Correct Answer :   Himachal Pradesh

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Himachal Pradesh signed an MoU with the French Development Agency Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) for Rs 817.12 crore project.

* The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri by the Secretary Jal Shakti Vibhag Amitabh Awasthi on behalf of the State Government and country Director AFD Bruno Bosle on behalf of French Development Agency.

* Objective : To develop better sewerage facilities in five towns of the state - Manali, Bilaspur, Palampur, Nahan and Karsog.

* It also aims to improve drinking water supply in Manali and Palampur towns.

* Under the project, Rs 612 crore would be provided by AFD, whereas the State Government would provide Rs. 204.85 crore, said the Chief Minister.

* The beneficiaries of the project would receive house service connections in these five cities and the sewerage treatment plant would be designed with cutting-edge technologies so that the effluent could be reused for agricultural and industrial purposes..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   Shaktikanta Das

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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das on Wednesday (22nd March 2023) laid the foundation stone for establishment of a "Greenfield Data Centre" and ‘Enterprise Computing & Cybersecurity Training Institute’ in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

The Governor highlighted the need for augmenting the existing computing infrastructure of the RBI supported by cutting edge facilities for research and capacity building in emerging areas straddling central banking, technology and cybersecurity for a future ready RBI.

The new Data Centre and the Enterprise Computing & Cybersecurity Training Institute spread over an area of 18.55 acres, when commissioned, will cater to the emerging requirements of the RBI and the financial sector, per a central bank statement.

Das acknowledged the critical role played by technology in supporting the activities of the financial sector and the RBI over the years and recently, in facilitating a robust recovery from the pandemic..

Source : The Hindu Businessline

Correct Answer :   Himanta Biswa Sarma

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Assam Chief Minister "Himanta Biswa Sarma" on Tuesday (21st March 2023) launched the Mission Lifestyle for Environment' (LiFE) in the state, a global mass movement under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

* Sarma said it promotes an environmentally conscious lifestyle, focusing on utilisation instead of wasteful consumption.

* Under this initiative, week-long activities will be carried out across all districts, addressing seven identified categories, including saving energy and water, reducing plastic and e-waste, and healthy lifestyles, he said.

* Sarma said in known and unknown ways we work against nature creating problems for humanity, leading to challenges with which humans, plants and the animal kingdom have to deal.

* Earlier, we could predict the seasonal changes but now things have changed mostly due to loss of green cover, wetlands and other natural bodies, and many research papers have pointed out that North East India will face severe impacts of climate change.

* Over the last two years, the state government has cleared over six thousand acres of land by evicting encroachers, and this is a small step towards creating a healthy environment..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   21st March 2023

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Wing Commander Jag Mohan Nath (retd), the Indian Air Force veteran who flew numerous reconnaissance sorties over Tibet and Pakistan in his Canberra aircraft in the 1962 and 1965 wars, died in Mumbai on Tuesday (21st March 2023).

* The octogenarian, called “Jaggi” by his Air Force colleagues, was twice the recipient of Maha Vir Chakra gallantry honour.

* Six decades ago, when he leapt into his Canberra, a twin-engine jet bomber fitted with cameras, and flew into Pakistan on a top secret mission, then Squadron Leader Jag Mohan Nath already had a Maha Vir Chakra awarded to him for his 1962 war operations.

* He had flown into Aksai Chin and Tibet and returned with valuable inputs on the ground situation and enemy troop activities there, both before and during the Indo-China war.

* Three years later, in September 1965, he was awarded another Maha Vir Chakra, this time for his role in the Indo-Pak war.

* The Maha Vir Chakra is the second highest military decoration in India, after the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for acts of gallantry..

Source : NDTV

Correct Answer :   March 23

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Martyr's Day, is observed every year on March 23 also known as Shaheed Diwas. Martyr's Day, is observed to recognise and honour the sacrifices of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru.

* This day is celebrated in schools, students perform parades, poetry sessions, debates, dance and essay competitions.

Martyr’s Day History and Significance  :

* On March 23, 1931, a trio of Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar lost their lives during the struggle for India's independence and that day in history is celebrated as Martyrs' Day. 

* They were handed into Lahore jail. Martyr’s Day is observed to remember the freedom fighters who sacrificed themselves for the country’s freedom..

Source : Zeebiz

Correct Answer :   Larsen & Toubro (L&T)

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Larsen & Toubro (L&T), an Indian multinational that specializes in EPC projects, hi-tech manufacturing, and services, EPC major on Wednesday (22nd March 2023) announced has signed a binding agreement with McPhy Energy, a leading electrolyzer technology and manufacturing company based in France.

* The agreement establishes a long-term partnership between the two companies to explore opportunities in the emerging green hydrogen market.

* Specifically, L&T and McPhy Energy will collaborate on electrolyzer manufacturing, which is a key technology for the production of green hydrogen.

* As part of the partnership, McPhy Energy has granted L&T an exclusive license to use its pressurized alkaline electrolyzer technology for manufacturing electrolyzers, including future upgrades.

* L&T plans to establish a large-scale manufacturing facility in India for electrolyzers based on McPhy’s technology.

* The facility will produce electrolyzers for both domestic and international markets. This partnership is in line with L&T’s strategy to expand its presence in the green energy value chain and supports McPhy’s goal of expanding beyond Europe.

* According to estimates, India’s green hydrogen production capacity is expected to increase to at least 5 MMTPA by 2030, which will require investments of more than $100 billion....

Source :  Business Standard

Correct Answer :   New Delhi

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the new International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Area office & Innovation Centre in India at a programme in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi  on 22nd March 2023.

* The Prime Minister also unveiled the Bharat 6G Vision Document and launched the 6G R&D Test Bed. He also launched the ‘Call before u Dig’ App.

* ITU is the United Nations' specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs).

* India signed a Host Country Agreement in March 2022 with ITU for the establishment of Area Office. It will serve India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan and Iran, enhancing coordination among nations and fostering mutually beneficial economic cooperation in the region.

* Ms Doreen-Bogdan Martin, Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union thanked the Prime Minister for helping develop the new ITU Office and innovation center in India which marks a new chapter in the long history of India and ITU.

* She expressed confidence that ITU’s presence in the region will help the introduction of advanced technologies, improve capacity development, and foster entrepreneurship and partnerships while also responding to leads on the ground from digital services, skills, cyber security and digital inclusion.

* India is a role model for countries looking for digital transformation to grow their economies, rethink their government services, attract investments, remake commerce and empower their people..

* She further added that India is home to one of the biggest startup ecosystems, digital payments market and tech workforces in the world and the leadership of the Prime Minister has put India as a leader on the digital forefront of tech innovations and adoptions with game-changing initiatives like Aadhar, UPI among others that have turned India into a knowledge-based economy...

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   March 22

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World Water day is celebrated on March 22 every year to spread awareness about the water crisis all over the world.

World Water Day 2023 Aim :  To achieve the vision of sustainable water and sanitation for all by 2030.

* The UN's World Water Development Report (WWDR) is an overview of the crisis. The report is published on World Water Day every year, giving policies and recommendations to decision-makers to offer best practices and in-depth analyses of the global water crisis.

World Water Day 2023 Theme : The theme for World Water Day 2023 is "Accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crisis."

The theme emphasises the requirement for stern action to protect the world from the water crisis. Addressing the issue, the UN said, "Billions of people and countless schools, businesses, healthcare centres, farms and factories don’t have the safe water and toilets they need. There is an urgent need to accelerate change – to go beyond business as usual."

World Water Day 2023 Significance :

* Water is vital for the existence of life, but many people don't have any access to it. World Water Day works as a reminder to the world to work in this direction to support conservation efforts. As per the UN report, one in four people does not have access to clean drinking water.

* Inadequate access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene causes death to around 1.4 million people annually, and 74 million people cut their life short.

* Around 44% of household wastewater globally is not treated properly. On the other hand, global water demand is expected to increase by 55% by 2050.

World Water Day History :

* The United Nations General Assembly adopted World Water Day on December 22, 1992. The resolution was adopted, and thereon March 22 was declared to be celebrated as World Water Day. The first World Water Day Was observed on March 22, 1993.

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   Laxman Narasimhan

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Laxman Narasimhan has officially assumed the role of chief executive officer (CEO) of the coffeehouse chain Starbucks 20th March 2023, the Seattle-based company announced on Monday (20th March 2023) on its website. Narasimhan will join the company’s board of directors.

* Narasimhan was named incoming chief executive officer on 1 September 2022, succeeding company founder and now former chief executive officer, Howard Schultz.

* Narasimhan was earlier supposed to assumed charge as the head of the world’s largest coffee chain on April 1 but the Seattle-based giant has advanced his appointment by about two weeks.

* Narasimhan joined the company as incoming chief executive officer on 1 October 2022, bringing nearly 30 years of experience managing global consumer goods businesses and advising retail, grocery, restaurant and e-commerce companies.

* Over the past five months, he has embarked on a unique immersion experience, traveling to work with partners (employees) in over 30 stores, manufacturing plants and in support centers around the world, earning his barista certification along the way. He became immersed in the reinvention plans for the company led by Schultz who returned as interim CEO effective April 4, 2022.

* As he ascends into the role, Narasimhan will continue engaging the leadership team, sharing his early learnings and insights and assessing opportunities for the company as they chart a path forward.

* Prior to joining Starbucks, Narasimhan served in leadership roles at PepsiCo, Reckitt (consumer health, hygiene and nutrition company) and McKinsey & Company.

* “Laxman’s intensive immersion into the business coupled with his extensive experience as a proven brand builder, innovator and operator have uniquely prepared him to lead Starbucks into its next phase of growth,” said Mellody Hobson, independent Starbucks board of directors chair.

* Founded in 1971, Starbucks is an American multinational chain of coffeehouses and roastery reserves headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Today, the company operates more than 36,000 stores worldwide...

Source : IndiaRetailing

Correct Answer :   Nisha Desai Biswal

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US President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Indian-American "Nisha Desai Biswal" as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation.

Who is Nisha Desai Biswal?

* The White House said Biswal brings over 30 years of experience in US foreign policy and international development programs within the Executive Branch, Congress, and the private sector.

* She served as Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia during the Obama Administration and is currently holding the post of Senior Vice President for International Strategy and Global Initiatives at the US Chamber of Commerce.

* She oversees the US India Business Council and the US Bangladesh Business Council.

* Biswal also served as Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs at the US Department of State from 2013 to 2017, where she oversaw the US-India strategic partnership during a period of unprecedented cooperation, including the launch of an annual US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, the White House said.

* During her tenure as Assistant Secretary, Biswal also initiated the C5+1 Dialogue with Central Asia and the US-Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue.

* Before this, she was Assistant Administrator for Asia at the US Agency for International Development (USAID). She was responsible for directing and supervising USAID programs and operations across South, Central, and Southeast Asia...

Source : CNBC