Current Affairs Monthly Capsule | January 2023

Table of Content
Art & Culture Current Affairs ...............................................................................................3
Awards and Honours Current Affairs ..................................................................................5
Banking Current Affairs ...................................................................................................... 13
Books and Authors Current Affairs .................................................................................... 15
Business and Economy Current Affairs ............................................................................. 18
Defence Current Affairs ..................................................................................................... 21
Government Schemes and Policies Current Affairs.........................................................25
Days and Events Current Affairs ........................................................................................ 27
International Current Affairs ............................................................................................. 34
MoU and Agreements Current Affairs .............................................................................. 39
National Current Affairs .................................................................................................... 44
Appointments Current Affairs ........................................................................................... 63
Obituaries Current Affairs ................................................................................................. 70
Person in News Current Affairs .......................................................................................... 75
Science and Technology Current Affairs .......................................................................... 79
Sports Current Affairs Current Affairs ...............................................................................82
Summits and Conferences Current Affairs ....................................................................... 91

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 Current Affairs Monthly Capsule | January 2023

Art and Culture Current Affairs

HCHF and Ladakh Tourism Dept. organised Annual Ethnic Mamani Festival
• The festival was organised at Historical Styangkung Village (Ladakh), by Himalayan Cultural
Heritage Foundation and Ladakh Tourism Department.
• The history of the celebration of the Mamani Festival in Ladakh goes back to the ancient tradition
of giving food to departed family members.
• These festivals have helped in the revival of more than 35 cuisines of Kargil Ladakh.
SPIC MACAY and Ministry of Culture collaborates under “Shruti Amrut"
• SPIC MACAY organizes the 'Music in the Park' series under the name “Shruti Amrut” in
collaboration with the Ministry of Culture on 15 January 2023.
• The concert began with a sarod performance by Aman Ali Bangash, the 7th generation musician
of the Senia Bangash Gharana.
• In 2011, SPIC MACAY was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award for its contribution to
youth development.
16 January - Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu Festival celebrated in Assam
• Magh Bihu is a festival of farmers.
• It is celebrated in the month of 'Magha' in the middle of January.
• After the annual harvest, it is celebrated with community feasts.
• The main attraction of this festival is food.
• The night before 'Bhogali Bihu' which falls on 15th January is called 'Uruka' which means the night
of feasts.
• The Sun God is worshipped on this day.
Lohri Festival: 14 January
• Lohri festival will be celebrated on 14 Jan 2023, a day before Makar Sankranti.
• It is observed by the people of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Jammu.
• It marks the end of the winter solstice and the northwards movement of the Sun.
• It commemorates the harvest of the rabi crop.
• On this day, Sikhs hold a fair to remember the martyrdom of Chaali Muktae and perform Sikh
Sardas.
Sur Sarita-Symphony of Ganga held in Varanasi
• Ministry of Culture organised a grand curtain raiser cultural program 'Sur Sarita - Symphony of
Ganga' on the eve of the launch of the world's longest river cruise in Varanasi, that is 12 Jan 2023.
• Renowned singer Shankar Mahadevan lead a grand concert.
• The show, of about an hour, will end with Shankar Mahadevan's rendition of 'Kartavya Ganga'.
Second Phase of Sari Festival “VIRAASAT” begins in New Delhi
• The second phase of the Sari Festival "VIRAASAT"-Celebrating 75 handwoven Saris of India is
being held from 3rd to 17th January 2023 at Handloom Haat, Janpath, New Delhi.

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 Current Affairs Monthly Capsule | January 2023

• The Sari Festival VIRAASAT is organized by the Ministry of Textile.

• A social media campaign has also been launched under a common hashtag #MySariMyPride to
support the Indian handloom weavers.
Manipur Celebrates Gaan Ngai festival
• The Gaan Ngai festival is a major event in Manipur, celebrated by the Zeliarong community every
year after the harvest season.
• On January 4, 2023, the community will come together to show their gratitude for a good harvest
and pray for a prosperous year ahead.
• Thefestival is celebrated for a full 5 days, usually in the month of December or January. The exact
date varies from year to year

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 Current Affairs Monthly Capsule | January 2023

Awards and Honours Current Affairs

President awarded RPF/RPSF personnel with Jeevan Raksha Padak awards
• President of India Droupadi Murmu awarded the RPF/RPSF personnel with Jeevan Raksha Padak
awards, in January 2023.
• Awardees:
• Jaipal Singh - Head Constable/ Northern Railway
• Surendra Kumar - Constable/Northern Railway
• Bhuda Ram Saini - Constable/7th BN/RPSF
• They have saved 1000 human lives and railway property worth billions during a fire accident in a
railway wagon.
R-Day: Uttarakhand tableau wins first prize
• Uttarakhand tableau which showcased the state’s wildlife and religious sites at the 74th Republic
Day parade has won the top prize.
• Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh were in the second and third positions respectively.
• Army’s Punjab Regiment has been adjudged the best marching contingent among the three
services.
• Gujarat’s tableau emerged as the numero uno in the popular choice segment.
Odisha's VK Pandian conferred with FIH President's Award 2023
• V Karthikeyan Pandian, an IAS officer, and private secretary to Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik was
conferred with FIH's President's award on 29 Jan 2023.
• He was awarded for successfully hosting the 2023 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 in
Bhubaneswar and Sundargarh.
• Previously, He successfully organized other hockey tournaments like the Champions Trophy,
Hockey World League, and FIH Pro-League.
Aasif become the 1st Nepali cricketer to win the ICC Spirit of Cricket
• Nepal's wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh has been named the recipient of the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award
2022 for his decision not to run out Andy McBrine of Ireland while attempting a run.
• Aasif thus becomes the first player from Nepal to win the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award.
• The award is annually awarded by the ICC to recognise the player or team upholding the spirit
of the game.
President’s Medals for fire service, and civil defence announced
• On 26 Jan 2023, 47 personnel were awarded the President’s Fire Service Medals for distinguished
service.
• Out of these, Jammu & Kashmir's Firdous Ahmad Khan and Bashir Ahmad Ahanger were awarded
Fire Service Medal for Gallantry.
• 55 personnel were also awarded President’s Home Guard and Civil Defence Medals for
distinguished and meritorious services.

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 Current Affairs Monthly Capsule | January 2023

Marco Jansen crowned ICC Men's Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2022
• South Africa bowling all-rounder Marco Jansen was crowned as the ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer
of the Year 2022 in January 2022.
• Jansen beat India’s Arshdeep Singh, Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran and New Zealand’s Finn Allen
to win the award.
• In eight Tests, he took 36 wickets at an average of 19.02 and an economy rate of 3.18 in the 2022
season.
29 officers and staff of the CBIC to get Presidential Awards on 26 Jan
• 29 officers and staff of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) to get the
Presidential Awards on 26 January 2023.
• They will be awarded the Presidential Award of Appreciation Certificates and Medals for
“Exceptionally Meritorious Service rendered at the Risk of Life” & for “Specially Distinguished
Record of Service” on their achieving excellence in the discharge of their duties.
Defence Minister felicitates 25 Awardees of ‘Veer Gatha 2.0’ contest
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh felicitated the 25 winners of Veer Gatha 2.0 at an event organised
in New Delhi on 25 January 2023.
• Veer Gatha 2.0 was jointly initiated by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education as a part
of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• The contest aimed to inspire school children, by making them aware with stories of war heroes
and brave hearts.
Six Indian Coast Guard personnel to be honoured with Tatrakshak Medals
• President Droupadi Murmu approves Tatrakshak Medals to six Indian Coast Guard personnel on
25 January 2023.
• These awards are given on the occasion of Republic Day and Independence Day every year, since
January 26, 1990.
• IG Anand Prakash Badola is given for Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry)
• ComdtDurgesh Chandra Tiwari & Mohit Kumar Yadav are given Tatrakshak Medal (Meritorious
Service)
Padma Awards 2023 Winners List Announced: I
• The Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced the Padma Awards on 25 January 2023.
• Govt announced six names for Padma Vibhushan, nine for Padma Bhushan, and 91 for Padma
Shri Awards.
• Dilip Mahalanabis (Medicine), Samajwadi Party founder and former UP CM Mulayam Singh Yadav
(Public Affairs), and architect Balakrishna Doshi have been picked to be awarded Padma
Vibhushan posthumously.
Padma Awards 2023 Winners List Announced: II

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 Current Affairs Monthly Capsule | January 2023

• Among the nine people to be awarded Padma Bhushan are S L Bhyrappa in Literature; Kumar
Mangalam Birla in Trade & Industry; Deepak Dhar in Science & Engineering; Vani Jairam in Art;
Swami Chinna Jeeyar in Others – Spiritualism
• Ninety-one other people, who have selected for Padma Shri, are physician Ratan Chandra Kar
(Medicine), Hirabai Lobi (Social Work), Tula Ram Upreti (Agriculture) etc.
Suryakumar Yadav named ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year 2022
• Indian cricketer Suryakumar Yadav has been selected as the ICC T20 Cricketer of the Year for the
year 2022 for his stellar performance.
• Suryakumar Yadav scored 1164 runs in 31 T20 matches played in 2022.
• India’s Renuka Singh become the recipient of ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year Award.
• Australia's Tahlia McGrath has been awarded 'ICC T20 Women's Cricketer of the Year award.'
Vizag Railway Station awarded 'Green Railway Station Certificate'
• Visakhapatnam Railway Station under East Coast Railway has been awarded, in January 2023,
the 'Green Railway Station Certificate' with the highest Platinum rating by the Indian Green
Building Council (IGBC) for adopting green concepts.
• The Green Railway Station Rating System has been developed by the Environment Directorate of
Indian Railways in collaboration with IGBC.
Indian documentary 'All That Breathes' nominated for Oscar
• Indian documentaries 'All That Breathes' and 'The Elephant Whisperers' have been nominated for
Oscars 2023.
• Indian climate change documentary 'All That Breathes' got an Oscar nomination in the Best
Documentary Feature Film segment.
• The Elephant Whisperers has also been nominated in the category of Best Documentary Short
Film.
• It is directed by Kartiki Gonsalves and produced by Guneet Monga.
Goa Airport wins Best Sustainable Greenfield Airport Award
• Goa Manohar International Airport (MIA) has been awarded the prestigious "Best Sustainable
Greenfield Airport" award.
• It was awarded under Aviation Sustainability and Environment at the ASSOCHAM 14th
International Conference-cum-Awards for Civil Aviation 2023.
• It was given by Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
• It was given for "outstanding initiatives" taken by MIA.
President Droupadi Murmu confers Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar
• President Droupadi Murmu conferred Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2023 at Vigyan
Bhawan in New Delhi on 23 January 2023.
• The awards have been conferred upon 11 children for their exceptional achievement in six
categories, which include Art, Culture, Bravery, Innovation, Social Service, and Sports.
• Each awardee has received a medal, a cash prize of one lakh rupees, and a certificate.

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Govt announces Subhash Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award 2023

• The Centre has selected the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) and the
Lunglei Fire Station, Mizoram, for the Subhash Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award 2023
for their work in disaster management.
• OSDMA was established in 1999.
• The award carries a cash prize of Rs 51 lakh in the case of an institution and Rs 5 lakh and a
certificate in the case of an individual.
Dr Prabha Atre conferred with Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia Award
• Hindustani vocalist Dr Prabha Atre was conferred with the Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia Lifetime
Achievement Award.
• Dr Atre was presented with a citation and Rs 1 lakh.
• She is an Indian classical vocalist from the Kirana Gharana.
• She has been awarded all three of the Padma Awards by the Government of India.
• She also won Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1991.
Indian films bag award for best script writer and best actress at DIFF
• Anik Dutta directed film Aparajito (The Undefeated) got the best scriptwriting award.
• Ketaki Narayan was declared the best actress for her role in Krishnendu Kalesh directed film
Prappeda (Hawk’s Muffin).
• The awards were given during Asian Film Competition section at the 21st Dhaka International
Film Festival (DIFF) held in Bangladesh.
• Ikkei Watanabe from Japan got the best actor award.
ESAF Finance Bank wins Inclusive Finance India Awards 2022
• ESAF Small Finance Bank won the prestigious Inclusive Finance India Awards 2022 in January
2023.
• It was awarded for its contributions to advancing the goal of financial inclusion and supporting
inclusive growth.
• Paul Thomas K, MD & CEO of ESAF Bank received the award from Anantha Nageshwaran, Chief
Economic Advisor at the 19th Inclusive Finance India Summit held in New Delhi.
R.V. Prassad awarded the most distinguished scientist of the year 2022
• R Vishnu Prassad was awarded “the most distinguished scientist of the year 2022” at the Indian
Achievers Award in Delhi on 20 January 2023.
• The award recognizes individuals for their outstanding contributions in various fields.
• Some of the other awardees were Param Vir Chakra Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar, Indian field
hockey player late Major Dhyan Chand, and more.
Nepalese ophthalmologist Dr Sanduk Ruit wins Bahrain's ISA Award
• Himalayan Cataract Project Co-Founder and noted Nepali ophthalmologist Dr Sanduk Ruit has
won the ISA Award 2021-22 for Service to Humanity in Jan 2023.

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• He is fondly called "God of Sight" for saving the sight many people.
• He is a recipient of the Padma Shri award, the National Order of Merit of Bhutan and the Ramon
Magsaysay Award.
• In 2016, he was awarded the 'Asian Game Changer Award.'
Harish Damodaran wins Gaja Capital Business Book Prize 2022
• Journalist-author Harish Damodaran was announced as winner of Gaja Capital Business Book
Prize 2022.
• He received it for his book ‘Broke to Breakthrough: The Rise of India's Largest Private Dairy
Company’.
• Book is a detailed account of rise of Hatsun Agro and RG Chandramogan(Founder).
• From selling ice creams in pushcarts to growing to be a listed company generating over 6000Cr
in revenue.
ICC Men's Player of the Month for December 2022 revealed
• International Cricket Council (ICC) announced winners of Player of the Month awards.
• England’s Harry Brook wins ICC Men’s Player of the Month award following impressive
performances in ICC World Test Championship series in Pakistan.
• Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner claimed ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for her heroics in
T20I series v India in which she becomes top-ranked all-rounder.
'Naanera' bags 'Golden Kailasha' award in Ajanta-Ellora film festival
• Naanera, a Rajasthani film, has bagged the 'Golden Kailasha' award for the best movie at the
Ajanta-Ellora film festival.
• The movie was directed by Deepankar Prakash.
• It also bagged awards for best director, best screenplay, best editor.
• The festival, currently in its eighth edition, took place in Aurangabad from Jan 11-15, 2023.
• The award included a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.
Writer K Venu receives Federal Bank Literary Award 2022
• Writer K Venu won first-ever Federal Bank Literary Award 2022 for his autobiography
‘Oranweshananthinte Katha’.
• This is the first-ever literary award constituted by the Federal Bank.
• By constituting the award, Federal Bank aims to celebrate the diversity of contemporary literature
and recognise writers for their cultural contributions.
Critics Choice Awards 2023: Winners List
• The awards were held on 15 Jan'23, in Los Angeles, US.
• S.S. Rajamouli-directed RRR won 2 awards, one as Best Foreign Language Film and another for
Best Song (Nattu Nattu).
• Best Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
• Best Actor: Brendan Fraser for “The Whale"
• Best Actress: Cate Blanchett for “Tár”

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• Best Director: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for Everything Everywhere All at Once
Jindal Steel & Power wins prestigious Golden Peacock CSR Award
• Leading steelmaker Jindal Steel & Power has been awarded the prestigious Golden Peacock
Award 2022 for its excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility activities in the Steel Sector, on
13 Jan 2023.
• The steelmaker was selected by the Award Jury headed by Former Chief Justice of India M.N.
Venkatachaliah.
• The company is now aligned with 16 out of 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).
Indian peacekeepers honoured with UN Medal for exemplary service
• Over 1,000 Indian peacekeepers serving in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
were awarded, in Jan 2023, the prestigious United Nations Medal for their exceptional service.
• For the first time, a woman officer of the Indian Army, Major Jasmine Chatha, led the parade of
the Indian contingent.
• India is one of the largest troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions.
Thiru S. Nadesan awarded Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2023
• Thiru Kumar Nadesan has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for his
contribution towards community welfare in Jan 2023.
• He had initiated a fundraiser to assist stranded Indians in Sri Lanka during the Covid outbreak.
• He actively promotes business & cultural exchanges between India and Sri Lanka.
• He is the 2nd member of the Indian diaspora from Sri Lanka to receive the honor.
Aparna Sen receives 'Lifetime Award' at Jaipur Film Festival
• Aparna Sen was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the 15th Edition of the Jaipur
International Film Festival on 11 January 2023.
• Aparna Sen debuted in Satyajit Ray’s Teen Kanya in 1961.
• She is a Director and actress who also works in Bengali cinema and has received nine National
Film Awards.
• The Indian government had honored Aparna Sen with Padma Shri in 1986.
Golden Globe Awards 2023 winners announced
• The 80th Golden Globe Awards were held in Los Angeles on Jan 11, 2023.
• Best Picture (Drama)- The Fabelmans
• Best Actor (Motion Picture-Drama)- Austin Butler for Elvis
• Best Actress (Motion Picture-Drama)- Cate Blanchett for Tár
• Best Director (Motion Picture)- Steven Spielberg for The Fabelmans
• Best Picture (Non-English Language)- Argentina, 1985
• Best Drama Series- House of the Dragon
RRR wins Best Original Song for Naatu Naatu at Golden Globes

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• SS Rajamouli's film RRR won Best Original Song for Naatu Naatu, one of the two categories it was
nominated in.
• It was also nominated in the Best Non-English Language Film which was won by 'Argentina 1985'.
• RRR has already won other international honours including Best Director for Rajamouli at the New
York Film Critics Circle awards.
Vivek Agnihotri's 'The Kashmir Files' nominated for Oscars 2023
• Vivek Agnihotri's film 'The Kashmir Files' has been shortlisted for Oscars 2023.
• Actors Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborthy, Darshan Kumar, and Pallavi Joshi are also shortlisted
for the best actor category.
• Rishabh Shetty's 'Kantara', Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Gangubai Kathiawadi', Paan Nalin's 'The
Chello Show' and SS Rajamouli's 'RRR' have also been selected for the Oscars.
CJI DY Chandrachud to be conferred with “Award for Global Leadership”
• The Harvard Law School Center on the Legal Profession has decided to confer Chief Justice of
India DY Chandrachud with the ‘Center on the Legal Profession Award for Global Leadership’.
• CLP’s highest professional distinction will be presented to CJI Chandrachud on January 11, 2023.
• Justice Chadrachud, who became chief justice in November 2022, holds an LLM and an SJD from
Harvard Law School.
The Madras Sanskrit College presented 'Spirit of Mylapore' award
• The Madras Sanskrit College, an over century-old educational institution was selected for the
‘Spirit of Mylapore’ award.
• The award is given by non-banking finance company Sundaram Finance.
• The College commenced operations in 1906.
• The award was given during the 19th edition of Sundaram Finance-Mylapore Festival.
Adar Poonawalla gets Patangrao Kadam award
• Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Vaccine manufacturer Serum Institute of India has received Patangrao
Kadam award for contribution in the fight against COVID-19.
• Poonawalla is the first one to be conferred with Dr Patangrao Kadam Memorial Award.
• Patangrao Kadam was an Indian politician from the state of Maharashtra and the award has
been set up in his memory.
SS Rajamouli wins Best Director at New York Film Critics Circle
• SS Rajamouli won the top prize - Best Director - at the New York Film Critics Circle for his film
RRR.
• SS Rajamouli's RRR is a fictional story based on the lives of Telugu freedom fighters, Alluri
Seetharama Raju and Komaram Bheem.
• The New York Film Critics Circle is an American film critic organization founded in 1935 by Wanda
Hale from the New York Daily News
e-NAM initiative of Agriculture Ministry wins Platinum award

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• e-NAM, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's initiative, has won the Platinum Award
in the Digital Empowerment of Citizens Category in Digital India Awards 2022.
• The President of India, Droupadi Murmu conferred the Digital India Awards, 2022.
• e-NAM is a digital platform integrating 1260 mandis across 22 States and 3 UTs to facilitate online
trading of agricultural commodities.
President Murmu to give away Digital India Awards on 7 Jan 2023
• President Droupadi Murmu will give away the Digital India Awards (DIA) 2022 to the winners, here
on 7 January 2023.
• DIA 2022 aims to inspire and motivate government entities, start-ups and grassroots level digital
initiatives in fulfilling the Digital India vision.
• DIA are instituted under the aegis of National Portal of India.
• The awards are announced under seven categories.
Writer Ambikasuthan Mangad wins Odakkuzhal Award
• Writer Ambikasuthan Mangad has been selected for Odakkuzhal Award 2022 for his collection of
short stories titled Pranavayu.
• The award is being given for the best collection of short stories in Malayalam.
• The award will be presented on the occasion of the 45th death anniversary of Mahakavi G.
Sankara Kurup.
• Literary critic Dr. M. Leelavathi will present the award to Ambikasuthan Mangad.
Odisha wins World Habitat Awards 2023 for Jaga Mission
• Odisha government’s slum improvement and land titling program, JAGA (Odisha Liveable Habitat
Mission) Mission has won the UN-Habitat’s World Habitat Awards'23.
• This award is given by World Habitat, a United Kingdom-based organization, in partnership with
UN-Habitat every year.
• It aims to make Odisha the first state in India to be slum-free by the end of 23.
Govt names 27 overseas Indians for Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards
• The 17th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be held at Indore in Madhya
Pradesh during Jan 8-10, 2023.
• The awards will be conferred by the President.
• The recipients were chosen by a jury-cum-awards committee chaired by the vice-president.
• Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, DSB Group CEO Piyush Gupta are among 27 recipients
of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award.

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Banking Current Affairs

SBI launched e-Bank Guarantee facility in association with NeSL
• State Bank of India (SBI) launched e-Bank Guarantee (e-BG) facility in association with National
e-Governance Services Limited (NeSL) on 12 January 2023.
• Currently, the bank issues these guarantees with physical stamping and wet signatures.
• The e-Bank Guarantee procedure will be made easier by NeSL's Digital Document Execution
(DDE) technology, which offers e-Stamp and e-Sign features.
RBI's green bonds to be auctioned in 2 parts of Rs 8,000 cr each
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that maiden Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs)
would be issued in two tranches of Rs 8,000 crore each on January 25 and February 9, 2023.
• These bonds are being issued to promote green infrastructure.
• The Central Government had released the framework of Sovereign Green Bond in November
2022.
• It is being issued as part of its total market borrowing.
Axis Bank partners with OPEN to launch a fully digital current account
• Axis Bank has partnered with OPEN, to provide a fully native digital current account for its
customers.
• This digital current account will help customers save time and effort, as the authentication
process will be completely digital using PAN and Aadhaar followed by a Video KYC.
• This is Axis Bank’s first-ever partnership with a fintech firm to launch a fully digital current
account.
SEBI issues debt broker license to GoldenPi Technologies
• Securities and Exchange Board of India has issued a debt broker license to Fintech firm
GoldenPi Technologies.
• With the development, GoldenPi became the first online bond platform provider to receive a
debt brokerage license.
• In 2022, SEBI made it compulsory for online debt trading platforms to obtain certificate of
registration as a stock broker under SEBI Regulations, 2021.
Bandhan Bank launches ‘Jahaan Bandhan, Wahaan Trust’ campaign
• Bandhan Bank launched the ‘Jahaan Bandhan, Wahaan Trust’ campaign along with the bank’s
brand ambassador Sourav Ganguly on 5 January 2023.
• It is an integrated marketing campaign in which the company has emphasized the ‘trust’ that
the brand has been able to earn in a span of seven years as a bank.
• Bandhan Bank CEO: Chandra Shekhar Ghosh
• Bandhan Bank Headquarters: Kolkata
RBI survey for price movements, inflation assessment launched

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• The Reserve Bank of India launched the Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH) in
January 2023.
• In the January 2023 round, the survey will be conducted across 19 cities.
• It aims to capture subjective assessments of price movements and inflation, based on individual
consumption baskets.
• Hansa Research Group has been assigned to conduct the survey on behalf of the RBI.
RBI tags SBI, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank as Systemically Important Banks
• State Bank of India (SBI) and privately owned ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank continue to be
Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs).
• D-SIBs are institutions that are too big to fail.
• In 2015 and 2016, RBI had classified SBI and ICICI Bank as D-SIBs.
• Further, based on data collected from banks as on March 31, 2017, HDFC Bank was also
classified as a D-SIB, along with SBI and ICICI Bank.

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Books and Authors Current Affairs

A new book “India’s Knowledge Supremacy: The New Dawn” released
• A book titled “India’s Knowledge Supremacy: The New Dawn” written by Dr Ashwin Fernandes,
released in January 2023.
• It was launched by Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan.
• The book focuses on India’s knowledge supremacy, journey showcasing changing trends in newly
emerging India.
• It is written by Dr Ashwin Fernandes, who heads QS Rankings in Middle East, Africa and South
Asia.
A book titled 'Coaching Beyond' by R. Kaushik, R. Sridhar released
• A book titled ‘COACHING BEYOND: My Days with the Indian Cricket Team’, authored by R.
Kaushik & R. Sridhar, was released in Jan 2023.
• The book reflects on R. Sridhar’s seven-year coaching tenure with the Indian cricket team as its
fielding coach.
• R. Kaushik is also the co-author of V.V.S Laxman’s autobiography, 281 And Beyond, as well as,
Gundappa Vishwanath’s autobiography, Wrist Assured.
A book "Come! Let’s Run" by Tamil Nadu Health Minister, released
• The English version of the book titled ‘Come! Let’s Run’ by Tamil Nadu Health Minister, Ma.
Subramanian was released by Krishnamachari Srikkanth, former Captain of the Indian Cricket
team in January 20223.
• The Tamil version of the book titled ‘Odalam Vanga’ was released in 2021.
• The book was published by Emerald Publishers and the English translation was done by Geeta
Padmanaban.
Shubhra Gupta announced her new book “Irrfan Khan: A Life in Movies”
• A Well known film critic and author, Shubhra Gupta announced her new book “Irrfan Khan: A Life
in Movies” in Jan 2023.
• The book describes actor Irrfan Khan's life and achievements, starting from his days at the
prestigious National School of Drama (NSD) to his nearly decade-long stint in television and his
gradual ascent in the film industry.
• The book will be released in March 2023.
Prince Harry released his Memoir titled “Spare”
• Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, a member of the British royal family, has released his memoir titled
“Spare” in January 2023.
• The book was written with the assistance of American novelist J. R. Moehringer.
• The book is published by Transworld Publishers Ltd, a division of Penguin Random House.
• He announced that his memoir will be used to support British charities.
“Jadunama” A book written on writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar released
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• Jadunama, a book written on veteran writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, was released on January 9
2023.
• Th author of the book is Arvind Mandloi.
• The name of the book is Jadunama as 'Jadu' was the childhood name of Javed Akhtar.
• The book is about Javed's struggle since childhood to become what he is today and to create a
hallmark of success in everything he does.
Health Minister launched book titled 'Braving A Viral Storm'
• Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Jan 11, 2023 launched book titled 'Braving A Viral Storm:
India’s Covid-19 Vaccine Story'.
• The book is co-authored by Aashish Chandorkar and Suraj Sudhir.
• It depicts the country's strength and capability in handling Covid Crisis.
• The book launch comes ahead of India's second anniversary of starting its COVID-19 vaccination
drive in January 2021.
Abdul Gaffar’s autobiography ‘Njaan Sakshi' released by MS Dhoni
• Professor K.K. Abdul Gaffar’s autobiography, ‘Njaan Sakshi’ was released by cricketer MS Dhoni
in January 2023.
• The book was introduced by senior journalist T.A. Shafi.
• The autobiography provides insight into Prof. Gaffar's journey and how educators and students
have changed over time.
• Professor Gaffar served as the principal of the Engineering College in Bhatkal, Karnataka.
“Roller Coaster: An Affair with Banking” book launched
• The book is written by Journalist Tamal Bandyopadhyay.
• The book describes the lives of India’s commercial and central bankers.
• He is an award-winning author and columnist behind the weekly column “Banker’s Trust”.
• His other books include: 'A Bank for the Buck' and 'Sahara: The Untold Story'.
Dr AK Dwivedi’s book ‘Human Anatomy’ released by Governor of MP
• Governor of Madhya Pradesh Mangubhai Patel in Jan 2023 released a medical book ‘Human
Anatomy’ in Hindi Manav Sharir Rachna Vigyan.
• The book has been written by Dr Ashvini Kumar Dwivedi - a Homeopathic Physician and teacher.
• This book has been published by Madhya Pradesh Hindi Granth Academy.
• The Foreword has been written by Dr. Mohan Yadav, Minister of Higher Education in MP
Government.
Historian Sanjeev Sanyal releases his new book 'Revolutionaries'
• Noted economist and popular historian Sanjeev Sanyal released his new book, "Revolutionaries:
The Other Story of How India Won Its Freedom," in January 2023.
• It is based on the revolutionary movements related to the struggle for Indian Independence.
• Some of Sanyal's books include "Land of the Seven Rivers," "The Ocean of Churn," "India in the
Age of Ideas," and "The Indian Renaissance."

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Shashi Tharoor’s new book ‘Ambedkar: A Life’ released

• Parliamentarian and author, Shashi Tharoor’s latest book Ambedkar: A Life was launched at the
Kitaab Kolkata event in January 2023.
• In this book, Tharoor tells Ambedkar’s story with great lucidity, insight, and admiration.
• The author traces the arc of the great man’s life from his birth into a family of Mahars in the
Bombay Presidency on 14 April 1891 to his death in Delhi on 6 Dec 1956.
Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi releases book titled 'Diary No.1'
• Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi released a book written by Assam CM 'Chief Minister's
Diary No.1'.
• It contains the account of events of the first year in office of Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta
Biswa Sarma.
• Ranjan Gogoi is presently a member of Rajya Sabha.
• He had served as the 46th Chief Justice of India for 13 months from 2018 to 2019.

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Business and Economy Current Affairs

Economic Survey 2023-24 Highlights: Part-1
• India's economy to grow 6.5% in 2023-24, compared to 7% in 2022-23 and 8.7% in 2021-22 .
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in nominal terms to be 11% in 2023-24.
• Real GDP growth to be in the range of 6-6.8% in 2023-24.
• Current account deficit may continue to widen as global commodity prices remain elevated,
economic growth momentum stays strong.
Economic Survey 2023-24 Highlights: Part-2
• India has been called third largest economy in PPP (purchasing power parity) terms, and fifth
largest economy in terms of exchange rate.
• India has sufficient forex reserves to finance its CAD and intervene in forex market, especially
when it comes to managing rupee.
• RBI's projection of 6.8% inflation for 2023-24 has been considered to not be high enough to deter
private consumption.
UN cuts India’s Economic Growth Forecast by 20 bps to 5.8% for 2023
• The forecast was made in United Nations's (UN) World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023
report.
• The effect of tighter monetary policy and weak global demand has been cited as reason behind
this cut.
• Growth in India is expected to remain strong at 5.8%, albeit slightly lower than the estimated
6.4% in 2022, as higher interest rates and a global slowdown weigh on investment and exports.
AU Bank launches credit card offering platform SwipeUp
• AU Small Finance Bank, India’s largest Small Finance Bank, has launched SwipeUp platform.
• The platform will provide an opportunity to other bank credit cardholders to upgrade their card
to one of AU credit cards.
• Bank has provided a platform to compare existing Credit Cards of customers within 2-3 seconds.
• Thereafter, within minutes they can upgrade credit limit, cashback, reward point etc.
Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) Interest Rate Hiked for January–March 2023
• The KVP interest rate applicable in the first quarter of 2023 (January-March) was announced on
December 30, 2022.
• The new interest rate is 7.2%.
• The previous interest rate was 7%.
• The Union Government revises the Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) interest rate on a quarterly basis.
• At 7.2% interest, the amount invested in the KVP account will double in 10 years.
In a first, India among the top five ECM markets globally in 2022
• India was among top 5 markets, globally, in terms of equity fundraising.

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• According to a report by Kotak Investment, funds to the tune of $16.4 bn were transacted via
equity capital market (ECM) activity in India in 2022.
• Traditionally, India has rarely featured in top 10 in terms of ECM activity.
• Interestingly, in 2022, India also broke into top-5 league in terms of market capitalisation.
PPBL gets RBI nod to operate as Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit
• Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) has received final approval from the Reserve Bank of India to
operate as Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit (BBPOU).
• A BBPOU is allowed to facilitate bill payment services of electricity, phone, DTH, water, gas
insurance, loan repayments, FASTag recharge etc.
• With this, users can make convenient payments and benefit from automatic payment and
reminder services.
RBI proposes expected loss-based approach for provisioning by banks
• Under this, banks will be required to classify financial assets (primarily loans) into one of three
categories – Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3, depending upon the assessed credit losses on them.
• It is to be done at the time of initial recognition as well as on each subsequent reporting date.
• Presently, banks are required to make loan loss provisions based on an ‘incurred loss’ approach.
India's exports decline by 12.2% to $34.48 billion in December 2022
• India's merchandise exports decreased 12.2% from a year earlier to $34.5 billion in December
2022.
• In October 2022, exports of goods had decreased by 16.65% on a yearly basis.
• India’s current account deficit (CAD) widened to $36.4 billion and 4.4 per cent of GDP, in the
September 2022.
• While India's goods exports increased by 7.7 per cent in December 2022.
States’ gross fiscal deficit set to fall in 2022-23: RBI
• As per an RBI report, gross fiscal deficit of states is budgeted to narrow to 3.4% of gross domestic
product (GDP) in 2022-23 from 4.1% in 2020-21.
• Reason behind this is broad-based economic recovery and higher revenue collections.
• While states’ debt is budgeted to ease to 29.5% of GDP in 2022-23 as against 31.1% in 2020-21, it
is still higher than 20% recommended by FRBM Review Committee.
Alibaba sells Paytm stake worth $125 million via block deal
• Alibaba Group company Ant Financial has sold 2 crore shares of Indian Digital Payment and
Financial Services Company Paytm at Rs 536.95 per share on 12 Jan 2023.
• Block deal refers to a trade in which 5 lakh shares or shares of a particular company listed on the
exchange are traded for a value of more than Rs 5 crore.
• Block deals can only be conducted during a particular trading window.
Retail inflation eases to 1-year low in December 2022

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• Retail inflation cooled to a one-year low in December 2022, remaining below the Reserve Bank of
India’s upper tolerance limit of 6% for the second straight month.
• Primary reason behind this is lower vegetable prices.
• Inflation based on the consumer price index (CPI) eased to 5.72% in Dec from 5.8% in November,
data released by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation showed.
PayRup, India’s fastest payment app launched
• India’s fastest payment app 'PayRup' was launched in Jan 2023.
• PayRup is built with the cutting-edge technology of web 3.0.
• It ensures the 5 dimensions of service quality and follows SERVQUAL standards to provide the
best service experience.
• In Jan 2023, PayRup announced ticketing and booking services.
• The launching event was hosted in Bangalore and was launched by Mahadevappa Halagatti.
BharatPe Gets Nod for ePayment Aggregator Licence
• Fintech unicorn BharatPe has received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India to
operate as a Payment Aggregator (PA).
• PA are entities that facilitate e-commerce sites and merchants to accept various payment
instruments from customers.
• They do not require merchants to create a separate payment integration system of their own.
• Previously Open, 1Pay, etc have received approval.
India's December services sector growth at highest level in 6 months
• The Indian services sector growth touched a six-month high in December, supported by a robust
intake of new work and favourable market conditions.
• The S&P Global India services purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 58.5 in December from
56.4 in the previous month.
• In PMI, a print above 50 means expansion while a score below 50 denotes contraction.
UPI transactions rise over 7.82 billion in December 2022
• The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) closed the year 2022 on a high note as the number of
transactions reached a record 7.82 billion in December and totalled Rs 12.82 trillion, also a record
high.
• The volume of UPI transactions in December increased by 7.12% when compared to November,
while the value of transactions increased by 7.73% during the same period.
GST collections in December grow 15% to Rs 1.49 lakh crore
• Goods and Service Tax (GST) collections for the month of December stood at over Rs 1.49 lakh
crore, 15% higher than the year-ago period.
• In November, the collections were at nearly Rs 1.46 lakh crore, up 11 per cent from the year-ago
period.
• The collections had touched a record high of nearly Rs 1.68 lakh crore in April. The second-highest
collection was Rs 1.52 lakh crore in October.

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Defence Current Affairs

Two Indian Air Force fighter aircraft crashed in the Madhya Pradesh
• Sukhoi-30 and Mirage 2000 aircraft of Indian Air Force have crashed in MP.
• Sukhoi 30:
• It is a twin-engine Fighter Jet manufactured by Sukhoi Aviation Corporation of Russia.
• Range – 3000 Km
• Maximum Speed – Mach 2
• Mirage 2000:
• Dassault Mirage 2000 is a French multirole, single-engine fourth-generation fighter jet
manufactured by Dassault Aviation.
• Range – 1550 Km
• Maximum Speed – Mach 2.2
Veer Guardian 2023- Joint exercise between India and Japan concludes
• It was held between Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) as the first
bilateral air exercise at Hyakuri Air Base in Japan.
• It was first time when an Indian Air Force woman fighter pilot was part of Indian contingent for
aerial wargames in a foreign land.
• It was held from 12 to 26 Jan'23.
• IAF contingent comprised four Su-30 MKI, two C-17 & one IL-78 aircraft.
Indian Navy held maritime exercise 'TROPEX 2023' in Indian Ocean
• Indian Navy's flagship maritime exercise TROPEX 2023 is being held in the Indian Ocean.
• TROPEX-2023 is being organized over a period of three months from January to March 2023.
• The TROPEX exercise is held once every two years.
• The first exercise of maritime surveillance was held in January 2019.
• It is also called the biggest war game of the Indian Navy.
Border Security Force (BSF) starts ‘Ops alert’ exercise
• The Border Security Force (BSF) has started a weeklong exercise "Ops Alert" all along the Indo-
Pak international border from Sir Creek to Rann of Kutch in Gujarat and Barmer district of
Rajasthan in order to tighten security ahead of the Republic Day.
• India will celebrate its 74th Republic Day on January 26, 2023.
• The exercise began on 21 January and will end on 27 January 2023.
Indian Navy conducts “AMPHEX 2023” mega exercise in Andhra Pradesh
• The Indian Navy carried out a six-day-long mega military exercise along with the Army and the
IAF near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.
• The largest biennial tri-services amphibious exercise AMPHEX 2023 was conducted from 17 to 22
Jan'23.

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• The exercise was conducted to review the preparedness of the Indian Navy and the Army during
the war, national calamities and coastal security enforcement.
Indian Air Force (IAF) to conduct ‘PRALAY’ exercise in Northeast
• IAF is going to conduct exercise ‘PRALAY’ in Northeast India from 1-5 Feb'23.
• The exercise will include a variety of platforms, such as C-130J ‘Super Hercules’ aircraft, Chinook
heavy-lift and Apache attack helicopters.
• The exercise will be conducted in preparation for another Air Force exercise named 'Eastern
Akash', an annual command-level exercise, to be held in first week of February.
1st Edition of Indo-Egypt Joint Training Exercise Cyclone – I begins
• Indian and Egyptian Armies are to conduct the first-ever joint exercise Cyclone-I.
• It is being held in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan for 14 days, from 14 Jan'23.
• The exercise is first of its kind as it brings special forces of countries to a common platform.
• 30-40 special forces are participating in exercise.
• The armies will engage and get trained in combat free fall, sniping, surveillance, etc.
India Navy to commission Kalvari class submarine Vagir on 23 Jan'23
• The submarine has been built under the Project-75.
• It is built in India by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai in collaboration with M/s Naval
Group, France.
• It is capable of attacking underwater or on surface with torpedoes and tube-launched anti-ship
missiles.
• Formerly Vagir was commissioned on 01 November 1973 and decommissioned on 07 January 2001
after three decades of service.
Indian Army organises cyber threat seminar 'Sainya Ranakshetram 2.0'
• The Indian Army, under the HQ Army Training Command, organized the second edition of
Hackathon - “Sannya Rankshetram 2.0” from October 2022 to January 2023.
• It was aimed to identify indigenous talent in the field and raise the level of training in the areas
of cyber deterrence, security software coding, Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO), and
Artificial Intelligence.
In a first, Army clears over 30 women officers for command roles
• The Indian Army, first time, cleared more than 30 women officers for command roles on 16
January 2023.
• The Indian Army is holding promotion boards for Colonel rank for women officers including
batches from 1992 to 2005.
• The women officers clearing the boards would be given command roles.
• The first batch of over 100 women Agniveers will join their training center in Bengaluru in March
2023.
India, Egypt to hold first-ever exercises between special forces

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• India and Egypt have announced to hold the first-ever military exercise “Cyclone 1” involving the
special forces in Udaipur in Jan'23.
• It is being held to celebrate the 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
• Egypt has also been invited as a guest country at the G20 summit in 2023.
• In April 2022, Egypt announced the inclusion of India in the list of accredited countries.
India, France joint naval exercise 'Varuna 2023' begin on 16 January
• The 21st Edition of the Bilateral Naval Exercise between India and France, 'Exercise Varuna'
commenced in the Indian Ocean on 16 Jan 2023.
• The bilateral exercise between the two navies was initiated in 1993 and was named ‘VARUNA’ in
2001.
• The exercise will be conducted from 16 to 20 January 2023 and will witness advanced air defense
exercises, tactical maneuvers, and surface firings.
ICG ship ‘Kamla Devi’, last vessel of FPV series, commissioned
• Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) Indian Coast Guard(ICG) ship 'Kamala Devi' was commissioned on 12 Jan,
2023 in Kolkata.
• It is designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd.
• Kamala Devi is capable of a top speed of 34 knots and an endurance of over 1,500 nautical miles.
• It will undertake anti-smuggling, anti-poaching and search and rescue operations when required.
Avani Chaturvedi becomes 1st IAF woman pilot to participate in wargame
• First female fighter pilot, squadron commander Avani Chaturvedi, will participate in the inaugural
air exercise Veer Guardian 2023.
• The exercise aims to improve air defence cooperation between Japan and India.
• For the first time an Indian Air Force (IAF) female fighter pilot will participate in aerial war games.
• The exercise will be hosted by the Japan at the Hyakuri Air Base in Jan 2023.
India successfully carries out test launch of Prithvi-II missile
• India on 10 January 2023 successfully carried out a test launch of the tactical ballistic missile
Prithvi-II.
• The Prithvi-II missile has a range of around 350 kilometers.
• The test was carried out from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
• Prithvi missiles are indigenously produced and are the first missile to be developed under India’s
prestigious IGMDP program.
DRDO develops UAV for operations in Himalayan frontier regions
• The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has developed an unmanned
aerial vehicle (UAV) in January 2023 to carry out logistic operations in the Himalayan frontier.
• It is capable of flying in the Himalayan environment with 5kg of payload and even dropping
bombs in the areas required.
• It can also travel in auto mode and release payload and return to the home location.

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“SPRINT” initiative
• SPRINT (Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through Innovations for Defence Excellence) Initiative
was launched by PM Modi in July 2022.
• It aims to boost the usage of indigenous technology in the Indian Navy.
• The Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) aims to induct 75 new indigenous
technologies/products into the Indian Navy through the SPRINT initiative.

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Government Schemes and Policies Current Affairs

National Strategic Plan and Roadmap for Leprosy 2023-2027 launched
• It was launched on National Anti Leprosy day on 29 Jan'23.
• Aim of the Plan is to eradicate Leprosy in the country by 2027.
• National Guidelines for Surveillance for Antimicrobial Resistance in Leprosy were also launched.
• India has nearly 52% of total cases of Leprosy worldwide.
• Prevalence rate of Leprosy cases has come down from 0.69% per 10,000 population in 2014-15
to 0.45 in 2021-22.
Govt to hand over 1,000 sites to private sector under Monument Scheme
• The government will hand 1,000 monuments to the private sector for their upkeep under the
Monument Mitra Scheme, announced by the Min of Culture in Jan 2023.
• The Ministry of Tourism has transferred the scheme to the Ministry of Culture.
• The government has set the target to hand over 500 sites under the revamped Monument Mitra
Scheme by the end of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav on 15 August 2023.
Padho Pardesh scheme discontinued by MoMA
• Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) has discontinued the Padho Pardesh scheme.
• The scheme provided interest subsidy on education loans for overseas studies for students
belonging to minority communities.
• The objective was to provide opportunities for higher education at Master, M.Phil and PhD levels
abroad and enhance their employability.
• It was being implemented through Canara Bank.
PM Narendra Modi announces ‘Aarogya Maitri’ for medical supplies
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a new ‘Aarogya Maitri’ project for developing nations,
on 13th January 2023.
• Under this project, India will provide essential medical supplies to any of the developing countries
affected by natural disasters or humanitarian crises.
• During the Covid pandemic, India's 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative supplied vaccines made in India to
over 100 countries.
Centre approves ₹2,600 cr incentive scheme to promote digital payement
• Cabinet has approved a ₹2,600-crore incentive scheme to promote Rupay debit card and low-
value BHIM-UPI transactions.
• Under the scheme, banks would be provided financial incentives for promoting Point of Sale (PoS)
and e-commerce transactions using RuPay and UPI in the financial year 2023.
• The scheme would also promote UPI Lite and UPI123PAY as economical and user-friendly digital
payments.
Centre named new Integrated Food Security Scheme as PMGAY

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• Centre has named the new Integrated Food Security Scheme as Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan
Ann Yojana, PMGKAY.
• Cabinet had approved new integrated food security scheme for providing free foodgrains to
Antodaya Ann Yojna and Primary Household beneficiaries.
• Implementation of new scheme has started from Jan 1, 2023.
• It will benefit more than 80 crore poor and poorest of poor people.
Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development scheme launched
• The Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme is worth over ₹2,500
cr.
• It will focus on expanding and upgrading the infrastructure of Prasar Bharati, improving digital
content and distribution network.
• The BIND scheme will increase the coverage of AIR FM transmitters in the country to 66% by
geographical area and 80% by population, up from 59% and 68%, respectively.
Centre rolls out new integrated Food Security Scheme from 1 Jan 2023
• The new Scheme will provide free food grains to over 81 crore beneficiaries under National Food
Security Act (NFSA) in 2023.
• The Scheme will also ensure effective and uniform implementation of the Act.
• Under the scheme, the Central Government will provide free foodgrains to all NFSA beneficiaries
including Antyodaya Ann Yojana households and Priority Household persons.

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Days and Events Current Affairs

President Murmu to address 31st Foundation Day of NCW on 31 January
• President Droupadi Murmu will address the 31st Foundation Day of the National Commission for
Women (NCW) in New Delhi on 31 January 2023.
• The theme of the programme is ‘Sashakt Nari Sashakt Bharat.'
• The theme is aimed at acknowledging the stories of women who have excelled their journey to
leave a mark.
• NCW was founded in January 1992 as a statutory body under the NCW Act, 1990.
75th Death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi: 30 January 2023
• Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on this day in 1948 at Birla House (now Gandhi Smriti), New
Delhi.
• He was assassinated by Nathuram Godse.
• The day is also observed as Martyrs' Day.
• Mahatma or Mohandas Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, Kathiawar Agency,
British Raj.
• Father: Karamchand Gandhi
• Mother: Putlibai
• Notable work: The Story of My Experiments with Truth
World Leprosy Day 2023: 29th January
• The day is celebrated on last Sunday of January.
• It is celebrated to praise people who have experienced leprosy, raise awareness and end leprosy-
related stigma and discrimination.
• This date was chosen by French humanitarian, Raoul Follereau as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi,
who did much work with persons affected by leprosy and died at the end of January in 1948.
• Theme: Act Now. End Leprosy.
Lala Lajpat Rai birth anniversary: 28th January
• He was a prolific freedom fighter for India.
• He was born in 1865 in Punjab.
• He was also known as ‘Punjab Kesari’.
• Along with Bipin Chandra Pal and Bal Gangadhar Tilak, he formed Lal-Bal-Pal trio of extremist
leaders.
• He founded Servants of People Society in 1921.
• He co-founded Punjab National Bank in 1894.
• He was elected deputy leader of Central Legislative Assembly in 1926.
Data Privacy Day: 28 January 2023
• The day is celebrated globally on Jan 28 every year.
• Year 2023 is 17th edition of the day.

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• The celebration was initiated by the Council of Europe in 2006.

• 28 Jan was chosen, as this was the day on which the Council of Europe’s data protection
convention-'Convention 108' was opened.
• Celebrations are aimed at raising awareness about right to data protection.
• Theme 2023:Think Privacy First’
International Holocaust Remembrance Day: 27th January
• Every year, this day is observed to reflect on the atrocities inflicted by Adolf Hitler, which resulted
in the deaths of an estimated six million Jews.
• The day commemorates the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in January 1945 from Nazi control.
• The theme for year 2023 is “Home and Belonging”.
• The Holocaust was Nazi Germany’s “Final Solution” for eliminating all Jewish people.
International Customs Day: 26 January
• World Customs Organisation (WCO) marks International Customs Day on 26th January every
year.
• The occasion commemorates the WCO's maiden session held in 1953 in Brussels, Belgium.
• Theme for 2023 is ‘Nurturing the next generation: Promoting a culture of knowledge-sharing and
professional pride in Customs.’
• It is dedicated to the Customs authorities and their contribution to the world trade.
Indian Republic Day: 26 January
• Republic Day marks the adoption of India's constitution and the country's transition to a republic
on January 26, 1950.
• This replaced the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India.
• On 26 January 2023, the 74th Republic Day will be celebrated in India.
• On 26 Jan in 1930, the Declaration of Indian Independence was proclaimed by the Indian National
Congress.
National Voters' Day: 25 January
• On January 25, National Voters' Day 2023 is observed to commemorate the founding day of the
Election Commission of India.
• Since 2011, National Voters' Day has been celebrated on January 25 every year.
• The theme for National Voters' Day 2023 is ‘Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure.'
• The Election Commission of India was founded on 25th January 1950.
International Education Day: 24 January
• International Day of Education is celebrated every year on 24 January to spread awareness about
education globally and to make education accessible to all.
• Theme for 2023: 'To Invest in People, Prioritise Education'.
• It was announced by the United Nations General Assembly on 3 December 2018 through a
resolution.
• This resolution was co-authored by Nigeria and the other 58 member nations.

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National Girl Child Day: 24 January

• National Girl Child Day is celebrated in India every year on January 24.
• It was initiated in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the government of
India.
• The day aims to raise awareness of the disparities that girls face in a variety of areas, including
education, employment, clothing, and others.
• The first National Girl Child was celebrated on January 24, 2008.
Subhas Chandra Bose Birth Anniversary: 23 January
• 23 January 2023 will be celebrated as the 126th birth anniversary of India's freedom fighter Subhas
Chandra Bose.
• He was born on January 23, 1897, at Cuttack in Odisha and his birthday is being celebrated as
‘Parakram Divas' (day of valor) since 2022.
• In 1923, he was elected the President of the All India Youth Congress and was elected President
of the Haripura Congress Session in 1938.
21 January - Statehood day of Manipur, Meghalaya & Tripura
• Year 2023 marks 51st foundation year for the three states which attained statehood under the
North Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act of 1971.
• While Manipur and Tripura were princely states which were absorbed into India in October 1949,
Meghalaya was part of Assam after Independence.
• The states came into being in 1972 after North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, of 1971, was
enacted.
8th India International Science Festival (IISF) to be organised
• The festival will be organised form 21-24 Jan'23 in MANIT, Bhopal.
• The 8th IISF will be jointly organized by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Ministry of Science and
Technology and Vigyan Bharati.
• Theme is “Moving towards Amrit Kaal with Science, Technology and Innovation”.
• IISF is being organized annually since 2015.
• It showcases and celebrates the fruits of science and technology.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) celebrates 18th Raising Day
• NDRF Raising Day is commemorated on January 19, every year.
• It was formed in year 2006 under Disaster Management Act, 2005.
• It plays a crucial role in the country’s disaster management and community awareness for
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).
• NDRF at present consists of 12 Battalions.
• These battalions are located at 16 different locations on the basis of the vulnerability profile.
National Startup Day: 16 January

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• With a focus on promoting and encouraging upcoming businesses in the country, Jan 16 was
adopted as the National Startup Day in 2022.
• On January 15, 2022, PM Modi first announced the adoption of the day.
• To celebrate this day, Ministry of Commerce has organized Startup India Innovation Week from
10 to 16 January, 2023.
• On this day, several events are being organised in more than 75 places.
148 Foundation Day of India Meteorological Department (IMD): 15 Jan'23
• 148th Foundation Day of India Meteorological Department (IMD) was celebrated on 15 Jan 2023
in New Delhi.
• IMD is the chief government agency dealing in meteorology, seismology, and associated subjects.
• IMD was founded in 1875.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• IMD works under Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• IMD is one of the six Regional Centres of the World Meteorological Organisation.
16 January 2023 - Thiruvalluvar Day
• Thiruvalluvar Day is usually celebrated either on the 15th or 16th of January in the state of Tamil
Nadu.
• The occasion honours the poet, Thiruvalluvar, and is a part of the Pongal celebrations.
• Thiruvalluvar was a renowned philosopher and poet who lived in the 4th century BCE.
• Best known for penning Thirukkural, a collection of couplets on ethics, political and economic
matters, and love.
Google Doodle celebrates the 97th birth anniversary of K. D. Jadhav
• Google on 15 January 2023, celebrated the 97th birth anniversary of Indian wrestler Khashaba
Dadasaheb Jadhav, also known as Pocket Dynamo, with a doodle.
• He became independent India’s first athlete to win an Olympic medal at the 1952 Summer
Olympics held in Helsinki.
• In 2000, Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav received the Arjuna Award posthumously in recognition
of his contributions to wrestling.
75th Army Day celebration held in Bengaluru, Karnataka
• India celebrated the 75th Army Day on 15 January 2023 to honor the defense forces and the first
Chief of the Indian Army, General K.M. Cariappa.
• On this day, General K.M. Cariappa took over the command of the Indian Army from General Sir
FRR Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949.
• A parade was held in Bengaluru, making it 1st time that the Army Day parade was held outside
Delhi.
Makar Sankranti: 15 January
• Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated by Hindus across India.
• People worship the Sun God during it.

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• It is called Sukarat in central India, Magh Bihu by Assamese, Khichdi in Eastern Uttar Pradesh,
Uttarayanan in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and Thai Pongal or Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
• Since 1989, the day has been observed as International Kite Festival at Gujarat's Ahmedabad.
Defence Minister chaired 7th Armed Forces Veterans Day
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the Armed Forces Veterans Day celebrations on
January 14, 2023, at Dehradun.
• He also launched a car sports initiative 'Soul of Steel Alpine Challenge' from Dehradun to
Gamshali located in Niti Valley.
• He dedicated to the nation the Shaurya Sthal developed by the Uttarakhand War Memorial Trust.
• The day was first celebrated on 14 January 2016.
12 Jan, 2023 - 160th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda
• He was born as Narendranath Datta in 1863.
• In 1893, upon the request of Maharaja Ajit Singh of the Khetri State, he took the name
‘Vivekananda.’
• He introduced the world to the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga.
• He was best known for his speech at World Parliament of Religion in Chicago in 1893.
• He was disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhansa and established the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897.
National Youth Day: 12 January
• National Youth Day is celebrated in India every year on January 12.
• The day is celebrated to mark the birthday of Swami Vivekananda.
• It was in the year 1984 when the Government of India declared this day as National Youth Day
National and the nation is observing it every year since 1985.
• The theme for the year 2023 is “Viksit Yuva – Viksit Bharat (Developed Youth – Developed India)”.
Death anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri observed on Jan 11
• On 11 January 1966, India’s second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri died in Tashkent, USSR
(now Uzbekistan), a day after signing Tashkent Declaration with Pakistan to end the 1965 Indo-
Pakistan war.
• Shastri was the second Prime Minister of India.
• He gave the slogan, “Jai Jawan! Jai Kissan!” during the Indo-Pak War of 1965.
• He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1966.
Ministry of Road to observe Road Safety Week from Jan 11, 2023
• Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will observe Road Safety Week across the country from
Jan 11, 2023.
• The aim of the programme is to propagate the cause of safer roads for all under the Swachhata
Pakhwada.
• During the week, awareness campaigns related to the causes of road accidents and measures to
prevent them, Nukkad Nataks and sensitization campaigns will be conducted.

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National Human Trafficking Awareness Day observed on January 11

• This day aims is to raise awareness about the plight of human trafficking victims, as well as to
promote and protect their rights.
• Every year it is estimated that 225000 people worldwide become victims of human trafficking.
• 11 January was chosen as the date because The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, the
first federal law in United states to address modern-day slavery was passed.
World Hindi Day: 10 January
• World Hindi Day is celebrated on Jan 10 every year to mark the importance and celebrate Hindi
as a language.
• It was started to mark the anniversary of the first time Hindi was spoken in the UN General
Assembly in 1949.
• On Jan 10, 2006, the World Hindi Day was celebrated for the first time.
• In the year 1975, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated the first World Hindi
Conference.
17th edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention commences in Indore
• The 17th edition of the 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas' convention commenced in Madhya Pradesh's
Indore on January 8, 2023.
• The theme of the 2023 event is 'Diaspora: Reliable partners for India's progress in Amrit Kaal.'
• Republic of Guyana President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali is the chief guest and Republic of Suriname
President Chandrikapersad Santokhi is the special guest of honor of the event.
World Day of War Orphans: 6 January
• World Day of War Orphans is celebrated on 6 January every year to create awareness about the
plight of war orphans and to address the traumatic conditions faced by them.
• There are an estimated 153 million orphans worldwide, many of whom are war orphans.
• It was started by the French organization SOS Enfants en Detresses, which aimed to help children
affected by conflict.
World Braille Day: 4 January
• World Braille Day is observed every year on January 4.
• It is observed to raise awareness about the importance of Braille as a means of communication
for visually impaired people.
• The day commemorates the birth anniversary of French educator Louis Braille, who invented the
Braille language in the year 1809.
• Braille code is a form of written language that uses raised dots for characters.
Global Family Day 2023 celebrated on January 1st
• Global Family Day is celebrated annually on 1 January promote peace, love, and unity among
people.

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• A book titled "One Day In Peace - January 1, 2000," published by United Nations, served as the
inspiration for the concept, which was first proposed in November 1997.
• The day was first proposed in November 1997.
DRDO celebrated its 65th foundation day on 1st January 2023
• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is a premier defence research and
development agency under the Ministry of Defence.
• It was set up in 1958.
• Since inception, DRDO has made several breakthroughs in developing critical technologies.
• DRDO's first project for the Indian military was surface-to-air missiles-Project Indigo.
• Headquarters - New Delhi
• Chairman - Samir V Kamat
129th birth anniversary of Satyendra Nath Bose
• Bose was born in Kolkata on January 1,1894.
• Bose got a Bachelor of Science degree at the Presidency College and later a MSc in Mixed
Mathematics in 1915.
• Bose collaborated with Einstein to develop what we now know as the Bose-Einstein statistics.
• He was appointed to the position of Reader in Physics at the University of Dhaka.
• Bose was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1954.
205th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima celebrated
• The battle of Bhima Koregaon was fought on January 1, 1818, between Peshwa Bajirao II and
British army commanded by Captain F F Staunton of the East India Company.
• The battle was a part of the Third Anglo-Maratha War.
• The British army was largely dominated by Mahars - the most populous of the Dalit sub-castes in
Maharashtra.
• The Dalit-dominated British Army had defeated the Peshwa army.

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International Current Affairs | January 2023

UNESCO designates Ukraine’s Odesa a World Heritage in Danger site
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Odesa as
it faced danger from Russian air strikes.
• Odesa is a historic centre and strategic port city located on the Black Sea.
• Empress Catherine founded ODESA.
• She took away the region from the Ottoman Empire in 1794.
• Important Sites: Vorontsovskyi Palace is a beautiful Turkish Castle in Odesa.
Canada to commercialise world’s first photonic-based Quantum Computer
• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced to commercialise the world’s first
photonic-based, fault-tolerant quantum computer, in January 2023.
• The investment of 40 million Canadian dollars will enable Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc. to
develop the quantum computer which will help solve complex data problems and could be used
in finance, transportation, and health.
Senior ISIS leader Bilal al-Sudani killed in US raid in Somalia
• Bilal al-Sudani, a prominent regional leader of the Islamic State group, was killed on 25 Jan'23 in
a US military raid in Somalia.
• The raid was ordered by President Joe Biden.
• The operation has also killed 10 members of the terrorist group.
• Bilal played a key role in providing financial support to IS operations in Africa as well as ISIS-K, a
terrorist organisation operating in Afghanistan.
New Zealand to introduce Debbie H. Medal to honour women cricketers
• New Zealand Cricket announced the introduction of the Debbie Hockley Medal to honor the
outstanding female cricketer.
• Cricketer Debbie Hockley played 118 ODIs and 19 Tests for New Zealand from 1979 to 2000.
• Hockley was the fourth woman to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, in 2013.
• New Zealand awards the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal for the outstanding male cricketer of the year.
Uganda unveiled first commercial oil production drilling programme
• Uganda, on 24 Jan'23, commissioned the first of its four planned oil drilling rig and started drilling
the first production well.
• Uganda has one of the largest oil reserves in the Saharan desert.
• Oil was discovered in Uganda 20 years back.
• But production was delayed due to a lack of funds.
• With the assistance of China, Uganda has now launched its first oil field in Lake Albert.
Brazil declares medical emergency in Yanomami territory

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• Medical emergency was declared following reports of children dying of malnutrition and other
diseases caused by illegal gold mining.
• Purpose of declaration is to restore health services for Yanomami people.
• Govt. had also announced food packages.
• Yanomami territory is Brazil's largest indigenous reservation bordering Venezuela.
• Yanomami has been invaded by illegal gold miners for decades.
UNESCO to dedicate International Day of Education to Afghan Girls
• UNESCO has decided to dedicate International Day of Education on the 24th of January, 2024 to
Afghan girls and women.
• It said that no country in the world should bar women and girls from receiving an education and
it is a universal human right that must be respected.
• According to UNESCO, currently, around 80% of school-aged Afghan girls and young women are
out of school under Taliban rule.
Pakistan is South Asia's weakest economy: World Bank report
• World Bank forecast Pakistan’s economic growth to slow further to two percent during 2023.
• This will mark a drop of two % points from its June 2022 estimates.
• The reason behind this is unprecedented floods, depleting forex reserves, food shortages, and
poverty.
• It forecast Pakistan's GDP growth rate to improve to 3.2% in 2024, which would be lower than
earlier estimate of 4.2%.
China’s population falls for first time since 1961
• China's population has fallen for the first time in 60 years, with a national birth rate of 6.77 births
per 1,000 people.
• The death toll in China is more than the number of children born.
• According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, China’s population declined by roughly
850,000 to 1.41175 billion at the end of 2022.
• Negative population growth has now started in China.
UN declares Pakistan based Abdul Rehman Makki a global terrorist
• United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has listed Abdul Rehman Makki as a global terrorist.
• The development comes after India in 2022 slammed China after it blocked the proposal to list
Makki under the Sanctions Committee.
• Makki has been involved in planning attacks in India.
• He has already been listed as a terrorist by India and the United States.
European Union (EU) inaugurates first mainland satellite launch port
• European officials and Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf inaugurated the EU's first mainland orbital
launch complex in Sweden in Jan 2023.
• The new facility inaugurated at the Esrange Space Center near the city of Kiruna will complement
the EU's current launching capabilities in French Guiana.

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• The total number of satellites could reach 100,000 by 2040 as compared to the current 5,000.
Uganda declares end of Ebola disease outbreak
• In a statement released by the World Health Organization (WHO), Uganda declared the end of
the Ebola disease outbreak caused by the Sudan ebolavirus on Jan 11, 2023.
• Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a rare, severe, and fatal disease in humans.
• The Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in the Congo.
• The virus is transmitted from wild animals to people.
Gabon names first female vice president and new Prime Minister
• Gabon's President Ali Bongo on 9 Jan 2023 appointed the country's first female Prime Minister
Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda to the role of vice-president.
• Former minister, Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, will replace Ossouka Raponda and form a new
government in the country.
• Ossouka Raponda was named budget minister in 2012, becoming the first woman to hold that
position since 1956.
Highly contagious Covid variant XBB.1.5 found in South Africa
• The first case of the new highly transmissible Covid omicron variant has been detected in South
Africa in Jan 2023.
• Canadian biology professor Dr. Ryan Gregory had nicknamed XBB.1.5 the ‘Kraken variant’
because it is able to spread quickly.
• A Kraken is a mythical giant tentacled sea monster from Scandinavian folklore.
• XBB.1.5 is the most transmissible omicron sub-variant detected so far.
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupts again after September 2021
• The eruption started January 5, 2023 at the volcano’s crater.
• It last erupted in September 2021 and continued for 16 months before it took a pause in December
2022.
• The volcano Kilauea is among the most active ones on the planet.
• It is a shield volcano, which is a type of volcano composed of fluid lava and characterized by its
vast lava flow.
Taiwan passes its Chips Act, offers tax credits to chipmakers
• Taiwan passed the new Chips Act on 9 January 2023 which let local chip firms turn 25% of their
annual research and development expenses into tax credits.
• Chip companies in Taiwan can also claim tax credits on 5% of the annual costs of buying new
equipment for advanced process technologies.
• Any credits earned, however, cannot exceed 50% of the total annual income taxes.
Kevin McCarthy elected as speaker of the US House of Representatives
• Republican leader Kevin McCarthy has been elected as the speaker of the US House of
Representatives.

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• He was serving as the House Minority Leader in the House.

• McCarthy is the 55th speaker of the US House of Representatives.
• He has replaced Nancy Pelosi, the leader of the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives.
• He has been elected as a member of the US Parliament 9 times.
US approves world’s first vaccine for declining honey bees
• US has approved the first-ever vaccine for honey bees for the protection from the American
foulbrood disease.
• The vaccine will be administered along with the royal jelly feed given by the worker bees to the
queen bee.
• The developing bee larvae will have immunity to the foulbrood disease when they hatch.
• The foulbrood is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae.
Sweden takes over rotating council of EU presidency for next 6 months
• Sweden will take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) for the next 6
months on 1 Jan'22.
• The Swedish presidency will be the last in the French, Czech Republic, and Sweden trio that holds
the presidency for the 18-month period from 2022 to mid-2023.
• Since joining the EU in 1995, Sweden has held the presidency in 2001 and 2009.
• It is one of the members of the EU.
New members join United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
• On January 3, 2023, Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland officially began their
two-year term as non-permanent members of the UNSC.
• The five latest members are replacing India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Norway.
• Their terms ended on December 31, 2022.
• The other current two-year members are Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and United Arab
Emirates.
China becomes first country in Asia to launch Hydrogen powered train
• China has become the first country in Asia and second in the world to launch Hydrogen powered
urban trains.
• Germany was the first country to introduce hydrogen powered trains in September 2022.
• Chinese train has a top speed of 160 KM per hour and can run without refuelling for 600 Km.
• The German train developed by French company Alstom has set a record 1175 Km range without
refuelling.
Croatia adopts EU’s common currency-euro and joins Schengen Area
• Croatia adopted the European Union’s (EU) common currency, the euro, and joined the Schengen
Area, Europe’s visa-free travel area, on Jan 1, 2023.
• With this, Croatia became the fully integrated member of EU.
• The country had joined the EU in 2013.

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• Schengen Area signifies a zone where 27 European countries, abolished their internal borders, for
the free and unrestricted movement of people.

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MoU and Agreements Current Affairs

GRSE signs pact with Rolls Royce to Manufacture Marine Diesel Engines
• Defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd has signed an MoU with Rolls Royce
Solutions of Germany.
• It was signed for manufacture of high-quality marine diesel engines at the GRSE's plant in Ranchi.
• It deals with transfer of technology related to engine assembly, painting, parts sourcing and after-
sales service for these engines that are to be assembled at GRSE's Plant.
India-Egypt MoU on cultural cooperation signed for five years
• The MoU was signed by the Culture Minister of India, G. Kishan Reddy and the Foreign Minister
of Egypt, Shri Sameh Hassan Shoukry.
• MoU has been signed for a period of five years.
• Under the aegis of the MoU, both countries will host cultural activities in the fields of music, dance,
theatre, literature, organising festivals in the respective countries, research and documentation
etc.
India inks pact with South Africa to bring 12 Cheetahs in February
• India has signed an agreement with South Africa to translocate 12 cheetahs to the Kuno National
Park in Madhya Pradesh.
• Under the agreement, South Africa will send seven male and five female cheetahs by February
15, 2023.
• Cheetah was declared extinct in 1952.
• Under the Cheetah reintroduction program, PM Modi released the first batch of eight spotted
felines from Namibia in Sept 2022.
MoU signed between Prasar Bharati and Media Authority of Egypt
• India and Egypt have signed an MoU to facilitate content exchange, capacity building, and co-
productions between public broadcasters.
• It was signed between Prasar Bharati and National Media Authority of Egypt.
• Both will exchange their programs of different genres.
• It was signed by Minister of Information Anurag Thakur and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Govt of
Egypt Sameh Hassan Shoukry.
NABH and HSSC sign MoU for skilling initiative of medical professional
• NABH and HSSC signed an MoU in January 2023, for the recognition and skilling initiatives of
healthcare professionals across the country.
• It was signed to accredit HSSC certification for NABH accreditation and develop training
programs for essential skilling, and upskilling of healthcare professionals.
• It will help in achieving the goal of enhancing the quality of healthcare in India.
Ayush Ministry signs MoU with India Tourism Development Corporation

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• The Ayush Ministry has signed an MoU with India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), in
January 2023.
• They will work together for the promotion of medical value travel in Ayurveda and other
traditional systems of medicine.
• According to the MoU, the Ministry of Ayush will provide training to the officials of ITDC to
sensitise them about Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine.
FIH signed an MoU with JSP Foundation for hockey development
• The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has partnered with JSP Foundation for Hockey
Development and Men’s World Cup in Jan 2023.
• FIH will be working closely with JSP Foundation for some of its key initiatives for hockey
development.
• The partnership will also see the JSP Foundation coming onboard the ongoing FIH Odisha Hockey
Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela as a global partner.
Kyndryl India, IIT Tirupati tie up to advance AI-enabled 3D Printing
• IIT Tirupati has partnered with Kyndryl India to advance research and promote innovation in AI-
enabled 3D-printing technology.
• The collaboration will focus on quickly developing cost-effective 3D prototypes for complex
products in manufacturing.
• The two organizations have already begun joint research and will be launching a series of thought
leadership conclaves.
Indian Ports Association ties up with RIS for Maritime Economy Centre
• A Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) was signed between the Indian Ports Association (IPA) and
Research & Information System for Developing Countries (RIS).
• It has been signed for setting up a Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity in New Delhi
on 19 Jan'23.
• It was signed in the presence of the Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush
Sarbananda Sonowal.
Adani Enterprises signs agreement with Ashok Leyland
• Adani Enterprises on 17 January 2023, signed an agreement to launch a pilot project to develop
a hydrogen fuel cell electric truck (FCET) for mining logistics and transportation, with Ashok
Leyland, India, and Ballard Power, Canada.
• The agreement marks Asia’s first planned hydrogen-powered mining truck.
• The mining truck will weigh 55 tons and will have a 200-km working range.
Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA) signs MoU with SBI
• WDRA signed an MoU with State Bank of India to help farmers in getting low interest rate loans
on Jan 16, 2023.

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• The MoU was signed with the intent of promoting awareness about the new loan product called
'Produce Marketing Loan' to exclusively fund against e-NWRs (electronic Negotiable Warehouse
Receipt).
• It will help in preventing distress sale and releasing better prices for the produce.
Indian High Commission signed MoU with Sabaragamuwa University
• Indian High Commission signed an MoU to establish a Hindi Chair at Sabaragamuwa University
of Sri Lanka.
• High Commissioner Gopal Baglay and Vice Chancellor of University Udaya Rathnayake signed
the MoU.
• The university was established as part of India’s cultural connect through the Indian Council for
Cultural Relations.
• It will help in familiarizing students with Indian culture.
Axis Bank signs up with IISc to set up math and computing centre
• Axis Bank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Science
(IISc), Bengaluru to establish a Centre for Mathematics and Computing at the IISc Institute.
• The centre spread over 1.6 lakh square feet will have labs and programmes benefitting faculty
and students.
• It will also host the new IISc BTech programme in Mathematics and Computing.
MP Tourism Board signs MoUs with chapters of 8 countries of GOPIO
• Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board signed MoUs with chapters of 8 countries of Global Organisation
of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) at Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention.
• MoUs were signed with France Metropole Paris, Mauritius, Reunion Island, Martinique, Sri Lanka,
GOPIO International, Malaysia, and Mauritius.
• The aim of MoUs is to boost cooperation in development of Tourism sector of the State.
India, Panama sign MoU to enhance cooperation in training of diplomats
• India and Panama have signed a MoU to enhance cooperation in the training of diplomats.
• It was signed on the sidelines of 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in Indore, in Jan 2023.
• During the meet, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, along with his Panama counterpart
Janaina Tewane Mencomo, also discussed the opportunities for economic, health, finance and
people to people linkages.
Indian Navy and Sagar Defence Engineering Pvt. Ltd. signs agreement
• Indian Navy has recently announced a collaboration with Sagar Defence Engineering Private
Limited for development of armed autonomous boat swarms.
• The platform will be able to conduct a variety of navy and security tasks, including high-speed
interdiction, surveillance, constabulary operations, and intelligence, surveillance, and
reconnaissance.
• The agreement is part of SPRINT initiative.

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Microsoft and ISRO tie up to help Space-Tech Startups in India

• Indian Space Research Organization and Microsoft signed an MoU to help Indian Space tech
start-ups in January 2023.
• Microsoft will provide mentoring support to space tech entrepreneurs in areas ranging from space
engineering to cloud technologies and marketing.
• Through this MoU, the space tech startups identified by ISRO will be onboarded onto the
Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub.
International Hockey Federation signs JSW as global World Cup partner
• The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has signed a partnership with the JSW Group for the
FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023.
• The group supports and promotes Olympics in India and has created an Olympic Training
Institute in the Inspire Institute of Sport across the country.
• The 15th edition of FIH’s event for men will be played from 13 January to 29 January in Odisha,
India.
General Atomics, Bharat Forge tie up to manufacture aerostructure
• General Atomic Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) and Bharat Forge Limited have announced a
partnership in January 2023, to manufacture main landing gear components, subassemblies, and
assemblies of remotely piloted aircraft.
• Bharat Forge is the largest repository of metallurgical know-how, design, engineering expertise,
and manufacturing prowess in India.
Indian Army inks pact with Assam govt for treatment of ex-servicemen
• The Indian Army on 5 Jan 2023 signed an agreement with the Assam govt to offer Ex-Servicemen
Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) at eight medical college and hospitals in the state.
• This will facilitate the cashless and capless treatment of 1.12 lakh beneficiaries.
• The ECHS benefits will be offered in Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Silchar, Jorhat, Barpeta, Tezpur, Diphu
and North Lakhimpur.
Hindustan Copper signs MoU with IIT Dhanbad for technical support
• Hindustan Copper (HCL) has signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School
of Mines), Dhanbad for a collaborative and sponsored research project.
• It will address HCL’s need for technical assistance, guidance and consultancy works.
• Hindustan Copper (HCL) is the only copper miner in India owning all the operating mining leases
of copper ore in the nation.
Ministries of Defence, Education, and Skill Development sign MoUs
• Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship, and all three Services have signed MoUs with various stakeholders.
• They aim to facilitate the continued education of Agniveers while serving in the Armed Forces.

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• Under these MoUs, suitable 12th Class certificates and Bachelor’s degrees will be awarded to the
Agniveers.
NGEL, HPCL sign an agreement to develop green energy projects
• NTPC Green Energy Ltd (NGEL) signed an agreement with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd
(HPCL) for the development of renewable energy-based power projects for HPCL Refineries and
other Business Units on 4 January 2022.
• This MoU marks the first step for NGEL and HPCL to collaborate and cooperate in the field of the
development of Renewable Energy projects.
India-ADB sign $1.2 billion loan agreement for infrastructure projects
• The Indian government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Jan 2, 2023 signed loan
agreements totalling $1.22 billion for developing infrastructure in various Indian states.
• The agreements would cover projects for improving the power sector and highways in Tripura
and Assam, metro rail connectivity in Chennai, and improvement of key economic areas in the
state of Maharashtra.
India and Austria ink pact on Migration and Mobility
• India has signed a Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement with Austria.
• It has similar agreements with France, UK, Germany, and Finland.
• India aims to finalise these agreements with European countries as a stepping stone to resolving
issues over the long-pending India-European Union Free Trade Agreement and facilitating Indian
professionals working in these countries
Centre and IVBP sign pact for Lumpi-ProVac cattle vaccine
• Centre signed a pact with the Institute of Veterinary Biological Products (IVBP) for commercial
production of ‘Lumpi-ProVac’, a vaccine for lumpy skin disease in cattle.
• The vaccine was developed by the National Centre for Veterinary Type Culture and ICAR National
Research Centre on Equines and ICAR Indian Veterinary Research Institute.
• Vaccines give protection for about one year.

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National Current Affairs

Budget Session of Parliament begins on 31 Jan'23
• The session commenced with the address by President Droupadi Murmu to the joint sitting of both
the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha in the Central Hall.
• The Economic Survey was tabled in both Houses on the first day of the session on 31 Jan'23.
• The Union Budget 2023-24 will be presented on 1 Feb'23.
• Budget session will continue till 6 April'23.
• It will have 27 sittings spread over 66 days.
Beating Retreat 2023 ceremony concludes at Vijay Chowk, Delhi
• To mark the formal end of this Republic Day 2023 celebrations, the Beating Retreat ceremony
was held at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi on 29 January 2023.
• President Droupadi Murmu, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces joined the ‘Beating
the Retreat’ ceremony.
• The event witnessed the country’s biggest Drone Show comprising 3,500 indigenous drones.
PM Modi releases special Rs 75 coin to mark 75 successful years of NCC
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28 Jan'23 released a special day cover and a commemorative
specially minted coin of Rs 75 denomination.
• It was released on the occasion of 75 successful years of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
• NCC rally was organised on the occasion of 75 years commemoration at Cariappa Maidan, Delhi
on 28 January 2023.
• NCC was formed in 1948.
G20 Financial Architecture Working Group meet to begin on 30 January
• The first G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group meeting under the G20 Indian
Presidency will be held on 30 Jan 2023 in Chandigarh.
• The meeting will be jointly inaugurated by Minister of Agriculture, Narendra SinghTomar, and
Minister of Food Processing Industries, Pashupati Kumar Paras.
• It aims to focus on strengthening the international financial architecture.
Central government renames Mughal Gardens as Amrit Udyan
• The Central government on 28 January, 2023 renamed the Mughal Gardens in New Delhi's
Rashtrapati Bhavan as 'Amrit Udyan'.
• On the occasion of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', the President of India has given a common name
to Rashtrapati Bhavan Gardens as Amrit Udyan.
• The gardens will open for the general public on January 31, 2023 and will remain open till March
26, 2023, except on Mondays.
‘She Feeds the World’ programme in India

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• 'She Feeds the World' program has been launched by PepsiCo Foundation, philanthropic arm of
PepsiCo and CARE, in India.
• Aim of programme is to strengthen the role of small-scale women producers through sustainable
training and economic support.
• Programme will be implemented in Coochbehar and Alipurduar districts of West Bengal.
• This programme aims to improve the status of over 48,000 women.
Luminous to build India's first green solar panel factory
• Luminous Power Technologies on 27 Jan'23 announced its plan to build the country's first green
energy-based solar panel manufacturing factory in Uttarakhand.
• The plant, located in Rudrapur, is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2023.
• It will produce a range of solar panels with power output from 40W to 600W.
• It will help enable a solar generation capacity of 500 MW per annum.
PM Modi to address 1111th Avataran Mahotsav of Bhagwan Devnarayan
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the ceremony commemorating 1111th ‘Avataran
Mahotsav’ of Bhagwan Shri Devnarayan Ji in Bhilwara, Rajasthan on 28th January 2023.
• PM Modi will be the chief guest during the programme.
• Bhagwan Shri Devnarayan Ji was born in the family of a popular Mandalji Gurjar who established
the famous Mandal Lake near Bhilwara district in Mewar.
Woxsen University launches Project Aspiration in Telangana for girls
• Woxsen University launched Project Aspiration to empower adolescent girls of standards 9-12 of
Model Schools and Junior Colleges of Telangana.
• Under the Project, the school principal selected a few deserving students to participate in the
'Train the Trainer' workshop, which commenced in Dec 2022.
• The univeristy is located in Hyderabad and is one of the 1st private universities in Telangana.
Sonowal inaugurates NLP-Marine, a portal to reduce logistics cost
• Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated National
Logistics Portal (Marine) on 27 Jan'23.
• The portal is aimed at connecting all the stakeholders of the logistics community using
Information Technology to improve efficiency and transparency by reducing costs and time
delays.
• The portal had been initiated in July 2021 with the development of NLP Marine.
Railways introduces ‘Ideal Train Profile’ to maximise seat occupancy
• 'Ideal Train Profile' is a seat capacity optimization decision aid.
• It allows more than 5,000 combinations of ticket and class for a single date train journey.
• It will also help Railways to review train quota from time to time to address the changing demand
mix due to holidays, festivals etc.
• This module has been developed by the Railway team under the leadership of R Gopalakrishnan.

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Delhi hosts NMCG seminar to promote millet cultivation

• National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) organised a seminar
on ‘Millets for Life (Lifestyle for Environment): Developing Climate Resilient Local Communities in
the Ganga Basin’, in New Delhi in January 2023.
• The event was aimed at formulating strategies towards adopting sustainable development and
promotion of natural farming practices in the Ganga basin.
Six-day Bharat Parv begins at Red Fort in Delhi
• The 6-day mega event Bharat Parv is being organised at Red Fort in Delhi from 26 Jan'23 as part
of the Republic Day Celebrations.
• During the event, some of the best Republic Day Parade tableaux will be showcased.
• Cultural performances by the Zonal Cultural Centres as well as cultural troupes from States and
Union Territories will be part of the celebration.
Republic Day 2023: First time events in Republic Day Parade
• For the first time, 12 women riders were part of the Camel Contingent of the Border Security Force.
• The "Daredevils" Motor Cycle Riders from the Corps of Signals were co-led by a woman officer.
• Agniveers were part of the parade for the first time.
• Narcotics Control Bureau showcased a tableau for the first time.
• Navy's IL-38 was showcased for the first and last time.
G20 group to hold Startup20 Engagement meet in Hyderabad in Jan 2023
• The G20 Startup20 Engagement Group will hold its inception meeting in Hyderabad from January
28-29, 2023.
• The group will discuss productive development of policy recommendations on entrepreneurship
and innovation priorities of and across G20 countries for the years ahead.
• The group will also bridge the knowledge gap between the startup ecosystems of G20 member
countries.
Jal Jeevan mission provides tap water to 11 crore rural households
• The Jal Shakti Ministry on 25 January 2023 announced that the govt had provided 11 crore rural
households with a tap water connection under Jal Jeevan Mission.
• As per the data released by Ministry, 56% of the targeted 19.3 crore households had been covered.
• Jal Jeevan Mission was announced by the PM Modi on 15 August 2019 to provide every rural
household with tap water connection by 2024.
StockEdge launches India's first AI-powered screening mechanism
• StockEdge launched India's first AI-powered screening mechanism to automatically identify chart
patterns in different stocks with StockEdge Pro on 25 January 2023.
• If a user has a watchlist, then he can take a quick glance at a chart pattern across his selection
of stocks.

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• StockEdge is an equity markets and mutual fund research platform, primarily based on NSE and
BSE data.
Nitin Gadkari chairs 10th meeting of Group of Infrastructure Committee
• The meeting was held on 24 Jan'23, in New Delhi.
• During the meeting, the committee discussed upon issues related to pending environmental
clearances, land approvals, fund releases, etc.
• The Infrastructure Committee was formed in 2009.
• The main objective of the committee formation is to speed up the government’s decision on
infrastructure projects.
North India’s largest floating solar power project inaugurated
• The project was inaugurated in Chandigarh by it's Administrator Banwari Lal Purohit.
• Plant's capacity is 2000kWp and has been commissioned at a cost of Rs 11.70 crore.
• He also Inaugurated 500kWp floating solar power plant installed over the Dhanas lake in
Chandigarh.
• Projects have been designed by CREST (Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and
Technology Promotion Society).
Govt. launches U-WIN to digitise Universal immunisation programme
• After the success of the Co-WIN platform, govt. has now replicated it to set up an electronic
registry for routine vaccinations.
• It has been launched in a pilot mode in 2 districts of each state and Union Territory.
• The platform will register and vaccinate every pregnant woman and every newborn.
• It is going to be the single source of information for immunisation services.
SII launches first made-in-India HPV vaccine for cervical cancer
• The Serum Institute of India (SII) launched CERVAVAC, India's first indigenously developed
quadrivalent human papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine, on January 24, 2023.
• January is also Cervical Cancer Awareness month.
• CERVAVAC is a vaccine against cervical cancer.
• In India, cervical cancer is the second most prevalent disease in women between the age of 15
and 44.
BSF women personnel of camel contingent to march on Republic Day
• In a first, women personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) camel contingent 'Mahila Praharis'
will participate in the Republic Day 2023.
• The BSF is the only force in the country to deploy camels for both operational and ceremonial
duties.
• An all-women daredevil motorcycle team of BSF named Seema Bhawani from the Corps of
Signals co-led by a woman officer will also be part of the parade.
Patanjali bags project for scientific exploration of flora near Ganga

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• Haridwar-based Patanjali Research Institute and Patanjali Organic Research Institute have been
awarded a project worth Rs 4.32 crore.
• The project was awarded by National Mission for Clean Ganga, which comes under the Ministry
of Jal Shakti and implements the government’s Namami Gange programme.
• The project is aimed at “scientific exploration” of floral diversity near the Ganga river banks.
MSME Ministry organises National SC-ST Hub Conclave in Mumbai
• Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane inaugurated a day-long National SC-ST Hub Conclave in
Mumbai on 23 January 2023.
• It was organized by the Union Ministry of MSME, to spread awareness of the National SC-ST Hub
(NSSH) and other schemes of the MSME Ministry.
• The Hub supports entrepreneurs of the SC and ST communities in capacity building, finance
facilitation, and tender bid participation.
AIF inaugurates India's first STEM innovation centre in Chennai
• The American India Foundation (AIF) inaugurated India’s first STEM Innovation and Learning
Center (SILC) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu in January 2023.
• It was inaugurated under the scheme of Vanavil Mandram.
• The Centre will introduce students to a transdisciplinary learning approach through robotics, AI,
Space Technology, and the STEM Incubation workstation.
The first meeting of the Youth 20 Group will be held in Guwahati
• The first meeting of the Youth-20 Group will be held in Guwahati from 6-8 February, 2023.
• The Youth 20 (Y20) Summit is being hosted by India for the first time on the sidelines of the G20
Summit.
• The meeting will focus on five themes of the Future of Work – climate change and disaster risk
reduction, peacebuilding and reconciliation, democracy and youth in health, well-being and sport.
Bengaluru to host 1st G20 Environment Working Group meet in Feb 2023
• G20's First Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) Meeting will be held
from February 9-11, 2023 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• It will be hosted by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
• It will focus on the agenda ‘Promotion of Blue Economy’, ‘Restoration of Degraded Lands &
Ecosystems’, and ‘Enhancement of Biodiversity.'
Union govt suspends all activities of Wrestling Federation of India
• The Sports Ministry has suspended all activities of the Wrestling Federation of India till the
appointment of a monitoring committee to oversee the functioning of the WFI on 21 January 2023.
• These include suspension of ranking events and refund of entry fees collected from participants.
• The government has also suspended Vinod Tomar, assistant secretary of the federation.
18th Annual Meeting of Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) held

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• Union Minister for Tourism, Culture G Kishan Reddy and Union Minister for Education and Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan co-chaired the 18th Annual General
Meeting of the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati on 19 January 2023.
• During the meeting, a holistic approach of the government for skill development in the North
Eastern region was suggested.
A new basalt plateau discovered in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra
• Researchers discovered a rare low-altitude basalt plateau in the Western Ghats of the Thane
district of Maharashtra by a team led by Dr. Mandar Datar in January 2023.
• The plateau has a widespread flora with 76 species of plants and shrubs from 24 different families
discovered so far.
• The region is being studied by Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) of Pune, Maharashtra.
Formulation of an Adjudicatory Board for Major Ports notified
• The Major Ports Adjudicatory Board Rules, 2023 has been notified by the Ministry of Ports,
Shipping and Waterways in the Gazette on 17 Jan 2023.
• They have been framed under Section 54 of Major Port Authorities Act, 2021, which envisages
constitution of an Adjudicatory Board.
• The Board will consist of 3 members, including a presiding officer and 2 members.
International Science Literature Festival – Vigyanika to be organised
• Vigyanika is being organized at the 8th Indian International Science Festival (IISF), Bhopal during
22-23 January 2023.
• Vigyanika is being organized with the objective of promoting science through science poetry,
multilingual scientific literature, science drama and folk art.
• About 300 professionals and citizens are will participate in the Vigyanika event.
Shipping Ministry launches 'Bharat Pravah-India along its Shores'
• Objective of this initiative is to highlight the importance of rivers-ports-shipping in the everyday
life of the common man through literature, dialogue and communication.
• It will highlight challenges, issues and future goals of maritime sector.
• Under this, events would be organised around topics, such as Rivers and Sea-Centric
Development, 'Sea, Rivers, Ports and Ship in Folk Culture' etc.
National AIDS Control Organisation form Largest Human Red Ribbon Chain
• It was formed in Kalinga Stadium of Bhubaneswar, Odisha on 19 Jan'23.
• The purpose was to create awareness on AIDS.
• As per the recent evidence under the National AIDS Control Programme, Odisha continues to
have a low HIV prevalence in the state with an adult prevalence of 0.14%.
• However, only half of the people living with HIV in the state are on the Anti-Retroviral Treatment
(ART).
One-day India Cold Chain Conclave organised

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• Ministry of Agriculture in association with PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry and National
Center for Cold Chain Development, organised the Conclave on 19 Jan'23 in New Delhi.
• The aim of conclave was to bring all the stakeholders together on a common platform.
• During this approval of product specific horticulture clusters under Horticulture Cluster
Development Programme was accorded.
CGI recognized as a Top Employer 2023 in India
• CGI has been certified as a Top Employer 2023 in India for the third year in a row for its positive
workplace culture and planning.
• It was recognized by the 'Top Employers Institute program', which certifies organizations based
on the participation of their HR Best Practices Survey.
• Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent business consulting services firms in the
world.
Hyderabad to host India’s first Fourth Industrial Revolution centre
• The World Economic Forum (WEF) has chosen Hyderabad in Jan 2023, to set up its Center for the
Fourth Industrial Revolution focused on healthcare and life sciences.
• Centre for the 4th Industrial Revolution (C4IR) will be an autonomous organization that will focus
on healthcare and life sciences.
• C4IR is the 18th center to join the 4th Industrial Revolution Network of Telangana Forum.
Rare ‘orange bat’ spotted in Chhattisgarh's Kanger National Park
• A 'rare orange coloured bat' known as 'painted bat' has been spotted in Parali Bodal village of
Kanger Valley National Park in Bastar, Chhattisgarh.
• The scientific name of this painted bat is 'Kerivoula picta'.
• This species has been kept in the category of globally endangered.
• This species is commonly found in Bangladesh, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia,
Thailand and Vietnam.
Google Pilots 'Soundpod By Google Pay' For UPI Payments In India
• Google piloted a Soundbox for Indian market — similar to the Paytm or PhonePe ones which
gives a sound alert on the digital payment.
• The ‘Soundpod by Google Pay’ is accompanied by a QR code of a merchant linked with their
Google Pay for business account.
• Users can use any UPI-based app to make a payment by scanning the code.
• The Soundpods are being built by Amazon-backed ToneTag.
Jal Shakti Ministry holds 3rd meeting of Ken-Betwa Link committee
• Ministry of Jal Shakti held the third meeting of the Steering Committee of Ken-Betwa Link Project
(SC-KBLP) on 18 January 2023.
• It was attended by representatives of both the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and
officials of Niti Aayog.

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• A Greater Panna Landscape council is also being constituted for implementation of the
Landscape Management Plan (LMP) of the project.
41st session of the Network Planning Group (NPG) held in New Delhi
• The Network Planning Group (NPG) held its 41st session in New Delhi on 18 January 2023.
• It was chaired by Anil Agrawal, the Special Secretary of Department for Promotion of Industry
and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
• During the session, it was observed by the NPG that the Ahmedabad Station has been one of the
busiest stations on the Western Railway Corridor for freight movement.
NCERT notifies India's first national assessment regulator 'PARAKH'
• The National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) has notified India’s first
national assessment regulator, PARAKH in January 2023.
• PARAKH will work on setting norms, standards and guidelines for student assessment and
evaluation for all recognised school boards in the country.
• PARAKH stands for Performance Appraisal, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic
Development.
ASI discovers two 1200-year-old miniature stupas at Nalanda, Bihar
• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered two 1200-year-old miniature stupas
within the complex of the world heritage site 'Nalanda Mahavihara' in Nalanda district of Bihar
in January 2023.
• The figures of Buddha are shown on the stupa carved out of stone.
• Nalanda was a Mahavihara, a large Buddhist monastery in the ancient kingdom of Magadha
(modern Bihar) in India.
Union govt included 'Neelakurinji' in the list of protected plants
• The Environment Ministry has listed Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) in the list of protected
plants under Schedule III of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in January 2023.
• As per the Ministry, those who uproot or destroy the plant will be fined Rs 25,000 and imprisoned
for three years.
• Neelakurinji is a tropical plant species and is native to the shola forests in the Western Ghats.
Piyush Goyal launched MAARG portal for startup mentorship on 16 Jan'23
• The MAARG platform (Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience, and Growth), will facilitate
mentorship between startups and entrepreneurs across sectors, stages, and functions.
• It will allow startups to connect with mentors and discuss their mentorship needs.
• The objective is to provide guidance and support to startups throughout their life cycle.
Viacom18 gets 'WIPL' media rights for Rs 951 crore
• Viacom18 Media has bagged the media rights for Women’s Indian Premier League (WIPL) for the
period of 2023-2027.
• Disney+ Hotstar, Sony-Zee and Viacom18 were the frontrunners in the race.

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• WIPL is going to start from March-April 2023.

• Viacom18 gets this deal at Rs 7.09 crore per match.
• It is worth noting that per match value of Indian Premier League (IPL) is Rs 107.5 crore.
Kerala's Kollam becomes first constitution literate district in India
• This achievement is the result of a 7-month-long constitutional literacy campaign.
• It was launched jointly by the Kollam Administration and Kerala Institute of Local Administration
to create awareness about the laws of the country and the rights of citizens
• Under this campaign, more than 7 lakh families of the district are being educated on the basic
principles of the Constitution.
Entire country to be covered by doppler weather radar network by 2025
• Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on 15 Jan 2023 informed that by 2025, the entire country will be
covered by Doppler weather radar network.
• The purpose is to predict extreme weather events more accurately.
• The number of Doppler radars in the country has increased from 15 in 2013 to 37 in 2023.
• India will set up 25 more radars in the next 2 to 3 years, taking the number to 62.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launches “Geospatial Hackathon”
• Union Minister of State Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on 14 Jan 2023 launched
“Geospatial Hackathon” to promote Innovation and Start-Ups in India’s Geospatial ecosystem.
• It will foster partnerships between the public and private geospatial sectors.
• The "Geospatial Hackathon" will end on March 10, 2023 and will have two sets of challenges -
Research Challenge and Startup Challenge.
PM Modi to flag off the Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat train
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off Vande Bharat Express train connecting Secunderabad
with Visakhapatnam on 15 January 2023.
• The train will be the eighth Vande Bharat Express to be introduced by Indian Railways.
• The indigenously designed train set of Vande Bharat is equipped with advanced safety features
including an indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System - KAVACH.
Vidisha: 1st for on ground deployment of innovative 5G use cases
• 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 startup.
• It is a joint initiative by Vidisha District Administration and Centre for Development of Telematics
(C-DOT), Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the guidance of Additional Secretary
(Telecom) and Administrator USOF.
Ceiling fans have come under the ambit of mandatory star labelling
• Ceiling fans have come under the ambit of mandatory star labelling from January 1, 2023, as per
the revised Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) norms.

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• As five-star rated fans will require new imported motors and electronic components, they would
also get costlier by 8% to 20%.
• Under the new mandate, manufacturers would have to display the star ratings on their fans.
Centre targets to achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025
• Centre has claimed that India will contribute 25% of global fuel demand by 2040.
• It targets to achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025.
• Ethanol blending in petrol in India has increased from 1.53% in 2013-14 to 10.17% in 2022.
• The phased rollout of E20 fuel would start on 1st April 2023.
• The E20 fuel is a 20% blend of ethanol and 80% of fossil-based fuel.
India to send 3 person to 6000 m below sea level
• India will send three person to 6000 metre below sea level under Samudrayaan Mission.
• They will be sent for exploration of resources like minerals.
• A vehicle called MATSYA 6000 will carry 3 persons.
• This mission is expected to be realized in next 3 years.
• Vehicle is being designed and developed by National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai
under Ministry of Earth Sciences.
PM Modi to flag off world's longest river cruise Ganga Vilas on 13 Jan
• PM Modi will flag off the world's longest river cruise MV Ganga Vilas between Varanasi-Dibrugarh
on January 13.
• He will also inaugurate the 'Tent City' at Varanasi and lay the foundation stones for several other
inland waterways projects worth more than Rs 1,000 crore via videoconferencing.
• It will also cover Mayong, known for its Tantric craft, and Majuli, the largest river island.
FSSAI issues regulatory standards for Basmati Rice for first time
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has notified comprehensive regulatory standards
for Basmati Rice for the first time in Jan 2023.
• As per these standards, Basmati rice shall possess the natural fragrance characteristics of basmati
rice and be free from artificial coloring.
• Basmati rice is a premium variety of rice cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of the Indian sub-
continent.
Centre approves 3 national-level multi-state cooperative societies
• Centre approves setting up of 3 national-level multi-state cooperative societies to promote
exports and organic products.
• The move will help in achieving the government's goal of 'Sahakar-see-Samriddhi'.
• Society will work as an umbrella organization for the export of surplus goods and services.
• They will be set up under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.
PM Modi inaugurated 26 National Youth Festival at Hubbali (Karnataka)

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• Prime Minister Modi inaugurated 26th National Youth Festival in Hubballi, Karnataka on Jan 12,
2023.
• It is being held on National Youth Day, which is celebrated on birth anniversary of Swami
Vivekananda.
• It is held every year to provide exposure to talented youth at national level.
• The theme of festival is “Viksit Yuva - Viksit Bharat”.
• It will also witness Youth Summit.
14th edition of the World Spice Congress (WSC) to be held in Mumbai
• The 14th edition of the World Spice Congress (WSC), is to be held in Mumbai from 16-18 February
2023.
• It aims to open up newer opportunities to promote international trade of Indian spices.
• Union Minister Piyush Goyal will also distribute the trophies and Awards for Excellence in Exports
of Spices on 17th February 2023.
• The WSC is organized by the Spices Board of India.
PM Narendra Modi launches Aspirational Block Programme
• The Aspirational Blocks Program was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 7 January
2023.
• It was launched with the aim to improve the performance of blocks within backward districts in
various parameters.
• The Aspirational Block Program (ABP) was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23.
• Under this program, 500 blocks have been identified for quarterly ranking based on their
performance.
EPFO conducts Nidhi Aapke Nikat outreach program
• The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) conducts "Nidhi Apke Nikat" on 10th of every
month in all field offices.
• With this program, EPFO aims to expand its reach and attract more participation.
• Nidhi Aapke Nikat not just addresses subscribers' issues, but also invites their suggestions and
sensitise stakeholders about new initiatives.
DPIIT organizing Startup India Innovation Week from 10 to 16 Jan 2023
• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is organizing Startup India
Innovation Week from 10th to 16th January 2023.
• The purpose is to celebrate the Indian Startup Ecosystem and National Startup Day (16th January
2023).
• Startup India Innovation Week 2023 will involve knowledge sharing sessions for entrepreneurs,
aspiring entrepreneurs, and other enablers.
India’s first coal gasification fertiliser plant will be ready by 2024

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• Union Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
has announced that the country’s first-ever coal gasification based Talcher Fertiliser plant in
Odisha will be ready by October 2024.
• The use of coal in alternative usages like in the gasification technology to produce urea will also
reduce the carbon footprints on the environment.
Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen operative Asif Maqbool designated as terrorist
• Union Home Ministry has designated Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen operative Asif Maqbool Dar as a
terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, UAPA, 1967.
• Dar who is a resident of Jammu and Kashmir is currently based in Saudi Arabia.
• Dar is involved in instigating the youth of Kashmir Valley using social media platforms for terrorist
activities.
International Kite Festival 2023 begins in Ahmedabad
• The International Kite Festival 2023 officially started on January 8th in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, with
a theme centered around the G20 countries.
• The Festival is being held in Ahmedabad annually since 1989 as part of the official celebration of
uttarayan.
• The event brings together kite makers and flyers from around the world to showcase their unique
creations and impressive flying techniques.
MoS for Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal inaugurates Astro Tourism
• National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) in association with Nehru Memorial Museum and
Library organised Astro Tourism - A Sky Gazing event at Delhi's India Gate on 6 Jan 2023.
• The event was inaugurated by Minister of State for Culture, Arjun Ram Meghwal.
• The event includes the activities like Astro talks by expert astronomers, Exhibition on Astronomy,
and Astro-Photography.
Supreme Court Expands fundamental rights- Article 19 Ambit
• The Supreme Court has ruled that a fundamental right under Article 19/21 can be enforced even
against persons other than the State or its instrumentalities.
• It means that Not just state, even private citizens can face challenge.
• Article 19 of the Constitution of India guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression,
and is typically invoked against the state.
BPCL launches low-smoke Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO) for Indian Army
• Bharat Petroleum has launched low-smoke superior kerosene oil for Indian Army.
• BPCL has emerged as 1st Oil Marketing company to commence supply of new LSLA grade SKO
supplies to Army.
• Normal kerosene emits substantial smoke, which poses a health hazard to personnel who use it
at higher altitudes, where oxygen level is very low.
• The low-smoke kerosene will provide cleaner fuel to soldiers.

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All 37 CSIR Labs to turn into Global Centers of Research & Innovation
• All 37 Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Labs in India will be turned into Global
Centers of Research and Innovation in their fields of specialisation.
• CSIR Labs spread across the country are dedicated to different exclusive areas of work.
• Each CSIR laboratory is unique in itself and specialises in diverse areas such as genomes to
geology, food to fuels, etc.
National Workshop on Project Driven Development Plan organised
• Ministry of Panchayati Raj organized a two-day National Workshop on Project Driven Block
Panchayat Development Plan and District Panchayat Development Plan on 5-6 January, 2023 in
New Delhi.
• The National Workshop aimed on adopting, conceptualizing and popularizing Project
Development Plans.
• It also aimed to localize and realize Sustainable Development Goals in rural areas.
Maharashtra to set up 122 new sports complexes in rural areas
• Maharashtra has announced that 122 new sports complexes will soon be built in rural areas.
• The aim is to reinforce the state’s status as a sporting powerhouse in the country.
• These complexes will aim to develop players from a young age at every level — village, district,
taluka, and state – to create international-class sportspersons.
Government declares The Resistance Front as a terrorist organization
• Centre has declared The Resistance Front (TRF) as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful
Activities (Prevention) Act, UAPA.
• The TRF came into existence in 2019 as a proxy outfit of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a proscribed
terrorist organisation.
• The organisation had been involved in carrying out propaganda on terror activities in Jammu and
Kashmir.
1st meeting of Financial Inclusion Working Group to be held in Kolkata
• Kolkata will host the first Meeting of Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion Working Group of
G20 on Jan 9-11, 2023.
• The opening session of the meeting will showcase a unique exhibition on India’s role in financial
inclusion.
• This working group will discuss ways to improve financial system and financial system
infrastructure.
First-ever National Genome Editing and Training Centre inaugurated
• National Genome Editing and Training Centre (NGETC) was inaugurated at National Agri-food
Biotechnology Institute (NABI) Mohali in Punjab in Jan 2023.
• NGETC will cater to the regional needs for adoption of various genome editing methods.

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• The center will help in improving crops in present climate scenarios and making them more
tolerant to changing environmental conditions.
Election Commission appoints Maithili Thakur as Bihar’s state icon
• Folk singer Maithili Thakur was appointed the state icon for Bihar by the Election Commission in
January 2023.
• She will create awareness among the voters for their participation in the electoral process.
• This recognition will give her more impetus to spread Bihar’s folk music across continents.
• She has rendered traditional folk songs of Bihar in Maithili, Bhojpuri and Hindi.
Health Min chairs meeting to eliminate Kala-azar from India by 2023
• Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on 4 January 2023 chaired a high-
level meeting with the 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.
• 632 endemic blocks have already achieved elimination status with less than one case of Kala-
azar per 10,000 population.
Education Min chairs the 3rd meeting of the steering committee of NSDM
• Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship,
chaired the third meeting of the Steering Committee of the National Skill Development Mission
in Delhi on 4 Jan 2023.
• It was launched to provide a strong institutional framework at the Center and in all States for the
implementation of skilling activities.
• Skill Development Mission was launched in 2015.
26th National Youth Festival Will Take Place at Hubballi-Dharwad
• India's 26th National Youth Festival Will Take Place at Hubballi-Dharwad in Karnataka.
• It will be celebrated from 12th to 16th January 2023.
• The youth festival will mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda which falls on 12 January.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 26th National Youth Festival.
Spain to be International Kolkata Book Fair's theme country
• Spain is going to be 46th International Kolkata Book Fair's theme country.
• The book fair will be organised by Publishers and Booksellers Guild.
• The fair will be held from Jan 31 to Feb 12, 2023 at the Central Park Mela Ground, which has been
newly named Boimela Prangan, in Salt Lake near Kolkata.
• For the first time, rare 'punthis' (old handwritten manuscripts) of Bengal will be exhibited.
Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district administration launches e-library
• Doda district administration has launched e-library to benefit thousands of students of the
district.
• It will provide them notes and study material prepared by the best subject matter specialists in
the district.

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• The feat has been achieved under the ADBHUT Doda campaign of the district.
• The library will help students clear their doubts/concepts when schools reopen after winter
vacations.
Cabinet approves Rs2,614 cr investment in Sunni Hydro Electric Project
• Union cabinet on 4 January 2023 approved the investment for the 382 MW Sunni Dam Hydro
Electric Project.
• The project is being developed by Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam limited on Sutlej river in Shimla and
Mandi districts of Himachal Pradesh.
• The project, on completion, is expected to generate 1,382 million units of electricity annually.
• Foundation of project was laid on 27 December 2021.
50 Electric Buses launched in Delhi under FAME India Phase II scheme
• 50 electric buses launched in Delhi with support under the FAME India Phase II scheme of the Min
of Heavy Industries on 2 jan'23
• In 2019, the govt approved Rs 10,000cr for a period of 3 years.
• The Govt formulated a Scheme FAME India (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and
Electric Vehicles) in 2015, to improve the infrastructure required for the large-scale use of electric
vehicles.
PM Modi to launch world’s longest river cruise “Ganga Vilas”
• PM Modi will launch the world's longest river cruise, "Ganga Vilas" from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
to Dibrugarh (Assam) on 13 Jan 2023.
• It will make stops at more than 50 significant architectural locations including World Heritage
Sites, as it will travel through rivers of India and Bangladesh.
• The Uttar Pradesh government was striving to improve the amenities for visitors to Varanasi.
Odisha govt to provide 5 kg rice free of cost for 1 yr under SFSS
• Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik directed the distribution of 5kg of rice per month free of cost to
beneficiaries of the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS) for the next one year, on 4 January 2023.
• The Odisha government launched its own State Food Security Scheme on 2 October 2018 for
those poor people who were not covered under the National Food Security Act 2013.
Union Government approves the National Green Hydrogen Mission
• The Union Cabinet headed by PM Modi on 4 Jan'23 approved the National Green Hydrogen
Policy, which aims to make India a Global Hub for producing, utilizing, and exporting Green
Hydrogen and its derivatives.
• The initial outlay for the Mission is Rs.19, 744 crores.
• The aim of the National Hydrogen Mission is to enable India to meet its climate change target of
net zero carbon emission by 2070.
Cabinet approves naming of Mopa airport in Goa after Manohar Parrikar

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• The Uni Cabinet on Wednesday gave ex-post facto approval for the naming of Greenfield
International Airport Mopa in Goa.
• As Manohar International Airport is a mark of tribute to former Defence Min and four-time Goa
Chief Minister.
• He was awarded Padma Bhushan posthumously in Jan 2020.
• Manohar International Airport is the 2nd airport in Goa after Dabolim airport.
1st All India State Ministers Conference on Water is being organised
• Ministry of Jal Shakti is organizing the “1st All India Annual State Ministers Conference on Water’’.
• The theme will be “Water Vision@2047”.
• Water Vision@2047 is part of PM’s India@2047 plan.
• It is being organised in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on 5th & 6th January, 2023.
• It aims to address the challenges of water security India faces.
• PM has also proclaimed a ‘5P’ mantra for sustainability.
Manipur Celebrates Gaan Ngai festival
• The Gaan Ngai festival is a major event in Manipur, celebrated by the Zeliarong community every
year after the harvest season.
• On January 4, 2023, the community will come together to show their gratitude for a good harvest
and pray for a prosperous year ahead.
• Thefestival is celebrated for a full 5 days, usually in the month of December or January. The exact
date varies from year to year
President inaugurates 18th National Scout and Guide Jamboree
• President Murmu inaugurated the Jamboree, at Rohat in the Pali district of Rajasthan on Jan 4,
2023.
• Rajasthan is hosting Jamboree after 66 years.
• Over 35,000 scouts and guides from all over the country will participate.
• A smart jamboree village has been set up with all the facilities on a 220 hectare area at Nimblee
village 3500 tents have been erected at the venue.
PM inaugurates National Institute of Water and Sanitation in Kolkata
• PM Modi on 30 Dec 2022 inaugurated Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water
and Sanitation (SPM-NIWAS) at Joka in Kolkata.
• The inauguration of SPM-NIWAS was followed by a day-long national conference on ‘Drinking
Water Quality– Issues & Challenges’.
• The conference was organized by Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation and supported
by UNICEF, INREM Foundation, WaterAid.
President Murmu inaugurates Samvidhan Udyan in Jaipur
• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Samvidhan Udyan, Mayur Stambh, National Flag Post,
statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Maharana Pratap at Raj Bhavan, Jaipur on January 3, 2023.

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• The park, built by the Jaipur Development Authority, showcases the Constitution's journey from
its making to its implementation through sculptures and pictures on panelled glass, among others.
NTPC start India's 1st green hydrogen blending operation in PNG netwrk
• NTPC has started India's first green hydrogen blending operation in the PNG (piped natural gas)
network of its township in Kawas, Surat.
• The project is a joint effort of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Gujarat Gas
Limited.
• The NTPC provides the green hydrogen produced at its 1 MW floating solar project of NTPC
Kawas in the Surat for blending purposes.
Defence Minister inaugurates Siyom bridge in Arunachal Pradesh
• Defence minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated Siyom bridge in Arunachal Pradesh.
• It was build by Border Roads Organisation.
• The Siyom bridge on the Along-Yinkiong Road- a 100-meter 'Class-70' steel arch superstructure-
will facilitate faster induction of troops and heavy equipment to forward areas of the Upper Siang
district, Tuting and Yinkiong regions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
CJI announces launch of electronic Supreme Court Reports project
• The Electronic Supreme Court Reports (e-SCR) project aims to provide free access to around
34,000 judgments of the apex court to lawyers, law students, and the general public.
• These judgments will be available on the Supreme Court’s website, mobile app, and on the
National Judicial Data Grid’s judgment portal.
• The e-SCR project is part of the Indian judiciary’s efforts towards digitization.
MeitY releases Draft amendments to the IT Rules, 2021
• MeitY has released draft amendments to the IT (Intermediary Guidelines & Digital Media Ethics
Code) Rules, 2021 in relation to online gaming.
• The draft has been prepared to ensure that online games should be offered in conformity with
Indian laws and that the users of such games be safeguarded against potential harm.
• The draft rules have strict provisions against betting and wagering.
Coffee export from India rose almost 2% to 4 lakh tonne in 2022
• Coffee shipments from India, Asia's third-largest producer and exporter, rose 1.66 per cent to 4
lakh tonne in 2022 on rise in instant coffee exports and re-exports, according to the Coffee Board.
• Exports stood at 3.93 lakh tonne in 2021.
• India ships both Robusta and Arabica varieties, besides instant coffee.
• Italy, Germany and Russia are the major export destinations for the Indian coffee.
EC launches 'Mission-929' to take voter turnout in Tripura to over 90%
• Election Commission of India(ECI) has started ‘Mission 929’ in Tripura.
• It will focus on 929 polling booths across Tripura with a target to increase the voter turnout to
92% in the next assembly elections.

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• These booths recorded a voter turnout of less than 89% in the 2018 assembly polls.
• Except for these booths almost all the booths in the state recorded a voter turnout of 91% or
more.
Kerala CM inaugurates Indian Library Congress in Kannur, Kerala
• The Indian Library Congress was organized by the People’s Mission for Social Development and
Library Council from 1-3 January 2023.
• Representatives from various states and foreign countries are participating.
• Earlier in December 2022, CM Pinarayi Vijayan announced that his constituency Dharmadam has
become the first complete library constituency in India.
SMART’ program for Ayurveda professionals to boost R&D in Ayurveda
• Ministry of Ayush has launched ‘SMART’ (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in
Teaching Professionals) program.
• It aims to boost scientific research in priority healthcare research areas through Ayurveda
colleges and hospitals.
• The proposed initiative is conceptualised with an objective to identify, support and promote
innovative research ideas in healthcare research areas.
Punjab & Sind Bank and SBI Card launch co-brand credit cards
• Public sector bank Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB) has partnered with SBI Card to launch co-brand
credit cards for the bank’s customers.
• PSB has also entered the credit card market as a new product segment in its portfolio as a result
of this collaboration.
• Three card variants—the PSB SBI Card ELITE, PSB SBI Card PRIME, and PSB SimplySAVE SBI
Card—have been launched by both partners.
Railways rolls out energy efficiency plan to meet 2030 net-zero target
• Railway Ministry has outlined a five-pronged plan to become carbon-neutral by 2030.
• The plan aims to reduce energy consumption through efficient operations and increase the use
of renewable energy.
• Components of the plan are installation of rooftop solar panels on all railway
establishments,Sustainable Buildings,Energy Efficiency in Equipment and Appliances and Power
Quality and Restoration.
108th Indian Science Congress to be held in Nagpur
• The 108 Indian national Science Congress will be organised by the Indian Science Congress
Association from 3-7 January 2023 at the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University.
• 107 Indian Science Congress 2022 was held in Bangalore.
• The theme of the 108th Indian Science Congress 2023: Science and Technology for Sustainable
Development with Women Empowerment.
India’s first underwater metro will begin operation in Kolkata

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• India's first underwater metro service, the East-West Metro Corridor project is expected to be
completed by December 2023.
• The metro line will connect Salt Lake to Howrah via Kolkata with a stretch below the Hooghly
River.
• The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation is implementing project.
• The first metro rail system in India was also started in Kolkata from Dum Dum to Tollygunge in
1984.
RBI launches Utkarsh 2.0 for the period 2023-2025
• RBI on 30 December 2022 launched the 2nd phase of the RBI’s medium-term strategy for
strengthening regulatory and supervisory mechanisms called Utkarsh 2.0.
• The 1st strategy framework (Utkarsh 2022) covering the period 2019-2022 was launched in 2019.
• Utkarsh has 6 Vision statements as well as Core Purpose, Values & Mission statements.
• Collectively, they create a strategic guiding path.
Foundation stone of Central Detective Training Institute (CDTI) laid
• The foundation stone of the Central Detective Training Institute (CDTI) was laid at Devanahalli,
Karnataka on 31 December 2022.
• This will be 6th CDTI of the Bureau of Police Research & Development under the Home Ministry.
• The 1st CDTI was set up in Calcutta in 1958.
• The objective of the CDIT is to provide training to the police personnel up to Deputy SSP rank.

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Appointments Current Affairs

Unilever appoints Hein Schumacher as the new CEO
• Unilever has announced the appointment of Hein Schumacher as its new Chief Executive Officer.
• He will replace Alan Jope, who announced in Sept'22 his intention to retire from Unilever.
• Hein is currently CEO of global dairy and nutrition business Royal FrieslandCampina and became
a Non-Executive Director of Unilever in Oct'22.
• He will begin working as Unilever CEO on 1 July'23.
Air Marshal A.P. Singh to be new Vice Chief of Indian Air Force
• He will succeed Air Marshal Sandeep Singh.
• A P Singh is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air
Command.
• He will take charge as the Vice Chief on 1 Feb'23.
• He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF In December 1984.
• He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and National
Defence College.
Puma India signs Harmanpreet Kaur as brand ambassador
• Puma India has signed Harmanpreet Kaur as its new brand ambassador.
• She will endorse the brand’s footwear, apparel and accessories throughout the year 2023.
• With this deal Harmanpreet Kaur joins the roster of ambassadors like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul,
Kareena Kapoor, Sunil Chhetri, Yuvraj Singh, Anushka Sharma among others.
• Harmanpreet Kaur is the captain of the Indian women's cricket team.
Madhvendra Singh appointed first CEO of Gujarat Maritime Cluster
• Gujarat Ports Infrastructure Company Limited was appointed Madhvendra Singh as the first Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of the Gujarat Maritime Cluster in Jan 2023.
• The Gujarat Maritime Cluster (GMC) is the first of its kind Commercial Maritime Cluster in the
country aimed at creating a hub for maritime services of international standards.
• It is the first and only maritime cluster in India.
NMDC signs up Champion Boxer Nikhat Zareen as its brand ambassador
• National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) has appointed the World Boxing Champion
and gold medal winner of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Nikhat Zareen as its
brand ambassador in Jan 2023.
• She also won the gold medal at the women’s boxing world championships on May 20, 2022, in
Istanbul, Turkey.
• She became the fifth Indian woman to win a boxing world championships gold medal.
Former NATO general Petr Pavel becomes new President of Czech Republic

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• Petr Pavel, a former chairman of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) military
committee, has become the new president of the Czech Republic on 28 January 2023.
• He will replace incumbent President Milos Zeman.
• During the election, General Pavel got 58.2 percent of the votes while Andrzej Babis got 42.8
percent.
• Czech Republic Prime Minister: Petr Fiala
JP Morgan Chase gets RBI approval to appoint Prabdev Singh as new CEO
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved JP Morgan Chase & Co. to appoint Prabdev Singh
as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in India in Jan 2023.
• He has been JPMorgan’s interim CEO since November 2022.
• He has replaced Madhav Kalyan who was named as the head of payments in the Asia Pacific.
• Prabdev Singh is a trained engineer and has worked for a decade at HSBC Holdings Plc.
Pawan Agarwal & V. Kulkarni elected IPMA President & Vice-President
• Pawan Agarwal, Managing Director, Naini Papers Ltd. and Vadiraj Kulkarni, have been elected as
new President and Vice President respectively of Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA)
at the 23rd Annual Session of IPMA in Jan'23.
• IPMA is the apex body for Paper Industry in India.
• IPMA Awards for 2021-22 were also conferred to JK Paper Ltd., Rayagada at the 23rd Annual
Session of IPMA.
Naresh Lalwani takes over as new General Manager of Central Railway
• Naresh Lalwani has taken over as new General Manager (GM) of Central Railway.
• He is a senior officer of the Indian Railway Engineering Service of 1985 batch.
• Before taking over as GM, he was working as Senior Deputy GM and Chief Vigilance Officer of
Western Railway.
• He succeeds Ashok Kumar Misra, GM Western Railway who was holding the additional charge of
Central Railway as well.
Shamalbhai B Patel appointed as chairman of Amul
• Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, which markets milk and dairy products under the
Amul brand announced appointment of Shamalbhai B Patel as its chairman and Valamjibhai
Humbal as vice chairman.
• Shamalbhai B Patel is chairman of Sabarkantha District Cooperative Milk Producers Union and
Sabar dairy.
• Announcement was made after an election conducted by deputy collector, Anand.
IIM Ahmedabad named professor Bharat Bhasker as new director
• Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) has announced the appointment of Bharat
Bhasker as IIM-A director.
• He is appointed for 5 years with effect from 1 March'23.
• Bhasker is currently a professor at IIM-Lucknow.

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• IIM-A's Incumbent director Errol D’souza’s term will end on 31 Jan'23.

• In the interim, professor Arindam Banerjee will work as director in-charge from 1 to 28 Feb'23.
Tata Trusts appoints Siddharth Sharma as CEO, Aparna Uppaluri as COO
• Tata Trusts on 24 January 2023, appointed Siddharth Sharma as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
of the Trusts and Aparna Uppaluri as the Chief Operating Officer (COO).
• Siddharth Sharma, the chief sustainability officer at Tata Sons, will succeed N Srinath.
• Aparna Uppaluri is currently the programme director for India, Nepal and Sri Lanka at the Ford
Foundation
US President nominates Julie Turner as North Korea human rights envoy
• US President Joe Biden has nominated Julie Turner as special envoy for human rights in North
Korea.
• The post was empty since 2017.
• She is a long-time diplomat and current director of Office of East Asia and the Pacific in the
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor at Dept of State.
• She has previously worked on North Korean human rights as a special assistant in the envoy's
office.
Vikram Dev Dutt to be next chief of DG of Civil Aviation
• Union govt approved the appointment of Vikram Dev Dutt as the next Chief of the Directorate of
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on 21 January 2023.
• He is currently serving as the chairman and managing director (CMD) of Air India Asset Holding
Ltd.
• He will take over as the head of the DGCA on February 28, upon the superannuation of incumbent
DGCA chief Arun Kumar.
Justice AK Sikri appointed Administrator of Shooting World Cup 2023
• Retd. Supreme Court Judge, A. K. Sikri has been appointed by the Delhi High Court as
Administrator to manage the use of funds for the ISSF Shooting World Cup in 2023.
• The world cup will take place in March 2023 in Bhopal.
• According to the court, the administrator can enlist the services of any athlete of his choosing
who has competed at the national or international level in shooting.
Vedanta’s Cairn Oil & Gas appointed Nick Walker as CEO
• Cairn Oil & Gas, a unit of Vedanta Ltd, on 19 Jan'23 appointed of Nick Walker as Chief Executive
Officer (CEO).
• Nick Walker has previously served as the President and CEO at Lundin Energy, a large European
independent E&P company.
• He has also worked with Talisman Energy, Africa Oil and has an international experience of 30
years in technical, commercial, and executive leadership roles.
Praveen Sharma appointed as Director of National Health Authority

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• Praveen Sharma has been appointed as the Director in the National Health Authority (Ayushman
Bharat Digital Mission) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• He is a 2005 batch Indian Defense Service of Engineers (IDSE) officer.
• The National Health Authority implements India's public health insurance scheme called
"Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)".
Former BSF DG Pankaj Kumar Singh appointed Deputy NSA
• Retired Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF) Pankaj Kumar Singh was appointed
on 17 Jan 2023 as the Deputy National Security Adviser for a period of two years.
• He is a 1988 batch IPS officer of Rajasthan cadre.
• He retired as the BSF Chief on December 31, 2022.
• He had earlier served as Inspector General of CRPF in Chhattisgarh and IG (Operations) at CRPF
Headquarters in Delhi.
Sibi George appointed India's next ambassador to Marshall Islands
• Sibi George, presently Ambassador of India to Japan, has been concurrently accredited as the
next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Marshall Islands on 16 January 2023.
• Sibi George is a 1993-batch Indian Foreign Service Officer.
• In 2014, the Government of India conferred on him the S.K. Singh Award for his Excellence in
Indian Foreign Service.
UK Treasury Adviser Clare appointed as OECD Chief Economist
• UK's Clare Lombardelli, has been appointed as the new Chief Economist of Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD).
• She is currently UK Treasury’s chief economic adviser.
• Lombardelli has 20 years of experience in economic analysis.
• She will lead the OECD’s economic work, replacing France’s Laurence Boone, who has held the
post since 2018.
Brazil appoints Sonia Guajajara as 1st minister of indigenous people
• Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced Sônia Guajajara as the first minister of the
new Ministry of Indigenous People in January 2022.
• Sônia Guajajara is widely known as the leader of the main group of Brazil’s indigenous tribes and
is a member of the Amazon Guajajara.
• She was also featured in Time Magazine’s annual list of the world’s 100 most influential people in
2022.
UAE names oil company chief to lead UN’s COP 28 climate talks
• The United Arab Emirates has named Sultan al-Jaber to preside over the upcoming United
Nations climate negotiations in Dubai.
• He both leads Abu Dhabi’s state-run oil company and oversees its renewable energy efforts.
• He is the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.

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• Al-Jaber also led green initiatives including a $22bn “carbon-neutral” city on Abu Dhabi’s
outskirts.
Cognizant names former Infosys President Ravi Kumar as CEO
• On 12th January 2023, Cognizant IT head has announced the appointment of former Infosys
chairman Ravi Kumar as its CEO and board member.
• Ravi Kumar has replaced Brian Humphries in both the roles.
• He has worked in Infosys for 20 years.
• During this time he held various leadership roles, including serving as the Chairman from January
2016 to October 2022.
Meta appoints Vikas Purohit as head of global business in India
• Meta announced the appointment of former Tata CLiQ CEO Vikas Purohit as the director of the
global business group in India in January 2023.
• Purohit will lead Meta’s strategic relationship with various brands to boost the adoption of digital
tools for revenue growth.
• He started his career at Aditya Birla Group.
• Arun Srinivas is the Director and Head of Ads Business for Meta in India.
Herbalife signs up cricketer Smriti Mandhana as brand ambassador
• Herbalife Nutrition appointed Smriti Mandhana as a ‘nutrition sponsor’ in January 2023.
• Currently, she is the vice-captain of the Indian women’s national cricket team.
• Herbalife Nutrition has signed over 100 sponsorship deals with various world-class athletes.
• Many Indian athletes like Virat Kohli, Mary Kom, Lakshya Sen, and Manika Batra have partnered
up with Herbalife Nutrition.
Central government extends term of RBI Deputy Governor Michael Patra
• The government has re-appointed Michael Patra as deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India
for an additional period of one year with effect from January 15, 2023.
• The Appointments Committee was headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Prior to being elevated to this position, Patra was an executive director with the RBI.
• Patra is also a member of the Monetary Policy Committee.
Anurag Kumar appointed CMD of ECIL
• Anurag Kumar was appointed the Chairman and Managing Director of Electronics Corporation
of India Limited (ECIL) on 9 Jan 2023.
• Kumar was ECIL's Executive Director before this appointment.
• ECIL’s Director (Personnel) Samir Mukherjee was holding additional charge of ECIL’s CMD post
before this appointment.
ICICI Prudential signs Suryakumar Yadav for a new campaign
• ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has announced the launch of its 360° Financial Protection with its
digital-first campaign featuring cricketer Suryakumar Yadav.

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• The company also provides 360-degree financial protection against any unfortunate event,
critical illnesses, and accidents.
• Suryakumar has emerged as a consistent batter in the white ball format since his international
debut.
Chetan Sharma reappointed as Chairman of BCCI’s selection committee
• Chetan Sharma was reappointed as the chairman of the senior selection committee on 7 January
2023.
• He is a former Indian cricketer and politician who played Tests and ODIs as a fast bowler for the
Indian cricket team.
• He was the first man to take a hat trick in the ODI world cup and achieved this feat in the 1987
Reliance World Cup against New Zealand.
• BCCI President: Roger Binny
Paytm Payments Bank gets RBI nod for Surinder Chawla as new CEO
• Paytm Payments Bank has received the RBI’s nod to appoint Surinder Chawla as its Managing
Director and CEO in January 2023.
• Chawla was working with RBL Bank, where he served as Head of Branch Banking and focused on
expanding the CASA base, fee revenue, and cross-selling across channels.
• Paytm Founded: August 2010
• Paytm CEO: Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council elects Saiyam Mehra as chairman
• The members of the All India Gem and Jewelry Domestic Council (GJC) on January 5 2023 elected
Sayam Mehra as its new chairman for a period of two years (2023-24).
• The members also elected Rajesh Rokade as the vice-chairman of the body.
• All India Gem and Jewelry Domestic Council is a national trade association for the promotion and
development of the gems and jewellery trade in India.
Bank of Singapore appoints Jason Moo as new Chief Executive Officer
• Bank of Singapore (BoS) has announced the appointment of Jason Moo as its new CEO.
• He will succeed Bahren Shaari officially from March 6 onwards.
• He has 25 years of experience in private banking, wealth management, and capital markets.
• The bank was acquired by OCBC Bank in 2009 from ING Group.
• From 2017 to 2019, Moo was the CEO of Goldman Sachs (Singapore).
• Bank of Singapore founded: 2010
Five-time MLA Kuldeep Pathania to be next speaker of Himachal Assembly
• Senior Congress leader and five-time MLA from Bhatiyyat Kuldeep Singh Pathania is all set to be
the next speaker of the Himachal Assembly.
• He will be the 18th Speaker of the Himachal Legislative Assembly.
• He was elected to the Assembly in 1985,1993, 2003, 2007, and 2022.

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• The first session of the 14th Himachal Pradesh legislative Assembly started on 4 Jan'23 in the state
capital Shimla.
Ajay Kumar Srivastava becomes new MD and CEO of Indian Overseas Bank
• Ajay Kumar Srivastava has been elevated as Managing Director and CEO of Indian Overseas
Bank with effect from January 1, 2023 from his current posting as executive director.
• He started his banking career as a probationary officer in 1991 with Allahabad Bank.
• After the successful completion of about 27 years in Allahabad Bank he was elevated as Executive
Director of IOB in October 2017.
Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan assumes command of the IAF Western Command
• Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha assumed the charge on 1 January 2023.
• He is a graduate of National Defence Academy, Pune and was commissioned into the IAF as a
fighter pilot in Jun 1985.
• He is an alumnus of the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.
• He is recipient of ‘Vishist Seva Medal’ and ‘Ati Vishist Seva Medal.
• Sinha succeeds Air Marshal S Prabhakaran.
Lula da Silva sworn in as the President of Brazil for the 3rd time
• He was sworn in as the President for the third time on 1 January 2023 for a 4 year term.
• He defeated the incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro.
• Lula is a trade unionist.
• Geraldo Alckmin was sworn in as the Vice President of Brazil.
• Lula had previosuly led the country from 2003 to 2010.
Sujoy Lal Thaosen takes over additional charge of Director General BSF
• Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Sujoy Lal Thaosen took the additional
charge as Director General Border Security Force (BSF) in Dec'22.
• The incumbent BSF DG Pankaj Kumar Singh retired on 31 Dec 2022.
• Sujoy Lal Thaosen is a 1988 batch officer of MP cadre.
• He will hold the ‘additional charge’ of BSF DG till the appointment of a regular DG of BSF or until
further orders.
Dinesh Kumar Shukla appointed as the chairman of AERB
• Dinesh Kumar Shukla, former Executive Director of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) &
Distinguished Scientist assumed the charge as Chairman, AERB in December 2022.
• He has been appointed for this post for a period of 3 years.
• He is internationally acclaimed expert in the field of Nuclear Safety.
• He has been associated with the commissioning of high flux research reactor Dhruva.

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Obituaries Current Affairs

Lisa Loring, the original Wednesday Addams actress, passes away
• Lisa Loring, who played the original Wednesday Addams in the 1960s Addams Family sitcom,
passed away on 30 January 2023.
• In 1977, she appeared as Wednesday Sr. in the television film “Halloween with the New Addams
Family.”
• Loring was born Lisa Ann DeCinces in the Marshall Islands and was given her stage name when
she started modeling at age 3.
Legendary guitarist & punk rock band founder, Tom Verlaine passes away
• Legendary American guitarist and punk rock band founder, Tom Verlaine passed away on 29
January 2023.
• He revolutionized rock guitar during the punk era of the 1970s with his band ‘Television’.
• From 1979 to 1992, Verlaine independently released eight solo albums on Elektra, Warner Bros.,
Virgin, I.R.S., Fontana, and Rykodisc.
Sabir Ali, Iron Man of India, passes away at the age of 67
• ‘Ironman of India’ Sabir Ali, who won the decathlon gold at the 1981 Asian Athletics
Championships in Tokyo, passed away in January 2023.
• Ali won a bronze and silver at the World Railway meets in 1981 and ’85 and was honoured with
the Arjuna Award in 1981.
• He also won two silver medals at the South Asian Federation Games held in Kathmandu and
Dhaka.
Veteran actress and former MP Jamuna passes away
• Veteran film actress and former Lok Sabha MP from Rajahmundry, Jamuna passed away on 27
Jan'23.
• She was a contemporary to eminent and popular actors N T Ramarao and Nageswar Rao and
acted in about 200 films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi.
• She debuted with movie 'Puttillu'.
• She won the Lok Sabha from Rajahmundry in 1989.
• She was known for her role in ‘Satyabhama’.
'McHale's Navy' actor, Yoshio Yoda passes away
• Yoshio James Yoda, a Japanese actor, and businessman who appeared on every episode of the
'60s TV sitcom McHale's Navy', passed away on 23 January 2023.
• His first role was in the 1962 war film 'The Horizontal Lieutenant'.
• Yoda also appeared on ABC’s Love, American Style in 1969 and served as an assistant vice
president of Toyota Hawaii in Honolulu.
Popular Mexican comedian Polo Polo passes away

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• Mexican comedian Leopoldo Roberto Garcia Pelaez Benitez, who performed as "Polo Polo",
passed away on 23 January 2023.
• He was born in 1944 in Leon, Guanajuato, and is regarded as the “father” of the Stand-Up comedy
genre.
• He hosted a program called Con Ganas in the 1990s.
• His most recent film role was in Cronicas Chilangas, which was released in 2009.
Renowned Indian architect BV Doshi passes away
• Noted architect and Padma Bhushan awardee, Balkrishna Doshi, passed away on 24 Jan'23.
• In 2018, he received the Pritzker Architecture Prize, becoming the first Indian architect to receive
the honour.
• He was conferred the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honour in India, in 2020.
• In 2022, he was conferred with 'Royal Gold Medal', one of the world’s highest honours for
architecture.
Padma Shri awardee Prabhaben Sobhagchand Shah passes away
• Padma Shri awardee Prabhaben Sobhagchand Shah passed away on 18th Jan 2023.
• She was a social worker from the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman, and Diu.
• She was also known as “Daman ki Divya”.
• In 1969, Prabhaben started sewing classes for women in Daman.
• She also started the Women Cooperative Society, and Women Credit Society.
• In 2022, she was awarded the Padma Shri.
US rock legend David Crosby passes away
• David Crosby, one of the most influential rock singers of the 1960s and ’70s, who was inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with two different groups, passed away in Jan'23.
• Crosby was a founding member of two revered rock bands, the country and folk-influenced Byrds,
for whom he co-wrote the hit “Eight Miles High".
• The other band was Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young(CSNY).
Renowned Assamese poet Nilamani Phookan passes away
• Renowned Assamese poet Nilamani Phookan passed away on 19 January 2023.
• He has been awarded the country's highest literary award, the 56th Jnanpith for the year 2021.
• He was awarded the 1981 Sahitya Akademi Award in Assamese for his poetry collection, Kavita
(Kobita).
• The notable works of Phookan are ‘Xurjya Henu Naami Aahe Ei Nodiyedi’, and ‘Gulapi Jamur
Lagna’.
Renowned scientist & former CSIR chief A D Damodaran passes away
• AD Damodaran, renowned scientist and former director of the CSIR-National Institute for
Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), passed away in Thiruvananthapuram in January
2023 at the age of 87.

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• He also served as the Chairman of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and
Environment.
• He joined CSIR-NIIST as Director in May 1985.
The world's oldest person, Lucile Randon passes away
• The world's oldest person, French nun Lucile Randon, passed away in January 2023 at the age of
118.
• She was born on 11 February 1904 in Southern France.
• In the year 2022, the world's oldest person Ken Tanaka of Japan died.
• He was 119 years old.
• Guinness World Records officially recognized her status in April 2022.
Gambian vice-president Badara Alieu Joof passes away in India
• The Vice President of the West African nation of Gambia, Badara Alieu Joof passed away after a
short illness in India on 18 January 2023.
• He took office in 2022 as the vice president and served as Gambia’s education minister from 2017
to 2022.
• He had also worked in Gambian civil service as well as in the World Bank as an Education
Specialist for West and Central Africa
Italian film legend Gina Lollobrigida passes away at the age of 95
• The Italian film legend Gina Lollobrigida passed away at age of 95 in Rome, Italy on 16 January
2023.
• She achieved international stardom during the 1950s and was dubbed “the most beautiful woman
in the world” after the title of one of her movies.
• Her movie “Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell," won Lollobrigida Italy’s top movie award, a David di
Donatello, as best actress in 1969.
The last Nizam of Hyderabad Mukarram Jah Bahadur passes away
• The last Nizam of Hyderabad Mukarram Jah Bahadur passed away in Turkey on 14 Jan'23.
• He was 8th Nizam of Hyderabad.
• His father Azam Jah, was Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan’s oldest son.
• His mother, Durrushehvar, was the lone child of Abdul Majid, the final Caliph of Islam who was
exiled by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk when the Caliphate was abolished.
• Hyderabad united with India on September 18, 1948.
Fomous Hong Kong DJ, Ray Cordeiro passes away at the age of 98
• Ray Cordeiro, who interviewed music acts on Hong Kong radio and earned him the title of the
world’s longest-working disc jockey, passed away on 15 January 2023.
• He was born in Hong Kong in 1924 and was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the
world’s longest-working DJ.
• He joined Hong Kong’s public broadcaster in 1960.
• He worked in Radio Television Hong Kong until 2021.

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Renowned American singer-songwriter, Lisa Marie Presley passes away

• Lisa Marie Presley, a musician and the only daughter of rock 'n' roll legend Elvis Presley passed
away on 12 January 2023.
• Her music career began with a 2003 debut album "To Whom It May Concern."
• It was followed by 2005's "Now What," and both hit the top 10 of the Billboard 200 album chart.
• On June 24, 2011, Presley was officially honored by the Governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam.
R. E. Asher, specialized in Dravidian languages, passes away
• A British linguist and educator specializing in Dravidian languages, Ronald E. Asher passed away
in Jan 2023.
• He won a gold medal from Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Trichur, in 1983 and was honored by the Royal
Society, Edinburgh in 1991.
• His relationship with Kerala began during his days at the University of London.
• He was also a recipient of a medal from the College de France, Paris in 1970.
Former Union Minister Sharad Yadav passes away at the age of 75
• Former Union Minister and Janata Dal (RJD) leader Sharad Yadav passed away at the age of 75
on 12 Jan 2023.
• He was elected from Uttar Pradesh's Badaun parliamentary seat in 1989.
• He also served as the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Consumer Affairs, and food from 1999-
2004.
• He was also elected from Bihar's Madhepura Lok Sabha constituency in 1991, 1996, 1999, and
2009.
Greece’s former and last king Constantine II passes away
• Constantine II, the former and last King of Greece who ruled Greece until 1974 passed away in
Athens, Greece in Jan 2023.
• He was born on 2nd June 1940 in Psikhikó near Athens, Greece.
• At the 1960 Rome Olympics, he participated in sailing and won a gold medal in the Dragon class.
• He was elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee and became an IOC
Member in 1963.
Dr Tehemton E. Udwadia “Father of laparoscopic surgery” passes away
• Dr Tehemton E. Udwadia, an Indian Surgeon and Gastroenterologist, who was known as the
‘father of laparoscopic surgery in India’ passed away on 8 Jan'23.
• He was the 1st surgeon in India to introduce laparoscopy in surgery in 1972, and the 1st to perform
laparoscopic surgery in the developing world in 1990.
• In 2002, he was awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to the field of medicine.
Rehman Rahi, Kashmir’s first Jnanpith awardee, passes away
• Renowned poet and Kashmir’s first Jnanpith awardee Professor Rehman Rahi passed away on
Jan 9, 2023.

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• Rahi wrote several collections of poems and translated the works of celebrated poets into
Kashmiri.
• He received the highest literary award of the country — Jnanpith award — in 2007 for his
collection ‘Siyah Rood Jaeren Manz’ (In Black Drizzle).
• He also received Padma Shri award in 2000.
Gianluca Vialli, former Italy, Juventus & Chelsea striker passes away
• Gianluca Vialli, the former Italy and Chelsea striker, passed away in January 2023.
• Gianluca Vialli was an Italian football player and manager who played as a striker.
• Vialli started his club career at Cremonese in 1980 in his native Italy where he made 105 league
appearances scoring 23 goals.
• He scored 85 league goals, won three Italian cups, Serie A and the European Cup Winners Cup.
Former governor of Bengal and Bihar Keshari Nath Tripathi passes away
• Former governor of Bengal and Bihar Keshari Nath Tripathi passed away on 8 January 2023.
• He was the state chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
• He served as the Speaker of the UP Legislative Assembly from 1991 to 1993, 1997 to 2002 and from
May 2002 to March 2004.
• Tripathi practiced as a Senior Advocate at Allahabad High Court.
Last surviving NASA's Apollo 7 astronaut Walter Cunningham dies at 90
• Walter Cunningham, the last surviving astronaut from the first successful crewed space mission
in NASA's Apollo program, died at the age of 90 on 3 January, 2023.
• Apollo 7 was the first crewed flight of an Apollo spacecraft.
• It was launched in 1968 by National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
• It carried astronauts Walter Schirra, Jr., Don Eisele, and Walter Cunningham.
Noted Rabindra Sangeet exponent Sumitra Sen passes away
• The Rabindra Sangeet exponent is known for her rendition of songs like Jokhon Porbe Na Mor,
Sokhi Vabona Kahare Bole and Mone Ki Dwidha.
• Her rendition of Aaj Jyotsna Raate Shobai Gechhe Bone in Ritwik Ghatak’s classic movie Komal
Gandhar has remained a steadfast interpretation of the song.
• She was honoured with the Sangeet Mahasamman award by West Bengal government in 2012.
Tata Group veteran RK Krishnakumar, 84, passes away
• He joined the group’s investment company Tata Industries fresh out of Presidency college,
Chennai, in 1963.
• He subsequently moved to different Tata entities in his 60 year long career.
• KK became part of Ratan Tata’s inner circle in 1997.
• He subsequently became VC of Tata Consumer & Indian Hotels, director of Tata Sons and trustee
of Tata Trusts.
• He was also a Padma Shri awardee.

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Person in News Current Affairs

Indian-American astronaut Chari named for US Air Force Brigadier Gen
• Indian-American astronaut Raja Chari has been nominated by US president Joe Biden for the
post of Air Force brigadier general in Jan 2023.
• He is currently serving as the commander and astronaut, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, Johnson Space Center, Texas, USA.
• He served as the Commander of the NASA SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space
Station (ISS) in Nov 2021.
M. Yeoh becomes first asian to bag Oscar nomination for Best Actress
• Michelle Yeoh became the first Asian to bag an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her movie
"The 'Everything Everywhere All at Once", in January 2023.
• Malaysian descent, Michelle Yeoh has also won the Golden Globe Award in the Best Actress
category for her performance in the movie 'Everything Everywhere All at Once.'
• She was also nominated for the Gotham Independent Film Awards 2022.
Chris Hipkins to replace Jacinda Ardern as next New Zealand PM
• New Zealand's former COVID-19 response minister Chris Hipkins will replace Jacinda Ardern as
Prime Minister.
• Ardern has announced her resignation from the post of PM after completing 3 years in her second
term.
• Hipkins will take over as the country’s 41st prime minister.
• Besides holding the education portfolio, Hipkins is also minister for police and public service, and
leader of the House.
Aruna Miller becomes Maryland’s first Indian-American Lt. Governor
• Aruna Miller has become the first Indian-American politician to be sworn in as the Lieutenant
Governor in the state of Maryland, USA on 19 Jan 2023.
• She is a former delegate to the Maryland House and became the 10th Lieutenant Governor of the
Maryland state.
• While new Governor Wes Moore became Maryland’s 63rd governor, the state’s first and the
country’s only current Black chief executive.
Jacinda Ardern resigns as Prime Minister of New Zealand
• Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will step down on 7 Feb'23.
• Ardern will not also contest general elections set for 14 October.
• The ruling Party will vote for a new leader, the party leader will be the Prime Minister until the
next general election.
• Ms Jacinda Ardern became the youngest female head of government in the world when she was
elected Prime Minister in 2017, aged 37.
Vietnam President Nguyen Xuan Phuc announces his resignation
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• His resignation was announced amid the ongoing anti-corruption drive.

• The anti-corruption drive has led to several ministers being fired in Vietnam.
• Phuc, a former Prime Minister, held the post of president since 2021.
• He had served as Prime Minister of Vietnam from 2016 until April 2021.
• The president's resignation requires approval from the National Assembly.
Janani Ramachandran becomes first LGBTQ woman of color city councillor
• Indian-American attorney, Janani Ramachandran has become the youngest and the first LGBTQ
woman of color to take oath as the Oakland City Council member in the US state of California
on 17 January 2023.
• She currently serves on the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs.
• She has previously served as a Commissioner at the City of Oakland Public Ethics Commission.
Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel crowned the new Miss Universe
• R'Bonney Gabriel was named the winner of the 71st annual Miss Universe pageant on 15 January
2023.
• In second place was Miss Venezuela Amanda Dudamel, followed by Miss Dominican Republic
Andreína Martínez.
• She is also the first Filipina American to win Miss USA.
• This year’s Miss Universe pageant allowed married women and mothers to compete for the first
time in its 70-year history.
Virat Kohli becomes fifth highest run scorer in ODI cricket
• Indian cricketer Virat Kohli became the fifth-highest run-scorer in history of ODI cricket on 15
January 2023.
• He scored this during India’s third and final ODI of the series against Sri Lanka in Kerala.
• Virat had 12,652 runs in 268 ODIs at an average of 57.78, with 45 tons and 65 half-century.
• He overtook Mahela Jayawardene, who has scored 12,650 runs in 448 matches.
Captain Surbhi Jakhmola becomes 1st woman officer to be posted at BRO
• Captain Surabhi Jakhmola, an officer of the 117 Engineer Regiment of the Indian Army, has
become the first woman officer of the Border Roads Organization (BRO) to be posted on a foreign
project in January 2023.
• She has been deployed by BRO under Project Dantak in Bhutan.
• In order to improve border connectivity, BRO was transferred entirely to the Ministry of Defence
in 2015.
Rakesh Sharma's birthday: 13 January
• Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma was born on 13 January 1949.
• He is a former Indian Air Force pilot who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of the
Soviet Interkosmos programme.

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• In 1984, Sharma became the first Indian citizen to enter space when he flew aboard the Soviet
rocket Soyuz T-11 launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
on 3 April 1984.
Avani Chaturvedi becomes 1st IAF woman pilot to participate in wargame
• First female fighter pilot, squadron commander Avani Chaturvedi, will participate in the inaugural
air exercise Veer Guardian 2023.
• The exercise aims to improve air defence cooperation between Japan and India.
• For the first time an Indian Air Force (IAF) female fighter pilot will participate in aerial war games.
• The exercise will be hosted by the Japan at the Hyakuri Air Base in Jan 2023.
Amul's Managing Director RS Sodhi resigns
• India’s dairy giant Amul's Managing Director R S Sodhi resigned from the post on 9 January 2023.
• He had been serving in the position since June 2010.
• The board of GCMMF (Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation), which markets the brand
Amul, has appointed Chief operating officer (COO) Jayen Mehta as the interim MD with
immediate effect.
Indian-American space expert named NASA's new chief technologist
• An Indian-American aerospace industry expert, AC Charania, has been appointed as NASA's new
chief technologist.
• He will serve as principal advisor to Administrator Bill Nelson on technology policy and
programmes at the agency's headquarters in Washington.
• Prior to joining NASA, he served as vice president of product strategy at Reliable Robotics.
Manpreet Monica Singh sworn in as First female Sikh judge in US
• Indian-origin Manpreet Monica Singh became the first female Sikh judge in the US in January
2023.
• She was sworn in as a judge of the Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 4 in Texas.
• She has been A trial lawyer for two decades and remains involved with many civil rights
organisations at the local, state and national levels.
Capt Shiva Chouhan: First woman officer to be deployed in Siachen
• Captain Shiva Chouhan became the first woman officer to get operationally deployed at Siachen,
the world's highest battlefield.
• Before her deployment, Chouhan was put through a rigorous one-month training at the Siachen
Battle School alongside other officers of the Indian Army.
• The team of Sappers led by Capt Shiva will be deployed at the post for 3 months.
Lula da Silva sworn in as the President of Brazil for the 3rd time
• He was sworn in as the President for the third time on 1 January 2023 for a 4 year term.
• He defeated the incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro.
• Lula is a trade unionist.

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• Geraldo Alckmin was sworn in as the Vice President of Brazil.

• Lula had previosuly led the country from 2003 to 2010.

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Science and Technology Current Affairs

World’s first guidelines created to prevent heart problems in kids
• The world’s first international clinical guidelines for preventing and treating heart problems in
cancer patients’ children have been developed.
• The guidelines would be an indispensable tool for clinicians to significantly reduce the harmful
impact of cancer drugs on children’s hearts.
• The guidelines were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).
India’s first mission to the Sun will be launched by June-July 2023
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch the Aditya-L1 mission by
June or July 2023.
• Aditya-L1 is the first Indian space mission to observe the Sun and the solar corona.
• In total it has seven payloads, which the primary payload is the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph
(VELC), designed and fabricated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru
‘Green comet’ appearing close to Earth after 50,000 years
• A green comet, termed C/2022 E3 (ZTF), is estimated to come closest to Earth after 50,000 years.
• About Green Comet:
• Orbits sun in 50,000 years.
• It comes from the Oort cloud.
• It gets its beautiful green glow from diatomic carbon that is present in the comet’s head.
• When the ultraviolet rays of solar radiation fall on the comet, these molecules emit green light.
India's 1st Nasal vaccine for COVID-19 launched
• India launched first made in India nasal vaccine against Covid-19- iNCOVACC.
• The vaccine has been made by Bharat Biotech.
• iNCOVACC is a recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus vectored vaccine with a pre-fusion-
stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
• It has been specifically formulated to allow intranasal delivery through nasal drops.
Norovirus cases detected in Kerala
• Kerala Health Department confirmed 2 cases of norovirus.
• Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea.
• The virus is capable of surviving low temperatures, and outbreaks tend to be more common during
the winter and in colder countries — that is why it is sometimes referred to as "winter vomiting
disease".
• Vaccines: Not Available
• Prevention: Practice good hygiene.
BharOS - India's Indigenous Mobile Operating System developed
• It was developed by IIT Madras incubated Firm- JandK Operations Private Limited (JandKops).
• This software can be installed on commercial off-the-shelf handsets.

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• It provides access to trusted apps from organisation-specific Private App Store Services (PASS).
• It comes with No Default Apps (NDA).
• It offers 'Native Over The Air' (NOTA) updates that can help to keep the devices secure.
Squadrone flies India’s first autonomous drone in underground mines
• Squadrone has become the first Indian firm to fly autonomous drones in underground mines in
India in January 2023.
• Squadrone successfully completed a Proof of Concept at Hindustan Zinc Ltd. underground mines
in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
• It has partnered with Emesent Australia to drive SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping)
based technology to implement Hovermap LiDAR technology.
MeitY launches new technology to monitor air quality
• Alkesh Kumar Sharma, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), has launched the
technology for Air Quality Monitoring System (AI-AQMS v1.0) on 17 January 2023.
• It has been developed under the 'National Program on Electronics and ICT Applications in
Agriculture and Environment (AgriEnIcs)' with the collaboration of the Centre for Development of
Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Kolkata.
NASA's James Webb telescope discovers its first Earth-sized exoplanet
• NASA's Telescope has discovered a new exoplanet named LHS 475b.
• It is roughly the same size as Earth, with a diameter of 99% that of Earth.
• It is a rocky planet located approximately 41 light-years away from Earth in the constellation
Octane.
• It differs from Earth in two respects, first that it completes one orbit in only two days and second
it is hundreds of degrees hotter than Earth.
MIT Researchers develop AI tool to predict risk of lung Cancer
• Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed and successfully tested an
AI tool called “Sybil” that effectively predicts lung cancer risk.
• Sybil can look at an image and predict the risk of a patient developing lung cancer within 6 yrs.
• The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Startup firm IG Drones develops India's first 5G-enabled drone
• Tech startup firm IG Drones has developed India's first 5G-enabled drone capable of vertical take-
off and landing on 11 Jan 2023.
• This drone has been named Skyhawk and can be used in other areas apart from defense and
medicine.
• It can fly for about five hours with a payload of 10 kg, which is also equipped with capabilities like
artificial intelligence and thermal imaging.
CMPDIL invents new Dust Control Technology

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• Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL), Ranchi invented a “System and
Method for Controlling Generation and Movement of Fugitive Dust '' in January 2023.
• This system can be used in mines, power plants, railway sidings, or other mineral materials stored
under the open sky.
• Apart from reducing dust generation from open sources, it will also provide noise attenuation.
Airtel-backed OneWeb launches 40 satellites with SpaceX
• Airtel-backed OneWeb successfully launched 40 satellites onboard a SpaceX launcher on
January 9.
• OneWeb initially sought to deploy a complete 648 satellites to allow its community of satellite-
based web connectivity all over the world.
• OneWeb is a communications company that aims to build broadband satellite Internet services.
• OneWeb CEO: Neil Masterson
• OneWeb Founder: Greg Wyler
Lecanemab antibody get approval for Alzheimer’s Treatment
• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved lecanemab drug, developed by Eisai
and Biogen, for the treatment of Alzheimer’s.
• It is 2nd drug to receive such approval.
• Lecanemab is a monoclonal antibody that targets amyloid beta protein.
• By binding to and neutralizing this protein, it aims to reduce the formation of amyloid plaques
and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
'Virovore’: An organism that eats viruses discovered
• The first known “virovore”- an organism that eats viruses, has been found.
• The breakthrough has been made by John DeLong and his team.
• Scientists found that a species of Halteria - who are microscopic ciliates that populate freshwater
throughout the world.
• It can eat huge numbers of infectious chloroviruses that share their aquatic habitat.
SpaceX Launched First 54 Starlink v2.0 satellites Into Space
• It was launched by SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle.
• Satellites were launched into low Earth Orbit.
• The SpaceX Falcon 9 was launched on 28th December 2022.
• It took place from the SLC-40 launch pad of the US Air Force Base at Cape Canaveral.
• Starlink satellites aims to provide internet in various parts of the world.

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Sports Current Affairs

Cricketer Murali Vijay retires from all forms of international cricket
• Former India opener Murali Vijay announced his retirement from all formats of international
cricket on 30 January 2023.
• He represented India in 87 international matches across all formats, playing 61 Tests, 17 ODIs and
nine T20Is.
• He last played first-class and List-A cricket for Tamil Nadu in late 2019.
• In September 2020, he made his last professional cricket appearance in the IPL.
Usman Khawaja wins Shane Warne Men’s Test Player of the Year award
• Australia opening batsman Usman Khawaja won the inaugural Shane Warne Award as the men’s
Test player of the year in January 2023.
• It is named in honour of the legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne, who passed away March 2022.
• Khawaja has been Australia’s top run-scorer in test cricket with 1020 runs at 78.46 during the
voting period.
Germany defeated Belgium to lift its third FIH Hockey World Cup trophy
• Germany won the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2023 title.
• Germany defeated Belgium 5-4 in a shootout in the final played at the Kalinga Stadium in
Bhubaneswar on 29 January 2023.
• Niklas Wellen of Germany was awarded the Best Player of the tournament award.
• While Vincent Vanasch of Belgium was awarded the Best Goalkeeper award.
• Maximum Team Goals Award: Netherlands
India won Inaugural Women's U -19 T20 World Cup
• In the first edition of the Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup, India defeated England by seven
wickets to win the tournament.
• For the first time the Indian women's team has been successful in winning any ICC tournament.
• Indian player Shweta Sehrawat scored the most runs in the Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup
2023. She scored 292 runs in 6 matches.
• Player of the match in the final - Tita Sadhu
Govt launches special mobile application for Khelo India Youth Games
• Ministry of Sports has launched the application.
• Through this app, the participating athletes, coaches, support staff, and officials from all states
participating can get all information about the Games.
• This is the first time that a dedicated app has been launched for Khelo India Youth Games.
• For sports fans, the app gives access to match schedules, medal tally, photo gallery etc.
Fifth Khelo India Youth Games 2022 to begin in Madhya Pradesh
• 5th edition of Khelo India Youth Games 2022 is commencing on 30 Jan'23.

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• Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and CM of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh will inaugurate it at TT
Nagar Stadium in Bhopal.
• They were started in 2018 with the name 'Khelo India School Games'.
• Its purpose is to find and groom sports talent at local level and nurture them for national-
international sports events.
Chahal becomes highest wicket-taker for team India in T20I history
• Yuzvendra Chahal has become the highest wicket-taker for Team India in T20I Cricket history on
29 Jan 2023.
• He achieved the landmark during the second T20I against New Zealand in Lucknow, Uttar
Pradesh.
• Chahal has taken 91 wickets in 75 matches, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar is second on the list with
90 wickets in 87 T20Is.
• The third bowler in this list is Ravichandran Ashwin with 72 wickets.
Netherlands beat Australia to win bronze at FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup
• Netherlands clinched the bronze medal at the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 after defeating
Australia 3-1 on 29 Jan 2023.
• Jeremy Hayward played his 200th match for Australia during the event.
• This is the fourth medal for the Netherlands in the men’s World Cup as they had finished runners-
up in the last two editions in 2014 and 2018 and were third in the 2010 World Cup played in New
Delhi.
Australian Open 2023: I
• Novak Djokovic defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of men’s singles match of the Australian
Open 2023.
• Djokovic won 10th Australian Open and 22nd grand slam.
• He levelled Rafael Nadal with his 22nd Grand Slam title.
• While in the Women’s Singles category, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina in the final, to
win the women’s singles tennis title at the 2023 Australian Open.
Australian Open 2023: II
• The 2023 Australian Open was a Grand Slam-level tennis tournament held from 16–29 January
2023.
• It was the 111th edition of the Australian Open.
• Jason Kubler and Rinky Hijikata have won the Australian Open 2023 men's doubles tournament.
• While Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova won the women's doubles title.
• Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos won the mixed doubles tennis title.
Australian Open: Brazilian duo won the Mixed Doubles title
• In the Australian Open Tennis, the Brazilian duo of Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos won the Mixed
Doubles title on 27 Jan'23.
• They defeated the Indian pair Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza.

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• The match was held in Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

• This was also Sania Mirza’s last appearance at a Grand Slam before she retires.
• Sania had previously won the Australian Open mixed doubles title in 2009.
England Captain Ben Stokes Named ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year
• England captain Ben Stokes has been named the International Cricket Council Test Player of the
Year for 2022.
• Stokes succeeded Joe Root as the captain of the team in the test format and has excelled in his
role helping England to Test success against New Zealand, India, South Africa and Pakistan.
• Since taking over as England captain, Stokes has led the team to 9 wins from 10 Tests.
Indian cricketer Mohammed Siraj becomes No.1 bowler in ODI cricket
• Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj became the No. 1 bowler in the ICC cricket ODI rankings on 25
January 2023.
• Siraj has 729 rating points in the bowler's rankings in the format and leads Australia's Josh
Hazlewood by two rating points.
• He is the first Indian bowler after cricketer Jasprit Bumrah to clinch the top spot in the ICC bowler's
rankings in ODIs.
India becomes No. 1 ODI team in ICC Rankings
• India became No. 1 ODI team in ICC Rankings after 3-0 series win over New Zealand at the Holkar
stadium in Indore.
• India overtook both England and New Zealand to capture the top spot in the ODI rankings.
• 2nd Place: England
• 3rd Place: Australia
• 4th Place: New Zealand
• The ranking was released by International Cricket Council (ICC).
• ICC Headquarters: Dubai
• ICC Chairman: Greg Barclay
Rishabh Pant: Only Indian in ICC Men's Test Team of Year 2022
• Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant has been included in ICC’s Men’s Test Team of the Year, announced
by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on 24 January 2023.
• England Test captain Ben Stokes has been named the captain of the side while Rishabh Pant has
been included as wicket-keeper.
• While Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Siraj are the only two Indians who included in the ICC ODI
Team of 2022.
ICC, NIUM launch “Next In” Global Hackathon to enhance digital cricket
• The International Cricket Council (ICC) and NIUM, announced the launch of “Next In”, a global
hackathon in January 2023.
• The hackathon invites and challenges tech-savvy fans to create solutions that improve and
enhance the digital cricket fan experience.

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• A shortlist of teams will be invited to build and present their concepts to a panel of judges at an
event in March 2023 in Bangalore.
Shubman Gill equals Babar Azam's world record
• Shubman Gill slammed his fourth One Day International (ODI) century during the third and final
meeting between India and New Zealand at Indore, on 24 Jan 2023.
• He matched Babar Azam's world record in the 3rd ODI between India and New Zealand.
• Pakistan skipper Babar created the world record when he smashed 360 runs against the West
Indies in 2016.
Virat, Suryakumar, Hardik named in ICC T20 team for 2022
• Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya have found the place in the ICC Men's T20I
team of the year for 2022.
• The team, announced by ICC, is captained by England's T20 world cup winning captain Jos Butler.
• Three Indian women cricket Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh have also been
included in ICC Women's T20I Team of the Year 2022.
Sports Ministry holds its 1st Mission Olympic Cell meet outside Delhi
• The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) organised its first Mission Olympic Cell (MOC)
meeting outside Delhi on January 19 and 20, 2023 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• The MOC members met to discuss the major agenda of India's Olympic program and proposals
for the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) athletes.
• Normally, MOC members visit Delhi every month to discuss agenda related to TOPS.
Korea's An Seyoung wins Women's singles final at India Open Badminton
• In the India Open Badminton Championship, Korea's An Seyoung won the Women's singles final
on 22 January 2023, at K D Jadhav Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
• In the finals, An Seyoung beat World No.1 Japanese Akane Yamaguchi.
• While, Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn won the India Open 2023 title.
• He defeated World No.1 Denmark's Viktor Axelsen in the men's singles final of the event.
Laxman Rawat wins NSCI Snooker Open Crown 2023
• Petroleum Sports Promotion Board's (PSPB) Laxman Rawat has won the ‘Baulkline’ NSCI All India
Snooker Open 2023 in January 2023.
• He defeated fellow PSPB challenger Aditya Mehta 9-6 in a best-of-17-frame final.
• He had finished runner-up in the 2022 edition of the tournament.
• The NSCI Snooker Open Crown is a snooker tournament organised by the National Sports Club
of India (NSCI).
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Dhaka Marathon 2023: Winners
• Dhaka Marathon 2023 was held in Bangladesh's capital city Dhaka on 20 Jan'23.
• Champion of the marathon in the male category: Kenyan runner Stanley Kiprotich Bett.
• Champion in the women's sprint category: Bashanke Imoshe Billo (Ethiopia).

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• South Asian category: Bangriya Bharatsinh from India won.

• South Asian female marathon runner category: Pushpa Bhandari from Nepal won.
Cricketer Hashim Amla announces retirement from all forms of cricket
• Hashim Amla, South Africa’s second-highest Test run-scorer of all time, announced his retirement
from all forms of cricket on 18 January 2023.
• He scored 9282 runs in 124 Tests, second only to Jacques Kallis, hit 27 ODI hundreds, and scored
a total of 18672 runs in all formats for South Africa.
• He became the first and only South African batsman to score a triple century in Test Cricket.
Netherlands record biggest-ever victory in Hockey World Cup history
• Three-time champion Netherlands registered a record-breaking 14-0 win over Chile to secure a
direct qualification into the quarter-finals at the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup on 19 Jan 2023.
• Australia previously held the record for the largest margin (12-0) of victory in a hockey World Cup
match against S. Africa.
• Netherlands' Jip Janssen and Thierry Brinkman scored a hat-trick in the match.
Rohit Sharma breaks MS Dhoni's record of most sixes in ODIs in India
• Rohit broke MS Dhoni's long-standing record during the first ODI between India and New Zealand
held on 18 Jan'23 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
• Rohit won the toss and decided to bat first in the series opener.
• Rohit is now India's leading six-getter in the history of ODI cricket, with a total of 125 sixes to his
name.
IND vs NZ 1st ODI: Shubman Gill scored second consecutive ODI hundred
• Shubham smashed 208 off 149 balls and almost played through the innings to lead India to within
one run of 350.
• He smashed three back to back sixes in the 49th over to become the fifth Indian to score a double
century in ODI cricket.
• Shubman Gill becomes the fastest Indian and joint second-fastest ever (along with Pakistan's
Imam-ul-Haq) to score 1000 ODI runs in terms of innings (19).
ICC Men's Player of the Month for December 2022 revealed
• International Cricket Council (ICC) announced winners of Player of the Month awards.
• England’s Harry Brook wins ICC Men’s Player of the Month award following impressive
performances in ICC World Test Championship series in Pakistan.
• Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner claimed ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for her heroics in
T20I series v India in which she becomes top-ranked all-rounder.
Denmark's Viktor Axelsen wins Men's Singles at Malaysia Open 2023
• Two-time world champion and defending Olympic champion Victor Axelsen (Denmark) has won
the men’s singles title in Malaysia Open Badminton 2023, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in Jan
2023.

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• Victor won the tournament for the 2nd time in a row by defeating Japan's Kodai Naraoka.
• Akane Yamaguchi of Japan won the women’s singles title by defeating world number four Ahn
Se-young of South Korea.
Barcelona wins the Spanish Super Cup for the 14th time
• Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-1 to win their 14th Spanish Super Cup title.
• The cup was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• Barcelona has won the Supercup for the first time since 2018 and for the 14th time overall.
• Real Madrid has won the Supercup 12 times so far.
• Spanish Super Cup is a super cup tournament in Spanish football.
• This competition is being played since 1982.
Yuki Bhambri, Saketh Myneni wins Bangkok Open tennis title 2023
• The Indian tennis pair of Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni won the Bangkok Open Men's double
tennis championship, held at Nonthaburi, Thailand in January 2023.
• They defeated Christopher Rungkat and Akira Santillan during the Men's doubles final.
• They will compete in the Australian Open 2023, the season’s first Grand Slam-where they have
been given a wild card entry.
J&K's Falak Mumtaz won gold medal at 23rd National Sqay Championship
• Falak Mumtaz, an 11-year-old girl from Jammu and Kashmir bagged a gold medal in the 23rd
National Sqay Championship in January 2023.
• The championship was organized by the SQAY Federation of India at Indoor Stadium Bhagwati
Nagar, Jammu.
• Jammu and Kashmir bagged 1st place in the overall medal tally while Andhra Pradesh bagged
2nd place and Odisha was in 3rd place.
Hockey India enters the world of Metaverse, launches 'Hockeyverse'
• Hockey India has launched a new metaverse product ‘Hockeyverse' for live broadcasting of the
Men’s World Cup in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from January 13-29, 2023.
• ‘Hockeyverse’ is designed to enhance the tournament experience for fans around the world.
• It features replica of the newly built Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium and The Time Machine, based
on time travel elements.
France captain Hugo Lloris retires from international football
• France team captain Hugo Lloris announced his retirement from international football on 9
January 2023.
• He won the World Cup in 2018 and the Nations League in 2020-21.
• Lloris made his international debut in November 2008 at the age of 21 in a friendly match against
Uruguay.
• Lloris retired as France’s most-capped player, having made 145 appearances for his country.
Footballer Gareth Bale announces retirement from professional football

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• Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from professional football on 9 Jan 2023.
• Bale made his Wales debut in 2006 against Trinidad and Tobago.
• He has won Wales’ player of the year award six times.
• Bale played a record of 111 games for his country and was a five-time Champions League winner
with Real Madrid.
• He captained Wales in their first European Championship in 2016.
Dwaine Pretorius announces retirement from international cricket
• South Africa all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius on 9 January 2023 announced his retirement from
international cricket.
• Pretorius had featured in 30 T20Is, 27 ODIs, and 3 Tests, in which he amassed 1895 runs and
scalped 77 wickets.
• He made his international debut in 2016 and was part of the South Africa squad for the 2019 ODI
World Cup and the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Virat Kohli equals Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most hundreds
• Cricketer Virat Kohli recorded the first century by an Indian in 2023 against Sri Lanka on 10
January 2023.
• Kohli’s 45th ODI ton helped him equal Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most centuries (20 centuries)
at home in ODI cricket.
• Kohli smashed 20 tons in his 99th innings at home.
• Virat also surpassed Sachin’s record of most ODI hundreds against Sri Lanka by an Indian batter.
Novak Djokovic win the Adelaide International men’s singles title
• Novak Djokovic, on January 8, 2023, won the Adelaide International men’s singles title.
• The 21-time Grand Slam winner won the match by defeating America’s Sebastian Korda in the
final.
• Djokovic also equalled Rafael Nadal’s tally of 92 ATP singles titles in the Open Era.
• The 2023 Adelaide International is a tennis tournament being played in Australia.
Tallon Griekspoor wins Maharashtra Open tennis tournament 2023
• The Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor won his maiden ATP World Tour title in Men's singles category
in Pune on 7 January 2023.
• He defeated France's Benjamin Bonzi to win his maiden ATP World Tour title.
• It was the 27th edition of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP)'s 250 events, the only ATP
tournament played in India, and was held from 2 to 7 January 2023.
Sania Mirza to retire from professional tennis
• India’s former doubles World No.1 champion, Sania Mirza, has announced that she will retire from
professional tennis in February at the WTA 1000 event in Dubai.
• Sania had a successful career, winning 6 Grand Slam doubles titles and becoming the 1st Indian
to win a WTA singles title.

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• Mirza reached career-high ranking of world no. 27 and is regarded as country’s greatest women’s
tennis player.
Anahat Singh clinches Girls U-15 squash title at British Junior Open
• Indian squash prodigy Anahat Singh clinched the girls Under-15 squash title at the most
prestigious British Junior Open tournament in Birmingham, in January 2023.
• The 14-year-old defeated Sohaila Hazem of Egypt, 3-1 in the final.
• The British Junior Open is held in January every year in the UK where all the best players from all
over the world compete to win the coveted title.
2023 Men's FIH Hockey World Cup
• The 2023 Men's FIH Hockey World Cup will be the 15th edition of the Men's FIH Hockey World
Cup.
• This quadrennial world championship for men's national field hockey teams is organized by the
International Hockey Federation.
• It will be held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and at Birsa Munda International Hockey
Stadium in Rourkela, India from 13 to 29 January 2023.
Odisha CM inaugurated the state-of-the-art hockey stadium in Rourkela
• Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the state-of-the-art hockey stadium in Rourkela on Jan
5, 2023.
• The stadium has been named after legendary freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
• The stadium is being reported as world's largest hockey stadium.
• The 2023 Men's FIH Hockey World Cup, being hosted by Odisha for the second time, will also be
played here.
Belinda Clark becomes 1st woman cricketer to get bronze statue at SCGs
• Australia’s Belinda Clark has become the first female cricketer to have a statue cast in her honour
at Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia.
• Clark played 15 tests and over 100 limited overs matches, and became the first cricketer to score
a double-hundred in one-day internationals against Denmark in 1997.
• Her bronze cast now stands alongside former captain Richard Benaud and Steve Waugh.
Pranesh M became India’s 79th Grandmaster
• Tamilnadu's Pranesh M became India’s 79th Grandmaster on 6 January 2023.
• After beating GM Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal of Norway, Pranesh attained the required 2500 ELO
ratings and won the Rilton Cup in the final round to claim the title.
• With this, he also becomes India's first Grandmaster of year 2023.
• In December 2022, Koustav Chatterjee became India's 78th Grandmaster.
DEXA: BCCI introduces new selection criteria for Team India
• The new rule made Yo-Yo test mandatory for players to be selected for the national team.
• Players must also take a 'DEXA' before being selected.

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• Emerging players have to play enough domestic seasons to be eligible for selection in the national
team.
• The Yo-Yo test is an aerobic endurance fitness test.
• DEXA is a bone density test.
Koustav Chatterjee becomes India’s 78th Grandmaster
• Koustav Chatterjee became India’s 78th Grandmaster in MPL 59th National Senior Chess
Championship in New Delhi.
• The 19-year-old drew his game against GM Mitrabha Guha.
• Koustav hailing from Kolkata becomes West Bengal’s tenth Grandmaster.
• Koustav earned his maiden GM-norm at Sheikh Russel GM 2021 in Bangladesh and scored his
second GM-norm at Asian Continental Championship 2022.

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Summits and Conferences Current Affairs

G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant inaugurates India’s first Model G-20 summit
• India’s G-20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant on 30 January 2023, inaugurated India’s first Model G-20
Summit.
• It was organized by Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini’s Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership in
Mumbai.
• Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Vice
Chairman of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini chaired the inaugural ceremony.
Inaugural Yuvamanthan Model G20 Summit held in Goa
• Inaugural Yuvamanthan Model G20 Summit held in Goa in January 2023.
• It is a unique initiative for youth, who wish to ace the art of public speaking.
• It aims to recruit motivated students from high schools, colleges, and universities and designate
them as "Campus Sherpas''.
• The Campus Sherpas will be responsible for organizing Model G20 Programmes in their schools,
colleges, or universities.
National Summit on Quality of Biologicals organised
• The summit was organized by the National Institute of Biologicals (NIB) on 27 Jan'23 in New Delhi.
• The summit was inaugurated virtually by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr.
Mansukh Mandaviya.
• The National Summit will act as platform to bring together various stakeholders for interaction
on various aspects of quality assurance of biologicals.
Delhi to host first-ever India Stack Developer Conference on 25 Jan
• The first-ever India Stack Developer Conference will be held in New Delhi on 25 January 2023.
• Delegates from G20 countries and G20 Secretariat have also been invited to the conference.
• India Stack is a multi-layer cluster of digital solutions such as Aadhaar, UPI, Digi Locker, Co-Win,
GeM, and GSTN, and has played a key role in India’s digital transformation.
Rajnath Singh chairs conference on 14th edition of 'Aero India'
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the Ambassadors' Roundtable conference for 'Aero India
2023' in New Delhi on 23 Jan 2023.
• The event was organised by the dept of defence production, Ministry of Defence.
• The five-day event, with the theme 'The runway to a billion opportunities', will be organised at the
Air Force Station, Yelahanka between February 13-17, 2023.
PM Modi to attend all India conference of DGPs, IGPs on 21-22 January
• PM Narendra Modi will attend the All India Conference of Director Generals/ Inspector Generals
of Police 2022 in New Delhi on 21-22 January, 2023.
• About 100 invitees including DGP of States/UTs and Heads of Central Armed Police Forces and
Central Police Organizations will attend the Conference.

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• It will discuss a wide range of issues including Cyber Crime, Technology in Policing, etc.
Parliament to hold P-20 Conference of Parliament Speakers
• The Parliament of India will hold the P-20 Conference of the Parliament Speakers of the G-20
nations in 2023.
• India will try to effectively resolve global issues through this platform.
• In 2022, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla attended the 8th G20 Parliamentary Speaker’s Summit and
the P-20 conference in Jakarta, Indonesia.
• G-20 countries account for 80% of global GDP and 75% of global trade.
Tourism Ministry to organize 1st Global Tourism Investors Summit
• Ministry of Tourism is organizing the 1st Global Tourism Investors Summit from 10 to 12 April'23 in
New Delhi.
• The aim is to bring together global business leaders and policymakers to understand and explore
Tourism Business opportunities in India.
• In this regard, Ministry organized a Roadshow on 17 Jan'23 in Chandigarh.
• It focused on promoting India as an investment destination for tourism.
World Economic Forum 2023 Summit to begin on January 16
• The 53rd edition of the annual World Economic Forum Summit would be held in Davos,
Switzerland from January 16 to 20, 2203.
• A delegation of Indian Ministers Union ministers including Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mansukh
Mandaviya, Smriti Irani, and RK Singh would be present during the event.
• The theme of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023 meeting is 'Cooperation in a fragmented
world.'
13th Ministerial-level meeting of the India-US Trade Policy Forum held
• 13th Ministerial-level meeting of the India-United States Trade Policy Forum (TPF) was held on
Jan 10-11, 2023 in Washington, DC (USA).
• TPF aims to lay the foundation for forging robust bilateral trade ties and enhancing the bilateral
economic relationship between both countries.
• India and US launched a new working group on “Resilient Trade” to deepen bilateral dialogue.
83rd All India Presiding Officers Conference begins in Jaipur
• The 83rd All India Presiding Officers Conference is being held in Jaipur on 11-12 Jan 2023.
• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the conference.
• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is presiding over the conference.
• Speakers and Deputy Speakers of various Legislative Assemblies were present at the function.
• This Conference is being held in Rajasthan after 11 years (last in 2011).
India to host Voice of Global South Summit
• India will host a special virtual Summit on 12-13 Jan 2023 called 'Voice of Global South Summit'.
• Theme of the Summit is 'Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose.

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• The summit is India's attempt to provide a common platform to discuss concerns affecting
developing countries.
• The initiative is inspired by PM Modi's vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas... and philosophy of
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
Anurag Thakur launches Y20 summit's - Theme, logo and website
• Union Minister Anurag Thakur launched the themes of the Y20 summit, logo, and website in New
Delhi on January 6, 2023, in the curtain raiser event of Y20 Summit India.
• The Y20 is the official youth engagement group for the G20 (Group of 20), the forum for the world’s
largest and most advanced economies.
• India is hosting the Y20 summit for the first time.
PM to chair second National Conference of Chief Secretaries in Delhi
• PM Modi will chair the 2nd National Conference of Chief Secretaries on January 6 and 7, 2023 in
Delhi.
• The first conference was held in Dharamshala in June 2022.
• The conference will focus on achieving rapid and sustained economic growth in partnership with
the states.
• The best practices of the States/UTs will be presented so that the states can learn from each
other.

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Table of Content
Art & Culture Current Affairs ...............................................................................................3
Awards and Honours Current Affairs ..................................................................................5
Banking Current Affairs ...................................................................................................... 12
Business and Economy Current Affairs ............................................................................. 14
Defence Current Affairs .................................................................................................... 20
Government Schemes and Policies Current Affairs........................................................ 24
Days and Events Current Affairs ....................................................................................... 26
International Current Affairs ..............................................................................................33
MoU and Agreements Current Affairs .............................................................................. 38
National Current Affairs .................................................................................................... 44
Appointments Current Affairs ........................................................................................... 60
Obituaries Current Affairs .................................................................................................. 67
Person in News Current Affairs .......................................................................................... 71
Science and Technology Current Affairs .......................................................................... 73
Sports Current Affairs Current Affairs ............................................................................... 77
Summits and Conferences Current Affairs ...................................................................... 85

2|Page
 Current Affairs | February 2023

Art and Culture Current Affairs

14th edition of Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav begins in Bikaner
• The 14th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav commenced in Bikaner, Rajasthan on 25 Feb 2023.
• It is organized by the Union Ministry of Culture, was inaugurated with a Shobha Yatra, in which
artists from different states of the country participated in traditional dresses.
• During the event, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra and Union MoS for Culture Arjun Ram
Meghwal inaugurated the craft fair.
World Book Fair 2023 to begin on 25 February in New Delhi
• The 9-day mega book fair will be held from 25th February to 5th March, 2023 at Pragati Maidan,
New Delhi.
• It is being organised by National Book Trust, an autonomous organization of the Government of
India under the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with India Trade Promotion Organization.
• The book display will also include titles on topics such as history, art and culture.
PM Modi to inaugurate ‘Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava’ festival on 25 Feb
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate ‘Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava’ cultural festival at
Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi on 25th February, 2023.
• The festival is being organized to celebrate Karnataka's culture, traditions and history.
• The festival will provide an opportunity to hundreds of artists to showcase Karnataka cultural
heritage through dance, music, drama, poetry etc.
Agriculture Min inaugurates National Horticulture Fair in Bengaluru
• Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on 22 Feb 2023,
inaugurated the four-day National Horticulture Fair in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The fair is organised to showcase the latest technologies developed by the Indian Institute of
Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), for
the benefit of productive farmers.
President Murmu inaugurates International Engineering and Tech Fair
• President Droupadi Murmu on 16 February 2023, inaugurated the International Engineering and
Technology Fair (IETF) 2023 in New Delhi.
• It is organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
• IETF-2023 covers 11 areas of emerging technologies that would have a profound impact on India's
economy.
• IETF-2023 is a business platform for Engineering and related products and services.
NSD to organise the 22nd edition of the Bharat Rang Mahotsav
• National School of Drama (NSD) will organize the 22nd edition of the Bharat Rang Mahotsav
(BRM), from 16th to 26th February, 2023.

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• The International Theater Festival will be held in Delhi, Rajahmundry, Jaipur, Ranchi, Jammu,
Guwahati, Srinagar, Bhopal, Nashik and Kevadia.
• The plays will be performed in 16 different Indian languages.
• BRM is the largest theater festival in Asia.
Kala Ghoda Arts Festival begins on 5 February in Mumbai
• The 23rd edition of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival began on 5 February 2023 in Mumbai,
Maharashtra.
• It is an annual festival, commencing always on the first Saturday of February and closing is always
on the second Sunday in February, in the Kala Ghoda area of South Mumbai, India.
• It was first started in 1999.
• The festival sections are visual arts, dance, music, theatre, cinema, literature.
Vice-President inaugurates 36th Surajkund handicrafts mela
• Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on 3 February 2023, inaugurated the 36th International
Surajkund Mela at Faridabad, Haryana.
• It is an annual event that is organized on a large scale by the Haryana government from the 04th
to the 25th of February 2023.
• It is a platform for artists across the globe to showcase their culture and talent.
• It is the world's biggest crafts fair.

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Awards and Honours Current Affairs

Lionel Messi bags best FIFA football player award
• Argentina captain Lionel Messi has been named the best player in men’s football by FIFA, at The
Best FIFA Football Awards in Paris.
• Messi won this award for his outstanding performances in men's football from August 2021 to
December 2022.
• He scored two goals in the final against France.
• Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the best women’s player award for the 2nd year in a row.
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2023 announced-I
• The 29th Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced on 26 Feb 2023 at the Fairmont Century
Plaza in Los Angeles.
• Sam Elliott won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for
'1883'.
• Jessica Chastain won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or
Miniseries for 'George & Tammy'.
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2023 announced-II
• Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role was won by Brendan Fraser for “The
Whale”.
• Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role was won by Michelle Yeoh,
“Everything Everywhere All at Once”.
• Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series was won by Jason Bateman for
“Ozark”.
SS Rajamouli’s RRR wins Best International Film at HCA Awards
• SS Rajamouli’s directorial, ‘RRR’ has bagged the ‘Best International Film’ award at the 6th
Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) Film Awards.
• The awards were held in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, USA.
• The 'RRR’ also won three other awards at HCA for ‘Best Action Film’, ‘Best Stunts’, and ‘Best
Original Song’ (Naatu Naatu).
• The song ‘Naatu Naatu’ is composed by MM Keeravani.
President Droupadi Murmu confers Sangeet Natak Akademi awards
• President Droupadi Murmu on 23 February 2023, conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi
Fellowships and Awards for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 in New Delhi.
• Eight persons in the field of performing arts were given the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship,
while 128 artistes from the fields of music, dance, theatre, traditional, and folk were honoured with
the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards.
Dr. Mahendra Mishra awarded International Mother Language Award

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• Dr Mahendra Kumar Mishra, an Indian educator and social worker, was awarded International
Mother Language Award on 21 Feb'23.
• He received the award from Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• He is the first Indian to receive this award.
• Dr Mishra has worked over three decades on the language, culture and education of the
marginalised languages of Odisha.
Sansad Ratna award, 2023: List of winners announced Part- 1
• The list of winners of the 13th edition of the Sansad Ratna Award was announced
• The award will be given on 25 March 2023 in New Delhi.
• Prominent CPI-M leader T K Rangarajan was nominated for the “Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Lifetime
Achievement Award”.
• Winners:
• Bidyut Baran Mahato (BJP, Jharkhand)
• Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (BJP, West Bengal)
• Kuldeep Rai Sharma (INC, Andaman Nicobar)
Sansad Ratna award, 2023: List of winners announced Part- 2
• Heena Vijayakumar Gavit (BJP, Maharashtra)
• Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (INC, West Bengal)
• Gopal Chinayya Shetty (BJP, Maharashtra)
• Sudhir Gupta (BJP, MP)
• Amol Kolhe (NCP, Maharashtra)
• John Brittas (CPI-M, Kerala),
• Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD, Bihar),
• Fauzia Tahseen Ahmed Khan (NCP, Maharashtra)
• Vishambhar Prasad (SP, UP)
• Smt Chhaya Verma (INC, Chhattisgarh)
Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards Winners: Part 1
• The Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival awards were announced on 20 Feb 2023 in
Mumbai.
• It is the country’s highest award in the field of cinema.
• The 2023 winners were revealed by the Directorate of Film Festivals.
• Best Film award: The Kashmir Files
• International Film of the Year award: SS Rajamouli's 'RRR'
• Best Web Series: Rudra: The Edge of Darkness
Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards Winners: Part 2
• Best Director: R Balki ( Chup: Revenge of The Artist )
• Most Versatile Actor Of The Year: Anupam Kher ( The Kashmir Files)
• Best Actress award: Alia Bhatt ( Gangubai Kathiawadi )

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• Best Actor award: Ranbir Kapoor ( Brahmastra )

• Most Promising Actor award: Rishab Shetty (Kannada film 'Kantara')
• Outstanding Contribution In The Film Industry: Rekha
• Critics Best Actor: Varun Dhawan ( Bhediya )
Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards Winners: Part 3
• Television Series of The Year: Anupamaa
• Best Actor In A Television Series: Zain Imam ( Fanaa- Ishq Mein Marjawaan )
• Best Actress In A Television Series: Tejasswi Prakash ( Naagin )
• Best Male Singer: Sachet Tandon ( Maiyya Mainu )
• Best Female Singer: Neeti Mohan ( Meri Jaan )
• Best Cinematographer: PS Vinod ( Vikram Vedha )
• Outstanding Contribution In The Music Industry: Hariharan
Ranji Trophy 2022–2023 Winners announced
• Winner of Ranji Trophy 2022-23: Saurashtra ( defeated Bengal)
• Player of the Match in the Final: Jaydev Unadkat ( Captain of Saurashtra )
• Player of the Series: Arpit Vasavada ( Batsman for Saurashtra )
• Highest run scorer: Mayank Agarwal (Karnataka) - 990 runs
• Highest wicket-takers: Jalaj Saxena (Kerala) - 50 Wickets
• Most catches: Meitan Keishangbam (Manipur)- 17 Catches
BAFTA Awards 2023 announced: I
• The 76th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA (the British Academy of Film and Television Arts)
Awards were announced on 19 February 2023.
• The event was hosted by actor Richard E Grant and Alison Hammond.
• Some winner list includes:
• Best Film – 'All Quiet on the Western Front'
• Leading Actress – Cate Blanchett, 'Tar'
• Leading Actor – Austin Butler, 'Elvis'
• Best Casting – Elvi
BAFTA Awards 2023 announced: II
• The German anti-war film 'All Quiet on the Western Front' won seven awards, including the Best
Film and Best Director awards.
• Some other winners include:
• Best Director – Edward Berger for the movie 'All Quiet on the Western Front'
• Best Cinematography – 'All Quiet on the Western Front'
• Best Documentary – 'Navalny' directed by 'Daniel Roher'
• British Short Film – 'An Irish Goodby'
Karthik Subramaniam wins National Geographic's 'pictures of the year'

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• Indian-origin photographer Karthik Subramaniam has topped National Geographic's 'Photo of

the Year' contest 2023.
• The award was presented to him for a striking picture of an eagle struggling to settle on a tree
branch.
• His photograph, titled "Dance of the Eagles", was taken at the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve in
Alaska and will be the cover page of the May edition of National Geographic.
UNDP’s “Don’t Choose Extinction” climate campaign wins 2 Anthem Awards
• The UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Feb 2023 won Gold and Silver medal at the 2nd
Annual Anthem Awards for its 'Don't Choose Extinction' campaign.
• The award was announced by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Science (IADAS), which
was launched by the Webby Awards in 2021.
• UNDP’s ‘Don’t Choose Extinction’ campaign is on fossil fuel subsidies and its negative impact on
the planet.
NMDC wins five awards at the 9th 'Governance Now PSU Awards' 2023
• India’s largest producer of iron ore, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) Limited
won five awards at the 9th 'Governance Now PSU Awards' held in New Delhi on 16 February 2023.
• Chief Guest of the event, Former Chief Justice of India, Dipak Mishra felicitated the winners.
• The award recognizes the commitment of PSUs in raising the standards in the public sector.
Union Min G. Kishan Reddy presents Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar
• The Union Minister for Culture and Tourism G. Kishan Reddy presented the Ustad Bismillah Khan
Yuva Puraskar 2019, 2020, and 2021 to 102 artists (including three joint awards) of India on 15th
February 2023.
• Starting in 2006, the award is given to artists up to the age of 40 years with the objective of
encouraging outstanding young talents in diverse fields of the performing arts.
Union Minister Amit Shah presents President's Colour to Haryana Police
• Union home minister Amit Shah on 14 February 2023, presented President’s Colour to Haryana
Police in Karnal on behalf of President Droupadi Murmu in recognition of the Haryana Police’s
exceptional service.
• Haryana Police has become one of the 10 state police forces in the country to receive this highest
honour from the President.
• Indian Navy was the first one to receive this honor in 1951.
Egyptian President bestows Global Best M-GOV Awards on IIT students
• Students from IIT Indore won AED 1 mn by winning gold medal at the World Government Summit
in Dubai on 13 Feb'23.
• Niyati Totala and Neel Kalpeshkumar Parikh were awarded by Egyptian President Abel Fattah
Al-Sisi.
• These students were the creators of the 'Blockbill' app.

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• Blockbill is a blockchain-based receipt generation app that generates digital receipts for all of its
users' transactions.
Angela Merkel awarded UNESCO Peace Prize in Ivory Coast
• Former German chancellor Angela Merkel awarded the Felix Houphouet-Boigny UNESCO Peace
Prize in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast in February 2023.
• Angela Merkel is a German former politician and scientist who served as Chancellor of Germany
from 2005 to 2021.
• She implemented a “open-door” refugee policy in Germany by allowing more than 1.2 million
migrants to enter in Germany between 2015-2016.
Journalist A.B.K. Prasad chosen for Raja Ram Mohan Roy National Award
• Veteran Journalist Dr. A.B.K. Prasad has been chosen for the prestigious “Raja Ram Mohan Roy
National Award” for excellence in Journalism.
• Prasad has the honour of being the editor of all mainstream journals of Andhra Pradesh.
• He served as Chairman of Official Language Commission during 2004 to 2009 in united Andhra
Pradesh.
• Award will be given by Press Council of India on 28 Feb'23.
MRF's Mammen gets Atma Lifetime Achievement award
• MRF Ltd. Chairman and Managing Director K.M. Mammen was presented the ATMA Lifetime
Achievement Award by Maruti Suzuki India MD Hisashi Takeuchi.
• Award was presented at Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) Annual Conclave
2023 in New Delhi on 8 Feb'23.
• Mammen received award in recognition for his distinctive leadership qualities and invaluable
contribution to the tyre industry.
NTPC wins 'ATD Best Awards 2023' for 6th consecutive year
• NTPC Limited has been conferred with 'ATD Best Awards 2023' by Association for Talent
Development (ATD), USA in February 2023.
• NTPC Limited has won this award for the sixth consecutive year for showcasing enterprise success
in the area of talent development.
• The ATD Best Awards recognize organizations that demonstrate talent development across the
enterprise.
Golden Book Awards 2023: Winners announced Part 1
• Golden Book Awards recognises the exceptional literary works.
• It is sponsored by Wings Publication International.
• They were announced on 4 Feb'23
• Winners and their work:
• J.K Rowling – Fantastic Beasts
• Gaur Gopal Das – Energize Your Mind
• Deepak Chopra – The Seven Spiritual Law Of Success

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• Ashneer Grover – Doglapan

• Namita Thapar – The Dolphin And The Shark: Stories On Entrepreneurship
Golden Book Awards 2023: Winners announced Part 2
• Kamlesh Patel –The Wisdom Bridge
• Jeff Kinney – Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Diper Overlode
• Sneh Desai, Sunil Tulsiani & Brian Tracy – Ultimate Secrets To Wealth
• Raj Shamani –Build, Don’t Talk –Things You Wish You Were Taught In School
• Bhupendra Singh Rathore –Magic Of Thinking Rich
• Deepak Bajaj –Network Marketing In 60 Minutes
• Ruskin Bond – How To Live Your Life
• Dr K. Sreekumar –Buddhavelicham
Rakhi Kapoor awarded Golden Book Awards 2023 for 'Now You Breathe'
• Author Rakhi Kapoor has been awarded the Golden Book Awards 2023 for her book 'Now You
Breathe' on 6 February 2023.
• The Golden Book Awards is one of Asia's prestigious award programs which celebrates best works
on literature .
• She was also awarded the author of the year at the National Achievers Award in December 2022
at the Constitution Club of India.
VP Nandakumar, Manappuram Finance gets Hurun India award 2023
• VP Nandakumar, Managing Director & CEO of Manappuram Finance Ltd has been awarded the
Hurun India's award 2022 for his remarkable achievements in the world of business.
• While V.K. Mathews, founder, and executive chairman, of IBS Software, has been conferred the
Hurun Industry Achievement Award 2022.
• V.K. Mathews was nominated on the basis of the research made by the Hurun global team.
Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik nominated for BBC ISWOTY Award
• Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik have been nominated for BBC ISWOTY Award.
• Total of Five athletes were nominated for the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of the Year award.
• The other three are Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who won silver at Tokyo Olympics, renowned
shuttler PV Sindhu and boxer Nikhat Zareen.
• The winner will be decided by public poll.
• The winner will be declared on March 5.
Dr Peggy Mohan wins ‘Mathrubhumi Book of The Year’ award 2023
• Author Dr Peggy Mohan has bagged the ‘Mathrubhumi Book of The Year’ award at the fourth
edition of Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL 2023).
• Her book ‘Wanderers, Kings and Merchants,’ portraying evolution of language as the outcome of
migrations.
• Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah presented the award to Mohan at the valedictory ceremony
of the four-day MBIFL 2023.

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Ricky Kej become only living Indian to win Grammy thrice

• Bengaluru-based musician Ricky Kej has recently won the Grammy Award for the third time.
• He received the award for his album Divine Tides with Steward Copeland, at the 65th Annual
Grammy Awards being held at Los Angeles in the United States.
• Ricky is the youngest person from India to have won a Grammy Award, and only the 4th Indian.
• He won his first Grammy back in 2015.
Grammy Awards 2023: Winners List Part - 1
• The 65th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held on 5 Feb'23 in Los Angeles, United States.
• Record of the Year: Lizzo
• Album of the Year: Harry Styles-Harry’s House
• Song of the Year: Lizzo – About Damn Time
• Best New Artist: Samara Joy
• Best Pop Solo Performance: Bonnie Raitt wins for ‘Just like That’
• Best Pop Duo/Group Performance Sam Smith & Kim Petras – Unholy
Grammy Awards 2023: Winners List Part - 2
• Best Dance/Electronic Recording: Beyoncé – Break My Soul
• Best Rock Song: Brandi Carlile – Broken Horses
• Best Rock Album: Ozzy Osbourne – Patient Number 9
• Best Country Solo Performance: Willie Nelson – Live Forever
• Best Country Duo/Group Performance: Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde – Never Wanted to Be
That Girl
• Best Country Song: Cody Johnson – ’Til You Can’t
Former PM Manmohan Singh conferred Lifetime Achievement Honour in UK
• He was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Honour by India-UK Achievers Honours in London
for his contribution to economic and political life.
• The India-UK Achievers Honours by NISAU UK celebrate the achievements of Indian students who
studied at British universities.
• The Lifetime Achievement Honour is a nod to Dr Singh’s academic achievements at the
Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

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Banking Current Affairs

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) launched Electronic Bank Guarantee Scheme
• The IOB has launched the facility of issuance of e-BG (Electronic Bank Guarantee) scheme.
• The IOB has launched the e-BG in association with the National e-Governance Services Ltd.
• The e-BG is an instrument issued by the city-headquartered bank in which the bank undertakes
to guarantee a specific amount against the non-fulfillment of some action/performance of the
applicant.
Karnataka Bank awarded 'Prathista Puraskar' under Digidhan Awards 2022
• Karnataka Bank has been awarded ‘Prathista Puraskar’ under ‘Digidhan Awards 2021-22’ by the
Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for achieving the target with the highest
percentage in BHIM-UPI transactions in the private sector bank category.
• The bank is currently undertaking an accelerated digital drive ‘KBL-NxT’ under its transformation
journey ‘KBL VIKAAS 2.0’.
Paytm Payments Bank becomes 1st to launch UPI LITE feature
• Paytm Payments Banks Limited (PPBL) in February 2023, has launched UPI LITE feature for
multiple small-value UPI transactions and become the first payments bank to launch such feature.
• The UPI LITE feature will help with faster real-time transactions with a single click through Paytm.
• The NPCI designed the feature which was launched by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in September
2022.
India's retail inflation rises to three-month high level of 6.52 %
• Retail inflation, based on the consumer price index (CPI), rose to 6.52 percent in January 2023
from December 2022's one-year low of 5.72 percent.
• As per the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation data, the retail inflation for
January stood at a three-month high level.
• Inflation in January grew mainly due to a rise in food inflation which climbed to 5.94 percent.
RBI announces guidelines on climate risk and sustainable finance
• The Reserve Bank of India, on 8 Feb 2023, announced that it will issue guidelines on broad
framework for acceptance of Green Deposits, disclosure framework on Climate-related Financial
Risks, and guidance on Climate Scenario Analysis and Stress Testing.
• It will issue the guidelines, which will be based on feedback received on its Discussion Paper (DP)
on Climate Risk and Sustainable Finance.
MobiKwik becomes India’s first app to support credit cards on UPI
• MobiKwik has become the first fintech apps to support RuPay Credit Cards on UPI.
• The integration is in line with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Reserve
Bank of India’s vision to boost credit card acceptance across merchants that are not part of the
credit ecosystem.

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• RuPay Credit Card are issued by all major banks (private and public sector) in the country.
RBI announces pilot for QR code-based Coin Vending Machine
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a pilot program to introduce coin vending
machines that use a QR code to improve accessibility to coins.
• The pilot project is planned to be rolled out at 19 locations in 12 cities across the country.
• The QR Code-Based Vending Machine will do away with the necessity for actual tendering of
banknotes and their authentication.
RBI increases repo rate by 25 Basis points to 6.5%
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has increased the repo rate by 25 Basis points to 6.5%.
• Since May 2022, the RBI has increased the repo rate by 2.5%.
• The decision was taken in Monetary Policy Committee meeting.
• Standing Deposit Facility Rate has been revised to 6.25%.
• Marginal Standing Facility Rate and Bank Rate revised to 6.75%.
• RBI said, Inflation for 2022-23 is projected at 6.5%.
PhonePe launches cross-border UPI payments service
• PhonePe announced the debut of a service that will enable its Indian users to pay foreign
businesses using the UPI.
• 'UPI international' supports merchant outlets in UAE, Singapore, Mauritius, Nepal and Bhutan that
have a local QR code.
• Users will be able to make direct payments in a foreign currency from their Indian bank.
• PhonePe is the first Indian fintech app to launch the service.

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Business and Economy Current Affairs

Shailesh Pathak appointed FICCI Secretary General
• Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has announced the
appointment of former bureaucrat Shailesh Pathak as its Secretary General from 1 March 2023.
• He has worked with the government as an IAS officer.
• FICCI also announced that Arun Chawla, Director General, will superannuate on June 30, 2023
and transition to an advisory role.
Reserve Bank of India imposes restrictions on 5 cooperative banks
• The RBI on 22 Feb'23 imposed several restrictions on 5 cooperative banks, including on
withdrawals, in the wake of the deteriorating financial condition of the lenders.
• 5 Banks are:
• HCBL Co-operative Bank, Lucknow
• Adarsh Mahila Nagari Sahakari Bank, Maryadit
• Shimsha Sahakara Bank Niyamitha, Maddur
• Uravakonda Co-operative Town Bank, Uravakonda
• Shankarrao Mohite Patil Sahakari Bank, Akluj
NSE gets the final SEBI approval to launch Social Stock Exchange
• The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has got the greenlight from SEBI to launch its Social Stock
Exchange.
• The in-principle approval for this was received in Dec 2022.
• The idea of a social stock exchange was first mooted in the Union Budget 2019-20 to enable
entities involved in social activities such as charitable trusts and non-profit organisations to
access the capital market for funds.
Saraswat Bank partners with Tagit to deploy omnichannel banking
• Saraswat Bank has partnered with Singapore based digital banking solutions provider Tagit to
implement omnichannel digital banking solutions for its retail and corporate customers.
• Under the association, the bank will use Tagit’s Mobeix Digital Banking platform to enhance
customer experience.
• This will increase the market reach, faster time-to-market and enhance customer engagement.
UK surpasses India as the world’s sixth-biggest equity market
• The United Kingdom on 22 February 2023, surpassed India as the sixth-largest equity market in
the world for the first time since May 2022.
• According to Bloomberg, the combined market capitalization of primary listings in the UK,
excluding 'exchanged-traded funds' ETFs and 'American depositary receipts' ADR reached about
$3.11 trillion in February 2023.
Philips Domestic Appliances globally renamed as 'Versuni'

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• Philips Domestic Appliances has been renamed as 'Versuni' in February 2023.

• As a licensee of Royal Philips, the company will continue to use the Philips consumer brand, as
well as Saeco, Gaggia, and Philips Walita, on its products and services.
• Philips Domestic Appliances is headquartered in the Netherlands and has business offices in more
than 100 countries.
PFRDA launches T+2 settlement for NPS withdrawal
• The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority recently reduced the turnaround time
for 'Partial Withdrawal' request of the National Pension Scheme to T+2 Settlement i.e. within 2
days of request.
• Earlier it was under T+4 settlement.
• Partial Withdrawal refers to a situation when a subscriber is withdrawing less than 25% of the
funds.
• However, this shall be done only after 10 years.
Direct Tax collections for 2022-23 grow 24% so far
• Direct Tax collections for 2022-23 are at 15.67 lakh crore rupees till 11Feb'23.
• The collections are 24.09% higher than gross collections for corresponding period of 2021-22.
• Direct Tax collection, net of refunds, stands at 12.98 lakh crore rupees which is 18.40% higher than
collections of 2021-22.
• This is 91.39% of the total Budget Estimates of Direct Taxes for 2022-23.
India's industrial production index grows 4.3% in December 2022
• As per Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation data, India's Industrial Production,
IIP index grew by 4.3 per cent in December 2022.
• It grew by 5.4% during April to December of the current fiscal 2022-23.
• The manufacturing sector's output grew by 2.6% in Dec 2022, while the mining output rose by
9.8% and electricity production increased by 10.4% during December.
Tata group to induct 250 aircraft from Airbus for Air India
• The Tata Group has signed a letter of intent with the American company, Airbus to acquire 250
aircraft, including 40 wide-body planes for Air India in February 2023.
• The airline has placed an order for 210 narrow-body A320neo jets.
• The Tata group acquired100% stake in Air India and a 100% stake in its arm Air India Express in
January 2022.
• Air India currently has a fleet of 113 aircraft.
India’s WPI inflation eases to 24-month low of 4.73% in January 2023
• India's annual Wholesale Price-based Inflation (WPI) eased to 4.73 percent in January 2023.
• In December 2022, the WPI-based inflation was 4.95% and in November, it was 6.12 percent.
• January WPI Inflation for food articles increased to 2.38%, up from 0.65 percent in December.
• It stood at 5.72 percent in December 2022 while the previous high of 6.77 percent was recorded in
October 2022.

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India's retail inflation rises to three-month high level of 6.52 %

• Retail inflation, based on the consumer price index (CPI), rose to 6.52 percent in January 2023
from December 2022's one-year low of 5.72 percent.
• As per the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation data, the retail inflation for
January stood at a three-month high level.
• Inflation in January grew mainly due to a rise in food inflation which climbed to 5.94 percent.
India received $89127 million, highest ever remittances in 2021-22
• India received foreign inward remittances of USD 89,127 million in 2021-22, which was the highest
ever received in a single year.
• The highest share of 5 major countries in inward remittances to India through Authorised Dealer
(ADs) banks are from the United States (23.4%), followed by United Arab Emirates (18%), United
Kingdom (6.8%), Singapore (5.7%) and Saudi Arabia (5.1%).
India’s unemployment rate declined to four-month low at 7.14% in Jan
• As per data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, India's unemployment rate declined
to a four-month low of 7.14% in January 2023.
• Unemployment rate during Dec'22 was 8.30%, while it was 8% in Nov'22 and 6.43% in Sept'22.
• The urban unemployment rate declined to 8.55% in Jan'23 from 10.09% in Dec'22, while the rural
unemployment rate slipped to 6.48% from 7.44%, the data showed.
NIA Launched ‘Pay As You Drive’ Vehicle Insurance Policy
• New India Assurance (NIA) has launched a ‘Pay as You Drive’ (PAYD) policy.
• It offers a comprehensive motor insurance policy that charges a premium based on the usage of
the vehicle.
• The policy has two components- Third Party cover and own-damage cover.
• The coverage will continue for the policy’s remaining duration even if the vehicle has been driven
beyond the threshold limit.
S&P Dow Jones will remove Adani Enterprise from sustainability indices
• Adani Enterprises will be removed from sustainability indices by S&P Dow Jones with effect from
7 Feb'23.
• The Indices comprise global sustainability leaders as identified by S&P Global through its
Corporate Sustainability Assessment.
• It represents top 10% of the largest 2,500 companies in the S&P Global Broad Market Index based
on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria.
Government e-Marketplace achieves a GMV of Rs. 1.5 lakh crore
• As on February 1st 2023, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has achieved ₹ 1.5 lakh crore of
Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) in FY23.
• The total number of transactions on GeM has crossed 1.3 crore.

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• GeM has over 66,000 government buyer organisations and over 58 lakh sellers and service
providers.
• GeM portal features over 11,000 product categories with more than 29 lakh listed products.
Union Budget 2023: Lab Grown Diamonds (LGD)
• In budget 2023, it was announced that Customs duty on the seeds used in lab-grown diamond
manufacturing will be reduced and a grant will be given to IITs to facilitate its growth.
• Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds that are produced using technology which mimics the
geological processes that grow natural diamonds.
• They are environment-friendly compared to earth-mined diamonds.
Budget 2023: National Digital Library for Children and Adolescent
• A National Digital Library for children and adolescents will be set-up for facilitating availability
of quality books across geographies, languages, genres and levels.
• States will be encouraged to set up physical libraries for them at panchayat and ward levels.
• State will also provide infrastructure for accessing National Digital Library resources.
Union Budget 2023: National Financial Information Registry to be setup
• A national financial information registry will be set up to serve as the central repository of financial
and ancillary information.
• This will facilitate efficient flow of credit, promote financial inclusion, and foster financial stability.
• A new legislative framework will govern this credit public infrastructure, and it will be designed in
consultation with the RBI.
Union Budget 2023: MISHTI Scheme for Mangrove plantations
• ‘Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes’- MISHTI Scheme was announced
in budget on 1 Feb'23.
• The main aim of the scheme is to take up mangrove plantations along the coastline and on salt
pan lands.
• It also aims to preserve Mangrove forests.
• MISHTI is to be implemented by converging CAMPA Fund, MGNREGS, and other sources.
Union Budget 2023: PM-PRANAM Scheme
• “PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth” (
PM-PRANAM) was announced in Budget 2023.
• Under the scheme, the govt. aims to incentivize States and Union Territories to promote
alternative fertilizers and balanced use of chemical fertilizers.
• The main objective of the scheme is to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture.
GST collection at Rs 1.55 lakh crore in January, second highest-ever
• The second-highest Gross GST collection has been made in the month of January 2023, breaching
earlier second-highest record in October 2022.
• Over 1,55,000 crore rupees gross GST revenue has been collected in the month of January.

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• January’s collection includes CGST of 28,963 crores, SGST of 36,730 crores, and IGST of 79,599
crores.
Union Budget 2023: Tax regime
• The rebate limit for individual taxpayers increased from ₹5 lakh to ₹7 lakh a year.
• That is person in new tax regime, with income up to ₹7 lakh will not have to pay any tax.
• It increased tax exemption limit from ₹2.5 lakh to ₹3 lakh.
• The new slabs are:
• ₹0-3 lakh - no tax
• ₹3-6 lakh - 5%
• ₹6-9 lakh - 10%
• ₹9-12 lakh - 15%
• ₹12-15 lakh- 20%
• Above ₹15 lakh -30%
Union Budget 2023: Mahila Samman Saving Certificate announced
• A new saving scheme ‘Mahila Samman Saving Certificate’ for women and girls was announced in
the Union Budget 2023-24.
• The one-time small saving scheme ‘Mahila Samman Saving Certificate’ will be available for 2
years up till March 2025.
• Certificate will allow maximum deposit of up to Rs 2 lakh at 7.5 percent interest to the
beneficiaries.
Union Budget 2023: PM VIshwakarma Kaushal Samman (PM VIKAS) announced
• PM VIKAS is a package of assistance for traditional artisans and craftspeople.
• The scheme will enable them to improve the quality, scale and reach of their products, integrating
them with the MSME value chain.
• Components of scheme include financial support, skill training, knowledge of modern digital
techniques, promotion, market linkage, digital payments, and social security.
Union Budget 2023: ‘Saptarishi’, 7 priorities of the budget announced
• Budget adopted following 7 priorities.
• They complement each other and act as ‘Saptarishi’ guiding us through the Amrit Kaal.
• They are supposed to guide the country toward a better future and handle challenges it is
currently experiencing.
• Inclusive Development
• Reaching the Last Mile
• Infrastructure and Investment
• Unleashing the Potential
• Green Growth
• Youth Power
• Financial Sector

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Union Budget 2023: Govt. to set up Agriculture Accelerator Fund

• In Union Budget, govt. announced that it will set up an Agriculture Accelerator Fund to encourage
agri- startups by young entrepreneurs in rural areas.
• Fund will aim at bringing innovative and affordable solutions for challenges faced by farmers.
• It will also bring in modern technologies to transform agricultural practices, increase productivity
and profitability.
Union Budget 2023: India to become global hub for millets (Shree Anna)
• Budget highlighted importance of millets as means of sustainable cultivation that can raise
income of small farmers in arid regions.
• To make India a global hub, Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad will be made into a
center of excellence for sharing best practices, research and technology at international level.
• India is largest producer of millets in the world.
Union Budget 2023: Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission announced
• It was announced in Union Budget that a Mission to eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2047 will be
launched.
• It will entail awareness creation, universal screening of 7 crore people in the age group of 0-40
years in affected tribal areas.
• It will also perform counselling of people through collaborative efforts of central ministries and
state governments.
Union Budget 2023: Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission announced
• This mission aims to provide basic necessities such as housing, water, roads, telecom, education,
and health in areas inhabited by PVTGs.
• Particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) are the most vulnerable and backward tribes among
Scheduled Tribes.
• An amount of 15,000 cr will be made available to implement the Mission in next 3 years under
Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes.
Union Budget 2023: Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF)
• Govt. announced that it will set up an Rs.10000 crore per year UIDF, to be used for creating
infrastructure in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
• It would be established through the use of priority sector lending shortfall.
• It will be managed by National Housing Bank.
• States will be encouraged to leverage resources from grants of 15th Finance Commission, as well
as existing scheme.

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Defence Current Affairs

INS Sukanya arrived at Port Colombo of Sri Lanka on official visit
• The Indian Naval Ship, INS Sukanya arrived at the Port Colombo of Sri Lanka on 27 Feb 2023 on
an official visit.
• The 101 metre long Offshore patrol vessel along with 106 crew members, was welcomed by the Sri
Lanka Navy.
• The crew of the ship will participate in several programmes to promote cooperation between the
navies of both countries.
In a historic first, 8 aircraft of IAF land at Saudi Air Force base
• In a historic first, eight aircraft of the Indian Air Force landed at a Royal Saudi Air Force base on
26 February 2023.
• The Indian contingent comprising 145 Air Warriors with its complement of 05 MIRAGE, 02 C17 and
01 IL 78 tankers had an overnight halt in the Kingdom.
• On 27 February the Contingent left for participating in the forthcoming Cobra Warrior 23 Exercise
in the UK.
IAF contingent to participate in Exercise Cobra Warrior in UK
• An Indian Air Force contingent comprising 145 air warriors will participate in Exercise Cobra
Warrior at the Waddington Air Force Base of the Royal Air Force in UK.
• It is a multilateral Air exercise in which Finland, Sweden, South Africa, US and Singapore are also
participating.
• The IAF will be participating with five Mirage 2000 fighters.
• The exercise is scheduled from March 6-24, 2022.
Indian Air Force to participate in Exercise Desert Flag VIII in UAE
• Indian Air Force is participating in Exercise Desert Flag VIII in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from
27 Feb to 17 March 2023.
• This is the first occasion when the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas shall participate in an
international flying exercise outside India.
• The exercise aims to participate in diverse fighter engagements and learn from the best practices
of various Air Forces.
Indian Submarine docks in Indonesia for the first time
• India's conventional diesel-electric submarine INS Sindhukesari has on 22 Feb'23 became the 1st
Indian submarine to dock in Indonesia.
• This is an attempt to strengthen bilateral relations with Indonesia as part of diplomatic-military
outreach to ASEAN countries.
• The docking shows India’s increasing military outreach in the region.
• INS Sindhukesari was designed as a part of Project 877.

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India-Uzbekistan training Exercise DUSTLIK to begin in Uttarakhand

• As part of a military-to-military exchange program between the Indian and Uzbekistan Army, the
4th edition of biennial training Exercise DUSTLIK (2023) will be begin on 21 Feb'23 in Pithoragarh,
Uttarakhand.
• The exercise will be conducted till 5 March'23.
• The Indian contingent will be represented by the 14th Battalion, The GARHWAL RIFLES, part of
Western Command in this bilateral exercise.
South Africa starts joint military exercise Mosi II with Russia-China
• South Africa started a joint naval military exercise 'Mosi II' with Russia and China in the Indian
Ocean in February 2023.
• The South African National Defence Force says 350 members of its armed forces will take part.
• China is South Africa's top bilateral trading partner.
• Russia has announced it will send its Admiral Gorshkov warship, which carries Zircon hypersonic
missiles
IAF develops ‘Vayulink’ platform for steady jammer-proof communication
• The Indian Air Force has developed an innovative solution ‘Vayulink’ that would aid pilots in
dealing with bad weather and also provide jammer-proof uninterrupted communication with the
base station.
• The data link communication uses the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) that
is also known as NAVIC, to send radio communication to the base station when the signals are
low.
Indo-Japan military exercise 'Dharma Guardian' to begin on 17 February
• The 4th edition of the joint military exercise between India and Japan, "EX Dharma Guardians"
will be conducted from 17 February to 2 March 2023 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.
India earmarks 75% of capital procurement budget for domestic industry
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that a record 75% of the India's defence capital
procurement budget has been earmarked for domestic industry in 2023-24.
• In 2023-24, Defence Ministry has been allocated a total Budget of ₹ 5.94 lakh cr, which is 13.18%
of the total budget.
• Capital outlay pertaining to modernisation and infrastructure development has been increased
to ₹1.63 lakh cr.
Cabinet approves proposal to raise seven new battalions of ITBP
• The Cabinet Committee on Security, on 15 Feb'23, approved a proposal to raise 7 new battalions
of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

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• The approval has also been given for an operational border base with a fresh strength of 9,400
personnel for the ITBP.
• This manpower will be utilised for manning 47 new border posts and a dozen 'staging camps' or
troops bases along the Line of Actual Control.
Indian Army gets world’s 1st fully operational 'SWARM' Drone System
• NewSpace Research company has delivered 'SWARM' drones to Indian Army in February 2023.
• It makes the Army the first armed force in the world to operationalise SWARM drones.
• The swarm of 100 drones is capable of hitting targets at least 50 kms away into enemy territory.
• These drones are capable of carrying bombs of a particular weight and can hit targets like moving
armoured columns.
The 6th edition of Indo-US exercise 'TARKASH' concludes in Chennai
• The 6th edition of the joint exercise 'TARKASH', held from 16 January to 14 February 2023, was
concluded in Chennai by the National Security Guard (NSG) and the US Special Operations Force
(SOF).
• “Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Terror Response” has been included in
this exercise for the first time.
• CBRN are classified as weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
US Air Force's B-1B Lancer lands at Aero India 2023
• Two US B-1B Lancer heavy bombers have arrived in India for the Aero India 2023 air show, which
started on Monday Feb 13-17, 2023.
• The B-1B Lancer (also known as `Bone’, (for B-one) is considered the backbone of America’s long-
range bomber force.
• It carries the largest conventional payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the US Air
Force.
PM inaugurates 14th edition of Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 14th edition of Aero India on 13 Feb'23.
• It is being held at Air Force Station, Yelahanka in Bengaluru.
• Theme of Aero India 2023: The Runway to a Billion Opportunities
• In line with the PM’s vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’, the event will focus on displaying
indigenous technologies and forging partnerships with foreign companies.
INS Vikrant hosts first landing and take-off trials of LCA, MiG-29K
• The Indian Navy's light combat aircraft (LCA) and MiG-29K aircraft have successfully conducted
maiden landing and take-off operations aboard indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) INS Vikrant on 6
February 2023.
• INS Vikrant was commissioned into the Navy by PM Narendra Modi on 2 September 2022 at the
Kochi Shipyard.
• It has been designed by the Warship Design Bureau.

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Asia's largest Helicopter factory opened in Tumakuru, Karnataka

• Prime Minister Modi inaugurated Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) helicopter factory at
Tumakuru on 6 Feb'23
• This helicopter factory is Asia’s largest helicopter manufacturing facility.
• It will initially produce Light Utility Helicopters.
• Factory will be expanded to manufacture Light Combat Helicopter and Indian Multirole
Helicopter as well as for repair and overhaul of them in future.
Major General Girish Kalia takes over elite Vajr Division
• In Jammu and Kashmir, Major General Girish Kalia on 1 Feb'23 took over the charge as General
Officer Commanding of the elite Vajr Division from Major General Abhijit S Pendharkar.
• He was commissioned on 14 Dec 1991 from Indian Military Academy, Dehradun into MADRAS
Regiment.
• Prior to this at he was working at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.
• He received Vishisht Seva Medal in 2020.
Indian Army carries out military exercise Trishakti Prahar in Bengal
• A joint training exercise “Exercise Trishakti Prahar” was conducted in North Bengal from 21 to 31
Jan'23.
• The aim of exercise was to practice battle preparedness of Security Forces using latest weapons
and equipment in a networked, integrated environment, involving Army, the Indian Air Force and
CAPFs.
• It culminated with an Integrated Fire Power Exercise in Teesta Field Firing Ranges.

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Government Schemes and Policies Current Affairs

IRCTC to operate Baba Saheb Ambedkar Yatra tour package in April 2023
• Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will be operating the Baba Saheb
Ambedkar Yatra tour package under the “Dekho Apna Desh” initiative in April 2023 from New
Delhi.
• It will cover some of the prominent sites associated with the life of Dr. BR Ambedkar.
• Under the “Dekho Apna Desh” initiative, the Ministry of Railways is operating Bharat Gaurav
Tourist Trains across India.
Govt revises norms for MPLADS Scheme
• The govt. on 22 Feb'23 announced revised guidelines for Members of Parliament Local Area
Development Scheme-2023 (MPLADS).
• The revised rules will enable MPs to recommend developmental works as per the requirement of
their constituency.
• A new website has been unveiled to track funds flow under the scheme.
• The scheme was discontinued during Covid-19.
• It was restored on 10 November 2021.
Union Cabinet approves 'Vibrant Villages Programme' for FY 2022-26
• The Union Cabinet on 15 February 2023 approved “Vibrant Villages Programme” (VVP) for the
Financial Years 2022-23 to 2025-26 with financial allocation of Rs 4800 crore.
• The scheme will provide funds for development of essential infrastructure in 4 states and 1 union
territory along the northern land border of the country.
• In the first phase 663 Villages will be taken up in the programme.
SEBI launches institutional mechanism to curb market abuse
• Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in February 2023, proposed an institutional
mechanism that will require stock brokers to put in place systems for the detection and prevention
of market abuse.
• The mechanism will monitor and control unauthorized trading and will stop firms from facilitating
mule accounts.
• It will also focus on ending spoofing and disproportionate trading.
Central govt issues framework to implement 'Vivad se Vishwas-I' scheme
• Finance Ministry has issued an order to implement the “Vivad se Vishwas-I” scheme for micro,
small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Feb'23.
• It envisages relief by returning the forfeited amount for not fulfilling contractual obligation during
Covid.
• Central Ministries have been asked to refund performance security/bid security and liquidated
damages forfeited/ deducted during the pandemic.

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Government extends PM-KUSUM scheme till March 2026

• The government has extended the PM-KUSUM scheme till March 2026.
• The decision was taken as the scheme's implementation was significantly affected due to COVID.
• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) was launched in
2019.
• It aimed at adding solar capacity of 30,800 MW by 2022 with the total central financial support
of Rs 34,422 crore.
Union govt extends Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban scheme up to 2024
• Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri announced that the Pradhan
Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) scheme has been extended up to 2024.
• The central government has sanctioned Rs 2 lakh crore under the scheme, out of which Rs 1.36
lakh crore has been released so far.
• Around 123 lakh houses were sanctioned under the PMAY-U during the financial year 2021-22.

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Days and Events Current Affairs

National Science Day: 28 February
• National Science Day is celebrated every year on 28 February.
• The theme 2023 is “Global Science for Global Wellbeing”.
• The day is celebrated to mark the discovery of the “Raman Effect” by physicist, Sir CV Raman on
this day in 1928.
• For this discovery, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930.
• In 1954, he was honoured with India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.
Rajendra Prasad's Death Anniversary: 28 February
• 2023 marked 60th death anniversary of India’s first President Dr Rajendra Prasad.
• He was born on December 3, 1884, at Siwan, Bihar and last breathed on Feb 28, 1963.
• He accompanied Mahatma Gandhi to the Champaran district of Bihar to address the grievances
of local peasants.
• He became the President of India on Jan 26, 1950, and went on to wining the presidency for 3
consecutive terms.
Chandra Shekhar Azad's death anniversary: 27 February
• 27 February is observed as the death anniversary of freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad.
• He passed away in 1931 after he shot himself in the head.
• He was born on 23rd July 1906 in Bhabra, Madhya Pradesh.
• He was well known for the key role he played in reorganizing the Hindustan Socialist Republican
Association (HRA).
• He was arrested for joining the non-cooperation movement.
World NGO Day: 27 February
• World NGO Day is celebrated on February 27 every year.
• It aims to inspire people to become more actively involved within non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) and encourage a greater symbiosis between NGOs.
• It was first celebrated in 2011 under the theme "Together we make a difference".
• The theme for the year 2023 is "the role and influence of NGOs in advancing human rights."
For the first time, Govt to celebrate Santh Sevalal Maharaj Jayanti
• For the first time, the 284th birth anniversary of Santh Sevalal Maharaj, the spiritual leader of the
Banjara Community was celebrated by the Ministry of Culture, Govt of India on 26-27 Feb 2023.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah was the chief guest at the event.
• It is being celebrated under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• Santh Sevalal Maharaj was born on 15 Feb 1739 at Surgondankoppa, Karnataka.
25 February: Vinayak Damodar Savarkar death anniversary
• Savarkar was an Indian independence activist, politician, lawyer and writer.

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• He founded a secret society called Abhinav Bharat Society.

• He went to the UK and was involved with organizations such as India House and the Free India
Society.
• Savarkar wrote a book titled ‘The History of the War of Indian Independence’ on 1857 Revolt.
• He also wrote the book ‘Hindutva: who is hindu?’.
Central Excise Day: 24 February
• It is celebrated every year on February 24 to honor the service of the Central Board of Excise and
Customs (CBEC) to the country.
• The day is celebrated to commemorate the legislation of the Central Excise and Salt act on 24
February 1944.
• Customs, GST, Central Excise & Service Tax (CST), and Narcotics are administered by the Central
Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in India.
World Scout Day: 22 February
• World Scout Day is observed annually on February 22 by millions of Boy Scouts worldwide.
• It honours Lord Robert Baden-Powell, who founded the Boy Scout Movement, on the day of his
birthday
• The theme of World Scout Day 2023 is “Our World: Our Equal Future: The Environment and
Gender Equality”.
• The day is also celebrated as World Thinking Day across the world by Girl Guides/Girl Scouts.
International Mother Language Day: 21 February
• It is celebrated annually on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity
and to promote multilingualism.
• The theme for 2023 is 'multilingual education - a necessity to transform education.'
• It was formally recognized by the UN General Assembly with the adoption of a UN resolution in
2002.
• The idea to celebrate the Day was the initiative of Bangladesh.
World Day of Social Justice: 20 February
• World Day of Social Justice is observed annually on February 20 to encourage people to see how
social justice affects poverty eradication.
• At its 62nd session, the UN General Assembly, in November 2007 proclaimed 20 February as
World Day of Social Justice.
• The theme for World Day of Social Justice 2023 is "Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing
Opportunities for Social Justice".
Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh Foundation Day: 20 February
• Northern States Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh celebrate their Foundation Day on February 20,
since 1987.
• Arunachal Pradesh became the 24th state of India and is also known as the ‘land of the rising
sun’.

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• Mizoram was declared a UT in 1972 under the Northeast Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.
• It became the 23rd state of India after the 53rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution, 1986.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti: 19 February
• February 19 is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of
the Maratha Empire.
• He was born on February 19, 1630, in Shivneri Fort.
• In 1870, Mahatma Phule started the celebration of Shivaji Jayanti.
• In 1674, he was formally crowned at Raigad Fort and obtained the Chhatrapati title.
• His father Shahaji Bhonsle was a Maratha general.
Dadasaheb Phalke's death anniversary: 16 February
• Dhundiraj Govind Phalke also known as Dadasaheb Phalke is regarded as the ‘father of Indian
cinema’.
• He was a producer, director and screenwriter.
• He made Raja Harishchandra in 1913, which is considered 1st Indian feature film.
• The Indian government has named the award for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema the
Dadasaheb Phalke Award in his honour.
• He passed away on February 16, 1944.
International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD): 15 February
• The day is observed on February 15 every year.
• The day was created by Childhood Cancer International, an umbrella organisation of various child
cancer support groups created by parents.
• The day is dedicated to raising awareness and showing support for children and adolescents
suffering from cancer.
• The theme for the three-year (2021-2023) campaign for ICCD is ‘Better Survival’.
International Epilepsy Day: 13 February 2023
• International Epilepsy Day was observed on 13 Feb 2023 across the globe to raise awareness of
Epilepsy and its impact on individuals & communities around the world.
• An event is organized on this day by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the
International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) to raise awareness about epilepsy.
• Epilepsy is a nervous disorder that affects brain activity.
2019 Pulwama attack: 14 February
• February 14, 2023 marks four years of the 2019 Pulwama attack when 40 Central Reserve Police
Force (CRFP) personnel were martyred in a suicide bombing attack.
• On February 14, 2019, a terror attack was carried out in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir by a
suicide bomber.
• The suicide bomber, identified as Jaish-e-Mohammad's Adil Ahmed Dar, rammed his vehicle into
a bus with the CRPF convoy.

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National Women’s Day: 13 February

• The day is celebrated on 13 Feb every year.
• In recognition of Sarojini Naidu’s contributions to women’s rights and Independence movement,
her birthday is celebrated as Women’s Day in India.
• It is celebrated to honour the achievements of women in the country, especially in the field of
politics, culture, and economy.
• Events are organised to encourage more women to take up leadership roles.
World Radio Day: 13 February
• World Radio Day is celebrated on 13 February to raise awareness about the importance of radio.
• The day was decided by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) on 3 November 2011 during its 36th conference.
• The theme for the 12th edition of World Radio Day (2023), is "Radio and Peace" highlighting
independent radio as a pillar for conflict prevention.
PM Modi inaugurates Dayanand Saraswati's 200th birth anniversary event
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the year-long celebrations commemorating the 200th
birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati on 12 February 2023.
• Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, born on February 12,1824, was a social reformer who founded
Arya Samaj in 1875 to counter the prevalent social inequities.
• The book 'Satyarth Prakash' was written by Dayanand Saraswati in 1875.
World Unani Day 2023: 11 February
• World Unani Day is celebrated on February 11 marking the birth anniversary of Hakim Ajmal Khan.
• Hakim Ajmal khan was a famous Indian Unani scholar and founder of scientific study in the Unani
system of medicine.
• The theme for 2023: Unani Medicine for Public Health
• Unani, also called Yunani is Greek medicine.
• It was mainly developed by the Arabs and Persians.
International Darwin Day: 12 February
• It is observed every year on 12 February to commemorate the birthday of Charles Darwin.
• He was born on 12 February 1809 in England.
• The day focuses on the contribution of Charles Darwin to science and also promotes science in
general.
• Darwin was an English naturalist whose scientific theory of evolution by natural selection formed
the foundation of modern evolutionary studies.
Thomas Alva Edison Birth Anniversary: 11 February
• The birth anniversary of Thomas Alva Edison is celebrated throughout the world on February 11th.
• He was born on 11th February 1847, in Milan, Ohio, USA.
• He holds the world record of 1093 patents.

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• His inventions include the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and early versions of the
electric light bulb.
• He was awarded the “Officer of the Legion of Honour” by France in 1881.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science: 11 February
• The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated annually on 11 February to
promote the full and equal access and participation of females in Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics fields.
• The United Nations General Assembly passed the resolution in Dec 2015 to celebrate the day.
• The theme for 2023 is 'IDEAS (Innovate, Demonstrate, Elevate, Advance, Sustain).'
World Pulses Day: 10 February
• The United Nations General Assembly has designated 10 February as World Pulses Day to
recognize the importance of pulse crops.
• Pulses are the edible seeds of leguminous plants cultivated for food.
• In 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 2016 as the International Year
of Pulses.
• “Pulses for a Sustainable Future” is the theme for World Pulses Day 2023.
Baba Amte death anniversary: 9 February
• February 9 marks the death anniversary of Indian social activist, Baba Amte.
• He founded Anandwan, an ashram dedicated to the treatment, rehabilitation, and empowerment
of leprosy patients.
• He is also known as the modern Gandhi of India.
• He passed away on 9 Feb 2008.
• He has received numerous awards including Ramon Magsaysay Award (1985), Padma Vibhushan
(1986), Templeton Prize (1990),
Sant Ravidas Birth Anniversary: 5 February
• It is celebrated on Magh Purnima.
• He was a 14th-century saint and reformer of the Bhakti movement in North India.
• It is believed that he was born in Varanasi in a cobbler’s family.
• He gained prominence due to his belief in one God and his unbiased religious poems.
• He dedicated his whole life to the abolition of the caste system and openly despised the notion
of a Brahminical society.
Lata Mangeshkar's first death anniversary: 6 February 2023
• She passed away on 6 Feb 2022.
• She was also known as Swarkokila and the Nightingale of India.
• She was the first musician from India to perform with the Wren Orchestra at London’s renowned
Royal Albert Hall in 1974.
• She won National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 1974, Padma Vibhushan in 1989,
and Bharat Ratna in 2001 for her remarkable contributions to the music industry.

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International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM: 6 February

• International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is observed on 6
February to spread awareness and educate people about the consequences and problems that
females faced due to genital mutilation.
• It was first introduced by UNICEF in 2003.
• The theme of 2023 is “Partnership with Men and Boys to Transform Social and Gender Norms to
End Female Genital Mutilation”.
International Day of Human Fraternity: 4 February
• International Day of Human Fraternity was instituted to celebrate the historic document titled
“Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together“, being signed by the Grand Imam of Al-
Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, and Pope Francis on Feb 4, 2019.
• It was was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 21, 2020.
• Motto: Harmony in difference
World Cancer Day: 4 February
• World Cancer Day is an international day marked on 4 February to raise awareness of cancer
and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.
• World Cancer Day is led by the Union for International Cancer Control to support the goals of the
World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008.
• The theme for the year 2023 is “Close the care Gap: Uniting our voices and taking action.”
World Wetlands Day: 2 February
• Every year on 2nd February, World Wetlands Day is celebrated globally.
• This day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in
Ramsar, Iran.
• It was first celebrated in 1997.
• The theme of World Wetlands Day 2023 is “It’s Time for Wetlands Restoration,” which highlights
the urgent need to prioritize wetland restoration.
World Interfaith Harmony Week begins on 1 Feb 2023
• World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual event observed during the first week of February (1-
7), after United Nations General Assembly designation in 2010.
• The week was started by HM King Abdullah II and HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan.
• These celebrations focus on creating mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue to
promote harmony between people regardless of their faith.
Indian Coast Guard Day: 1 February
• Every year on February 1, Indian Coast Guard Day is observed.
• The Indian Coast Guard was founded on February 1, 1977, and the day is recognized as Indian
Coast Guard Day.
• In 2023, the Indian Coast Guard is celebrating its 46th Raising Day.

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• The current Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard is Virender Singh Pathania.
• Headquarters: New Delhi

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International Current Affairs

Nokia changes its logo for the first time in 60 years
• Nokia, a smartphone and telecom equipment manufacturer, has changed its logo for the first time
in nearly 60 years.
• The new logo was launched by CEO Pekka Lundmark on 26 Feb 2023.
• The new logo comprises five different shapes forming the word NOKIA.
• Also, the company has dropped the iconic blue colour and now there's a range of colours
depending on the use.
UAE to send its second astronaut to space on a long haul mission
• UAE‘s second astronaut, Sultan Al Neyadi - Mission Specialist, Primary Crew, Crew-6 embarked
on the historic space mission on 27 Feb 2023 from Kennedy Space Center, USA.
• UAE is only the 11th country to send an astronaut on a long-term mission to space with this
mission.
• SpaceX Crew-6 is the sixth crewed operational NASA 'Commercial Crew flight' of a Crew Dragon
spacecraft.
FATF suspends Russia's membership over Ukraine war
• Global anti-money laundering watchdog the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has suspended
Russia's membership over the Ukraine war.
• FATF said that the Russian's actions unacceptably run counter to the FATF core principles aiming
to promote security, safety, and the integrity of the global financial system.
• It added South Africa to its "grey list" of countries under special scrutiny.
China launches communication satellite Zhongxing-26
• China on 23 Feb'23 launched the communication satellite Zhongxing-26 at a cost of 333 million
USD.
• It was launched on Long March 3B rocket.
• The main objective of the satellite is to provide broadband connectivity for aviation and ship-
related operations.
• It is China’s first satellite to provide more than 100 Gbps speed.
• It was launched by the China Academy of Space Technology.
UN approves resolution calling for Russia to leave Ukraine
• The U.N. General Assembly approved a nonbinding resolution on 23 Feb'23, that calls for Russia
to end hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its forces.
• The U.N. has sent a strong message on the eve of the first anniversary of the invasion.
• The countries that voted against resolution: Belarus, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria, North Korea, Eritrea
and Mali.
• India abstained from voting.

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6.8-magnitude earthquake hits Eastern Tajikistan

• An earthquake of about 6.8 magnitude shook eastern Tajikistan at 5:37 a.m. local time on 23
Feb'23.
• Its impact was also felt in China and other neighbouring countries.
• The earthquake struck the mountainous Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous region which was
earlier this month hit by a series of deadly avalanches.
• The epicentre was about 82 kms from the nearest border with China.
Russia launches Soyuz Space craft to bring back stranded astronauts
• Russia's space agency Roscosmos successfully launched an empty SOYUZ spacecraft to bring
back the stranded astronauts in space.
• Three astronauts were stranded in space as the Soyuz MS-22 capsule started leaking coolant.
• Now, with the leak, the astronauts will return only by September.
• The leak was due to a micrometeoroid, possibly the size of a small rock hitting the satellite.
7-year-old Prince becomes first digital citizen of Bhutan
• Bhutan's Royal Highness The Gyalsey (Prince) Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, has become the
country's first digital citizen by onboarding with the Bhutan National Digital Identity (NDI) mobile
wallet in February 2023.
• Bhutan NDI uses cutting-edge technology to provide citizens with secure and verifiable identity
credentials, ensuring the privacy and protection of their personal information.
Russia suspends START, the last Nuclear Treaty
• Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia is suspending its participation in the
New START, the last remaining major military agreement with the United States.
• The name START comes from the original “Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty”, known as START-I,
which was signed between the US and the erstwhile USSR in 1991, and came into force in 1994.
Seattle becomes first US city to ban caste discrimination
• Seattle has become the first city in the United States to explicitly ban discrimination based on
caste.
• The city council in the capital of Washington state voted to add caste to the city’s anti-
discrimination laws.
• A 2016 survey by the group found that one in four Dalits in the US had faced verbal or physical
assault and two out of every three said they had faced discrimination at work.
South Korea court recognises same-sex couple rights for first time
• A South Korean court has for the first time recognised the rights of a same-sex couple in the
country.
• The court has ruled that homosexual couples in the country are entitled to the same type of
spousal coverage allowed under the national health insurance service as heterosexual couples.
• The ruling took place on February 21, 2023 by Seoul High Court.

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World’s highest weather station rebuilt on Mount Everest

• The team of mountaineers and scientists re-installed a weather station at an altitude of 8,810
meters at Mount Everest in Feb 2023.
• The world's highest altitude was destroyed due to hurricane-force winds on Mount Everest.
• The group has been led by an electrician and mountain guide, Tenzing Gyalzen Sherpa.
• It is the first-ever terrestrial weather station that is placed above 8,000 meters.
North Korea test fires Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile
• North Korea successfully test-fired a 'Hwasong-15' Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) on 18
February 2023.
• It was launched into the sea off Japan's west coast.
• Hwasong-15 was first tested in 2017.
• The UN Security Council bans North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs.
• It is the first ballistic missile developed by North Korea to reach all of the United States mainlands.
UN Security Council holds first-ever debate on 'Sea-level Rise'
• The United Nations Security Council held its first-ever debate on sea level rise in February 2023.
• The debate was titled "Sea-Level Rise: Implications for International Peace and Security."
• According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the rate of sea level rise has doubled
since 1993, with a 10-millimeter (0.4 inches) increase since January 2020 to a new record high in
2022.
Spain passes 'menstrual leave' law in first for Europe
• The Spanish govt. approved a law granting paid medical leave to women suffering from severe
menstrual pain - a first for any European country.
• Such facilities are presently available in countries like Japan, Indonesia and Zambia.
• The law allows employees experiencing period pain to as much time off as they need.
• The state social security system will compensate for the sick leave.
EU formally bans gas, diesel car sales from 2035
• The European Parliament has approved the law to ban the sale of new gas and diesel cars in the
EU.
• The ban will come into effect in 2035.
• The decision was made to increase the use of Electric Vehicles.
• The main objective of it is to achieve zero emissions.
• To execute the plan successfully, the European Commission will prepare a report on the progress
every two years starting from 2025.
Equatorial Guinea confirms first Marburg virus disease outbreak
• The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the first-ever outbreak of Marburg disease in
Equatorial Guinea in February 2023.

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• Marburg virus disease is a highly virulent disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, with a fatality
ratio of up to 88%.
• It is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease.
• Equatorial Guinea has reported 16 suspected cases of Marburg virus.
New Zealand declares national emergency as Cyclone Gabrielle eases
• The New Zealand government on 14 Feb 2023, declared a national state of emergency after
Cyclone Gabrielle lashed the North Island.
• Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread flooding, landslides, and huge ocean swells across the
North Island.
• This latest disaster is the third national state of emergency after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake
and the Covid pandemic in 2020.
Nikos Christodoulides elected as the new president of Cyprus
• Nikos Christodoulides has been elected as the next President of Cyprus on 12 Feb'23.
• Christodoulides, defeated fellow diplomat Andreas Mavroyanis in the presedential race.
• Christodoulides is supported by the Democratic Party, the Movement for Social Democracy and
the Democratic Alignment.
• Previously, he was appointed Government Spokesperson in 2014 and Foreign Minister in 2018.
Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita resigns
• Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita stepped down from her position on 10 February 2023.
• She cited lack of support in the former Soviet Republic, as her reason for resignation.
• Moldova's President Maia Sandu has accepted Gavrilita's resignation.
• Dorin Recean has been appointed as designate Prime Minister.
• Ms. Gavrilita's Party won a majority in elections in August 2021.
South Africa declares 'State of Disaster' over electricity crisis
• South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, on 9 February 2023, declared a national "state of
disaster" over power shortages in the country.
• South Africa is currently facing several crises, including issues such as a power crisis,
unemployment, etc.
• The President announced that a Minister of Power would be appointed to deal with the matter
more effectively and promptly.
Nearly 600 sea lions reported dead after bird flu outbreak in Peru
• Peru announced that nearly 600 sea lions and 55,000 wild birds have died of the H5N1 bird flu
virus in February 2023.
• Dead birds include pelicans, different types of gulls and penguins.
• Peru has announced the Biological Vigilance Protocol.
• Bird flu is a highly contagious viral disease that affects species of food-producing bird as well as
domesticated birds and wild animals.

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Devastating earthquakes hit Turkey & Syria, worst disaster in 84 years

• A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Turkey and Syria on 6 February 2023.
• It was one of the strongest to hit the region in more than 100 years and struck 23 kilometers east
of Nurdagi in Turkey's Gaziantep province at a depth of 24.1 kilometers.
• Turkey's worst earthquake disaster was in 1939 when 33,000 people died in Turkey's eastern
Erzincan province.
Sri Lanka celebrates 75th Independence Day
• Sri Lanka celebrated 75 years of Independence on 4 February 2023, under the theme Namo Namo
Matha – A step towards a century.
• The ceremony of the Independence Day Celebrations was held in Colombo.
• A special cultural arts festival Lankaralanka was also held at Independence Square in Colombo.
• India's Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan participated in the event.
Australia announces removal of British monarchy from its banknotes
• Australia announced that it will erase the British monarch from its banknotes, replacing the late
Queen Elizabeth II’s image on its $5 note with a design honoring Indigenous culture.
• The central bank’s decision to leave her successor Charles III off the $5 note means no Britain-
based monarch will remain on Australia’s paper currency.
• The existing $5 note will remain legal tender.
US reopens embassy in Solomon Islands after 30 year
• The United States reopened its embassy in the Solomon Islands on Thursday after a 30-year, part
of a bid to counter China's growing influence in the South Pacific.
• The United States closed its embassy in the capital Honiara in 1993 after the end of the Cold War.
• The Solomon Islands, a nation of hundreds of islands is located in the Pacific Ocean.
• Solomon Islands PM: Manasseh Sogavare
IMF approves $4.7 billion Bangladesh support package
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 31 January 2023 approved a total of USD 4.7 billion
loan for Bangladesh.
• It includes USD 3.3 billion under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and Extended Fund Facility
(EFF) and USD 1.4 billion under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) for Bangladesh.
• Bangladesh is the first country in Asia to receive financing under the RSF.

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MoU and Agreements Current Affairs

APEDA signs MoU with Lulu group for export promotion of millets
• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) signed an
MoU with Lulu Hypermarket LLC for the export promotion of millets in Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) countries on February 21, 2023.
• As per the MoU, the Lulu Group will facilitate promotional activities for millet products and enable
the country to display millets and its value-added products.
CSC Academy and NIELIT sign MoU to enhance digital literacy in India
• CSC Academy and NIELIT (National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology) have
signed an MoU to enhance digital literacy and skill development in India.
• Under the MoU, CSC Academy and NIELIT will work together to develop training programs in
various fields of technology, such as skill development, virtual academy, and content and
certifications to mutual partners.
India-Seychelles sign pact on information sharing in maritime security
• The Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region of India and the Regional Coordination
Operations Centre,Seychelles signed a MoU on maritime cooperation on 21 Feb'23.
• The MoU aims to promote collaboration between the two Centres towards enhancing maritime
domain awareness, information sharing and expertise development.
• They also signed agreement on sharing of white shipping information.
Auckland University, Tata Memorial Hospital sign MoU for cancer care
• Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Mumbai, and the University of Auckland signed an MoU on 22 Feb
2023, to engage in long-term cooperation in cancer care.
• The MoU aims to include a digital platform for clinical trials to track study-related activities for
patients, investigators, and regulators in cancer treatment care.
• TMH is the largest cancer care hospital and research center in India.
Cabinet approves signing of India-Guyana air services agreement
• The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of an air services agreement between India and
Guyana.
• The agreement will provide the legal framework for air operations between two countries.
• Currently, India has air services agreements with around 110 countries.
• Indians have a sizeable presence in Guyana and are the largest ethnic group comprising about
40 per cent of the population.
CWC, IIT-Roorkee to setup International Center of Excellence for Dams
• The Central Water Commission (CWC) signed an MoU with IIT, Roorkee in February 2023, to
develop International Centre of Excellence for Dams (ICED) under Dam Rehabilitation and
Improvement Project Phase II and III.

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• IIT-Roorkee will provide specialized technical support in investigations, modelling, research and
innovations, and technical support services to the Indian and overseas dam owners.
SPMCIL signs MoU with TERI under CSR initiatives
• The Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) and the Energy
Resources Institute (TERI) have signed an MoU for the integrated development of village Model
in February 2023.
• The MoU is for the integrated development of village for Social Development, Model Village
Siroliya, Dewas, Madhya Pradesh.
• TERI was set up as a Tata Energy Research Institute in 1974.
India and Fiji sign MoU on visa exemption
• India and Fiji have signed a MoU on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official
passports.
• Under this agreement, diplomatic and official passport holders will be able to enter, transit, and
stay in each other territories without a visa for a period not exceeding 90 days.
• The MoU will be helpful in encouraging greater travel between both countries.
BEL signs MoU with IAI for LORA weapon system
• At Aero India 2023, Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has signed an MoU with Israel Aerospace
Industries for domestic manufacture and supply of its LORA Weapon System for the Indian Tri-
services.
• Under this, BEL will manufacture the system.
• LORA (Long Range Attack) is a sea-to-ground and ground-to-ground system which comprises a
long-range ballistic missile, launcher, command and control system.
HAL - Safran signs agreement for development of IMRH engine
• Safran Helicopter Engines and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have signed a agreement for
development of the engine of the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) and its naval version.
• They will jointly develop engine for the 13-tonne IMRH and the Navy variant Deck-Based Multi-
Role Helicopter (DBMRH).
• It was signed at Aero Show 2023.
• This agreement follows the MoU signed on July 8, 2022.
Gopalan Aerospace signs Joint Venture (JVs) with Slovakian firms
• Gopalan Aerospace signed JVs with MTC Slovakia S.R.O and DEFSYSTECH S.R.O for the
development of precision drones in India.
• The JV will develop a high-precision weapon system, AX-2 Predator.
• It is an attack system of Beyond-Line-Of-Sight guidance type, based on the UAV platform.
• It searches, identifies and destroys High-Value targets using direct hit while destroying its own
platform.
Gopalan Aerospace India and Omnipol of Czech Republic signs MoU

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• Gopalan Aerospace India Pvt. Ltd. and Omnipol, Czech Republic has signed a MoU for
development of a passenger aircraft.
• It was signed for manufacturing and assembling of 1st passenger aircraft (L 410 UVP-E20 version)
by a private company in India.
• The MoU was signed at the Bandhan Ceremony of Aero India Show 2023 held on 15 February
2023.
Union Cabinet approves signing of MoU between India and South Africa
• The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi has approved the signing of the MoU between
the Govt of India and the Govt of the Republic of South Africa for cooperation in the Disability
Sector.
• The MoU will encourage cooperation between the Department of Empowerment of Persons with
Disabilities of India and the Government of South Africa through joint initiatives in the disability
sector.
ICICI Bank signs pact with BNP Paribas for providing financial service
• ICICI Bank and BNP Paribas in February 2023, have signed an MoU to cater to the banking
requirements of European corporates operating in India.
• It establishes a framework of partnership between the two banks for providing financial services
to corporate customers operating in India.
• BNP Paribas Group has been in India since 1860 and is among the leading international financial
institutions.
Union Cabinet approves signing of MoU between India and Chile
• The Union Cabinet approved the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between
India and Chile on 15 February 2023 for cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors.
• The meetings of the Agricultural Working Group will be held once a year alternatively in Chile and
India.
• A Chile-India Agricultural Working Group will be constituted for the implementation of the MoU.
DGGI and NFSU sign an MoU for setting up of digital forensic library
• The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) and the National Forensic Sciences University
(NFSU) on 7 February 2023 signed an MoU for setting up of digital forensic laboratories.
• This MoU will help the DGGI in the field of investigation and digital forensics and will assist the
agency for launching effective prosecutions and securing convictions of the guilty.
IISc-Samsung partner for R&D in Electrostatic Discharge Protection
• Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has partnered with Samsung Semiconductor India Research to
promote research and development in the field of on-chip Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
Protection.
• ESD is a sudden and momentary flow of electric current between two electrically charged objects.
• Electrostatic Discharge Protection protects the equipment from electromagnetic waves.

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EESL signed MoU with Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle JBC

• Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a Public Sector Undertaking under Ministry of Power,
signed a MoU with Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Joint Business Council (JBC).
• MoU was signed during G20 Energy Transitions Working Group meeting held in Bengaluru from
5-7 Feb 2023.
• MoU aims to further promote the adoption of energy efficiency and sustainable practices in the
region.
ISRO ties up with Indian Navy to conduct recovery trials for Gaganyan
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) partnered with the Indian Navy to push forward
the Gaganyaan mission.
• ISRO along with the Indian Navy carried out the initial recovery trials of the crew module that will
splash down in the ocean after re-entering Earth's atmosphere from space.
• The trials were conducted in the Water Survival Test Facility (WSTF) of the Indian Navy at Kochi.
MoD ties up with L&T for procurement of 41 indigenous Modular Bridges
• The Ministry of Defence on 8 February 2023, signed a contract with Larsen and Toubro for the
procurement of 41 indigenous Modular Bridges for the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army.
• These bridges have been designed and developed by Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) and will be produced by Larsen and Toubro L&T company as a DRDO-
nominated production agency.
Myanmar, Russia sign pact on developing nuclear power
• The governments of Russia and Myanmar on 7 February 2023 signed an agreement for developing
cooperation in the field of using nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes.
• The pact was signed at the Nuclear Technology Information Centre in Yangon, Myanmar, a joint
project between Myanmar’s Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Russian Nuclear Power
Company.
Agriculture Ministry signs MoU to develop digital extension platform
• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare signed an MoU on 6 February 2023, with Digital
Green under a public-private partnership framework to build a national-level digital extension
platform.
• The platform will operate a digital library having material available in different languages and in
different formats which will be helpful to the extension functionaries.
CAG signs MoUs with Tajikistan and Kazakhstan on sidelines of SCO SAI
• Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on 6 Feb'23 signed two MoUs with Tajikistan
and Kazakhstan.
• It was done on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization Supreme Audit Institutions
(SCO SAI) Leaders’ meeting in Lucknow.

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• The MoUs are aimed at strengthening cooperation and facilitating the exchange of expertise
including professionals in the field of auditing.
IIT Madras collaborates with ISRO to develop astronaut training module
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed an MoU with IIT Madras to build training
modules for Indian Spaceflight Program, using augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and
mixed reality (MR) technologies.
• The modules will be used to train engineers at ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre to establish a
laboratory based on extended reality (XR) technologies.
Union govt signs MoU to enable primary agricultural credit societies
• The Ministry of Cooperation on 2 February 2023, signed an MoU with the Ministry of Electronics
and Information Technology, NABARD and CSC e-Governance Services India Limited to enable
Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and provide services by Common Service Centers
(CSC).
• It will enhance the business activities of PACS and help them to become a self-sustaining
economic entity.
MoHUA ties up to develop Waste to Wealth plants in million plus cities
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Engineers India Limited (EIL) have signed
an MoU in February 2023, for construction of waste-to-energy and bio-methanation projects in
million plus cities for "Green Growth" of India.
• India has 59 million plus cities and the ministry has decided to set up solid waste processing
facilities in these million plus cities.
HDFC Bank partners with NIIT for building pipeline of High-Quality
• HDFC Bank has partnered with NIIT Limited for the training of skilled Virtual Relationship
Management professionals for the banking industry.
• The program is designed to build in-demand and advanced sales skills among the learners which
will enable them to acquire new customers for multiple services.
• Any Graduate/Postgraduate with 0-2 years of experience will be eligible for the program.
Reliance announces partnership with Sri Lanka’s Maliban Biscuits
• Reliance Consumer Products Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Retail Ventures
Limited announced a strategic partnership with Sri Lanka based Maliban Biscuit Limited.
• It was signed to bring Indian consumers a bouquet of domestic and globally recognized consumer
brands and product choices that offer superior value propositions with exceptional quality.
Nagaland govt and Patanjali Foods sign MoU on palm oil cultivation
• Nagaland government and Patanjali Foods Limited have signed MoU for development and area
expansion under palm oil cultivation and processing.
• The MoU was signed for Zone-II (Mokokchung, Longleng and Mon districts) of Nagaland, under
the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP).

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• It will bring a big boost for the oil palm growers in the state of Nagaland and the region.

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National Current Affairs

Govt approves $3.9 billion Hydropower project near China border
• The Indian Govt has approved its largest ever hydropower project in the mountainous
northeastern region- Dibang Multipurpose Project (MPP).
• The project bordering China has received an approval of estimated investment of ₹1600 crore.
• The project will be developed by NHPC Limited.
• It is a 2,880-megawatt Dibang project in Arunachal Pradesh.
• The project is estimated to take 9 years to build.
UIDAI implements new security mechanism
• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has rolled out a new security mechanism.
• It is for Aadhaar based fingerprint authentication, and faster detection of spoofing attempts.
• The artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) based security mechanism is now using a
combination of both finger minutia and finger image to check the liveness of the finger print
captured.
Nitin Gadkari inaugurates 7 National Highway projects
• Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated 7 National Highway projects
with an investment of 6500 cr in Chitbada village, Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.
• With the construction of Ballia Link Expressway it will be possible to reach Patna from Lucknow
through Purvanchal Expressway in just four and a half hours.
• New connectivity route between Ballia-Ara was also announced.
Divorced daughters eligible for family pension
• Now divorced daughters are eligible for family pension and the seven-year service eligibility for
entitlement of pension or family pension has been done away with.
• This was informed by Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Minister Dr. Jitendra while
addressing the 49th Pre-Retirement Counselling Workshop in New Delhi on 27 Feb 2023.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Shivamogga airport
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27 February 2023 inaugurated the Shivamogga airport with a
lotus-shaped terminal.
• The new airport has been developed at a cost of around Rs 450 crore.
• The passenger terminal building of the airport can handle 300 passengers per hour.
• He also laid the foundation stone of multiple projects at Shivamogga, including two railway
projects.
Karnataka plans country’s first marina at Byndoor
• The Karnataka Government will build the country's first Marina or a boat basin offering dockage,
at Byndoor in Udupi district to promote coastal tourism in Karnataka.

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• The government also will collect the history of the greatest dynasties such as Ganga, Kadamba,
Rashtrakoota, Chalukya, and Hoysala from the Department of Archaeology and develop the
history of tourism in the state
Chatrapati Sambhajinagar to host Women20 Inception Meeting on 27 Feb
• The first meeting of the W20 (Women 20) under India's G20 presidency will be held at Sambhaji
Nagar, Maharashtra on 27-28 February 2023.
• 'Pursuit of Gender Equality, Equity and Dignity for Women-led Development' is the theme of the
meeting.
• W20 (Women 20) is an official engagement group under the G20 which was established during
the Turkish presidency in 2015.
Union Min Jitendra Singh inaugurates 'International Biotech Conclave'
• Union MoS Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh on 25 Feb 2023, inaugurated the
'International Biotech Conclave' in Imphal, Manipur.
• It was held along with the 22nd Congress of the International Society for Ethno-pharmacology
and the 10th Congress of the Society for Ethno-pharmacology.
• The theme for the conclave was “Reimagine Ethnopharmacology: Globalisation of Traditional
Medicine''.
Union government approves renaming of Aurangabad & Osmanabad
• Maharashtra's Aurangabad and Osmanabad have been renamed as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
and Dharashiv respectively.
• The decision to rename the cities was taken by the Maharashtra government On July 16, 2022.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs on 24 February 2023 approved the proposal.
• Osmanabad derives its name from the last ruler of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan.
IREDA to set up office in GIFT city to fund Renewable Energy projects
• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) announced to establish an office in
Gujarat's GIFT City to finance Renewable Energy projects in foreign currency.
• The office at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar, will be classified as
an overseas office, allowing the IREDA to avoid foreign exchange hedging cost.
MoS R Chandrasekhar launches 2nd Semicon India Future Design Road Show
• Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar
launched the 2nd Semicon India Future Design Roadshow in Bengaluru on 24 Feb 2023.
• The aim is to encourage startups, next-generation innovators, and business leaders to invest in
semiconductor sector in India.
• He also announced the launch of the ChipIN Centre at C-DAC India, Bangalore
EAM's annual flagship event Asia Economic Dialogue begins in Pune
• External Affairs Ministry’s (EAM) annual flagship event on Geoeconomics, Asia Economic Dialogue
began in Pune, Maharashtra on 23 Feb 2023.

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• The 3-day event is being hosted by EAM and Pune International Centre.
• The principal theme for the Dialogue is ‘Asia and the Emerging World Order’.
• More than 44 speakers from various countries will be participating in this Dialogue.
Namami Gange Executive Committee approves projects worth over 1,200 cr
• The Namami Gange Executive Committee has approved 9 Projects, worth over ₹1200 crore for
Pollution abatement in Ganga Basin and Ghat Development.
• It was chaired by NMCG Director General G. Asok Kumar.
• It approved projects for sewage treatment in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
• One project for the development of Atal Ghat Manjhi, Saran, Bihar was approved at the cost of
10 cr.
Kerala HC - 1st in country to publish judgments in regional language
• The Kerala High Court has published two of its recent judgments in Malayalam on 21 February
2023.
• The day (21 February) is also observed as International Mother Language Day.
• With this, Kerala High court became the first high court in the country to publish judgments in
regional language.
• The judgments in Malayalam were uploaded on the court's website just below the English version.
NHAI to explore use of Phosphor-Gypsum in highway construction
• National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on 22 Feb'23 announced the use of phosphor-gypsum
waste material in the construction of national highways.
• An Indian fertilizer company has constructed a road using phosphor-gypsum, which was
evaluated by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI).
• Based on the CRRI report, the NHAI has approved the use of phosphor-gypsum for road
construction.
PM Narendra Modi chairs the 41st edition PRAGATI Interaction meeting
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the meeting of the 41st edition of the Pro-Active
Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI) Interaction on 22 February 2023.
• In the meeting, nine key infrastructure projects were reviewed and PM Modi also reviewed ‘Mission
Amrit Sarovar’.
• PRAGATI Interaction was launched on 25th March 2015 by PM Modi as a part of the Digital India
program.
Extension of term of 22nd Law Commission of India approved
• The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the term of the Twenty-second Law
Commission of India upto 31st August, 2024.
• The Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body constituted by the Government from time
to time.
• The tenure of the present Twenty-second Law Commission of India ended on 20 February 2023.

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CBI raids 50 locations in Punjab under 'Operation Kanak-2'

• The Central Bureau of Investigation has conducted searches under operation Kanak-2 at around
50 locations in Punjab at the premises of the Food Corporation of India, FCI officials and private
rice millers in an ongoing investigation of a case.
• Incriminating documents and digital devices have been recovered during searches.
• The operation was launched to break the nexus of corruption in FCI.
India to setup a Digital University
• The Ministry of Education and various stakeholders are working to set up the ‘digital university’,
announced in the 2022 Union Budget, by August 2023.
• The university will offer the whole gamut of qualifications certificate programmes, diplomas,
degrees.
• As proposed by the University Grants Commission (UGC), there won’t be any limit on the number
of seats.
Millet Festival begins in Mumbai from 22 February 2023
• Three-day long Millet Festival began on 22 February 2023 in Mumbai.
• United Nations has declared year 2023 as 'International Year of Nutritious Cereals'.
• As part of it, this festival is being organized by the Marketing Department.
• A book containing comprehensive information about Millet will also be released.
Railways to launch Guru Kirpa Yatra with Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train
• Indian Railways will launch Guru Kirpa Yatra on 5th April 2023, from Lucknow with its Bharat
Gaurav Tourist Train.
• During this holy tour, the pilgrims will visit the most prominent revered sites of Sikhism which
includes the five Holy Takhts.
• Bharat Gaurav Tourist Trains is being operated by Railways on various famous theme-based
circuits to showcase the cultural heritage of India
Govt approves QC order for mandatory certification of cotton bales
• Union minister for commerce and industry, Piyush Goyal on 21 February 2023, approved the
Quality Control Order (QCO) for mandatory certification of cotton bales.
• He presided over the fifth interactive meeting with the Textile Advisory Group (TAG) in New Delhi.
• Under the initiative, modern testing facilities would be created through the Bureau Of Indian
Standards.
First nuclear plant of North India to be built in Haryana
• The first nuclear power plant in North India would be built in Gorakhpur, Haryana, according to
Union Minister Jitendra Singh.
• The plant will have capacity of 1,400 MW.

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• The Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP), having two units of 700 MW capacity
each of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) of indigenous design, is under implementation
near Gorakhpur village of Haryana.
Country's first ever Frozen Lake Marathon in Ladakh sets world record
• In Ladakh, country's first ever Frozen Lake Marathon on Pangong Tso has been officially
registered in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's highest Frozen Lake marathon.
• Organised on: 20 Feb'23
• Organised by: Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council and Adventure Sports Foundation
of Ladakh.
• Theme of marathon: The Last Run
• It was organised as part of vibrant village Program.
Fist PM Gati Shakti Workshop for Western & Central Zone held in Goa
• The first PM Gati Shakti regional workshop for the Western and Central Zone was held in Goa on
20 Feb 2023.
• The workshop featured discussions on use cases of National Master Plan (NMP) adoption by
Central Ministries & State Departments for planning.
• The scheme incorporates the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments
and was launched on 13 October 2021 by PM Modi.
Union Education minister launches learning-teaching material for kids
• Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched a Learning-Teaching Material ‘Jaadui
Pitara’ for foundational years of children in New Delhi on 20 February 2023.
• It was launched under the National Curriculum Framework for foundational stage – 2022.
• It comprises of playbooks, activity books, flash cards, posters depicting various stories, games,
puzzles, puppets and many more items.
Delhi Metro launches first-ever Train Control & Supervision System
• The first indigenously developed Train Control and Supervision System was launched on 18
February 2023, for operations on the Red Line of Delhi Metro.
• The Automatic Train Supervision System (i-ATS) has been developed by a joint team of Delhi
Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
• The i-ATS is a computer-based system that will manage train operations.
Union Minister Rupala unveils 3rd phase of Sagar Parikrama from Hazira
• The Union Minister Parshottam Rupala unveiled the of Sagar Parikrama began at Hazira port in
Surat on 19 Feb'23.
• It is a platform to establish direct communication with all the stakeholders of the fisheries
including the fishermen and bring solutions to the problems faced by them.
• The 3-day parikrama will culminate at Mumbai on 21 Feb'23.
India achieves more than 15 thousand transplants for first time

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• India achieved more than 15,000 transplants for the first time in a year in 2022.
• Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan announced this during National Organ and Tissue Transplant
Organisation Scientific Dialogue held on 19 Feb'23.
• An annual increase of 27% in transplant numbers has been observed.
• There is a fast resurgence in transplant activities post-COVID.
SII to establish centre of excellence for Infectious Diseases
• The Serum Institute of India(SII) has announced the establishment of a Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla
Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases and Pandemic Preparedness.
• It will be located at the Indian Institute of Public Health, Hyderabad.
• It is being set up for providing the community with a centralized location for information,
resources, and support during times of public health emergencies.
First G20 meeting of Finance Ministers to be held on 24 February
• The first G20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) under the G20
Indian Presidency will be held on the 24th and 25th of February in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das will jointly chair this
meeting.
• Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur will inaugurate the G20 FMCBG meeting.
MEA launches 'mPassport Police App' to expedite police verification
• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has launched in February 2023, the 'mPassport Police App'
to expedite the process of police verification of passport issuance.
• It was launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the 76th Raising Day Parade of Delhi
Police.
• The app will allow police personnel to submit digital and paperless verification reports in 5 days.
Dept of Pension & Pensioners Welfare to hold nationwide Pension Adalat
• The Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare will hold a nationwide Pension Adalat on 17
March'23 through video conferences.
• Its objective is the resolution of pensioners' grievances within the framework of extant policy
guidelines.
• Through this, the department will focus on speeding the settlement of cases, especially the cases
of super Senior Citizens and family pension cases.
49th meeting of GST Council is being held in New Delhi
• The 49th meeting of the GST Council is being held in New Delhi on 18 Feb'23.
• It will be chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
• Along with the Union Finance Minister, Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary,
Finance Ministers of States & UTs (with legislature) are also attending the meeting.
• The last GST council meeting was held on 22 Dec'22, which was the 48th meeting.
Govt declares KTF and J&K Ghaznavi Force as terrorist organizations

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• The Home Ministry has declared Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), and Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi
Force as terrorist organizations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,1967.
• The KTF is a militant outfit that aims at reviving terrorism in Punjab.
• J&K Ghaznavi Force has been found involved in infiltration bids, narcotics and smuggling and
carrying out terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
Home Ministry declared Harwinder Singh Sandhu as a terrorist
• Ministry of Home Affairs has declared Harwinder Singh Sandhu 'Rinda' as a terrorist on 17 Feb'23.
• He has been associated with the terrorist organization Babbar Khalsa International and is
presently based in Lahore, Pakistan.
• He has been found involved in various terrorist activities, particularly in Punjab.
• He has been declared terrorist under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
UIDAI launched AI Chatbot 'Aadhaar Mitra' for Aadhar related queries
• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in February 2023, launched a new chatbot
'Aadhaar Mitra' to help people get an answer to their queries related to the Aadhaar card.
• It is Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)-a based chatbot and can answer queries
related to Aadhaar enrolment number, PVC Card order status, and complaint status, among other
things.
Min of Textiles to organise 'Technotex 2023' from 22-24 Feb in Mumbai
• Ministry of Textiles is going to organize 10th ‘Technotex 2023: Envisioning Indian Technical
Textiles@ 2047’ event, to be held from 22nd to 24th February 2023 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The first edition of Technotex was organized in 2011.
• Technotex 2023 would comprise of International Exhibition, Conference and Seminars, CEO’s
Forum, Investor Discussions, Country and State Sessions.
AIIMS Rishikesh conducts trial of delivering TB medicines using drones
• ALL India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh in Feb 2023, conducted a successful trial
for transporting Tuberculosis (TB) medicines with the help of a drone to the district hospital in
Tehri Garhwal in Uttarakhand.
• Drone start-up company TechEagle's 'Vertiplane X3' drone model was used in the trial and
delivered 3 kg of tuberculosis medicines to the hospital.
Divya Kala Mela 2023 is being organised in Mumbai
• It is being organised from 16 to 25 Feb'23 in Mumbai’s MMRDA Grounds.
• Divyangjan Empowerment Dept. and National Handicapped Finance and Development
Corporation are organising it.
• It is an unique exhibition cum sale of products made by divyang entrepreneurs and artisans.
• It is showcasing products made by around 200 divyang artisans from 24 States and Union
Territories.
PM virtually inaugurates Jal Jan Abhiyan in Rajasthan

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• Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the Jal Jan Abhiyan in Abu Road in Sirohi
district of Rajasthan on 16 Feb'23.
• The main objective of this campaign is to plant trees along with water harvesting and motivate
people for water conservation.
• This campaign has been started by the Brahma Kumaris organisation and the Ministry of Jal
Shakti.
India’s first waste-to-hydrogen plant to be set up in Pune
• The Government of India is to set up the first waste-to-hydrogen plant at a cost of Rs 430 crores
in Pune.
• The plant will be built by a private company Green Billion Limited.
• The company has signed an agreement with the Pune Municipal Corporation for 30 years.
• The objective of the plant is to treat 350 tonnes of solid waste daily. From this, it will produce ten
tonnes of Hydrogen every day
RBI announced 2nd global hackathon 'HARBINGER 2023'
• The Reserve Bank of India, on 14 Feb'23, announced its 2nd global hackathon called 'Harbinger
2023 - Innovation for Transformation'.
• The theme of the hackathon is 'Inclusive Digital Services'.
• It will be conducted in 4 segments namely Digital Banking, regulations, transactions, and the use
of blockchain in transactions.
• The winner will get Rs 40 lakhs and the runner-up will get Rs 20 lakhs.
AICTE & BPRD jointly launched a national level hackathon, KAVACH-2023
• All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Bureau of Police Research and
Development (BPRD) jointly launched a national-level hackathon, KAVACH-2023, to tackle cyber
threats and provide effective solutions.
• It is being held to identify innovative ideas and technological solutions for addressing the cyber
security and cybercrime challenges of the 21st century.
Govt approves strengthening cooperative movement through 2 lakh PACS
• Govt. has approved strengthening the cooperative movement in the country and deepening its
reach up to the grassroots.
• For this, initially 2 lakh multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS), dairy and fisheries
cooperative will be established in each uncovered Panchayat.
• They will be established in the next 5 years.
• This will enable cooperatives to modernise infrastructure.
G20 culture working group meeting to be held in Khajuraho from 22 Feb
• The first Culture Working Group meet will be held in Madhya Pradesh’s temple town Khujaraho
from 22 to 25 February 2023.
• The theme of the event is “Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property".

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• The event will also have an exhibition which will be organized at the Maharaja Chhatrasal
Convention Centre, which will be inaugurated by Union Minister for Culture G Kishan Reddy.
Science Center and Planetarium to be constructed in Kota, Rajasthan
• In Rajasthan, Science Center and Planetarium will be constructed in Kota. It will be one of the
best science centers and planetariums in the world.
• An MoU was signed on 15 February 2023, between the National Council of Science Museums
(NCSM) and the Govt of Rajasthan for construction of the center.
• There are 24 science centers or museums of NCSM, located in different states in India.
HAL unveiles next gen supersonic trainer HLFT-42 at Aero India 2023
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has unveiled the design of a new supersonic jet trainer
HLFT-42 for combat aircraft training of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Aero India 2023.
• The aircraft carries the tagline 'the storm is coming' and will be used to comprehensively prepare
fighter pilots to operate fifth-generation fighter jets.
• It is equipped with a Fly by Wire (FBW) control system.
Union Health Ministry organises 'Cycle for Health' cyclathon at LHMC
• The Union Health Ministry on 14 February 2023, organised a cyclathon ‘Cycle for Health’, at Lady
Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi.
• It was organized as part of the ongoing ‘Swastha Mann, Swastha Ghar’ year-long campaign
launched in November 2022 which aims to promote and enhance awareness surrounding healthy
living.
• Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also participated in the event.
Govt launches 'Khanan Prahari' and CMSMS to curb unauthorized mining
• The government has launched a mobile app ‘Khanan Prahari’ and a web app Coal Mine
Surveillance and Management System. (CMSMS) for reporting unauthorized coal mining
activities.
• It was launched to curb illegal mining and take transparent action as an e-Governance initiative
of the government on the use of Space Technology.
• As of Jan 2023, 462 cases have been reported on the Apps.
India's first AC double decker electric bus inducted in Mumbai
• India's first air-conditioned double-decker electric bus was inducted into the fleet of Mumbai's
BEST transport body on 13 Feb 2023.
• The will be registered at the Regional Transport Office before it hits the road for the public.
• The fare of these buses will be the same which is applicable for single-decker AC buses.
PM Modi to inaugurate 'Aadi Mahotsav' in Delhi on Feb 16
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a 15-day 'Aadi Mahotsav' at the Major Dhyan
Chand National Stadium, Delhi, on February 16, 2023.

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• Around 1,000 tribal artisans and artists from 28 states and Union territories will participate in the
festival.
• They include tribal cooks from 19 states and UTs for which 20 food stalls are being set up.
Bengal to host India International Seafood Show from Feb 15 to 17
• The 23rd edition of the India International Seafood Show (IISS) will be held in Kolkata from
February 15 to February 17, 2023.
• It will showcase the country’s tremendous strides in the seafood sector.
• The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), in association with the Seafood
Exporters Association of India, will be jointly hosting the event at the Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan.
Paytm launches G20-theme QR Code to celebrate India's G20 presidency
• Paytm has launched a special G20-theme QR Code to celebrate India's G20 presidency and the
country's leadership in mobile payments.
• It was launched by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during the 'Digital Payments Utsav' 2023.
• The special commemorative QR Code features logos of MeitY's 'DigiDhan Mission', along with
those of the G20 2023 and 75th year of India's independence.
India's 1st National Metro Rail Knowledge Centre to be built in Delhi
• GA Infra Pvt Ltd has been awarded the contract for designing and constructing the country’s first
National Metro Rail Knowledge Centre in February 2023.
• The centre will be located at the Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station in Delhi and built on a Public-
Private Partnership (PPP) model.
• The centre will provide training and capacity-building opportunities for metro rail professionals.
Govt to set up Bima Sugam portal for general insurance business
• The union govt has announced to set up of a 'Bima Sugam portal' to address the existing
protection gap across life, health, and general insurance businesses in the country.
• It is expected to improve the accessibility and ease of purchasing insurance for policyholders.
• The portal will provide a platform where insurers, distribution networks, and policyholders can
meet virtually.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurates first phase of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the 1,400 kilometres long Delhi-
Mumbai expressway in Rajasthan's Dausa on 12 February 2023.
• The 246-kilometre Delhi-Dausa-Lalsot stretch of the expressway will cut down the travel time
from Delhi to Jaipur from 5 to 3.5 hours.
• Delhi Mumbai Expressway will be India's longest expressway with a length of 1,386 km.
2-day G-20 empower inception meeting held in Agra on 11 and 12 Feb
• The inception meeting of G-20 empower group of Ministry of Women and Child development was
held in Agra, Uttar Pradesh on 11 and 12 February 2023.

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• The theme of the meeting was "Empowering Women to Lead across Sectors: Role of Digital
Skilling and Future Skills."
• An exhibition “Products and Services by Women at the Grassroots" was also held during the event.
Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates AMRITPEX 2023
• The Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated AMRITPEX 2023 - National Philatelic Exhibition
on 11 February 2023.
• The themes of the exhibition include Amrit Mahotsav of Independence and New India, women
power, youth power, nature and wildlife, and culture and history of India.
• The Department of Posts also released a commemorative postage stamp during the event.
PM Narendra Modi flags off 2 Vande Bharat Express trains from Mumbai
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 10 February 2023, flagged off two Vande Bharat trains from
Mumbai to Shirdi and Solapur.
• The first Vande Bharat train in Maharashtra connects Mumbai to Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
• With the commissioning of the two trains, the number of Vande Bharat Express trains running
from Mumbai has increased to three, taking the number to 10 in the country.
Ministry of Culture to organise Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav-2023
• Union Ministry of Culture is going to organise Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav-2023 at Azad Maidan
in Mumbai, from 11th to 19th February 2023.
• The Mahotsav aims to promote National Unity and integrity through cultural exchange.
• More than 350 folk and tribal artists from all over India along with local folk artists, transgender
and differently-abled artists will be participating in the event.
Skye Air launched India’s first traffic management system for drones
• Skye Air launched India’s First Traffic Management System for Drones.
• It will allow drone operators to plan routes, make flight plans and assess risks before running
drone-based operations
• The solution, called Skye UTM, is a first-of-its-kind for India.
• Skye UTM is a Cloud-based aerial traffic management system that integrates unmanned air
traffic with manned aviation airspace.
MMTC-PAMP launches digital silver
• MMTC-PAMP, a joint venture between state-owned MMTC Ltd and Switzerland-based bullion
brand Products Artistiques Metaux Precieux (PAMP), on 9 February 2023, announced the launch
of digital silver.
• The digital silver can be purchased for as low as Rs 1.
• MMTC-PAMP is the first Indian gold and silver refiner to get international accreditation from the
London Bullion Market Association.
Union Minister Virendra Kumar dedicates to nation 25 ATF

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• Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar dedicated to the nation 25 Addiction
Treatment Facilities (ATF) under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in New Delhi on 9 Feb 2023.
• The scheme aims to bridge the gap between drug abuse victims and the treatment facility
dedicated to them.
• The department of social justice and empowerment launched the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan
in August 2020.
Urban-20 City Sherpas’ meet begins at Ahmedabad in Gujarat
• A two-day Urban-20 City Sherpas’ meet began on 9 February 2023, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• The meeting aims to focus on promoting solidarity among cities to find common solutions that
are in sync with the overall objectives of the G20.
• Over 30 international cities are participating in the two-day event to discuss the sustainable
development of cities.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh inaugurates Mission Antyodaya Survey 2022
• Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh inaugurated the Mission Antyodaya
Survey (MAS) 2022-23 in New Delhi on 9 February 2023.
• The ministry has been conducting the 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.
Ashwini Vaishnav launches 'Digital Payments Utsav'
• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav launched the 'Digital Payments Utsav' in New Delhi on 9
February, 2023.
• It will focus on G-20 Digital Economy Working Group event cities, namely Lucknow, Hyderabad,
Pune and Bengaluru.
• G-20 co-branded QR codes and a coffee table book showcasing India's journey to global
leadership in digital payments and digital inclusion were released at the event.
Govt. to open Integrative Medicine Centres in all government hospitals
• The government will open Integrative Medicine Centres in all government hospitals across the
country.
• The Centers will treat patients using both ayurveda and modern medicine.
• This was announced during the inauguration of Integrative Medicine Centre at Safdarjang
Hospital in New Delhi on 7 Feb'23.
• Both Health and Ayush Ministries have joined hands for this initiative.
Reliance Jio and GSMA unveil Digital Skills Initiative in India
• Reliance Jio in collaboration with GSMA has unveiled a nationwide Digital Skill initiative.
• This collaborative effort intends to provide rural women and people from low-income groups with
training based on their specific needs.

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• Based on research on digital skill gaps, India-specific digital skills training toolkits have been
created.
• Initiative is currently being implemented in 10 states.
Visva-Bharati University to be world's 1st Living Heritage University
• Visva-Bharati University, founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921, is set to become the world's
first "living heritage university".
• The university is expected to receive the heritage tag from UNESCO in April or May 2023.
• The institute was granted the status of a Central University in the year 1951 through a Central Act.
• It is the only university whose Chancellor is the PM of India.
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav launches ‘Save Wetlands Campaign’
• Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav in February 2023,
launched the ‘Save Wetlands Campaign.'
• The campaign is based on a "whole of society" approach to wetland conservation.
• It provides an opportunity to sensitise people about the value of wetlands, increase the coverage
of wetlands and citizen participation for wetland conservation.
Yuva Sangam registration portal launched
• Yuva Sangam registration portal was launched in New Delhi on 6 Feb 2023.
• Yuva Sangam is an initiative to build close ties between the youth of the North East Region and
rest of India under the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
• Under the initiative over 20 thousand youth will travel across the country and gain a unique
opportunity of cross-cultural learning.
Reliance unveils India's 1st hydrogen combustion engine for heavy duty
• Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) on 6 February 2023, unveiled India's first Hydrogen Internal
Combustion Engine technology solution for heavy duty trucks.
• It was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India Energy Week in Bangalore.
• The Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2ICE) powered trucks will emit near zero emissions
and reduce noise.
Central govt blocks loan apps Kissht and PayU's LazyPay
• Digital loan apps LazyPay and Kissht have been banned by the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology (MeitY’s) on February 5, 2023.
• The central govt also blocked 232 such apps involved in unauthorized loan services, betting, and
gambling.
• Kissht app is backed by Vertex Growth and Brunei Investment and is valued at over $450 million.
Indian Railways launches WhatsApp food delivery facility 'Zoop'
• The Indian Railways has started WhatsApp Communication ''Zoop' for railway passengers to
order food through e-catering services to make e-catering services more customer-centric.

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• Passengers will be able to order food online through WhatsApp while undertaking a journey by
using their PNR number.
• Zoop App assists passengers to order food delivery in trains from restaurants at railway stations.
NTPC hosts G20 international seminar on CCUS
• NTPC Ltd. hosted a seminar on ‘Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage’ at the First Energy
Transitions Working Group meeting in Bengaluru.
• The study Report on “Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS): Technology Gaps and
International Collaboration” was unveiled during the event.
• A 3D model of NTPC's flagship project on Methanol Synthesis from Flue Gas CO2 was displayed
at the event.
CAG to host 6th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SAI Leaders' Meet
• The Comptroller and Auditor General of India, CAG, is going to host the 6th Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) Leaders' Meeting in Lucknow
on February 6, 2023.
• CAG Girish Chandra Murmu will lead the discussions on the theme “Integrating Emerging
Technologies in Audit”.
• Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel will inaugurate the meeting.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya chairs CEO Conclave at PLASTINDIA 2023
• Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
chaired the CEO Conclave at PLASTINDIA 2023.
• The conference was attended by more than 90 CEOs from the plastics industry both from India
and abroad.
• The 11th International Plastics Exhibition and Conclave was organized from February 1 to 5, 2023
at ITPO Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
15th Standing Committee of Central Zonal Council meet held in Dehradun
• The 15th meeting of the standing committee of the Central Zonal Council was organised in
Dehradun on 4 Feb 2023.
• The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Uttarakhand Chief Secretary S.S. Sandhu.
• The discussion was held on providing banking facilities within a radius of five kilometres in remote
villages and emphasis was also laid on increasing mobile connectivity through Bharat Net.
Digital India Mobile Van launched
• It was launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in New Delhi.
• It's objective is to spread awareness of Digital India initiatives and also to spread the word about
the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG).
• Lucknow is the first destination of the van where G20 DEWG’s first meet is being held.
• It will tour various other cities in the country as well.
India to host global energy meet in Bengaluru in February 2023

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• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a three-day India Energy Week in Bengaluru in
February 2023.
• PM Modi will also attend a plenary meeting and hold a round table meeting with CEOs.
• The event is estimated to have more than 650 exhibitors and will see participation from 34
ministers from across countries.
• India target to achieve 20 per cent from earlier 2030 to now 2025-26.

Azad Engineering is India's 1st supplier of parts for nuclear turbine

• Azad Engineering Private Limited has been approved as the first Indian company to supply critical
rotating parts for nuclear turbines in February 2023.
• It has signed a long-term supply agreement with General Electric (GE) Steam Power for the supply
of nuclear turbine parts.
• These will be assembled on nuclear turbines manufactured in Belfort, France.
IIT Madras to get Rs 242 cr grant for research on Lab Grown Diamonds
• The Indian Institute of Technology Madras will be provided a grant of Rs 242 crore over a period
of five years to carry out research on Lab Grown Diamonds (LGD).
• It will encourage indigenous production of LGD seeds, and machines and reduce import
dependence.
• The government has proposed to cut duty on the import of 'seeds', used as raw material for lab-
grown diamonds.
First tourism working group meeting to be held in Gujarat from 7 Feb
• The first Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting will be held at Dhordo in Rann of Kutch in Gujarat
from 7th to 9th of February 2023.
• It will focus on Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination
Management.
• The meeting will be attended by officials from G-20 Countries, invited countries, and
representatives of various international organizations
India’s 1st Hydrogen train will come by Dec 2023 on Heritage Routes
• The Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that the Indian Railways will
be introducing hydrogen and electric trains to the eight heritage routes in the country by
December 2023.
• These hydrogen trains will include the modified version of steam engines, that will be back on
tracks, equipped with vintage sirens and green steam vapours.
India lists Abdul Rehman Makki as UN-listed terrorist
• India has listed Pakistan-based terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki as an UN-listed terrorist.
• The development came after the United Nations Security Council listed the Lashkar-e-Taiba's
deputy chief Abdul Rehman Makki as a global terrorist under its ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaida
Sanctions Committee.

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• Abdul Rehman Makki, was already listed by India and US as a terrorist under their domestic laws.
MeitY Secretary inaugurates G20 Cyber Security Exercise and Drill
• The Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Alkesh Kumar
Sharma inaugurated the G20 Cyber Security Exercise and Drill for more than 400 domestic and
international participants under India’s G20 presidency.
• The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) conducted the Cyber Security
Exercise and drill in hybrid mode (Physical and Virtual).
PM to participate in Krishnaguru Eknaam Akhanda Kirtan for World Peace
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the Krishnaguru Eknaam Akhanda Kirtan for
World Peace at Barpeta in Assam on 3rd February 2023.
• Paramguru Krishnaguru Ishwar established the Krishnaguru Sevashram in 1974, at Nasatra village
in Barpeta, Assam.
• He is the ninth descendant of Mahavaishnab Manohardeva, who was a follower of the great
Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva.
Tourism minister launches Visit India Year 2023 initiative
• Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy launched the Visit India Year-2023 initiative in New Delhi
on 31 January 2023 and also unveiled its logo.
• The Tourism Minister also unveiled the logo of the campaign which is inspired by the image of
'Namaste'.
• The campaign aims to encourage travel in the country that currently holds the G-20 presidency.
• It is an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism.
J. Scindia inaugurates IndiaOne Air’s regional connectivity scheme
• Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on 31 January 2023, inaugurated IndiaOne Air’s
Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) Flight Operations for Jamshedpur-Kolkata under the UDAN
scheme.
• As per Aviation Ministry, 1.15 crore people who have never undertaken flight service have been
benefited through the UDAN Yojana.
• UDAN 4.2 round devoted completely to regional and last-mile connectivity.

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Appointments Current Affairs

NASA to name first woman as agency's science chief
• NASA has picked Nicola Fox, a longtime solar scientist who heads its heliophysics division to
become the U.S. space agency's science chief.
• She will be the first woman named to serve in the role.
• She is a former top scientist on the Parker Solar Probe mission studying the sun.
• Fox will lead NASA's science directorate, a unit with an annual budget of roughly $7 billion.

Shailesh Pathak appointed FICCI Secretary General

• Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has announced the
appointment of former bureaucrat Shailesh Pathak as its Secretary General from 1 March 2023.
• He has worked with the government as an IAS officer.
• FICCI also announced that Arun Chawla, Director General, will superannuate on June 30, 2023
and transition to an advisory role.
Lt Gen RS Reen takes over as Director General Quality Assurance (DGQA)
• Lt Gen RS Reen took over as Director General Quality Assurance on 24 Feb'23.
• A 1986-batch officer, Lt Gen Reen is an alumnus of Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
• He completed his BE (Electrical) from National Institute of Technology, Srinagar.
• He was a senior faculty at Defence Institute of Quality Assurance, Bengaluru.
• He headed the DQA(L) as Addt. Director General (Electronics).
CAG Girish Chandra Murmu selected as External Auditor of ILO in Geneva
• Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Girish Chandra Murmu has been selected as External
Auditor of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva for a four-year term from 2024
to 2027.
• CAG will succeed Supreme Audit Institution of Philippines as External Auditor.
• CAG was appointed for its high standing on professionalism, global audit experience and strong
national credentials.
Aramane Giridhar gets extension as Defence Secretary
• Defence Secretary Aramane Giridhar has been given extension in service till October 2024.
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved his extension in service as Secretary,
Department of Defence, beyond the age of superannuation for a period upto 31st of October,
2024.
• Mr. Giridhar is a 1988-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre.
Rajeev Raghuvanshi appointed as new Drug Controller General of India
• Mr Rajeev Raghuvanshi has been appointed as the new Drug Controller General of India (DCGI)
on 22 February 2023.

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• He succeeded Dr VG Somani as DCGI who was on this post since 2019.

• he had worked with Ranbaxy and Dr Reddy laboratories.
• His expertise lies in dosage form design and development.
• For his contribution, Dr Reddy's Labs has twice awarded him with "Dr Reddy's Excellence Award".
Dmitry Dmitruk appointed Indian boxing team's foreign coach
• The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) appointed Dmitry Dmitruk as it new foreign coach on 21
February 2023.
• He has been associated with the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) as well as the Irish
National junior teams for 12 years.
• He will work with both men and women boxers alongside the Indian coaches, including men’s
chief coach C.A. Kuttappa and women’s head coach Bhaskar Bhatt.
Rajesh Rai appointed new CMD of Indian Telephone Industries (ITI)
• The Union government appointed Rajesh Rai as the new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)
of Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) for a period of five years on February 21, 2023.
• ITI Limited is a govt owned company in the telecommunications technology segment established
as a departmental factory in 1948.
• It has manufacturing facilities in Bengaluru, Naini, Rae Bareli, Mankapur, and Palakkad.
UN Social Development Commission elects Ruchira Kamboj its Chair
• Ruchira Kamboj was elected chair at the opening session of the 62nd session of the UN
Commission for Social Development held in New York.
• She is an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1987 batch.
• She is currently serving as India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations since August
2022.
Tata Motors VP Rajan Amba appointed as MD of Jaguar Land Rover India
• Rajan Amba, Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Customer Care, Tata Motors, has been
appointed as the Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover India in February 2023.
• He will be replacing Rohit Suri, who announced his retirement from the position of MD and
President back in January 2023.
• He started his career in 1990 and worked at Nike, Titan Watches, and Levi Strauss companies.
Ayushmann Khurrana named UNICEF's National Ambassador for Child Rights
• Bollywood Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has been appointed as the National Ambassador of the
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) India on Feb 19, 2023.
• Ayushmann was also appointed as UNICEF India's Celebrity Advocate in September 2020 to
advocate for ending violence against children and promoting child rights.
• As a national ambassador, He will help UNICEF ensure the rights of all children.
Ramesh Bais takes oath as Governor of Maharashtra
• Ramesh Bais took oath as the 22nd Governor of Maharashtra on 18 Feb'23.

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• He has replaced Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

• Previously, he was the Governor of Jharkhand.
• He had earlier served as the Union Minister of State for Steel and Mines, Chemicals and Fertilizers,
Information and Broadcasting, and Environment and Forests - independent charge.
• He was a 7 time BJP MP from Raipur in Chhattisgarh.
Chetan Sharma step down as Chief Selector of Indian cricket team
• Chetan Sharma, chairman of the senior men’s selection committee, has submitted his resignation
to BCCI Secretary Jay Shah.
• He did this following a sting operation by a private news channel.
• The resignation has been accepted by the Indian cricket board.
• S Sharath, Subroto Banerjee, Salil Ankola and Shiv Sunder are the other 4 selectors in the 5-
member selection committee.
Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar to be new Vice Chief of Indian Army
• Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar has been named as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff, while
incumbent Lt Gen B S Raju appointed as South Western Army Commander.
• He is serving as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) in the Army Headquarters at present.
• Lt Gen Kumar is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla.
• He was commissioned into the 1 Assam Regiment in June 1985.
World Bank President David Malpass announces his resignation
• World Bank chief David Malpass announced on 16 Febuary 2023 that he would step down from
his post.
• He was selected as 13th President of the World Bank Group by its Board of Executive Directors on
April 5, 2019.
• He served as an economic advisor to Donald Trump in 2017 and also served as Under Secretary
of the Treasury for International Affairs at the Treasury Department.
Indian-American Neal Mohan appointed new CEO of YouTube
• YouTube Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Susan Wojcicki stepped from her post on 16 Feb 2023 and
will be replaced by Neal Mohan.
• She was previously senior vice president for ad products at Google and became the CEO of
YouTube in 2014.
• Mohan, a Stanford graduate, joined Google in 2008 and is the chief product officer at YouTube,
where he has been focusing on building YouTube Shorts and Music.
Justice Sonia Gokani took oath as Chief Justice of Gujarat HC
• Justice Sonia Gokani took oath as Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court on 16 February 2023.
• The oath was administered to her by Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat.
• She became the first woman to head the Gujarat High court.
• Chief Justice Gokani, is the senior most judge at the Gujarat High Court.
• She is due to retire on 25 February 2023.

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Justice Sandeep Mehta takes oath as Chief Justice of Gauhati HC

• Justice Sandeep Mehta on 15 February 2023 took the oath as the Chief Justice of Gauhati High
Court.
• He took the place of Justice RM Chhaya who retired recently from the post.
• Previously, he was the Judge of the Rajasthan High Court.
• He was appointed as Judge of the Rajasthan High Court on the 30th of May, 2011, and is due to
retire on the 10th of January, 2025.
Aniket Sunil Talati takes over as new President of ICAI
• The Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) elected its new president and
vice president in February 2023.
• For the 2023-24 term, Aniket Sunil Talati will serve as the President of ICAI, while Ranjeet Kumar
Agarwal will be the accounting body’s vice president.
• Aniket Sunil Talati also serve as the Director of the ICAI Accounting Research Foundation (ICAI
ARF).
Mohammad Shahabuddin elected new President of Bangladesh
• The Election Commission of Bangladesh on 13 February 2023, announced that the Awami League
party nominee, Mohammad Shahabuddin was elected unopposed as the 22nd president of
Bangladesh.
• He was the only candidate to file his nomination after the time for nomination and withdrawal
was over.
• He will replace incumbent President Mohammad Abdul Hamid, the longest-serving president of
the country.
President Draupadi Murmu appoints new governors in 13 states
• President Murmu appointed 13 new Governors on 12 Feb'23.
• Newly appointed Governors and state of appointment:
• Lt. General Kaiwalya Trivikram: Arunachal Pradesh
• Lakshman Prasad Acharya: Sikkim
• C P Radhakrishnan: Jharkhand
• Shiv Pratap Shukla: Himachal Pradesh
• S. Abdul Nazeer: Andhra Pradesh
• G.C. Kataria: Assam
• Anusuiya Uikye: Manipur
• La. Ganesan: Nagaland
• Phagu Chauhan: Meghalaya.
President Draupadi Murmu appoints new governors in 13 states
• President Droupadi Murmu appointed 13 new Governors while accepting the resignations of
Bhagat Singh Koshyari as Governor of Maharashtra and of Radha Krishnan Mathur as Lt.
Governor of Ladakh on 12 February 2023.

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• C.P. Radhakrishnan has been appointed as Governor of Jharkhand in place of Ramesh Bais who
was appointed as Governor of Maharashtra.
• GC Kataria was appointed Governor of Assam.
Govt appoints two new Supreme Court judges
• The Central government has appointed two new Supreme Court judges, taking the top court's
strength to its maximum of 34 judges.
• The appointment was approved on 11 Feb'23 by the govt.
• Appointed Judges:
• Rajesh Bindal, Chief Justice, Allahabad High Court
• Aravind Kumar, Chief Justice, Gujarat High Court
• Their names was recommended by the collegium headed by Chief Justice of India.
Satyanarayana Raju appointed as the new MD & CEO of Canara Bank
• The Union government on 7 February 2023 appointed K Satyanarayana Raju as the managing
director and CEO of Canara bank.
• He will replace LV Prabhakar, who resigned from his post on December 31, 2022.
• He has also served Canara bank as executive director since 10th March 2021.
• He joined erstwhile Vijaya Bank in 1988 and served as chief general manager in Bank of Baroda.
Centre appoints 5 judges to Supreme Court of India
• Centre has appointed five new judges to the Supreme Court (SC).
• Now total strength of judges in SC has increased to 32.
• Appointed Judges:
• Justice Pankaj Mithal, Chief Justice Rajasthan High Court (HC)
• Justice Sanjay Karol, Chief Justice Patna HC
• Justice P. V. Sanjay Kumar, Chief Justice Manipur HC
• Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Judge, Patna HC
• Justice Manoj Misra, Judge, Allahabad HC
Indian-American Apsara Iyer elected as President of Harvard Law Review
• Indian-American student at Harvard Law School, Apsara Iyer has been elected president of the
prestigious Harvard Law Review.
• She became the first Indian-American woman to be named to the position in the publication’s
136-year history.
• She was elected the 137th president of the Harvard Law Review, which was founded in 1887 and
is among the oldest student-run legal scholarship publications.
Shamika Ravi appointed as member of EAC-PM
• Shamika Ravi has been appointed as a member of the Economic Advisory Council to Prime
Minister (EAC-PM).
• She is an economics professor and researcher.

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• She is currently non-resident senior fellow of the governance studies program at the Brookings
Institution Washington D.C.
• EAC-PM, chaired by economist Bibek Debroy, currently has one member and six part-time
members.
Mahindra Finance names Raul Rebello as MD and CEO-designate
• Mahindra Finance has appointed Raul Rebello as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Designate.
• Raul Rebello is currently the Chief Operating Officer of the company and will take charge as MD
and CEO when Ramesh Iyer retires on 29th April 2024.
• He previously served in Axis Bank for 19 years where he was the Executive Vice President and
Head of Rural Lending and Financial Inclusion.
Indian-Americans become members of key House committees in US
• House Committee on intelligence: Congressman Dr. Ami Bera.
• Committee on strategic competition between the US and China: Raja Krishnamoorthi- elected
representative from Illinois.
• Subcommittee on immigration: Pramila Jayapal- representative from Washington state.
• Committees on homeland security and small business: Shri Thanedar- Congressman from
Michigan.
RBI appoints V Ramachandra as member of Advisory Committee of SIFL
• The Reserve Bank in February 2023, appointed V Ramachandra, former chief general manager of
Canara Bank, as a member of the Advisory Committee of Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited
(SIFL) and Srei Equipment Finance Limited (SEFL).
• The RBI had created a three-member advisory council to support the administrator of SIFL & SEFL
after replacing the boards of SIFL and SEFL in October 2021.
Morgan Stanley names Arun Kohli new country head for India
• Morgan Stanley has appointed Arun Kohli as the new India head in February 2023.
• With the bank since 2007, Kohli will relocate to Mumbai from London where he headed the
Morgan Stanley's post-Brexit strategy and implemented growth strategies across markets in the
region.
• The bank had picked Kamal Yadav and Sachin Wagle as co-heads of investment banking in the
country in 2021.
Equatorial Guinea appoints Manuela Roka Botey as first female PM
• Equatorial Guinea has appointed Manuela Roka Botey as prime minister. She became the first
woman in the country to hold the position.
• President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has ruled the country since 1979, announced
the appointment.
• She was the education minister and joined the government in 2020.
• She replaces Francisco Pascual Obama Asue, who has been in the position since 2016.

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Prashant Agrawal appointed next ambassador of India to Laos

• Prashant Agrawal has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic.
• Presently, he is serving as the High Commissioner of India to Namibia.
• He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1998 and served in India's Missions in Paris, Port Louis, and
Bangkok.
• IFS officer M Subbarayudu has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to
Namibia.
Major General Girish Kalia takes over elite Vajr Division
• In Jammu and Kashmir, Major General Girish Kalia on 1 Feb'23 took over the charge as General
Officer Commanding of the elite Vajr Division from Major General Abhijit S Pendharkar.
• He was commissioned on 14 Dec 1991 from Indian Military Academy, Dehradun into MADRAS
Regiment.
• Prior to this at he was working at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.
• He received Vishisht Seva Medal in 2020.
Dr. Rajeev Singh appointed as new Drugs Controller General of India
• The Union Public Service Commission has recommended the name of Dr. Rajeev Singh
Raghuvanshi as the new Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
• He will replace Dr. VG Somani who was appointed as the Drugs Controller General of India in
August 2019.
• DCGI heads the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), which is responsible for
ensuring the quality of drug supply in India.

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Obituaries Current Affairs

Stock market commentator Ashwani Gujral passes away
• Noted equity analyst Ashwani Gujral passed away in February 2023.
• Gujral featured prominently on major business channels like ETNow, CNBC-TV18.
• He used to feature on the exclusive panel of ETNow to provide technical analysis and market
outlook on a daily basis.
• Previously, he used to provide stock market analysis on CNBC-TV18.
Former Academy President Walter Mirisch passes away
• The Former president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences or The Oscars, Walter
Mirisch, passed away on 25 Feb 2023.
• He served four terms as president of the Academy, from 1973-77, and 15 years as governor of the
Academy.
• He won the Academy Award for his movie 'In the Heat of the Night (1967).'
• He was also known for movies such as ‘The Apartment, and 'West Side Story.'
Dr. Kanak Rele the Iron Lady who revived Mohiniyattam passes away
• Dr. Kanak Rele, a world-renowned dancer and Mohiniyattam exponent, Passed away on 22
February 2023.
• She established the Nalanda Dance Research Centre and the Nalanda Nritya Kala
Mahavidyalaya, which pioneered dance research.
• She taught hundreds of students and brought classical dance to the masses.
• She has received Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Kalidas Samman and Sangeet Natak Akademi
Award.
Malayalam comedian and TV anchor Subi Suresh passes away
• Popular Malayalam actress, comedian, and TV anchor Subi Suresh passed away in Kochi, Kerala
on February 22, 2023.
• The actor made her silver screen debut with Kanaka Simhasanam.
• She went on to act in over 20 films, including Panchavarnathatha, Drama, 101 Weddings,
Grihanathan, Happy Husbands, Elsamma Enna Aankutty, Thaksara Lahala and Lucky Jokers.
Emmy-nominated actress Barbara Bosson passes away
• Emmy-nominated actress Barbara Bosson passed away on 21 February 2023.
• Her first feature film was 'the Bullitt' in 1968.
• She is well known for her roles as the divorcee Fay Furillo in the 1980s NBC television series 'Hill
Street Blues' for which she received Emmy Awards nominations in five consecutive years.
• She also starred in the 1970s series 'Richie Brockelman, Private Eye' as Sharon.
Former Gujarat governor Om Prakash Kohli passes away

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• Former Gujarat governor and veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Om Prakash Kohli
passed away on 20 February 2023.
• He was the 19th governor of Gujarat from 2014 to 2019.
• While presiding as Gujarat governor, he also served as the governor of Madya Pradesh and Goa.
• He served in the Rajya Sabha from 1994 to 2000 and chaired the housing committee, among
other committee memberships.
Actor-politician Nandamuri Taraka Ratna passes away
• Tollywood actor and politician Nandamuri Taraka Ratna passed away in Bengaluru on 19
February 2023.
• He was a grandson of Veteran Telugu actor and former Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh Shri. NT
Rama Rao.
• Ratna made his debut with Okato Number Kurraadu (2002).
• He worked in films like Yuva Rathna, Taarak, and Bhadradri Ramudu.
• He received a Nandi Award for the film Amaravathi (2009).
Tulsidas Balaram, legendary Indian footballer, passes away
• legendary Indian footballer, Tulsidas Balaram passed away on 17 Feb 2023.
• He played in two Olympics in 1956 and 1960 and was part of the team which won the Asian Games
gold in Jakarta in 1962.
• In 1962, he received Arjuna Award from the Government of India.
• The Government of West Bengal awarded him ‘Banga Vibhushan’ in 2013.
• He scored 131 goals, including 14 for India, across 7 seasons.
Yakshagana Bhagavat Balipa Narayana Bhagavatha passes away
• Noted yakshagana Bhagavat, Balipa Narayana passed away on 16 Feb'23.
• He was known as a versatile singer in Thenku Thittu Yakshagana.
• He was well-versed in more than 100 yakshagana prasangas.
• He was the chief bhagavat of Kateel Durgaparameshwari Prasadita Yakshagana Mandali.
• He had created a 5-day ‘Devi Mahatme’ prasanga, a significant milestone in the history of
Yakshagana literature.
Veteran actor Javed Khan Amrohi passes away
• Veteran actor Javed Khan Amrohi passed away on 14 Feb 2023.
• He was known for his work in films such as Once Upon A Time in Mumbai, Chak De India, Lagaan
and Andaz Apna Apna.
• He was best known for his roles in the popular DD serial Nukkad.
• Amrohi’s other notable titles are the ’90s hit films such as Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke, Laadla, Ishq,
and the 1988 TV series Mirza Ghalib.
Noted painter Lalitha Lajmi passes away
• Noted painter Lalitha Lajmi passed away in February 2023.
• She held several exhibitions at international art galleries in Paris, London and Netherlands.

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• She was sister of late actor-filmmaker Guru Dutt.

• Her works were also influenced by Indian films such as those made by Guru Dutt, Satyajit Ray and
Raj Kapoor.
Legendary American pop composer Burt Bacharach passes away
• Legendary American pop songwriter Burt Bacharach passed away in Los Angeles on 9 February
2023.
• His compositions included rock classics such as 'Do You Know the Way to San Jose' and
'Raindrops Keep Fallin on My Head'.
• He has won three Oscars (including "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"), an Emmy, eight
Grammy Awards, and two Golden Globes.
Legendary playback singer Vani Jayaram passes away
• Padma Bhushan awardee legendary playback singer Vani Jairam passed away on February 4,
2023.
• She was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, in Jan 2023.
• She won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer thrice.
• She also won state government awards from the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
and Gujarat.
Former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf passes away
• Former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf passed away on 5 February 2023.
• He was a four-star general who ruled Pakistan for nearly a decade after seizing power in a 1999
coup.
• He had been in self-exile in Dubai since March 2016 facing trial for treason for suspending the
constitution in 2007.
• Musharraf as president came to Agra in 2001 for a peace summit with PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Noted writer and Sahitya Akademi Awardee, K.V. Tirumalesh passes away
• Noted Kannada writer K.V. Tirumalesh passed away in Hyderabad in February 2023.
• He was regarded as one of the most versatile writers across genres.
• He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for his collections of poems Akshaya Kavya in
Kannada (2010).
• His career as a writer began in the 1960s when he wrote the collection of poems MukhavaaDagalu
(1968) in the Navya style in Kannada.
Legendary Telugu filmmaker K. Viswanath passes away
• Legendary film director K. Vishwanath passed away in Hyderabad on February 2, 2023.
• Viswanath began his career as an audiographer for Vauhini Studios in Madras.
• His first film was Aatma Gowaravan in 1965 and his last was Subhapradam in 2010.
• He was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2017.
• In 1992, he received the Andhra Pradesh state Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, and Padma Shri.

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Noted Telugu film director Sagar passes away in Chennai

• Noted Telugu director Sagar aka Vidyasagar Reddy has passed away on February 2, 2023.
• He started off his career as an assistant director.
• He made his directorial debut with the 1983 film Rakshasi Loya starring Naresh, Vijayashanti, and
others.
• He also served as the President of the Telugu Film Directors Association thrice.
Senior advocate and former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan passes away
• Former law minister and veteran lawyer Shanti Bhushan passed away on 31 January 2023.
• He served as the law minister in the Morarji Desai-led Janata Party government from 1977 to 1979,
which came to power after the Emergency.
• He was also a founding member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which was formed in 2012.
• He was known for his activism and strong stance against corruption.

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Person in News Current Affairs

US nominates former Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga for World Bank President
• U.S. President Joe Biden on 24 February 2023, nominated business executive Ajay Banga to
become president of the World Bank.
• Ajay Banga is currently appointed as the vice chairman at private equity firm General Atlantic.
• He has more than 30 years of business experience in handling different roles at Mastercard and
on the boards of the American Red Cross, Kraft Foods, and Dow Inc.
Indian-American politician Nikki Haley announces US Presidential bid
• Indian-American Nikki Haley has announced that she will make a bid for the White House.
• She is the first Republican to challenge former President Donald Trump for the party's nomination.
• She is the former governor of South Carolina and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
• If she wins she would become the state's first female governor and the first Indian-American to
lead the state.
Smriti Mandhana secures highest bid of Rs 3.4 crore in WPL auction
• Smriti Mandhana secured the highest bid of Rs 3.4 crore at the first-ever Women’s Premier League
(WPL) 2023 auction in Mumbai on 13 February 2023.
• Ten India women’s team cricketers were sold for more than Rs 1 crore.
• Mumbai Indians signed India captain Harmanpreet Kaur for Rs 1.8 crore.
• The WPL 2023 T20 tournament will be held in Mumbai from March 3 to 26, 2023.
Saudi Arabia to send its first female astronaut into space
• Saudi Arabia will send its first ever woman astronaut on a space mission later in 2023.
• Rayyana Barnawi will join fellow Saudi male astronaut Ali Al-Qarni on a mission to the
International Space Station (ISS).
• The astronauts will join the crew of the AX-2 space mission and the space flight will launch from
the USA.
Joe Acaba selected as NASA's Chief Astronaut
• NASA has appointed veteran astronaut Joe Acaba as chief of the Astronaut Office at the agency's
Johnson Space Center in Houston in Feb 2023.
• He is the first person of Hispanic heritage selected to lead the office.
• He served as a mission specialist and flight engineer and supported the first resupply spacecraft
launched in 2012, the Dragon of SpaceX.
• He has also participated in spacewalks.
Indian-American student named as 'World's Brightest' student
• Indian-American student Natasha Periyanayagam in February 2023, was named in the Johns
Hopkins Center for Talented Youth's list of "world's most talented" students for the second year in
a row.

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• She is studying at Florence M Gaudiner Middle School in New Jersey, United States.
• The list is compiled based on the results of upper-grade-level tests of more than 15,000 students
from 76 countries.
Indian-American Pramila Jayapal named Ranking Member of US Immigration
• Indian-American US Representative Pramila Jayapal has been named Ranking Member of the
House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity in January 2023.
• She was also the founding co-chair of the We Belong Together campaign.
• Jayapal is the first immigrant in recorded committee history to serve as either Ranking Member
or Chair of this Subcommittee.
Indian-American Ami Bera appointed to House Intelligence Committee
• Indian-American Dr. Ami Bera has been appointed as a member of the US House committee
handling intelligence-related matters.
• He also serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Science, Space, and
Technology Committee.
• During the 117th Congress, he served as Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia,
the Pacific, Central Asia, and Non-proliferation.

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Science and Technology Current Affairs

Antarctic sea ice shrunk to record low
• The Antarctic sea ice shrunk to a record low in Feb 2023.
• It is its lowest extent in the 45 years of satellite record-keeping.
• The National Snow and Ice Data Center, NSIDC at the University of Colorado Boulder said, on
February 21st Antarctica's sea ice fell to 1.79 million square kilometers.
• This has surpassed the previous low record by 136,000 square kilometers, registered in 2022.
NASA's James Webb telescope spots six galaxies
• NASA's James Webb telescope has found six big galaxies.
• The telescope sent data that reveals what appear to be six big galaxies as mature as our Milky
Way existing about 540 million to 770 million years after the Big Bang explosion that gave birth
to the universe 13.8 billion years ago.
• The universe was roughly 3% of its current age at the time.
Meta to launch AI language model LLaMA
• LLaMA is a large language model developed by META that is similar to ChatGPT.
• The main objective of the model is to assist researchers in the field of AI.
• LLaMA is the third large language model developed by META.
• The first was Glactica, and the second was Blender.
• It is yet to be released in the market, and only the research paper has been published.
ICAR develops wheat that can beat the heat
• Scientists at the ICAR's Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) have developed a wheat
variety which can beat the heat.
• They have bred wheat varieties with what is termed “mild vernalisation requirement” or the need
for a certain minimum period of low winter temperatures for initiation of flowering.
• The crop, when sown in October 20-25, will come to heading only in 100-110 days.
World’s First Cloud-Built Demo Satellite Launched Successfully
• World’s first satellite fully conceived, designed, and manufactured using the Antaris company’s
end-to-end cloud platform, JANUS-1 has successfully reached orbit.
• JANUS-1 was recently launched on the Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) new mini-
rocket SSLV-D2.
• The complete assembly, integration and test for JANUS-1 was done by Indian firm Ananth
Technologies, Bengaluru.
New Indian beetle species ‘Omorgus Khandesh’ spotted in Western Ghats
• A new beetle species 'Omorgus Khandesh' was found in western ghats in India, according to a
paper published in the New Zealand-based journal Zootaxa in February 2023.

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• It belongs to the Trogidae family and is important for forensic science as it helps detect the time
of death of an animal or human.
• Omorgus Khandesh is necrophagous and is also called a keratin beetle.
US Scientists Discovers New Quasicrystal
• US Scientists have recently discovered a new type of quasicrystal, one with 12-fold symmetry, in
the Sand Hills of north central Nebraska, USA.
• Quasicrystal is essentially a crystal-like substance.
• However, unlike a crystal, in which atoms are arranged in a repeating pattern, a quasicrystal
consists of atoms that are arranged in a pattern that doesn’t repeat itself regularly.
Italian researchers discovers invisible Galaxy
• Italian researchers have discovered a Black Galaxy or Invisible Galaxy using ALMA.
• The galaxy is termed invisible because the light emitted couldn’t be seen from the earth.
• The galaxy discovered is compact.
• It is young and has interstellar dust.
• The galaxy is forming new stars at the rate of 1000 times the Milky Way.
• ALMA is Atacama Large Millimtre Array.
Israel launches Sniffing Robot to detect disease and aid in security
• Scientists from Israel have developed a sniffing robot which is equipped with a biological sensor.
• The robot uses the antennae of a locust to diagnose disease and improve security checks.
• It is bio-hybrid and therefore its sniffing powers are higher than the electronic sniffers.
• It can detect even the tiniest particle or an organism in its surrounding.
NASA’s Curiosity rover finds new evidence of ancient lake on Mars
• US space agency NASA’s Curiosity rover has found new evidence of an ancient lake in the form
of rocks etched with the ripples of waves in the foothills of a Martian mountain.
• The rover has found some of the clearest evidence of ancient waters.
• The evidence were found at an area called the sulfate-bearing unit.
• The Curiosity rover has been exploring the Martian surface since 2012.
SpaceX performs Booster-7 Static Fire Test of 31 Engines
• SpaceX performed a "static fire" test in which a Starship first-stage prototype known as Booster
7 ignited 31 of its 33 Raptor engines in Feb 2023.
• Starship prototype called Ship 24 has giant booster called Super Heavy & a upper-stage
spacecraft known as Starship.
• Both Starship and Super Heavy are designed to be fully reusable, and both are powered by
SpaceX's next-generation Raptor engine.
ISRO launches Small Satellite Launch Vehicle SSLV-D2 from Sriharikota
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 10 February 2023, successfully launched the
second edition of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2) at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

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• SSLV-D2 is 34 metres in length while 2 metres in width. It can fly with a load of about 120 tonnes.
• ISRO's smallest new rocket SSLV-D2 works on the technology of launch on demand.
New species of voiceless frog discovered in Tanzania
• An international team of researchers discovered a new species of spiny-throated reed frog while
conducting an amphibian survey in Tanzania.
• The Ukaguru spiny-throated reed frog does not croak, sing, or ribbit.
• Found in Tanzania's Ukaguru Mountains for which it is named, Hyperolius ukaguruensis is among
the few frogs around the world that do not vocalize to other frogs.
Qualcomm launches world’s 1st satellite-based 2-way messaging solution
• Qualcomm Technologies has introduced the world’s first satellite-based two-way capable
messaging solution for premium smartphones, called Snapdragon Satellite, on 9 February 2023.
• The Snapdragon Satellite will offer global connectivity using mobile messaging from around the
world, beginning with devices based on the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform.
ISRO-NASA made NISAR satellite to be launched from India in Sept 2023
• An Earth-observation satellite NISAR jointly developed by the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will be sent to India in
February 2023 for a possible launch in September 2023.
• The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite will provide important information on
the Earth's crust, ice sheets, and ecosystems.
Jupiter overtakes Saturn as the planet with the most known moons
• Jupiter has overtaken Saturn as planet with most known moons in the Solar System.
• Saturn got the tag, when it overtook Jupiter in 2019.
• Astronomers have counted 12 previously unknown moons in orbit around Jupiter, bringing the
known total to 92.
• Saturn with just 83 moons, is left behind.
• The observations were led by astronomer Scott Sheppard of Carnegie Institution for Science.
World's first 'super' magnets for testing in nuclear plant developed
• World's first 'super' magnets for testing in nuclear fusion plant developed by UK's Tokamak Energy
in February 2023.
• 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.
Google introduces AI chatbot 'Bard' to compete with ChatGPT
• Google has unveiled an AI service called “Bard”, as it races to catch up with the popular chatbot
ChatGPT.
• ChatGPT is AI service of the Microsoft-backed firm OpenAI.

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• Bard is powered by LaMDA (Language Model for Dialogue Applications), a large language model
that was developed and released by Google in 2021.
• The Bard will be initially opened up to “trusted testers” before making it public.

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Sports Current Affairs

Australia lifts ICC Women's T20 World Cup Trophy
• In Women's Cricket, Australia have lifted the ICC T20 World Cup Trophy for the sixth time.
• In the final match on 26 Feb 2023, they defeated South Africa by 19 runs at Newlands, Cricket
Ground in Cape Town.
• Earlier, winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Australia posted 156 for 6 in their allotted 20
overs.
• Beth Mooneyc top-scored with unbeaten 74 runs for Australia.
Ankit Gulia wins bronze in Ibrahim Moustafa ranking-series 2023
• Indian Greco-Roman wrestler Ankit Gulia won a bronze medal in the men's 72kg category in the
Ibrahim Moustafa ranking series in Alexandria, Egypt on 26 Feb 2023.
• He won the medal after Iran's Mohammadreza Abdolhamid Geraei withdrew from the bronze
medal match due to an injury.
• Wrestler Reetika also won a bronze medal in the women’s 72kg category at the Ibrahim Moustafa
ranking series.
Spain’s Sergio Ramos announced international football retirement
• Spain’s most capped player Sergio Ramos has announced his retirement from international
football.
• Ramos, who was part of Spain’s World Cup and Euro winning teams had represented Real Madrid
in La Liga and now plays for PSG in Ligue 1.
• He went on to play 180 times for his country.
• He was part of the squad which won the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championships in
2008 and 2012.
Anurag Thakur to inaugurate All-India Taekwondo Championship on 24 Feb
• Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur will inaugurate the All-India Taekwondo
Championship in New Delhi on 24 February 2023.
• The Championship is being organized to mark 50 years of Korea-India diplomatic relations.
• The Korean Cultural Centre, India is co-hosting the championship with the Sports Authority of
India under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India.
Aishwary wins gold in men's individual 50m rifle 3 positions event
• Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar on 23 February 2023, won the gold medal in the men's individual
50m rifle 3 positions competition at the ISSF World Cup in Cairo, Egypt.
• He defeated Austria's Alexander Schmirl with a 16-6 score.
• He also won a gold medal in the Chagwon World Cup in 2022.
• India is on top of the medal tally with four gold and Hungary is in second position with two gold
medals.

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Tilottama Sen wins bronze in Women's 10m Air Rifle at ISSF World Cup
• Tilottama Sen has won bronze medal in the women's 10m Air Rifle at ISSF World Cup at Cairo in
Egypt on 22 February 2023.
• She won second bronze for India.
• Great Britain’s Seonaid Mcintosh won gold and Switzerland’s Olympic Champion Nina Christen
came second to win silver.
• India is on top of the medal tally with three golds, with Hungary, Britain and Slovakia.
Tilottama Sen wins bronze medal in Women’s 10m Air Rifle
• India's Tilottama Sen has won bronze medal in the women’s 10m Air Rifle at ISSF World Cup at
Cairo in Egypt.
• She won second bronze for India, fifth overall after ending the top eight ranking round with a
score of 262.
• Great Britain’s Seonaid Mcintosh won gold and Switzerland’s Olympic Champion Nina Christen
came second to win silver.
Rudrankksh Patil wins gold in 10m Air Rifle at ISSF World Cup 2023
• Rudrankksh Patil won the gold medal in the men's 10m air rifle competition of the ISSF Shooting
World Cup in Cairo, Egypt on 21 February 2023.
• He had defeated Germany’s Maximilian Ulbrich in the gold medal match by 16-8.
• Varun Tomar also won the bronze medal in the men’s 10m air pistol event.
• Rhythm Sangwan won the 10m Air Pistol mixed team competition at the event.
Carlos Alcaraz beats Cameron Norrie to win Argentina Open title 2023
• The World No. 2 tennis player, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Cameron Norrie in the final to win the
Argentina Open title in Feb 2023.
• He became the first Spaniard to win the Argentina Open tennis title since Rafael Nadal in 2015.
• He also became the highest-ranked winner in tournament history.
• Casper Ruud, who won the competition in 2020 at the age of 21, was the youngest winner prior to
Alcaraz.
Ben Stokes breaks world record for smashing most sixes in Test cricket
• England Test captain Ben Stokes became the player to hit the most number of sixes in the history
of Test cricket in the match against New Zealand on 18 Feb 2023.
• He surpassed the previous record of England's coach and former New Zealand cricketer Brendon
McCullum.
• Strokes made the record by hitting 109 sixes in 90 Tests.
• McCullum had a record of 107 sixes in 101 Tests.
Saurashtra wins Ranji Trophy title 2023, beat West Bengal by 9 wickets
• Saurashtra defeated West Bengal by 9 wickets at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, to lift the Ranji Trophy
title for the second time on 19 February 2023.

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• Saurashtra captain Unadkat was named man of the match for his nine-wicket haul in the match,
while Arpit Vasavada was adjudged player of the Ranji season 2023.
• The Ranji Trophy tournament has been played since 1934.
Akshdeep and Priyanka win men's and women's 20km race walk gold
• National Open Race Walking Championships was held on 14 Feb'23 in Ranchi.
• In this event, Akshdeep Singh clinched the men's 20km event gold with a stunning national record
time.
• In the Women's 20km event, national record holder Priyanka Goswami won gold.
• With this, both had qualified for 2023 World Championships as well as 2024 Paris Olympics.
Hyundai Motors India signs two more women cricketers as ambassadors
• Hyundai Motor India Ltd has signed on two more women cricketers named Yastika Bhatia and
Renuka Singh Thakur, to its roster of brand ambassadors.
• Bhatia and Thakur will join Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues in the list of
brand ambassadors for Hyundai.
• Hyundai Motor India has announced the next edition of its ‘The Drive Within’ campaign with these
five women cricketers.
Khelo India Youth Games concludes in Madhya Pradesh
• Khelo India Youth Games-2022 culminated on 11 Feb 2023 in Bhopal.
• Maharashtra stood first in the medals table by winning 161 medals including 56 gold.
• Haryana came second with 128 medals including 41 gold and hosts Madhya Pradesh came third
position with 96 medals including 39 gold.
• 25 national records were broken in the games and maximum 19 records were broken in weight
lifting.
Cricketer Eoin Morgan announces retirement from all forms of cricket
• Eoin Morgan, who led England to their first-ever ICC Men's Cricket World Cup title in 2019,
announced his retirement from professional cricket on 13 February 2023.
• He is England’s leading run-scorer with 6957 runs in 225 ODIs with 13 hundred and the most
successful captain in ODIs, with 76 wins from 126 matches.
• Previously, he retired from international cricket in July 2022.
Real Madrid beat Al Hilal to win record fifth Club World Cup title
• Real Madrid has won the Football Club World Cup for a record fifth time after beating Saudi
Arabia’s Al-Hilal 5-3 in the final in Rabat, Morocco in February 2023.
• It won the tournament in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
• Madrid also won three Intercontinental Cups in 1960, 1998 and 2002; a match between European
and South American champions, which merged with the Club World Cup in 2005.
Shubman Gill named ICC Players of the Month for January 2023
• India batter Shubman Gill was named ICC Men's Player of the Month for January 2023.

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• Gill scored 567 runs during January 2023 which included three centuries.
• England's U-19 skipper Grace Scrivens was named the ICC Women's Player of the Month and
became the youngest player to be named for the women's honor.
• She was named for her performance in the ICC U-19 Women's T20 World Cup 2023.
Jean-Eric Vergne wins Hyderabad E-Prix
• Jean-Eric Vergne of team DS Penske won the first-ever Formula E race held in Hyderabad on 11
Feb'23.
• Nick Cassidy (Envision Racing) and Antonio Félix da Costa (TAG Heuer Porsche Team) finished
2nd and 3rd respectively.
• This was the first Formula E race held in India.
• It was held on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake and in India's first street circuit built in Hyderabad.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur flagged off Formula E-Championship
• Union Minister Anurag Thakur flagged off the Formula E Championship in Hyderabad on 11
Feb'23.
• Hyderabad is hosting India’s first ever Formula E-race.
• Hyderabad E-Prix is being held at the ‘Hyderabad Street Circuit’ on the banks of the picturesque
Hussain Sagar Lake and NTR Marg.
• Hyderabad is the 27th city in the world to host the race which is the first non-carbon emission
event.
R. Ashwin becomes the fastest Indian to pick up 450 Test wickets
• Ravichandran Ashwin become the fastest Indian bowler and second overall to reach the mark of
450 Test wickets in February 2023.
• He picked up his 450th Test wicket during the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy game between India
and Australia in Nagpur.
• Ravichandran Ashwin took 89 Test Matches to reach the milestone as compared to Anil Kumble’s
93 Test Matches.
R. Sharma becomes 1st Indian captain to score a ton across all formats
• Indian captain Rohit Sharma on 10 February 2023, became the first Indian captain to score a
century in all three formats of cricket.
• Rohit is the fourth overall to have scored centuries in all three formats as captain after Tillakaratne
Dilshan, Faf du Plessis, and Babar Azam.
• He achieved this feat against Australia in the 1st Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in
Nagpur.
ICC T-20 Women's World Cup to begin on 10 February in South Africa
• The ICC T-20 Women's World Cup is to begin in South Africa on 10th February 2023.
• This is the first time that the tournament is taking place in an African nation.
• The matches will be played in Cape Town, Gqeberha, and Paarl.
• The final will be played on 26th Feb 2023 at the Newlands Stadium.

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• A total of 10 teams are participating and a total of 33 matches will be played during the event.
LeBron James becomes NBA’s all-time leading scorer
• With his 36th point against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 7, 2023, LeBron James
became the National Basketball Association's all-time leading scorer.
• He passed Kareem Abdul Jabbar to become the top scorer in the NBA with 38388 points over 20
seasons.
• He has won four NBA titles, competing in 10 NBA finals.
• Michael Jordan has the most points per game in NBA history with 30.1.
Cricketer Kamran Akmal announces retirement from all forms of cricket
• Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Kamran Akmal has announced his retirement from all forms of
professional cricket.
• He is currently serving as a batting consultant for Peshawar Zalmi.
• He made his Test match debut against Zimbabwe in November 2002 and he also made his ODI
debut against Zimbabwe in November 2002.
• He featured in 53 Tests, 157 ODIs, and 58 T20 Internationals for Pakistan.
Raphael Varane announces his retirement from international football
• French defender Raphael Varane announced his retirement from international football in
February 2023.
• He made his international debut in 2013 and won the FIFA World Cup in 2018.
• He was nominated for the FIFA 'Best Young Player award' in 2014.
• He won 18 trophies, including three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, four UEFA Champions League
titles, and four FIFA Club World Cups.
Australia's Aaron Finch announce retirement from International Cricket
• Australian Men T20 Captain Aaron Finch has announced retirement from international cricket.
• Finch had led Australia to the first ICC Men's T20 World Cup title in 2021.
• Finch announced his retirement from all international cricket 12 years after making his debut in
2011.
• Earlier, he had announced his retirement from 50-over format in September 2022.
Ex-Indian cricketer Monty Desai appointed coach of Nepal cricket team
• Nepal Cricket Association has appointed former Indian cricketer Monty Desai as head coach of
the Nepal national cricket team.
• He will replace another former Indian cricketer Manoj Prabhakar, who resigned from his post in
December 2022.
• He has been the head coach of teams like West Indies, Canada, UAE.
• He has also served as the head coach of the Rajasthan Royals team in IPL.
Aditi Ashok wins 4th LET title; wins by nine shots

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• Aditi Ashok clinched the Ladies European Tour Title with a nine-shot win at the Magical Kenya
Ladies Open on 5 Feb'23.
• It was her fourth win on the Ladies European Tour for Aditi.
• Aditi is an Indian professional golfer from Bangalore.
• She plays on the Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour.
• She made her Olympic Games debut at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik nominated for BBC ISWOTY Award
• Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik have been nominated for BBC ISWOTY Award.
• Total of Five athletes were nominated for the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of the Year award.
• The other three are Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who won silver at Tokyo Olympics, renowned
shuttler PV Sindhu and boxer Nikhat Zareen.
• The winner will be decided by public poll.
• The winner will be declared on March 5.
ITBP won the title of National Ice Hockey Championship 2023
• ITBP's central ice hockey team won the12th edition of the 2023 IHAI National Ice Hockey
Championship for men in February 2023.
• The championship was organized by the Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) in Ladakh, Leh.
• The ITBP team won the title for the third consecutive time by defeating Ladakh Scouts in the final
with a score of 1-0.
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur launches Khelo India Winter Games Mascot
• Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur along with the Lieutenant Governor
of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha on 4 February 2023, launched the Mascot, Theme Song, and
Jersey for the 3rd edition of Khelo India Winter Games.
• It is scheduled to be held from February 10 to 14 in Jammu and Kashmir.
• There will be nine sporting events in the Winter Games.
Saudi Arabia to Host Football’s 2027 Asian Cup
• Asian Football Confederation announced that Saudi Arabia won the hosting of the 2027 Asian
Nations Cup, for the first time in its history, since its inception in 1956.
• This was announced during the 33rd Congress of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), 1 Feb'23,
in the Bahraini capital, Manama.
• Saudi Arabia was the only bid presented at the Congress after India’s withdrawal in Dec 2022.
Joginder Sharma announces retirement from all forms of cricket
• Former Indian fast bowler, Joginder Sharma announced his retirement from all forms of cricket
on 3 February 2023.
• He represented India in 4 ODIs and 4 T20Is.
• He currently serves as a Deputy superintendent of police in the Haryana Police.
• He also played for Chennai Super Kings from 2008 to 2012.
• He was the member of the 2007 inaugural ICC T20 World Cup Champions Indian team.

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Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat wins bronze medal at Zagreb Open 2023
• Under-23 world champion Aman Sehrawat of India won a bronze medal in the men’s 57kg at the
Zagreb Open 2023 Ranking Series in Croatia, on 1 February 2023.
• He defeated USA’s Zane Raye Rhodes Richards 10-4 to win India’s first medal at wrestling
competition in 2023.
• Aliabbas Rzazade of Azerbaijan bagged the gold, beating Yuto Nishiuchi of Japan 2-0 in the final.
Sai Sanjay wins Indian National Car Racing Championship 2023
• Sai Sanjay won the National champion in the MRF Formula 2000 class, in the MMSC FMSCI Indian
National Car Racing Championship in Feb 2023.
• He made his motorsports debut in 2015 and became the Rotax Senior Max UAE vice-champion in
2018.
• In the other championship classes, Viswas Vijayraj won the LGB F1300 National title while veteran
Arjun Balu bagged the ITC crown, his 11th National title.
Kerala wins the inaugural National Beach Soccer Championship 2023
• Kerala won the inaugural National Beach Soccer Championships held at Dumas Beach, Surat, on
1 February 2023.
• Kerala’s goalkeeper Santhosh Kasmeer was awarded the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
• Rajasthan’s Amit Godara was the highest goalscorer, with 27 goals.
• The best player of the tournament was awarded to Kerala’s Siju S.
Dutch player Anish Giri wins Tata Steel Masters 2023
• Dutch player Anish Giri, five times the runner-up in Wijk aan Zee, has won Tata Steel Masters
2023.
• Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023 is the 85th edition of annual chess tournament held in Wijk
aan Zee.
• It was held from 13 to 29 Jan'23.
• The field of 14 players in the Masters section included the numbers 1 and 2 of FIDE World ranking,
Magnus Carlsen and Ding Liren.
Prajnesh wins ITF men’s tournament in Kuwait
• Prajnesh Gunneswaran has won the final of the $25,000 ITF men’s tennis tournament in Al Zahra,
Kuwait, on 29 Jan'23.
• He won by beating Khumoyun Sultanov of Uzbekistan in finals.
• It was first title in 5 years for Prajnesh, who had won two $150,000 Challengers in 2018 in Bengaluru
and Anning.
• It was 11th title in professional circuit for Prajnesh, who was ranked a career-high 75th in 2019.
Indian men's hockey team chief coach Graham Reid resigns
• Graham Reid has resigned as the chief coach of the India men's hockey team on 30 January 2023.

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• He took over in 2019, and played a key role in the team winning a bronze medal in the Tokyo
Olympics 2021.
• He submitted his resignation to Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey.
• He is a former Australian field hockey player who played as a defender and midfielder for the
Australian national team.

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Summits and Conferences Current Affairs

20th Edition of BioAsia Summit 2023 concludes in Hyderabad
• The 20th Edition of BioAsia, Asia's largest Life Sciences and Healthcare Convention, concluded in
Hyderabad on 26 February 2023.
• The summit 2023 was inaugurated on 24 Feb 2023, by KT Rama Rao, Minister for Industries and
Commerce & IT, Government of Telangana.
• The theme of the event for 2023 is "Advancing for ONE: Shaping the next generation of humanized
healthcare".
The Maharaja Sayajirao University to host Youth 20 India Summit
• The Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara will host a two-day Youth20 India Summit on 25
February 2023, with a focus on the theme of climate change and environmental conservation.
• More than 600 delegates from 62 countries participate to discuss ‘Climate Change and Disaster
Risk Reduction: Making sustainability a Way of Life’.
• It will be inaugurated by Bhupendra Patel, CM of Gujarat.
Om Birla inaugurates 19th Annual Zone III CPA Conference in Sikkim
• Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla inaugurated the 19th Annual Zone III Conference of
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region in Gangtok, Sikkim on 23 February
2023 which concluded on 24th Feb.
• The Zone III of the CPA India region is an important platform where legislators of the North
Eastern region discuss many subjects and issues, and arrive at common solutions.
Union Min Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates SemiconIndia Conference 2023
• The Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Railways, Ashwini
Vaishnaw inaugurated the ‘SemiconIndia Conference of Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain
Ecosystem’, on 18 February 2023 in New Delhi.
• The conference held a panel discussion on the existing semiconductor ecosystem in India.
• It is being organized by the Institute of Supply Management (ISM).
Tourism Ministry to organise 1st Global Tourism Investors' Summit
• The Tourism Ministry announced that it will organise the 1st Global Tourism Investors' Summit for
promotion of tourism sector.
• It will be organised from 17 to 19 May 2023 in New Delhi.
• The Summit will deliberate on potential opportunities for investment across tourism segments
including hotels and restaurants, adventure and eco-tourism, cruise and other related tourism
sectors.
PM Modi to address Economic Times Global Business Summit on 17th Feb
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Economic Times Global Business Summit hosted
annually by The Times Group on 17 February 2023.

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• The theme of the Global Business Summit 2023 is "Resilience, Influence, Dominance”.
• It will bring together thought leaders, policymakers, academicians, and corporate heads on a
common platform, seeking to provide solutions to key economic challenges.
India to jointly organize 12th World Hindi Conference in Fiji
• It will be organised by Ministry of External Affairs of India in cooperation with the Fiji government.
• It will be held at Nadi in Fiji from 15-17 Feb 2023.
• Theme: Hindi – Traditional Knowledge to Artificial Intelligence
• It will be inaugurated by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni
Rabuka.
• The 11th World Hindi Conference was held in Mauritius in 2022.
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurates 2nd Indian Rice Congress
• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the second Indian Rice Congress at National Rice
Research Center Institute (NRRI) in Cuttack, Odisha on 11 February 2023.
• The 2023 congress was held on the theme “Transforming Rice Research”.
• It was focused on the global food crisis and the recent scientific developments that will help in
increasing the production and yield of paddy crops.
World Government Summit 2023 set to begin in Dubai
• The World Government Summit 2023 is set to begin on 13 February 2023 in Dubai.
• The World Government Summit 2023 will be held under the theme of “Shaping Future
Governments”.
• It is a global forum held annually in Dubai.
• It brings together leaders in government, business, technology, and civil society to discuss the
issues faced by humanity and to shape the future of governments.

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Table of Content
Art & Culture Current Affairs ...............................................................................................3
Awards and Honours Current Affairs ..................................................................................5
Banking Current Affairs ........................................................................................................ 7
Books and Authors Current Affairs ..................................................................................... 9
Business and Economy Current Affairs ..............................................................................11
Committees and Recommendations ................................................................................. 13
Defence Current Affairs ..................................................................................................... 14
Government Schemes and Policies Current Affairs......................................................... 16
Days and Events Current Affairs ........................................................................................ 18
International Current Affairs ............................................................................................. 20
MoU and Agreements Current Affairs ............................................................................... 22
National Current Affairs .................................................................................................... 24
Appointments Current Affairs ............................................................................................ 41
Obituaries Current Affairs ................................................................................................. 43
Sports Current Affairs Current Affairs .............................................................................. 45
Summits and Conferences Current Affairs ....................................................................... 47
Person in News Current Affairs ......................................................................................... 49
Science and Technology Current Affairs .......................................................................... 51

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Art and Culture Current Affairs

Birth anniversary of Lord Ram: 30 March 2023
• Ram Navami is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Rama, who is the seventh avatar of
Lord Vishnu.
• It is celebrated on the ninth day of Chaitra month (usually in March or April).
• For 2023, it fell on 30 March.
• Lord Ram was the eldest son of King Dasaratha and his first wife Kausalya of Ayodhya.
• He was born in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.
NIUA organises first Urban Climate Film Festival in New Delhi
• The first Urban Climate Film Festival under Urban-20 engagement events is being organized in
New Delhi by the National Institute of Urban Affairs from 24-26 March 2023.
• A curated selection of 11 films from nine countries is being showcased at the festival.
• The festival is being organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the French
Development Agency, and the European Union.
Nepal's festival of horses 'Ghode Jatra' observed in Lalitpur
• Ghode Jatra, also known as the festival of horses, was observed in Nepal’s Lalitpur on 21 March
2022.
• The Ghode Jatra festival was observed by the Malla regime(13th to 18th Century).
• It is observed annually following the belief that its observation started as a celebration of the
victory over a demon named Gurumapa (also called Tundi) in ancient times.
Union Min Narender Singh Tomar inaugurates “AgriUnifest” in Bengaluru
• Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar on 15 March 2023,
inaugurated “AgriUnifest” in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• It is a 5-day cultural program, organized by Bangalore Agricultural University in collaboration with
the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• More than 2500 students from 60 State Universities/Central Universities have participated.
Ayush Ministry to organize Yoga Mahotsav 2023 in New Delhi on 13 March
• Ayush Ministry is going to organize Yoga Mahotsav 2023 at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi from
13-15 March 2023.
• The Yoga Mahotsav is an event to commemorate 100 days countdown to the 9th edition of
International Day of Yoga.
• During this Mahotsav, mass yoga demonstrations will take place in one hundred places in Delhi –
National Capital Region (NCR) to celebrate the countdown.
UP to host the 8th edition of Indian Fharma Fair (IFF) in March 2023
• The eighth edition of Vedshiv Business Media’s Indian Fharma Fair (IFF) 2023 will be organised in
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh from March 17th to 18th, 2023.

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• The fair will present the most up-to-date trends and technology in the pharmaceutical, drug, and
formulation industries. It will address industry problems, such as rising packaging and freight
costs, and strive to find answers to those issues.
Two-day Millet Mahotsav organised at Agra, Uttar Pradesh
• A two-day Millet Mahotsav was organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries at Agra,
Uttar Pradesh, from 3-4 March, 2023.
• The event was inaugurated by Minister of State for Law & Justice, Prof. SP Singh Baghel.
• Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of food grains in India and accounted for about 18.89%
share in the country’s total food grain output in 2020-21.
Narayan Rane to inaugurate MSME's Industry Fair in Kota on 4 March
• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla & Union Min for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
Narayan Rane, on 4 Mar'23, will inaugurate the MSME's Industry Fair and Exhibition in Kota,
Rajasthan.
• It is being organized by the Union Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.
• The fair is being organized on the initiative of LS speaker Om Birla and more than 125 stalls are
being set up in it.

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Awards and Honours Current Affairs

Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy awards declared
• The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi has announced the fellowships, awards, and Gurupuja
Puraskaram of the year 2022.
• Theatre person Gopinath Kozhikode, music director P.S. Vidyadharan, and Chenda/Edakka artist
Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan have been selected for the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi
fellowships.
• There are 17 winners from various fields for the Akademi awards.
Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger inducted in Hall of Fame
• Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have been inducted into the Premier League’s Hall of Fame.
• Former Manchester United boss Ferguson won a record 13 titles and is the most successful
manager in Premier League history.
• Wenger, meanwhile, won three league titles during his 22-year spell in charge of Arsenal and led
the Invincibles to an unbeaten league-winning season in 2003-04.
Texas University confers ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ to Naveen Jindal
• Chairman of Jindal Steel and Power, Naveen Jindal has been honoured with Lifetime
Achievement Award by the University of Texas (Dallas).
• An alumni of UT Dallas 1992 batch, he received the award in a ceremony held by the University
on March 25, 2023.
• He is the 2nd person to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Texas,
Dallas after Nobel Laureate Aziz Sancar.
Special literary award conferred on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
• The Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) conferred a special literary award on
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 26 March 2023.
• The award has been conferred for his trilogy- The Unfinished Memoirs, The Prison Diaries and the
New China 1952.
• The award has been given to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for the outstanding literary
excellence for his trilogy.
AHF honours Hockey India for successfully hosting 2023 FIH World Cup
• Hockey India on 24 March 2023, was awarded the Best Organiser Award by the Asian Hockey
Federation (AHF) for successfully hosting the Hockey Men's World Cup 2023.
• The award was received by Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh during the AHF
Congress held in Mungyeong, Korea.
• Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, Rourkela is the largest-seated hockey stadium in the world.
RINL wins the national level JCSSI Ispat Suraksha Puraskar

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• RINL Visakhapatnam received national level safety Awards "Ispat Suraksha Puraskar" during
annual award function held at SSO Ranchi and on 22-03-2023 organised by JCSSI.
• RINL Bagged four prizes in BF and Raw materials zone for the years 2020-21 and 2021-22.
• RINL Visakhapatnam also bagged Prestigious Award for "Zero Fatal Accident involving Contract
Labour" for the year 2022.
Ratan Tata appointed in ‘Order of Australia’ for distinguished service
• For distinguished service to the Australia-India bilateral relationship, Indian industrialist and
philanthropist Ratan Tata has been appointed as an Honorary Officer in the General Division of
the Order of Australia (AO).
• Ratan Tata is Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, former Chairman of the Tata Group, and one of
the richest entrepreneurs in the world.
Hindustan Zinc’s mines become the 1st GreenCo Certified Mines
• Hindustan Zinc has bagged the GreenCo Silver rating by CII for its sustainable mining operations.
• The GreenCo Rating is a holistic framework that evaluates businesses on the environmental
friendliness of their activities.
• Recently, it has also earned a spot in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook for the 6th time by
being ranked amongst the top 5% ESG Score in the metals & mining sector.
U.S.-Argentine researcher wins Abel Prize for maths
• The Abel Prize for mathematics has been awarded to Argentine-American Luis Caffarelli, an
expert in "partial differential equations" which can explain phenomena ranging from how water
flows to population growth.
• He is professor at the University of Texas.
• This type of equation models how several variables change with respect to each other, and play
a prominent role in many disciplines.
Maha Metro Nagpur receives prestigious ‘Asia Book of Record’ citation
• Maha Metro Nagpur was honoured with the prestigious Asia Book of Records certification for
three different categories, in March 2023.
• Two of the categories are ‘Longest Length of Metro Rail Corridor Construction in Shortest Time’,
‘First Solar PV System in a Metro Rail Project for Integrated Consumption’.
• It has been also awarded Guinness World Records and two Asia Book of Records earlier.

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Banking Current Affairs

Axis Bank launches ‘MicroPay’ based on ‘Pin on Mobile’ technology
• Axis Bank launched 'MicroPay', the first pocket-sized swipe machine in India, based on 'Pin on
Mobile' technology for accepting digital payments in March 2023.
• It transforms a merchant’s smartphone into a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal, making digital
payments easier for customers.
• The bank launched 'MicroPay' along with Ezetap by Razorpay and MyPinpad as the technical
solution partners.
RBI imposes monetary penalty of ₹30 lakh on Karur Vysya Bank
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 24 March 2023 imposed a penalty of ₹30 lakh on Karur Vysya
Bank for violating rules.
• A Select Scope Inspection (SSI) of Karur Vysya Bank was conducted by the central bank.
• As per the report, the bank failed to report a few accounts as frauds to RBI within a week of the
respective Joint Lenders’ Forum (JLF) decision to do so.
HDFC Mutual Fund files for India's first Sovereign Green Bond
• HDFC Mutual Fund, on 24 March 2023 filed for India’s first Target Maturity Funds tracking
Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs) - HDFC Nifty India Sovereign Green Bond Jan 2028 Index Fund &
HDFC Nifty India SGrBs Jan 2033 Index Fund.
• SGrBs are bonds issued by the Govt of India, whose proceeds will be deployed in public sector
projects which help in reducing the carbon intensity of the economy.
RBI imposes monetary penalty on HDFC, IGH Holdings for non-compliance
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 17 March 2023, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹5 lakh on
Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (HDFC) and ₹11.25 lakh on IGH Holdings
Private Limited for non-compliance with certain rules.
• The IGH Holdings was failed to comply with the statutory requirement of transferring 20% of the
net profit for the financial year 2020-21 to the Reserve Fund.
Hello Ujjivan app wins the prestigious 13th Aegis Graham Bell Awards
• Ujjivan Small Finance Bank's Hello Ujjivan app won the 13th Aegis Graham Bell Awards in the
"Innovation in Consumer Tech" category in Mar'23.
• The award is an initiative of Aegis School of Data Science, under the Min of Electronics &
Information Technology to foster an innovative culture in India.
• It is the 1st mobile banking app in India that enables speech, visual, and vernacular features.
Signature Bank becomes next casualty of banking turmoil after SVB Bank
• The USA govt on 13 March 2023, closed Signature Bank, making it the third largest failure in U.S.
banking history.

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• The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) took control of Signature, which had $110.36
billion in assets and $88.59 in deposits.
• On 12 March, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) also shut down its operation becoming the second largest
in U.S. history after Washington Mutual.
Kotak Mahindra AMC launches Silver ETF Fund of Fund
• Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company Ltd on 13 March 2023, announced the launch of
Kotak Silver Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) Fund of Fund.
• It is an open-ended fund of fund scheme that invests in units of the Kotak Silver ETF.
• The New Fund Offer opens for public subscription on March 13, 2023 and closes on 27 Mar 2023.
• The scheme offers diversification, easy liquidity and no storage costs.
RBI launches Mission ‘Har Payment Digital’ to promote digital payments
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 6 March 2023, launched the Mission ‘Har Payment Digital’ on the
occasion of Digital Payments Awareness Week (DPAW) 2023.
• This is part of RBI’s initiative to make every person in India a user of digital payments.
• The campaign theme is “Digital Payment Apnao, Auron ko bhi Sikhao” (Adopt digital payments
and Also teach others)

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Books and Authors Current Affairs

Penguin India to publish the English translation of 'Phoolange'
• Penguin India announced the publication of the English translation of the Nepali book
'Phoolange'.
• The book is written by Darjeeling-based writer and social activist Lekhnath Chhetri.
• The English edition is titled 'Fruits of the Barren Tree' and was translated by the eminent editor
and translator Anurag Basnet.
• The novel revolves around the failed Gorkha movement for a separate state.
A book titled ‘War and Women’ on war crimes released at UNHRC Session
• A book titled ‘War and Women’ depicting war crimes during the Bangladesh Liberation War was
released during the 52nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 24 March 2023.
• The book written by Dr MA Hasan documents the magnitude of sexual harassment, torture and
killings committed by the Pakistan Army during the 1971 Liberation War.
Rachna Bisht Rawat comes up with her new book on Bipin Rawat
• Author Rachna Bisht Rawat has come up with her new book titled “Bipin: The Man Behind the
Uniform.”
• The book focuses on the life, personality, and principles of General Bipin Rawat who served as
India’s first Chief of Defence Staff.
• He passed away tragically in a helicopter crash in 2021.
• The book has been published by Penguin Veer, a Penguin Random House imprint.
A book titled 'Mundaka Upanishad: The Bridge to Immortality' released
• Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar released the book ‘Mundaka Upanishad: The Bridge to
Immortality’ on 9 March 2023.
• The book is authored by former Parliamentarian Dr Karan Singh.
• Karan Singh is an Indian politician and philosopher.
• He is the son of the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, Sir Hari
Singh.
• He was the prince regent of Jammu and Kashmir until 1952.
A book "India’s Struggle for Independence – Gandhian Era" released
• Supreme Court Judge Justice V. Ramasubramanian on 5 March 2023, released a book titled
India’s Struggle for Independence – Gandhian Era.
• The book is authored by P. Jyothimani, former Judge, of Madras High Court, and G. Balan, former
professor of history, at Pachiayappa’s College, Tamil Nadu
• The book covers aspects such as the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi as of the date.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya unveils a book, ‘India’s Vaccine Growth Story’

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• Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya released the book ‘India’s
Vaccine Growth Story - From Cowpox to Vaccine Maitri.'
• The book is authored by Sajjan Singh Yadav, Additional Secretary, Govt of India.
• The book elaborates on India’s impressive achievement in developing, producing, and distributing
COVID-19 vaccines

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Business and Economy Current Affairs

India's agricultural exports grow by 6.04% during April-Jan 2022-23
• India’s agricultural exports rose 6.04 percent during April-January of the financial year 2022-23
to be worth USD 43.37 billion.
• During the same period in 2021, it was USD 40.90 billion.
• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) engages
in export promotion activities for agricultural and processed food products.
Government introduces surcharge for Gpay, other payment apps
• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has issued a circular in which it suggested
"Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI)" fees on merchant transactions on Unified Payments Interface
(UPI).
• The PPI fees would be levied on transactions above ₹2,000 on UPI.
• It will result in an interchange at 1.1% of the transaction value.
Indian economy to grow at 6.5% in next decade: Chief Economic Advisor
• Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V Anantha Nageswaran on 29 March 2023 announced that the
Indian Economy is likely to grow at the rate of 6.5 percent in the coming decade.
• The Finance Ministry's Economic Survey has projected the economic growth to be 6.5 percent in
2023-24.
• While the RBI has projected India's economic growth to slow down to 6.4 percent in Financial
Year 2024.
EPFO marginally hikes interest rate on deposits to 8.15%
• Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has decided to recommend an increase of
0.05% in the interest for Provident Fund deposits.
• The new rate, applicable for 2022-23, will be 8.15%.
• The Union Labour Ministry added in the release that the decision involves the distribution of more
than ₹90,000 crore in the members’ accounts.
• The total principal amount with the EPFO is ₹11 lakh crore.
India's overall exports cross all time high of USD 750 billion
• Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, on 28 March 2023, announced that India’s
overall exports crossed US$ 750 billion.
• This is an all time high and this achievement of 750 billion comes in the 75th year of independence.
• India’s strong macroeconomy, robust foreign exchange reserves, relatively low inflation and
entrepreneurial spirit have immensely contributed to the export.
YES Bank issues first electronic bank guarantee with NeSL
• YES Bank has issued its first electronic-Bank Guarantee (e-BG) in partnership with National E-
Governance Services Limited (NeSL).

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• The API integration with the Digital Document Execution (DDE) platform of NeSL has enabled
complete digitisation of the existing paper-based process for issuance and maintenance of Bank
Guarantee (BG).
• This includes digital stamping and signing.
Crisil upgrades Credit Saison India Limited's rating to AAA
• Crisil Ltd upgraded Credit Saison India's rating to AAA/Stable on 27 March 2023.
• The Crisil AAA rating comes 3.5 years after the company commenced its lending operations.
• The company holds strong debt relationships with 24 debt lenders, including the State Bank of
India, Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, Mizuho, etc.
Parliament approves Budget for 2023-24
• Parliament has approved the Union Budget for 2023-24 with the Lok Sabha clearing the Finance
Bill as amended by the Rajya Sabha.
• The amendment to the Finance Bill 2023, which sought to correct an error with regard to the tax
rate on Securities Transaction Tax, was moved by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
• The passage of the Finance Bill has completed the budgetary exercise for 2023-24.
Canara Bank's stake in Commercial Indo Bank LLC sold to SBI for 121 cr
• Canara Bank has sold its stake in the Russian joint venture Commercial Indo Bank LLC (CIBL) to
the other venture partner State Bank of India (SBI) for about ₹121.29 crore.
• CIBL, incorporated in 2003, is a joint venture in Russia between SBI (60 per cent) and Canara Bank
(40 per cent).
• The Bengaluru-based state-owned bank entered into the agreement for sale on November 11,
2022.
Infosys announces Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw's retirement from board
• Infosys has announced the retirement of Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw as Independent Director of the
Board, effective March 22, 2023, upon completion of her tenure.
• She was appointed to the board as an independent director in 2014 and as lead independent
director in 2018.
• She also served as the chairperson of the nomination & remuneration committee of the Infosys
board.

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Committees and Recommendations Current Affairs

Centre constitutes committee to monitor stock disclosure of Tur
• Union govt on 27 March 2023, constituted a Committee under the chairmanship of Additional
Secretary, Nidhi Khare to monitor the stock of Tur.
• It will monitor the stock of Tur held by entities such as importers, millers, stockists, traders etc. in
close coordination with the state governments.
• The government has also removed the 10 per cent duty applicable for Tur imports in 2023.
Govt to set up panel to improve national pension scheme
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on March 24 announced the constitution of a committee to
propose changes to the National Pension System (NPS).
• It will be chaired by the finance secretary which will look into this issue of pension and evolve an
approach that addresses the need of employees.
• NPS has been made available to every Indian citizen from May 1, 2009, on a voluntary basis.
DPIIT to set up task force for formulating logistics cost framework
• A task force will be set up for formulating a framework to determine logistics costs in the country.
• It was decided in a workshop organised by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal
Trade (DPIIT).
• The task force members would include representatives from NITI Aayog, Ministry of Statistics and
Programme Implementation (MOSPI), National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER).
SC formed five-member expert committee to look into Hindenburg report
• Supreme Court formed a five-member expert committee headed by former apex court judge,
Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre.
• It will investigate the causal factors and existence, if any, of regulatory failure which led to
investors losing crores.
• Committee includes former chairman of SBI O.P. Bhatt, retired judge J.P. Devadhar, banker K.V.
Kamath, Nandan Nilekani and lawyer Somasekhar Sundaresan.

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Defence Current Affairs

Bharat Dynamics successfully test fires Amogha-III anti-tank missile
• Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) successfully field-fired a fire-and-forget man-portable anti-tank
guided missile, Amogha-III on March 26, 2023.
• The missile has a minimum and maximum effective range of 2500 metres.
• The man portable missile has a Tandem warhead that can penetrate Explosive Reactive Armor
(ERA) to over 650 millimetres.
• This model has a Dual Mode Imaging Infra Red (IIR) Seeker.
ICG conducts Search and Rescue (SAR) Exercise in Andhra Pradesh
• The Indian Coast Guard conducted Regional Search and Rescue (SAR) exercise during 28-29
March 2023 at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
• The aim of the exercise was to simulate a real time maritime distress scenario and highlight the
functioning of Search and Rescue (SAR) organisation for a mass rescue operation.
• Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) Kakinada coordinated with ICG during the exercise.
1st joint conference of army chiefs of India and Africa held
• The 1st joint conference of army chiefs of India and African countries was held in Pune on 28
Mar'23.
• Defense Minister Rajnath Singh attended the conference as the chief guest.
• This was the first-ever conference of Army Chiefs of these countries.
• Army chiefs of 10 countries along with 31 representatives of African nations are present in this
conference.
• A defence exhibition was also held.
India, UK hold joint maritime exercise 'Konkan' in Arabian Sea
• Konkan 2023, a joint maritime exercise, was conducted between the Royal Navy of Britain and
the Indian Navy from the 20-22 March 2023, off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea.
• INS Trishul, a guided missile frigate, and HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 guided missile frigate,
participated in this edition.
• The exercises covered all domains of maritime operations, air, surface, and subsurface.
Indian Army, Air Force conduct joint drills 'Vayu Prahar' along LAC
• Indian Army and the Air force jointly conducted a Multi Domain Air-Land Exercise Vayu Prahar
along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern command in March 2023.
• The exercise enables coordination and rehearsal amongst various agencies for quick mobilization,
transportation and deployment of forces within a theatre that can be executed across theatres.
Anti-submarine craft INS Androth launched
• The INS Androth, second in a series of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW
SWC), was launched in Kolkata on 21 March 2023.

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• Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, INS Androth is about 77.6 m
long and 10.5 m wide, and requires a draught of only 2.7 m.
• Propelled by three diesel-driven water jets, these ships can attain a maximum speed of 25 knots.
India-Africa military exercise begins in Pune
• India and 23 African nations on 21 March 2023, began a nine-day mega military exercise in Pune
with a greater aim to expand their overall military cooperation.
• Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande will also host an ‘India-Africa Chiefs Conclave’ on March
28.
• An exhibition of indigenously developed military platforms will also be organised on March 29.
Indian Navy's P-8I aircraft to participate in 'Exercise Sea Dragon 23'
• A P-8I aircraft of the Indian Navy arrived at Guam, USA on March 15 to participate in ‘Exercise
Sea Dragon 2023’, conducted by the United States Navy from March 15-30, 2023.
• It is the third edition of the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise for long-range maritime
reconnaissance (MR) ASW aircraft.
• It focuses on coordinated anti-submarine warfare among the participating countries.
President Murmu presents the 'President’s Colour' to INS Dronacharya
• President Droupadi Murmu presented the President’s Colour to INS Dronacharya in Kochi on
March 16, 2023.
• The President’s Colour is considered the highest honour that the President bestows on a unit for
exceptional service to the nation.
• INS Dronacharya is the nodal centre for training Sagar Prahari Bal and the Navy’s centre for
training several Indian Ocean Region (IOR) nations.
Joint India-Singapore exercise 'Bold Kurukshetra' concludes at Jodhpur
• Singapore Army and Indian Army participated in the 13th edition of bilateral exercise BOLD
KURUKSHETRA from 6 to 13 March 2023 at Jodhpur Military Station, India.
• For the first time in the series of exercises, the armies of both the countries participated in a
command post exercise, involving battalion and brigade level planning units and computer
wargaming.

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Government Schemes and Policies Current Affairs

Union Minister Giriraj Singh initiates 'Captive Employment' Scheme
• Union Minister for Rural Development Giriraj Singh initiated Captive Employers, a unique initiative
under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) in New Delhi on 28
March 2023.
• Captive employers will train Rural Poor Youth and employ trained youth in their companies.
• In the first phase, 19 Captive Employers are being engaged to provide jobs to over 31,000 rural
youth.
Union govt notifies revised MGNREGA wage rates
• Union govt notified a hike in wage rates under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for the 2023-24 financial year.
• Haryana has the highest daily wage at ₹357 per day and Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have
the lowest at ₹221.
• The notification was issued under Section 6 (1) of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005.
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 for Raw
Jute at 5050 rupees per quintal for the 2023-24 season.
• The approval is based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices
(CACP).
• It was announced in line with the principle of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times all
India’s weighted average cost of production.
Union govt launches National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP)
• The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Ministry of Health, launched the National Rabies
Control Programme (NRCP) for the prevention and control of Rabies in March 2023.
• The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has also requested the concerned authorities to take
appropriate action and to effectively implement the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023 to
control the dog population.
Govt to develop mega textile parks in 7 states under PM MITRA scheme
• The union govt on 17 Mar'23 announced that the mega textile parks under the PM Mega
Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme will be set up in seven states.
• The list includes Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and
Uttar Pradesh.
• Mega parks will boost the textiles sector in line with 5F (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to
Foreign) vision.
Union govt announces 10% reservation in CISF for former Agniveers

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• Union Home Ministry on 17 March 2023 announced a 10 percent reservation for former Agniveers
in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
• Former Agniveers would get relaxation in the upper age limit and will also be exempted from
Physical Efficiency Test.
• As per the notification, the upper age limit for candidates of the first batch of Agniveers shall be
relaxed by up to five years.
Delhi government's old excise policy gets six-month extension
• The Delhi government has extended its old excise policy for the next six months.
• The government had reverted to its old excise policy in September 2022, after withdrawing excise
policy 2021-22.
• The excise policy 2021-22 was withdrawn by the Delhi government after LG VK Saxena
recommended a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in its implementation.
Govt approves ‘vibrant village program’ for comprehensive development
• The program aims to develop the villages in 46 border blocks of 19 districts in four States and UT
viz Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh (UT) abutting the
northern border.
• ₹4,800 crore has been allocated for the programme for the Financial Year 2022-23 to 2025-26.
• Initially, 662 border villages have been identified for comprehensive development
Centre launches MSME Competitive (LEAN) scheme to benefit enterprises
• The government on 10 March 2023, launched the revamped Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
(MSME) Competitive (LEAN) scheme to make it more beneficial for enterprises and stakeholders.
• Under the new scheme, the Centre's contribution will be 90 per cent of the implementation cost
for handholding and consultancy fees as against 80 per cent previously.
Govt held 1st consultation on Digital India Act to replace IT Act 2000
• The Union government on 10 Mar'23, conducted its 1st public consultation with industry and policy
stakeholders regarding the Digital India Act (DIA), which aims to replace the Information
Technology Act (IT), 2000.
• Privacy-invasive devices such as spy camera glasses, and wearable tech may be mandated under
stringent regulation before market entry with strict KYC requirements for retail sales.

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Days and Events Current Affairs

World Theatre Day: 27 March
• World Theatre Day is celebrated on 27 March annually across the world to raise the importance
of the art form "theatre" and to act as a wake-up call for governments that have not yet
recognized its value to the people.
• It was initiated in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute.
• The theme of World Theatre Day 2023 is “Theatre and a Culture of Peace.”
Home Min Amit Shah attends 84th raising day of CRPF in Chhattisgarh
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the 84th Raising Day event of the Central Reserve
Police Force (CRPF) in Chhattisgarh on 25 March 2023.
• He also paid tribute to CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh's Jagdalpur.
• Founded in 2006, CRPF is a federal police organisation in India under the authority of the Ministry
of Home Affairs of the Government of India.
International Day of Unborn Child: 25 March
• The International Day of the Unborn Child is observed annually on 25 March to commemorate
the opposition to abortion.
• The day is associated with the late Pope John Paul II who opposed the medical procedure of
abortion.
• The theme of International Day of the Unborn Child 2023 is "the dignity and value of children yet-
to-be-born."
Day for Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations
• Every year on March 24, the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human
Rights Violations and Victim Dignity is observed.
• It honours the memory of Monsignor Oscar Arnulfo Romero, who was assassinated on March 24,
1980.
• Monsignor Romero was an outspoken opponent of human rights violations against El Salvador's
most vulnerable citizens.
Assam Rifles commemorates 188th Raising Day
• Assam Rifles- considered the oldest and most decorated Para Military Force of the country,
celebrated its 188th Raising Day on 24 March 2023.
• Assam Rifles was raised on March 24, 1835.
• During 2022-23, three battalions received Chief of the Army Staff Unit Citation and five Battalions
received General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Unit Citation.
World Tuberculosis (TB) Day: 24 March
• World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is observed annually on March 24 to raise awareness about TB and
efforts to end the global epidemic.

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• This date marks the day Dr. Robert Koch discovered the bacterium that causes TB in 1882.
• It is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs.
• The theme for World Tuberculosis Day 2023 is "Yes! We can end TB!"
Martyrs’ Day: 23 March
• Martyrs’ Day is celebrated on 23 March every year to commemorate the martyrdom of Bhagat
Singh, Shivram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar who were hanged to death by the Britishers.
• Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev were hanged at the age of 23, whereas Rajguru was only 22.
• To avenge Lala Lajpat Rai’s killing, they attempted to bomb the Central Legislative Assembly on
April 8, 1929.
World Meteorological Day: 23 March
• World Meteorological Day is observed every year on 23 March to commemorate the World
Meteorological Organization's creation on 23 March 1950.
• The first World Meteorological Day was held on 23 March 1961.
• It began operations in 1951 to coordinate member nations in the fields of meteorology & Earth
sciences.
• The theme for 2023 is “The Future of Weather, Climate and Water across Generations.”
World Water Day: 22 March
• World Water Day is observed on 22 March every year.
• The theme for 2023 is Accelerating Change.
• The UN General Assembly made it a yearly observance in 1993 to raise community understanding
about the importance of conserving water.
• It was formally included for the first time in schedule 21 of the “United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development” in Rio de Janeiro, in 1992.
Bihar Day: 22 March
• Bihar Day (Bihar Diwas) is observed every year on March 22, marking the formation of the state
of Bihar.
• It was on this day when the British carved out the state from Bengal in 1912.
• The day is a public holiday in Bihar.
• The official observance of Bihar Diwas annually began in 2010 under the initiative of Nitish Kumar.

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International Current Affairs

UK signs deal to join trade pact with 11 Asia and Pacific nations
• The UK has signed a deal to join a trade pact with 11 Asia and Pacific nations, three years after it
officially left the European Union.
• The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership was established in
2018, and includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru,
Singapore and Vietnam.
Saudi Arabia becomes SCO's dialogue partner
• Saudi Arabia has joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a powerful regional bloc
led by China and Russia.
• The Cabinet approved a memorandum on becoming a dialogue partner in the SCO.
• The SCO was founded in June 2001 by China, Russia, and the Central Asian states of Uzbekistan,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
• Pakistan and India became full members in 2017.
Tanzania announces outbreak of deadly Marburg virus disease
• Tanzania has announced its first outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus disease (MVD).
• MVD, formerly known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever which is a serious and deadly disease
belongs to the family of viruses called filoviruses like the Ebola virus.
• High temperature, a severe headache, severe malaise muscle aches and pains, cramping in the
stomach, nausea, etc. are the symptoms.
United Arab Emirates launches National Genome Strategy
• The UAE has launched its National Genome Strategy.
• It aims to provide a comprehensive legislative and governance framework to support the
development and implementation of genomic programs.
• The strategy will last ten years and will focus on delivering public health priorities.
• The Emirates Genome Council, which was established in 2021, will oversee the National Genome
Strategy.
Russia fires supersonic anti-ship missile at mock target
• Russia's navy fired supersonic anti-ship missiles at a mock target in the Sea of Japan, in March
2023.
• The P-270 Moskit missile, which has the NATO reporting name or SS-N-22 Sunburn, is a medium-
range supersonic cruise missile of Soviet origin.
• It is capable of destroying a ship within a range of up to 120 km (75 miles).
Egypt joins BRICS bank as new member
• Egypt has joined the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB).

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• The African-Arab nation became an NDB member on February 20, though a formal notification
was issued on March 22.
• The New Development Bank was set up by BRICS nations on the basis of the intergovernmental
agreement signed at the sixth BRICS summit in Fortaleza in July 2014.
France, UK bans TikTok app from public employee work phones
• French government on 25 March 2023, announced a ban on the ‘recreational’ use of popular social
media apps like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram on government employees owing to concerns
surrounding data security.
• The United Kingdom Parliament has also announced to ban of the Chinese-owned video-sharing
app TikTok from all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network.
North Korea tests underwater nuclear-capable attack drone
• North Korea tested a new underwater nuclear-capable attack drone on 24 March 2023.
• The North Korean military deployed and tested-fired the new weapons system during a military
drill directed by Kim Jong Un.
• The drone was placed in the ocean near South Hamgyong province as part of the experiment,
and it drifted there for 59 hours and 12 minutes.
Joe Biden signs bill to declassify intelligence about Covid-19 origins
• US President Joe Biden has signed a bipartisan bill that directs the federal government to
declassify intelligence about the origins of Covid-19.
• The legislation was passed by both the House and Senate and cites potential links between the
research that was done in the Wuhan lab and the outbreak of Covid-19.
• World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Covid-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020.
IMF approves $3-billion bailout for Sri Lanka
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on March 20, 2023 cleared a $3 billion-Extended Fund
Facility (EFF) for Sri Lanka.
• The objectives of the EFF-supported programme are to restore macroeconomic stability and debt
sustainability, safeguarding financial stability, and stepping up structural reforms to unlock Sri
Lanka’s growth potential.

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MoU and Agreements Current Affairs

MoD signs Rs 19,600 cr contracts for patrol and missile vessels
• Ministry of Defence has signed contracts with Indian shipyards for acquisition of 11 Next
Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels and six Next Generation Missile Vessels at an overall cost of
19,600 crore rupees.
• The contract for acquisition of 11patrol vessels under Buy Indian-IDDM category was signed with
Goa Shipyard Limited GSL and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers GRSE Kolkata.
Ministry of Defence inks over Rs 9,100 crore contracts
• Ministry of Defence has signed contracts for procurement of improved Akash Weapon System
(AWS) and 12 Weapon Locating Radars, WLR Swathi (Plains) for the Indian Army at an overall
cost of over 9100 crore rupees.
• The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously
designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Ministry of Defence inks Rs 1700 crore deal with BrahMos Aerospace
• The Ministry of Defence on 30 March 2023, inked a Rs 1,700 crore contract with BrahMos
Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL) for procurement of next generation maritime mobile coastal
batteries and BrahMos missiles.
• These systems will be equipped with supersonic BrahMos missiles.
• The delivery of these batteries is scheduled to commence from 2027.
• BAPL is a joint venture between India and Russia.
MoD inks contracts with BEL, NSIL to bolster defence capabilities
• The Defence Ministry, on 29 Mar 2023, signed three contracts worth Rs 5,400 crore to bolster the
defense capabilities of the country.
• The first contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is for the procurement of an Automated
Air Defence Control and Reporting System, 'Project Akashteer'.
• The 2nd contract with BEL is for the acquisition of Sarang Electronic Support Measure (ESM)
systems.
NTPC Renewable Energy Limited signs Term Sheet with Greenko ZeroC
• NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd has signed Term Sheet with Greenko ZeroC Pvt Ltd (A Greenko
Group Company).
• It has been signed to supply 1300 MW Round the Clock RE Power for powering Greenko’s
upcoming Green Ammonia Plant at Kakinada, India.
• The agreement between the two companies is one of the world’s single largest contract for supply
of round-the-clock renewable supply for an industrial client.
IDFC First Bank join hands with Crunchfish

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• IDFC FIRST Bank has teamed with Crunchfish to participate in the RBI's pilot programme to
facilitate offline payments.
• This initiative will provide access to digital payments even when there is no network.
• The Swedish company Crunchfish introduced this one-of-a-kind digital payment system for
merchants and customers as part of the RBI's Regulatory Sandbox Program.
MoD inks pact with BEL for Medium Power Radars ‘Arudhra’ & 129 DR-118
• Ministry of Defence, on March 23, 2023, signed two contracts with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
worth Rs 3,700 crore, to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force.
• The first contract is for Medium Power Radars (MPR) ‘Arudhra’ for the Indian Air Force.
• The second contract, at an overall cost of approx. Rs 950 crore, relates to 129 DR-118 Radar
Warning Receivers (RWR).
23 March 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• Lok Sabha approves ₹1.18 lakh crore budget for Jammu and Kashmir
• Martyrs’ Day: 23 March
• Guinness World Records names 'The Weeknd' most popular artist globally
• Sarabjot Singh wins Gold in Men’s 10m air pistol at ISSF World Cup
• Joe Biden signs bill to declassify intelligence about Covid-19 origins
Himachal Pradesh signs MoU with French agency worth Rs 817.12-crore
• Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu signed an MoU of Rs 817 crore project
with the French development agency Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) to improve
drinking water and sanitation services in the state.
• The MoU aims to provide better sewerage facilities in Manali, Bilaspur, Palampur, Nahan, and
Karsog to improve drinking water supply in Manali and Palampur towns.
NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd. signs MoU with Indian Army
• NTPC REL has signed an MoU with Indian Army for setting up Green Hydrogen Projects in its
establishments on Build, Own and Operate model.
• The intent is to reduce complex logistics, dependence on fossil fuels and to accelerate
decarbonization.
• A joint identification of potential sites would be undertaken for setting up of green hydrogen
projects for supplying electricity, in a phased manner.

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National Current Affairs

Drugs for rare diseases get customs duty relief
• The Central Government has given full exemption from basic customs duty on all drugs and food
for special medical purposes imported for personal use for treatment of all Rare Diseases listed
under the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021.
• The Government has also fully exempted Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) used in treatment of various
cancers from basic customs duty.
Amit Shah attends 113th Convocation ceremony of GKV University
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the 113th Convocation ceremony of Gurukul Kangri
University at Haridwar on 30 March 2023.
• He inaugurated the computerization of various multipurpose societies in Uttarakhand.
• The University was founded on 4 March 1902 by the Arya Samaj sannyasi Swami Shraddhanand.
• A Kanya Gurukula Campus in Dehradun in 1922 was also established by Acharya Ramdevji.
2nd Tourism Working Group meeting to be held at Siliguri on 1st April
• The second G20 Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting will be held in West Bengal's Siliguri and
Darjeeling from 1-3 April 2023.
• It will focus on fifive priorities including Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, and Destination
Management.
• Darjeeling is famous world-over for ‘Darjeeling Tea’ which was given the first GI Tag in India in
2004.
1st G20 disaster risk reduction working group meet to begin on 30 Mar
• The First G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group meeting will begin at Gandhinagar, Gujarat
on 30 March 2023.
• MoS for Communication Devusinh Chauhan will inaugurate the meeting.
• Five priority areas have been identified for the meeting which include an early warning for all,
resilient infrastructure, and improving the National System for Disaster Risk Reduction.
World’s first 7.2 metre high-rise train set on trial in Delhi-Jaipur
• The world’s first 7.2 meter high-rise train was set on trial in Delhi-Jaipur.
• The Vande Bharat Express train has been modified for the Delhi-Jaipur route.
• The semi-high-speed train on this route can be the 11th route for the advanced train in India.
• As per an earlier announcement, the train is expected to begin operations on the route on April
10, 2023 following the completion of trials.
India-Russia WG meet on Roads & Transport Systems held in New Delhi
• The first meeting of the India-Russia Working Group on Roads and Intelligent Transport Systems
was held in New Delhi on 29 March 2023.

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• The meeting was organised with the objective to establish a long-term and effective bilateral
relationship of communication and cooperation in the road transportation, logistics, Intelligent
Transport System (ITS) and green mobility sector.
Second G20 Sherpas meeting to begin at Kumarakom in Kerala on 30 March
• The Second G20 Sherpas meeting under India’s G20 Presidency, chaired by India’s G20 Sherpa
Amitabh Kant will be held in Kumarakom, Kerala, from March 30 to April 2, 2023.
• It will hold multilateral discussions on G20’s economic and developmental priorities as well as on
addressing contemporary global challenges.
• The focus will be both on policy approaches and concrete implementation.
Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurates Annual Session 2023 of ASSOCHAM
• Union Minister, Home Minister, and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, on 28 March 2023,
attended the Annual Session 2023 of Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India
(ASSOCHAM) in New Delhi.
• It was based on the theme 'Bharat@100: Paving the Way for Inclusive and Sustainable Global
Growth'.
• ASSOCHAM represents the interests of trade and commerce in India.
The 2nd G20 IWG meeting to take place in Visakhapatnam on 28 March
• The second G20 Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) meeting under G20 Indian Presidency is
scheduled to take place at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, on the 28-29 March 2023.
• Around 63 delegates from G20 member countries and international organizations will participate
in the meeting.
• The theme of the meeting is “Financing Cities of Tomorrow: Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable”.
Aviation Minister inaugurates direct flight between Amritsar & London
• Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia inaugurated a direct flight
between Amritsar and Gatwick, London on 27 March 2023.
• Under the Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme, 20 routes have been operational in Punjab.
• The government has also signed an open sky offer with Canada to operate unlimited flights
between Indian cities.
MoS Commerce & Industry Anupriya Patel inaugurates 23rd INDIASOFT
• Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, Anupriya Patel inaugurated the 23rd edition of
INDIASOFT in New Delhi on 27 March 2023.
• More than 1500 Indian exhibitors are showcasing their products and solutions at the event,
together with other collocated events.
• Over 650 delegates from 80 countries are participating in the three-day event.
Second G20 Framework Working Group meeting concludes in Chennai
• The Second G20 Framework Working Group (FWG) meeting under Indian G20 Presidency
concluded in Chennai on 25 March 2023.

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• The two-day meeting was co-chaired by V. Anantha Nageswaran, India’s Chief Economic Advisor,
and Clare Lombardelli, Chief Economic Adviser, United Kingdom Treasury.
• Around 87 delegates from G20 member countries, and international organisations attended the
meeting.
Environment Minister launches Aravalli Green Wall Project in Gurugram
• Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on 26 Mar 2023, launched the Aravalli Green Wall Project
in Gurugram, Haryana.
• It is a major initiative to green a 5 km buffer area around the Aravalli Hill Range in four states.
• He also unveiled the National Action Plan to combat desertification through forestry
interventions.
• It will also improve the soil fertility and climate resilience of the region.
Union Min Jyotiraditya Scindia flags off 1st Delhi-Dharamshala flight
• Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for Civil Aviation
Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Union MoS for Civil Aviation General V.K.Singh on 26 March 2023
flagged off the first Indigo Airline Delhi-Dharamshala flight.
• Indigo Airlines will operate daily flights to Dharamshala from Delhi.
• It is the seventh-largest airline in the world in terms of departures.
PM Modi inaugurates 13.7 km Whitefield-KR Pura Metro Line in Bengaluru
• PM Narendra Modi on 25 March 2023 inaugurated the 13.71 km Whitefield -to-Krishnarajapuram
Metro Line in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• He also inaugurated the 'Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research
(SMSIMSR) & ‘Sri Sathya Sai Rajeswari Memorial Block’, a totally-free-of-cost medical college and
hospital, at Muddenahalli in Chikkaballapura district, Karnataka.
Centre extends AFSPA in parts of Nagaland, Arunachal for 6 months
• The Ministry of Home Affairs on 25 March 2023, extended the Armed Forces Special Powers
(AFSPA) Act 1958 in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland for 6 months.
• The AFSPA empowers security forces to arrest a person without a warrant, or search premises
without a warrant.
• In 2022, Union govt had declared Changlang, Tirap and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh
as 'disturbed areas'.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya chairs 36th Board Meeting of Stop TB Partnership
• Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya chaired the 36th Board
Meeting of the Stop Tuberculosis (TB) Partnership on 25 Mar'23.
• An “Accountability Report of TB-affected Communities & Civil Society: Priorities to Close the
Deadly Divide” was also launched at the event.
• India identified 3 health priorities under the G20 Presidency, focused on universal health coverage.
1st G20 Trade and Investment Working Group (TIWG) Meeting in Mumbai

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• The first Trade and Investment Working Group (TIWG) meeting under India’s G20 Presidency is
scheduled in Mumbai, from March 28th - 30th, 2023.
• Over 100 delegates from G20 member countries and international organizations will engage in
deliberations to accelerate global trade and investments.
• It will be inaugurated by the Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
One Tigress each to be released to Kota’s Mukundra & Bundi’s Ramgarh
• One tigress each will be released to Kota’s Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve and Bundi’s Ramgarh
Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.
• This decision was taken in a meeting attended by Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav and
Loksabha speaker Om Birla in New Delhi on 24 March 2023.
• Gaurs and wild dogs and some other wild animals will also be released in the reserve area.
Ashneer Grover launches cricket fantasy sports app ‘CrickPe’
• BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover's Third Unicorn on 23 March 2023 launched a cricket-
focused fantasy sports app called CrickPe.
• It is the only fantasy cricket app in the world where with every match, the actual playing cricketers,
cricketing bodies, and real team owners win cash rewards, along with the fantasy game-winners.
Govt to introduce GPS-based toll system in six months
• The government is planning to introduce new technologies including GPS-based toll collection
systems to replace existing highway toll plazas in the next 6 months.
• The move is aimed at reducing traffic congestion and charging motorists for the exact distance
travelled on the highways.
• NHAI's toll revenue is currently Rs 40,000 crore and it is going to soar to Rs 1.40 lakh crore 2-3
years.
PM Narendra Modi visits Varanasi
• PM Narendra Modi visited Varanasi on 24th March 2023 and addressed the One World TB
Summit.
• He launched TB-Mukt Panchayat Initiative, shorter TB preventive treatment, and family-centric
care model for TB.
• He also released India's Annual TB Report 2023.
• He also felicitated states/UTs for progress towards ending TB.
Union govt launches 'DigiClaim' for claim disbursal through NCIP
• Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar launched National Crop
Insurance Portal’s (NCIP) digitized claim settlement module 'DigiClaim' in New Delhi on 23 March
2023.
• It was launched under the ambit of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
• Under the module, claims will be disbursed electronically, which will benefit the respective farmers
of six states.

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Union Min Sarbananda Sonowal launches Digital Platform 'Sagar Manthan'

• Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal on 23 March 2023,
launched the Real-time Performance Monitoring Dashboard ‘Sagar Manthan’.
• It is a Digital platform having all the integrated data related to the ministry and other subsidiaries.
• The dashboard will transform the workings of various departments by improving well-coordinated
real-time information.
‘Call Before You Dig’ app launched by PM Modi
• PM Narendra Modi on 22 March 2023 launched an app called 'Call Before u Dig’.
• It will help prevent uncoordinated digging that results in damage to underground utility assets
like optical fibre cables, costing the government thousands of crores every year.
• It has been developed by the department of telecommunications and the Bhaskaracharya
Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics.
AIM launches 'Stories of Change' for promoting grassroots innovations
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) launched the 'Stories of Change' a series of captivating journeys of
15 change-makers from grassroots.
• These stories of impact creators from across India are aimed at inspiring entrepreneurs.
• AIM will be bringing such stories in future as well to give a platform to community innovators and
will also provide support to every grassroots innovators.
PM Modi inaugurates ITU Area Office & Innovation Center
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Area Office and Innovation Centre in New Delhi on 22 March 2023.
• He also unveiled the Bharat 6G Vision Document.
• The new ITU office will serve India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan,
and Iran and it will also ensure economic cooperation in the region.
Environment Minister chairs 1st General Body Meeting of NCSCM
• Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chaired the 1st General Body Meeting of the National
Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, (NCSCM) in New Delhi on 22 March 2023.
• It was held to focus on sustainable infrastructure and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
• He directed NCSCM to contribute to the mission of MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline
Habitats and Tangible Incomes).
Rajasthan becomes first State to pass Right to Health Bill
• Rajasthan Assembly on 21 March 2023 passed the Right to Health Bill.
• It has a provision for mandatory free-of-cost emergency treatment for every resident of the State
at both the government hospitals and the privately-run institutions.
• With this, Rajasthan has become the first and the only State in the country to legislate the right
to health.
PM Modi will inaugurate ITU Area Office & Innovation Centre

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• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) Area office and Innovation Centre in New Delhi on 22 March 2023.
• During the programme, Prime Minister will also unveil Bharat 6G Vision Document and launch 6G
Research and Development Test Bed.
• India had signed a Host Country Agreement in March 2022 with ITU for establishment of Area
Office.
2nd SFWG Meeting in Udaipur, Rajasthan from 21st-23rd March, 2023
• The Second G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) meeting under India’s G20
Presidency is set to take place in Udaipur, Rajasthan from 21st-23rd March, 2023.
• The First G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) was held in Guwahati, Assam on 2nd-
3rd February, 2023.
• On the side-lines of the meeting, two workshops have been planned.
NGT levies penalty on Kochi Municipal Corporation
• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Kochi Municipal Corporation in Kerala to pay
an environmental compensation of Rs 100 crore,
• It has been fined for the damage to the environment because of its failure to handle solid waste.
• The bench comprised judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel.
Cabinet approves listing of IREDA on Stock Exchanges
• Govt has approved for listing of the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency on the Stock
Exchanges.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) decided to approve an Initial Public Offer
(IPO) by part sale of Government’s stake in the CPSE to raise funds through issue of fresh equity
shares.
• Dept of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) will drive the listing process.
7 Textile Mega Parks to be set up at cost of Rs 4445 crore
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that seven PM MITRA (PM Mega Integrated Textile
Region and Apparel) mega textile parks would be set up.
• They will come up in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh
and Uttar Pradesh.
• PM MITRA Parks aims to propel India as a global hub for textile manufacturing and exports.
BRO opens strategic Zojila Pass in record 68 days
• The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on 16 March opened the strategic Zojila Pass for vehicle
movement.
• Zojila Pass is located on the Greater Himalayan Range at an altitude of 11,650 feet which acts as
a gateway between the Union Territories of Ladakh, and Jammu & Kashmir.
• It remained closed for only 68 days in 2023 as compared to 73 days in 2022.
NIOT to set up green, self-powered Desalination Plant in Lakshadweep

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• The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in March 2023 announced to set up of an
emission-free Desalination plant in Lakshadweep.
• Currently, the desalination plants, each of which provides at least 100,000 liters of potable water
every day, are powered by diesel generator sets.
• The NIOT will use Low-Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) technology.
Deepak Bagla steps down as MD & CEO of Invest India
• Deepak Bagla, Managing Director and CEO of Invest India resigned from his post on 17 March
2023.
• Invest India is the Indian government's National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency
setup in 2009 under section 25 of the Companies Act.
• Bagla is the President of the Geneva based World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies
with membership of 105 countries.
Parshottam Rupala to inaugurate ‘Sagar Parikrama Phase IV’ on 18 March
• Union Minister Parshottam Rupala will inaugurate the Phase-IV of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ in Karnataka
on 18 March 2023.
• It will cover the stretch of Uttar Kannada on 18th March 2023 and on 19th March 2023 Udupi
followed by Dakshan Kannada.
• It aims to resolve the issues of the fishers and other stakeholders and facilitate their economic
upliftment through various fisheries schemes and programs.
India approves Rs 70,500 crore for acquisition of military hardware
• The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the defense ministry's apex body for clearing weapons
procurement accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisitions worth Rs 70,500
crore.
• These include indigenous BrahMos missiles, Shakti Electronic Warfare (EW) systems, and Maritime
Utility Helicopters.
• Out of these, 99 percent of the procurement will be sourced from Indian industries.
OneWeb to launch 36 satellites with ISRO for low-orbit connectivity
• OneWeb, the Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite company, will launch 36 satellites with Indian Space
Research OrganisationISRO on 26 March 2023.
• The launch aims at completing the first-generation LEO constellation and enabling the initiation
of global coverage in 2023.
• The mission marks OneWeb’s second satellite deployment from India with the collaboration
between the UK and India.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya flags off 75 Trucks to create TB awareness
• Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on 16 March 2023, flagged off 75
trucks with Tuberculosis (TB) awareness messages across the country in New Delhi.
• Currently, 71000 Ni-Kshay Mitras are supporting over 10 lakh TB patients through nutritional
support.

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• Under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, the Minister also distributed Nutritional
Baskets to TB patients.
Ayush Min inaugurates 26th session of Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth
• Union Minister for Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the 26th Convocation of
Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth (RAV) on 16 March 2023.
• He also inaugurated the 8th National Seminar on the topic 'Usage of Trina Dhanya (Millets) in
contemporary lifestyle' in New Delhi.
• The session discussed ways to document and publish a maximum number of case reports based
on ayurvedic practices.
First abort mission of Gaganyaan in May 2023
• The first of the four abort missions for India's maiden human spaceflight Gaganyaan is planned
for May 2023.
• The first test vehicle mission, TV-D1, is planned in May 2023, followed by the second test vehicle
TV-D2 mission and first uncrewed mission of Gaganyaan (LVM3-G1) in the first quarter of 2024.
• The Human-rated Launch Vehicle Systems (HLVM3) are tested and qualified.
BIS launches 'Learning Science via Standards' initiative for students
• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on 15 March 2023, launched the ‘Learning Science via
Standards’ series for students.
• The initiative focuses on lesson plans that use scientific concepts, principles, and laws to help
students understand their practical applications in manufacturing.
• Under the initiative, ‘Standards Clubs’ are being established in educational institutions across
India.
Meghalaya International Film Festival begins in Shillong
• The first-ever Meghalaya International Film Festival started in Shillong on March 14, 2023.
• It is being in the State Central Library.
• Around 40 films will be screened across 4 venues.
• An initiative of the Meghalaya Filmmakers' Association (MeFilma), Meghalaya International Film
Festival is jointly organised by the filmmakers of the state in collaboration with the tourism
department.
Govt removes upper age limit to receive deceased donor organs
• The government has removed the upper age limit of 65 years for eligibility for registration to
receive deceased donor organs.
• Now, a person of any age can register for receiving deceased donor organs.
• The government has also canceled the domicile requirement of the state for registration of
patients requiring organ transplantation from deceased donors.
India to host SCO Tourism Ministers' meet in Varanasi on March 17-18

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• India will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Tourism Ministers’ Meeting on 17-18
March in Kashi (Varanasi), Uttar Pradesh.
• Varanasi has been designated as the first cultural capital of the SCO.
• During the Tourism Ministers’ (TMM) meeting, a joint action plan on the development of
cooperation in tourism among SCO member countries will be adopted.
Bihar has lowest literacy rate followed by Arunachal and Rajasthan
• Bihar (61.8 pc) has the lowest literacy, followed by Arunachal Pradesh (65.3 pc) and Rajasthan
(66.1 pc) according to Ministry of Education.
• The literacy rate in rural India is 67.77 per cent as compared to 84.11 per cent in urban India.
• Kerala has the highest literacy rate (94 pc) followed by Lakshadweep (91.85) and Mizoram (91.33
pc).
Yoga Mahotsav 2023 inaugurated
• Yoga Mahotsav 2023, the three days event to commemorate 100 days countdown to International
Day of Yoga 2023 was inaugurated in New Delhi on 13 March 2023.
• Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the event.
• The three-day Yoga Mahotsav 2023 will feature a range of programs and activities which will
include talks/discourses by Yoga gurus, Vice Chancellors Summit, etc.
IREDA gets status of IFC from RBI
• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has got the status of Infrastructure
Finance Company (IFC) from RBI.
• It was earlier classified as an 'Investment and Credit Company (ICC)'.
• With the IFC status, IREDA will be able to take higher exposure in RE financing.
• The IFC status will also help the company to access a wider investor base for fund mobilisation.
Total forest and tree area increased by 2261sq km
• India’s forest and tree cover has risen by 2,261 square kilometers in the year 2021.
• Andhra Pradesh grew the maximum forest cover of 8,276 square kilometers, according to the India
State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021.
• The biennial report by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, was released by Minister of State
for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ashwini Kumar Choubey.
Centre approves Rs 1816 crore to 5 states as disaster relief
• Union govt on 13 March 2023, approved additional assistance of ₹1,816.16 crore under the National
Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to five states which were affected by flood, landslides, and
cloudburst in 2022.
• Under the fund, ₹520.466 crore has been approved to Assam, ₹239.31 crore to Himachal Pradesh,
₹941.04 crore to Karnataka, ₹47.326 crore to Meghalaya and ₹68.02 crore to Nagaland.
Uttarakhand's entire Broad Gauge Network electrified by Indian Railway

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• Indian Railways on 13 March 2023, announced that it has completed the electrification of
Uttarakhand’s entire broad gauge network of 347 route km.
• This will result in a 2.5 times lower line haul cost, heavier haulage capacity, and reduced operating
and maintenance costs of the electric loco.
• Indian Railway is working on a mission mode to become the largest green railway in the world.
Centre sanctions eight floating jetty projects in Karnataka, TN
• Under its Sagarmala Programme, the Ministry of Ports, shipping, and waterways has provided in-
principle approval to four floating jetty projects in Karnataka.
• These projects are located primarily on Gurupura River and Netravati River and shall be used for
tourism purposes.
• It has also given in-principle approval to another four floating jetty projects in Tamil Nadu.
PM Modi inaugurates 118 Km long Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway project
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 11 March 2023, inaugurated the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway
in the Mandya district of Karnataka.
• The 118 Km long project has been developed at a total cost of around Rs 8480 crores.
• It will reduce the travel time between Bengaluru and Mysuru from around 3 hours to about 75
minutes. It will act as a catalyst for socioeconomic development in the region.
Central Railway achieves 100% electrification of entire broad gauge
• Central Railway achieved 100% railway electrification on all Broad Gauge routes which is almost
3825 Kilometres in March 2023.
• The last non-electrified section of Central Railway, Ausa Road- Latur Road on Solapur Division
was electrified in Feb 2023.
• The electrification has helped in reducing carbon footprints of 5.204 lakh tons every year and also
saves Rs. 1670 crores annually.
First Supreme Audit Institution (SAI20) meet to begin on 13 March
• The first Supreme Audit Institution 20 (SAI20) Senior Officers Meeting (SOM) is going to begin in
Guwahati, Assam on 13 March 2023.
• The themes of the meeting are, ‘Blue Economy’ and ‘Responsible Artificial Intelligence’.
• The SAI20 is aimed at bringing together an ecosystem wherein SAIs are active partners in
governance, promoting transparency and accountability.
PM Modi unveils world's longest railway platform in Hubballi-Dharwad
• PM Narendra Modi on 11 March 2023, inaugurated the longest railway platform in the world in
Hubballi-Dharwad.
• With this, the city has registered its name in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the
longest railway platform in the World at Shree Siddharoodha Swamiji station.
• The 1,507-metre-long platform has been built at a cost of about ₹20 crore.
IRCTC to start 'Bharat Nepal Ashtha Yatra Tour' from 31 March

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• Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) announced to run on 31 March 2023,
"Bharat Nepal Ashtha Yatra" tour package.
• It will run under the Bharat Gaurav Tourists train which will showcase four important pilgrimage
and heritage destination in the 10 days tour.
• It is in line with India's initiative “Dekho Apna Desh" to promote special interest circuits in domestic
tourism.
Nitin Gadkari unveils first methanol run buses in Bengaluru
• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on 12 March 2023, unveiled Bengaluru's first methanol-run buses.
• The project is aimed at reducing the level of emissions and the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport
Corporation (BMTC) NITI Aayog, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Ashok Leyland are conducting
the project together.
• As part of the project, the IOC will provide free methanol for three months.
Amit shah virtually inaugurated development project in Ahmedabad
• Home Minister unveiled multiple development works worth Rs 154 cr of Ahmedabad Municipal
Corporation and Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority.
• Among which the biggest work is inauguration of a new over-bridge at Sanathal Junction on
Sardar Patel Ring Road at a cost of Rs100 cr project.
• Smart schools have been inaugurated in Chandkheda, Sabarmati, Shela, Thaltej and Sarkhej.
Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal to chair the 6th meeting of NSAC
• Piyush Goyal chaired the 6th meeting of the National Startup Advisory Council (NSAC)
• NSAC is playing an important role in identifying areas of interventions for expansion of startup
ecosystem and ideating and nurturing national programs under Startup India initiative..
• .With the theme of India@2047, NSAC will plan upon matters important for evolution of Indian
startup ecosystem.
Uttar Pradesh cabinet approves New Sports Policy 2023
• The Uttar Pradesh cabinet, chaired by CM Yogi Adityanath, on 10 March 2023, approved the New
Sports Policy 2023.
• As part of the new sports policy, special focus is to be laid on a range of aspects from a player's
physical fitness to training.
• Along with this, various provisions have been made to support the development of new institutions
while connecting schools, and colleges with sports.
Karnataka reports India's first death from H3N2 influenza virus
• India reported its first two deaths due to the Influenza A subtype H3N2 virus, one each from
Karnataka and Haryana on 10 March 2023.
• Ninety cases of H3N2 have been reported over the last three months in India.
• In Karnataka, 82-year-old Hire Gowda died due to the H3N2 virus.
• The infection is contracting children more than adults and children below 15 are more prone to
the viral infection.

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Power Minister launches portal to ensure availability of of power

• Union Power Minister launched a portal to ensure greater availability of power during the peak
demand season at a price higher than the ceiling
• The Central government has launched a High Price Day Ahead Market (HP-DAM) and Surplus
Power Portal (PUShP).
• HP-DAM will aid gas and coal-based power plants to generate and sell expensive power to meet
the high peak demand in summers.
Centre launches portal for women scientists for research grants & fund
• Union minister Jitendra Singh on 9 March 2023, announced the launch of an exclusive portal for
research grants and funds for women scientists by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR) council under CSIR-ASPIRE programme.
• The portal will be functional from 1 April 2023.
• Only women scientists across the country will be eligible to apply for research grants.
Army installs tallest Iconic National Flag in hilly Doda district, J&K
• In J&K, the Indian Army installed the tallest 'Iconic National Flag' in the hilly Doda district on
March 9, 2023.
• The tricolour has been installed on a 100 feet-high pole, the highest Tricolour in the Doda district.
• General Officer Commanding of the Army's Delta Force Maj Gen Ajay Kumar unfurled it.
• He also honoured the next of kin of soldiers who had died in the service of the nation.
Agriculture Min to inaugurate workshop on Bamboo Sector Development
• Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar will inaugurate the National
Workshop on Bamboo Sector Development in New Delhi on 10 March 2023.
• It aims to identify areas for improvement and explore expert suggestions to transform the
bamboo industry.
• The event is being organized by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Invest India, and
Kerala State Bamboo Mission
Indian Railways to launch Bharat Gaurav train from Mumbai to Madurai
• Indian Railways is going to run the Bharat Gaurav train from Mumbai to Renigunta and back from
9 March 2023.
• Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train is in line with the Government of India initiative “Dekho Apna Desh"
to promote domestic tourism.
• This IRCTC tourist train will be an all-inclusive tour package and IRCTC will make efforts to
provide a safe and memorable experience to the guests.
Education Minister launches new BS course at IIT Madras
• Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the four year Bachelor Science Degree
in Electronic Systems at IIT Madras on March 2023.
• The new BS in Electronic Systems course will be delivered online.

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• Unlike other undergraduate courses offered by the institute, candidates can take admission to
this one without appearing in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).
BSE and UN Women India launches a new programme, 'FinEMPOWER'
• BSE and UN Women India launched a new programme, 'FinEMPOWER', at the Bombay Stock
Exchange (BSE) on 6 March 2023.
• It is a year-long joint capacity-building programme between BSE and UN Women to empower
women towards financial security.
• BSE and UN Women India also collaboratively organised the 'Ring the Bell for Gender Equality
ceremony.
PM Modi to inaugurate Disaster Risk Reduction session on 10th March
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 3rd session of the National Platform for Disaster
Risk Reduction on 10th March 2023 in New Delhi.
• The theme of National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023 is 'building local resilience in the
face of climate change.'
• Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the Ministerial session with the Ministers of States and Union
Territories.
Union Min Piyush Goyal inaugurates 1st Session of Massmerize 2023
• Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal
inaugurated the 1st Session of Massmerize 2023 in New Delhi on 6 March 2023.
• Massmerize is a dialogue forum between government and retail, Fast-moving consumer goods
(FMCG), and e-Commerce sectors to discuss regulatory issues, Macro-Economics, and consumer
trends.
Sterlite Power commissions green energy corridor project in Gujarat
• Sterlite Power has commissioned its green energy corridor project – Lakadia-Vadodara
Transmission Project Limited – in Gujarat.
• It aims to deliver over 5,000 MW renewable energy from Bhuj and Kutch to the national grid.
• With 812 towers spanning seven districts in Gujarat, this power transmission corridor is also one
of the largest transmission corridors built in India till date.
Ashwini Vaishnaw releases special 'Go Green, Go Organic' cover
• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and four Sikkim ministers on Monday released a unique cover
of the Department of Posts, 'Go Green, Go Organic' for Sikkim.
• Sikkim has the title of the 'first 100% organic state' in the world.
• The state has also won the prestigious Future Policy Gold Award from the UN Food and
Agriculture.
Mauganj became the 53rd district of Madhya Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on March 4, 2023, to make Tehsil
Mauganj of Rewa district the 53rd district of the state.

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• It will have four tehsils - Mauganj, Hanumana, Naigarhi and Devtalab with a population of more
than six lakhs.
• CM Chouhan also transferred an amount of Rs 605 crore as assistance to the bank accounts of
27,310 beneficiaries under the Sambal scheme.
The 6th meeting of JWGACTC concludes in New Delhi on 3rd March
• The 6th meeting of Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Co-operation (JWGACTC)
was organized in India from 27 Feb- 3 March 2023.
• It is constituted under the Indo-US Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).
• The opening session of the Meeting was held on 27th February in New Delhi and was co-chaired
by RAdm Sandeep Mehta, Assistant Controller Carrier Projects (ACCP).
The first Labour 20 meeting to be held in Amritsar on 19-20 March
• The 1st Labour 20 (L20) meeting is scheduled to be held in Amritsar, Punjab, from 19th to 20th
March 2023.
• It comprises leaders and representatives of trade union centers of G20 countries who provide
analyses and policy recommendations aimed at addressing labor-related issues.
• Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) is the lead national trade union center for organizing the L20
inception meeting.
Union govt approves launch of Nano Liquid DAP Fertiliser for farmers
• Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on 5 March 2023, announced the
launch of nano liquid DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) fertilizer for the benefit of farmers.
• One bottle will be equivalent to one bag of DAP, which costs Rs 1,350.
• Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) is also planning to launch Nano-Potash, Nano-Zinc,
and Nano-Copper fertilizers.
India installs world's first bamboo barrier
• World's first 200-meter-long Bamboo Crash Barrier has been installed on the Vani-Warora
Highway,Vidarbh, Maharashtra.
• It has been christened Bahu Balli.
• The recycling value of the bamboo barrier is 50-70%.
• The bamboo species used in the making of this barrier is Bambusa Balcoa, which has been treated
with creosote oil and coated with recycled High-Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE).
Sale of gold jewellery hallmarked without six-digit code to be banned
• Government has decided to ban the sale of gold jewellery and gold artefacts hallmarked without
a six-digit code from April 2023.
• The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution informed that the decision has
been taken to ensure quality culture in micro sale units.
• The decision was taken after a review meeting of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
ICMR to set up new cell to support research

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• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is developing a research policy and governance
cell.
• It will be responsible for designing and implementing policies and strategies to support research
activity.
• It will work under the direct control of director general, ICMR Dr Rajiv Bhal.
• ICMR is one of the oldest and largest medical research bodies in the world.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur launches Yuva Utsav
• Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh
Thakur launched the Yuva Utsava-India@2047 on 4 March from IIT Ropar in Punjab.
• He also launched the Dashboard of Yuva Utsava.
• In the first phase by 31st March 2023, Yuva Utsava will be held in 150 Districts across the country
to celebrate the youth power.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flag off PM Jan Aushadhi Train
• Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
flagged off the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) train on 3 March 2023
in New Delhi.
• It is named Chhattisgarh Samparkranti Express and has been wrapped with the branding of the
Jan Aushadhi scheme to spread awareness about generic medicines available at Jan Aushadhi
centers.
Union Min Amit Shah inaugurates Phase I of Bengaluru Safe City project
• The Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, on 3 March 2023, inaugurated the first
phase of the Bangalore Safe City Project in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The project is envisaged under Nirbhaya Scheme to ensure the safety of women in Bengaluru
city.
• Under the project, audio-visual systems, drones, CCTVs, and emergency call boxes are installed
in various parts of the city.
Eighth edition of Raisina Dialogue inaugurated on 2 March
• PM Modi inaugurated the eighth edition of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on 2 March 2023.
• The three-day Raisina Dialogue is India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-strategy.
• It is organized by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with Observer Research
Foundation.
• The theme of the 2023 Edition is "Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence: Lighthouse in the
Tempest."
8th National Conference on Economics of Competition Law to be held
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is organising the 8th edition of the National
Conference on Economics of Competition Law on 3 March 2023.
• The Conference is being organised every year since 2016 by the CCI.
• The Conference has a plenary session and two technical sessions.

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• The Plenary at this year's Conference is on the topic ‘ANTITRUST AND REGULATION:
INTERFACES AND SYNERGIES’.
NTPC commissioned India’s first Air cooled condenser
• NTPC has commissioned India’s first Air cooled condenser at North Karanpura Super Critical plant
in Jharkhand.
• This project has been envisaged with Air Cooled Condenser which has almost 1/3rd water
footprint as compared to a conventional Water Cooled Condenser.
• The North Karanpura plant will have a total capacity of 1980 MW, 3 Units of 660 MW each.
Two-day Millets Mahotsav organised at Bhojpur, Bihar
• A two-day Millets Mahotsav was organized from 28th February to 1st March 2023 at Bhojpur,
Bihar.
• The event was inaugurated by Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Pashupati Kumar
Paras.
• Due to the initiative of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the United Nations declared the year
2023 as the International Year of Millets.
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya flagged off Jan Aushadhi Rath
• Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya flagged off the Jan Aushadhi Rath in
New Delhi to commence celebrations of Jan Aushadhi Jan Chetna Abhiyaan.
• Govt has set a target to increase the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras
to 10,000.
• Medicines available at Jan Aushadhi Kendra are priced 50 to 90 per cent less than the prices of
branded medicines.
4th edition of the National Youth Parliament Festival to commence
• The 4th edition of the National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) will commence on 2 Mar 2023 in
the Central Hall of Parliament, New Delhi.
• The Youth Parliament has been organised since 2019, with the objective of strengthening
democracy and enabling the student community to understand the working of Parliament.
• The Youth Parliaments are conducted at three levels: District, State and Nation.
G-20 meeting of Anti Corruption Working Group begins in Gurugram
• The G20 meeting of the Anti Corruption Working Group began in Gurugram on 1 March 2023.
• Union Minister Jitendra Singh addressed the G20 meeting.
• Representatives from 20-member nations, 10 invitee nations and nine international organisations
(such as Interpol etc.) will be attending the meeting.
Exhibition on International Year of Millets organized in Goa
• Central Bureau of Communication, Goa organized a Multimedia exhibition on International Year
of Millets in Panaji, on 28 Feb 2023.

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• Open to public till 3rd March, the exhibition aims to educate visitors about the importance of
millets and encourage their inclusion in daily diets.
• Millets are small-grained, annual, warm-weather cereals belonging to grass family.
Ganga Vilas successfully completes its maiden visit
• World's longest river cruise MV Ganga Vilas successfully completed its maiden journey at Bogibeel
in Dibrugarh, on 28 Feb 2023.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi had virtually flagged off the cruise on 13th January 2023 from
Varanasi.
• During the 50 days journey, the river cruise travelled 3200 km through 27 river systems in 5 states
and Bangladesh and visited 50 major tourist sites.

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Appointments Current Affairs

Tata Power re-appoints Praveer Sinha as CEO & MD for four years
• Tata Power has reappointed Dr. Praveer Sinha as CEO & Managing Director of the company for
a period of four years.
• The re-appointment will take effect from May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2027.
• His present tenure as a CEO & MD will conclude on Apr 30, 2023.
• Tata Power Company Limited is an Indian electric utility company based in Mumbai,
Maharashtra, India and is part of the Tata Group.
Badri Srinivasan to head APMEA regions for Wipro
• Badri Srinivasan will lead Wipro's India and Southeast Asia businesses under the company’s Asia
Pacific, Middle East, India and Africa (APMEA) Strategic Market Unit.
• Satya Easwaran, Country Head for India, has decided to pursue opportunities outside the
organisation.
• Mr. Badri joined Wipro in January 2022 as the managing director for Southeast Asia.
Sheikh Khaled named as crown prince of Abu Dhabi
• Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE and the ruler of Abu Dhabi,
has announced his eldest son Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the crown
prince of Abu Dhabi.
• Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan has been appointed as the country's new vice president.
• Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed and Sheikh Hasbin Zayed, were announced as deputy rulers of Abu
Dhabi.
Justice T S Sivagnanam appointed acting chief justice of Calcutta HC
• The Central government on 30 March 2023, appointed Justice TS Sivagnanam as Acting Chief
Justice of the Calcutta High Court with effect from March 31, 2023.
• Justice Sivagnanam will take over the post after the retirement of the current Chief Justice
Prakash Shrivastava.
• High court judges retire at the age of 62 years, while Supreme Court judges demit office on
attaining the age of 65.
Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan appointed as Vice-President of UAE
• The United Arab Emirates President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has appointed
Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the UAE Vice-President.
• The incumbent Vice president Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will also continue in
the same role.
• The new Vice-President is also the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and a
member of the Abu Dhabi Supreme Petroleum Council.
Pranav Haridasan to take over as Axis Securities’s MD and CEO

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• Axis Securities has announced the appointment of Pranav Haridasan as its new managing
director and CEO for a tenure of 3 yrs.
• The current MD, B Gopkumar has transitioned to Axis Asset Management Company as MD and
CEO.
• Haridasan is currently MD and co-head of Equities at Axis Capital.
• Before this, he worked at Citigroup Global Markets as director and head of India/ ASEAN
Execution Services.
SpiceJet’s Ajay Singh takes over as ASSOCHAM President
• SpiceJet chief Ajay Singh has taken over as President of the Associated Chambers of Commerce
and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
• Singh replaces Sumant Sinha, the Managing Director of Renew Power who has completed his
tenure at the chamber.
• Sanjay Nayar, the Founder and Chairman of Sorin Investment Fund is the new Senior Vice-
President of ASSOCHAM.
Star Sports signs actor Ranveer Singh as brand ambassador
• The Walt Disney Company India-owned channel Star Sports has signed Ranveer Singh as its
brand ambassador.
• As per the company, this association makes him the first actor to be associated with Star Sports.
• Star Sports and Ranveer Singh’s journey as partners starts with the opening weekend of IPL.
• It also entails other sporting events coming up including World Test Championship Final.
Dilma Rousseff elected as new President of BRICS Bank
• New Development Bank (NDB) has announced that former Brazilian President Dilma Vana
Rousseff has been elected as the new President of the Bank.
• She will replace Marcus Troyjo.
• NDB, also known as BRICS bank is a multilateral financial institution set up by the five BRICS
countries including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa.
NDTV appoints former SEBI chief UK Sinha as non-executive chairperson
• NDTV has appointed former Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) chairman Upendra Kumar
Sinha as an independent director and non-executive chairperson of the NDTV board of directors.
• Sinha served as the chairman of SEBI for over six years between 2011 and 2017.
• NDTV also appointed Welspun India's chief executive officer Dipali Goenka as an independent
director on the board.

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Obituaries Current Affairs

World's oldest drag queen, Darcelle XV passes away
• The Guinness World Record holder for oldest drag queen performer, Darcelle XV, passed away
on 27 March 2023.
• Her real name was Walter W. Cole.
• She was crowned the oldest drag queen by Guinness World Records in 2016.
• The Darcelle XV Showplace, which she owned, is "the West Coast's longest-running drag show,"
as per Guinness.
• She authored her autobiography "Just Call Me Darcelle".
Intel Co-Founder Gordon Moore passes away
• Intel co-founder Gordon E. Moore, who revolutionized the manufacture of semiconductor chips
and transformed computing, passed away on March 24, 2023.
• He gave Moore's law, which defined the rate of the invention in semiconductors.
• In 2009, Moore was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
• He was awarded the 2010 Dan David Prize for his work in the area of Computers.
Renowned filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar passes away
• Renowned filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar, on 24 March 2023 passed away.
• He started his directing debut with Vidya Balan’s Parineeta in 2005. Other films directed by him
are Mardaani (2014), Laga Chunari Mein Daag, and Lafangey Parindey (2010).
• In 2005, He was awarded Filmfare Award for Best Art Direction for Parineeta.
• In 2006, he won Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director.
Actor Lance Reddick passes away
• Actor Lance Reddick passed away in March 2023.
• He was best known for his commanding presence as a police chief on the acclaimed television
drama "The Wire" and for his supporting work in the "John Wick" action-film series.
• He also released a jazz album, "Contemplations and Remembrances" in 2007.
Veteran actor Sameer Khakhar passes away
• Veteran actor Sameer Khakhar, best known for his role in 1980s classic Nukkad, passed away in
March 2023.
• The actor was recently seen in the Prime Video series "Farzi".
• His career spanned nearly four decades.
• He rose to fame with his roles in TV shows 'Nukkad' and 'Circus'.
• He played vital roles in films, including 'Hasee Toh Phasee', 'Jai Ho', 'Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi'.
Veteran actor and director Satish Kaushik passes away
• Veteran actor and director Satish Kaushik passed away in March 2023.
• He had acted in more than 100 films.

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• Kaushik was best known for his roles in films such as Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Mr. India, Deewana
Mastana, and Udta Punjab.
• Satish Kaushik won the Filmfare Best Comedian Award in 1990 for Ram Lakhan and for Saajan
Chale Sasural in 1997.
Former union minister Satyabrata Mookherjee passes away
• Former union minister Satyabrata Mookherjee passed away in Kolkata on 3 March 2023.
• He was elected from the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constituency in 1999.
• He was the Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers (from September 2000 – June
2002) and then for Commerce and Industry (July 2002 – October 2003).
• He also served as Additional Solicitor General of India.
Former Chief Justice of India A.M. Ahmadi passes away
• Former Chief Justice of India A.M. Ahmadi passed away in March 2023.
• Ahmadi was the chief justice from 1994 to 1997.
• Having begun his judicial career as a City Civil and Session Court judge in Ahmedabad, he was
the only Chief Justice of India who started at the very lowest rank to rise to the highest position
of the Indian judiciary.

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Sports Current Affairs

IOC finally makes Lashinda Demus a 2012 Olympics champion
• American runner Lashinda Demus officially became an Olympic champion on 30 March 2023, at
the age of 40 and more than a decade after the 2012 London Games.
• Demus was formally reallocated the gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles by the International
Olympic Committee because of the disqualification of Natalya Antyukh in fallout from the Russian
doping scandal.
Aravindh Chithambaram wins Delhi International Open chess title
• Aravindh Chithambaram won the Delhi International Open chess title on 30 March 2023.
• Georgia’s Luka Paichadze took the second spot with nine points.
• Aravindh Chithambaram Veerappan is an Indian chess grandmaster.
• He won the Indian chess championships twice, in 2018 and 2019.
• He earned his international master title in 2014 and his grandmaster title in 2015.
Shakib Al Hasan surpasses Southee to become the top T20I wicket-taker
• Shakib Al Hasan surpassed Tim Southee to become the leading wicket-taker in T20I cricket in
March 2023.
• He achieved this record during the second T20I match against Ireland in Chattogram,
Bangladesh.
• With 136 wickets in T20I at an average of 20.67 and an economy rate of 6.8, Shakib is considered
as one of the best all-rounders in T20 cricket.
BCCI signs Herbalife as its official partner for upcoming IPL edition
• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has signed nutrition company Herbalife Nutrition
Limited as its partner for the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) for its current season, 2023.
• The IPL 2023 is scheduled to be played in the country starting this month, from March 31 to May
26, 2023.
• Herbalife sponsors more than 150 world-class athletes which include Virat Kohli, Mary Kom, etc.
Bharali Bedabrate bags bronze in World Youth Championships
• Indian weightlifter Bharali Bedabrate clinched the men's 67kg bronze medal at the International
Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Youth Championships in Durres, Albania.
• He lifted a total of 267kg (119kg+148kg) to finish third.
• Armenia's Seryozha Barseghyan 275 kg (128 kg+147 kg) and Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Al
Marzouq 270 kg (119 kg+148 kg) won the gold and silver medals respectively.
First Hockey India Junior Men Zonal Championships 2023 concludes
• The first Hockey India Junior Men Zonal Championships 2023 concluded in the North, South, East,
and West Zones on 28 March 2023.

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• The Hockey Punjab, Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, Hockey Jharkhand, and Hockey Madhya Pradesh
were crowned as Champions in their respective zones.
• Hockey Punjab defeated Uttar Pradesh Hockey 3-2 in the North Zone Final.
Sam Burns wins World Golf Championship Match Play title
• Sam Burns secured the 2023 WGC Match Play golf title with a 6 and 5 victory over Cameron
Young in the final on 28 March 2023.
• Rory McIlroy also topped in his heavyweight clash with world number one Scottie Scheffler in the
consolation match.
• Earlier, he had beaten Scottie Scheffler in a back-and-forth semi-final encounter which was
decided at the third playoff hole.
Ultimate Table Tennis to return for Season 4, to begin in July 2023
• Ultimate Table Tennis, the franchise-based table tennis league featuring star international
paddlers, will resume after a three-year hiatus.
• Its fourth edition will be played in Pune from July 13 to 30, 2023.
• The fourth edition to be played at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex will see five of the
six previous franchises contiuning from where they left in the last edition in 2019.
Bhavani Devi bags Women’s Individual Sabre gold
• Olympian Bhavani Devi bagged the gold medal in the women's Individual Sabre category of the
33rd Senior National Fencing Championship at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in March
2023.
• She clinched her 11th national title after she outplayed V Sunny Alka of Kerala 15-9.
• Her team Tamil Nadu, also won the gold in the Women's Sabre Team event, by outplaying Kerala
45-34 in the final.
AHF honours Hockey India with best organiser award
• Hockey India has been awarded with the Best Organiser Award by the Asian Hockey Federation
(AHF) for the successful hosting of the FIH Men’s World Cup in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela earlier
in 2023.
• The award was received by HI secretary-general Bhola Nath Singh during the AHF Congress held
in Mungyeong, Korea.
• The World Cup was held at Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela.

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Summits and Conferences Current Affairs

PM Narendra Modi to attend Combined Commanders’ Conference-2023
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Combined Commanders’ Conference-2023 in
Bhopal on 1st April 2023.
• The three-day conference of Military Commanders started on 30 March 2023 on the theme
‘Ready, Resurgent, Relevant’.
• Prime Minister will also flag off the Vande Bharat Express train between Bhopal and New Delhi at
Rani Kamlapati Railway Station, Bhopal.
PM Modi to virtually address Summit of Democracy
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed the Leader-level Plenary session on the Summit
of Democracy on March 29 2023.
• The summit was hosted by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
• Presidents and Prime Ministers from six countries -- Greece, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Croatia, and
Timor-Leste also addressed the summit.
• The summit aimed to make democracies more responsive and resilient
1st International Quantum Communication Conclave concluded on 28 March
• Deprtment of Telecom organised ‘First International Quantum Communication Conclave’ on 27-
28 March 2023 in New Delhi.
• The conclave was organised by Telecommunications Standards Development Society India and
Centre For Development Of Telematics (C-DOT).
• The Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Skill Excellence Awards – 2022 were also presented
to various winners during the event.
Amit Shah to chair Regional Conference on 'Drug Trafficking' on 24 Mar
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the Regional Conference on ‘Drug Trafficking and
National Security’ in Bengaluru on 24 March 2023.
• It is being organised to curtail drug trafficking through maritime route and stringent punitive
action on drug traffickers resulting into zero tolerance.
• Representatives from 5 Southern States & three Union Territories will also attend the Conference.
Tourism Min to organize 1st Global Tourism Investor Summit in May 2023
• Under India’s G20 Presidency, the Ministry of Tourism will organize the country's 1st Global
Tourism Investors’ Summit (GTIS) in New Delhi from 17-19 May 2023.
• It will aim to attract investment in tourism industry such as Hospitality & Lodging, Eco-Tourism,
Rural Tourism and others.
• A 100% Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the tourism and Hospitality sector is allowed under
automatic route.
RK Singh to inaugurate National conference on 'Biomass' on 24 March

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• Union Power & New and Renewable Energy Minister R. K. Singh will inaugurate the “National
Conference on Biomass 3P - Pellet to Power to Prosperity” in New Delhi on 24 Mar 2023.
• It is being hosted by National Mission on Use of Biomass in Thermal Power Plants (SAMARTH).
• The conference aims to foster an enabling environment to boost co-firing of biomass pellets in
Thermal Power Plants in India.
Civil20 India inception meet starts at Nagpur
• A working committee meeting of the Civil20 India 2023 inception conference started on 20 March
2023 in Nagpur.
• It was chaired by Mata Amritanandamayi Devi and Nobel Laureate and Founder of Satyarthi
Foundation, Kailash Satyarthi was the Chief Guest in it.
• C20 India 2023 is one of the official Engagement Groups of the G20 that provides a platform for
Civil Society Organizations (CSO).
Manipur governor inaugurates Int'l Conference on 'Natural Farming'
• Manipur Governor Sushri Anusuiya Uikey inaugurated three days long an International conference
on the theme ‘Natural farming for Revitalizing Environment and Resilient Agriculture’ at Central
Agricultural University of Manipur on 17 March 2023.
• The conference also exhibited the natural farming products of innovative farmers from Manipur
and other North Eastern States.
PM Modi to inaugurate the Global Millets Conference on 18th March
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Global Millets Conference in New Delhi on 18th
March 2023.
• The two-day global conference will have sessions on the promotion and awareness of millets
among producers, consumers, and other stakeholders.
• Based on India’s proposal, the year 2023 was declared the International Year of Millets (IYM) by
the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
7th International Diabetes Summit 2023 inaugurated in Pune
• The 7th International Diabetes Summit 2023 organized by Chellaram Diabetes Institute was
inaugurated on 15 March 2023 in Pune, Maharashtra.
• The three day summit is focused on talks on managing diabetes complications, cost-effective
diabetes care, new advances and role of technology in diabetes management.
• More than 2000 delegates are attending the event

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Person in News Current Affairs

Dalai Lama names Mongolian boy 3rd highest rank in Tibetan Buddhism
• Dalai Lama named an eight-year-old Mongolian boy born in the United States the 10th Khalkha
Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche - the third highest rank in Tibetan Buddhism on 28 March 2023.
• He is the son of a university professor and the grandson of a former Mongolian member of
parliament.
• The Panchen Lama is the second most important spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism.
Krishna Prakash: 1st to swim from Gateway of India to Elephanta Caves
• As part of the ‘Drowning Prevention Awareness’ campaign, Indian Police Service (IPS) officer
Krishna Prakash swam from Gateway of India to Elephanta Caves, Mumbai.
• He completed the expedition of 16.20 kms in just 5 hours 26 minutes and became the first person
in history to do so.
• In 2017, he completed the Ironman Triathlon, one of the most challenging sports events in the
world.
Pakistani origin Humza Yousaf wins race to be Scotland's next leader
• Pakistani origin Humza Yousaf on 27 March 2023 won the race to become Scotland's new leader,
the youngest and first from a minority ethnicity.
• He succeeds Nicola Sturgeon as leader of the governing Scottish National Party (SNP).
• He will take over as head of the semi-autonomous government once he wins an approval vote in
the Scottish parliament.
Manmeet Colon sworn in as Connecticut's first assistant police chief
• Indian-origin Sikh woman officer Lieutenant Manmeet Colon took charge as the Assistant Chief
of Police in the US state of Connecticut on 27 March 2023.
• She became the department's first-ever second-in-command of Asian descent.
• The Board of Police Commissioners in New Haven unanimously approved the appointment of
Colon who was previously a lieutenant in the internal affairs office.
Guinness World Records names 'The Weeknd' most popular artist globally
• The Weeknd was named the most popular artist in the world according to Guinness World
Records on 22 March 2023.
• The organization awarded the title to the pop star after analyzing the popular streaming platform
data of some of the biggest names in the music industry.
• Guinness World Records is a reference book published annually, listing world records of the
extremes of the natural world.
Stadium named after hockey player Rani Rampal
• Indian team’s star hockey player Rani Rampal has become the first woman in the sport to have a
stadium named after her, in Rae Bareli.

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• The MCF Rae Bareli has renamed the hockey stadium as ‘Rani’s Girls Hockey Turf’.
• Rani made a comeback to the Indian team during the tour of South Africa earlier this year, when
she was included in a 22-member squad.
Sampanna Ramesh becomes fastest Indian to swim across Palk Strait
• Swimmer Sampanna Ramesh Shelar has become the fastest Indian in under-21 group to swim
across the Palk Strait from Talaimannar in Sri Lanka to Dhanuskodi in Tamil Nadu on 17 March
2023.
• He created this record by completing the distance of 29 Kms in 5 hours and 30 minutes.
• The previous record was 8 hours and 26 minutes.
First woman loco pilot operates new semi-high-speed Vande Bharat train
• Surekha Yadav, Asia’s first woman loco pilot has become the first female to operate the newly-
introduced semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express train in March 2023.
• Ms. Yadav piloted the Vande Bharat Express train between Solapur station and Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai on March 13, 2023.
• In 1988, she became India’s first female train driver.
Col Geeta Rana becomes first woman officer to command EME unit
• Colonel Geeta Rana of the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers became the first
woman officer to take over command of an independent field workshop in the Ladakh Sector.
• She took over the command of the EME independent workshop after the Army cleared 108
vacancies for women officers for taking command of independent units in the Corps of Engineers,
Ordinance, EME, and other branches.
Arun Subramanian becomes 1st Indian-American judge at New York Court
• Indian-American Arun Subramaniam has been confirmed as the first South Asian District Judge
for the Southern District of New York.
• South District New York notably has one of the largest South Asian-American populations in the
country.
• Arun Subramanian currently serves as Chairperson of Susman Godfrey’s 2022 Pro Bono
Committee and is also a longtime Director of the Columbia Law Review

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Science and Technology Current Affairs

IIT Madras Researchers develop device to detect milk adulteration
• IIT Madras researchers have developed a three-dimensional (3D) paper-based portable device
that can detect adulteration in milk within 30 seconds.
• The test could be even performed at home.
• It can detect multiple substances commonly used as adulterating agents including Urea,
detergents, soap, starch, hydrogen peroxide, sodium-hydrogen-carbonate, and salt, among
others.
New species of Moray eel named after Tamil Nadu
• Researchers have discovered a new species of Moray eel at the Mudasalodai fish landing centre
off the Cuddalore coast.
• The species has been named after Tamil Nadu as Gymnothorax tamilnaduensis with common
name as Tamil Nadu brown moray.
• The discovery has been published in the latest issue of the international peer-reviewed journal
“Zoosystematics and Evolution”.
ISRO launches India's largest LVM3 rocket with 36 satellites
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched India’s largest Launch
Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3) rocket/OneWeb India-2 Mission with 36 satellites onboard from Satish
Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on 26 March 2023.
• The 36 first-generation satellites weighing 5,805 kgs will be placed into a 450 km circular orbit
with an inclination of about 87.4 degrees.
Nasa's James Webb Space Telescope makes new discovery
• NASA's James Webb Space Telescope made another out-of-this-world discovery: a giant red
planet outside the solar system.
• The study is published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
• The planet is considered to be a "young planet" at only 150 million years old and that's why the
sky appeared turbulent.
• It also discovered clear detections of water, methane, and carbon monoxide.
ICMR approves RT-qPCR kit to detect influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV
• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) approved test kit developed by KRIYA Medical
technologies which can detect influenza H1N1, H3N2, Yamagata and Victoria sublineages, Covid-
19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
• The kit has a cycle time of 27 minutes and the time around 50-60 minutes for the results to be
read which can enable an immediate line of treatment.
Chandrayaan-3 successfully undergoes Integrated Module Dynamic Tests

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• Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft successfully completed the essential tests that validated its capability
to withstand the harsh vibration and acoustic environment during its launch.
• These tests were conducted in March 2023 at the UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru.
• the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is a composite of three modules ie. Propulsion Module, Lander
Module, and the Rover module.
NASA unveils new generation of spacesuit
• NASA has unveiled a new generation of spacesuit for humanity's return trip to the Moon.
• The design of the spacesuit comes with specialist features to support astronauts as they conduct
scientific experiments on the lunar surface.
• The prototype is said to be a better fit for female space travellers.
• Existing spacesuits worn by US space travellers have not been fully redesigned since 1981.
SOFIA makes first detection of Oxygen-18 in Mesosphere
• The GREAT instrument onboard NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy
(SOFIA) measured the ratio of main to heavy oxygen in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere.
• This made the first spectroscopic detection of heavy oxygen outside a laboratory.
• Heavy oxygen (18O) is so called because it has 10 neutrons, rather than the normal eight of main
oxygen (16O), the form we breathe.
IIT Roorkee scientists discover new antibacterial molecule ‘IITR00693'
• Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee have discovered a new
antibacterial small molecule (IITR00693) that could help in the fight against drug-resistant
infections.
• The molecule has shown potent antibacterial activity against a wide range of Gram-positive and
Gram-negative bacteria, including some of the most problematic drug-resistant strains.
Megha-Tropiques-1 successfully de-orbited
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully de-orbited a satellite.
• Megha Trophiques-1 was brought down as it disintegrated and burned up in the skies
• Megha-Tropiques-1 was launched into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in 2011, as a joint mission of ISRO
and the French space agency, CNES, for tropical weather and climate studies

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29 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines

• European Commission and EIB to invest €18bn in climate action
• World Day for Safety and Health at Work: 28 April
• Emirates unveils world's first robotic check-in assistant
• Ministry of Culture to release comic book series
• Agriculture Minister launches ‘Millets Experience Centre’
Today's History: 29 April 2023
• Delhi's Red fort construction commenced by laying the Foundation Stone by Shah Jahan, in 1639.
• Raja Ravi Verma, famous classic, prolific painter and great Indian Artist, was born in Kilimanoor,
Kerala, in 1848.
• Abolition of "untouchability" happened in 1947.
• India accepted Tibet as a part of China in 1954.
European Commission and EIB to invest €18bn in climate action
• Europe's investment strategy for partner countries, Global Gateway, will receive a financing boost
of 18 billion euros as announced by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank.
• The projects funded by this investment aim to address the global climate finance gap and
promote efforts to prevent, adapt, and mitigate climate change.
Delhi govt approves draft proposal on labour working conditions
• Delhi government has approved a draft policy to lay down some labour laws.
• The draft Delhi Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2023, was vetted and
approved by the labour department on 28 April 2023.
• As per the draft rules, women, if they choose to, can now work from 7 in the night to 6 in the
morning.
World Day for Safety and Health at Work: 28 April
• April 28th is marked as the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
• It is observed annually to encourage the balance of safe, healthy, and appropriate working
environments worldwide.
• The theme for the year 2023 is, 'A safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental
principle and right at work'.
Emirates unveils world's first robotic check-in assistant
• Dubai-based airline Emirates has unveiled its latest innovation, the world's first robotic check-in
assistant named Sara.
• The system is part of a new City Check-in and Travel Store that is set to launch in Dubai's financial
district.
• Sara will match customers' faces with scanned passports, check passengers in, and guide them
to the luggage drop area.
Workshop on Indian Cinema inaugurated at Colombo

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• A workshop on Indian Cinema was inaugurated at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in
Colombo on 28 April 2023.
• The event was attended by Sri Lanka’s State Minister for Urban Development and Housing,
Arundika Fernando, and Deputy High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Vinod Jacob.
• A delegation was led by Dr. Nagathihalli Chandrashekar, a highly decorated director, actor,
screenwriter.
Sinthan Snow Festival-2023 to take place in J&K
• The Directorate of Tourism, Jammu and Kishtwar Tourism Development Authority (KTDA) is
organising a two-day Sinthan Snow Festival-2023 at Sinthan Maidan, Kishtwar on 29-30 April
2023.
• The snow festival is being organized in collaboration with the District Administration Kishtwar, the
Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages (JKAACL), and the Army.
Ministry of Culture to release comic book series
• The Culture Ministry has decided to release a 12-part comic book series based on the themes and
people featured in Prime Minister Modi’s Mann Ki Baat programme.
• The special project is being implemented by Amar Chitra Katha, which will release the series in
English, followed by translations in 12 Indian languages.
• The Culture Ministry will also hold projection mapping shows at 13 monuments.
Agriculture Minister launches ‘Millets Experience Centre’
• Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched the first of its kind ‘Millets Experience Centre
(MEC)’ at Dilli Haat in New Delhi on 28 April 2023.
• National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) has established it
in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry.
• It aims to raise awareness of Millets and encourage its adoption among the general public.
28 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• Ratan Tata awarded Australia's Highest Civilian Honour
• Goa govt to hold three-day Heritage Festival from April 28
• Arjun Vajpai Summits Mt. Annapurna, becomes first Indian man to do so
• Jaden Pariat becomes first Indian to finish on podium in Britain F4
• SCO Defence Ministers Meeting held in New Delhi
Cummins, Tata Motors partner to manufacture low-to-zero emissions tech
• Cummins Inc has signed a definitive agreement with Tata Motors Ltd to manufacture a range of
low-to zero-emissions technology products in India over the next few years.
• As a part of the agreement, Cummins and Tata Motors Ltd (TML) have set up a new business
entity called TCPL Green Energy Solutions Private Ltd (GES), a wholly-owned subsidiary under the
existing joint venture.
Shivalik Small Finance Bank partners with Arya.ag

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• Shivalik Small Finance Bank has partnered with grain commerce platform Arya.ag to finance
small farmers against warehouse receipt.
• With this business correspondent model partnership, Arya.ag, will further its mission to drive
financial inclusion for farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and offer loans through
Shivalik Small Finance Bank under Warehouse Receipt Finance.
Ratan Tata awarded Australia's Highest Civilian Honour
• The chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata, has been bestowed with Australia’s highest
civilian honour.
• He has been awarded for his valuable contribution to maintaining bilateral relations between
India and Australia.
• The Order of Australia honour comes a month after the industrialist was appointed as an
Honorary Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia.
Goa govt to hold three-day Heritage Festival from April 28
• The Goa government’s tourism department will hold ‘Heritage Festival 2023’ at Saligao village in
North Goa from April 28 to 30, 2023.
• The festival aims to promote cultural tourism in Goa by presenting the traditions, culture and arts
in the state.
• A unique craft bazaar will also be set up where local businesses will showcase Goa’s diverse
handicraft, art, and traditional products.
IIT-Kanpur launches cybersecurity skilling programme
• C3iHub, a cybersecurity Technology Innovation Hub at IIT Kanpur, has launched its Cybersecurity
Skilling Programme.
• It is supported by the Dept of Science and Technology, and has been launched under NM-ICPS
Mission, along with its incubated start-ups Threat Guardians Pvt Ltd and Worker Union Support.
• The programme aims to provide learners with an understanding of the basics of cyberspace.
Arjun Vajpai Summits Mt. Annapurna, becomes first Indian man to do so
• Indian professional mountaineer Arjun Vajpai, has become the first Indian man to summit Mt.
Annapurna 1, which is also the 10th highest mountain in the world.
• Arjun made the climb to the 7x8000m summits on April 17, 2023 and has now become the first
Indian mountaineer to scale 7x8000m peaks.
• Mt. Annapurna happens to be the most dangerous mountain out of the 14x8000m Summit
Mountains.
Jaden Pariat becomes first Indian to finish on podium in Britain F4
• Indian racer Jaden Pariat, a teenager from Meghalaya, of Argenti Motorsport exhibited finished
on podium in the first round of ROKit British F4 Championship at Donington Park in Leicestershire,
in April 2023.
• He is only the second Indian to get an international podium in a Tatuus F4 car after Kush Maini
in 2017.

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• The Championship now moves to Brands Hatch for the next three races on May 6-7.
BBC Chairman Richard Sharp resigns
• BBC Chairman Richard Sharp has announced his resignation.
• Sharp resigned over involvement in securing a private credit line for up to $990,000 for the then-
PM Boris Johnson from a Canadian businessman.
• The British Broadcasting Corporation is the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom, based
at Broadcasting House in London, England.
Summit on Farm Machinery Technology inaugurated
• Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the
Summit on Farm Machinery Technology on 27 April 2023.
• It was organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Tractor and Mechanisation
Association (TMA) in New Delhi.
• The Summit was attended by stakeholders including Original Equipment Manufacturers, policy
planners, suppliers, etc.
SCO Defence Ministers Meeting held in New Delhi
• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers Meeting was held in New Delhi
on 28 April 2023.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting.
• Defence Ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan participated in
the meeting.
• Defence Minister of Pakistan participated virtually.
28 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• 68th Filmfare Awards 2023 Announced
• 'Collective Spirit, Concrete Action'- book by former Prasar Bharti CEO Lunched
• Ind & UK conduct 7th edition of Joint Military Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR
• Arun Kashyap Appointed as Chief Operating Officer of SpiceJet
• Manchester City striker Haaland breaks record for most goals in 38-games
Today's History
• In 1943, Netaji Subash Chandra Bose aligned the Japanese-German submarine at Medagaskar.
• In 1945, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was executed.
• In 1952, The war between Japan and India ended.
• In 2003, Apple launched the iTunes Store
'Collective Spirit, Concrete Action'- book by former Prasar Bharti CEO
• 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) was launched
• The book was released during a day-long National Conclave on Mann Ki Baat @IOO, held in the
national capital on April 26.

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Godrej Consumer to Acquire FMCG Business of Raymond Consumer Care

• Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) has announced its acquisition of the fast-moving
consumer goods (FMCG) business of Raymond Consumer Care Private Limited.
• Raymond FMCG business has two key brands Godrej Consumer Products along with the
trademarks of Park Avenue, KS, KamaSutra and Premium, through a slump sale
Arun Kashyap Appointed as Chief Operating Officer of SpiceJet
• SpiceJet, one of India's leading airlines, has announced the appointment of Arun Kashyap as its
new Chief Operating Officer (COO).
• This is his second stint at SpiceJet, having previously served as chief program and transformation
officer at the airline.
• He has previously also worked with flydubai, Jet Airways and Oman Air.
Asia's First Moxi Laser Launched
• Dr. Monisha Kapoor, a renowned plastic surgeon, has launched Asia's first Moxi Laser at her clinic
in New Delhi.
• The procedure is a non-invasive, individualised laser treatment that can lessen scarring, reduce
pigmentation, and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.
• The device is adaptable to treat different skin types, making it a flexible choice for a variety of
patients.
Quick Facts: MOXI Lazer
• Moxi is a gentle fractionated laser designed to effectively treat the visible signs of aging and
produce evenly toned, radiant skin
• The main benefits of Moxi are a brighter, more renewed-looking skin appearance and pigment
reduction.
Ind & UK conduct 7th edition of Joint Military Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR
• The 7th edition of the joint military exercise "AJEYA WARRIOR" between India and the United
Kingdom is being conducted at Salisbury Plains, United Kingdom.
• The exercise is a biennial training event alternately conducted in the UK and India.
• It is aimed at building positive military relations, promoting best practices, and enhancing the
ability to operate together under UN mandate.
Map in News: United Kingdom
• United Kingdom, island country located off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe.
• The United Kingdom is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is an island
nation in northwestern Europe.
• Capital: London
• Head Of State: Sovereign: King Charles III
• Prime minister: Rishi Sunak
• Currency: Pound

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2nd World Sports Tourism Congress

• The 2nd edition of the World Sports Tourism Congress (WSTC), organised at Croatia, by the UN
World Tourism Organization (UNVVTO), the Government of Croatia.
• It brought together experts and leaders from across the sports and tourism sectors, alongside
representatives of destinations and businesses.
• It was held under the theme "Tourism and Sports United for Sustainability".
Sisira Kanta Dash appointed as Chief Technical Officer of Air India
• Sisira Kanta Dash has been appointed as the new Chief Technical Officer of Air India
• Sisira Kanta Dash is currently the head of engineering at Vistara.
• Air India & Vistara are having a pending approval of merger from DGCA.
Former Indian boxer and Muhammad Ali opponent, Kaur Singh, passes away
• Asian Games gold medallist Indian boxer Kaur Singh, who once fought the legendary Muhammad
Ali in an exhibition bout, died at a hospital in Kurukshetra, Haryana.
• He fought a 4-round exhibition match with Ali in January 1980.
• He won the heavyweight boxing gold medal at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.
• He was conferred with the Arjuna Award in 1982 and Padma Shri in 1983.
Man City striker Haaland breaks record for most goals in 38-games
• Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has broken the record for the most goals scored in a 38-
game Premier League season, with a total of 37 goals.
• He accomplished this during Manchester City's match against Arsenal at Etihad Stadium.
• With 34 goals each in the 42-game seasons of 1993-94 and 1994-95,
respectively, Andrew Cole and Alan Shearer presently hold the record.
Dima Hasao insurgent group signs peace pact with Assam Centre
• An Assam-based insurgent group Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA)/Dimasa People’s
Supreme Council (DPSC) which operates in the Dima Hasao district, signed a peace agreement
with the State Government and the Centre.
• The DNLA was established in April 2019 seeking a sovereign territory for the Dimasa tribals and
launched an armed insurgency to achieve its goal.
68th Filmfare Awards 2023 Announced
• The 68th edition of the Hyundai Filmfare Awards in association with Maharashtra Tourism were
announced.
• Best Film: Gangubai Kathiawadi
• 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 Music Album: Pritam for Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva
Jharkhand government launched air ambulance services
• The Jharkhand government launched air ambulance services from Ranchi and 6 other centres.

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• The move will facilitate treatment for seriously ill by connecting higher medical centres located in
different states.
• The air ambulance would be made available at a competitive price to all.
• The Aviation Department has collaborated with Red Bed Private Limited
27 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• India's woman Rafale pilot part of Air Force Team in France wargame
• IIT Bombay’s SHUNYA secures second place in ‘Solar Decathlon’
• NITI Aayog releases report titled Promoting Millets in Diets
• ‘City Beauty Competition’ portal made live
• Youth-20 pre-summit under G20 presidency officially begins in Leh
India, UK to create India-UK ‘net zero’ innovation virtual centre
• India and the UK are set to jointly establish the India-UK 'Net Zero' Innovation Virtual Centre.
• The announcement was made during the India-UK Science & Innovation Council meeting.
• During the meeting, the leaders called for new joint R&D projects in areas such as farmed animal
disease, health, and solid Earth hazards.
Researchers at IIT Guwahati develop liquid marbles using nano clay
• A team of researchers at IIT Guwahati have designed a non-sticking, non-wetting liquid marble
that floats in water and releases its contents in a pre-programmed time.
• The research has been published in the prestigious journal: Advanced Functional Materials.
• Researchers have developed liquid marbles using nano clay that can be pre-programmed for
drug delivery and cascade chemical reactions.
India's woman Rafale pilot part of Air Force Team in France wargame
• The Indian Air Force's first woman pilot to fly the Rafale fighter jet, Flight Lieutenant Shivangi
Singh is part of the IAF contingent taking part in the multinational exercise 'Orion' in France.
• India has sent the Rafale jets for the first time outside the country.
• The IAF had sent a woman fighter pilot for the first time to an international exercise in January
2023.
Embassy REIT appoints Aravind Maiya as CEO
• Embassy Office Parks REIT, India’s first listed REIT and the most prominent office REIT in Asia by
area, has appointed Aravind Maiya as Chief Executive Officer of Embassy REIT with effect from
July 1, 2023.
• Maiya will replace Vikaash Khdloya, whowill step down as CEO effective June 30, 2023.
• With over 22 years of experience, Aravind rejoins the REIT from Tata Realty, where he was the
CFO.
UAE and Cambodia finalises CEPA
• The United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Cambodia have finalised the terms of a
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

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• The CEPA with Cambodia will serve as a catalyst to increase and diversify bilateral trade by
substantially eliminating tariffs, reducing non-tariff trade barriers, etc.
• The UAE has now signed CEPAs with India, Israel, Indonesia, and Turkey.
IIT Bombay’s SHUNYA secures second place in ‘Solar Decathlon’
• IIT Bombay’s SHUNYA (Sustainable Housing for Urbanizing Nation by its Young Aspirants) team
secured second place in Solar Decathlon Build Challenge in the US.
• They won for their innovative zero-energy house designed to address air quality challenges in
Mumbai's hot and humid climate.
• It was the only team representing India in this competition out of 32 teams from across the world.
NITI Aayog releases report titled Promoting Millets in Diets
• NITI Aayog released a report titled Promoting Millets in Diets: Best Practices across States and
Union Territories of India.
• The report has three themes i.e. (a) State Missions and initiatives to promote millets; (b) Inclusion
of millets in ICDS; (c) Research and development and use of technology for innovative practices.
• The report serves as a guiding repository to revive millets in diet.
‘City Beauty Competition’ portal made live
• The ‘City Beauty Competition’ portal, launched by the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry recently,
has been made live.
• Urban Local Bodies across the country can participate in the competition through an online
process at www.citybeautycompetition.in.
• The competition would felicitate the most beautiful wards and public spaces in the cities.
Centre approves establishment of 157 new govt nursing colleges
• The Union government has approved the establishment of 157 new government nursing colleges
at a cost of 1570 crores in co-location with existing medical colleges in the country.
• An amount of 10 crore rupees will be provided for setting up each nursing college.
• The highest number of colleges will be in Uttar Pradesh (27), Rajasthan (23), and Madhya Pradesh
(14).
Home Minister Amit Shah launches IFFCO Nano DAP fertilizer
• Home Minister Amit Shah launched IFFCO Nano DAP (Liquid) in New Delhi on 26 April 2023.
• He informed that 6.3 crore bottles of Nano urea have been manufactured till March 2023.
• As a result, import of urea in the country has decreased by seven lakh metric tonnes in 2021-22.
• A goal has been set to reduce the usage of granular DAP by about 90 lakh metric tons through
liquid DAP.
PM Modi to inaugurate 91 FM transmitters on April 28
• PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate 91 FM transmitters on 28 April 2023.
• The FM transmitters of 100 Watt will be inaugurated through video conferencing.
• These transmitters have been installed in 84 districts across 18 States and two Union Territories.

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• The move is aimed at improving radio connectivity in various parts of the country.
Youth-20 pre-summit under G20 presidency officially begins in Leh
• The Youth-20 (Y-20) pre-summit under the G20 presidency, hosted by the Ministry of Youth and
Sports Affairs, officially kicked off in Leh on 26 April 2023.
• More than 100 delegates from 30 different countries are attending the summit.
• On the first day of the summit, the delegates visited local places of importance, including Hemis
and Thiksey Monasteries.
27 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• Cabinet approves National Medical Devices Policy, 2023
• Razorpay among 6 Indian companies featured in world's top 100 unicorns
• Rail Vikas Nigam Limited now a Navratna PSU
• US state of Pennsylvania declares Diwali as official holiday
• SC lifts complete ban on ESZ constructions
Today's History
• In 1526, Babur Shah was declared as the Emperor of Dehli.
• In 1854, First telegram was sent between Mumbai and Pune.
• In 1981, the world's first commercial computer mouse arrived
• In 2018, The Panmunjom Declaration was signed between North and South Korea, officially
declaring their intentions to end the Korean conflict.
Cabinet approves National Medical Devices Policy, 2023
• The National Medical Devices Policy, 2023 has been approved by the Cabinet, aiming to increase
domestic production of medical devices and reduce imports.
• The medical devices sector in India is a sunrise sector that is growing at a fast pace.
• The policy is expected to help the Medical Devices Sector, grow from the present 11 billion US
dollars to 50 billion US dollars in the next five years
Razorpay among 6 Indian companies featured in world's top 100 unicorns
• Razorpay, an Indian payment solutions company, has been included in Hurun's Global Unicorn
Index 2023, which lists the world's top 100 unicorns.
• India retained the third spot on the Index with 68 unicorns being feature this year.
• Among these are payments and banking platform Razorpay, edtech startup Byju's, foodtech
platform Swiggy and fantasy gaming company Dream11.
Quick Facts: Hurun's Global Unicorn Index
• The Hurun Global Unicorn Index is an annual list compiled by the Hurun Research Institute, which
ranks the world's privately held companies that have reached a valuation of $1 billion or more.
• The Hurun Global Unicorn Index is widely regarded as a benchmark for measuring the success of
the world's most innovative and disruptive startups
Rajnath Singh to chair SCO Defence Ministers meeting on April 28

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• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to chair the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
(SCO) Defence Ministers meeting on April 28.
• Defence Ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, an
zbekistan will participate in the meeting.
• India has invited Belarus and Iranv currently observers in SCO, to participate in the SCO Defence
Minister's Meeting.
PM Modi to attend 20th anniversary of SWAGAT initiative in Gujarat
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 20th anniversary of the State Wide Attention on
Grievances by Application of Technology -SWAGAT initiative in Gujarat
• The scheme was started by PM Modi in April 2003 during his tenure as the Chief Minister of
Gujarat.
• .The main purpose of the scheme was to bridge the gap between citizens and the government by
using technology
KBM Spices appoints Parineeti Chopra as brand ambassador
• KBM Spices, a leading Indian spices and masala brand, has appointed Bollywood actress
Parineeti Chopra as its brand ambassador.
• The appointment of Parineeti Chopra is part of the company's expansion plans to increase its
market presence and brand visibility.
• KBM Spices aims to tap into the growing demand for high-quality and authentic Indian spices
and masalas, both in India and abroad.
European summit aims to boost wind energy production in the North Sea
• 9 European countries are holding a summit Monday aimed at scaling up wind power generation
in the North Sea
• The meet was hosted by Belgium
• The North Sea summit is the second one to be held, after the four countries in the inaugural
gathering last year
• The summit aims to accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources and to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions
Map in News: Belgium
• Belgium, country of northwestern Europe.
• It is one of the smallest and most densely populated European countries.
• Capital: Brussels
• Currency: Euro
• Official languages: Dutch, French, German
Rail Vikas Nigam Limited now a Navratna PSU
• Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has now been promoted to ‘Navratna’ category of Central Public
Sector Enterprises (CPSE) from Category-I Miniratna.

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• The Finance Minister has approved to upgrade RVNL to a Navratna CPSE, starting April 26, 2023,
from a Category-I MiniRatna CPSE under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India
• This makes RVNL the 13th Navratna company among the CPSEs in India
US state of Pennsylvania declares Diwali as official holiday
• The US state of Pennsylvania has officially recognized the Hindu festival of Diwali as a state
holiday.
• The move was announced by Governor Tom Wolf, who signed a proclamation recognizing the
festival as a holiday for state employees and public schools.
SC lifts complete ban on ESZ constructions
• The Supreme Court lifted a complete ban by modifying its June 2022 order mandating a one-
kilometre eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around protected areas - forests, national parks and wildlife
sanctuaries.
• It said there are in-built safeguards in existing law to prevent rampant construction or any abuse
of process that may be detrimental to wildlife habitat.
Meghalaya hills council team in Tripura to study functioning of tribal
• A delegation from Meghalaya's Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC)has visited
Tripura to understand the functioning of the State's tribal autonomous district council (TTAADC)
and interact with indigenous leaders.
• The KHADC, one of the oldest councils constituted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution
of India with restricted executive, legislative, and judicial powers.
Pope allows women to vote at upcoming bishops' meeting
• Pope Francis has decided to give women the right to vote at an upcoming meeting of bishops
• It is a historic reform that reflects his hopes to give women greater decision-making
responsibilities and laypeople more say in the life of the Catholic Church.
• Catholic women's groups immediately praised the move as historic. AP
US bans Sri Lankan governor's entry for violation of human rights
• The United States has imposed a ban on the entry of Sri Lankan governor, M. L. A. M. Hizbullah,
for his alleged involvement in human rights violations.
• Hizbullah, who is the Governor of the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, has been accused of
promoting extremist views and inciting violence against minority communities in the country.
26 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• India Ranks 4th in World's Largest Military Spending in 2022, a report
• India's Y20 Pre-Summit Under G20 Presidency Held in Ladakh
• Rashki Launches India's First-ever Range of Handbags Made from Banana
• Xypex Announces Launch of First Production Plant in India
• Australia to host third in-person Quad Summit on May 24 in Sydney
India Ranks 4th in World's Largest Military Spending in 2022, a report

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• India's defense spending increased by around 6% as compared to 2021, making it the fourth
largest military spender in the world in 2022, acc. to a report by SIPRI.
• Approx. 23% of India's total military spending was allocated to equipment and infrastructure
• India's military expenditure in 2022 was USD 81.4 Bn, showing a 6% increase from the previous
year.
India's Y20 Pre-Summit Under G20 Presidency Held in Ladakh
• India's Y20 Pre-Summit under the G20 Presidency will take place in Ladakh
• The meeting will focus on five Y20 themes, including climate change, peace-building, and health.
• It is the second Y 20 Pre-Summit after the first was held at Guwahati in February this year.
• Summit will provide a platform for open discussions, presentations, and interactive sessions.
Australia to host third in-person Quad Summit on May 24 in Sydney
• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that they will host the third in-person
Quad Summit on May 24 in Sydney.
• The leaders of the Quad will discuss how the grouping can work with partners and regional
groupings, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Pacific Islands
Forum, to strengthen cooperation and shape the region.
India Pavilion at Global Education & Training Exhibition Inaugurated
• 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
• It was organized by the Services Export Promotion Council with the support of the Department of
Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• The GETEX is a leading education fair in the region for over 30 years.
Map in News: United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• The United Arab Emirates is a country in Western Asia.
• It is located at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula and shares borders with Oman and Saudi
Arabia, while having maritime borders in the Persian Gulf with Qatar and Iran.
• Capital: Abu Dhabi
• Currency: Dirham
• Prime Minister: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Rashki Launches India's First-ever Range of Handbags Made from Banana
• Rashki, an Indian fashion brand, has launched the country's first-ever range of handbags made
from banana leather, in an effort to promote sustainable and eco-friendly fashion.
• Banana leather is an innovative and sustainable alternative to traditional leather, which is
environmentally damaging and often sourced through unethical practices.
RBI Governor to Address Global Conference on Financial Resilience
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor, Shaktikanta Das, will address the Global Conference on
Financial Resilience in Mumbai.

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• The conference with the theme Financial Stability: Framework, Monitoring

and Implementation is being organised by the College of Supervisors in
collaboration with the Centre for Central Banking Studies (CCBS), Bank of
England, London.
Xypex Announces Launch of First Production Plant in India
• Canadian concrete waterproofing solutions provider, Xypex, has announced the launch of its first
production plant in India.
• The plant will be opened at Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
• The plant will be manufacture Xypex's range of waterproofing and protection products for the
Indian market and neighboring countries.
Shaheen Afridi becomes the youngest bowler to take 200 T20 wickets
• Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi achieved a special milestone in T20 cricket as he completed 200 wickets
in the format during the fifth T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand.
• He surpassed the previous record held by Kagiso Rabada, who achieved this feat at the age of
25 years and 157 days.
• He is the 8th Pakistani bowler and the 53rd overall to reach the 200-wicket milestone in T20
cricket.
INTACH urges govt to conserve 600-year-old Vilakkumadom at Thirunelli
• The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has urged the government to
conserve the 600-year-old ‘Vilakkumadom’, at the Sree Mahavishnu Temple at Thirunelli, Kerala.
• The structure has a rich history dating back to the 15th century AD, and its key elements have not
been given due consideration during the renovation process.
Neeli Bendapudi receives 2023 Immigrant Achievement Award
• Indian-American Neeli Bendapudi, the president of Penn State University, will be receiving the
2023 Immigrant Achievement Award.
• The award recognises individuals that exhibit commitment and dedication to our heritage as a
nation of immigrants.
• Bendapudi is the first woman and the first person of colour who has served as Penn State
University’s president
26 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• Prasar Bharati to organize national conclave on "Mann Ki Baat@100"
• Japanese commercial lunar lander presumed lost after failed moon landing.
• Former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal passes away
• Anant Maheshwari appointed as Nasscom Chairperson
• Japan’s Health Ministry approves country’s first abortion pill
Todays' History
• In 1841, Bombay Gazette begins publishing on silk.

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• In 1920, Srinivas Ramanujam, famous Indian mathematician, passed away at Chetpet in Madras.
• In 1926, Karachi Autonomous Region established in RSFSR (until 1943).
• In 1986, Chernobyl nuclear accident took place.
India and Mozambique hold 4th Joint Defence Working Group meeting
• The 4th meeting of India-Mozambique Joint Defence Working Group was held in Delhi.
• The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary, MoD Amitabh Prasad and Permanent Secretary
of Ministry of National Defence of Mozambique, Casimiro Augusto Mueio.
• They discussed issues of military training and courses, exercises, medicine and capacity building
with a view to deepen defence engagements.
Maha launches mobile science lab for tribal students in Gadchiroli.
• The government of Maharashtra's Integrated Tribal Development Project has started the Mobile
Science Laboratory Project for tribal students of 16 Ashram schools in Naxal affected Gadchiroli
dist.
• A mobile science laboratory will move from one school to another so that the students can acquire
practical knowledge of science.
• The district is worst hit by student dropouts.
Gadchiroli, Maharashtra
• The district was carved out on the 26th of August 1982 by the division of erstwhile Chandrapur
district of Maharashtra.
• Naxalism is highly prevalent here and subsequently has been highlighted as part of the Red
Corridor, used to describe areas in India that are plagued by Naxalites.
• Seven languages are spoken in the district ie, Gondi, Madiya , Marathi, Hindi, Telugu, Bengali,
Chattisgadi.
CM Naveen Patnaik launches third phase of 5T School Transformation
• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched the third phase of the 5T School
Transformation Programme.
• The initiative aims to improve the quality of education and infrastructure in government schools
across the state.
• Under the programme, 5Ts - transformation, teamwork, technology, transparency, and time - will
be implemented in schools to ensure holistic development.
Quick Facts: 5T School Transformation
• It is an action plan under the 5T initiative which emphasizes on Technology, Teamwork,
Transparency, Time and Transformation.
• The idea behind the Transformation of High Schools under the initiative is to develop the school
infrastructure with modern technology and digital and smart class rooms, e-library and
laboratories which improves the learning process.
KPMG ESG Conclave and Awards honor India's changemakers

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• KPMG ESG Conclave and Awards have recognized India's changemakers in sustainable business
practices at a ceremony
• The event brought together business leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss environmental,
social, and governance (ESG) issues.
• The awards recognized companies that have shown exceptional performance in integrating ESG
practices into their business strategies.
Akamai launches "Brand Protector" to safeguard against phishing attack
• Akamai Technologies, a leading content delivery network and cloud services provider, has
announced the launch of "Brand Protector."
• It aims to protect businesses from phishing attacks, fake websites, and other forms of online fraud
that can harm brand reputation and customer trust.
• It uses machine learning and other advanced technologies to detect and mitigate attacks in real-
time.
Monteria Village to host "Utsav Maharashtra" festival
• Monteria Village in Karjat, Maharashtra, is set to host Utsav Maharashtra festival
• The festival will feature a range of cultural activities, including dance, music shows, and traditional
food.
• It aims to provide visitors with an immersive experience of the state's diverse culture and heritage.
• The festival will showcase various art forms, such as Lavani, Dindi, Powada, and Tamasha.
Jap. commercial lunar lander presumed lost after failed moon landing
• A Japanese lunar lander, carrying a rover developed in the United Arab Emirates, attempted to
find its footing on the moon's surface, and potentially mark the world's first lunar landing for a
commercially developed spacecraft.
• The lunar lander, called Hakuto-R, was carrying the Rashid rover, the first Arab- built lunar
spacecraft, which was built by Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai.
Former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal passes away
• Parkash Singh Badal, former Chief Minister of Punjab and a senior leader of the Shiromani Akali
Dal (SAD), passed away
• Badal became the Chief Minister for the first time in 1970. He was the youngest Chief Minister and
headed a coalition government.
• Later, he became the Chief Minister four times, from 1977 to 1980, 1997 to 2002, 2007 to 2012, and
2012 to 2017.
Anant Maheshwari appointed as Nasscom Chairperson
• Nasscom, the apex body for the Indian IT industry, has appointed Anant Maheshwari, President
of Microsoft India, as its Chairperson for 2023-24.
• Maheshwari takes over the reins from Krishnan Ramanujam, President — Business and
Technology Services at Tata Consultancy Services.

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Prasar Bharati to organize national conclave on "Mann Ki Baat@100"

• Prasar Bharati will organize a national conclave on "Mann Ki Baat@100" to commemorate the
100th episode of PM Narendra Modi's monthly radio program, Mann Ki Baat.
• There will be four sessions highlighting the wide-ranging themes of Prime Minister's interactions
during Mann Ki Baat, each facilitated by an eminent panel.
Japan’s Health Ministry approves country’s first abortion pill
• Japan’s Health Ministry has approved the country’s first abortion pill.
• While abortion pills are widely available in many countries across the globe, the medication was
not approved by Japan's Health Ministry.
• The approval came from the Health Ministry’s Pharmaceutical Board after it approved the
MeFeego Pack abortion pill manufactured by British pharmaceutical Linepharma.
25 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• Mexico Coast Unveils the World's Second Deepest Blue Hole at 900 Feet
• IIT Guwahati Researchers Develop Time-Bomb Liquid Marbles
• BRO puts up signboard describing Mana as 'First Indian Village'
• Manamadurai pottery receives GI tag
• Indigenous woman from Amazon wins Goldman Environment Prize
Mexico Coast Unveils the World's Second Deepest Blue Hole at 900 Feet
• The second deepest blue hole of the world has been found off Mexico coast.
• Deep blue holes are usually located in shallow marine waters and are much deeper than the sea
water around them.
• The newly found blue hole is located in Chetumal Bay, off the coast of Mexico.
• The Mexico blue hole has been named Taam Ja', which means "deep water" in Mayan.
Mexico
• It is a country of southern North America and the 3 rd largest country in Latin
America, after Brazil and Argentina.
• President: Andrés Manuel López Obrador Trending
• Capital: Mexico City
• Official language: Spanish
Sharjah Stadium Honours Sachin Tendulkar on His 50th Birthday
• Sharjah Stadium has named a stand after Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on his 50th
birthday.
• The stand will now be called "Sachin Tendulkar Stand" in honour of his contribution to cricket and
the stadium's history.
• Sachin Tendulkar has played many memorable innings at the Sharjah Stadium, including his
famous "Desert Storm" knocks in 1998.
6th edition of Advantage Healthcare India 2023

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• The sixth edition of Advantage Healthcare India 2023 will take place in New Delhi.
• The event will focus on showcasing India as a hub for medical value travel, and its emergence as
a major destination for world-class healthcare and wellness services.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce
and Industry are jointly organising the event.
PM Modi to Inaugurate Projects in Dadra and Nagar & Daman & Diu
• PM Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various projects worth
4,800 Cr at Silvassa in the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
• The PM will dedicate the NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute, the first medical
college in the region
• PM also launch two infrastructure projects in Daman, "Devka Promenade and Seafront," aimed at
boosting tourism.
Know About: Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
• It is a union territory in India
• The territory was constituted through the merger of the former territories of Dadra and Nagar
Haveli and Daman and Diu.
• The merger were announced by the Government of India in July 2019 and and came into effect
on 26 January 2020.
• Capital Daman, India
• Administrator: Praful Khoda Patel
Coast Guards of India, South Korea to hold high-level meeting in Delhi
• A 7-member delegation of the South Korea CG will have a high level meeting with top officials of
Indian Coast Guard in New Delhi.
• The South Korean Coast Guard will be led by Commissioner Gen KIM Jong Wook, while Indian
Coast Guard team will be headed by officiating DG in Indian CG, ADG Rakesh Pal.
• Both sides are expected to discuss measures at further enhancing the mutual cooperation.
Indigenous woman from Amazon wins Goldman Environment Prize
• Munduruku leader Alessandra Korap has been awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental
Prize for her work fighting against illegal mining and large-scale projects aimed at facilitating
soybean exports in the Tapajos River Basin.
• Korap and other Munduruku women took up the responsibility of defending their people,
overturning the traditionally all-male leadership.
IIT Guwahati Researchers Develop Time-Bomb Liquid Marbles
• IIT Guwahati Researchers Develop Time-Bomb Liquid Marbles with Nanoclay for Controlled Drug
Delivery
• Liquid marbles are small droplets of liquid that are coated with hydrophobic particles
• The nanoclay coating regulates the rate of drug release, allowing for a more controlled and
effective treatment

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• This method of drug delivery can be used in treatment of diseases such as cancer and diabetes
SBI inaugurates its fourth startup-focused branch in Mumbai
• State Bank of India (SBI) has inaugurated its 4th startup-focused branch in Mumbai
to promote entrepreneurship
• The new branch will provide startups with access to a wide range of banking services, loans, credit
facilities, and digital banking solutions
• The branch is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and services specifically designed to meet
the needs of startups and small businesses
BRO puts up signboard describing Mana as 'First Indian Village
• The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) placed a signboard at the border village Mana, which read
'First Indian Village'.
• The development came after the 'Vibrant Village' scheme.
• The programme aims at developing border villages, improving the quality of life of villagers &
harnessing the tourism potential
• The programme is also aimed at developing the concept of 'One Village, One Product'.
Greenlab Diamonds LLP wins prestigious India Gem & Jewellery Award
• Greenlab Diamonds LLP has been honored with the prestigious India Gem & Jewellery Award.
• The award recognizes excellence in the gem and jewellery industry and is a highly coveted honor.
• Greenlab Diamonds LLP is a leading producer of lab-grown diamonds, which are environmentally
friendly and conflict-free.
• The award was organized by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).
Manamadurai pottery receives GI tag
• Manamadurai pottery, a traditional form of pottery from Tamil Nadu, has received the
Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• Manamadurai in Sivagangai district in Tamil Nadu is known for pottery making.
• The pottery is known for its distinctive style, which features intricate designs and vibrant colors
• It is made using a mix of locally-sourced clay and is fired in wood-burning kilns
Bengaluru experiences Zero Shadow Day as shadows disappear
• Bengaluru experienced Zero Shadow Day on 23 april, where shadows disappeared for a brief
period of time.
• The phenomenon is observed in places between +23.5- and -23.5-degrees latitude
• The sun's rays hit Earth at a 90-degree angle
• It happens along the equator during the spring and fall equinoxes
Indian-American CEO Appointed to New York's Racial Justice Board
• Udai Tambar, an Indian-origin CEO is among 15 experts appointed as members of the newly-
formed racial justice advisory board in New York City

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• The board is composed of a diverse group of leaders from diff. sectors, including government,
business, and community organizations
• The Racial Justice Board was est. by Governor Kathy Hochul in order to address systemic racism
& equality in the state
25 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• PM flags off Kerala's 1st Vande Bharat Express from Thiruvananthapuram
• Exercise COPE India-2023 Culminated
• RDO and Indian Navy successfully test BMD from naval platform
• India improves to 38th position on World Bank's Logistics Performance
• Circus pioneer Gemini Shankaran passes away
Today's History
• In 1809, The Treaty of Amritsar, which settled Indo-Sikh relations for a generation, was concluded
between Charles T. Metcalfe and Ranjit Singh
• In 1982, India's 1st telecast colour broadcasting started on Doordarshan.
• In 1990, Hubble Space Telescope sent into orbit
• In 1998, India protests against Pakistan raising the Kashmir issue at the first SAARC Information
Ministers conference in Dhaka
PM flags off Kerala's 1st Vande Bharat Express from Thiruvananthapuram
• PM Narendra modi flagged off Kerala's Ist Vande Bharat Express which will run
from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod.
• The train will cover 11 districts namely Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, EhåÅkulam,
Thrissur,Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod.
• Rail electrification of the Dindigul-Palani- Palakkad section will also be dedicated by the Prime
Minister.
Exercise COPE India-2023 Culminated
• The 6th edition of Cope India-2023, an Air Exercise between the Indian Air Force
and United States Air Force, conducted over the last two weeks at Air Force
Stations Kalaikunda, Panagarh and Agra, culminated
• The exercise involved participation of frontline IAF aircraft like Rafale, Tejas, Su-30MKI and C-
130.
• Aircrew from the Japanese Air Self Defence Force also participated as observers.
India MedTech Expo, 2023 to be organized alongside G-20 HM Meet
• The Department of Pharmaceuticals and industry associations are organizing a three-day
National Expo on the Indian medical devices sector in Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat.
• The India MedTech Expo will take place in August 2023 alongside the G-20 Health Ministers
Meeting, showcasing the capabilities of the Indian medical devices industry and exploring
opportunities for collaborations and growth.
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DRDO and Indian Navy successfully test BMD from naval platform
• The DRDO and Indian Navy have successfully conducted a trial of a Ballistic Missile Defense
(BMD) Interceptor from a naval platform.
• The purpose of the trial was to engage and neutralize a hostile ballistic missile threat.
• EarlierDRDO has successfully demonstrated land-based ballistic missile defence system with
capability to neutralize ballistic missile threats, emerging from adversaries.
Known About: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
• It was established in 1958.
• Its headquarter is located in DRDO Bhavan, New Delhi.
• It comes under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence
• Dr Samir V Kamat is the current chairman.
• The organization's areas of expertise include aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat
vehicles, engineering systems, instrumentation, and materials.
India improves to 38th position on World Bank's Logistics Performance
• India has reached the 38th spot on World Bank's Logistics Performance Index.
• In 2014, India was ranked 54th.
• It climbed 16 places from 2014 to 2022. Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed it an encouraging
trend, powered by government reforms and focus on improving logistics infrastructure.
Shakira to Receive Billboard's First Latin Woman of the Year Award
• Colombian singer Shakira will be honoured with Billboard's 'Latin women of the year' award at
the first-ever Mujeres Latinas en la Musica, or Latin Women in Music, gala.
• Shakira has sold over 70 million records worldwide and has won three Grammy Awards and 12
Latin Grammy Awards.
• Shakira has earned the title of 'Queen of Latin Music' for her outstanding tracks.
Billboard's First Latin Woman of the Year Award
• In 2020, Billboard introduced the "Woman of the Year" award for its Latin Music Awards.
• It is a significant recognition for female artists in the Latin music industry, and it celebrates their
contributions and achievements in a historically male-dominated industry
• The first recipient of the Billboard's First Latin Woman of the Year Award was Mexican-American
singer and songwriter was Becky G
Carrie Fisher to Receive Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
• Carrie Fishe will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• She portrayed Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" franchise spanning nearly 40 years.
• Fisher passed away in 2016 at the age of 60, but her legacy as a trailblazing actress and advocate
for mental health continues to inspire fans around the world.
PM Modi Inaugurates Projects Worth Over Rs 17,000 Crore in MP

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• In this function, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and inaugurated projects worth more
than 17 thousand crores.
• He also inaugurated the integrated e-Gram Swaraj and GeM portal for public procurement at the
panchayat level.
• The objective of this project is to enable Panchayats to market their goods and services through
GeM.
• He also launched the campaign "विकास की ओर साझे क़दम".
LockBit Ransomware Targets macOS
• LockBit is a type of ransomware that encrypts files on a victim's computer and demands a ransom
in exchange for the decryption key.
• It primarily targeted Windows in the past, a new variant of the ransomware has been found to
target macOS systems as well.
• It spreads through phishing emails that contain malicious attachments or links.
World Malaria Day
• World Malaria Day is observed on April 25th every year to raise awareness about the global effort
to control and eradicate malaria.
• The WHO’s guiding theme this year is “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement”.
• World Malaria Day was established by the World Health Organization in
2007 to raise awareness of the global effort to control and eventually eradicate malaria.
NZ break world record for highest 5th wicket partnership in T20I Cric
• New Zealand broke the world record for the highest fifth-wicket partnership in T20I cricket history
during the fifth T20I against Pakistan.
• Mark Chapman and Jimmy Neesham shared an unbeaten stand of 121 runs to set the record.
• The previous record (119 runs) was jointly held by Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik, and
Ireland's George Dockrell and Curtis Campher.
Circus pioneer Gemini Shankaran passes away
• Moorkoth Vengakandi Shankaran (M.V. Sankaran), also known as Gemini Shankaran, a pioneer
of modern Indian circus.
• Shankaran was prominent among those who brought Indian circus to the
world's attention.
• He owned circus companies, including Gemini, Jumbo and Great Ro Circus.
Operation Kaveri: Indian Ships and Aircraft to bring stranded Indians
• Operation Kaveri has been launched to bring back around 500 stranded Indian citizens from Port
Sudan.
• The operation is being conducted by Indian ships and aircraft, which have been dispatched to
Port Sudan.
• Sudan is facing violence due to fighting between the army and the paramilitary forces.

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24 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines

• Operation Kaveri: Indian Ships and Aircraft to bring stranded Indians
• Canara Bank partners with Reserve Bank of India innovation hub
• PM Modi to lay foundation stone for first Digital Science Park Carlos
• Alcaraz wins back-to-back Barcelona titles
• Dhiraj won bronze at Archery World Cup
UK tests emergency alert system on millions of phones
• The UK conducted its first test of a new emergency alert service on 23 April 2023 with millions of
mobile phones set to emit a loud alarm and vibrate at 3:00pm (1400 GMT).
• The national system, modelled on similar schemes in Canada, Japan, the Netherlands and the
United States, aims to warn the public if there is a danger to life nearby but has generated
criticism over "nanny state" intrusion.
World Immunization Week: 24 to 30 April
• World Immunization Week, celebrated in the last week of April, aims to highlight the collective
action needed to protect people from vaccine-preventable diseases.
• It is being observed under the theme of ‘The Big Catch-Up’.
• The aim of this week is to increase awareness around the benefits of immunization and also to
encourage people to get vaccinated.
Canara Bank partners with Reserve Bank of India innovation hub
• Canara Bank, in collaboration with Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), has announced the
launch of "Digitalised Submission of Form 15G/15H".
• Form 15G (Individual and HUF) and Form 15H (Individual-Senior Citizen) are self-declaration forms
that an individual submits to the bank requesting not to deduct TDS on interest income as their
income is below the basic exemption limit.
PM Modi to lay foundation stone for first Digital Science Park
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for India’s first Digital Science Park
coming up at the Technocity campus in Thiruvananthapuram on 25 Apr'23.
• Covering an area of 10 lakh sq. ft. in two blocks, the Park will facilitate industry and business units
as well as technology start-ups from various domains.
• An amount of ₹200 cr has been allotted by Govt of Kerala for this.
Van Vihar National Park of Bhopal bans single-use plastic
• Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, has announced a ban on single-use plastic
in its premises.
• Declared a national park in 1979, it covers an area of about 4.45 km2.
• It has the status of a national park, but is developed and managed as a modern zoological park,
following the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority.
BMC developing 14 new urban forests

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• The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is developing 14 new urban forests across various
pockets of Mumbai using the Japanese Miyawaki technique, where 80,400 trees will be planted.
• Nearly 64 mini forests have already been developed under the Urban Forest project launched by
the BMC on January 26, 2020.
• Miyawaki was conceptualised by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in the early 1970s.
Carlos Alcaraz wins back-to-back Barcelona titles
• Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz has won his second consecutive Barcelona title, defeating
compatriot Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.
• After Tsitsipas broke for a 2-1 lead, Alcaraz won five of the next six games to take charge.
• The 19-year-old world No 2 won 6-3, 6-4 to bag his third trophy of 2023, after winning in Buenos
Aires and Indian Wells, and the ninth of his career.
120 Vande Bharat trains to manufactured in Latur
• 120 Vande Bharat trains will be manufactured at the Rail Coach Factory in Latur, Maharashtra,
as part of India's ambitious rail development plan.
• The Vande Bharat train is India's first-ever self-propelled, semi-high-speed train, with a maximum
speed of 160 kmph, and is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities.
• Centre has sanctioned Rs 600 crore to set up the coach factory in Latur.
CSK sets a new record in IPL 2023
• Chennai Super Kings (CSK) put up a total of 235/4 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on 23 April
2023 to record the highest total of IPL 2023 so far.
• The previous highest total in IPL 2023 was 228/4, registered by SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) against
KKR on April 14 2023.
• Ajinkya Rahane top-scored for CSK with 71*(29).
Dhiraj won bronze at Archery World Cup
• The Indian men's recurve team clinched a silver medal after losing to China by the thinnest of
margins in a shoot-off at the Archery World Cup Stage 1, in April 2023.
• Dhiraj Bommadevara won second medal in his World Cup debut when he defeated Ilfat Abdullin
of Kazakhstan 7-3 (28-28, 29-26, 28-29, 29-27, 29-27) to bag the bronze in individual recurve
section.
24 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• Jyothi Surekha Vennam clinches two gold medals
• EAM Dr S Jaishankar co-chairs 5th India-Guyana Joint Commission
• National Panchayati Raj Day: 24 April
• Centre conducts first-ever census of water bodies across the country
• PM Modi to flag off India’s first water metro project in Kochi
Today's History: 24 April 2023
• First non-stop flight from England to India took off in 1929

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• Dinanath Mangeshkar, famous Marathi singer, nationalist, musician and actor, passed away in
1941.
• Shivprasad Gupta, philanthropist, freedom fighter and educationist, passed away, in 1944.
• India won the Coca Cola Cup at Sharjah, beating Australia by six wickets in the final in 1998.
Jyothi Surekha Vennam clinches two gold medals
• India won two gold medals, one each in the mixed team event and women's individual Compound,
at the Archery World Cup 2023 Stage 1 in Antalya, Turkey on 22 Apr'23.
• Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Ojas Pravin Deotale outclassed Chen Yi Hsuan and Chem Chieh Lun
of Chinese Taipei 159-154 to win the mixed team gold.
• Jyothi Surekha Vennam defeated Sara Lopez of Columbia 149-146, to win another gold.
EAM Dr S Jaishankar co-chairs 5th India-Guyana Joint Commission
• External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar co-chaired the 5th India-Guyana Joint Commission
Meeting with Foreign Minister Hugh Todd on 22 April 2023.
• There was comprehensive discussions on agriculture, energy, health and pharmaceuticals,
ayurveda and wellness, defence cooperation, human resources, etc.
• Exchange of agreements took place in Migration and Mobility and Air Connectivity.
Map in News: Guyana
• Guyana is a country on the northern mainland of South America.
• Guyana is an indigenous word which means "Land of Many Waters".
• The capital city is Georgetown.
• Guyana is one of the least densely populated countries on Earth.
• Currency: Guyanese dollar
• PM: Mark Phillips
• President: Irfaan Ali
Manipur observes Khongjom Day
• Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on 23 April 2023 attended the observance of 132nd
Khongjom Day, 2023 at Khebaching, Khongjom War Memorial Complex.
• The day is observed in remembrance to honour the gallant Manipuri warriors, including Major
Paona Brajabashi, who had made the supreme sacrifice fighting against the British to protect the
freedom of Manipur during the 1891 Anglo-Manipuri war.
National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts inaugurated
• Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated National Technology
Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts, IIT - Discovery Campus at Chennai in Tamil Nadu on 24
April 2023.
• Under the Sagarmala Programme, the centre has been established in IIT Chennai at a cost of 77
crore rupees.
• The Institute has world-class capabilities for undertaking 2D and 3D investigations.

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National Panchayati Raj Day: 24 April

• National Panchayati Raj Day is observed in India on April 24 every year to mark the constitutional
amendment that created the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in India.
• The PRIs are the third tier of governance in India, after the central and state governments.
• The day marks the establishment of the first Panchayati Raj system in India on April 24, 1993.
Centre conducts first-ever census of water bodies across the country
• Ministry of Jal Shakti has conducted the first-ever census of water bodies across the nation.
• In the census, over 24.24 lakh water bodies have been enumerated in the country out of which
more than 23 lakh water bodies are in rural areas and nearly 69,000 are in urban areas.
• The top 5 states in terms of number of water bodies are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra
Pradesh, Odisha and Assam.
Chinese Defence Minister to visit India for SCO meet
• Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu will visit India to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation Defence Ministers’ meeting planned to be held on 27-28 April, 2023.
• This will be the first time that a Chinese defence minister will be in India following the Galwan
Valley clash.
• The SCO comprises India, Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and
Pakistan.
Know About: China
• China is a country in East Asia.
• It is the second most populous country in the world after India.
• China is regarded as one of the world's oldest civilisations.
• Capital: Beijing
• Official languages: Mandarin, Putonghua
• President: Xi Jinping
Maharashtra school installs AI machine to assess food quality
• 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 by the administration under project Bhamragad and there are eight
government schools part of it.
• Notably, the machine takes a photo of the student with her/his plate of food.
PM Modi to flag off India’s first water metro project in Kochi
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the country’s first water metro that connects ten small
islands surrounding the port city of Kochi in Kerala on 25 April 2023.
• The metro project will start with eight electric hybrid boats manufactured by the Cochin Shipyard
Limited.
• Total cost of the project is ₹1,137 crore.

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• German funding agency KFW and the state government funded the project.
Weekly Notes (17 April - 22 April): International Affairs
• SpaceX’s Starship rocket lifts off but explodes midair
• NASA satellite RHESSI to crash back to Earth
• Rare Hybrid Solar Eclipse to be observed on 20 April 2023
• Ukraine and World Bank agree on $6 billion recovery programme
• Syria declared the world's largest narco-state
• SpaceX's Starship completes historic test flight
• Finland's largest nuclear reactor has entered its service phase
Weekly Notes (17 April -22 April): Sports
• Nithya win singles gold at Brazil Para-Badminton International
• Neha tops women’s air pistol event
• Shaili Singh qualifies for Asian Games with 2nd longest jump in India
• World champion Francesco Bagnaia wins the Americas MotoGP
• Ivan Dodig & Austin Krajicek win Monte-Carlo Masters doubles title
Weekly Notes (17 April -22 April): Sports
• Erling Haaland becomes youngest player to score 35 goals in UEFA
• Kashmir's first female Ju-Jitsu player to represent India
• Ishan Kishan completes 4,000 runs in T20 Cricket
• Argentina to replace Indonesia as under-20 FIFA World Cup host
• Jyothi Surekha Vennam equals qualification world record in Turkey
• Chennai to host 2023 Men's Hockey Asian Champions Trophy
Weekly Notes (17 April -22 April): National Affairs
• Central govt notifies Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023
• Ministry of Steel to organize India Steel 2023 in Mumbai
• Amit Shah presides over Chintan Shivir to implement PM Modi's vision
• Global Conference on Compressed Biogas to commence on 17 April
• 2nd G20 Health Working Group Meeting to commence in Goa from 17 April
Weekly Notes (17 April -22 April): National Affairs
• India proposed to develop G-20 park in New Delhi
• EC first time introduces Vote from Home option in Karnataka
• Seed Traceability portal and mobile app launched
• Cabinet approves National Quantum Mission
• Industry-friendly reforms for the Indian defence sector approved
• Govt approves 8 projects worth Rs 638 cr for Clean Ganga Mission
Weekly Notes (17 April -22 April): States Affairs
• Pune to get the biggest international school in Maharashtra

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• Assam government's plan to create corridor at Kamakhya temple

• Maharashtra mandates grades for Marathi subject in non-state affiliate
• IOR certifies world record title to Varanasi District Administration
• GST collections in Rajasthan increased by 23% in the FY-23
• Two-day Millet Mahotsav to begin in Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Weekly Notes (17 April -22 April): States Affairs
• Second phase of caste-based census begins in Bihar
• NGT constitutes committee to investigate disappearance of 1095 ponds
• Salokha Yojana implemented in Maharashtra
• UP Govt approves amendments in Atal Residential School Scheme
• Assam and Arunachal Pradesh sign agreement to settle boundary dispute
• Chhattisgarh Panchayats to receive grants for celebrating festivals
Weekly Notes (17 April -22 April): Days & Events
• National Civil Services Day: 21 April
• World Liver Day: 19 April
• Save The Elephant Day: 16 April
• World Haemophilia Day: 17 April
22 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• New York City tops the list of world’s wealthiest cities 2023
• World Creativity And Innovation Day: 21 April
• Star Sports signs Rishabh Pant as brand ambassador
• PM GatiShakti NMP receives PM's Award for Excellence
• Ministry of Civil Aviation launches UDAN 5.0
HSBC signs up Virat Kohli as their brand influencer
• HSBC India has announced that they’ve signed up the Indian cricketer, Virat Kohli as their brand
influencer.
• The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited was founded in 1865.
• It is headquartered in London, UK.
• It was founded by Thomas Sutherland
New York City tops the list of world’s wealthiest cities 2023
• New York City topped a new list of the world’s wealthiest cities in 2023, with Japan’s Tokyo and
Silicon Valley’s Bay Area claiming the second and third spots.
• Mumbai featured at 21 while Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad too found a mention.
• The list was compiled by London-based consultancy Henley & Partners.
• It was dominated by cities in the United States and China.
World Creativity And Innovation Day: 21 April
• World Creativity and Innovation Day is celebrated annually on April 21.

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• The day promotes the importance of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human life.
• It was first celebrated in 2002 and has gained global recognition since then.
• In 2005, the United Nations recognised the importance of creativity and innovation and declared
April 21 as World Creativity and Innovation Day.
Star Sports signs Rishabh Pant as brand ambassador
• The Walt Disney Company-owned Star Sports has signed cricketer Rishabh Pant as its latest
brand ambassador.
• The company also has other cricketers as its ‘Believe Ambassadors’ like Hardik Pandya, Ravindra
Jadeja, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer.
• With this, Star Sports has expanded its roster from two ambassadors in 2017 to six now with Virat
Kohli continuing his association.
4G mobile towers were dedicated to nation in Arunachal Pradesh
• Government of India has approved 4G mobile towers for providing connectivity to more than
3,721 villages in Arunachal Pradesh with a total outlay of Rs 2,675 crore.
• These 4G mobile towers were dedicated to the Nation on April 22, 2023.
• The towers will provide 4G coverage in hitherto uncovered villages, thereby bringing digital
connectivity to 336 villages.
PM GatiShakti NMP receives PM's Award for Excellence
• The Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration, 2022, in the category
'Innovation-Central' was awarded to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal
Trade.
• It was awarded for the successful implementation of ‘PM GatiShakti National Master Plan’.
• As on date, PM GatiShakti NMP has 1450+ data layers, belonging to Central Ministries (585) and
States/UTs (870+).
Ministry of Civil Aviation launches UDAN 5.0
• The Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched the 5th round of the Regional Connectivity Scheme
(RCS) – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN).
• It will further enhance the connectivity to remote and regional areas of the country and achieve
last mile connectivity.
• This round of UDAN focuses on Category-2 (20-80 seats) and Category-3 (>80 seats).
PM to visit Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman
• PM Narendra Modi will visit Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and
Diu on 24th and 25th April, 2023.
• He will flag off Vande Bharat Express at Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station.
• He will lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation various development projects worth
more than Rs. 4850 crores at Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
SAIL-BSL signs MoU with Telecommunications Consultants India Limited

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• SAIL-Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) has entered into an MoU with Telecommunications Consultants
India Limited (TCIL)
• It has been signed to explore potential of application of 5G/ IT/ Telecom and other wireless
communication technologies in SAIL-Bokaro Steel Plant including SAIL’s Mines & Collieries,
Central Coal Supply Organization and the SAIL Refractory Unit in Jharkhand.
Bengaluru hosts conference to help cities mainstream climate action
• National and International partners came together in Bengaluru to discuss “Mainstreaming
Climate Action in Cities”, in an effort to shape G20 priorities.
• Three of the six current U20 priority areas (accelerating climate finance, ensuring water security,
and encouraging environmentally responsive behavior), were the matter of contention.
22 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• Rishi Sunak names Oliver Dowden as UK's Deputy Prime Minister
• India ascends six places to rank 38 on World Bank logistics index
• William Shakespeare birth anniversary: 23 April
• Akshay Tritiya: 22 April 2023
• Earth Day: 22 April
Rishi Sunak names Oliver Dowden as UK's Deputy Prime Minister
• Oliver Dowden has been named UK's new Deputy Prime Minister.
• Dowden had been serving in Rishi Sunak's government as the Chancellor of the Duchy of
Lancaster and Cabinet Office secretary before the new appointment.
• He has been the Member of Parliament for Hertsmere since 2015.
• He will continue in the roles alongside his new responsibilities.
SEBI approves transfer of controlling stake of HDFC AMC to HDFC Bank
• SEBI has approved the proposed change of controlling stake in HDFC AMC to HDFC Bank as part
of the scheme of amalgamation.
• The regulator has also advised HDFC AMC to ensure compliance with all other provisions of Sebi
(Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996.
• The proposed entity will have a combined asset base of around ₹18 lakh crore.
India ascends six places to rank 38 on World Bank logistics index
• India has improved its ranking in the World Bank's Logistic Performance Index 2023 by six places.
• India's rank in the index of 139 countries has risen to 38 from 44 in 2018.
• In 2023, India's ranking for international shipments improved significantly, moving up from 44 in
2018 to 22.
• The country also climbed four places to rank 48 in logistics competence and equality.
Maharashtra Govt decides to constitute a new Commission
• Maharashtra Government has decided to constitute a new Commission to decide the
backwardness of the Maratha Community.

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• The State government will file a curative petition in the Supreme Court for Maratha (Social and
Economic Backward Class) Reservation.
• The State Government will ensure all the lapses in the Maratha Reservation law will be overcome.
William Shakespeare birth anniversary: 23 April
• William Shakespeare's birth anniversary is observed on 23 April every year.
• William Shakespeare was born 23 April, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon in England.
• Some of his most notable works are his tragedies such as Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet.
• He is hailed by many as the greatest writer in the English language.
Akshay Tritiya: 22 April 2023
• Akshaya Tritiya, the day of unending prosperity was celebrated on 22 Apr'23.
• Also known as Akha Teej, the festival falls in spring on the third day of the month of Vaishakha.
• Akshaya Tritiya is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and according to Hindu mythology, Treta Yuga began
on this day.
• The day is also celebrated as Parashurama Jayanti, birth anniversary of 6th incarnation of Lord
Vishnu.
Earth Day: 22 April
• Earth Day is observed on April 22 each year.
• The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of the rapidly-rising levels of pollution, climate
change, and other circumstances that contribute to damaging the environment and threaten the
survival of our planet.
• The theme or 2023 is 'Invest in our Planet'.
• Senator Gaylord Nelson established Earth Day in the 1970s to promote ecology.
PM Modi to launch nine campaigns in MP on 24 April
• PM Narendra Modi will launch nine campaigns under Inclusive Development (Samaveshi Vikaas)
theme on the 24th of April 2023 during the National Panchayati Raj Day in Madhya Pradesh.
• He will also launch the Website and Mobile App “Samaveshi Vikaas” at the event.
• The mobile app is designed with the objective to ensure the documentation of public
participation.
SKF India ranks in the Top 25 Best Companies to Work for in India
• SKF India, the country's leading technology and solutions provider of bearings and services, has
been recognized as the 'Top 25 Best Companies to Work for in India' for 2023.
• In addition, SKF India has been named as the second-best company in the manufacturing sector.
• The rankings selects companies that demonstrate the right balance between employee
expectations and organizations offerings.
Kenya launches first Earth Observation Satellite – Taifa 1

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• Kenya has launched its first earth observation satellite, Taifa 1, which blasted off aboard SpaceX’s
Falcon-9 full-thrust rocket from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E), Vandenberg Space Force
Base in the USA.
• The successful launch of Taifa 1 is coming after three failed attempts.
• The observation satellit will be used to provide data on agriculture and food security, among other
areas.
21 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• Erling Haaland becomes youngest player to score 35 goals in UEFA
• Wg Cdr Deepika Misra: 1st woman IAF officer to get Gallantry award
• Kashmir's first female Ju-Jitsu player to represent India
• Scientists fabricate protein that can help study multiple sclerosis
• CSIR and OIL sign an umbrella Memorandum of Understanding
Today's History: 21 April 2023
• Buhlul Khan Lodi, an Afghan and founder of Lodi dynasty, ascends the throne of Delhi and
displaced the Alam Shah of Syed dynasty, in 1451.
• The first indigenously built missile cruiser boat, 'Vibhuti', was inaugurated and launched, in 1990.
• Sanjay Thapar of the IAF (leader) became first Indian to parachute down to geometric North pole
and unfurl the flag, in 1996.
Second phase of caste-based census begins in Bihar
• The second phase of the caste-based census in Bihar has begun.
• This census will continue until May 15, 2023.
• The first phase of the census took place from June to July 2021.
• The second phase will cover more than 80,000 villages in Bihar.
• Over 1.14 lakh personnel have been deployed for the census.
• This census is being conducted after 91 years.
Erling Haaland becomes youngest player to score 35 goals in UEFA
• Erling Haaland has made history by becoming the youngest player ever to score 35 goals in the
UEFA Champions League.
• He achieved the feat in Borussia Dortmund's quarterfinal match against Manchester City,.
• At the age of just 20 years and 231 days, Haaland broke the previous record held by Barcelona
superstar Lionel Messi, who had achieved the milestone at the age of 24 years and 286 days.
Wg Cdr Deepika Misra: 1st woman IAF officer to get Gallantry award
• Wing Commander Deepika Misra has become the first woman Air Force officer to receive a
gallantry medal.
• President had conferred Vayu Seva Medal for gallantry on her at Independence Day in 2022 and
she received the medal from IAF 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 .

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Mahavir Singh Phogat appointed as Chairman of MMA-1 Federation

• Mahavir Singh Phogat, the legendary wrestler and coach, has been appointed as the Chairman
of the MMA-1 Federation, which is responsible for promoting mixed martial arts (MMA) in India.
• As the Chairman of the MMA-1 Federation, Phogat will work towards developing and promoting
MMA in India, with a focus on identifying and nurturing young talent in the sport.
Indian Health Professionals Awards 2023 presented
• The 7th edition of the Indian Health Professionals Awards 2023 and the 2nd edition of the Asia-
Pacific Dental Excellence Awards were held in 2023.
• The awards were held to recognize and honor the achievements of leaders in the healthcare
industry.
• Dr Ashwath V was awarded Emerging Dental Speaker.
• More than 125 doctors and dentists were given the award.
Kashmir's first female Ju-Jitsu player to represent India
• A 20-year-old girl Sabkat Malik who hails from the Vijjhara area of Kashmir’s Bandipora district
has been selected to represent India in Ju-Jitsu International Federation’s World Championship.
• The event scheduled in Mongolia in 2023.
• She has played at the national level nine times.
• She has won 6 gold medalists and 3 silver medals at the national level so far.
EU-India Aviation Summit begins in New Delhi
• The two days EU-India Aviation Summit began in New Delhi on 20 April 2023.
• During the summit, a declaration of intent was signed by Airport Authority of India with
Eurocontrol, and a letter of intent was signed by DGCA with the European Union Aviation Safety
for closer cooperation.
• The Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia addressed the summit
virtually.
Scientists fabricate protein that can help study multiple sclerosis
• Scientists have fabricated monolayers of pure myelin basic protein (MBP), a major protein
component of myelin sheath, which is a protective membrane that wraps around the axon of
nerve cells and acts as a model protein in studying diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS).
• A research group from the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati
discovered this.
CSIR and OIL sign an umbrella Memorandum of Understanding
• The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi and Oil India Ltd. (OIL), a
Navaratna NOC inked an umbrella MoU.
• This will be a collaborative arrangement between labs of CSIR and OIL.
• The objective of the MoU is to facilitate collaboration for pursuing research in advanced
technologies for energy security.

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Chris Messina, creator of the Hashtag, quits Twitter

• Chris Messina, the man credited with inventing the hashtag, has announced that he is quitting
Twitter.
• Messina is a former Google employee who came up with the idea of using the "#" symbol to create
a way to organize and search for tweets back in 2007.
• Twitter, Inc., is an American social media company based in San Francisco, California.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto to visit India
• Bilawal Bhutto, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, is set to visit India on May 4, 2023.
• This marks the first visit by any Pakistani leader since Nawaz Sharif's visit in 2014.
• He will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's (SCO) foreign ministers' meeting in Goa.
• India currently holds the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) presidency.
Know About: Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
• The SCO is a regional organization founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• India and Pakistan joined as full members in 2017.
• The SCO has two main bodies: the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Foreign Ministers.
• India currently holds the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) presidency.
UK Deputy PM Dominic Raab resigns
• UK Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Dominic Raab resigned on 21 April 2023.
• Dominic Rennie Raab is a British politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United
Kingdom, Secretary of State for Justice, and Lord Chancellor since October 2022, having
previously served from 2021 to September 2022.
• He has been Member of Parliament for Esher and Walton since 2010.
Know About: UK
• The United Kingdom, made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is an island
nation in northwestern Europe.
• The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.
• Capital: London
• Prime minister: Rishi Sunak
• Monarch: Charles III
NGT constitutes committee to investigate disappearance of 1095 ponds
• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has set up a committee to investigate the disappearance of
1095 ponds in Kanpur Dehat, a district in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
• The committee has been directed to submit a factual report on the issue to the NGT within two
months.
• The bench will be headed by NGT Chairman Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel.
Salokha Yojana implemented in Maharashtra

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• A 'Salokha Yojana' has been implemented in Maharashtra.

• It gives farmers an opportunity to exchange their agricultural land in exchange for a nominal
registration fee of Rs 1,000 and stamp duty of Rs 1,000.
• In the scheme, the possession of the agricultural land of the first farmer should be with the second
farmer.
UP Govt approves amendments in Atal Residential School Scheme
• UP govt has approved a proposal seeking amendments to the Atal Residential School Scheme.
• The amendments will help children impacted by Covid-19 avail the benefits of the scheme.
• The Atal Residential School Scheme aims to provide quality and free education to children of
poor labourers.
• Under the scheme, free quality residential education from classes 6 to 12 will also be provided.
21 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• AP's image of Mariupol Hospital attack wins World Press Photo Award
• Indian Air Force to participate in multilateral exercise in Greece
• Singer, writer Pamela Chopra passes away
• India at 3rd spot in Global Unicorn Index 2023 by Hurun
• National Civil Services Day: 21 April
SpaceX’s Starship rocket lifts off but explodes midair
• SpaceX’s Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, took off from a launchpad in South Texas
on 20 April 2023 but exploded midair before stage separation.
• The Starship spacecraft was designed for space exploration.
• The launch was the second test flight of the Starship, after the first test in December 2021 ended
in a crash landing.
• The Starship was powered by the Raptor engines.
AP's image of Mariupol Hospital attack wins World Press Photo Award
• The Associated Press (AP) has won the World Press Photo award for its image of the Mariupol
hospital attack.
• The image was taken by photographer Evgeniy Maloletk and shows the aftermath of the shelling
of a hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol in January 2021.
• The attack was part of the ongoing conflict between Ukrainian government forces and pro-
Russian separatists in the region.
Indian Air Force to participate in multilateral exercise in Greece
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to participate in a multilateral exercise in Greece.
• The exercise, named 'INIOCHOS', is a biennial event that aims to enhance the operational
capability of the participating countries.
• The IAF will be deploying its Su-30MKI fighter aircraft for the exercise, which will involve simulated
air combat scenarios and other tactical maneuvers.

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Gajendra Arya appointed as Senior Vice President at Zypp

• Gajendra Arya has been appointed as the new Senior Vice President of Technology at Zypp
Electric.
• Zypp Electric is a leading electric scooter sharing platform in India, providing sustainable last-
mile connectivity solutions.
• Gajendra Arya has worked with companies like Ola, Samsung, and Vodafone.
• In his new role, Arya will be responsible for driving Zypp Electric's technology strategy.
ISRO to conduct in-orbit scientific experiments using Spent PS4
• ISRO is set to conduct in-orbit scientific experiments using the spent PS4 stage of the PSLV-C55
mission.
• The PS4 stage is the fourth stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and is normally
discarded after its use.
• However, in this mission, the PS4 stage will be used for conducting scientific experiments in space.
Singer, writer Pamela Chopra passes away
• Pamela Chopra passed away in April 2023.
• She was a well-known Indian playback singer.
• She was also a film writer and producer.
• She was the wife of well known Director Yash Chopra.
• She has sung several songs in films including Kabhie Kabhie (1976) and Mujhse Dosti Karoge!
(2002).
• The 1993 film Aaina was produced by her.
• She also co-wrote the script of 1997 film Dil To Pagal Hai.
India at 3rd spot in Global Unicorn Index 2023 by Hurun
• India has retained its position as the country with the world's 3rd-largest number of unicorns after
the US and China, in Global Unicorn Index 2023 by Hurun.
• However, it ranks 5th in the Hurun Global 500 Index, which is a list of the 500 most valuable non-
state-controlled businesses across the world.
• Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global Management, and SoftBank are the top three unicorn investors.
India proposed to develop G-20 park in New Delhi
• India has proposed to develop a G20 park in New Delhi to symbolize 'togetherness on the path
of development' as part of its year-long presidency.
• It will showcase sculptures depicting national animals and birds of the G20 countries made with
the Waste to wonder concept.
• The art pieces will be created on-site in a 20-day-long national camp mode from 21 April 2023
and till 1 May 2023.
Know About: G20

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• G20 stands for Group of Twenty, which is a forum of the world's largest economies, including 19
countries and the European Union.
• The G20 was established in 1999 as a platform for finance ministers and central bank governors
to discuss issues related to the global economy.
• In 2008, the forum was elevated to a leaders' summit.
• Chairman (Incumbent): Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India
Indian Air Force Commanders' Conference being held in New Delhi
• Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan attended the Indian Air Force Commanders'
Conference in New Delhi, on 20 April 2023.
• The conference aimed to review and analyze the operational readiness of the Indian Air Force.
• The theme for 2023 is 'Beyond Boundaries: Robust Foundation".
• The Conference is held every year.
National Civil Services Day: 21 April
• National Civil Services Day is observed on 21 April every year.
• The date, April 21, chosen for the celebration of National Civil Service Day, commemorates the
day when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Independent India’s first home minister, addressed the
probationers of the Administrative Services Officers in 1947.
• The civil services in India consists of the IAS, IPS, and IFS.
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh sign agreement to settle boundary dispute
• The governments of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have signed an agreement for the settlement
of an inter-state boundary dispute between the two States.
• The agreement was signed by the CM of both the states.
• The agreement includes the formation of a boundary commission to demarcate the boundary
between the two states and resolve any disputes that may arise in the future.
Chhattisgarh Panchayats to receive grants for celebrating festivals
• Over 6,000 panchayats in Chhattisgarh will receive a sum of ₹10,000 each to celebrate
Chhattisgarhi festivals.
• The grants will be provided to promote cultural and social activities at the grassroots level and
boost the local economy.
• Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Chhattisgarhi Parab Samman
Nidhi Yojana’ for non-scheduled areas of the State, on 20 April 2023.
20 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• EC first time introduces Vote from Home option in Karnataka
• Synergy Group wins prestigious Tanker Operator Award
• Shanti Lakra selected as finalist for Global Nursing Award
• Miguel Diaz-Canel re-elected as President of Cuba for second term
• Angela Merkel receives Germany's Grand Cross of the Order of Merit

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Today's History: 20 April 2023

• Panchsheel was signed agreement between China and India, in 1954.
• India won Cricket Test Rubber' for the first time after defeating West Indies Cricket Team, in 1971.
• Sheri Bamboat and Hamshad Bamboat won National sea-bird sailing title, in 1997.
EC first time introduces Vote from Home option in Karnataka
• The Election Commission (EC) has introduced the Vote from Home option for the first time in the
Karnataka Assembly election.
• This option was available for senior citizens above the age of 80 and people with disabilities.
• Nearly 8900 persons above the age of 80 and people with disabilities opted for the Vote from
Home option.
Crops seeds of IAEA/FAO project return from space
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
had launched a project to send crops to space to help mitigate the effects of global warming.
• After six months in space, the seeds were returned to Earth and are now being studied to
determine the effects of space radiation and microgravity on crop growth and development.
InfoPercept launches Invinsense 4.0
• InfoPercept, a leading cybersecurity solutions provider, has launched Invinsense 4.0, a SaaS-
based cybersecurity platform.
• It is a comprehensive cybersecurity solution that covers IT, cloud, OT, and IoT landscapes, making
it one of the most versatile cybersecurity platforms in the market.
• The platform is designed to provide end-to-end cybersecurity solutions for enterprises.
Synergy Group wins prestigious Tanker Operator Award
• Synergy Group, a leading ship management company, has won the prestigious Tanker Operator
Award.
• The award recognizes excellence in the tanker industry and is one of the most prestigious awards
in the maritime sector.
• Synergy Group was recognized for its outstanding performance in the tanker sector and its
commitment to safety, sustainability, and innovation.
Shanti Lakra selected as finalist for Global Nursing Award
• Shanti Lakra, a nurse from India, has been selected as a finalist for the Aster Guardians Global
Nursing Award.
• The award recognizes and honors exceptional nurses from around the world who have made
significant contributions to patient care.
• Lakra works as a nurse in a hospital in Port Blair.
• The winner of the award will receive a cash prize of $25,000 and will be announced in May 2023.
Pune to get the biggest international school in Maharashtra
• Pune is set to get the biggest international school in Maharashtra.

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• The school will be spread over 50 acres and will offer world-class education to students.
• The school will be built in collaboration with a Singapore-based education company and will
follow international standards.
• It will offer a range of programs, including the International Baccalaureate and Cambridge
International.
Assam government's plan to create corridor at Kamakhya temple
• The Assam government has announced plans to create a Kashi Vishwanath-like corridor at
Kamakhya temple.
• The project aims to improve the infrastructure around the temple and make it more accessible to
devotees.
• The corridor will feature a series of buildings, including a meditation centre, a guest house, and a
museum.
Miguel Diaz-Canel re-elected as President of Cuba for second term
• Miguel Diaz-Canel has been re-elected as the President of Cuba for a second term.
• He won a landslide vote of 97.66 per cent of the National Assembly.
• Diaz-Canel, in 2018, succeeded Raul Castro as president and first secretary in 2021 of the Cuban
Communist Party, respectively.
• He is the first non-Castro born after the 1959 revolution to hold both of those titles.
NASA satellite RHESSI to crash back to Earth
• NASA's RHESSI satellite, which has been orbiting Earth for the past 20 years, is expected to crash
back to Earth, on 20 April 2023.
• The satellite was used to study the sun's corona and the processes that create solar flares.
• RHESSI stands for Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager.
• The satellite was decommissioned in 2018 and had been slowly losing altitude ever since.
Angela Merkel receives Germany's Grand Cross of the Order of Merit
• Angela Merkel, the former Chancellor of Germany, has been awarded the Grand Cross of the
Order of Merit.
• The award is the highest civilian honor in Germany and is given for outstanding achievements in
the fields of politics, culture, business, and science.
• Merkel is the fourth German Chancellor to receive the award, following Konrad Adenauer, Helmut
Schmidt, and Helmut Kohl.
Maharashtra mandates grades for Marathi subject in non-state affiliate
• Maharashtra government requires non-state affiliated schools to give grades for Marathi subject.
• The decision is aimed at promoting Marathi language and culture in the state.
• The grading system will be applicable for all non-state affiliated schools in Maharashtra.
• This is only for the next three years, starting from academic year 2023-24, for classes 8, 9 and 10.
IOR certifies world record title to Varanasi District Administration.

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• The Varanasi District Administration has achieved a world record certified by the India Records
Academy for the maximum number of participants in a quiz contest at multiple locations.
• The quiz contest was held on April 13, 2023, and focused on "India's Presidency in the G20 Summit-
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam".
Nitish Kumar has Inaugurated Medanta Conclave 2023
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar inaugurated the Medanta Conclave in Patna, organized by
Medanta Hospital.
Conclave aimed to improve healthcare facilities in Bihar and highlight ways to provide
better medical care.
Nitish Kumar emphasized investing in healthcare infrastructure for quality medical
care.
Medanta announced plans for a world-class hospital in Bihar.

GST collections in Rajasthan increased by 23% in the FY-23

• In Rajasthan, GST collections rose by 23% to Rs 33,787 crore in FY 2022-23 from Rs 27,501 crore in
the previous fiscal year.
• VAT revenue collections increased by 10.30% to Rs 22,726 crore.
• The commercial tax department collected revenues of Rs 56,514 crore in 2022-23, 17% higher than
the previous year.
• The commissioner attributes the growth to consumption patterns, economic activities.
20 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• Asha Bhosle to receive Lata Mangeshkar Award
• Indian Army signs MoU with Tezpur University
• 8th India-Thailand Defence Dialogue to be held in Bangkok on April 20
• Government to introduce Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023
• PM Modi to inaugurate first Global Buddhist Summit
Asha Bhosle to receive Lata Mangeshkar Award
• Legendary singer Asha Bhosle will be felicitated with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award.
• The family and the trust instituted the award in the memory of Lata Mangeshkar, who died on
February 6, 2022.
• She will receive the recognition on April 24, 2023 the Memorial Day of their father and theatre-
music veteran Deenanath Mangeshkar.
RBI allows AU Small Finance Bank to deal with foreign exchange
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted permission to AU Small Finance Bank to deal in
foreign exchange.

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• The bank can now offer services such as outward remittances, letter of credit (LC), bank
guarantees, and foreign currency loans to its customers.
• AU Small Finance Bank has become the 26th bank in India to be authorized to deal in foreign
exchange.
Rare Hybrid Solar Eclipse to be observed on 20 April 2023
• A rare hybrid solar eclipse is set to occur on 20 April 2023, visible from parts of South America,
Africa, and Antarctica.
• This kind of eclipse is also known as the Ningaloo Eclipse.
• It appears as both an annular and a total eclipse at different points on Earth.
• In an annular eclipse, the moon appears smaller than the sun and creates a "ring of fire" around
the sun.
Indian Army signs MoU with Tezpur University
• The Indian Army has signed an MoU with Tezpur University to provide Chinese language training
to army personnel.
• The move is aimed at improving the army's communication and operational capabilities along
the India-China border.
• The language training will include both basic and advanced levels and cover aspects such as
listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Windfall Tax on oil production to be reintroduced
• The Indian govt has reintroduced a windfall tax on oil produced by state-owned ONGC and other
companies.
• The tax will be levied when crude oil prices exceed a certain level and will be applicable to both
public and private sector oil producers.
• In a separate move, the government has also decided to levy zero tax on the export of diesel to
promote exports and reduce domestic inventories.
8th India-Thailand Defence Dialogue to be held in Bangkok on April 20
• The 8th India-Thailand Defence Dialogue will be held in Bangkok on 20 April 2023.
• Special Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Nivedita Shukla Verma will co-chair the meeting with
Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defence, Thailand General Nuchit Sribunsong.
• During the dialogue, they will review the defence cooperation and explore new initiatives to
further strengthen bilateral engagements.
Know About: Thailand
• Thailand is a country located in Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and
Malaysia, with a coastline along the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.
• The capital city of Thailand is Bangkok.
• The PM of Thailand is Prayut Chan-o-cha.
• Thailand has a constitutional monarchy system of government, with King Maha Vajiralongkorn
(also known as King Rama X) as the current monarch.

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Government to introduce Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023

• The Indian government has decided to introduce the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023 to
tackle piracy in the film industry.
• The bill proposes stricter penalties for piracy-related offenses, including imprisonment and hefty
fines.
• It also aims to establish a framework for the certification of cinematograph films and regulate
their exhibition and distribution.
PM Modi to inaugurate first Global Buddhist Summit
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi on
April 20, 2023.
• The Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation will host
the two-day Summit.
• The theme of the Summit is Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis.
• Leaders from over 20 countries will participate in the summit.
India and Canada agree to work on defence relationship
• India and Canada have reached an agreement to enhance their defence relationship.
• The agreement includes collaborating on military research and development, as well as
information sharing on defence technologies.
• The two countries have committed to conducting joint military exercises and training programs.
• The defence agreement also aims to deepen economic ties between India and Canada.
Two-day Millet Mahotsav to begin in Jodhpur, Rajasthan
• Jodhpur is hosting a two-day Millet Mahotsav to showcase the diversity of millets and promote
sustainable agriculture from 20 April 2023.
• The event will feature exhibitions, seminars, and cultural programs highlighting the nutritional,
environmental, and economic benefits of millets.
• An exhibition is also being set up and being organized by the Union Ministry of Food Processing
Industries.
19 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• Cabinet approves National Quantum Mission
• Ishan Kishan completes 4,000 runs in T20 cricket
• Sonam Wangchuk conferred with Prestigious Santokbaa Humanitarian Award
• Argentina to replace Indonesia as under-20 FIFA World Cup host
• India overtakes China as world's most populous country
Today's History: 19 April 2023
• First Indian Satellite ''Aryabhata'' launched in 1975.
• Maharshi Dayanand University was established in Haryana in 1976.
• Indira Gandhi,Prime Minister, inaugurated `Maharashtra Vidhanbhavan', in 1981.

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• AIDS was deleted from the list of contagious diseases in the Railway Act of 1989, in 1996.
Seed Traceability portal and mobile app launched
• Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched the SATHI (Seed
Traceability, Authentication and Holistic Inventory) Portal and Mobile App, on 19 April 2023.
• It has been developed by the NIC in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Agriculture and
Farmers Welfare on the theme of ‘Uttam Beej – Samriddh Kisan’.
Cabinet approves National Quantum Mission
• The Union Cabinet has approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) at a total cost of
Rs.6003.65 crore from 2023-24 to 2030-31.
• The new mission targets developing intermediate scale quantum computers with 50-1000
physical qubits in 8 years in various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology.
• Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) will be set up in top academic and National R&D institutes.
Rajnath Singh attends Biannual Army Commanders Conference
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the ongoing 1st edition of the biannual Army
Commanders Conference in New Delhi, on 19 April 2023.
• The conference is being attended by top Army commanders from across the country, who will
discuss a wide range of issues related to national security and defence.
• The Army Commanders Conference is held twice a year.
Ishan Kishan completes 4,000 runs in T20 Cricket
• Indian cricketer Ishan Kishan has achieved the milestone of scoring 4,000 runs in T20 cricket.
• Kishan reached the milestone while playing for the Mumbai Indians in a match against the Punjab
Kings in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.
• He has also represented India at the international level, making his debut in 2021 and scoring a
half-century in his first match.
Sonam Wangchuk conferred with Prestigious Santokbaa Humanitarian Award
• Sonam Wangchuk has been awarded the prestigious Santokbaa Humanitarian Award for his
contributions to society.
• He is best known for his work on the Ice Stupa project, which aims to address water scarcity in
the Himalayas.
• The Santokbaa Humanitarian Award recognizes individuals who have made significant
contributions to society in the areas of education, healthcare, and social welfare.
Argentina to replace Indonesia as under-20 FIFA World Cup host
• Argentina will host the under-20 soccer World Cup.
• It has replaced Indonesia, which was supposed to host it earlier.
• FIFA announced the decision to remove Indonesia as host on March 29 2023 after the country’s
FA cancelled the draw to be held in Bali as its governor refused to host Israel’s team.
Nigeria seeks India’s help to emulate Jan Aushadhi Kendra model

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• Nigeria, among the worst in Africa in terms of health indicators, has sought India’s help to set up
stores similar to the Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
• The Jan Aushadhi Scheme was launched by the then government in November 2008 and till May
2014, only 80 Jan Aushadi stores were in operation in select States.
• It was later revamped as the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana.
India overtakes China as world's most populous country
• India has overtaken China as the world's most populous country with a total population of 1.39
bn people, according to the latest data from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
• The UNFPA’s ‘The State of World Population Report, 2023’, titled ‘8 Billion Lives, Infinite
Possibilities: The Case for Rights and Choices’ said India’s population is 1,428.6 mn while China’s
stood at 1425.7 mn.
Former Hyderabad Ranji opener Abdul Azeem passes away
• Abdul Azeem, a former Hyderabad Ranji Trophy player, has passed away.
• Azeem represented Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy during the 1980s and early 1990s.
• He was a right-arm medium-fast bowler who also played for the Deccan Chronicle Cricket Club.
• Azeem had to his credit a triple century against Tamil Nadu in the 1986 Ranji season.
Jyothi Surekha Vennam equals qualification world record in Turkey
• Jyothi Surekha Vennam from India has equalled the world record for archery world cup
qualification rounds in Turkey.
• She scored 702 out of a possible 720 points to achieve the feat.
• Jyothi Surekha Vennam's score of 702 points is the highest ever scored by an Indian woman in
the history of the sport.
• She achieved the feat at the third stage of the Archery World Cup in Antalya, Turkey.
Know About: Turkey
• Turkey is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia,
with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe.
• It was home to important Neolithic sites like Göbekli Tepe, and was inhabited by ancient
civilizations including the Hattians, Hittites, and Anatolian people.
• Capital: Ankara
• President: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
• Currency: Turkish lira
Tamil Nadu's Cumbum Grapes gets Geographical Indication Tag
• Cumbum grapes from Tamil Nadu have been granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the
government of India.
• Cumbum grapes are known for their distinct taste, aroma, and texture, and are popular both
domestically and internationally.
• Tamil Nadu is home to several other products that have been granted GI tags, including Madurai
Malli (jasmine), and Thanjavur Veena (musical instrument).

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Maharashtra Govt has announced 4% reservation for disabled employees

• Deputy Chief Minister of the state, Devendra Fadnavis has announced that there will be a 4%
reservation for disabled employees in promotions.
• Decision is welcomed by disability rights activists and organizations
• This move is seen as a step towards greater inclusivity in the workplace for persons with disability.
UP, first state to have 100 pc EV in its government departments.
• This step has been taken to give major push to promote sales and usage of electric vehicles(EVs)
in the state of UP.
• Uttar Pradesh has set a goal to have 100% EVs in government department by the year 2030 and
may become first state to do so.
• Notably, to encourage EVs, the government notifies Uttar Pradesh Electric Vehicles
Manufacturing and Mobility Policy 2022 on October 14.
"Rajasthan CM demands national project status for ERCP"
• The Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) provides irrigation to drought-prone areas of
Rajasthan through canals.
• It benefits 1.5M hectares of farmland & 2,400 villages in Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, and Tonk
districts.
• Project has 3 phases, with 1st completed and 2nd & 3rd under construction.
• Estimated cost is Rs. 40,000 crore.
• Project completion is expected by 2023.
"Transgender Monika Das named State Icon for election role"
• Monika Das has been made State Icon by the State Election Commission to ensure active
participation of Mangalamukhi community
• Thirty-year-old Monica Das has scripted history by becoming the country's first transgender
banker.
• The life story of Monika Das has been full of struggles.
• Monika Das is LLB from Patna Law College.
19 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• ISRO to launch Singapore's TeLEOS-2 satellite on April 22
• World Liver Day: 19 April
• S Jaishankar to undertake 4-nation trip to Central and Latin America
• UP inks MoU with Govt of India for establishment of textile parks
• Govt approves 8 projects worth Rs 638 cr for Clean Ganga Mission
ISRO to launch Singapore's TeLEOS-2 satellite on April 22
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch Singapore's TeLEOS-2 satellite
on April 22, 2023.

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• The satellite will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra
Pradesh.
• TeLEOS-2 is a commercial Earth observation satellite and will be used for various applications
such as urban planning, maritime security, and disaster management.
Arunachal Pradesh hosts Buddhist meeting at Zemithang
• Zemithang, the first stop of the 14th Dalai Lama during his flight from China-occupied Tibet in
1959, hosted a major Buddhist conference on April 17.
• It was organised by the Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition (IHCNBT).
• Zemithang or Zimithang, in the Pangchen Valley, is a village and the last circle headquarters
bordering Bhutan and Tibet.
India, Russia agree to deepen trade and economic relations
• India and Russia held the 26th Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific,
Technological and Cultural Cooperation, in April 2023.
• They discussed the issue of trade deficit and ways to enhance market access for each other's
products.
• India raised concerns about non-tariff barriers faced by its exports to Russia, particularly in the
pharma and agriculture sectors.
World Liver Day: 19 April
• World Liver Day is celebrated on April 19 every year to raise awareness about the importance of
liver health.
• The theme for World Liver Day 2023 is "Liver Health for All".
• The liver plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and well-being, and it is important to
take care of it.
• Some common symptoms of liver problems include fatigue, jaundice, abdominal pain, and
swelling.
Ukraine and World Bank agree on $6 billion recovery programme
• Ukraine and the World Bank have agreed on a $6 billion recovery programme to support the
country's economic growth.
• The programme will focus on areas such as governance, energy, agriculture, and social services.
• The funds will be provided over a period of four years, with the first tranche of $2.2 billion expected
to be disbursed in 2022.
S Jaishankar to undertake 4-nation trip to Central and Latin America
• Indian External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, is set to undertake a 4-nation trip to Central and
Latin America from 21 April 2023.
• The trip aims to promote business ties and enhance cooperation in various sectors, including
trade, investment, and technology.
• The countries on the itinerary include Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, and Argentina.

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UP inks MoU with Govt of India for establishment of textile parks

• The state government of Uttar Pradesh has signed an MoU for the establishment of textile parks
in Lucknow and Hardoi.
• The textile parks will be spread over 1000 acres and are expected to attract investment of around
Rs. 5000 crore.
• The parks aim to promote textile manufacturing, provide employment opportunities, and boost
the local economy.
Manipur CM inaugurates Hun Thadou cultural festival
• Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, inaugurated the 5th Hun Thadou cultural festival in
Kangpokpi, on 18 April 2023.
• The festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the Hun Thadou tribe, one of the major ethnic
groups in the state.
• The festival features traditional dance performances, music, food, and handicrafts.
Industry-friendly reforms for the Indian defence sector approved
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal for industry-friendly reforms in the
country's defence sector.
• The reforms aim to enhance ease of doing business, promote indigenous manufacturing, and
attract foreign investment.
• The reforms include streamlining the procurement process, simplifying export procedures, and
encouraging collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Govt approves 8 projects worth Rs 638 cr for Clean Ganga Mission
• The Indian Government has approved 8 new projects to accelerate the Clean Ganga Mission.
• The projects, worth around Rs. 638 crore, aim to improve sewage infrastructure, riverfront
development, and river surface cleaning.
• The newly approved projects will be implemented across several states, including Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar, and West Bengal.
Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering conference of G-20 begins
• A gathering of the G20 Research and Innovation Initiative (RII) is set to begin in Himachal Pradesh,
India on 19 April 2023.
• The RII aims to promote international cooperation in research and innovation for sustainable
development.
• The conference will be attended by representatives from G20 countries, international
organizations, and research institutions.
Rajasthan government spend 46 crore for Right to education.
• CM Ashok Gehlot approves proposal to reimburse fees for students up to Class 12.
• Rajasthan government to spend Rs 46 crore under the Right to Education Act for this approval.

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• Scheme allows children studying on free seats in Class 8 to continue till Class 12 from 2023-24
academic session.
• Associations of guardians held protests against government for delaying implementation of the
scheme.
Pt.Vinodanand Jha's 123rd birth anniversary was celebrated in Bihar.
• Pt. Vinodanand Jha's 123rd birth anniversary was celebrated ceremonially in Bihar.
• Tributes were paid to Pt. Vinodanand Jha by garlanding his statue in the ceremony.
• The program was presided over by Council President Bindeshwari Prasad Singh.
• During the ceremony, Council President Bindeshwari Prasad Singh highlighted Pt. Vinodanand
Jha's creativity and personality in detail.
PM MITRA Parks will be launched in Lucknow, Hardoi districts of UP.
• Uttar Pradesh government has identified land parcel of over 1000 acres in Lucknow and Hardoi
for mega textile park.
• The government aims to generate one lakh direct and two lakh indirect employment per park.
• The Park will create integrated textile value chain right from spinning, weaving, processing/dyeing
and printing to garment manufacturing at a single point.
18 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• Karnataka Bank names Sekhar Rao as interim CEO
• Neeli Bendapudi named to a US-India task force
• Ministry of Steel to organize India Steel 2023 in Mumbai
• Government launches 'Sangathan-se-Samriddhi' scheme
• Chennai to host 2023 Men's Hockey Asian Champions Trophy
Patoda Gram Panchayat win 2nd place in National Panchayat Awards
• Patoda Gram Panchayat, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar has won the 2 nd place in
Carbon Neutral National Panchayat Awards.
• The awards recognize the efforts of local governments in India to reduce carbon emissions and
promote sustainable development.
• Patoda has implemented several initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint, including promoting
renewable energy and waste management.
Today's History: 18 April 2023
• Damodar Hari Chapekar, India's first revolutionary, was hanged in the Yervada Central Jail, in
1898.
• Lord Willingdon took over as the Viceroy of India, in 1931.
• India, Pakistan signed one-year pact on Indus River irrigation, in 1959.
• Air India's first Jumbo Jet Plane passenger Boeing 747 named 'Emperor Samrat Ashok' was landed
on Santacruz Airport at Bombay, in 1971.
Nike, Adidas shoes maker Pou Chen to invest in India

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• Pou Chen Corporation, the Taiwan-based manufacturer of shoes for brands like Nike and Adidas,
has announced plans to invest nearly $281 million in India.
• The investment will be made over a period of five years and will be used to expand the company's
manufacturing facilities in the country.
• Pou Chen already has a significant presence in India, with over 30 manufacturing facilities.
Karnataka Bank names Sekhar Rao as interim CEO
• Karnataka Bank, one of India's leading private sector banks, has appointed Sekhar Rao as its
interim CEO with immediate effect.
• The move comes after the previous CEO, Mahabaleshwara MS, retired on March 31, 2023, after
serving the bank for over four decades.
• Sekhar Rao was previously the Chief General Manager of the bank.
Neeli Bendapudi named to a US-India task force
• Indian-American academic Neeli Bendapudi has been named to a task force set up to expand
partnerships between universities in the United States and India.
• The task force is part of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.
• Bendapudi is the first woman to serve as president of the University of Louisville in Kentucky.
Syria declared the world's largest narco-state
• Syria has been declared as the world's largest producer and exporter of drugs.
• Its economic survival now depends heavily on the production and export of Captagon, also known
as the "poor man's coke".
• Captagon, a banned illicit drug recognized by the UNODC (2021), is a synthetic stimulant that
combines amphetamine and caffeine.
Central govt notifies Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023
• The central govt has notified the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023.
• It is aimed at promoting humane and effective methods of controlling the population of street
dogs and other animals.
• They specify that animal birth control programs should be implemented using scientifically
proven methods.
• The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, replace the previous Animal Birth Control Rules, 2001.
Ministry of Steel to organize India Steel 2023 in Mumbai
• The Ministry of Steel is set to organize India Steel 2023, a major international exhibition and
conference, from April 19-21, 2023 in Mumbai.
• The event is being organized in association with Commerce Ministry and FICCI.
• The conference will feature high-level keynote speakers, technical sessions, and panel discussions.
Government launches 'Sangathan-se-Samriddhi' scheme
• The Government of India has launched a new scheme called 'Sangathan-se-Samriddhi' aimed at
bringing marginalised rural women into the fold of Self Help Groups (SHGs).

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• The scheme will provide support to around 75,000 SHGs across 11 states in India, with a focus on
empowering women and promoting entrepreneurship.
• It will give financial assistance to help them start and expand their businesses.
Amit Shah presides over Chintan Shivir to implement PM Modi's vision
• The session was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, including the Home
Secretary and other top bureaucrats.
• The focus was on identifying key priorities and areas of concern, and devising strategies to
address them.
• The outcomes of the Chintan Shivir will be used to formulate policies and action plans that align
with the government's broader vision for India.
Chennai to host 2023 Men's Hockey Asian Champions Trophy
• The 2023 Men's Hockey Asian Champions Trophy will be hosted in Chennai, India.
• The tournament is a major event in the field hockey calendar, featuring some of the best teams
from across Asia.
• The Asian Champions Trophy is held every two years, and India has won the tournament twice in
2011 and 2016.
Arunachal Pradesh CM inaugurates new monastery in Tawang
• The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, has inaugurated a new monastery, the
Shar Nyima Tsho Sum Namyig Lhakhang Gonpa, in Tawang district.
• The monastery, which is located near the Tawang Monastery, is designed to be a center for
spiritual and cultural activities for the local community.
• The construction of the monastery was supported by the government of Arunachal Pradesh.
Dept of Posts releases special cover on Mahila Samman Savings Scheme
• The Dept of Posts has released a special cover to commemorate the launch of the Mahila
Samman Savings Scheme in Telangana.
• The scheme is a post office savings scheme aimed at empowering women and promoting
financial inclusion.
• The scheme is designed to provide women with a safe and secure way to save money and earn
interest on their savings.
• It is open to all women aged 18 years and above.
18 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• Nithya, Nitesh win singles gold at Brazil Para-Badminton International
• India donates Rs 4.09 crore to UN entity for women's empowerment
• Utsa Patnaik awarded Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023
• India's investments reach all-time high of 37 lakh crore for 2022-23
• Sira Panchayat secures second position in child-friendly category
National Panchayat Awards presented by President

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• President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Panchayat Awards and inaugurated the
National Conference on Incentivization of Panchayats in New Delhi on April 17, 2023.
• A booklet on ‘Best Practices on Works of Awardee Panchayats’ was also released.
• There are 21 States that have made 50% reservation for women in the 3-tier Panchayats.
Nithya win singles gold at Brazil Para-Badminton International
• India's Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan claimed twin gold medals at the Brazil Para-Badminton
International.
• The 18-year-old Nithya defeated Peru's Giuliana Poveda Flores 22-20 21-11 in the women's singles
SH6 category finals to win the gold medal.
• Pramod Bhagat and Sukant Kadam also struck gold in the men's doubles after defeating Korean
pair of Joo Dongjae and Shin Kyung Hwan.
India donates Rs 4.09 crore to UN entity for women's empowerment
• The donation is aimed at supporting UN Women's efforts towards advancing gender equality and
women's empowerment.
• UN Women will utilize the funds to implement programs and initiatives that promote economic
empowerment, leadership, and social inclusion of women in India.
• India has been a founding member of the Executive Board of UN Women and is currently serving
as a member.
Neha tops women’s air pistol event
• Neha beat Rhythm Sangwan 17-9 to top women’s air pistol in the National shooting selection
trials at the Madhya Pradesh Academy in Bhopal on 17 April 2023.
• Olympian Yashaswini Singh Deswal placed third ahead of Palak Ghulia.
• Padma Devaram and Akanksha Bansal had topped qualification with 577 each, but eventually
placed seventh and eighth respectively.
Utsa Patnaik awarded Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023
• The Malcolm Adiseshiah Award recognizes exceptional contributions to the field of social science
in India.
• Utsa Patnaik, a renowned economist and author, has been selected as the recipient of the award
for the year 2023.
• She has authored several books and papers.
• The award is given by the Madras Institute of Development Studies and the Malcolm and
Elizabeth Adiseshiah Trust.
India's investments reach all-time high of 37 lakh crore for 2022-23
• Record Q4 investments played a crucial role in boosting the 2022-23 outlays to an unprecedented
Rs 37 lakh cr.
• The investments are expected to have a positive impact on the Indian economy, creating more
job opportunities and encouraging economic growth.

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• The infrastructure sector received the largest share of investments, with over 5.5 lakh crore rupees
allocated to it.
Multilateral military exercise Orion begins at Mont de Marsan airbase
• The multilateral military exercise Orion has commenced at the Mont de Marsan airbase in France
on April 18, 2023.
• The exercise involves the participation of troops and aircraft from several countries, including
India, France, and the United States.
• The exercise will feature various scenarios and missions, such as air-to-air combat, air-to-ground
operations, and search and rescue missions.
J&K Agriculture Production Department to launch Kisan Sampark Abhiyan
• The Agriculture Production Department of Jammu and Kashmir is set to launch the Kisan Sampark
Abhiyan programme.
• It aims to provide comprehensive support to farmers in the region.
• 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.
Sira Panchayat secures second position in child-friendly category
• Sira Panchayat in Udhampur, J&K, has secured the second position in the child-friendly category
at the national level.
• The award was conferred under the Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar scheme.
• Sira Panchayat was recognized for its initiatives in providing education, health, sanitation, and
other facilities to children in the area and for promoting child rights and welfare.
PM Modi to inaugurate first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi
• The first-ever 3-day Global Buddhist Summit will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
in New Delhi on April 20th, 2023.
• The summit will also feature cultural programs, exhibitions, and a visit to the Buddhist sites in the
region.
• The event is being organized by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in collaboration
with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
Marketing and Logistics Development Component of PTP NER launched
• Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda launched Marketing and Logistics Development for Promotion
of Tribal Products from North-Eastern Region (PTP-NER) scheme in Manipur.
• The scheme has been introduced for the benefit of Scheduled Tribes of the North-Eastern Region.
• This component of the scheme will create market linkages, establish pottery clusters, and provide
training to artisans.
President on four day visit to Himachal Pradesh

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• President Droupadi Murmu is embarking on a four-day visit to Himachal Pradesh, on April 18,
2023.
• She is scheduled to participate in various events and activities during her visit, including the
inauguration of a new building at the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Medical College in Tanda, Kangra.
• Other activities on the President's itinerary include the unveiling of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi
in Solan.
Bihar Celebrated Thawe Mahotsav.
• Thawe Mahotsav is an annual event held in Gopalganj, Bihar.
• The event was inaugurated recently with a performance by popular singer Priyanka Singh.
• The Mahotsav is known for its cultural extravaganza, showcasing traditional music, dance, and
art forms of Bihar.
• Renowned Bollywood singer Himesh Reshammiya is scheduled to perform at the event on the
following day.
Ajmer Discom Joined the Leading Discoms of the Country.
• Ajmer Discom jumped 8 places to the 19th position in the 11th Power Utilities Integrated Rating
and Ranking released by the Department of Energy, Government of India.
• The inclusion of Ajmer DISCOM in the leading DISCOMs of India may have implications for the
power distribution.
• The Ministry of Power, Government of India, oversees the operations and management of
DISCOMs in the country.
G20 Meeting of Agriculture Chief Scientists organized in Varanasi
• The theme of the meeting is "Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems for Healthy People and
the Planet."
• This is the 100th event related to G20.
• The 'Millets And Other Ancient GRains International ReSearcH Initiative (MAHARISHI)' was
proposed for deliberations as a G20 initiative during India's presidency.
Centre's Akanshit Shahar Yojna: Boosting Urban Development in MH
• The Akanshit Shahar Yojna is a central government scheme to develop small and medium-sized
cities in India, benefiting 200 cities, including 10 in Maharashtra
• The scheme aims to provide basic amenities like water supply, sanitation, and electricity to
residents of these cities
• Maharashtra cities like Aurangabad, Nashik, Solapur, and Jalgaon are among those set to benefit
from this initiative
17 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• IIT Indore and NASA-Caltech develop low-cost camera for flame imaging
• Shaili Singh qualifies for Asian Games with 2nd longest jump in India
• World champion Francesco Bagnaia wins the Americas MotoGP
• SpaceX's Starship completes historic test flight

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• DRDO Industry Academia Centre of Excellence inaugurated

Today's History: 17 April 2023
• Dheeran Chinnamalai who was a Palayakkarar and Pattakarar and fought against the British
East India Company, was born in 1756.
• Office of Price Administration was formed which handled the rationing of essential commodities,
in 1941.
• First Lok Sabha was formed. Ananthasaynam Ayyangar, was elected as the first Deputy speaker
of Lok Sabha, 1952.
Vedanta partners with 20 Korean firms to establish a hub
• The partnership aims to boost India's electronics manufacturing industry and reduce dependence
on imports.
• The hub will be set up in Tamil Nadu and will focus on manufacturing products such as
smartphones, TVs, and other electronic devices.
• The project is expected to create job opportunities for over 8,000 people in the region.
• Korean firms will provide technical expertise and investment.
IIT Indore and NASA-Caltech develop low-cost camera for flame imaging
• The camera is designed for multispectral imaging of flames.
• It is low-cost and can be used for research and industrial applications.
• It camera was developed in collaboration with NASA-Caltech.
• It can capture images in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared regions.
• It can help in understanding the combustion process and improving fuel efficiency.
Shaili Singh qualifies for Asian Games with 2nd longest jump in India
• Shaili Singh has qualified for the Asian Games with a jump of 6.48m.
• This jump is the second longest in India's history, just behind Anju Bobby George's 6.83m.
• Singh is only 17 years old and has already made a name for herself in the world of athletics.
• She has previously won gold medals at the Asian Youth Athletics Championships and the Youth
Olympics.
5 South Asian countries to be part of MP's tourism promotion plan
• Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, and Sri Lanka will be a part of Madhya Pradesh's tourism
promotion plan.
• The initiative aims to boost tourism in the state and strengthen ties with neighboring countries.
• Representatives from each country will be invited to explore MP's tourist destinations and cultural
heritage.
• The plan includes collaborations with travel agencies, and airlines.
UAE continues to be the second important export destination for India
• The US and the UAE retained the first and second places respectively in this category during the
financial year 2022-23.

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• The Netherlands rose to third place in this category

• In India’s import graph, the UAE was in third place in March, after China and Russia.
• Saudi Arabia figured among India’s top export destinations and sources of imports
South Korea,US and Japan begin trilateral missile defence exercise
• South Korea, the US, and Japan began a trilateral missile defence exercise in the international
waters of the East Sea, on 17 Apr'23.
• It focuses on practicing procedures to detect and track a computer-simulated ballistic missile
target.
• This includes 3 Aegis-equipped destroyers, the South's ROKS Yulgok Yi I, the US' USS Benfold, and
the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's JS Atago.
G7 countries committed in ensuring carbon-free electricity production
• Group of Seven (G7) countries on April 16, 2023 committed to work towards ensuring carbon-free
electricity production by 2035
• It is a part of an agreement by the countries at the end of a two-day conference in Sapporo,
Japan, ahead of the G7 summit in Hiroshima this May 2023.
• Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav had also participated in the summit with India being
invited as a ‘guest’.
World champion Francesco Bagnaia wins the Americas MotoGP
• World champion Francesco Bagnaia breezed to a comfortable win in the Grand Prix of the
Americas MotoGP sprint on 15 April 2023.
• MotoGP introduced the Formula One-style sprint format this year, with the first two editions fast
and furious affairs.
• Missing in Austin were seven-time winner on the circuit Marc Marquez and last year's Grand Prix
of the Americas winner Enea Bastianini.
SpaceX's Starship completes historic test flight
• SpaceX did the first test flight on 17 April 2023 of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built,
designed to send astronauts to the Moon and Mars.
• Starship consists of a 164-foot (50-meter) tall spacecraft designed to carry crew and cargo that
sits atop a 230-foot tall first-stage Super Heavy booster rocket.
• Main objective is to establish bases on the Moon and Mars.
Finland's largest nuclear reactor has entered its service phase
• Finland's next-generation Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor, the largest in Europe, has gone into regular
production.
• Olkiluoto 3 has a capacity of generating 1,600 megawatts and reached full power in late
September 2022 for the first time since construction began in 2005.
• More than 50% of Finnish electricity was being produced from nuclear power, according to
transmission system operator Fingrid.

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Know about: Finland

• Finland is a Northern European nation bordering Sweden, Norway and Russia.
• The Northern Lights can be seen from the country's Arctic Lapland province.
• Finland is known as the land of a thousand lakes.
• Capital: Helsinki
• Currency: Euro
• President: Sauli Niinistö
• Prime Minister: Sanna Marin
DRDO Industry Academia Centre of Excellence inaugurated
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Industry Academia Centre of
Excellence (DIA-CoE) was inaugurated at IIT Hyderabad on 17 April 2023.
• This is the biggest such facility in the country.
• The centre will take up futuristic projects towards long-term directed research needed for DRDO.
• DIA CoE IITH is the largest centre among all 15 CoEs in the country.
Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam begins in Gujarat
• The Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam began on 17 April 2023 at Somnath in Gujarat.
• The ten-day-long cultural extravaganza was inaugurated by Union Defence Minister Rajnath
Singh.
• The programme is being organised under Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat to foster the age-old cultural
bond between Gujarat and Tamilnadu.
17 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• Rajasthan's Nandini Gupta crowned Femina Miss India 2023
• Global Conference on Compressed Biogas to commence on 17 April
• Ivan Dodig & Austin Krajicek win Monte-Carlo Masters doubles title
• World Haemophilia Day: 17 April
• First army commanders conference to begin on 17 April
Rajasthan's Nandini Gupta crowned Femina Miss India 2023
• Rajasthan's Nandini Gupta was crowned 59th Femina Miss India 2023 on 16 April 2023.
• The grand ceremony was organized at Imphal's Khuman Lampak Stadium, Manipur.
• The first runner-up was Shreya Poonja from Delhi, and the second runner-up was Thounaojam
Strela Luwang from Manipur.
• She was crowned by Karnataka's Sini Shetty, the Miss India winner of 2022.
Global Conference on Compressed Biogas to commence on 17 April
• According to the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, a two-day Global Conference on
Compressed Biogas (CBG) will be held in New Delhi from 17 April. 2023.
• The theme of the conference is "Towards Progressive Policy Framework for a Robust CBG
Foundation and Growth."

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• It aims to appraise the industry about the initiatives taken by govt for the development of
compressed biogas industry.
Ivan Dodig & Austin Krajicek win Monte-Carlo Masters doubles title
• Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek defeated Romain Arneodo and Sam Weissborn in the final to win
the doubles tennis title at the 2023 Monte Carlo Masters on 16 April 2023.
• Both have now won five tour-level titles together while Dodig has now won six ATP Masters 1000
titles.
• The Monte-Carlo Masters is an annual tennis tournament for male professional players held in
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France.
Save The Elephant Day: 16 April
• Save the Elephant Day is observed every year on 16 April and the day aims to promote awareness
of the issues faced by elephants and inspire efforts to protect these majestic animals.
• In 1992, India launched Project Elephant with the goal of protecting elephants and their habitat.
World Haemophilia Day: 17 April
• World Haemophilia Day is observed on 17 April every year to increase awareness about
hemophilia disease and other inherited bleeding disorders.
• In 1989, World Haemophilia Day was started by the World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH) in
honor of WFH founder Frank Schnabel's birthday.
• The theme for the Day 2023 is “Access for All: Prevention of Bleeds as the Global Standard of
Care.”
Haemophilia Disease
• It is a genetic disorder that impairs the ability of the body to clot the blood.
• It is caused due to genetic mutation which involves the mutation of genes that are essential for
the clotting of blood involving 13 different proteins.
• They are termed as factors from I to XIII.
• Haemophilia A is caused due to deficiency of factor VIII and Haemophilia B is caused due to
deficiency of factor IX.
First army commanders conference to begin on 17 April
• The first Army Commanders’ Conference (ACC) will be held from 17-21 April 2023 in Hybrid format.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address the conference on April 19.
• The Forum will review the progress on the Agneepath plan, digitization and automation initiatives,
Combat Engineers tasks and budget management as well as activities drawn up as part of the
'Year of Transformation-2023'.
Bangladesh's capital Dhaka recorded the highest temperature in 58 yrs
• Bangladesh's capital city Dhaka had its hottest day on 15 April 2023 in 58 years with the
temperature rising to 40.4 degrees Celsius.
• Earlier in 1965, the maximum temperature in Dhaka stood at 42 degrees Celsius.

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• Bangladesh experienced its highest temperature of 44.5 degrees at Jashore in 1964.

• The mid-western city of Chuadanga recorded a maximum temperature of 42.2 degrees on 15th
April.
India, Peru hold 2nd Joint Commission Meeting in New Delhi on 15 April
• The 2nd India-Peru Joint Commission Meeting was held in New Delhi on 15 April 2023.
• The meeting was co-chaired by Saurabh Kumar, Secretary, and Ignacio Higueras, Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Peru.
• The two sides agreed to exchange visits and hold a series of business, and other bilateral events
as part of celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Map in News: Peru
• It is a country in South America.
• It is a home Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city located in the Andes mountains.
• Inca Empire was the largest known state in the pre-Columbian Americas.
• It is the third largest country in South America.
• Peru completed its independence from Spain in 1824.
• Capital: Lima
• Currency: Sol
• President: Dina Boluarte
• Prime Minister: Alberto Otárola
2nd G20 Health Working Group Meeting to commence in Goa from 17 April
• The 2nd Health Working Group meeting under G20 India Presidency will be held from 17-19 April
2023 in Goa.
• More than 180 delegates from 19 G20 member countries, 10 invited states, and 22 International
Organizations will be participating.
• The Health Track of the G20 India Presidency will comprise four Health Working Group (HWG)
Meetings and one Health Ministerial Meeting (HMM).
Know About: Goa
• It is a state on the southwestern coast of India.
• It is situated within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by
the Western Ghats.
• It is India's smallest state by area and fourth-smallest by population.
• Formation (as a state): 30 May 1987
• Admission to Union: 19 December 1961
• Capital: Panaji
• Governor: P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
• Chief Minister: Pramod Sawant
CII organizes Digital Health Summit 2023 with Ministry of Health

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• Confederate of Indian Industry (CII) co-organizes Digital Health Summit 2023 with the Union
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in Panaji, Goa on 16 April 2023.
• It aims to create and curate Digital Public Goods and promote interoperability, data privacy, and
data security standards.
• The theme of the event was “Building One Health Together – Improving Health Equity.
Appasaheb Dharmadhikari awarded "Maharashtra Bhushan" award for 2022
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the "Maharashtra Bhushan" award for the year 2022
to Dr. Appasaheb Dharmadhikari at Raigarh, Maharashtra on 16th April 2023.
• Appasaheb Dharmadhikari is a famous social reformer.
• He established the Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Foundation, Revdanda to expand the scope of
social work.
• In view of his work, he was also honored with Padma Shri in 2017.
Meghalaya to host G20 Space Economy Leaders Meet from 17 April
• Meghalaya is going to host the Space Economy Leaders' Meet (SELM) of the G20 Summit in
Shillong on April 17-18, 2023.
• G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant, Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh, and Chief Minister, Conrad
K. Sangma will be attending the inaugural function.
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) of the Department of Space is organizing the event.
Montana becomes first state to pass bill banning TikTok
• Montana becomes the first US state to pass legislation banning TikTok on personal devices.
• TikTok has been accused of posing a national security risk through data gathered from users.
• The bill, known as SB 419, passed by a vote of 54 to 43.
• It cites a number of concerns about TikTok, including surveillance from the Chinese government
and inciting dangerous activities among young users.
Germany begins powering down its last three nuclear plants
• Germany on 16 April 2023 began processes to shut down its remaining three nuclear plants as
part of its long-term plan for transitioning towards renewable energy.
• Germany until March 2011 obtained one-quarter of its electricity from nuclear energy, using 17
reactors.
• Angela Merkel’s government decided to phase out atomic power after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear
disaster in Japan.
Weekly Notes (10 April - 15 April): International Affairs
• ESA successfully launches its mission to Jupiter's moon
• Qatar and Bahrain announce to resume their diplomatic ties
• Ghana: First country to approve Oxford's malaria vaccine for children
• The second quadrilateral meet on Afghanistan held in Samarkand
• Japan awards Mitsubishi Heavy Industries contracts worth $2.84 bn
• Germany to switch off last remaining nuclear plants

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Weekly Notes (10 April -15 April): National Affairs

• 2nd Meeting of G20 Finance Ministers (FMCBG) held in Washington D.C.
• Bharat Gaurav train on Ambedkar circuit flagged off from Delhi
• Ashok Leyland launches e-marketplace for used commercial vehicles
• Doordarshan to showcase ‘DHAROHAR BHARAT KI - Punruthaan ki Kahaani’
• Atal Tinkering Labs to be connected with KVKs, ATMAs
• Union Minister Parshottam Rupala to launch APPI
Weekly Notes (10 April -15 April): Sports
• Govt to spend Rs 3200 crore on sports facilities under Khelo India
• Aman Sehrawat clinches India’s first gold medal in wrestling
• Ravindra Jadeja completes 200 wickets in T20 cricket
• Kagiso Rabada becomes the fastest player to take 100 wickets in IPL
• Buttler becomes third fastest to reach 3000 IPL runs
• Indian Women wrestlers bag seven medals in Asian Wrestling C'ship
Weekly Notes (10 April -15 April): States Affairs
• Manipur's Meitei community celebrated Cheiraoba- lunar new year
• MP govt includes 'Panchatirth' related to Dr Ambedkar's life in MMTY
• Telangana CM KCR unveils 125-ft-tall Ambedkar statue in Hyderabad
• NIMHANS and Ashraya Hastha Trust signs MoU
• PM Modi inaugurates AIIMS Guwahati in Assam
• Uttarakhand CM launches ‘A-HELP’ programme for animal protection
Weekly Notes (10 April -15 April): Days & Events
• World Art Day: 15 April
• Ambedkar Jayanti: 14 April 2023
• Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: 13 April
• World Parkinson's Day: 11 April
• Mahatma Jyotiba Phule birth anniversary: 11 April
• World Homoeopathy Day: 10 April
15 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• Jagan Mohan Reddy wealthiest CM: ADR Report
• PM Modi inaugurates various projects in Assam
• ESA successfully launches its mission to Jupiter's moon
• MoS External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi to visit Croatia and Slovenia
• Himachal Pradesh Statehood Day: 15 April 2023
Today's History: 15 April 2023
• British troops kill 400 Indians, who were demonstrating against the British rule at Amritsar for the
forced marshall law on Punjab, in 1919.

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• George VI awards the George Cross to the people of Malta, in 1942.

• Indian territory of Himachal Pradesh was created by the merger of some 30 small ruling states, in
1948.
World Art Day: 15 April
• World Art Day is celebrated every year on April 15, to promote the development, diffusion, and
enjoyment of art.
• The International Association of Art, a partner of UNESCO, created the day to promote creative
activity around the world.
• In honor of Leonardo Da Vinci's birthday, the particular date has been celebrated since 2012.
World Voice Day: 16 April
• World Voice Day (WVD) is a worldwide annual event that takes place on April 16 devoted to the
celebration of the phenomenon of voice.
• The aim is to demonstrate the enormous importance of the voice in the daily lives of all people.
• This celebration started in Brazil in 1999 as the Brazilian National Voice Day.
Jagan Mohan Reddy wealthiest CM: ADR Report
• 29 of the 30 incumbent chief ministers have wealth worth crores with Andhra Pradesh’s Jagan
Mohan Reddy having the highest assets totalling Rs 510 crore.
• The data was obtained from poll affidavits analysed by the Association for Democratic Reforms
(ADR).
• West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has the lowest total assets of about Rs 15 lakh.
PM Modi inaugurates various projects in Assam
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation various
projects worth more than Rs.10,900 crores at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati, Assam on 15 April
2023.
• The projects include laying the foundation stone of a bridge connecting Palashbari and Sualkuchi
on the Brahmaputra river, a project for the beautification of Rang Ghar in Sivasagar, etc.
ESA successfully launches its mission to Jupiter's moon
• The European Space Agency has successfully launched its mission to Jupiter's moons, in April
2023.
• The Ariane 5 rocket was launched from the ESA's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana as
scheduled.
• The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) project aims to send a satellite on an eight-year journey
to reach the icy moons of the gas giant.
MoS External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi to visit Croatia and Slovenia
• Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi will be on a four day visit to Croatia and
Slovenia from 16 April 2023.

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• In Croatia, she will hold discussions with State Secretary for Political Affairs, Ministry of Foreign
and European Affairs.
• In Slovenia, she will meet the Deputy Foreign Minister, and call on the Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs.
Know About: Croatia
• Croatia is a country at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe.
• Its coast lies entirely on the Adriatic Sea.
• It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Montenegro to the southeast, and shares a maritime border with Italy to the
west and southwest.
• Its capital and largest city is Zagreb.
Himachal Pradesh Statehood Day: 15 April 2023
• Himachal Pradesh Statehood Day is observed on 15 April every year.
• It obtained statehood in the year 1971, although the province was created in the year 1948.
• The day is marked with a grand parade in the capital city of Shimla.
• Himachal became part C state on the 26th of January 1950 and became a union territory on the
1st of November 1956.
India's forex reserves rise $6.30 bn to $584.75 bn
• India's forex reserves increased by $6.306 billion to $584.755 billion for the week ended April 7,
2023.
• In the previous reporting week, the forex kitty snapped a two-week rising trend to decline by $329
million to $578.45 billion.
• In October 2021, the country's forex kitty reached an all-time high of $645 billion.
• Gold reserves rose by $1.496 billion to $46.696 billion.
15 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• 2nd Meeting of G20 Finance Ministers (FMCBG) held in Washington D.C.
• 12th session of India-Spain Economic Cooperation meet held in Delhi
• SJVN gets nod to develop 669 MW Lower Arun hydropower project in Nepal
• NHAI enables FASTag based payments at Forest Entry Points
• Qatar and Bahrain announce to resume their diplomatic ties
2nd Meeting of G20 Finance Ministers (FMCBG) held in Washington D.C.
• The 2nd meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) under the Indian
G20 Presidency was held on 12-13 April 2023 in Washington, DC.
• Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Governor, of Reserve Bank of India (RBI),
Shaktikanta Das jointly chaired the meeting.
• Around 350 delegates from G20 members and regional organizations participated in the meeting.
12th session of India-Spain Economic Cooperation meet held in Delhi

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• The 12th Session of India-Spain Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) held in New
Delhi on 13th April 2023.
• India's Commerce Secretary, Sunil Barthwal, and Xiana Mendez, Secretary of State for Trade,
Government of Spain co-chaired the meeting.
• Both sides celebrated the Golden Jubilee edition of India-Spain Joint Commission mechanism
which was established in 1972.
G20 MACS Meeting of agri chief scientists to be held in Varanasi
• The 12th Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) in G20 is scheduled to be held on April
17-19, 2023 in Varanasi.
• The theme of the 12th MACS conference is “sustainable agriculture and food systems for healthy
people and the planet”.
• The MAHARISHI (millets and other ancient grains international research) Initiative will also be
discussed in the meeting.
SJVN gets nod to develop 669 MW Lower Arun hydropower project in Nepal
• The Investment Board of Nepal has approved the investment proposal from India's Satluj Jal
Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) to build a 669 Mega Watt Lower Arun Hydro project in Nepal.
• The investment proposal from SJVN worth 92.68 billion Nepali Rupees was given approval in the
53rd meeting of the Investment Board chaired by Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on
14 April 2023.
NHAI enables FASTag based payments at Forest Entry Points
• National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), on 14 April 2023, signed an MoU with the
Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, to facilitate a seamless entry process for vehicles
entering into the forest area.
• The FASTag system uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to facilitate automatic
toll payments at toll plazas, and FASTag affixation on vehicles is mandatory in India.
Know About: NHAI
• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is an autonomous agency under the Government
of India.
• It was created through the promulgation of the National Highways Authority of India Act, of 1988.
• On 10 February 1995, NHAI came into operation and was formally made an autonomous body.
• Founded: 1988
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Chairperson: Santosh Kumar Yadav
Bharat Gaurav train on Ambedkar circuit flagged off from Delhi
• A special tourist train was on 14 April 2023 flagged off from New Delhi marking Dr. BR
Amebedkar's 132nd birth anniversary.
• The Bharat Gaurav tourist train tour on Ambedkar Circuit was flagged off by Union Minister of
Tourism G Kishan Reddy from the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station.

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• The special train will take passengers to cities associated with Dr. BR Ambedkar across the
country.
Qatar and Bahrain announce to resume their diplomatic ties
• Qatar and Bahrain, on 14 April 2023, announced that they will resume their diplomatic ties after
over two years.
• In January 2021, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt ended a three and
half year embargo on Qatar except Bahrain.
• The decision to resume diplomatic relations was made during the second meeting of the Bahraini-
Qatari Follow-up Committee in Saudi Arabia.
Qatar
• Qatar is a peninsular Arab country.
• The Gulf of Bahrain separates Qatar from Bahrain.
• In terms of income, the country has the fourth-highest GDP (PPP) per capita in the world.
• Capital: Doha
• Currency: Qatari Riyal
• Population: 26.9 lakhs
• Official language: Arabic
• Emir: Tamim bin Hamad
• Prime Minister: Mohammed bin Jassim Al Thani
• Independence: 3 September 1971
Govt to spend Rs 3200 crore on sports facilities under Khelo India
• Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Singh Thakur, on 14 April 2023, announced that
govt will spend 3,200 crore rupees on sports facilities in 5 years under the Khelo India campaign.
• He also inaugurated sports facilities eg. new badminton courts, lighting systems, and Judo mats
at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence in Hamirpur, Himachal
Pradesh.
Khelo India Programme
• It is a national scheme for the development of sports in India.
• It was launched in 2018 by the then Sports Minister Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore in Delhi.
• It was formed by merging 3 schemes ie. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA), Urban Sports
Infrastructure Scheme (USIS), and National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS).
• The age range for eligibility to apply for this program is 10 to 18.
Manipur's Meitei community celebrated Cheiraoba- lunar new year
• Sajibu Nongma Panba also called Meitei Cheiraoba is the lunar new year festival of the Meitei
community was celebrated across Manipur on 14 April 2023.
• On this day, the Meitei clean their houses and traditional cuisines are prepared and shared with
the neighbours.

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• The festival started during the reign of King Maliya Fambalcha (1359 BC-1329 BC) also known as
Koi-Koi.
MP govt includes 'Panchatirth' related to Dr Ambedkar's life in MMTY
• On the birth anniversary of Dr. BR Ambedkar, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan
announced that ‘Panch Teerth’ related to Dr Ambedkar’s life will be covered under Mukya Mantri
Tirth Yojana (MMTY).
• The birthplace of Ambedkar (Mhow), his education land Nagpur, his death land New Delhi and
Chaitanya Bhumi Mumbai, and Sant Ravidas Temple Varanasi will be covered under CM Tirth
Darshan Scheme.
Telangana CM KCR unveils 125-ft-tall Ambedkar statue in Hyderabad
• Telangana CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao on 14 April 2023, unveiled a 125-foot tall bronze statue of
Dr. B R Ambedkar at the Hussain Sagar Lake, Hyderabad.
• It is India's tallest statue of BR Ambedkar.
• Telangana govt also instituted an Award in the name of Dr. B R Ambedkar.
• The award will be given every year on the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar to anyone who
contributes to Dalit Welfare.
DR Congo to audit and review 'unfair' Chinese mining contracts
• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced to audit the country’s mining contracts
with China.
• In February 2023, the DRC called for an overhaul of a $6.2 billion mining deal with China.
• At 3.5 million metric tons, DRC has 70% of the world’s cobalt reserves, according to the UN.
• Around 80% of the cobalt it produces goes to China.
• DRC is also Africa’s largest copper producer.
13 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• India, Japan, and France announce common platform for Sri Lanka
• EAM Dr S Jaishankar inaugurates Buzi Bridge in Mozambique
• Aman Sehrawat clinches India’s first gold medal in wrestling
• India signs MoU with World Food Programme
• Army, IAF conduct multi-mode insertion on eastern sector
Today's History: 14 April 2023
• Guru Arjun Dev, Sikh Guru, was born in 1563.
• Law about Atomic Energy was implemented in India in 1948.
• Three integrated Railway Zones, Northern, North Eastern and Eastern were inaugurated in 1952.
• Sanjiva Reddy,President, flagged off the first electric train in Madras, in 1979.
• The Cabinet Committee approved delicensing of car, refrigerator and leather goods industries, in
1993.
Net Direct tax collection increases by 172.83% in the last nine years

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• Direct Tax collections have witnessed quantum jump in the last nine years.
• In these years, the gross tax collections have increased by 172.83 percent.
• According to the provisional data released by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, more than
19,68,000 crore rupees gross direct tax were collected in the last fiscal which was 7,21,000 crore
rupees in the financial year 2013-14.
India, Japan, and France announce common platform for Sri Lanka
• India, Japan, and France have announced a common platform for Sri Lanka creditors to help the
country address its debt crisis.
• Sri Lanka has been facing a debt crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Sri Lanka owes 7.1 billion dollar to bilateral creditors, with 3 billion dollar owed to China, followed
by 2.4 billion dollar to the Paris Club and 1.6 billion dollar to India.
EAM Dr S Jaishankar inaugurates Buzi Bridge in Mozambique
• India's External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, inaugurated the Buzi Bridge in Mozambique,
which has been built by India in April 2023.
• The Buzi Bridge is a 700-m-long suspension bridge that spans the Buzi River and 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.
Aman Sehrawat clinches India’s first gold medal in wrestling
• Aman Sehrawat clinched India’s first gold medal at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2023 in
Astana, Kazakhstan.
• Sehrawat topped the podium in men’s 57 kg freestyle category on the penultimate day of the
competition.
• He defeated Kyrgyzstan's Almaz Smanbekov 9-4 to win the gold medal.
• in 2023, he was the first Indian wrestler to win gold at the Under-23 world championships in Spain.
Ravindra Jadeja completes 200 wickets in T20 cricket
• Chennai Super Kings (CSK)'s Ravindra Jadeja completed 200 wickets in T20 cricket in April 2023.
• He accomplished this feat during Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Rajasthan Royals.
• In 296 T20s, Jadeja has 200 wickets at an average of 30.25 and an economy rate of 7.54.
• His best bowling figures in the format are 5/16.
India signs MoU with World Food Programme
• India has signed an MoU with the World Food Programme (WFP) to send 10,000 MT of wheat to
Afghanistan.
• It will be sent as part of India's humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
• The MoU was signed between India's Ministry of External Affairs and the WFP.
• India has committed to sending 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan under the WFP's
Emergency Operation in the country.

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Army, IAF conduct multi-mode insertion on eastern sector

• In the first week of April 2023, the Army and the Indian Air Force jointly conducted a multi-domain
exercise in the eastern sector.
• It was held to validate joint plans for strategic airlift of specialised forces employing IAF aircraft
and helicopters by landing and dropping in designated areas for undertaking kinetic actions to
provide surge to ongoing operations by regular land forces.
Ashok Leyland launches e-marketplace for used commercial vehicles
• Ashok Leyland, one of India's leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has launched an e-
marketplace for used commercial vehicles.
• It will aid in liquidating old vehicles for better resale value and upgrade to brand new ALL trucks
and buses with ease and transparency.
• It will offer customers a range of features to easily find vehicles of their choice such as verified
vehicle images, etc.
Kagiso Rabada becomes the fastest player to take 100 wickets in IPL
• Kagiso Rabada of Punjab Kings picked his 100th IPL wicket against Gujarat Titans at the IS Bindra
Stadium on 13 April 2023.
• He became the fastest bowler to reach the mark in terms of matches played.
• He achieved the feat in just 64th IPL matches, breaking the previous record set by Lasith Malinga
who picked his 100th wicket in his 70th match.
Ghana: First country to approve Oxford's malaria vaccine for children
• Ghana has approved the use of Oxford's malaria vaccine for children, making it the first country
in the world to do so.
• The vaccine is expected to reduce cases of severe malaria in children by up to 30%.
• Malaria is a major public health problem in Ghana, with an estimated 10 mn cases reported each
year.
• This is the first time a major vaccine has been approved first in an African country.
Know About: Ghana
• Ghana is a country in West Africa.
• It covers an area of 238,535 km2 (92,099 sq mi), spanning biomes that range from coastal
savannas to tropical rainforests.
• With over 32 million inhabitants, Ghana is the second-most populous country in West Africa, after
Nigeria.
• Accra is its capital.
NIMHANS and Ashraya Hastha Trust signs MoU
• The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences and Ashraya Hastha Trust have signed
an MoU in Bengaluru.

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• It has been signed to implement a model comprehensive rural mental health programme in two
taluks of India.
• The pilot project will be implemented in Munisiyari taluk of Pithorgarh district of Uttarakhand and
in Belur taluk of Hassan district in Karnataka.
PM Modi inaugurates AIIMS Guwahati in Assam
• PM Modi on 14 April 2023 dedicated AIIMS Guwahati to the nation in a function held at Changsari
in Assam.
• He also inaugurated three medical colleges at Nalbari, Nagaon and Kokrajhar.
• He laid foundation stone of Assam Advanced Healthcare Innovation Institute at IIT Guwahati
from the same event.
• He ceremonially distributed Ayushman Bharat - PMJAY card to 1.1 cr beneficiaries of Assam.
13 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• HDFC Bank partners with Export-Import Bank of Korea for a $300m credit
• Ambedkar Jayanti: 14 April 2023
• A book titled "Courting India" by Nandini Das released on 13 April
• LIC appoints Ratnakar Patnaik as Chief Investment Officer
• Shah Rukh Khan, SS Rajamouli feature in Time's 100 Influential People
Shah Rukh Khan, SS Rajamouli feature in Time's 100 Influential People
• Shah Rukh Khan and SS Rajamouli have been included in TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential
People of 2023 list.
• While Shah Rukh has been featured in the 'Icons' list, Rajamouli has been included in the list of
'Pioneers'.
• The list also includes US President Joe Biden, King Charles, Bella Hadid, Sara Mardini and Yusra
Mardini, billionaire CEO Elon Musk, and popular singer Beyonce.
HDFC Bank partners with Export-Import Bank of Korea for a $300m credit
• HDFC Bank, on 13 April, signed an agreement with the Export Import Bank of Korea for a $300
million line of credit to raise foreign currency funds to support Korea-related businesses.
• The credit line will be utilized by HDFC Bank for the funding requirements of companies with
equity participation by Korean companies having business relationships with Korean companies.
Bangladesh issues 5-point guideline for limited import of Indian Films
• The Bangladesh govt issued a 5-point guideline for the import of films made in the languages of
‘the Indian subcontinent’ on a limited scale.
• The guideline for the import of films from the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) countries was
issued under its import policy rules of 2022-24.
• The film producers may import 10 films based on the export of 10 films from Bangladesh in the
first year.
Map in News: Bangladesh

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• It is a country in South Asia.

• It is the eighth-most-populous country in the world.
• It became the first constitutionally secular state in South Asia in 1972.
• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
• Capital: Dhaka
• Currency: Bangladeshi Taka
• Population: 16.94 crores
• Official languages: Bengali
• President: Mohammad Abdul Hamid
• Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
The second quadrilateral meet on Afghanistan held in Samarkand
• The second quadrilateral meeting of Iran, Russia, China and Pakistan on Afghanistan was held on
13 April 2023 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
• The first quadrilateral meeting was held in September 2022, on the sidelines of the Shanghai
Summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
• The fourth meeting of Afghanistan's neighboring countries was also held in Samarkand.
A book titled "Courting India" by Nandini Das released on 13 April
• A book titled "Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origin of Empire" is authored by
Nandini Das, and released in April 2023.
• The book highlights the challenges faced by English merchants in finding new markets after their
ex-communication by Pope Pius V in 1570.
• The book also focuses on Thomas Roe's 4-year mission as the ambassador to the court of emperor
Jahangir in India in 1615.
Baisakhi and Bohag Bihu: 14 April
• Baisakhi is a harvest festival, celebrated in Punjab and Haryana region.
• It also commemorates the formation of the Khalsa panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in
1699.
• The Bohag Bihu is a harvest festival of Assam.
• Some of the harvest or new year festivals include Pohela Boishakh in West Bengal, Pana Sankranti
in Odisha, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, and Vishu in Kerala.
LIC appoints Ratnakar Patnaik as Chief Investment Officer
• Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) on 12 April 2023 appointed PC Paikray as Chief Risk
Officer and Ratnakar Patnaik as Chief Investment Officer.
• Ratnakar Patnaik will replace P R Mishra while PC Paikray will replace Tablesh Pandey who has
taken charge as Managing Director (MD) of the LIC from 1 April 2023.
• LIC was established on 1 September 1956.
Know About: Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)
• It is an Indian public sector life insurance company under the ownership of Government of India.

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• It is India's largest insurance company as well as the largest institutional investor.

• It was established on 1 Sept 1956, when the Parliament of India passed the Life Insurance of India
Act, 1956.
• The main slogan of LIC is “Your welfare is our responsibility”.
• Chairperson: Siddharth Mohanty
Tourism Ministry organising SCO Millets Food Festival
• Ministry of Tourism will organise the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Millets Food
Festival from 13-19 April 2023 in Mumbai.
• The festival will feature a selection of organic meals made with millets that have been hand-
selected by our SCO Member Chefs.
• The festival will be open to public for lunch and dinner at Shamiana Restaurant, Taj Mahal palace
Hotel, Mumbai.
Nitin Gadkari addresses 11th International Conference on Ports
• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the 11th Biennial
International Conference on Ports, Shipping and Logistics in Mumbai on 13 March 2023.
• The conference aims to discuss the role of logistics network in making India a global trade
powerhouse by 2047.
• The theme of the conference for 2023 is "Envisioning Future of Logistics @2047".
Ambedkar Jayanti: 14 April 2023
• Ambedkar Jayanti is observed on 14 April every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of
Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.
• He was born on 14 April 1891.
• He headed the committee drafting the Constitution of India.
• He served as Law and Justice minister in the first cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru.
• In 1990, the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, was posthumously conferred on BR
Ambedkar.
Doordarshan to showcase ‘DHAROHAR BHARAT KI - Punruthaan ki Kahaani’
• Doordarshan will broadcast a documentary named ‘DHAROHAR BHARAT KI – Punruthaan ki
Kahaani' showcasing the achievements of the government in the last few years.
• The series traces PM Modi’s vision and its execution to build new national iconic sites.
• It will also narrate the revival of the Indian spirit of cultural unity and pride.
• It will be anchored by digital media presenter Kamiya Jani.
Atal Tinkering Labs to be connected with KVKs, ATMAs
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
have agreed to connect Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) and
Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA).
• During the first phase, one KVK under each of the 11 Agricultural Technology Application Research
Institutes (ATARIs) will be involved in skill-building exercises.

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Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)

• It is a flagship program launched by the government of India in 2016 to provide a platform for
new entrepreneurs .
• The aim of the Atal Innovation Mission is to develop new programs that help to increase the
economic growth of the country.
• Initiatives under AIM are Atal New India Challenge, Atal Incubation Center, Atal Tinkering Lab,
Mentor India, and Atal New India Challenge.
Uttarakhand CM launches ‘A-HELP’ programme for animal protection
• Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, on 13 April 2023, launched the ‘A-HELP’
(Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) program.
• Under the program, trained A-HELPs will give their vital contribution to preventing various
infectious diseases of animals, artificial insemination under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, tagging
animals, and animal insurance.
Know About: Uttarakhand
• It is a state in northern India, known for its Hindu pilgrimage sites.
• It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north, Nepal to the east, Uttar Pradesh
to the south and Himachal Pradesh to the west.
• Founded: 9 November 2000
• Capital: Dehradun
• Chief minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami
• Governor: Gurmit Singh
• Literacy (2011) Increase: 87.60%
• Sex ratio (2011): 963/1000
13 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• Buttler becomes third fastest to reach 3000 IPL runs
• Indian Women wrestlers bag seven medals in Asian Wrestling C'ship
• India retains top status in International Flight Safety Standards
• Dhoni felicitated on his 200th IPL match as CSK captain
• Industrial output of the country rises 5.6 percent in February 2023
Today's History: 13 April 2023
• Warren Hastings, who became the president of their Bengal Council, was appointed in the court
of Directors of the East India Company, in 1772.
• Diplomatic relations between India and Russia were established in 1947.
• Bhubhaneshwar became the capital of Orissa in 1948.
• India beat Pak by 58 runs to win the first Cricket Asia Cup in Sharjah, in 1984.
India's exports up 6% to $447 billion in FY23, imports climb 16.5%
• India's imports in FY23 rose 16.5 per cent to $714 billion as against $613 billion in FY22.

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• Exports saw a rise of 6% to $447 billion in FY23, up from $442 billion in FY22.
• India's services exports too have increased by 27.16 per cent to USD 323 billion in 2022-23 as
compared to USD 254 billion in 2021-22.
• This was informed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on 13 April 2023.
Buttler becomes third fastest to reach 3000 IPL runs
• Jos Buttler became the third fastest to score 3000 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) against
Chennai Super Kings at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on 12 April 2023.
• He reached the milestone in his 85th innings.
• Chris Gayle, who is the fastest batter to notch up 3000 runs in the tournament, did so in 75 innings.
• KL Rahul, second on the list, took 80 innings to reach the mark.
Fasal ties up with SBI to help farmers get easy access to loans
• Agri-tech company Fasal has announced its partnership with State Bank of India (SBI).
• It is aimed to provide farmers with easy access to capital.
• The partnership will help solve cash-flow constraints during key cycles in farming by providing
quick, easy, and collateral-free loans at very competitive rates.
MRF emerges as ‘second strongest tyre brand in the world’
• MRF Ltd. has emerged as the second-strongest tyre brand in the world, according to the latest
report by the U.K.-based Brand Finance, a leading brand valuation consultancy.
• MRF scored high in almost all parameters and is also featured as the second fastest-growing tyre
brand in the world.
• It scored 83.2 out of 100 in brand strength and was awarded a AAA- brand rating.
Industrial output of the country rises 5.6 percent in February 2023
• The industrial output of the country in February 2023 rose 5.6 percent, on a year-on-year basis.
• As per the data from the Ministry of Statistics, the index of industrial production (IIP) expanded as
the manufacturing sector's output increased by 5.3% in February, and mining output rose by
4.6%.
• For January 2023, IIP growth was revised to 5.5% from 5.2%.
• IIP grew 1.2% in February 2022.
Know About: Index of industrial production
• The Index of Industrial Production is an index for India which details out the growth of various
sectors in an economy such as mineral mining, electricity and manufacturing.
• It is compiled and published monthly by the Central Statistical Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics
and Programme Implementation, six weeks after the reference month ends.
Indian Women wrestlers bag seven medals in Asian Wrestling C'ship
• Indian women wrestlers have bagged seven medals - two silver and five bronze - in Asian
Wrestling Championships at Astana in Kazakhstan and finished 3rd in the Women's Teams
Ranking.

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• In the last edition, India won 5 medals and settled at the 4th spot.
• Antim Panghal won silver in the 53-kg category.
• Anshu Malik, Sonam Malik, Manisha, and Reetika bagged bronze medals.
NMCG signs agreement with 49 Universities
• National Mission for Clean Ganga has signed an agreement with 49 Universities to inspire youth
towards water conservation and river rejuvenation.
• It was signed during the ‘Namami Gange: Universities Connect’ event.
• The theme of the event was ‘Igniting Young Minds, Rejuvenating Rivers’.
• Namami Gange has been recognised by the United Nations as one of the top ten World
Restoration Flagships.
India retains top status in International Flight Safety Standards
• India’s International Aviation Safety Assessment rating will continue to remain in Category One.
• India received category one status after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United
States conducted an audit of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
• FAA determines whether a country complies with safety standards.
Union Minister Parshottam Rupala to launch APPI
• Union Minister Parshottam Rupala will launch the 'Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative
(APPI)' as well as the World Bank-funded 'Animal Health System Support for One Health
(AHSSOH)' project in New Delhi on 14 April 2023.
• Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has inked a collaborative project on the Animal
Health System Support for One Health with the World Bank.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal arrives in Rome on 2-day visit to Italy
• Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal arrived in Rome on 12 April 2023 on a two-
day visit to Italy.
• He met the Deputy Prime Minister of Italy, Antonio Tajani and both leaders reviewed the entire
gamut of bilateral trade and economic relations.
• They also agreed to the convening of the next session of the Joint Commission on Economic
Cooperation (JCEC) in Rome in September 2023.
Know About: Italy
• Italy is a country in Southern and Western Europe.
• Located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, it consists of a peninsula delimited by the Alps
and surrounded by several islands.
• It is the third-most populous member state of the European Union, the 6th-most populous country
in Europe, and the 10th-largest country in the continent by land area.
• Italy's capital and largest city is Rome.
Dhoni felicitated on his 200th IPL match as CSK captain

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• MS Dhoni was on 12 April 2023 felicitated for completing 200 matches as Chennai Super Kings
captain in the Indian Premier League.
• He received a special memento from former BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) president
N Srinivasan.
• He led the franchise for 11 consecutive seasons between 2008 & 2021, before handing the baton
to Ravindra Jadeja but took back captaincy after some time.
Kolkata Metro carries out historic successful test run
• Kolkata Metro Railway carried out historic successful test run of two six-coach metro trains under
Hooghly river's underwater tunnel, which is the country's first-ever underwater Metro, in April 2023.
• They underwent a trial run on the 4.8-km stretch between Esplanade and Howrah Maidan.
• Once this stretch is open then Howrah will be the deepest Metro station (33 m below surface) in
India.
13 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• Shakib al Hasan wins ICC Player of the Month award for March 2023
• RBI approves appointment of Sanjay Agarwal as MD & CEO of AUSF Bank
• India ranks 5th in countries with most AI investment
• India, Estonia hold 12th Foreign Office Consultations
• K Krithivasan to take over from Gopinathan as TCS CEO from June 1
Shakib al Hasan wins ICC Player of the Month award for March 2023
• Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and Rwandan female cricketer Henriette Ishimwe
clinched the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month awards for March 2023.
• Shakib Al Hasan became the first Bangladesh player to win the award twice.
• In the 12 matches played in March, Shakib scored 353 runs and scalped 15 wickets.
• He won his first Player of the Month award in July 2021.
RBI approves appointment of Sanjay Agarwal as MD & CEO of AUSF Bank
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 12 April 2023 approved the reappointment of Sanjay Agarwal
as Managing Director & CEO and Uttam Tibrewal as Whole Time Director of AU Small Finance
Bank (SFB) for a period of three years.
• AU Small Finance Bank Limited is an Indian Small finance bank, based in Jaipur, India.
• It was founded as vehicle finance company AU Financiers (India) Ltd.
India ranks 5th in countries with most AI investment
• According to Stanford University’s annual AI Index report 2023, India ranked fifth in terms of
investments received by startups offering artificial intelligence (AI)-based products.
• Total investments in AI startups in India stood at $3.24 billion in 2022, placing it ahead of South
Korea, Germany, Canada and Australia.
• Those ahead of India in the list are the US, China, the UK and Israel.
India, Estonia hold 12th Foreign Office Consultations

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• India and Estonia, on 12 April 2023 held discussions on bilateral, and multilateral issues during the
12th Foreign Office Consultations.
• In September 2022, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met his counterpart Urmas Reinsalu during the
77th UN General Assembly session.
• India opened its Embassy in Estonia in December 2021 and Ajaneesh Kumar was appointed the
first Ambassador to Estonia.
Estonia
• It is a country in Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland.
• The capital city Tallinn and Tartu are the two largest urban areas of the country.
• The Estonian language is the official language of the country as well as the world's second-most-
spoken Finnic language.
• Capital: Tallinn
• Prime Minister: Kaja Kallas
• Population: 13.3 lakhs
• President: Alar Karis
UAE's Rashid Rover to land on Moon on April 25
• United Arab Emirates (UAE), on 12 April 2023, announced that Rashid Rover, onboard the
HAKUTO-R Mission 1 Lunar Lander, is scheduled to land on the Moon on 25th April 2023.
• The Rashid Rover is orbiting the Moon at about 100 km at the perilune and about 2,300 km at the
apolune.
• The point closest to the moon's center is called perilune, and the farthest is known as apolune.
K Krithivasan to take over from Gopinathan as TCS CEO from June 1
• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on 12 April 2023 announced that K Krithivasan would take over
as the new chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director (MD) from June 1, 2023.
• He has been a TCS employee for 34 years.
• Krithivasan the global head of the company’s BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance)
business group, will replace Rajesh Gopinathan.
Know About: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
• It is an Indian multinational information technology services and consulting company.
• It is a part of the Tata Group and operates in 150 locations across 46 countries.
• In July 2022, it was reported that TCS had over 600,000 employees worldwide.
• CEO: Rajesh Gopinathan
• Founded: 1 April 1968
• Founders: Faquir Chand Kohli, J. R. D. Tata
• Headquarters: Mumbai
India ranks 77th at World's 'most criminal countries' ranking 2023
• World of Statistics, on 12 April 2023, shared the ranking of the world's "most criminal countries".

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• On the list, Venezuela has been ranked 1, followed by Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, South
Africa, and Honduras respectively.
• India ranked 77 while the USA was at 55th number and the United Kingdom (UK) at 65th rank.
• Turkey, Germany, and Japan were ranked at 92nd, 100th, and 135th ranks.
RBI issues draft guidelines for penalty charges on loan accounts
• Reserve Bank of India, on 12 April 2023, issued draft rules on penal charges related to loan
accounts.
• As per the RBI, the quantum of penal charges shall be proportional to the defaults of loan
contracts beyond a threshold.
• Penal charges in case of loans sanctioned to individual borrowers, for purposes other than
business, shall not be higher than that applicable to non-individual borrowers.
Retail inflation drops to 5.66% in March from 6.44% in February 2023
• According to National Statistical Office (NSO), India's annual retail inflation for March 2023 eased
to 5.66% from 6.44% in February 2023.
• The food inflation, which accounts for nearly half of the overall consumer price basket, moderated
to 4.79%.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has projected retail inflation at 6.5% for 2022-23, with the
January-December quarter at 5.7%.
Retail Inflation
• Retail inflation tracked by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the changes in prices from a
retail buyer's perspective.
• Wholesale inflation on the other hand is tracked by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), measures
inflation at the level of producers.
• CPI is a measure of change in retail prices of goods and services consumed by people in a given
area with reference to a base year.
Former Mahindra Group Chairman Keshub Mahindra passes away
• Keshub Mahindra, former chairman of the Mahindra & Mahindra Group of companies, passed
away on 12 April 2023.
• He served as the chairman of the group from 1963 to 2012.
• He was also the founder chairman of HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation
Limited).
• From 2004 to 2010, Mahindra was a Member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Trade & Industry,
New Delhi.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: 13 April
• The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Day is observed every year on 13 April.
• A large peaceful crowd gathered at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, Punjab, to protest against
the Rowlatt Act and the arrest of pro-independence activists Saifuddin Kitchlew and Satyapal.

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• On 13 April 1919, British troops under the Command of General Dyer fired on the crowd of unarmed
Indians in Amritsar.
Category 4 Tropical Cyclone Ilsa hits Western Australia
• Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) announced that Cyclone Ilsa is expected to make
landfall off the coast of Western Australia on 13 April 2023.
• A Category 4 cyclone has a maximum mean wind speed of 160 kph to 199 kph with wind gusts of
225 kph to 279 kph.
• A Category 5 cyclone has a maximum mean wind speed exceeding 200 kph (124 mph) with gusts
exceeding 280 kph (174 mph).
12 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• Nisha wins Silver in Asian Wrestling Championships in Kazakhstan
• EAM Jaishankar launches ‘Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project’ in Uganda
• Raman Research Institute inks MoU with Indian Navy
• Britain names MI5 deputy as first female cyber spy boss
• India set to grow by 5.9% this fiscal: IMF
Today's History: 12 April 2023
• William Carey fort was appointed the Professor of Bengali Language in fort at William College,
Calcutta, in 1801.
• Ranjit Singh proclaimed himself Maharaja of Punjab in 1801.
• U. Thant,UN Secretary General, receives the first Nehru Award for international understanding, in
1967.
• Richard Attenborough's 'Gandhi' wins 8 Oscars, in 1983.
Nisha wins Silver in Asian Wrestling Championships in Kazakhstan
• India's Nisha Dahiya won silver at the Asian wrestling championships in Astana, Kazakhstan on 11
April 2023.
• This is the biggest-ever medal of her career in the women's 68kg category.
• Priya Malik clinched a bronze in 76 kg category.
• She defeated Japan's Mizuki Nagashima in the repechage round.
• Overall, India have won six medals so far.
Japan awards Mitsubishi Heavy Industries contracts worth $2.84 bn
• Japan has awarded Mitsubishi Heavy Industries contracts worth 378 billion yen ($2.84 bn) to
develop and build a new missile force.
• The four contracts include land, sea and air-launched missiles as well as a hypersonic ballistic
warhead that it wants to begin deploying from 2026.
• The new missile force is expected to be capable of striking ships and land targets more than 1,000
km from Japan.
EAM Jaishankar launches ‘Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project’ in Uganda

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• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on 10 April 2023 launched the ‘Tulsi Ghat Restoration
Project’ of Varanasi, during his visit to Uganda’s Kampala.
• From April 13-15, Jaishankar will visit Mozambique.
• This will be the first-ever visit by an External Affairs Minister of India to the Republic of
Mozambique.
PM Modi to launch projects worth over Rs 14,000 cr in Assam
• PM Narendra Modi will visit Assam on 14 April 2023 and dedicate to the nation projects worth
14,300 crore rupees.
• He will inaugurate AIIMS, Guwahati and launch Aapke Dwar Ayushman campaign by distributing
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana cards to eligible beneficiaries.
• He will also lay the foundation stone of Assam Advanced Health Care Innovation Institute.
Raman Research Institute inks MoU with Indian Navy
• Raman Research Institute (RRI), an autonomous institute of the department of science and
technology, has joined hands with the Indian Navy to develop secure maritime communications
using quantum technologies.
• RRI’s Quantum Information and Computing (QuIC) lab will lead the research efforts towards
developing quantum key distribution techniques
• The agreement is for a period of five years.
International Conference on Defence Finance and Economics begins
• The International Conference on Defence Finance and Economics began in New Delhi on 12 April
2023.
• Delegates from USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Kenya are participating in
the conference.
• The objective of the conference is to disseminate the best practices, experiences and expertise of
various countries.
Britain names MI5 deputy as first female cyber spy boss
• Britain named Anne Keast-Butler as the first female director of its intelligence communications
agency GCHQ.
• The agency is tasked with protecting the country from terrorists, cyber-criminals and malign
foreign powers.
• She will take over the role in May 2023, succeeding Jeremy Fleming who is stepping down after a
six-year tenure.
India set to grow by 5.9% this fiscal: IMF
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that India’s economy will grow by 5.9% for
the current fiscal year April 2023 - March 2024.
• This is a downward revision of 0.2 percentage points since the January forecast.
• The IMF estimated a 6.3% economic growth rate for India for the next fiscal year.
• Global output growth is projected by the IMF to slow to 2.8% in 2023 (calendar year).

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Know About: International Monetary Fund

• The International Monetary Fund is a major financial agency of the United Nations, and an
international financial institution.
• It is headquartered in Washington, D.C., consisting of 190 countries.
• It was formed in 1944.
• Kristalina Georgieva is the Managing Director of IMF.
• Indian-American economist Gita Gopinath was appointed as First Deputy Managing Director,
effective Jan 21, 2022.
Germany to switch off last remaining nuclear plants
• Germany will shut down its three remaining nuclear plants on April 15, 2023.
• Sixteen reactors have been closed in Germany since 2003.
• The three final plants provided six percent of Germany’s energy last year, compared with 30.8
percent from all nuclear plants in 1997.
• Meanwhile, Germany produced 46 percent of its energy from renewables in 2022, up from less
than 25 percent a decade ago.
Myanmar air strike kills at least 100 people
• Myanmar carried out an air strike on 11 April 2023 on a village in which at least 100 people were
killed.
• The people were gathered for the opening of a local office of the country’s opposition movement
outside Pazigyi village.
• The People's Defence Force is the armed wing of the National Unity Government, which calls itself
the country’s legitimate government, in opposition to the army.
Know About: Myanmar
• Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, also known as Burma (the official name
until 1989), is a country in Southeast Asia.
• It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia.
• It is bordered by Bangladesh and India to its northwest, China to its northeast, Laos and Thailand
to its east and southeast.
• The country's capital city is Naypyidaw.
Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Peerah-Kunfer Tunnel at Ramban
• Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari inaugurated Peerah-Kunfer Tunnel
at Ramban in April 2023.
• The 924 meters long Tube 1 of the Peeda-Kunfer Tunnel would bypass 2.9 km congested, zigzag,
and the accident-prone area between Nashri and Ramban.
• With these tunnels the distance between Jammu-Srinagar will be completed in about 3.5 hours.
Various developmental projects inaugurated in Agartala

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• Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region, G. Kishan Reddy was on a two-day visit
to Agartala on 10-11 April 2023.
• He inspected the Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link Project.
• The project will prove to be a game changer for both India and Bangladesh as it will strengthen
the trade and commerce between the two countries.
• He also inaugurated various developmental projects there.
12 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• Justice AK Singh appointed new Chief Justice of Tripura High Court
• Uzbekistan invites India's EC to witness April 30 referendum
• India’s first semi-high speed regional rail service named ‘RAPIDX’
• Centre launches unified portal of Central Bureau of Narcotics
• Garuda Aerospace becomes first to receive Agri Drone Subsidy
Maha to observe Savarkar's birthday as ‘Swatantraveer Gaurav Din’
• Maharashtra Government has announced that the birth anniversary of Vinayak Damodar
Savarkar, which falls on May 28, will be observed as ‘Swatantraveer Gaurav Din’.
• It will also highlight Savarkar’s contribution to India’s freedom movement, propagate his ideology,
and focus on his campaigns for social reforms.
• He was born in Maharashtra’s Nashik district, on 28th May 1883.
Justice AK Singh appointed new Chief Justice of Tripura High Court
• The Union govt, on 11 April 2023, appointed Justice Apresh Kumar Singh as Chief Justice of Tripura
High Court.
• He replaced Justice T Amarnath Goud, who was the acting chief justice of Tripura High Court
since November 2022.
• Tripura High Court was established on 23 March 2013, after making amendments to the
Constitution of India and the North-Eastern Areas Act, of 1971.
World Parkinson's Day: 11 April
• World Parkinson's Day is observed annually on April 11 to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. James
Parkinson.
• He is the first physician to recognize Parkinson's as a medical condition.
• The European Parkinson's Disease Association (EPDA) and the World Health Organization
established World Parkinson's Day on April 11th, 1997.
• The theme for World Parkinson's Day 2023 is "#Take6forPD".
Uzbekistan invites India's EC to witness April 30 referendum
• Uzbekistan, on 11 April 2023, announced to organize a referendum in the country on April 30 to
reform the Constitution.
• It will include a proposal to enable President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to run for another term in office.
• Uzbekistan has also invited India's Election Commission to witness the referendum.
• It is aimed at creating a strong parliament as well as an independent and fair judiciary.

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Uzbekistan
• It is a Central Asian nation and former Soviet republic.
• It's known for its mosques, mausoleums and other sites linked to the Silk Road.
• It is a secular state, with a presidential constitutional government in place.
• Capital: Tashkent
• Currency: Uzbekistani Som
• Population: 3.49 crores
• Official language: Uzbek
• President: Shavkat Mirziyoyev
• Prime Minister: Abdulla Aripov
India’s first semi-high speed regional rail service named ‘RAPIDX’
• The National Capital Regional Transportation Corporation (NCRTC), on 11 April 2023, announced
that the rapid rail between Delhi and Meerut will be called RapidX.
• The green leaf symbol is the highlight of the brand’s commitment to decarbonization.
• It will be 82 km long and NCRTC will commission the entire Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor for
the public by 2025.
Centre launches unified portal of Central Bureau of Narcotics
• Union govt, on 11 April 2023, launched the unified portal of the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN).
• It will instill efficiency and transparency and reduce the time taken by the pharma industry to get
a trade license.
• Applicants may file applications from anywhere and anytime 24X7 basis eliminating the need for
physical interaction and can raise queries with the department.
Know About: Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN)
• It is affiliated with India's Department of Revenue (IRS) and regulated by the country's Central
Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.
• The main function of CBN is to stop opium production and trade, and to issue licenses for
production of legal synthetic drugs.
• Founded: November 1950
• Headquarters: Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh
• Narcotics Commissioner of India: Dinesh Bouddh
Education ministry to organise Young Authors Conference on April 12-13
• The Ministry of Education will organize a Young Authors' Conference on 12-13 April 2023 in New
Delhi.
• National Book Trust under the Ministry of Education, has been appointed as the implementing
agency for the conference.
• It aims to promote civilizational dialogue among the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
members, with a focus on perspectives from young scholars.

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Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

• It is a Eurasian political, economic, international security, and defense organization.
• It is the world's largest regional organization in terms of geographic scope and population.
• It is the successor to the Shanghai Five, formed in 1996 between the People's Republic of China,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.
• India and Pakistan joined the organization on 9 June 2017.
Garuda Aerospace becomes first to receive Agri Drone Subsidy
• Garuda Aerospace, on 11 April 2023, became the first drone company to receive Agri Drone
Subsidy for their agricultural drones.
• This subsidy is part of the Indian government’s efforts to promote the use of agricultural drones.
• The Kisan Drones were given to 8 farmers under the Agri-drone subsidy.
• Govt is providing subsidies to promote the use of drone technology in the agriculture sector.
RBI issues framework for acceptance of green deposits by banks
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), on 11 April 2023, announced the framework for acceptance of
Green Deposits of regulated entities (RE).
• A Green Deposit means an interest-bearing deposit, received by the regulated entities for a fixed
period, and the proceeds of which are earmarked for being allocated towards green finance.
• The framework shall come into effect from June 1, 2023.
New frog species found in Meghalaya cave
• Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of frog from
deep inside a cave in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district.
• The team named the new species as Amolops siju after the cave from where this discovery was
made.
• The team had also discovered three other new species of cascade frog (Amolops) in Arunachal
Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh to plant 35 crore saplings in a single day in July 2023
• The Uttar Pradesh government, on 11 April 2023, announced to plant 35 crore saplings in a single
day in July 2023.
• The government planted over 25 crore saplings in a single day in July 2022.
• In the past six years, the UP govt has planted 133 crores (1.33 billion) of saplings.
• The forest department of Uttar Pradesh will be the nodal department to implement the program.
Madhya Pradesh's Gond painting gets GI tag
• The famous Gond painting of Madhya Pradesh has received the prestigious Geographical
Indication (GI) tag on 11 April 2023.
• The NRLM (National Rural Livelihood Mission) and NULM (National Urban Livelihood Mission)
have decided to bring the painting in a cheap model.

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• GI Tag ensures that no one other than the registered authorised user is allowed to use the name
of the popular product.
Know About: Madhya Pradesh
• It is the second largest Indian state by area and the fifth largest state by population.
• It shares its border with Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
• Founded: 1 November 1956
• Capital: Bhopal
• Chief minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
• Official animal: Barasingha
• Governor: Mangubhai C. Patel
• Literacy (2011): 70.6%
• Sex ratio (2011): 970/1000
11 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• L&T 3D printing a post office in Bengaluru
• Indian GM Gukesh wins title at World Chess Armageddon Asia & Oceania
• US, Philippines launch largest combat exercises in decades
• Mahatma Jyotiba Phule birth anniversary: 11 April
• J&K govt to organise 3-day ‘Baisakhi Mahotsav 2023’
Today's History: 11 April 2023
• Iron ropes bridge known as 'Laxman Jhula' was constructed over Ganga at Hrishikesh, in 1913.
• Treaty between France and India, transferring the former French settlement of Chandranagar to
India, was ratified by the National Assembly, Paris, in 1952.
• Soyuz T-11 returned to Earth which carried 3 cosmonauts including the first Indian Sqn. Ldr. Rakesh
Sharma, to Salyut 7, in 1984.
Telangana Governor clears 3 bills
• Telangana governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan has given consent to three bills, returned two to
the state government and sent two others to the Centre for Presidential assent.
• These are Telangana Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, Professor Jayashankar
Telangana State Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Telangana Municipal Laws
(Amendment) Bill, 2022.
L&T 3D printing a post office in Bengaluru
• L&T Construction is constructing India's first post office building using 3D printing technology in
Bengaluru.
• The project is to design and build the 1,000 square feet Halasuru Post Office using 3D Concrete
Printing Technology within 45 days.
• The project scope involves structure, MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing), and finishes.
Indusind Bank signs co-financing loan agreement with Citi & JICA

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• Indusind Bank has informed that Japanese lender JICA has teamed with Citibank to provide $125
million funding line to it .
• It will utilise the co-finance funding for onlending to the agricultural sector.
• The funding includes a JPY 13 billion (approx $97.45 million) loan from the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) and another $30 million from Citi to Indusind.
Know About: Indusind Bank
• IndusInd Bank Limited is an Indian financial services headquartered in Mumbai.
• The bank offers commercial, transactional and electronic banking products and services.
• IndusInd Bank was inaugurated in April 1994 by then Union Finance Minister Manmohan Singh.
• Arun Tiwari is the current chairman of the board.
• Tagline: We Care Dil Se, We Make You Feel Richer
Indian GM Gukesh wins title at World Chess Armageddon Asia & Oceania
• Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh defeated former world rapid champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov of
Uzbekistan in the final to win the World Chess Armageddon Asia & Oceania event on 9 April 2023.
• Both Gukesh and Abdusattorov have earned a spot at the Armageddon’s Grand Finale in
September 2023.
• An Armageddon game is a variant of blitz chess to determine a winner after a series of drawn
game.
Cipla signs pact with Novartis Pharma AG
• Drugmaker Cipla has signed a perpetual license agreement with Novartis Pharma AG
(Switzerland).
• It has been signed to manufacture and market diabetes drug Galvus and its combination brands
from January 1, 2026.
• Galvus has potential to contribute significantly to its portfolio with reported sales of ₹268 crore.
US, Philippines launch largest combat exercises in decades
• The United States and the Philippines on 11 April 2023 launched their largest combat exercises in
decades.
• It will involve live-fire drills, including a boat-sinking rocket assault in waters across the South
China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
• The annual drills by the longtime treaty allies called Balikatan-Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder
will run up to April 28, 2023.
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule birth anniversary: 11 April
• Every year on April 11, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule is celebrated.
• 2023 marked his 196th birth anniversary.
• He was born on April 11, 1827, in the Satara district, Maharashtra.
• Mahatma Jyotiba Phule was a social reformer, anti-caste activist, thinker and writer.
• He was the first person with his wife Savitribai Phule to open a school for girls in Pune in 1848.

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Teachers in Bihar now to be recruited through a commission

• The Bihar govt has taken a decision to recruit teachers in government schools through a
commission.
• The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
• At present, recruitment of teachers is being held at panchayat, block and district levels.
• Appointments will not be made on a contractual basis.
• 3 lakh teachers will be appointed under new recruitment rules.
Know About: Bihar
• Bihar is a state in eastern India.
• It is the third largest state by population, the 12th largest by area, and the 14th largest by GDP in
2021.
• Bihar borders Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal to the north, the northern part of West Bengal to
the east, and with Jharkhand to the south.
• The Bihar plain is split by the river Ganges, which flows from west to east.
J&K govt to organise 3-day ‘Baisakhi Mahotsav 2023’
• In J&K, the Directorate of Tourism, Jammu is going to organise a three-day ‘Baisakhi Mahotsav
2023’ from April 13-15 to celebrate Dogra culture and heritage.
• On April 13, a grand Cultural Procession (Shobha Yatra) will be organised.
• On April 14, a Kite Flying Festival will be celebrated at Maharaja Hari Singh Park, Jammu and the
traditional ‘Tonga Buggy’ ride of Kanak Mandi will be revived.
2nd Women 20 International Meeting to be held in Jaipur from 13 April
• The 2nd Women 20 (W20) International Meeting will be held in Jaipur from April 13 to 14, 2023.
• The meeting will bring together 120 women leaders from across 18 G20 countries to address
gender inequality issues and promote women’s economic empowerment globally.
• The event will commence with ‘Jan Bhagidari- The Women Journey of Women Empowerment,’ a
panel discussion.
11 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• Tibet ranked world's least free country in Freedom House index 2023
• Govt issues draft for Sagarmala Innovation and startup policy
• Saudi Arabia receives flag to host FEI World Cup Finals 2024
• AAP gets national party status, TMC, CPI, NCP loses national party tag
• President Murmu presents 11th National Grassroot Innovation Awards
Govt organizes PMNAM National Apprenticeship Fair in Udhampur
• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) organized the Pradhan Mantri
National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) in Udhampur, Rajasthan on 10 April 2023.
• Several local business organizations joined the apprenticeship model to provide jobs to local
youth with relevant opportunities to shape their careers through apprenticeship training.

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Tibet ranked world's least free country in Freedom House index 2023
• Global watchdog Freedom House, in April 2023, released its Freedom in the World Index for 2023
which ranks Tibet as the world's least free country.
• In the report, Freedom House ranked Tibet as the "World's least-free country" along with South
Sudan and Syria.
• According to the report, China is putting an end to the traditional lifestyle of Tibetan nomads who
regularly migrate with their yaks.
Govt issues draft for Sagarmala Innovation and startup policy
• Ports, Shipping and Waterways Ministry, on 10 April 2023, issued a draft on Sagarmala Innovation
and Start-up Policy.
• The draft policy aims at nurturing start-ups and other entities working in the maritime sector.
• The policy has identified several key areas for the startups including decarbonization, maritime
education, multi-modal transportation, smart communication and marine electronics.
Saudi Arabia receives flag to host FEI World Cup Finals 2024
• Saudi Arabia received the flag for hosting the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI)
World Cup Finals 2024.
• It is the first time the event will be held in the Middle East.
• The FEI World Cup Finals 2024 will be held in April 2024 in Riyadh.
• It is an annual international competition among the world's best show-jumping horses and riders.
India, Vietnam reiterate commitment to deepen strategic partnership
• National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held talks with Vietnam's Public Security Minister General Ph.
To Lam and vowed to further deepen the bilateral strategic partnership in New Delhi on 10 April
2023.
• Both countries emphasized the significance of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) and reiterated their commitment to resolving any disputes in accordance with
international law.
Map in News: Vietnam
• It is a Southeast Asian country known for its Buddhist pagodas.
• Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) has French colonial landmarks, plus Vietnamese War history
museums and the Củ Chi tunnels, used by Viet Cong soldiers.
• Capital: Hanoi
• Population: 9.75 crores
• Currency: Vietnamese dong
• Official language: Vietnamese
• Prime Minister: Phạm Minh Chính
• President: Vo Van Thuong
AAP gets national party status, TMC, CPI, NCP loses national party tag

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• The Election Commission of India (ECI) on 10 April 2023 granted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) a
national party status.
• It also withdrew the national party status of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Communist Party of
India (CPI), and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
• The Voice of the People Party got recognition as a state party in Meghalaya.
Know About: Election Commission of India (ECI)
• The Election Commission of India is a constitutional body.
• It was established by the Constitution of India to conduct and regulate elections in the country.
• The Election Commission operates under the authority of Constitution per Article 324.
• It is a permanent constitutional body.
• Formed: 25 January 1950
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• First executive: Sukumar Sen
• Current executive: Rajiv Kumar
Govt releases report on State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2021-22
• Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy, R. K. Singh on 10 April 2023 released the
report of State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2021-22.
• The index is developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
• Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan and Telangana are in the Front Runner category
while 4 states, Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Punjab are in the Achiever category.
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
• The Government of India set up the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) on 1st March 2002 under
the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
• The mission of the BEE is to assist in developing policies and strategies with a thrust on self-
regulation and market principles.
• The Energy Conservation Act provides for regulatory and promotional functions.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
IIT-Bombay, UIDAI join hands to develop touchless biometric system
• Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has joined hands with Indian Institute of
Technology, Bombay (IIT-Bombay) to develop a touchless biometric capture system for easier
usage by people.
• As part of the MoU, UIDAI and IIT Bombay will carry out joint research to build a mobile capture
system for fingerprints along with liveness model integrated with the capture system.
PM Modi to flag off Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat train on 12 April
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat Express train on 12th
April 2023.
• The regular service of the train will start on 13th April 2023 and will operate between Ajmer and
Delhi Cantt. with stops at Jaipur, Alwar, and Gurgaon.

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• It will be the world's first semi-high-speed passenger train on high-rise overhead electric (OHE)
territory.
President Murmu presents 11th National Grassroot Innovation Awards
• President Droupadi Murmu presented the 11th Biennial National Grassroots Innovation and
Outstanding Traditional Knowledge Awards of the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) on April
10, 2023.
• She also inaugurated the Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) 2023.
• The FINE festival is a unique effort which promotes science, technology and innovation among
youths.
Nilesh Sambare honored with the 'Maratha Udyog Ratna 2023' award
• Nilesh Bhagwan Sambare, also known as Appa, the founder of Jijau Educational and Social
Foundation or Sanstha, was awarded the "Maratha Udyog Ratna" award on 10 April 2023.
• He was awarded during the "Maratha Entrepreneurs Conference 2023" in Nashik, Mumbai.
• Jijau Sanstha has been providing education, health, employment, and agriculture through self-
earning for the past 14 years.
UP CM Yogi inaugurates 2-day National Climate Conclave 2023
• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on 10 April 2023 inaugurated the two-day National
Climate Conclave-2023 in Lucknow.
• The UP govt has implemented the scrapping policy for diesel and petrol vehicles by gradually
removing diesel and petrol vehicles from the road.
• The conclave will discuss various issues related to climate change, forest and wildlife conservation,
and clean energy.
China kicks off live ammunition fire military drill near Taiwan
• China, on 10 April 2023, began the live-fire drills near Taiwan in response to Taiwanese President
Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the United States in April 2023.
• Chinese fighter jets and warships conducted simulated strikes on Taiwan.
• Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence on 10 April 2023, detected 70 Chinese military aircraft and
11 naval ships around Taiwan.
10 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• EAM S Jaishankar to be on six day visit to Uganda and Mozambique
• HM Amit Shah launches Vibrant Villages Programme in Arunachal Pradesh
• Bharat Biotech wins award at World Vaccine Congress
• Indian-American mathematician C R Rao awarded math ‘Nobel Prize’
• India’s tiger population tops 3,000
Today's History: 10 April 2023
• Swami Dayanand Saraswati established the Arya Samaj at Bombay in 1875 and in 1877 in Lahore.
• India and Vietnam affirmed the Panchsheel in 1955.

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• Indian National Satellite (INSAT-1A) was launched in 1982.

• Kerala became the first state to have public telephones in all its villages, accessible over STD/ISD
from any part of the world, in 1997.
Himachal passes Bill for the welfare of orphans
• The Himachal Pradesh Assembly has approved a bill that aims to provide shelter, education, and
Rs 4,000 monthly allowance as "pocket money" to destitute children and orphans.
• The bill is called the Himachal Pradesh Sukhashraya (Care, Protection and Self Reliance of
Children of the State) Bill 2023.
• It defines destitute children and orphans as "children of the state".
EAM S Jaishankar to be on six day visit to Uganda and Mozambique
• External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will be on official visits to Uganda and Mozambique
from 10-15 April 2023.
• He will inaugurate the transit campus of the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Jinja.
• A bilateral MoU between the Govt of India and the Government of Uganda, on setting up the
first-ever campus of NFSU outside India, will be signed during the visit.
Know About: Uganda
• Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa.
• The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania.
• Kampala is its capital.
• Uganda is named after the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a large portion of the south.
HM Amit Shah launches Vibrant Villages Programme in Arunachal Pradesh
• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah is on a two-day visit to Arunachal
Pradesh from 10 Apr'23.
• He launched the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ in Kibithoo, a border village in the Anjaw district
of Arunachal Pradesh.
• He also inaugurated nine Micro Hydel Projects of the Arunachal Pradesh govt constructed under
the “Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme” in Kibithoo.
India accepts Kirit Parikh Panel’s suggestions
• The Indian government has accepted suggestions of the Kirit Parikh Panel on gas pricing.
• It has therefore, decided to reduce prices of compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas
(PNG) across the country.
• Mumbai shall see CNG cost drop to Rs 79 per kg from Rs 87 while PNG shall be priced at Rs 49
per scm, down from Rs 54.
Bharat Biotech wins award at World Vaccine Congress
• Bharat Biotech has won the `Best Production /Process Development’ award as part of the
Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) awards at the World Vaccine Congress 2023.

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• The Congress was held during April 3-6, 2023 in Washington, USA.
• Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech was the only Indian company in the list of VIE awards in various
categories.
Indian-American mathematician C R Rao awarded math ‘Nobel Prize’
• Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao will receive the 2023 International Prize in Statistics, the
equivalent to the Nobel Prize in the field.
• He is a prominent Indian-American mathematician and statistician.
• He will receive the prize, which comes with a $80,000 award, in July 2023 in Canada.
• He had demonstrated three fundamental results that paved the way for the modern field of
statistics.
Know About: International Prize in Statistics
• The International Prize in Statistics is awarded every two years to an individual or team "for major
achievements using statistics to advance science, technology and human welfare".
• The International Prize in Statistics is one the two highest honours in the field of Statistics.
• It comes with a monetary award of $80,000.
• The award ceremony takes place during the World Statistics Congress.
India’s tiger population tops 3,000
• India has at least 3,167 tigers, according to estimates from the latest tiger census.
• There were 2,967 tigers recorded in 2018, and 2,226 in 2014.
• The tiger population has grown the most in the Shivalik hills and Gangetic flood plains, followed
by central India, the north eastern hills, the Brahmaputra flood plains, and the Sundarbans.
Armed Forces form panel to examine disability pension
• The Department of Military Affairs (DMA) has set up a panel to look into the increase of disability
pensions among armed force personnel.
• This inter-service panel will be headed by the Adjutant General (AG) of the Army.
• Under disability pension, according to their disability, jawans are paid more up to 30 percent over
their total pension.
Tamil Nadu govt’s ‘TN REACH’ initiative to use 80+ unused helipads
• More than 80 unused helipads across Tamil Nadu will soon be put to use with helicopter services
planned by the State government.
• An institution mechanism (Tamil Nadu Regional Aerial Connectivity through Helicopters — TN
REACH) will be formulated to use helicopters for travel between cities and towns.
• The proposed mechanism has been developed by Tamil Nadu Industrial Development
Corporation.
KSINC launches solar-powered tourist vessel Sooryamshu

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• With the aim of reducing carbon footprints and making tourism sustainable, Kerala State Inland
Navigation Corporation has launched its solar-powered hybrid boat at Queen’s Terminal, Marine
Drive, Kochi.
• Christened as Sooryamshu, this vessel is air-conditioned and has a capacity to accommodate 100
passengers.
• Sooryamshu’s solar panels have the capacity to produce 27 KW of energy.
10 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• Guwahati Tea Auction Centre to celebrate 200 years of Assam tea
• India releases first edition of Dogri version of Indian Constitution
• PM Modi launches International Big Cats Alliance to save tiger species
• UAE to launch DEWA's SAT-2 6U nanosatellite in April 2023
• Priyanshu Rajawat wins Orleans Masters 2023 men's singles title
Guwahati Tea Auction Centre to celebrate 200 years of Assam tea
• The Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, on 9 April 2023, announced to organize of a long-year-
program to celebrate 200 Years of Assam Tea.
• The Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) is one of the busiest tea trading facilities in the world.
• It is located in Guwahati and its primary commodity is Assam tea.
• It was established in 1970.
• It has seen the largest volume of tea auctions in the world.
India releases first edition of Dogri version of Indian Constitution
• Union Minister of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju released the first edition of
the Dogri version of the Constitution of India on 9 April 2023.
• On 28th March 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs had organized a seminar on “Seven Decades
of the Constitution of India” in coordination with the Parliamentary Research & Training Institute
for Democracies (PRIDE).
PM Modi launches International Big Cats Alliance to save tiger species
• PM Narendra Modi launched the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) on 9 April 2023 to save 7
big cat species.
• The alliance will work to conserve the world's seven major big cats, including tiger, lion, leopard,
snow leopard, puma, jaguar, and cheetah.
• Under the alliance, the member countries will share their experiences and lay emphasis on
research, training, and capacity building.
UAE to launch DEWA's SAT-2 6U nanosatellite in April 2023
• United Arab Emirates's Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) will launch its second
nanosatellite to enable remote sensing applications in April 2023.
• The SAT-2 6U nanosatellite will be launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air
Force Base in California.

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• The new satellite features a high-resolution camera (4.7 meters) that will be used for Earth
observation missions.
Priyanshu Rajawat wins Orleans Masters 2023 men's singles title
• Indian men’s singles badminton player Priyanshu Rajawat clinched his first-ever tour title, beating
Magnus Johannesen of Denmark in the final of the Orleans Masters 2023 in France on 9 April
2023.
• This is the first Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 title for Rajawat who was also the
youngest team member of the Indian badminton team that won the historic 2022 Thomas Cup in
Bangkok.
Badminton World Federation (BWF)
• The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is the international governing body for the sport of
badminton recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
• It was founded in 1934 as the International Badminton Federation with nine member nations.
• Founded: 5 July 1934
• Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• President: Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen
• Membership: 194 member associations
World Homoeopathy Day: 10 April
• World Homoeopathy Day is observed every year on 10 April to pay tribute to the founder and
father of the Homeopathy system of medicine Dr. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann.
• The day aims to spread knowledge about Homeopathic medicine in public health.
• World Homeopathy Week is celebrated annually from 10 April to 16 April.
• The theme of 2023 is “One Health, One Family”.
India, US forces carry out wargames to support aircraft operations
• The Special Forces of the US and India are carrying out wargames with a focus on supporting
fighter aircraft operations in forward areas from 9 April 2023.
• The wargames are being carried out at Special Forces training centres in India.
• It is also going to go to France with its most potent Rafale fighter jets for multilateral exercise
Orion 2023.
Last-living Nazi trials lawyer Ben Ferencz passes away
• The last-living prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials, during which the Nazis were tried for
genocidal war crimes, passed away on 9 April 2023.
• American lawyer Ben Ferencz was also among the first outside witnesses to document atrocities
that took place in Nazi labor and concentration camps.
• He also later assisted in negotiations that would lead to compensation to the Nazi victims.
PM Narendra Modi visits Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka
• PM Narendra Modi visited the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka on 9 April 2023.

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• He also released a commemorative coin on completing 50 years of ‘Project Tiger’.

• He also visited the Theppakadu Elephant camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu where
he met Bomman and Bellie, the stars of the Oscar award-winning documentary “The Elephant
Whisperers.”
Know About: Karnataka
• It was formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation
Act and renamed Karnataka in 1973.
• It is the sixth-largest Indian state by area and the eighth-largest state by population.
• Chief minister: Basavaraj Bommai
• Capital: Bengaluru
• Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot
• Literacy (2011): 75.36%
• Formation: 1 November 1956
• Sex ratio (2011): 973/1000
David Warner becomes fastest to score 6000 runs in IPL
• Delhi Capitals captain David Warner on 8 April 2023 became the fastest batsman to reach the
6000-run mark in the Indian Premier League (IPL) during a match against Rajasthan Royals at
the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.
• He is now only the third batter after Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan to score more than 6000
runs.
• He donned the Orange Cap on three occasions, in IPL 2015, 2017, and 2019.
Legendary theatre actor Jalabala Vaidya passes away
• Legendary theatre actor and co-founder of Akshara Theatre, Jalabala Vaidya passed away on 9
April 2023.
• Her theatrical life started in 1968 with 'Full Circle', a dramatised selection of poems and stories.
• She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi's Tagore Award, the Delhi Natya Sangh Award,
the Andhra Pradesh Natya Akademi Honour for her contribution to the performing arts.
J-K LG Manoj Sinha inaugurates Tulip Garden in Jammu
• Lieutenant governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on 9 April 2023, inaugurated a Tulip Garden in Jammu at
Ramban’s Hill Resort of Sanasar.
• The LG’s administration is developing 75 new destinations for fulfilling the aspirations of the
people.
• The governement informed that after two years the Tulip bulbs will no more be imported from
Holland as they will be grown in Jammu & Kashmir only.
Third edition of Jammu film festival begins on April 8
• The third edition of the Jammu Film Festival, sponsored by the J&K Tourism Department, began
with a grand opening at Abhinav Theatre on 8 April 2023.

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• The festival aims to promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir and provide a platform to filmmakers
to showcase their talent.
• The festival featured screenings of 25 feature films, and documentaries from Iran, India, France,
and the United States.
U.S. Navy deploys nuclear submarine in Middle East region
• The U.S. Navy has deployed a guided-missile submarine capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk
missiles to the Middle East, following recent tensions with Iran.
• The guided-missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728) transits the Suez Canal in Egypt in support
of the Bahrain-based U.S. Fifth Fleet.
• Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from ships or submarines can hit targets up to 2,500
kilometers.
Israel launches retaliatory airstrikes against targets in Syria
• Israel carried out artillery strikes in southern Syria, in response to six rockets that were launched
fromon Golan Heights.
• In response to the rockets, the Israeli army announced that it is firing artillery towards the area
from which the rockets were fired.
• The Israeli army also announced that it is using drones to attack the rocket launchers.
Weekly Notes (3 April -8 April): International Affairs-1
• Israel launches new Ofek-13 spy satellite into orbit
• UN to start taking deep-sea mining applications from July 2023.
• Iran appoints first ambassador to UAE in 8 years
• Paris to ban e-scooters
Weekly Notes (3 April -8 April): International Affairs-II
• Finland joins NATO as 31st Ally
• Bahrain launches 'Golden License' to attract major investment
Weekly Notes (3 April -8 April): National Affairs-I
• 2nd G20 Employment Working Group meeting begins in Guwahati, Assam
• PM Modi inaugurates Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of CBI in New Delhi
• Paradip Port handles highest ever annual traffic of 135.36 MMT in FY23
• France invites PM Modi for Bastille Day Parade in July 2023
• Mumbai to soon get fifty 24x7 Food Trucks across seven zones
Weekly Notes (3 April -8 April): National Affairs-II
• Second G20 Empower meeting begins in Thiruvananthapuram
• PNGRB amends norms to allow unified tariff for natural gas pipelines
• Jal Jeevan Mission Achieves 60% Coverage Milestone
• India & Bhutan plan to set up first Integrated Check Post along border
• India Grid commissions its first battery energy storage system

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Weekly Notes (3 April -8 April): National Affairs-III

• Kerala tops GI tag list in FY 2022-23
• Apple Inc. To Open Its First India Store In Mumbai
• SAI integrates Khelo India games certificates with DigiLocker
• Second meeting of G20 Development Working Group held at Kumarakom
• Centre to appoint agency to fact check content on online platforms
Weekly Notes (3 April -8 April): Defence News
• Indian Rafales to take part in French multinational exercise 'orion'
• Indian Navy conducts offshore security exercise ‘Prasthan’ in Mumbai
• Armed Forces conduct multi-domain exercise in Anadaman & Nicobar
• India to buy Hellfire missiles and MK 54 torpedos from the USA
• India-U.S. air exercise 'Cope India' to begin from 10 April
• India-Sri Lanka maritime exercise SLINEX 2023 begins in Colombo
Weekly Notes (3 April -8 April): Sports News-I
• Amit Mishra becomes oldest bowler to take a wicket in IPL
• Argentina becomes world number one football team in FIFA Rankings 2023
• Weightlifter Sanjita Chanu banned for 4 years by NADA
• Dhoni, Yuvraj inducted with the MCC honorary life membership
Weekly Notes (3 April -8 April): Sports News-II
• Daniil Medvedev beats Jannik Sinner to win first Miami Open title
• Verstappen beats Hamilton to win Australian Grand Prix
• Coco Gauff-Jessica Pegula win women’s doubles Miami Open title
Weekly Notes (3 April -8 April): Appointments-I
• Vice Admiral SJ Singh takes charge as new Vice Chief of Indian Navy
• Rajib K Mishra takes over as Chairman & Managing Director of PTC India
• Dr RG Patel appointed as expert member of ART and Surrogacy Board
• Ex Israel envoy to India appointed Executive Chairman of Haifa port
• A K Burman takes over as the Chairperson of FICCI Ladies Organisation
Weekly Notes (3 April -8 April): Appointments-II
• Reserve Bank of India appoints Neeraj Nigam as executive director
• Suzlon board appoints J P Chalasani as Chief Executive Officer
• Kapil Maheshwari named CEO of Welspun New Energy
• Honda motor appoints Tsutsumu Otani as its new President, CEO and MD
• Aleksander Ceferin re-elected UEFA president unopposed until 2027
Weekly Notes (3 April -8 April): States Affairs-I
• Sheenu Jhawar becomes the first woman President of TiE Rajasthan
• Nagaland to host B20 Conferences in North East Region from 4 April

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• World-famous 'Basohli Painting' from Jammu gets GI tagging

• Telangana govt launches 'cool roof' policy to beat the heat
• Rajasthan CM approves subsidy for first-ever women’s cooperative fund
Weekly Notes (3 April -8 April): States Affairs-II
• UP's Banarasi Paan, three other Varanasi-based goods receive GI Tag
• Govt successfully conducts Social audits in all Gram Panchayats of J&K
• UP govt to set up UP Education Service Selection Commission
• 'Mircha' rice of Bihar's West Champaran gets GI tag
• Ladakh Wood Carving gets GI Tag, becomes 1st from J&K region
Weekly Notes (3 April -8 April): Days & Events-II
• International Day of Mine Awareness: 4 April
• National Maritime Day: 5 April
• International Day of Conscience: 5 April
• International Day of Sport for Development and Peace: 6 April
• World Health Day: 7 April
8 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• President Murmu takes sortie on Sukhoi 30 MKI aircraft in Assam
• PM Modi flags off Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Train
• Hubble sees possible runaway Black Hole creating a trail of stars
• Centre to appoint agency to fact check content on online platforms
• Russia remains India's top crude oil supplier for 6th straight month
President Murmu takes sortie on Sukhoi 30 MKI aircraft in Assam
• President Droupadi Murmu took a historic sortie in a Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft at the Tezpur
Air Force Station in Assam on 8 April 2023.
• The President, who is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, flew for nearly 30
minutes covering Brahmaputra and Tezpur valley.
• President Murmu is the third President and second woman President to undertake such a sortie.
Know About: Sukhoi Su-30MKI
• The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a twinjet multirole aircraft developed by Russia's Sukhoi and built by
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for the Indian Air Force (IAF)
• India signed a deal with Russia in 2000 to manufacture 140 Su-30 fighter jets.
• The 1st Russian-made Su-30MKI variant was accepted into the IAF in 2002.
• It has a range of 3,000 km with internal fuel which ensures a 3.75 hour combat mission.
PM Modi flags off Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Train
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 8 flagged off the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat
Express train in Hyderabad.

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• Vande Bharat Express from Secunderabad to Tirupati will be running six days a week with regular
services starting from April 9 with bookings already open from April 8 onwards.
• The train stops are at Nalgonda, Guntur, Ongole, and Nellore stations in both directions.
Hubble sees possible runaway Black Hole creating a trail of stars
• According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a supermassive black
hole, weighing as much as 20 million Suns, has left behind a 2,00,000-light-year-long condensed
trail of newborn stars, twice the diameter of the Milky Way galaxy.
• The black hole was seen racing through intergalactic space so fast that, that it could travel from
Earth to the Moon in 14 minutes.
Centre to appoint agency to fact check content on online platforms
• Under the IT Rules amendment notified on 7 April 2023, the union government has announced to
appoint an agency to fact check false and misleading information related to government business
on digital platforms.
• The amended rules make it obligatory for intermediaries (internet companies) to not publish, share
or host fake, false or misleading information related to the government.
Russia remains India's top crude oil supplier for 6th straight month
• Russia remains the top supplier of crude oil to India for the last six consecutive months, from
October 2022 to March 2023.
• During March, Russia supplied 1.64 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil to India, surpassing
traditional suppliers such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
• Russia had supplied 68,600 bpd of crude oil to India in March 2022.
Amit Mishra becomes oldest bowler to take a wicket in IPL
• Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) leg-spinner Amit Mishra has become the oldest bowler to take a
wicket in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.
• He has the most hat-tricks (3) in the IPL, took a two-wicket haul in his full quota of overs during
the match to take his wickets tally to 168.
• He made his debut for LSG at the age of 40, became the second oldest player to feature IPL after
MS Dhoni.
Government announces new rules for online gaming
• The union government, on 7 April 2023, released new rules for online gaming which prohibit any
game that involves betting and wagering, and entail a framework of multiple self-regulatory
organisations (SROs).
• Online games involved in wagering or betting will fall foul of new online gaming rules.
• There will be multiple SROs, and these SROs will have participation from all the stakeholders.
NASA launches air pollution monitoring instrument TEMPO

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• The American space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in
collaboration with SpaceX launched an air-quality monitor called the TEMPO (Tropospheric
Emissions Monitoring of Pollution) instrument on April 7, 2023.
• It is the first space-based tool to monitor major air pollutants hourly in high spatial resolution in
the North American region.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the U.S.
federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space
research.
• NASA supports the International Space Station and oversees the development of the Orion
spacecraft.
• Founder: Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA
• Founded: 29 July 1958
RBI launches centralised portal PRAVAAH for licencing and approval
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched a secured web-based centralized portal named
'PRAVAAH' (Platform for Regulatory Application, Validation, And Authorisation) to simplify and
streamline application processes.
• The portal will show time limits for deciding on the applications/approvals sought.
• It will bring greater efficiencies into regulatory processes for the regulated entities of RBI.
Chinese company Space Pioneer successfully launches Tianlong-2 rocket
• Chinese company Space Pioneer successfully launched its Tianlong-2 rocket into orbit from the
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia in April 2023.
• It has become the first Chinese private launch firm to achieve orbit with a liquid propellant rocket.
• The non-reusable Tianlong-2 rocket, or "Heavenly Dragon" in Chinese, was developed by Beijing
Tianbing, also known as Space Pioneer.
Govt sanctions 40.82 cr loans worth ₹23.2 lakh cr under MUDRA Scheme
• Union govt, on 8 April 2023, said that it has sanctioned more than 40.82 crore loans worth ₹23.2
lakh crore under Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) since its inception.
• About 68% of accounts under the scheme belong to women entrepreneurs and 51% of accounts
belong to entrepreneurs of SC/ST and OBC categories.
• It aims to provide collateral-free loans to micro-enterprises in the country.
Know About: PM MUDRA Yojana (PMMY)
• Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) is a scheme launched by PM Narendra Modi on April 8,
2015, for providing loans up to 10 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.
• The MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency) bank was established as a public
sector financial institution in 2015.
• It provides loan under 3 categories dubbed as “Shishu,” “Kishore,” and “Tarun,”.

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Maharashtra govt forms panel to make rules for app-based taxi services
• Maharashtra govt, in April 2023, formed a six-member committee to prepare draft rules for app
and web-based cab aggregators like Ola and Uber.
• It is in accordance with the letter issued by the Union ministry for Road Transport and Highways
asking states to implement the Motor Vehicle Aggregators Guidelines 2020.
• IAS officer Sudhirkumar Shrivastava (retd) is the chairman of the committee.
8 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• RBI imposes penalty on M&M Financial Services and Indian Bank
• ‘Subby’ Subramaniam appointed Warrant Officer of UK’s RAF
• Indian Rafales to take part in French multinational exercise 'orion'
• Indian Navy conducts offshore security exercise ‘Prasthan’ in Mumbai
• Kalikesh Singh Deo takes charge as NRAI president
RBI imposes penalty on M&M Financial Services and Indian Bank
• The Reserve Bank of India has imposed a fine of ₹6.77 crores on Mahindra & Mahindra Financial
Services Ltd and on Indian Bank, a penalty of ₹55 lakhs for non-compliance with norms.
• Indian Bank was penalized for contravention of certain Know Your Customer (KYC)) norms.
• RBI penalized Mahindra Financial Services for not disclosing interest rates to borrowers at the
time of sanctioning loans.
‘Subby’ Subramaniam appointed Warrant Officer of UK’s RAF
• Indian origin ‘Subby’ Subramaniam has been appointed as Warrant Officer of the United
Kingdom (UK’s) Royal Air Force in April 2023.
• The role involves advising the Chief of the Air Staff on matters related to RAF personnel.
• Subramaniam takes over from Warrant Officer Jake Alpert.
• In 2021, he was appointed as the inaugural Command Warrant Officer to the United Kingdom
Space Command.
Indian Rafales to take part in French multinational exercise 'orion'
• Indian Rafale fighter will participate in a French military exercise ''Orion 2023" in France in April
2023.
• Orion 2023 is a multi-dimensional wargame that includes ground troops, warships including
aircraft carriers and combat aircraft.
• Over 7,000 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) troops will take part in the drill involving
the land forces of their NATO allies.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• It is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 European and two North American states.
• The organization implemented the North Atlantic Treaty, signed in Washington, D.C., on 4 April
1949.
• The organization's motto is animus in consulted liber (Latin for "a mind unfettered in deliberation").

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• Secretary General: Jens Stoltenberg

• Founded: 4 April 1949
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Indian Navy conducts offshore security exercise ‘Prasthan’ in Mumbai
• The Indian Navy conducted the offshore security exercise 'Prasthan' to control contingencies that
may occur in oil production platforms.
• The current exercise was conducted on the Greatdrill Chaaya platform about 30 kilometer South
West of Mumbai harbour.
• A number of ships and helicopters from the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard
were deployed for the exercise.
Know About: Indian Navy
• It is the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces.
• The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy.
• The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy.
• As of March 2023, It has a fleet of 150 ships and submarines and 300 aircraft.
• Founded: 26 January 1950
• Chief of the Naval Staff: Admiral R. Hari Kumar
• Motto: "Shaṁ No Varunaḥ"
Second meeting of G20 Development Working Group held at Kumarakom
• The Second meeting of the G20 Development Working Group is being held in Kumarakom, Kerala
from 6-9 April 2023.
• The delegates highlighted the importance of digital technologies for the 2030 Agenda and the
need for digital transformation for social development.
• The session was focused on "Transformative Transitions through Data for Development."
IFC to stop funding new coal-powered electricity projects
• The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has issued an update to its Green Equity Approach
(GEA) policy saying that it will no longer grant loan to support new coal projects.
• In 2020, IFC unveiled a policy that required its clients to reduce their exposure to coal projects by
2025 and to zero by 2030.
• It has given loans of about $5 billion to about 88 financial institutions in India.
Kalikesh Singh Deo takes charge as NRAI president
• Senior Vice President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo assumed charge as the President of the
National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on 6 April 2023.
• He replaced Raninder Singh, who was elected NRAI president in September 2021.
• The Sports Ministry issued a directive that the heads of National Sports Federations (NSFs) cannot
hold office for more than 12 years as per the National Sports Code.
Delhi's IGI enters the busiest airports club, ranks 9 in world

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• Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport has entered the club of the world's top 10 busiest
airports by passenger traffic, as per Airports Council International (ACI).
• The global trade association of Airports ranked the Delhi airport at the ninth spot for 2022 when
the airport handled almost 5.95 crore passengers.
• Atlanta International Airport ranked the busiest airport on the list.
Israel launches new Ofek-13 spy satellite into orbit
• Israel successfully launched a new spy satellite, named Ofek-13, into orbit on April 5th, 2023.
• The satellite, Ofek-13, launched from the Palmachim Airbase in central Israel, is intended to
provide advanced intelligence capabilities to the Israeli military and intelligence agencies.
• It is the latest addition to Israel’s Ofek series of spy satellites, which have been in operation since
1988.
Know About: Israel
• It is a Middle Eastern country located on the Mediterranean Sea.
• After a civil war between Palestinian Arab forces and the Yishuv, Israel declared independence
on 14 May 1948 at the termination of the British Mandate.
• Capital: Jerusalem
• Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu
• Population: 93.6 lakhs
• Official language: Hebrew
• President: Isaac Herzog
President Murmu attends platinum jubilee celebration of Gauhati HC
• President Droupadi Murmu on 8 April 2023 attended the 75th-anniversary celebrations of the
Gauhati High Court in Assam.
• On the occasion, she launched a mobile app ‘Bhoroxa’ made for the safety of women and elderly
people.
• The Gauhati High Court was promulgated by the governor-general of India on 1 March 1948 after
the Government of India Act 1935 was passed.
Shah Rukh Khan tops 2023 TIME100 Reader Poll
• Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has secured the top position in Time Magazine's poll for its annual
TIME100 list, released on 7 April 2023.
• In the poll, the magazine readers vote for the individuals they believe deserve a spot on TIME’s
annual list of the most influential people.
• The actor won the Poll, beating the likes of Prince Harry, Lionel Messi, and Meta founder Mark
Zuckerberg.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates Kaushambi Mahotsav-2023
• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah inaugurated the Kaushambi
Mahotsav-2023 at Kaushambi in Uttar Pradesh on 7 April 2023.

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• He also inaugurated 70 schemes of the Public Works Department worth Rs.405 crore and 24
projects worth Rs. 51 crores of 12 various departments.
• 3324 players were also awarded under ‘Sansad Khelkood Spardha'.
China’s Yuan replaces dollar as most traded currency in Russia
• China's yuan has replaced the US dollar as the most traded currency in Russia.
• According to data from the Moscow Exchange, the yuan accounted for 23.6% of Russia’s foreign
exchange turnover in the first quarter of 2023.
• In addition, Russia and China have been strengthening their economic ties, with the two countries
deepening their cooperation on trade, investment, and energy.
North Korea test fires underwater nuclear attack drone ‘Haeil-2’
• North Korea tested its second underwater nuclear attack drone “Haeil-2" on April 7, 2023.
• A national defense science research institute in the DPRK carried out a test of an underwater
strategic weapon system from 4-7 April.
• The drone was placed in the ocean near South Hamgyong province as part of the experiment.
• The attack was able to unleash a “radioactive tsunami", claimed the nation.
Map in News: North Korea
• Officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a country in East Asia.
• It constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China, Russia,
and South Korea.
• In 1910, Korea was annexed by the Empire of Japan.
• In 1945, Korea was divided into two zones along the 38th parallel.
• Supreme leader: Kim Jong-un
• Capital: Pyongyang
• Population: 2.6 crores
Today's History
• In 1920, Pandit Ravi Shankar Bhattacharya, renowned Sitar player , was born in Banaras, India.
• In 1934, Mahatma Gandhi suspended his campaign of civil disobedience in India.
• In 1948, The World Health Organization, a specialized agency of the UN, was formally established.
• In 2001, NASA launched the Mars Odyssey spacecraft
7 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• India rises five places to 101 in latest FIFA rankings
• Canara Bank launches premium payroll account package
• Armed Forces conduct multi-domain exercise in Anadaman & Nicobar
• Tesla nominates co-founder JB Straubel for board of directors
• RBI approves expanding UPI transactions to allow credit card payments
India rises five places to 101 in latest FIFA rankings

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• The Indian men's football team, on 6 April 2023, moved up five places to be at the 101st spot in
the Fédération Internationale de football association (FIFA) rankings on 6 April 2023.
• Argentina topped the FIFA ranking for the first time in 6 years.
• France is in the 2nd with Brazil at No.3 while Belgium is in fourth place, with England in fifth,
followed by the Netherlands and Croatia.
Canara Bank launches premium payroll account package
• Canara Bank, on 5 April 2023, introduced the “Premium Payroll Package” for Salary account
holders with competitive features.
• The product has been designed to meet all Banking requirements of Salaried Customers.
• The features such as free Term Life Insurance, Insta over Draft, and Premium Cards are some of
the unique features of the product apart from the other various features offered.
Armed Forces conduct multi-domain exercise in Anadaman & Nicobar
• The Andaman & Nicobar command, on April 5, 2023, held a collaborative military drill named
Exercise ‘KAVACH’ to enhance the coordination among various services.
• The soldiers performed multiple exercises such as amphibious landing, air landing operations,
heliborne operations, and swift insertion of special forces commandos.
• The Andaman & Nicobar Command is India’s sole tri-services unit.
Tesla nominates co-founder JB Straubel for board of directors
• Tesla Inc, on 6 April 2023, announced the nomination of its co-founder and former Chief
Technology Officer, JB Straubel to its board of directors.
• Tesla also appointed Tom Zhu as Senior Vice President for Automotive Operations.
• Tesla is an American multinational automotive and clean energy company headquartered in
Texas, United States.
RBI approves expanding UPI transactions to allow credit card payments
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), on 6 April 2023, approved the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
transactions through credit cards.
• Currently, UPI allows transactions by linking customers' debit cards to their savings or current
accounts.
• UPI currently accounts for 75% of retail digital payments volume in India.
• The RBI permitted the linking of RuPay credit cards to UPI in June 2022.
Meta releases AI model "SAM" that can identify items within images
• Facebook parent Meta released an artificial intelligence (AI) model Segment Anything Model
(SAM) that can pick out the different items within the photographs.
• It can identify the objects within images and videos - even in cases where it had not encountered
those items in its training.
• By using SAM, the objects can be selected by clicking on them or writing text prompts.
Global temperature in March 2023 was second highest for the month

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• Global temperature in March 2023 was the second highest for the month on record.
• The scorching heat was linked with the shrinking of Antarctic sea ice to its second-lowest extent,
according to the European Union’s (EU) climate monitoring agency.
• Satellite images show Antarctic sea ice extent was 28% below average and has reached a 45-
year low.
Union Cabinet approves Indian Space Policy, 2023
• The Union Cabinet approved a new space policy for 2023 on 6 April 2023.
• It also approved the establishment of the world's third Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave
Observatories (LIGO) gravity wave observatory at Hingoli in Maharashtra at a cost of Rs 2,600
crore.
• The project will be piloted by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Department of
Science and Technology (DST).
Centre extends ceasefire agreements with three Naga groups for one yea
• Union govt announced to extend the ceasefire agreement with three Naga groups for a period of
one year.
• The groups include the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-NK (NSCN-NK), National Socialist
Council of Nagaland-Reformation (NSCN-R) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland-K-
Khango (NSCN-K-Khango).
• It will be effected from 28th April, 2023 to 27th April, 2024.
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurates two-day 'Gaj Utsav' in Assam
• The President of India Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 'Gaj Utsav-2023' at the Kaziranga
National Park in Assam on April 7, 2023.
• The celebration encompasses Elephants' role in ecology, as an integral part of our religion,
mythology, and literature.
• The festival is being organized by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Ministry of Environment,
Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
National Pension Scheme, Atal Pension Yojana enrollments cross 1.35 cr
• Total enrolments under various schemes of National Pension System (NPS) and Atal Pension
Yojana (APY) have crossed one crore 35 lakh margin during the Financial Year 2022-23.
• With cumulative enrolment of over 10 lakh subscribers, NPS Private and NPS Corporate
accounted for about 60%.
• The Finance Ministry stated that the number of subscriber enrolments under APY was over 1.19
crore.
Know About: National Pension Scheme
• It is a pension scheme sponsored by the govt of India that was started in 2004 for all government
employees.
• The scheme was made open to all citizens in 2009 between the ages of 18 and 65.
• It is a voluntary and long-term retirement scheme.

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• It is regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and Central
Government.
• Personnel from the armed forces are exempted.
India hosts 6.19 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2022
• According to the report released by Bureau of Immigration, India received 6.19 million Foreign
Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) during 2022 as compare to 1.52 million during the same period of 2021.
• Ministry of Tourism, under its Schemes of Swadesh Darshan provides central financial assistance
to State Governments for development of tourism infrastructure to provide an enriching tourism
experience.
World Health Day: 7 April
• World Health Day is celebrated every year on 7 April to draw attention to a specific health topic
of concern to people all over the world.
• In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) held the First World Health Assembly.
• The date of 7 April marks the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948.
• The theme for World Health Day 2023 is 'Health for All".
World Health Organization (WHO)
• The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for
international public health.
• It has six regional offices and 150 field offices worldwide.
• The headquarter in Geneva was designed by Jean Tschumi and inaugurated in 1966.
• Founded: 7 April 1948
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Director-General: Tedros Adhanom
Sarnbanada Sonowal Flags Off International Yoga Mahotsav in Dibrugarh
• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal attended Yoga Mahotsav 2023 at Dibrugarh University,
Assam.
• Yoga Mahotsav commemorates 75 days countdown to the International Day of Yoga on June 21.
• In March 2023, Union Minister inaugurated a three-day event named Yoga Mohotsav 2023 in New
Delhi.
• 100 City and 100 Organisations are participating in the 100-day countdown to promote yoga.
(ANI)
Tripura become the best performer in the northeast in e-procurement
• Tripura emerged as the best performer among the northeastern state in e-procurement and was
awarded jointly by the Ministry of Finance and Electronic & Information Technology on 6 April
2023.
• It was recognized for good performance in various sectors like Soubhagya Yojana, empowerment
of panchayats, etc.
• Tripura has made e-procurement in the purchase of all services above Rs 25,000 mandatory.

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7 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines

• Argentina become world number one football team in FIFA Rankings 2023
• Bimonthly RBI monetary policy report keep repo rates unchanged at 6.5%
• Mukesh Ambani becomes richest sports owner in Forbes Billionaire List
• 5 Indian-origin women feature in US Finance List 2023
• Aleksander Ceferin re-elected UEFA president unopposed until 2027
Argentina becomes world number one football team in FIFA Rankings 2023
• Argentina topped the FIFA ranking for the first time in over six years, released by the Fédération
Internationale de football association (FIFA) on 6 April 2023.
• France is on the 2nd with Brazil at No.3 while Belgium is in fourth place, with England in fifth,
followed by the Netherlands, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.
• The next FIFA World Ranking will be published on 20 July 2023.
Map in News: Argentina
• It is a country in South America.
• It is the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourth-largest country in the
Americas, and the eighth-largest country in the world.
• Argentina claims sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, Georgia, and the Sandwich Islands.
• Capital: Buenos Aires
• Currency: Argentine Peso
• Official language: Spanish
• President: Alberto Fernández
Bimonthly RBI monetary policy report keep repo rates unchanged at 6.5%
• The RBI monetary policy committee (MPC), on 6 April 2023, announced to keep the policy repo
rate unchanged at 6.50 percent.
• RBI also marginally raises Real Gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2023-24 to 6.5% from
an earlier estimate of 6.4 percent.
• The standing deposit facility (SDF) would remain unchanged at 6.25%.
• Retail inflation is expected to moderate to 5.2 per cent in FY2023-24.
Mukesh Ambani becomes richest sports owner in Forbes Billionaire List
• Mukesh Ambani was named the richest sports owner in the Forbes Billionaires 2023 list, released
on 5 April 2023.
• With a net worth of $83.4 billion, he also regained his spot as Asia's richest person in the list.
• According to the list, the 25 richest people in the world are worth a collective $2.1 trillion.
• With $211 billion net worth, Bernard Arnault tops the list for the first time.
5 Indian-origin women feature in US Finance List 2023

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• Five Indian-origin women executives have featured in Barron's prestigious annual '100 Most
Influential Women in US Finance' list for achieving positions of prominence in the financial
services industry.
• Anu Aiyengar from J.P. Morgan, Ariel Investment's Rupal J. Bhansali, Sonal Desai of Franklin
Templeton, Goldman Sach's Meena Flynn and Savita Subramanian from Bank of America are in
the list.
Aleksander Ceferin re-elected UEFA president unopposed until 2027
• Aleksander Ceferin, on 6 April 2023, was re-elected as the Union of European Football
Associations (UEFA) president unopposed at the Ordinary Congress of UEFA held in Lisbon,
Portugal.
• He was first elected as UEFA’s seventh president in 2016 and will serve another four-year term
until 2027.
• Ceferin succeeded Michel Platini in 2016 after he was banned from the football administration.
Weightlifter Sanjita Chanu banned for 4 years by NADA
• Two-time Commonwealth Games winner Sanjita Chanu has been banned for four years by India's
National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) on 6 April 2023.
• The ban was imposed after Chanu tested positive for the anabolic-androgenic steroid
Drostanolone, banned by WADA.
• Drostanolone is primarily used to treat breast cancer in women but is also used by athletes as a
performance-enhancing drug.
National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)
• It is India's national organisation responsible for promoting, coordinating, and monitoring the
doping control program in sports in all its forms.
• The agency deals with adopting and implementing anti-doping rules and was formed by the
Union Government under the societies Registration Act.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founded: 24 November 2005
• Chairman: Minister of Sports (India)
Indian-American physician awarded young urologist of the year award
• Dr. Nitya Abraham, an Indian-American physician, and professor honored with the Young
Urologist of the Year Award by the American Urological Association (AUA) on 6 April 2023.
• She is serving as the Chair of the Executive Curriculum Committee for the Albert Einstein College
of Medicine.
• She is also a member of the Society for Urodynamics and Social Media Committee.
Global trade growth expected to grow at 1.7% in 2023: WTO
• The world trade organization (WTO) on 5th April 2023 revised its global trade growth outlook for
2023 upwards to 1.7% from October 2023 estimate of 1%.
• As per the report, the global trade growth for 2024 is expected to be 3.2 percent.

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• Global commodity trade volumes are expected to grow by 1.7 percent in 2023, following a 2.7
percent increase in 2022.
Know About: World Trade Organisation (WTO)
• It was set up on 1st January 1995 replacing the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT).
• Its main purpose is to promote rule based trading systems in the world and it also settles trade
related disputes between the member countries.
• There are 164 member countries.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Director General: Dr Ngozi -Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria
SAI integrates Khelo India games certificates with DigiLocker
• The Sports Authority of India (SAI) integrated Khelo India Games Certificates with DigiLocker on
6 April 2023.
• The Khelo India Games participating athletes and other stakeholders will now be able to access
their certificates of merit and participation from the Khelo India Youth Games 2022 in Madhya
Pradesh onwards.
• DigiLocker is an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY).
Union cabinet approves revised domestic gas pricing guidelines
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved
the revised domestic natural gas pricing guidelines on 6 April 2023.
• The price of such natural gas shall be 10% of the monthly average of Indian Crude Basket and
shall be notified on a monthly basis.
• The new guidelines are intended to ensure a stable pricing regime for domestic gas consumers.
Amit Shah unveils 54 feet high statue of Lord Hanuman in Gujarat
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on 6 April 2023, unveiled a 54-feet-tall statue of Lord Hanuman
at Sarangpur temple in Botad district, Gujarat.
• He inaugurated it on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti.
• He also inaugurated the new Community Kitchen of the temple on 6 April 2023 which can serve
nearly 4 thousand pilgrims at a time.
Know Abour: Gujarat
• It is a state along the western coast of India.
• Its coastline of about 1,600 km is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar
peninsula.
• It is the fifth-largest Indian state by area and the ninth-most populous state.
• Founded: 1 May 1960
• Capital: Gandhinagar
• Governor: Acharya Devvrat
• Chief minister: Bhupendrabhai Patel
• Population: 6.27 crores

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Iran & Saudi Arabia hold 1st meeting in over 7 years in China
• The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia on 6 April 2023 held their first official meeting in
over seven years.
• The meeting took place in China's Beijing.
• This comes after the two countries agreed to end years of tensions and restore ties in a deal
brokered by China last month.
• Saudi Arabia cut ties with Iran seven years ago after crowds stormed its embassy in Tehran.
6 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• India gets elected to UN Statistical Commission
• RBI to develop online portal for unclaimed deposits of all banks
• IGI ranked world's 9th busiest airport
• Ukranian President awarded Poland's highest honour
• Apple Inc. To Open Its First India Store In Mumbai
Today's History
• In 1919, Mahatma Gandhi declared an All India Strike against the Rowlatt Act
• In 1942, During the second world war, for the first time Japanese air-bombers attacked India, and
the mainland took place at Visakhapatnam.
• In 1966, Mihir Sen, first Indian swimmer to achieve many remarkable feats, swam across the 'Palk
Strait'
• In 2000, The Government permits use of LPG as auto fuel.
India gets elected to UN Statistical Commission
• India was elected by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as a member of the UN
Statistical Commission, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and the Programme Coordinating
Board of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
• In a highly competitive election for membership to the Statistical Commission, India secured an
overwhelming 46 out of 53 votes in a secret ballot.
Quick Facts: UN Statistical Commission
• It is a subsidiary body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
• Its main purpose is to provide a platform for the coordination of international statistical activities
and to promote the development of reliable and timely statistics to support policy-making at the
national and international levels
• Founded: 1947
• Chair: Shigeru Kawasaki (Japan)
RBI to develop online portal for unclaimed deposits of all banks
• The Reserve Bank informed said a centralised portal will be developed to access details of
unclaimed deposits by depositors or their beneficiaries across various banks.

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• About Rs 35,000 crore unclaimed deposits as of February 2023 were transferred to RBI by public
sector banks (PSBs) in respect of deposits which were not operated for 10 years or more.
Chile keen to assist India on lithium capacity development
• Chile is keen to partner with India in exploring the possibilities offered by the discovery of the
estimated 5.9-million-tonne reserve of lithium in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir
• Chile is the world’s largest producer of lithium, accounting for nearly 48% of the world’s total
lithium reserves.
• India is looking to reduce its dependence on Chinese imports.
Map in News: Chile
• Chile is a long narrow country which extends like a ribbon down the west coast of South America.
• Chile is known for its diverse geography, including the Andes mountain range, the Atacama
Desert, and the coastline along the Pacific Ocean.
• Capital: Santiago
• Continent: South America
• Official language: Spanish
UN to start taking deep-sea mining applications from July 2023.
• The International Seabed Authority will start accepting applications in July for deep-sea mining.
• Deep-sea mining would extract cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese
• The ISA has the authority to issue permits to companies that wish to conduct mining operations
in international waters, but the lack of a mining code has resulted in uncertainties about the
application review process.
Know About: International Seabed Authority
• It is an intergovernmental organization established under the United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to regulate all mineral-related activities in the international seabed
area beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, which covers about 50% of the Earth's surface.
• Headquarters: Kingston, Jamaica
• Founded: 16 Nov 1994
Apple Inc. To Open Its First India Store In Mumbai
• Apple iPhone maker’s first company-owned store in the country will be opened at Mumbai.
• The store will be named as Apple-BKC
• The move is part of the company’s landmark move to place big bets on the South Asian nation
for everything from manufacturing to sales.
Kerala tops GI tag list in FY 2022-23
• Kerala has topped the list of States in the country with the most number of products securing the
Geographical Indication (GI) tag in FY23
• Between April 2022 and March 2023, 12 products were selected for the recognition with two of
them from overseas.

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• Besides the 6 products from Kerala, Mithila Makhanafrom Bihar was selected for Cl recognition
followed by Alibag white onion from Maharashtra.
Ukranian President awarded Poland's highest honour
• Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky has been awarded the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's
highest distinction
• He was awarded for his services to security, resilience and the defense of human rights.
• The Order of the White Eagle is the oldest and highest decoration of the Republic of Poland,
awarded for great civil and military merits for the country.
Dhoni, Yuvraj inducted with the MCC honorary life membership
• MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Mithali Raj among five Indians to receive MCC’s honorary life
membership.
• Suresh Raina was also selected for the membership.
• Among the former India women’s cricketers, former India captain Mithali Raj and veteran pacer,
Jhulan Goswami were also honored by the MCC.
IGI ranked world's 9th busiest airport
• Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has entered the club of the world’s top 10 busiest
airports by passenger traffic, as per Airports Council International (ACI).
• The global trade association of airports ranked the Delhi airport at the 9th spot for 2022, the
airport handled almost 5.95 crore passengers.
• As per ACI data, the Delhi airport handled almost 5.95 crore passengers in 2022.
Prez Droupadi Murmu honours Sudha Murty, Keeravaani, Raveena & others
• Author and philanthropist Sudha Murty, music director M M Keeravaani, who bagged India's first
Oscar for an original song for the RRR song 'Naatu Naatu' and Bollywood actor Raveena Tandon
were among those who were conferred the Padma awards by President Droupadi Murmu at
Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi.
• Sudha Murty was awarded for Social Work, Raveena Tandon was awarded for Arts.
6 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• Honda motor appoints Tsutsumu Otani as its new President, CEO and MD
• International Day of Sport for Development and Peace: 6 April
• Jagjivan Ram's 116th birth anniversary celebrated on 5 April
• Govt extends emergency powers of defence forces by 6 months
• Union govt gives approval for installation of 10 nuclear reactors
Honda motor appoints Tsutsumu Otani as its new President, CEO and MD
• Honda Motor Company Limited on 5 April 2023 appointed Tsutsumu Otani as the President, CEO
& Managing Director of Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India.
• He is currently the Vice President at Honda Motor, Japan.
• He will succeed Atsushi Ogata, who returns to Shanghai, China.

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• He started his career with Honda Japan in 1997 and held several leadership positions in the
company.
International Day of Sport for Development and Peace: 6 April
• The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is celebrated annually on 6 April to
drive social change, community development and to foster peace and understanding.
• This date commemorates the inauguration, in 1896, of the first Olympic games of the modern era,
in Athens, (Greece).
• The theme for the 2023 is “Scoring for People and the Planet”.
Jagjivan Ram's 116th birth anniversary celebrated on 5 April
• Babu Jagjivan Ram, populary known as “Babuji”, was a national leader, freedom fighter, and
advocate for social justice.
• He was born on April 5, 1908, in Chandwa village, Bihar to Sobhi Ram and Vasanti Devi.
• His 116th birth anniversary was celebrated on April 5 to commemorates his legacy.
• He also served as India's defence minister during the Indo-Pak war of 1971.
Govt extends emergency powers of defence forces by 6 months
• The Defence Ministry, on 5 April 2023, extended the emergency acquisition powers to the three
defense forces by six months to tackle China's threat.
• The forces now have the power to buy weapons to strengthen preparedness along the China
border.
• It gives power to the armed forces to equip themselves with the necessary weaponry to handle
any conflict or aggression by the enemies on all sides.
Union govt gives approval for installation of 10 nuclear reactors
• The union government, on 5 April 2023, gave its approval for installation of ten nuclear reactors
in the country.
• As per the approval, ten indigenous pressurised heavy water reactors of 700 MW each will be set
up in Karnataka, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
• These reactors are planned to be set up in ‘fleet mode’ progressively by the year 2031 at a cost of
Rs. 1,05,000 crores.
Kim Cotton becomes 1st female to umpire in ICC Men's T20I cricket
• New Zealand’s Kim Cotton, on 5 April 2023, became the 1st woman on-field umpire in a full-
member men’s T20I during New Zealand’s second match against Sri Lanka in Dunedin, New
Zealand.
• She has previously officiated in 54 women’s T20Is besides 24 women’s ODIs since 2018.
• She first marked her presence in the men’s game as a TV umpire in 2020 during India & New
Zealand T20I series in Hamilton.
International Cricket Council (ICC)
• It is the global governing body of cricket.

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• It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from Australia,
England and South Africa.
• It was renamed as the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in
1987.
• Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Motto: Cricket for good.
• Chairman: Greg Barclay
• General Manager: Wasim Khan
Iran appoints first ambassador to UAE in 8 years
• Iran, on 4 April 2023 appointed an ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the first
time since 2016.
• Iran's newly appointed ambassador Reza Ameri had also served in Iran's Foreign Ministry.
• The UAE downgraded relations with Iran after Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran in January 2016
after Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran.
Iran
• Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran and also called Persia, is a country located in Western
Asia.
• It is bordered by Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to
the east.
• Capital: Tehran
• Supreme leader: Ali Khamenei
• Population: 8.79 crores
• Official language: Persian
• President: Ebrahim Raisi
• Islamic Revolution: 11 February 1979
I&B ministry, Amazon sign pact to promote India's creative economy
• Amazon India and the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry on 5 April 2023, signed a pact
to boost India's creative economy.
• As part of the pact, Amazon and the I&B ministry will help build pathways to promote creative
talent in India, create capacity across eminent film and TV institutes, and globally showcase Made
in India creative content.
India Grid commissions its first battery energy storage system
• India Grid Trust on 5 April 2023, commissioned its first battery energy storage system (BESS)
project at the Dhule substation in Maharashtra.
• IndiGrid is the first infrastructure investment trust in the Indian power sector.
• It owns 17 power projects consisting of 46 transmission lines with more than 8,416 ckms (circuit
kilometres) length 100 MW (AC) of solar generation capacity.
Kapil Maheshwari named CEO of Welspun New Energy
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• Welspun Enterprises Ltd (WEL), on 5 April 2023, appointed Kapil Maheshwari as CEO and
executive director of its wholly-owned subsidiary Welspun New Energy Limited.
• He has over 20 years of experience in solar energy, storage technologies, power electronics, and
green hydrogen space in India, the US, Germany, and various regions.
• Prior to joining Welspun, He was part of Reliance Industries.
Govt unveils plans to add 250GW renewable energy in next 5 years
• The central government on 5 April 2023 announced a plan to add 250 Gigawatt (GW) of
renewable energy capacity in the next five years to achieve its target of 500 GW of clean energy
by 2030.
• Govt has decided to invite bids for 50 GW of renewable energy capacity annually for the next
five years.
• It also include setting up of wind power capacity of at least 10 GW per annum.
Suzlon board appoints J P Chalasani as Chief Executive Officer
• The clean energy solution provider Suzlon Energy, appointed JP Chalasani as the new chief of the
company on 5 April 2023.
• He was the Group CEO of Suzlon Energy from April 2016 to July 2020.
• In 40 years of career, Chalasani has worked in companies like Lloyd, Reliance, NTPC, etc.
• He has a vast experience in the public and private sectors across the entire gamut of the power
sector.
Ladakh Wood Carving gets GI Tag, becomes 1st from J&K region
• Ladakh Wood Carving of Ladakh (UT) received Geographical Indication (GI) Tagging, a first of its
kind in the Jammu region.
• The process for GI Tagging of these products was started by National Bank for Agriculture and
Rural Development (NABARD) in consultation with and support from the Department of
Handicrafts and Handloom in December 2020.
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
• It is an apex regulatory body for overall regulation of regional rural banks and apex cooperative
banks in India.
• It is under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• It was established on the recommendations of B. Sivaramman Committee on 12 July 1982 to
implement the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act 1981.
• Chairman: Shaji K V
• Headquarters: Mumbai
Former Israel PM Ehud Barak confirms country has nuclear weapons
• Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak confirmed on 5 April 2023, that Israel has nuclear weapons.
• The Dimona nuclear research facility, officially called the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research
Center, is widely believed to house Israel’s alleged nuclear weapons program.
• Israel is estimated to have about 200 nuclear warheads.

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5 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines

• India & Bhutan plan to set up first Integrated Check Post along border
• B20 Conferencefor global business community to take place in Nagaland
• Jal Jeevan Mission Achieves 60% Coverage Milestone.
• India Justice Report 2022: Karnataka Tops among 18 States
• UP govt to set up UP Education Service Selection Commission for appointments of teachers
India & Bhutan plan to set up first Integrated Check Post along border
• PM Narendra Modi and King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck held a bilateral
meeting in New Delhi on April 5.
• Both countries are examining and considering setting up the first Integrated Check Post along
the India-Bhutan border, which would be near Jaigaon.
• India and Bhutan will also expedite the proposed Kokrajhar-Gelephu rail link project through
Govt. of India support.
B20 Conference for global business community to take place in Nagaland
• Nagaland will host the B20 Conference in Kohima on April 5.
• The conference is the fourth and final leg of B20 events organised in the NE as part of the G20
dialogue forum for the global business community.
• The theme of the B20 conference is Opportunities for Multilateral Business Partnership in
Agriculture and Food Processing, Tourism and IT.
Govt disburses incentives for PLI Scheme for Drones & Drone Components
• The Government has disbursed an amount of 30 crore rupees to beneficiaries during 2022-23
under the PLI Scheme for Drones and Drone Components.
• As per Civil Aviation Ministry the Production Linked Incentive scheme for drones and drone
components in September 2021 to promote the indigenous drone industry.
• The coverage of the scheme also includes developers of drone-related software.
Paris to ban e-scooters
• Paris banned e-scooters on its streets.
• The ban comes after months of intense debate on the subject as the number of accidents
involving e-scooters or trottinette has continued to rise in the past few years.
• The reason being that people are recklessly riding the battery-powered vehicles, flouting traffic
rules and causing severe accidents.
Webb telescope discovers oldest galaxies ever observed
• The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered the four most distant galaxies ever observed,
one of which formed just 320 million years after the Big Bang when the universe was still in its
infancy.
• The galaxies date from 300 to 500 million years after the Big Bang more than 13 billion years ago
• The galaxy was named JADES-GS-z13-0 and was formed 320 million years after the Big Bang.

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Know About: James Webb Space Telescope

• The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large, infrared-optimized space telescope set to
launch in 2021.
• It is a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space
Agency (CSA), and is named after James E. Webb, who served as NASA administrator during the
1960s.
Jal Jeevan Mission Achieves 60% Coverage Milestone
• Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, 60% of rural households have access to clean drinking water
through taps.
• It added 23.4 million households in the fiscal year ended 2022-23.
• Of India’s total of 190.4 million rural households, 116 million now have a functioning water tap.
• Of India’s total of 190.4 million rural households, 116 million now have a functioning water tap.
Quick Facts: Jal Jeevan Mission
• It was announced by the PM Narendra Modi on 15th August, 2019
• Its aim is to provide all rural households with adequate quantity (55 lpcd) water of prescribed
quality in adequate pressure, on regular and long-term basis
• The overall financial commitment for Jal Jeevan Mission is INR 3600 billion (US $43.80 billion)
which makes it one of the largest welfare programmes in the world.
India Justice Report 2022: Karnataka Tops among 18 States
• In the recently released India Justice Report 2022 Karnataka topped among 18 large States in
delivery of justice.
• Tamil Nadu has ranked in second position; Telangana third.
• Uttar Pradesh is ranks lowest at 18.
• This report is based on overall data of 4 pillars of justice delivery namely Police, Judiciary, Prisons,
and Legal Aid.
'Mircha' rice of Bihar's West Champaran gets GI tag
• Mircha' rice of Bihar's West Champaran has been awarded the GI tag.
• The size and shape of the grain appear like that of black pepper, hence it is known as Mircha or Marcha Rice.
• The grains and flakes of this rice have a unique aroma that makes it different.
• This rice is famous for its aroma, palatability and its aromatic chura (rice flakes) making qualities.
UP govt to set up UP Education Service Selection Commission
• The UP government has decided to set up UP Education Service Selection Commission for the
recruitment of teachers in the state.
• CM Yogi Adityanath gave necessary guidelines regarding the setting up of the autonomous
commission which will select teachers in secondary, higher and technical colleges in the state
• The new commission will also conduct the UP Teachers Eligibility Test (UPTET) exam.
Govt successfully conducts Social audits in all Gram Panchayats of J&K

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• Government has successfully conducted Social audits in all the 4291 Gram Panchayats of the UT
of Jammu and Kashmir to improve transparency and accountability in the implementation of
various Government schemes and programmes.
• The Department has also widened the ambit of Social audit in the UT by including SBM (G) and
PMAY (G) under its purview from 1st March, 2023.
Today History
• In 1919, India's first modern shipping company Scindia Steam Navigation's first ship 'Liberty'
started its journey.
• In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi reached Dandi from Sabarmati Ashram.
• In 1949,Bharat Scouts and Guides were established.
• In 1957, The first Communist ministry in a state was installed in Kerala.
• In 1979, First Naval Museum of India established in Bombay.
Finland joins NATO as 31st Ally
• Finland became NATO’s newest member today (4 April 2023), upon depositing its instrument of
accession to the North Atlantic Treaty with the United States at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
• The Finnish foreign minister handed the accession document to the US secretary of state who
declared Finland a member.
• Finland's accession is a setback for Russia's Vladimir Putin.
5 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• Skyroot Aerospace test-fires 3D-printed cryogenic engine
• Asian Development Bank cuts India GDP growth forecast to 6.4% for FY24
• International Day of Conscience: 5 April
• PhonePe launches e-commerce app Pincode on ONDC network
• India to buy Hellfire missiles and MK 54 torpedos from the USA
Skyroot Aerospace test-fires 3D-printed cryogenic engine
• Skyroot Aerospace, on 4 April 2023, successfully test-fired a 3D-printed cryogenic engine for a
record 200 seconds.
• The test of ‘Dhawan-II’ was carried out at a propulsion test facility in Nagpur, Maharashtra, using
an indigenously developed mobile cryogenic engine test pad.
• Skyroot's 1st privately developed fully-cryogenic rocket engine, Dhawan-I was successfully test-
fired in Nov 2021.
Asian Development Bank cuts India GDP growth forecast to 6.4% for FY24
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 4 April 2023 slashed its estimate for India’s economic
growth for Financial Year (FY) 2024 to 6.4% from 7.2% forecast in December 2022.
• It estimates the growth rate to be 6.7 per cent in FY25.
• The report said that inflation will decrease to 5% in FY24 and further slow down to 4.5% in FY25
as inflationary pressures subside.

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Know About: Asian Development Bank (ADB)

• It is a regional development bank established on 19 December 1966.
• The bank also maintains 31 field offices around the world to promote social and economic
development in Asia.
• From 31 members at its establishment, ADB now has 68 members.
• Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
• Founded: 19 December 1966
• President: Masatsugu Asakawa (from 17 January 2020)
International Day of Conscience: 5 April
• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) observes the International Day of Conscience every
year on 5 April to recognize the significance of the human conscience.
• The day promotes the need for the creation of peaceful and friendly relations and fundamental
freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, or religion.
• The theme for the year 2023 is "Building a Culture of Peace."
PhonePe launches e-commerce app Pincode on ONDC network
• PhonePe, on 4 April 2023, launched a new consumer-facing application, Pincode, which will be
integrated into India's Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) framework.
• Pincode is launching in six major categories, including grocery, food, pharma, electronics, home
decor, and fashion.
• Customers can search for stores by browsing categories and can have multiple carts at the same
time.
National Maritime Day: 5 April
• Every year, 5th April is celebrated as National Maritime Day in India to spread awareness about
international trade and the economy.
• The day also commemorate the maiden journey of India’s first commercial vessel from Bombay
to London.
• SS Loyalty, the commercial vehicle owned by Scindia Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., marked its
journey from Bombay to London on 5th April 1919.
India to buy Hellfire missiles and MK 54 torpedos from the USA
• India announced the purchase of Hellfire missiles and Mark 54 anti-submarine Torpedoes from
the USA for its mh-60 Romeo multi-role helicopters in April 2023.
• It is also already inducted into the Indian Navy’s P-8I anti-submarine warfare and surveillance
planes.
• India and the US signed a Rs 16,000 crore deal to buy 24 MH-60 Romeo helicopters from
Lockheed Martin in 2020.
Hellfire missiles

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• The Hellfire missile is the primary 100-pound (45 kg) class air-to-ground precision weapon for the
armed forces of the United States.
• It was also developed for precision drone strikes against other target types, especially high-value
targets.
• The development of the Hellfire Missile System began in 1974.
• The AGM-114R "Romeo" Hellfire II entered service in 2012.
PNGRB amends norms to allow unified tariff for natural gas pipelines
• The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has amended its regulations to allow
unified tariffs for natural gas pipelines in April 2023.
• It has notified a levelized unified tariff of ₹73.93 per metric million British thermal units (MMBTU).
• It facilitates the development of gas markets and the vision of the government to increase gas
utilization in the country.
Second G20 Empower meeting begins in Thiruvananthapuram
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the 2nd G20 Empower meeting in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on 4 April 2023.
• It was launched under the theme “Women Empowerment: Win-win for Equality and Economy”.
• The meeting includes various side events that address important issues related to women's safety,
health, wages and insurance.
Bahrain launches 'Golden License' to attract major investment
• Bahrain launched the Golden License Initiative to encourage investment and job creation in the
country on 4 April 2023.
• It offers various benefits, including priority land allotment for investment and streamlined access
to government services such as business licensing and building permit approval.
• The license will also provide support from Tamkin and the Bahrain Development Bank
Bahrain
• Bahrain is an island country in Western Asia.
• It is situated on the Persian Gulf.
• It is the third-smallest nation in Asia after the Maldives and Singapore.
• It is the site of the ancient Dilmun civilization.
• Capital: Manama
• Currency: Bahraini Dinar
• Population: 14.6 lakhs (2021)
• King: Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
• Crown Prince & PM: Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa
UP's Banarasi Paan, three other Varanasi-based goods receive GI Tag
• Uttar Pradesh's Benarasi Paan, on 4 April 2023, received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag from
the government.

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• Banarasi Langda Mango, Ramnagar Bhanta (Brinjal), and Adamchini Rice were also awarded the
GI tag.
• More than 1,000 farmers would receive GI-approved user certificates after registering.
• With this addition, a total of 22 GI-tagged products belong to the Kashi region.
Saudi Arabia, OPEC+ members announce oil production reduction
• The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members including Saudi Arabia,
the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, and Algeria have announced voluntary oil production cuts exceeding one
million barrels per day from May 2023.
• They have described it as a precautionary measure aimed at supporting the stability of the oil
market.
• The decision was made after a drop in oil prices in March 2023.
Today's History
• In 1910, Sri Aurobindo left politics and reached Pondicherry.
• In 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.
• In 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft
• In 1984, Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian Astronaut to go in space.
• In 1990, Lata Mangeshkar won 1989 Dada Saheb Phalke award.
4 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• World Bank revises India's GDP growth forecast to 6.3 percent in FY24
• China announces ‘renaming’ of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh
• Rajasthan Royals signs Fino Payments Bank as Digital Banking partner
• Anjali Sharma conquer Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, wearing Luanchari
• Kenya to launch its first operational satellite on 10 April
China announces ‘renaming’ of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh
• To lay claim to areas inside the Indian territory, the Chinese government on 4 April 2023
announced it would “standardise” the names of 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Releasing a list of the 11 places along with a map that shows parts of Arunachal Pradesh that
China refers to as Zangnan.
• In 2017, the Chinese Ministry of Civilian Affairs put out a similar list of six places.
Rajasthan Royals signs Fino Payments Bank as Digital Banking partner
• Fino Payments Bank, in April 2023, announced that it has renewed its association with Rajasthan
Royals for season 16 of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
• The partnership is expected to provide innovative digital banking solutions to a wider audience.
• In 2023, Fino Bank is also powering a grassroots-level talent hunt called “Cricket Ka Ticket" to
discover India’s next cricketing superstar.
Anjali Sharma conquer Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, wearing Luanchari

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• Anjali Sharma of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, in April 2023, became the first woman to
conquer Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa wearing Luanchari.
• Lunachari is a traditional dress of Himachal Pradesh.
• She has also conquered Hanuman Tibba and Pahar Deo with a height of 6001 meters.
• Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain and the world’s largest free-standing mountain.
Kenya to launch its first operational satellite on 10 April
• The Kenya Space Agency is set to launch the country's first operational earth observation satellite
on 10 April 2023.
• Taifa-1, or one nation in Swahili, is scheduled to be launched on April 10 on board the SpaceX
Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
• In 2018, Kenya launched its first experimental nanosatellite from the International Space Station.
Kenya
• Kenya is a country in East Africa with coastline on the Indian Ocean. It encompasses savannah,
lakelands, the dramatic Great Rift Valley and mountain highlands.
• Chalbi Desert and Nyiri Desert are located in the country.
• Capital: Nairobi
• Currency: Kenyan Shilling
• Population: 5.3 crores
• Official languages: Swahili, English
• President: William Ruto
World Bank revises India's GDP growth forecast to 6.3 percent in FY24
• According to a report released on 4 April 2023 by the World Bank, India's Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) growth is predicted to slow down on April 1 to 6.3% from 6.6% in the fiscal year 2024.
• The World Bank estimated 2023 fiscal year's growth at 6.9%.
• It projected the current account deficit to narrow to 2.1% of gross domestic product for the current
fiscal year from an estimated 3% in 2022.
Know About: World Bank
• It is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of
low- and middle-income countries.
• It was established along with the International Monetary Fund at the 1944 Bretton Woods
Conference.
• President: David Malpass
• Founded: July 1944
• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
• Founders: John Maynard Keynes, Harry Dexter White
Mumbai to soon get fifty 24x7 Food Trucks across seven zones
• Mumbai city will soon get at least 50 food trucks that would function round the clock across all
seven zones in the city.

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• Each of the six zones can now operate as many as seven food trucks, and the seventh zone would
be permitted to operate eight food trucks.
• These food trucks can operate 24×7 and sell any kind of food and they would require permission
from health and fire brigade officials.
India-U.S. air exercise 'Cope India' to begin from 10 April
• The Air Forces of India and the U.S. are set to conduct the Cope India exercise from April 10 to 21,
2023 at the Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal, with Japan as an observer.
• The Indian Air Force is set to field its SU-30MKI, Rafale, and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft.
• The Japanese Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) participated in Cope India as an observer for the
1st time in Dec 2018.
Legendary San Francisco drag performer Heklina passes away
• Legendary San Francisco drag performer Heklina, on 4 April 2023, passed away in London.
• She is also known as Stefan Grygelko.
• She became a fixture of the San Francisco drag community in 1996 hosting the popular weekly
series known as “Mother".
• In 2015, Heklina co-opened the San Francisco drag venue Oasis.
PM addresses 5th International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infra
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 April 2023 addressed the 5th International Conference on
Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) 2023.
• CDRI is an international coalition of countries that aims to promote disaster-resilient
infrastructure.
• The theme of the conference for the year 2023 is ‘Delivering Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructure’.
NASA announces four-member crew for lunar mission Artemis II
• The National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
on 4 April 2023 announced the 4 astronauts who will venture around the Moon on Artemis II.
• The astronauts are Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman of NASA.
• The mission is scheduled to launch in November 2024 and will be the first crewed moon trip in
fifty years.
Rajasthan CM approves subsidy for first-ever women’s cooperative fund
• Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on 3 April 2023, approved a proposal for giving 8% interest
subsidy on loans obtained by the members of women’s self help groups (SHGs) from Mahila Nidhi.
• Mahila Nidhi is the State’s first-ever women’s cooperative fund.
• Established in Jaipur in August 2022, It is operated entirely by women and acts as a
complementary body with the formal banking system.
Telangana govt launches 'cool roof' policy to beat the heat
• Telangana government, on 3 April 2023, launched the 'cool roof' policy to reduce temperatures in
Hyderabad and other urban areas in the State.

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• In the first year, the State government has set a target to ‘cool roof’ an area of 7.5 square
kilometers, including 5 sq km in Hyderabad.
• Cool roofing can be implemented by using paints, tiles, or other materials to reflect sunlight.
Know About: Telangana
• It is a state in southern India.
• On 2 June 2014, the area was separated from the northwestern part of Andhra Pradesh.
• It is bordered by the states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
• As of 2023, it is divided into 33 districts.
• Capital: Hyderabad
• CM: K. Chandrashekar Rao
• Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan
• Literacy: 72.80%
• Sex ratio (2011): 988/1000
4 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• France invites PM Modi for Bastille Day Parade in July 2023
• Georgia becomes 1st US state to pass resolution condemning Hinduphobia
• Daniil Medvedev beats Jannik Sinner to win first Miami Open title
• Bhutan King Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck arrives in India on 3 day visit
• India, Netherlands hold 1st Ministerial-level meeting of JWG in Delhi
France invites PM Modi for Bastille Day Parade in July 2023
• France has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Paris as a guest at the annual Bastille
Day parade on 14 July 2023.
• PM Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to discuss several
major agreements including the Indo-Pacific region, nuclear power, and defense.
• Former PM Manmohan Singh was invited as the Bastille Day parade guest in 2009.
India-Sri Lanka maritime exercise SLINEX 2023 begins in Colombo
• The 10th Edition of the annual India - Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime exercise SLINEX-2023 began
in Colombo on the 3 April 2023.
• The exercise is being conducted in two phases of three days each, the harbor phase and the sea
phase.
• The Indian Navy will be represented by INS Kiltan and INS Savitri, while the Sri Lankan Navy will
be represented by SLNS Vijayabahu and SLNS Samudura.
Georgia becomes 1st US state to pass resolution condemning Hinduphobia
• The Georgia Assembly in the United States of America (USA) on 2 April 2023, passed a resolution
condemning Hinduphobia, making it the first American State to take such a legislative measure.
• Condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry, the resolution said Hinduism is one of the
world's largest and oldest religions with over 1.2 billion adherents in over 100 countries.

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Daniil Medvedev beats Jannik Sinner to win first Miami Open title
• Daniil Medvedev beat Italy’s Jannik Sinner 7-5 6-3 to win the Miami Open on 3 April 2023 for his
fourth title of the year and 19th overall.
• The win marked his first-ever title win at the Miami Open.
• He has also increased his advantage over Novak Djokovic in the ATP year-end rankings by 600
points.
• The Miami Open is a professional tennis tournament held annually in Florida, United States.
The Miami Open Tennis Tournament
• The Miami Open is a tennis tournament held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida,
US.
• It is part of the men's ATP Tour Masters 1000 circuit, and part of the women's WTA 1000 circuit.
• The Miami Open is usually held between March and April.
• The first tournament was held in February 1985 in Florida.
• Since 2015, the international bank Itaú has been the presenting sponsor.
Bhutan King Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck arrives in India on 3 day visit
• Bhutan king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck 3 April 2023 arrived in India for a 3-day visit.
• He was received by External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar at the airport in New Delhi.
• During the visit, the King of Bhutan will meet with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.
• The visit would provide an opportunity for both sides to review the bilateral cooperation.
Know About: Bhutan
• It is a landlocked country known for its monasteries and fortresses.
• It is also known locally as "Druk Yul" or "Land of the Thunder Dragon".
• Vajrayana Buddhism is the state religion and the Je Khenpo is the head of-state religion.
• Capital: Thimphu
• King: Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
• Currencies: Bhutanese Ngultrum, Indian Rupee
• Official language: Dzongkha
India, Netherlands hold 1st Ministerial-level meeting of JWG in Delhi
• India and the Netherlands, on 3 April 2023, held their first Ministerial-level meeting of the Joint
Working Group (JWG) in New Delhi.
• The meeting was chiared by Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
• Both parties reviewed the progress of Indo-Dutch cooperation since the signing of the Strategic
Water Partnership in March 2022.
Netherlands
• It is a country in northwestern Europe.
• The Port of Rotterdam located in the Netherlands is the busiest seaport in Europe.

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• The Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union, Eurozone, and G10.
• Capital: Amsterdam
• Population: 1.75 crores
• Official language: Dutch
• Monarch: Willem-Alexander
• Prime Minister: Mark Rutte
• Liberation Day: 5 May 1945
The 1st India-Central Asia Culture Ministers' meeting held on 3 April
• Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy virtually hosts the 1st India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ Meet
on 3 April 2023.
• The Culture Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan also
participated in the meeting.
• The Ministers presented their perspective to take forward their leaders’ commitment to further
strengthening cultural cooperation in the region.
International Day of Mine Awareness: 4 April
• The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is observed on April 4
every year.
• The day aims to raise awareness about landmines, seek assistance for mine action work, and
advance toward removing them.
• The theme of the year 2023 is “Mine Action Cannot Wait” to spread the spotlight on the
contamination in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
SAIL achieves all-time best annual production in FY 2022-23
• Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has achieved the best-ever annual production during the
financial year 2022-23 ending on 31 March 2023.
• It is a Maharatna public sector unit under the Ministry of Steel, govt of India.
• The company recorded 19.409 Million Tonnes (MT) of hot metal and 18.289 MT of crude steel
production with a growth of 3.6% and 5.3% respectively.
Know About: SAIL
• Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is a public sector undertaking under the govt of India.
• It is the largest government owned steel producer.
• SAIL operates and owns five integrated steel plants at Bhilai, Rourkela, Durgapur, Bokaro and
Burnpur (Asansol).
• It also owns a Ferro Alloy plant at Chandrapur.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• CEO: Soma Mondal (1 Jan 2021–)
• Founded: 24 January 1973
Mahavir Jayanti: 4 April
• Mahavir Jayanti is going to be celebrated on April 4, 2023.

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• It celebrates the birth of Lord Mahavir, the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara in Jainism.
• He was born on the 13th day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra.
• He was born into the Ikshvaku dynasty as the son of King Siddhartha of Kundagrama and Queen
Trishala.
• He was named 'Vardhaman', meaning "One who grows".
Paradip Port handles highest ever annual traffic of 135.36 MMT in FY23
• The Paradip Port has handled its highest-ever annual traffic of 135.36 million metric tonnes (MMT)
in the 2022-23 financial year (FY).
• The port also recorded the highest-ever growth of 19.2 million tonnes (16.56%) of traffic in a single
financial year in its history.
• The Paradip Port offers the world’s cheapest cargo handling charge of Rs 13 per tonne.
World-famous 'Basohli Painting' from Jammu gets GI tagging
• The world-famous Basohli painting from Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district obtained the
Geographical Indication (GI) Tag on 3 April 2023.
• The GI tag to a product, goods or speciality grants legal protection to the original producers and
prevents their unauthorised use by third parties.
• Basohli painting of Kathua is the first independent GI tagged product from Jammu region.
Nagaland to host B20 Conferences in North East Region from 4 April
• Nagaland’s capital Kohima will host Business-20 (B20) Conferences in the North East Region from
April 4-6, 2023.
• The conferences will be held in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and
North Eastern State governments for exploring partnerships among business communities.
• The B20 is the official G20 dialogue forum representing the global business community.
Japan breaks with USA & western allies to buy Russian oil
• Japan has begun purchasing Russian oil at prices above the cap of $60-a-barrel in April 2023.
• According to the report, Japan got the US to agree to the exception.
• The report suggests that Japan is the only Group of Seven nation not to supply lethal weapons to
Ukraine, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was the last G-7 leader to visit Ukraine after Russia’s
invasion.
3 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• Min of Finance issues gazette for Mahila Samman Saving Scheme
• Verstappen beats Hamilton to win Australian Grand Prix
• Eravikulam National Park gets a fernarium
• Reserve Bank of India appoints Neeraj Nigam as executive director
• Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan passes away at 63
Min of Finance issues gazette for Mahila Samman Saving Scheme

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• The Min. of Finance has issued gazette notifications for Mahila Samman Savings Certificates-
2023 scheme.
• The scheme has been made available at all the post offices across the country.
• The 2 year tenure scheme offers a fixed interest of 7.5 % interest compounded quarterly with
flexible investment and partial withdrawal options with a maximum ceiling of 2 lac Rs.

PM Modi inaugurates Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of CBI in New Delhi

• PM Modi inaugurated the newly constructed CBI offices in Shillong, Pune and Nagpur.
• He also released a Postage Stamp and Commemorative Coin marking the Diamond Jubilee
Celebration year of CBI.
• PM Modi also launched the Twitter handle CBI.
• The Central Bureau of Investigation was established by a resolution of the Ministry of Home
Affairs, Government of India dated 1st April 1963.
Know About: Reserve Bank of India
• It was established on 1 April 1935 in accordance with the provisions of the RBI Act, 1935
• It was set up on the basis of the recommendations of the Hilton Young Commission
• It was nationalized in 1949
• It is the bank of India which regulates the monetary market in India
• First Governor: Sir Osborne Smith
• First Indian Governor: C.D. Deshmukh
• Current Governor: Shaktikanta Das
Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan passes away at 63
• He passed on 3rd April 2023.
• He was the Former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court
• He served as the Chief Justice of Telangana, Hyderabad, and Chattisgarh High Courts and was
a judge of the Kerala High Court.
• He chaired the expert committee formed by the Kerala Forest Department to conduct field
studies.

Verstappen beats Hamilton to win Australian Grand Prix

• Max Verstappen, on 3 April 2023, beat Lewis Hamilton to win the Australian Grand Prix 2023.
• This is his 80th podium finish in F1, pulling him level with senna for seventh in the list.
• This victory was Verstappen's maiden win in Melbourne and Red Bull's first in Australia since
Sebastian Vettel's 2011 triumph.
Eravikulam National Park gets a fernarium
• The Eravikulam National Park (ENP) in Kerala had a fernarium set up inside the park.
• Ferns are part of the Epiphytic family.

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• Fern grows naturally in a soilless condition. The plants obtain water and nutrients through
leaching from trees.
• It has 52 varieties of ferns have already been planted in the new Fernarium.
Today's History
• In 1680, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj passed away at Raigarh fort.
• In 1857, Queen Victoria was declared Queen of India also.
• In 1966, the First Indian-made computer was commissioned on the Jadavpur University campus.
• In 1973, The first handheld mobile telephone call was made by an employee of Motorola, who
called AT&T's Bell Laboratories.
Reserve Bank of India appoints Neeraj Nigam as executive director
• Neeraj Nigam has been appointed as Executive Director by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• He will be responsible for overseeing several departments including Consumer Education and
Protection, Financial Inclusion and Development, Legal, and Secretary.
• Before his promotion to ED, Nigam served as the head of the Bhopal Regional Office for the RBI.
Coco Gauff-Jessica Pegula win women’s doubles Miami Open title
• Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula on 2nd April 2023 became the first all-American duo to win the
Miami Open doubles title in 22 years after defeating Leylah Fernandez and Taylor Townsend 7-
6(6), 6-2 in the final.
• The last all-American team to win Miami was Mary Joe Fernandez and Zina Garrison in 1991.

A K Burman takes over as the Chairperson of FICCI Ladies Organisation

• Archana Khosla Burman takes over as the Chairperson of the Mumbai Chapter of the FICCI
Ladies Organisation on 1st April 2023.
• She has been awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 by the Indian Women's Convention.
• Archana Khosla Burman is a Founder Partner of VERTICES PARTNERS.

Ex Israel envoy to India appointed Executive Chairman of Haifa port

• The former Ambassador of Israel to India Ron Malka on 3rd April 2023 has been appointed as
Executive Chairman of Haifa Port Company (HPC).
• In July 2022, Gautam Adani's firm Adani Ports won the tender for the privatization of Israel's Haifa
Port along with its business local partner chemical and logistics group Gadot.
• The Port of Haifa is the second largest port in Israel.
Israel
• It is a Middle Eastern country located on the Mediterranean Sea.
• After a civil war between Palestinian Arab forces and the Yishuv, Israel declared independence
on 14 May 1948 at the termination of the British Mandate.
• Capital: Jerusalem

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• Prime minister: Benjamin Netanyahu

• Population: 93.6 lakhs
• Official language: Hebrew
• President: Isaac Herzog
Centre raises interest rates on small savings schemes except PPF.
• The rate of interest has been increased by 70 basis points which will be applicable from April 1,
2023.
• The revised interest rate is not applicable to the Public Provident Fund (PPF) scheme.
• According to the revised rates, interest for the Senior Citizens Savings Scheme has been raised
from 8% to 8.2%. Similarly, Kisan Vikas Patra has been hiked from 7% to 7.2%.
3 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• Former India all-rounder Salim Durani passes away at the age of 88
• ISRO successfully conducts test of RLV autonomous landing mission
• BoM inaugurates its first dedicated Branch for Start-ups in Pune
• Dr RG Patel appointed as expert member of ART and Surrogacy Board
• India's current account deficit narrows to 2.2% of GDP in 3rd quarter
Former India all-rounder Salim Durani passes away at the age of 88
• Former India cricketer Salim Durani passed away on 2 April 2023, at the age of 88.
• He was instrumental in India defeating England 2-0 in the historic five-match Test series in 1961-
62.
• He featured in 29 Test matches for team India and scored 1,202 runs with an average of 25.04.
• He picked up 75 wickets and 6/73 remained his best bowling figure in an inning.
ISRO successfully conducts test of RLV autonomous landing mission
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the Reusable Launch
Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission from the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Karnataka’s
Chitradurga on 2 April 2023.
• RLV is a space plane with a low lift-to-drag ratio requiring an approach at high glide angles that
necessitated a landing at high velocities of 350 km/h.
BoM inaugurates its first dedicated Branch for Start-ups in Pune
• Bank of Maharashtra (BoM), on 2 April 2023, inaugurated its first dedicated Branch for start-ups
in Pune, Maharashtra.
• The dedicated branch will provide all kinds of support to a startup during its growth journey.
• During the event Bank of Maharashtra signed an MoU with the Small Industries Development
Bank of India (SIDBI) venture capital for proactive financing of start-ups.
Dr RG Patel appointed as expert member of ART and Surrogacy Board

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• Renowned gynecologist and obstetrician, Dr. RG Patel, on 2 April 2023, was appointed as an
expert member of the National Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board by the
union health ministry.
• The board functions under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
• It was formed under the Assisted Reproductive Technology & Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021.
Malayalam novelist and short story writer Sarah Thomas passes away
• Noted short story writer and novelist Sarah Thomas passed away on 1 April 2023.
• She has written 17 novels and more than 100 short stories.
• She has won many awards, including the Kerala Sahitya Academy award.
• Sarah Thomas's novel 'Muripadukal' was made into a movie by PA Bakker called
'Manimuzhakkam'.
• Her novels Asthamayam, Pavizhamuthu, and Archana have also been adapted into films.
India's current account deficit narrows to 2.2% of GDP in 3rd quarter
• As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India's current account deficit declined to USD 18.2 billion
of the Gross domestic product (GDP) in the December quarter of the fiscal year 2022-23.
• Net foreign portfolio investment reported inflows of $4.6 billion in the December quarter as
against an outflow of $5.8 billion in the third quarter of 2021-22.
Rajib K Mishra takes over as Chairman & Managing Director of PTC India
• Rajib K Mishra took over as the Chairman and Managing Director of Power Trading Corporation
of India (PTC ) Limited on 30 March 2023.
• He started working at PTC India Ltd. as the Executive Director in October 2011, overseeing
operations, business development, retail and advisory services.
• He later joined the PTC Board as the Director of Marketing and Business Development on
February 24, 2015.
Indian-origin Amit Kshatriya to head NASA's new Moon to Mars mission
• Indian-American software and robotics engineer, Amit Kshatriya, was appointed as the first head
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA's) Moon to Mars Programme.
• The new office aims to carry out the agency’s human exploration activities on the Moon and Mars
for the benefit of humanity.
• He has previously served as the director of the Space Launch System, Orion.
Know About: NASA
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the U.S.
federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space
research.
• NASA supports the International Space Station and oversees the development of the Orion
spacecraft.
• Founder: Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA

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• Founded: 29 July 1958

US Senate confirms Richard Verma as Deputy Secretary of State
• Indian-American lawyer Richard Verma, in March 2023, was appointed as the Deputy Secretary
of State for Management and Resources by the US Senate.
• He is currently working as the chief legal officer and head of global public policy at Mastercard.
• He previously served as the US ambassador to India, where he held the position from 2015 to 2017.
Vice Admiral SJ Singh takes charge as new Vice Chief of Indian Navy
• Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh assumed the appointment of the Vice Chief of Naval Staff on 01
Apr 2023.
• He is a graduate of the National Defence Academy, Pune, and was commissioned in 1986 in the
Executive Branch of the Indian Navy.
• In recognition of his distinguished service, the Flag Officer was awarded the Nao Sena Medal in
2009, and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2020.
Know About: Indian Navy
• It is the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces.
• The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy.
• The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy.
• As of March 2023, It has a fleet of 150 ships and submarines and 300 aircraft.
• Founded: 26 January 1950
• Chief of the Naval Staff: Admiral R. Hari Kumar
• Motto: "Shaṁ No Varunaḥ"
2nd G20 Employment Working Group meeting begins in Guwahati, Assam
• The second G20 Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting began on 3 April 2023 in Guwahati,
Assam.
• The Summit will focus on three critical areas of global skill gaps; gig and platform economy and
social protection and sustainable financing of social security.
• Foreign delegates, members from 19 member countries, and guest countries participate in the
event.
Sheenu Jhawar becomes the first woman President of TiE Rajasthan
• The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE) Rajasthan, on 2 April 2023, announced Dr. Sheenu Jhawar as its
new President for the two-year term 2023-2025.
• She is the first woman in the 21 years history of TiE Rajasthan to assume this responsibility.
• She replaced Dr. Ravi Modani who has been heading the organization since 2021.
Rajasthan govt approves proposal to set up 3 new medical colleges
• Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, on 2 April 2023, approved a proposal to set up three new
medical colleges in the state.
• The three new medical colleges will be established in Pratapgarh, Jalore, and Rajsamand.

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• As per an official statement, each medical college will be constructed at the cost of Rs 250 crores.
EU's population projected to drop by 6 pc by 2100: Eurostat
• As per the 2023 population projections by Eurostat, the European Union's population will decrease
by 6% between 1 Jan 2022 & 1 Jan 2100.
• The EU's population is projected to peak at 453 million people in 2026, before decreasing to a
projected level of 420 million in 2100.
• The proportion of children and young people is projected to decrease from 20% at the beginning
of 2022 to 18% by 2100.
Italian government seeks to ban English in official communication
• Italy's PM Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party has introduced new legislation which proposes
a fine of up to Euro 100,000 for using any foreign language, especially English, in official
communication.
• It also prohibits the use of English in official documentation, including "acronyms and names" of
job roles in companies operating in the country.
International Affairs-I:
• Poland to be the first NATO country to provide fighter jets to Ukraine
• Li Qiang confirmed as China’s new Premier by the Chinese Parliament
• Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the first submarine base of Bangladesh ‘BNS Sheikh
Hasina’ at Pekua in Cox’s Bazar
• Egypt joins BRICS bank as a new member
• US and UK to provide nuclear-powered submarines for Australia
International Affairs-II:
• Egypt joins BRICS bank as a new member
• North Korea tests underwater nuclear-capable attack drone
• Sri Lanka’s Bank opens an Indian rupee-denominated Nostro account
• Sri Lanka will be the first country in Asia to undergo a governance diagnostic exercise by the
International Monetary Fund.
• Tropical Cyclone Freddy hit the coast of Southern Africa
National Affairs-I:
• India installs world's first bamboo barrier in Maharashtra
• PM Modi unveils the world's longest railway platform in Hubballi-Dharwad
• Rajasthan becomes the first State to pass the Right to Health Bill
• PM Modi inaugurates 118 Km long Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway project
• Mauganj became the 53rd district of Madhya Pradesh
National Affairs-II:
• Bihar has the lowest literacy rate followed by Arunachal and Rajasthan
• The first Labour 20 meeting was held in Amritsar on 19-20 March

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• Central Railway achieves 100% electrification of the entire broad gauge

• India hosted SCO Tourism Ministers' meeting in Varanasi on March 17-18
• ‘Call Before You Dig’ app launched by PM Modi
Defence News-I:
• Indo-France joint exercise FRINJEX-23 commenced on 7 March in Kerala
• Indian Navy's P-8I aircraft participated in 'Exercise Sea Dragon 23'
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in Exercise Shinyuu Maitri with the Japan Air Self-Defence
Force (JASDF)
• Anti-submarine craft INS Androth launched in Kolkata
• The biennial exercise 'La Perouse' began in Indian Ocean Region
Defence News -II:
• President Murmu presents the 'President’s Colour' to INS Dronacharya
• INS Trikand participated in International Maritime Exercise 2023
• Joint India-Singapore exercise 'Bold Kurukshetra' concluded at Jodhpur
• Indian Navy successfully undertook MRSAM (Medium Range Surface to Air Missile)
• Indian Army, and Air Force conducted joint drills 'Vayu Prahar' along LAC
Sports-I:
• Karnataka beat Meghalaya to win Santosh Trophy after 54 years
• India's trap shooter Prithviraj Tondaiman wins bronze medal in Doha
• Craig Fulton appointed new Chief Coach of the Indian men's hockey team
• Mumbai Indians win inaugural Women's Premier League title 2023
• Asia's longest-ever cycle race flagged off from Srinagar in J&K
Sports-II:
• Indian Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden of Australia have won the Indian Wells doubles title
• Manu Bhaker wins 25m Pistol Bronze in ISSF World Cup 2023
• Virat Kohli becomes the 2nd-highest run scorer against Australia
• Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty win the Swiss Open doubles title
• India clinches both men's and women's titles of Asian Kho Kho Championship
Books and Authors
• Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya unveils a book, ‘India’s Vaccine Growth Story’
• SC Judge Justice V. Ramasubramanian, released a book titled India’s Struggle for Independence
– Gandhian Era.
• Jagdeep Dhankhar released the book ‘Mundaka Upanishad: The Bridge to Immortality’
• Rachna Bisht Rawat released book 'Bipin: The Man Behind the Uniform'
• A book ‘War and Women’ on war crimes released at UNHRC Session
Government Policies and Schemes-I:
• Govt to develop mega textile parks in 7 states under PM MITRA scheme

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• Union govt notified a hike in wage rates under the MGNREGA for the 2023-24 financial year.
• Govt held 1st consultation on Digital India Act to replace IT Act 2000
• Centre launches MSME Competitive (LEAN) scheme to benefit enterprises
• Hardeep Singh Puri launches Swachhotsav under Swachh Bharat Mission
Government Policies and Schemes-II:
• Govt approves ‘vibrant village program’ for comprehensive development
• Union govt launches National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP)
• Union govt announces 10% reservation in CISF for former Agniveers
• Union Minister Giriraj Singh initiates 'Captive Employment' Scheme
• CCEA approves MSP for Raw Jute at 5,050 rupees per quintal for 2023-24
Banking Affairs:
• Hello Ujjivan app wins the prestigious 13th Aegis Graham Bell Awards
• RBI launches Mission ‘Har Payment Digital’ to promote digital payments
• HDFC Mutual Fund files for India's first Sovereign Green Bond
• RBI imposes monetary penalties on HDFC, and IGH Holdings for non-compliance
• RBI imposes a monetary penalty of ₹30 lakh on Karur Vysya Bank
Appointments-I:
1. Senior IPS officer Rashmi Shukla to head Sashastra Seema Bal
2. Savlon India names Sachin Tendulkar as world’s first ‘Hand Ambassador’
3. Nephiu Rio Took Oath As Nagaland Chief Minister For Fifth Term
4. BPCL appoints G Krishnakumar as its Chairman and Managing Director
5. Chinese Parliament elected President Xi Jinping for the third time

Appointments-II:
• Lt Gen HS Sahi assumes command of Spear Corps in Dimapur
• Hindustan Unilever Ltd. appoints Rohit Jawa as its new CEO & MD
• Luxor appoints Virat Kohli as its Brand Ambassador
• Lt Gen Daljit Singh takes over as the military’s top doctor
• Lalit Kumar Gupta appointed as CMD of Cotton Corporation of India
Obituaries:
1. Former Chief Justice of India A.M. Ahmadi passed away
2. Intel Co-Founder Gordon Moore passes away
3. Renowned filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar passes away
4. Veteran actor Sameer Khakhar passes away
5. Former union minister Satyabrata Mookherjee passes away
Awards & Honours-I:
1. Mirabai Chanu wins BBC Indian Sportswoman of The Year for 2022

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2. Tamil writer Sivasankari gets selected for Saraswati Samman

3. Tiruchirappalli Airport rated the best airport as per ACI-ASQ Awards 2022
4. The Abel Prize for mathematics has been awarded to Argentine-American Luis Caffarelli
5. Shaktikanta Das conferred with the ‘Governor of the year’ Award 2023
Awards & Honours-II:
• ACF confers Grandmaster D Gukesh with a Player-of-the-Year award
• Health and Family Welfare Ministry received Porter Prize 2023
• Special literary award conferred on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
• India wins Golden & Silver Star at 'Golden City Gate Tourism Awards'
• Ratan Tata was appointed to the ‘Order of Australia’ for distinguished service
1 April 2023: Top 5 Evening Headlines
• IMF approves 15.6 billion dollar support package for Ukraine
• India and Malaysia announce trade in Indian Rupees
• PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat Express between Bhopal and New Delhi
• ITBP wins 13th All India Police Commando Competition
• Sri Lanka fails to qualify directly to ICC Cricket World Cup 2023
IMF approves 15.6 billion dollar support package for Ukraine
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a $15.6 billion support package for Ukraine
to assist the country’s economic recovery.
• The loan is part of a broader $115 billion international support package to help the country meet
urgent funding needs.
• Extended Fund Facility is the first major financing program approved by the IMF for a country
involved in a large-scale war.
India and Malaysia announce trade in Indian rupees
• India and Malaysia have agreed to settle trade in the Indian rupees, the Ministry of External Affairs
announced on April 1, 2023.
• The Reserve Bank of India in July 2022 allowed the settlement of international trade in Indian
currency.
• India International Bank of Malaysia (IIBM) has operationalized this mechanism by opening a
special Rupee Vostro account through Union Bank of India
Malaysia
• It is a Southeast Asian country located on the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo.
• It shares a land and maritime border with Thailand and maritime borders with Singapore,
Vietnam, and Indonesia.
• The country achieved independence on 31 August 1957.
• Capital: Kuala Lumpur
• Population: 3.36 crores
• Official language: Malay

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• Monarch:Abdullah
• Prime Minister: Anwar Ibrahim
PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat Express between Bhopal and New Delhi
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the new Bhopal-Delhi Vande Bharat Express on April 1,
2023 from the Rani Kamalapati station in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• This is the 11th Vande Bharat Express train which will cover a 708 km distance in around seven
hours.
• The Habibganj railway station was renamed Rani Kamalapati station in November 2021 in honor
of the famous Gond queen of Bhopal.
Sri Lanka fails to qualify directly to ICC Cricket World Cup 2023
• Sri Lanka failed to directly qualify for the ICC ODI World Cup following its defeat against New
Zealand on 31 Mar'23.
• With the series defeat, Sri Lanka has been eliminated from finishing in the top eight of the ICC
Super League in which the top eight teams have direct qualification for the world cup.
• It will have to play now World Cup qualifiers which will be held in Zimbabwe in June 2023.
ITBP wins 13th All India Police Commando Competition
• The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has won the 13th edition of the All India Police Commando
Competition (AIPCC) 2023, organized by the National Security Guard (NSG).
• 24 top commando teams from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and State Police Forces
have participated in the competition.
• The 11-day competition was between March 21-31, 2023.
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
• It is a border patrol organization of India deployed along its borders with Tibet Autonomous
Region, China.
• It is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces, established in 1962 in the aftermath of the
Sino-Indian War of 1962.
• Balbir Singh was the first head of the ITBP.
• Motto: "Valour, Steadfastness and Commitment"
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Director General: Anish Dayal Singh
Kolkata man becomes world's 1st to catch fungal infection from a plant
• A 61-year-old plant mycologist in Kolkata has become the world's first person to be diagnosed
with a fungal disease, that usually affects plants.
• The research published on Science Direct reveals that silver leaf is a fungal disease of trees caused
by the fungal plant pathogen Chondrostereum purpureum.
• The pathogen enters the human body through damaged skin and the respiratory tract.
Coal India crosses FY23 production target of 700 MT

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• Coal India Ltd. (CIL) on 31 March 2023 announced that it has crossed the annual coal production
target of 700 million tonnes (MT) in 2022-23.
• As of March 31, the company produced 700.4 MT of coal, up 13% over 619.8 MT on the same date
in 2022.
• The production increased by 81 MT year-on-year in Financial Year 2023.
• Its overburden removal (OBR) rose to 1,651.7 million cubic meters in 2023.
Know About: Coal India Limited
• It is an Indian central public sector undertaking under the govt of India.
• It is the largest government-owned-coal-producer in the world.
• It contributes around 82% to the total coal production in India.
• In 2011, It was conferred the Maharatna status by the Government.
• Founded: 1975
• Headquarters: Kolkata
• Chairman & MD: Pramod Agarwal
Union govt launches 5 year plan to benefit 5 Crore non-literates
• The union govt, in March 2023, launched a new scheme 'New India Literacy Programme' to literate
people above 15 years of age.
• It was launched with a financial outlay of over 1000 crore rupees for implementation during the
financial year 2022-23 to 2026-27.
• It aims to provide literacy to five crore individuals in the age group of 15 years and above who are
currently unable to read or write.
RBI Foundation Day: 1 April
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)is India's central bank and regulatory body responsible for
regulation of the Indian banking system.
• It was founded on 1 April 1935 to respond to economic troubles after the First World War.
• The bank was set up based on the recommendations of the Hilton Young Commission in 1926.
• The RBI was nationalised on 1 January 1949.
• Governor: Shaktikanta Das
Odisha Day or Utkal Divas: 1 April
• Odisha Day or Utkal Divas marks the formation of the Odisha state on April 1, 1936.
• Every year on this day, the state celebrates with cultural programs, parades, and flag-hoisting
ceremonies.
• Ancient temples, such as the Jagannath Puri Temple and the Sun Temple of Konark are located
in the state.
• In 2023, on April 1, Odisha is celebrating its 88th foundation day.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath launches "School Chalo Abhiyan 2023" on april 1
• Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, on 1 April 2023, launched the “School Chalo Abhiyan
2023" in Lucknow.

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• It aims to ensure 100 percent enrolment in primary and upper primary schools under the Uttar
Pradesh Basic Education Council.
• The state government runs the campaign every year and in 2022 it was launched from the
aspirational district Shravasti.
Tripura CM Dr. Manik Saha unveils statue of Maharaja Bir Bikram
• Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on 31 March 2023 unveiled the statue of Tripura’s king Maharaja Bir
Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur in Agartala, Tripura.
• The statue of the king is installed at the Zero Milestone near Masjid Patti in Agartala Kaman
Chowmuhani.
• Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore, popularly known as the "Modern Architect of Tripura" was born on
19th August of 1908 in Tripura.
Know About: Tripura
• It is a hilly state in northeast India and bordered on 3 sides by Bangladesh.
• It is divided into 8 districts and 23 sub-divisions.
• It has 19 different tribal communities.
• Founded: 21 January 1972
• Capital: Agartala
• Official flower: Ceylon ironwood
• Languages: Bengali, Kokborok
• Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya
• Chief Minister: Manik Saha
• Literacy (2013): 94.65%
• Sex ratio (2023): 967/1000
Weekly Notes (27 March-1 April): Business and Economy
• India's agricultural exports grow by 6.04% during April-Jan 2022-23
• Government introduces surcharge for Gpay, other payment apps
• EPFO marginally hikes interest rate on deposits to 8.15%
• India's overall exports cross all time high of USD 750 billion
• YES Bank issues first electronic bank guarantee with NeSL
• Canara Bank's stake in Commercial Indo Bank LLC sold to SBI for 121 cr
Weekly Notes (27 March- 1 April): Appointments
• Rudrendra Tandon appointed India's next Ambassador to Greece
• Tata Power re-appoints Praveer Sinha as CEO & MD for four years
• Sheikh Khaled named as crown prince of Abu Dhabi
• Justice T S Sivagnanam appointed acting chief justice of Calcutta HC
• Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan appointed as Vice-President of UAE
• SpiceJet’s Ajay Singh takes over as ASSOCHAM President
Weekly Notes (27 March-1 April): State Affairs
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• Haryana police awarded first rank in implementation of CCTNS

• Karnataka notifies 10% EWS quota
• Tamil Nadu to observe Vaikom Satyagraha centenary
• Assam govt. distributes ₹64 crore as special incentive to tea estates
• Manipur govt to house Myanmar refugees at designated centers
• WB approves $363 million loan to Karnataka for rural water supply
• Rajasthan Statehood Day: 30 March
Weekly Notes (27 March-1 April): National Affairs
• Sarbananda Sonowal launches Sagar-Setu app of National Marine Portal
• NTPC registers highest ever power generation of 400 BU in FY2023
• Second ETWG group meeting to be held in Gandhinagar from 2 April
• Drugs for rare diseases get customs duty relief
• World’s first 7.2 metre high-rise train set on trial in Delhi-Jaipur
• The 2nd G20 IWG meeting to take place in Visakhapatnam on 28 March
Weekly Notes (27 March-1 April): International Affairs
• UAE to host third ICAO Conference on Aviation & Alternative Fuels
• UK signs deal to join trade pact with 11 Asia and Pacific nations
• Saudi Arabia becomes SCO's dialogue partner
• Tanzania announces outbreak of deadly Marburg virus disease
• United Arab Emirates launches National Genome Strategy
• Russia fires supersonic anti-ship missile at mock target
• Egypt joins BRICS bank as new member
Weekly Notes (27 March-1 April): Sports
• IOC finally makes Lashinda Demus a 2012 Olympics champion
• Aravindh Chithambaram wins Delhi International Open chess title
• Shakib Al Hasan surpasses Southee to become the top T20I wicket-taker
• BCCI signs Herbalife as its official partner for upcoming IPL edition
• Bharali Bedabrate bags bronze in World Youth Championships
• First Hockey India Junior Men Zonal Championships 2023 concludes
1 April 2023: Top 5 Morning Headlines
• Sarbananda Sonowal launches Sagar-Setu app of National Marine Portal
• NTPC registers highest ever power generation of 400 BU in FY2023
• India Post Payments Bank launches WhatsApp Banking Services
• Rudrendra Tandon appointed India's next Ambassador to Greece
• UAE to host third ICAO Conference on Aviation & Alternative Fuels.
Orient Electric appoints Rajan Gupta as MD and CEO
• Orient Electric Limited on 31 March 2023 announced the appointment of Rajan Gupta as its
managing director and CEO.

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• He will succeed Rakesh Khanna.

• He joins Orient Electric from Hathway cable and Datacom where he was the MD and CEO, and
chairman of the board.
• He has over 25 years of experience across various aspects of management, digital transformation,
sales, and in marketing.
Sarbananda Sonowal launches Sagar-Setu app of National Marine Portal
• Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on 31 March 2023
launched the App Version of National Logistics Portal (Marine) ‘Sagar-Setu’.
• The app will enable features like Login Module, Certification, and Track & Trace, etc.
• It will provide real-time information on activities that are generally not within reach of the
importer, exporter, and customs broker.
NTPC registers highest ever power generation of 400 BU in FY2023
• National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited on 31 March 2023 announced that it
recorded the highest-ever power generation of 400 billion units (BU) in 2022-23.
• In the current fiscal, the company registered a growth of 24.24% in a non-fossil portfolio.
• NTPC Ltd. has set an ambitious goal of reaching half its installed capacity through Renewable
Energy (RE) by 2032.
Second ETWG group meeting to be held in Gandhinagar from 2 April
• The 2nd Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) meeting under India’s G20 Presidency is set
to take place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from April 2-4, 2023.
• Over 100 delegates representing G20 member countries will participate in the event.
• Delegates will also visit Gift City, Dandi Kutir and Modhera Sun Temple.
• The 1st ETWG Meeting was held in Bengaluru from Feb. 5-7, 2023.
4th Defence cooperation meet between India & Philipines held in Delhi
• 4th Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting between India and the Philippines was held
in New Delhi on March 31, 2023.
• Both nations agreed to reaffirm their commitment to implement the 2006 agreement concerning
defence cooperation.
• Both sides also agreed to initiate measures to enhance cooperation in Defence Industry and
Technology domain.
India Post Payments Bank launches WhatsApp Banking Services
• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), in collaboration with Airtel, announced the launch of WhatsApp
Banking Services for IPPB customers in New Delhi on 31 March 2023.
• It will enable IPPB customers to seamlessly connect with the bank on WhatsApp and effortlessly
avail of a host of banking services, including doorstep service requests, locating the nearest Post
Office, and much more.
Know About: India Post Payments Bank

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• It is a division of India Post which is under the Ministry of Communications of the Govt of India.
• The pilot project of IPPB was inaugurated on 30 January 2017 at Raipur and Ranchi.
• The first phase of the bank with 650 branches and 3,250 post offices as access points were
inaugurated on 1 September 2018.
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• CEO: J. Venkatramu (29 Oct 2020–)
Rudrendra Tandon appointed India's next Ambassador to Greece
• Rudrendra Tandon was appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Greece on 31 March 2023.
• He is a 1994 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, presently serving as Additional Secretary
in the Ministry of External Affairs.
• In September 2020 Rudrendra Tandon assumed charge as India’s Ambassador to Afghanistan.
• He also served as India’s Ambassador to ASEAN Secretariat in 2018.
Greece
• It is a country located in southeastern Europe.
• It is considered the cradle of Western civilization.
• It was the tenth member to join the European Communities (precursor to the European Union)
and has been part of the Eurozone since 2001.
• It has 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• Capital: Athens
• Population: 1.06 crores
• President: Katerina Sakellaropoulou
• Prime Minister: Kyriakos Mitsotakis
UAE to host third ICAO Conference on Aviation & Alternative Fuels
• The United Arab Emirates (UAE), on 31 March 2023, won the bid to host the third edition of the
Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Conference on Aviation and
Alternative Fuels.
• It was announced during the meeting of the Council held at the ICAO headquarters Montreal in
Canada.
• The conference is organized every seven years.
Centre unveils foreign trade policy, aims $2 trillion exports by 2030
• Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, on 31 March 2023, launched the Foreign
Trade Policy 2023.
• It outlines the vision to take India's goods and services exports to $2 trillion by 2030.
• It also focuses on emerging areas like dual-use high-end technology items, facilitating e-
commerce export, and collaborating with States and Districts for export promotion.
Public procurement from GeM portal crosses Rs 2 lakh crore
• Union govt on 31 March 2023 announced that Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has crossed
Gross Merchandise Value of Rs 2 lakh crore in 2022–23.

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• To create an open and transparent procurement platform for government buyers, GeM started
as an online platform for public procurement in the country on August 9, 2016, under the Ministry
of Commerce and Industry.
Government e-Marketplace (GeM) Portal
• It is an online platform for public procurement in India.
• It was launched on August 9, 2016, by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of
India to create an open and transparent procurement platform for government buyers.
• The present Chief Executive Officer of GeM is Prashant Kumar Singh.
• It replaced the Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D) portal in 2016.
Haryana police awarded first rank in implementation of CCTNS
• Haryana Police was awarded the first position among all major state police in the implementation
of Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS).
• An Annual Conference on Good Practices in CCTNS/Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS)
was organized by the National Crime Records Bureau under the Ministry of Home Affairs in New
Delhi to recognize the implementation of CCTNS.
Know About: Haryana
• Haryana is a North Indian state surrounding New Delhi on 3 sides.
• The Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, located in the state, features 1,600 species.
• It was carved out of the former state of East Punjab on 1 Nov 1966 on a linguistic basis.
• Capital: Chandigarh
• Chief minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
• Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya
• Sex ratio (2021): 926/1000
• Legislative Assembly: 90 seats
Ex-US President Donald Trump indicted by grand jury in hush money case
• Former US President Donald Trump was charged over hush money payments made to a porn star
just before the 2016 presidential election.
• A grand jury has voted to indict him after investigating a $130,000 pay-out to Stormy Daniels in
an attempt to buy her silence over an alleged affair.
• He is the first serving or former US president to face a criminal charge.
China reports a third human case of the H3N8 strain of bird flu
• China recorded the year 2023's first and overall third human infection with the H3N8 strain of bird
flu in March 2023.
• A 56-year-old woman in Zhongshan tested positive for the virus after being exposed to live
poultry.
• Earlier in 2022, a four-year-old boy from Henan became the first known human to be infected
with H3N8.
• The virus spreads through poultry, horses, dogs, pigs, and seals.

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Table of Content
Art & Culture Current Affairs ...............................................................................................3
Awards and Honours Current Affairs ................................................................................. 4
Banking Current Affairs ....................................................................................................... 8
Books and Authors Current Affairs .................................................................................... 10
Business and Economy Current Affairs ............................................................................. 12
Committees and Recommendations ................................................................................. 16
Defence Current Affairs ..................................................................................................... 17
Government Schemes and Policies Current Affairs......................................................... 21
Days and Events Current Affairs ........................................................................................25
International Current Affairs .............................................................................................. 31
MoU and Agreements Current Affairs ............................................................................... 37
National Current Affairs .................................................................................................... 40
Appointments Current Affairs ............................................................................................53
Obituaries Current Affairs ................................................................................................. 60
Person in News Current Affairs ......................................................................................... 63
Science and Technology Current Affairs ......................................................................... 65
Sports Current Affairs Current Affairs .............................................................................. 69

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Art and Culture Current Affairs

Sri Lanka's National Poson Week begins
• In Sri Lanka, the National Poson Week begins today.
• The Poson festival will be held till 6th of June and will center around Mihinthalaya,
Thanthirimalaya and the Anuradhapura Sacred City.
• The festival celebrates the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka by Emperor Ashoka’s son Arahat
Mahinda in 236 BC.
Kheer Bhawani Mela 2023 organised in Kashmir Valley
• Kheer Bhawani Mela 2023 was celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir on 29 May 2023.
• The Kheer Bhawani Mela is an annual festival celebrated by both Kashmiri Pandits and locals of
the Kashmir valley.
• The festival is held on Jyeshtha Ashtami and is considered sacred by the Kashmiri Pandits
community.
• The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah attended the event.
Nepal celebrates Bhoto Jatra
• It is part of a month-long chariot procession known as Rato Machhindranath Jatra.
• It originates at Pulchok where chariot made of wood without use of iron nail is created and the
procession ends at Jwalakhel.
• In thei a lost & found bejeweled Nepali vest bhoto of Rato Machchindranath is displayed to the
public to find its "rightful owner" in accordance with the legend and as per tradition.

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Awards and Honours Current Affairs

Jio Institute's Guruswami Ravichandran receives ASME Timoshenk Medal
• Jio Institutes Scientist Dr.Guruswami Ravichandran has been named the recipient of the
prestigious 2023 Timoshenko Medal by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
• The Timoshenko Medal was established in 1957 in recognition of distinguished contributions to
the field of applied mechanics.
• Guruswami Ravichandran is the founding Provost of Jio Institute.
RINL presented with prestigious 'Greentech Safety Award 2023'
• Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) has won the GreenTech Safety Award 2023 under the Safety
Excellence category for improving workplace safety in 2022-23.
• RINL was praised by the jury members for using drone technology to inspect high-rise structures
and chimneys.
• It was awarded for its commitment to corporate citizenship, transparent accountability, and
strategic sustainability.
Goan writer Damodar Mauzo gets 57th Jnanpith Award
• Damodar Mauzo has been awarded the 57th Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary honor on 29
May 2023.
• He is a short story writer, novelist, critic, and scriptwriter in Konkani.
• He is the 2nd Goan to receive the award, after Ravindra Kelekar in 2008.
• His 25 books have been published in Konkani and one in English.
• Mauzo's famous novel 'Karmelin' received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1983.
IIFA Awards 2023 announced: I
• Hrithik Roshan and Alia Bhatt won the Best Actor and Best Actress awards at the International
Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) 2023 held in Abu Dhabi.
• Kamal Haasan was awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema award at the IIFA
2023.
• Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva won many awards at the IIFA 2023 including Best Film, Best
Playback Singer (Female), and Best Playback Singer (Male).
IIFA Awards 2023 announced: II
• R. Madhavan won the award for Best Director at the IIFA 2023 for his film Rocketry: The Nambi
Effect.
• Babil Khan won the award for Best Debut (male) for his performance in the movie Qala.
• The award for Best Debut (Female) was presented to Khushali Kumar for her performance in
Dhoka Around the Corner.
• Anil Kapoor won the award for Best Supporting Actor (male) for the movie Jug Jugg Jeeyo.
Haleon's "Know Your MiND" campaign sets Guinness World Record

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• Haleon, home to World's number 1 Multivitamin Brand1 Centrum, created a Guinness World
Record for 'The Largest Online Video Album of People Saying the Same Sentence' under the
'Know Your MiND' Campaign led by team Centrum.
• It focuses on raising awareness about the daily nutritional requirements of women and the related
long-term health implications.
Department of Animal Husbandry, Chandigarh bags Skoch Silver Award
• The Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Chandigarh got Skoch SILVER Award 2023
for e-Governance for the computerization of medical records of livestock being treated by the
department.
• This is the first of its kind project in the country.
• The main objective of the application is to facilitate animal owners' online registration of their
animals for treatment.
Bulgarian Writer Georgi Gospodinov Wins International Booker Prize
• Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov and translator Angela Rodel were named winners of the
International Booker Prize with the novel "Time Shelter" -- a first for a book in Bulgarian.
• The prestigious award recognises works of fiction from around the world that have been
translated into English and the £50,000 ($62,000) prize is split equally between the author and
the translator.
3 Indian peacekeepers to be honoured with UN's Dag Hammarskjold medal
• Three Indian UN peacekeepers will be honoured posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal
for their supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
• BSF personnel head Constables Shishupal Singh and Samwali Ram Vishnoi, who served with the
Organization Stabilization Mission in the Congo and Shaber Taher Ali, who was employed in a
civilian capacity with the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq.
N. Chandrasekaran Receives France's Highest Civilian Award
• Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran has been given France's highest civilian award
Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur for his contributions to strengthening the trade relationship
between India and France.
• In 2023, Tata Group-owned Air India had inked a multi-billion dollar deal with Airbus to buy 250
aircraft from Airbus.
• The award was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802.
Akashvani Guwahati jointly bags 2nd rank in National Water Awards 2022
• Regional News Unit of Akashvani Guwahati secures second place in the Best Media category at
the National Water Awards 2022.
• The award recognizes their efforts in promoting water resources conservation and management
through awareness programs and interactive discussions.
• Their efforts in water conservation include awareness programs. This marks their first win in this
prestigious category.

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Gauri bags Best Long Documentary Award at SA Film Festival of Montreal

• The documentary “Gauri”, directed by Kavitha Lankesh, has received 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 Kabir Centre for Arts and Culture in Montreal organized the 13th South Asian Film Festival of
Montreal.
Sanika Lahane wins The International Glamour Project Mrs. India 2023
• Sanika Lahane from Mumbai, India, has been crowned the 1st Place Winner of The International
Glamour Project Mrs India 2023.
• She was sashed by Ms. International World, India - Shilpa Adam and crowned by the talented
actress Minissha Lamba.
• The event was organized by The International Glamour Project Founder and Managing Director
Dr. Swaroop Puranik and was hosted by Dr. Akshata Prabhu.
Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar gets Govind Swarup Award 2023
• Professor Jayant Narlikar, a prominent astrophysicist, has been awarded the Astronomical
Society of India (ASI) Govind Swarup Lifetime Achievement award on 12 May 2023 in Pune
Maharashtra.
• The award recognizes Narlikar's significant contributions to the field of astrophysics.
• The award aims to promote the study of astronomy and related sciences in India.
'Writing with Fire' Wins Peabody Award in Documentary Category
• "Writing with Fire," an Oscar-nominated documentary, has been honored with the prestigious Peabody Award in the
documentary category.
• It has been directed by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh
• The documentary revolves around the only women-led newspaper in India- Khabar Lahariya, and
how it transitions into digital journalism
• The Peabody announced the 35 selected winners for the year 2022
Barbara Kingsolver, Hernan Diaz share fiction Pulitzer Prize
• The Pulitzer Prize for fiction was awarded to two novels Barbara Kingsolver's "David Copperfield,"
and Hernan Diaz's "Trust".
• Beverly Gage's "G-Man," was given the Pulitzer for biography.
• "His Name Is George Floyd: One Man's Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice," by Robert Samuels
and Toluse Olorunnipa, won for general nonfiction.
At 97, socialist Ramkishan becomes Man of the Century
• Former Lok Sabha MP Pandit Ramkishan was honoured with the title of Shatabdi Purush (Man of
the Century) in New Delhi on 7 May 2023.
• He was elected once to the Lok Sabha – in 1977 – and four times to Rajasthan Assembly – in 1962,
1967, 1974 and 1990.

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• The award was presented to him during the birth centenary celebrations of renowned socialist
thinker and parliamentarian Madhu Limaye.
Michael Douglas to receive honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes
• Veteran Hollywood star Michael Douglas will be felicitated with an honorary Palme d’Or at the
76th Cannes Film Festival.
• Douglas will be recognised for his brilliant career as well as his contribution to cinema, the festival
organisers said in a statement.
• The festival will pay a tribute to the actor during the opening ceremony on May 16, 2023.
Russian poet Maria Stepanova wins Leipzig Book Prize
• Maria Stepanova has been awarded the prestigious Leipzig Book Prize for European
Understanding in 2023.
• The Russian-Jewish author, whose novel In Memory of Memory explores Stalinism and the fall of
the Soviet Union, was nominated for the Booker Prize in 2021.
• She was honored in Leipzig for her volume of poetry, Girls Without Clothes.
Three imprisoned Iranian female journalists win top UN prize
• Three imprisoned Iranian female journalists have been named as the winners of the United
Nations premier prize for press freedom.
• The three winners are, Niloufar Hamedi, Elaheh Mohammadi, and Narges Mohammadi.
• The U.N. Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization World Press Freedom Prize is named
for Guillermo Cano, a Colombian journalism who was assassinated in Bogota in 1986.

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Banking Current Affairs

Razorpay launches “Turbo UPI”
• Fintech major Razorpay has launched Turbo UPI in partnership with Axis Bank and the National
Payments Council of India (NPCI).
• The new product will allow customers of online merchants to make UPI payments directly without
getting redirected to a third-party UPI app during checkout.
• The move comes after Paytm last week launched a similar product called "UPI SDK".
Axis Bank unveils Sarathi platform for easy PoS onboarding of merchant
• Axis Bank has launched 'Sarathi', a digital onboarding platform aimed at simplifying the process
for merchants to adopt Electronic Data Capture (EDC) or Point of Sale (PoS) terminals.
• With Sarathi, merchants can complete the onboarding process in just four simple steps, ensuring
a seamless experience.
• Sarathi enables live video verification, thus, eliminating the need for field verification.
Google Pay launches RuPay credit cards support on UPI in India
• Google Pay, on 23 May 2023 launched RuPay credit cards support on UPI in India.
• The company has partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to bring the
feature to its customers.
• Users can link their RuPay credit cards with the Google Pay app.
• Launched in June 2017, the RuPay credit cards enable secured payments for purchasing goods
and services.
Kotak Mutual Fund launches Nifty 200 Momentum 30 Index Fund
• Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company, on 23 May 2023, launched an open-ended scheme
called Kotak Nifty 200 Momentum 30 Index Fund.
• The new fund aims to track the performance of the top 30 companies within the Nifty 200,
selected based on their Normalized Momentum Score.
• The NFO for this scheme will open on May 25 and will close on June 8, 2023.
RBI to pay Rs 87416-crore dividend to govt for FY23
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved a surplus transfer of Rs 87,416 crore to the
government for the fiscal year 2022-23.
• This amount is almost three times higher than the previous year's transfer of Rs 30,307 crore.
• The RBI's sales of foreign exchange reserves, estimated to be around $206 million until February
2023, significantly contributed to the increased surplus.
SBI records highest-ever quarterly profit in Q4 2022-23
• The State Bank of India (SBI) reported Rs 16694 crore profit for Quarter-4 of 2022-23, with a net
profit surge of 83%.
• SBI achieved a profit of Rs 50,232 crore for the entire financial year 2022-23, marking its highest-
ever quarterly and yearly profit.

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• The bank witnessed significant growth in net interest income, which rose by 29.5% to Rs 40,392
crore in Q4 compared to the 2022 fiscal year.
Paytm launches Paytm SBI Card on RuPay Network with NPCI
• Paytm's parent company, One97 Communications Ltd, partnered with SBI Card and the National
Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch the Paytm SBI Card on the RuPay network on 19
May 2023.
• The Paytm SBI Card offers cashback and discounts on transactions made through the Paytm
mobile app.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) enabled users to link RuPay credit cards to UPI in 2023.
RBI announces withdrawal of ₹2000 banknotes from circulation
• The Reserve Bank of India, on 19 May 2023, announced to withdraw the ₹2000 denomination
banknotes from circulation while retaining their status as legal tender.
• The withdrawal of ₹2000 banknotes aligns with the RBI's "Clean Note Policy".
• Individuals can exchange their ₹2000 banknotes up to a limit of ₹20,000 until September 30,
2023, to exchange or deposit their ₹2000 banknotes.
Bank of Baroda launches electronic Bank Guarantee on its platform
• The Bank of Baroda has introduced an electronic bank guarantee on its digital platform.
• The new service will allow customers to issue, modify, and cancel bank guarantees online.
• The electronic bank guarantee will reduce the turnaround time and improve efficiency.
• It will also help customers save time and reduce paperwork.
• The service is available to both corporate and retail customers.
AIBEA to launch ‘Bank Clinic’
• The All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) plans to set up an online ‘Bank Clinic’ to assist
bank customers with grievance redress.With the Bank Clinic, AIBERA hopes to earn goodwill of
customers’ and give feedback to Banks on the areas where there is deficiency in service.
• By launching the Bank Clinic, the Association hopes to earn goodwill of customers’ and give
feedback to Banks
Fitch Lowers India's GDP Growth Forecast for This Year to 6% from 6.2%
• Fitch Ratings revises down India's GDP growth forecast for the current year to 6%.
• The rating firm has also re-affirmed India’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating at
‘BBB-’ with a stable outlook.
• While India will be one of the fastest-growing sovereigns rated by Fitch, bolstered by “resilient
investment prospects”

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Books and Authors Current Affairs

HarperCollins India to publish Manjamma Jogathi's memoir
• HarperCollins India to publish Manjamma Jogathi's compelling memoir, "From Manjunath to
Manjamma: The Inspiring Life of a Transgender Folk Artist."
• Manjamma Jogathi is a transgender folk artist who became the first transwoman to be the
president of a government academy in India.
• She popularized the Jogathi Nritya dance form on a national level and won Karnataka's
Rajyotsava Award in 2010.
Odisha Guv Releases Odia Version of Gita Acharan
• Odisha Governor Prof. Ganeshi Lal today released the Odia version of the book - "Gita Acharan
- a practitioner's perspective" - at the Raj Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.
• The book has been written by senior Punjab IAS officer K Siva Prasad who is presently posted as
the Additional Chief Secretary to Punjab Governor.
Ruskin Bond releases his new book titled "The Golden Years"
• Ruskin Bond authored a new book titled “The Golden Years: The Many Joys of Living a Good Long
Life”.
• The book is published by HarperCollins India and was released on 19th May 2023 on his 89th
Birthday.
• He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992 for “Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra”.
• He was also awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 and Padma Bhushan in 2014 for Literature and
Education.
A book ‘Supreme Court On Commercial Arbitration’ released
• The book titled ‘Supreme Court on Commercial Arbitration’ by Dr.Manoj Kumar and fore worded
by Shri.R.Venkataramani was released in May 2023.
• The book covers judgments spanning from the year 1988 to 2022 covering Arbitration Act, 1940,
and Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and aims to provide a better understanding of the
evolution of arbitration law in India.
Gauri Khan launches her book "My Life in Design'
• Gauri Khan is a popular interior designer and unveiled her book 'My Life in Design' at the event.
• Talking about their own house, Shah Rukh shared a small story of how they went on to renovate
it. It was renovated by Gauri himself.
• The launch was followed by a brief discussion wherein they spoke about the new book and their
life as a family.
K.K. Shailaja comes with her new book ‘My Life as a Comrade’
• Former CEO of the Kochi Biennale Foundation and journalist K.K. Shailaja has come up with her
new book ‘My Life as a Comrade’.
• It has been co-written with Manju Sara Rajan.

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• K. K. Shailaja is an Indian politician and former Health Minister of Kerala who hails from Kannur
district.
• Shailaja currently serves as the Member of the Legislative Assembly representing Mattanur
constituency.
Book 'Made in India: 75 Years of Business and Enterprise' released
• A book titled 'Made in India: 75 Years of Business and Enterprise' has been released.
• It has been authored by Amitabh Kant, who is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and
served as CEO of NITI Aayog.
• His other books include Branding India-An Incredible Story, Incredible India 2.0, etc.
PM Modi launches book 'Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamprashastih'
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the closing ceremony of the Saurashtra Tamil
Sangamam in April 2023.
• He launched a book 'Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamprashastih' at the closing ceremony.
• The 10-day confluence saw more than 3000 Saurashtrian Tamils come to Somnath on a special
train.
• The programme began on April 17, with its closing ceremony now being held on April 26 at
Somnath.

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Business and Economy Current Affairs

Goldman Sachs hikes India's 2023 GDP forecast to 6.3%
• Goldman Sachs has revised India's GDP growth forecast for 2023 to 6.3%, citing a rise in exports.
• Goldman Sachs also lowered the country’s investment growth forecast to 7.9% year-on-year in
the calendar year 2023.
• The Reserve Bank of India has projected GDP growth at 7.8% in April-June, 6.2% in July-
September, 6.1% in October-December, and 5.9% in Jan-March of 2024.
AIC to launch insurance products for livestock, aquaculture
• Agriculture Insurance Company of India (AIC) will launch products for the livestock, aquaculture,
and sericulture sectors.
• AIC already has a 50 percent market share in the crop insurance market under Pradhan Mantri
Fasal Bimal Yojana (PMFBY) scheme.
• AIC got the license for introducing insurance products from the regulator Insurance Regulatory
and Development Authority (IRDAI) in May 2023.
Paytm launches bond investing on its platform for retail investors
• Paytm Money has launched an advanced bonds platform for retail investors in India on 22 May
2023.
• The platform allows retail investors to buy three types of bonds - government, corporate, and tax-
free.
• Government of India bonds have a maturity ranging from 16 days to 39 years.
• The yield on these bonds is currently between 7-7.3% per annum.
Aadhaar holders execute 1.96 billion transactions in April 2023
• In April 2023, Aadhaar holders executed 1.96 billion authentication transactions, indicating the
growth of digital economy and usage of Aadhaar in India.
• Fingerprint-based authentication was the most popular method used by Aadhaar holders,
followed by demographic and OTP-based authentications.
• More than 250.5 million eKYC transactions were carried out in April 2023 alone.
S&P affirms India's sovereign rating at 'BBB-', keeps outlook stable
• Global rating agency Standard and Poor’s has affirmed India’s sovereign rating at “BBB-” and
maintained a stable outlook on gradual recovery in the economy.
• India’s recovery will gather pace through the second half of FY22, S&P said in a statement.
• India’s strong external settings help to buffer the risks associated with the government’s high
deficits and debt stock.
India's GDP likely to grow at 6.2% in 2023-24: Morgan Stanley
• According to a Morgan Stanley report released on 18 May 2023, India is expected to grow at 6.2
percent in the current financial year 2023-24.

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• The Morgan Stanley report is titled as “Asia Economics: The Viewpoint: Addressing the Pushback to Our
Constructive View”.
• Morgan Stanley is an American multinational investment bank and financial services company
headquartered in New York.
AWS to invest 12.7 Bn dollars in cloud infrastructure in India by 2030
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced plans to invest 12.7 billion dollars in cloud
infrastructure in India by 2030.
• The cloud platform offers more than 200 services, including storage, robotics, and artificial
intelligence
• It will support an estimated average of 1 lakh 31 thousand 700 full-time equivalent jobs in Indian
businesses each year.
TiE Rajasthan signs MoU with Rajasthan Police
• TiE Rajasthan has signed an MoU with the state Police.
• With a purpose of strengthening the 'Technical Core Croup (TCC)' of Rajasthan Police and
simultaneously creating fresh opportunities for startups in the cyber-security and cyber-crime
redressal space the MoU was signed.
• This MoU brings great opportunities for startups working in cyber-security & cybercrime space.
SGX Nifty to be delisted; will be known as GIFT Nifty from July 3
• The National Stock Exchange (NSE) on May 16, 2023, received regulatory approvals to delist Nifty
50 futures from the Singapore Exchange (SGX) on July 3.
• The SGX Nifty will be known as GIFT Nifty and all SGX orders will be completely transferred to
Gift City.
• The SGX Nifty is currently traded in Singapore but tracks the performance of India's Nifty 50
index.
NSE launches WTI crude oil and natural gas futures contracts
• The National Stock Exchange (NSE) on 15 May 2023, launched the rupee-denominated NYMEX
WTI Crude Oil and Natural Gas futures in its commodity derivatives segment.
• It will provide effective trading and hedging opportunities to market participants, with the
availability of key energy products on a single trading platform.
• The NSE also signed a data licensing agreement with CME Group.
India’s trade deficit falls to 21-month low at $15.2 bn in April 2023
• India's trade deficit fell to a 21-month low at $15.2 billion in April 2023, which is a significant drop
from $30.2 billion in April 2022.
• India’s overall exports in April 2023 were recorded at $65.02 billion and imports dipped 7.9% to
$66.4 billion.
• The US remained India's top export destination in April 2023, followed by the UAE and China.
ONGC Discovers Crude Oil and Natural Gas in Two Blocks in Mumbai

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• ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) has made significant discoveries of crude oil and natural
gas in two offshore blocks in Mumbai, signaling a positive boost for India's energy sector.
• The discoveries, which have been named 'Amrit' and 'Moonga'.
• ONGC's discoveries are expected to attract investment and foster development, creating
opportunities for job creation and economic growth.
Suniel Shetty launches food delivery app Waayu
• Actor Suniel Shetty has been roped in as a brand ambassador and investor in a new venture,
‘Waayu’, a food delivery app
• The app aims to help hotels and restaurants to log orders for food delivery without any
commission.
• The app claims to be 15% to 20% less expensive than aggregators like Swiggy or Zomato.
Cisco to begin manufacturing in Tamil Nadu
• CISCO would start manufacturing operations in India as it seeks to create a “more diverse and
resilient global supply chain and support India’s vision of becoming a global manufacturing hub”.
• India houses Cisco’s second-largest R&D centre, with the biggest being in the U.S. Cisco’s
manufacturing in India will be through contract manufacturers and partners.
Vida, Powered by Hero, Sets New Guinness World Records Title
• VIDA, Powered by Hero, the emerging mobility brand of Hero MotoCorp - the world's largest
manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, has set a new Guinness World Records Title.
• The company's first electric vehicle, the VIDA VI scooter, ran for 24 hours non- stop and broke the
existing world record for maximum distance achieved by nearly 350 kms.
Fitch retains India's rating at 'BBB'
• Fitch Ratings affirmed India's long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating at 'BBB-' with a
stable outlook.
• It expects the general government deficit (excluding divestments) to narrow to a still-high 8.8%
of GDP in FY24 (2023 BBB median: 3.6%) from 9.2% in FY23.
• It expects the central govt to meet its budget's planned reduction in the deficit to 5.9% of GDP in
FY24 from 6.4% in FY23.
RBI mandates all wire transfers to have complete information
• The RBI has asked all banks, financial institutions to ensure all wire transfers to contain complete
information about the originator and beneficiary to prevent them from being used as a channel
for money laundering, terrorist financing platforms.
• The Reserve Bank of India has recently updated its instructions in the Master Direction on Know
Your Customer (KYC).
Visa launches CVV-free payments for tokenised credit, debit cards
• Visa has come up with a revolutionary solution to make online transactions smoother and safer.

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• The company has launched CVV-free tokenized transactions for domestic payments in India,
adhering to the guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India.
• CVV, which stands for card verification value, is a three or four-digit number located on the back
of a physical debit or credit card.
India's forex reserves rise $4.53 billion to $588.78 billion
• India's foreign exchange reserves increased by $4.53 billion to $588.78 billion on a weekly basis
as of April 28, 2023.
• During the prior week that ended on April 21, the reserves fell by $2.16 billion to $584.24 billion.
• According to RBI's latest data, India's foreign currency assets, the biggest component of the forex
reserves, rose by $4.99 billion to $519.48 billion.
HDFC Bank rolls out digital distribution platform for agents, partners
• HDFC Bank has introduced a Digital Distribution Platform to make it easier for its agents and
business correspondents to sell services, especially in rural areas.
• HDFC Bank Smart Saathi provides a secure and user-friendly experience to its users.
• The newly launched feature will use advanced technology solutions to connect Business
Correspondents (BCs) and Business Facilitators to the bank.
India achieves highest ever GST revenue collection in April 2023
• The gross Goods and Services Tax, GST revenue collected in April this year is the highest ever at
over 1,87,000 crore rupees.
• Out of the total revenue, Central Goods and Services Tax, CGST is 38,440 crore rupees, State
Goods and Services tax, SGST is 47,412 crore rupees, Integrated Goods and Services Tax, IGST is
89,158 crore rupees and cess is over 12,000 crore rupees.
Reliance General becomes first insurer to accept CBDC
• Reliance General Insurance has become the first general insurance company to accept RBI’s
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) e-Rupee (e₹) for premium payments.
• The insurer has tied up with YES Bank to facilitate the collection of premiums in digital mode using
the bank’s e-rupee platform.
• e-rupee is a digital token, equivalent to a banknote, and is a sovereign currency backed by the
RBI.
NPCI Bharat BillPay launches NOCS platform
• NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) has launched the NOCS platform.
• It will provide reconciliation and settlement services for transactions undertaken on the Open
Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) network.
• The NOCS platform is integrated with banks, fintechs and e-commerce players, and will soon go
live with the first set of five banks.

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Committees and Recommendations Current Affairs

Implementation of RPD Act
• A committee has been constituted by the Centre to frame uniform rules for the states to avoid
delay in proper implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act across the country
• The committee has to submit its report within 3 months.
• The Ministry plans to notify the rules on April 14,the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar.

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Defence Current Affairs

Rafale jets carry out long-range mission in Indian Ocean Region
• Four Rafale fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force carried out a "strategic" mission over the Indian
Ocean region demonstrating their long-range combat capabilities.
• The jets took off from the Hasimara Air Force station in the eastern sector.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out the mission at a time China has been ramping up its
presence in the Indian Ocean region.
Turkey has tested its own Tayfun short-range ballistic missile
• The Tayfun [Typhoon] ballistic missile – the missile with the longest range in Turkey’s arsenal –
was successfully test-fired over the Black Sea.
• The short-range ballistic missile was tested for the second time.
• The first test took place in October 2022; the missile then hit a target 560 km away.
• After TAYFUN will come the CENK rocket.
Iran successfully tested a 2,000 km-range ballistic missile
• A new surface-to-surface 4th generation Khorramshahr ballistic missile called Khaibar with a
range of 2,000 km (1,243 miles) and able to carry a 1,500-kg (3,300-pound) warhead is launched
at an undisclosed location in Iran.
• It is capable of reaching the bases of arch-foes Israel and the United States in the region.
• Iran has one of the biggest missile programmes in the Middle East.
Indian Navy's newest warship tracks, destroys supersonic target
• The Indian Navy successfully carried out an engagement of a sea-skimming supersonic target
using its latest indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Mormugao.
• Named after the historic port city of Goa on the West coast, Mormugao coincidentally undertook
her first sea sortie on December 19, 2021, when Goa celebrated 60 years of liberation from
Portuguese rule.
AL MOHED AL HINDI 2023 Naval Exercise of India & Saudi Arabia
• INS TARKASH and INS SUBHADRA have arrived in Saudi Arabia to participate in the AL MOHED
AL HINDI 2023 naval exercise.
• The exercise will involve the participation of naval forces from both countries and focus on joint
operations and training.
• The exercise encompasses a series of exercises conducted on land and at sea by the two friendly
navies.
IAF grounds entire fleet of MiG-21 fighter jets following May 8 crash
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) has grounded its MiG-21 fighter fleet following the crash on May 8 in
Rajasthan.
• The fighters will resume flying in a phased manner after these checks.

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• More than 400 MiG-21s have been involved in accidents that have claimed the lives of 200 pilots
during the last six decades.
• The IAF is set to retire its three remaining squadrons of the MiG-21 Bisons by 2025.
MH-60R helicopter undertakes maiden landing at sea
• The Indian Navy's MH60R helicopter has achieved a significant milestone by landing on the INS
Kolkata.
• It is known for its exceptional surveillance, anti-shipping, and Search and Rescue capabilities.
• The integration of the MH60R helicopter with Indian Navy warships will further strengthen the
Navy's capability to counter underwater threats and conduct surveillance operations.
Kalvari Class Submarine Vaghsheer commences sea trials
• The Indian Navy's sixth and final Kalvari class submarine, Vaghsheer, has begun its sea trials.
Vaghsheer is scheduled for delivery to the Indian Navy in early 2024.
• The submarine was launched on 20th April 2022 from the Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin of Mazagon
Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
• "Submarine commissioning strengthens Indian Navy amid rising Chinese presence in Indian
Ocean."
Defence production crosses one lakh crore rupees mark
• The Defence Ministry has said that the value of defence production in the Financial Year (FY)
2022-23 has crossed the figure of one lakh crore rupees for the first time ever.
• The current value of defence production in the year 2022-23 is a rise of more than 12 per cent as
compared to last financial year.
• Defence licenses surge 200% increase in 7-8 years.
India-Indonesia Bilateral Exercise Samudra Shakti - 23
• The 4th edition of India-Indonesia Bilateral exercise Samudra Shakti-23 will take place in Batam,
Indonesia.
• INS Kavaratti, Dornier Maritime Patrol aircraft and Chetak helicopter are participating into the
event.
• Exercise Samudra Shakti is aimed at enhancing interoperability, jointness and mutual cooperation
between both the navies.
India-made missile destroyer Mormugao test fires Brahmos missile
• INS Mormugao, the Indian Navy's latest guided-missile destroyer, successfully hit "bulls eye"
during her maiden BrahMos supersonic cruise missile firing.
• The ship and her potent weapon, both indigenous, mark another shining symbol of
Aatmanirbharta' and Indian Navy's firepower at sea
• INS Mormugao was commissioned on December 18, 2022.
The Defence Ministry has approved the 4th Positive Indigenisation list

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• The Defence Ministry has approved the 4th Positive Indigenisation List of 928 strategically-
important Line Replacement Units, Sub-systems, Spares and Components.
• The Defence Public Sector Undertakings will undertake the indigenisation of these items through
different routes under the ‘Make’ category and in-house development through the capabilities of
MSMEs and private Indian industry.
Indian Navy Ship (INS) Delhi, Satpura visit Sihanoukville, Cambodia
• Indian Naval Ship (INS) Delhi and Satpura arrived in Sihanoukville, Cambodia on 12 May 2023 as
part of the Indian Navy’s deployment to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
countries.
• INS Delhi is India’s first indigenously built guided missile destroyer.
• INS Satpura is also an indigenous multi-purpose stealth frigate, which can carry multi-role
helicopters.
CDS awards unit citations to 3 Tri-service units
• General Anil Chauhan, conferred CDS Unit Citations award to the Strategic Forces Command,
College of Defence Management, Secunderabad & 2 PARA (Special Forces) for their exemplary
performance for the Year 2021-22
• The CDS unit citations award was constituted after the establishment of the Office of Chief of the
Defence Staff in 2019 to boost jointness and integration in the Armed Forces.
Indian Navy and Royal Thai Navy Successfully Conduct 35th CORPAT
• The 35th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) between the Indian
Navy and the Royal Thai Navy was conducted from 03 – 10 May 2023.
• INS Kesari & Thai Majesty’s Ship (HTMS) Saiburi, , along with Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both
navies participated in the CORPAT along the IMBL in the Andaman Sea.
Common Uniform for Brigadiers and Above Rank Officers in Army
• Starting from August 1, brigadiers and above rank officers in the Indian Army will don a common
uniform.
• The common uniform signifies a step towards modernization and standardization in the Indian
Army.
• The headgear, shoulder rank badges, gorget patches, belt and shoes of senior officers will be
standardised as part of the decision.
Indian Army to introduce common uniform for brigadiers and above ranks
• The Indian Army has decided that brigadiers and above rank officers will have a common uniform
from August 1, 2023 irrespective of their parent cadre and appointment.
• The headgear, shoulder rank badges, gorget patches, belt and shoes of senior officers will be
standardised as part of the decision.
• There will be no change to the uniform worn by Colonels and below-rank officers.
Air Force receives first batch of indigenous VTOL loitering munition

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• The India Air Force has received its first indigenously designed and developed loitering munitions.
• These are capable of operating from all kinds of terrain and high altitude areas and can take
down targets at a range of over 50 km, without exposing any personnel to risk.
• Developed by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), the autonomous system is designed for
Vertical Take Off and Landing.
INS Magar decommissioned after 36 years of service
• Indian Naval Ship Magar, Landing Ship Tank (Large) amphibious assault ship of the Indian Navy
was decommissioned after 36 years of service on 6 May 2023.
• The ship was indigenously built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd, Kolkata.
• It was launched on 16 November 1984 and commissioned into the Indian Navy on 18 July 1987 by
Admiral R H Tahiliani, then Chief of the Naval Staff.
Postings of women officers of Territorial Army along LoC approved
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved posting of Women Officers of the Territorial Army
along the Line of Control.
• They will now serve and train under the same conditions as their male counterparts.
• Territorial Army had commenced commissioning of women Officers since 2019, in Ecological Task
Force Units, TA Oil sector units and TA Railway Engineer Regiment.
Indian Air Force Heritage Centre to be inaugurated
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the Indian Air Force Heritage Centre in
Chandigarh on 8 May 2023.
• He will also lay the foundation stone for Centre for Cyber Ops and Security.
• The Heritage Centre will comprise of artifacts, simulators and interactive boards, to highlight the
various facets of operations in the Indian Air Force.
DRDO & Indian Navy conducts trial of Air Droppable Container -150
• DRDO and Indian Navy conducted the successful maiden test trial of ‘Air Droppable Container -
150 (ADC) from IL 38SD aircraft off the coast of Goa.
• ADC-150’ is an indigenously designed and developed Air Droppable Container with 150 kg
payload capacity.
• It reduces the requirement for ships to come close to the coast to collect spares and stores.
INS Satpura and INS Delhi to take part in AIME-2023
• Indian Naval Ships Satpura and INS Delhi have reached Singapore to participate in the inaugural
ASEAN India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023) scheduled from 2 May 2023.
• The exercise will go on for seven days.
• The ships will also participate in International Maritime Defence Exhibition and International
Maritime Security Conference being hosted by Singapore.

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Government Schemes and Policies Current Affairs

City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain 2.0 approved
• The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the City
Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain 2.0 (CITIIS 2.0).
• The program will run for a period of four years, i.e., from 2023 to 2027.
• The program envisages supporting competitively selected projects promoting a circular economy.
Naveen Patnaik govt announces new housing scheme in Odisha
• On the fourth anniversary of his current five-year term, chief minister Naveen Patnaik-led cabinet
cleared a new rural housing scheme ‘Mo Ghara’ targeting those left out in Central and state
schemes.
• The government plans to spend Rs 2,150 crore over the next two years benefitting four lakh
families under the scheme.
Atal Bhujal Yojana water scheme extended by two years
• Union govt has extended the Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal) for two more years until December
2025.
• The scheme is active across 8,220 water-stressed Gram Panchayats within 80 districts of seven
Indian states.
• Atal Jal plans to bring 450,000 hectares of irrigated area under efficient water techniques like
drip irrigation and crop diversification.
Govt to amend rules to auction lithium, rare earth minerals
• The Indian government has announced to the auction of newly discovered lithium and other rare
earth minerals.
• The mines ministry is proposing an amendment to mineral concession rules 2016 to determine the
methodology for fixing the value of the estimated resources.
• The Geological Survey of India has found significant lithium reserves totaling 5.9 million tonnes in
Jammu and Kashmir.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh addresses India Defence Conclave 2023
• Union minister Dr. Jitendra Singh addressed India Defence Conclave 2023.
• The Conclave 2023 features interactive panel discussions on the strategies that can be adopted
for ensuring that the Indian defense forces are equipped with the latest technologies.
• The Union Cabinet also approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) at a total cost of over
6000 crore rupees from 2023-24 to 2030-31.
CSS for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for The Judiciary
• The Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of the Department of Justice (Ministry of Law & Justice )
for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for the Judiciary is revamping judicial infrastructure
of District and Subordinate Courts.

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• The fund-sharing pattern under the scheme is 60:40 (Centre: State), 90:10 for 8 North-Eastern and
2 Himalayan States & 100% central funding for the UT.
Govt cuts FAME-II subsidy on electric 2-wheelers from June
• The government has reduced the subsidy provided under the FAME-II (Faster Adoption of
Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India) scheme applicable on electric two-wheelers registered
on or after June 1, 2023.
• The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles (FAME) India scheme
commenced on April 1, 2019.
MoU signing for PM MITRA Park, Dhar on 21st May 2023
• The program for MoU signing between the Government of India (Ministry of Textiles) and the
Government of Madhya Pradesh took place in the Dhar district of MP on 21.05.2023
• The proposal to set up PM MITRA Park in village Bhensola, Badnawar Tehsil, Dhar district of
Madhya Pradesh received formal approval from the Government of India in March 2023.
Education Ministry calls first meet aimed at unifying 60 school boards
• The Ministry of Education organised a workshop in New Delhi with the aim of unifying the 60
school examination boards operating in different States and union territories under one umbrella.
• The main component of this plan is PARAKH or the National Assessment Centre which has been
set up as an organisation under National Council of Educational Research and Training.
Union Health Ministry launches '75/25′ initiative
• The Union Health Ministry has launched an initiative to provide standard care to 75 million
individuals suffering from hypertension and diabetes by 2025.
• The initiative will be the world’s largest expansion of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in
primary healthcare.
• India has established over 150,000 Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) at the primary
healthcare level to battle against NCDs.
Govt to set up 1,100 new Farmer Producer Organizations in co-op sector
• The Cooperation Ministry, on 18 May 2023, announced to set up of 1,100 new farmer-producer
organizations (FPOs) in the cooperative sector.
• Under the FPO Scheme, financial assistance of 33 lakh rupees is provided to each FPO.
• Further, financial assistance of 25 lakh rupees per FPO is provided to the Cluster-Based Business
Organizations.
Union Cabinet approves Production Linked Incentive Scheme 2.0 for IT
• The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, on 17 May 2023, approved the Production
Linked Incentive Scheme 2.0 for IT Hardware with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 17,000 crores.
• The scheme covers laptops, tablets, all-in-one PCs, servers, and ultra-small form factor devices.
• The tenure of the scheme is 6 years.
• The expected incremental production is Rs. 3.35 Lakh crore.

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Cabinet approves Rs 1.08 lakh cr fertiliser subsidy for Kharif season

• The Union Cabinet has approved Rs 1.08 lakh crore fertiliser subsidy for the 2023-24 Kharif season.
• The subsidy includes Rs 38,000 crore for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilisers.
• This also includes Rs 70,000 crore of urea subsidy earmarked in the Budget for the Kharif season
2023-24.
• The MRP (Maximum Retail Price) of fertilisers will remain unchanged at Rs 276 per bag.
Centre finalizes comprehensive ‘Model Prisons Act, 2023’
• Centre finalizes comprehensive ‘Model Prisons Act, 2023’ to focus on skill development of
prisoners.
• It may serve as a guiding document for the States, and for adoption in their jurisdiction.
• Grievance redressal, prison development board, attitudinal change towards prisoners, provision
of separate accommodation for women prisoners, and transgender are some features of the act.
CBIC rolls out Automated Return Scrutiny Module for GST returns
• The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has rolled out the Automated Return
Scrutiny Module for GST returns.
• This module will enable the officers to carry out scrutiny of GST returns of Centre Administered
Taxpayers selected on the basis of data analytics and risks identified by the system.
Union Minister Smriti Irani launches "Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi" program
• Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani, on 12 May 2023, launched
the “Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi” program under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.
• It was launched to ensure the holistic development of all children under the age of 6 years.
• The program also aims to build children's skills in communication and early language, literacy,
and numeracy.
Min. of Power & Min. of Envt to develop Carbon Credit Trading Scheme
• The Ministry of Power and Ministry of Environment will develop Carbon Credit Trading Scheme
for Decarbonisation.
• Government plans to develop the Indian Carbon Market with the objective to decarbonize the
Indian economy by pricing the Green House Gas emission through trading of Carbon Credit
Certificates.
Sarbananda Sonowal Launches Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines
• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Launches Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines to Achieve Zero
Carbon Emission Goal
• The guidelines were launched to meet the larger vision of achieving Zero Carbon Emission Goal
set by the Ministry.
• It envisages ecosystem dynamics in port development, operation, and maintenance while aligning
with the ’Working with Nature’ concept.
Govt Working to Upgrade Mini Anganwadi Centres to Full-Fledged Centres

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• Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani has said the government is working in a
speedy manner to upgrade mini-Anganwadi centres to full-fledged Anganwadi centres.
• Ms Irani was addressing an event, Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi in New Delhi
• The main objective of the event is to highlight the criticality of focusing on early childhood care
and education.
Union Health Ministry launches SAKSHAM LMIS
• Union Health Ministry launches SAKSHAM Learning Management Information System
• Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary launched the SAKSHAM (Stimulating Advanced
Knowledge for Sustainable Health Management), a Learning Management Information System
(LMIS) of MoHFW.
• This digital learning platform has been developed by the National Institute of Health & Family
Welfare (NIHFW), New Delhi.
PMSBY, PMJJBY & APY completes 8 years
• Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Atal
PEnsion yojana (APY) complete 8 yrs.
• These three schemes were launched by PM Narendra Modi in 2015 from Kolkata in West Bengal.
• The government had launched two insurance schemes PM Suraksha Bima Yojana and PM Jeevan
Jyoti Bima Yojana to make the people belonging from unorganised sections financially secure.
India amends apple import policy
• The central government has prohibited the import of apples where the CIF (Cost, Insurance, and
Freight) import price is less than or equal to Rs 50 per kilogram.
• The import policy remains "free" for those apples costing above Rs 50 per kilogram.
• The amendment in apple import policy will not be applicable to India's neighbour Bhutan.
Government launches Vivad se Vishwas scheme
• The Dept of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, has launched the scheme, “Vivad se Vishwas I –
Relief to MSMEs” for providing relief to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for COVID-
19 period.
• The scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24 by Union Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman.
• The scheme was commenced from 17 April and the last date for submission of claims is 30 June.
Narayan Rane launches the revamped CGTMSE Scheme
• Union Minister for MSME Narayan Rane launched the revamped CGTMSE Scheme in Mumbai in
April 2023.
• CGTMSE has been provided with an additional corpus support of ₹9,000 crore in the Union
Budget for FY 2023-24 to revamp its Scheme.
• The modifications included reduction in guarantee fees for loans upto ₹1 crore by 50% bringing
the minimum guarantee fee to the level of 0.37% pa only.

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Days and Events Current Affairs

World No Tobacco Day: 31 May
• Anti-Tobacco Day or World No Tobacco Day is observed on 31 May every year across the globe
to make people aware and educate them about the harmful effects of tobacco on health.
• The Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to
draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic.
• The 2023 year's theme for World No Tobacco Day is 'We need food, not tobacco.'
Goa statehood Day: 30 May
• Goa is the smallest state in India by area and is famous all over the world for its beautiful beaches
and famous architecture.
• Before 1961, Goa was a colony of Portugal that rule the region for about 450 years.
• In 1961, India launched Operation Vijay and annexed Goa and Daman and Diu with the Indian
mainland.
29 May: 75th UN Peacekeepers Day
• The Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande laid wreath at National War Memorial in Delhi.
• “Peace begins with me” is the theme of the 75th anniversary of Peacekeepers Day.
• From Congo to Liberia to South Sudan, India has deployed more than 3 lakh troops as
peacekeepers in over 51 UN peacekeeping missions.
Veer Savarkar's 140th Birth Anniversary: 28 May 2023
• Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's 140th birth anniversary celebrated on 28 May 2023.
• He was born on May 28, 1883, and would have turned 140 years old in 2023
• Veer Savarkar was an activist, writer, and politician who contributed to the Indian independence
movement.
• The Maharashtra govt decided to commemorate May 28 as Swatantrya Veer Gaurav Din.
• He passed away in Mumbai in 1966.
World Turtle Day: 23 May
• It is observed annually on May 23 to spread awareness regarding protecting turtles and tortoises
and also their disappearing habitats across the world.
• The day promises a better future where humans and turtles can coexist peacefully.
• It began in 2000 and is sponsored by American Tortoise Rescue.
Maharana Pratap Jayanti: 22 May
• Maharana Pratap Jayanti 2023 will be celebrated on May 22 to mark the birth anniversary of
Maharana Pratap.
• He was a Rajput king who ruled the kingdom of Mewar in Rajasthan, India from 1572 to 1597.
• He was born on May 9, 1540, in Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan.
• The Battle of Haldighati was fought between Maharana Pratap and Akbar's forces in 1576.
International Day for Biological Diversity: 22 May
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• International Day for Biological Diversity is observed on 22 May every year to increase awareness
and understanding of the issues of biodiversity.
• The day falls within the scope of the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda's Sustainable
Development Goals.
• The theme for the International Day for Biological Diversity 2023 is “From Agreement to Action:
Build Back Biodiversity".
National Anti-Terrorism Day: 21 May
• National Anti-Terrorism Day is observed in India on May 21 each year to commemorate the death
of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
• Rajiv Gandhi was the youngest Prime Minister of India.
• The day highlights the significance of eradicating terrorism and promoting peace and harmony.
• India is among the 25-worst terror-hit countries, according to the 10th edition of the Global
Terrorism Index.
World Metrology Day: 20 May
• World Metrology Day is observed every year on 20 May celebrating the International System of
Units.
• The date is the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention on 20 May 1875 by
representatives of seventeen nations.
• Metrology is the study of measurement.
• The theme for Wo
• World Metrology Day 2023 is Measurements supporting the global food system.
World Bee Day: 20 May
• World Bee Day is observed every year on May 20th to raise awareness about the importance of
bees and other pollinators for our ecosystems
• The UN Member States approved Slovenia’s proposal to proclaim 20 May as World Bee Day in
Dec 2017.
• On this day Anton Janša, the pioneer of beekeeping, was born in 1734.
• The theme for 2023 is “Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production”
National Endangered Species Day: 19 May
• Every year on the third Friday in May National Endangered Species Day is celebrated annually.
• In 2023 it is being observed on 19 May to raise awareness about the importance of wildlife
conservation.
• Endangered Species Act 1973, focuses on the protection of wildlife and threatened species in
India.
• The 2023 year's theme is, “Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the endangered species act!”
World AIDS Vaccine Day: 18 May
• Worlds AIDS Vaccine Day or HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is observed every year on 18 May.

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• The day raises awareness about the ongoing global efforts to develop an effective vaccine
against HIV/AIDS.
• It was 1st observed on 18 May 1998, to commemorate the anniversary of the first international
AIDS vaccine trial, which took place in 1997.
• The trial, known as RV144, was conducted in Thailand.
World Hypertension Day: 17 May
• Every year, May 17 is observed as World Hypertension Day.
• It aims to raise awareness about hypertension, also known as high blood pressure and its impact
on public health worldwide.
• The day is organized by the World Hypertension League (WHL).
• The theme of World Hypertension Day, 2023 is 'Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer'.
World Telecommunication Day: 17 May
• World Telecommunication Day is observed every year on 17 May.
• It marks the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) when the first
International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris in 1865.
• It has been celebrated annually on 17 May since 1969.
• The theme of ITU Day 2023 is “Empowering the least developed countries through information and communication
technologies.”
World Migratory Bird Day was observed on 13th May
• National Zoological Park in collaboration with National Museum of Natural History successfully
carried out the ninth day of the Mass Mobilization for Mission LiFE.
• World Migratory Bird Day observed on 13th May with the theme “Water and its importance for Migratory Bird”
International Nurses Day
• International Nurses Day is an international day observed around the world on 12 May
• The first International Nurses day was observed in 1965.
• Florence Nightingale was a British Nurse and was the founder of Modern Nursing.
• She was the first woman who was awarded the Order of Merit in 1907.
Victory Day observed in Russia on 9 May
• Victory Day is observed in Russia every year on 9 May,
• The day marks the 78th anniversary of Germany's capitulation in World War II after a relentless
Red Army offensive pushed German forces from Stalingrad, deep inside Russia, all the way to
Berlin, about 2,200 km.
• The Soviet Union lost at least 20 million people in the war.
Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti: 9 May 2023
• Rabindranath Jayanti is dedicated to a great Bengali poet, novelist, writer and philosopher
Rabindranath Tagore.
• As per Hindu calendar, it was celebrated on May 7, 2023.
• As per Bengali Calendar, it is being celebrated on 25th day of Boisakh which is on May 9, 2023.

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• Year 2023 marks his 162nd birth anniversary.

• He even composed National Anthem of India and Bangladesh.
World Thalassaemia Day: 8 May
• World Thalassaemia Day is observed on May 8 every year.
• The theme for 2023 is ‘Be aware. Share. Care.’
• Panos Englezos, President and Founder of Thalassemia International Federation created this day
in 1994 in the memory of his son George and other Thalassemia patients.
• Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder which is inherited by the children from their parents.
World Red Cross Day: 8 May
• World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, also known as World Red Cross Day, is observed on May
8 every year.
• It commemorates the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, the founder of the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize.
• The day was officially established during the 20th International Conference of the Red Cross in
Japan, in 1933.
BRO celebrated its 64th Raising Day on 7 May
• Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 64th Raising Day on May 7, 2023 at all its
detachments across the country.
• The main function ‘Chief Engineers and Equipment Management Conference’ was organised at
BRO School & Centre in Pune.
• An MoU was signed between the BRO and GRSE for construction of indigenous Class 70R Double
Lane Modular Bridges.
World Athletics Day: 7 May
• World Athletics Day is observed on 7 May every year.
• World Athletics Day was instituted in 1996 by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF)
to raise awareness of the physiological and psychological significance of sports.
• Every year on May 7, the IAAF organises numerous events to encourage individuals to participate
in sports for their health.
World Hand Hygiene Day: 5 May
• World Hand Hygiene Day is observed on the 5th of May every year.
• The day aims to promote the importance of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of infection
and promote good health.
• The history of World Hand Hygiene Day can be traced back to the year 2009 when the World
Health Organization (WHO) launched the first Global Patient Safety Challenge.
Giani Zail Singh's birth anniversary: 5 May
• 5 May marks the birth anniversary of former President Giani Zail Singh.

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• The seventh president of India, Giani Zail Singh is remembered as the only Sikh politician who
took the president's oath.
• served the nation as president from 1982 to 1987.
• In 1972, Zail Singh was elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab.
Buddha Purnima: 5 May 2023
• Buddha Purnima, also known as Buddha Jayanti, is being celebrated on 5 May 2023.
• The day marks the birth anniversary of Lord Gautam Buddha, revered as the founding figure of
Buddhism.
• Year 2023 marks the 2585th birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha.
• Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal.
• He attained Nirvana at the age of 35.
International Firefighters' Day: 4 May
• International Firefighters Day is observed on 4 May every year.
• It honours and pays tribute to the great work done by the firefighters while protecting the life and
property of people.
• International Firefighters Day was established in 1999 to honour the sacrifices and bravery of
firefighters worldwide.
• The day was inspired by the tragic event that took place in Australia on 2 December 1998.
60th Foundation Day of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
• Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi celebrated its Diamond Jubilee on its 60th
Foundation Day on 2 May 2023.
• The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade is a leading business school in India.
• Established in 1963, it works as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry.
• It also functions as a civil services training institute.
• Its main campus is in New Delhi.
World Press Freedom Day: 3 May
• 'World Press Freedom Day' is observed annually on May 3 to raise awareness of the importance
of press freedom.
• The day was established in 1993 by the UN General Assembly on the advice of the UNESCO
General Conference.
• The theme for the 30th World Press Freedom Day 2023 is "Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom
of Expression as a Driver for all other human rights."
International Labour Day: 1 May
• International Labour Day is celebrated on 1 May every year. to commemorate the struggles and
sacrifices of labours' movement.
• It is also known as May Day.
• The tradition of Labour Day dates back to 19th century America.

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• On May 1st, 1886 workers in Chicago organized a strike to demand an eight-hour workday.
• The first labour day was celebrated in India on May 1, 1923, in Chennai.
Gujarat Day: 1 May
• May 1 comes as the establishment day for the state of Gujarat.
• It was on this day in the year 1960 that the former state of Bombay was segregated on a linguistic
basis and two states were formed — Maharashtra and Gujarat.
• Gujarat also played a significant role in the commerce of Mumbai and Karachi during the British
Raj.
Maharashtra Day: 1 May
• Maharashtra Day or Maharashtra Diwas is celebrated on May 1 every year.
• The day commemorates the creation of the predominantly Marathi-speaking state of
Maharashtra with the enactment of the Bombay Reorganisation Act in 1960.
• The Bombay Reorganisation Act in 1960 bifurcated the Bombay State into two separate states
namely, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

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International Current Affairs

Etihad Airways named Environmental Airline of 2023
• Etihad Airways has been named Environmental Airline of the Year 2023 for the second year
running in the Airline Ratings awards.
• The Airline Ratings awards acknowledge the best of the aviation industry and rank airlines on
their innovation, route networks, and safety score.
• The awards recognized Etihad's commitment to sustainable aviation through innovation and
collaboration
China to send men to moon by 2030
• China announced plans to send a manned mission to the moon by 2030 amid its deepening
space race with the West
• The announcement was made by Lin Xiqiang, Deputy Director of the China Manned Space
Agency, as China is preparing to send astronauts to its space station
• The goal is reportedly to achieve China’s first manned landing on the moon by 2030 and carry
out lunar scientific explorations.
UAE announces 13 year Space Mission to explore asteroid belt
• The United Arab Emirates (UAE), on 30 May 2023, announced plans for a groundbreaking space
mission called MBR Explorer.
• The mission will explore the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and will be launched
in March 2028.
• The mission will cover a distance of 5 billion kilometers over a 13-year expedition.
• The MBR Explorer will conduct close flybys of seven asteroids in the belt.
China launches 3 astronauts to Tiangong space station
• In China, three astronauts, including a civilian, were launched to the Tiangong space station
onboard Shenzhou-16.
• The civilian, Beihang University professor Gui Haichao, was put into orbit for the first time in
space.
• Shenzhou-16 is the first mission to Tiangong since it entered the application and development
stage.
• Tiangong is the crown jewel of China's space programme.
Zero-Emissions Public Transportation in Dubai 2050
• Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority Sets Ambitious Goal for Zero-Emissions Public
Transportation by 2050.
• This strategic move aligns with the United Arab Emirates' preparations for COP28 and the UAE
Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.
• It is in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33's objectives.
• The strategy, aptly named "Zero-Emissions Public Transportation in Dubai 2050.

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China's 1st domestically developed large passenger jet C919 1st flight
• China's 1st domestically developed large passenger jet C919 made its first commercial flight
from Shanghai to Beijing.
• Single-aisle, twin-engined aircraft has 164 seats and it carried more than 130 passengers on
board.
• China has made significant investments in domestic jet manufacture in an effort to become self-
sufficient in critical technology.
WMO approves a global tracker for greenhouse gas emissions
• The World Meteorological Congress has approved a new greenhouse gas monitoring initiative
to support urgent action in reducing heat-trapping gases.
• It aims to address critical information gaps and data assimilation under one comprehensive
framework.
• The comprehensive observations will include surface-based and satellite-based monitoring of
CO2, CH4, and N2O gases.
Ireland becomes the first country to label alcoholic drinks for health
• Ireland becomes the first country to enforce mandatory health advisories on alcohol products.
• The policy was approved by the Irish Minister for Health and will be implemented from May 22,
2026.
• The health warnings will include information about risks like cancer and have received support
from the World Health Organization.
• The warnings have been approved by both the European Union.
US FDA approves Pfizer's Covid antiviral pill Paxlovid
• The US (Food and Drug Administration) FDA has granted full approval to Pfizer's oral antiviral
COVID-19 treatment, Paxlovid, for adults at high risk of severe COVID-19.
• Paxlovid is the first oral antiviral pill approved by the FDA to treat COVID-19 in adults.
• The approval for the pill will provide doctors with more flexibility in prescribing it to adults with
severe COVID-19 symptoms.
Komagata Maru incident to be commemorated in name of Vancouver street
• A prominent street in downtown Vancouver is likely to be accord the honorary name of
Komagata Maru Way to commemorate the incident in 1914 when the Japanese steamship of
that name carrying 376 passengers from India was escorted away from city in British Columbia
due to discriminatory laws that were then in place in Canada.
• Vancouver’s city council is expected to give it a secondary name.
Sydney's Harris Park renamed as ‘Little India’
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese officially
named Sydney's Harris Park area in Parramatta as ‘Little India’ during a special community
event for the Indian diaspora.

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• Harris Park is home to a large Indian community and is well-established as a unique destination
for Indian cuisine, and Indian-owned businesses.
Rayyanah Barnawi, the first Arab woman astronaut to go to space
• Part of Axiom Space’s private mission to the International Space Station (ISS), Rayyanah
Barnawi became the first Arab woman astronaut to go into space.
• Born in September 1988 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Barnawi is a biomedical researcher.
• She is part of a team which recently went to the International Space Station (ISS) in a SpaceX
Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
INDEX 2023, Dubai
• INDEX Dubai 2023, the prestigious international exhibition celebrating its 30th year,
commenced at the Dubai World Trade Center
• The event showcases the latest trends and innovations in the interior furnishings world.
• K Kalimuthu, Consul, CGI Dubai, inaugurated the India Pavilion.
Nepal: PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal inaugurates Women's Volleyball tournament
• Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' inaugurated the Central Asian
Volleyball Association (CAVA) Women's Volleyball Challenge Cup in Kathmandu.
• A total of eight countries—India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and
Kazakhstan, including host Nepal -- are participating in the tournament.
Bangladesh-US joint naval exercise begins in Chattogram
• The Joint Bangladesh-US Naval drill Exercise ‘Tiger Shark 40’ started at BNS Nirvik in
Chattogram.
• The objective of the exercise is to increase the strategic capabilities of both countries and to
acquire mutual technical and procedural knowledge.
• Chattogram Naval Area Commander Rear Admiral Abdullah AL Mamun Chowdhury attended
the event as the Chief Guest.
Arab League Summit in Jeddah Adopts Jeddah Declaration
• The 32nd Arab League Summit recently concluded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with the adoption
of the Jeddah Declaration.
• This declaration, focuses on fostering Arab unity and addressing various regional challenges.
• The declaration emphasizes the need for increased pan-Arab efforts to assist Syria in resolving
its ongoing crisis, demonstrating a collective commitment to supporting stability.
Nepal designates 2025 as a ‘Special tourism year’
• Nepal has designated the year 2025 as a "Special tourism year" to support the recovery of the
country's tourism industry.
• The President announced that the decade of the 2080s in the Bikram Samvat calendar would
be recognized as 'the Visit Nepal decade'.

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• A special honor the 'Samarmatha Special Honour' will be conferred on foreign nationals who
contribute to promoting Nepal's cultural values.
Montana to become first U.S. state to ban TikTok
• Montana Governor Greg Gianforte on Wednesday signed legislation to ban Chinese-owned
TikTok.
• Montana will make it unlawful for Google and Apple’s app stores to offer TikTok within the state,
but will not impose any penalties on individuals using the app.
• The ban is to take effect Jan. 1, 2024, and is almost certain to face legal challenges.
• TikTok is owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance
Japanese PM Fumio Kishida welcome G7 leaders in Hiroshima
• Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida welcomed the G7 leaders in Hiroshima where G7 leaders
laid wreaths at the Peace Memorial Park.
• They also planted saplings at Memorial Park.
• The G7 leaders are currently in Japan to attend the G7 Summit scheduled to be held in
Hiroshima from May 19-21.
• Japan assumed the G7 Presidency in 2023.
Assad to attend first Arab League summit since start of Syria war
• Syria's President Bashar al-Assad is to attend an Arab League summit for the first time since it
was suspended from the regional body 12 years ago.
• Syria was readmitted this month after states which had backed the opposition accepted his grip
on power was secure.
• They include summit hosts in Saudi Arabia.
Afghanistan reports first polio death of 2023
• Afghanistan reported its first death due to poliovirus in 2023 in Nangarhar.
• The Ministry of Public Health reported two cases of polio in Nangarhar.
• Polio is a severely contagious and disabling disease typically spread through contaminated
water or food.
• The infection can induce complete paralysis within hours after invading the nervous system.
Monkeypox No Longer A Global Health Emergency: WHO
• The World Health Organization declared that mpox no longer constitutes a global health
emergency
• the decision was prompted by falling case numbers worldwide, but emphasised that the disease
remains a threat, particularly in areas of Africa where it has long been present.
• Earlier, UN agency also declared that Covid-19 no longer constitutes a public health emergency
COP28 President-Designate Calls for Action to Transform & Decarbonize
• COP28 President-Designate Calls for Action to Transform, Decarbonize, and Future-Proof
Economies at UAE Climate Tech Conference

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• The aim is to accelerate the development and deployment of technological solutions to

decarbonize economies and reduce emissions by at least forty-3 % by 2030 in line with the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.
Sharjah Police Launches 'Stay in Your Lane' Campaign
• The Sharjah Police launched a traffic campaign, "stay in your lane" in May to curb road lane
violations.
• The aim is to improve traffic culture among drivers and other road users, educate them on the
significance of adhering to traffic regulations and instructions, and inform them of the risks
involved in the event of non-compliance with them.
Arab League Re-admits Syria as Relations with Assad Normalize
• The Arab League readmitted Syria after more than a decade of suspension, consolidating a
regional push to normalise ties with President Bashar al-Assad.
• The decision said Syria could resume its participation in Arab League meetings, while calling for
a resolution of the crisis resulting from Syria's civil war, including the flight of refugees to
neighbouring countries and drug smuggling.
Cyclone Mocha likely to make landfall in Myanmar
• Cyclone Mocha is unlikely to hit the eastern Indian coast and Bangladesh.
• Instead, the cyclonic storm is likely to change its route and make landfall in Myanmar as a
"severe cyclone" on May 13-14, 2023.
• Several districts across West Bengal will also receive light to moderate rain on May 8, owing to
a rise in humidity levels and heat.
• Eighteen districts in Odisha are also on high alert.
Mystery Chinese spacecraft returns to Earth after 276 days
• An experimental Chinese spacecraft returned to Earth on 8 May 2023 after staying in orbit for
276 days.
• It completed a landmark mission to test the country's reusable space technologies.
• The uncrewed spacecraft returned to the Jiuquan launch centre in northwest China.
• The test will provide a more convenient and inexpensive way to mount future space missions.
Countries join hands to protect migratory birds
• Range countries of the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) have collaborated to strengthen
conservation efforts for migratory birds and their habitats.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in collaboration with the United
Nations Environment Programme/Convention on Migratory Species (UNEP/CMS) organised the
meeting from May 2 to May 4, 2023, in New Delhi.
Coronation of King Charles III took place on 6 May
• The coronation of King Charles III and his wife Camilla took place in London in a ceremony on 6
May 2023.

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• Prince Charles was next in line to the throne and was crowned king after the death of his
mother, Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
• Post the coronation, King Charles III will take over as the monarch after a 70-year reign of his
late mother, the sovereign.
WHO: Covid-19 no longer represents a global health emergency
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that Covid-19 no longer represents a global
health emergency.
• WHO’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee discussed the pandemic at its
15th meeting on Covid-19.
• The organization declared the coronavirus outbreak to be a public health emergency of
international concern in January 2020.
Russia now has its own ChatGPT, introduces GigaChat
• Sberbank, Russia’s largest banking institution has announced the release and testing phase of
the nation’s first ChatGPT competitor named GigaChat.
• Sberbank claims GigaChat’s novelty is its ability to communicate more intelligently in Russian
than other foreign neural networks.
• It is able to answer questions, hold a conversation, and write program code to develop software.
US: FDA approves world's first RSV vaccine for older adults
• The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved the world's first Respiratory
Syncytial Virus - RSV - vaccine that is meant for older adults.
• However, the vaccine still needs approval from the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention before it can be rolled out to the public.
• The vaccine was found 83 percent effective against diseases caused by RSV.
Uzbekistan President wins referendum to rewrite Constitution
• A vast majority of Uzbekistan’s voters voted “Yes” to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s bid to
rewrite the country’s Constitution in a referendum.
• President Mirziyoyev’s narrative is that the new Constitution gives emphasis on human rights,
freedoms, gender equality, economic growth and prosperity.
• The new charter would also extend the presidential term to seven years, with a two-term limit.

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MoU and Agreements Current Affairs

NHIDCL Ltd, IIT Guwahati sign MoU to facilitate research & development
• The National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) signed an MoU
with IIT Guwahati to facilitate research and development in civil engineering, road construction,
planning, and design.
• The collaboration will address the challenges and promote technological innovations in the field
of the construction of highways under extreme climatic and geographical conditions.
ADB, India sign $141 million loan for industrial corridor developmeent
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Govt of India have signed a $141.12 million loan to
support infrastructure development in Andhra Pradesh.
• This financing is the 2nd tranche of a $500 million multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) for the
program approved by ADB in 2016.
• The project aims to build infrastructure in three industrial clusters in Andhra Pradesh.
Goa, Uttarakhand sign MoU to boost tourism
• The Government of Goa and the Government of Uttarakhand have signed an MoU to enhance
tourism in both states.
• The MoU aims to promote bilateral cooperation in the travel and tourism sector.
• The MoU includes a provision for human resource development in the field of tourism.
• This MoU is a first of its kind in India, where two states are collaborating to promote tourism.
Union cabinet approves MoU between ICAI and CA Maldives
• The Union Cabinet, on 18 May 2023, approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Chartered
Accountants of the Maldives (CA Maldives).
• The MoU aims to foster cooperation in accounting between India and the Maldives.
• The MoU will also facilitate the export of accounting services to the Maldives.
NTPC Green Energy ties up with HPCL Mittal Energy for green hydrogen
• NTPC Green Energy and HPCL Mittal Energy have signed an MoU to collaborate in renewable
energy and green hydrogen.
• The two companies will work together to source 250 MW of renewable energy power for HPCL
Mittal Energy.
• The company operates the Guru Gobind Singh Refinery at Bathinda, Punjab.
• The MoU between the companies is aimed at realizing green energy and green hydrogen
objectives.
Union Govt approves Project Collaboration Agreement between DHR & WHO
• The Union Government has approved the signing of the Project Collaboration Agreement
between the Department of Health Research (DHR) and the World Health Organization (WHO)
on Assistive Technology on 17 May 2023.

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• The collaboration aims at providing access to assistive technology, fostering research and
innovation, and developing and disseminating appropriate training programs.
MoHUA and MoR jointly ink MoU with JICA for Project SMART
• The Min of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Min of Railways jointly signed an MoU with
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for ‘Station Area Development along Mumbai-
Ahmedabad High Speed Rail’ (Project-SMART).
• he MoU was inked for four High Speed Rail Stations- Sabarmati, Surat in Gujarat and Virar and
Thane in Maharashtra
MakeMyTrip collaborates with Microsoft
• MakeMyTrip has collaborated with Microsoft to make travel planning more inclusive and
accessible by introducing voice assisted booking in Indian languages.
• The new, in-platform tech stack powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service and Azure Cognitive
Services, will converse with the user to offer personalized travel recommendations.
India Post signs MoU with CAIT and Tripta Technologies
• India Post has signed a MoU with Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and Tripta
Technologies for logistics services.
• It will benefit small and medium traders as they will be able to use India Post as a logistics service
provider.
• It will provide shipping and the last mile delivery services to CAIT's strong trader base and small
and medium business in the unorganised sector.
MoHUA and MoR jointly ink MoU with JICA for Project SMART
• The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Ministry of Railways jointly signed an MoU
with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for ‘Station Area Development along
Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail’ (Project-SMART).
• The MoU was inked for four High Speed Rail Stations- Sabarmati, Surat in Gujarat and Virar and
Thane in Maharashtra.
Sri Lanka’s Dialog Axiata and Bharti Airtel sign binding term sheet
• Sri Lanka’s top mobile telecommunication firm, largest telecommunications provider Dialog
Axiata and India’s Bharti Airtel have signed a binding term sheet for the merger of their Sri Lankan
subsidiaries.
• With this merger, Bharti Airtel will get access to a large customer base in the island nation.
• Airtel would be issued new shares in Dialog upon completion of the transaction.
India, Israel sign MoU on Industrial R&D Cooperation
• India and Israel have signed an MoU on Industrial Research and Development Cooperation with
focus on several key technology areas.
• These are aerospace, Electronics Instrumentation, etc.

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• The Multi-Sectoral Agreement was signed between Council of Scientific and Industrial Research,
CSIR and Directorate of Defense Research and Development, Ministry of Defense of Israel in New
Delhi.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs signs MoU with RITES
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has signed an MoU with RITES Limited.
• It has been for technical assistance for Solid Waste Management & UWM under Swachh Bharat
Mission-Urban 2.0.
• The Technical Support Unit (TSU) of RITES will assist SBM-U for 3 yrs.
• Under SWM, the areas of engagement will be process standardization and engineering design of
waste management facilities.
Airtel Payments Bank collaborates with NPCI
• Airtel Payments Bank has collaborated with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
• It will roll out Face Authentication for AePS (Aadhaar-enabled Payment System) at its 500,000
banking points.
• Airtel Payments Bank is amongst the first four banks to offer Face Authentication for AePS in the
country.

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National Current Affairs

Government to waive off ISTS charges for Off-Shore Wind Projects
• The Government has waived Inter-State Transmission Charges (ISTS) for Off-Shore Wind Projects,
Green Hydrogen, and Green Ammonia.
• This aims to promote offshore wind energy, expand Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia
projects, and encourage renewable energy uptake from Energy Storage System Projects.
• The waiver applies to offshore wind projects commissioned by 31st December 2032 for 25 years.
India leads globally in regulating anti-tobacco warnings on OTT
• India has become a global leader in spreading awareness about the deadly effects of tobacco
consumption.
• The Union Health Ministry on notified new rules for anti-tobacco warnings on OTT platforms that
if the publisher of online content fails to comply with new rules then the ministry will take strict
action.
• This notification mandates OTT platforms to carry anti-tobacco warnings.
Sivok-Rangpo Rail Project: Concrete lining of Tunnel 14 completed
• Tunnel number T-14 of the Sivok- Rangpo Rail Project (SRRP) in Sikkim has reached a major
milestone as its final concrete lining was completed.
• This 1977-meter-long tunnel is the gateway of the railway network to Sikkim.
• The Sivok to Rangpo New Rail Link Project spans approximately 45 kilometers connecting West
Bengal and Sikkim.
• It features 14 tunnels, 22 bridges, and five stations.
Nirmala Sitharaman chairs 2nd meeting NICDIT
• The Apex Monitoring Authority, chaired by Nirmala Sitharaman, reviewed the activities of the
National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT).
• The authority comprises of Finance Minister as Chairperson, Ministry of Commerce, Min of
Railways, Min of Road Transport & Highways.
• The meeting was attended by Chief Ministers from four states and Ministers from nine states.
MOIL achieves record manganese ore production in Q4 of FY2023
• Manganese Ore Mining Ltd. (MOIL) reported a record production of 4.02 lakh tonne of manganese
ore in Quarter-4 of the financial year 2022-23.
• The company's total sales increased 3% YoY to 3.91 lakh tonnes.
• MOIL Limited operates eleven mines across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh under the Ministry
of Steel's supervision and has a lofty vision to almost double its production by 2030.
DGCA approves for night landing facility at Kalaburagi Airport
• Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has approved the night landing facility at
Kalaburagi Airport, Karnataka on 17th May 2023.

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• The airport was inaugurated on in Nov 2019, by the then Chief Minister of Karnataka B S
Yediyurappa.
• The airport has been amended from VFR (Visual flight rules) to IFR (Instrumental flight rules) for
All Weather Operations.
Bandra-Versova sea bridge will be named after Veer Savarkar
• Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced that Bandra -Versova sea route in Mumbai
will be named as Swatantra Veer Savarkar Bandra- Versova Sagari Setu.
• He was speaking at an event on the 140th birth anniversary of SwatantraVeer Vinayak Damodar
Savarkar in Mumbai.
• A new award "The SwatantraVeer Savarkar Shaurya Puraskar" will be given for incredible bravery
deeds in the state.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurates new Parliament building
• On May 28, 2023, the new Parliament building was officially opened by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi.
• The Prime Minister was accompanied by priests from Karnataka’s Shringeri Math during the
ceremony.
• It is located in the Central Vista area of New Delhi and covers an area of approximately 65,000
square meters.
• It has seating for 888 members in the Lok Sabha and 384 members in the Rajya Sabha.
PM Modi to flag off Assam’s first Vande Bharat Express on 29 May
• PM Modi will inaugurate Assam's first Vande Bharat Express on May 29, 2023.
• The train will connect Guwahati with New Jalpaiguri and will cover the journey in 5 hours and 30
minutes.
• The Prime Minister will also dedicate 182 Route km of newly electrified sections, which will provide
pollution-free transportation and reduce the running time of trains.
Oil India registers highest ever Net Profit of Rs. 6810.40 cr
• Oil India Limited (OIL) has reported its highest-ever net profit since the company's inception at
₹6,810.40 crore in FY 2022-23.
• The company also reported the highest-ever pipeline throughput of 8.19 million metric tonne
(MMT) and the highest-ever turnover of Rs 23,272.57 crore.
• Crude Oil and Natural Gas production has also shown growth of 6.95% and 6.27% respectively
in 2023.
India announces plan to end tuberculosis by 2025
• Prime Minister Modi launched the Tuberculosis (TB) Free India campaign, an ambitious plan to
eliminate tuberculosis by 2025.
• India has the highest burden of TB in the world, with nearly 423,000 TB patients dying in 2016.
• The UN's sustainable development goals had set a target to eliminate TB by 2030.
• Tobacco use is an important factor in TB-related deaths in India, with 7.9% of deaths.

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Minor. Affairs Ministry supports Development of Unani Medicine System

• The Ministry of Minority Affairs has approved a grant of Rs. 45.34 Crores under Pradhan Mantri
Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) to promote the Unani Medicine facilities in India.
• The grant will support the upgradation of Unani Medicine facilities at Hyderabad, Chennai,
Lucknow, Silchar, and Bengaluru.
• Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) has also sanctioned Rs. 35.52 crores.
NITI Aayog to hold 8th Governing Council Meeting on 27 May
• NITI Aayog will hold its 8th Governing Council Meeting on May 27, 2023, in New Delhi to discuss
the theme of 'Viksit Bharat @ 2047: Role of Team India'.
• The meeting will focus on eight prominent themes, including infrastructure, skill development,
women empowerment, and health and nutrition.
• The Prime Minister, as Chairman of NITI Aayog, will preside over the meeting.
Giriraj Singh launches SAMARTH campaign to promote digital transaction
• The Ministry of Rural Development launched the "Samarth Campaign on Promoting Digital
Transactions in 50,000 Gram Panchayats" to promote digital transactions in rural areas.
• Union Minister Giriraj Singh, on 25 May 2023, launched the campaign in Lucknow.
• The digital Gram Sachivalays being created by the govt of UP in villages will have a provision of
offering services of Bank Sakhis too.
India to eliminate TB by 2025, five years ahead of global SDG
• India is striving to eliminate Tuberculosis from the country by 2025, five years ahead of the global
Sustainable Development Goal.
• India is the only country in the world to have developed its own mechanism for estimating its TB
burden.
• The country has witnessed a 13 percent reduction in TB incidents from 2015 to 2022, surpassing
the global reduction rate of 10 percent.
PSU's start-up challenge to employ AI, renewables in ship design
• The Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd is planning to rope in start-ups for
employing artificial intelligence (AI) and renewable energy in ship design and construction.
• To encourage the development of innovative solutions, GRSE launched Accelerated Innovation
Nurturing Scheme (GAINS).
• The scheme will address present challenges in the ship design and construction industry.
Civil Aviation Ministry launches UDAN 5.1 for helicopter routes
• The Ministry of Civil Aviation, on 24 May 2023, launched UDAN 5.1 (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik),
which is designed specifically for helicopter routes.
• UDAN 5.1 aims to enhance connectivity to remote areas of India and achieve last-mile
connectivity through helicopters.

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• Airfare caps have been reduced by 25% to make flying in helicopters more affordable for
passengers.
Union Min Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated PCIM & H ‘e-office’
• Union Minister of Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated an e-Office portal and an online
portal at the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H),
Ghaziabad.
• The online portal will promote hassle-free access to pharmacopoeial monographs among
stakeholders across the world.
• The new e-Office portal of PCIM&H streamlines office operations and improve efficiency.
'Sengol', The Golden Sceptre To Be Placed In New Parliament
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will place the 'sengol' next to the Lok Sabha Speaker's seat when
he inaugurates the newly constructed Parliament building.
• This sceptre was handed over to India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to mark the transfer
of power from the British to Indians.
• The one accorded the 'sengol' is expected to impart a just and impartial rule.
Bharat Gaurav Train for Sri Rameshwaram-Tirupati Yatra flagged off
• The Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train for "Sri Rameshwaram-Tirupati: Dakshin Yatra" was flagged off
from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai on 23 May 2023.
• The tour package through this train will cover places like Mysuru, Bengaluru, Kanyakumari, and
Tirupati.
• The tour is being conducted under the "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat" & "Dekho Apna Desh"
programs to promote domestic tourism.
MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar holds Digital India Dialogues in Mumbai
• Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar held Digital India Dialogues on the Principles of the Digital
India Act (DIA) in Mumbai, Mahrarashtra on 23 May 2023.
• The Act provide a strong legal framework for protecting the rights of Digital Citizens.
• It will also allow sectoral regulators such as RBI & SEBI to create additional safeguards, resulting
in harmonization of different laws.
Agri drone maker IoTechWorld Avigation to set up pilot training center
• Indian agricultural drone manufacturer, IoTechWorld Avigation, announced that it is in the
process of setting up seven remote pilot training organisations (RPTOs) in five states by July.
• During the month of June, three of them will come up in Gurugram (Haryana), Chikballapur
(Karnataka), and Samastipur (Bihar) and the remaining two in Rajamundary and Vijayawada,
Andhra Pradesh.
Govt sets target to increase highways network to 2 lakh kms by 2025

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• The construction of National Highways has witnessed around 48 per cent growth in the last nine
years and its total length in the country has gone up to nearly 1.47 lakh kilometres against 98,000
kilometres in 2014-15.
• Earlier the pace of National Highways' construction was about 12 kilometers per day which has
increased to 38 kilometers per day at present.
SECL’s Gevra coal mine in Chhattisgarh to be largest in Asia
• Gevra project of South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) in Chhattisgarh in May 2023 became the
first mine in the country to achieve 50 Metric Tons of coal production.
• The expansion of Gevra coal mine will help SECL achieve its goal of increasing coal production
to 250 million tonnes per annum by 2025.
• The expansion of the Gevra coal mine will make it the largest coal-producing mine in Asia.
National Anti-Terrorism Day: 21 May
• National Anti-Terrorism Day is observed in India on May 21 each year to commemorate the death
of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
• Rajiv Gandhi was the youngest Prime Minister of India.
• The day highlights the significance of eradicating terrorism and promoting peace and harmony.
• India is among the 25-worst terror-hit countries, according to the 10th edition of the Global
Terrorism Index.
India achieves 47% growth in coal production in the past 9 years
• In the last nine years, India's overall coal production has gone up by 47 percent to 893.08 million
tonnes (MT).
• This is the highest coal production in the country's history.
• Coal supply has also gone up by 45.37% to reach 877.74 million tonnes.
• The government launched 'Mission Coking Coal' in August 2021 to suggest ways to increase
domestic coking coal production and utilization by 2030.
India launches 1st commercial plane using sustainable aviation fuel
• AirAsia India successfully flew India's first commercial passenger flight using the indigenous
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend on 18 May 2023.
• The flight departed from Pune to New Delhi and the SAF blend was supplied by Indian Oil
Corporation Ltd. (IOCL)
• By 2025, India aims to blend 1% SAF in Jet fuel, requiring around 14 crore liters of SAF per annum.
MoS S.P. Singh Baghel moved from Law Ministry to Health Ministry
• Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel has been assigned as Minister of State in the Health and Family Welfare
Ministry.
• Prof. Baghel was serving as Minister of State in the Law and Justice Ministry.
• Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal was assigned the
independent charge as Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice.

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MoS for Communications Devusinh Chauhan launches ORAN test bed project
• On the occasion of World Telecom Day, Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan
today launched Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) test bed project for conformance,
certification and interoperability testing of O-RAN based solutions at a function in New Delhi.
• It will facilitate testing of ORAN elements and will facilitate development of fully indigenous 5G
radio network in India.
2nd Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group meet to be held in Mumbai
• The second meeting of the G-20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group (DRRWG) will be held in
Mumbai, Maharashtra from May 23 to 25.
• The first DRRWG meeting was held in Gandhinagar in March-April 2023.
• The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 to 2030 provides a concrete action plan
to protect development gains from the Risk of Disaster.
1st Inter-Ministerial Committee Meeting held on World Food India 2023
• The First Inter-Ministerial Committee Meeting for World Food India 2023 was held on May 16,
2023 in New Delhi.
• The committee meeting was chaired by Smt. Anita Praveen, Secretary of Food Processing
Industries (FPI).
• The meeting aimed to discuss the preparation and participation of
Ministries/Departments/Organizations for the upcoming event.
Country's first elevated 8-lane access control Dwarka Expressway
• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari said the country's first
elevated 8-lane access control Dwarka expressway of 29.6 km length is being built at a cost of Rs
9000 crore will be almost completed in April 2024.
• The road network of this expressway is of four levels.
• A 3-lane service road is being constructed on both sides of the expressway.
Third G20 tourism meet to be held in Srinagar on May 22-24
• The 3rd G20 Tourism Working Group meeting will be held in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir from
May 22 to 24.
• During the working sessions, G20 delegates will discuss a potential roadmap that would link
Tourism-sector with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• The event will be based on 5 areas eg. Green Tourism, Digitalisation, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and
Destination Management.
Ayush Min to inaugurate National Mission Conclave in Delhi on 18 May
• Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate the National Ayush Mission (NAM) Conclave
in New Delhi on 18 May 2023.
• The conclave aims to enhance coordination among stakeholders and strengthen the functioning
of Ayush Health Wellness centers.

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• The National Ayush Mission was launched in 2014 with the objective to preserve and promote
India's traditional systems of medicine.
PM Modi to inaugurate International Museum Expo 2023 in New Delhi
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the International Museum Expo 2023 at Pragati
Maidan in New Delhi tomorrow.
• The International Museum Expo is being organized as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav to
celebrate the 47th International Museum Day.
• The theme for this year is ‘Museums, Sustainability, and Well Being’.
Dr Jitendra Singh to inaugurate 8th All India Pension Adalat on 17 May
• Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh will inaugurate the 8th All India Pension Adalat in Delhi on 17
May 2023.
• The Pension Adalat initiative was started on an experimental basis in 2017 by the Department of
Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare.
• The Pension Adalat will be linked through video conferences where Pension Adalats are being
organized by Min/Depts across India to take up complicated cases.
Phase V of Sagar Parikrama to be held from 17th-19th May
• The Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying has announced the
commencement of Phase-V of the Sagar Parikrama initiative.
• The journey will start from Raigad, Maharashtra on 17 May and end in Canacona, Goa on 19 May
2023.
• Sagar Parikrama symbolizes solidarity with fisherfolk and fish farmers.
• Union Minister for Fisheries Parshottam Rupala will participate in the event
Jal Jeevan Mission achieves milestone of 12 crore Tap Water connection
• The Jal Jeevan Mission has achieved a milestone of providing 12 crore tap water connections to
rural households in India on 16 May 2023.
• The mission has been successful in providing tap water connections to over 50% of rural
households in the country.
• The mission was launched in 2019 to provide tap water connections to all rural households by
2024.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launches Sanchar Saathi portal
• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the Sanchar Saathi portal on May 16, 2023.
• The Sanchar Saathi portal is a digital platform designed to provide training and support to people
in rural areas to operate digital devices and access digital services.
• The portal aims to bridge the digital divide and empower people in rural areas to participate in
the digital economy.
DNA profiling of elephants as part census begins in Jharkhand.

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• DNA profiling of elephants in Jharkhand's Palamau Tiger Reserve is underway, led by a team from
the Wildlife Institute of India.
• Elephant dung is being collected for DNA analysis
• Cameras will be installed in the forest for cross-referencing.
• The census is set to finish this month.
Hardeep S Puri launches mega campaign ‘Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Shehar’
• Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep S Puri launched his Ministry's mega campaign
‘Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Shehar’.
• This campaign aims to champion, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (RRR) concept of waste
management.
• Under this nationwide campaign, RRR Centres or one-stop collection centers will be set up.
• The RRR Centres are scheduled to be launched nationwide on the 20th of this month.
Union Agriculture Min launches Biological Control Lab in Hyderabad
• The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the
Integrated Biological Control Laboratory at National Institute of Plant Health Management
(NIPHM) Hyderabad, Telangana.
• The Lab will have an Insect Museum, weed museum and Natural Farming Cell.
• NIPHM promotes sustainable agricultural practices such as Agro Ecosystem Analysis for pest
management.
Envt. Minister Bhupender Yadav launches mobile application Meri LiFE
• Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav launched a mobile
application, called Meri LiFE (My life) in New Delhi.
• This app is inspired by the concept of LiFE, envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP
26.
• It emphasizes mindful and deliberate utilization instead of mindless and wasteful consumption.
Operation Samudragupt a joint operation off the Kerala coast
• The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Indian Navy, in a joint operation off the Kerala coast,
have seized approximately 2,500 kg of methamphetamine valued at about 15,000 crore and
originating from Pakistan.
• The seizure is a part of Operation Samudragupt, which seeks to rid the Indian Ocean region of
drugs by targeting drug trafficking on ships.
Ladakh annual festival 'Monlam Chenmo' begins in Leh
• The annual five-day-long Great Prayer Festival, "Ladakh Monlam Chenmo," a mass prayer camp
by Buddhist monks and nuns for world peace and happiness started in Leh, Ladakh.
• Monlam Chenmo is a major annual prayer of the Sangha Community of Ladakh gathered at one
platform.
• The event is being organised by the All Ladakh Gonpa Association.

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MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar launches 3rd Semicon India Roadshow in Delhi

• The 3rd Semicon India Future Design roadshow was launched by Union Minister of State for
Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar on 12 May 2023 in Delhi.
• The event was held at IIT Delhi with the aim to encourage innovation in the semiconductor design
and manufacturing space.
• The event also aimed to facilitate investment in the semiconductor industry.
Narendra Singh Tomar chairs 8th SCO Agriculture Ministers meet
• The 8th meeting of Agriculture Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member
countries was held on 12 May 2023.
• It was held under the chairmanship of Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra
Singh Tomar.
• The meeting resulted in the adoption of a joint declaration on agricultural cooperation among
SCO member states.
AIFF declares June 23 as 'AIFF Grassroots Day' to honor P.K. Banerjee
• The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has declared June 23 as the 'AIFF Grassroots Day' to
honor the legacy of late Indian football icon Pradip Kumar Banerjee
• Banerjee, who passed away in 2020, was a former India captain and coach who led the national
team to the Asian Games gold medal in 1962
• He was also the first Indian to coach a foreign club when he took charge of East Bengal in 1970
MyGov, in collaboration with IHM, Pusa launches YUVA PRATIBHA
• MyGov, in collaboration with IHM, Pusa launched ‘YUVA PRATIBHA - Culinary Talent Hunt’.
• Its aim is to create awareness and increase the production and consumption of millet, the year
2023 has been declared as the ‘International Year of the Millets’ by the United Nations, following
a proposal by India, to position itself as a global hub for millet.
Rashtriya Ispat Nigam - launches “Open challenge programme (OCP) 2.0’
• Atul Bhatt, CMD, RINL launched ‘Open challenge progam 2.0’
• The program is the second program in the series of OCP programs that are being launched by
Kalpataru-CoE (Centre of entrepreneurship).
• This open challenge program is for selecting the startups in the field of Industry 4.0 technologies.
PM Modi Commends Kutch Kadwa Patidar Samaj
• PM Narendra Modi has lauded Kadwa Patidar Samaj for their commendable work done during
the Corona period.
• The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the efforts of Akhil Bhartiya Kutch Kadva Samaj
will give strength to the country's resolutions in this direction and will lead them to success.
PM Modi to Inaugurate 3-Day International Museum Expo 2023 in Delhi
• PM Modi will inaugurate a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive three-day International Museum Expo-
2023 on 18th May at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

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• This initiative has been undertaken to commemorate and celebrate the 47th International
Museum Day
• The Expo aims at facilitating a holistic conversation and showcases the diverse cultural heritage
exhibited by various museums across the country.
ICMR successfully conducts trial run of blood bag delivery
• ICMR successfully conducts trial run of blood bag delivery under i-Drone initiative.
• 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 trial run has been undertaken for the 1st time in the country.
Jal Shakti Ministry Organizes Orientation Program
• Jal Shakti Ministry organizes orientation program for action-oriented implementation of "Catch
the Rain" campaign
• The 2023 campaign is being implemented from 4th March 2023 to 30th November 2023 in all the
districts of the country with the theme “Source Sustainability for Drinking Water”.
Meenakshi Lekhi Inaugurates 'Buddham Saranam Gacchami' Exhibition
• Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakashi Lekhi inaugurated the
"Buddham Saranam Cacchami" Exhibition in the presence of senior Buddhist monks,
Ambassadors, diplomats and Ministry officials on Wednesday at the National Callery of Modern
Arts, Delhi.
• The International Buddhist Confederation also actively participated in the
event.
PM Modi Multiple Scientific Projects on National Technology Day
• PM laid foundation stone of Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory- India
• He also dedicated ‘Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Plant, Visakhapatnam’ to the nation
• By this, India will join select group of nations with capacity to produce Rare Earth Permanent
Magnets
• PM also dedicated to the nation ‘National Hadron Beam Therapy Facility’ and ‘Fission
Molybdenum-99 Production Facility’
MyGov and Ministry of Culture, launches 'YUVA PRATIBHA'
• MyGov in collaboration with Ministry of Culture is launching a YUVA PRATIBHA – Singing Talent
Hunt on May 10, 2023.
• The initial submission for the competition will be open for a period of one and half month.
• Top 3 Winners will be mentored for a period of 1 month with a mentorship stipend.
• 1st winner will get Rs 1,50,000, a trophy, and a certificate.
ISRO to start online training programme for PG and UG students
• The Indian Space Research Organisation has announced a new introductory-level online training
programme called Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START).

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• START is aimed at postgraduate and final-year undergraduate students of Physical Sciences and
Technology.
• The programme will cover various domains of Space Science, including Astronomy and
Astrophysics, Heliophysics, etc.
Financial Stability and Development Council meeting held
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 27th Financial Stability and Development
Council meeting in Delhi, on 8 May'23.
• It was held in the presence of Ministers of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary and Dr Bhagwat
Karad.
• It was discussed that the policy and legislative reform measures required to further develop the
financial sector may be formulated and implemented expeditiously.
SJVN secures 100 MW wind power project in Gujarat
• SJVN Ltd has secured a 100 MW grid-connected wind power project in Gujarat.
• The project was awarded to SJVN Green Energy Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SJVN,
through a competitive bidding process followed by an e-reverse auction organized by Gujarat
Urja Vikas Nigam Limited.
• The commissioning of the project is expected to reduce 576,067 tonnes of carbon emissions.
UGC launches 'CU-Chayan', a unified faculty recruitment portal
• The University Grants Commission (UGC) has launched a new portal named ‘CU-Chayan’ for
faculty appointments in central varsities.
• The portal will offer a range of features including a consolidated listing of job openings across all
participating universities.
• Applicants will have a single login for applying to any of the universities, and personalised
dashboards.
Mansukh Mandaviya reviews ‘Food Street Project’
• Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed the ‘Food Street
Project’ aimed at developing 100 healthy and hygienic food-streets.
• It seeks to encourage safe and healthy food practices, reduce foodborne illnesses and improve
overall health outcomes.
• To operationalize the food streets, the National Health Mission will provide assistance of Rs 1 cr
per food street.
River-Cities Alliance Global Seminar organised by NMCG
• National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in association with the National Institute of Urban
Affairs (NIUA) organized the ‘River-Cities Alliance (RCA) Global Seminar: Partnership for Building
International River-Sensitive Cities’ on 4 May 2023 in New Delhi.
• It witnessed participation from Embassies/High Commissions of select countries.
• World Bank, ADB, JICA and KfW also were part of it.

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RBI, BIS launch global technology competition ‘G20 TechSprint’

• Reserve Bank of India(RBI) and Bank for International Settlements (BIS) have launched G20
TechSprint, a global technology competition.
• This is the fourth edition of the G20 TechSprint.
• It will focus on developing innovative technology solutions for cross-border payments.
• The competition is open for developers around the world for submitting application from till 4
June 2023.
JNPA Port sets a global benchmark with a record
• Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), India’s leading container port, has achieved a global
milestone in container cargo handling with a remarkable turnaround time (TAT) of only 22 hours.
• It was given in the World Bank’s 2023 Logistics Performance Index (LPI) Report.
• This success follows JNPA’s record-breaking handling of 6.05 mn twenty-foot equivalent units in
the 2022-23 fiscal year.
Microsoft introduces two initiatives to bolster support to Indian SMBs
• Microsoft India has introduced 2 new initiatives, an SMB (small and medium businesses) focused
website and a dedicated helpline.
• The website Microsoft for Small and Medium Businesses, aims at bringing together business
owners and entrepreneurs in India.
• Digital Transformation Helpline (1800-102-1147) offers SMBs dedicated support to navigate their
digital transformation journey seamlessly.
NTPC marks its first overseas capacity addition
• NTPC has marked its first overseas capacity addition, beginning with Bangladesh.
• The Group recently added Unit-1, a 660 MW capacity, of the 1320 MW (2x660) Maitree Super
Thermal Power Plant (MSTPP) located in Rampal, Mongla, Bangladesh.
• It takes the Installed capacity of NTPC to 72304 MW.
• The project was executed in collaboration with the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company
Pvt Ltd.
Shantanu Thakur flags off MV-ITT LION (V-273)
• Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shantanu Thakur flagged off MV-ITT LION
(V-273) from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata as the inaugural shipment to operationalise
the Sittwe Port in Rakhine State of Myanmar.
• The Port has been built under a grant assistance from the Government of India as part of Kaladan
Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP).
Melanistic tiger dies in Similipal Tiger Reserve
• A rare melanistic tiger was found dead in the core area of Similipal Tiger Reserve area, in Odisha.
• The melanistic tiger is rarely found in the wild.

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• A team of National Tiger Conservation Authority will investigate the circumstances under which
the tiger died.
• The STR first reported the presence of melanistic tigers in 2007.
• The 2016 tiger census revealed six such tigers in the reserve.

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Appointments Current Affairs

Bola Ahmed Tinubu sworn in as Nigeria's president
• Bola Tinubu has become Nigeria's president, succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari.
• Nigeria is forecast to become the world's third most populous nation by 2050.
• Tinubu was the former governor of Lagos.
• He has pledged to reunite the country amidst opposition parties contesting his election in court.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the swearing-in ceremony of President Tinubu.
Justice Augustine George Masih as CJ of Rajasthan High Court
• The newly appointed Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, Justice Augustine George Masih
will be administered oath by Governor Kalraj Mishra
• Justice Masih is the senior most puisne judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court and was
appointed judge of that Court on July 10, 2008.
Karnataka Bank appoints Srikrishnan Harihara Sarma as new MD and CEO
• Karnataka Bank has appointed Srikrishnan Harihara Sarma as its new Managing Director & Chief
Executive Officer.
• He has nearly four decades of experience in commercial, retail, and transactional banking,
technology, and payments.
• His tenure as MD & CEO will last for three years, effective from the date of assuming charge.
• He was a part of the founding management team at HDFC Bank Limited.
Praveen Kumar Srivastava sworn in as Central Vigilance Commissioner
• Praveen Kumar Srivastava sworn in as the Central Vigilance Commissioner.
• President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to him at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• Mr. Srivastava is a 1988-batch retired Indian Administrative Service officer of the Assam-
Meghalaya cadre.
WHO re-elects CAG of India as the External Auditor of WHO
• World Health Assembly re-elects Comptroller and Auditor General of India Shri Girish Chandra
Murmu as the External Auditor of WHO for 2024-27.
• 114 Member States out of 156 States present and voting reposed their trust in CAG, India.
Justice Ramesh D Dhanuka sworn as Chief Justice of Bombay High Court
• Justice Ramesh Devkinandan Dhanuka was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High
Court on 28 May 2023.
• Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais administered the oath of office to Justice Dhanuka.
• He will retire on May 30, upon attaining the age of 62, and will have a tenure as chief justice of 3
days.
• Justice SV Gangapurwala was also sworn-in as the Chief Justice of Madras High Court.
Suman Sharma sworn in as UPSC member

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• Suman Sharma, a 1990 batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service, has been appointed as a
Member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
• She has had a distinguished career of over 30 years and has held several important positions in
the Indian government.
• She was awarded the Best Search while working in the Investigation Wing of the Income Tax
Department.
R. Dinesh takes over as CII President for 2023-24
• R. Dinesh, the Executive Vice Chairman of TVS Supply Chain Solutions, has been appointed as
the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) President for 2023-24.
• Sanjiv Puri, the Managing Director of ITC, has been named as President-designate by the CII
National Council.
• Rajiv Memani, the Chairman of EY India Region, has been appointed as Vice-President of CII.
Jayakumar S. Pillai appointed as Deputy Managing Director of IDBI Bank
• IDBI Bank has appointed Jayakumar S. Pillai as Deputy Managing Director on the bank's Board.
• The appointment has been approved by the bank's board of directors and is valid for three years.
• Pillai has 32 years and 7 months of experience working at Canara Bank.
• He presently holds the position of Chief General Manager and Circle Head at Canara Bank,
Mumbai.
Mukesh Ambani joins advisory committee to COP28 President
• Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani has been appointed as a
member of the Advisory Committee to the President of the 28th Session of the Conference of the
Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• Mukesh Ambani is the only Indian, other than Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science
and Environment.
Ex-Karnataka DGP Praveen Sood takes charge as new CBI Director
• Praveen Sood, on 25 May 2023, was appointed as the new Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
Director.
• Sood is a 1986-batch Karnataka cadre officer who has been appointed for two years from the
date of assuming office.
• The three-member panel that included Sood's name comprised PM Narendra Modi, Chief Justice
of India DY Chandrachud, and Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.
Sourav Ganguly named as brand ambassador of Tripura Tourism
• Former India cricket captain and former BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly has been named as the brand
ambassador for Tripura Tourism.
• As an Ambassador, he will promote and try to attract more visitors to Tripura and give a boost to
the tourism industry.
• It is a state in northeastern India and is bounded by Assam and Mizoram in the east and
Bangladesh in the north, south, and west.

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K. Govindaraj elected as president of FIBA Asia

• Dr K. Govindaraj has been elected as the President of the International Basketball Federation
(FIBA) Asia.
• He has become the first Indian to lead the International Basketball Federation in Asia.
• Currently, He is the President of the Basketball Federation of India and the Karnataka Olympic
Association.
• He replaced Qatar’s Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani, who served as head of FIBA Asia since 2002.
Tata Chemicals re-appoints R. Mukundan as its MD & CEO
• Tata Chemicals' Board of Directors re-appointed Mr. R. Mukundan as Managing Director & CEO
for another 5-year term, effective from November 26, 2023.
• The re-appointment of Mr. R. Mukundan was based on the recommendation of the Nomination
and Remuneration Committee.
• It is one of the largest chemical companies in India with operations in India.
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Founded: 23 January 1939
Indian-origin man becomes first turban-wearing ‘Lord Mayor’ of UK city
• Punjab born Jaswant Singh Birdi has become UK's Coventry city's first turban-wearing Lord
Mayor.
• Jaswant Singh Birdi, who was born in Punjab and spent some time as a child in Calcutta in West
Bengal, moved to Coventry 60 years ago and has served as a local councillor in the city for 16
years.
Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla appointed as Indian Army's new MGS
• Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla has been appointed as the new Master General Sustenance (MGS)
of the Indian Army.
• The MGS is responsible for maintaining the high state readiness of the force in both peace and
war.
• Lt Gen Aujla will be one of the eight principal staff officers of the Chief of Army Staff.
• Commissioned into the Rajputana Rifles regiment, Aujla joined the forces in December 1987.
Jayaprakash re-elected as President of Swimming Federation
• N. Jayaprakash and Monal D Chokshi were re-elected as President and Secretary of the
Swimming Federation of India (SFI) on 22 May 2023.
• The SFI will focus on developing grassroots participation in swimming by holding camps and
coaches' clinics at the State-level.
• SFI plans to propose to four states to set up an academy for a year-long camp where foreign
coaches will be brought in.
Govt appoints AK Jain as new PNGRB chairman

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• A K Jain has been appointed as the new chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory
Board (PNGRB).
• He is a retired Indian Administrative Service officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre.
• He previously served as the Coal Secretary until Oct 2022.
• The PNGRB is responsible for regulating the oil and gas sector in India.
• The last PNGRB chairman was D K Saraf, who retired in Dec 2020.
Arjun Ram Meghwal replaces Kiren Rijiju as Union Law Minister
• Arjun Ram Meghwal has been appointed the new Law Minister, while Kiren Rijiju has been handed
the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Meghwal has been assigned the Law Ministry in addition to his existing portfolios.
• Kiren Rijiju has been assigned the portfolio of Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Meghwal is the current Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs & Culture.
Paytm appoints Bhavesh Gupta as COO, President
• One97 Communications Limited (OCL), the parent company of fintech giant Paytm, on Tuesday
announced that it has appointed Bhavesh Gupta as the company’s Chief Operating Officer (COO)
and President.
• Prior to joining Paytm in 2020, Gupta held multiple leadership roles including CEO of Clix Capital
(formerly known as GE Capital), and Head of SME and Business Banking at IDFC Bank.
Justice PK Mishra, advocate KV Viswanathan to be elevated as SC judges
• The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of Andhra Pradesh High Court
Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra as judge of the Supreme Court.
• The Collegium has also cleared the name of senior advocate KV Viswanathan as a Supreme Court
Judge.
• The Supreme Court currently operates with 32 judges, while its approved capacity stands at 34
judges.
Manoj Soni sworn in as Chairman of UPSC.
• The oath was administered by Smt. Smita Nagaraj, the senior most Member of the Commission.
• Dr Soni joined UPSC as a Member in 2017 and later assumed the duties of Chairman in April 2022.
• He has a background in Political Science and specialized in International Relation Studies.
• Dr Soni has served as Vice-Chancellor of M.S. University of Baroda and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar
Open University.
Ravneet Kaur appointed chairperson of Competition Commission of India
• The Central government appointed Ravneet Kaur, a 1988 Punjab cadre IAS officer, as the new
chairperson of the Competition Commission of India
• Sangeeta Verma has been serving as the acting Chairperson.
• As per the May 15 order, her appointment will be for five years from the date she assumes charge
or till the date of attaining the age of 65 years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

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Vedanta appoints Sonal Shrivastava as its new Chief Financial Officer

• Vedanta Ltd has appointed Sonal Shrivastava as its chief financial officer with effect from June
1, 2023.
• She will be joining Vedanta from the Holcim Group, where she had joined in 2002 and was the
chief financial officer for the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa regions.
• Vedanta CEO: Sunil Duggal
• Vedanta Founder: Dwarka Prasad Agarwal
• Founded: 25 June 1965
Duroflex announces Virat Kohli as new brand ambassador
• Duroflex Private Limited, a mattress and sleep products maker, has signed cricketer Virat Kohli as
its brand ambassador on 15 May 2023.
• He will promote the importance of good sleep for better health.
• Its campaign is titled ‘Great Sleep Great Health’.
• In 2023, Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh became the most valued celebrity for endorsements in
2022, replacing Indian batter Virat Kohli.
Air Marshal Dixit takes over as Deputy Chief of Air Staff
• Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit took over as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff on 15 May 2023.
• He is a graduate of the Staff Course, Bangladesh and National Defence College, New Delhi.
• He is a Qualified Flying Instructor as well as an Experimental Test pilot, with over 3300 hours of
flying experience
• He participated in Operation Safed Sagar and Rakshak.
IPS Officer Praveen Sood appointed as next Director of CBI
• IPS officer Praveen Sood has been appointed as the next Director of the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) for a period of two years.
• Mr. Sood is currently serving as the Director General of Police of Karnataka.
• He will succeed incumbent CBI Director Subodh Kumar Jaiswal.
Elon Musk announces Linda Yaccarino as new Twitter CEO
• Elon Musk has confirmed that Linda Yaccarino is the new Twitter CEO
• She will primarily focus on business operations while Musk will focus more on product design and
new technology.
• Yaccarino has been with NBCUniversal for more than 20 years and has held a variety of
leadership positions.
• Currently, she is responsible for all of NBCUniversal's global advertising and partnerships
businesses.
Puma appoints K Balagopalan as India Managing Director
• PUMA India on 11 May 2023, announced that Karthik Balagopalan, the global director of retail
and e-commerce, will succeed Abhishek Ganguly as the new managing director.

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• He has been with PUMA since 2006, and previously held management positions in retail
operations and business development at PUMA India.
• The new appointment will take effect on August 1, 2023.
NIIF appoints Rajiv Dhar as interim CEO
• The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) has appointed Rajiv Dhar as its interim
chief executive officer.
• He is currently the fund’s chief investment officer, will take over from Vineet Nayyar.
• Dhar, has 25 yrs of experience in the financial sector, is expected to continue NIIF’s focus on
investing in infrastructure projects in India.
Badminton Asia Appoints BAI Joint Secretary Omar Rashid as CTO
• Badminton Asia has named Omar Rashid as the Chair of the Technical Officials Committee.
• Omar Rashid, a Joint Secretary of the Badminton Association of India (BAI), has been selected for
this prominent role within Badminton Asia.
• He will oversee the development and implementation of rules and regulations, elevating the
standards of officiating in badminton tournaments nationwide.
Accenture appoints Ajay Vij Country Managing Director in India
• Accenture has appointed Ajay Vij as Country Managing Director, a newly created role, and
Sandeep Dutta as the lead of its India Market Unit.
• Mr. Dutta, who was India Sales Lead, would now serve as the company’s India business lead.
• Rekha M. Menon, Senior Managing Director and Chairperson for Accenture in India, would retire
as of June 30, 2023.
Krishna Bhat appointed Basketball Federation of India administrator
• The Delhi High Court has appointed former Karnataka High Court judge P Krishna Bhat as the
administrator of the Basketball Federation of India with immediate effect for conducting elections
in the body.
• The administrator shall function till a newly-elected body takes charge of BFI.
• The Administrator shall decide whether, the present returning officer should continue to conduct
the election.
Marico re-appoints Saugata Gupta as MD & CEO for two years
• Marico has re-appointed Saugata Gupta as MD and Chief Executive Officer for a period of two
years with effect from 1 April, 2024 to 31 March, 2026.
• He joined Marico in 2004 as the Head of Marketing and was elevated to CEO of India business in
2007.
• In 2014, he took over as Managing Director of the company.
• Marico has also appointed Rajan Bharti Mittal as an Additional Director.
Mark Nicholas to become next president of MCC

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• Former England cricketer and veteran commentator Mark Nicholas has been elected as the next
president of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on Wednesday.
• Nicholas will replace current president Stephen Fry and will assume responsibilities in October
2023.
• Mark scored over 25,000 runs - including an unbeaten hundred for MCC at Lord’s against the
1985 Australians.
Wakefit signs Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana as brand ambassador
• Wakefit Innovations Private Limited, has signed actor Ayushmann Khurrana as Wakefit.co’s brand
ambassador.
• The actor will also help the brand in spreading awareness about sleep health and its importance
in the modern context.
• In 2022, the company also announced its offline retail expansion and has launched 22 physical
stores across the country with plans to open up more than 100 stores.
Indian origin Ajay Banga set to be next President of World Bank
• Indian origin Ajay Banga has been confirmed as the next President of the World Bank.
• He is the former Mastercard CEO and will serve a five-year term as president.
• He was nominated for the post by United States President Joe Biden in late February 2023 and
was the sole contender to replace departing World Bank chief David Malpass.
• He will start the new job on June 2.
Air Marshal Balakrishnan takes over as AOC-in-C of S. Air Command
• Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C)
of Southern Air Command on 1 May 2023.
• The Air Marshal is a recipient of the Presidential Awards of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and
Vayu Sena Medal (VM).
• He is a Helicopter Combat Leader and a Type Qualified Flying Instructor.
Laneige signs actor Athiya Shetty as first brand face for India
• Laneige, a Korean skincare brand has signed actor Athiya Shetty as its first-ever brand face in
India.
• As part of the association, she will represent its line of skincare products.
• Laneige is a South Korean cosmetics brand launched by Amore Pacific in 1994.
A K Mohanty appointed as new Atomic Energy Commission chairman
• Renowned physicist and Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) 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 to the post.
• Mohanty was appointed as the BARC director in March 2019.
• He has twice been the CERN Scientific Associate.

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Obituaries Current Affairs

PM condoles demise of noted Sanskrit scholar Ved Kumari Ghai
• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed deep grief over the demise of noted
Sanskrit scholar Ved Kumari Ghai.
• Born on December 16, 1931 in Jammu, Ved Kumari Ghai was Sanskrit Scholar and Padma Shri
awardee, the fourth-highest civilian award in 2010.
• She was head of the Sanskrit Department at Jammu University until her retirement on December
31, 1991.
Congress’ lone Lok Sabha MP from Maharashtra Balu Dhanorkar dies
• The Congress’ lone Lok Sabha member from Maharashtra, Suresh aka Balu Dhanorkar, passed
away at a private hospital in New Delhi.
• He was hospitalised for kidney stones in Nagpur but later shifted to Delhi after his condition turned
critical.
• He represented Chandrapur Lok Sabha constituency.
Tina Turner, 'Queen of Rock 'n' Roll', passes away in Switzerland
• Tina Turner, also known as the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, passed away on 25 May 2023.
• Turner was known for her electric stage presence and hits including The Best, Proud Mary, Private
Dancer and What's Love Got to Do With It.
• Turner's life story was immortalized in a popular West End show that is still running.
• Turner's most well-known song is "The Best", released in 1989.
Industrialist and philanthropist Karumuttu T Kannan passes away
• Karumuttu T Kannan, a prominent industrialist, and philanthropist, passed away on 24 May 2023.
• He was the Chairman & Managing Director of Thiagarajar Mills Ltd.
• Kannan held significant positions such as Chairman of the Textiles Committee in Mumbai, and
The South India Mills’ Association.
• Kannan held the distinguished role of Thakkar of Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Thirukoil in
Madurai.
RRR movie actor Ray Stevenson dies at age 58
• The actor Ray Stevenson, who played British Governor Scott Buxton in SS Rajamouli's RRR died
at age 58.
• His death was announced four days before his 59th birthday.
• Ray also appeared in major TV shows such as Rome, Vikings and Dexter. He was known for roles
in the Thor films and the Divergent series, as well as several UK TV shows like Band of Gold, Peak
Practice and Murphy's Law.
Veteran actor Sarath Babu passes away at the age of 71
• Veteran Tamil and Telugu actor Sarath Babu passed away on 22 May 2023 in Hyderabad.
• Born in 1951, he made his acting debut in the 1973 Telugu film Rama Rajyam.

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• He made his debut in Tamil cinema with director K Balachander’s Nizhal Nijamagiradhu in 1978.
• He acted in more than 200 films in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam with actors like Kamal Haasan,
Rajinikanth, and NT Rama Rao.
Ex-Union min & BJP's Ambala MP Rattan Lal Kataria passes away
• Rattan Lal Kataria, former Union Minister and BJP MP from Ambala passed away on May 18.
• He served as the Minister of State in the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Social Justice
and Empowerment till 7 July 2021.
• He was elected to the 16th Lok Sabha from Ambala.
• Previously, he was elected to the 13th Lok Sabha from Ambala as a candidate of the Bharatiya
Janata Party.
SP Hinduja, chairman of Hinduja Group, passes away
• Srichand Parmanand Hinduja, the eldest of the four Hinduja brothers and chairman of the Hinduja
Group passed away on 17 May 2023.
• From the 1990s, he was consistently ranked among the United Kingdom and Asia's wealthiest
people.
• In 2022, Hinduja topped the Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated wealth of £28.472 billion
sterling.
Mexican five-time World Cup veteran Antonio Carbajal dies at 93
• Antonio Carbajal, the first Mexican player to appear in five World Cups, has passed away at the
age of 93.
• Carbajal, who was nicknamed "La Tota," played for Mexico between 1950 and 1966, making 11
World Cup appearances.
• He is best known for his record-setting five appearances at the FIFA World Cup.
Renowned Corporate Lawyer Rajiv Luthra Passes Away
• Rajiv Luthra, veteran corporate lawyer and founder of the law firm Luthra and Luthra, died
• Rajiv Luthra played an instrumental role in conceiving the amendments to the Copyright Act,
1957.
• The government also appointed him to the Advisory Board of the Competition Commission of
India (CCI) to help frame the Competition Act, 2002.
Renowned Bengali author Samaresh Majumdar passes away
• Renowned Bengali author Samaresh Majumdar passed away in May 2023.
• He is best known for his ‘Animesh’ series.
• The writer-poet has innumerable accolades under his belt, including Sahitya Akademi Award
which he won for ‘Kalbela’ in 1984.
• Apart from this, he has been conferred the Anand Award and Bankim Award.
• In 2018, the West Bengal government honoured him with the 'Banga Bibhushan' award.
Olympic gold medalist Tori Bowie passes away

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• American sprinter Tori Bowie, a three-time Olympic medalist and a two-time world champion in
track and field, passed away in May 2023.
• Bowie, who also won an Olympic 200m bronze and gold in the 4x100m relay at the Rio Games.
• She earned gold medals in the women's 4x400 m relays at both the 2016 Olympic Games and
2017 World Championships.
Actor-director Manobala passes away
• Popular Tamil actor, comedian, director, and producer Manobala passed away in May 2023.
• Manobala debuted as an actor and assistant director in the 1979 Bharathiraja film Puthiya
Vaarpugal.
• He then went on to direct over 24 films, debuting with the 1982 film Agaya Gangai starring Karthik
and Suhasini.
• As a producer, he produced Sathuranga Vettai.

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Person in News Current Affairs

Jude Bellingham named Bundesliga Player of the Season 2022-23
• 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund player Jude Bellingham has been named Bundesliga Player of the
Season for his incredible campaign in season 2022/23.
• The award is a well-deserved honor for the midfielder, who played a crucial role in BVB's title bid
this season.
• At the age of 19, he became the youngest-ever captain of Borussia Dortmund.
Chaman Lal elected 1st-ever Indian-origin Lord Mayor of Birmingham
• Councillor Chaman Lal, on 30 May 2023, become the first ever British-Indian Sikh to take oath as
Birmingham's Lord Mayor.
• Lal, who is from the Ravidassia community of British Sikhs, was born in the village of Pakhowal in
Hoshiarpur and later moved to the United Kingdom in 1964.
• He is a Labour Party leader who was first elected to Soho and Jewellery Quarter ward in 1994.
Lionel Messi breaks Cristiano Ronaldo's European record for most goals
• Lionel Messi has broken the record for most goals scored in Europe's top five leagues.
• He scored his 496th league goal in PSG's Ligue 1 match against Strasbourg.
• This goal surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 495 goals.
• Messi is now the greatest scorer in Europe's top five leagues with 496 goals.
• He also has 247 assists to his name, compared to Ronaldo's 151.
Nepali Sherpa climbs Mt Everest for record 27th time sets new record
• The Seven Summit Treks, an expedition organizing company of Nepal on Wednesday announced
the new record set earlier this morning on Twitter
• Sherpa, a native of Thame village in Solukhumbu, Nepal has been working as Senior Guide at
Seven Summit Treks.
• Experienced Sherpa climber, aged 53, with over two decades of mountain scaling. Started as
support staff in the 1992 Everest expedition.
Shubman Gill becomes first batter to score 100 in Test, ODIs, T20
• India's young batter Shubman Gill accomplished a milestone by becoming the only cricketer in
history to score a century in Test, ODIs, T20I, and Indian Premier League in a calendar year.
• In the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Shubman played a blistering knock of 101 off 58 balls
at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
• In the ongoing IPL, he has smashed 576 Runs.
Pasang Dawa Sherpa becomes 2nd person to scale Everest 26 times
• Pasang Dawa Sherpa has become the second person to summit Mount Everest 26 times.
• He achieved the feat on May 7, 2023, breaking the previous record held by Apa Sherpa.
• He first climbed Everest in 1998 and has since made it his mission to conquer the peak as many
times as possible.

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• Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world, located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range
of the Himalayas.
Deepika Padukone appears on cover of TIME magazine
• Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has been featured on the cover of TIME magazine in May
2023.
• The American magazine described Padukone as a ‘global star’ bringing ‘the world to Bollywood’.
• It had previously named Padukone among its list of 100 most influential people in the world in
2018.
• TIME magazine is a renowned weekly news publication based in the United States.
Kivini Shohe & Andrea Kevichüsa to Represent Nagaland at Cannes FF
• In a first of its kind for the state of Nagaland, two film personalities Ms. Kivini Shohe and Ms.
Andrea Kevichüsa, will be representing Nagaland at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, 2023.
• Ms. Kivini Shohe is a prominent Filmmaker and a founding member of the Film Association of
Nagaland.
• Ms. Andrea Kevichüsa is an Indian model and actor from Nagaland.
Alia Bhatt Becomes Gucci's First Indian Global Ambassador
• Alia Bhatt is the first Indian Global Ambassador of Gucci. She will make her appearance as their
ambassador at the Gucci Cruise 2024 show in Seoul.
• Announcing the news, Gucci wrote, "Alia Bhatt is the House's newest Global Brand Ambassador.
• To mark the occasion, the actress, producer, and entrepreneur, was captured with the Gucci
Bamboo 1947 bag."

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Science and Technology Current Affairs

Nvidia joins $1 trillion valuation club
• Nvidia Corp briefly joined an elite club of U.S. companies sporting a $1 trillion market value, as
investors piled into the chipmaker that has quickly become one of the biggest winners of the AI
boom.
• The highest price target values the company at about $1.6 trillion, on par with Google-parent
Alphabet.
• Nvidia's stock has surged 200% since October.
BPCL develops ethanol-diesel blend to reduce emissions
• BPCL has developed a diesel-ethanol blend to reduce emissions and achieve its net zero target
by 2040.
• BPCL is focusing on petrochemicals and sustainable aviation fuel among other products to
diversify its operations.
• It has also developed two new technologies, namely the ‘K Model’ for crude compatibility and
‘BPMARRK’ for quick and accurate real-time crude assay.
Scientists reconstructed mathematical structure of Quantum Theory
• Researchers from S. N. Bose National Centre for Basics Sciences restructured the mathematical
structure of the quantum theory.
• Information Causality is crucial in selecting the quantum composition rule among different
mathematical possibilities.
• Scientists have been trying to re-derive the mathematical structure of quantum theory starting
with physically motivated postulates.
CML Biotech installs world's first integrated blood collection tube
• CML Biotech Ltd. has installed the world's first integrated machine 'HUSKY-ICHOR' for
manufacturing blood collection tubes.
• The machine is manufactured by Canada-based Husky Technologies, a global leader in injection
molds and molding machines.
• The integrated machine is capable of manufacturing 8 lakh blood collection tubes per day.
‘Daam’ virus steals call records, reads history from Android phones
• ‘Daam’ virus steals call records, reads history from Android phones; central agency issues advisory.
• An Android malware called ‘Daam’ that infects mobile phones and hacks into sensitive data like
call records, contacts, history and camera has been found to be spreading.
• The virus is also capable of “bypassing anti-virus programs and deploying ransomware on the
targeted devices”.
Microsoft unveils multilingual Jugalbandi AI chatbot
• Microsoft unveils multilingual Jugalbandi AI chatbot to help users easily access govt schemes.

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• Jugalbandi was introduced to villagers in Biwan in early April 2022 and so far, the chatbot covers
ten of India's 22 official languages.
• The bot supports both text and voice inputs in Indian languages.
• The chatbot uses GPT models via Azure OpenAI service.
Indian scientists mimic interstellar comet using cosmic dust
• Indian scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics have developed a visually realistic
cosmic dust model to replicate the unusual polarisation of interstellar comet 2I/Borisov.
• The model uses a set of numerical algorithmscalled Rough Ellipsoid Structure Tools (REST) to
create agglomerated debris and Rough Fractal Aggregates (RFA) from spheres.
ISRO to launch new navigation satellite
• NVS-01 is the first of the second-generation satellites envisaged for the Navic constellation that
will be launched by Isro at the end of May.
• It will be deployed in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.
• The system was developed looking at the growing requirements of the Civil Aviation.
• The system is used in terrestrial, aerial, and marine transportation.
Bezos firm wins Nasa bid to build astronaut lunar lander
• NASA has awarded Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos's company, a contract worth $3.4 billion to build a
spacecraft that will send astronauts to and from the moon's surface.
• Blue Origin will develop its Blue Moon lander to meet NASA's human landing system requirements.
• The contract includes one uncrewed demonstration mission to the lunar surface before a crewed
demo on the Artemis V mission in 2029.
Chinese scientists develop clawed microrobot for precision medicine
• Chinese scientists have developed a swimming microrobot complete with claws and a coat that
mimics the red blood cell membrane.
• The robot is 20 microns in diameter and has claws inspired by tardigrades, a kind of tiny
invertebrate.
• The claws allow for better navigation through the veins and show promise for precision medicine.
• The researchers monitored the robot's activity in a rabbit vein.
1st commercial passenger flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuel
• Country's first commercial passenger flight using an indigenously produced Sustainable Aviation
Fuel (SAF) blend was successfully flown from Pune to Delhi.
• Air Asia flight flew from Pune to Delhi powered by SAF blended aviation turbine fuel supplied by
Indian Oil Corporation Limited
• it a significant milestone in the country's efforts towards Net Zero emissions by 2070.
Scientists develop high-performance, cost-effective Na-ion batteries
• IIT Bombay Scientists develop high-performance, cost-effective Na-ion batteries.
• Na-ion batteries are a next-generation energy storage system due to their cost-effectiveness.

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• The new cathode material has the potential to replace traditional lithium-ion batteries.
• The use of sodium in Na-ion batteries reduces the risk of thermal runaway, making them safer
than lithium-ion batteries.
Google invests $1 million to IIT-Madras AI research centre
• Google on 15 May 2023, announced an investment of $1 million in the form of grants to Indian
Institute of Technology Madras' (IIT Madras).
• Google has been announced as the inaugural 'platinum consortium' member of the IIT Madras
newly formed Centre for Responsible Artificial Intelligence (CeRAI).
• It aims to promote use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) through academic curriculum development
Portal to track, recover lost mobile phones to be unveiled
• The government is going to launch a new portal, www.sancharsaathi.gov.in on World
Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
• This new portal will help people track and find their lost mobile phones.
• The portal will be available throughout the country and cater to lost or stolen mobile phones
connected to all telecom circles.
Photonic memory developed by Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences
• A new photonic, functional memory based on tin oxide slanted nanorod arrays in which both the
optical and electrical stimuli can be used to modulate switching characteristics shows potential
for developing high-density and high-efficiency computing systems.
• The researchers from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bangalore have
designed this functional memory.
SpaceX Plans to Launch First Commercial Space Station in 2025
• SpaceX, the private aerospace company, has announced its ambitious plan to launch the world's
first commercial space station by 2025
• It will mark a significant milestone in the commercialization of space exploration.
• Shortly after the first station, a small module called Haven-I is launched, crew members will be
sent there via SpaceX's Dragon capsule.
New Android malware discovered that steals passwords, 2FA codes
• A new Android malware known as 'FluHorse' has been discovered, which targets users in Eastern
Asia with malicious apps that look like legitimate versions with over 1,00,000 installs.
• These malicious apps are designed to extract sensitive information, including user credentials and
2-Factor Authentication (2FA) codes.
BITS Pilani Hyd. Develops Face Mask with Sensor to Check for Illness
• Researchers at BITS Pilani Hyderabad have designed a face mask equipped with a sensor to
detect illness.
• The team designed and developed a ‘Kirigami’ based stretchable, flexible Laser induced
Graphene (LIG) a 3-D carbon nanomaterial, for real-time attachments with surgical masks.

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• The innovative face mask aims to provide real-time monitoring of vital health parameters.
POEM-2 successfully conducted on-orbit experiments in space
• IN-SPACe, a commercial wing of ISRO has informed that PSLV Orbital Experimental Module,
POEM-2 has been successfully conducting on-orbit experiments in space.
• POEM-2 with seven payloads is conducting in-orbit testing for various non-government entities.
• The valuable on-orbit data received offers scope for further development and new opportunities.

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Sports Current Affairs

UP Hockey wins 13th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship
• Uttar Pradesh Hockey won the 13th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship 2023
after defeating the Hockey Association of Odisha in the Final at the iconic Birsa Munda Hockey
Stadium, Odisha.
• Uttar Pradesh Hockey won the tournament by defeating the Hockey Association of Odisha 7-1.
MS Dhoni becomes first Indian to record 300 dismissals
• MS Dhoni became the first Indian to record 300 dismissals in T20 cricket.
• The CSK captain also leads the wicketkeeping charts in the IPL with 180 dismissals in 243 innings,
with 138 catches and 42 stumping.
• Dhoni also became the first player to feature in 250 IPL matches during the match.
Jyothi Yarraji clinches gold medal at T-Meeting 2023
• Jyothi Yarraji bagged the gold medal in the women's 100m hurdles event in the T-Meeting 2023
athletics meet, in Tilburg, the Netherlands.
• Jyothi Yarraji topped the heats with a time of 13.08s as she made her way to the final.
• The Andhra runner clinched the first gold medal in the women's 100m hurdles event at the
Kurpfalz Gala 2023 athletics meet, in Weinheim, Germany
Chennai Super Kings beat Gujarat Titans, win 5th IPL title
• Chennai Super Kings beat Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2023 final by five wickets at the Narendra
Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 30 May 2023.
• Chennai Super Kings has equaled Mumbai Indians' record for most IPL titles.
• Shubman Gill won the Orange Cap and he also became the youngest batter to ever do so in IPL
history.
• Mohammed Shami won the Purple Cap with 28 wickets in 17 matches.
Max Verstappen wins Monaco GP
• Two-time Drivers' championship winner Max Verstappen overcame rain to win the historic
Monaco GP and defended his lead in the 2023 driver's rankings.
• While Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso came at second place, Alpine's Esteban Ocon finished
third.
• Verstappen is chasing his third successive Drivers' championship win this year after winning the
championship in 2021 as well as 2022.
Premier League 2022/23 season
• Manchester City won the Premier League for the third time in a row.
• David de Gea wins Golden Glove Award for Premier League 2022/23 season.
• Kevin De Bruyne wins Player Maker of Year Award for Premier League season.
• Haaland wins the Premier League Golden Boot.
India clinches title of CAVA Women's Challenge Cup 2023
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• India has won the title of the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Women’s Volleyball
Challenge Cup held in Kathmandu.
• India defeated Kazakhstan in a shared set of 3-0.
• In the competition, Kazakhstan became the runner-up, Nepal third, Uzbekistan fourth, Sri Lanka
fifth, Kyrgyzstan sixth, Maldives seventh, and Bangladesh eighth.
Indian Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar wins gold
• Indian Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar won gold while compatriot Jeswin Aldrin finished bagged
silver at the International Jumping Meeting at Kallithea in Greece.
• Successfully defending his title in the Men’s long jump event, Commonwealth Games silver
medallist Sreeshankar registered his season-best jump of 8.18 meter. He beat his compatriot and
national record holder Jeswin Aldrin.
Indian shooters Ganemat Sekhon, Darshna Rathore create history
• India for the first time won two senior individual medals in women's skeet at International
Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup stage in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
• Ganemat Sekhon won silver which was her second-ever individual world cup medal.
• In her first appearance at the senior level, Darshna Rathore won bronze making it her a first-ever.
Sania Mirza appointed as the Tennis Ambassador for Sony Sports Network
• Leading sports broadcaster Sony Sports Network has announced the exclusive onboarding Sania
Mirza as the Tennis Ambassador for Sony Sports Network.
• Having won six Grand Slam titles across Australian Open (2), US Open (2), Roland Garros (1) &
Wimbledon (1), including three women's doubles titles and three mixed doubles titles, she is one
of the most successful tennis players in Indian history.
Shirgaonkar elected unopposed as India Taekwondo Chief
• Namdev Shirgaonkar was elected unopposed as the President of the executive committee of
India Taekwondo.
• He holds a Black Belt in Taekwondo.
• India will be featured in the upcoming Senior World Taekwondo Championship 2023 to be held
in Baku, Azerbaijan from May 25 to June 5.
Sameer Verma wins gold; Rohan Kapoor-Sikki Reddy bag silver
• Indian shuttler Sameer Verma emerged victorious in men's singles competition at the 2023
Slovenia Open beating Su Li Yang while the duo of Rohan Kapoor and Sikki Reddy bagged silver
in the mixed doubles event in Maribor, Slovenia.
• Verma won 21-18 21-14 against his Taiwanese opponent.
Darshna lying third at Almaty Shotgun World Cup
• Former national champion and Khelo India Youth Games winner Darshna Rathore shot a 71 on
day one of the women's skeet qualifications to lie third at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup.

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• Darshna was the best Indian on the show as teammate Ganemat Sekhon shot 69 to be placed
ninth among contenders and Maheshwari Chauhan was lying further back, having shot 67.
Neeraj Chopra becomes World No 1 in javelin rankings
• Neeraj Chopra has become the world number one in men's javelin throw rankings issued by World
Athletics.
• He topped the charts with 1455 points, 22 ahead of reigning world champion Anderson Peters
from Grenada.
• Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic was third with 1416 points.
• Chopra won the Diamond League 2022 finals in Zurich, becoming the first Indian to win the
prestigious trophy.
Manchester City wins Premier League title for third consecutive time
• Manchester City was crowned the English Premier League champion for the third consecutive
time following second-placed Arsenal’s 0-1 loss at the hands of Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
• This is City’s ninth League title overall and the fifth under Pep Guardiola.
• Guardiola’s side is now four points clear atop of the league standings with 85 points in 35 games.
BCCI announces Adidas as Team India's kit sponsor
• Adidas has been revealed as Tem India's kit sponsor, in partnership with BCCI.
• India will be hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup this year from October-November.
China claims record 13th Sudirman Cup title
• China claimed a record 13th Sudirman Cup title defeating South Korea 3-0 at Suzhou.
• Chen Yufei defeated World No.2 An Se Young 21-16,22-20, in the women's singles to seal victory.
• In the men's singles, Korea's Lee Yun Gyu was easily outmatched by Shi Yuqi.
• The tournament is one of badminton's most important, because performances will count towards
qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Daniil Medvedev wins maiden clay court title at Italian Open 2023
• Daniil Medvedev beats Holger Rune 7-5 7-5 in the final of the Italian Open to win his first ATP
clay-court title.
• This is his first clay-court trophy and 20th career title.
• Medvedev's career includes the 2021 U.S. Open title and a period at No. 1 in the rankings.
• In the women's category, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan won the title defeating Ukraine's
Anhelina Kalinina 6-4, 1-0.
Shaili Singh clinched bronze medal at the Golden Grand Prix 2023
• Indian athlete Shaili Singh won a bronze medal in the women's long jump event with a jump of
6.65m at the Golden Grand Prix 2023 athletics meet in Yokohama, Japan.
• The Yokohama meet was a World Athletics Continental Tour gold-label event.
• German athlete Maryse Luzolo won the gold medal with an effort of 6.79m.
• Australian athlete Brooke Buschkuehl won the silver medal with a 6.77m leap.

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Rohit Sharma becomes 2nd Indian player to complete 11000 runs in T20
• Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma on 21 May 2023, became the second Indian batter after
Virat Kohli (11, 864 runs) to surpass 11,000 runs in Twenty-20 cricket.
• He also becomes the seventh batter overall to score 11000 runs after Chris Gayle, Shoaib Malik,
Kieron Pollard, David Warner, and Aaron Finch, and Virat Kohli.
• Chris Gayle has the highest number of T20 runs - 14,562.
PM Modi to inaugurate 3rd Khelo India University Games in UP
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of the Khelo
India University Games to be hosted by Uttar Pradesh on May 25.
• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath, Union Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Anurag
Thakur, and Nisith Pramanik will also be present on this occasion.
• Apart from this, various cultural programs will also be organized
South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship 2023 concludes in Itanagar
• South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship 2023 concluded in Itanagar.
• It was a three-day international event in which more than 100 athletes and officials from six
countries Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal participated.
Jyothi Yarraji clinches gold in women's 100 m hurdles
• Athlete Jyothi Yarraji won a gold medal in the women's 100 m hurdles at the Federation Cup
athletics event at the Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi.
• Jyothi topped the podium with a meet-record time of 12.89 seconds. She also crossed the Asian
Championships qualifying standard of 13.63 seconds set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI),
as per Olympics.com.
• She hails from Andhra Pradesh.
ICC ODI Rankings 2023: Ireland's Tector displaces Virat Kohli
• Ireland's Harry Tector jumped to 7th rank on the latest MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings
released on 17 May 2023.
• He achieved a new rating of 722 points in ODI cricket which is the highest ever achieved by an
Ireland player.
• South Africa's Rassie van der Dussen ranked second position with 777 points while Pakistan's
Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq have taken third and fourth places.
Annu Rani clinched gold medal on the second day of the Federation Cup
• Annu Rani clinches gold and crosses the Asian Games qualification mark at Federation Cup 2023.
• The event held at the Birsa Munda Stadium, Annu breached the all-important qualifying
standards with a throw of 59.24 m, way above the standard of 56.46 m set by AFI
• She also qualified for the Asian Athletics Championships, scheduled for July in Bangkok, Thailand.
Gatka included in 37th National Games

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• The traditional game of 'Gatka' is poised to get a significant boost nationwide as the Indian
Olympic Association (IOA) has officially included this sport in the 37th National Games-2023
• It will be held in Goa in October this year.
• During this national event, the IOA, in collaboration with the Government of Goa, would organize
competitions for a total of 43 disciplines.
Barcelona wins La Liga for 1st time since 2019
• Barcelona has won its first Spanish league title after the departure of Lionel Messi with a 4-2
victory against Espanyol
• Robert Lewandowski scored twice to lead the Catalan club to its first league title since 2019.
• Barcelona has won the top title in Spanish football a total of 27 times
Prraneeth becomes India’s 82nd Grandmaster
• V. Prraneeth became Telangana’s sixth and India’s 82nd Grandmaster when he outwitted GM
Hans Niemann of the US in the penultimate round of the Baku Open 2023.
• He earned his first GM-norm at the First Saturday tournament in March 2022 where he also
became an IM.
• He earned his second GM-norm at Biel MTO in July 2022.
Pramod Bhagat wins two gold at Thailand para badminton international
• Para shuttler Pramod Bhagat won two gold and Sukant Kadam one gold and a silver in the
Thailand Para badminton international
• Pramod defeated England’s Daniel Bethell in the SL3 singles final with a 21-18 (retd) when the
latter retired due to an injury.
• In the doubles final, Pramod and Sukant won the gold defeating Nitesh Kumar and Tarun 18-21,
21-14, 21-19.
Hriday Hazarika and Nancy Mandhotra bag silver medals
• Hriday Hazarika and Nancy Mandhotra bag silver medals in 10-meter air rifle event at ISSF World
Cup 2023.
• It was the first-ever ISSF World Cup medal for 21-year-old Hriday Hazarika as well as 19-year-old
Nancy Mandhotra.
• The Baku meet is the penultimate stage of the ISSF World Cup for rifle and pistol shooters.
Rhythm Sangwan registers highest score in women’s 25m pistol event
• Indian shooter Rhythm Sangwan registered the highest-ever score in women’s 25m pistol event
when she recorded 595 in the qualification round at the ISSF World Cup in Baku.
• Sangwan bettered the previous best of 594, set by Bulgaria’s Diana Iorgova in 1994.
• China’s Luna Tao and Germany’s Doreen Vennekamp had also equalled the tally in 2002 and
2023.
Indian boxers settles for bronze at IBA Men’s World Boxing C’ship

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• Boxers Mohammad Hussamudin, Deepak Kumar, and Nishant Dev had to settle for bronze medal
at the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• Deepak lost to 2-time bronze medallist Billal Bennama of France 3-4 in a closely contested 51 kg
Semifinal match
• While Nishant Dev went down fighting Asian champion Aslanbek Shymbergenov of Kazakhstan
3-2 in the 71 kg category Semifinal
RR's Yashasvi Jaiswal smashes fastest fifty in IPL history
• Rajasthan Royals (RR) opener Yashasvi Jaiswal broke the record for slamming the fastest fifty in
the history of IPL.
• The 21 -year-old reached his half-century off 13 deliveries against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at
Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
• The previous record was jointly held by KL Rahul and Pat Cummins, who had taken 14 deliveries
each.
Yuzvendra Chahal creates history, takes most wickets in IPL
• RR leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal created history by becoming the highest wicket-taker in IPL.
• He achieved this feat by dismissing KKR captain Nitish Rana in their IPL 2023 match
• Chahal took his tally of wickets in IPL to 184.
• He overtook Dwayne Bravo, who was the previous highest wicket-taker in IPL with 183 scalps.
Asian Kabaddi Championship to be Held in South Korea
• In this Championship, a total of 12 teams will participate in the tournament, including defending
champions India.
• The championship will be held in South Korea, showcasing the sport's popularity and growth in
the region.
• The last edition of the Asian Kabaddi Championship was held in 2017 in Corgan, Iran.
• This edition's finals was played between India and Pakistan.
Rhythm Sangwan Clinches Bronze Medal in Women's 10-Metre Air Pistol
• Rhythm Sangwan has won the bronze medal in the women’s 10-metre air pistol event at the ISSF
World Cup 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
• She scored 219.1 in the final to finish third behind Anna 2016 Rio Olympic champion Anna Korakaki
of Greece and 2004 Athens Olympics gold medallist Olena Kostevych of Ukraine.
• It was Sangwan’s first individual senior medal at the shooting World Cup.
Indian Boxers wins Three Medals at World Boxing Championship
• Indian boxers have ensured three medals at the World Boxing Championships for the first time
as they advanced to the semifinals in Tashkent.
• Deepak Bhoria at 51kg, Mohammed Hussamuddin at 57kg, and Nishant Dev at 71kg emerged
victorious in their respective quarterfinal bouts.
• This is for the first time Indian men’s boxers will bring home three medals home from a World
Championships.

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FIBA Selects Qatar as Host for Marquee 2027 Men's Basketball World Cup
• Qatar has been chosen by FIBA (International Basketball Federation) to host the highly
anticipated 2027 Men's Basketball World Cup.
• Doha will stage all games in the 32-team event
• The selection of Qatar as the host for the 2027 Men's Basketball World Cup reflects FIBA's
confidence in the country's state-of-the-art infrastructure
Dr. Akhilesh memorial Deccan Premier Carrom League
• Deccan Premier Carrom League to be held in Nizamabad.
• Players from the seven States ,Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala,
Maharashtra and Odisha, besides some internationals will be in action.
• For the first time in India, Carrom Live Platform will be paperless with the scores to be entered
through mobiles, live scores and online statistics, besides live streaming.
Mumbai Indians record fastest 200+ run chase in IPL history
• Mumbai Indians create history with the fastest 200-plus run chase in the history of the IPL.
• MI chased down 200-run target against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 16.3 overs.
• The previous fastest 200+ run chase was achieved by Delhi Daredevils (DD), now known as Delhi
Capitals (DC), against Gujarat Lions (GL). DD had chased 209-run target in 17.3 overs in IPL 2017.
Laureus Sports Awards 2023
• Lionel Messi, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Carlos Alcaraz among the esteemed winners at the
Laureus Sports Awards 2023.
• World Sportsman of the Year Award Lionel Messi
• World Sportswoman of the Year Award Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
• World Team of the Year Award Argentina Men's Football Team
• World Breakthrough of the Year Award Carlos Alcaraz
Neeraj Chopra Claims Gold and World Lead at Doha Diamond League
• Neeraj Chopra secures a gold medal and sets a world-leading mark at the Doha Diamond League
in athletics.
• Neeraj Chopra defeated Grenada’s World champion Anderson Peters with an impressive World-
leading 88.67m.
• Peters had won the Diamond League gold in Doha last year with a personal-best 93.07m
Fakhar and Naruemol are ICC Players of the month
• Pak batter Fakhar Zaman and Thailand skipper Naruemol Chaiwai were named ICC men's and
women's players of the month for April after both produced match-winning performances for their
countries in ODIs,
• Fakhar becomes the first Pakistan player to the monthly accolade since Sidra Ameen in Nov 2022.
• Naruemol had consistent high scores in Thailand's historic ODI series victory against Zimbabwe.
Fakhar Zaman, Naruemol Chaiwai crowned ICC players of the month

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• Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman was named the ICC Men's Player of the month for April 2023.
• Thailand skipper Naruemol Chaiwai was adjudged best in the women's section.
• Fakhar becomes the first Pakistan player to win the monthly accolade since Sidra Ameen in
November 2022.
• Naruemol was named Player-of-the-Series for two unbeaten half-centuries.
Indian weightlifters finish with three silver medals in South Korea
• In Weightlifting, Indian weightlifters finished the Asian Weightlifting Championships 2023 in Jinju,
South Korea, with three silver medals.
• Ajith Narayana and Achinta Sheuli were the only two Indian weightlifters competing in the men’s
73kg category.
• Ajith Narayana topped Group B with a combined lift of 307kg.
• Achinta Sheuli, meanwhile, finished second in Group B with a total lift of 305kg.
Yuzvendra equals Bravo's record for most wickets taken in IPL
• Yuzvendra Chahal equalled the record of former Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Dwayne Bravo
for the most wickets taken in the IPL history.
• Bowling against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), he returned figures of 4 for 29 in four overs.
• Both Chahal and Bravo now have 183 wickets each to their credits.
• Since his debut in 2013, he has played 142 games.
Praveen Chithravel sets national record in triple jump in Cuba
• Indian triple jumper Praveen Chithravel set a new national record with an effort of 17.37 metres
on his way to winning a gold medal in the Prueba de confrontacion 2023 athletics meet in Havana,
Cuba.
• Chithravel improved on the previous men’s triple jump national record of 17.30m set by Renjith
Maheswary at the third Indian Grand Prix in Bangalore in 2016.
Max Verstappen wins Miami F1 Grand Prix
• Max Verstappen defeated Sergio Perez to win the Miami Grand Prix.
• Fernando Alonso, who started second, claim third-place.
• George Russell was fourth, finishing ahead of Ferrari's Carlos Sainz.
• Red Bull have now won all five races of the 2023 season.
Alcaraz makes history with 10th title
• Carlos Alcaraz made history on 7 May 2023 when he captured the Mutua Madrid Open title.
• He defeated Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
• The Spaniard became the sixth-youngest player to reach 10 tour-level titles in the Open Era.
• Alcaraz was also champion at the 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals.
• The Spaniard has earned 10 of his trophies at ATP Masters 1000 events.
Bindyarani Devi clinches silver medal in 55kg category

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• In Weightlifting, India’s Bindyarani Devi has clinched a silver medal in the women’s 55kg category
at the Asian Weightlifting Championships 2023 in Jinju, South Korea.
• China’s Chen Guan Ling won the gold medal with a combined lift of 204 kg.
• Meanwhile in the men’s 61kg category Group B, Shubham Todkar lifted a combined weight of
263kg to finish sixth among nine competitors.
Jeremy Lalrinnunga wins silver medal at Jinju, Korea
• In the Asian Weightlifting Championships, India’s weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga won a silver
medal on 8 May 2023 at Jinju, Korea.
• He won medal in the snatch event with a lift of 141 kg in the 67 kg weight class.
• In the World Boxing Championships, Mohammed Hussamuddin of India defeated Russia's Savvin
Eduard, 5-0 in a unanimous decision to enter into the 57 kg quarterfinals.
Khelo India University Games 2022 logo, mascot, torch launched
• Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur launched the Khelo India
University Games Uttar Pradesh 2022’s official logo, mascot, torch, anthem and Jersey in
Lucknow.
• The 12-day-long event will be held in Varanasi, Noida and Gorakhpur, with Delhi’s Dr. Karni Singh
Shooting range hosting the Shooting competition.
• The Kabaddi competition begins in Noida on May 23rd, 2023.
Pakistan's Babar Azam becomes fastest player to reach 5000 runs
• Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has become the fastest player to reach 5000 runs in the ODI format.
• He crossed the 5000 run-mark in 97 innings.
• Babar broke Hashim Amla's record of scoring 5000 runs in 101 innings.
• Azam has been the number-one batter on the International Cricket Council’s rankings for ODIs
for the last two years.
Indian Archery men and women teams win 12 medals
• The Indian archery men and women teams emerged victorious and won 5 Gold medals, 5 Silvers
and 2 bronze at Asia Cup-World Ranking Tournament, Stage II in Tashkent.
• In the compound women team event, Parneet Kaur, Raginee Markoo and Pragati defeated
Kazakhstan 232- 223 to win gold.
• In Compound Men team event, team of Amit, Kushal Dalal, and Abhishek Verma beat Hong Kong,
233-226 to lift gold.
Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra clinches Doha Diamond League title
• Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won Diamond League title in Doha on 5 May
2023.
• Czech Republic’s Vadlejch stood second, with Grenada’s Peters finishing third.
• With this win, Neeraj has also bagged the world lead.
• He gave his best throw of 88.67m.

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Napoli clinch first Serie A title in 33 years

• Napoli won their first Italian Serie A title in 33 years, clinching the Scudetto on 4 May 2023, at
Udinese.
• The title is Napoli's third in Italy's top division and their first since Diego Maradona led them to
championships in 1987 and 1990.
• It's the first time a club south of Italy's traditional soccer capitals of Milan and Turin has won the
league since Roma claimed the title in 2001.
Geoffrey Emmanuel first Indian to compete in FIM JuniorGP
• Geoffrey Emmanuel will make his debut in the FIM JuniorGP World Championship in Portugal in
May 2023.
• He will be the first Indian to compete in the championship, which is considered a crucial stepping
stone to MotoGP.
• Geoffrey will race for Cuna De Campeones in his maiden FIM JuniorGP season.
• The first round of the 2023 season is scheduled for May 5-7 at the Circuit de Estoril in Portugal.
South Africa fast bowler Shabnim Ismail ends international career
• Fast bowler Shabnim Ismail has announced her retirement from international cricket.
• Ismail played in 241 international matches across one-day Internationals, Twenty20s and tests.
• She broke the record for the fastest ball recorded in women’s cricket during that tournament when
she was clocked at 128 kph (80 mph) against England in the semi-finals.
Logo, mascot of Khelo India University Games 2022 to be launched
• Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur will launch the Logo, jersey,
mascot and anthem of the Khelo India University Games 2022 (KIUG 2021) at the Indira Gandhi
Pratishthan in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow on 5th May.
• The 3rd edition of the Khelo India University Games will take place from May 23 to June 3, 2023.
• The opening ceremony is scheduled for May 25.
Olympic silver medallist Nijel Amos gets 3-year ban for doping
• Nijel Amos, a 2012 Olympic silver medalist in the men's 800 m, has been banned for three years
for doping.
• The runner from Botswana tested positive for the banned substance GW1516 last year in the run-
up to the track world championships and received a reduction on the standard four-year ban
because he admitted to the charges.
• The ban rules Amos out of 2024's Paris Olympics.
Luca Brecel wins World Snooker Championship
• Luca Brecel won his first World Snooker Championship, in May 2023.
• He beat four-time champion Mark Selby 18-15.
• The World Snooker Championship is the longest-running and most prestigious tournament in
professional snooker.

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• First held in 1927, it is now one of the three tournaments that make up snooker's Triple Crown
Series.
Vantika becomes 11th women to achieve International Master title
• Vantika Agrawal is the new India Women No.3 in Chess and the 11th Indian women to achieve
International Master title.
• She has played 4 International tournaments previously where she has increased her FIDE rating
by 61 points.
• She has also won a bronze medal in the National Women's Championship held in Kohlapur in Jan
2023 and a gold medal for the Airport Authority of India in Feb 2023.
Nepal wins ACC Men's Premier Cup
• Nepal has qualified for the Asia Cup 2023 after winning the ACC Men’s Premier Cup.
• The team, led by Rohit Paudel defeated the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by seven wickets in the
final that was played across two days at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in
Kirtipur.
• Nepal, therefore, joined India and Pakistan in Group A of the Asia Cup to be played in September
2023.
India overtake Australia to become No. 1 Test side
• India has overtaken Australia to regain the number one position in the ICC men's Test team
rankings.
• India's rating points have moved up from 119 to 121.
• India were last at the top for a month in December 2021.
• England remain in third position.
• The annual update to the ODI team rankings will be carried out on May 10, 2023.
Sreeshankar wins gold in MVA High Performance athletics meet
• Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar claimed the gold medal with a leap of 8.29 metres at the
MVA High Performance athletics meet 1 held in Chula Vista, USA.
• He had won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
• China’s Ma Weidong secured the silver medal with a 7.99m leap, while his compatriot Huafeng
Huang claimed the bronze with an effort of 7.61m.
Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Ganemat Sekhon win gold for India
• Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Ganemat Sekhon, combined effectively to give India their first medal, a
Gold in the ongoing ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Cairo, Egypt.
• The Indian mixed doubles pair defeated Luis Raul Gallardo Oliveros and Gabriela Rodriguez 6-0
in the final of the Skeet Mixed Team event.
• Italy took bronze medal.

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Table of Content
Art & Culture Current Affairs ...............................................................................................3
Awards and Honours Current Affairs ................................................................................. 4
Banking Current Affairs ...................................................................................................... 10
Books and Authors Current Affairs .................................................................................... 16
Business and Economy Current Affairs ............................................................................. 19
Defence Current Affairs ..................................................................................................... 21
Government Schemes and Policies Current Affairs........................................................ 26
Days and Events Current Affairs ........................................................................................ 27
International Current Affairs ..............................................................................................32
MoU and Agreements Current Affairs .............................................................................. 39
National Current Affairs ..................................................................................................... 41
Appointments Current Affairs ........................................................................................... 62
Obituaries Current Affairs ................................................................................................. 70
Person in News Current Affairs .......................................................................................... 73
Science and Technology Current Affairs .......................................................................... 76
Sports Current Affairs Current Affairs ............................................................................... 78

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 Current Affairs | June 2023

Art and Culture Current Affairs

Goa village lures tourists for 'Chikhal Kalo' festival
• Marcel a small hamlet in North Goa, attracted hundreds of visitors on Friday for "Chikhal Kalo", a
traditional mud festival that celebrates Lord Krishna's childhood.
• Hundreds of locals and tourists thronged the village to witness the event, which has been
recognized and promoted by the state tourism department.
• The celebration begins at Devki Krishna temple in Marcel.
Divya Kala Mela will be Organised at Jaipur from 29 June
• The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities is organizing a unique event called
'Divya Kala Mela'.
• The event will showcase the products and craftsmanship of Divyang entrepreneurs/artisans from
across the country.
• 'Divya Kala Mela' will be held from 29th June to 5th July 2023 in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
• The event is aimed at promoting the economic empowerment of Divyangjan.
Annual Hemis Monastery Festival being celebrated in Ladakh
• In Ladakh, two -day-long annual Hemis Monastery Festival, known as Hemis Tseschu is celebrated
with great religious fervor and gaiety.
• Grand prayers, the performance of sacred mask dances, and the exhibition of Thanka or mural
Paintings are being held to mark the occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Padma Sambhava.
Raja Parba festival celebrating menstruation, commences in Odisha
• Raja Parba is a three-day festival celebrated in Odisha to honor Mother Earth and celebrate
womanhood.
• The festival started on June 14 and will end on June 16, 2023.
• The festival is also known as Mithun Sankranti and has great significance among Hindus.
• The festival celebrates the uniqueness of a woman's menstruation as a sign of fertility and the
ability to give birth to another life.
Vaikasi Visakam 2023, celebrated in Tamil Nadu
• Vaikasi Visakam is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Lord Murugan, who is the warrior god
• Lord Kartikeya, son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is worshipped as Lord Murugan in Tamil
Nadu and other southern states
• This year, Vaikashi Visakam will be celebrated on Saturday, June 3, as per the Tamil calendar
• Lord Murugan is also considered to be the chief deity of the ancient Tamils

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Awards and Honours Current Affairs

An elephant image shot has emerged the winner at Drone Photo Awards
• A photo of an elephant taken at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Tamil Nadu has emerged as
the winner of the Drone Photo Awards 2023
• The photo was taken by wildlife photographer, Mathanraj S
• The photo shows a herd of elephants crossing a river in the reserve.
• The photo was chosen as the winner by a panel of judges from around the world
• Mathanraj S will receive a cash prize of $10,000
Angela Bassett, Mel Brooks to get honorary Oscars
• Angela Bassett and Mel Brooks will receive Academy Honorary Awards for their contribution to
cinema.
• The awards will be presented at the Governor Awards in November 2023.
• Carol Littleton and Michelle Satter will also receive awards at the event.
• Bassett is known for her performances in "What's Love Got to Do with It", "Waiting to Exhale", and
"Black Panther".
MOHFW wins Kreta Vikreta Gaurav Sammaan Samaaroh 2023
• The Department of Health and Family Welfare was awarded the Kreta Vikreta Gaurav Samman
Samaroh 2023 in the "Highest Single Bid Procurements in FY22-23" category.
• The awards event was organized by the Government e-Marketplace of the Ministry of Commerce
and Industry.
• The department procured through the Government e-marketplace (GeM) and onboarded
domestic vendors of vaccines.
Lionel Messi wins 'Best Foreign Player' award of Ligue 1
• Lionel Messi has been awarded the 'Best Foreign Player' in Ligue 1 for the 2022-23 season.
• Messi completed two season trebles with Barcelona, winning three major titles in a single season.
• He made his debut for Barcelona's senior team in 2003, scoring five goals in 10 appearances.
• Messi is the third-highest goal-scorer at the international level with 103 goals for Argentina.
Pt P. D. Baul awarded 1st Kala Kranti Lifetime Achievement Award
• At the Kolkata edition of the International Performing Arts Festival (IPAF), Padma Shri Pandit
Purna Das Baul was presented with the IPAF Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding
contribution to the traditional Baul music on the world stage.
• This is IPAF's 5th year in Kolkata with 2 days of cultural programs to support the dying Indian art
forms.
IOC awards Olympic Order to WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus
• The Director-General of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, was presented with the Olympic Order
for his role in ensuring the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 took place despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

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• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) honored the WHO as an organization with the
Olympic Cup for 2021.
• The IOC and WHO signed a cooperation agreement in 2020 to work together on joint initiatives.
NTPC Recognized as Most Preferred Workplace of 2023-24
• NTPC Limited has been honored with the prestigious title of "Most Preferred Workplace of 2023-
24" by Team Marksmen.
• The award recognizes NTPC's exceptional performance in various key areas, including
Organizational Purpose, Employee Centricity, safety & Trust.
• The company's progressive and "People before PLF" (Plant Load Factor) approach has
contributed to making NTPC a preferred workplace.
Devrani sisters conferred National Florence Nightingale Award
• The National Florence Nightingale award was given to Major General Smita Devrani, Additional
Director General of Military Nursing Service (MNS) and Brigadier Amita Devrani, Brigadier MNS in
Southern Command headquarters for the years 2022 and 2023.
• The National Florence Nightingale Awards were established in 1973 by the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare.
Bajaj Allianz General Insu. wins the Best Customer Experience Award
• Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, won 'Best Customer Experience and Servicing Platform' at the
4th ELETS BFSI Came Changer Summit 2023, in Goa.
• The theme of the event was 'Decoding New Disruptions & Technologies for a Better Tomorrow'.
Prez presents National Florence Nightingale Awards 2022 and 2023
• President presents National Florence Nightingale Awards 2022 and 2023 to nurses for their
distinguished services.
• The awards are a mark of recognition for the meritorious services rendered by the nurses and
nursing professionals to society.
• It was instituted in 1973 by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
Star Alliance named World’s Best Airline Alliance at Skytrax
• Star Alliance, the renowned airline alliance, has once again won the prestigious World’s Best
Airline Alliance award at the Skytrax World Airline Awards.
• The Alliance’s Los Angeles lounge has retained its position as the World’s Best Airline Alliance
Lounge for an impressive seventh consecutive year.
Salman Rushdie awarded the prestigious German Peace Prize 2023
• Salman Rushdie has been awarded the 2023 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade for "his
indomitable spirit, for his affirmation of life and for enriching our world with his love of
storytelling."
• The Peace Prize is endowed with €25,000

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• The prize, created in 1950, recognizes a personality committed to serving international

understanding between nations and cultures through their work.
Arundhati Roy wins 45th European Essay Prize for ‘Azadi’
• Arundhati Roy has won the 45th European Essay Prize for lifetime achievement.
• The prize recognizes outstanding essays that criticize current societies, their practices, and
ideologies.
• The French translation of 'Azadi' titled 'Liberte, fascisme, fiction' appeared in Gallimard.
• The Prize has been awarded since 1975 and is the 1st literary award dedicated solely to the genre
of the essay.
Product of the Year announces Winners of its 15th Anniversary Edition
• Product of the Year, the world's largest consumer-voted award for product innovation, unveiled
the "Product of the Year 2023" Winners of its 15th Anniversary Edition
• Innovative products across various categories including Air Purifier, Ceiling Fan, Tower Air Cooler,
Water Purifier and Life Insurance Plans have been voted and recognized as "Product of the Year
2023" by consumers across India
Paddler Mudit Dani scripts history, becomes first Indian to bag NCTTA
• Indian paddler Mudit Dani has entered the history books by becoming the first Indian to win the
National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) Male Athlete of the Year award for his
exceptional performances in 2022-23.
• The NCTTA is a national organisation member of USA Table Tennis.
• It is given to the best performing male athlete across the USA and Canadian universities every
season.
Gita Press, Gorakhpur, awarded Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021
• The Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 will be conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur, one of the largest
publishers of religious texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana and the Upanishads.
• The decision to confer the award on Gita Press was taken by a jury headed by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.
Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar confers 4th National Water Award
• 41 winners, including joint winners across 11 categories were awarded.
• Vice President Launches Animated Film On National Water Mission’s Mascot ‘Piku’ To Promote
Water Conservation.
• Prize For Best State To Be Conferred On Madhya Pradesh While Best District Will Be Conferred
On Ganjam District, Odisha.
• NTPC Barauni secures First Rank at 4th National Water Awards, in Best Industry Category.
Expansion of Grammy Awards: Introducing Three New Categories

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• Recording Academy has announced the expansion of the Grammy Awards, adding 3 new
categories Best Alternative Music Performance, Best Spoken Word Poetry Album & Best Song for
Social Change.
• New categories will be effective starting with 65th Grammy Awards ceremony in 2023.
• New categories were chosen through a process that involved input from members of the
Recording Academy & music industry.
Vice President presents National Water Awards in New Delhi
• Vice President presented the National Water Awards 2022 in New Delhi.
• Madhya Pradesh topped the Best State category, followed by Haryana & Karnataka.
• Awards were given in 12 categories, including Best Urban Local Body, Best Watershed
Management, and Best Water Conservation.
• Awards were instituted by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in 2017 to recognize and encourage excellence
in water management
Five iconic Telangana structures win Green Apple Awards
• Five buildings from Telangana have been selected for the ‘International Green Apple Awards for
Beautiful Buildings’.
• Mozzam-Jahi Market, Durgam Cheruvu Cable Bridge, Telangana Secretariat Building, Control
Centre of Telangana Police, and Yadadri Temple are the five award-winning structures.
• This is the 1st time that any building or structure from India is being awarded the Green Apple
award.
Ramachandra Guha’s book wins Elizabeth Longford Prize
• Historian Ramachandra Guha’s book wins Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography 2023
• Guha was in London to collect a £5,000 cheque for winning the highly regarded Elizabeth
Longford Prize for Historical Biography 2023 in its 20th anniversary year for Rebels against the
Raj: Western Fighters for India’s Freedom (published by William Collins).
Chennai-based child rights advocate wins US' Iqbal Masih Award
• Chennai-based lawyer-activist Lalitha Natarajan has been awarded the 2023 Iqbal Masih Award
for the Elimination of Child Labour, said the US Consulate
• US Consul General Judith Ravin presented the award to Natarajan at a ceremony at the US
Consulate General in Chennai on May 30
• Natarajan has worked throughout her career as a lawyer and activist to apply rights-based
approaches to child labor
Shaktikanta Das Named ‘Governor of the Year’ At Central Banking Awards
• Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das was honored with the title of ‘Governor of the
Year’ for 2023 by Central Banking in London.
• He has ensured smooth management of world-leading payments innovation and led India
through difficult times

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• Moreover, he is the second Central Bank governor to be honored with the award after Raghuram
Rajan, who bagged the title in 2015.
Indian film ‘When Climate Change Turns Violent’ wins WHO award
• A documentary titled ‘When Climate Change Turns Violent’ won a special prize in the ‘Health for
All’ category at the 4th Annual Health for All Film Festival held at the World Health Organization
(WHO) headquarters in Geneva.
• Vandita Saharia of Rajasthan directed the documentary, and she was the only Indian among the
winners.
• The documentary deals with gender-based violence & climate change.
Vinay Addagiri & Suresh Nagala, conferred the Young Entrepreneur Award
• Vinay Addagiri, Co-Founder and Director & Suresh Nagala, Co-Founder and Vice-President at
Aertsen Living were conferred with the Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 award by Telangana
Government and Vande Bharath Trust.
• The duo has added yet another noteworthy achievement to their list of successes
Marc-Andre ter Stegen wins La Liga MVP award for 2022/23 season
• Football club Barcelona's goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has won the La Liga MVP award for
the 2022/23 season.
• The 31-year-old was judged the best player of the La Liga 2022/23 campaign after he kept 26
clean sheets in 38 games.
• He only conceded 18 goals this season.
• The German national got the better of Robert Lewandowski and Antoine Griezmann to win the
La Liga MVP award.
Govt announces second edition of Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman
• Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced the second edition of Antarashtriya
Yoga Diwas Media Samman.
• Thirty-three Sammans will be given out under three categories: Print, Television, and Radio in
twenty-two Indian languages and English.
• The awards will be given for Best Media Coverage in Yoga in Newspaper, Electronic Media (TV),
and Electronic Media (Radio).
Suriname confers highest civilian award to President Droupadi Murmu
• Suriname conferred its highest civilian honor, the Grand Order of the Chain of Yellow Star, to
President Droupadi Murmu
• She is the 1st Indian to receive the award.
• She received the award from Suriname's President Chandrikapersad Santokhi during her state
visit to Suriname.
• The visit coincides with Suriname's commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of
Indians in the country.

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Dev Shah crowned 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion

• Dev Shah, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Florida, who correctly spelled the word
"psammophile" has won the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee
• It is a prestigious contest where children of Indian origin have ruled the roost.
• Dev Shah correctly spelled the word to win the 95th national bee and the USD 50,000 prize.

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Banking Current Affairs

HDFC-HDFC Bank Merger: New Entity Will Become World's 4th Largest Bank
• HDFC is set to join the ranks of the world's most valuable banks following its merger with Housing
Development Finance Corp.
• The combined entity will have a market capitalization of $160 billion, which would make it the
fourth most valuable bank in the world.
• This is a historic milestone for India's banking industry, as it would be the first Indian bank to make
it into the top 10.
Bank of India launches “Centralised Pool Buy-Out and Co-Lending Cell
• Bank of India has launched a ‘Centralized Pool Buy-Out and Co-Lending Cell’ to boost priority
sector lending in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The Cell will be equipped with a digital underwriting system to onboard pool buy-outs and co-
lending of loans in partnership with NBFCs (non-banking finance companies).
• The Cell will onboard loan assets under Retail, MSME, and the Agriculture segment.
ICICI Lombard and ICICI Pru Life jointly launch 'iShield'
• ICICI Lombard General Insurance and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance have launched a joint
insurance solution called iShield.
• iShield provides customers with both health and life insurance, enabling them to take care of
medical treatment expenses.
• The life insurance coverage will continue till the age of 85, ensuring the family has sufficient
financial resources.
ICICI Securities to become 100% subsidiary of ICICI after delisting
• ICICI Securities will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of ICICI Bank upon delisting.
• The company's board of directors has approved a draft scheme of arrangement for the delisting.
• Shareholders of ICICI Securities will get 67 equity shares of ICICI Bank for every 100 shares of the
company.
• As on March 31, 2023, ICICI Bank held 74.85 percent of the equity shares of ICICI Securities.
RBI eases restrictions on HDFC Credila’s customer onboarding
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has eased the restrictions on onboarding new customers by Housing
Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Credila Financial Services.
• The relaxation is subject to the application for change in shareholding of HDFC Credila as an
NBFC.
• The RBI had also requested that HDFC Bank reduce its ownership of HDFC Credila to 10% by
March 31, 2024
Kotak Insurance partners with actyv.ai to provide insurance to MSMEs
• Kotak Mahindra General Insurance has partnered with actyv.ai to provide bite-sized insurance
products to MSMEs.

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• The partnership will offer innovative insurance products to the enterprise and its supply chain
partner ecosystem.
• The partnership will enable small businesses to focus on driving growth without worrying about
business risks.
Canara Bank becomes 1st PSB to allow credit card based UPI payments
• Canara Bank has become the first Public Sector Bank in India to introduce the facility of UPI
payments to merchants through RuPay Credit Card.
• Canara Bank is the first Public Sector Bank (PSB) to introduce this Facility.
• Customers of the Canara Bank will now be able to make UPI payments to merchants from their
RuPay Credit Cards also in addition to their bank accounts.
SEBI unveils ASBA-like facility for trading in secondary market
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) unveiled an Application Supported Blocked
Amount (ASBA) like facility for trading in the secondary market.
• The process provides enhanced protection of cash collateral by blocking funds in favor of the
clearing corporation.
• The facility will be provided by integrating RBI-approved UPI service with the secondary market
settlement process.
S&P retains India’s growth projection at 6% for FY24
• S&P Global Ratings retained India's GDP growth forecast at 6 per cent saying it will be the fastest-
growing economy among Asia Pacific nations.
• The GDP growth forecast for the current and the next fiscal has been kept unchanged from the
prediction made in March partly on account of domestic resilience.
• S&P said retail inflation is likely to soften to 5 percent this fiscal from 6.7 percent.
World Bank approves USD 391 mn for Assam, Tripura
• The World Bank approved USD 391 million in financing to improve access to high-quality
healthcare services and economic opportunities for people in Assam and Tripura.
• The Assam State Secondary Healthcare Initiative for Service Delivery Transformation (ASSIST)
Project, for which USD 251 million was approved, will improve access to high-quality secondary
healthcare services in Assam.
RBI imposes ₹2.5 crore penalty on Jammu & Kashmir Bank, Axis Bank
• RBI imposed a monetary penalty on three Indian banks for non-compliance with certain directions
issued by the central bank.
• Jammu & Kashmir Bank faced a penalty of ₹ 2.5 crores, while Bank of Maharashtra was fined ₹
1.45 crore, and Axis Bank received the least amount of penalty among them to the tune of ₹ 30
lakh.
• The penalties were imposed on June 22nd in these three banks.
Fitch Ratings raises India’s GDP forecast to 6.3%

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• Fitch Ratings revised upwards its FY24 economic growth forecast for India to 6.3 per cent from 6
per cent it had predicted earlier.
• This is primarily because of a stronger outturn in the first quarter and near-term momentum.
• The growth forecast compares with 7.2 per cent GDP expansion in FY23. In the previous fiscal year
(FY22), the economy had grown 9.1 per cent.
IRDAI Expands Scope Of ‘Use And File’ Procedure For Life Insurance
• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) released a circular on June
20, 2023 introducing modifications to the existing ‘use and file’ procedure for life insurance
products.
• These changes aim to facilitate the insurance industry in promoting insurance penetration.
• The modifications aim to enhance the accessibility and range of life insurance products.
Google Cloud launches anti-money-laundering tool for banks
• Google Cloud has launched Anti Money Laundering AI (AML AI) to help financial institutions
detect money laundering more effectively and efficiently.
• AML AI provides a consolidated machine learning-generated customer risk score as an
alternative to rules-based transaction alerting.
• The risk score is based on the bank's data including network behavior, and Know Your Customer
(KYC) data.
Indian Overseas Bank Introduces “MY ACCOUNT MY NAME”
• Indian Overseas Bank Introduces “MY ACCOUNT MY NAME” for Savings Bank account customers,
a first-of-its-kind initiative in the banking sector.
• Now customers will get the freedom to choose any name as their account number with IOB.
• The schemes were launched from Central Office, Chennai, virtually by Shri Ajay Kumar Srivastava,
MD&CEO, Indian Overseas Bank with all the 49 Regional Offices.
KVG Bank launches new deposit scheme
• Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) has launched a new deposit scheme ‘Vikas Ashadeep
400 days’.
• Shreekant M Bhandiwad, Chairman of KVGB, who launched this scheme, said the scheme is of a
tenor of 400 days with an interest rate of 7.50 percent for senior citizens and 7 percent for the
general public.
• Under the scheme, a minimum of ₹10,000 and a maximum of ₹2 crore can be deposited.
India's wholesale inflation hits 3-year low in May at -3.48 percent
• Wholesale inflation in India based on the Wholesale Price Index continued to stay in the negative
zone in May.
• It hit a three-year low at minus 3.48 percent in May, as against minus 0.92 the previous month,
official data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed.
• The decrease in wholesale inflation is mainly attributed to the decline in cereals, wheat,
vegetables, potato etc.

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SIDBI launches mission EVOLVE to finance MSMEs for EVs

• SIDBI has launched mission EVOLVE to finance MSMEs in the Electronic Vehicle (EV) space, in
association with NITI Aayog, World Bank, Korean-World Bank, and Korean Economic
Development Cooperation Fund (KEDCF).
• The initiative aims to give MSMEs access to affordable commercial financing for EV loans,
including hosting of telematics.
• The mission aims to finance 50,000 EVs.
CPI inflation drops to 4.25% in May, lowest in 25 months
• The last time India's headline retail inflation figure was lower than 4.25 percent was in April 2021,
when it stood at 4.23 percent
• India's headline retail inflation rate dropped for the fourth month in a row in May, falling to 4.25
percent from 4.70 percent in April
• CPI inflation remains above the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) medium-term target of 4 percent for
the 44th month in a row
Punjab National Bank (PNB) launches IVR-based UPI 123PAY
• Punjab National Bank has launched an IVR-based UPI solution - UPI 123PAY, making it the 1st
public sector bank to do so.
• The UPI 123PAY solution will allow users to perform UPI transactions from any phone.
• The solution is available in multiple languages and can be accessed by dialing 9188-123-123.
• IDFC First Bank, City Union Bank, and NSDL Payments Bank have also gone live on IVR payments.
Punjab & Sind Bank to raise Rs 750 cr via bonds
• Punjab & Sind Bank, on 12 June 2023, announced to raise Rs 750 crore from bonds to fund business
growth.
• The board has approved the raising of capital up to Rs 750 crore through the issuance of Basel-
III compliant Additional Tier-I Bonds or Tier-II Bonds, the bank said in a regulatory filing.
• The fundraising will be done in one or more tranches within a period of 12 months.
RBI expands scope of TReDS, includes insurers as participants
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has expanded the scope of the trade receivables discounting
system (TReDS) by allowing insurance companies to participate as stakeholders.
• TReDS platforms aim to improve the cash flows of MSMEs by allowing them to access funds.
• Insurance companies are now considered the "fourth participant" alongside MSME sellers, buyers,
and financiers.
Go Digit Life Insurance gets Irdai nod for life insurance business
• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has granted a life insurance
business license to Go Digit Life Insurance Limited.
• It is backed by Canada's Fairfax Group and is already in the general insurance business.

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• Go Digit is one of the first non-life insurers in India to be fully operated on the cloud and has
developed API integrations with several channel partners.
RBI permits FLDG between fintechs and banks, NBFCs
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the First Loss Default Guarantee (FLDG) framework,
allowing fintech to partner with banks and Non-Banking financial companies (NBFCs).
• The default loss guarantee (DLG) provider shall not bear a performance risk of more than the
equivalent amount of 5% of the underlying loan portfolio in implicit guarantee arrangements.
RBI allows banks to issue prepaid forex RuPay cards
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed banks to issue RuPay Prepaid Forex cards for use
overseas, expanding payment options for Indians traveling abroad.
• RBI has also proposed expanding the scope and reach of e-RUPI vouchers.
• The e-RUPI digital voucher, launched in August 2021, rides on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
system of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
RBI maintains status quo, keeping repo rate unchanged at 6.5%
• RBI announced its 2nd bi-monthly policy of this fiscal and as expected the apex bank preferred
to maintain the status quo by keeping the key rates unchanged.
• Monetary Policy Committee decided to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5%,
consequently, the Standing Deposit Facility remains at 6.25% and the marginal standing facility
and the bank rates stand at 6.75%.
RBI Governor launches financial inclusion dashboard 'Antardrishti'
• The dashboard, presently intended for internal use in the RBI, will further facilitate greater
financial inclusion through a multi-stakeholder approach.
• RBI constructed the Financial Inclusion (FI) Index in 2021
• The FI-Index was conceptualized as a complete index that includes information on the banking,
investments, insurance, postal, and pension sectors.
RBI imposes monetary penalty on Sawantwadi Urban Co-operative Bank
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹ 3 lakh on Sawantwadi
Urban Co-operative Bank for contravention of directions contained in the Supervisory Action
Framework (SAF).
• The cooperative bank is based in a taluka called Sawantwadi in Maharashtra.
• The bank had sanctioned fresh loans and advances other than the permitted category despite
SAF restrictions.
UPI hits record 9 billion transactions worth Rs 14 lakh crore
• The Unified Payments Interface UPI registered a record of more than nine billion transactions last
month amounting to over 14 lakh crore rupees.
• According to the National Payments Corporation of India, UPI recorded a total of 9.41 billion
transactions in May 2023.

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• India's homegrown payments system Unified Payments Interface UPI is one of the globally
accepted payment systems.

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Books and Authors Current Affairs

Roopa Pai releases her new book titled ‘The Yoga Sutra for Children’
• Renowned author Roopa Pai released her new book 'The Yoga Sutras for Children' which is
published by Hachette India.
• The book aims to connect yoga to children's everyday lives.
• The book features techniques by Maharishi Patanjali to help children nurture energies and
attitudes.
• Roopa Pai is also the author of 'The Gita for Children'.
R.A.W Hitman, a book by S. Hussain Zaidi to be Released Soon
• The real story of R.A.W Hitman which is about Agent Lima (aka Lucky Bisht) is making headlines.
• R.A.W Hitman is being published by the globally acclaimed American publication 'Simon and
Schuster'.
• R.A.W Hitman is their second publication in India after their first ever book called Sachin@50
which was on Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.
A.K. Bhattacharya released his new book “India’s Finance Ministers”
• Veteran Journalist Ashok Kumar Bhattacharya has authored a new book titled “India’s Finance
Ministers: From Independence to Emergency (1947-1977)”.
• The book highlights the role of India’s finance ministers who shaped India’s economy in the first
30 years(from 1947 to 1977) after Independence.
• The book is published by Penguin Business an imprint of Penguin Random House.
“Symphony to Jazz” book launched by Ankit Khemka
• Renowned author Ankit Khemka has released his latest book titled "Symphony to Jazz," offering
a compelling exploration of creativity, teamwork, and innovation in the business world.
• Drawing inspiration from the dynamic and collaborative nature of jazz music, Ankit presents
invaluable insights and practical strategies for individuals and organizations to unlock their
creative potential.
"The Power of Facebook Marketing" launched by Amit Kumar Jha
• Amit Kumar Jha, a highly regarded digital marketing expert, is thrilled to announce the release of
his debut book titled The Power of Facebook Marketing.
• The book launch took place at SMR Vinay City, Hyderabad, on June 17th,
• "The Power of Facebook Marketing" is an insightful and comprehensive guide that unlocks the
potential of Facebook for effective marketing strategies.
A book titled “Master Residential Real Estate” released
• Real Estate veteran, Ashwinder R Singh launches his second book, 'Master Residential Real
Estate'.
• The book covers a wide range of topics, from finding the right property to financing a home
purchase.

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• The book empowers readers to take control of their financial and emotional future.
• It provides the necessary information to make informed decisions based on data and research.
'The Art of Plunder" Book Launched Worldwide
• "The Art of Plunder." With its suspenseful and thrilling narrative, this book takes readers on a
gripping journey through the lives of its main characters and the events that shape their destinies.
• It is authored by Alekhya Talapatra
• Talapatra's clever storytelling draws readers deep into the storyline, immersing them in a world
filled with suspense and intrigue.
Author Shantanu Gupta launches his new novel ‘Ajay to Yogi Adityanath’
• Shantanu Gupta launched his new graphic novel "Ajay to Yogi Adityanath" on 6 June 2023.
• The book launch was attended by more than 5000 children in over 51 schools across various
districts of Uttar Pradesh, creating an Asia Book of Records.
• He also has written two bestseller titles on Yogi Adityanath- The Monk Who Transformed Uttar
Pradesh and The Monk Who Became Chief Minister.
BJP President Nadda releases book titled Amrutkaal Ki Ore
• BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda released a book titled Amrutkaal Ki Ore in New
Delhi based on 9 Years' Achievements of the Narendra Modi Government.
• Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Nadda said the 9 years of the Modi government have transformed
the country.
• He said, there has been a big difference since 2014 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took
office.
Book on Sidhu Moosewala's death,its investigation to release on June 5
• Book on Sidhu Moosewala's death, and its investigation to release on June 5.
• "Who Killed Moosewala?", is written by journalist-author Jupinderjit Singh.
• Published by Westland Books, it looks at the events of May 29, 2022, the day the Punjabi hip-hop
star was shot by six armed assailants while driving to his aunt's house in a village in Punjab.
HarperCollins India to publish BK Shivani's The Power of One Thought
• "The Power of One Thought: Master Your Mind" is a book by BK Shivani that aims to guide readers
toward personal transformation.
• She was also honored with 'Nari Shakti Puraskaar' in 2017.
• Since 2017, she has been appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador by the World Psychiatric
Association.
• HarperCollins India was awarded the Publisher of the Year Award three times, in 2015, 2016, and
2018.
Abhay K's new book on Nalanda to be published by Penguin
• Abhay K's book 'Nalanda', the acquisition of which has been announced by Penguin Random
House India, delves into the history of the ancient seat of learning in Bihar

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• The Book is scheduled to release in October next year in 2024 from the Vintage imprint.
• He received the SAARC Literary Award (2013) and was invited to record his poems at the Library
of Congress, Washington, DC

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Business and Economy Current Affairs

WB approves USD 1.5 bn financing for India's low-carbon transition
• The World Bank has approved USD 1.5 billion in financing for India's low-carbon transition.
• The financing will be used to support a number of projects, including:
o The development of renewable energy projects, such as solar and wind power.
o The improvement of energy efficiency in buildings and industries.
o The development of green transport systems, such as electric vehicles.
World Bank approves USD 200 mln loan to Himachal Pradesh
• The World Bank has approved USD 200 million in loans for Himachal Pradesh to facilitate power
sector reforms in the state.
• World Bank said the funding would help the state add 10,000MW of additional renewable energy
capacity.
• HP aims to become a 'Green State' by meeting 100 percent of its energy needs through renewable
and green energy by 2030.
India's current account deficit narrows to 0.2% of GDP
• India’s current account deficit (CAD) narrowed to 0.2 percent of GDP in the fourth quarter
(January-March) of FY23 from two percent of GDP in the preceding quarter
• For the full-year FY23, the current account balance registered a deficit of 2% of GDP as compared
to a deficit of 1.2% in FY22.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) recorded a robust sequential rise to $6.4 billion in Q4.
Centre approves Rs 56,415 crore to 16 states for capital investment
• The Department of Expenditure under the Finance Ministry has approved capital investment
proposals of Rs 56,415 cr for 16 states in the current financial year 2023-24
• The amount has been approved for 16 states: Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa,
Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Odisha, Rajasthan,
Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and West Bengal
IndiGo makes historic order for 500 Airbus planes worth USD 50 billion
• InterGlobe Aviation, the operator of India's largest airline, has placed an order for 500 narrow-
body planes with Airbus, valued at about $50 billion.
• IndiGo's order has surpassed Air India's order for 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing in Feb 2023,
making it the single-largest purchase in the commercial aviation industry.
• The 500 aircraft order is to be delivered between 2030 and 2035.
India’s seafood exports touch an all-time high $8.09 bn in FY 2022-23
• India achieved an all-time high export of seafood in terms of volume and value in FY 2022-23.
• In 2022-23, India exported worth INR 63,969.14 crore ($8.09 billion) seafood.
• Frozen shrimp remains the major export item in terms of both quantity and value.
• USA and China were the major importers of India's seafood.

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• The European Union was the 3rd-largest destination for India's seafood exports.
MRF becomes the 1st Indian stock to touch ₹1 lakh per share mark
• MRF became the first Indian stock to touch the rupee one lakh per share mark.
• The stock opened at ₹99,500 on BSE against the previous close of ₹98,939.70 and touched an
all-time high of ₹1,00,300 in morning trade.
• The stock has witnessed strong gains in the last year. It is up 45 percent in the last year against a
19 percent gain in the benchmark Sensex.
Industrial Output of India rise to 4.2% in April 2023
• The Industrial output of the country rose to 4.2 percent in April 2023, according to the Ministry of
Statistics and Programme Implementation data released on 12 June 2023.
• The index of industrial production (IIP) expanded as the manufacturing sector's output grew 4.9
percent in April while Mining output rose by 5.1 percent.
• Power generation declined by 1.1 percent in April.
India's retail inflation eases to 4.25 per cent in May 2023
• India's retail inflation dropped to a more than two-year low of 4.25% in May 2023, according to
data released by the Ministry of Statistics.
• The consumer-price index (CPI) based inflation has remained within the Reserve Bank of India's
(RBI) tolerance band of 2-6% for the 3rd consecutive month.
• For the year, the forecast is for 4.9% average inflation in FY24.
CBFC launches revamped website & new mobile app in Mumbai
• Central Board of Film Certification has launched its revamped website and the new mobile app
in Mumbai. CBFC Chairman Prasoon Joshi launched the website and the mobile app.
• The CBFC website will provide timely updates on new and upcoming events, circulars, orders,
notifications, etc.
• The newly developed Mobile App provides features such as real-time progress tracking of
application status

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Defence Current Affairs

IAF plans its biggest air exercise "Tarang Shakti"
• The exercise, named Tarang Shakti, is slated to be the biggest air exercise to be conducted in
India.
• Participating countries will join the exercise with both military combat jets and transport aircraft,
among other assets.
• The exercise is expected to involve forces from 12 countries, including the United States, the United
Kingdom, France and Australia.
IAF conducts capstone seminar for the 2nd warfare & aerospace strategy
• The Indian Air Force conducted a Capstone Seminar in New Delhi.
• The seminar marked the end of the No. 2 Warfare & Aerospace Strategy Program (WASP).
• The program aims to nurture critical thinkers who can generate policy-driving ideas at the
strategic level.
• The participants presented their papers on India's regional and global aspirations and the
application of airpower.
IAF’s Tejas Mk 2 Light Combat Aircraft to take first flight by 2025
• The highly anticipated Tejas Mk 2 Light Combat Aircraft is expected to be ready for its first flight
by 2025.
• Tejas’ progress was confirmed by a high-ranking official of the Aeronautical Development Agency
• ADA is the nodal agency for the design of the next-gen LCA
• Tejas Mk 2 is better than the previous iteration of the LCA as it boasted modern avionics and
improved range.
IAF carries out Exercise Ranvijay with focus on integrated operations
• The Indian Air Force conducted 'Exercise Ranvijay' to focus on integration and electronic warfare
capabilities.
• The exercise was carried out from different air bases of the command headquartered in Prayagraj.
• Full spectrum operations by all combat assets were carried out during the exercise.
• Day and night operations by combat aircraft including the Su-30s were conducted.
INS Sunayna visits Kenya's Mombasa to strengthen bilateral ties
• INS Sunayna visited Mombasa, Kenya from June 20-23, 2023, to strengthen bilateral ties with
maritime neighbours on the theme of Ocean Ring of Yoga.
• On departure from Mombasa, INS Sunayna undertook Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Kenya
Naval Ship Jasiri on 23 Jun 23.
• The event was attended by Ms. Namgya Khampa, High Commissioner of India, Nairobi, Kenya.
India-Maldives joint defence exercise 'Ekuverin' concludes

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• The 12th edition of the joint military exercise "Ex Ekuverin" between the Indian Army and the
Maldives National Defence Force has taken place at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand from 11 to 24 June
2023.
• "Ekuverin" means "Friends" and is a bilateral annual exercise conducted alternatively in India &
Maldives.
• The 11th edition was held in the Maldives in December 2021.
L&T, DRDO sign contract for Submarine Propulsion System
• Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) signed a
contract for realisation of two Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) System Modules for Kalvari Class
of submarines of the Indian Navy.
• These modules constitute the core of the fuel cell-based AIP System, indigenously developed by
the Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL)
HAL signs MoU with Argentina firm for aerospace collaboration
• State-owned plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a memorandum of
understanding with its Argentine counterpart Fabrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA).
• It aims for possible collaboration in the aerospace sector at a time when the Indian firm is in talks
with the South American country to export the indigenously-built light combat aircraft (LCA).
India Conducts Massive Military Exercise- Agneyastra 1
• The Indian Army has concluded a massive military exercise — Agneyastra 1 in eastern Ladakh.
• K-9 Artillery Guns, UAVs And Anti-Tank Missiles were used in the exercise
Rajnath Singh inaugurates Integrated Simulator Complex: Dhruv in Kochi
• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Integrated Simulator Complex (ISC) ‘Dhruv’ at Southern Naval
Command, Kochi.
• The ISC ‘Dhruv’ hosts modern state-of-the-art indigenously-built simulators which will significantly
enhance practical training in the Indian Navy.
• These simulators are envisaged to give real-time experience on navigation, fleet operations and
Naval tactics.
Indian ADA to roll Tejas Mark II prototype with F-414 engine by 2024
• The Indian PSU will have to meet the challenge of manufacturing 500 engines for Mark II, AMCA,
TEDBF fighters.
• On the eve of historic India-US F-414 jet engine deal, both Aeronautical Development Agency
(ADA) and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have geared up to produce Tejas Mark II
fighter by 2027-28 with the former ready to roll out the GE-414 powered prototype by 2024 end.
India gifts missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam
• India gifted the indigenously-built in-service missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam to enhance
that country’s naval capabilities.
• Rajnath Singh announced this on June 19 after bilateral talks with his visiting Vietnamese
counterpart General Phan Van Gang.

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• INS Kirpan is a Khukri class missile corvette displacing 1,350 tonnes and was commissioned into
the Navy on January 12, 1991.
INS ‘Vagir’ set to embark on operational visit to Colombo
• Indian Navy’s state-of-the-art submarine, INS ‘Vagir’, is all set to embark on an operational visit
to Colombo from June 19
• This visit is in commemoration of the 9th edition of the International Day of Yoga and aligns with
the theme of ‘Global Ocean Ring’
• INS ‘Vagir’ will also open its doors to visitors and school children, allowing them a rare opportunity
to explore the submarine firsthand
Indian Army participates in multinational exercise 'Khaan Quest 2023'
• Indian Army is participating in the multinational peacekeeping Joint Exercise Ex Khaan Quest
2023 in Mongolia.
• Over 20 countries are participating in the exercise.
• The exercise was inaugurated by President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh.
• The Garhwal Rifles is representing the Indian Army in the exercise.
• The exercise will train uniformed personnel for UN Peacekeeping Operations.
Defence ministry approves to acquire 31 MQ-9B armed drones from US
• India’s defence ministry approved the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B armed drones from the US.
• India is expected to buy the drones, which have an endurance of more than 27 hours and can
operate at up to 50,000 feet, in a deal worth a little more than $3 billion.
• Fifteen drones will be for the navy, and eight each for the army and the air force.
Defence Minister chairs consultation meeting on self-reliance
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting of the consultative committee for the Ministry
of Defence (MoD) on ‘self-reliance in defence manufacturing’ in Bengaluru.
• Members of the committee from both houses of the Parliament were apprised of various
initiatives.
• Efforts will be made to incorporate suggestions given by members of the committee towards
attaining self-reliance.
GRSE launches two warships and lays keel of third vessel
• Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd launched 2 warships of different classes on
June 13, 2023, and laid the keel of a 3rd vessel.
• The ships launched were Anjadip, the 3rd Anti-Submarine Shallow Water Craft (ASWSWC), and
Sanshodhak, the 4th Survey Vessel Large (SVL) while the keel was laid for the 7th ASWSWC.
• INS Anjadip is named after an island close to India’s Western coast.
Indo-Maldives joint military exercise commences
• The 12th edition of the joint military exercise "Ex Ekuverin" has started between the Indian Army
and the Maldives National Defence Force.

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• The exercise is being held at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand, and will continue until 24 June 2023.
• "Ekuverin" means "Friends" and is a bilateral annual exercise conducted alternatively in India &
Maldives.
• The 11th edition was held in the Maldives in Dec 2021.
INS Vikramaditya, Vikrant lead Navy’s mega ops in Arabian Sea
• The Navy carried out a massive Carrier Battle Group operation involving more than 35 aircraft in
the Arabian Sea, one of the biggest demonstrations of its operational capabilities
• A CBG is a naval fleet comprising an aircraft carrier and its multiple escort vessels
• The Navy has been trying to get a third aircraft carrier and is discussing the feasibility of a repeat
order of INS Vikrant
India, France, UAE begin maiden joint maritime exercise
• The first India-France-UAE Maritime Partnership Exercise began in the Gulf of Oman.
• The exercise includes the Indian Navy frigate INS Tarkash, the French Navy ship Surcouf, and UAE
Navy maritime patrol aircraft.
• The exercise also includes cross-embarkation of personnel to exchange best practices.
• The exercise aims to improve trilateral cooperation between the three navies.
Germany prepares to host NATO's biggest ever air exercise over Europe
• Germany is preparing to host the biggest air deployment exercise in NATO's history, a show of
force intended to impress allies and potential adversaries such as Russia, Germany, and American
• The Air Defender 23 exercise starting next week will see 10,000 participants and 250 aircraft from
25 nations.
• The US alone is sending 2,000 National Guard personnel and 100 aircraft.
‘Agni Prime’ ballistic missile successfully flight-tested by DRDO
• New Generation Ballistic Missile ‘Agni Prime’ was successfully flight-tested by Defence Research
and Development Organisation from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha
• Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO and the Armed Forces for the success.
• Secretary Department of Defence R&D & Chairman DRDO Dr. Samir V Kamat appreciated the
efforts put in by the teams of DRDO laboratories.
Indian Navy to commemorate 130th anniversary of Gandhiji's Satyagraha
• Indian Navy to participate in a commemorative event at Pietermaritzburg Railway Station near
Durban to mark 130 years of the start of the struggle against apartheid.
• INS Trishul is visiting Durban from 06 to 09 Jun 23 to commemorate the anniversary.
• The incident of June 7, 1893, when Mahatma Gandhi was evicted from a first-class compartment
at Pietermaritzburg station.
Indian Navy tests Made in India heavyweight torpedo successfully.
• Indian Navy carried out a successful test to destroy an underwater target using Made in India
heavyweight Torpedo.

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• The successful engagement of an underwater target by an indigenously developed Heavy Weight

Torpedo was a significant milestone.
• This is the second sea-level test in a fortnight. Last month, the Navy tested an advanced missile
from the destroyer INS Mormugao.
Sixth edition of India-Maldives Exercise 'Ekatha' underway
• Indian Navy divers and Marine Commandos are in the Maldives for the sixth edition of Exercise
Ekatha with Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) from 4th June to 3rd July
• The annual exercise is conducted between the two forces to enhance interoperability in diving
and special operations
• The ceremony that concluded with the national anthem of Maldives was followed by the
exchange of mementoes
Indian Navy’s Green Initiatives imbibing Green Technologies
• The Navy, as a self-driven and environmentally responsible force, has always been committed to
environmental protection and green initiatives.
• Some of the noteworthy initiatives towards ‘Clean and Green Navy’, are elaborated.
• Indian Navy has commissioned solar power with a cumulative capacity of 15.87MW which is in
line with Govt of India’s ‘Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission mission.
Indian Naval Ship Satpura arrives in Indonesia
• Indian Naval Ship Satpura arrived at Makassar, Indonesia to participate in the 4th Edition of
Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo
• This four-day exercise which began will continue till June 8, 2023, in Makassar, Indonesia.
• This event marks the fourth iteration of the exercise since its inception in 2014.
India conducts successful training launch of Agni-1 ballistic missile
• India successfully conducted a training launch of the medium-range ballistic missile Agni-1 from
APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha.
• In December 2022, India successfully test-fired nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni-V that can
strike targets at ranges up to 5,000 km.
• The Agni 1 to 4 missiles have ranges from 700 km to 3,500 km and have already been deployed.
MH60R helicopter makes maiden landing on INS Vikrant
• The Indian Nav's MH-60 ‘Romeo’ multi-mission helicopter landed on the indigenously-built
aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
• MH-60R helicopter manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation is an all-weather helicopter
designed to support multiple missions with state-of-the-art avionics and sensors.
• It is known for its exceptional surveillance, anti-shipping, and Search and Rescue capabilities.

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Government Schemes and Policies Current Affairs

Cabinet Gives 3.68 Lakh Crore Scheme To Strenghten Fertiliser System
• The scheme is to incentivize States and Union Territories to promote alternative fertilizers and
balanced use of chemical fertilizers.
• The Cabinet gave its nod to PM-PRANAM Yojana for the farmers.
• The Cabinet has approved a package of Rs 3,68,000 crores.
• This scheme will reduce the use of chemical fertilisers in the states.
‘DAKSHTA For Young Professionals’ now Live at iGOT Karmayogi
• A new curated collection, DAKSHTA (Development of Attitude, Knowledge, Skill for Holistic
Transformation in Administration) For Young Professionals, is now Live on the iGOT Karmayogi
Platform.
• This will help Young Professionals and Consultants engaged in various Ministries, Government
Departments, and Organizations to enhance their knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Amit Shah announces disaster management schemes worth Rs 8,000 crore
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced three major schemes for disaster management worth
over Rs 8,000 crore.
• Shah chaired a meeting with the disaster management departments of States and Union
Territories at Vigyan Bhawan
• He said in the last nine years, the central government has achieved a lot in this area.
PM flags off two schemes to revive wetlands, mangroves
• PM Narendra Modi launched two schemes named Amrit Dharohar and MISHTI to revive wetlands
and mangroves across the country.
• India currently has 75 Ramsar sites and the launch of Amrit Dharohar Yojana will ensure the
conservation of the existing Ramsar sites through public participation.
• The MISHTI scheme will help in reviving and protecting the mangrove ecosystem in the country.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launches PM SVANidhi mobile app
• Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched a PM SVANidhi mobile app for
street vendors, to ease the loan application process.
• He commended the Prime Minster Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme on
its three years completion.
• It has led to an unparalleled wave of financial inclusion and digital literacy in cities and towns.
1275 railway stations to be upgraded under Amrit Bharat Station scheme
• The Consultative Committee of Members of Parliament for the Ministry of Railways announced
to upgrade of 1,275 railway stations under Amrit Bharat Station.
• The meeting was chaired by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
• The scheme was launched for the development of stations on Indian Railways with a long-term
approach.

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Days and Events Current Affairs

International Day of the Tropics: 29 June
• It is observed on 29 June annually to spread awareness about conservation strategies and to
promote tropical regions on Earth.
• The Tropics account for 36 percent of the Earth’s landmass. It includes the Equator and parts of
North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
• The inaugural State of the Tropics Report was launched on 29 June 2014.
National Statistics Day: 29 June
• National Statistics Day is observed in India on June 29 every year to commemorate the birth
anniversary of renowned statistician Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis.
• The first National Statistics Day was celebrated on June 29, 2007
• The theme of Statistics Day, 2023 is “Alignment of State Indicator Framework with National
Indicator Framework for Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals”.
United Nations Public Service Day: 23 June
• The United Nations Public Service Day is celebrated on June 23 of every year. The UN Public
Service Day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly's resolution of 2003, to
“celebrate the value and virtue of public service to the community”.
• The day also marks the anniversary of the date when the International Labour Organization
adopted the Convention on Labour Relations 1978.
International Olympic Day: 23 June
• The International Olympic Day is celebrated on 23rd June every year to make people aware of
the importance of games in life.
• Olympic Day commemorates the founding of the International Olympic Committee on 23 June
1894 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin.
• The theme of 2023 year's Olympic Day is 'Let's Move' which aims to inspire people around the
world to make time for daily physical activity.
International Yoga Day: 21 June
• The 9th annual International Yoga Day is being celebrated on 21 June 2023.
• The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated across the world annually on June 21 since
2015, following its inception in the United Nations General Assembly in 2014.
• The theme for International Yoga Day 2023 is "Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," which also
represents “One Earth, One Family".
Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra begins in Puri, Odisha
• The Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2023, began on June 20, 2023.
• The Ratha Yatra of Puri, popularly known as Ratha Jatra is the oldest and largest Hindu chariot
festival.

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• It celebrates Lord Jagannath and his siblings annually, on the bright half of the lunar month of
Ashadh (June-July).
• The Yatra starts from the Puri temple and concludes at Shree Gundicha temple
World Hydrography Day: 21 June
• World Hydrography Day is observed on 21 June every year to increase public awareness about
hydrography science.
• The date was chosen by the United Nations in 2005 to honor the establishment of the
International Hydrographic Organization (IHO).
• The theme for 2023 is 'Hydrography - Underpinning the Digital Twin of the Ocean' which is in
keeping with the development of virtual representation."
World Refugee Day: 20 June
• World Refugee Day is an international day organized annually on 20 June by the United Nations.
• It is designed to celebrate and honor refugees from around the world.
• The day was first established on 20 June 2001, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the 1951
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
• The theme for the year 2023 is "Hope Away from Home"
World Father’s Day: 18 June
• It is observed every year on the third Sunday of June to commemorate fatherhood and
appreciates all fathers for their support and contribution to society.
• Father's Day 2023 will be celebrated on June 18.
• Sonora Smart Dodd advocated for the day to honor fathers.
• The first Father's Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington.
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought: 17 June
• It is observed on 17 June each year to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat
desertification.
• The United Nations General Assembly in 1994 declared 17 June as the "World Day to Combat
Desertification and Drought".
• The global focus for Desertification and Drought Day 2023 is on women's land rights
• The theme for the year 2023 is 'Her Land. Her Rights.'
MEA celebrates SCO Day under India's chairmanship
• The Ministry of External Affairs celebrated Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Day under
India's SCO chairmanship.
• A postage stamp was released to commemorate the occasion.
• Ambassadors of the SCO Member States, observers, and dialogue partners took part in the event.
• India assumed the rotating presidency of the SCO at the 2022 SCO Summit held in Uzbekistan.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: 15 June

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• This day is celebrated every year on 15 June to raise the voice for caring elders. Elder abuse is a
global social issue that affects the Health of millions of older persons.
• The day was officially recognized by the UN General Assembly in 2006.
• The theme for the 2023 year is "Closing the Circle: Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in
Older Age Policy, Law and Evidence-based Responses".
World Blood Donor Day: 14 June
• World Blood Donor Day is observed on 14 June every year to raise awareness about the urgency
of blood donations all over the world.
• In 2004 World Blood Donor Day was first distinguished by the WHO.
• In the 58th World Health Assembly, 2005 it was declared as an annual global event.
• The theme of World Blood Donor Day 2023 is "Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often."
International Albinism Awareness Day: 13 June
• The day is celebrated annually on June 13 to celebrate the human rights of persons with albinism
worldwide.
• On 18 Dec 2014, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution proclaiming
13 June as International Albinism Awareness Day, with effect from 2015.
• The theme of International Albinism Awareness Day 2023 is "Inclusion is strength,"
World Day Against Child Labour: 12 June
• World Day Against Child Labour is observed annually on June 12.
• The day is launched by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to focus on the worldwide
extinction of child labour.
• In 2015, world leaders adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in which they included
a clause to end child labour.
• The theme for the year 2023 is 'Social Justice for All, End Child Labour!'.
World Brain Tumour Day: 8 June
• World Brain Tumour Day, observed on June 8, raises awareness about brain tumours.
• Brain tumours are the fourth most serious and widespread disease worldwide.
• In 2010, the International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA) designated June 8 as World Brain Tumour
Day.
• The theme for World Brain Tumour Day 2023 is "Protect yourself – keep away from stress".
World Oceans Day: 8 June
• World Oceans Day is celebrated on 8 June every year to aware people to stop polluting the ocean,
and water bodies.
• The day was first proposed in 1992 by Canada's International Centre for Ocean Development and
the Ocean Institute of Canada at the Earth Summit – UN Conference on Environment and
Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• The theme of 2023 is "Planet Ocean: The Tides are Changing."

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World Food Safety Day: 7 June

• World Food Safety Day is celebrated on 7 June to draw global attention to the consequences of
contaminated food and water to health.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
established Food Safety Day in December 2018 and the day was celebrated for the first time on
June 7, 2019.
• The 2023 year's theme is "Food Standards Save Lives".
World Environment Day: 5 June
• World Environment Day is celebrated annually on 5 June and encourages awareness and action
for the protection of the environment.
• World Environment Day was first marked on June 5, 1973, during the Stockholm Conference on
the Human Environment.
• The theme of World Environment Day 2023 is "BeatPlasticPollution," highlighting people's actions
toward plastic pollution reduction.
World Bicycle Day: 3 June
• The day is celebrated on 3rd June as International World Bicycle Day to recognize the uniqueness,
longevity, and versatility of the bicycle, which are affordable, environmentally friendly fit
sustainable means of transportation.
• In April 2018, the UN General Assembly declared June 3 as World Bicycle Day.
• The theme for the 2023 year is “Riding Together for a Sustainable Future.”
PM addresses 350th Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Coronation Day
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 350th year of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s
Coronation Day.
• He was coronated on June 6, 1674, at the Raigad fort from where he had laid the foundation of
“Hindavi Swaraj” or self-rule of Hindus. As per the Hindu calendar, the anniversary of his
coronation falls on June 2, 2023.
• The coronation day is celebrated as a festival all over Maharashtra.
Telangana Formation Day: 2 June
• Telangana Formation Day is celebrated on June 2 every year, marking the day when the state of
Telangana was formed in 2014.
• The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 bill was passed in the Parliament in February 2014
for the formation of the Telangana state.
• The bill was then passed by the President of India on March 1, 2014, and the state of Telangana
was finally formed on June 2.
World Milk Day: 1 June
• World Milk Day is celebrated every year on 1 June to celebrate dairy's vital role in global food
systems.

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• It is an international day established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN
to recognize the importance of milk as a global food.
• It has been observed on June 1 each year since 2001.
• The 2023 year's theme is “Enjoy Dairy”.

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International Current Affairs

Turkmenistan inaugurates 'Arkadag', a $5 billion 'smart city'
• The city is built in honor of former strongman leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. However,
he was absent during the inaugural ceremony as he is on his hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia
• Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdymukhamedov cut the ribbon during the ceremony,
inaugurating the new city of Arkadag
• The new city of Arkadag is some 30 kilometres (18 miles) outside the capital Ashgabat
New Zealand to become 1st country in the world to ban thin plastic bag
• New Zealand became the first country in the world to ban thin plastic bags at supermarkets on
July 1, 2023.
• The ban applies to single-use plastic bags that are less than 70 microns thick.
• This includes bags used to carry fruit and vegetables, as well as bags used for bread and other
items.
• Customers will still be able to purchase thicker plastic bags, as well as paper bags, at
supermarkets.
Iran Welcomes Revival of Ties with Egypt and Morocco
• Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian expressed Iran's positive stance towards
reestablishing relations with Egypt and Morocco.
• He emphasized the significance of Hajj as a diplomatic opportunity for Islamic nations to foster
unity and gain a deeper understanding of global affairs.
• He reiterated Iran's commitment to expanding ties with neighboring and Islamic countries.
Alef Model A: World's 1st electric flying car certified by US
• Alef Aeronautics Model A is the world's first electric flying car to receive a Special Airworthiness
Certificate from the US Federal Aviation Administration
• The Model A is a two-seater vehicle that can fly for up to 160 kilometers on a single charge
• The Model A is powered by a battery pack that can be fully charged in about two hours
• The Model A is expected to go on sale in the US in 2024
Google celebrates Italian poet Giacomo Leopardi's 225th birthday
• Google Doodle celebrates the 225th birthday of Italian poet, philosopher and scholar Giacomo
Leopardi.
• Leopardi is recognized as one of the greatest writers of the 19th century for his poetry and
philosophical works.
• Leopardi was born in the small provincial town of Recanati in 1798, at a time of political turmoil
in Italy and Europe caused by the French Revolution.
ADB approves USD 50 million loan to Nepal for policy reforms
• The Asian Development Bank has approved a $50 million loan to Nepal.
• The loan will support policy reforms and improve Nepal's domestic and international trade.

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• The loan will help implement the current customs reform and modernization plan in Nepal.
• Technical standards of logistics infrastructure and equipment will be harmonized to facilitate
Nepal's trade with India and Bangladesh.
South Korea scraps traditional age counting rule
• In December last year, the country passed laws to fully adopt the international standard.
• The country outlawed the traditional way of counting age which considers a person a year old at
birth and adds a year every January 1.
• President Yoon Suk-yeol pushed strongly for the change when he ran for office last year
Canada launches ‘digital nomad strategy’ for foreign workers
• Canada announced to launch of its "digital nomad strategy" which will provide a temporary
arrangement for foreigners to look for jobs in the country.
• Announcing the development, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said that the "digital nomad
strategy" will allow workers with a foreign employer to stay and work in Canada for up to six
months.
Diwali to become school holiday in New York City
• Diwali is set to become a school holiday in New York City, announced Mayor Eric Adams.
• Diwali will be added to the list of public school holidays in recognition of the growth of the city's
South Asian and Indo-Caribean communities.
• The announcement came after the state lawmakers recently enacted legislation designating it as
a holiday in the biggest school system in the US.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis to be sworn in as Greece's PM
• Greece’s centre-right leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis is to be sworn in as the Prime Minister after
winning a second term with a record-high margin.
• Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou is set to formally hand over Mitsotakis, the mandate to
form a government, after which he will be sworn in and announce his new Cabinet.
China inks deal with Pakistan to set up nuclear power plant in Punjab
• China inked an agreement worth a whopping $4.8 billion with cash-strapped Pakistan to set up
a 1,200-megawatt nuclear power plant as a sign of increasing strategic cooperation between the
two all-weather allies.
• Prime Minister Sharif termed the nuclear power plant agreement signing as a token of increasing
economic cooperation between Pakistan and China
Estonia becomes 1st Baltic nation to legalize same-sex marriage
• Estonia's parliament approved a law legalizing same-sex marriage, making it the first central
European country to do so.
• The law will come into effect in 2024.
• The bill received 55 votes in the 101-seat parliament, from the coalition of liberal and social
democratic parties.

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• 53 percent of the population supported same-sex marriage in a 2023 poll by the Centre for Human
Rights.
Google celebrates birthday of Polish sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz
• Google Doodle celebrated the 93rd birthday of Polish sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz with a
special doodle.
• She was born on 20 June 1930 in Poland.
• She developed a soft sculpture that turned fabric into three dimensions in the 1960s.
• These new forms of installations hung from the ceiling and were called Abakans.
• She was awarded the top prize at the 1965 São Paulo International Art Biennale.
Japan's parliament has passed a bill to raise the age of consent from
• Japan's parliament has passed a bill to raise the age of consent from 13 to 16.
• The bill also clarifies the definition of rape, making it clear that it is not necessary for force to be
used for an act to be considered rape.
• The bill also criminalizes voyeurism, making it illegal to secretly film or photograph someone
without their consent.
• Bill is expected to come into effect in April 2024.
World Bank launches its first road safety project in South Asia
• The World Bank has launched its first road safety project in South Asia, in Bangladesh.
• The project, called the "Safe Roads, Safer Lives" project,
• The project will focus on improving road infrastructure, increasing enforcement of traffic laws, and
raising awareness of road safety.
• The project is expected to save an estimated 10,000 lives over the next 10 years.
First Women's Kabaddi League Inaugurated in Dubai
• The first-ever Women's Kabaddi League was inaugurated in Dubai.
• The league is being organized by the Kabaddi Federation of India and the Dream Sports Group.
• The league features 8 teams, each representing a different state in India.
• The league is expected to provide a platform for talented women kabaddi players to showcase
their skills and inspire other women to take up the sport.
USA announces to rejoin UNESCO in July 2023
• UNESCO has announced that the United States will rejoin the agency in July 2023 four years after
leaving due to allegations of bias against Israel.
• The US stopped funding UNESCO, worth millions of dollars, in 2011 after Palestine became a
member of the agency.
• Palestine was included as a non-member observer state in 2012, granting them participation in
General Assembly proceedings.
World Bank launches its first road safety project in South Asia

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• The World Bank launched its 1st dedicated road safety project in South Asia with a USD 358
million financing agreement signed in Dhaka with the govt 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 upgrade trauma care facilities in selected district hospitals
New Zealand Economy Falls Into Recession, First Since 2020
• New Zealand's agriculture-driven economy has fallen into recession, according to official data
released.
• Stats NZ signalled the economy had contracted 0.1 percent in the first quarter, after a fall of 0.7
percent at the end of 2022.
• January flooding in Auckland and destruction caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in Feb both weighed
on the economy.
• This is New Zealand's first recession since 2020
Google Doodle celebrates popular Spanish dish Espeto
• Google, on 13 June 2023, celebrated the Spanish dish espeto with a special Doodle that was hand-
crafted with clay.
• It is a summer dish traditionally roasted over firewood on the beach.
• The word Espeto is derived from espetar in Spanish which means to skewer.
• Espetos are only eaten on months that don't have an ‘R’ in their name and never on Monday
owing to fish markets being closed.
Israel to release world's first digital government bond
• The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) & Israel's Finance Ministry have completed the proof of
concept phase for a digital Israeli Bond traded on a dedicated blockchain platform.
• The development positions Israel to release the world's first digital government bond.
• The blockchain used for this event was EVM-compatible, enabling potential integration with other
blockchain solutions in the future.
US, UK forge 'Atlantic Declaration' to boost economic ties
• The United States and United Kingdom have signed the "Atlantic Declaration" to address
challenges posed by Russia, and China.
• The agreement focuses on fostering collaboration in defense and renewable energy sectors to
respond to China's growing competition.
• The Atlantic Declaration includes a civil nuclear partnership to reduce reliance on Russian fuel
sources and promote energy cooperation.
Russia to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus by July 2023
• Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia will start deploying tactical nuclear
weapons in Belarus after the facilities are ready on 7-8 July 2023.
• In March 2023, Putin announced he wanted to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

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• Russia possesses a total of 5,889 nuclear warheads as of 2023, the largest stockpile of nuclear
warheads in the world
Eurozone falls into recession
• The Eurozone, which consists of 20 member states of the European Union that have adopted the
Euro as their primary currency, has fallen into recession.
• In the first quarter of the year, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) dropped by 0.1% in Eurozone
compared with the previous quarter
• Germany, Europe’s largest economy, shrank by 0.3% and is also in recession
Iran presents its first hypersonic ballistic missile
• Iran presented its first domestically made hypersonic ballistic missile, The official IRNA news
agency reported.
• Iranian state media published pictures of the missile named Fattah at a ceremony attended by
President Ebrahim Rahis
• The precision-guided Fattah hypersonic missile has a range of 1,400 km and it is capable of
penetrating all defense shields
Israeli researchers develop tool to predict extreme rainfall
• The Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers have identified factors influencing the likelihood
of extreme rain events and have developed a tool that can improve the forecasting of such events.
• Extreme rain events, particularly those that cause flash floods in the south and east of Israel in
spring and fall are particularly difficult to forecast even a short while in advance
Five nations elected to UN Security Council
• The United Nations General Assembly elected Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and South
Korea to the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday for two-year terms starting on Jan. 1,
2024
• It has five permanent veto-wielding members: Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United
States.
• This comes when India has been insisting the United Nations Security Council be more inclusive.
Bangladesh records highest inflation rate in over a decade
• Bangladesh recorded its highest monthly inflation rate in over a decade, with a monthly inflation
rate of 9.94 percent in May.
• The average inflation for June 2022 to May 2023 has gone up to 8.84 percent, higher than the
budgetary target of 5.6 percent.
• The increase in inflation is the highest since 2010-11 when it was reported to be 10.11 percent.
Israel tests first autonomous flying taxi
• Israel has begun testing autonomous drones for public transportation.
• The drones are part of Israel's National Drone Initiative to ease traffic congestion.
• Autonomous Electric Vertical Takeoff & Landing (eVTOL) aircraft are being tested.

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• It aims to bypass traffic jams and ease congestion.

• The initiative is a partnership between govt entities and the country's Civil Aviation Authority.
Iran to reopen its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia
• Iran said it would reopen its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia, on June 6, restoring diplomatic
ties after a seven-year rift.
• In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to establish diplomatic ties representing a major
breakthrough in the region.
• Its consulate general in Jeddah and the office of the permanent representative to the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation would officially reopen
UAE to host world's largest conservation conference in 2025
• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has won the bid to host the 2025 World Conservation Congress
(WCC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• The WCC is the world's largest and most important gathering of conservationists, and it is
expected to draw more than 10,000 delegates from over 160 countries.
• The 2025 WCC will be held in Abu Dhabi from October 10-21, 2025.
Latvian Parliament elects Edgars Rinkevics as new president
• Edgars Rinkevics, Latvia's foreign minister since 2011, has been elected as the country's new
president.
• In 2014, he announced that he is “proudly” homosexual, will be the first openly gay president in
the Baltic nations
• Latvia declared independence in 1918 but was later occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940.
• It regained independence in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
UAE Withdraws from United States Led Maritime Coalition
• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced its withdrawal from a maritime coalition led by
the United States.
• The decision comes after a thorough assessment of its security requirements, according to the
UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• UAE pulled out of the Combined Maritime Forces two months ago as part of its ongoing
evaluation of effective security cooperation with all partners.
Dubai Successfully Trials Medication Delivery via Drones
• Dubai has achieved a significant milestone in healthcare innovation with the successful trial of
medication delivery via drones.
• It was conducted at Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) in partnership with Fakeeh University Hospital.
• The drone delivery system incorporates advanced features such as collision avoidance
technology and real-time monitoring, ensuring secure transportation of medication.
Canada: first country to put health warnings on individual cigarettes

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• Canada has become the first country in the world to stipulate that individual cigarettes carry
mandatory health warnings.
• While packets carry such warnings of the risks associated with smoking, the Canadian
Government is taking this measure to ensure that it becomes virtually impossible to avoid health
warnings altogether.
• These regulations will come into effect on August 1 this year.

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MoU and Agreements Current Affairs

Gujarat govt, Micron sign MoU for semiconductor plant at Sanand
• Micron Technology signed an MoU with the Gujarat government to set up a semiconductor unit
in Sanand near Ahmedabad.
• The facility will create 5,000 direct jobs and will focus on transforming wafers into Ball Grid Array
(BGA)-integrated circuit packages, memory modules and solid-state drives.
• This is the second MoU signed by the Gujarat government with a semiconductor manufacturer.
L&T Tech Services partners with BSNL for private 5G network deployment
• IT company L&T Technology Services said it has partnered with state-owned Bharat Sanchar
Nigam Limited (BSNL) to deploy a private 5G network for enterprise customers.
• According to the agreement framework signed by both companies, the spectrum will be provided
by BSNL using both PLMN (public land mobile network) and isolated allotment.
Govt signs MoU with Pixxel Space to deploy pathfinder satellites
• The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has signed an MoU with Pixxel Space India to
enhance India's agriculture ecosystem.
• The project aims to leverage hyperspectral data from Pixxel's pathfinder satellites to develop crop
mapping and soil organic carbon assessments.
• Hyperspectral remote sensing technology offers unique indices to monitor and assess the health
of crops and soils.
PM Modi, Egypt's El-Sisi sign pact to elevate ties to Strategic level
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo to discuss
ways to deepen the relationship between the two countries.
• An agreement was signed to elevate the bilateral partnership to a "strategic partnership", along
with three MoUs in the fields of agriculture, archaeology, and antiquities.
• The visit is aimed to strengthen India's ties with Egypt.
IOB signs MoU with the Tamil Nadu State Rural Livelihood Mission
• Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil
Nadu State Rural Livelihood Mission (TNSRLM) to foster the growth of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in
the State.
• Under the MoU, TNSRLM will facilitate eligible SHGs for credit linkage with IOB.
• The MoU aims to provide financial resources for SHGs, enabling them to undertake
entrepreneurial activities.
India, Belgium sign pact for legal aid in criminal probes
• India and Belgium signed Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) in criminal matters.
• The treaties obligate both countries to execute each other's search warrants and summons
against fugitives.

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• Section 105 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) specifies that a search warrant may be
issued by a Court in India in duplicate to the Court, Judge, or Magistrate in Belgium.
Paytm signs MoU with Arunachal Pradesh for creating startup ecosystem
• Paytm Payment Services Limited (PPSL) has signed an MoU with the Arunachal Pradesh govt to
establish a thriving startup ecosystem for the youth in the state.
• The partnership aims to nurture entrepreneurship and encourage young business ventures during
their early stages.
• As per the MoU, the Paytm Incubation Center will extend its products to early-stage startups at a
discounted price.
India collaborates with USAID to reduce carbon emission in railways
• Indian Railways has signed an MoU with USAID/India for collaboration on renewable energy and
energy efficiency.
• USAID will provide technical assistance and support to Indian Railways including long-term
energy planning.
• USAID will also support renewable procurement and promotion of e-mobility.
• The collaboration aims to help Indian Railways achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2030.
Department of Justice partners with NALSA & CSC
• The Department of Justice (DOJ) has partnered with National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)
and CSC e-Governance Service India Limited for mainstreaming legal aid to the marginalised
communities through the system of TeleLaw.
• The TeleLaw services will be provided through the lawyers engaged by the Common Services
Centers (CSCs).
US Chip giant Micron to set up semiconductor assembly Gujarat
• Micron, an American chipmaker, will invest $825 million to build a Chip Assembly and Testing
Facility in Gujarat.
• The combined investment by Micron, the Centre, and Gujarat government will amount to $2.75
billion.
• The new assembly and test facility is expected to begin construction in 2023.
• The govt will provide production-linked incentives worth ₹ 11,000 cr for the semiconductor plant.

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National Current Affairs

All panchayats to be declared UPI-enabled on August 15: Centre
• All panchayats across India will be declared UPI-enabled on Independence Day, August 15, 2023.
• The Panchayati Raj Ministry has written to all states and UT's asking them to "announce and
inaugurate" the UPI-compliant panchayats in the presence of prominent dignitaries.
• The move will promote digital payments in rural India, making it easier for panchayats to carry
out their operations.
India’s first ‘Police Drone Unit’ launched in Chennai
• The Greater Chennai Police has launched India's first police drone unit.
• The unit consists of six drones that will be used for a variety of purposes, including:
o Traffic management
o Rescue operations
o Monitoring of law and order situations
o Surveillance of criminal activities
o Disaster management
• The drones are equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging sensors
Aadhaar based face authentication cross all time high in May 2023
• Monthly Aadhaar-based face authentication transactions reached an all-time high of 10.6 million
in May 2023.
• The number of face authentication transactions has been growing and increased by 38%
compared to January 2023.
• Face authentication is being used for various purposes such as registering beneficiaries, marking
staff attendance, and opening bank accounts.
Cabinet approves highest ever FRP for Sugarcane Farmers
• The Union Cabinet has approved the fair and remunerative price of 315 rupees per quintal for
sugarcane farmers for the season 2023-24.
• The move will benefit five crore sugarcane farmers and their dependents.
• The government has also decided to bring the National Research Foundation(NRF) Bill, 2023 to
strengthen the research ecosystem in the country.
NDMC renames Aurangzeb Lane as Abdul Kalam Lane
• Aurangzeb Lane in Delhi has been renamed as Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Lane, said the New Delhi
Municipal Council(NDMC) Vice Chairman Satish Upadhyay.
• The NDMC on Wednesday confirmed the renaming of Aurangzeb Lane in Lutyens' Delhi. Earlier,
in August 2015 the NDMC changed the name of Aurangzeb Road to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road.
DRDO organizes ‘Anusandhaan Chintan Shivir’ 2023
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), on 28 June 2023, organized an
‘Anusandhaan Chintan Shivir’ with an aim to encourage military research and development.

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• A list of 75 technology priority areas and ‘DRDO Technology Foresight 2023’ were also released
on the occasion.
• The list of 75 technology priority areas is further divided into 403 technological categories.
Union Min Pralhad Joshi unveils list of "Critical Minerals for India"
• Union Minister Pralhad Joshi unveiled India's first-ever report on "Critical Minerals for India".
• The report was prepared by an expert team constituted by the Ministry of Mines.
• 30 critical minerals have been identified in the report.
• India has become the newest partner in the coveted Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) to bolster
critical mineral supply chains.
Union Minister Parshottam Rupala launches “Report Fish Disease” app
• The Indian Minister of Fisheries launched an app named "Report Fish Disease" to meet national
and international obligations through transparent reporting.
• The app was developed by ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Lucknow
and launched under the National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases.
• The app will be a central platform for connecting fish farmers.
PM Narendra Modi chairs 42nd PRAGATI interaction
• PM Narendra Modi chaired the 42nd edition of PRAGATI, a platform for proactive governance,
reviewing 12 key projects across various ministries and states.
• The projects discussed in the meeting had a worth of Rs. 121300 crore & covered sectors like
health, railways, roads, steel, and petroleum.
• The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare had the highest number of projects reviewed in the
meeting.
Power Ministry decides to benchmark prices of biomass pellets
• Ministry of Power has decided to benchmark the prices of biomass pellets used for co-firing in
Thermal Power Plants
• The decision comes in view of evolving market conditions for biomass pellets and requests
received from stakeholders including thermal power plants, pellet manufacturers, farmers, and
bankers
• The Ministry said the benchmarked price shall take into account the business viability
Cabinet approves Introduction of National Research Foundation Bill
• The approved Bill will pave the way to establish NRF that will seed, grow and promote Research
and Development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s
universities.
• The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will be the administrative Department of NRF
which will be governed by a Governing Board consisting of eminent researchers and professionals.
India to commence two-day Startup20 summit from 3 July in Gurugram
• India is going to host a two-day Startup20 Shikhar summit in Gurugram from 3 July.

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• The summit will mark the release of the final Policy Communiqué.
• The Policy Communiqué aims to foster an inclusive startup ecosystem and cross-border
collaboration.
• The summit will host a large Startup Conclave where startups can showcase their products and
services.
Sarbananda Sonowal launches New CSR guidelines ‘Sagar Samajik Sahayog'
• The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal
launched ‘Sagar Samajik Sahayyog’ - the new guidelines of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.
• The renewed guidelines for CSR activities allow ports to initiate, undertake and expedite projects
for community welfare through a framework.
Narayan Rane launches CHAMPIONS 2.0 Portal for Geo-tagging of projects
• The Union Minister for Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Narayan Rane 'CHAMPIONS
2.0 Portal' and 'Mobile App for Geo-tagging of Cluster Projects and Technology Centers'.
• The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises celebrated 'Udyami Bharat-MSME Day' on
International MSME Day on 27 June 2023.
• 'MSME Idea Hackathon 3.0' for women entrepreneurs was also launched.
8th edition of world's largest Urban Cleanliness Survey begins
• The 8th edition of Swachh Survekshan 2023 - Mera Shehar, Meri Pehchan has been launched by
the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• The survey is expected to engage with 10 crore citizens making it the largest annual urban
cleanliness survey in the world.
• The Swachh Survekshan was introduced in 2016 to help cities achieve sustainable sanitation and
waste management in a competitive manner.
PM Modi flags off five Vande Bharat Express
• The five Vande Bharat Express trains which were flagged off by PM Modi are Rani Kamalapati
(Bhopal)-Jabalpur, Khajuraho-Bhopal-Indore, Madgaon (Goa)-Mumbai , Dharwad-Bengaluru,
and Hatia-Patna
• The indigenously designed first-ever Vande Bharat Express connecting the two States of
Jharkhand and Bihar will bring a major boost to education, tourism, and business.
Govt launches UTPRERAK to adopt Energy Efficient Technologies
• The Ministry of Powe has set up a dedicated Centre of Excellence named Unnat Takniki
Pradarshan Kendra (UTPRERAK) to accelerate industry adoption of clean technologies.
• It will act as an exhibition cum information center and knowledge repository.
• UTPRERAK will serve as a strategic capacity-building institution and seeks to be a one-stop
solution provider for energy professionals.
Govt launches Nandi portal for granting NOC for veterinary drugs

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• Union Minister Parshottam Rupala on Monday launched a Nandi portal to timely process
applications and grant non-objection certification (NOC) for veterinary drugs and vaccines.
• The portal will streamline the regulatory approval process for veterinary products through
seamless integration with the SUGAM portal of the Central Drug Standard Control Organization
(CDSCO).
IREDA opens Paperless Business Centre at East Kidwai Nagar, New Delhi
• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has set up a state-of-the-art Business
Centre at NBCC Office Complex, East Kidwai Nagar, New Delhi.
• The new office incorporates cutting-edge technology to eliminate the use of paper.
• IREDA aims to reduce its carbon footprint, minimize waste generation, and contribute to
preservation of the environment.
World Bank grants USD 255 million loan to improve technical education
• The World Bank has approved a USD 255.5 million loan to improve technical education in India
and expand job prospects for students.
• The project will assist 275 government-run technical institutes and benefit over 350,000 students
annually for the next five years.
• The project aims to strengthen research, entrepreneurship, and innovation as well as improve
governance in technical institutions.
3rd Infrastructure Working Group Meeting to take place in Rishikesh
• The third G20 Infrastructure Working Group meeting will take place in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
from June 26 to 28, 2023.
• 63 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries, and international organizations will
participate in the meeting.
• The flagship priority of the third IWG meeting is "Financing Cities of Tomorrow: Inclusive, Resilient
and Sustainable".
Meesho, NPCI feature on TIMEs 100 Most Influential Companies 2023 list
• Meesho, NPCI, and Polygon Labs were featured in the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list
for 2023.
• Meesho is the most-downloaded shopping app in the world and caters to customers priced out
by Amazon and Walmart.
• NPCI replaced debit and credit cards and enabled e-commerce growth in India.
• NPCI accounted for 52% of India’s digital payments in 2021–22.
ITU approves Bharat 6G vision framework “IMT-2030”
• The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approved the 6G vision framework "IMT-2030"
at its meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland.
• India released its 'Bharat 6G Vision document in March 2023, which recommended opening up
more spectrum across low, mid, and mmWave bands.

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• The newly approved 6G standard now includes six key usage scenarios compared to only three
usage scenarios in 5G.
Amit Shah lays foundation stone of 'Balidaan Stambh' in Srinagar
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the construction of the 'Balidan Stambh' in Srinagar,
Jammu and Kashmir.
• The 'Balidan Stambh' is a part of the Srinagar Smart City project and serves as a tribute to martyrs
who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
• Amit Shah also laid the foundation stone for Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) during
his visit.
Lloyds Banking Group Establishes Tech Centre in Hyderabad, India
• Lloyds Banking Group has announced its plans to establish a technology center in Hyderabad,
India.
• The center aims to enhance the group's digital capabilities and will be operational by the end of
2023.
• Lloyds Banking Group intends to hire 600 professionals for this new venture.
• The investment in Hyderabad's tech center reflects India's emergence as a tech innovation
powerhouse.
Vitasta Mahotsav Celebrated in Jammu & Kashmir
• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah addresses the Vitasta
Mahotsav organized by the Ministry of Culture as the chief guest in Srinagar.
• The objective of Vitasta Mahotsav is to acquaint the whole country with the great cultural
heritage, diversity and uniqueness of Kashmir.
• The festival focuses on the folk beliefs associated with the Vitasta (Jhelum) river.
Minister of Steel inaugurates Silica Reduction Plant Project at SAIL
• Union Minister for Steel and Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, inaugurated the Silica
Reduction Plant at Steel Authority of India Limited's (SAIL) Bhilai Steel Plant's Dalli Mines.
• India ranks second in the world in the field of steel production and overtook Japan as the world's
2nd largest producer in 2018. India also ranks 1st in the world in sponge iron production
IIT-Madras proposes sports quota with aim to boost diversity
• The IIT Madras has proposed a sports quota in IITs with an aim to boost diversity in the country’s
premier engineering institutions and to provide an opportunity to students performing well in the
field of sport at state, national and international levels.
• Currently, the IITs don’t have a sports quota. Many of the country’s premium universities, including
Delhi University, do.
Central govt amends electricity rules, introduces ToD tariff

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• The Government of India has passed an amendment to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules,
2020, to introduce the Time of Day (ToD) Tariff system and rationalization of smart metering
provisions.
• ToD Tariff system charges consumers for electricity based on the time of day they use it.
• ToD tariff will be applicable for Commercial and Industrial consumers having Maximum demand
of 10 KW.
Amit Shah launches 84 development projects worth Rs 586 cr in Srinagar
• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, inaugurated and laid the
foundation stone of 84 development projects of about Rs. 586 crores in Srinagar.
• Over 1.88 Crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir in 2022, which is the biggest figure since
independence.
• The government is providing Rs. 6,000 every year in the bank accounts of over 12.45 lakh farmers
of Jammu and Kashmir.
Narendra Tomar launches PM Kisan Mobile App with Face Authentication
• The PM-Kisan Mobile App with Face Authentication Feature was launched by Union Agriculture
and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.
• The app allows farmers to complete e-KYC remotely, sitting at home easily by scanning faces
without OTP, and helped 100 other farmers to do e-KYC at home.
• The Government of India has extended the ability of farmers to perform e-KYC.
BIS Introduces Standard IS 18267: 2023 for Agri By-Product Utensils
• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published IS 18267: 2023 "Food Serving Utensils Made
from Agri By-Products – Specification," aimed at reducing plastic pollution and promoting
sustainability.
• The standard provides comprehensive guidelines to manufacturers in quality requirements across
the country.
• The standard also covers various aspects of the production of biodegradable utensils.
Digi Yatra app user base crosses the one million mark
• The number of passengers who have installed the Digi Yatra application has crossed one million
on 22 June 2023.
• Since its inauguration by Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia on 1st
December 2022, 1.746 million people have used this facility.
• Digi Yatra is an initiative of the govt for a biometric boarding system using Facial verification
Technology.
TRIFED collaborates with Ayush Ministry to supply 34,000 yoga mats
• Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd, has collaborated with
Ministry of Ayush to supply 34,000 yoga mats.
• This initiative not only bolsters the economic prospects of tribal communities but also ensures the
preservation and promotion of their unique artistic traditions.

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Coal Ministry begins star rating process for coal & lignite mines
• The Ministry of Coal has announced the commencement of the Star Rating registration process
for coal & lignite mines for the financial year 2022-23.
• The Rating policy aims to evaluate mines based on various factors across seven key parameters
namely, Mining Operations, Worker-related Compliance, and Safety & security.
• The evaluation will be conducted by the Coal Controller's Organization.
North India's first Skin Bank inaugurated at Safdarjung Hospital
• North India's first Skin Bank has been inaugurated at New Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital.
• It is a bank where deceased donors can donate their skin which will be helpful in treating burns.
• The skin can be donated within six hours of death and utilized for burns and trauma patients after
processing.
Guardian recognized as India's Best Companies to Work for 2023
• Gurugram (Haryana) [India], June 21: Guardian India Operations Private Limited, a subsidiary of
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America@ (Guardian).
• The has been recognized as one of 'India's Best Companies to Work For 2023' - Top 100 by the
Great Place to Work@ Institute, India.
Guinness World Record set in Surat as 1.53 lakh people participates
• The Yoga Day event organised in Surat city of Gujarat has set a new Guinness World Record for
the largest gathering for a yoga session at one place with 1.53 lakh people joining the program.
• The previous world record was set in 2018 in Kota city of Rajasthan when 1,00,984 people
participated in a Yoga Day session in one place.
DCGI grants Emergency Use Authorization to Gennova's covid booster
• The Drug Control General of India (DCGI) has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to an
Omicron-specific booster vaccine called GEMCOVAC-OM.
• The vaccine is mRNA-based and developed by Gennova Biopharmaceuticals using an indigenous
technology under Mission COVID Suraksha.
• GEMCOVAC-OM is a thermostable vaccine that does not require ultra-cold chain infrastructure
for deployment pan India.
NHAI launches ‘Knowledge Sharing Platform’ for development of Highways
• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched a 'Knowledge Sharing' platform to
share knowledge and insights related to road design, construction, and related fields.
• The platform encourages sharing of best practices from around the world that can be uploaded
on the platform.
• The platform will help NHAI to collaborate with experts who want to share knowledge and
insights.
ECI publishes draft delimitation proposal for Assam

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• The Election Commission of India has published a draft proposal for the delimitation of Assembly
& Parliamentary Constituencies for Assam.
• All Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies in the State are to be delimited on the basis of
the 2001 Census.
• The number of seats in the Legislative Assembly and the House of People in the State of Assam
has been retained as 126 and 14 respectively.
Cabinet approves Micron's $2.7 bn semiconductor packaging plant
• The Indian cabinet has approved Micron Technology's investment of $2.7 billion to set up a
semiconductor testing and packaging unit in Gujarat.
• The government will provide production-linked incentives worth ₹ 11,000 crore ($1.34 billion) for
the semiconductor plant.
• Micron's Assembly Testing Marking and Packaging will be built in Sanand, Gujarat.
Vice-President to be Chief Guest at International Day of Yoga, 2023
• Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar will be the Chief Guest at the International Day of Yoga (IDY 2023)
celebrations in Jabalpur on 21st June 2023
• He will address the gathering and later lead the mass yoga demonstration at the venue. The
motto for IDY 2023 is “Yoga for ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’”
• It has been 9 years since the UN recognized June 21 as the International Day of Yoga through a
resolution in 2014
Bihar to host two days G-20 Labour Engagement summit
• In Bihar, the capital city Patna is all set to host two days G-20 Labour Engagement summit on the
22nd and 23rd of June.
• The Arts and Culture Department of the State is the nodal agency for this mega event, which will
witness the participation of around 180 delegates of G20 member countries.
• The delegates will attend the Yoga session at Patna.
Indigo, Vistara get DGCA approval for two international routes
• Indigo and Vistara airlines have received approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation
to operate new routes.
• Indigo will operate the Delhi-Tbilisi (Georgia) route starting on August 7, 2023, and Vistara will
operate the Delhi-Bali route starting on August 1, 2023.
• In May 2023, 132.14 lakh passengers were carried by Indian domestic airlines, representing annual
growth of 36.10%.
PM in his Mann Ki Baat mentioned Miyawaki Method
• Miyawaki is a method created by a Japanese botanist named Akira Miyawaki.
• It helps forests grow quickly and become thick and natural.
• The process involves improving the soil by covering it with mulch, which also helps prevent
dryness, erosion, and weed growth.
• Native trees are then identified and planted in the area.

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Unique space telescope designed by Pune scientists

• The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT), a unique space telescope developed by Pune’s
Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA).
• The telescope is set to be integrated with the ADITYA-L1 mission, expected to be launched in mid-
August this year.
• ADITYA-L1 will be ISRO’s first space observatory dedicated to studying the Sun.
National Working Plan Code-2023 released
• National Working Plan Code-2023 released for scientific management of forests and evolving
new approaches, during the occasion of the ‘World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought’
organized by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) in Dehradun on 17th
June 2023.
• National Working Plan Code which was first adopted in 2004 with a subsequent amendment in
2014.
GoI-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-27
• NITI Aayog & UN in India signed the Government of India-United Nations Sustainable
Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027.
• Framework is 5-year agreement that will guide the cooperation between the GOI & the UN system
in India.
• The framework focuses on four pillars: People, Prosperity, Planet, and Participation.
Civil Aviation sector records 36% growth during January to May, 2023
• The civil aviation sector in India recorded a growth of 36% during January-May 2023, compared
to the same period in 2022.
• The number of passengers carried during the period increased to 79.8 million, from 58.9 million in
2022.
• The domestic passenger traffic grew by 37.7%, while international passenger traffic grew by
33.2%.
• The cargo traffic also grew by 13.2% during the period.
Ministry of Education to host G20 4th Education Working Group meeting
• The Ministry of Education will host the G20 4th Education Working Group meeting in Pune.
• The theme of the meeting is "Education for Sustainable Development"
• The meeting will discuss a range of issues related to education for sustainable development,
including climate change, gender equality, and digital skills.
Om Birla inaugurates National Legislators' Conference Bharat in Mumbai
• The National Legislators' Conference Bharat was officially inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker
Om Birla in Mumbai on 16 June 2023.
• The APJ Abdul Kalam expo pavilion was also inaugurated on the theme of Bharat's 75th year of
independence and celebrating the spirit of democracy.

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• The conference gives a platform to engage in discussions and contemplate strengthening the
legislative institutions.
NHAI releases guidelines to address accident-prone spots
• In an effort to enhance road safety, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on 16 June
2023 introduced guidelines for rectifying accident-prone spots on the national highways by
implementing short-term measures.
• Short-term measures include the installation of pedestrian facilities such as zebra crossings, crash
barriers, railings, and the implementation of traffic calming measures.
Heavy Industries minister launches "Dugdh Sankalan Sathi Mobile App"
• Union Minister of Heavy Industries Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey unveiled the "Dugdh Sanakalan
Sathi Mobile App" on 16 June 2023 at Mussoorie, Uttarakhand.
• The app was designed and developed by Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments Limited (REIL),
Jaipur.
• The app aims to improve the quality of milk and streamline operations at the grassroots village
level.
PM addresses G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Meet
• PM Narendra Modi addressed the G20 Agriculture Ministers' Meet on 16 June 2023.
• He highlighted the importance of agriculture and its role in providing livelihoods for over 2.5 billion
people globally.
• Over 200 delegates from G20 member countries and International Organizations attended the
event.
• The Meeting aims to discuss important issues related to agriculture and food security.
2-day Science-20 conference under G-20 begins in Bhopal
• The two-day Science-20 conference under the G-20 Presidency of India began in Bhopal.
• The theme of the conference is "Connecting Science to Society and Culture".
• The conference is being presided over by Professor Ashutosh Sharma, President of the Indian
National Science Academy.
• The conference is being attended by representatives of the G-20 countries and international
organizations.
Centre renames Nehru Memorial Museum and Library
• The Centre recently decided to rename Nehru Memorial Museum and Library as Prime Ministers'
Museum and Library Society.
• This came after a special meeting of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society, which
resolved to change its name to the Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society
• The Special Meeting was presided by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who is also the VP of the
Society
IIT-Madras launches electronic systems programme for manufacturing sec

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• IIT-Madras announced the launching of a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Electronic Systems program
to meet the fast-emerging demands of the indigenous electronics industry.
• The course is designed keeping in mind the industry-specific requirements and skill sets.
• The curriculum is designed in consultation with industry experts.
• The application closes on June 25, 2023, officials said.
Justice Clocks Installed Across the Court Complexes of High Courts
• Electronic signage systems known as Justice Clocks have been across the court complexes of
High Courts.
• The initiative will inform stakeholders about court-related key parameters and bring awareness
among public by providing bird eye view of court-related data,
Indian Navy launches 'Julley Ladakh' initiative to engage with youths
• The Indian Navy launched an outreach program called "Julley Ladakh" (Hello Ladakh) to raise
awareness about the naval service in the Himalayan region.
• It aims to celebrate 75 years of India's independence and highlight career opportunities in the
Indian Navy.
• The program also aims to motivate youngsters to join the naval service and showcase 'women's
power' by including women officers.
Women 20 Summit commences at Mahabalipuram
• The third and final working group on W-20 began at Mahabalipuram near Chennai.
• The first session was on the road to achieving sustainable development goals, the intersection
between women's health gender equality social and economic development.
• Dr. Mabel Bianco from Argentina said that women's health should be considered important, and
gender empowerment should be taken along with it.
3rd meeting of G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) concludes
• The third meeting of the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) concluded in Pune on 14
June 2023.
• The meeting included the Global Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Summit which was attended
by over 250 delegates.
• India signed MoU with four countries on sharing INDIA STACK, successful digital solutions
implemented at a population scale.
Hyderabad to host G20 Agriculture Ministerial meeting from June 15
• The Agriculture Working Group (AWG) will hold its Ministerial Meeting in Hyderabad from 15-17
June 2023.
• Over 200 delegates from G20 member countries, invited countries, and International
Organizations will attend the event.
• The AWG Ministerial Meeting aims to discuss important issues related to agriculture and food
security and find ways to ensure sustainable development in this sector.

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W20 summit to begin at Mahabalipuram near Chennai

• The W20 summit will begin at Mahabalipuram near Chennai.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually address the inaugural session.
• Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani will deliver the keynote address.
• The summit with a theme of women-led development to transform, thrive and transcend will be
moderated by Dharitri Patnaik, the W 20 chief Coordinator.
G20 Tourism Ministers meeting to be held in Goa from 19th June
• The 4th Tourism Working Group Meeting under India's G20 presidency and G20 Tourism Ministers
meeting will be held in Goa from 19th June to 22nd June.
• A side event on making Cruise Tourism a model for sustainable and responsible travel will be
organized on 19th June.
• The Secretary said various cultural programs will be organized to highlight and showcase the rich
cultural heritage of Goa.
Centre to complete 3D digitisation of museums by year-end
• This includes the Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, Allahabad Museum in Prayagraj, Indian
Museum, Kolkata, Victoria Memorial Hall, National Museum, and the National Gallery of Modern
Art
• The digitization process involves 3D scanning which means analyzing real-world objects or
environments to collect 3D data on their shape,appearance
• The collected data is then used to construct a digital 3D model
Guwahati Railway Station achieves 'Eat Right Station' certification
• Guwahati Railway Station has been awarded the 'Eat Right Station' certification by FSSAI for
providing high-quality, nutritious food to passengers.
• This certification is granted to railway stations adhering to standard food storage and hygiene
practices.
• The station is the first railway station in Northeast Frontier Railway to get this status.
Centre introduces 'Y-Break-Yoga at office chair' for stress relief
• The Indian government has directed all central government ministries and departments to
encourage a brief Yoga practice for employees at the workplace.
• The Yoga Break (Y-Break) protocol was introduced by the Ministry of AYUSH to help professionals
relieve stress, and improve focus.
• The protocol includes a series of light practices that can be easily incorporated into a short break
from work.
IDC approves first indigenous animal tissue for skin wound healing
• Indian Drugs Controller approves indigenous animal tissue scaffold for scar-free skin wound
healing.

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• Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) developed the first
indigenously developed tissue scaffold from mammalian organs.
• The scaffold is an animal-derived Class D Biomedical Device that can rapidly heal skin wounds
at low-cost with minimum scarring.
GSITI Hyderabad gets accredited as “Athi Uttam”
• The Geological Survey of India Training Institute (GSITI), Hyderabad has been awarded
accreditation with the grading of Athi Uttam.
• It was awarded by the National Accreditation Board of Education and Training (NABET) for its
high standards in earth science training.
• GSITI provides domain-specific and terrain-specific training programmes.
Delhi University to introduce Centre for Hindu Studies from 2023-24
• The center will focus on various facets of the Hindu civilization, its multiple dynamics, history, and
philosophy.
• This course aims to involve all the stakeholders, including the enrolled students of the program,
to think critically and evolve a Bharat-centric perspective beyond theoretical explanation
• The official said the new course will ensure of knowledge system in line with the NEP 2020
Education Ministry to host 4th EdWG Meeting in Pune from 19 June
• The Education Ministry will host the 4th and final Education Working Group (EdWG) Meeting
under India's G20 presidency in Pune from the 19th to the 21st June.
• The theme of the Meeting is “Ensuring Foundation Literacy and Numeracy, especially in the
context of blended learning”.
• The Meeting will culminate with the Education Ministerial meeting on the 22nd of June.
India's 1st Twin-Track Undersea Rail Tunnel To Be Built in Thane Creek
• Work to build India's 1st 7-km-long twin-track undersea rail tunnel in Thane Creek is seeing
progress with the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited signing a contract with Afcons
Infrastructure Limited
• As many as three tunnel boring machines will be used to build a nearly 16 km stretch of the tunnel,
while the remaining 5 km will be constructed using the new Austrian tunneling method
PM appreciates ‘Nutri Garden Project’ in Lakshadweep
• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has appreciated ‘Nutri Garden Project’ in Lakshadweep
• The project was launched as a result of the development objective of self-reliant India in which
vegetable seeds have been provided to 1000 farmers
• 7000 chickens of indigenous breeds were distributed to the women of Lakshadweep families with
incomes less than Rs.600 under the Backyard Poultry Scheme
PM to inaugurate the first-ever National Training Conclave
• Representatives from civil services training institutes across the country will participate in the
Conclave

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• Conclave to foster collaboration among training institutes and help strengthen the training
infrastructure for civil servants across the country
• ‘Mission Karmayogi’ was launched to prepare a future-ready civil service with the right attitude,
skills, and knowledge.
GeM to organize District level Buyer-Seller workshops in Uttar Pradesh
• Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is holding Buyer-Seller Workshops in all 75 districts of Uttar
Pradesh from 12 June until August 31, 2023.
• The workshops aim to enhance understanding of GeM's functionalities and provide a platform to
address any queries or concerns.
• Participants will receive comprehensive training on GeM's features, registration processes, and
online procurement.
The SAI20 Engagement Group of G20 meet to begin on 12 June
• The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) of India is the Chair of the Supreme Audit
Institutions-20 (SAI20) Engagement Group under India's G20 Presidency.
• The SAI20 Summit will take place from June 12th to June 14th, 2023 in the state of Goa.
• The summit will focus on fostering accountability in governance and strategically partnering with
governments to respond to global challenges.
Three-day G-20 Development Ministers meet begin in Varanasi
• The G20 Development Ministers' meeting began on 11 June 2023 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh,
chaired by the Union Minister of External Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar.
• The meeting will continue till 13th June and around 200 delegates are taking part in the summit.
• The state government has decided to gift GI-tagged Gulabi Meenakari handicrafts to the visiting
delegates from G20 nations.
HPCL launches Pilot Study on E27 Fuel & Ethanol Blended Diesel Fuel
• Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has successful launched pilot study on vehicles
using E27 fuel and Ethanol Blended Diesel Fuel.
• HPCL has become the first Oil Marketing Company in India to initiate such a comprehensive
research program.
• HPCL successfully launched E20 fuel on February 6th, 2023, at 23 retail outlets (ROs) across the
country.
National Archives of India organizes "Hamari Bhasha, Hamari Virasat"
• An exhibition titled "Hamari Bhasha, Hamari Virasat" was inaugurated by Minister of State for
Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi, at the National Archives of India.
• The exhibition celebrates India's linguistic diversity and showcases a selection of original
manuscripts, and rare books.
• The Gilgit Manuscripts, the oldest surviving manuscript collection in India, are also on display at
the exhibition.

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Coal Ministry organizes Seminar on “Blue Hydrogen-Energy Security"

• The Ministry of Coal organized a session on "Blue Hydrogen-Energy Security & Hydrogen
Economy" to deliberate on technologies available for coal to hydrogen, and cost competitiveness.
• The discussion focused on exploring the potential applications of hydrogen in scaling Direct
Reduced Iron projects.
• The session also discussed the potential of hydrogen in decarbonizing steel making processes.
CGHS Wellness Centres inaugurated in Chandigarh and Panchkula
• Dr Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated CGHS Wellness Centres in Chandigarh and Panchkula
• It will provide accessible and quality healthcare to every citizen of India as it is a priority for the
Government.
• Coverage of CGHS cities has expanded from 25 cities in 2014 to 80 in 2023
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launches ‘SAGAR SAMRIDDHI’
• Sarbananda Sonowal launched ‘SAGAR SAMRIDDHI’ - the online dredging monitoring system - in
order to accelerate the ‘Waste to Wealth’ initiative of the Ministry
• This system has been developed by the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways, and
Coasts the technological arm of MoPSW
• The new technology brings in marked improvement against the old system Draft & Loading
Monitor system
IGI Airport introduces 'DigiYatra' registration process for passengers
• Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) Airport has introduced the 'DigiYatra' facility for
passengers.
• The initiative launched at Terminal-3 of IGI Airport is a three-step registration process.
• Passengers can use the facility seamlessly, inside the terminal, security check area, and at the
boarding gates.
• DigiYatra is a faster, safer, and smoother way of travel.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal chairs 6th meeting of NTTM
• The 6th Mission Steering Group meeting of the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) was
chaired by Piyush Goyal in New Delhi.
• It aims to catalyze research and innovation in Technical Textiles in India.
• Technical Textiles are designed for their functionality rather than their aesthetic qualities.
• Carbon Fibre is a material that is commonly used in technical textiles.
Miss World 2023 pageant to be held in India after 27 years
• Miss World will be hosted in India in November 2023, after 27 years since the last time it was held
in the country in 1996.
• The event will feature contestants from over 130 countries.
• India has won the Miss World title six times in the past, with Reita Faria being the first Indian
woman to win the title in 1966.

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India has become 2nd large largest producer of crude steel

• Union Minister of Steel Jyotiraditya Scindia has said that India's steel industry has achieved
remarkable growth in the last nine years and has now become the second-largest producer of
crude steel in the world surpassing Japan in 2018.
• He said the country's steel production capacity has also gone up from 109 million tonnes in 2013-
14 to 160 million tonnes at present.
Union Cabinet approves third revival package for BSNL
• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the 3rd revival package for BSNL
with a total outlay of Rs 89047 cr.
• The package includes an allotment of 4G/5G spectrum for BSNL through equity infusion and an
increase in authorized capital.
• With this revival package, BSNL aims to provide connectivity to the remotest parts of India and
emerge as a stable telecom service provider.
Union Min Parshottam Rupala to start VII Phase of Sagar Parikarma
• Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, will start the VII
phase of "Sagar Parikrama" on 8 June 2023.
• Sagar Parikrama Phase-VII shall cover the coastal areas of Kerala and UT Administration of
Lakshadweep.
• The journey of the first phase of Sagar Parikrama started from Mandvi, Gujarat, on 5th March
2022.
8th Meeting of Standing Committee of ISO held in New Delhi
• The eighth meeting of the Standing Committee of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was held
in New Delhi on June 6, 2023.
• Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy R. K. Singh chaired the meeting.
• The ISA discussed various initiatives such as ISA Demonstration Projects and ISA SolarX Startup
Challenge.
• The ISA is an international organization with 93 Member countries.
Govt launches Nyaya Vikas Portal for Monitoring of Judiciary scheme
• The Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice
for Judicial Infrastructure has developed the Nyaya Vikas Portal, to facilitate better delivery of
judicial infrastructural projects.
• It aims to improve the justice delivery system in the country by providing real-time information on
the progress of infrastructure development projects.
Meta and Ministry of Women launch new Campaign 'Naye Bharat Ke Sapne'
• The Amrit Generation campaign was launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
and Meta India to empower and engage the youth of India.

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• The initiative aims to capture the imagination of young people, providing them with the support
they need to realize their dreams.
• Fifty entries will be selected and invited to New Delhi to interact with policymakers and industry
leaders.
NCPCR launches National Campaign “Addiction Free Amrit Kaal"
• The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) launched the "Addiction Free
Amrit Kaal" campaign to promote a healthier & addiction-free India.
• The campaign is organized by the NCPCR in partnership with Tobacco Free India, a citizens
group.
• The campaign aims to protect children's rights to have a tobacco and drug-free environment
through initiatives, and outreach activities.
Govt will launch a Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research, MAHIR
• Government is launching Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research, MAHIR, to quickly
identify emerging technologies in the power sector and develop them indigenously for
deployment.
• The Mission will be funded by pooling financial resources of the Ministry of Power, Ministry of New
and Renewable Energy, and various Central Public Sector Enterprises under the two Ministries.
PM Modi will be first Indian PM to address US Congress twice
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is honored to accept the invitation and looks forward to
addressing a joint meeting of the US Congress on June 22.
• The United States Congress recently invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a joint
meeting of the House of Representatives and Senate during his visit to the country on June 22
• Earlier he has delivered his speech in 2016.
Centre allows 2,000 agri credit societies to open Jan Aushadhi stores
• The Central government has granted permission to 2,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
(PACS) to open Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
• It aims to increase access to affordable medicines across the country.
• Over 9,400 PM Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras have been set up throughout the country.
• The application fee for opening a Jan Aushadhi Kendra is set at Rs. 5000.
Bharat Petroleum starts pilot test of ED7 blend fuel
• BPCL has initiated a pilot program in collaboration with Ashok Leyland and Hero Mototcorp to
test the effectiveness of the ED7 fuel blend, which combines diesel with 7% ethanol.
• The ED7 fuel blend, developed by BPCL-R&D, consists of 93% diesel and 7% ethanol.
• The ED7 fuel blend showcases a reduction in pollution levels, including particulate matter and
nitrogen oxides (NOx).
AICTE to launch 'One Student One Tree Campaign 2023'

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• Union MoS Rajkumar Ranjan Singh has announced that the All India Council for Technical
Education (AICTE) will launch the "One Student One Tree Campaign 2023".
• He also released guidelines and a curriculum framework for environmental education at the
undergraduate level.
• The guidelines include areas such as climate change, pollution, waste management, and
sustainable development.
Sarbananda Sonowal flags off India’s 1st International Cruise Vessel
• The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off
India's first international cruise vessel - MV Empress from Chennai to Sri Lanka.
• The cruise service will sail to three Sri Lankan ports; viz. Hanbantota, Trincomalee, and
Kankesanturei.
• The Union Minister and port officials planted 25z00 tree saplings at the port on the occasion of
Environment Day.
Nitin Gadkari inaugurates four projects worth Rs 1450 Crore in Assam
• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated 4-Lane Section
between Nagaon Bypass-Teliagaon, and Teliagaon-Rangagara in Assam.
• The foundation for Mangaldai Bypass and the 4-lane section between Daboka-Parakhuwa in
Assam was also laid by the minister.
• The projects are worth 1450 Crores and symbolize a significant investment in the state's
infrastructure.
Bhaderwah has emerged as the Lavender capital of India
• Bhaderwah has emerged as the Lavender capital of India and Agri StartUp destination said Union
Minister Dr Jitendra Singh
• CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu has organized the event as part of its One
Week One Lab Campaign.
• Dr Jitendra Singh described Bhaderwah as the birthplace of India's Purple Revolution and the
destination of Agri-StartUps.
Third G20 Health Working Group meeting begins in Hyderabad
• The third meeting of the G20 Health Working Group (HWG) is being held from June 4 to 6.
• The meeting is aimed at discussing and finding solutions to health challenges faced by G20
countries.
• Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy inaugurated the event and affirmed the government's
commitment to universal healthcare for all by 2030.
Govt imposes stock limits on tur, urad dal till October 31
• The government on 4 May 2023, imposed stock limits on tur and urad dals held by wholesalers,
retailers, importers and millers till October 31 to prevent hoarding and check price rise.

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• According to the order, a stock limit of 200 tonnes each has been imposed on tur and urad for
wholesalers, 5 tonnes each for retailers and retail outlets, and 200 tonnes at the depot for big
chain retailers.
India's first zero-carbon village being developed in Bhiwandi
• Union Minister of State Kapil Patil announced that India’s first carbon-neutral village is being
developed in Bhiwandi Taluka of Thane district, Maharashtra.
• As many as 121 tribal villages are being developed as model villages by the union govt.
• Earlier, Palli village in Jammu had become the first carbon-neutral panchayat in the country.
Government sets up three-member panel to probe Manipur Violence
• The Centre has set up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the violence in Manipur.
• The commission will be headed by former chief justice of the Gauhati High Court Ajai Lamba.
• The commission will investigate the sequence of events leading to the violence and riots.
• The other commission members are retired IAS officer Himanshu Shekhar Das and retired IPS
officer Aloka Prabhakar.
Govt approves setting up of Regional Office of Universal Postal Union
• India has made an agreement with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) to establish a regional office
in New Delhi.
• It will provide development cooperation and technical assistance to the region.
• The decision to establish the regional office was approved by the Union Cabinet, led by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.
• It was founded under the Treaty of Bern in 1874 and has its headquarters in Bern.
Microsoft joins govt to train students, teachers in cybersecurity
• Microsoft has signed an MoU with DGT under MSDE to train 6,000 students and 200 educators
in digital and cybersecurity skills in India.
• The training will include courses in AI, cloud computing, web development, and cybersecurity skills
for students and faculty members.
• The collaboration aims to empower students with industry-relevant skills and enhance their
employability.
Nitin Gadkari inaugurates two Highway projects in Vadodara, Gujarat
• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, inaugurated two National
Highway projects in Vadodara, Gujarat on 2 May worth Rs. 48 crore.
• Solar powered street lights have been used for the first time on National Highway 48 in this
project.
• For the first time in this construction, a 3-lane service road has been constructed.
Govt releases UGC (Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2023
• The Union Minister of Education and Skill Development, Dharmendra Pradhan, released the UGC
(Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2023.

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• It will facilitate the creation of more quality-focused deemed to be universities in an objective and
transparent manner.
• Institutions with minimum 'A' grade and above in NIRF rankings are eligible to set up off-campus
centres.
PM to flag off Goa’s first Vande Bharat Express on 3rd June
• ‘Make in India’ and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Express will improve
the connectivity in the Mumbai - Goa route and provide the people of the region the means to
travel with speed and comfort.
• The train will be the 19th Vande Bharat train to run in the country.
• The train will run between Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Goa’s Madgaon
station.
Five Iron Golf opens its first venue in India
• Five Iron Golf opens its first venue in India, bringing cutting-edge virtual golf to Greater Noida.
• Five Iron Golf India provides an immersive and state-of-the-art indoor golf experience for
enthusiasts of all skill levels.
• Five Iron Golf India uses state-of-the-art Trackman technology to immerse golfers into some of
the most iconic virtual courses from around the world.
Govt launches unified registration portal for biogas projects
• The Indian government has launched a unified registration portal for biogas projects called
GOBARdhan.
• The portal will act as a one-stop repository to assess investment and participation in biogas sector
at the pan-India level.
• Any govt, or private entity operating or intending to set up a biogas, CBG, or Bio CNG plant in
India can obtain a registration number by enrolling in the portal.
French company Alstom to make 100 Vande Bharat trains
• French rail company Alstom will manufacture 100 aluminum-bodied Vande Bharat trains with
sleeper facilities, after bidding the lowest for the tender at a price of ₹150.9 crores per train.
• Two companies — Alstom and Hyderabad-based Medha Servo Drives — had participated in the
tender.
• The train is pegged to have a speed capability of 200 km per hour.
3rd Employment Working Group meeting organized at ILO headquarters
• The Indian G20 Presidency is organizing the third Employment Working Group EWG meeting at
the International Labour Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
• It is a G20 tradition since the inception of the EWG, to organize an Employment Working Group
at the side-lines of the ILO’s annual International Labour Conference in Geneva.
Central Electricity Authority notifies the National Electricity Plan

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• The Central Electricity Authority has notified the National Electricity Plan for the period of 2022-
32.
• Share of non-fossil based capacity expected to increase to 57.4% by the end of 2026-27 and
further to 68.4% by the end of 2031-32 from around 42.5% at present: NEP
• The projected capacity addition aligns with the country's goal of 500 GW of non-fossil capacity
by 2029-30.
India has set a target of achieving net zero by 2070: Rajiv Bansal
• Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Bansal said in Seoul that based upon realities and infrastructure
constraints, "India has set a target of achieving net zero by year 2070".
• The secretary of civil aviation was speaking at the Roundtable high-level discussion at
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Global Implementation Support Symposium 2023
at Seoul, South Korea.
MeitY unveils pilot project on Electronics Repair Services Outsourcing
• Union govt launched the Electronics Repair Services Outsourcing (ERSO) Pilot initiative to make
India a global electronics powerhouse and the Repair Capital of the World.
• The ERSO industry is expected to generate up to $20 billion in revenue and create millions of jobs
in India.
• It is being held in Bengaluru for 3 months, with five companies volunteering to participate.

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Appointments Current Affairs

VM Reddy assumes charge of Deputy Director General of NCC
• Air Commodore Reddy was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 1988.
• He has served in various operational and staff positions in the Air Force.
• He is a specialist in transport aircraft and has flown various types of aircraft, including the C-130J
Super Hercules and the IL-76.
• He is also an expert in air traffic control and has served as an air traffic controller.
Kerala govt appoints V Venu as Chief Secretary, Sheikh Darvesh as DGP
• The state cabinet on Tuesday approved the appointment of V Venu as the next Chief Secretary
and Sheikh Darvesh Saheb as the next state police chief.
• Venu is presently the Additional Chief Secretary of Home and Environment.
• He was in charge of the Rebuild Kerala Initiative after the floods of 2018 and 2019.
• Sheikh Darvesh Saheb was given charge of Director General, Fire, & Rescue Service.
IPS officer Ajay Bhatnagar appointed CBI Special Director
• Ajay Bhatnagar has been appointed as Special Director in the Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI).
• Bhatnagar is a 1989-batch IPS officer of the Jharkhand cadre.
• Anurag (IPS) has been appointed as Additional Director in CBI.
• Anurag is a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre.
• Manoj Sashidhar (IPS) has also been appointed as Additional Director in CBI.
Deloitte appoints former Airtel CEO Manoj Kohli as senior advisor
• Deloitte has appointed Manoj Kohli as a senior advisor to leverage his extensive business and
industry knowledge.
• Kohli has 44 years of experience across 30 countries, with expertise in technology,
telecommunications, renewables, and digital sectors.
• He played a pivotal role in expanding Softbank India's presence in India.
• Kohli was the CEO and Managing Director of Bharati Airtel.
TS Singh Deo appointed as the Chattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister
• Chhattisgarh health minister TS Singh Deo has been appointed as the state's deputy chief
minister, party general-secretary KC Venugopal announced
• Tribhuvaneshwar Saran Singh Deo, the titular Maharaja of Chhattisgarh's Surguja, was born on
October 31, 1952
• Also known as modern-day Maharaja, Deo was first elected as a member of the state's legislative
Assembly in 2008
Rohit Jawa takes charge as MD and CEO of Hindustan Unilever
• Rohit Jawa has taken charge as the Managing Director and CEO of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL)
after Sanjiv Mehta retired.

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• Jawa was appointed as an Additional Director and CEO-Designate on April 1 and became the
MD and CEO on June 26.
• Jawa had previously served as the Chief of Transformation for Unilever in London.
• He started his career with HUL as a management trainee in 1988.
RBI approved appointment of A P Hota as Federal Bank's part-time CEO
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved AP Hota as the part-time Chairman of the Federal
Bank.
• He has over 27 years of banking experience, mostly in technology and payment systems.
• He was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NPCI between 2009- 2017.
• Hota was appointed as an Independent Director of Federal Bank Limited with effect from January
15, 2018.
Italian Andrea Gaudenzi reappointed ATP chairman
• ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi has been re-elected for a second term as the head of the
organization from 2024 through 2026, the governing body of men's tennis announced.
• The ATP said under phase one, which came into effect in 2023, it had already generated the
largest single-year increase in player compensation in its history -- a $37.5 million year-on-year
increase across the ATP Tour.
Vishesh Chandiok appointed into ICAEW
• Vishesh C. Chandiok, CEO of Grant Thornton Bharat, has been appointed as the first Indian
council member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) residing
overseas.
• This recognition honors Chandiok's significant contributions to the global accounting profession.
• His appointment highlights the influence of Indian professionals in accounting and finance
globally.
DBS Bank India appoints Rajat Verma as Managing Director
• Rajat Verma has been appointed as the MD and head of institutional banking at DBS Bank India.
• He will be succeeding Niraj Mittal in his new role.
• Mittal will be taking up a new role as country head of DBS Bank in Australia.
• DBS ranks among the largest foreign banks in India.
• DBS Bank Limited is a Singaporean multinational banking and financial services corporation
Ruby Sinha appointed president of BRICS CCI women vertical
• Ruby Sinha has been appointed as the president of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and
Industry Women’s Vertical (BRICS CCI WE) for a three-year term.
• Sinha, the founder of SheAtWork and Kommune Brand Communications, will assume the role.
• BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry is dedicated to fostering trade, commerce, and
entrepreneurship among the BRICS nations and other friendly countries.
Hasmukh Adhia appointed chairman of GIFT City

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• Former Union Finance Secretary and retired Gujarat cadre bureaucrat Hasmukh Adhia, has been
appointed as chairman of GIFT (Gujarat International Finance Tec) City.
• Adhia replaced Sudhir Mankad in GIFT City.
• Adhia was principal secretary to Narendra Modi when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.
President appoints retd Allahabad HC judge Umesh Kumar as DERC chief
• Justice (Retd) Umesh Kumar of Allahabad High Court has been appointed as the Chairperson of
the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) by President Droupadi Murmu.
• The Supreme Court had ordered directing Lt Governor of Delhi to appoint a DERC chairperson
within two weeks.
• The President of India has appointed him under the sub-section 2 of Section 84 of the Electricity
Act, 2003
Mahendra Lodha appointed interim MD & CEO of PFS
• PTC India Financial Services Ltd (PFS), on 21 June 2023, announced that Director (Finance)
Mahendra Lodha will take over the responsibilities of the MD & CEO.
• The move comes after the current MD & CEO Pawan Singh has been sent on leave.
• The PFS is an Indian non–banking financial institution promoted by PTC India (PTC) to make
principal investments across the energy value chain.
Alibaba Group says Eddie Wu to succeed Daniel Zhang as CEO
• Alibaba Group informed Eddie Yongming Wu, chairman of its Taobao and Tmall Group, would
succeed Daniel Zhang as chief executive officer.
• Mr. Zhang has since December been concurrently serving as group CEO and chairman as well as
head of its cloud unit.
• Joseph Tsai, currently executive vice chairman, will succeed Mr. Zhang as group chairman.
Senior IAS officer Amit Agrawal assumes charge as CEO of UIDAI
• Senior IAS officer Amit Agrawal assumed charge as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on 20 June 2023.
• He is an officer of the 1993 batch IAS from the Chhattisgarh cadre.
• Prior to joining UIDAI as CEO, he was an Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology (MeitY).
SBI MD Swaminathan Janakiraman appointed as RBI's deputy governor
• Union government, on 20 June 2023, appointed Swaminathan Janakiraman as a deputy governor
of the Reserve Bank of India for three years.
• Janakiraman, currently the managing director of the State Bank of India, will succeed Mahesh
Kumar Jain.
• Mahesh K. Jain was appointed deputy governor in 2018.
• RBI has three other deputy governors: T. Rabi Sankar, M. Rajeshwar Rao, and Michael Patra.
Kamal Kishore Chatiwal becomes new MD of Indraprastha Gas Ltd.

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• Kamal Kishore Chatiwal was appointed the new Managing Director of Indraprastha Gas Ltd.
(IGL).
• Sanjay Kumar was the previous Managing Director of IGL and has taken on the role of Director
(Marketing) in GAIL (India) Ltd.
• IGL provides piped natural gas (PNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) to vehicles, with over
550 CNG stations in the NCR.
• In 2020, IGL received the Greentech Safety Award.
Sumit Seth appointed India's next ambassador to Panama
• Sumit Seth, an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 2005 batch, has been appointed as India's
next ambassador to Panama.
• Sumit Seth is presently posted as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.
• Earlier, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Yangon, Myanmar.
• He was also posted at India’s Missions in Madrid, Bogota and Geneva.
IPS officer Ravi Sinha appointed RAW chief
• Senior IPS officer Ravi Sinha appointed as the new chief of India's external intelligence agency
RAW.
• Mr. Sinha, a 1988 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre,is currently
serving as Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat.
• Sinha replaces Samant Kumar Goel, who will complete his tenure on June 30, 2023.
Nusrat Jahan Choudhury, first Muslim woman to be federal judge
• The US Senate has confirmed the former American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attorney Nusrat
Jahan Choudhury as the first Muslim woman to serve as a federal judge.
• Choudhury, 46, is also the first Bangladeshi American to serve in this lifetime position.
• She will serve as a judge on the US court for the eastern district of New York.
Axis Bank appoints N S Vishwanathan as non-executive chairman
• Axis Bank has appointed former RBI Deputy Governor NS Vishwanathan as its part-time Non-
Executive Chairman for a period of 3 years.
• Vishwanathan joined the RBI in 1981 and retired in March 2020 as the Deputy Governor.
• He is also the head of the advisory board at Razorpay.
• The appointment of Vishwanathan is subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Bank and
Reserve Bank of India.
RBI approves appointment of Vasudevan P N as MD, CEO of Equitas FSB
• Equitas Small Finance Bank has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India to re-appoint
P N Vasudevan as the Managing Director and CEO of the bank for a period of three years.
• The Bank is a small finance bank that provides financial services to underserved and unserved
segments of society.
• The bank has a strong presence in South India and is committed to promoting financial inclusion.

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Gopichand Hinduja takes over as Group chairman

• Gopichand Hinduja, 83, has taken over as the Chairman of the Hinduja Group after the recent
demise of his brother Srichand P Hinduja.
• Earlier, Gopichand Hinduja was the co-chairman and was overseeing the diverse global business
empire.
• Gopichand Hinduja said Srichand worked tirelessly to improve relations between the mother
country and host countries
Sudhansh Pant to be new Health Secretary
• Sudhansh Pant will take over as the new Health Secretary after incumbent Rajesh Bhushan retires
on 31 July.
• He is currently the Shipping Secretary and has been appointed as an Officer on Special Duty
(OSD) in the Health Ministry.
• T K Ramachandran has been appointed the new Shipping Secretary in Pant’s place.
• Ramachandran is currently the chairman of the Chidambaranar Port Trust.
Uttam Lal takes over as Director of NHPC Ltd.
• Uttam Lal has taken over as Director (Personnel) at National Hydroelectric Power Corporation
(NHPC) Limited.
• Prior to his appointment at NHPC, he was serving as Chief General Manager at NTPC Limited.
• He has over 35 years of experience in the area of Personnel Management, and Corporate Social
Responsibility.
• He is known for his expertise and long experience in the power sector.
Kerala-cadre IPS officer Nitin Agarwal appointed BSF DG
• Nitin Agarwal, a 1989-batch IPS officer of Kerala cadre, appointed as the new Director- General
of the Border Security Force (BSF)
• The post of the BSF chief had been vacant for more than five months after Pankaj Kumar Singh
retired on December 31, 2022.
• CRPF DG Sujoy Lal Thaosen had been handling the charge of BSF in an additional capacity since
then.
Amit Agrawal appointed UIDAI CEO
• Amit Agrawal and Subodh Kumar Singh have been appointed as CEO Unique Identification
Authority of India and director general of the National Testing Agency respectively.
• Both Agrawal (1993 batch) and Singh (1997 batch) are Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers
of the Chhattisgarh cadre.
• Rashmi Chowdhary has been appointed as secretary of the Central Information Commission.
Pieter Elbers appointed as Chair-elect of IATA's Board of Governors
• Pieter Elbers has been elected as the chair-elect of the International Air Transport Association
(IATA) Board of Governors.

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• He will succeed Yvonne Manzi Makolo, the CEO of Rwandair, with effect from June 2024.
• Pieter Elbers is the CEO of IndiGo and has played a crucial role in advancing the Indian aviation
landscape.
Epson India signs Rashmika Mandanna as brand ambassador
• Epson India has signed Rashmika Mandanna as its brand ambassador for its EcoTank printers.
• She endorses other brands like PlayerzPot, 7Up, TTK Healthcare-owned Eva, and others.
• She is one of the new entrants on the list of top 20 celebrities who endorse brands in India.
• The collaboration aims to spread awareness about printers and their benefits.
Lt Gen Sanjay Mitra takes over as Commander of Strike 1 Corps
• Lieutenant General Sanjay Mitra has taken over as the Commander of the Strike 1 Corps.
• He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy.
• He was awarded Chief of Army Staff and General Officer Commanding in Chief Commendation
Cards twice.
• He was also awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for his contribution as a general officer
commanding eastern Ladakh.
PESB picks Sanjay Swarup to be the next CMD of CONCOR
• Sanjay Swarup has been recommended for the post of Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of
Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) panel.
• Swarup is currently serving as Director (International Marketing & Operations) in CONCOR.
• CONCOR is a state-owned enterprise that provides container transportation and logistics
services in India.
Anantharaman appointed new TransUnion Cibil chairman
• V Anantharaman is the new non-executive chairman of TransUnion CIBIL.
• Anantharaman takes over from Mr. M V Nair, who served as the chairman for over eleven years.
• TransUnion CIBIL is a credit information company operating in India and is part of TransUnion,
an American multinational group.
• The company maintains credit files on over 600 million individuals and 32 million businesses.
Rajiv Sinha to be appointed as Election Commissioner of Bengal
• Former Chief Secretary of West Bengal Rajiva Sinha was appointed as the State Election
Commissioner
• West Bengal Governor CV Anand Bose approved Rajiv Sinha's appointment after the state
government proposed his name.
• He has served as the state's chief secretary from September 2019 to September 2020.
India appoints Upender Singh Rawat as next High Commissioner to Uganda
• The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday appointed Upender Singh Rawat as India's next High
Commissioner to Uganda.

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• Upender Singh Rawat is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer of the 1998 batch, the Ministry of
External Affairs (MEA).
• He is currently serving as the Ambassador of India to Panama.
Ravindra Dattatray Kulkarni appointed VC of Mumbai University
• Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais appointed Dr. Ravindra Dattatray Kulkarni as the vice-
chancellor of the Mumbai University
• The appointment has come at a time when the university is preparing a roadmap to implement
four-year degree programs under the new National Education Policy
• He had served as the pro-vice chancellor of MU during the tenure of former vice-chancellor Dr.
Suhas Pednekar
Anil Diggikar assumes role as MD of CIDCO
• Anil Diggikar has taken over as the Vice President and Managing Director of CIDCO, succeeding
Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee.
• Alongside, Shantanu Goyal also assumed his position as the Joint Managing Director of CIDCO.
• Anil Diggikar served as the Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Maharashtra
Housing and Area Development Authority.
Hrithik Roshan appointed brand ambassador for Zebronics TV
• Zebronics, an IT peripheral, audio systems and lifestyle accessories company, has signed actor
Hrithik Roshan as the face of its range of Smart LED TVs.
• As per the company, this collaboration marks the sixth year of their partnership.
Shri Janardan Prasad takes charge as DG of Geological Survey of India
• Shri Janardan Prasad assumed charge as the 52nd Director General of the Geological Survey of
India
• He succeeded Dr. S. Raju, who was the Director General of GSI since May 2022.
• Shri Prasad has vast experience inMetallogeny and Mineral Exploration studies
• Shri Janardan Prasad was born on August 12, 1963, in the Aurangabad district of Bihar. He did his
MSc in Geology from Patna University.
Former MSME secretary Bidyut Bihari Swain sworn in as UPSC member
• Bidyut Bihari Swain, a former MSME secretary, has been sworn in as a member of the Union Public
Service Commission (UPSC).
• He is a 1988 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Gujarat cadre.
• Swain has held various significant positions within the Gujarat government from 1989 to 2018.
• In January 2021, he was posted as MSME secretary, where he served till May 2023.
Blackstone Portfolio Company R Systems appoints Nitesh Bansal as CEO
• Blackstone Portfolio Company R Systems appoints Nitesh Bansal as Managing Director and Chief
Executive Officer

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• He spent 23 years at Infosys where he held several leadership roles, most recently serving as a
Senior Vice President and Global Head of Engineering Services.
• R Systems is a leading digital product engineering company that designs and builds next-gen
products, and platforms.
IMD director Mohapatra elected third Vice-President of WMO
• Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the director of the India Meteorological Department, has been elected as
the third Vice-President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
• Celeste Saulo of Argentina has been appointed as the first female Secretary-General of the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO).
• The WMO is responsible for providing authoritative information on weather, climate, and water.
Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar Anand takes charge as AOA
• Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar Anand, Vishisht Seva Medal took over as Air Officer-in-Charge
Administration (AOA) on 01 Jun 2023.
• In a career spanning over 36 years, the Air Marshal has held various field and staff appointments.
• Prior to his appointment, he was Director General (Administration) at Air Headquarters, New Delhi.
• He was awarded Vishisht Seva Medal in January 2022 by the President.
Argentine meteorologist becomes first female head of UN weather agency
• The World Meteorological Organization said Celeste Saulo received the necessary two-thirds
backing from member states
• She succeeds Petteri Taalas, who steps down after two terms as secretary general of the Geneva-
based WMO at the end of the year.
• Saulo joined the WMO's executive council in 2015.
• The agency plays a key role in coordinating international meteorological work.
K. Krithivasan takes charge as TCS CEO
• K. Krithivasan, on 31 May 2023, took charge as the chief executive officer (CEO) for Tata
Consultancy Services (TCS).
• TCS is India’s largest information technology (IT) services firm by market capitalization.
• Krithivasan, who has been at TCS for over 34 years now, will be the oldest CEO appointment so
far.
• His predecessor, Gopinathan, was the youngest appointee.
Ajay Yadav assumes charge as SECI Managing Director
• Ajay Yadav, on 31 May 2023, taken over as the Managing Director of Solar Energy Corporation of
India Limited (SECI).
• SECI is a Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) established in 2011.
• SECI is the primary implementing agency for renewable energy schemes and projects under the
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.

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Obituaries Current Affairs

Nobel-winning lithium battery inventor John Goodenough dies at 100
• John Goodenough, who shared the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing the lithium-ion
battery that revolutionized modern life, has died at the age of 100, the University of Texas
announced.
• The US scientist's contributions to the development of lithium-ion batteries paved the way for
smartphones.
• He was a leader at the cutting edge of scientific research throughout his career.
Rajya Sabha MP Hardwar Dubey passes away
• Hardwar Dubey, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) passed away in New Delhi.
• Dubey was a sitting MP elected to the Rajya Sabha in November 2020.
• He was a former minister in the Kalyan Singh ministry in 1991.
• Dubey was made state spokesperson and vice-president of the BJP in 2011 and 2013 respectively,
before being elevated as a Rajya Sabha member.
Former Urdu newsreader of Akashvani Kausar Rizvi passes away
• The former Urdu newsreader of Akashvani, Kausar Rizvi passed away in Dubai on 22 June 2023.
• Kausar Rizvi was associated with the Urdu unit of the News Services Division of Akashvani in New
Delhi for about 30 years from 1975 to 2004.
• He began his career as an announcer in Akashvani Varanasi. He will be laid to rest in his home
town Lucknow.
Ex Amul chief pays tribute to Amul girl creator Sylvester daCunha
• The man behind the iconic Amul Girl 'utterly butterly' campaign, Sylvester daCunha, died on
Tuesday, June 20.
• The Amul ad campaign was launched in 1966 after it was designed by Sylvester daCunha, who
was the then Managing Director of the advertising agency ASP
• The mascot first debuted on a few lamp-post boards in Mumbai with the line, "Give us this day our daily bread: with
Amul butter".
Sociologist, former JNU professor Imtiaz Ahmad passes away
• He worked with keen interest in social anthropology and taught Sociology, Political Science and
Islamic Studies in various universities in India and abroad
• He was under treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
• Prof. Ahmad is known for his works on caste in Islam.
104-year-old freedom fighter Sitaram Shastri passed away
• 104-year-old freedom fighter Sitaram Shastri, a resident of Deeh Ganjari village of Jansa,
Varanasi, who participated in the country's freedom movement, passed away.
• As soon as the news of his death was received, a wave of mourning ran in the entire area.
• His last rites were performed at Harishchandra Ghat with state honors.

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• The fire was lit by his son Virendra Narayan.

Famous Telegu choreographer Rakesh Master passes away
• Renowned Tollywood choreographer S. Rama Rao, widely known as Rakesh Master, has passed
away.
• He worked on over 500 films, and his work was known for its energy, creativity, and technical
precision.
• Some of his most famous choreographies include the songs “Ringa Ringa Roses” and “Ishq Wala
Love”.
• He also choreographed several hit songs in Hindi films, including “Disco Dancer”.
Daniel Ellsberg, Pentagon Papers whistleblower, dies aged 92
• Daniel Ellsberg, the U.S. military analyst whose change of heart on the Vietnam War led him to
leak the classified "Pentagon Papers," revealing U.S. government deception about the war and
setting off a major freedom-of-the-press battle, died at the age of 92.
• Ellsberg, who had been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer in February, died at his
home in Kensington, California.
Oscar-winning actress, Glenda Jackson passes away
• Glenda Jackson, a two-time Oscar winner, has passed away at the age of 87.
• She won her first best-actress Oscar for "Women in Love" (1969) and her second for "A Touch of
Class" (1973).
• Ms. Jackson was elected to Parliament in 1992 and became minister of transport.
• She won a best-actress Trophy for her role as a woman over 90 facing mortality, in Edward Albee's
"Three Tall Women" in 2018.
Cormac McCarthy, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, passes away
• Pulitzer Prize winner, Cormac McCarthy, passed away, on 14 June 2023.
• Some of his famous and literarily acclaimed books are ‘The Road' and 'No Country for Old Men’.
• He won the Pulitzer Prize for 'The Road' in the fiction category in 2006.
• The story revolves around the ups and downs between a father and son and their strenuous
journey in the US after the apocalypse.
Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi passes away
• Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian Prime Minister, has passed away at the age of 86.
• He had led four governments in Italy from 1994 to 2011 and was the longest-serving prime minister
in post-war Italy.
• Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia party went into coalition under right-wing Prime Minister
Giorgia Meloni last September.
Mangal Dhillon, a renowned actor, passes away
• Mangal Dhillon, a renowned actor, passed away due to cancer.

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• He was known for his remarkable acting prowess and memorable performances in shows like
'Junoon' and 'Buniyaad'.
• Dhillon had a successful career in Punjabi cinema as a producer, director, and writer.
• He acted in notable movies like Khoon Bhari Maang, Zakhmi Aurat, and Vishwatma.
Theatre legend Farrokh Mehta passed away
• Actor-director Farrokh Mehta died on 9th June. He was 91 years old.
• Farrokh Mehta received the Thespo Lifetime Achievement at the National Centre for the
Performing Arts amidst a motley crew of young theatre practitioners.
• The 87-year-old actor was rather delighted to be honored by a youth theatre festival since his
own theatrical journey began “way back in college”.
Award-winning Doordarshan news anchor Gitanjali Aiyar passes away
• Gitanjali Aiyar, one of India's first female news presenters on national broadcaster Doordarshan,
passed away on 7 June 2023.
• She was in her mid-70s and had won the best anchor award four times.
• Aiyar graduated from Kolkata's Loreto College and joined Doordarshan in 1971.
• Aiyar won the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award for Outstanding Women in 1989.
Gufi Paintal, Shakuni Mama of BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, passes away
• Actor Gufi Paintal, best known for playing the role of Shakuni Mama in BR Chopra’s TV show
Mahabharat (1980), passed away in Mumbai due to age-related health issues.
• He became a household name with the portrayal of Shakuni Mama in BR Chopra's Mahabharat.
• Gufi also directed a few TV shows and a movie titled Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Veteran Actress Sulochana Didi passes away
• Veteran Hindi and Marathi film actress Sulochana Latkar passed away on 4 June 2023.
• Sulochana started her career with Bhalji Pendharkar’s Sasurrvas (1946).
• She is remembered for playing Jijabai, the mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maratha
Tituka Melvava (1964).
• In 1999, she received the prestigious Padma Shri, followed by the Maharashtra Bhushan Award
in 2009.
Renowned theater actor and director Aamir Raza Hussain passes away
• Noted theatre actor and director Aamir Raza Husain has passed away at the age of 66.
• His stage plays include ‘The Fifty-Day War’ (2000) and ‘The Legend of Ram’.
• Husain was honored with the Padma Shri in 2001 by the Indian government for his contribution
to theatre.
• He also acted in super hit movies Baahubali’ and ‘RRR’.

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Person in News Current Affairs

Indian-origin Aarti Holla-Maini appointed as UN Outer Space director
• Aarti Holla-Maini has been appointed as the Director of the UN's Office for Outer Space Affairs
(UNOOSA) in Vienna.
• She will succeed Simonetta Di Pippo of Italy.
• UNOOSA's objective is to foster global collaboration in the peaceful utilization of outer space.
• She has over 25 years of experience in the space sector.
• She was previously Executive Vice-President at NorthStar Earth & Space.
Ronaldo sets Guinness World Record to make 200 International Caps
• Cristiano Ronaldo has received a Guinness World Record for reaching 200 international caps for
Portugal.
• He is the all-time top goalscorer in international football with 122 goals in 200 games to date.
• Ronaldo made his debut for A Selecao das Quinas back in 2003 at the age of 18.
• He won the 2016 European Championships with his national team.
Google doodle: Celebrated 112th Birthday of Dr. Kamala Sohoni
• Born in 1911 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Sohoni belonged to a family of respected chemists.
• Scientist Kamala Sohoni was the first woman in India to get admission in the prestigious Indian
Institute of Science, Bangalore (IISc), which is considered to be the best institute in the country.
• Sohoni also became the first Indian woman to pursue a Ph.D.
• Dr. Sohoni discovered cytochrome c.
Nahida Khan retires from international cricket
• Debuting in February 2009 against Sri Lanka, Nahida went on to represent Pakistan in three
Cricket World Cups (2013, 2017 and 2022) and in four T20 World Cups (2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018).
• Nahida finishes with over 2000 runs in international cricket, and raised her bat for eight half-
centuries, including a knock of 66 against Australia in Kuala Lumpur back in 2018.
Justice Venkatachaliah launches app to provide legal aid
• Former Chief Justice of India M. N. Venkatachaliah launched the multi-lingual India Legal App, a
legal helpline accessible to citizens to obtain legal assistance from their homes.
• The app will help in disposing of around 70 percent of new cases.
• Attorney General R. Venkataramani hailed the India Legal app.
Kairan Quazi to become SpaceX's youngest software engineer
• The 14-year-old boy is all set to work as a new software engineer.
• Quazi was offered a job after he passed the company's 'technically challenging' and 'fun' interview
process.
• Kairan Quazi is the youngest person to ever be hired by SpaceX.
• San Francisco-based Quazi is a graduate of Santa Clara University`s (SCU) School of Engineering.
Ritu Kalra named Harvard's vice president for finance and CFO
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• Ritu Kalra has been appointed as Harvard University's Vice President for Finance and Chief
Financial Officer.
• She has been serving as Harvard's Assistant Vice President of Finance and Treasury and Special
Projects Adviser.
• Kalra is an Indian-American investment banking and financial management expert.
• She spent 18 years at Goldman Sach as Managing Director.
Pullela Gopichand joins hands with Indian Padel Federation
• Padel, the dynamic and fast-growing sport, received a momentous boost as the Indian Padel
Federation (IPF) announced a strategic partnership with badminton legend Pullela Gopichand.
• Pullela Gopichand, a Padma Bhushan, Dronacharya, and Arjuna awardee, joined the IPF as an
advisor.
• Padel, sometimes called Padel Tennis, is a racket sport that is played in doubles on an enclosed
court
Zlatan Ibrahimovic announces his retirement from football at 41
• Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic has announced his retirement from a glittering soccer career
at the age of 41, leaving Italy’s Serie A as the league’s oldest-ever goal scorer.
• He retires as Sweden’s all-time leading goal scorer with 62 goals in 121 international matches.
Colonel Shuchita becomes 1st woman to command Communication Zone
• Colonel Shuchita Shekhar has become the first woman officer to command a Communication
Zone Mechanical Transport Battalion in the Indian Army Service Corps.
• She is responsible for the maintenance of the Supply Chain of the fully operational Northern
Command.
• This is a significant milestone in the history of the Indian Army and a great step towards gender
equality.
Wrangler signs Smriti Mandhana as brand ambassador
• Ace Turtle Omni Pvt Ltd., a retail company, has appointed Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana as
the brand ambassador of its Wrangler brand
• The company is the exclusive licensee of the denim brand in India.
• Her performances on the cricket field have earned her accolades like ICC Women’s cricketer of
the year two times.
Indian-American Ajay Banga takes over as World Bank president
• Ajay Banga became the first Indian American to hold the position of President of the World Bank.
• He takes over from David Malpass.
• He was selected as the 14th president of the World Bank for a five-year term.
• Previously, he was the President and CEO of Mastercard.
• He was awarded the Padma Shri Award by the President of India in 2016 and the Ellis Island Medal
of Honor in 2019.

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Shri P.Upadhyay takes over as DG of Naval Armament

• Shri P Upadhyay, INAS has taken over as Director General of Naval Armament (DGONA) from
Shri KSC lyer, who superannuated on 31 May 23
• Shri P Upadhyay belongs to the 1987 batch of the Indian Naval Armament Service
• He joined the Naval Armament Organization of the Indian Navy on 12 Jul 1989
• He is an Electrical Engineering Graduate from SGSITS Indore
• He will assume the charge from 01 Jun 2023

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Science and Technology Current Affairs

Virgin Galactic launch first commercial spaceflight
• On June 29, 2023, Virgin Galactic launched its first commercial space flight with paying customers.
• The Unity rocket plane carried three Italian researchers, two company pilots, and an astronaut
trainer.
• The spacecraft reached an altitude of 52.9 miles, just above the 50-mile-high "boundary" between
space and the atmosphere.
• Virgin's first space flight came in 2018.
Skyroot successfully tests Raman-I engine to help Vikram-I rocket
• Skyroot Aerospace successfully conducted the flight qualification test of the Raman-I engine,
intended for roll attitude control in the Vikram-I rocket.
• The Raman-I engine underwent a test fire at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre of the Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• It will be employed for roll attitude control, which helps in managing the rocket's rotation and
orientation.
Paper-based Supercapacitor Made From Seaweed
• Scientists at Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute (GERMI) have made a
breakthrough in energy storage technology with the development of the thinnest, lightweight,
and biodegradable paper-based supercapacitor.
• This innovative device, derived from seaweed, offers several advantages in terms of its
characteristics and potential applications.
IIT Kanpur successfully conducts test flight for cloud seeding
• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has successfully conducted a test flight for cloud
seeding.
• Cloud seeding involves the utilization of various chemical agents such as silver iodide, dry ice, and
other elements with the aim of enhancing the probability of precipitation.
• The experiment was conducted with due approval from the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil
Aviation).
SpaceX launches SATRIA-1 communications satellite for Indonesia
• A Falcon 9 rocket topped with the SATRIA-1 telecommunications satellite lifted off from Cape
Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
• SATRIA-1 (whose name is short for "Satellite of the Republic of Indonesia") will be operated for the
Indonesian government by the Indonesian company PSN.
NASA’s Cassini finds phosphorous on Saturn's moon Enceladus
• Phosphorus, a key chemical element for many biological processes, has been found at Enceladus,
the small moon of Saturn by NASA’s Cassini.
• Cassini a space probe launched to scrutinize Saturn and its extensive system of moons and rings.

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• Phosphorus is a building block for DNA, which forms chromosomes and carries genetic
information and is present in the bones of mammals.
India's Azista BST Aerospace launches 1st runner satellite on SpaceX
• India's Azista BST Aerospace launched its first satellite, ABA First Runner (AFR), onboard the
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-8 Mission.
• The company aims to make India a hub for the mass manufacturing of satellites.
• The satellite lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in
California on Musk's SpaceX rideshare mission.
IIT-Madras generates hydrogen from seawater using solar energy
• Researchers from the IIT-Madras have developed a cost-effective way to electrolyze seawater
to generate hydrogen. The results were published in the journal ACS Applied Energy Materials.
• The team has developed an electrolyzer using alkaline seawater.
• We found our separator is highly resistant to seawater degradation said Sana Fathima, co-
authors of the paper.
James Webb Telescope captures over 45,000 galaxies in one frame
• The James Webb Space Telescope captured an image of over 45,000 galaxies as part of the
JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES) program.
• The James Webb Space Telescope will devote around 32 days of telescope time to the JADES
program.
• The JADES program is expected to uncover and characterize distant and faint galaxies.
India conducted first performance-based navigation for helicopters
• The technology was jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation and the
Airports Authority of India.
• India conducted Asia’s first demonstration of performance-based navigation for helicopters for a
flight from Juhu in Mumbai to Pune using GAGAN satellite technology.
• GAGAN — GPS-Aided GEO Augmented Navigation — is a state-of-the-art space-based
augmentation system.

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Sports Current Affairs

India beat Iran to win Asian Kabaddi Championship in Busan, SK
• India beat Iran 42-32 in the final of the Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023.
• This is India's eighth title in nine editions.
• Indian captain Pawan Sehrawat led from the front with a super 10.
• India won all five matches in the league stage and topped the points table.
• The next big challenge for the Indian kabaddi teams will be the upcoming Asian Games in
Hangzhou, China.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) flagged off the "Trophy Tour"
• The Durand Cup trophy tour was flagged off by the service chiefs and the AIFF president.
• The tour will cover 12 cities across India and will end in Kolkata, where the 132nd edition will be
held.
• The Durand Cup is the oldest football tournament in Asia and is contested by teams from the
Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and civilian clubs.
• The defending champions are Mohammedan Sporting Club.
Indian Men's Football team climbs up to 100th rank on FIFA rankings
• The Indian men's national football team has climbed up to the 100th rank on FIFA's latest world
rankings.
• The team entered the top 100 clubs after 5yrs, surpassing teams like Lebanon and New Zealand.
• The Indian team reached the 100th rank with a total of 1204.90 points.
• Argentina is on top and France is in second position in the FIFA 2022 rankings, followed by Brazil,
England, and Belgium.
Tamil Nadu win Senior Women's National Football Championship
• Tamil Nadu won the Senior Women's National Football Championship for the second time.
• They defeated Haryana 2-1 in the final at the Guru Nanak Stadium in Amritsar.
• Priyadharshini S and Indumathi Kathiresan scored the goals for Tamil Nadu. Renu Rani scored
the goal for Haryana.
• Tamil Nadu had last won the title in 2018. This is their third overall title.
• They also won the title in 1991.
Kolkata Team Wins in Historic Dubai Women's Kabaddi Final
• In a significant milestone for women's Kabaddi, Dubai hosted the world's first international
Women's Kabaddi final, featuring the Punjab Panthers vs Uma Kolkata.
• The intense match concluded with the Uma Kolkata team emerging as champions, securing a
grand prize of ₹10,000,000.
• The Punjab team demonstrated commendable skills and earned the second position, receiving a
prize of ₹5,000,000.
Jhulan Goswami, Heather Knight, Eoin Morgan join MCC Cricket Committee
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• Legendary Indian woman cricketer Jhulan Goswami and two English players in Heather Knight
and Eoin Morgan have joined the MCC World Cricket Committee (WCC).
• WCC is an independent body comprised of current and former international cricketers, umpires,
and officials from across the world.
• Jhulan Goswami was made an Honorary Life Member of MCC in April 2023.
FIFA says Jeddah will stage 2023 Club World Cup
• The 2023 Club World Cup will be played in Jeddah, the home city of Saudi champions Al-Ittihad
that have signed Karim Benzema, FIFA said.
• Al-Ittihad will be joined by the six continental club champions — including Champions League
winner Manchester City — for the Dec. 12-22 tournament.
• It will be the last edition in that format before the 32-team version launches in 2025 in the US.
Taipei Open 2023: Tai Tzu Ying, Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo win singles
• Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo clinched his first title of the season at the YONEX Taipei Open 2023
with a straight-games win over surprise finalist Su Li Yang.
• In women’s singles, Tai Tzu Ying picked up her fifth Taipei Open title beating Beiwen Zhang 21-14
21-17, making her the most successful player at the event.
Maharashtra Ironmen crowned champions of the Premier Handball League
• The Maharashtra Ironmen crowned the champions of the first-ever season of the Premier
Handball League (PHL) after they posted victory against the Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh at the
Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium.
• Igor Chiseliov & Jalal Kiani were the top scorers for Maharashtra Ironmen.
• Igor Chiseliov was awarded the most valuable player of the game for his dominant display in the
final.
Carlos Alcaraz claims Queen's title and top ranking
• Carlos Alcaraz defeated Alex de Minaur 6-4 6-4 to claim the Queen's Club title and return to
world number one.
• Alcaraz is the fourth Spanish player to win the prestigious pre-Wimbledon tournament.
• De Minaur was the first Australian to reach the London final since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006,
WTT contender: Ayhika and Sutirtha win doubles title in Tunis
• Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee defeated Miyuu Kihara and Miwa Harimoto in the final
of the WTT contender tournament in Tunis
• Currently ranked 36 as pair in the world, the Indian duo dominated the finals with two straight-
game wins of 11-6 and 11-6.
• With this win, the duo became the first Indians to win a WTT Contender title this year.
Diksha Dagar wins Czech LET golf title
• Diksha Dagar capped her remarkable consistency and form with a commanding win in the
€300,000 Tipsport Czech Ladies Open, claiming her second Ladies European Tour title.

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• She played in the Tokyo Olympics with Aditi Ashok, who finished fourth.
• Diksha becomes only the second Indian woman to win more than once on the LET.
• Her first had come in only her fourth start as a pro in 2019.
Max Verstappen equals Ayrton Senna's record with 41 wins
• Max Verstappen won the Canadian Grand Prix, securing his 41st career win, equaling Ayrton
Senna's record.
• Ayrton Senna is a legendary Brazilian racing driver who won the Formula One World Drivers'
Championship three times.
• Senna won 41 Grand Prix and 65 pole positions in his career.
• Verstappen drives for Red Bull's F1 team.
Kolkata hosts 1st int'l sports film fest
• The Federation of Film Societies of India (Eastern Aegion), in collaboration with Social Sports
Foundation, is organising the 1st International Sports Film Festival.
• The festival, to be held at Nandan from June 22 to 25, will showcase four films from Germany, one
from the US, one from Bangladesh and seven from India.
Rayaan Razmi wins bronze in Asian U-21 Snooker Championship
• Indian cueist Rayaan Razmi signed off with a bronze medal after a 3-4 defeat at the hands of
Milad Pourali Darehchi of Iran in the semifinals of the Asian Under-21 Snooker Championship in
Tehran, Iran.
• Pakistan’s Ahsan Ramzan emerged champion after recording an authoritative 5-2 win.
First Olympic Esports Week kicks off in Singapore
• The first-ever Olympic Esports Week kicked off in Singapore.
• The International Olympic Committee officially recognised eSports as a sport in 2017 and has
been in discussions with industry players about inclusion on the most prestigious stage.
• ESports will be a medal sport for the first time at the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Indian contingent passes 50-medal mark at Special Olympics World Games
• The Indian contingent at the Special Olympics World Games 2023, passed the 50-medal mark in
Berlin.
• India has so far won 55 medals (15 gold, 27 silver, 13 bronze) spread across five different sports -
athletics, cycling, swimming, powerlifting, and roller skating.
MP crowned champions of the 13th Ind Junior Men National Championship
• Hockey Madhya Pradesh won the 13th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2023
after defeating Hockey Chandigarh in the final at the iconic Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium.
• Meanwhile, Hockey Haryana defeated the Hockey Association of Odisha to
finish third in the competition.
Arunachal govt, Indian Army inaugurate Tawang Marathon

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• Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu along with representatives of Indian Army launched the
inaugural edition of Tawang Marathon.
• The Tawang Marathon is a collaborative effort between the government of Arunachal Pradesh
and the Eastern Command of Indian Army, showcasing the spirit of unity and shared commitment
to promoting sports and healthy lifestyles.
Germany unveils teddy bear as the mascot for Euro 2024
• The mascot for 2024 European Championship in Germany will be a teddy bear.
• The large-headed mascot with big eyes has shorts — in contrast to the 2006 World Cup mascot,
a lion named “Goleo” that was widely ridiculed for not having pants.
• Germany will host the tournament from June 14-July 14, 2024.
Canada Para Badminton International 2023: Pramod Bhagat wins silver
• India's ace shuttler Pramod Bhagat won a silver medal in singles, a bronze medal in mixed doubles
and a bronze medal in Mixed Doubles with Sukant Kadam at the recently concluded Canada
Para-Badminton International 2023.
• The Padma Shri Awardee went down fighting to England's Daniel Bethell in the finals to secure a
silver medal.
Wyndham Clark Captures the U.S. Open
• Clark, with only one PGA Tour victory to his name, seemed to come out of nowhere to dominate
the field at Los Angeles Country Club.
• The payoff came Sunday evening, when Clark, 29, outlasted Rory McIlroy at the U.S. Open by one
stroke and lurched into the hallowed fraternity of major championship winners.
• Clark’s best finish in a major had been a tie for 75th at a P.G.A. Championship.
Tajinderpal Singh Toor sets new Asian shot put record
• India's top shot putter, Tajinderpal Singh Toor has set a new Asian shot put record at the Inter-
State Championships in Bhubaneswar
• The 28-year-old athlete, representing Punjab, shattered his own previous Asian record with a
massive throw of 21.77ms
• Toor surpassed his own record of 21.49ms, which he had set in 2021 in Patiala
• His outstanding performance also placed him in the ninth position
Bhavani Devi becomes 1st Indian fencer to win medal in Asian Champion
• C.A. Bhavani Devi created history by securing India’s first-ever medal — a bronze — at the Asian
fencing championships in Wuxi, China
• Bhavani lost to Uzbekistan’s Zaynab Dayibekova in a hard-fought semifinal 14-15 of the women’s
sabre event, but ensured India its maiden medal in the event.
• Bhavani said her dream to beat a few top-ranked players in the world.
SSCB crowned champions at Youth National Boxing Championships 2023

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• Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) won the team championship at the 6th Youth men's
National Boxing Championships in Gangtok, Sikkim.
• Haryana and Chandigarh claimed the second and third position respectively, with Haryana
winning 4 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals.
• SSCB boxers won 13 medals, including 9 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals, finishing at the top of
the table with 85 points.
62nd National Inter State Senior Athletics Championships concludes
• The 62nd Inter-State Athletics Championships concluded on 19 June 2023 in Bhubaneswar.
• Shot putter Tajinder Singh Toor won the Best Athlete (Male) award while hurdler Jyothi Yaraji won
the Best Athlete (Female) award.
• Tamil Nadu won the Team Championship (Male) while Uttar Pradesh won the Team
Championship (Female).
• Tamil Nadu was also awarded the Overall Champion award for the competition.
Verstappen wins Canadian GP to claim Red Bull’s 100th victory
• Max Verstappen made it six victories from eight races in 2023 with a dominant display in
Canadian Grand Prix.
• Verstappen’s lights-to-flag triumph also gave Red Bull their 100th victory in the sport, 18 years on
from the team’s debut, while the Dutchman made more history by drawing level with the
legendary Ayrton Senna on 41 wins.
Abhishek Verma clinches individual gold in archery World Cup Stage 3
• Abhishek Verma added a gold medal to India’s tally by clinching the top prize in the men’s
compound individual final at the World Cup Stage 3.
• Abhishek, winner of the compound team gold and an individual silver at the 2014 Incheon Asian
Games, defeated James Lutz of USA 148-146.
• This is Abhishek’s third individual World Cup gold, and his first since the 2021 Paris leg.
Indian men's Football team won Intercontinental Cup in Bhubaneshwar
• Indian men's senior football team clinched the Intercontinental Cup with a 2-0 victory over
Lebanon in the final at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar.
• This is India's second title in the tournament, following their win in the inaugural edition in 2018.
Korea won in 2019.
• Indian captain Sunil Chhetri and Lallianzuala Chhangte netted the goal for India.
37th National Games’ mascot ‘Moga’ unveiled
• Chief Minister Pramod Sawant officially unveiled the eagerly-awaited mascot for the 37th
National Games, aptly named ‘Moga,’ during a ceremony held at Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
Stadium, Taleigao.
• As Moga, the bison mascot, becomes the symbol of the 37th National Games.
• Last time, National Games held in Goa was in the year 2008.

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Nations League 2022-23 final: Spain wins in shootout

• Goalkeeper Unai Simon saved two shots as Spain beat Croatia in a penalty shootout after their
tense Nations League final had finished 0-0.
• Spain’s other previous titles came in the 2010 World Cup and the European Championships in
1964, 2008 and 2012.
• Midfielder Rodri was named the player of the Nations League tournament.
India's Rankireddy and Shetty triumph in Indonesia Open
• The Indian duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won a historic men's doubles title
at the Indonesia Open, becoming the first doubles pair from the country to claim a Super 1000
event.
• The Indians, who were also Asian champions, defeated the current world champions in 43 minutes.
• They thrashed Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yika of Malaysia in straight games 21-17, 21-18.
Egypt wins Squash World Cup title
• Egypt, the top seed, bagged the SDAT-WSF Squash World Cup at the Express Avenue Mall in
Chennai with a thumping 2-1 (4-1 on points) win over Malaysia, in the final.
• Egypt won the World Cup when it was last held here in 2011.
• Second-seeded India finished joint third with Japan after losing to Malaysia in the semifinal.
• It marked the first time that teams were fully gender-balanced.
Asia Cup 2023 to be played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka
• The dates of the Asia Cup are finally out. In a media release, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC)
announced that Asia Cup 2023 will be played from August 31 to September 17.
• The tournament will be hosted in a hybrid model with four matches being held in Pakistan, and
the remaining nine matches being played in Sri Lanka
• The 2023 edition will feature two groups, with two teams from each group.
Gurpreet Singh wins 25m standard pistol gold
• Gurpreet Singh wins 25m standard pistol gold at Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial.
• Gurpreet Singh shot 578 to clinch the men’s 25-metre standard pistol gold in the 21st Kumar
Surendra Singh pistol championship at the Madhya Pradesh Academy, Bhopal.
• Gurpreet had won the gold with a record score of 581 in the last edition.
• Omkar Singh won the silver with 571, ahead of Udit Joshi (567).
India win 7 medals in U-17 Asian Wrestling Championships
• India wrapped up their campaign in the U-17 Asian Wrestling Championships with 1 gold, 3 silver,
and 3 bronze medals on the final day in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
• Ankush won India's only gold medal of the day in the freestyle 55kg weight category
• Dhanraj Bharat Shirke lost to Iran's Ahora Farhad Khateri.
• Rupesh bagged the other silver after losing to Iran's Sam Reza Sayar in 48kg final.
India gets its first "Taekwondo Premier League"

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• The grand unveiling ceremony of the trophies & the merchandise took place at TRUE TRAMM
TRUNK Rooftop which was curated by Blanckanvas Media Pvt Ltd.
• "Taekwondo Premier League" is a professional platform for all budding and professional sports
personnel to kickstart their careers in the sport.
• The platform is expanding its approach to a wider scale inviting participants from all over India.
Indian Aditi Gopichand breaks U-18 compound world record in Medellin
• Indian Aditi Gopichand made history by breaking the under-18 world record in the women's
compound qualification round during the ongoing Archery World Cup stage three in Medellin,
Colombia.
• The 16-year-old Aditi scored a total of 711 out of 720 points and topped the 72-arrow qualification.
• Another India, Jyothi Surekha Vennam finished second in the qualifiers with a total of 708 points.
Tamil Nadu Sports Minister inaugurates Squash World Cup in Chennai
• Tamil Nadu Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development, Udayanidhi Stalin, inaugurated
the Squash World Cup in Chennai.
• The Squash World Cup is being held from June 13 to June 17, at Express Avenue, Royapetta in
Chennai.
• Eight countries are participating in the championship including India, China, Japan, Malaysia and
Australia, South Africa, Egypt.
Uruguay beat Italy 1-0 to win maiden FIFA U-20 World Cup title
• Luciano Rodríguez scored the winning goal in the 86th minute in a header from close range giving
Uruguay a much-deserved victory after an entire match of dominance against Italy.
• Uruguay beat Italy 1-0 to win its first Under-20 World Cup title.
• FIFA decided to hand the organization over to Argentina one month before kickoff.
• Uruguay lost the final of the tournament in 1997 and 2013.
Former Alfa Romeo F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi wins Le Mans race
• In a racing event called, '24 Hours of Le Mans', Ferrari emerged victorious as driver Antonio
Giovinazzi along with teammates Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado secured the win for
their team.
• The 24 Hours of Le Mans is an endurance-focused sports car race held annually near the town of
Le Mans, France.
• It is widely considered one of the world's most prestigious races.
First Janjatiya Khel Mahotsav concludes in Bhubaneswar
• Curtains came down on the first Janjatiya Khel Mahotsav with Odisha emerging as the overall
champions in both the men's and women's categories.
• The grand sporting extravaganza was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Culture, the Government
of India, and the Odisha Government in collaboration with KIIT University.
• The 1st edition attracted the participation of 5,000 tribal athletes.

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Andy Murray beats Jurij Rodionov to win Surbiton Trophy

• Tennis player Andy Murray clinched his second ATP Challenger Tour title of the season, Surbiton
Trophy on 12 June 2023.
• He becomes the oldest grass-court champion at an ATP Challenger Tour event.
• He beat Austrian Jurij Rodionov 6-3, 6-2 in the final.
• It was his first singles title on grass since winning Wimbledon in 2016.
India’s Murali Sreeshankar logs 8.09m to finish third in long jump
• India’s Murali Sreeshankar registered an impressive 8.09m attempt to finish third in the men’s long
jump event at the Paris Diamond League 2023 in France
• Murali Sreeshankar logged his best jump of the night with his third attempt.
• Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece, won the Paris Diamond League with an 8.13m jump.
Nick Taylor Becomes First Canadian Champion Since 1954
• Nick Taylor became the first Canadian in 69 years to win his national Open, holing a 72-foot eagle
putt on the fourth playoff hole to beat Tommy Fleetwood in the RBC Canadian Open
• The last player from Canada to win the Canadian Open was Pat Fletcher in 1954 at Point Grey in
Vancouver. Fletcher was born in England; Carl Keffer had been the only Canadian-born
champion, winning in 1909 and 1914
FIH Pro League 2023: India beat Argentina 2-1 in final match
• In Hockey, India beat Argentina 2-1 in its final FIH Pro League 2022-23 match in Eindhoven, the
Netherlands
• Akashdeep Singh and Sukhjeet Singh scored goals for India while Lucas Toscani netted the only
goal for Argentina.
• With this victory, India consolidated their position atop the FIH Pro League standings with 30
points from 16 matches.
Odisha wins big at 10th senior and 7th junior national Rugby 7s
• Odisha beat Maharashtra in the finals of the 10th senior national Rugby 7s Championship by a
huge margin of 31-7 at the Balewadi Stadium
• This event acts as a platform for players to showcase their talent as they look for a spot in the
Indian team, informed Indian Rugby Football Union
• In the senior's event, Odisha was hard to catch up with, even though Maharashtra showed a
spirited effort.
India beats Korea 2-1 to win maiden Women’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup
• The Indian Junior Women's Hockey Team won the Women's Junior Asia Cup 2023, defeating
Korea in a final match with a score of 2-1.
• Hockey India announced a cash prize of ₹ 2 Lakh for each player and INR 1 Lakh each for the
support staff.
• Indian captain Preeti was named Player-of-the-Match.

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• Annu and Neelam scored for India, while Park Seo Yeon was the lone goal scorer for Korea.
Iga Swiatek wins third French Open title, fourth Grand Slam title
• Iga Swiatek won her fourth Grand Slam title by defeating Karolina Muchova in the French Open
2023 final.
• Swiatek has lost only two out of 26 Grand Slam matches since April 2022.
• She is the youngest woman to win consecutive trophies at Roland Garros since Monica Seles in
1990-92.
• She also joined Seles and Naomi Osaka as the only women to win each of their first four major
finals.
Novak Djokovic wins record 23rd men's singles grand slam title
• Novak Djokovic won his record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open, defeating
Casper Ruud 7-6, 6-3, 7-5.
• With this victory, Djokovic has become the first male player to win three or more titles in each of
the four major tournaments.
• This win also places Djokovic halfway towards a calendar Grand Slam, a feat that hasn't been
accomplished since Rod Laver in 1969.
Australia Crowned with ICC World Test Championship 2023
• Australia won the World Test Championship with a 209-run victory over India in the WTC 2023
Final at The Oval, England.
• Australia became the 1st men's team in world cricket to win an ICC world title in all three formats.
• The WTC Final was played between the top two teams in the ICC Test rankings, India and
Australia.
• The WTC was introduced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2019.
Miyu Kato strikes back with mixed doubles title at French Open
• Kato, a 28-year-old player from Japan, and her women’s doubles partner were defaulted during
their third-round match last week after Kato accidentally hit a ball girl in the neck after a point.
• Playing with Tim Puetz of Germany, the pair defeated 2019 U.S. Open singles champion Bianca
Andreescu of Canada and Michael Venus of New Zealand 4-6, 6-4, 10-6.
West Ham wins Europa Conference final beating Fiorentina 2-1
• West Ham overcame an almost 60-year wait for a European trophy when Jarrod Bowen’s late-
game goal secured a 2-1 win over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.
• The win secured West Ham’s first piece of silverware since the 1980 FA Cup and their first
European trophy in 58 years.
• Moyes became the first Scottish coach to win a UEFA competition since 2008

Jyothi Yarraji wins silver in 100m Hurdles

• Indian hurdler Jyothi Yarraji clinched the silver medal in the 100m Hurdles event at the Jyvaskyla
Motonet GP.

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• Fellow compatriot Amlan Borgohain collected the bronze medal in the 100m event with a timing
of 10.49s.
• Next up for Jyothi and Amlan is the National Inter-State Championships
• This tournament will also serve as the selection trial for the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou,
China.
India finish on top of medal tally at Suhl World Cup
• India topped the chart with 15 podium finishes, including six gold, six silver, and three bronze
medals.
• In a commendable achievement, India has now finished on top of all the ISSF Junior World Cups
and World Championships held since 2019.
• The gold medallists in this edition for India included Sainyam in the women's 10m air pistol, and
Dhanush Srikanth in the men's 10m air rifle.
198 athletes sends off for Special Olympics World Summer Games 2023
• Union Minister Anurag Thakur has sent off an Indian contingent of 198 athletes to the Special
Olympics World Summer Games 2023
• The Indian contingent of 198 athletes to the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2023 is to
be held in Berlin this month
• He also expressed confidence that the country will have the best-ever performance in the Asian
Games to be held in China this year.
Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club crowned as Canadian champions
• The Vancouver Whitecaps football team defeated CF Montreal 2-1 at BC Place Stadium.
• The Vancouver Whitecaps secured their second Voyageurs Cup.
• Voyageurs Cup is the domestic trophy for professional soccer in Canada, awarded to the best
men's and women's clubs in the country.
• For the first time in club history, the Whitecaps have captured back-to-back Voyageurs Cups.
Sunil Kumar Wins Decathlon Gold At Asian U-20 Athletics Championship
• Sunil Kumar won the decathlon gold medal with his personal best performance in the Asian U-20
Athletics Championship in Yecheon
• He won the 10-event competition with a personal best tally of 7003 points on the penultimate day
of the competition.
• His previous best of 6855 points was achieved during the Federation Cup Junior National
Championships in April.
Rugby India kicks off its 8th Junior and 10th Senior championship
• The 8th Junior and 10th Senior Rugby National Championships are all set to kick off with 27 state
athletes vying for the top spots in the junior and senior categories.
• It will start with the junior girls and senior women's categories with the juniors playing on June 5
and 6 and the seniors playing on June 9 and 10 at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex
Stadium, Balewadi, Pune.

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ISSF Junior World Cup: Dhanush Srikanth wins India's third gold
• Dhanush Srikanth secured the gold medal in the men's 10m air rifle event at the ISSF Junior World
Cup held in Suhl, Germany.
• Additionally, India clinched a bronze medal in the skeet mixed team competition.
• Harmehar Lally and Sanjana Sood emerged victorious in a shoot-off against their Swedish
counterparts, David Jonsson and Felicia Ros, securing the bronze for their country.
Siddharth Choudhary Wins Gold at Asian U-20 Athletics Championship
• Shot putter Siddharth Choudhary wins India’s third gold in the Asian U-20 Athletics
Championship.
• He achieved his best throw of 19.52m in his third attempt to better his earlier personal best of
19.11m at the junior level.
• Javelin thrower Shivam Lohakare, men’s 3000m steeplechaser Sharuk Khan, and long jumper
Susmita won a silver medal each on the second day of competitions.
Indian sprinter Amlan Borgohain bags two gold medals in Belgium
• Amlan Borgohain bagged two gold medals, one each in the men's 100 and 200-meter races at
the Flanders Cup 2023 in Merksem, Belgium.
• Borgohain clocked 10.70 seconds to emerge as the fastest man of the meet. He holds the 100-
meter national record of 10.25 seconds.
• Sapna Kumari finished behind Belgium's Amber Vanden Bosch in the women's 100m hurdles
Viktor Hovland wins Memorial Tournament
• It was Viktor Hovland's fourth official PGA Tour win, though he has two others, both at Tiger
Woods' event, the Hero World Challenge in 2021 and 2022.
• It was also Hovland's first win in the mainland United States.
• Korean star Si Woo Kim came up short in his bid for a second PGA TOUR win of the season as he
settled for a solo fourth.
Abhinav Shaw, Gautami Bhanot win Gold medal in ISSF Junior World Cup
• Indian shooters Abhinav Shaw and Gautami Bhanot have given India their second gold at the
ISSF World Cup Junior in 10 meter Air Rifle Mixed Team event in Suhl, Germany.
• The Indian team of Shaw and Bhanot registered a 17-7 win over the French pairing of Oceanne
Mueller and Romain Aufrere
• The Indian pair had qualified second to the French pair but turned the tables on them in the final.
Sainyam gives India golden start at ISSF Junior Shooting World Cup
• Chandigarh youngster Sainyam ensured India had a golden start to the International Shooting
Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Junior in Suhl, Germany.
• Sainyam shot 238 in the final to leave Korean Kim Minseo behind in second place
• India has entered a 56-strong squad in the competition which has attracted 511 athletes from 46
countries

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South Korea's An Se-young wins Thailand Open final

• An Se-young won the women's singles final at the Thailand Open 2023, defeating He Bingjiao.
• An Se-young won her 15th title on the world tour.
• Kunlavut Vitidsarn won the men's final at the Thailand Open, defeating Lee Cheuk Yiu.
• Vitidsarn became only the fourth Thai man to win the tournament.
• Vitidsarn won Thailand's first gold medal of the day.
Indian men's team beat Belgium 5-1 in FIH Pro League
• India won against Great Britain in the FIH Pro League in London with a 4-2 victory in a penalty
shootout at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London.
• It is India's first win under new coach Craig Fulton.
• William Ghislain scored the lone goal for Belgium in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.
• India sits second with 24 points after 11 games while Britain has 26 from 10.
Manisha wins Gold, Reetika clinches Silver at Bishkek Ranking Series
• Manisha won India's first gold medal in the women's 65 kg category at the Ranking Series in
Kyrgyzstan.
• Reetika won silver in the women's 72kg event and Sarita Mor won bronze in the women's 59kg.
• Manjeet won bronze in Greco-Roman wrestling on 4 May 2023.
• Sarita Mor won bronze after outlasting Kazakhstan's Diana Kayumova 11-0 due to technical
superiority.
J-K: Tazeem Fayaz clinches silver medal in Judo Championship
• Tazeem Fayaz, a young Judo player from Srinagar made the city proud by securing a remarkable
silver medal in the india-inter-university-judo-championship" All India Inter-University Judo
Championship.
• Judo, known for its intense competition and rigorous training
Ben Duckett breaks Sir Don Bradman's 93-year-old record at Lords
• English batter Ben Duckett surpassed Sir Don Bradman's record of scoring the fastest 150 runs at
Lords against Ireland.
• He also registered another milestone in his name as he became the first batter since 1924 to score
100 runs before lunch in a Lord's Test.
• He brought up a second Test ton, and first at home.
FC Goa appoint Manolo Marquez as club's new head coach
• FC Goa has appointed former Hyderabad FC head coach Manolo Marquez as the club's new
boss.
• Marquez who led Hyderabad FC to the Indian Super League (ISL) title in 2021-22 will arrive in Goa
hoping to restore the club back among the elites in Indian football.
Women's Kabaddi League will be organised in Dubai

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• One of the most anticipated Kabaddi events in the world, the Women's Kabaddi League (WKL),
will be organized this year in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• This is India's first women's Kabaddi League, which will begin on June 16.
• All the matches will be held at the 'Shabab Al-Ahli' sports club in Dubai, known worldwide for its
excellent sports facilities.
Manjeet wins bronze in UWW ranking series wrestling in Kyrgyzstan
• Manjeet, a 55kg Greco-Roman wrestler, won a bronze medal at the Bishkek Ranking Series 2023
in Kyrgyzstan on 1 May 2023.
• Manjeet defeated Yersin Abyir of Kazakhstan 14-9 in the bronze-medal match.
• The Bishkek Ranking Series, set to be held between June 1-4, is the third of the four ranking series
of the year.
India wins Junior Asia Cup 2023 title, beats Pakistan 2-1
• The Indian Junior Men's Hockey Team won the Men's Junior Asia Cup 2023 by defeating Pakistan
2-1 in Salalah, Oman.
• With this victory, India has won the maximum number of titles at the Men's Junior Asia Cup,
having previously won in 2004, 2008, and 2015.
• Pakistan won the tournament three times in 1988, 1992, and 1996.
• Hockey India announced a cash award of INR 2.00 Lakh each for players.
Real Madrid becomes most valuable football club
• Real Madrid football club is listed as the world's most valuable football club of the world, bouncing
ahead of English club Manchester United, according to Forbes.
• The Spanish club, Real Madrid, tops the list for the second year in a row with a value of USD 6.07
billion.
• The club last held the top spot in 2019.
• Fourth in the list is Liverpool with a value of USD 5.29 billion.

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Table of Content
Art & Culture Current Affairs ...............................................................................................3
Awards and Honours Current Affairs ................................................................................. 4
Banking Current Affairs ....................................................................................................... 9
Books and Authors Current Affairs .................................................................................... 16
Business and Economy Current Affairs ............................................................................. 17
Defence Current Affairs .................................................................................................... 20
Government Schemes and Policies Current Affairs........................................................ 24
Days and Events Current Affairs ........................................................................................ 27
International Current Affairs .............................................................................................. 31
MoU and Agreements Current Affairs .............................................................................. 38
National Current Affairs .................................................................................................... 44
Appointments Current Affairs ............................................................................................ 67
Obituaries Current Affairs .................................................................................................. 77
Person in News Current Affairs ......................................................................................... 80
Science and Technology Current Affairs ..........................................................................82
Sports Current Affairs Current Affairs .............................................................................. 86

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Art and Culture Current Affairs

The annual Machail Mata Yatra begins in Jammu and Kashmir
• The Machail Mata Yatra began with a ceremonial "Pratham Pooja" at the temple in Kishtwar
district, Jammu and Kashmir.
• The temple is devoted to goddess Durga, also known as 'Kaali' or 'Chandi.'
• Machail Mata Mandir is a revered Hindu temple located in Machail Village, Paddar, Kishtwar.
• The Machail Yatra pilgrimage is the second-largest pilgrimage in the Jammu region.
Machail Mata Yatra in Kishtwar begins from July 25
• In J&K, the highly anticipated 43-day-long annual Machail Mata Yatra in Kishtwar district will be
celebrated.
• It will conclude on the 5th of September 2023.
• The Yatra is the second most famous pilgrimage in the Jammu division, during which thousands
of devotees from across the country visit the scenic Paddar valley
• People pay obeisance at the holy shrine of goddess Durga in Machail village.
Harela festival 2023 begins in Uttarakhand
• Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a program on water
conservation, organized on the occasion of the Harela festival 2023.
• The festival symbolizes happiness, prosperity, peace, environment, and nature conservation.
• Harela and Bhitauli Festivals are the prominent folk festivals of Uttarakhand, celebrated in the
Kumaon Region.
Foreign tourists allowed visit Hanle for Ladakh Nomadic Festival 2023
• To boost tourism in Ladakh, the Ministry of Home Affairs has granted permission to foreign tourists
to visit and stay at Hanle in the Changthang region for the upcoming Ladakh Nomadic Festival
• Prior to this foreigners are restricted in these areas
• The festival is being held to promote and preserve the Nomadic cultural heritage and the way of
life of the Changpa tribe of the Ladakh region

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Awards and Honours Current Affairs

Australian-Tamil lawyer Shankari Chandran has won literary award
• Australian-Tamil lawyer Shankari Chandran has won the $60,000 prestigious Miles Franklin
Literary Award for her novel, “Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens”.
• The award was announced at a ceremony at The Ovolo Hotel in Sydney.
• She grew up in suburban Canberra, in constant dialogue with herself about where she fitted in
and the terms under which acceptance was granted
Veteran journalist Prem Prakash receives Lifetime Achievement Award
• Veteran journalist and ANI founder Prem Prakash was honored with the Lifetime Achievement
Award in Delhi for his contributions to journalism.
• The ceremony was attended by Union Minister Gajendra Shekhawat.
• The Global Education Mentor Awards program was organized at Ambedkar International Center
in Delhi.
• The award aims to foster collaboration and partnership among education stakeholders.
ICC announces Development Awards 2022
• International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the Development Awards 2022 on 25 July.
• The awards honour world-leading initiatives and innovative programmes undertaken to develop
the game of cricket in emerging nations.
• Namibia won the ICC Development Initiative of the Year for their Mini-Cricket Programme.
• Nigeria won the 100 per cent Cricket Female Cricket Initiative of the Year.
President Droupadi Murmu presents National Geoscience Awards-2022
• President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Geoscience Awards-2022 at a ceremony in
New Delhi.
• The Award is instituted by the Ministry of Mines with the aim to honor individuals and teams for
achievements and contributions in various fields of geosciences.
• Twenty-two geoscientists, including two women, were awarded.
Geneva School of Diplomacy grants honorary Doctorate to Shashi Tharoor
• The Geneva School of Diplomacy & International Relations held its graduation ceremony on July
23, 2023.
• Dr Shashi Tharoor was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in International Relations degree.
• The event was attended by distinguished guests, including esteemed Ambassadors and senior
diplomats.
• He is the Chairman of the Parliament's Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers.
IIT-Madras professor honoured with International Eni Award
• T. Pradeep of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) has been selected for the
International Eni Award.

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• Instituted by the Italian energy company Eni, the award recognizes his work on sustainable and
affordable nanoscale material for removing toxic contaminants from water.
• Some Nobel laureates and Bharat Ratna award-winner C. N. R. Rao previously won the award.
Coal Ministry bags “Best Engagement” award for procurement through GeM
• Coal Ministry awarded the “Best Engagement” Award for Procurement through GeM Portal on 20
July 2023.
• Coal India Limited (CIL) was awarded "Rising Star" and NLC India Limited was awarded in the
"Timely Payments" category.
• Actual procurement facilitated through GeM for the year 2023 stands at Rs. 3,909 crore.
• The Ministry has surpassed the 2022 year's target of Rs. 4,000 crore.
Malaysia honours Islamic scholar Kanthapuram with Hijra Award
• Malaysia honored the General Secretary of All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama and the current
Grand Mufti of India, Kanthapuram Aboobakkar Musliar with its highest civilian honor, the
prestigious Hijra Award.
• Sheikh Abubakr, also known as Kanthapuram Aboobakkar Musliar received this award on the
basis of his invaluable contributions to promoting the message of love in Islam within India
Best Web Series Award introduced at IFFI-Goa
• Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the “Best Web Series Award” at
the International Film Festival of India-Goa would be presented beginning this year.
• Beginning this year at the 54th International Film Festival of India, the award will be presented
annually
• The Minister said the award aimed to incentivize and create investment opportunities in India’s
OTT sector
5 Indian students make it to Global Student Prize 2023 shortlist
• Five students studying in India have made it to the top 50 shortlist for the USD 100,000 Chegg.org
Global Student Prize 2023, selected from 3,851 applications from across 122 countries.
• The annual award goes to one exceptional student who has made a real impact on learning, the
lives of their peers, and on society beyond.
President of India presents Bhoomi Samman 2023
• The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu presented the “Bhoomi Samman” 2023 at a function
organised by the Union Ministry of Rural Development in New Delhi.
• The awards were received by State Secretaries and District Collectors along with their teams who
have excelled in achieving saturation of the core components of Digital India Land Records
Modernization Programme.
Dr Bera receives Champion of Healthcare Innovation Award

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• Dr Ami Bera, an Indian-American physician-turned politician has received the Champion of

Healthcare Innovation Award for his contributions to making high-quality care affordable and
accessible in the US.
• Bera, 58, the longest-serving Indian-American serving in the US Congress, was among those
facilitated during the council's Innovation Expo held here last week.
DBS named world's best bank for corporate responsibility by Euromoney
• DBS, a leading financial services group in Asia, has been named the World's Best Bank for
Corporate Responsibility in the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023.
• DBS was also recognized as Asia's Best Bank for Wealth Management for a second consecutive
year.
• The Euromoney Awards for Excellence are widely regarded as one of the most esteemed
accolades in the global banking industry
PM Narendra Modi conferred with France's highest award
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the highest
honour in France, from French President Emmanuel Macron.
• Modi arrived in Paris for a two-day visit and is attending the French National Day celebrations as
the Guest of Honour.
• Modi addressed the Indian diaspora in France and announced an agreement for the use of UPI
in France.
Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission bags SKOCH Award
• The Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission has bagged the SKOCH Award under the
theme “State of Governance India 2047” in Gold category
• it has been awarded for its outstanding efforts in creating marketing avenues for Self-Help Groups
in the Union Territory.
• The SKOCH award marks a significant milestone for JKRLM, being the first award received since
the inception of the scheme.
AFI adjudged Asia’s best athletics federation
• The Athletics Federation of India has been adjudged as the best member federation in Asia by
the Asian Athletics Association.
• Olympian Adille Sumariwalla, the AFI president, received the award at the 50th anniversary
celebrations of the Asian Athletics Association in Bangkok.
India tops the medal tally at the 34th International Biology Olympiad
• India topped the medals tally at the 34th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2023 held in Al
Ain, UAE.
• For the first time, India has turned in an all-gold performance and topped the medals tally in IBO.
• The students this year were:
o Dhruv Advani
o Ishan Pednekar

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o Megh Chhabda
o Rohit Panda
•
PM Narendra Modi to be awarded prestigious Lokmanya Tilak Award 2023
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be awarded the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak Award this year.
• An official announcement in this regard was made by the President of Tilak Smarak Trust Dr.
Dipak Tilak and Rohit Tilak at a press conference in Pune.
NLC India Ltd bags GeM Award in "Timely Payments (CPSEs)"
• NLC India Limited, a navratna company under the Ministry of Coal, bagged GeM award in the
category "Timely Payments (CPSEs)" for the year 2023 for its outstanding contribution in
improving the reliability of e-market practices in line with the vision of GeM
• NLCIL registered and on-boarded in GeM portal in the year 2017
• Government e-Marketplace GeM is a dedicated e-Market service platform
King Charles give environmental award to Indian conservationists
• King Charles III and Queen Camilla presented the Elephant Family environmental award to Indian
conservationists at a ceremony in London.
• Filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves received the Tara Award for her work on the Oscar-winning
documentary 'The Elephant Whisperers'.
• Elephant Family is an international NGO dedicated to protecting the Asian elephant from
extinction in the wild.
Shekhar Kapur wins Best Director award at British National Awards
• Shekhar Kapur received an award for his film 'What's Love Got To Do With It' at the British
National Awards.
• The film won 4 awards at the British National Awards, including Best Director and Best British
Film.
• Jemima Goldsmith, the former wife of Imran Khan, wrote the screenplay for the film.
• The film premiered at the Toronto film festival in 2022 and received two standing ovations.
Michael Rosen wins 2023 year’s PEN Pinter Prize
• Michael Rosen has been awarded the prestigious PEN Pinter Prize 2023 for his work in poetry and
literature for children.
• Rosen is known for making poetry accessible to children through his work and performances, and
his themes are often social, political, and ethical.
• Rosen's most well-known works include "We're Going on a Bear Hunt," "You Can't Catch Me," and
"Sad Book."
Boxing champion Mary Kom named Global Indian Icon at UK-India Awards
• Mary Kom was awarded the Global Indian Icon of the Year award at the annual UK-India Awards.

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• Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to cinema
across both nations.
• The Nehru Centre in London won the UK-India Award for Significant Contribution to UK-India
Relations.
• The awards were organized by India Global Forum (IGF) as part of UK-India Week.

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Banking Current Affairs

RBI sets targets for lenders on CBDC, unclaimed deposits
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has assigned business targets to banks for promoting initiatives
like the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and the recovery of unclaimed deposits.
• RBI has given a target to generate one million daily digital currency transactions by December
2023.
• RBI has also announced the setting up of a centralized portal to locate unclaimed deposits in
multiple banks.
HDFC Bank Surpasses SBI in CRISIL’s Corporate Banking Ranking for 2023
• In 2023, HDFC Bank, India’s largest private lender, achieved a significant milestone by overtaking
the State Bank of India (SBI) to secure the top spot in CRISIL’s Large Corporate Banking.
• The report by Coalition Greenwich, a division of CRISIL, highlights the changing dynamics in
India’s corporate banking landscape.
• The banking industry experienced an overall 16% growth in revenue pools.
Razorpay launches MoneySaver Export Account for Indian customers
• Razorpay has launched a smart account, MoneySaver Export Account, for Indian exporters to
receive payments locally via bank transfers on the Razorpay platform.
• The account allows exporters to receive international bank transfers from 160 countries, and it is
free from any hidden charges.
• The account can be opened and accessed via the Razorpay dashboard without any additional
paperwork.
LIC introduces new term assurance plan “Jeevan Kiran”
• Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) introduced a new term assurance plan "Jeevan Kiran".
• LIC Jeevan Kiran is an individual, savings, and life Insurance plan.
• It offers life cover with the return of premium and has a minimum sum assured of ₹15 lakh.
• The policy term varies from 10 years to 40 years.
• Premium payment can be made by way of a single premium or by way of a regular premium.
Sebi rolls out framework for corporate debt market development fund
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has created a framework for the Corporate
Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF) to develop the corporate debt market.
• Mutual funds will have to contribute 25 basis points (bps) of the specified debt asset under
management to the fund.
• The CDMDF will purchase corporate bonds from fund houses in distress to help them meet
redemption requests.
ADB, India sign $200 million loan for expanding urban services in RJ
• The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank signed a $200 million loan as
additional financing for the ongoing Rajasthan Secondary Towns Development Sector Project

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• It will help in its commitment to reducing basic infrastructure gaps in its secondary towns by
expanding water supply and sanitation services and improving livability in selected urban local
bodies.
ADB, India sign USD 295 million loan pact for Bihar
• Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the central government on Thursday signed an agreement
for a USD 295 million loan to upgrade around 265-kilometer state highways with climate and
disaster-resilient design and road safety elements in Bihar.
• The project supports the Bihar government program to upgrade all state highways to standard
two-lane widths and improve road safety
Federal Bank launches NR savings accounts for NRI women
• Federal Bank, on the occasion of the start of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, has announced the
launch of an exclusive NR savings account scheme, specifically curated for NRI women.
• This scheme, named NRE Eve+, is designed to cater to the unique financial needs of NRI women,
offering a range of benefits tailored to enhance the financial journey of NRI women.
HDFC Bank launches co-branded credit card with Swiggy
• HDFC Bank and Swiggy have launched a co-branded credit card.
• The Swiggy HDFC Bank credit card is the first ever from Swiggy.
• The card will be hosted on Mastercard's payment network.
• The card offers 10% cashback on Swiggy spends and 5% cashback on shopping across various
platforms.
• As a welcome benefit, cardholders will enjoy a complimentary 3-month Swiggy One membership.
Visa joins hands with Adani Group to target customer base of 40cr
• Visa has entered into new co-brand credit-card agreements with the Adani Group, a major Indian
conglomerate.
• Additionally, Visa has formed collaborations with Breeze Aviation Group and Allegiant Travel Co.
• In the same period, Visa experienced a stronger-than-expected growth in card spending, with
robust consumer demand for travel and dining out.
Reserve Bank of India sets restrictions on national co-operative bank
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed limitations on The National Cooperative Bank, one
of Bengaluru's oldest institutions, due to its deteriorating financial status.
• The bank can now only pay depositors ₹50,000 across all accounts.
• As a result, the bank is not permitted to make new loans or accept new deposits without prior
approval from the RBI.
Govt approves 8.15% interest rate on Employees Provident Fund deposits
• Union govt has notified an interest rate of 8.15% on deposits under the Employees' Provident Fund
scheme for 2022-23.

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• The EPFO has directed its field offices to credit the interest into the accounts of over 6 crore active
members as of March 2023.
• Employers are now required to credit an additional amount of 0.05% to all subscribers due to the
new, increased EPFO rate of 8.15% for 2022-23.
ADB retains India's growth forecast at 6.4 percent for current fiscal
• The Asian Development Bank retained India's economic growth forecast at 6.4 percent for the
current financial year
• The ADB said robust domestic demand will continue to support the region's recovery.
• In an update to its Asian Development Outlook, the ADB said inflation is expected to continue to
fall, approaching pre-pandemic levels as fuel and food prices decline.
Simplifai launches world-first generative AI tool for insurance
• Simplifai, an AI automation solutions provider, launches Simplifai InsuranceGPT – a world-first
custom-built GPT tool, fuelled by the company's revolutionary no-code AI-powered platform.
• The first custom-built AI GPT tool for insurers offers ChatGPT-like enhanced decision-making for
automated claims management while maintaining privacy and data security.
RBI cancels registration of four non-banking finance companies (NBFC)
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has canceled the registration of four non-banking finance
companies (NBFC).
• 2 NBFCs from Telangana, 1 from Kerala, and 1 from Uttar Pradesh have lost their certification of
registration.
• Nanma Chits & Financiers Ltd, Kailash Auto Finance Ltd, Chidrupi Financial Services Ltd, &
Goldline Financial Services Ltd are the NBFCs whose registration has been canceled.
Google Pay launches UPI Lite to boost small value transactions
• Google Pay has added support for UPI Lite payment that enables small payments without using
a pin.
• UPI Lite technology ensures faster payments during peak hours.
• Google Pay allows users to create a UPI Lite wallet within the same app and load up to Rs 2,000.
• UPI Lite payment was first announced by RBI in Sept 2022 and is compatible with over 15 major
public sector and private banks.
Bank of Israel joins the International Committee on Credit Reporting
• The Bank of Israel joined the International Committee on Credit Reporting (ICCR) on 13 July 2023.
• In November 2022, the Bank of Israel was approved as a member of the ICCR by a unanimous
vote.
• The World Bank took internal steps to approve the Bank of Israel's membership following the
ICCR's spring session in June 2023.
• The ICCR includes representatives of central banks around the world.
Bank of India inaugurates IFSC Banking Unit at GIFT City

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• Bank of India, inaugurated its IFSC Banking Unit (IBU) in the International Financial Services
Centre at GIFT SEZ area in Gandhinagar.
• Bank of India looks at achieving $1 billion in business by March 2024
• The bank’s overseas branches contribute around 15% mix business to its Global Deposits and 16%
to its Global Advances.
• Bank of India has a presence in 15 foreign countries.
Max Life, DCB Bank join hands to offer insurance products
• Max Life Insurance has partnered with DCB Bank to provide a variety of life insurance products
to the latter’s customers.
• Term, savings, and retirement plans will be offered under this partnership.
• DCB Bank is a private sector bank.
• It has 427 branches across India.
India’s retail inflation surges to 4.81% in June
• India’s retail inflation surged to 4.81 percent in June after hitting a 25-month low of 4.25 percent
in May on an annual basis.
• The consumer-price index (CPI) based inflation has remained within the Reserve Bank of India’s
(RBI) tolerance band of 2-6 percent for the fourth consecutive month.
• Rural inflation stood at 4.72 percent while urban inflation stood at 4.96 percent.
Razorpay launches first international payment gateway in Malaysia
• Razorpay has launched its first international payment gateway services in Malaysia with Curlec,
a startup it acquired earlier.
• The new payment gateway aims to serve over 5,000 businesses with a target of Malaysian Ringgit
worth 10 billion in annualized Gross Transaction Value (GTV) by 2025.
• Digital trade in Malaysia contributes to 22.6% of its GDP and is expected to rise to 25.5% by 2025.
IDFC FIRST Bank, Club Vistara and Mastercard Launch New Credit Card
• IDFC FIRST Bank announced its collaboration with Club Vistara and Mastercard to launch a travel
credit card.
• It will be Designed to provide exciting travel and lifestyle-related offers to cardholders, the new
card will combine seamless banking services with numerous travel benefits.
• The collaboration between the three companies highlights a shared commitment.
RBI holds 33rd conference of state Finance Secretaries
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) organized 33rd Conference of the State Finance Secretaries was
held in Mumbai on July 6, 2023.
• The conference focused on the theme of ‘Debt Sustainability: States’ Perspective.’
• Finance Secretaries from 23 states, one Union Territory, and the Comptroller and Auditor General
of India attended the conference.
LIC pares stake in Exide Industries to 3.51%

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• Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has pared its stake in Exide Industries to 3.51% by
divesting more than 1.70 crore shares in about 30 months.
• Exide Industries shares closed flat at ₹247.75 apiece on the BSE. According to the shareholding
pattern in the company, up to the quarter ended March 2023, LIC’s holding was 4.29%.
SEBI amends rules for issuers of debt securities
• SEBI has notified rules for introducing the concept of general information and key information
document to avoid multiple filings of documents by issuers of debt securities.
• The move will promote ease of doing business for issuers.
• A General Information Document will contain the information and disclosures specified in the
common schedule.

Piramal Finance launches five all-women branches

• Piramal Capital & Housing Finance Limited has launched five all-women branches as part of its
commitment to diversity and equal opportunities.
• These branches, named 'Maitreyi,' are part of the company's efforts to foster gender equality.
• The five branches are located in Ajmer Road (Rajasthan), Chattarpur (New Delhi), Mohali (Punjab),
Mumbai (Maharashtra), and Tripunithura (Kerala).
Bank Of India Starts Offering Mahila Samman Savings Certificate scheme
• Bank of India rolled out the MSSCS.
• With this, the public sector lender has become the first bank to offer this scheme at all its
branches.
• The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance had issued an e-gazette notification
regarding the scheme.
• The e-gazette permitted all public sector banks and eligible private sector banks to operationalize
the MSSCS
States' debt cost continues to rise, nears 7.5%
• States continue to pay higher interest rates to investors for their debt, with the latest weighted
average cost rising to 7.46% at Tuesday's auctions wherein nine states raised ₹16,200 crore.
• Accordingly, the spread between the 10-year SGS and 10-year government of India security yield
eased mildly to 32 bps from 34 bps last week.
Bandhan Mutual Fund launches Bandhan Financial Services fund
• Bandhan Mutual Fund launched an open-ended equity scheme, Bandhan Financial Services
Fund.
• This new scheme offers investors the opportunity to benefit from the multi-year growth
opportunities in the financial services sector.
• This new fund will open on July 10 for subscription and will close on July 24, 2023.
• The Bandhan Financial Services Fund will use a 3-factor model for stock selection.

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IDFC First Bank to merge with IDFC Ltd

• The Boards of IDFC First Bank Ltd and IDFC Limited approved their merger with each other.
• The share exchange ratio for the amalgamation of IDFC Limited with IDFC First Bank shall be 155
equity shares of face value of Rs 10 of IDFC First Bank for every 100 equity shares of face value
of Rs 10 of IDFC Limited.
• This comes days after HDFC Ltd merged with HDFC Bank in a $40-billion deal.
Indian Bank Collaborates with NESL for Project Wave
• Indian Bank has launched new services under its digital transformation initiative, Project WAVE.
• The bank has partnered with National E-Governance Services Ltd (NeSL) to introduce an
electronic bank guarantee (e-BG) service.
• It has also launched a facility for pre-approved business loans through a digital process.
• The process of digitization under Project WAVE was launched in Jan 2022.
SBI offers cardless cash withdrawal through ATMs via YONO app
• State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a new feature on its YONO app that allows customers to
withdraw cash from ATMs without a debit card.
• The feature is called "Cardless Cash Withdrawal"
• it uses the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to generate a QR code that can be scanned by the
ATM to dispense cash.
• To use the feature, customers need to have the latest version of the YONO app.
RBI grants non-banking institution licence to Mahalaxmi Bank
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed Mahalaxmi Cooperative Bank, Dharwad to function
only as a non-banking institution, cancelling its banking license on 2 July.
• The cancellation of the license is effective from the close of business on June 27, 2023.
• In April 2023, the central bank cancelled the banking license of Adoor Co-operative Urban Bank
and allowed it to operate only as NBFC.
Deepak Parekh steps down as HDFC chairman after 46 years
• Deepak Parekh on 30 June 2023, announced his decision to step down as HDFC chairperson after
serving as the chairman for 46 years.
• He left his Manhattan Bank job in 1978 to join HDFC when he was 33 and built it India’s largest
private sector housing finance company.
• The reverse merger of parent HDFC Ltd with HDFC Bank is expected to be effective from July 1.
SBI's chief financial officer Charanjit Surinder Singh Attra resigns
• State Bank of India (SBI) announced on June 30, that its chief financial officer, Charanjit Surinder
Singh Attra has resigned.
• SBI also appointed four director on the bank's central board for a period of three years.
• Ketan Shivji Vikamsey and Mrugank Madhukar Paranjape, have been re-elected.

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• The other two directors who have appointed are Rajesh Kumar Dubey and Dharmendra Singh
Shekhawat.

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Books and Authors Current Affairs

Union Minister Amit Shah unveils book 'Memories Never Die'
• Union Minister Amit Shah unveiled the book 'Memories Never Die,' a tribute to the life and legacy
of the late former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam during his two-day visit to the Ramanathapuram
district of Tamil Nadu, .
• The book was co-authored by Dr. APJM Nasima Maraikayar and scientist Dr. Y. S. Rajan.
Former V-P Venkaiah Naidu releases book "As the wheel turns"
• Former Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu on 20 July 2023, released a book named " As
the wheel turns " in Chennai, Tamilnadu.
• The book is authored by Rayala Corporation CEO Ranjit Pratap.
• The book chronicles Ranjit Pratap's triumphs and challenges in the corporate world.
• Rayala Corporation was founded in 1948 as an automotive spare parts and office equipment
product company.
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhu releases a book titled 'Raag Prakash'
• Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on 19 July 2023, released a book
titled ' Raag Prakash ', written by Dr Om Prakash Kaul.
• The book is a collection of a particular set of 'Ragas'.
• Dr Kaul is working as an Assistant Professor of Music (Vocal) at the government college Sanjauli.
• He is a well-known face in the field of Gazal (vocal).
All To Play For: The Advance of Rishi Sunak has been released
• It is the story of a clever and hard-working son of immigrant parents who marries an heiress, a
polished southerner who wins over the voters of North Yorkshire; a fiscal conservative who
becomes the biggest-spending Chancellor in history; and a fastidious political operator tasked
with reuniting the Conservative Party and repairing an economy in flux.
• It is authored by Michael Ashcroft
'A Fool's Journey' book by Sarika Bhardwaj
• "A Fool's Journey" is a captivating non-fiction work that delves into the depths of self-discovery
and the quest for purpose in life written by Sarika Bhardwaj.
• A Fool's Journey, is published by NotionPress and Orient Digital Media.

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Business and Economy Current Affairs

India’s per capita income to jump 70% by 2030: 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, according to a research report by Standard Chartered Bank.
• The growth in income will help India become a middle-income economy with a GDP of $6 trillion.
• Household consumption is projected to reach $3.4 trillion by fiscal 2030.
India's GDP to reach $6 trillion by 2030: Standard Chartered Research
• Standard Chartered’s India research team has projected a transformative growth trajectory for
India’s economy, expecting it to reach $6 trillion by 2030.
• Household consumption expenditure may be similar to India's current GDP levels by 2030.
• Demand for consumer durables will increase especially amid a push for digitisation by 2030.
M&M buys 3.5% stake in RBL Bank for Rs 417 crore
• Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd has acquired a 3.53% stake in RBL Bank for Rs 417 crore
• According to current regulations of the Reserve Bank of India, industrial houses can hold up to
10% stake in banks, but cannot be their promoters. The RBI also does not allow a banking license
to an industrial house.
• The Mahindra Group may apply for a dispensation from the RBI
Adani Transmission renames itself as Adani Energy Solutions
• Adani Transmission Ltd has renamed itself to Adani Energy Solutions Limited with immediate
effect.
• Adani Energy Solutions, erstwhile Adani Transmission, is the country’s largest private transmission
company, with a presence across 14 states.
IMF raises India’s 2023 GDP growth forecast to 6.1%
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 25 July 2023, revised India’s GDP growth forecast to
6.1% for 2023.
• However, the IMF kept the growth forecast for 2024 at 6.3%.
• Earlier in June 2023, Fitch Ratings raised its FY24 (2023-24) growth forecast for the Indian
economy to 6.3%.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has also projected FY24 Indian economic growth at 6.5%.
India's overall oilmeal exports rise 19% in June quarter
• India’s overall oil meal exports rose 19 per cent on a yearly basis during the first quarter of the
financial year 2023-24
• Soybean meal, rapeseed meal, rice bran extractions, and castor seed meal were the major exports
during the April-June quarter.
• India is the world's second-largest consumer of vegetable oil.
• South Korea, Thailand, Bangladesh, & Taiwan are key oil meal buyers from India.
Adani Group commissions India’s first transnational power project
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• Gautam Adani met Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina for full load commencement and handover of
1,600 MW ultra supercritical Godda power plant.
• Adani Power set up the thermal power plant in Jharkhand's Godda to supply power to Bangladesh
Power Development Board (BPDB).
• The Godda Plant became fully operational in June.
• The plant was commissioned in a record time of three-and-a-half years.
India’s overall exports in June 2023 estimated at US$ 60.09 Billion
• Trade deficit improved by 28.26% during April to June 2023 to US$ 22.59 Bn from US$ 31.49 Bn in
April to June 2022
• Merchandise Trade Deficit also improves by 7.9% at 57.6 Bn April-June 2023 as compared to
USD 62.6 Bn in April-June 2022
• Electronic Goods export witnessed an impressive growth of 45.4 % and 47.1% in June 2023 and
April-June 2023 respectively over corresponding period last year
LTIMindtree Enters the NIFTY 50 Index
• National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. (NSE) has included LTIMindtree a global technology
consulting and digital solutions company, in its coveted NIFTY 50 index.
• LTIMindtree was formed after the merger of L&T Infotech (LTI) and Mindtree
• It commenced trading on the Indian stock market under its new name in December 2022.
50th GST Council meeting imposes 28% tax on online gaming firms
• The 50th GST Council has concluded in New Delhi on 11 July 2023.
• A 28% GST rate has been levied on gaming, horse racing, and casinos which affects online gaming
companies.
• Pharma products like cancer drug Dinutuximab and Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP)
are exempted from GST.
• GST exempted on satellite launch services supplied by ISRO to encourage start ups.
SEBI allows PE funds to become mutual fund sponsors
• Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has allowed private equity (PE) funds to become
sponsors of mutual funds.
• SEBI allowed asset management companies to become self-sponsored in case the existing
sponsors want to disassociate themselves from the business.
• The PE companies should have a minimum of 5yrs experience and have managed committed &
drawn-down capital of over ₹5,000 crore.
GST collection grows 12% to over ₹1.61 lakh crore in June 2023
• India's GST collection crossed ₹ 1.6 lakh crore mark in June 2023.
• This is the fourth time since the inception of GST that the gross collection has crossed the ₹ 1.6
lakh crore mark.
• The collection has breached the ₹ 1.5 lakh crore for the seventh time.

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• The central goods and services tax (CGST) collection is ₹ 31,013 crore while state goods and
services tax (SGST) is ₹ 38,292 crore.

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Defence Current Affairs

INS Visakhapatnam reaches Muscat to enhance India-Oman ties
• The Indian Navy's INS Visakhapatnam arrived in Oman to enhance maritime partnership between
both countries.
• INS Visakhapatnam is part of the Western Naval Command Fleet.
• It is the lead ship of the P15B class, which was commissioned in 2021.
• Diplomatic relations between India and Oman were established in 1955.
• The relationship was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2008.
Spacetech startup Pixxel to make satellites for Indian Air Force
• Tech startup Pixxel has been awarded a significant grant from iDEX (Innovations For Defence
Excellence).
• The grant will enable Pixxel to develop small, multi-purpose satellites for the Indian Air Force.
• The iDEX initiative is a strategic plan by the Ministry of Defence aimed at stimulating
technological evolution in the defense and aerospace sectors.
Soldiers of India, Mongolia participate in Exercise Nomadic
• Soldiers of the Indian Army and Mongolian Armed Forces are participating in the ongoing
Exercise Nomadic Elephant 2023 in Mongolia.
• The exercise, which began on July 17, is being conducted at Mongolia's Ulaanbaatar.
• The exercise Nomadic Elephant -23 is due to end on July 31.
• The exercise is the 15th edition of the annual training event between India and Mongolia.
India developing 400 km class Long-RangeSurface-to-Air Missile
• India is indigenously developing a three-layered long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM)
defense system which would be able to strike down enemy aircraft and missiles at around 400
Km ranges.
• The proposal for developing a three-layered long-range surface-to-air missile system is at an
advanced stage in the Defence Ministry and is expected to be taken up for clearance soon.
Air Force Day Parade And Flypast to Be Held at Prayagraj
• The Indian Air Force will be celebrating its 91st anniversary on 08 October 2023
• Keeping with the new tradition of hosting the Air Force Day celebrations in different parts of the
country, this year's Air Force Day parade and Air Display will be held in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
• The Air Force Day Celebrations will actually commence at Bhojtal Lake at Bhopal Madhya
Pradesh on 30 September 2023
The Indian Navy Quiz “G20 THINQ” launches for school students
• The Indian Navy has launched the second edition of The Indian Navy Quiz “G20 THINQ” under
the aegis of the G20 Secretariat and the Navy Welfare and Wellness Association in New Delhi.
• The quiz has been conceptualized for class 9 to 12 students under which the National Round is
expected to see the participation of over 10,000 schools from all parts of the nation.

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Indian, Indonesian naval ships to conduct MPX joint exercise

• Two Indian naval ships, INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata, arrived in Jakarta to participate in a
Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with the Indonesian Navy.
• The aim of the exercise is to strengthen mutual cooperation and understanding between the two
navies.
• INS Sahyadri is a stealth frigate, and INS Kolkata is a stealth destroyer, both built at Mazagon
Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai.
Indian Army Launches All India Tri Services Motorcycle Rally
• To commemorate 24 years of victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War of 1999 and to highlight the
indomitable spirit of women, Indian Army launched a Tri-Services ‘Nari Sashaktikaran Women
Motorcycle Rally’ from National War Memorial, Delhi to Kargil War Memorial, Dras (Ladakh).
• The all-women Motorcycle Rally was Flagged Off by the Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj
Pande.
Four militants killed in nightlong Under Operation Trinetra II
• Four militants have been killed in an ongoing anti-militancy operation in Jammu & Kashmir’s
Poonch district (Surankote area), the Army.
• The operation, which is jointly carried out by the Army and the J&K Police, was launched.
• The operation, named Operation Trinetra-II, is still ongoing in the areas around Sindarah and
Maidana villages in Surankote, Poonch.
India-Mongolia to commence joint military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant'
• India-Mongolia to commence joint military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant' 2023 on 17 July 2023.
• The exercise is the 15th edition of the annual training event between India and Mongolia.
• The exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain under a United
Nations mandate.
• The exercise will be held at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from July 17-31.
INS SUNAYNA PARTICIPATES IN CMF EX 'OP SOUTHERN READINESS - 2023'
• INS Sunayna was at Seychelles from 10-12 Jul 23 to participate in Op Southern Readiness 2023
conducted by Combined Maritime Forces(CMF).
• The visit was aimed at strengthening multilateral ties and enhancing cooperation through CMF
exercise which is a multinational initiative aimed at enhancing maritime security, countering
piracy to ensure safety and freedom of navigation in the region.
Defence Acquisition Council approves proposals for buying 26 Rafale
• The Defence Acquisition Council has approved proposals for buying 26 Rafale fighter aircraft for
the Indian Navy.
• Official sources said the council also cleared a proposal for buying three additional Scorpene
class submarines for the Indian Navy
US, India conduct 'Operation Broader Sword' to stop drug trafficking

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• India and US conducted a multi-agency operation 'Operation Broader Sword' to prevent illicit
pharmaceuticals, devices, or precursor chemicals from being shipped to the US.
• Operation Broader Sword is a bilateral multi-agency enforcement operation targeting illicit drug
trafficking.
• The operation stopped more than 500 shipments of illicit prescription drugs from reaching
American consumers.
Anil Chauhan inaugurates LRMR Hangar & Dispersal at Naval Air Station
• The Chief of Defense Staff, CDS, General Anil Chauhan inaugurated LRMR Hangar & Dispersal at
Naval Air Station, INS Utkrosh in Port Blair.
• The twin hangar spread over 6000 sq. mt. can accommodate a combination of P8I aircraft with
Dronier & Advanced Light Helicopters.
• He praises the efforts of tri-service personnel to work in synergy for keeping the islands safe
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh launches a single window NCC Cadets
• In a major step towards promoting digitisation and in sync with Digital India mission, Raksha
Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched an NCC Integrated Software in New Delhi
• The NCC Integrated Software, developed in partnership with Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space
Applications and Geo Informatics (BISAG), is a single window interactive software for Cadets,
designed on the ‘Entry to Exit Model’
The 7th Edition of SALVEX was Coducted at Kochi
• The Seventh edition of Indian Navy – US Navy Salvage and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
exercise, SALVEX was conducted from at Kochi
• IN and USN have been participating in joint Salvage and EOD exercises since 2005.
• The exercise saw participation from both the navies which included the ships – INS Nireekshak
and USNS Salvor in addition to Specialist Diving and EOD teams.
Navy launches outreach programme in Ladakh
• The Indian Navy said it has embarked on a multi-dimensional outreach program in Ladakh,
especially to ensure greater participation of the youth.
• As part of the program, Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar will host various outreach activities in
Leh
• The outreach program comes in the Union Territory amid the lingering border row between Indian
and Chinese troops
Japan, India Maritime Exercise- JIMEX23 commences in Visakhapatnam
• The bilateral Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2023 (JIMEX 23) has commenced in Visakhapatnam.
• The exercise aims to strengthen mutual cooperation and commitment toward maritime security
in the region.
• JIMEX 23 marks the 11th anniversary of JIMEX since its inception in 2012.
• The exercise will be conducted over six days in two phases - a Harbour Phase and a Sea Phase.

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Indian Naval Air Squadron 324 celebrates first anniversary at INS Dega
• Indian Naval Air Squadron 324 (INAS 324) at INS Dega in Visakhapatnam celebrated its maiden
anniversary
• Indian Naval Air Squadron 324 is equipped with indigenous ALH Mk III helicopters
• The crew upholds their motto "Nidruvith Dhrud Veeryvath" - "Faithful, Tenacious, Fearless"
India’s research vessel ‘Sagar Nidhi’ Participate in CSC
• Scientists from Bangladesh and Mauritius embarked onboard India's research vessel ‘Sagar Nidhi’
to participate in a joint ocean expedition
• The cruise is conducted by Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services under the
Ministry of Earth Sciences
• It is an outcome of the maiden Colombo Security Conclave Oceanographers and Hydrographers
conference held in Goa and Hyderabad in 2022
Defence ministry inks a ₹2725 cr deal with MDL for INS Shankush
• The defense ministry inked a Rs 2,725 crore contract with the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
(MDL) for the refit of submarine INS Shankush.
• Shankush is a Sub-Surface Killer (SSK) class submarine.
• The submarine post medium refit with life certification (MRLC) will be delivered in 2026.
• After MRLC, INS Shankush will be combat-ready and will join the active fleet of the Indian Navy.

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Government Schemes and Policies Current Affairs

PM Modi releases 1st installment of Rs. 630 crore under PM SHRI Scheme
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi today released the first installment of 630 crore rupees under the
PM ScHools For Rising India- PM SHRI Scheme for 6,207 schools.
• He also released the education and skill curriculum books translated into 12 Indian
languages. Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the two-day Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha
Samagam at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi,
1309 Railway stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is Covered
• The Railways will take up the upgradation and modernization of one thousand three hundred
nine Railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
• In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the scheme has
recently been launched for the development of Railway stations in the country.
Jyotiraditya Scindia unveils UDAN 5.2
• Jyotiraditya Scindia said the aviation sector has seen exponential growth in the last few years
with the fleet size expanding from 400 aircraft in 2013 to 700 now and this number is likely to rise
up to 1,500 in five years
• UDAN 5.2 program and the HeliSewa app were launched by the minister in Madhya Pradesh while
inaugurating the 5th Heli Summit 2023 and three Flight Training Organizations
Various Initiatives for Sahkar Se Samriddhi Scheme announced
• In order to realize the vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi”, strengthening the cooperative movement
in the country, deepening its reach to the grassroots, and enhancing its performance, various
initiatives have been taken by the Ministry of Cooperation
• Model Bye-Laws for PACS making them multipurpose, multidimensional, and transparent entities,
Strengthening of PACS through Computerization, etc.
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.
• It has been decided to extend the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana for the period 01.07.2022 to
30.06.2024 with the relaxed eligibility conditions and enhanced rate of relief
Arvind Kejriwal govt announces to provide free sugar to over 2.80 lakh
• The distribution of sugar to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries will be made available
free of cost.
• The Delhi Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal approved a proposal to provide one
kg of free sugar to over 2.80 lakh underprivileged families in the national capital till December
2023.
• The move aims to alleviate the hardships faced by underprivileged families.
First ever Credit Guarantee Scheme for Livestock Sector launched
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• Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fishries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
is implementing the Credit Guarantee Scheme under Animal Husbandry Infrastructure
Development Fund (AHIDF).
• It will strengthen the credit delivery system and facilitate the smooth flow of credit to the (MSMEs)
engaged in the Livestock sector without hassles of collateral security.
Govt launches 'Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojan' to empower the Elderly
• Union govt has launched 'Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY)' for empowering marginalized
sections of society.
• The AVYAY is a comprehensive initiative aimed at empowering senior citizens in India.
• The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing various programs &
schemes for senior citizens, including the National Action Plan for Senior Citizens (NAPSrc).
Women-only courts for alternative dispute resolution
• The Centre is launching a unique initiative of setting up women-only courts at the village level as
an alternate dispute resolution forum for issues like domestic violence, property rights, and
countering the patriarchal system.
• The scheme would be launched on a pilot basis in 50 villages each in Assam and J&K
• It would be extended to the rest of the country over the next six months.
Govt to soon share infrastructure data from Gati Shakti portal
• The government is working out a mechanism to share data with industry and potential investors
about multi-modal connectivity as well as other physical and social infrastructure captured on
the PM Gati Shakti platform.
• These include 20 road stretches prone to landslides and 11 sinking zones.
• All ministries are working out what data can be shared.
Govt asks committee to identify orphaned for Mission Vatsalya
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development has asked the Child Welfare and Protection
Committee to identify the children who may be in need of help and support in difficult
circumstances.
• Ministry officials said that the Committee has been asked to identify the children who are eligible
for support in difficult circumstances under Mission Vatsalya
Cabinet clears Data Protection Bill
• The Union Cabinet cleared the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill.
• The clearance paves the way for the Bill to be introduced in Parliament in the upcoming Monsoon
Session, scheduled to begin on July 20.
• The data protection legislation specifies norms on management of personal data of Indian
residents and requires explicit consent from people whose data is collected and used.
Govt launches Rs. 5000 crore scheme to enhance fire services in states

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• The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has launched a scheme for the expansion and modernization
of fire services in the states.
• The scheme is aimed at strengthening fire services in the states with a total outlay of Rs. 5,000
crore.
• The concerned State Governments shall have to contribute 25% of the total cost of such
projects/proposals from their budgetary resources.
Delhi LG distributes Honey Bee-Boxes and Toolkits under 'GVY'
• The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, distributed Honey Bee-Boxes and
Toolkits to 130 beneficiaries.
• The program was organized under the 'Gramodyog Vikas Yojna' of Khadi and Village Industries
Commission (KVIC), Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
• He highlighted the success of the Honey Mission initiated by the KVIC in 2017

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Days and Events Current Affairs

World Hepatitis Day: 28 July
• World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on 28 July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, an
inflammation of the liver that causes severe pain.
• The 63rd World Health Assembly in May 2010 declared July 28 to celebrate the day in honour of
Nobel Laureate Baruch Samuel Blumberg, discoverer of the hepatitis B virus.
• The theme for the year 2023 is “One Life, One Liver,”.
World Nature Conservation Day: 28 July
• World Nature Conservation Day is observed on July 28 to create awareness about the importance
of protecting the environment.
• The Day aims to highlight the significance of biodiversity preservation, and environmental
balance for the benefit of present and future generations.
• The theme for World Nature Conservation Day 2023 is “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People
and Planet”
Kargil Vijay Diwas: 26 July
• Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed on 26 July every year to honour the sacrifices of all 527 soldiers
who were martyred in the war against Pakistan in 1999.
• It is named after the success of Operation Vijay.
• The Kargil war ended on 26 July after 60 days of fighting.
• To celebrate the 24th anniversary, an all-women motorbike expedition has been organised from
Delhi to Kargil War Memorial in Drass.
Nirmala Sitharaman presides over the 164th Income Tax Day celebrations
• The 164th anniversary of Income Tax Day was observed by the Central Board of Direct Taxes
(CBDT) and all its field offices across India on 24 July 2023.
• Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman presided over the event.
• As part of the celebrations, several taxpayers from diverse economic and industrial fields were
invited as first-hand witnesses in the tax procedures.
National Broadcasting Day: 23 July
• National Broadcasting Day is observed on July 23 every year in India.
• The day marks the start of organised radio broadcasts in the country by All India Radio.
• On July 23, 1927, the India Broadcasting Company came into existence and became the first radio
company in India.
• The famous Akashvani tune was composed by Indian Jewish refugee Walter Kauffman in 1930.
National Thermal Engineer Day: 24 July
• Every year July 24 is observed as National Thermal Engineers Day to celebrate the contribution
of thermal engineers.

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• National Thermal Engineer Day was established in 2014 by thermal engineers at Advanced
Thermal Solutions, Inc (ATS).
• Thermal management is essential to ensure the efficient operation of electronic components and
prevent overheating.
National Mango Day: 22 July
• The National Day of the Mango is celebrated every year on July 22.
• The National Horticulture Board of India came up with the idea for the International Mango
Festival in 1987 as a way to honour the adored mango.
• The term "mango" comes from the Malayan word "manna," and the fruit's seeds spread from Asia
to many other regions of the world.
Pi Approximation Day: 22 July
• Pi Approximation Day is observed on 22 July every year because of the value of Pi which is 22/7.
• Whereas Pi Day is celebrated on 14 March which is similar to the approximate value of 3.14 and
also coincides with Albert Einstein’s birthday.
• Pi is a mathematical constant, used in calculations of Mathematics.
• The symbol of Pi was designed back in 1706 by mathematician Leonhard Euler.
International Chess Day: 20 July
• International Chess Day is celebrated annually on 20 July, the day the International Chess
Federation (FIDE) was founded in 1924.
• The day was proposed by UNESCO, and it has been celebrated as such since 1966 after it was
established by FIDE.
• The 2023 year's theme of International Chess Day focuses on making the game universal and
more accessible to everyone.
International Nelson Mandela Day: 18 July
• International Nelson Mandela Day is observed on 18 July every year.
• The day celebrates Mandela's life and legacy in a sustainable way that will bring about the
needful changes.
• The day was officially declared by the United Nations in Nov 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day
held on 18 July 2010.
• The theme for the year 2023 is "The Legacy Lives on Through You: Climate, Food, and Solidarity."
All-India Institute of Ayurveda organises seminar on Sushruta Jayanti
• The All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) is organizing a three-day seminar from July 13-15, 2023.
• The seminar is being held on the occasion of Sushruta Jayanti, which is celebrated every year on
July 15 to honor the father of surgery.
• Live surgical demonstrations were performed during the seminar on July 13 and 14, including
laparoscopic surgery and general surgical procedures.
Malala Day: 12 July

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• Malala Day is celebrated every year on July 12 to celebrate the birthday of activist Malala
Yousafzai.
• The Day was designated by the United Nations in 2013, marking one year since Malala was
attacked by the Taliban.
• In 2013, TIME Magazine recognized her as one of the world’s most influential people.
• She was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.
World Population Day: 11 July
• World Population Day is an annual event, observed on July 11 every year, which seeks to raise
awareness of global population issues.
• The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development
Programme in 1989.
• The theme for the 2023 day is "Unleashing the Power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of
women & girls to unlock our world's infinite possibilities."
National Fish Farmers Day Meet - 2023 celebrated at Mahabalipuram
• The Exhibition on Fisheries Startups was inaugurated at Mahabalipuram on 10 July 2023, by Union
Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala.
• The exhibition displayed the achievements of the Department of Fisheries and the inauguration
of 176 fisheries projects worth Rs. 138.13 Cr.
• The Fisheries Startup Grand Challenge was launched by the Department of Fisheries.
World Zoonosis Day: 6 July
• World Zoonoses Day is observed annually on July 6th to honor the achievements of Louis Pasteur,
a renowned French biologist.
• On this day in 1885, Pasteur administered the inaugural rabies vaccine.
• Zoonotic diseases are illnesses that can be transmitted from animals or insects to humans.
• The theme for the year 2023 is “One World, One Health: Prevent Zoonoses, Stop the Spread”.
President attends 125th birth anniversary of Alluri Sitarama Raju
• The President of India, Droupadi Murmu addressed the 125th Birth Anniversary ceremony of Alluri
Sitarama Raju at Hyderabad on 4 July 2023.
• Alluri Sitarama Raju was a revolutionary freedom fighter who fought against British rule in India.
• He led the Rampa Rebellion against the British colonial government in the early 1920s.
International Plastic Bag Free Day: 3 July
• International Plastic Bag Free Day is celebrated on July 3 every year.
• The day aims to create a collective consciousness to take steps toward reducing reliance on
plastic bags.
• In 2008, Zero Waste Europe launched a campaign against single-use plastic bags on which was
on 3 July.
• In 2015, the European Union also passed certain directives to reduce the usage of single-use
plastic bags.

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Guru Purnima: 3 July 2023

• Guru Purnima is celebrated on the Full moon day of Ashadha.
• It falls generally in the month of July or August.
• It is celebrated as a festival in Nepal, India and Bhutan by the Hindus, Jains & Buddhists.
• In Buddhism, the day honours Lord Buddha who gave His first sermon on this day at Sarnath,
Uttar Pradesh, India.
• This was the day when Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa – author of the Mahabharata.
National Chartered Accountants Day: 1 July
• National CA Day is celebrated on July 1 every year.
• The day is dedicated to commemorating the establishment of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of India (ICAI) in 1949 by an Act of Parliament in India.
• ICAI on 30 June unveiled a new logo with the tagline: ‘75 Years of Trust’.
• The ICAI serves as the licensing and regulatory authority for financial auditing in India.
National Doctor's Day: 1 July
• National Doctors Day is celebrated on July 1 every year to commemorate the birth and death
anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.
• He was one of India's most renowned physicians and the second Chief Minister of West Bengal.
• Roy was a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.
• The theme for the 2023 year is "Celebrating Resilience and Healing Hands."

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International Current Affairs

Niger's Army General Declares Himself Leader After Announcing Coup
• Abdourahamane Tchiani, head of the Presidential Guard appeared on state television saying he
was the president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.
• The general presented the coup as a response to the degradation of the security situation.
• A statement followed by the putschists on TV warned of the consequences that will flow from any
foreign military intervention.
Bhutan announces successful elimination of rubella
• Bhutan has successfully eliminated rubella, a highly contagious disease that can cause severe
complications for pregnant women and irreversible birth defects in newborns.
• The World Health Organization recognized Bhutan's efforts to tackle rubella.
• Bhutan's targeted vaccination campaigns and awareness programs have reached even the most
remote and isolated communities.
Japan's population fell by more than 8,00,000 in 2022
• Japan's population has fallen by over 800,000 in the last year, marking the 14th consecutive year
of contraction.
• The number of Japanese residents shrank by over 800,000, while the number of foreign residents
rose by over 10%.
• Japan has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, with nearly one in 1,500 people
reaching age 100 or older in 2020.
French President Emmanuel Macron to visit Sri Lanka
• French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Sri Lanka this weekend, following his return from
Papua New Guinea
• Macron will meet Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe during his visit.
• It is going to be the first visit by a French President to Sri Lanka, also his visit will mark the first
trip of a French President to countries of Pacific island nations.
Powerful Typhoon Heads for China After Grazing the Philippines
• Typhoon Doksuri, packing winds equivalent to those of a Category 3 hurricane, is expected to hit
China.
• It also threatens Taiwan.
• The storm hovered near a group of small islands north of Luzon, the largest and most populous
island in the Philippines, the national meteorological service said in a bulletin.
• It was expected to pass near Taiwan before making landfall in China.
Gold Coast Films successfully executes first-ever SCY Awards in SL
• Gold Coast Films, India's leading content marketing agency, in association with Cinnamon Hotels
and Sri Lankan Airlines, has successfully executed the first-ever season of Social Creator Of The
Year Awards in Sri Lanka.

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• This event, which aims to celebrate and honor social creators, marked a significant milestone as
the first creator's award held at an international destination, Sri Lanka.
World's biggest permafrost crater in Russia’s Far East thaws as planet
• Stunning drone footage has revealed details of the Batagaika crater, a one-kilometer-long gash
in Russia's Far East that forms the world's biggest permafrost crater.
• Scientists say Russia is warming at least 2.5 times faster than the rest of the world
• The "gateway to the underworld," as some locals in Russia's Sakha Republic also call it, has a
scientific name: a mega-slump.
Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 commenced officially
• Australia’s largest bilateral military exercise with the US, Exercise Talisman Sabre, officially
commenced, with an opening ceremony on-board HMAS Canberra.
• it is the largest Exercise Talisman Sabre in terms of its geographical area and the number of
participating partners.
• In two weeks, 13 nations will participate in high-end multi-domain warfighting across sea, land,
air, cyber, and space.
Admiral Lisa Franchetti becomes first woman to lead US Navy
• Admiral Lisa Franchetti has become the first woman in history to serve as the Chief of Naval
Operations and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Franchetti, who is currently serving as the vice chief of naval operations, was commissioned in
1985 and has served as the commander of US Naval Forces Korea
• She is the second woman ever to achieve the rank of four-star admiral in the US Navy
FAO launches action plan for to tackle Global Agri Challenges
• The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has launched an Action Plan
designed to support the implementation of its ambitious Strategy on Climate Change 2022-2031.
• The Strategy envisions sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems.
• The Action Plan is based on three pillars: advocacy, policy support, and scaling-up of climate
action.
Lisa Franchetti become 1st woman to be top Navy officer in US history
• President Joe Biden has chosen Admiral Lisa Franchetti to be the Navy's top officer, making her
the first woman to hold this position in the US Navy's history and the first woman in the joint chiefs
of Staff.
• She has commanded two carrier strike groups and assumed the role of Vice CNO in September
2022.
• Vice Adm. James Kilby was nominated for the next Vice Chief of Naval Operations
Ethiopia allows social media access after five months
• Ethiopia has allowed people to access Facebook, Telegram, TikTok, and YouTube after five
months.

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• The blackout was imposed on 9 February this year after tensions between the Ethiopian Orthodox
Church and the government.
• Only those with access to virtual private network (VPN) software could get on to the social media
platforms, something that cost them additional data.
UK rolls out first passports in name of King Charles III
• For the first time in 70 years, British passports bearing the title of “His Majesty” will start being
issued this week in the name of King Charles III.
• UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman unveiled the new design update evening which changes
the passport salutation from “Her Majesty” following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September
last year.
Australia's Victoria state withdraws as host of the 2026 Commonwealth
• Victoria state in Australia has withdrawn from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to a
significant increase in projected costs.
• The 2026 Games had been scheduled for March 17-29 in the regional centers of Geelong, Bendigo,
Ballarat, Gippsland and Shepparton.
• The most recent edition held in Australia was on the Gold Coast, Queensland state, in 2018.
South Korea to hold international defence exhibition in October 2023
• South Korea will host the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) on 17
October to showcase advanced military hardware and technologies.
• The exhibition will involve 550 companies from 35 countries, making it the largest-ever edition of
the event.
• The organizers will hold various aircraft demonstrations and exhibit advanced military assets and
equipments.
UN Security Council to hold first talks on AI risks on 18 July 2023
• The United Nations Security Council will discuss Artificial Intelligence (AI) in New York on 18 July
2023.
• The UK is the rotating president of the UN Security Council for July and wants to encourage a
multilateral approach to managing AI.
• The AI meeting will be chaired by James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth
and Development Affairs.
Google honours Indo-American artist Zarina Hashmi on her 86th birthday
• Google Doodle honors Indian American artist Zarina Hashmi on her 86th birthday.
• Hashmi's artwork employed abstract and geometric forms to evoke a spiritual experience in
viewers.
• She was born in Aligarh, India, and experienced the tragedy of the partition of India.
• Hashmi's artwork has been included in permanent collections at the San Francisco Museum and
the Whitney Museum of American Art.

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UAE and India Strengthen Energy Partnership and Commitment to Climate

• UAE and India Strengthen Energy Partnership and Commitment to Climate
• Recognizing the urgent need for climate action, the leaders of both nations have pledged to
intensify cooperation to accelerate the energy transition and effectively implement the Paris
Agreement.
• They also expressed their intention to collaborate closely within the framework of COP, the IRENA,
and ISA.
Indian team secures 2 Gold medals at 64th Intl. Mathematical Olympiad
• The 6-member Indian team secured two Gold medals at the 64th International Mathematical
Olympiad (IMO) 2023 held at Chiba, Japan.
• The Indian team also managed to get two Silver and two Bronze medals and finished 9th out of
112 countries.
• This is the fourth time India secured a position in the top 10.
Sex education to be compulsory in schools in Republic of Ireland
• Lessons in relationships and sex education (RSE) are to be compulsory for 15 to 18 year olds at
schools in the Republic of Ireland.
• The move is planned as part of changes to the social, personal and health education (SPHE) for
senior pupils.
• Adults will be taught nurturing, respectful, caring, and healthy relationships under sexuality and
relationship lessons.
Hague Human Rights Film Festival highlights persecution of women
• Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD), an NGO held the second edition of its Human Rights Film
Festival in The Hague with a focus on women's rights
• The second annual Global Human Rights Defence’s Human Rights Film Festival also presented
the sufferings of Tajik, Yazidi, Ahmadi, Pakistani, and Uyghur, including that in China and Pakistan
Elon Musk launches artificial intelligence firm xAI
• Elon Musk announced the formation of his new AI firm, xAI, on 12 July 2023.
• The company will work closely with Twitter, Tesla, and other companies to make progress toward
its mission.
• The goal of xAI is to understand the true nature of the universe.
• Musk thinks AI could cause "civilization destruction" and joined other tech leaders in calling for a
pause in an "out of control" AI race.
UAE 1st Arab country to be granted observer status In laundering group
• UAE is participating with observer status in the plenary of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money
Laundering, taking place this week in Vancouver, Canada
• The UAE is the first Arab country to be granted observer status at the APG

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• Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State to the UAE Cabinet, welcomed the decision of the
Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering Pleanry to grant observer status to the UAE
Japan offers medical scholarships to Bhutan
• Japan has offered medical scholarships for Bhutanese students,
• This will provide them with the opportunity to pursue their dreams of becoming medical
professionals.
• The Royal Civil Service Commission has signed a memorandum of understanding with the
esteemed International Japan’s University of Health Welfare, marking a milestone for Bhutan’s
education and healthcare sectors.
UN introduces 51 robots at AI summit to advance SDG goals
• United Nations introduces 51 robots at Artificial Intelligence (AI) summit to advance Sustainable
Development Goals.
• The AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva on July 6-7, 2023, aims at accelerating the world's
achievement of the 2030 targets of the United Nations.
• The summit gathered around 3,000 experts to harness the power of AI to solve the world's most
pressing problems.
Transgender woman is crowned Miss Netherlands for the first time
• Rikkie Valerie Kollé is the first transgender woman to win Miss Universe Netherlands.
• She succeeded Ona Moody and will represent the Netherlands at Miss Universe 2023.
• Nathalie Mogbelzada was named first runner-up while Habiba Mostafa and Lou Dirchs were
awarded Miss Congeniality and Miss Social Media.
• Reigning Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel of the USA was the chief guest of the event.
Latvia's Edgars Rinkevics sworn in as EU’s first openly gay president
• Edgar Rinkevics is Latvia's first openly gay head of state and the first openly gay president of a
European Union (EU) member state.
• Rinkevics has held the highest diplomatic position for Latvia since 2011 and has long supported
Ukraine against Russian aggression.
• Rinkevics was elected to the mostly ceremonial position of president in May after his predecessor
opted not to seek re-election.
SpaceX gets licenses in Mongolia to offer high-speed internet
• SpaceX has been granted two licenses by the Mongolian government to function as an internet
service provider utilizing low-orbit satellites.
• High-speed connectivity through Starlink will be accessible to numerous internet users in
Mongolia.
• Starlink has established a rapidly expanding network comprising over 3,500 satellites in low-Earth
orbit, enabling connectivity even in remote regions.
Google Doodle celebrates the Japanese star festival Tanabata

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• Google, on 7 July 2023, celebrated the Japanese festival Tanabata with a special doodle.
• Tanabata is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month every year.
• The festival is based on the ancient Chinese legend of two star-crossed lovers.
• The legend came to Japan in the 8th century BC and has been celebrated ever since.
U.S. destroys last of its declared chemical weapons
• U.S. destroys last of its declared chemical weapons, closing a deadly chapter dating to World
War I.
• The U.S. faced a Sept. 30 deadline to eliminate its remaining chemical weapons under the
international Chemical Weapons Convention, which took effect in 1997 and was joined by 193
countries.
• Chemical weapons were first used in modern warfare in World War I.
IMO sets 'by or around 2050' as net zero target
• The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) agreed on a "flexible" net zero target of 2050 for
the global shipping industry.
• The target is "by or around" 2050 and includes a clause that it only applies if national
circumstances allow.
• The IMO also agreed to reduce emissions by at least 20% by 2030, and by at least 70% by 2040.
FAO, UNEP, WHO and WOAH launch research agenda for antimicrobial
• Four multilateral agencies have launched a priority research agenda on June 28, 2023 to better
advocate for increased research and investment in antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• The organisations work specifically in the areas of human, animal, plant, and environmental
health.
• On similar lines, WHO also launched a global research agenda for AMR in human health on June
22, 2023.
U.N. Security Council to hold first-ever meeting on threats of AI
• The U.N. Security Council will hold a first-ever meeting on the threats of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
on July 18th.
• The meeting organized by the United Kingdom, will see global leaders discussing the potential
threats of artificial intelligence (AI).
• This was announced by the UK’s ambassador to the UN, Dame Barbara Woodward.
UAE Establishes new Ministry of Investment
• The UAE has announced the establishment of a new Ministry of Investment.
• The ministry will be responsible for developing the investment vision of the country and enhancing
its competitiveness in the global market.
• The ministry will be headed by Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi.
• its responsibilities will include proposing investment policies, and preparing strategies and
legislation.

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France and UAE Collaborate to Accelerate Shift towards Clean Energy

• France and the United Arab Emirates have joined forces to expedite the transition to clean energy
solutions.
• The French Trade Minister expressed his unwavering trust in the UAE's capabilities and its ability
to successfully host the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) at Expo City Dubai in November.

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MoU and Agreements Current Affairs

106 MoUs signed on the occasion of Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam 2023
• The Ministry of Education and Skill Development signed 106 MoUs on the occasion of the Akhil
Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam 2023 and the 3rd anniversary of the National Education Policy.
• The MoUs encompass partnerships with both public and private entities to foster innovation, and
research in multiple domains.
• NCERT signed 20 MoUs under the aegis of eVidya initiative with several states
Goa Shipyard, BITS join hands to use AI in shipbuilding
• Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) and BITS Goa have partnered to develop and implement AI technologies
in the shipbuilding and defence industry.
• The MoU aims to enhance operational efficiency, optimize ship design processes, and strengthen
defence capabilities.
• The partnership is committed to fostering innovation and progress in the shipbuilding and
defence sector.
India signs MoU with Papua New Guinea on sharing INDIA STACK
• India and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) of Papua New
Guinea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on sharing INDIA STACK.
• It was signed during the first Global Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Summit organised by the
Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) on June 12-13, 2023 in Pune, Maharashtra.
India's Neonicz Software Solutions signs MoU with Liberia Tele Corp
• Neonicz Software Solutions Private Limited has partnered with Liberia Telecommunication
Corporation to strengthen technological advancement in Liberia.
• The partnership aims to strengthen the Liberian community through innovative technology
solutions.
• Neonicz Software Solutions is an innovative technology company based in India, serving clients
across the globe.
Union Bank partners with IBM to co-create Digital Business platform
• Union Bank of India has partnered with IBM India Private Limited to create a Digital Business
Platform.
• The platform aims to establish a Digital Bank with cutting-edge capabilities.
• Union Bank of India will embrace Open Banking capabilities, allowing seamless integration of
services across partnerships.
• The bank aims to create a future-ready banking ecosystem.
Assam ties-up with Jio Cinema to stream short film on Lachit Barphukan
• The Assam Government has partnered with Jio Cinema to stream a short film on Veer Lachit
Barphukan, one of the greatest military heroes of India.

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• The film was screened during the 400th Birthday Anniversary Celebration of Lachit Barphukan in
the presence of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
• Lachit Barphukan was a famous General of the Ahom Kingdom of Assam.
India, Sri Lanka sign MoU on cooperation in field of renewable energy
• India and Sri Lanka signed an MoU on cooperation in renewable energy and another one for
economic development projects in the Trincomalee district of Sri Lanka.
• Both countries also issued a Joint Declaration of Intent in the field of Animal Husbandry & Dairying
& Network to Network Agreement between NPCI International Payments Limited and Lanka Pay
for UPI application acceptance in Sri Lanka.
PFC signs MoU worth ₹ 2.37 trillion in clean energy space
• Power Finance Corporation (PFC) on 21 July 2023, announced that it has entered into loan
agreements worth more than Rs 2.37 lakh crore with 20 companies.
• These MoUs were signed with solar, wind power, green hydrogen, battery storage, and electric
vehicle companies.
• Adani, Geenco, ReNew, Continuum, Avaada, and JBM Auto were some of the companies with
whom PFC signed the MoU.
Ministry of Culture, Indian Navy sign MoU to revive Tankai method
• The Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy have collaborated through an MoU to revive and
preserve the ancient 2000-year-old shipbuilding technique known as the ‘stitched shipbuilding
method‘ or ‘Tankai method’.
• The Tankai method is an ancient shipbuilding technique which entails stitching wooden planks
together to build ships, eschewing the use of nails.
Argentina signs LoI with Hindustan Aeronautics
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Argentina’s Ministry of Defence signed a Letter of Intent
(LoI) on productive cooperation and acquisition of Light and Medium Utility Helicopters for
Argentinian armed forces.
• The LoI was signed by Argentinian Defence Minister Jorge Taiana, HAL Chief Managing Director
(CMD) C B Ananthakrishnan.
Culture Ministry signs MoU with Canara Bank for to facilitate artists
• An MoU has been signed between the Ministry of Culture and Canara Bank to disburse financial
assistance to veteran artists.
• The scheme is open to artists aged 60 and above who have contributed to art and culture.
• The annual income of eligible beneficiaries must not exceed Rs 48000.
• The Bank will work out the quarterly requirement of funds and raise the demand with the Ministry.
India, Japan sign MOU to develop semiconductor ecosystem
• India and Japan signed an MoU on semiconductor development, focusing on design,
manufacturing, equipment research, and talent development.

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• The MoU includes five fronts, including semiconductor design, manufacturing, equipment
research, talent development, and supply chain resilience.
• India has more than 50 designs, making it an attractive destination for semiconductor
manufacturing.
IIT Guwahati signs MoU with Indian Council of World Affairs
• The Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati signed an MoU with the Indian Council of World
Affairs to build skills in international affairs and foreign policy.
• The collaboration aims to expand awareness and knowledge of international affairs and Indian
foreign policy.
• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar announced this collaboration during his address at the 25th
Convocation of IIT Guwahati.
India, Argentina sign agreements to strengthen cooperation in defence
• India, and Argentina signed a Memorandum of Understanding and a Specific Agreement on
Academic Cooperation for peacekeeping.
• Argentina invited Union defence minister Rajnath Singh to the Latin American Conference of
United Nations Peacekeeping Operations that will take place in Argentina on 12 September 2023.
• The officials also discussed issues related to the training of soldiers.
India, UAE sign MoUs for promoting use of local currencies
• The Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of UAE signed two MoUs to promote the use of
local currencies for cross-border transactions.
• The MoUs aim to establish a Local Currency Settlement System to promote the use of INR and
AED bilaterally.
• The LCSS would enable exporters and importers to invoice and pay in their respective domestic
currencies.
India, France signs MoU for construction of three Scorpene submarine
• India and France an MoU for the construction of three additional submarines under the P75
program.
• The Scorpene Submarines have advanced stealth features and are equipped with long-range
guided torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.
• These submarines have a state-of-the-art SONAR suite and sensor suite permitting outstanding
operational capabilities.
Indian Army signs contract for procurement of Tactical Access Switch
• The Indian Army signed a contract for procurement of Tactical Access Switch with Tata Advanced
Systems Limited.
• The networking device would provide faster switching capability and strengthen the tactical
communication capability of the Indian Army.
• The Tata Rajak system can observe or detect humans from more than 15 kms, and vehicles from
more than 25 Kms.

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MoD & FSSAI sign MoU to promote use of millets

• A MoU to promote the use of millet and healthy eating practices among the Armed Forces and
ensure the availability of safe & nutritious food was signed in the presence of Raksha Mantri and
the Minister of Health & Family Welfare in New Delhi
• Both Ministers also unveiled a book titled ‘Healthy Recipes for Defence’ to promote the
consumption of Shree Anna (millets) and its health benefits
IFSCA inks MoU with IIML–EIC to boost FinTech support
• International Financial Services Centers Authority (IFSCA) and IIML -EIC, have signed a MoU to
collaborate in supporting and facilitating FinTech entities.
• The MoU aims to put in place a framework for cooperation and understanding between IFSCA
and IIML-EIC.
• The MoU was signed at (Indian Institute of Management) Lucknow EIC, Noida campus in Uttar
Pradesh.
India, Maldives ink 9 agreements for various development projects
• India and Maldives signed various agreements and a Memorandum of Understanding at
Hyderabad House on 11 July 2023.
• Nine new MoUs were exchanged under Phase II of the High Impact Community Development
Projects Scheme.
• The MoU was signed to promote play and healthy competition in the community.
• Both countries also signed MoU on Upgrading School Computer Lab in Government schools.
IFSCA, Climate Policy Initiative sign pact on sustainable finance
• International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has signed an agreement with Climate
Policy Initiative to increase mobilization of sustainable capital flows into India.
• IFSCA has taken significant steps to accelerate global sustainable capital flows by creating a
conducive regulatory environment.
• Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) works to improve best practices around the world.
L&T signs pact with Spain firm Navantia to build Navy submarines
• LARSEN & TOUBRO said it has signed a Teaming Agreement with Spain-based Navantia to
participate in the Navy’s P75 (India) submarine project and will submit a techno-commercial bid
for it
• For its dwindling submarine fleet, the Navy is looking to procure six advanced diesel-electric
submarines under Project 75 (I)
• L&T and Navantia are also seeking cooperation in other military programs as well
National Water Mission inks pact with Indian Plumbing Association
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between BWUE, NWM, Ministry of Jal Shakti,
and Indian Plumbing Association (IPA) for a Water Positive India.

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• The MoU aims to increase water use efficiency by promoting rainwater harvesting structures, low
flow fixtures & sanitary ware, and water audit of built environments.
• Indian Plumbing Association is based in Okhla, New Delhi.
Flipkart partners with Axis Bank to facilitate personal loans
• Flipkart has partnered with Axis Bank to offer personal loans to its customers in India.
• Personal loan service offers competitive loan options with amounts up to ₹ 5 lakhs and flexible
repayment cycles.
• The service is aimed at addressing customers' demands in today's financial environment and
leveraging digital lending.
India & Panama signs MoU on Electoral Cooperation
• The Election Commission of India and the Electoral Tribunal of Panama signed an MoU to
strengthen cooperation in election management and administration.
• The ECI delegation was led by the Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajiv Kumar.
• The MoU aims to establish an institutional framework for ongoing cooperation between the two
Election Management Bodies (EMBs).
India, Singapore sign MoU to co-operate on public administration
• India signed a protocol document with Singapore to extend the current MoU on cooperation in
personnel management and public administration until 2028.
• The MoU aims to strengthen the partnership between India and Singapore through various forms
of cooperation between both countries' public services.
• The areas covered under the activities of the MoU include administrative reforms and training.
Gujarat inks six MoUs for mangrove plantation under MISHTI scheme
• The Gujarat govt inked six MoUs with private industries for the mangrove plantation under the
MISTHI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) Scheme.
• The mangrove forest will be developed at a cost of Rs. 510 lakhs in the next five years.
• Union Minister Bhupender Yadav launched a mangrove plantation drive and urged multi-
stakeholders to participate in initiatives.
Union govt signs an MoU with Tanzania to set up IIT Madras campus
• S Jaishankar met with the President of Zanzibar Hussein Ali Mwinyi and witnessed the signing of
the agreement on setting up the IIT Madras campus in Zanzibar.
• The new IIT campus will be set up in Zanzibar under the name IIT Madras at Zanzibar.
• Zanzibar will be one of three campuses outside of India, with the others located in Abu Dhabi and
Kuala Lumpur.
DGCA signs MoU with EU Aviation Safety Agency for drone systems
• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) India has signed an MoU with the European
Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for cooperation in Unmanned Aircraft Systems and
Innovative Air Mobility.

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• The MoU will focus on collaboration on unmanned aircraft and innovative air mobility between
the two civil aviation authorities.
• DGCA is a statutory body to regulate civil aviation in India.
University of Jaffna & IIT Madras sign MoU
• To foster academic collaboration and promote research initiatives, the University of Jaffna and
the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have signed an MOU
• This initiative aims to enhance cross-cultural learning experiences and promote academic
diversity
• IIT Madras has generously offered its expertise to support the establishment of joint research
platforms in this domain
UAE's RAKEZ signs MoU with ICFA to foster trade and innovation
• Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) and the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) have
signed an MoU for the development of the food and agriculture sectors of the UAE and India.
• The MoU will facilitate promotional activities for trade, market access, and business matchmaking
between India and UAE.
• The collaboration promises to boost Indian presence and investment in the UAE.
MoU signed for Navy gallery at National Maritime Heritage Complex
• A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, and
Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Ltd. for the planning, and development of the National
Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal, Gujarat.
• The MoU was signed for the planning, development, construction, and commissioning of a gallery
on the theme "Evolution of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard"
NADA India signs MoU with South Asia Regional Anti-Doping Orgnisation
• NADA India signed an MoU with SARADO, comprising of Anti-Doping Organizations of
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, at the NADA India – SARADO Cooperation
Meet in New Delhi.
• The MoU aims to increase Regional Cooperation in anti-doping in sports.
• it was signed in the presence of Anurag Singh Thakur and Members of Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

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National Current Affairs

Tiger Census in India
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority, with State Forest Departments, Wildlife Institute of
India, and partners, conducts a national "Status of Tigers, Co-predators, Prey and their Habitat"
evaluation using a methodology approved by the Tiger Task Force in 2005.
• Emphasis is placed on relocating villages from core tiger habitats and boosting protection via a
Special Tiger Protection Force.
Jammu to get fleet of 100 e-buses under Smart City Project Limited
• The winter capital of the Union Territory, Jammu is all set to get a fleet of 100 e-buses from the
month of August under Smart City Project Limited.
• The buses will be supplied by TATA Limited and are expected to make a major contribution to
cutting carbon emissions.
• The operation of these eco-friendly buses will commence after successful trials in August.
Indian Army dedicates Amrit Sarovar in Arunachal Pradesh
• The Indian Army, in collaboration with the District Administration, West Kameng District,
inaugurated the Amrit Sarovar at Tenga Valley, Arunachal Pradesh
• The Amrit Sarovar project, aligned with the guidelines of the Government of India, focuses on
rainwater harvesting and community empowerment.
• The project will play a role in ensuring water security for the region.
Kashmir’s first private museum shines rare ethnographic lens
• The late educationist Atiqa Bano collected over 7,000 artifacts over the course of her lifetime in
a unique initiative to be promoted by the district administration in the tourism circuit
• It was officially launched in Baramulla’s Sopore area in north Kashmir on July 21 and looks set to
be part of the tourism circuit and educational tours
• It is the outcome of the late Bano’s exemplary efforts
In a 1st vertical university campus to be set up in Mumbai and Thane
• The idea of a vertical university campus was conceived to deal with the issue of land scarcity,
which is common in major cities such as Mumbai and international metropolises like New York
City, Washington DC, and Tel Aviv, Israel
• The state has decided to approve setting up Vertical University Campus in Mumbai city and
Thane which would require much less land than traditional universities.
Govt drafts a National Strategy for Cruise Tourism development
• The Ministry of Tourism in India has drafted a National Strategy for Cruise Tourism to position
India as a preferred destination for cruise tourism globally.
• The strategy document for cruise tourism includes infrastructure & circuit enablement, market
development around cruise terminals.
• The cruise passenger traffic grew from 1.26 lakh in 2015-16 to 4.68 lakh in 2019-20.

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Amazon India announces to open first floating store in Dal lake

• Under ‘I Have Space’ delivery programme, Amazon India has announced to open its first ever
floating store in Jammu and Kashmir's Dal Lake in Srinagar.
• The store will be opened in a houseboat and will provide deliveries to its customers every day in
Srinagar.
• Launched in 2015, the ‘I Have Space’ programme has 28,000 neighbourhood and kirana partners
in about 420 cities in India.
India to home South Asia’s first-ever Center for Species Survival
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission has
partnered with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) to set up the first-ever Center for Species Survival
in South Asia.
• The Center for Species Survival will be the 10th of its kind in the world and the first in South Asia.
• It will provide a platform for conservation practitioners to share best practices.
Dharmendra Pradhan launches ULLAS mobile app on 3rd anniversary of NEP
• Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the (Understanding Lifelong Learning
for All in Society) ULLAS initiative's logo, slogan, and mobile application.
• The app serves as a digital gateway for learners to engage in diverse learning resources through
the DIKSHA portal of NCERT.
• The ULLAS initiative focuses on promoting functional literacy, vocational skills, & digital literacy.
Bengaluru becomes first Indian city to join World Cities Culture Forum
• Bengaluru has become the first Indian city to become part of the World Cities Culture Forum
(WCCF).
• It is a global network of cities that share research and intelligence, and explore the role of culture
in future prosperity.
• Bengaluru being the latest addition is set to join the league of cities like New York, London, Paris,
Tokyo and Dubai among others.
PM to inaugurate Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam in New Delhi
• PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam on 29th July 2023 at
Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan in Delhi.
• These schools will nurture students in a way that they become engaged, productive, and plural in
society as envisaged by National Education Policy 2020.
• The PM will also release education and skill curriculum books translated into 12 Indian languages.
Three new lakes may form in Parkachik Glacier in Ladakh
• The Parkachik Glacier in Ladakh is likely to have three lakes of different dimensions due to
subglacial over-deepening -- a characteristic of basins and valleys eroded by glaciers shows a
new study.

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• Himalayan glaciers have been subjected to numerous studies, from field-based investigations to
the modern state-of-the-art remote sensing approach, for more than a century.
Ministry of Earth Sciences celebrates its 17th Foundation Day in ND
• The Ministry of Earth Sciences celebrated its 17th Foundation Day at its Prithvi Bhavan
headquarters in New Delhi.
• Union Minister Kiren Rijiju launched several citizen-centric initiatives to mark this occasion.
• He lauded the Ministry’s efforts and highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisions the
country becoming a developed nation by 2047.
J and K launches pioneering initiative"Doctor Aapke Gaon Mein’’
• In Jammu and Kashmir, with the aim to extend quality medical care services to the people at their
doorsteps, the District Health Society Doda has launched a pioneering initiative-"Doctor Aapke
Gaon Mein."
• More than 300 patients swarmed the camp to avail the consultation medical by specialists.
• They were examined and provided free medicines.
Virtual platform of cultural asset mapping of villages launched
• A unique virtual platform that provides insights into the cultural significance of India’s 6.5 lakh
villages was launched from the national capital’s iconic heritage site Qutub Minar.
• The project ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’ (My Village My Pride) is being undertaken under the
National Mission on Cultural Mapping in coordination with Indira Gandhi National Centre for the
Arts.
Smt. Murmu Launches Theme of the year "the year of positive change"
• Droupadi Murmu laid foundation stone for “Divine Light House” of Prajapita Brahma Kumaris
Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya at Dasabatia, Tamando and launched its theme of the year “The
Year of Positive Change” for conducting seminars and conferences
• She said that Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya is not just an organization,
but also a social and spiritual campaign run by women
Circular Economy Industry Coalition to be launched by Bhupendar Yadav
• The Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC) is set to be launched
at the side event during the 4th Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group and
Environment and Climate Ministers meeting in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• RECEIC is an industry-driven initiative aimed at promoting resource efficiency and circular
economy practices globally.
Ladakh: Zoji La tunnel expected to be completed by Dec 2030
• Zoji La Tunnel, which is said to establish all-weather connectivity between the Union Territories
of Ladakh & J&K is expected to be completed by December 2030
• The revised length of the tunnel is 13.15 km. The total length is 14.15 km. It is a horseshoe-shaped
shaft single tube and a two-lane road tunnel

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• Earlier Date was December 2026 and now the new date is December 2030
PM Modi to dedicate 1.25 lakh PM Kisan Samridhi Kendra to nation
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate one lakh 25 thousand Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samidhi
Kendra-PMKSKs to the nation at Sikar in Rajasthan.
• These centers will act as a one-stop shop for all agriculture-related inputs and services.
• The Prime Minister will also launch 'Urea Gold'.
• This is a new variety of sulfur-coated urea, which will help to remove sulfur deficiency in the soil.
Mumbai's Byculla railway station gets UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage award
• Mumbai's Byculla railway station gets UNESCO’s Asia Pacific Cultural Heritage award.
• The 169-year-old Byculla railway station in Mumbai is one of the oldest railway stations in the
world.
• The award was presented to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav on 25 July 2023.
• The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya also won the award of excellence in the
UNESCO Asia Pacific awards 2022.
‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’ has been launched by Amit Shah
• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will launch a unique initiative
Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav
• It is a pan-India initiative of the Ministry of Culture under the National Mission on Cultural
Mapping
• Shri Amit Shah will officially launch the virtual platform during a grand projection mapping show
at the Qutub Minar from 7 pm onwards
Lok Sabha passes Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill,
• Lok Sabha passed the Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
• The Bill seeks to amend the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, of 2002.
• It has been brought with an aim to strengthen governance, enhance transparency, increase
accountability, and reform electoral processes in Multi-State Cooperative Societies.
NADA has launched Anti-Doping helpline number for athletes
• Government has emphasized that ethical conduct as a key factor in the fair administration of the
sporting disciplines and facilitates a safe environment free of harassment and discrimination for
all stakeholders participating in
• Anurag Singh Thakur said this in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
• He said the government is committed to eradicating doping
Ladakh's Kargil gets first women police station
• The first-ever women's police station has started functioning here in the Union Territory of Ladakh,
terming it a significant step towards empowering women and ensuring their safety.
• The station will operate round the clock to ensure immediate assistance and support.

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• It will act as a resource center, providing guidance and counseling services for women facing
challenging situations
India’s first fisheries Atal incubation centre to come up at Kufos
• 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.
• The grant will foster a culture of innovation and technological advancement, said university
authorities.
• NITI Ayog is the government of India’s premier policy think tank.
UGC passes guidelines for Institutional Development Plan
• The University Grants Commission (UGC) has passed draft guidelines for Institutional
Development Plan for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
• The guidelines are aimed at improving the quality of higher education in India and bringing it to
international standards.
• The National Education Policy 2020 enunciates that Quality Higher Education must aim to
develop good, and creative individuals.
Goa to host the world's biggest national male pageant
• Goa will host the world's biggest national male pageant "The Rubaru" Mr. India competition.
• It is the biggest and most respected competition for men in the world.
• The candidates will undergo several preliminary activities like the formal wear round, the health
and fitness round, & the individual interviews.
• The Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant, will be at the event as the chief guest.
Ministry of Textiles organizes national conclave on Technical Textiles
• Ministry of Textiles, under its flagship scheme National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM),
organized the 6th National Conclave on Standards & Regulations in association with FICCI and
BIS.
• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) released 4 new standards during the conclave.
• More than 150 participants attended the conclave including officials and representatives from
Central Ministries.
Aviation Minister inaugurates 3 Flight Training Academies in Khajuraho
• Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurated three Flight Training Organizations (FTO) in Khajuraho,
Madhya Pradesh.
• The total number of FTOs in Madhya Pradesh will now be six, with three at Khajuraho, one at
Indore, one at Sagar, and one at Guna.
• The aviation sector has seen exponential growth with 148 airports developed in the past nine
years.
• There are 57 flying academy organizations in India.
PM Modi to dedicate International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre

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• Prime Minister Modi will dedicate the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC)
complex at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on 26 July 2023.
• The IECC complex was developed as a national project at a cost of about 2,700 crore rupees.
• It comprises of multiple state-of-the-art facilities including a convention centre, exhibition halls,
and amphitheaters.
President Murmu Completes One Year in Office Lays Foundation Stones
• The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu completed one year in office on July 25, 2023
• She Inaugurates Various Projects at Rashtrapati Bhavan Launches e-Book on One Year of
Presidency
• Laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Shiva Temple and laid the foundation stone
for the construction of a Cricket Pavilion at the Sports Ground of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Kendriya
Vidyalaya.
PM Modi to inaugurate Gujarat’s first Greenfield Airport at Hirasar
• PM Modi will inaugurate Gujarat’s first Greenfield Airport at Hirasar near Rajkot.
• The Prime Minister will also address a rally in Rajkot.
• During his two-day visit to Gujarat from 27th July, the prime Minister is scheduled to attend various
programs in the state.
• Built over 1500 acres area at a cost of 1,405 crore, the airport has been renamed as Rajkot
international airport.
Centre plans nationwide events under ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign
• The Union government has launched the ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign, envisaged as a
culminating event of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration of 75 years of Indian Independence
• In this event soil collected from different parts of the country in August will be used to develop a
garden along the Kartavya Path in Delhi
• The panchayat-level programs will be organized between August 9 and 15
Trai issues rules around draft consumer education for comments
• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a draft regulation for the
Telecommunication Consumers Education & Protection Fund (TCEPF).
• The TCEPF was created in 2007 to undertake activities that provide information & awareness to
consumers.
• The TRAI has proposed amendments to the regulations to account for the expenditure on
preparation, maintenance, and audit of accounts.
Centre grants in-principle approval to set up 21 greenfield airports
• Govt has approved the establishment of 21 new Greenfield airports across the country.
• 11 Greenfield airports are operational in the country.
• The approved airports include Mopa in Goa, Navi Mumbai, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra.
• Other approved airports are in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Puducherry,
Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

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Over 123 lakh passengers travelled on UDAN flights since its inception
• Over 123 lakh domestic passengers have flown on Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) flights since
the scheme's inception.
• UDAN scheme was launched in 2016 to improve air connectivity in tier-II and tier-III cities.
• The govt has approved the 'Revival of unserved and under-served airports' scheme to develop
100 airports, and water aerodromes by 2024.
• 148 airport have been developed under UDAN.
Kanpur Jail to launch radio station for prisoners on August 15
• A radio station is set to start operating soon in Kanpur Prison.
• The radio station will be launched on August 15 on the occasion of Independence Day.
• Songs related to patriotism and devotion will also be aired.
• Prisoners themselves will play the role of radio jockeys in this jail.
• The initiative aims to improve the mental condition of the prisoners.
DGCA adopts guidelines for environmental protection developed by ICAO
• DGCA has adopted the guidelines for environmental protection developed by the International
Civil Aviation Organization through its Standards and Recommended Practices and issued them
in the form of Civil Aviation Regulations.
• AAI, in consultation with Indian Air Force, has optimized airspace utilization under Flexible Use of
Airspace resulting in the reduction of CO2 emission.
Govt to e-auction 808 channels in 284 cities to expand Radio's reach
• Anurag Singh Thakur on said the government will auction 808 channels in 284 cities under the
3rd batch of e-auction, with an objective to expand the reach of Radio in the country
• The Minister told that at present, 80 percent of India's geographical area, and over 90 percent
percent of the population is covered by Radio
• Mr. Thakur inaugurating Regional Community Radio Sammelan in New Delhi
Shah inaugurates aviation control system for better security, real-tim
• The first-of-its-kind aviation control system is aimed to monitor security functions and resource
utilization on a real-time basis.
• The ASCC will monitor all threats and social media chatter for the 66 civil airports currently under
the CISF’s security cover
• Amit Shah inaugurated the newly developed Aviation Security Control Centre at Central Industrial
Security Force Campus in Delhi.
India's aim to cover entire nation with E20 fuel by 2025: PM Modi
• India has started the rollout of 20% ethanol-blended petrol this year.
• The country aims to cover the entire nation by 2025.
• PM Modi addressed the G20 Energy Ministerial meeting in Goa.
• The government has connected more than 190 million families with LPG in the last 9 years.

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• The country aims to achieve 50% non-fossil installed capacity by 2030.

Jal Shakti Min releases ‘Swachhata Chronicles: TransformativTales"
• The Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, released the compendium of 75
Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus Best Practices on 22 July 2023.
• The compendium, titled Swachhata Chronicles: Transformative Tales from India, showcases the
innovations, and measures taken to overcome barriers and raise awareness.
• The compendium is developed by the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen team.
L&T bags order worth ₹7000 crore for Mumbai-Ahmedabad rail project
• The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has awarded L&T Construction
order worth more than ₹7,000 crore for the Mumbai Ahmedabad high-speed rail project.
• The company will execute 92 per cent of the main line between Shilphata and Ahmedabad.
• The 508 km Bullet Train project will cover 155.76 km in Maharashtra, 4.3 km in Dadra & Nagar
Haveli and 348.04 km in Gujarat.
Centre releases guidelines for Signages on Expressways for road safety
• Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has issued new guidelines for the provision of signages on
Expressways and National Highways.
• The guidelines focus on further improving road safety by incorporating best practices and world
standards to offer improved guidance to the drivers.
• The guidelines are designed to offer drivers clear and concise guidance, and safe journey on the
roads.
R K Singh chairs 14th Clean Energy Ministerial meeting in Goa
• Union Minister for Power R K Singh chairs 14th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and 8th Mission
Innovation (MI) meeting in Gao on 21 July 2023.
• The meeting focused on discussing the challenges in the path of energy transition and finding
ways to move ahead towards creating a sustainable future.
• India has set targets to meet 50% of its energy requirements from non-fossil sources by 2030.
Govt launches new tech initiatives under PMFBY to empower farmers
• Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare launched new tech initiatives under Pradhan Mantri
Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to empower farmers and streamline operations.
• YES-TECH Manual and WINDS Portal were launched to enable accurate yield assessment and
improved weather data management.
• Delinking of subsidies was announced, ensuring farmers receive claim payments without delay.
PACS to provide services offered by Common Service Centres across coun
• The Primary Agricultural Credit Societies will provide services offered by Common Service Centres
(CSC).
• This was informed by the Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah while formally announcing the
initiative at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

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• Under the initiative, the PACS will provide more than 300 services, like Banking, Insurance, Aadhar
enrolment, Health Services, Legal Services, etc.
Nuclear power capacity set to increase from over 7000 MW to 22,480
• Dr Jitendra Singh said that nuclear power capacity has set to increase from over seven thousand
Mega Watt to over 22 thousand 480 Mega Watt by 2031
• The present installed nuclear power capacity in the country is seven thousand 480 Mega Watt
comprising 23 nuclear power reactors
• The share of nuclear power in the total electricity generation in the country was about 2.8 percent
in 2022-23
Ministry of Ayush & ICMR to establish Health Research Centers at AIIMS
• Ministry of Ayush and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are collaborating to
establish Ayush-ICMR Advanced Centre for Integrative Health Research (AI-ACIHR) at AIIMS
across India.
• The centres aim to develop an ecosystem of integrative health research.
• The collaboration will promote high-impact research in priority areas of national importance in
healthcare using modern methods.
NITI Aayog releases analytical tools for managing Climate Change
• NITI Aayog has released India Energy Security Scenarios (IESS) 2047 V3.0, an open-source tool to
assess the impact of various green energy policies of the Govt of India.
• IESS incorporates policies related to Green Hydrogen, Energy Storage, Renewable Purchase
Obligations, Energy efficiency, etc.
• Designed with the help of IIT Bombay, the revamped IESS 2047 will be updated on a yearly basis.
DPIIT and Gujarat govt jointly launch ‘One District One Product’ Wall
• The One District One Product (ODOP) program is an initiative under the Department for
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
• ODOP has partnered with the Government of Gujarat to promote the state's unique products.
• The collaboration between ODOP and the Government of Gujarat aims to enhance the promotion
and recognition of Gujarat's unique products.
Startup20 & Jagriti Foundation unite will launch Global Yatra
• Startup20 Engagement Group has taken another transformative leap towards revolutionizing
entrepreneurship across India by collaborating with Jagriti Foundation.
• This strategic partnership is poised to reshape the region's entrepreneurial landscape
significantly.
• The Jagriti-Startup20-G20 Yatra 2023 a of a kind event that embodies the spirit of inclusive
entrepreneurship,
President to inaugurate two-day Festival of Libraries in New Delhi
• A two-day Festival of Libraries 2023 will be organized at Pragati Maidan on the 5th of next month.

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• President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the festival.

• The festival will focus on the promotion of both physical and digital libraries.
• He said the importance of the physical library will always remain. He said the development of
libraries is the priority of the government.
Gujarat to get country’s 1st ‘Satellite Network Portal Site’
• Gujarat will get the country’s first ‘Satellite Network Portal Site’.
• An MoU was signed between OneWeb and the state government in Gandhinagar for the
establishment of the Satellite Network Portal Site near Mehsana.
• The satellite network portal will be set up at two places in Jotana taluka of Mehsana district with
an estimated cost of over Rs. 100 crores for Phase 1.
Gujarat to host 69th edition of Filmfare awards in 2024
• Gujarat will host the 69th edition of the Filmfare Awards in 2024.
• The state government's Tourism Corporation signed an MoU with Worldwide Media to host the
event and promote Gujarat as a film destination.
• It will be the first time that Gujarat will host the Filmfare Awards.
• The event will showcase Gujarat's natural beauty, cultural heritage, and infrastructure.
Truecaller announces AI-powered Assistant in India to filter fraud
• Truecaller has launched Truecaller Assistant in India, a customisable receptionist that helps users
avoid unwanted callers.
• The service leverages machine learning and cloud telephony to create the most helpful call-
screening solution on the planet.
• Truecaller Assistant responds quickly and understands the caller with high accuracy, providing a
live transcription of what the caller is saying.
Textiles ministry reopens PLI portal for MMF sector
• The Ministry of Textiles has decided to re-open the performance-linked incentive (PLI) scheme
portal till August 31 and has invited applications from companies interested in investing in man-
made fibers (MMF) apparel, MMF fabrics, and technical textile sectors.
• The ministry said in a press release that the decision was taken based on repeated requests from
the industry.
NITI Aayog unveils TCRM Matrix framework to revive tech innovation
• The NITI Aayog has introduced the Techno-Commercial Readiness and Market Maturity Matrix
(TCRM Matrix) framework to revolutionize technology assessment.
• It aims to fuel innovation and entrepreneurship in India by offering valuable insights.
• It presents a comprehensive approach to technology assessment that helps drive meaningful
change.
• The working paper was authored by V.K. Saraswat.
4th G20 Employment Working Group Ministers' meeting begin in Indore

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• The fourth Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting began on 18 July 2023 in Indore, Madhya
Pradesh.
• The event will be attended by 24 Ministers from different countries, representatives of G-20
members, international and regional organizations and groups.
• India is showcasing its e-Shram portal, which provides complete information about workers of
unorganized sectors to the govt.
Home Minister Amit Shah launches 'CRCS-Sahara Refund Portal'
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah today launched CRCS-Sahara Refund Portal in New Delhi.
• The portal will help more than 10 crore depositors of Sahara Group claim their money back.
• In the initial phase, the refund portal will disburse up to Rs 5000 crore to depositors. However,
each depositor will be able to get only Rs 10,000 in the first phase.
Comic Con India announces first edition in Chennai
• Comic Con India has announced its first-ever edition in Chennai
• It will take place in the city, the event will showcase a range of international and Indian comic
creators, artists and industry figures while immersing fans in a ‘world of comics, manga, anime
and all things pop culture’
• Previous editions of Comic Con India have happened in cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad
and Bangalore
New drone policy soon: Amit Shah
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that a new drone policy will be unveiled soon entailing a
host of restrictions and compulsory registration of all unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
• He was responding to a suggestion made by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at a
conference on drug trafficking that registration of drones be made compulsory.
TPSODL inaugurates all-Women Meter Testing Laboratory in Odisha
• Tata Power Southern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPSODL) has established an All-Women Meter
Testing Laboratory in Berhampur, Odisha.
• The laboratory will be managed by women and will test 35,000-45,000 meters annually.
• The laboratory uses cutting-edge technology and has three automatic test benches.
• TPSODL is a joint venture of Tata Power and the Government of Odisha.
Odisha's Gopalpur port sets national record in cargo handling
• Gopalpur Port in Odisha's Ganjam district has set a new national record for iron ore lumps cargo
loading.
• The port loaded 59,150 metric tons in 24 hours on vessel MV Reachy Spring nominated by JSW
Steel.
• It also set a record by loading 86,700 MT of iron ore lumps in 40 hours on the vessel on July 15.
• Gopalpur port is the deepest all-weather port in the state with round-the-clock operations.
Piyush Goyal launches sale of subsidised chana dal under 'Bharat Dal'

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• The Centre has announced the sale of subsidised chana dal under the brand name 'Bharat Dal'
to provide relief to consumers from price rises.
• The dal will be available for Rs 60 per kg for a 1 kg pack and Rs 55 per kg for a 30 kg pack.
• The retail outlets of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) in Delhi-
NCR are selling the chana dal.
PM to inaugurate New Integrated Terminal Building at Port Blair
• PM to inaugurate New Integrated Terminal Building of Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port
Blair
• Enhancing connectivity infrastructure has been a major focus of the government.
• The new terminal building has a number of sustainability features like Double Insulated Roofing
System to reduce heat gain, skylights to provide maximum inlet of abundant natural sunlight &
low heat gain glazing.
Government forms new panel to review all official data
• The Indian government has established a new internal oversight mechanism for official data,
replacing the Standing Committee on Economic Statistics (SCoS) with a broader mandate.
• It has 10 official members and four non-official members.
• Pronab Sen, India's first chief statistician and former chairman of the National Statistical
Commission (NSC), has been named the chair of the new committee.
Flight deck of INS Vikrant hosted three Durand Cup Trophies
• The flight deck of India's INS Vikrant hosted three magnificent Durand Cup Trophies, (the Durand
Cup, the Shimla Trophy and the President's Cup) brought to Kochi as part of the trophy tour.
• The trophies were later flagged off for a city tour across various locations for public display.
• Kochi is the ninth stop of the trophy tour, which commenced on the 30th of last month from New
Delhi.
Maharashtra gives its nod to Adani’s Dharavi project
• The Maharashtra government has approved the Adani group’s proposal to rehabilitate residents
of Mumbai’s 590-acre Dharavi locality almost eight months after the conglomerate won a tender
to develop India’s largest slum.
• As per the document issued, a special purpose vehicle will have Adani Properties holding 80%
equity, and 20% by the state government.
Govt aims 100 million tonnes coal gasification by 2030
• The ministry of coal has set a target to gasify 100 million tonnes of coal by FY 2030.
• The ministry is considering a comprehensive scheme, with an outlay of ₹6k crore, to promote coal
and lignite gasification projects for both PSUs and the private sector.
• Currently, India imports around half of its natural gas, most of its methanol and 13-15% of its total
ammonia requirement.
Delhi’s IGI becomes India’s first airport to have four runways

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• Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) became India’s first airport to have four runways
as the civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurated its fourth runway and hinted at the
opening of the airport’s new terminal by October this year.
• The new runway along with the new terminal will allow Delhi airport to cater to 109 Million
passengers yearly.
Mumbai gets first IIM, NITIE gets rechristened
• Mumbai is set to welcome a prestigious addition to its academic landscape with the elevation of
the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) to the esteemed status of an Indian Institute
of Management (IIM).
• NITIE Mumbai was established in 1963 with the support of the United Nations Development
Programme and the International Labour Organization.
Skill India successfully revives Namda Art of Jammu and Kashmir
• The Namda craft of Kashmir is being successfully revived under Skill India’s Pilot Project as part
of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
• Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar flagged off the first batch of Namda Art products for export
to the UK.
• The Namda project is an industry-based training program for reviving the rich heritage associated
with Namda craft in Kashmir.
Govt develops guidelines for mountainous road infra with Japan's help
• The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has developed five guidelines to improve
mountainous road infrastructure in India with Japan's assistance.
• These guidelines aim to ensure high-quality and sustainable road projects in hilly regions.
• They provide technical specifications and best practices for road construction in mountainous
regions.
Goa to host Energy Transitions Working Group Meeting from July 19
• The 4th Energy Transitions Working Group Meeting under India’s G20 Presidency will be held in
Goa during July 19 – 20, 2023.
• The G20 Energy Ministerial meeting will be held on July 22, 2023, under the chairpersonship of
Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, R. K. Singh.
• The 14th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and 8th Mission Innovation (MI) meeting will also be held
in Goa.
Union aviation minister unveils 4th Runway & elevated Taxiway in Delhi
• Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel inaugurated a new runway and
a dual-way elevated taxiway at New Delhi International Airport.
• The airport now has 4 runways & is the 1st airport in India to have an elevated taxiway.
• The Eastern Cross Taxiway (ECT) will reduce CO2 emissions by 55000 tonnes annually.
• The dual-way elevated taxiway is 2.1 km long and 44m wide.

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Goa CM inaugurates Ayush Health Services and Research facility

• The Ministry of Ayush has established Ayush health services for health care & Ayush research
facilities at Ribandar in Goa.
• The facility aims to provide high-quality and affordable Ayush healthcare services to the local
community.
• It will also promote research in traditional medicine.
• The facility was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Goa Dr. Pramod Sawant.
Shri Bhupender Yadav leads Mangrove Plantation drive in Chengalpattu
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, organized a mangrove plantation
program at Kovalam Panchayat in Chengalpattu in Tamil Nadu.
• Bhupender Yadav led the plantation drive as part of the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habiats
and Tangible Incomes scheme of the Government of India.
• The plantation drive is the part of ongoing "Hariyali Mahotsav" with the focus of Mangroves
Chandrayaan-3, India’s third moon mission, successfully launched
• India’s third moon mission, Chandrayaan-3 has been successfully launched as the Launch Vehicle
Mark-3 with the satellite onboard took off from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan
Space Centre in Sriharikota.
• The launch of Chandrayaan-3 is India’s attempt to do a soft landing on the lunar surface for the
second time having failed in 2019 with the Chandrayaan-2 mission.
The first GSI survey of the Siachen
• In June 1958, V. K. Raina, a top Indian geologist, led the first Geological Survey of India expedition
to the Siachen glacier
• This event is of historical and geostrategic significance as it puts to rest all myths to the effect
that Pakistan was in control of the glacier since the beginning
• June-August 2023 marks a very important event in the history of the exploration of the Siachen
glacier
Nitin Gadkari lays foundation stone for 3 projects in Andhra Pradesh
• Three national highway projects were launched in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, by Union Minister
Nitin Gadkari.
• The projects cover a combined length of 87 kilometers and cost ₹ 2,900 crore.
• The projects aim to provide seamless and secure connectivity to Krishnapatnam Port.
• It will also enhance the safety of devotees traveling to religious destinations such as the Shri Balaji
Temple in Tirupati.
India welcomes its first regional AI news anchor, ‘Lisa’
• Odisha TV has unveiled "Lisa," India's first regional AI news anchor, with the potential to
revolutionize the journalism industry.
• Lisa can speak multiple languages, including Odia and English, and is capable of hosting news
updates.

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• Sophia, developed by Hanson Robotics, is an advanced humanoid robot designed for elderly care
and crowd management.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates DGNSS “Sagar Sampark”
• The Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS) "Sagar Sampark" was inaugurated
by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to strengthen the digital transformation of the Indian
maritime sector.
• The DGNS system is a terrestrial-based enhancement system that corrects the errors in the Global
Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) allowing for more accurate positioning information.
PM Modi departs for three-day visit to France and UAE
• PM Narendra Modi has departed for an official visit to France and United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• He will be visiting France on July 13-14 as the Guest of Honour for the Bastille Day celebrations in
Paris.
• An Indian tri-services contingent will be part of the Bastille Day Parade.
• He will also visit UAE for an official visit on July 15 and meet President HH Sheikh Mohammed bin
Zayed Al Nahyan.
Jammu and Kashmir launches Mobile-Dost-App
• In Jammu and Kashmir, a path-breaking Mobile-Dost-App has been launched in sync with the
vision of Apka-Mobile-Hamara-Daftar,
• It is a pioneering initiative for mobile-based delivery of citizen-centric services in the Union
Territory.
• The Mobile-Dost-App aims at empowering the people of Jammu & Kashmir by providing a
comprehensive platform to access all the Government to Citizen Services.
Google Doodle celebrates India's premier street food 'pani puri'
• Google celebrates India's popular street food, pani puri, with a special interactive game Doodle
on 11 July 2023.
• In the game, users can help a street vendor fulfil pani puri orders by choosing from different
flavours to match customer preferences.
• In 2015, a restaurant in Madhya Pradesh's Indore served 51 unique pani puri flavours and made it
to the Golden Book of World Records.
G20 CWG sets Guinness World Record for largest display of Lambani item
• The 3rd G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) set a Guinness World Record for the 'Largest Display
of Lambani Items' in Hampi.
• The exhibition features Lambani embroidery patches created by over 450 Lambani women
artisans and cultural practitioners.
• The display is titled 'Threads of Unity' and has 1755 patchworks using GI-tagged Sandur Lambani
embroidery.
Amit Shah to inaugurate mega conclave “Strengthening PACS through FPOs

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• Amit Shah will inaugurate a day-long mega conclave “Strengthening PACS through FPOs” in New
Delhi on 14th of this month.
• The conclave is aimed at discussing ways to strengthen Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
(PACS) through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
• The conclave will witness the participation of experts from the sector as well as members from
the FPOs.
GSTN launches geocoding in all states and UTs
• The GST Network (GSTN) has launched geocoding functionality for all states and union territories
in India.
• Geocoding is used to convert an address or description of a location into geographic coordinates.
• The functionality is aimed at ensuring the accuracy of address details in GSTN records and
streamlining the address location and verification process.
Union govt brings GST-Network under PMLA to curb money laundering
• The central government has issued a notification to bring the Goods and Services Tax Network
(GSTN) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
• This order allows the information stored on the GST Network to be shared under the PMLA Act.
• The GSTN is a portal that provides a single interface for taxpayers to access various services
related to GST compliance.
Third G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) meet begins in Hampi, Karnataka
• The 3rd G20 Culture Group Meeting began in Hampi, Karnataka on 10 July 2023.
• The meeting will be attended by delegates from G20 members, guest nations, and several
international organizations.
• The theme of ‘Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future’ aims to improve the rights of
indigenous people and safeguards against misappropriation of traditional practices.
HAL gets contract to supply two Dornier aircraft to Indian Coast Guard
• The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for two Dornier
aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard.
• The procurement of the aircraft will be under the Buy Indian Category.
• The aircraft will be fitted with advanced equipment including Glass Cockpit and Maritime Patrol
Radar.
• The Dornier aircraft are being manufactured at HAL (Transport Aircraft Division), Kanpur.
PM Modi to inaugurate development projects worth 2400 cr in Rajasthan
• PM Modi will dedicate and lay the foundation stone of development projects worth over 24,300
crore rupees in Bikaner.
• A six-lane greenfield expressway section of the Amritsar - Jamnagar Economic Corridor will be
dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister.
• The Prime Minister will also dedicate a new 30-bedded Employees' State Insurance Corporation
(ESIC) Hospital in Bikaner.

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IGI Airport becomes India's first to implement Elevated Taxiway System

• Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) is inaugurating India's first Elevated Cross Taxiway
in July 2023.
• The ECT is a 2.1 km long dual-lane taxiway that will link the Northern & Southern airfields on the
eastern side of the airport.
• The ECT will reduce waiting time inside the airplane after landing from 20-25 minutes to 10
minutes and cut short the taxiing distances of aircraft.
Railways introduces discount scheme in AC sitting trains
• The Union Railways Ministry announced a discounted fare scheme in AC sitting trains to optimize
accommodation utilization.
• Zonal Railways have been given the power to introduce the scheme subject to terms and
conditions.
• The discount will be up to 25% on basic fare for AC Chair Car and Executive classes of all trains
with AC sitting accommodation.
NTPC commissions 660 MW unit of Barh plant in Bihar
• State-owned NTPC Ltd has commissioned the 660 megawatt unit-2 of the stage-I (3 x 660 MW)
of the Barh Super Thermal Power Project (STPP).
• Bihar will get 58% electricity share, while the remaining would be shared among the other
beneficiary states, including Jharkhand, Odisha and Sikkim.
• The total generation capacity of the Barh plant has now gone up from the existing 1,980 MW to
2,640 MW.
PM Modi inaugurates infrastructure projects worth 6100 cr in Telangana
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of several infrastructure projects worth
over 6,100 crore rupees in Hanamkonda, Telangana.
• He laid the foundation of a Railway Manufacturing Unit at Kazipet taken up at a cost of 520 crore
rupees.
• He also laid the stone for the upgradation of the 68-km long Karimnagar-Warangal section from
the existing two-lane to four-lanes
PM Modi lays foundation stone of projects worth 12100 cr in Varanasi
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple
development projects worth more than Rs 12,100 crores in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
• The projects include three railway lines, a four-lane widening of the Varanasi-Jaunpur section of
NH-56, and multiple projects in Varanasi.
• He also initiated the distribution of loans of PM SVANidhi, and Ayushman Bharat cards.
Bharat Internet Utsav launched to celebrate Power of Internet
• The Department of Telecommunications in collaboration with MYGOV has launched “Bharat
Internet Utsav" to celebrate the Power of the Internet.

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• The "Bharat Internet Utsav" is a celebration of how the Internet has transformed lives in India.
• Citizens can share their videos on how the internet has improved their lives and win prizes up to
Rs. 15,000.
PM flags off two Vande Bharat Trains from Gorakhpur Railway Station
• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains from
Gorakhpur Railway Station.
• The two Vande Bharat trains are Gorakhpur – Lucknow Vande Bharat Express and Jodhpur –
Ahmedabad (Sabarmati) Vande Bharat Express.
• The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Gorakhpur Railway
Station at the cost of around Rs. 498 crores.
Atal Innovation Mission launches ‘ATL Industry Visit’ Programme
• The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Bayer have launched "ATL Industry Visit" initiative under
Atal Tinkering Labs to introduce students to the latest manufacturing techniques.
• Bayer has adopted 125 ATL schools in seven states and trained about 150 ATL coordinators on
ATL Curriculum.
• The industrial visit launch witnessed participation from the ATL student teams of Gujarat.
PM to lay foundation stone for Railway Manufacturing Unit at Kazipet
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be laying the foundation stone for the Railway Manufacturing
Unit at Kazipet.
• The Prime minister will be laying the foundation stone to several infrastructure projects at
Warangal tomorrow as part of his four-state visit.
• The Railway Manufacturing Unit at Kazipet to be set up at an initial cost of 501 crore rupees.
Govt approves draft notification to mandate AC installation in trucks
• The Indian Government has approved the draft notification to mandate the installation of air-
conditioning systems in the cabins of trucks belonging to categories N2 and N3.
• Nitin Gadkari said that the role of truck drivers is crucial in ensuring road safety while announcing
the approval of draft notification to mandate AC installation in the truck cabins falling in N2 and
N3 categorty
Indore Municipal Corporation 1st urban body in India to get EPR credit
• Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has received Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) credit
for recycling banned single-use plastic items.
• The IMC seized eight tonnes of single-use plastic and recycled it at a plant run under the public-
private partnership model.
• The IMC is the first registered urban body in India to earn credit on the EPR portal for recycling
seized plastic.
Govt approves draft notification to mandate AC installation in trucks

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• The Indian government has approved the installation of air-conditioning systems in the cabins of
trucks belonging to categories N2 and N3.
• The move is aimed at providing comfortable working conditions for truck drivers.
• In June 2023, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari announced that all trucks
will need to have air-conditioned driver compartments, starting from 2025.
DARPG unveils National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment portal
• The Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) has launched the 3rd
edition of the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) framework.
• The framework aims to measure the effectiveness of existing e-governance service delivery
mechanisms from the citizen's perspective.
• The framework is based on the Online Service Index (OSI) of the UN eGovernment Survey.
J&K launches India’s first chatbot for people in mental distress
• Tele-MANAS chatbot, which will start an instant conversation with people in distress, was
launched in J&K.
• The initiative will ensure round-the-clock services for health counsellors, clinical psychologists and
consultants.
• This year Kashmir saw the highest number of distress calls to the Tele-Manas centre.
Two-day meeting of Space Economy Leaders under India's G20 presidency
• As part of India's G20 Presidency, the fourth edition of the Space Economy Leaders Meeting
began in Bengaluru
• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian Space
program's benefits were extended to neighboring friendly countries
• He said that due to this decision, 140 start-ups have come up by successfully contributing to the
Indian space program
PM to inaugurate wildlife-friendly highway projects in Chhattisgarh
• PM Modi will inaugurate the construction of three National Highway projects in Chhattisgarh,
including a 2.8 km long tunnel with animal passes.
• 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, allowing
unhindered movement of wildlife.
PM to launch ₹12,100-crore projects in Kashi on July 7
• The Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation three railway lines, electrification of which has
been completed at a cost of more than ₹990 crore
• The four-lane widening of Varanasi-Jaunpur section of NH-56, which has been completed at a
cost of over ₹2750 crore, making travel from Varanasi to Lucknow easier and faster will also be
dedicated to the public during the PM’s visit
SAIL clocks its best ever Apr-June performance in production and sales

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• The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has achieved record-breaking performance in the first
quarter of the current financial year 2023-24 - both in terms of production and sales.
• The production of hot metal, crude steel, and saleable steel of 5.037 million tonnes (MT), marked
the best-ever first-quarter results.
• SAIL is under the ownership of the Ministry of Steel, Government of India
IFFCO to procure 2500 agricultural drones to spray fertilizers
• To promote the use of nano fertilizers across the country, IFFCO will procure 2,500 agri-drones
and train 5,000-odd rural entrepreneurs as part of its national campaign launched on 4 July 2023.
• Along with drones, the cooperative will also procure 2,500 electric 3-wheelers (loader types) to
carry drones to farmers' fields,
• One agri-drone will cover 20 acres per day for spraying fertilizers.
PM inaugurates Sai Hira Global Convention Centre in Puttaparthi
• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated Sai Hira Global Convention Centre in
Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh via video conferencing.
• The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of prominent dignitaries and devotees from
around the world.
• In this, he has named Amrit Kaal as ‘Kartavya Kaal’. Pledges include the guidance of our spiritual
values as well as resolutions for the future
HM laid foundation for Country’s first cooperative-run Sainik School
• Mr Shah virtually laid the foundation stone of the country’s first cooperative-run Sainik School
near Mehsana in Gujarat.
• He said that this 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.
• The Sainik School will be established at Boriyavi village, at the cost of 75 crores rupees.
Mumbai to host G20 Research & Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG)
• Mumbai will host the G-20 Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG) Summit and
Research Ministers’ Meeting on 4th and 5th July 2023.
• The RIIG Summit will be chaired by the Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST),
Dr. Srivari Chandrasekhar.
• The Research Ministers’ Meeting (RMM) will be chaired by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on
5th July 2023.
DAY-NRLM launches eSARAS mobile App
• The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) launched the
eSARAS mobile App to support marketing for products made by women of Self-help Groups
(SHGs).
• eSARAS is an e-commerce mobile app that provides a platform for marketing handicrafts and
hand-looms made by SHG Didis.
• The app provides a customer-friendly way to access handmade products made by SHG Didis.

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Govt launches Bharat 6G Alliance to drive innovation and collaboration

• The Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) has been launched to drive innovation and collaboration in next-
generation wireless technology.
• B6GA is a collaborative platform consisting of public and private companies, academia, and
research institutions.
• B6GA will forge coalitions and synergies with other 6G Global Alliances, fostering international
collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Startup20 Shikhar summit begins in Gurugram, Haryana
• The Startup20 Shikhar summit is being held in Gurugram, Haryana
• The summit is being hosted by the Startup20 Engagement Group, which operates under the India
G20 Presidency
• The summit is aimed at shaping the future of the global startup ecosystem
• The summit is attended by stakeholders from different countries, including 200 international
delegates from 16 G20 nations and 6 invitees nations
Election Commission launches web portal for Contribution Reports
• Political parties will now be able to file their financial accounts online to the EC.
• It has launched a web-portal for filing of Contribution Report, Audited Annual Account and
Statements by Political Parties
• In a letter to all political parties, the Commission said that the facility has been created to
facilitate political parties in overcoming the difficulties in physical filing of reports
World famous Shravani Mela inaugurated by State Agriculture Minister
• The two-month-long Shravani Mela was inaugurated by State Agriculture Minister Badal
Patralekh.
• The mela will be organized from July 3 to September 7.
• Security arrangements have been beefed up and a health camp has been set up for Kanwariyas.
• Baba Baidyanathdham Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in the country.
• This year, there are eight Mondays during the mela.
Govt launches Mission Karmayogi, mid-career training programmes
• Union minister Jitendra Singh launched Mission Karmayogi and mid-career training program in
New Delhi on July 3, 2023.
• Mission Karmayogi is a human resources management transformation initiative of the
Government of India.
• The program will be implemented by the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) under the
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Mission Gaganyaan: crew module recovery divers complete training
• The first batch of the crew recovery team of Mission Gaganyaan completed Phase-1 of training
at the Indian Navy's Water Survival Training Facility (WSTF) at Kochi.

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• The team consisting of Indian Naval Divers and Marine Commandos underwent recovery training
of the crew module in varied sea conditions.
• The Mission Gaganyaan is likely to be launched at the end of 2023 or in 2024.
PM Modi inaugurates National Sickle Cell Anemia Eradication Mission
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Sickle Cell Anemia Eradication Mission
2047 in Lalpur village of Madhya Pradesh.
• The Prime Minister will also participate in several programs in Shahdol district including
distribution of 3.57 crore Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana cards.
• He will also meet members of PESA Act committees.
India's first indegenous nuclear reactor starts operation in Gujarat
• India's first indigenously developed 700 MW nuclear power reactor at the Kakrapar Atomic Power
Project (KAPP) in Gujarat started commercial operations on 1 July 2023.
• The NPCIL plans to build sixteen 700 MW PHWRs across the country.
• Construction of 700 MW nuclear power plants is underway at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan (RAPS 7
and 8) and at Gorakhpur in Haryana (GHAVP 1 and 2).
Govt to develop National Maritime Heritage Complex in Gujarat
• Under the Sagarmala program, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has undertaken
the development of a National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal, Gujarat.
• It aims to establish a world-class facility that highlights India’s maritime heritage from ancient to
modern times.
• By utilizing cutting-edge technology, the complex intends to serve as an international tourist
destination.
MoS for Panchayati Raj released Panchayat Development Index (PDI)
• The Centre has formulated a 'Panchayat Development Index' to evaluate different indicators
responsible for ensuring targeted development in villages.
• Data from four districts in Maharashtra was compiled on a pilot basis to develop the index.
• The index committee launched a report that will provide a way forward with Localisation of
Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).
First of its kind exhibition ‘Banking on World Heritage’ inaugurated
• The first-of-its-kind exhibition ‘Banking on World Heritage’ was Inaugurated in New Delhi by the
Minister of Culture and External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi on 30 June.
• The exhibition displays banknotes of G20 member nations, depicting world heritage sites listed
by UNESCO, in a unique manner.
• The exhibition has been curated by the scholar Rukmini Dahanukar.
PM Modi to address the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress on 1st July
• PM Narendra Modi will address the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress in New Delhi on 1st July
2023.

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• Its objective is to discuss various trends in the cooperative movement, showcase best practices
being adopted, and chalk out future policy direction for the growth of India’s cooperative
movement.
• The theme of the event is “Amrit Kaal: Prosperity through Cooperation for a Vibrant India”.

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Appointments Current Affairs

Nisha Biswal becomes Deputy Chief Executive Officer: US finance agency
• Indian-American policy expert Nisha Biswal is confirmed by the Senate to serve as the Deputy
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a US finance agency.
• Ms. Biswal will serve as the Deputy CEO of the United States International Development Finance
Corporation.
• She has a high-profile career of over 30 years of experience in US foreign policy and international
development programs.
UK Professor Jim Skea elected Chair of the IPCC
• Jim Skea of the United Kingdom was elected chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) in Nairobi.
• The IPCC is one of the most important bodies tackling climate change.
• The World Meteorological Organization & the United Nations Environment Programme
established the IPCC in 1988.
• IPCC's job is to advance scientific knowledge about climate change caused by human activities.
Southern council of ICAI gets its youngest chairperson
• The Southern India Regional Council (SIRC) of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI) at
its 21st meeting elected Chennai-based Divya Abhishek as its Chairperson for 2023-24.
• Ms. Divya is the youngest chairperson in the history of the Southern India Regional Council of
ICAI.
ED director Sanjay Kumar Mishra’s tenure till September 15
• The Supreme Court extended Enforcement Directorate director Sanjay Kumar Mishra’s tenure till
September 15, “taking into consideration the larger public interest”.
• Although the same bench had held a little over two weeks ago that his earlier extension itself was
“illegal” he cannot continue beyond July 31.
T V Narendran re-appointed as Tata Steel CEO and MD
• Tata Steel said T V Narendran has been appointed again as the company's Chief Executive
Officer & Managing Director for a period of five years effective September 19, 2023.
• His present tenure as CEO & MD will conclude on September 18, 2023, Tata Steel said in a
regulatory filing.
• The re-appointment is subject to shareholders' approval
Dentsu X India appoints Jose Leon as chief executive officer
• Dentsu X, an agency of Dentsu Aegis Network India Private Limited, has appointed Jose Leon as
its CEO.
• Leon has about 26 years of work experience and has helped brands build revenues across
industries.
• Prior to joining Dentsu X, he was the managing director at Publicis Groupe for over five years.

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• Divya Karani previously served as the CEO for Dentsu X for about a decade till 2021.
Irshad Ahmad appointed as India's next Ambassador to Syria
• Counsellor Irshad Ahmad has been appointed as India's next Ambassador to Syria.
• Ahmad will shortly take up the assignment, according to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
release.
• MoS for External Affairs V Muraleedharan discussed India-Syria bilateral cooperation with Syrian
Prime Minister Hussein Arnous.
• Muraleedharan paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi in Damascus.
Prabhat Kumar appointed India’s next High Commissioner to South Africa
• IFS officer Prabhat Kumar appointed as the next High Commissioner to South Africa.
• India and South Africa will formally mark their decades-old ties this November 2023.
• It was announced by the Union Minister S. Jaishankar's during an event in which he addressed on
three subjects: "Thirty years of India - South Africa ties", "15 years of BRICS" and "9 years of Modi
Sarkar".
Deepak Miglani appointed as Indian ambassador to Sao Tome and Principe
• Deepak Miglani has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Democratic Republic
of Sao Tome and Principe on 25 July 2023.
• Miglani is currently serving as Director in the Ministry of External Affairs.
• India and Sao Tome and Principe have had friendly relations since 1975.
• Sao Tome and Principe gained independence from Portugal in 1975.
Tata Motors appoints Rajesh Kannan as President and CDIO
• Tata Motors have announced the appointment of Rajesh Kannan as President and Chief Digital
and Information Officer.
• Prior to joining Tata Motors Limited, he was working with Tata Consultancy Services Limited.
• Kannan has twenty-eight years of experience delivering transformative, end-to-end digital and
IT engagements for global organisations across multiple sectors.
Ajay Vijay Bathija named Coca-Cola India VP & Southwest Asia region
• Beverage company Coca-Cola India appointed Ajay Vijay Bathija as vice president of franchise
operations for the Southwest Asia region.
• He will lead franchise operations for markets of Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri
Lanka.
• Coca-Cola sells brands such as Coca-Cola, Thums Up, Charged by Thums Up, Fanta, Limca,
Sprite, Maaza, and Minute Maid range of juices.
New Chief Justice for Andhra Pradesh High Court has been appointed
• Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur on July 24 was appointed the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh
High Court.
• He was a judge of the Bombay High Court.

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• Earlier in July, the Supreme Court Collegium had reconsidered Justice Thakur’s elevation to
Manipur and proposed his elevation as the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
Centre notifies appointment of chief Justices of Bombay and Andhra HCs
• Union govt has appointed Chief Justices for Bombay and Andhra Pradesh High Courts.
• Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High
Court.
• Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High
Court.
• The appointments were made after consultation with the Chief Justice of India and the President
of India.
Alok Aradhe takes oath as Chief Justice of Telangana High Court
• Justice Alok Aradhe has taken oath as the Chief Justice of Telangana High Court at a ceremonial
program held at Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad.
• Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan has administered the oath of office to the new Chief Justice in the
presence of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao.
• Eminent personalities from the judiciary, constitutional position holders and bureaucrats attended
the event.
Namgya Khampa appointed as India's next Ambassador to Somalia
• Namgya C Khampa has been appointed as India's next Ambassador to Somalia, concurrently
accredited as India's High Commissioner to Kenya.
• She is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer of the 2000 batch.
• Khampa has served twice in India’s diplomatic Mission in China from 2002 to 2006 and from 2013
to 2016.
• She has also worked in the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations.
Indian-origin doctor is new chief of International Myeloma Foundation
• S. Vincent Rajkumar has been appointed as the chairman-elect of the Board of Directors of the
International Myeloma Foundation (IMF).
• He will take over from the current chairman, Brian G.M. Durie.
• Dr. Rajkumar has published more than 480 peer-reviewed papers primarily in the field of multiple
myeloma.
• Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow plasma cells that make antibodies.
Shah Rukh Khan appointed brand ambassador of ICC World Cup 2023
• Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan was appointed as the brand ambassador of ICC World Cup
2023.
• He launched the World Cup 2023 campaign 'It takes one day' in his iconic voiceover.
• The World Cup 2023 will take place in India from October 5 to Nov 19, 2023.
• The upcoming World Cup will feature a total of 10 teams.
• The 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup will be the 13th edition of the tournament.

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MEA appoints Sandeep Chakravorty as next Ambassador to Indonesia

• Sandeep Chakravorty , an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer of the 1996 batch, has been
appointed as India's next Ambassador to Indonesia.
• Sandeep Chakravorty is currently serving as a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (
MEA ).
• India is the second largest buyer of coal and crude palm oil from Indonesia and imports minerals,
rubber, pulp and paper and hydrocarbon reserves.
Sat Pal Bhanoo appointed LIC MD
• Sat Pal Bhanoo, Additional Zonal Manager of the Life Insurance Corporation of India’s zonal office
in Bhopal, has been appointed as the managing director
• Bhanoo has been appointed as Managing Director vice Siddhartha Mohanty, who is presently
serving as chairperson, with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the office and up to
the date of his superannuation on December 31, 2025
IPS officer Manoj Yadava to head Railway Protection Force
• IPS officer Manoj Yadava has been appointed the Director General of the Railway Protection
Force
• Yadava, a 1988 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Haryana cadre, will succeed Sanjay
Chander who retires on July 31.
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Yadava to
the post of DG, RPF, up to his superannuation on July 31, 2025
Ravindra Banshtu appointed Indian women's volleyball team new coach
• Ravindra Banshtu has been appointed as the coach of the Indian national women's volleyball
team for the 19th Asian Women's Championship.
• The championship will be held in Hangzhou, China from September 22 to October 8.
• Banshtu is currently serving as a coach in the sports department of Himachal Pradesh.
• She was selected as a coach in the Education Department in 2005.
Rajya Sabha brings gender parity nominates fifty percent women member
• In a historic move, the Chairman, of Rajya Sabha, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar has nominated four
women Parliamentarians to the panel of Vice-Chairpersons.
• It is also noteworthy that all women members nominated to the panel are first-term
Parliamentarians and Smt. S. Phangnon Konyak is the first ever woman from Nagaland to be
elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
Rakesh Pal appointed as 25th Director General of Indian Coast Guard
• Rakesh Pal has been appointed as the 25th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
• He is an alumnus of the Indian Naval Academy and has been with the Indian Coast Guard since
January 1989.
• He holds the recognition of being the First Gunner of ICG.

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• He has been conferred with the award of Tatrakshak Medal (TM) and President Tatrakshak Medal
(PTM).
Ex-Intel India head Nivruti Rai appointed as MD & CEO of Invest India
• Nivruti Rai is the new Managing Director and CEO of Invest India.
• She took over the charge from Manmeet K Nanda on July 12, 2023.
• Nivruti Rai is a recipient of the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar for her remarkable contributions
to technology.
• She led Intel India as Country Head for seven years.
• Invest India helps investors looking for investment opportunities and options in India.
Collegium recommends Manjusha Deshpande as Bombay High Court judge
• The SC Collegium recommended the name of advocate Manjusha Ajay Deshpande for
appointment as judge of the Bombay High Court,subject to the central government’s approval
• At present, the HC functions with 66 judges, 40 permanent judges, and 26 additional judges
• However, the sanctioned strength of the court, which is the second largest in the country after the
Allahabad High Court, stands at 94
SBI Capital Markets appoints Rajay Kumar Sinha as MD and CEO
• Rajay Kumar Sinha was appointed the new Managing Director & CEO of SBI Capital Markets Ltd.
(SBICAPS).
• He replaced Amitava Chatterjee who moved to SBI, Corporate Centre as Deputy Managing
Director.
• Sinha was previously in charge of the Treasury operations of SBI.
• SBICAPS is an investment banking company that provides services like project advisory, and
equity capital markets.
Biden appoints Indian-American business leader Shamina Singh
• US President Joe Biden has announced his intent to appoint Shamina Singh, a prominent Indian-
American business leader, to the President’s Export Council, which serves as the principal national
advisory committee on international trade.
• She is the Founder and President of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth.
U.P. govt appoints ex-IAS officer Arvind Kumar new UPERC chief
• The state government has appointed Arvind Kumar, a retired IAS officer and advisor to chief
minister Yogi Adityanath, the new chairman of Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission
(UPERC).
• He replaced Raj Pratap Singh.
• Arvind Kumar has also worked briefly as managing director of Varanasi discom in 2006.
Arvind Kumar appointed chairman of UP Electricity Regulatory Chief
• Arvind Kumar has been appointed as the chairman of Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory
Commission (UPERC).

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• Kumar was appointed as an advisor on industries to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi
Adityanath in February 2023.
• He was also the chairman of UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) and the state’s Infrastructure
and Industrial Development Commissioner (IIDC).
Supreme Court gets two new judges
• The President appointed Telangana Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Kerala Chief Justice S.
Venkatanarayana Bhatti as Supreme Court judges
• The 2 new appointments increase the judicial strength of the apex court to 33, leaving only one
vacancy
• The appointments came within a week of the Supreme Court Collegium, led by CJI DY
Chandrachud, recommending their names to the government
ITC board reappoints Sanjiv Puri as chairman & managing director
• Sanjiv Puri has been re-appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of ITC Ltd for a period
of five years.
• The decision was made on the recommendation of the committee and will take effect from July
22, 2024.
• ITC Limited is an Indian conglomerate that operates in various business sectors, including tobacco
manufacturing, food processing, retailing, and financial services.
SBI Card appoints Abhijit Chakravorty as MD & CEO for two years
• SBI Cards & Payment Services, the country’s largest pure-play credit card issuer, has appointed
Abhijit Chakravorty as MD & CEO
• Chakravorty, who is presently a Deputy Managing Director at SBI, will assume charge of his new
role on August 12
• He has been appointed as SBI Card’s MD&CEO for two years
• Incumbent MD & CEO Rama Mohan Rao Amara has tendered his resignation owing to his transfer
Devesh Uttam appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Lithuania
• Indian diplomat Devesh Uttam has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Lithuania.
• He is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of batch 2003.
• He is presently Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.
• Manish Gupta, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of batch 1998, has also been appointed as
India's next High Commissioner to Ghana.
ORF President Samir Saran to join East-West Center's Board of Governor
• Dr. Samir Saran, head of India's Observer Research Foundation, has been elected as one of the
international members of the East-West Center's Board of Governors.
• Dr. Saran's term will begin in October at the board's next semiannual meeting.
• The Center was established by the United States in 1960 to foster better relations and
understanding between the US, Asia, and the Pacific islands.

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Preeti Aghalayam becomes the director of IIT Madras's Tanazania Campus

• Preeti Aghalayam, an IIT Madras alumna, has been appointed as the director-in-charge of the IIT
Madras' Zanzibar campus, which is the first offshore campus of the Indian Institute of Technology.
• Aghalayam is the first woman to be an IIT director.
• Aghalayam, who is also a marathon runner, completed her BTech in Chemical Engineering from
IIT Madras in 1995.
Govt appoints telecom secretary K Rajaraman as new IFSCA chairman
• K Rajaraman has been appointed as the new chairperson of the International Financial Services
Centres Authority (IFSCA).
• He will succeed Injeti Srinivas, the first chairperson of the regulatory authority appointed in 2020.
• The IFSCA was established in April 2020 under the International Financial Services Centres
Authority Act, 2019.
• It is headquartered at GIFT City, Gandhinagar.
UNHRC appoints Vrinda Grover as Member of Ukraine Inquiry Commission
• Advocate Vrinda Grover has been appointed a member of the Independent International
Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.
• The three-person Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine was constituted on March 4, 2022, with a
mandate to investigate violations and abuses of human rights by the Russian Forces.
• In April 2023, the Council renewed the mandate of the Commission for a further period of one
year.
G.K. Satish appointed as board member of Russian Energy Giant Rosneft
• Rosneft, a Russian energy giant, has appointed Govind Kottis Satish, a former Indian Oil
Corporation director, as a member of its board.
• Rosneft has a partnership with Indian Oil Corporation in oil and gas fields in Russia.
• Satish has over 30 years of experience in Indian Oil in various areas including marketing
operations, logistics, and international trade.
Sirisha Voruganti appointed MD & CEO of Lloyds Banking Group
• Sirisha Voruganti has been appointed as the CEO and MD of the Lloyds Technology Centre in
Hyderabad, India.
• The Lloyds Technology Centre is part of Lloyds Banking Group's £3 billion strategic investment to
transform its digital offering.
• Lloyds Banking Group is a British financial institution formed through the acquisition of HBOS by
Lloyds TSB in 2009.
Reserve Bank of India appoints P Vasudevan as new executive director
• P Vasudevan has been appointed as Executive Director by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• He will now oversee three departments, including currency management.

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• Prior to his promotion, he was the Chief General Manager-in-charge of the Department of
Payment and Settlement Systems.
• He is a Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers (CAIIB) and an alumnus of the
Wharton School.
Justice S K Singh appointed acting chairperson of NGT
• Justice Sheo Kumar Singh has been appointed as the chairperson of the National Green Tribunal
(NGT).
• The appointment was made by the Central Government after the superannuation of Justice
Adarsh Kumar Goel.
• He also served as Judge, of the Industrial Tribunal UP, Chairman of the Oversight Committee, UP
constituted by National Green Tribunal.
Aadhav Arjuna was elected as president of the BFI
• The president of the Tamil Nadu Basketball Association, Aadhav Arjuna was elected as president
of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) in the election held at the Nehru Stadium.
• Aadhav got 38 of the 39 votes, against the outgoing president K Govindaraj.
• A former player and the president of the Madhya Pradesh Basketball Association, Kulvinder Singh
Gill was elected secretary-general.
BharatPe apppoints Razorpay's Pankaj Goel as new CTO
• Fintech unicorn BharatPe announced the appointment of Pankaj Goel as the new Chief
Technology Officer of the company.
• Prior to joining BharatPe, Goel was the Head of Payments Engineering at Razorpay.
• The company has witnessed multiple C-suite exits.
• The fintech company noted that Pankaj would be leading the technology team at BharatPe.
QU Dongyu of China re-elected FAO Director-General
• QU Dongyu was re-elected to a second term as Director-General of the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
• He was elected during the 43rd session of the conference of the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) held in Rome, Italy.
• In 2019, Qu-Dongyu was elected as the head of the FAO and becomes the first Chinese national
to serve in the position.
Lt Gen M U Nair appointed as new National Cybersecurity Coordinator
• Union govt has appointed Lieutenant general M U Nair as the National Cybersecurity Coordinator
(NCSC).
• Lt Gen Nair took on the role of the 28th Signal Officer-in-Chief in July 2022.
• He has expertise in the areas of cyber warfare, signal intelligence, and communication &
information technology.
• He also held the position of commandant at the Military College of Telecommunication
Engineering.

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Quick Heal Technologies appoints Vishal Salvi as CEO

• Quick Heal Technologies announced Vishal Salvi as its new CEO on 4 July 2023.
• Salvi has worked in the cybersecurity and information technology domains for over 29 years.
• Prior to joining Quick Heal Technologies, Salvi was Global Chief Information Security Officer at
Infosys Ltd.
• It is an Indian multinational cybersecurity software company, headquartered in Pune,
Maharashtra, India.
Asics signs actor Shraddha Kapoor as brand ambassador
• Asics India Private Limited, a sports gear company, has appointed actor Shraddha Kapoor as its
new brand ambassador.
• The company focuses on the theme of ‘Sound Mind, Sound Body’, and the actor will endorse the
brand’s footwear and women’s sportswear segment.
• In absolute terms, celebrity brand valuations accounted for $1.6 billion in 2022 as compared to
$1.4 billion in 2021.
Cricketer Ajit Agarkar appointed chairman of Men’s Selection Committee
• Ajit Agarkar has been appointed as the chairman of the Senior Men’s Selection Committee by the
BCCI.
• The Senior Men's Selection Committee now consists of Ajit Agarkar (Chairperson), Shiv Sundar
Das, Subroto Banerjee, Salil Ankola, and Sridharan Sharath.
• Agarkar represented India in 26 Tests, 191 ODIs, and four T20Is, in addition to playing 110 first-
class, 270 List A, and 62 T20 matches.
Debadatta Chand appointed as MD and CEO of Bank of Baroda
• Debadatta Chand has been appointed as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
(MD and CEO) of Bank of Baroda (BoB).
• Chand is currently the Executive Director of the bank and has been with BoB for over 30 years.
• Chand is a graduate in engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and has
an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
Harsh Chouhan resigns as NCST chairman 8 months before end of term
• Harsh Chouhan resigned as the chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
(NCST), eight months before the end of his term.
• Chouhan is a former IPS officer who was appointed as the NCST chairman in January 2022.
• His resignation comes at a time when the NCST is investigating several cases of atrocities against
tribals.
Govt re-appoints Brajendra Navnit as India’s ambassador to WTO
• Union govt re-appointed Brajendra Navnit as India’s ambassador to World Trade Organization
(WTO) in July 2023.
• He assumed office in June 2020 and his tenure ended in June 2023.

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• India seeks extension of the waiver for global intellectual property rights concerning Covid
therapeutics and diagnostics.
• The 13th Ministerial Conference of the WTO will take place in Abu Dhabi in Feb 2024.
Vice Admiral Atul Anand takes over as Additional Secretary, DMA
• Vice Admiral Atul Anand appointed as the new Additional Secretary of the Department of Military
Affairs (DMA).
• He joined the Indian Navy in 1988 and is an alumnus of National Defence Academy.
• He has received Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) for his services.
• He also commanded Torpedo Recovery Vessel INTRV A72 and destroyer INS Mumbai.
PM Prasad takes over as Coal India chairman
• P M Prasad, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) has been
appointed as Chairman-cum-Managing Director in Coal India Limited (CIL).
• He succeeds Pramod Agrawal who stepped down on 30 June.
• He has over 30-year experience in the coal mining sector and is a post-graduate in mining
engineering from the Indian School of Mines IIT Dhanbad.
Audi appointed Gernot Dollner as new CEO of the Board of Management
• German luxury carmaker Audi AG has announced the appointment of Gernot Dollner as its new
CEO.
• Dollner, currently heading Volkswagen Group’s Product and Group Strategy, will succeed Markus
Duesmann as Chairman of the Board of Management.
• Audi AG is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles headquartered in Ingolstadt,
Bavaria, Germany.
Tushar Mehta reappointed as Solicitor General of India on 30 June
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the re-appointment of Tushar Mehta
as Solicitor General of India.
• Solicitor General is the 2nd most senior law officer after Attorney General.
• The cabinet also appointed 6 law officers as Additional Solicitor Generals for the Supreme Court
for a period of 3yrs.
• Mehta was appointed as Solicitor General for the first time in October 2018.

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Obituaries Current Affairs

Irish singer Sinead O’Connor passes away at 56
• Irish singer and musician Sinead O’Connor, who was known for her albums like ‘The Lion and the
Cobra’, ‘I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got’, among others, has passed away at the age of 56.
• The news of her demise was confirmed by her family in a statement, reported Page Six.
Veteran Punjabi singer Surinder Shinda passes away
• Surinder Shinda, a renowned Punjabi singer, passed away in Ludhiana, Punjab.
• Shinda penned several renowned songs including 'Jatt Jeona Morh' and 'Putt Jattan De.'
• He was widely regarded as one of the best Punjabi singers and a folk legend.
• In 2013, he was honoured by Brit Asia Music with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his
contribution as a legendary bhangra artist.
Veteran actor Jayant Savarkar dies at 87
• Born on May 3, 1936, in Guhagar, Ratnagiri district, Savarkar started his acting career at the age
of 20.
• He got an opportunity to act in acclaimed playwright Vijay Tendulkar’s stage production, ‘Manus
Navache Bet’
• He played various characters that would appeal to everyone, from children to adults. Savarkar
also worked on platforms like Marathi drama, cinema, serials, and OTT.
Former Australian wicketkeeper Brian Taber passes away
• Brian Taber, former Australian wicketkeeper, passed away at the age of 83 on July 23, 2023.
• Taber played 16 Test matches for Australia between 1966 and 1970.
• He was considered one of the best wicketkeepers that Australia ever produced.
• He played more than 100 games for New South Wales during his domestic career.
• He is a member of the state's Hall of Fame.
Tony Bennett, American master pop vocalist passes away
• Tony Bennett, the master pop vocalist, renowned for creating new standards in pop music, big
band, show tunes, and jazz passed away.
• He had won 20 Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and two Primetime Emmy
Awards.
• In 2014, at age 88, Bennett became the oldest living performer with a No. 1 album on the Billboard
200 chart for “Cheek to Cheek," his duet project with Lady Gaga.
Keshub Mahindra passed away
• Keshub Mahindra, the Chairman Emeritus of Mahindra & Mahindra Group, passed away at the
age of 99.
• Tributes have started pouring in after the demise of the former Chairman of Mahindra and
Mahindra.

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• Keshub Mahindra served as the chairman of the Mumbai-based conglomerate from 1963 to 2012.
He was instrumental in the company's early years when it began selling and manufacturing utility
vehicles
Former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy passes away
• Oommen Chandy, former Chief Minister of Kerala and Congress Working Committee member
passed away.
• He had been undergoing treatment for cancer since 2019.
• Chandy was a popular political leader in Kerala and served as the state's CM from 2011 to 2016
and from 2004 to 2006.
• He was the longest-serving legislator, representing the Puthuppally Assembly constituency from
1970 until his death.
Jane Birkin, inspiration for famous Hermes’ Birkin bag, passes away
• Jane Birkin, the actress and singer, passed away on 16 July 2023.
• She popularized the iconic "Birkin Bag," named after her, which is a luxury handbag made by
Hermès.
• She was born in London in 1946, the daughter of British actress Judy Campbell and Royal Navy
commander David Birkin.
• In 2001, Birkin was awarded the Order of the British Empire.
Veteran Marathi film actor Ravindra Mahajani passes away
• Veteran Marathi film actor Ravindra Mahajani has passed away.
• He was 74.
• Ravindra Mahajani mainly acted in Marathi, Hindi, and Gujarati films.
• He made his film debut with a 1975 Marathi film Zunj (झुंज) directed by veteran director V.
Shantaram. His other popular films included Lakshmi (लक्ष्मी) and Duniya Kari Salaam (दनिया करी
सलाम)
Milan Kundera, 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' author dies at 90
• Renowned author Milan Kundera, best known for his masterpiece 'The Unbearable Lightness of
Being,' has passed away at the age of 94.
• Milan Kundera garnered praise for his skill in portraying themes and characters that seamlessly
oscillated between the ordinary realities of everyday life and the profound realm of ideas.
• He died at home, in his Paris apartment
Luis Suárez, only Spanish man to win Ballon d'Or, passes away
• Luis Suárez Miramontes, the only Spanish man to win the Ballon d’Or, has passed away at the
age of 88.
• Suárez won the Ballon d’Or in 1960 and was runner-up in 1961 and 1964.
• He played on Spain’s team that won the 1964 European Championship.
• He won 3 Italian league titles and the European Cup in 1964-65 with Inter.

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• Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas has won the women’s Ballon d’Or twice.
Veteran US actor, Broadway star John Deyle passes away
• John Deyle, a veteran US actor, passed away on 8 July 2023 at the age of 68.
• He appeared in four Broadway musicals, including "Annie," "Camelot," "Footloose," and
"Urinetown."
• Deyle made his Broadway debut in March 1979 in the musical "Annie" and played Louis Howe,
Fred McCracken, and Bert Healy.
• He also worked in the 1980 Broadway revival of Lerner & Loewe's "Camelot,"
Major Bakhtawar Singh Brar passed away at the age of 109
• He was born on November 19, 1913, in a village in Faridkot district, Punjab.
• He served in the Faridkot State Forces and then joined the 6 Kumaon Regiment before retiring in
1963.
• He was one of the oldest veterans of the Indian Army and its Kumaon Regiment.
• He was born into a poor farmer family and went on to become one of the richest farmers in
Delano, California.
Renowned artist Vasudevan Namboothiri passes away in Malappuram
• He was born in Karuvattu Mana, a village in Malappuram district, Kerala.
• He started his career as a cartoonist and illustrator for various newspapers and magazines.
• He was undergoing treatment for age-related ailments in a private hospital in Malappuram
district.
• He was also a painter and sculptor, and his works have been exhibited in several galleries and
museums across India.
Former Punjab deputy speaker Bir Devinder Singh passes away
• Former Punjab assembly deputy speaker Bir Devinder Singh passes away
• He was elected MLA for the first time from Sirhind in 1980 on a Congress ticket.
• He later won from the Kharar assembly constituency in 2002.
• He served as the deputy speaker of the Vidhan Sabha between 2003 and 2004.
• He was expelled from the Congress in 2016 and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali) in 2019.
Alan Arkin, Oscar-winning actor, passes away
• Actor Alan Arkin, known for his wit and improvisation skills, has passed away on 30 June 2023.
• Arkin won a Tony Award for his performance in "Enter Laughing" and was nominated for an
Academy Award for "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming."
• Critics believe his best performance was in "Catch 22."
• He won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Little Miss Sunshine."

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Person in News Current Affairs

Odisha Naveen Patnaik becomes 2nd longest serving CM in India
• Naveen Patnaik became the second longest-serving chief minister in India, replacing Jyoti Basu.
• Pawan Kumar Chamling still holds the record of being the longest-serving Chief Minister in India.
• Patnaik took charge as the Chief Minister of Odisha on March 5, 2000, and holds the post for 23
years and 138 days.
• Mr Basu was the chief minister of West Bengal from June 21, 1977, to Nov 5, 2000.
Ajay Singh to acquire and revive India’s first private hill station
• Ajay Singh’s company Darwin Platform Infrastructure Ltd has won the bid to acquire and revive
India’s first private hill station
• The National Company Law Tribunal approved Darwin Platform’s Rs 1,814 crore resolution plan
for Lavasa
• The positive news on the future of the Pune-located private hill station comes nearly half a decade
after the insolvency resolution process was initiated
Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre launches ‘NMACC Bachpan'
• The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre will present ‘NMACC BACHPAN’, a special celebration
designed for children between the ages of 2-14 years from July 20.
• ‘NMACC BACHPAN’ takes its inspiration from the learning and creativity of the growing up years,
a release said, adding that the celebration is in line with NMACC founder Nita Ambani’s vision of
promoting and preserving art and culture
Four Indian-origin leaders on 2023 Forbes' 100 richest self-made women
• 4 Indian-origin women, Jayshree Ullal and Indra Nooyi, Neerja Sethi, and Neha Narkhede, have
made it to the Forbes list of America's 100 most successful self-made women, with a combined
net worth of a whopping USD 4.06 billion.
• Building supply distributor Diane Hendricks, with a $15 billion net worth, retained the top spot for
the sixth year in a row.
S Jaishankar files nomination for Rajya Sabha elections from Gujrat
• S Jaishankar filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections from Gujarat.
• The term of three BJP Rajya Sabha members, including Jaishankar, will end on August 18.
• The last date for filing nominations is July 13 and the candidates can withdraw their nomination
till July 17.
• Polling will be held on July 24.
Maldivian FM Abdulla Shahid to be on official visit to India
• Foreign Affairs Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid will be on an official visit to India from 11th
July.
• According to the External Affairs Ministry, both Ministers will also witness the exchange of project
development agreements under Indian grant assistance.

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• Minister Shahid will also deliver the 43rd Sapru House Lecture at the Indian Council of World
Affairs in New Delhi.
Deepika Deshwal becomes first Indian girl address to UN thrice
• Deepika Deshwal became the first and youngest Indian girl to deliver a speech at the United
Nations headquarters in New York City.
• She was invited by the United Nations for the third time to deliver a speech on women's rights
and human rights.
• Deshwal has already etched her name in the Guinness Book of World Records for her selfless
public service during the Covid-19 pandemic.
IAU honours India's first professional meteor scientist Aswin Sekhar
• The International Astronomical Union has honored Aswin Sekhar by naming a minor planet after
him.
• The honor was conferred on him at the 2023 edition of the Asteroids Comets Meteors Conference,
in Arizona.
• Only 5 Indians -CV Raman and Subramanya Chandrasekhar; Srinivasa Ramanujan; Vikram
Sarabhai; and Manali Kallat Vainu Bappu, were conferred this honor before him.
Chhangte, Manisha named men's and women's AIFF Players of Year 23
• India and Mumbai City FC winger Lallianzuala Chhangte was named the AIFF Men's Footballer
of the Year, on the back of his impressive performance in the Indian Super League (ISL)
• The 26-year-old Mizoram player featured in 12 matches during the international season for India.
• Manisha Kalyan was named as the AIFF Women Player of the Year by the All India Football
Federation (AIFF)

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Science and Technology Current Affairs

ISRO launches PSLV-C56 rocket carrying 7 Singaporean satellites
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), on 30 July 2023, successfully launched its PSLV-
C56 rocket carrying 7 Singaporean satellites from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
• DS-SAR carries a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload which allows it to provide all-weather
day and night coverage.
• This is the 58th flight of PSLV and 17th flight of PSLV in Core Alone configuration.
NASA, DARPA select Lockheed Martin to develop nuclear rocket engine
• Lockheed Martin has won a contract to build a nuclear thermal rocket engine that could speed
up space travel.
• NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have issued the contract,
which requires Lockheed Martin to first fly the engine by 2027.
• A nuclear-powered rocket would enable faster trips to Mars, making missions less complex and
safer for the crew.
AMU dept is nodal centre for ISRO-START programme
• The START program is an innovative online training initiative by ISRO, aimed at introducing
undergraduate and postgraduate science and technology students to the fascinating world of
space science and technology.
• The primary objective of the ISRO-START program is to nurture and produce skilled human
resources in the field of space science and technology.
"Worldcoin": Eye-scanning crypto project launched by OpenAI CEO
• Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency project founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, was launched with
the aim of redefining the digital identification process by offering users a World ID.
• With OpenAI working towards building 'responsible' AGI
• Its CEO appears to recognize the need for human privacy online, especially considering how
popular AI chatbots like ChatGPT have become.
Elon Musk's SpaceX successfully launches the reusable Falcon 9 rocket
• SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Southern
California.
• According to the company, 15 satellites were carried to low-Earth orbit during the night’s mission.
• Starlink is an initiative by SpaceX’s satellite network which was designed to bring low-cost internet
service to rural/remote communities.
Meta partners with Microsoft for its latest AI model Llama-2
• Meta has announced the release of its open-source AI model Llama, which will be distributed by
Microsoft through its Azure cloud service.
• Llama 2 is an advanced version of the model that has undergone training on 40% more data
than its predecessor.

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• Amazon is offering access to Claude, an AI developed by the well-known startup Anthropic, in

addition to its lineup of Titan models.
PSLV-C56 to lift off with several satellites
• After Friday's spectacular start to the Chandrayaan-3 moon mission, scientists at the Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will back in Sriharikota for another important launch later
this month.
• The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle- C56 (PSLV-C56) mission is expected to lift off from the Satish
Dhawan Space Centre.
• ISRO will be using a "core alone" variant of the PSLV for this mission.
Study finds origination of genes for learning and memory
• A team of scientists led by researchers from the University of Leicester have discovered that the
genes required for learning, memory, aggression and other complex behaviors originated around
650 million years ago.
• The findings were published in Nature Communications.
• Monoamines like serotonin, dopamine, and adrenaline act as neuromodulators in the nervous
system.
Google has released a new AI-based notes app called NotebookLM
• Google has released a new AI-based notes app called NotebookLM,
• This is aimed at helping people learn faster.
• The app uses a powerful language model to analyze and summarize content, generate ideas, and
answer questions.
• It is currently only available for Google Docs and limited to users in the US.
Tata Group set to become India's iPhone maker
• Tata Group, India’s largest conglomerate, is close to an agreement to acquire an Apple Inc.
supplier’s factory as soon as August, marking the first time a local company would move into the
assembly of iPhones, according to people familiar with the matter.
• An Indian company making iPhones could prove a significant boost for the efforts to challenge
China’s status as the factory of the world.
IIT Guwahati researchers develop AI-based model for knee X ray
• This AI-based model can be used to detect the severity level of the disease and assist medical
practitioners remotely for a more accurate diagnosis.
• Knee osteoarthritis has a prevalence of 28% in the country and there is no possible cure for the
condition except total joint replacement at an advanced stage hence an early diagnosis is
essential for pain management and behavioral corrections.
China launches its own computer operating system, OpenKylin
• China launched the country’s first open-source desktop operating system (OS) named as
OpenKylin 1.0 to create an independent software system.

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• The OpenKylin system has been developed with the contribution of various companies and
organizations.
• Several Chinese Companies are currently working on creating operating systems that can replace
Microsoft’s Windows and Apple MacOS.
ISRO announces to fully transfer SSLV to private sector
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will transfer its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle
(SSLV) to the private sector.
• The SSLV is a mini-rocket that can put satellites weighing up to 500 kg in a low-earth orbit.
• The SSLV targets nano and micro-satellites, offering on-demand launch services.
• The SSLV injected three satellites into a 450-km circular orbit in its successful launch.
India to launch Chandrayaan 3 moon lander and rover on July 14
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that the moon mission Chandrayaan-
3 will be launched on July 14, 2023.
• Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 to demonstrate end-to-end capability
in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface.
• The mission carries scientific instruments to study the elemental composition in the vicinity of the
landing site.
Instagram launches Twitter-like social networking app called Threads
• Instagram has launched a new social networking app called Threads.
• It competes with Twitter and offers many of the same features, including posting text-focused
updates along with images and videos.
• The Threads app has been launched in 100 countries worldwide, and it can be used on Android
and iOS smartphones.
Telangana cops to deploy new cybercrime tool developed by IIT-Kanpur
• The Telangana Police will soon be deploying a new cybercrime tool developed by the Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur.
• The tool, called "CyberDrishti", is designed to help police investigate cybercrimes more effectively.
• CyberDrishti uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze large amounts of data and identify patterns
that may indicate a cybercrime.
Europe's Euclid space satellite launched to explore 'dark matter'
• Europe's Euclid space telescope was launched on 1 July 2023.
• The Euclid telescope, named after the Greek mathematician, will explore the dark universe using
a wide-angle telescope to survey galaxies as far away as 10 billion light-years from Earth.
• The Euclid mission aims to explore the evolution of dark matter and dark energy, which scientists
say account for 95% of the known universe.
NASA's James Webb spots earliest strands of cosmic web

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• NASA scientists have identified the earliest strands of the Cosmic web that existed 830 million
years after the big bang.
• The 'cosmic web' originated as tenuous and became more distinct over time.
• The thread-like arrangement of 10 galaxies existed just 830 million years after the big bang
• The discovery was made from the ASPIRE project.
Australia approves narcotic drugs MDMA, magic mushroom for medical use
• Australia has allowed the use of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and magic
mushrooms for the medical treatment of certain mental health conditions.
• These drugs are also called ecstasy and psilocybin and will be up for medical prescription from
July 1.
• Use of these drugs for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and other types of
depression will begin on July 1.

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Sports Current Affairs

World No.1 Iga Swiatek defeats Laura Siegemund to win WTA Title
• World No.1 Iga Swiatek claimed her fourth title of the season with a 6-0, 6-1 win defeating Laura
Siegemund in the final of the BNP Paribas Warsaw Open.
• Swiatek won the match and added it to her 15th career title.
• This season is turning out great for Swiatek as she already won Doha, Stuttgart, and Roland
Garros.
Compound mixed team of Pragati and Aman snares the gold medal
• The Indian compound mixed team, comprising Pragati and Aman Saini, won the gold medal in
the World University Games in Chengdu.
• Apart from the gold, Indian archers collected silver and two bronze medals to bag four medals in
team events.
• Pragati and Saini rallied to beat Korea 157-156 in the final.
Siddhanta Gogoi crowned 61kg junior Asian champion
• Siddhanta Gogoi clinched the men's 61kg junior title while Gyaneshwari Yadav and Koyel Bar
secured silver medals in the women's 49kg event at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting
Championships.
• The 19-year-old Siddhanta lifted 265kg (116kg+149kg) to give hosts India their first gold medal of
the ongoing edition.
• Another Phillippine lifter Jhodie Peralta won the gold 160kg (73 kg+87 kg).
India bags six medals including four Golds at World University Games
• Indian shooters and archers bagged six medals including four golds at the World University
Games in Chengdu, China.
• Shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Divyansh Singh Panwar and Arjun Babuta joined forces
to outclass local favourites China to win the 10m air rifle men’s team gold.
• Aishwary also secured gold in the 10m air rifle men’s individual event.
Taylor Fritz wins the Atlanta Open for his sixth career ATP Tour title
• Taylor Fritz won his sixth career title Sunday, beating Aleksandar Vukic of Australia 7-5, 6-7, 6-4
at the Atlanta Open 2023.
• This is his second victory of the season on hard courts, after the Delray Beach title in February
2023.
• Taylor Fritz is an American professional tennis player.
• He has a career-high singles ranking of world No. 5 by the Association of Tennis Professionals
(ATP).
Alexei Popyrin beats Wawrinka in Croatia Open final 2023

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• Alexei Popyrin clinched the Croatia Open 2023 title after winning the final against Stan Wawrinka
on 30 July 2023 in Umag, Croatia at the ATP 250. Popyrin defeated the 16-time tour-level
champion Wawrinka with 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 sets.
• Alexei Popyrin is an Australian professional tennis player. Popyrin has a career-high ATP singles
ranking of No. 59.
Indian women's hockey team wins 100th Anniversary SHF tournament
• The Indian Women's Hockey Team won the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation -
International Tournament (Torneo del Centenario) with a 3-0 victory over hosts Spain.
• The Torneo del Centenario is being played to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the Real
Federacion Espanola de Hockey - the Spanish hockey federation.
• The Indian women’s team was led by goalkeeper Savita Punia.
Kishore Jena bags gold medal in Sri Lanka National Athletics meet
• Indian athlete Kishore Jena won gold in the men's javelin throw at Sri Lanka National Athletics
meet with a personal best throw of 84.38m.
• Shivpal Singh secured silver in the same event with the best throw of 77.36m.
• Jena had previously won gold at the Lebanon Athletics Championships 2023 in Beirut with a
distance of 78.96m.
• Shivpal Singh won the silver medal with a 73.34m throw.
Sports Min inaugurates Asian Youth & Junior Weightlifting Championship
• Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated the Asian Youth and
Junior Weightlifting Championships 2023 in India for the first time.
• More than 30 Indian weightlifters are participating including Khelo India Athletes who won 61
medals at the Weightlifting Commonwealth Championships.
• Over 15 nations from the Asian region are participating in the event.
Aditya Samant becomes India’s 83rd Grandmaster
• Aditya is the third Indian to achieve their final GM norm at the Biel Chess tournament.
• In 2021, Harshit Raja earned his 3rd GM-norm at the event while last year, Pranav Anand had
done the same in Biel.
• The Maharashtra player had earned his first norm to become a grandmaster at the Abu Dhabi
Masters last year in August.
Syazrul Ezat Idrus becomes first to claim elusive seven wicket
• Malaysia seamer Syazrul Ezat Idrus on Wednesday scripted history in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
2024 Asia Regional Qualifier B tournament, becoming the first player to record a seven-wicket
haul in a Men's T20I game
• Idrus dismantled China's batting set-up to end with the figure of 7-8
• Riding on his stellar showing with the ball, his team posted a comfortable 8-wicket victory at
Bayuemas Oval

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India finish 2nd on medal tally at ISSF World Championship in S. Korea

• India finished 2nd on the medal tally at the ISSF Junior Shooting World Championships in
Changwon, South Korea.
• The championships saw 90 Indian shooters compete in the under-21 age category.
• Indian shooters won 17 medals, including 6 golds, 6 silvers, and 5 bronzes.
• Abhinav Shaw and Kamaljeet won 2 gold medals each.
• Sainyam won 3 medals, including gold in the 10m air pistol women's event.
Kamaljeet Clinches Gold Medal in Men’s 50 metre Pistol Event
• India's Kamaljeet clinched Gold Medal in Men’s individual 50-meter Pistol Event at ISSF Junior
Shooting World Championship 2023 at Changwon Shooting Range, Korea.
• India went in with a strong contingent of 90 shooters in the tournament and bagged 17 medals
including 6 Golds, 6 Silvers, and 5 Bronzes.
• Over 550 shooters from 44 countries participated in the Championships.
ICC announces 1st ever umpire education course for aspiring officials
• International Cricket Council (ICC) on 24 July 2023, announced the release of its first-ever
education course for aspiring Match Officials - the ICC Umpire Foundation Certificate.
• The course is designed to introduce learners to the basic fundamentals of umpiring.
• The course is completely free to access and delivered entirely online through a micro-learning
approach.
Tripura's Asmita Dey wins gold at Junior Asian Judo Championships 2023
• Asmita Dey won the gold medal in the Junior Asia Cup Judo Championship in Macau, China.
• She competed in the women's 48 kg category against opponents from 27 different countries.
• The Judo Asian Championship is organized by the Judo Union of Asia.
• The men's tournament began in 1966 and was held approximately every four years, until 1991.
China's Zheng Qinwen beats Jasmine Paolini to win Palermo Open 2023
• Zheng Qinwen secured her first career title with a comeback victory over Jasmine Paolini in the
Palermo Ladies Open 2023 final.
• Ranked No.26, Zheng became the 11th Chinese woman to win a WTA singles title.
• This win marks Zheng's first WTA 250 championship.
• Palermo Ladies Open, is a women's tennis tournament in Palermo, Italy that is played on outdoor
clay courts at the Country Time Club.
Indian women's Softball team take part for first time in Asian Games
• The Softball Association of India (SBAI) unveiled a 16-member Indian women's team, which will
compete at the Asian Games in Hangzhou to begin on 23rd September.
• Softball has been included in the continental event for the first time.
• There is one standby and three reserves, who were chosen after trials for the probable list.
Max Verstappen clinches Hungarian GP

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• Red Bull's Max Verstappen stormed to victory over Lando Norris and Sergio Perez with another
commanding performance in the Hungarian Grand Prix.
• With the victory the reigning double world champion clinched his seventh straight victory and the
Red Bull their 12th in a row – beating McLaren’s long-standing record.
Andrey Rublev downs Casper Ruud to clinch Nordea Open title
• Andrey Rublev grabbed his second tour-level crown of the season as he overcame top seed
Casper Ruud 7-6(3), 6-0 in the Nordea Open final.
• In a match that lasted an hour and 33 minutes, the second seed, who only dropped one set to win
the title, played Ruud with good shots.
Sumit Nagal wins Tampere Open 2023, his fourth ATP Challenger title
• Sumit Nagal clinched the ATP Challenger men’s singles title after winning the final of the Tampere
Open 2023 in Finland.
• It was the Indian tennis player’s fourth ATP Challenger Tour title.
• Sumit Nagal won the Garden Open in Rome in April, winning a title after four years.
D Gukesh reaches 11th in live World ranking
• GM Gukesh D is expected to be the youngest player to have a published rating of 2750 in history
when the next FIDE rating list comes out in 11 days (when he will be 17.17 years old)
• At 17 years, one month, and 21 days, Gukesh is the world number-11 on the live rating list and
Indian number two.
• Gukesh earned his grandmaster title in 2019.
• In July 2022, he achieved a live rating of 2700.
Rakesh & Sarita win India's 1st gold at World Para Archery Tournament
• Indian para-archers won three medals at the World Archery Para Championships 2023 and
secured six quota places for the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
• Sarita and Rakesh Kumar won India's first-ever gold medal in the World Archery Para
Championships in the compound mixed team open event.
• Sheetal Devi won a silver medal in the women's compound, becoming the first female armless
archer to do so.
Lahiru Thirimanne announces retirement from international cricket
• Sri Lankan cricketer Lahiru Thirimanne has retired from international cricket after a 13-year
career.
• He played 44 Tests, 127 ODIs and 26 T20Is after making his international debut in 2010.
• He was part of three T20 World Cup campaigns, including Sri Lanka's win in 2014, and played two
ODI World Cups.
• His last international match was the Test against India in Bengaluru in March 2022.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty clinch Korea Open 2023

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• Indian pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the Korea Open 2023 title in men's
doubles badminton.
• They defeated world no.1 Indonesian duo Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto.
• This is the third Super 500 title of their career so far after Thailand Open 2019 and Yonex Sunrise
India Open 2022.
• They also won the Swiss Open 2023 and the Indonesia Open 2023.
Minerva Academy becomes first Indian club to win Gothia Cup in Sweden
• Minerva Academy Football Club became the first Indian club to win the Gothia Cup in Sweden.
• The tournament is the world's largest and most international youth football tournament with 1700
teams.
• The Gothia Cup is owned by BK Hacken, a top Sweden football club.
• The first-ever edition of the tournament was held in 1975.
• In total, 4500 games were played on 110 pitches during the tournament.
Virat Kohli becomes 5th highest run-scorer in international cricket
• Virat Kohli has surpassed South Africa’s Jacques Kallis to become the fifth-highest run-scorer in
international cricket.
• Kohli achieved this during India’s second Test against West Indies at Port of Spain.
• As of now, Virat has 25,548 runs to his name in 559 innings of 500 matches.
• He has a batting average of 53.67 and has scored 76 centuries and 132 fifties.

Virat Kohli becomes 10th cricketer to play 500 international matches

• Kohli became only the 10th cricketer to make 500 international appearances during the final Test
match against West Indies on 21 July 2023 at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain.
• Kohli also became the fourth Indian to join this list, with the other three being Sachin Tendulkar,
Rahul Dravid and MS Dhoni.
• His career includes 274 ODIs, 115 T20Is, and 111 Test matches.
England's Stuart Broad becomes second pace bowler to take 600 wickets
• England's Stuart Broad has become the second pace bowler to take 600 wickets in Test cricket.
• The 36-year cricketer reached the mark by removing Australia's Travis Head on day one of the
fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford.
• England team-mate James Anderson is the only other quick bowler to achieve the feat.
AIFF introduces U-20 national championship for men
• The All India Football Federation (AIFF), after consultations with its competition committee, has
decided to introduce a U-20 national championship for men.
• The tournament, to be played annually, will be known as the U-20 National Football
Championship. The inaugural championship will be staged in January-February 2024.
Indian football team 99th in FIFA rankings, best since 2018

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• The Indian men's football team has moved up one spot to rank 99th in the latest FIFA Men's
Football Rankings, released on 20 July 2023.
• It is India's best position in five years in FIFA Rankings.
• India recently won their ninth SAFF Championship title in a penalty shootout against Kuwait.
• India had also won their second Intercontinental Cup title by defeating Lebanon 2-0 in the title
clash.
Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2023 mascot 'Bomman' unveiled in Chennai
• Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development of Tamil Nadu,
unveiled the mascot for the Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan
Hockey Stadium in Chennai.
• The mascot, named "Bomman," is inspired by the story of the indigenous couple Bomman and
Bellie who have cared for orphaned elephants in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.
Harmehar Singh Lally, Sanjana Sood win silver medal in ISSF JWC
• In shooting, India bagged one silver to stay in the second position of the medal tally on Day 4 of
the ISSF Junior World Championships, in Changwon, Korea.
• Harmehar Singh Lally and Sanjana Sood won a silver medal in the skeet mixed team event.
• With that medal, India stayed in second place on the medals table with four gold, four silver and
three bronze medals.
Indian Surf Team wins bronze medal at Asian Surfing Championship
• Indian Surf Team won the bronze medal at the Asian Surfing Championship, held at Thulisdhoo
Island in Maldives.
• 18 countries from Asia took part in this championship.
• The Surfing Federation of India sent a team comprising 4 senior Surfers in the men’s category
and 2 Surfers in the Under 18 category. 5 out of the 6 Surfers were from Tamilnadu.
Aruna Tanwar bags three gold medals in Taekwondo Championships
• Paralympian Aruna Tanwar added another feather to her cap by securing three gold medals in
three Taekwondo championships held on three consecutive days in Australia.
• Currently ranked world number 4, Aruna Tanwar bagged three gold medals at Australia Open
Para Taekwondo Championship, President Cup Para Taekwondo Championship and Oceania
Para Taekwondo Championship held in Australia.
Prithviraj Tondaiman bags Bronze medal at ISSF Shotgun World Cup
• In shooting, India shooter Prithviraj Tondaiman bagged the bronze medal in the men’s trap event
at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup Lonato 2023 in Italy.
• Prithviraj Tondaiman’s bronze was India’s only medal at the Lonato shooting meet. This was his
second individual ISSF World Cup medal, having won a bronze in Doha in March.
• Prithviraj Tondaiman finished third in the final with 34 points.
Ajeet Singh clinches gold medal in finals of Men’s javelin Throe

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• In Para Athletics, Ajeet Singh has clinched the gold medal in the finals of the Men’s javelin throw
F46 in the ongoing Championships in Paris.
• He pulled out a throw of 65.41 and finished on top of the tree. He broke the championship record,
which was earlier held by Chunliang Guo of China with a throw of 61.89.
• Another countryman, Rinku won the silver medal with a best throw of 65.38.
Satwik breaks world record for fastest badminton hit with 565-kmph
• India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy has broken the world record
for the fastest badminton hit by a male with a 565-kmph smash.
• Sports equipment manufacturing firm Yonex stated that Satwik
attempted the world record on April 14, 2023 in Japan.
• The previous world record (493 kmph) was achieved by
Malaysian badminton player Tan Boon Heong in 2013.
Ajeet Singh clinches gold in Men’s javelin throw in Para Athletics
• Ajeet Singh won the gold medal in the Men's Javelin Throw F46 event at the Para Athletics
Championships in Paris.
• He broke the championship record with a throw of 65.41, while his countryman Rinku won the
silver medal with a best throw of 65.38.
• Sri Lanka's Dinesh Priyantha Herath finished joint second with Rinku.
• India's Sundar Singh Gujjar bagged the fourth position with a throw of 61.81.
Keerthana upstages Anupama for World U-21 snooker title
• Keerthana Pandian defeated fellow Indian Anupama Ramachandran in the final to emerge as
the IBSF World under-21 women's snooker champion at Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).
• Third seed Keerthana edged out top seed Anupama.
Asian Athletics Championships: India finish 3rd behind China and Japan
• India finished 3rd in the medal table at the Asian Athletics Championships 2023 with 27 medals,
including 6 Golds. India finished behind Japan and China.
• India won 13 medals on the final day of the championship in Thailand
Karman Kaur Thandi signs off with runners-up place in Saskatoon
• India's Karman Kaur Thandi and her women's doubles partner Canadian Stacey Fung finished
runners-up at the ITF W60 Saskatoon Challenger tennis tournament
• The Indo-Canadian combination had earlier defeated Savanna Ly-Nguyen of Vietnam and
Martina Okalova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-2 in Round 1, before stunning top seeds Victoria Hu of USA
and Renata Zarazua of Mexico 7-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
Shubham Bisla, Sainyam win gold at ISSF world championship 2023
• Indian shooters Shubham Bisla and Sainyam won gold medals in the 10m air pistol for men and
women respectively at the ISSF Junior World Championships 2023.

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• The junior shooting world championships are being held at Changwon Shooting Range, Republic
of Korea.
• India's contingent of 90 shooters for the 2023 junior world championships is the largest.
Carlos Alcaraz beats Novak Djokovic in 5 sets, wins maiden Wimbledon
• Spain's Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic in Wimbledon 2023, winning his 1st title at the
tournament and his second Grand Slam trophy overall.
• The 20-year-old Spaniard became the third-youngest male champion at Wimbledon in the Open
era.
• The age gap between him and Djokovic is the widest in any men's Slam final since 1974.
• The match lasted more than 4 1/2 hours and Alcaraz won a 32-points.
Mirabai to lead India's contingent at World Weightlifting Championship
• Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu will lead a five-member Indian team at the World Weightlifting
Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• The event will be held from September 4 to 17 and will serve as a qualifying event for the 2024
Paris Olympics.
• Chanu, a two-time world championships medalist, will be competing in the women's 49 kg
category and aiming for gold.
Ravichandran Ashwin becomes second highest wicket-taker for India
• Ravichandran Ashwin has become the second-highest wicket-taker for India in international
cricket, surpassing Harbhajan Singh.
• Ashwin has 709 wickets in 271 international matches, with 27 four-wicket hauls, 34 five-wicket
hauls, and 8 ten-wicket hauls in international cricket.
• India's best bowler in international cricket is Anil Kumble, who has taken 953 wickets in 401
matches.
UP's Parul Chaudhary wins gold in women's 3000m steeplechase
• Parul Chaudhary won gold in the women’s 3000m steeplechase event at the Asian Athletics
Championships.
• She had previously secured a bronze in the 5000m race in 2019 but missed the podium twice in
the 3000m steeplechase.
• Shaili Singh won silver in the women's long jump with a leap of 6.54 meters.
• Sumire Hata of Japan won gold in the women's long jump with a personal best of 6.97m.
Jyothi wins India's first gold at Asian Athletics Championships 2023
• Jyothi Yarraji won the gold medal in the 100m hurdles event at the Asian Athletics Championship
in Bangkok, Thailand, becoming the first Indian to do so.
• Yarraji clocked a time of 13.09s in the final to win the gold.
• With this victory, Yarraji has now qualified for the World Championships.
• She was also the only Indian woman in history to clock a time below 13 seconds in this event.

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India's Nishad Kumar clinches silver in Men's High Jump event

• India's Nishad Kumar has clinched a silver medal in the ongoing Para Athletics World
Championships 2023 in Paris.
• Nishad bagged this medal in the High Jump T47 Event.
• With this win, Nishad became the second athlete to grab a medal at this event.
• The top-four ranked athletes at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in each individual
medal event qualify for the 2024 Paralympic Games.
India’s top table tennis league UTT tournament will held in Pune
• India’s top table tennis league Ultimate Table Tennis tournament is being organized at the Shiv
Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India after
a gap of four years.
• The league round-robin will be held between the 13th and the 27th of July.
• The semifinals will be held on the 28 and the 29th of July and the final will be held on the 30th of
July.
Ashwin becomes first Indian bowler to dismiss father and son
• Senior Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin achieved a rare distinction of getting the wickets
of both father and son in his illustrious Test career when he dismissed Tagenarine Chanderpaul
on the opening day of the first Test against the West Indies.
• He had dismissed Tagenarine's father Shivnarine Chanderpaul during his maiden appearance in
the longest format.
Ganemat Sekhon sets national record at ISSF World Cup Lonato 2023
• Ganemat Sekhon set a new national record in the women's skeet qualifying round at the ISSF
World Cup Shotgun Lonato 2023.
• Ganemat had a perfect round of 25 but finished in seventh place, missing out on a place in the
final.
• Dania Jo Vizzi of the USA claimed the sixth and final spot with a score of 121.
• This event was part of the Paris 2024 Olympics qualifying event.
Abhishek Pal wins bronze at Asian Athletics Championships in 1000 m
• Abhishek Pal won bronze in the men's 10,000-meter event at the Asian Athletics Championships
2023 in Bangkok, Thailand.
• This is Abhishek's first medal at a major competition.
• Ren Tazawa of Japan took first place in the 10,000-meter event with a record of 29:18.44.
• Gulveer Singh of India came in fifth place overall among the 16 competitors with a time of
29:53.69.
Praveen Kumar wins bronze in Para Athletics Worlds
• India's Praveen Kumar won a bronze in the men's high jump T64 event in the World Para Athletics
Championships here to book a 2024 Paris Paralympics quota.

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• The 20-year-old Kumar produced a season's best effort of 2.01m to finish third behind Lepiato
Maciej (2.05m) of Poland and Broom-Edwards Jonathan (2.05m) of Great Britain.
• Kumar's medal is the first for India in the championships.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Ashleigh Gardner named ICC Players of the Month
• The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the winners of the ICC Player of the Month
awards for June 2023.
• The ICC Men’s Player of the Month award goes to Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga, who
successfully qualified for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
• The ICC Women’s Player of the Month prize goes to Australia’s all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner,
making her the first to win three awards.
Tamil Nadu’s Selva Prabhu selected as Asia’s Best Junior Athlete
• Tamil Nadu’s Selva Prabhu has been selected as Asia’s Under-20 Male Athlete of the Year
• In the recent Under-20 World Athletics Championships, Selvaprabu created history by winning a
silver medal in triple jump
• Subsequently, he has been recognized as the best athlete in Asia
• The Asian Athletics Association will honor Selva Prabhu with an award at a ceremony to be held
in Bangkok
Para-shooter Rudransh creates world record on way to pistol gold
• India para-shooters Rudransh Khandelwal and Nihal Singh won the gold and silver respectively
in the P4 Mixed 50m pistol SH1 category at the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup.
• Rudransh broke the world record of Khel Ratna awardee Manish Narwal, who won gold at the
2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.
• Nihal was the leader at the end of the qualification round, while Rudransh was fifth.
Lord Hanuman is official mascot of Asian Athletics Championships
• 'Lord Hanuman', one of the most revered Gods in India, will be the official mascot of the Asian
Athletics Championships starting in Thailand.
• The event is being held on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the continental governing
body.
• The 25th Asian Athletics Championships 2023 logo indicates the athletes participating in the
games, skills, and teamwork of athletes.
Lakshya Sen wins Canada Open
• Lakshya Sen saved four game points in the second after taking the first to claim the Canada
Open Super 500 at Calgary.
• The six straight points he scored to win the championship showed the mental stranglehold he
held over Chinese Li Shifeng throughout the game.
• Lakshya Sen went on to win his second Super 500 title of his career after the India Open, beating
the reigning All-England champion.

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Parth Salunkhe becomes first Indian to win Youth World Championship

• Parth Salunkhe became the first male archer to win a gold in the recurve category at the Youth
World Championships as India finished with their highest-ever tally of 11 medals.
• The 19-year-old from Satara in Maharashtra provided the perfect icing on the cake by defeating
a Korean in the Under-21 men's recurve individual final, in Limerick, Ireland last night.
Max Verstappen wins British Grand Prix
• Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the British Grand Prix, McLaren driver Lando Norris came in
the second position followed by Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton in the third.
• McLaren drivers also put up an incredible performance.
• British driver Lando Norris finished the race in the second position and teammate Oscar Piastri
concluded the race in the fourth position.
Gukesh D beats 5 time world chess champion Vishwanathan Anand
• Gukesh D recorded his first win against former world champion Vishwanathan Anand at the
SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Tournament 2023.
• The pair played a memorable match in the eighth round of the rapid event, with Gukesh D edging
out Anand in a 40-move battle.
• Gukesh achieved the title of grandmaster in 2019 at age 12 and is currently the thirteenth-best
active player in the world.
Madhya Pradesh clinches 13th Hockey India Junior Women Championship
• Hockey Madhya Pradesh won the 13th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2023,
beating Hockey Jharkhand 1-0 in the final.
• Hockey Haryana defeated Chhattisgarh Hockey 12-2 in the Bronze Medal match.
• Sukhpreet Kaur was the top scorer for Hockey Haryana in the Bronze Medal match, scoring four
goals.
• Kanika Siwach scored a hat-trick for Hockey Haryana in the Bronze Medal match.
Netherlands men team wins second FIH Hockey Pro League title
• Netherlands men's team finish their season four campaign with 35 points, making them
champions of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2022/23 season.
• The Netherlands becomes the first team in the men’s competition to win a second title.
• The Indian men’s hockey team finished fourth in the FIH Pro League 2022-23.
• The Men's FIH Pro League is an international men's field hockey competition.
India compound women archers win U-18, U-21 gold medals in WYC
• India's women compound archers showcased their dominance at the World Youth
Championships in Limerick, Ireland.
• The U-18 and U-21 women's teams secured gold medals, marking India's third gold in the
competition
• In the U-18 category, Aishwarya Sharma, Aditi Swami, and Ekta Rani formed a formidable team.

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• Olivia Dean, Liko Arreola, and Leann Drake put up a tough fight.
Tamim Iqbal announces his retirement from international cricket
• Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal has announced his retirement from international cricket.
• He made his ODI debut in February 2007 and ends his limited-overs career with the most ODI
runs (8313) and hundreds (14) for Bangladesh.
• Tamim is the third-highest run-scorer in ODIs among active players, behind Virat Kohli and Rohit
Sharma.
• Tamim scored 5134 runs in Tests with 10 centuries in 70 matches.
India continue to be No. 1 in Test ranking
• The Indian team, which lost the World Test Championship final to Australia last month, continues
to hold on to its top spot.
• Team India and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin remained number one in the latest ICC Test
Rankings even as New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson replaced Joe Root as the top-ranked
batter.
• Ashwin also held on to his world No 1 spot among bowlers.
Indian pair Priyansh & Avneet Kaur win gold medal
• Indian archers Priyansh and Avneet Kaur won gold in the junior mixed team compound event,
defeating Israel in the final of the World Archery Youth Championships in Limerick, Ireland.
• It was a nail-biting contest wherein the Indian players beat Israel.
• The World Archery Youth Championships event is taking place at the University of Limerick in the
west of Ireland from July 3 to 9.
Brazil legend Marta confirms Women's World Cup farewell
• Brazil forward Marta said she is preparing for a sixth Women's World Cup and confirmed the
tournament in Australia and New Zealand will be her last.
• The 37-year-old made her World Cup debut in 2003 and is Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 117
goals.
• She has won the Copa America three times but is yet to lift the World Cup.
Parth Salunkhe tops the Ranking round of the World Archery Youth Champ
• Parth Salunkhe continued his good form this year to top the ranking round ahead of the World
Youth Championships in the recurve men’s under-21 individual category in Ireland.
• India enjoyed a solid day at the World Youth Championships as several Indians finished in the
top 10.
• Parth Salunkhe, who won a silver medal in the senior Singapore Asia Cup Leg 3 competition in
June, topped the ranking
Gujarat's Aryan Nehra Sets Another National Record

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• Asian Games-bound swimmer Aryan Nehra broke yet another national record en route to his
gold-winning performance in the men’s 800m freestyle event at the national swimming
championships.
• Aryan breached the Asian Games qualifying standard for the second time this year by clocking
8:01.81.
• He has also breached the 1500m freestyle qualification time.
37th Sailing Week & Laser National Championship takes off in Hyderabad
• The 37th Hyderabad Sailing Week and Laser National Championship has taken off under the
aegis of EME Sailing Association (EMESA), Laser Class Association of India, and Secunderabad
Sailing Club at Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad.
• The Hyderabad Sailing Week is conducted every year at the Hussain Sagar Lake and the National
Laser Championship serves as a trial event for the Asian Games.
Rujuta Khade steals the show, breaks 20 year old national record
• Rujuta Khade made a remarkable performance at the national swimming championships.
• She broke a 20-year-old record while Aryan Nehra continued his streak of breaking records.
• Nina Venkatesh from Karnataka secured the bronze medal with a time of 26.73 seconds. Rujuta
surpassed the previous national record of 26.61 seconds held by Shikha Tandon since 2003.
India adds 664 animal species to its faunal database in 2022
• India added 664 animal species to its faunal database in the year 2022. These comprise 467 new
species and 197 new records [species found in India for the first time].
• The country also added 339 new plant taxa – 186 taxa that are new to science and 153 taxa as
new distributional records from the country in 2022.
India beat Kuwait in penalty shootout to win 9th SAFF Championship
• India defeated Kuwait by 5-4 in the penalty shootout of the final of the South Asian Football
Federation (SAFF) Championship at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on 4 July 2023.
• This was the second time India won in the penalty shootout.
• Chhangte was named AIFF Men's Player of the Year on 4 July 2023.
• Sunil Chhetri, Sandesh Jhingan scored for India in the penalty shootout.
Athapaththu becomes first Sri Lankan batter to top women's ODI batting
• Chamari Athapaththu has become the first Sri Lankan batter to top the ICC Women's ODI Batting
Rankings.
• She achieved the feat after scoring 108 not out in the first ODI against Pakistan on July 1, 2023.
• Athapaththu displaced Australia's Beth Mooney from the top spot.
• Athapaththu is the first Sri Lankan to top the ODI batting rankings in any format.
Rajendra R wins FMSCI Reise INRSC (2W) South Zone round
• Rajendra R of Team TVS Racing won the FMSCI Reise INRSC (2W) South Zone round.

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• He finished the race with a time of 7:33.59 seconds, ahead of Deepak Ravikumar of Team Honda
Racing India and R. Ananthakrishnan of Team TVS Racing.
• The race was held at the Sarjapur Off-Road Track in Bengaluru.
• The next round of the FMSCI Reise INRSC (2W) Championship will be held in Pune on July 24.
Sri Lanka qualify for ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023
• Sri Lanka qualifies for the 2023 Cricket World Cup after crushing Zimbabwe by nine wickets in a
qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe.
• Sri Lanka has won all six games in the qualifying tournament.
• Zimbabwe missed out on the last World Cup in 2019 for the first time since it started playing at
the tournament in 1983.
• Scotland also missed 2019 and last played at the World Cup in 2015.
Yuki Bhambri wins career's 1st ATP Tour tennis title at Mallorca Open
• Indian tennis player, Yuki Bhambri won his first ATP Tour title in the Mallorca Open 2023 men's
doubles final.
• Bhambri partnered with South Africa's Lloyd Harris to beat Robin Haase and Philipp Oswald in
the final.
• Bhambri and Myneni also won their first Grand Slam match at the French Open 2023.
• Yuki Bhambri is a former junior world No. 1 in singles.
Max Verstappen wins Austrian Grand Prix 2023
• Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the Austrian Grand Prix, the 10th round of the 2023 Formula 1
World Championship.
• Max Verstappen won his seventh race out of nine in the Austrian Grand Prix.
• This victory was Verstappen's fifth successive win of the season.
• Charles Leclerc finished second, earning Ferrari their 800th podium finish.
• Perez finishes third in a race with many-time penalties.
Olympian Manna Patel breaks record in women's 100 m backstroke event
• Swimmer Manna Patel broke the national record in the women's 100m backstroke event at the
ongoing National Swimming Championships in Patiala
• Patel clocked 59.99 seconds to finish first in the event, breaking the previous record of 60.23
seconds set by Shikha Tandon in 2019
• The 23-year-old swimmer is also a two-time Olympian, having represented India at the Rio 2016
and Tokyo 2020 Games
Triveni Continental Kings crowned champions of Global Chess League
• Triveni Continental Kings were crowned champions of the inaugural Global Chess League after
defeating Mumba Masters 2-0 in the final
• The Kings finished the league stage with 15 points, two points ahead of Mumba Masters
• The final was played in a best-of-three format, with each team playing two rapid games
• The Kings won the first rapid game, with Levon Aronian defeating Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

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Haryana wins 6th youth Women’s National Boxing Championships

• Haryana won the 6th Youth Women's National Boxing Championships, which concluded in
Bhopal
• Haryana finished with a total of 13 medals, including five gold, four silver, and four bronze
• Maharashtra finished second with 10 medals, including four gold, three silver, and three bronze
• Punjab finished third with seven medals, including two gold, two silver, and three bronze
West Indies fail to qualify for World Cup 2023 for first time
• West Indies cricket team, on 2 July 2023, failed to qualify for the Cricket World Cup 2023 for the
first time in their history after losing to Scotland.
• West Indies won the first two editions of the men's 50-over cricket World Cup in 1975 and 1979.
• West Indies lost to the Netherlands in a Super Over in which their opponents scored a record 30.
BCCI announces Dream11 as new lead sponsor for Team India
• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) signed a three-year sponsorship deal with fantasy
sports gaming platform Dream11 on 1 July 2023.
• From now on, Dream11 will be the lead sponsor of the Indian team.
• Dream11 will be seen on Team India jerseys starting from the Test series against the West Indies,
the team’s first assignment in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle.
Shreyanka Patil becomes first player to be signed up for Women's CPL
• Shreyanka Patil has made history by becoming the first Indian cricketer to be signed for the
Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).
• She is also the first Indian player to be offered a contract in an overseas league before making
her international debut.
• Patil has been selected for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the WCPL, which will be held from 31
August to 10 September.
Olympian Neeraj Chopra wins Lausanne Diamond League 2023
• Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra obtained the top spot in Lausanne Diamond League 2023
with a best throw of 87.66 m.
• Chopra won his first Diamond League Trophy when he won the Lausanne League in August 2022.
• He went on to win the Diamond League Trophy in the final in 2022.
• The Tokyo Olympic gold medallist had won the Diamond League meeting in Doha on May 5 with
a throw of 88.67 meters.

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Table of Content
Art & Culture Current Affairs ...............................................................................................3
Awards and Honours Current Affairs ................................................................................. 4
Banking Current Affairs ...................................................................................................... 10
Books and Authors Current Affairs .................................................................................... 15
Business and Economy Current Affairs ............................................................................. 17
Committees and Recommendations Current Affairs ...................................................... 21
Defence Current Affairs ..................................................................................................... 22
Government Schemes and Policies Current Affairs......................................................... 27
Days and Events Current Affairs ........................................................................................33
International Current Affairs .............................................................................................. 37
MoU and Agreements Current Affairs ............................................................................... 41
National Current Affairs .................................................................................................... 45
Appointments Current Affairs ............................................................................................ 70
Obituaries Current Affairs .................................................................................................. 77
Person in News Current Affairs ......................................................................................... 81
Science and Technology Current Affairs ..........................................................................83
Sports Current Affairs Current Affairs .............................................................................. 85

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Art and Culture Current Affairs

"Thiruonam", the most auspicious day of Onam was celebrated in Kerela
• Keralalites across the globe is celebrating "Thiruonam", the 10th and the most auspicious day
of Onam, the biggest cultural festival of the State.
• Onam, the harvest festival of Kerala, symbolises prosperity, secularism,and harmony.
• Irrespective of religion, Keralites celebrate the festival welcoming the visit of the righteous and
mythical king Mahabali,in the memory of good old days.
President of India to inaugurate "Festival of Libraries 2023" on 5 Aug
• The Ministry of Culture is organizing the “Festival of Libraries 2023”, held on the 5th - 6th August
2023 in New Delhi.
• President of India Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the two-day festival.
• The festival will also highlight iconic libraries from across the world in order to initiate a
conversation on the modernization and digitization of libraries in India.

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Awards and Honours Current Affairs

Ravi Kannan won Ramon Magsaysay Award 2023.
• Oncologist Ravi Kannan, a recipient of India’s fourth-highest civilian award Padma Shri and the
director of Assam’s Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (CCHRC), has been named one
of the four winners of the 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel prize.
• Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated Kannan for winning the prestigious award
Satyajit Majumdar honoured with Dr V G Patel Memorial Award-2023
• Mumbai Professor Satyajit Majumdar, dean of School of Management and Labour Studies from
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), will receive the ‘Dr V G Patel Memorial Award-2023 for
Entrepreneurship Trainer, Educator and Mentor’for his work in promoting and strengthening
entrepreneurship in India.
• Dr Patel is widely acknowledged as the Father of Entrepreneurship Movement in India.
Manoj Bubna Recognized as 'Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2023'
• N7 – The Nitrogen Platform's CEO Manoj Bubna has been conferred the prestigious 'Entrepreneur
of the Year 2023' award by the renowned 'Entrepreneur India' business magazine.
• Manoj Bubna, a trailblazing entrepreneur known for his innovative thinking and transformative
approach.
• He is the brain behind N7 - The Nitrogen Platform, a cutting-edge AI/ML technology.
Parmeet Singh Sood felicitated at "ET Leadership Excellence Awards"
• The Economic Times honored the achievements of leaders and change-makers who have made
significant contributions in their respective fields.
• Parmeet Singh Sood, Managing Director of Climax Overseas Pvt. Ltd. was awarded the
“Excellence in Manufacturing Of Automobile Parts” and felicitated by the well-known Bollywood
actress Rakul Preet Singh along with Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva.
Tirupathur District Achieves Elite World Record
• In a monumental achievement, the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) in Tirupathur
district, Tamil Nadu, has set a new world record by constructing 1546 farm ponds in just 30 days.
• The success of this ambitious endeavour is attributed to meticulous micro-level planning and
strong community involvement.
Lucknow Rozgar Training Centre bags ISAC award
• In the India Smart Cities Awards Contest for the year 2022, the Rojgar Training Centre in Lucknow
was the 2nd runner-up under the economy category.
• Jabalpur and Indore bagged the 1st runner up and top position respectively
• Lucknow Smart City Limited has joined hands with the Institute of Entrepreneurship Development
U.P. to create livelihood opportunities for the urban poor
SVAMITVA Scheme of Ministry of Panchayati Raj won National Award

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• Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas Scheme of
Ministry of Panchayati Raj won the National Award for e-Governance 2023 (GOLD) for
Application of Emerging Technologies for Providing Citizen Centric Services.
• SVAMITVA Scheme has been successful in providing an integrated property validation solution
for rural India
ATS HomeKraft awarded as “Emerging Developer of the Year”
• The Economic Times honored the achievements of leaders and change-makers who have made
significant contributions in their respective fields. In an event which was held at Hotel The Grand
in New Delhi
• ATS HomeKraft was awarded as the “Emerging Developer of the Year” and felicitated by the
well-known Bollywood actress Rakul Preet Singh along with Delhi BJP President Virendra
Sachdeva.
Shuchin Bajaj wins the Social Entrepreneur of Year award
• Shuchin Bajaj of Ujala Cygnus Healthcare, which provides super-speciality tertiary health care at
low cost to underserved communities awarded the 14th Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award-
India, established by Jubilant Bhartia Foundation and Schwab Foundation for Social
Entrepreneurship
• The award was presented to Bajaj by Amitabh Kant, at a ceremony attended by the three other
finalists
PM Modi Conferred with Award by Greece President
• The President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou conferred PM Narendra Modi with The Grand
Cross of the Order of Honour.
• The Order of Honour was established in 1975.
• The head of goddess Athena is depicted on the front side of the Star with the inscription “Only
the righteous should be honoured”.
69th edition of the National Film Awards announced:
• Best Non Feature Film Goes To 'Ek Tha Gaon'
• Sardar Udham Wins Best Hindi Film
• Best Film Critic goes to Purushothama Charyulu (Telugu)
• 'The Kashmir Files' wins Nargis Dutt award
• Rocketry The Nambi Effect Gets Best Film Award
• Allu Arjun Wins Best Actor For Pushpa: The Rise - Part 1
• Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon get Best Actress Award For Gangubai Kathiawadi and Mimi
respectively.
Indian Filmmaker Shihan Shoukath wins Best Original Story Award
• Shihan Shoukath has always been into technology and software, and even a bigger film bug
which led him to win multiple awards at various film festivals across the world including the
Cannes World Film Festival.

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• Deadline, directed by Shihan, won three awards; Best Actor in a Short Film for Ishan Shoukath,
the lead actor, who is also Shihan’s brother; Best Original Story, and Best Director.
Tirupati boy bags silver at Singapore Math Olympiad
• Raja Anirudh Sriram, from Tirupati, won a silver medal at the Singapore International Math
Olympiad Challenge (SIMOC).
• Raja Anirudh was the only participant from Andhra Pradesh among the 23 Indians.
• Over 2000 students from 32 countries participated in the SIMOC.
• By the age of six, Raja Anirudh became the youngest Indian to earn the 'Microsoft Office Specialist
Certificate.'
Shallu Jindal: Awarded CSR TIMES Lifetime Achievement Award
• Renowned philanthropist and Chairperson of JSP Foundation Shallu Jindal has been conferred
with the coveted CSR TIMES Lifetime Achievement Award 2023.
• She has been recognized for her outstanding and enduring positive contributions to the Socio-
economic development of the underprivileged and socially vulnerable through multidimensional
sustainable Community development Programmes.
Maharashtra CM present Govt's first 'Udyog Ratna' award to Ratan Tata
• Ratan Tata was presented with the first 'Udyog Ratna' award by the Maharashtra Govt for his
outstanding work in the industry sector.
• The award was presented by CM Eknath Shinde.
• Adar Punawala of Serum Institute was awarded the 'Udyog Mitra' award.
• Vilas Shinde received the 'Best Marathi Entrepreneur' award.
• Govt has also awarded 'Maharashtra Udyog Puraskar' to eminent entrepreneurs.
Raj Chetty Gets Top Harvard University Prize
• Prominent Indian-American economist Raj Chetty has been awarded the coveted George Ledlie
Prize for wielding big data to break myths about who achieves the American Dream and the
obstacles faced by others.
• Mr Chetty, Professor of Economics at Harvard University is also director of Opportunity Insights,
a group of economists based at Harvard who study inequality.
Five Indian youths named among 2023 International Young Eco-Hero award
• The International Young Eco-Hero Awards programme recognises and encourages children and
teens from ages 8 to 16 who have taken action towards solving the most critical environmental
issues.
• Five youths from India have been named among 17 teen environmental activists from across the
globe to receive the 2023 International Young Eco-Hero Award.
954 Police personnel awarded Police Medals on Independence Day
• 954 police personnel have been awarded Police Medals on Independence Day, 2023.
• One CRPF personnel has been awarded the President's Police Medal for Gallantry.

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• 229 personnel have been awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry.
• 82 personnel have been awarded the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
• 642 personnel have been awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
President approves 76 Gallantry awards to Armed Forces personnel
• President Droupadi Murmu has approved 76 Gallantry awards to Armed Forces personnel on the
eve of Independence Day 2023.
• The awards include four Kirti Chakra (posthumous), 11 Shaurya Chakras, including five
posthumous, 52 Sena Medals (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) and four Vayu Sena
Medals (Gallantry).
• The President has also approved 30 Mention-in-Despatches to the Army.
President approves 6 Tatrakshak Medals to Indian Coast Guard personnel
• President Droupadi Murmu has approved 6 President's Tatrakshak Medal to the Indian Coast
Guard personnel.
• The awards are given for acts of conspicuous gallantry, exceptional devotion to duty, and
distinguished/meritorious service.
• IG Manoj Vasant Baadkar received the President's Tatrakshak Medal (Distinguished Service).
• The awards have been given since January 26, 1990.
NAFIS wins DARPG's gold award in Category-I
• 'National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) makes its marks the shining
example of efficient governance as it wins DARPC's gold award in Category-I.
• The award for its excellence in delivering e-governance is a recognition of the dedication the
entire NAFIS team has put into creating a fool-proof fingerprint identification system.
Allstate India recognized as DEI Champions 2023 by NASSCOM
• Allstate India has received the DEI Champions 2023 Award for Excellence in Women Inclusion at
the 15th Edition of the NASSCOM Global Inclusion Summit.
• The award recognizes organizations that exhibit maturity with respect to DEI practices for
women's advancement.
• The Allstate Corporation is one of the largest publicly held insurance providers in the United
States.
Myra Grover honored with Empowered Women Icon Award by UK Parliament
• Myra Grover, author and secretary of the New Delhi Social Workers Association (NDSWA), has
been awarded with the esteemed Women Icon Award as author on Mental Wellness by the House
of Lords, UK Parliament.
• The award ceremony, held recently, was a remarkable recognition of her contributions to society.
Subhash Runwal receives the Lifetime Achievement Award RICS Awards
• Subhash Runwal, Chairman – Runwal was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award at
the first-ever RICS South Asia Awards.

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• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is a global industry body representing professionals

across the country.
• The award ceremony was graced by Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Govt.
of India at The Lalit, Delhi.
Jio Haptik Named Tech Startup of the Year in Artificial Intelligence
• Jio Haptik has been honored with the Tech Startup of the Year (Artificial Intelligence) award at
the prestigious 13th Annual Entrepreneur India Awards.
• Swapan Rajdev, Haptik’s co-founder & CTO, received the award as the ceremony organized by
Entrepreneur India, in media partnership with Entrepreneur magazine and Entrepreneur.com, was
held at the Hotel JW Marriott, Aerocity, New Delhi.
Exiled Belarus opposition leader wins Swedish rights prize
• Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya won a rights prize in memory of Anna
Lindh for her "tireless" fight for democracy.
• She has tirelessly continued the fight. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya is a symbol of a free and
democratic Belarus
NMC & Rashtriya Navratna Awards 2023 will be held in New Delhi
• Electronic and Print Media Welfare Association is Organising National Media Conclave and
Rashtriya Navratna Awards 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan New Delhi.
• Nominations of awardees across india have been recieved to committee.
• Final awardees in different categories shall be Falicitated with Rashtriya Navratna Award 2023.
Jayesh Saini receives Global Leader Award 2023
• Jayesh Saini was awarded Global Leader Award 2023 for Healthcare Expansion in Africa.
• LifeCare Group, led by Jayesh Saini, has expanded healthcare services across East Africa with
hospitals in five major parts of Kenya and plans for 10 more in different regions of Africa.
• The group aims to commission an advanced nursing training institute in 2024.
Karunanidhi Memorial International Marathon sets world record
• Karunanidhi Memorial International Marathon 2023 officially became the Asia's largest marathon
event and it has been approved as well as recorded in the Guinness World Record.
• On the occasion of the centenary celebration of former chief minister and late DMK chief M
Karunanidhi, the Karunanidhi memorial international marathon was organised by the ruling DMK.
Mrunal Thakur To Be Honoured With Diversity in Cinema Award at IFFM
• Actress Mrunal Thakur is set to be honoured with the prestigious Diversity in Cinema Award at the
upcoming Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
• This award is in recognition of her outstanding performances across diverse roles and languages
in the world of Indian cinema.
• The 14th edition of IFFM will be held between August 11 and 20.
Diane Kruger to receive Golden Eye award at Zurich Film Festival

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• German star Diane Kruger will be felicitated with the Golden Eye award at the Zurich Film Festival.
• The 2023 edition of the Zurich Film Festival will be held from September 28 to October 8.
• The award has previously been bestowed on actors Eddie Redmayne, Kristen Stewart, Jake
Gyllenhaal, John Malkovich, Helen Hunt and Olivia Colman.
PM Narendra Modi to be conferred with Lokmanya Tilak National Award
• Prime Minister will be honored with the Lokmanya Tilak award by Deepak Tilak, President of Tilak
Smarak Mandir Trust.
• The Award was instituted in 1983 by the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust and is given every year on 1st
August , the death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak, to persons who have made remarkable
contributions, for development of the nation.

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Banking Current Affairs

Axis Bank launches 'Infinity Savings Account'
• Axis Bank launches 'Infinity savings account', a zero domestic transaction fee-based account with
no minimum balance requirement.
• It will cater to digitally savvy customers who are frequent adopters of subscription-based models.
• This innovative banking product is designed for customers seeking a worry-free banking
experience by eliminating all domestic charges.
Yes Bank partners fintech company Zaggle for corporate credit card
• Yes Bank and Zaggle have partnered to launch a co-branded corporate credit card.
• The card is aimed at corporations that spend a significant amount on travel and entertainment.
• The card allows companies to control expenses by setting individual spending limits and other
restrictions.
• Established in 2011, Zaggle operates in the business-to-business-to-customer segment.
DBS partners with Maptrasco to complete the first eBL transaction
• DBS and Maptrasco completed the first live transaction of electronic Bills (eBL) of Lading for
shipments between Singapore and India.
• The TradeTrust framework was used by the companies to enable digital trade finance of live
shipments of goods between the two countries.
• The initiative is supported by Enterprise Singapore and the Infocomm Media Development
Authority (IMDA).
Saraswat Cooperative Bank to sell LIC products in tie-up
• LIC and Mumbai-headquartered Saraswat Cooperative Bank have entered into a partnership
under which the bank will sell the insurance major’s products.
• The partnership is part of efforts to increase penetration of life insurance through the
bancassurance channel.
• Saraswat Cooperative Bank, with a network comprising 294 branches across six States, caters to
more than two million customers
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Sets a World Record for Pookalam
• As part of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank's Onam celebration, a larger-than-life Pookalam, the
traditional art form of Kerala, extending over 2450+ sq. ft. was meticulously created in a
remarkable display of cultural pride and creativity.
• The magnificent floral design earned a coveted place in the prestigious World Book of Records
for constructing the world's largest Pookalam.
Yes Bank launches all-in-one `IRIS' mobile app
• YES BANK has launched its mobile banking app, IRIS, which offers over 100 features and services.
• IRIS by YES BANK is designed to provide a simplified banking experience with state-of-the-art
safety features.

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• The app is a product of collaboration between the bank and its customers.
• Mr. Prashant Kumar is the Managing Director & CEO of YES BANK.
Inbound contact centre launched by SBI Life Insurance
• SBI Life Insurance, launched its dedicated 24X7 inbound contact centre to address before and
after purchase queries related to comprehensive insurance solutions provided by the company.
• The toll-free number is 18002679090.
• SBI Life, thus, becomes the first private life insurance company in the country to have such an
extensive customer care support.
Indian Bank opens specialised startup cells in 10 cities
• Indian Bank has set up 10 startup cells across different centres in India.
• The startup cells are located in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Chennai, New Delhi,
Gurgaon, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kanpur and Mumbai.
• The products and services include payment gateways, corporate credit cards and credit facilities.
• The startup cells aim to serve Indian Bank's specialised banking requirements.
IndusInd Bank launches multi-branded credit card with Qatar Airways
• IndusInd Bank has launched a new credit card in partnership with British Airways Executive Club
and Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
• The 'IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card' offers best-in-class rewards and benefits to
customers.
• Customers can opt for their preferred airline loyalty program at the time of application and select
their preferred international destination.
Bank of Maharashtra tops PSU lenders chart in loan in Q1
• Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has emerged as the top performer among public sector lenders in
loan and deposit growth in percentage terms during the first quarter of the financial year 2023-
24.
• BoM witnessed a 24.73 per cent growth and mobilised Rs 2,44,365 crore at the end of June 2023.
• Bank of Baroda was in the second place with a 15.50 per cent growth in deposits (Rs 10,50,306
crore).
RBI selects McKinsey, Accenture to use AI for regulatory supervision
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has selected information technology (IT) service provider Accenture
and consultancy firm McKinsey and Company India to use artificial intelligence for its project.
• The two selected firms will perform data profiling with a supervisory focus, develop and deploy
models on specific use cases, and create and maintain a cloud-based digital analytical zone.
RBI unveils UDGAM portal to track unclaimed deposits
• The Reserve Bank of India has launched a centralised web portal called UDGAM to help track
unclaimed deposits across multiple banks.
• UDGAM stands for 'Unclaimed Deposits – Gateway to Access inforMation.'

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• The portal has been developed by Reserve Bank Information Technology Pvt Ltd.
• Users can access the details of their unclaimed deposits in seven banks presently available on the
portal.
RBI to start pilot on Public Tech Platform for frictionless credit
• The Reserve Bank of India has announced the development of a Public Tech Platform for
Frictionless Credit by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), a wholly-owned subsidiary of RBI.
• Currently, data needed for credit appraisal are available with different entities like Central and
State governments, account aggregators, banks, credit information companies, and digital
identity authorities.
Central Bank raises per transaction limit for UPI Lite to 500 rupees
• Central Bank has proposed to use Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in UPI
transaction.
• RBI has also increased offline transaction limit from 200 rupees to 500 rupees but overall limit of
small value digital transaction limit is kept unchanged at 2,000 rupees.
RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.5%
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has kept the key lending rate unchanged at 6.5% for the third
time in a row on 10 August 2023.
• RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das announced that the Monetary Policy Committee has unanimously
decided to keep the policy repo rate unchanged.
• The RBI raised the inflation forecast for the current financial year from 5.1% to 5.4% due to rising
vegetable prices.
AU Small Finance bank to provide 24x7 video banking service
• AU Small Finance Bank launches 24x7 Video Banking, providing customers with real-time video
calls for banking services.
• Security measures include encryption and facial recognition.
• The service aims to enhance accessibility and convenience for customers, catering to a diverse
range of segments
PLI launches direct incentive disbursement for Sales Force
• Postal Life Insurance (PLI), has initiated the 'Direct Incentive Disbursement' for its sales force in
the Delhi and Uttarakhand circles.
• Through this feature, agents will be able to seamlessly receive the transfer of their commissions
from the previous month directly to their Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) Accounts.
• PLI has operated in the insurance sector since 1884.
SEBI, APMI jointly set standards for performance audit of PMS players
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Association of Portfolio Managers in
India (APMI) will jointly set standards for performance audits of portfolio management services
(PMS) players.

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• PMS players are required to conduct a performance audit annually and submit a report within 60
days after the end of a financial year.
• It will be effective from October 1, 2023.
IndusInd Bank partners with Tiger Fintech to launch co-branded credit
• IndusInd Bank and Tiger Fintech - a Bajaj Capital Group company, on 5 August 2023, announced
the launch of the IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card, a co-branded credit card powered by Visa.
• The credit card comes with benefits including the ‘Magnificent Rewards Program’ where
customers earn up to 6X accelerated rewards.
• It offers access to complimentary benefits like a 24x7 concierge facility.
IndiaFirst Life Insurance launches new G.O.L.D. plan
• IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company has launched a non-linked and non-participating product
Guarantee of Life Dreams (G.O.L.D.) Plan.
• It offers policyholders regular long-term income.
• The premium range between 6, 8, and 10 years for policy terms of 30 years and 40 years.
• The starting premium is as low as ₹4,176 per month and offers the choice to pay annually or in
instalments.
SBI reports 178 pc increase in net profits in Q1 of FY24
• State Bank of India (SBI) reported first-quarter net profit surged 178.25% to ₹16,884 crore as
compared with ₹6,068 crore a year earlier on account of improvement in asset quality and loan
growth.
• This is the bank’s highest-ever net profit.
• The high profit is due to lower Non-Performing Assets (NPA), lower provisioning and an increase
in the loan book.
At 8.2%, core sectors’ growth hits 5-month high in June
• India’s core sectors’ output surged 8.2% in June, the fastest pace in five months, buoyed by a
21.9% spike in steel output and a nearly double-digit rise in coal and cement production
• Seven of the eight core sectors, which constitute 40.3% of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP),
registered an uptick in June, compared to just six in May, when their total output had increased
5%.
SBI raises 10,000 cr via 15-year Infrastructure bonds
• State Bank of India (SBI) has raised Rs 10,000 crore at a coupon rate of 7.54 percent through its
third infrastructure bond issuance.
• The country's largest lender may opt for the same instrument for its next round of fundraising
through debt, potentially within the current quarter.
• Bidding for the 15-year tenor bonds took place on July 31.
Fiscal deficit touches 25.3% of full-year target at end-June: CGA data
• The Centre's fiscal deficit at the end of the first quarter touched 25.3% of the full-year target.

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• In the Union Budget, the government projected to bring down the fiscal deficit to 5.9% of gross
domestic product (GDP) in the current 2023-24 financial year.
• The deficit was 6.4% of the GDP in 2022-23 against the earlier estimate of 6.71%.
Timely ITR filings cross a record 6.5 crore
• About 37 lakh tax payers filed their Income Tax Returns (ITRs), the last date for filing returns
without penal charges, lifting the total number of timely ITR filings past a fresh record of 6.50
crore.
• 6.13 crore ITRs had been filed and till the time of going to press, there was no indication that the
government would extend the filing deadline
GST Evasion Nearly Doubled To Rs 1.3 Lakh Crore In FY23
• Goods and Services Tax evasion data indicate that the Central Board of Indirect Taxes has
detected evasion worth Rs 1.3 lakh crore in over 15,562 cases in fiscal 2023.
• Of this, Rs 33,226 crore has been recovered and 190 arrests have been made.
• Smt. Sitharaman presented year-wise data on GST and Income Tax evasion in a statement to the
lower house during the monsoon session

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Books and Authors Current Affairs

JP Nadda releases Outlook Group's Coffee Table Book 'Sikhs and Modi'
• BJP President J P Nadda released 'Sikhs and Modi (A Journey of Nine Years)' at a function in Delhi.
• The book talks about Sikh Gurus' teachings contributed towards unity, patriotism, and dedication
towards religion.
• The book also traces the journey of Sikhs in India and their relationship with PM Modi's
government.
• The book is a coffee table book by the Outlook Group.
Anurag Thakur releases books based on speeches of PM Modi
• Anurag Singh Thakur and Shivraj Singh Chouhan released books based on speeches of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi titled “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” at the Kushabhau
Thackeray International Convention Centre in Bhopal.
• Describing the books as useful for the youth and researchers, Mr. Thakur called upon the youth to
participate in making India the leading country of the world.
'Drunk on Love: The Life, Vision and Songs of Kabir' by Vipul Rikhi
• HarperCollins is proud to announce the publication of 'Drunk on Love: The Life, Vision and Songs
of Kabir' by Vipul Rikhi.
• Drunk on Love argues that Kabir is not just one person but an idea that belongs to the people of
India, who have preserved and nurtured it as a living tradition over an incredible span of time.
• Vipul Rikhi is a writer, singer, poet, storyteller, and translator.
Union Ministers D. Pradhan & N Sitharaman launch Kuwi and Desia books
• Union Ministers Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Smt Nirmala Sitharaman launched Kuwi and Desia
books at Bhubaneswar to preserve linguistic heritage of tribal community of Odisha.
• National Council of Educational Research & Training (NCERT) has prepared the "Kuwi Primer" &
"Desia Primer" for those children who are speaking Kuwi and Desia tribal languages in the
undivided Koraput district of Odisha.
Shubhra Gupta’s book ‘Irrfan: A Life in Movies’ celebrates the star
• This is a commemorative book, recording and sifting through multiple conversations that the
author Shubhra Gupta has had with several associates of Irrfan Khan.
• IRRFAN KHAN was one of a small group of actors who arrived in television/cinema via the
National School of Drama to resist ‘derivative acting’ styles.
IAS officer Ashutosh Agnihotri launches his book "Kuch Adhure Shabd"
• Ashutosh Agnihotri's book "Kuch Adhure Shabd" is a collection of Hindi poems which is a
testament to the simple joys of life.
• Ashutosh Agnihotri is a 1999 batch IAS Officer, a prolific writer.
• His love for literature and the written word have led him to write several Hindi and English books,
including "Os Ki Thapki"; "Spandan"; "Colours of My Wall: Not with the Same Brush".

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YouTuber-actor Prajakta kohli turns author, to come out with novel

• Social media personality and actor Prajakta Koli is set to make her debut as a writer with an
upcoming romantic novel, titled "Too Good To Be True"
• The book, scheduled to be released in 2024, has been acquired by publishing house HarperCollins
India
• The book aims to explore the "complexities of love and relationships in the real world, and the
power of words to inspire and transform lives"
Poet-Diplomat Abhay K launches his new book 'Monsoon'
• Poet-diplomat Abhay K launched his new book 'Monsoon' at Kathika Cultural Centre in Old Delhi.
• The book-length poem takes readers on a journey through the monsoon.
• His forthcoming book 'Celestial' takes readers on a journey to all the 88-star constellations visible
from Earth.
• His translation of the 1st Magahi novel 'Phool Bahadur' by Jayanath Pati will be published by
Penguin in Jan 2024.
Kailash Manasarovar Yatra: A Spell Binding Pilgrimage by Smita Sawant
• Smita’s book embarks on an extraordinary adventure through the sacred land of Kailash
Manasarovar, where spirituality and nature converge.
• Smita Vilas Sawant is a banking professional from the thriving city of Mumbai.
• She has a Master's Degree in Commerce and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management, making
her a woman of remarkable academic accomplishments.

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Business and Economy Current Affairs

India imposes curbs on basmati rice exports
• The Indian government has set a minimum export price of $1,200 per tonne on basmati rice
shipments, as well as a 20% duty on non-basmati parboiled rice exports.
• India has now curbed exports of all non-basmati varieties, which account for 80% of its total rice
shipments.
• The export duty on parboiled rice will be applicable with immediate effect and remain valid until
15 October.
Zepto becomes India’s first unicorn in nearly a year
• Grocery startup Zepto said on Friday it has raised $200 million in fresh funding at a valuation of
$1.4 billion, making it the first startup in the country to cross the billion-dollar valuation mark in
nearly a year.
• Zepto, which promises delivery of groceries in 10 minutes, was started in 2021 by two 19-year-old
Stanford dropouts, and competes with SoftBank-funded Swiggy and Blinkit.
MCD launches 'MCD 311' mobile app to revolutionize civic services
• The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has unveiled its mobile application, 'MCD 31V to
empower Delhi's residents to actively participate in the upkeep of their city by lodging complaints
related to various civic issues.
• Mobile App 311 was launched by Lt Governor Anil Baijal.
• User can register their grievances, encompassing concerns such as illegal dumping of construction
debris.
Crisil projects Indian economy to grow at 6 pc in FY24
• Crisil predicts the Indian economy to grow at 6% in the financial year 2023-24.
• The global economic slowdown and monsoon's performance could affect the direction of
industrial growth.
• GDP is expected to grow 6.0% this fiscal compared with 7.2% the previous fiscal.
• India's retail inflation surged to 7.44% in July 2023 breaching the upper tolerance band of RBI.
Inflation to fall below RBI’s 6 pc from November: Morgan Stanley
• Morgan Stanley expects retail inflation in India to moderate to RBI's 6% upper tolerance target
only from November.
• In July, retail inflation in India rose to 7.44%, breaching RBI's 6% upper tolerance target due to a
sharp spurt in vegetable, fruit, and pulses prices.
• Morgan Stanley has upwardly revised India’s inflation outlook for 2023-24 to an average of 5.7%
from 5.4% earlier.
India to become 3rd largest economy by 2027: SBI chief economist
• India is likely to become the third largest economy by 2027, as per the Group Chief Economic
Advisor, Soumya Kanti Ghosh, at State Bank of India.

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• Indian economy is currently ranked fifth, behind the US, China, Japan, and Germany.
• In 2014, India was the 10th largest economy, and in 2022 it became the fifth-largest economy
overtaking the United Kingdom.
India's overall exports decreases 5% on year in July 2023
• India's overall exports and imports in July 2023 have both contracted compared to July 2022,
according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• India's overall exports in April-July 2023-24 period are estimated to exhibit a negative growth of
5.98 % over April-July 2022.
• Overall imports in April-July 2023 are estimated to exhibit a negative growth of 11.09 % over April-
July 2022.
All India Wholesale Price Index records 1.36 pc decline in July
• The All India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for July 2023 has decreased by 1.36% compared to the
same month last year, according to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
(DPIIT).
• Primary Articles witnessed a notable increase of 7.57% in the WPI, driven by a surge in food article
prices.
• Fuel & Power witnessed a decline of 12.79% in the WPI due to lower fuel prices
Direct tax collections rise 16% to Rs 6.53 lakh cr so far in 2023-24
• Gross direct tax collection grew 15.73 per cent to Rs 6.53 lakh crore till August 10 in the current
fiscal year 2023-24.
• Net direct tax collection after adjusting refunds stands at Rs 5.84 lakh crore, which is 17.33 per
cent higher than the net collections for the corresponding period of last year.
• Refunds worth Rs. 0.69 lakh crore have also been issued from April 1 to August 10, 2023.
NCLT approves Zee-Sony merger
• The National Company Law Tribunal has approved the merger of Zee Entertainment and Sony
Pictures Networks India paving the way to create a $10-billion media giant in the country
• The tribunal has also dismissed all objections regarding the merger.
• NCLT had initially reserved its verdict on the merger between Zee Entertainment Enterprises and
Culver Max Entertainment (previously known as SPNI)
Tata AIA introduces Industry-First Premium payment through WhatsApp
• To reinforce its value of 'Consumer Obsession', Tata AIA Life Insurance (Tata AIA) has introduced
digital payments via WhatsApp and Unified Payment Interfaces.
• This industry-first feature provides an instant premium payment facility through WhatsApp and
UPI-enabled payment options.
• WhatsApp and UPI have become household messaging and payment facilities, respectively, in
India.
APEDA export first trial shipment of fresh pomegranate to USA via air

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• Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated
the export of the first trial shipment of fresh pomegranate to the USA through an air route.
• The ‘Bhagwa’ variety of pomegranates from Maharashtra has substantial demand in overseas
markets.
• India is the second-largest producer of horticulture crops.
India to grow at average 6.7% per year from FY24 to FY31: S&P Global
• S&P Global expects India to grow at an average of 6.7% per year from the financial year 2023-24
(FY24) to FY31 with capital expansion seen as a dominant driver of growth.
• This will catapult GDP to $6.7 trillion from $3.4 trillion in fiscal 2023, it said in a report, adding that
per capita GDP will rise to about $4,500.
• For the current fiscal, It expects the Indian economy to grow by 6%.
Morgan Stanley ranks India highest in Emerging Markets List
• Morgan Stanley, the global brokerage giant, has recently redefined its stance on Indian markets,
upgrading Indian stocks from "equal weight" position to "overweight" rating.
• In the recently released report, India has proudly ascended to the pinnacle of Morgan Stanley's
rankings, securing No.1 position among emerging markets.
Govt to implement 28 pc GST on online gaming from October 1
• The GST Council on 1 August 2023 decided to impose 28 percent tax on online games, casinos
and horse racing from October 1, 2023.
• Amendments will be made in the C-GST Act 2017 and I-GST Act 2017 to provide clarity on the
taxation of supplies in these areas.
• This rate applies irrespective of whether the activities are a game of skill or chance.
GeM registers highest ever GMV of more than ₹ 2 lakh cr in FY 2022-23
• The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) achieved its highest-ever Gross Merchandise Value (GMV)
of Rs 2,01113 crore in the fiscal year 2022-23.
• It has achieved a cumulative GMV of more than 4.5 lakh cr since its inception.
• It aims to bring transparency, and fairness to the Govt procurement process.
• GeM enables savings through features such as higher seller participation, and demand
aggregation.
GST collection rises 11% to Rs 1.65 lakh crore in July 2023
• The gross goods and services tax (GST) collection for the month of July 2023, stands at Rs 1.65
lakh crore, according to the Ministry of Finance.
• The revenues for the month of July are 11 per cent higher than the GST revenues in the same
month in 2022.
• This is the fifth time since inception that GST collection crossed the Rs 1.6 lakh crore mark.
Airtel launches self-serve marketing communications platform for firms

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• The Airtel IQ Reach portal is now live for communications via WhatsApp and will be rolled out on
SMS, voice, and other channels shortly.
• Airtel IQ Reach will help small and medium-sized businesses solve key challenges when planning
marketing campaigns, like identifying the right audience, tracking campaign effectiveness, and
managing multiple channels to reach their audience, among others

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Committees and Recommendations Current Affairs

Government forms committee to revamp DRDO
• The Centre has formed a committee to review the functioning of the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO).
• The committee is headed by a former Principal Scientific Advisor to the government.
• The members also include a retired diplomat, an ISRO scientist and a serving officer.
• The committee would suggest measures to revamp DRDO to make it more result-oriented.
CVC reconstitutes advisory board on bank frauds
• The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has reconstituted the advisory board on Banking and
Financial Frauds (ABBFF) that conducts the first level examination of bank frauds before
recommendations or references are made to investigative by agencies such as Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI).
• The reconstituted APBFF will be chaired by Suresh N Patel, former Central Vigilance
Commissioner

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Defence Current Affairs

Mahendragiri warship to be commission in Mumbai
• The warship ‘Mahendragiri’ being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai will be
launched soon.
• It is the seventh stealth frigate under Project 17A of the Indian Navy.
• The wife of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Dr Sudesh Dhankhar will launch the warship. Vice
President will be the Chief Guest at the ceremony.
Sagar Parikrama Phase-VIII to take place at Kanyakumari
• The commencement of Sagar Parikrama Phase-VIII is set to take place at Thengapattanam
Fishing Harbour in Kanyakumari district where Shri Parshottam Rupala, and Dr L Murugan, will
jointly inaugurate the event.
• This particular phase of Sagar Parikrama will encompass an exploration of four coastal districts
in Tamil Nadu, namely Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Ramanathapuram.
India & Bangladesh hold the fifth annual Defence Dialogue in Dhaka
• India and Bangladesh held the fifth Annual Defence Dialogue on 28 August 2023 in Dhaka.
• The highest institutionalized interactive mechanism between India and Bangladesh is the Annual
Defence Dialogue.
• During the meeting, ongoing defence cooperation activities between the two countries were
reviewed.
• Shri Giridhar Aramane and Lt Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman co-chaired the meeting.
Indian Air Force to participate in transnational exercise Bright Star
• Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent departs for Exercise BRIGHT STAR-23 in Egypt, marking their first
participation in the exercise.
• The exercise will involve contingents from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Qatar, and
India.
• It aims to practice joint operations planning and execution.
• Joint development of aero-engine and aircraft took place between India and Egypt in the 1960s.
IAF pledges support to 765 TB patients as part of 'NI-KSHAY MITRA'
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) has pledged its support to provide medical assistance to 765 TB patients
as part of 'NI-KSHAY MITRA' programme in Maharashtra.
• 'Ni-Kshay Mitra' is a program launched by the government of India to provide support and
treatment to patients suffering from tuberculosis (TB).
• The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and seeks to eliminate TB by 2025.
INS Sunayna visit to port of Durban, South Africa
• INS Sunayna visited port of Durban, South Africa from 21-25 Aug 23 reinforcing India's ties with
the maritime partners towards and in accordance with Prime Minister’s vision of Security and
Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)

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• During the visit, personnel from Indian Navy and South African Navy engaged in a wide range of
professional and training interactions, deck visits and sports fixture.
LCA Tejas successfully test-fires indigenous ASTRA Missile
• Tejas, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) successfully fired the ASTRA indigenous Beyond Visual Range
(BVR) air-to-air missile off the coast of Goa on August 23, 2023.
• The missile release was successfully carried out from the aircraft at an altitude of about 20,000
ft.
• ASTRA is designed to engage and destroy highly maneuvering supersonic aerial targets.
INS Sunayna entered port of Durban, South Africa
• Indian Navy Ship (INS) Sunayna entered the port of Durban, South Africa on 21 Aug 23.
• The ship undertook a passage exercise with the South African Navy Ship SAS King Sekhukhune I
off Durban.
• The visit apart from commemorating 30 years of diplomatic partnership between India and South
Africa is aimed at enhancing interoperability, jointness and mutual cooperation between both
Navy.
27th edition of the naval exercise 'Malabar' of QUAD nations concludes
• The 27th edition of Exercise MALABAR, concluded on the East Coast of Australia off Sydney on 21
Aug 23.
• The exercise involved the participation of ships, submarines, and aircraft from the Indian Navy,
Royal Australian Navy, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, and the US Navy.
• The Indian Navy was represented by INS Kolkata, INS Sahyadri, and P8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
Indian Navy submarine INS Vagir to reach Australia on August 20
• Indian Navy submarine INS Vagir will arrive in Australia.
• The Defence Ministry said that the submarine will participate in various naval exercises with Royal
Australian Navy units on the West Coast of Australia.
• The Ministry said, INS Vagir is on an extended-range deployment.
• During the ongoing deployment, basic, intermediate and advanced-level Anti-Submarine
exercises are scheduled.
Agnikul Cosmos to launch India`s 1st kerosene-oxygen-powered rocket
• Agnikul Cosmos is set to become the first Indian firm to design, develop and launch a liquid-
fuelled rocket.
• The company's maiden rocket, Agnibaan, is a single-stage launch vehicle driven by Agnikul's
patented Agnilet engine.
• Agnikul was established in 2017 by Srinath Ravichandran.
• This will be the first kerosene-liquid oxygen rocket to be designed, developed and launched from
India.
IAF to host mega multilateral air exercise,Tarang Shakti, in 2024

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• The Indian Air Force will host a mega multilateral military exercise 'Tarang Shakti' in Mid 2024.
• Around 12 air forces are expected to participate, including France, the UK, Australia, the US, and
Japan.
• The focus of the exercise will be to improve military cooperation and enhance interoperability.
• The exercise will be the biggest air exercise being organised in India.
INS Visakhapatnam and Deepak reach Bahrain's Port Mina Salman
• Indian Navy ships INS Visakhapatnam and Deepak are visiting Port Mina Salman, Bahrain from
August 14 to 17.
• The visit is aimed at strengthening ties between the Indian and Bahraini navies.
• The visit includes sharing best practices to enhance cooperation between the two navies.
• INS Visakhapatnam and INS Trikand recently conducted a bilateral exercise ‘Zayed Talwar’ with
the UAE Navy.
President to launch advanced frigate Vindhyagiri in Kolkata on 17 Aug
• President Droupadi Murmu will launch Vindhyagiri, a Project 17A Frigate, on 17 August 2023 in
Kolkata.
• Vindhyagiri is the sixth ship of the Project 17A Frigates, which are follow-ons of the Project 17 Class
Frigates.
• Under the Project 17A program, the first five ships of the project have been launched by MDL and
GRSE between 2019-2022.
India inducts new Heron Mark-2 drones in Northern Sector
• The Indian Air Force has inducted its latest Heron Mark 2 drones, equipped with strike capability
and surveillance capabilities along the borders with China and Pakistan.
• The drones can be equipped with long-range missiles and other weapons systems and can
operate at very long distances for close to 36 hours at a stretch.
• The drones have satellite communication capability.
Indian Navy engages in bilateral naval exercise with UAE Navy
• The Indian Navy conducted a bilateral Naval Maritime Partnership Exercise with the UAE Navy in
Dubai on August 8.
• The exercise aimed to enhance the interoperability and synergy between the two navies through
cross-training on tactics, techniques, and procedures.
• The exercise was conducted by two Indian naval ships, INS Visakhapatnam and INS Trikand.
INS Visakhapatnam and INS Trikand arrive at Dubai
• Two Indian Navy ships, INS Visakhapatnam and INS Trikand, arrived at Port Rashid in Duba for a
bilateral exercise with the UAE Navy.
• The exercise, which will be held from August 8 to 11, aims to share best practices and increase
synergies between the two navies.
• The ships will engage in professional interactions with the UAE Naval Force, focusing on maritime
operations.

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SSB unveils 54 feet tricolour in Siliguri's Ranidanga

• Director General Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Rashmi Shukla on 9 August 2023, unveiled a 54-feet
high national flag at Siliguri's Ranidanga as part of the final phase of ' Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav
' celebrations.
• On this day 81 years ago, in 1942, the Quit India movement was launched.
• CEO of Flag Foundation of India and officials from Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam also participated in
the event.
'Neerakshi': Autonomous Underwater Vehicle for mine detection Launched
• An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) designed to detect mines and a first of its kind in the
country was launched.
• The AUV named 'Neerakshi' is a collaboration of Kolkata-based warship maker Garden Reach
Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd and MSME entity AEP
• This can be used for a variety of functions ranging from mine detection to mine disposal to
underwater surveys.
Defence Ministry to switch to locally built OS Maya amid threats
• The DM has decided to replace the Microsoft Operating System (OS) in all computers connected
to the Internet with a new OS, Maya, based on open-source Ubuntu developed locally.
• Currently, Maya is being installed only in Defence Ministry systems and not on computers
connected to the networks of the three Services.
• Maya was developed by government development agencies within six months.
INS Chennai participates in PASSEX 2023 with Royal Saudi Navy
• INS Chennai participated in Passage Exercise (PASSEX) 2023 with the Royal Saudi Naval Ship
HMS Al Jubail on August 5th, 2023.
• INS Chennai also conducted a port call to Jeddah from August 3rd to 5th to enhance defense
alliances between India and Saudi Arabia.
• The Indian Navy has positioned its guided missile destroyer, INS Chennai, in the Red Sea to ensure
secure maritime environments.
Australia to host latest edition of 10-day Malabar exercise
• The latest edition of the Malabar exercise is all set to commence in Australian waters which will
see the participation of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia.
• Australia is also the host for this mega event which is being hosted there ‘for the first time’.
• The Malabar series of exercises began as an annual bilateral naval exercise between India and
the US in 1992.
Induction of Electric Vehicles in Army
• The Indian Army is planning to introduce phased induction of a limited number of Electric Vehicles
(EVs) in ‘peace stations’ across the country.

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• The aims and objectives are to adapt to the latest technological advancements, give impetus to
green energy and reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
• Light Vehicles (Electric), Buses (Electric), Motorcycles (Electric) will be inducted.
Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill 2023
• The Lok Sabha has passed the Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill -
2023.
• The bill seeks to empower Commander-in-Chief and Officer-in Command of Inter-Services
Organisations (ISOs) with all disciplinary and administrative powers in respect of the personnel
serving in or attached to such organisations.
India receives anti-tank Spike NLOS missiles from Israel
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) has received Israeli Spike Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) anti-tank guided
missiles.
• The missiles can hit targets from distances up to 30 km and are capable of destroying enemy
targets hidden behind mountains.
• The missiles are going to be integrated with the Russian-origin fleet of Mi-17V5 helicopters with
long range targets.
Indian Army implements common uniform for Brigadier and above ranks
• The Indian Army has implemented a new common uniform regulation for senior officers with
Brigadier and above ranks irrespective of the parent cadre and initial appointment.
• The move will reinforce common identity and Indian Army's character as a fair and equitable
organisation.
• The decision was taken after detailed deliberations during the recently-concluded Army
Commanders Conference

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Government Schemes and Policies Current Affairs

Dharmendra Pradhan releases National Curriculum Framework in Delhi
• The National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) has been released by the
Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan.
• The NCF-SE is designed to align education with the demands of the 21st century.
• The framework emphasizes the 5+3+3+4 design of schooling and covers all stages of schooling
from foundational to secondary stages.
Government to launch 'Mera Bill Mera Adhikar' GST reward scheme
• The government will launch the 'Mera Bill Mera Adhikar' invoice incentive scheme, which offers
cash prize from ₹10,000 to ₹1 crore.
• The scheme, which is aimed at motivating customers to ask for a bill every time they make
purchases, will be launched in the States of Assam, Gujarat and Haryana; and the UTs of
Puducherry, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli
Shri Nitin Gadkari launches Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Programe)
• Nitin Gadkari launched the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) in New Delhi
aiming to enhance road safety by elevating vehicle safety standards for up to 3.5-tonne vehicles
in India.
• The program aims to provide consumers with a tool for comparing the crash safety of different
motor vehicles available in the market.
• The program to commence from 1st Oct 2023.
Govt launches wedding tourism campaign to show India as premier venue
• The Ministry of Tourism has launched a campaign to promote India as a premier wedding
destination globally.
• The campaign aims to attract couples from around the world to celebrate their special day in
India.
• The campaign seeks to expand India's wedding industry and explore new avenues of potential.
• The campaign was launched by Union Minister for Tourism G Kishan Reddy.
Nitin Gadkari to launch the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme
• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari will launch the much-awaited Bharat New Car Assessment
Programme (Bharat NCAP) on 22 August 2023.
• The programme aims to provide a tool for car customers to make a comparative assessment of
the crash safety of motor vehicles.
• Under this programme, car manufacturers can voluntarily offer their cars tested as per
Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197.
Union Health Minister launches ‘Global Initiative on Digital Health
• Union Minister for Health Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched ‘Global Initiative on Digital Health,
GIDH - a WHO Managed Network’ on 19 August 2023.

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• He launched in the presence of Director General, World Health Organization Dr Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus.
• The Minister also released the World Bank’s Flagship Report on Digital-in-Health - Unlocking
Value for Everyone.
Jan Dhan accounts cross 50 crore-mark in less than 9 years
• The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was launched on 28th August 2014 and it has
completed almost 9 years.
• As per the latest reports submitted by banks, the total number of Jan Dhan accounts has crossed
50 crore as on 9th August 2023.
• Out of these accounts, 56% accounts belong to women and 67% of accounts have been opened
in Rural / Semi-urban areas.
Vishwakarma Yojana soon for artisans: PM Modi
• PM Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red
Fort, announced schemes for artisans — Vishwakarma Yojana.
• An allocation of around ₹13,000cr to ₹15,000cr to be made to help skill development among
youth who are engaged in traditional artisan works.
• He also promised drones for women self-help groups so that it could be used for agricultural
works.
PM Modi announces new scheme to help urban poor build houses
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 announced a new scheme to help urban poor build
houses in cities.
• Under this program, they would receive relief in interest rates and loans taken from banks to
construct their houses.
• The government already has a scheme to address the housing shortage for the urban poor called
the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U) which was launched in 2015.
Cabinet approves 7 projects for Indian railways
• The Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved seven multi-tracking projects targeted at
Indian railways with an outlay of Rs 32, 500 crore
• The said projects, which will be built completely on Engineering, procurement, and construction
(EPC) mode, will add 2,339 kilometers to the existing network of Indian Railways
• The projects will receive 100 percent funding from the central government.
Cabinet approves outlay of Rs 14,903 crore to expand Digital India
• Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the government's plans to expand the Digital India program, for
which it has approved an outlay of Rs 14,903 crore for 5 years, starting 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• Under this, 525,000 IT professionals will undergo upskilling while 265,000 people will be trained
for cybersecurity.
• The mobile-based Umang application will get 540 more services, up from the current 1,700.

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In a first, govt plans community service as punishment for petty crime

• The central government, for the first time in the country, has proposed to introduce community
service as one of the punishments for “petty” offences.
• This includes for criminal defamation that cost Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at least 130 days
of his membership of Parliament before the guilty verdict against him was stayed by the Supreme
Court on August 4.
Sedition law to be completely repealed: Amit Shah
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed the Lok Sabha that the new Bill on IPC will completely
repeal the offence of sedition.
• He introduced three bills namely 'Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill', 2023; the 'Bharatiya Sakshya Bill',
2023 and the 'Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Bill'.
• Shah added since 1860, criminal justice system is functioning as per laws made by the British.
LS passed CGST (Amendment) Bill, and IGST (Amendment) Bill
• LS passed Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, and Integrated Goods and Services
Tax (Amendment) Bill.
• The Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to amend the Central Goods
and Services Tax Act 2017 while, the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023
seeks to amend the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act 2017.
Govt introduces Bills in LS to replace 3 British-era laws
• The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the
Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023 were introduced in the Lok Sabha.
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 will replace the Indian Penal Code 1860 and Bharatiya Nagarik
Suraksha, 2023 will replace the Criminal Procedure Act, 1898.
• Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 will replace the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
Lok Sabha passes GST Bills to levy 28% tax on e-gaming, casinos
• Lok Sabhaapproved amendments to the Central and Integrated GST laws to levy 28 per cent tax
on the full face value of bets in online gaming, casinos and horse race clubs.
• The amendments pertain to insertion of a provision in the Schedule III of the CGST Act, 2017, to
provide clarity on the taxation of supplies in casinos, horse racing and online gaming.
Rajya Sabha passes Bill to expand SC list from Chhattisgarh
• Parliament, on 9 August 2023, passed the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order Amendment Bill
2023.
• The Bill amends the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950 to modify the list of Scheduled
Castes in Chhattisgarh.
• The Bill includes Mahara and Mahra communities as synonyms of the Mehra, Mahar, and Mehar
communities in Chhattisgarh.
Parliament passes Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill, 2023

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• The Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill, 2023 passed by Parliament to establish a
National Research Foundation (NRF) to fund and promote research in India.
• The Bill will provide high-level strategic direction for research, innovation and entrepreneurship
in the fields of natural sciences.
• The Act will also repeal the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) Act, of 2008.
Parliament passes National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023
• Parliament, on 8 August 2023, passes the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission (NNMC)
Bill, 2023 for comprehensive reforms in the nursing sector.
• The Act will establish National and State Commissions to regulate nursing education and services.
• The Act will facilitate the global mobility and employability of Indian nurses.
• It will also encourage innovation in nursing education.
Rajya Sabha passes Inter-Services Organisation Bill, 2023
• The Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill - 2023 was passed on August
8, 2023, by the Rajya Sabha and on August 4, 2023, by the Lok Sabha.
• The bill aims to give disciplinary and administrative powers to the Commanders of Inter-Services
Organisations (ISOs).
• The ISO Bill-2023 shall be applicable to all personnel of the regular Army, Navy and Air force.
'Study In India' portal launched to attract international students
• With the vision of re-establishing India as a global hub of education, the government launched
Study in India (SII) Portal.
• Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar
jointly launched the portal, in the presence of ambassadors from over 10 countries.
MASI Portal launched for Monitoring child care homes
• National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has developed an application ‘MASI’ -
Monitoring App for Seamless Inspection for real time monitoring of the Child Care Institutions
(CCIs) and their inspection mechanism across the country.
• The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, makes it mandatory to establish
at least one Child Welfare Committee in each district.
Bill to provide fixed 50-year production lease for offshore minerals
• A Bill to provide a fixed 50-year production lease for offshore minerals was passed by the Rajya
Sabha.
• The Bill to amend the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 was passed
by the Lok Sabha.
• The Bill seeks to provide a fixed 50-year production lease for offshore minerals.
31.14 lakhs handicraft artisans registered under PEHCHAN Scheme
• As on 30.06.2023, 31.14 lakhs handicraft artisans have been registered under PEHCHAN scheme
across the country to benefit of this programme.

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• PEHCHAN scheme was launched in 2016 to provide new identity to deserving handicraft artisans
and help them avail benefits of various schemes implemented by the Ministry of Textiles.
2.46 lakh farmers have been benefitted from PM-KUSUM Scheme
• Government has said that nearly 2.46 lakh farmers have been benefitted from the Pradhan Mantri
Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan, PM-KUSUM Scheme.
• The scheme provides for installation of solar pumps, solarization of existing grid-connected
agricultural pumps and installation of grid connected renewable power plants.
• He said, PM-KUSUM Scheme has been extended till 31st March 2026.
Tamil Nadu Govt To Expand 'Vaasippu Iyyakam' Project
• Tamil Nadu School Education Department is set to extend the "Vaasipu Iyakkam" program for
students of Classes 4 to 9 across government schools in the state from September.
• The scheme is aimed at promoting reading among students.
• The project was inaugurated on July 21.
• Currently, the project is ongoing in 11 unions in 11 districts of the state. This is the first-of-its-kind
project.
Govt launches National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR)
• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched the National Action Plan for Drug
Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) scheme under The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA).
• NAPDDR provides financial assistance to state governments/UT administrations, NGOs/VOs, and
addiction treatment facilities in government hospitals.
• NMBA was launched in 2020 to spread awareness about substance use.
Draft of National Deep Tech Startup Policy Published
• The office of the PS Adviser to the Government put out a draft National Deep Tech Startup Policy
(NDTSP) for public comment.
• The policy seeks to “ensure India’s position in the global deep tech value chain,” in areas such as
semiconductors, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and space tech.
• The policy also seeks to find approaches to provide financing to deep tech start-ups at critical
moments.
Women account for nearly 49 per cent of beneficiaries of PMJAY
• The Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has made a conscious effort to put
women at the center of the national conversation on health.
• In a written reply to a question, S P Singh Baghel said women account for approximately 49
percent of Ayushman card recipients.
• 141 health benefits packages under the health insurance scheme are exclusively earmarked for
women
75.51 lakh houses completed under PMAY-U

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• A total of 75.51 lakh houses have been completed out of which 71.39 lakh have been occupied till
now under the Prime Minister's Awas Yojana (PMAY-U)
• Uttar Pradesh had the largest number of houses completed Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs
Hardip Singh Puri informed the Rajya Sabha.
• Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh were other high-performing states at 8,80,209 and 8,08,278 houses
completed.

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Days and Events Current Affairs

World Sanskrit Day: 31 August 2023
• World Sanskrit Day is an annual event focused on the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit.
• It is observed on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Shravan (July/August) every year.
• The first World Sanskrit Day was celebrated in 1969..
• Sanskrit language is divided into two parts which are Vedic and classical.
• Vedic Sanskrit is a part of the Rig Veda, the Upanishads, and the Puranas.
National Sports Day: 29 August
• The National Sports Day in India is celebrated on 29 August every year.
• It is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand
Singh.
• The first National Sports Day was celebrated on August 29, 2012, and hence 2023 marks the 12th
anniversary of Rashtriya Khel Divas.
• The theme for the day is "Sports are an enabler to an inclusive and fit society".
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade: 23 August
• The International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is celebrated on
August 23 of each year.
• The day commemorates the uprising against the slave trade in Haiti on August 23, 1791.
• The international slave trade was abolished on March 25, 1807.
• The 2023 Theme: “Fighting slavery's legacy of racism through transformative education”
Sadbhavana Diwas: 20 August 2023
• Sadbhavana Diwas, also known as Harmony Day, is an annual celebration observed on the 20th
of August in India.
• 20th August 2023 marks the 79th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
• Rajiv Gandhi, born on 20th August 1944, is the former Prime Minister of India. He held office from
1984-1989 and significantly contributed to the country's development.
World Humanitarian Day: 19 August
• World Humanitarian Day is observed annually on August 19 to honour humanitarian work and
marks the anniversary of the attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad.
• In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 19 August as
World Humanitarian Day.
• The 19 August 2003 attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed two humanitarian workers.
World Photography Day: 19 August
• World Photography Day is observed on 19 August annually to highlight the importance of pictures
in various aspects of life, which include culture and art.
• The day commemorates the announcement of the daguerreotype process to the public on August
19, 1839, by the French Academy of Sciences.

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• The theme for World Photography Day 2023 is "LANDSCAPES."

Parsi New Year or Navroz: 16 August 2023
• Navroz is a festival that marks the beginning of spring and the renewal of nature.
• The Parsis celebrate Navroz to commemorate their New Year which typically falls around March
21.
• Navroz arrives 200 days later in India and is celebrated in August as the Parsis here follow the
Shahenshahi calendar that doesn’t account for leap years.
• In 2023, It will be observed in India on 16 Aug.
India's 77th Independence Day: 15 August 2023
• India celebrates its 77th Independence Day on August 15, 2023.
• The day honors the sacrifices of freedom fighters who fought for the liberation of India.
• Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, raised the country's flag over the Lahori Gate of the
Red Fort in Delhi on August 15, 1947.
• "Jan Gan Man," was declared the national anthem by the Constituent Assembly on January 24,
1950.
Partition Horrors Remembrance Day
• ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’ or ‘Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas’ is observed on August
14.
• This day was announced by the Prime Minister in 2021 to remember all those who lost their lives
due to the partition of the nation and were uprooted from their origins.
• India will celebrate its 77th year of independence on Tuesday.
World Organ Donation Day: 13 August
• World Organ Donation Day is observed on 13 August to spread awareness about the importance
of organ donation.
• It was first celebrated in 2005 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International
Society for Organ Donation (ISOD).
• The theme for World Organ Donation Day 2023 is “Step up to volunteer; need more organ donors
to fill the lacunae”.
International Youth Day: 12 August
• International Youth Day is celebrated on 12 August around the globe to focus on the development
and protection of youth in society.
• International Youth Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999.
• The first IYD was observed on 12 August 2000.
• The theme for the year 2023 is "Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World."
World Elephant Day: 12 August
• World Elephant Day is celebrated on August 12th to raise awareness about the urgent plight of
elephants and to promote their conservation and protection.

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• The day was first observed in 2012 and was created by Canadian filmmakers Patricia Sims and
Michael Clark.
• The theme for World Elephant Day 2023 is “Ending the Illegal Wildlife Trade".
VV Giri's 127th birth anniversary: 10 August 2023
• Varahagiri Venkata Giri also known as VV Giri, who served as the fourth President of India, was
born on August 10, 1894.
• He served as the fourth president of India from 1969-74.
• VV Giri served as the third Vice President of India (1967–1969).
• He was the first vice president who did not complete his tenure.
• In 1975, the Government of India conferred the Bharat Ratna on VV Giri.
World Lion Day: 10 August 2023
• Every year on August 10, World Lion Day is observed to highlight the importance of Lions and to
garner support for their conservation.
• It was first established in 2013 by Big Cat Rescue, the world’s largest accredited sanctuary
dedicated to lions and it was co-founded by Dereck and Beverly Joubert.
• In 2009, the Jouberts approached “National Geographic” and formed the Big Cat Initiative.
Government e-Marketplace (GeM) celebrates 7th Foundation Day
• Government e-Marketplace (GeM) commemorates its 7th Foundation Day on 10 August 2023.
• In 2023, GeM achieved a milestone of INR 2 lakh crore in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) for the
fiscal year 2022-23.
• GeM is India's online marketplace for public procurement.
• Launched in 2016, GeM facilitates transparent and efficient procurement for government
departments, organizations, and PSUs.
World Biofuel Day: 10 August
• World Biofuel Day is commemorated on 10 August every year to create awareness about the
importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels.
• On this date in 1893, German inventor Sir Rudolf Diesel successfully used peanut oil to operate a
diesel engine.
• It has been celebrated by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas since 2015.
PM Modi to attend National Handloom Day celebrations in New Delhi
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the National Handloom Day celebrations at Delhi's
Bharat Mandapam.
• He will launch an e-portal, a Repository of Textiles & Crafts developed by NIFT.
• The year 2023 marks the 9th National Handloom Day.
• The program is being held in the spirit of being ‘Vocal For Local.’
• The event aims to promote and support the handloom industry in India.
National Handloom Day: 7 August

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• It is observed on 7 August every year to honour the handloom weavers in the country.
• The Swadeshi Movement was founded on August 7, which is why that day is recognised as
National Handloom Day.
• The inaugural National Handloom Day was launched and observed by the Indian government on
August 7, 2015, in Chennai.
Plastic Overshoot Day
• Plastic Overshoot Day marks the point when the amount of plastic waste generated exceeds the
world’s capacity to manage it, resulting in environmental pollution.
• In 2023, the global Plastic Overshoot Day is projected to occur on July 28th.
• Each country has its own Plastic Overshoot Day, which is determined by the country’s
Mismanaged Waste Index.

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International Current Affairs

England to rollout world-first seven-minute cancer treatment jab
• Britain's state-run national health service will be the first in the world to offer an injection that
treats cancer to hundreds of patients in England
• After approval NHS England said hundreds of eligible patients treated with the immunotherapy,
atezolizumab, were set to have "under the skin" injection, which will free up more time for cancer
teams.
UNDP develops an open-source software to monitor carbon credits
• The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has developed an open-source software
that allows countries to manage national data and processes for trading carbon credits.
• It is called the National Carbon Registry and has been accredited as a digital public good (DPG).
• As a DPG, the registry uses open-source code, which allows countries to replicate the information
to their own needs.
World's first case of live parasitic worm found in Australian
• In the world's first case, an eight cm live worm was pulled out from the brain of a 64-year-old
Australian woman during a surgery
• The woman had been admitted to the Australian National University and Canberra Hospital,
where after suffering from several health issues for a long time.
• The worm’s larvae were also suspected to have infected the woman's other organs such as her
lungs and liver.
California Assembly passes anti-caste discrimination bill
• An anti-caste discrimination bill has been passed by the California State Assembly that seeks to
combat caste discrimination and strengthen protections for marginalised communities
• The bill was passed by the Assembly.
• It now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom for his signature to make it into law, making California
the first US state to add caste as a protected category.
Kandy Esala Perahara is being celebrated in Sri Lanka
• In Sri Lanka, the annual Kandy Esala Perahara is being celebrated with deep devotion at the
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy.
• The sacred tooth relic which is believed to have mystic powers was sent from India in the fourth
century AD and since then it has been worshipped as the living Lord Buddha in the island nation.
Afghanistan one of the most weapons-contaminated countries
• The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Afghanistan said 85 per cent of the victims of
explosions and unexploded mines in Afghanistan are children, making it one of the most
weapons-contaminated countries in the world
• Unexploded mines in Afghanistan, which has been the theatre of several conflicts down the
decades, continue to claim lives in the country

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China, Bhutan hold first meeting on ‘delimitation of boundary’

• China and Bhutan have held the first meeting of newly set up joint technical team on the
delimitation of their disputed boundary, as officials from both sides met for four days in China
and agreed to speed up a boundary resolution.
• The boundary talks between Bhutan and China began in 1984, and the 24th round was held in
2016
Germany develops device for visually impaired
• With the help of modern technology, even the visually impaired can now try their hand at sports
of shooting.
• Germany has developed a device for the visually impaired. This device has been brought to India
for the first time and given to the visually impaired in Pune.
• In shooting, the target is identified and aimed through binoculars.
US 's FDA approved first respiratory syncytial virus vaccine
• The US's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first respiratory syncytial virus
(RSV) vaccine for use in women during pregnancy to protect the baby.
• This vaccine has been developed by Pfizer and will be given to women 32 to 36 weeks into
pregnancy for prevention of lower respiratory tract infection and severe disease in infants until
they are six months old.
China's real estate giant Evergrande files for US bankruptcy
• Chinese property giant Evergrande has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US amid a
deepening real estate crisis in China.
• It will allow the heavily-indebted company to protect its assets in the US as it works on a multi-
billion dollar deal with creditors.
• China Evergrande Group made the Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection filing in a New York court.
Kuwait detects first case of new EG.5 COVID variant
• Kuwait has detected the Eg.5 subvariant of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
• The strain has been rapidly circulating in the US and UK since May.
• The health risk associated with the new strain is currently assessed as low.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the Eg.5 mutation as a "variant of interest."
• Despite this, the variant has already been reported in 51 countries.
SL President introduces plans for 13th Amendment
• Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremasinghe has emphasised the importance of improving air and
sea connectivity between the Northern regions of the island with South India.
• He said that the government has plans to enhance the Kankesanthurai Harbour, Vavuniya, and
Palali Airports
• Flight connectivity between Chennai and Jaffna was restarted in December last year after a
hiatus of three years.

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Bhutan youngsters create electronic Dzongkha Braille

• A group of former students of the College of Science and Technology have created Bhutan's first-
ever prototype of electronic Dzongkha Braille.
• The device developed by former college students is called as Digital Dzongkha Braille Board.
• The device converts the input into an audible sound or tactile pop-up that can be read by touch.
Google celebrates 109th birth year of trangender cyclist Willy Bruyn
• Google celebrated the 109th birth anniversary of Belgian cyclist Willy De Bruyn with a doodle.
• He was intersex, with a combination of male and female biological traits.
• He won his first cycling race at 15 years old and became the female world champion cyclist in
1934 and 1936.
• In 2019, a street in Brussels was named after him, the first road in the city to be named after an
intersex person.
Typhoon Khanun lashes Taiwan and nearby Regions
• Taiwan has shut down businesses and schools amid the danger of Typhoon Khanun.
• In Taipei, subway services were reduced while hundreds of soldiers were on standby in nearby
cities for disaster response.
• Meanwhile, the Japanese island of Okinawa faced the brunt of the typhoon's force, with
approximately 1 lakh 70 thousand buildings left without power.
Bhutan inaugurates conservation centre to protect its native dog breed
• A conservation centre has been opened at Yuesipang in Thimphu to protect Changkhyi, the native
dog breed of Bhutan.
• Currently, the centre houses 55 Changkhyi dogs.
• With a 100 per cent sterilisation programme for stray dogs, the initiative aims to protect
Bhutanese native dogs.
Saudi, Kuwait reject Iran claims to disputed gas field
• The Kuwaiti and Saudi authorities said in a joint statement that "they alone have full sovereign
rights to exploit the wealth in that area".
• The offshore field, known as Arash in Iran and Dorra in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, has long been
focal point of contention between the three countries.
• Last year, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to jointly develop the field.
China plans to limit smartphone usage by children to two hours
• China’s cyberspace watchdog has put forward plans to limit the usage of smartphones by children
to no more than two hours a day and to require all tech companies to introduce a “minor mode”
to enable restrictions.
• A draft “Guidelines for the Construction of Minor Mode of the Mobile Internet” is open for public
comments until September 2.
3 Indian-origin Singaporeans now in Singapore parliament

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• 3 Indian-origin Singaporeans have been made members of parliament in Singapore.

• Raj Joshua Thomas, an Indian-origin lawyer, is ready to serve for second term in Singapore
parliament.
• Two other Indian origin NMPs are Parekh Nimil Rajnikant, CEO of acquisition firm Pegasus Asia
and Chandradas Usha Ranee, an art historian and co-founder of Plural Art magazine.
Indian Diaspora in UAE Honoured for Exemplary Support and Service
• The Consulate General of India in Dubai hosted a ceremony to commemorate 3 years of
uninterrupted service, to the thriving 3.6-million-strong Indian community in the United Arab
Emirates .
• The event, aimed to celebrate and express gratitude to the Indian community members for their
unwavering support, which has been instrumental in ensuring seamless consular operations
throughout the year.
US to hold first standalone trilateral summit with Japan and SK
• US President Joe Biden will host Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean leader Yoon Suk-
yeol, according to the White House.
• The US announced its first standalone trilateral summit with Japan and South Korea will take
place on August 18.
• In September it passed a law that makes its nuclear status "irreversible" and bars any negotiations
on relinquishing its arsenal.
Myanmar junta extends state of emergency
• Myanmar's junta announced a six-month extension to a state of emergency, signaling a delay to
elections they had pledged to hold by August.
• Thousands of civilians have been killed and injured as the junta battles a clutch of new and
established rebel groups opposed to military rule.
• State of the emergency period would be extended another six months starting from August 1st,
2023
Google Doodle celebrates Switzerland's National Day
• Google Doodle celebrates Switzerland's National Day on August 1, 2023, with a waving national
flag.
• The day commemorates the alliance between the three cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden
in 1291.
• The festivities start with a traditional farmers' brunch and a gathering on the "Rütli" Meadow.
• The "Rütli" Meadow is where the confederates took their oath that formed the historic alliance.

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MoU and Agreements Current Affairs

Ministry of Defence inks Rs 19,000 crore contract with HSL
• Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Hindustan Shipyard Limited Visakhapatnam for
acquisition of five Fleet Support Ships for the Indian Navy at an overall cost of approx. Rs 19,000
crore.
• It would be a major boost towards achieving the goal of self-reliance in defence manufacturing
as these ships will be indigenously designed and constructed by HSL, Visakhapatnam.
Singapore's BOC Aviation signs financing pact with Indigo
• Singapore-headquartered BOC Aviation Limited and India's largest airline IndiGo have entered
into a finance lease transaction involving 10 Airbus A320NEO aircraft to further expand its fleet.
• All 10 aircraft powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines are scheduled for delivery in 2023, said BOC
Aviation.
Govt inks MoU with UNDP to fast-track development in North East Region
• The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) have signed an MoU to fast-track development in North Easter
Region.
• The MoU includes technical support, monitoring, evaluation, and capacity building.
• Aspirational districts and blocks will also receive support from UNDP.
Indian Coast Guard signs MoU with Philippines Coast Guard
• Indian Coast Guard has signed an MoU with Philippine Coast Guard on enhanced maritime
cooperation.
• Both sides held their first bilateral meeting on a range of maritime issues.
• The MoU seeks to enhance professional linkage between the two Coast Guards in the domain of
Maritime Law Enforcement, Maritime Search & Rescue, and Marine Pollution Response.
NHPC signs MoU with Railways for construction of railway siding
• NHPC Limited has signed an MoU with Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited (RITES),
a Miniratna company under the Ministry of Railways, for the construction of railway siding at
Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, for NHPC’s 2,880 MW Dibang Multi Purpose Project.
• RITES will provide comprehensive and efficient solutions for developing rail infrastructure
facilities.
IREDA signs MoU with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has signed a performance-based MoU
with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.
• The MoU outlines strategic targets that IREDA aims to achieve during the fiscal years 2023-24
and 2024-25.
• The Govt has set a Revenue from Operations target for IREDA, of ₹ 4,350 crores for the financial
year 2023-24.

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NEHHDC, Tide join hands to promote small weavers of northeast region

• Tide, a UK-based financial platform, has partnered with North Eastern Handicrafts and
Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) to digitise the handloom and handicraft sector
in Northeast India.
• It will promote nearly 2.1 million handloom weavers and 3.5 million handicraft artisans across 800
clusters in Northeast India.
• Tide will offer financial and digital inclusion services to weavers.
AICTE partners with Jio Institute for Programme on AI
• The All India Council for Technical Education has collaborated with the Jio Institute to introduce
a 5-day Faculty Development Programme on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science.
• This collaboration is part of AICTE's ATAL (AICTE Training and Learning) initiative, designed to
empower and upgrade faculty members from AICTE-approved institutions.
India Signs MoU with Trinidad and Tobago on sharing INDIA STACK
• India and Trinidad and Tobago have signed an MoU on sharing of INDIA STACK.
• It is a collection of open Application Programming Interface (APIs) and digital public goods that
aim to facilitate identity, data, and payment services on a large scale.
• Since June 2023, India has already signed MoUs with countries namely Armenia, Sierra Leone,
Suriname, and Antigua & Barbuda to share India Stack.
MakeMyTrip partners with Tourism Ministry to showcase India
• Online travel company MakeMyTrip has joined hands with the Ministry of Tourism to showcase
600-plus offbeat destinations.
• The online travel firm has launched a microsite, 'Traveller’s Map of India'.
• The site provides an interactive platform for travellers to discover lesser-known tourism gems that
lie within the country's borders based on their preferences.
Arunachal Pradesh govt inks MoA with 3 Central govt PSUs
• The Arunachal Pradesh government has signed an MoA with three Central Government PSU s to
allot 12 hydropower projects.
• The projects will be implemented by NHPC Ltd., SJVN Ltd., and NEEPCO Ltd.
• The total operational capacity of these 12 projects will be to the tune of 11,517 MW.
• The State government has initiated the ‘Golden Jubilee Border Village Electrification Program’.
PepsiCo, TSL tie up to launch program on plastic waste management
• PepsiCo India in partnership with The Social Lab (TSL), on 10 August 2023, announced the
expansion of the 'Tidy Trails' programme in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
• The program aims to engage over 500 shops to create awareness of responsible plastic waste
management.
• The Tidy Trails program was e-launched by Ashwani Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Ministry
of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

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IIT - Hyderabad and Kathmandu University agreed to offer JDP

• The Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad and Kathmandu University (KU) have agreed to
offer a Joint Doctoral Programme (JDP) at the Ph.D. level in all areas of research.
• Several decisions to strengthen the ties between the two Institutes have been taken during the
recent visit of the IIT-H delegation to KU.
• It will help students from India and Nepal.
BIS signs MoU with 35 institutions for fostering collaboration
• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) signed an MoU with 35 prestigious institutions across the country
for fostering collaboration in standardization and conformity assessment.
• The MoU will pave the way for the partner institutions to participate in standardization activities
by associating with the technical committees.
• BIS is a statutory body functioning under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
NHPC & ALIMCO sign MoU for providing assistive devices to Divyangjans
• NHPC Limited and Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) have signed an
MoU for providing assistive devices to Divyangjans.
• Under the MoU, NHPC will distribute aids and assistive devices to around 1,000 Divyangjans in
the vicinity of NHPC Projects located in the North and North Eastern states.
• The initiative aims to promote social inclusivity of the differently-abled.
University of Mumbai signs MOUs with 2 US Universities
• The University of Mumbai has signed MoUs with 2 US universities, the University of Illinois and St.
Louis University.
• The agreements will pave the way for opportunities in advanced and skill-based education.
• The University of Illinois will focus on promoting educational cooperation through experiential
and skill training.
• St. Louis University will collaborate on articulated degree programs.
DGT collaborates with Amazon Web Services to offer skilling programme
• The Directorate General of Training (DGT) partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) India to
upskill students in cloud computing, data annotation, artificial intelligence (AI), & machine learning
(ML).
• AWS India will provide individuals with self-paced online learning programs in emerging
technologies at no cost.
• The initiative will benefit students enrolled in the institutions under the DGT.
TRAI & C-DoT sign MoU to establish mechanism of telecommunications
• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-
DoT) signed an MOU in the field of telecommunications.
• The TRAI Centre of Studies and Research (CSR) was established to enable technological studies
in the telecom & broadcasting sectors.

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• The partnership aims to promote cooperation for research on regulatory practices & bridge gaps
in understanding.

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National Current Affairs

President Draupadi Murmu launches “Year of Positive Change” in Raipur
• Draupadi Murmu launched the state level program of “Year of Positive Change” at Prajapita
Brahmakumari Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya in Raipur.
• Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan and Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel were also present on the
occasion.
The President reached Raipur this morning on his two-day visit to Chhattisgarh.
Kohima, Namchi bag Zonal Smart City Award for Northeast Zone
• Nagaland’s state capital Kohima along with Sikkim’s Namchi have bagged the Zonal Smart City
Award for Northeast Zone under India Smart Cities Awards Contest (ISAC) for the year 2022.
• Kohima and Namchi cities were among the winning list of 66 smart cities of India.
• The India Smart Cities Award Contest is organized under the Smart Cities Mission, Union Ministry
of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurates Utkela Airport
• Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurated Utkela Airport and a direct flight between Utkela and
Bhubaneshwar.
• Utkela airport is owned by the Government of Odisha.
• It has been developed as a regional airport under the UDAN scheme at a cost of Rs. 31.07 Cr.
• Utkela airport has a runway of length 917 meters.
• With the addition of Utkela Airport, Odisha will now have five airports.
Kolkata Metro to join elite club of London, Moscow, Istanbul
• Kolkata Metro Railway is upgrading to composite Aluminium Third Rail for all new and existing
corridors, placing it among prestigious metros.
• The new Aluminium Third Rail system will facilitate a seamless transition and enhance efficiency.
• Kolkata Metro Railway joins cities like London, Moscow, Berlin, Munich, and Istanbul in embracing
this innovative technology.
Union Cabinet approves proposal to celebrate August 23 as Space Day
• The Union Cabinet approved the proposal to celebrate August 23 as National Space Day.
• The Cabinet appreciated the monumental achievement of Indian scientists and congratulated
ISRO for its efforts.
• India is the first country to land near the Moon’s south pole, a momentous achievement in itself.
• The landing site of the lander was named ‘Shiv Shakti Point’.
Hyderabad gets India’s first solar roof cycling track
• Hyderabad is leading the way with a first-of-its-kind sustainable solar roof cycling track near the
Outer Ring Road

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• Named Healthway, this 23-kilometre three-lane track has two stretches — 8.5 kilometres from
Nanakramguda to Telangana State Police Academy (TSPA) and 14.5 kilometres from Kollur to
Narsingi— converging at Narsingi Junction.
Nitin Gadkari launches world's first 100% Ethanol-fueled Car in ND
• Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari launched the world's first 100 percent
Ethanol-fueled car in New Delhi.
• With the implementation of 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol, the country will save 35
thousand crore rupees annually as import bill.
• India has achieved 10 percent of ethanol blending five months in advance of the initial target of
2022
Miss World 2023 to be held in Kashmir
• Kashmir will be hosting the 71st edition of Miss World in December, Miss World CEO Julia Eric
Morely announced
• The 71st Miss World 2023 press conference was held in India's Kashmir
• Morely also said the Miss World crew was likely to arrive in Kashmir in November
Maharashtra tops in attracting FDI in 1st quarter of current FY
• Devendra Fadnavis has said the state secured the top rank in attracting Foreign Direct Investment
worth Rs 36,634 crore which is more than the sum of investment received by Delhi, Karnataka and
Telangana in the first quarter of FY 2023-24.
• Maharashtra which was ranked first in attracting FDI of Rs 1,18,422 crore in the FY 2022-23, also
ranks first in the 1st quarter of FY 2023-24.
NCERT includes chapter on National War Memorial in Class 7 textbook
• NCERT has included a chapter on the National War Memorial in Class 7 English textbook to
inculcate the values of patriotism, devotion to duty, courage, and sacrifice among school children.
• The chapter is titled ‘A Homage to our Brave Soldiers’ and highlights the history, significance, &
concept of the National War Memorial.
• The chapter discusses the supreme sacrifice made by the Armed Force.
Amit Shah chaired 26th Meeting of Western Zonal Council at Gandhinagar
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 26th Meeting of the Western Zonal Council in Gujarat.
• The meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, and the
Administrator of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
• He also inaugurated an e-Resource web portal of the Inter-State Council Secretariat, MHA to
facilitate the functioning of Zonal Councils.
Prez Murmu releases commemorative coin on birth anniv. of NT Rama Rao
• President Droupadi Murmu released a special coin of ₹ 100 denomination to commemorate N T
Rama Rao on the occasion of his birth centenary year.

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• He founded the Telugu Desam Party in March 1982 and swept the Andhra Pradesh elections in
January 1983.
• The special coin was not meant for normal transactions but for preservation as a tribute to NTR.
• It is being sold online at ₹ 3,500/coin.
ISKCON Launches "Transcend": The First Integrated E-Library App
• The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) unveils its groundbreaking mobile
application "Transcend."
• The "Transcend" app presents an astonishing conversion of 5.6 crore words spanning over 2.7 lakh
pages from Srila Prabhupada’s books, expertly transformed into over 8,000 hours of captivating
audio content and an extensive collection of 600+ e-books.
IIT Bombay gets massive donation of ₹160 crore from an anonymous donor
• IIT Bombay has received a donation of ₹160 crore from an anonymous alumnus.
• The donation is the first anonymous gift received by the institute and will be used for
infrastructure, research, and the development of climate solutions.
• IIT B did not disclose the identity of the alumnus as he wanted to remain anonymous.
C-DOT celebrated its 40th Foundation Day.
• Centre for Development of Telematics the premier Telecom R&D centre of the Department of
Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India, observed its 40th
Foundation Day celebration on 25 August 2023.
• Shri Devusinh Chauhan in his inaugural address underscored the critical need of modernizing the
communication networks by adopting the latest technologies.
Chandrayaan-3’s landing spot will be known as Shiv-Shakti point
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Chandrayaan-3’s landing spot on the Moon will be known
as Shiv-Shakti point.
• The Prime Minister flew down to Bengaluru directly from the Greek capital of Athens to
congratulate the ISRO scientists.
• The spot where Chandrayaan-2 left its footprint on the Moon will be known as Tiranga Point and
August 23 will be celebrated as Hindustan National Space Day
Draupadi Murmu releases postage stamp in memory of Dadi Prakashmani
• The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu released a postage stamp in memory of Dadi
Prakashmani, former chief of Brahma Kumaris at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre.
• This stamp was released under the ‘My Stamp’ initiative of the Department of Posts, Ministry of
Communications to mark the 16th death anniversary of Dadi Prakashmani.
Nagarnar Steel Plant scripted history
• The Nagarnar Steel Plant, achieved the feat of producing its final product of HR (Hot Rolled) Coil,
9 days after the production of Hot Metal.

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• This feat by NMDC is nothing less than astounding, considering that the mining major doesn’t
have prior experience of steel making.
• The 3 million tonne per annum capacity steel plant has been built at a cost of approximately
₹24,000 crores.
FSSAI's central advisory suggests 5 Year licenses for food businesses
• The Central Advisory Committee (CAC) of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(FSSAI) has recommended that licenses to food business operators (FBOs) can be issued for up to
five years instead of one year.
• According to the FSSAI, the recommendation to increase the tenure of licenses to FBOs was made
as part of an ease-of-doing measure requested by the food and beverage industry.
Pelma to become SECL's first opencast mine to produce coal
• SECL’s Pelma mine will become the first opencast mine in Chhattisgarh under MDO (Mine
Developer and Operator) mode.
• South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) has signed an agreement with Pelma Collieries to
operate Pelma opencast mine located in Raigarh area.
• Pelma Collieries will operate the mine for the next 20 years.
MoSD&E and Australian Government hosted a roundtable
• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in collaboration with the Australian
Government, successfully hosted a roundtable on "Enhancing Health Workforce Training and Skill
Pathways" in New Delhi.
• The distinguished event saw the participation of Mr. Mark Butler, alongside Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari,
Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
Government Will launch Tele-Law - 2.0
• Government will launch Tele-Law - 2.0 that Integrates Tele-Law and Nyaya Bandhu App to ensure
access to Justice in New Delhi.
• Law and Justice Ministry said, this will enable the common citizen to access legal advice, legal
assistance and legal representation through a single registration and single gateway of Tele-Law.
CRPF switches to indigenous software COPSYSS
• The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) recently switched to indigenously developed software
for psychological screening of personnel prior to their induction in dignitary protection teams.
• Computerised Psychological Screening System (COPSYSS) is a software designed and developed
by Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR) of Defence Research & Development
Organisation (DRDO)
Chandrayaan-3 becomes world’s most viewed live-stream
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved an impressive feat on YouTube's
live streaming platform.

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• The Chandrayaan-3 Mission Soft-landing LIVE Telecast, broadcasted on August 23, 2023,
captured the attention of over 80 lakh peak concurrent viewers (PCVs), making it the most-
watched live stream globally, as per Sacnilk.
Government e-Marketplace surpasses INR 1 lakh crore GMV in 145 days
• The government e-Marketplace (GeM) has crossed INR 1 lakh cr in Gross Merchandise Value
(GMV) in just 145 days in FY 2023-24.
• GeM is now one of the largest public procurement portals globally, both in terms of transaction
value and the breadth of the buyer-seller network.
• Since its inception, GeM has crossed INR 4.91 Lakh Cr in GMV and has facilitated over 1.67 crore
orders on the platform.
India Becomes the first Country to Land on South Pole of the Moon
• Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) third lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 makes soft-
landing on the moon
• The Chandrayaan-3 mission is the follow-up to the Chandrayaan-2 mission of 2019, when the
Vikram lander crashed into the lunar surface.
• The primary objective of the mission is to showcase the space agency’s capability that it can
complete the moon mission.
First ABDM Microsite by National Health Authority launched in Aizawl
• The National Health Authority announced 100 Microsites project for accelerated adoption of
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) across the country.
• Mizoram becomes the first state in India to operationalize an ABDM Microsite in its capital city
Aizawl.
• Under this, all healthcare facilities including the private clinics, small hospitals and labs in the
region shall be made ABDM-enabled.
Education ministry launches new curriculum framework
• Board examinations will be conducted twice a year and students will be allowed to retain the best
score, as per the new curriculum framework launched by the Education Ministry
• As per the new framework, the choice of subjects in classes 11,12 will not be restricted to streams,
students to get the flexibility to choose.
NCRTC conducts training camps to educate farmers on modern farming
• The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) on organised skill development
training camps in the districts of Ghaziabad and Meerut to educate farmers on modern
agricultural techniques
• Under the training programme, a team of agricultural experts is teaching the farmers new
methods of modern agriculture.
• The initial phase of the programme is being implemented in these areas
Construction for world's new highest motorable road begins in Ladakh

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• On Independence Day, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) began the construction of the
world's new highest motorable road in Ladakh’s Demchok sector.
• The strategic road, ‘Likaru-Mig La-Fukche’, will be constructed over the next two working seasons
and will pass through an altitude of about 19,400 feet, the highest anywhere in the world.
Mr. Srettha Thavisin elected as President of Thailand
• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Mr. Srettha Thavisin on his election as
the Prime Minister of Thailand.
• Thailand has been administered by a caretaker government since March, with its parliament in
deadlock.
• The Move Forward party — led by U.S.-educated liberal Pita Limjaroenrat — won a historical
election in May, but was later blocked
The fourth G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) meet to begin in Varanasi
• The 4th G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) Meeting will take place in Varanasi from 23-25th
August 2023.
• Delegates from G20 member nations, and various international organizations will attend the
meeting.
• The CWG launched the ‘Culture Unites All’ campaign to highlight India’s unwavering belief in
multilateralism based on peaceful coexistence among diverse cultures and communities.
Historic India Club in London announces closure
• The Historic India Club in London has announced the closure due to financial difficulties caused
by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Historic India Club in London was established in 1933.
• It was a popular venue for Indian politicians, writers, and intellectuals during the 1930s and 1940s.
• Its purpose was to provide a social and cultural space for Indian expatriates living in London.
TRAI releases recommendations on "Policy Matters of DTH Services”
• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued recommendations on “License Fee and
Policy Matters of DTH Services”.
• The DTH operation in India is governed by policy guidelines for obtaining a license for providing
DTH broadcasting services in India.
• A license Fee is a non-tax fee levied on a service provider against the privilege of being permitted
to carry out a licensed activity.
Government notifies Indian Green Hydrogen Standard under NGHM
• The Government has notified the Green Hydrogen Standard for India in a significant move for the
progress of the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
• The standard, issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, outlines the emission
thresholds that must be met in order for hydrogen produced to be classified as Green, that is from
renewable sources.

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Centre releases fact sheet to promote agroforestry

• The report released details cultivating 36 specific species, including bamboo, that are suitable for
agroforestry systems and home gardens.
• Agroforestry is a combination of practising agriculture and forestry together on the same unit of
land.
• The report released on the ministry’s website details cultivating 36 specific species, including
bamboo, that are suitable for agroforestry systems.
Guwahati airport becomes first in northeast to get ‘Digi Yatra’
• Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport became the first airport in the
northeast to get ‘Digi Yatra’ facility.
• The Digi Yatra service will be available in three major areas of the airport, namely - first entrance,
check-in and boarding areas.
• The gate will open as soon as the face will be recognised on the camera
India hosts joint meet of finance, health ministers
• India hosted a joint meeting of finance and health ministers from G20 member countries in
Gujarat.
• The meeting aimed to strengthen the global health architecture and ensure preparedness and
response for future pandemics.
• The meeting was co-chaired by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, health minister
Mansukh Mandaviya, and WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus.
Kanniyakumari’s Matti Banana got GI Tag
• The Matti banana variety, native to the Kanniyakumari district was granted the Geographical
Indication (GI) tag, and is known for its unique characteristics that thrive only in the specific
climate and soil conditions of its native region.
• Kanniyakumari’s Matti is distinct with fragrance and honey-like taste.
• Known as ‘Baby Banana’, it flourishes mainly in Kalkulam and Vilavancode taluks.
India's 1st state-of-the-art 3D-Printed post office opens In Bengaluru
• India's first 3D-printed post office building has been inaugurated in Bengaluru.
• The building was constructed using 3D-concrete printing technology.
• The construction was carried out by Larsen & Toubro Limited with technical guidance from IIT
Madras.
• The entire construction activity was completed in just 45 days, compared to 6-8 months for
conventional methods.
Amit Shah plants 4 croreth tree at CRPF Group Center in Greater Noida
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 18 August planted a peepal tree which was the 4 croreth tree
to be planted under All India Tree Plantation Campaign of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

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• The 4 Croreth tree was planted by Amit Shah at the CRPF Group Center in Greater Noida, Uttar
Pradesh.
• The campaign is an initiative of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to plant 5 crore trees by
Dec 2023.
4th G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting to begin in Jaipur
• The G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting (TIMM) will be held in Jaipur on 24th and 25th
August 2023.
• The meeting will be preceded by the 4th and last Trade and Investment Working Group TIWG
meeting.
• The first three TIWG meetings were held in Mumbai, Bangalore and Kevadia respectively.
• Both meetings will be attended by more than 300 delegates, including trade ministers.
Sadbhavana Diwas was Observed with Pledge Taking
• 'Sadbhavana Diwas' is observed nation-wide on 20th August annually but as it falls on a Sunday
this year, Sadbhavana Pledge taking was organized on 18th August 2023.
• This Diwas is observed to promote National Integration and Communal Harmony among people
of all religions.
• The idea behind the observance of this Day is to shun violence and to uphold goodwill among the
people.
7-day multi-lingual short story festival begins in Jammu
• The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages (JKAACL) 7-day multilingual
short story festival began at the JKAACL premises in Jammu.
• This is for the first time that such a big festival of short stories was organized by JKAACL.
• Writers of Dogri, Hindi, Punjabi, Gojri, Pahari, and Kashmiri languages presented their short stories
in the 7-day festival.
The biggest Independence Day bike ride in Delhi NCR was done by Women
• Delhi witnessed a historical feat on Independence Day, as a hundred women riders steered
through the streets of Delhi NCR on their bikes to commemorate the uninhibited passion of
women of all shapes, sizes, and walks of life.
• Women are a mark of inclusivity, which is why, the event is pushing other genders too, to become
a part of the Women Biker League.
3-day food festival begins in New Delhi
• Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the different State Governments and UTs is organising the
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav & Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat Food Festival in the capita
• The festival aims to highlight the diverse flavors and dishes that define each region of the country.
• The event will showcase state-specific cuisines and promote awareness of the unique offerings
within each region
Union Health Minister Mandaviya inaugurates India MedTech Expo 2023

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• India's first medical technology expo, 'India MedTech Expo 2023', has been inaugurated in Gujarat
by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
• The expo will showcase the strength and potential of the Indian Medical Devices ecosystem.
• Gujarat's pharmaceutical industry ranks number one in India with a 33% share in drug
manufacturing and 28% share of drug exports.
Union Power Minister to dedicate NTPC’s 660 MW Power Project in Barh
• The Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy R. K. Singh will dedicate to the nation
a 660 MW unit of NTPC’s Barh Super Thermal Power Project in Barh, Bihar on August 18, 2023.
• The 660 MW unit being inaugurated is Unit-2 of Stage I of the project.
• It is built by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector
Enterprise under the Ministry of Power
Govt launches 'FloodWatch' app to provide real-time flood information
• The Indian government has launched a mobile app called FloodWatch to provide real-time flood
information using interactive maps.
• The FloodWatch app utilizes advanced technologies such as satellite data analysis, and real-time
monitoring to deliver accurate and timely flood forecasts.
• The app provides state-wise flood forecast (up to 24 hours) or flood advisory (up to 7 days).
CSIR-NBRI launches improved lotus variety ‘Namoh 108’
• CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute launched an improved variety of the national flower
Lotus with 108 petals called 'Namoh 108'.
• The flower was dedicated to the nation a day before Independence Day.
• The Lotus variety is more weather resilient and can flower from March to December. CSIR-NBRI
also released apparels made from lotus fibre and a perfume developed from Lotus plants.
President Droupadi Murmu launches Addiction Free Bengal Campaign
• President Droupadi Murmu launched 'My Bengal, Addiction Free Bengal' Campaign under the
'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan', organized by Brahma Kumaris at Raj Bhavan, Kolkata 17.
• Speaking on the occasion, the President said that drug abuse is a matter of concern for society
and the country.
• Due to these addictions, youth are not able to choose the right direction in their lives.
INCOIS launches ‘SAMUDRA’ mobile app for seafarers
• Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), under the Ministry of Earth
Sciences (MoES), has come out with a new mobile application ‘SAMUDRA’ - Smart Access to
Marine Users for Ocean Data Resources and Advisories,
• It will offer comprehensive information on all ocean-related services, useful for both seafarers and
the fishing community.
Cabinet approves signing of MoU between India and Suriname

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• The Union Cabinet approved an MoU between India and Suriname on cooperation in the field of
Medical Product Regulation.
• Suriname has accepted the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) as a book of standards for medicines in
Suriname.
• The Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) is officially recognized by five (5) countries: Afghanistan, Ghana,
Nepal, Mauritius and the Republic of Suriname.
NHAI sets up Design Division to review design & construction of Bridge
• National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has set up a Design Division to review the design and
construction of bridges, structures, and tunnels on National Highways across the country.
• The division will formulate policies and guidelines for the planning & maintenance of structures.
• It will review project preparation, construction of new bridges and rehabilitation of existing old
bridges.
Cabinet approves MoU on Cooperation in Sports between India, Australia
• The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Sports between the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports,
India and the Department of Health and Aged Care of the Govt of Australia.
• It will help in expanding knowledge and expertise in the area of sports sciences and strengthening
bilateral relations between India and Australia.
CJI announces plan to expand Supreme Court
• Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud on Tuesday announced a plan to expand the
Supreme Court with 27 additional courts and 51 judges’ chambers.
• Currently, the Supreme Court has 17 courtrooms and two registrar courts. Its judicial strength as
of now is 32.
• The top judge said the emphasis in the new project would be on modernizing the judicial
infrastructure.
India's first long-range revolver "Prabal" will be launched on Aug 18
• India's debut long-range revolver, "Prabal," is poised for launch on August 18.
• The revolver is manufactured by the state-owned enterprise Advanced Weapons and Equipment
India (AWEIL), based in Kanpur.
• Distinguished by its .32 bore, the Prabal revolver boasts an impressive firing range of up to 50
meters, more than twice the reach of other revolvers in India.
Cabinet allows governments to spend Rs 57,613cr for 10,000 new e-buses
• The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the PM e-Bus Seva Scheme,
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur said at a briefing.
• The Cabinet also approved an extension to the Digital India programme and allotted an outlay
of 14,903 crore.
• Cabinet approves 7 projects for Indian railways with an outlay of Rs 32,500 cr.

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Nation pays homage to Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee

• President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar
paid floral tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Sadaiv Atal on his death
anniversary.
• Home Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Anurag Singh Thakur, and Lok Sabha
Speaker Om Birla among other prominent leaders also paid their tributes.
Centre renames Nehru Memorial as Prime Ministers' Museum and Library
• The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) has been renamed the Prime Ministers'
Museum & Library Society.
• The decision to change the name was taken during a meeting of the NMML Society in June 2023.
• The Culture Ministry decided to change the name to PM's Museum and Library Society.
• The decision was presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is the Vice-President of
the Society.
1800 special guests participate in the Independence Day Celebrations
• 1800 special guests from various walks of life, ranging from Sarpanches of Vibrant Villages,
teachers, farmers, and fishermen, participated in the Independence Day Celebrations in New
Delhi on 15 August 2023.
• The celebrations are in line with its vision of 'Jan Bhagidari'.
• Over 400 sarpanches (village heads) from more than 660 villages have also been invited as
special guests.
Parshottam Rupala launches 'A-HELP' Programme in Gujarat
• The 'A-HELP' programme and Infertility Camp for Livestock under Inclusive Development were
launched in Gujarat by Union Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala.
• The 'A-HELP' programme will engage women as trained agents to contribute to disease control,
animal tagging, and livestock insurance.
• It was launched under the Pashudhan Jagrati Abhiyaan.
MeitY Secretary AK Sharma launches the ‘Graphene-Aurora Program’
• The 'Graphene-Aurora program' was launched by the MeitY Secretary Alkesh Kumar Sharma in
Kochi, Kerala on 14 August 2023.
• The program will be implemented by Digital University Kerala and has a total budget outlay of
Rs 94.85 Crore.
• A section 8 company called 'India Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre (I-GEIC)' will be
set up to nurture the emerging Graphene technology ecosystem.
Maharashtra tops fiscal heath report
• Based on the FY23 revised budget estimates, Maharashtra tops the fiscal heath report ranking,
followed by Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Telangana and Jharkhand.

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• Chhattisgarh, one of the poorest states in the country, is the second best in overall fiscal health
scorecard after Maharashtra, and ahead of Telangana,
• The bottom three are Bengal, Punjab and Kerala, shows a report by a foreign brokerage.
DPIIT launch ‘One District One Product’ Wall at SARAS Ajeevika Store
• DPIIT and Ministry of Rural Development jointly launch ‘One District One Product’ Wall at SARAS
Ajeevika Store
• The ODOP Wall at SARAS Aajeevika Store stands as a symbol of the harmonious partnership
between these two vital ministries.
• SARAS Aajeevika is an initiative by Deendayal Antyodaya (DAY-NRLM), Ministry of Rural
Development, Government of India.
Dharmendra Pradhan launches DBT in NAPS
• Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
launched Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS).
• An amount of approx Rs.. 15 crores was disbursed to one lakh apprentices by the Minister today
marking the launch of DBT in NAPS.
Amit Shah lays foundation stone for IFFCO Nano Urea Plant in Kutch
• Union Minister Amit Shah lays foundation stone for IFFCO Nano Urea Plant at Gandhidham in
Kutch
• The nano urea plant will provide multi-dimensional benefits to the agricultural economy.
• The plant will play a vital role to reduce imports of fertilizers and make India self-reliant in the
field of fertilizers.
Telangana launches India’s first Agricultural Data Exchange
• Telangana launches Agricultural Data Exchange (ADeX) and Agriculture Data Management
Framework (ADMF) in Hyderabad.
• The ADeX has been developed as a digital public infrastructure (DPI) for the agriculture sector
and is a collaboration between the State Government, the World Economic Forum, and the Indian
Institute of Science.
National Media Campaign of Department of Land Resources
• Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh today launched the National
Media Campaign of the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) in New Delhi.
• The aim of this campaign is to make people aware of the saturation of computerization of land
records and digitization of cadastral maps for the benefit of citizens.
IAF deploys MiG-29 fighter jets at Srinagar base, replacing MiG-21s
• The Tridents squadron which is now also known as the ‘Defender of the North’ has replaced the
MiG-21 squadron at the Srinagar air base.

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• The MiG 29s have multiple advantages over the MiG-21s which were able to successfully defend
the area of their responsibility in the Kashmir valley for many years and also managed to strike
down an F-16 in 2019.
Railways to establish PM Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras at stations
• Railways Ministry will establish Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras at railway stations
across the country.
• It aims to make available quality medicines to all at an affordable price.
• It will enable passengers and visitors at railway stations to easily access Janaushadhi products.
• These Kendra's will be set up and operated by Licensees at locations identified by Railway
Divisions.
AIM and ISRO launch National Space Innovation Challenge 2023
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) and Navars Edutech successfully launched the National Space Innovation
Challenge (NSIC) 2023.
• NSIC 2023 is a national-level campaign to foster innovation and curiosity among school students
across India.
• The challenge is open to students from classes 5 to 12.
IEPFA, Common Service Centre (CSC) launch Niveshak Sarathi Vans
• Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) launched two Investor Awareness Vans
titled “Niveshak Sarathi” for Delhi.
• Each location across Delhi-NCR hosted dedicated sessions conducted by the Village Level
Entrepreneurs (VLEs) of IEPFA.
• The endeavour was fortified by the partnership of Common Service Centre as the knowledge
partner.
Digi Yatra facility to be launched at six more airports in India
• Digi Yatra facility is set to launch at six more airports in India in August 2023.
• The airports include Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Guwahati.
• The facility provides contactless and seamless movement of passengers based on Facial
Recognition Technology (FRT).
• Digi Yatra was first launched on December 1, 2022, at Delhi, Varanasi, and Bengaluru airports.
Kharif sowing crosses 979 lakh hectares
• The Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare has released the progress of area coverage
under kharif crops as on 11th August 2023.
• The total sown area under the Kharif crop as on 11 August 2023 stood at 979 lakh hectares
compared to 929.48 lakh hectares for the corresponding period last year.
• Rice was sown/transplanted in 333.65 lakh hectares, and pulses in 101.96 lakh hectares.
Nagaland’s first Naga Traditional Cuisine lab launched at Japfü Christ

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• Nagaland’s first Naga Traditional Cuisine lab has been launched at Japfü Christian College, under
Kohima district
• The lab was inaugurated by State Minister for Women Resource Development and Horticulture,
Salhoutuonuo Kruse.
• As per the skill emphasis of National Education Policy 2020, the College is initiating Naga
traditional cuisine skill as an enhancement course under Nagaland University.
Appu Series Introduces India's First 4K Animated Feature Film - APPU
• Appu Series, the front-runner in children's edutainment, proudly announces the launch of 'APPU'
- India's first-ever 4K animated feature film.
• Appu IP was created as a medium to change the way children learn by making learning as
entertaining as possible.
Alappuzha all set for Nehru Trophy Boat Race
• The 69th edition of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR) will take place at Punnamada Lake in
Alappuzha.
• As many as 72 boats including 19 chundan vallams (snakeboats) will participate under nine
categories in this race.
Disney Hotstar to air National Rounds of Fit India Quiz 2022
• The National rounds of the second edition of the Fit India Quiz will be aired on Disney Hotstar
from August 12.
• A total of 13 episodes will be aired every Saturday and Sunday at 8 am.
• 72 students from 36 schools clinched top honours in the State round.
• The quiz is being conducted by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in association with
the Sports Authority of India.
Paradip Port becomes fastest Major Port to handle 50 MMT Cargo in 2023
• Paradip Port Authority has become the fastest major port to handle 50 million metric tons of
Cargo in the financial year 2023-24.
• The Port of Paradip achieved an important milestone by registering a record cargo flow of 50.16
MMT Cargo on August 8, 2023.
• The Port also handled a record 942 vessels during this period.
• The record was achieved in just 129 days.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurates 2nd phase of annual MDA initiative
• Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the second phase of the annual
Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) initiative for Lymphatic Filariasis.
• India aims to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis by 2027, three years ahead of the global target.
• The second phase will cover 81 districts in 9 endemic states.
Ministry of Culture to organise ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ Bike Rally of MPs

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• A Tiranga Bike Rally with Members of Parliament (MPs) and Ministers will be organized on 11th
August 2023 in New Delhi by the Ministry of Culture.
• The bike rally will be flagged off by the Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar.
• The "Har Ghar Tiranga" campaign will be celebrated from 13th-15th August 2023 across India to
encourage people to hoist flags in their premises.
53rd NPG Meeting under PM GatiShakti recommends 6 infra projects
• The network planning group (NPG) under PM Gati Shakti has recommended six infrastructure
projects.
• The 53rd NPG meeting was held on August 9, 2023.
• Six projects were evaluated during the meeting, with a total project cost of Rs. 28,875.16 Cr.
• The proposed projects are expected to improve connectivity to various villages and industrial
business hubs and reduce travel time.
Rajya Sabha passes Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill 2023
• The Parliament has passed the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill 2023 in Rajya
Sabha.
• Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala said, the Bill amends
the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005..
• The Minister said, that the Fisheries department got a total allocation of three thousand 680 crore
rupees from 1947 to 2014.
RS passes Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order Amendment Bill
• Parliament passed the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order Amendment Bill 2023 in Rajya
Sabha .
• Lok Sabha has already approved the Bill.
• The Bill amends the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950 to modify the list of Scheduled
Castes in Chhattisgarh.
• The Bill includes Mahara and Mahra communities as synonyms of the Mehra, Mahar, and Mehar
communities in Chhattisgarh.
SC launches ‘SuSwagatam’, online portal
• The Supreme Court of India launched ‘SuSwagatam’, an online facility to generate online
electronic passes for visitors to enter the apex court's premises.
• The portal, named SuSwagatam, allows visitors, litigants, counsel, judicial law clerks, staff, parties
in the cases, and journalists to apply for electronic passes online.
Central Railway inaugurates new Amravati station as Pink Station
• Central Railway has inaugurated the New Amravati station as the first "Pink Station" in the
Bhusaval Division.
• New Amravati station is the third station on Central Railway to be fully managed by an all-women
staff.
• The station has a team of 12 women employees who manage its operations.

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• The term "Pink Station" refers to railway stations that are fully managed by women employees.
DMRC unveils CarbonLite Metro Travel initiative to educate passengers
• Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has launched an initiative called CarbonLite Metro Travel
to educate passengers about reducing carbon emissions.
• CarbonLite Metro Travel helps inform passengers about their contribution to decreasing carbon
emissions by choosing their metro trains.
• The initiative is part of DMRC's efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainable
transportation.
MeitY launches Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC)
• The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Indian Web Browser
Development Challenge (IWBDC) on August 9, 2023, in New Delhi.
• The challenge is an Open Challenge Competition that seeks to inspire and empower technology
enthusiasts to create an indigenous web browser.
• The proposed browser would have its own trust store with an inbuilt CCA India root certificate.
Nirmala Sitharaman lays foundation stone for Adichanallur museum
• Nirmala Sitharaman, laid the foundation stone for the establishment of a museum in Adichanallur,
to showcase artifacts from ancient Tamil civilization, excavated from this archaeological site
• The announcement of the setting up of the museum had been made in the Union Budget in 2020.
• The museum is to come up on 5 acres of land at the archaeological site on Adichanallur –
Srivaikundam Road
RS pays homage on the 81st Anniversary of 'Quit India Movement
• The Vice-President and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar paid homage to our
freedom fighters on the 81st Anniversary of the historic 'Quit India Movement'.
• He called for reaffirming our commitment to uphold the sovereignty, integrity and rededicate
ourselves for the service of Bharat.
• All members of the Rajya Sabha observed silence in the house as a mark of respect to the martyrs.
Country has develop manned scientific submersible MATSYA6000
• The country has developed a manned scientific submersible MATSYA6000.
• It can carry three humans for a period of 12 hours up to a depth of 60,000 meters in the ocean.
• Kiren Rijiju said that an integrated mining machine has been developed for exploratory mining of
poly-metallic nodules from the sea bed and demonstration of locomotion trial was conducted at
Central India Ocean.
3rd G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting will be held in Kolkata
• The 3rd and final meeting of G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group under India’s Presidency will be
held in Kolkata
• Over 154 delegates from G20 Members, 10 invitee countries, and various international
organizations will be attending the meeting

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• It will be followed by the G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meeting on 12th August 2023, which will
be chaired by Dr. Jitendra Singh
Rajouri Chikri woodcraft, Mushqbudji rice secure GI Tags in J and K
• An air of jubilation and local pride permeates the picturesque landscapes in Rajouri and Anantnag
districts as their prized creations—the Rajouri Chikri woodcraft and the Mushqbudji variety of rice
have been bestowed with GI Tag
• This momentous recognition, the fruit of a painstaking legal process, shines a spotlight on the
exceptional quality and distinctive attributes of these regional gems.
UST Launches 2023 'D3CODE'
• UST, a leading digital transformation solutions company, has announced the launch of the third
edition of D3CODE (pronounced "decode"), a hackathon event for students pursuing bachelor's
or master's degree courses at Indian universities and colleges the opportunity to develop and
showcase their talent.
• This year's theme is "Exploring Generative AI: Crafting the Future"
CBI Academy joins Interpol Global Academy Network
• The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Academy on Tuesday joined the Interpol Global
Academy Network at a virtual event.
• The network supports academic collaboration among law enforcement training institutions
across the world.
• The event was organised by the agency and the Singapore-based Interpol Global Complex for
Innovation.
Centre launches special skill initiative for the northeastern region
• The government has launched an initiative to create a skill-centric and industry-ready ecosystem
in the northeastern region.
• The initiative is called 'Transforming lives, building futures: Skill development and
entrepreneurship in North-East'.
• The initiative will benefit 250,000 youth in the northeastern region by providing them with
industry-relevant skill training programmes.
3rd G20 anti-corruption meet begins on August 9 in Kolkata
• The third and final meeting of the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) will be held in
Kolkata from 9-11 August 2023.
• Over 154 delegates from G20 Members will attend the meeting.
• The meeting will be followed by the G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meeting on 12th August 2023.
• Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State will chair the G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meeting.
Parliament approves Bill to simplify birth and death registration
• Parliament has approved the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
• Rajya Sabha passed the bill while Lok Sabha had cleared it on 1st of this month.

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• The bill has been brought to simplify the birth and death registration and it will be completely
digital. He said the data received will help in making social schemes for the benefit of the people.
Kashmir's 1st electric train will be on Banihal-Baramulla corridor
• In J&K NR is all set to cross another milestone soon by starting Kashmir's first electric train on
Banihal-Baramulla corridor as the electrification of the 324 crore rupees project is in its final stage
• Indian Railway officials said that work on the project was going on since August 2019
• Bittu Kumar, Engineer RS Infra Pvt Ltd said that the project will be ready for inauguration by next
month
SAI launches short movie series ‘Halla Bol’
• Sports Authority of India (SAI) under the Umbrella Campaign 'Cheer4India' has launched a short
movie series ‘Halla Bol’ on the journey of Asian Games bound athletes to motivate them for
Hangzhou Asian Games and spread awareness about the upcoming Asian Games.
• SAI said that a total of 12 short movies will be showcased in the coming weeks.
Kerala Assembly unanimously passes resolution against UCC
• Kerala Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution against the Central government's
"unilateral and hasty" plan to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country.
• Kerala Legislative Assembly expresses concern and dismay at the Central government's move to
impose a Uniform Civil Code.
• Dr BR Ambedkar had advocated for UCC but never pressed for one.
5.33 crore subscribers enrolled under Atal Pension Yojana
• The union govt has announced that 5.33 crore subscribers have so far enrolled in Atal Pension
Yojana (APY).
• Atal Pension Yojana (APY) was launched on May 9, 2015, and was operationalised from June 1,
2015.
• The minimum age of joining the APY is 18 years and the maximum age is 40 years.
• As per the scheme, subscribers will receive pension benefits upon attaining the age of 60 years.
Swadesh Darshan 2.0: Prayagraj, Naimisharanya Identified for devlpt.
• The Ministry of Tourism has identified ‘Prayagraj’ and ‘Naimisharanya’ in Uttar Pradesh as
destinations for development under ‘Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the objective to develop
sustainable and responsible tourism destinations.
• The government launched ‘Swadesh Darshan Scheme’ (SDS) in the year 2014-15
• There are 08 projects of identified thematic circuits in Uttar Pradesh.
Health and Physical Education compulsory in all classes from 1to 12
• The government has informed that Yoga is recommended as an integral part of Health and
Physical Education.
• In Lok Sabha, Union Minister of state for Education Annapurna Devi said that CBSE has made
Health and Physical Education compulsory in all classes from 1 to XII.

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• She said that the board has directed schools to keep one period of Health and Physical Education
for them each day.
Special art exhibition dedicates to G-20 member countries to commence
• In Bihar, a special art exhibition dedicated to G-20 member countries will commence in the Bihar
Museum, Patna.
• The title of the two-month-long exhibition is Together We Art and it will conclude on 7th October
2023.
• Director General of Bihar Museum Anjani Kumar Singh said the exhibition will be inaugurated by
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar
DIAL Introduces 1sr Feminine Hygiene Vending Machines at Delhi Airpor
• Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), has partnered with Sirona, India's leading FEMTECH
brand, to launch a ground breaking initiative aimed at enhancing women's hygiene accessibility
at Delhi Airport.
• This initiative further solidifies Delhi Airport's position as a leader in championing women's health
and comfort during travel.
Sahitya Akademi to bring out collection of poems from G-20 nations
• The Sahitya Akademi will bring out an anthology of poems with contributions from each of the
G-20 nations to commemorate India’s presidency of the grouping.
• The collection of poems would be released during the G-20 leaders’ summit in Delhi next month
• Titled Under the Same Sky, the collection has been curated by Ranjit Hoskote
Amit Shah launches digital portal of CRCS office in Pune, Maharashtra
• The portal of the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS) office was launched in Pune,
Maharashtra by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah.
• The portal will handle all the work of cooperative societies including registration, and training.
• Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) are now Common Service Centers which can perform
a wide range of activities.
PM lays foundation stone for redevelopment of 508 Railway Stations
• PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 508 railway stations across
the country under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
• The redevelopment of these stations will cost more than Rs 24,470 crores and is spread across 27
states and union territories.
• The ‘One Station One Product’ scheme will help the artisans and will help in branding the district.
President of India attends 165th convocation of university of Madras
• The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu graced and addressed the 165th convocation of the
University of Madras in Chennai on August 6, 2023.
• The University of Madras has been ranked 50 in the National Institutional Ranking Framework
(NIRF 2023) ranking released by the Ministry of Education.

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• More than one lakh students graduated from Madras University and received their degrees
Union Finance Min lays foundation stone for the 'Iconic Site Museum'
• She laid the foundation stone for the 'Iconic Site Museum' at the Adichanallur site.
• It is an ancient and historical Iron-age burial site located in Thoothukudi District Tamil Nadu.
• The Adichanallur archaeological site was declared to be developed as one of the five 'Iconic Sites'
in the Union Budget 2020-21.
• It will showcase various objects dating back to 467 BCE.
MoS R. Chandrasekhar to attend ‘Digital India RISC-V’ by IIT Madras
• Union Minister for State for Entrepreneurship, Skill Development, Electronics and IT Rajeev
Chandrasekhar will attend the ‘Digital India (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) RISC-V’
Symposium on 6 August 2023.
• It is being organised by IIT Madras and IIT-M Pravartak Technologies Foundation in Chennai.
• The event will showcase ‘The future of Electronics in India through the RISC-V pathway.
McDonald's unveils India's 1st airport drive-thru restaurant in Mumbai
• McDonald's India (West & South) has launched the nation’s first-ever Airport Drive-Thru
Restaurant in Mumbai.
• This is the first McDonald’s restaurant in Mumbai to operate 24x7.
• It has several innovative features, including a dedicated lane and customer ordering display for
customers.
• The restaurant also features 4 self-ordering kiosks (SOK) to help customers save time.
Cabinet clears new telecom bill and postal services bill
• The Union Cabinet has cleared the Draft Indian Telecommunications Bill 2023.
• The bill aims to increase the scope of telecommunication services by including over-the-top ( OTT
), broadcasting, internet and broadband services.
• The bill will replace Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, and the
Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950.
PM Modi to launch revamp of 508 railway stations at ₹24,470 crore
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 508 railway
stations spread across the country virtually on August 6.
• According to the Ministry of Railways, the redevelopment work is done at an estimated cost of
₹24,470 crore.
• These 508 stations are spread across 27 states and union territories, including 55 each in Uttar
Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Lok Sabha introduces Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill 2023
• The Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill, 2023 was introduced in the Lok Sabha.

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• The Bill seeks to establish the Anusandhan National Research Foundation to provide high level
strategic direction for research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the fields of natural sciences
including mathematical sciences, engineering and technology, environmental and earth sciences.
Ninth edition of Malabar River Festival opens in Kerala
• In Kerala, the ninth edition of the Malabar River Festival opens at Thusharagiri in Kozhikode.
• Besides Indian Kayakers, paddlers from ten countries including the US, UK, Israel, Kazakhstan and
South Africa are participating in the event.
• The competition will be held in Kayak Slalom, Boardercross and Down River events.
Panel submits report on sub-categorisation of OBCs after 6 years
• The Justice G. Rohini Commission for the sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBC)
caste groups submitted its report to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, nearly six
years after the Union government first assigned the task to it — a task that was initially meant to
be finished in 12 weeks.
• The government had formed the commission in 2017.
Finance ministry approves ‘navratna’ status for ONGC Videsh
• The finance ministry, on 3 August 2023, gave its approval to upgrade ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) to
’navratna’ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) from category-I ‘miniratna’.
• ONGC Videsh, under the Ministry of petroleum and natural gas, will be the 14th ’navratna’ among
CPSEs.
• India now has 13 maharatna companies,14 navratna firms, and 74 miniratna CPSEs.
Union Min of Steel Jyotiraditya Scindia unveils the new logo of NMDC
• Union Minister of Steel and Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, unveiled the new logo of the
National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) at an event in New Delhi.
• The new logo represents NMDC's commitment to sustainable and responsible mining practices.
• NMDC is India's largest producer of iron ore and has achieved record-breaking production for the
period up to July 2023.
Sarbananda Sonowal launches Port Health Organisation under Sagar Setu
• The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal
launched Port Health Organisation (PHO) module under Sagar Setu - National Logistics Portal
(Marine).
• PHO will conduct disease surveillance, health inspection and quarantine measures to safeguard
citizens and port workers.
• It will help in online certification generation, tracking of request status etc.
Dharmendra Pradhan, S. Jaishankar jointly launch Study in India Portal
• The Study in India Portal was launched by the Union Education Minister and the Union External
Affairs Minister to promote India as a global hub of education.
• The portal provides comprehensive information about Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

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• The website also presents information about academic facilities, research support, & visa
application processes for international students.
MOIL Limited records best-ever performance
• The country's leading manganese ore producer MOIL Limited has recorded its best-ever
performance last month since its inception.
• During last month, the company produced 1.20 lakh tonnes of manganese ore, showcasing a
growth of 71 per cent as compared to the same period in the previous year.
• This is the highest-ever July production of the company.
BDL hands over first Radio Frequency Seeker of Akash to DRDO
• The Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has handed over the first Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker of
Akash - the Next Generation Weapon System produced at its newly commissioned state-of-the-
art Seeker Facility Centre (SFC) to the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
• It is used in Surface-to-Air Missiles and Air-to-Air Missiles for target tracking in the terminal phase.
India to have its first polar research vessel in five years
• India aims to have its first Polar Research Vessel PRV in the next five years in order to sustain its
bases in Antarctica, said by Union Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju.
• He noted that in 2014, the Cabinet had approved Rs 1,051 crore to acquire the vessel.
• India currently has three research base stations in the polar region.
World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan to empower farmers
• The 'World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector' will be rolled out as a Pilot
Project to revolutionise agricultural infrastructure and empower farmers.
• Leveraging the potential of over 1,00,000 PACS, the plan seeks to create decentralised storage
capacity and essential infrastructure to enhance the economic viability of PACS and boost India's
agricultural sector.
NHAI Launches ‘Rajmargyatra’
• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) takes a significant stride towards improving the
highway user experience with the launch of 'Rajmargyatra,' a citizen-centric unified mobile
application.
• This user-friendly app empowering travelers with comprehensive information on Indian National
Highways while also offering an efficient complaint redressal system.
Govt introduces a new category of Ayush visa for foreign nationals
• Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has notified the creation of a new category of
Ayush (AY) visa for foreign nationals for treatment under Indian systems of medicine.
• It is part of India’s roadmap for the Heal in India initiative of the government.
• According to a report by the Global Wellness Institute, Ayush-based healthcare economy is
estimated to grow to $70 billion by 2025.
President of India to inaugurate 'UNMESHA' & 'UTKARSH' fest in Bhopal

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• The President of India, Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate ‘Unmesha’ – International Literature
Festival and ‘Utkarsh’ – Festival of Folk and Tribal Performing Arts in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• It is being organised by the Ministry of Culture in association with Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet
Natak Akademi.
• 17 sessions on different topics will be held on the first day under Unmesha.
NMDC reports record-breaking production for the period up to July 2023
• National Mineral Development Corporation, a Navratna miner under the Ministry of Steel, has
reported record-breaking production for the period up to July 2023.
• The National Miner has delivered record performances in FY24 so far and is paving the way
towards becoming a 100 MT mining company.
• NMDC is also gearing up to surpass its historic production of 40 MT for two fiscals in a row.
India’s First Beauty and Lifestyle Festival NYKAALAND debuts In Mumbai
• Nykaa, an omnichannel consumer-tech company, and India’s most preferred beauty and lifestyle
retailer, in collaboration with BookMyShow, the nation's leading entertainment destination,
Nykaaland - India's inaugural and extraordinary beauty and lifestyle festival.
• The debut edition of the festival will bring together a highly desirable, curated ensemble of unique
events and experiences.
Asia’s highest-ever land art group exhibition, titled “sā was launched
• Asia’s highest-ever contemporary land art group exhibition, titled “sā” was launched — at an
astounding altitude of 3600m — on August 1 in Leh, Ladakh, focussing on the intersection of
climate, culture, and community in high altitude environments.
• The initiative was opened by Michael Pal, Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum, and was
founded by Ladakhi mountaineer Tenzing 'Jammy' Jamyang.
National Mission for Clean Ganga Approves 7 Projects Worth Rs. 692 Cr
• The 50th meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
was held under the chairmanship of DG, NMCG, Shri G. Asok Kumar.
• 7 projects worth around Rs. 692 crore were approved in the meeting.
• Out of the 7 projects, four pertain to sewage management in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
• The project aims to develop the freshwater resources and its biodiversity in India.
Record 6.77 crore income tax returns filed till July 31
• The Income Tax Department announced that 6.77 crore income tax returns were filed until July
31, 2023.
• This figure includes 53.67 lakh first-time filers, indicating a widening of the tax base.
• The total number of ITRs filed for AY 2023-24 is 16.1% more than the total ITRs filed for AY 2022-
23.
• The filing of ITRs peaked on July 31, 2023, with over 64.33 lakh ITRs being filed on a single day.
PM Modi announces 'Meri Mati Mera Desh' campaign

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• PM Modi announced 'Meri Mati Mera Desh' campaign to honour martyred bravehearts in the run-
up to Independence Day.
• The campaign will include programmes across India to remember those who laid down their lives
for the country.
• Special inscriptions will be installed in lakhs of village panchayats of the country in memory of
these personalities.
India Post to sell National Flag through its 1.6 lakh post offices
• India Post to sell National Flag through its 1.6 lakh post offices to celebrate Har Ghar Tiranga.
• The govt is organizing the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign between 13-15 August 2023.
• The campaign will leverage the vast physical network of 1.6 lakh post offices in the country.
• Flags will be sold through all post offices and the ePostOffice facility.
PM lays foundation stone and inaugurates various projects in Pune
• PM Narendra Modi inaugurated completed sections of the Pune Metro.
• He also handed over more than 1280 houses constructed under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana by
Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and more than 2650 Pradhan Mantri Awas
Yojana (PMAY) houses constructed by Pune Municipal Corporation to the beneficiaries.
• He also inaugurated a Waste to Energy Plant under PCMC.
CSIR-NIScPR organised Lecture on "Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”
• CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR) organized a
lecture under its SVASTIK (Scientifically Validated Societal Traditional Knowledge) division.
• SVASTIK is a PMO-monitored initiative coordinated by CSIR-NIScPR. This was the fourth session
of the NIScPR-SVASTIK Lecture Series.
• This lecture was centered on the topic "Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam".
BCAS organised Aviation Security Culture Week
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah conveyed his congratulations to the Bureau of Civil Aviation
Security (BCAS) on the commencement of Aviation Security Culture Week.
• The week-long celebration, scheduled from July 31 to August 5
• The theme "See it, Say it, Secure it," not only involves BCAS but also encompasses all stakeholders
within the civil aviation ecosystem.
Navi Mumbai to become country’s first septic tank-free city
• Navi Mumbai is set to become the first city in the country to be septic tank-free and have toilets
in 100% of households soon.
• The NMMC has laid a network of sewage drains all over the city with 7 state-of-the-art sewage
treatment plants being set up with the help of Central government funds.
• The treated water is being used by industries and watering gardens.
Over 49 crore accounts opened under PMJDY since its inception: FinMin

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• Over 49 crore accounts have been opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) since
its inception.
• More than two lakh crore rupees have been deposited in Jan Dhan's account.
• The scheme was launched in 2014 with the aim to provide universal access to banking facilities to
people across the country.
• The govt informed that more than 99% of villages are covered by a banking outlet.
India witnessed highest ever coal production in 2022-23
• The Union govt has said that the country has witnessed the highest-ever coal production in 2022-
23.
• The all-India coal production in 2022-23 was over 893 Million tonnes in comparison to over 778
million tonnes in 2021-22.
• 9 states reported a rise in coal production including Assam, and West Bengal. Meanwhile, a fall
in the production of coal has been reported in Jammu and Kashmir in 2022-23.
Over 6.23 core loans sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana
• Over 6 core 23 lakh loans have been sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY)
in Financial Year 2022-23.
• The objective of PMMY is to provide access to institutional finance to new or existing micro units
or enterprises up to 10 lakh rupees.
• Mudra loans under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) can be availed of from a nearby branch
office of a bank.
DGCA gave in-principle approval to AI & Indigo to import aircrafts
• Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted in-principle approval to Air India Ltd.
and Interglobe Aviation Ltd (Indigo) for import of 470 and 500 aircraft respectively.
• As per the induction plan of the airlines, the aircraft is proposed to be imported during the
period 2023-35.
• The operators have been advised by DGCA to share their induction plan with airport operators.

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Appointments Current Affairs

Jaya Varma Sinha will be new Chairman Railway Board
• Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appoinment of Jaya Varma Sinha as
Chairman and CEO Railway Board.
• Sinha will supersede Anil Kumar Lahoti as the new Chairman and CEO (Railway Board) and will
assume office on September 1, 2023.
• She is also the first woman Chairman of the Railway Board. Vijaylaxmi Vishwanathan was the first
female member of the Railway Board.
FIDC announces appointment of Umesh Revankar as chairman
• Umesh Revankar has been appointed as the chairman of the Finance Industry Development
Council (FIDC).
• Revankar has played a pivotal role in making Shriram Transport Finance company the largest
commercial vehicle financer in India.
• Umesh Revankar’s journey in the financial services industry spans over 35 years, starting as an
executive trainee with Shriram Group in 1987.
Geetika Srivastava is first woman to head Indian mission in Pakistan
• Geetika Srivastava, a 2005 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, will be the new Charge
d’Affaires (CDA) in Islamabad. She will succeed Dr M Suresh Kumar who is likely to return to New
Delhi.
• Currently serving as Joint Secretary at the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA),
Srivastava looks after the Indo-Pacific division.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa re-elected for second term
• Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa was re-elected for a second and final five-year
term in results announced much earlier than expected.
• Mnangagwa’s victory meant the ZANU-PF party retained the governmental leadership it has held
for all 43 years of Zimbabwe’s history since the nation was re-named following independence
from white minority rule in 1980.
Sunil Gavaskar joins 'Midwicket Stories' as principal advisor
• Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has joined 'Midwicket Stories' as principal advisor.
• Also known by the nicknames 'Sunny' and 'Little Master', Gavaskar is among the greatest Indian
cricketers to have graced the gentleman's game.
• Gavaskar is a distinguished member of India's maiden World Cup winning squad of 1983,
Gavaskar once held the record for scoring the most centuries in Tests.
Kaziranga national park to get first woman field Director
• The Indian Forest Service officer Dr Sonali Ghosh will take charge of the park from incumbent
field director Jatindra Sarma, who will retire on August 31.

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• The Assam government has already issued an order posting Ghosh as the head of the forest,
famed for the one-horned rhinos, spread across Nagaon, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, Sonitpur and
Biswanath districts, with effect from September 1.
Shell India appoints Mansi Madan Tripathy as new country chair
• Shell India announced the appointment of Mansi Madan Tripathy as the new country chair of the
company, effective from October 1, 2023.
• Tripathy will succeed Nitin Prasad who has been country chair since 2016
• As Country Chair of Shell India, Mansi will oversee Shell Group of companies in India
Indian Oil ropes in chef Sanjeev Kapoor as its brand ambassador
• Indian Oil has collaborated with Chef Sanjeev Kapoor as the brand ambassador for its Indane
XTRATEJ LPG brand.
• IndianOil has observed significant year-on-year growth in market volume since the initial trial of
XTRATEJ in Belgaum, Karnataka.
• Indian Oil has 16 crore customers connections.
• Sanjeev Kapoor was awarded the fourth highest Indian national honour, Padma Shri in 2017.
Lt. Gen Dhillon appointed as chief of IIT Mandi's Board of Governors
• Lieutenant General (Retired) Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon has been appointed as Chairperson of
the Board of Governors of the IIT Mandi.
• Lt Gen Dhillon has served as DG Defence Intelligence Agency and Deputy Chief of Integrated
Defence Staff.
• Lt Gen Dhillon commanded the 15 Corps during the Pulwama IED blast, Balakote air strikes, and
the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in 2019.
Mridul Kumar named next Indian ambassador to Liechtenstein
• Mridul Kumar has been named the next Ambassador of India to Liechtenstein
• Kumar is presently serving as the Ambassador of India to Switzerland
• He has been concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to Liechtenstein and will
take up residence in Berne
• Kumar is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from the 1992 batch.
K.V Karthik Elected President of Indian Pump Manufacturers Association
• K.V. Karthik, Managing Director, Deccan Industries, one of India’s leading pump manufacturing
companies has been elected as the president of Indian Pump Manufacturers Association (IPMA)
• He was elected at the 72nd Annual General Meeting of IPMA held recently at Coimbatore.
• Mr. Karthik is the 39th president of IPMA.
Justice Prakash Shrivastava appointed as NGT chairperson
• Justice Prakash Shrivastava has taken charge as the chairperson of the National Green Tribunal
(NGT).

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• Justice Shrivastava was Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court from October 11, 2021, to March 30,
2023.
• He enrolled as an advocate on February 2, 1987, and practised extensively in the Supreme Court.
• He was appointed the High Court of Madhya Pradesh judge on January 18, 2008.
Manoj Kohli appointed as Chairman of Smart eMobility
• Smart eMobility is pleased to announce Manoj Kohli as the Chairman. Manoj Kohli, who previously
held the position of Country Head at SoftBank India, is a highly accomplished entrepreneur with
a proven track record.
• He is passionate about driving industry transformations in various fields, including mobile internet,
renewable energy, digital unicorns, and electric vehicles.
Axis Bank's Neelkanth Mishra appointed as UIDAI's part-time chairman
• Neelkanth Mishra, Chief Economist at Axis Bank and Head of Global Research at Axis Capital,
has been appointed as part-time chairperson of the Aadhaar-issuing body Unique Identification
Authority of India (UIDAI).
• In June 2023, senior IAS officer Amit Agrawal assumed charge as the Chief Executive Officer of
UIDAI.
• Agrawal is a 1993 batch IAS from Chhattisgarh cadre.
Viacom18 appoints ex-Google MD Kiran Mani as CEO of digital business
• Kiran Mani, who previously worked with Google, has been appointed as the CEO of Viacom18's
digital business.
• Mani's 13-year tenure at Google has given him deep insights into user behaviors, content
consumption patterns, and market trends.
• Viacom18's strategic vision is to enhance its digital offerings and tap into the burgeoning digital
content market.
Rahul Dravid: BPCL Brand Ambassador
• Bharat Petroleum, the second-largest Indian Oil Marketing Company and one of the premier
integrated energy companies in India, has unveiled, cricketing legend and current Head Coach of
the Indian cricket team, Rahul Dravid as its new brand ambassador.
• This incredible partnership underscores our unwavering commitment to quality, authenticity, and
excellence.
Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar Designated As 'national Icon' By EC
• Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar, designated as a "national icon" of the Election Commission
(EC) to encourage greater voter participation in the electoral process.
• A memorandum of understanding signed between Tendulkar and the poll panel.
• As part of the three-year agreement, Tendulkar will spread voter awareness.
Radhika Madan becomes jury member at Emmy Awards 2023
• Actor Radhika Madan became a part of the jury panel at the International Emmy Awards 2023.

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• The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards will honor the best in American prime time television
programming from June 1, 2022, until May 31, 2023, as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts
& Sciences.
• The ceremony will be broadcast on Fox on January 15, 2024.
P. R. Seshadri appointed new MD & CEO of South Indian Bank
• The Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment of P. R. Seshadri as the Managing
Director and CEO of South Indian Bank.
• The appointment will be for a period of three years with effect from October 1.
• Seshadri is an accomplished banker and has also served as Managing Director & CEO of The
Karur Vysya Bank Limited (KVB), Managing Director of Citibank
Sumit Seth appointed as next Indian envoy to Nicaragua
• Sumit Seth has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Nicaragua.
• He has been concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to Nicaragua with
residence in Panama.
• Sumit Seth, an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 2005 batch, is presently the Ambassador of
India to Panama.
• Bilateral relations between India and Nicaragua were established in March 1983.
Vishvas Vidu Sapkal appointed as next Ambassador to Bolivia
• Vishvas Vidu Sapkal, India's Ambassador to Peru, has been appointed as the next Ambassador to
Bolivia.
• Sapkal is an Indian Foreign Service Officer of the 1998 batch.
• He has served in different capacities in Russia, Armenia, Egypt, and the US.
• Sapkal has done special assignments at India Africa Forum Summit as Director (IAFS) in New
Delhi in November 2015.
IPS officer Shatrujeet Kapur takes charge as new Haryana DGP
• Shatrujeet Kapur takes over as the new Director General of Police (DGP) in Haryana, succeeding
P.K Agrawal.
• He aims to bring about reforms in policing by making it more responsive and transparent.
• Haryana has over 55000 police personnel, and special training will be imparted to enhance their
skills.
• The State Narcotics Control Bureau will be further strengthened to combat drug peddling.
Govt appoints R Doraiswamy as LIC MD
• Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) said the government has appointed R Doraiswamy as
the managing director.
• Doraiswamy is currently the executive director at the central office in Mumbai.
• The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), the headhunter for directors of state-owned
banks and financial institutions, in June, had recommended the name of Doraiswamy as MD.

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Anwar-ul-haq Kakar to take oath as caretaker PM

• Pakistan's new caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul haq Kakar is all set to take the oath at the
Presidency.
• Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will receive the caretaker PM after oath taking ceremony.
• The new PM will be presented with the guard of honour.
• Later, the outgoing prime minister Shehbaz will inspect a guard of honour,
Union govt notifies Manjusha Deshpande as Bombay HC judge
• Manjusha Ajay Deshpande has been appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court
by the Central government.
• The notification was issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice on 10 August 2023.
• The appointment was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium.
• The Collegium comprises Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud and Justices S K Kaul and
Sanjiv Khanna.
S Paramesh appointed as Additional Director General of Coast Guard
• S Paramesh has been appointed as Additional Director General Coast Guard on 8 August 2023.
• He is specialised in Navigation & Direction and his sea commands include all major vessels of ICG.
• He is a recipient of the President’s Tatrakshak Medal for Distinguished Service and was also
awarded the Director General Coast Guard Commendation in 2012 and FOCINC (East)
Commendation in 2009.
Subhasis Talapatra takes oath as 33rd CJ of Orissa High Court
• Justice Subhasis Talapatra today took oath as the 33rd Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court.
• Odisha Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal administered him the oath.
• The name of Justice Talapatra, as the Chief Justice, was recommend by the Supreme Court
Collegium last month which was later approved by the Central Government.
Hockey India appoints Herman Kruis as coach of India junior teams
• Hockey India announced the appointment of Herman Kruis, who has over two decades of
coaching experience, as coach of Indian junior men and junior women hockey teams.
• During his stint in India, he will oversee the preparations of Indian Junior Men's and Women’s
Teams ahead of FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2023 in Malaysia and FIH Women’s Junior
Hockey World Cup 2023.
Indian-origin Vaibhav Taneja becomes new Tesla Chief Financial Officer
• Vaibhav Taneja has been appointed as the new Chief Financial Officer of Tesla.
• He succeeds Zachary Kirkhorn, who has left the position after 13 years with the company.
• Taneja joined the company in 2016.
• He became the Assistant Corporate Controller in February 2017 and was promoted to Corporate
Controller in 2018.
• In 2019, Taneja became the Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) of Tesla.

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Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni appoints Hun Manet- as the new PM

• Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni has appointed former Prime minister Hun Sen's son - Hun
Manet- as the new prime minister of the country.
• A royal decree was issued by the King stating that he appoints Dr. Hun Manet as the prime
minister.
• While the King has appointed Hun Manet as the PM, the leader and his cabinet must win the
confidence vote on August 22 to assume office.
Government appoints Sanjay Kumar Agarwal as new CBIC Chairman
• Union govt, on 6 August 2023, appointed Sanjay Kumar Agarwal as the new Chairman of the
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) after the superannuation of Vivek Johri on
July 31.
• Sanjay Kumar Agarwal was working as a member (investigation) in the CBIC board since March
1, 2022.
• The CBIC has also appointed Senior IRS officer Surjit Bhujabal as member investigation, CBIC.
SC appoints former HC judge Jayant Nath as interim chief of DERC
• Justice Jayant Nath has been appointed as the interim chairperson of the Delhi Electricity
Regulatory Commission (DERC) by the Supreme Court.
• The appointment was made after the Delhi government and office of LG left it to the apex court
to choose a former Judge as Chairperson of the Commission.
• The appointment is on a pro-term basis as an interim arrangement.
Qualcomm India appoints Savi Soin as President
• Qualcomm, the leading smartphone processor manufacturer, appointed Savi Soin as the
President of Qualcomm India.
• Savi Soin, who has been with Qualcomm for more than two decades, previously served as the
head of strategy and business development at Qualcomm Technologies' semiconductor division.
• He will replace Rajen Vagadia.
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba gets one-year extension
• The Centre on 3 August 2023, extended the term of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba by one year
beyond August 30, 2023.
• With this extension, He now becomes the longest-serving cabinet secretary.
• Before Rajiv Gauba, BD Pande had been the longestserving cabinet secretary from November 2,
1972, to March 31, 1977.
• He is a 1982-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Jharkhand cadre
Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena takes over as Chief of Staff, ENC
• Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena has taken over as the Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command, from
Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan in Visakhapatnam.

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• He has served as the Navigating Officer of several Indian Naval ships including INS Kuthar,
Godavari, and Delhi.
• He has been awarded the Nau Sena Medal in 2017 and Ati Vishist Seva Medal in 2023 by the
Hon'ble President of India.
Tiger Woods Joins PGA Tour Policy Board
• American golfer Tiger Woods joined the PGA tour policy board for the first time in 27 years of his
tour.
• The news comes as a huge support for Commissioner Jay Monahan and also grants players a
more significant role as the organization seeks to complete its commercial agreement with the
Saudi sponsors of LIV Golf.
• He will reportedly join the PGA Tour policy board as the sixth player director
Shohini Sinha named as special agent in FBI
• Shohini Sinha known for her work on counter-terrorism investigations, has been named as a
special agent in charge of the FBI’s field office in Salt Lake City in the US state of Utah.
• Sinha, who most recently served as executive special assistant to the Director at FBI Headquarters
in Washington DC
• In 2021, she was chosen to serve as the executive special assistant to the FBI Director.
Maj Gen Amita Rani appointed additional DG of Military Nurse Service
• Maj Gen Amita Rani assumed the appointment of Addl Director General, Military Nursing Service
(MNS) on 01 Aug 2023.
• She is an alumnus of the College of Nursing, Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi.
• She was commissioned into the Military Nursing Service in the year 1983.
• She has a Six Sigma Green Belt in Health care, and Quality Management from the National Health
Care Academy, Singapore.
Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar takes over as the Flag Officer of ENC
• Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar has taken charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of
the Eastern Naval Command.
• He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and has a Master's Degree in Defence and
Strategic Studies.
• He is an Anti-Submarine Warfare specialist.
• He is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service.
Apurva Chandra takes additional charge of Telecom Department
• Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Apurva Chandra has been given additional charge
of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
• K. Rajaraman, hitherto the Telecom secretary, has been tapped to head the International
Financial Services Centres Authority.
• Mr. Rajaraman took charge as Telecom secretary in October 2021 and is an IAS officer from the
1989 batch in the Tamil Nadu cadre.

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Obituaries Current Affairs

Renowned Litterateur Jayanta Mahapatra passes away
• Internationally acclaimed poet and litterateur, Jayanta Mahapatra passed away.
• Jayanta Mahapatra was the first Indian poet to win a Sahitya Akademi award for English poetry.
• He authored poems such as 'Indian Summer' and 'Hunger'
• The poet was conferred the Padma Shri in 2009 for his contribution to literature. However, he
returned the award in 2015.
• Mahapatra authored 27 books on poems.
Original Harley Quinn voice actress Arleen Sorkin passes away
• Arleen Sorkin, the original voice actress of Harley Quinn, has passed away at the age of 67.
• Sorkin made history as the first voice actor to portray Harley Quinn in “Batman: The Animated
Series” in 1992.
• She continued to voice the character in various Batman media.
• Mia Sara played the first live-action version of Harley Quinn in “Birds of Prey,” a TV show based
on the comic book series.
Lyricist Dev Kohli passes away at 80
• Veteran Hindi film lyricist Dev Kohli passed away in Mumbai on Saturday, He was 80.
• Kohli is famed for his songs over 100 films including ‘Maine Pyaar Kiya,’ ‘Baazigar,’ ‘Judwaa 2,’
‘Musafir,’ ‘Shoot Out At Lokhandwala,’ and ‘Taxi Num 911.’ He has collaborated with music
directors like Anu Malik, Raam Laxman, Anand Raaj Anand, Anand Milind among others.
Former WWE Champion Windham Rotunda aka Bray Wyatt passes away
• Windham Rotunda, who was known as Bray Wyatt passed away at the age of just 36.
• Chief Content Officer Paul 'Triple H' Levesque took to social media to announce the demise of
the former WWE Champion.
• Wyatt gained recognition among the fans the moment he made his debut with his 'Wyatt Family.'
Veteran actor Seema Deo passes away
• Veteran actor Seema Deo passed away at the age of 83.
• The senior actor was seen in films like Anand, Koshish and Kora Kagaz.
• Apart from appearing in several Hindi films, Seema Deo was a renowned actor in Marathi cinema.
• She appeared in over 80 films throughout her career.
• She was seen in Jagachya Pathivar, Vardakshina, among many others.
Eminent Statistician CR Rao Passes Away
• Renowned mathematician and statistician Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao, widely known as C R
Rao, passed away at the age of 102.
• He was recently awarded the "International Prize in Statistics-2023", often referred to as the
"statistics' equivalent of the Nobel Prize".

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• He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan award in 1968 and the Padma Vibhushan award in
2001.
British 'chat show king' Michael Parkinson passes away
• Michael Parkinson, a veteran British chat show host, passed away on 17 August 2023.
• He had interviewed more than 2,000 guests in total, including high-profile names such as
Muhammad Ali, and Madonna.
• He switched from the BBC to ITV in 2004 and continued until 2007.
• The famed TV host was knighted by the late Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2008.
Former DRDO Director General Dr. V.S. Arunachalam passes away
• Former DRDO director general V S Arunachalam passed away.
• He was a former DRDO director general and was the Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister
from 1982-92.
• He was conferred with the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, Padma Bhushan, and Padma
Vibhushan.
• He was the first Indian Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (UK).
• In 2015, he was awarded DRDO's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Former Indian Football Captain Mohammed Habib passes away
• Former India captain and legendary footballer Mohammed Habib passed away in Hyderabad on
15 August.
• Habib represented India for a decade from 1965-75 and was part of the team that won a bronze
medal in the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok.
• He represented the country in 35 international matches and scored 11 goals.
• Habib won the Santosh Trophy on five occasions.
Sulabh International founder Bindeshwar Pathak passes away
• Renowned social activist and founder of Sulabh International, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak passed
away on 15 August 2023.
• Sulabh International is an India-based organization that promotes human rights and
environmental sanitation.
• He was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 1991.
• In 2009, he received the Stockholm Water Prize.
• He was also awarded the Nikkei Asia Prize, 2018 for Culture and Community.
Telugu, Sanskrit scholar Kandlakunta Alaha Singaracharyulu passes away
• Eminent writer, and academician Kandlakunta Alaha Singaracharyulu passed away in
Hyderabad.
• He was known for his extensive literary works in Telugu and Sanskrit languages.
• He wrote more than 15 books on Telugu and Sanskrit languages including translations, grammar,
and speeches.

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• He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2021 for his contributions to the field of Sanskrit literature and
education.
Renowned Nuclear physicist Bikash Sinha passes away
• Renowned nuclear physicist Bikash Sinha passed away on 11 August 2023.
• He was the recipient of Padma Shri in 2001 and Padma Bhusan in 2010
• In 1987 he was appointed the director of the Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre. He held the
concurrent charge as director of the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics till 2009.
Filmmaker Siddique passes away at private hospital in Kochi
• Prominent filmmaker Siddique passed away at a private hospital in Kochi last night.
• He was 63.
• Siddique's journey in the world of Malayalam cinema began with his directorial debut, "Ramji Rao
Speaking" along with his friend Lal.
• The duo created some of the Malayalam film industry's biggest comedy blockbusters, including
"In Harihar Nagar," "Godfather.
National Award-winning director Nitin Chandrakant Desai Passed Away
• National Award-winning art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai’s last rites were held in Karjat near
Mumbai in the presence of family and friends.
• 57-year-old Desai had allegedly committed suicide at his studio.
• He is survived by his wife, daughter and son.
• Mr. Desai had won four National Awards and three Filmfare Awards for his exquisite work.
Renowned Telangana folk singer Gummadi Vittal Rao 'Gaddar' passes away
• Revolutionary balladeer and renowned folk singer Gaddar, also known as Gummadi Vittal Rao,
passed away on 6 August 2023.
• He played a significant role in the Telangana statehood movement through his songs highlighting
injustices in the region.
• Gaddar was a former Maoist ideologue who played a crucial role in the left-wing extremist
movement through his songs.
Tamil actor Mohan of 'Apoorva Sagodharangal' fame, passes away
• Tamil actor Mohan, known for his comedic supporting roles, passed away in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
• In the 1989 hit 'Apporva Sagodharangal', Mohan played the role of superstar Kamal Haassan's
best friend.
• Mohan also acted in the critically acclaimed film 'Naan Kadavul' released in 2009.
• The movie depicts the horrific conditions faced by physically challenged people.
Noted Marathi poet Namdeo Dhondo Mahanor, 81, dies
• Noted Marathi poet and lyricist Namdeo Dhondo Mahanor, popularly known as Na Dho Mahanor,
died at a hospital in Maharashtra’s Pune.
• He was 81.

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• Mahanor was best known for his poems and lyrics for Marathi movies.
• Born in 1942, Namdeo Dhondo Mahanor was awarded Padma Shri in 1991.
• He had also been a member of the state legislative council.
World's oldest man' dies at 127
• Brazilian supercentenarian, José Paulino Gomes, touted as world's oldest man, passes away at
age 127.
Gomes was a former animal tamer and was known as a humble and simple man.
• He lived a natural lifestyle, avoiding industrialized products.
• His diet consisted of food grown or raised locally and enjoyed an occasional drink.
Congress leader and former Speaker Vakkom Purushothaman passes away
• Veteran Congress leader and former Kerala Speaker Vakkom Purushothaman, who also served
as Governor of Mizoram, passed away
• The veteran leader also served as Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Purushothaman was a cabinet minister in the Kerala govt between 1971-77, 1980-81 and 2004-06.
• He was the speaker of Kerala legislative assembly from 1982-84 and 2001-04.

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Person in News Current Affairs

Infosys Welcomes Iga Świątek as Global Brand Ambassador
• Infosys announced a multi-year partnership with Iga Świątek to Promote Infosys' Digital
Innovation and Inspire Women Around the World
• She is already a four-time Grand Slam Champion and one of the most dominant forces in the
women's game , who has been ranked World No. 1 since April 22, for a record 70 consecutive
weeks
• Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services
Infosys onboards Rafael Nadal as ambassador
• IT major Infosys announced a three-year partnership with tennis star Rafael Nadal.
• Globally acknowledged as one of the legends in sports, he also has had the ability to change with
the changing rigors of tennis over the years.
• He will serve as Brand Ambassador for Infosys’ digital innovation.
Ninna Lego from Arunachal won ‘Entrepreneurship Challenge' 2022-23
• Ninna Lego, founder of House of Macnok from Upper Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh won
the ‘Entrepreneurship Challenge’ 2022-2023.
• She founded House of Macnok, offering an eclectic range of lifestyle products ranging from
clothing, and jewellery, to preservative-free food items.
• She also won ‘Best Business Model Canvas' on National Startup Day, 2023, by the Dept of Planning
& Investment.
Suryakumar Yadav Leads the Mission “Omega Sufficient Nation”
• Zuventus Healthcare Ltd., a leading name in the pharmaceutical industry, proudly announces the
launch of Healthyr-U, an online wellness initiative to help Indians attain better health.
• Suryakumar Yadav, brand ambassador, Healthyr-U said as an athlete, I understand the
importance of proper nutrition for peak performance and overall wellness.
Google Doodle celebrates 60th Birthday of actress Sridevi
• Google Doodle celebrates actress Sridevi’s 60th birthday.
• The illustration was designed by Mumbai-based artist Bhumika Mukherjee.
• Born in 1963 in Tamil Nadu, Sridevi was barely four years old when she made her debut with
Thunaivan, where she played a cameo as Lord Muruga.
• She faced the camera as a child artiste in movies like Kandan Karunai and Nam Naadu among
others.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suspended from Lok Sabha over 'Misconduct'
• Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was suspended from Lok Sabha for "repeated
misconduct" pending an investigation by the privileges committee.
• Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is the leader of the Congress party, which is the largest party in the
opposition in Lok Sabha.

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• The matter will be further referred to the Committee of Privileges for further investigation.
NADA: Jadeja most tested Indian cricketer so far in 2023
• Ravindra Jadeja gave dope samples thrice between January and May this year, making him the
most-tested cricketer during this period
• Altogether 55 cricketers male and female, 58 samples underwent dope testing in the first five
months of this year
• In 2021 and 2022, Rohit was the most tested cricketer with three samples each, according to NADA
data of the two years.
World Professional Wrestling Hub Appoints Sangram Singh as BA
• World Professional Wrestling Hub (WPWH) proudly announces the launch of its groundbreaking
venture in the world of professional wrestling in India and beyond.
• Wrestling, known as kushti in India, holds a significant place in the country's culture
• The WPWH has appointed the esteemed Sh. Sangram Singh as the Brand Ambassador for their
new wrestling venture.
Krishan B Pathak completes 100 international matches
• Hockey India on Monday congratulated Indian Men's Hockey Team goalkeeper Krishan B Pathak
for earning his 100th international cap.
• The goalkeeper, who hails from Kapurthala, Punjab, achieved the feat during India's fourth match
of the Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 against Korea at the iconic Mayor Radhakrishnan
Stadium.
Northern Army Command complimented Aasha Malviya, Cyclist
• Northern Army Command officials complimented Aasha Malviya, a national athlete and
mountaineer, who is on her mission across India to spread awareness on women's safety and
empowerment.
• She commenced her cycling trip from Bhopal
• She started on the foundation day of Madhya Pradesh and will be terminating it in Delhi on
Independence Day, spreading her voice over 25,000 km

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Science and Technology Current Affairs

ISRO-developed device for fishers' safety tested at Neendakara
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a significant milestone by
successfully testing its innovative device named 'Nabhmitra'.
• 'Nabhmitra' enables two-way messaging services from and to the sea.
• Weather and cyclone warnings will be communicated in the local language.
• The control centre will receive the alert including the location of the boat.
Pragyan rover confirms sulphur at moon’s south pole
• Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan rover confirms presence of sulphur on the moon's surface near the
south pole.
• Indian Space Research Organisation reports that the rover is still searching for hydrogen on the
lunar surface.
• The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument onboard Chandrayaan-3's rover
made in-situ measurements on the elemental composition of the lunar surface.
CSIR-CMERI developed compact Electric Tractor- CSIR PRIMA ET11
• Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) has designed and developed the CSIR
PRIMA ET11, a compact electric tractor catering to the needs of small farmers.
• The CSIR PRIMA ET11 is manufactured using indigenous components and technologies, ensuring
self-reliance.
• The tractor can be charged using a conventional home charging socket and has a battery life of
over 3000 cycles.
Meta to launch AI model for writing computer codes
• Meta Platforms said it would release an artificial intelligence (AI) model designed to assist in
writing computer code, furthering its push into the new technology.
• Code Llama, which will be available for free, can write code based on human text prompts and
can also be used for code completion and debugging.
Pragyan Rover of India's Chandrayaan-3 takes walk on moon
• Pragyan rover of Chandrayaan-3 has rolled down on the Lunar surface. ISRO has said that Made
in India and Made for the Moon rover Pragyan has ramped down from the Lander and India took
a walk on the moon.
• This signifies a giant leap in the Indian space programme.
• It shows the world that India landed first near Lunar south pole.
CSIR- NIScPR publishes special issue of Journal on Nanobiotechnology
• CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR) published a
special issue in Journal on the theme, “Biological Electron Microscopy and Nanobiotechnology”
in the India.

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• CSIR-NIScPR publishes 16 journals in various STI disciplines, and all of them are indexed by
reputed national/international agencies like the Science Citation Index (Web of Science).
Scientists discover new salamander species in mountain lake of Manipur
• A new species of salamander, Tylototriton zaimeng, has been discovered by Indian and Russian
scientists in the mountain lakes of Manipur.
• The new species has been named after Zaimeng, a mountain lake located atop the Khongtheng
mountain range in the Kangpokpi district of the state.
• The habitat of Tylototriton zaimeng is confined to the Khongtheng mountain range in Manipur.
Indian Scientist finds way to improve Nanomechanical Testing precision
• Indian scientist develops a new method to test nanomechanical properties of materials at very
minute scales with high precision and accuracy.
• The new methodology enables faster testing of the mechanical strength of extremely small
volumes of materials for a wide range of fields from medicine to space.
• The nanoindentation technique was invented by Dr Warren Oliver &/ Dr John Pethica in 1980.
Russia Launches Luna-25 mission to Moon
• A rocket carrying a lunar landing craft blasted off from Russia.
• It is Russia's first moon mission in nearly 50 years.
• A rocket carrying a lunar landing craft blasted off Friday on Russia's first moon mission in nearly
50 years.
• The lander is expected to touch down on the moon on August 21
IoT-based automated soil testing & advisory platform launched
• In a significant development for agricultural technology, a revolutionary IoT-based automated
soil testing and agronomy advisory platform, Bhu-Vision (also known as KRISHI-RASTAA Soil
Testing System) was officially launched at AICRP (ICAR-IIRR), Hyderabad.
• The KRISHI-RASTAA Soil Testing System represents a new era in precision agriculture.

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Sports Current Affairs

McGahey to become first transgender to play international cricket
• Danielle McGahey of Canada will become the first transgender cricketer to play in an
international match.
• McGahey, an opening batter, has been selected in Canada's women's squad for the next month's
qualifying tournament after she fulfilled ICC's eligibility criteria for male-to-female transgender
players.
• The qualifying tournament will be played in Los Angeles from September 4 to 11.
India win inaugural Women's Asian Hockey 5s World Cup Qualifier
• India won the Women's Asian Hockey 5s World Cup Qualifier by defeating Thailand 7-2 in the
final.
• Mariana Kujur and Jyoti scored two goals each for India in the final.
• Monika Dipi Toppo, Navjot Kaur, and Mahima Choudhary were the other goal scorers for India.
• With the win, India qualified for the Hockey 5s World Cup to be held in Muscat 2024.
Neeraj Chopra becomes first Indian to win gold at World Athletics
• Neeraj Chopra made history by becoming the first-ever Indian athlete to secure a gold medal at
the World Athletics Championships held in Budapest, Hungary.
• He recorded a stellar throw of 88.17 meters during his second attempt.
• Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem won silver medal.
• The third spot on the podium was secured by Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic.
Indian women’s blind cricket team wins gold in IBSA World Games
• Indian women's blind cricket team made history by winning the gold medal at the IBSA World
Games.
• The women's cricket team defeated Australia by 9 wickets in the finals.
• India's men's blind cricket team will play against Pakistan in the finals of the IBSA World Games.
• The team became the first-ever cricket winners at the IBSA World Games.
HS Prannoy wins bronze at BWF World Championship 2023
• Prannoy won a bronze medal for India by beating World Number 2 Viktor Axelsen in the
quarterfinals.
• Prannoy is currently ranked 7th in the world.
• India has won one gold, four silvers, and nine bronze medals at the tournament.
• China is the most successful team in the history of the BWF World Championships.
• The Championships were held from August 21 to 27 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
MoYAS allows 634 athletes to take part in Asian Games
• Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has sanctioned 634 athletes across 38 sporting
disciplines for participation in the upcoming Asian Games, who met the set selection criteria,
against the 850 athletes recommended by the Indian Olympic Association.

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• A total of 572 athletes participated in the last edition of Asian Games in 2018 where India returned
with 70 medals including 16 Golds.
Indian women bag free pistol gold
• The women’s free pistol team helped India sign off from the World shooting championship on a
golden note in Baku, Azerbaijan.
• India wound up second on the medals’ table with six gold and eight bronze medals.
• China was on top with 15 gold, seven silver and six bronze.
• USA was third with five gold, two silver and a bronze.
India win 50m pistol women's team gold medal
• The Indian 50m pistol women's team containing Tiyana, Sakshi Suryavanshi and Kirandeep Kaur
bagged the gold medal at the ISSF World Championships 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
• Tiyana and Ravinder Singh of India won bronze medals in the men's and women's individual
events, respectively.
• With the addition of medals, India’s overall tally rose to 14, six gold and eight bronze.
India’s Praggnanandhaa finishes 2nd at the Chess World Cup 2023
• Magnus Carlsen finally managed to win the FIDE World Cup for the first time in his career.
• He defeated India’s Praggnanandhaa
• Pragg, was the youngest World Cup finalist ever, and is the youngest World Cup winner.
• Seeded 31, Pragg is also the lowest seed to make the final of the World Cup.
Arunachal Pradesh League launched in New Delhi
• A new ball game aims to replicate the cheers of the fans in the North East, from the football fields
to the cricket pitch.
• Arunachal Pradesh League has been launched in New Delhi.
• It has the support of BCCI, Arunachal Cricket Association, and various State bodies, aiming to
give cricket a much-needed boost in the hills.
• It will feature five teams playing 13 matches.
Indian shooter Amanpreet Singh clinches gold in Men's 25 metre event
• Indian shooter Amanpreet Singh won the gold medal in the Men’s 25-metre pistol shooting event
at the ISSF World Championship 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
• Gunhyeok Lee from South Korea won silver, while Kevin Chapon from France won bronze.
• The Indian team finished in 4th position with a combined total of 1,695 points.
• India has won a total of nine medals at the ISSF World Championship 2023.
Indian junior women’s hockey team finishes 3rd at Four Nations Event
• The Indian junior women's hockey team secured a dominant 6-2 victory against England to claim
the third spot in the 4 Nations Tournament - Dusseldorf 2023.
• Neelam converted a penalty corner successfully in the second quarter to level the score, and Annu
doubled India's lead with a field goal.

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• England scored their second goal of the match through Charlotte Bingham in the 54th minute.
Khelo India Women’s League to be renamed as Asmita Women’s League
• The Khelo India Women's League has been renamed the "Asmita Women's League" to promote
gender equality in sports.
• Asmita stands for "Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action".
• The new name embodies the spirit of resilience, determination, and achievement that defines
women athletes.
• The League is a significant step towards the digital transformation of Indian sports.
Anurag Thakur inaugurates 33 Khelo India Centres across Rajasthan
• Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports inaugurated 33 Khelo India Centres in Rajasthan.
• A National Center of Excellence with a dedicated Sports Science Centre will be set up in
Rajasthan.
• Additional 18 Khelo India centres will be set up in Rajasthan, taking the total number to 51.
• Coaching the Coaches programme will also be extended to the Khelo India Center.
India strike first ever gold in World Para Powerlifting Championships
• India clinched two remarkable medals on the inaugural day of the World Para Powerlifting
Championships held in Dubai.
• Honey Dabas seized the coveted Gold Medal on the opening day of the championship.
• Rahul Jograjiya secured the Silver Medal under the 72 KG Junior weight category.
• 21 athletes from India are participating in the World Para Powerlifting Championships.
Malaysian Superbike Championship 2023: Double Podium for Geoffrey E
• India’s Geoffrey Emmanuel marked his debut in the Malaysian Superbike Championship 2023 with
podium finishes in both races astride a Honda CBR 250 machine at the Sepang International
Circuit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• The 18-year-old from Chennai took part in the 250cc category (A Class) of the championship.
• Geoffrey (Gusto Racing India) finished third overall.
CEAT Cricket Rating Awards: Shubman Gill & Deepti Sharma wins big
• The 2023 CEAT Cricket Rating (CCR) awards recognized outstanding achievements in cricket.
• The winners included Madan Lal and Karsan Ghavri for Lifetime Achievement.
• Shubman Gill as Men’s International Cricketer and ODI Batter of the Year.
• Deepti Sharma received the Women’s International Cricketer of the Year award.
India secures Second Rank at 16th IOAA in Chorzów, Poland
• With Four Gold and One Silver Medals, India has secured Second Rank at the 16th International
Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) in Chorzów, Poland held from the 10 to the 20
of August 2023.
• The United Kingdom clinched the lead with five Golds.

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• The team was led by Prof. Surhud More from IUCAA, Pune, and Pritesh Ranadive from HBCSE-
TIFR, Mumbai.
R Praggnanandhaa Second Indian to reach semifinals in FIDE World Cup
• R Praggnanandhaa, the first Indian after Vishwanthan Anand to reach the semifinals of the FIDE
World Cup, drew against his higher-ranked opponent Fabiano Caruana, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
• In other semi-final,Magnus Carlsen defeated Nijat Abasov in the first game with white pieces.
• Out of four Indians, who had made it to the quarterfinals, Praggnanandhaa remains the only
Indian in the fray.
India clinch mixed team air pistol gold in ISSF World Championship
• Esha Singh and Shiva Narwal brought cheers to the India camp, clinching the 10m air pistol mixed
team gold by defeating Turkey in the final of the ISSF World Championship at Baku, Azerbaijan.
• The Indian duo defeated the Turkish pair of Ilayda Tarhan and Yusuf Dikec 16-10 in the gold-
medal match to take the country's medals tally to two.
• India are currently placed second on the medals table
Coco Gauff bests Karolina Muchova in Cincinnati to win first WTA 1000
• The World No.6 Coco Gauff overpowered No.17 Karolina Muchova 6-3, 6-4 in the final to clinch
the Cincinnati Masters title with a straight sets victory, winning her second hard-court title of the
summer and third of the season.
• Having won Auckland in January and Washington D.C. two weeks ago, Gauff is now the first
teenager to win three titles in a season since Bianca Andreescu in 2019.
Tamil Nadu International Surf Open QS 3000
• Japanese duo Sara Wakita and Tenshi Iwami have claimed victories at the inaugural Tamil Nadu
International Surf Open World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 3,000 event.
• It was a historic day of competition as the pair overcame a huge international field to win the
first-ever WSL event in India as Mahabalipuram Beach turned on pumping three-foot surf for
Finals Day.
India finished the Archery World Cup 2023 stage 4 with five medals
• India finished the Archery World Cup 2023 stage 4 with five medals including two gold and three
bronze in Paris.
• The Indian women’s compound archery team of Aditi Gopichand Swami, Jyothi Surekha Vennam
and Parneet Kaur secured a gold medal.
• Earlier this month, the same trio had teamed up to win a gold at the Archery World
Championships in Berlin.
India''s Anahat Singh clinches gold in Asian Junior Squash
• India's Anahat Singh clinched the gold medal in the U-17 category of the Asian Junior Squash
Championships, held in Dalian, China.
• She defeated Hong Kong's Ena Kwong 3-1 in the final.

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• She also has a bronze medal win, at Macau in the U-13 category in 2019.
• She also represented India in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, becoming the
youngest Indian athlete at 14 in the competition.
Spain beat England 1-0 to become Women's World Cup champions
• Spain's women's football team won the World Cup 2023 for the first time after beating England
1-0 in Sydney, Australia on 20 August 2023.
• Spain's Olga Carmona scored the winner goal against England.
• Spain is the first European side to win the tournament since Germany in 2007, and one of only
two nations to have won both the men's and women's World Cup.
ICC unveils two mascots for ODI World Cup 2023
• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled its mascots for the upcoming World Cup
2023.
• The mascots represent the spirit and unity that cricket promotes across the globe.
• The event was attended by ICC U-19 women’s and men’s winning captains Shefali Verma and
Yash Dhull.
• The mascots, a male and a female, originate from a distant cricket paradise called the
Crictoverse.
Antim becomes 1st Indian wrestler to win back-to-back U20 world title
• Antim Panghal made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win back-to-back
U20 world titles.
• Savita also became a world champion as the Indian women team won the team title for the first
time in the history of the sport.
• Priya Malik won the 76kg title on 18 August 2023.
• Seven wrestlers from India won medals, including three gold medals, one silver, and three bronze.
Sweden beats Australia 2-0 to win bronze medal at Women's World Cup
• Sweden won the bronze medal at Women's World Cup with a 2-0 win over Australia.
• Fridolina Rolfo and Kosovare Asllani scored two goals for Sweden.
• Sweden has a perfect record in World Cup third-place matches, winning four in a row.
• The tournament was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
• Two of Australia's matches became the most-watched programs on domestic commercial TV in
20 years.
Indian compound archers strike gold twice at World Cup Stage 4
• Indian archers won both men's and women's team gold medals in the World Cup Stage 4.
• The Indian men's compound team defeated the American trio by four points.
• India now has two gold and two bronze from the last World Cup of the season.
• The Indian men's compound team eliminated Korea in the semi-final.
• The Indian women's team got the top billing by topping the qualifiers.

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Rana Pratap bags Jharkhand's 1st gold at 49th Jr. Aquatic Championship
• Rana Pratap helped Jharkhand bag their first individual gold medal at the 39th Sub Junior and
49th Junior National Aquatic Championships 2023 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• He won with a sensational swim in the 200m breaststroke for group I boys.
• Vidith S Shankar of Karnataka won the silver medal in the 200m breaststroke for group I boys at
the same championships.
Man City wins UEFA Super Cup by beating Sevilla
• Manchester City marked its first appearance in the UEFA Super Cup by beating Sevilla 5-4 in a
penalty shootout to add another piece of silverware to its vast haul under manager Pep
Guardiola.
• It was a 15th trophy won by City in Guardiola’s reign that started in 2016 and made up for the loss
to Arsenal in a penalty shootout in the Community Shield 10 days ago.
Indian men's 10m air pistol team clinches bronze
• The Indian men's 10-metre air pistol team of Shiva Narwal, Sarabjot Singh and Arjun Singh
Cheema secured a bronze medal at the ongoing International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF)
World Championship held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
• Shiva top scored for India with 579 points and was followed by Sarabjot (578 points) and Arjun
Singh (577 points).
Archery World Cup 2023: India’s recurve teams win bronze medals
• The Indian men’s and women’s recurve teams won bronze medals to open India’s account at the
Archery World Cup 2023 stage 4 in Paris, France.
• While the men’s archery team got the better of Spain 6-2 in the bronze medal match, the women’s
team beat Mexico in the shoot-off after scores were tied 4-4 at the end of the fourth set.
Priya Malik wins Gold medal at Under20 World Wrestling Championships
• Indian grappler Priya Malik won a Gold medal at the 2023 U20 World Wrestling Championships
in Jordan.
• She became the second woman wrestler from India to be crowned U20 world championship.
• Antim Panghal had been the first woman from India to win a junior world title in wrestling at the
2022 edition.
• She beat Laura Celine Kuehn of Germany by 5-0 in the women's 76kg freestyle wrestling final.
ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings 2023: Suryakumar retains top spot
• Suryakumar Yadav retained the top spot in ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings, released on 17 August
2023.
• Shubman Gill rises 43 spots to equal 25th on the same list following his 102 runs for the series
against the West Indies.
• India’s left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav has progressed 23 places to 28th position after
grabbing two wickets in the fourth match.

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Seema Bisla handed 1-year ban for whereabouts failure

• Tokyo Olympian and 2021 Asian Championships bronze medallist wrestler Seema Bisla has been
handed a one-year ban by the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of the NADA for "whereabouts
failure".
• The ADDP passed the order of banning the 30-year-old Seema on July 21.
• Seema had won a bronze in women's freestyle 50kg class in the 2021 Asian Championships in
Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Indian air pistol team clinches bronze in World Championship
• The Indian men’s 10m air pistol team, comprising Shiva Narwal, Sarabjot Singh, and Arjun Singh
Cheema, won a bronze medal in the ISSF World Championship.
• The World Championship is also the qualification tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Mohit Kumar creates history by becoming U20 World Wrestling champion
• Wrestler Mohit Kumar made history by winning the U20 World Wrestling Championships.
• He defeated Eldar Akhmadudinov 9-8 in the 61-kg freestyle event in Jordan.
• He is the 4th male Indian wrestler to win gold in the U20 World Championships after Palwinder
Cheema, Ramesh Kumar, and Deepak Punia.
• Antim Panghal is the only woman to have won a gold medal at the U20 World Wrestling
Championships.
Woakes named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2023
• England all-rounder Chris Woakes was named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2023
on 15 August 2023.
• The Englishman beat compatriot Zak Crawley and Netherlands’ Bas de Leede to claim the
honour.
• He bagged the Player-of-the-Match at the Oval and was also named the Player-of-the-Series for
his 19 wickets in three matches at an average of 18.15.
Ashleigh Gardner becomes 1st Australian to win consecutive ICC awards
• Ashleigh Gardner has become the first-ever Australian cricketer to win the ICC Player of the
Month award in consecutive months.
• Gardner won the ICC POTM award for July 2023 with her exceptional performances.
• Gardner beat fellow all-rounders Ellyse Perry and Nat Sciver-Brunt to the title.
• This marked the fourth time Gardner has won the coveted monthly award.
English pacer Steven Finn retires from all forms of cricket
• England pacer Steven Finn officially announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on
15 August 2023.
• Finn has had a decent career with England, having featured in 36 Tests, 69 One-Day
Internationals and 21 T20 Internationals.

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• Making his debut in 2010, he grabbed 14 wickets during the 2010-11 Ashes, which his side famously
won 3-1 in Australia.
Jannik Sinner clinches maiden Canadian Open title
• Jannik Sinner broke new ground in Toronto when he captured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title
at the Canadian Open, defeating Alex de Minaur in the summit clash.
• He broke the Australian's serve five times to become only the second Italian Masters 1000
champion since the series began in 1990, joining Fabio Fognini (Monte-Carlo 2019).
India climbs to number 3 in FIH Men's Hockey Rankings
• Indian men's hockey team jumped to the third spot in FIH Men's Hockey World Rankings following
their Asian Champions Trophy title win.
• At the second position is FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2023 runners-up
Belgium with 2917.87 points. The rankings are topped by three-time World
Champions Netherlands with 3095.90 points.
• The Dutch have also won the FIH Men's Hockey Pro League this year.
India beat Malaysia 4-3 to win Asian Champions Trophy for fourth time
• India has won the fourth Asian Champions Trophy hockey title with a 4-3 win over Malaysia in
Chennai, Tamilnadu.
• India is the most successful team in the history of the tournament.
• Kim Jaehyeon from Korea was awarded the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament award.
• Mandeep Singh was awarded the 'Player of the Tournament' with a total of three goals in seven
matches.
Khelo India junior women's hockey league 3rd edition kicks off
• The third edition of Khelo India Junior’s Women’s Hockey League was launched at the Major
Dhyan Chand stadium, New Delhi.
• Arjuna Award winner and 1972 Olympics bronze medalist Ashok Dhyanchand was the chief guest.
• A total of 13 teams around India are competing in the tournament which started today and will
go on until 22 August 2023.
Neeraj Chopra to lead 28-member Indian team in WAC
• Neeraj Chopra will once again headline India's campaign in the World Athletics Championships
beginning on August 19 in Budapest, Hungary, with the country fielding a 28-member team.
• The Sports Ministry announced the team instead of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), which
later said that most of the participating athletes have already reached Hungary to get used to
the weather.
Aditi Swami becomes 1st Indian to clinch individual World Title
• Aditi Swami created history by becoming the first-ever Indian to clinch the individual World Title
at the World Archery Championships in Berlin.

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• Less than two months after clinching the junior world title, Aditi, became the senior world
champion when she defeated Andrea Becerra of Mexico.
• With the win, the Satara teenager became the first Indian world champion in an individual event.
Prarthana Thombare clinches women's doubles title in Barcelona, Spain
• Prarthana Thombare has clinched the doubles title at the women's tennis hardcourt event in
Barcelona, Spain.
• The Asian Games bronze medallist, combined with Russian Anastasia Tikhonova, edged out
France’s Estelle Cascino and Latvia’s Diana Marcinkevica 3-6, 6-1, 10-7 in the final.
• It is the 2nd title of the year and 26th overall for Prarthana.
Pramod Bhagat and Sukant Kadam won a gold medal in SL3-SL4 category
• World No. 1 men's doubles pair of Pramod Bhagat and Sukant Kadam won a gold medal in SL3-
SL4 category in the Four Nations Para-Badminton International- 2023 in Sheffield, England,
defeating compatriots Deep Ranjan Bisoyee and Manoj Sarkar 21-17 21-17.
• Bhagat also secured a silver in the singles SL3 category, as also a silver in mixed doubles SL3-
SU5 category with Manisha Ramdass.
Weng Hongyang of China defeats India’s H.S. Prannoy in Australia Open
• In the Australia Open Badminton in Sydney, India's ace shuttler HS Prannoy was unable to
emulate his Malaysia Masters form after being beaten by Weng Hong Yang of China in the
summit clash of the Australian Open.
• India’s H.S. Prannoy has lost to Weng Hongyang of China in the Men’s singles by 9-21,23-21,20-22.
Arsenal lift FA Community Shield 2023
• Premier League 2022-23 runners-up, Arsenal, started the new season with a bang, beating last
season's treble-winner Manchester City 4-1 on penalties to lift the FA Community Shield.
• The match went to penalties after the two sides were locked at 1-1 at the end of regulation and
extra time at Wembley.
Stefanos Tsitsipas clinches first title of season
• Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas overcame a spirited comeback from Alex de Minaur to
capture the ATP 250 title at Los Cabos
• As per ATP, Tsitsipas clinched the 10th title of his career by defeating Minaur by 6-3, 6-4.
• With this win, he also perfected his head-to-head record against Minaur to 10-0.
AIFF signs Subroto Cup MoU to promote youth football
• Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society (SMSES) today signed MoU with the All India
Football Federation (AIFF) to promote football at the grassroots level.
• SMSES has been conducting the Subroto Cup International Football Tournament since 1960.
• It will form a Subroto XI team under Junior Boys (Under-17).
• Clubs from different Leagues will also pick up players from the Subroto Cup.
Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon retires from football

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• Gianluigi Buffon, the Italian goalkeeper, has retired from football at the age of 45.
• He lifted the World Cup in 2006 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest keepers of all time.
• He is the most capped goalkeeper of all time, having played 176 times for Italy.
• He retired from international football in 2018 after Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup
in Russia.
Rajnath Singh inaugurates 132nd Durand Cup in Kokrajhar, Assam
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates the 132nd Durand Cup in Kokrajhar, Assam on 5
August 2023.
• The ceremony included a flypast by Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft and Mi-17 helicopter, martial displays,
Gatka and Bhangra.
• The event will feature 43 matches, including 36 league matches, four quarter-final matches, two
semi-finals, and a final match on September 3.
England cricketer Alex Hales announces international retirement
• Alex Hales, the opening batter for England, has announced his retirement from international
cricket at the age of 34.
• He played 11 Test matches, 70 ODIs and 75 T20Is for England and scored 2419 runs at an average
of 37.79 and a strike rate of 95.72 in ODIs.
• Hales scored 2074 runs at a strike rate of 138.35 and average of 30.95 in T20Is.
Ex-Nepal captain Gyanendra Malla retires from international cricket
• Gyanendra Malla, former captain of the Nepal national cricket team, announced his retirement
from national and international cricket.
• Malla scored 876 runs in ODIs and 883 runs in T20Is, including one century and two fifties.
• In T20Is, his highest score is 107 against Bhutan in 2019, which is Nepal's second-highest individual
score in the format.
• He made his international debut in 2014.
Indian women’s compound team wins historic gold medal
• The Indian women's compound team of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Parneet Kaur and Aditi
Gopichand Swami bagged the gold medal at the World Archery Championships 2023 in Berlin.
• It was India’s first-ever gold at the archery world championships in any category.
• The Indian three defeated the Mexican combination of Dafne Quintero, Ana Sofa Hernandez
Jeon, and Andrea Becerra 235-229.
D Gukesh overtakes V. Anand as India's top-ranked chess player
• D. Gukesh has surpassed Viswanathan Anand as India's top chess player in the live world rankings.
• Gukesh achieved a live rating of 2755.9 after defeating Mistradin Iskandarov in the FIDE World
Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan.
• Anand, who has held the top spot for 37 years, dropped to tenth place with a score of 2754.0.
• Gukesh is now ranked ninth in the classic open category.

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Manoj Tiwary announces retirement from all forms of cricket

• Former India batsman Manoj Tiwary announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
• Tiwary, who played 12 ODIs and three T20Is between 2008 and 2015, ventured into politics even
while he remained an active cricketer, and became a minister of state for sports and youth affairs
in West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjees state cabinet.
• He made his debut under Deep Dasgupta in 2004.
132nd Edition of Durand Cup set to commence on August 3
• The 132nd edition of the Durand Cup, one of India's most prestigious football tournaments, is set
to begin in Kolkata on 3 Aug 2023.
• The event will feature 43 matches, including 36 league matches, four quarter-final matches, two
semi-finals, and a final match on September 3.
• The tournament will see 24 football teams from diverse regions of India, including two teams from
Bangladesh & Nepal.
India records highest ODI opening partnership in West Indies
• India, on 1 August 2023, recorded their highest opening partnership in an ODI cricket against West
Indies.
• Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan set the record by scoring a 143-run stand in the third ODI against
West Indies in Tarouba.
• The previous record (132 runs) was set by Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane in an ODI against
West Indies in Port of Spain in 2017.
Alexander Zverev beats Laslo Djere in Hamburg European Open
• Alexander Zverev won the Hamburg European Open for the first time by beating Laslo Djere 7-5,
6-3.
• It’s the 26-year-old Zverev’s first title since winning in Turin, Italy, in November 2021 and he
achieved it without dropping a set at his hometown tournament.
• Dutch player Arantxa Rus won the women's title.
Bedabrate Bharali wins gold in men's Youth 67kg category
• Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship 2023 kick-started on July 27 at the Gautam
Buddha University in Greater Noida, India
• Bedabrate Bharali etched his name in the history books by winning a gold medal in Men's Youth
category
• He had earlier bagged gold in the Snatch category and silver in the Clean and Jerk category.
• Bedabrate Bharali wins Gold Medal in Men's Youth 67kg category
Jasprit Bumrah to lead Team India for Ireland T20
• Jasprit Bumrah will lead Team India for Ireland T20. Bumrah has returned to international cricket
after a long injury layoff.

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• The BCCI's senior selection committee announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming three-
match T20I series against Ireland to be played in Dublin from the 18th of August.

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