Current Affairs Quiz 29th February 2024 Quiz

Exp. PM Modi inaugurates ISRO’s Second Spaceport in Tamil Nadu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone for the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) second spaceport in Kulasekarapattinam, Tamil Nadu.

The first spaceport, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, is located in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota.

The new spaceport will cover an area of 2,000 acres and will boost the growth and development of the region in Thoothukudi district, she added.

Currently, rockets launched from Sriharikota must head east before turning south, necessitating a diversion due to the airspace of neighbouring Sri Lanka.

With the new spaceport, this diversion will no longer be necessary, and the location is closer to the Equator than Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, the Telangana Governor said.

Additionally, Isro’s propulsion complex is situated in Mahendragiri, which is closer to Kulasekaranpattinam (88 km) than Sriharikota (780km). This proximity will facilitate the transportation of rocket components, reducing both time and cost.

Exp. Nagaland govt launched universal life insurance scheme

Nagaland government has launched a fully-funded universal life insurance scheme to mitigate financial hardship caused by untimely demise.

The scheme ensures financial security and protection, providing coverage for breadwinners and family members, complementing the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme.

The Chief Minister’s Universal Life Insurance Scheme will be fully funded by the state government.

Under this, a life insurance coverage of Rs 2 lakh will be given and additionally, accidental insurance coverage of Rs 2 lakh each will also be provided for the breadwinner and three other family members.

About Nagaland

• Formation – 1 December 1963
• Capital- Kohima
• Chief Minister- Neiphiu Rio
• Governor- La. Ganesan

Recent Schemes launched by state governments

• Savera programme (Haryana) – For early detection and prevention of breast cancer.
• Van Mitra (Haryana) – To encourage community participation in tree planting activities in non-forest areas.
• Swayam Scheme (Odisha) – To provide interest-free loans up to Rs 1 lakh to youth of the state
• CM Vayoshree Yojana (Maharashtra) – For senior citizens who suffer from some physical or mental disability
• Mahtari Vandan Yojana (Chhattisgarh) – To provide Rs 1,000 financial assistance for married women.
• Yuva Nidhi Scheme (Karnataka) – To provide aid for Jobless Youth

Exp. Reliance foundation unveils animal welfare initiative ‘Vantara’

Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation have launched ‘Vantara’ (Star of the Forest) programme. The programme will focus on rescue, treatment, care and rehabilitation of injured, abused and threatened animals, both in India and abroad.

The Vantara initiative has been conceptualized under the leadership of Anant Ambani, a Director on the boards of RIL and Reliance Foundation.

Vantara aims to partner with the Zoo Authority of India and other relevant government organizations. It will help improve all the 150-plus zoos in India in terms of training, capacity building and animal care infrastructure.

Under the Vantara project, a space of 3000 acres within the Green Belt of Reliance’s Jamnagar Refinery Complex in Gujarat has been converted into a jungle-like environment that mimics the natural, enriching, lush and verdant habitat for the rescued species to thrive in.

Exp. New Zealand set to scrap world’s first law banning tobacco sale

New Zealand will repeal a world-first law banning tobacco sales for future generations.

Set to take effect from July, the toughest anti-tobacco rules in the world would have banned sales to those born after January 1, 2009, cut nicotine content in smoked tobacco products and reduced the number of tobacco retailers by more than 90 per cent.

Repeal flies in the face of robust research evidence, ignores measures strongly supported by Maori leaders and will preserve health inequities.

About New Zealand

• Capital – Wellington
• Currency – Dollar
• Prime Minister – Christopher Luxon
• Deputy Prime Minister – Carmel Sepuloni

Exp. MobiKwik introduces Pocket UPI to facilitate payments without linking bank account

MobiKwik has launched a new feature on its platform, ‘Pocket UPI’.

Pocket UPI allows users to make UPI payments through MobiKwik Wallet without linking their bank account, thus giving more power in the hands of the users with an additional choice while they make UPI payments.

Pocket UPI safeguards users from compromised transactions and financial fraud by transferring funds from the MobiKwik Wallet rather than their bank account, thus limiting exposure when making financial transactions.

Recent Facilities Launched in Banking & Insurance Sector

• Bandhan Bank authorised by the West Bengal govt to collect tax and non-tax receipts through the Government Receipt Portal System (GRIPS)
• SBI launches digital enrolment for PMJJBY and PMSBY Schemes
• LIC launches “Amritbaal” insurance plan for children
• Karnataka Bank launched its centenary campaign ‘Bharat Ka Karnataka Bank’
• LIC launched new plan policy “Index Plus”

Exp. Mahanagar Gas acquires 30.97% share in 3EV Industries

Mahanagar Gas has entered into a shareholders’ agreement with 3EV Industries Private Limited to acquire 30.97 per cent shareholding in the company that manufactures and operates three-wheeler electric vehicles (EVs).

The shareholding will give MGL the right to appoint one Director on the board of 3ev and one board observer.

Mahanagar Gas is in the business of City Gas Distribution (CGD), presently supplying Natural Gas.

Exp. Jana SFB partnered with Dvara Money for digital banking

Jana Small Finance Bank Limited has partnered with Dvara Money for digital banking services.

Under this, DM’s Spark Money platform has been integrated with the technical capabilities of Jana SFB.

The integration of third-party application provider (TPAP) capabilities will enable the Spark Money platform to incorporate a full-stack UPI solution.

This will allow customers to connect their savings accounts for digital payments and enable UPI functionalities such as Aadhaar OTP-based onboarding and credit on UPI.

About Jana Small Finance Bank Limited

• Established – 2018
• Headquarters – Bengaluru
• CEO – Ajay Kanwal

Recent MoUs Signed in Banking Sector

• IREDA and PNB join hands to Co-Finance Renewable Energy Projects
• IEPFA and DBS Bank signs MoU to spread awareness on investment and fraudulent schemes
• PayU, NPCI join hands to roll out Credit Lines on UPI’ feature
• SBI partners with Flywire to modernise international education payments for students
• ESAF Small Finance Bank and Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance Partner to Offer Life Insurance

Exp. Sachin Jain appointed as CEO of WGC India

The World Gold Council has named Sachin Jain as its new CEO for India.

Jain’s extensive experience, particularly in the jewellery market and strategic leadership, positions him well for this crucial role.

He joins from De Beers where he has held several senior roles over the past 13 years. As managing director of DeBeers India, he has led the De Beers Forevermark business in India and the Middle East.

About World Gold Council

• Founded- 1987
• Headquarters- London, United Kingdom
• CEO- David Tait
• President- Kelvin Dushnisky

Exp. Arkaja Das appointed as Director in Women & Child Development Ministry

The Central Government has approved the appointment of Arkaja Das (IPoS) as Director in the Ministry of Women & Child Development.

Das has been appointed under the Central Staffing Scheme with effect from 1 March 2024 and for a period up to 26 October 2027.

Das is an Indian Postal Service (IPoS) officer of 2010-batch. Presently, she is posted as Deputy Secretary in the same Ministry.

Recent Appointment

• New Lokpal of country – Justice AM Khanwilkar
• Director (Operations) of NTPC – Ravindra Kumar
• Director in Heavy Industries Ministry – Sureshwar Bonal
• Secretary in Ministry of Steel – Nitin Jain
• Director in Department of School Education & Literacy – Sunil Sharma

Exp. PM Modi unveils India’s first hydrogen fuel cell ferry

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off India’s first indigenously built hydrogen fuel cell ferry boat in virtual mode.

The vessel has been built at the Cochin Shipyard.

The pilot vessel is a 24-metre catamaran which can carry 50 passengers with fully air-conditioned passenger space. It will make urban mobility smooth and easy.

The hydrogen fuel vessel has fully home-grown technology and it can be replicated in other parts of the country for urban mobility application, according to CSL.

PM Modi in News

• PM Modi inaugurated ‘Bharat Tex 2024’ in New Delhi
• PM Modi laid the foundation stone for Sikkim’s first railway station at Rangpo.
• PM Modi inaugurates India’s longest cable-stayed bridge Sudarshan Setu
• PM Modi inaugurated and dedicated to the nation two central institutions in Telangana and five in Andhra Pradesh.
• PM Modi lays foundation stone of Kalki Dham temple in UP

Exp. PM Modi announced India’s own Space Station by 2035

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared India’s plan to establish its own space station by 2035. This initiative aims to facilitate advanced exploration of the universe.

Among other feats, India now aims for setting up ‘Bharatiya Antariksha Station’ by 2035 and sending the first Indian to the Moon by 2040.

Indian is about to go to space after a gap of 40 years, in an apparent reference to Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 space flight aboard USSR’s Soyuz T-11.

Exp. Namibia’s Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton smashes fastest T20I Hundred

Namibia’s Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton scripted history by scoring the fastest century in T20 International (T20I) history during a bilateral match against Nepal.

Achieving this monumental feat off just 33 balls, Loftie-Eaton shattered the previous record held by Nepal’s Kushal Malla, who had set the benchmark at 34 balls against Mongolia during the Asian Games in 2023.

Fastest T20I centuries

• Malla is ranked second on the list with a 34-ball T20I hundred. South Africa’s David Miller, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, and Czech Republic’s Sudesh Wickramasekara have dropped to joint third in the list. All three have scored T20I hundreds in 35 balls.
• Miller hit 101* from 36 balls against Bangladesh in Potchefstroom in October 2017.
• Rohit scored 118 from 43 balls against Sri Lanka in Indore in December 2017, including 12 fours and 10 sixes.
• Wickramasekara scored 104* off 36 versus Turkey in the Continental Cup in Ilfov County in August 2019.

Exp. New Zealand’s Neil Wagner retires from international cricket

New Zealand fast bowler Neil Wagner has decided to bring the curtain down on his illustrious 64-Test career for the Blackcaps, formally announcing his retirement from international cricket.

Wagner, a left-arm pacer, leaves the Test arena as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in New Zealand’s history.

Wagner was an integral part of the New Zealand team that clinched the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021.

Recently Retired Players

• Manoj Tiwary (West Bengal) – All forms of cricket
• Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa) – Test cricket
• David Warner (Australia) – International ODI & Test
• Dean Elgar (South Africa) – International cricket
• Asad Shafiq (Pakistan) – All forms of cricket

Exp. Reliance-Disney merger will drive consolidation

Reliance Industries Limited and Walt Disney Company have officially signed a binding agreement to merge their media businesses in India.

This sets the stage for the establishment of an $8.5 billion (Rs 70,352 crore) media and entertainment powerhouse, surpassing any other entity in the industry.

As part of the pact, the media undertaking of Viacom18 will be merged into Star India Private Limited (“SIPL”) through a court-approved scheme of arrangement.

The JV will also become the biggest player in sports, holding rights to marquee cricket properties like the Indian Premier League (IPL), International Cricket Council (ICC) rights for men and women global events, and BCCI’s India bilateral matches across TV and digital platforms.

It will also own other sports assets such as Pro Kabaddi League, Indian Super League, English Premier League, NBA, and the Olympics,” said Axis Capital.

Exp. 29 February – Rare Disease Day

Rare Disease Day is observed on 29 February.

Objective – To create awareness on the rare diseases that exist and how they can affect the daily lives of the patients.

The theme for 2024, “Share Your Colours,” emphasizes collaboration and support.

Rare Disease Day was first observed in 2008 by EURORDIS and the Council of National Alliances to raise awareness about rare diseases.

It falls on the last day of February, but in leap years like 2024, it is observed on February 29th.