Daily Current Affairs 2 January 2024 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
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NATIONAL NEWS
Rajnath Singh inaugurates country’s first all-girls Sainik School
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently inaugurated the inaugural all-girls Sainik School in Vrindavan, hailing it as a guiding light for young women aspiring to serve in the armed forces and safeguard the nation.It is the inaugural all-girls Sainik School, hosting approximately 870 students.
- This establishment is part of the broader initiative to establish 100 new Sainik Schools through collaboration with NGOs, private entities, and state government schools across all states and Union territories.
12th Divya Kala Mela-2023 held in Surat, Gujarat
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) intends to conduct the ‘Divya Kala Mela’ in Surat, Gujarat. It will be conducted from December 29, 2023 to January 7, 2024. The Mela will be co-hosted by the National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC).
- This event is an important step towards economic empowerment for Persons with Disabilities (PwD), commonly known as Divyangjan. The ‘Divya Kala Mela’ is a broader forum for Divyang businesses and craftsmen to display their skills and products.
North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd sanctions ₹766.47 crores and disburses ₹547.11 crores for 5338 project in NE Region
North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) plays an important role in facilitating setting up of new industrial and service sector projects in the NE Region.
- The Corporation assisted around 5,338 projects, with total sanctions & disbursements of ₹766.47 crore and ₹547.11 crore respectively, in diverse sectors – education & training food processing, handlooms & handicrafts, healthcare, hotels & tourism, microfinance etc. between 1st January, 2023 – 30th November, 2023.
- For development of the Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE) sector, the Corporation has taken initiative to identify and nurture potential first generation local entrepreneurs and provide finance on easy terms to help them set up viable industrial projects.
Mudra loans show record growth to ₹3-lakh crore in Q3 FY24
Loans disbursed under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) have reached an unprecedented Rs 3-lakh crore in December 2023, reflecting a remarkable 16 per cent year-on-year growth.
- The loans sanctioned now stand at Rs 2,99,457 crore a week before the end of the third quarter of the current financial year on December 22, 2023 against Rs 2.58-lakh crore in the same period in previous fiscal. Provisional figures indicate that this figure surpassed Rs 3-lakh crore by December 29.
FinMin allows 30th tranche of electoral bonds
The Centre has approved the issuance of the 30th tranche of electoral bonds that will open for sale on 2nd January 2024. The window for purchase and encashment of electoral bonds will be available till January 11.
- Electoral bonds have been pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring transparency to political funding. The sale of the first batch of electoral bonds happened in March 2018.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Historic cultural exchange and tourism collaboration launched between Vietnam’s Lam Dong and India’s Leh Ladakh
The event marked a momentous occasion as a pioneering cultural exchange and tourism cooperation initiative between Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, and Leh Ladakh, India, was officially inaugurated in Da Lat, Vietnam. This event signifies a crucial milestone in fortifying the bonds between these two distinguished regions.
- Lam Dong Province, renowned for its temperate climate, breathtaking natural landscapes, and rich cultural heritage, holds immense tourism potential. And Samten Hills Dalat, a highlight of Vietnam tourism in 2023, stands as a testament to Lam Dong’s cultural richness, a space established by Drubwang Sonam Jorfel Rinpoche, a venerable monk from Ladakh.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
ITC joins hands with Microsoft, Skymet to insulate tobacco farmers from weather vagaries
In a groundbreaking initiative, ITC Limited has forged a strategic partnership with tech giant Microsoft and weather forecasting company Skymet to provide substantial support to tobacco farmers in mitigating climate-related adversities.
- This alliance aims to leverage cutting-edge technology to ensure sustainable agriculture practices and enhance the resilience of farmers against climatic uncertainties.
APPOINTMENTS
Ravindra Kumar Tyagi takes over as CMD of Power Grid Corporation
State-owned Power Grid Corporation said it has appointed Ravindra Kumar Tyagi as the new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD).
- Tyagi will take over from Sreekant Kandikuppa, who retired after reaching the age of superannuation, the company said in a regulatory filing.
- Tyagi, 57, holds an electrical engineering degree from Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Chandigarh and completed M Tech in Energy Studies at IIT Delhi. He is a “fulbright scholar” from Carnegie Mellon University, USA and has over 33 years of industry experience in the power sector at various key positions in leading CPSUs.
Vivek Srivastava appointed DG, Fire Services, Civil Defence
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has recently approved the appointment of Vivek Srivastava, a seasoned 1989-batch IPS officer of Gujarat cadre, as the Director General of Fire Service, Civil Defence & Home Guards under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- The decision was made official through an order issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) on December 28. This significant appointment is set to take effect from the date of Srivastava’s joining the post and will continue until June 30, 2025, or until further orders, whichever occurs earlier
AWARDS
Hyderabad and Bengaluru airports among top three global airports with best time performance in 2023
The Hyderabad and Bengaluru airports have been ranked second and third, respectively, among the top ten global airports, taking into account their operational performance and punctuality, according to a report released by aviation analytics provider Ciricum.
- Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, with an OTP of 84.42 per cent, stood at the second spot in the global and large airport categories. Kempegowda International Airport is in the third position in both segments with an OTP of 84.08 per cent, according to the report. The top spot was taken by Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in both the lists with an OTP of 84.44 per cent.
- Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose airport is ranked ninth with an OTP of 83.91 per cent in the medium airports category. Osaka International Airport in Japan grabbed the top spot in this category with an OTP of 90.71 per cent.
- Meanwhile, The report also includes Indian airline IndiGo, among the leading airlines in Asia Pacific at the number four spot. IndiGo also took eighth in the low-cost carriers category with an OTP of 82.12 per cent.