Correct Answer : Option (C) - NGEL

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NGEL, (a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited), has signed a Joint Venture Agreement with IOCL for setting up of renewable energy projects to meet Round the Clock power requirement of IOCL Refineries.

* The JV Agreement was signed by Mr. Kausik Basu, ED (M&I), IOCL and Mr. V. V. Sivakumar, GM, NGEL in the presence of Mr. Gurdeep Singh, CMD, NTPC Limited and Mr. Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman, IOCL.

* NTPC Limited, through its wholly owned subsidiary, NGEL, has set an ambitious target of building a renewable generation portfolio of 60 GW over the next decade to aggressively pursue its green energy business.

* The signing of this Joint Venture Agreement between the two Maharatna behemoths will enable NTPC Limited and Indian Oil to meet the Government of India's Clean Energy Targets in their respective core businesses.

* Mr. D. K. Patel, Director (HR), NTPC Limited, Mr. U.K. Bhattacharya, Director (Projects), NTPC Limited, Mr. Jaikumar Srinivasan, Director (Finance), NTPC Limited, Ms. Sukla Mistry, Director (R), IOCL and other senior officials from NGEL, NTPC REL, and IOCL were present on the occasion..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer : Option (C) - 2050

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* According to the report, published GCEW, revealed that India will face a reduction of over 16% in food supply due to water and heat stress in 2050.

* However, the report placed China at the top, where food supply would be reduced by 22.4%, followed by South America by 19.4%.

* The water supply availability in India is between 1100-1197 billion cubic meters (bcm).

* In contrast, the demand is expected to grow from 550-710 bcm in 2010 to 900-1,400 bcm in 2050..

Source : New Indian Express

Correct Answer : Option (B) - March 20

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World Oral Health Day is observed globally on March 20 every year with the primary aim of creating awareness about the importance of oral health.

* The day is celebrated to promote good oral hygiene habits, encourage people to take care of their teeth, and educate them on how to prevent dental problems.

World Oral Health Day 2023 Theme :

* Each year, World Oral Health Day is given a specific theme. The theme for 2023 is “Be Proud of Your Mouth".

* It was chosen for three years as part of a campaign launched by the World Dental Federation (FDI) in 2021. The last two World Oral Health Days also had the same theme.

* The first year of the campaign was focused on highlighting the effects of oral health on overall health and the second year underlined the importance of a healthy mouth for happiness and well-being. The 2023 World Oral Health Day emphasises the importance of ensuring oral health at every stage of life.

World Oral Health Day History : The idea to celebrate World Oral Health Day was first proposed in 2007 and the day was first celebrated on September 12 that year. It is the birth date of Dr Charles Godon, the founder of FDI. The campaign got activated in 2013 and the date for the celebration of World Oral Health Day was changed to March 20.

World Oral Health Day Significance : Oral health is an essential part of overall health and well-being and it is important to maintain good oral hygiene to prevent dental problems. Neglecting oral health can lead to various problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. World Health Day is geared towards inspiring people to unite and reduce the burden of oral diseases..

Source : News18

Correct Answer : Option (A) - Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav

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Ram Sahai Prasad Yadav has been elected as the third Vice-President of Nepal. According to the Election Commission of Nepal, Ram Sahai got 30,328 out of 52,628 votes.

Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav started his political journey in 1990 with the Nepal Sadbhavna Party. Like the President, the Vice President is also elected by an electoral college consisting of members of the federal parliament (House of Representatives and the National Assembly) and provincial assemblies. The term of the Vice-President is of five years.

Correct Answer : Option (B) - Virat Kohli

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Luxor Writing Instruments Private Limited, a company that makes stationery, has signed cricketer Virat Kohli as its new brand ambassador.

* Kohli, the company said in a statement, is recognised as one of the all-time cricket greats and known for his record-breaking performances. He will be the face of its products across its stationery range.

* The association is expected to strengthen its appeal among young writers and fortify its position as the provider of writing instruments in the country, it added.

* Pooja Jain Gupta, managing director of Luxor, said the company has also partnered with Schneider Pens for its upcoming portfolio of products.

* This is a significant milestone in our growth journey and in line with our continued endeavor to bring world-class products to Indian consumers. Our association with cricket legend Virat Kohli as the new face of Luxor epitomizes our shared commitment to the highest standards of performance and excellence.

* Christian Schneider, managing director, Schneider Pen, said, “We see India as an emerging market with immense potential and are excited to partner with Luxor, an established leader of the Indian writing industry. We look forward to leveraging our exclusive partnership with Luxor to bring the best of German engineering and design to India through multiple products that we aim to launch together in the coming future."..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer : Option (D) - March 20

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The International Day of Happiness, also known as World Happiness Day or Happiness Day, is celebrated every year on March 20.

Aim :  To create a kinder and happier world by urging people to adopt simple, daily practices to be happy.

World Happiness Day Theme 2023 : This year 2023, the theme for International Day of Happiness is ‘Be Mindful. Be Grateful. Be Kind.’

World Happiness Day History :

* The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 20 as the International Day of Happiness in its resolution 66/281 of 12 July 2012.

* The assembly recognised the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives.

* The first celebration was held in 2013 and since then it has been used as a way to recognise the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world..

Source : CNBC

Correct Answer : Option (C) - Manoj Sinha

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Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday (19th March 2023) laid the foundation stone for a ₹250-crore mega shopping mall at Srinagar’s Sempora area to be constructed by Dubai-based Emaar Group, calling it the first “foreign direct investment” in the Union territory.

* Later in the day, Sinha also participated in the India-UAE investor meet at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar.

* This is a new dawn of limitless possibilities. We are taking forward (Prime Minister) PM Narendra Modi ji’s vision for development of J&K, Sinha said.

* Mall of Srinagar will have transformative impact on UT and boost infrastructure, employment generation and ease of living.

* Sinha also performed the bhoomi pujan of the mall, which will which will be constructed over an area of 10 lakh (1 million) square feet and is expected to be completed by 2026. Set to be one of the largest malls in the region, the complex will have more than 500 shops.

* For the first time, foreign direct investment (FDI) has happened in J&K by Emaar Group,” he said. “This mall will be constructed at a cost of ₹250 crore.

* The United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Emaar Properties, an integrated real estate development company, will invest ₹500 crore in J&K, the LG said.

* Land has been given adjacently for an IT tower, which will be inaugurated next month,” he said. “An IT tower will also be constructed at a cost of ₹150 crore in Jammu..

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer : Option (D) - 7 states

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that PM Mitra Mega Textile Parks will be set up in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

He further said that PM Mitra Mega Textile Park will promote the textile sector in line with the 5F (Farm to Fiber to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) vision.

PM Mitra Mega Textile Park will provide state-of-the-art infrastructure for the textile sector. This would be a great example of 'Make in India' and ‘Make for the World’..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer : Option (A) - 20th March to 3rd April 2023

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The Ministry of Women and Child Development will celebrate the fifth Poshan Pakhwada from 20th March to 3rd April 2023 with various activities nationwide.

Pakhwada Aim : To raise awareness about the importance of nutrition and promote healthy eating habits through Jan Andolan and Jan Bhagidari.

* Poshan Abhiyaan, launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 8th March 2018, has been instrumental in ensuring people’s participation and bringing the discourse on nutrition to the forefront.

* Poshan Abhiyan was launched with the aim to improve nutritional outcomes in a holistic manner. Behavioral change at individual and community level is an important component to achieve the desired goals of a Kuposhan-mukt Bharat.

* Every year, Poshan Pakhwada is celebrated in the month of March for 15 days. Similarly, the month of September is celebrated as Rashtriya Poshan Maah, across the country. The Poshan Maah and Pakhwada celebrated so far have witnessed wide participation and enthusiasm from all States/UTs, frontline functionaries, converging Ministries as well as public at large. Close to 2.96 crore activities were held across the country in the last Poshan Pakhwada 2022.

Theme 2023 : The theme of this year’s Poshan Pakhwada 2023 is "Nutrition for All: Together Towards a Healthy India".

* With the declaration of 2023 as the International Year of Millets, this year the focus of Poshan Pakhwada will be to popularise ‘Shree Anna’- the mother of all grains, as a valuable asset to address malnutrition..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer : Option (B) - Sikkim

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The second meeting of the Startup20 engagement group under India’s G20 Presidency will conclude in Gangtok, Sikkim 19th March 2023.

* The final day of Startup20 Sikkim Sabha began with taskforce meetings of the engagement group at restaurants and cafes in and around Gangtok’s MG Marg.

* These engagements focused on deliverables under the Startup20 taskforces of foundation, alliance, finance, sustainability and inclusion.

* At the debriefing of Startup20 Sikkim Sabha, task force members presented recommendations and observations for future action. Mentoring, market access and funding were identified as critical areas for startups.

* The need for a single window platform for easing access to funds and knowledge sharing across G20 nations was highlighted.  Establishing a common startup20 fund with contributions from member nations, harmonising taxes, capacity building, a rating mechanism for startups, economic inclusion of under-represented groups of society, sharing of best practices, increasing awareness on startup policies and establishment of single-point nodal agencies across G20 nations to drive the agenda of startups were among the key recommendations and observations for policymakers.

* The concluding session, the delegates and participants will visit Rumtek Monastery near Gangtok this afternoon. The second and final day of Startup20 Sikkim Sabha will also include a debriefing of the event and discuss steps leading to the next meeting of the engagement group.

* On the first day, speakers highlighted India’s successful push for creating the Startup20 engagement group under G20, reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of lending a voice to startups and uniting global startup ecosystems.

* Addressing the inaugural session, Sikkim chief minister PS Tamang spoke about the vast opportunities for local startups and the future roadmap of policy support. For an immersive experience, various startups from across the world were showcased at stalls on Gangtok’s MG Marg, while Startup20X shared success stories and experiences through talks...

Source : AIR