Correct Answer :   Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

---

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is set to spearhead a fundraising round worth Rs 2,500 crore for the Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) supported by the Mahindra Group. In this initiative, various domestic institutional investors (DIIs) will also be actively participating, according to sources familiar with the matter.


Key Players in the Funding Round :

AIIB’s Leadership : The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is positioned as the lead investor in this substantial funding effort, emphasizing its commitment to supporting sustainable energy infrastructure projects.

Strategic Global Participation : Alongside AIIB, Dutch pension fund APG Asset Management and the International Finance Corp (IFC) of the World Bank are engaged in separate discussions to contribute capital to this initiative.

Mahindra Susten and Canadian Pension Collaboration : The funding will specifically benefit Mahindra Susten, the renewable energy arm of the Mahindra Group, and collaborate with the Canadian pension fund (OTPP) to bolster their green infrastructure investment trust.

Correct Answer :   Telangana

---

Telangana's Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu inaugurated the Praja Palana program, a significant initiative by the Telangana government focused on understanding and addressing the needs of citizens at the grassroots level.

* Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday (27th Dec 2023) kickstarted “Abhaya Hastam”, a programme to implement the six guarantees as promised by the Congress before the elections, and said his government was committed to implementing all the promises within 100 days.

* As part of the programme, the state government will take up a week-long exercise – “Praja Palana” (People’s governance) – starting Thursday (28 December 2023). The programme, aimed at receiving applications from the eligible beneficiaries of various schemes promised under Abhaya Hastam, will conclude on January 6, 2024.

* The chief minister along with deputy chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and other senior cabinet colleagues and officials launched the format of the “Praja Palana” applications, the programme logo and other materials at the Secretariat on Wednesday (27th Dec 2023).

* Speaking to reporters, Revanth Reddy said the entire exercise of the Praja Palana was to take the government to the door steps of the people. “Instead of people going to the government to represent their grievances, the government itself will go to the people to find out their needs and resolve their issues,” he said.

* He said the programme would be held in all the villages and wards across the state to receive grievances and applications from the people. “There would be counters in all the villages to collect applications. Separate counters would be set up for women,” he said.

* The chief minister said every mandal (revenue block) would be divided into two parts, one headed by a mandal revenue officer (MRO) and the other by a mandal parishad development officer (MPDO). “Each officer would visit two villages in one day. In villages where there are more people, more counters will be opened. Those who can’t apply at grama sabha can apply at gram panchayats also. This will be a continuous process and won’t stop on January 6,” he said...


Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   Bengaluru

---

Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shri R. K. Singh laid the foundation stone for the new Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research (ICER) building at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru on 28th Dec 2023. The event marks a crucial step towards shaping the future of energy research and sustainable technologies.

* ICER's research initiatives focus on a spectrum of renewable energy domains, including Net Zero Technology development for Green Hydrogen, sCo2, Power and Turbine, Clean Coal technology, pioneering research and development activities on green energy technologies such as the generation of hydrogen and other bio fuels from biomass, advance batteries and energy storage systems & sustainable technologies.

* This new chapter at ICER, driven by knowledge, curiosity, and collective endeavour, serves as an epicentre for scientific breakthroughs and transformative change, resonating with the Hon'ble PM's vision of a technologically empowered and self-reliant India.

* The project is supported by the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.  The proposed new building aims to replace the aging infrastructure currently housing ICER, providing a modern, technologically advanced facility spanning ground plus three floors. It will encompass laboratories, classrooms, seminar rooms, meeting spaces, a library and computational facilities.

* The PFC has sanctioned assistance of Rs. 60.74 crores for the project. The CPWD is scheduled to complete its construction by March, 2026.

* Shri K.J. George, Minister of Energy, Government of Karnataka, Shri P.C. Mohan, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha Central constituency, Bengaluru, Shri Tejasvi Surya, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha South constituency, Indian Institute of Science Director Prof Govindan Rangarajan, Bengaluru, Shri Gaurav Gupta, Addl. Chief Secretary, Govt. of Karnataka, Shri Manoj Sharma, Director (Commercial), PFC & Shri Ali Shah, Executive Director, CSR, PFC were among those present on the occasion..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Palna

---

The Union Women and Child Development Ministry aims to establish 17,000 creches in Anganwadi centres across the country out of which 5,222 have been approved to date.

* The Ministry also plans to depute two additional creche workers in Anganwadis along with the existing staff.

* These initiatives are being taken under the ‘Palna’ scheme. The objective of the scheme is to address the urgent need for quality day-care facilities/creches for the children of working women by providing a safe and secure environment for the nutritional, health and cognitive development of the children, thereby enabling more women to take up gainful employment amongst all socio-economic groups both in the organized and unorganized sector, irrespective of their employment status.

* On Thursday (28th Dec 2023), Union Minister for Women and Child Development "Smriti Irani" released new Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Anganwadi-Cum-Creche centres being set up under the ‘Palna’ scheme.

* They outline a comprehensive framework for the administration and implementation of the scheme, including administrative hierarchy, roles, and responsibilities of the workers and monitoring checklist.

Initial priority :

* “Our priority is to reach out to the woman who earns her livelihood, by leaving her own house to work in another, a woman who works as an agricultural labourer, a woman who works as a construction worker, under Palna and provide an opportunity to participate in economic activity, so that along with her livelihood she can provide a safe and secure environment for her children,” Ms. Irani said.

* Indivar Pandey, Secretary Ministry of Women and Child Development said two additional Creche workers and helpers will be deputed along with the existing Anganwadi workers and Anganwadi helpers under the Palna scheme.

* Highlighting the various efforts made by the government in facilitating women’s economic empowerment, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai said the government aims to establish 17,000 Creches out of which 5,222 have been approved to date.

* According to government data, participation of women in the workforce has increased to 37% in 2022. As of March 31, 2021, 13.87 lakh Anganwadi and mini-Anganwadi centres are operational across the country..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Russia

---

* In a major boost to their time-tested partnership, India and Russia on Tuesday (26th Dec 2023) signed some "very important" agreements related to the construction of the future power-generating units of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

* External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who is on a five-day visit to Russia, made the announcement after his "comprehensive and productive" meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov on the bilateral economic cooperation during which they witnessed signing of agreements on nuclear power and in areas of medicines, pharmaceutical substances and medical devices.

* "Today, in my presence and that of Deputy Prime Minister Manturov, we signed some very important agreements pertaining to the future units of the Kudankulam nuclear project," he said addressing the Indian diaspora here.

* The Kudankulam nuclear power plant, India's largest, is being built in Tamil Nadu with the technical assistance of Russia. The construction began in March 2002. Since February 2016, the first power unit of the Kudankulam NPP has been steadily operating at its design capacity of 1,000 MW. The plant is expected to start operating at full capacity in 2027, according to Russian state media.

* During the meeting, Mr. Jaishankar noted the significant progress in trade, finance, connectivity, energy, civil aviation and nuclear domains...

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   IIT Bombay

---

Reliance Jio Infocomm, the largest telecom service provider in India, is working with the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay to launch ‘Bharat GPT’, a large-language model tailored for India’s needs, said chairman Akash Ambani while addressing a gathering at the IIT’s annual Techfest in Mumbai.

* “We have been working on a project with IIT Bombay to launch the Bharat GPT programme," he said.

* Jio is looking to introduce AI at its enterprise and across sectors within the group. The next decade will be defined by large-language models and generative AI, he said. “We are working very hard to launch AI not only as a vertical inside our organization, but horizontally across all our sectors."

* The firm will launch products and services in the media space, commerce, communication and devices, Ambani said. AI is going to “consume everything, to me, AI stands for artificial intelligence, and also stands for all included".

* The telco, a unit of Reliance Industries, is “comprehensively thinking" to launch an operating system for television, he said. “We have been working on our own OS (operating system) for a while now for TVs and we are comprehensively thinking about how to launch it."

* Ambani said work on vision of “Jio 2.0" was on, but did not elaborate further. Jio is very excited about offering 5G private networks, and will be offering a 5G stack to all enterprise irrespective of its size, Ambani said..


Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   C S Rajan

---

* Kotak Mahindra Bank, on 27th December 2023, announced that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted approval for the appointment of C S Rajan, who currently serves as an Independent Director of the bank, as the Part-time Chairman. This appointment is effective from January 1, 2024, and is slated to last for a period of two years.

* C S Rajan assumed the role of Independent Director on the Bank's Board starting from October 22, 2022.

* “We thank Mr. Prakash Apte for his contribution to the Bank, first as an Independent Director and subsequently as the Chairman of the Bank’s Board. We would like to congratulate Mr. C S Rajan on his appointment as Chairman of the Bank’s Board. We are confident that the Bank will benefit immensely from Mr. Rajan’s guidance for its next phase of growth," said Dipak Gupta, Managing Director & CEO, Kotak Mahindra Bank.

* C S Rajan has experience of over 40 years across significant government portfolios. He assumed the role of an Independent Director on the Bank's Board on October 22, 2022. A distinguished IAS officer from the 1978 batch, he concluded his service as the Chief Secretary of the Government of Rajasthan in 2016.

* During his career, Rajan held leadership positions for 12 years in crucial infrastructure sectors, including Energy, Highways, Water Resources, and Industry, encompassing SSI/MSME. Additionally, he contributed his expertise for 14 years in the domains of Agriculture and Rural Development, as highlighted by the Bank.

* In October 2018, the Government of India appointed Rajan to the Board of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited (IL & FS). Initially serving as a Director, he later assumed the role of Managing Director for a period of three and a half years, followed by a year as Chairman & Managing Director. Subsequently, he transitioned to the role of Non-Executive Chairman of IL & FS..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   Maharishi Valmiki

---

Ayodhya, the holy city in Uttar Pradesh, is all set to get its first international airport, marking a significant development in its pilgrimage and tourism potential. However, amidst preparations for the grand inauguration on 30 December 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a potential name change for the airport has emerged.


Current Name and Proposed Change :

* The airport currently boasts the lengthy name “Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram International Airport.”
* The Yogi Adityanath government is reportedly considering renaming it “Maharishi Valmiki Airport,” honoring the revered poet who authored the epic Ramayana.


Reasons for the Potential Change :

* Following the completion of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, a surge in pilgrim and tourist inflow is anticipated.
* The proposed name change aligns with the religious significance of the city and pays homage to Maharishi Valmiki, whose Ramayana immortalized the story of Lord Rama.

Preparations for the Inauguration :

* A successful test landing of an aircraft has recently been conducted, ensuring the airport’s readiness for operation.
* IndiGo flights are scheduled to commence operations on January 6, 2024, followed by Air India flights on January 16.
* Regular flight schedules will begin in January, with initial fares from Ayodhya to Delhi estimated around Rs 3,600.


Expected Rush during the Pran-Pratishtha :

* During the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple, dubbed the “Pran-Pratishtha,” a massive influx of devotees is expected, leading to potential price hikes.
* Airfares during this period are predicted to soar above Rs 12,000, reflecting the high demand and limited availability.


Overall Significance :

* The opening of the Ayodhya International Airport marks a new chapter for the city, boosting its connectivity and accessibility for pilgrims and tourists. While the potential name change remains undecided, the airport’s launch undoubtedly signifies a pivotal moment in Ayodhya’s development and religious landscape.

Correct Answer :   Israel

---

Israel’s government has agreed to provide Intel with a $3.2 billion grant for the construction of a new $25 billion chip plant in southern Israel.  The new plant, known as Fab 38, is expected to open in 2028 and operate through 2035.


KEY POINTS :

* The grant covers about 12.8% of the total investment in the facility in Kiryat Gat.
* Intel will buy 60 billion shekels ($16.6 billion) in goods and services from Israeli companies, and the new facility is expected to create several thousand jobs.
* This is a $15 billion extension to the investment in a new facility that Intel announced in 2019.


BACKGROUND :

* Intel has a long history in Israel, having established a presence in the country in 1974. The company currently operates four development and production sites in Israel, including its manufacturing plant in Kiryat Gat called Fab 28, which produces Intel 7 technology or 10-nanometer chips and employs nearly 12,000 people in the country, while indirectly employing another 42,000 more. In June, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Intel would build a new $25 billion chip plant in Israel.

BENEFITS FOR ISRAEL & INTEL :

* The new Israeli plant is expected to pay a corporate tax rate of 7.5%, instead of the normal 23% rate, under Israel’s law to encourage investment in development areas. This reduced tax rate is intended to attract more businesses to invest in Israel and create jobs for its citizens. Additionally, Intel’s commitment to invest in Israel demonstrates the country’s ability to attract significant foreign investment, even amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

* The $3.2 billion grant from the Israeli government will help Intel advance its unprecedented expansion of chip production capacity. This investment comes at a time when the global semiconductor market is experiencing significant growth. The demand for advanced semiconductor technologies is also increasing. By investing in a new facility in Israel, Intel aims to capitalize on this growth. It also aims to maintain its position as a leading semiconductor manufacturer..


Source : Gizchina

Correct Answer :   Both 1 and 2

---

Recently, the Nanomaterials and Nanoelectronics Laboratory, Department of Physics, Guwahati University, Assam has developed a cost-effective formalin sensor that can effectively detect the presence of formalin in adulterated fishes.

Materials used : Tin oxide-reduced graphene oxide composite (rGO- SnO2).

* While reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has been used to detect various toxic gases and VOCs, tin oxide (SnO2) has been extensively investigated for formaldehyde detection in pristine form and by incorporating it with various compounds, including graphene, due to its high stability and high sensitivity toward low concentrations of formaldehyde.

Process : The Graphene oxide (GO) was processed through wet chemical approach and tin oxide-reduced graphene oxide composite (rGO- SnO2) was synthesized by hydrothermal route followed by calcination of the obtained product.

* They found that the sensor made of tin oxide decorated reduced graphene oxide effectively sensed formaldehyde vapor at room temperature.

* The sensor shows long-term stability with a low detection limit.

* A new low-cost sensor made of metal oxide nanoparticles reduced graphene oxide composite can detect formalin adulteration in fishes at room temperature in a non-invasive way.

* The research for this supported by DST-PURSE (Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence).


What is Formaldehyde?

* It is a colourless, pungent gas that is used in a variety of industrial processes, including as a preservative in some foods, commonly in fish in developing countries..

Source : DST