Current Affairs Quiz 31st May 2023 Quiz

Exp. Maharashtra government launched Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Yojana

Maharashtra government has approved a new financial scheme under which more than one crore farmers in the state will be paid 6,000 rupees annually.

The scheme, Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Yojana, was approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Mumbai.

The amount is in addition to 6,000 rupees being paid to farmers by the Centre under the PM Kisan Yojana.

Maharashtra Cabinet also approved the implementation of ‘Gender Inclusive Tourism Policy called ‘Aai’ to empower women in the tourism sector.

Similarly, approval was also given to start women’s bike-taxi services at some tourist spots in the State.

About Maharashtra

• Capital – Mumbai
• Chief Minister – Eknath Sindhe
• Governor – Ramesh Bais

Exp. Odisha government announces new housing scheme

Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha government has launched a new initiative, Mo Ghara (My Home) – a credit-linked housing scheme for rural poor in the state.

Objective – To convert all kutcha houses into pucca ones

It is a promise made by the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in its 2019 election manifesto. The scheme is set to benefit around four lakh families.

The government plans to spend Rs 2,150 crore over the next two years benefitting four lakh families under the scheme.

Under the Mo Ghara scheme, a beneficiary can avail housing loan of up to Rs 3 lakh that can be repaid in 10 years in easy installments excluding one year moratorium period.

About Odisha

• Capital – Bhubaneswar
• Chief Minister – Naveen Patnaik
• Governor – Ganeshi Lal

Exp. Kheer Bhawani Mela 2023 organized in Kashmir Valley

Every year on the day of Jyestha Ashtami, Kashmiri Pandits visit Mata Ragneya Devi Temple, also known as Kheer Bhavani Temple, for darshan.

The Kheer Bhawani Mela is an annual festival celebrated by both Kashmiri Pandits and locals of the Kashmir valley.

The festival is held on Jyeshtha Ashtami and is considered sacred by the Kashmiri Pandits community.

Over the years, the Kheer Bhawani Mela has become a symbol of communal harmony and brotherhood in Kashmir.

Exp. Odisha CM launches ‘Odisha for Al, and Al for Youth’ initiative

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched the ‘Odisha for Artificial Intelligence’ and ‘Artificial Intelligence for Youth’ initiatives in the state capital.

The State Government has roped in international technology company for the initiative. In the first phase, the initiative will be implemented in Bhubaneswar, Puri and Cuttack.

Government has focused on technology-driven transformation, which is one of the key components of the Government’s 5-T initiative, he assured that the initiative will augment the digital literacy of the masses and make them familiar with the next-generation cutting-edge technology.

About Odisha

• Capital – Bhubaneswar
• Chief Minister – Naveen Patnaik
• Governor – Ganeshi Lal

Exp. 8th International Convention of SPIC MACAY inaugurated in Nagpur

In Nagpur, the 8th International Convention of the Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music among Youth -SPIC MACAY was inaugurated at Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology -VNIT in Nagpur.

This cultural convention is being jointly organized by the Union Ministry of Culture, and Incredible India. Padma-awarded artists will perform at this weeklong convention.

More than 1500 delegates and youths from India and abroad will attend the convention. It includes classical music, dance programmes, folk art, a sculpture workshop, a cinema screening, heritage walk.

The main purpose of this convention is to make the new generation aware of Indian culture and traditions and to impart to music learners a Gurukul ashram-like environment.

Exp. Nirmala Sitharaman chairs 2nd meeting NICDIT

The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presided over the second meeting of the Apex Monitoring Authority of the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) in New Delhi.

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Suman Bery, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, and officials from 16 states attended the meeting, which focused on reviewing the progress of projects under the NICDIT.

The NICDIT aims to establish greenfield smart industrial cities with sustainable, plug-and-play, and ICT-enabled utilities.

The NICDIT operates within the broader framework of the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and aims to provide multi-modal connectivity through flagship schemes such as Bharatmala, Sagarmala, National Waterways, Dedicated Freight Corridors, and National Gas Grid, among others.

Exp. Razorpay launches “Turbo UPI”

Fintech major Razorpay has launched Turbo UPI in partnership with Axis Bank and the National Payments Council of India (NPCI).

The new product will allow customers of online merchants to make UPI payments directly without getting redirected to a third-party UPI app during checkout.

Turbo UPI aims to reduce potential payment failures.

Razorpay Turbo UPI can deliver a 5X faster payment experience and can help businesses achieve an increase in the success rate of UPI payments by 10 percent.

The move comes after Paytm last week launched a similar product called “UPI SDK”.

Recent Facilities Launched in Banks & Insurance Sector

• Axis Bank launches a digital onboarding platform ‘Sarathi’
• Paytm launches Paytm SBI Card on RuPay Network with NPCI
• Bank of Baroda launches electronic bank guarantee on its digital platform
• AU Small Finance Bank launches RuPay credit card for self-employed customers
• RBI, BIS launch global technology competition ‘G20 TechSprint’

Exp. Bola Ahmed Tinubu sworn in as the President of Nigeria

Bola Tinubu, from Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress party, has been sworn in as the new President of Nigeria.

In February 2023, he defeated former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The swearing ceremony was attended by the Indian defense minister, Rajnath Singh, who is on a three-day visit to Nigeria.

This is the first-ever visit of an Indian Defence Minister to Nigeria.

About Nigeria

• Capital- Abuja
• Currency- Nigerian naira
• Continent- Africa
• President– Bola Tinubu

Newly Appointed Prime Minister & President

• President of Paraguay – Santiago Peña
• President of Bangladesh – Mohammed Shahabuddin Chuppu (22nd)
• Deputy prime minister of UK – Oliver Dowden
• President of Cuba – Miguel Diaz-Canel (2nd term)
• Vice-President of UAE – Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahya

Exp. Chaman Lal elected 1st-ever Indian-origin Lord Mayor of Birmingham

Councillor Chaman Lal has become the first ever British-Indian Sikh to take oath as Birmingham’s Lord Mayor.

Lal, who is from the Ravidassia community of British Sikhs, was born in the village of Pakhowal in Hoshiarpur and later moved to the United Kingdom in 1964.

He is a Labour Party leader who was first elected to Soho and Jewellery Quarter ward in 1994.

Recent Appointments of Persons of Indian Origin

• US Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues – Indian-American Geeta Rao Gupta
• Domestic policy advisor in Biden administration – Indian-origin Neera Tandon
• President of World Bank – Indian-Origin Ajay Banga
• Association of American Universities (AAU) Task Force Chairs – Neeli Bendapudi
• Warrant Officer of UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) – Subby Subramaniam (Indian-origin)

Exp. Maharashtra govt names Sachin Tendulkar as Smile Ambassador’

Maharashtra government has named cricket legend, Sachin Tendulkar as ‘Smile Ambassador’ under the state medical education & drug department’s ‘Swachh Mukh Abhiyan.

Objective – To spread awareness about oral health and hygiene

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sachin Tendulkar. The former Indian cricketer will be the campaign’s brand ambassador for the next five years.

Recent Brand Ambassador

• Sourav Ganguly – Tripura Tourism
• Virat Kohli – Duroflex (mattress and sleep products maker)
• Alia Bhatt – Gucci’s First Indian Global Ambassador
• Ayushmann Khurrana – Wakefit (Manufacturer of mattresses)
• Rishabh Pant – Star Sports Believe Ambassadors
• Rohit Sharma – JioCinema

Exp. RINL won ‘Greentech Safety Award 2023’

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) has won the GreenTech Safety Award 2023 under the Safety Excellence category for improving workplace safety in 2022-23.

It was awarded for its commitment to corporate citizenship, transparent accountability, and strategic sustainability.

The jury members praised RINL for using drone technology to inspect high-rise structures and chimneys.

21st Greentech Safety Award 2023 organized by the Greentech Foundation, recognizes and honors the outstanding organizations that are taking responsibility for defining a commercial future by adding value through excellence in fire, safety, health and security management for corporate citizenship, transparent accountability, life cycle stewardship, strategic sustainability and conducting fair business in a disciplined manner that delivers a shared future for all stakeholders through commitment, dedication with a goal of zero injuries.

Recent Awards

• 57th Jnanpith Award – Damodar Maujo
• Honoris Causa at Apex University’s Jaipur – Sonu Sood
• National Water Award 2022 – Chandigarh
• Fiji’s highest civilian award “The Companion of the Order of Fiji” – PM Modi
• Papua New Guinea’s highest civilian award Grand Companion of the Order of Loghu (GCL) – PM Modi
• Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar Award – Yogi Adityanath

Exp. India won CAVA Women’s Challenge Cup 2023

India has won the title of the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Women’s Volleyball Challenge Cup 2023 held in Kathmandu.

India defeated Kazakhstan in a shared set of 3-0. India won the first set 25-15, the second set 25-22, and the third set 25-18. Along with this, India finished the competition by remaining undefeated.

The event was organized by the Nepal Volleyball Association and is supported by the NSC, eight nations participated in it.

In the competition, Kazakhstan became the runner-up, Nepal third, Uzbekistan fourth, Sri Lanka fifth, Kyrgyzstan sixth, Maldives seventh, and Bangladesh eighth.

Exp. 30 May – Goa Statehood Day

Goa Statehood Day is celebrated every year on 30 May. Goa received statehood on May 30, 1987.

It was a Portuguese territory since Alfonso de Albuquerque conquered it in 1510 by defeating Adil Shah of Bijapur who was ruling the region.

400 years later, India took back Goa from the Portuguese.

The Indian Army invaded Goa in December 1961 under “Operation Vijay” to liberate it from the Portuguese. They captured and assimilated Goa, Daman and Diu as part of India. The annexation by the Indian Army began on December 17, 1961.

In December 1962, Shri Dayanand Bhandarkar became the first Chief Minister of Goa.

Exp. 31 May – World No Tobacco Day

Anti-Tobacco Day or World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on 31 May.

Objective – To promote awareness about the devastating health issues connected with tobacco use

Theme 2023 – We need food, not tobacco

The day advocates for effective tobacco-control policies. The WHO first established the day in 1987, and it has since become a significant occasion for public health initiatives globally to take effective measures against tobacco use.

The World Health Organization (WHO) passed a resolution in 1987 establishing no tobacco day. At the World Health Assembly, a resolution was passed calling for observing 7 April 1988 as “a world no-smoking day”.

Next year, another resolution was passed calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day on May 31 every year.