DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: July 6, 2024

Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi appointed Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court

Tags: Person in news

Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, effective immediately.

An Overview of the News

• Sarangi was earlier serving as a judge in the Orissa High Court and was recommended for the post by the Supreme Court collegium in December last year.

• Justice Muhammad Mustaque Ayumanthakath, currently a judge in the Kerala High Court, has been appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court from July 5.

• Muhammad Mustaque's appointment follows the retirement of Chief Justice Ashish Jitendra Desai, who has reached the age of 62.

• Justice Chandrasekhar, a judge of the Jharkhand High Court, has been transferred to the Rajasthan High Court.

Other Appointments

• Justice Sheel Nagu has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

• Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva has been appointed as the new Acting Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

About Jharkhand

• Founded - 15 November 2000

• Before was - Part of Bihar

• Capital - Ranchi

• Chief minister - Hemant Soren

• Governor - C. P. Radhakrishnan

• Symbols of Jharkhand

  • Bird -  Koel

  • Flower - Palash

  • Mammal - Indian elephant

  • Tree - Sal

Bajaj Auto Launches World’s First CNG-Powered Motorcycle "Freedom"

Tags: Science and Technology

On June 5, Pune-based Bajaj Auto launched the world's first CNG-powered motorcycle.

An Overview of the News

• The motorcycle is priced between Rs 95,000 and Rs 1,10,000 and will be rolled out nationwide in phases.

• Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari unveiled the bike.

• Bajaj Auto Company launched an EV in 2022 and plans to make 10,000 CNG bikes every month.

Bike Specifications:

• Named "Freedom", the bike has a 2-kg CNG cylinder and a 2-litre petrol tank.

• It has a 125cc engine, longest seat length and state-of-the-art technology.

• The bike can switch to petrol when the CNG runs out and has passed 11 safety tests.

Bajaj Auto

• Founded -  29 November 1945

• CEO - Rajiv Bajaj

• Parent -  Bajaj Group

• Headquarters - Pune

Madhya Pradesh Launches 'Lokpath Mobile App' to Expedite Road Issue Resolution

Tags: State News

The 'Lokpath Mobile App' was launched by Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav on July 2, 2024, at the Vidhan Sabha Media Center in Bhopal.

An Overview of the News

• Developed by Madhya Pradesh State Electronic Development Corporation Limited (MPSEDC), the app was created by the Public Works Department (PWD).

• It allows the public to report road issues by submitting images directly to officials.

• Officials are mandated to address reported problems within seven days and update the resolution status on the app.

Implementation and Features Of 'Lokpath Mobile App':

• Aims to improve 40,000 kilometers of roads in Madhya Pradesh, addressing national highways, state highways, and major district roads.

• Phase one began on July 2, 2024, focusing on national highways, state highways, and main district roads.

• Phase two will extend improvements to other district and rural roads, scheduled for later implementation.

• Despite challenges like heavy rainfall and traffic, the app facilitates timely issue resolution and accountability among officials.

About Madhya Pradesh

• In terms of area, it is the second largest state of India after Rajasthan.

• According to the Indian Forest Status Report-2021, Madhya Pradesh has the maximum forest cover in the country in terms of area.

• 25.14% of its area is covered by forests.

• National Parks - Panna National Park, Pench National Park

• Wildlife Sanctuaries - Gangau Wildlife Sanctuary, Ghatigaon wildlife sanctuary

  • Chief Minister - Dr. Mohan Yadav

  • Governor - Mangubhai C. Patel

  • Capital - Bhopal

Renowned Albanian Novelist and Poet Ismail Kadare Passes Away at 88 in Tirana

Tags: Person in news

Ismail Kadare, a renowned Albanian novelist and poet, passed away at 88 in Tirana, Albania. 

An Overview of the News

• Kadare was born on 28th January 1936, in Gjirokaster, Albania. 

• He initially focused on short stories before publishing his first novel, "The General of the Dead Army" (1963), which was later adapted into an Italian drama film directed by Luciano Tovoli.

• In 1990, Kadare sought political asylum in France and issued statements advocating for democratization.

Noted Works Of Ismail Kadare

• Themes: Kadare's novels often draw on Balkan history and legends.

• Translations: His works have been published in about 30 languages.

• Popular Works:

  • Chronicle in Stone (1977)

  • Broken April (1978)

  • The Concert (1988)

Awards and Honours

• French Government Recognition:

  • Made a lifetime member of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences of France in 1996.

  • Appointed Commander of Arts and Letters in 1996.

  • Awarded the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor title by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2023.

• International Awards:

  • Prix Mondial Cino Del Duca (1992)

  • Inaugural Man Booker International Prize (2005)

  • Prince of Asturias Award of Arts (2009)

  • Jerusalem Prize (2015)

Siddhartha Mohanty Reappointed MD and CEO of LIC

Tags: Person in news

Siddhartha Mohanty, who served as Chairman of Life Insurance Corporation(LIC) from April 2023 to June 2024, has been re-designated as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective from June 30, 2024.

An Overview of the News

• Siddhartha Mohanty served as Chairman of LIC from April 2023 until June 29, 2024.

• He was additionally appointed as MD and CEO of LIC starting from June 2024 until June 7, 2025.

• He initially held the interim chairman position from March 2023 for a term of 3 years.

• Currently, LIC has four other Managing Directors: M. Jagannath, Tablesh Pandey, Sat Pal Bhanoo, and R. Doraiswamy.

Background of Siddhartha Mohanty:

• Siddhartha Mohanty began his career with LIC as an apprentice officer in 1985. 

• Over nearly 40 years, he has held various roles within LIC, including Executive Director (Legal) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at LIC Housing Finance Limited (HFL).

• From 2019 to 2021, he served as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LIC HFL.

• Siddhartha Mohanty has also held positions such as Senior Divisional Manager in Raipur (Chhattisgarh) and Cuttack (Odisha) during his tenure at LIC.

• Currently, he holds the position of Director on the Board of Kenindia Assurance Limited, a Life and Non-Life Insurance Company based in Kenya.

About LIC

• It is India's largest life insurance company and investment company.

• Known for innovative and profitable policies.

• Sets benchmarks in the insurance market.

• It is owned by the Government of India and under the Ministry of Finance.

  • Chairman: Siddhartha Mohanty

  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra

  • Established: 1956 

ICICI Bank Launches 'Student Sapphiro Forex Card' for Indian Students Abroad

Tags: Economics/Business

ICICI Bank launched the 'Student Sapphiro Forex Card' on July 2, 2024, designed for Indian students going abroad for higher education.

An Overview of the News

• It is a Visa-powered prepaid card aimed at managing various expenses including admission fees, course fees, travel, dining, and groceries.

• Applications for the card can be submitted through the official ICICI Bank website or its banking application, iMobile Pay.

Key Features

• Currency Support: Operates in 15 currencies without cross-currency mark-up charges

• Joining Benefits: Up to Rs 15,000 in benefits, including exclusive privileges

• Reload Options: Available via iMobile Pay and internet banking

Benefits

• International Lounge Access: Two annual complimentary lounge passes worth USD 99

• Free International SIM Card: Enhanced connectivity for students

• Vouchers: Includes Rs 1,000 Uber vouchers

• International Student Identity Card (ISIC): Membership worth Rs 999, recognized in 130 countries

• Card Protection Plus: Insurance coverage up to Rs 5 lakh for lost or counterfeit cards

• ATM Fee Waivers: Three monthly waivers on cash withdrawals for 5 years

• Cashback: 5% cashback on online grocery shopping and transit bookings

• No Extra Charges: No fees on cross-currency transactions

• Welcome Kit: Includes primary and replacement cards; replacement card activation available in case of loss or damage

About ICICI Bank:

• Managing Director (MD) and CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi

• Founded: 1994

• HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra

• Tagline: "Hum hai na, Khayal Apka"

Oscar-Winning Screenwriter Robert Towne Dies at 89 in Los Angeles

Tags: Person in news

Robert Towne, the acclaimed American screenwriter who won an Oscar, died at 89 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

An Overview of the News

• Towne was born on November 23, 1934, in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Career Beginnings:

• Started as a screenplay writer for television series:

  • "The Lloyd Bridges Show" (1962)

  • "The Outer Limits" (1995)

  • "The Man from U.N.C.L.E" (2015)

• Wrote the screenplay for "Last Woman on Earth" (1960), produced by Roger Corman

Notable Works:

• Wrote and directed:

  • "Personal Best" (1982)

  • "Tequila Sunrise" (1988)

  • "Without Limits" (1998)

  • "Ask the Dust" (2006)

• Screenwriter for:

  • "Days of Thunder" (1990)

  • "The Firm" (1993)

  • "Mission: Impossible" (1996)

  • "Mission: Impossible 2" (2000)

Awards & Honors:

• 1975: Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Writing and Original Screenplay for "Chinatown" (1974)

• Also won for "Chinatown":

  • British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) for Best Screenplay

  • Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Motion Picture

  • Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay Motion Picture

• 1975: National Society of Film Critics (NSFC) award for best screenplay for "Shampoo"

• 1997: Lifetime Achievement award by the Writers Guild of America

• 2002: Hollywood Film Award for Outstanding Achievement in Screenwriting