Correct Answer :   12th April 2023

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Veteran film and television actress Uttara Baokar passed away at 79 in Pune, Maharashtra on Wednesday morning, 12th April 2023.

* In 1984, she won India's National Academy for Acting, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

* She also appeared in Marathi films like Doghi (1995) with Sadashiv Amrapurkar and Renuka Daftardar, Uttarayan (2005), Shevri (2006), and Restaurant (2006), with Sonali Kulkarni.

* She has played various roles in different plays such as Padmavati in Mukyhamantri and Mena in Mena Gurjari.

* The veteran actress has appeared in popular TV shows like Udaan, Antaral, X Zone, Rishtey Kora Kaagaz, Nazarana, Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin, Kashmakash Zindagi Ki and Jabb Love Hua.

Born : 1944
Died : 12 April 2023.

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   10,000 Metric Tonnes

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India on Thursday (13th April 2023) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Food Programme (WFP) paving the way for sending 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat for the people of Afghanistan.

* The signing ceremony between officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and the United Nations WFP was held in Mumbai where the WFP assured that it had the required infrastructure on the ground to ensure speedy delivery of wheat to the most vulnerable sections of the Afghan population.

* “The fifth tranche [to be shipped through the Chahbahar port of Iran], builds upon assistance already delivered to those who need it most by the WFP in Afghanistan.

* India has delivered on its commitment, standing by the historical relations between the people of the two countries and the pressing needs on the ground,” said Joint Secretary of PAI division, Ministry of External Affairs, J.P. Singh.

* The WFP said it had a “massive supply chain” and logistics infrastructure in Afghanistan that could help in ensuring that the food supply reached “those who need it the most and no one is excluded.”

* Thursday’s (13th April 2023) MoU follows from the Indian declaration made last month at the India Central Asia Joint Working Group on Afghanistan saying that 20,000 MT of wheat would be sent through the Iranian port of Chahbahar. The decision indicated that India would not send humanitarian assistance such as food and medicines to Afghanistan through the transit route over Pakistan...

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Fasal

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* Agri-tech company "Fasal" on Thursday (13th April 2023) announced its partnership with State Bank of India (SBI), 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.

* This ties into Fasal’s larger objective of solving the many challenges across the entire horticulture value chain, thereby paving the way for India’s horticultural transformation..

Source : Economic Times

Correct Answer :   ATL

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Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) have come together to promote innovation in the agricultural sector among school students across India.

* The two government bodies have agreed to connect Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) and Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMAs) under the initiative.

* The collaboration is a result of the vision of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi who seeded this idea during a conversation and proposed to connect the ATLs with the KVKs across the country. The Prime Minister also suggested both the government bodies to look into the idea of linking soil testing labs to ATL schools.

* KVKs function as a "Single Window Agricultural Knowledge Resource and Capacity Development Centre," and this collaboration will provide numerous stakeholders with necessary information, training, and inputs. KVKs, in partnership with ATMA, will collaborate with nearby ATLs to support agricultural-related innovation.

* During the first phase of the implementation, one KVK under each of the 11 Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) will be involved, providing technology backstopping and facilitating knowledge-sharing and skill-building exercises.

* KVK experts will also undertake need-based visits to nearby ATLs, while KVKs will provide literature, seeds, planting materials, and other inputs as required. The pilot project will be extended after assessing the positive outcomes after two years...

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Parshottam Rupala

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Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala will be launching the “Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative (APPI)” as well as the World Bank funded Animal Health System Support for One Health (AHSSOH) project under the aegis of National One Health Mission tomorrow i.e.on 14th of April 2023  at India Habitat Center, New Delhi.

Aim : To create an ecosystem for a better animal health management system using the One Health approach

* The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has inked a collaborative project on the Animal Health System Support for One Health (AHSSOH).

* The project will be implemented in five States and it envisages improving capacity building of stakeholders involved in animal health and disease management.

* The project calls for participation by Human Health, Forest and Environment Department at the national, regional as well as local for creating and strengthening the One Health architecture including community engagement.

* The Project Aim : To cover 151 districts in five participating states, wherein it will target upgradation of 75 district/regional laboratories, upgradation/strengthening of 300 veterinary hospitals/dispensaries, aims to train 9000 para-veterinarians/diagnostic professionals and 5500 veterinary professionals.

* In addition to the above, the awareness campaign on prevention of zoonotic diseases and pandemic preparedness at community level by reaching out to six lakh households.

* The collaborative project will be implemented over a five-year period as Central sector scheme with a financial provision of Rs. 1228.70 Cr.

* In addition to this the project will develop an ecosystem for continuous training of veterinarians and para-veterinarians on innovative disease management practices apart from networking laboratories and integrating disease reporting system for enhanced surveillance of zoonotic and other animal diseases. These foundational activities will help in preparedness for pandemic diseases that impact animals.

The key activities under APPI which are at different stages of execution are as follows :

* Defined joint investigation and outbreak response teams (National & state)
* Design an overall integrated disease surveillance system (built on National Digital Livestock Mission)
* Strengthening the Regulatory system (e.g., Nandi online portal and Field trial guidelines)
* Creating disease modelling algorithms and early warning systems
* Strategizing Disaster Mitigation with National Disaster Management Authority
* Initiate targeted R&D to develop vaccines/diagnostics/therapies for priority diseases
* Build genomic and environmental surveillance methods to improve the timeliness and sensitivity of disease detection.

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Pushkar Singh Dhami

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The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Mr. Pushkar Singh Dhami launched ‘A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) programme in the State of Uttarakhand.

* Addressing the gathering at Survey of India Auditorium Dehradun, Mr. Pushkar Singh Dhami, said that women have played a pivotal role in formulation and holistic development of livestock sector especially in Uttarakhand.

* Implementation of various schemes being run by state and central government is not possible without active participation of women. Already mid-day meal and vaccination program are being successfully operated by ‘ASHAS’/women in anganwadis and schools.

* In this context, women have been chosen to strengthen livestock related activities in remote rural areas, keeping in mind their important role for the same under A-HELP scheme, envisioned by Govt. of India.

* Under this program trained A-HELPs will give their vital contribution in preventing various infectious diseases of animals, artificial insemination under Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), tagging of animals and animal insurance.

* He further said that “it will be an incomparable example of incorporation and involvement of women power, for socio-economic upliftment as per vision of the  Prime Minister of India ,Shri Narendra Modi Ji..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Bengaluru

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Bengaluru will soon have India’s first post office constructed using 3D printing technology. The project at Cambridge Layout in Ulsoor is being implemented by Larsen & Toubro, which has experience in constructing 3D-printed buildings.

* According to S Rajendra Kumar, chief postmaster general of the Karnataka circle, the Ulsoor Bazaar post office is being relocated to Cambridge Layout.

Aim : To reduce the construction cost. The 1,100 sqft building is expected to cost 30-40 per cent less than conventional buildings because of the technological intervention.

* The post office is being built at a cost of Rs 23 lakh.

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Solar Energy Corporation of India

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State-owned Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI) has got the status of Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE).

* A communication to this effect has been issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, a ministry statement said on Wednesday.

* The SECI has been accorded the status of Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) on Monday (10th April, 2023), it stated.

* Incorporated in the year 2011, SECI is the primary implementing agency for renewable energy schemes/projects of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy towards fulfilment of India's international commitments.

* Till date, SECI has awarded Renewable Energy (RE) project capacities of over 56 GW.

* SECI is also active in setting up of projects through its own investments as well as for other public sector entities as Project Management Consultant (PMC).  SECI enjoys highest credit rating of AAA by domestic rating agency ICRA..

Source : Outlook India

Correct Answer :   Kolkata

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Kolkata Metro on Wednesday (12th April 2023) achieved a new milestone when a Metro rake completed a journey under the bed of river Hooghly through a tunnel 32 metres below water level.  

* P. Uday Kumar Reddy, General Manager, Metro Railway, travelled from Mahakaran to Howrah Maidan station in Rake No. MR-612 to witness this historic event.

* This rake crossed river Hooghly at 11:55 hrs. H.N. Jaiswal Additional General Manager, Metro Railway and MD, KMRCL [Kolkata Metro Railway Corporation Limited] as well as other senior officers of Metro Railway and KMRCL accompanied him during this journey, a press statement by Metro Railway, Kolkata said.

* General Manager Reddy offered puja at Howrah station once the Metro rake reached there.

* Describing the development as a “historic event’ Mr. Reddy informed that the trial runs from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade will be conducted for the next seven months and after that regular services on this stretch will begin. It is expected that commercial services on this stretch will begin this year.

* Two Metro rakes had been taken to Howrah Maidan station from Esplanade station, for the trial runs along the 4.8-km underground section from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade.

* Tunnels under the bed of river Hooghly, 32 metres below the water level, are considered an engineering marvel and are part of East West Metro Project that aims to connect Howrah Maidan with Rajarhat along the 16.6-km route.

* The process of laying the tunnel was completed in 2017. The underwater tunnels will connect Kolkata and Howrah with a Metro station at Howrah which will be the deepest Metro station (33 metres below surface) of the country. The Metro is expected to cover the 520-metre stretch under the river Hooghly in a span of 45 seconds.

* At present about 9.1 km of the East West Metro line from Salt Lake Sector V to Sealdah is operational. Services of East West Metro Railway was started in phases with first phase in February 2020 and the latest in July 2022.

* With this historic operation of the metro, India's Kolkata city has joined cities like London, Paris, New York, Shanghai and Cairo where this type of metro is used.

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Jagan Mohan Reddy

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According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR),  Andhra Pradesh’s CM Jagan Mohan Reddy has the highest assets totaling Rs 510 crore, followed by Arunanchal Pradesh’s Pema Khandu (over Rs 163 crore) and Odisha’s Naveen Pattnaik (over Rs 63 crore).

* Out of the 30 CMs analyzed, 29 are crorepatis with the average assets being Rs 33.96 crore for every CM.

* West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has the lowest total assets of about Rs 15 lakh, the ADR said.

* The ADR and Election Watch (NEW) said they have arrived at this conclusion after analysing the self-sworn poll affidavits of all the 30 current chief ministers of states and union territories.

* There are 28 state chief ministers and two union territories — Delhi and Puducherry — also have chief ministers.

* The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir does not have a chief minister currently..

Source : Indian Express