Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2024

Notes:
Australian opener David Warner has retired from one-day international (ODI) and Test cricket to spend more time with his family. He plans to play his 112th and final Test against Pakistan but will not participate in ODIs. However, he has left the door open for a potential return for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Warner has had a successful ODI career, scoring 22 centuries and 6,932 runs at an average of 45.30 in 161 matches. He was a key part of the Australian team that won the ICC Cricket World Cup in India last year. While he is retiring from ODIs, he remains available for T20 cricket and hopes to play in the T20 World Cup in June. Warner has played 111 Tests for Australia, accumulating 8,695 runs at an average of 44.58, with 26 centuries and 36 half-centuries.

Notes:
On January 1, 2024, a nanosatellite called WESAT (Women Engineered SATellite) was launched by students of Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Technology for Women (LBSITW) in Thiruvananthapuram. The satellite was launched as secondary payload aboard an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) mission, specifically the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C58/XPoSat mission. The mission’s announcement of success was made from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. WESAT is a 1.4-kg satellite designed and developed entirely by women, making it the first Indian satellite with this distinction. The purpose of WESAT is to study ultraviolet radiation and its impact. The satellite project was led by Lizy Abraham, an Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator, with technical assistance from ISRO.

Notes:
The NPCI has set the daily payment limit for UPI transactions to a maximum of Rs. 1 lakh starting from January 1, 2024. However, RBI raised the transaction limit for UPI payments to hospitals and educational institutions to Rs 5 lakh on December 8, 2023, to broaden the use of UPI payments.

Notes:
India is developing an advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar system called ‘Virupaaksha’ to upgrade its fleet of Su-30MKI fighter jets. Being manufactured indigenously it would be the most capable radar equipping any Sukhoi variant globally. This airborne radar uses electronic instead of mechanical scanning allowing versatile detection and tracking exceeding capabilities of current radars on IAF’s MKI jets.

Notes:
Gujarat set a Guinness World Record on the first day of 2024 for the largest number of people, exceeding 50,000, performing Surya Namaskar simultaneously at 108 different venues. This feat was recognized as a significant cultural achievement and hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who emphasized the special significance of the number 108 in Indian culture. The event, which culminated in a state-wide competition, saw a major gathering at the iconic Modhera Sun Temple in Mehsana district, overseen by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

Notes:
Jammu & Kashmir has become the first Union Territory to roll out the PM Vishwakarma Yojana skill training program for craftsmen and artisans. 30 trainees have enrolled in the first batch focused on tailoring and dress design at the ITI center in Shopian. Implementation aims to foster local businesses and self-employment.

Notes:
The ‘National Single Window System (NSWS)’ launched by India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is primarily designed to streamline the import of medical devices. Developed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) through Invest India, this unified portal aims to create a centralized platform for investors, thus enhancing the ease of doing business. The NSWS serves as a one-stop-shop for all approvals related to the import of medical devices, facilitating applications for certificates of registration, manufacturing licenses, and import licenses. This initiative represents a significant step towards simplifying and consolidating the regulatory processes in the medical device sector in India.

Notes:
State-owned ONGC won seven out of the ten areas awarded for exploration and production in the latest 8th round of Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) bidding. A Reliance-BP joint venture managed to win one block out of the total ten.

Notes:
In 2024, the Government of India is actively running Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes across 14 different sectors. These schemes, part of India’s larger strategy for self-reliance and industrial growth, aim to boost manufacturing and exports in key areas. The sectors covered under these PLI schemes are diverse, including Mobile Manufacturing and Specified Electronic Components, Critical Key Starting Materials, Drug Intermediaries and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Speciality Steel, Automobiles, and Auto Components, among others. The focus of these schemes is not just to enhance domestic production capabilities but also to position India as a key player in the global supply chain.

Notes:
Petr Fiala, serving as the Guest of Honour at the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit, is the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. His presence at this significant event in Gandhinagar underscores the strengthening ties and cooperation between the Czech Republic and India. The Summit, known for attracting global leaders and investors, is an important platform for international economic and trade discussions. Fiala’s participation, along with other global leaders, highlights the Czech Republic’s active engagement in global economic dialogues and its partnership with India in various sectors.