Current Affairs Quiz 26th September 2024 Quiz

Exp. Department of Space and Technology launched Women in Space Leadership Programme in Collaboration with British Council

A Women in Space Leadership Programme (WiSLP) was launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in collaboration with the British Council as part of the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI).

The initiative focuses on supporting institutions in strengthening gender-inclusive practices to foster women’s leadership in space science by developing a strategic leadership framework. Coventry University is the delivery partner in this initiative.

The programme would involve building sustainable mentoring networks and enhancing scientific innovation by integrating a gender perspective into critical areas such as astrophysics and telecommunications.

Exp. Tata Steel commissions India’s largest blast furnace at Kalinganagar

Tata Steel Ltd had commissioned ‘India’s largest blast furnace’ at Kalinganagar, Odisha as part of the Phase II expansion its plant.

With a total investment of Rs 27,000 crore, the Phase II expansion at Kalinganagar will take the total capacity at the site from 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 8 MTPA.

The new facility was inaugurated by T. V. Narendran, CEO and Managing Director, of Tata Steel.

The new blast furnace will significantly boost the plant’s overall production capabilities, allowing Tata Steel to meet the growing demands of various industries, including automotive, infrastructure, power, shipbuilding, and defence. It will also provide advantages in specific areas like oil & gas, lifting & excavation, and construction.

With the Phase II expansion, Odisha has emerged as the largest investment destination in India for Tata Steel, with a total cumulated investment of over Rs 100,000 crore in the last 10 years.

The new blast furnace, with a volume of 5,870 m3 , is equipped with state-of-the-art features for long campaign life and an eco-friendly design to optimise the steelmaking process.

Exp. Rubber Research Institute signs MoU with Indian Oil

The Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII) has signed an MoU with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) to enhance research on the use of Rubber Process Oils marketed by IOCL in various tyre and non-tyre rubber products.

This collaboration aims to improve product performance and rubber processing across these applications.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to drive innovations in rubber processing while addressing the growing global demand for environmentally sustainable industrial products.

Recent MoU

• Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana in collaboration with the Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality
• ARIES and BEL collaborate to enhance India’s Space Situational Awareness
• TCOE-VTU-VRIF sign MoU to establish a Centre of Excellence in Quantum Technology and associated 5G/6G Technologies
• Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya and Monash University Sign MoU to Enhance Railway Engineering Research and Education
• PMsBI and Coal India Limited sign MoU to provide high-quality generic medicines through establishment of Jan Aushadhi Kendra
• IBM & L&T Partner to Develop Advanced Processor

Exp. India becomes 3rd Most Powerful Nation in Asia, Surpasses Japan in Asia Power Index

According to the Asian Power Index Report 2024, released recently by the Australian think tank Lowy Institute, India is ranked third most powerful country in Asia after the United States of America and China.

Last year, India was ranked the fourth most powerful country in Asia in the 2023 report, but this year, India overtook Japan to be ranked.

The 2024 Asia Power Index Report ranks 27 countries and territories. For the first time, the Southeast Asian country of Timor Leste has been included in the Report.

The report evaluates the power of the countries on 131 indicators across eight thematic measures: Military Capability and Defence Networks, Economic Capability and Relationships, Diplomatic and Cultural Influence, as well as Resilience and Future Resources.

Top 10 Most Powerful Country in Asia 

Recent index

• Henley Passport Index 2024 – India at 82nd; topped by Singapore
• Energy Transition Index 2024: India at 63rd, topped by Sweden
• Environment Performance Index 2024: India at 176th spot topped by Estonia
• Global Gender Gap index 2024: India at 129th; topped by Iceland, Finland (2nd), Norway (3rd), New Zealand (4th), Sweden (5th)
• WEF’s Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024 – India at 39th; topped by USA
• World Press Freedom Index 2024 – Norway (1st), Denmark (2nd), Sweeden (3rd), India (159th); Syria (179th), Eritrea (180th)

Exp. Axis Bank and Mastercard join hands to unveil MyBiz credit card for small business owners in India

Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, has joined hands with Mastercard, a global technology company in the payments industry, to launch MyBiz, a business credit card designed exclusively for sole proprietors and small business owners

The new card, part of the World Mastercard category, combines a wide range of business and travel benefits to meet the diverse needs of SME owners.

MyBiz card offers a comprehensive suite of business and travel benefits — an end-to-end digital offering that simplifies our small business clients’ experience through greater rewards, increased purchasing power, zero liability protection, and increased employee controls.”

Along with benefits, such as airport lounge access and travel insurance, MyBiz card will allow cardholders to avail of a bouquet of business-related services covering productivity, marketing, online readiness, security, and compliance through Mastercard Easy Savings Specials.

Recent Facilities Launched in Banking & Insurance Sector

• IDFC FIRST Bank launched Ashva and Mayura Credit Cards with VISA
• Yes bank launched PaisaSave Cashback Credit Card in partnership with Paisabazaar
• Jana SFB introduces “Liquid Plus Fixed Deposit”: A Comprehensive Solution to Manage Short Term Liquidity Needs
• Razorpay launches integration platform DataSync
• Bank of Baroda introduced ‘Aditi’, a GenAI-powered virtual relationship manager, to enhance the digital customer service experience.
• Bank of Baroda launched a GenAI-enabled knowledge management platform, ‘AI’ for its employees.

Exp.  Decentro unveils eNACH and UPI AutoPay, Streamlining Recurring Payments

Decentro, India’s largest fintech infrastructure platform, has introduced eNACH & UPI AutoPay, intended to streamline and simplify the management of recurring payments for businesses.

The company hopes to assist at least 100+ enterprises with integrating these modules over the next three months, addressing some of the most difficult obstacles that businesses encounter regarding recurring payments. The first partner bank for this new module is YES Bank.

The total addressable market (TAM) for recurring payments in India is around $800 million. However, businesses encounter several hurdles, resulting in a large time (and monetary) commitment of at least 500 man-hours to integrate and test these systems with their banking partners.

One such obstacle is the lengthy process of obtaining a utility code, which can significantly impede eNACH adoption. Furthermore, many payment gateways are unaware that lenders should use their utility codes rather than the payment gateway’s code for compliance.

Exp. Indian tennis duo Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan & Vijay Sundar Prashant win Hangzhou Open Doubles title

Indian tennis duo Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Vijay Sundar Prashanth won the doubles title in the ATP 250 Hangzhou Open 2024.

They defeated the German pair of Constantine Frantzen and Hendrik Jebens at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Expo Centre.

The Indian duo staged a remarkable comeback to triumph 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 10-7, marking their first ATP title together as a pair.

For Jeevan, it ends a seven-year title drought, while for Vijay, this victory represents a career milestone as it is his first-ever ATP title.

Exp. DRDO & IIT Delhi develop ABHED Light Weight Bullet Proof Jacket

The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), together with researchers of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, has developed light weight bullet proof jackets, named ABHED (Advanced Ballistics for High Energy Defeat), which offer 360 degree protection.

These jackets have been created from polymers and indigenous boron carbide ceramic material.

The design configuration is based on characterisation of various materials at high strain rates followed by appropriate modelling and simulation in collaboration with DRDO. The armour plates for the jackets have passed all necessary R&D trials as per the protocols.

The jackets meet the highest threat levels, and are lighter than the maximum weight limits stipulated in respective General Staff Qualitative Requirement of the Indian Army. With minimum possible weight of 8.2 kgs and 9.5 kgs for different BIS Levels, these modular-design jackets having front & rear armours provide 360⁰ protection.

Exp. Zepto retains first place in LinkedIn’s 2024 list of India’s Top Startups

Quick commerce platform Zepto, for the 2nd consecutive year, has been ranked first in LinkedIn Top Startups India List 2024 — an annual ranking of emerging companies where professionals want to work.

The list draws insights from data based on the actions of more than 1 billion LinkedIn members globally.  It measures startups based on four pillars: employment growth, engagement, job interest and attraction of top talent.

Zepto was followed by compliance firm Sprinto and cloud storage management platform Lucidity.

E-commerce platform GoKwik, conversation intelligence platform Convin, biofuel supply chain platform BiofuelCircle, and, mental health platform MindPeers are also featured in the list.

14 startups (out of 20) are new entrants in this year’s list and several first-time categories like biofuel, compliance and mental health point to the diversity of career opportunities for professionals eyeing the world of startups.

Exp. 26 September – World Contraception Day

World Contraception Dayis observed every year on September 26.

Objective – To raise awareness about contraception and to empower young people to make informed decisions about their reproductive health

Theme 2024 –  A choice for all. Freedom to plan, power to choose.

What is contraception?

• Contraception is used to prevent pregnancy. This can be a device, a medication, a procedure or a behaviour. Contraception allows a woman control of her reproductive health and affords the woman the ability to be an active participant in her family planning. Some types of contraception protect against sexually transmissible infections (STIs)

Exp. 26 September – World Environmental Health Day

World Environmental Health Day is observed every year on 16 September.

The day highlights the significance of fostering a safe and healthy environment, tackling key issues such as clean air, water, sanitation, pollution control, and waste management.

Theme 2024 – Environmental Health: Creating Resilient Communities through Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.

The International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) established World Environmental Health Day in 2011 to emphasize the importance of environmental care for human health.  

Exp. 25 September – Antyodaya Diwas

Antyodaya Diwas is celebrated every year on September 25 across the country.

The day marks the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya to remember his life and legacy. It was dedicated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 in honour of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, a prominent Indian political leader and thinker.

Pandit Deendayal was born in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh on September 25, 1916. Later, he joined a 40-day camp in Sangh education and a two-year training at the RSS education wing in the 1940s. Upadhyaya served the Bharatiya Jana Sangh from 1953 to 1968, where he became the source of ideological guidance and moral inspiration for the BJP.

He was also known for his philosophical and literary works. Deendayal developed the concept of ‘Integral Humanism’ advocating the holistic development of the mind, body, intellect, and soul. He died at the age of 51, on February 11, 1968.

Exp. Pune airport to be renamed ‘Tukaram Maharaj Airport

The Maharashtra government has officially approved the renaming of Pune airport to ‘Tukaram Maharaj Airport’ in honour of the revered 17th-century saint.

This move aims to pay tribute to Sant Tukaram Maharaj, a prominent spiritual figure in Maharashtra’s history, known for his devotional poetry and influence on the Bhakti movement.

Sant Tukaram was a significant saint and spiritual poet of the Bhakti movement, born in Pune district.