ALL EXAM QUIZ 21.01.2025

Explanation:

• On January 16, the oath of office was administered to Supreme Court’s new judge, Justice Krishnan Vinod Chandran, by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna.
• Justice Chandran was earlier the Chief Justice of Patna High Court.
• His appointment brings the number of judicial members in the Supreme Court to 33, one less than the full sanctioned strength.
• On January 7, Justice Chandran was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium to the Union Government for appointment as an apex court judge.
• In November 2011, Justice Chandran was appointed as a Judge of the Kerala High Court and was appointed as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court on March 24, 2023.

Explanation:

• On January 16, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal launched the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge for entrepreneurs to mark the completion of nine years of the government's Startup India programme.
• Bharat Startup Grand Challenge will give an opportunity to startups and innovators to face challenges in different sectors in collaboration with 20 large corporations.
• This includes renewable energy, agritech, healthcare, robotics, cleantech, blockchain, semiconductor, social commerce etc.
• To bridge the gap between corporates and startups, the Challenge will provide procurement opportunities, cash prizes, funding and mentoring as well as capacity building measures for startups.

Explanation:

• India has developed the world's most powerful hydrogen train engine.
• The hydrogen fuel-run train engine developed by the Indian Railways is the most powerful in this category.
• Indian hydrogen train engine has an output of 1,200 horsepower.
• The first trial run for this engine is planned on the Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana.
• Only four countries in the world have hydrogen-powered trains. These train engines have output between 500 to 600 horsepower.
• India's indigenous technology of hydrogen-powered trains will also pave the way for adapting the innovative way to develop power trains for trucks, tugboats, and other applications.
• India's first hydrogen-powered train has been developed by the Integral Coach Factory in Tamil Nadu.

Explanation:

• Ashok Chandra has been appointed as MD and CEO of PNB and Binod Kumar as MD and CEO of Indian Bank.
• Both Ashok Chandra and Binod Kumar have taken charge on 16 January 2025.
• Chandra was an executive director at Canara Bank. He has been appointed for a three-year term.
• Binod Kumar was an executive director at PNB. He has been appointed for a three-year term.
• He will be eligible for an extension of up to two more years.
• The posts of MD and CEO at PNB and Indian Bank became vacant after the tenures of Atul Kumar Goel and SL Jain, respectively, ended on December 31.

Explanation:

• India's growth has been kept at 6.5 percent by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the upcoming fiscal years 2025–2026 and 2026–2027.
• The IMF maintained the growth rate same as the October forecast in its World Economic Outlook update, which was published on January 17, 2025.
• Among the biggest economies in the world, India continued to grow at the highest rate.
• According to IMF projections, global growth will be 3.3% in 2025 and 2026.
• This is less than the 3.7 percent historical average.
• The October 2024 World Economic Outlook projection for 2025 is almost unchanged.

Explanation:

• Odisha government and Singapore-based organisations have signed eight MoUs.
• These MoUs have been signed for collaborations in different fields, which include skill development, green energy, and industrial park development.
• In Bhubaneswar, the MoUs were signed when Chief Minister of Odisha Mohan Charan Majhi and Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam were present.
• This is the first visit of the Singapore President to the state ahead of the ‘Utkarsh Odisha: Make-in-Odisha Conclave,’ scheduled on the 28th and 29th January 2025.

Explanation:

• Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will launch a centralized online registration system for local cable operators (LCOs).
• The Information & Broadcasting Ministry issued a notification to amend the Cable Television Network Rules to streamline the Local Cable Operator (LCO) registration.
• LCOs registrations will now be conducted entirely online. The registration certificates will be issued in real-time.
• Earlier, the registration process was conducted offline at the local head post office in the area where the LCO’s office was located.
• Now, LCOs have to apply for a new or renewed registration online through the Broadcast Seva Portal of the Ministry.
• LCO registrations will be granted or renewed for a period of five years.
• Before the expiration of registration, renewal applications have to be submitted at least 90 days in advance.

Explanation:

• IREDA, SJVN, GMR and NEA signed a partnership agreement for Upper Karnali Hydropower Project in Nepal.
• For the development of the 900 MW Upper Karnali Hydro-electric Project in Nepal, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) has finalized a Joint Venture Agreement with SJVN Ltd., GMR Energy Ltd., and Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
• The project will have a 25-year term from its Commercial Operation Date (CoD).
• The Upper Karnali project will serve as a model of cross-border collaboration for both economic and environmental benefits.
• This joint initiative will boost regional energy security and support the growth of renewable energy infrastructure.

Explanation:

• Union Cabinet has approved a ₹11,440 crore revival plan for Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL).
• It includes equity infusion of ₹10,300 crore and the conversion of ₹1,140 crore in working capital loans into preferred share capital.
• Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) is a CPSE under the Ministry of Steel with 100% ownership of Government of India.
• RINL operates the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), it is only offshore steel plant under Government sector in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
• The equity infusion into RINL will help it in overcoming the operational problems related to raising working capital.
• It would allow the company to gradually reach its full production capacity.
• Under the revival plan, RINL will start full production with two blast furnaces in January 2025 and with three blast furnaces August 2025.
• Steel production is a core sector of the economy. India is the world's second largest producer of steel.

Explanation:

• For the deployment of 5G and upcoming 6G services, the cabinet has authorised the refarming of 687 MHz of spectrum from many government ministries.
• An estimated Rs 2 lakh crore is the total value of the spectrum that has been authorised for refarming thus far.
• Auctions will now be held for the spectrum.
• The total spectrum demand for the telecom industry is expected to reach 2000 MHz by 2030. We currently have 900 MHz.
• With the refarming of 687 MHz spectrum, 1587 MHz of spectrum is now available.
• The remaining 413 MHz required to meet the 2030 demand would similarly be made accessible within the prescribed timeline.
• The 328 MHz spectrum will be released right away out of the 687 MHz spectrum that has been approved.
• Sanchar Saathi has been launched by the department of telecommunications.
• This app has been launched help citizens to report any suspected fraud communications.