Correct Answer :   May 17

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World Hypertension Day is observed on May 17 every year to raise awareness about hypertension or high blood pressure, its consequences, and preventive measures. It was established in 2005 by the World Hypertension League (WHL).

World Hypertension Day Theme 2023 : The theme for this year's World Hypertension Day is "Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer," with an emphasis on addressing low awareness rates globally, particularly in low- to middle-income areas, and accurate blood pressure testing technologies.
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World Hypertension Day Significance :

* According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hypertension affects around one billion people worldwide, with complications resulting in over 7.5 million deaths annually, making it the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide.

* World Hypertension Day is observed to highlight the importance of hypertension control and raise awareness of the causes and risks associated with high blood pressure. It aims to encourage individuals, healthcare providers, and policymakers to take necessary steps towards early detection, diagnosis, and prevention of hypertension.


World Hypertension Day History :

* The history of World Hypertension Day can be traced back to 1987 when WHL was established under the guidance of the International Society of Hypertension (ISH).

* It was formed to promote public awareness, prevention, and treatment of hypertension around the world. In 2002, ISH proposed the idea of a global hypertension day, and the first Global Hypertension Day was celebrated on May 14, 2005.

* Since then, the WHL has continued to promote the annual event, focusing on a specific theme each year to raise awareness about hypertension.

* People with Hypertension should exercise to maintain a healthy weight, strengthen their heart, and lower their blood pressure.

* Exercise can help reduce the risk of developing complications associated with hypertension such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Additionally, regular exercise can boost your mood, increase energy, and help you feel productive..

Source : NDTV

Correct Answer :   Ashwini Vaishnaw

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Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Communications, Railways and Electronics & IT, launched the "Sanchar Saathi portal" 16th May 2023.

Safety and security of the users is an integral part of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of  Digital India. 

While speaking at the launch, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the three reforms are being introduced today towards furthering PM's vision:

* CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register) – for blocking stolen/lost mobiles.
* Know your mobile connections – to know mobile connections registered in your name.
* ASTR (Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition powered Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber Verification) – to identify fraudulent subscribers.

The Minister said that various frauds such as identity theft, forged KYC, banking frauds can take place by misusing mobile phones. This portal has been developed to prevent such frauds. He said user safety is also an important part of the draft Telecom bill.

Brief on Sanchar Saathi initiative :

With 117 crore subscribers, India has emerged as the second largest telecom ecosystem in the world. In addition to communication, mobile phones are being used for banking, entertainment, e-learning, healthcare, availing government services, etc.

It is therefore crucial that the users are protected from various frauds such as identity theft, forged KYC, theft of mobile devices, banking frauds, etc.

To protect users, Deptt of Telecom has developed a citizen centric portal named Sanchar Saathi. It allows citizens to:

The entire system has been designed in-house by Deptt. of Telecom. It has following modules.

Centralized Equipment Identity Register (CEIR):


Know Your Mobile


Telecom Analytics for Fraud Management and Consumer Protection (TAFCOP)


ASTR (Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition powered Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber Verification)


Success using ASTR


Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Uttar Pradesh

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Uttar Pradesh has received the Geographical Indications (GI) tags for three more ODOP crafts - Mainpuri tarkashi, Mahoba Gaura stone craft, and Sambhal horn craft.

* Uttar Pradesh has now 48 GI tags.

* Currently Tamil Nadu has a maximum of 55 GI-tagged goods while UP and Karnataka have 48 and 46 GI products respectively.

* Among the 48 GI goods of UP, 36 products belong to the handicraft category. In Varanasi region alone, 18 GI-tagged goods out of 23 belong to the handicraft category.


Sambhal horn craft :

The horn-bone handicraft products made in Sambhal are immensely popular. The raw material used for making these craft items is procured from dead animals that makes this industry environment friendly. Sambhal’s horn and bone products are known all over the world. Sambhal offers a wide range of decorative horn-bone handicrafts that are available in different attractive looks, designs and patterns


Mahoba Gaura patthar hastshilp :

Mahoba is known nationwide for its exquisite Gaura stone craft. Gaura stone craft is made of radiant white-coloured stone that is predominantly found in this region. Gaura stone has a soft texture.

It is cut into several pieces which are then used for making various craft items that are used for ornamental purposes.

Mainpuri tarkashi :

Tarkashi is a technique of inlaying brass, copper or silver wires in wood. It is a unique and artistic product of Mainpuri district. It is used for decorating jewellery boxes, name plaques and other similar items. The amazing art of tarkashi can also be seen in door panels, trays and lamps, sandook (chest), decorative pieces, tables, flower pots..

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   Narendra Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the International Museum Expo 2023 on 18 May 2023 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

* The International Museum Expo is a significant event organized as part of the ongoing Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, commemorating the 47th International Museum Day (IMD).

Theme 2023 : This year (2023), the IMD theme is ‘Museums, Sustainability, and Well Being’, aiming to highlight the role of museums in fostering sustainable development and promoting well-being.

* The Museum Expo seeks to facilitate a comprehensive dialogue among museum professionals, fostering their evolution into cultural centers that play a crucial role in India’s cultural diplomacy.

* During the inauguration, the prime minister will virtually unveil a walkthrough of the upcoming National Museum located at the North and South Blocks.

* The National Museum will serve as a comprehensive platform to showcase India’s rich history, significant events, personalities, and ideas that have shaped the nation’s present.

* Additionally, the prime minister will unveil several key initiatives, including the Mascot of the International Museum Expo, a Graphic Novel titled ‘A Day at the Museum’, the Directory of Indian Museums, the Pocket Map of Kartavya Path, and Museum Cards.

* The Mascot of the International Museum Expo is an artistic representation inspired by the iconic Dancing girl sculpture in the Chennapatnam art style.

* The Graphic Novel portrays a group of children’s visit to the National Museum, where they discover various career opportunities within a museum.

* According to the PMO, the Directory of Indian Museums serves as a comprehensive survey of museums in India. .

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   Anil Kumar Jain

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The government has appointed seasoned bureaucrat and gas sector expert Anil Kumar Jain as the new chairman of the oil and gas sector regulatory body, PNGRB, an official order said.

* The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Jain, who retired as coal secretary in October last year, as the new chairman of the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).

* The ACC has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, based on the recommendations of the Search Committee, for the appointment of Anil Kumar Jain.

* Jain has been appointed as the Chairperson PNGRB "for a period of five years from the date assumption of charge of the post or till attaining the age of 65 years, or until further orders, whichever is the earliest, on a consolidated pay package of Rs 4.50 lakhs per month (without house and car) or as revised by the Ministry of Finance from time to time," the ACC order of 15th May 2023 said.

* Bihar-born, 1986-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre will fill a position that has been lying vacant since Dinesh Kumar Sarraf retired on December 4, 2020.

* Jain was selected after three failed attempts. On June 2, 2021, former power secretary Sanjeev Sahai headed a list of three shortlisted candidates but the list was turned down, as the oil ministry had not firmly recommended a single candidate.

* In November 2021, the government re-advertised the post and held interviews on February 2, 2022.

* Tarun Kapur, who retired as oil secretary on November 30, 2021, was recommended for the job but his name too was blocked. In May last year, Kapoor was appointed advisor to the Prime Minister to handle energy and infrastructure issues, for two years..

Source : Money Control

Correct Answer :   Dr. Jitendra Singh

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Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh will inaugurate the 8th All India Pension Adalat in Delhi today (17th May 2023), where chronic cases will be taken up and resolved.

* Till date 7 All India Pension Adalats have been organised by the Department, in which 24,218 cases have been taken up and 17235 cases have been resolved.

* The Minister will also preside over the 50th PRC (Pre-Retirement Counselling) Workshop. Conducted by Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare, this PRC is being organised for 1200 officers of all ministries and departments who are going to retire in next 6 months.

* In line with the Government’s objectives of transparency, digitization and service delivery, the Bhavishya platform introduced by this department has ensured end-to-end digitization of pension processing and payment..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   15th May 2023

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Robert E. Lucas Jr., a Nobel Prize-winning economist whose revolutionary theories transformed the field of macroeconomics and our understanding of economic policy, died 15th May 2023. He was 85.

* A member of the University of Chicago faculty for four decades, Lucas, AB’59, PhD’64, was the John Dewey Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in Economics and the College.

* He won the Nobel Prize in 1995 for developing and applying the hypothesis of rational expectations, which holds that people make economic choices based on their previous experiences and future expectations.

* In announcing the Nobel, the Swedish Academy of Sciences called Lucas “the economist who has had the greatest influence on macroeconomic research since 1970.”

* Lucas’ pioneering research had a profound effect on the field of economics. His work has shown that because people make rational decisions about their economic welfare, their actions can alter the expected results of government policies.

* It had ripple effects in macroeconomic analysis and economic policy, because it gave governments and central banks a more critical way to think about fiscal intervention...

Source : Uchicago

Correct Answer :   Kerala

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In a first in the country, the Kerala government on Monday (15th May 2023) launched a welfare fund for Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers in the State.

* Launching the initiative, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the workers who have completed the age of 60 will be entitled for pension under the fund which will also provide financial assistance for medical treatment, education, marriage, among other benefits.

* He said 27 lakh people in the State depend on the MGNREGS and the Left government intends to make use of the scheme for the social development of Kerala. In a Facebook post, Vijayan said the workers need to pay a nominal monthly amount of Rs 50 as contribution to the fund and the government will also contribute an equal amount.

* He said for those who have paid the contributions for ten or more years, their families will get the benefits in case of beneficiary’s death.

* The welfare fund has been formed as per the Kerala Employment Guarantee Workers’ Welfare Fund Act, 2021. The current BJP government at the Centre is reducing the funds for the MGNREGS.

* In 2020-21, Rs 1,12,000 crore was allocated for the scheme but that was reduced to Rs 60,000 crore this year (2023), Vijayan claimed.

* The Chief Minister said under the scheme, a family gets an average of 50 days of work at national level whereas in Kerala an average of 64 days of work was being provided. "At least 90 per cent of the work (jobs) under the scheme in Kerala goes to women. In the State, 27 lakh people depend on this scheme.".

Source : Outlook India

Correct Answer :   Paytm

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One97 Communications Limited (OCL), which owns Paytm, has elevated Bhavesh Gupta as the company’s Chief Operating Officer and President.

* In his role as President and Chief Operating Officer, Gupta will be responsible to lead verticals of lending, insurance, payments – online and offline, Consumer payments, and drive key initiatives, including User Growth, Operations Risk, Fraud Risk, and Compliance, Paytm said in an exchange filing.

* Prior to this elevation, Gupta was a senior Vice President of the company. Gupta is a financial service professional with over 25 years of experience building businesses from the ground up in payments, technology and analytics platforms, retail loans, digital lending, SME banking, retail banking, etc.

* Prior to joining Paytm in 2020, Gupta held multiple leadership roles, including CEO of Clix Capital (formerly known as GE Capital), Head of SME & Business Banking at IDFC Bank, and was also associated with ICICI Bank in various roles.

* He is a graduate from Delhi University and completed his MBA from Institute of Management Studies, Indore.

* In FY23, Paytm’s revenues grew by 61% YoY to ₹7,990 crore, becoming India’s highest-earning new-age company. In Q4 FY23, Paytm reported a 51% jump in revenue from operations at ₹2,334 crore, while its operating profit was ₹234 crore, including the full-year UPI incentive recorded during the quarter. ..

Source : The Hindu Businessline

Correct Answer :   Durga Shankar Mishra

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Chief secretary Durga Shankar Mishra inaugurated an online rural education programme ‘Pahal’ at Government Uttar Pradesh Sainik Inter College, Sarojini Nagar here on Monday (15th May 2023).

* This programme has been prepared by the department of secondary education in collaboration with IIT Kanpur.

* Under this programme, free online education will be provided at 10 government secondary schools of the state in the initial phase. In his address, the chief secretary said that the online rural education ‘Pahal’ is a new and good beginning.

* Through these classes, students of rural areas will be able to get the latest information related to science and mathematics.

* “Uttar Pradesh is going to become the growth engine of the country, and the children of the state will give strength to this growth engine,” chief secretary said.

* He said that the government has been making efforts to provide such education to the school children so that the students can contribute to the rapid growth of the country’s economy.

* On the occasion, the rural online education programme was started in 10 government schools in Uttar Pradesh. He said that this facility will be provided in 40,000 schools in the state in the coming days.

* He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given the mantra of Triple S (skill, scale and speed), first you learn, scale-up and then through speed, benefit all the people. This will be possible only when people of the state use technology...

Source : Hindustan Times