Current Affairs Quiz 2nd August 2023 Quiz

Exp. Mumbai -Thane to get India’s First-Ever Vertical University Campus

The state of Maharashtra will approve setting up Vertical University Campus (VUC) in Mumbai and Thane due to less space available in the city thus becoming the first state in the country to approve such campuses.

This concept is adopted by the United States (US) and other Western countries as of now.

In the previous policy, a private university can be established on a minimum land of 25-acre in rural areas, 15-acre in district headquarters and 10-acre in regional headquarters, Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Pune Metropolitan Region (PMR).

The idea of a vertical university campus was conceived to deal with the issue of land scarcity, which is common in major cities such as Mumbai and international metropolises like New York City, Washington DC and Tel Aviv, Israel.

No area of the building can be used for commercial purposes in any way. It should have a scope for further construction in case there is a rise in the number of students.

The classrooms shall be set up in accordance with University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) guidelines.

Of the total area, it requires 40% reserve space for the playground following the provisions of unified development control and promotion regulations (UDCPR) and development control promotion regulations (DCPR), 2034. Also, the building shall have a hostel facility for students or nearby the premises.

Exp. Smriti Irani inaugurates the G20 EMPOWER Summit in Gandhinagar

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani has inaugurated the G20 EMPOWER Summit in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

The summit, organized around the theme- ‘Women-Led Development: ensuring a Sustainable, inclusive, and equitable global economic growth’, will witness the participation of delegates from across G20 nations, invited guest countries and international organizations in addition to many global experts, policymakers and stakeholders.

The inaugural session launched of key outcomes under the G20 EMPOWER agenda this year including the G20 EMPOWER Tech Equity Digital Inclusion Platform, the Best Practices Playbook, the KPI Dashboard, and the adoption of the G20 EMPOWER Communique 2023.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development is the nodal Ministry for EMPOWER which is the G20 Alliance for Empowerment and Progress of Women’s Economic Progression.

It is a private sector-led initiative under the Sherpa Track that aims to accelerate women’s leadership and empowerment in the private sector across G20 countries.

G20 in News (Note – All Meetings are Under the Presidency of G20 by India)

• G20 Green & Sustainable Growth Agenda for Global Economy Meeting – New Delhi (28 – 29 July 2023)
• 4th Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group Meeting – Chennai, Tamil Nadu (26 – 28 July 2023)
• 3rd G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group – Chennai, Tamil Nadu (24 – 26 July 2023)
• Labour & Employment Ministers Meeting – Indore, Madhya Pradesh (21 July 2023)
• 4th Energy Transitions Working Group Meeting – Goa (19 – 20 July 2023)

Exp. For the first time in Asia, World Coffee Conference to be held in Bengaluru

For the first time, World Coffee Conference (WCC) will take place in India in September.

The fifth edition of the global conference will take place from September 25 to 28 in Bengaluru.

This year, tennis player Rohan Bopanna will serve as the brand ambassador of the conference.

“Sustainability through Circular Economy and Regenerative Agriculture” is the central theme for the event.

Producers, curers, roasters, exporters, policymakers, and researchers from 80-plus countries would gather at WCC 2023.

The conference has been organised by the International Coffee Organization and the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The ICO was organized under the aegis of the United Nations. It came into existence in 1963.

It is the only inter-governmental organization for coffee and represents 93% of world coffee production and 63% of world consumption.

The organization works to strengthen the global coffee sector and promote its sustainable expansion in the market.

CEO and Secretary of Coffee Board of India – KG Jagadeesha

Exp. Over 6.23 core loans sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana

Over 6 core 23 lakh loans have been sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) in Financial Year 2022-23.

The Union Minister for State for Finance, Dr. Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad, shared this information in a written reply during a Lok Sabha session.

The objective of PMMY is to provide access to institutional finance to new or existing micro units or enterprises up to 10 lakh rupees.

The complaints with regard to the implementation of PMMY are redressed in consultation with the respective Banks.

The complaints received at the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System are also being taken up with respective Banks for redressal within the prescribed timeline.

Mudra loans under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) can be availed of from a nearby branch office of a bank.

Exp. “Astro-OPD” will be launched in Varanasi

The Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi will launch an “Astrology OPD”, where teachers and research students at the university’s astrology department will check people’s horoscopes for an hour every evening.

For the ‘Astro-OPD’, minister of state Ravindra Jaiswal has sanctioned ₹25 lakh from the MLA fund.  An OPD is an acronym for outpatient department.

An OPD is an acronym for the outpatient department.

Exp. SBI raises 10,000 cr via 15-year Infrastructure bonds

State Bank of India (SBI) has raised Rs 10,000 crore at a coupon rate of 7.54 percent through its third infrastructure bond issuance.

The proceeds will be directed towards bolstering long-term resources for funding critical infrastructure projects and supporting the affordable housing segment.

The bank attracted bids of Rs 21,698 crores, a staggering 4.34 times the base issue size, indicating robust demand for these financial instruments.

The investors range from various sectors including provident funds, pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds, corporates, etc.

Bidding for the 15-year tenor bonds took place on July 31.

About State Bank of India (SBI)  

• Founded – 1 July 1955
• Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Chairman – Dinesh Kumar Khara
• Imperial Bank of India was previous name of SBI.
• The presidency Banks of Bengal, Bombay and Madras with merged in 1921 to Imperial Bank of India.
• Tagline – (1) Pure Banking Nothing Else

(2) With you all the way

(3) A bank of the common man

(4) The banker to every Indian

(5) The Nation banks on us  

Exp. GST collections cross ₹1.6-lakh cr mark for 5th time

According to the Ministry of Finance, the GST collection for the month of July was recorded at Rs 1,65,105 crore.

GST collection crossed the Rs 1.6 lakh crore mark for the fifth time since the inception of the goods and services tax.

The revenues for July are 11 per cent higher than the GST revenues in the same month last year.

The government settled Rs 39,785 crore to CGST and Rs 33,188 crore to SGST from IGST. The total revenue of Centre and the states in July is Rs 69,558 crore for CGST and Rs 70,811 crore for the SGST, after regular settlement.

Of the gross GST of Rs 1.65 lakh crore collected in July, Rs 29,773 crore is CGST and Rs 37,623 crore is SGST. Rs 85,930 crore is IGST, including Rs 41,239 crore that was collected on import of goods, and cess is Rs 11,779 crore, including Rs 840 crore collected on import of goods.

GST revenue for the previous month stood at Rs 1,61,487 crore, which was an increase of 12 percent on-year. However, it was a marked dip from the record-high GST collection of Rs 1.87 lakh crore in April and a sizeable increase from the GST collection of Rs 1,57,090 crore in May.

GST Collection of Previous Months

• January 2023 – 1,55,922 crore
• February 2023 – 1,49,577 crore
• March 2023 – 1,60,122 crore
• April 2023 – 1,87,035 crore
• May 2023 – 1,57,090 crore
• June 2023 – 1,61,497 crore
• July 2023 – 1,65,105 crore

Exp. PM Modi honored with Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received the Lokmanya Tilak National Award in Maharashtra’s Pune, on the 103rd death anniversary of freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

The award, according to the organizers, honours his extraordinary leadership, which helped India move up the progress ladder.

PM Modi is the 41st recipient of this award.

Every year on 1st August, the death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak, this award is bestowed upon individuals who have made remarkable and extraordinary contributions to the progress and development of the nation.

Recent Awards

• Maharashtra govt’s first ‘Udyog Ratna’ award – Ratan Tata
• Miles Franklin Literary Award – Australian-Tamil lawyer Shankari Chandran (Novel Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens)
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Journalist Prem Prakash (Founder of ANI news agency)
• Miles Franklin Literary Award 2023 – Shankari Chandran (for Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens)
• International Eni Award 2023 – Thalappil Pradeep (Professor of IIT Madras)

Exp. England pacer Stuart Broad announced his retirement

England pacer Stuart Broad has announced his retirement from international cricket.

He sits fifth on the all-time list of wicket-takers and is one of only two fast bowlers to take over 600 wickets

He has also played in 167 test matches, 121 one-day internationals, and 56 international T20 games.

In Test cricket, he stands as the sole English player boasting two hat tricks to his credit.

Recently Retired Players

• Lahiru Thirimanne – International Cricket – Sri Lanka
• Nahida Khan – International Cricket – Pakistan
• Shabnim Ismail – International Cricket – South Africa
• Gary Ballance – All forms of cricket – England
• Shaun Marsh – First-class cricket – Australia
• Sergio Ramos – International football – Spain
• Eoin Morgan – All forms of cricket – England
• Kamran Akmal – All forms of professional cricket – Pakistan

Exp. Iga Swiatek defeats Laura Siegemund to win WTA Title

Poland’s tennis sensation and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek claimed her fourth title of the season with a 6-0, 6-1 win defeating Laura Siegemund in the final of the BNP Paribas Warsaw Open.

Swiatek won the match and added it to her 15th career title.

This season is turning out great for Swiatek as she already won Doha, Stuttgart, and Roland Garros.

Q.11. Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur has inaugurated the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships 2023 in which city?

खेल मंत्री अनुराग सिंह ठाकुर ने किस शहर में एशियाई युवा और जूनियर भारोत्तोलन चैंपियनशिप 2023 का उद्घाटन किया है?

(a) Bengaluru / बेंगलुरु

(b) New Delhi / नई दिल्ली

(c) Chennai / चेन्नई

(d) Greater Noida / ग्रेटर नोएडा

(e) Thiruvananthapuram / तिरुवनंतपुरम

Exp. Anurag Thakur inaugurates Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting 2023

Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur has inaugurated the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships 2023 in Greater Noida.

The event is being held in India for the first time.

The international event will see the participation of more than 30 Indian weightlifters, including many Khelo India Athletes who in the past month alone gave India its best-ever performance at the Weightlifting Commonwealth Championships by winning 61 medals in total.

India is hosting this prestigious event where more than 15 nations from the Asian region, 200 athletes, and more than 50 technical staff and coaches are participating.

It will conclude on the 5th of August.

Q.12. Which of the following city will host India's first International Athletic Union's Ageas Federation Life Insurance 50 km World Championship on November 2023?

निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा शहर नवंबर 2023 को भारत की पहली अंतर्राष्ट्रीय एथलेटिक यूनियन की एजेस फेडरेशन लाइफ इंश्योरेंस 50 किमी विश्व चैम्पियनशिप की मेजबानी करेगा?

(a) Bengaluru / बेंगलुरु

(b) New Delhi / नई दिल्ली

(c) Hyderabad / हैदराबाद

(d) Ahmedabad / अहमदाबाद

(e) Mumbai / मुंबई

Exp. Hyderabad to host India's first IAU 50 Km World Championships in November

Hyderabad will host India's first International Athletic Union's Ageas

Federation Life Insurance 50 km World championship on 5 November 2023.

The competition will feature four categories - men and women in individual and team events - besides the Master's segment.

The event will also see three other runs - 21.1 half marathon, 10K and 5K Runs organized by NEB Sports.

Top ultrarunners from the USA, Germany, Japan, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain, India, and other countries will participate.

Bengaluru also successfully hosted the IAU 100km Asia Oceania Championship in July 2023.

Q.13. Muslim Women's Rights Day is observed every year across the nation on which day?

मुस्लिम महिला अधिकार दिवस हर साल पूरे देश में किस दिन मनाया जाता है?

(a) 4 August / 4 अगस्त

(b) 5 August / 5 अगस्त

(c) 1 August / 1 अगस्त

(d) 2 August / 2 अगस्त

(e) 3 August / 3 अगस्त

Exp. 1 August - Muslim Women's Rights Day

Muslim Women's Rights Day is observed every year across the nation on 1 August to celebrate enactment of law against instant triple talaq.

Triple talaq is the practice prevalent in Muslim community that allows a husband to instantly divorce his wife simply by uttering ‘talaq’ (divorce) three times.

A law against triple talaq was introduced by the central government of India on 1 August 2019, making the practice a criminal offence.

The legislation is a part of the Protection of Rights on Marriage Act 2019, which outlaws instant triple talaq and protects the marriage rights of Muslim women.

Q.14. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August every year. What is the theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2023?

विश्व स्तनपान सप्ताह हर साल 1 से 7 अगस्त तक मनाया जाता है। विश्व स्तनपान सप्ताह 2023 का विषय क्या है?

(a) Step up for Breastfeeding - Educate and Support

(b) Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility

(c) Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet!

(d) Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding

(e) Let's make breastfeeding and work, work!

Exp. 1 - 7 August - World Breastfeeding Week 2023

World Breastfeeding Week is an annual event that takes place from 1-7 August every year.

Objective - To raise awareness and promote the importance of breastfeeding for the health and well-being of both infants and mothers.

Theme 2023 - Let's make breastfeeding and work, work!

Breast milk is considered the best food for newborns because of its many benefits, including the presence of antibodies that help protect babies from various common childhood diseases.

Despite its importance, current data from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that less than half of infants under 6 months of age are exclusively breastfed.

World Breastfeeding Week was established in1992 under the initiative of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA).

This annual week-long event is held in honour of the 1990 Innocence Proclamation.

Q.15. World Lung Cancer Day is observed every year on which day?

विश्व फेफड़े का कैंसर दिवस हर साल किस दिन मनाया जाता है?

(a) 4 August / 4 अगस्त

(b) 5 August / 5 अगस्त

(c) 1 August / 1 अगस्त

(d) 2 August / 2 अगस्त

(e) 3 August / 3 अगस्त

Exp. 1 August - World Lung Cancer Day

World Lung Cancer Day is observed every year on 1 August.

Objective - To raise awareness around the deadly disease and encourage more research on it to break the stigma around the disease.

The campaign for World Lung Cancer Day was recognized in the year 2012 though the momentum was set in the preceding years.

The campaign was organised by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies in collaboration with the International Association for the study of Lung Cancer and the American College of Chest Physicians.

Since then, the awareness around lung cancer picked pace most of which centred around being aware of the cough that lasts for more than 3 weeks along with other symptoms of lung cancer.