Google News
logo
Daily & Latest Current Affairs in 2024

Current Affairs is a very important part of the overall preparation strategy for various Competitive Entrance and Government Recruitment Exams. Free Time Learning offers Today Current Affairs provides latest and Best Daily Current Affairs for UPSC, IAS/PCS, UPPSC, IBPS, SBI, RBI, SSC, CGL, Railway, APPSC, TSPSC, KPSC, TNPSC, TPSC, UPPSC, MPSC, RPSC, BPSC, MPPSC, UKPSC, MPSC, and other competitive exams.

A)
Kirti Kamra
B)
Ayushi Kapoor
C)
Saloni Rammohan
D)
Rijul Maini

Correct Answer :   Rijul Maini


A medical student from Michigan, Rijul Maini, was recently crowned Miss India USA 2023 at the annual pageant held in New Jersey. The title of Miss Teen India USA was awarded to Saloni Rammohan of Pennsylvania, while Mrs India USA was won by Sneha Nambiar of Massachusetts.

Greeshma Bhat of Virginia was declared first runner-up and Ishita Pai Raikar of North Carolina was the second runner-up.

The pageant, which is the oldest Indian pageant held outside of India, is celebrating its 41st year this year. Dharmatma and Neelam Saran, two Indian-Americans living in New York, founded it under the Worldwide Pageants umbrella.

Ms Maini is a model and a medical student. According to the beauty pageant, she wants to become a surgeon and inspire women everywhere by being an example.

Ms Maini took to Instagram and shared a post about the same. The 24-year-old wrote, "I am so humbled and grateful to say that I am the new MISS INDIA USA 2023!  This could not have been possible without the support of my loving parents and family, Michigan pageant directors @chrysaliscouturemi @msindiamichigan @utsavplanners, and ride or die friends that stuck with me every step of the way. They say it takes a village and that couldn't be more true!!"

She thanked her family and her mother who curated her outfits.  "And to my loving amazingly talented momma, who curated the most beautiful outfits for me to walk the stage. Love you so much, I am so blessed to have you!! @soniamainii Thank you to @gauridesigns for executing such stunning pieces!! I am especially grateful for the family of amazing, strong, confident women I gained throughout this process. Your light shines so bright, never dim it for anyone. Thank you to @ifc_worldwidepageants for an incredible opportunity!! Can't wait to see what the future holds," she added.

The organisers stated that three separate pageants-Miss India USA, Mrs India USA, and Miss Teen India USA included a total of 57 candidates from more than 25 states. The winners of all three categories will get free air tickets to take part in Miss- Mrs-Teen India Worldwide.

Source : NDTV

Published On : December 15, 2023
A)
ICICI Bank
B)
Bandhan Bank
C)
State Bank of India
D)
Punjab National Bank

Correct Answer :   State Bank of India


State Bank of India (SBI) on Wednesday (13th Dec 2023) said it will sign 70 million euro (about Rs 630 crore) Line of Credit (LoC) with German Development Bank KfW for promoting solar project in the country.

* The agreement will be signed on 14 December 2023 at the bank's IFSC Gift City Branch in Ahmedabad, SBI said in a regulatory filing.

* The Line of Credit (LoC) is aimed at supporting Solar Photovoltaics (PV) projects in India, it said.

* The country's largest lender SBI reported a 9.13 per cent growth in consolidated net profit for the September quarter to Rs 16,099.58 crore as against Rs 14,752 crore in the year-ago period.

* On a standalone basis, it posted a net profit of Rs 14,330.02 crore as against Rs 13,264.52 crore in the year-ago period.

* The bank reported a total income of over Rs 1.12 lakh crore for the quarter under review, up from Rs 88,733 crore in the year-ago period..


Source : Business Standard

Published On : December 15, 2023
A)
Tata Power
B)
JSW Energy
C)
Bharat Electronics Limited
D)
Bharat Heavy Electronics Limited

Correct Answer :   Bharat Electronics Limited


The defence ministry on Friday (15th Dec 2023) sealed an over Rs 5,300 crore deal with state-run Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) for procurement of electronic fuzes for the Indian Army for a period of 10 years.

An electronic fuze is an integral component of medium to heavy calibre artillery guns which provide sustained artillery firepower for military operations.

The ministry said the fuzes are being procured for usage in artillery guns which are capable of lethal engagements in various kinds of terrain including high-altitude areas along the northern borders.

It said the aim of the project is to build up ammunition stocks to minimise imports.

“The Ministry of Defence on 15 December 2023 signed a landmark contract with Bharat Electronics Ltd, Pune for procurement of electronic fuzes for the Indian Army for a period of 10 years, at a total cost of Rs 5,336.25 crore,” it said.

“As part of the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision, this contract has been signed for ammunition procurement under ‘manufacture of ammunition for Indian Army by Indian industry’, a government initiative for long term requirement of 10 years,” the ministry said in a statement.

It said the aim of the project is to achieve self-sufficiency in ammunition manufacturing, obtain critical technologies, and secure stock affected by supply chain disruption.

The electronic fuzes will be manufactured by the BEL at its Pune and upcoming Nagpur Plant.

“The project will generate employment for one-and-half lakh man days and encourage active participation of Indian industries including MSMEs in ammunition manufacturing and broaden ammunition manufacturing ecosystem in the country,” the ministry said..

Source : Indian Express

Published On : December 15, 2023
A)
11th Dec 2023
B)
12th Dec 2023
C)
13th Dec 2023
D)
14th Dec 2023

Correct Answer :   11th Dec 2023


Andre Braugher, the Emmy-winning actor best known for his roles on the series Homicide: Life on The Street and Brooklyn 99, died Monday (11th Dec 2023) at age 61. Braugher's publicist Jennifer Allen told The Associated Press the actor died after a short illness.

The Chicago-born actor had his breakthrough role in 1989's Glory, starring alongside Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington, who won an Oscar for the film about an all-Black army regiment during the the Civil War.

Despite the part, he told The Associated Press in 2019 that he struggled to find work in a Hollywood where roles for African American actors were “few and far between. Period.”

But he would establish himself with the role of Det. Frank Pembleton, which he would play for seven seasons in Homicide: Life on the Street, a gritty police drama on NBC based on a book by David Simon, who would go on to create The Wire.

He would win his first career Emmy for the role, taking the trophy for lead actor in a drama series in 1998.

He would win his second for lead actor in a miniseries or movie for the 2006 limited series Thief on FX. Braugher would be nominated for 11 Emmys overall.

Years later he would play a very different kind of cop on a very different kind of show, shifting to comedy as Capt. Ray Holt on the Andy Samberg-starring Brooklyn Nine-Nine. It would run for eight seasons from 2013 to 2021 on Fox and NBC.

Though he'd dipped his toe into comedy in the TNT dramedy Men of a Certain Age, Brooklyn Nine-Nine still represented a major shift for Braugher, who was known for acting in dark and heavy dramas.

“I just felt as though it was an opportunity to do something strikingly different from the rest of my career,” Braugher told the AP. “I like it because it just simply opens up my mind and forces me to think in a different way. So I think I’ve become much more sort of supple as an actor, and more open to the incredible number of possibilities of how to play a scene."

He would be nominated for four Emmys during the run. He was married for more than 30 years to his Homicide co-star Ami Brabson. They had three sons. His death was first reported by Deadline..

Source : Hindustan Times

Published On : December 15, 2023
A)
Japan
B)
Bangladesh
C)
South Korea
D)
Afghanistan

Correct Answer :   Bangladesh


On 14 December 1971, just two days before Bangladesh got liberation, the Pakistani occupation forces with the help of their local collaborators named Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams, went on a torture and killing spree of the most prominent intellectuals of the country. The horror of the torture and killing came to light after Bangladesh attained independence on 16 December 1971.

* Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday (14th Dec 2023) paid tributes to the martyred intellectuals on the occasion of the Martyred Intellectuals Day. The president and the prime minister placed wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur.

* Later, the prime minister talked to the war-wounded freedom fighters and the family members of the martyred intellectuals.

* On the occasion, Liberation War Heros organised a photo exhibition at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial showing Pakistan's brutality in 1971 and India's role in Bangladesh's liberation.

* Leaders of political parties and people from all walks of life paid their respects to the martyred intellectuals at the memorial in Dhaka.

* On the night of December 14, 1971, over 200 intellectuals including educationists, journalists, litterateurs, writers, physicians, scientists, lawyers, artists, philosophers and political thinkers had been picked up in Dhaka by the Pakistani occupation forces, aided by their local collaborators.

* The intellectuals were taken blindfold to torture cells in Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Nakhalpara, Rajarbagh and other locations in different parts of the city and later executed en masse at different killing grounds, most notably Rayerbazar and Mirpur. Since then, the day has been observed as the Martyred Intellectuals Day..


Source : DD News

Published On : December 15, 2023
A)
2025
B)
2030
C)
2040
D)
2050

Correct Answer :   2050


In Dubai, nations reached for a landmark agreement, the 'UAE Consensus' that calls for a transition away from fossil fuels to achieve net zero by 2050.

* The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) has come to a historic close, marking a turning point in global efforts to combat climate change. 198 participating Parties, outlined an ambitious climate agenda aimed at keeping the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C within reach.
 
* In his closing speech, COP28 President, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, declared, "The world needed to find a new way. By following our North Star, we have found that path. We have worked very hard to secure a better future for our people and our planet. We should be proud of our historic achievement." Dr. Al Jaber emphasised the inclusivity of this COP, bringing together diverse voices from private and public sectors, civil society, faith leaders, youth, and indigenous peoples.

* Akashwani correspondent report The UAE Consensus encourages Parties to submit economy-wide Nationally Determined Contributions and sets specific targets, including tripling renewables and doubling energy efficiency by 2030. The agreement also paves the way for a new architecture for climate finance and building momentum toward a sustainable future. Under the COP28 Presidency's 'Action Agenda,' bold and decisive steps were taken across four pillars of the Paris Agreement: fast-tracking a just energy transition, fixing climate finance, focusing on people and nature, and fostering inclusivity in climate action. The COP28 process mobilised an unprecedented $85 billion in funding for climate action....Vinod Kumar for Akashvani News, Dubai.

 
* Key achievements under the Action Agenda include the launch of ALTÉRRA, a $30 billion catalytic private finance vehicle by the UAE, aiming to mobilize $250 billion for global climate action. Additionally, COP28 saw the endorsement of the 'COP28 UAE Declaration on Agriculture, Food, & Climate' by 158 countries, embedding sustainable agriculture and food systems in climate change responses.

* The 'COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health,' endorsed by 144 countries, accelerates the development of climate-resilient, sustainable, and equitable health systems. The Global Decarbonisation Accelerator (GDA) introduced initiatives such as the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge and the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter.

* Outside the Global Stocktake, COP28 delivered historic negotiated outcomes, including the operationalisation of Loss and Damage, securing $792 million in early pledges, advancing the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), and institutionalising the role of the Youth Climate Champion. Dr. Al Jaber reaffirmed the balanced nature of the COP28 achievements, addressing emissions, adaptation, global finance, and loss and damage. The unprecedented consensus reflects a commitment to inclusivity, collaboration, and a determination to accelerate global climate action.
 
* As COP28 concludes, the focus now shifts to ensuring the agreements are implemented and followed through at COP29 and COP30. The COP28 Presidency has signed an agreement with Brazil, the host of COP30, to deepen collaboration and increase climate ambitions, working with Azerbaijan, the hosts of COP29, to ensure ambitious updated climate plans for action in this critical decade. COP28 has set a precedent for future conferences, providing a blueprint for ambitious and inclusive climate action on a global scale...

Source : AIR

Published On : December 15, 2023
A)
Karnataka
B)
Madhya Pradesh
C)
Maharashtra
D)
Uttar Pradesh

Correct Answer :   Madhya Pradesh


Madhya Pradesh government will set up PM College of Excellence in all districts of the state. The decision to this effect was taken at the first Cabinet meeting chaired by new Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in Bhopal on 13th Dec 2023.

* In Madhya Pradesh, the government will upgrade one college in every district out of total 570 government colleges as "PM College of Excellence". More than Rs 460 crore will be spent on the development of these colleges.

* Apart from this, degree and mark sheets of students in all government and private universities will be uploaded in DigiLocker. The government has increased the tendu leaf collection rate from Rs 3,000 per bag to Rs 4,000 per bag

* With this, more than 35 lakh tendu leaf collectors will get additional remuneration of Rs 162 crore.

* The Council of Ministers has also decided to implement a cyber tehsil system in all the districts and ban on illegal use of loudspeakers at religious and other places.

Source : AIR

Published On : December 15, 2023
A)
12th December
B)
13th December
C)
14th December
D)
15th December

Correct Answer :   14th December


National Energy Conservation Day is observed in India every year on December 14, to raise public awareness about the value of energy efficiency and conservation.

Every year, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the Ministry of Power spearheads the celebrations. It is necessary to consume energy wisely and efficiently to maximise energy efficiency and to ensure that it is conserved for future generations. Since 1991, December 14 has been designated as the National Energy Conservation Day.

The purpose of this day is to showcase the achievements of the nation in energy efficiency and conservation.


History of National Energy Conservation Day :

* In 1991, the Ministry of Power started a scheme to recognise through awards the contribution of industries and establishments for making special efforts to reduce energy consumption while maintaining their production.

* On December 14, 1991, the National Energy Conservation Awards were given to the winners for the first time. Since then, the day has been marked as the National Energy Conservation Day. The awards are given by eminent dignitaries during a function.

* Last year, President Droupadi Murmu felicitated the winners of the National Energy Conservation Awards, National Energy Efficiency Innovation Awards, and National Painting Competition Prizes at an event on December 14. Also, she launched the EV Yatra Portal on the occasion.


Significance of National Energy Conservation Day :

* The Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the Ministry of Power, spearheads the National Energy Conservation Day with a particular theme of the year while keeping in mind the goals and objectives to reach the masses across the country. It is observed every year to send a message to people about the importance of conserving energy in all aspects of life.

* To promote the process of energy conservation, several events such as discussions, conferences, debates, workshops, and competitions and organised throughout the country. Energy conservation will reduce environmental stress also lower electricity and expenses.

* BEE is a constitutional body under the Government of India, which plays a key role in framing policies and strategies to reduce energy use..


Source : CNBC

Published On : December 14, 2023
A)
Parama Sen
B)
Tessy Thomas
C)
Sameer V. Kamat
D)
Ritu Karidhal

Correct Answer :   Parama Sen


The Centre has appointed Parama Sen, Additional Secretary, Department of Expenditure in the Finance Ministry, as a part-time member in Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

All three part-time member posts in PFRDA board are now filled.

Sen, a 1994 batch Indian Audit and Accounts Services (IAAS) officer, replaces Anne George Mathew, Additional Secretary in Finance Ministry, who demitted office this year.

PFRDA has a chairman besides three whole-time members and three part-time members. The post of Member (Law), which fell vacant in May last year, remains to be filled.

The two other part-time members — Rahul Singh (Department of Personnel and Training) and Pankaj Sharma (Department of Financial Services) — were appointed last year.


Pension scheme growth :

The assets under management of India’s National Pension System (NPS) and the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) are showing a robust CAGR of over 20 per cent over last the five years and on course to cross the ₹11-lakh-crore mark this  fiscal. NPS assets had touched the ₹10-lakh-crore mark on August 25, 2023.

Meanwhile, enrolments under APY crossed 6 crore, including over 70 lakh in the current financial year.

The flagship social security scheme was launched on May 9, 2015, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide old age income security, specifically for the poor, underprivileged, and workers in unorganised sectors.

Under APY, the subscriber is eligible for triple benefits — lifelong monthly pension of ₹1,000-5,000 from the age of 60 years, depending on the contribution, which would vary based on the joining age.

The pension would be paid to the spouse after the demise of the subscriber; on the demise of both the subscriber and spouse, the pension wealth as accumulated till age 60 of the subscriber would be returned to the nominee..

Source : The Hindu Businessline

Published On : December 14, 2023
A)
Odisha
B)
Maharashtra
C)
Assam
D)
Jharkhand

Correct Answer :   Odisha


OYO’s founder Ritesh Agarwal on Thursday (14th Dec 2023) announced the establishment of five healthcare centers for the underprivileged in his home state of Odisha over the next one year.

The centers will be operated by the health-tech startup ‘Last Mile Care’, which already runs 11 health centers across India. “The strategic placement of these centers aims to cover regions with limited access to healthcare facilities, thereby bridging the gap between healthcare services and marginalised populations,” said OYO in a press release.

As part of this initiative, the first center – the Ramesh and Bela Agarwal Healthcare Center, has been inaugurated by Jagannath Saraka, the state minister for SC & ST Development, Minorities and Backward Class Welfare and Law, in Agarwal’s hometown of Rayagada.

In addition to this, each such center will have a team of doctors with specialisation in gynecology, eye diseases and heart diseases. A pharmacy will also be available to offer complete healthcare solutions to patients, the company said.

"As we navigate the ever-evolving healthcare landscape, collaboration between healthcare providers, tech innovators, policymakers, and communities is paramount. By fostering an environment conducive to innovation and investing in initiatives such as these, we are doing our bit to ensure that quality medical services become accessible to everyone," said Ritesh Agarwal, founder and CEO of OYO..

Source : India Times

Published On : December 14, 2023