Current Affairs One-Liner : 30th August 2023

• National:
• The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) – the National Mission for Financial Inclusion - has completed nine years of successful implementation. The PMJDY was announced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address on 15th August 2014.

• On Tuesday, August 29, 2023, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari launched the world’s first prototype of the BS 6 Stage II ‘Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle’, developed by Toyota Kirloskar Motor in New Delhi
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Fourth Partner Energy Private Limited (Fourth Partner) signed a long-term loan of up to 1.2 billion Indian rupees (about $14.7 million) to construct and operate a 25-megawatt solar photovoltaic-based power plant to increase clean and low-cost energy supply to commercial and industrial customers
• The 46th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Reliance Industries (RIL) was held on Monday, August 28, 2023. During the meeting, Chairman Mukesh Ambani made a range of important announcements, spanning from Jio True 5G to Jio Smart Home Services, changes in the company’s board structure.
• State-owned engineering firm Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has successfully manufactured the first set of indigenous SCR Catalysts for limiting NOx emissions from thermal power plants.
• The Indian Army has signed contracts for the procurement of 130 tethered drones and 19 tank-driving simulators under Emergency Procurement (EP) and they will be delivered in 12 months.
• The Gujarat government has recently announced a 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local self-governing bodies. This decision was made based on the recommendations of the Justice Jhaveri Commission report
• Economy:
• Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, a distinguished subsidiary of Tata Motors, has proudly revealed its revamped brand identity - TATA.ev. The introduction of this new brand image demonstrates the homegrown automaker’s unwavering commitment to steering India towards a brighter, sustainable tomorrow.
• India’s decision to impose a 20% duty on exports of parboiled rice has led buyers and sellers to delay shipments to avoid paying the tax. This could lead to depleted inventories and higher local prices in importing countries such as Benin, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, and Liberia.
• World:
• The California State Assembly has passed the SB 403 bill that outlaws caste-based discrimination in the state on Monday, 28 August. The bill seeks to add caste as a protected category under “ancestry” in the Unruh Civil Rights Act.
• Sports:
• Billie Jean King celebrated the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Open becoming the first sporting event to offer equal prize money to female and male competitors on August 28, 2023, in New York City. The tournament is celebrating 50 years of equal prize money
• The England Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, that it will increase the match fees for the England Women’s cricket team to bring them in line with the Men’s cricket team.
• Stan Wawrinka became the oldest man to win a singles contest at the US Open since 1992. He outclassed Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka 7-6(5) 6-2 6-4 in the first round of the US Open. The previous record was held by Jimmy Connors, who was 40 years old when he won a singles contest at the US Open in 1992.
• Important Days:
• National Sports Day is celebrated every year on August 29th in India to commemorate the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand, an esteemed field hockey player considered one of the finest in history. The recognition of this day was established in 2012, with the inaugural celebration occurring on August 29, 2012.
• August 29 is observed annually as International Day Against Nuclear Tests. The day was instituted by the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly on December 2, 2001. The day is observed to raise awareness about the effects of nuclear weapon test explosions and the need for their cessation as one of the means of achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.
• Appointments:
• The Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC), the representative body of asset and loan financing of the NBFCs in India, has appointed Umesh Revankar, executive vice chairman - Shriram Finance Ltd, as its new chairman.
• Awards:
• The Central Government has announced the winners of India Smart Cities Awards Contest (ISAC) 2022 on Friday. A total of 66 final winners have been identified out of 845 nominations from 80 qualifying smart cities1. Indore topped the National Smart City Award, followed by Surat and Agra in second and third place respectively.

Questions:

Q.1 Who has been appointed as the new chairman of the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC)?
a. Dinanath Dubhashi
b. Ramesh Iyer
c. Umesh Revankar
d. TT Srinivasaraghavan

Q.2 How many final winners were identified in the India Smart Cities Awards Contest 2022? 

a. 80
b. 66
c. 845
d. 1000