2024 Latest Current Affairs, Daily Current Affairs in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020

1 .

Which government have topped the list of the states so far as utilisation of funds under the government's flagship Smart City Mission?

A)

Karnataka

B)

Tamil Nadu

C)

Rajasthan

D)

Maharashtra

Correct Answer : Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu tops the list of states so far as utilisation of funds under the government’s flagship Smart City Mission is concerned. While Tamil Nadu has spent over Rs 3932 crore out of the Rs 4333 crore released by the Centre, Uttar Pradesh is at second position with utilisation of Rs 2699 cr out of the Central share release of Rs 3142 crore.

The Central government launched the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) on 25 June, 2015. One hundred Smart Cities have been selected through 4 rounds of competition from January 2016 to June 2018. As per SCM guidelines, the Central government will provide financial support to the extent of Rs 48,000 crore over five years which is on an average Rs 100 crore per city per year. An equal amount on a matching basis will be contributed by the state government or urban local body.

As on 8 July 2022, the Centre has released Rs 30,751.41 crore for 100 Smart Cities, out of which Rs 27,610.34 crore (90%) has been utilized.

Government data showed that states including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan have also spent major amounts on projects under the Smart City Mission. While Karnataka recorded utilization of Rs 2420 crore from the Central release of Rs 2618 crore, Maharashtra showed over Rs 2453 crore utilization out of a total release of Rs 2454 crore by the Centre.

As on 8 July 2022, these Smart Cities have tendered out 7,822 projects worth Rs 1,90,660 crore; work orders have been issued in 7,649 projects worth Rs 1,80,996 crore; 4,085 projects worth Rs 66,912 crore have been completed. The period of implementation of SCM is upto June 2023 and all Smart Cities are expected to complete their projects within the stipulated time..

Source : The Statesman

Published On : July 21, 2022

2 .

Noted scientist and director ILS "Ajay Parida" when did passes away?

A)

17th July 2022

B)

18th July 2022

C)

19th July 2022

D)

20th July 2022

Correct Answer : 19th July 2022

Noted scientist and Director, Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar Dr Ajay Parida has died at Guwhati on Tuesday(19th July 2022), official sources said. Parida, a Padma Shri awardee, was 58 year old. He died of a massive heart attack while staying at a hotel in the Assam state capital.

Odisha Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal, Andhra Pradesh Governor BB Harichandan, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and many dignitaries have expressed deep condolence over the untimely demise of Dr Parida. Patnaik in a twitter post said: “Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of Padma Shri awardee scientist and Director of Institute iof Life Science (ILS), Bhubaneswar Ajay Parida. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family members and friends in this hour of grief, Om Shanti.

Former DMET Prof CBK Mohanty who confirmed the death of Dr Parida, hailed his contribution towards the people during COVID-19 pandemic. The ILS conducted genome sequencing to ascertain Covid variants, essential for proper treatment, under supervision of Dr Parida. Dr Parida was born at Bhagabanpur village in Odisha’s Jajpur district..

Source : News18

Published On : July 21, 2022

3 .

Which government launches 'Swanirbhar Naari' to empower weavers?

A)

Assam

B)

Bihar

C)

Gujarat

D)

Karnataka

Correct Answer : Assam

Assam Chief Minister "Himanta Biswa Sarma" on Tuesday(19th July 2022) launched ‘Swanirbhar Naari’, a scheme to empower indigenous weavers in Assam’s Guwahati.

Under the ‘Swanirbhar Naari’ scheme, the state government will procure handloom items directly from the indigenous weavers via a web portal.

He said the scheme will help preserve the heritage of handlooms and textiles.

“I am sure this scheme will help preserve our heritage of handlooms and textiles by ensuring assured income to our weavers,” Sarma said..

Source : The Print

Published On : July 21, 2022

4 .

Which country has signed MoU(20th July 2022) with Namibia for reintroduction of extinct cheetahs?

A)

Australia

B)

Botswana

C)

India

D)

New Zealand

Correct Answer : India

India and Namibia on Wednesday(20th July 2022) signed a crucial memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the reintroduction of cheetahs, declared extinct in the country in 1952.

A senior environment ministry official said the first batch comprising four male and four female cheetahs will arrive from Namibia in August.

"Talks are on with South Africa too. An MoU will be signed with them as soon as we get approval," the official said.

The fastest land animal in the world will find a new home in the Kuno-Palpur National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district.

The cheetah is the only large carnivore that got completely wiped out from India, mainly due to over-hunting and habitat loss. The last spotted feline died in 1948 in the Sal forests of Chhattisgarh's Koriya district.

Namibia has the world's largest population of cheetahs..

Source : Business Standard

Published On : July 20, 2022

5 .

Who has become the worldâ€™s 4th richest person on Forbes list in July 2022?

A)

Warren Buffett

B)

Larry Page

C)

Mukesh Ambani

D)

Gautam Adani

Correct Answer : Gautam Adani

Indian billionaire "Gautam Adani" now holds the fourth rank on the Forbes world’s richest list, surpassing Microsoft founder Bill Gates who last week said that he would be donating $20 billion from his wealth to his non-profit.

Following the donation, Bill Gates has slipped just one spot to be the fifth richest in the world, worth an estimated $102 billion on Forbes’ Real-Time Ranking of the World’s Billionaires, whereas India's Gautam Adani & Family stands at fourth with net worth of over $114 billion, as per Forbes.

Bill Gates last week said he is donating $20 billion to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation this month as the philanthropic behemoth plans to speed up its pace of giving. “I hope by giving more, we can mitigate some of the suffering people are facing right now and help fulfill the foundation’s vision to give every person the chance to live a healthy and productive life," Gates said in a statement..

Source : Mint

Published On : July 20, 2022

6 .

Who will head the committee constituted by the centre on Minimum Support Price (MSP)?

A)

C Rangarajan

B)

Sanjay Agarwal

C)

Kaushik Basu

D)

Arvind Subramanian

Correct Answer : Sanjay Agarwal

The central government has constituted a committee under the chairmainship of former agriculture secretary "Sanjay Agarwal" to make Minimum Support Price (MSP)” more effective and transparent.

The committee has been created almost 8 months after the withdrawal of the three farm Acts. The other members of the committee will include NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand, IIM Professor Sukhpal Singh, Agricultural Department Secretary, Chairman of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Dilip Sanghani, Indian Council of Agricultural Research Secretary, Food and Consumer Affairs Secretary, Cooperation and Textiles Secretary and representatives from state governments of Andhra Pradesh, Odisham Sikkim and Karnataka..

Source : The Print

Published On : July 20, 2022

7 .

Who has been elected as the new President of Sri Lanka in 20th july 2022?

A)

Ranil Wickremesinghe

B)

Maithripala Sirisena

C)

Sarath Fonseka

D)

Chamal Rajapaksa

Correct Answer : Ranil Wickremesinghe

The Six-time prime minister "Ranil Wickremesinghe" was elected as crisis-wracked Sri Lanka’s new president by the country’s parliament Wednesday(July 20, 2022).

He was elected as the new Sri Lankan President after receiving 134 votes, while his competitor SLPP parliamentarian Dullas Alahaperuma received 82 votes and National People's Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake received three votes.

Ranil Wickremesinghe had been sworn in as the interim President of Sri Lanka earlier on July 15 in place of Gotabaya Rajapaksa who submitted his resignation from the post..

Source : News18

Published On : July 20, 2022

8 .

Which country has the most powerful passport in the world, as per Henley Passport Index 2022?

A)

Australia

B)

Japan

C)

United States

D)

Germany

Correct Answer : Japan

Japan has the world's most powerful passport - providing hassle-free entry to 193 countries.

Just one country short, Singapore and South Korea are tied in second place, according to the latest Henley Passport Index from Henley & Partners, an immigration consultancy.

India’s passport ranked 87th, offering visa-free access to 60 countries, including Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia and Macau.

According to latest government data, as many as 1,63,370 Indians renounced their citizenship to become citizens of other countries in 2021. Most Indians transferred their citizenship to the United States (78,284), followed by Australia (23,533), Canada (21,597) and the UK(14,637).

Country	Rank	Visa-free access
Japan	1	193
Singapore	2	192
South Korea	2	192
Germany	3	190
Spain	3	190
Finland	4	189
Italy	4	189
Luxembourg	4	189
Austria	5	188
Denmark	5	188

Source : India Times

Published On : July 20, 2022

9 .

The Union Cabinet has approved signing of an MoU in the field of Judicial Cooperation with which country?

A)

Germany

B)

Mauritius

C)

Maldives

D)

Seychelles

Correct Answer : Maldives

The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Judicial Cooperation between India and Judicial Service Commission of Maldives.

This is the eighth MoU signed between India and other countries in the field of Judicial Cooperation. This MoU will provide a platform to tap the benefits of Information Technology for court digitization and can be a potential growth area for the IT companies and start-ups in both countries. In recent years, the close relationship between India and Maldives has intensified multi-dimensionally.

With the signing of this agreement on cooperation in the field of law and justice, the good relations between the two countries will receive further impetus..

Source : AIR

Published On : July 20, 2022

10 .

Which Port has become first 100% Landlord Major Port of India?

A)

Cochin Port

B)

Mundra Port

C)

Visakhapatnam Port

D)

Jawaharlal Nehru Port

Correct Answer : Jawaharlal Nehru Port

Jawaharlal Nehru Port has become the first 100 per cent Landlord Major Port of India having all berths being operated on public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Expressing his views on the achievement, Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, this project will improve the utilization in crane and berth productivity of the terminal. He said, the total handling of JNPT will increase to 1.8 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) from the present handling capacity of 1.5 million TEUs in 2020-21.

The Minister said terminal will also be handling Ro-Ro vessels which will not only lower the logistics cost and reduce transit time but will also contribute in reducing congestion on roads and promoting towards clean environment..

Source : AIR

Published On : July 20, 2022