Daily Current Affairs 24 January 2024 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
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NATIONAL NEWS
Telangana to introduce Gruha Jyothi Scheme starting February
The Chief Minister of Telangana, Revanth Reddy, has taken significant strides to expedite the implementation of various welfare schemes, including the much-anticipated Gruha Jyothi Scheme. The state government aims to roll out this scheme from the first week of February, bringing relief to numerous households.
- The announcement of the Gruha Jyothi Scheme, which promises 200 units of free electricity, sparked confusion among citizens. In response, a considerable number of people refrained from paying their electricity bills for the past two months, anticipating the scheme’s implementation.
- To address this, the Telangana government clarified that only individuals who have settled their electricity bills for December 2023 and January 2024 are eligible for the scheme. No arrears in electricity bills during this period are a prerequisite for availing the benefits.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise CYCLONE
The Indian Army contingent comprising 25 personnel reached Egypt to take part in the 2nd edition of India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise CYCLONE. The Exercise will be conducted at Anshas, Egypt from 22nd January to 1st February 2024. The first edition of the exercise was conducted last year in India.
- The Indian contingent is being represented by troops from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and Egyptian contingent comprising 25 personnel is being represented by Egyptian Commando Squadron and Egyptian Airborne Platoon.
- Aim of the Exercise is to acquaint both the sides with each other’s operating procedures in the backdrop of Special Operations in desert/ semi desert terrain under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter.
BANKING & FINANCE
HDFC becomes 1st bank to hit 2 crore credit cards milestone
HDFC has become the first bank to achieve a milestone of two crore credit cards in force, the company said in a statement. According to RBI data, with 9.6 crore cards issued by banks overall, the private lender holds a market share of about 21%. The bank said it has a 28.6% share of spends as of March 31, 2023.
- HDFC Bank was the last among the major banks to launch credit cards. While SBI launched its card business in 1997, ICICI Bank followed in 2000, and HDFC Bank launched its card business in 2001.
CCI approves merger of Fincare Small Finance Bank with AU Small Finance Bank
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the merger of Fincare Small Finance Bank Limited (Fincare) and AU Small Finance Bank Limited (AU).
- The Proposed Combination involves the merger of Fincare and AU, with AU being the surviving entity (merged entity).The shareholders of Fincare will be allotted shares in the merged entity, post the Proposed Combination.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
ONGC gets govt nod for green energy, gas unit
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) said it has received approval from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry for the formation of a subsidiary company for green energy and gas business.
- The subsidiary will engage in businesses related to green hydrogen, hydrogen blending, renewable energy including solar, wind and hybrid, bio-fuels and bio-gas business and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Serum Institute of India joins CEPI global network to boost production of affordable outbreak vaccines
The Serum Institute of India (SII) will join a growing CEPI network of vaccine producers in the Global South to support more rapid, agile, and equitable responses to future disease outbreaks. CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations is an innovative global partnership working to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats.
- CEPI has articulated an aspirational goal: vaccines should be ready for initial authorisation and manufacturing at scale within 100 days of recognition of a pandemic pathogen, when appropriate.
- The addition of SII to the CEPI manufacturing network will be a significant boost to vaccine production efforts in Global South regions, and take it a step closer to achieving the 100 Days Mission.
AWARDS
ICC Awards 2023 Winners List: Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav crowned ODI and T20I Cricketer of the Year
The ICC Awards 2023 will encompass a total of 13 categories, recognising outstanding individuals who excelled in specific formats as well as across multiple formats.
- The coveted Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy will be awarded for the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year, acknowledging the overall standout performer across different formats. Additionally, the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy will be presented for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year, recognising excellence in women’s cricket.
ICC 2023 AWARD WINNERS:
- ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Year 2023: Bas De Leede (Netherlands)
- ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year 2023: Queentor Abel (Kenya)
- ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year 2023: Suryakumar Yadav (India)
- ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year 2023: Hayley Matthews (West Indies)
- ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2023: Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)
- ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2023: Phoebe Litchfield (Australia)
- ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2023: Virat Kohli (India)
- ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2023: Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)
- ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year 2023: Usman Khawaja (Australia)
- ICC Umpire of the Year 2023: Richard Illingworth (England)
- ICC Spirit of Cricket Award 2023: Zimbabwe Team (for consoling opposition WC Qualifier)
- Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year 2023: Nat Sciver-Brunt (England)
- Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year: Pat Cummins (Australia)
ICC TEAMS OF THE YEAR 2023:
- Men’s Test Team of the Year: Usman Khawaja, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Travis Head, Ravindra Jadeja, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins (captain), R Ashwin, Mitchell Starc, Stuart Broad.
- Men’s ODI Team of the Year: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Travis Head, Virat Kohli, Daryl Mitchell, Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper), Marco Jansen, Adam Zampa, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami.
- Men’s T20I Team of the Year: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Phil Salt, Nicholas Pooran (wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Mark Chapman, Sikandar Raza, Alpesh Ramjani, Mark Adair, Ravi Bishnoi, Richard Ngarava.
- Women’s ODI Team of the Year: Phoebe Litchfield, Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Ellyse Perry, Amelia Kerr, Beth Mooney (wicketkeeper), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Ash Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Nadine de Klerk, Lea Tahuhu, Nahida Akter.
- Women’s T20I Team of the Year: Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Beth Mooney (wicketkeeper), Laura Wolvaardt, Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Megan Schutt.
U.P. govt to confer Gaurav Samman on Lucknow scientist, Kanpur entrepreneur
The Uttar Pradesh government will honor ISRO scientist Dr. Ritu Karidhal Srivastava and entrepreneur Naveen Tiwari on Uttar Pradesh Day for their achievements.
- The state government will honour two personalities who have brought laurels to the state on the Uttar Pradesh Day.
- The government will confer the ‘Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman’ on eminent ISRO scientist Dr Ritu Karidhal Srivastava, who played a crucial role in the Chandrayaan Mission as the mission director of mission moon, and Naveen Tiwari, a noted entrepreneur from Kanpur, who is regularly featured on covers of magazines like Forbes and Fortune, said a UP government.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYÂ
India’s First Self-Made Aircraft Seat Unveiled At Wings India 2024
Timetooth, a Bengaluru-based engineering company, has unveiled India’s first-ever domestically manufactured aircraft passenger seat at the Wings India 2024 event. This groundbreaking development marks a departure from the industry norm, where 100% of aircraft seats used by India’s registered air travel companies are imported.
- Timetooth, in collaboration with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and with support from Indian airline companies, identified this gap and took the initiative to launch India’s first indigenous aircraft passenger seat.
- Epsilon Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. (India), a leading player in aircraft cabin interior and refurbishment signed an MoU with Timetooth, for the manufacture and supply of airworthy seat covers and cushions for the Timetooth seats.