Correct Answer :   Second Wednesday of March

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No Smoking Day is an annual health awareness day observed on the second Wednesday of March. This year (2023), No Smoking Day falls on March 8.

Aim : The day aims to encourage people to quit smoking and raise awareness about its harmful effects on their health. On this day smokers are encouraged to adopt healthier lifestyles.

History : Smoking has been around for centuries and was initially used for medicinal purposes. However, it was not until the 20th century that it became a widespread habit. The harmful effects of smoking were not initially known, and it was only in the mid-20th century that research revealed the connection between smoking and various illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and lung diseases. Since then, numerous campaigns have been launched to encourage people to quit smoking and raise awareness about its harmful effects.

Significance : No Smoking Day is significant because smoking and tobacco use are major public health issues worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tobacco is the leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide. Smoking kills approximately 8 million people each year. It is one of the most prevalent ways that tobacco is consumed across the world..

Source : CNBC

Correct Answer :   8th March 2023

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* Bollywood actor-director Satish Kaushik passed away at the age of 66 on Wednesday (8th March 2023) in Delhi due to cardiac arrest.

* Kaushik was an alumnus of the National School of Drama (NSD) and the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).

* He was known for his iconic roles in Mr. India, Tere Naam, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, Deewana Mastana, Brick Lane, Saajan Chale Sasural among others.

* Kaushik is fondly remembered for penning the dialogues for the 1983 cult classic "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron"...

Source : CNBC

Correct Answer :   Devendra Fadanvis

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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis on Wednesday (8th March 2023) informed the Legislative Council that the state will introduce the fourth women's policy to give more opportunities to women by considering the issues of women from all groups.

* On the occasion of International Women's Day, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Council Neelam Gorhe tabled a proposal to provide equal and dignified positions to women in all sectors. While replying to the proposal, Mr Fadanvis said that apart from education, and employment, the women's policy will consider other important aspects, including economic empowerment and gender equality.

* He also announced that the government will introduce a rehabilitation scheme for those above 18 years old girls from the orphanage.

* Chief Minister Eknath Shinde today (8th MAr 2023) announced in assembly that the state will start a Hirkani Room(Kaksha) for  breastfeeding mothers at each police station in the state.

* He also announced that Residential and Commercial properties will be promoted to open such rooms and 250sq. feet of such a room will not be counted in FSI.

* Maharashtra's Women and Child Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha announced that the State's all inclusive Women policy will be announced in the current session.

* He assured the assembly that the washroom for ladies will be built after every 50km on the new road. The government will build toilets for women every 50 kilometres.

* Mr Lodha also announced a Janata Durbar for women on the first Monday of every month in every district.

* Opposition Leader of Legislative Assembly Ajit Pawar attacked the government and said that though there are women MLAs and senior women leaders who deserve a place in the cabinet on merit, the government has ignored women's representation in the cabinet..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Shaliza Dhami

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The Indian Air Force announced Tuesday (7th Mar 2023) that it has selected Group Captain Shaliza Dhami to take command of a frontline combat unit in the Western sector.

* Group Captain Dhami will be the first woman officer in the IAF to command a missile squadron in the Western sector facing Pakistan. She is currently posted in the operations branch of a frontline command headquarters.

* Commissioned in 2003 as a helicopter pilot, Group Captain Dhami has over 2,800 hours of flying experience. She has flown the Chetak and Cheetah helicopters.

* A qualified flying instructor, she served as flight commander of a Chetak unit at the Hindon air base— both firsts for an Indian Air Force woman officer.

* She has been commended twice by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief in the past.

* As a helicopter pilot, she flew several search-and-rescue missions, and also undertook flood relief operations.

* Hailing from Ludhiana – her parents were in government service – she decided very early on joining the Indian Air Force, more so after becoming a cadet of the NCC.

* Her husband, Vineet Joshi, is also a helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force.

* The Indian Air Force started inducting women fighter pilots in 2016 – the first batch had three women fighter pilots. They currently fly the MiG-21, Su-30MKI and Rafale.

* The development comes weeks after the Army cleared as many as 108 women officers for the rank of Colonel (selection grade), making them eligible for command roles.

* Women officers have started taking command of various Army units in arms and services including Engineers, Signals, Army Air Defence, Intelligence Corps, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps and Electronics and Mechanical Engineers. The Navy has also started inducting women officers on frontline ships, earlier a no-go zone for women officers.

* Many of them have been posted in the sensitive northern and eastern commands of the Army.

* There are 10,493 women officers serving in the armed forces, the majority in the medical services...

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Australia

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Australian Prime Minister "Anthony Albanese" will arrive in Ahmedabad on 8th March 2023. During his four-day-tour, Mr Albanese is scheduled to visit Mumbai and Delhi as well.

He will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan on 10th March and call on President Droupadi Murmu.

Along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Australian Prime Minister will hold the Annual Summit to discuss areas of cooperation under the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, besides regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Prime minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Antony Albanese will be on a two day visit to Gujarat from 8th Mar 2023. Both the leaders will watch the first day of the fourth test match between the two countries at Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad tomorrow. PM will arrive late evening while the Australian PM will reach Ahmedabad in the evening. He is expected to visit Sabarmati Ashram today.

Ahmedabad police have deployed more than 3,000 personnel at the stadium as well as surrounding areas in the city anticipating a huge rush of spectators to watch the cricket match..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Jammu and Kashmir

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Jammu and Kashmir government celebrated International Women's Day in a unique way. It organised a plantation programme.

Theme : Under the theme “Ped Lagao Beti Ke Naam”.

The initiative  involved women and girls in afforestation, environmental conservation and creating awareness. Over one thousand   saplings of various species were planted along the National Highway Ring Road NH-44, at Chak Avtara Panchayat of Bishnah Tehsil of Jammu district 8th March 2023 by over 300 participants.

Women planted saplings in the name of their daughters and pledged to protect them and carry forward this initiative in other villages also.  

The plantations along newly constructed Highways including Jammu- Udhampur, Qazigund - Srinagar and Jammu Ring road stretches will help in developing green highways. During the current year, 1.35 crore saplings are being planted across all the districts of J&K..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Election Commission of India (ECI)

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The Election Commission of India (ECI) will host the 3rd International Conference on the theme ‘Inclusive Elections and Elections Integrity’ in virtual format on 09 March 2023.

* ECI is leading the Cohort on Elections Integrity which was established as a follow up to the ‘Summit for Democracy’ held virtually in December, 2021.

* Over 46 Participants from 25 Countries/EMBs including Angola, Armenia, Australia, Canada, Chile Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominica, Georgia, Guyana, Kenya, Rep. of Korea, Mauritius, Moldova, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, St. Lucia, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland and Zambia as well as representatives of international organisations from International IDEA and International foundation for Electoral systems and representatives from Civil Society Organisations viz.

* General Election Network for Disability Access in Indonesia and Association of Youth Organisations in Nepal are expected to participate in the Conference.

* Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Shri Anup Chandra Pandey and Shri Arun Goel will also address the Conference.

* The first international conference of the Cohort was organized on 31 Oct – 01 Nov, 2022 at New Delhi on the topic ‘Role, Framework and Capacity of Election Management Bodies’ where nearly 50 representatives from the Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of 11 countries participated.  

* The 2nd Conference on the theme ‘Use of Technology and Elections Integrity’ was hosted by ECI at New Delhi on 23-24 January 2023 wherein over 40 participants from 16 countries including Heads/Dy Heads of nine EMBs or Election Authorities and delegates from International IDEA and IFES participated besides diplomats from 8 foreign missions located at New Delhi..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Ashwini Vaishnaw

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Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and four Sikkim ministers on Monday (6th Mar 2023) released a unique cover of the Department of Posts, ‘Go Green, Go Organic’ for Sikkim.

* The special cover is a testament to the state’s achievements in organic farming and progress and a reminder of the importance of sustainable development for the entire country, the Vaishnaw stated.

* The union minister thanked Department of Posts for this release and congratulated Sikkim State for its achievements of becoming the first state of the world to get recognized as an Organic state by the World Book of Records (London).

* The union minister further said, 75,000 hectares of land were converted to organic farmlands. All of Sikkim’s farmlands are certified organic, and this has benefited more than 66,000 farming families.

* Meanwhile, the state has also won the prestigious Future Policy Gold Award from the UN Food and Agriculture.

* Sikkim has the title of the ‘first 100% organic state’ in the world, he said.

* Earlier on Sunday (5th Mar 2023), Union Railway Minister inspected the proposed rail link through the Sivok-Rangpo line, which will connect the state of Sikkim with the rest of the country...

Source : The Print

Correct Answer :   Manipur

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The Yaoshang festival has begun on Tuesday (7th March 2023) and will continue for five days in Manipur. The festival is celebrated by the Meetei who are predominantly Hindu and it is celebrated at the same time as Holi.

* However, during the Yaoshang festival, apart from playing with colour, the festival also witnessed a number of cultural and religious activities for five days.
 
* From some years back, the village level sport competition held by different clubs or organisations during the Yaoshang festival has become a major feature of the celebration.

* The Manipur Governor, Chief Minister and others conveyed warm greetings to the people of Manipur in connection with the festival..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Bhubaneswar Airport

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Odisha Chief Minister "Naveen Patnaik" unveiled former Chief Minister "Biju Patnaik's" renovated Douglas DC-3 ‘Dakota’ aircraft for public viewing at the Bhubaneswar airport on Sunday (5th March 2023), marking the former chief minister’s 107th birth anniversary.

An official statement from the state’s commerce and transport department said that Biju Patnaik had flown this aircraft to rescue former Indonesian vice-president Mohammad Hatta and former Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir in one of his most famous feats as a pilot.

However, some experts have questioned whether the aircraft unveiled is indeed the same plane that Patnaik flew to Indonesia – or if he even ever flew it at all. The aeroplane on display in Bhubaneswar is registered VT-AUI, and according to a 2005 article in the Aviation World Magazine, “no ‘A’ series Dakotas were owned by Kalinga (the airline started by Patnaik)”, a report by Warbirds of India, dedicated towards preserving vintage aircrafts.

Regardless of the origin of this specific plane, the plane will be a symbol of Biju’s oft-forgotten aviation exploits. “The youths will see the Dakota aircraft as a memento of Biju Patnaik’s bravery and heroics and get inspiration,” Usha Padhee, Odisha’s commerce and transport secretary...

Source : Indian Express