Correct Answer :   Gopal Baglay

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Senior diplomat Gopal Baglay has been appointed (13th September 2023) as the new High Commissioner of India to Australia.

* Bagle is a 1992 batch Indian Foreign Service officer.

* Presently he is the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka.

* Bagley will succeed Manpreet Vohra as Indian High Commissioner to Australia.

* Bagle has served in various positions in the Ministry of External Affairs.

* He has also worked as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office..

Source : MEA  

Correct Answer :   Mita Vashisht

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The Haryana government Tuesday (12th Sep 2023) appointed renowned film actress Mita Vashisht as the Chairperson of the Governing Council established to oversee the implementation of the Haryana Film and Entertainment Policy.

The position of Chairperson had become vacant due to the untimely demise of director, producer and actor Satish Kaushik, who was initially appointed as the first Chairman of the Governing Council by the state government.

Ms Mita Vashisht brings a wealth of experience to this prestigious role, having acted in approximately forty-three films, numerous television serials, web series, and theatre productions.

Her expertise extends beyond the screen, as she has also served as visiting faculty at esteemed institutions such as the National School of Drama (NSD), National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), National Institute of Design (NID), Whistling Woods International (WWI), and held the position of Head of Department – Acting at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), a statement issued by the government said..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Republic of Congo

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* The Ministry of External Affairs has appointed Madan Lal Raigar as the next Indian Ambassador to the Republic of Congo.

* Madan Lal Regar is currently working as a director in the ministry.

* India launched a diplomatic mission in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo in November 2019.

* The Republic of Congo is a Central African country, its capital is Brazzaville..

Source : MEA

Correct Answer :   Tharman Shanmugaratnam

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Indian-origin Singapore-born economist Tharman Shanmugaratnam will be sworn in as the 9th president of the city-state on 14th Sep 2023, days after he was overwhelmingly elected as the head of state.

A predominantly Chinese society overwhelmingly endorsed Mr Shanmugaratnam.

He has served Singapore all his life in public service. Prior to being president-elect, he served as a senior minister and Deputy Prime Minister from May 2011 to May 2019. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum.

Earlier on September 1, the 66-year-old president-elect won 70.4 percent of the 2.48 million ballots cast by local voters.

On the other hand, his Chinese-origin rivals Ng Kok Song and Tan Kin Lian received 15.72 percent and 13.88 percent respectively.

This was the first contested presidential election since 2011. Incumbent President Halimah Yacob's term will end on 13 September 2023.

The elected president serves a six-year term. .

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   8th September 2023

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Noted Rudra veena exponent, Ustad Ali Zaki Hader, passed away during the wee hours of Friday (8th September 2023) in New Delhi. He was 50.


What is Rudra Veena?

* A sizable plucked string instrument called the Rudra veena is employed in Hindustani music, particularly in the style of music known as dhrupad.
* It is one of the main veena kinds used in Indian classical music and is renowned for its deep bass resonance.


Historical Relevance :

* The Rudra veena has a lengthy history and can be observed in the designs of temples built before the Mughal era.
* It first appears in court documents under the reign of Zain-ul-Abidin (1418–1470), and among Mughal court musicians it rose to prominence.
* Princely states supported Rudra veena players as dhrupad practitioners before to India’s independence.
* However, after independence, this patronage structure was abolished, which caused Dhrupad and the Rudra veena to lose some of their appeal.
* The Rudra veena has seen a rise in popularity recently, in part due to interest from practitioners outside of India.

Names and their origins :

* The term “Rudra veena” refers to the instrument and is derived from Lord Shiva’s name “Rudra,” making it “the veena of Shiva.”
* According to legend, Parvati or the goddess Saraswati was referenced in Shiva’s creation of the Rudra veena.
* Another explanation claims that the asura Ravana created the Rudra veena as a result of his devotion to Lord Shiva.

Correct Answer :   ITI Limited

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ITI Limited, a premier telecom company and multi-unit central public sector undertaking in India, has made significant strides in the technology market by developing its own branded Laptop and Micro PC, branded as ‘SMAASH.’ These products have taken the market by storm, competing successfully against well-established MNC brands like Acer, HP, Dell, and Lenovo.

 
The ‘SMAASH’ Breakthrough :

In an exchange filing, ITI Limited proudly announced the launch of its branded laptops and Micro PCs under the ‘SMAASH’ label. These products boast quality and performance that match international standards. The key highlight is that ITI Limited has managed to secure numerous tenders, triumphing over formidable global brands. This remarkable feat demonstrates the company’s commitment to innovation and excellence.


Collaboration with Intel Corporation :

ITI Limited has not achieved this feat alone. The company collaborated with Intel Corporation, a global technology giant, to design and manufacture these flagship products. This partnership is cemented by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that has allowed ITI Limited to harness Intel’s cutting-edge technology and expertise.

Impressive Deployment and Performance :

ITI Limited has successfully deployed over twelve thousand SMAASH PCs, and they are performing exceptionally well at various customer sites. This robust performance underscores the reliability and efficiency of these products.


SMAASH Product Range :

The SMAASH PC lineup offers a variety of options, including i3, i5, i7, and more. One notable feature is the compatibility with solar solutions, as SMAASH PCs can accept DC input. Additionally, SMAASH laptops are available in various configurations, including i3, i5, i7, with a base model featuring Celeron processors, catering to the needs of students.

ITI Limited: A Total Solutions Provider :

ITI Limited is not limited to consumer electronics. As the country’s premier telecom company and a provider of defense electronics products and systems, ITI Limited is a total solutions provider in the telecommunications segment. Their offerings include a wide array of technology, such as encryptors for defense, laptops/PCs, solar panels, optical fiber cables, high-density polyethylene, and switched mode power supplies.


Supporting ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbharta’ :

The government’s emphasis on ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) is evident in ITI Limited’s achievements. They have received a purchase order from BSNL for planning, engineering, supply, installation, commissioning, and AMC of a 4G mobile network for 23,633 sites in the West Zone of BSNL’s network. ITI Limited’s plans to manufacture 4G RAN equipment for both 4G and 5G networks highlight the nation’s commitment to import substitution and fostering innovative indigenous solutions in the telecom market.

Correct Answer :   Vijayawada

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Vijayawada Railway Station on 5 September 2023 (Tuesday) was awarded the ‘Green Railway Station’ certification with the highest rating of Platinum by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) for its efforts in improving the environmental standards and providing eco-friendly services to passengers.

This is an upgradation of the station’s ratings, from gold in 2019 to platinum in 2023.

Divisional Railway Manager Narendra A. Patil said this is a moment of pride for the Vijayawada railway station, second in the South Central Railway (SCR) zone after Secunderabad to have bagged the platinum rating.

Lauding the efforts of all the staff instrumental in achieving this feat, Mr. Narendra Patil said energy efficient and solid waste management measures taken up by them in the last couple of years helped the station bag the platinum rating..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Rs 10 Lakh

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Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday (13th Sep 2023) announced a financial support of Rs 10 lakh each for the athletes of Odisha who have qualified for the upcoming Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games in China.

The mega event will be held in Hangzhou from September 23 to October 8, 2023.

As per the announcement by the State government, each Asian Games-bound Odia athlete will receive Rs 10 lakh to support their training, preparation, and participation in the prestigious event.

The Asian Games, known for bringing together elite athletes from across the continent, offer a platform to showcase the dedication and talent of the athletes.

As many as 13 athletes from Odisha have qualified for the mega event. They are Kishore Jena in athletics; Anshika Bharati, Ritu Kaudi and Sonali swain in rowing; Anupama Swain in Ju-Jitsu; Neha Devi Leichondam in kayaking and canoeing, Pyari Xaxa in football; Deep Grace Ekka and Amit Rohidas in hockey and Dumuni Marndi, Tarulata Naik, Mama Naik and Hupi Majhi in rugby.

Wishing them all the best, the Odisha CM also expressed hope that the athletes will showcase their talent at the mega event and the incentive will empower them to focus solely on their training and performance...


Source : Odisha TV

Correct Answer :   India and UK

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India and the UK have launched an infrastructure financing bridge to plan and implement major infrastructure projects, finance minister "Nirmala Sitharaman" said on Monday (11th Sep 2023).

The two countries have also agreed to conduct investment negotiations in parallel with the goods negotiations to conclude their free trade agreement (FTA) talks.

The Indian government has also confirmed with the UK government its plans to consider allowing Indian companies to list on exchanges overseas, said UK’s chancellor exchequer Jeremy Hunt, who along with Sitharaman addressed the media during the 12th India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue.

Indian businesses are currently not permitted to list directly on international exchanges. However, they can list on international exchanges using instruments like depository receipts.

Sitharaman said India and the UK want to conclude the FTA talks “as soon as possible."

The infrastructure financing bridge, a collaboration between the Niti Aayog and City of London Corporation, aims to harness their expertise to implement major infrastructure projects.

“We remain committed to collaborate, deliberate and innovate to navigate the challenges, and seize the opportunities that lie ahead for both nations."

She said the UK is also interested in increasing its presence in GIFT city. “We are highly encouraged by the intensified collaboration between India and the UK in the area of financial services."

UK’s Hunt said that he viewed India as Asia’s Silicon Valley, and the UK as Europe’s Silicon Valley, and there’s “a huge amount of work we can do together."

Sitharaman said there are ample opportunities for India and the UK to collaborate on frameworks for secure and inclusive financial intermediation especially in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning that are redefining financial services apart from India’s new Digital Personal Data Protection Act.

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 recognises the rights of individuals to protect their personal data and the need to process personal data for lawful purposes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak on Saturday, during the latter’s first visit to India as PM, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi.

Both leaders have also reviewed the progress of Free Trade Agreement negotiations and expressed hope that the remaining issues could be addressed at the earliest..


Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   Madhya Pradesh

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Madhya Pradesh government will provide Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the kin of any person killed in a mob lynching incident, the state cabinet led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan decided.

"If someone dies due to mob lynching, his family will get compensation of Rs 10 lakh," the state's education minister, Vishwas Sarang, said at a press conference following the cabinet meeting.

"There will be a provision of compensation of Rs 4 to Rs 6 lakh for the injured. This will also include all those incidents of mob lynching which occur due to religion, caste, language or any other reason. Under the scheme, mob lynching will be considered in which five or more accused are involved," he added.

There have been recent incidents of mob attacks in MP's Khandwa. In one incident, two Muslim men were beaten up for carrying meat and a Muslim man was beaten up and stabbed by a group of men for some social media posts. The Supreme Court on July 28 had asked six states, including Madhya Pradesh, about steps being taken against lynching.

Besides the MP Mob Lynching Victim Compensation Scheme 2023, the cabinet also approved a housing scheme for homeless families and doubled the honorarium being given to guest faculty.

"The cabinet has increased honorarium of guest teachers for class one from Rs 9,000 to Rs 18,000, class two from Rs 7,000 to Rs 14,000 and class three to Rs 10,000 from Rs 5,000. As many as 4,500 guest teachers will be benefited under the scheme," Sarang said.

Under the Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Housing scheme, homeless women and families will get houses, the minister said. Due to technical reasons, the scheme has been approved to help those who didn't get housing under the PM housing scheme. The number of beneficiaries will be according to the applications received.

A special package has also been approved for 6,700 families of 22 flood-affected villages in areas around the Ken and Betwa rivers..


Source : Business Standard