Correct Answer :   Shreekant M Bhandiwad

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Shreekant M Bhandiwad has taken charge as the new chairman of Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) on Monday (24th April 2023).

* Outgoing chairman P Gopikrishna handed over the charge to the new incumbant. Shreekant M Bhandiwad holds a master’s degree in agricultue and is also a certified associate of Indian Institute of Bankers.

* A native of Dharwad, Shreekant carries with him the experience of 29 years in Canara Bank, having worked across India (Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar and Karnataka) in various capacities.

* Prior to his joining as chairman of KVGB, Shreekant Bhandiwad was heading the Patna circle of Canara Bank. P Gopikrishna has been repatriated to Canara Bank as circle head, Bengaluru..

Source : Times of India

Correct Answer :   Jupiter

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Neobanking platform "Jupiter" has secured a non-banking financial company (NBFC) licence from the Reserve Bank of India to enter into the lending business, a move which will double its disbursal rate for the year, founder of Jupiter Jitendra Gupta..

* "We were lending in partnership with an NBFC under the Loan Service Providers (LSP) model, but the process is very cumbersome. It is not an easy model to make economic revenue. With the new licence we will be able to scale our business fast," said Gupta.

* The startup will be offering the loan under Amica Financial Technologies, the private entity which operates Jupiter, Gupta said. "With this licence, we will have better control of destiny, have the direct integrations for the KYC and will be easier access and offer better to customers and chase scale in a very formal way," he added.

* Gupta also said that the license will help in addressing the many uncertainties and overcome regulatory hurdles.

* "Today under the Digital Lending Guidelines there are some grey areas around FLDG (First Loan Default Guarantee), scrutiny on what is allowed and not allowed in digital lending, loan app bans...There are so many uncertainties and with the licence, we can get this out of the way," Gupta said.

* To date, the company disburses small ticket loans of less than Rs 50,000 with a tenure of 3-6 months through Trillion Loans NBFC. However, with the new NBFC licence, Jupiter will look at offering loans from Rs 50,000 up to Rs 1 lakh...

Source : Money Control

Correct Answer :   Sachin Tendulkar

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The West Stand at the Sharjah cricket stadium has been renamed after Indian former cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar in a special ceremony in the UAE, honouring the Indian cricket legend on his 50th birthday on Monday (24th April 2023).

* Not only does it coincide with the birthday of the Indian legend, but it also marks the 25th anniversary of the famous back-to-back centuries he scored against Australia in 1998 in a packed stadium.

* The 143 Tendulkar had scored here on April 22 and 134 two days later in the final of the Coca-Cola Cup, a triangular series between India, Australia, and New Zealand has been recorded in the books as a veritable desert storm.

* The Sharjah Cricket Stadium joins the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in honouring the Indian Maestro in this manner on the occasion of his 50th birthday.

* Sharjah Cricket Stadium still holds the Guinness record for most One-Day internationals played (244) and have seen some of the most memorable moments in cricketing history occur on this hallowed ground...

Source : Mathrubhumi

Correct Answer :   Bhupender Yadav

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Union Minister for Labour and Employment "Bhupender Yadav" on Monday (24th April 2023) launched new features in eShram Portal in the presence of Arti Ahuja, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment and other senior officers of the ministry.

The new features added in eShram portal will enhance its utility and facilitate ease of registration for unorganised workers. The eShram-registered workers can now connect with employment opportunities, skilling, apprenticeship, pension scheme, digital skilling and states’ schemes through the portal.

As on March 16, 2023, as many as 28.64 crore unorganised workers registered on eShram portal.

The minister of State for Labour and Employment Rameswar Teli on March 16 in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha informed that as on March 10, 2023, a total of 28.64 crore unorganised workers have been registered on eShram portal.

In the reply it was stated that as on March 31, 2022, a total of around 3,250 representations have been lodged in the Grievance Management System claiming for accidental deaths/ disability by eShram registrants.

The Ministry has taken several steps to provide benefits to eShram registrants :

* The eShram portal is integrated with National Career Service (NCS) Portal. Till date over 13 lakh, eShram job seekers have registered on NCS portal. eShram is also integrated with Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM).

* PM-SYM is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for unorganised sector workers who are aged between 18-40 years. eShram registered users can seamlessly get benefit of PMSYM Scheme. eShram registrant, who is registered on NCS can avail digital skills training which is free of cost, according to the statement from teh ministry.

* In Andaman Nicobar Islands, as many as 28,541 registered in the eShram portal. As many as 79,44,509 were registered in Andhra Pradesh; 1,40,935 were registered in Arunachal Pradesh; 69,37,489 were registered in Assam; 2,85,73,732 were registered in Bihar; 1,74,223 were registered in Chandigarh, 82,67,354 were registered in Chhattisgarh; 32,53,701 were registered in Delhi; 58,322 were registered in Goa; 93,61,906 were registered in Gujarat and 52,59,088 were registered in Haryana.

* As many as 19,24,152 were in Himachal Pradesh; 33,82,813 were registered in Jammu & Kashmir; 91,61,363 were registered in Jharkhand; 75,04,588 were registered in Karnataka; 59,05,051 were registered in Kerala; 29,301 were in Ladakh; 2,442 were in Lakshadweep; 1,69,41,863 were registered in Madhya Pradesh; 1,35,07,560 were registered in Maharashtra; 4,05,373 registered in Manipur; 2,89,751 were in Meghalaya; 58,345 were registered in Mizoram; 2,18,759 were registered in Nagaland; 1,33,30,505 were in Odisha; 1,76,507 were registered in Puducherry; 54,98,061 were registered in Punjab; 1,28,21,298 were registered in Rajasthan and 25,016 were registered in Sikkim.

* As many as 83,91,059 were in Tamil Nadu, 41,27,415 were registered in Telangana; 72,914 were registered in The Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu; 8,44,823 were registered in Tripura; 8,30,22,007 were registered in Uttar Pradesh; 29,73,004 were registered in Uttarakhand and 2,58,06,407 were registered in West Bengal.

* The eSharm portal is the national database of unorganised workers including migrant workers, construction workers, gig and platform workers, etc..

Source : The Print

Correct Answer :   April 23

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Every year on April 23rd, World English Day is observed as a way to honor the language that has become the most commonly spoken in the world.

This year also World English Day 2023 is celebrated on 23rd April. This occasion acknowledges the significance and influence of the English language, and its role in promoting international communication and comprehension.

World English Day 2023 Theme : The theme for World English Day 2023 is “English as a global language: bridging cultures, connecting the world.”

The theme reflects the language’s role in bringing people from different cultures and backgrounds together, promoting mutual understanding and communication. The theme also recognizes the importance of English as a means of communication in today’s globalized world and its significance in fostering international relationships.

World English Day 2023 Celebration : World English Day 2023 is a significant occasion that is celebrated globally to commemorate the widespread usage of the English language. It is observed on April 23rd every year, and the year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the event. English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and it is estimated that over 1.5 billion people speak it as their first, second or foreign language. The day is celebrated to promote awareness of the language and its importance in connecting people across borders.

World English Day History : The history of World English Day dates back to 23rd April 2010 when it was first celebrated by the English Language Teachers’ Association of India (ELTAI) on the occasion of William Shakespeare’s birth anniversary. The idea was to celebrate the language and its vast literary heritage, and it quickly gained popularity among language enthusiasts worldwide. Since then, the day has been observed every year to highlight the significance of the English language in today’s world.

World English Day Signifiacnce :

* The celebration of World English Day 2023 holds immense significance as it serves as a platform to highlight the role of the English language in connecting people and cultures worldwide.

* English is the primary language of international communication, and it is widely used in various fields such as education, business, diplomacy, and entertainment.

* Celebrating the language promotes the value of multilingualism and cross-cultural understanding, and it encourages individuals to learn the language and explore its vast literary and cultural heritage.

* Moreover, World English Day 2023 is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of English language teachers and learners worldwide.

* Teachers play a vital role in shaping students’ language skills, and their efforts help in promoting the language’s usage and importance.

* Similarly, learners who pursue English language studies demonstrate a commitment to learning and expanding their linguistic horizons..

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   Kerala

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After successfully completing a trial run, Kerala’s first Vande Bharat Express is set to be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (25th April 2023).

* Kerala’s train will travel between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasargod. Initially, the train was planned to run between Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur but was extended later.

* The train will cover eleven districts including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasargod.

* The train’s operations to the public will start on 26 April 2023 on the Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram route and on 28 April 2023 on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod way.

* The Vande Bharat will complete the journey from Trivandrum Central to Kasaragod in 8.05 hours, which will cost Rs 2,880 in executive class.

* The train’s base fare is Rs 2,194 to which Rs 434 catering charges are added, as per the cost breakup.

* If a passenger does not opt for food, the ticket for Vande Bharat will cost Rs 2,465 in executive class.

* From Kasaragod, the Vande Bharat train will depart at 2.30 pm and reach Trivandrum Central at 10.35 pm. The complete journey will cost Rs 2,815 for the executive class.


* The train will depart from Thiruvananthapuram at 5.20 am and reach Kasaragod at 1.25 pm and has nine station stops.

* The train will depart from Kasaragod at 2.30 pm and reach Thiruvananthapuram at 10:30 pm and has nine station stops.

Source : News18

Correct Answer :   25th April

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World Malaria Day (WMD) is observed on April 25 every year. Taking action to control the deadly disease is the goal of the day. Bites from infected mosquitoes cause malaria, a potentially deadly disease.

It is the Female Anopheles mosquitoes that spread the Plasmodium parasite through their saliva, which causes malaria.

Nevertheless, it is a treatable and preventable infectious disease. Many countries in the world are already working towards it. Millions of lives have been saved from malaria since 2000 when the number of malaria-related deaths fell by 40% worldwide.

World Malaria Day (WMD) 2023 Theme : World Malaria Day 2023 will be marked under the theme “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement”.

Among other things, WHO will focus on the third "i" - implement - and how to maximize the impact of the tools and strategies currently available to reach out to marginalised populations.

World Malaria Day (WMD) History : The idea of World Malaria Day was developed from Africa Malaria Day. Africa Malaria Day is basically an event that has been observed by African governments since 2001, first held in 2008.

In 2007, at the 60th session of the World Health Assembly, a meeting sponsored by the World Health Organisation (WHO) proposed that Africa Malaria Day be changed to World Malaria Day.

It will help to identify the existence of malaria in countries worldwide and will also help to bring awareness among people globally to fight against malaria...

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   Operation Kaveri

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India launched a rescue operation– Operation Kaveri – to evacuate its stranded citizens from Sudan. The rescue operation is currently underway and around 500 Indians have reached Port Sudan as of Monday (24th April 2023), according to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

The evacuation operation was launched a day after the External Affairs Ministry said two C-130s aircraft and the navy ship INS Sumedha are on standby to evacuate Indians from the violence-hit African nation. Around 4,000 Indians are stuck in Sudan, as per official data.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while addressing the Yuvam Conclave in Kochi : "Due to the civil war in Sudan, many of our people are stuck there. Therefore, we have started Operation Kaveri to bring them safely. It is being overseen by the son of Kerala and the Minister of our government, Muraleedharan".


Why the name Operation Kaveri?

* The name for rescue operations in Sudan has been kept Operation Kaveri for the same purpose that Prime Minister Modi chose to name rescue ops in Ukraine as Operation Ganga.

* Kaveri is one of the major Indian rivers flowing through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. People in the region also worship the river as Goddess Kaveriamma.

* Commenting on the naming of this operation by the Central government, a top source said: “Rivers reach their destination irrespective of barriers. It’s like a mother who will ensure she will bring her children back to safety”.


What is happening in Sudan?

* Sudan has been facing a conflict between the country’s army and a paramilitary group for the last 10 days, which claimed more than 427 lives including at least 273 civilians and over 3,700 have been wounded.

* The warring factions have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire beginning from today as Western, Arab and Asian nations race to evacuate their nationals from the country. Scores of people including Sudanese and people from neighbouring countries have fled the country in the past few days to Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan...

Source : Business Today

Correct Answer :   25th April

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Every year on April 25th, International Delegate’s Day is observed to pay tribute to the delegates who are an integral part of the United Nations (UN) and play a significant role in its functioning.

These delegates represent their respective governments and are dedicated to working together under the framework of the UN to address global challenges and achieve multilateral cooperation.

Without the efforts and contributions of these delegates, the UN would not be able to function effectively. They work towards the resolution of global issues and ensure that the voice of their governments is heard on an international level. The observance of this day is a recognition of their dedication and commitment to promoting peace, security, and prosperity worldwide.

International Delegate’s Day History :

International Delegate’s Day marks the anniversary of the first day of the San Francisco Conference, also known as the United Nations Conference on International Organization.

On 25 April 1945, delegates from fifty countries came together for the first time in San Francisco. Coming together after the devastation of the second world war, their aim was to set up an organization that would restore world peace and impose rules on the post-war world order.

850 delegates took part in this conference, which lasted for two months. They represented over eighty per cent of the world’s population, people of every world religion and continent; all determined to set up an organization, which would preserve peace and help build a better world.

Two months after the first meeting, on 26 June 1945, the Charter of the United Nations was signed by representatives of the 50 countries that attended the conference. The agreement resulted in the creation of the United Nations, an organization that now comprises 193 Member States and serves as the main international venue for collective dialogue between the delegates of its Member States. Poland, which did not have a government at the time of the conference, signed the charter later, hence bringing up the number of the Founding Member States to 51.

In its resolution 73/286 from 2 April 2019, the General Assembly recalls the achievement of the San Francisco Conference and proclaims 25 April as International Delegate’s Day...

Source : UN

Correct Answer :   Narendra Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (25th April 2023) inaugurated India’s first Water Metro that connects 10 islands around Kochi through battery-operated electric hybrid boats for seamless connectivity with the city.

* Kochi Water Metro, one of its kind project in the world connecting Kochi’s islands to the mainland is ready to start the service. The country’s first Water Metro service will provide safe, affordable and pocket-friendly travel for people in and around Kochi and also tourists from across the world.

* “It’s a different boat. Being an electric boat for the first time in India, we have many challenges. But we have received training at Indian Maritime University. So no problem.

* 12 trips per boat during peak time. It takes 20 minutes from one terminal to another. We can carry 96 passengers and 4 crew members so that 100 people,” Jayes, Boat master said.

* Initially, Water Metro will start sailing with 8 electric-hybrid boats in two routes that are, Highcourt- Vypin and Vyttila- Kakkanad stretches.

* The single journey ticket fare for the High Court – Vypin route will be Rs 20. The fare for Vyttila- Kakkanad route will be Rs 30.

* Other than the single-journey tickets, Kochi Water Metro will also have weekly, monthly and quarterly passes. As an inaugural offer, commuters can enjoy discounts for their purchase of various trip passes.

* A weekly trip passes with 12 trips is priced at Rs 180 while the monthly trip passes are valid for 30 days having 50 trips would cost Rs 600.

* The quarterly pass is priced at Rs 1500 and passengers would be able to avail of 150 trips within a period of 90 days.

* People would also be able to use Kochi One Card for travelling in Kochi Water Metro. Mobile QR tickets could be booked through Kochi One app...

Source : The States Man