Current Affairs 19 July 2024

Current Affairs 19 July 2024

01. What is the name of the recently released book that iterates the speeches of President Droupadi Murmu?
(a) Rashtrapati Bhavan: Heritage Meets the Present
(b) Wings to Our Hopes
(c) Kahani Rashtrapati Bhavan Ki
(d) Journey of the President

• The book “Wings to Our Hopes” contains President Droupadi Murmu’s speeches delivered during the first year of her presidency.
• It includes 75 speeches distributed into 11 sections such as Addressing the Nation, Education, Our Forces Our Pride, and more.
• The speeches cover a wide range of subjects, showcasing the President’s thoughts and her efforts to connect with the masses.
• The book reflects President Murmu’s simplicity, thoughtfulness, and erudition, offering hope and inspiration to the people of India.

02. Who has been named the brand ambassador for MotoGP in India? (July 2024)
(a) Virat Kohli
(b) Shikhar Dhawan
(c) Rohit Sharma
(d) MS Dhoni

• Dhawan, a former Indian cricketer and enthusiastic biker, will help boost MotoGP’s presence in India.
• The 2024 Grand Prix of India was initially scheduled for September 20-22 but has been postponed to March 2025.
• The race will take place at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida.
• Dhawan’s role includes featuring in commercials and promoting MotoGP across India.
• Yamaha will be the title sponsor for MotoGP in India.
• The first MotoGP event in India was held at BIC last year. The postponement of the 2024 race was due to logistical adjustments and financial issues, which have since been resolved.

03. Who is set to be promoted to Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu before August 22, 2024?
(a) Udhayanidhi Stalin
(b) Durai Murugan
(c) K. N. Nehru
(d) M. R. K. Panneerselvam

• Udhayanidhi Stalin is expected to be appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu before August 22, 2024.
• He is currently the Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister and represents the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency.
• This potential promotion is part of a broader plan for Udhayanidhi to become a key figure in the DMK, particularly for the 2026 Assembly elections.
• His appointment was initially delayed due to controversies involving his comments on Sanatana Dharma and the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.
• Udhayanidhi Stalin’s elevation follows a similar trajectory to his father, M.K. Stalin, who was also appointed as Deputy Chief Minister in 2009.

04. Which two organizations issued the world’s first biodiversity bond in the financial sector?
(a) World Bank and IMF
(b) BBVA and IFC
(c) UNDP and ADB
(d) OECD and ADB

•  BBVA, a Spanish multinational financial services company and  International Finance Corporation, a member of World Bank Group, issued a US$15 million first tranche of a US$70 million biodiversity bond to finance reforestation, regenerative agriculture, and wildlife habitat restoration projects.

• BBVA and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) issued the world’s first biodiversity bond in the financial sector.
• The bond aims to finance projects addressing key drivers of biodiversity loss such as reforestation and climate-smart agriculture.
• BBVA Colombia is the issuing bank, while IFC acts as the structurer and investor for the bond.

05. Who topped the Celebrity Brand Valuation rankings in 2023?
(a) Shah Rukh Khan
(b) Ranveer Singh
(c) Virat Kohli
(d) Aamir Khan

• Virat Kohli topped the Celebrity Brand Valuation in 2023 with a brand value of $227.9 million, marking a 29% increase from $176.9 million in 2022.
• Kohli’s 2023 brand value is below his peak of $237.7 million in 2020 but still places him as India’s most valued celebrity.
• Ranveer Singh is in the second position with a brand value of $203.1 million, down from the top spot in the previous year.
• Shah Rukh Khan has risen to third place with a brand value of $120.7 million in 2023, significantly up from $55.7 million in 2022.
• Khan’s rise is attributed to the success of his films “Jawaan” and “Pathaan,” marking his return to the top five celebrity endorsers for the first time since 2020.

06. Which state government recently repealed the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act and Rules of 1935?
(a) West Bengal
(b) Assam
(c) Uttar Pradesh
(d) Bihar

• The Assam government plans to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act of 1935 by tabling a Bill in the forthcoming Monsoon Session of the Assembly.
• The 1935 Act governs the registration of marriages and divorces under Muslim personal law and has been criticized for allowing registration of marriages where parties might not meet the legal age requirements.
• Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that the Cabinet approved the Assam Repealing Bill, 2024, to eliminate the 1935 Act and its rules.
• The government argues that repealing the Act is a measure to combat child marriages, as it previously allowed marriages to be registered even if the bride and groom were below the legal marriage age of 18 and 21.
• The new legislation will introduce alternative registration procedures for Muslim marriages, likely under the Special Marriage Act.
• The proposed changes aim to address issues related to child marriage and improve the legal framework for marriage registration in the state.

07. What is the forecasted annual median GDP growth rate for India in the fiscal year 2024-25 according to FICCI?
(a) 6.8%
(b) 7.0%
(c) 7.2%
(d) 7.4%

• FICCI’s Economic Outlook Survey projects India’s GDP growth at 7.0% for 2024-25, with estimates ranging between 6.6% and 7.5%.
• The forecast reflects strong economic growth, maintaining India’s position among the fastest-growing global economies.
• Agriculture sector growth is anticipated to improve to 3.7% due to a normal monsoon and reduced El Niño impact, up from 1.4% last year.
• Industry and services sectors are expected to grow at 6.7% and 7.4%, respectively, with strong investments in both government and private sectors.
• CPI-based inflation is forecasted at 4.5%, with a range of 4.4% to 5.0%, aligning with recent RBI projections.
• The policy repo rate is expected to moderate to 6% by the end of the fiscal year, with a range of 5.5% to 6.25%.
• Export and import forecasts are USD 455 billion and USD 725 billion, respectively, with a current account deficit projected at 1% of GDP. The USD/INR exchange rate is anticipated to be 83.5 by the end of the fiscal year.

08. Who has been appointed as the new CEO of HSBC, replacing Noel Quinn? (as of July 2024)
(a) Ewen Stevenson
(b) Georges Elhedery
(c) Georges Elhedery
(d) Thomas Sutherland

• Georges Elhedery has been appointed as the new CEO of HSBC.
• He will replace the outgoing CEO Noel Quinn on September 2, 2024.
• Elhedery has been with HSBC since 2005 and has held several key positions.
• Most recently, he was the co-head of the Global Banking and Markets business since 2020.
• Noel Quinn: The outgoing CEO of HSBC who led the bank for five years and will be replaced by Georges Elhedery.
• Ewen Stevenson: The previous CFO of HSBC who was succeeded by Georges Elhedery in October 2022.
• HSBC’s Focus: Under Quinn, the bank sold assets, navigated the global pandemic, and responded to investor pressure to break up the bank, achieving record profits.
• Strategic Shift: HSBC is increasingly focusing on its Asian ties to drive profitability, continuing its strategy since the 2008 financial crisis.

09. What is the name of the upskilling program launched by NFDC and Netflix for voice-over artists in India?
(a) The Voicebox
(b) The Soundbox
(c) The Speechbox
(d) The Narrator

• The upskilling program for voice-over artists in India is named “The Voicebox.”
• It is a collaborative initiative between the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and Netflix India.
• The program focuses on providing Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) training in multiple languages including English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Gujarati.
• Structured workshops featuring guest lectures, mentoring sessions, and assessments will be conducted in seven major cities in India.

10. Which of the following countries recently had its Supreme Court uphold a decision granting spousal coverage to same-sex couples?
(a) Japan
(b) Singapore
(c) China
(d) South Korea

• South Korea’s Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex couples are eligible for national health insurance dependent coverage, a landmark decision that addresses serious discrimination based on gender.
• The ruling allows same-sex couples to register their partners as dependents for health insurance, granting them similar benefits to those enjoyed by married or common-law couples.
• The case was initiated by So Seong-wook in 2021 after his request to include his partner, Kim Yong-min, as a dependent was denied by the national health insurance service, leading to a legal battle.
• An appeals court had previously overturned the initial rejection, arguing that while So and Kim’s relationship did not fit the legal definition of common-law marriage, they should still receive dependent coverage.
• The Supreme Court’s decision endorsed the appeals court’s ruling, recognizing same-sex couples’ economic cohabitation as equivalent to that of married or common-law couples.
• Activists and supporters view this ruling as a crucial step toward broader legal recognition of same-sex marriage in South Korea and increased equality for sexual minorities.
• Despite conservative opposition, public opinion is gradually shifting, with support for same-sex marriage rising from 17% in the early 2000s to 40% in recent surveys.