Correct Answer :   1st May

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Maharashtra Day, also known as Maharashtra Diwas, is celebrated annually on May 1 to commemorate the formation of the state in 1960, when it was carved out of the erstwhile Bombay State.

The day marks the formation of the state of Maharashtra, which occurred on May 1, 1960, following the partition of the Bombay State into the linguistic states of Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Maharashtra Day is a public holiday in the state and it is celebrated with great fervour across the state.

Maharashtra Day History :

* Maharashtra has a rich and diverse history, with the Maratha Empire ruling over much of the region from the 17th to the 19th Century.

* After India gained independence from British rule in 1947, the Bombay Presidency was formed, which included the present-day states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka.

Maharashtra Day Significance and Celebrations :

* Maharashtra Day is a significant event in the history of the state and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and pride. It is an occasion for people to celebrate their cultural heritage and the achievements of the state. The day is marked by parades, cultural events, and flag-hoisting ceremonies in schools, colleges, and government buildings.

* The state government also confers awards and honours to eminent personalities for their contribution to various fields such as literature, art, and science. The Maharashtra Day parade is held at Shivaji Park in Dadar, Mumbai, with colourful processions featuring traditional dancers, floats, and marching bands...

Source : CNBC

Correct Answer :   ₹1.87 lakh crore

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GST collection grew by 12 per cent in April 2023 to ₹1.87 lakh crore, the highest monthly mop-up since the rollout of the indirect tax regime.

* The gross GST revenue collected in the month of April, 2023 is ₹ 1,87,035 crore of which CGST is ₹38,440 crore, SGST is ₹47,412 crore, IGST is ₹89,158 crore (including ₹34,972 crore collected on import of goods) and cess is ₹12,025 crore (including ₹901 crore collected on import of goods).

* The government has settled ₹45,864 crore to CGST and ₹37,959 crore to SGST from IGST. The total revenue of Centre and the States in the month of April 2023 after regular settlement is ₹84,304 crore for CGST and ₹85,371 crore for the SGST.

* The revenues for the month of April 2023 are 12% higher than the GST revenues in the same month last year. During the month, the revenues from domestic transactions (including import of services) are 16% higher than the revenues from these sources during the same month last year.

* For the first time gross GST collection has crossed ₹1.75 lakh crore mark. The total number of e-way bills generated in the month of March 2023 was 9.0 crore, which is 11% higher than 8.1 crore e-way bills generated in the month of February 2023.

* Month of April 2023 saw the highest ever tax collection on a single day on 20th April 2023. On 20th April 2023, ₹ 68,228 crore was paid through 9. 8 lakh transactions. The highest single day payment last year (on the same date) was

* ₹ 57,846 crore through 9.6 lakh transactions.

* The chart below shows trends in monthly gross GST revenues during the current year. The table shows the state-wise figures of GST collected in each State during the month of April 2023 as compared to April 2022..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   Ajit Kumar Mohanty

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Renowned physicist and director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Ajit Kumar Mohanty has been appointed as the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and the secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy.

* Mohanty succeeds K N Vyas to the posts that oversee India's nuclear programme and forays into harnessing atomic power for civilian needs.

* "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, as Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy and Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission tor a tenure up to the age of 66 years i.e. till 10.10.2025 or until further orders, whichever is earlier," said a government order issued late on Saturday.

* Mohanty was appointed as the BARC director in March 2019.

* Born in Odisha in 1959, Mohanty completed his graduation in 1979 with Honours in Physics from the MPC College in Baripada and post-graduation from Cuttack's Ravenshaw College.

* In 1983, he joined the "Nuclear Physics Division" of the BARC after graduating from the 26th batch of the BARC Training School. He obtained his doctorate from the Mumbai University.

* Mohanty worked in several areas of nuclear physics, covering collision energy from the sub-Coulomb barrier to the relativistic regime using the Pelletron accelerator at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), PHENIX and CMS experiments at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) in the United States and CERN, Geneva.

* Mohanty held several honorary positions in various organisations. He served the Indian Physics Association (IPA) as its general secretary and later, as its president. He was the spokesperson fort the India-CMS collaboration, director, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, and director, Physics Group, BARC. He has twice been the CERN Scientific Associate, first during 2002-2004 and again during 2010-2011..

Source : Times of India

Correct Answer :   Ministry of Home Affairs

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The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has suspended the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), a Delhi-based think tank, for 180 days.

* A government official reported that the suspension was imposed due to initial breaches of FCRA regulations.

* On September 7, 2022, the Income Tax department visited the CPR office.

* Foreign funds can only be received with an FCRA registration, meaning that the CPR will not be able to accept fresh foreign donations or use previously-accepted donations without the MHA’s approval.

* Established in 1973, the CPR conducts research that contributes to high-quality scholarship, better policies, and a more robust public discourse on issues impacting India.

* The MHA has informed the CPR that the suspension will last for 180 days, according to a statement by the organisation.

Routine Scrutiny and Audits by Indian government Authorities :

* The association, CPR, is fully compliant with the law and subject to routine scrutiny and audits by Indian government authorities, such as the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

* The association undergoes annual statutory audits, and all audited balance sheets are publicly available.

* CPR asserts that they have not engaged in any activities outside the scope of their association or the compliance mandated by law.

* CPR intends to explore all available avenues of recourse in response to the recent MHA order.

* CPR’s work is focused on advancing constitutional objectives and safeguarding constitutional guarantees.

* The institution is confident that the issue will be resolved fairly and expeditiously, in accord with constitutional values.

* CPR collaborates with government departments, charitable organizations, autonomous institutions, and universities in India and across the world.

* CPR is recognized globally for its policy and academic excellence, and its full-time and visiting scholars include experts from NITI Aayog, journalists, members of the Indian Army, former diplomats, civil servants, and leading researchers...

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Tamil Nadu

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For the third year in a row, Tamil Nadu has emerged as the State with the highest market borrowings according to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

During the April-February period of FY23, Tamil Nadu’s gross market borrowings through State Development Loans (SDLs) stood at ₹68,000 crore.

The State’s Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan announced in his budget speech last month that Tamil Nadu planned to borrow ₹1,43,197.93 crore during 2023-24 and make repayments of ₹51,331,79 crore, resulting in net borrowings of ₹91,866.14 crore.

In the budget estimates for 2023-24, the Fiscal Deficit is estimated to be 3.25% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).

Tamil Nadu’s Borrowings : In fiscal year 2022-23, Tamil Nadu’s gross borrowing was ₹90,000 crore, with net borrowing till January being ₹42,003 crore. States are also allowed to carry forward the remaining borrowing ceiling from the previous year.

Background: Fiscal Health of Indian States : The Sri Lankan debt crisis, resulting from the pandemic and public policies, has led to an assessment of the fiscal health of Indian states. Prior to the pandemic, the average Gross Fiscal Deficit to Gross Domestic Product (GFD-GDP) ratio of the States was modest at 2.5% during 2011-12 to 2019-20, lower than the Fiscal Responsibility Legislation (FRL) ceiling of 3%. However, there were substantial inter-state variations, with Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Punjab, and Rajasthan incurring average GFD of above 3.5% of GSDP. Meanwhile, Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Delhi ran ratios less than 2%.

The pandemic led to a sharp decline in revenue, an increase in spending, and a rise in debt to GSDP ratios, resulting in a deterioration of the fiscal positions of the Indian states. Based on the debt-GSDP ratio in 2020-21, Punjab, Rajasthan, Kerala, West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana were identified as the States with the highest debt burden. These ten states accounted for around half of the total expenditure by all state governments in India.

Identifying Highly Stressed States : Using a panel of indicators to identify fiscal vulnerability, Bihar, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, and West Bengal were identified as highly stressed states due to the warning signs flashing from all the indicators.

The GFD-GSDP ratios of these states were equal to or more than 3% in 2021-22, besides deficits in their revenue accounts (except Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand). Moreover, the interest payment to revenue receipts (IP-RR) ratio, a measure of debt servicing burden on states’ revenues, was more than 10% in eight of these states.

Exceeding Debt and Fiscal Deficit Targets : Among the ten identified states, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Punjab exceeded both debt and fiscal deficit targets for 2020-21 set by the 15th Finance Commission. The Commission has permitted states to maintain the ratio of Fiscal Deficit to GSDP as 3.0% in 2023-24 and 2024-25, with an additional space of 0.5% of GSDP during 2021-22 to 2024-25 on fulfilment of required Power Sector Reforms...

Source : The Hindu Businessline

Correct Answer :   Debadatta Chand

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The government on 29th April 2023 announced the appointment of Debadatta Chand as Bank of Baroda’s (BOB) Managing Director (MD), said BOB. Currently, Debadatta Chand is serving as the bank’s Executive Director.

* Bank stated in a regulatory filing that his appointment to the top post is for a period of three years with effect from the date of assumption of office on or after July 1, 2023, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

* Chand succeeds Sanjiv Chadha, whose term was roughly extended for five months till June 30 by the government. The original term of Chadha ended on January 19 of this year.

* "Central Government has appointed Shri Debadatta Chand (DoB: 31.01.1971), Executive Director, Bank of Baroda, as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Baroda for a period of three years with effect from the date of assumption of office on or after 01.07.2023, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, vice Shri Sanjiv Chadha," said the bank's statement.

* Sharing its business update on April 10 for the fourth quarter of the financial year 2022-23, BOB said that its total business has crossed the Rs 21 trillion milestone in the March quarter of FY23.

* The notifications for the appointment came after the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

* The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), the headhunter for directors of state-owned banks and financial institutions, in January this year recommended the name of Debadatta Chand for the position of MD & CEO in Bank of Baroda...

Source : Business Today

Correct Answer :   April 30th

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Ayushman Bharat Diwas is celebrated on 30 April every year to commemorate the launch of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) by the Government of India.

* This day marks the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who was a champion of social justice and worked towards the upliftment of the underprivileged sections of society.

* AB-PMJAY is the world’s largest government-funded health insurance scheme, which provides access to free medical treatment to more than 50 crore people from low-income families.

* The scheme provides a cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization across public and private empanelled hospitals in India.

Ayushman Bharat Diwas Agenda : The agenda of the day is to create awareness about the scheme and its benefits and to promote the importance of accessible and affordable healthcare for all.

Ayushman Bharat Diwas: Significance :

* Ayushman Bharat scheme, also called Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) was launched in September 2018.

* The scheme aims to provide health insurance coverage to more than 10.74 crore families living below the poverty line.

* The Ayushman Bharat scheme provides health insurance cover up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary healthcare services.

* The scheme has been successful in providing financial protection to vulnerable families and improving access to quality healthcare services.

* The Ayushman Bharat Diwas celebrates this innovative initiative, which has helped millions of Indians access affordable healthcare services.

* By generating awareness about the scheme, the Ayushman Bharat Diwas serves as a reminder to people of the availability of healthcare services within their reach.

* On this day, various events are organized across the country to raise awareness about the benefits of the scheme and to encourage people to avail of the healthcare services available under AB-PMJAY.

* The day also provides an opportunity to recognize the contributions of healthcare workers who have been working tirelessly to provide medical services during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Correct Answer :   30th April

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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated April 30th as International Jazz Day to bring attention to jazz and its ability to unite people worldwide in a diplomatic manner.

UNESCO Director General, Audrey Azoulay and renowned jazz pianist and composer, Herbie Hancock, who is also a UNESCO Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue and Chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, are responsible for leading and overseeing International Jazz Day. The Institute, a non-profit organization, is tasked with organizing, promoting and executing this annual celebration.

International Jazz Day is a global celebration that brings together individuals and groups from various backgrounds, including communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts. The event aims to celebrate jazz and its origins, future, and impact, while increasing awareness of the importance of intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding. Additionally, the celebration aims to strengthen international cooperation and communication.

International Jazz Day-History : In November 2011, the UNESCO General Conference officially declared April 30th as “International Jazz Day”. The occasion aims to unite individuals from diverse backgrounds, including communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts worldwide to celebrate and gain knowledge about the art of jazz, including its origins, future, and impact. Jazz is recognized as an essential international art form that promotes peace, cultural exchange, diversity, respect for human rights and dignity, eradication of discrimination, freedom of expression, gender equality, and emphasizes the role of youth as catalysts for social change.

What is Jazz dance?
Jazz dance is a type of dance that originated in the United States in the late 19th century and evolved into various styles throughout the 20th century. Jazz dance is characterized by its high-energy movements, syncopated rhythms, and improvisation. It incorporates elements from many other dance styles, such as African, Caribbean, and European dance forms. Jazz dance is often performed to jazz music, but it can also be accompanied by other genres of music, such as pop, rock, and hip-hop. Jazz dance is commonly seen in musical theater productions, music videos, and on dance competition shows...

Source : Jazzday

Correct Answer :   April 29th

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World Dance Day is an annual celebration of the art of dance, observed on April 29th every year.

Aim : This day aims to promote the art form and increase awareness of its importance in different cultures and societies around the world.

* Dance has been an integral part of human culture and tradition since ancient times, and World Dance Day provides an opportunity for people to come together and appreciate the beauty and diversity of this art form.

* It is celebrated with dance performances, workshops, seminars, and other events all over the world, bringing together dancers and enthusiasts from different cultures and backgrounds.

World Dance Day date : World Dance Day, also known as International Dance Day, is celebrated annually on April 29th. The date was chosen to commemorate the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre, a French dancer and ballet master who is considered the father of modern ballet.

History of World Dance Day : World Dance Day, also known as International Dance Day, was first introduced in 1982 by the International Dance Committee of the UNESCO International Theatre Institute. The idea behind this day was to celebrate dance, raise awareness about its importance, and encourage people around the world to participate in the art form. Since then, World Dance Day has been celebrated every year by dancers, dance enthusiasts, and organizations in over 200 countries around the world. The day is marked by various dance performances, workshops, and events aimed at promoting the diversity and beauty of dance as an art form.

World Dance Day significance : World Dance Day is significant in promoting the importance of dance in our lives. Dance is not only a form of art and expression but also has many physical and mental health benefits. It helps in reducing stress, improving cardiovascular health, increasing flexibility, and promoting overall well-being. Celebrating World Dance Day raises awareness about the importance of dance and encourages people to participate in this art form. It also highlights the cultural significance of dance and how it has evolved over time in different regions of the world. World Dance Day serves as a reminder of the power of dance to bring people together and celebrate the joy of movement..

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   Last Saturday of April

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Every year on the last Saturday in April, World Veterinary Day celebrates the veterinary profession. The day also honors the lifesaving work performed by veterinarians around the world.

World Veterinary Day Theme 2023 : This year’s theme for World Veterinary Day 2023 is “Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness in the Veterinary Profession”.

#WorldVeterinaryDay :
If you have a pet or own livestock, there is a good chance you have a veterinarian or vet for short. These medical professionals are known for protecting the well-being of animals. Thanks to disease prevention in animals, they also help to protect the health of humans.

Veterinarians practice medicine by diagnosing diseases and treating injuries and ailments in all kinds of animals. Some vets specialize in large animals, such as horses and cattle. Others work only with cats, dogs, and other small pets, such as rabbits, ferrets, and hamsters.

Veterinarians can also specialize in a particular animal species, such as:

* Avian (birds)
* Equine (horses)
* Reptiles
* Amphibians

There are also veterinarians who specialize in treating zoo animals or animals in the wild. Instead of working directly with animals, some vets work in other areas. These areas include food safety and animal research.

Most countries across the globe employ veterinarians. Some of the highest-paid vets work in Denmark, Germany, Canada, Iceland, and Switzerland. The United States ranks number one on the list for highest-paid veterinarians. Vets in this country earn an average of $88,490.

World Veterinary Day History : The World Veterinary Association (WVA) created World Veterinary Day in 2000 to celebrate the veterinary profession. In recent years, the WVA has partnered with Health for Animals and the Global Animal Medicines Association. Together, these organizations sponsor the World Veterinary Day Award. This award, along with $2,500, is given to a member of the WVA whose activities contribute to the annual theme. ..

Source : Nationaldaycalendar