Correct Answer :   2011

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Russian President "Vladimir Putin" announced on Tuesday (21st Feb 2023) that Russia is suspending the participation in the 'New START treaty', the last major arms control treaty with the US.

* The treaty which is set to expire in 2026 restricts the number of nuclear warheads that Russia and US can deploy.

* The move may exacerbate ongoing tensions between Russia and US as a result of the Ukrainian war, which can also be attributed to US President Joe Biden's unannounced visit on Monday (20th Feb 2023) to Kyiv expressing strong support for Ukraine.

* Putin also stated that Russia should be prepared to resume nuclear weapons tests if the United States does so, effectively ending a global ban on nuclear weapons tests in place since the Cold War.


What is the New START treaty?

* New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty defined as (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty- START) was implemented on February 5, 2011.

* The treaty was signed by then-US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in 2010, and it came into force in 2011.

* After US President Joe Biden took office in 2021, the treaty was extended for five years, allowing both US and Russian inspectors to ensure that both sides are in compliance with the treaty.

* According to the agreement, Moscow and Washington agreed to deploy no more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads and no more than 700 long-range missiles and bombers as well as the use of land-based and submarine-based missiles and bombers to deliver them..

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   Guyana

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* Union Cabinet has approved the signing of the Air Services Agreement between India and Guyana.

* The agreement will come into force after the exchange of diplomatic notes between the parties confirming that each party has completed the necessary internal procedure for entry into force of this Agreement.

* Indians have a sizeable presence in Guyana and are the largest ethnic group comprising about 40 per cent of the population.

* The signing of Air Services Agreement with Guyana will enable a framework for provision of air services between the two countries.

* In view of the growing aviation market and developments such as liberalization of aviation sector in India, air services agreement has been signed with many countries for paving way for International air connectivity.

* The new Air Services Agreement will provide enabling environment for enhanced and seamless connectivity while providing commercial opportunities to the carriers of both sides...

Source : News on Air

Correct Answer :   Assam

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* Gulab Chand Kataria took oath as the 31st governor of Assam on Wednesday (22nd Feb 2023).

* The oath of office was administered by Justice Sandeep Mehta, the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court in a ceremony held at the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati.

* Assam chief minister "Himanta Biswa Sarma" was also present on the occasion.

* On 12 February 2023, Kataria was appointed as the new Governor of Assam replacing Professor Jagdish Mukhi.

* On Tuesday (21st Feb 2023), Kataria was accorded a warm and traditional welcome on his arrival at Raj Bhavan. Along with him, his wife Anita Kataria was also welcomed by the officers and staff of Raj Bhavan.

* Gulab Chand Kataria hails from Udaipur in Rajasthan and is the former Home Minister of the state. He served as the home minister of Rajasthan from 2014 to 2018.

* A senior BJP leader, he is also a part of the party's central working committee..

Source : Pratid In Time

Correct Answer :   IIT Roorkee

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Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) and Indian Air Force (IAF), signed an MoU intending to promote the development of indigenous technologies and equipment through Research and Development in areas of mutual interest on February 14, 2023, at Bengaluru during Aero India 2023 aiming at self-reliance of Indian Defence system.

* The MoU was signed by Prof K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, and Air Vice Marshal SK Jain VSM, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Maintenance Plans), on behalf of IIT Roorkee and IAF.

* During the event, prof. Akshay Dvivedi, Dean of Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy pointed out that with the signing of the MoU, IIT Roorkee will effectively contribute to enhancing the capabilities of the Indian Airforce for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and technology development.

* Prof. Pradip K. Maji, Associate Professor, Dept Polymer and Process Engineering, IIT Roorkee coordinated the MoU between IITR and IAF.

* The MoU was released during the seminar at Aero India 2023 in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, PVSM AVSM VM ADC and other dignitaries of the Ministry of Defence, Govt of India.

* This MoU outlines the collaborative effort between IIT Roorkee to achieve the ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision for shared global prosperity and making a step ahead toward Aatmanirbhar Bharat by creating a world-class domestic defence industry through research and development. IAF will also partner with IIT Roorkee, and other agencies designated by IITR..

Source : The Print

Correct Answer :   SEBI

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The SEBI has proposed that the listed entities should take approval from shareholders at least once in 5 years for the appointment of directors to serve on their boards.

Reason : To curb the practice of occupying permanent directorship in a company.

* SEBI also proposed norms, related to special rights granted to certain shareholders; sale, disposal, or lease of assets of a listed entity outside the ‘scheme of arrangement’ framework and on agreements binding listed entities.

* In the interest of good corporate governance at listed entities, all directors appointed to the board of a listed entity need to go through periodic shareholders’ approval process, thereby providing legitimacy to the director to continue to serve on the board.

* Sebi proposed in a consultation paper on strengthening corporate governance at listed entities by empowering shareholders.

* As on March 31, 2024, if there is any director serving on the board of a listed entity without his / her appointment or re-appointment being subject to shareholders’ approval during the last five years i.e., from April 1, 2019, the listed entity shall take shareholders’ approval in the first general meeting to be held after April 1, 2024, for his / her continuation on the board of the listed entity, the markets regulator said..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   22nd February

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Every year, on February 22, millions of people who have been a part of the Boy Scouts mark World Scout Day.

* It commemorates the birth anniversary of the founder of the Boy Scouts Movement, Lord Robert Baden-Powell.

* The day, celebrated by National Scout Organisations worldwide, is observed through activities such as fundraising, food drives, and other forms of community service. Read about the history and significance of the day, as well as about the life of Lord Baden-Powell here.


World Scout Day History :

Scouting’s inception dates back to over a century ago, in 1907 in United Kingdom. The first Boy Scout camp was organised by Lord Baden-Powell back then with a ragtag group of 20 youngsters. The camp, followed by the founder’s book ‘Scouting for Boys,’ became an instant hit. Over the course of the next few years, the movement grew swiftly, taking on a global character.

World Scout Day, also known as Founder’s Day, is celebrated on February 22 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Lord Robert Baden-Powell. The day is also significant since it marks the birth anniversary of his wife, Olave Baden-Powell, the World Chief Guide.

World Scout Day Significance :

As of 2022, the Scout Movement is spread across 172 National Scout Organisations with 57 million members, as per their official website. This is an important day for the entire scout community. To mark the occasion, several Boy Scout members recommit themselves to the ideals of the organisation. The operations of these institutions on the day are centred around community welfare. Several individuals perform good deeds and engage in community service.

Source : News 18

Correct Answer :   Afshan Khan

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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced the appointment of Indo-Canadian "Afshan Khan" as the coordinator of the 'Scaling Up Nutrition Movement'.

The Scaling Up Nutrition or SUN Movement is a country-driven initiative led by 65 nations and four Indian states united in their mission to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030, Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the secretary-general told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York.

About Afshan Khan :

* "Afshan Khan will succeed Gerda Verburg of the Netherlands, to whom the secretary-general expresses his gratitude for her efforts and dedication in leading the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement.

* Born in India, Khan will lead the SUN Movement Secretariat, as well as coordinate the network of SUN Government Focal Points, the movement's stakeholders, and supporters, Dujarric said.

* She has both Canadian and United Kingdom citizenship. Khan holds a master's degree in public policy from the , and a bachelor's degree in political science from McGill University...

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   February 22

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World Thinking Day is an international day of celebration, observed annually on February 22, to promote the values of leadership, diversity and empowerment among young women worldwide.

* The day is celebrated by members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), an organisation that boasts over 10 million members across 150 countries.

* World Thinking Day is an occasion for young girls and women to take action on issues that affect them and their communities. Furthermore, it serves as an opportunity for young girls and women to reflect on the ways in which they can support and empower each other.

* It’s a time to recognise the importance of equality, inclusiveness and teamwork, and to reflect on the ways in which young girls and women can make a positive difference in the world. By fostering cross-cultural understanding and promoting social change, World Thinking Day helps to create a better world for all.

World Thinking Day Theme 2023 : The theme for World Thinking Day 2023 is ‘Our World, Our Peaceful Future’. This theme encourages girls and young women to reflect on the role of the environment in creating a more peaceful and secure future for all. It explores topics such as stewardship, harmony, and the relationship between the environment and peace and security.

World Thinking Day History : The origin of World Thinking Day dates back to 1926 when delegates from the Girl Guide and Girl Scout movements met at the 4th World Conference in the United States.

* The delegates agreed that there should be a special day each year when Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world could think of each other and show their appreciation for the movement. This day was called Thinking Day, and it was proclaimed to be celebrated on February 22, which was the shared birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scout Movement, and his wife Olave Baden-Powell, the then World Chief Guide.

* In 1999, at the 30th World Conference in Dublin, Ireland, the name of the day was changed from Thinking Day to World Thinking Day. This change was made to better emphasise the international aspects of the day and to reflect the global nature of the Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting movements.

World Thinking Day Significance : World Thinking Day is a significant day for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts worldwide. It provides an opportunity for girls and young women to reflect on their values and commitments as members of the guiding and scouting movements. The day also serves as a reminder of the importance of these movements in promoting leadership, teamwork, and self-confidence among young girls and women.

In addition to highlighting the importance of guiding and scouting movements, World Thinking Day also serves as a platform for young girls and women to learn about other cultures and connect with their peers around the world..

Source : News9live

Correct Answer :   Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)

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Bharat Electronics (BEL), a Navratna Defence PSU, announced on Tuesday (21st Feb 2023) that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), DRDO, for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.

* It also signed another MoU with Cisco for long-term strategic cooperation in networking, collaboration, and security, among other services, according to separate press releases from BEL.

* According to the PSU, these MoUs were signed during the Aero India 2023 exhibition in Bengaluru from 13 to 17 February 2023.

* According to BEL, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraftfifth-generation, multi-role, all-weather fighter aircraft with high survivability and stealth capability.

* The MoU Aim : to leverage BEL and ADA's complementary strengths and capabilities by collaborating on the design, development, qualification, production and supply of Internal Weapon Bay Computer and other Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) for AMCA, as well as providing lifetime product support to the Indian Air Force.

* BEL stated that the MoU with Cisco aims to leverage the partners' strengths and capabilities to capitalise on emerging opportunities in the network and security domains..

Source : Business World

Correct Answer :   22nd Feb 2023

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Subi Suresh, one of the most popular faces on television, a famous anchor and film actress Subi Suresh passed away on Wednesday(22nd Feb 2023) at a private hospital here, according to industry sources.

* She had been ailing with liver complications for a while.

* The 41-year-old actress was single. She hit the screen as a mimicry artist - a rarity among females - and then became a busy TV serial actress. Soon her popularity increased and was known for her charming and pleasing character.

* Tiny Tom, another popular actor, said things were moving fast to do a liver transplant surgery and the work for it was going on when she breathed her last.

* Subi appeared in more than 20 films after making her acting debut in Rajasenan’s “Kanaka Simhasanam,” including “Grihanathan,” “Thaksara Lahala,” “Elsamma Enna Aankutty,” “Drama,” “101 Weddings' and 'Drama” and “Kaaryasthan.”

* Subi, an Ernakulam resident who was born in Tripunithura, lived in Koonammavu.

* She continued to work as a performer following her graduation from St Teresa’s College..

Source : Zee news