Correct Answer :   $4 billion

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Export lender Exim Bank plans to raise up to record $4 billion in financial year 2023-24 (FY24) for extending trade finance and term loans.

* Harsha Bangari, managing director of the export credit agency, said the fundraising would depend on market conditions. Exim, which raised $3.47 billion in FY23, has a broad investor base and would look at different currencies.

* Exim Bank raised $1 billion through sustainability bond in Jan­uary 2023, under its environm­ent social governa­nce (ESG) fra­me­work. It later raised $100 million via a second offering of the bond. Proceeds from the bonds will be used for renewable energy, clean transportation, access to essential services and basic infrastructure, affordable ho­u­­sing, and water and waste management, Bangari said.


Financial Performance and Loan Portfolio in FY23  :

* Exim’s Bank net profit more than doubled to Rs 1,556 crore in FY23 from Rs 738 crore in FY22. Total income increased to Rs 11,487 crore in FY23 from Rs 8,363 crore in FY22.

* Net loan portfolio increased by 17 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 1.34 trillion in FY23 from Rs 1.17 trillion in FY22.

* Loan gr­o­wth is expected to be 12-15 per cent in FY24, said Ban­gari. The non-fund portfolio, which includes guarantees, grew by 11.5 per cent to Rs 17,000 crore at the end of March 2023.

* Exim’s gross non-performing assets (NPA) rose to 4.09% at the end of March 2023 from 3.56% at the end of March 2022.


Exim Bank’s Asset Quality and Capital Adequacy Ratio :

* Net NPA increased to 0.71% in March 2023 from nil in March 2022. The bank in FY23 made a provision for exposure to Ghana. This is fully covered by a scheme run by Export Credit Guarantee Corporation, In­d­ia EXIM bank officials added.

* The bank’s capital adequacy ratio (CAR) stood at 25.43% in March 2023 as against 30.49 per cent a year ago. The present level is quite comfortable and the bank would not look for capital raise in the current financial year. It would look at capital raise when it CAR is about 20% for future growth..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   12th May

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International Nurses Day, recognised on May 12 every year, is a global celebration that honours the invaluable contributions of nurses, promotes the nursing profession, and advocates for the well-being of nurses worldwide. It recognizes their dedication, compassion, and expertise in delivering quality healthcare services and shaping the future of healthcare.

International Nurses Day 2023 Theme :  Every year, a specific theme is chosen, and for 2023, the theme for this year is “Our Nurses. Our Future."

International Nurses Day History : International Nurses Day commemorates the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale who was a pioneering figure in nursing. Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820, in Italy. She is considered the founder of modern nursing. She gained prominence during the Crimean War in the 1850s, where she and her team of nurses treated wounded soldiers. Nightingale's efforts to improve sanitary conditions and nursing practices significantly reduced mortality rates and revolutionized the profession.

International Nurses Day Significance : Acknowledging Nurses' Contributions: International Nurses Day highlights the selfless dedication, compassion, and tireless efforts of nurses in providing high-quality healthcare services to patients around the world. It recognizes their role as critical caregivers and advocates for the health and well-being of individuals.

Raising Awareness : The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of nursing as a profession and the need for continued support and investment in nursing education, research, and resources. It serves as an opportunity to address nursing challenges and promote the value of nursing in healthcare systems..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   10th May 2023

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The former All India Football Federation (AIFF) Vice-President, Treasurer and Executive Committee member AR Khaleel passed away on Wednesday (10th May 2023) at the age of 91 due to illness.

* Khaleel, who had served as the president of the Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) for 28 years, had also served as the AIFF treasurer and executive committee member. On occasion, Khaleel was a member of Asian Football Confederation Standing Committees.

* A prominent face in the Indian Football administration for nearly six decades, Khaleel was also active at the continental level, and on occasion was a member of the Asian Football Confederation Standing Committees.

* A President of the KSFA for 28 years till 2018, Khaleel had worked for the game in various capacities. He was a footballer, who ran Jawahar Union FC, one of Bengaluru’s traditional clubs, was an administrator par excellence, and served Karnataka football as an office bearer for many years. He also donned managerial roles for the Indian National Teams in various age groups...

Source : The Print

Correct Answer :   Alia Bhatt

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Alia Bhatt has been appointed as the global ambassador of luxury fashion brand Gucci. She has become the first Indian to become the global ambassador of the Italian luxury fashion house.

Alia Bhatt has shared this information on her Instagram account. Gucci is an Italian high-end luxury fashion house based in Florence, Italy.

Correct Answer :   Ministry of Commerce and Industry

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The commerce ministry's arm DGTR has recommended imposition of anti-dumping duty on imports of a certain type of optical fibres from China, Korea and Indonesia to protect the domestic industry from cheap inbound shipments.

* The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has recommended the duty after conducting an investigation on the dumped imports of 'Dispersion Unshifted Single-mode Optical Fiber' from these countries.

* The product is mainly applied to high-data rate, long distance and access network transportation.

* Birla Furukawa Fibre Optics Pvt. Ltd, on behalf of the domestic industry, has asked for initiation of an anti-dumping investigation on this product coming from these countries.

* The applicant had alleged that material injury is being caused to the domestic industry due to the dumped imports and has requested for the imposition of the duties.

* The directorate in its findings has concluded that the domestic industry has suffered material injury due to the dumped imports.

* The presence of dumped imports in the Indian market forced the applicant to sell the product at prices below its cost of sales, thereby incurred losses and adversely affected the profitability parameters of the domestic industry, DGTR has said in a notification.

* The recommended duty was in the range of USD 122 per KFKM and USD 857.23 per KFKM.

* The trading of this commodity occurs in FKM (fibre kilometre). 1 KFKM = 1,000 FKM..

Source : Outlook India

Correct Answer :   Ayushmann Khurrana

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* Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana has been chosen to inspire and support the Indian contingent participating in the upcoming Special Olympics for individuals with intellectual disabilities, set to take place in Berlin from June 16 to June 25, 2023.

* Expressing gratitude, the actor considers himself lucky to have met numerous exceptional individuals throughout his journey.

* Ayushmann Khurrana’s rapid ascent to fame aligns with his emergence as a prominent figure in revolutionary Indian cinema.

* His acting prowess and dedication to using films as a catalyst for societal transformation have garnered acclaim, including recognition from esteemed international publication TIME Magazine, which honored him as one of the world’s most influential individuals.

* Additionally, Khurrana serves as the Indian National Ambassador for UNICEF, further solidifying his commitment to advocating for children’s rights and welfare..

Source : Outlookindia

Correct Answer :   Lal Bahadur Shastri International (LBSI)

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The Varanasi, Lal Bahadur Shastri International (LBSI) Airport here has become the first in India to have a "Reading lounge".

* Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s advisor Awanish Awasthi inaugurated the lounge on Tuesday (9th May 2023).

* Apart from books on Kashi, the lounge’s library has a collection of literature and books in many international languages besides books of youth authors published under the Prime Minister Yuva Yojana.

* Wednesday (10th May 2023), LBSI airport director Aryama Sanyal said, "Varanasi airport has become the first airport in the country to have a reading lounge".

* The lounge has been established with the assistance of National Book Trust (NBT), an Indian publishing house and autonomous body under the ministry of education of the Union government. The NBT will operate this lounge, created near the entrance point of the airport's main lobby.”.

Source : Times of India

Correct Answer :   Anil Chauhan

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General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Defence Staff, conferred CDS Unit Citations award to the Strategic Forces Command, College of Defence Management, Secunderabad & 2 PARA (Special Forces) for their exemplary performance for the Year 2021-22 in a ceremony held in New Delhi on May 11, 2023.

* The CDS unit citations award was constituted after the establishment of the Office of Chief of the Defence Staff in 2019  to boost jointness and integration in the Armed Forces.

* It was decided to award the  selected tri-service units/establishments which function directly under the Chiefs-of-Staff Committee bineally, as an incentive to excel as joint & integrated entities  

* CDS conveyed his appreciation to the three recipients of the citations and urged them to function as torchbearers for other integrated tri-service units and establishments..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Ladakh

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The annual five-day-long Great Prayer Festival, "Ladakh Monlam Chenmo," a mass prayer camp by Buddhist monks and nuns for world peace and happiness is starting 11th May 2023 in Leh, Ladakh.

* The annual Mass Prayer is resuming this year after three years of discontinuation due to Covid.

* The event is being organised by the All Ladakh Gonpa Association. Smonlam Chenmo is a major annual prayer of the Sangha Community of Ladakh gathered at one platform.

* On the side-lines of the event, Member of Parliament for Ladakh Constituency Jamyang Tsering Namgyal will lead a special camp for Sangha Community, which is named "Seva for Sangha’, from May 11 to 16, 2023 at Leh in collaboration with district administration Leh.

* The camp is being organised for the first time for Sanga Community to avail benefits of different government schemes. Different government departments, including banks, will come forward and offer the benefits of about 20 schemes of the government to the monks and nuns.

* The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has also joined hands with the organisers to set up medical camps during the five-day-long camp ‘Seva for Sangha’.

* Noteworthy to mention that the Festival falls on 21st to 25th days of the third month of the Tibetan lunar calendar and it is being held since 1991..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Narendra Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of multiple scientific projects worth more than Rs 5800 crore on 11th May 2023.

* One of the most significant projects is the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, the Prime Minister said, "LIGO-India will include us in one of the few countries to have such observatories in the world. It will give our students and scientists new and advanced opportunities."

* The LIGO-India, to be developed in Hingoli, Maharashtra, will be one of the handful Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave observatories in the world.

* It is an extremely sensitive interferometer of 4 km arm length, the interferometers act as 'antennae' to detect gravitational waves.

* The LIGO-India will work in synchronization with two observatories operating in the United States; one in Hanford, Washington, and the other in Livingston, Louisiana.

* When LIGO-India is completed, it will join a global network of gravitational-wave observatories that includes Virgo in Italy and KAGRA in Japan.

What are Gravitational Waves : A gravitational wave is an invisible (yet incredibly fast) ripple in space. Gravitational waves travel at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second). These waves squeeze and stretch anything in their path as they pass by.

* Einstein predicted that something special happens when two bodies—such as planets or stars—orbit each other. He believed that this kind of movement could cause ripples in space.

* These ripples would spread out like the ripples in a pond when a stone is tossed in. Scientists call these ripples of space gravitational waves..

Source : AIR