Daily & Latest Current Affairs in 2025

Correct Answer :   New Delhi

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To commemorate 24 years of victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War of 1999 and to highlight the indomitable spirit of women, Indian Army launched a Tri-Services ‘Nari Sashaktikaran Women Motorcycle Rally’ from National War Memorial, Delhi to Kargil War Memorial, Dras (Ladakh).

 The all-women Motorcycle Rally was Flagged Off by the Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Pande from the National War Memorial, New Delhi on 18 Jul 23. Mrs Archana Pande, Chairperson of the Army Wives Welfare Association was also present at the occasion.

For the Flag Off at the National War Memorial, a host of military and civilian dignitaries including Head Business – Premium of TVS Motor Company and other sponsors were present. The Rally members were motivated and cheered by a large crowd which had gathered at the venue.

The 25-member strong tri-services team includes two Veer Naris, one of whom is a serving officer, 10 serving Indian Army Women officers, one woman officer each from Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, three women soldiers of Indian Army and eight Armed Forces spouses. The team will celebrate the decisive victory of the Armed Forces in the Kargil War and pay tribute to the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in service of the Nation.

The Rally will cover a total distance of approximately 1000 kilometres, wherein the team will traverse through the plains of Haryana, Punjab and high mountain passes of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh to reach Kargil War Memorial in Dras on 25 July 23.

During the Rally, the team will interact with NCC Cadets, students from various schools/colleges, Veterans and Veer Naris. For this Rally, the Indian Army has partnered with TVS Motor Company and the participants will be riding on TVS Ronin motorcycles.

The Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pande complimented the entire team for taking up such a challenging journey which highlights qualities of determination, Nari Shakti and the vital role played by women in Nation Building..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Simplify

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Simplifai, an AI automation solutions provider, launches Simplifai InsuranceGPT – a world-first custom-built GPT tool, fuelled by the company's revolutionary no-code AI-powered platform.

With InsuranceGPT, Simplifai has strengthened its end-to-end business process automation capabilities, providing enriched communication between insurers and their customers through the power of generative AI - delivering fast, concise, and accurate responses in a secure way.

While several insurance product providers have merely begun to integrate ChatGPT or Google Bard into their services, Simplifai's InsuranceGPT large language model (LLM) is the first to be trained specifically on information directly relevant to the insurance sector.

Gartner predicts the global market for AI software will surpass $135bn by 2025, with the banking, financial services and insurance sector constituting a massive 25% of that market. Yet, the insurance industry is still learning how to fully embrace AI and LLMs, such as ChatGPT. The technology holds the potential to radically transform the data processing and claims processes, but with several LLMs facing criticism around data security concerns and the inaccurate presentation of data, public LLMs are being labelled unsuitable to address the needs of the claims handling industry.

"Amidst an era where data security and accuracy have become paramount concerns, InsuranceGPT is our response to these challenges. Unlike public LLMs, our solution has been meticulously engineered with a strong emphasis on privacy and the precise presentation of data, thereby directly addressing the inadequacies flagged in the insurance claims handling industry. By providing an AI solution that is tailor-made for this sector, we're not just promising innovation, we're ensuring trust and reliability." - Vasim Shaikh, CEO India Operations at Simplifai

By offering the insurance industry's first custom, cloud-based, private Software-as-a-Service LLM, Simplifai can allay these concerns through:

    Fitting into existing ecosystems - InsuranceGPT is platform-based and plugs into third-party services such as Salesforce and Hubspot, as well as industry platforms for claims management, pulling information from the often cumbersome and conflicting systems used by insurance firms for easy implementation and management.

    Being ever vigilant about security – As a company, Simplifai is committed to privacy and upholding strict control and regulation of data, as well as firm adherence to GDPR. By training a private LLM, security can be guaranteed.

    Maintaining 'No code necessary' – Simplifai's no-code model allows businesses to seamlessly integrate to the platform, without the need for tech expertise, increasing efficiency and speed of use.

Showcasing a commitment to building services tailored to the specific and regulated requirements of insurers, Simplifai has also launched the Simplifai Reference Programme for advanced AI, establishing a customer reference board. The board has leading names within the insurance sector from Europe and Nordics, including Van Ameyde, CCN and Eika, and they are in talks with some of the biggest Indian Insurers to join the board. This will ensure product development is in line with customer requirements.

Jan-Michiel Cillessen, Group COO of Van Ameyde Group said: "Van Ameyde's Claims platform, ECHO, has already benefited from the best-in-class AI automation that the Simplifai partnership provides. In addition, Simplifai's expansion to GPT technology will further solidify our leading position in the claims handling space. In order to even consider Simplifai as a partner, we also needed to ensure their continued strategic focus on security and compliance, as well."

"The potential offered by generative AI is incredible, but a specially-built industry-specific GPT trained on insurance data is the only way to offset risks around security, data privacy and accuracy. InsuranceGPT grants us the ability to make our customers' employees even more efficient and effective, not to mention more valuable, while maintaining our commitment to privacy and security," said Bård Myrstad, Simplifai Co-Founder and CEO.

About Simplifai :

Founded in 2017, Simplifai is a secure AI solutions company. Its AI Automation platform is used to create Simplifai Archiver, Claims Handling, Document Handling, Debt Collection and Customer Service solutions. With its headquarters in Oslo, Norway, the company has offices in Pune, India, the Netherlands, Sweden and Ukraine..

Source : PR Vews Wire

More : Simplifai

Correct Answer :   Gandhinagar

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The 3rd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under the Indian Presidency was held during 17-18 July 2023 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

The meeting was jointly chaired by Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, and Governor, Reserve Bank of India, Shri Shaktikanta Das.

Over 500 delegates, including Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from G20 member countries, Invitee Countries, and Heads of various International Organisations (IOs) participated in the meeting.

The FMCBG meeting was preceded by the Third G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) meeting during 14-15 July 2023 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Theme : Under the Indian Presidency’s theme of “One Earth, One Family, One Future”, G20 Ministers and Governors pledged to prioritise the well-being of the people and the planet and reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing international economic cooperation, strengthening global development for all and steering the global economy towards strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth (SSBIG).

Inportant sessions : The meeting was organised in five thematic sessions covering :

* Global Economy and Global Health
* Sustainable Finance and Infrastructure
* International Financial Architecture
* International Taxation
* Financial Sector & Financial Inclusion.

Aim : The aim of the round table session was to discuss and deliberate on some of the key questions pertaining to the crypto assets, in an open and candid manner. The session saw active participation from the G20 Finance Ministers, Governors, and the Heads of IMF, FSB, and FATF – institutions that are instrumental in the on-going work on crypto asset ecosystem. The views generated in the round table discussion will provide important inputs to the Synthesis paper..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   South Korea

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South Korea will hold an international defence exhibition in October 2023 to showcase advanced military hardware and technologies, amid Seoul's push to become a significant player in the global  market, Yonhap news agency reported.

The six-day Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023 will kick off on Oct. 17 at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, involving 550 companies from 35 countries, the organizers said.

It would mark the largest-ever edition of the exhibition, which first launched in 1996.

During this year's (2023) event, the organizers seek to hold various aircraft demonstrations and exhibit advanced military assets and equipment, including F-35 radar-evading fighter jets, FA-50 light attack aircraft, K2 battle tanks and K9A1 self-propelled howitzers, Yonhap news agency reported.

Yonhap News Agency delivers news to its customers as well as newspapers, broadcasters, government agencies, businesses and Internet portals on a real-time basis. They are also in talks with the US military to showcase its aircraft and other assets to mark the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-US alliance this year (2023).

The first four days will host various seminars and forums for defence industry officials before the exhibition is opened to the general public in the last two days.

The exhibition's previous edition 2021 featured hydrogen-fuel drones, virtual reality-based training systems, laser weapons systems, multipurpose unmanned vehicles, and military aircraft, including FA-50 fighters.

This year's event will take place after South Korea unveiled a goal last year to become the world's fourth-largest defence exporter by 2027..

Source : ANI

Correct Answer :   Ashok Leyland

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Mumbai, Commercial vehicle maker Ashok Leyland on Monday (17th July 2023) said it has bagged orders worth Rs 800 crore from the Indian Army.

The contracts awarded also include the procurement of the Field Artillery Tractor (FAT 4x4) and the Gun Towing Vehicle (GTV 6x6), Ashok Leyland said in a statement.

"We have secured these orders from the Indian Army. The Defence business has been a strong pillar of growth for us, and this win further establishes our leadership in Defence mobility vehicles business, said Shenu Agarwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Ashok Leyland.

The vehicles will be delivered over the next 12 months to meet the requirements of the Indian Army, the company said.

The FAT 4x4 and GTV 6x6 are specialised vehicles employed by the artillery for towing light and medium guns, respectively, according to the company.

"Ashok Leyland's dependable mobility solutions have consistently remained a formidable asset within the defense sector, catering to the diverse needs of personnel and logistics across the armed forces," said Amandeep Singh, President for Defence Business at Ashok Leyland.

Ashok Leyland has invested in development of mobility platforms ranging from 4x4, 6x6, 8x8, 10x10 & 12x12 for various applications and operational requirements of the Indian Armed Forces, he stated.

These platforms are indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by Ashok Leyland and contribute significantly towards import substitution, according to the company..

Source : Economic Times

Correct Answer :   Singapore

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According to the Henley Passport Index 2023, published by Henley & Partners, Singapore becomes the world’s most powerful passport with visa-free access to 192 travel destinations out of 227 around the world.

* While India ranked 80th with visa-free entry to 57 nations.

* Germany, Italy, and Spain shared second place with 190 visa-free destinations.

* Japan has slipped to third place as the number of destinations its passport can access without a visa fell to 189.

Here’s the list of top 10 powerful passports :

* Rank 1: Singapore (Number of countries allowed visa-free: 192)
* Rank 2: Germany, Italy and Spain (Number of countries allowed visa-free: 190)
* Rank 3: Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, South Korea, Sweden and Japan (Number of countries allowed visa-free: 189)
* Rank 4: Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, United Kingdom (Number of countries allowed visa-free: 188)
* Rank 5: Czech Republic, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland (Number of countries allowed visa-free: 187)
* Rank 6: Australia, Hungary, Poland (Number of countries allowed visa-free: 186)
* Rank 7: Greece, Canada (Number of countries allowed visa-free: 185)
* Rank 8: Lithuania, United States (Number of countries allowed visa-free: 184)
* Rank 9: Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (Number of countries allowed visa-free: 183)
* Rank 10: Iceland, Estonia (Number of countries allowed visa-free: 182).

Source : Times of India

Correct Answer :   Nokia

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Nokia announced an expansion of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) to the state of Gujarat with the establishment of a Nokia Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Skill Development in collaboration with Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC) and Kaushalya- TheSkill University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

The centre was inaugurated 17th July 2023 by Balvantsinh Rajput, cabinet minister for labour, skill development and employment, Government of Gujarat. He was accompanied by Kunvarjibhai Halpati, state minister, labour, skill development and employment, Government of Gujarat and Dr Anju Sharma, additional chief secretary, labour, skill development and employment.

The CoE at ITI Kubernagar is setting up a Skill Lab for training candidates in 5G technology skills with the aim of providing placement offers within 4-6 weeks of course completion to at least 70% of learners.

About 300 such candidates will benefit from the program in the first year of the project. Nokia will be investing in infrastructure, equipment and training for the five labs in the CoE as part of its India CSR program..

Source : Times of india

Correct Answer :   Neeraj Akhoury

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The Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA), the apex body of India’s large cement manufacturers, has elected Shree Cement Limited managing director "Neeraj Akhoury" and JSW Cement Limited managing director "Parth Jindal" as its president and vice-president, respectively.

They were elected at an extraordinary general meeting of the association on 14 July 2023, a statement on Monday (17th July 2023) said.

Akhoury brings with him more than 30 years of experience in steel and cement industries. He has worked in various leadership roles in India and other emerging markets.

"As a future direction, the Indian cement industry would like to reiterate its commitment to being India’s partner in nation building and for creating business value chains, supporting infrastructure growth and a sustainability agenda, with an emphasis on decarbonisation, aligned to country's priorities and working in close collaboration with policy planners, ministries and stakeholders," the statement quoting Akhoury said.

The CMA represents almost 80% of the total installed cement capacity in the country..

Source : Times of India

Correct Answer :   6.4%

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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday (19th July 2023) retained forecast for India's economic growth at 6.4% for this fiscal year FY (2023-24) and 6.7% for the next FY (2024-25), as it's bullish that robust domestic demand will continue to support the region's recovery.

In an update to its Asian Development Outlook, the ADB said inflation is expected to continue to ease, approaching pre-pandemic levels as fuel and food prices decline. It forecast 3.6% inflation this year for developing economies in Asia, and 3.4% in 2024.

The Indian economy grew 7.2% in the 2022-23 fiscal ended March 2023.

"Asia and the Pacific continues to recover from the pandemic at a steady pace," ADB Chief Economist Albert Park said.

"Domestic demand and services activity are driving growth, while many economies are also benefiting from a strong recovery in tourism. However, industrial activity and exports remain weak, and the outlook for global growth and demand next year has worsened, Park added.

In April, the ADB had projected that India's economic growth is expected to moderate to 6.4% in the current financial year due to tight monetary conditions and elevated oil prices..

Source : Economic Times

Correct Answer :   Goa

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The 4th Energy Transitions Working Group Meeting (ETWG) under India’s G20 Presidency will be held in Goa on July 19th to 22nd, 2023.

The two-day meeting will bring together over 100 delegates from G20 member countries, special invitee countries, and several International Organisations.

The 4th ETWG Meeting will be chaired by Shri Pankaj Agrwal, who serves as the ETWG Chair and Secretary, Ministry of Power, Govt. of India. Shri Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, and Shri Amrit Lal Meena, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, will also be part of the meeting and participate in the deliberations.  

There are six priority areas outlined under India’s G20 Presidency.

These priority areas reflect India's focus on various aspects of energy transition and building global cooperation toward sustainable and clean energy development.

The six priority areas are  :

(i) Energy transitions through addressing technology gaps
(ii) Low-cost financing for energy transitions
(iii) Energy security and diversified supply chains
(iv) Energy efficiency, industrial low carbon transitions, and responsible consumption
(v) Fuels for Future (3F)
(vi) Universal access to clean energy and just, affordable, and inclusive energy transition pathways.

These Priority Areas focus on healing our ‘One Earth’, creating harmony within our ‘One Family’, and giving hope for our ‘One Future’.

The discussions in the 4th ETWG meeting in Goa will continue to build on the first three meetings in Bengaluru, Gandhinagar, and Mumbai respectively, to identify and promote best practices, policies, and innovative approaches that support a just and inclusive energy transition. The key highlight of the 4th ETWG meeting will be the detailed discussions on the draft Ministerial Communique, which is currently under discussion and will be further firmed up.

On the sidelines of the ETWG, the Meeting will be complemented by various side events – ‘Enabling policies to accelerate e-mobility’, ‘Promoting solar energy for universal energy access’, ‘DRE applications for achieving SDG7 goals’, ‘Drive for advancing knowledge and solutions through aggregation in energy efficiency’, and ‘Powering progress in Global South – accessible and affordable clean energy for all.’

The 14th edition of CEM is simultaneously being organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the Ministry of Power, and the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, in Goa from July 19th to 22nd, 2023.

The theme of CEM14/MI-8 is ‘Advancing Clean Energy Together.’

At CEM14/MI-8, over 80 side events are being organized focusing on a range of clean energy topics. Top business and energy leaders from across the world are expected to be part of these meetings. Under the aegis of CEM14/MI-8, a Technology and Cultural showcase is being organized at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa which will feature new and emerging technologies like Electric Vehicles, Hydrogen, and other clean technologies from across the world and provide a unique experience to visitors.

The 4th ETWG Meeting concludes on July 20, 2023. The Ministerial meeting, which marks the culmination of the ETWG meetings, will be held in Goa on 22nd July. The Ministerial meeting will have the participation of esteemed Ministers and representatives from the G20 and other invited countries. Union Minister of Power, and New and Renewable Energy, Shri RK Singh will chair the G20 Energy Ministerial meeting...

Source : PIB