Daily Current Affairs Quiz – 6th September 2024

Correct Answer:  (c) UAE

Explanation:  The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Accountability Authority to foster collaboration between the two institutions in public sector audits. The agreement was signed by Girish Chandra Murmu, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, and Humaid Obaid Khalifa Obaid Abushibs, the President of the UAE Accountability Authority in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The CAG is the apex audit institution in India, and the UAE Accountability Authority is the supreme auditing authority in the UAE.

Aim of the MoU

• The MoU aims to promote collaboration between the two institutions in public sector auditing.
• It seeks to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices in public sector audits.

It seeks to facilitate the capacity development of each country’s auditors by providing training facilities in other countries.

Correct Answer:  (c) South Korea

Explanation:  The Indian Coast Guard attended the 20th  Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM) in Incheon, South Korea. The 20th HACGAM was hosted by the South Korean Coast Guard at Incheon, South Korea, from 2 – 6 September 2024. On this occasion, the Indian Coast Guard also held its 12th annual bilateral meeting with the South Korean Coast Guard on 4 September 2024. During the Incheon meeting, the member nation’s  Coast Guard discussed issues related to maritime law enforcement, the safety and security of life at sea, marine environment protection, and the illicit trafficking of humans, drugs, weapons, etc.

• The Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM) is an initiative of Japan which organised the first Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM) in 2004 in Japan. It was convened to discuss the increasing incidents of piracy in Southeast Asian waters, such as the Straits of Malacca.
• Twenty-three member countries: Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. Headquarters of the HACGAM: Japan

Correct Answer:  (b) Star Health Insurance

Explanation:  Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN) based Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited (Star Health Insurance) launched India’s first Braille insurance policy named ‘Special Care Gold’,designed to cater the needs of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). The policy was introduced during a ceremony in Mumbai, Maharashtra attended by the company’s Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Anand Roy, and, Co-Founder and Chairman of Bollant Industries, Srikanth Bolla. The Braille version of insurance policy was produced in collaboration with the Mumbai, Maharashtra-based National Association of the Blind (NAB). Aim to empower visually impaired individuals with opportunities for income generation in the insurance sector.

• The policy is launched for the persons with a disabilities as per ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016’ and for individuals with HIV/AIDS as defined under the ‘Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome(AIDS) (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017’. Its coverage also includes physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments, addressing essential medical treatments and support services.
• The Braille version of the policy enables visually impaired individuals to access information and make independent decisions regarding health and finances. Any person aged between 18 and 65 years can avail this policy. Dependent children are covered from newborn to 17 years of age. The policy offers a 1-year term with individual coverage options of Rs 4,00,000 and Rs 5,00,000. The company provides training and upskilling to help visually impaired individuals become health insurance agents.

Correct Answer:  (b) Axis Bank

Explanation:  Axis Bank Limited launched two innovative digital solutions –  ‘Unified Payments Interface-Automated Teller Machine(UPI-ATM)’ and ‘Bharat Connect for Business’ at the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2024 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Both initiatives are for its retail and wholesale banking business. UPI-ATM is a cardless cash withdrawal and deposit system using any UPI application (app). Axis Bank is the first private sector banks in India to showcase a state-of-the-art cash recycler which leverages Android technology to deliver an intuitive and user-friendly experience.

• It is India’s first Android Cash Recycler integrated with UPI, allowing customers to perform both Interoperable Cardless Cash Deposit (ICD) and Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal (ICCW) transactions using any UPI-enabled application. It also offer an extensive range of services such as account opening, credit cards issuance, deposits, loans, forex, FASTag and more, all on a single platform.
• Bharat Connect (formerly Bharat Bill Payment System, BBPS) for Business was launched in partnership with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI’s) Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL). It is a B2B (Business to Business) platform for streamlining financial operations and enhancing working capital management. It digitizes the flow of funds and streamlines accounts payables/receivables. iv.It integrates business applications to manage partner onboarding, orders, payments, and offers invoice-based financing, enhancing working capital efficiency.

Correct Answer:  (b) Lord’s Stadium

Explanation:   The prestigious Lord’s Cricket Ground in London is set to make history by hosting the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) from June 11 to June 15, 2025. This event marks the first time that the iconic venue, often referred to as the “Home of Cricket,” will host the climax of cricket’s most revered format. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially confirmed that Lord’s will serve as the battleground for the ultimate test of cricketing prowess in 2025. Previously, the WTC finals were held at Southampton’s Ageas Bowl in 2021 and The Oval in 2023. Both of these events crowned new champions, with New Zealand winning the inaugural edition and Australia claiming victory in the second.

Correct Answer:  (d) Himachal Pradesh

Explanation:  For the first time, the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly introduced Zero Hour in its legislative proceedings on 4 September 2024. The practice of zero hour in parliamentary democracy is an invention of the Indian Parliament. It was introduced during the Sixties in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and this practice is gradually being adopted by the state legislative assemblies in India.  The term Zero Hour is nowhere mentioned in the rules of the Parliament and the State Assembly. It is a convention, not a rule. The speaker of the Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, announced the introduction of Zero Hour in the state legislative assembly proceedings at the start of the assembly’s monsoon session on 3 September 2024.

Features of Zero Hour in Indian Parliament 

• Zero Hour refers to the time between the end of Question Hour and the beginning of the house’s regular listed business.
• The Question Hour is from 11 Am to 12 Noon in the Lok Sabha.
• In the Rajya Sabha, the Question Hour is from 12 Noon to 1 PM.
• Members can raise issues of urgent public importance with the permission of the Speaker in the Lok Sabha and the Chairman in the Rajya Sabha.
• However, it should be noted that there is no rule for a  Zero Hour in Parliament’s proceedings. Zero Hour is a convention followed in India, and the Speaker or the Chairman can adjourn the House just after Question Hour. In such a case, no zero hour will take place.
• The duration of the Zero hour is not fixed in Parliament. It could be less than one hour or more than an hour. Its duration depends upon the number of matters raised or on the Speaker or the Chairman of the House.

Correct Answer:  (a) Tennis

Explanation: Chilean tennis legend Luis Ayala, who reached two French Open finals, has died at the age of 91, the Chilean Tennis Federation announced. Ayala, a Santiago native, was a prominent figure in the sport and won 46 singles titles throughout his career, including significant achievements on clay courts. Ayala, born in Santiago, was an iconic figure in his home country’s sport scene. Over his illustrious career, he secured 46 singles titles and was celebrated for his prowess on clay courts, notably being a finalist at Roland Garros in 1958 and 1960.

Correct Answer:  (c) Sharath Kamal

Explanation:  Ace paddler Sharath Kamal was announced as the first Indian ambassador of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) foundation at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium during day 11 of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) season five. Sharath, who was elected to the ITTF’s Athlete’s Commission back in November 2022, was bestowed with the honour in the presence of Her Highness Zeina Shaban, princess of Jordan and a two-time Olympian, and Vita Dani, Chairperson of the UTT. Shaban and Dani are both board members of the ITTF Foundation.

Correct Answer:  (b) Canara Bank

Explanation:  State-owned Canara Bank successfully raised $300 million through its IFSC Banking Unit, the bank announced. According to a regulatory filing, the funds, sourced via the Gandhinagar-based unit, will be utilized for general corporate purposes. The bonds, which have a maturity of five years, offer a coupon rate of 4.896%, with semi-annual payments. Investors from Asia, the Middle East, and Europe well-received the issuance, demonstrating confidence in the bank’s creditworthiness. The bank’s shares have a one-year beta of 1.5, indicating high volatility. Its relative strength index (RSI) stands at 43, signalling that the stock is neither overbought nor oversold.

Correct Answer:  (c) Tahir Zaman

Explanation: Tahir Zaman has been appointed as the new head coach of the Pakistan hockey team, replacing Roelant Oltmans. Zaman, a former Olympian, will join the team in Hulunbuir, China, ahead of the Asian Champions Trophy. The tournament starts on September 8, 2024. Oltmans, who had been the head coach for the last two international events, declined the short-term assignment and requested a long-term contract, leading to his replacement.

Correct Answer:  (b) Sachin Khilari

Explanation: The Paris 2024 Paralympics witnessed a remarkable performance by India’s Sachin Sarjerao Khilari, who secured a silver medal in the men’s shot put F46 event. This achievement not only adds to India’s growing medal tally but also highlights the nation’s emerging prowess in para-athletics. Sachin Khilari, the 34-year-old world champion, showcased his exceptional skills by setting a new Asian record of 16.32 meters on his second attempt. This stellar performance secured him the coveted silver medal, cementing his status as one of the top para-athletes in his category.

Correct Answer:  (a) Gujarat

Explanation:  The ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative’ is being launched in Gujarat. The programme aims to construct around 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures across the state. It focuses on water conservation with community partnership and ownership. The initiative aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of making water conservation a national priority. The Government of Gujarat, the Ministry of Jal Shakti, local community, industries and other stakeholders will help developing them.

Correct Answer:  (d) Hyderabad

Explanation:  The Global Artificial Intelligence Summit 2024 was held on September 5th and 6th at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre.  The summit wasinaugurated by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and the theme is “Making AI Work for Everyone”. Information Technology and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu joined the inauguration. The event attracted over two thousand delegates from around the world. The summit featured a central plenary and specialized sessions focusing on AI advancements, practical applications, and future opportunities. Activities included hackathons, lighting demonstrations, startup showcases, and panel discussions with global AI experts. The state government unveiled the ambitious AI City project during the summit. High-profile discussions included contributions from organizations such as the World Bank and WHO.

Correct Answer:  (a) Madhya Pradesh

Explanation:  The Madhya Pradesh (MP) government has launched the Brindavan Gram Scheme and Gita Bhavan Project, aimed at enhancing rural development and promoting cultural and spiritual heritage of MP respectively. The MP government also approved a proposal to form an organising committee to plan the 320th birth anniversary celebration for Ahilyabai Holkar, the queen of the Maratha Malwa kingdom.

• Brindavan Gram: Mohan Yadav, the Chief Minister (CM) of MP made a formal announcement of the Brindavan Gram. This scheme aims to promote milk production in villages and enhance income of the farmers. The scheme will be implemented by the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Maharashtra. The scheme would establish ‘Gaushalas (cow sheds)’ to promote milk protection and other schemes that benefitting the villagers. MP has a total of 313 blocks and one gram panchayat will be selected from each block.The selected gram panchayat will be named as ‘Brindavan Gram’. The roof-top solar policy will be implemented in selected gram panchayats.
• Gita Bhavans will be constructed in all urban bodies across MP under the Gita Bhavan Project. Presently, MP has only one ‘Gita Bhavan’ in Indore, which is a religious and cultural centre that promotes the principles of the Bhagavad Gita. It features idols and pictures of many gods, and paintings of the Puranas, Mahabharata, and Ramayana. The spiritual literature will be made available in Gita Bhawan centres, in addition to the Gita and other publications related to Lord Krishna.

Correct Answer:  (b) 40th

Explanation: The government has planned to promote both Indian alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages globally, with a target of one billion dollars in export revenue over the next few years. The Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority has been working to increase exports of Indian spirits to major foreign destinations. India currently ranks 40th in the world for alcoholic beverage exports. The Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) is targeting $1 billion in export revenue over the next few years. As part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, APEDA aims to boost exports of Indian spirits to major international markets.

Launch of Godawan Single Malt Whisky in the UK

• Godawan, an artisanal single malt whisky made in Rajasthan, India, is set to launch in the United Kingdom.
• The first batch was officially flagged off by senior officials from the Indian government and Diageo Plc.

International Promotion of Godawan

• Godawan participated in the International Food and Drinks Event (IFE) in London in March 2024 under APEDA’s promotion.
• The event served as a precursor to its official launch and export to the UK.

Support for Local Farmers in Alwar, Rajasthan

• The six-row barley used in Godawan’s production is locally sourced from the Alwar region.
• This initiative supports local farmers by enhancing their agricultural income through backward linkages.