rajnish Kumar (Former SBI Chief)
• Statutory auditor of Paytm – S.R. Batliboi
• MD & CEO of ICICI Bank – Sandeep Bakshi (reappointment for 3 year)
• Managing Director of SBI – Vinay M. Tonse (recommended)

Exp. ICC confirms venues of 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup to be co-hosted by USA

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be co-hosted by the USA and West Indies, with matches taking place in major cities like Dallas, Florida, and New York.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed as many as 10 venues in the West Indies and the USA between June 4 and 30.

The West Indies will have 7 venues while the USA will have 3 for the showpiece T20 international tournament.

The ICC confirmed Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, St Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, and St Vincent & The Grenadines as the seven Caribbean venues that will host matches during the T20 World Cup 2024 from 4 to 20 June.

Meanwhile, the USA is also set to co-host the event for the first time, with Grand Prairie in Dallas, Broward County in Florida, and Nassau County in New York.

A total of 20 teams will contest for the big prize in the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup. 15 teams have already been confirmed, with the Americas, Asia and Africa Qualifier set to determine the remaining five spots in the coming months.

Australia, England, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka will be part of the tournament after finishing in the top 8 in the 2022 edition.

Modular stadium technology will be used to increase facilities for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

The previous edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2022 was hosted by Australia.

Exp. Redfern became first woman to stand as an umpire

Sue Redfern became the first woman to stand as an umpire in a men’s first-class cricket match in England and Wales.

Redfern, who played 21 times for England from 1995-99, has been appointed for the County Championship fixture between Glamorgan and Derbyshire.

Two years ago, she was the first woman to officiate at a home England men’s match — as the fourth official for the T20 international against Sri Lanka.

She was the first woman to umpire a T20 Blast game when Gloucestershire played Middlesex in Bristol this season.

Redfern was the first woman to be awarded a full-time contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board last year.

Exp. Harmanpreet, Lovlina Borgohain become flag-bearers at Asian Games 2023

Led by their flag bearers in Hockey men’s team player Harmanpreet Singh and boxer Lovlina Borgohain, the Indian contingent walked into loud cheers at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Asian Games at Hangzhou Olympics Sports Centre Stadium.

This is the first time that the Asian Games had two flag-bearers, following the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

India, who have a 650-plus-strong contingent at the 18th edition of the Games, walked in with 100 athletes for the ceremony – dressed in the traditional attire of Kurta for men and sari for women.

The main theme of the opening ceremony was ‘Tides Surging in Asia’, on the intermingling of China, Asia and the world in the new era, as well as the unity, love and friendship of the Asian people.

Among others present at the venue was Chinese President Xi Jinping, who declared the Games open as more than 12,000 athletes from 45 countries gear up to fight for top honours till October 8.

The Olympic Council of Asia’s (OCA) acting president Randhir Singh, International Olympic Committee (IOC) head Thomas Bach, heads of several countries, officials of National Olympic Committees, and host of other dignitary were also present on the occasion

The Indian contingent was led by Neeraj Chopra at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang.

Exp. 24 September 2023 – World Rivers Day

World Rivers Day is observed every year on the fourth Sunday in September.

This year it will be marked on September 24.

This annual event also advocates for the conservation and sustainable management of these vital natural resources.

The first World Rivers Day was observed in 2005, following the launch that year of the Water for Life Decade by the United Nations. The proposal for such a celebration was initiated by renowned Canadian river advocate Mark Angelo

Exp. 24 September 2023 – World Day of the Deaf

World Day of the Deaf is observed every year on the last Sunday in September. This year, it falls on September 24.

This day is dedicated to recognizing their linguistic and cultural diversity, promoting sign language as a crucial means of communication, and advocating for their inclusion and equal opportunities in society.

The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) observed the first World Deaf Day in 1958.  It is a global NGO that aims to advance the rights of the deaf community and enhance their standard of living.

According to a variety of sources, Granville Richard Seymour Redmond is honoured on World Deaf Day. He was born in Philadelphia in 1871 and went deaf quite early in life.

He studied painting, pantomime, and drawing at the esteemed California School of Design despite being deaf. He rose to fame as a landscape painter and prolific colorist by 1905.  

Exp. 25 September – World Pharmacist Day

World Pharmacist Day is celebrated each year on September 25.

The primary objective of World Pharmacist Day is to promote and support initiatives that raise awareness of and advocate for the vital contributions made by pharmacists worldwide.

Theme 2023 – Pharmacy Strengthening Health Systems

The history of World Pharmacist Day dates back to its inception at the 2009 International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Congress held in Istanbul, Turkey.

This special day was established to underscore the vital significance of pharmacists and pharmacy professionals in the realm of healthcare.

Exp. Former President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano passed away

Former Italian President Giorgio Napolitano passed away at the age of 98.

His passing marks the end of an era in Italian politics, as he was not only the longest-serving president but also a central figure in shaping the country’s post-war history.

Giorgio Napolitano, who served as the President of Italy from 2006 until 2015, was a pivotal figure in the nation’s political landscape.

He holds the distinction of being the first president in Italian history to be reelected to the office, a testament to his widespread popularity and the trust placed in him by the Italian people.