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Contents
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10-Jan World Hindi Day In 1975, the first-ever World Hindi Conference took place in
Maharashtra’s Nagpur on January 10
World Hindi Day was first celebrated in 2006. Former Prime Minister
Dr. Manmohan Singh adopted it.
Theme 2023 – Hindi: Traditional Knowledge to Artificial Intelligence.
National Hindi Day on September 14.
11- 17 National Road safety week Organised by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Jan
12-Jan National Youth Day birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda
Celebrated since 1984
26th edition ,Theme – ‘Viksit Yuva Viksit Bharat’
14-Jan Armed Forces veteran day initially called Armistice Day. celebrated to honour the sacrifice of our
veterans in serving the nation.
Field Marshal KM Cariappa, the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the
Indian Armed Forces retired on 14 January 1953.
14-Jan International Kite Day Observed in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, since 1989
Popularly called Makar Sankranti - marks the end of winter as well as
the beginning of longer days on account of the sun's northward
journey.
Different Names of Sankranti Festival in Different States
In UP and Gujarat, the festival is known as Uttarayan or Kicheri.
In Odisha, it is called Makara Chaula
In Bihar - Til Sakraat or Dahi Chura.
Kerala - Makaravilakku.
Karnataka - Suggi.
Tamil Nadu - as Pongal
In Maharashtra and Goa - Haldi Kumkum or Maghi Sankrant.
In Himachal Pradesh - Magha Saaji.
In Assam - Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu.
In West Bengal - Poush Sankranti.
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15-Jan Indian Army Day In recognition of Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa's (then a Lieutenant
General) taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian
Army in 1949.
15-Jan Foundation Day of India Its inception 148 years ago on 15 January 1875.
Meteorological Department Headquarters – New Delhi
(IMD) IMD works under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
16 Jan National Startup Day Objective – To promote and encourage upcoming businesses in the
country.
On January 15, 2022, PM Modi first announced the adoption of the
day.
To celebrate this day, the Ministry of Commerce has organized Startup
India Innovation Week from 10 to 16 January 2023.
19-Jan 18th National Disaster National Disaster Response Force was formed in 2006 under the
Response Force (NDRF) Disaster Management Act.
Raising Day It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Director General of NDRF - Atul Karwal
21-Jan Manipur, Meghalaya, and The government of India granted their statehood on January 21, 1972,
Tripura Statehood day under the North Eastern Region (Reorganization) Act, 1971.
23-Jan Parakram Diwas He was born on January 23, 1897, at Cuttack in Odisha and his birthday
(126th Birth anniversary of is being celebrated as ‘Parakram Divas’ (day of valor) since 2022.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose)
24-Jan International Day of UNESCO dedicated this day on 24th of January 2023 to Afghan girls
Education to Afghan Girls and women.
24-Jan National Girl Child Day Started by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and
the Government of India in 2008
24-Jan International Education Day Theme 2023 – To Invest in People, Prioritise Education
It was announced by the United Nations General Assembly on 3
December 2018 (4th Edition)
National Education Day in India - 11 November.
24-Jan Foundation Day of Uttar The initiative to celebrate ‘Uttar Pradesh Day’ was taken by the then
Pradesh Governor Ram Naik in 2018.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh was known as United Provinces. On January 24,
1950, it was recognized as Uttar Pradesh.
The main theme of the ‘Uttar Pradesh Day’ 2023 is ‘Investment and
Employment’.
25-Jan National Tourism Day Theme 2022 - Rural and Community Centric Tourism
25-Jan National Voters Day Theme 2023 – Nothing Like Voting, I Vote For Sure
Marks the Foundation day of Election Commission of India (1950).
Started in 2011
25-Jan Himachal Pradesh Statehood 53rd Statehood Day
Day It was on this day in 1971 that Himachal Pradesh became the 18th
state of India.
After India’s independence, Himachal Pradesh was formed on 15 April
1948, by uniting 30 hill princely states of the region.
It was granted the status of a Union Territory on November 1, 1956.
26-Jan International Customs Day Theme 2023 – Nurturing the next generation: promoting a culture of
knowledge-sharing and professional pride in Customs
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Which day is observed as ‘National Tourism Day’? Which day is observed as ‘Parakram Diwas’?
• 24 January • 15 January
• 25 January • 23 January
• 27 January • 25 January
• 28 January • 29 January
9 January is observed as : What was the theme of the ‘National Voters Day’
a) Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas 2023?
b) Data Privacy Day • To Invest in People, Prioritise Education
c) National Voters Day • Nothing Like Voting, I Vote For Sure
d) National Startup Day • Making Elections Inclusive, Accessible, and
Participatory
24 January is observed as: • None of the above
• Armed Forces veteran day
• National Tourism Day
• National Girl Child Day
• National Youth Day
February
Which 2 North Eastern states got their statehood on 20th February?
2 Feb World Wetlands Day Theme 2023- It’s Time for Wetlands Restoration
it marks the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on this date in
1971 in Ramsar, Iran.
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4 Feb International Day of Human raising awareness about different cultures and religions, or beliefs, and
Fraternity the promotion of tolerance.
4 Feb World Cancer Day Slogan - 'Close the care gap’
Blue and Orange are the official colour for world cancer day 2023.
10 Feb National De-Worming Day Initiative of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to make every
child in the country worm free. First round of NDD was conducted in
February 2015
10 Feb World Pulses Day Theme 2023: Pulses for a Sustainable Future
established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN to
recognize the importance of pulses as a global food.
11 Feb International Day of Women Theme - Innovate. Demonstrate. Elevate. Advance. I.D.E.A.: Bringing
and Girls in Science communities Forward for sustainable and equitable development.
12 Feb National Productivity Day This day is a part of the National Productivity Week celebrations,
which is observed from 12 February to 18 February in India.
Productivity Week Theme 2023
“Productivity, Green Growth and Sustainability: Celebrating India’s G-
20 Presidency”
13 Feb World Radio Day Theme 2022 is "Radio and Peace".
13 Feb National Women's Day Sarojini Naidu’s Birth Anniversary
nickname 'Nightingale of India' or 'Bharat Kokila'
13–17 RBI’s Financial Literacy Week Theme: "Good Financial Behaviour, Your Saviour”.
Feb The theme aligned with the strategic objectives of the National Strategy
for Financial Education: 2020-2025.
20 Feb Mizoram & Arunachal Arunachal Pradesh became the 24th state of India and is also known as
Pradesh Statehood Day the ‘land of the rising sun’.
Mizoram was declared a UT in 1972 under the Northeast Areas
(Reorganisation) Act of 1971.
It became the 23rd state of India after the 53rd Amendment to the
Indian Constitution in 1986.
20 Feb World Day of Social Justice Theme 2023 – Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities for
Social Justice
21 Feb International Mother Theme 2023 – Multilingual Education – a necessity to transform
Language Day education
22 Feb World Scout Day Birthday of Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting
24 Feb Central Excise Day Celebrated to commemorate the legislation of the Central Excise and
Salt Act on 24 February 1944.
27 Feb World NGO Day Theme 2023 – The role and influence of NGOs in advancing human
rights
27 Feb National Protein Day Theme – Easy Access to Protein for All
to create awareness about protein deficiency and encourage people to
include this macronutrient in their diet
28 Feb National Science Day Theme: “Global Science for Global Wellbeing”
to mark the discovery of the Raman effect by Indian physicist Sir C. V.
Raman, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.
The breakthrough discovery earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in
1930.
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March
DATE DAY THEME/ REMARK
1 Mar Zero Discrimination Day Theme 2023: “Save lives: Decriminalise”
to promote equality before the law and in practice throughout all of the
member countries of the UN
1 Mar World Civil Defence Day Theme 2023: Uniting the world’s leading specialists for the safety and
security of future generations”.
3 Mar World Wildlife Day Theme 2023- "Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation”
4 Mar National Safety Day Theme 2023: ‘Nurture young minds – Develop safety culture’
observed to celebrate the base and foundation of the National Safety
Council in 1972.
and to enhance the safety awareness among people.
7 Mar Jan Aushadhi Diwas Theme 2023 – Jan Aushadhi – Sasti bhi Acchi bhi
The Jan Aushadi Diwas was launched on 7 March 2019, by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi as part of the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya
Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
8 Mar International Women's Day Theme 2023 - DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality
During International Women’s Year in 1975, the UN celebrated its first
official International Women’s Day.
8 Mar No Smoking Day Theme 2023: “Stopping smoking improves your brain health”.
(second Wednesday of March)
10 Mar International Day of Women to honour all-female judges who have taken the lead in the fight against
Judges social injustice.
10 Mar CISF Raising Day On this day, in 1969, the CISF was set up. It is directly under the Union
Central Industrial Security Ministry of Home Affairs. The objective of the CISF is - Better protection
Force and security of industrial undertakings in both government and private
sectors
14 Mar Pi Day OR International Day Theme 2023 – Mathematics for Everyone
of Mathematics The day is written in the month and date (MM/DD) format to represent
the value of Pi which is 3.14.
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The first Pi Day was celebrated in 1988, by physicist Larry Shaw at the
San Francisco Exploratorium.
14 Mar International Day of Action Theme 2023 – Rights of Rivers
for Rivers The first International Day of Action for Rivers was observed in March
1997.
15 Mar World Consumer Rights Day Theme 2023 – Empowering Consumers Through Clean Energy
Transitions
The first World Consumer Rights Day was observed on March 15, 1983
16 Mar National Immunisation/ The first dose of the Oral Polio Vaccine was administered in 1995 on this
Vaccination Day date, under WHO’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative which had begun
in 1988.
18 Mar Ordnance Factories Day The production of India’s oldest Ordnance Factory, which is at Cossipore
(India) of Kolkata, was started on the 18th of March, 1802.The day is
celebrated by displaying the rifles, guns, artillery, ammunition etc in
exhibitions all over India.
18 Mar Global Recycling Day Theme 2023 is “Creative Innovation”.
20 Mar World Sparrow Day Theme 2023 is “I Love Sparrows.”
20 Mar International Day of Theme 2023 – Be Mindful, Be Grateful, Be Kind
Happiness The United Nations started the event in 2013
20 Mar World Oral Health Day Theme (2021 – 2023),'Be Proud of Your Mouth.
20 Mar French Language Day To celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote
equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization
21 Mar World Down Syndrome Day Theme 2023 – With Us, Not For Us
World Down Syndrome Day was first observed in 2006
21 Mar International Day of Forests 2023 theme: Forests and health
21 Mar International Day for the -
Elimination of Racial
Discrimination
21 Mar International Day of Nowruz Iranian New Year, celebrated by Zorastrians. Nowruz, meaning “new
day”, is an ancestral festivity marking the first day of spring and the
renewal of nature. Observed on the day of the astronomical vernal
equinox
22 Mar World Water Day Theme for 2023 is "Accelerating the change to solve the water and
sanitation crisis.”
UNGA adopted World Water Day in 1992.
22 Mar Bihar observed its 111th On this day, the state of Bihar was carved out from the Bengal
foundation day presidency in 1912.
Theme of the 2023 event is “Yuva Shakti Bihar ki Pragati”.
23 Mar World Meteorological Day 2023 theme: The future of weather, climate, and water across
generations
Commemorates the establishment of the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO), on March 23, 1950.
23 Mar Shaheed Diwas to honour the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Shivram Rajguru, and
Sukhdev Thapar in 1931.
24 Mar World Tuberculosis Day Theme 2023: "Yes! We can end TB!".
On March 24, 1882, Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis.
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25 Mar International Day of Theme 2023 – Fighting Slavery’s Legacy of Racism Through
Remembrance of the Victims Transformative Education
of Slavery and the The day honours and remembers those who suffered and died as a
Transatlantic Slave Trade consequence of the transatlantic slave trade.
27 Mar World Theatre Day Theme 2023 – Theatre and a Culture of Peace
30 Mar Rajasthan Day The State was formed on 30th March 1949 when Rajputana – name as
adopted by British Crown was merged into the Dominion of India
30 Mar International Day of Zero Observed for the first time on 30 March 2023 and jointly facilitated by
Waste UNEP and UN-Habitat, aims to raise awareness of the importance of
zero waste
The day encourages people to adopt practices that minimize waste,
reuse and recycle materials, and reduce the amount of waste
generated.
April
Date Day Theme
1 April Utkal Dibasa (Odisha Day) On 1st April 1936, the state of Odisha came into existence.
Odisha was separated from the Bengal province.
1-7 April Prevention of Blindness Week National Society for the Prevention of Blindness Week was founded
2023 in 1960 (Under the Societies Registration Act of 1860) with Jawaharlal
Nehru and Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur being its founding patrons.
2 April World Autism Day Theme - Transformation: Towards a Neuro-Inclusive World for All/
Transforming the narrative: Contributions at home, at work, in the
arts and in policymaking
The very first World Autism Day was observed in the year 2008 on
April 2.
4 April International Day of Mine Theme 2023: Mine Action Cannot Wait
Awareness and Assistance in On 8 December 2005, the General Assembly declared that 4 April to
Mine Action observe as this day.
5 April National Maritime Day India observed the 60th National Maritime Day on April 5, 2023, to
National Maritime Week 2023 commemorate the sailing of the first Indian commercial vessel, SS
(30 March-5 April) Loyalty, from Mumbai to London.
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16 April Save the Elephant Day Theme 2023 is "Protecting Elephant Habitats for a Sustainable
Tomorrow".
The event was first celebrated on 16 April 2012
17 April World Haemophilia Day 2023 Haemophilia - a rare genetic blood disorder which inhibits the
clotting of blood, leading to significant bleeding during injuries and
surgeries.
Theme 2023 is “Access for All: Prevention of Bleeds as the Global
Standard of Care.”
18 April International Day For Approved by the General Assembly of UNESCO in 1983.
Monuments and Sites 2023 Theme 2023 – HERITAGE CHANGES.
17 - 21 National Panchayat Awards Theme is Panchayaton ke Sankalpon ki Siddhi ka Utsav (पंचायतों के
April Week
संकल्पों की ससद्धि का उत्सव)
21 April World Creativity and Theme in 2023: “step out and innovate”
Innovation Day The first UN World Creativity and Innovation Day was celebrated on
April 21, 2018.
21 April National Civil Services Day First Home Minister of Independent India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
addressed the probationers of Administrative Services Officers in
1947 at Metcalf House, Delhi.
In his address, he called Civil Servants, the ‘Steel Frame of India’.
22 April International Mother Earth Theme 2023 is “Invest in Our Planet”.
Day The day was established in 2009 by the United Nations General
Assembly.
23 April World Book and Copyright It is organized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Day Organization (UNESCO).
The first World Book Day was celebrated on 23 April in 1995.
Theme 2023 – Indigenous Languages
24 April National Panchayati Raj 1st National Panchayati Raj day Celebrated in 2010
Diwas Balwant Rai Mehta (second Chief Minister of Gujarat) is considered
as the 'Architect of Panchayati Raj ‘
24 - 30 World Immunization Week Theme 2023 – The Big Catch-Up
April
25 April World Malaria Day Theme 2023: Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate,
implement
26 April World Intellectual Property Theme 2023 – Accelerating Innovation and Creativity: Women and
Day IP
The day was first established by the World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO) in 2000.
28 April World Day for Safety and 2023 theme: A safe and healthy working environment as a
Health at Work fundamental principle and right at work
It was first observed in 2003 after the ILO declared it an annual
international campaign.
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Which of the following days is observed on 24 April? What was the theme of World Intellectual Property
a) World Elephant Day Day 2023?
b) National Panchayati Raj Divas a) IP and Youth: Innovating for a Better Future
c) World Malaria Day b) Accelerating Innovation and Creativity:
d) None of the above Women and IP
c) Innovate for a Green Future.
Which of the following days is observed on 10 April? d) None of the above
a) World Haemophilia Day 2023
b) World Book and Copyright Day
c) World Homeopathy Day
d) None of the above
May
Date Day Theme/Remark
1-May International Labour Day Also known as ‘Kamgar Divas’, ‘Kamgar Din’, and ‘Antrarashtriya
अंतर्ााष्ट्रीय श्रम दिवस Shramik Divas’.
In India, the first Labour Day or May Day was celebrated in Madras
(now known as Chennai) by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan on
May 1, 1923.
1-May Maharashtra Day, In the year 1960, Maharashtra and Gujarat were carved out of the
Gujarat Day (63rd) state of Bombay under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
2-May World Tuna Day Theme 2023 – The Global Tuna Industry: Trailblazing through Tough
द्धवश्व टू ना दिवस Times
In December 2017, this day was observed by the United Nations
General Assembly.
2-May World Asthma Day Theme 2023 – Asthma care for all.
(first Tuesday of May)
3 - May International Leopard Day 2023 International Leopard Day is a new annual event that was officialized
on May 3, 2023, by the Cape Leopard Trust (CLT).
India has the highest population of Leopard in Madhya Pradesh>
Karnataka> Maharashtra
3-May World Press Freedom Day Theme 2023: Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as
द्धवश्व प्रेस स्वतंत्रता दिवस a Driver for all other human rights
In 1993, UNGA declared May 3 as World Press Freedom Day.
4-May Coal Miners Day First-ever coal mine was opened in 1575 in Scotland.
कोयला खसनक दिवस In India, the coal mining business began in 1774 from Raniganj
coalfield in Asansol and Durgapur
4-May International Fire Fighter’s Day -
5-May World Hand Hygiene Day Theme 2023: Accelerate action together. SAVE LIVES – Clean Your
Hands
5-May World Portuguese language day In 2019, UNESCO’s General Conference decided to proclaim 5 May as
“World Portuguese Language Day”
7-May World Athletics Day Theme 2023 is “Athletics for All – A New Beginning,”
द्धवश्व एथलेदटक्स दिवस World Athletics Headquarters: Monaco
7-May BRO 64th Raising Day • Founded: 7 May 1960
बीआर्ओ का 64वां स्थापना दिवस • Headquarters: New Delhi
• Director-General: Lt. Gen. Rajeev Chaudhary
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8-May World Thalassaemia Day 2023 theme: Be aware. Share. Care: Strengthening Education to
द्धवश्व थैलेसीसमया दिवस Bridge the Thalassaemia Care Gap
8-May World Red Cross Day The theme of World Red Cross Day 2023 is ‘Everything we do comes
द्धवश्व र्े ड क्रॉस दिवस #fromtheheart’.
Birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, who founded the Red Cross.
11-May National Technology Day • Declared by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
र्ाष्ट्रीय प्रौद्योसिकी दिवस • National Technology Week May 11-14
• 2023 Theme: School to Startups-Igniting Young Minds to
Innovate
• 11th May 1998 nuclear tests at Pokhran. Also, first indigenous
aircraft “Hansa-3” tested on this day, and India performed a
successful test firing of the Trishul missile.
12-May International Nurses Day • 2023 Theme: Our Nurses. Our Future.
अंतर्ााष्ट्रीय नसा दिवस • birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale - founder of
Modern Nursing - born on May 12, 1820, in Italy
12-May International Day of Plant Theme 2023 – Plant Health for Environmental Protection
Health Established in 2022 by the United Nations.
13-May World Migratory Bird Day Theme/Slogan 2023: “Water: Sustaining Bird Life"
(Second Saturday in May and
the second Saturday in
October)
15-May International Day of Families 2023 theme: Demographic Trends and Families
15 -21 7th UN Global Road Safety 2023 slogan: #RethinkMobility
May Week The week is organized by the WHO and the UN regional commissions
and supported by governments, NGOs, and individuals.
16-May International Day of Light Anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by
physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman.
16-May National Dengue Day Theme 2023 – Fight Dengue, Save Live
र्ाष्ट्रीय डें िू दिवस Dengue viruses spread through Aedes species mosquitoes (Ae.
aegypti or Ae. Albopictus) which also transmit yellow fever, Zika
viruses, and chikungunya.
16-May Sikkim’s 48th Statehood Day On 15 May 1975, then-President of India Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed
ससक्क्कम का 48वां स्थापना दिवस signed a 36th constitutional amendment and a day later, Sikkim
became a complete Indian state.
The rule of the Chogyal (last dynasty) was abolished.
17-May World Telecommunication and Theme 2023 – Empowering the least developed countries through
Information Society Day information and communication technologies
द्धवश्व िर्ू संचार् और् सूचना समाज The first World Telecommunication Day was celebrated on May 17,
1969, to mark the founding of ITU and the signing of the first
दिवस
International Telegraph Convention in 1865.
17-May World Hypertension Day 2023 theme: Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It,
द्धवश्व उच्च र्क्तचाप दिवस Live Longer
18-May International Museum Day 2023 theme: Museums, Sustainability, and Well-being
19-May National Endangered Species • 2023 theme: Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the
Day Endangered Species Act
(third Friday of May)
र्ाष्ट्रीय लुप्तप्राय प्रजासत दिवस
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When was International Leopard Day 2023? When is National Technology Day?
a. May 12 a. May 21
b. May 5 b. May 11
c. May 20 c. May 8
d. May 3 d. May 31
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June
June – जूूँ
June – Zoo
June – Summer Solstice
June - Monsoon
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18 June Autistic Pride Day Theme 2023 - Transforming the Narrative: Contributions at Home,
at Work, in the Arts and Policymaking.”
19th June World Sickle Cell Day Theme 2023 – Building and strengthening global sickle cell
द्धवश्व ससकल सेल दिवस communities, formalising new-born screening and knowing your
sickle cell disease status
20th June World Refugee Day Theme 2023- Hope Away from Home
21st June International Yoga Day The idea was proposed on September 27, 2014, during PM Modi’s
अंतर्ााष्ट्रीय योि दिवस speech at the UN General Assembly.
First International Yoga Day was observed in 2015.
Theme 2023 – "Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam".
21st June World Music Day Theme 2023 – Music on the intersections
21st June World Hydrography Day Theme 2023 – Hydrography – underpinning the digital twin of the
ocean
22nd June World Rainforest Day Theme 2023 – Conserve Restore Regenerate
23 June International Olympic Day Theme 2023 – “#LetsMove”
अंतर्ााष्ट्रीय ओलंद्धपक दिवस The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was founded on 23
June 1894, Paris, France
23 June United Nations Public Service -
Day
24 June International Day of Women UNGA announced it in 2022
in Diplomacy Theme 2023 - "Breaking Barriers, Shaping the Future: Women in
Diplomacy for Sustainable Development.”
26 June International Day against Drug Theme 2023 – People first: stop stigma and discrimination,
Abuse and Illicit Trafficking strengthen prevention
27 June Micro-Small and Medium- marked by UNGA in 2017.
sized Enterprises Day(MSME Theme 2023 - “Building a Stronger Future Together"
Day) Central Theme 2023 in India: “Future-ready MSMEs for
India@100."
29 June National Statistics Day Birth anniversary of Prof. P C Mahalanobis.
Theme 2023: Alignment of State Indicator Framework with
National Indicator Framework for Monitoring Sustainable
Development Goals
29 June International Day of the Observed for the first time by UN in 2017.
Tropics Tropics - region roughly between tropic of Cancer and tropic of
Capricorn.
The Tropics account for 40% of the world’s total surface area and are
host to approximately 80% of the world’s biodiversity.
30th June World Asteroid Day Marks the anniversary of Tunguska impact over Siberia, on 30 June
1908, and to raise public awareness about the asteroid impact
hazard
30th June International Day of The Day was established in 2018 through a United Nations General
Parliamentarism Assembly Resolution.
Theme 2023: "Parliaments for the planet"
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a) International Day of Parliamentarism What was the theme of the World Environment Day
b) World Ocean Day 2023?
c) International Yoga day a) Solutions to plastic pollution
d) None of the above b) Together we are stronger
c) Riding Together for a Sustainable Future.
Which day is observed as National Statistics Day d) Conserve Restore Regenerate
(र्ाष्ट्रीय सांक्ययकी दिवस) ?
a) 23 June Who has takes charge as SAIL Chairman?
b) 27 June
c) 29 June
d) None of the above
July
Date Day Theme
1st July National Chartered 2023 theme: Empowering Financial Excellence
Accountants’ Day
1st July National Doctors Day 2023 theme: Celebrating Resilience and Healing Hands
Birth and death anniversary Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy.
1st July GST Day (Goods & Services
Tax)
1st July International Day of (first Saturday of July)
Cooperative/ अंतर्ााष्ट्रीय Theme 2023 – Cooperatives: partners for accelerated sustainable
development
सहकारर्ता दिवस
th
5 July World Badminton Day
6th July World Zoonoses Day
10th July National Fish Farmers Day
11th July World Population Day/ द्धवश्व Theme 2023 – Unleashing the power of gender Equality: Uplifting
the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite
जनसंयया दिवस
possibilities.
12th July International Malala Day
15th July World Youth Skills Day 2023 Theme: Skilling teachers, trainers and youth for a
transformative future
15th July World Plastic Surgery Day
18th July Nelson Mandela Theme 2023 – The Legacy Lives on Through You: Climate, Food, and
International Day Solidarity.
18th July Tamil Nadu Day
20th July World Chess Day
20th July International Moon Day Theme 2023 – Lunar Exploration, Coordination and Sustainability
22nd July National Flag Adoption Day/ July 22, in 1947, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the
National Flag
Pingali Venkayya designed the national flag
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28th July World Nature Conservation Theme 2023 “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and
Day Planet.”
29th July International Tiger Day
31st July World Ranger Day • Theme 2023: ’30 by 30‘.
August
DATE DAY THEME/ REMARK
1-Aug World Wide Web Day The WWW was created by English computer scientist Tim Berners-
Lee in 1989 in Switzerland.
1-Aug World Lung Cancer Day
1-7 Aug World Breastfeeding week Theme: "Let's make breastfeeding and work, work!
7 Aug National Handloom Day It was on this day in 1905, Swadeshi Movement was launched in the
Calcutta Town hall to protest partition of Bengal by the British
Government.
7 Aug Javelin Throw Day First observed in 2022 in honour of Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra
8 Aug August Kranti Diwas On 8 August 1942 at the All-India Congress Committee session in
(Quit India Day) Bombay, Gandhiji gave ‘Do or Die Speech’ and launched the 'Quit
India' movement.
9 Aug International day of World’s Theme 2023: “Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-
Indigenous people (World determination.”
Tribal Day)
10 Aug World Biofuel Day / In honour of Sir Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the diesel engine.
International Biodiesel Day
10 Aug World Lion Day
12 Aug National Librarian Day In remembrance of Dr S.R Ranganathan
12 Aug International Youth day Theme 2023 – Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World
National Youth Day – 12 Jan
12 Aug World Elephant Day Theme 2023 – Ending the Illegal Wildlife Trade
13 Aug World Organ Donation Day Indian Organ Donation Day is on 27th November
14 Aug Partition Horrors
Remembrance Day
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September
DATE DAY THEME/ REMARK
1-7 Sept National Nutrition Week
1-30 Sept 6th Rashtriya Poshan Maah Theme centered on "Suposhit Bharat, Sakshar Bharat, Sashakt
2023 Bharat" (Nutrition-rich India, Educated India, Empowered India).
1- 8 Sept Literacy Week
2 Sept World Coconut Day Theme: "Sustaining Coconut Sector for the Present and Future
Generation“
3-Sept National Skyscraper Day
5 Sept National Teachers’ Day • birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
8 Sept International Literacy Day • Theme 2023 - Promoting literacy for a world in transition:
अंतर्ााष्ट्रीय साक्षर्ता दिवस Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful
societies.'
8 Sept World Physiotherapy Day • Theme 2023 – Prevention and Management of Osteoarthritis
द्धवश्व दिक्जयोथेर्ेपी दिवस
9 Sept Himalaya Diwas
9 Sept World First Aid Day
(second Saturday in
September)
10 Sept World Suicide Prevention Theme 2023: Creating hope through action; it is the triennial theme
Day (WSPD) for this day from 2021 to 2023.
11 Sept National Forest Martyrs Day
12 Sept United Nations Day for Theme 2023 - “Solidarity, Equity and Partnership: Unlocking South-
South-South Cooperation South Cooperation to Achieve the SDGs”.
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October
Date Day Theme
1 Oct International Day of Older Theme: “Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of
Persons Human Rights for Older Persons: Across Generations.”
1 Oct National Pension System
(NPS) Diwas
1 Oct National Voluntary
Blood Donation Day
2 Oct International Day of Non-
Violence
2 Oct 119th birth anniversary of
Lal Bahadur Shastri
2-8 Oct National Wildlife Week Theme 2023 "Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation", inspired by
2023 the theme of the UN World Wildlife Day 2023
4 to 10 World Space Week (WSW) Theme 2023 is “Space and Entrepreneurship.”
Oct 2023
4 Oct World Animal Welfare Day Theme 2023: “Great or Small, Love Them All”
5 Oct World Teachers’ Day 2023 Theme 2023 - "The Teachers We Need for the Education We Want:
The Global Imperative to Reverse the Teacher Shortage".
6 Oct World Cerebral Palsy Day Theme 2023 is “Together Stronger.”
7 Oct World Cotton Day Theme 2023 – “Making cotton fair and sustainable for all, from farm
to fashion”
8 Oct Indian Air Force Day Theme 2023, 'IAF - Airpower Beyond Boundaries’
9 Oct Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
Day 2023
9 Oct World Post Day 2023 Theme “Together for Trust: Collaborating for a safe and connected
future.”
10 Oct National Post Day
10 Oct World Mental Health Day Theme 2023 - 'Mental health is a universal human right’.
Since 1992
10 Oct Good Manufacturing The government along with the Indian Drugs Manufacturers’
Practice Day (cGMP Day) Association (IDMA) celebrated the first ever National cGMP Day on
10 October
11 Oct International Day of Theme: "Invest in Girls' Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being"
the Girl Child
12 Oct World Eye Day’ or ‘World Theme - LOVE YOUR EYES AT WORK
(second Vision Day
Thursday)
12 Oct World Arthritis Day Theme 2023 – Living with an RMD at all stages of life
14 Oct World Standards Day Theme – “Shared Vision for a Better World – Standards for
Sustainable Development Goals” (incorporating SDG3).
14 Oct International E-Waste Day Theme 2023 - You can recycle anything with a plug, battery or cable!
14 Oct World Migratory Bird Day Theme "Water: Sustaining Bird Life.”
(& 13 2023
May )
15 Oct World Students Day 2023 Declared by United Nations in 2010, to observe the birth date of Dr.
APJ Abdul Kalam
Theme: “FAIL: stands for First Attempt In Learning”.
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15 Oct Global Handwashing Day Theme is “Clean hands are within reach”
15 Oct International Day of Rural
Women 2023 / ‘Mahila
Kisan Diwas’
16 Oct World Anaesthesia Day Theme 2023 is ‘Anaesthesia and Cancer Care.’
16 Oct World Food Day Theme – Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind. “Water is
essential to life on Earth
17 Oct International Day for the Theme is "Decent Work and Social Protection: Putting Dignity in
Eradication of Poverty Practice for All"
17 Oct World Trauma Day
20 Oct World Osteoporosis Day Theme 2023 – Build better bones
20 Oct World Statistics Day Theme 2023 is Connecting the world with data we can trust
21 Oct Police Commemoration Day
24 Oct World Polio Day Theme 2023 – A healthier future for mothers and children.
24 Oct United Nations Day On October 24, 1945, the United Nations was created.
Theme 2023 – The Frontlines of Climate Action.
24-30 Oct UN Disarmament
Week
24-31 Oct Global Media and 2023 Theme, “Media and Information Literacy in Digital Spaces: A
Information Literacy Week Collective Global Agenda.”
27 Oct World Day for Audio-visual Theme is "Your Window to the World."
Heritage 2023
27 Oct 76th Infantry Day It is the day when the Indian Army’s infantry troops landed in
Kashmir in 1947.
29 Oct World Stroke Day Theme 2023 - Together we are #GreaterThan Stroke
30 Oct-5 Vigilance Awareness Week Theme 2023: “Say no to corruption; commit to the Nation”
Nov
31 Oct World Thrift Day/ In India it is celebrated on 30th October due to death of late Prime
World Savings Day Minister Indira Gandhi on the same day in 1984
Theme 2023: “Conquer your Tomorrow” through savings!
31 Oct World Cities Day Theme 2023 - “Financing sustainable urban future for all”
31 Oct Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or The day is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar
National Unity Day Vallabhbhai Patel
November
Date Day Theme
1 Nov World Vegan Day Theme 2023: Celebrating for a Good Cause
1 Nov Zojila Day / जोक्जला दिवस It was commemorated to celebrate the gallant action by Indian troops
in ‘Operation Bison’ in 1948 which was launched on the icy heights of
Zojila pass, the gateway to Ladakh.
1 Nov 7 Indian states & 2 UTs On November 1, Seven Indian states and two Union Territories
celebrated their formation observed their formation day (though in different years).
day/ 7 भार्तीय र्ाज्यों और् 2 States - Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala,
Chhattisgarh, Punjab and
केंद्रशाससत प्रिे शों ने अपना
Haryana
स्थापना दिवस मनाया Union Territories - Lakshadweep and Puducherry
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December
DATE DAY THEME/ REMARK
1 Dec World AIDS Day Theme 2023- “Let communities lead”
1 Dec Nagaland statehood day Nagaland became 16th State of the Union of India on 1st December
1963
1 Dec Border Security Force This day marks the creation of BSF on December 1, 1965.
raising day
2 Dec National Pollution Control Theme 2023 - Sustainable Development for a Clean and Healthy
Day Planet
2 Dec World Computer Literacy Theme 2023 - Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the
Day foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies.
3 Dec International Day of Theme 2023 - United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for,
Persons with Disabilities with and by persons with disabilities
4 Dec International Day of Banks
4 Dec Indian Navy Day Theme 2023 is "Operational Efficiency, Readiness and Mission
Achievement in the Maritime Domain"
4 Dec International Cheetah Day -
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5 Dec International Volunteer Day 2023 Theme: the power of collective action: if everyone did.
(IVD)
5 Dec World Soil Day 2023 Theme – Soil and water, a source of life
7 Dec Armed Forces Flag Day Also the Flag Day of India - dedicated towards collection of funds
from people of India for the welfare of the Indian Armed Forces
personnel.
7 Dec International Civil Aviation Theme 2023: “Advancing Innovation for Global Aviation
Day Development”.
9 Dec International Anti- Theme 2023 – ‘UNCAC at 20: Uniting the World Against Corruption.’
Corruption Day
10 Dec Human Rights Day 2023 Theme: Freedom, Equality and Justice for All
11 Dec UNICEF Day Theme 2023 – “For every child, every right.“
11 Dec International Mountain • Theme 2023 – Restoring mountain ecosystems
Day
12-Dec International Universal Theme 2023 – Health For All: Time for action.
Health Coverage Day
14 Dec National Energy
Conservation Day
16 Dec Vijay Diwas commemorated in Bangladesh and India, to observe India’s victory
over Pakistan in War of 1971 for the liberation of Bangladesh from
Pakistan.
18 Dec Minorities Rights Day in Theme for 2023 – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion
India
Dec 18 International Migrants Day Theme: Act today (given by UN)
19 Dec Goa's Liberation Day Goa got its freedom from Portuguese on 19th December, 1961 after
450 years.
22 Dec National Mathematics Day to mark the birth anniversary of legendary Indian mathematician,
Srinivasa Ramanujan.
23 Dec Kisan Diwas/ National Commemorates birthday of the 5th Prime Minister of
Farmer's Day India, Choudhary Charan Singh, also a farmer's leader
24 Dec National Consumer Day/ or World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated on the 15th of March
Bharatiya Grahak Diwas
25 Dec Good Governance Day birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
(India) Good Governance Week from December 19 to 25 (3rd edition)
26 Dec Veer Baal Diwas This day is observed to pay honor and tribute to the sacrifices made
by Sahibzada Zorawar Singh (6) and Sahibzada Fateh Singh (9), who
were laid down their lives while defending their faith in Sirhind,
Punjab.
27 Dec International Day of The decision is part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Epidemic Preparedness
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The book ‘Thread By Thread’ on the life of Shambhu Kumar Kasliwal was launched
by Kapil Dev in Mumbai
S. Kumars, one of the most enduring brands in the country since 1948
turned 75 in 2023.
The book is written by noted journalist & author Satya Saran
Shambhu Kumar pioneered the introduction of Polyester Blends in India.
Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi released book 'Chief Minister's Diary No.1’
• Ranjan Gogoi - member of the Rajya Sabha
• This book containing the account of events of the first year in
office of Assam CM, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Prince Harry Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex “Spare”. The book reveals the details of Harry’s
Author :J. R. Moehringer relationship with his father, King Charles, his
elder brother
General Bipin Rawat ‘Bipin: The Man Behind the Uniform’ Pays tribute to General Bipin Rawat, India’s
Author:Rachna Bisht Rawat first Chief of Defence Staff.
K.K. Shailaja ‘My Life as a Comrade’ K. Shailaja is an Indian politician and former
Author:K.K. Shailaja and Manju Sara Rajan Health Minister of Kerala
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Historical Books
The Mahabharata: Mewari Miniature Paintings
Book: The Mahabharata: Mewari Miniature Paintings (1680–1698) by Allah Baksh”.
Authors: Chandra Prakash Deval and Alok Bhalla
These were commissioned by Maharana Jai Singh of Udaipur.
They were painted between 1680 and 1698 by his court painter Allah Baksh.
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The book 'Mundaka Upanishad: The Bridge to Immortality’ authored by former MP Dr. Karan
Singh
Released by Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar
He is the son of Maharaja Sir Hari Singh, the last ruler of the princely state of Jammu and
Kashmir, and mother Maharani Tara Devi.
"Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origin of Empire": Nandini Das
The book focuses on Thomas Roe's four-year mission as the English ambassador to the court of
the Mughal emperor Jahangir in India in 1615.
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Amit Shah released a book 'Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: Memories Never Die'
Authored by Dr. YS Rajan & Dr. Maraikayar
Dr. Kalam received Bharat Ratna in 1997
Sports Books
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik released the publication titled ‘Hockey & India — A Golden
Legacy’ book by Sportstar on Indian hockey.
Author Book
Amrit Mathur’s autobiography ‘Pitchside: My Life in Indian Cricket’
Former India cricketer W.V. Raman and senior ‘The Lords of Wankhede: Tales between Two Titles’
journalist R. Kaushik
R. Kaushik & R. Sridhar ‘COACHING BEYOND: My Days with the Indian Cricket Team
Boria Majumdar SACHIN@50: Celebrating a Maestro’
Political
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami released Book 'RESILIENT INDIA: How Modi Transformed
India's Disaster Management Paradigm
The book Highlights PM Modi's Role In Transforming disaster management
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‘Karmayoddha Granth’: This book based on the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was
released by Amit Shah.
“Narendra Modi: A Political Biography”: Andy Marino
BJP National President JP Nadda launched book 'Modi: Shaping a Global order in flux’
The book is forewarded by S. Jaishankar ( Union External Affairs Minister)
Edited by Sujan Chinoy, Vijay Chauthaiwala, and Uttam Kumar Sinha.
A book called ‘Collective Spirit, Concrete Action’ written by Shashi Shekhar Vempati
At the 100th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, a book called ‘Collective Spirit, Concrete Action’ written by
Shashi Shekhar Vempati, former CEO of Prasar Bharati (2017-2022).
“The Indian Metropolis: Deconstructing India’s Urban Spaces” book by Varun Gandhi
The book examines the challenges facing India’s urban spaces, including poverty, inequality, crime,
and environmental degradation.
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Former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu released book “As the wheel turns”
The book is authored by Ranjit Pratap (Rayala Corporation CEO).
Neerja Chowdhary released a new book titled "How Prime Ministers Decide“
The book throws light on the working style of the Prime Ministers of India.
Goa governor Sreedharan Pillai authored three books on trees, nature, geopolitics
Heritage Trees of Goa, When Parallel Lines Meet, Ente Priya Kavitakal.
Jnanpith winner Damodar Mauzo released two other books: ‘When Parallel Lines
Meet’ and ‘Ente Priya Kavitakal’.
Shivraj Singh & Anurag Thakur released books based on speeches of PM Modi
The book titled “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas”
JP Nadda released Outlook Group's Coffee Table Book 'Sikhs and Modi
Coffee Table Book 'Sikhs and Modi (A Journey of Nine Years) in New Delhi authored by Prabhleen Singh.
Economy
Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan's new book 'Breaking the Mould’
Raghuram Rajan has teamed up with economist Rohit Lamba to write a book, "Breaking
the Mould: Reimagining India's Economic Future"
A book titled “MADE IN INDIA :75 Years of Business and Enterprise” by Amitabh Kant
He served CEO of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) from 2016-2022
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Government launch
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched
comic book 'Let's Move Forward' in
collaboration with NCERT and UNESCO
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Prasoon Joshi Launched Dr. Hema Joshi’s Book ‘Do Palkon Ki Chhavn Main
Miscellaneous
Huma Qure shi launched 1st novel ‘Zeba’/
Huma Qureshi launched 1st novel ‘Zeba’
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Book titled ‘The bee, the beetle, and the money bug- The bank bazaar guide to the financial
wild’ authored by Adhil Shetty and AR Hemant
It has been authored by Adhil Shetty (CEO and Co-founder of Bankbazaar.com) and AR Hemant
(former journalist and now head of communications at Bankbazaar.com).
The book emphasises on the advantage of starting investments at an early age.
It explain the basics of investing, managing money and wealth creation.
Indian author Roopa Pai wrote a new book called "The Yoga Sutras for Children"
focuses on uncovering the secrets of Patanjali's 2,000-year-old treatise on yoga.
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Awards
Award Winner
Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence Hollywood star Michael Douglas
in Cinema
Best Film or the Golden Peacock Award Abbas Amini directed ‘Endless Borders’
Special Jury or Silver Peacock Award Kannada film 'Kantara: A legend', directed by Rishab
Shetty.
Best Director Stephan Komandarev for Blaga’s Lessons
Best Actor award Pouria Rahimi Sam for ‘Endless Borders’.
Best Actor (Female) award Melanie Thiery for 'Party of Fools’.
ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal film ‘Drift’
Best OTT series award (introduced for the first time) "Panchayat" season two
IFFI Special Recognition for Contribution to Bharatiya Madhuri Dixit
Cinema Award
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• Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' directed by R Madhavan was given the Best Feature Film for the year 2021.
• RRR bagged the award for Best Popular Film providing wholesome entertainment
• The Kashmir Files directed by Vivek Agnihotri received the Nargis Dutt award for Best Film on National
Integration.
• Shreya Ghoshal bagged the Best Female Playback Singer.
• Prem Rakshith got the Best Choreography award for 'RRR'.
• Veteran actor Waheeda Rehman conferred with the country’s top honour in the field of cinema, the
Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2021
• The award will be presented during the 69th National Film awards ceremony.
• Waheeda made her acting debut with the Telugu film Rojulu Marayi (1955).
• Earlier, she has also received National Film Award for her role as a clanswoman in "Reshma and Shera"
(1971).
• She has been conferred with Padma Shri(1972) and Padma Bhushan award(2011).
• Rajnikanth :Winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2019
• Asha Parekh:Winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2020
• The award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize of ₹10 lakh.
• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in the field of cinema. It is presented annually at the
National Film Awards ceremony by the Directorate of Film Festivals, an organization set up by the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting.
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• The government instituted the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1969, and Devika Rani, dubbed "the first lady of
Indian cinema," received it for the first time.
• Raja Harischandra (1913), India's first feature film, was directed by Dadasaheb Phalke. He is referred to as
the "Father of Indian Cinema."
Que: Which Hollywood actor received Honorary Palme d’Or Prize at Cannes Film Festival 2023
Ans: Michael Douglas
• To pay tribute to the two-time Oscar winner Michael Douglas at
the 76th Cannes Film Festival
• Palme d’Or is the highest honourary award of the fest
• Actor Harrison Ford was honored with the prestigious Palme D'Or
award for lifetime achievement at the 76th Cannes Film Festival
2023.
• The coveted Palme d’Or went to Justine Triet’s crime drama
Anatomy of a Fall.
Osaka Tamil International Film Festival Awards: Vijay, Kangana Ranaut named best
actors
• The OTIFF awards celebrated outstanding performances in films released in
2021.
• Best Film: Sarpatta Parambarai
• Best Director: Pa Ranjith (Sarpatta Parambarai)
• Vijay was awarded for his performance in 'Master’
• Kangana Ranaut has bagged the Best Actress Award for her performance in Thalaivii.
Hrithik Roshan and Alia Bhatt win the award for best actor at IIFA 2023
• Best Actor (Male):
• Hrithik Roshan for Vikram Vedha.
• Best Actor (Female):
• Alia Bhatt for Gangubai Kathiawadi.
• Best Film: Drishyam 2
• Best Director:
• R Madhavan (Rocketry: The Nambi Effect)
• Supporting Role:
• Best Actor (Female):
• Mouni Roy (Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva)
• Best Actor (Male):
• Anil Kapoor (Jugg Jugg Jeeyo)
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South Asian Film Festival of Montreal honours ‘Gauri’ with ‘Best Long Documentary Award’
• “Gauri,” a documentary based on journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh, directed by Kavitha
Lankesh, has won the “Best Long Documentary Award” at the South Asian Film Festival of
Montreal 2023.
• The film is about journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh, who was assassinated in 2017, and
the current political crisis in India.
The 68th Hyundai Filmfare Awards was held at the Jio Convention Centre, Mumbai
• Best Film: Gangubai Kathiawadi
• Best Film (Critics'): Badhaai Do
• Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male): Rajkummar Rao for Badhaai Do
• Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female): Alia Bhatt for Gangubai Kathiawadi
• Best Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Gangubai Kathiawadi
• Best Music Album: Pritam for Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Prem Chopra
• RD Burman Award for Upcoming Music Talent: Jahnvi Shrimankar for Dholida from Gangubai Kathiawadi
Filmfare Awards were first introduced in 1954
• RRR is the first Indian film to be nominated for Academy Awards in the
last two decades, while 'Naatu Naatu' was the first Indian song to be
nominated for an Oscar.
• Music director MM Keeravani received the award.
• Note - the song 'Jai Ho' from the UK film 'Slumdog Millionaire' directed by
Danny Boyle is the first Hindi song to win an Academy Award in the Best
Original Score and Original Song categories.
• Its music was composed by AR Rahman and its lyrics were written by
Gulzar.
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Indian music composer, Ricky Kej wins third Grammy for 'Divine Tides’/
• at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.
• He has shared this award with Stewart Copeland, who collaborated with him
on the album.
• Kej has become the only Indian to win three Grammy Awards.
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RRR wins Best Original Song for ‘Naatu Naatu’ at 2023 Golden Globe Awards
• SS Rajamouli's "RRR" has won the 2023 Golden Globe Awards for the
best original song–motion picture for "Naatu Naatu" track.
• The movie was also nominated for the 'best picture-non English’.
• This track was composed by veteran music director, MM Keeravaani and
sung by Kala Bhairava and Rahul Sipligunj
• 80th Golden Globe Awards
Indian film ‘When Climate Change Turns Violent’ wins WHO Award
• 4th Health for All Film Festival (HAFF) held at the World Healtth Organization headquarters in Geneva.
• Two films from the WHO South-East Asia Region have won awards
• 'One in 36 Million: Story of Childhood Lead Poisoning in Bangladesh', won the award under the Better Health
and Well-being category.
• 'When Climate Change Turns Violent' a film by Vandita Sariya from India won the Special Prize under the
Climate Change and Health category.
• The WHO initiated HAFF in 2019 to make audio-visual language a key component of the organisation’s
"communicating for health impact" approach.
Short News
• Hansal Mehta’s drama series Scoop has been awarded the Best
Asian TV Series at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) and
Best Actress for Karishma Tanna.
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Deepti Babuta Becomes First Woman To Bag Dhahan Prize For Punjabi Literature
• Dhahan Prize, the largest international literary award for fiction books in
Punjabi language.
• Babuta received the award for her short story collection, ‘Bhukh Eon Sah
Laindi Hai’ (‘Hunger Breathes Like This’).
• The Dhahan Prize was established by the Canada India Education Society
(CIES) and the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 2013
• Booker Prize is awarded to the best novel of fiction written in English and published in UK and Ireland.
• Founded in the UK in 1969, it was initially awarded to Commonwealth writers and now spans the globe, and
it is open to anyone regardless of origin.
• The winner receives £50,000
• First Indian Citizen to get booker prize – Arundhati Roy – God of Small Things in 1997
Tamil writer Perumal Murugan has won the coveted JCB Prize for Literature
• Tamil writer Perumal Murugan has won the coveted JCB Prize for Literature for
his novel, Fire Bird, an English translation of his Tamil novel Aalandapatchi.
• ‘Fire Bird’, translated into English by Janani Kannan
• The JCB Literary Prize award carries Rs 25 lakh to the author and an additional Rs
10 lakh to the translator.
• JCB Prize for Literature was established in 2018.
India-Born Author Nandini Das Wins 2023 British Academy Book Prize
• For her book ‘Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of
Empire’
• The winner gets the £25,000 prize cash award
British Academy Book Prize:
• This was formerly known as the Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize.
• It was established in 2013.
Salman Rushdie Honored With First ‘Lifetime Disturbing The Peace Award
• The Vaclav Havel Center presented Salman Rushdie with the inaugural
'Lifetime Disturbing the Peace Award' and Alaa Abdel-Fattah with the
'Disturbing the Peace Award for a Courageous Writer at Risk.'
• Recently, Rushdie unveiled the publication of his latest book titled ‘Knife:
Meditations After an Attempted Murder.
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Eminent Tamil Author Ambai (C S Lakshmi) Receives Tata Literature Live! Lifetime Achievement
Award For 2023
• Ambai is also a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2021 for her novel Sivappu
Kazhuthudan Oru Pachai Paravai (A Red-Necked Green Bird).
Tamil writer Sivasankari was presented with the ‘Saraswati Samman’ 2022 for her book of
memoirs Surya Vamsam
• Sivasankari honoured with 32nd Saraswati Samman
• The Saraswati Samman was instituted in 1991 by the K. K. Birla Foundation.
• It is given annually for outstanding literary works in 22 Indian languages and is among the
highest recognitions in the field of Indian literature.
• Cash prize of ₹15 lakh
Author Salman Rushdie awarded the prestigious German Peace Prize in 2023
• British-American author, Salman Rushdie has been selected for the prestigious German
Peace Prize 2023 for his literary work and his resolve in the face of constant danger.
• He would receive the award in Frankfurt on October 22, 2023.
• Cash prize: €25,000
• German Peace Prize was established in 1950 to recognize a personality committed to
serving international understanding between nations and cultures through their work.
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Writer Arundhati Roy receives 45th European Essay Prize for lifetime achievement
• She has been awarded the prize for the French translation of her compilation of
essays titled "Azadi" (2021).
• The French translation 'Liberte, fascisme, fiction' appeared in the leading French
publishing group, Gallimard.
• The award ceremony will take place on September 12 at the Lausanne Palace.
• European Essay Prize was started in 1975, by the Charles Veillon Foundation, to honour a book or the work
of an author "who, through their writings, contributes to nourishing and spreading the evolution of
thought".
Yuva Puraskar :
• Anirudh Kanisetti has been selected for his work 'Lords Of The Deccan: Southern India From Chalukyas To
Cholas’,
• Atul Kumar Rai will receive the same award in the Hindi language category for his novel ‘Chandpur ki
Chanda’.
• The recipients for Manipuri, Maithili, and Sanskrit categories of Yuva Puraskar, as well as the Bal Sahitya
Puraskar for Manipuri, will be announced later.
• No Yuva Puraskar winner was announced for Odia, and no Bal Sahitya Puraskar winner was announced for
Kashmiri.
• Sahitya Akademi founded on 12 March 1954.
• Besides the 22 languages enumerated in the Constitution of India, Sahitya Akademi recognises English and
Rajasthani for awards.
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Jnanpith Awards:
• It is the oldest and highest Indian literary award presented annually by Bharatiya Jnanpith.
• It recognizes outstanding contributions to literature by Indian authors writing in English as well as in the
Indian languages listed in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
• The award was established in 1961 and is not given posthumously.
• The first award was given 1965 to G.K. Shankar Kurup was awarded.
• Ashapurna Devi became the first woman recipient in 1976 for her novel "Prothom Protishruti" (The First
Promise).
Barbara Kingsolver and Hernan Diaz win Fiction Pulitzer Prize 2023
• Barbara Kingsolver (American Novelist) and Hernan Diaz (Argentina Writer)
were awarded the Pulitzer Prize 2023 in the fiction category.
• Barbara Kingsolver was awarded for her novel 'Demon Copperhead' and
Hernan Diaz won for his novel 'Trust’.
Pulitzer Award
• The Pulitzer Award was established in 1917, named in honour of newspaper
publisher Joseph Pulitzer.
• It is administered by Columbia University and is awarded for newspaper,
magazine and online journalism, photojournalism and literature annually
across 22 categories.
• Each winner receives a certificate and a US$15,000 cash award. The winner
in the public service category is awarded a gold medal.
• Gobind Behari Lal: First from India to win the Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1937. He was the member of the
Ghadar Party in America
Georgi Gospodinov wins the International Booker Prize 2023 for Time Shelter
• Georgi Gospodinov (Bulgarian writer) and Angela Rodel (translator) bagged the
2023 International Booker Prize for their book 'Time Shelter’.
• It is the first book originally written in Bulgarian to be nominated for the award.
• Time Shelter, a story of a magical clinic for Alzheimer’s patients
• Prize money: 50,000 pounds shared equally between the author and translator
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Tamil writer Perumal Murugan's novel longlisted for International Booker Prize 2023
• This book is a translation of his original Tamil book 'Pukkuli' which tells the story of
an inter-caste couple who elope, setting in motion a story of terrifying foreboding.
• Aniruddhan Vasudevan translated this novel into the English language in 2016.
• This is the first time a Tamil book has been nominated for the coveted prize.
• Recently Indian author Geetanjali Shree's win at the 2022 International Booker Prize
for her Hindi-language novel Ret Samadhi, or Tomb of Sand.
• International Booker Prize is given to an author for their work written in an international language, then
translated into English. Meanwhile, Booker Prize is awarded to a book/novel written in English.
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• A total of 128 artists from the field of music, dance, theatre, traditional, folk, and puppetry were given the
Awards
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Bhutanese author Tshering Tashi conferred with Sahitya Akademi’s Premchand Fellowship
• The ‘Premchand Fellowship’ is named after popular Hindi writer Munshi Premchand
and was instituted by the Sahitya Akademi in 2005 on his 125th Birth Anniversary
Poet Sukrita Paul Kumar Wins Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize For ‘Salt & Pepper
• cash prize of USD 5,000, a Tagore statue, and a certificate
Gallantry
Wing Commander Deepika Misra becomes 1st woman IAF officer to get Gallantry
Award
• Wing Commander Mishra, a Rajasthan-based helicopter pilot, has been
awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) for "extraordinary courage"
displayed during a flood relief operation in Madhya Pradesh in August 2021.
Her efforts helped in saving 47 lives.
• President had conferred Vayu Seva Medal for gallantry on her at Independence Day last year and she
received the medal from Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari at an investiture ceremony
held in New Delhi
• A total of 58 personnel received gallantry awards from the IAF Chief
• President Droupadi Murmu on 25 January approved 412 Gallantry awards, on the eve of the 74th Republic
Day.
• The Kirti Chakra is India's second highest gallantry award after the Ashoka
Chakra. The Shaurya Chakra is the country's third highest gallantry award.
• The President has also awarded the President's Tatrakshak Medal to Indian
Coast Guard personnel for conspicuous gallantry, exceptional devotion to
duty and distinguished service.
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Nobel prize
Nobel Prize 2023 In Medicine or Physiology
• The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023 was awarded
jointly to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman
• "for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base
modifications that enabled the development of effective
mRNA vaccines against COVID-19“
The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2023
• Awarded to Claudia Goldin
• “for having advanced our understanding of women’s labour market outcomes”
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Padma awards
Padma Awards 2023
• Union ministry of home affairs announced the Padma Awards on the eve of the 74th Republic Day
• 106 Padma Awards including 3 duo cases (in a duo case, the Award
is counted as one)
• 6 Padma Vibhushan,
• 9 Padma Bhushan
• 91 Padma Shri Awards.
• 19 of the awardees are women
• 2 persons from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI
• 7 Posthumous awardees.
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Science
Highest Scientific Award of USA given to two Indian Americans - Ashok Gadgil
and Subra Suresh
• US President Joe Biden honored two Indian American scientists (Ashok
Gadgil and Subra Suresh) with the National Medal of Technology and
Innovation.
Dr M S Swaminathan Award :
• This prestigious award was instituted in 2004 in honour of Dr M.S. Swaminathan the main architect of India’s
Green Revolution.
• This award is a lifetime achievement award for outstanding contributions to agricultural research and
development and for overall food security and sustainability of agriculture.
• It carries a cash prize of INR 2 lakh and a citation.
Swati Nayak From Odisha, To Receive The 2023 Norman Borlaug Field Award
• Awarded for field research and her work in the field of food and nutrition.
• She is the third Indian and first Odia to receive the award.
• In Odisha, Nayak and her team formulated a strategy for introducing the
drought-tolerant rice variety ‘Shahabhagi Dhan’ which remains an integral
part of every farm family’s diet and crop rotation. For this, she is referred to
by the local communities as ‘Bihana Didi’.
12 scientists selected for the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for 2022/
• The country's top annual science award, the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, was announced
after a gap of two years.
• Director General of CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) Dr. N.
Kalaiselvi officially announced the awards for the year 2022.
• 12 scientists were selected for the award in seven different scientific
categories - including physics, biology, engineering, mathematics, medicine,
chemistry, and earth sciences.
• They are named after Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, the first director of CSIR.
• The award is given every year to scientists under the age of 45 years and carries a purse of Rs five lakh and a
citation.
• The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is usually announced on CSIR's foundation day on September 26.
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Prof. Thalappil Pradeep of IIT Madras won the International Eni Award
• Prof. T. Pradeep from the Department of Chemistry, IIT Madras has won the
prestigious Eni Award 2023
• Reason: To discover the advanced sustainable and affordable nano-scale
materials for the removal of toxic contaminants from water
• Eni Award is considered among the top global honors for scientific research in
energy and environment.
• It is given in three categories-Energy Transition, Energy Frontiers and
Advanced Environmental Solutions
Biologist Sathyabhama Das Biju, known as ‘the Frogman of India’, has been chosen for
Harvard University’s prestigious Radcliffe fellowship
• He had recently won the Kerala Sree award instituted by the Kerala government
for his outstanding contributions in the field of science.
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Sports
AIFF Wins AFC President’s Recognition Bronze Award For Grassroots Football
• at the AFC Annual Awards in Doha.
• All India Football Federation has secured its second Grassroots Football award, with
the previous one being earned in 2014.
Asian Football Confederation:
• President: Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa
• Founded: 8 May 1954, Manila, Philippines
AFC President Recognition Awards for Grassroots Football:
• Gold: Football Australia
• Silver: Guam Football Association
• Bronze: All India Football Federation
Serena Williams becomes the first athlete to receive CFDA Fashion Icon Award
Belgian tennis player Justine Henin receives the Philippe Chatrier Award
• The International Tennis Federation (ITF) awarded the highest honor, '
Philippe Chatrier Award 2023', to Belgian tennis player Justine Henin.
• She has won seven Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold medal
(2004 in Athens) and won the Fed Cup (Billie Jean King Cup) in 2001.
• The award was named after the former ITF President and was introduced
in 1996.
• This award recognizes people who have made significant contributions to
the sport on and off the court.
• 2023 ITF World Champions Awards include singles champions Rafael Nadal (ESP) and Iga Swiatek (POL)
Boxing champion Mary Kom named Global Indian Icon at UK-India Awards
• India’s first-ever Olympic medallist in women’s boxing, Mary Kom, has been honoured
with the Global Indian Icon of the Year award at the annual UK-India Awards in Windsor,
England.
• She accepted the award from Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami
at a gala ceremony
The Olympic Cup was established in 1906 by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the IOC.
It is the highest honour an organization can receive for promoting the ideals of the Olympic Movement.
International Olympic Committee:
• Founded - 23 June 1894, Paris, France
• Headquarters - Lausanne, Switzerland
• President - Thomas Bach
• Director General - Christophe De Kepper
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Mirabai Chanu won BBC Indian Sportswoman of The Year for 2022
• She becomes the first athlete to win the award twice in a row after winning for the
year 2021.
• At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she became the first Indian to win a silver medal in
weightlifting.
Other BBC awards for 2022:
• Para Sportswoman: Bhavina Patel (TT Player)
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Pritam Siwach (Women Hockey Player)
• Emerging Player: Nitu Ghanghas (Boxer)
Asian Chess Federation confers D Gukesh with Player of the Year award
• for clinching the gold medal with a record-breaking score of 9/11 in the 44th
Chess Olympiad at Mahabalipuram last year.
• The All India Chess Federation (AICF) bagged the 'Most Active Federation'
award
• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has been conferred with Man-of-the-Year award for his effort in the
successful hosting of the FIDE Chess Olympiad in August last year within a short notice of four months.
Nepalese Wicketkeeper-batsman Aasif Sheikh won 2022 CMJ Spirit of Cricket Award
• CMJ - Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket Award.
• This award was created in 2013 and is presented every year by Marylebone Cricket Club
(MCC) and the BBC
• In memory of former MCC President and BBC Test Match Special commentator
Christopher Martin-Jenkins (CMJ).
• ‘Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award’ is given for most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a
sportsperson over the period of the previous four years.
• 26 Sports persons will receive Arjuna Awards for outstanding performance in Sports and Games 2023
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• ‘Dronacharya Award for outstanding coaches in Sports and Games’ is given to coaches for doing outstanding
and meritorious work on a consistent basis
Regular Category:
Lifetime Category:
S.No. Name of the Coach Discipline
1. Shri Jaskirat Singh Grewal Golf
2. Shri Bhaskaran E Kabaddi
3. Shri Jayanta Kumar Pushilal Table Tennis
Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime achievement in Sports and Games 2023:
S. No. Name of the sportsperson Discipline
1. Ms Manjusha Kanwar Badminton
2. Shri Vineet Kumar Sharma Hockey
3. Ms Kavitha Selvaraj Kabaddi
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Jay Shah Honoured With Sports Business Leader Of The Year Award
• organized by Confederation of Indian Industry.
• Jay Shah - Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary & President of the
Asian Cricket Council.
• Jay Shah is the first person in the Indian sports administration to receive this
honour.
• Sports Franchise of the Year Award: Royal Challenger Bangalore (RCB)
• Best states promoting sports: Tamil Nadu
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HDFC Bank’s Sashidhar Jagdishan is ‘Business Standard Banker of the Year 2022
NMDC Receives Two Prestigious Awards at ASSOCHAM Business Excellence Awards 2023
At the ASSOCHAM Business Excellence Awards 2023 in Kolkata, National Mineral
Development Corporation (NMDC) was honored with :
• Mineral Development Award
• Employer Brand of the Year Award
For significant contributions to the mining sector and its exemplary human resources
practices.
• NMDC is the largest producer of iron ore in India and the sixth largest in the
world.
• It is a Navratna Public Sector Enterprise. It comes under the Ministry of Steel.
• Chairman & Managing Director -Sumit Deb
• Headquarters - Hyderabad
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Activist Ali Abu Awwad and pianist Daniel Barenboim win Indira Gandhi Peace
• The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2023 has been jointly awarded to
Daniel Barenboim and Ali Abu Awwad for their efforts in bringing together the youth and peoples of Israel
and the Arab World for a non-violent resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
• The International Jury of the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and
Development chaired by former Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur.
• Established: 1986
• Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany (2013)
• Indian Space Research Organisation (2014)
• Former Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh (2017)
• Sir David Attenborough (2019)
• Pratham NGO (2021)
Ministry related
National Metallurgist Award 2022
• Presented by Ministry of Steel to recognize excellence & contribution of Metallurgists in Iron & Steel Sector
• Five distinguished metallurgists conferred with coveted NMA 2022 in four categories:
Winners Category
Dr Kamachi Mudali Uthandi Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr Debashish Bhattacharjee National Metallurgist Award
Dr Rameshwar Sah R&D in Iron & Steel Sector
Dr Niloy Kundu Young Metallurgist (Environment) Award
Agilan Muthumanickam Award Young Metallurgist (Metal Science) Award
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Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs organized India Smart Cities Conclave at
Indore
• Two-day India Smart Cities Conclave 2023 at Indore, Madhya Pradesh
• Smart Cities Mission launched on 25 June 2015, is aimed at providing core
infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and a decent quality of life to
their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’.
• President Droupadi Murmu felicitated the winners of the
fourth edition of the India Smart Cities Award Contest
(ISAC) 2022
• The ISAC is being organized since 2018.
• Of the total 845 applications received under the five
awards categories, 66 final winners have been identified
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Tamil Nadu won best State award for organ and tissue transplantation
• Tamil Nadu bagged the Best Performing State award 2023 in cadaver organ
donation .
• Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya presented the Best State Organ
and Tissue Transplant Organisation award to Health Minister Ma
Subramanian at the 13th Indian Organ Donation Day function held in New
Delhi.
• Tamil Nadu was ranked number one for six consecutive years from 2015-2020.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announces 2nd edition of Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman
• 33 Awards to recognize contribution of Media in spreading message of Yoga in India and abroad
• Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman 2023 given out under three categories viz Print, Television and
Radio in 22 Indian languages and English
• Ministry of I&B had instituted the first Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman (AYDMS) in June, 2019. The
first edition of the awards was conferred on 7th January, 2020.
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• The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated annually on 21 June since 2015. The idea of International
Day of Yoga was first proposed by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, during his address at the
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), on 27 September 2014.
Que:Who won the Professional Photographer of the Year award at the 8th
National Photography Awards?
Ans: Shashi Kumar Ramachandran
• Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L. Murugan
presented the 8th National Photography awards in New Delhi
• Ms Sipra Das was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award.
• The theme for the Professional category was “Life and Water”
Dr. ABK Prasad selected for PCI’s excellence in journalism award 2020
• The Press Council of India presents awards in the name of Raja Ram Mohan Roy
every year.
• In 2023, the Raja Ram Mohan Roy National Award is presented to Journalist A.B.K.
Prasad for his contributions towards journalism.
• The Chairperson of the Press Council of India (PCI), Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai
conferred the award.
• Press Council of India. It is a statutory body formed in 1966. It watches the press
and their actions in the country. It was established under the Press Council Act of
1978.
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State Award
Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission bags SKOCH Award 2023
• The Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) has bagged the
SKOCH Award for Gold Category in District Governance under the theme
“State of Governance India 2047”.
• Reason: For its outstanding efforts in creating marketing avenues for Self-Help
Groups (SHGs) in the Union Territory
• The AVSAR scheme, Umeed Women’s Haat, and District Rural Haat, SHG
products available on e-commerce platforms are prime examples of these
initiatives.
Heritage Byculla Railway station received UNESCO's Asia Pacific Cultural Heritage
award 2023
• The Byculla Railway station, a heritage site on the Central line of the Mumbai
Suburban Railway, was awarded by UNESCO after its successful restoration to
its original glory in July 2023.
• The project, launched in July 2019 by Shaina NC, Trustee of 'I Love Mumbai'
and in memory of her father Nana Chudasama, aimed to revive the station's
original architectural splendor.
Byculla Railway station:
• It was originally built in 1853.
• The first train of the country passed through Byculla station almost one-and-a-half centuries ago.
• It has been restored to its original Gothic, heritage, architectural glory.
Bengaluru becomes first Indian city to join World Cities Culture Forum
• Bengaluru joined the World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF), in July 2023, and becomes the first Indian city to
achieve the feat.
• Founded by the office of the Mayor of London in 2012, WCCF is a global network
of nearly 40 cities, which provides a way for policy makers in these cities to share
research and intelligence, and explore the vital role of culture for their future
prosperity
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Surat has set a new Guinness World Record in the Yoga event
• Surat has set a Guinness World Record with over 1.53 lakh people participating in a
yoga event at one place on the International Day of Yoga (IDY), organized on 21st
June.
• Guinness officials handed over the certificate to chief minister Bhupendra Patel
42 lakh essays on Assam War hero Lachit Borphukan enter Guinness World Record
• The compilation of over 42 lakh essays on the brave Ahom General Lachit
Borphukan has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the "Largest
Online Photo Album of Handwritten Notes".
• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma received a certificate for the Guinness
World Record for the maximum number of essays written on a single person.
Lachit Borphukan
• He was born on November 24, 1622 in Charaideo, the first capital of the Ahom kings.
• He effectively led his army in the Battle of Saraighat in 1671, which defeated the Mughal army's attempt to
capture Assam.
• He also fought the Battle of Alaboi on August 5, 1669 in the Alaboi Hills near Dadara in North Guwahati.
• He was inspired to strengthen Indian naval power, revive inland water transport and build infrastructure
related to naval strategy.
• He died on April 25, 1672.
Odisha wins World Habitat Award 2023 for its JAGA Mission
• Odisha government’s slum improvement and land titling programme, JAGA Mission
has won the UN-Habitat’s World Habitat Awards 2023. This year it was awarded the
bronze medal.
• This is the second time after 2019 that the programme has received the UN-Habitat’s
World Habitat Award.
• This award is given by World Habitat, a United Kingdom -based organization, in partnership with United
Nation (UN)-Habitat, every year, in recognition of innovative, outstanding, and revolutionary ideas, projects,
and programmes from across the world.
• JAGA Mission Plan of the Odisha Government
• The Govt. of Odisha in May 2018 launched JAGA Mission based on the Odisha Land Rights to Slum Dwellers
Act, 2017”.
• It is the world’s largest slum titling and upgradation initiative.
• It aims to make Odisha the first state in India to be slum free by the end of 2023.
• Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik
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Dr. Tapan Saikia to receive Assam highest civilian award ‘Assam Baibhav’
• Assam CM, has selected 21 personalities for the Assam State Civilian
Awards 2022.
• The State’s highest civilian award, ‘Assam Baibhav’
to Dr. Tapan Saikia for his contributions in the field
of cancer care.
• Assam Saurav (Assam second highest civilian award)
was conferred to Krishna Roy; Gilbertson Sangma;
Nayanmoni Saikia; Dr. Binoi Kumar Saikia and Dr.
Shashidhar Phukan (5).
• Asom Gaurav (third highest civilian award) will be conferred to 15
people.
• The Assam State Civilian Award is conferred in 3 categories- Assam
Vaibhav, Assam Saurav and Assam Gaurav. Ratan Tata was given Assam
Vaibhav for 2021.
Aska police station of Odisha's Ganjam district became the country's number one police station
• awarded by Home Minister Amit Shah during the DGSP/IGSP conference 2022 held at National Agricultural
Science Complex, New Delhi.
• Aska police station got this title in the annual ranking of police stations for
the year 2022.
• Gangapur police station in Odisha's Ganjam district awarded second best
• Banbasa police station in Champawat district of Uttarakhand third best
station.
• The rank is decided on the basis of 165 different parameters such as crime
rate, investigation and disposal of cases, infrastructure and public service
delivery.
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Central University of Kerala awards its first Honorary D.Litt to P.T. Usha
• Retired Indian track and field athlete, PT Usha has been awarded an Honorary
Doctorate of Letter (D.Litt) by the Central University of Kerala at Sabarmati Hall,
Periya Campus.
• She has won 33 medals including 19 gold in the Asian Games and Asian
Championship
• She was the first Indian athlete to win medals in four consecutive Asian Games
and also won six medals including five gold in the Jakarta Asian Athletic Meet in 1985
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bagged the SKOCH National Award 2023
• KSRTC bags the Award for its innovative Rs 1 Crore accident relief Sarige Suraksha
Insurance Scheme for its staff which is the first in the history of transport
organizations in the country.
• SKOCH Group India is an independent think tank industry based in Delhi established
in 1997,
• SKOCH awards instituted in 2003 for best governance, finance, technology and
inclusive growth.
J&K Adjudged as Best Performing State & UT Under AKAM & MMMD Programme
• PM Modi provided the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Awards to the top three
performing States or Union Territories, as well as Ministries or Departments, at the
closing ceremony of Meri Maati Meta Desh at Kartavya Path, New Delhi.
• Top 3 performing States or Union Territories - 1. Jammu and Kashmir, 2. Gujarat and
3. Haryana and Rajasthan
• Top 3 performing Ministries - 1. Ministry of External Affairs, 2. Ministry of Defence; and Ministry of Railways
and Ministry of Education for joint 3rd position
• The nationwide campaign "Meri Maati Mera Desh" was launched on August 9, 2023 to unite India’s soil and
Valour.
• This initiative marks the conclusion of the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav,' which commenced on March 12, 2021
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Uttar Pradesh Bags First Prize For Best State In Inland Fisheries
• Uttar Pradesh has secured ‘Best State’ award for inland fisheries (plain areas).
• The state received this prestigious accolade at the two-day Global Fisheries Conference-2023 in Gujarat on
November 21 and 22.
• November 21 is also celebrated as World Fisheries Day.
• The fisheries department reported a remarkable increase in fish production, with this year’s value reaching
9.15 lakh metric tonnes compared to last year’s 8.09 lakh metric tonnes.
ISRO's Dr. Mathavaraj selected for Goa Govt.'s first 'Manohar Parrikar Yuva Scientist Award’
• The award comprises Rs 5 lakh and a citation, which is currently the highest cash prize in
science and technology
Social Worker Deenanath Rajput From Bastar Wins Rohini Nayyar Prize
• Deenanath Rajput was honoured with the Rohini Nayyar Prize for Outstanding Contribution
to Rural Development in Chhattisgarh.
• Recognized for his exceptional efforts in improving the lives of tribal women, Rajput
established a Farmers Producers Organisation (FPO) in 2018.
• The prize comprises a cash award of ₹10 lakh, along with a trophy and a citation.
• This award marks the second edition of the Rohini Nayyar Prize, which was established in
honour of the distinguished economist Rohini Nayyar, who sadly passed away in 2021.
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International
Fashion designer Rahul Mishra honored with France's "Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et
des Lettres" award
• Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the Government of France is the
highest recognition in the field of arts and culture.
• For his outstanding achievements in the field of art and design, especially his
dedication to promoting Indian craftsmanship and expertise on a global scale.
• The Order of Arts and Letters is an honor established by the French Minister of
Culture in 1957.
• It is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to music, art, literature, and the cultural
and artistic relations between France and India.
Prime Minister Modi becomes first Foreign Head of Government to be awarded ‘The Grand Cross of the Order of
Honour’ by Greece
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the highest civilian honour Grand Cross of the Order of
Honour by Greek President Katerina N. Sakellaropoulou in Athens
• The award recognizes PM Modi's outstanding contribution to
strengthening bilateral relations between Greece and India.
• PM Modi is the first Indian prime minister to be conferred with the
Grand Cross of the Order of Honour. He is also the first foreign head of
government to be awarded the honour.
About the Grand Cross of the Order of Honor
• It is awarded by the President of Greece.
• Recipients include Prime Ministers and eminent personalities.
• The Order of Honour was established in 1975.
PM Modi receives France's highest award Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
• During the visit to France, PM Modi was honoured with France's highest
civilian and military honour, 'Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour', by French
President Emmanuel Macron.
• With this honour, he also becomes the first Indian Prime Minister to receive
this honour.
• He also joined the French National Day (July 14) celebrations as the Guest of
Honour.
• Other awardees: Nelson Mandela, King Charles, Angela Merkel
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• The USD 12,000 award is given in memory of Dr. Michel Batisse for outstanding achievement in the
management of biosphere reserves.
• He received the award from UNESCO in Paris on June 14, 2023.
PM Modi conferred with Egypt’s highest state honour 'Order of the Nile'
• Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has conferred the ‘Order of the Nile’, the
highest honour of Egypt to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The ‘Order of the Nile’ was instituted in 1915, which is conferred upon heads
of state, crown princes, and Vice Presidents who offer Egypt or humanity
invaluable services.
• Prime Minister Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Egypt
since 1997.
• BSF Head Constables Shishupal Singh and Sanwala Ram Vishnoi have served
with the Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo
• While Shaber Taher Ali served in a civilian capacity with UNAMI (United
Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq)
• India holds the distinction of being the first country to send an all-women
contingent to the UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia in 2007.
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Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) recognised as World’s No.1 Public Business Incubator by UBI
Global
• UBI Global World Rankings 2021-2022 event held at the World Incubation Summit in
Belgium
• Earlier, the UBI Global had recognised KSUM as world’s No. 1 public business
accelerator in 2019.
• KSUM CEO Anoop Ambika
• UBI Global is an innovation intelligence company and community. It was founded in 2013. It is based in
Sweden, Stockholm.
Kiran Nadar conferred with highest French Civilian Award ‘Knight of the Legion of Honour’
• Philanthropist and art collector Kiran Nadar, (wife of Shiv Nadar, the founder of HCL
Technologies), has been conferred with the highest French civilian award “Chevalier
de la Légion d’Honneur” (Knight of the Legion of Honour).
• The award was conferred upon Kiran Nadar for her outstanding contribution in the
field of art, her commitment to providing greater access to culture both nationally
and internationally, and her leading role in fostering Indo-French cultural ties.
Que:Who has recently been conferred with the Order of Australia (AO), the highest civil honour of
Australia in 2023?
Ans: Ratan Tata
• Ratan Tata has been awarded with the highest civil honour of Australia, Order of Australia
(AO).
• He has been awarded for his longstanding commitment to Indo-Australian ties specifically in
the areas of trade, investment, and philanthropy.
• Australia’s High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell conferred the honour on Ratan Tata,
the titan of biz, industry and philanthropy.
Ukraine's President awarded Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest honour
• Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky was awarded the Order of the White Eagle,
Poland's highest award.
• The award was given to him for his exceptional services to protect security, resilience
and human rights.
• The Order of the White Eagle is a prestigious and highly regarded decoration of the
Republic of Poland, awarded for outstanding civil and military contributions to the country.
• About Ukraine
• Capital - Kyiv
• Official language - Ukrainian
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• The title "Dalai Lama" is a combination of the Mongolian word "Dalai," meaning ocean, and the Tibetan word
"lama," meaning master, teacher, or mentor.
• The award was established in 1957 and is named after the late Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay.
• The award is given in six categories: government service, public service, community leadership, journalism,
creative arts, and peace and international understanding.
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Manohar International Airport in Goa wins Best Sustainable Greenfield Airport Award
• under Aviation Sustainability and Environment at the ASSOCHAM 14th
International Conference-cum-Awards for Civil Aviation 2023
• The Union Cabinet on 04 December 2022 approved the renaming of the
Greenfield International Airport at Mopa as 'Manohar International Airport -
Mopa' in memory of late Manohar Parrikar, former Défense Minister and four-
time Chief Minister of Goa.
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Que: Which state road transport corporation has been conferred with UITP Award?
Ans: Kerala
• UITP (Union Internationale des Transports Publics) is the International Association of Public Transport and
sustainable urban mobility.
• UITP award was conferred recently to the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).
• at the global public transport summit held at Barcelona in Spain.
• As the coveted prize in public transport, the UITP Awards showcase the most ambitious and innovative
projects of the last two years in cities and regions around the globe.
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Bhutan’s top honor for former Punjab Cadre IAS Officer Dr Khetrapal
• Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the Regional Director of the World Health
Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia, has been honored with Bhutan’s National
Order of Merit (NOM) Gold Medal.
• Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk
Miscellaneous
Que: In January 2022, who won the first Dr Patangrao Kadam Memorial Award?
Ans: Adar Poonwalla
• Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Vaccine manufacturer Serum Institute of India has received
Patangrao Kadam award for contribution in the fight against COVID-19.
• Patangrao Kadam was an Indian politician from the state of Maharashtra and the
award has been set up in his memory.
Extra Fact:
• Prabhu Chandra Mishra was awarded Atal Samman Award for his excellence in field
of science & research on 27 December 2022.
Govt names 27 overseas Indians for 2023 Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards
• The awards were conferred by the President Droupadi Murmu at 17th edition
of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention held at Indore in Madhya Pradesh
from January 8-10, 2023.
• President of Guyana Mohamed Irfaan Ali was the chief guest this year.
• PBW 2023 theme: Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India's Progress in Amrit
Kaal
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Veteran CPI-M Leader TK Rangarajan receives Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Lifetime Achievement Award
• A veteran CPI-M leader, T K Rangarajan has been honored with the Sansad Ratna Lifetime
Achievement Award 2023.
Sansad Ratna Awards:
• It was instituted in 2010 and inspired by the teachings of former President APJ Abdul Kalam.
• It recognizes and felicitates the top-performing MPs based on their work in the apex
legislative body
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Que: Who has been awarded the prestigious Santokba Humanitarian Award for his
contributions to society?
Ans: Sonam Wangchuk
• Sonam Wangchuk - a notable engineer, innovator, educationist, sustainable
development reformist, and founder-director of the Students’ Educational and Cultural
Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL).
• The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1 crore and is presented by Shree Ramkrishna
Exports (SRK) and its philanthropic arm Shree Ramkrishna Knowledge Foundation (SRKKF)
• Wangchuk is the inventor of the Ice Stupa technique which creates artificial glaciers used to store winter
water in the form of cone-shaped ice piles and solve the water crisis in Ladakh.
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Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar gets the first ASI Govind Swarup Lifetime Achievement Award
• An eminent astronomer, Prof Jayant V. Narlikar was awarded the first-ever Govind Swarup
Lifetime Achievement Award by the Astronomical Society of India (ASI).
• ASI instituted the award in 2022 to recognize eminent Indian astronomers for their
contributions to the field of astronomy and astrophysics.
• Prof Narlikar is known for his study of the Universe. He is also a founder director of the
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune
• The award is named in honour of Prof. Govind Swarup (1929-2020) - widely regarded to be the founder of
Indian radio astronomy.
Chennai based Child rights advocate Lalitha Natarajan wins 2023 Iqbal Masih Award
• Chennai based lawyer-activist Lalitha Natarajan has been awarded the 2023 Iqbal
Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labour
• US Consul General Judith Ravin presented the award to Natarajan
• It is a US congress mandated non-monetary award, established in 2008 to honour
extraordinary contributions to combat child labour.
• The award commemorates the World Day Against Child Labour that is observed on June 12 every year.
Rajindar Singh Dhatt honoured with the Points of Light Award 2023
• British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak honored Rajindar Singh Dhatt (101) with a Points of
Light award.
• Rajindar Singh Dhatt had fought with the Allied forces during the British colonial
period.
• He was recognized for his service and work running the 'Undivided Indian Ex-
Servicemen's Association’ to help bring together British Indian war veterans.
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Praveena Anjana of Udaipur has been crowned Miss International India 2023
• Earlier Rajasthan’s Priyan Sain clinched the title of Miss Earth India 2023
• The new Divine Miss Earth India and Divine Miss International India, will
represent India on the international stage in Vietnam & Japan respectively.
Sudha Murty Becomes The First Woman To Get Global Indian Award
• Renowned author and philanthropist Sudha Murty Became the First Woman to
honored with the Global Indian Award by the Canada India Foundation.
• The Global Indian Award, worth $50,000, is given annually to prominent Indians who
have excelled in their respective fields.
• She was honoured with Padma Shri in 2006
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Safeena Husain, Founder of Educate Girls, honored with the WISE Prize for Education
• Safeena Husain is the first Indian woman to win the WISE Prize for Education for
her contribution to girls' education in rural India
• The WISE Award by Qatar Foundation recognizes an individual or a team for an
outstanding, world-class contribution to education.
President Droupadi Murmu presents President's Colour to Armed Forces Medical College Pune
• Reason: commendable work in providing medical services in the country and abroad in its glorious history of
75 years.
• Known as the 'Rashtrapati Ka Nishan', this flag is the highest honor given to a military unit.
• She also virtually inaugurated the Armed Forces Centre for Computational Medicine ‘Prajna’.
Ex-UN Secretary-General Gen Ban Ki-moon gets Power of One Award 2023
• Lifetime Achievement Award at the Power of One Award 2023 ceremony, organised
by the Diwali Foundation USA.
• The awards are granted to selfless individuals for their help to form a peaceful and
secure world for all.
• They are hailed as the 'Oscars of diplomacy'.
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IREDA CMD bags the ‘CMD of the Year’ award for a second consecutive year
• Pradip Kumar Das, Chairman & Managing Director of IREDA, receives the prestigious "CMD of the Year"
award at the 13th PSE Excellence Awards in the Mini-Ratna category.
• hosted by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi
• Founded: 1987
NTPC Kanti receives FICCI Water Award 2023 for industrial water use efficiency
• NTPC Kanti has been awarded the 11th Edition of FICCI Water Award 2023 under the "Industrial Water Use
Efficiency" category.
• The award was presented by the Director General of National Mission for Clean Ganga, Government of India
G Asok Kumar
Nyholm Prize:
• Professor Savita Ladage from Mumbai received the Royal Society of Chemistry’s
Nyholm Prize for Education in recognition of her contributions to chemistry
education.
Short News
• Amazon India received the National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for fostering an
inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities awarded by Gol.
Obituaries
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Noted Rudra veena exponent, Ustad Ali Zaki Hader passed away at 50
• Ali Zaki Hader was the last exponent of the Khandarbani (Khandaharbani) style of the
Jaipur Beenkar gharana of Dhrupad.
• He was the disciple of Ustad Asad Ali Khan.
Political Member
Congress leader and former Speaker Vakkom Purushothaman passed away
• Veteran Congress leader and former Mizoram Governor Vakkom Purushothaman passed
away at the age of 96.
• He was the longest-served Speaker of the Kerala assembly, from 1982 to 1984 and again
from 2001 to 2004.
• V Purushothaman served as the 6th Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands from 1993 to 1996, the Governor of Mizoram from 2011 to 2014 and Governor of
Tripura for two months in 2014.
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• Justice Ahmadi served as the Chief Justice of India from 25 October 1994 until his retirement on 24 March
1997.
• Justice Ahmadi was also the third Muslim to serve as CJI.
India’s First Woman Supreme Court Judge Justice Fathima Beevi Passed Away
• She made history in 1989 by becoming the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court.
• Justice M. Fathima Beevi was also the first Muslim woman to be appointed to the higher
judiciary in the country.
• She was appointed as the Governor of Tamil Nadu in 1997 by President Shankar Dayal
Sharma.
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Award Winners
Padma Bhushan awardee and IAS officer N Vittal passed away
• N Vittal, architect of India’s IT sector, no more
• As Chairman of the Telecom Commission, he also initiated the process of liberalisation in the
telecom sector and played a major role in getting the National Telecom Policy 1994 approved.
• As Secretary of the Department of Electronics (1990-1996), he initiated policies for boosting software,
setting up software technology parks and strategic alliance with the industry.
• He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, in 2012.
Former chairman of the National Commission for Women and Padma Bhushan (2007) awardee Mohini
Giri passed away.
Veteran journalist and Padma Shri awardee (in 2009 ) Abhay Chhajlani passes away
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Kerala’s first ‘Ashoka Chakra’ winner Havildar Alby D’Cruz passed away
• Alby D’Cruz, Kerala’s first Ashoka Chakra recipient, passes away at 87
• In 1962 President Dr Rajendra Prasad presented the Ashoka Chakra to Lance Naik Alby for
his extraordinary bravery during the civil strife with the Naga rebels.
• The Ashoka Chakra is India's highest peacetime military decoration, awarded for bravery
and courageous action.
• Ashoka Chakra was instituted on 04 Jan 1952.
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Miscellaneous
Exposed AIDS epidemic, Dr. Gao Yaojie passed away
• Chinese doctor Gao Yaojie, known for having exposed the AIDS epidemic in the rural part of
the country, died at the age of 95.
South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, widely recognized for his role in the Oscar-winning film
Parasite, has been found dead
Sheikh Nawab AI-Ahmad AI-Sahab, Kuwait Emir, Passed Away At The Age Of 86
• India observing a one-day state mourning
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Que:Craig Breen, who passed away recently, was a famous rally driver representing
which country?
Ans: Ireland
• Ireland’s top rally driver Craig Breen has passed away in an accident, due to a crash
while he was driving his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 rally car in a testing session for the
2023 Croatia Rally.
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Short News
• Alan Arkin, actor who received four Academy Award nominations and won an Oscar in
2007 for "Little Miss Sunshine," has died
• Famed Computer Hacker Kevin Mitnick Passes Away
• Former Australia wicketkeeper Brian Taber dies
N Valaramathi, the scientist who voiced the countdown of Chandrayaan-3, passed away
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Appointments
Govt Appointments
Saugata Gupta new Chairman of ASCI
Saugata Gupta, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Marico Ltd, has been
appointed new Chairman of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI).
ASCI is a voluntary self-regulatory organization of the advertising industry in India.
Established in 1985.
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Government Extends tenure of SBI’s Chairman Dinesh Khara till August 2024
About SBI:
The Imperial Bank of India (which became the State Bank of India after
independence) came into existence on January 27, 1921.
On July 1, 1955, as per the State Bank of India Act 1955, the State Bank of India
(SBI) was constituted
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Que:Who has taken over as Principal Director General of Akashvani and NSD?
Ans: Dr. Vasudha Gupta
Dr. Vasudha Gupta has assumed charge as the Principal Director General of Akashvani and
News Services Division.
She has also served as Director General, Press Information Bureau (PIB).
K.N. Shanth Kumar Elected Chairman of Press Trust of India (PTI) Board
Shanth Kumar of Deccan Herald is new PTI Chairman for a one-year term
Praveen Someshwar, Chief Executive Officer of Hindustan Times, elected Vice-
Chairman
Mr. Shanth Kumar replaces Aveek Sarkar, who served as Chairman for two
consecutive terms.
This is the second time that he is serving as the Chairman of the Board of PTI, the last
time being 2013 to 2014.
Press Trust of India is the country’s largest and oldest private news agency. It was
founded two weeks after Independence in 1947 by a group of newspapers, which also own it.
PTI was registered in 1947 and started functioning in 1949.
Assam’s Kaziranga National Park to get its first woman Field Director
IFS officer Sonali Ghosh would become the first woman to hold charge as the
head of the 118-year-old Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve which was
designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
Regarded as one of the world’s conservation success stories, the 1,355 sq. km
tiger reserve is estimated to have 2,613 greater one-horned rhinos (March 2022
census).
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Centre extends Amit Agrawal’s tenure as CEO of UIDAI for one year
The extension is up to 2 November 2024
Neelkanth Mishra, chief economist at Axis Bank, has been appointed as part-time
chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI):
It is a statutory authority established under the provisions of the Aadhaar Act 2016 by
the Govt. of India under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology
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Government appoints BARC Director A K Mohanty as new Atomic Energy Commission Chairman & Secretary of
Dept of Atomic Energy
Renowned physicist Ajit Kumar Mohanty has been appointed as the Chairman of the
Atomic Energy Commission and the Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy.
Mohanty succeeds K N Vyas.
He has been appointed for a tenure up to the age of 66 years i.e. till October 10, 2025 or
until further orders, whichever is earlier.
He is the Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) since March 2019.
BARC was founded by Homi Jehangir Bhabha as the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay in January 1954
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The Supreme Court extended Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra’s tenure till September
15
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is a multi-disciplinary organization mandated
with investigation of offences of money laundering and violations of foreign
exchange laws.
It functions under the Department of Revenue of the Ministry of Finance.
It was formed on 1st May, 1956, as an ‘Enforcement Unit’ in the Department of
Economic Affairs for handling Exchange Control Laws violations under Foreign
Exchange Regulation Act (FERA), 1947.
In the year 1957, this Unit was renamed as ‘Enforcement Directorate’.
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Asia's first woman loco pilot, Surekha Yadav now operates Vande Bharat Express
She operated Vande Bharat Express from Solapur to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminal
(CSMT) in Maharashtra.
She hails from Stara, Maharashtra, and become the country's first female train driver in
1988.
• Union Minister of Railway: Ashwini Vaishnaw
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Que: Who is the head of the Commission for the sub-categorisation of OBCs?
Ans: Justice G. Rohini
The Justice G. Rohini-led commission for the sub-categorisation of other backward
classes (OBCs) has now been given another extension in its tenure by the President.
This was announced by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. This is
the 14th extension in tenure that the commission has been given.
The commission was formed in October 2017.
• Background:
• In 1955, the First Backward Classes Commission under Kaka Saheb Kalelkar identified 2,399 backward
classes (BC), of which 837 were classified as ‘most backward’.
• The Second Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission, popularly known as Mandal
Commission, was established in 1979 by the Morarji Desai-led Janata Party government and submitted its
report in 1980.
• The Mandal Commission identified 3,743 castes as backward, which constitute 52 per cent of the population
– this apart from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
• National Commission for Backward Classes(Article 338B)
• National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) established on 14th August 1993 is a statutory body
formed under the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.
• 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 provides constitutional status to the National Commission for
Backward Classes (NCBC).
• The National Commission for Backward Classes consists of five regulatory members which include the
Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other members with a tenure period of three years.
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Dinesh Kumar Shukla assumes the charge as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board
for a period of three years.
The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board was constituted on November 15, 1983, by the President
of India under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 to carry out certain regulatory and safety
functions.
Headquarters of AERB: Mumbai
Que: Who has been appointed as the Director of the National Health Authority?
Ans: Praveen Sharma
For five years
National Health Authority (NHA) is the apex body responsible for implementing India’s
flagship public health insurance/assurance scheme called “Ayushman Bharat Pradhan
Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana” under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
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• Established – 1986
• Headquarters – Dehradun
It is an autonomous organization.
Person Position
Saiyam Mehra Chairman of Join
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Person Post
Indra Sena Reddy Nallu Governor of Tripura in place of Satyadev Narayan Arya.
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Governor of Odisha in place of Professor Ganeshi Lal.
Raghubar Das
Neeraj Mittal Secretary:Department of Telecommunications
Justice Subhasis Talapatra 33rd Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court
Person Post
Indra Sena Reddy Nallu Governor of Tripura in place of Satyadev Narayan Arya.
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Governor of Odisha in place of Professor Ganeshi Lal.
Raghubar Das
Neeraj Mittal Secretary:Department of Telecommunications
Justice Subhasis Talapatra 33rd Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court
Person Position
Justice Alok Aradhe Chief Justice of Telangana High Court
Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court
Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay Chief Justice of Bombay High Court
Ajit Pawar second Deputy CM of Maharashtra
Devendra Fadnavis is also a Deputy Chief Minister in the state.
Former Allahabad High Court judge Umesh Chairman of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC)
Kumar
Person Position
Anil Kumar Jain (retired coal secretary) new Chairman of the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board.
Rathendra Raman Chairman of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port
Sanjay Vijaykumar Gangapurwala Chief Justice of Madras High Court
Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and judges of the Supreme Court
Senior Advocate KV Viswanathan
Justice T.S. Sivagnanam Chief Justice
Calcutta High Court
Appointment Position
B. Neeraja Prabhakar Chairperson of Oil Palm Research Advisory Committee was done by
the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for a three-year
period
Justices Ujjal Bhuyan (Chief Justice of the New Supreme Court Judge
Telangana HC)
SV Bhatti (Chief Justice of the Kerala HC) New Supreme Court Judge
Justice M S Ramachandra Rao 28th CJ of Himachal High Court
Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh Chief Justice of Tripura HC
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PSU
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Manganese Ore (India) Limited in 1962 and its name was changed to MOIL Limited during 2010-11.
The company operates 11 manganese ore mines in India. It has 7 mines located in the Nagpur and Bhandara
districts of Maharashtra and four in the Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh.
At present the Government of India owns 53.35% shares in the company, Government of Maharashtra
(5.96%), Government of Madhya Pradesh (5.38%) and Public (35.31%).
Headquarters: Nagpur, Maharashtra
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Mizoram Governor Appoints Air Force Officer As India’s First Woman Aide De Camp
Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati appointed Squadron Leader Manisha
Padhi as Aide-De-Camp (ADC) from the armed forces
ADCs are officers who serve as the personal assistant of top officers including the
Army Chief, Army Commanders, governors, and President of India.
Captain Shiva Chauhan becomes the first women officer to be operationally deployed in Siachen
Captain Shiva Chauhan became the first woman officer to be operationally deployed at the
highest battleground in Kumar Post on the Siachen glacier.
The Siachen glacier lies in the Karakoram Range .It is 75 km (47 miles) long, which makes it
the second longest nonpolar glacier in the world, after Fedchenko Glacier in Tajikistan.
Captain Surbhi Jakhmola, 1st woman officer posted on foreign assignment at BRO
An officer of the 117 Engineer Regiment of the Indian Army
She has been deployed by BRO under Project Dantak in Bhutan.
BRO is entirely under ministry of defence since 2015.
Recently, the Indian Air Force recently deployed Squadron Leader Avani Chaturvedi, a
woman fighter pilot, to Japan for Veer Guardian 2023 exercise, held from January 12 to
26.
Air Marshal AP Singh will be the new Vice Chief of the Air Force
Air Marshal Amanpreet Singh has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
He will replace Air Marshal Sandeep Singh.
Indian Air Force
• It was established on 8 October 1932. It comes under the Union Ministry of
Defence.
• The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Air Force.
• Every year October 8 is celebrated as Air Force Day.
Chief of the Air Staff: Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Choudhary
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Captain Shaliza Dhami becomes first woman to head frontline combat unit in IAF
Group Captain Dhami will be the first woman officer in the IAF to command a missile squadron in
the Western sector facing Pakistan.
Que: Who has been appointed as the Military Advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS)?
Ans: Air Marshal Sandeep Singh (Retd.)
He is a former Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force
Vayu Sena Medal in 2006, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2013 and Param Vishisht Sewa Medal in
2022.
General Anil Chauhan was the military adviser to the NSCS before being appointed chief of
defence staff in September 2022.
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Indian Army inducts five women officers into its Artillery Regiment
The women officers, including Lt Mehak Saini, Lt Sakshi Dubey, Lt Aditi Yadav, Lt
Pavitra Moudgil and Lt Akanksha, joined major artillery units of the Army after
completing their training at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai.
The move is a significant step towards gender equality in the Indian Armed Forces
The Regiment of Artillery is a combat/fighting arm of the Indian Army, which provides massive firepower during all
ground operations of the Indian Army.
Chhattisgarh IPS officer Ravi Sinha selected as new Chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)
Sinha took over from Samant Kumar Goel, whose term ended on June 30, 2023.
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW): Ravi Sinha the new Chief of
• It is the foreign intelligence agency of India. Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)
• RAW's primary function is to gather foreign intelligence.
• RAW advises Indian policy makers on strategic matters.
• Established - 21 September 1968
• Founder - RN Kao, Indira Gandhi
• Headquarters - New Delhi
Major Dr Payal Chhabra, a surgeon serving at the Army hospital in Ladakh, has become
the first woman surgeon to join the elite Para Special Forces of the Indian Army
Param Vir Chakra Awardee Captain Bana Singh has been nominated as Ambassador for ‘War Against
Waste’ in Jammu & Kashmir
Aim: to combat sanitation challenges in rural areas of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir
Swachh Bharat Diwas (2nd October)
Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS 2023) campaign was celebrated from 15th September to 2nd October
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Theme of SHS-2023 - 'Garbage Free India' with focus on visual cleanliness and welfare of SafaiMitras.
Padma Bandopadhyay: She was the first woman to be promoted to the rank of Air
Marshal in the Indian Air Force.
Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi to become India’s new Vice Chief of Navy Staff
Vice Admiral Tripathi is set to assume his new responsibilities on January 4, 2024.
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Captain Fatima Wasim has become the first woman medical officer to be posted at the
operational post of Siachen Glacier
Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS)
S Paramesh Additional Director General of Indian Coast Guard
Lt Gen MU Nair Head of National Cyber Coordination Centre
Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi Vice Chief of Naval Staff
Navneet Munot Elected Chairman of the Association of Mutual Funds In India (AMFI)
Founded: 22 August 1995
Headquarters: Mumbai
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RBI approves ICICI Bank CEO Sandeep Bakhshi’s re-appointment for 3 year
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the re-appointment of Sandeep Bakhshi
as the managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of ICICI Bank, for three
years with effect from October 4, 2023.
He was appointed as the MD and CEO of ICICI Bank on October 15, 2018.
Headquarters: Mumbai
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Ajay Kumar Srivastava to take over as the MD and CEO of the Indian Overseas Bank
from 1 January 2023.
He will replace Partha Pratim Sengupta whose tenure ends on 31 December 2022.
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Govt extends RBI Deputy Governor Michael Debabrata Patra tenure by one year
Government appoints Swaminathan Janakiraman as RBI Deputy Governor
The 2 other deputy governors of RBI are M Rajeshwar Rao and T Rabi Sankar.
RBI appoints Manoranjan Mishra as Executive Director
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Siddhartha Mohanty has been named as Managing Director (MD) and the first Chief
Executive Officer of LIC.
Siddhartha Mohanty will lead the insurance firm as its Chairman till June 2024, after
which the position will be done away with, and then he will continue as MD & CEO till
June 2025.
Founded: 1 September 1956
Headquarters: Mumbai
Max Life Insurance appoints Rajiv Anand as Chairman, Analjit Singh resigns
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Indian Ambassadors
Ajay Kumar appointed as advisor to USISPF Board
Former Indian Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar has been appointed as an advisor to the
board of the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF).
Kumar is the longest-serving secretary in the Ministry of Defence (August 2019 and
October 2022).
President and CEO of USISPF – Mukesh Aghi
UNICEF India Names Ayushmann Khurrana As Its National Ambassador For Child Rights
About UNICEF India
• UNICEF India works to promote and protect the rights of children across the country.
• The partnership of UNICEF with India began in 1949.
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development is a nodal agency in India.
About UNICEF
• UNICEF is a United Nations agency which was set up on 11 December 1946 as United
Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.
• It was renamed as the United Nations Children's Fund in 1953.
• It provides development and humanitarian assistance to children and mothers.
• Headquarters: New York, United Sates of America.
• Head: Catherine M. Russell
CAG Girish Chandra Murmu re-elected External Auditor of WHO for four-year/CAG
four-year term (2024-2027).
The CAG is already holding this position in the WHO for a four-year term (2019-2023).
Name Position
Surendra Adhana re-elected to serve on the Advisory Committee on Administrative and
Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) at the United Nations for the term 2024-26.
Nilakshi Saha Sinha new Ambassador of India to the Republic of Armenia
M Sreedharan next Ambassador of India to Azerbaijan.
Prashant Agrawal Ambassador of India to Laos
KR Parvathy appointed as UN Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan
Name Position
Devesh Uttam next Ambassador ofJoin
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Name Position
Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani member of the International Advisory Committee of COP 28
Ajay Kumar
Private Org
Cognizant India MD Rajesh Nambiar appointed as Nasscom Chairperson
Indian IT and tech trade body Nasscom announced the appointment of Rajesh Nambiar,
Chairman and Managing Director, Cognizant India, as its new Chairperson.
Nambiar is succeeding Anant Maheshwari
The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) is the apex body
for the Indian technology industry. It is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1988.
Founders: Nandan Nilekani, Dewang Mehta
India’s Sindhu Gangadharan Appointed As Nasscom Vice-Chairperson
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Tech Mahindra names former Infosys President Mohit Joshi as MD and CEO
Mohit Joshi will take over for a period of five years.
Tech Mahindra was established in 1986.
It provides information technology (IT) services and solutions to the telecommunications sector
across the globe.
Person Company
Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek ambassadors for brand Infosys and its Digital Innovation
SN Subrahmanyan Chairman and MD of L&T
Gopichand Hinduja takes charges as Group chairman
Praveer Sinha CEO and MD of Tata Power for 4 years
Indian-American Neal Mohan appointed as the new CEO of YouTube
Professor Bharat Bhasker Director of IIM Ahmedabad
Miscellaneous
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is Elected Chairman of Shree Somnath Trust for Five-Year Term
Shree Somnath Trust (SST) - the religious charitable trust which owns and manages
the iconic Somnath temple near Veraval
This is the first time in 74-year-long history of Shree Somnath Trust that the chairman
is elected for a five-year term. So far, the term has been one year.
PM Modi has been elected the chairman of the SST board of trustees for the third
time. He was elected chairman for the first time in 2021.
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Hockey India appoints South African Craig Fulton as new Chief Coach of Indian men's
hockey team
Craig Fulton will replace Graham Reid who resigned in January 2023 following India's
poor performance in the World Cup.
Mary Kom, Farhan Akhtar roped in as brand ambassadors of IBA Women's World Championships 2023
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) also unveiled the title
sponsor, Mahindra Automotive for the event.
The championship was scheduled from March 15 to 26 at the
Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi.
India hosted the Women’s World Championships for the third
time and finished on top of the medals tally, fetching four golds.
Prof. Renu Cheema Vig appointed as the Vice Chancellor of Panjab University
Vice-President, Jagdeep Dhankhar appointed Prof (Dr.) Renu Cheema Vig as the Vice
Chancellor of Panjab University for a term of three years.
She is also the first woman to hold the position in the varsity’s 141-year history.
Que:Who has been elected as the Vice President of the International Boxing Association (IBA)?
Ans: Ajay Singh
Boxing Federation of India (BFI) Chief Ajay Singh has been elected as the International Boxing
Association (IBA) Vice-President.
Singh will stay in the role till 2026 alongside Volodymyr Prodyvus of Ukraine and Serbia’s
Abdulmutalim Abakarov.
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Person Position
Former Indian cricketer Monty New coach of Nepal cricket team
Desai
Dmitry Dmitruk new coach of Indian boxing team
Padma Lakshmi Bar Council of the state as the first transgender lawyer in Kerala
former captain MS Dhoni Viacom18 brand ambassador
cricketer Virat Kohli Luxor Writing Instruments Private Limited brand ambassador
Ranveer Singh brand ambassador of Pepsi co
Alia Bhatt Gucci’s global ambassador. She has become the first Indian to be the face of the
Italian luxury fashion house.
Name Position
Sania Mirza appointed as the Tennis Ambassador for Sony Sports Network
Nirmala Lakshman new Chairperson of The Hindu Group
Tushar Khandker head coach of the Junior Women’s National team by Hockey India
Nusrat Chowdhry first Muslim Female Federal Judge in US History
Ravindra Banshtu appointed Indian women’s volleyball team new coach
Name Position
Shah Rukh Khan appointed brand ambassador of ICC World Cup 2023
Gokul Subramaniam Intel India President
Neeraj Chopra Laureus Ambassador
Former Indian opener Gautam appointed by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as their new 'mentor
Gambhir
Katrina Kaif Japanese apparel retailer Uniqlo first brand ambassador in India
L. Kantha Rao new Secretary of the Ministry of Mines.
Nihar Malviya CEO of Penguin Random House
Katrina Kaif Swiss Watchmaker ‘Rado’ Global Brand Ambassador
Virat Kohli Audi's Brand Ambassador in India
Abhijit Chakravorty SBI Card’s CEO
Kameshwar Kodavanti Chief Financial Officer (CFO), SBI Bank
T V Narendran Tata Steel CEO and Managing Director
Sanjiv Puri Chairman and Managing Director of India Tobacco Company Limited (ITC Ltd) for
a period of five years
Short News
SBI Ropes in Cricket Icon MS Dhoni as Brand Ambassador
Reliance Retail has appointed Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the brand ambassador of
JioMart, its e-commerce platform.
Lay’s Announces Mahendra Singh Dhoni As Brand Ambassador
Rajiv Gauba got a one-year extension in service as Cabinet Secretary, extending
beyond August 30, 2023.
PayPal appointed Alex Chriss as CEO, replaced its longest-serving chief executive
officer Dan Schulman in August 2023.
Indian Oil has collaborated with Chef Sanjeev Kapoor as the brand ambassador for
its Indane XTRATEJ LPG brand.
Senior IPS officer Maheshwar Dayal takes over as Director General of Prisons
Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, has been appointed as the ex-officio Chancellor of Pondicherry
University.
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Union Territories
Jammu & Kashmir
• In 1951, the state constituent assembly was • State Boundaries: Himachal Pradesh, Punjab
elected. It met for the first time in Srinagar on • International Boundaries: Pakistan, China,
31st October 1951 Afghanistan
• In 1952, The Delhi Agreement was signed
between Prime Ministers of India and • Lt. Governor : Shri Manoj Sinha
• Jammu & Kashmir giving special position to • State Animal: Hangul
the state under Indian Constitutional • State Bird: Black-necked crane
framework. • State Tree: Chinar
• On 6th february 1954, the J&K constituent • State Flower: Lotus
assembly ratified the accession of the state to • State Animal: Hangul
the Union of India. • State Bird: Black-necked crane
• Capital :Srinagar (Summer) • State Tree: Chinar
• Jammu (Winter) • State Flower: Lotus
• Date of Formation: 26 October 1947
• Tsomoriri
National Parks
• Dachigam National Park – Srinagar – is best Lakes:
known as the home of the hangul, or Kashmir • Dal Lake
stag (state Animal). • Pangong Tso
• Dachigam National Park (Srinagar) • Tso Moriri
• Kishtwar National Park (Kishtwar) • Manasbal Lake
• Hemis High Altitude National Park (Ladakh) • Sheshnag Lake
• Salim Ali National Park (Srinagar)
• Kazinag National Park (Baramula) Passes
• Zoji La Pass
Ramsar Wetlands • Changla Pass
• Surinsar-Mansar Lakes • Khardung La Pass
• Hokersar • Shingo La
• Wular Lake • Banihal Pass
J&K govt to host its maiden SARAS Fair 2023 from February 4 to 14
• The fair would be organised at Bagh-e-Bahu, Jammu.
• In the fair artisans and women self help groups from across the country will
showcase their crafts, handcrafts, handloom and foods.
• The national level food and cultural fair will showcase unique and famous
indigenous products from different states and union territories of the country.
• It is organised under the guidance of the Ministry of Rural Development.
Asia's longest ever cycle race flagged off from Srinagar, J&K
• Flagged off from Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar (J&K) and will culminate at Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu).
• The race will cover the longest highway, National Highway 44 distance
of 3651 kilometers, passing through twelve major states
• It has been accorded the status of Asian Ultracycling Championship by
the World Ultracycling Association.
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Que:In which district of Jammu and Kashmir the army hoisted the tallest 'Iconic National
Flag’?
Ans: Doda
• In Jammu and Kashmir, Army installed the tallest ‘Iconic National Flag’ in the hilly Doda
district on a 100 feet-high pole
Lithium (Li):
• It is a soft and silvery white metal.
• It is the lightest metal and the lightest solid element at standard conditions.
• It is alkaline and a rare metal.
• Lithium has anatomic number of 3 and an atomic mass of 6.941u.
• Lithium is one of the key components of rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras
and electric vehicles.
• It is also used in some non-rechargeable batteries for things like heart pacemakers, toys, and watches.
• Countries with the largest reserves: Chile > Australia > Argentina
Que: Which state / UTs Agriculture Production Department has launched the Kisan Sampark Abhiyan programme
in the state?
Ans: Jammu and Kashmir
• The Abhiyan has been launched across 3565 panchayats in J&K.
• The programme will be launched across all districts of Jammu and Kashmir and will
focus on providing farmers with information, training, and guidance on various aspects
of agriculture and allied activities.
India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge Anji Khad will be ready in May 2023
• The bridge is a part of a 326-km rail line connecting Udhampur to Baramulla via Srinagar
• It connects Katra and Reasi via tunnels T2 and T3 on the Katra-Banihal section.
• Aim: To connect J&K to the rest of the country with all-weather rail connectivity
• The cables weight 848.7 MT and the total length of cable strands involved is 653km.
• The asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge crosses the deep gorges of Anji river, a tributary of river Chenab.
• Project cost - ₹400 crore
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In terms of road and highway development in this constituency, Dr. Jitendra Singh said:
• Vande- Bharat Express from Katra to Delhi,
• North India’s first ever Cable-Stayed Bridge - Atal Setu,
• J&K’s first inter-State bridge at Keerian-Gandyal,
• North India’s first Express Road Corridor from Delhi to Katra via Kathua,
• the new National Highway from Lakhanpur-Bani-Basohli-Doda via Chattargala Tunnel has made this
constituency best ever connected leading to its tremendous development compared to the other
Constituencies in the country.
• With the establishment of an Inter Modal Station (IMS) at Katra, a world class state of the art project in this
constituency, will not only improve the travelling experience of the pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi
Shrine but will open numerous opportunities in terms of employment, trade etc. for the people of this
constituency.
Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 : Introduced In Lok Sabha
• The government has introduced the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order
(Amendment) Bill, 2023 in Lok Sabha to include four communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in
Jammu and Kashmir.
• The four communities proposed for ST status are “Gadda Brahmin,” “Koli,” “Paddari Tribe,” and “Pahari
Ethnic Group.”
• Currently, the dominant ST communities in J&K are the Gujjars and Bakerwals, who were given ST status in
1991 along with the smaller groups of Gaddis and Sippis.
• The proposed expansion of the ST list has caused unrest among the Gujjar-Bakerwal community, who fear a
reduction in their share of the quota benefits.
• The Pahari Ethnic Group includes Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, with some Kashmiri-origin settlers in Rajouri
and Poonch districts.
• The Paddari Tribe, residing in the remote Paddar area of Kishtwar district, is also proposed for ST status.
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• The recommendation of the concerned state/ UT government with full justification, and the concurrence of
the Registrar General of India (RGI) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) are essential
to designate a community as ST.
• There are no notified Scheduled Tribes in Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Puducherry.
• India's first post office near LoC has been inaugurated in Kupwara
district of Jammu and Kashmir. This post office is located on the
banks of the Kishanganga River near the Line of Actual Control
(LoC).
Centre moves Bill to reserve Assembly seats for PoK displaced, Kashmiri ‘migrants’
• The special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 was struck down by
Parliament in August 2019 and the former State was bifurcated into two union
territories — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the latter without an Assembly.
• Jammu and Kashmir has been under Central rule since 2018 and Assembly
elections are yet to take place.
• The J&K Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, aims to amend certain
provisions of the original 2019 Act to provide for the reservation of seats for specific communities in the
Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Reservation of Seats: The bill proposes to reserve 2 seats in the Legislative Assembly for Kashmiri Migrants
and one for displaced persons from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
• Of the two seats reserved for the “Kashmiri migrant community”, at least one nominee required to be a
woman.
• L-G's Power to Appoint MLAs: The Bill is likely to empower the L-G to appoint two MLAs from the Kashmiri
migrant community and one migrant from PoK to the Union Territory's Legislative Assembly.
• The bill, in line with the report of the J&K Delimitation Commission, further seeks to increase the number of
seats in the Jammu & Kashmir assembly from 107 to 114.
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• Of these 114 seats, 24 are reserved for Pakistan-occupied J&K (PoJK). Of the remaining 90 seats, nine have
been reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs)— for the first time— and seven others have been reserved for the
Scheduled Castes (SCs).
• Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in Pakistan is the region of Kashmir that came under the control of
Pakistan following the first Indo-Pakistan War of 1947-1948.
Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur railway station officially named 'Captain Tushar
Mahajan Railway Station’
Ranbireshwar temple
• NEWS: In Jammu and Kashmir, amidst two days of incessant rain, a portion of
Ranbireshwar Temple collapsed in Jammu.
• This incident has raised alarm in the community, as the temple has stood as a
symbol of cultural heritage for centuries.
• The Temple is named after its founder Maharaja Ranbir Singh.
• The construction of the temple was started in 1863 A.D and was completed
in 1883 A.D. It is the biggest Shiva temple in North India.
Gyanodaya Express
• Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, flagged off the
Gyanodaya Express from the Katra railway station in Reasi district.
• This unique project, also known as the “College on Wheels,” aims to empower
approximately 700 girl students from universities in the Union Territory.
• The inclusion of visits to renowned institutions like the Indian Navy and ISRO
Anand Marriage Act implemented in J&K, gives recognition to Sikh marriage rituals
• This Act provides statutory recognition to the marriage rituals of Sikhs, addressing
their longstanding demand to separate their marriages from the Hindu Marriage
Act.
• The newly formulated “Jammu and Kashmir Anand Marriage Registration Rules,
2023” outline the procedures for Anand marriages.
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Short News
• Jammu & Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated a tulip garden at Sanasar in Ramban district. It is
said to be the Union Territory’s second and Jammu division’s first tulip garden, and will help boost tourism in
the region
• Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju has released the first edition of the Dogri
version of the Constitution of India at University of Jammu.
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Ladakh
• Administratively, Ladakh is divided between Pakistan (northwest), as part of Gilgit-Baltistan, and India
(southeast), as part of Ladakh union territory (until October 31, 2019, part of Jammu and Kashmir state).
• Ladakh has adopted Snow Leopard and Black-Necked Crane, as State animal and State bird.
• Lt. Governor :B. D. Mishra
HCHF and Ladakh Tourism Dept organized annual Ethnic Mamani Festival
• The annual Ethnic Mamani Festival was organized at Historical Styangkung Village
and Chiktan Shagaran by the Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation (HCHF) and
Ladakh Tourism Department.
• The Steyangkung village:
• This village is being developed as one of the well-maintained heritage villages in
Ladakh.
• During Mamani Festival, people would exchange food with their relatives and neighbours and worship a
variety of spirits.
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• It is adjacent to the Indian Astronomical Observatory, the second-highest optical telescope in the world, of
the Indian Institute of Astrophysics at Hanle is at an elevation of 4500 metres.
• The World’s highest astronomical observatory is the University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory. It is located
at an altitude of 5,640 m
Chandigarh
• Chandigarh is bordered by the state of Haryana to the east.
• Chandigarh is bordered by Punjab to its south, west, and north.
• Chandigarh is famous for its urban design and architecture.
• It was designed by Le-Corbusier, a Swiss-French architect.
• Administrator: Banwarilal Purohit
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North India's first Skin Bank inaugurated at New Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital
• This facility serves as a repository where deceased donors can donate their skin, which can be utilized in the
treatment of burns.
• Deceased donors can donate their skin within six hours of death. Once donated, the skin undergoes a
processing procedure and can then be used for treating burns and trauma patients.
• Out of the 16 existing skin banks in India, 7 are in Maharashtra, 4 in Chennai, 3 in Karnataka, and 1 each in
Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
Delhi launches first 'Water ATM' to provide clean water in water-scarce areas
• Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal recently inaugurated the city's first
'Water ATM', which aims to provide clean water to areas lacking piped
water supply.
• The Delhi government, plans to tackle water scarcity by setting up 500 RO
plants with integrated 'water ATM machines' in areas facing water supply
issues.
• The government will provide the necessary land, and the cost of ₹10 lakh per plant will be borne by the Delhi
Jal Board.
• Beneficiaries of this initiative will receive RFID cards from DJB, which will give them access to a daily free
water quota of 20 litres. Usage beyond this limit will attract a charge of 8 paise per litre.
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Lakshadweep
• India’s smallest Union Territory Lakshadweep is an archipelago
consisting of 36 islands with an area of 32 sq km.
• The principal islands in the territory are Minicoy and those in
the Amindivi group.
• Administrator: Praful Patel
• Capital – Kavaratti
• Kolkali and Parichakali are the two popular folk art forms in the
Territory.
• As per details from Census 2011, Lakshadweep has population of 64
Thousands of which male and female are 33,123 and 31,350
respectively
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State News
Himachal Pradesh
• On 25th January, 1971, Himachal Pradesh was made a full-fledged State. Himachal is in the western
Himalayas. Most of the state lies on the foothills of the Dhauladhar Range.
• Chief Minister: Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
• Governor : Shiv Pratap Shukla
• Capital: Shimla
• Winter capital: Dharamshala, declared in 2017
• Date of Formation: 25th January 1971
• State Boundaries: Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh
• International boundaries: China
• Arts & Crafts
• Basholi and Kangra style Pahari paintings
• Kullu Shawls, Woollen caps, Chamba Rumal (Kangra style embroidery cloth)
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• The All-Citizens Model of the NPS allows all citizens of India (including NRIs) aged between 18 - 70 years to
join NPS.
• It is a participatory scheme, where employees contribute to their pension corpus from their salaries, with
matching contributions from the government.
• Even private individuals can opt for the scheme.
Uses:
• It is also used in traditional medicines against chest and lung diseases.
• It has anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-bacterial
• It is known to boost immunity due to the increase in the production of macrophage and lymphocytes.
• It helps in weight loss as it contains flavonoids that help to reduce excessive fats accumulated in the body.
Que:Which state becomes the first to prepare a DNA database for the identification of
unidentified dead bodies?
Ans: Himachal Pradesh
• The process of creating this database had started in April 2022. So far, the
database holds records of 150 DNA samples of unidentified bodies.
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Que: Which state government has launched a new project, ‘Sanjeevani” to ensure that livestock is provided
quality treatment in a time-bound manner?
Ans: Himachal Pradesh
• The doorstep veterinary services will have curative treatment, vaccination, artificial insemination, preventive
care and all animal husbandry-related information.
• This initiative will serve farmers at 44 blocks located in 12 districts of the state.
• Capital – Shimla (Summer), Dharamshala (Winter)
• Chief Minister – Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu
• Governor – Shiv Pratap Shukla
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• At present, the VCs are appointed by the governor who is also the chancellor of the state-run universities on
the recommendation of the selection committee consisting of a nominee of the governor, chairman of the
Indian Council of Agricultural Research and chairman of the University Grants Commission or his nominee.
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Uttarakhand
• Language: Gharwali, Kumaoni, Hindi
• Chief Minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami
National Park
• Governor: Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh
• Corbett National Park
• Capital: Dehradun (God’s Land – Dev Bhoomi)
• Gangotri National Park
• (In 2007, Uttaranchal was renamed as
Nanda Devi National Park
Uttarakhand)
• Rajaji National Park
• Date of Formation: 09, November 2000
• Valley of Flowers National Park
• International Borders: China (Tibet), Nepal
• Govind National Park
• State Borders: Himachal Pradesh, Uttar
Wildlife Sanctuary
Pradesh
• Govind wildlife sanctuary
• Char-Dhams: Badrinath, Kedarnath,
• Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary
Gangotri, Yamunotri
• State Animal: Himalayan Musk deer
Passes
• State Flower: Brahm Kamal
• Mana Pass
• State Tree: Burans
• Niti Pass
• State Bird: Himalayan Monal
• Lipu Lekh Pass
• Traill’s Pass
• Muling La
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Luminous Power Technologies to build India's first green solar panel factory in Uttarakhand
• The new manufacturing plant located in Rudrapur is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2023.
• The facility will help enable a solar generation capacity of 500 MW per annum,
which can be scaled up to 1 GW.
• The plant has been certified as a green facility by the Indian Green Building Council
(IGBC) and will reduce CO2 emissions by over 70 million tonnes per year.
• CEO and Managing Director of Luminous Power Technologies – Preeti Bajaj
Dhauliganga river:
• Origin: It rises in the vicinity of the Niti Pass in the border regions between Garhwal region of Uttarakhand
and southwestern Tibet.
• It meets the Alaknanda River(the major source stream of the Ganges river) at Vishnuprayag in Uttarakhand.
• It is one of the important tributaries of Alaknanda, the other being the Nandakini, Pindar, Mandakini, and
Bhagirathi.
• Length: The length of this river is about 94 km.
• Tapovan, which is famous for its hot springs, is located on the banks of Dhauliganga.
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Uttarakhand govt approves 10 % horizontal reservation for statehood activists in state govt jobs
• The decision assumes significance since the governor had returned the bill granting 10 per cent reservation
to the statehood activists in the past.
• Uttarakhand was formed in November 2000, before that there were
agitations regarding its formation.
About Uttarakhand
• Formation - November 9, 2000 as 27th state of India
• Chief Minister - Pushkar Singh Dhami
• Governor -Gurmit Singh
• Capital – Dehradun (Winter), Gairsain (Summer)
• State Animal - Alpine Musk Deer
• State Bird - Himalayan Monal
• State Flower - Brahma Kamal
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Que:Which state launched the ‘Patch Reporting App’ to make the roads in state free of
pot holes?
Ans: Uttarakhand
• Patch Reporting App was launched recently by the Uttarakhand Chief Minister to
make the roads free of potholes in the state.
• It was developed by the state’s Public Works Department.
• This app allows any person to submit a detailed complaint by capturing pictures
of potholes on the nearby roads.
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• The park serves as a connecting link between Govind National Park and Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) ,est. 1962; HQ: New Delhi, is a central paramilitary force responsible
for border guarding duties along the Sino-India Border, covering a distance of 3,488 km from Karakoram Pass
in Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
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Uttarakhand To Become The First State after Goa To Adopt The Uniform Civil Code
• Uttarakhand is reportedly set to become the first state in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code
• The Uttarakhand government will convene a special session of its Legislative Assembly, to pass the bill -
granting it legal status
• The UCC is a proposal to formulate and implement personal laws which will apply uniformly to all citizens
regardless of their religion, gender or sexual orientation.
• The code comes under Article 44 of the Constitution, which is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy.
• The only state in India that has a UCC is Goa, which retained its common family law known as the Goa Civil
Code after it was liberated from Portuguese rule in 1961
• The rest of India follows different personal laws based on their religious or community identity.
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Punjab
• The first known documentation of the word ‘Punjab’ is in the writings of Ibn Batuta, who visited the region in
the fourteenth century.
• Chandigarh is common capital of states of Punjab and Haryana.
• It is a Union Territory
The first-ever “National Genome Editing & Training Centre” inaugurated at Mohali
• Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated
“National Genome Editing and Training Centre (NGETC)” at National Agri-food
Biotechnology Institute (NABI) Mohali in Punjab.
• He also inaugurated the 4-day International Conference on Food and Nutrition
Security 2023.
National Genome Editing and Training Centre (NGETC)
• The center will help in improving crops in present climate scenarios and making
them more tolerant to changing environmental conditions.
• It will also empower young researchers by providing them training and guidance regarding its application in
crops.
What is Genome Editing?
• Genome editing, also known as gene editing, alters the deoxy-ribonucleic acid (DNA) of an organism.
• These technologies allow genetic material to be added, removed, or changed at particular locations in the
genome.
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Punjab sets target of sowing paddy in 5 lakh acres of land through DSR method
• The direct seeded rice (DSR target) for this season is 2.5 times more than the
previous Kharif season (2.12 lakh acres).
• To encourage farmers to adopt the DSR method, the government has provided
subsidy on seed drill, herbicides and weedicides.
• The state government has engaged experts to provide technical guidance and
monitoring to the farmers.
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• Mission Indradhanush was launched in 2014 as a special drive to expand full immunization coverage in
India.
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW).
• Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI)
• It was launched in October 2017.
• Under IMI, greater focus was given on urban areas which were one of the gaps of Mission
Indradhanush.
PUSA-44
• Recently, Punjab Chief Minister announced that the state will ban the
cultivation of the PUSA-44 paddy variety from next year onwards.
• It is a paddy variety which was developed in 1993 by the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• Farmers claim that PUSA-44 yields nearly 34 to 40 quintals per acre, while
other varieties’ yield average is 28 to 30 quintals per acre.
Concerns
• It is a long-duration variety, taking around 160 days to mature.
• This is around 35 to 40 days more than other varieties, requiring 5-6 extra cycles of irrigation.
• With Punjab facing severe groundwater depletion and the availability of short-duration paddy varieties, the
government aims to conserve one month of irrigation water by banning the variety.
• Moreover, this variety is also known to exacerbate the long-running issue of stubble burning in the state.
• This variety generates around 2 per cent more stubble than short varieties, which becomes a significant
concern when cultivated on a large scale.
‘Hope Initiative’
• In Punjab, efforts to make the state completely drug-free are going at different levels currently.
• The state government also started the mission ‘Hope Initiative’ in this regard from Amritsar.
• This anti-drug ‘Hope Initiative’ has been embarked with a three fold strategy of Pray, Pledge, and Play which
is first of its kind mass movement against drugs to break the backbone of this menace.
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• A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar, found the presence of tantalum, a
rare metal, in the Sutlej river sand in Punjab.
• Tantalum is a rare metal with the atomic number 73.
• The rare metal has been named after a Greek mythological figure,
Tantalus.
• According to experts, the presence of
tantalum is significant not only for Punjab but
also India as the metal is widely used in
electronics and semiconductors.
• It possesses high corrosion resistance
because, when exposed to air, it forms an
oxide layer that is extremely difficult to remove, even when it interacts with strong and hot acid
environments.
• When pure, tantalum is ductile, meaning it can be stretched, pulled, or drawn into a thin wire or thread
without breaking.
• It is almost completely immune to chemical attack at temperatures below 150°C and is attacked only by
hydrofluoric acid, acidic solutions containing the fluoride ion, and free sulphur trioxide.”
• It also has an extremely high melting point, exceeded only by tungsten
Haryana
• Haryana came into existence on 1st November 1966.
• Haryana is a state in Northern India. The state shares its boundaries with Rajasthan in the south and west,
Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in the north, and the territory of Delhi in the east.
• Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
• Governor : Bandaru Dattatreya
• Capital Chandigarh
• Date of formation 1st November 1966 Rivers
• State boundary Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, • Yamuna, Saraswati, Ghaggar, Markanda,
Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan Tangri, Chautang
• State Animal Black Buck
• State Bird Black Francolin Wildlife Sanctuaries
• State Tree Peepal • Abubshehar Wildlife Sanctuary
• State Flower Lotus • Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bir Shikargarh Wildlife Sanctuary
National Parks • Chinchilla Wildlife Sanctuary
• Sultanpur National Park • Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Kalesar National Park • Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary
• Morni Hills (Khol-Hi-Raritan) Wildlife
Dances Sanctuary
• Phag, Dhamal, Ratvai • Nahar Wildlife Sanctuary
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New Haryana excise policy: imposes ₹5 cow cess on each liquor bottle sold
• The new excise policy was approved in the cabinet meeting chaired by chief
minister Manohar Lal Khattar
• Under Haryana's new excise policy, buyers will be charged Rs 5 cow cess per
liquor bottle in order to generate funds for the welfare of cows in the state.
• “Currently, there are 650 cow shelters across the state, including 23 in
Gurugram that house around 5,00,000 stray cattle.
Que:Which state government has decided to allow all restaurants across the state to remain open 24×7?
Ans: Haryana
• The decision was announced by Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala.
• The restaurants will have to register with the Labour Department and follow other terms and conditions
(Section 9 and 10 of the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958).”
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• The beneficiary families can avail treatment for his family of up to Rs. 5 lakh free of cost from any
Government Hospital and Empanelled Private Hospital in State.
• Haryana was founded on November 1, 1966, after partitioning the former state of Punjab into Hindi-
speaking Haryana and Punjabi-speaking Punjab.
Uttar Pradesh
The state celebrates its foundation day on the 24th of January every year. This day is also known as Uttar Pradesh
Day or Uttar Pradesh Diwas.
Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath State Tree: Ashoka
Governor: Anandiben Patel State Flower: Palash
State Animal : Swamp deer State Dance: Kathak
State Bird: Sarus Crane State Sport: Field hockey
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• Date of Creation : 01, April 1937 (United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British Rule)
• It was renamed as Uttar Pradesh on 26, January 1950.
• In November 2000, a new state, Uttarakhand, was carved out.
• State Borders: Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh,
Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh
• International Borders: Nepal
• Language: Hindu, Urdu, Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Bundelkhandi, Braj Bhasa
Main Handicrafts
• Chikan work Ramsar Sites
• Zari work • Bakhira Sanctuary
• Wooden toys and furniture • Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary
• Clay toys • Saman Bird Sanctuary
• dari • Sandi Bird Sanctuary
• Carpet • Sur Sarovar
• Silk • Haiderpur Wetland
• brassware • Upper Ganga
Tiger Reserve • Sarsai Nawar Jheel
• Dudhwa National Park • Samaspur Bird Sanctuary
• Pilibhit Tiger reserve • Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary.
• Amangarh Tiger Reserve
Ghaziabad-Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay section becomes the longest fully Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) section of
Indian Railways
• Length 762 KM
• ABS has been commissioned on 268 Route Kilometer (RKM) during 2022-23.
• With the implementation of automatic signalling, there will be an increase in capacity resulting in the
introduction of more train services.
Varanasi Cantt Railway Station awarded ‘Eat Right Station’ with a 5-star
rating certification by FSSAI
• ‘Eat Right Station’ certification is provided by FSSAI to railway stations
which set the standard in providing safe and nutritious food to the
passengers.
• Other railway stations with this certification
• The other railway stations with this certification include Anand Vihar
Terminal Railway Station (Delhi), Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
(Mumbai), Mumbai Central Railway Station (Mumbai), Vadodara
Railway Station, Chandigarh Railway Station, Bhopal Railway Station.
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What is FSSAI?
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous statutory body established under the
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act).
• Formed:2008
• Under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
• Headquarters: Delhi
• Chairman: Shri Rajesh Bhushan
Que: In which state is the Korwa Ordnance factory situated where the production of
Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles began?
Ans: Uttar Pradesh
• The manufacturing of Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles has recently started in
Amethi, Uttar Pradesh by an Indo-Russian joint venture.
• Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited plans to ensure 100 percent production of
AK-203 rifles in India.
• India is the first country to start production of the world famous brand AK-200-series assault rifles.
• The AK-203 assault rifle is considered to be the latest and most advanced version of the AK-47 rifle.
• This variant will replace the Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) 5.56×45mm assault rifle, which is currently
being used by the Army, Navy and Air Force besides other security forces.
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Indian hockey player Rani Rampal became the first woman in the sport to have a
stadium named after her
• The MCF Rae Bareli (U.P.)has renamed the hockey stadium as ‘Rani’s Girls
Hockey Turf’.
• Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2020) - Highest Sporting Honour of India.
• Padma Shri (2020) - fourth Highest Indian National Honour
• Arjuna Award - 2016
Uttar Pradesh becomes first state to make digital health cards for children
• The Uttar Pradesh's Urban Development Department and Lucknow
Smart City launched a “School Health Program”.
• As a pilot, this program is started in three schools in Lucknow.
• A digital health report card for the overall physical and mental well-
being of 1765 municipal school students is also being prepared under
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• It is being prepared by doing desk-to-desk examinations of the child, based on 130 parameters.
• The benefit of health insurance worth Rs 25,000 is also being given to these children.
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• After filing of the chargesheet, charges will be framed within three days and trial will be completed in the
next 30 days to ensure speedy justice for victims.
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Que:Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for Lord Shiva-
themed Cricket Stadium in which city?
Ans: Varanasi
• Upcoming international cricket stadium in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
• An approximate sum of ₹450 crore will be spent on the construction of the
stadium which will be built on a wide campus of about 31 acres and will have seven pitches. The venue is
expected to accommodate 30,000 spectators at a time.
• The entire stadium will have a crescent-shaped roof – that crowns the Indian God, and the floodlights
designed like a trident.
• The entrance and the lounge will resemble Lord Shiva’s damru while the exterior of the arena will feature
huge motifs of wood apple leaves in metallic frames.
UP gov launches instant birth certificate for new borns at health facilities
• Newborns at government health facilities of Uttar Pradesh will now be issued birth registration certificates
immediately after delivery without the parents having to apply for same
• Gov has integrated its Maa Navjaat Tracking app (MaNTrA) with the birth registration system as part of its
efforts to provide 'ease of living' to the citizens using digital technology
• UP has become the first state to implement suo motu birth registration for government health institutions
• The Directorate of Census Operations, Lucknow, has partnered with the Uttar Pradesh National Health
Mission (NHM-UP), UNICEF, and the Office of the Registrar General of India, Delhi, to facilitate the
generation of automatic birth registration certificates at government facilities
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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Declared Gangetic Dolphin As State Aquatic Animal
• These dolphins are found in rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Ghaghra.
• The estimated population of Gangetic dolphins in Uttar Pradesh is estimated
at around 2000.
• Indus River Dolphin: Now found only in the lower parts of the Indus River in
Pakistan and in River Beas, a tributary of the Indus River in Punjab, India.
• On 1 February 2019, the endangered Indus River dolphin has been declared as Punjab's State aquatic
animal.
• The 'Gangetic River Dolphin' was declared the national aquatic animal of India. The Union Environment
Ministry has designated October 5 as National Dolphin Day
• The Ganges river dolphin was officially discovered in 1801.
Aligarh Muslim University To Launch Its Own Satellite, Gets Nod From IN-SPACe
• The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has initiated work on its own ambitious space programme which has
been approved by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), working under
the Department of Space.
• The project involves the development of 'SS AMU SAT', the first satellite programme named after its
founder, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.
• The SS AMU SAT is a Nanosatellite Project which began in November 2021 under the AMU Robo Club.
• The satellite is a 3U CubeSat with multiple objectives which include the study of economic growth in India's
poorest districts using satellite imagery and the implementation of an in-house developed image
compression technology for faster multimedia transmission.
• SS AMU SAT to its launch into the Lower Earth Orbit.
• The students’ team, which is involved in the development of the project, is led by Poorti Varshney and
mentored by Dr. C. A. Prabhakar (Former Project Director, ISRO)
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Uttar Pradesh government has banned labelling halal on eatables such as dairy
products, sugar, bakery items, peppermint oil, savouries and edible oil
• NEWS: The Uttar Pradesh government banned production, storage, distribution
and sale of halal certified products in the state with immediate effect.
What is halal certification?
• Halal certification is a guarantee that the product is prepared in accordance with
Islamic law and is unadulterated.
• Halal certification was first introduced in 1974 for slaughtered meat and till 1993
it was applied only to meat products. Then it was extended to other food items and also cosmetics,
medicines etc.
• Meaning: Halal, an Arabic term, translates to ‘permissible’ and is contrasted with ‘haram,’ meaning
‘forbidden’ in the Quran.
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Hardeep Singh Puri launches city’s 2nd floating CNG station in Varanasi
• Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated the city’s second floating compressed natural gas (CNG)
mobile refueling unit (MRU) station at Ravidas Ghat in Varanasi
• Earlier, Namo Ghat had a floating station for filling CNG in boats.
• CNG boats not only reduce pollution but also lead to savings as it is more efficient.
• Both the Namo Ghat and Ravidas Ghat floating CNG stations were developed by GAIL (India) Limited, a
Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
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Madhya Pradesh
• Capital Bhopal
• Date of Formation : November 01, 1956 (Undivided Madhya Pradesh) - November 01, 2000 (Present)
• State Boundaries : Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat.
• Historical sites : Bhimbetka, Adamgarh, Pachmarhi, Raisen, Jaora.
• Important Dynasties : Ashoka, Kushan, Satvahanas
• State Bird : Paradise Flycatcher
• State Animal : Swamp Deer (Barasingha)
• State Tree : Banyan Tree Ramsar Sites : Bhoj wetland
• State Flower : Madonna Lilly Governor. : Mangubhai C. Patel
• State Fish : Mahasheer Chief Minister: Mohan Yadav
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Wildlife Sanctuaries
• Bori Wildlife Sanctuary • Narsinghgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary • N. Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary
• Ghatigaon Wildlife Sanctuary – The Great • Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary
Indian Bustard • Pench Wildlife Sanctuary
• Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary • Son Ghariyal Wildlife Sanctuary
• Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary- Asiatic lions would • Sanjay Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary
be shifted here. • Sardarpur Wildlife Sanctuary- famous for
• Karera Wildlife Sanctuary – The Great Indian Kharmour bird
Bustard • Sailana Wildlife Sanctuary
• Ken Ghariyal Wildlife Sanctuary • Veerangna Durgawati Sanctuary
• Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary-1197 Sq.Km
•
Vidisha becomes first Indian district to implement state-of-the-art 5G use cases proposed by
startups
• Vidisha, an aspirational district of Madhya Pradesh became the first ever district in
India for on ground deployment of innovative 5G use cases offered by startups.
• This feat has been achieved through a joint initiative of Vidisha district administration and Center for
Development of Telematics (C-DOT), Department of Telecom (DoT) under the guidance of Additional
Secretary (Telecom) and Administrator USOF.
• This has been accomplished to accelerate digital transformation across socio-economic verticals.
What is 5G technology?
• The fifth generation mobile network is called 5G.
• The 5G network will operate in the millimeter-wave spectrum (30-300 GHz) which can send huge amounts of
data at very high speeds.
• It is the newest upgrade in Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile broadband networks.
• Internet speeds in the high-band spectrum of 5G have been tested to exceed 20 Gbps (gigabit per second).
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Que:Which state government has recently given OBC status to the transgender
community?
Ans: Madhya Pradesh
• The Madhya Pradesh Government has recently added the transgender
community to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list of the state.
• * The state government has taken this decision following the directions of the Supreme Court.
• * With this, the transgender community will get the benefit of reservation in state government recruitments.
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• It has India’s best-preserved group of Buddhist monuments, collectively designated a UNESCO World
Heritage site in 1989.
• Sanchi Stupa was built by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in the third century BC.
• FACT - Modhera in Gujarat is India’s first solar powered village - to be powered by solar all day, every day.
Madhya Pradesh government and UNFPA launch AI-powered chatbot named 'Just Ask’/
• The Madhya Pradesh government in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has
introduced an AI-powered chatbot named 'Just Ask'.
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• The primary goal of this initiative is to provide accurate and easily accessible information related to social
issues and sexual and reproductive health and rights, targeting adolescents and young adults.
• The interactive nature of a chatbot allows it to engage users in conversation and provide reliable information
at no charge. It is designed to showcase two aspiring role models named Dhruv and Drishti.
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Que:Which state government will provide Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the kins of person killed in a mob
lynching incident?
Ans: Madhya Pradesh
• MP’s Mob Lynching Victim Compensation Scheme
• There will be a provision of compensation of Rs 4 to Rs 6 lakh for the injured.
• Under the scheme, mob lynching will be considered in which five or more accused are involved.
PM Modi to lay foundation stone of 49,000 crore Ethylene Cracker Project in MP, 10 other industrial projects
• at Bina Refinery in MP .
• Project will produce poly-ethylene and poly-propylene, used in various sectors like plastics, textiles,
packaging, and pharma.
• Commercial production to start by 2028.
• PM Modi will also lay foundation stone of 10 new industrial projects in MP, worth over Rs 1 lakh crore and
providing 2 crore 37 lakh new jobs.
PM inaugurated the country’s first high-tech sports training center for Divyangjan
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the country’s first high-tech sports
training center for Divyangjan, named after former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in
Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
• This initiative aims to provide equal opportunities in sports, enhance talent, and
encourage participation in various sports disciplines.
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Chhattisgarh
• Chhattisgarh was formed as a state on 1 Nov 2000 .
• The state has 16% of the total coal deposits of India.
• Chief Minister: Vishnu Deo Sai
• Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan
• Capital: Raipur
• State Boundaries: Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar
Pradesh
• State Animal: Wild Water Buffalo
• State Bird: Hill myna
• State Tree: Sal
• Languages: Hindi, Oriya, Marathi, Chhattisgarhi, Gondi, Korku
Rivers Dances
• Mahanadi • Panthi
• Indravati • Raut Nacha
• Son • Karma
• Pain • Soowa
• Hasdo • Saila
• Sabari
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Que:In which state did PM Modi inaugurate wildlife friendly highway projects?
Ans: Chhattisgarh
• PM Modi inaugurated the construction of three National Highway projects for the Chhattisgarh section of
the 6-lane greenfield Raipur-Vishakhapatnam corridor.
• This project will pass through the Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary area.
• A notable aspect of these projects is the inclusion of a 2.8 km long, 6-lane tunnel equipped with 27 animal
passes and 17 monkey canopies in the Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary area.
Chhattisgarh govt launches own housing scheme for state’s homeless families
• Chhattisgarh the then CM Bhupesh Baghel has launched the “Mukhyamantri Gramin Awas Nyay Yojana”
with the aim of providing assistance for constructing houses to eligible beneficiaries of the scheme across
the state.
• The scheme includes beneficiaries who need housing but are not eligible for the scheme as per the survey
list 2011.
• The state government will bear 100 percent cost of the implementation of the scheme.
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Jharkhand
• Chief Minister: Hemant Soren
Governor: C. P. Radhakrishnan
• Capital : Ranchi
• Dumka (Sub-Capital)
• Date of Formation : 15th November 2000
• State Boundaries: Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal
• State Animal: Elephant
• State Bird: Koel
• State Tree: Sal
• State Flower: Palash
Jharkhand govt launches job portal to ensure 75% local quota in pvt sector
• The Jharkhand government launched ‘Jharniyojan’ portal where all private
establishments have to register themselves.
• Its objective is to fulfill the state government's promise of ensuring 75 percent employment to local
candidates in the private sector of the state.
• Employers using the portal will have to comply with the 'Jharkhand State Employment of Local Candidates in
Private Sector Act, 2021'.
• As per the Act, 75% of jobs in the private sector with a salary of up to Rs 40,000 will be reserved for "locals"
in the state.
• It is applicable to all establishments which are in the private sector and where 10 or more persons are
employed.
• In case local companies face problems in getting skilled manpower locally, a provision has been made under
the Act to provide necessary training to eligible youth.
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• Central or state government undertakings will not be covered under the Act.
The Olchiki Hul Baisi group demanded a four-point agenda to uplift the
Santali community:
• Official language status for the Santali language,
• A separate Santali academy,
• The printing and reading of Santali language books from Olchiki
script, and
• The restoration of Santali teachers.
The group has accused the Jharkhand government of ignoring their demands
and called for a complete shutdown of Jharkhand
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Jharkhand First State To Take Steps To Ensure Minimum Wages For Gig Workers
• Gig workers such as Swiggy, Zomato, Ola, Uber, and Rapido employees
• A committee has been formed under the state’s labor department, to address
this issue.
• The Minimum Wages Act, 1948, provides for fixing minimum rates of wages in
scheduled employments including those in the private sector.
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Odisha
Odisha Day, also known as Utkal Dibasa, is celebrated on April 1st
• Capital: Cuttack (Till 1948) / Bhubaneshwar (After 1948)
• Date of Formation: August 1947
• State Border: Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bay of
Bengal
• The hills have 2 historical monuments (hill shrines) which are major
pilgrimage sites of Odisha.
• Nrusinghanath temple is located on the northern slope.
• Harishankar temple on the southern side.
Biodiversity heritage sites:
• These are well-defined areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems with a high diversity of wild and
domesticated species, the presence of rare and threatened species, and keystone species.
• Gandhamardan hills are the home to 1,200 species of plants and 500 species of animals. ‘Biodiversity
heritage site’ recognition will help in the preservation, protection, conservation, and management of the
species that are facing extinction.
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The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has found a 1,300-year-old Buddhist stupa in Odisha’s Jajpur
• at a Khondalite mining site at Parabhadi which is situated near Lalitagiri, a major Buddhist complex, having a
large number of stupas and monasteries.
• Lalitgiri Buddhist site is believed to be the most sacred among the three sites (Lalitagiri, Ratnagiri and
Udayagiri) .
• Khondalite is a type of metamorphic rock that is found in the Eastern Ghats region of India, particularly in
the state of Odisha.
• It is named after the Khondalite Group of rocks, which is believed to have formed around 1.6 billion years
ago during the Proterozoic era.
• Khondalite is primarily composed of feldspar, quartz, and mica, and has a distinct pinkish-grey coloration. It
is commonly used as a decorative stone in construction and is particularly prized for its durability and
resistance to weathering.
• Khondalite stones were widely used in ancient temple complexes.
Issues around the discovery
• The Khondalite stone is used extensively in the ABADHA scheme. ABADHA is the Augmentation of Basic
Amenities and the Development of Heritage and Architecture scheme.
• With the ASI taking over the sites, the ABADHA scheme implementation will be affected.
• The State Government of Odisha has allocated Rs 3,208 crores for the ABADHA scheme.
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Naveen Patnaik launches 'Odisha for AI, and AI for Youth' initiative
• Odisha for AI: A free 4-hour course on AI by Intel on its app/site
• In the first phase, the initiative will be implemented in
Bhubaneswar, Puri, and Cuttack.
• AI for youth: It is for students (below 18) of 2000 5T schools of
phase 1 and Odisha Adarsh Vidyalayas
• Aim: To create an ecosystem fostering research, innovation, and
application across sectors
Odisha becomes the first state to notify a committee for conservation of seeds preserved by
tribal farmers
• The Odisha government has established a committee called the Landrace Varietal
Release Committee (LVRC) to release traditional millet varieties as a certified seed
• The Committee will advise the State government on all matters relating to mainstreaming
of millet landraces
• Landraces refer to ecotypes that have been cultivated for a long time in their original
habitats.
• Farmers especially tribals in interior pockets of Odisha grow about 62 varieties of millets.
It is crucial to preserve these landraces before they become extinct.
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Tampara Lake
• The National Green Tribunal, Eastern Zone,
has directed the Odisha government not to
go ahead with ‘illegal’ construction in and
around Tampara Lake
• Tampara Lake is one of the largest fresh
water lakes in Odisha, and is located
nearby Chilika Lagoon.
• It supports at least 60 species of birds, 46 species of fishes, at least 48
species of phytoplanktons, and more than seven species of terrestrial
plants and macrophytes (an aquatic plant large enough to be seen by the naked eye.)
• It is already placed in the Wetland Atlas prepared by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
in 2010.
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Civil Aviation Minister Inaugurates Utkela Airport and Direct Flight between Utkela and Bhubaneswar
• Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia
• Utkela Airport, owned by the Government of Odisha, has been set up
as a regional airport under the UDAN scheme of the Ministry of Civil
Aviation with a project cost of Rs 31.07 crore.
• This increases the number of airports in Odisha to five
• Will have economic benefits and development for Kalahandi region
• Odisha formation - April 1, 1936
Tata Steel and ACME Group Join Forces For India’s Largest Green Hydrogen Project
Worth Rs 27,000 Crore In Odisha
• ACME Group, a prominent renewable energy company, has joined forces with
Tata Steel Special Economic Zone Ltd. (TSSEZL) to establish an expansive green
hydrogen and green ammonia project within Odisha’s Gopalpur Industrial
Park.
• This venture is to become the largest facility of its kind in India, marking a significant stride towards
sustainable energy production.
• The green ammonia production facility will have a capacity of nearly 1.3 MTPA (million tonnes per
annum). Green hydrogen, created through the electrolysis process using renewable energy sources, will be
used in the green ammonia facility.
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Que: an odia-based news station, odisha TV has unveiled india’s first regional AI news anchor. What is the name
of this AI news anchor?
Ans: Lisa / सलसा
• In a significant milestone for the AI industry, Odisha TV, an Odia-based news
station, has unveiled “Lisa,” India’s first regional AI news anchor.
• Lisa possesses the remarkable ability to speak multiple languages, including
Odia, English, and others.
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Jagannath Puri Heritage Corridor Project (JPHCP) Will Be Dedicated To The Devotees On January 17, 2024
• The Puri Heritage Corridor project was first conceived in 2016 and unveiled in
December 2019 with the aim of transforming the pilgrimage town into a heritage
site of international importance.
Jagannath Puri is one of the four Dhams of the country:
• The great reformer and philosopher Shankaracharya (Adi Shankaracharya) created
the original Char Dham - Puri, Dwarka, Badrinath (Vaishnav)and Rameshwaram
(Shaivite).
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Bihar
Bihar Day (Bihar Diwas) is observed every year on March 22, marking the formation of the state of Bihar.
• Capital Patna
• Date of Formation: 26 January 1950
• Languages: Hindi, Urdu, Santhali, Maithali, Bhojpuri
• State Flower: Genda/ Marigold
• State Tree: Peepal
• State Bird: House Sparrow
• State Animal: Bullock
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• ‘Ramayan temple’ in Bihar will be taller than current largest temple Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia which
was built in the 12th-century
• The Ramayan temple's architecture is inspired by three temples which include —
• The Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia, Ramanathaswami temple in Rameshwaram, Meenakshi
Sundareshwarar temple in Madurai.
Que:Which Municipal Corporation has started a Cash for Waste scheme for common people at the recently
established Material Recovery Facility (MRF)?
Ans: Patna Municipal Corporation / पटना निर् सनिम
• a Cash for Waste scheme for common people at the recently
established Material Recovery Facility (MRF).
• People are being paid for their dry waste under a prescribed price
list for each item.
• The state-of-the-art facility has a capacity of processing 2 tonne of
dry garbage and 1.5 tonne of wet waste per day. It has been
named Pink MRF as it is run by women workers.
• The share of OBCs in the total population as per caste census for 1931, was
found to be about 52 percent.
• The Scheduled Caste and Tribe data were published in every Indian census
from 1951 to 2011; however, the data on other castes were not published.
• The last population Census of India was conducted in 2011.
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• Status was first accorded to Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Nagaland in 1969.
• Five Factors for SCS: (i) hilly and difficult terrain (ii) low population density and/or sizeable share of tribal
population (iii) strategic location along international borders (iv) economic and infrastructural backwardness
and (v) non-viable nature of state finances
• Eleven States including Assam, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, Arunachal
Pradesh, Mizoram, Uttarakhand and Telangana have been accorded the special category state status.
• Telangana, the newest State of India, was accorded the status as it was carved out of another state Andhra
Pradesh.
Benefits of SCS:
• Financial Benefits: Previously, SCS states received about 30% of
central assistance based on the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula.
However, post the 14th and 15th Finance Commission (FC)
recommendations and the Planning Commission’s abolition,
assistance changed to a shared pool of funds, increasing from
32% to 41% for all states.
• Favorable Funding Ratios: In SCS states, the Centre-State funding
ratio for centrally sponsored schemes is 90:10, more beneficial
than the typical 60:40 or 80:20 for the general category.
• Additional Incentives: SCS states enjoy concessions in customs, excise duties, income tax, and corporate tax
rates to encourage investments and industry setup.
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West Bengal
• A dispute emerged earlier in 2023 concerning West Bengal's Foundation Day when Raj Bhavan officially
declared June 20 as the State Foundation Day.
• The Chief Minister of West Bengal argued that June 20, which carries associations with the partition, lacks
relevance to the state's establishment.
• Also, the Assembly approved the proposal to make Rabindranath Tagore's 'Banglar Mati Banglar Jol' the
official song of West Bengal.
Chief Minister: Mamata Banerjee
Governor: C. V. Ananda Bose
Capital: Kolkata
Date of Formation: 26, January 1950
State boundaries: Sikkim, Assam, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand
International boundaries : Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan
State Animal: Fishing Cat
State Bird: White-throated Kingfisher
State Flower: Night-flowering Jasmine
State Tree: Alstonia scholaris – Chatim tree
State Fruit: Jackfruit
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Wildlife Sanctuaries
• Jaldapara National Park
• Ballavpur • Sundarbans National Park
• Senchal • Singalila National Park
• Bibhutibushan • Gorumara National Park
• Jorepamari • Neora Valley National Park
• Chapramari
• Raiganj Tiger Reserves
• Lothian Island • Sunderbans
• Mahananda • Buxa Tiger reserve
• Ramnabagan
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Kolkata Metro becomes India's first metro train to run under river
• Kolkata Metro reached Howrah from Kolkata through a river tunnel for the first time
in India, carrying only officers and engineers. This tunnel is built across the Hooghly
River.
• Services on this route of Kolkata Metro will start from this year itself. Once the
services start, Howrah will become the country's deepest metro station (33 meters
below the surface).
520 meter long tunnel:
• The route from Howrah to Esplanade is about 4.8 km long, of which 520 m will be
completed by tunnelling under the Hooghly river.
• The Kolkata Metro tunnel is designed for a service life of 120 years.
• Not even a drop of water can enter the tunnels of the river.
• Tunnel built on the lines of Eurostar
• This tunnel of Kolkata Metro has been built like the Eurostar trains passing through the Channel Tunnel in
Europe between London and Paris.
• The work of digging this tunnel was completed by Afcons in four months (April-July 2017).
• Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC):
• The Kolkata Metro Rail was inaugurated on 24 October 1984 as India's first metro.
• General Manager of Kolkata Metro Railway: P Udaya Kumar Reddy
Kolkata becomes the third Indian city to adopt an Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS)
• After Delhi and Pune
• The system, developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune, aims to address
rising air pollution levels in urban areas.
• AQEWS in Kolkata uses an advanced sensor network to provide real-time monitoring of the Air Quality
Index (AQI). AQI is a standardized measure of the level of air pollution, with a value ranging from 0 to 500.
• The system focuses on PM2.5 (particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller) levels, which is a
major contributor to health problems due to its ability to enter the lungs.
• Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change - Bhupendra Yadav
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• West Bengal Assembly has decided to officially commemorate Poila Baisakh, the Bengali New Year's Day, as
the official foundation day of the state on April 15.
Iconic ‘Throne Room’ at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata named after Sardar Patel
• The iconic British-era 'Throne Room' at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata has been named after Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of Independent India
• The room will henceforth be known as 'Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Unity Room’.
• The 'Throne Room', as the name suggests, has a collection of thrones of iconic historical personalities such as
Lord Wellesley and Tipu Sultan, among others.
• An urn used to carry the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi is also displayed at the 'Throne Room’.
• The Governor has also taken a decision that a new academic chair named after Patel will be set up at the
Calcutta University
• Governor C.V. Ananda Bose: WB
Assam
• Assam became a state in 1950, and since 1996, December 2 has been celebrated as Assam Day.
• Capital : Dispur
• State Boundaries: West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya.
• International Boundaries : Bhutan, Bangladesh
Island: Majuli
Chief Minister :Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor: Shri Gulab Chand Kataria
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Largest Bihu dance and dhol drum ensemble: Assam CM receives a certificate
from Guinness World Records team
• Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma received the official
certificate from the Guinness World Records team for the record-making
achievement of the "largest Bihu dance and largest dhol drum
ensemble".
• The feat was achieved by 11,304 folk dancers and 2,548 drummers who
performed at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Launching the northeast region’s first All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) near Guwahati.
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• President Murmu attended the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Gauhati High Court as the Chief Guest
and also launched a mobile app "Bhoroxa" designed for the safety of women and the elderly.
• The Gauhati High Court was established on 5th April, 1948 for the seven North Eastern States.
• Chief Minister - Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Governor - Gulab Chand Kataria
• State Animal - Indian Rhinoceros
• 5 National Parks – Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Nameri
National Park, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park
Guwahati becomes first railway station in Northeast to get FSSAI's 'Eat Right Station'
certification
• The Guwahati Railway Station located in Assam under the North East Frontier
Railway recently received the prestigious 'Eat Right Station' certification from
the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• For its commitment to providing high-quality and nutritious food options to
passengers.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI):
• A statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• FSSAI was established as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• Established - 5 September 2008
• Headquarters - New Delhi
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About Assam:
• Location: It is a state located in the north-eastern region of
India. It is bounded by Bhutan to the north, Arunachal Pradesh,
Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya and West
Bengal.
• National Parks: Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Orang, Dibru
Saikhowa, Raimona and Dehing Patkai.
• Formation (as a state) - 26 January 1950
• Capital - Dispur
• Chief Minister - Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Governor - Gulab Chand Kataria
• Official Dance - Bihu Dance
• Official river - Brahmaputra
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• In recognition of his valor, the National Defence Academy has been awarding the Lachit Borphukan Gold
Medal to its best cadet annually since 1999.
• Along with the statue, a ‘Shaheed Smarak’ (Martyrs’ Memorial) — a sculpture of an inverted rifle with a
helmet with ‘Amar Jawan’ inscription — was also unveiled at the Bir Lachit Borphukan Park
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Amrit Brikshya Andolan: Assam govt creates nine Guinness World Records
Some of the following records that were created in September this year:
• Longest line of Potted Saplings (September 9) (approx. 22km line)
• Largest number of saplings distributed at one venue in 24 hours (September
10)
• Most trees planted by a team in 24 hours (September 13-14)
• Most trees planted by a team in 1 hour (September 15)
• Largest potted saplings mosaic (September 16)
Manipur
Chief Minister: N. Biren Singh
Governor : Anusuiya Uikey
Manipur has only one national park, which is called Keibul Lamjao National Park(The world’s only floating park). It is
situated in the Bishnupur district of the Indian state of Manipur. It was established in 1966 as a wildlife sanctuary
before becoming a national park in the year 1977.
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• While the majority of Meiteis have accused these illegal migrants and the alleged “narco-terror network”
along the Indo-Myanmar Border (IMB) of fomenting trouble in the state, the Kukis have blamed the Meiteis
and Chief Minister N Biren Singh, a Meitei himself, of using making this a pretext for “ethnic cleansing”.
• The FMR was implemented in 2018 as part of the Central government’s Act East policy.
• FMR is implemented by both governments for the people living along the IMB.
• This helps locals to get more culturally assimilated with trans-border villages through weddings, celebrating
common festivals together and trans-border trade.
• The border between India and Myanmar was demarcated by the British in 1826, without seeking the opinion
of the people living in the region.
• The border effectively splits people of the same ethnicity and culture into two nations without their consent.
• Indo-Myanmar Border (IMB):
• It runs for 1,643 km in the four states of Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Assam Rifles is tasked with guarding the IMB.
Meghalaya
Meghalaya was formed by carving out two districts from the state of Assam: the United Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills,
and the Garo Hills.
• Capital: Shillong
• Date of Formation: 02, April 1970 (autonomous state)21, January 1972 (full-fledged state)
• State Boundaries: Assam
• International Boundary: BangladeshNumber of
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Mizoram
Mizoram became the 23rd State of the Union in 20th February 1987.
Mizoram is a landlocked state in the northeast of India.
It shares borders with the following states and countries:
• North: Assam and Manipur
• East and South: Myanmar
• West: Bangladesh and Tripura
Chief Minister : PU LALDUHOMA
Governor: Hari Babu Kambhampati
Capital: Aizawl Wildlife sanctuary
Date of Formation: Feburary 1987 • Dampa Tiger Reserve
State Border: Assam, Tripura, Manipur • Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary
International Border: Myanmar, Bangladesh • Khawnglung Wildlife sanctuary
State Animal: Serow (Saza) • Lengteng Wildlife sanctuary
State Bird: Hume’s Bartailed Pheaasant (Vavu) • Tawi Wildlife sanctuary
State Flower: Dancing Girl (Aiting) • Thorangtlang Wildlife sanctuary
State Tree: Mesual Ferrea/ Nahar (Herhse) • Pualreng Wildlife sanctuary
• Tokalo Wildlife sanctuary
Tribes
National Park • Chakma
• Murlen National Park • Garo
• Phawngpui National Park • Hajong
• Lakher
• Mikir
• Synteng
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New species of flying gecko found in Mizoram, named as Gecko mizoramensis
• Researchers of Mizoram University and Max Planck Institute for Biology ,
Tubingen, Germany have discovered a new species of flying gecko in Mizoram.
• The new species has been named Gekko mizoramensis
Nagaland
Chief Minister: Neiphiu Rio
Governor: La. Ganesan
Date of Formation: December 1st, 1963
Nagaland statehood day also marks the beginning Tribes
of Hornbill festival in Nagaland. • Angami
Capital: Kohima • Khiamniungan
State Border : Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur • Lotha
International Border: Myanmar (Burma) • Sumi
Languages: Nagamese, Cerole, Assamese, English • Ao
• Kuki
State Animal: Mithun • Phom
State Bird: Blyth’s Tragopan • Sangtam
State Tree: Alder
State Flower : Kopou National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
• Ntangki National Park
Dances • Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary
• Aaluyattu • Puliebadze Wildlife Sanctuary
• Sadal Kekai • Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary
• Rangma • Rangapahar Forest Reserve
• Chang Lo & Monyo Asho
Sikkim
• In 1950, the Indo-Sikkimese treaty was signed. With this, Sikkim became a protectorate of India.
• The Namgyal dynasty ruled Sikkim till 1975.
• Sikkim joined the Union of India on May 16, 1975.
• Sikkim is the first state in the country to become 100% organic.
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Borders:
Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north and northeast, Bhutan to the southeast, Indian state of West Bengal
to the south and Nepal to the west.
Gurung community in Sikkim celebrates its New Year festival Tamu Lhosar
• The Gurungs are hill people living on the southern slopes of Himalayan
Mountains in central Nepal.
• Their origins are uncertain, although they are of Mongoloid stock and their
ancestors may have migrated to their current location from Tibet around 2,000
years ago.
Ethnic Composition of Sikkim:
• There are three ethnic groups in Sikkim- Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese.
• The Lepchas are basically Buddhist and Christian. Bhutias are the people originally from Kham area in Eastern
Tibet who follow Lamanism.
Arunachal Pradesh
Mizoram, as well as the state of Arunachal Pradesh, came into existence on 20 February 1987.
Chief Minister: Pema Khandu
Governor: Lt. General Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik
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Wildlife Sanctuary
• Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary & Tiger reserve Mountain Pass
• Talle Wildlife Sanctuary • Bombdila Pass (India-Tibet)
• Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary • Bum La Pass (India-Tibet)
• Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary • Tunga Pass (India-Tibet)
• Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary • Dihang Pass (India-Tibet)
• Mouling National Park
'Arunpol App'
• Arunachal Pradesh CM launches app called 'Arunpol App' of Arunachal Pradesh Police
• It will facilitate common people to lodge complaints without coming to the police
station.
• Chief Minister Pema Khandu also launched another app called E-Vigilance app for the
state government employees
• It will benefit the state government employees by ensuring timely vigilance clearance.
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• The Camp is attended by about 1,000 children, including 250 youth from several states in the NorthEast
Region.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” programme.
• On the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 140th birth anniversary, the programme was launched on
October 31, 2015.
• Formation: 20 February 1987
• Before was: North-East Frontier Agency
• Capital: Itanagar (Executive Branch)
• Chief minister: Pema Khandu
• Flower: Foxtail orchid
Tripura
• On 21 January 1972, the states of Tripura, Manipur, and Meghalaya became full-fledged states under the
North Eastern Region (Re-organisation) Act, 1971.
• The princely states of Tripura and Manipur were merged with India in October 1949.
• Agartala is the capital of Tripura .
• Tripura shares an international boundary with Bangladesh.
• The Indian states bordering Tripura are Assam and Mizoram.
• The official languages of Tripura are Bengali, English, and Kokborok (Tripuri).
State Animal: Phayre’s Langur (Trachypithecus National Park and Wildlife sanctuaries
phayrei) • Shepahijala Wildlife sanctuarie
State Bird: Green Imperial Pigeon (Ducula aenea) • Trishna Wildlife sanctuarie
State Tree: Agar (Aquilaria malaccensis) • Rowa Wildlife sanctuarie
State Flower : Nageswar (Mesua Ferrea) • Clouded Leopard National Park
Tribes: Bhil, Bhutia, Riang, Santal, Uchai, Orang, Noatia, Kuki, Khasia, Jamatia, Garoo, Chakma
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• It lasts for seven days, and it takes place at old Agartala in the Fourteen Gods temple known as the
‘Chaturdasha Devata’ temple premises.
• The Kharchi Puja deities do not have a full body; they have only heads which are worshipped.
• On the day of the puja, the fourteen Gods are taken from the temple to the river Saidra by the Chantai
members and given bathe with the holy river water, then carried back to the temple.
Rajasthan
• March 30 is celebrated across the state to mark the formation of the state of Rajasthan.
• On this day in 1949, the four states, namely Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bikaner, and Jaisalmer, joined with the United
State of Rajasthan, and the region came to be known as Greater Rajasthan.
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President Murmu inaugurated the 18th National Jamboree of the Bharat Scouts and Guides in Rajasthan
• At Rohat in the Pali district of Rajasthan.
• The 7 day event was hosted by Rajasthan after 66 years, last time it was in
1956.
• The first National Scout and Guide Jamboree was held in Andhra Pradesh in
1951.
• Theme - Progress with Peace
• The Jamboree is a National level gathering of the Scouts and Guides conducted
once in 4 years or to mark special occasions.
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Que: ‘Mahila Nidhi’ is the first ever women’s cooperative fund launched by which state/UT?
Ans: Rajasthan
• Rajasthan’s the then CM Ashok Gehlot approved a proposal for giving 8% interest subsidy on loans obtained
by the members of women’s self-help groups (SHGs) from Mahila Nidhi.
• ‘Rajasthan Mahila Nidhi‘ was launched in 2022, and was formed through Rajasthan Rural Livelihood
Development Council (Rajivika), with a sanction of Rs.50 crore grant for the first two years. The scheme
facilitates crediting of loans up to Rs 40,000 within 48 hours, and above Rs 40,000 within 15 days.
• Mahila Nidhi is operated entirely by women and acts as a complementary body with the formal banking
system.
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• Bishnoi community belong to a Hindu religious sect found in the Western Thar Desert and some northern
states of India.
• They trace their origins to the teachings of Guru Jambhesvara who was born to a Panwar Rajput family in
1451 AD at Peepasar village of Nagore district in Western Rajasthan.
• They strictly forbid the harming of trees and animals.
• They believe in protecting the environment and can die doing it so.
• The person of this community are inspired and gets inspiration from Amrita Devi, a Bishnoi woman who
was killed in 1730 while trying to protect a grove of khejri trees.
• Khejri tree is the state tree & is considered a sacred tree in Rajasthan.
• It is a nitrogen-fixing tree which enhances the fertility of the soil.
Que: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for a variety of
development projects worth over ₹5,500 crores in which state?
Ans: Rajasthan / र्ाजस्थान
PM laid the foundation stone for:
• Road construction projects for upgradation to two-lane in Rajsamand and Udaipur.
• Redevelopment of Udaipur railway station, to provide enhanced amenities for the public.
• Gauge conversion project and for setting up a new line from Nathdwara to Nathdwara town in Rajsamand.
Further, the Prime Minister dedicated three national highway projects to the nation.
Que: In which state the country's 'first' toy train run on CNG inaugurated?
Ans: Rajasthan (Udaipur)
• Toy train, named Maharana Pratap Express train, in Gulab Bagh of Udaipur
• * According to the engineer of the toy train, this is the country's first CNG-powered toy train.
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Rajasthan CM introduces scheme to provide free smartphones to women in the state -Indira Gandhi Free
Smartphone Yojana 2023
• The government, under the Indira Gandhi smartphone scheme, will transfer Rs 6,800 to the e-wallet of
beneficiary women after the completion of their KYC process in special camps. The beneficiary can then
purchase a mobile phone of their choice
• In the first phase of the scheme, around 40 lakh women and girl students will get smartphones with three
years of free internet connectivity
Rajasthan Assembly passes The Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023
• Aim: To cover adult population of the state with a guarantee of wages or pension
• All families of the state, whether urban or rural, will be able to get an employment guarantee of 125 days
every year and also get a minimum pension of Rs 1,000 per month in case of aged/disabled/single women,
etc.
• The rural families will get 25 days of additional employment under the Chief Minister’s Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme after completing 100 days in the Union government’s MGNREGS.
• In the urban areas, the employment of 125 days per family will be given through the Indira Gandhi Urban
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• The pension will also be automatically increased at the rate of 15% each year.
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• Women police stations and women desks will be formed in every police station in every district. Also, anti-
Romeo squads will be formed in all the cities of Rajasthan.
• SIT has already been formed to investigate the paper leak case of recruitment in the previous government.
• chief Minister:Bhajan Lal Sharma, two Deputy Chief Ministers “Diya Kumari” and “Premchand Bairwa”.
Gujarat
• Gujarat has the longest seashore compared to any other Indian state.
• Gujarat is the only home of Asiatic Lions.
• The British East India Company set its first footsteps in Surat in 1818.
• Jamnagar refinery is the largest oil refinery in the world.
Que: In which state of India did the first IVF unit for animals start?
Ans: Gujarat's Amreli
• India got its first In vitro fertilization (IVF) mobile unit for animals in Gujarat's
Amreli. The mobile IVF lab was inaugurated by union minister Purushottam
Rupala.
• The IVF mobile van was "dedicated in a joint venture of the Government of India and Amar Dairy."
Gujarat government signs deal with OECD to hold PISA test for govt school students
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
• Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) test
• The agreement was signed in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and OECD Paris
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Amit Shah unveils 54 feet tall statue of Lord Hanuman at Gujarat's Sarangpur
temple
• On April 6, 2023 Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled a 54 feet tall
statue of Lord Hanuman at Sarangpur temple in Botad district of Gujarat.
• The idol is 54 feet tall, making it one of the tallest idols of Lord Hanuman in
the country.
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Gujarat announced 27% reservation for OBCs in local bodies like panchayat
• The Gujarat government announced a 27 percent reservation for Other
Backward Classes in local bodies like panchayats, municipalities, and civic
corporations.
• In the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas notified areas, the
reservation for OBCs will continue to be 10 percent to protect the interest of
tribals.
• The existing quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will remain unchanged and there has been no
breach of the 50 percent reservation ceiling.
Amit Shah lays foundation stone of Country’s first cooperative-run Sainik School
• The Sainik School will be established at Boriyavi village, 11 kilometers away from Mehsana city in Gujarat, by
the leading cooperative Dudh Sagar Dairy at the cost of 75 crores rupees.
• Sainik School has been started in honor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to start 100 new Sainik
Schools on PPP basis in the country.
Gujarat govt doubles insurance cover under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya scheme
• The Gujarat government has doubled the insurance coverage under Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana
from Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 10 lakhs, effective from July 11, 2023.
• PM-JAY is the world’s largest health insurance/ assurance scheme fully financed by the government.
• Launched in February 2018, it offers a sum insured of Rs.5 lakh per family for medical treatment
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Union Health Minister inaugurates Amrita Patel Public Health Center in Gujarat
• Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the Amrita Patel Public Health Center in Anand,
Gujarat.
• The Amrita Patel Center for Public Health was established in honor of Dr. Amrita Patel, a pioneer in both the
dairy industry and public health.
• Dr. Patel has held key positions in the dairy industry, including as the first woman executive of Amul and
chairperson of NDDB.
• Dr. Patel received prestigious awards like 'Padma Bhushan' for his dairy industry contribution and 'Indira
Gandhi Environment Award' for his environmental work.
• Titanomagnetite Deposits: Vanadium in this region has been found in a mineral called titanomagnetite,
which forms when molten lava cools rapidly.
• Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of vanadium, with Russia and South Africa
rounding out the top three. Brazil alone is responsible for nearly one-quarter of the
metal’s global export market
• China has the highest vanadium reserves in the world with 9.5 million MT as of 2022.
Conocarpus Trees
• The state government of Gujarat has imposed a ban on the plantation of Conocarpus trees
due to their adverse impacts on the environment and human health.
• after research reports highlighted its adverse effects, including spreading
pollen that can lead to diseases like cold, cough, asthma, and allergies.
• Conocarpus trees have deep roots that can damage telecommunication
lines, drainage systems, and freshwater systems
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• Conocarpus erectus, commonly called buttonwood or button mangrove, is a mangrove shrub that grows on
shorelines in tropical and subtropical regions around the world
• It absorbs more water from soil than other species and is a threat to groundwater.
• It is native to parts of North and South America, as well as parts of Africa.
UNWTO
• The United Nations agency responsible for promoting responsible, sustainable and universally accessible
tourism is known as The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
• It was established on November 1, 1975, and is considered the leading international organization in tourism.
• The UNWTO headquarters are based in Madrid, Spain.
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• India has a total of 42 tangible heritage sites (34 cultural, 7 natural and 1 mixed) and 15 intangible cultural
heritage sites recognised by UNESCO.
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Maharashtra
• Until 1995, Bombay was the official name of Mumbai.
• On May 1st, 1960, the bilingual state of Bombay was divided into two separate states by the Bombay
Reorganisation Act, 1960: Maharashtra for Marathi speaking people and Gujarat for Gujarati speaking
people.
• India's first Gold Refinery is located at Shirpur.
• Governor: Ramesh Bais
• Capital: Mumbai
• Chief Minister: Eknath Shinde
• State Animal: Indian Giant Squirrel
• State Dance: Lavani
• Tribes: Bhil, Gond-Madia, Katkari, Koli, Oraon, Warli
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Nitin Gadkari lays Foundation Stone of the world's largest and unique Divyang Park
World's largest and unique Divyang Park - Anubhuti Inclusive Park in Nagpur,
Maharashtra.
• This park is being developed keeping in mind the vision of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi to build an inclusive society.
• In 2016, the central government passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act
for the rights of persons with disabilities.
• Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
• The park will have adapted facilities for all 21 types of disabilities, including touch and smell gardens,
hydrotherapy units, water therapy, independent rooms for mentally challenged children, etc.
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Mumbai's Churchgate railway station to be renamed after India's first RBI Governor
• Recently Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has passed a resolution to
rename the Churchgate railway station in Mumbai after CD Deshmukh, the
first governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• He was knighted by the British government in 1944 and awarded the Bharat
Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1959.
Who is CD Deshmukh?
• CD Deshmukh, a famous economist, was born on 14 January 1896 in a Marathi family in Raigad district of
Maharashtra.
• He became the first Indian governor of the RBI in 1943 under the British Raj.
• Later, as the Union Finance Minister from 1950 to 1956, CD Deshmukh contributed to the economic
development of the country.
• He also played a major role in setting up the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank
for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) after World War II.
• He represented India at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944, where the IMF and the IBRD were
established.
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Que:Maharashtra Government has recently announced what percent reservation for Divyang employees in
promotions?
• Ans:4 %
• Maharashtra Government has announced a 4% reservation for Divyang employees in promotions.
• The state cabinet has decided that this reservation will apply for those cadres in which the proportion of
recruitment through direct service is not more than 75 percent.
• The Cabinet has further decided that women belonging to the Open and the backward categories will no
longer be needed to produce the non-creamy layer certificate for posts reserved for them.
Que: Which state has installed AI machine to assess food quality for tribal children?
Ans: Maharashtra
• A unique artificial intelligence-based machine has been installed at Todsa
Ashram School of Etapalli in Maharashtra in a bid to improve the nutrition level
of tribal children of Gadchiroli.
• The initiative was taken under project Bhamragad and eight government schools
are part of it.
• Notably, the machine takes a photo of the student with her/his plate of food and within a few seconds,
without any human intervention, identifies whether the quality of the food is good.
• Capital – Mumbai
• Chief Minister – Eknath Sindhe
• Governor – Ramesh Bais
Que: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has recently unveiled a statue of Maratha warrior
king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in which country?
Ans: Mauritius / मॉर्ीशस
• The sculpture was created in India by a Delhi-based artist.
• Fadnavis also announced a grant of 44 million Mauritius rupees for
building a multi-purpose hall and a scholarship for 10 students.
• Also, an MoU was signed between the Economic Development Board of
Mauritius and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation to establish a platform for investment
between the Western State and the island nation.
• Capital – Port Louis
Maharashtra becomes the first state in the country to approve Good Governance Regulations
• The purpose of the rules is to enhance accountability, accessibility, dynamism and transparency in state
administration.
• A separate cell will be set up to address the effects of climate change.
• The rules also include expanding the scope of 'Aaple Sarkar Seva Kendra' for end-to-end online services to
citizens within the prescribed time limit.
• Citizens' complaints will be redressed at a speedy pace.
• 161 department-wise indices have been prepared to evaluate the performance of good governance.
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India’s first carbon neutral village being developed in Bhiwandi Taluka of Thane.
• Carbon neutrality means having a balance between emitting carbon and
absorbing carbon from the atmosphere in carbon sinks
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Maharashtra Government Launches ‘Bhagwan Birsa Munda Jodaraste Scheme’ to Connect Tribal Villages with
Main Roads
• Aims to enhance road connectivity in tribal areas of the 17 districts of the state.
• The project is estimated to cost Rs 5,000 crore and nearly 6,838 km of roads will be
constructed as part of the scheme.
• Maharashtra Casino Act repealed:
• In another decision, the Maharashtra cabinet also decided to repeal the 45-year-old
Maharashtra Casinos (Control and Tax) Act, 1976, announcing that the state will not have casinos in the
future.
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• When symptoms do occur, they are often mild and include fever, rash, joint pain, muscle pain,
headache, and red eyes (conjunctivitis).
Que:The Taiwanese government will establish a Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in which city to
further deepen cooperation with India?
Ans: Mumbai
• At present, Taiwan has TECCs in Delhi and Chennai.
• Taiwanese companies are increasingly looking at relocating their production bases from China to India.
• India is keen on having production facilities of leading Taiwanese chip producers, including Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC), the world’s largest chipmaker whose clients included
Apple.
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• He was born on February 19, 1630, to Shahaji Bhosle and Jijabai in the fort of Shivneri, near the city of
Junnar in the Pune district, Maharashtra.
• He was known as the Father of the Indian Navy.
• He died on 3rd April 1680.
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• The lower Nilwande dam, which is 86 m (282 ft) tall, is located on the Shahi Nalla River. This hydro power
project diverts water from the Godavari river basin to a west-flowing river of Western Ghats, which is
outside the basin area.
• The idea of Nilwande Dam was first conceived in 1970 but it was never realised due to public protest.
• Again in 1993 the dam work was started and completed in 2011. But the canal was not developed along with
the dam and again the work got delayed.
• Now the canal and dam are being developed at a cost of about Rs 5177 crore.
Other Projects
• PM Modi inaugurated the new Darshan Queue complex at Shirdi - is equipped with several waiting halls with
a cumulative seating capacity of more than ten thousand devotees.
• The Prime Minister also launched the ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana.
• ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana’ will benefit more than 86 lakh beneficiaries of the Pradhan
Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana in Maharashtra, by providing an additional amount of Rs 6000 per
year to them.
Goa
• Goa is located on the western coast of the Indian Peninsula, the state is separated from Maharashtra by the
Terekhol River in the north, Karnataka in the south, the Western Ghats in the east, and the Arabian Sea in
the West.
• On 19 December 1961, the Indian army with Operation Vijay resulted in the annexation of Goa, Daman and
Diu into the Indian union.
• In May 30, 1987, India reorganized its territories, granting Goa the status of its twenty-fifth state while
retaining Daman and Diu as Union Territories.
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• The Portuguese were not only the earliest Europeans to arrive in India in 1498 but also the final ones to
depart from the region in 1961.
Goa Raj Bhavan launches first books under Governor’s scheme to boost local literary talent
• Raj Bhavan’s scheme for new writers titled ‘Nayi Pahal’
• A total five books in Konkani, Marathi and English languages were unveiled by Governor
PS Sreedharan Pillai, in the presence of Jnanpith Award winner Goan writer Damodar
Mauzo
• The Raj Bhavan plans to print and publish 100 books in the next one year, while sponsoring books in all 22
scheduled languages, said the Governor.
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• Goa will host the world’s biggest and most respected national male pageant “The Rubaru” Mr. India
competition.
• The event will take place in August with the national finals taking place at the Bogmallo Beach Resort on
August 5.
• The Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant, will be the chief guest.
• Capital – Panaji
• Governor – S. Sreedharan Pillai
Karnataka
• The name Karnataka is derived from Karunadu means ‘Lofty Land’.
• Bengaluru is also known as Silicon Valley of India
• Karnataka was originally established on November 1, 1956, under the name Mysore, and it underwent a
change in name to Karnataka on the same date in 1973.
• Ugadi is the Kannada New Year’s celebration.
• Kolar Gold Fields (in Kolar District) and Hatti Gold Mines ( in Raichur District) are probably one of the oldest
gold mines in the world.
• The Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is a Ramsar site in Karnataka. It is located in the Mandya district on the
banks of the Cauvery river.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah lays the foundation stone of the Central Detective Training Institute (CDTI) at
Devanahalli, Karnataka
• This will be the 6th CDTI of the Bureau of Police Research & Development
under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs
• The objective of the CDIT is to provide training to the police personnel up
to Deputy SSP rank.
• The first CDTI was set up in Calcutta in 1958.
• Others are at Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Ghaziabad.
Que:India’s first 3x platform wind turbine generators (WTG) have been installed in which state?
Ans: Karnataka
• ReNew Power has installed India’s first 3x platform wind turbine
generators (WTGs) in Gadag, Karnataka.
• The new wind turbine generators will be a part of the country’s first
‘Round the Clock’ renewable energy project, combining wind, solar and a
battery energy storage system (BESS).
• This project will produce energy to power over 1 million households in
India annually.
• Sumant Sinha, Chairman & CEO, ReNew Power
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• The first millets and organic fair was held in 2017, the second and third editions were held in Bengaluru in
2018 and 2019.
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Que:The ‘Vote from Home’ Initiative has been introduced for the first time in the Assembly Elections of which
state?
Ans: Karnataka
• EC first time introduces Vote from Home option in Karnataka Assembly election; 8900 persons above age 80
& people with disability chose the option
• The officials will visit such homes four or five days in advance before the polling day of May 10.
Que: Indian National Congress has won a clear majority in Karnataka Assembly
Elections 2023. How many assembly seats are there in Karnataka?
Ans: 224
• Indian National Congress has won a clear majority in Karnataka Assembly
Elections.
• Formed- 1 November 1956
• Capital- Bangalore
• Governor- Thawar Chand Gehlot
• Total assembly seats- 224
• Rajya Sabha allotted Seats- 12
• Lok Sabha allotted Seats- 28
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BIAL sets up South Asia’s 1st Aircraft Recovery Training School in BLR Airport
• Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) established South
Asia’s first-of-its-kind Aircraft Recovery Training School on the
premises of Kempegowda International Airport
• The newly set up institution is entirely dedicated to providing
specialised aircraft recovery hands-on training, equipped with state-
of-the-art Disabled Aircraft Recovery Equipment (DARE)
• KUNZ GmbH Aircraft Equipment, Germany, it will offer Disabled Aircraft Recovery Training under the Trainair
Plus programme recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• Hari Marar, Managing Director and CEO of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL)
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• The Karnataka Forest Department, along with the Wildlife Trust of India, launched the Hostile Activity Watch
Kernel (HAWK) system.
• HAWK system is Cloud Based Information Management System designed to manage interlinked databases of
wildlife crime, wildlife criminals, and wildlife mortality.
• The system connects the entire state forest department in real-time and the access is restricted through
access levels.
• The development of HAWK started in 2017 in the state of Kerala by a joint team of Kerala Forest Department
& Wildlife Trust of India.
• The system was officially launched in 2019 in Kerala, and since then it has been the official system of the
state forest department.
Bengaluru to Get India’s Largest Circular Railway: 287-km Network to Connect Key Towns
• Railway Minister: Ashwini Vaishnaw
• It is being implemented by the Rail Infrastructure Development
Company (Karnataka) Ltd. (K-RIDE), a joint venture established
by the Karnataka government (51 percent share) and the
Ministry of Railways (49 percent).
Telangana
On 2nd June, 2014 the northwestern part of Andhra Pradesh was separated and 29th state Telangana was created
with Hyderabad as its capital.
• Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan
• Chief Minister: Revanth Reddy Join @parcham_CA for more free pdfs
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LAKES:
• Hussain Sagar, UNESCO's World Heritage site
• Osman Sagar, • Ramappa temple is situated in Palampet in
• Himayat Sagar, Telangana.
• Durgam Cheruvu, • It was constructed in 1213 AD during the
• Pakhal Lake, reign of the Kakatiya Empire by Recherla
• Mir Alam Tank Rudra, a general of Kakatiya king Ganapati
Deva.
Dances
• Gussadi National Park:
• Dhimsa Dance • Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park,
• Lambadi Dance • Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park,
• Perini Sivatandavam • Shivaram Wildlife sanctuary,
• Dappu Dance • Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary
•
Hyderabad selected to host WEF Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
• The World Economic Forum (WEF) has chosen Hyderabad to set up its Center for the Fourth Industrial
Revolution focused on healthcare and life sciences.
• The announcement was made after the Telangana government and the World Economic Forum signed a
cooperation agreement during the Forum's annual meeting in Davos recently.
• Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) Telangana will be an
autonomous, non-profit organisation that will focus on healthcare and life sciences.
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About Telangana
• Capital – Hyderabad
• Chief Minister – K. Chandrashekar Rao
• Governor – Tamilisai Soundararajan
Singareni Thermal Power Plant to have a Flu Gas Desulphurization (FGD) plant
• Singareni Thermal Power Plant (STPP) in Telangana is set to become the first public sector coal-based power
generating station in the South and first among the State PSUs in the country to have a Flu Gas
Desulphurization (FGD) plant.
• With 100% utilisation of the fly ash generated, the STPP has won the best fly ash utilisation award twice
already
• The FGD plant would process the sulphur and other gases (nitrogen oxides) generated in firing the coal for
power generation.
• The FGD plant removes Sulphur Dioxide from the flue gas before it is released into the atmosphere and
hence reduces its impact on the environment.
Ministry Guidelines:
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has set the deadline for installation of
FGD plants for coal-based power plants as December-end of 2026 for non-retiring plants and as December-
end of 2027 for retiring plants.
Uses:
• The gypsum generated by the FGD plant would be used in fertiliser, cement, paper, textile and construction
industries
What is the Status of the Thermal Power Sector in India?
• The thermal power sector has been a major source of electricity generation in India, accounting for around
75% of the country's total installed power capacity.
• As of May 2022, India has a total Thermal installed capacity of 236.1 GW of which 58.6% of the thermal
power is obtained from coal and the rest from Lignite, Diesel, and Gas.
International Conference on Trade and Marketing of Coconut Products at Hyderabad
• The Coconut Development Board in association with the International Coconut Community (ICC) organised a
two-day International Conference on Trade and Marketing of Coconut Products at Hyderabad, Telangana.
• The theme of the conference is “Global Coconut Industry - Cruising to the Pinnacle”.
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• Bharat Gaurav Tourist train was flagged off to mark birth anniversary of
Dr B R Ambedkar.
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• About Telangana:
• Established – 2 June 2014
• Capital – Hyderabad
• Chief Minister – K. Chandrashekar Rao
• Governor – Tamilisai Soundararajan
Prime Minister dedicates First 800 MW Unit of Telangana Super Thermal Power Project of NTPC to the Nation
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• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first 800 MW unit of the Telangana Super Thermal Power
Project in Nizamabad
• He mentioned that the second unit will soon start operating, and once
completed, the project will have a total capacity of 4000 MW.
• This project is considered the most advanced power plant of NTPC in India.
• It is located on the premises of NTPC’s existing Ramagundam station in
Peddapalli district and will provide 85% of its power to Telangana State.
• NTPC Ltd. is India's largest integrated power utility, contributing 1/4th of
the power requirement of the country.
• With an installed capacity of more than 73 GW and a diverse portfolio of thermal, hydro, solar, and wind
power plants, NTPC is dedicated to delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to the nation.
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• Organized by the Yadav community, the Sadar festival traces its beginnings back to 1942.
TSPCB Launched “Janavani– Kalushya Nivarani” Mobile App to Register Complaints Related to Environmental
Pollution
• A public grievance mobile application called “Janavani- Kalushya Nivarani”, developed by the Telangana
State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) for registering various types of complaints related to environmental
pollution
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Andhra Pradesh
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were within the same region, in 2014 Telangana was made into a separate state.
It is also known as the rice bowl of India.
• Governor: Shri S. Abdul Nazeer State Tree Vepa (Neem).
• Chief minister: YS Jagan Mohan Reddy State Dance Kuchipudi
• Founded: 1 November 1956
Classical dance
State Animal Blackbuck (Indian antelope) • Kuchipudi
State Bird Indian Roller • Andhra Natyam
State Flower Lotus • Vilasini Natyam
State Sport Kabaddi
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A Mesolithic period rock painting depicting a person tilling a piece of land has
been found in Orvakallu village in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
• The paintings were made with “natural white kaolin and red ochre
pigments”
• Ochre is a pigment composed of clay, sand, and ferric oxide.
• Kaolinite is a soft, earthy, and usually white mineral produced by the chemical weathering of aluminum
silicate minerals like feldspar.
• Mesolithic Age is also called Middle Stone Age which existed between Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) and
Neolithic (New Stone Age).
• Timeframe: This period is generally considered to have occurred between approximately 12,000-10,000
years ago
• Lifestyle: During the Mesolithic period, human societies were predominantly hunter-gatherer communities.
• Stone tools found during this period are generally tiny, and are called microliths.
Que:Which state government has launched the ‘Jagananna Amma Vodi’ scheme?
Ans: Andhra Pradesh
• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched the
‘Jagananna Amma Vodi’ scheme for the fourth year (initially launched on on 9
January 2020).
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• Under the Amma Vodi scheme, eligible mothers who send their children to schools will receive Rs 15,000
financial aid to meet the educational expenses.
Rudragiri hillock
• In News: A fascinating fusion of rock art at Rudragiri hillock discovered
by D. Kanna Babu, former Superintending Archaeologist at
Archaeological Survey of India
• Rudragiri hillock is in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
• This site unveils a fascinating combination of prehistoric rock paintings
from the Mesolithic period around 5000 B.C and exquisite artwork from
the Kakatiya dynasty.
• It is nestled amidst the Eastern Ghats, features five naturally formed rock shelters at its foothills, facing
westward.
• Two natural caves at the southern end of the hillock also exhibit exceptional murals from the renowned
Kakatiya kingdom.
Key findings:
• The first cave presents a narrative mural portraying the intense battle between the Vanara brothers, Vali
and Sugriva.
• A Ramayana fresco depicting Hanuman lifting the Sanjeevani hill with his right-hand painted
• In the middle cave, a grand sketch of Hanuman, accompanied by sacred
symbols of the conch (Sankha) and the fire altar (Yagna Vedi).
• The third cave houses the prehistoric rock paintings from the Mesolithic
era. Interestingly, the Kakatiya artist chose the same rock shelter to
superimpose the elegant figure of Hanuman
• The illustrious Ganapati Deva Maharaja (1199-1262 AD), the founder of Muppavaram temple and a
prominent figure of the Kakatiya dynasty, likely patronised the rich ancient mural heritage found at
Rudragiri.
Kakatiyas:
• Kakatiyas is an Andhra dynasty that flourished in the 12 century CE. The Kakatiya dynasty ruled from
Warangal (Telangana) from CE 1083-1323.
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• They were known for the construction of a network of tanks for irrigation and drinking water and thereby
gave a big boost to the overall development of the region.
• Telangana has launched a massive rejuvenation movement in the form of “Mission Kakatiya” which involves
the restoration of irrigation tanks and lakes/minor irrigation sources built by the Kakatiya dynasty.
There are hundreds of Hindu temples built under the patronage of Kakatiya kings like Ganapati Deva, Rudrama Devi
and Prataparudra of Kakatiya dynasty.
• Eg. - Thousand Pillar Temple or Rudreshwara Swamy Temple, Telangana. It is a star-shaped, triple shrine
(Trikutalayam) dedicated to Vishnu, Shiva and Surya.
• Ramappa Temple, Warangal, Telangana.
• Golconda Fort in Hyderabad (Telangana) was also constructed by the Kakatiya rulers.
Banni festival
• Traditional festival in Andhra Pradesh.
• It is a traditional stick-fight
• It is celebrated on the night of Dussehra celebration (Vijaya Dasami) every year.
• This festival was celebrated by people under the Vijayanagara Empire.
• It is celebrated on account of the victory of Lord Mala Malleswara Swamy and
Goddess Parvati over demonish Mani and Mallasura, who troubled the people
Tamil Nadu
• Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu.
• The oldest city corporation in India is the Greater Chennai Corporation. It is also the world’s second oldest
city corporation after London.
• Chennai is the capital city of Tamil Nadu. Chennai was earlier known as Madras. Madras was the official
name of the city till 1996.
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National Parks:
• Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary & National UNESCO world heritage Sites:
Park • Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur,
• Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, • Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram,
• Mudumali National Park & Tiger reserve, • Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram,
• Guindy National Park, • Nilgiri Mountain Railways
• Mukurthi National Park
Rivers in Tamil Nadu
Tiger Reserve: • Bhavani River
• Anamalai Tiger Reserve, • Chittar River
• Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, • Ponnaiyar River
• Satyamangalam Tiger Reserve • Thamirabarani River
• Cheyyar River
Biosphere Reserve: • Gundar River
• Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve – • Noyyal River
• Gulf of Mannar • Suruli River
• Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve • Vaigai River
Tamil Nadu inaugurates Keeladi museum, a testimony to the life of ancient Tamils during
the Sangam Age
• Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the Keeladi museum in Sivaganga district
• The museum has been built on 2 acres at Keeladi at a cost of ₹18.43 crore.
• It houses over 15,000 unique artefacts unearthed between the 4th and 8th phases
of excavations undertaken by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology
since 2018.
• The law was passed amid strong opposition from various opposition political parties.
• In May 2020, 10 states – Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand, Assam,
Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh – had amended labor laws to propose 12-hour working hours during
the pandemic.
Union Environment Ministry gives final nod for 'Kalaignar Pen Monument' in
Bay of Bengal
• The Union Environment Ministry granted Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)
approval to the Tamil Nadu government's proposal to build the ‘Dr
Kalaignar Pen Monument’ in the Bay of Bengal, off Marina beach in
Chennai, with 15 conditions.
• The Dr. Kalaignar Pen Monument is a proposed offshore memorial and is
dedicated to Late M. Karunanidhi, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
• Karunanidhi was a prolific writer, poet and orator, known as Kalaignar (artist). He wrote over 100 books
including novels, short stories, biographies, essays and memoirs.
• The memorial will symbolize his contribution to Tamil literature, culture and his political legacy. The project
was announced in 2022.
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Social welfare scheme “Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam” to be launched by Tamil Nadu Government
• Tamil Nadu government will provide monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 to more than 1 crore female family
heads through Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam.
• Chief Minister MK Stalin officially announced the scheme
• Beneficiaries will receive financial assistance through direct bank transfers and will be provided with ATM
cards for easy access.
• Governor - Ravindra Narayan Ravi
Tamil Nadu announced a Samadhan Scheme to help traders settle their dues, penalty and
interest
• With commercial tax dues to the State government touching ₹25,000 crore, Tamil
Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a Samadhan Scheme to help traders settle
their dues, penalty and interest.
• Under the scheme, traders whose dues are between ₹50,000 and ₹10 lakh will need to pay just 20 per cent
of their dues and can end pending cases against them; traders who owe higher amounts can also avail of the
scheme
• The scheme will be in force between October 16, 2023 and February 15, 2024.
A passenger ferry service from Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka is set
to commence
• The ferry will operate between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and
Kankesanthurai in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The transit time is expected to be
three hours.
• The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) will operate the ferry service.
• The vessel to be used as the ferry is called Cheriyapani.
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Tamil Nadu issues guidelines for implementation of ‘Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam’
(women’s basic income scheme)
• The monthly scheme for women heads of households, Magalir Urimai Thogai
Thittam, will be named after former Chief Minister 'Kalaignar' M Karunanidhi
• The financial assistance of ₹1,000 per month to women heads of eligible
households was a poll promise of the DMK
India gets its 36th and Tamil Nadu its first flying training school
• Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has approved the EKVI Air Training
Organization Pvt Ltd which will be based at Salem Airport, Tamil Nadu.
• This will be the first flying training organization (FTO) in Tamil Nadu.
• India now has 36 DGCA-approved flying schools.
• Director general in the Directorate of General of Civil Aviation: Vikram Dev Dutt
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin unveiled a statue of late anti-caste activist
Iyothee Thass Pandithar
• Location:Gandhi Mandapam in Chennai.
• He was born on 20 May 1845 in Madras presidency.
• In 1876, Thass established the Advaidananda Sabha and launched a
magazine called Dravida Pandian in collaboration with Rev. John Rathina.
• He established the “Dravida Mahajana Sabha
• He established the Sakya Buddhist Society in Madras, with branches all over South India.
• The Sakya Buddhist Society, also known as the Indian Buddhist Association, was established in 1898.
• To manage and coordinate the functioning of society, he began a weekly magazine, Tamizhan, in 1907.
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• On November 30, 2019, Tamil Nadu formally requested the central government to set up a tribunal to settle
disputes over the waters of the river.
• In mid-December 2022, the Supreme Court gave the Center three months to set up a tribunal to resolve the
dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
• Based on Article 262, Parliament has enacted Inter-State River Water Disputes Act (1956) & River Boards Act
(1956).
• According to Article 131 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court, in its original jurisdiction, decides a dispute
between the Government of India and one or more States or
between the Government of India and any State or States or
between two or more States on river water disputes.
Kerala
Kerala is a state situated on the Malabar coast of India. The state was formed on 1st November 1956.
The capital of Kerala is Thiruvananthapuram.
Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan
Chief minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
State Animal Elephant
State Bird Great Indian Hornbill
State Flower Kanikonna or Indian laburnum or amaltus
State Tree Coconut
Official Language Malayalam
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Wayanad becomes the first district in the country to provide basic documents to all tribals
• Kerala's Wayanad district has become the first district in India to provide basic
documents and facilities like Aadhaar card, ration card, birth/death certificate,
election ID card, bank accounts and health insurance to all tribals.
• as part of Akshaya Big Campaign for Document Digitization (ABCD) campaign.
• The campaign was launched in November 2021 with the objective of ensuring
basic documents for all citizens of Scheduled Tribe communities from
Thondarandu Gram Panchayat.
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• The Kerala Government launched the Enterprises Campaign during its 2022-23
budget.
• Also, the state government declared the financial year 2022-23 as the Year of
Enterprises.
• This was done to boost the development of the MSME sector in the state.
Kerala to become first State to use robotics tech extensively for manhole cleaning
• The Kerala government launched robotic scavenger, Bandicoot, to clean sewages in
temple town of Guruvayur, in Thrissur district, becoming the first state in the country to
use robotic technology to clean all its commissioned manholes.
• Bandicoot, developed by Kerala-based Genrobotics, recently won the 'Kerala Pride' award
at the Huddle Global 2022 Conclave organised by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM).
• Bandicoot will clean all existing sewerage and drains in Kerala.
Kochi Metro becomes first in country to accept e-rupee for parking fee
• In an initiative to promote Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), Kochi Metro has
started accepting digital currency in its parking facilities.
• With this, Kochi Metro is the first Metro in the country to accept CBDC.
• The program was introduced in association with IDFC FIRST Bank partnered with
Anantham Online, a technology startup
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Que: Which state has become the first state in the country to have a drone
surveillance system in all police districts in the state?
Ans: Kerala
• Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan distributed the drones to all police districts
and the drone pilot licences to the specially trained drone pilots.
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Arattu’ festival
• The ‘Arattu’ festival has a rich tradition of being celebrated at the Sree Padmanabha
Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• The uniqueness of the ‘Arattu’ festival is that the head of the royal family of the
erstwhile Travancore kingdom still escorts the idols of deities during the procession in
traditional attire.
• The Aarattu Festival is celebrated twice each year.
Kerala becomes the first State to have hallmarking centres in all districts
• Kerala became the first state in India to have hallmarking centres in all 14 districts.
• Aim: It will make Kerala a hub of gold business and further strengthen its claim to
being the most reliable market in the country to buy gold ornaments
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A Namdapha flying squirrel has resurfaced in Arunachal Pradesh after going missing for 42 years.
Harish Damodaran awarded the Gaja Capital Business Book Prize 2022
• Indian Express journalist, Harish Damodaran was awarded the Gaja Capital
Business Book Prize 2022 for his book 'Broke to Breakthrough’.
• Gaja Capital Business Book Prize: It was instituted in 2019.
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• Kerala Becomes India’s First Fully E-Governed State, Achieving Total E-Governance
• The Odisha Govt’s Higher Education Department has signed an MoU with Infosys and Nasscom to enhance the
skills and employability of students in Higher Education Institutions.
• PM flags off Vande Bharat Express from Dehradun to Delhi. This semi-high-speed train is India's 18th and
Uttarakhand's first Vande Bharat train.
• The first ever Urban Climate Film Festival is going to be held in New Town, Kolkata from June 3 to 5
• Jitendra Singh inaugurates 'Lavender Festival' in J&K
• Srinagar will get a ‘Smart City’ tag by June 2024 under the Srinagar Smart City Project.
• Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan launches Kerala Fibre Optic Network project
• Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya has inaugurated the National Training
Centre for Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) at Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
• Haryana announces monthly pension of Rs. 10,000 for Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan & Padma Vibhushan
awardees of State.
• The Centre has established a Commission of Inquiry, led by Ajai Lamba (former Chief Justice of the Gauhati High
Court), to investigate the recent series of violence in Manipur.
• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah addresses the Vitasta Mahotsav organized by the
Ministry of Culture as the Chief Guest in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir.
• National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to plant at least 10,000 trees
within a month in Uttarakhand.
• Madhya Pradesh raised the financial aid given to women in the Ladli Behna Scheme from ₹1,000 to ₹1,250 per
month; 35 percent reservation for women in government jobs.
• A special art exhibition titled "Together We Art" dedicated to G-20 member countries begins at Bihar Museum,
Patna
• Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 5.0 launched. It is a nationwide vaccine catch-up campaign, which
focusses on reaching zero-dose children aged between 0-5 years and pregnant women to ensure that they do
not miss out on any vaccination
• Assam government has signed an MoU with the Badminton Association of India to set up the National Centre of
Excellence for Badminton in the state.
• 9th edition of Malabar River Festival opens in Kerala
• Onam festival celebrated in Kerala, bringing happiness, unity, and a lot of cultural beauty. The festival spans 10
days, commencing on Atham (the first day of Onam) and culminating on Thiruvonam (the final day).
• The Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) has secured a grant of ₹10 crore from NITI Aayog to
establish India’s first Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) in fisheries at the University.
• Ladakh's First Women Police Station Inaugurated in Kargil
• Amazon India to open first-ever floating store in Dal Lake
• J&K Govt increases retirement age for university professors from 62 to 65
• J&K launches 'Mobile Dost App’ to provide access to all the Government Services directly
• Startup20 Shikhar summit held in Haryana's Gurugram
• 7th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC), co-hosted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and
Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) will be held from October 27 -29 in New Delhi this year.
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• The Uttar Pradesh government has increased the retirement age of government doctors from 62 years to 65
years to address the shortage of doctors.
• The Uttar Pradesh government approved 800 MW ultra-supercritical thermal power projects in Sonbhadra
district in partnership with NTPC.
• Gujarat will host the 69th edition of the Filmfare Awards in 2024.
• DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade)and Government of Gujarat jointly launch 'One
District One Product' wall to promote indigenous crafts and artisans of the state at Garvi Gujarat Bhawan.
• Numaligarh Refinery in Assam upgraded to ‘Schedule A’ category enterprise, unlocks financial autonomy and
expansion opportunities
• Finance Minister inaugurates GST Bhawan at Agartala, Tripura
• The local graziers of the Tawang region near Bumla Pass, Arunachal Pradesh, celebrated the Chachin grazing
festival
• Amit Shah laid foundation stone of 108 feet tall statue of Lord Shri Ram in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh
• Tamil Nadu regained the top spot in electronic exports in India followed by Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
• Nagaland became the first state in the north-eastern region to initiate Aadhaar-linked birth registration
(ALBR).
• Eknath Shinde government gave the cabinet approval to rename Aurangabad and Osmanabad cities as
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Dharashiv respectively.
• Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde has inaugurated the first Global Turmeric conference in Mumbai.
• Gujarat Assembly has passed the Gujarat Local Authorities Law (Amendment) Bill 2023 by a majority vote to
raise reservation for OBC communities in local self-government bodies to 27 percent from the current 10
percent.
• Marwar International Center was inaugurated by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in Jodhpur.
• Uttarakhand launches India's first polythene waste bank for sustainable waste management.
• Uttar Pradesh achieved 100% ODF Plus status for all 95,767 villages as part of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin)
Phase II.
• In Bihar, the world-famous Pitra Paksha Mela will began in Gaya city. The main inaugural function was
organized at Vishnupad Temple.
• Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri flagged off India’s first green hydrogen fuel
cell bus in Delhi
• Google has launched the Android Earthquake Alerts System in collaboration with the National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA) and the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma has launched the Mukhyamantri Atmanirbhar Asom Scheme:
provide financial assistance for ₹2 lakh each to two lakh youth for making them self-independent.
• According to Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat about 75 per cent of India's villages have achieved
the open defecation free-plus status.
• Chief Minister Pramod Sawant launched the Griha Aadhaar scheme and Chavath-e-Bazaar to empower
housewives in Goa by providing them with financial assistance.
• Rajasthan government launched the ‘iStart Talent Connect Portal’ at Jaipur’s Techno Hub to boost employment
opportunities in the state.
• PM Modi inaugurated two new train services in Rajasthan, namely the Runicha Express connecting Jaisalmer to
Delhi and a heritage train connecting Marwar Junction to Khambli Ghat.
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• Bihar government has announced 10 percent reservation for the Economically Weaker
Sections (EWS) in the judicial services and state-run law colleges and universities.
• ECI to Unveil Assembly Election Schedule for Five States - Rajasthan, Madhya
Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram
• Rajasthan government has issued an order to conduct a caste survey in the state.
It will become the second state in India to carry out such a survey, after Bihar.
• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated Samau Shaheed Memorial and
Library in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• Health Minister inaugurates Nagaland’s first Medical College in Kohima
• Karnataka government is planning to set up a ‘Grama Nyayalaya’ (village court) in each panchayat for resolving
disputes within its jurisdiction.
• The Dr. MGR Chennai Central railway station has been awarded the platinum certificate by the Indian Green
Building Council (IGBC) for developing the railway station into a net zero energy building.
• Basohli Pashmina, a more than 100-year-old traditional craft from Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, has got
the Geographical Indication (GI) tag
• Kashmir Saffron has been cultivated in a Kerala village Kanthallur, for the first time.
• Hornbill Festival 2023 is scheduled to occur from December 1, to December 10, 2023 at the heritage village
of Kisama, Nagaland
• Nagaland Assembly unanimously passed a bill to reserve 33 percent seats for women in urban local bodies
(ULBs).
• Dharmendra Pradhan launched 37 PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalayas and 26 PM SHRI Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas
in Odisha
• Uttarakhand would provide MBBS courses in Hindi. After Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand would be the second
state in the country to launch such a project.
• The Karnataka Health Department has launched Dr Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyoti Yojana to treat people
suffering from sudden heart attacks and cardiac issues.
• Andhra Pradesh Cabinet Gives Nod To Caste Survey
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• The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was installed in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. The statue
was unveiled by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor
Manoj Sinha.
• The statue has been installed in 41 Rashtriya Rifles (Maratha LI) near the India-Pakistan border in Kupwara.
• Uttar Pradesh government has decided to conduct a comprehensive census of cows to find out the actual
number of them and then plan accordingly for their welfare.
• The Uttar Pradesh government has launched the ‘Every Right for Every Child’ campaign to ensure equal
opportunities for students.
• Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University (CSMUJ) in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has achieved the highest grading,
A++, from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
• President Draupadi Murmu has launched the National Education Campaign titled "New Education for New India"
in Odisha. It is being organized by Brahma Kumari Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya, Sambalpur.
• Delhi Airport Launches Sunflower Programme For Invisible Disabilities
• The 2nd edition of the Ganga Pustak Parikrama launched by the National Book Trust (NBT) under its Gyan Ganga
Initiative will conclude at Gangasagar in West Bengal on 11 January 2024. The Ganga Pustak Parikrama was
launched on 7 November at Gangotri, Uttrakhand, the origin place of the river Ganga.
• The 5th Nagaland Honey Bee Day was celebrated under the theme- 'Bee & Honey Trials' at Naga Heritage
Village, Kisama.
• The Tamil Nadu (TN) government has planned to set up a footwear manufacturing park at an outlay of Rs 400
crore on a 250-acre land.
• Tribute to the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a wax statue has been unveiled at
the Jaipur Wax Museum, Nahargarh Fort
• A team of researchers has discovered India's first Early Cretaceous shark fossils, which are approximately "115
million years old", in the Jaisalmer region of Rajasthan.
• Jewish Christmas, Hanukkah or Chanukah is a festival celebrated for eight days, usually in the month of
December . It is also known as the “festival of lights.”
• Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal recently launched the
“Bhagwant Mann Sarkar, Tuhade Dwaar” scheme in Ludhiana(providing doorstep delivery of essential services)
• The 29th Kolkata International Film Festival ends, Israeli film ‘Children of Nobody’ won the Best Film Award
• The government of Uttar Pradesh approved the opening of 57 cyber crime police stations in the state.
• Manipur Health Minister Launches SAANS Campaign 2023-24 to Tackle Pneumonia
• Uttar Pradesh Police has taken a significant step towards enhancing public outreach and transparency by
becoming one of the first in the country to launch WhatsApp Channels for its headquarters and all district
units.
• Navratna Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has recently signed a contract worth Rs 445 crore with the Uttar
Pradesh government for the next generation UP 'Dial 112' project.
• Country’s first Himalayan Air Safari was launched from Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand has become the first state in
the country to start Gyrocopter Adventure.
• Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, recently inaugurated the Kerala Public Enterprises (Selection and
Recruitment) Board, a pivotal step toward enhancing transparency and efficiency in the recruitment processes of
public sector units (PSUs)
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National News
Central Govt Schemes
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Union Cabinet approves PM-JANMAN scheme for tribal welfare
Ministry of Finance
• Government Extends PMGKAY Scheme For 5 More Years, To Cost
11.8 Lakh Crore
• Govt of India extends the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana,
offering 5 kg of free monthly food-grains to 81.35 crore poor for five
more years, effect from 1st January, 2024.
• PMGKAY is a part of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package
(PMGKP) to help the poor fight the battle against Covid-19.
• Its nodal Ministry is the Ministry of Finance. (26 March 2020)
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Centre approves Rs 56,415 crore for 16 states for Capital Investment under
‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023-24’ Scheme
• Finance Ministry has approved interest-free and long-term capital
expenditure loans of Rs 56,415 crore to 16 states for the year 2023-24.
• Aim: To boost capital spending by states in several sectors including
health, education, roads, and railways among others.
• It has also included the state share of two projects - Jal Jeevan Mission
and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) - National Mission for Financial
Inclusion, completes nine years of successful implementation
• The PMJDY was launched on 28th August 2014.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is National Mission for
Financial Inclusion to ensure affordability in access to financial services,
namely,
• Banking/ Savings & Deposit Accounts,
• Remittance,
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• Credit, Insurance,
• Pension
Under the scheme, a basic savings bank deposit account can be opened in any bank branch, by persons not having
any other account.
Over 50 crore individuals have been brought into the formal banking system through Jan Dhan Accounts, with
around 55.5% of these accounts belonging to women.
Culture
Monument Mitra Scheme
• Culture Ministry will launch a new version of the Monument Mitra scheme
by partnering with private industries for the maintenance of one thousand
ASI monuments.
• The private sector will revamp the monuments as a part of their Corporate
Social Responsibility.
• ‘Monument Mitra' is the term coined for an entity partnering with the
government under the 'Adopt A Heritage' project.
• Objective - to develop monuments, heritage and tourist places across India by inviting corporate entities,
public sector companies or individuals to 'adopt' them.
• Recently the Monument Mitra scheme was shifted from Ministry of Tourism to Ministry of Culture.
Education
• On the occasion of Teacher’s Day 2022, the Prime Minister of India
announced a new initiative - PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising
India).
• It is a centrally sponsored scheme for upgradation and development
of more than 14500 Schools across the country.
• These schools will be equipped with modern infrastructure including
labs, smart classrooms, libraries, sports equipment, art room etc.
which is inclusive and accessible.
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• These schools shall also be developed as green schools with water conservation, waste recycling, energy-
efficient infrastructure and integration of organic lifestyle in curriculum.
PM SHRI scheme
• In NEWS: Education Ministry shortlisted 9000 schools for flagship Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India
(PM SHRI).
• The institutions were selected based on six broad parameters including curriculum, access and
infrastructure, human resources, and gender equity were assessed.
• About PM SHRI:
• PM Modi announced this scheme on 5th September 2022.
• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• Aim: To upgrade and develop around 14,500 schools
AYUSH
• Ayush Visa : New Category Of Ayush
• The introduction of Ayush Visa fulfills the proposal for introduction of a special
visa scheme for foreigners visiting India for treatment under Ayush
systems/Indian systems of medicine like therapeutic care, wellness and Yoga.
• A new chapter i.e. chapter 11A – Ayush Visa has been incorporated after
Chapter 11 - Medical visa of the Visa Manual, which deals with treatment under
the Indian systems of medicine and accordingly necessary amendments has been made in various chapters
of the Visa Manual, 2019.
• It will boost Medical Value Travel in India.
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• The Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres are part of the government of India's flagship
programme, “Ayushman Bharat”.
• The government of India launched the Ayushman Bharat Scheme as per the National Health Policy 2017 to
achieve the goal of Universal Health Coverage in India.
• The Government of India's flagship health programme, the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, has been designed to
meet the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its underlying commitment to "leave
no one behind."
• The National Health Authority, under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is implementing the
Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
PRIP Scheme:
• The Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Minister of Health & Family Welfare, launched the
Scheme for promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma MedTech Sector (PRIP).
• PRIP scheme is to transform Indian pharmaceuticals sector from cost based to innovation-based growth by
strengthening the research infrastructure in the country.
• To promote industry-academia linkage for R&D in priority areas
and to inculcate the culture of quality research and nurture our
pool of scientists.
• Time period: Five years (2023-24 to 2027-28).
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• The funding ratio is 60:40 for most states, 90:10 for north-eastern states and Himalayan states, and 100:0 for
union territories without a legislature.
Government identified 1275 railway stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
• The government has identified 1275 railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station
Scheme for the development of railway stations in India.
• Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav gave this information in a written reply to a question
in the Lok Sabha on March 29.
• Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
• Amrit Bharat Station Scheme was introduced by the Ministry of Railways in
December 2022
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• For women coming from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, the PMMVY provides a
maternity benefit of Rs. 5,000/- distributed in two instalments.
• National Event on Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana was held in Mumbai
• One noteworthy aspect of PMMVY 2.0 is its commitment to promote a more positive societal attitude
towards the girl child by offering incentives for the birth of girl child.
• In this revised framework, mothers are eligible to receive an incentive amount of ₹6,000 in a single
instalment following the birth of the second girl child. This will also contribute towards the improvement of
the Sex Ratio at Birth by discouraging female foeticide and increasing labour force participation.
Mission Vatsalya:
• There is an umbrella scheme for women and child protection services in the country.
• Scheme launched: in 2021 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• Implementation of the scheme: 1 April 2022
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• The primary objective of this scheme is to reduce poverty among Scheduled Caste (SC) communities. This is
to be achieved by creating additional employment opportunities through skill development, income-
generating initiatives, and other projects.
• The scheme also aims to enhance socio-economic development indicators in SC-dominated villages by
providing essential infrastructure and necessary services.
Not Covered States/UTs:
• Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya & Mizoram
• A & N Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Ladakh& Lakshadweep.
• National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for
admission in class 9th and 11th.
• Approximately 3,000 seats are provided each year for admission in class 9th and 11th and the entire cost of
the school fee and residential charges are borne by the Department.
• Selection of schools: Best performing CBSE based private residential schools, having more than 75% pass
percentage for class 10 and 12 for last three years are selected by a Committee for admission of selected
students.
Ministry of Textiles
Que:‘SAMARTH scheme’, which was seen in the news, is associated with which Ministry?
Ans: Ministry of Textiles
• The SAMARTH (Scheme for Capacity Building in Textiles Sector) scheme is an umbrella
skilling initiative that aims to provide incentives and create jobs in the textile industry.
• It will be implemented until March 2024.
• This initiative is part of the steps taken by the government to make the textile sector
worth 250 billion USD by the end of this decade from the present 150-155 billion USD.
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• Eighteen traditional crafts like carpentry, blacksmithing, goldsmithing, pottery, and tailoring will be covered.
• Vishwakarma Jayanti:
• It is a Hindu festival dedicated to the divine architect, Vishwakarma.
• Prayers are also offered for the smooth operation of machines and equipment.
• Vishwakarma Jayanti falls on 'Kanya Sankranti' of the Hindu calendar, usually between 16 and 18 September
in the Gregorian calendar.
• The festival is also celebrated in Nepal.
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• There will be an additional contribution of 5% for the MSMEs which are part of SFURTI clusters, owned by
Women/SC/ST and located in Northeast region.
• To assist MSMEs, the government will contribute 90 per cent of the implementation cost and consultancy fee
for providing initial support.
• Nodal Agency of the scheme will be the National Productivity Council (NPC).
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PM Ujjwala Scheme
• It is a scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for
providing LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.
• The scheme was originally launched on May 1, 2016, in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh with a target of releasing 8
crore connections by March 2020.
• During Ujjwala 1.0, a target was set to provide LPG connections to 5 crore women members of BPL
households.
• Subsequently, the scheme was expanded in April 2018 to include women beneficiaries from seven more
categories (SC/ST, PMAY, AAY, Most backward classes, tea garden, forest dwellers, Islands).
• The PMUY 2.0 was launched in the financial year 2021-22 making a provision for the release of additional
one crore connections.
Ujjwala Yojana: Union Cabinet extends subsidy of 200 rupees per cylinder for 12
refills annually for beneficiaries for one year
• PM Ujjwala Scheme
• It is a scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for providing
LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.
• The scheme was originally launched on May 1, 2016, in Ballia, Uttar
Pradesh by the Prime Minister of India with a target of releasing 8 crore
connections by March 2020.
Centre hikes LPG Subsidy for Ujjwala Beneficiaries to ₹ 300 from ₹ 200
• The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched in 2016
• To ensure the availability of cooking fuel such as LPG to rural and deprived households that relied on
traditional fuels like firewood, coal, cow-dung cakes, etc.
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Govt planning skill training for 2 crore women under ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme
• Aims to encourage them to start micro-enterprises.
• Women would be trained in skills like plumbing, LED bulb making and operating and
repairing drones among others.
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Government extends Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana for two years
• The government has extended the unemployment scheme, the Atal Beemit Vyakti
Kalyan Yojana, under the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation for a period of
two years up to June 30, 2024.
• This is the third extension to the scheme with two extensions given each in 2020 and 2021 to financially
support ESIC beneficiaries who had lost jobs during the pandemic.
• Launched in 2018 on a pilot basis for a period of two years, the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana provides
relief in the form of cash compensation up to 90 days to the insured persons (IPs) under ESIC who have
become unemployed.
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PM PRANAM (Prime Minister Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother
Earth)
• The program will endeavour to encourage States and Union Territories promoting balanced use of
alternative fertilisers and chemical fertilisers.
• It aims to reduce the subsidy burden of the government, which is estimated to reach Rs 2.25 lakh crore in
2022-23.
• Bhartiya Prakritik Kheti Bio-Input Resource Centres
• To adopt "natural farming", 10,000 bio-input processing centers will be set up.
• These centers will form a nationally distributed micro fertilizer and pesticide manufacturing network.
• This will affect more than 1 crore farmers in the next three years.
MISHTI Scheme
• In News: Mangrove plantation drive organized under MISHTI Scheme to mark World Environment Day
MISHTI:
• It refers to Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes
• The central government had rolled out the MISHTI scheme in budget 2023-
24.
• It aims at intensive afforestation of coastal mangrove forests, across 11
States and 2 Union Territories during five years commencing FY 2023-24
onwards.
Mangroves:
• The Mangroves cover 0.15% of the total Indian Geographical area.
• The state of West Bengal alone has 42.45% of India’s mangroves. Indian mangroves are facing limitations
such as an increase in salinity, lack of oxygen, and diurnal tidal inundations.
• Mangrove forests are spread across AP, WB, Odisha, Andaman and Nicobar, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala,
Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
Amrit Dharohar
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• The scheme will be implemented over the next three years to encourage optimum use of wetlands and
enhance biodiversity, carbon stock, ecotourism opportunities and income generation for local communities.
• It will emphasise on the importance of lakes and their conservation.
Revised guidelines for the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)
• The Government of India has launched revised guidelines
for the Members of Parliament Local Area Development
Scheme (MPLADS)
• The Minister of State for Statistics and Programme
Implementation, Rao Inderjit Singh, launched the new
guidelines and the web portal, which will come into effect
from April 1, 2023, according to the Ministry of Statistics &
Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• The focus is on improving the functioning, implementation,
and monitoring of the MPLAD scheme, enabling MPs to recommend developmental works according to the
requirements of their constituency.
• Under the revised guidelines, the entire process of fund flow will operate through the web portal. The portal
will enable real-time monitoring, greater transparency, and accountability in the system, resulting in
improved efficiency and effectiveness of the MPLAD Scheme, as per the ministry's statement.
MPLADS:
• Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme is a scheme formulated by Government of India on
23 December 1993 that enables the members of parliaments to recommend developmental work in their
constituencies with an emphasis on creating durable community assets based on locally felt needs.
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Ministry of Coal
Cabinet approves continuation of ‘Exploration of Coal and Lignite’ Scheme
• The union cabinet has approved the continuation of the Central
Sector Scheme of “Exploration of Coal and Lignite scheme”.
• It has been approved with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 2980
crore from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• Exploration for Coal and Lignite is required to prove and estimate
coal resources available in the country, which helps in preparing
detailed project reports to start coal mining.
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• The UK is a country that comprises England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Britain or Great Britain
means England, Scotland, and Wales. It does not include Northern Ireland.
• So the scheme is not applicable to Northern Ireland
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• National Maritime Heritage Complex is also being built in Lothal near Mumbai to preserve this world
heritage
• The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Tuna Tekra all-weather deep draft terminal, to be built at a
cost of more than Rs 4,500 crores at Deendayal Port Authority in Gujarat.
• The first Maritime India summit was held in 2016 in Mumbai while the Second Maritime Summit was held
virtually in 2021.
'Costa Serena'
• Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal
launched the domestic sailing of 'Costa Serena', the first international cruise
liner in India, in Mumbai.
• The target of 50 million cruise passengers in India by the year 2047 has also
been discussed in the recently concluded Global Maritime India Summit
2023.
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Theme/Motto/Priority
S. No Engagement Groups Venue Some Facts
Areas
R.A.I.S.E – Responsible, Established in 2010.
Accelerated, Innovative, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has
1 Business20 New Delhi
Sustainable, Equitable been designated as the Business 20 (B20)
Businesses. Secretariat
Established in 2013,
2 Civil20 Jaipur “You Are The Light”.
Platform for Civil Society Organizations.
‘Universal Social Security’
First summit took place formally during
3 Labour20 Patna and ‘Women and Future
the French Presidency in 2011
of Work’
`VasudhaivaKutumbakam`
Supreme Audit
– the World as ONE Earth, Established during Indonesian Presidency
4 Institutions 20 Goa,
ONE Family and ONE in 2022.
(SAI20)
Future.
Inclusion & Established under G20 India presidency of
5 Startup20 Gurugram,
Sustainability 2023
Bhopal,
Established during 2012 during the
6 Think20 Madhya ‘Inclusive Growth’
Mexican presidency.
Pradesh
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• The proposed corridor will comprise two separate corridors, the Eastern Corridor, and the Northern Corridor.
• The former will connect India to the Arabian Gulf and the latter will connect the Arabian Gulf to Europe.
• Additionally, the corridor promises to secure supply chains, generate employment opportunities, and
enhance trade facilitation and accessibility.
• The corridor will include a rail link as well as an electricity cable, a hydrogen pipeline and a high-speed data
cable.
• In the coming times, it will be a major medium of economic integration between India, West Asia and
Europe.
• The rail and shipping corridor is part of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII)
• The project would help deal with the lack of infrastructure needed for growth in lower- and middle-income
nations. In this project, G-7 countries will come together and make a collaborative effort.
• The PGII project is being seen as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
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• Second: Through adjudication which includes ruling by a panel and if not satisfied, challenging that ruling at
the appellate body.
• The dispute settlement mechanism of WTO has been derailed due to a non-functional appellate body since
December 2019.
• The appellate body is WTO's highest court. It hears appeals of decisions made by WTO panels.
• The U.S. has blocked the appointment of new appellate body members since 2017, arguing that the body
has become too politicized and has overstepped its authority
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• These include manuscripts of the Rig Veda from India, a rare copy of
the Magna Carta from the UK, an anamorphic digital image of the
Mona Lisa from France, certified original copies of the Charters of
Freedom from the US, and a fahua-lidded jar from China, Panini’s
Ashtadhyayi from India Gutenberg Bible from Germany among
others.
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India to host the first edition of the 'Global IndiaAI 2023' conference in October
• The inaugural edition of 'Global IndiaAI 2023' will be hosted by India in October.
• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will be organizing this
program.
• The conference will attract leading figures in the field of AI, such as key players,
researchers, startups, and investors from India and around the world.
• The conference will also discuss future trends in AI research, AI computing
systems, investment prospects and strategies to promote AI
talent.
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For the first time in Asia, World Coffee Conference to be held in Bengaluru
• India is all set to host the 5th World Coffee Conference (WCC) for the
first time from 25-28 September 2023 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Organized by the International Coffee Organization (ICO)
• Rohan Bopanna would endorse the event as its brand ambassador.
• The theme of the World Coffee Summit 2023 is "Sustainability through
circular economy and regenerative agriculture".
G-20 Global Food Regulatory Summit 2023 for the first time in India
• The Global Food Regulators Summit 2023 was held in Delhi. The summit was
held outside Rome, Italy for the first time.
• The conference was organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of
India (FSSAI) under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on
July 20 and 21, 2023 at Manekshaw Auditorium, New Delhi.
• Objective:
• To provide a valuable platform to the summit participants to deliberate on food safety
and regulatory aspects in a cohesive network.
Bhashini Platform:
• Prime Minister recently pitched for sharing India’s AI-based language
platform, Bhashini, with SCO member countries to remove language
barriers within the international grouping.
• BHASHINI stands for Bhasha Interface for India, and is India’s Artificial Intelligence (AI)-led language
translation platform.
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• The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz
Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in
2017.
• Currently, the SCO's official languages are Mandarin and Russian.
• India has been pitching for also including English as the official language of the grouping.
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PM Modi Inaugurates 6th One Earth One Health – Advantage Healthcare India –
2023 Conference
• At Pragati Maidan in New Delhi via video conferencing.
• The conference was attended by health ministers from across the world,
as well as delegates from West Asia, SAARC, ASEAN, and African regions.
• Ayushman Bharat Scheme is the world’s largest Government funded
health insurance coverage scheme.
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First G20 Culture Group (CWG) meet organised in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
• The Ministry of Culture is organising the first G20 Culture Group (CWG) meeting from 22 to 25 February
2023 in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.
• 'Protection and restitution of cultural heritage’ was the theme for the first G20 Culture Group (CWG)
meeting.
• The overarching theme of G20 is ‘Vasudev Kutumbakam’ – One Earth, One Family, One Future.’
DHARA - Annual Meeting of Members of the River Cities Alliance held In Pune
• A first of its kind two-day international conference, DHARA 2023, was organised in
Pune to discuss strategies for managing urban rivers.
• DHARA stands for - Driving Holistic Action for Urban Rivers.
• DHARA is the annual meeting of the members of the River Cities Alliance (RCA).
• The meeting was organised by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in
association with National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) from 13 to 14 February
in Pune.
• Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
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First Education Group of G-20 countries to meet in Chennai from 31st January to 2nd
February
• 1st Health Working Group Meeting in Thiruvananthapuram (18-20 Jan)
• 1st Education Working Group Meeting in Chennai (31 Jan to 2 Feb)
• 1st Employment Working Group Meeting in Jodhpur (side event) (2-4 Feb)
• 1st Energy Working Group Meeting in Bengaluru (5-7 Feb)
• 1st Environment and Climate Working Group Meeting in Bengaluru (8-10 Feb)
• 1st Tourism Working Group Meeting at Rann Of Kutch (8-10 Feb)
• 1st Agriculture Working Group Meeting in Indore (13-15 Feb)
• 1st Culture Working Group Meeting Khajuraho (side event) (23-25 Feb)
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Health Minister chairs a high level meeting to eliminate Kala-azar from the country by
2023
• Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a high-level meeting with four states of
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal governments to review the elimination of Kala-Azar from
the country by the year 2023.
• There has been 98% decline in kala Azar cases from 2007 (44533) till Nov 2022 (834)
• Global status of Kala-Azar
• About 90 percent of global cases of kala-azar in the year 2021 were found in
eight countries – Brazil, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan
and Sudan.
• India accounts for 11.5 per cent of the total cases reported globally.
• Bihar and Jharkhand currently account for more than 90 percent of Kala-azar
cases.
What is Kala-azar?
• It is also known as black fever and Dumdum fever.
• The disease is the second largest parasite killer in the world after Malaria.
• It is a Neglected Tropical Disease affecting about 100 countries including India.
• Symptoms
• Fever, weight loss, fatigue, anaemia, and swelling of the liver and spleen.
• Transmission
• It is caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus.
• It migrates to the internal organs such as the liver, spleen and bone marrow.
• National Kala-azar Eradication Program
• India's National Health Policy, 2002, set a target of eliminating Kala-azar by 2010, which was revised in 2015.
• India signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh and Nepal to eliminate
Kala-azar from the South-East Asia region.
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Target sectors
• The project is to focus on food products, apparel, electronics, pharmaceuticals, engineering, and chemicals.
• The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is responsible for the timely execution of national waterways
projects and to ensure improved water transportation in India.
• Launched in October 1986, the Noida-headquartered Authority has regional offices across different cities.
• Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, 111 inland waterways have been declared as ‘national waterways’.
• Out of the 111 national waterways, there are 13 national waterways that are operational for shipping and
navigation.
• The longest national waterway is the National Waterway 1 or the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system,
running from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh to Haldia in West Bengal and covers a length of 1,620 kilometres.
• The Manimutharu River in Tamil Nadu or the National Waterway 69 is the shortest national waterway in
India.
• National Waterway 2: Brahmaputra River (Dhubri – Sadiya)
• National Waterway 73: Narmada river
• National Waterway 100: Tapi river
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Que:IFFCO will procure how many agri-drones to promote the use of nano
fertilizers across the country?
Ans:2500
• To promote the use of nano fertilizers across the country, IFFCO will
procure 2,500 agri-drones and train 5,000 rural entrepreneurs as part of its
national campaign launched in July 2023.
• The agri-drones will be used for spraying of its products nano urea and
nano di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), in a phased manner.
• This will also support recently launched scheme PM-PRANAM that aims to reduce chemical fertilizers and
promote alternative fertilizers.
Jal Diwali -“Water For Women, Women For Water Campaign” Launched
• By Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
• under its flagship scheme - Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban
Transformation (AMRUT), in partnership with the Ministry's National
Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM).
• from, 7 - 9 November, 2023.
• The campaign aims to provide a platform for inclusion of women in
water governance.
• They will be given first-hand knowledge about water treatment processes through visits to Water Treatment
Plants (WTPs) in their respective cities.
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New Parliament Building has six gates named after animals and creatures.
• The first three gates of the new Parliament House are named Ashwa,
Gaj and Garuda Gate. These three are formal gates. Their names are
also Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar and Karma Dwar. These gates will be
used by the Vice President, Speaker and Prime Minister. Whereas
Makar, Shardul Gate and Hans Gate will be used for MPs and public.
• 6 gates - Gaja Dwar, Ashwa Dwar, Garuda Dwar, Makar Dwar,
Shakdula, Hamsa Dwar
• Out of these six entrances, three are designed as ceremonial entrances, to welcome special guests and to
mark special events. They have been named as Gyan, Shakti and Karma
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Project AMBER
• AMBER - Accelerated Mission for Better Employment and Retention
• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration
with (GIF) and Amazon Web Services India Private Limited (AWS India), is providing
‘cloud’ skills training to 1,500 under project AMBER.
• The initiative has been undertaken under the SANKALP programme of MSDE with a
focus on women to improve gender diversification in the tech industry and
underprivileged groups.
• This project aims to train 30,000 youth, 50% of whom will be women.
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• The National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), launched in October 2011, was renamed the Bharat Net Project
in 2015.
• It is an ambitious project of the Government of India to provide broadband connectivity to all village
panchayats in the country.
Centre agrees to sanction Rs 12,911 crore for Polavaram Project in Andhra Pradesh
• Central government has agreed to sanction Rs 12,911 crore to Andhra Pradesh
for completing the first phase of Polavaram Project.
• Polavaram Project is an under construction multi-purpose irrigation project
on the Godavari River in the Eluru District and East Godavari District in
Andhra Pradesh.
• The project has been accorded National project status by the Central
Government of India.
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Project-SMART
• Project-SMART envisages developing areas around Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Railway (MAHSR)
stations to enhance accessibility and convenience for commuters and other stakeholders.
• MoHUA, Govts of Gujarat, Maharashtra and JICA are organizing a series of Seminars and field visits for the
Project–SMART in Delhi, Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
Indian Railways to start 'Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train' between Ayodhya to Janakpur
• The train "Shri Ram-Janaki Yatra: Ayodhya to Janakpur", will cover two most
important pilgrimage sites of India and Nepal - Ayodhya and Janakpur.
• The initiative aims to strengthen bilateral relations between India and Nepal and
promote cultural ties between the two countries.
• This train will be operated by Railway's PSU - IRCTC.
• The state-of-the-art Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train will depart from Delhi on
17th February, 2023 for a 7 days all inclusive tour.
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• He emphasized that efforts must not be limited to taking medicines, but also aid in eliminating the spread of
diseases through mosquitoes.
Project ELLORA:
• Microsoft Research is helping preserve ‘rare’ Indian languages with its Project
ELLORA (Enabling Low Resource Languages) in India.
• Microsoft researchers under this project have been working toward creating digital
ecosystems for Indian languages that do not have enough presence online,
• The main goal of the Project is, building technological skills, enhancing education
and preserving local languages and cultures for future generations.
• Microsoft Research (MSR) has chosen to focus on three languages namely; Gondi,
Mundari and Idu Mishmi.
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• It is a Mini Ratna Category-I Central public Sector Enterprises Company under the Union Ministry of Power.
• The company is a joint venture of the Government of India and Himachal Pradesh government with the
government of India holding the majority shares. It was set up in 1988 for hydroelectric power generation
and transmission.
• SJVN is presently implementing or operating power projects in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar,
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, Odisha, Mizoram and
Madhya Pradesh in India besides neighbouring countries of Nepal and Bhutan.
• Chairman and Managing Director: N L Sharma
India's first hydrogen train will come by Dec 2023 on heritage routes
• Union Railway minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw has informed that
India will receive its first hydrogen train by December 2023.
• It will run on heritage circuits like Kalka-Shimla and later it will be
expanded to other places.
• The Vande Metro (mini version of Vande Bharat Express) is also
being developed
• Vande Metro Aim: To help people living around big cities to
travel to and for in comfort between their place of work and
hometowns.
• Railway Budget (2023-24:) Rs 2.4 lakh crore
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Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal launched ‘SAGAR SAMRIDDHI’ –
the online dredging monitoring system.
• To bring transparency & efficiency in the dredging process & to minimise human error
• Online Dredging Monitoring System is aimed at accelerating ‘Waste to Wealth’ campaign of MoPSW
(Dredging - to clear the mud, etc. from the bottom of a river, canal, etc. using a special machine)
Capabilities of ‘Sagar Samriddhi’ include:
1. Real time dredging progress report
2. Daily and monthly progress Visualisation
3. Dredger performance and downtime monitoring
4. Easy location track data with snapshot of loading, unloading and idle
time
S.No Crops MSP RMS MSP RMS Cost* of production Increase in Margin over
2023-24 2024-25 RMS 2024-25 MSP (Absolute) cost (in %)
1 Wheat 2125 2275 1128 150 102
2 Barley 1735 1850 1158 115 60
• The Government is actively promoting crop diversification, particularly in oilseeds, pulses, and millet (Shree
anna), with the objectives of enhancing food security, increasing farmers’ income, and reducing the reliance
on imports.
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• MSP is a price fixed by the Government of India to protect the producers – farmers – against excessive falls
in price during bumper production years
• The MSPs are announced by the Government of India at the beginning of the sowing season for certain
crops.
• The MSP is announced for 23 crops, including wheat, rice, pulses, oilseeds, and cotton.
• The government procures these crops at the MSP from farmers through the Food Corporation of India (FCI)
and other agencies.
CCEA approves MSP for Raw Jute at 5,050 rupees per quintal for 2023-24
• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved Minimum
Support Price (MSP) for Raw Jute at 5,050 rupees per quintal for 2023-24.
• The approval is based on the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices
recommendations.
What is Minimum Support Price (MSP)?
• MSP is the rate at which the government buys food grains from farmers.
• This is based on the calculation of at least one and a half times the cost of production incurred by the
farmers.
• The Government of India fixes the MSP for 24 items twice a year.
• When the market price falls below the declared MSP, the government buys food grains from the farmers at
the MSP rate.
Who decides MSP?
• The MSP price is calculated by an expert committee under the ministry of Agriculture.
• The expert committee is called CACP (Commission for Agricultural Costs and Price).
• It recommends the MSP to the Agricultural ministry and the ministry announces the MSP.
• However the Agricultural Ministry is not bound to accept the recommendation of the CACP.
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• Teachers will also update students’ blood group, height, and weight, as this information will be used to
create the APAAR ID.
• The government has assured that student data will remain confidential and will only be shared with
government agencies when necessary.
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Govt launches sale of subsidised chana dal under brand name 'Bharat Dal’
• Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal has launched the sale of subsidized
Chana Dal under the brand name ‘Bharat Dal’ at the rate of 60 rupees/Kg
• Aim: To make pulses available to consumers at affordable prices
• Chana dal is being sold in Delhi-NCR through the retail outlets of National
Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED).
• Chana has multiple nutritional health benefits as it is rich in fibre, iron, potassium, vitamin B, selenium beta
carotene which are required by human body for controlling anaemia, blood sugar, bone health etc. and even
for mental health.
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• Aim: To generate wealth and energy by converting cattle dung, agricultural residue, and other organic waste
into Biogas, CBG and bio-fertilizers.
• Nodal Ministry: The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
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A-HELP Programme
• The Union Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala,
• inaugurated the ‘A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) programme
in Gujarat.
• A-HELP programme is part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative, fostering livestock enhancement.
• Focuses on critical areas of livestock health, disease management, and animal infertility.
• The ‘A-HELP’ programme enlists trained women agents for disease control, artificial insemination, animal
tagging, and livestock insurance.
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Que: Which union minister announced schemes worth over Rs 8,000 crore for disaster management?
Ans: Amit Shah
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced 3 major disaster management schemes worth Rs 8,000 crore
that would cover:
• modernisation of fire brigade services in all states (Rs 5,000 crore )
• flood mitigation in seven major cities (Rs 2,500 crore)
• prevention of landslides in 17 states (Rs 825 crore).
• Flood mitigation in seven major cities (Rs 2,500 crore) – Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad,
Hyderabad and Pune
Amit Shah launches Vibrant Village program at Kibithu border village in Arunachal Pradesh
• Union Home Minister and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on 10 April launched the 'Vibrant Villages
Programme' at Kibithu, a border village in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Under the programme, 2967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts along the northern border in the states of
Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory
of Ladakh were identified for comprehensive development.
Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh inaugurates Mission Antyodaya Survey 2022-
23
• The Department of Rural Development has been conducting the Mission Antyodaya Survey across all Gram
Panchayats in the country since 2017-18.
• The purpose of this survey is to transform lives and livelihoods of people to measurable outcomes through
convergence of various schemes.
• The Survey-2022 Questionnaire has 183 indicators and 216 data points covering 21 areas and has been
translated in 13 regional languages
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• Originally, the mission was supposed to be completed by June 2023. However, 50 out of the 100 cities have
completed 75% of the projects and should be able to finish the remaining work by June.
• Funds and Budget
• A total of Rs 71,000 crore has been released to the cities, of which Rs 38,000 crore is from the Centre, and
the remaining from states and urban local bodies.
NHAI Launched ‘Rajmargyatra’ Unified Mobile App for National Highway Users
• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
• Aim: To create a seamless, user-friendly experience for highway users
• It provides real-time weather updates, timely broadcast notifications and details about nearby toll plazas,
petrol stations and hospitals
• The ‘Rajmargyatra’ app also integrates FASTag services, making it even more versatile for users.
• FASTags are essential for electronic toll collection, and the app allows users to recharge their FASTags
seamlessly.
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Union Tourism minister launches Visit India Year 2023 initiative and its logo
• Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy launched the Visit India Year-2023.
• He also unveiled the logo of the campaign which is inspired by the image of 'Namaste'.
• It imbibes the philosophy of 'Atithi Devo Bhava' along with the heritage of India to the
art of cooking divine food and our rich wildlife.
• The emblem depicts elements of India's heritage and its monuments.
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“U-WIN” platform launched to keep digital records of immunization of women and children in
the country
• Launched by Union Health Ministry
• As a pilot project in two districts of each state and union territory of the country.
• Every pregnant woman will be registered on this digital platform and records of her
vaccination will be maintained. Later a record will be kept of their offspring and their
vaccinations at the time of birth and later.
• The platform is based on Co-WIN, the government's digital infrastructure in India's fight against COVID-19.
• Vaccination appointments can also be booked through U-Win.
• With this, once the entire vaccination program is digitised, the beneficiaries will get the certificates
immediately and they can also download them if they want. These certificates will be kept in Digi-Lockers.
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Center launches 'Dakshta' course suite on iGOT platform for young professionals
• The Central Government has introduced a new collection of courses called
"Dakshata" on the iGOT Karmayogi platform.
• "Dakshta" (Development of Attitude, Knowledge, Skills for Holistic Change in
Administration) aims at enhancing the skills of young professionals.
• iGOT Karmayogi is an online portal to guide government officials in their capacity
building journey.
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• On July 14 2023, ISRO launched Chandrayaan-3 from Sriharikota using a GSLV-Mark III (LVM-3) heavy-lift
rocket.
• On July 22, 2019, ISRO launched Chandrayaan-2 from Satish Dhawan Space Center on Sriharikota Island,
Andhra Pradesh, using Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV-Mark III).
• ISRO's Chandrayaan-I was launched on October 22, 2008, using a PSLV-C11 launch vehicle from the Satish
Dhawan Space Center on Sriharikota island, Andhra Pradesh.
NEST initiative
• Recently, the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) launched a rating and certification initiative called ‘Nest’.
• NEST initiative is to promote sustainable and eco-friendly construction in the domestic housing sector.
• It would pave the way to help bring down electricity consumption and water usage and create a healthy
living space.
Indian Green Building Council:
• It is part of the Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) and was formed in 2001.
• It is India’s Premier certification body.
• Headquarters: Hyderabad.
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NIDHI Program:
• In News: The union Minister of State Science & Technology informed the Rajya
Sabha about the NIDHI Program.
• National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing innovations (NIDHI) program
was launched in 2016.
• It is an umbrella programme conceived and developed by the Innovation &
Entrepreneurship division, Department of Science & Technology.
• Aim is to nurture start-ups through scouting, supporting and scaling innovations.
• Various departments and ministries of the central government, state
governments, academic and R & D institutions, mentors, financial institutions,
angel investors, venture capitalists and private sectors.
• Funding: By the National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB).
• NIDHI- PRAYAS (Promoting and Accelerating Young and Aspiring Innovators and Startups) program at Proof-
of-Concept level provides mentoring and financial support to innovator for converting their ideas into
prototypes.
• NIDHI Entrepreneurs-In-Residence (EIR) Program provides fellowships to the students opting for
entrepreneurship.
• NIDHI Seed Support Program provisions availability of early-stage seed support funding to startups and the
NIDHI Accelerator program speeds up the investment readiness of the startups.
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• A total of 23 tableaux – 17 from states and Union territories and six from various ministries and departments
– depicting India's vibrant cultural heritage, and economic and social progress were part of the parade on
the Kartavya Path.
• Bharat Parv was earlier held in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 and 2021 (virtually)
Malayalam film ‘2018-Everyone is a Hero’ selected as India’s official entry for Oscars 2024
• As a reflection of the big picture of drawbacks of climate change, Malayalam movie,
2018, based on Kerala floods, is selected as India's official entry to the Academy Awards
2024
• Directed by Jude Anthany Joseph and revolves around the story of survival of people during the devastating
floods in the state.
Kiren Rijiju launched the trailer of the first Tagine language film
• The trailer of 'Love in 90s', the first film made in Tagin language of
Arunachal Pradesh, was launched by Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren
Rijiju on 6th May in New Delhi.
• The film is directed by Tapen Natam
• About Tagine Community
• The Tagin or Ghasi Miri tribe is one of the major tribe of Arunachal
Pradesh, which is a member of the larger designation of Tani Tribes, the
descendants of Abu Tani.
• The most important festival of the Tagins is the Si-Donyi Festival, involves the veneration of the earth (si) and
the sun (donyi). It is celebrated as New Year
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• Aim: To raise awareness about the importance of nutrition and promote healthy eating habits through Jan
Andolan and Jan Bhagidari
• Poshan Abhiyaan was launched by PM Narendra Modi on 8th March 2018 to improve nutritional outcomes
in a holistic manner.
Que: In how many districts was Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela,
PMNAM conducted?
Ans:242
• Several local businesses, companies, and organisations were invited to
be part of the mela and provide apprenticeship opportunities to India’s
youth.
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• For candidates who are Class five to Class 12th pass outs and have skill training certificates, or ITI Diploma
holders or graduates
• The government is striving to train 1 million youth per annum through apprenticeship training and to fulfil
this mission PMNAM is being used as a platform to increase the participation of establishments and
students.
Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav, a 75 day-long event to celebrate Indian languages starts in Lucknow
• Padma shree awardees and representatives of different Indian languages are taking part in the program
• The festival will continue from 28 September to 11 December which is birthday of Famous Tamil poet
Subrahmanyam Bharti and celebrated as Indian Languages day.
SUBRAMANIA BHARATI
• Birth: 11th December 1882, in Ettayapuram, Madras Presidency.
• Also known as ‘Mahakavi Bharathiyar’.
• Subramania Bharati Award:
• Background: It was established by Central Institute of Hindi (Kendriya Hindi Sansthan) in 1989 on the name
of Tamil writer Subramania Bharathi.
• Criteria: It is annually awarded by the President of India to a person for his/her
significant services in development of creative/critical areas in Hindi.
Country’s Oldest Think Tank USI Organised Indian Military Heritage Festival
• The country’s oldest think tank, the United Service Institution of India (USI), organized
the first Indian Military Heritage Festival (IMHF)
• Aim: To enhance our understanding of the country’s rich military heritage and
traditions; contemporary security and strategy concerns; and the push to achieve
self-reliance in military capability.
• Held on October 21 and 22.
• Recently, under Project Udbhav, the Army has taken up an effort to rediscover the “profound Indic heritage
of statecraft and strategic thoughts” derived from ancient Indian texts of “statecraft, warcraft, diplomacy
and grand strategy” in collaboration with the USI and the festival is part of that effort
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India Post
• India Post is the central postal system of India and was established on 1 April 1854.
• It works under the Ministry of Communications, Government of India.
• India's postal system is one of the most widely distributed networks in the world.
• India is divided into 23 postal circles headed by the Chief Postmaster.
• Postal Index Number is a 6 digit code of post office introduced on 15 August 1972.
• It is quite popular in rural India as it is one of the oldest institutes in India in terms of better service.
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Cinereous Vulture
• The Cinereous Vulture, one of the largest raptors in the world, has been sighted
at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Cinereous Vulture is also known as the Eurasian Black Vulture or monk vulture.
• It is one of the heaviest and largest raptors in the world.
• It is mainly found in Spain and inland Portugal, South France, central Asia,
northern India, northern Manchuria, Mongolia and Korea.
• IUCN: Near threatened
• Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary:It is located on the Southern Delhi Ridge of the Aravalli hill range on the Delhi-
Haryana border.
Que: The Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre (JCBC) has been set up as the
world’s first conservation and breeding centre for Asian king vulture in which
state of India?
Ans: Uttar Pradesh
• The JCBC is built in Maharajganj district, located in the Gorakhpur Forest
Division of Uttar Pradesh.
• The objective of this centre is to breed king vultures in captivity and
release them in the wild to maintain a sustainable population of the species. The Asian king vulture is
critically endangered and protected under the Wildlife Protection Act.
• The state-of-the-art facility is worth around Rs 15 crore and spread over 1.5 hectares area.
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Background:
• The area was declared a Reserved forest in 1974, it became a sanctuary in 1995.
• It is considered to be an ideal habitat for the Bengal florican. Also called the Bengal bustard, is a bustard
species native to the Indian subcontinent, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Barda Wildlife Sanctuary Is Set To Become The Second Home For Asiatic Lions
• After Gir National Park and Sanctuary, the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary (BWLS) is set to become the second
home to Asiatic lions.
• The Gujarat Forest Department presented its proposal to make
BWLS the second home to the lions as part of "Project Lion @
2047".
• Project Lion is an initiative launched by the Government of
India in 2021 to conserve and protect the Asiatic Lion and its
habitat.
• Barda, established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1979
• According to the data from 2020, there are 674 lions in India,
which were 523 in 2015.
• The lion is divided into two subspecies: the African lion
(Panthera leo leo) and the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica).
• Every year, World Lion day is observed on 10th August to raise awareness about the conservation of lions.
Que: The first instance of captive breeding of the Himalayan vulture in India at which state?
Ans: Assam
• Assam State Zoo in Guwahati has achieved a ground-breaking victory by successfully
breeding the Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) in captivity for the first time in
India.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List: Near Threatened.
• CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora): Appendix II.
• The Himalayan vulture primarily inhabits the Himalayan mountain range.
• It is a common winter migrant to the Indian plains.
• Its range extends across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China, where it thrives in challenging high-altitude
environments.
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'Rare orange coloured bat' spotted in Chhattisgarh's Kanger Ghati National Park
• Known as 'painted bat’ – this species is globally endangered.
• Sscientific name - 'Kerivoula picta’.
• This species is commonly found in Bangladesh, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
• In India, this bat has so far been seen in the Western Ghats, Kerala, Maharashtra,
Odisha and Kanger valley of Chhattisgarh.
• Kanger Valley National Park
• established in 1982.
• The name of this national park is derived from the Kanger River. This park is located in the Bastar district of
Chhattisgarh, which is spread over an area of about 200 square kilometres.
• Due to its high biodiversity it has been designated as a Biosphere Reserve.
• The national park is famous for its limestone caves which also provide a suitable habitat for bats.
• Other 2 National Parks of Chhattisgarh
• Indravati National Park
• Guru Ghasidas National Park
Rajasthan Forest Dept. creates 3 new wildlife conservation reserves taking total number to 26
• The Forest Department of Rajasthan has announced the creation of three new conservation reserves in the
state to protect the rare and endangered wildlife of Rajasthan:
• Sorsan in Baran (great Indian bustard and blackbucks)
• Khichan in Jodhpur (demoiselle cranes/ Kurjan)
• Hamirgarh in Bhilwara
• Kheechan will be the country's first conservation reserve for demoiselle cranes
• With the addition of these 3 new reserves, the total number of wildlife
conservation reserves in Rajasthan has gone up to 26.
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Eravikulam National Park (ENP) in Kerala becomes the first to house a fernarium
• It was declared a Sanctuary in 1975 with the intention of protecting the
indigenous population of Nilgiri Tahr (highly endangered mountain goat).
• However, in 1978, it was declared as a National Park considering it’s ecological, faunal, geomorphological
and Zoological Significance.
• This is also the land of “Neelakurinji”, the flower that blooms once in twelve years.
What is a Fern?
• Ferns are part of the Epiphytic family. They grow naturally in a soilless condition.
• The plants obtain water and nutrients through leaching from trees.
What are Epiphytes?
• An epiphyte is a plant that does not place roots in the ground to grow but on the surface of other plants.
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Project Tiger:
Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate
Type
Change (MoEFCC)
Implementing
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) (est. 2005; HQ: New Delhi)
Authority
NTCA was established following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force). It is a
About NTCA
statutory body under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, of 1972.
Members of Union Minister of the MoEFCC (as Chairperson)+ the Minister of State in the MoEFCC (as
NTCA Vice-Chairperson)+ 3 MPs, Secretary, MoEFCC
Functions of Supervisory and coordination role and approval of the Tiger Conservation Plan prepared
NTCA by the State Governments.
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MP’s 7th Tiger Reserve: Nauradehi & Veerangana Durgavati Sanctuaries Merged
• ‘Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve’ becomes Madhya Pradesh’s 7th protected habitat
for big cats
• Location: It is spread across Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur districts of Madhya Pradesh.
• It is spread over an area of 2,339 square kilometres.
• Rivers: Parts of the reserve fall under the Narmada and Yamuna River basins.
• The Singorgarh Fort is located within the reserve.
• Vegetation: Dry deciduous type
• M.P. was home to six tiger reserves – Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Satpura, Pench, Panna and Sanjay-Dubri.
• As per the report ‘Status of Tigers: Co-predators & Prey in India-2022’, released by the National Tiger
Conservation Authority and Wildlife Institute of India, MP (785) has the highest number of tigers in the
country, followed by Karnataka (563) and Uttarakhand (560).
MP govt to club Nauradehi & Durgavati sanctuaries to create state’s 7 th Tiger Reserve
• The 2,339 square kilometres new tiger reserve, to be called Durgavati Tiger
Reserve, will spread across Narisinghpur, Damoh and Sagar districts.
• A green corridor linking PTR (Panna Tiger Reserve) with Durgavati will be
developed for the natural movement of the tiger to the new reserve
• MP is known for 6 TRs: Kahnha, Bnadhavgarh, Panna, Pench, Sanjay Duvri and
Satpura.
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has granted preliminary approval for the creation of this new
TR.
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• Gandhisagar Sanctuary is situated in northwestern Madhya Pradesh, with one of its boundaries running
along the border of Rajasthan.
• River Chambal flows through the sanctuary, dividing it into two parts.
• The sanctuary was notified in 1974
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India has 3682 tigers, home to 75 per cent of global numbers: Tiger census data
• The number of tigers in India has increased from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,682 in 2022, an annual rise of 6 per cent,
according to the latest government data released on the International Tiger Day
• “There are a maximum of 3925 tigers in the country. The average number is 3,682,” a senior official from the
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
• Analysis of data done by the Wildlife Institute of India, from
both camera-trapped and non-camera-trapped tiger presence
areas.
• India currently harbors almost 75 percent of the world’s wild
tiger population.
• The largest population of tigers is found to be in Madhya
Pradesh with 785 in numbers followed by 563 in Karnataka, 560
in Uttarakhand, and 444 tigers in Maharashtra.
• When Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the "Status of Tigers
2022" to mark the completion of 50 years of "Project Tiger" in
April, the government had said there are at least 3167 tigers in
India. This is the population estimated from the camera-trapped
area.
• India, from both camera-trapped and non-camera-trapped tiger
presence areas, the upper limit of the tiger population is estimated
to be 3925 and the average number is 3682 tigers, reflecting a
commendable annual growth rate of 6.1% per annum.
• Some states, including Mizoram, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Goa,
Chhattisgarh, and Arunachal Pradesh, have reported disquieting
trends with small tiger populations.
• As per the report, the tiger abundance within the Tiger Reserves is the highest of 260 tigers in Corbett
followed by 150 in Bandipur and 141 tigers in Nagarhole.
Tiger Population:
• 5th cycle of India’s Tiger Census 2022, revealed 6.7% in the increase in
the past four years.
• Population has grown by 200 from 2018 to 2022. The current tiger
population in India is 3,167, up from 2,967 in 2018.
• Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I covers endangered
species that need rigorous protection.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List:
Endangered.
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India proposes to launch global alliance for big cats with investment of $100 million
• India has proposed the creation of a new global alliance called the International
Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) to protect seven major big cats, including tigers, lions, and
cheetahs.
• The IBCA will be open to 97 countries and organizations interested in protecting
these animals.
• India has committed to provide funding of 100 million USD over 5 years to support the IBCA. The IBCA will
share information about protecting these animals.
India, South Africa sign MoU to introduce 12 African Cheetahs annually over next eight to
ten years
• As per the agreement, an initial batch of 12 cheetahs will be brought from South Africa
to India during February 2023.
• These cheetahs will be joined by eight cheetahs brought to India from Namibia during
2022.
• The last cheetah of the country was found dead in the year 1947 in Chhattisgarh and in the year 1952 it was
declared extinct in the country.
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Historical Background:
• Santiniketan, the town in West Bengal’s Birbhum district where
Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore spent much of his life
• In 1901, Rabindranath Tagore converted it into a school and art centre, following the traditional Gurukul
system of education.
• A ‘world university’ – Visva Bharati – was established at Santiniketan in 1921.
• Last year, the state’s Durga Puja got space in “Intangible Cultural Heritage of humanity” under UNESCO.
• Other sites to find place on the prestigious list include Ancient Jericho in Palestine; the Zarafshan-Karakum
Corridor of Silk Roads in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; the Gedeo Cultural Landscape in Ethiopia; and
the Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in China’s Pu’er.
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• Tagore won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913, becoming the first non-European and the first lyricist to
win the honour.
• His notable works include "Gitanjali," "Bharto Bhagyo Bidhata," "Gora," "Jana Gana Mana," "Ravindra
Sangeet," and "Amar Shonar Bangla."
• He was often called the "Bard of Bengal" and was known by nicknames such as Gurudeb, Kobiguru and
Biswokobi.
• About UNESCO
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the
United Nations (UN).
• Headquarters:- Paris, France
• Director General:- Audrey Azoulay
• Founded:- 16 November 1945 in London, United Kingdom
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Centre nominates Assam’s Charaideo Maidams for the UNESCO World Heritage
Site status
• Charaideo Maidams are the burial mounds of Ahom royalty, commonly
known as pyramids of Assam
• The ‘Maidams’ was first listed in the tentative list of UNESCO’s World
Heritage site in April 2014
• The UNESCO team will visit Charaideo in September and it is expected to
be declared a World Heritage site by March 2024.
• ‘Maidams’, the original capital of the Ahom Kings built by Chaolung
Sukhapa the founder of the dynasty in about 1229 CE. Charaideo was the
first capital established by king Sukapha.
• Charaideo is a blend of three Tai words Che-Rai-Doi. Che means Hillock, Rai means Shinning and Doi means
town. It means ‘Shinning City’ on the Hillock.
• Sukhapa changed the capital many times but Charaideo remained the symbolic center as it contains sacred
burial grounds of Ahom kings and queens. It was the place of Ahom worships and subsequently, it became
the place of ancestral Gods.
• 24 tombs (Maidams) of Ahom kings and queens at Charaideo hillocks are usually compared to the Pyramids
of Egypt as both the structures were used for burial purpose, made in a triangular shape and having very
high social as well as historical values
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• In 2007, the Nallur Tamarind Grove in Bengaluru, Karnataka, was designated as India’s first BHS.
• Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) are defined areas with unique and ecologically fragile ecosystems with rich
biodiversity.
• Under Section-37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the State Government, in consultation with local
bodies, may notify areas of biodiversity importance as BHS.
• The State Government, in consultation with the Central Government, may frame rules for the management
and conservation of BHS.
• The creation of BHS may not put any restriction on the prevailing practices and usages of the local
communities other than those voluntarily decided by them.
• The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 provides for the
regulation and registration of births and deaths. The registration of births and deaths falls under the
Concurrent List, giving powers to both Parliament and state legislatures to make laws on the subject.
• Digital Birth Certificates: The bill introduces the concept of digital birth certificates, intended to serve as a
comprehensive document for multiple purposes, reducing the need for multiple documents to prove birth
details.
• Aadhaar Details: The Bill proposes linking Aadhaar details of parents and informants to birth certificates.
• Centralized Database: A centralized database will be established to manage birth and death records,
facilitating efficient service delivery and maintaining accurate and up-to-date information.
• Apart from birth certificates, the centralized database will also update the National Population Register
(NPR), ration cards, and property registrations.
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The Rajya Sabha passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi
(Amendment) Bill in New Delhi in August 2023. Rajya Sabha passes Delhi services bill.
131 votes in favour, 102 against
Aims: To make a corruption-free administration in Delhi
The Bill establishes the National Capital Civil Services Authority to make
recommendations to the LG on certain matters related to services.
• The authority consists of the Delhi Chief minister, the Chief Secretary of Delhi, and the Principal Home
Secretary of Delhi.
• These include: (i) transfers and postings, (ii) matters related to
vigilance, (iii) disciplinary proceedings (iv) prosecution sanctions of
Group A of All India Services (except Indian Police Service)
Background
• Article 239 AA was inserted in the Constitution by the 69th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1991.
• Based on the recommendations of S Balakrishnan Committee (1987), it gave special status to Delhi.
• It says that the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi will have an Administrator and a Legislative
Assembly.
• The Legislative Assembly “shall have power to make laws for the whole or any part of the NCT w.r.t. any of
the matters in the State List or Concurrent List in so far as any such matter is applicable to Union territories”.
• However, the legislative assembly of Delhi cannot legislate on the following three subjects – Police, Public
Order, and Land.
• However, in the past few years, governance in the NCT has often been a subject of conflict between the
Delhi government and the L-G.
Amit Shah tables Bills for major changes to British-era criminal justice system
• Union home minister Amit Shah tabled bills to replace the British-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of
Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act and to provide for capital punishment for mob
lynching, sexual assaults on minors, 20-year imprisonment for gang rape besides repeal of sedition offence.
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill have
been refereed to Standing Committee on Home Affairs will submit report after three months.
• The bills seek to make the visit of forensic teams mandatory in the case of offences that attract a jail term of
over seven years.
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Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) adds Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) on the
list of protected plants under Schedule III of the Wildlife (Protection) Act
• As per the new order, those who uproot or destroy the Neelakurinji plant will invite a fine of ₹25,000 and
three years’ imprisonment.
• Neelakurinji is an endemic plant found in a small stretch in the Western Ghats, from the Mangaladevi hills to
the Nilgiris hills. (blooms once in 12 years)
• The new order will help in protecting the plant and its habitats.
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
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Lok Sabha passed the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2021; to amend the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
• The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2021 seeks to exempt registered AYUSH medical practitioners
from intimating biodiversity boards before accessing biological resources
• It also aims at easing compliance burden, boosting investment and simplifying patent application processes
• Environmental organisations have raised concerns about potential for “bio piracy” they say amendments
favour industry and there is lack of clarity on benefit sharing with local communities
• The Bill decriminalises a range of offences under the Act and substitutes them with monetary penalties. It
empowers government officials to hold inquiries and determine penalties.
• As per Bhupendra Yadav, Minister for Environment and Forests and Climate Change :
• To ensure that tribes and vulnerable communities benefit from the proceeds of medicinal forest products,
these amendments were necessary.
• By decriminalising certain activities, Govt. is encouraging Ayurveda as well as ease of doing business.
• The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 was made to give effect to the United Nations Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD), 1992, that strives for sustainable, fair and equitable sharing of biological resources and
associated traditional knowledge.
• To do this, it formulates a three-tier structure consisting of:
• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) at the national level,
• State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) at the State level and
• Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at local body levels.
• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) was established in 2003
• NBA has its Headquarters in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
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• A report by Ernst & Young states that the Indian film industry suffered a huge loss of around Rs 18,000 crore
in 2019 due to piracy.
• Piracy is the unauthorized copying, distribution or exhibition of films without the consent of the rights
holders
• The bill proposes sub-reservation for SCs, STs and Anglo-Indians within the 33% quota. Reserved seats may
be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in the state or union territory.
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• The reservation of seats for women shall cease to exist 15 years after the commencement of the amendment
act.
• It was former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi who in May 1989 first planted the seed of women reservation in
elected bodies by introducing the Constitution Amendment Bill to provide one-third reservation for women
in rural and urban local bodies.
• The Bill was passed in Lok Sabha but failed to get passed in Rajya Sabha in September 1989.
• In 1992 and 1993, then prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao reintroduced the Constitution Amendment Bills
72 and 73, which reserved one third (33%) of all seats and chairperson posts for women in rural and urban
local bodies. The Bills were passed by both the houses and became the law of the nation. Now there are
nearly 15 lakh elected women representatives in panchayats and nagarpalikas across the country.
• September 12, 1996, then Deve Gowda-led United Front government for the first time introduced the 81st
Constitution Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha for reservation of women in the Parliament. After the Bill failed to
get approval in Lok Sabha, it was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee chaired by Geeta Mukherjee.
• Two years later, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government pushed the WRB Bill in the 12th Lok Sabha in
1998. However, this time too, the Bill failed to get support, and lapsed again. It was subsequently
reintroduced in 1999, 2002 and 2003 under the Vajpayee government, but with no success.
Miscellaneous
Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Nirmala Sitharaman launch Kuwi
and Desia books at Bhubaneswar
• Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and Union Minister for Finance & Corporate
Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman launched Kuwi and Desia books at
Bhubaneswar.
• NCERT, for the first time, in collaboration with Central University of
Odisha, has prepared two invaluable books: the "Kuwi Primer" and
"Desia Primer", for those children, who are speaking Kuwi and Desia
tribal languages in the undivided Koraput district of Odisha
• These two primers will not only shape a strong educational foundation
of those children but also preserve and foster the cultural, linguistic
heritage and identity of tribal community of Odisha.
• Shri Pradhan mentioned that there are over 62 tribes covering 23% of total population of Odisha
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated Indian Air Force Heritage Centre in Chandigarh
• Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Indian Air Force Heritage
Center in Chandigarh.
• The Heritage Center aims to inspire the youth of Chandigarh to pursue a
career in the Indian Air Force.
• It will highlight the IAF’s role in various wars.
• It also houses the first IAF-made patent aircraft Air Force ‘Kanpur-1
Vintage Prototype Aircraft’, a single-engine indigenous flying machine
designed and built by the late Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh in 1958.
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Union Minister Jitendra Singh releases theme of National Science Day 2023
• Theme 2023: Global Science for Global Wellbeing
• National Science Day is celebrated every year on the 28th February to celebrate
the discovery of the Raman Effect by Indian Physicist Sir C V Raman.
• The 12th World Hindi Conference will be organised in Fiji by the Foreign Ministry
in collaboration with the Fiji government from February 15 to 17, 2023.
• World Hindi day Theme 2023: "Hindi – Traditional Knowledge to Artificial
Intelligence"
FSSAI issues regulatory standards for Basmati Rice for first time
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
• As per these standards, Basmati rice shall possess the natural fragrance
characteristics of basmati rice and be free from artificial coloring.
• These standards will be enforced from August 1.
• Basmati rice is a premium variety of rice cultivated in the Himalayan foothills
of the Indian subcontinent and is universally known for its long grain size,
fluffy texture, and unique inherent aroma and flavour.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
• set up under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• Founded – 5 September 2008
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Under – Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
• Chairperson – Rita Teaotia
Objective of PARAKH:
• Uniform Norms and Guidelines: To lay down norms, standards and guidelines for student assessment and
assessment across all recognized school boards in India.
• Improvement in assessment pattern: It will act to encourage school boards to change their assessment
pattern towards meeting the skill requirements of the 21st century.
• Reducing disparity in evaluation: This will bring uniformity across state and central boards that currently
follow different standards of evaluation, leading to wide disparities in marks.
• Benchmark Assessment: This framework will address the issues contained in the National Education Policy
(NEP) 2020.
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PM Modi named 21 islands of Andaman & Nicobar after Param Vir Chakra
awardees
• The largest unnamed island will be named after the first Param Vir Chakra
awardee, while the second largest unnamed island will have its name
after the second Param Vir Chakra awardee, and so on.
• Earlier, in 2018 Ross Islands was renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra
Bose Dweep;
• Neil Island and Havelock Island were renamed as Shaheed Dweep and
Swaraj Dweep.
1st Param Vir Chakra awardee — Major Somnath Sharma (Hero of 1947 war)
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Union Petroleum Minister flags off low carbon cruise on Mahabahu Brahmaputra
• Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Housing and Urban Affairs,
Hardeep S Puri inaugurated the demo-run of Inland Water Vessel (named 'SB
Gangadhar’) powered by Methanol blended Diesel (MD15).
• Methanol is a low carbon hydrogen carrier fuel produced from high ash coal,
agricultural residues, CO2 from thermal power plants and natural gas.
• This is the best route to meet India's commitment to COP 21.
• Although slightly lower in energy content than petrol and diesel, methanol can replace both these fuels in
the transport sector, energy sector and retail cooking
• NITI Aayog's 'Methanol Economy' program aims to reduce India's oil import bill, greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions and convert coal reserves and municipal solid waste into methanol.
• India Energy Week 2023 (IEW 2023) to be held in Bengaluru from 6-8 Feb 2023.
• About India Energy Week
• It is the first major event under India's G20 Presidency, which follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's
pledge at COP26 to cut India's emissions to net-zero by 2070.
• Organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas,
• It is officially supported by the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI).
Republic Day 2023: This year's parade witnessed multiple events for the first time
• This was the first Republic Day celebrations hosted at the ceremonial
boulevard after Rajpath was renamed to 'Kartavya Path' last year.
• For the first time, during Republic Day Parade, 12 women riders were part of
the Border Security Force's (BSF) camel contingent and 16 march
contingents of the armed forces.
• The old howitzers with 25-pounder guns, which traditionally
thundered during the 21-gun salute during Republic Day
celebrations, were replaced by 105 mm Indian field guns this year.
• A team of "Daredevils" motorcycle riders from the Corps of Signals,
co-led by a woman officer, Lt Dimple Singh Bhati, became part of the
parade for the first time.
• Nine Rafale aircraft and the Navy's IL-38 participated in the air show
for the first time.
• Besides the IL-38 aircraft, the formations like 'Bheem' and 'Vajrang'
showcased over the Kartavya Path for the first time.
• It is the first time that the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel
Fattah el-Sisi, has been invited as the chief guest on the Republic Day.
• A military contingent from the Egyptian Army also participated in the
Republic Day parade for the first time.
• Newly appointed Agniveer was also a part of the parade for the first time.
• The Narcotics Control Bureau also presented a tableau for the first time.
• Garud Special Forces of the Indian Air Force are participating for the first time in the Republic Day parade.
Squadron Leader Pritam Singh Jaitawat led the Garud team as part of the IAF contingent
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Operation Dost
• Turkey was hit by a 7.8 Ritcher earthquake recently. To help the people
of Turkey, India launched Operation Dost. The C17 Globemaster aircraft
of the Indian Air Force had been deployed in the operation.
• The aircraft is carrying medicines, relief materials, NDRF teams, etc. The
aircraft started its journey from the Hindon Air Base in India. It operates
under the Western Command and is located in Ghaziabad, UP. It is the
largest air base in Asia.
• India also sent relief materials onboard a C-130J aircraft of the Indian Air Force to Syria.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Asia's biggest air show Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 14th edition of Aero India show
in Bengaluru
• The 14th edition of Aero India 2023 was organised by the Indian Department of
Defense Production from February 13 to 17 at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in
Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The theme of the five-day event is ‘The Runway to a Billion Opportunities’.
• The main objective of the event is to promote indigenous production
and exports of aerial platforms and attract foreign investment.
• 98 countries are participating in the event and MoUs worth Rs 75,000
crore are expected to be signed during the event.
• Made in India Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, Advanced Light Helicopter
Dhruv Mark III and IV, Light Combat Helicopter Prachanda participating
in HAL's HTT 40 Trainer Air Show.
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India and Fiji sign MoU on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic
and official passports
• India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Fiji Prime
Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
• Under the Visa Waiver Agreement, holders of diplomatic and
official passports will be able to enter, transit and stay in each
other's territory without a visa for a period of 90 days.
• India and Fiji share close and long-standing relations and the
two countries also reviewed bilateral relations.
• Jaishankar unveils bust of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Fiji's
capital Suva
Republic of Fiji
• It is an archipelago consisting of around 300 islands in the South Pacific
Ocean.
• Capital: Suva
• Currency: Fijian Dollar
• Prime Minister: Sitiveni Rabuka
Cabinet approves the extension of the term of the Twenty-second Law Commission of
India
• The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the tenure of the 22nd Law
Commission of India which has been extended till August 31, 2024.
• The Union Ministry of Law and Justice constituted the 22nd Law Commission on 7
November 2022 and appointed former Karnataka High court chief justice Rituraj
Awasthi as the chairperson of the Law Commission.
• The five member 22nd Law Commission will have a term of three years.
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What is UIDAI?
• The UDAI is a statutory body that was established by the Indian Government in January 2009. It comes under
the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. It functions based on the provisions of
the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, benefits and services) Act, 2016.
• What are the objectives of UIDAI?
• The UIDAI aims to provide efficient and transparent governance. It helps the central government to develop
policies for issuing Aadhaar numbers. It creates rules and regulations in accordance with the Aadhaar Act.
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Union Ministry of Tourism participates in FITUR, the world's largest International Travel Exhibition in Madrid
• Feria Internacional del Turismo or FITUR was hosted in Spain from January 18-22.
• India's participation in FITUR is important for promoting tourism.
• The India Pavilion was inaugurated by Dinesh K Patnaik, Indian Ambassador to Spain.
• The Indian delegation, led by Rakesh Kumar Verma, Additional Secretary in the Tourism Ministry.
• The first Global Tourism Investors Summit will be organised by the Ministry of Tourism in New Delhi from 10
to 12 April.
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Que: Which Indian company got India's first BIS license to make fire-resistant steel?
Ans: Jindal Steel
• Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) will manufacture India's first fire-resistant steel
structures at its unit in Raigarh, Chhatisgarh.
• The BIS 15103 grade structural steels are designed to withstand temperatures up to 600 degrees celsius for 3
hours
• The grade is being imported at present.
The central panel rejects the inclusion of Muslim dynasties in ICHR exhibitions
• An exhibition on Medieval Indian Dynasties was organised by the Indian Council of
Historical Research (ICHR), a division of the Union Ministry of Education and
featured 50 different dynasties in the exhibitions. No Muslim dynasty was shown
in the exhibition.
• The ICHR, organised the exhibition at Lalit Kala Akademi titled ‘Glory of Medieval
India: Manifestation of the unexplored – Indian dynasties, 8th-18th Centuries.
• The exhibits depict Ahom, Chola, Rathor, Yadav, Kakatiya and other dynasties, highlighting their founders,
capital cities, dates and architecture, art, culture of India. Muslim dynasties like Bahmani and Adil Shahi were
not part of the exhibition.
Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR)
• It is an autonomous body of the Central Ministry of Education.
• It was established under Societies Registration Act, 1860 in 1972.
• It aims to bring historians together and provide a platform for exchange of views among them.
• Its other objectives are to promote, accelerate and coordinate research in history.
• It publishes a biannual Journal - the Indian Historical Review, and another journal Itihas in Hindi.
• Headquarters - New Delhi
Government Will Attempt To Open Corridor To Sharda Peeth In PoK For Devotees: Amit
Shah
• Home Minister, Amit Shah said that the government will move forward to open
Sharda Peeth on the lines of the Kartarpur corridor.
• Sharda Peeth is an abandoned Hindu temple and ancient centre of learning, is
located in Neelum Valley in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) across Teetwal village in Kupwara district of
Jammu and Kashmir, along the Line of Control (LoC).
• As a Centre of Learning: Between the 6th and 12th centuries CE, it was one of the foremost centres of higher
learning, hosting scholars such as Kalhana, Adi Shankara.
• It is also said to be where Paṇini and Hemachandra completed and stored their writings on Sanskrit
grammar.
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• The project is being implemented by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation
Limited (NHIDCL).
• This tunnel will reduce the travel time between Srinagar and Leh by about four hours.
Zojila Tunnel
• Asia's longest tunnel at Zoji la would also be ready by 2024.
• It is a high mountain pass in Jammu and Kashmir, located on
National Highway 1 and connects Srinagar in Kashmir Valley to
Leh in Ladakh region
• Under the Zojila Tunnel project, the main Zojila tunnel of 13,153
meters long. This is known as the 'Icy Storm Pass'.
• It has an elevation of about 3,528 metres (11,575 ft), and is the
second highest pass on the Srinagar–Leh National Highway
after Fotu La.
• The Zojila Tunnel project was started in the year 2018. It is the longest and strategic bi-directional tunnel in
Asia.
Jaipur to get India’s 2nd largest cricket stadium named after Anil Agarwal
• Vedanta’s Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) has signed an MoU with the
Rajasthan Cricket Association for the development of the world’s third-
largest cricket stadium in the village of Chonp in Jaipur.
• Vedanta’s HZL will spend INR 300 crore on the stadium, and it would be
named as Anil Agarwal International Cricket Stadium, Jaipur.
• The stadium facilities will be spread across 100 acres and have a seating capacity of over 75,000. In terms of
the size of the playing field area this stadium would be the largest in the world.
Naya Raipur International Cricket Stadium, Raipur (Chhattisgarh, India) – 65,400 sitting capacity
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Union Cabinet approves Indian Space Policy, 2023 to increase private sector participation
in space sector
• The Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has
approved the Indian Space Policy 2023.
• The policy seeks to institutionalise the private sector participation in the space
sector, and channelise the focus of ISRO on research and development of advanced space technologies.
• The private sector will be able to take part in end-to-end space activities including building satellites,
rockets and launch vehicles, data collection and dissemination.
As per the policy:
• ISRO will not do any operational and production work for the space sector. It shall focus on developing new
technologies, new systems and research and development.
• The strategic activities related to the space sector will be carried out by space sector PSU NewSpace India
Limited (NSIL)
• Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) will be the interface between ISRO
and non-governmental entities
Mount Kilimanjaro
• Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain and the world’s largest free-standing mountain.
• It is located in Tanzania, has an elevation of 5,895 meters (19,340 ft)
• The Kilimanjaro National park was named a (UNESCO) World Heritage site in 1987.
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Que:Union government has recently approved the installation of how many nuclear
reactors in the country?
Ans:10
• In a significant development towards sustainable energy, the Indian government
has approved the installation of 10 nuclear reactors in the country.
• The nuclear reactors will be installed in four different states, namely, Karnataka
(Kaiga), Haryana (Gorakhpur), Madhya Pradesh (Chutka), and Rajasthan (Mahi
Banswara).
• Mahi Banswara will have four reactors, while the other three locations will have two each.
• These reactors are planned to be set up by the year 2031 at a cost of Rs 1,05,000 crores.
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UIDAI, IIT Bombay join hands to develop touchless biometric capture system
• Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
• The touchless biometric capture system will allow fingerprint authentication
from home alike face authentication.
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh Government ink deal to end 51-yr old border dispute
• The MoU was signed on April 20, 2023 by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and CM
of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu in presence of Home Minister Amit Shah and
Union minister for law and justice Kiren Rijiju, who represents Arunachal Pradesh in
Lok Sabha.
• Both the states share 804-km long boundary.
• The border dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh was going on since
1972.
• There was dispute related to 123 border villages. Out of the 123 villages claimed by Arunachal Pradesh, 71
have been resolved.
• Of the remaining 52 villages, the village boundary of 49 villages is to be finalised by the regional committees
in the next six months, while three villages situated inside the IAF bombing range will require rehabilitation.
A detailed survey will be carried out by the Survey of India later in the presence of representatives of both the state
governments to determine the boundaries of both the states.
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NTPC, NPCIL ink pact for joint development of nuclear power plants
• NTPC has signed a supplementary joint venture agreement with Nuclear Power
Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) to develop nuclear power
projects.
• Initially the JV company shall develop two pressurized heavy-
water reactors (PHWR) projects, Chutka Madhya Pradesh
Atomic Power Project 2x700 MW and Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power
Project 4x700 MW.
• Presently, NTPC has a total installed power generation capacity of 71.644 GW, of
which 3.01 GW is renewable energy.
• Founded: 7 November 1975
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
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Sarbananda Sonowal received first Indian cargo ship at Sittwe Port in Myanmar on
May 9
• A cargo vessel named MV-ITT LION (V-273) was flagged off recently
from Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port, Kolkata to Sittwe Port in
Myanmar, marking the inaugural shipment to operationalize the port.
• The vessel was received by Cabinet Minister Sarbanand Sonowal at the
port.
• Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shantanu Thakur
flagged off the inaugural shipment.
• Sittwe Port has been developed under a framework agreement
between India and Myanmar for the construction and
operation of a Multimodal Transit Transport Facility
on the Kaladan River.
• The Kaladan River connects Sittwe Port in Myanmar
with Mizoram in India.
• Sittwe Port has been developed with Indian
assistance as part of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit
Transport Project (KMTTP). The port is linked to
Paletwa in Myanmar, which is connected to Zorinpui
in Mizoram by a road section.
• Kolkata Port, officially known as Syama Prasad
Mookerjee Port Trust is the only riverine major port of India, located in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal,
around 203 kilometres from the sea.
• It is the oldest operating port in India and was constructed by the British East India Company in 1870.
• The port has two distinct dock systems — Kolkata Docks at Kolkata and a deep water dock at Haldia Dock
Complex, Haldia.
• Syama Prasad Mukherjee:
• Syama Prasad Mukherjee (1901 – 1953) was an Indian politician, barrister and academician.
• He served as the Minister for Industry and Supply in Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet.
• He quit the Union Government because of differences of opinion with the Nehru-led government and
founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the predecessor to the Bharatiya Janata Party, in 1951.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated Indian Air Force Heritage Centre in
Chandigarh
• Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Indian Air Force Heritage
Center in Chandigarh.
• The Heritage Center aims to inspire the youth of Chandigarh to pursue a
career in the Indian Air Force.
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• The Jawaharlal Nehru Port received award for achieving major milestone in Turn Around Time.
• Vessel Turnaround Time is defined as the total time that a vessel spends at a port from its arrival to
departure
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Cyclone Biparjoy
• Biparjoy, the first cyclonic storm over Arabian Sea this year, originated
over the southeast Arabian Sea on June 6 and had landfall over
Saurashtra and Kutch on June 15 before weakening into a depression on
June 18.
• As per India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Biparjoy was the
longest-duration cyclonic storm in northern Indian Ocean since 1977.
• The cyclonic storm had a total life of 13 days and three hours (depression to depression), more than double
the average life of severe cyclonic storms of six days and three hours over the Arabian Sea
• The name Biparjoy was given by Bangladesh, which means “Disaster” in Bengali.
Que: Who has inaugurated an exhibition titled “Hamari Bhasha, Hamari Virasat” in New
Delhi under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM)?
Ans: Meenakashi Lekhi
• Recently, the Minister of State for Culture inaugurated an exhibition titled
"Hamari Bhasha, Hamari Virasat” and mentioned about Gilgit Manuscripts to
celebrate 75th International Archives Day at National Archives of India, New
Delhi.
Gilgit Manuscripts:
• It was written between the 5" -6" centuries CE, which is the oldest surviving
manuscript collection in India.
• It was written on the birch bark folios documents written on pieces of inner
layer of the bark of birch trees were found in Kashmir region.
What are Manuscripts?
• A manuscript is a handwritten composition on paper, bark, cloth, metal, palm leaf or any other material
dating back at least seventy-five years that has significant scientific, historical or aesthetic value.
Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu emerge Top Achievers in Wind Energy Adoption.
• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy organised event on Global Wind Day (15 June) in New Delhi with the
theme :“Pawan – Urja: Powering the Future of India”
• India now ranks fourth in wind power capacity in the world.
• Top performers being Rajasthan, Gujarat & Tamil Nadu.
• Wind energy is crucial to India's efforts to achieve its goal of having 50% of its electric power installed
capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030 and to achieve Net Zero by 2070.
• India’s target: 500 GW renewable energy capacity by the year 2030
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Jettwings Airways, 1st Airline From Northeast India, Gets Centre's Approval
• Jettwings Airways received the NOC to operate scheduled commuter services. It
will have its base in Guwahati.
• The to-be-launched airline plans to offer regional connectivity to passengers,
leveraging the Centre's UDAN scheme to a number of destinations in the
northeast and eastern region initially.
• Once fully approved for flight operations, Jettwings Airways will be the first ever company from the
northeast India region to operate airline operations in the country.
• Jettwings Airways Co Founder and CEO Sanjay Aditya Singh
• Jettwings Airways Chairperson Sanjiv Narain
Centre Introduces ‘Y-Break – Yoga at Office Chair’ for Employee Stress Relief
• "Y-Break at workplace was introduced by Ministry of AYUSH with an aim
to make employees de-stressed, refreshed and re-focused at the
workplace.
• The protocol comprises few simple Yoga practices which include 'asanas'
(postures), 'pranayama' (breathing techniques) and 'dhyana' (meditation)
NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam commissions first solar rooftop project at IIT Jodhpur
• NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN), a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC, has commissioned its first
Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Project at IIT Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
• The 1 MW grid-connected solar project is expected to generate around 14.9 lakh units of electricity annually,
meeting 15% of IIT Jodhpur's electricity requirement.
• The rooftop project will contribute to a reduction of 1,060 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
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• A 500 ml bottle of IFFCO Nano Urea Liquid has the capacity to replace at least one bag of conventional Urea.
• Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO):
• Founded: 3 November 1967, New Delhi
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• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is the Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of
innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
• It was set up in 2016 under NITI Aayog.
Visit of Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Karim, Secretary General of the Muslim World
League to India
• Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa arrived in India on 10 July 2023 on a
five-day visit.
• He is known as a well-known expert on moderate Islam.
• Dr. Al-Issa jointly addressed other religious leaders and academics at an event
organized at the India Islamic Cultural Center on 11 July.
• India is home to the second largest Muslim population in the world. In 2011, the population of Muslims in
India was 172.2 million.
• The Indian Muslim population is almost equal to the combined population of more than 33 member
countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Muslim World League:
• The Muslim World League was established on 18 May 1962 by a resolution adopted during a meeting of the
General Islamic Conference held in Mecca. It has had eight general secretaries since its inception.
• The purpose of the Muslim World League is to promote Islam and the moderate values presented in the
Quran and Sunnah.
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• Namda is a type of traditional Kashmiri felted carpet that is created using sheep wool and has colourful hand
embroidery.
• Unique themes and floral patterns provide the themes for these masterpieces
• It is practised as a craft especially in the countries throughout Asia, viz. Iran, Afghanistan and India.
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• The applications will be reviewed by a committee comprising the Chief Justice of India (CJI), two senior most
judges, the Attorney General, and a bar representative, who will meet twice a year to assess the candidates.
• In contrast, the previous guidelines, including those from 2017, did not prescribe a specific minimum age for
designation.
‘Tankai method’
• An agreement has been reached between the Ministry of Culture and the Indian
Navy to restore the traditional “Tankai method” of shipbuilding.
• The complete project will be supervised and carried out by the Indian Navy.
• This initiative aims to revive and preserve the 2,000-year-old technique of
shipbuilding known as the ‘stitched shipbuilding method’.
• In traditional shipbuilding techniques, wooden planks are stitched together without
the use of nails.
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China’s Use of Stapled Visas for Indian Athletes from Arunachal Pradesh: A
Matter of Concern
• A ‘stapled visa’ is different from a regular visa that a country gives to
foreign citizens.
• Instead of stamping directly in the passport, a separate piece of paper
attached (stapled) to the visa.
• China's use of stapled visas for Indian athletes from Arunachal Pradesh is
a matter of concern, as it not only challenges India's territorial integrity but also disrupts sports diplomacy.
• India reacted strongly to China issuing stapled visas to 3 women players from Arunachal Pradesh by
withdrawing its wushu (Martial Arts) contingent from the Summer World University Games in Chengdu
Dr. Jitendra Singh unveils the unique 'NAMOH 108' lotus and launches
Lotus Mission along with innovative initiatives
• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched a new 'Lotus flower
variety named 'Namoh 108' developed by CSIR-NBRI in Lucknow.
This lotus has an extraordinary 108 petals and holds religious and
symbolic significance.
• The unique 'Namoh 108' lotus variety blooms from March to
December, rich in nutrients.
• Under the Lotus research program, NBRI (The National Botanical
Research Institute (NBRI) is a research institute of the Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh) in collaboration with FFDC,
Kannauj introduced a garment made of lotus fiber and a perfume named 'Frotas' extracted from lotus
flowers.
• He also launched the new variety of Aloe vera named ‘NBRI-Nihar’, having approximately 2.5 times high gel
yield in comparison to Aloe vera
What is BHU-VISION?
• Bhu-Vision - a revolutionary automated soil testing and agronomy advisory platform, officially launched at
AICRP (ICAR-IIRR), Hyderabad.
• It is also known as KRISHI-RASTAA Soil Testing System.
• ICAR-IIRR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research -Indian Institute of
Rice Research)
• This system seamlessly conducts 12 key soil parameter tests in just
30 minutes.
• It provides quick and accurate results directly to farmers and
stakeholders through a soil health card on their mobile devices.
• Indian Institute of Rice Research
• It was established in 1965.
• Headquarter: Hyderabad.
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THAROSAURUS INDICUS
• Scientists from IIT-Roorkee and Geological Survey of India (GSI) have discovered
the oldest fossil remains of dicraeosaurid dinosaur in Jaisalmer.
• Dicraeosaurid dinosaur is a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur species.
• The remains are 167 million years old and belong to a new species, unknown to
scientists thus far.
• It has been named ‘Tharosaurus indicus’, the first name referring to the ‘Thar desert’ where the fossils were
found, and the second after its country of origin.
• Fossils of dicraeosaurid dinosaurs have been found previously in North and South Americas, Africa and
China, but such fossils were not known from India.
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• Headed by: Justice G Rohini, Retd. Chief Justice, Delhi High Court as the Chairperson
• The Rohini Commission was constituted in October 2017 under Article 340 of the Constitution.
• The need for sub-categorisation arises out of the perception that only a few affluent communities among the
over 2,600 included in the Central List of OBCs have secured a major part of this 27% reservation.
• Sub-categorisation would ensure more equitable distribution of opportunities in central government jobs
and educational institutions.
• The Kalelkar Commission, set up in 1953, was the first to identify backward classes other than the
Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) at the national level.The Mandal Commission Report,
1980 estimated the OBC population at 52% and classified 1,257 communities as backward.
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Kanaklata Barua:
• Kanaklata Barua was a young martyr of the Quit
India Movement and a symbol of courage and
determination.
• At just 17 years old, she led the Mrityu Bahini, a
group of freedom fighters, in an attempt to hoist
the Tricolour at the Gohpur police station in
Assam on September 20, 1942.
• During the confrontation with the police, she was
shot and killed while holding onto the flag.
• Her sacrifice inspired many during a time when
women’s involvement in the freedom struggle was
gaining momentum.
• In 2020, a Coast Guard vessel was named after her as a tribute to her bravery.
• During the 77th Independence Day celebrations at Delhi’s iconic Red Fort, Indigenous 105-mm Light Field
Guns were used for the ceremonial gun salute, replacing the British 25-pounder guns.
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Jitendra Singh launches the CSIR Prima ET11, the first indigenous e-Tractor
• The Union Minister of State Science & Technology Jitendra Singh launched
the CSIR Prima ET11, the first indigenous e-Tractor developed by the
Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur.
The event has been organized by the Department of Justice in association with CSC e-Governance Services India
Limited.
• Important components of organizing include Screening of a documentary showing the journey of tele-law
from 2017 to 2022.
• Tele-Law programme was launched by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice in 2017.
• This is operating under the DISHA Scheme.
• The programme connects needy and marginalised people in need of legal aid with the Panel Lawyers via
video conferencing/telephonic facilities available at Common Service Centres (CSCs) situated at the
panchayat level.
• Advice is free of Cost to those who are eligible for free legal aid under Section 12 of the LSA Act, 1987.
Nitin Gadkari unveils world's first hundred percent Ethanol fuelled Car
• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari unveiled the world's first car that runs
entirely on ethanol in New Delhi.
• The car is the first Stage-II BS-VI electrified flex-fuel vehicle, which
runs entirely on ethanol as a fuel source.
• Currently, India's oil import bill stands at Rs 16 lakh crore, which
highlights the need to curb this expenditure.
• Addressing environmental concerns, Minister Gadkari underlined
the need for sustainable solutions, stressing that 40 percent of
pollution is generated from the transport sector.
• Ethanol blending not only reduces pollution but also has the potential to increase India's agricultural growth
by 12 to 20 percent, thereby creating several employment opportunities.
• Flex-Fuel Technology: The newly introduced flex-fuel technology allows higher levels of ethanol blending in
petrol, over 20 percent. The technology aims to reduce carbon emissions, promote sustainable mobility, and
reduce dependence on conventional fuel sources.
• Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas - Hardeep Singh Puri
A Chapter On National War Memorial Included In NCERT Curriculum Of Class VII From This Year
• The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has taken a significant step towards
fostering patriotism in school children by introducing a new chapter in the Class 7 English textbook titled “A
Homage to Our Brave Soldiers”.
• The newly incorporated chapter provides an insightful exploration into the history and importance of the
National War Memorial.
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• The National War Memorial, known as Rashtriya Samar Smarak in Hindi, stands as a powerful tribute to the
heroic soldiers who have selflessly laid down their lives to protect the nation. Inaugurated in January 2019,
this national monument holds a special place in the hearts of Indians.
Sessions of Parliament:
• The summoning of Parliament is specified in Article 85 of the Constitution.
• India does not have a fixed parliamentary calendar. By convention (i.e. not provided by the Constitution),
Parliament meets for three sessions in a year.
• The longest, Budget Session (1st session), starts towards the end of January, and concludes by the end of
April or first week of May.
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• The second session is the three-week Monsoon Session, which usually begins in July and finishes in August.
• Winter Session (3rd session), is held from November to December.
India to Bharat:
• Rashtrapati Bhawan has sent out an
invite for a G20 dinner on Sept 9th in
the name of 'President of Bharat'
instead of the usual 'President of
India'.
• Article 1 in the Constitution spoke
that “India, that is Bharat, shall be a
Union of States.”
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• If Government of India wants to change the name of the country it has to bring out resolution in parliament
with the bill of changing name of the country to Bharat from India.
• Both the names, India and Bharat, were made official and legal to be used for juridical-political purposes.
• In English, we call our nation India, while in other Indian languages, we call it Bharat. It is Bharata in Tamil,
Bharatam in Malayalam, and Bharat desam in Telugu even in Dravidian languages. The Constitution is known
as “Bharat ka Samvidhan” in Hindi. And Article 1 is, ‘Bharata arthat India, rajyon ka sangha hoga.
• In Hindu works like the Mahabharata and Manusmriti, the term “Bharat” has a long history.
• In the Mahabharata, 'Bharat' refers to the legendary king Bharata, who played a central role in the epic. He
was the son of King Dushyanta and Queen Shakuntala and is considered a symbol of unity and strength.
• The name 'Bharat' is closely associated with the legendary ancient king 'Bharata.' He is considered the
ancestor of the Rig Vedic tribe of the Bharatas.
• Origins in the Term 'Indus'
• The name 'India' has its roots in the term 'Indus,' which refers to the Indus River.
• The term 'Indus' was Persianized into 'Hindu' due to linguistic transformations over time.
• Over time, 'Hindu' evolved into 'Hindustan.' The suffix '-stan' in Persian means 'land of,' so 'Hindustan'
translates to the 'Land of the Hindus.'
OIML Certificates
• India becomes the 13th nation to issue Internationally Accepted OIML certificates
• OIML (International Organization of Legal Metrology)
• Domestic manufacturers can now get their weighing & measuring instrument
tested in India and sell in international market.
• It will also create facility for international manufacturers to get their equipment
tested in India which will generate revenue and employment.
• Established in 1955, OIML is an intergovernmental organisation and its certificate is
internationally accepted for selling weights & measures anywhere in the world.
• Bharat became it’s member in 1956. It has 63 Member States and 64 Corresponding Members.
• India now joins an exclusive group of nations, including Australia, Switzerland, China, Czech Republic,
Germany, Denmark, France, UK, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden and Slovakia authorised to issue OIML
approval certificates.
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TB-Mukt Express
• Dr. Jitendra Singh flagged off SMVD Narayana Healthcare TB Mukt Express at
Udhampur with the slogan ‘Chalo Chale TB Ko Harane’.
• The main objective of the “TB-Mukt Express” is to provide medical services
and raise awareness about tuberculosis in different villages, primarily in the
Udhampur constituency
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Fatehpur Sikri
• In NEWS: A 61-year-old French tourist recently died inside the Fatehpur Sikri fort after she fell from a nine-
feet-high platform following the collapse of a wooden railing.
• Fatehpur Sikri is a city predominantly in red sandstone, situated at a distance of 37 km from Agra, Uttar
Pradesh.
• It was founded in 1569 by the great Mughal emperor Akbar, and from 1571 to 1585, Fatehpur Sikri was the
capital of the Mughal Empire.
• The Mughal capital was moved to Delhi in 1586 because of Fatehpur Sikri’s inadequate water supply.
• It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986.
CRIIIO 4 GOOD
• Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched ‘CRIIIO 4 GOOD’, a new online, life
skills learning modules, to promote gender equality among girls and
boys.
• ‘It consists of series of 8 cricket-based animation films to promote
gender parity, equip girls with life skills and encourage their participation
in sports.
• The programme was launched in association with the International Cricket Council, UNICEF, and the Board of
Control for Cricket in India.
• The programme is in three languages: English, Hindi and Gujarati.
UNICEF
• UNICEF stands for the United Nations Children’s Fund which was established in 1946.
• It is a specialised agency of the United Nations dedicated to providing humanitarian and developmental
assistance to children and mothers in developing countries.
• Headquarter: New York City, United States.
Centre notifies establishment of National Turmeric Board with focus on enhancing Turmeric exports to US$ 1
Billion by 2030
• India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric in the world.
• In the year 2022-23 - over 75% of global turmeric production
• More than 30 varieties of Turmeric are grown in India
• The largest producing states of Turmeric are Maharashtra, Telangana,
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
• The leading export markets for Indian Turmeric are Bangladesh, UAE, USA and Malaysia
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Features:
• SBI is the authorized issuer.
• State Bank of India (SBI) issues the bonds in denominations of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh, and
Rs 1 crore.
• Purchased by Indian citizens or entities established in India.
• Can be purchased digitally or through cheques.
• Valid for 15 calendar days from the date of issue.
• Only the political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and
have secured not less than 1% of the votes polled in the last general election to the House of the People or
the Legislative Assembly, are eligible to receive electoral bonds
• Encashment only through an authorized bank account of the political party.
• Parties must disclose their bank account with the Election Commission of India (ECI).
• Political parties are obligated to explain the utilization of the funds received.
• The Finance Act, 2016, had also amended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010, to allow foreign
companies with subsidiaries in India to fund political parties in India, effectively, “exposing Indian politics
and democracy to international lobbyists
BIS Approves India’s First-ever Indigenous AC & DC Combined Charging Connector Standard
• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standard Body of India, has approved the country’s first
ever indigenously developed AC and DC Combined Charging connector standard for Light Electric Vehicles
(LEVs)
• It is also the world’s 1st charging standard that combines AC and DC charging for small EVs, such as electric
scooters, motorcycles, three-wheelers, and quadricycles, and is designed and engineered in India.
• The Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) Act 2016 establishes the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as the
National Standards Body of India.
• There is a provision for repair or recall, of the products (bearing Standard Mark) that do not conform to the
relevant Indian Standard.
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Someshwara Inscription:
• NEWS: Archaeologists discovered a rare inscription connected to the Alupa dynasty
during a recent archaeological exploration at Someshwara near Mangaluru, Karnataka.
• Someshwara inscription is very significant in the study of Tuluva history and culture.
• inscription written below the panels is in Kannada script and the language of 12th
century characters announcing the death of Alupendra I.
• The human figures shown in the inscription represent Kulashekara Alupendra himself.
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• It has been constituted by an act of Parliament known as the National Medical Commission Act, 2019.
• It has replaced the Medical Council of India (MCI), which was constituted under the Indian Medical Council
Act, 1956.
• Functions:
• It regulates medical education and medical professionals.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• It consists of 33 members, including the Chairman (medical professionals only), 10 ex-officio members and
22 part-time members.
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• Interim Status: The appointed DGP officer spent their entire tenure in interim status which is against the
supreme court order where the SC has said there must be no temporary or ad hoc appointments of police
chiefs.
• Seniority vs Merit issue: The senior officers challenge the appointment of Junior officers as DGP on grounds
of seniority. The UPSC defended its decision in court on the grounds of merit over seniority.
• Extension of Tenure: Sometimes the officers are given an extension of tenure beyond the stipulated term of
2 years.
‘ENCORE’
• The Election Commission of India has designed in-house software for
complete Candidate and election management through ‘ENCORE’ which
stands for ‘Enabling Communications on Real-time Environment’.
• This provides a seamless facility for Returning Officers to process candidate
nomination, affidavit, Voter turnout, counting, results and data
management.
• The Election Commission of India is a constitutional body. It was established on January 25th, 1950, under
the Constitution of India.
ECI signs MoU with the Ministry of Education to bring Electoral Literacy to
Classrooms across the country
• Its objective is to include voter education and electoral literacy in the
curriculum from classes 6th to 12th in all schools.
• Under the MoU, study material on electoral literacy will be included in NCERT
school textbooks and state education boards will also be advised to follow the same.
• The right to vote is not just a privilege, but a basic human right. It is protected by the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights (1948)
• The right to vote in the Constitution of India is guaranteed under Article 326.
• In India, the voting age has been reduced from 21 years to 18 years by the 61st Constitutional Amendment
Act, 1988.
• The bill came into force on 28th March 1989.
NMDC Inaugurates its 1st Gold Mine, Mount Celia Gold Operation
• Nagendra Nath Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Steel, unveiled a foundation stone
laying ceremony for mining operations at Mount Celia Gold Project located in
Western Australia.
• This initiative was taken by Legacy Iron Ore Limited, a government-owned
steel CPSE, a subsidiary of NMDC Limited
• This marks NMDC’s first venture into gold mining.
• The Mt Celia project is located 180km northeast of Kalgoorlie. Kalgoorlie is
famous for its rich gold mining history.
National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC):
• Established: 1958
• Headquarters: Hyderabad
• It is the country's largest iron ore producer, producing about 35 million
tonnes of iron ore.
• NMDC was classified as a 'Navratna' Public Sector Enterprise by the Department of Public Enterprises in
2008.
Bharat Botanics To Open India’s Largest Cold Oil Production Facility In Gujarat
• Bharat Botanics announced the opening of its 16,000 square feet automated
wood-pressed cold oil processing facility in Rajkot, Gujarat
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Krishi 24/7
• Union Agriculture Ministry, in collaboration with the Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence
(Wadhwani AI), developed Krishi 24/7.
• It is the first-ever AI-powered solution for automated agricultural news monitoring and analysis, with
support from Google.org
• This platform scans news articles in multiple languages, extracts essential information and translates them
into English.
• It addresses the need for an efficient mechanism to identify and manage agricultural news articles of interest
to aid timely decision-making
• In 2020, the National Green Tribunal had already banned the sale and
use of all types of firecrackers in the National Capital Region.
India Unveils Biogas Blending Plan To Reduce Natural Gas Imports And Achieve Net
Zero Emissions
• In a significant move towards energy sustainability, the Indian government has
announced a phased introduction of blending compressed biogas with natural
gas.
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• This initiative aims to bolster domestic demand, decrease reliance on natural gas imports, and contribute to
India’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2070.
Phase 1: Introduction of Biogas Blending (April 2025):
• Commencing in April 2025, the government will initiate the mandatory blending of compressed biogas with
natural gas at a rate of 1%.
Phase 2: Scaling Up Blending (2028):
• As part of the phased approach, the mandatory blending percentage is set to increase to approximately 5%
by 2028.
• In addition to biogas blending, the government is pushing for the incorporation of sustainable aviation fuel
(SAF) in aircraft turbine fuel. The goal is to achieve 1% SAF in aviation fuel by 2027, with a subsequent
doubling to 2% in 2028.
• National Biofuels Coordination Committee (NBCC) gave its nod to mandatory blending of CBG with
compressed natural gas (CNG) for transportation and piped natural gas (PNG) for households starting 2025-
26 (FY26)
• The compulsory blending obligation will be 1 per cent of total CNG and domestic PNG consumption for FY26,
3 per cent for FY27, and 4 per cent for FY28.
• The obligation mandates 5 per cent blending from FY29. A Central Repository Body (CRB) will be responsible
for monitoring and implementing the blending mandate.
• Biogas is an energy-rich gas produced by anaerobic decomposition of biomass. It is produced from sources
like agriculture residue, cattle dung, sugarcane press mud, municipal solid waste, and sewage treatment
plant waste, among others.
• It can be burned directly as a fuel, or purified and upgraded by removing carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide,
and then compressed to make CBG. The CBG has methane content of more than 90%, which is similar to
commercially available natural gas in composition and energy potential.
• India is a major consumer of natural gas and depends on imports to meet around half of its requirement.
• In October 2018, the government had launched the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable
Transportation (SATAT) scheme, under which 5,000 CBG plants were envisaged by 2023 to produce 15
million tonnes of CBG.
• The scheme’s objective was to encourage entrepreneurs to set up CBG plants across the country and supply
the gas to public sector oil companies.
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IWAI signs MoU with NRL for export of Petroleum Cargo via NW 2 & IBPR
• An MoU was signed between the Inland Waterways Authority of India and
Numaligarh Refinery Limited to use the National Waterways-2
(Brahmaputra) and Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route.
• Reason: For export of petroleum products to Bangladesh and other southeast
Asian countries in Guwahati
• The MoU is aimed at powering PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to boost
India’s Act East Policy.
• NRL will export around 10,000 MT of Petroleum & Petrochemical products per month from IWAI Jogighopa
Multi Modal terminal.
• Aim: To fulfill the ‘Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for Northeast’ by enabling inland waterways transportation via
NW2 and IBPR
Short News
• IIT Kanpur has a quick-fix solution to offer to Delhi and its neighbouring
regions choking in toxic air – it can help the city wash down pollutants
and dust with “artificial rains”.
• Every year, on November 2nd, the festival of Parumala Perunnal is
celebrated in Kerala.
• The 17th edition of Jaipur Literature Festival, from February 1 to February 5, 2024
• Mundra Becomes India’s First Port To Handle 16.1 Million Tonnes Of Cargo, the highest-ever volume by any
port in India.
• Dharmendra Pradhan and Australian Education Minister, Jason Clare announce opening of two Australian
Universities upcoming campuses (Wollongong and Deakin Universities) in GIFT City
• India has approved its first 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in the defence sector, permitting Sweden's
Saab to establish a facility for rocket manufacturing.
• India accounted for the highest number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the world in 2022, representing 27
percent of the global burden, as revealed by the new WHO 2023 Global TB report.
• Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) has become India’s largest green energy company as it reached the 8.4
gigawatt (GW) installed capacity mark.
• India will host the second Voice of Global South Summit in a virtual format. The sessions will be hosted by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari addressed the Ministerial Session at the
27th World Road Congress in Prague, Czech Republic, focusing on Road Safety.
• Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane inaugurated 'Khadi Mahotsav' in Mumbai. 'Khadi Mahotsav' is a month-
long event, which was scheduled to run till 31 October 2023 in Mumbai.
• Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has introduced a 15-point ‘Winter Action Plan’
to tackle air pollution in the upcoming winter season.
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• 4th edition of Indo-Latin America Cultural Festival organized by the Indian Council
for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in New Delhi. Total 34 artists of three countries –
Colombia, Ecuador and Chile are participated in the two-day festival.
• I&B Minister Anurag Thakur launches animated series Krish, Trish and Baltiboy –
Bharat Hain Hum to raise awareness amongst the children of India about our glorious Freedom Struggle and
the freedom heroes.
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• Air India starts Project Abhinandan at 16 airports. The initiative aims to give the travellers a personalized and
hassle-free experience.
• Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has inaugurated India’s first medical technology expo, ‘India
MedTech Expo 2023’, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• Foxconn Technology Group, a prominent Taiwanese company and a key supplier to Apple Inc., has pledged
to invest ₹1,600 crore in establishing a manufacturing facility in Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu.
• CJI Chandrachud Launches ‘SuSwagatam’ portal to give a QR code-enabled ePass to enter and exit the
esteemed halls of the Supreme Court
• Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) launched a mobile App
named 'eSARAS', which will add to eCommerce initiatives for products made by the SHGs.
• India’s First Indigenous 700 MW Nuclear Reactor Starts Commercial Operation at the Kakrapar Atomic
Power Project (KAPP) in Gujarat
• 67th Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) Conference begins in Colombo
• Ministry of External Affairs announced that the first IIT campus outside India will be set up in Zanzibar,
Tanzania.
• India host ed ASEAN countries conference on traditional medicines on 20th July 2023
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Gujarat's first greenfield airport at Hirasar near Rajkot on 27
July. This airport has been renamed as Rajkot International Airport.
• “Anu Awareness Yatra – 2023” with the theme of ‘Atoms in the service of the nation’ was launched at Indira
Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, TN
• ISRO 'Shukrayaan' mission to planet Venus reportedly shifted to 2031
• The American India Foundation (AIF) has inaugurated India’s first STEM Innovation and Learning Center
(SILC) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• A Rajasthani film "Nanera" directed by Dipankar Prakash was awarded the 'Golden Kailasha' award for the
best film at the Ajanta-Ellora Film Festival.
• PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated ‘Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava’ cultural festival at Talkatora Stadium, New
Delhi, to celebrate Karnataka’s culture, traditions and history
• The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, has approved the signing MoU between India and Chile for
cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied sectors.
• The Union Cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and South Africa
for cooperation in the Disability Sector.
• South Africa President: Cyril Ramaphosa
• The 18th World Security Congress is being organised by the
International Union of Railways (UIC) and Railway Protection Force
(RPF) from 21 to 23 February in Jaipur.
• India Pavilion’ at Gulfood, Dubai was inaugurated by Pashupati Kumar
Paras, Minister of Food Processing Industries, Government of India in the presence of Sunjay Sudhir,
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This groundbreaking initiative was officially unveiled at the India Mobile Congress and
represents the nation’s first satellite-driven giga fiber service.
The primary goal of this satellite broadband service is to extend high-speed internet
access to previously underserved and remote regions in India.
By enabling this connectivity, Jio aims to bring millions of homes and businesses in India
online, many of which are experiencing broadband internet for the first time.
In an effort to enhance the availability of Jio True5G, even in far-flung areas, the satellite
network is set to add mobile backhaul capacity.
Jio has entered into a collaboration with SES, a global satellite operator, to tap into the latest medium earth orbit
(MEO) satellite technology.
This partnership provides Jio with access to SES’s O3b and O3b mPOWER satellites, positioning the company
uniquely in offering reliable and scalable broadband at competitive rates across India.
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Aditya-L1 mission
After the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3, ISRO is working to launch its pioneering mission to study the Sun,
named Aditya L1 on 26th August, 2023.
The Aditya Mission that was conceptualised in 2008, was postponed numerous times due to budget crunch.
The mission is build at a cost of Rs 378.53 crore
Aditya L1 will be launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) with 7 instruments on board, of which the
primary payload is the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), designed and fabricated by the Indian Institute of
Astrophysics, Bengaluru. Aditya L1 will study the Sun’s corona, Sun's photosphere, chromosphere, solar emissions,
solar winds and flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), and will carry out round-the-clock imaging of the Sun.
The spacecraft shall be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is
about 1.5 million km from the Earth. A satellite placed in the halo orbit around the L1 point has the major advantage
of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation/eclipses.
Tata Elxsi, ISRO partner to develop Crew Module Recovery Models (CMRM) for
Gaganyaan
Tata Elxsi has partnered with ISRO for the upcoming Gaganyaan Mission.
It has designed and developed the crew module recovery models (CMRM) for the recovery
team training of the space mission.
ISRO's Gaganyaan project envisions a demonstration of human spaceflight capability by
launching the crew into a 400-kilometer orbit for a three-day mission and safely bringing
them to Earth by landing in Indian sea waters.
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XPoSat Mission
X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) mission
It is a collaborative effort between ISRO and Raman Research Institute (RRI) in
Bengaluru.
XPoSat aims to develop and launch the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) later this
year, to study the polarisation of X-rays emitted by celestial sources.
The study of X-ray polarisation can provide valuable insight into the nature and behaviour of astrophysical sources
such as neutron stars, black holes and active galactic nuclei.
XPoSat is India's first and world's second polarimetry mission.
NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), the only other major mission of its kind.
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Que:‘Proba-3 Mission’, which will be launched aboard ISRO’s PSLV, is associated with
which space agency?
Ans: ESA
The European Space Agency’s Proba-3 Mission will be launched aboard the ISRO’s
PSLV in 2024.
Its two satellites will study the Sun’s faint corona and surrounding atmosphere.
The 340-kilogram spacecraft will be deployed by PSLV in a high Earth orbit
ISRO successfully achieves Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV
LEX)
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the Reusable Launch
Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX) on April 02, 2023.
The test was conducted at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga, in Karnataka.
Under this mission, a winged body was carried to an altitude of 4.5 km by a helicopter and
released for carrying out an autonomous landing of a space vehicle on a runway.
It was the first-of-its-kind mission in the world.
ISRO launched OneWeb India-2 mission from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in
Sriharikota
Under a commercial agreement with NewSpace India Ltd, ISRO launched 72
satellites of UK-based Network Access Associates Ltd and place them in low
Earth orbit.
NewSpace is the commercial wing of ISRO.
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The first set of 36 satellites was launched on 23 October 2022 by an LVM3 M2 launch vehicle.
The remaining 36 satellites, each weighing approximately 5805 kg, were placed in a 450 km circular low earth orbit
by the LVM3 M3 launch vehicle on 26 March.
Satellites provide space-based broadband internet services to all corners of the globe.
After launch, Access Associates Ltd will have more than 600 satellites in space offering internet from space services
to various countries.
The Launch Vehicle Mark-3, previously referred as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III, is a three-
stage medium-lift launch vehicle developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation.
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STARFIRE Algorithm
Scientists at Raman Research Institute (RRI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology,
have developed an algorithm called STARFIRE
STARFIRE Algorithm is called as the Simulation of Terrestrial Radio Frequency Interference in orbits around Earth
(STARFIRE) algorithm.
It can estimate the Radio Frequency Interference emitted by FM radio stations, Wi-Fi networks, mobile towers,
radar, satellites, and communication devices, and use this calculation for designing and fine-tuning the antennas.
It is capable of estimating and mapping the unwanted Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)
signals in space.
This algorithm can also be handy in orbit selection for future missions.
India aims to establish its own permanent space station called ‘Bharatiya Space
Station’ over the next 25 years.
ISRO To Launch India’s First X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite On Jan 1, 2024
NASA
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The Integral Field Ultraviolet Spectroscope Experiment (INFUSE) was launched from the White Sands Missile
Range in New Mexico.
It was launched to study the Cygnus Loop, a supernova remnant.
It will observe how the supernova dumps energy into the Milky Way by catching light given off just as the
blast wave crashes into pockets of cold gas floating around the galaxy.
It will study the Cygnus Loop and try to understand the life cycle of stars.
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It aims to detect telltale flickers that reveal the presence of various celestial objects, including planets,
distant stars, icy bodies in the outer reaches of our solar system, isolated black holes, and more.
Launching in May 2027
Perseverance rover:
Perseverance, nicknamed Percy, is a car-sized Mars rover designed to explore
the crater Jezero on Mars as part of NASA's Mars 2020 mission.
Main Job: Seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith
(broken rock and soil) for possible return to Earth.
Launch: It was launched on July 30, 2020 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Landing: Successfully landed on the surface of Mar's Jezero Crater on Feb. 18,
2021.
Perseverance has been active on Mars for 130 sols (133 Earth days) since
its landing.
Following the rover's arrival, NASA named the landing site Octavia E.
Butler Landing.
Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing
method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges
(variable distances) to the Earth.
NASA’s CALIPSO mission stops blasting lasers at Earth after 17 years
NASA announced that its CALIPSO satellite, which takes climate, weather and air quality measurements
using LIDAR, has ended its science mission.
CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol LIDAR and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations) is a mission dedicated to
studying how clouds and aerosols impact the Earth’s climate.
It is a joint project between NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and CNES (Centre
National d’Études Spatiales), the French space agency.
Launched in 2006, CALIPSO is a satellite-based observatory.
CALIPSO has been part of a constellation of spacecraft called the "A-Train," including Aqua, Aura, and
PARASOL spacecraft, dedicated to studying the Earth’s weather and environment.
Scientists are using data from CALIPSO to construct 3D models of the atmosphere that improve our ability to
predict future climate change.
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The lidar emitted pulses of laser light and measured the amount of light that was scattered back by clouds
and aerosols. This information was used to create vertical profiles of cloud and aerosol properties, such as
their height, thickness, and optical depth.
NASA’s first asteroid samples land on earth after release from spacecraft
NASA’s first asteroid samples land on Earth after release from spacecraft
NASA’s first asteroid samples fetched from deep space parachuted into the Utah
desert
In a flyby of Earth, the Osiris-Rex spacecraft released the sample capsule from 63,000
miles (100,000 kilometers) out.
Scientists estimate the capsule holds at least a cup of rubble from the carbon-rich asteroid known as Bennu,
but won’t know for sure until the container is opened in a day or two.
Japan, the only other country to bring back samples, gathered about a teaspoon during a pair of asteroid
missions.
Osiris-Rex, the mothership, rocketed away on the $1 billion mission in 2016. It reached Bennu two years
later and, using a long stick vacuum, grabbed rubble from the small roundish space rock in 2020.
NASA, SpaceX launch sends four astronauts from four countries to ISS
NASA and SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft has launched off carrying four astronauts to
the International Space Station (ISS).
The Dragon spacecraft carried by a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch
Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Four astronauts from four countries, including the US, Denmark, Japan, and Russia.
The agency’s SpaceX Crew-7 mission is the seventh commercial crew rotationfor
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Short News
NASA has launched a spacecraft called ‘Psyche’ on a six-year mission to study a unique metal-rich asteroid
also named ‘Psyche.”
NASA will launch Israel’s first space telescope mission, the Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite
(ULTRASAT) in early 2026.
Miscellaneous
Amazon's Project Kuiper launches prototypes for global Internet access
Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN.O) successfully launched its first two prototype
satellites, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2, into low Earth orbit (LEO) at an
altitude of 500 kilometers (311 miles) as part of the "Protoflight" mission of
Project Kuiper.
The launch was performed using a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V
rocket from Florida, United States.
About Project Kuiper:
Project Kuiper is a satellite system composed of satellites operating in LEO at altitudes between 590 and 630
kilometers (about 367 to 391 miles).
Its primary objective is to provide fast and affordable internet access to over 10 million underserved communities
globally.
The project plans to deploy 3,236 satellites, spaced carefully to minimize overlap.
Amazon has partnered with three commercial space companies - Arianespace, Blue Origin, and United Launch
Alliance - to facilitate satellite launches.
These companies will launch 83 rockets to deploy the Kuiper satellites.
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The project represents the largest commercial procurement of space launch services in history.
Project Kuiper faces competition from SpaceX's Starlink project, which shares the same goal of providing global
Internet coverage through a satellite constellation.
Amazon.com, Inc. Headquartered in Washington, United States, it is led by Chairman and CEO Andy Jassy and was
founded in 1994.
Europe's first fully private rocket launch takes place from Spain
Spanish aerospace company PLD Space has achieved a significant milestone by
successfully launching its recoverable Miura-1 rocket.
The launch is being viewed as a boost to Europe's stalled space ambitions.
The Miura-1 rocket has been named after a breed of fighting bull. The rocket is as
tall as a three-storey building. It has a 100-kg (220-pound) cargo capacity.
Noor-3 Satellite:
Iran recently launched Noor-3 imaging satellite into space.
Noor-3 Satellite is an imaging satellite developed by Iran.
It is a satellite with potential spying capabilities, boosting Iran’s abilities
in space.
It has been put in an orbit 450 kilometers (280 miles) above the Earth’s
surface.
The spacecraft’s two predecessors, Noor-1 and Noor-2, launched in April 2020 and March 2022, respectively.
Noor-1 fell back to Earth in April 2022, but Noor-2 remains operational and may work in concert with Noor 3
when the latter satellite comes online.
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Solar Flares : Disrupted Radio Communications Over Parts of the United States
Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy from the Sun, and can last for a few minutes or
hours.
Solar flares are a sudden explosion of energy caused by tangling, crossing or reorganizing
of magnetic field lines near sunspots.
Sunspots - ‘dark’ regions on the Sun that are cooler than the surrounding photosphere.
There are five different classes of solar flares (based on their brightness in X-ray
wavelengths): A, B, C, M, and X.
Each class is at least ten times more potent than the one before it.
China Unveils World’s Most Powerful Hypersonic Wind Tunnel for Advancing Aerospace Ambitions
China has unveiled the JF-22, the world's most powerful hypersonic wind tunnel,
marking a significant milestone in its pursuit of hypersonic technology.
Located in Beijing, the JF-22 wind tunnel can simulate hypersonic flight conditions at
speeds up to Mach 30, providing researchers with valuable insights into the challenges
of hypersonic flight.
It will allow the country to make significant advancements in the development of
hypersonic vehicles.
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Saturn overpowers Jupiter in the "Games of Moon" with total of 145 moons
New research has revealed 62 new moons that orbit Saturn, bringing the total
number to 145
In contrast, Jupiter has 95 moons as confirmed by the International
Astronomical Union (IAU).
Nasa's upcoming Dragonfly mission, scheduled to launch in 2027, has the
potential to allow for close-up observations of at least one of Saturn's smaller
outer moons.
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JUICE is to be the first satellite from the earth to enter the orbit of Ganymede.
The mission will characterise these moons as both planetary objects and possible habitats, explore Jupiter’s complex
environment in depth, and study the wider Jupiter system as an archetype for gas giants across the Universe
It will also study the polar regions and the magnetosphere of the planet
Iran’s navy adds sophisticated cruise missiles ‘Talaeieh and Nasir’ to its armoury
The Talaeieh has a range of more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and called it “fully smart”.
The Nasi has a range of 100 kilometers (62 miles) and can be installed on warships.
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NexCAR19 therapy is intended for people with B-cell lymphomas who have not responded to standard
treatments like chemotherapy and have experienced relapse or recurrence of cancer.
Initially, the therapy is approved for patients aged 15 years and older.
Tilapia Parvovirus:
India has witnessed its first encounter with Tilapia Parvovirus (TiPV), in Tamil Nadu causing a
significant impact on the country’s aquaculture.
This virus has been reported in farm-bred tilapia, a freshwater fish species, and has raised
concerns due to its high mortality rates.
TiPV is a viral pathogen that primarily affects tilapia.
It belongs to the Parvoviridae family, known for its small, non-enveloped, single-stranded DNA viruses.
First reported in China in 2019 and Thailand in 2021. India is the third country to report the occurrence of TiPV.
TiPV has caused mortality rates ranging from 30% to 50% on fish farms.
TiPV outbreak can also affect the food security and nutrition of the people who depend on tilapia as a source
of protein and income.
Tilapia farming is carried out in various parts of the country, particularly in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
Tilapia is a freshwater fish species that is widely cultured and consumed in India. These fish are native to
Africa and have gained popularity as a widely cultivated and harvested food source.
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“Calixcoca” Vaccine
Scientists in Brazil have developed a groundbreaking treatment for cocaine
and crack addiction in the form of a vaccine named “Calixcoca.”
This innovative vaccine aims to disrupt the effects of cocaine by triggering
an immune response in the body, preventing the drug from reaching the
brain and providing the pleasurable “high” associated with its use.
This area of the brain is typically stimulated by cocaine to release dopamine, the pleasure-inducing
neurotransmitter.
Exclusome:
Researchers have recently identified a previously unknown compartment in
mammalian cells named ‘exclusome’
It is a newly discovered organelle in mammalian cells.
It is made up of DNA rings known as plasmids.
It is located within the cell plasma.
This is peculiar because eukaryotic cells (cells with nuclei) usually keep most of their DNA in the cell nucleus, where it
is organized into chromosomes.
This proves that cells are capable of differentiating between DNA that is their own and still needed and DNA that is
foreign
A chromosome is a long, thread-like structure found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, including the cells of animals,
plants, and fungi.
Each chromosome is made up of DNA tightly coiled many times around proteins called histones that support its
structure.
Ozone hole above Antarctica is now three times the size of Brazil
The ozone hole over Antarctica is one of the biggest on record, roughly three
times the size of Brazil. It's a natural phenomenon, but scientists are
concerned climate change could begin reopening ozone holes.
Satellite measurements over Antarctica have detected a giant hole in the
ozone layer.
The hole, which scientists call an “ozone-depleted area” was 26 million square kilometers (10 million square
miles) in size, roughly three times the size of Brazil(The European Space Agency Copernicus Sentinel-5P
satellite made the recordings)
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The size of the ozone hole over Antarctica fluctuates each year, opening each year in August and closing
again in November or December.
ozone hole opens up because of the rotation of the Earth causing specials winds over the closed landmass of
Antarctica. “The winds create a mini climate, creating a shield over Antarctica preventing it from mixing with
surrounding air. When the winds die down, the hole closes,”
Scientists believe this year’s big ozone hole could be due to the volcanic eruptions at Hunga Tongain Tonga
during December 2022 and January 2023.
“Under normal conditions, gas released from a volcanic eruption stays below the level of the stratosphere,
but this eruption sent a lot of water vapor into the stratosphere,”
In 1987,The Montreal Protocol was created to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of
these harmful substances.
JALDOST Airboat:
The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) unveiled the JALDOST airboat.
JALDOST is an airboat that operates on water.
It is designed to remove excess aquatic weed and floating waste from water bodies.
According to NAL, it has a hybrid propulsion system, comprising air propulsion and paddle wheel propulsion.
NAL has developed two versions of the airboat — JALDOST Mark-1 and an upgraded version JALDOST Mark-2.
National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL)
It is a constituent of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), established in the year 1959.
It is the only government aerospace R&D laboratory in the country’s civilian sector.
CSIR-NAL is a high-technology-oriented institution focusing on advanced disciplines in aerospace.
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Ureilites contain less than 10% carbon in the form of diamond or graphite, metal
sulphides, and a few fine-grained silicates.
Future research aims to understand the role of the Dhala crater in bringing water
to Earth and contributing to the development of life on our planet.
India has three meteor impact craters: Ramgarh, Lonar, and Dhala.
The Dhala crater, located in Madhya Pradesh, has recently gained attention as
Asia's largest and the world's seventh-largest impact crater.
Dhala crater has a diameter of 11 kilometers.
The impact occurred approximately 2500-1700 million years ago.
A recent study suggests the Gulf Stream system could collapse as soon as 2025.
But leading scientists have reservations about the study
and say it is not established science. It estimates AMOC
could collapse between 2025 and 2095.
What is Gulf Stream & AMOC?
The Gulf Stream is a swift and warm ocean
current which originates in the Gulf of Mexico. It
flows along the eastern coast of North America
and crosses the Atlantic Ocean towards Europe.
The current carries warm water from the tropics (around 25 to 28°C or 77 to 82°F) to higher latitudes
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GM crops can:
• improves production and raise farmer's income;
• can feed a rapidly increasing population as it shows increased yields
• ensures production of more nutritious food
• Disease- and drought-resistant plants that require fewer environmental resources (such as water and
fertilizer)
• Food with more desirable traits
Homo Naledi
Recently, a study has been published, which suggests that Homo Naledi, an ancient human
species, may have buried their dead and created meaningful symbols in a cave.
Homo Naledi is a species of human discovered in the Rising Star cave system, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site in South Africa in 2013.
The remains of at least 15 individuals, including adults, juveniles, and infants, were found,
making it the largest collection of a single hominin species in Africa. (possibly up to 2 million
years ago).
Researcher: Lee Berger and his team
Berger’s team reported evidence of burials within the Rising Star system.
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ICMR successfully conducts trial run of blood bag delivery under i-Drone initiative
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the Union Health Ministry
successfully conducted a trial run of blood bag delivery by drones under its i-Drone
initiative in New Delhi.
The inaugural trial flight carried ten units of blood samples from Government
Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), Greater Noida and Lady Hardinge Medical
College (LHMC), New Delhi.
The project ‘i-DRONE’ (ICMR’s Drone Response and Outreach for North East) assessed the feasibility of using drone
to deliver vaccines and medical supply.
The drone-based delivery of blood will reduce the time for last-mile deliveries within the country.
Director General ICMR Dr. Rajiv Bahl
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IIT Madras researchers develop tool to detect tumours in brain, spinal cord/IIT
IIT-M researchers has developed a machine learning-based computational tool for better
detection of cancer-causing tumors in the brain and spinal cord.
The web server known as ‘GBMDriver’ (GlioBlastoma Mutiforme Drivers) is now publicly
available online.
The GBMDriver was developed specifically to identify driver mutations and passenger
mutations (passenger mutations are neutral mutations) in Glioblastoma.
Glioblastoma is a fast and aggressively growing tumour in the brain and spinal cord.
Cloned Cow-calf:
The National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal has produced cloned
female calves of the desi breed Gir, which can produce more than 15 litres of
milk per day.
Cloned Cow-calf is India’s first cloned Gir female calf named Ganga.
Cloning:
The term cloning describes a number of different processes that can be used
to produce genetically identical copies of a biological entity.
Cloning can be natural or artificial.
H3N2 Outbreak:
Across India, an outbreak of a respiratory illness
with symptoms of cold, sore throat and fever
accompanied by fatigue has been observed since
December 2022 and January 2023.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
confirmed that Influenza Sub-type H3N2 has been
causing this illness.
H3N2 virus is a type of influenza virus called the
influenza A virus. It is a respiratory viral infection
that causes illnesses every year. This subtype of
influenza A virus was discovered in 1968 in
humans.
There are four types of seasonal influenza viruses, types A, B, C and D.
Influenza A and B viruses circulate and cause seasonal epidemics of disease.
Influenza A viruses are the only influenza viruses known to cause flu pandemics (i.e., global epidemics of flu
disease).
Union Health Minister unveils world’s first intranasal COVID19 vaccine, iNNCOVACC
Union Health Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has unveiled the world’s first intranasal COVID-19 vaccine
"iNNCOVACC" in New Delhi.
iNNCOVACC is the world’s first intranasal COVID19 vaccine to receive
approval for the primary 2-dose schedule, and as a heterologous booster
dose.
It is developed by Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) in
collaboration with Biotechnology Industry Research JoinAssistance.
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New discovery
Pontus Tectonic plate
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The researchers used geological data to reconstruct the movements of the current plates with computer
modelling, which hinted at a wide area potentially vacated by a subducted plate.
Using magnetic techniques, researchers determined the basalt from Borneo were relics of Pontus that were
left behind when this part of the plate subducted, some 85 million years ago.
Polyethylene Terephthalate
Researchers have recently discovered a new deep-sea enzyme that can degrade
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). The new enzyme: PET46
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is the most commonly used thermoplastic polymer in
the world.
It belongs to the family of polyesters.
PET is produced by the polymerization of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid.
When heated together under the influence of chemical catalysts, ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid produce PET
in the form of a molten, viscous mass that can be spun directly to fibres or solidified for later processing as plastic.
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NASA's James Webb Space Telescope discovers new exoplanet named LHS 475b
LHS 475b is roughly the same size as Earth, with a diameter of 99% that of Earth.
It is a celestial, rocky planet located approximately 41 light-years away from Earth
in the constellation Octane.
It differs from Earth in two respects - it completes one orbit in only two days and it
is hundreds of degrees hotter than Earth.
Exoplanet:
Exoplanets are planets that orbit other stars and are away from our solar system. The first confirmation of the
detection of an exoplanet was in the year 1992.
According to NASA, more than 5,000 exoplanets have been discovered so far.
Scientists believe that there are more planets than stars because at least one planet orbits each star.
A new reptile species was recently discovered in China and has been called Wang’s Garden Lizard.
Short News
Researchers in Manipur recently discovered a new flowering plant species and have
named the new species Curcuma kakchingense
Technology
IndiGo’s Chat Assistant “6Eskai”
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, announced launch of its Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered chat
assistant named “6Eskai.”
Recently Air India introduced its own AI-powered chat assistant, “Maharaja”
Samsung Gauss
Samsung launches ‘Gauss’ its own generative AI model
Named after the renowned mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss.
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This move comes after Apple agreed to support NavIC in some of its newly launched iPhone 15 models. While
NavIC will be encouraged for use in mobile devices, it won’t be the sole mandated navigation system, as cost and
performance competitiveness will also be considered.
NavIC is India’s indigenous alternative to GPS and currently has seven satellites in orbit, with plans to expand to 12 in
the future.
AG-365S of Marut Drones becomes first DGCA-certified drone for dual usage
AG-365S kisan drone is India’s first Multi-utility Agriculture small Category Drone to receive the prestigious DGCA
(Directorate General of Civil Aviation)approved type certificate.
AG-365S has highest endurance of 22 minutes, equipped with high end sensors for smooth operations
Under the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules-2021, drones equipped with a Unique Identification Number (UIN)
are permitted to operate in Indian airspace.
By obtaining this certification, Marut Drones is now able to offer its agricultural drone technology to farmers across
the country.
AG 365S is a multi-utility agricultural drone in the small category (less than 25kg).
It has been designed and developed by Marut Drones; an Indian drone technology company based in Hyderabad.
The made-in-India kisan drone – AG 365 has been developed particularly for agricultural purposes to reduce crop
loss, lower agrochemical usage, and better yield and profits to the farmers.
IIT Jodhpur scientists develop ‘CODE’ device for good air quality
Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur researchers have developed a novel Cold-
plasma Detergent in Environment (CODE) device for good indoor air quality.
The CODE device consumes less power, deactivates bacteria, moulds and viruses,
captures dust and pollen, and also removes odours and provides quality indoor air.
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iPhone 15 Pro series is the introduction of a brushed titanium frame, replacing the glossy stainless-steel
frame
Belle Robot:
Researchers in Switzerland recently developed a new, autonomous fish robot named
Belle.
Belle Robot is an autonomous underwater robot designed to collect DNA samples and
film underwater to better understand the impact of human activities on marine life
and develop targeted conservation strategies.
Belle is silent, moves like a fish and doesn’t create a disruptive wake as she moves
through her environment.
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Skye Air launches India’s first traffic management system for drones
Skye Air launched a drone-based traffic management system named 'Skye
UTM' in India.
It was unveiled by the Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, Nitin
Gadkari.
Skye UTM is a Cloud-based aerial traffic management system.
The software will allow drone operators to plan routes, make flight plans and
assess risks before running drone-based operations in the country.
Significance of LIGO-India
The observatory will be the third of its kind, made to the exact specifications of the twin LIGO, in Louisiana and
Washington.
It will significantly enhance global capabilities in the field of
gravitational-wave astronomy and astrophysics.
It will provide opportunities for Indian youth to pursue research
careers in cutting-edge areas of science and technology.
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The technology produces different answers for the same question in the future since it improves over time and
understands queries better through machine
GPT stands for Generative Pre-
learning. The organization was founded in San Francisco in 2015 by Sam Altman, trained Transformer
Reid Hoffman, Jessica Livingston, Elon Musk and others.
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Miscellaneous
BHEL develops India's first catalyst set to curb NOx emissions in power plants
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), a government engineering firm successfully
produced the first indigenous Selective Catalytic Reactor (SCR) to control NOx emissions
from thermal power plants.
SCR Catalysts were earlier imported.
The initial batch of indigenous SCR Catalyst was manufactured for 5x800 MW Yadadri
Thermal Power Station in Telangana.
BHEL achieved indigenization of technology in collaboration with NANO, a leading
company of the Republic of Korea for the development of SCR technology.
Burning coal converts its nitrogen content into nitrogen oxides (NOx), a major air pollutant that includes substances
such as NO, NO2, and N2O.
India to send three person to 6,000 meter below sea level under Samudrayaan Mission
A vehicle named MATSYA 6000 will carry three people to search for mineral
resources
Earth Sciences Minister Dr Jitendra Singh
The vehicle is being designed and developed by the National Institute of Ocean
Technology, Chennai.
It can bear 12 hours under normal operation and 96 hours under emergency for
human safety.
Samudrayaan Mission
It is a part of the Deep Ocean Mission.
It was announced by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT)
It aims to develop a self-propelled manned submersible to carry 3 humans to a depth of 6000 meters in the ocean
with scientific sensors and equipment for deep sea exploration.
What is the Deep Ocean Mission?
It was approved by the Ministry of Earth Sciences in June 2021.
It aims to explore deep sea marine resources, develop deep sea technology for sustainable utilization of ocean
resources and support the blue economy initiatives of the Government of India.
The cost of the mission is about Rs 4,077 crore over a period of five years and will be implemented in phases.
Que: Which company has been approved as the first Indian company to supply critical
rotating parts for nuclear turbines?
Ans: Azad Engineering Private Limited (Hyderabad-based)
Azad engineering is India’s 1st supplier of parts for nuclear turbine
The company has delivered its first set of critical parts. These will now be assembled
on nuclear turbines manufactured in Belfort, France.
Que:Medium-density Amorphous Ice, which was seen in the news, was created
in a container filled with which material?
Ans: Stainless Steel
Medium-density Amorphous (MDA) Ice is a new form of ice that was recently
discovered by scientists. This ice has same density and structure as water.
The ice was created by scientists in a container with stainless steel balls at a -
200°C. The MDA ice does not have any ordered structure. It will provide the
opportunity to improve the understanding of the properties of water.
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• Tokamak Energy announced that the Demo4 magnet has a magnetic field strength that is nearly a million
times stronger than the Earth’s magnetic field, making it capable of confining and controlling the extremely
hot plasma created during the nuclear fusion process.
• Tokamak Energy is aiming to be the first private company to produce commercial fusion energy, with the
goal of demonstrating grid-ready fusion in the early 2030s.
• Capital – London
• Currency – Pound sterling
• Prime Minister – Rishi Sunak
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LockBit Ransomware:
IN NEWS - LockBit ransomware was found to be targeting Mac devices.
A ransomware is a type of malware that hijacks computer data and then
demands payment (usually in bitcoins) in order to restore it.
LockBit, formerly known as “ABCD” ransomware, is a type of computer virus
that enters someone’s computer and encrypts important files so they can’t be
accessed. The virus first appeared in September 2019 and is called a “crypto
virus”, because it asks for payment in cryptocurrency to unlock the files.
LockBit has been used to target companies in many different countries,
including the U.S., China, India, Ukraine, and Europe.
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Indian airline company Indigo has placed an order for 500 A320 family aircraft
with Airbus
IndiGo, the low-cost carrier, has placed a historic order for 500 Airbus A320 family
aircraft, the largest-ever single aircraft purchase by any airline from Airbus.
The partnership with Airbus will expand India's air connectivity and make
affordable air travel accessible to millions in a rapidly growing aviation market.
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What is Hurriquake?
Hurricane Hilary, a major tropical cyclone, struck Southern California, marking an
unusual event of a hurricane and an earthquake occurring simultaneously.
Originating from a disturbance off Mexico’s coast, the cyclone made landfall in Mexico’s
Baja California peninsula before affecting California.
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake also hit Southern California, though no immediate damage
was reported. The term “hurriquake” trended on social media due to this rare
occurrence. Experts link Hurricane Hilary to climate change, which has caused increased
natural calamities.
Indian Army’s new Thal Sena Bhawan will conform to GRIHA-IV green norms
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone of the Army headquarters
Thal Sena Bhawan's new building in Delhi Cantonment conforming with GRIHA-IV
(Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) norms. The Army headquarters
(AH) is currently housed in the iconic South Block at Raisina Hill in Lutyens' Delhi
On completion of the new building, it will not only cut down carbon footprint but is expected to get together all the
different pockets of AH. GRIHA is an acronym for Green Rating for Integrated for
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The projects are being implemented with the technical support of the Fisheries Survey of India (FSI) and ICAR-
Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
Advantages of AR:
• It boosts marine biodiversity.
• It encourages fish population growth.
• It reduces pressure on natural reefs.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana:
It is a flagship scheme for focused and sustainable development of the fisheries sector in the country, with an
estimated investment of Rs. 20,050 crores for its implementation during a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY
2024-25 in all States/Union Territories.
It aims at enhancing fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonnes by 2024-25.
Doubling the incomes of fishers and fish farmers, reducing post-harvest losses from 20-25%.
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Thallium Poisoning:
Cases of Thallium poisoning have been rising in India, particularly in the Maharashtra
Thallium is a toxic metal element (symbol Tl) with atomic number 81, known for its extreme toxicity. It does not
freely occur in nature.
Thallium has no colour, odour or taste. Its use is regulated in India. Thallium is also called the
“poisoner’s poison”.
Historically used in low-temperature thermometers.
Radioactive isotopes are used in medical imaging.
Extremely toxic when ingested or inhaled.
Can cause severe health issues, including nerve and kidney damage.
contact with thallium can cause poisoning as it is highly soluble in water and can easily pass through the skin.
Antidote Prussian blue is used to remove thallium from the body.
Interesting Fact Thallium is known for its high toxicity and was historically used as a rat poison
Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq, is alleged to have used it to murder his political opponents.
Cyclone ‘Hamoon’
Cyclone Hamoon, a severe weather phenomenon, struck the southeastern
coast of Bangladesh, causing widespread concern and necessitating the
evacuation of thousands of people.
Cyclone ‘Hamoon’ was named by Iran. ‘Hamoon’ is a Persian term signifying
temporary desert lakes and marshlands that naturally form in region near
the Helmand basin. These areas serve as seasonal water reservoirs.
Short News
Nokia launches first-of-its-kind 6G Lab in Bengaluru in contributing to the
‘Bharat 6G Vision.
The Indian Navy and the State Bank of India launched ‘Nav-eCash’ card, a
unique e-cash card that can work in both online and offline mode.
Google and HP have partnered to produce budget-friendly Chromebook
laptops in India under the Make in India initiative.
Production is set to commence on October 2 at HP's manufacturing facility in Chennai.
Govt to Build Research Parks at 8 IITs, IISc Bangalore
India’s Ministry of Defence has taken a decisive step by opting to replace the Microsoft operating system
with a domestically developed alternative named the ‘Maya‘ operating system, due to increasing cyber and
malware attacks on defence as well as critical infrastructure across the country
CH3+ (also known as methyl cation) A Life-Giving Molecule Detected in Space has been detected for the first
time by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). It has been found in the Orion Nebula
Elon Musk launches artificial intelligence firm xAI
Meta collaborates with Microsoft to launch Llama 2 AI language model
Indian Railways completes 100% electrification of Broad Gauge Rail Network of Haryana (1701 route Kms)
The first quantum computing-based telecom network link has been activated in India and is located
between Sanchar Bhawan and National Informatics Center (NIC) office at CGO Complex in New Delhi.
Using quantum computing, the telecommunications sector will benefit from faster and more secure
communications, which can lead to improved network reliability and better
user experiences.
7th ferry craft ‘Manjula’ (Yard 786) has been handed over to the Indian Navy
IIT Madras partners with General Insurance Corporation of India to develop
Urine-based TB diagnosis.
Researchers from Kerala has been discovered a new species of cuckoo bee from
the Kole wetlands and named it Thyreus narendrani.
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Defence
Military Exercises
Indian Navy
Bilateral Exercise BONGOSAGAR-23 and Coordinated Patrol CORPAT-23
• The 4th edition of the bilateral exercise Bongosagar-23 between the Indian Navy and the Bangladesh Navy
and the 5th edition of the Coordinated Patrol (Coordinated Patrol-Corporate) by the navies of both the
countries was conducted in the North Bay of Bengal from 07 to 09 November 2023.
• Indian Navy ships Kuthar, Kiltan and maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) Dornier participated in the exercise along
with Bangladesh Navy ships Abu Bakr, Abu Ubaida and MPA.
• CORPAT-23 also saw the first Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise between the two
navies, in which a search and rescue scenario at sea was practiced.
Milan 24 Exercise:
• The Mid Planning Conference (MPC) of MILAN 24 Exercise is to be
hosted by the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam from 19 – 27 February
2024.
• Milan Exercise is a biennial multilateral naval exercise.
• It was incepted by the Indian Navy in 1995.
• Originally conceived in consonance with India’s ‘Look East Policy,
MILAN expanded in ensuing years with the Government of India’s
‘Act East Policy’ and Security And Growth for All in the Region
(SAGAR) initiative to include participation from other Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs).
• largest participation ever, with over 50 countries invited.
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• The aim of the Malabar Exercise is to coordinate for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
• It takes place annually in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans alternatively.
• The Indian Navy sent destroyer INS Kolkata and multi-role stealth frigate INS Sahyadri.
Quad
• It is a four-nation alliance of India, Australia, USA and Japan which was established in 2007.
• The idea of Quad was first mooted by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Other Exercises with Quad Countries:
• India- Japan: JIMEX (naval exercise), SHINYUU Maitri (air force exercise), and Dharma Guardian (military
exercise).
• India-US: Yudha Abhyas (Army), Vajra Prahar (Military), Spitting Cobra, SANGAM, RED FLAG, COPE INDIA.
• India-Australia: AUSINDEX (Maritime), AUSTRA HIND, Pitch Black
INS Visakhapatnam and INS Trikand arrive in Dubai for a bilateral exercise
• Two Indian Navy ships named INS Visakhapatnam and INS Trikand arrived at Port
Rashid in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• For a bilateral exercise 'Zayed Talwar 2023' with the UAE Navy
• Ffrom August 8 to 11, 2023.
• Aim: To share best practices and increase synergies between the two navies
INS Chennai engages in Passex Exercise with Royal Saudi Naval Ship
• INS Chennai Mission Deployed in the Red Sea Undertook Passage Exercise (Passex) with Royal Saudi Naval
Ship HMS Al Jubail in Aug 2023.
• INS Chennai is Indian Navy's indigenously designed and constructed guided missile
destroyer.
• It is the third and last ship of the Kolkata-class stealth-
guided missile destroyers (Project 15A).
• It was constructed by the Mazagon Dock Limited
(MDL) at Mumbai. INS Chennai was commissioned
into the Indian Navy on November 21, 2016.
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India, France, UAE conducted maiden joint maritime exercise in the Gulf of Oman
• Navies of India, France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) held the maiden
trilateral maritime partnership exercise on June 7 and June 8 in the Gulf of Oman.
• The Indian Navy deployed stealth frigate INS Tarkash for the exercise.
Exercise Ekatha:
• Annual exercise between the navies of India and Maldives.
• Indian Navy divers and Marine Commandos participated in the sixth edition
of Exercise Ekatha.
• India was among the first to recognise Maldives after its independence in
1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country.
• Maldives opened a full fledged High Commission in New Delhi in November
2004
21st edition of naval exercise VARUNA between India and France Joint Exercise Variant
• organized on the Western Seaboard from 16 -20 January 2023. Varuna Naval
• It is the Bilateral Naval Exercise between India and France.
Garuda Air
• It was initiated in 1993 and was christened ‘VARUNA’ in 2001.
Shakti Army
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Indian Army
India-USA Joint Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR 2023
• 14th Edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise “VAJRA PRAHAR 2023” commenced at the Joint
Training Node, Umroi
• It aims at sharing best practices and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and operational
tactics.
• The first edition was conducted in the year 2010 in India and the 13th edition of the Indo-US Joint Special
Forces exercise was conducted at the Special Forces Training School (SFTS), Bakloh (HP).
• The current edition is being conducted in Umroi Cantonment, Meghalaya from 21st November to 11th
December 2023.
India- Nepal joint military exercise Surya Kiran- XVII commences at Pithoragarh
• The 17th joint military exercise Surya Kiran between the armies of India and Nepal is
being organized in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.
• The Indian Army contingent is being led by a Battalion from the KUMAON Regiment. The
Nepal Army contingent is represented by Tara Dal Battalion.
• It is an annual military exercise and is organized by rotation in both the countries.
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Indian Army wins gold medal in Cambrian Patrol 2023 military exercise
• The Indian Army has won a gold medal at the Cambrian Patrol Competition 2023
International Military Exercise in Wales, UK.
• A team from 3/5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) represented the Indian Army at the
prestigious Cambrian Patrol Exercise in Wales, UK.
• The Indian Army team participated in the event and competed against a total of 111
teams.
• In the year 2021, the Indian Army also won a gold medal at the Cambrian Patrol Exercise
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• Since 2017, the ADMM Plus meets annually to allow dialogue and cooperation among ASEAN and Plus
countries. This year ASEAN member states along with Plus Group will be participating in the exercise.
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India Japan joint training exercise "Dharma Guardian" to begin at Camp Imazu in Shiga
Prefecture, Japan
• The 4th edition of the joint military exercise between India and Japan, "X Dharma
Guardians" at Camp Imazu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.
• Soldiers from the Garhwal Rifles Regiment of the Indian Army and an infantry
regiment from the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) are participating in the
exercise this year.
• The training will mainly focus on high level of physical fitness and sharing of exercises at tactical level.
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Coast Guard
Indian Coast Guard conducts coastal security drill 'Operation Sajag’
• Coastal security drill 'Operation Sajag' was conducted by the Indian Coast
Guard off the west coast.
• Operation Sajag aims to re-validate the coastal security mechanism and
raise awareness among fishermen living at sea.
• During the drill, comprehensive checking and verification of documents and crew passes of all fishing boats
and crafts at sea was carried out.
• A total of 118 ships took part in the drill. These included customs, maritime police, ports, and Indian Navy
ships.
Air Force
LCA-Tejas Deployed In Eastern Sector During Exercise Poorvi
Akash
• The Eastern Air Command (EAC) of the Indian Air Force
(IAF) is conducting its annual command-level exercise,
'Exercise Poorvi Akash' from October 30 to November
5.
• Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas deployed in eastern
region:
• This year's exercise holds special significance as it
marks the first time the indigenously developed Light
Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas has been deployed in the
eastern region of India.
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• In 2018, Avani became the first Indian woman pilot undertake solo flight in MiG-21 aircraft at the Jamnagar
airbase.
• Avani was also awarded with the Nari Shakti Purashkar by President Ram Nath Kovind in March 2020.
Additional Facts:
• Shivangi Singh : first women Rafale jet pilot
• Bhawana Kanth: First woman fighter pilot to take part in republic Day parade (2021)
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Indian Air Force contingent reaches in UAE to participate in Exercise Desert Flag VIII
• An Indian Air Force contingent of 110 Air Warriors reached Al Dahfra airbase of United Arab Emirates on
25 February for participating in Exercise 'Desert Flag VIII'.
• Tejas, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) made in India, will make its first appearance at a multinational exercise
in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• The IAF would be participating with five LCA Tejas and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.
• About Exercise Desert Flag
• It is a multilateral air exercise in which air forces from the United Arab Emirates, France, Kuwait, Australia,
United Kingdom, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, Republic of Korea and the United States will also participate.
• This exercise will run from 27 February to 17 March.
Miscellaneous
Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC) Conducts Large Scale Joint Military Exercise ‘KAVACH’
• EX-KAVACH began on February 23, 2023, concluded on April 07, 2023.
• EX-KAVACH aimed to fine-tune the joint-warfighting capabilities and
operational synergy among the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
• The ANC is the first integrated theatre command in India. Its headquarter
is in Port Blair.
Trishakti Prahar:
• joint exercise ‘Trishakti Prahar’ conducted near the western border of
Rajasthan in Jaisalmer.
• Trishakti Prahar is a joint military exercise involving the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Air
Force.
• Fighter aircraft, Apache attack helicopters, Chinook heavy lift helicopters, and various Navy aircraft
contribute to the multifaceted nature of the exercise.
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• The 2023 edition would synergise efforts at the national level as well as witness participation from eight
countries of the Indian Ocean Region.
Sea Guardian-3
• China and Pakistan are conducted the third edition of the Sea
Guardian-3 bilateral naval exercise in the northern Arabian Sea.
• Theme - "Joint Response to Maritime Security Threats",
China, UAE air forces to conduct first joint training FALCON Shield-2023
• Air forces of China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will conduct a
joint training exercise in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur
autonomous region
• According to the ministry, the exercise, Falcon Shield-2023, will be
the first joint training between the two nation's air forces.
South Korea and the US hold the ‘Freedom Shield’ and ‘Warrior Shield’ joint
exercises, the largest in 5 years
• U.S. flew a long-range B-1B bomber to the Korean Peninsula in a show of
force against North Korea.
• The two countries last conducted Foal Eagle in 2018.
• Recently, both countries have been expanding their joint military exercises in
the face of an evolving North Korean nuclear threat.
• It was conducted from March 13 to 23, 2023.
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• The IAF participated in the exercise this year with five Mirage 2000 fighters, two C-17 Globemaster III and an
IL-78 mid air refueller aircraft.
• The aim of the exercise is to participate in diverse fighter aircraft engagements and learn from the best
practices of various Air Forces.
Cold War: Steadfast Defender NATO drills carried out on the territory of Germany, Poland, and the Baltic
countries
'Tarang Shakti’(1st Edition) Host:Indian Air Force (IAF) in India
Participant Country:US, the UK, France and Australia
Russia: Exercise Ocean Shield 2023 Baltic Sea
SEACAT exercises Led By USA Navy
Host country:Singapore
Participant:Indian Naval Ship Kulish and 19 other countries
“Air Defender 2023” NATO’s biggest ever air exercise
Host:Germany
Exercise Ranvijay Indian Air Force
The exercise was carried out from various air bases under the Central Air
Command, which is headquartered in Prayagraj.
Exercise 'Tarang Shakti' India’s Largest Air Exercise
Participant:12 nations
Buland Bharat Exercise Indian Army conducted exercise in the longest high-altitude Artillery Ranges
of the eastern theatre located in Arunachal Pradesh.
35th edition of India-Thailand concluded in the Andaman Sea
Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai
CORPAT)
Flood Relief Exercise 'Jal Rahat' on Manas River in Assam
Conducted by:Indian Army’s Gajraj Corps
'Sudarshan Shakti 2023' Conducted by:Indian Army
along the western borders in Rajasthan and Punjab.
Soaring Eagle Exercise South Korea Air Force
at the Cheongju air base, situated 112 kilometers south of Seoul.
‘Tiger Shark 40’ Bangladesh-US Joint Naval Exercise held in Chattogram
largest-ever joint military drills, Between United States and the Philippines
Balikatan Held:South China Sea and Taiwan Strait
‘Operation Joint Sword’ around Taiwan Island by Chinese military
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DRDO
• DRDO(Defence Research and Development Organisation) It was established in 1958 by the Government of
India, under the Ministry of Defence.
• It was instituted by combining three major defence organisations namely:
✓ Defence Science Organisation (DSO)
✓ Defence Technical Development Establishment (DTDE)
✓ Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTDP)
• With a project in 1960 on Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM), the Project Indigo was the
DRDO’s first major defence project.
• Secretary DDR&D and Chairman Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) - Dr. Samir V Kamat
• Headquarters: New Delhi.
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DRDO & Indian Navy conduct successful of Air Droppable Container ‘ADC-150’
• DRDO and Indian Navy conducted the successful maiden test trial of ‘ADC-
150’ from IL 38SD aircraft, Goa.
• It is an indigenously designed and developed Air Droppable Container with
a 150 kg payload capacity.
• The trial was conducted to enhance the naval operational logistics
capabilities.
• It reduces the requirement for ships to come close to the coast to collect spares and stores.
Amogha-III Missile:
• The Bharat Dynamics (BDL) has successfully conducted a field firing test of its latest 3rd
generation man-portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM), Amogha-III.
• Amogha-III is an indigenous missile which has been developed under Integrated Guided
Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
• It has a fire-and-forget capability and does not require external intervention after the
launch.
• The missile also features dual-mode Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) Seeker systems with a range
of 200 to 2500 meters.
DRDO and Indian Navy successfully tests sea-based BMD interceptor missile
• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy successfully conducted a maiden
flight trial of a sea-based endo-atmospheric interceptor missile off the coast of
Odisha in the Bay of Bengal.
• (Endo-atmospheric missiles operate within the earth's atmosphere at altitudes
below 100 kilometres, while exo-atmospheric missiles can complete missions in the
uppermost region of the earth's atmosphere.)
• With this successful test, India has entered an elite club of nations which have the
capability to fire a Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) interceptor from a naval platform.
• Only a few countries like the US, Russia, Israel and China have fully-operational BMD system.
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• Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) missile system is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD)
specially designed to counter low-altitude aerial threats over short distances.
• These are short-range, lightweight, and portable surface-to-air missiles that can be fired by individuals or
small groups.
• It has been designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, in
collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian industry partners.
• The use of VSHORAD missiles in India is primarily by the Indian Army.
• DRDO's first project for the Indian military was in surface-to-air missiles (SAM) known as Project Indigo.
However, it received little success and was therefore discontinued.
Project Kusha
• India is on track to operationally deploy its own long-range air defense system by 2028-29.
• This indigenous system is designed to detect and destroy a wide array of threats, including stealth fighters,
aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and precision-guided munitions at ranges of up to 350 km.
• The ambitious project, known as Project Kusha, is under the purview of the Defense Research and
Development Organization (DRDO).
• India Aims to Deploy Indigenous ‘Iron Dome’ by 2028: India is working on its own manufactured long-range
air defense system, aiming to deploy it by 2028-2029. This indigenous surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM) system
is being developed under ‘Project Kusha’ by DRDO, promising to possess capabilities similar to the Russian S-
400.
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DRDO develops P7 Heavy Drop System for Indian Army Special Forces
• DRDO has developed the P7 Heavy Drop System which is capable of
para-dropping military stores up to 7-ton weight class from IL 76 aircraft.
• The P-7 Heavy Drop Parachute System, entirely designed and developed
in India, is set to enhance the paradropping capabilities of the Armed
Forces on the battlefield
• The system has been manufactured with 100 percent indigenous
Ferrous/Non-Ferrous Materials.
• Engineering textiles for Parachutes have been developed with the latest combination of Fluorocarbon and
Silicon
• The system would be a force multiplier for armed forces while enabling the rapid delivery of combat stores
in far-flung inaccessible areas.
• The integrated explosive, mechanical and electronic safety features ensure utmost operator safety.
• The munition also incorporates an electronic anti-handling and anti-lift device (EAHALD) that stays active for
120 days once armed.
• It has mechanical timers. Due to this, after 120 days, it will be self-neutralised.
• It has a storage life of 10 years with no special storage requirements.
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IAF Receives First LCA Trainer From HAL, Seven More To Come By March 2024
• State-run plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over the first
trainer version of the light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas to Indian Air Force (IAF) at
a ceremony in Bengaluru
• with the twin seater set to fill a key training role in the air force and double as a
fighter if needed
• The IAF, ranked as the world’s fourth-largest air force, plans to operate over 350
LCAs, including Mk-1, Mk-1A, and Mk-2 versions.
• The LCA Tejas project was initiated in 1983 as a replacement for the aging Soviet-origin MiG-21 fighter fleet.
• The Mk-1 and Mk-1A variants will replace the IAF’s MiG-21 fighters, while the Mk-2 aircraft is planned as a
replacement for the MiG-29s, Mirage-2000s, and Jaguar fighters, which are set to retire in the coming
decade.
India Likely To Sign Deal With US For 31 MQ-9B Drones By Feb 2024
• India and the US are closing an agreement for India to purchase 31 MQ-9B
drones.
• Delivery of the agreement is scheduled to start in February 2027, at an
estimated cost of $3.072 billion.
• The Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy will each receive three of the thirty-
one drones.
• They can communicate via satellite for up to 40 hours.
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India unveils the world's first AI-powered anti-drone system – Indrajal by Grene
Robotics
• Hyderabad-based robotics company Grene Robotics developed Indrajal, an
innovative autonomous anti-drone system powered by artificial intelligence
(AI).
• The Indrajal system is the first of its kind in India and is designed to protect critical facilities such as nuclear
installations and oil rigs, as well as large areas, potentially entire cities, from various drone threats.
• Key Features of Indrajal - Autonomous Drone Defense Dome:
• It offers an impressive coverage range of up to 4,000 square km per unit, providing comprehensive
protection against a variety of drones.
• Indrajal has been completely developed in India, showcasing the country's capabilities in technology and
defense.
• It provides 360-degree protection with real-time capabilities to detect, identify, classify, track, and
neutralize threats.
• Systems can respond to threats in a very short time frame, with threat lifetimes ranging from 30 seconds to
a few minutes.
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• The C-295 can be transformed into a powerful water bomber that can put out forest fires with up to 7,000
litres of water due to a flexible roll-on/roll-off system.
• First Indian unit in 2026
• Production of components for the aircraft to be made in India has already started in the Main Constituent
Assembly (MCA) facility in Hyderabad and these parts will be shipped to Vadovara FAL, which is expected to
be operational by November 2024.
Vindhyagiri frigate:
• President of India launched Indian Navy’s 6th Nilgiri-Class P17A
Frigate at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited,
Kolkata, on August 17.
• Vindhyagiri frigate is named after a mountain range in Karnataka.
• It is the sixth ship of the Project 17A frigates.
• Under the Project 17A programme, four ships by Mumbai-based
Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and three by Garden
Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) are being built.
• The project’s first five ships were launched by MDL and GRSE, between 2019-2022.
• These ships have been designed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau.
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• The P-17A frigates were named after the former-Nilgiri-class frigates, which served in the IN between 1972
and 2013
• The first six ships of the series were allotted the names utilised by the older class, namely – Nilgiri,
Himgiri, Taragiri, Udaygiri, Dunagiri, and Vindhyagiri.
Goa Shipyard and Kenya Shipyard sign MoU for ship design and building cooperation
• Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and Kenya Shipyard Limited (KSL) signed an MoU for
cooperation in ship design and construction.
• The MoU was formalized during a meeting between India's Defense Minister
Rajnath Singh and Kenya's Cabinet Secretary Defense Aden Bare Duale on August
29, 2023.
• The signing event took place in New Delhi, Delhi.
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• The first three ships, named Sandhayak, Nirdeshak, and Ikshak, were launched on December 5, 2021, May
26, 2022, and November 26, 2022, respectively.
GE Aerospace, HAL signs MoU to produce fighter jet engines for Tejas Mk2
• US-based GE Aerospace has signed a memorandum of understanding with
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian
Air Force.
• Aerospace's F414 engines will be co-produced in India to power the Tejas
Light Combat Aircraft Mk2.
• It is part of an effort to improve defense- and technology-sharing between the India and US.
Que: Indian Army has tied up with which university to impart Chinese language training to
military personnel?
Ans: Tezpur University Assam
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Army and
Tezpur University for training the Indian Army personnel in the Chinese language.
• Tezpur University established in 1994 by an act of parliament as a central university is one the pioneers in
the North East in the teaching of foreign languages including Chinese
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• It has been designed and developed by Economics Explosives Ltd (EEL), a subsidiary of Solar Industries
Nagpur, in association with Z-Motion, Bangalore.
• It has an indigenous content of more than 75%
• The Nagastra can loiter around in the air and strike when the target reaches the spot.
• It hits in a kamikaze mode (suicidal attack), destroying the target and itself.
Que: With whom did the Indian Navy sign an agreement to develop secure maritime communication?
Ans: Raman Research Institute
• Quantum technologies will soon be used to develop secure maritime communications
in a joint effort by the Raman Research Institute (RRI) and the Indian Navy.
• RRI is an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST)
• Professor Tarun Souradeep, Director, RRI
• Under this agreement, RRI’s Quantum Information and Computing (QuIC) lab will lead
the research efforts towards developing quantum key distribution techniques that the Indian Navy could
leverage in the nation's efforts towards securing free space communications.
GRSE, Rolls Royce sign MoU for manufacturing marine engines in India
• Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd has signed an MoU with Rolls
Royce Solutions of Germany for the manufacture of high-quality marine diesel
engines at the GRSE's plant in Ranchi.
• The MoU deals with the transfer of technology related to engine assembly,
painting, parts sourcing, and after-sales service for these engines
• Both will co-operate in the license production and localization of the technologically advanced MTU S4000
governmental marine engines
Centre signs Rs 934 crore deal with HSL to Refit INS Sindhukirti Submarine in Visakhapatnam
• In a further boost to achieve 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', the Ministry of Defense signed a
contract for General Refit of Sindhukirti Submarine at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL),
Visakhapatnam at a total cost of Rs 934 crore .
• Sindhukirti is the third Kilo class Diesel Electric Submarine.
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Indian Army gets 'World's First' fully operational SWARM Drone System
• Bengaluru-based start-up, NewSpace Research has delivered SWARM drones to Indian
Army.
• These drone systems will make the Army the first major armed force in the world to
operationalize with these high-density SWARM drones.
• The swarm of 100 drones is capable of hitting targets at least 50 km away into enemy territory.
• It is a part of the Aatmanirbhar effort to indigenize critical and disruptive military technologies.
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Project-75
• Aimed at indigenous construction of 6 Kalvari (or Scorpene) class diesel-electric attack submarines through
technology transfer from Naval Group of France.
• The submarines are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai.
• 4 Submarines- INS Kalvari, Khanderi , Karanj and Vela have already been commissioned.
• The 6th Submarine INS Vagsheer is undergoing sea trials since April 2022.
INS Imphal, the third warship of Project 15B forming the Visakhapatnam class stealth-
guided missile destroyers, is set to be commissioned into the Indian Navy.
• fourth Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer ‘Surat’ will be commissioned
in 2024.
• The Royal Thai Navy hosted the 8th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) 2023 in Bangkok,
Thailand.
• India will take over as the Chair of IONS (2025-2027) during the convening of the 9th Symposium.
Miscellaneous
ICG ship ‘Kamla Devi’, last vessel of FPV series, commissioned
• Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) ICG ship 'Kamala Devi' was commissioned in Kolkata
• Designed, built and delivered by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE)
Ltd
• ICGS Kamla Devi will patrol the seas and undertake anti-smuggling, anti-poaching
and search and rescue operations when required.
• A passenger-cum-cargo ocean going ferry 'MV Ma Lisha' built by the shipyard for
the Republic of Guyana was also flagged off.
• This is the first such ship built by a Défense Public Sector Shipyard for export to a
Latin American country
Indian Army inaugurated first-ever two-storey 3-D printed dwelling unit at Ahmedabad
Cantt.
• The dwelling unit has been constructed by the Military Engineering Services (MES) in
collaboration with MiCoB Pvt. Ltd. incorporating the latest 3D Rapid Construction
Technology.
• The disaster-resilient structures comply with Zone-3 earthquake specifications and green building norms.
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INS Nireekshak awarded ‘on-the-spot’ Navy chief Unit Citation for salvage ops
• In a first for the Indian Navy, Chief of Navy awarded an ‘on the spot’ Unit Citation to INS
Nireekshak in Kochi.
• Reason: For deep sea diving and undertaking salvage operations under the most
challenging circumstances
• INS Nireekshak:
• It is a Dive Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel of the Indian Navy.
• It was built in 1985 by Mazgaon Shipbuilders.
Aero India: HAL received approval from DGCA for indigenously developed ‘black boxes
• In Aero India, the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has received the Indian Technical
Standard Order (ITSO) authorisation from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
for its indigenously developed Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder
(FDR). CVR and FDR are popularly known as ‘black boxes’.
• These recorders are painted in orange colour to help in their recovery following an aircraft accident.
For the first time, Indian submarine INS Sindhukesari docks Indonesia amid South China
Sea conflict
• Indian submarine INS SindhuKesari docks Jakarta, Indonesia for the first time
amid the conflict between China and Indonesia in the South China Sea.
• Indonesia is among the countries involved in a naval dispute with Beijing in the
South China Sea.
• It is about strengthening the maritime partnership between India and Indonesia towards a secure Indo-
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• Indian warships frequently visit Indonesia and other ASEAN countries. This is the first time the submarine
has been deployed for long distances.
• INS Sindhukesari is the 3,000-tonne diesel-electric submarine.
First edition of Naval Commanders’ Conference of 2023 began onboard India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS
Vikrant
• The first edition of the 2023 Naval Commanders' Conference started on March 6,
2023, onboard INS Vikrant, in the Arabian Sea off Goa.
• Rajnath Singh addressed the Naval Commanders onboard INS Vikrant.
• This conference serves as a platform for Naval Commanders to discuss important
security issues at the military-strategic level and interact with senior government
functionaries
What is GBU-57?
• The US Military recently posted pictures of a powerful bomb
called the GBU-57, designed to penetrate deep into the earth
and destroy underground facilities.
• It is known as the “Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)”.
• It is a GPS-guided, earth-penetrating strike weapon
• MOP is one of the most powerful non-nuclear bombs in the
world.
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Sagar Nidhi
• In News - Scientists from Bangladesh and Mauritius recently embarked onboard India’s research vessel
Sagar Nidhi to participate in a joint ocean expedition.
• The event took place under the framework of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) between the nations of
the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Sagar Nidhi:
• Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) Sagar Nidhi is a multidisciplinary vessel operated
by the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• It was built in 2007 by Italy.
• It is India’s third research vessel after Sagar Purvi and Sagar Paschimi.
• It is powered by fully automatic diesel-electric propulsion.
• It is equipped to launch submersible capsules capable of taking scientists to a depth of six km below sea
level.
• The vessel is capable of carrying out geo-scientific, meteorological and oceanographic research.
• The vessel would be used for launching tsunami monitoring systems.
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• The $1.54 billion diesel-electric powered Haikun submarine represents a significant step in Taiwan’s efforts
to enhance its defense capabilities.
• Taiwan’s goal is to operate a fleet of 10 submarines, which includes two older Dutch-made boats, and equip
them with missiles.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh approved 23 new Sainik Schools in partnership mode
• Defence minister Rajnath Singh approved the setting up 23 new Sainik Schools in
partnership mode, aiming for 100 new schools in total.
• Sainik School Society signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) with 19
new proposed Sainik Schools located across the country.
• Further evaluation of the applications has led to the approval of 23 additional new Sainik Schools under the
partnership mode, taking the total number of such schools to 42, in addition to the existing 33 Sainik Schools
operating under the previous model.
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• In his address, the Raksha Mantri described the BRO as the ‘brother‘ of the Armed Forces, emphasizing that
through its infrastructure projects, the BRO is not only securing
India’s borders but also playing a key role in the socio-economic
development of remote areas.
Devak Bridge
• The event took place at Devak Bridge on Bishnah-Kaulpur-
Phulpur Road, which was inaugurated by the Raksha Mantri. The
state-of-the-art 422.9-meter-long Class 70 RCC Devak bridge
Project Naman:
• The Project will entail establishing facilitation and grievance redressal centres for veterans and the kin of
personnel who have lost their lives.
• The first such centre will be established in Delhi Cantonment.
• 'Naman' will house a Common Service Centre, which will facilitate the veterans and their relatives.
• It will offer all government-to-customer services and also facilitate the updating of pensioners' accounts on
the SPARSH portal of veterans, next of kin and dependents.
• SPARSH portal
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• It is being implemented by the Ministry of Defence to meet the pension sanction and disbursement
requirements for Armed Forces viz. Army, Navy, Air Force and Defence Civilians.
Project Udbhav:
• The Indian Army in partnership with the United Service Institution of India (USI),
wrapped up a hybrid-panel discussion as part of Project Udbhav.
• The discussion focused on "The Evolution of Indian Military Systems, Warfare, and
Strategic Thinking: Current Research and Future Directions.“
• Project Udbhav is an initiative set in motion by the Indian Army to rediscover the profound Indic heritage of
statecraft and strategic thoughts derived from ancient Indian texts of statecraft, warcraft, diplomacy and
grand strategy.
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• It focuses on a broad spectrum including Indigenous Military Systems, Historical Texts, Regional Texts and
Kingdoms, Thematic Studies, and intricate Kautilya Studies.
• At its core, Project Udbhav seeks to bridge the historical and the contemporary.
• In connection with Project Udbhav, the USI will conduct a Military Heritage Festival on 21st and 22nd
October, 2023.
IAF Chief unveils new Ensign as the force marks 91st anniversary
• Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief recently unveiled a new Ensign for
the force.
• This crest prominently features the national symbol, the Ashoka Lion, at
the top, with the words “Satyamev Jayate” in Devanagari script below it.
• Beneath the Ashoka Lion is a Himalayan eagle with outstretched wings,
symbolising the fighting spirit of the IAF.
• A ring in light blue colour encircles the Himalayan eagle with the words “Indian Air Force”.
• The IAF motto, derived from the Bhagavad Gita, “Nabha Sparsham Deeptam”, meaning “touching the sky
with glory,” is inscribed below the Himalayan eagle in golden Devanagari.
Operation Chakra-II
• Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) carried out searches against cyber criminals, involved in financial
crimes, at 76 locations across multiple states under 'Operation Chakra 2.’
• Searches were conducted in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Haryana,
Punjab, Delhi-NCR and Himachal Pradesh," the official informed.
• The purpose of this operation was to combat and eliminate financial enables crime. The searches were
conducted using information provided by several national and international investigation agencies.
• The CBI will share the details of the cases with international law enforcement agencies including the FBI,
INTERPOL, NCA in UK, Singapore Police and BKA of Germany to combat organized crime.
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‘Surat’ Becomes The First Navy Warship To Be Named After A City in Gujarat
• The crest of the Indian Navy's latest warship 'Surat' will be unveiled by Gujarat
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
• This is the first warship to be named after a city of Gujarat and this is also the first
time the unveiling of the crest of a warship is being undertaken in the very city
after which it has been named
• This tribute is significant because Surat has a remarkable maritime heritage. During the 16th to the 18th
century, Surat was a thriving center for maritime trade and shipbuilding activities.
• ‘Surat’ is part of the ‘Project 15B‘ program, which involves the construction of four next-generation stealth
guided missile destroyers. It is the fourth and final ship in this program.
• In 2011, the deal to build four warships -- Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal, and Surat -- was signed under
the Project-15B programme
• These ships are equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and long-range Surface-to-Air Missiles
(SAM).
Short News
• Three S-400 Missile Units Are Deployed by the IAF Along Pakistani And Chinese
Borders
• In 2018-19, India agreed with Russia to procure S-400 missiles worth ₹35,000 crore
(approx).
• The United States military recently conducted a Minuteman III missile launch, developed by
Boeing Co
• The Indian Army has installed a mobile tower in collaboration with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited for the
first time at Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battlefield.
• IAF To Stop Flying MiG-21 By 2025, replace them with the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A.:
Air Chief
• The Indian Air Force is celebrating its 91st anniversary on October 8 with the theme-"IAF-airpower beyond
boundaries"
• Indian Air Force and Drone Federation of India will co-host Bharat Drone Shakti- 2023 at the Indian Air Force
airbase at Hindon in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
• Indian Navy's INS Sumedha arrived at Port Alexandria, Egypt, to take part in 'Exercise Bright Star-23.’
• The Ministry of Defence signs a contract of Rs. 2725 Cr with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd for Medium
Refit with Life Certification of Submarine INS Shankush
• North Korea recently tested its latest Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
• Voyager Space has signed an MoU with New Space India Limited (NSIL) to foster collaboration in spacecraft
launch and deployment opportunities onboard NSIL’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) and Polar Satellite
Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
• INS Sunayna visited Mombasa, Kenya from 20-23 Jun 23 towards strengthening bilateral ties with maritime
neighbours on the theme of the Ocean Ring of Yoga.
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GI Tags
Ladakh
Ladakh Secures 4th GI Tag For ‘Sea-buckthorn’
‘Ladakh Seabuckthorn’ Becomes The 4th Product From Ladakh To Receive The
Coveted GI Tag After Ladakh Pashmina Wool, Ladakh Apricot (Raktsey Karpo),
And Ladakhi Wood Carving.
J&K
Saffron of Kishtwar district receives GI tag from Geographical Indications Registry
This type of saffron is cultivated and harvested in high altitude areas.
The famous most expensive variety of saffron is known as 'Kumkum'. It is the main cash
crop of Kishtwar district.
Kishtwar's saffron production area is called locally as Mandal.
Bhaderwah Rajma and Ramban Sulai honey get GI tag in Jammu and Kashmir
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Jammu started the GI tagging
process for these products.
This recognition is expected to increase exports, increase brand presence
internationally and prevent misuse.
Jammu and Kashmir was a state of India until August 2019, when it was
bifurcated as two union territories named Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on 31 August 2019.
Capital- Srinagar (May-October), Jammu (November-April)
Lieutenant Governor - Manoj Sinha
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand’s Unique Products Gets Geographical Indication Tags
Recently, more than 15 products from Uttarakhand were given the Geographical
Indicator (GI) tag.
Almora Lakhori mirchis: It is an indigenous chili variant that was first grown in a village
called Lakhora in Uttarakhand.
Bichhu Buti Fabrics: made from Himalayan nettle fibers. These fabrics, known for
their natural insulation properties, are ideal for clothing in both winter and summer.
Uttarakhand mandua - a finger millet grown in Garhwal and Kumaon that is part of
the staple diet in many parts of the State
Chamoli wooden Ramman masks: Mask making or Mukhota
is a traditional craft of carving masks out of wood.
Nainital mombatti (candles) - Candles produced in the
Nainital region, possibly featuring specific designs or scents.
Rangwali pichhoda of Kumaon - Traditional fabric with
colourful designs, representing Kumaon’s artistic heritage
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Ramnagar Nainital litchis and Ramgarh Nainital peaches: They are distinctly
flavored fruits grown in the Nainital district in Uttarakhand.
Likhai: It is an ancient wood carving tradition of the Kumaon region of
Uttarakhand.
Pahari toor dal
Malta fruit: Also known as the Himalayan Sweet Orange, it is grown in the
Himalayan valleys
Buransh juice: It is obtained from the red flowers of the Buransh tree
(Rhododendron arboreum).
Uttarakhand lal chawal
Uttarakhand kala bhat: It is a black soybean that is grown at an altitude of
1000-1700m
Gahat: An important pulse that grows in the dry regions of the State. It has
been used by practitioners of Ayurveda and traditional medicine due to its
medicinal properties.
Jhangora: It is a homegrown millet commonly cultivated in the rain-fed areas
of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand.
Berinag tea
Chaulai (Ramdana): It is a grain consumed when fasting due to its nutritional value. It is also known as Rajgira
and Amaranth.
Himachal Pradesh
Kangra Tea from Himachal Pradesh gets European Geographical Indication tag
This will help promote the sale of the product in the European market.
Kangra tea is renowned for its distinctive taste and colour.
In India, Kangra tea received the Geographical Indication designation in 2005.
This tea is grown at an altitude of 900 to 1400 metres above sea level. Tea requires
annual rainfall of 270 to 350 cm.
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh Gets 10 New GI Tags
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Four more ODOP products from Uttar Pradesh in GI club, UP’s tally reaches 52
Four products are: Amroha Dholak, Baghpat Home Furnishings, Barabanki Handloom Product,
and Kalpi Handmade Paper
The Amroha Dholak is a musical instrument made of natural wood. Mango, jackfruit, and
teakwood are preferred for making the dholak.
Kalpi has historically been a centre of handmade paper manufacturing.
The registration of a geographical indication is valid for a period of 10 years
Jalesar Dhatu Shilp: In Jalesar, Uttar Pradesh's Etah district, the Thatheras community in the locality of Hathuras
make 'Jalesar Dhatu Shilp,' which includes anklets, bells, and other decorative metal craft and brassware.
Bihar
Bihar’s West Champaran ‘Marcha’ rice gets GI tag
The size and shape of the grain appear like that of black pepper, hence it is known as
Mircha or Marcha Rice.
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh gets 9 GI Tags
• Gond Painting of Madhya Pradesh (handicraft)
• Wrought iron crafts of Dindori (handicraft)
• Ujjain Batik Print (handicraft)
• Gwalior Handmade carpet (handicraft)
• Jabalpur Stone craft of Bhedaghat (handicraft)
• Waraseoni Handloom sarees and fabrics (handicraft)
• Sharbati Gehu (agriculture)
• Rewa Sunderja mango (agriculture)
• Morena gajak (food stuffs)
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As the name suggests, Sharbati variety wheat is slightly sweeter in taste probably due to the presence of slightly
more amount of simple sugars like glucose and sucrose as compared to other wheat varieties.
Chhattisgarh
Nagari Dubraj got GI Tag
'Nagri Dubraj' variety of Nagari paddy of Dhamtari development block of Chhattisgarh has
got GI tag.
'Nagri Dubraj' is the second crop of the Chhattisgarh, which has got GI Tag. Prior to this, the
state has got GI tag for Jeera Phool paddy variety.
Nagari Dubraj is also called Basmati in Chhattisgarh, as this rice is used as a flavored rice in traditional feasts of
Chhattisgarh.
Rajasthan
Crafts from Rajasthan gets GI tags
Udaipur Koftgari Metal Craft: Udaipur Koftgari Metal Craft involves
exquisitely ornamenting weapons through a complex process.
Bikaner Kashidakari Craft: It is traditionally made on cotton, silk or velvet with a variety of
fine stitches and mirror-work, mainly for objects associated with marriage, especially gift
items. The mirrors used in this craft are believed to protect against the 'evil eye' due to
their reflective surfaces.
The Meghwal community in Bikaner and nearby districts traditionally weaved fabrics by
hand for this craft.
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Odisha
Sweet dish 'Rasabali' of Kendrapara, Odisha gets GI Tag
'Kendrapara Rasabali’ owes its origin to the 262-year-old Sree Baladevjew temple here.
The presiding deity of the shrine is offered Rasabali as ‘bhog’.
Assam
Chokuwa Rice
Chokuwa rice had earned a GI (Geographical Indication) tag in 2020 for its
exquisiteness.
Chokuwa rice is also known as Magic rice cultivated in Assam.
It is a part of Assam’s culinary heritage; and is cultivated around the
Brahmaputra River area
It is basically semi-glutinous winter rice, known as Sali rice.
The low amylase Chokuwa rice variants are used to make soft rice, which is known as Komal Chaul or soft rice.
This whole grain can be consumed after soaking the rice in cold or lukewarm water. This rice variety is widely
consumed for its convenience of preparation and nutritional value.
Mizoram
Mizoram would export ‘Bird’s eye chilli’ of the state to the United States for the first time
7.5 metric tons of organic bird’s eye chilli would be sent to the US
Mizoram has obtained geographical identification (GI) tag for bird’s eye chilli or ‘Mizo chilli’.
Meghalaya
Meghalaya’s Lakadong Turmeric gets Geographical Indication tag
It is considered to be one of the world's best varieties of turmeric
It is darker in colour and is grown organically without the use of fertilisers.
It is found in Lakadong area of Jaintia Hills, has high curcumin content.
Arunachal Pradesh
Khamti rice and Tangsa textile
Arunachal Pradesh has been awarded the geographical indication (GI) tag for
Khamti rice, Yak churpi from Tawang and Tangsa textile by the GI Registry in
Chennai.
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Khamti rice is a variety of sticky rice produced in Namsai district. It is known for its taste.
Tangsa textile: Textile products of the Tangsa tribe of Changlang district are famous for their exotic designs and
colors
The first product in India to be accorded with GI tag was Darjeeling tea in the year 2004-05.
Mithun
Northeast’s Mithun gets a ‘food animal’ tag from the Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India (FSSAI).
The Mithun or gayal (Bos frontalis) is considered a descendant of the Indian Gaur
or bison.
Consumed for generations across many regions of the Northeast, work is on to
help mithun farmers and tribal village communities benefit commercially from the sale and processing of
mithun meat
It plays an important role in the socio-economic and cultural life of tribes such as the Nyishi, Apatani, Galo
and Adi in Arunachal Pradesh.
It is distributed in Northeast India, Bangladesh, northern Myanmar and in Yunnan, China.
It is known as the ‘cattle of the mountain’.
The gayal is the state animal of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
It has a lot of business potential and the potential to provide nutritional, livelihood and financial security.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research launched the M-ANITRA app to register Mithun farmers as
“buyers” and “sellers” with the aim of helping them do business at competitive prices.
Goa
Goa Cashew:
Recently, Goan cashew (kernel) got the geographical indication (GI) tag.
Cashew is one of the most important plantation crops in India
Cashew was native to northeast Brazil in Latin America and was introduced to
Goa by the Portuguese in the 16th century (1570).
Temperature: In the range of 20 to 380C, relative humidity in the range of 60
to 95%.
Rain fall: Annual precipitation in the range of 2000 to 3500mm.
Goa
Mankurad mango: The mango variety is known by several names, including malcorada,
cardozo mankurad, corado, and Goa mankur. The Portuguese originally named it
malcorada, meaning 'poor colored'. Over time, it evolved into mankurad aamo (mango) in
Konkani, the local language.
Karnataka
KARI ISHAD MANGO gets GI Tag
Kari Ishad mango of Ankola in Karnataka gets GI tag
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Varieties: The mango has two variants — Kari Ishad, which has thin skin, more pulp and is sweeter, and Bili Ishad,
which has thick skin and has less pulp and sweetness.
Harvesting season: The mango is harvested from mid-May.
Demand of Pulp: The mango has a short shelf life of not more than two or three days. But its pulp lasts more than a
year. The pulp of Ishad Mango has been extracted for over a century for making value-added products.
Tamil Nadu
Cumbum Grapes
Cumbum Panneer Thratchai, also known as Cumbum grapes
A variety of grapes grown in the Cumbum Valley located at the Western Ghats in
Tamil Nadu, India.
Introduced in Tamil Nadu in 1832 by a French priest, these grapes are rich in
vitamins, tartaric acid, and antioxidants, and reduce the risk of some chronic
diseases.
Jaderi namakatti:
• Clay sticks with white colour, finger-like shape, and smooth texture.
• Made by Jaderi Tiruman (Namakatti)
Chedibutta saree:
• Handloom saree made from art silk and cotton mix fabric, featuring the iconic “plant and flower” motif on
the border and pallu.
• Woven by skilled Sowrashtra weavers.
• Veeravanallur town, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu
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Goan bebinca: Bebinca is also known as the ‘queen of Goan desserts’, is a traditional
Indo-Portuguese pudding made with egg yolks, sugar, coconut milk, and flour.
Andhra Pradesh
Araku coffee and black pepper get organic certification
Araku Valley coffee and black pepper from Andhra Pradesh have received organic
certification.
The organic certification was granted by the Agricultural and Processed Food
Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), a central government sector
organisation.
Organic certification will enable tribal farmers to command higher prices for their
coffee and black pepper.
About APEDA
It is an Indian apex-export trade promotion active government body.
It works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
It acts as the apex body for promotion and development of export trade of agricultural and processed food products.
Establishment - 13 February 1986
Headquarters: New Delhi
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Feature Description
To ensure the maintenance of a viable population of tigers in India for scientific, economic,
Objective
aesthetic, cultural and ecological values.
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Centrally Sponsered Scheme under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
Type
(MoEFCC)
Implementing
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) (est. 2005; HQ: New Delhi)
Authority
NTCA was established following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force). It is
About NTCA
a statutory body under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, of 1972.
Members of Union Minister of the MoEFCC (as Chairperson)+ the Minister of State in the MoEFCC (as Vice-
NTCA Chairperson)+ 3 MPs, Secretary, MoEFCC
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UP has the highest number of colleges in the country: AISHE 2020-21 report
The Union Ministry of Education has released the All India Survey on
Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-2021.
According to the report Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of
colleges in the country, followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka.
There are 8,114 colleges in Uttar Pradesh and 32 colleges per one lakh
population.
Most of the colleges offer undergraduate level programs only.
Only 2.9 percent colleges offer PhD level programs and 55.2 percent offer
postgraduate level programmes.
Gender Parity Index (GPI), the ratio of female GER to male GER, has increased from 1 in 2017-18 to 1.05 in 2020-
21.
The female enrollment in North East states in 2020-21 is 6.14 lakh, which is higher than the male enrollment of 5.92
lakh, for every 100 male students, there are 104 female students in the North East region.
The report shows a nationwide increase of 7.5% in student enrollment in 2020-21 as compared to 2019-20.
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Que: Which institution releases the ‘Twenty Point Programme (TPP) progress report’?
Ans: National Statistical Office
The National Statistical Office, NSO, recently released a progress report on TPP. According to the report, only 41% of
the fixed target was completed in 2022-23. The aim was to build 125,000 km of road. But only 45,945 km has been
completed.
The Government of India launched the TPP in 1975. It has been revised twice since its launch, once in 1982 and then
in 1986. The main objective of the program is to eradicate poverty and improve the lives of rural people using 20
points.
Performance of a programme is considered ‘poor’ by the NSO if the level of targets achieved is below 80 per cent.
Bihar and Chattisgarh among States that allocated more towards education
According to the government data, the States/UTs - Delhi, Assam, and
Himachal Pradesh - allocated a higher portion of their budget expenditure on
education.
Delhi spent 22% of its budget, while Assam spent
20% and HP spent 19%.
Among the big States, such as Chhattisgarh and
Bihar allocate 18.82% and 18.3% respectively, of
the State’s estimated net budget expenditure to
education.
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Protection Initiative:
Indian:
In India, Item-67 of the Union List, Item-12 of the State List, and Item-40 of the Concurrent List of the Constitution
deal with the country’s heritage.
Before Independence, the Antiquities (Export Control) Act was passed in April 1947 to ensure that no antiquity could
be exported without a license.
The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act was enacted in 1958 to protect ancient
monuments and archaeological sites from destruction and misuse.
Shortage of Judges
According to the report, as of December 2022, the high courts were functioning with only 778 judges as against the
sanctioned strength of 1,108.
The subordinate courts were functioning with 19,288 judges as against the sanctioned strength of 24,631 judges.
Case Clearance Rate (CCR)
As per reports, the High Courts are settling more cases than the subordinate courts.
The High Courts of Kerala and Odisha have the highest case disposal rates – 156% and 131%, respectively – while
the High Courts of Rajasthan (65%) and Bombay (72%) have the lowest, respectively.
Performance of States
Karnataka ranks first among 18 large and medium-sized states with a population of over one crore in terms of
delivery of justice.
Tamil Nadu is second and Telangana is third. Uttar Pradesh is at the 18th position, which is at the bottom.
Among small states, Sikkim topped the list of seven small states with less than one crore population, followed by
Arunachal Pradesh. Goa is at the bottom, at seventh position.
About India Justice Report
Tata Trusts launched the India Justice Report (IJR) in 2019.
This is the third edition.
India’s Forest cover increases by 1,540 sqkm between ISFR 2019 and ISFR
2021: FSI Report
• As per latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, the total forest
cover in the country is 7,13,789 square kilometer. This is 21.71% of the
geographical area of India.
• The ISFR report is released by the Forest Survey of India (FSI),
Dehradun, biennially, since 1987 based on forest cover.
• The last survey was done in 2019.
• As per the report, between ISFR 2019 and ISFR 2021, the forest cover has increased by 1,540 square
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• FSI is an organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, founded in June 1981.
State with largest forest cover in the country – Madhya Pradesh (77,493 sqkm)
State with largest Percentage of Geographical area under forest – Mizoram (84.53)
Maximum increase in forest cover witnessed in Andhra Pradesh (647 sq km)
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Mumbai Ranks Sixth in Annual Housing Price Growth Among Global Cities
Mumbai ranks 6th among 46 cities globally in terms of annual price growth of high-end
residential properties
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According to real estate consultant Knight Frank India report 'Prime Global Cities Index Q1 2023’, Mumbai had an
appreciation of 5.5% in January-March 2023.
Dubai clinched the top position globally with an increase of 44.2 % in prime residential properties values.
Kerala topped the 5th State Food Safety Index among the large states
Union Helath Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled 5th State Food Safety
Index on the occasion of World Food Safety Day 2023.
Among larger states, Kerala secured the top ranking, followed by Punjab and Tamil
Nadu.
Smaller states: Goa, Manipur and Sikkim
UTs: J&K, Delhi and Chandigarh
The index has evaluated the performance of states and UTs across six different
aspects of food safety.
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The State Food Safety Index (SFSI) is an annual evaluation published by FSSAI, designed to encourage states and
union territories to improve their performance and establish strong food safety systems within their jurisdictions.
Introduced in 2018-19
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Union Minister Pralhad Joshi unveils List of “Critical Minerals for India”.
Union Minister of Mines, Pralhad Joshi, has unveiled India's first-ever report on Critical
Minerals for India. The report identifies 30 critical minerals essential for sectors including
defense, agriculture, energy, pharmaceuticals, and telecom.
This comprehensive list marks a milestone in India's pursuit of self-reliance and security in
mineral resources, aligning with the vision of achieving 'Net Zero' targets.
Those critical minerals are Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium,
Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, REE, Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium,
Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium, and Cadmium.
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• Among the four elephant-bearing regions in India, the east-central region reported the highest number of
elephant corridors at 52, followed by the northeast region with 48 and the southern region with 32. The
northern region has the lowest number of elephant corridors at 18.
• Of the 150 reported elephant corridors, 126 are within the political boundaries of states while 19 are located
across two states. There are also six transnational corridors between India and Nepal, primarily in Uttar
Pradesh.
• Conservation Status (Asian Elephant):
• IUCN Red List: Endangered
• CITES: Appendix I.
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.
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The latest index introduced a new parameter, ‘Improvement in SFSI Rank,’ altering the weights of existing
parameters and shedding light on states’ progress
over the previous year.
SFSI was started in 2018-19 to create a
competitive and positive change in the food safety
ecosystem in the country.
• Tamil Nadu emerged as the leading
state in consumer empowering
initiatives, followed by Kerala and
Madhya Pradesh.
• Gujarat and Kerala were the top
performers in Food testing category, while Andhra Pradesh performed the worst.
• In the new parameter 'Improvement in SFSI Rank,' only Punjab showed significant improvement.
System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR)
The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) is a national initiative to measure the air
quality of a metropolitan city.
Invented by - Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
SAFAR is an essential component of India's first operational Air Quality Early Warning System in Delhi.
It was created by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, India Meteorological Department (IMD),
and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF).
The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act gives the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) the authority to
set air quality standards.
Alarming Rise in Road Accidents and Fatalities: India’s Road Safety Crisis
The number of road accidents in India went up by an alarming 12% to over 4.6 lakh in 2022, resulting in death of 19
persons every hour, according to a report by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
53 road accidents take place every hour in the country.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has set a target to reduce the number of accidents in the country and the resulting
deaths by half by 2024.
The severity of road crashes, measured by the number of people killed per 100 accidents, rose significantly from
28.2% in 2012 to 36.5% in 2022.
• Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest share of deaths at 13.4%, followed by Tamil Nadu at 10.6% and
Maharashtra at 9%. Over speeding was identified as the leading cause, accounting for a staggering
72.3% of accidents and 71.2% of deaths.
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The Ministry of Jal Shakti released the report on the sixth census on minor irrigation
schemes
As per the report, 23.14 million minor irrigation (MI) schemes have been reported in
the country, out of which 21.93 million are Ground Water (GW) and 1.21 million are
Surface Water (SW) schemes.
For the first time, the information about gender of the owner of MI scheme was also
collected in case of individual ownership.
Out of all the individually owned schemes, 18.1 per cent are owned by women.
Uttar Pradesh possesses the largest number of MI schemes in the country followed by
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The same ranking of states follows for
the GW schemes.
Maharashtra leads in Surface Water schemes followed by Karnataka, Telangana,
Odisha and Jharkhand.
The report also revealed that there has been an increase of about 1.42 million in MI
schemes as compared to the previous census.
Out of 23.14 million MI schemes, 94.8% are Ground Water and (5.2% are Surface
Water Schemes
The census was conducted under the centrally sponsored scheme “Irrigation Census”.
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Detailed information on various parameters like irrigation sources, irrigation potential created, potential utilized,
ownership, holding size of land by owner, devices used for lifting water, sources of energy, energy conserving
devices, use of non-conventional energy sources such as solar pumps, wind mills etc was collected.
This report will be useful for planners, policy makers, researcher scholars, agricultural and ground water scientists &
administrators
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The Delta rankings for the aspirational districts measure the incremental progress made by them across the
developmental areas of health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and
basic infrastructure.
Aspirational District Program launched in 2018
The programme aims at uplifting and developing the most socio-economically challenged districts in India
Criminal Incidents:
In criminal cases, Uttar Pradesh is first in the entire country, Maharashtra is second, while Madhya Pradesh is third.
The highest number of murder cases, 3491, have been registered in Uttar Pradesh, followed by 2930 cases in Bihar
and 2295 cases in Maharashtra.
In a recent report published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Kolkata has emerged as the safest city in
India for the third consecutive year.
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According to the report, a maximum of 20 thousand 762 cases of child exploitation (POCSO) has been registered in
Maharashtra.
After this, 20415 crimes were registered in Madhya Pradesh and 18682 crimes were registered in Uttar Pradesh.
Cases related to financial fraud increased by 11.1 %.
Cyber crime increased by 24.4 %.
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• India has also risen to become the fourth most well-represented nation in the 2024 rankings, moving
up from sixth place last year.
• The University of Oxford has clinched the top spot for an eighth consecutive year.
Financial Times global ranking puts IIMK among top four schools in India
According to the Financial Times Ranking 2023, IIM Kozhikode has been placed among the
top 4 schools in India and among the top 75 schools worldwide for its Open Enrolment
Executive Education Programme.
IIM Kozhikode has been ranked 72 among the top 75 providers of open-enrolment
executive programs globally.
While IIM Ahmedabad ranked 45, IIM Bangalore at 47, and Indian School of Business at 65.
Topped by: Iese Business School, Spain, followed by HEC Paris.
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India’s unicorns play a pivotal role in the global unicorn landscape, contributing a
substantial 5% to the total valuation of unicorn companies worldwide.
The first Indian company to make an appearance in global rankings is BYJU’s, which stands
at 36th place with a valuation of $11.50 billion.
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Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) measures how countries grow, attract, and retain talent.
It is an annual benchmarking report published by the prestigious chain of business schools, INSEAD.
The 10th edition of the report covers 134 countries around the world across all income groups.
Singapore, Switzerland, and the United States are among the top three countries on the index.
India is ranked 103, the worst among that of the BRICS countries. China remains at the top of the BRICS group of
countries at rank 40.
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This initiative set up the ambitious target of reversing the rapid decline of wild tigers across their range and doubling
their population numbers by 2022.
• The first GTRP helped to pull focus to wild tiger conservation and secure a
collective commitment from TRCs.
• It was endorsed in the St Petersburg Declaration in 2010 which saw 13 tiger range
countries committing to reverse the decline of the species population.
• The 13 tiger range countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China,India,
Indonesia, Lao PDR Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• It aims to pave the way for tiger conservation from 2023-2034.
Mumbai second most polluted major global city as air quality worsens
Mumbai was the second most polluted city among 109 places tracked by
IQAir, a Swiss technology company measuring air quality in real-time.
Beijing, meanwhile, took the top spot.
The air quality index (AQI) score is based on the US system where a score of between 0-50 is good, 51-100 is
moderate, 101-150 is unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151-200 is unhealthy, 201-300 is very unhealthy and >301 is
hazardous.
The concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Mumbai was
14.7 times the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline .In Delhi,
it was 9.8 times the guideline value.
The top 5 Cities in the world are:
Beijing
Mumbai
Karachi
Jerusalem
Shenyang
Mumbai Secures 19th Spot, Bengaluru 22nd And New Delhi 25th In The Knight Frank Index
• Indian cities Mumbai and Bengaluru jumped from 95th and 77th positions to 19th and 22nd positions,
respectively, on a global index measuring housingJoin
price appreciation
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• The firm analysed the inflation in housing prices across several cities in the world in a report called the
‘Global Residential Cities Index Q2 2023’
• Chennai and Kolkata were placed in the 39th and 40th position, respectively
• Turkish capital Ankara leads Knight Frank’s Global Residential Cities Index Q2 2023 with the highest
growth rate of 105.9 percent, followed by Istanbul at 85.1 percent. Stockholm ranked the lowest in
terms of price appreciation (-14.3.0%) on the Global Residential Cities Index.
Delhi emerges as India’s most air polluted city, Aizawl has cleanest air: Respirer Living Sciences
• The analysis conducted by independent think tank Climate Trends and tech firm Respirer Living
Sciences, that manufactures real-time IoT-based air quality monitoring devices, showed that Aizawl
and Mizoram have India's cleanest air with a PM2.5 level of only 11.1 micrograms per cubic metre.
• Delhi's PM2.5 concentration stood at a staggering 100.1 micrograms per cubic meter, which is three
times higher than the government's established safe limit.
• Patna was the second-most polluted city, followed by Muzaffarpur, Faridabad, Noida
• The report's focus was on cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme, which is aimed at
achieving a 40 percent reduction in particulate matter concentration by 2026.
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• India even below its neighbouring countries Pakistan (102th), Bangladesh (81st), Nepal (69th) and Sri
Lanka (60th)
• This year's index showed a four-place slip as in 2022 India ranked 107th out of 121
• With a score of 28.7 on the Global Hunger Index-2023, India has a serious level of serious hunger
• As per the index, India also has the highest child wasting rate in the world at 18.7 percent, reflecting
acute undernutrition. Wasting is measured based on children’s weight relative to their height.
• While the rate of undernourishment in India stood at 16.6 percent and under-five mortality at 3.1
percent, the prevalence of anaemia in women aged between 15 and 24 years stood at 58.1 percent.
• The Women and Child Development Ministry said the index suffers from “serious methodological issues and
shows a malafide intent”.
• Three out of the four indicators used for calculation of the index are related to the health of children and
cannot be representative of the entire population.
• Belarus, Bosnia, Chile, China and Croatia are the top five countries in GHI 2023.
• Chad, Niger, Lesotho, Congo, Yemen, Madagascar, and Central African Republic are the countries ranked at the
bottom of the index.
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Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani overtook Gautam Adani and reclaimed the title of the richest Indian,
according to Hurun India Rich List 2023.
Adani's wealth fell significantly due to the effect of the
Hindenburg report on the group’s shares.
Cyrus S Poonawalla and family remained in third position.
Industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and family and Niraj
Bajaj and family re-entered the top 10.
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Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani top the Fortune India Rich List for 2023
Mukesh Ambani, the patriarch of Reliance Industries (RIL), have secured the top position on the
Fortune India Rich List 2023, with wealth of $99.7 billion
Gautam Adani, the chairman of the Adani Group of companies, secured second position with a
wealth of $63.71 billion.
With a wealth of $34.6 billion, the Mistry family of Shapoorji Pallonji Group holds the third position
on the list
The Poonawalla family with a wealth of $32.9 billion, stands fourth.
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India Slips Four Spots To 56th Position In 2023 World Talent Ranking
• Out of 64 economies, India has slipped four spots to 56th position, compared to
its 52nd position in 2022, in the 2023 World Talent Ranking, according to the
International Institute for Management Development (IMD) release.
• The IMD World Talent Ranking considers various factors, including quality of
life, statutory minimum wage, and primary and secondary education.
• In the IMD World Talent Ranking 2023, Switzerland ranked on top, while Luxembourg
was in second place, followed by Iceland, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
• The United States is ranked 15th, while China is at 41st place, and the UK ranks 35th.
Brazil (63rd) and Mongolia (64th) occupy the bottom two spots.
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135 mn Indians came out of poverty trap in five years: Niti Aayog report
NITI Aayog released the 'National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A
Progress of Review 2023' in New Delhi.
As per the report, India witnessed 13.5 crore people moving out of
multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21 with the fastest
reduction in UP, Bihar, MP, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
The National MPI measures deprivations across three equally weighted
dimensions of health, education, and standard of living that are
represented by 12 SDG-aligned indicators.
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Nirmala Sitharaman And Three Other Indians Secure Spots On Forbes’ “World’s
100 Most Powerful Women” Of 2023
• Nirmala Sitharaman (32nd), HCL's Roshni Nadar Malhotra (60th), SAIL's
Soma Mondal (70th) and Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-
Shaw (76th)
• Politicians topped the list, occupying the first four spots, with Ursula von
der Leyen, President of the European Commission, at the number 1
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position. She is followed by European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, US Vice President
Kamala Harris and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
4 Indian-origin among 100 richest American women: Forbes
In July 2023, 4 Indian-origin women have found a place in America's 100 richest
women released by Forbes:
Jayshree Ullal (15th position): President and CEO of computer networking firm
Arista Networks
Neerja Sethi (25th rank): IT consulting and outsourcing firm Synte
Neha Narkhede (ranked 50): co-founder and former CTO of Confluent, a streaming
data technology company
Indra Nooyi (77th position): Former PepsiCo chairperson.
QS ranking on world’s best cities for students: No Indian city in top 100, Mumbai 118th
Mumbai has been ranked as the best Indian city for students in the QS Best Student Cities
2024 ranking. However, its global ranking dropped to 118, indicating a decline from the
previous year’s position.
Mumbai was followed by Delhi (132), Bangalore at (147)
The QS Best Student Cities ranking compares 160 premier educational destinations
Cities must have a minimum population of 250,000 and at least two universities in the QS World University rankings
to be considered for the QS city ranks.
India doubles its share of global commercial services exports from 2005 to 2022 : Report
According to a World Bank and WTO report, India has doubled its share of global
commercial services exports to 4.4% in 2022 from 2% in 2005.
Report title: Trade in services for development
China has also improved its share from from 3% in 2005 to 5.4% in 2022,
According to the report, foreign patients from developed countries such as the
United Kingdom and the United States, as well as from developing countries such
as Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka visit India in search of less costly, high-quality
treatment.
World Investment Report 2023: FDI in Developing Asia Remains Flat at $662 Billion in 2022
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The number of refugees globally stood at 35.3 million by the end of 2022
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
report, the number of refugees globally stood at 35.3 million by the end of
2022.
It also shows an increase in the number of more than 8 million from the
year before.
Around 52% of all refugees came from Syria, Ukraine, and Afghanistan.
According to international law, refugees are people who are forced to flee their home countries to escape
persecution or a serious threat to their life or freedom.
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The report reveals a shocking stagnation in the GSNI score over the past decade, despite numerous movements
advocating for gender empowerment and representation.
UNDP report says around 92.39 per cent of people in India justify intimate partner violence in some way or believe
women should not have reproductive rights.
Around 75.09 per cent of the population in India holds an economic bias against women’s right to work and their
rank in the workplace
The report emphasises that gender biases are deeply ingrained in society and hinder gender equality.
India ranks 122nd out of 191 countries in the Gender Inequality Index, which reflects the inequality between men
and women
Pakistan, Afghanistan among global hunger hotspots: UN report
Report titled: UN's Hunger Hotspots – FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity (June to November 2023
outlook)
Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar, are among the hunger hotspots in the world.
Highest Concern Nations: Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen
Very High Concern Nations: Pakistan, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Congo, and Syria
The World Food Programme is an international organization within the United Nations that provides food assistance
worldwide. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and the leading provider of school meals. Founded in
1961, WFP is headquartered in Rome.
Que:What is the rank of Reliance Industries Limited in Forbes Global 2000 Top
Companies list?
Ans:45th
Forbes Global 2000 ranks the largest companies in the world using four metrics:
sales, profits, assets, and market value.
Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries climbs 8 spots to 45th rank on Forbes’ Global
2000 list
JPMorgan, America’s biggest bank is at the top of the list for the first time since
2011
In all, 55 Indian firms figured on the list.
TIME's 100 most influential companies: Two Indian firms in the list
Two Indian companies, Meesho and National Payments Corporation of India
NPCI, made it to this year's TIME's 100 most influential companies under the
‘pioneer’ category.
The list is divided into five categories titled: Leaders, Disruptors, Innovators,
Titans, and Pioneers. Each category has 20 companies listed under it.
“Bangalore-based Meesho, the most-downloaded shopping app in the world.
Vidit Aatrey, founder & CEO of Meesho
NPCI, launched in 2008 by RBI and the Indian Bank's Association (IBA), has played a big role in adopting digital
payments in the country.
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Airawat PSAI, stands as India’s largest and fastest AI supercomputing system, with a remarkable speed of 13,170
teraflops.
The Hanke’s Annual Misery Index (HAMI) 2022: India ranked 103
Among the 157 countries analyzed, Zimbabwe has been ranked 1st ‘most miserable country’ in the Hanke’s Annual
Misery Index (HAMI) 2022.
Most miserable country: Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan.
India is placed at the 103rd spot, with unemployment identified as the primary contributing factor to the country’s
relative level of misery.
Grappling with economic and political challenges, Pakistan secured the 35th position on the list of the world’s most
miserable countries.
Switzerland emerged as the least miserable, occupying the top position (157) on the list.
Other countries with the least misery levels include Kuwait (156), Ireland (155), Japan (154), Malaysia (153), Taiwan
(152).
Finland, constantly ranked as the world’s happiest country for six consecutive years according to the World
Happiness Report, secured the 109th position on the misery index.
The index is the sum of the year-end unemployment, inflation, and bank-lending rates, minus the annual percentage
change in real GDP per capita.
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India among top 5 countries where babies are born pre-term: UN Report
Report title: Born Too Soon: Decade of Action on Pre-term Birth
It is jointly produced by the WHO, UNICEF, and Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child
Health (PMNCH).
According to a report released by the UN, an estimated 13.4 million babies were born pre-
term (babies born before the 37th week of pregnancy) in 2020
Preterm birth is the single largest killer of children under 5 years of age, accounting for more
than one in three of all neonatal deaths (first month of life)
• 45% of them being born in just five countries, including India, Pakistan, Nigeria,
China, and Ethiopia.
• The global pre-term birth rate increased to 9.9% in 2020, compared to 9.8% in
2010.
• This indicates a “silent emergency” for children’s survival and health.
World Bank’s Logistic Performance Index 2023: India ranks 38th, Singapore tops
India has been ranked at 38th among 139 countries
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World Bank’s Logistic Performance Index 2023 is a measure of countries’ ability to move goods across borders with
speed and reliability.
India has improved its ranking by 6 places - previous rank 44 in 2018.
Singapore has topped the index. It is followed by Finland at second position.
China to be top contributor to global GDP in next five years, India second: IMF
As per the data by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), China will be the top contributor to global growth over
the next five years, and its share is set to be double than that of the US.
The report by Bloomberg, based on the data of World Economic Outlook of IMF, reveals that China share in the
global GDP expansion over the next five years, through 2028, is expected to represent 22.6% of total world growth.
India is on second spot, representing 12.9% of the total growth.
The US will contribute 11.3%, which is half than that of China.
US, China, India, Germany and Russia makes top 5 countries resp. with highest billionaires: 2023 Forbes Ranking
The Forbes Billionaire List 2023 reveals that 2,640 billionaires of the world listed in the ranking hails from 77
countries or territories.
According to Forbes, the United States has topped the list for having the highest number of billionaire. The US has
735 billionaires in the ranking
China stood second in terms of the number of billionaires, at 495
India is on third spot in the rankings with 169 billionaires.
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Germany is on 4th place with 126 billionaires, while Russia with 105
billionaires has 5th highest billionaires.
Delhi IGI Airport ranked 9th busiest airports globally in 2022: ACI Report
• The Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi ha s been ranked
among the world’s top 10 busiest airports by passengers traffic, as
per Airports Council International (ACI).
• It is the only airport from South and Southeast Asia to feature in ACI’s
list of the 10 busiest airports for 2022.
• The global rank of the Delhi airport is at the ninth spot for 2022.
• In 2021, the airport was ranked at 13th and in 2019, at 17th.
• Top airport – The United States-based Atlanta airport has retained its
position as the world’s busiest airport. It handled 9.37 crore
passengers in 2022.
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World Bank Women, Business and the Law 2023 report released
According to the 9th Women, Business and the Law 2023 report, released by World Bank, Belgium,
Canada, and Denmark topped all eight indicators
UAE has topped the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region with 82.5 scores out of 100
India scored 74.4 out of 100.
Indicators: Mobility, Workplace, Pay, Marriage, Parenthood, Entrepreneurship, Assets, and Pension
Delhi airport adjudged best airport in South Asia: Skytrax
Skytrax, a UK-based consultancy, awards airports worldwide with the prestigious
World Airport Awards based on customer surveys.
For the fifth year in a row, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has
been declared the best airport in the South Asian region.
The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in the national capital has also
moved up to the 36th position this year from 37th in 2022.
According to the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2023, Singapore's Changi Airport has pushed Doha's Hamad
International Airport to the second spot, and Japan's capital Tokyo's Haneda Airport is third.
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India 8th in worst air quality, Lahore most polluted city in subcontinent
The annual World Air Quality report was published by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir.
India was ranked 8th out of 131, dropping three places from the previous year,
Five most polluted countries in 2022 - Chad, Iraq, Pakistan, Bahrain, and Bangladesh
India’s annual average PM2.5 level in 2022 was 53.3 μg/m3, more than 10 times the safe limit
118 (90%) out of 131 countries and regions exceeded the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline value of 5 µg/m3.
Just six countries – Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland and New Zealand – met the WHO's safe limit
• Rajasthan's Bhiwadi was the most polluted city in India, with annual PM2.5 levels of 92.7 μg/m3.
• Lahore was the most polluted city in the world, followed by Hotan in China, and Bhiwadi in Rajasthan.
• New Delhi is the second most polluted
capital city in the world, with N’Djamena
in Chad topping the list.
• A total of 39 Indian cities (including ‘Delhi’ and
‘New Delhi’) are on the list of 50 of the world’s
most polluted cities based on annual
average PM2.5 levels in 2022.
• The region of Central and South Asia was home
to eight of the world’s ten cities with the worst
air pollution.
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Que:Which state/UT is expected to be the most climate-vulnerable region in India, as per a recent report?
Ans: Bihar
As per the XDI’s Gross Domestic Climate Risk report, the economies of India, China and the US
will witness the worst impact of the climate change.
This report revealed that 14 Indian states will remain within the top 100 most climate-risk
prone territories among more than 2,600 regions in the world by 2050.
for damage risk all share flooding as their main hazard – Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam,
Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal,
Haryana, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
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• Most vulnerable region: South East Asia experiences the greatest escalation in damage from 1990 to 2050
anywhere in the world.
Regional positions
North America secured the top rank in the world followed by Europe at the second position, East Asia and Pacific in
the third position, Central Asia in the fourth position, and the Middle East and North America in the fifth position
IEA Report: India’s ‘LiFE’ initiative can save $440 bn globally in 2030
According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the 'LiFE' (Lifestyle
for Environment) initiative of India for the adoption of energy-efficient behaviour
can save the world $440 billion in 2030.
About 1/5th of the emission cut is required by 2030 to put the world on a pathway
to net zero emissions.
PM Modi introduced the LiFE initiative at COP26 in Glasgow in Nov 2021.
Aim: To tackle the challenges of environmental degradation and climate change.
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Rashtriya Gokul Mission - launched in December 2014 with an outlay of Rs 2025 crore for the development and
conservation of indigenous breeds through selective breeding.
National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) - It is a flagship scheme launched in September 2019 for
control of Foot & Mouth Disease and Brucellosis by vaccinating 100% cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig population.
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TCS, Infosys rank among the most valuable IT services brands globally
According to Brand Finance’s rankings for 2023, four Indian companies have
featured in the list of the world’s top 10 most valuable IT service brands.
Four Indian companies are TCS (2), Infosys (3), HCLTech (8), and Wipro (9).
Accenture has succeeded in retaining its position as the most valuable IT
services brand for the fifth consecutive year.
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The study, titled “Survival of the Richest,” was released on the first day of the World Economic Forum Annual
Meeting.
The report also highlights the impact of gender inequality on earnings.
It states that female workers earned only 63 paise for every 1 rupee a male worker earned.
Reliance Jio is India’s strongest brand, ranked 9th globally: Brand Finance Report
According to the report ‘Global 500 – 2023’ published by Brand Finance.
Jio was placed ahead of brands like EY, Coca-Cola, Accenture and Porsche
The report titled ‘Global 500 – 2023’ is published annually and ranks the world’s
most valuable and strongest brands.
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Hyderabad ranked 153rd in Mercer’s Quality of Living City Index 2023, while
Pune scored the 154th position and Bengaluru attained the 156th spot
Pune has the second best ‘quality of life’ in India after Hyderabad.
Vienna (Austria), Zurich (Switzerland), and Vancouver (Canada) are the top
three cities in that order, according to the 2023 index.
Khartoum (Sudan) at the bottom-most position (241st spot).
This index evaluates the quality of life for employees working abroad,
especially with families, and relies on data from over 500 cities all over the
world.
The ranking is based on factors like climate, schools and education, disease
and sanitation standards, violence and crime and ease of communications,
and socio-political environment.
Lancet report
• India's success in eliminating child marriage is crucial to the achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goal target 5.3
• Child marriage was defined as marriage in individuals younger than 18 years for men and women.
• Child marriage declined during 1993 to 2021. The all-India prevalence of child marriage in girls
declined from 49·4% in 1993 to 22·3% in 2021.
• 1 in 5 girls, 1 in 6 boys are married
• The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 5.3 aims to end child marriage in girls by 2030 as part of a
global commitment to “eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage
• Girl child marriages increased in six states, including Manipur, Punjab, Tripura, and West Bengal, while eight
states, including Chhattisgarh, Goa, Manipur, and Punjab, witnessed a rise in boy child marriages
• Prohibition of Child Marriage Act passed in 2006. The Act set the legal age of marriage for men to 21 years and
women to 18 years.
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Short News
• Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, referred to as the King Khan of the Indian film industry, has
topped a UK list of the ‘Top 50 Asian Celebrities in the World’.
• Second:Alia Bhatt
• Third: Priyanka Chopra Jonas
• National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data pointed out that Hyderabad topped the nation in food
adulteration cases in 2022.
• Tamil Nadu ranks fourth in attracting FDI in the period between Oct 2019 and September 2023, after
Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat
• Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the second largest economy of India after Maharashtra in terms of
gross domestic product (GDP) share.
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Que:Which Indian public sector bank got the approval from RBI to hold special rupee Vostro accounts of three
banks from Sri Lanka?
Ans: Indian Bank
A vostro account in local currency would allow Sri Lanka to import from India without dipping into its declining dollar
supply. The INR vostro facility is part of the special trade settlement mechanism finalised by the RBI in July 2022.
The arrangement allows Indian importers to deposit rupees in vostro accounts that overseas banks open with banks
in India and clearing of dues to Indian exporters from the surplus balances in the vostro accounts.
India and ADB sign loan agreements to boost infrastructure sector in India
• India has signed various loan agreements with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to boost the
infrastructure sector in the country.
• A loan agreement of 350 million US dollars was signed to improve connectivity in Maharashtra.
Govt also signed agreement worth 300 million US dollars to upgrade over 300 Km of State highways and
district roads in Assam.
• A 220 million dollar loan agreement was signed to improve energy security, and resilience of the power
sector in Tripura.
• $350 million loan to expand metro rail network in Chennai
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Government’s efforts
• Government's focus on increasing the country's digital infrastructure
Efforts towards e-governance
A strong digital payment ecosystem
Introduction of digital services in almost all domains
Large telecom subscriber base of 1.2 billion
837 million internet users, etc.
Focus Areas
• macroeconomic stability,
more energy independence,
ease of doing business,
power sector reform
What is EY report?
Launched in 2011, EY Reporting is EY Global Assurance’s insights hub.
UN predicts India’s growth to moderate to 5.8% in 2023, in its World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023
report.
• The United Nations has slashed India’s growth forecast by 20 basis
points to 5.8 percent for the 2023 calendar year.
• Reason: Higher interest rates and recession risks in the developed world
weighing on investment and exports.
• The report has projected that global trade will contract 0.4 percent and
the world economy will grow at 1.9 percent in 2023.
• For the fiscal year 2023-24, the agency kept its growth forecast
unchanged for India at 6 percent.
Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) launches “Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0”
• “Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0”- A District Outreach Program for expanding its presence in more than 685 districts of
the country.
• The objective of this program is to reach all the districts of the country on the same day i.e. 27th of every
month.
About EPFO
• Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is a statutory organisation set up under the Union ministry
of Labour and Employment was set up in 1951 by an Ordinance issued by the President.
Later Parliament passed the Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, act 1952.
It is the country’s largest social security organisation.
NSE becomes world's largest derivatives exchange for 4th straight year
• According to the Futures Industry Association (FIA), the National Stock
Exchange of India (NSE) emerged as the world's largest derivatives exchange in
2022, in terms of the number of contracts traded.
• In 2022, the daily average turnover of the exchange reached Rs 470 crores. This
is the fourth consecutive year when the exchange earned the top spot.
• In addition, the exchange was ranked third in the equity segment by the
number of trades (electronic order book) in 2022.
• NSE HQ: Mumbai.
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• The central government is issuing these sovereign green bonds as part of its total market borrowing. These
bonds are being issued to promote green infrastructure.
• The Central Government had released the framework of Sovereign Green Bond on 9
November 2022.
What are Sovereign Green Bonds?
• These are bonds that are used by the government to finance projects that have a
positive impact on the environment.
• The Green Bond was launched in 2007 by the European Investment Bank and the
World Bank.
A Green Bond is an instrument that helps in raising funds for green projects.
• Funds from these bonds will be invested in public sector projects that help reduce
carbon intensity.
• These bonds fall into 9 broad categories. Some of these are projects like renewable energy, energy
efficiency, clean transportation, green building.
• The government aims to attract foreign investors through these bonds.
Indore becomes the first civic body in the country to launch green bonds
• Indore Municipal Corporation has become the first civic body in the country to issue green bonds.
• The corporation plans to raise Rs 244 crore through green bonds.
• This amount will be used to set up a 60 MW solar plant at Juladh Pumping Station in Hum Samraj and
Ashukhedi villages on the banks of river Narmada falling in Khargone district with an investment of about Rs
305 crore.
• A green bond is issued by an organisation for the purpose of financing or refinancing projects that make a
positive contribution to the environment and/or climate.
• Green bonds were first announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the
budget for the financial year 2022-23.
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Government approves conversion of Rs 16,133 crore interest dues of Vodafone Idea into equity
• The government has approved the conversion of debt-ridden
Vodafone Idea's interest dues of over Rs 16,133 crore into equity.
• The government said Aditya Birla Group, one of the promoters, has
committed to bring in additional funds.
• With this conversion, the government is expected to become the
largest shareholder in the loss-making telecom company with 33.14
per cent stake.
• Vodafone Idea will issue equity shares at a face value of Rs 10 each to
the government.
• This relief for the company comes as part of the reform package announced by the government in
September 2021.
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National Stock Exchange (NSE) launches India’s first municipal bond index, the India Municipal Bond Index (IBMX)
• NSE’s index services subsidiary, NSE Indices Limited launched India’s first-ever
Municipal Bond Index, Nifty India Municipal Bond Index at a SEBI workshop on
Municipal Debt Securities in Bengaluru.
• The Nifty India Municipal Bond Index tracks the performance of municipal bonds
issued by Indian municipal corporations across maturities and has investment-grade
credit ratings.
• Presently, the index has 28 municipal bonds issued by 10 issuers all having credit
ratings in the AA rating category.
BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
Saptarishi priorities (seven priorities) enlisted in the 2023-24 budget:
• Inclusive Development
• Reaching the Last Mile
• Infrastructure and Investment
• Unleashing the Potential
• Green Growth
• Youth Power
• Financial Sector
Union Budget 2023: Funds allocated for major schemes (in crore rupees)
• Jal Jeevan Mission: 70,000
• Pharmaceutical industry: 1,250
• Eklavya Model Residential schools: 5,943
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana: 79,590
• FAME: 5,172
• North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme: 2,491
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Union Budget 2023: Mission For The Welfare Of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)
• Union Finance Minister recently announced a mission for the welfare of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal
Groups (PVTGs) in the 2023-24 Union Budget.
• Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development mission will be launched as part of ‘Reaching The Last Mile’, one of the
seven Saptarishi priorities enlisted in this year’s Budget.
• The mission will saturate the particularly vulnerable tribal groups with safe housing, clean drinking water,
education, nutrition, road and telecom connection and livelihood.
• A Budget of Rs 15,000 crore will be dedicated to this mission in the next three years.
• The scheme will benefit 3.5 lakh tribals.
NAMASTE (National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem) Scheme: Union Budget 2023
• In the Union Budget 2023, the Government of India allocated Rs 100 crores for the NAMASTE scheme.
• The GoI aims to mechanize septic tank cleaning and sewer cleaning in towns and
cities.
• The scheme aims to provide an alternate livelihood to sanitation workers.
Objective of the scheme
• To achieve zero fatalities in the sanitation sector
• No sanitation worker will come in direct contact with the faecal matter
• The sanitation workers will be encouraged to form Self Help Groups
• Ensure the workers have access to alternative livelihoods as mechanization may
bring loss of jobs to few in the industry
• In phase 1, 500 cities are taken. GoI is planning on choosing AMRUT cities first.
• Also, the first target will be cities whose population is more than one lakh.
• Ten cities from islands, hilly regions, and tourist destinations will be picked.
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• These products also include agricultural products, manufactured goods or other food items including
prepared dishes.
• For example, the GI tag for Darjeeling tea has been given to Darjeeling.
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• Surety bond is provided by the insurance company on behalf of the contractor to the entity which is
awarding the project.
Year Per Capita Income(Nominal Terms) Per Capita Income (Real Terms)
2014-15 Rs 86,647 Rs 72,805
2022-23 Rs 1,72,000 Rs 98,118
India and World Bank signs loan agreement for Green NH Corridors project
• India and the World Bank have signed a loan agreement to construct the Green National Highway Corridors
Project in four States.
• Four states: HP, Rajasthan, UP, and Andhra Pradesh
The agreement has been signed to construct 781 kilometers, with loan
assistance of 500 million dollars.
• The total project cost is over 7,662 crore rupees.
• Objective: To demonstrate safe and green highways keeping in view
climate resilience and the use of green technologies
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• RBI has added 34.22 metric tonnes of gold in the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2023, taking the total gold
reserves to 794.64 metric tonnes.
• The latest World Gold Council (WGC) report showed that the Monetary Authority of Singapore was the
largest single buyer of gold (69 metric tonnes) during January-March 2023.
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No TCS on LRS transactions upto Rs 7 lakh via international debit, credit cards from
July 1, 2023
• The Indian government has recently announced a relaxation in the Tax Collected
At Source (TCS) rules for international transactions made using debit or credit
cards.
• Starting from July 1, 2023, individuals conducting international transactions up
to Rs 7 lakh will be exempt from the 20 percent TCS levy.
• This exemption will also exclude these transactions from the Liberalised
Remittance Scheme (LRS) limits of $250,000 per annum.
i) Private visits to any country (except Nepal and Bhutan)
ii) Gift or donation
iii) Going abroad for employment
iv) Emigration
v) Maintenance of close relatives abroad
vi) Travel for business, attending a conference or specialised training or for meeting expenses for meeting
medical expenses, or check-up abroad, or for accompanying as an attendant to a patient going abroad for
medical treatment/ check-up etc
Leave encashment tax-free till ₹25 lakh for private sector employees upon retirement
• As was announced in the union budget 2023, Central Board of Direct Taxes has raised the tax exemption on
leave encashment on the retirement of non-government salaried employees from ₹3 lakh to ₹25 lakh,
effective from 1 April 2023.
• So far, the tax exemption on leave encashment for non-government employees was ₹3 lakh which was fixed
in 2002.
• In the case of government employees, the entire leave encashment amount received is tax-exempt.
World Bank launches its first road safety project in South Asia
• The World Bank (WB) launched its first dedicated road safety project in South
Asia with a USD 358 million financing agreement signed in Dhaka with the
government of Bangladesh.
• The project seeks to improve road safety and reduce fatalities and injuries from road crashes in selected
cities, high-risk highways, and district roads
• The project will focus on two national highways in Bangladesh.
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• The aim is to achieve a substantial reduction of over 30 percent in road traffic deaths on these two highways.
Indore Municipal Corporation 1st urban body in India to get EPR credit
• Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has become the first urban body in the country to get the Extended
Producers Responsibility (EPR) credit by recycling the banned single-use plastic items after seizing them.
• IMC earned its first instalment of EPR credit against seizing and recycling of 8 metric tonnes banned
plastics. Single-use plastic is completely banned in the city.
• Notably, Indore was adjudged India’s cleanest city for the sixth time in a row last year in the central
government’s annual cleanliness survey.
• This waste is collected under different categories from every doorstep in the city by civic vehicles and
disposed of the same day in the plant being run under the PPP model.
Lavasa, India's first private hill station, sold to Darwin Platform Infrastructure for Rs 1.8 thousand crore
• India's first private hill station Lavasa was sold to Darwin Platform Infrastructure for Rs 1.8
thousand crore after the approval of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
Lavasa Hill Station:
• It is situated in the Mulshi Valley within the Western Ghats near Pune.
It was established in 2000 by the Hindustan Construction Company, becoming India's first private hill town.
• Some of the prominent financial lenders in Lavasa include Union Bank of India, L&T Finance, Arcil, Bank of
India and Axis Bank.
• Covering an extensive area of 25,000 acres, Lavasa displays impressive infrastructure and mesmerising
natural beauty.
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• India’s GDP is estimated to expand remarkably, reaching 52.5 trillion dollars surpassing the US GDP
projection.
• The labour force participation is set to make India the second-largest economy in the world by 2075.
India’s
per capita
income to
jump 70% by 2030: Standard Chartered Bank
• According to a research report by Standard Chartered Bank, the per capita
income of India is likely to grow around 70% by 2030 and is expected to reach $4,000 from current levels of
$2,450.
• Telangana currently takes the top spot in the per capita income rankings
with ₹2,75,443, following closely are Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and
Andhra Pradesh.
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• The remaining 50% of the balance will be released in the third stage.
• This measured approach aims to ensure that banks have sufficient liquidity to
meet increased credit demand during the upcoming festival season.
I-CRR:
• On 10th August 2023, following the announcement of the monetary policy
and the demonetization of Rs 2000 notes, the RBI declared that banks would
be required to maintain an Incremental Cash Reserve Ratio (I-CRR) of 10% on the increase in their Net
Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL).
• NDTL is the difference between the sum of demand and time liabilities (deposits) of a bank (with the public
or the other bank) and the deposits in the form of assets held by the other banks.
• The RBI introduced the I-CRR as a temporary measure to manage excess Liquidity in the banking system.
• Nirmala Sitharaman said that there will be no GST on millet flour where millets account for 70% of the
product by weight if sold loose, and a 5% tax will be levied where these are sold in a pre-packaged and
labelled form.
India To Surpass Japan In 2030 To Become 2nd Largest Economy Of Asia, Says S&P
Global
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• India, the world’s fifth largest economy in the world, is likely to overtake Japan to become the world’s third-
largest economy with a GDP of $ 7.3 trillion by 2030, S&P Global Market Intelligence.
• India’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow 6.2-6.3 percent in the fiscal year ending in March
2024, being the fastest-growing major economy this fiscal year.
• Current top 5 - US, China, Japan, Germany, India
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Sebi Reduces Minimum Issue Size For Social Stock Exchange To Rs 50 Lakh
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has granted approval for Not for Profit Organisations
(NPOs) to enhance their fundraising capabilities through the social stock exchange.
• To support NPOs on the social stock exchange, SEBI has decided to decrease the minimum issue size for
public issuance of Zero Coupon Zero Principal Instruments (ZCZP) from Rs 1 crore to Rs 50 lakh.
• The minimum investment amount for the investors has also been reduced from two lakh rupees to 10
thousand rupees.
• This reduction aims to make fundraising more accessible for NPOs, fostering a conducive environment for
social impact initiatives.
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for the current financial year
2022-23 has been increased by RBI from 6.8 percent to 7 percent.
• At the same time, in the next financial year 2023-24, the growth rate in
gross domestic product (GDP) has been estimated to be 6.4 percent.
• RBI has estimated retail inflation to be 6.5 per cent in the current
financial year and 5.3 per cent in the next financial year.
Repo rate:
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• Repo rate is the interest rate at which commercial banks borrow money from the central bank to
meet their immediate needs.
• An increase in this means that borrowing from banks and financial
institutions will be costlier and the monthly instalment (EMI) of
existing loans will increase.
EbixCash becomes first Indian entity to enable UPI for foreign nationals
• It will offer UPI services to international delegates attending the G-20 summit, being held in
India.
• This facility will be enabled across all other entry points in the country.
• It can be extended to foreign travellers after physical verification of the Passport
and Visa of the customers at the point of issuance.
IRCTC partners with HDFC Bank to launch India’s most rewarding co-branded travel
credit card
• Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC)
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• Known as the IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card, the newly launched co-branded card is in a single variant and is
available exclusively on NPCI’s Rupay network.
• It will provide exclusive benefits and maximum savings on bookings of train tickets booked through the
IRCTC’s ticketing website and through IRCTC Rail Connect app.
• CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan
• Founded: August 1994, Mumbai
Government imposes surcharge for Google Pay and other payment apps
• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has issued a circular suggesting "Prepaid Payment
Instruments (PPI)" charges on merchant transactions on Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
• NPCI has introduced an interchange charge of up to 1.1 per cent on merchant UPI transactions done using
prepaid payment instruments from April 1.
• It will be levied on UPI payments above Rs 2,000 made to online merchants, large merchants and small
merchants.
• NPCI has clarified that there will be no charges for UPI payment from bank account to bank account or
normal UPI payment.
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Sri Lanka’s Seylan Bank opens INR denominated Nostro A/c in Indian Bank
• Sri Lanka’s Seylan Bank has opened an Indian rupee-denominated Nostro account in
Indian Bank in Mumbai.
• Aim: To help in setting cross-border transactions using the Indian rupee
• It enables local customers to enter into transactions denominated in the Indian
Rupee and eliminates the need to conduct Trade and Remittance transactions in US dollars.
• Nostro account: It is a bank account held in a foreign country by a domestic bank, denominated in the
currency of that country.
Que: RBI has decided to launch a secured web-based centralised portal to simplify and streamline application
processes. What is the name given to the portal?
Ans: PRAVAAH
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has planned to launch a secured web-based
centralised portal named ‘PRAVAAH’ to simplify and streamline application process
for license / authorisation or regulatory approvals from the Reserve Bank.
• PRAVAAH stands for Platform for Regulatory Application, Validation And Authorisation.
• The portal will show time limits for deciding on the applications/approvals sought.
• Currently, the application and approval processes for the same take place in varied online and off-line
modes.
• The new system will bring greater efficiencies into regulatory processes and facilitate ease of doing business
for the regulated entities of RBI.
• The facility will be extended to all types of applications made to RBI across
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RBI sanctions merger of Maratha Co-op Bank with Cosmos Co-op Bank.
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• An unclaimed deposit is one which does not see any activity for 10 years or more and is deemed as an
inactive deposit.
Under "Clean Note Policy" RBI decided to withdraw Rs 2000 note from circulation
• RBI has decided to withdraw Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes from circulation
under the "Clean Note Policy".
• Rs 2,000 notes will continue to be legal tender.
• From May 23 till September 30, 2023, Rs 2,000 notes can be exchanged for other
denominations up to a limit of Rs 20,000 at a time at any bank branch.
• ₹2000 denomination banknote was introduced in November 2016 under Section 24(1) of RBI Act, 1934.
• The printing of ₹2,000 notes was stopped in 2018-19. The RBI said about 89% of the ₹2,000 notes were
issued prior to March 2017 and are at the end of their estimated life span of 4-5 years.
Clean Note Policy:
• The clean note policy was introduced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 1999 to address the issue of soiled
and mutilated notes.
• Banks are instructed not to give soiled, torn and mutilated notes to customers and instead deposit them
with RBI.
• The objective of the Clean Note Policy is to provide good quality currency notes and coins to the customers.
• Soiled and mutilated currency notes can be easily exchanged at teller counters under the RBI's note refund
rules of 2009.
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• According to PwC report 'The Indian Payments Handbook - 2022-27, UPI transactions are likely to reach 1
billion per day by 2026-27, accounting for 90% of the retail digital payments
• UPI is driving the digital payments revolution, accounting for about 75% of the total transaction volume in
the retail segment during 2022-23
• UPI Introduced: 11 April 2016
BoB launches facility for cash withdrawals using UPI on its ATMs
• Bank of Baroda has launched Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal (ICCW) facility,
in which a customer can withdraw cash using UPI from the bank's ATMs, without
using their debit card.
• It would be the first public sector bank to launch this service.
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Bank of India becomes first bank to offer Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (MSSC)
Scheme
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced this flagship scheme during the
Budget speech FY 2023-2024 on February 1, 2023.
• Under the scheme, individual girls or women can open a MSSC account, or a guardian can open an account
on behalf of a minor girl.
• The minimum investment required is Rs 1000, up to a maximum limit of Rs 200,000.
• The account will mature after two years from the date of opening, an interest rate of 7.5% per annum,
compounded quarterly.
PhonePe launches India’s first Health Insurance platform with monthly subscription
• Walmart-owned fintech firm PhonePe’s subsidiary PhonePe Insurance Broking
Services has launched its health insurance vertical, offering plans in partnership
with multiple insurers.
• PhonePe users can set up monthly payments for the premium via its UPI platform.
Banknotes with a Star (*) symbol identical to any other legal banknotes: RBI
• In fact, the RBI had introduced the star (*) mark in new Rs 500 denomination
banknotes back in December 2016.
• Additionally, the ‘star’ banknotes in denominations of Rs 10, 20, 50, and 100 have
been in circulation since 2006.
• With this clarification, the RBI aims to put to rest any concerns or doubts surrounding the ‘Star Series’
banknotes and assure the public that they hold the same value as any other legal tender without any
compromise in quality or usability.
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Indian Bank becomes the first PSB to extend on-line Locker Agreement
• Indian Bank became the First Public Sector Bank to extend facility of
execution of on-line locker agreement through Digital Document
Execution (DDE) Platform of National E-Governance Services Limited
(NeSL).
• DDE is a fully automated contract execution platform with paperless e-stamp and e-Sign facility.
Canara Bank Pioneers UPI-Interoperable Digital Rupee Mobile App for CBDC Transactions
• Canara Bank has taken a monumental step by introducing the UPI interoperable
digital rupee mobile application.
• This places Canara Bank as the first bank across both the public and commercial
sectors to offer this pioneering feature.
• The app, named the Canara Digital Rupee app, marks a significant milestone as a
part of RBI’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot project.
• With the Canara Digital Rupee app, customers can effortlessly scan merchant UPI QR codes, facilitating
payments using the digital currency.
Bima Sugam
• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is set to introduce a groundbreaking
online platform called Bima Sugam, which aims to become the world’s largest online market for insurance
products and services.
• This platform will offer customers a user-friendly interface to explore
and choose insurance schemes from various companies, covering life,
health, and general insurance, including motor and travel insurance.
• It will streamline claim settlements, offering paperless processing based
on policy numbers. IRDAI has allocated a budget of Rs 200 crore for
Bima Sugam.
• The launch of the platform scheduled for June 2024.
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India launches 'Hello UPI' and 'Bharat BillPay Connect' for voice-activated conversational
payments
• National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launched two conversational
payments initiatives: 'Hello UPI' and 'Bharat BillPay Connect.’
• These initiatives were unveiled at the Global Fintech Fest
• NPCI's 'Hello UPI' supports voice-enabled UPI payments in both Hindi and English.
• There are plans to expand language support to include other regional languages, ensuring inclusivity for a
wider user base.
Collaborative Development:
• NPCI collaborated with the Bhashini Program at IIT Madras and AI4India to jointly develop a payment
language model in Hindi and English.
IRDAI to Deploy Bima Vahak in every Gram Panchayat by December 31, 2024
• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
• Bima Vahaks, both corporate and individual, are authorized to undertake various activities, including the
collection of proposal information and Know Your Customer (KYC) documents.
• They will also coordinate services related to insurance
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• IRDAI has introduced the ‘Bima Vahaks (BV)’ initiative to expand insurance coverage and accessibility.
Yes Bank becomes first bank to offer ‘ONDC Network Gift Card’
• ONDC = Open Network for Digital Commerce
• Is a government of India initiative to connect all the e-commerce players into one network.
• The gift card can be utilized for purchasing products from any brand and any seller across a wide array of
segments.
• This includes food, fashion, handicrafts, electronics, home essentials, health, and wellbeing.
Reserve Bank Of India (RBI) Sets New Directive For Private Banks: Two Whole-Time Directors Mandatory
• The RBI mandates private banks and foreign-owned subsidiaries to appoint a
minimum of two Whole-Time Directors (WTDs) on their boards, including
the MD & CEO, for improved senior management.
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RBI Identifies SBI, HDFC Bank, And ICICI Bank As Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs)/
• Established in 2014, the D-SIB framework mandates the RBI to disclose the names of designated banks
annually.
• Bucket 5: No Designation
• Bucket 4: State Bank of India (SBI) – Additional CET1 requirement of 0.80%.
• Bucket 3: No Designation
• Bucket 2: HDFC Bank – Additional CET1 requirement of 0.40%.
• Bucket 1: ICICI Bank – Additional CET1 requirement of 0.20%.
• The classification of HDFC Bank considers its increased systemic importance post the merger of HDFC Ltd
into the bank on July 1, 2023
• SBI and HDFC Bank move to higher buckets – SBI shifts from bucket 3 to bucket 4 and HDFC Bank shifts from
bucket 1 to bucket 2
• 2015 SBI
• 2016 ICICI
• 2017 HDFC
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RBI keep key policy rates unchanged; Projects FY24 GDP at 6.5%
• The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.50 percent.
• Other policy rates have also been also kept unchanged.
• The inflation forecast for FY24 has been lowered to 5.2% from 5.3%
Policy Repo Rate : 6.50%
Standing Deposit Facility Rate : 6.25%
Marginal Standing Facility Rate : 6.75%
Bank Rate : 5.15 %
Fixed Reverse Repo Rate : 3.35%
CRR : 4.50%
SLR : 18.00%
Short News
• The World Bank has recently provided assistance of $ 1.34 billion to Ukraine under public expenditure.
• Ola Electric files IPO papers with Sebi; first by auto company in 20 years
• Federal Bank, a prominent financial institution, has been awarded the prestigious title of “Bank of the Year
(India)” by The Banker, a renowned publication under the Financial Times umbrella.
• IDFC FIRST Bank has introduced the “FIRST SWYP” credit card, a youth-centric offering designed to cater to
the unique demands of the new-age customer.
• Bank of India has launched Nari Shakti Savings Account, aimed at catering to women aged 18 and above with
an independent source of income.
• Poonawalla HF gets a new name, rebrands as Grihum Housing Finance
• RBI Grants Authorization To Bandhan Bank For Pension Disbursement To Retired Railway Employees
• State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a Line of Credit (LOC) of Euro 70 million (about Rs 630 crore) with
German development bank KfW to promote solar projects in the country.
• The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank have signed a loan of 37 billion Japanese Yen for
the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System Corridor.
• India has emerged as a star performer and is projected to contribute more than 16 percent of the global
growth: Stated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
• The Reserve Bank announced its second global hackathon -- 'HARBINGER 2023 - Innovation for
Transformation'. Theme: Inclusive Digital Services
• Muthoot FinCorp has introduced ‘Vyapar Mitra Business Loans’ to provide working capital and business
loans to micro and small businesses like traders.
• The SEBI has proposed that the listed entities should take approval from shareholders at least once in 5
years for the appointment of directors to serve on their boards.
1. Reason: To curb the practice of occupying permanent directorship in a company
• HDFC Bank has signed an MoU with the UAE-based Lulu Exchange to strengthen the cross-border payments
between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
• Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri flagged off India’s first green hydrogen fuel
cell bus in Delhi
• Google has launched the Android Earthquake Alerts System in collaboration with the National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA) and the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), Ministry of Earth Sciences.
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• Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma has launched the Mukhyamantri Atmanirbhar Asom Scheme:
provide financial assistance for ₹2 lakh each to two lakh youth for making them self-independent.
• According to Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat about 4.4 lakh or 75 per cent of India's villages
have achieved the open defecation free-plus status.
• State-owned Bank of Baroda (BoB) has enabled the UPI ATM facility at over 6,000 ATMs across the country.
It is the first public sector bank to launch UPI ATMs, in coordination with the National Payments Corporation
of India (NPCI) and powered by NCR Corporation.
• Managing Director & CEO of YES BANK is Prashant Kumar.
• Finance Ministry's Chintan Shivir at Statue of Unity Discusses Roadmap for India to Become Developed
Nation by 2047.
• Finance Ministry has imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on certain optical fibre imports from China,
South Korea and Indonesia.
• AU Small Finance Bank has launched 24×7 for 365 days of Video Banking, providing customers with real-time
video calls for banking services.
• ADB Approves USD 40.5 Million Loan to Enhance Childhood Development and Maternal Mental Health in
Meghalaya
• Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif invites Turkey to join China-Pakistan Economic Corridor again
• PhonePe announced the launch of Indus Appstore developer platform, as a Made-in-India app store. At
present, the app developers work with only the Google Playstore. For startups and new app launches, Indus
Appstore will have a dedicated destination called ‘Launch Pad’ to provide these new apps with better
visibility.
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the licence of Mumbai-based The Kapol Co-operative Bank Limited.
• To enhance the economic and financial sustainability of MSMEs, Small Industries Development Bank of India
(SIDBI) is going to launch an app-based 'invoice financing' loans platform 'GST Sahay’.
• ‘Toto Shabda Sangraha’ Dictionary is set to be released to save Toto, a Sino-Tibetan language from
extinction.
• Infosys has bagged a $454-million deal for the digital transformation of Denmark’s Danske Bank.
• RBI has cancelled the banking license of the Karnataka-based Mahalaxmi Cooperative Bank, Dharwad, and
allowed function only as a non-banking institution.
• World Bank’s approved $391 million loan for two Indian states, Assam and Tripura.
• Lloyds Banking Group, one of the UK’s largest financial services providers, would set up a technology center
in Hyderabad.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has banned India Infoline Ltd (IIFL) Securities from
onboarding any new clients for two years.
• MRF became the first Indian stock to touch the one lakh rupee per share mark on June 13, 2023.
• RBI opens sub-office at Kohima, to increase presence in north east
• RBI Governor launches Financial Inclusion Dashboard 'ANTARDRIHSTI’
• The Federal Bank has launched a campaign named 'I am Adyar, Adyar is me’ in Chennai to celebrate people
and their culture by transforming an entire bank branch into a museum of local stories.
• InterGlobe Aviation Ltd (Indigo) has become India's leading airline to cross ₹1 trillion in market capitalization.
• IDFC First Bank and IDFC Ltd have announced their merger plans, with a share exchange ratio of 155 equity
shares of IDFC First Bank for every 100 equity shares of IDFC.
• Deepak Parekh has announced his decision to step down as HDFC chairperson after serving as the chairman
for 46 years.
• 4th edition of the G20 Space Economy Leaders Meeting to held in Bengaluru
• Razorpay launches first international payment gateway in Malaysia
• Govt approves 8.15% interest rate on Employees’ Provident Fund for FY23
• PhonePe has launched an ‘Income Tax Payment’ feature on its app.
• HDFC Bank overtakes SBI in CRISIL's corporate banking ranking for 2023
• Bangladesh and India launched a trade transaction in rupees to reduce the dependence on the US dollar and
strengthen regional currency and trade. This is the first time Bangladesh has done bilateral trade with a
foreign country in addition to the US dollar.
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• RBI Report: India could become a developed country by 2047 with an average annual real GDP growth of
7.6% over the next 25 years.
• The Asian Development Bank retained India's economic growth forecast at 6.4 per cent for the current FY
(2023-24) and 6.7 per cent for the next FY (2024-25)
• India has donated $1 million to the United Nations to support the promotion of the Hindi language.
• HDFC Bank has introduced XpressWay, a digital platform that offers various banking products and services,
providing customers with a swift and convenient banking experience.
• Fincare Small Finance Bank (Fincare SFB) is set to merge with AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) in 2024.
• IDFC-IDFC First Bank Merger Receives Competition Commission of India (CCI) Approval
• ICICI Bank has launched ‘iFinance’, which will enable customers, both retail and sole proprietors, to get a
consolidated view of their savings and current accounts in one place.
• RBI has granted approval to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to acquire a 9.7% stake in Federal
Bank.
• Google invests $1 million to IIT-Madras Al research centre
• RBI allows SBI Funds Management to acquire up to 9.99% stake in HDFC Bank
• According to Morgan Stanley, India is expected to contribute 16% of the global gross domestic product (GDP)
growth over 2023-24.
• RRVL (Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd ), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd, has acquired all 31 wholesale
stores operated by METRO Cash & Carry India
• World Bank Approves $82 Million Loan to Control Zoonotic Diseases (Disease Transmitted from Animals to
Humans) in India
Sports
ICC World Cup 2023
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 is set to be co-hosted by USA and West Indies.
Dallas, Florida and New York have been confirmed as the three major
USA cities
Notably, the previous edition of the tournament i.e, ICC Men's T20
World Cup 2022 was hosted by Australia. The final was played between
Pakistan and England.
ICC released official Anthem ‘Dil Jashn Bole’ for Men's Cricket World Cup
it features Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh and other popular social media
influencers.
The Cricket World Cup 2023 is being held in India after 12 years.
The music for the anthem has been prepared by Pritam, and the singers are
Pritam, Nakash Aziz, Sreerama Chandra and Amit Mishra
The final match of the ODI World Cup 2023 played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad
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Some of the recipients of this ticket are legendary Amitabh Bachchan, followed by
cricketing maestro Sachin Tendulkar and most recently, the enigmatic superstar of
Indian cinema, Rajinikanth
Mastercard inks brand partnership with ICC for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
The ICC has announced that ‘Blaze’ and ‘Tonk’ mascot duo for world cup 2023.
Ajay Jadeja Appointed As Mentor For Afghanistan Cricket Team In ICC Cricket World
Cup 2023
In the World Cup 2023 match played against Afghanistan at Arun Jaitley
Stadium in Delhi, Rohit broke the record of most sixes in international cricket.
556 sixes in 473 innings.
Australia Wins The 6th Men’s ICC Cricket ODI World Cup 2023
A total of 10 teams participated in the 13th ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
The Australian cricket team led by Pat Cummins defeated India
The Australian team has appeared in 8 finals of the Men’s Cricket ODI World Cup and has
won it six times: 1987,1999, 2003, 2007, 2015 and 2023.
Records:
Virat Kohli has made history by breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s world record, achieving his 50th ODI century.
Rohit Sharma Now First Batsman To Hit 50 Sixes In World Cup
Mohammed Shami has become India’s highest wicket-taker in ODI World Cup history during the India versus
Sri Lanka 2023 World Cup match
Angelo Mathews, a senior Sri Lanka all-rounder, has been the first player in men's or women's international
cricket to be removed using the "timed out" rule.
Virat Kohli - ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 Player of the Tournament.
In 1992, the tournament has introduced the prestigious “Player of the Tournament” award
Mohammed Shami - leading wicket taker of the World Cup 2023.
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Final
Team Winners Runners Years Won Years Runners
Appearances
ICC Moves Men’s U-19 World Cup From Sri Lanka To South Africa
South Africa hosted the U19 WC in 2020.
ICC implements stop-clock system:
The ICC, during its meeting in Ahmedabad on November 21, has
implemented a stop-clock system on trial basis from December 1 to April
2024.
A penalty of five runs will be imposed on the bowling side if they fail three times in an innings to start the
new over within a minute.
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India wins the inaugural Women’s U19 T20 World Cup title
India defeated England by 7 wickets in the final to win the first-ever ICC
Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2023
1st Edition - held in South Africa.
BCCI secretary, Jay Shah announced a cash reward of ₹5 crores for the
entire India squad.
Player of the Tournament - England captain Grace Scrivens
Player of the Match: Titas Sadhu (India)
India's Captain for U-19 Women’s T20: Shafali Verma
Australia beat South Africa to lift ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Trophy 2023
at Newlands, Cricket Ground in Cape Town, South Africa.
Australian women’s cricket team has won this title for the sixth time.
Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner - ICC Player of the Tournament
Beth Mooney - Player of the Match
Cricket
Surya Kumar Yadav becomes fastest player to reach 1,500 runs in T20I
Fastest in terms of balls faced. He took only 843 balls to reach this
landmark.
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Saurashtra defeated Bengal to win its second Ranji Trophy title 2023
organized at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Saurashtra captain Jaydev Unadkat was declared Man of the Match
Most runs: Mayank Agarwal (Karnataka) (990)
Most wickets: Jalaj Saxena (Kerala) (50)
Saurashtra won their first title in 2019-20 after beating Bengal.
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Usman Khawaja wins Shane Warne Men’s Test Player of the Year award 2023
Australia's opening batter, Usman Khawaja has claimed the inaugural Shane Warne Award as
the men’s Test player of the year in 2023.
Other winners:
Belinda Clark Award (Women's): Beth Mooney
Allan Border Medal (Men's): Steve Smith
Men's ODI Player of the Year: David Warner
Women’s ODI Player of the Year: Beth Mooney
Que: Which Indian Cricketer statue installed inside the iconic Wankhede stadium where he played his last game for
India?
Ans: Sachin Tendulkar
Arjuna Award in 1994, Khel Ratna in 1997, Padma Shri in 1998 and Padma Vibhushan
(2008) honours.
He is the only sportsperson to be conferred the Bharat Ratna in 2014.
His autobiography - 'Playing it My Way'
Suryakumar Yadav named Wisden’s leading T20I cricketer; Harmanpreet Kaur bags top
honour
Wisden Cricketers Almanack has released the list of top-5 cricketers of the year 2022. It also
includes India's women's team captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
Harmanpreet Kaur has become the first woman cricketer from India to make it to this
esteemed list.
Apart from Kaur, the list also includes the names of Tom Blundell (New Zealand), Ben
Foakes (England), Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand) and Matthew Potts (England).
Suryakumar Yadav has been selected as the T20 Cricketer of the Year.
Apart from this, Ben Stokes of England has been selected as the best cricketer in the world
for the year 2022-23 among male players.
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The
description
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Chennai to host the second edition of the ‘Street Child Cricket World Cup’.
partnership with Shree Dayaa Foundation
The tournament take place at Amir Mahal, the official residence of the Nawab of Arcot
from September 20 to 30.
Chennai Super Kings beat Gujarat Titans to win fifth IPL title
The final held at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on May 29, 2023.
IPL 2023 awards:
• Orange Cap (Highest Run-Scorer): Shubman Gill (GT) 890 runs
• Purple Cap (Leading Wicket-taker): Mohammed Shami (GT) 28 wickets
• Most Valuable Player: Shubman Gill
• Emerging Players: Yashasvi Jaiswal
Fairplay Award: Delhi Capital
Australia beat India by 209 runs to clinch maiden World Test Championship
title
At the Kennington Oval in London.
Player of the Match: Travis Head
Australia became the first team to win all ICC titles (Test, T20, And ODI)
formats
IPL version of Impact Player rule in Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy
BCCI Apex Council approved.
Like IPL, the teams will be allowed to name four substitutes besides the playing
eleven before the toss. Out of the four substitutes, can be used as an Impact
Player. It is, however, not compulsory.
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Launched in the year 2006-07, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is a domestic T20 cricket tournament held every year.
India beats Sri Lanka by 10 Wickets in Colombo to win Asia Cup 2023 title
Mohammed Siraj was declared player of the match and Kuldeep Yadav player of
the series.
Cricket Asia Cup 2023 played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka
The first edition of the Asia Cup was held in Sharjah in 1984
16th Edition
ICC Announced The Inclusion Of Three Cricket Maestros In The ICC Hall Of Fame
The new names - India's legendary opener Virender Sehwag, former Indian
Women Test skipper Diana Edulji and Sri Lanka's iconic star Aravinda de
Silva.
With these 3 more additions, there will now be 112 cricketers to be on the ICC Hall of Fame list.
Now 8 Indian cricketers hold the prestigious honour for their achievements.
They include: Sunil Gavaskar, Bishan Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar,
Vinoo Mankad, Diana Edulji, Virendra Sehwag.
Edulji has become the 1st Indian female inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.
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Amitabh Bachchan Becomes Owner Of Mumbai Team In Indian Street Premier League
The ISPL is India's first tennis ball T10 cricket tournament
six teams – Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Srinagar
Recently, actors Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan were announced as the team owners of Srinagar and
Bengaluru, respectively.
Short News
Indian woman cricketer Jhulan Goswami has joined England women's team captain Heather Knight and Eoin Morgan
to become a member of the MCC World Cricket Committee (WCC).
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IDFC First ,the Title Sponsor for all international matches (both women and men), domestic cricket matches like the
Irani Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and Ranji Trophy organized by the BCCI as also all junior cricket (Under 19 and 23)
matches, held in India.
Sachin Tendulkar's Statue Unveiled at Wankhede Stadium
Shubman Gill to be Gujarat Titans Captain For IPL 2024
Rahul Dravid to Continue as India’s Head Coach until at least the 2024 T20 World Cup in June.
Cricketer In news
Sachin Tendulkar The West Stand at the Sharjah cricket stadium has been renamed after Sachin
Tendulkar
Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia has unveiled a gate named after him.
Marlon Samuels ex-West Indies batsman, received a six-year cricket ban from the International Cricket
Council (ICC)
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Short News
Mahindra & Mahindra will be an associate sponsor with Star
Sports for the ICC Cricket World Cup which starts next month.
Cricketer Deepak Chahar Launches New Brand ‘DNINE Sports’
Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj re-grabbed the number one
position among bowlers in the ICC Men’s ODI player rankings
2023.
India’s Virat Kohli became the fastest batter to reach 13,000
ODI runs during the Asia Cup
MS Dhoni Appointed as the Brand Ambassador of Swaraj Tractors
Danielle McGahey of Canada will become the first transgender cricketer to play in an international match
Sue Redfern became the first woman to stand as an umpire in a men’s first-class cricket match in England
and Wales.
Shreyanka Patil becomes first Indian cricketer to be part of Caribbean Premier League
International Cricket Council (ICC) announces equal prize money for men and women at its global events
➢ Hardik Pandya to captain Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024
➢ BCCI Likely To Launch IPL-Like T10 League In 2024: Report
➢ Former West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich (32-year) has
retired from international cricket.
➢ Royal Challengers Bangalore appoints Indian tennis legend Sania Mirza as
the mentor of its Women’s Premier League (WPL) team.
➢ Dream11 replaces Byju’s to be the principal jersey sponsor of Indian cricket team
➢ Kashvee Gautam became the most expensive uncapped player in the WPL Auction 2024 as the Gujarat
Giants bought her for ₹2 crore.
➢ Kolkata Knight Riders have appointed experienced Indian batsman Shreyas Iyer as their captain for the
upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL). Nitish Rana has been made the vice-captain.
➢ The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to retire the iconic number 7 jersey worn by
former captain MS Dhoni. BCCI has taken this decision to honor Dhoni's achievements. Earlier, BCCI had
retired the jersey number 10 of the great Sachin Tendulkar
Tennis
Carlos Alcaraz wins Indian Wells 2023 to reclaim his World No.1 spot
Spanish tennis player, Carlos Alcaraz (19) has won his maiden 2023 Indian Wells title after
defeating Russian Daniil Medvedev in the final.
With this feat, he has also dethroned Novak Djokovic to reclaim World No.1 spot.
He also become the youngest world number one ever after his triumph and claimed his
third Masters 1000 title.
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Iga Swiatek becomes the first woman since Serena Williams to win WTA Player of the Year twice
Williams, who retired last year, was the WTA Player of the Year every season from
2012-15
Iga Natalia Świątek is a Polish professional tennis player.
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name Achievement
Indian pair of Yuki Bhambri, Saketh Myneni Bangkok Open2023 tennis title
name Achievement
Rohan Bopanna oldest tennis player to win ATP Masters 1000 title
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Badminton
India secured bronze in the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship 2023
held at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 14 to 19
February 2023.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand won the Women’s Doubles.
While team China won the Gold medal, South Korea won the Silver medal.
Indian Duo of Satwik-Chirag wins Swiss Open Super 300 title 2023
held in Basel, Switzerland.
They beat China
Other winners:
Men's singles: Koki Watanabe (Japan)
Women's singles: Pornpawee Chochuwong (Thailand)
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India's ace shuttler HS Prannoy won Malaysia Masters Badminton Championship 2023
title
Played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Prannoy won the final by defeating China's Wang Hongyang .
Prannoy became the third Indian after Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu to win the Malaysia
Masters Championship.
Also became the first Indian to win in the men's singles category.
Women's singles: Akane Yamaguchi
Star badminton men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty
has secured the first position in the recently released BWF rankings
They are the first Indian duo and fourth Indians after legendary Prakash
Padukone, Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth to achieve this feat
Prakash Padukone was the first when he became the top ranked men’s
singles shuttler in 1980.
In 2023, they won the Swiss Open, Indonesia Open and Korea Open.
Satwiksairaj and Chirag brought home Commonwealth Games gold in the
men's doubles category at Birmingham last year
India's Ayush Shetty wins bronze medal at BWF World Junior Championships 2023
23rd edition of the BWF World Junior Championships was held in Spokane,
United States of America (USA).
India has won 11 medals at the BWF World Junior Championships since 1992,
including 1 gold, 4 silver and 6 bronze medals.
Saina Nehwal's gold medal win in 2008 remains India's best achievement at the
BWF World Junior Championships, and she also earned a silver medal in 2006.
Unnati Hooda captures women's singles title at Abu Dhabi Masters 2023
She became the youngest Indian to clinch a BWF title last year at 14 years of age.
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name Achievement
Star Indian Shuttler set the Guinness world record for the fastest shot by a male player in
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy badminton, recording a 565 kilometres per hour
H.S. Prannoy won Silver medal in Australian Open Super 500 badminton 2023
name Achievement
Mithun Manjunath men’s singles title at the 84th Senior National Badminton Championship
at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune
Hockey
Germany beat Belgium in the finals to lift the Hockey World Cup 2023 title
held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India.
With this win, Germany became the fourth team to have won three or more
hockey World Cup titles, after Pakistan, Netherlands, and Australia.
List of the winners:
Best Player: Niklas Wellen (Germany)
Best Goalkeeper:Vincent Vanasch (Belgium)
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Madhya Pradesh women's team wins maiden National Hockey title 2023
13th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2023 held in
Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
MP defeated Maharashtra by 5-1 in the final.
Madhya Pradesh’s Pratibha Arya awarded the player of the match title.
Guinness Book of World Records certifies Birsa Munda as world’s largest hockey stadium
The stadium can seat 20,011 with uninterrupted viewing experience and boasts of a world-class infrastructure.
Hockey Cups Trivia:
• Agha Khan Cup
• Beighton Cup
• Bombay Gold Cup
• Dhyan Chand Trophy
• Indira Gold Cup
• Kuppuswamy Naidu Trophy
• Lady Ratan Tata Trophy
• Rangaswami Cup
• Ranjit Singh Gold Cup
Scindia Gold Cup
India defeated Pakistan to win Men's Junior Asia Cup Hockey in 2023
Men's Junior Asia Cup 2023 held at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex
Stadium in Salalah, Oman.
This was India’s fourth title after winning in 2004, 2008, and 2015.
India has become the most successful country in the history of the Men's
Junior Asia Cup.
Indian Women's hockey team defeated Republic of Korea to win the
Women’s Junior Asia Cup 2023 title, held in Japan.
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Indian Men's Hockey Team bagged Asian hockey Championship trophy 2023
• The Indian hockey team defeated Malaysia and won for the fourth time at the Asian Champions Trophy
2023
• Final at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai.
• With four Asian Champions Trophy titles, India is in the first spot in the history of the tournament.
• Pakistan, with three titles, is in the second spot now.
Hardik Singh and Xan de Waard named FIH Players of the Year 2023
FIH Awards for 2023:
Player of the Year (Men): Hardik Singh (India)
Player of the Year (Women): Xan de Waard (Netherlands)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Men): Pirmin Black (Dutch)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Women): Savita (India)
Coach of the Year (Men): Andre Henning, Germany (Head Coach of the German
Men's Team)
Coach of the Year (Women): Alison Annan, Australia (Chief Women's Team
Head Coach)
Savita is currently the captain of the Indian women's team. Savita has received
the FIH Women's Goalkeeper of the Year Award for the third consecutive
year.
International Hockey Federation (FIH):
Established: 1924
Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
FIH is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the sole governing body for hockey worldwide.
Short News
Hockey Punjab Wins 13th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2023
The Indian Hockey team beat Pakistan in a penalty shootout in the final and won the
inaugural Men’s Hockey 5s Asia Cup 2023 in Salalah, Oman.
India beats Pakistan to win bronze at 11th Sultan of Johor Cup 2023 held in Johor,
Malaysia
FIH Pro League 2023: India beat Argentina in final match in Netherlands
Indian women beat Spain 3-0 to win Spanish Federation hockey tournament.
Tamil Nadu unveils ‘Bomman’, the mascot for 2023 Men's Asian Champions Trophy : hockey tournament to
be held at Chennai
Football
Real Madrid beat Al Hilal to win record fifth Club World Cup
final held in the Abdellah stadium, Rabat, Morocco.
Real Madrid has defeated Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal by 5-3.
Real Madrid last won the tournament in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Madrid also won three Intercontinental Cups in 1960, 1998, and 2002.
Lionel Messi wins Best Men's Player 2022 at the FIFA awards
Alexia Putellas (Spain) was awarded the best women's player for a second straight year.
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Other awardees:
Best men's coach: Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)
Best women's coach: Sarina Wiegman
Barcelona claimed its 27th LaLiga title and first for four years.
They defeated Espanyol
LaLiga is the first-division football league that is played in Spain
Argentina becomes number one football team in the world in FIFA rankings 2023
Argentina topped the FIFA rankings for the first time in six years.
FIFA is the governing body for association football.
It was established in 1904.FIFA is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.
The current President of FIFA is Gianni Infantino, who was elected to the position in 2016.
India ranked 100th in FIFA men's football rankings
the AIFF Men’s and Women’s Footballer of the Year for 2022-23
Indian football team midfielder Lallianzuala Chhangte (Mizoram) has been
named the AIFF Men’s Footballer of the Year for 2022-23.
While Manisha Kalyan (Punjab) won her second consecutive Women’s
Footballer of the Year award.
• AIFF Men’s Emerging Footballer of the Year 2022-23: Akash Mishra
• AIFF Women’s Emerging Footballer of the Year 2022-23: Shilji Shaji
• Men’s Coach of the Year award: Clifford Miranda
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• Women Coach of the Year (currently the head coach of the India women's U-17
team): Priya Parathi Valappil was named
AIFF President: Kalyan Chaubey
Minerva Academy becomes first Indian club to win Gothia Cup
The Gothia Cup, an international youth football tournament organized has been held
annually at Gothenburg in Sweden.
The Indian team defeated Brazil.
The tournament is the world’s largest international youth football tournament with
1700 teams.
Spain beat England and won first FIFA Women's World Cup
• Final:Sydney
• Most successful team: United States (4 titles)
• The competition has been held every four years and one year after the
men's FIFA World Cup since 1991
• The 2023 competition was hosted by Australia and New Zealand, making it the first edition to be held in the
Southern Hemisphere, the first Women's World Cup to be hosted by two countries
Imp Points
Saudi Arabia to host 2027 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup
2023 AFC Asian Cup: Qatar (from June 26 to July 16, 2023)
DD Sports secures broadcasting right for 9th edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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Aitana Bonmati, who won her first Ballon d’Or Feminin in 2023
In other awards, Manchester City and FC Barcelona Femeni won the Men’s and
Women’s Club of the Season award.
67th annual ceremony of the Ballon d'Or, presented by France Football magazine,
recognising the best footballers in the world in the 2022–23 season.
Germany won the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time
Runner up:France
Agustin Ruberto of Argentina wins Golden Boot
name Achievement
Lionel Messi best player for 2022 by International Football Federation History and Statistics
(IFFHS)
In Football, India won the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-19 Championship after defeating
Pakistan in the finals in Kathmandu.
Tamil Nadu beat Haryana in the final to clinch the senior women’s National
football championship at the Guru Nanak stadium in Amritsar
Short News
IndiGo has become the global partner and official airline for the Indian
football team.
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Chess
FIDE
The International Chess Federation or French acronym FIDE is an international organization that was set up
on 20 July 1924 in Paris, France.
It is the international body which governs world chess championships.
President of FIDE: Arkady Dvorkovich,
Headquarters of FIDE: Lausanne, Switzerland
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feature six teams with six players each, including a minimum of two female players and one icon player per team.
GCL is a joint venture of FIDE and Tech Mahindra
Alexander Grischuk wins 2023 Tata Steel Chess India Open Blitz
Three time World Blitz chess champion Alexander Grischuk of Russia won the Open Blitz title of
the Tata Steel Chess India 2023 held in Kolkata , West Bengal
Amongst the India players R Praggnanandhaa was the best performer in the Open Blitz section
of the tournament . He finished in third place ,Arjun Egrashi came fourth but India’s No.1 D
Gukesh finished at the eight place .
The first edition of the Tata Steel Chess India was held in 2018.
Vaishali and Vidit Gujrathi win FIDE Grand Swiss women’s and open titles resp in UK.
Vaishali became the first Indian to win the Grand Swiss
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name Achievement
Vantika Agrawal 11th Indian women to achieve International Master title in Chess
She received the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title in 2021
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Norwegian chess GM, Magnus Carlsen won Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland 2023
Short News
Indian GM Praggnanandhaa wins Super GM chess tournament in Hungary.
Aravindh Chithambaram wins 23rd Dubai Open 2023
Shooting
name Achievement
Rudrankksh Patil gold in the men’s 10m air rifle event at the ISSF World Cup in Cairo, Egypt.
Mairaj Ahmad Khan gold medal in ISSF World Cup Shotgun 2023, held in Cairo, Egypt
Rhythm Sangwan bronze medal in Women’s 10 metre air pistol event in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Hriday Hazarika and Nancy silver medals in the men’s and women’s 10-meter air rifle events at ISSF
Mandhotra World
Cup 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
In the overall medals tally, India finished its campaign second behind China
Indian shooter Anish Bhanwala won the bronze medal in the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event at the ISSF
World Cup Final 2023 in Doha, Qatar
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Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar wins gold medal in men’s individual 50m rifle competition at ISSF World Cup at
Cairo.
Archery
Indian women’s compound team wins historic gold medal
• The team comprising of Jyoti Surekha Vennam, Parneet Kaur and Aditi
Gopichand Swami secured the nation’s first-ever gold medal in this
competition.
• The Indian women defeated the Mexican team .
• World Archery Championship 2023 was held in Berlin, Germany.
• The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Archery World Cup 2023: India won four medals in Antalya Turkey
India ended the competition with four medals, including two gold, one silver and
one bronze.
Name of medal winners of India
Jyothi Surekha Vennam - Women's Individual Compound - Gold Medal
Jyoti Surekha Vennam and Ojas Praveen Deotale- Compound Mixed Team -Gold
Medal
Indian men's recurve team won the silver medal
Dheeraj Bommadevra- Men's Individual Recurve -Bronze Medal
India claims nine medals and tops standings at the 23rd Asian Para Archery Championships in
Bangkok
The Indian Para Asian Archery contingent gave their best ever performance at the the Para Asian
Archery Championship 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand- with a total of 9 Medals, including 4 Gold
Medals, 4 silver and 1 bronze.
South Korea finished second
Bangladesh to host 24th Asian Archery Championships in 2025
Short news
Former World No. 1 archer Deepika Kumari was the standout
performer, securing two gold medals and a silver at National
game 2023.
Senior National Archery Championship held in Ayodhya,
Uttar Pradesh from 25 to 30 November 2023
Indian archer, Aditi Swami has become the first-ever Indian to clinch the individual World Title at the
World Archery Championships final 2023 in Berlin.
Boxing
Men’s World Boxing Championships 2023: India finished with 3 Bronze Medals
held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
India finished with three bronze medals - Deepak Bhoria (48-51kg), Mohammed
Hussamuddin (54-57kg) and Nishant Dev (67-71kg)
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Wrestling
Two-time World under-20 champion and senior Worlds bronze medallist Antim
Panghal (53kg) was named as United World Wrestling (UWW) Rising Star of the Year
2023 in the women’s section.
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Weightlifting
F1 Racing
name Achievement
Indian Oil has taken on the title sponsorship of the edition of MotoGP
Bharat, the first-ever grand prix in India, which will be held at the Buddh
International Circuit in Greater Noida from September 22 to 24.
Marco Bezzecchi won inaugural race in India Grand Prix 2023.
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz won the Singapore Grand Prix 2023
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Athletics
India’s athlete Bhagwani Devi Dagar wins three gold medals at 2023 World Masters Athletics Indoor
Championship in Poland
9th World Masters Athletics Indoor Championship at Torun in Poland.
The veteran athlete from Haryana won the three gold medals in 60m running,
shot put and discus throw categories in the 95-99 age division.
Bhagwani Devi Dagar is nicknamed as “Sprinter Dadi”. Her athletic career began
at the age of 94.
Indian sprinter Amlan Borgohain bags two gold medals in Flanders Cup 2023
two gold medals in the men's 100 and 200-meter races category at the Flanders Cup 2023
athletics in Merksem, Belgium.
He holds the 100-meter national record of 10.25 seconds.
Neeraj Chopra makes history by winning India’s first-ever gold medal at World Athletics Championships
• Neeraj Chopra won India’s first gold medal in the men's javelin throw event at the World Athletics
Championships held in Budapest, Hungary.
• Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan secured the second position
Extra Info:
Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra finished second in the men’s event at the Diamond League Final 2023 in USA.
The Indian's best throw of 83.80 meter came in his second attempt.
Short News:
Australia withdraws from hosting Commonwealth Games 2026
Kenyan Kiptum Breaks Marathon World Record clocking a time of two hours and 35 seconds, to claim victory at the
Chicago Marathon
name Achievement
Tajinderpal Singh Toor won gold in the shot put event at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships held in
Astana, Kazakhstan
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Annu Rani gold medal in the javelin throwing Federation Cup 2023 athletics event at the Birsa
Munda Stadium in Ranchi.
Indian athlete Ajit Singh won the gold medal in the final of men's javelin throw F46 at the Para Athletics
Championships in Paris.
Ace Indian long jumper, Murali Sreeshankar has secured a third place in the 2023 Diamond League Meet at
Paris, France.
Asian Games
Amul is named as the official sponsor of the Indian Contingent for the 19th
Asian Games 2022 to be held in Hangzhou
Men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and Tokyo Olympics bronze
medallist boxer Lovlina Borgohain ,India's flag-bearers at the opening ceremony
of the 19th Asian Games
This is the first time that the Asian Games will have two flag-bearers in the push
for gender parity
At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, the Indian contingent was led by Neeraj Chopra at the opening
ceremony
India ranked at fourth place on the scoreboard in the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou.
Other Winners:
• Ranked 1st scored by People's Republic of China with 383 medals
• Ranked 2nd scored by Japan with 188 medals
• Ranked 3rd scored by Republic of Korea with 190 medals
• The Indian women's kabaddi team won gold by defeating Chinese Taipei
• The Indian men's cricket team was awarded gold against Afghanistan.
• In hockey, the Indian women's team defeated Japan and won a bronze medal
• Indian Men’s Hockey Team Clinches Gold At Asian Games 2023
• Badminton: Chirag Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy win GOLD in men's doubles
• Wrestling: Deepak Punia wins silver in men's freestyle 86kg
• Chess: Men's team and women's team bag silver.
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For the first time, India has won a gold medal in athletics. The medal was won by Avinash Sable in the Men's 3000m
steeplechase.
Parul Choudhary gold medal after winning in the Women's 500 metres category, becoming the first Indian female
athlete to do so.
ASIAN GAMES
Annu Rani won the first gold medal for India in the women's javelin throw
event at the Asian Games (62.92 meters)
Shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor wins gold
Indian Equestrian Dressage Team Wins Gold after 41 Years at Asian
Games 2023
The Indian equestrian team, comprised of Anush Agarwal, Hriday Vipul Kheda,
Sudipati Hazel, and Divyakriti Singh
last won gold in horse riding during its inaugural participation in the Asian
Games back in 1982.
India’s Murali Sreeshankar won a silver medal in the men’s long jump with a
best jump of 8.19 meters.
Neeraj Chopra secured the gold medal and
Kishore Kumar Jena clinched the silver in the
Men’s Javelin Throw competition
Lovlina Borgohain won silver in women's 75 kg boxing
final.
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Deepthi Jeevanji won Gold in Women’s 400m-T20 event at Asian Para Games
Prachi Yadav has won gold in the women’s Para Canoe KL2 event at the Asian
Para Games 2023
India's Neeraj Yadav won the gold medal in the men's discus throw of the Asian
Para Games. Sumit Antil wins gold in men’s javelin
Sheetal Devi
Indian para archer Sheetal Devi emerged victorious at the fourth edition of the
Asian Awards in Riyadh securing the prestigious title of Best Youth Athlete.
The Asian Awards, organized by the Asian Paralympic Committee
Devi’s remarkable performance at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games in
October ,gold in both the individual and team compound events.
Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games gold medallist Asila Mirzayorova from
Uzbekistan :Best Female Athlete
Peng Zheng :Best Male Athlete
Nishad Kumar bagged a gold medal for India with a new Asian Games record
in the Men’s High Jump
Siddharth Babu won gold medal in 50 meter rifles
India's Roshibina Devi Naorem wins silver medal in women's Wushu at Asian
Games 2023
Russia and Belarus omitted from Paris Olympics invitees.
Racewalker Akshdeep Singh became the first Indian to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
National Games
Khelo India Youth Games 2022
5th Khelo India Youth Games to be hosted by Madhya Pradesh from 31 January 2023 to
11 February 2023.
The mascot is 'Asha'. While the theme song is 'Hindustan Ka Dil Dhadka Do...' sung by
singer Shaan. The torch of Khelo India Youth Games was named Amarkantak, on which
the figure of Maa Narmada is also engraved.
For the first time water sports namely Kayaking Canoeing, Canoe Salaam and
Fencing are added to Khelo India Games.
Maharashtra topped the medal tally by winning 161 medals including 56 gold.
While Haryana stood second, host Madhya Pradesh finished third
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1 Maharashtra 80 69 79 228
2 Services 66 27 33 126
3 Haryana 62 55 75 192
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5 Kerala 36 24 27 87
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India lifts Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2023 title over Japan
In Hockey, the Indian women’s team dethroned Japan to crown themselves
Asian Champions Trophy 2023 winners.
India won their maiden Asian Champions Trophy title in 2016 in Singapore
Asian Games champions China beat South Korea to secure third place.
Venue Ranchi
Savita Punia lead the Indian Women’s Hockey Team as Captain
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren unveild mascot ‘Juhi’ for Women’s Asian
Champions Trophy 2023
1 China 15 0 0 15
2 Vietnam 5 3 3 11
3 Macau 5 2 4 11
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Anahat Singh Becomes Second Youngest To Win National Squash Championship Title
Velavan Senthilkumar (Tamil Nadu) and Anahat Singh (Delhi) won their maiden men’s and
women’s titles, respectively in the 79th National squash championships at the Indian Squash
and Triathlon Academy (ISTA)
The 15-year-old Anahat is the second youngest ever to have won the women’s title. Joshna
Chinappa was 14 when she won the first title in 2000.
Short News:
India wins both men's and women's Asian Kho Kho Championship title 2023
Indian golf player, Aditi Ashok wins Kenya Ladies Open title 2023
The Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023 is scheduled to be held in Busan, South Korea
from June 27 to 30.
Maharashtra wins 5th National Wheelchair Rugby Championship 2023 victory over
Karnataka.
Bhavani Devi becomes first Indian to win bronze medal at Asian Fencing
Championships in China
Khelo India Games will be held in Tamil Nadu in January 2024. The State
Government said that the games will be held in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and
Trichy from 19th to 31st January, 2024.
For the first time, squash will be included in Khelo India games.
India won the title by defeating Iran in the Asian Kabaddi Championship, held in Busan, Korea
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Miscellaneous
Goa Challengers won India’s Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) tournament
held at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune from July 13 to 27, 2023.
It is being organized under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India, after
a gap of four years.
The Ultimate Table Tennis league consists of six teams.
Goa Challengers crowned UTT Season 4 champs, defeating Chennai Lions
Indian Olympic Association forms three-member ad hoc committee to run affairs of suspended WFI
Wushu Association of India president Bhupinder Singh Bajwa will be the chairman of the panel with hockey
Olympian M. M. Somaya and former international shuttler Manjusha Kanwar being the other two members.
The Sports Ministry suspended the WFI, three days after it elected new office bearers with Brij Bhushan Singh
loyalist Sanjay Singh as president, and also asked IOA to constitute an ad-hoc panel to manage the affairs of the
sports body.
Indian men’s team won bronze medal at Asian Table Tennis Championships 2023
Venue:Republic of Korea.
Indian men’s team comprising Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai and Sathiyan
Gnanasekaran lost in their final four match.
The gold medal was won by the Chinese team by defeating Chinese Taipei in the
final . Chinese Taipei got silver medal and the third place team was South Korea
Women team event
In the women's section the gold medal was won by the Chinese women's team. They defeated the South
Korean team in the final.
The Indian women’s team consisting of Manika Batra, Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee lost 0-3 to
Thailand to finish sixth.
India has so far won only five bronze medals in the history of the Asian Table Tennis Championships. All
medals have come in the team event.
The Indian women's doubles pair of Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee won the 2023 World Table
Tennis (WTT) Contender tournament in Tunis.
India has won a gold medal in men’s squash team event after beating Pakistan at the Asian Games.
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Bollywood actor Rahul Bose gets Odisha’s Rugby Stadium named after him
• Rahul Bose currently serves as the President of the Indian Rugby
Football Union (Rugby India).
• Rugby India is the governing body for sport of rugby union in India. Its
headquarter is situated in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Rahul had been rugby player and represented India in 17 internationals
rugby matches.
Saudi Arabia receives flag to host FEI World Cup Finals 2024
• Riyadh will host FEI World Cup Finals in April 2024.
• It is the first time the event will be held in the Middle East.
• Founded in 1921, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) is the world
governing body for Jumping, Dressage & Para Dressage, Eventing, Driving & Para
Driving, Endurance and Vaulting.
Short News:
Muthamizh Selvi has become the first woman from Tamil Nadu to climb the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest
Belgium’s Luca Brecel has become the first European player to win 2023 World Snooker Championship.
Nepali sherpa becomes world's second person to scale Everest 26 times
Kami Rita Sherpa was the first person who climbed Mount Everest 26 times.
Indian golf player, Diksha Dagar has secured her second Ladies European Tour (LET) at the Tipsport Czech Ladies
Open 2023.
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Minho & Lee Dong Wook chosen as Global Ambassadors for the Olympics
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has chosen Minho and K-drama star Lee
Dong Wook to serve as the first Global Ambassadors for ‘OlympicTM Friends.’
The Republic of Korea's Gangwon province will host the 4th Winter Youth Olympic
Games.
Pawan Kumar Sehrawat became the costliest player in Pro Kabaddi League
(PKL)
Pawan Kumar Sehrawat to Telugu Titans - INR 2.605 crore
Iranian Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh became the most expensive
overseas player at the auction and was brought by Puneri Paltan for Rs
2.35 crore
AI named Collins Dictionary word of the year; ‘Bazball’ included in the dictionary
AI has been crowned the Collins Word of the Year for 2023.
Recently the word 'Bazball' related to cricket has been included in the prestigious
Collins Dictionary.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023: Mary Earps wins award
England goalkeeper Mary Earps has been named the BBC's Sports Personality of the
Year for 2023.
Cricketer Stuart Broad was the runner-up. These winners were decided by the public
vote.
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Mary Earps is the second consecutive female footballer to win the BBC award.
Beth Mead was awarded BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2022. Beth Mead lifted
England's first major women's football trophy by defeating Germany.
Argentina superstar Lionel Messi named Time’s Athlete of the Year for 2023
The news comes after Messi won the 2023 Ballon d'Or for a record-extending eighth
time
Short News
Shalini Singh has become the first female NCC cadet in India to complete the advanced mountaineering
course in the Himalayan region of Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand.
China's Ruoning Yin is the new No. 1 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings 2023
Men's Volleyball Club World Championship to begin in Bengaluru
Italy won Admiral’s Cup 2023 held at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala
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International News
International Appointments
Amit S Telang appointed as Indian envoy to the Caribbean Community
Amit S Telang has been concurrently accredited as the Indian Ambassador to the
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and High Commissioner to the Federation of St Kitts
and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda.
Anil Kumar Rai has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Federal
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
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Girish Chandra Murmu was elected the external auditor of the World Health Organization (WHO) for four years in
May 2023.
Murmu has been the first Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir:
Article 148 broadly deals with the CAG appointment, oath and conditions of service.
Article 149 deals with Duties and Powers of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
Robert Fico has been appointed as prime minister of Slovakia for the fourth
time.
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Shri Indra Mani Pandey will be the next Secretary General BIMSTEC
Indra Mani Pandey will be the first Indian official to hold the post of secretary
general of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
BIMSTEC is a regional organisation established in June 1997. Its secretariat was
established in the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka
The member states of BIMSTEC are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal,
Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Senior diplomat Gopal Baglay has been appointed as the new High Commissioner of India to
Australia
Shri Gopal Baglay, presently High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, has been appointed as
the next High Commissioner of India to Australia.
Baglay will succeed Manpreet Vohra as Indian High Commissioner to Australia.
He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.
Ministry of External Affairs has appointed Madan Lal Raigar as the next
Indian Ambassador to the Republic of Congo
Madan Lal Raigar, who is currently serving as the Director in the Ministry
has been given the new responsibility of Indian envoy in the African nation.
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Admiral Lisa Franchetti to become the first woman to lead the US Navy
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Israel's former envoy to India Ron Malka appointed as Haifa Port Chairman
Adani Group has appointed the former envoy of Israel to India, Ron Malka as the
Executive Chairman of the Haifa Port Company.
He served as the ambassador of Israel to India from 2018-2021.
It is the second-largest port in Israel in terms of shipping containers.
The Adani Group officially took over this port in January 2023.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone and Israel's Gadot Group won the tender in July
2022 to privatize the Port of Haifa for USD 1.18 billion.
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Que:Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani has become the new Prime
Minister of which country?
Que:शेख मोहम्मि द्धबन अब्िल
ु र्हमान अल-थानी दकस िे श के नए प्रधानमंत्री बने हैं ?
Ans: Qatar
Capital – Doha
Currency – Qatari riyal
Que:Which Indian-American has been appointed as the Assistant Secretary of the US Air
Force?
प्रश्नः दकस भार्तीय-अमेरर्की को अमेरर्की वायु सेना का सहायक ससचव सनयुक्त दकया िया है ?
Ans: Ravi Chaudhary
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United States Senate confirmed Ravi Chaudhary, an Indian-American, as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for
Energy, Installations, and the Environment.
He is the first Indian-American to serve in this position.
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Que: Nguyen Xuan Phuc has announced his resignation recently. He is the president of which country?
Que:िुयेन जुआन िुक ने हाल ही में अपने इस्तीिे की घोषणा की है । वह दकस िे श के र्ाष्ट्रपसत
हैं ?
Ans: Vietnam / द्धवयतनाम
• He announced his resignation amid the ongoing anti-corruption drive.
• He had served as Prime Minister of Vietnam from 2016 until April 2021.
• Capital- Hanoi
• Currency- Vietnamese dong
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Which country has pulled out of the ‘Treaty of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe’?
Ans: Russia
Russia has officially pulled out of an international security pact that restricts the use of conventional weapons, saying
NATO’s expansion has made such cooperation impossible.
NATO announced the formal suspension of a key Cold War-era security treaty in response to Russia’s pull out from
the deal.
Most of NATO’s 31 allies signed the Treaty of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, which was aimed at preventing
Cold War rivals from massing forces at or near mutual borders. It was signed in November 1990.
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The train link will promote cross-border trade and reduce travel time between
Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka significantly.
India, Tanzania sign MoUs in maritime sector, Navy to share shipping info
India and Tanzania signed multiple MoUs ranging in various sectors including digital transformation, maritime sector
and sports aiming to enhance cooperation between the two nations.
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• Sports.
• Maritime Industry.
• Cultural Exchange.
• Setting up an Industrial Park in Tanzania.
• Sharing successful digital solutions implemented at
population scale for digital transformation.
• sharing White Shipping Information.
India, Bangladesh sign 3 MoUs after bilateral meet ahead of G20 summit
India and Bangladesh signed three MoUs.
First MoU was signed between National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and
Bangladesh Bank on cooperation in Digital Payment mechanism
Second MoU focused on the renewal of the Cultural Exchange Program for 2023-2025.
The third MoU was signed between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the
Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council.
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West Coast Refinery Project first conceptualised in 2014, the West Coast refinery project, also known as the
Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. (RRPCL), was envisioned as India’s largest greenfield refinery with a
capacity of 60 million tonnes per annum and is touted to become the largest integrated refinery and petrochemical
facility in the world.
The project is supposed to be set up on India’s western coast, specifically in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.
The refinery is expected to produce around 1.2 million barrels of oil a day when completed, alongside the various
petroleum products that will be produced by attached petrochemical plants.
RRPCL is a 50:25:25 joint venture formed in 2017 by India’s three national oil companies, Indian Oil
Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum
Corporation Limited (HPCL).
In 2019, Saudi Aramco and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) decided to get involved as well,
collectively acquiring a 50 percent stake in the project, which is estimated to be worth around Rs 3 lakh
crore purely in set-up costs.
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Minamata convention on mercury is the most recent global agreement that aims to protect human health and the
environment from the harmful effects of mercury and its compounds.
Minamata Convention year: The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international environmental treaty,
adopted in 2013
Minamata is named after the bay in Japan where, in the mid-20th century, mercury-tainted industrial wastewater
poisoned thousands of people, leading to severe health damage that became known as the “Minamata disease.”
The Minamata Convention entered into force on 16 August 2017
Minamata convention is the world’s first legally binding treaty, to phase out this highly toxic substance
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The project was proposed by former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and approved in 2002. Its
construction began in 2012 and is being implemented in several phases.
The Ministry of External Affairs in India, in collaboration with Myanmar and Thailand, is responsible for project
implementation.
The highway starts from Moreh in Manipur, India, passes through Myanmar and ends at Mae Sot in Thailand.
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Rasht-Astara Railway:
Russia and Iran have signed a deal to build an Iranian railway line, the
Rasht-Astara railway as part of an International North–South Transport
Corridor (INSTC).
The Rasht-Astara railway is seen as an important link in the corridor,
intended to connect India, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan and other countries
via railways and sea – a route that Russia says can rival the Suez Canal
as a major global trade route.
Rash Astra Railway is a 162-kilometer railway that will connect the city
of Rasht (Iran) near the Caspian Sea, to Astara (Azerbaijan) on the
border with Azerbaijan.
The new connection will save four days off that traveling time frame.
The railway along the Caspian Sea coast would help to connect Russian ports on the Baltic Sea with Iranian ports in
the Indian Ocean and the Gulf.
What is the International North–South Transport Corridor?
• It is a 7,200-kilometer Multi-Mode Transit System that
connects ship, rail, and road routes for moving cargo
between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and
Europe.
• It was launched on 12th September 2000 in St. Petersburg,
by Iran, Russia and India for the purpose of promoting
transportation cooperation among the Member States.
• Since then, International North–South Transport Corridor
(INSTC) membership has expanded to include 10 more countries – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Syria, Belarus, and Oman.
• Bulgaria has been included as an observer state. The Baltic countries like Latvia and Estonia have also expressed
willingness to join.
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Que:India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar has inaugurated the Buzi Bridge, constructed as part of 132 km
Tica-Buzi-Nova-Sofala Road project in which country?
Que:भार्त के द्धविे श मंत्री डॉ जयशंकर् ने दकस िे श में 132 दकमी दटका–बुजी–नोवा–सोिाला
र्ोड परर्योजना के दहस्से के रूप में सनसमात बुजी द्धिज का उद्घाटन दकया है ?
Ans: Mozambique / मोजाक्म्बक
• The bridge has been by built by India.
• The Buzi Bridge connects the towns of Chibabava and Mafambisse.
• The project was executed by the National Highways Authority of
India (NHAI) in collaboration with the Mozambique government.
Under the defence deal, America and Britain will help Australia
deploy nuclear-powered submarines in the Pacific region
A future generation of submarines will be built in the U.K. and in
Australia with U.S. technology and support.
Known as “SSN-AUKUS” after the strategic partnership among the
three countries, they will be built and used by both the U.K. and
Australia.
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UN inks first ‘High Seas Treaty’ in a bid to protect ocean bodies of the world
For the first time in history, the United Nations signed the 'High Seas Treaty' to
protect the world's oceans located outside national boundaries.
The treaty is the result of nearly a decade of negotiations on environmental concerns.
The last international agreement on ocean conservation was signed 40 years ago in
1982.
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The New START, the “Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the
Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms”, entered into force on 5th February 2011, and placed
new verifiable limits on intercontinental-range nuclear weapons.
The US and Russia Federation subsequently agreed to extend the treaty through February 2026.
A suspension of the treaty may mean that it will be harder for the US to monitor compliance.
Russia has already suspended mutual inspections of nuclear weapons sites and participation in a bilateral
consultative commission
Egypt plans to allot land to Indian industries in Suez Canal Special Economic
Zone
The trade between India and Egypt currently exceeds $3.15 billion.
Egypt welcomes the flow of more Indian investments and promises to
provide incentives and facilities in accordance with applicable regulations
and framework.
PM Modi and President of Egypt agreed to encourage businesses to explore
mutually emerging economic and investment opportunities.
Egyptian President El-Sisi, who arrived in Delhi on a three-day visit to India,
attended the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest.
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India-Egypt signed MoU between Prasar Bharati and National Media Authority of Egypt
Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur and Foreign Minister Sameh Hassan Shoukry,
Government of Egypt signed the MoU.
Under this MoU, broadcasters of both the countries will exchange their programs on bilateral basis in different
genres of sports, news, culture, entertainment and many other fields and these programs will be broadcast on their
radio and television platforms.
The validity of this MoU will be for three years.
Currency: Egyptian pound
Feni River:
It forms part of the India-Bangladesh border.
It originates in the South Tripura district, passes through Sabroom town on the Indian side, and meets the
Bay of Bengal after it flows into Bangladesh.
It is 116 kilometres in length from its source to theJoin
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Some of the notable tributaries of the Feni River include the Muhuri River, Raidak River, Chandkhira River,
Ryang River and Kushiyara River.
G4 Countries:
The G4 countries - India, Brazil, Japan and Germany, have reiterated that expansion of UN Security Council in
both permanent and non-permanent categories is essential to make the body more representative,
legitimate, effective and efficient at 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Established by the United Nations charter in 1945, the Security Council has primary responsibility of
maintaining international peace and security.
The Security Council has 15 members. Join @parcham_CA for more free pdfs
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There are five permanent members: the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and the United
Kingdom.
The non-permanent members of the Security Council are elected for a term of two years.
India and UN launch joint capacity building initiative for Global South
India and the United Nations recently launched a joint capacity-building initiative
called the “India-UN Capacity Building Initiative,” designed to foster growth and
development in the Global South.
The goal is to share India’s development experiences, best practices, and expertise
through capacity-building and training programs.
The India-UN initiative also complements the India-UN
partnership in the form of “India-UN Development Partnership
Fund” which has developed a portfolio of 75 development
projects in 61 countries in the last 6 years.
As part of this initiative, the UN India team and the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation will “partner to leverage
India’s Technical and Economic Cooperation platform to
share India’s development experiences and best practices
across the world.
Bangladesh inaugurated the 82-km Padma Bridge Rail Link, the country’s largest infrastructure project built under
China’s Belt and Road Initiative
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KABIL JV
KABIL is a joint venture between the National Aluminium Company
(NALCO), Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd. (MECL), and Hindustan
Copper Ltd. (HCL).
It was formed for the identification, acquisition, development, and
processing of strategic minerals overseas for use in India.
Lithium triangle
Argentina, together with Chile and Bolivia, form the so-called “Lithium
Triangle” and is currently the fourth largest producer. It has the world’s
third-largest lithium reserve.
Project PRAYAS:
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) launched Project PRAYAS to help
Indian workers and students migrate in a secure, orderly, and regular manner.
Promoting Regular Assisted Migration for Youth and Skilled Professionals (PRAYAS)
was launched in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
It is one of the first attempts to consolidate all the state-level initiatives for safe,
orderly, and well-managed international migration.
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Prime Minister had also announced Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) on that occasion.
He had also announced New Delhi’s plan to attain net-zero status by 2070.
Climate change has been an important priority area of India’s G20 Presidency
COP-28 will provide an opportunity to take forward these successes.
NMCG Launched Global River Cities Alliance at the United Nations Climate Change
Conference in Dubai
GRCA is a unique alliance covering 275+ global river-cities in 11 countries,
international funding agencies and knowledge management partners and is first of its
kind in the world.
River Cities Alliance (RCA), launched in 2021 to foster the sustainable development of
river cities.
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“India's goal is to bring down emissions intensify by 45% till 2030. We have decided to increase the share of non-
fossil fuel to 50%. We will also keep going ahead towards our goal of net zero by 2070,”
The initial corpus of the fund will be over $400 million, well short of the $400 billion estimates suggest will
be needed every year.
On the opening day of COP28, 196 parties adopted the decision to operationalise the Loss and Damage fund
The UAE, the COP28 presidency, pledged $100 million to the fund
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About ASEAN
ASEAN was officially established on August 8, 1967, through the signing of the ASEAN Declaration by the
foreign ministers of five countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Brunei joined ASEAN on 7 January 1984.
Vietnam became a member on 28 July 1995.
Myanmar joined on 23 July 1997.
Cambodia became a member on 30 April 1999.
ASEAN currently consists of ten member states.
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Nagaland shawl to Gond painting: PM Modi's special gifts for BRICS leaders
PM Modi presented a pair of Bidri work Pair of Surahi to South African President Cyril
Ramaphosa, and Nagaland shawl to his wife and the first lady
Bidri work is GI Tagged from Karnataka
11th Meeting Of The Executive Board Of The Association Of World Election Bodies:
Chief Election Commissioner of India led a three-member Election Commission of India (ECI) delegation to
Cartagena, Colombia to attend the 11th meeting of the Executive Board of the Association of World Election Bodies
(A-WEB).
Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) is the largest association of Election Management Bodies (EMBs)
worldwide.
It was founded in October, 2013 in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Theme of 2023 meeting: “A global view on the challenges of regional elections
2023”.
The shared vision among its members of achieving sustainable democracy around
the world through the strengthening of the processes of election management in
member countries.
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Que: ISRO along with which country hosted the International Conference on Spacecraft Mission Operations
(SMOPS-2023)?
Ans: Italy
• ISRO, along with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the International Academy
of Astronautics (IAA), hosted the International Conference on Spacecraft
Mission Operations (SMOPS-2023).
• The conference aims to facilitate discussions among space agencies, industry
partners, start-ups, and academia regarding advancements in space mission operations and ground
segment automation.
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PM Modi conferred with the highest honours of Fiji and Papua New Guinea
• He was conferred with the "The Companion of the Order of Fiji" by his Fijian PM, Sitiveni Rabuka for his
global leadership.
• While Papua New Guinea conferred its highest civilian order, ‘Grand
Companion of the Order of Logohu’ for championing the cause of unity of
Pacific Island countries.
• PM Modi is on a visit to Papua New Guinea to attend the third India-
Pacific Islands Cooperation Summit.
• 3rd Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit was held
in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on May 22, 2023.
• It was co-chaired by Indian and Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister
• Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) was launched during PM Modi's visit to Fiji in November
2014 and includes 14 island countries.
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• Commerce Minister, Piyush Goyal co-chaired the meeting along with EAM S Jaishankar and MoS, Electronics
and information technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
• Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is a policy tool introduced
by the EU to reduce carbon emissions by imposing a carbon tax on
imported products, ensuring that they are subject to the same carbon
costs as products produced within the EU.
• It is part of the EU's "Fit for 55 in 2030 package" to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
• In order to implement CBAM, importers will need to declare the quantity of goods imported and their
greenhouse gas emissions on an annual basis.
• The E.U. is India’s second-largest trading partner (after the U.S.) and India’s second-largest export market
therefore the E.U carbon tax will immensely impact Indian export
Japan, U.S., South Korea, Taiwan launch ‘Chip 4’ talks for supply chain
• The “Chip 4” semiconductor alliance recently held its first meeting of
senior officials.
• The “Chip 4” or “Fab 4” alliance includes four of the world’s top
producers of semiconductors: the U.S., Japan, Taiwan, and Korea.
• It represents more than 70 percent of the value of the global
semiconductor industry.
• It was first proposed by the US in March 2022 as part of wider plans
aimed at enhancing the "security" and "resilience" of semiconductor
supply chains, including by reducing the world's reliance on chips made in China.
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• It was established in 1997 to advance mutual trade, connectivity and cultural, technological and economic
development in the region.
• Out of its 7 member countries, 5 members – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka are from South
Asia and two countries – Myanmar and Thailand are from South-East Asia.
• Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh
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First Australia India Education & Skill Council(AIESC) meeting held at IIT Gujarat
• held at IIT Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• AIESC is a bi-national body established in 2011 to guide the strategic
direction of the education and research partnerships between the two
countries.
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UP Pavilion Will Be Displayed For The First Time In the WEF Meeting
• World Economic Forum meeting to be held in Davos (Switzerland) from 14 -20 January.
• Through the Uttar Pradesh Pavilion, people from all over the world will be able to get a glimpse of the
industrial development and culture of this place.
• Efforts will be made to attract investors from all over the world to invest in Uttar Pradesh through the
pavilion.
• One District-One Product (ODOP) will be presented in the Uttar Pradesh Pavilion.
World Economic Forum:
• It was established in the year 1971 in Geneva (Switzerland).
Major reports published by the World Economic Forum:
• Global Competitiveness Report
• Global Information Technology Report
• Global Gender Gap report
• Global Risk Report
• Global Travel and Tourism Report
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• It has five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States,
collectively known as the P5.
• Any one of them can veto a resolution.
• Headquarters - New York
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Miscellaneous
ASEAN India Millet Festival 2023
• ASEAN-India Millet Festival was held in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta from
November 22-26, 2023, as part of the 'International Year of Millets 2023’.
• Raise awareness and create a market for millets and millets-based products
among the ASEAN Member states i.e. Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Dnieper River:
• In NEWS: Russia’s military recently said that its forces had failed a
Ukrainian attempt to forge a bridgehead on the eastern bank of the
Dnieper River.
• Dnieper River is the fourth-longest river in Europe (after the Volga, the
Danube, and the Ural).
• In Russian, the river’s name is Dnepr. In Ukrainian, it is Dnipro, and in
Belarusian, it is Dnyapro.
• Located in Eastern Europe, the Dnieper River and its tributaries drain
much of Belarus and Ukraine.
• Historically, the river was an important barrier dividing Ukraine into
right and left banks.
• It originates in Russia, in the low Valday Hills west of Moscow.
• It has as many as 32,000 tributaries, including the Sozh, Desna, Trubizh, Bilozerka, Drut, Berezina, and
Prypiat Rivers.
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Sulina Channel
• Russia, in overnight drone strikes on August 16, targeted ports and grain
storage facilities along the Danube River in Ukraine.
• The Danube delta has provided Ukraine with an alternative passage for its
grain after Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain deal
• Sulina is situated at the mouth of the Danube. This channel is a
distributary of the Danube River
Sulina Channel:-
• The Sulina Channel is situated in the eastern part of Romania, near the
town of Sulina.
• It connects the Danube River to the Black Sea, providing a direct passage
for ships traveling to and from the river and the sea.
• The Danube is the second largest and the longest non-Russian river in Europe.
• The river originates from the Black Forest Mountains, and after covering a
length of 2850 km, it empties
itself into the Black Sea.
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Que: Which country will introduce its stamp with Jawaharlal Nehru’s portrait on its
75th Independence Day?
Ans: Sri Lanka
• 4 February commemorates the country’s political independence from British
rule in 1948.
• Current Sri Lanka’s President Ranil WickremesingheJoin @parcham_CA for more free pdfs
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Que: Recently, India has announced the donation of 12,500 doses of pentavalent vaccines to which country?
Ans: Cuba
• The pentavalent vaccine provides protection to a child from five life-
threatening diseases Diphtheria, whooping cough (Pertussis), Tetanus,
Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
• Capital- Havana
• Currency- Cuban Peso
• President– Miguel Diaz-Canel
• Official language– Spanish
Saudi Arabia to send its 1st female astronaut to space this year
• Saudi female astronaut Rayna Barnawi will join Saudi Ali Al-Qarni on a
10-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) this year.
• aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as part of a mission by American
privately funded space infrastructure developer private space company
Axiom Space .
• will be launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in
Florida, America.
Que:‘Eagle 44 (Oghab 44)’ is the first underground air force base of which country?
Ans: Iran
• It is capable of housing fighter jets equipped with cruise missiles.
• The unveiling of the Oghab 44 is seen as a
display of Iran’s aerial military strength in
response to a joint drill conducted by the
US and Israel.
• It will host jets and drones equipped with
long-range cruise missiles to destroy
adversary targets in case of attack.
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US opened an embassy in the Solomon Islands to counter China’s push into the
Pacific
• The embassy is in the capital, Honiara
• The US previously operated an embassy in the Solomon Islands for five years
before closing it in 1993 as part of a global reduction in diplomatic posts after
the end of the Cold War.
Que: Which country’s Chief Justice is the chief guest of the 73rd foundation day of
the Supreme Court of India?
Ans: Singapore
• Singapore Chief Justice Sunadresh Menon attends as chief guest of the 73rd
foundation day of the Supreme Court of India.
• On January 28, 1950, two days after India became the Sovereign
Democratic Republic, the Supreme Court of India was established.
New Zealand declares national emergency after Cyclone Gabrielle hit North
Island
• Cyclone Gabrielle causes widespread flooding, landslides and huge
ocean swells across the North Island.
• A national state of emergency has been declared in New Zealand on
two previous occasions – the first in 2011 after a magnitude 6.3
earthquake in Christchurch and the second in the early days of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
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Spanish government passes law providing 'menstrual leave' for the first time in Europe
• Spain's government approved a law providing paid medical leave for women suffering from severe
menstrual pain, a first in any European country.
• Such facilities are currently available in Japan, Indonesia and Zambia.
• South Africa and Nigeria have been placed on FATF's gray list, indicating deficiencies in the handling of
financial flows to the nations.
• Morocco and Cambodia have been removed from the list after reforming their controls.
Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
• It was formed in the year 1989 at the meeting of G-7 countries held in Paris.
• It works to generate the necessary political will to bring about legislative and regulatory reforms in the world
on issues like money laundering, terror funding.
• Headquarters - Paris.
• Member Countries - 39 member countries including India and 2 regional organisations (European
Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council).
• India became a member of FATF in the year 2010.
• Its sessions are held three times a year.
• Financial Action Task Force (FATF) President – T.Raja Kumar
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• Mount Merapi is a volcanic mountain on the island of Java in Indonesia and is the most active volcano in
Indonesia.
• It was discovered by Mr. Morris in 1754 and is also known as the 'Mountain of Fire' because of its explosive
nature.
Operation Interflex:
• Operation Interflex is the British-led multinational military operation.
• Objective is to train and support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
• It aims to teach weapon handling, range activity, marksmanship, fieldcraft basics, field
tactics, battle casualty drills, counter explosives, the laws of armed conflict, first aid, and cyber security
awareness.
• The operation is a part of the U.K.’s commitment of £2.3 billion for military aid and support to Ukraine.
• It is a successor to Operation Orbital (2015–2022).
• Operation Orbital was a British military operation to train and support the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2015.
Cyclone Freddy:
• Tropical Cyclone Freddy hit the coast of
Southern Africa, bringing its total death toll to
more than 220 people in Malawi, Mozambique
and Madagascar.
• It originated off the northern coast of Australia
• It crossed the entire South Indian Ocean and
traveled more than 8,000 kilometers
• Freddy was the first tropical cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere to undergo six separate rounds of rapid
intensification.
• It also holds the record for all-time accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) (storm strength during its lifetime) for
the Southern Hemisphere.
• Freddy is fuelled by the energy provided by the warm ocean surface, consistently sourcing heat and moisture
throughout its lifetime.
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for only about 1.3% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and less than 1% of global trade and Foreign
Direct Investment (FDI). Nepal and Bangladesh are also on LDC list.
NASA astronaut Christina Koch becomes the first woman to go around the moon
• The American space agency, NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
announced the names of four astronauts, who will venture around the Moon for
science and exploration under Artemis II mission.
• The Artemis II mission is the first crewed voyage around the moon in more than 50 years. The previous
human flight to lunar surface was the Apollo program in 1972.
• The Artemis II crew members consists of three from NASA and one from CSA.
• They are Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Hammock Koch, from NASA and Jeremy Hansen from
CSA.
• Out of these four, Christina Hammock Koch is the first ever female, Victor Glover is the first ever African
American and Jeremy Hansen is the first ever Canadian and first non- American to be sent on a lunar
mission.
Que: What is ‘Magnaporthe oryzae’ which was seen in the news recently?
Ans: Fungus
• Magnaporthe oryzae’ is a fungus that causes ‘wheat blast’.
• It is currently destroying wheat crops in South America, threatening its food security in
a major scale.
• Magnaporthe oryzae infects wild and cultivated grasses, most notably rice and wheat.
• Scientists have warned that the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae could spread worldwide. Cases of infection
have earlier been reported in Asia in 2016 and Africa in 2018.
Que: World Health Organisation (WHO) certified which countries as Malaria-free recently?
Ans: Azerbaijan and Tajikistan
• A total of 42 countries or territories have reached the malaria-free milestone.
• In Tajikistan and Azerbaijan, the last cases of regional spread of Plasmodium vivax
malaria were discovered in 2012 and 2014.
Que: Which country has become the first country in the world to approve a new malaria vaccine from Oxford
University, with children under the age of three in line to benefit?
Ans: Ghana
• The mosquito-borne disease kills more than 6,00,000 people each year, most of them children in Africa, and
scientists have been trying for years to develop vaccines.
• This is the first time a major vaccine has been approved first in an
African country before rich nations.
• Capital- Accra
• Currency- Ghanaian Cedi
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Que:In which country the first death case of H3N8 bird flu has been found?
Ans. China
• World Health Organisation reported that a very rare type of bird flu in humans had been detected for the
first time in China since last year.
• A Chinese woman died from a type of bird flu called H3N8 but the strain has not seen to spread between
people.
• The first two cases of H3N8 bird flu were reported in China last year.
H3N8 bird flu:
• H3N8 bird flu is believed to have been circulating with its first case in North American waterfowl since 2002.
• It infects horses, dogs and seals.
• H3N8 is common in birds but it causes no disease.
• H3N8 bird flu infects other mammals also.
• It is rare in humans and has no history before two years.
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• Yucatan Peninsula is a North-eastern projection of Central America which is lying between the Gulf of
Mexico to the west and north and the Caribbean Sea to the east.
• The deepest blue hole in the world at 300.89 meters (987 feet) deep is in the South China Sea and is named
the Dragon Hole
Que:The ‘Study in India Pavilion’ at the Global Education & Training Exhibition (GETEX) has been inaugurated in
which city?
Ans: Dubai
• The ‘Study in India Pavilion’ at the Global Education & Training
Exhibition (GETEX) in Dubai has been inaugurated by the Consul
General of India in Dubai, Dr. Aman Puri.
• It was organized by the Services Export Promotion Council with the
support of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce &
Industry.
• The pavilion, spanning over 200 sqm, features more than 30 universities and edtech stakeholders of Indian
higher education.
• The GETEX is a leading education fair in the region for over 30 years.
PRET Initiative:
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the PRET
initiative to be better prepared for future outbreaks of a
similar scale and devastation as the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET)
Initiative is aimed at providing “guidance on integrated
planning for responding to any respiratory pathogen such as
influenza or coronaviruses”.
• It was announced at the Global Meeting for Future
Respiratory Pathogen Pandemics held on 24-26 April 2023 in
Geneva, Switzerland.
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Que:Which country is now India’s 3rd largest exporter as per Commerce Ministry’s survey?
Ans: Netherlands
• The Netherlands has emerged as India's third largest exports destination after the US and UAE during 2022-
23, showed commerce ministry's data
• India's exports to the Netherlands rose by about 48 % to USD 18.52 billion during 2022-23 as against USD
12.5 billion in 2021-22.
• Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai said the Netherlands has
emerged as a hub for Europe with efficient port and connectivity with the EU through road, railways and
waterways.
• According to economic think tank GTRI (Global Trade Research Initiative), ATF (aviation turbine fuel) and
diesel were the key petroleum products exported from India to that country.
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• The Arab League accused Syria of not complying with a peace plan that called for a withdrawal of military
forces, the release of political prisoners, and the start of a dialogue with opposition groups.
• The move signifies softness in relations between Syria and other Arab governments and is seen as the start
of a gradual process to resolve the crisis in Syria.
• The Crisis in Syria has killed nearly a half million people since March 2011 and displaced half of the country’s
pre-war population of 23 million.
• A committee involving Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq will be established to help Syria
achieve overcoming refugee and drug smuggling crises, which were a result of Syria's civil war.
About:
• Arab League, also called League of Arab States (LAS), is an intergovernmental pan-Arab organisation of all
Arab states in the Middle East and North Africa.
• It was formed in Cairo, Egypt on 22nd March 1945, following the adoption of the Alexandria Protocol in
1944.
• Currently, there are 22 Arab countries - Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait,
Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria*, Tunisia,
the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen
Que:Which country’s police has recently launched a traffic campaign, “stay in your lane” to curb road lane
violations?
Ans: UAE / यूएई
• UAE’s Sharjah Police launched a traffic campaign, “stay in your lane” in May to curb road lane violations.
• Capital – Abu Dhabi
• Currency – Dirham
• President – Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
• Prime Minister – Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
• Official language -Arabic
UK announces sanctions on Russian diamonds and metals ahead of the G7 meeting in Japan
• The United Kingdom has announced sanctions on the military-industrial
complex and metals as well as Russian diamonds in a new round of sanctions
ahead of the G7 meeting in Japan.
• The ban specifically covers imports of copper, aluminium and nickel of
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About G7:
• It is an intergovernmental political forum.
• It consists of seven member states: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the
United States.
• Formation - 25 March 1973
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Que:A 5,000-year-old tree named Patagonian cypress has been officially recognized as the world’s oldest. It is
located in which country?
Ans: Chile
• The tree is located in the Alerce Costero National Park and is nicknamed “Great
Grandfather.”
• The Great Grandfather tree is a massive specimen, measuring 28 meters tall and
4 meters (13 Feet) in diameter.
• It is believed to have survived several major climate changes over the centuries, including the Little Ice Age.
The tree is also a popular tourist destination, with thousands of visitors coming to see it each year.
• Chile Capital- Santiago; Currency – Peso
Que:Which country has banned domestic flights on short routes that can be
covered by train?
Ans: France
• France has banned domestic flights on short routes that can be covered
by train in less than two-and-a-half hours — a move aimed at reducing
airline emissions. By doing so, the country plans to reduce its emissions by
40 per cent in 2030.
Kakhovka Dam
• A huge Soviet-era dam on the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine, known as the Kakhovka Dam, was breached,
resulting in flooding across the war zone.
• The dam was an important part of the Kakhovka
hydroelectric power plant, supplying water to
the Crimean Peninsula and the Zaporizhzhia
nuclear plant.
• Crimea is a peninsula in Eastern Europe, on the
northern coast of the Black Sea, almost entirely
surrounded by the Black Sea and the smaller Sea
of Azov.
• It came under Russian rule in 2014.
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BIMSTEC Centre for energy cooperation will be inaugurated in India this year: Secretary General Tenzin Lekphell
Philippines’ most active Mayon Volcano erupts Mount Mayon last violently erupted in 2018
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Que:Which country returned remains of Indigenous Maori and Moriori people to New Zealand?
Ans: Germany
• The remains of 95 Indigenous New Zealanders as well as artefacts and cultural treasures
have been returned to New Zealand from museums and universities in Germany.
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'Guillain-Barre’ syndrome
• Peru has declared a state of national emergency amid a surge in patient
suffering from Guillain-Barré syndrome.
• Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder where the body’s
immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves.
• It is more common in adults and males, but it can affect people of all
ages.
• The first symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome include weakness or tingling sensations.
• For some people, these symptoms can lead to paralysis of the legs, arms, or muscles in the face.
• It is often preceded by bacterial or viral infection. There is no known cure for this syndrome.
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Cambodia PM Hun Sen steps down and hands over power to son
• Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving leaders
(almost 4 decades), resigned and handed power to his eldest son Hun Manet.
• Cambodia’s authoritarian leader, Hun Sen has ruled
Cambodia since 1985
• Cambodia ranks 150th out of 180 in Transparency
International's corruption perception index.
• Capital: Phnom Penh
• Currency: Cambodian riel
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• It is for the first time that India gifted a fully operational corvette to any
friendly foreign country.
• INS Kirpan was an indigenously built Khukri-class missile corvette,
commissioned in 1991.
World's biggest permafrost crater in Russia’s Far East thaws as planet warms
• Russia’s Batagaika crater, the world’s largest 1km-long permafrost crater, expands
due to global warming and thawing permafrost.
• Deforestation triggered underground permafrost melting, causing the crater’s
growth in the Sakha Republic, Russia.
• The soil beneath the slump contains an "enormous quantity" of organic carbon
that will release into the atmosphere as the permafrost thaws, further fuelling
the planet's warming.
• Russia is warming is occurring at an alarming rate, approximately 2.5 times
faster than the global average.
• As a result, large areas of the country’s long-frozen tundra, covering about
65% of its landmass, are experiencing significant thawing, releasing potent
greenhouse gases like methane.
• Permafrost is any ground that remains completely frozen—32°F (0°C) or
colder—for at least two years straight.
• These permanently frozen grounds are most common in regions with high
mountains and in Earth’s higher latitudes: near the North and South Poles.
India to support clean water project at school in Tuvalu with 700,000 USD
• India will contribute 700,000 USD from the India-UN Development
Partnership Fund to the Tuvalu project in August 2023
• Aim: To store and supply clean water to students, teachers, and
school staff, fostering good hygiene and lowering the incidence of
water-borne illnesses.
• In May 2023, PM Narendra Modi announced the “Sagar Amrut
Scholarship” scheme for the Pacific Island countries, at the Summit of
the Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation.
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Jais, the World’s Most Advanced Arabic Large Language Model, has been released.
• Inception, a unit of Abu Dhabi AI company G42, has released 'Jais', the world's most
advanced Arabic large language model .
• Jais is a bilingual Arabic-English model that has been trained on a massive dataset of
text and code. It can be used for a variety of tasks, such as machine translation, text
summarization, and question answering.
• It is also open-source, which means that anyone can use it or contribute to its development.
• The release of Jais is a significant step forward for the development of AI in the Arabic world. Potential
applications of Jais include, Machine translation , which can be used to translate text from Arabic to English
and vice versa.
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Indonesia has granted its first golden visa to Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, a
pioneering firm in artificial intelligence
• The Golden Visa system offers long-term residency to people belonging to certain
groups.
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Lymphatic Filariasis
• According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Lao People’s
Democratic Republic becomes second country in 2023 after Bangladesh to
eliminate lymphatic filariasis.
• Lymphatic Filariasis commonly known as elephantiasis, and it is a neglected
tropical disease.
• Infection occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through
mosquitoes.
• This impairs the lymphatic system and can lead to the abnormal
enlargement of body parts, causing pain, severe disability.
• It’s caused by infection with parasites classified roundworms of the family
Filariodidea. There are thread-like filarial worms
• WHO’s road map 2021−2030:Sets global targets and milestones to prevent, control, eliminate or eradicate
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• According to the WHO progress report on the disease, Nineteen countries have been able to eliminate it.
• Of the 19 countries, 11 belong to the WHO Western Pacific Region (WPR). Lao PDR is 11th country in the
WPR region to successfully eliminate LF.
• South-East Asia region: Bangladesh, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
• Africa region: Malawi and Togo
China becomes the first country in Asia and second in the world to launch Hydrogen powered Train
• Germany was the first country to introduce hydrogen powered trains in September 2022.
• Chinese company CRRC Corporations ltd built a train that has a top speed of 160
KM per hour and can run without refuelling for 600 Km .
• Hydrogen powered Trains
• Hydrogen is considered to be the green fuel of the future.
• The hydrogen fuel cell uses hydrogen and air to generate electricity. The
combination of air and hydrogen will produce water as a by-product which is released by the Train.
• India is committed to achieve zero net carbon emission by 2070.
• Hydrogen Train in India
• As per Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, India will most likely get its first-ever indigenous Hydrogen trains
by December 2023.
Montreux Convention:
• The Turkish Ministry of National Defence recently announced that it will
impose restrictions on the passage of warships belonging to countries not
bordering the Black Sea within the framework of the Montreux
Convention.
• It is an agreement concerning the Dardanelles Strait and the Bosporus
Strait, also known as the Turkish straits or the Black Sea straits.
• The Turkish straits are the only maritime passage between the Black Sea
and the Mediterranean Sea.
• According to the 1936 Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits, often referred to simply as
the Montreux Convention, Turkey has control over the Turkish Straits.
• In the event of a war, the pact gives Turkey the right to regulate the transit of naval warships and to block
the straits for warships belonging to the countries involved in the conflict.
• Merchant vessels enjoy freedom of passage through the Turkish Straits, while passages of vessels of war are
subject to some restrictions that vary depending on whether these vessels belong to the Black Sea littoral
States or not.
• Only submarines belonging to littoral States can pass through the Turkish Straits for the purpose of rejoining
their base in the Black Sea for the first time after their construction or purchase, or for the purpose of repair
in dockyards outside the Black Sea.
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Que: India is set to start supplying diesel to which country through a Friendship pipeline?
Ans: Bangladesh
• The India-Bangladesh Friendship pipeline (IBFPL) will start supplying diesel to Bangladesh on an experimental
basis for June this year.
• About 131.5 kilometre long pipeline is funded by India. Out of this,
126.5 kilometre pipeline is in Bangladesh and 5 kilometre line is in
India.
• The international pipeline will carry diesel from the Siliguri based
marketing terminal of the Numaligarh Refinery Limited to Parbatipur
depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).
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• Taiwan is the only other country to legalise same-sex marriage in Asia, where societies remain largely
conservative.
• Same-sex marriage was permitted by the Supreme Court of Nepal in 2007.
• In this regard, the Constitution of Nepal, adopted in 2015, also clearly states that there can be no
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Cyclone ‘Michaung’ To Hit Bay Of Bengal, The Fourth Storm This Year
• The Bay of Bengal is on high alert for a potential cyclonic storm named 'Michaung.’ It would be the fourth in
the Bay of Bengal and the sixth in Indian waters this year.
• Name suggested by Myanmar.
Essequibo region
• The Essequibo region is a 159,500 KM² area west of the Essequibo River. The
region is disputed by Guyana and Venezuela.
• The territory is controlled by Guyana based on the 1899 Paris Arbitral Award, but
is also claimed by Venezuela.
• In December 2023, Guyana and Venezuela agreed not to use force to settle their dispute over the oil-rich
region.
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Short News
• Statue Of Tamil Icon ‘Thiruvalluvar’ Unveiled In France
• Argentina elected Javier Milei as its new President.
• IIT Madras opens offshore campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
• Bangladesh’s Saima Wazed, daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to
be the next World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for
South-East Asia, From 1 February 2024.
• The highest active volcano in Eurasia, Klyuchevskaya Sopka,(क्लुचव्से स्काया
सोपका) recently erupted on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia
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• Apple’s ‘Mother Nature’ campaign is an environmental initiative launched by Apple, showcasing the
company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
• Asian Development Bank (ADB) agreed to provide $338 million to Bangladesh for manufacturing vaccines
against various diseases.
• World Health Summit 2023:The event takes place in Berlin, Germany and online from 15–17 October under
the theme "A Defining Year for Global Health Action".
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• India, Serbia agreed to set a target for bilateral trade of one billion euros
• Canada has become the first country in the world to stipulate that individual cigarettes carry mandatory
health warnings.
• Diwali to be school holiday in New York City
• Estonia's parliament passed a law legalising same-sex marriage, making it the first central European nation
to do so.
• Israel to release world’s first digital government bond
• Turkmenistan unveils 'Arkadag', a smart city in honor of former national leader Gurbanguly
Berdymukhamedov
• Dubai set goals for Zero-Emissions Public Transportation by 2050
• The UAE government launched the 'Machines Can See 2023' summit in Dubai, one of the first international
conferences in Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the region.
• India and Israel signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance industrial research and
development cooperation in high-tech areas such as AI, quantum, semiconductors, healthcare, aerospace,
sustainable energy and agriculture.
• India and Spain agree to collaborate on digital infrastructure, climate action and sustainable development
• EU formally bans gas, diesel car sales from 2035
• Sri Lanka celebrated its 75 years of Independence from British rule on 4th February 2023.
• Theme: Namo Namo Matha - A step towards a century.
• Myanmar and Russia sign pact on developing nuclear power
• The government has allocated a budget of Rs. 9023 Crore towards achieving the objectives of Gaganyaan
mission. Scope of Gaganyaan program: To demonstrate human spaceflight capability to Low Earth Orbit and
safe return
• ISRO: Chandrayaan 3 and the first solar mission Aditya L1 likely to be launched
in mid-2023.
• NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is on the final leg of its two-year journey back to
Earth after collecting samples from the rocky surface of the asteroid Bennu
which will touch down in a desert in Utah on September 24, 2023.
• Sri Lanka will host the 37th session of the Asia Pacific Regional Conference (APRC) of
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in February 2024.
• The United Nations mission in Mali has officially ended a 10-year deployment in the
country.
• Indonesia’s Ibu volcano erupts, ash up to 1,200m
• Tropical Cyclone Jasper, the first named storm of the 2023–24 Australian region
cyclone season
• Google announced the launch of its latest, most powerful AI model, Gemini.
• Italy withdraws from China's Belt and Road Initiative
• Merriam Webster announced ‘Authentic’ is the word of 2023.
• Andry Rajoelina is again elected as the president of Madagascar.
• Rizz Crowned Oxford Word of the Year 2023
• The United Nations declared 2024 the International Year of Camelids.
• Denmark impose a tax on air passengers to help finance the airline industry’s transition to greener practices,
which will be gradually phased in from 2025.
• The G7 nations will ban imports of rough diamonds directly from Russia starting January 1, 2024.
• The carbon tax that the UK plans to levy from 2027 on imports of carbon-intensive materials is the Carbon
Border Tax. It will apply to items like iron, steel, aluminum, ceramics and cement.
• Indonesia’s Mount Marapi in West Sumatra province erupted
• China Adopts ‘One Province, One Policy’ Approach to Financial Risk Management
• Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the 'Migration and Movement'
Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Italy.
• Argentine President Javier Milei has officially declined the invitation to join the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India,
China, South Africa) grouping of major emerging economies
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