Correct Answer :   Rs 1,72,000

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According to National Statistical Office (NSO), the estimated annual per capita (net national income) at current prices for 2022-23 is Rs 1,72,000, showing a growth of around 99 per cent from Rs 86,647 in 2014-15.

However, after adjusting for inflation (constant prices), the per capita income has risen by approximately 35 per cent from Rs 72,805 in 2014-15 to Rs 98,118 in 2022-23.

"You are looking at GDP in current prices, but if you account for inflation, the increase is much less," Development economist Jayati Ghosh was quoted as saying.

* She further said distribution is critical.

* "Most of this increase has accrued to the top 10 per cent of the population. By contrast, median wages are falling, and possibly even lower in real terms," said the former JNU professor.

* According to the NSO, the per capita income in both real and nominal terms experienced a decline during the Covid period. Nonetheless, it has shown an improvement in the fiscal years 2021-22 and 2022-23.

* Pinaki Chakraborty, the former director of the esteemed economic research institute NIPFP, cited the World Development Indicator database and stated that India's per-capita income had an average growth rate of 5.6 per cent per annum in real terms during the period from 2014 to 2019.

* "This growth is significant. We have seen improvements in outcome related to health, education, and economic and social mobility. Covid impacted us badly. However, we have seen significant economic recovery after Covid. Sustaining per-capita income growth at 5 to 6 per cent per annum with appropriate redistributive policies will help sustain this momentum..

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   Droupadi Murmu

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President Droupadi Murmu has launched the ‘Catch the Rain-2023’ on Saturday(4th Mar 2023) as part of efforts to turn conservation of water into a mass campaign in the run-up to the monsoon season.

Theme 2023 : The theme of this year’s campaign will be ‘Source Sustainability for Drinking Water’, an official said.

During Jal Shakti Abhiyan : Catch the Rain-2023, the significant role that water plays in the empowerment of women has been acknowledged with the theme 'Jal Shakti se Nari Shakti'.

The president will also confer 18 awards under Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen, Jal Jeevan Mission and National Water Mission under various categories and release a compendium of case stories titled ‘Swachh Sujal Shakti Ki Abhivyakti’.

Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Ministers Devusinh Chauhan, Prahlad Singh Patel and Bishweswar Tudu will be present at the event..

Source : The Print

Correct Answer :   World Bank

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* The World Bank will lend up to $1 billion to India to strengthen its health infrastructure.

* The lending will be divided into two complementary loans of $500 million each.

* The bank will support India’s flagship Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) which was launched in October 2021.

* The loans will prioritize health service delivery in Seven States - Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.

Correct Answer :   Pankaj Gupta

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Pramerica Life Insurance Limited has appointed Pankaj Gupta as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Pramerica Life Insurance. Gupta will succeed Kalpana Sampat.

The appointment has been approved by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). Pankaj has replaced Kalpana Sampat. Prior to this, Pankaj held various senior positions at Citigroup, ICICI Bank and TCS.

Pramerica Life Insurance Limited is a joint venture between DIL, a wholly owned subsidiary of Piramal Capital and Housing Finance Limited and Prudential International Insurance Holdings, Ltd. (PIIH), a fully owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI).

Incorporated in September 2008, the company has assets under management of Rs 7,148 crore as of 31 January, according to the company’s website...

Source : Economic Times

Correct Answer :   Amazon Pay

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The RBI has imposed a penalty of Rs 3.06 crore on Amazon Pay (India) Private Limited for not complying with provisions on prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) and know your customer (KYC) guidelines.

The penalty has been imposed under Section 30 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. “The action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the entity with its customers,” the RBI said.

Correct Answer :   Gujarat

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The Deakin University, which is a premier University in Australia, has become the 1st foreign university to receive approval of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) to set up an International Branch Campus (IBC) in GIFT-IFSC, GIFT City, Gujarat.

* Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2022-23 announced that “World Class Foreign Universities and Institutions will be allowed in the GIFT City to offer courses in Financial Management, FinTech, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, free from domestic regulations, except those by the IFSCA to facilitate availability of high-end human resources for financial services and technology”.

* The IFSCA, which is the unified financial regulator for IFSCs in India, notified IFSCA (Setting up and Operation of International Branch Campus and Offshore Education Centres) Regulations, 2022 in October, 2022, which has received encouraging response from reputed foreign universities from across the world.

* The IFSCA has granted in-principle approval to Deakin University based on the recommendation of the Committee of Experts set up by the GIFT City Company Limited.

* By virtue of this approval, Deakin University will be able to offer the same degree courses it offers in Australia in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Financial Management in GIFT IFSC to both Indian and foreign students. The degree offered shall be identical or similar to that offered in the home jurisdiction.

* The setting up of world class educational institutions in GIFT IFSC will contribute to developing a robust extended ecosystem and make available high-end human resources to the financial institutions operating out of GIFT City. It will also promote deep collaboration between academia and industry resulting in financial innovations.

* It is expected that the entry of the first foreign university into GIFT IFSC will set the stage for many more institutions of global repute to follow going by the expressions of interest received so far.

* Shri Injeti Srinivas, Chairperson, IFSCA, stated that, “Apart from making available world class education within India (GIFT-IFSC), it is also expected to be a huge value proposition in terms of reduced costs for students with greater international employment opportunities. This will also lead to greater internationalisation of GIFT-IFSC by attracting students from all parts of the World.”..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Kuwait

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Kuwait's crown prince re-appointed Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf al-Sabah as Prime Minister and asked him to nominate a cabinet on Sunday (5th March 2023), according to the state news agency KUNA.

* This comes more than a month after the government resigned due to increased tensions with the parliament.

* Fiscal reform attempts, including a debt law permitting Kuwait to access foreign markets, have been thwarted by this protracted deadlock between the administration and the elected parliament.

* The nomination of Sheikh Ahmed resulted in the dissolution of the parliament and the calling of early elections by crown prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who is also in charge of the duties of the governing emir.

* Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who also oversees the duties of the ruling emir, nominated Sheikh Ahmed, effectively dissolving parliament and calling for early elections. Although political parties are prohibited in Kuwait, the legislature has more power than similar bodies in other Gulf monarchies..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   India and Mexico

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India and Mexico on Saturday (4th March 2023) signed an MoU on research, technology and innovation collaborations in New Delhi.

* It will specifically focus on several key technology areas including Aerospace, Electronics, Earth and Ocean Sciences and Water, Mining, Minerals, Clean Energy, Biotech and Healthcare.

* Terming both the countries as Privileged Partners, Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh assured  Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard that India with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and sister Organizations will provide tangible results in the three priority areas of Water, Lithium and Vaccines flagged by the Mexican side.

* In his address, Mr Ebrard expressed his gratitude to India for sending COVID Vaccines during the peak of the pandemic..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Anurag Singh Thakur

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Youth Affairs and Sports and Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur launched Yuva Utsava - India@2047 from Ropar in Punjab on 4th March 2023. He also launched the Dashboard of Yuva Utsav during the event.
 
* In his address he said that in the first phase , Yuva Utsav is being organised in 150 districts across the country to promote youth power till the 31st of March, 2023. In the first phase, programmes are being conducted by schools and colleges of the districts.

* He said, as the country is celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahatsav,  it is a matter of pride that Yuva utsav has started from Punjab which has immensely  contributed to the freedom struggle.

* He urged the youth of the country to contribute in taking our country's development, heritage and values at higher levels as India has a biggest population who is under 35 years.

* He said, India is a mother of democracy and has the biggest Yuva Shakti.
 
* Minister said that there are a lot of hopes from Yuva Shakti in Janbhagidari. He urged the youth to work in building the nation and bring a change in whatever field they think is required as youth are the builders of tomorrow.
 
* Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through its flagship youth organisation Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan is conducting ‘Yuva Utsav India @2047’ in all districts across the country.The Yuva Utsav will be held from March to June 2023.

* This all India celebration of youth power will be held on three levels. Yuva Utsav will begin with a one-day district-level programme.The first phase of the programme is planned to be held in 150 districts from the 4th to 31st of March, 2023...

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Punjab

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The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has been awarded as top performer among all Discoms's across the country for energy conservation measures under Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) program of the Union Ministry for Power.

* The award ceremony was held at New Delhi on 1st March 2023.

* A PSPCL spokesperson said that a total number of 80,686 ‘Energy saving certificates’ (ESCerts) were issued to PSPCL during PAT cycle-II by the Ministry of Power.

* The value of each ESCert is around Rs 1,840 thus total value of Rs 14.84 crore and these can be traded at Power Exchanges. The ‘Top performer award’ and letter of appreciation was given to PSPCL by Union power minister RK Singh during National Function at Delhi...

Source : Times of India