Correct Answer :   Petteri Orpo

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Finland's parliament on Tuesday (20th June 2023) elected conservative Petteri Orpo as prime minister at the head of a four-party coalition including the far-right Finns Party which plans a major crackdown on immigration.

* Parliament voted in favour of Orpo, who won the April elections and has been in thorny negotiations to build a coalition since then, with 107 in favour, 81 opposed and 11 absent.

* Orpo was to be formally appointed as prime minister later Tuesday by President Sauli Niinisto, taking over from Sanna Marin, whose Social Democrats finished third in the election behind Orpo's National Coalition Party (NCP) and the Finns Party.

* In addition to the NCP and the Finns Party, the new coalition is made up of the smaller Swedish People's Party (RKP) and the Christian Democrats.

* Orpo campaigned on an austerity ticket, vowing to cut spending by six billion euros over four years.

* The new coalition presented last week also announced a "paradigm shift" on immigration.

* It said it aimed to halve the number of refugees the Nordic country receives through the UN refugee agency from 1,050 a year to 500.

Aim : It also aims to establish separate social security benefit systems for immigrants and permanent residents, which experts say could violate the Constitution. Conditions for obtaining permanent residency and citizenship will also be tightened, Finns Party leader Riikka Purra added.

Source : Newindianexpress

Correct Answer :   127

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According to a Gender Gap Index 2023, released by World Economic Forum, India has been ranked 127 out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report 2023, up by 8 positions from 135 in 2022.

* The report reflects an improvement of 1.4% points.

* India's neighboring countries rank : Bangladesh (59), Bhutan (103), China  (107), and Pakistan (142)

* For the 14th year running, Iceland (91.2%) takes the top position.
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* While Norway ranked 2nd, followed by Finland, and Sweden..

Source : Weforum

Correct Answer :   Amit Shah

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On the auspicious occasion of the Jagannath Rath Yatra, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, inaugurated various development works and performed Bhoomipujan in Ahmedabad.

Among the inaugurated projects was the CREDAI Garden-People’s Park, a beautiful park constructed by CREDAI with the aim of providing a comfortable and environmentally friendly space for people from all walks of life.

1. Inauguration of CREDAI Garden-People’s Park : Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the CREDAI Garden-People’s Park, a sprawling park spread over 12,000 square meters. The park was constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 2.5 crore. In his address, Shri Shah emphasized that the park was designed to cater to the needs of the middle class, upper middle class, and underprivileged children. He lauded CREDAI for creating a beautiful and accessible space that would enhance the urban landscape while providing a comfortable retreat for the common citizen.

2. Focus on Indian Culture and Yoga Day : Shri Amit Shah highlighted the efforts of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in promoting Indian culture, tradition, and heritage globally. He specifically mentioned Yoga Day, which has evolved from a global platform to a mass movement under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Shri Shah noted that Yoga Day programs are now organized in 170 countries, showcasing Indian culture to every corner of the world. He also commended Prime Minister Modi for being the first world leader to celebrate Yoga Day at the United Nations.

3. Prime Minister Modi’s Contributions : Shri Amit Shah praised Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his transformative leadership and upliftment of every citizen in the country. He acknowledged the people’s trust in Prime Minister Modi, which led to his election with a majority in 2014. Shri Shah highlighted the significant changes brought about by the Prime Minister in areas such as security, economy, education, public welfare, research and development, and skill development. He cited examples of positive changes witnessed by the people, such as the ‘Vibrant Village Programme’ in Arunachal Pradesh, where access to essential amenities like cylinders, electricity, toilets, and food grains has improved.

4. CREDAI’s Contributions and Social Responsibility : Shri Amit Shah recognized CREDAI’s commendable work in infrastructure development, youth skill development, and social reforms, which have enhanced its credibility as an institute. He applauded CREDAI’s efforts in constructing the People’s Park and providing sports facilities in 75 Anganwadis (childcare centers) through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Fund. These initiatives aim to foster a love for sports among children, boost their self-confidence, and eliminate any inferiority complexes they may have. Shri Shah expressed gratitude to the Government of Gujarat and the Municipal Corporation for their support in completing various projects in Gandhinagar. He also urged every member of CREDAI to take a pledge to plant 25 trees, further promoting the campaign to make Ahmedabad greener..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Sumit Seth

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Dr Sumit Seth, a 2005-batch Indian Foreign Service Officer, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Panama. He is expected to join his new posting soon.

He currently heads the Foreign Policy Planning Division at the Ministry of External Affairs.

Earlier, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Yangon, Myanmar. He was also posted at India’s Missions in Madrid, Bogota, and UN Geneva. Before joining the diplomatic career, he worked as a medical doctor and specialised in Forensic Medicine and Medical Jurisprudence.

Correct Answer :   21st June 2023

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Congress leader and former Kerala minister Dr M. A. Kuttappan passed away early on Wednesday (21st June 2023). He was 76.

Dr Kuttappan, a four-time MLA in the Kerala assembly, was a member of the A.K. Antony ministry in 2001 as minister for the welfare of backward classes and SC/ST. After completing his MBBS, he began his career as a doctor at Alappuzha Medical College and Cochin Port Trust Hospital, before switching to full-time politics.

A native of Pathanamthitta, he was elected to the state assembly from Wandoor (1980), Chelakkara (1987), and twice from Njarakkal (1996, 2001) constituencies. Dr Kuttappan figured in a key role when the group infighting in Congress between the 'A' and 'I' groups peaked in the early 1990s.

Oommen Chandy, who helmed the 'A' group, resigned from the K Karunakaran cabinet in June 1994 for denial of a Rajya Sabha seat to Dr Kuttappan.

When Antony paved the way for Oommen Chandy after three and a half years in 2001, Dr Kuttappan did not find a cabinet berth in the remaining part of the tenure.

Dr Kuttappan also served in various positions in the Congress party, including KPCC general secretary and executive committee member. His body was kept for the public to pay their homage at the Ernakulam DCC office. Cremation will be held at Pachalam Crematorium in the evening on Wednesday (21st June 2023)..

Source : New Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Jharkhand

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Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday (19th June 2023) launched the state government’s ambitious panchayat-level drugs shop scheme, aimed at making essential medicines available in remote areas.

Soren inaugurated the scheme in Chatra district by handing over licences to three persons for operating the medicine shops in panchayats.

A total of 15 people have been selected for licences in the district so far, an official said.

“Essential medicines will be now be available here, so that villagers living in remote areas do not have to run from pillar to post for medicines,” Soren said.

The CM also laid foundation of 177 projects worth around Rs 364 crore for Chatra district.

He inaugurated 42 projects to the tune of nearly Rs 14.6 crore on the occasion, the official said.

Soren said that programmes like ‘Sarkar Aapke Dwar’ will be restarted to establish a “real connection with people”..

Source : The Print

Correct Answer :   Infosys

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Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani donated ₹315 crores to IIT Bombay.

As per the release, this substantial contribution builds upon his previous grants of ₹85 Crores to the Institute, bringing the cumulative value of his support to ₹400 Crores.




Nandan Nilekani said, “IIT-Bombay has been a cornerstone in my life, shaping my formative years and laying the foundation for my journey. This donation is more than just a financial contribution; it is a tribute to the place that has given me so much and a commitment to the students who will shape our world tomorrow."

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed today in Bengaluru by Nandan Nilekani and Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director, IIT Bombay.

The release noted that the donation will be instrumental in fostering world-class infrastructure, stimulating research in emerging areas of engineering and technology, and nurturing a deep tech startup ecosystem at IIT Bombay.

IITB Director Subhasis Chaudhuri said that this donation will significantly accelerate the growth of IIT Bombay and will firmly set it on a path of global leadership. "IIT Bombay is committed to building research and academic excellence that can make India a leader in scientific discovery and its translation towards solving the pressing challenges facing humankind. Nandan’s contribution will catalyse philanthropic contributions towards advancing research and development at universities in India."

Nandan Nilekani was the Founding Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in the rank of a Cabinet Minister from 2009 - 2014. Nandan has co-founded and is the Chairman of EkStep Foundation, a not-for-profit effort to create a learner-centric, technology-based platform to improve basic literacy and numeracy for millions of children..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   National Highways Authority of India

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For sharing of knowledge and innovative best practices, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched a ‘Knowledge Sharing’ platform.

* Hosted on the NHAI website, this initiative will help the authority to collaborate with experts and citizens who want to share knowledge and insights related to topics such as road design, construction, road safety, environment sustainability and related fields.

* The platform will encourage sharing of best practices from around the world and will contribute towards holistic development of the National Highway infrastructure in the country.

* The best practices can be uploaded on the NHAI web portal  https://ksp.nhai.org/kb/ in the form of video clips, power point presentation and .PDF files. The uploaded information on this platform will be reviewed by NHAI officials and will be evaluated for implementation.

* With the help of innovation and modern technology, NHAI is developing National Highway infrastructure at a rapid pace.  Apart from innovative use of recycled materials such as fly-ash and plastic waste, NHAI is also encouraging use of Recycled Asphalt (RAP) and Recycled Aggregates (RA) in the National Highway construction to promote sustainable and eco-friendly practices.

* With the development of State-of-the-art Tunnels, Modern bridges, wildlife corridors and Expressways, it is important for National Highway infrastructure development to have wider participation. The knowledge sharing platform will encourage experts and citizens to share best practices and contribute towards Nation Building..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Aalok Kumar

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Aalok Kumar, Corporate Officer & Sr VP - Head of the Global Smart City Business, NEC Corporation, and President & CEO, NEC Corporation India, has been appointed as a member of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) High-level Advisory Group on Digital Technology for Development with effect from May 1, 2023.

The eight-member group, consisting of global industry leaders in digital technology and academicians, is committed to further accelerating the utilization of ICT technology among ADB activities for developing countries.

* Mr. Aalok Kumar takes on this mantle from Katsumi Emura, former NEC Corporation Fellow, one of the founding members of the group. Carrying Emura’s legacy forward, Aalok will leverage his decades of experience and wide range of knowledge in providing strategic counsel towards the optimal adoption of digital technologies for ADB to carry out its developmental work.

* Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Aalok Kumar said, "I feel humbled to have been elected to represent NEC Corporation as part of Asian Development Bank’s High-level Advisory Group on Digital Technology. I look forward to the opportunity to work alongside this esteemed group of industry luminaries to help develop strong strategies for ADB to carry out critical developmental work in Asian countries, cutting across multiple focus areas."

* Asian Development Bank was established in 1966 as a regional development bank to promote social and economic development in Asia. This advisory group was founded in 2019, with a core purpose to help devise digital strategies on ADB’s operational priorities, as defined in "ADB Strategy 2030." These priorities include addressing poverty, reducing inequality, mitigating climate change, bridging the gender gap, and making cities liveable.

* These are in alignment with NEC’s own vision and priority areas for its work in the developing world, and in that regard, this appointment serves as an opportunity for NEC Corporation to accelerate and further cement its efforts towards solving the challenges of the developing world. "This accelerates NEC’s mission of ‘Orchestrating a brighter world’ - bringing immeasurable impact in societies leveraging the power of technology," Aalok Kumar further added.

* An alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, Delhi and Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, Aalok Kumar brings nearly three decades of experience in senior leadership roles in business transformation, performance improvement, and margin expansion. Prior to taking up the mantle as the President and CEO of NEC India in 2020, he served as the Senior Vice President of McKinsey & Company. He has also worked in companies that include GE Healthcare, GE Capital and ABN Amro Bank.

Source : NEC

Correct Answer :   India

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The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved the country's first mRNA-based Omicron-specific booster vaccine, which is developed by Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd, for emergency use.

* The Pune-based company on Tuesday (20th June 2023) released a press release to announce that its vaccine against the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, which will be available under the name GEMCOVAC-OM, has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the office of the DCGI.

* According to Gennova, GEMCOVAC-OM is the first booster COVID-19 vaccine developed in India against the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Approximately 3000 individuals received the vaccine in the Phase-II/ III trials clinical trial conducted at 20 centers across 13 cities in India.

* The vaccine was found safe, well tolerated as well as demonstrated robust immune responses.


Why do we need Omicron-Specific Booster Vaccine?

* COVID-19 vaccines that are currently used as precautionary/booster doses in India are designed to fight against the ancestral strain of SARS-CoV-2. These existing vaccines may increase the antibody titers, but they may not be effective against the circulating Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.

* Hence the need to develop antibodies and memory immune responses specific to the Omicron variant to reduce the probability of infection and hospitalization as well as prevent future waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. The development of GEMCOVAC-OM specifically addresses this gap, the company stated..

Source : The Health Site