Correct Answer :   Varanasi

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India will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Tourism Ministers’ Meeting (TMM) on 17th -18th March 2023 in Kashi (Varanasi), which has been designated as the first cultural capital of the SCO.

India is the current chair of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

During TMM, Tourism Joint Action Plan on the Development of Cooperation in Tourism among SCO member countries would be adopted.

The TMM will be preceded by 2nd Tourism Expert Working Group Meeting on 14th -15th March 2023 which will discuss and finalize Tourism Joint Action before being adopted at the SCO Tourism Ministers’ meet on 17th March 2023.

The Joint Action Plan to be discussed during the 2nd EWG meeting will include actions relating to Promotion of the SCO tourism brand, Promotion of the cultural heritage of the SCO Member States in tourism, Sharing and Exchange of information and digital technology in tourism, promoting of mutual cooperation in medical and health tourism., Improving the quality of services. The Joint Action Plan will be adopted during the meeting of SCO Tourism Ministers on 17th March 2023 in Kashi.

India has assumed the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) Chairship for 2023. As part of the tourism track activities under India’s chairship, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India planned various activities such as

(i) SCO Tourism Mart during SATTE (South Asia's Travel & Tourism Exchange) from 9th-11th February 2023

(ii) SCO Expert Level Tourism Working Group Meeting and SCO Tourism Minister’s Meeting in Kashi (Varanasi) from 13-18th March 2023.

(iii) SCO Food Festival in Mumbai from 13-19 April 2023...

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   March 3, 2023

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Japanese novelist, Kenzaburo Oe passed away at the age of 88 on March 3, 2023, due to age-related issues.

He was known for his pacifist and anti-nuclear views.

He was honoured with the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1994 for creating "an imagined world, where life and myth condense to form a disconcerting picture of the human predicament today".

His notable works are 'A Personal Matter' and 'The Silent Cry'..

Born : 31 January 1935, Osehigashi, Uchiko, Ehime, Japan

Died : 3 March 2023

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Maharashtra

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Sweden India Business Council (SIBC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Maharashtra government for cooperation in the area of waste to energy, sustainable infrastructure and transportation, defence manufacturing and investment, the industry body said on Sunday (12th March 2023).

* The MoU was signed on Saturday (11th March 2023) evening in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

* "Maharashtra is the 'Second Home' to Swedish companies and 'Power House' of India. The relation between Maharashtra and Sweden is now 100 years old and we pledge to make it stronger ahead. Looking forward to work together in innovation, manufacturing, technology, solar energy, green and clean energies," Fadnavis tweeted after signing of the MoU.

* The MoU was signed between Sweden India Business Council (SIBC) and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC).

* Swedish industry will continue to expand and invest in Maharashtra. This MoU intends to support the two parties to reach a deeper collaboration for a more sustainable future and further job creation and technology cooperation, SIBC, Member of Board, Prashant Agarwal said in the statement..

Source : Outlook India

Correct Answer :   India and Sweden

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A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was signed between Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), and The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT), Stockholm, Sweden, to strengthen cooperation and promote research networking between research institutions from both countries.

* The MoC was signed on 13 March 2023 by Dr. Akhilesh Gupta, Secretary, SERB, and Dr. Andreas Göthenberg, Executive Director, STINT, in the presence of Dr. Erik Forsberg, Representative in APAC, STINT, and Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Dr. S. Chandrasekhar and Mr. Håkan Jevrell, State Secretary to Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.

* MoC Aims : To promote mobility funding opportunities in both countries. It will facilitate academic cooperation through mobility activities as well as through seminars, workshops and conferences.

* In his special address, Dr. S. Chandrasekhar, Secretary, DST, stressed that many such international collaborations are taking impetus under Hon'ble PM Narendra Modiji, especially in the year of India’s G 20 presidentship and the partnership between India and Sweden will take forward joint S&T efforts particularly in smart cities, artificial intelligence, quantum computer, transportation, and many more futuristic technologies.

* This MoC will enable a smooth exchange of activities between our young scientists and Swedish researchers..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   38.58 Crore

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According to the Mudra portal (as of 27.01.2023), more than 38.58 crore loans have been extended since the inception of the Scheme in April 2015.

* Out of this, over 26.35 crore loans have been extended to Women Entrepreneurs (68%).

* SC/ST/OBC category borrowers received 19.84 crore loans (51%).

* As per the Ministry of Labour survey, PMMY helped in generating 1.12 crore net additional employment in the country from 2015 to 2018..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Surekha Yadav

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Surekha Yadav, Asia's first female locomotive pilot is now operating the Vande Bharat Express.

Yadav operated Vande Bharat Express from Solapur to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminal (CSMT) in Maharashtra on Monday (13th March 2023).

Yadav expressed her gratitude for being given the chance to operate the high-speed Vande Bharat Train.

She was thankful for giving her the opportunity to pilot the new age, state-of-the-art technology Vande Bharat Train. The train departed Solapur at right time and reached CSMT 5 minutes before time. The crew learning process involves signal observance, hands-on new equipment, co-ordination with other crew members, observance of all parameters for running of a train.

Hailing from Satara, Maharashtra, Surekha Yadav became the country's first female train driver in 1988.

Earlier on the occasion of International Women's Day (8 March), the Central Railway operated the prestigious Mumbai-Pune Deccan Queen Express and CSMT-Kalyan ladies' special local train with all-women crews. On that day, Yadav operated the Deccan Queen with Sayali Sawardekar as an assistant loco pilot. Leena Francis discharged the responsibility of train manager (guard) while a team of six women heads travelling ticket examiners led by chief ticket inspector Jiji John and Deepa Vaidya guided and assisted the passengers.

Mumtaz Kazi, who carries the distinction of being the first suburban motor woman of Asia, operated the K99 local, a ladies' special train running between the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai and Kalyan. Mayuri Kamble worked as a guard on the train..

Source : Mint 

Correct Answer :   Guwahati

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As part of the G20 summit, the first Supreme Audit Institution 20 (SAI20) Senior Officers Meeting is being organized in Guwahati on 13 March 2023 and will continue till March 15, 2023.

Theme 2023 : Blue Economy’ and ‘Responsible Artificial Intelligence

Aim : To bring together an ecosystem wherein SAIs are active partners in governance, promoting transparency and accountability.

SAI20 meeting was chaired by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Girish Chandra Murmu..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   The Runway to Billion Opportunities

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 14th edition of Asia's biggest Aero Show - Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru on February 13, 2023.

* Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Choudhary led the Gurukul formation during the flypast at the opening ceremony of the Mega Air Show.

* 731 executives are participating in the mega show out of which 633 are domestic and 98 are of international level.

* According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the theme of Aero India 2023 is "The Runway to Billion Opportunities" (The Runway to a Billion Opportunities). Over 80 nations are participating in this Mega Aero India 2023..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Narendra Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway in Karnataka 12th March 2023.

Constructed at a cost of over 8400 crore rupees, a 10 lane Bengaluru Mysuru Expressway will boost connectivity and socio-economic growth in Karnataka.

Mr Modi also laid the foundation stone for the Mysuru-Kushalnagar highway. Addressing at a public rally in Mandya, Mr Modi said, the 118-km-long  Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway will reduce the travel time between Bengaluru and Mysuru from three hours to about 75 minutes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that infrastructure development taken up extensively in India not only brings comfort in travel but also generates employment, brings in investment and also finds ways to generate revenue for the local population.

He said that the expressway connects the tech city of Bengaluru with the traditional city of Mysuru. He noted that this will help the growth of tourist destinations in Ramanagara and Mandya too.

The four lanes to Kushalnagar will connect tourist places in Kodagu and provide road connectivity to Mangaluru in the coming days. The Prime Minister stressed that the double-engine government in the State and Centre has accelerated development in Karnataka.

The Prime Minister said the double-engine Government is aiming to reach every marginalised section of society. He said the BJP government has been working for the poor and prioritising shelter and water supply issues. Farmers' problems are also being taken care of, he added. He said that huge investment is taking place in different sectors of the economy to speed up growth...

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Nagpur

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In Maharashtra, a new initiative called 'Beggar-Free City' has been started in Nagpur. Commissioner of Police of Nagpur City, Amitesh Kumar said that, notification of 144 CrPC has been issued in this regard.

* Notices have been served to people. While speaking to reporters he said that they will strictly enforce this and begging will not be allowed in public places.

* This is the joint venture of Nagpur City police and Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) social welfare department.

* The NMC has made special arrangements to accommodate homeless people in the shelters owned by it.

* The civic body has kept a bus and an ambulance ready to shift the beggars caught in police drive to its shelter home..

Source : AIR