Current Affairs Quiz 30th October 2024 Quiz

Exp. FSIB recommends Ashok Chandra as next PNB managing director and CEO

The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) recommended Ashok Chandra for the position of managing director (MD) & chief executive officer (CEO) of Punjab National Bank (PNB).

Chandra is currently executive director (ED) at Canara Bank since November 21, 2022. The current MD & CEO of PNB, Atul Kumar Goel, is set to complete his tenure on December 31, 2024.

Chandra started his banking career with the erstwhile Corporation Bank in September 1991 as a probationary officer. He holds a Masters degree in economics and is also a Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers.

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector

• MD & CEO of Axis Bank – Amitabh Chaudhry (reappointment for 3 years)
• CFO of HSBC Bank – Pam Kaur (first female CFO; replace Georges Elhedery)
• CEO of JP Morgan Chase Bank India CEO – Pranav Chawda
• Chairperson of the Board of National Pension System (NPS) Trust – Chitra Jayasimha (replace Venkata Rao Yadagani)
• CEO of Acko Life Insurance – Sandip Goenka
• MD & CEO of Bandhan Bank – Partha Pratim Sengupta (for 3 year)

Exp. Slice, North East Small Finance Bank merge one year after RBI approval

Fintech firm Slice completed its merger with North East Small Finance Bank, consolidating the operations, assets, and brand identities of the financial entities into a single institution.

The merger process was completed over one year after the bank received a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The merged entity aims to deepen the bank’s presence in the country’s north-eastern region.

This integration follows the receipt of all necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals, uniting both entities’ operations, assets, and brand identities into a single, robust banking institution.

Exp. Airtel names COO Shashwat Sharma as MD & CEO

Chief Operating Officer (COO) Shashwat Sharma will take charge as the next Managing Director (MD) and CEO of Bharti Airtel.

While incumbent Gopal Vittal has been named vice-chairman from January 1, 2026.Vittal has been at the helm for the past 12 years

Prior to Airtel, Vittal had worked for Hindustan Unilever across categories and countries for two decades.

Recent Appointment

• Chairperson of the Board of National Pension System (NPS) Trust – Chitra Jayasimha (replace Venkata Rao Yadagani)
• Secretary of the Ministry of Coal – Vikram Dev Dutt
• Chairperson of National Commission for Women – Vijaya Rahatkar (9th; replace Rekha Shrama)
• Member of the National Commission for Women – Dr Archana Majumdar
• Director of Cricket at JSW Sports – Saurav Ganguly
• CM of Haryana – Nayab Singh Saini (2nd time)

Exp. Vipin Kumar appointed as Chairman of Airports Authority of India

Vipin Kumar, an IAS officer of 1996 batch, Bihar cadre, took over as chairman of Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Kumar was earlier additional secretary, department of school education & literacy, education ministry.

He was also the chairman of Bihar Bridge Construction Corporation; Managing Director of Bihar Milk Cooperative Federation (SUDHA) and Director, Mid-Day Scheme-Bihar. Kumar holds a degree in Electronics & Communication Engineering.

Exp. Fiji honours Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with its highest Civilian Award

The South Pacific nation of Fiji has conferred its highest civilian honour upon Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the global spiritual master and humanitarian leader, for his tireless contribution to the upliftment of the human spirit and bringing diverse communities together in peace and harmony.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was given the title of ‘Honourary Officer Of The Order of Fiji’ by the President of the Republic of Fiji, HE Ratu Wiliame M Katonivere.

Fiji becomes the sixth country in the world to confer the highest civilian award upon Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, recognizing the vast scope of his humanitarian work globally through The Art of Living which has been spreading happiness and harmony for the last 43 years, through its multifarious service initiatives in areas of mental health, education, environment, women and youth empowerment, and stress relief and meditation programs.

Exp. Australian Wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade Retires

Australia’s wicketkeeper-batter has drawn curtains on his international career after playing for 13 years and across 225 fixtures.

Wade, who has played 36 Test matches, 97 One-Day Internationals and 92 T20 Internationals for Australia will continue playing in the domestic cricket and leagues.

He will continue playing for Tasmania in white-ball cricket and will feature for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League.

Wade played a key role for Australia in their maiden T20 World Cup run in 2021. His knock of 41 runs of 17 deliveries against Pakistan in the semi-final was the finest from him and it played a vital role in helping the team ensure a victory.

Recently Retired Players

• Rani Rampal (India) – Hockey
• Rafael Nadal (Spain) – Professional Tennis 🎾
• Dipa Karmakar (Tripura, India) – Gymnastic
• Dwayne Bravo (West Indies) – All forms of Cricket
• Luis Suarez (Uruguay) – National Football ⚽
• Barinder Sran (India) – International Cricket

Exp. Dr Jitendra inaugurates new campus of India’s first Bio manufacturing Institute at Mohali

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, PMO, Atomic Energy, Space, and Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has inaugurated the new complex of India’s first Bio manufacturing Institute, “BRIC-National Agri-Food Bio-Manufacturing Institute” (BRIC-NABI).

The BRIC-National Agri-Food Bio manufacturing Institute (BRIC-NABI), formed through the strategic merger of NABI and CIAB, is poised to transform India’s agricultural landscape by uniting biotechnology and bioprocessing expertise.

This newly established entity aims to streamline the journey from research to commercialization, facilitating pilot-scale production and delivering innovative agri-tech solutions to the market.

The establishment of the BRIC-National Agri-Food Bio-Manufacturing Institute marks a pivotal step in India’s journey toward an integrated, science-powered economy.

Exp. India’s first ‘Writer’s village’ inaugurated in Dehradun

The country’s first ‘Writer’s village’ was jointly inaugurated by former President Ram Nath Kovind, Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh (retd) and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Located in Thano village, about 24 km from Dehradun, the ‘Writer’s village’ is the brainchild of former chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, a distinguished writer himself.

On this occasion, during the three-day International Literature, Culture and Art Festival ‘Sparsh Himalaya Mahotsav-2024’, the first work of Writer’s village, ‘Ram in the Himalayas’, written by Nishank, was also released.

Exp. 29 October – International Day of Care and Support

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has established an International Day of Care and Support. The event is observed on October 29.

It recognises the unequal burden of unpaid care and household work on women and girls, as well as emphasising the importance of addressing these systemic impediments to women’s empowerment.

Theme 2024 – Transforming Care Systems: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the context of Beijing+30

Exp. 27 October – Indian Army Infantry Day

Every year the Infantry Day is celebrated on October 27 to pay tribute and recognise the contributions of the largest fighting arm of the Indian Army who laid down their lives in the line of duty.

Indian Army is celebrating it as the 78th Infantry Day this year. On this day, the country pays tribute to the brave hearts who sacrificed their lives while protecting the country.

Infantry Day is celebrated as a remembrance of the first military event of independent India, when the First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army fought a battle to accomplish victory over the first attack on Indian soil by the Pakistan Army and Lashkar invader on October 27, 1947, in the Kashmir valley.