Daily Current Affairs Quiz – 17th September 2024

Correct Answer:  (b) Atishi Marlena

Explanation:  The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), in a meeting in New Delhi on 17 September 2024, has elected senior party leader Atishi Marlena as its new chief minister after the announcement of resignation by the incumbent chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal. Atishi will be 3rd woman after Sushama Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit and 8th person to become the chief minister of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. The term of the current Delhi legislative assembly ends on 11 February 2025. The founder leader of the Aam Aadmi Party and three-time NCT Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, tendered his resignation to the NCT Delhi Lieutenant Governor, V.K. Saxena, on 17 September 2024.

• The 69th Constitutional Amendment Act 1991 added article 239AA to the constitution and renamed the Union Territory of Delhi as the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The NCT Delhi is not a state but a Union territory with a 70-member Legislative Assembly. The President appoints the Chief Minister of NCT Delhi.  There can be a maximum of seven ministers, including the Chief Ministerin the NCT Delhi government.
• Since 1952, there have been eight chief ministers of NCT Delhi, including Aatishi Marlena.  Sheila Dikshitof the Congress (I) is the longest-serving chief minister from 1998-2013. Sushma Swaraj of the BJP has the shortest tenure of 52 days. Sushma Swaraj was also the first female chief minister of NCT Delhi.

Correct Answer:  (c) 1000

Explanation:  Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister, launched the NPS Vatsalya scheme for minors in New Delhi on 17 September 2024. The event was attended by schoolchildren and was held simultaneously in 75 locations across the country. She also distributed the Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) cards to new minor subscribers. Nirmala Sitharaman announced the NPS Vatsalya scheme in her 2024-25 union budget speech. The NPS Vatsalya will be regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

National Pension System (NPS) Vatsalya is for minors under 18 years of age and who are residents of India. The NPS Vatsalya account is not for non-resident Indians (NRI). An NPS -Tier II account will be opened in the name of the minor. A Tier-II account is a voluntary savings pension scheme linked to the subscriber’s Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN). Each National Pension System subscriber is provided with a unique 12-digit alphanumeric PRAN number that remains with the subscriber until the end.

Contribution, Withdrawal, Exit facility 

• The minimum contribution under the NPS Vatsalya scheme is Rs 1000  per year, with no maximum limit.
• The parents can contribute on behalf of the minor.
• The lock-in period is three years.
• After three years, the subscriber can partially withdraw 25 per cent of the corpus(the invested amount plus the return on the amount) for education, specified illness, and disability.
• The partial withdrawal is allowed only three times the duration of the scheme.

Correct Answer:  (b) 2030

Explanation:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 4th Global Renewable Energy Investors Meet & Expo (RE-INVEST 2024), being held at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.  Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar will address the valedictory session of the 4th RE-INVEST 2024 on 18 September 2024. The RE-INVEST 2024 seeks to consolidate and further India’s position as a global leader in the non-renewable energy sector. According to the REN21 Renewables 2024 Global Status Report, India is ranked fourth in the world in Renewable Energy Installed Capacity, fourth in Wind Power capacity, and fifth in Solar Power capacity.

• For the first time, the Global Renewable Energy Investors Meet & Expo is being held outside New Delhi.  The first edition was held in February 2015in New Delhi. The second was held in October 2018 in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh and the third edition was held virtually in November 2020. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated all four editions.
• The three-day 4th Global Renewable Energy Investors Meet & Expo (RE-INVEST 2024) will be held in Gandhinagar from September 16 to 18, 2024. The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energyhas organised the Global Renewable Energy Investors Meet & Expo.
• On this Occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the PM Suryaghar Muft Bijali Yojana to the Nation.  On 13 February 2024, PM Modi launched the Yojana to provide 330 units of free electricity every month to households having installed rooftop solar panels. The Prime Minister also mentioned that India is the first G20 nation to achieve the climate commitments set in the 2016 Paris Climate Change Summit. India has set a target of 500 GWof renewable energy by 2030, which requires an investment of Rs. 30 lakh.

Correct Answer:  (d) 17th September

Explanation:  On September 17, 2024, the world observed World Patient Safety Day, an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about patient safety and promoting collaboration among healthcare stakeholders. This year’s theme, “Improving diagnosis for patient safety”, accompanied by the slogan “Get it right, make it safe!”, underscores the critical importance of accurate and timely diagnoses in ensuring patient safety and enhancing health outcomes.

Correct Answer:  (c) 13.8%

Explanation:  According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, small savings schemes grew by 13.8% up to February 2024, reaching Rs 18.1 lakh crore. These schemes, designed to finance government expenditure and promote saving habits, have shown consistent growth, particularly driven by the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) and the Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS). Seven small savings schemes, including Post Office Savings Scheme (PSS) and Post Office Recurring Deposits (PORD), recorded growth between 9% and 11%, with interest rates ranging from 4% to 9%. SSY and SCSS 2004 have seen the highest growth among all schemes.

The outstanding balance of small savings schemes increased from Rs 6.2 lakh crore in 2015 to Rs 18.1 lakh crore in February 2024, with a 13.8% growth in February 2023. RBI mandated the frequency of credit information reporting to fortnightly basis w.e.f. January 1, 2025 to boost transparency in the system. CICs must now process credit information from credit institutions within five calendar days, a reduction from the previous seven-day window.

Correct Answer:  (c) InCred Financial Services

Explanation: InCred received an “Impact 57, Moderate” rating for improvement in adopting comprehensive sustainability practices. ICRA ESG Ratings Ltd has assigned its first Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) rating from InCred Financial Services Ltd. An ESG Impact rating between 40 and 59 indicates that the entity has a moderate commitment to ESG principles. The ESG-assigned ratings help investors to assess the non-financial risks and opportunities associated with entities. These ratings also help the rated entity gain a better understanding and diagnostics of its ESG impact.

Correct Answer:  (c) 18%

Explanation:  GST Council formed a Group of Ministers (GoM) to suggest GST rates on health and life insurance products. A 13-member Group of Ministers (GoM) will suggest a GST rate on premiums of various health and life insurance. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is the convenor of the GoM. At the 54th GST Council meeting on September 9, a GoM was set up to decide the GST rate on health and life insurance products. Currently, 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) is on insurance premiums.

Correct Answer:  (c) Operation Sadbhav

Explanation:  India has launched Operation Sadbhav to provide humanitarian assistance to typhoon Yagi-affected countries – Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. India sent urgent relief materials to Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam to assist them in dealing with the impact of the major typhoon. These countries are reeling under massive floods after Asia’s most powerful storm this year hit the three countries. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said, 10 tonnes of aid, including dry ration, clothing, and medicines, were dispatched to Myanmar onboard the Indian naval ship INS Satpura.

A military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force is carrying 35 tonnes of aid to Vietnam and 10 tonnes of relief materials to Laos. These include genset, water purification items, hygiene supplies, mosquito nets, blankets, and sleeping bags. Akashvani’s correspondent reports that India has been among the first responders in providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to impacted countries. Operation Sadbhav is part of India’s broader effort to contribute to HADR within the ASEAN region, in line with its ‘Act East Policy’.

Correct Answer:  (d) Samrat Choudhary

Explanation:  The GST Council constituted a 13-member Group of Ministers (GoM) to suggest GST rates on premiums of various health and life insurance products and submit its report by October 30. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is the convenor of the GoM. The members of the panel include members from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. The 54th GST Council meeting on September 9 decided to set up a GoM to examine and review the present tax structure of GST on life and medical insurance.

A final call by the Council on the taxation of insurance premiums is likely to be taken in the next meeting in November based on the GoM report. Currently, 18 percent of Goods and Services Tax (GST) is levied on insurance premiums. The Terms of Reference (ToR) of the panel also include suggesting tax rates of health/medical insurance including individual, group, family floater, and other medical insurance for various categories like senior citizens, middle class, and persons with mental illness. Also, suggest tax rates on life insurance, including term insurance, life insurance with investment plans whether individual or group and re-insurance.

Correct Answer:  (d) Amrit Mohan Prasad

Explanation:  According Government sources, A Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from Odisha cadre, Amrit Mohan was appointed as the Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). Prasad, a 1989-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Odisha cadre, is presently working as Special Director General, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved Prasad’s appointment to the post of Director General, SSB for a tenure up to the date of his superannuation on August 31, 2025, said the order issued by the Personnel Ministry. The vacancy necessitated after SSB chief Daljit Singh Chaudhary was appointed as the DG of Border Security Force (BSF) on August 28.

Correct Answer:  (c) Saleema Imtiaz

Explanation:  Saleema Imtiaz has made history by becoming the first Pakistani woman to be nominated to the ICC International Panel of Development Umpires, according to an announcement by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The journey has been filled with hard work and personal sacrifices, but now, standing at the cusp of this new chapter, it all feels worth it. This isn’t just a win for me, it’s a win for every aspiring female cricketer and umpire in Pakistan. I hope my success motivates countless women who dream of making their mark in the sport. This moment reflects the growing influence of women in cricket and the PCBs commitment to fostering that development. Imtiaz began her umpiring career with the PCB women’s panel in 2008 and she officiated in the 2022 Asia Cup and the 2023 ACC Emerging Women’s Cup in Hong Kong as well. The senior Imtiaz has officiated in 22 T20Is so far, 16 on field and in six as the TV umpire. Her most recent game as the on-field umpire was the Women’s Asia Cup Final in Dambulla.

Correct Answer:  (d) NMDC Limited

Explanation: NMDC Ltd., India’s largest iron ore producer, was honored with the prestigious Rajbhasha Kirti Award for 2023-2024 in the “C” region category for effective implementation of the official language policy.  The award was presented at the Hindi Diwas Function 2024 and the Fourth Akhil Bhartiya Rajbhasha Sammelan by Shri Nityanand Rai, State Minister of Home Affairs, with NMDC’s Smt. G. Priyadarshini receiving the award. Shri Amitava Mukherjee, CMD (Additional Charge), emphasized NMDC’s commitment to promoting Hindi, marking its consistent efforts recognized by multiple Rajbhasha awards, including the Ispat Rajbhasha Samman from the Ministry of Steel.

Correct Answer:  (a) Saurabh Shah

Explanation:  Adani Green Energy appointed Saurabh Shah as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective October 1, 2024. Shah, currently the Deputy CFO at Adani Enterprises, succeeds Phuntsok Wangyal, who resigned on September 14, 2024, to pursue other career opportunities. Shah has over 22 years of experience in financial management, specializing in accounting, reporting, planning, budgeting, liquidity management, and investor relations within the Adani group. Adani Green Energy is a major player in the renewable energy sector, contributing to the clean energy transition.

Correct Answer:  (b) Samridh

Explanation:  MeitY has launched the Samridh Scheme to foster the growth of software startups in India. Samridh stands for Startup Accelerators of MeitY for Product Innovation, Development, and Growth. The scheme was launched under the National Policy on Software Products 2019. It aims to support 300 startups with funding of Rs 99 crore over four years. Startups receive up to Rs 40 lakh in funding and mentorship for business growth.

• Samridh Scheme: Flagship initiative by MeitY to boost software product startups in India.
• Accelerators: Partners of the scheme that offer business development and investor connections to startups.

Correct Answer:  (a) Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

Explanation:  Cambodia’s Angkor Wat has been recognized as the most photogenic UNESCO World Heritage site in Asia by Times Travel, as announced by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on September 15. This accolade was revealed through a post on his official Telegram channel, featuring Times of India’s list of Asia’s top ten most photogenic UNESCO sites. Located in the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province, Angkor Wat is a prominent temple within a 401-square-kilometre park featuring 91 ancient temples built between the 9th and 13th centuries. It is Cambodia’s most visited tourist destination, drawing 651,857 international visitors in the first eight months of 2024, reflecting a 30.7% increase from the previous year. Revenue from ticket sales for this period reached $30.3 million, marking a 31% year-on-year rise.

The list includes notable landmarks such as:

• India: Taj Mahal and Hampi
• China: Great Wall
• Myanmar: Ancient city of Bagan
• Indonesia: Borobudur
• Vietnam: Ha Long Bay
• Japan: Historic Monuments of Kyoto
• Jordan: Petra
• Philippines: Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras

These sites are celebrated for their cultural and visual appeal, offering exceptional inspiration for photographers.