Correct Answer :   Pushpak

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ISRO has achieved a major milestone in the area of Reusable launch vehicle (RLV) technology, through the RLV LEX-02 landing experiment, the second of the series, conducted at Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga in Karnataka today (22nd Mar 2024) morning at 7:10 hrs IST.

After the RLV-LEX-01 mission was accomplished last year, RLV-LEX-02 demonstrated the autonomous landing capability of RLV from off-nominal initial conditions at release from Helicopter. The RLV was made to undertake more difficult manoeuvres with dispersions, correct both cross-range and downrange and land on the runway in a fully autonomous mode.

The winged vehicle, called Pushpak, was lifted by an Indian Airforce Chinook helicopter and was released from 4.5 km altitude. After release at a distance of 4 km from the runway, Pushpak autonomously approached the runway along with cross-range corrections. It landed precisely on the runway and came to a halt using its brake parachute, landing gear brakes and nose wheel steering system.

This mission successfully simulated the approach and high-speed landing conditions of RLV returning from space. With this second mission, ISRO has re-validated the indigenously developed technologies in the areas of navigation, control systems, landing gear and deceleration systems essential for performing a high-speed autonomous landing of a space-returning vehicle.

The winged body and all flight systems used in RLV-LEX-01 were reused in the RLV-LEX-02 mission after due certification/clearances. Hence reuse capability of flight hardware and flight systems is also demonstrated in this mission. Based on the observations from RLV-LEX-01, the airframe structure and landing gear were strengthened to tolerate higher landing loads.

The mission was accomplished by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) along with the Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC) and the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU). Collaboration from various agencies including IAF, ADE, ADRDE and CEMILAC contributed to the success of this mission. Shri S Somanath, Chairman, ISRO / Secretary, DOS, congratulated the team for the flawless execution of this complex mission. On the success of the landing experiment, Director VSSC Dr S Unnikrishnan Nair mentioned that through this repeated success, ISRO could master the terminal phase manouvering, landing and energy management in a fully autonomous mode, which is a critical step towards the future Orbital Re-entry missions

The team was guided by Shri Sunil P, Programme Director, Advanced Technology and Systems Programme, VSSC. Shri J Muthupandian, Project Director, RLV was the Mission Director and Shri B Karthik, Deputy Project Director, RLV was the Vehicle Director for this mission.

For the success of this experiment, ISTRAC provided tracking support, SAC provided a Pseudolite system and a Ka-band Radar Altimeter, LPSC offered all pressure sensors on the wing body, IISU provided navigation hardware/software and an integrated solution. Metrological and wind measurement support was provided by SDSC-SHAR, and URSC offered ground power support..

Source : ISRO

Correct Answer :   Sharat Kamal

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Khel Ratna Award winner and two-time Commonwealth Games champion table tennis player Sharath Kamal will be India's flag bearer in the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has recently announced this. Sharath Kamal will be India's 19th flag bearer in the Olympics.

Former Indian men's hockey team captain Manpreet Singh and Mary Kom led India as flag bearers in the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Correct Answer :   Ruturaj Gaikwad

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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) shook up all the pre-season chat around the 2024 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by announcing that MS Dhoni has decided to hand over captaincy to 27-year-old opener "Ruturaj Gaikwad".

Gaikwad has been one of the foremost performers for CSK since making his debut in the 2020 season. He has captained Maharashtra's white-ball teams in domestic since 2020 and has also led India to the Asian Games gold medal in Hangzhou last year, while also being vice-captain in the T20I series in Ireland and at home to Australia in 2023.

Correct Answer :   Bhushan Gagrani

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Senior IAS officer Bhushan Gagrani has been appointed as the new Mumbai municipal commissioner. The Election Commission of India on Wednesday (20 Mar 2024) asked the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led to appoint Gagrani as the new Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner.

Further, senior bureaucrats Saurabh Rao and Kailash Shinde has been appointed as the new civic commissioners of adjoining Thane and Navi Mumbai, respectively.

Bhushan Gagrani is set to replace Iqbal Singh Chahal, who has been moved out from the post of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner on EC orders. Gagrani had been serving as additional chief secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) till now.

The Election Commission of India in an order to Chief Secretary directed that the three officers shall not hold any additional charge outside their respective corporation.

Soon after announcing the Lok Sabha election 2024 dates, the Election Commission of India had order the transfer of Chahal. Notably, Iqbal Chahal was also serving as the BMC administrator, and civic commissioners, additional/deputy municipal commissioners who have served more than three years in the present position and are posted in their home district in Maharashtra...

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   March 21

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Every year, World Forestry Day is observed on March 21. This year (2024), the important day falls on a Thursday.

World Forestry Day History :

In 1971, the General Assembly of the European Confederation of Agriculture proposed that we should celebrate a day dedicated to forests. March 21 was chosen as World Forestry Day by the United Nations as it coincides with Vernal Equinox and Autumn Equinox in northern and southern hemispheres.

World Forestry Day Significance :

The theme for this year is - Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World. The best way to celebrate the day is by planting trees around us, educating people about the significance of forests in sustaining our planet and understanding the ways we can encourage afforestation.

Correct Answer :   Prabha Varma

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Malayalam poet and author Prabha Varma has been selected for the prestigious 33rd Saraswati Samman for the year 2023. He won the award for his novel in verse ‘Roudra Sathwikam’ published in 2022.

The Saraswati Samman, instituted by the K.K. Birla Foundation in 1991, is one of the highest literary honors in India. It recognizes outstanding literary works in any of the Indian languages published in the last 10 years.

‘Roudra Sathwikam’ – A Philosophical Exploration :

* According to the Birla Foundation, Varma’s novel “Roudra Sathwikam, written in poetic verse in the Malayalam language, probes the conflict between power and politics, individual and state, and art and power in a unique way.”

* The foundation stated that the work “transcends the concept of time and space as it addresses the predicament of dharma (righteousness) and adharma (unrighteousness) in a creatively philosophical way.”

* The novel, through its profound poetic narration, delves into complex themes of morality, ethics, human nature and the constant struggle between good and evil forces.

Prabha Varma – An Iconic Literary Figure :

* Born in 1959 in Thiruvalla, Kerala, Prabha Varma is a towering figure in the Indian literary landscape. He is a prolific writer with over 30 published books across genres like poetry, novels, essays, and socio-political commentary.

* Some of his notable works are the poetry collections ‘Souparnika’, ‘Arkkapoornima’, ‘Shyama Madhavam’, novels ‘Chandana Nazhi’, ‘Aardram’, and ‘Kanal Chilambu’. He writes in both English and Malayalam.

* Varma has received several prestigious awards including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award, and State and Filmfare awards for best lyrics.

Selection Process and Past Winners :

* The Saraswati Samman awardee was chosen by a selection committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri.

* The first Saraswati Samman in 1991 was awarded to the legendary writer Harivansh Rai Bachchan for his four-volume autobiography.

* Last year’s 32nd awardee was Tamil writer Sivasankari for her novel ‘Surya Vamsam’.

* With a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh, citation and plaque, the Saraswati Samman is a significant recognition of Prabha Varma’s immense contribution to Indian literature.

Correct Answer :   Sanjay Mukherjee

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The Election Commission of India, on Tuesday (19th Mar 2024), announced the appointment of Sanjay Mukherjee as the new Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal, according to state officials.

Mukherjee, a seasoned IPS officer from the 1989 batch, steps into this role following the replacement of Vivek Sahay. His father, Late Arun Prasad Mukherjee, also served as DGP West Bengal, director CBI, and post retirement, adviser to Union home minister Indrajit Gupta and governor of Mizoram.

The reshuffle came swiftly after Vivek Sahay, a 1988-batch IPS officer who was serving as the Director General (Home Guards), assumed the DGP position on Monday afternoon. Sahay’s appointment followed the removal of Rajeev Kumar, who had been appointed by the state government in December last year by the Election Commission.

Earlier, the Election Commission had requested the state chief secretary to furnish a list of three eligible officers for consideration. The names submitted were Sahay, Mukherjee, and Rajesh Kumar. Ultimately, Sahay was selected by the EC, and his appointment was promptly announced on Monday afternoon. It took immediate effect as per an official order issued by the Chief Secretary, B P Gopalika.

Sahay’s tenure as the Chief of Security for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the 2021 assembly polls was marked by controversy. He was suspended by the ECI after an incident during a campaign in Nandigram, East Midnapore, where Banerjee sustained a leg injury, alleging it to be a “planned attack.” However, Sahay was reinstated following the elections.

A senior state government official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, suggested that Sahay’s impending retirement in May, coinciding with the upcoming seven-phase polls, might have prompted the EC’s decision for his replacement.

Rajeev Kumar, who previously served as the Commissioner of Kolkata Police from February 2016 to February 2019, has had his share of encounters with the EC. He was removed from his post in April 2016 due to the assembly elections but was reinstated by the government in May 2016. Subsequently, he was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Bengal Police ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls..

Source : Egov

Correct Answer :   Dhanuka Agritech Limited

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The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Dhanuka Agritech Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR Dr. U.S. Gautam and Chairman, Dhanuka Agritech Limited Dr. R.G. Aggarwal signed this MoU on behalf of respective organizations yesterday.

Dr. Gautam said that the objective of this agreement is to utilize the efficiency of both the institutions to deliver new technology to the farmers. He said that there are more than 14.5 crore farmers across the country, out of which most of the farmers are having small land holdings. Dhanuka Agritech will provide training related to agricultural production to these small farmers by associating with the central institutes, ATARIs and KVKs.

Dr. Gautam said that today the whole world is facing the challenges of climate change and India is no stranger to it, in such a time there is a need for both the institutions to work together on a new method of agricultural production which is climate-friendly. The aim of this MoU is to promote natural farming in the changing environment, he added.

Dr. Aggarwal said Dhanuka Agritech will provide advisory service and train farmers in collaboration with ICAR-ATARI and KVKs. On this occasion, Assistant Director General of ICAR, Directors, senior scientists and senior officers of ICAR headquarters were also present..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Naveen Jindal

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Naveen Jindal, chairman, Jindal Steel and Power, on Thursday (21st Mar 2024) took charge as president of Indian Steel Association (ISA), the apex body for steel producers.

In a statement, the association said Naveen Jindal has been unanimously elected as the president of ISA by the apex committee, the governing body of ISA. He succeeds Dilip Oommen, CEO of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India.

Jindal said that for India to realise its development goals, steel along with its upstream and downstream manufacturing value chains have to grow in tandem. He also said that decarbonisation was a huge challenge which is a key initiative for saving the planet.

“The steel Industry has taken the onus and is committed to decarbonise and reduce its carbon footprints to meet its target in-line with commitments of the Prime Minister of India to the world,” Jindal added. .

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   Ireland

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Ireland's Indian-origin Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Wednesday (20th Mar 2024) sent shockwaves across the country by announcing his sudden resignation from the post and party leadership citing "personal and political" reasons.

The 45-year-old Taoiseach, as the Irish Prime Minister is known, made the announcement in an emotional statement delivered from the steps of the government buildings in Dublin.