Current Affairs One - Liner : 15th May 2024

• National:
• The Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahṛdayāloka-Locana have been included in the UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register. These works are significant contributions to India’s rich literary heritage. The Ramcharitmanas is an epic poem by Goswami Tulsidas, narrating the life of Lord Rama. The Panchatantra and Sahṛdayāloka-Locana are influential works that have shaped Indian literature and culture.

• Hyderabad-based Greenko, through its subsidiary AM Green, has signed a term sheet with Yara Clean Ammonia of Norway. The agreement covers the long-term supply of up to 50% of renewable ammonia from AM Green’s facility in Kakinada, India. The plant is expected to produce and export renewable ammonia by 2027.
• The IndiaSkills Competition 2024 started on May 15 in New Delhi. It’s the largest skill competition in India, with over 900 students from more than 30 states participating. The competition tests skills across 61 categories. Winners will prepare for the WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France in September 2024.
• Banking:
• Bajaj Finserv has launched India’s first Multi Asset Allocation Fund with a Dividend Yield Strategy. The NFO period is from May 13 to May 27, 2024, with a minimum application amount of Rs. 500. The fund focuses on stocks that pay higher dividends than the Nifty 50 index and is managed by Mr. Nimesh Chandan and Mr. Sorbh Gupta.
• The Hinduja Group’s firm, IndusInd International Holdings Ltd (IIHL), has received IRDAI approval to acquire Reliance Capital. The acquisition, valued at Rs 9,650 crore, is subject to certain clearances and compliances. The deal has received all other necessary approvals, with the implementation now awaiting RBI’s approval for the proposed corporate restructuring.
• Economy:
• President Biden has increased tariffs on $18 billion of imports from China, targeting various products including electric vehicles, batteries, solar cells, steel, aluminum, and medical equipment. This move is in response to China’s unfair trade practices and aims to protect American businesses and workers. However, it may escalate tensions between the US and China.
• Reports:
• The 3rd World Wildlife Crime Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlights that despite efforts, illegal wildlife trafficking remains a global issue. The report indicates that the illegal trade affects around 4,000 plant and animal species in 162 countries. While there’s progress for some species like elephants and rhinoceros, the overall trafficking is not substantially reduced. The report calls for more effective interventions and stronger international cooperation to combat this issue. The report was launched on 13 May 2024.
• Sports:
• Manika Batra, an Indian table tennis player, has made history by becoming the first Indian woman to enter the top 25 in the world rankings. She achieved her career-best rank of 24 in the women’s singles rankings.
• P Shyam Nikhil, a chess player from Tamil Nadu, India, became the 85th Grandmaster of India on 12th May 2024 at the Dubai Police Masters 2024. His journey to this prestigious title was marked by determination and patience, overcoming several technicalities and a 12-year-long wait.
• Defence:
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted a ‘Bambi Bucket’ operation to combat forest fires in Uttarakhand on April 27, 2024. The operation involved the use of Mi17 V5 helicopters, which transported and released over 4,500 liters of water over the affected areas. Despite these efforts, the State Forest department reported 40 fresh cases of fire on May 8, 2024.
• Important Days:
• The International Day of Plant Health will be observed on May 12, 2024. The theme for 2024 is “Plant health, safe trade and digital technology”. The day emphasizes the importance of plant health in ending hunger, reducing poverty, protecting biodiversity and the environment, and boosting economic development.
• International Sun Day is celebrated annually on May 3 to promote the importance of the Sun and solar energy. In 2024, India marked the day with various events including a ‘Run for Sun’ Marathon, an All-India Intra-School Solar Art Competition, and Solar Stops in six cities to educate citizens about solar energy.
• Appointments:
• IIFL Securities Limited has appointed Mr. Nemkumar H as its new Managing Director, effective from May 15, 2024. He is succeeding Mr. R. Venkataraman, who will continue to serve as the Chairman & Non-Executive Director of the company
• Awards & Honours:
• Chandrakant Satija, the Founder/CEO of Chandra Admission Consultants, was honored with the Global Excellence Award 2024 on May 12th, 2024. The award recognized him as the Most Trusted Admissions Consultant in the Vidarbha Region. The ceremony was held at the Sahara Star Hotel in Mumbai.
• Obituaries:
• Padma Shri awardee Birubala Rabha, a crusader against witch hunting in Assam, passed away on 13th May, 2024. She was undergoing treatment for cancer at the State Cancer Institute in Guwahati.
• Alice Munro, the Nobel Prize-winning Canadian author known as ‘The Master Of Short Stories’, has passed away at the age of 92. She was born in 1931 and began writing when her daughters were asleep. Her first book of short stories, Dance of the Happy Shades, was published in 1968.

Questions:

Q.1 Who became the 85th Grandmaster of India?
a. Viswanathan Anand
b. P Shyam Nikhil
c. Koneru Humpy
d. Harika Dronavalli
Q.2 Which of the following works has been included in the UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register?
a. Mahabharata
b. Ramayana
c. Ramcharitmanas
d. Vedas