Current Affairs Quiz 4th October 2023 Quiz

Exp. PM Modi lauds J&K for achieving 100% villages ODF plus status

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded Jammu and Kashmir for achieving 100 percent villages Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status in the Model category under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) phase-2.

This is a monumental step in the journey towards a cleaner and healthier India.

The Union Territory has attained new heights in development and growth after the abrogation of Article 370. The schemes implemented by the Central Government are now being seamlessly extended to the nook and corners of Jammu and Kashmir.  

Exp. PM Modi launched 27 thousand crore rupee development projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone of development projects worth more than 26 thousand crore rupees in Jagdalpur, the divisional headquarters of tribal Bastar division in Chhattisgarh.

Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation the NMDC’s greenfield Steel Plant established at Nagarnar in Bastar.

Built at a cost of about 24 thousand crores rupees, the integrated steel plant will produce high-quality steel. This plant and its ancillary industries will generate employment opportunities for thousands of people.

Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the upgradation of Jagdalpur Railway Station and also dedicated to the nation the new rail line between Antagarh and Taroki and the double rail line project between Jagdalpur and Dantewada.

The PM also flagged off the train service between Taroki and Raipur. These projects will improve rail connectivity in this tribal area and give impetus to the economic development of the area.

Besides, the Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation the new road built between Kunkuri and Chhattisgarh-Jharkhand border on National Highway-45.

About Chhattisgarh

• Capital – Raipur
• Chief Minister – Bhupesh Baghel
• Governor – Biswabhusan Harichandan

PM Modi in News

• PM Modi has launched a week-long program called “Sankalp Saptah” for aspirational blocks in New Delhi.
• PM inaugurated ‘International Lawyers’ Conference 2023’ in New Delhi
• PM Modi laid foundation stone for Lord Shiva-themed Stadium in Varanasi, UP
• PM Modi laid foundation of Sant Ravidas temple in Madhya Pradesh
• PM Modi launched ‘Bhartiya Vastra Evam Shilp Kosh’ E-Portal

Exp. Uber launches ‘Uber Sustainovate’ Startup Challenge’

Uber has introduced the ‘Uber Sustainovate’ Startup Challenge, a dynamic initiative to expedite the adoption of sustainable mobility in India.

In partnership with Startup India and NASSCOM AI, this competition seeks to reward startups with groundbreaking concepts that can accelerate the transition to sustainable transportation within the nation.

The competition, in partnership with Startup India and Nasscom AI, is designed to award startups that produce the best workable ideas to help accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility in the country.

The winning startup would be awarded a grant of $120,000 (approximately Rs 1 crore), and the top 3 entries would be awarded mentorship sessions with the tech leadership of Uber in India in order to help them sharpen their skills and competencies.    

Exp. World Bank retains India’s FY24 GDP growth at 6.3% amidst challenges

The World Bank has decided to maintain its growth forecast for India in the fiscal year 2023-24 at 6.3 percent.

This decision comes as India continues to exhibit strong economic growth despite facing substantial external challenges. The bank had earlier lowered its growth forecast for India in April.

The World Bank highlighted India’s remarkable resilience within a demanding global environment.

India’s economic resilience is underpinned by key factors, including strong domestic demand, significant public infrastructure investments, and a strengthening financial sector.

Notably, bank credit growth has surged to 15.8% in the first quarter of FY23/24, indicating a healthy financial environment.

Updated GDP List

• Economic Survey –7% (FY23), 6.5% (FY24)
• World Bank – 6.9% (FY23), 6.3% (FY24), 6.4% (FY25), 6.5% (FY26)
• Moody– 6.8% (FY23), 6.1% (FY24), 6.3% (FY25)
• NACER – 7.4% (FY23), 6.5% (FY24)
• S&P – 6% (FY24), 6.9% (FY25), 6.9% (FY26), 7% (FY27)
• ICRA – 6.9% (FY23), 6% (FY24)
• ADB – 7% (FY23), 6.3% (FY24), 6.7% (FY25)
• RBI – 6.8% (FY23), 6.5% (FY24)
• India Ratings – 6.9% (FY23), 5.9% (FY24)
• Fitch Rating – 7.2% (FY23), 6.3% (FY24), 6.7% (FY25)
• HSBC Bank – 5.8% (FY24)
• OECD – 7.2% (FY23), 6.3% (FY24), 6%(FY25)
• CRISIL – 7% (FY23), 6% (FY24)
• UN – 6.6% (FY22), 5.8% (FY23), 6.7% (FY24)
• NSO – 7% (FY23)
• UBS – 6.9% (FY23), 5.9% (FY23)
• SBI – 7.1% (FY23) 6.2% – 6.3% (FY24)
• Morgan Stanley – 7% (FY23), 6.4%(FY24)
• Nomura – 5.9% (FY24)
• UNTCAD – 6% (FY23)
• CII – 2% (FY23), 6.5 – 6.7% (FY 24)
• Care Ratings –7% (FY23),5% (FY24)
• Goldman Sachs – 6.4% (FY24)
• Barclays – 6.3 % (FY24)
• BofA Global Research – 6.3% (FY24)

Exp. Karnataka Bank launches “Doorstep Gold loan facility” with SahiBandhu

Karnataka Bank has partnered with SahiBandhu, an aggregator platform for gold loans backed by the Manipal Group, to launch a ‘doorstep gold loan’ facility named ‘KBL-Swarna Bandhu’.

The bank will be able to provide gold loan services at the customer’s doorstep through this product. Initially, the product will be available to customers in select centres of the bank and will be gradually rolled out to all branches

SahiBandhu will act as a corporate business correspondent and a lending service provider.

The collaboration with SahiBandhu aligns with extant guidelines on digital lending and will also help in improving the gold loan portfolio of the bank.

Recent MoU in Banking Sector

• 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.
• UP New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) signed MoU SIDBI to promote green project
• SIDBI signs with Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI) to boost fintech sector

Exp. Agostini, Krausz and L’Huillier awarded for Nobel Prize in Physics 2023

The 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier “for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electro dynamics in matter”.

Nobel Prize in Physics 2023 has announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Science.

The three Nobel Laureates in Physics 2023 are being recognised for their experiments, which have given humanity new tools for exploring the world of electrons inside atoms and molecules.

Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier have demonstrated a way to create extremely short pulses of light that can be used to measure the rapid processes in which electrons move or change energy.

Their experiments granted the Laureates to observe extremely brief events that transpire in a few tenths of attoseconds—a quintillionth (10−18) of a second. An attosecond is so short that there are as many in one second as there have been seconds since the birth of the universe.

Last year, The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger for their work on quantum mechanics, the academy announced the winners on October 4, 2022.

The award was given for experiments with entangled photons, establishing the violation of Bell inequalities, and pioneering quantum information science.

The prizes carry a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million) drawn from a bequest left by the prize’s creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, who died in 1896. The prize money was raised by 1 million kronor this year because of the plunging value of the Swedish currency.

Exp. Taiwan reveals first domestically made submarine in defense milestone

Taiwan unveiled its first domestically developed submarine, a major step in a project aimed at strengthening the island’s defence and deterrence against the Chinese navy, though it won’t enter service for another two years.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has made the indigenous submarine programme a key part of an ambitious project to modernize its armed forces as Beijing stages almost daily military exercises to assert its sovereignty.

President Tsai Ing-wen, who initiated the plan when she took office in 2016, showed off the first of eight new submarines in the southern city of Kaohsiung.

Taiwan hopes to deploy at least two such domestically developed submarines by 2027, and possibly equip later models with missiles.

The first submarine, with a price tag of T$49.36 billion ($1.53 billion), will use a combat system by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMTN) and carry US-made Mark 48 heavyweight torpedoes. It will enter sea trials next month before delivery to the navy by the end of 2024.

Exp. 30th edition of SIMBEX Exercise successfully concludes in Singapore

The 30th edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) has successfully concluded in Singapore.

Indian Naval Ships Ranvijay, Kavaratti, submarine Sindhukesari, and a long-range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I participated in the exercise.

The exercise was started on 21st September, Combined aviation, firefighting, and damage control exercises were conducted during the period.

The exercise witnessed the signing of a Joint Standard Operating Procedure on Submarine Rescue between India and Singapore in the presence of the High Commissioner of India to Singapore and the Singapore Navy Fleet Commander.

During this period, units of Indian Navy Maritime Patrol Aircraft Fokker F-50 and fighter aircraft engaged in complex maritime security exercises including advanced anti-submarine warfare, surface, and air defence exercises, as well as tactical manoeuvers and weapon firings

Recent Exercise

• 21st edition of Varuna 2023 between Indian Navy and French Navy – Arabian Sea
• 5th edition of AUSINDEX-23 between Indian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy – Sydney, Australia,
• Exercise Bright Star-23 among US, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Qatar & India– Cairo Air Base, Egypt
• Passage Exercise (PASSEX) 2023 between Indian Navy & Royal Saudi Navy – Red Sea, Saudi Arbia (INS Chennai participated)
• 27th edition of Malabar Multilateral Exercise – Sydney, Australia

Exp. Tajinderpal Singh Toor wins Gold in Shotput

India’s Tajinderpal Singh Toor has won gold in men’s shot put at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Toor won India its second track and field gold in the event.

Toor (2018 Jakarta, 2023 Hangzhou) became the fourth Indian shot putter to defend his Asian Games after Parduman Singh Brar (1954 and 1958), Joginder Singh (1966 and 1970) and Bahadur Singh Chouhan (1978 and 1982).

Toor got started with a monster first throw which landed around the 20m mark, but it deemed a no-throw. His second throw was also ruled out. Toor managed his first legal throw in his third attempt, registering 19.51m, by which time Saudi Arabia’s Mohamed Daouda Tolo was leading the field with a best throw of 19.93m.

Toor then threw a massive 20.06 in his fourth attempt to get into gold medal position, but Tolo reclaimed the lead, with a 20.18m throw. While Toor defaulted in his fifth throw, he saved his best throw for last with a massive 20.36m throw in his sixth attempt. Saudi’s Tolo couldn’t overhaul the Indian’s best and had to settle for silver.

Indians have won men’s shot put gold nine times in the earlier 18 editions of the Asian Games.

Exp. Aditi Ashok clinches historic silver in individual Golf event

India’s star golfer Aditi Ashok has created history by clinching a first-ever medal in the women’s individual event at the 19th Asian Games.

Aditi won a silver medal with -17 at Par. Indian women’s golfers had never won a medal in Asian Games before

India has only two individual gold medals in golf by Lakshman Singh (1982) and Shiv Kapur (2002). India’s most recent golf medal came in 2010, at the Guangzhou Asian Games in China

Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol bagged gold with -19 at Par. South Korea’s Hyunjo Yoo secured a bronze medal in the women’s individual event with -16 at Par.

On the other hand, the Indian women’s team finished fourth in golf with -22 at Par. In the women’s team, Thailand won the gold, Korea bagged the silver and China secured the bronze.

Exp. India win gold in Trap men’s team event

The Indian men’s team comprising of Kynan Chenai, Zoravar Singh Sandhu and Prithviraj Tondaiman has claimed gold in the Trap event.

The Indian trio secured 361 points in total as compared to Kuwait’s 352 and China’s 346.

This was India’s 21st medal in shooting at the Asian Games 2023.

India was able to fend off competition from Kuwait and China to secure the top spot on the podium to take the tally in shooting to 21 medals with 7 gold, 9 silver, and 5 bronze.

Exp. Avinash Sable wins gold in men’s 3000m steeplechase

India’s Avinash Sable has won the gold medal in the men’s 3000m steeplechase at the Hangzhou Asian Games.

He took top honours with a timing of 8:19:50s, breaking the Games record along the way.

Sable’s medal is India’s 12th gold at this edition of the Asian Games and the first track and field gold in Hangzhou.

Sable, a 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, holds the national record of 8 minutes 11.20 seconds. His season’s best time is 8:11.63, placing him in second position among Asians behind Miura Ryuji (SB: 8:09.91) of Japan.

In Hangzhou, besides the 3000m steeplechase, his pet event, Sable will also compete in the 5000m race.

Exp. Indian-origin Pereira wins Singapore’s 1st Athletics Asian Games Gold

Shanti Pereira has won Singapore’s first Asian Games athletics gold medal for almost 50 years in the women’s 200m final in Hangzhou.

Shanti’s father Clarence Pereira is a descendant of a family based in Pala in Kottayam who migrated to Singapore. Her mother is from Singapore.

Indians have been bringing a rich medal haul in athletics at the Asian Games, but there has not been success in the sprints – the 100m and 200m races.

Shanti Pereira, therefore, was a name that stood out on the winners’ list on the giant screen at the end of the 200m final. Earlier, Shanti had won a silver in the 100m final.

Swee Lee Chee was the last Singaporean to top an athletics podium, following the women’s 400m in 1974, until Pereira clocked 23:03 to add a gold in 200m to her silver in the 100m.

Exp. Parul Chaudhary wins gold in women’s 5000m race

India’s Parul Chaudhary made history as she became the first woman from her country to win the 5000m race at the Asian Games 2023.

This is Chaudhary’s second medal at this Asiad after her silver in the women’s 3000m steeplechase race.

Chaudhary put in a remarkable effort to win the race which she was trailing until the last few metres on the track. She was behind Japan’s Ririka Hironaka but overtook her in the final 10 seconds before the finish line to emerge victorious.

Chaudhary clocked a time of 15:14.75 ahead of Ririka’s 15:15.34 and Kazakhstan’s Caroline Chepkoech KipKirui (15:23.12). Chaudhary’s compatriot Ankit finished fifth with a time of 15:33.03.

Chaudhary and Sable are the only two Indian athletes to win gold medals in track and field events as these Games in Hangzhou, China.

Sable became the first Indian man to win the gold in the 3000m steeplechase event.

Meanwhile, India’s Mohammed Afsal Pulikkalakath fetched a silver in the men’s 800m with a timing of 1:48.43 while Vithya Ramraj came up with a timing of 55.68s to claim a bronze medal in women’s 400m hurdles.

Exp. 4 October – World Animal Welfare Day

World Animal Welfare Day is observed every year on 4 October.

Objective – To raise awareness about the welfare standards of animals and animal rights.

Theme 2023 – Great or Small, Love Them All

Animals are an important part of the environment and the ecosystem, They support the web activity that helps the ecosystem to function. Animals are generally of two types- domestic animals and wild animals.

World Animal Day was first organized on 24 March in the year 1925 by Heinrich Zimmermann, the German Writer who lived in Berlin. More than five thousand people showed up at the event.