Current Affairs Quiz 3rd and 4th June 2023 Quiz

Exp. Punjab Police launches OPS Clean

Punjab Police has launched a massive state-wide operation named “OP Clean” wherein 650 police teams comprising over 5,000 personnel raided more than 2,000 locations across the state to keep a tab on activities of people involved in the smuggling of commercial quantities of drugs.

As many as 650 police teams, involving over 5,500 police personnel, raided 2,247 locations and conducted searches at 2,125 houses of people having involvement in drug smuggling cases.

The police teams recovered 1.8 kg heroin, 82 kg poppy husk, 1 kg opium, Rs 5.35 lakh drug money and four weapons from them, besides recovering illicit liquor, lahan (raw material used to make liquor) and vehicles after registering 48 FIRs across the state.

The operation was conducted by the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav.

About Punjab

• Capital – Chandigarh
• Chief Minister – Bhagwant Mann
• Governor – Banwarilal Purohit

Exp. PM SVANidhi Scheme Celebrates Successful Completion of 3 Years

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri complimented the Prime Minster Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme on the occasion of its successful completion of 3 momentous years.

The scheme was launched in June 2020.

Objective – To empower street vendors by restoring self-employment, self-sustenance, and self-confidence.

Over the years, PM SVANidhi has emerged as one of the most beneficial and rapidly growing micro-credit schemes in India, fostering financial inclusion, digital literacy, and offering dignity and stability to street vendors.

The scheme offers working capital loans in three installments to street vendors and has successfully provided microcredit to over 3.6 million street vendors across the country.

As of 30th June 2023, a sum of Rs. 4.85 million loan applications have been approved with over 4.64 million loans disbursed amounting to a cumulative sum of Rs. 5,795 crore.  

Exp. Uttar Pradesh govt launches 15-day mega registration drive for MSMEs

The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a 15-day registration campaign for Micro, Small and Medium Entreprises (MSMEs) in all 75 districts across the state.

This campaign will be conducted in the entire state till June 15.

The campaign aims to cover around 14 lakh unregistered MSMEs and provide them with all the benefits of the schemes of the state government.

There are more than 90 lakh active MSMEs in the state, but only 14 lakh are registered, says the MSME and Export Promotion Department of the state government.

The MSME and Export Promotion Department of the state government will organize camps for the registration of MSMEs in each district.

About Uttar Pradesh

• Capital – Lucknow
• Chief Minister – Yogi Adityanath
• Governor – Anandiben Patel

Exp. Nitin Gadkari inaugurates two Highway projects in Vadodara

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated two National Highway projects in Vadodara, Gujarat worth Rs 48 crore.

One of the projects focuses on the improvement of the Ahmedabad-Vadodara section of National Highway 48 near Dumad Chowkdi. Spanning approximately 3 kilometers, this project has been inaugurated at a cost of Rs 27.01 crore.

The second project, costing Rs 17 crore, stretches about 1 kilometer near Dena Junction on National Highway 48 in Vadodara.

Nitin Gadkari In News

• Nitin Gadkari unveiled Bengaluru’s first methanol-run buses.
• Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated 7 National Highway projects with an investment of 6500 cr in Chitbada village, Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.

• Nitin Gadkari inaugurated Rs 3670 cr Highways projects in Maharashtra
• Nitin Gadkari chaired 10th meeting of Group of Infrastructure Committee
• Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated the first phase of the New Zuari Bridge in Goa.

Exp. Microsoft joins hands with Skill Development Ministry to train students, teachers

With the aim to empower youth in India with future-ready skills, Microsoft has signed an MoU with the Directorate General of Training (DGT), Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), to train students and educators at government-led Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and National Skills Training Institutions (NSTIs).

Microsoft will offer a wide range of courses, including training in AI, cloud computing, web development and cybersecurity skills for nearly 6000 students and 200 faculty members.

This training will empower young students with industry-relevant skills, enhancing their employability, and connecting them to relevant job opportunities.

Train-the-Trainer workshops will be conducted to empower faculty members on AI fluency and fundamentals, cloud computing, web development, Power BI, and soft skills.

These trained faculty members can then train ITI students attending computer operator and programming assistant (COPA) training. The CyberShikshaa programme focusing on basic and intermediate cybersecurity skills training will also be expanded to students and educators at 10 NSTIs for women.

Recent MoU

• NTPC Green Energy ties up with HPCL Mittal Energy for green hydrogen
• ICMR signs MoU with AYUSH Ministry for health research in Integrated Medicine
• IBM partners with NASA to convert satellite data into high-resolution maps
• BEL signs MoU with Emjay Control Systems to develop electro-mechanical bollards
• NTPC and NPCIL sign agreement for joint development of nuclear power plant
• Vedanta partners with 20 Korean firms to establish electronics manufacturing hub

Exp. Meghalaya sets up expert panel to review reservation formula

The Meghalaya government has set up an expert committee to review the 1972 reservation policy in line with demands made by the opposition Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) whose leader is on an indefinite hunger strike.

Following the announcement, VPP MLA Ardent Basaiawmoit called off his hunger strike that lasted for over 200 hours.

The expert committee is mandated to review the state reservation policy by obtaining views from all stakeholders.

The chairperson and members of the committee shall consist of experts in constitutional law, economics, sociology, demographic studies and related fields.

The 1972 job reservation policy awarded 40 percent of reserved jobs to Garos, 40 percent for Khasi-Jaintia tribes, 5 percent for other tribes and 15 percent for general category candidates.

About Meghalaya

• Capital – Shillong
• Chief Minister – Conrad Kongkal Sangma
• Governor – Phagu Chauhan

Exp. AIIMS Nagpur becomes first AIIMS to receive NABH accreditation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated AIIMS Nagpur for becoming the first of all AIIMS to receive the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) accreditation.

The NABH accreditation is recognized globally as a standard for healthcare excellence. Only a few private hospitals in Nagpur have this accreditation.

AIIMS-Nagpur, established in 2018, is one of the premier medical institutions in the region.

The process of attaining the NABH accreditation is rigorous and all-encompassing, evaluating various aspects of a hospital’s performance, including patient care, safety protocols, and organizational efficiency.

NABH plays a vital role in ensuring that healthcare institutions adhere to rigorous quality standards. By evaluating a hospital’s infrastructure, processes, and patient outcomes, NABH accreditation establishes a benchmark for excellence.

Exp. Srinagar to become smart city by June 2024

Srinagar is all set for a facelift. The city will get a ‘Smart City’ tag by June 2024 under the Srinagar Smart City Project.

A total of 137 projects have been sanctioned for Srinagar Smart City under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.

Under the project, Srinagar is aimed to get a complete transformation by using its natural and cultural heritage which will enhance the beauty and quality of life. Till now, 66 projects have been completed and currently, 71 projects are ongoing.

Under smart city, the project has eight themes: Jhelum Water Front Development and Water Transport, Urban Mobility, Street and Intersection Development, City Beautification & Urban Art, Green Srinagar, Heritage Conservation and Downtown Renewal, Information Technology, Central Business District Upgradation, Solid Waste Management.

Athar Amir Khan, CEO, Srinagar Smart City Ltd (SSCL) and Srinagar Municipal Commissioner informed this.

Exp. UAE wins Presidency of World Meteorological Organization

A meteorologist of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Dr Abdulla Al Mandous has been elected as the new President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for a four-year term from 2023 to 2027.

He will succeed Prof Gerhard Adrian from the German Meteorological Service, who served as WMO President since June 2019.

Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous emerged as the official candidate of the UAE and secured 95 votes out of the representatives from WMO’s 193 member states and territories.

The election took place during the 19th session of the World Meteorological Congress (Cg-19) held in Geneva, Switzerland from 22nd May to 2nd June

Under Dr. Al Mandous’ leadership, WMO’s upcoming 77th Executive Council Session (EC-77) will be chaired by the UAE in Geneva from 5th to 6th June.

The WMO is an authoritative body within the UN system that focuses on weather, climate, hydrological, and related environmental fields.

About World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

• Founded- 23 March 1950
• Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland
• President- Dr Abdulla Al Mandous (UAE)
• Secretary general- Petteri Taalas
• Parent organization- United Nations

Exp. BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Cape Town

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar joined fellow foreign ministers from the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) in Cape Town.

South Africa, which currently chairs the bloc, is hosting the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in Cape Town.

The foreign ministers’ meeting will finalize the agenda for the 15th BRICS summit scheduled to be held in South Africa in August.

It is believed that 19 countries are in line to join BRICS.

The full form of BRICS is Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Exp. Canada becomes first country to start putting health warnings on cigarettes

Canada has become the first country in the world to stipulate that individual cigarettes carry mandatory health warnings.

While packets carry such warnings of the risks associated with smoking, the Canadian Government is taking this measure to ensure that it becomes virtually impossible to avoid health warnings altogether.

These regulations will come into effect on August 1 this year.  These cigarettes will be introduced in a phased manner.

The individual health warnings will first appear on king-size cigarettes by the end of July 2024, and by the end of April 2025, other varieties, regular-size cigarettes and little cigars with tipping paper, and tubes, will follow.

About Canada

• Capital – Ottawa
• Currency – Dollar
• President – Justin Trudeau

Exp. Amarendu Prakash appoints chairman of SAIL

Amarendu Prakash has been appointed as the new Chairman and Managing Director of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL).

He was earlier Director (In-Charge) of SAIL’s Bokaro Steel Plant.

Prakash is heading the Bokaro Steel Plant as Director-in-Charge from September 2020.

Under Prakash’s leadership, Bokaro Steel Plant achieved remarkable production records in FY22 and FY23.

Recent Appointment

• Sworn in as member of UPSC – Bidyut Bihari Swain
• Shalini becomes 1st girl NCC cadet to complete mountaineering course – Shalini Singh
• MD of Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) – Ajay Yadav
• CEO for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) – K. Krithivasan
• Central Vigilance Commissioner – Praveen Kumar Srivastava

Exp. Edgars Rinkevics elected as new president of Latvia

Edgars Rinkevics, Latvia’s foreign minister since 2011, has been elected as the country’s new president.

The 100-seat Saeima legislature elected Edgars Rinkevics, the country’s top diplomat since 2011, as president to serve for a four-year term.

In 2014, he announced that he is “proudly” homosexual, will be the first openly gay president in the Baltic nations

Latvia declared independence in 1918 but was later occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940.

It regained independence in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

About Latvia

• Capital- Riga
• Currency- Euro
• Prime minister- Krisjanis Kariņs
• President – Edgars Rinkevics

Newly Appointed Prime Minister & President

• President of Turkey – Recep Tayyip Erdogan (re-elected)
• President of Nigeria -Bola Ahmed Tinubu
• President of Paraguay – Santiago Peña
• President of Bangladesh – Mohammed Shahabuddin Chuppu (22nd)
• Deputy prime minister of UK – Oliver Dowden

Exp. 3 June – World Bicycle Day 2023

World Bicycle Day is observed every year on June 3.

The day is observed for strengthening education, preventing diseases, including physical exercise, promoting tolerance, and facilitating social inclusion through cycling.

Theme 2023 – Riding Together for a Sustainable Future

World Bicycle Day was first marked on June 3, 2018, when the United Nations first adopted a resolution during the 72nd Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City in April.

The declaration was adopted by more than 193 member states that encouraged them to include bicycles in regional, international, and subnational development programmes and policies.

Cycling is a healthy, sustainable and affordable form of transportation. It can help to improve physical fitness, reduce air pollution and traffic congestion, and promote social inclusion.

Exp. 4 June – International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is observed every year on 4 June.

Objective – To raise awareness about the children who have suffered a lot throughout the world and are victims of physical, mental, and emotional abuse.

According to the UNICEF report, 104,100 children have been killed or maimed since 2005, with more than two-thirds of these deaths occurring between 2014 and 2020.

Since 2005, around 25,700 children have been abducted, 14,200 have been sexually abused and 93,000 have been recruited by armed actors.

The idea of the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression emerged from the UN General Assembly’s emergency special session held on August 19, 1982.

During the session, the assembly focused on protecting Palestinian and Lebanese children from Israeli aggression during the Lebanon war.