Daily Current Affairs Quiz: May 4, 2023

Solution: option c.)
According to the latest report released by global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, India’s ranking in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index has slipped to 161 out of 180 countries (21st Edition). In 2022, India was ranked at 150.
Norway is ranked first for the seventh consecutive year, followed by Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland Last three: North Korea (180th), China, and Vietnam.
World Press Freedom Day 2023
Every year on May 3, we observe World Press Freedom Day to increase our understanding of the significance of a press that is free and not influenced by external forces. The occasion emphasizes the importance of unrestricted journalism and advocates for the fundamental right of freedom of speech.
World Press Freedom Day 2023- Theme
This year’s World Press Freedom Day focuses on the theme of “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for All Other Human Rights,” which emphasizes the critical role of freedom of expression in safeguarding and promoting other human rights.

Solution: option b.)

Vodafone Group Plc has announced Margherita Della Valle, a 29-year veteran of the company, as its next Chief Executive Officer. Della Valle began her career as one of the first employees of Italian telecom startup Omnitel, which was acquired by Vodafone in 2001.
Margherita’s previous roles within Vodafone were Deputy Chief Financial Officer from 2015 to 2018.

Solution: option d.)

Total enrolment under Atal Pension Yojana crossed the 5.20 crore mark as on 31 March 2023. The scheme enrolled more than 1.19 crore new subscribers in FY 2022-23 as compared to 99 lakhs in the last financial year, depicting a growth of more than 20%. As of date, the total assets under management (AUM) in APY is more than Rs. 27,200 crore and the scheme has generated an investment return of 8.69% since inception of the scheme.
In the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) category, 9 banks achieved the annual target while Bank of India, State Bank of India, and Indian Bank sourced more than 100 APY accounts per branch. Under the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) category, 32 banks achieved the annual target while Jharkhand Rajya Gramin Bank, Vidharbha Konkan Gramin Bank, Tripura Gramin Bank and Baroda Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank sourced more than 160 APY accounts per branch. Also, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, Dhanlaxmi Bank and Airtel Payments Bank achieved the annual target allocated by the Ministry of Finance.
Further, 12 states Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Uttarakhand also achieved their annual targets with the help and support of their respective State Level Banker’s Committee (SLBCs).

Solution: option a.)

Retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Amitabh Kant, who served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) (2016-2022), has authored a new book titled “Made In India: 75 Years of Business and Enterprise” published by the Rupa Publications India.

Solution: option a.)

Pine Labs, a merchant commerce omnichannel platform, has announced the acceptance of the Digital Rupee on its PoS terminals in partnership with ICICI Bank. The technology integration between the two entities will now support e₹ (Digital Rupee) acceptance at Pine Labs’ point-of-sale terminals across key retail outlets in Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Pine Labs’ execution of the Digital Rupee payment process is completely digital via dynamic QR built within its smart Android PoS terminals.

Solution: option d.)

Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) researchers has developed a machine learning-based computational tool for better detection of cancer-causing tumours in the brain and spinal cord.
The web server known as ‘GBMDriver’ (GlioBlastoma Mutiforme Drivers) is now publicly available online.
The GBMDriver was developed specifically to identify driver mutations and passenger mutations (passenger mutations are neutral mutations) in Glioblastoma.
Glioblastoma is a fast and aggressively growing tumour in the brain and spinal cord.

Solution: option a.)

BharatPe Group has acquired a majority stake in Mumbai-based NBFC, Trillion Loans. However, the NBFC will operate as an independent entity with its team under the supervision of the board. The company said in a statement that Nalin Negi will be the Chief Financial Officer and interim CEO of the newly-acquired startup.
According to media reports, the transaction was completed in April and was valued at approximately Rs 300 crore. The purchase of the NBFC will strengthen BharatPe’s lending portfolio by allowing the firm to issue loans and credit facilities without relying on third-party partners.

Solution: option c.)

Rohit Sharma-led India surpass Australia to become the number one Test team in the latest rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) today.

Australia’s reign at the top of the men’s Test rankings comes to an end after 15 months with India going past the Aussies ahead of next month’s ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final.

India currently sits at the top of the ladder with 121 points, with Australia in the second spot with 116 points. Earlier this year, India posted a 2-1 series win against Australia to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the fourth consecutive time.

Solution: option b.)

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh Tuesday launched the Facial Recognition System (FRS) for Inner Line Permit (ILP) system and flagged off two camera-mounted mobile FRS vehicles.
Singh, while speaking during the event, said the newly-launched system will help in the effective checking of ILP holders whose validity has expired and in better management of the system.

Manipur Governor: Anusuiya Uikey
Manipur Capital: Imphal

Solution: option b.)

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will introduce coding and artificial intelligence (AI) to promote skill education from classes 6 to 8 onwards.
The New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has introduced artificial intelligence to promote skill education. With this, subjects like coding will also be taught early. Along with these, the board will introduce data science for class 8th and ‘things you should know about keeping medicines at home’ for class 6th.

Solution: option c.)

The Executive Directors of the World Bank today selected Ajay Banga as the 14th President of the World Bank for a five-year term beginning June 2, 2023.
Ajay Banga most recently served as Vice Chairman at General Atlantic. Previously, he was President and CEO of Mastercard, a global organization with nearly 24,000 employees.

The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries to pursue capital projects.

President – David Malpaas
ESTD- 1944

Solution: option d.)

The stage is set for aspiring young hockey players across India to compete in the prestigious 13th Hockey India Sub Junior Women National Championship 2023 which is set to begin in Rourkela, Odisha on Thursday, 4th May 2023.
A total of 28 teams will vie for top honours in the 11-day tournament with the final of the competition to be played on May 14, 2023. All the matches will be played at the world-class Birsa Munda Hockey stadium.

Solution: option c.)
Telecom major Bharti Airtel on Tuesday announced that the company will merge its Sri Lanka operations with Dialog Axiata, which is the largest telecom provider in Sri Lanka. The merged entity is touted to become the largest telecom provider in the country.
“Dialog Axiata Plc, Axiata Group Berhad, and Bharti Airtel Limited have entered into a binding term sheet to combine operations of Bharti Airtel Lanka (Private) Limited, Airtel’s wholly-owned subsidiary with Dialog, a subsidiary of Axiata Group Berhad.

Solution: option c.)

Legendary South Africa fast bowler Shabnim Ismail announced her retirement from international cricket with immediate effect on Wednesday.
Ismail’s final game for South Africa came in the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup against Australia.
The speedster picked up eight wickets at an average of 16.12 in South Africa’s maiden appearance in the final of a World Cup.

Solution: option a.)

Global Chess League, a joint venture between FIDE and Tech Mahindra, announced Dubai as the venue for the inaugural edition Wednesday. Present during a press conference to launch the event in the Gulf city were key dignitaries such as Dr Aman Puri, consul general of India, Dubai; Viswanathan Anand, five-time world chess champion and FIDE deputy president; CP Gurnani, managing director and CEO, Tech Mahindra; Parag Shah, EVP and head, Mahindra Accelo and member, Global Chess League Board; and Jagdish Mitra, chairperson, Global Chess League Board.
The world’s largest and first franchise-based chess league will be held in Dubai in association with Dubai Sports Council, the league’s host partner.

Solution: option c.)
Vantika Agrawal is the new Indian woman No.3 in Chess and the 11th Indian woman to achieve the International Master title.
She has played 4 International tournaments previously where she has increased her FIDE rating by 61 points.
She has also won a bronze medal in the National Women’s Championship held in Kohlapur in Jan 2023 and a gold medal for the Airport Authority of India in Feb 2023.

Solution: option b.)

The Telangana government has decided to introduce an insurance scheme for toddy tappers on the lines of the Rythu Bheema insurance scheme being implemented for farmers in the state.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has directed excise minister V Srinivas Goud and finance minister T Harish Rao to prepare guidelines for the insurance scheme.
Under the insurance scheme, if any Toddy tapper dies in an accident, the family will get Rs 5 lakh insurance like Rythu Bheema. CM KCR held a meeting with the excise and finance department officials on Tuesday.
Telangana Capital: Hyderabad