Current Affairs One - Liner : 17th October 2024

• National:
• The ITU WTSA Hackathon 2024 Phase-2 concluded on October 8, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The theme was "AI Bharat 5G/6G Sandbox", focusing on integrating AI/ML into 5G/6G networks. Participants developed solutions for challenges like public transportation, flood monitoring, and women's safety.

• Valmiki Jayanti 2024, also known as Pragat Diwas, was celebrated on October 17, 2024. This festival marks the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki, the revered author of the Ramayana. It is celebrated with processions, prayers, and communal meals.
• The Union Cabinet approved the Varanasi-Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) multi-tracking project on October 16, 2024. This project, costing Rs 2,642 crore, includes a new rail-cum-road bridge over the Ganga River and additional railway lines. It aims to ease congestion and boost capacity.
• Kaziranga National Park has emerged as India's second-largest butterfly diversity hub with 446 recorded species, second only to Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh. This milestone is the result of years of research by Dr. Monsoon Jyoti Gogoi. The park's diverse butterfly population highlights its importance as a conservation site, alongside its iconic "Big Five" species.
• Mera Hou Chongba 2024 was celebrated in Imphal, Manipur on October 17, 2024. The festival promotes unity among Manipur's indigenous communities through rituals and cultural performances. Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai was the chief guest.
• The National Electricity Plan was unveiled by the Government of India on October 14, 2024. The plan aims for 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030 and over 600 GW by 2032, including expanding transmission networks and integrating energy storage solutions.
• The Union Cabinet approved the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi Crops for the 2025-26 season on October 16, 2024. The highest increase was for Rapeseed and Mustard at Rs. 300 per quintal, followed by Lentil (Masur) at Rs. 275 per quintal. This aims to ensure remunerative prices for farmers and incentivize crop diversification.
• Union Minister Shri Jayant Chaudhary inaugurated the National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) Extension Centre at the AMTZ campus in Visakhapatnam on October 15, 2024. The centre offers training in Computer Software Applications (CSA) and short-term courses under the Crafts Instructor Training Scheme (CITS) and Advanced Vocational Training Scheme.
• Banking:
• The district version of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan was launched on October 15, 2024, by Union Minister Piyush Goyal. Initially covering 27 aspirational districts, the plan aims to expand to over 750 districts within the next 18 months.
• ICICI Bank and MakeMyTrip launched a co-branded premium credit card for travel enthusiasts on October 3, 2024. The card offers unlimited myCash rewards that never expire, complimentary MMTBLACK Gold membership, and attractive forex mark-up rates.
• Google has partnered with Aditya Birla Finance and Muthoot Finance to offer personal and gold loans through Google Pay. This initiative aims to improve access to credit for individuals and small businesses, especially in rural areas. The partnership was announced at the 10th edition of the Google for India event on October 3, 2024.
• NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL), a subsidiary of NPCI, partnered with the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to integrate the National Pension System (NPS) on the Bharat Connect platform. Announced on October 1, 2024, this integration allows users to contribute to their NPS accounts via digital payment apps and banking channels, making the process more accessible and user-friendly.
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved JM Financial's acquisition of a 43% stake in JM Financial Credit Solutions on October 8, 2024. This move aims to consolidate JM Financial's holdings in wholesale debt syndication and distressed credit businesses under a single platform.
• Economy:
• Based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), wholesale inflation increased from 1.31% in August to 1.8% in September 2024. This rise reflects changes in the prices of goods at the wholesale level, impacting the overall economic landscape.
• India's trade deficit reached a five-month low of $20.78 billion in September 2024, as reported on October 16, 2024. This marked a decrease from August's deficit of $29.65 billion, primarily due to a reduction in gold imports and a modest rise in merchandise exports.
• Sports:
• Akhil Sheoran secured a bronze medal in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions (3P) event at the ISSF World Cup Final 2024 held in New Delhi at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range. This event took place on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
• Appointments:
• Aishath Azeema took charge as the Maldives Ambassador to India on October 15, 2024. This followed her approval by the Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee. She replaces Ibrahim Shaheeb, bringing extensive diplomatic experience to her new role.
• Amit Kumar has been appointed as the next Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of AI Assets Holding Limited (AIAHL). The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) made this decision on October 14, 2024. He is currently the Executive Director and Asset Manager at Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
• Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud nominated Justice Sanjiv Khanna as his successor on October 17, 2024. Justice Khanna will become the 51st Chief Justice of India upon CJI Chandrachud's retirement on November 10, 2024. His tenure will last until May 13, 2025.
• Praveen Vashista, a 1991 batch IPS officer of the Bihar cadre, has been appointed as the next Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Ministry of Home Affairs. His appointment was announced on October 16, 2024. He will take over from Sivagami Sundari Nanda upon her retirement on December 31, 2024.
• Akash Tripathi, a 1998-batch IAS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Digital India Corporation (DIC) and the President and Chief Executive Officer (P&CEO) of the National e-Governance Division (NeGD). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved these appointments on October 16, 2024.
• Ravi Ahuja will be appointed as the new CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), effective January 2, 2025, succeeding Tony Vinciquerra. Vinciquerra will step down as CEO but will continue as a non-executive chairman until December 2025. The announcement was made on October 1, 2024.
• Nayab Singh Saini was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Haryana for the second consecutive time on October 17, 2024. The ceremony took place in Panchkula and was attended by prominent leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
• Awards & Honours:
• Nikita Porwal from Madhya Pradesh was crowned Femina Miss India 2024 on October 16, 2024, in Mumbai. Rekha Pandayy (Union Territories) and Ayushi Dholakia (Gujarat) were the runners-up. Nikita will represent India at Miss World 2024.

Questions:

1 Which organizations partnered to integrate NPS on the Bharat Connect platform?

• A) NPCI and PFRDA
• B) RBI and PFRDA
• C) NPCI and IRDA
• D) PFRDA and SEBI

Answer: A) NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL), a subsidiary of NPCI, partnered with the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to integrate the National Pension System (NPS) on the Bharat Connect platform.

2 Which Indian shooter won the bronze medal in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions event at the ISSF World Cup Final 2024?

• A) Anish Bhanwala
• B) Akhil Sheoran
• C) Divyansh Singh Panwar
• D) Abhinav Bindra

Answer: B) Akhil Sheoran secured the bronze medal in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions event at the ISSF World Cup Final 2024, held in New Delhi.