Correct Answer :   Narendra Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (19th Jan 2024) inaugurated US aerospace giant Boeing’s global engineering and technology campus in Bengaluru.

The new state-of-the-art Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center (BIETC) has been built with an investment of Rs 1,600 crore and is spread across 43 acres.  

Key Features of BIETC Campus

* Strategic Location : The campus, strategically located on the city outskirts, spans 43 acres and is expected to serve as a pivotal hub for collaborations with startups, the private sector, and government entities in India. It is envisioned to play a crucial role in the development of next-generation products and services for the global aerospace and defence industry.

* Catalyst for Innovation : BIETC is poised to be a cornerstone for fostering innovation, bringing together diverse stakeholders from India’s dynamic aerospace ecosystem. The aim is to drive advancements in aerospace technology and contribute to the nation’s standing in the global aerospace sector.

Boeing Sukanya Programme Launch :

In addition to inaugurating the BIETC campus, Prime Minister Modi launched the Boeing Sukanya Programme during the event. This initiative is designed to facilitate the entry of more girls from across India into the burgeoning aviation sector. The Boeing Sukanya Programme comprises several components aimed at supporting and empowering girls and women in STEM fields and aviation careers.

Boeing Sukanya Programme Highlights :

* STEM Learning Opportunities : The programme will establish STEM Labs at 150 planned locations, targeting young girls to spark interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers.

* Scholarships for Aspiring Pilots : Boeing will provide scholarships to women undergoing pilot training, covering aspects such as flight training curriculum, obtaining certifications, simulator training, and career development programs.

* Addressing Gender Disparities : By actively promoting the entry of girls and women into the aviation sector, the Boeing Sukanya Programme aims to address gender disparities in STEM-related fields and foster a more inclusive workforce.

Boeing’s Growing Presence in India :

As of December 2023, Boeing India has seen substantial growth, boasting the largest team of engineering and R&D talent outside the United States, with a workforce exceeding 6,000 employees. The establishment of the BIETC campus and the launch of the Sukanya Programme reinforce Boeing’s commitment to India’s aerospace development and its efforts to contribute to a skilled and diverse workforce in the aviation industry.

Correct Answer :   Assam

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Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday (18th Jan 2024) announced a financial assistance scheme, the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan (MMUA), with the aim of empowering rural women entrepreneurs. The program is designed to provide financial assistance to women who aspire to embark on their entrepreneurial journey independently, beyond their association with Self-Help Groups (SHGs). This initiative introduces unique conditions, focusing specifically on the number of eligible children for the beneficiaries.

Objectives of MMUA Scheme :

The MMUA scheme is designed to promote the development of rural women who are part of self-help groups. It aims to transform them into “Rural Micro Entrepreneurs” with an annual income target of ?1 lakh per member.

Eligibility Criteria: Balancing Family Planning and Entrepreneurship :

To qualify for the grant, women from the general and other backward caste (OBC) categories must have no more than three children. However, specific exemptions are made for women from the Moran, Muttock, and tea-tribe communities, who can apply with four or fewer children. For women belonging to Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) categories, the eligibility criteria dictate that they should have no more than four children.

Child Limitations :

* General and OBC Women : Eligibility is limited to three children.
* ST and SC : Maximum benefit for up to four children.
* Morans, Motoks, and ‘Tea Tribes’ : Maximum of four children.

Additional Conditions for Beneficiaries

Apart from child limitations, beneficiaries must fulfill two additional conditions:

* Education of Girls : If beneficiaries have daughters, they must be enrolled in school. For girls not attending school, a signed commitment for future enrollment is necessary.

* Tree Plantation Campaign : Beneficiaries need to ensure that the trees planted under the government’s tree plantation campaign, Amrit Brikshya Andolan, are thriving.

Phase One: Seed Funding for Entrepreneurial Dreams

In the inaugural phase of the MMUA, each eligible applicant will receive a grant of ?10,000 in the first year. This seed funding is intended to facilitate the initiation of various business ventures, chosen from a curated list of 145 business plans prepared by the government. The financial allocation for this scheme is unprecedented, with ?3,900 crore earmarked in the state’s annual budget, making it the most substantial initiative of its kind in Assam.

Phase Two: Strengthening Financial Support

In the second year of the MMUA, successful applicants will receive further support in the form of a bank loan amounting to ?12,500, coupled with an equivalent grant from the state government. The disbursement of funds in the second year will be contingent upon a thorough evaluation of the previous year’s utilization of the granted amount. This ensures accountability and responsible use of the financial assistance provided.

Correct Answer :   Daljit Singh Chaudhary

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Senior IPS officer Daljit Singh Chaudhary has been appointed as the Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), according to a Personnel Ministry order issued on Friday (19th Jan 2024).

Chaudhary, a 1990 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, currently holds the position of Special Director of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved his appointment as the DG, SSB, for a tenure lasting until November 30, 2025, coinciding with the date of his superannuation, as stated in the order.

The Sashastra Seema Bal is responsible for safeguarding India’s frontiers with Nepal and Bhutan. The appointment of Chaudhary comes after the position remained vacant following the repatriation of Rashmi Shukla to her cadre state, Maharashtra, earlier this month. Rashmi Shukla has assumed the role of Director General of Police (DGP) in Maharashtra.

Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Established in 1963, the SSB was initially formed to counter the activities of Chinese troops along the Indo-Nepal border following the Sino-Indian War..

Source : Elets Online

Correct Answer :   Mamata Banerjee

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the International Kolkata Book Fair on Thursday (18th Jan 2024) amid a drizzle that marred last-minute preparations for several stall owners.

The 47th edition of the fair, being held at the Boi Mela Prangan in Central Park in Salt Lake, had an early start compared to the last edition when the gates were thrown open on January 30, 2024.

The United Kingdom (UK) is the theme country for this year’s book fair, which will continue till January 31.

“I’ve been visiting the book fair for a long time. In 1995, my book — Upolobdhhi (Realisation) was published. Earlier, the fair used to be held in a small space, fuelling strong criticism because stalls would be cramped,” Mamata said. “Now the fair has a permanent address, Boi Mela Prangan, with a lot of space.”

With nine gates spread across Central Park, the book fair this time has around 1,000 stalls, the biggest so far, with representations from close to 20 countries, including the US, Spain, Italy, Bangladesh, Australia, Argentina and France.

Publishers from Germany will participate after a gap of 12 years, officials of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, the organisers of fair, said.

The Kolkata Literature Festival will be held from January 26 to 28.

“This is not the 47th Kolkata book fair but the international Kolkata book fair and the second biggest in the world. This is bigger than the London book fair,” said Alex Ellis, British high commissioner. “I feel particularly at home this afternoon because the weather brings Charles Dickens to Kolkata,” Ellis said referring to the drizzle outside.

Guild officials said the last edition of the fair witnessed about 26 lakh visitors and sales worth Rs 25 crore. The year before, 22 lakh had visited the fair and Rs 23 crore in sales. This year, the figures would be even bigger, they said.

“On behalf of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild we want a piece of land from you to set up a library, an archive of books and a guesthouse for national and international visitors,” guild president Tridib Kumar Chatterjee urged the chief minister..

Source : Telegraph India

Correct Answer :   Chhattisgarh

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The state of Chhattisgarh, inspired by the successful implementation of the ‘Aarthik Sarkari Ladli Bahna Yojana‘ organized by the Madhya Pradesh government, has recently launched a new scheme known as Mahtari Vandana Yojana 2024. Under this initiative, the government aims to provide economic assistance of one thousand rupees to women every month, amounting to a total annual financial aid of 12,000 rupees.

Significance of Mahtari Vandana Yojana: Empowering Women in Chhattisgarh :

The economic support offered by the Mahtari Vandana Yojana holds immense significance for women in Chhattisgarh. The scheme not only aims to provide financial assistance to women but also emphasizes fostering self-reliance and skill development through the utilization of these funds. Women can manage their expenses and even initiate small-scale enterprises with the help of this financial aid.

Key Benefits of Mahtari Vandana Yojana 2024 :

* Improving Lives of Women at the State Level: Mahtari Vandana Yojana 2024 is a state-level effort to bring positive changes in the lives of women, proving to be beneficial for them.
* Monthly Financial Assistance: Women will receive economic support of one thousand rupees every month under this scheme.
* Direct Transfer to Bank Accounts: The amount received under the scheme will be directly deposited into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
* Diverse Usage of Funds: Women can utilize the funds for their health, personal expenses, and even start small businesses.
* Enhancing Financial Conditions: The initiative will significantly contribute to improving the financial situation of women.

Eligibility Criteria for Mahtari Vandana Yojana 2024 :

* To avail the benefits of Mahtari Vandana Yojana 2024, the applicant must be a resident of Chhattisgarh.
* Only married women from Chhattisgarh are eligible for this scheme.
* The annual income of the beneficiary’s family should be less than two and a half lakh rupees.
* Women applying for the scheme should be between 23 to 60 years old.
* Widows, orphans, and abandoned women can also benefit from the scheme.

Documents Required for Mahtari Vandana Yojana 2024 Application :

To fill out the application form for Mahtari Vandana Yojana 2024, women need the following essential documents:

* Aadhar Card
* Age Proof Certificate
* Bank Account Passbook
* Identity Proof
* Passport-sized Photographs
* Residence Proof
* Mobile Number and other necessary documents

Correct Answer :   Solapur

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of several development projects in Maharashtra’s Solapur on 19th January 2024, according to an official release.

* At a public programme scheduled to be held around 10.45 am in the southern Maharashtra city, he will lay the foundation stones of eight AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) projects in the state worth around ?2,000 crore, it said.

* He will also dedicate more than 90,000 houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).

* Further, the PM will dedicate 15,000 houses of the Raynagar Housing Society in Solapur whose beneficiaries include thousands of "handloom workers, vendors, power loom workers, rag pickers, Bidi workers and drivers", it said.

* Modi will also kickstart the distribution of the first and second instalments to 10,000 beneficiaries of PM-SVANIDHI in Maharashtra during the programme, it added..

Source : The Hindu Businessline

Correct Answer :   Rs 302 crore

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Thiruvananthapuram: The installation of artificial reef units off the coasts of fishing villages in Kerala will help enhance the income of traditional fishermen, Union Minister Parshottam Rupala said on Wednesday (17th Jan 2024).

The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying was speaking through videoconferencing while inaugurating the project to deploy 6,300 artificial reef units off the coast of fishing villages in this district.

The innovative project will boost sustainable fishing, enhance marine landscape and foster better livelihood for the fishermen, he noted.

Kerala Fisheries Minister Saji Cheriyan presided over the state-level launch of the project and flagged off the work off the coast of Vizhinjam.

The scheme, initiated by the central government under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and State Fisheries Department, seeks to fortify the fishery productivity of the coastal expanses while ensuring sustainable resource management.

In his online address, Rupala said approval had been granted to Kerala for installation of artificial reef and promotions of sustainable fisheries and livelihood under PMMSY with a total allocation of Rs 302 crore.

The Department of Fisheries, Government of India, has proposed to sanction artificial reefs in all 3,477 fishing villages across the entire coastline of the country, the minister is quoted as saying in a release issued by Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation Ltd.

Noting that project reflected the nation's commitment to preserve marine biodiversity and enhance fishery resources, the minister said the artificial reefs will not only provide support to the marine ecosystem but will also enhance the income of traditional fishermen..

Source : Mathrubhumi

Correct Answer :   Altair

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Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has partnered with Altair, a global technology company providing solutions in simulation, high-performance computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), to launch an eMobility Simulation Lab.

Set up in the Department of Engineering Design, IIT Madras, this lab will have state-of-the-art products and tools along with financial support from Altair. This will be followed with other labs and facilities to deliver research and training in the eMobility Domain.

Welcoming the launch of this new facility, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said,“Given the Government’s focus on eMobility and rapid expansion of the market that is expected, there is a need for IIT Madras to play its role in the academic space. eMobility-related initiatives in Academic Programs, Research and Policy are all managed and offered with multiple Departments contributing with the Department of Engineering Design acting as the nodal department.”

Prof. V. Kamakoti added, “In the coming years, we will be seeing a cluster of initiatives, facilities and Programs in eMobility from IIT Madras to equip Industry and Government to address the challenges in ramping up the market for EVs.”

The lab will host Altair’s modelling and simulation tools which will support the academic activities that IIT Madras will carry out in the other eMobility labs for Batteries, Charging, Power Electronics, Motors and Controllers and Vehicle Engineering, among other related areas. These facilities will together support the multiple Academic initiatives that the Department of Engineering Design, IIT Madras, has started in the area of eMobility.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vishwanath Rao, Managing Director, Altair, said,“I am confident that the creation of the eMobility Simulation Lab at IIT Madras represents a pivotal stride in advancing research within the electric vehicle domain and advocating for sustainable transportation solutions. We are thrilled to join forces with IIT Madras in this endeavour, turning this forward-thinking initiative into reality. Our unwavering commitment extends to providing continuous support and expertise to guarantee the project's triumphant execution.”

Commenting on the partnership with Altair, Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras, said,“We are delighted to partner with Altair in creating a lab that will be the nursery for the next generation of eMobility solutions. Partnerships such as this bring together industry and academic expertise - both increasingly essential ingredients for creating successful startups and ideas.”

The Department of Engineering Design at IIT Madras has, over the last three years, developed and launched a series of initiatives and programs in the area of eMobility.

Highlighting the unique aspects of these initiatives, Prof. CS. Shankar Ram, Head, Department of Engineering Design, IIT Madras, said,“We have been doing this in close partnership with different stakeholders – other IITMadras Departments, Government of India, Industry Experts who are Professors of Practice at IIT-M, Policy experts, Industry and Businesses as well as with Philanthropists. The vision is to have these initiatives make the Department as a hub for all eMobility-related matters. The eMobility Simulation Lab supported by Altair is an important enabler in achieving this vision.”

The key outcomes envisaged from the eMobility Simulation Lab include :

* Enhance student learning in related courses.

* Support academic projects and research.

* Complement skilling initiatives in the eMobility domain..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Arvind Panagariya

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The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today (18th Jan 2024) approved the creation of three officer-level posts for assisting the 16th Finance Commission.

* The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has granted approval for the establishment of three officer-level posts to support the 16th Finance Commission. The newly instituted positions consist of two Joint Secretary-level roles and one Economic Adviser.

* The appointments align with the notification issued on December 31, 2023, in accordance with the provisions of Article 280 of the Constitution. The 16th Finance Commission is tasked with evaluating the financial situations of both central and state governments, providing recommendations for assistance grants, suggesting tax adjustments, and determining the framework for tax distribution among states.

* On December 31, Arvind Panagariya, former Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog and a professor at Columbia University, was appointed as the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission.

* Hrithik Ranjan Pandey has been designated as the new Secretary of the Finance Commission.

* The Commission will submit its report to the President by October 31, 2025, covering a five-year period starting April 1, 2026.

* The 15th Finance Commission was established on November 27, 2017, with recommendations spanning from 2020-21 to 2025-26. Typically, it takes about two years for the Finance Commission to present its recommendations.

* In accordance with Article 280(1) of the Constitution, the Finance Commission is constituted every five years or earlier. The Advance Cell of the 16th Finance Commission was instituted on November 21, 2022, within the Finance Ministry to oversee preliminary activities until the formal establishment of the Commission..

Source : DD News

Correct Answer :   Kuwaiti Dinar

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Kuwaiti Dinar has been declared as the strongest currency in the world despite dominance of the US dollar, that occupied the tenth spot in the latest rankings. The Bahraini Dinar and Omani Rial occupy the second and third spots respectively, Forbes reported.

The United Nations currently recognises 180 currencies as legal tenders, but the popularity and use do not equate to the value or strength commanded by a currency, the report added.

According to the report, the strength of the currency is determined by evaluating the number of goods and services which can be purchased with one unit of the national currency and foreign currency obtained in exchange.

Here are the top 10 currencies as per the Forbes list.

TOP 10 CURRENCIES OF THE WORLD :

1. KUWAITI DINAR
2. BAHRAINI DINAR
3. OMANI RIAL
4. JORDANIAN DINAR
5. GIBRALTAR POUND
6.  BRITISH POUND
7. CAYMAN ISLAND DOLLAR
8. SWISS FRANC
9. EURO
10. US DOLLAR

Kuwaiti Dinar was introduced in 1960 and has been consistently ranked as the world's most valuable currency. According to the Forbes report, the currency has been in high demand due to the Middle East country's economic stability due to its oil reserves and tax-free system. As per today's exchange rate, one Kuwaiti Dinar costs ?270.10.

However, the US dollar, despite being the most widely traded global currency, is tenth on the list. The Euro is the official currency of Eurozone which comprises 19 member states of the European Union. It is the second-most traded currency and holds the ninth spot.

As per the Forbes report, economic growth, political stability, global demand and natural resources are determining factors to measure the strength and value of a currency.