Daily Current Affairs Quiz: June 30, 2023

Solution: option d.)

The Centre has approved a new scheme PM-PRANAM to incentivize states to promote alternative fertilizers and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.
It also decided to continue the current urea subsidy scheme for three years ending March 2025, with an outlay of ₹3.68 lakh crore.

PM-PRANAM

About
PM-PRANAM stands for PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother Earth.
The scheme aims to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers by incentivizing the state.
Under the scheme, the states that adopt alternative fertilizers will be incentivized with the subsidy that is saved by reducing the use of chemical fertilizers.
Suppose a state is using 10 lakh tonnes of conventional fertilizer.
If it reduces its consumption by 3 lakh tonnes, then the subsidy saving would be ₹3,000 crore.
Out of that subsidy savings, the Centre will give 50% of it — ₹1,500 crores to the state for promoting the use of alternative fertilizer and other development works.

Solution: option b.)

Manipal Technologies Limited (MTL), a multi-business enterprise, has recently partnered with Indian Bank, a public sector bank to empower millions of underserved individuals across India, providing them access to various financial services and fostering financial inclusion.
According to an official statement, the partnership aims to build a sustainable network of Corporate Business Correspondents (CBCs) that will enhance the availability, affordability, and accessibility of financial services, particularly in underserved markets and rural areas.

Indian Bank is an Indian public sector bank, established in 1907 and headquartered in Chennai. It serves over 100 million customers with 41,645 employees, 5,814 branches with 4,929 ATMs and Cash deposit machines. The bank’s total business has touched ₹1,094,752 crore as of 31 March 2023.

Indian Bank MD: Shanti Lal Jain
Indian Bank HQ: Chennai

Solution: option b.)

▪ Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has set up a state-of-the-art paperless Business Centre at NBCC Office Complex, East Kidwai Nagar, New Delhi.
▪ The new office incorporates cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions to eliminate the use of paper and promote efficient digital workflows throughout the organization.
▪ IRDEA is a Mini Ratna (Category – I) Government of India enterprise under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
▪ The office which is designed to operate in a completely paperless manner, has been inaugurated by IREDA Chairman & Managing Director, Pradip Kumar Das.

Solution: option a.)

Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach has joined the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) board of directors.
Observing that USISPF is a critical forum for business and government leaders to come together and drive the next phase of growth in the US-India partnership, Miebach said he believes the relationship between the two countries will define the future of the global economy and shape their ability to tackle the most pressing global challenges together.
This strategic alliance aims to foster collaborations in various sectors and promote the growth and development of both economies.

Solution: option c.)

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has announced the appointment of Haoliang Xu of China as Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Mr Xu will succeed Usha Rao-Monari of India, to whom the Secretary-General has expressed his appreciation for her service and commitment during her tenure as Associate Administrator.

Mr Xu has been serving as the Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP since 2019.
His extensive background also includes his time as the UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, a position he held between 2013 and 2019.
Mr Xu brings to the position nearly three decades of experience in the field of international development.
UNDP helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, UNDP encourages the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women.
The UNDP was founded on 22 November 1965 with the merging of the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance

Solution: option b.)

Uma Kolkata Emerges Champions in Historic Women’s Kabaddi Tournament on 28 June 2023 in Dubai. The world’s first international Women’s Kabaddi final featured the Punjab Panthers vs Uma Kolkata teams.
• Uma Kolkata emerged as champions, winning a grand prize of ₹10,000,000.
• The Punjab team secured the second position and received a prize of ₹5,000,000.
• The tournament lasted for 12 days and involved eight teams from India representing different states.
• Distinguished personalities like Juma Al Madani, Pushyamitra Bhargav, Pradeep Kumar Nehra, Dr Sunil Manjrekar, and Chandrashekhar Bhatia attended the final ceremony.
• The event was organized by the Women’s Kabaddi League.
• The tournament provided a global platform for Indian women Kabaddi players to showcase their skills.
• The participating teams represented various Indian states, including Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Karnataka.

Solution: option a.)

▪ India has ranked 40th on the latest world competitiveness ranking released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).
▪ According to the report, India progressed in government efficiency but lagged in business efficiency, infrastructure and economic performance.
▪ Out of the 64 economies ranked in the annual report, Denmark, Ireland and Switzerland claimed the top three spots.
▪ While the Netherlands, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Sweden, the US and the UAE completed the top 10.

Solution: option b.)

▪ GAIL India Limited received the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) T3 Status title.
▪ It is the highest level of facilitation for Exporters and Importers by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Ministry of Finance.
▪ AEO is a program run by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) that aims to improve international supply chain security, facilitate the movement of legitimate goods, and promote the ease of doing business in India.
▪ GAIL- ▪ Headquarters: New Delhi ▪ MD & Chairman: Sandeep Kumar Gupta

Solution: option b.)

The Indian men’s national football team has climbed further in the latest FIFA World Rankings, rising from 101 to 100, surpassing Lebanon and New Zealand.

This is the first time the Blue Tigers have made it to the top 100 of the global rankings and since December 20, 2018, when they were 99th.
And for head coach Igor Stimac, it is another feather in the cap, with the side gearing up for the SAFF Championship semifinal in Bengaluru.
The Fédération Internationale de football association is the international governing body of association football, beach soccer, and futsal. It was founded in 1904 to oversee international competition among the national associations of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
FIFA HQ: Zurich (Switzerland)

Solution: option a.)

TS Singh Deo was appointed Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Singh Deo’s appointment was announced in a review meeting held to discuss the upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly elections at the Congress headquarters in Delhi. In 2018, when the Congress returned to power in Chhattisgarh after 15 years, a war of supremacy had broken out between Bhupesh Baghel and TS Singh Deo.
Chhattisgarh Capital: Raipur
Chhattisgarh Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister: Bhupesh Baghel

Solution: option c.)

Canada has taken a proactive approach to address its shortage of skilled workers, particularly in the tech industry. During Collision’s tech conference in Toronto, the country’s immigration minister announced the launch of a digital nomad strategy aimed at attracting talented individuals from around the world.

Digital Nomad Strategy Overview
Under the digital nomad strategy, foreign workers are permitted to stay in Canada for up to six months. If they receive job offers during their stay, they have the opportunity to extend their time in the country.

Prime Minister: Justin Trudeau

Capital: Ottawa Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)

Official Languages: English and French

Population: Approximately 38 million

Solution: option a.)

The World Economic Forum on Wednesday ranked India at 67th place globally on its Energy Transition Index and said it is the only major economy with energy transition momentum accelerating across all dimensions.
Sweden topped the list and was followed by Denmark, Norway, Finland and Switzerland in the top five on the list of 120 countries.
Releasing the report published in collaboration with Accenture, the WEF said the global energy transition has plateaued amid the global energy crisis and geopolitical volatilities, but India is among the countries that have made significant improvements.

Solution: option b.)

Steve Smith broke an Australian record for the fastest batter to score 9000 runs in Test cricket. The star batter achieved the feat on Day 1 of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s against England on Wednesday, June 29.
Smith needed 31 runs to get to the landmark in his 99th Test and he got there after a brisk start to his innings in the second match of the 5-Test series.
Steve Smith needed 174 innings to get to the milestone, 2 more than Kumar Sangakkara who holds the world record for the fastest to 9000 runs in Test cricket. However, Smith has broken Ricky Ponting’s Australian record of 177 innings for 9000 Test runs. Ponting achieved the feat in 2006 against England in Brisbane in an Ashes Test.

Solution: option b.)
In collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Canara Bank has announced that its customers can now utilize their RuPay Credit Cards on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform.
This joint initiative aims to provide safe, secure, and convenient payment transactions for Canara Bank customers.
The introduction of RuPay Credit Cards on UPI opens up new opportunities for both customers and merchants, revolutionizing the credit ecosystem.
Unified Payments Interface is an instant payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India in 2016
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) was founded in 2008
MD & CEO of NPCI is Dilip Asbe
Shri K. Satyanarayana Raju is the Managing Director & CEO of Canara Bank

Solution: option d.)

National Insurance Awareness Day is annually observed on 28th June to raise awareness about Insurance which offers a layer of protection to guard in various situations and about the benefits of investing in an insurance plan.
The day also serves as a reminder to people to check if all their insurance payments (or renewals) are up to date.

Evolution of Insurance in India:

India witnessed the emergence of the life insurance business in 1818 with the establishment of the Oriental Life Insurance Company in Calcutta (Now Kolkata in West Bengal).
In 1914, the Government of India (GoI) started publishing returns of Insurance Companies in India.
The Indian Life Assurance Companies Act, of 1912 was the first statutory measure to regulate the life insurance business.
In 1956, an ordinance was issued nationalising the Life Insurance sector and Life InsuranceCorporation (LIC) came into existence.