Correct Answer :   Russia

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A joint venture between public sector company Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) and Russian engineering company Metrowagonmash is on course to manufacture and supply around 120 Vande Bharat trains to Indian Railways, at a cost of ₹120 crore per train.

The blue-and-white trains, with AC sleeper coaches, are expected to be manufactured at a railway factory in Latur, Maharashtra.

The RVNL wants a larger share of 69%, leaving 26% for Metrowagonmash and 5% for a third partner, Locomotive Electronic Systems.

Source : The Hindu Businessline

Correct Answer :   Rajnath Singh

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The 132nd edition of Durand Cup kicked off in Kokrajhar, Assam on August 05, 2023. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh graced the opening ceremony, which marked the grand beginning of the annual football competition for the first time in the Assamese city. The tournament is organised by the Armed Forces and supported by the Government of Assam.

Addressing the enthusiastic crowd at the Sai Stadium, the Raksha Mantri complimented the efforts of the Armed Forces and Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) for creating a positive environment in Kokrajhar which resulted in the event being organised in the city for the first time.

He commended the people of the Northeast for their excitement and love for football, terming ‘the beautiful game’ as not just a sport, but an emotion. Stating that Assam has produced many football talents in recent times, Shri Rajnath Singh exuded confidence that the Durand Cup will encourage the youth to join the sport with renewed vigour.

Assam Chief Minister Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma spoke at length about the rich sports culture of the region and extended his best wishes to all participating teams. He thanked the Indian Army for organising the tournament in Kokrajhar and appreciated the efforts of BTC for its assistance.

The opening ceremony was witnessed by nearly 12,000 football fans from across the state and the region. Main attractions of the ceremony included a flypast by Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft and Mi-17 helicopter, martial displays, Gatka and Bhangra along with the display of Bodo cultural dance by the local troupe.

Minister of Power, Sports and Youth Welfare, Cooperation & ITFC (Archaeology), Assam Smt Nandita Gorlosa; Minister of Handloom & Textile, Soil Conservation & Welfare of Bodoland Shri Urkhao Gwra Brahma; Chief Executive Member, BTC Shri Pramod Boro; Chief of the Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande; GOC-in-C Eastern Command Lt Gen RP Kalita; AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command Air Marshal SP Dharkar; General Officer Commanding, Gajraj Corps Lt Gen Manish Erry; General Officer Commanding, Red Horns Division Maj Gen S Murugesan and President, All India Football Federation Shri Kalyan Chaubey were among those present on the occasion.

The inaugural ceremony was followed by the opening match of the tournament between Bodoland FC and Rajasthan United FC. Kokrajhar will witness eight group matches and one quarter-final to be played on August 24, 2023. A total of 24 teams, including two foreign teams from Nepal and Bangladesh, all three teams of Indian Armed Forces and the local team of Bodoland FC will clash at three venues in Kolkata, Guwahati and Kokrajhar during the tournament..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   TNPCB

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The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) is set to conduct a public hearing on the proposed expansion of Adani group’s Kattupalli Port in Tiruvallur district.

The public hearing for the Kattupalli Port expansion by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), which is investing Rs 53,031 crore, to ramp the port’s capacity from 24.65 million tonnes (mt) per annum to 320 mt, will be held at 10 am on September 5, 2023.

This comes nearly 2.5 years after a public hearing scheduled for January 22, 2021, was deferred by the Tiruvallur district administration due to the pandemic. The proposed revised master plan development of Kattupalli Port by Marine Infrastructure Developer Private Limited (MIDPL) will be carried out in 2,472.85 hectares, which includes 133.50 ha of existing area, 761.8 ha of government land, 781.4 ha of private land and proposed sea reclamation of 796.15 ha. The planned expansion will also make Kattupalli India’s deepest port with an average berth depth of 25m.

According to the notice issued by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), the public hearing will be held in Kalanji village. Sources told TNIE that Kattupalli port officials were pushing for a public hearing since the Terms of Reference (ToR) issued by the environment ministry will expire in October.

When contacted, the port officials said this was the public hearing that was deferred in 2021 and has been rescheduled now. “In the meantime, we have revalidated the baseline data and assessed the biodiversity of the area. We have fulfilled all the ToR conditions.”

While he was the leader of the Opposition, Chief Minister MK Stalin opposed the project and stated that if elected his government would not give a nod to the project. Sources said that discussions were held and now the government has decided to allow the public hearing to go ahead to gauge the mood of people. “We can’t stop the public hearing. It’s an opportunity for the people to express their opinions,” a senior bureaucrat said.

On the impact on Pulicat Lake and the bird sanctuary, the draft comprehensive environment impact assessment submitted by the MIDPL shows that Pulicat Lake is located 7.2 km from the project site and the bird sanctuary boundary is just 3.17 km.

Forest department sources said the proposal for an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) for Pulicat bird sanctuary was in the pre-draft stage. “Until the ESZ is notified, the default 10 km will apply. Kattupali port expansion would require clearance from the National Board for Wildlife.”

Pulicat fishermen have demanded that the state government declare Kattupalli coast as a ‘high erosion zone’, which would prevent mega projects in the region. Erosion triggered by ports constructed in the southern portion of Kattupalli island is already eating into Korakuppam and Sattankuppam villages.

As per the recent shoreline changes assessment report of the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), 18 km out of 40.97 km in Tiruvallur was experiencing erosion, including the Kattupalli coast..

Source : New Indian Express

Correct Answer :   342,239 sq. km

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India is a country with many different states, each having its own special qualities. As of 4th August 2023, among 28 states of India, Rajasthan is the India’s largest state with the total area of 342,239 sq. km and at the 8th position in terms of population.

Largest State in India in terms of Area :

India’s largest state in terms of area is Rajasthan which covers 342,239 sq. km area, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh.

Here is the list of largest states of India in terms of area till 4th August 2023 :

Largest State in India in terms of population :


* India’s largest state in terms of population is Uttar Pradesh with a population of 199,812,341.


Here is the list of largest states of India in terms of population :

Correct Answer :   India

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As of the latest available data, India has emerged as the most populous country in the world, surpassing China. With a population of approximately 142.86 crore, India now exceeds China’s population by roughly 29,56311 lakh and become the most populous Country in the world.


Population Statistics and Data Collection Methods :

* Population statistics encompass various demographic data, including the count of individuals residing in a country or region, the number of births and deaths, as well as estimations of life expectancy and population growth trends.
* This information is often collected through population censuses, conducted regularly, with the 1st of January being a common reference point.
* Additionally, population registers are increasingly being utilized as an alternative source to gather such valuable demographic insights.

List of Top 10 Most Populous Country in the World :

Correct Answer :   3 August 2023

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Bureaucrat and administrator Nagarajan Vittal, who passed away on 3 August 2023 in Chennai at the age of 85, is mostly remembered for his four-tenure as India’s Central Vigilance Commissioner — the last major post he held for four years, in a career in the IAS spanning 36 years.  


Work experiences :

His experience of more than 40 years covered a wide spectrum with focus on industrial administration, science and technology and security.

As Secretary of the Department of Electronics (1990-1996), he initiated policies for boosting software, setting up software technology parks and strategic alliance with the industry.

This eventually led to the formation of the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI).

As Chairman of the Telecom Commission, he also initiated the process of liberalisation in the telecom sector and played a major role in getting the National Telecom Policy 1994 approved.

Vittal, a chemistry honours graduate of Loyola College, Chennai, was a strong advocate of ethics and a corruption-free India. In a preface of his book, Corruption in India – The Roadblock to National Prosperity, he says, “Corruption is anti-national, anti-economic development and anti-poor. As CVC, I had a ringside view of the occupation at the bureaucratic level and indirectly at the political level for four years.”

Correct Answer :   Kerala

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The State government of kerala has launched a groundbreaking scheme called ‘Shubhayatra’. The scheme aims to provide much-needed financial support to first-time overseas emigrants from Kerala, facilitating a positive and productive migration ecosystem.

With a financial assistance of up to ₹2 lakh, a tax holiday for six months, and attractive interest subvention, the scheme intends to help eligible candidates cover the incidental expenses associated with overseas employment.


The Shubhayatra Solution: Soft Loan and Financial Assistance

* The ‘Shubhayatra’ scheme offers a comprehensive solution to address the financial hurdles faced by aspiring overseas job seekers.
* The scheme will provide a soft loan called ‘foreign employability skilling assistant’ which covers preparatory expenses for migration. The loan amount will be proportional to the salary offered to the candidate by their employer in the recipient country.
* To ensure the successful implementation of the scheme, the State government will collaborate with nationalized and scheduled banks. These banks will be responsible for offering the soft loans to eligible candidates.
* Additionally, the government will provide financial support for interest subvention and grant a six-month tax holiday for the loan.

Financial Allocation and Repayment :

* In support of the ‘Shubhayatra’ scheme, the Kerala government has allocated ₹2 crore in the current financial year for providing tax holidays and interest subvention to emigrants.
* The tax holiday and interest subvention aim to alleviate the financial burden on first-time emigrants and promote higher quality professional migration from the State.
* Candidates who avail of the soft loan will have a grace period of up to three years to repay the borrowed amount.
* This flexible repayment plan is expected to ease the transition for emigrants and allow them to focus on establishing themselves in their overseas careers without immediate financial stress.

Enhancing Quality and Economic Development :

‘Shubhayatra’ scheme will significantly enhance the quality of professional migration from Kerala. As the largest remittance-receiving State in India, Kerala’s economy is closely linked to its emigration history. Therefore, creating a conducive and productive ecosystem for affordable and quality migration from the State is of utmost importance for its sustained development.

Correct Answer :   ₹24,470 Crores

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 508 railway stations spread across the country in a virtual manner on 6th August 2023.

According to the Ministry of Railways, the redevelopment work has been done at an estimated cost of ₹24,470 crore.

Improving passenger amenities is a major focus of the government. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said, the Prime Minister is personally monitoring the progress of the Railways from time to time and has given excellent inputs in designing the stations.

Revival of only 508 stations currently under Amrit Bharat scheme :

Currently only 508 stations are being taken up for revival under the Amrit Bharat scheme launched for redevelopment of 1,309 stations.

Under the scheme, construction work is in progress at 24 stations in 10 states – Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

Officials told media agency The Hindu that the estimated cost for the stations where work is underway is ₹11,136 crore.

These 508 stations are spread over 27 states and union territories :

* 55 stations in Uttar Pradesh

* 55 stations in Rajasthan

* 49 stations in Bihar

* 44 stations in Maharashtra

* 37 stations in West Bengal

* 34 stations in Madhya Pradesh

* 32 stations in Assam

* 25 stations in Odisha

* 22 stations in Punjab

* 21 stations in Gujarat

* 21 stations in Telangana

* 20 stations in Jharkhand

* 18 stations in Andhra Pradesh

* 18 stations in Tamil Nadu

* 15 stations in Haryana

* 13 stations in Karnataka

* 8 stations in Chandigarh

* 5 stations in Kerala

* 3 stations in Delhi

* 3 stations in Tripura

* 3 stations in Jammu and Kashmir

* 3 stations in Uttarakhand

* 1 station in Himachal Pradesh

* 1 station in Meghalaya

* 1 station in Nagaland

* 1 station in Puducherry


₹1,813 crore given to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus :

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus has been given the highest allocation of ₹1,813 crore among 24 stations. This station is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition, Gujarat’s Surat station has been allotted a renovation of ₹980 crore. Just after Surat is Chennai Egmore station in Tamil Nadu, whose development cost is estimated to be ₹842 crore. ‘The revitalization of some of these stations is a complex task. A top railway official said, there are 25% to 30% stations in this scheme where we are facing challenges in improvement.

Challenging endeavor to develop Kerala’s Ernakulam station :

“For example, developing Kerala’s Ernakulam station, which is being developed at a cost of ₹445 crore, is a challenging endeavor as there is construction on both sides of the tracks and little room for expansion,” the official said. There is space.’ The official further said, another example is the Sabarmati station being built at an estimated cost of ₹335 crore, which requires multi-modal transport connectivity as it is one of the main stations for the bullet train project.

Correct Answer :   1 Year

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The Central government relaxed key rules to give a one-year extension to Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba beyond August 30, 2023, his extension was extended, as per a government order.

With this extension, Rajiv Gauba now becomes the longest-serving cabinet secretary.

A government order said, “The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved extension in service to Shri Rajiv Gauba as Cabinet Secretary for a further period of one year beyond 30.08.2023, in relaxation of AIS (DCRB) Rules, 1958 and Rule 56(d) of the Fundamental Rules."

Before Rajiv Gauba, BD Pande had been the longestserving cabinet secretary from November 2, 1972, to March 31, 1977.

About Rajiv Gauba :

Rajiv Gauba, a 1982-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Jharkhand cadre and a former Union home secretary, assumed the country's top bureaucratic post in 2019, and his tenure was initially set for two years. Subsequently, he received extensions twice, first in 2021 and then in August of the following year.

The rules allow the Central government to give an extension in service to the cabinet secretary, in the public interest "provided that the total term of the cabinet secretary, who is granted such extensions of service, shall not exceed four years".

The latest extension will allow Rajiv Gauba to stay in the post during the general elections due early next year.

Rajiv Gauba is credited as the primary architect of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. This act led to the division of the erstwhile state into two union territories - Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, following the abrogation of the special status accorded to the region under Article 370 of the Constitution.

He had also served as secretary in the Union urban development ministry and additional secretary in the home ministry, looking after the crucial left-wing extremism division, among other responsibilities.

Born in Punjab, Gauba had graduated in Physics from the Patna University. He had served in Jharkhand as the chief secretary for 15 months before returning to serve in the central government in 2016..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   Savi Soin

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Chipset maker Qualcomm has appointed Savi Soin as the new President of Qualcomm India. Soin  has more than two decades of experience at Qualcomm and a decade serving on the senior leadership team.

As President of Qualcomm India, he will report directly to Jim Cathey, the Chief Commercial Officer of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (QCT).

In his new position, Soin will be responsible for executing Qualcomm's strategy in India, fostering relationships with industry partners, and collaborating with the Government of India in various sectors, including mobile, automotive, semiconductor, industrial & IoT, and communication infrastructure.

Soin has previously led the Global Strategic Partnerships and Business Incubation team. Additionally, he was the head of Strategy and Business Development at Qualcomm Technologies' semiconductor division, where he played a pivotal role in planning and executing Qualcomm's strategy.

Rajen Vagadia, who served as Qualcomm India President for the past 5 years, will be relocating to Qualcomm headquarters in San Diego.

In his new role as Vice President, he will lead Global Distribution and Global Carrier Strategy. Under Vagadia's leadership, Qualcomm Technologies achieved significant milestones in India, becoming a leader in wireless technologies and forging crucial partnerships for the rollout of 4G and 5G in the country..

Source : Business Today