Correct Answer :   Bhupendra Yadav

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Shri Bhupendra Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Labour and Employment formally inaugurated Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management (CoE-SLM) on 20th May, 2023 at ICFRE, Dehradun.

* The CoE-SLM is poised to make a lasting impact in addressing land degradation issues, by leveraging sustainable land management practices, fostering cooperation among developing countries, and achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), this initiative aligns with the vision of the Indian government to promote environmental conservation and combat climate change.

* The CoE-SLM, established at the ICFRE, aims to facilitate the restoration of degraded land through technical support, capacity building, and knowledge sharing at the national and sub-national levels. By collaborating with developing countries that are party to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the CoE-SLM seeks to achieve LDN targets, promote south-south cooperation, and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined by various international conventions, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

* The CoE-SLM has set forth specific objectives to guide its actions. These include assessing land degradation, capacity building on sustainable land management frameworks aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and strengthening the assessment, monitoring, and reporting of land-based indicators outlined by the UNCCD.

* The centre also aims to set LDN targets, develop drought risk and early warning systems, mainstream gender considerations, promote good governance of land tenure and rights, and assess the impacts of land degradation on greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Narendra Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape on 22 May 2023 released the Tamil classic 'Thirukkural' in the Tok Pisin language to bring the Indian thought and culture closer to the people of this southwestern Pacific nation.

* Modi arrived here on 21 May 2023 on his maiden visit to Papua New Guinea, becoming the first Indian prime minister to visit the country. He co-hosted with Marape a key summit between India and 14 Pacific island countries to boost bilateral ties.

* Tok Pisin is the official language of Papua New Guinea.

* Co-authored by Subha Sasindran and Governor Sasindran Muthuvel of West New Britain Province, the book brings Indian thought and culture closer to the people of Papua New Guinea, it said.

* Thirukkural, a collection of couplets on ethics, political and economic matters, and love, is written by Poet Thiruvalluvar...

Source : Thehindu

Correct Answer :   Ministry of Health

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On the occasion of World Hypertension Day, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) Wednesday (17th May 2023) announced the launch of its "75/25" initiative based on screening and putting 75 million people with hypertension and diabetes on Standard Care by 2025.

The screening would be done through the public health centres (PHCs).

The Health Ministry made the announcement at the G20 co-branded event with the World Health Organisation (WHO). The event titled "Accelerating the Prevention and Management of Hypertension and Diabetes".

The government has launched the Shashakt Portal to train the 40,000 primary healthcare medical officers on the Standard Treatment Workflow for NCDs.

The MoHFW has also released revised operational guidelines for the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) for wider coverage..

Source : Economic Times

Correct Answer :   Smriti Irani

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The Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani will inaugurate the women labourers convention organised by the Kerala unit of BMS in Thiruvananthapuram 22nd May 2023.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan would make the keynote address at the event.  

Mrs. Irani will also be visiting the house of Dr. Vandana,had been stabbed to death on duty, by the assailant who was taken to the hospital for medical examination by police.

Dr. Vandana's death sparked massive protest across the State by medical professionals, leading to the State Govt bringing new ordinance ensuring safety of health workers..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   19th May 2023

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Renowned British novelist Martin Amis passed on Friday at his home in Florida. He was 73. His wife Isabel Fonseca confirmed the news stating that Amis died of oesophageal cancer on Friday (19th May 2023). Earlier, one of his close friends journalist Christopher Hitchens also succumbed to the same disease.

* Amis was a prolific writer, having published 15 novels during his career. He is best known for his works "Money: A Suicide Note" and "London Fields." Vintage Books, his publisher, expressed their devastation at the loss, praising Amis as a "novelist, essayist, memoirist, critic, stylist supreme."

* Over the course of 40 years, Amis made a significant impact on the UK publishing scene. He burst onto the literary scene at the age of 24 with his debut novel, establishing himself as a literary prodigy. His writing style influenced a generation of writers, and his novels often encapsulated entire eras, with "Money" being a notable classic.

* Amis was born to well-known novelist Kingsley Amis on August 25, 1949, in Oxford. His father was famous for his book "Lucky Jim." Amis pursued English at Exeter College, Oxford.

* During this period he developed an interest in literature beyond comic books, and because of his stepmother, novelist Elizabeth Jane Howard, he was introduced to the works of Jane Austen. Amis was part of a group of esteemed writers that included Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwan, Julian Barnes, and his close friend Hitchens.

* Amis's literary achievements were recognized with nominations for the Booker Prize for his novels "Time's Arrow" and "Yellow Dog." He was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his memoir "Experience.".

Source : Economic Times

Correct Answer :   Telangana

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Telangana Home Minister Mohamood Ali launched a SAHAS initiative to make workplaces safer for women.

SAHAS, which means Courage, is a program that aims at strengthening the support ecosystem for women who face workplace sexual harassment.

Under the initiative, the SAHAS Microsite, SAHAS Sathi Chatbot, SAHAS Whatsapp Number, Forum, and online support facilities were launched.

It is the first of its kind initiative in the country..

Source : TelanganaToday

Correct Answer :   Mumbai

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The Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting under India's G20 Presidency began in Mumbai today (21st May 2023).

* The meeting is a critical step in fostering the efforts of the G20 countries, invitee countries, and international organisations towards a sustainable and resilient future.

* Ocean 20 Dialogue, a side event in the ECSWG meeting is currently underway.

* The deliberations are aimed at working towards the well-being of oceans, addressing the need to make conscious efforts towards reversing damage to them and protecting our marine resources.

* Delegates are discussing on various aspects of Blue Economy.

* Earlier in the morning, Governor of Maharashtra Ramesh Bais, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey and Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde along with G20 delegates took part in a mega beach clean-up campaign at the Juhu Beach...

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Dwaraka

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Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has said the BJP government under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi is according the highest priority to coastal security in the country.
 
The Minister was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of the permanent campus of the National Academy of Coastal Policing at Okha in Dwaraka.

Mr. Shah said the academy will provide training facilities to more than 3 thousand security personnel in a year.

The Minister said the Union government has left no stone unturned to ensure the development of border areas and the well-being of security personnel. Mr. Shah said if the borders are not secure then there is no scope for development in the inland area of the country.
 
The Minister said the government has adopted an integrated approach to ensure a common and well-coordinated response from all security agencies after the Mumbai terror attack. He also shared a series of initiatives taken by the BJP government for coastal security in the country.
 
NACP, the country’s first national academy was established in 2018 to provide intensive training to the marine police of nine coastal states, five Union Territories as well as the Central Police Forces.
 
During the function, the Home Minister also virtually inaugurated five coastal outposts of BSF located at the Jakhau coast of the Kutch district. Later Mr. Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for various developmental projects worth 400 crore rupees of the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation.
 
Earlier in the day (20th May 2023), the Minister offered prayers at the famous Dwarkadhish temple in Dwarka and also met Jagat Guru Shankaracharya Swami Sadanand Saraswati in Dwarka..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Jitendra Singh

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Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh announced on Saturday (20th May 2023) that 231 stolen antiques have been repatriated to India in the last 9 years.

* He said, this stands in stark contrast to the mere 13 antiques brought back by previous governments in the 70 years since independence.

* The minister also highlighted the government's commitment to preserve India's heritage by setting up Science Museums across the country.

* Dr. Singh noted that several museums have already been established in Aspirational Districts, showcasing traditional knowledge and recent achievements such as India's successful COVID-19 vaccine story.

* During his visit to the first International Museum Expo 2023 in New Delhi, Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the role of museums in cultural diplomacy and India's G-20 Presidency. The expo featured star objects from various museums and highlighted technological advancements in the museum sector...

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Arun Kumar Mehta

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Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta launched open quiz and photo competitions about “G20 in Kashmir” on the MyGov portal in Srinagar on Saturday (20th May 2023). Both these competitions are available on the Jammu & Kashmir web portal www.jk.mygov.in.
 
* Speaking about the competitions, Dr. Mehta called these initiatives a way of celebrating the prestigious international event happening under the presidency of India.

* He encouraged all the residents of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir especially the students, to participate in these contests to gain knowledge about this big forum and the local customs, traditions and locales.
 
Aim : The competitions are aimed at promoting G20 awareness and its understanding among the citizens. It can also foster critical thinking skills amongst students by asking challenging questions that require them to think deeply about important summits thereby broadening their horizons, igniting their passion for global affairs and providing valuable experiences. After completion of the Quiz, the participants will get a certificate of participation also.

* Regarding the G20 Photo Competition, the participants have to submit photographs capturing G20 landscapes in J&K in a creative way to capture the essence and impact of this important international event.

* The photographs can have specific categories like cultures, traditions, tourism or people and relevance to the G20. Each photo entry should include a maximum of one photograph with caption, location and date inscribed in it. It should be less than 5 MB and downloadable in JPG format only.

* The entry should be original and should not have been previously published in any print or digital media without any copyrighted or trademarked images & logos and need to be submitted on MyGov portal till 22nd June 2023...

Source : AIR