Correct Answer :   Fourth Thursday

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International Girls in ICT Day is celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of April to encourage and empower girls and young women to explore and pursue careers in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

* In 2023, it is being observed on April 27.

* International Girls in ICT Day 2023 theme : Digital Skills for Life

* It raised awareness about the gender gap in the tech industry and inspires women to consider careers in ICT.

* This day was declared by ITU on April 8, 2011..

Source : Itu

Correct Answer :   Narendra Modi

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The Prime Minister Narendra Modi said this while virtually inaugurating the sixth edition of One Earth One Health - Advantage Healthcare India 2023 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi 26th April 2023.

* Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed that India’s goal is wellness and welfare for everyone and making healthcare accessible and affordable. He said that reducing disparity is the country's priority.

* He said, true progress is people-centric and healthcare access must be assured to the last person at the last mile.

* Highlighting the importance of a resilient global healthcare system, the Prime Minister said, the global response to healthcare challenges cannot be isolated. He said, it is time for an integrated, inclusive, and institutional response and this is one of the country's focus areas during the G20 presidency.

* Lauding the country’s affordable and accessible healthcare ecosystem, Mr. Modi said, country has the world's largest government-funded health insurance coverage scheme. He said, the Ayushman Bharat initiative covers over 500 million people with free medical treatments serving over 40 million people.

One Earth One Health - Advantage Healthcare India 2023 is a two-day event wherein emphasis will be laid on building an ecosystem and forging global collaboration and partnership between the various stakeholders of the healthcare industry.

* The primary focus is on patient and healthcare workforce mobility so that value-based healthcare services can be provided to patients in different countries in a hassle-free manner.

* The event aims to showcase India as the new hub for providing quality and world-class healthcare and wellness services at affordable prices. More than 470 foreign delegates including ten Health Ministers from foreign countries are participating in the event.

* Foreign Health Ministers and delegates will visit more than 15 tertiary hospitals including Ayush Hospital after the event.

* India is continuously striving for equitable access to healthcare for all and to reduce disparities in healthcare availability across the globe during its G20 presidency under the vision of One Earth-One Health. The country has emerged as a preferred destination for medical tourism in recent years...

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Belgium

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Nine European countries are holding a summit Monday (24th April 2023) aimed at scaling up wind power generation in the North Sea, spurred by the fall-out of the Ukraine war and the push for renewables.

* Hosted by Belgium in the coastal town of Ostend, the meeting will gather the leaders of EU members France, Germany, Ireland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen also attending.

* Norway and Britain will participate, too, though French officials said the UK's energy minister would lead the delegation and not Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who could not make it.

* Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said ahead of the summit that the goal was for enough North Sea wind farms to be built to produce 130 gigawatts (GW) of electricity by the end of this decade.

* That capacity should more than double, to nearly 300 GW, by 2050, he said.

* The North Sea summit is the second one to be held, after the four countries in the inaugural gathering last year -- Belgium, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands -- decided it was necessary to broaden cooperation...

Source : Economic Times

Correct Answer :   UK

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India and the United Kingdom have agreed to create India-UK NET zero innovation virtual centre. This centre will provide a platform for stakeholders of both countries to work together in areas like the decarbonization of manufacturing processes, transport systems, and green hydrogen as a renewable source.
 
* Announcing this while chairing the India-UK Science and Innovation Council meeting in the presence of United Kingdom Minister George Freeman, Science, and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh.

* India is fast moving to become an economic powerhouse, driven by its extraordinary technological and innovative capabilities. He said, the country is determined to achieve its climate change and environmental targets within a stipulated time period.

* Pointing towards the country's net zero journey, Dr Singh said, energy efficiency and renewable energy are central pillars, where India has already taken the lead through various initiatives like India Solar Alliance and Clean Energy Mission. Dr Jitendra Singh is leading a high-level official Indian delegation of the Ministry of Science and Technology on a six-day visit to the United Kingdom..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Pankaj Singh

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Pankaj Singh, son of Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, has been elected unopposed as the president of the Cycling Federation of India at its annual meeting in Nainital.

Pankaj Singh is BJP MLA from Noida. Maninder Pal Singh was elected general secretary for the 2nd consecutive term while Sudesh Kumar was elected from Kerala.

The Cycling Federation of India, established in 1946, is the national governing body of cycle racing in India..

Correct Answer :   USA & South Korea

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US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol have secured a landmark deal which includes plans to periodically deploy US nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea.

* Washington has also agreed to involve Seoul in its planning for the use of nuclear weapons in any conflict with North Korea. In return, South Korea has agreed to not develop its own nuclear weapons.

* Speaking at a joint press conference with Mr Yoon in Washington 26th April 2023, US President said, the deal, called the Washington Declaration, will strengthen the allies' co-operation in deterring a North Korean attack.

* Meanwhile, the South Korean President said, the Washington Declaration marked an unprecedented step to enhance extended deterrence, a commitment from the US to deter attacks and protect US allies using its military power, including nuclear weapons.

* The declaration comes amid rising concerns about nuclear threats from North Korea as the country carries out a record number of ballistic missile tests...

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   IIT Bombay

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Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay’s SHUNYA (Sustainable Housing for Urbanizing Nation by its Young Aspirants) team secured second place in Solar Decathlon Build Challenge in the United States for their innovative zero-energy house designed to address air quality challenges in Mumbai's hot and humid climate.
 
* SHUNYA is a student-driven technical team of IIT Bombay working to build a sustainable future. It was the only team representing India in this competition out of 32 teams from across the world.
 
* The house developed by the team has a 14-kW solar PV Plant with an advanced in-house automation system. The Automation system controls the in-house developed dehumidifier system designed especially for the climatic conditions of coastal regions. 

* This house consumes nearly 80% less water than the regular house with its water efficiency fixtures, recycling system, and rainwater harvesting system.
 
* The team includes more than 50 students with engineering, architectural, and management backgrounds from more than 16 departments of IIT Bombay..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   NITI Aayog

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NITI Aayog released a report titled Promoting Millets in Diets : Best Practices across States/UTs of India. The report was released by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman K. Bery in the presence of Member (Health) Dr. V.K. Paul, Member (Agriculture) Dr. Ramesh Chand and CEO B. V. R. Subrahmanyam.

Ms. Aditi Rout, Additional Secretary Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ms Shubha Thakur, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ms. Deepa Anand, Deputy Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy and Senior Advisor NITI Aayog Mr Rajib Sen were also present at the launch.

The report presents a set of good and innovative practices adopted by states governments and organizations in various aspects of millet value- chain especially production, processing and consumption.

The report in three themes :

* State Missions and initiatives to promote millets;
* Inclusion of millets in ICDS;
* Research and development and use of technology for innovative practices.

The report will serve as a guiding repository to revive and mainstream millets in our diets..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   26th April 2023

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Veteran Malayalam actor-comedian Mamukkoya passed awayon Wednesday (26th April 2023) at 77 due to cardiac arrest.

* He started his acting career by doing theatre in 1979, then he went on to become an actor by doing comic roles and was popular for playing characters that spoke Malabar accent.

* He acted in around 500 films, including comedies like Sandesam, Nadodikkattu, Innathe Chintha Vishayam, and Varavelpu.

* He won several awards and honours for his various roles during his extensive career..

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

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Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Signed Memorandum of Understanding between Art of Living 26th April 2023 at Dr. B.R Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi in the presence of Dr. Virendra Kumar, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment and Gurudev Shri Shri Ravi Shankar ji and other senior members of the Art of Living management.

* Shri Saurabh Garg, Secretary, Shri Surendra Singh Additional Secretary, Smt. Radhika Chakravarthy Joint Secretary and other Senior officers of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment also attended the ceremony.

* Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar said Department of Social Justice & Empowerment signed an MoU with the Art of Living for spreading the message of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan among the youth, women, students etc. With the signing of this MoU, Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan will get a boost towards achieving drug sensitized India.

* To curb the menace of drug demand, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Government of India has been implementing National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR).

* The Minister said this is an umbrella scheme under which financial assistance is provided to State Governments/ Union Territory (UT) Administrations for Preventive Education and Awareness Generation, Capacity Building, Skill development, vocational training and livelihood support of ex-drug addicts.

* The Ministry has initiated ambitious Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) currently operational in 8,000 Master Volunteers have been selected and trained to lead the Abhiyaan activities in the 372 identified districts More than 3.13+ crore youth have actively participated in the activities of the Abhiyaan and spreading on-ground the message against substance use.

* Around 4,000+ YuvaMandals, NYKS & NSS Volunteers, Youth Clubs have also been associated with the Abhiyaan. The contribution of 2.09+ Crore women have also been vital in reaching out to a larger community through the Anganwadi & ASHA Workers, ANMs, Mahila Mandals & Women SHGs..

Source : PIB