Correct Answer :   17th July 2023

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Dr Mangala Narlikar, an eminent mathematician and the wife of Dr Jayant Narlikar who is the founder director of Pune-based Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), died early on Monday (17th July 2023). She was 80.

IUCAA director Prof R Srianand said Dr Mangala was suffering from cancer. “The last few months were difficult due to age-related problems. However, she was extremely positive and was a huge pillar of support for Dr Jayant Narlikar,” he added. IUCAA authorities said Dr Mangala’s funeral will be held around noon on Monday.

Dr Mangala Narlikar carried out research in pure mathematics. She initially worked at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai before joining as a lecturer at Bombay and Pune universities. Her core fields of interest were real and complex analysis, analytic geometry, number theory, algebra and topology.

Dr Mangala Narlikar Biography :

* Narlikar studied from the University of Bombay and received degrees of B. A. (Maths) in 1962 and M.A. (Maths) in 1964 with first rank and also won the Chancellor’s gold medal.

* She married, Jayant Narlikar, a well known cosmologist and physicist, in 1966. They have three daughters, Geeta, Girija and Leelavati, all of whom have pursued careers in science; one (Geeta) is a Professor of Biochemistry at the University of California, San Francisco, and the other two are in computer science.

* From 1964 to 1966 Narlikar worked as a Research Student and Research Associate in the School of Mathematics of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai.

* From 1967 to 1969 she taught the undergraduate school at the University of Cambridge. From 1974 to 1980 she again worked in the School of Mathematics of TIFR.

* She obtained her Ph.D. degree in mathematics from the University of Bombay, 16 years after her marriage, in 1981 on the subject of analytic number theory. After obtaining her doctoral degree, she continued to work with TIFR from 1982 to 1985 as a Pool Officer in the School of Mathematics.

* Her teaching assignments from 1982 to 1985 was for M Phil class in the Department of Mathematics in the University of Bombay. She also taught at intervals in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Pune from 1989 to 2002 and taught M Sc students at the centre in Bhaskaracharya Pratishthan from 2006 to 2010.

* Narlikar’s core fields of interest are real and complex analysis, analytic geometry, number theory, algebra, and topology.

* On writing books on mathematics, Narlikar wrote: “I enjoyed writing a book on how to make mathematics interesting and accessible”.

* On her combining her profession with looking after the household functions she wrote: “My story is perhaps a representation of the lives of many women of my generation who are well educated but always put household responsibilities before their personal careers”..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Nirmala Sitharaman

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman alongside Indonesian counterpart Mulyani Indrawati announced the launch of the Economic and Financial Dialogue between the two nations at the ministerial level.

This dialogue aims to foster collaboration, promote trade and investment, and enhance economic cooperation between India and Indonesia, two of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

The platform, unveiled during the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting, seeks to strengthen cooperation between the two nations and foster a shared understanding on global issues.

 “We are growing under regional and global circumstances. We actually have a lot of potential”, said Mulyani Indrawati.

Since the adoption of India’s “Look East Policy” in 1991 and the subsequent “Act East Policy,” bilateral relations between India and Indonesia have witnessed significant growth in both commercial and cultural domains.

Indonesia has emerged as India’s largest trading partner in the ASEAN region, with trade between the two countries increasing eightfold since 2005, reaching a remarkable USD 38 billion last year.

“The areas of cooperation include bilateral investment, financial services and infrastructure development, among others.  For instance, India has developed expertise in digital public infrastructure. It can provide time-tested solutions for convenient and affordable digital payments, which can assist Indonesia in achieving its financial inclusion goals”, said Nirmala Sitharaman

The Finance Minister emphasized that it would serve as a platform for discussing common interests and mutually beneficial issues.

Sitharaman stated, “India  and Indonesia are active members of multilateral organisations such as G-20, WTO, and East Asia Summit. India has taken over G20 Presidency from Indonesia, and there are several legacy issues that we are continuing to take forward during our Presidency. In this context, this dialogue can play an instrumental role in reaching a common understanding on issues, and take forward the global agenda from the perspective of EMDEs.”

India’s assumption of the G20 Presidency from Indonesia creates an opportunity to carry forward legacy issues and work collaboratively on the global agenda, particularly from the perspective of emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs).

“The Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) Dialogue is poised to enhance collaboration on bilateral and international economic and financial matters by bringing together economic policymakers and financial regulators from both countries. Areas of cooperation inter-alia, include macroeconomic challenges and global economic prospects, bilateral investment relations, and cooperation in G20 and ASEAN matters. Recognising the potential of the digital economy, the two Finance Ministers also noted the potential of collaboration in the field of fintech for financial inclusion..

Source : The Print

Correct Answer :   ICAR

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The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) celebrated its 95th Foundation Day 16th July 2023 at National Agriculture Science Complex, Pusa, New Delhi.

Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and President of ICAR Society was the Chief Guest of the program. Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry - Dairying and Shri Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare also graced the occasion.

Shri Tomar appreciated the historic journey of ICAR and its overall achievements during the last 94 years. He exhorted that India is a surplus nation in terms of food grains and providing food to 80 crore people of the country.

With the encouragement of Prime Minister, new technology in agriculture has been promoted through various new mission programs for the benefit of farmers. Agricultural products from India are being preferred globally and millets are getting significance in the International Year of Millets, he added.

This is happening because of sincere efforts of farmers and scientists. The Minister said exports earning from agricultural and horticultural product have crossed 50 billion US dollar. He informed that Government is giving emphasis on organic farming and natural farming and a separate mission has been initiated with budget provision of Rs.1500 crore for promotion of eco-friendly agriculture.

Further, he lauded the scientists and farmers for their great service to the nation in making the country not only self-sufficient in many commodities but also becoming exporter of food items.

Shri Rupala acclaimed ICAR for several remarkable achievements which have revolutionized the dairy and fisheries sector. He further mentioned that the time has come to earn carbon credits from agriculture which can be explored for additional income. He also inaugurated an exhibition showcasing innovative technologies developed by 113 ICAR research institute.

Shri Choudhary shared his views on the occasion and appreciated ICAR. He further mentioned that after 5 years ICAR will complete 100 years and this is the right time to strategize to set milestones for advancement in agriculture to be achieved in centenary year.

Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary (DARE) and Director General (ICAR) said that unprecedented growth in the agriculture sector has been recorded. He emphasised that India is not only self-sufficient in the production of food grains, but are also exporting agriculture and agricultural products in large quantities.  

In his presentation, he highlighted about the achievement made by ICAR such as development of 346 varieties of food grains, 99 varieties of horticulture crops, mapping of efficient cropping system zones, fertigation schedule for 24 crops, 28 new equipment’s and machineries, corona virus and lumpi disease vaccines, new diagnostics, breeding protocol of new fish breeds, conduction of 47088 on farm trials and 2.99 lakh front line demonstration on new technologies.

He also mentioned that 58 patents and 711 technology licencing agreements were signed by agriculture scientist from different industries. In order to promote agriculture innovations for commercialization, Scientist-Industry interface meetings are also organized as side event.

This is first time, the Foundation day is celebrated as Technology day, therefore, an exhibition has been organized to show case ICAR technologies for the benefit of farmers, students and agri-industry. This exhibition has been opened for public from 16-18 July, 2023 for awareness to the people about the innovations made by ICAR..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   New Delhi

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The ministry of information technology and communications on Thursday (13th July 2023) announced that the seventh edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC), co-hosted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), will be held from 27th October to 29th October 2023 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

The event will be themed around “Global Digital Innovation” and will showcase 6G, advancements in 5G networks, the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in telecommunications, edge computing, and developments related to India Stack.

IMC 2023 would also highlight related technology domains such as broadcast technology, satellite communication, manufacture of semiconductors.

IMC 2023 will introduce several B2G and B2B forums and industry round tables, events to facilitate student engagement, and global buyer forums.

More than 100,000 plus participants, 5,000 plus CXO-level delegates, 350 plus speakers, and 400 exhibitors are expected to attend the event.

The ministry also stated that IMC 2023 will launch a start-up event called Aspire, which will seek to encourage the growth of entrepreneurship among “young innovators and industry delegates in the telecom and digital domains”.

The minister for communications, electronics, and information technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, said that IMC 2023 should bring in all the complex and innovative technologies to the show including consumer electronics, AI, cybersecurity, data centres, and drones..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   16 July 2023

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National Zoological Park, New Delhi (Delhi Zoo) has celebrated World Snake Day on 16 July 2023. The purpose of World Snake Day celebration is to protect snakes by raising awareness about snakes of India, snakes disbelieves and importance of snakes in our ecosystem.

On this occasion, an enrichment activity was conducted by snake keeping staff by providing cage furniture in the reptile house. Plantation was also conducted inside the snake houses.

At reptile house interaction with about 350 visitors and small children’s was conducted about snakes and healthy lifestyle following the Mission LiFE. Reptile house walk was conducted and visitors interacted with the snake keepers. During this visit visitors participated enthusiastically in it and learn the role of zoo in conservation of snakes. Literature on reptiles was also distributed among visitors. At present National Zoological Park have 31 no of snakes of 07 species.

About the National Zoological Park, New Delhi :

The National Zoological Park (originally Delhi Zoo) is a 176-acre (71 ha) zoo in New Delhi, India. A 16th-century citadel, a sprawling green island and a motley collection of animals and birds, all in the middle of a burgeoning urban Delhi. The zoo can be seen on foot or using a battery-operated vehicle which can be rented at the zoo. Visitors are not permitted to bring any food other than drinking water, but there is a canteen in the zoo.

The Delhi zoo came decades later after New Delhi was built. although the idea to have a zoo at the national capital was mooted in 1951, the park was inaugurated in November 1959.

In 1952 the Indian Board for Wildlife created a committee to look into creating a zoo for Delhi. The government of India was to develop the zoo and then turn it over to Delhi as a working enterprise.

In 1953 the committee approved the location of the zoo, and in October 1955 it assigned N. D. Bachkheti of the Indian Forest Service to oversee the creation of the zoo.

Initially Major Aubrey Weinman of the Ceylon Zoological Garden (now the National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka) was asked to help draw the plans for the zoo, but because he was not available for the long term, Carl Hagenbeck of the Zoological Garden of Hamburg was hired. In March 1956, Hagenbeck presented a preliminary plan, which included the recommendation to use moated enclosures for the new zoo. The plan was modified as needed to account for local conditions, and approved by the Indian government in December 1956.

By the end of 1959, the Northern part of the zoo was complete, and animals which had been arriving for some time and which had been housed in temporary pens were moved into their permanent homes. The park was opened on 1 November 1959 as the Delhi Zoo. In 1982 it was officially renamed to National Zoological Park, with hopes that it could become a model for other zoos in the country.

Correct Answer :   India and UAE

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In a significant move to strengthen economic ties, India and the United Arab Emirates have signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Local Currency Settlement (LCS) system. This groundbreaking agreement, signed between the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of the UAE, aims to revolutionize cross-border transactions between the two nations.

The LCS system allows for the use of the Indian Rupee  and UAE Dirham  in bilateral trade, marking India's first-ever LCS arrangement.

This innovative system is expected to have a transformative impact on transaction costs and processing time while also increasing reliance on local currencies. The agreement comes as a significant milestone in the rapidly evolving India-UAE relationship, in line with the Vision Statement unveiled by the two leaders during their virtual summit in February 2022.

Under the LCS system, traders and businesses will have the flexibility to choose the payment currency based on mutual agreement, providing a seamless and efficient mechanism for cross-border transactions. This move is set to reduce dependence on international currencies and further strengthen economic cooperation between India and the UAE.

Additionally, the LCS system enables the use of surplus balances in local currencies for investment in various local currency assets, such as corporate bonds, government securities, and equity markets, creating new avenues for growth and collaboration.

The signing of the LCS agreement took place during the recent visit of Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to the UAE. Prime Minister Modi was warmly welcomed by HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, further reflecting the depth of bilateral relations between the two countries. This significant step is expected to amplify the preferential terms already established by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), bringing new opportunities for trade and investment..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   IIT Delhi

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(PIB) : A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Ministry of Education and Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) to establish 1st campus of IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi.

The signing took place in the presence of HE Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.

The MoU was signed by HE Mubarak Hamad Al Mheiri, ADEK Under Secretary, Shri Sunjay Sudhir, Indian Ambassador to the UAE and Professor Rangan Banerjee, Director, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

Complementing the ongoing UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the MoU reflects the shared vision of both nations to prioritize educational excellence, innovation, knowledge exchange, and investments in human capital as the foundations for future prosperity and enablers of long-term economic growth and sustainable development.

Expressing his happiness via Social Media, on the signing of MoU, Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said that the MoU for establishment of  IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi in the presence of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unfolds a new  chapter in internationalization of  India’s education. An example of New India’s innovation and expertise, the IIT Delhi campus in UAE will be an edifice of  India-UAE friendship.  

He further said that  IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi will set a brand new template for leveraging the power of knowledge for both mutual prosperity and global good. It also unfolds a new chapter in internationalisation of India’s education, he added.

Her Excellency Ms Sara Musallam, Minister of State for Early Education, Chairman of the Federal Agency of Early Education, and Chairman of ADEK, commented on how the MoU represents an important step in Abu Dhabi's commitment to accelerate a world-class education system that serves the national development goals and priorities.

The execution of this MoU marks a milestone in our plans towards actualizing a globally competitive education ecosystem. In line with our national strategy, this MoU reflects our commitment to providing world-class educational experiences. We anticipate that the IIT Delhi - Abu Dhabi partnership will support our transition towards fostering an environment that nurtures innovation and accelerates high-level research, stated HE Ms Sara Musallam.

IIT Delhi - Abu Dhabi will complement the academic, research and innovation ecosystem in Abu Dhabi through collaboration with key players such as Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Khalifa University, New York University Abu Dhabi, Technology Innovation Institute, and Hub71 to offer complimentary programs, conduct cutting edge research, and advance the local startup ecosystem.

The IIT Delhi - Abu Dhabi campus is expected to launch its academic programs in 2024  and a host of bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. programs, and operate research centers related to sustainable energy and climate studies, as well as computing and data sciences. IIT Delhi - Abu Dhabi is expected to offer a diverse range of programs covering Energy and Sustainability, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science and Engineering, Mathematics and Computing and other disciplines of engineering, sciences, and humanities.

IIT Delhi - Abu Dhabi graduates will join an illustrious alumni network of graduates from 23 campuses across India. With outstanding credentials, IIT Delhi recently ranked among the world’s top 50 institutions for engineering and technology. It also scored a top 30 rank for global employability in the 2022 QS World University Rankings. IIT Delhi has been a frontline contributor to India's R&D ecosystem in sectors ranging from defense, healthcare, and rural development, to transportation, IT, and software.

Correct Answer :   Dharmendra Pradhan

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Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched AI for India 2.0, a free online training programme on Artificial Intelligence, 15th July 2023on World Youth Skills’ Day.



A joint initiative of Skill India and GUVI, this NCVET and IIT Madras accredited online programme will equip youth with frontier skills.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pradhan said that technology should not be a prisoner of language and called for technology courses in more Indian languages. He added that this is a good beginning towards dismantling language barrier in technology education and future-proofing our Yuva Shakti, particularly those in rural areas.

He added that India is a technology-savvy country and the success story in adoption of digital payments in India is a case in point. He expressed satisfaction that GUVI has taken this initiative to educate the bottom of the pyramid population in cutting-edge technologies.

Shri Pradhan warmly congratulated the novel initiative, envisioning easy accessibility of AI learning to every part of the nation.

GUVI, an IIT Madras incubated startup is a tech platform that enables tech learning in vernacular languages. This program has been curated in 9 Indian languages..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

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A rare and globally endangered bird species 'Jerdon's Babbler' was spotted in the buffer zone of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR), in the grasslands of Uttar Pradesh.



The bird was found during a grassland survey of bird fauna in the buffer zone of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, the official statement.

In an official release, surveyors at The Habitats Trust, Kaushik Sarkar and Anup Bokkasa revealed that Jerdon's Babbler lives in small flocks in pairs in high/long grasslands. This globally threatened bird has been listed in the 'Vulnerable' category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1994.

According to the surveyors, the existence of this rare bird in UP is significant as over 95% of all other Jerdon's Babbler sightings in India are from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Jerdon's Babbler was found in Haryana and Punjab along the Sutlej River. But with depleting areas of high grassland, 95% of Jerdon's Babbler in India is found in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh only. Globally, the count of Jerdon's Babbler is claimed to be near 10,000, out of which approximately 30% are found in India.

The Habitats Trust works towards protecting the grasslands in the region, which are home to a biodiverse bird population. They help to restore the delicate balance of the local ecosystems, allowing the species to thrive.

Based in Noida, The Habitats Trust is a biodiversity conservation and climate change organisation which works in 23 states and union territories. It aims to conserve and restore ecological functionality as a pathway towards human well-being.

Source : NDTV

Correct Answer :   Amit Shah

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Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah (14th July 2023) inaugurated the National Mega Conclave on Farmers Producer Organisation, FPO in the cooperative sector and released the action plan for formation of 1,100 new FPOs by Primary Agricultural Credit Societies in New Delhi 14th July 2023.

Mr  Shah said, in such a large country, where about 65 crore people are engaged in agriculture, it has become very essential to revive the cooperative movement, modernize it and to bring transparency to achieve new heights.

Mr. Shah added that the cooperative movement can make a significant contribution towards strengthening the country's population associated with agriculture and making them prosperous by combining their small capital through cooperatives.

The Union Minister of Cooperation said that the government has announced to set up ten thousand  FPOs and the target is to achieve this by the year 2027. He said the Central government has allocated 6 thousand 900 crore rupees to achieve this goal. 

He pointed out that if agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries are strengthened through cooperatives, employment opportunities will increase along with the GDP. Mr. Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister  Narendra Modi, there has been an increase of 55 percent in Minimum Support Price of Paddy and 51 percent in MSP of wheat in  10 years.

He highlighted that the Modi government is the first government after independence which has fixed at least 50 percent more profit than the cost incurred by the farmers.

Mr Shah said that there has been a radical change in the agriculture sector in the Modi government and now the Ministry of Cooperation has been created so that its benefits reach the farmers. He said that according to the mantra of cooperative, the profit goes to the one who does hard work in fields and this has been ensured by the Ministry of Cooperation.

Source : AIR