Correct Answer :   Operation Iron Sword

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Israel has named the ongoing fight against Hamas as Operation Iron Sword. Hamas is a Palestinian militant group that controls some areas of the Gaza Strip.

The Gaza Strip is a 41 km (25 mi) long and 10 km wide area between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. About 2.3 million people live here, which is one of the highest population density areas in the world. 

Tel Aviv declared a “state of war” on Saturday after Hamas launched a deadly surprise operation against the country – ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’, consisting of a barrage of 3,000 rockets and an unprecedented infiltration into Israel's southern towns.

The conflict escalated with gunfights and hostage situations as the Hamas' assault extended to around 22 locations up to 15 miles from the Gaza border. As of now, the operation is still going on in eight locations, the Israeli forces said Sunday (8h Oct 2023).

The Israeli military said that it has also captured dozens of militants during its 'Operation Iron Swords’ against Hamas militants. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier vowed to reduce the group's Gaza hideouts to "rubble". The military in a late-night briefing said that the number of civilian and military personnel taken hostage by Hamas would shape the future of the war..

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   449

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The Ministry of Culture has identified 449 sites for cleanliness under special Swachhata Campaign 3.0, officials said on Monday (9th Oct 2023).

The ministry in a statement said it is undertaking the campaign within the ministry and its attached, subordinate and autonomous organisations located across the country.

The drive started with a preparatory phase from September 15-30 during which the targets for disposing and cleaning during the campaign period have been earmarked. Implementation phase of the campaign has started from October 2 and will continue up to October 31, the officials said..

Source : PTI News

Correct Answer :   Scheduled Caste (SC)

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The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched the 'Scheme for Residental Education for Students in High School in Targeted Areas' (SHRESHTA). It has been introduced to advance education and uplift the socio-economic status of scheduled castes.

An official statement from the ministry states that the main objectives of this effort are to increase the reach of government development programmes and close service gaps in regions of the education sector that are mostly populated by SC populations.

SHRESHTA Scheme to Provide High-Quality Education to SC Students

According to the press release, SHRESHTA’s goal is to create an environment that will be beneficial for the socioeconomic advancement and overall development of SC students, providing a better future for them. Further, it aims to promote cooperation between residential high schools that provide high-quality education and grant-in-aid institutions run by non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The implementation of the system is divided into two different modes. The best private residential schools that are associated with the CBSE and State Board are the SHRESHTA institutions.

In accordance with this approach, a predetermined number of exceptional SC students will be chosen each year from among the States and Union Territories (UTs) via the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The children will subsequently be accepted to the top private residential schools connected to the CBSE/State Boards to complete their ninth through twelfth-grade education.

A selection committee chooses these schools based on their exceptional performance; schools boasting more than 75% pass rates for classes 10 and 12 over the previous three years are chosen for admittance.


* SHRESHTA Scheme: How Will Students be Selected?

Each year, the National Testing Agency (NTA) will select approximately 3,000 SC children whose parents' combined annual income is under 2.5 lakh rupees. These students will have a variety of school options based on their merit.

 It's noteworthy because the programme pays for all fees for each student, including mess and tuition for the school. The specific fees that are acceptable for each class are: 9th: ₹ 1,00,000; 10th: ₹ 1,10,000; 11th: ₹ 1,25,000; 12th: ₹ 1,35,000, as detailed in the press release.


* Who implemented the SHRESHTA scheme?

The "SHRESHTA" Scheme was introduced by Virendra Kumar to provide high school students in the targeted areas with residential education.

Correct Answer :   Ajay Kumar Sood

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Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the government, inaugurated ‘Bharat NCX 2023’ alongside Deputy National Security Advisor Rajinder Khanna and National Cyber Security Coordinator Lt Gen M U Nair Tuesday (10th Oct 2023).

The second edition of the National Cyber Security Exercise — ‘Bharat NCX 2023’ — is being conducted as a hybrid exercise over a period of 12 days.

The programme is being conducted by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in strategic partnership with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), the defence ministry said in a statement.

The second edition of the exercise is being conducted as a hybrid exercise till October 20 with an aim to train senior management and technical personnel of government, critical sector organisations and public and private agencies on contemporary cyber threats and handling cyber incidents and response, officials said.

This flagship event serves as an unifying platform for over 300 participants, representing a diverse spectrum of government agencies, public organisations, and the private sector, all resolutely committed to the safeguarding of critical information infrastructure through training sessions, live fire and strategic exercises, it said.

The participants will be trained on various key cyber security areas such as intrusion detection techniques, malware information sharing platform, vulnerability handling and penetration testing, network protocols and data flows, digital forensics.

‘Bharat NCX’ will help strategic leaders to better understand cyber threats, assess readiness, and develop skills for cyber crisis management and cooperation. This will also help develop and test cybersecurity skills, teamwork, planning, communication, critical thinking, and decision-making, it added..

Source : The Print

Correct Answer :   Mukesh Ambani

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According to Hurun India Rich List 2023, Mukesh Ambani has overtaken Gautam Adani to become the richest Indian.

During this period, Mukesh Ambani's wealth has increased from ₹165,100 crore in 2014 to approximately ₹808,700 crore.

Hurun India and 360 Wealth have recently released the 360 One Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2023. Adani is in second place with assets worth ₹474,800 crore.

Zoho Corp. co-founder Radha Vembu has become the richest self-made Indian woman surpassing Falguni Nayar, founder and CEO of online beauty and fashion retailer Nykaa, according to a report by Hurun India..

Source : CNBC

Correct Answer :   India and Tanzania

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India and Tanzania signed multiple Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) ranging in various sectors including digital transformation, maritime sector and sports aiming to enhance cooperation between the two nations.

Indian Navy and Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation also signed a technical agreement on Sharing White Shipping Information, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The two nations have also signed the Cultural Exchange Programme for 2023-2027.

Another MoU was signed between the Sports Authority of India and the National Sports Council of Tanzania on cooperation in the field of sports.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT and the Ministry of Information, Communication and IT, Tanzania signed an MoU on cooperation in the field of sharing successful digital solutions implemented at population scale for digital transformation, the Ministry added.

MoU was also signed between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Tanzania Investment Centre for setting up of an Industrial Park in Tanzania.

In addition to this, Cochin Shipyard Ltd. and Marine Services Co. Ltd have signed MoU on Cooperation in the Maritime Industry.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with the Tanzanian President Hassan at Hyderabad House in the national capital.

She was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan and participated in the wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat.

Tanzanian President and other delegates also enjoyed listening to a Tanzanian song during lunch at Hyderabad House in the national capital. PM Modi, NSA Ajit Doval and EAM S Jaishankar were also present on the occasion.

Tanzanian President who is in India on the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu was received by the Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi at the Delhi airport on Sunday (8th Oct 2023)..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   All of the above

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The Annual Joint HADR Exercise (AJHE) is an outcome of Hon’ble PM’s directive promulgated during Combined Commanders’ Conference-2015. Since its first edition in 2015, the Annual Joint HADR Exercise, CHAKRAVAT, has transformed itself into a multi-agency endeavour involving participation of all three Services, Paramilitary Forces, as well as several disaster response organisations, NGOs, academic institutions and international organisations.

The 2023 edition would further synergise efforts at the national level among all stakeholders, as well as witness participation from eight countries of the Indian Ocean Region.

The exercise has been conducted by Indian Army, Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Air Force (IAF) in rotation since 2016. The last edition of the exercise was conducted at Agra by IAF. The 2023 edition of the exercise is being hosted by the Indian Navy at Goa from 09th to 11th Oct 23.

Developing collective and coordinated effective response mechanisms to address humanitarian crises and natural disasters are one of the most visible elements in India's inclusive vision for the oceans - SAGAR, or Security And Growth for All in the Region. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations form a key component in the Indian Navy's Benign Role, as climate change has significantly increased vulnerability of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to natural disasters.

The challenge posed by climate change is accentuated by the limited capacity of littoral IOR states to address this rapidly growing threat. Therefore, Indian Armed Forces have been frequently called upon to render assistance to our friends and partners in the Region, thereby, strengthening the need and our resolve to be the 'First Responder’ in the region. While the three Services continue to provide relief and succour in the event of a calamity, a whole of government approach would further enhance our preparedness and response to such unfortunate events.

AJHE-23, planned over three days includes a seminar, a Table-Top Exercise and a Multi-Agency Capability Demonstration. The exercise will witness participation from various national agencies namely, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), National Institute for Disaster Management (NIDM), Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Coast Guard, Indian Metrological Department (IMD), National Remote Sensing Agencies (NRSA), State Disaster Management Agency (SDMA) and State Fire Services, Goa, District Disaster Management Agency (DDMA) of North and South, Goa, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Central Water Commission (CWC), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and representatives from Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and from friendly foreign countries.

Discussions on emergent topics namely, Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction: Practical Solution, Disaster Response in IOR: A Collaborative Approach, and NGO Collaboration in Disaster Reduction and Response: An Integrated Approach will be undertaken by Subject Matter Experts during the seminar planned on 09 Oct 23. An industrial display has been planned on 10 and 11 Oct 23 wherein various HADR equipment will be showcased by FICCI, Army, IN, IAF, ICG, NDRF, SDMA and NSRC.

In addition, a Multi-Agency Capability Demonstration will be conducted on 11 Oct 23, which will showcase drills on rescue and relief to highlight the nuances and important lessons.

The Logo for this year’s exercise depicts crests and logos of all participating agencies and flags of all nations subsumed into one single entity to signify that HADR will hinge on joint and integrated action by the all the agencies..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Jitendra Singh

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Addressing the 10th "India-Sweden Innovation Day" meet in New Delhi on 9th Oct 2023, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh called for strengthening India-Sweden collaboration to effectively address pressing global challenges while remaining steadfast in the pursuit of immediate objectives on the path to achieving a net-zero future.

Speaking on behalf of the Govt of India, Dr Jitendra Singh said, companies from both sides must be encouraged to engage in collaborative research and the exchange of human resources.

* Theme “Accelerating Green Growth” on October 9, 2023

* Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that this year, nine Swedish companies made a visit to India under the India-Sweden Innovations Accelerator with the aim of enhancing export and investment prospects in the field of green technology, thereby fostering stronger ties between Sweden and India in this sector.

* The Minister noted that in 2023, both the countries are commemorating the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations and Fifth anniversary of the Sweden-India Joint Declaration on Innovation Partnership for a Sustainable Future. He described it as a momentous occasion that serves as the guiding theme for the 10th India Sweden Innovation Day.

* Dr Jitendra Singh reiterated that this milestone event is centered on harnessing our respective areas of expertise and spearheading environmentally sustainable growth, all with the aim of realizing a net-zero future.

* Dr Jitendra Singh recalled that in May 2022, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Ms Magdalena Andersson of Sweden reiterated their dedication to fostering collaborative research and innovation across multiple domains, including polar and space research.

* The Minister said, the partnership covers several areas, including smart cities, transportation and eMobility, energy, clean technologies, new materials, space, circular and bio-based economy, and health and life sciences. He also added that the India-Sweden Innovation Partnership bridges institutions, R&D intensive industries and creative entrepreneurs to address global challenges in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

* Dr Jitendra Singh said, recently, the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, in collaboration with the Swedish Government Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA), has announced the INDIA–SWEDEN Collaborative Industrial Research & Development call. He said, this initiative forms an integral part of the broader Sweden-India Innovation Partnership, which collectively enhance competitiveness and tackle pressing global issues such as climate change and sustainable development through innovative solutions.

* Dr Jitendra Singh noted that only last year, India and Sweden announced the India-Sweden Joint call for proposals within Circular Economy. The Joint programme is co-funded by 09 Indian and Swedish funding agencies and a total of 03 major projects were supported under this call.

* A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was formally endorsed on March 13, 2023, forging a partnership between the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology and the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT). This collaboration is geared towards enhancing cooperation and fostering research connections among academic institutions in India and Sweden and also to promote knowledge exchange and research advancement by facilitating seminars, workshops, and conferences..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Vivek Ram Chaudhari

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Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari on Sunday (8th Oct 2023) unveiled the new Indian Air Force ensign on its 91st anniversary at Bamrauli Air Force Station in Prayagraj of Uttar Pradesh.

The new feature is the addition of the Air Force crest in the top right corner of the ensign, towards the fly side.

The occasion was also the first Air Force Day Parade to be commanded by a woman officer, Gp Capt. Shaliza Dhami, who is also the first woman officer of the IAF to command a combat unit.

In another first, the parade had an all-women contingent comprising the newly-inducted Agniveer Vayu women, who marched shoulder-to-shoulder with their male counterparts. The parade also included a flight of Garud Commandos of the IAF for the first time. The Garuds recently completed 20 years of service to the nation.

The air display on the banks of the Triveni Sangam featured 108 aircraft of the IAF, along with ALH Dhruv helicopters of the Indian Army and a P-8l aircraft of the Indian Navy. The display featured the lAF's celebrated display teams, the Surya Kiran and the Sarang.

The newly inducted C-295 transport aircraft marked its first appearance in an air display in India. The legendary MiG-21 Bison made, probably, its last appearance in an air display, before the planned phase-out by 2025.

In his address, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari exhorted his personnel to understand the nuances of evolving air power, to preserve peace and if and when necessary, to fight and win wars.

 "We must reform, or become a relic. We must innovate, else become mundane and we must transform, else become irrelevant," he said.  "The force structure that we need to develop must be future-ready."

Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said that from multi-domain operations to hybrid warfare, the Air Force needs to recognise that modern warfare transcends traditional boundaries. "We must seamlessly integrate air, space, cyber and ground capabilities to dominate the battlespace," he said.

He said if India is on the path to becoming a developed nation by 2047, then IAF must be one of the best by the time IAF completes 100 years in 2032. "The vision, as laid down in our doctrine, is to be an agile and adaptable air force that provides decisive aerospace power in furtherance of our national interests," he said. Innovation must become a part of IAF's DNA.

 "Developing unique tactics, carrying out realistic training and incorporating relevant lessons learnt will go a long way," he added.

On Agniveers, the Chief of Air Staff said, "We have successfully inducted the first batch of Agniveers and subsequent batches, including women Agniveers, are undergoing basic training. The rigour of training has been increased across the board for all training curriculums with more emphasis on self-learning and self-education."..

Source : Deccan Chronicle

Correct Answer :   Houston

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A long-awaited dream of having the first free-standing Gandhi Museum in North America, dedicated to the life and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of peace, is finally a reality and open for the public in the US city of Houston in Texas.

The Eternal Gandhi Museum is the only Gandhi-related Museum in the United States, dedicated to Gandhi, to preserve and promote his ever-lasting legacy of nonviolent conflict resolution.

The museum officially opened its doors to the public on August 15, but the Grand ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on October 2, the 154th birth anniversary of Gandhi.

The outer walls of the semi-circle-shaped museum depict various peace activists including Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Betty Williams, and more. A statue of Gandhi stands in front of the museum.

Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, Dr. Rajmohan Gandhi and Martin Luther King’s nephew, Isaac Newton Farris Jr., CGI Houston D Manjunath, were the special guests amongst several invited guests Monday afternoon, to celebrate the grand opening of the Museum.

"EGMH will encourage humanity to get beyond hate, violence, and supremacy," Dr. Rajmohan Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, said.

"For a great many in the world, Gandhi and King are symbols of dignity, of peace, of equality."

The 13,000 square-foot museum's architecture is based on Gandhi's twenty-four-spoke Chakra spinning wheel which he used to seek independence from colonial rule.

EGMH offers insights into different chapters of Gandhi’s life, including his childhood in India, early adulthood as a lawyer in Africa and followed by the Satyagraha movement and nonviolent fight for independence.

The interactive and engaging exhibits tell the story of Gandhi’s life and visitors experience it in three parts: “His Journey,” “Our Journey” and “My Journey.”

Isaac Newton Farris Jr., who flew in from Atlanta for the event, said "This museum and the great Mahatma's philosophy is desperately needed in America today, and so I certainly had to be part of this," Farris said..

Source : Hindustan Times