Correct Answer :   Odisha

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Odisha Govt has signed an MoU with six Public Sector Banks, namely SBI, PNB, Union Bank, UCO Bank, Bank of India, Bank of Baroda for providing banking services in all unbanked Gram Panchayats of the State through CSP Plus banking outlets.

The scheme will be implemented in a phased manner to cover all unbanked GPs of State within the current financial year 2023-24.

Odisha Govt will provide rent free banking space for 5 years and also bear one-time expenses for Fixed Cost & Recurring expenses for a period of 3 years.

A provision of ₹500 Cr has been made for the scheme..

Source : Orissa Diary

Correct Answer :   13th

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India has become the Internationally Accepted OIML (International Organization of Legal Metrology) Certificates Issuing Authority, Consumer Affairs Ministry announced on Thursday (14th Sep 2023).

* Indiais the 13th country in the world that can issue the OIML approval certificates.

* Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said, “Domestic manufacturers can now get their weighing & measuring instrument tested in India and sell in international market. It will create facility for international manufacturers to get their equipment tested in here and this, in turn, will generate revenue and employment”.

* Paul Dixon, Executive Secretary, OIML-CS, also joined from OIML’s Paris Headquarters for the briefing, re-affirming India’s role as an OIML Certificates Issuing Authority and assuring continued cooperation.

* Established in 1955, OIML is an intergovernmental organisation and its certificate is internationally accepted for selling weights & measures anywhere in the world. Singh said that at present a lab in Ahmedabad will do the testing for certification. There is a plan to start similar labs in other cities. “The Ministry will have a dedicated cell for issuance of the certificate,” Singh said.

* The domestic manufacturers can now export their weighing and measuring instrument worldwide without incurring additional testing fees, resulting in significant cost savings.

* An official statement said that India may now influence the OIML’s policies and provide input to the OIML Strategy. This system allows OIML Certificates issued by OIML Issuing Authorities in OIML Member States to be accepted by other participants as the basis for issuing national or regional type approvals for measuring instrument. The other OIML Members can thus issue national type approval certificates without the need for expensive test facilities by relying on these certificates, it said.

* India now joins an exclusive group of nations, including Australia, Switzerland, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, France, UK, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden and Slovakia authorised to issue OIML approval certificates..

Source : The Hindu Businessline

Correct Answer :   Assam

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Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria unveiled ‘Sarpanch Samvaad’ , a mobile application app of Quality Council of India (QCI) in Raj Bhavan.

QCI launched the Sarpanch Samvaad is an initiative aimed at connecting approximately 2.5 lakh Sarpanchs across India, which serves as a holistic platform for networking, knowledge dissemination, and collaboration.

Through this initiative, Sarpanchs can spotlight developmental activities in their villages, learn about best practices, and foster connections nationwide.

The Governor said, "I am delighted to see the app which is a great initiative for the Sarpanchs. It brings me immense joy to see the focus on empowering our grassroots leaders". He said that Assam has a multitude of dedicated female leaders who have been tirelessly contributing to the development of their communities.

The Governor also said that the Sarpanch Samvaad initiative will also propel the villages of India to the forefront of its growth trajectory and realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of making India, a developed nation by 2047..

Source : Indiatimes

Correct Answer :   IIT Kanpur

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The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) on Tuesday (September 12, 2023) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with private lender ICICI Bank to support the startup ecosystem in the institute.

The premier technological institution said that this partnership will empower startups and innovators at its Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC). SIIC is one of the oldest incubators in the country having been engulfed on its journey in 2000.

The partnership between the two will also focus on supporting incubatees by improving their understanding of foreign trade policies by conducting several workshops and seminars.

Additionally, both entities will collaborate on organising events for startups thus “fostering a broader innovation and entrepreneurial environment that goes beyond financial services.”

"It proves to be a significant step in advancing India's entrepreneurial ecosystem, emphasising the role of partnerships in driving economic growth and fostering innovation.

IIT Kanpur and ICICI Bank are committed to offering comprehensive support to early-stage ventures, highlighting their dedication to nurturing India's vibrant startup community," the joint statement released by the two said.

"Symbiotic relationship between banks and startups is the cornerstone of economic dynamism. Banks serving as catalysts of financial support and guidance, empower entrepreneurs to innovate, create jobs, and foster prosperity," professor Abhay Karandikar, director, IIT Kanpur said.

The MoU was signed at IIT Kanpur by Prof. Ankush Sharma, professor-in-charge of SIIC, and Saif Abbas Kazmi, Zonal Head of ICICI Bank..

Source : CNBC

Correct Answer :   Balbir Singh

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In Punjab, the State Health Minister Balbir Singh 11th Sep 2023 launched "Mission Intensified IndraDhanush” 5.0 from Dr BR Ambedkar Medical College in Mohali.

* He was accompanied by Abhinav Trikha, Secretary Health and Mission Director NHM along with other officials. Earlier it was planned for August along with rest of the nation but delayed due to flood conditions in the state.

* Mission InderDhanush provides vaccination against 12 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD) i.e. diphtheria, Whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, meningitis and pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae type B infections, Japanese encephalitis (JE), rotavirus vaccine, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and measles-rubella (MR).

* The main purpose of the launch of this mission is to cover those pregnant women who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated as well as children left out and drop out in the age group of 0-5 years.

* During total three rounds 6156 sessions will be organized throughout the state for this vaccination drive.Teams will primarily target Brick kiln, other remote areas where migratory labourers are residing and vaccinate them after identification..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   14 September

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Hindi Diwas or Hindi Day is celebrated every year on 14 September. The day is dedicated to promote and celebrate the cultural heritage of Hindi –the official language of India.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, had officially declared 14 September as the Hindi Diwas. Hindi was declared as one of the official languages in order to streamline government operations in a multilingual nation.

On the occasion of Hindi Diwas, different activities are are organized in schools, colleges, government offices, and cultural institutions throughout the country.

Some of these Hindi Diwas activities include essay competitions, workshops, seminars, writing competitions, cultural programmes, quizzes, and more. The main significance of celebrating Hindi Diwas in India is to highlight the importance of Hindi as a language of communication, and as a repository for the country's extensive literary and cultural history.

History  of Hindi Diwas :

The history of Hindi Diwas dates back to 14 September 1949, when Hindi language was declared as the official language of India under the Indian Constitution. Hindi language plays a critical role in connecting people from different linguistic backgrounds in India, and is understood and spoken by people from different regions of the country.


Significance Hindi Diwas :

The main significance of celebrating the Hindi Diwas is to recognise and honour the contribution of the Hindi language to India's cultural and linguistic diversity. Hindi Diwas is observed to promote and value the linguistic diversity of India. It focuses on preserving and advancing India's linguistic heritage..

Source : The Quint

Correct Answer :   Jagdeep Dhankhar

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Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated International Conference on Dam Safety at Jaipur in Rajasthan 14th Sep 2023.  Professionals from across the nation and about fifteen countries are expected to participate in the conference.

In line with this objective, Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will inaugurate the National Centre for Earthquake Safety, at MNIT Jaipur today, ahead of the international conference.

According to the Jal Shakti Ministry, there are over six thousand dams in India and it is ranked third globally in terms of large dams. Approximately 80 percent of these dams are over 25 years of age.

Aim : The conference aims to provide a major platform for experts to come together and debate cutting-edge topics in dam safety and management.

Dams have been essential to civilization's development, and have played a multifaceted role in meeting the increasing demand for drinking water, irrigation, hydropower and flood protection..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Uttarakhand

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The Uttarakhand government on Tuesday (12th Sep 2023) approved the formulation of a policy offering land and subsidies to investors to give a push to sectors such as healthcare, traditional medicine, education, films and media in the state.

* The state cabinet in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami approved the promulgation of Uttarakhand Service Sector Policy-2023 offering land and capital subsidy to investors.

* Chief Secretary SS Sandhu said the promulgation of the policy will give a boost to the service sectors such as healthcare, wellness, traditional medicine, education, film, media, sports and skill education facilities like never before and its economy (barring tourism) will grow by USD 27 billion by 2030.

* After the promulgation of the policy, the service sector will make a contribution of at least 40 per cent to the state GDP, he said.

* With this policy Uttarakhand will attract investments worth Rs 60,000 crore in the service sector by 2030. The state has set a target of getting investments worth Rs 45000 crore before 2027, Sandhu said.

* 20 lakh people will get employment in the service sector and the skills of 10 lakh workers will be developed. Land and capital subsidy will be given under the policy to investors who invest in the service sector, he said.

* The cabinet also decided to set up an Auli Development Authority to prepare a plan for developing the picturesque town in Chamoli district as a major skiing destination and implementing it, Sandhu said.

* It also decided to take consultancy services from INI Design Studio Pvt Ltd for preparing the conceptual design, detailed design DPR etc of special type of statues and artworks to be installed in Kedarnath and Badrinath..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   Joshit Ranjan Sikidar

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Shri Joshit Ranjan Sikidar has joined Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) as Director (Finance) on 12th September, 2023.

Shri Sikidar is Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, Cost Accountant and MBA (Finance), with total post-qualification experience of more than 30 years.

Before his appointment as Director (Finance), Shri Sikidar was working as Group General Manager (Finance) and Company Secretary of RITES Limited.  His total tenure of service includes more than four years in RITES, more than 16 years in NSPCL (a joint venture of NTPC & SAIL) and more than nine years in SAIL – Bhilai Steel Plant.

He has experience in Finance Establishment, Corporate Expenditure, Corporate Taxation Cell, Treasury Functions, Expotech Finance, Compliances and Corporate Governance.

Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited is a Miniratna Category-I CPSU under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.

In the present scenario, SECI has a major role to play in the development of the renewable energy sector. The company is a nodal agency for implementation of a number of schemes of MNRE.

In addition, SECI has ventured into solar project development on turnkey basis for several PSUs and Government departments. The company also has a Category-1 power trading license and is active in this domain through trading of solar power generated by projects set up under the schemes it implements..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   S.R. Batliboi

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Digital payment services provider Paytm on Wednesday (13th Sep 2023) said its shareholders have approved the appointment of a new statutory auditor, "S.R. Batliboi & Associates LLP", for five years.

S.R. Batliboi & Associates LLP has been approved as the new statutory auditor of Paytm for five years in the 23rd annual general meeting held on 12 September 2023, Paytm said in an exchange filing.

Price Waterhouse Chartered Accountants LLP has completed its term as the statutory auditor of the company at the conclusion of the AGM, the filing stated.

The company in a separate filing said that shareholders approved reappointment of Madhur Deora as Executive Director, President and Group Chief Financial Officer as well as the proposed increase in his salary.

Price Waterhouse Chartered Accountants LLP on August 7 had announced its resignation as auditor of Paytm Payments Services Limited with immediate effect.

PwC had cited the change of auditors at the holding company level and Paytm's practice to align the auditor of the holding company and subsidiaries to bring in synergies in the audit process..

Source : India Times