Current Affairs Quiz 30th October 2023 Quiz

Exp. Piyush Goyal attends 7th ‘Future Investment Initiative’ in Riyadh

Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Textiles, Piyush Goyal attended the 7th Edition of Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh.

He met several dignitaries from the host country of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) including the energy minister His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Salman Al-Saud, Commerce Minister His Excellency (H.E.) Majid bin Abdullah AlKassabi, and Investment Minister H.E. Khalid A. Al Falih.

Goyal addressed the 7th Edition of FII in one of the plenary sessions titled “The Coming Investment Mandate”.

He also co-chaired a conclave session on the theme “From Risk to Opportunity: Strategies for Emerging Economies in the New Industrial Policy Era” along with the KSA Investment Minister.  

Exp. Amit Shah launched Logo, Website and Brochure of NCEL

Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has launched a logo, website and brochure of a newly established National Cooperative for Exports Limited (NCEL) at a national symposium in New Delhi.

Shah also distributed membership certificates to NCEL members at the symposium to be organized at the Pusa complex here.

NCEL has been established to serve as a national-level multi-state cooperative society that will act as an umbrella organization for exports within the cooperative sector.

This visionary initiative is set to open up new avenues for cooperatives, fostering economic growth and inclusivity.

NCEL is committed to empowering farmers, laborers, and traders by providing them with opportunities for integrated growth. NCEL is poised to make a substantial impact on the export landscape, benefiting both cooperatives and the nation.

It aims to focus on exporting the surplus available in the Indian cooperative sector by accessing wider markets beyond the geographical contours of the country.

NCEL boasts an authorized share capital of Rs 2,000 crore, reflecting the significant financial backing it has received to fulfill its mission.

Amit Shah in News

• Amit Shah inaugurated India’s first nano DAP plant in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
• Amit Shah chairs review meeting on Left Wing Extremism in New Delhi
• Amit Shah chaired Northern Zonal Council at Amritsar
• Amit Shah chaired Northern Zonal Council at Amritsar
• Amit Shah launches “Amrit Kalash Yatra” under ‘Meri Maati-Mera Desh’ campaign in New Delhi.

Exp. Indian Oil launched country’s first reference fuel

State-run Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has launched India’s first gasoline and diesel reference fuel, used by automobile manufacturers for testing vehicles.

The production of this specialized fuel by Indian Oil not only reduces India’s dependence on imports but also catapults country’s energy industry to the select global players armed with exclusive competencies.

This is the first time that India is venturing into the production of Reference Gasoline and Diesel Fuels. The home-grown development of these products in-line with international benchmarks testifies to the brilliance and relentless hard work of Indian Oil.

Reference fuels are required by automobile manufacturers for developing engines and assessing vehicles’ performance to ensure operability in all the global climatic conditions. Currently, these reference fuels are being imported by India from select companies of Europe and the US.

As per the latest SIAM projection, the current demand in the country for gasoline or petrol reference fuel is around 120 KL (kilo litre) per annum and demand for diesel reference fuel is around 15 KL per annum.

Exp. Kotak Bank partnered with NeSL to issue electronic Bank Guarantee

Kotak Mahindra Bank has partnered with National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL) to issue its first electronic Bank Guarantee (e-BG) on the latter’s platform.

The tie-up enables the digitization of Trade, thus helping eliminate the paper-based issuance of Bank Guarantees.

The digitization includes issuance, amendment, closure, digital stamping, and signing, significantly reducing the Guarantee turnaround time (TAT) to a few hours compared to 2-3 working days for the paper-based process. The e-BG also mitigates the authentication risks.

Recent MoU in Banking Sector

• IndusInd Bank partnered with Viamericas to enhance Fast Remit platform
• Karnataka Bank launches “Doorstep Gold loan facility” with SahiBandhu
• REC signs MoU with PNB to co-finance infrastructure projects
• Kotak Mutual Fund launches investor education program in partnership with CBSE
• SIDBI signed MoU with the Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI) to boost the country’s fintech sector. 

Exp. US House of representative elected its new speaker

Republican Congressman from Louisiana Mike Johnson has been elected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The position of Speaker of the House of Representatives is one of the most powerful political chairs in the country and is third in the line of succession after the US President.

Johnson was elected by 220 to 209 votes in a bitterly divided Congress, three weeks after his predecessor Kevin McCarthy was unceremoniously voted out of the seat for the first time in US history. In the 435-member House, the Republicans hold a slender majority with 221 seats against 212 of the Democrats.

The 56th Speaker of the House of Representatives, Johnson, 51, a lawyer by profession, is a four-term Congressman from the Fourth Congressional District of Louisiana.

Recent Appointment

• Head coach of Indian women’s cricket team – Amol Muzumdar
• Director of General Hospital Services (Armed Forces) – Air Marshal Sadhna Saxena Nair

• Election Commission’s national icon – Rajkummar Rao
• SVP & MD for HP India – Ipsita Dasgupta
• CMD of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) – Sanjay Kumar Jain (replace Mahendra Pratap Maal)

Exp. Swiss Watchmaker ‘Rado’ appoints Katrina Kaif as Global Brand Ambassador

Luxury Swiss watch brand ‘Rado’ has appointed Bollywood Superstar Katrina Kaif as Global Brand Ambassador.

This exciting partnership reinforces Rado’s commitment in creating memories that last a lifetime.

Katrina Kaif’s timeless beauty and international appeal make her the perfect choice to represent Rado’s enduring commitment to precision, innovation, and craftsmanship. Known for her versatile talent and charisma, Katrina Kaif embodies the values that Rado holds.

CEO of Rado – Adrian Bosshard

Recent Brand Ambassador

• Chetan Bhagat – Henry Harvin Education
• Mahendra Singh Dhoni – Lay’s
• Mohammed Shami – Sports brand Puma
• Neeraj Chopra – Laureus Ambassador
• Mahendra Singh Dhoni – Reliance Retail’s Jio Mart
• Katrina Kaif – Uniqlo India
• Hrithik Roshan – Exxon Mobilil

Exp. Slovakia’s Fico appointed prime minister for 4th time

Robert Fico has been appointed as prime minister of Slovakia for the fourth time.

He will attend an EU summit in Brussels where the nation-first populist’s fellow leaders should get an early indication.

President Zuzana Caputova appointed Fico and his cabinet after his SMER-SSD party won the Sept. 30 election and formed a coalition with the centre-left HLAS and nationalist SNS parties.

Fico quit as prime minister in 2018 amid mass public protests against corruption after a journalist was murdered.

About Slovak Republic (Slovakia)

• Capital- Bratislava
• Currency– Euro
• President – Zuzana Čaputová
• Prime Minister – Robert Fico

Newly Appointed Prime Minister & President

• President of Ecuador – Daniel Noboa

• President of Gabon – Gen Brice Oligui
• President of Singapore – Tharman Shanmugaratnam (Indian origin)
• President of Zimbabwe – Emmerson Mnangagwa (2nd term)
• PM of Thailand – Srettha Thavisin
• PM of Pakistan – Anwarul Haq Kakar (caretaker PM)
• PM of Greece – Kyriakos Mitsotakis (2nd term)

Exp. SBI ropes in MS Dhoni as brand ambassador

The country’s largest lender, State Bank of India has roped in cricketing legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the bank’s official Brand Ambassador to strengthen its connection, especially with the younger population.

In his role as the brand ambassador for SBI, MS Dhoni will take centre stage in the bank’s various marketing and promotional campaigns.

Among public sector banks, Bank of Baroda had appointed Rahul Dravid as its brand ambassador.

At present, badminton players P V Sindhu, K Srikanth, and cricketer Shafali Verma are BOB’s brand ambassadors.

Delhi-based Punjab National Bank had also taken Virat Kohli on board as its brand ambassador.

Recent Brand Ambassador

• Katrina Kaif – Swiss Watchmaker ‘Rado’
• Chetan Bhagat – Henry Harvin Education
• Mahendra Singh Dhoni – Lay’s
• Mohammed Shami – Sports brand Puma
• Neeraj Chopra – Laureus Ambassador
• Mahendra Singh Dhoni – Reliance Retail’s Jio Mart
• Katrina Kaif – Uniqlo India
• Hrithik Roshan – Exxon Mobilil

Exp. Yogesh Kathuniya won Silver in Men’s Discus Throw at Asian Para Games

Yogesh Kathuniya won the silver medal in the Men’s Discus Throw-F54/55/56 at the Asian Para Games 2023 held in Hangzhou, China.

Yogesh represented India at Summer Paralympics 2020 where he won a silver medal in the men’s discus throw F56 event.

He hails from Delhi.

Exp. Paytm becomes official sponsor for 37th National Games

India’s renowned fintech giant, Paytm is the official sponsor for the 37th National Games in Goa.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Games at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda.

The National Games, which bear a striking resemblance to the Olympics, are taking place from October 26 to November 9, 2023, and feature over 10,000 athletes from across the nation competing in 43 different sports disciplines across 28 venues.

This edition is unique, boasting the participation of 28 Indian states and 8 union territories.

Exp. Mariyappan Thangavelu wins silver in High Jump at Asian Para Games

Mariyappan Thangavelu has won the silver medal in Men’s High Jump T63 event at the Asian Para Games 2022 in Hangzhou, China.

Thangavelu leaping the mark of 1.86m.

This is his second medal at the Games, having already won a gold in Rio Paralympics 2016.

In 2017 the Government of India conferred him with the Padma Shri award for his contribution towards sports and in the same year, he was also awarded the Arjuna Award.

He was awarded with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2020.

Exp. India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise KAZIND-2023 begins

Indian Army and Indian Air Force contingent comprising 120 personnel departed for Kazakhstan to take part in the 7th edition of Joint Military ‘Exercise KAZIND-2023’.

The Exercise will be conducted at Otar in Kazakhstan from 30 October to 11 November.

Indian Army contingent comprises 90 personnel led by a Battalion from the DOGRA Regiment. The Kazakhstan contingent is represented by personnel from Regional Command South of Kazakh Ground Forces.

Thirty personnel of the Air Force from both sides will also participate in the current edition of the Exercise alongside the Army contingents.

The Joint Exercise between India and Kazakhstan was instituted as ‘Exercise PRABAL DOSTYK’ in 2016. After the second edition, the Exercise was upgraded to a company-level exercise and renamed as ‘Exercise KAZIND’.

Recent Exercise

• Coastal Security Exercise Sagar Kavach – Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry
• Cambrian Patrol 2023 Military Exercise in UK – Indian Army won gold medal
• Indian Navy hosts HADR CHAKRAVAT Exercise 2023 – Goa
• 11th edition of SAMPRITI between India and Bangladesh – Umroi, Meghalaya
• 30th edition of SIMBEX between Indian Navy and Singapore Navy – South China Sea.
• 21st edition of Varuna 2023 between Indian Navy and French Navy – Arabian Sea

Exp. Global Teacher Prize 2023: West Bengal teacher among top 10 finalists

A teacher from West Bengal, Deep Narayan Nayak has been announced as a top 10 finalist from across 130 countries in the USD 1 million Global Teacher Prize 2023.

Deep Narayan, from Tilka Manjhi Adivasi Free Primary School in Jamuria, Asansol, earned the title of “Teacher of the Streets” during the COVID-19 lockdown when he moved classrooms outside and helped bridge the digital divide for disadvantaged children living below the poverty line in remote communities, empowering those with learning disabilities, counseling students and their parents, and improving literacy rates among adult learners.

Now in its eighth year, the annual prize is organized by the UK-based Varkey Foundation in collaboration with UNESCO and in strategic partnership with Dubai Cares, a UAE-based global philanthropic organization.

The prize was created to recognize an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as to shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society.

Deep Narayan Nayak made the cut for developing innovative teaching methods that have transformed the lives of underprivileged children facing educational and social challenges.

Amidst the pandemic, he turned mud walls into blackboards and roads into classrooms, bridging the digital divide for marginalised students.

Recent Awards

• Title of ‘Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres’ by the French govt – Richa Chadha
• National Medal of Technology and Innovation Award by US President – Ashok Gadgil and Subra Suresh
• Global Leadership Award by the Harvard Law School – CJI DY Chandrachud
• Golden Peacock Award – REC Limited
• UNWTO’s Best Tourism Village 2023 – Gujarat’s Dhordo Village

Exp. 30 October – World Stroke Day

World Stroke Day is celebrated every year on 30 October.

This day is dedicated to raising awareness about strokes, their prevention, treatment, and the importance of timely intervention. Strokes, often referred to as brain attacks, are a leading cause of disability and death worldwide.

Theme 2023 – Together we are #Greater Than Stroke

The European Stroke Initiative came up with the concept of organizing a day of awareness in the 1990s. But due to budgetary constraints, the endeavour could only be conducted in Europe.

The World Stroke Congress in Vancouver, Canada, in 2004 established World Stroke Day, which falls on October 29. Dr. Vladimir Hachinski led the formation of a working group, which in October 2006 became a World Stroke Proclamation.

The World Stroke Organization, which assumed control of World Stroke Day, was formed at about the same time that the International Stroke Society and the World Stroke Federation combined.

Exp. First Black Action Hero, Richard Roundtree Passed Away

Richard Roundtree, the trailblazing actor who starred as the ultra-smooth private detective in several Shaft films beginning in the early 1970s, has passed away at the age of 81.

He was born in New Rochelle, New York, was considered as the first Black action hero.

He became one of the leading actors in the blaxploitation genre through his New York street-smart John Shaft character in the Gordon Parks-directed film in 1971.

In 2011, he secured the African-American Film Critics Association award, while in 1994, he claimed the MTV Movie + TV Award for his role in “Shaft.”

Additionally, he earned a nomination for the Golden Globe Awards in 1972 and was recognized at the Soap Opera Digest Awards, among other accolades.