Current Affairs Quiz 6th, 7th and 8th October 2024 Quiz

Exp. Nagaland gears up for spectacular silver jubilee Hornbill Festival 2024

The Department of Tourism, Nagaland, will celebrate the silver jubilee of the Hornbill Festival, scheduled from December 1 to 10 at the Heritage Village, Kisama.

The tribal bodies are the core and backbone of the Hornbill Festival, and with their cooperation and collaboration, the state has successfully hosted twenty-four Hornbill Festivals so far.

Kisama Heritage Village, main venue, is undergoing renovations to welcome thousands of tourists, ensuring a grand celebration of Naga heritage. Naga morungs are traditional huts that were used as dormitories back in the day.

These morungs play a crucial role in imparting the knowledge of customs, traditions, and warfare to young men. The festival features replicas of these morungs.

About Nagaland

• Formation – 1 December 1963
• Capital- Kohima
• Chief Minister- Neiphiu Rio
• Governor- La. Ganesan

Exp. PM Modi inaugurated GAIL’s first CBG Plant in Jharkhand

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated GAIL’s first CBG Plant in Jharkhand, through a virtual ceremony. The plant is built in an area of 7.86 acres at Ranchi Jharkhand, Jhir Dumping Site Mouza Jhiri.

This 12,500 m³ per day capacity plant is designed to process 150 tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste to produce 5,000 kg Bio-CNG and 25 tons of fermented bio manure per day.

The biogas generated in this facility is to be supplied to nearby CNG stations which can fuel over 600 vehicles per day in the region, contributing to the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and promoting the use of clean and green fuel.

In March 2021, GAIL and Ranchi Municipal Corporation signed a Concession Agreement (CA) in the presence of Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren to set up this plant.

About Jharkhand

• Capital – Ranchi
• Chief Minister – Hemant Soren (replace Champai Soren)
• Governor – Santosh Kumar Gangwar

Exp. NCRTC and Airtel Payments Bank Launch Co-Branded National Common Mobility Cards to Enhance Commuter Convenience

The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) and Airtel Payments Bank have joined forces to introduce co-branded National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC), aimed at streamlining travel for commuters.

The cards offer multiple payment options including Debit, Prepaid, and Prepaid Payment Instruments for Mass Transit Solutions (PPI-MTS).

The NCMC cards are designed to simplify travel across various modes of transport, such as metros, railways, and buses, by offering a unified payment solution. This eliminates the need for multiple tickets or cards.

The NCMC-enabled cards also extend their utility to everyday purchases, allowing users to shop, dine, and make payments at various retail outlets.

Exp. Northeast to hold first ever India International Science Festival showcasing PM’s vision for the Region

Dr. Jitendra Singh disclosed that the 10th edition of the India International Science Festival (IISF) will be held at Guwahati, marking a significant milestone in the region’s journey towards becoming a hub for scientific and technological innovation.

The festival, to be hosted at IIT Guwahati from November 30th to December 3rd 2024, is a testimony to the Government’s commitment to the Northeast and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on the region as a key player in India’s growth story.

The 10th edition of IISF carries the theme “Transforming India into an S&T driven Global Manufacturing Hub” reflecting the government’s ambition to merge science and technology with industrial growth, propelling India towards self-reliance and global leadership in manufacturing.

Exp. SEBI gives in-principle nod to Jio Fin-BlackRock for mutual fund entry

Jio Financial Services’ joint venture with BlackRock to enter the mutual fund (MF) space in India has received the nod from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Jio’s entry into the MF space is expected to intensify competition in the industry, which currently has over Rs 66 trillion in assets under management.

The firms inked a tie-up for the MF business in July 2023 and applied for a licence with the Indian regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), in October 2023.

Headquartered of BlackRock – New York ·

Exp. RBI appoints Aviral Jain as new Executive Director

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Aviral Jain as Executive Director (ED).

Prior to being promoted to ED, Jain was serving as Regional Director for Maharashtra.

As Executive Director, he will look after the Legal Department, the Premises Department and the Right to Information Act (First Appellate Authority). The new ED has experience of more than three decades in areas of supervision, currency management, foreign exchange regulation and human resource management.

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector

• New Members of Monetary Policy Committee – Ram Singh, Saugata Bhattacharya, Nagesh Kumar (replace Ashima Goyal, Shashanka Bhide, Jayanth Varma)
• MD & CEO for IndusInd Bank – Sumant Kathpalia (reappointment for 3 years)
• Chairman of Utkarsh Small Finance Bank – Parveen Kumar Gupta
• MD and CEO of Federal Bank – KVS Manian (replace Shyam Srinivasan)
• Executive Director of TamilNad Mercantile Bank – Vincent Menachery Devassy (for three years)
• Chief Compliance Officer of CIFDAQ – Muthuswamy Iyer

Exp. Rajnath Singh inaugurated DefConnect 4.0 in Delhi

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated DefConnect 4.0 at Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt.

The event has organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence – Defence Innovation Organisation (iDEX-DIO), Department of Defence Production.

DefConnect 4.0 marks a milestone in India’s defence innovation journey, bringing together the Armed Forces, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), industry leaders, innovators, start-ups and MSMEs, academia, incubators, investors and policymakers.

Till date, iDEX has launched 11 editions of Defence India Start-up Challenges and has garnered over 9,000 applications. It is currently collaborating with more than 450 start-ups/MSMEs on important projects.

Launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2018, iDEX continues to provide a unified platform for various stakeholders in the defence and aerospace sectors, contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Exp. Visakhapatnam to host Malabar 2024 from October 8

India will host the joint naval exercise of QUAD nations from October 8 to 18 in Visakhapatnam.

Hosted by India, this year’s exercise will see the participation of Australia, Japan, and the United States of America.

The exercise, named Malabar 2024, includes sea and harbor phases focusing on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. It features various Indian naval platforms, such as guided missile destroyers, submarines, and fighter aircraft.

The Malabar exercise started in 1992 as a US-India drill and evolved into a multilateral event to enhance interoperability and address maritime challenges.

International Naval Exercise Malabar 2024 is scheduled to take place from October 8 to 18, beginning with the Harbour Phase in Visakhapatnam, followed by the Sea Phase.

Hosted by India, this year’s exercise will see the participation of Australia, Japan, and the United States of America.

Malabar Exercise, which began in 1992 as a bilateral naval drill between the United States and Indian Navy, has evolved into a key multilateral event aimed at enhancing interoperability, fostering mutual understanding, and addressing shared maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region.

Recent Exercise

• 8th edition of Exercise KAZIND 2024 between India -Kazakhstan military in Auli, Uttrakhand.
• 7th edition of Exercise Eastern Bridge between Indian Air Force and Royal Oman Air Force – Air Force Base Masirah, Oman.
• 5th edition of Exercise Al NAJAH between Indian Army and Royal Army of Oman – Rabkoot Training Area in Salalah, Oman.
• Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield between South Korea and USA
• Exercise Udara Shakti 2024 between Indian Air Force and Malaysia Air Force – Kuantan, Malaysia
• Ex Pitch Black 2024 between India and Australia – Darwin, Australia

Exp. Prakash Man Singh Raut appointed as new Chief Justice of Nepal

Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel appointed Prakash Man Singh Raut as the new Chief Justice of the country.

Mr. Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Chief Justice Raut at a special ceremony organised at Sheetal Niwas, the President’s Office.

His appointment comes after the retirement of outgoing Chief Justice Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 65.

About Nepal

• Capital- Kathmandu
• Currency- Nepalese rupee
• President– Ram Chandra Paudel
• Prime minister– – K.P. Sharma Oli (replace Pushpa Kamal Dahal)
• Chief Justice – Prakash Man Singh Raut (replace Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha)

Exp. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar unveils logo, mascot for Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar unveiled the logo and mascot for the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy-2024, which will be held in Rajgir from November 11-20.

The mascot, named ‘Gudiya’, is inspired by the state bird of Bihar, Sparrow.

The hockey stick in Gudiya’s hand is the symbol of the hockey competition and the goalkeeper’s glove in the hand, and the defensive posture reflect the strategic qualities of alertness.

The design of the ‘logo’ of this competition is a symbol of the rich cultural heritage and all-round progress of glorious Bihar. The Bodhi tree and hockey stick have been kept in the logo.

The Bodhi tree is a symbol of knowledge, power, harmony, tolerance and development which connects people with the rich spiritual and cultural history of Bihar.

The Women’s Asian Champions Trophy-2024 is a joint venture of Hockey India and the Bihar government and will be held at the newly developed Rajgir Hockey Stadium.

The state cabinet recently sanctioned Rs 10 crore to Hockey India for the purpose.

Six countries, including India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan, are participating in the championship.

Exp. DRDO successfully test the 4th Gen VSHORADS Air defence system

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted three flight tests of the 4th Generation Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) at the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.

The tests, conducted in the last two days were carried out against a high-speed target, demonstrating very critical parameters of maximum range and maximum altitude interception.

The VSHORADS has been designed and developed indigenously by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and private companies.

About the VSHORADS System

• VSHORADS is a Man-Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS) being developed for the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy. It is a surface-to-air missile system with a range of up to six kilometres.
• The VSHORADS is an air defence system that can neutralise aerial threats such as low-flying aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles flying at a low altitude.
• The VSHORADS being developed by DRDO has an imaging infrared (IIR) homing system.
• Due to its weight of around 21 kg, the VSHORADS missile can be launched through a tripod.

Exp. BHP signed MoU with SAIL to accelerate potential pathways to steel decarbonisation

The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has signed an MoU with the leading global resources company, BHP to support steelmaking decarbonisation.

This collaboration is an important step for SAIL and BHP in promoting lower carbon steelmaking technology pathways for the blast furnace route in India.

Under this MoU, the parties are already exploring several workstreams supporting the potential decarbonisation at SAIL’s integrated steel plants which operate Blast Furnaces (BF), with an initial study to assess various strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).

Chairman of SAIL – Amarendu Prakash

Exp. Mumbai win Irani Cup for first time in 27 years

Mumbai has won the 2024-25 season Irani Cup under its first-innings lead over the Rest of India.

Mumbai won the trophy after 27 years, having won it in the 1997/98 season. This was the 16th Irani Cup title for the current Ranji Champion, Mumbai.

The Irani Cup is a first-class domestic cricket tournament held at the Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Eakana Stadium in Lucknow.

This year, the 2023-24 season Ranji Champion Mumbai, led by Ajinkye Rahane, faced the Rest of India, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Sarfraz Khan (Mumbai) was declared the Player of the match for his unbeaten knock of 222.

About the Irani Cup

• BCCI instituted the ZR Irani Cup (popularly known as Irani Cup) in memory of its long-time Treasurer and President Zal R Irani.
• The first Irani Cup was held in the 1959-60 season and was won by Mumbai (then Bombay) due to its first-inning lead.
• The Rest of India is the most successful team in the Irani Cup’s history, having won it 26 times out of the 61 finals it has played.
• Mumbai has won it 16 times (shared once and 15 wins).

Exp. Nepal, India, Bangladesh sign pact to facilitate cross-border electricity trade

India, Nepal, and Bangladesh have signed a trilateral agreement to export 40 megawatts of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh via India’s power grid.

As per the agreement, Bangladesh will now import 40 megawatts of electricity from Nepal. The Indian side has also been involved in the trade deal, as Nepal’s electricity will be transmitted to Bangladesh through the transmission infrastructure on the Indian territory.

For now, Nepal will transmit the energy to India through the 400 KV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur cross-border transmission line before India transmits the equivalent to Bangladesh.

The rate per unit of electricity has been fixed at 6.4 cents. From the export of electricity, Nepal will make an annual income of around $ 9.2 million.

Exp. 5 October – World Teachers Day

World Teachers’ Day is celebrated every year on October 5.

The role of a teacher holds profound importance in our lives, and they play a very important role in shaping our careers, right from our childhood.

Theme 2024 – Valuing Teacher Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education

The history of World Teachers’ Day can be traced back to 1966 when The International Labor Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) organised a Special Intergovernmental Conference on the Status of Teachers in Paris.

World Teachers’ Day is held annually on 5 October to celebrate all teachers around the globe. It commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment.

The Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel was adopted in 1997 to complement the 1966 Recommendation by covering teaching personnel in higher education. World Teachers’ Day has been celebrated since 1994.  

Exp. 6 October – World Cerebral Palsy Day

World Cerebral Palsy Day is celebrated every year on 6 October globally.

Objective – To raise awareness about the condition and promote inclusivity.

This day aims to challenge stereotypes and work towards creating an inclusive society where individuals with cerebral palsy are respected for their identities and talents.

Theme 2024 – Uniquely CP

To mark this day, various national institutes and regional centres under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) will host programs across the nation to raise awareness about cerebral palsy and empower those affected by it.

Exp. 4 October 2024 – World Smile Day

The world celebrates World Smile Day 2024 every year on the first Friday of October month, and this year the festival will be celebrated on October 4, 2024.

This is a special day to set a positive tone for both yourself and those around you.

Theme 2024 – Do an act of kindness

The World Smile Day spreads smiles, and fosters connections, positivity, and a wave of happiness. It inspires individuals, organisations, and communities to perform good deeds and celebrate the transformative power of a simple smile.  

Exp. 7 October – World Cotton Day

World Cotton Day is celebrated every year on 7 October.

Objective – To raise awareness about the challenges faced by cotton farmers and the cotton industry worldwide.

Theme 2024 – Cotton for Good

The first World Cotton Day (WCD) event was initiated in Geneva and observed on October 7, 2019.

Cotton is mainly used in the textile industry, it is also important for animal feed, medical supplies, and making edible oil.

Currently, India is the second-largest cotton producer in the world, after China.

Exp. 8 October – Indian Air Force Day

Indian Air Force Day is observed every year on 8 October.

This day is dedicated to honouring the servicemen and pilots who have sacrificed their lives for the nation and commemorating the establishment of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

This year marks the 92nd anniversary of the IAF.

Theme 2024 – Bharatiya Vayusena: Saksham, Sashakt aur Aatmnirbhar’ (Potent, Powerful, and Self-Reliant)

The Indian Air Force, also known as Bharatiya Vayu Sena’ was established in the country on October 8, 1932, by the British Empire.

The first operational squadron came into being on April 1, 1933, with six RAF-trained officers and 19 Havai Sepoys (air soldiers). The aircraft inventory consisted of four Westland Wapiti IIA army co-operation biplanes at Drigh Road as the “A” Flight nucleus of the planned No.1 (Army Co-operation) Squadron.

In January 1950, India became a Republic within the British Commonwealth and the Indian Air Force dropped its “Royal” prefix.