DAILY GK 12-13 DEC 2024

 DAILY GK 12-13 DEC 2024

1.       QATAR GRAND PRIX 2024

·         Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) won the Formula 1 (F1) Qatar Grand Prix 2024 which was held at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail, Qatar.

·         Monégasque racing driver Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) secured the 2nd spot for Ferrari and Australia’s Oscar Piastri (McLaren) claimed the 3rd spot.

 

2.       SYED MODI INTERNATIONAL TENNIS 2024

·         Indian shuttlers Pusarla Venkata (P.V) Sindhu and Lakshya Sen won the women’s and men’s singles titles, respectively, at the Syed Modi India International Super 300 tournament held at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP).

·         P.V Sindhu defeated the world number 119 Wu Luo Yu of the People’s Republic of China to win the Women’s Singles finals

·         Lakshya Sen defeated Jia Heng Jason Teh of Singapore to win the Men’s Singles finals

 

3.       MEN’S JUNIOR HOCKEY ASIA CUP 2024

·         The Indian hockey team defeated Pakistan by 5-3 in the final to win the Men’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2024 held in Muscat, Oman.

·         This victory marked India’s fifth title (2004, 2008, 2015 and 2023.)

·         Pakistan secured the 2nd spot in the tournament while Japan defeated Malaysia by 2-1 to claim the 3rd spot.

·         Hockey India announced a cash reward of 2 lakhs to each player and 1 lakh to each support staff member on the title win.

·         Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team currently coached by two-time Olympic medallist Parattu Raveendran (PR) Sreejesh and lead by Amir Ali

·         Player of the Tournament- Araijeet Singh Hundal (India)

·         Goalkeeper of the Tournament- Rafaizul Saini (Malaysia)

·         The Men’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup is a men’s international under-21 field hockey tournament organized by the Asian Hockey Federation.

·         The tournament was first held in 1988 and serves as a qualification tournament for the Men’s FIH (International Hockey Federation) Hockey Junior World Cup.

 

4.       WORLD BANK REPORT ON INDIA’S EXTERNAL DEBT

·         According to the World Bank’s latest International Debt Report (IDR) 2024, India’s total external debt has increased by USD 31 billion to USD 646.79 billion in 2023.

·         The report revealed that interest payment increased from USD 15.08 billion (in 2022) to USD 22.54 billion (in 2023).

·         While, the debt for the International Development Association (IDA)-eligible nations touched to USD 1.1 trillion, an increase of approximately 18%.

·         As per the report, the long-term debt stocks have increased by 7% to USD 498 billion in 2023, while short-term debt stocks decreased marginally to USD 126.32 billion in 2023.

·         World Bank (WB) President– Ajay Banga

·         Headquarters– Washington DC

·         Established– 1944

 

5.       INDIA AND ADB SIGN USD 50 MILLION LOAN FOR MEGHALAYA

·         The Government of India (GoI) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a significant USD 50 million loan agreement to enhance water security and climate resilience in Meghalaya.

·         The Climate-Adaptative Community-Based Water-Harvesting Project aims to address water scarcity, improve agricultural productivity and strengthen community resilience to climate change through advanced water harvesting systems.

·         The project aligned with the Meghalaya State Water Policy (MSWP) 2019 will integrate climate adaptation strategies into water resource management.

·         Megahalaya Chief Minister (CM)– Conrad K Sangma

·         Governor- C. H. Vijayashankar

·         Capital– Shillong

·         Asian Development Bank (ADB)

·         President – Masatsugu Asakawa

·         Headquarters– Manila, Philippines

·         Established– 1966

·         Members- 69

 

6.       INTEROPERABILITY FOR STOCK EXCHANGES FROM 1ST APRIL 2025

·         SEBI has outlined a comprehensive Business Continuity Plan (BCP) for interoperability of stock exchanges and clearing corporations to address the issue of trading outages or glitches.

·         The interoperability for cash, derivatives, and interest rate derivatives will come into effect from April 1, 2025.

·         The SEBI was constituted as a non-statutory body on April 12, 1988 through a resolution of the Government of India (GoI).

·         It was given statutory powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992.

·         Chairperson– Madhabi Puri Buch(First woman)

·         Headquarters- Mumbai

 

7.       RBI’S 5TH BI-MONTHLY MONETARY POLICY OF FY25

·         The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met from 4th December to 6th December 2024 and released its 5th Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy of Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25).

·         The six-member rate-setting panel has revised India’s FY25 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast down to 6.6% from the previous projection of 7.2% for FY25.

·         The December FY25 meeting was RBI’s 52nd MPC meeting.

·         RBI has projected the real GDP growth for 2024-25 with Q3 at 6.8% and Q4 at 7.2%. 

·         Real GDP growth for Q1:2025-26 is projected at 6.9%; and Q2 at 7.3%.

·         RBI raises FY25 inflation estimate to 4.8%

·         RBI reduces CRR to 4% to ease anticipated liquidity stress

·         RBI increases collateral free loan limit for farmers from Rs 1.6 lakh to Rs 2 lakh

·         RBI unveils MuleHunter to prevent digital frauds

·         RBI to link FX-Retail platform to NPCI Bharat Connect

·         RBI to introduce new benchmark SORR based on secured money markets

 

8.       WORLD COMPUTER LITERACY DAY 2024 – DECEMBER 02

·         The World Computer Literacy Day (WCLD) was observed across the globe on 2nd December to raise awareness about the importance of digital skills and computer literacy in the modern technological world, especially for women and children.

·         WCLD was established to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT) on 2nd December 2001, to bridge the global digital divide.

·         National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT) Headquarters – Gurugram, Haryana

·         Established – 1981

 

9.       INTERNATIONAL DAY OF BANKS 2024- DECEMBER 4

·         The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Banks is annually observed across the globe on December 4 to recognize crucial role of banking systems in enhancing living standards and fostering sustainable development across member nations.

·         The Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) is a comprehensive global framework aimed at financing sustainable development.

·         The Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) was adopted on July 27, 2015,during the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD3).

·         The UN Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB), introduced in 2019, work in partnership with the banking community to drive a positive global transformation for the benefit of people and the planet

·         Government of India (GoI) nationalized around 20 major private banks between 1969 and 1991, in two phases—1969 and 1980—and introduced priority sector lending (PSL) in 1972.

 

10.    INDIAN NAVY DAY 2024 – DECEMBER 04 

·         Indian Navy Day is annually observed across India on December 4th to recognise the role and achievements of the Indian Navy in ensuring the safety of the nation.

·         The day also commemorates Operation Trident, Indian Navy’s offensive operation conducted during the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971.

·         The theme for 2024 is “Strength and Power through Innovation and Indigenization”.

·         On May 1, 1830, the East India Company came under British control and was granted combatant status, becoming the Indian Navy.

·         In 1858, it was renamed “Her Majesty’s Indian Navy.”

·         The Indian Navy adopted the Vedic invocation to Lord Varuna, “Sam no Varunah,” as its motto, meaning “Be auspicious unto us, O Varuna.”

·         Indian Navy full form -Nautical Army of Volunteer Yeomen

·         Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)– Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi

·         Headquarters- New Delhi

 

11.    WORLD SOIL DAY 2024 – DECEMBER 05

·         The United Nations (UN’s) World Soil Day (WSD) was annually observed across the globe on 5th December to raise awareness about the critical importance of healthy soil and promote the sustainable management of soil resources.

·         The theme of WSD 2024 is “Caring for soils: measure, monitor, manage”.

·         The 2024 King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award was presented by FAO to the Water and Soil Department of the Ministry of Agriculture Jahad of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

·         The 2024 Glinka Prize was given to the Land Development Department (LDD), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand.

·         Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)Headquarters – Rome, Italy

·         Founded – 1945