ALL EXAM QUIZ 30.01.2024

Explanation:

• Odisha will set up the first-of-its-kind melanistic tiger safari in the world.
• The safari will be set up near the Mayurbhanj district in the town of Baripada. The melanistic tiger safari will be near Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj.
• For this purpose, an area of 200 hectares adjacent to National Highway-18 has been identified.
• There will be approximately 100 hectares of the demonstration area and the remaining area will be used to build veterinary care facilities, including a rescue centre, staff infrastructure, and visitor facilities.
• Simlipal Tiger Reserve is the only tiger habitat in the world with melanistic tigers, which have broad black stripes on their bodies.
• According to the last All India Tiger Estimation Report published by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in 2018, melanistic tigers have been found in the wild only in the Similipal Tiger Reserve.
• In October 2024, the project is likely to be opened to visitors.
• The forest department will shift three melanistic or black tigers and two other big cats from Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar to the safari near Similipal.
• In 2007, the reserve first reported the presence of melanistic tigers.

Explanation:

• The 75th Republic Day of India was celebrated from the Kartavya path of New Delhi on 26 January 2024.
• This day is celebrated to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India on 26 January 1950.
• French President Emmanuel Macron was the chief guest for the 75th Republic Day celebrations in the national capital.
• A 95-member marching squad and a 33-member band squad from France also took part in the parade.
• The 75th Republic Day Parade was women-centric with the themes of ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Bharat - Loktantra ki Matruka’.
• For the first time, the parade started with 100 women artists playing Indian musical instruments.
• During the parade, a total of 25 tableaux from 16 States/Union Territories and nine Ministries/Departments rolled down on the Kartavya path.
• On the occasion of the 75th year of the Republic this year, the Ministry of Defence also released a Commemorative Coin and Commemorative Stamp.

Explanation:

• Justice Prasanna B Varale was appointed as Supreme Court Judge.
• Karnataka High Court's Chief Justice has been appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court.
• The Union government approved the Supreme Court Collegium's recommendation of elevating Prasanna B Varale as a judge of the apex court.
• At present, the Supreme Court's strength reached at 34 Judges.
• Justice Varale was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Bombay on July 18, 2008.
• He was appointed as Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka on October 15, 2022.

Appointment of Supreme Court Judge

• President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, appoints a judge of the Supreme Court.
• Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President under Article 124.
• Supreme Court Judges retire upon attaining the age of 65 years.
• A judge of the Supreme Court can be removed only by an order of the president, based on a motion passed by both houses of parliament.

Explanation:

• Defence ministry signed a contract with Mazagon Dock for 14 Fast Patrol Vessels.
• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) to acquire 14 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
• The value of the 14 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) will be Rs 1,070 crore.
• These FPVs will be indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by MDL under the ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’ acquisition category.
• These FPVs will be delivered in 63 months. These FPVs will be equipped with multipurpose drones, wirelessly controlled remote water rescue craft, lifebuoy and Al (artificial intelligence) capability, etc.
• These FPVs will boost the capability of the Indian Coast Guard and will enhance maritime security.
• These FPVs will play a key role in enhancing fisheries protection and monitoring, control and surveillance.

Explanation:

• RBI has approved LIC’s application to take over a 9.99% aggregate holding of paid-up share capital in HDFC Bank.
• In an exchange filing, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) informed about this under Regulation 30 of the SEBI Listing Regulations.
• LIC had earlier applied to acquire voting rights in the HDFC Bank.
• The approval granted by RBI is subject to compliance with the relevant provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• It is also subject to RBI’s Master Direction and Guidelines on Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights in Banking Companies dated January 16, 2023.
• The approval is also subject to provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 and the provisions of the regulations issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
• As per RBI regulations, LIC will have to acquire the 9.99% stake within a year. It will have to ensure that its holding never crosses the 9.99% mark.

Explanation:

• International Customs Day is observed every year on 26 January to highlight the contribution of customs officials and agencies.
• The Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) officially declared this date to be International Customs Day in 1953.
• The opening of the session took place in Brussels, Belgium. At that session, participants were from seventeen European nations.
• The Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) was renamed as the World Customs Organisation in 1994. It has 182 member states worldwide at the present.
• World Customs Organisation is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. Ian Saunders is its secretary general.
• This year, the theme of International Customs Day is “Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose”.

Explanation:

• India and France agreed to enhance cooperation in the Southwest Indian Ocean.
• India and France have agreed to intensify joint surveillance missions from the French island territory of La Reunion.
• Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron agreed to further deepen the long-standing partnership based on their common vision for the Indo-Pacific region.
• According to the joint statement, the defence and security partnership plays a key role in the India-France partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.
• India and France also committed to revitalizing the trilateral cooperation with Australia.
• They also agreed to explore opportunities for coordinating economic projects and programmes in the Pacific.
• Both leaders also called for the early launching of the Indo-Pacific Triangular Development Cooperation Fund to promote green technology in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Both sides also agreed on a letter of intent to boost defence space cooperation.
• New Space India Ltd (NSIL) also signed an MoU with France’s Arianespace on satellite launch capabilities.

Explanation:

• President Droupadi Murmu approved 277 Gallantry awards on the occasion of Republic Day.
• On the occasion of the 75th Republic Day, President Droupadi Murmu approved 277 Gallantry awards.
• 119 awards have been approved for personnel deployed in left-wing extremism-affected areas. 133 are from the Jammu & Kashmir region, and 25 personnel are from other regions.
• A total of 1132 personnel have been awarded Gallantry/Service Medals on the occasion of Republic Day 2024.
• In recent years, the government has merged Gallantry/Service medals, Sixteen Gallantry/Service medals (for Police, Fire Service, Home Guard & Civil Defence, and Correctional Service into the four medals: President’s Medal for Gallantry (PMG), Medal for Gallantry (GM), President's Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM), and Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM).
• Three Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) of the Delhi Police Special Cell awarded the President's Medal.
• Out of 753 Medals for Meritorious Service (MSM), 667 have been awarded to Police Service, 32 to Fire Service, 27 to Civil Defence & Home Guard Service, and 27 to Correctional Service.

Explanation:

• Three Indian Scientists received the UK’s Prestigious Blavatnik Awards.
• Professors Rahul R. Nair, Mehul Malik, and Dr Tanmay Bharat have been selected for the prestigious Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in the United Kingdom.
• The awards will be presented at a ceremony in London on February 27.
• Dr Tanmay Bharat has made significant contributions in the fields of chemical, physical, and life sciences.
• Professor Rahul R. Nair contributed to the field of chemical sciences which led to advancements in materials science and nanotechnology.
• His research on graphene and other 2D materials has the potential to revolutionize various industries.
• Professor Mehul Malik has conducted research in the field of physical sciences.

Blavatnik Awards

• It is given to support early-career scientists.
• This award help to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and real-world applications.
• It was established in 2007 through a partnership between the Blavatnik Family Foundation, headed by Leonard Blavatnik.

Explanation:

• An ‘investment forum for advancing climate resilient agrifood systems in India’ has been launched by NITI Aayog, Agriculture Ministry, and FAO.
• ‘Investment Forum for Advancing Climate Resilient Agrifood Systems in India’ has been jointly launched by NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in New Delhi.
• It has been launched during a two-day Multi-stakeholder Meeting held on January 18-19, 2024.
• National priorities, investment opportunities, partnerships, technical support and cooperation have been discussed with stakeholders.
• The main aim of this initiative is to develop an investment and partnership for advanced climate-resilient agri-food systems among the government, private sectors, farmers' organisations, and financial institutions in India.
• This forum will help in identifying national priorities and policy platforms for financing climate-resilient agrifood systems.