Correct Answer :   Sadhna Saxena Nair

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Air Marshal Sadhna S Nair assumed the appointment of Director General Hospital Services (Armed Forces) in the office of DGAFMS on Oct 23, 2023, becoming the first woman to hold the position on promotion to the rank of Air Marshal.

Prior to this appointment, the Air Officer was tenanting the appointment of Principal Medical Officer (PMO) at HQ Training Command (Air Force), Bangaluru.

A graduate from the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune,  Air Marshal Sadhna S Nair was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in Dec 1985. She holds a Post Graduate degree in Family Medicine and has undergone a two-year training program in Medical Informatics at AIIMS, New Delhi.

She was trained in CBRN Warfare with the Israeli Defence Forces and in Military Medical Ethics in Switzerland. She is the first and only woman Principal Medical Officer of Western Air Command and Training Command.

For her meritorious service she has been awarded the AOC-in-C (WAC) and CAS Commendations as well as the Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India. Three generations of her family have served in the IAF over the last seven decades..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Amit Shah

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Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said nanotechnology will be the game changer in agriculture in the days ahead. 

Addressing a large number of farmers after inaugurating the Country’s first Nano DAP plant by IFFCO near Kalol in Gandhinagar, the Minister said it is the need of the hour to adopt natural farming and reduce the use of fertilizers in agriculture without compromising the scale of the production.

The Minister lauded IFFCO’s contribution in developing nano variants and coming up with successful alternatives to chemical fertilizers.

Mr. Shah said that besides the increase in budget and loan assistance to the farmers, the government has also increased the fertilizer subsidies following the rise in fertilizers’ prices globally.

The Minister said unlike the solid DAP and Urea, the liquid nano DAP will not affect the nutrients in the soil and will have zero harmful metal particles. He said the DAP plant will largely benefit the farmers of the region.

The Nano liquid dap plant in Kalol has been set up by IFFCO at the cost of 300 crore rupees. The plant has been developed in tune with the Aatmnirbhar Bharat vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

IFCCO chairman Dilip Sanghani said while one bag of conventional DAP costs around 1300 rupees, the farmers can get one bottle of nano liquid DAP for just 600 rupees which can be carried by farmers in their pockets.

The plant will lead to a significant reduction in imports of DAP and also will bring down the logistics and warehousing costs. The plant will produce 5 crore bottles of Nano dap liquid equivalent to 25 tons of DAP.
 
Later, the Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various development works in the Sanand assembly area in Ahmedabad 24th Oct 2023. He also laid the foundation stone of the sports complex at SD Arts and BR Commerce College, in his native place Mansa near Gandhinagar..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Chhattisgarh

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The Union coal ministry has said that Coal India Limited’s (CIL) 40 coal blocks in and around the Lemru Elephant Corridor (LEC) will not be auctioned on the request of the Chhattisgarh government.

* It is located in the Korba district of Chhattisgarh.
* It seeks to give elephants a permanent habitat while also minimizing property damage and human-animal conflict.
* The reserve as part of an elephant corridor that connects Lemru (Korba), Badalkhol (Jashpur), Tamorpingla (Surguja).
* Elephant reserves in India- There are 33 notified Elephant Reserves (ERs) in the country spread over 14 states.

What is Project Elephant?

* It was launched by the Government of India in the year 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with following objectives:
* To protect elephants, their habitat & corridors
* To address issues of man-animal conflict
* Welfare of captive elephants
* Through the Project (being mainly implemented in 16 States or UTs), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, provides financial and technical support to major elephant range states in the country..

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   Karnataka

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The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) recently directed the office of the chief secretary of Karnataka to submit a response on the issue of encroachment of the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of the Bannerghatta National Park.

About Bannerghatta National Park :

* Location: It is located near Bangalore, Karnataka, in the hills of the Anekal range.
* Founded in 1971, the park was given the status of a national park in 1974.
* In 2002, a portion of the park became a biological reserve, the Bannerghatta Biological Park. It is the first biological park in India to have a fenced, forested elephant sanctuary.
* In 2006, India's first butterfly enclosure was inaugurated at the park.

* River: Suvarnamukhi stream, the main source of water for the animals of the park, runs through the centre of the park.
* It also acts as an important corridor for the elephants migrating from theEastern Ghats to the Western Ghats
* Vegetation: There are three types of vegetation that can be found: Dry Deciduous Scrub Forests, Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests and Southern Tropical Moist Mixed Forests.
* Flora: Include Narcissus latifolia, Schleichera oleosa, Sandalwood, Neem, Tamarind, Bamboo, Eucalyptus etc.
* Fauna: Prime habitat for several species, including the endangered Asian Elephant, Indian gaur, Tiger, Sambar deer, Spotted deer, Leopard, Wild dog, Wild pig, Sloth bear, Common mongoose,  Pangolin, Slender loris, Black-naped hare, etc..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   The right to regulate the transit of naval warships

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The Turkish Ministry of National Defense recently announced that it will impose restrictions on the passage of warships belonging to countries not bordering the Black Sea within the framework of the Montreux Convention.

About Montreux Convention :

* It is an agreement concerning the Dardanelles Strait and the Bosporus Strait, also known as the Turkish Straits or the Black Sea Straits.
* The Turkish straits are the only maritime passage between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
* Accordingtothe1936Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits, often referred to simply as the Montreux Convention, Turkey has control over the Turkish Straits.
* In the event of a war, the pact gives Turkey the right to regulate the transit of naval warships and to block the straits to warships belonging to the countries involved in the conflict.
* Merchant vessels enjoy freedom of passage through the Turkish Straits, while passages of vessels of war are subject to some restrictions that vary depending on whether these vessels belong to the Black Sea littoral States or not.
* Besides some general restrictions applicable to all, vessels of war belonging to non-littoral States are subject to specific restrictions, such as those regarding maximum aggregate tonnage and duration of stay in the Black Sea.

* The principal provisions of the Convention ruling the passage of vessels of war are:
* Aircraft carriers, whether belonging to the littoral States or not, can in no way pass through the Turkish Straits.
* Only submarines belonging to littoral States can pass through the Turkish Straits for the purpose of rejoining their base in the Black Sea for the first time after their construction or purchase, or for the purpose of repair in dockyards outside the Black Sea.
* The total number and maximum aggregate tonnage of all foreign naval forces which may be in the course of passage through the Turkish Straits are limited to 9 and 15.000 tons respectively.
* The maximum aggregate tonnage which non-littoral States may have in the Black Sea is 45.000 tons.
* In this regard, the maximum aggregate tonnage of the vessels of war that one non-littoral State may have in the Black Sea is 30.000 tons.
* Vessels of war belonging to non-littoral States cannot stay more than 21 days in the Black Sea.
* Passages through the Turkish Straits are notified to Türkiye through diplomatic channels prior to intended passages.
* The notification time is 8 days for vessels of war belonging to littoral States, and 15 days for those of non-littoral States.


Article 19 of the Convention :

* Vessels of war belonging to belligerent powers, whether they are Black Sea Powers or not, which have become separated from their bases, may return thereto.
* That means warships can return to their original bases through the passage,andTurkey cannot prevent it.
* For example, a Russian fleet registered in the Black Sea but currently located in the Mediterranean Sea is allowed to pass through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits and return to its base.

Source : Dailyhunt

Correct Answer :   October 22

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International Stuttering Awareness Day or International Stammering Awareness Day is an annual observance that falls on October 22.

Theme : The theme for International Stuttering Awareness Day this year is “One Size Does NOT Fit All”.

History :

* Stuttering self-help groups began to emerge in the mid-20th century when people who stuttered came together to support each other, share their experiences and raise awareness about stuttering hence, playing a vital role in the early efforts to destigmatise the speech disorder. Later in 1995, the International Stuttering Association (ISA) was founded by a group of individuals and organisations dedicated to promoting awareness and understanding of stuttering and to serve as an umbrella organisation for various stuttering support groups and associations around the world.

* In 1998, the ISA officially launched International Stuttering Awareness Day, setting the date as October 22 to coincide with the birthday of the famous English author and playwright, Sir George Bernard Shaw, who was also known to have stuttered. Shaw's experiences with stuttering were an inspiration for many people who stutter and those advocating for greater awareness and acceptance of the condition.

Significance :

* The main goal of ISAD is to promote understanding and acceptance of stuttering, reduce stigma and provide support for individuals who stutter through educational events, workshops and conferences that focus on various aspects of stuttering such as its causes, treatment options and the experiences of those who stutter.

* Many organisations and advocacy groups around the world participate in ISAD to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for individuals who stutter and though the activities, events and initiatives held on International Stuttering Awareness Day may vary from year to year and from one region to another, the overarching aim is to foster greater empathy and provide resources for those who live with stuttering..

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   Rajnath Singh

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launches the army's project Udbhav aimed at integrating ancient wisdom with modern military pedagogy. Project Udbhav is a joint collaboration of the Indian Army and the United Service Institution of India.

Aim : The project aims to promote indigenous discourse through the exploration and integration of the country’s ancient strategic acumen into the contemporary military domain.
 
The Defence Minister also inaugurated the Indian Military Heritage Festival in New Delhi on Saturday (21st Oct 2023). Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Singh said the Indian Military Heritage Festival will inspire the youth of the nation as it showcases the unmatched bravery and invaluable role of the Armed Forces in the security of the country in the last few decades.

The two-day festival aims to celebrate India’s rich military culture and heritage, through conversations, art, dance, drama, story-telling, and exhibitions. The festival seeks to create a benchmark in the domain of public engagement with military history and heritage through interaction while adhering to the goals for developing the Armed Forces in the 21st century.

It also provides a platform for discussing various contemporary issues relating to India and the world pertaining to security, strategy, and international relations.
 
Talking to reporters after inaugurating the Indian Military Heritage Festival, Mr Singh said it will also make them enthusiastic to know more about the Indian military and their gallant deeds..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Cricket

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Bishan Singh Bedi, former India captain and one of the greatest left-arm spinners, died on Monday (23rd Oct 2023) at the age of 77 after battling a prolonged illness. Bedi is survived by his wife Anju, son Angad and daughter Neha.

"He breathed his last at his home this morning. He recently underwent a knee operation. The infection spread and he could not recover from that," said one of his close friends. Born in Amritsar in 1946, Bedi played 67 Tests for India and took 266 wickets with 14 five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul.

He was part of Indian cricket's golden quartet of spinners that also had Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and Srinivas Venkataraghavan. They formed the core of India's bowling unit for more than a decade between 1966 and 1978.

Bedi was briefly the manager of the Indian cricket team in 1990 during tours of New Zealand and England. He was also a national selector and mentor to many talented spinners like Maninder Singh and Murali Kartik, who all swore by his technical insight.

Bedi was one of the most admired Indian captains and he led the team for nearly four years in Test cricket between 1975 and 1979 after Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi's retirement. Throughout his life, he remained anti-establishment and his views often ruffled the feathers of those in power.

He was the longest-serving Delhi Ranji team captain from 1974 to 1982 and under him, the team became a force to reckon with the national cricket circuit..

Source : Zeebiz

Correct Answer :   M.K. Stalin

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Consolidating efforts towards the conservation of Tamil Nadu’s State Animal, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday, October 12, 2023 launched the ‘Project Nilgiri Tahr’ from the Secretariat in Chennai.

* He also distributed books to school students to create awareness about the Nilgiri Tahr.

* Nilgiri Tahr is an endangered species endemic to the Western Ghats. There are references to Nilgiri Tahr in the Sangam Tamil literature.

* The project has an outlay of ₹25 crore..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Piyush Goyal

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Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Textile, Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution, today launched website https://kasturicotton.texprocil.org of Kasturi Cotton Bharat.

This website provide a digital platform for necessary information and updates on this initiatives and highlights the registration process for ginners to produce Kasturi Cotton Bharat Brand and its processes that make the branded Indian cotton unique.

The Kasturi Cotton Bharat is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Textiles, the Cotton Corporation of India, Trade Bodies & Industry to work on the principle of self-regulation by owning complete responsibility of Branding, Traceability and Certification of Indian Cotton to enhance its’ competitiveness in the global market and create a sustainable ecosystem for all stakeholders involved.

Earlier, on the eve of World Cotton Day on 7th October, Ministry of Textiles announced the “Kasturi Cotton Bharat” brand of cotton by which Indian cotton has been endowed with a brand and a logo that represents Whiteness, Softness, Purity, Lustre and Indianness.

Thereafter, an MoU has been signed between CCI on behalf of Govt. of India and TEXPROCIL on behalf of the Textile Industry on 15th December 2022 for a mission-mode approach in positioning of Kasturi Cotton Bharat brand.

All the ginners in the country have been empowered to produce Kasturi Cotton Bharat brand as per stipulated protocol. Besides this, to provide complete traceability of Kasturi Cotton Bharat across the supply chain, QR based certification technology will be used at each stage of the processing and a blockchain based software platform will provide end to end traceability and transaction certificate.

Speaking on the occasion, Textile Minister remarked that “with the Kasturi Cotton Bharat Initiative, we are not just launching a brand, we are sharing India's rich heritage with the world. Let's weave a future that echoes our past." In an era of global competition, this initiative will strategically position Indian cotton on the world map for its quality standards and commitment to best practices, said the Shri Piyush Goyal..

Source : PIB