Daily Current Affairs Today MCQ : 18 February 2023 Quiz

An Indian-American, Neal Mohan will become the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Alphabet-owned YouTube.

Susan Wojcicki has announced that she will be stepping down from her role as the head of the video-sharing platform.

With this, Mohan will be joining the elite list of global tech chiefs of Indian origin such as Google parent Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, IBM’s Arvind Krishna, and Adobe’s Shantanu Narayen.

Neal Mohan -

In 2007, DoubleClick was bought by Google. Aftermath, Neal Mohan played a key role in advancing Google’s advertising products, including AdWords, AdSense, and DoubleClick.

A Stanford graduate, 49-year-old Neal Mohan has been serving as YouTube’s chief product officer since 2015.

About YouTube -

Founders: Jawed Karim, Chad Hurley, Steve Chen

Founded: 14 February 2005, San Mateo, California, United States

Headquarters: San Bruno, California, United States

Parent organization: Google

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made changes to the NEFT and RTGS systems for Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) related transactions following the Home Ministry’s order for State Bank of India (SBI) to report details of overseas donors on a daily basis including the purpose of remittances.

Under the FCRA, foreign contributions can only be received in the "FCRA account" of SBI’s New Delhi Main Branch, with contributions coming directly from foreign banks through SWIFT and from Indian intermediary banks through NEFT and RTGS systems.

Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) -

The FCRA was enacted during the Emergency in 1976 in an atmosphere of apprehension that foreign powers were interfering in India’s affairs by pumping in funds through independent organisations.

These concerns had been expressed in Parliament as early as in 1969.

The law sought to regulate foreign donations to individuals and associations so that they functioned "in a manner consistent with the values of a sovereign democratic republic".

Amendments in FCRA -

It was amended in 2010 to "consolidate the law" on utilisation of foreign funds, and "to prohibit" their use for "any activities detrimental to national interest".

The law was amended again by the current government in 2020, giving the government tighter control and scrutiny over the receipt and utilisation of foreign funds by NGOs.

India and Japan has kick started an exercise "Ex Dharma Guardian" at Camp Imazu in Shiga Province, Japan from February 17 to March 2, 2023.

The Indian Army contingent arrived at the exercise location on February 12, 2023.

India and Japan will kick off an exercise "Ex Dharma Guardian" at Camp Imazu in Shiga Province, Japan from February 17 to March 2, 2023.

The Indian Army contingent arrived at the exercise location on February 12, 2023.

Other Exercise between India and Japan -

Malabar Exercise

Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX)

Shinyuu Maitri

Indian and Spanish leaders agreed to collaborate on issues such as digital infrastructure, climate action, clean energy transition and sustainable.

They reviewed ongoing bilateral initiatives and expressed satisfaction at the recent high-level exchanges and growing cooperation in defence, economic and commercial sectors.

They agreed to collaborate on issues such as digital infrastructure, climate action, clean energy transition and sustainable development.

India’s Outreach For G-20 Summit -

PM Modi briefed his Spanish counterpart on India’s priorities for the G-20 Presidency oriented towards working to promote oneness based on the theme of Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam (One Earth, One Family, One Future).

Prime Minister Sánchez extended full support to India’s initiatives under its G-20 Presidency.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Jal Jan Abhiyan virtually on Abu Road in the Sirohi district of Rajasthan.

PM Modi noted that the 21st-century world is realizing the seriousness of limited water resources on earth and pointed out that water security is a huge question for India due to its large population.

The Prime Minister highlighted the sages of India who had created a restrained, balanced, and sensitive system regarding nature, the environment, and water thousands of years ago.

Current Government Initiatives Related to Water Management -

National Water Policy, 2012

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana

Jal Shakti Abhiyan- Catch the Rain Campaign

Atal Bhujal Yojana

The "Don’t Choose Extinction" campaign, launched by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to raise awareness about the climate emergency, has won Gold and Silver in two different categories at the 2nd Annual Anthem Awards.

This was announced by The International Academy of Digital Arts & Science (IADAS), which was launched by the Webby Awards in 2021.

The Awards are intended to celebrate mission-driven work and the social impact of individuals, corporations and organizations.

Its goal is to define a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their communities.

About the ’Don’t Choose Extinction’ campaign -

UNDP’s ’Don’t Choose Extinction’ campaign and film shines a spotlight on fossil fuel subsidies and their negative impact on the planet.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has recently launched a chatbot to help people get an answer to their queries related to the Aadhaar card.

It is called "Aadhaar Mitra".

The Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)-a based chatbot can answer queries related to Aadhaar enrolment number, PVC Card order status, and complaint status, among other things.

It is available in both English and Hindi languages.

The Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh will host the first-ever frozen lake marathon on 20th February 2023, at an altitude of roughly 13,862 feet.

The first-ever frozen lake marathon which is of 21-kilometer is India’s first of its kind.

The marathon will occur at a height of 13,862 feet and it will be the first of its kind to ever take place in the globe at this altitude.

On 20th February Adventure Sports foundation of Ladakh (ASFL) in collaboration with Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh and Ladakh Tourism Department is going to organize India’s first 21 km long Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon.

President ASFL, Chamb Tsetan informed that it will be a once-in-a-lifetime-experience with the Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon to be held on 20 February 2023

Participants will run on frozen sheets of ice on the majestic Pangong Lake during the one-day event.

Public sector Indian Overseas Bank has launched the facility of issuance of e-BG (Electronic Bank Guarantee) scheme in association with the National e-Governance Services Ltd.

The e-BG is an instrument issued by the city-headquartered bank in which the bank undertakes to guarantee a specific amount against the non-fulfillment of some action/performance of the applicant.

Key Points -

The main features of the e-BG are completely paperless mode with digital stamping and digital signature.

The Indian Overseas bank is one of the pioneers in launching the Bank Guarantee through digital mode.

Indian Overseas Bank -

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) is an Indian public sector bank based in Chennai.

It has about 3,214 domestic branches, about 4 foreign branches, and a representative office.

The bank was founded in February 1937 by M Ct M Chidambaram Chettyar with twin objectives of specializing in foreign exchange business and overseas banking, it has created various milestones in Indian Banking Sector.

Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar has been named as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff, while incumbent Lt Gen B S Raju will take charge as South Western Army Commander.

Lt Gen Kumar has been promoted as Army Commander and appointed as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff.

He is serving as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) in the Army Headquarters at present.

Lt Gen Kumar is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla.

He was commissioned into 1 Assam Regiment in June 1985.

He has commanded the 59 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, an Infantry Brigade and an Infantry Division on the Line of Control.

Lt Gen Kumar has also commanded the highly active White Knight Corps.

He has held the posts of Additional Director General Military Intelligence and Director General Military Intelligence at the Army headquarters.

Other Important Appointments -

Lt Gen Rashim Bali has been appointed as the commander of Leh-based 14 Corps which takes care of security along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in the Ladakh sector.

Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta, the current commander of the 14 Corps, will become the new Chief of Staff of Udhampur headquartered Northern Command.

Lt Gen NSR Subramani, currently the Chief of Staff at the headquarters of the Northern Command in Udhampur, has been promoted to the rank of Army Commander and appointed as the next Central Army Commander.