Correct Answer :   Sarbananda Sonowal

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Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the indigenous Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS) ‘SAGAR SAMPARK’ on 12th July 2023.

In the presence of Shri Shripad Y. Naik, the Minister of State of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Shri TK Ramachandran, IAS Secretary, MoPSW and other senior officials from the ministry and Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships.

DGNSS is a terrestrial based enhancement system which corrects the errors and inaccuracies in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) allowing for more accurate positioning information.

The DGNSS service will help mariners in safe navigation and will reduce the risk of collisions, groundings, and accidents in the port and harbour areas. This will lead to safe & efficient movement of vessels.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Shripad Y. Naik said ‘DGNSS is an important Radio Aid to Navigation towards fulfillment of international obligations of International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA)’.

After recapitalization with multiple satellite constellations like GPS and Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), DGNSS further increases the availability and redundancy as per International standards and helps the mariners to improve their positioning within 5 meters.

The latest DGNSS system is now able to transmit corrections of GPS and GLONASS. The DGNSS significantly improves the accuracy of GPS positioning, reducing errors caused by the atmospheric inferences, satellite clock drift and other factors. This is achieved with the help of modern state of art technology receivers and latest software. The error correction accuracy has been improved from 5 to 10 meters to less than 5 meters for 100 Nautical Miles from Indian coastlines..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   12th July 2023

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Milan Kundera, whose dissident writings in communist Czechoslovakia transformed him into an exiled satirist of totalitarianism, has died in Paris at the age of 94, Czech media said Wednesday (12th July 2023).

Kundera's renowned novel, "The Unbearable Lightness of Being,' opens wrenchingly with Soviet tanks rolling through Prague, the Czech capital that was the author's home until he moved to France in 1975.

 Weaving together themes of love and exile, politics and the deeply personal, Kundera's novel won critical acclaim, earning him a wide readership among Westerners who embraced both his anti-Soviet subversion and the eroticism threaded through many of his works.

If someone had told me as a boy : One day you will see your nation vanish from the world, I would have considered it nonsense, something I couldn't possibly imagine. A man knows he is mortal, but he takes it for granted that his nation possesses a kind of eternal life, he told the author Philip Roth in a New York Times interview in 1980, the year before he became a naturalised French citizen.

In 1989, the Velvet Revolution pushed Communists from power and Kundera's nation was reborn as the Czech Republic, but by then he had made a new life and a complete identity in his attic apartment on Paris' Left Bank.

He won accolades for his style depicting themes and characters that floated between the mundane reality of everyday life and the lofty world of ideas.

Other works : The Joke, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting

Awards : Jerusalem Prize (1985), Austrian State Prize for European Literature (1987), Vilenica International Literary Festival (1992), Herder Prize (2000).

Source : Business Sstandard

Correct Answer :   5.2%

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The index of industrial production in India grew by 5.2% in May 2023 from 4.2% measured in April 2023, according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on Wednesday (12th July 2023).

In May 2022, the factory output, measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) was at all time high-growth of 19.6%.

India's industrial production growth (IIP) declined to its lowest level in five months at 1.1% in March. However, the figure has been revised to 1.7%. The previous lowest growth rate was observed in October 2022 when it contracted by 4.1%.

According to data from the National Statistical Office (NSO), the manufacturing sector, which contributes to more than three-fourths of the IIP, witnessed a growth of 5.7% in May up from 4.9% in April 2023.

The power generation sector which witnessed a decline of 1.1% in April saw a marginal growth of 0.9% in May 2023 year on year. Mining output increased by 6.4% in May from 5.1% in April.

As per Use-based classification, the indices stand at 149.8 for Primary Goods, 102.7 for Capital Goods, 154.1 for Intermediate Goods, and 174.7 for Infrastructure/ Construction Goods for the month of May 2023. Further, the indices for Consumer durables and Consumer non-durables stand at 115.2 and 148.0 respectively for the month of May 2023.

In May, India witnessed remarkable growth in its core sector output which contributes more than 40% of the IIP. The core sector witnessed a substantial jump of 18.1% compared to the same period last year. This surge can be attributed to the amplified production in key industries such as cement, coal, fertilizers, and electricity, surpassing the growth rate of 8.4% recorded in April..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   4.81%

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* India's Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation has raised for the first time in five months to 4.81% in June 2023.

* The rise in inflation is higher than the street's expectations of 4.58%, but it is still below RBI's upper tolerance limit of 6%.

* Reason : Due to a less supportive base and the onset of a surge in vegetable prices.

* Consumer food price inflation surged to 4.49% in June 2023.

* Retail inflation in the food and beverages basket also rose sharply to 4.63%..

Source : Business Today

Correct Answer :   Manoj Ahuja

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Shri Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare 12th July 2023 launched a new campaign for banks under Agri Infra Fund titled BHARAT (Banks Heralding Accelerated Rural & Agriculture Transformation).

This one month-long Campaign (from 15th July 2023 to 15th August 2023) with a target of Rs 7200 crore was launched through Video Conference attended by more than 100 Banking Executives that included MDs/Chairman, EDs of commercial Banks in public and private sector, Regional Rural Banks, Small Finance Banks, NBFCs and select cooperative Banks.

While addressing the gathering of Bank Executives and Ministry Officials Shri Samuel Praveen Kumar, Joint Secretary (AIF) highlighted the progress made since the inception of this ambitious flagship Scheme.

In his welcome address, he complimented the Banks for their active involvement and support to promote this Scheme which has resulted in creation of more than 31, 850 agri infra projects in the country with ₹24750 crore as loan amount under AIF with an outlay of ₹42,000 crores.

Expressing satisfaction at the support from the MoA&FW and Project Monitoring Unit of AIF, participating executives from Banks came up with many suggestions to take AIF scheme to newer heights.

Secretary, MoA&FW congratulated the top performing Banks in different categories, namely State Bank of India, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, HDFC, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Madhya Pradesh Gramin Bank, Madhyanchal Gramin Bank and Punjab Gramin Bank, for their laudable effort in contributing to take this scheme forward and appealed to all the Banks to achieve targets considering the vast potential for agri infra projects in our country.

The Banks were also advised to carry out an assessment of impact of the projects created under the scheme at ground level..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   42nd

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The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) celebrated its 42nd Foundation Day on July 12, 2023.

* The day was marked by a series of events across the country, including a webinar on the theme of “NABARD: 42 Years of Rural Transformation.”

* The webinar was addressed by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, who highlighted the important role that NABARD has played in the development of rural India.

* He said that NABARD has helped to increase agricultural production, improve rural infrastructure, and promote financial inclusion in rural areas.

* The webinar also featured presentations by senior officials from NABARD, who discussed the bank’s various initiatives in the areas of agriculture, rural development, and financial inclusion.


Significance of NABARD Foundation Day :

* The significance of NABARD Foundation Day is to celebrate the achievements of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in promoting rural development in India.

* NABARD was established in 1982 to provide financial and developmental support to the agricultural and rural sectors.

* The bank has played a significant role in increasing agricultural production, improving rural infrastructure, and promoting financial inclusion in rural areas.

* NABARD Foundation Day is also an opportunity to recommit to the bank’s mission of helping rural communities thrive.

* The bank has a long-term vision of making rural India prosperous and self-reliant.

* NABARD Foundation Day is a time to reflect on the bank’s progress towards this vision and to recommit to working with rural communities to achieve it.

Correct Answer :   Sanjiv Puri

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ITC Ltd’s board has recommended the re-appointment of Sanjiv Puri as the company’s chairman & managing director for a period of 5 years, effective 22 July, 2024.

ITC Limited is an eminent Indian conglomerate, which holds a prominent position among the largest companies in the country. Its operations encompass a diverse range of business sectors, such as tobacco manufacturing, food processing, retailing, and financial services.


Sanjiv Puri Career :

Sanjiv Puri, 60, joined ITC in January 1986 and has since demonstrated exceptional leadership across various roles within the organization. He was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer in February 2017 and later re-designated as the Managing Director in May 2018. Puri took on the role of Chairman of the tobacco-to-hotels conglomerate on May 13, 2019.

During his tenure at ITC, Puri has held several key positions, displaying a remarkable understanding of diverse business verticals. He has overseen critical areas such as manufacturing, operations, and information & digital technology. Puri’s expertise and strategic vision have played a pivotal role in shaping ITC’s growth trajectory.


Sanjiv Puri Leadership :

Under Puri’s leadership, ITC has embraced a transformative strategy called ‘ITC Next,’ focusing on innovation, digital acceleration, customer centricity, and cost optimization. This strategic framework has enabled the company to invest in new growth avenues while ensuring supply chain agility. The company has made significant strides in areas such as environmental conservation, rural development, and community welfare, reflecting Puri’s dedication to creating a positive impact.

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   12th July

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On July 12, World Paper Bag Day is celebrated annually to promote the significance of utilizing paper bags instead of plastic.

This observance serves as a reminder to prioritize environmentally conscious choices in our everyday lives and encourages individuals and businesses to adopt more sustainable alternatives.

World Paper Bag Day History :

* The origins of paper bags can be traced back to the 19th century when Francis Wolle invented the first paper bag machine in 1852. This groundbreaking invention revolutionized the production of paper bags, leading to their widespread adoption as a packaging solution.

* However, in the 20th century, plastic bags gained popularity due to their convenience and cost-effectiveness. Unfortunately, the environmental consequences of plastic bags became more apparent over time, prompting a renewed interest in paper bags.

* In 1999, San Francisco took a significant step by becoming the first city to ban plastic bags in grocery stores and pharmacies. This milestone marked the beginning of a global movement, with other towns and nations following suit in restricting plastic bag usage. This shift in policies sparked a resurgence in the use of paper bags as a more environmentally friendly alternative.

* Today, World Paper Bag Day has evolved into an international event celebrated through parades, festivals, and various activities that promote the adoption of paper bags over plastic bags. It serves as a reminder of the importance of choosing sustainable options and highlights the role of paper bags in reducing the negative impact on our environment.

World Paper Bag Day 2023 Significance :

* World Paper Bag Day holds great importance in advocating for a greener and cleaner world. Plastic bags, being non-biodegradable, pose a significant threat to our planet. They often end up in landfills or find their way into the oceans, endangering marine life. By choosing paper bags instead, we can reduce plastic waste and contribute to the preservation of our planet for future generations.

* Paper bags are made from renewable resources and are biodegradable, meaning they can be recycled and easily decomposed without causing harm to the environment. This is one of the primary benefits of using paper bags.

* The objective of this day is to raise public awareness about the detrimental impact of plastic bags on the environment and to encourage the adoption of paper bags and other eco-friendly alternatives.

Correct Answer :   France

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France will join Britain in supplying long-range SCALP missiles to Ukraine. Speaking on arrival at a summit of the 31-member NATO alliance in Lithuania.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he had decided to boost military aid to Ukraine to help its counteroffensive.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said it would be absurd if NATO leaders gathering for a summit did not offer his country a timeframe for membership after the alliance head said it would send Kyiv a positive message.

Kyiv is pushing to be allowed into the Western alliance, bound together by mutual security guarantees. But divisions among NATO's 31 members mean there will not be a date or straightforward invitation for Ukraine to join..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Tamil Nadu

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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday (11th July 2023) approved Tamil Nadu’s first Flight Training Organisation (FTO).

A senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official informed that EKVI Air Training Organisation Pvt. Ltd. based at Salem Airport in Tamil Nadu got the approval to establish FTO.

"This is the only Flying Training Organization in the entire state of Tamil Nadu", said the official.

This will be the 36th Flying Training Organization in the country that DGCA has approved.

As the sole approved flying Training school in the region, it would provide aspiring pilots of Tamil Nadu with training opportunities as per DGCA standards and contribute to the growth of the aviation industry in the country, the official said. (ANI)