Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 17, 2024

Answer: B

It is observed annually on 19 August.

• Aim : to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service.
• This day also honours the work of women in crises throughout the world.
• It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008, following the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, which killed 22 people, including the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

Answer: D

It is observed annually on 19 August.

• Aim : to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service.
• This day also honours the work of women in crises throughout the world.
• It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008, following the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, which killed 22 people, including the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

Answer: B

World Sanskrit Day, also known as Vishva-Samskrita-Dinam.

• It is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu calendar month of Shravan or Sawan month
• This year World Sanskrit Day is being observed on 19 August.
• The celebration of Sanskrit Day and Sanskrit Diwas was declared by the government of India in 1969.
• The day was supposed to be a tribute to the work of the renowned Sanskrit scholar Paṇini and his legacy.

Answer: C

Current Context : Athlete Arshad Nadeem was honoured with Hilal-e-Imtiaz, the second highest award of the country, for his remarkable gold win in the Paris Olympics.

• Nadeem broke Olympic record with 92.97m throw.

ABOUT AWARD

• The Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) is the second-highest civilian award in Pakistan, given by the Government of Pakistan to both civilians and military personnel.
• It is awarded to individuals in recognition of their outstanding achievements in fields such as literature, arts, sports, medicine, science, and military service, as well as for acts of bravery or significant contributions to national interest.
• Established in 1957, the Hilal-e-Imtiaz can be conferred on both Pakistani citizens and foreign nationals.
• It is usually presented by the President of Pakistan in an official ceremony.

Answer: A

Current Context :The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0, with the aim of constructing 1 crore houses.

• The scheme is aimed to give financial support to the middle class as well as impoverished urban families for building, buying, or renting reasonably priced urban homes.
• Eligibility : belong to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Low Income Group (LIG), and Middle Income Group (MIG) segments and do not currently own a pucca house anywhere throughout the country.

INCOME CRITERIA ARE AS FOLLOWS:

• EWS households with an annual income up to ₹3 lakh.
• LIG households with an annual income between ₹3-6 lakh.
• MIG households with an annual income between ₹6-9 lakh.

Answer: B

Current Context : Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launches ‘Nijut Moina Scheme’ to boost girls’ education and combat child marriage.

• It is a monthly financial assistance scheme to increase girls’ enrolment in higher education and fight against child marriage.
• The initiative, worth 1500 crore, aims to encourage higher education and reduce child marriage, targeting 10 lakh girls over four years and linking benefits to attendance and marital status.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:

• ₹1,000/month for Class XI girls (up to ₹10,000/year).
• ₹1,250/month for first-year undergraduate students (up to ₹12,500/year).
• ₹2,500/month for postgraduate students (up to ₹25,000/year).
• Additional bonuses are provided for admissions, such as ₹10,000 for Class 11 enrollment.

Answer: C

Current Context : Recently, Aaranyak, an NGO based in Guwahati, launched a mobile application, HaatiApp to reduce human-elephant conflict.

• Objective : to reduce the human-elephant conflict in Assam and surrounding states.
• This application will create a bridge between government departments and the common people.
• Developed by the biodiversity organization Aaranyak with support from the SBI Foundation.
• It serves as an early warning system that notifies users of wild elephant movements near human settlements.

Answer: B

Current Context : Recently, SEBI approved Praveena Rai as new MD & CEO of MCX, the country’s largest commodity exchange.

• Rai was the COO of NPCI (National Payment Corporation of India) and was in charge of formulating and deploying the marketing, business development, product management, and operations strategy.

ABOUT SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE BOARD OF INDIA (SEBI)

• It is a regulatory authority for the securities and commodity market in India.
• Established in 1992 under the SEBI Act.
• Aim of protecting investors’ interests, regulating the securities market, and promoting its development.
• Function: Regulates stock exchanges and other securities markets, Protects the interests of investors by enforcing regulations and ensuring compliance.