Correct Answer :   Amit Jhingran

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SBI Life Insurance Co. hit a fresh record high on Wednesday (9th Aug 2023) after the insurance regulator approved the appointment of its chief executive officer.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India approved the appointment of Amit Jhingran as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), according to an exchange filing.

Jhingran joined the State Bank of India as a probationary officer in August 1991. In a career spanning over 30 years with SBI, he has held various assignments across international banking, retail banking, and branch management.

Shares of SBI Life Insurance Co. rose 1.30% to 1,366.95 apiece as of 9:42 a.m., compared to a 0.31% decline in the NSE Nifty 50.

The stock rose 1.83% to hit a record high at Rs 1,374 apiece. It has risen 11.14% year-to-date.

Total traded volume stood at 5.7 times its 30-day average. The relative strength index at 70, implying that the stock maybe overbought.

Out of the 32 analysts tracking the company, 30 maintain a 'buy' rating, and two recommend a 'hold' on the stock, according to Bloomberg data. The average 12-month price target given by analysts implies a potential upside of 15.7%..

Source : BQ Prime

Correct Answer :   Neeraj Chopra

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Neeraj Chopra, will lead the country’s challenge at the World Athletics Championships from August 19 to 27, 2023 in Budapest.

* India will send a 28-member contingent to the prestigious event.

* Chopra, the Tokyo Olympics javelin gold medallisst, wwon silver at the last World Championships in Eugene, US, last year. Now, the Diamond League champion is aiming at a gold.

* Some leading Indian names will not be on the plane to Budapest. Asian record holder shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor has pulled out due to a groin injury he suffered during the Asian Championships in July.

* Some others want to concentrate on the Asian Games (September 23 to October 8) in Hangzhou. These include National record holder high jumper Tejaswin Shankar, 800m runner K M Chanda and 20km race walker and national record holder Priyanka Goswami.

The Indian Team :

Women : Jyothi Yarraji (100m Hurdles), Parul Chaudhary (3000m Steeplechase), Shaili Singh (Long Jump), Annu Rani (Javelin Throw), Bhawna Jat (20km Race Walk).

Men : Krishan Kumar (800m), Ajay Kumar Saroj (1500m), Santhosh Kumar Tamilarnsan (400m Hurdles), Avinash Mukund Sable (3000m Steeplechase), Sarvesh Anil Kushare (High Jump), Jeswin Aldrin (Long Jump), M Sreeshankar (Long Jump), Praveen Chithravel (Triple Jump), Abdulla Aboobacker (Triple Jump), Eldhose Paul (Triple Jump), Neeraj Chopra (Javelin Throw), DP Manu (Javelin Throw), Kishore Kumar Jena (Javelin Throw), Akashdeep Singh (20km Race Walk), Vikash Singh (20km Race Walk), Paramjeet Singh (20km Race Walk), Ram Baboo (35km Race Walk), Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal, Muhammed Anas, Rajesh Ramesh, Anil Rajalingam, Mijo Chacko Kurian (Men's 4x400m Relay)..

Source : Outlookindia

Correct Answer :   Halla Bol

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Sports Authority of India (SAI) under the Umbrella Campaign ‘Cheer4India’ has launched a short movie series ‘Halla Bol’ on the journey of Asian Games bound athletes to motivate them for Hangzhou Asian Games and spread awareness about the upcoming Asian Games.


SAI to launch 12 short films :

In the upcoming weeks, SAI has ambitious plans to release a total of 12 short films. This initiative aims to not only motivate athletes participating in the Asian Games 2023 but also to encourage the youth of the nation to embrace sports and pursue a career in the field. The first episode in the series was also unveiled which gave a glimpse onto the life of star Indian athlete Neeraj Chopra. The first video featuring Neeraj Chopra instantly became a hit on social media and has amassed massive views. The series is expected to rake in huge popularity as it focusses on the successful journey of athletes.

About the SAI :

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is the Apex National Sports Body of India, established in 1984 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India for the development of sports in India. SAI has twoSports Academic Institutions, 11 “SAI Regional Centres” (SRC), 14 “Centre of Excellence” (COE/COX), 56 “Sports Training Centres” (STC) and 20 Special Area Games (SAG). In addition, SAI also manages Netaji Subhash High Altitude Training Centre (Shilaroo, Himachal Pradesh) as well as 5 stadiums in the National Capital of Delhi, such as Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (also serves as national head office of SAI), Indira Gandhi Arena, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, SPM Swimming Pool Complex and Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range.

Correct Answer :   Rs 14.56 lakh crore

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Banks have written off bad loans worth Rs 14.56 lakh crore in the last nine financial years starting 2014-15, Parliament was informed on Monday (7th August 2023).

Out of the total Rs 14,56,226 crore, written off loans of large industries and services stood at Rs 7,40,968 crore.

Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) have recovered an aggregate amount of Rs 2,04,668 crore in written-off loans, including corporate loans, since April, 2014 and up to March, 2023, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

Loans written-off during the financial year, net of recovery in written-off loans during the financial year (net write-off) in public sector banks (PSBs) was Rs 1.18 lakh crore in the financial year (FY) 2017-18, which has declined to 0.91 lakh crore in FY 2021-22 and to Rs 0.84 lakh crore (RBI provisional data) in FY 2022-23, he said in another reply.

Net write-off loans by private sector banks stood at Rs 73,803 crore (RBI provisional data) in FY 2022-23, he said..

Source : Economic Times

Correct Answer :   7th August 2023

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William Friedkin, the groundbreaking US director of "The Exorcist" and "The French Connection," died on Monday (7th August 2023), a family friend told AFP. He was 87.

Friedkin passed away in Los Angeles after suffering unspecified health issues in recent years, said Stephen Galloway, a former Hollywood Reporter executive editor.

"He died this morning," confirmed Galloway, after speaking with Friedkin's wife.

The director had "been working until a few weeks ago," but "had been in declining health," he added.

Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro led the tributes on Monday, calling Friedkin "one of the Gods of Cinema."

"Cinema has lost a true Scholar and I have lost a dear, loyal and true friend," he wrote on social media.

Fellow horror director Eli Roth posted a tribute on Instagram to "one of the most impactful directors of all time" who "set the course of my life in a different direction."

Actor Elijah Wood described Friedkin as "a true cinematic master whose influence will continue to extend forever."

Friedkin was among a crop of influential young "New Hollywood" directors in the 1970s who fundamentally reshaped the US film industry, upsetting a long-established system in which powerful studio producers had reigned supreme.

Alongside fellow auteurs such as Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese, Friedkin exploded onto the Hollywood scene in 1971 with the gritty cop drama "The French Connection."

It won five Oscars, including for best director and best picture.

Friedkin followed that up with "The Exorcist," in 1973. It was a huge commercial and critical hit, as well as being deeply controversial.

The shocking film about a 12-year-old girl possessed by the devil was nominated for 10 Oscars, winning two, and grossed an eventual $440 million.

The movie has spawned multiple sequels, including an upcoming trilogy from horror producer Jason Blum in which Ellen Burstyn returns as the original film's heroine.

In a statement Monday, Blum said he was "personally indebted" to Friedkin..

Source : NDTV

Correct Answer :   Rajasthan

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The Rajasthan government has greenlit the formation of 19 new districts and 3 new divisions. The proposal put forward by a high-level committee was approved by the Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan cabinet on Friday (4th August 2023).

The western state will now have 50 districts - up from 33 - and 10 divisions.


Following an official communique the state will now :

Jaipur district has been divided into Jaipur and Jaipur Rural, and Jodhpur district into Jodhpur and Jodhpur Rural.

The other new districts are Apoongarh, Balotra, Beawar, Deeg, Didwana-Kuchaman, Dudu, Gangapur City, Kekri, Kotputli-Behror, Khairthal-Tijara, Neem ka Thana, Phalodi, Slumber, Sanchore and Shahpura.

The new divisions are Banswara, Pali and Sikar.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot indicated that ministers in charge of the new districts will do a formal launch on August 7, 2023.

A high-level committee had been formed in March last year to give recommendations about the formation of new districts. Based on its recommendations the CM had told the state Assembly about the formation of 19 new districts and 3 divisions earlier this year (2023).

Gehlot said that the formation of new districts will improve governance and bring relief to people who have to cover long distances to go to district headquarters for various works. The tenure of the high-level committee has been extended for a period of six months so that people can send their suggestions to it..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   Rs 9.8 Lakh Crore

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Domestic companies raised Rs 9.8 lakh crore from capital markets in the fiscal 2022-23, which was 4.6 per cent higher than the amount raised in the fiscal 2022, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) said in its annual report.

The capital markets regulator said that corporates or infrastructure entities raised funds via instruments such as equity (public, rights, preferential, QIP), debt (public and private placement), Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs).

Of the total resources mobilized, equity and debt segments accounted for Rs 9.2 lakh crore of capital formation, SEBI said in its annual report for 2022-23, released on Monday (7th August 2023).

The previous fiscal saw some moderation in in fund raising through equity route due to volatility in the secondary markets, uncertain macroeconomic environment and relatively subdued performance of many listed equities

In the debt segment, the primary source of resource mobilization was private placement of debt, which rose 28 per cent over funds raised in FY2022.

SEBI said in FY2023, the commitment raised by AIFs logged a growth of 30 per cent to Rs 8.34 lakh crore from Rs 6.41 lakh crore at the end of 2021-22. The amount of funds raised and investment made increased by 16.5 per cent and 19 per cent respectively in the last fiscal.

During the year, 203 new AIFs were registered, taking the number of registered AIFs to 1,088 at the end of 2022-23.

The net asset value being managed by REITs stood at Rs 70,614 crore whereas for InvITs it was Rs 1,76,957 crore as on March 31, 2023. Total funds raised by InvITs during FY2023 stood at Rs 6,360 crore..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Vaibhav Taneja

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Indian-origin Vaibhav Taneja has been named Tesla’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as the previous finance chief Zachary Kirkhorn announced his decision to step down, the automaker said in a company filing on Monday (7th August 2023).



Taneja, 45, was appointed Tesla CFO in addition to his current role as Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) of the US-based electric car major on Friday (4th Aug 2023) after Kirkhorn, Tesla’s Master of Coin and finance chief for the last four years, stepped down from the post.

Kirkhorn’s 13-year tenure with the Elon Musk-led American EV giant was described as one of “tremendous expansion and growth” read the company filing.

“Tesla thanks Mr. Kirkhorn for his significant contributions. Mr. Kirkhorn will continue to serve Tesla through the end of the year to support a seamless transition,” it said.

“This morning Tesla announced that I’ve stepped down from my role as Chief Financial Officer, succeeded by our Chief Accounting Officer, Vaibhav Taneja,” Kirkhorn said in a LinkedIn post.

“Being a part of this company is a special experience, and I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done together since I joined over 13 years ago. As I shift my responsibilities to support this transition, I want to thank the talented, passionate, and hard-working employees at Tesla, who have accomplished things many thought (were) not possible. I also want to thank Elon for his leadership and optimism, which has inspired so many people,” he said.

Taneja has served as Tesla’s CAO since March 2019 and as the Corporate Controller since May 2018. He served as the Assistant Corporate Controller between February 2017 and May 2018, and from March 2016, served in various finance and accounting roles at SolarCity Corporation, a US-based solar panel developer acquired by Tesla in 2016.

Before that, Taneja was employed at PricewaterhouseCoopers in both India and the US between July 1999 and March 2016, the company filing said..

Source : First Post

Correct Answer :   7th August

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In India, National Handloom Day is observed annually on August 7th to honour the handloom weavers and their significant role in the country's economy and culture.


National Handloom Day Theme 2023 :

The theme designated for National Handloom Day in 2023 is "Handlooms for Sustainable Fashion". This theme emphasises the significance of handloom weaving as an environmentally friendly and sustainable substitute for machine-made fabrics.

National Handloom Day History :

* The origins of National Handloom Day can be traced back to the Swadeshi Movement of 1905. This movement was aimed at boycotting British goods in favour of Indian-made products, and handloom textiles were one of the key products that were promoted during this time.

* The Government of India officially designated August 7 as National Handloom Day in 2015. The day is now celebrated all over India with a variety of events and activities.


National Handloom Day Significance :

National Handloom Day holds great significance for various reasons. Firstly, it is a day to commemorate the centuries-old tradition of handloom weaving in India. Secondly, it is an occasion to acknowledge the significant contribution of handloom weavers to the Indian economy, as they provide employment to millions of people. Lastly, National Handloom Day aims to promote sustainable fashion, as handloom textiles are produced using natural fibers and traditional techniques that have a minimal environmental impact.

Correct Answer :   August 7

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August 7 is celebrated as National Javelin Day in India. The Athletics Federation of India, the apex body for the athletics in India, took the decision to celebrate August 7 as the National Javelin Day to commemorate Neeraj Chopra's historic gold medal during the Tokyo Olympics.

It was on August 7 2021, that Chopra hurled javelin at a distance of 87.58m during the men's Javelin Throw final of the Tokyo Games to win the gold medal.

Chopra scripted history as it was India's first-ever gold medal in Track and Field events in Olympics. With the gold medal at Tokyo, Chopra also became the second individual gold medalist from India after Abhinav Bindra's gold-medal winning performance at the 2008 Beijing Games.

“Apart from celebrating Neeraj’s feat, AFI will also promote the sport at the grassroots level through this initiative,” AFI President Adille J. Sumariwalla had said while declaring August 7 as the National Javelin Day.

Since winning the gold medal 25-year-old Chopra has  produced two other historic firsts last year. In July 2022 Chopra became the first Indian athlete to clinch a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships with a throw of 88.13m.

Chopra then capped off 2022 by being the first India to win the prestigious Diamond League by winning the Diamond League Final in Zurich with a throw of 89.09.

Chopra is currently preparing for this year's World Athletics Championships and the Asian Games..

Source: CNBC