Correct Answer :   Tanzania

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The first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus to be set up outside India will be in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

* A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for setting up a campus of IIT Madras in Zanzibar was signed between the Ministry of Education, Government of India, IIT Madras and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training Zanzibar, Tanzania on July 5 2023, according to an official statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

* The MoU was signed in the presence of Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar; programmes at the new campus could commence in October 2023.

* “This unique partnership will bring the top-ranked educational expertise of IIT Madras to a prime destination in Africa and serve the imperative current needs of the region. The academic programmes, curricula, student selection aspects and pedagogical details will be finalised by IIT Madras, whereas the capital and operating expenditure will be met by the Government of Zanzibar-Tanzania,” the release noted.

* The first IIT was formally established in India way back in 1951 in Kharagpur, West Bengal, following a report by a 22-member committee headed by industrialist and economist N R Sarkar that recommended the establishment of four higher technical institutions in the Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern regions, possibly on the lines of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, with a number of secondary institutions affiliated to it.

* These higher technical institutions were supposed to aid the post-war industrial development of India, according to a post by IIT Kharagpur. Over the years, the number of IITs have multiplied and at present there are 23 IITs all over India.

* IIT Madras degrees will be awarded to students enrolled in the Zanzibar campus. The state-of-the-art interdisciplinary degrees are expected to attract a diverse cohort and will include students from Africa and other countries as well, with Indian students also eligible to apply..

Source : The Hindu Businessline

Correct Answer :   Adhav Arjun

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Tamil Nadu Basketball Association (TNBA) President Aadhav Arjun has been elected as the President of the Basketball Federation of India.

* Adhav won 38 votes out of 39, defeating the current president K Govindaraj. BFI is the governing body of the game of basketball in India. It was established in 1950. It is affiliated with FIBA Asia and the Indian Olympic Association.  

Kulvinder Singh Gill, a former player and the president of the Madhya Pradesh Basketball Association, was elected as the secretary general.

Historically, few leaders have been appointed without going through an election process over the past three decades. However, this time, we conducted the election under the supervision of the Supreme Court and emerged triumphant. The reforms implemented under my leadership have significantly elevated the performance of Tamil Nadu’s basketball teams, making them the top contenders in India.

The office bearers : President: Aadhav Arjuna; Vice presidents: Ajay Ssud, Donald Steven Wahlang, Dr. Lalrinawma Hnamte, Manohara Kumar, Norman Isaac, Fr. Ralin De Souza, Seema Sharma; Secretary General: Kulvinder Singh Gill; Treasurer: T Chengalraya Naidu; Joint secretaries: G Chakravarthi, Munish Sharma, Pradeep Kumar Auddi, Prakash Sandou, Surya Singh.

Executive committee : RS Bedi, C Sasidharan, Sentiningsang Longkumer, T Brajbidhu Singh.

About the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) :

* The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) is the governing body of basketball in India. It was founded in 1950 and is affiliated to FIBA Asia and the Indian Olympic Association.

* The history of basketball in India can be traced back to the early 1900s, when the game was introduced by Christian missionaries and YMCAs. The first national basketball championships were held in 1934, and India became a member of FIBA in 1936.

* The BFI has been responsible for the development and promotion of basketball in India. It organizes national and international tournaments, and provides training and support to players and coaches. The BFI has also played a role in the growth of the Indian basketball league, the Universal Basketball Alliance (UBA).

* The BFI has faced some challenges in recent years, including a lack of funding and a shortage of qualified coaches. However, the federation is committed to growing the game of basketball in India, and it has made some progress in recent years.

Correct Answer :   Iceland

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The 2023 Global Peace Index (GPI) recently released its annual ranking of the most peaceful countries in the world. Put out by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), the 17th edition of the GPI ranked 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peacefulness.

According to this year’s (2023) report, the average level of global peacefulness deteriorated by 0.42 per cent. “This is the thirteenth deterioration in peacefulness in the last fifteen years, with 84 countries improving and 79 deteriorating in peacefulness in 2022.”

As per the 2023 GIP, Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world – a title it has held since 2008. It is accompanied at the top by Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, and Austria. Conversely, Afghanistan is the least peaceful country in the world for the eighth consecutive year. It is followed by Yemen, Syria, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

* India has occupied the 126th spot in the rankings, two higher than its previous position.

The report stated that India experienced an improvement of 3.5 per cent in overall peacefulness over the past year, owing to improvements in violent crime, neighbouring countries’ relations, and political instability.

“The improvement on the neighbouring countries relations indicator occurred because of fewer incidences of cross border violence and ceasefire violations with Pakistan and China in 2022,” according to GIP.

Check out the top 10 most peaceful countries here :

* Iceland
* Denmark
* Ireland
* New Zealand
* Austria
* Singapore
* Portugal
* Slovenia
* Japan
* Switzerland.

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Bengaluru

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On the first day of the Space Economy Leaders Meet held in Bengaluru 6th July 2023 as part of the G20 Indian Presidency had a discussion on the possibilities of bilateral partnership in sharing space economy.

* The Chairman of ISRO S Somanath informed that partnerships between space agencies, industries, and start-ups were discussed during the meeting 6th July 2023.

* The discussion also covered the possibilities of the rule of law in space, guidelines and regulations in space missions, the possibility of upgrading the G20 Space Economy Leaders forum, and how to bring new countries into the space sector, helping them to build rockets and ground stations.

* The ISRO Chairman said that the theme of the meeting, namely towards a new space era -Economy, Responsibility, and the alliance was extensively discussed during the Heads of Space Agencies session.
 

* AIR correspondent reports that the first day of the Space Economy Leaders Meet saw participation from 27 countries and 33 industries.

* It showcased India’s industry capabilities in the space sector. On the concluding day tomorrow there will be a session on Space Industry partnership.

* IN-SPACe Chairman Dr. Pawan Kumar Goenka will make an opening remark.

* Thereafter the G20 and invited countries will make statements on the theme. In the concluding session on Space business connect session there will be B2B meetings and presentations by the Industry representatives. The delegates will visit HAL and other industries working in the space sector and relish cultural programmes. .

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Ajay Bhatt

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Union Minister of State Ajay Bhatt on Wednesday (5th July 2023) inaugurated new premises of the Canteen Stores Department depot at Haryana's Ambala.

He appreciated the store's modern warehouse design which meets the requirement of the armed forces deployed in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Chandigarh through a network of 141 unit run canteens located in far flung areas.

These canteens are a major source for the families of soldiers and ex-servicemen who dedicate their lives for the nation, it said.

The new premise was constructed by the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited. The project was completed in 24 months, and has state-of-the-art facilities of warehousing and logistics, the release said.

The Canteen Stores Department (CSD) works under the Ministry of Defence..

Correct Answer :   Narendra Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Sai Hira Global Convention Centre in Puttaparthi in Satya Sai district on 4th July 2023 via video conferencing mode.

* The inauguration will witness the presence of prominent dignitaries and baba devotees from around the world.

* The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust has constructed the new facility, the Sai Hira Global Convention Centre, at Prasanthi Nilayam, Puttaparthi. Prasanthi Nilayam is the main ashram of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

* The Convention Centre, donated by philanthropist Ryuko Hira, is a testament to the baba’s vision of promoting cultural exchange, spirituality and global harmony. It provides a nurturing environment for people of diverse backgrounds to come together, connect and explore the teachings of the baba.

* Its world-class amenities and infrastructure will facilitate conferences, seminars and cultural events. The sprawling complex also features meditation halls, serene gardens and accommodation facilities.

* AP Governor Abdul Nazeer will be the chief guest at Puttaparthi. The Governor would take part in the programme and will have darshan of the Maha Samadhi of Sri Satya Saibaba..

Source : Deccanchronicle

Correct Answer :   Ashwini Vaishnaw

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Union Minister of Communications and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced the introduction of the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) on Monday (3rd July 2023), a groundbreaking initiative aimed at launching the next-generation technology in India following the successful implementation of 5G.

* The Bharat 6G Alliance brings together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, as well as other departments, with a common objective of advancing telecommunications technology and fostering the development of 6G in the country.

* During an event, Minister Vaishnaw highlighted India's significant progress in the field of 6G technology, having already acquired over 200 patents.

* He underscored that the forthcoming 6G technology will build upon the foundation established by 5G and unlock a host of enhanced capabilities, including improved reliability, ultra-low latency, and affordable solutions..

Source : Business Today

Correct Answer :   Ajit Agarkar

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Ajit Agarkar has been appointed as chairman of the Senior Men’s Cricket Selection Committee. The Selection Committee now consists of Ajit Agarkar, Shiv Sundar Das, Subroto Banerjee, Salil Ankola, and Sridharan Sharath.

* The former India all-rounder represented the country in 26 Tests, 191 ODIs, and four T20Is, in addition to playing 110 first-class, 270 List A, and 62 T20 matches.

* As a former fast bowler, he was part of India's victorious squad in the inaugural T20 World Cup held in South Africa in 2007.

* He still holds the record for the fastest half-century by an Indian batter in ODI, achieved with a 21-ball fifty against Zimbabwe in 2000.

* He also held the record for being the fastest to reach 50 ODI wickets for nearly a decade, accomplishing the milestone in just 23 matches..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   ICFA and RAKEZ

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Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) and the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

Aim : To promote mutual growth and development in the food and agriculture sectors of the UAE and India

* The agreement strengthens the strategic collaboration between the two countries.

* The partnership aims to facilitate knowledge exchange, trade promotion, investment, and research and development collaboration.

* CA Harikishan Rankawat, President of the Federation of Indian Industry (Dubai Chapter) and Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (Dubai Chapter), expressed support for the collaboration, emphasizing their dedication to promoting trade and investments between the UAE and India.

* Leveraging their relationships with various industries in both countries, they aim to bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the table.

* This MoU further strengthens the UAE-India relations, which have been elevated by the recent Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

* With over 4,000 Indian companies, including global giants like Mahindra, Ashok Leyland, and Dabur, already operating in RAKEZ, the collaboration with ICFA promises to boost Indian presence and investment in the UAE.

* The agreement serves as another milestone in the bilateral relationship between the two nations, amplifying the investment potential for Indian businesses in the UAE and solidifying the UAE's status as a preferred business hub for Indian enterprises..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Iran

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Iran on Tuesday (4th July 2023) became the new permanent member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at an India-hosted virtual summit of the grouping.

In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Iranian President "Ebrahim Raisi" and the people of Iran on the country becoming a full member of the influential grouping.

"I extend my congratulations to President Raisi and the people of Iran on this occasion. We also welcome the signing of the Memorandum of Obligation for Belarus' SCO membership," he said.

"The interest of other countries in joining SCO 4th July 2023 is a testament to the importance of this organisation," he said.

India hosted the summit in its capacity as the grouping's current chair.

The summit, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was joined by Chinese President Xi Jinping, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and other leaders of the grouping.

In his remarks, Raisi expressed hope that Iran's presence in the SCO will provide a platform for achieving collective security and sustainable development, as well as unity between the countries.

A declaration issued at the conclusion of the summit said the member states "stressed the historical significance of the admission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the SCO as a full member state".

"They also noted the importance of signing the Memorandum of Obligations by the Republic of Belarus to achieve the status of an SCO member state," it said.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017..

Source : NDTV