Correct Answer :   49

---

National Mission for Clean Ganga has signed an agreement with 49 Universities to inspire youth towards water conservation and river rejuvenation.

* The MoU aims to bring the student community to the forefront of the mass movement for creating a sustainable ecosystem of rivers.

* Speaking on the occasion, Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that ensuring the cleanliness and purity of River Ganga with the rejuvenation of rivers are the prime objectives of the Namami Gange Mission.

* He said, water is a crucial factor to sustain life. He suggested organizing debates and other competitions in the universities to spread awareness of the importance of water conservation and river rejuvenation..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   11 April 2023

---

Veteran Liberation War fighter and legendary public health activist Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury passed away in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 11 April 2023. He was 81.

* Dr. Zafrullah was suffering from kidney-related ailments and other old-age-related problems.

* Dr. Zafrullah received international acclaim for his work in the field of public health. He won the Ramon Magsaysay Award in the Community Leadership category in 1985 and the Right Livelihood Prize in 1992 for his outstanding work in the public health sector. For his outstanding work to provide healthcare services to the poor, he was known as ‘poor people’s doctor’.

* Dr. Zafrullah was a veteran freedom fighter. In 1971, he left his medical studies in the UK to join the liberation war of Bangladesh. He set up a big field hospital near Melaghar in Tripura during the liberation war of Bangladesh to treat the freedom fighters wounded in the war and the refugees.

* In 1977, he was awarded the Independence Award, the highest civilian award in Bangladesh.    

Born : 27 December 1941, Chittagong Division, Bangladesh

Died : 11 April 2023 .

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   5.6%

---

The industrial output of the country (India) in February 2023 rose 5.6 percent, on a year-on-year basis. As per the data from the Ministry of Statistics released on 12th April 2023.

* Tthe index of industrial production (IIP) expanded as the manufacturing sector's output increased by 5.3 percent in February 2023, and Mining output rose by 4.6 percent. Power generation surged 8.2 percent during the month under review.

* For the month of January 2023, IIP growth was revised to 5.5 percent from 5.2 percent.

* IIP grew 1.2 percent in February 2022..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Sanjay Agarwal

---

* The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday (12th 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).

* The re-appointment has been done for the next three years, till 2026.

* The Shareholders had already approved the re-appointment via postal ballot on March 09, 2022.

* Sanjay Agarwal was first appointed as managing director of Au Financiers on 14 February 2008. As the company transformed into a Small Finance Bank on 19 April 2017, he became the Managing Director & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank (SFB).

* Uttam Tibrewal joined the board of AU Small Finance Bank in 2005. The industry veteran comes with over two decades of experience in Financial Service sector with rich experience in the field of Agriculture & Rural Economy, Financing small scale industry, Accountancy, Banking, Risk and Business Management...

Source : Economic Times

Correct Answer :   RAPIDX

---

India's first semi-high-speed regional rail services have been named 'RAPIDX' by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), officials said on Tuesday (11th April 2023).

* The trains will run on the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors, being implemented to connect key urban nodes across the National Capital Region (NCR).

* The brand name has been chosen as 'RAPIDX' since it is easy to read and simple to pronounce in various languages.

* In addition to signifying speed and progress, the X in the name denotes next generation technology and the new-age mobility solution. It also represents youth, optimism, and energy.

* The green leaf symbol in the logo is the highlight of the brand's aim towards decarbonisation by not only decongesting NCR by reducing the number of vehicles on the road but also by the use of green energy.

* A joint venture company of the Union government and states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, the NCRTC is tapping green energy by the installation of solar panels on stations and depots as well as the use of blended power in traction which is planned to be increased progressively.

* According to the NCRTC, 'RAPIDX' will connect the people who choose to live in their hometowns in NCR, with the national capital through a modern, sustainable, convenient, fast, safe, and comfortable means of travel..

Source : NDTV

Correct Answer :   El Salvador

---

* Central American country El Salvador has started an initiative to license crypto firms.

* Cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex has become the first cryptocurrency company to receive an official license in El Salvador.

* This license will allow Bitfinex to provide crypto-related services in the country as per the legal provisions of the country.

* El Salvador became the first country in the world to accept Bitcoin as a payment option in 2021.

Correct Answer :   Madhya Pradesh

---

* The Madhya Pradesh Government has recently added the transgender community to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list of the state.

* The state government has taken this decision following the directions of the Supreme Court.

* With this, the transgender community will get the benefit of reservation in state government recruitments.

Correct Answer :   Raman Research Institute (RRI)

---

Raman Research Institute (RRI) has joined hands with the Indian Navy to develop secure maritime communications using quantum technologies.

* The Bengaluru-based institute inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Weapons and Electronics Systems Engineering Establishment (WESEE), the R&D establishment of the Indian Navy, last week.

* RRI said that the MoU is five years, and under this agreement, RRI’s Quantum Information and Computing (QuIC) lab will lead the research efforts towards developing quantum key distribution techniques that the Indian Navy could leverage in the nation’s efforts towards securing free space communications.

* Professor Urbasi Sinha, Group Head, QuIC lab, said, “This is a great opportunity for us to use indigenously developed science and technology knowledge to serve our nation. We are excited about the collaboration and believe that with our expertise in the domain of secure quantum communications, we will be able to help foster cutting-edge research towards identification of potential maritime use-cases for the Indian Navy.”

* This lab has been leading the country’s research in the field of secure quantum communication. Some of its major achievements include the development of an end-to-end simulation toolkit named “qkdSim”, ensuring safety in communication platforms; establishing secure communication, both between two buildings and, more recently, between a stationary source and a mobile receiver..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Rajasthan

---

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat Express train on April 12, 2023.

* It is the world’s first semi-high-speed passenger train on high-rise overhead electric (OHE) territory.

* It will make its inaugural journey between Jaipur and Delhi Cantt railway stations.

* It will operate between Ajmer and Delhi Cantt, with stops at Jaipur, Alwar, and Gurgaon.

* It will complete the Ajmer-Delhi Cantt journey in 5 hours and 15 minutes..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Rajnath Singh

---

* Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated a three-day International Conference on Defence Finance and Economics in New Delhi on April 12, 2023.

* Through this platform, policymakers, academicians and government officials can share their insights and experiences on Defence Finance and Economics for evolving security challenges.

* Delegates from the USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Kenya will participate in the conference..

Source : AIR