Daily Current Affairs 23 January 2024 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
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NATIONAL NEWS
Central government launches ‘Anuvadini’ app to provide study materials in regional languages
The Union government has decided to make study materials for all courses under school and higher education available in digital form in Indian languages included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution to provide an opportunity to students to study in their mother tongue. For this, an Artificial Intelligence-based ‘Anuvadini’ app has been created.
- The University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), and the Department of School Education have also been instructed to take steps in this regard concerning schools and universities in the state.
- An order issued by the Ministry of Education has directed all school and higher education regulators like UGC, AICTE, NCERT, NIOS, IGNOU, and heads of institutions of national importance like IITs, CUs, and NITs to make study materials of all courses available in Indian languages within the next three years.
India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR Begins In Himachal Pradesh
The 11th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR has kicked off at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh. Scheduled to take place from 22nd January to 3rd February 2024, this annual event has become a crucial platform for fostering collaboration and enhancing the capabilities of both nations’ special forces.
- The Indian Army contingent comprising 20 personnel is being represented by troops from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and the Kyrgyzstan contingent comprising 20 personnel is represented by Scorpion Brigade.
- Aim of the exercise is to exchange experiences and best practices in Counter Terrorism and Special Forces Operations in Built-up Area and Mountainous Terrain under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
WHO certifies Cabo Verde as malaria-free
Cabo Verde has been certified malaria free by The World Health Organization (WHO), marking a significant achievement in global health.
- Cabo Verde joins 42 additional countries and one territory worldwide that have already been awarded this certification by WHO. It is however, only the third country in the WHO African region to achieve malaria-free status in the last 50 years, joining Mauritius and Algeria, which were certified in 1973 and 2019 respectively.
- Africa still bears the heaviest burden of malaria globally, with the most recent World Malaria Report showing 94% of all malaria cases and 95% of all malaria deaths are attributed to the WHO African Region.
BANKING & FINANCE
AIIB Invests $58.4 Million in India’s Largest Renewable Energy InvIT
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has invested 4.86 billion rupees (US$58.4 million) in India’s largest renewable energy Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT).
- SEIT, supported by Mahindra Susten Private Limited and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, boasts eight operational solar power assets with a combined capacity of 1.54 gigawatts-peak spread across India. This marks AIIB’s second foray into InvITs in India, emphasizing its commitment to innovative infrastructure financing solutions.
SPORTS
Maharashtra Gymnast Aaryan Davande wins boys Artistic All-Round Gold
Defending champions Maharashtra opened their gold medal account at the Khelo India Youth Games 2023 when gymnast Aaryan Davande clinched the Artistic All-Round crown at the SDAT Aquatics complex.
- Davande accumulated a total of 73.200 points to pip Uttar Pradesh’s Pranav Mishra (72.470 pts) to the top spot. Harshit of UP clinched the bronze with a score of 71.700 points in the event where the boys have to perform on six different apparatus to decide the winner.
- The gold medal helped Maharashtra jump to third place in the overall standings with a total of 10 medals, including four silver and six bronze.
AWARDS
Kachchhi Kharek Gem from Kutch Receives GI Tag
Kachchhi Kharek, the indigenous date variety from the arid region of Kutch in Gujarat, has recently been awarded the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag. This accolade recognizes Kachchhi Kharek as the second fruit from Gujarat, after the Gir Kesar mango, to be distinguished with such an honour.
- Receiving a GI tag is a significant milestone for the farmers in Kutch, as it provides their indigenous date variety with a distinct identity. This recognition is expected to open new avenues for marketing and processing, potentially leading to better pricing and encouraging higher export prices, thus benefitting the local farmers​.
Shubman Gill, Ravi Shastri to be honoured at BCCI Awards
Two former India stars, allrounder Ravi Shastri and wicketkeeper-batter Farokh Engineer, will be honoured with BCCI’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Hyderabad.
- Shubman Gill, who enjoyed a breakthrough year in international cricket in 2023, during which he became the fastest to cross the 2000-run mark in ODIs and also scored five tons in the format, will be presented with the Cricketer of the Year award.
- For their outstanding performances, Mr Mohd. Shami (2019-20), Mr R. Ashwin (2020-21), and Mr Shubman Gill (2022-23) received the Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer- Men while Mr Jasprit Bumrah, who had received this award in the 2018–19 season, received his second for the 2021-22 season.
- Meanwhile, several players who excelled in domestic cricket, both at the junior and senior level, from the 2019-20 season to the 2022-23 season, will receive their BCCI awards.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYÂ
Japan Becomes the Latest Country to Land on the Moon
Japan became the fifth country to put a spacecraft on the moon, but solar power issues threatened to cut short the nation’s mission to prove a “precision” landing technology and revitalise a space programme that has suffered setbacks.
- The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) landed the moon’s surface, but its solar panels were not able to generate electricity, possibly because they are angled wrong.
- JAXA prioritised the transfer of SLIM’s data to earth as the probe relied only on its battery, which would last for “a few hours” despite “life-sustaining treatments” such as turning off its heater, Hitoshi Kuninaka, the head of JAXA’s research centre, told a press conference.