Current Affairs 19 July 2024
01. What is the name of the recently released book that reproduces the speeches of President Draupadi Murmu?
(a) Rashtrapati Bhavan: A fusion of heritage and the present
(B) Wings to our hopes
(c) Story of Rashtrapati Bhavan
(d) President’s visit
- The book “Wings to Our Hopes” contains speeches delivered by President Draupadi Murmu during her first year as President.
- It contains 75 speeches, divided into 11 sections, such as Address to the Nation, Education, Our Armed Forces Our Pride, etc.
- The speeches cover a variety of topics, and reflect the President’s ideas and his efforts to connect with the public.
- This book reflects the simplicity, thoughtfulness and wisdom of President Murmu and provides hope and inspiration to the people of India.
02. Who has been named the brand ambassador for MotoGP in India? (July 2024)
(a) Virat Kohli
(b) Shikhar Dhawan
(c) Rohit Sharma
(d) MS Dhoni
- Former Indian cricketer and avid biker Dhawan to help fansMotoGP presence in India.
- The 2024 Grand Prix of India was initially scheduled Earlier this event was to be held from 20-22 September, but now it has been postponed till March 2025.
- the race will be held Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida
- Dhawan’s role includes appearing in commercials and promoting MotoGP across India.
- YAMAHA will be the title sponsor of MotoGP in India.
- The first MotoGP event in India was held at the BIC last year. The 2024 race was postponed due to logistical adjustments and financial issues, which have now been resolved.
03. Who is set to be elevated as Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu before August 22, 2024?
(a) Udhayanidhi Stalin
(b) Durai Murugan
(c) K.N. Nehru
(d) MRK Panneerselvam
- Udhayanidhi Stalin is expected to be appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu before August 22, 2024.
- He is currently Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development and represents the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency.
- This potential promotion is part of a broader plan to make Udhayanidhi a key figure in the DMK, especially 2026 Assembly elections.
- His appointment was earlier delayed due to controversies surrounding his comments on Sanatana Dharma and the Kallakurichi liquor tragedy.
- YouDayanidhi Stalin’s rise has been similar to that of his father M.K. Stalin. who were also appointed Became Deputy Chief Minister in 2009.
04. Which two organisations issued the world’s first biodiversity bond in the financial sector?
(a) World Bank and IMF
(b) BBVA and IFC
(c) UNDP and ADB
(d) OECD and ADB
- Spanish multinational financial services company BBVA and International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, issued US$15 million, the first tranche of a US$70 million biodiversity bond to finance afforestation, regenerative agriculture and wildlife habitat restoration projects.
- BBVA and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) issued the world’s first biodiversity bond in the financial sector.
- The bond aims to finance projects that tackle the major causes of biodiversity loss, such as reforestation and climate-smart agriculture.
- BBVA Colombia is the issuing bank, while IFC acts as the structurer and investor for the bonds.
05. Who topped the celebrity brand valuation ranking in 2023?
(a) Shahrukh Khan
(b) Ranveer Singh
(c) Virat Kohli
(d) Aamir Khan
- Virat Kohli topped the celebrity brand valuations with a brand value of $227.9 million in 2023, marking a 29% increase from $176.9 million in 2022.
- Kohli’s 2023 brand value is below his peak$237.7 million in 2020 But still he is the most valuable celebrity of India.
- Ranveer Singh is in second place with brand value $203.1 million, DThe company lagged behind last year’s top position.
- Shahrukh Khan has reached the third position with brand value. $120.7 million in 2023quite high up $55.7 million in 2022.
- Khan’s rise is attributed to the success of his films “Jawaan” and “Pathan”, marking his return to the top five celebrity endorsers for the first time since 2020.
06. Which state government recently repealed the Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act and Rules 1935?
(a) West Bengal
(b) Assam
(c) Uttar Pradesh
(d) Bihar
- The Assam government is planning to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act, 1935 by introducing a bill in the upcoming monsoon session of the Assembly.
- The 1935 Act governs the registration of marriages and divorces Muslim Personal Law And it has been criticised for allowing the registration of marriages where the parties do not meet the legal age requirements.
- Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Confirmed that Cabinet has approved The Assam Repeal Bill, 2024, will repeal the 1935 Act and its rules.
- The government argues that repealing the Act is a measure to tackle child marriage, as it previously allowed marriages to be registered even if the bride and groom were below the legal marriage age.Ch 18 and 21.
- New law to introduce optional registration process for Muslim marriages, possibly under Special Marriage Act.
- The proposed changes aim to address issues related to child marriage and improve the legal framework for marriage registration in the state.
07. What is the projected annual average GDP growth rate for India in FY 2024-25 as per FICCI?
(a) 6.8%
(b) 7.0%
(c) 7.2%
(d) 7.4%
- FICCI’s Economic Outlook Survey estimates India’s GDP growth rate for 2024-25 at 7.0%, with estimates ranging between 6.6% and 7.5%.
- The forecast shows strong economic growth, which will maintain India’s position among the fastest growing global economies.
- The agriculture sector growth is estimated to reach 3.7%, up from 1.4% last year, due to normal monsoon and reduced El Nino impact.
- The industry and services sectors are expected to grow at 6.7% and 7.4% respectively. With strong investment in both public and private sectors.
- CPI based inflation is estimated at 4.5%, ranging between 4.4% and 5.0%.Which is in line with recent RBI estimates.
- policy repo rate It is expected to rise to 6% by the end of the financial year, with the lower limit being 5.5% to 6.25%.
- Exports and imports forecast are US$455 billion and US$725 billion, respectively, with the current account deficit projected at 1% of GDP. The USD/INR exchange rate is forecast at 83.5 by the end of the fiscal year.
08. Who has been appointed as the new CEO of HSBC replacing Noel Quinn? (till July 2024)
(a) Ewen Stevenson
(b) Georges Elhedary
(c) Georges Elhedary
(d) Thomas Sutherland
- Georges Elhadry has been appointed the new CEO of HSBC.
- He will succeed outgoing CEO Noel Quinn on September 2, 2024.
- Alhadary has been at HSBC since 2005 and has held a number of important positions.
- Most recently, he was Co-Head of the Global Banking and Markets Business since 2020.
- Noel Quinn: Outgoing CEO of HSBC who led the bank for five years and will now be replaced by Georges Elhadry.
- even stevenson: Former HSBC CFO, who will be replaced by Georges Elhadry in October 2022.
- HSBC’s focusUnder Quinn’s leadership the bank sold off its assets, weathered a global pandemic, and responded to investor pressure to break up the bank, earning record profits.
- Strategic shiftHSBC is focusing more on its Asian relationships to boost profitability, continuing a strategy it has pursued since the 2008 financial crisis.
09. What is the name of the upskilling programme launched by NFDC and Netflix for voice over artists in India?
(a) Voicebox
(b) Soundbox
(c) The Speechbox
(d) Narrator
- The skill development program for voice-over artists in India is named “The Voicebox”.
- This is a collaborative initiative between the two. National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and Netflix India.
- The programme focuses on providing Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) training in multiple languages including English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Gujarati.
- Structured workshops including guest lectures, guidance sessions and assessments will be conducted across seven major cities in India.
10. The Supreme Court of which of the following countries has recently upheld the decision to provide marital coverage to gay couples?
(a) Japan
(b) Singapore
(c) China
(d) South Korea
- South Korea’s Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex couples are eligible for National Health Insurance dependent coverage, a landmark decision that addresses severe discrimination based on gender.
- Decision allowing gay couples to register their partner as a dependent for health insuranceProviding them with the same benefits as married or common-law couples.
- The matter was thatStarted in 2021 by So Seong-wook Following up on a request to include your partnerKim Yong-min, Her application as a dependent was refused by the National Health Insurance Service, leading to a legal battle.
- An appeals court previously overruled the initial rejection, saying that although So and Kim’s relationship did not meet the legal definition of common-law marriage, they should still receive dependent coverage.
- The Supreme Court’s decision upheld the Court of Appeal’s decision, which recognized the economic cohabitation of same-sex couples as equivalent to that of married or common-law couples.
- Activists and supporters see the ruling as an important step toward broader legal recognition of gay marriage in South Korea and increasing equality for sexual minorities.
- Despite conservative opposition, public opinion is slowly changing, with support for gay marriage rising from 17% in the early 2000s to 40% in recent surveys.
