Correct Answer :   ₹1 lakh crore

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India on Friday (19th May 2023) announced that the value of defence production in the country crossed ₹1 lakh crore for the first time on the back of key reforms to spur growth in the sector that holds vast potential.

* The value of defence production by state-run companies and the private sector has almost doubled over the past five years that saw the government take a raft of measures to cut the country’s dependence on military imports and strengthen its position as an exporter of weapons and systems.

* The figure stood at ₹1,06,800 crore in financial year 2022-23 compared to ₹95,000 crore in FY 2021-22 and ₹54,951 crore five years ago, the officials said.

* The value of defence production in FY 2022-23 has crossed ₹1 lakh crore for the first time due to the defence ministry’s consistent efforts, and it is expected to climb further after private defence firms submit their data, the ministry said in statement.

* The value of defence production has grown by 12% compared to last year.

* India produces a raft of weapons and systems, including the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA), different types of helicopters, warships, tanks, artillery guns, warships, missiles, rockets and a variety of military vehicles. A category-wise break-up of defence production was not immediately available.

* India has sharpened its focus on the defence manufacturing sector during the last five years and taken several measures to achieve self-reliance. These include banning the import of a range of weapons, systems and parts, creating a separate budget for buying locally made military hardware, increasing foreign direct investment from 49% to 74% and improving ease of doing business.

* The value of defence production was ₹54,951 crore in 2017-18, ₹50,499 crore in 2018-19, ₹63,722 crore in 2019-20, ₹88,631 crore in 2020-21 and ₹95,000 crore in 2021-22, according to defence ministry data..

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   Third Friday in May

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Every year, National Endangered Species Day is celebrated nationwide on the third Friday of May. This year (2023), we commemorate National Endangered Species Day May 19, 2023.

Aim : This day aims to raise awareness about the increasing number of animal species facing the risk of extinction and to shed light on the disruptive impact of climate change on previously harmonious ecosystems.

* Nevertheless, this occasion provides us with a chance to heighten our consciousness regarding the conservation of endangered species and gain knowledge about the various measures being implemented by the country to ensure the proper protection of these animals.

2023 theme : Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act

National Endangered Species Day History :

* In the 1960s and 1970s, increasing concern was expressed about the welfare of animals. In response, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 was enacted into law on December 28.

* This legislation aimed to emphasize the importance of wildlife conservation and the restoration of all endangered species..

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   Uttar Pradesh

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The Uttar Pradesh government will launch a 5G technology training programme under its Skill Development Mission to train youths in new and future employable technologies, an official said here on Thursday (18th May 2023).

* Under the programme, the government will train the youths and make also arrangements for their employment.

* According to the proposal, at least 1,000 youths have to be trained and given jobs under this programme in eight months.

* The programme is likely to be started shortly in five districts among Lucknow, Kanpur, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Moradabad, Agra, Gorakhpur, Varanasi and Prayagraj, he said.

* The training programme will include three courses -- telecom rigger - 5G and Legacy Networks; technician 5G - active network installation; and project engineer - 5G networks.

* The government will spend an estimated Rs 2.8 crore on the programme, officials said. According to the proposal, 360 candidates will undergo 450 hours of training for the course of telecom rigger, they said.

* Another 360 candidates are proposed to be trained for 570 hours for the technician 5G course.

* The project engineer course will be completed in 660 hours.

Following the training programme, the government aims to provide employment to the youths. The official said, "5G technology is considered (to be) the technology of the future. The state government believes that youths trained in 5G technology will be needed on a large scale in the telecom sector in the future...

Source : Outlook India

Correct Answer :   Sarbananda Sonowa

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Minister of Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal has inaugurated the National Ayush Mission Conclave in presence of Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya (Minister of Health).

Minister of Health informed that the Government will launch an ‘Integrative Health Policy’ for the health and wellness of public at large.

On this occasion two ICT initiatives of Ministry of Ayush were launched. E-Learning Management System (eLMS) was launched by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and Comprehensive AHMIS, an upgraded EHR system was launched by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.

Minister of State for Ayush Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai along with Health and Ayush Ministers from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Jharkhand, Uttarakand, Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and other states including representatives of Jammu & Kashmir were also present.

Union Minister of Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal also administered ‘Lifestyle for Environment pledge’ to the august gathering.

While presiding over the function Shri Sonowal said, ‘Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has encouraged Ayush and Health and Family Welfare Ministry to work in unison for Health and Wellness. India will have to lead the world on this front. As both the Ministries are working incessantly, so our resolve and strength has grown manifold.

Recognising the strength of Indian Traditional Medicines Systems, WHO has too bestowed India with the placement of WHO-GCTM centre in Jamnagar.

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya placed greater emphasis on Integrative Medicine and said today’s primary need is to make every citizen of India healthy. Both the Ministries will soon come out with an “Integrative Health” policy.

Dr. Mandaviya added that traditional medicine system of India is our strength and now the world has fully accepted it. He mentioned that Yoga is best for wellness and quoted that majority of Japanese population regularly practice Yoga in some or other form for the health and wellness benefits...

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Russia and Iran

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday (17th May 2023) oversaw, via video-link, the signing of a deal to finance and build an Iranian railway line as part of an embryonic international North–South Transport Corridor.

* The Rasht-Astara railway is seen as an important link in the corridor, intended to connect India, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan and other countries via railways and sea — a route that Russia says can rival the Suez Canal as a major global trade route.

* "The unique North-South transport artery, of which the Rasht-Astara railway will become a part, will help to significantly diversify global traffic flows," Putin said.

* He also said the 162 km (100 mile) railway along the Caspian Sea coast would help to connect Russian ports on the Baltic Sea with Iranian ports in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf.

* "Without a doubt, this agreement is an important and strategic step in the direction of cooperation between Tehran and Moscow," Mr. Raisi said.

* Russia and Iran have been pushed to strengthen their political and economic ties by Western economic sanctions on each, which both say are unjustified.

* Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that swept U.S.-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi from power, Iran has been ostracised by the West and its economy crippled by a myriad of sanctions. It holds around a quarter of the Middle East's oil reserves.

* The West also imposed other sets of restrictions over Iran's nuclear program, while Russia was sanctioned due to its actions in Ukraine..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   May 18

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May 18 is celebrated as World AIDS Vaccine Day every year. This day is also known as HIV Vaccine Knowledge Day.

This day aims to raise awareness about the need for HIV/AIDS vaccine.

As per WHO, HIV remains a major global public health issue, having claimed 40.1 million lives so far with ongoing transmission in all countries globally; with some countries reporting increasing trends in new infections when previously on the decline. It further states that there were an estimated 38.4 million people living with HIV at the end of 2021, two thirds of whom i.e. 25.6 million are in the WHO African Region.


History of World AIDS Vaccination Day 2023 :

* The first World AIDS Vaccine Day was observed on May 18, 1998. On 18 May 1997, Former US President Bill Clinton's commencement speech at Morgan State University challenged the world to set new goals in the emerging age of science and technology and develop an AIDS vaccine within the next decade.

* Since then, each year communities around the globe hold a variety of activities on World AIDS Vaccine Day to raise awareness for AIDS vaccines, educate communities about HIV prevention and research for an AIDS vaccine and bring attention to the ways in which people can be a part of the international effort to stem this disease.


Significance of the World AIDS Vaccine Day 2023 :

* World AIDS Vaccine Day is a chance to thank the volunteers, community members, health professionals, scientists who are working together to find a safe and effective preventive HIV vaccine. Moreover, it is also a time to educate communities about the importance of preventive HIV vaccine research.

Correct Answer :   Dr L Murugan

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Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan 17th May 2023 inaugurated the India Pavilion at Cannes at Marché du Film in presence of Shri Jawed Ashraf, Ambassador of India to France, Shri Prithul Kumar, Joint Secretary, MIB and stars of the Indian film industry.

Addressing a gathering of delegates from India including film stars and officials, Dr Murugan stated that today India is the world’s largest producer of films with over 3000 films in over 50 languages. These films carry a message of India’s strength in storytelling across the world.

Citing the example of the now famed Elephant Whisperers of Mudumalai, the Minister highlighted that today good content knows no boundaries and we are witnessing an era where Indian content is going local to global.

Dr Murugan recalled the recent stellar success of Indian movies and movie makers at world stage and added that today it’s difficult to find a movie without an Indian name in its credits for animation or VFX. He further said that Indian film industry has undergone significant changes in recent years with advent of newer technologies and rise of digital and streaming platforms.


Growth and Potential of the Indian Film Industry :

The Minister stated that Indian Media and Entertainment sector is poised to experience an extraordinary growth rate of 11.4% in 2023, propelling its revenue to a staggering INR 2.36 trillion.

This remarkable surge is a testament to the robustness of India's M&E industry and its potential to create novel opportunities, even in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. He further added that after the Covid pandemic, the gross box office revenues of 2022 in India, have increased almost three times the revenues of 2021 to 1.3 billion USD, and expected to touch 3 billion USD by 2025..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   M. K. Stalin

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday (16th May 2023) inaugurated a 570-meter long and 4.2-meter wide skywalk bridge connecting the Mambalam railway station and T Nagar bus terminus.

* The multi-modal project connects the railway station and bus stand. It will help pedestrians. People who reach the city from the southern parts of the state find it difficult to commute to the station and the bus stand due to gathering at Ranganathan Street, which gets too crowded during festivals like Deepavali.

* People had to throng through the crowded street with their heavy bags to reach their point, and we believe this exclusive pedestrian skywalk will help them overcome those issues.

* Considered one of the longest skywalks in the country, it is equipped with escalator and lift facilities and also ensures public safety with CCTV cameras installed, and a connection to the police control room.

* Additionally, it provides bins and restroom facilities. The entire bridge has been lit up with lights to facilitate the public.

* GCC chief engineer S Rajendran said the skywalk’s construction at one of the most happening areas in the city was challenging.

* The skywalk, built by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) at a cost of Rs 28.45 crore under the Smart City funds.

Aim : To decongest the traffic at Ranganathan Street, Madley Road, Market Street. It is expected to be used by around one lakh people on a daily basis...

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   $12.7 Billion

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Amazon Web Services (AWS) on Thursday (18th May 2023) announced plans to invest Rs 1,05,600 crore (USD 12.7 billion) into cloud infrastructure in India by 2030 as it looks to meet growing customer demand for cloud services in the country.

* The planned investment in data centre infrastructure in India will support an estimated average of 1,31,700 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in Indian businesses each year, Amazon's cloud computing unit AWS said in a statement.

* These positions, including construction, facility maintenance, engineering, telecommunications, and other jobs, are part of the data centre supply chain in India.

* AWS said it plans to invest Rs 1,05,600 crore (USD 12.7 billion) into cloud infrastructure in India, and added its long-term commitment in India will reach Rs 1,36,500 crore (USD 16.4 billion) by 2030.

* This follows AWS' investment of Rs 30,900 crore (USD 3.7 billion) between 2016 and 2022.

* "This investment is estimated to contribute Rs 1,94,700 crore (USD 23.3 billion) to India's total gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030,"

* AWS added that its investment in India has a ripple effect in the local economy in areas such as workforce development, training and skilling opportunities, community engagement, and sustainability initiatives...

Source : Outlook India

Correct Answer :   Bhopal

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Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, has become the 1st city in India to measure its progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

* The city has adopted a Voluntary Local Review (VLR) process, which is a tool that helps cities to assess their progress on the SDGs and identify areas where they need to improve.

About the Voluntary Local Review (VLR) process :

* The VLR process in Bhopal was developed in collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and a number of other local stakeholders. It involved a comprehensive assessment of the city’s performance on the SDGs, including a review of data, interviews with stakeholders, and public consultations.

* The VLR process has helped Bhopal to identify a number of areas where it needs to improve its performance on the SDGs. These include areas such as poverty, education, health, and environment. The city has now developed a plan of action to address these challenges and achieve the SDGs by 2030.

* The VLR process in Bhopal is a valuable tool that can help other cities in India to measure their progress on the SDGs and identify areas where they need to improve. It is a step in the right direction for the city and for India as a whole.

* The SDGs are a set of 17 goals that were adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015. The goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. The SDGs are a roadmap for a better future for all.

* The VLR process is a tool that can help cities to track their progress on the SDGs and identify areas where they need to improve. The process is voluntary, but it can be a valuable way for cities to demonstrate their commitment to the SDGs and to engage with stakeholders in a meaningful way.

* The VLR process in Bhopal is a positive step for the city and for India as a whole. It is a demonstration of the city’s commitment to the SDGs and it is a way for the city to engage with stakeholders in a meaningful way. The VLR process can help Bhopal to achieve the SDGs and to create a better future for all.