Current Affairs One - Liner : 22nd & 23rd October 2023

• National:
• Prasthan’ is a biannual exercise that aims to ensure the security of offshore development areas (ODAs) in the Krishna Godavari Basin, where various oil and gas operators are located.

• The “Ghar-Ghar KCC Abhiyaan” is a transformative initiative launched by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to ensure Kisan Credit Card (KCC) access for fish farmers across India.
• Google has partnered with the Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE) to take down illegal loan apps from Play Store in India.
• Optima Secure is a new health insurance product launched by HDFC ERGO General Insurance, one of the leading non-life insurance companies in India. The product offers customers up to 4 times their sum insured at no additional charge while guaranteeing coverage for listed non-medical expenses.
• DFC’s loan to Dalmia Polypro Industries for setting up a greenfield recycling facility in Nashik. DFC is the US International Development Finance Corporation, a development finance institution that provides financing for private sector projects in low and middle-income countries.
• CM Yogi inaugurated the first Mission Shakti Cafe in Gonda on Oct 22. This cafe is a part of the Mission Shakti campaign for women empowerment, which aims to provide livelihood opportunities and nutritious food to women and students.
• The Anthurium Festival started at Reiek in Mamit District on October 21 and 22, 2023. It was a two-day-long event organized by the Tourism Department of Mizoram to showcase the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Mizo people.
• Sports:
• Unnati Hooda won the women’s singles title at Abu Dhabi Masters 2023. She is an Indian badminton player from Haryana. She is the youngest Indian to win a BWF Super 100 title. She defeated her compatriot Samiya Imad Farooqui in the final with a score of 21-16, 22-20. It was her second BWF Super 100 title after winning the Odisha Open in 2022.

• Awards & Honors:
• Kerala Gramin Bank has won four Assocham awards at the 18th Assocham Annual Summit & Awards on Banking & Financial Sector Lending Companies held in Mumbai on October 19, 2023.
• Udhampur military station has been awarded the ‘Best Green Military Station’ award by the Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande at the Army Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi on October 18, 2023.
• Important Days:
• Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention Day 2023 – October 21 is a day to raise awareness about the importance of iodine for human health and development. Iodine is a micronutrient that is essential for the production of thyroid hormones, which regulate the metabolism, growth, and development of the body and brain.

• Appointments:
• Ashok Vaswani’s appointment as MD & CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank has been approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on October 21, 2023. He will replace Uday Kotak, who stepped down from the post in September 2023. Vaswani will take charge of the bank for a period of three years, likely from January 1, 2024.
• Obituaries:
• Sir Bobby Charlton passed away. He was one of the greatest footballers of all time and a legend of Manchester United and England. He was born on 11 October 1937 in Ashington, Northumberland, England.
• International:
• South Korea, Japan, and the United States held their first-ever joint aerial exercise on Sunday, October 22, 2023. The drill was aimed at enhancing their defense cooperation and response capabilities against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats. The exercise involved a U.S. B-52 strategic bomber and fighter jets from the three countries.
• The European Commission (EC) has recently issued a notice for information to Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, under the European Union’s Digital Service Act (DSA). The DSA is a new set of rules that aim to create a safer digital space where the fundamental rights of users are protected and to establish a level playing field for businesses.
• Banking:

• Kotak Mahindra Bank has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for its acquisition of microlender Sonata Finance for Rs 537 crore.The RBI has allowed Kotak to make Sonata its business correspondent subsidiary, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary of the bank.

Questions:

Q.1 When is Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention Day observed every year?
a. October 21
b. October 22
c. October 23
d. October 24
Q.2 Who has been appointed as the MD & CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank by the RBI on October 21, 2023?
a. Uday Kotak
b. Ashok Vaswani
c. Aditya Puri
d. Sandeep Bakhshi