Current Affairs Quiz 4th July 2024 Quiz

Exp. Union Minister Shri G Kishan Reddy Launches NIRMAN Portal

Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy has launched a portal “Noble Initiative for Rewarding Mains Aspirants of National Civil Services Examination (NIRMAN)” in New Delhi.

In alignment with the vision “Mission Karmayogi” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this is a unique CSR scheme by Coal India Limited for meritorious youth of its operating districts who have qualified the Preliminary round of UPSC examination (for Civil Services & Forest Service) in 2024.

The scheme is aimed towards providing support of Rs 1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh) to the Preliminary examination qualified candidates with annual family income less than 8 lakhs and belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, female or third gender; who are permanent residents of any of the 39 operational districts of CIL.

Exp. Maharashtra CM extends Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana age limit to 65 Years

Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde has raised the upper age limit to 65 years for the “Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin” scheme, under which women will get Rs 1,500 per month.

The state government had set the upper age limit at 61 for benefits to be available to women under the scheme.

About Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana

• Eligible women aged 21 to 65 years will receive a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 under this scheme.
• The scheme aims to provide financial relief and empower women by supporting their health, nutrition, and overall well-being.
• This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to supporting women and fostering self-reliance.

About Maharashtra

• Capital – Mumbai
• Chief Minister – Eknath Sindhe
• Deputy Chief Minister – Devendra Fadnavis & Ajit Pawar
• Governor – Ramesh Bais

Exp. Smart Cities Mission extended till March 2025

The Centre has extended the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) under the Union Urban Development Ministry till March 31, 2025.

Under the SCM, launched in June 2015, 100 cities were chosen through a competition to be developed as smart cities.

The mission envisions developing areas within selected cities in the country as model areas based on an area development plan, which is expected to have a rub-off effect on other parts of the city and nearby cities and towns.

More than 8,000 multi-sectoral projects are being developed by the 100 cities amounting to around ₹1.6 lakh crore under the SCM.

The government’s statement is 830 projects amounting to ₹19,926 crore, accounting for 10% of the total projects under the mission, were in advanced stages of completion while 7,188 projects (90% of total projects) amounting to ₹1,44,237 crore had been completed.

The union government has already released ₹46,585 crore (97% of the allocation) to 100 cities and 93% of the central funding has been utilised.

Exp. GoI and ADB sign $170 million loan to strengthen pandemic preparedness and response

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $170 million policy-based loan to consolidate and strengthen India’s health system preparedness and response capacity to future pandemics.

The programme builds on ADBs partnership with the Government of India to strengthen its health system and adopt transformative solutions.

The programme will be anchored in major government’s plans and initiatives including the National Health Policy 2017; Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), the National One Health Mission, and the government’s efforts to strengthen human resources for health (HRH).

The targeted reform areas through the program include: (i) strengthened disease surveillance and multisectoral response, (ii) strengthened human resources for health, and (iii) expanded climate resilient public health infrastructure and innovative service delivery.

Recent Loan approved by ADB

• India and ADB sign $181 million to improve livability, mobility in Ahmedabad
• India and ADB sign $200 million loan to tackle flood and erosion risk along Brahmaputra River
• India signed an MoU with ADB $250 million for Delhi-Meerut RRTS
• India and ADB sign $250 million loan for Industrial Corridor Development in India
• India, ADB signed $200 million loan agreement for Uttarakhand power system project
• India, ADB signed $175 million loan deal to improve Madhya Pradesh roads

Exp. India to host UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in New Delhi

India will host 46th session of UNESCO World Heritage Committee session at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi fromJuly 21-31.

The 45th session of the committee was held at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.

The event will be attended by over 2,500 delegates from State Parties, advisory bodies, senior diplomats, heritage experts, scholars, and researchers from 195 countries.

The session is being organized by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), is likely to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 21.

About World Heritage Committee

• The World Heritage Committee comprises representatives from 21 States Parties to the World Heritage Convention (1972) elected by the General Assembly of UNESCO.
• The current members of the committee, after elections in the 24th General Assembly of UNESCO in November 2023, are Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Türkiye, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Zambia.
• The committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention. It allocates financial assistance from the World Heritage Fund and has the final say on whether a site is inscribed on the World Heritage List.
• It was established under the convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO at its 17th session on 16 November 1972.

Exp. Bajaj Housing Finance launches Sambhav Home Loans for first-time home buyers

Bajaj Housing Finance has launched ‘Sambhav Home Loans’ targeting first time home buyers with affordable income criteria.

The income norm for first-time homebuyers, under this new product, starts from Rs. 10,000 per month, with loan amounts as low as Rs. 10 lakh, hence making this an accessible option for prospective borrowers across a wide range of income groups.

Both salaried and self-employed applicants from a range of employment types including from the informal sector are eligible for finance as part of this product.

Borrowers will have attractive interest rates with affordable EMIs and the option to choose a repayment tenor of up to 20 years.  

Exp. ICICI Lombard launches AI-powered health insurance plan ‘Elevate’

ICICI Lombard, a leading private general insurer in India, has launched its revolutionary health insurance product, ‘Elevate’.

Powered with AI, the first-of-its-kind health product is loaded with cutting-edge features and add-ons, offering personalised solutions to meet the needs of dynamic lifestyles, unforeseen medical emergencies and medical inflation.

Elevate is designed to accommodate the rapidly evolving ecosystem and offers personalised, customer-centric plans that prioritize comprehensive coverage and flexibility.

Recent Facilities Launched in Banking & Insurance Sector

• SBI launched “MSME -Sahaj”, a web-based digital business loans solution for MSMEs’ invoice financing.
• Bandhan Bank launches online collection of direct taxes facility
• Union Bank of India introduces “Union Premier” branches for high-value customers in rural and semi-urban markets
• ICICI Bank unveils ‘SmartLock’, a new safety feature for iMobile Pay
• HDFC Bank launches digital investment platform SmartWealth

Exp.  ICICI Bank launches Sapphiro Forex Card for Indian students

ICICI Bank has launched the ‘Student Sapphiro Forex Card’, a premium prepaid forex card designed for Indian students pursuing higher education abroad.

Powered by Visa, the card offers a range of benefits aimed at making overseas financial management simpler for students and their parents.

The ‘Student Sapphiro Forex Card’ offers students the triple advantage of payment of tuition and daily expenses, digital re-loading of the card by parents from anywhere, and additional curated benefits.

The Student Sapphiro Forex Card offers joining benefits worth up to Rs 15,000.

About Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) Bank

• Founded – 1994
• Headquarters – Mumbai
• MD & CEO – Sandeep Bakhshi
• Tagline – Hum Hai Na Khayal Apka

Exp. Sujata Saunik appointed Maharashtra’s first Woman Chief Secretary

Sujata Saunik, a 1987 batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, has been appointed as the first woman Chief Secretary (CS) of Maharashtra.

The appointment of Sujata Saunik comes after the retirement of Nitin Kareer, who had served as the CS of Maharashtra since January 2024.

Saunik will serve a one-year term, retiring in June 2025.

She becomes the 45th CS of Maharashtra since the state’s establishment in 1960.

Before this role, she held positions including Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department and ACS in the General Administration Department.

Recent Appointment

• Chairman of CBDT – Ravi Agrawal (replace Nitin Gupta)
• Director in Department of Consumer Affairs – Mrinal Kumar Das
• President of the Professional Golf Tour of India – Kapil Dev
• VP of India Bullion Jewellers Association – Aksha Mohit Kamboj
• Director in the Department of Consumer Affairs – Mrinal Kumar Das

Exp. Dick Schoof elected as new PM of Netherlands

Dick Schoof, former head of the Dutch intelligence agency and counterterrorism office, is sworn in as the new Prime Minister of the Netherlands by King Willem-Alexander.

The Netherlands has a new Prime Minister for the first time in 14 years.

The new government was sworn in seven months after the far-right Party for Freedom won the largest share of seats in the elections.

First non-party-aligned PM since World War II.

About Netherlands

• Capital- Amsterdam
• Currency- Euro
• Prime Minster – Dick Schoof

Newly Appointed Prime Minister & President

• President of Slovakia – Peter Pellegrini
• President of South Africa – Cyril Ramaphosa (2^nd time)
• President of Iceland – Halla Tomasdottir
• President of Mexico – Claudia Sheinbaum (first female prez of nation)
• President of Lithuania – Gitanas Nauseda

Exp. Russia approves schedule for creation of Russian Orbital Station by 2033

Russia has approved the schedule for the creation of a Russian orbital station by 2033.

The scientific and energy modules will be launched first in 2027, and three other core modules, namely the universal nodal, gateway, and base modules, will be launched by 2030. and two other target modules are scheduled to be launched by 2033.

A total of 608.9 billion rubles has been allocated to finance the project. The creation of the Russian orbital station would ensure the continuity of Russia’s space programme and address issues of national security and scientific and technological development.

Roscosmos, Russian Federal Space Agency, which was formed in 1992.

About Russia

• Capital – Moscow
• Currency – Rubel
• President – Vladimir Putin (5^th time)
• Prime Minister – Mikhail Mishustin

Exp. Rajinder Khanna appointed as Additional NSA; TV Ravichandran named Deputy NSA

Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA) Rajinder Khanna was appointed as the additional NSA.

While Intelligence Bureau special director TV Ravichandran was named deputy NSA.

This marks the first time the post of additional NSA has been filled, despite its longstanding existence.

Khanna, a 1978-batch IPS officer from the Odisha cadre, served as the chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) from December 2014 to December 2016. He was appointed deputy NSA in January 2018, overseeing the Technology and Intelligence section.

Ravichandran’s appointment as deputy NSA comes as he replaces Vikram Mistry, who was named foreign secretary last month.

The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with NSA Ajit Doval as its secretary, serves as the apex body for all internal and external security-related matters in India.

Recent Appointment in Defence Sector

• Vice Chief of Army Staff – NS Raja Subramani
• Chief of Intelligence Bureau – Tapan Kumar Deka (reappointment for 1 year)
• Chief of the Army Staff – Upendra Dwivedi (replace Manoj C Pande)
• First Woman Helicopter Pilot – Anamika B. Rajeev
• Additional Directors in CBI – A.Y.V. Krishna and N. Venu Gopal

Exp. B.N. Gangadhar appointed as Chairperson of the National Medical Commission

Dr BN Gangadhar has been appointed as the Chairperson of the National Medical Commission (NMC) while appointing Dr Sanjay Behari as president of Medical Assessment and Rating Board.

Dr Gangadhar, former director of NIMHANS, was also the president of the autonomous Medical Assessment and Rating Board.

Dr Behari is the director of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram.

Other appointments

• Dr Anil D’Cruz, Director for oncology of Apollo Hospital, Mumbai has been appointed as the whole-time member of the PG Medical Education Board.
• Dr Rajendra Achyut Badwe, Professor Emeritus, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai has been appointed a part-time member in the UG Medical Education Board.

Exp. 4 July – Jackfruit Day

Jackfruit Day is celebrated on 4 July every year.

The tropical fruit is a popular meat substitute for those who are trying to follow a plant-based diet. It is high in vitamins and antioxidants, making it a great addition to any diet.

The fruit has a spiky outer skin and is native to parts of South and South-East Asia. It is mostly produced in Asia, but attempts were made to grow it in Hawaii before 1888.

The word “jackfruit” is thought to have been derived from the Portuguese “jaca,” which can also be translated to “chakka.”

The word was used in a book written by Portuguese naturalist and scholar Garcia da Orta in 1563.