Correct Answer : Option (A) - Keki Mistry

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) on 7th May 2024 approved the appointment of Keki Mistry as Chairman of HDFC Life. “We now wish to inform that IRDAI on May 7, 2024 has accorded its approval for the appointment of Keki Mistry as Chairman of the Board of the Company,” HDFC Life said in an exchange filing on May 8.

Earlier, the insurer had appointed Mistry as the Chairman of the Board as Deepak Parekh stepped down from the post. “The board has unanimously approved the appointment of Keki M Mistry as the Chairman of the Board with immediate effect subject to approval of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority,” the company said on April 18.

Correct Answer : Option (B) - Sri Lanka

Thailand and Sri Lanka have extended the visa-free entry facilities for visitors from India. Thailand has announced the extension of visa-free entry till November 11, 2024. The facility, implemented on November 10, 2023, was initially till May 10, 2024.

The Sri Lanka government has announced the extension of the facility till May 31, 2024. The country started visa-free entry as a pilot project in October last year. In both countries, the facility is valid for 30 days for visitors from India.

Tourism Authority of Thailand officials said there had been a sharp increase in the number of tourists from India since the facility was implemented.

The number of visitors to Thailand from India between November 2022 and April 2023 was 7,55,066, the official said. This number went up to 9,68,000 between November 2023 and April 2024.

“There has been a 28.2 per cent increase in the number of visitors from India between November 2023 and April 2024 compared with the previous year. This helped the Thailand government decide to extend the visa-free facility,” said Sirges-a-nong Trirattanasongpol, director, Tourism Authority of Thailand, New Delhi Office. “India is a very important market for us.”

Correct Answer : Option (B) - Maldives

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday (9th May 2024) confirmed the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives and the "deputation of competent persons" to the archipelago nation.

* "So, both Maldives and India have engaged for quite some time to see how best they can continue the operation of aviation platforms. And in that regard, you have seen developments in first and second batches of people who were providing their support there, they had come back," MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press briefing.

* "Now, what I can confirm to you is that the deputation of the competent Indian technical personnel has taken place. As these platforms provide medivac services to the people of Maldives," he added.