Current Affairs Quiz 9th July 2024 Quiz

Exp. Amit Shah inaugurates Amin PJKP Vidhyarthi Bhavan in Ahmedabad

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah has inaugurated the Amin PJKP Vidhyarthi Bhavan in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Shah also inaugurated the modern multispecialty SLiMS Hospital in Ahmedabad.

1000 students will study in this Vidhyarthi Bhavan for higher education.

Exp. Govt makes ISI mark mandatory for stainless steel, aluminium utensils

The government has mandated conformity to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for stainless steel and aluminium utensils to enhance kitchen safety, quality and efficiency.

According to an order issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the ISI mark will be compulsory for such utensils.

Recently, the BIS has developed a range of standards covering essential kitchen items.

This move will enhance consumer confidence and drive manufacturers towards adopting best practices.

This development follows the BIS’ recent formulation of comprehensive standards for kitchen items, including IS 14756:2022 for stainless steel and IS 1660:2024 for aluminium utensils.

Exp. UP govt launched ‘Mitra Van’ initiative on the UP-Nepal border

Uttar Pradesh Government has launched the ‘Mitra Van’ initiative under the Tree Plantation Jan Abhiyan-2024.

The aim of the ‘Mitra Van’ initiative is to increase the green cover on the Uttar Pradesh-Nepal border.

The ‘Mitra Van’ initiative will start on the border of Uttar Pradesh and Nepal from 20 July.

Main Objective

• To increase the green cover by planting 35 crore saplings.
• To promote bilateral relations through environmental initiatives with neighboring states and Nepal.

About Uttar Pradesh

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

Exp. India’s Exim Bank to provide $2.5 million LoC for Guyana

The Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) has entered into an agreement with the government of Guyana to provide a line of credit worth $2.5 million for the installation of a solar photo voltaic power plant.

While the deal was dated February 29, 2024, Under the Line of Credit, the last date for disbursements will be 48 months after the completion of the project.

The solar photo voltaic power plant will be set up at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Guyana.

Of the total credit provided by EXIM Bank, goods, works and services worth at least 75% of the contract price will be supplied by the seller from India and the remaining 25% may be procured by the seller from outside India for the eligible contract.

About Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank)

• Founded – 1982
• Headquarters – Mumbai
• MD – Harsha Bhupendra Bangari
• Stake – Government of India (100%)

Exp. IFC lends ₹825 crore to Tata Realty for Ramanujan Intellion Park

Tata Realty & Infrastructure Ltd. has secured a ₹825 crore loan from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for refinancing of Ramanujan Intellion Park in Chennai, a ‘sustainable real estate development’ project.

This funding is earmarked for the strategic refinancing of the business park and is part of Tata Realty’s commitment to advance its sustainability efforts and elevate the standard of green commercial spaces across India

Exp. Rachel Reeve becomes UK’s first woman Finance Minister

Rachel Reeves, a former Bank of England economist, has been appointed as the UK’s first female finance Minsiter after the Labour’s landslide victory, ending 14 years of Conservative rule.

She became British girls’ chess champion aged 14 before studying philosophy, politics and economics at the University of Oxford, which was followed by a Master’s degree at the London School of Economics.

After graduating, she worked as an economist for a decade, first at the Bank of England before switching to the private sector.

The United Kindom is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Recent Appointment in Foreign

• President of FATF – Elisa de Anda Madrazo (replace T. Raja Kumar)
• First woman brigadier in Pakistan Army from minority community – Helen Mary
• Defence minister of Russia – Andrei Belousov (replace Sergei Shoigu)
• UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia – Gita Sabharwal (India)
• MD of International Monetary Fund – Kristalina Georgieva (2nd time)

Exp. President Droupadi Murmu confers 10 Kirti Chakras, 26 Shaurya Chakras.

President Droupadi Murmu conferred 10 Kirti Chakras, including seven posthumously, to personnel of the Army and paramilitary forces for displaying indomitable courage and extraordinary valour in the line of duty.

Kirti Chakra is India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award.

President Murmu, who is the Supreme Commander of the armed forces, also presented 26 Shaurya Chakras, including seven posthumously, to the personnel of the armed forces, Central Armed Police Forces and state/Union Territory police during a defence investiture ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Delhi.

Sepoy Pawan Kumar of The Grenadiers, 55th Battalion, the Rashtriya Rifles; Captain Anshuman Singh of the Army Medical Corps, 26th Battalion, the Punjab Regiment; and Havildar Abdul Majid, 9th Battalion, the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) from the Indian Army have been conferred the Kirti Chakra posthumously.

Inspector Dilip Kumar Das, Head Constable Raj Kumar Yadava, Constable Bablu Rabha and Constable Sambhu Roy of 210 CoBRA Battalion, CRPF have been also conferred the Kirti Chakra posthumously. Three personnel, including two of major-rank and one naib Subedar, have been conferred the Kirti Chakra

A constable of J&K Police was also bestowed a Shaurya Chakra posthumously, besides six other personnel from the Army.

A group of personnel from the Army, the Air Force, Navy and those rendering services under the Ministry of Home Affairs have also been conferred the Shaurya Chakra.

The Shaurya Chakra is India’s third-highest peacetime gallantry.

Exp. Sivashankari to honour with Dr. C. Narayana Reddy National Literary Award

Noted Tamil writer Sivashankari has been selected for Dr. C. Narayana Reddy National Literary Award.

Sivashankari will be honoured with a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, a memento and a shawl in recognition of her contribution to the field of literature.

A recipient of the Saraswati Samman Award, Ms. Sivashankari will receive the ‘Vishwambhara’ award during Dr. C. Narayana Reddy’s 93rd birth anniversary celebrations at Ravindra Bharati in Hyderabad on July 29.

The Chennai-based writer has penned 36 novels, 48 mini-novels (navalikas), 150 stories, 15 travelogues, seven volumes of essays, four research papers and two biographies in Tamil.

Recent Award

• First K. Saraswathi Amma Award – P Geetha
• Atal Pension Yojana Annual Award for FY24 by PFRDA – Bank of India
• Sustainable Governance Champion Award 2024 – Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd.
• 12th Vishwa Hindi Samman – Dr. Usha Thakur
• UK Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2024 – Sanjana Thakur (For Aishwarya Rai)
• Pen Pinter Prize 2024 – Arundhati Roy (for Unflinching and unswerving)

Exp. Vinesh Phogat wins Gold at Grand Prix of Spain

India’s two-time Olympian Vinesh Phogat has won the gold medal in the women’s 50kg category in the Grand Prix of Spain international continental wrestling championship.

Vinesh defeated Mariia Tiumerekova – former Russian grappler now competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete – 10-5 in the final encounter to bag the yellow metal.

In the quarterfinals, the 29-year-old from Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, pinned Madison Parks of Canada, a silver medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. In the semifinals, Vinesh defeated another Canadian Katie Dutchak 9-4 to seal a place in the final.

Exp. Roshni Nadar conferred highest civilian award of France

Chairperson of IT services firm HCLTech, Roshni Nadar Malhotra has been conferred with the “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur” (Knight of the Legion of Honour), the highest civilian award of France.

The award recognises her contributions to the business world, her endeavor to promote economic ties between France and India, as well as her commitment to social and environmental causes.

HCLTech has been operating in France since 2009. It is a digital transformation partner to G2000 French companies across diverse industries including aerospace, manufacturing, financial services and pharmaceuticals.

About Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur

• Instituted in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur is the highest civilian award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France, regardless of the nationality of the recipients.
• The President of the French Republic is the Grand Master of the Order of the Legion of Honour.

Exp. India to conduct Malabar Exercise with ‘Quad’ allies

India will host the prestigious Malabar Naval Exercise alongside the United States, Japan, and Australia in the Bay of Bengal in October 2024.

The decision comes amidst escalating regional tensions fueled by China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea and its expanding footprint across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The 28th edition of the Malabar exercise, with a major focus on advanced anti-submarine warfare, will be conducted on India’s eastern seaboard in October to further enhance military interoperability among the four countries.

Malabar will witness complex surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drills, along with joint manoeuvres and advanced tactical exercises, to hone war-fighting skills.

Recent Exercise in News

• 16th edition of Joint Military Exercise Nomadic Elephant between India and Mongolia – Umroi, Meghalaya

• 13^th edition of Joint military Exercise MAITREE between India and Thailand – Fort Vachiraprakan in Tak Province of Thailand.

• 29^th edition of RIMPAC Naval Exercise – Hawaii, Pearl Harbour USA (INS Shivalik Participated)
• 1st edition of Tarang Shakti-2024 – India (August 2024)
• 8th edition of the Japan-India Maritime Exercise JIMEX-24 – Yokosuka, Japan

Exp. Gagan Narang named as new Chef-De-Mission in Paris Olympics 2024

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has named Gagan Narang as the Chef-de-Mission of the Indian contingent to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, starting on 26th July.

He will replace MC Mary Kom.

Naragng is the four-time Olympian and 2012 Olympic Games men’s 10-meter Air Rifle bronze medalist.

Star Shuttler PV Sindhu and Table Tennis Ace Achanta Sharath Kamal will be the flag bearers during the opening ceremony.

India’s only women to win two Olympic medals, P.V. Sindhu, will be the female flag-bearer, alongside Sharath Kamal in the opening ceremony.

Chef-de-Mission is an important administrative post as he is responsible for ensuring the welfare of the participating athletes, taking care of their needs and liaising with the organising committee.

Exp. 9 July – National Dimple Day

National Dimple Day is observed every year on 9 July.

This lighthearted day encourages everyone to embrace their dimples, whether natural or drawn on for fun, and spread happiness through their cheerful grins.

Exp. 9 July – National Sugar Cookie Day

National Sugar Cookie Day is observed every year on 9 July.

This sweet occasion pays homage to the simple yet irresistible sugar cookie, a beloved treat enjoyed by people of all ages.

The origins of National Sugar Cookie Day are not well-documented, but it likely emerged as a result of the cookie’s enduring popularity in American culture.

Sugar cookies themselves trace their roots back to the 1700s in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, where German Protestant settlers created a simple cookie called “Nazareth Cookies” that evolved into what we now know as sugar cookies.  

Exp. Govind Singh reappointed as MD & CEO of Utkarsh SFB

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the re-appointment of Govind Singh as the managing director and chief executive officer of Utkarsh Small Finance Bank (Utkarsh SFB) effective from September 21, 2024.

The present term of Govind Singh is up to September 20, 2024.

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector

• Interim MD & CEO of Bandhan Bank – Ratan Kumar Kesh (replace Chandra Shekhar Ghosh)
• Executive Director of RBI – Arnab Kumar Chowdhury and Charulatha S. Kar
• Chairman of State Bank of India – Challa Sreenivasulu Setty (27th; replace Dinesh Khara)
• MD & CEO of IndiaFirst Life Insurance – Rushabh Gandhi (replace Vishakha R.M.)
• MD & CEO of SBI General Insurance – Naveen Chandra Jha (replace Kishore Kumar Poludasu)