Current Affairs One - Liner : 21st May 2024

BEML Ltd has secured an order worth Rs 250 crore from Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL). The order is for the supply of 28 units of its BH100 rear dump trucks, which are designed to transport payloads of up to 100 tonnes. The trucks will be maintained under a Guaranteed Spare Parts contract for five years.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has warned traders against using calcium carbide, a harmful substance, for artificially ripening fruits. This practice is especially prevalent during the mango season. Calcium carbide releases acetylene gas, which can cause serious health issues.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) conducted a subcritical experiment at the Nevada National Security Site on May 14, 2024. This was the first in the Nimble series, executed with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

The Government of India is set to receive about 30% more dividends from public sector banks (PSBs) in FY24 compared to FY23 due to their strong financial performance. The top contributors are State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda (BoB), Canara Bank, and Indian Bank.
The Bank of Maharashtra led among PSU banks in business growth in FY24, with a 15.94% rise in total business and a 15.66% increase in deposits. It also reported the lowest gross NPAs (1.88%) and net NPAs (0.2%). The State Bank of India (SBI) saw a 21.59% YoY rise in net profit for FY24, reaching ₹61,077 crores. Its net interest income (NII) for FY24 increased by 10.38% YoY.

According to ICRA, India’s GDP growth for the fourth quarter of FY24 is expected to dip to a low of 6.7%, marking a four-quarter low. The full fiscal year 2024 GDP growth is projected at 7.8%. The gap between GDP and GVA growth is expected to moderate to about 100 basis points in Q4.

Iga Swiatek, the talented tennis player, clinched her 3rd Italian Open title on May 18, 2024. The match took place at the prestigious Foro Italico in Rome. She triumphed over Aryna Sabalenka with an impressive score of 6-2, 6-3.
Max Verstappen won the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2024, beating Lando Norris. The race took place at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy. This victory was crucial for Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship, where he leads with 161 points.
Deepthi Jeevanji, an athlete from Telangana, India, set a world record in the women’s 400m T20 race at the World Para Athletics Championships on May 20, 2024 the Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium in Kobe, Japan. She won the gold medal with a record time of 55.07 seconds, becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in track events at these Championships.

On May 19, 2024, the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) handed over 27,000 AK-203 assault rifles to the Indian Army. This is part of a larger contract to manufacture over 6.1 lakh AK-203 rifles in India. The rifles are being produced at Korwa in Uttar Pradesh.

World Metrology Day 2024, celebrated on May 20, had the theme of Sustainability. It marked the official recognition by UNESCO of May 20 as a UNESCO International Day. The focus was on the role of metrology in data-driven decision-making and policy development in sustainability.

Mohammad Mokhber, the former first vice-president of Iran, assumed the role of Acting President on 19 May 2024 following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi. His position was confirmed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on 20 May 2024.
John Slaven, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium, was appointed Vice-Chairman of the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) on May 20, 2024. He will lead global initiatives promoting aluminium’s role in the energy transition to zero carbon.
Sanjiv Puri, Chairman of ITC Limited, took charge as the President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for 2024-25 on May 19, 2024. He is joined by Rajiv Memani of EY as President-Designate and R Mukundan of Tata Chemicals Limited as Vice President.

Questions:

Q1. Who set a world record in the women’s 400m T20 race at the World Para Athletics Championships on May 20, 2024?

Answer: C) Deepthi Jeevanji

Q2. Who assumed the role of Acting President of Iran on 19 May 2024?

Answer: D) Mohammad Mokhber