Current Affairs One - Liner : 18th January 2024

• National:
• The NITI Aayog and the World Food Programme (WFP) launched a compendium on January 12, 2024. This compendium is a collection of field stories showcasing experiences from Asian and African countries, including India. It aims to help in capacity building and scaling up the best practices in the adoption of millets across the world.

• The Red Sea crisis could potentially increase global oil prices, affecting oil-importing countries like India. The current oil prices in India as of January 17, 2024, are around Rs.104.18 per litre for petrol and ₹93.48 per litre for diesel. There’s news of a potential Rs.5-10 cut in these prices next month. The exact impact could vary based on various factors and how the situation evolves.
• The artificial reef project was launched in Vizhinjam, Kerala on 17th January 2024. It aims to deploy 6,300 artificial reef units to boost fish population and benefit 42 fishing villages. This initiative is part of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for sustainable marine resource management.
• The Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, invited suggestions on the draft ‘Indian Stamp Bill, 2023’ from the public on January 17, 2024. The draft was published on their website on May 1, 2024. The public was given a period of 30 days to share their suggestions or comments.
• The Karbi Youth Festival (KYF) celebrated its golden jubilee and was attended by President Droupadi Murmu on January 17, 2024. This marked the first time a president attended an ethnicity-based festival in Northeast India. The festival, which took place from January 12 to 19, 2024, at the Karbi People’s Hall in Taralangso, Diphu, located in the Karbi Anglong district.
• International:
• China’s population declined for the second consecutive year in 2023. The total population of China dropped by 2.08 million, reaching 1.409 billion. This decline is attributed to a record-low birth rate and the impact of COVID-19 deaths. The year 2023 saw 11.1 million deaths and 9 million births in China.
• Banking:
• On 17th January 2024, The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has indeed become the most valued Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) in the country. It has surpassed the State Bank of India (SBI) in terms of market valuation. The share price of LIC touched ₹900 for the first time since its listing, and its market capitalization is now higher than that of SBI. As per the latest reports, SBI has a market value of Rs 5.63 lakh crore, while LIC has topped it with a market capitalisation (MCap) of Rs 5.64 lakh crore.
• REC Limited, a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Power, issued its inaugural Japanese Yen (JPY) 61.1 billion green bonds on January 16, 2024. This is the largest Yen-denominated issuance from India. The proceeds will finance eligible green projects. The bonds will be listed on Global Securities Market of India International Exchange (India INX) and NSE IFSC.
• Mous:
• The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPWD) and the National Human Resources Development Network (NHRDN) signed the Memorandum of Understanding on January 16, 2024, in Goa. The partnership aims to aggregate employment opportunities for Divyangjans through the innovative PM-DAKSH-DEPWD digital portal. This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marks a pivotal step in expanding the Department’s outreach, fostering connections with HR professionals nationwide.
• Apps & Portals:
• The MPLADS e-SAKSHI Mobile Application was launched by Rao Inderjit Singh, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on 16th january 2024. The launch took place at Khurshid Lal Bhawan, New Delhi. The MPLADS e-SAKSHI Mobile Application aims to enable Members of Parliament (MPs) to recommend works of a developmental nature with emphasis on the creation of durable community assets based on locally felt needs.
• Sports:
• The Asian Shooting Championships 2024 was held in Jakarta, Indonesia from January 8 to 17. Indian shooters performed exceptionally well at the event, securing a total of 26 medals and four Olympic quotas. Yogesh Singh was a standout performer, winning gold medals in the men’s 25m centre fire pistol and 25m standard pistol events.
• Appointments:
• Indian superstar Hrithik Roshan has been onboarded as the Brand Ambassador for the third season of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League. Tuhin Mishra, Managing Director & Co-Founder at Baseline Ventures Pvt Ltd, expressed his delight at having Hrithik Roshan join as the brand ambassador.
• Rear Admiral Shantanu Jha assumed the position of Chief Staff Officer at the Eastern Naval Command on January 18, 2024. He is a Navigation and Direction specialist with a distinguished career in the Indian Navy.
• Sue Redfern, a former England cricketer, was appointed by the ICC as the first female neutral umpire in a bilateral series on January 17, 2024. She will officiate in the Women’s T20 International series between Australia and South Africa.

Questions:

Q.1 Which company became the most valued Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) in India on 17th January 2024?
a. State Bank of India (SBI)
b. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)
c. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
d. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
Q.2 What is the aim of the artificial reef project?
a. To boost the fish population and benefit fishing villages
b. To boost the population of sharks
c. To create a tourist attraction
d. To build a new fishing harbor