Current affairs One - Liner : 5th September 2024

• National:
• The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha has introduced Zero Hour during its monsoon session. This 30-minute period allows members to raise urgent public issues that cannot be addressed through other motions.

• The Indian government launched the Vishvasya-Blockchain Technology Stack to enhance digital trust and governance. Key components include Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS), NBFLite for rapid prototyping, Praamaanik for app verification, and the National Blockchain Portal for research and development. This initiative aims to boost security, trust, and transparency in citizen-centric applications.
• The Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2024 to control illegal colonies. It removes the NOC requirement for property registration in illegal colonies and extends the regularization cut-off date to July 31, 2024. Non-compliance can result in imprisonment from five to ten years and fines ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 5 crore.
• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Vishwashanti Buddha Vihar in Udgir, Latur district, Maharashtra. The Vihar features a 520 kg, 10.5-foot tall statue of Lord Buddha and a main entrance inspired by the Sanchi Stupa. It can accommodate up to 1,200 people.
• India and Singapore upgraded their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on September 5, 2024. This partnership aims to enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, defense, and technology. It reflects the deepening relationship and mutual strategic interests between the two nations.
• The Uttar Pradesh government announced on September 2, 2024, that they will build a Vedic-3D museum in Varanasi. This museum, located at the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, will focus on Indian astrology, astronomy, and Vedic literature.
• International:
• The ceasefire agreement between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K)/Niki group has indeed been extended for another year. This extension aims to continue the peace process and maintain stability in the region.
• Banking:
• The Finance Ministry has relaxed norms for expenditures over Rs 500 crore to boost capital expenditure (capex), aiming to accelerate government spending and infrastructure development. This move is expected to help achieve the record capex target of Rs 11.11 lakh crore for the current fiscal year. The relaxation provides operational flexibility while ensuring strict compliance by all ministries and departments.
• Starting January 1, 2025, EPS pensioners can receive their pensions from any bank branch across India, thanks to the new Centralized Pension Payment System (CPPS). This initiative will benefit over 78 lakh pensioners, enhancing convenience and efficiency in pension disbursement.
• Economy:
• The Manufacturing PMI for India declined to 57.5 in August, with the data being released on September 2, 2024. This indicates a slight slowdown in manufacturing activity compared to previous months. However, a PMI above 50 still signifies expansion in the sector.
• Sports:
• Siddhartha Agarwal became the oldest Indian to swim solo across the English Channel on August 29, 2024. At 49 years old, he completed the 42-kilometer swim in 15 hours and six minutes. This remarkable feat highlights his endurance and determination.
• The iconic Lord’s stadium in London will host the ICC World Test Championship final for the first time in 2025. The match is scheduled to take place from June 11 to June 15, with June 16 reserved as a backup day if needed
• Defence:
• Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace (FWDA) successfully conducted the maiden flight of its indigenous unmanned bomber aircraft, the FWD 200B. This Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV is designed for surveillance and air strikes, marking a significant milestone in India’s defense capabilities.
• Important Days:
• Teachers’ Day in India is celebrated on September 5th to honor Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s birthday. It’s a day for students to express gratitude to their teachers through various activities and celebrations.
• Appointments:
• Y Haragopal was appointed as the Managing Director of NABCONS on September 2, 2024. NABCONS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NABARD, focuses on providing consultancy in agriculture, rural development, and other related sectors. Haragopal brings extensive experience in banking and rural development to his new role.
• Sharath Kamal was named the first Indian ambassador of the ITTF Foundation on September 1, 2024 during the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) event in Chennai. This recognition highlights his significant contributions to table tennis in India.
• Ajay Ratra was appointed to the Indian Cricket Selection Committee on September 3, 2024. He replaced Salil Ankola and joined the committee led by Ajit Agarkar. This change aims to bring fresh perspectives to the selection process.
• Aparna Yadav was appointed as the Vice-Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Women’s Commission on September 3, 2024. Her role involves addressing issues related to women’s rights and welfare in the state.
• Awards & Honours:
• On Teachers’ Day, President Droupadi Murmu honored 82 exceptional educators with the National Teachers’ Award 2024 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The awardees included teachers from schools, higher education, and skill development sectors. President Murmu praised their dedication and significant contributions to education.
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development was awarded the National Award for e-Governance 2024 (Gold) for the Poshan Tracker initiative on September 3, 2024. This recognition highlights the ministry’s efforts in leveraging technology to improve nutrition and health outcomes for women and children across India.
• Books:
• The book “From Oil to Lithium: Navigating the Future of Energy” by Kuldeep Gupta was launched on September 4, 2024. It explores the transition from traditional fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, focusing on the role of lithium in the future energy landscape.
• Obituaries:
• Luis Ayala, the legendary Chilean tennis player, passed away on September 4, 2024. He was celebrated for reaching the French Open finals twice and making significant contributions to tennis.

Questions:

1 Who was appointed as the Managing Director of NABCONS on September 2, 2024?

• A) Ramesh Kumar
• B) Y Haragopal
• C) Suresh Patel
• D) Anil Sharma

Answer: B) Y Haragopal was appointed as the Managing Director of NABCONS on September 2, 2024.

2 Who is the author of the book "From Oil to Lithium: Navigating the Future of Energy"

• A) Amitav Ghosh
• B) Chetan Bhagat
• C) Kuldeep Gupta
• D) Arundhati Roy

Answer: C) Kuldeep Gupta is the author of the book titled "From Oil to Lithium: Navigating the Future of Energy," which was launched on September 4, 2024. The book discusses the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, with a focus on lithium.