Correct Answer :   Nirmala Sitharaman

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The 50th GST Council meeting, headed by the Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, has been concluded in New Delhi  on Tuesday (11th July 2023) .

Key Highlights :

* 28% GST rate has been levied on the full value of gaming, horse racing, and casino.

* Exempted GST on pharma products like cancer drug Dinutuximab, and Food for Special Medical Purposes.

* Reduced GST on Uncooked, unfried & extruded snack palettes to 5%.

* Reduced GST on Fish soluble paste to 5%.

* Imitation zari thread brought down from 12% to 5%..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   Odisha

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The Odisha state cabinet on Monday (10th July 2023) approved a proposal to recommend the inclusion of the Kui language in the 8th schedule of the Constitution of India.

Inclusion of Kui in the eighth schedule will help in the preservation, promotion and propagation of the language and culture, a cabinet brief said.

କୁଇ ଭାଷାକୁ ଆହୁରି ଲୋକାଭିମୁଖୀ କରିବା ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟରେ #OdishaCabinet ବୈଠକରେ କୁଇ ଭାଷାକୁ ସମ୍ୱିଧାନର ୮ମ ଅନୁଚ୍ଛେଦରେ ଅନ୍ତର୍ଭୁକ୍ତ ପ୍ରସ୍ତାବକୁ ସୁପାରିଶ କରାଯାଇଛି। ଏହାଦ୍ବାରା କୁଇ ଭାଷା, ସଂସ୍କୃତିର ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ, ବିକାଶ, ପ୍ରଚାର ପ୍ରସାର ଏବଂ ଗବେଷଣା ଆହୁରି ବ୍ୟାପକ ହେବା ସହ à­­ ଲକ୍ଷରୁ ଅଧିକ କୁଇ ଭାଷାଭାଷୀ ଜନଜାତି ଲୋକ ଉପକୃତ… pic.twitter.com/du7dQ1awC3

— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) July 10, 2023

Besides, publication, creation of content and recognition will get momentum. It will create an eco-system to facilitate research and studies anchored around the preservation, promotion and propagation of the Kui language. The cabinet maintained that more than seven lakh Kui-speaking indigenous people will benefit from the decision. Besides, it will also have no financial implications.

Source : New Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Abhijit Chakravorty

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Abhijit Chakravorty will be the new Managing Director and Chief Executive of SBI Cards and Payment Services Ltd (SBI Card) from August 12, 2023.

He will succeed present MD&CEO Rama Mohan Rao Amara, who will move back to promoter company State Bank of India.

The appointment of Abhijit Chakravorty as MD&CEO, nominated by State Bank of India, is for two years subject to necessary approvals including from the shareholders at the ensuing Annual General Meeting, SBI Card informed BSE.

He is presently a Deputy Managing Director at State Bank of India.

About Abhijit Chakravorty :

Chakravorty, a post graduate in Applied Chemistry, started his banking career as a Probationary Officer with SBI in 1988. He has gained over 34 years of rich experience in Retail and Corporate Banking, Overseas Operations and IT vertical of the Bank.

Chakravorty managed the Bangladesh Operations of the Bank as CEO and Country Head. He also worked as Chief General Manager (Channels & Operations) at the Global IT Centre of the Bank. He headed the vertical responsible for IT operations of the customer facing channels and payment systems..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   UAE

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India topped the medals tally at the 34th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2023 held in Al Ain, UAE from 3 July to 11 July 2023, by virtue of every student winning a gold medal! This is the first time that India has turned in an all-gold performance at IBO. It is also the first time that India has topped the medals tally at the Olympiad

The students this year were :

* Dhruv Advani (GOLD) from Bengaluru, Karnataka

* Ishan Pednekar (GOLD) from Kota, Rajasthan

* Megh Chhabda (GOLD) from Jalna, Maharashtra

* Rohit Panda (GOLD) from Risali, Chattisgarh

The team was accompanied by two leaders: Prof. Madan M. Chaturvedi (Former Senior Professor, Delhi University) and Dr Anupama Ronad (HBCSE, TIFR), and two Scientific Observers: Dr V. V. Binoy (National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru) and Dr Rambhadur Subedi (NIRRH, Mumbai).

There were 293 students from 76 countries in this year's IBO. Singapore was the only other country to secure four gold medals. In all 29 gold medals were awarded.

Earlier, India has topped the medals tally in Astronomy & Astrophysics (in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015 and 2021), Physics (in 2018) and Junior Science (in 2014, 2019, 2021, and 2022)..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Preeti Aghalayam

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The Zanzibar campus (Tanzania) of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) which is set to become the first offshore campus of the prestigious institution will also be the first IIT campus to be led by a woman director.

With the first academic session scheduled to begin in October, Preeti Aghalayam has been appointed as the director-in-charge of the IIT Zanzibar campus. Preeti Aghalayam is an alumnus of IIT Madras where she completed her BTech in Chemical Engineering.

"I am an alumnus of IIT Madras and doing something of this magnitude for the institute and for the country is such a big honor. Every time we visited Zanzibar as part of the IIT Madras contingent, we noticed that the representation of women on their side is quite significant. So, it was important that we do this mindfully," Aghalayam said.

Recently, India and Tanzania inked an MoU, which facilitated IIT Madras to launch its first international campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania'.

The institute would offer two full-time academic programs and the applications for admission are already open..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   July 11

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World Population Day is observed every year on July 11 in order to raise awareness about the global population issues, including population control.

As per the United Nations, the rising population trends “affect economic development, employment, income distribution, poverty and social protections. They also affect efforts to ensure universal access to health care, education, housing, sanitation, water, food and energy. To more sustainably address the needs of individuals, policymakers must understand how many people are living on the planet, where they are, how old they are, and how many people will come after them.”

The theme for the World Population Day 2023 is ‘Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities’.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres speaking about the theme said, “Gender-based discrimination harms everyone – women, girls, men, and boys. Investing in women uplifts all people, communities, and countries.”

Why is World Population Day celebrated?

World Population Day focuses on the urgency and importance of population issues. It was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989, after the Day of Five Billion — the day the world approximately reached the population of five billion — which was observed on 11 July 1987.

In December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had decided to continue to observe the World Population Day in order to spread awareness regarding population issues, including their impact on the environment as well as development.

On July 11 1990, over 90 countries celebrated the World Population Day and since then it has been acknowledged by nations, organisations and institutions..

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   Kuwait

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The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) elected "Kuwait Sheikh Talal Fahad Al Ahmad Al-Sabah" as the new President at the 42nd OCA General Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday (8th July 2023).

Sheikh Talal received 24 of the 44 votes cast, while the OCA Director General, Husain Al-Musallam, received 20. The simple majority required was 23. Sheikh Talal, 58, is the son of the first OCA President, Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who was President from 1982 to 1990, and the younger brother of the previous OCA President, Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah, who led the organisation from 1991 to 2021.

Former Secretary General Randhir Singh of India had led the OCA as its acting President since 2021. Sheikh Talal election keeps the leadership of the Kuwait-based OCA in the House of the Al Sabah family.

In his 15-minute election presentation, Sheikh Talal’s motto was “One Asia, One Family” and he built his campaign around five main pillars: good governance, financial sustainability, development plan for sports and activities, education programmes and high-quality Asian Games..

Source : Dailytimes

Correct Answer :   Bangladesh

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India and Bangladesh have started bilateral trade in rupees. It was launched at an event jointly organised by Bangladesh Bank and High Commission of India in Dhaka 11th July 2023.

From today onwards, India and Bangladesh will trade in Indian rupees alongside the usual transaction method in US dollar, said Pranay Verma, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka.

Trade settlement through Indian rupee will only apply to export amount from Bangladesh while the rest of imports from India will be settled in US dollars, said Mr Verma.

From Bangladesh side trade and transactions with India will be done by its Eastern Bank and Sonali Bank Ltd, while from Indian side operations will be done by State Bank of India and ICICI Bank, said Abdur Rouf Talukdar, Governor General of Bangladesh's central Bank.

Bangladesh is India's biggest trade partner in South Asia and India is the second largest trade partner of Bangladesh in Asia.

Reserve Bank of India has allowed banks from 18 countries to trade in rupees including Germany, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, Myanmar, Oman and others; Bangladesh become 19th country to trade with India in rupees..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Peru

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Peru declared a nationwide emergency as Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological disorder, surged in the country. A 90-day health emergency has been imposed in the country to curb the outbreak.

So far a total of 182 cases have been reported, of which 147 have been discharged, 4 people died, and 31 remain hospitalised.

 The country declares a health emergency at the request of Health Minister César Vásquez, who noted that an increase in the number of cases could mean a lack of immunoglobulin (antibodies).


What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)?

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a rare autoimmune disease causing neurological disorder, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves. The attack is leading to the symptoms such as muscle weakness, numbness, and tingling, that start with the legs and spread upwards, and in extreme cases, it can also lead to paralysis of the whole body.

Most of the people who are struggling with diseases need to be hospitalised for treatment. The exact cause of the disorder is not known yet. Reports suggest that two-thirds of the patients show symptoms of covid-19 or gastrointestinal infection or Zika virus in the preceding six weeks.


Symptoms of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) :

Here are the common symptoms of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS):

What is the available treatment for Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)?

So far there is no treatment available for Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). However, there are treatments available to reduce the severity, treat the symptoms, and speed up recovery.

Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) is the most common treatment available developed from donated blood-containing antibodies. This calms the immune system's attack on nerves.

Plasma exchange could be another possible treatment that filters the blood and removes the harmful antibodies attacking the nerves.


Is there any vaccine against Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)?

No, currently, there is no vaccine for Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   Gujarat

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on 11 July 2023 filed his nomination for Rajya Sabha for second time from Gujarat.

The ruling party has repeated him from the state where three members of the Rajya Sabha retiring. Other two members are Jugal Thakor and Dinesh Anavadiya, both have not been repeated by the party.

At the Gujarat Assembly secretariat where he filed his nomination papers, he was accompanied by the state Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and state party chief CR Paatil.

“First of all I would like to express gratitude to PM Modi, BJP leadership and people and MLAs of Gujarat. Four years back, I received the honour to represent Gujarat in the Rajya Sabha,” he told media after submitting his papers.

Mr Jaishankar was sworn in as cabinet minister in the government in 2019. He was then nominated to the Upper House to the seat vacated by Union home Minister Amit Shah who was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2019 from Gandhinagar.

Meanwhile, there is no clarity yet on two other candidates the ruling party is supposed to declare.

According to sources in Gandhinagar; the candidates will be declared by the central BJP leadership from Delhi.

Meanwhile, the Congress decided to not field any candidate for three Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat as it did not have enough MLAs in the 182-member Assembly.

Notably, of the 11 Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat, eight are currently held by BJP and the others by Congress. .

Source : The Hindu