Current Affairs Quiz 7th June 2023 Quiz

Exp. PM flags off two schemes to revive wetlands, mangroves

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched two schemes named Amrit Dharohar and MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes).

The MISHTI scheme will help in reviving and protecting the mangrove ecosystem in the country.

India currently has 75 Ramsar sites that are wetlands of international importance and designated under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

In the last nine years, the number of wetlands and Ramsar sites in India have increased almost three times.

The launch of Amrit Dharohar Yojana on World Environment Day will ensure the conservation of the existing Ramsar sites through public participation, and these Ramsar sites will become centres of eco-tourism and a source of green jobs for thousands of people.

In the 2023-24 budget, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced Amrit Dharohar and MISHTI schemes to protect vital wetlands that sustain aquatic biodiversity and mangrove plantations along the coastline and on salt pan lands.

While Amrit Dharohar aims to achieve sustainable ecosystem development with the help of local communities over the next three years, MISHTI envisages to comprehensively explore the possible area for the development of mangroves covering nearly 540 sq km, spreading across 11 states and two union territories over five years, starting from FY2023-24.

Exp. AICTE to launch ‘One Student One Tree Campaign 2023’

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) will launch “One Student One Tree Campaign 2023” and that UGC too has taken initiatives for creating awareness about Mission LiFE.

The celebration of World Environment Day across the country envisages involvement of youth in spreading the message of LiFE, along with sensitizing school going children and others about LiFE.

The mantra of Mission Life is ‘Lifestyle For Environment’ to make the fight against climate change democratic, in which everyone can contribute within their capacity.

He also released guidelines and a curriculum framework for environmental education at the undergraduate level.

The guidelines include areas such as climate change, pollution, waste management, and sustainable development.

Exp. Himachal Pradesh signs MoU with Oil India Ltd for Green Hydrogen

The Himachal Pradesh government has signed an agreement with Oil India Limited for promoting green hydrogen production.

State Government has imposed ban on single-use plastic in Himachal Pradesh since 2009 and now it was working to find suitable alternatives to plastic.

The government is committed to environmental protection and has made various provisions in the budget to improve the state’s climate.

The government is focused on integrating technology with governance and is committed to environmental protection.

About Himachal Pradesh

• Capital – Shimla (Summer), Dharamshala (Winter)
• Chief Minister – Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu
• Deputy Chief Minister – Mukesh Agnihotri
• Governor – Shiv Pratap Shukla

Recent MoUs signed by State Government

• Maharashtra govt signs MoU with Bajaj Finserv to invest Rs 5000 cr

• Tata Group signs deal with Gujarat govt for EV battery plant in Sanand, Gujarat
• Meghalaya signed MoU with NIOS to facilitate the return of dropouts to educational institutions.

• Odisha govt collaborates with Infosys, Nasscom to enhance the skills and employability of students
• Goa, Uttarakhand sign MoU to boost tourism
• Himachal Pradesh signed MoU with the French Development Agency Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) for Rs 817.12 crore project.

Exp. Sarbananda Sonowal flags off India’s 1st International Cruise Vessel

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off India’s first international cruise vessel – MV Empress, from Chennai to Sri Lanka.

This is the launch of the International Cruise Tourism Terminal at Chennai built at a cost of Rs 17.21 crore, ushering in a new era of cruise tourism and maritime trade in the country.

On the occasion of Environment Day, Sonowal along with the port officials also planted 2,500 saplings at the port.

The launch of the first cruise service between Chennai and Sri Lanka has opened a new chapter in the cruise tourism sector in the country.

This is the result of an MoU signed during the Incredible India International Cruise Summit in 2022 between Chennai Port and M/s Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd to start domestic and international cruise services.

Recent Inauguration by Sarbananda Sonowal

• Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated “PCIM&H e-Office Portal” and an online portal.
• Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates National Mission Conclave in Delhi
• Sarbananda Sonowal launched ‘Harit Sagar’ the Green Port Guidelines 2023
• Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated Discovery Campus of National Technology Centre in Chennai
• Sarnbanada Sonowal flags off International Yoga Mahotsav in Dibrugarh

Exp. Nitin Gadkari inaugurates four projects worth Rs 1450 Crore in Assam

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated 4-Lane Section between Nagaon Bypass-Teliagaon, and Teliagaon-Rangagara in Assam.

The projects are worth 1450 Crores and symbolize a significant investment in the state’s infrastructure.

The foundation for Mangaldai Bypass and the 4-lane section between Daboka-Parakhuwa in Assam was also laid by the minister.

About Assam

• Capital – Dispur
• Chief Minister –Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Governor – Gulab Chand Kataria

Nitin Gadkari In News

• Nitin Gadkari inaugurated two National Highway projects in Vadodara, Gujarat worth Rs 48 crore.

• 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

Exp. Kerala CM launches Kerala Fibre Optic Network project

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has launched the KFON, Kerala Fibre Optic Network project at Shankaranarayanan Thambi Hall of the State Legislative Assembly.

The project aims to, ensure internet facilities for all at affordable rates in the State. It also aims to give free internet to over 20 lakh of poor families.

During the first phase of the KFON initiative, Internet facilities will be provided to thirty thousand government institutions and fourteen thousand houses in the State.

About Kerala

• Capital – Thiruvananthapuram
• Chief Minister – Pinarayi Vijayan
• Governor – Arif Mohammad Khan

Exp. UP govt launches ‘Elder Line’ service to give shelter to elderly homeless

Uttar Pradesh Social Welfare Department has launched the ‘Elder Line’ 14567 service.

The objective of the helpline is to rescue destitute old persons and provide them shelter in old age homes.

The initiative is the brainchild of Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Social Welfare Aseem Arun, who earlier headed the emergency helpline 112.

‘Elder Line’ 14567 service has been activated, actively responding to distress related to older persons.

At present there are 6,053 inmates in these homes, both male and female, who are spending the twilight years of their life with dignity.

The inmates are provided food, health facilities and entertainment facilities free of cost.

About Uttar Pradesh

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

Exp. Israel introduces digital birth certificates

Israel Government has introduced a digital birth certificate for someone who was born in Israel for free.

The service allows parents to receive the birth certificate immediately as a digital file via email or mobile device app.

The Authority said the new service will allow the public to receive the birth certificate immediately as a digital file sent by email or by mobile device app, without the need for people to personally go down to a government office to take care of this or to wait for the document to arrive in the mail.

The new service eliminates the need for people to personally go to a government office to obtain the document.

About Israel

• Capital – Jerusalem
• Currency – Sheqel
• President – Isaac Herzog
• Prime Minister – Benjamin Netanyahu

Exp. RBI Governor launches Financial Inclusion Dashboard ‘ANTARDRIHSTI’

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has launched a financial inclusion dashboard named ‘Antardrishti’.

The dashboard would, as its name suggests, provide the necessary knowledge to evaluate and track the development of financial inclusion by recording relevant data.

This tool will also make it possible to assess the degree of financial exclusion at a local level across the nation so that such places may be addressed.

The dashboard, presently intended for internal use in the RBI, will further facilitate greater financial inclusion through a multi-stakeholder approach

The Reserve Bank has been supporting financial inclusion by implementing a number of policy initiatives and the launch of Antardrishti’ is another step in this direction.

In collaboration with the government and the relevant sectoral regulators, the FI-Index was conceptualized as a complete index that includes information on the banking, investments, insurance, postal, and pension sectors.

The index records data on different aspects of financial inclusion in a single value ranging from 0 to 100, where 0 denotes total financial exclusion and 100 denotes complete financial inclusion.

According to RBI, the FI-Index comprises of three broad parameters (weights indicated in brackets) viz., Access (35 percent), Usage (45 percent), and Quality (20 percent) with each of these consisting of various dimensions, which are computed based on a number of indicators.

About Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

• Founded – 1 April 1935
• RBI Nationalized – 1 January 1949
• Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
• RBI set up – Hilton Young Commission
• 1st Governor – Sir Osborne Smith (Australia)
• 1st Indian Governor – CD Deshmukh
• 25th Governor – Shaktikanta Das
• RBI Deputy Governor (4) – 1. Tavarna Rabi Sankar

2. Mukesh Kumar Jain
3. Michael D Patra
4. M Rajeshwar Rao

Recent Facilities Launched in Banks & Insurance Sector

• SBI launches Project Kuber in Bengaluru
• Bajaj Allianz Life launches term insurance plan for Type 2 diabetics
• Yes Bank launches new logo and Life Ko Banao Rich campaign
• Razorpay launcheds “Turbo UPI” with Axis Bank & NPCI
• Axis Bank launches a digital onboarding platform ‘Sarathi’

Exp. Bank of Baroda launches cash withdrawal facility via UPI on its ATMs

Bank of Baroda has launched a new service called Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal (ICCW), which allows customers to withdraw cash using UPI (Unified Payments Interface) from the bank’s ATMs.

This makes Bank of Baroda the first public sector bank to introduce this service. With this, customers can avail two transactions a day per account with a withdrawal limit of Rs 5,000 per transaction.

The first public sector bank to launch this service, Bank of Baroda customers as well as customers of other participating issuer banks that use BHIM UPI, bob World UPI or any other UPI application enabled for ICCW on their mobile phone can withdraw cash from a Bank of Baroda ATM without using their debit card.

About Bank of Baroda (BOB)

• Founded – 1908
• Headquarters – Vadodara, Gujarat
• MD & CEO – Debadatta Chand
• Tagline – India’s International Bank

Exp. World Bank cuts India’s GDP growth forecast for FY24 to 6.3%

World Bank expects growth in India to slow down further to 6.3% in the financial year FY 2023/24 (April to March).

This is a 0.3 percentage point downward revision from the previous estimates of 6.6%.

The international financial institution attributes constrained private consumption due to high inflation as the main reason for slowdown. Nevertheless, it expects India to continue to be among the fastest-growing economy.

Unemployment declined to 6.8% in Q1 2023, the lowest since the onset of COVID-19.

World Bank also expects a GDP growth rate at 6.4% for FY25 and 6.5% for FY26.

The report highlights that India will remain the fastest-growing economy (in terms of both aggregate and per capita GDP).

Updated GDP List

• World Bank – 6.3% (FY24), 6.4% (FY25), 6.5% (FY26)
• MOODY’S. – 5.5% (FY23)
• S&P – 7% (FY24), 6.3% (FY25)
• IMF – 5.9% (FY24), 6.8% (FY25)
• ADB – 6.4% (FY24), 6.7% (FY25)
• RBI – 6.8% (FY23)
• India Ratings – 6.9% (FY23)
• FITCH RATING – 6 (FY23), 6.7% (FY24)
• FICCI – 7% (FY23), 6.4% (FY24)
• OECD – 6.6% (FY23), 5.7% (FY24)
• CRISIL – 6% (FY24)
• NSO – 7%
• SBI – 6.8% (FY23)

Exp. Colonel Shuchita becomes 1st woman to command Communication Zone

Colonel Shuchita Shekhar has become the first woman officer to command a Communication Zone Mechanical Transport Battalion in the Indian Army Service Corps.

She is responsible for the maintenance of the Supply Chain of the fully operational Northern Command.

This is a significant milestone in the history of the Indian Army and a great step towards gender equality.

Recent Appointment in Defence Sector

• Director General of Naval Armament – P Upadhyay
• Air Officer-in-Charge Administration (AOA) – Rajesh Kumar Anand
• Vice Chief of the Air Staff – Ashutosh Dixit
• Director Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) – Praveen Sood (replace Subodh Jaiswal)
• Military Advisor to National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) – Sandeep Singh

Exp. Wrangler signs Smriti Mandhana as brand ambassador

Ace Turtle Omni Pvt Ltd., a retail company, has appointed Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana as the brand ambassador of its Wrangler brand.

The company is the exclusive licensee of the denim brand in India. The company aims for significant expansion in the fiscal year 2024.

Mandhana embodies the company’s values and is expected to inspire customers to embrace their uniqueness and pursue their dreams.

Recent Brand Ambassador

• Hrithik Roshan – Zebronics TV
• Sachin Tendulkar – Smile Ambassador by Maharashtra government
• 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)

Exp. Amlan Borgohain bags two gold medals in Flanders Cup 2023

Indian sprinter, Amlan Borgohain has bagged two gold medals in the men’s 100 and 200-meter races category at the Flanders Cup 2023 athletics in Merksem, Belgium.

Borgohain clocked 10.70 seconds to emerge as the fastest man of the meet. He holds the 100-meter national record of 10.25 seconds.

In the 200 meter, the 25-year-old Borgohain clocked 20.96 seconds to emerge winner ahead of Hofman 21.42 and Jamaica’s Samuel Rowe 21.88.

Meanwhile, Sapna Kumari finished behind Belgium’s Amber Vanden Bosch in the women’s 100m hurdles after clocking 14.10.