Current Affairs Quiz 30th December 2024 Quiz

Exp. Gautam Adani launches new renewable energy brand campaign

Adani Group unveiled a new advertising campaign, titled “First the fan will come, then electricity will come”, to promote its renewable energy initiatives.

The campaign is part of Adani Group’s broader commitment to renewable energy. Its renewable unit, Adani Green Energy, aims to develop 50 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. This includes the ambitious Khavda Renewable Energy Park in Gujarat.

Spanning 538 square kilometres—five times the size of Paris—Khavda is set to become one of the largest renewable energy projects in the world.

The park will have a total capacity of 30 GW, with the first phase of 250 MW wind energy already operational. The group’s track record includes the 648 MW Kamuthi Solar Plant in Tamil Nadu, completed in 2016.

At the time, it was the world’s largest single-site solar power project. These projects highlight Adani Group’s leadership in advancing India’s clean energy goals.

Director of Adani Airport Holdings Ltd – Jeet Adani

Exp. RBI sets up panel to develop a framework on ethical use of AI in financial sector

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted a committee to develop a Framework for Responsible and Ethical Enablement of Artificial Intelligence (FREE-AI) in the Financial Sector.

The committee will be led by Pushpak Bhattacharyya, Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay as chairman.

The committee aims to draft a governance framework to support ethical AI adoption in India’s financial sector, according to the RBI.

The Committee will assess the current level of adoption of AI in financial services, globally and in India, review regulatory and supervisory approaches on AI with focus on financial sector globally and identify potential risks associated with AI, if any and recommend an evaluation, mitigation and monitoring framework and consequent compliance requirements for financial institutions, including banks, NBFCs, FinTechs, PSOs, etc.

The Committee will submit its report within six months from the date of its first meeting.

Recent Committee in News

• Govt forms committee to look into IAF’s overall capability development; Chaired by the Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh,
• The GST Council constituted a 13-member GoM to suggest GST rates on premiums of various health and life insurance products; Chaired by – Samrat Choudhary
• Supreme Court sets up panel to amicably resolve farmers’ agitation; chaired by Justice Nawab Singh
• Revenue Department in the finance ministry formed a panel to simplify the decades-old I-T Act. – chaired by V K Gupta
• GoI constitutes a committee to monitor the current situation on Indo-Bangladesh Border- headed by ADG of BSF

Exp. Bald eagle officially declared US national bird after 250 years

The bald eagle is now officially the national bird of the US, after President Joe Biden signed a law on Christmas Eve bestowing the honour upon the white-headed and yellow-beaked bird of prey.

The bird has been a national emblem in the US for years, appearing on the Great Seal of the US – used on US documents – since 1782.

Founding Father Benjamin Franklin objected to the creature being chosen to represent the country, calling it a “bird of bad moral character”.

Bald eagles, like other eagles worldwide, had been seen by many as symbols of strength, courage, freedom and immortality for generations, according to the US Department of Veteran Affairs. And, unlike other eagles, the bald eagle was indigenous only to North America.

The legislation designating the bald eagle as the national bird was spearheaded by Minnesota lawmakers. The bald eagle is also protected under the National Emblem Act of 1940, which makes it illegal to sell or hunt the creature.

Exp. 29 December – International Cello Day

International Cello Day is an annual event that is observed on December 29 in several countries around the world.

The day aims to honour the life and contributions of the legendary cellist Pablo Casals, who was born on this day.

Casals is believed to be one of the greatest cellists of all time and is credited with elevating the cello to its prominent status as a solo instrument in classical music.  

Exp. Malayalam writer & Jnanpith awardee M.T. Vasudevan Nair passes away

One of the most respected figures in Malayalam literature and cinema Madath Thekkepat Vasudevan Nair or M T Vasudevan Nair passed away at the age of 91..

Madath Thekkepat Vasudevan Nair was born in a Nair family in Kudallur village, Palakkad district of Kerala in 1934.

MT’s literary achievements earned him the Jnanpith Award in 1995, India’s highest literary honour, as well as numerous other accolades, including the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award, Vallathol Award, Ezhuthachan Award, Mathrubhumi Literary Award, and O N V Literary Award.

In 2005, M T was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honour.

Exp. Lakshya Sen bags bronze at the King Cup International Badminton Open

Lakshya Sen from India secured third place at the King Cup International Badminton Open by defeating French player Alex Lanier in straight games.

The 23-year-old earned a prize of approximately ₹36 lakh.

Exp. India’s Koneru Humpy crowned World Rapid Chess Champion for historic second time

Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy won a historic second title at the World Rapid Chess Championship, emerging victorious in the tournament in New York.

Humpy has become only the second chess player after Ju Wenjun of China to win the title in the women’s section more than once.

Koneru Humpy, 37, sealed the title when she defeated Irene Sukandar with the black pieces in the final round.

The Indian No. 1 finished on top of the standings with 8.5 out of 11 points in an incredible display in the World Rapid Championship. This is her second title in the format after her victory in 2019 in Moscow.

Later, the 18-year-old Volodar Murzin of Russia bagged the corresponding title in the men’s section.

Murzin is the the second-youngest FIDE World Rapid Champion, after Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who claimed the title at 17.

Exp. Jasprit Bumrah Creates History with Best Bowling Average Among 200+ Test Wicket-Takers

India’s pace ace Jasprit Bumrah carved his place in cricketing history, becoming the bowler with the best average among those with 200 or more Test wickets.

Bumrah also emerged as the fastest Indian pacer to reach the 200-wicket milestone in Test cricket.

The historic feat unfolded on the fourth day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy’s fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where Bumrah dismissed Australia’s Travis Head to claim his landmark 200th wicket.

 Further, he achieved the landmark with his 8484th legal delivery in Test cricket, making him the fastest Indian to reach 200 wickets in terms of balls bowled. He eclipsed Mohammed Shami, who reached the same milestone after 9896 deliveries.

Overall, Bumrah is now the fourth-fastest bowler to achieve 200 wickets, behind Waqar Younis (7725 balls), Dale Steyn (7848 balls), and Kagiso Rabada (8154 balls).

Exp. Sikkim Celebrates Kagyad Dance Festival

Sikkim celebrated the annual Kagyad Dance festival at Tsuklakhang Palace in Gangtok with tradition.

Enacted on the 28th and 29th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan Lunar Calendar (early December), it is a vibrant cultural event drawing both locals and international tourists seeking spiritual blessings.

The festival concludes with the ritualistic burning of effigies, representing the victory of good over evil.

Exp. K N Renuka Pujar becomes the first transgender woman to be appointed as a guest lecturer at Karnataka University

27-year-old K N Renuka Pujar has become the first transgender individual to be appointed as a guest lecturer at a university in Karnataka.

Pujar, who completed her post-graduation in Kannada, joined the Kannada Department at Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University’s Nandihalli campus (PG Centre) earlier this month.

About Karnataka

• Capital – Bengaluru
• Chief Minister –Siddaramaiah
• Deputy Chief Minister – DK Shivakumar
• Governor – Thawar Chand Gehlot

Exp. Gujarat CM launches ‘SWAR’ platform to overcome language barriers

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has launched a new citizen-centric initiative called the SWAR (Speech and Written Analysis Resource) platform.

The SWAR (Speech and Written Analysis Resource) platform was launched on the occasion of Good Governance Day on December 25.

 The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s Bhashini Team (National Language Translation Mission), has developed the SWAR platform.

This innovative platform leverages technology to overcome language barriers. The Speech-to-Text feature has also been integrated into the Gujarat CMO website.

Exp. India to host World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit – WAVES for first time in 2025

 India will host the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) for the first time in 2025.

The WAVES Summit is poised to serve as a global platform for India’s creative talents, fostering collaborations and showcasing the country’s potential as a hub for world-class content creation.

The WAVES Summit is poised to serve as a global platform for India’s creative talents, fostering collaborations and showcasing the country’s potential as a hub for world-class content creation.

Exp. Osamu Suzuki, Former Suzuki Chairman Dies Aged 94

Osamu Suzuki, the former chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation and an icon in the global auto industry has passed away at the age of 94.

 The former chairman of the Japanese brand who led the organisation for over four decades has reportedly died of lymphoma. It is to be noted that Suzuki stepped down as the chairman of the brand in 2021 at the age of 91.

Osamu Suzuki began his time at Suzuki Motor in 1958 and took the role of the president in 1978 while doubling as the chairman 2000 onwards.

With his time of 28 years on the chair across two terms as the president of the brand he became the longest-serving head of the global automaker.