Correct Answer :   Droupadi Murmu

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On November 9, Uttarakhand observes its 23rd Foundation Day, and President Draupadi Murmu will participate, marking the first instance in 23 years that a President has been part of Uttarakhand’s Foundation Day program.


President Droupadi Murmu’s Significant Visit to Uttarakhand

* India’s President, Smt Droupadi Murmu, is on a visit to Uttarakhand from November 7 to 9, 2023.
* This three-day visit carries immense importance for both the state and the President, aligning with the celebration of Uttarakhand Foundation Day.
* This day commemorates the state’s establishment and honors its distinct cultural identity.


First Day: Convocation and Interaction – November 7, 2023

* I.Emphasizing Education and Agricultural Technology in Pantnagar

* II.A Commitment to Welfare and Development

Second Day: Recognizing Academic Excellence – November 8, 2023

* On the second day of her visit, President Murmu served as the guest of honor at the 11th convocation of Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Srinagar (Garhwal).
* This occasion commemorated the academic accomplishments of the university’s graduates and highlighted the significance of higher education in Uttarakhand.


Third Day: Celebrating Uttarakhand Foundation Day – November 9, 2023
* The highlight of President Murmu’s visit to Uttarakhand is her involvement in the central program organized at the Police Lines in Dehradun to mark the occasion of Uttarakhand State Foundation Day.


Commemorating Uttarakhand Foundation Day :

* Uttarakhand Foundation Day, also known as Uttarakhand Divas, is celebrated on November 9 every year.
* It commemorates the day when Uttarakhand, formerly known as Uttaranchal, was officially formed as the 27th state of the Republic of India on November 9, 2000.
* Uttarakhand’s hilly terrain had specific developmental needs overlooked by the larger state administration. The creation of Uttarakhand aimed to address these issues and promote regional development.

Celebrating Culture and Identity :

* Uttarakhand is characterized by its hill culture, diverse traditions, languages like Kumaoni and Garhwali, and its unique folk music and dances.
* The day reflects the triumph of the tireless spirit of its people and their rich history, highlighting the essence of Uttarakhand’s distinct cultural heritage.


Progress and Ongoing Goals :

* This day is also a reminder of the state’s development goals and the progress it has made since its formation.
* Uttarakhand has overcome several challenges in areas like ecological conservation, sustainable tourism, and creating economic opportunities for the hill communities.
* The celebration of Uttarakhand Foundation Day serves as a platform to discuss these achievements and challenges, fostering a sense of unity and responsibility among the people..

Correct Answer :   November 8

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World Radiography Day is observed each year on November 8 to commemorate the discovery of x-radiation by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen in 1895.


History of World Radiography Day :

* On November 8, 1895, German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen made a groundbreaking discovery. The precursor to this event, known as the European Day of Radiology, took place on February 10, 2011, to commemorate the anniversary of Wilhelm Rontgen's passing on February 10, 1923. This initiative was organised by the European Society of Radiology (ESR).

* World Radiography Day was established as an annual event on November 8, coinciding with the anniversary of Roentgen's discovery of X-rays. This new observance replaced the European Day of Radiology, which had previously been held on February 10.

Theme of World Radiography Day 2023 :

* The theme chosen for World Radiography Day 2023 is “Celebrating Patient Safety."

* This theme underscores the vital responsibility of healthcare professionals in upholding the efficiency of healthcare systems and safeguarding the health and safety of patients..


Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   Brussels

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NATO on Tuesday (7th Nov 2023) announced the formal suspension of a key Cold War-era security treaty in response to Russia’s pullout from the deal.

The alliance said its members who signed the treaty are now freezing their participation in the pact.

Most of NATO’s 31 allies have signed the Treaty of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, which was aimed at preventing Cold War rivals from massing forces at or near mutual borders. It was signed in November 1990.

NATO was established on 4 April 1949. Its headquarters is in Brussels, Belgium.

NATO said that “a situation whereby Allied State Parties abide by the Treaty, while Russia does not, would be unsustainable”.

Russia’s foreign ministry announced earlier Tuesday that Moscow had finalised its withdrawal.

In response, NATO said, allies who had signed “intend to suspend the operation of the CFE Treaty for as long as necessary, in accordance with their rights under international law. This is a decision fully supported by all NATO Allies”.

NATO underlined that its members remain committed “to reduce military risk, and prevent misperceptions and conflicts”..


Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Wadhwani Institute

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Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), in collaboration with Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Wadhwani AI), has developed Krishi 24/7, which, according to the release from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, is India’s first AI-powered solution for automated agricultural news monitoring and analysis

Krishi 24/7 has been developed with support from Google.org and will aid DA&FW to identify relevant news, generate timely alerts, and take prompt action to protect farmers' interests and promote sustainable agricultural growth through improved decision-making.

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare said in its release that the introduction of Krishi 24/7 addresses the need for an efficient mechanism to identify and manage agricultural news articles of interest to aid timely decision-making.

“The tool scans news articles in multiple languages and translates them into English. It extracts essential information from news articles, such as headline, crop name, event type, date, location, severity, summary, and source link, ensuring that the ministry receives timely updates on relevant events published on the web,” the release from the Ministry said..

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   Tamil Nadu

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Tamil Nadu government is set to implement 'Project Dolphin' in order to conserve the highly endangered mammal at the cost of Rs 812.6 lakhs during 2023-2024.

Making the announcement on social media, IAS Supriya Sahu said that the government aims to undertake several activities including Dolphin number estimation, protection, surveillance and awareness enhancement through the project.

Taking to X, IAS Supriya Sahu, TN Addl Chief Secretary Environment Climate Change & Forests said, "Tamil Nadu to implement Project Dolphin to conserve the highly endangered marine mammal under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat programme of @moefcc.

More than four types of dolphin species are found in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve. The Project will be implemented at a cost of Rs 812.6 lakhs during the year 2023-2024."

Several activities including Dolphin number estimation, protection, surveillance and awareness enhancement will be undertaken. A government order has been issued in this regard, she said..

Tamil Nadu to implement Project Dolphin to conserve the highly endangered marine mammal under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat programme of @moefcc. More than four types of dolphin species are found in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve.The Project will be… pic.twitter.com/ajQ6EQi7jl

— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) November 7, 2023

Source : ABP Live

Correct Answer :   Amit Shah

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Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday (8th Nov 2023) launched the 'Bharat Organics' brand of the newly created National Cooperative Organics Ltd (NCOL) and asserted that it will emerge as the most "trusted" brand in India and abroad.

Shah also launched the NCOL's logo, website and brochure. He gave away NCOL membership certificates to five cooperative societies.

Addressing the national symposium on promotion of organic products through cooperatives here, Shah said, "NCOL is a platform for organic growers. Today(8th Nov 2023), we are launching six products under the 'Bharat Organics' brand and 20 products by December."

The six organic products -- tur dal, chana dal, sugar, rajma, basmati rice, and Sonamasoori rice -- will be sold through Mother Dairy's Safal outlets and online platforms, he said and added a network of retail outlets is being created across the country.

Initially, NCOL will sell the organic products in India and later will market in other countries, he added.

Shah further said, about 50 per cent of profits from sale of organic products through NCOL will be transferred directly to member farmers.

The Minister of State for Cooperation B L Verma, Cooperation Secretary Gnanesh Kumar, Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal, NDDB chairman and NCOL chief Minesh C Shah, and FSSAI CEO G Kamala Vardhana Roa were present at the event.

Gujarat-headquartered NCOL, with National Dairy Development Board being the chief promoter, has been established under the Multi State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.

The Minister said NCOL aims to cover the entire supply chain of organic products through cooperative networks by undertaking various activities like aggregation, certification, production, testing, procurement, storage, processing, branding, packaging, labeling, marketing, etc for the ultimate benefit of farmer members.

Organic agriculture is practiced in 190 countries on 749 lakh hectares of land and India ranks 4th globally in organic agricultural land and first in number of producers as per 2020 data.

India has 27 lakh hectares of land under certified organic certification, including cultivable and wild harvest areas. The country produced 29 lakh tonnes of certified organic products in 2022-23, as per the official data..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   Mundra Port

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Mundra Port, the flagship of APSEZ, has set another record by handling 16.1 MMT of cargo in October, the highest-ever volume by any port in India. It is the largest port in the country with 102 MMT of cargo handled on year to date (YTD) basis, a good 9% Y-o-Y growth. The port crossed the 100 MMT mark in 210 days, surpassing the record of 231 days last year (2022).

Mundra witnessed double-digit growth on a Y-o-Y basis for containers (+10%) and liquids and gas (+14%). It achieved another milestone of handling 4.2 million TEUs of containers in just 203 days, a feat achieved in 225 days in the previous financial year. It added new cargo types such as Hydrolysis Pi Gas (HPG) to its portfolio. On YTD basis, it docked over 2,480 ships and serviced over 11,500 rakes.

Due to its strategic location, Mundra offers some of the best facilities. Given its capability to maintain deep draft, it is well-equipped to handle large vessels. In July’23, it berthed one of the largest ships ever – MV MSC Hamburg, 399 m long and 54 m wide, with a carrying capacity of 15,908 TEUs and a current reported draught of 12 m. In 2021, it berthed the 13,892 TEU APL Raffles, the largest container vessel to call at any Indian port. The Singapore-registered vessel is 397.88 m long and 51 m broad.

Mudra Port enjoys a strong connectivity with the hinterland, particularly to the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC). All the major rail lines and ICDs connecting Mundra port are now capable of handling double stack container trains. Over the past years, the port has experienced a material improvement in the double stack co-efficient. During the period under consideration, Mundra received the first train from Garhi Harsaru ICD on the newly electrified route as also double-stack services from ICD Dadri through WDFC. These ICDs are in addition to the already existing ICD Patli.

Given the cargo volume growth rate, Mundra Port is targeting 200 MMT in FY25. With 90% of India’s trade by volume conducted via the maritime route, its improved infrastructure means better logistics performance and higher seaborne trade and economic growth, which is key to India becoming a $5 trillion economy..

Source : Adani Ports

Correct Answer :   Dr Jitendra Singh

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Union Minister of State for Science & Technology "Dr Jitendra Singh" inaugurated the 'Children Science Festival' organized by CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) in Jammu on Monday (6th Nov 2023).

Speaking on occasion, Dr Singh narrated how the Jigyasa programme is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a new India and the social responsibility of scientific community and institutions. Jigyasa is a student-scientist connect programme implemented by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in collaboration with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS).

The minister applauded the efforts of CSIR-IIIM for organizing such outreach activities for students from schools and colleges. He said that such activities help increase scientific aptitude and inculcates the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship in young minds. He also distributed prizes to the winners of various competitions organized during the Children Science Festival.

Dr Singh said India’s first virtual science lab for children under CSIR Jigyasa programme was launched, which built a strong connect between students and scientists with scientists across the country.

Further, the main objective of establishing the virtual lab was to provide quality research exposure and innovative pedagogy for school students based on an online interactive medium. He said the new facility will immensely benefit students from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and government schools of various states boards and will help in catching them young..

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   Lulu Hypermarket

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Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has signed an MoU with Lulu Hypermarket to promote the export of Indian agricultural products.

APEDA's prescribed products will be added to the Lulu Hyper Market retail chain.

APEDA is an Indian apex export trade promotion active government body. It was established in 1986..

Correct Answer :   Hague

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The World Local Production Forum will be organized in The Hague, Netherlands.

* It is being organized from 6 to 8 November 2023.

* This is the second edition of the World Local Production Forum.

* Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Bhagwant Khuba is representing India in this forum.

* The World Local Production Forum was established at the request of the World Health Organization.

* Its aim is to make medicines and other medical technology more widely available to the entire world.

* The first World Local Production Forum was held in June, 2021.