Current Affairs Quiz 26th April 2024 Quiz

Exp. Nepal hosts inaugural Rainbow Tourism Conference

Mayako Pahichan Nepal, in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board, orchestrated the groundbreaking first International Rainbow Tourism Conference.

This one-day event marks a significant leap forward in fostering diversity and inclusivity within Nepal’s tourism industry, positioning the country as a welcoming destination for the sexual minority community in South Asia.

The conference’s main objective is to position Nepal as an LGBT-friendly tourism destination.

The international conference was inaugurated by Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Bhagawati Chaudhary, who underlined the need to forge collaboration among different stakeholders to promote LGBT tourism in Nepal.

About Nepal

• Capital- Kathmandu
• Currency- Nepalese rupee
• President– Ram Chandra Paudel
• Prime minister– Pushpa Kamal Dahal

Exp. SJVN launched India’s 1st Green Hydrogen Project in Himachal Pradesh

Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) has inaugurated India’s first multi-purpose green hydrogen pilot project at Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station in Himachal Pradesh.

The project will produce hydrogen for the High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) Coating Facility and generate 25 kW electricity.

Aimed at advancing green hydrogen as a clean energy source, aligning with the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

About Himachal Pradesh

• Capital – Shimla (Summer), Dharamshala (Winter)
• Chief Minister – Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu
• Deputy Chief Minister – Mukesh Agnihotri
• Governor – Shiv Pratap Shukla

Exp. Credit card spends rise 27% to Rs 18.26 trillion in FY24: RBI data

Credit card spends surged 27 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 18.26 trillion in financial year 2023-24 (FY24) from nearly Rs 14 trillion in the year-ago period, according to RBI data.

In March 2024, credit card spends rose nearly 10.07 per cent to Rs 1.64 trillion from Rs 1.49 trillion in February. This is on account of the financial year close and festival sales during March.

Among the top card players, use of HDFC Bank’s credit card was at Rs 43,471.29 crore in March, 8.57 per cent higher than Rs 40,288.51 crore in February.

The total number of credit cards issued by banks in India has increased to 101 million in March 2024. It was 100.60 million at the end of February 2024.

HDFC Bank is the leader in credit card issuances with the lender’s cards in circulation standing at 20.59 million. Other major players include SBI Card with 18.89 million cards, ICICI Bank (16.95 million) and Axis Bank with 14.21 million cards.

Exp. FSIB recommendations for SBI and Indian Bank MD appointments

The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) has recommended the appointment of Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh for the position of Managing Director in State Bank of India and Asheesh Pandey for the position of MD & CEO in Indian Bank.

Singh is currently Deputy Managing Director (Retail- Personal Banking & Real Estate ) at SBI.

Currently, Shanti Lal Jain is the MD and CEO of Indian Bank. He assumed charge on  September 1, 2021. Prior to this, he served as Executive Director of Bank of Baroda (BoB) for three years, from September 2018 to August 2021.

Exp. Axis Bank reappoints Amitabh Chaudhry as chief for a further period of 3 years

The Board of Axis Bank has approved the re-appointment of Amitabh Chaudhry as MD & CEO of the Bank, for a further period of three years with effect from January 1, 2025 up to December 31, 2027.

This re-appointment is subject to approval of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and approval of the members, in terms of applicable laws.

Chaudhry, age 59 years, joined Axis Bank as MD & CEO with effect from January 1, 2019, after successfully leading HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company Limited (HDFC Life), for over nine years, per the Bank’s regulatory filing.

Prior to HDFC Life, he was the MD & CEO of Infosys BPO and the Head of testing unit of Infosys Technologies Limited.

The Bank’s board also approved re-appointment of Meena Ganesh and Gopalaraman Padmanabhan as Independent Directors of the bank for a second term of four years.

Ganesh and Padmanabhan’s appointment will be with effect from August 1, 2024 up to July 31, 2028 and October 28, 2024 up to October 27, 2028, respectively, subject to approval of the members of the Bank.

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector

• Deputy Governor of RBI – T Rabi Sankar (reappointment for One Year)
• Chairman of HDFC Insurance Board -Keki Mistry
• MD & CEO of Dhanlaxmi Bank – Ajith Kumar K.K
• CEO of BharatPe – Nalin Negi
• Additional Director Suryoday SFB – Deepak Kumar Sharma
• Independent director of RBL Bank -Murali Ramakrishnan  

Exp. 26 April – World Intellectual Property Day

The World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) is celebrated on 26 April 2024 every year.

The day is dedicated to promoting the role of intellectual property (IP) in stimulating innovation and creativity.

This day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the need for a balanced approach to intellectual property protection that takes into account the rights of creators and copyright holders, as well as the public interest.

Theme 2024 – IP and the SDGs: Building Our Common Future with Innovation and Creativity

Exp. 25 April – International Girls in ICT Day

International Girls in ICT Day is celebrated every year on the last day Thursday of April. This year, it falls on 25 April 2024.

The main goal behind observing International Girls in ICT Day is to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the ICT sector.

Theme 2024 – Leadership

The history of International Girls in ICT Day dates back to 2014, when the International Telecommunication Union’s Plenipotentiary Resolution 70 was passed.

The resolution was initiated to encourage girls and young women worldwide to consider studies and careers in ICT.  

Exp. 25 April – International Delegate’s Day

International Delegate’s Day is observed every year on 25 April.

Objective – To raise awareness of the role of the representatives and delegates of the Member States to UN.

It marks the anniversary of the first day of the San Francisco Conference, also known as the United Nations Conference on International Organization.  

Exp. Yakshagana exponent Subrahmanya Dhareshwar passed away

Yakshagana thespian Subrahmanya Dhareshwar (67), who had earned the fame of ‘Bhagavata Shrestha’ for his scintillating voice, passed away.

Dhareshwar had served as the main singer for 28 years in Perdoor Mela alone and before that he had started his journey in Amriteshwari Mela.

Dhareshwar entertained the art lovers with his melodious voice for 45 years, is known for his experiments in the Yakshagana singing