Correct Answer : Option (D) - 8th

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India ranked at the 8th spot in the list of world's top 10 most polluted countries after SWISS firm IQAir released its 'World Air Quality Report' 2022. However, India improved its ranking as it dropped from 5th to 8th place.

In this list, 39 Indian cities are included in the top 50 polluted cities. As per the data, the PM2.5 level of the most polluted Indian cities was recorded at 53.3 in the World Air Quality.

According to the report, India is the eighth most polluted country in the world in 2022, declining from the fifth position last year. In this report, it has been said that in terms of the worst air quality in the Central and South Asian region, the condition of India and Pakistan is not good.

Rank	Top 10 most polluted countries in world
1	Chad
2	Iraq
3	Pakistan
4	Bahrain
5	Bangladesh
6	Burkina Faso
7	Kuwait
8	India
9	Egypt
10	Tajikistan

Source : India Tv News

Correct Answer : Option (A) - OpenAI

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* Chatbot ChatGPT launched a new version (Chatbot GPT-4) of its artificial intelligence technology on Tuesday (14th March 2023), saying it was more powerful and predictable than previous versions and capable of analyzing images and handling much larger blocks of text.

* The announcement from OpenAI—a startup backed by billions of dollars from Microsoft Corp.—is the latest in a string of generative AI announcements as companies try to get ahead in the race to build and use the buzzy new technology.

* Many regulators, scholars and activists have urged tech companies to exercise more caution in developing the tools which haven’t yet been fully tested.

* Generative AI technology—special because it can generate original images, text and other content from basic language prompts—sometimes produces responses that seem unhinged and contain made-up facts or racist and sexist statements.

* On Tuesday (14th March 2023), OpenAI introduced a more powerful version of the technology behind ChatGPT called GPT-4.

* The updated chatbot is “more creative and collaborative" than previous versions when it comes to tasks like composing songs or writing screenplays, the blog said.

* The company is rolling out the technology starting Tuesday through data-sharing partnerships, which companies including Morgan Stanley and Duolingo Inc. are paying to access. It will also be offered to ChatGPT Plus subscribers, who pay $20 a month for faster and more available service. It isn’t yet available to those who use the free service.

* In an online presentation Tuesday (14th March 2023), OpenAI demonstrated how the tool could be used to do things like explain obscure tax codes or summarize articles into sentences with every letter beginning with Q..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer : Option (B) - IREDA

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State-owned Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) on Monday (13th March 2023) said it has received Infrastructure Finance Company status from the Reserve Bank of India.

* The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted an 'Infrastructure Finance Company (IFC)' status to Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) on Monday, a company statement said.

* It was earlier classified as an 'Investment and Credit Company (ICC)'.

* With the IFC status, IREDA will be able to take higher exposure in RE financing.

* The IFC status will also help the company to access a wider investor base for fund mobilisation, resulting in competitive rates for fundraising.

* The recognition of IREDA as an IFC will increase the investors' confidence, enhance the brand value and generate a positive outlook in the market.

* The grant of IFC status is a recognition of IREDA's 36 years of infrastructure financing and development with focused development of renewable energy.

* With IFC status, IREDA will keep contributing towards the government target of 500 GW installed capacity of non-fossil fuels by 2030.

* Pradip Kumar Das, Chairman and Managing Director of IREDA, said, "The IFC status is a significant milestone for IREDA and will enable us to maintain our leading position as a financier of RE space. IREDA will continue to play a motherly role in the development of the RE sector".

* It has been promoting, developing and financing new and renewable sources of energy with the motto: Energy for Ever since 1987..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer : Option (C) - 15th March

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World Consumer Rights Day is observed annually on 15 March. The day is recognised to create global awareness about the rights and needs of consumers.

This year, World Consumer Day falls on Wednesday, 15 March 2023. One of the primary reasons behind celebrating World Consumer Day is to highlight the fundamental rights of all consumers, honouring and respecting them, and making sure to protect them.

What Is the Theme of  World Consumer Rights Day 2023?

Every year the World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated under a specific theme. This year the theme of World Consumer Rights Day 2023 is "Empowering Consumers Through Clean Energy Transitions."

History and Significance of World Consumer Rights Day 2023 :

* The first ever World Consumer Rights Day was started by the Consumer International, a membership organisation for consumer groups around the world. It is a global organisation that ensures the protection and right use of consumer rights all around the world.

* Consumer International  was founded in the year 1960 as an independent and influential voice for consumers.

* World Consumer Rights Day was first celebrated in the year 1983. Every year, we observe World Consumer Rights Day on 15 March because on the same date, US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy introduced four important consumer rights while delivering a speech to Congress..

Source : The Quint

Correct Answer : Option (B) - Shreya Ghodawat

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Shreya Ghodawat has been appointed as the ambassador of the initiative ‘She Changes Climate’. It is a global campaign to raise awareness of the important role women play in accelerating climate action. It is a global non-profit organization.

This organization has launched a special initiative called 'Embrace Equity' for International Women's Day.

The main objective of the event was to inspire and encourage women to take up more space in climate change conversations and lead innovative climate action solutions.

Among those who attended the event were women leaders and influencers from corporate, social, political and sustainability backgrounds, namely Payal Rajpal (Director - Robotex India & IBTC Estonia), Pooja Anand (President - Pune City Congress Women Cell), Kalyani Darda (Founder - Be Kind Be Human Foundation), Ruby Pashankar (Managing Partner - Limban Resorts), Avani Awasthee, Pooja Misal (Founder & Director - SMEF's Brick Group of institutes), Sheetal Ranka (Co-founder - Ranka Jewellers), Tejaswini Pawar (Senior VP - Dentsu), Meenal Patil (RJ - Radio One Pune), Namrata Kriplani, Divya Chavan Jachak, Pranati Shroff, Tejaswini Patil (Trustee - Mauli Vidyapeeth) and others..

Source :  ANI

Correct Answer : Option (D) - ₹2,850 crore

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* The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of METRO Cash and Carry India by Reliance Retail Ventures, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries.

* In a statement released 14th Mar 2023, the competition regulator said: The proposed combination involves acquisition of 100% of the issued and paid-up equity share capital of METRO Cash and Carry India (target) by the Reliance Retail Ventures (acquirer).

* Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL), on 22 December 2022, had signed definitive agreements to acquire 100% equity stake in METRO Cash & Carry India (METRO India) for a total cash consideration of Rs 2,850 crore, subject to closing adjustments.

* METRO India started operations in India in 2003 as the first company to introduce cash-and-carry business format in the country and currently operates 31 large format stores across 21 cities.

* Through this acquisition, Reliance Retail gets access to a wide network of METRO India stores located in prime locations across key cities, a large base of registered kiranas and other institutional customers, strong supplier network and some of the global best practices implemented by METRO in India.

* The acquisition will further strengthen Reliance Retail's physical store footprint and ability to better serve consumers and small merchants by leveraging synergies and efficiencies across supply chain networks, technology platforms and sourcing capabilities...

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer : Option (D) - Mary Kom

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The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) appointed legendary boxer MC Mary Kom and actor Farhan Akhtar as the brand ambassadors of the IBA Women’s World Championships 2023.

Indian women’s boxing owes everything to six-time World Champion and Olympic medallist MC Mary Kom.

BFI also unveiled the title sponsor, Mahindra Automotive for the event.

The championship is scheduled from 15 March to 26 March 2023 at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi.

India is hosting the World Championships for the third time..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer : Option (A) - Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

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The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India has announced the launch of ‘Learning Science via Standards’, a unique initiative for students for learning science via standards.

The ‘Learning Science via Standards’ initiative focuses on a series of lesson plans aimed to use scientific concepts, principles and laws to help students understand their practical applications in manufacturing, functioning and testing of quality characteristics of different products as stated in the relevant Indian Standards.  

The subjects for the lesson plans are largely related to products used in day-to-day life and have been chosen based on their relevance to education as part of the course curriculum as well as to industrial applications. 

BIS officials and resource personnel will transact the lesson plans to the students for an interactive learning experience. These lesson plans will also be hosted on the BIS website...

Source : PIB

Correct Answer : Option (C) - 14th March

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Every year on March 14, people throughout the world mark the International Day of Action for Rivers to bring attention to how important rivers are to our daily lives.

Aim : To raise awareness of the disparities in access to clean water as well as the increased pollution of freshwater environments like rivers as a result of overt human activities.

The 26th annual International Day of Action for Rivers, which is being observed this year, is a day to raise community awareness of the need to safeguard our rivers. People must cooperate and be committed to river management if rivers are to be preserved and used profitably.

International Day Of Action For Rivers 2023 Theme : The theme of the 2023 International Day of Action for Rivers is “Rights of Rivers,” which calls for the designation of rivers as a national treasure. It also involves the legal authority to prevent rivers from becoming sewage or trash disposal areas.

International Day Of Action For Rivers 2023 Significance : The event is significant because it demonstrates how crucial rivers are to sustaining human life. Rivers and other freshwater environments are crucial sources of clean water for agriculture and drinking, but are sadly being subjected to significant quantities of pollution and contamination by both the general people and industries. The people who rely on these freshwater resources for their daily needs suffer as a result.

* International Day Of Action For Rivers History : The first International Day of Action for Rivers was commemorated in March 1997, according to the website of the international non-profit organisation International Rivers.

* At the first International Conference of Dams Affected Peoples in Curitiba, Brazil, representatives from more than 20 countries supported the creation of the International Day of Action Against Dams and For Rivers, Water, and Life.

* The day will be observed on March 14 in honour of Brazil’s Day of Action Against Big Dams, it was also decided..

Correct Answer : Option (B) - 14th March

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Every year on March 14, the International Day of Mathematics, also known as Pi Day, is observed to honour the mathematical constant Pi, which expresses the proportion of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.

The value for Pi is 3.14. Every year, all nations are welcome to take part in events that are open to the public and students in schools, museums, libraries, and other locations.

At its 205th meeting, the Executive Council of UNESCO declared March 14 to be the International Day of Mathematics.

International Day of Mathematics 2023 Theme : According to the celebration’s official website, the theme for Pi Day 2023 is “Mathematics for Everyone,” which was suggested by Marco Zarco Rotairo of Trece Martires City National High School in the Philippines.

International Day of Mathematics 2023 Significance : The purpose of the holiday is to recognise and celebrate the value of mathematics in our daily lives. Pi is a fundamental constant that is important for calculations, and scientists have studied and employed mathematics. Also, Albert Einstein’s birthday anniversary falls on this day. The renowned theoretical scientist Stephen Hawking passed away on this day in 2018.

International Day of Mathematics History :

* In 1988, American physicist Larry Shaw recognised the day by planning a major party at the San Francisco Exploratorium.

* The initial celebration was carving a pie into the shape of pi and reciting the number pi to all possible decimal places.

* Mathematician Archimedes of Syracuse is credited for determining Pi’s value for the first time. When Leonhard Euler used the sign of Pi in 1737, the scientific community eventually embraced it.

* Pi Day will be recognised as International Mathematics Day in 2019 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its 40th General Conference...