Correct Answer :   January 25

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National Tourism Day in India is celebrated every year on 25 January. The day is observed to create awareness among people about the benefits of tourism for the economy of the country. It was initiated by the government of India with an aim to promote natural beauty, cultural diversity, and rich heritage. India is a beautiful country with amazing tourist attractions like rivers, mountains, beaches, valleys, historical sites, and many more. National Tourism Day strives to draw the attention of tourists to boost the economy of the country.

National Tourism Day aims to honour the people working in the travel and tourism sectors who work hard in fostering tourism and therefore help and support local economies.

What is the Theme of National Tourism Day 2024 in India?

The theme of National Tourism Day 2024 in India is "Sustainable Journeys, Timeless Memories."

History and Significance of National Tourism Day :

According to reports, the first National Tourism Day in India was celebrated in 1948. The main significance of celebrating this day is to promote tourism in India for the economical growth and development. The day creates an awareness among people about the cultural, social, and economical aspects of tourism. National Tourism Day in India endeavors to promote sustainable tourism practices to help the local communities. On the occasion of National Tourism Day various activities are performed in the country to highlight the amazing tourist destinations of the country along with their cultural significance.

The promotion and development of tourism in the country is being taken care of by the ministry of tourism. Since tourism is critical for the economic development of the country, the ministry of tourism takes all necessary measures to improve the tourism at central, state, and public levels..

Source : The Quint

Correct Answer :   January 25

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The National Voters’ Day is celebrated every year in India on January 25 to encourage the country’s voters to participate in the electoral process. This year (2024), it is the 14th edition which is being celebrated. In the vibrant democracy of India, where every vote is a testament to the aspirations and choices of its people, National Voters’ Day holds a special place.

As the world’s largest democracy, the importance of each vote in India cannot be overstated. This day serves as a celebration of public consciousness and the immense power vested in the electorate.

Historical Background- National Voters’ Day :

Initiated in 2011, National Voters’ Day was established by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to address a growing concern. The then-Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ambika Soni, highlighted the increasing apathy among new voters, particularly those who had recently turned 18, towards enrolling in electoral rolls. In response, under the leadership of then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the government approved a proposal from the law ministry to kickstart a campaign aimed at resolving this issue. The date, January 25, was chosen to coincide with the founding anniversary of the ECI in 1950, symbolizing a renewed commitment to democratic participation.

Significance of National Voters’ Day 2024 :

The significance of National Voters’ Day cannot be overstated. It is a day that emphasizes the importance of voting as a fundamental democratic right and responsibility. A high voter turnout is indicative of a healthy democracy, reflecting the people’s active participation in choosing their leaders and holding them accountable. The celebration of this day is vital as it educates and informs the public about the power and responsibility that comes with voting.

National Voters’ Day 2024- Theme :

Dedicated to the voters, the NVD 2024 theme – ‘Nothing Like Voting, I Vote For Sure’ is a continuation of last year’s theme. The President of India Droupadi Murmu will be the Chief Guest at the national function being organised in New Delhi this year by the Election Commission of India and Union Minister of State for Law and Justice (Independent Charge), Arjun Ram Meghwal, will grace the function as Guest of Honour.

The event will also be attended by Heads and representatives of Election Management bodies viz. Maldives, Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan.

Correct Answer :   Justice Prasanna B Varale

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Karnataka High Court Chief Justice "Prasanna B Varale" on Thursday (25th Jan 2024) took oath as judge of the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud administered the oath of office to Justice Varale in a function on the Supreme Court premises in New Delhi.

With Justice Varale's appointment, the top court has now attained its full strength of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. The top court was short of one judge after the retirement of justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul on December 25.

Justice Varale's appointment as a Supreme Court judge was announced by the Ministry of Law and Justice on Wednesday (24th Jan 2024).

The Supreme Court collegium on 19 January 2024 recommended justice Varale’s elevation noting the judge has acquired considerable experience as a judge of the Bombay high court where he was appointed in 2008, and as the chief justice of the Karnataka high court.

“While recommending his name, the collegium has taken into consideration the fact that among the high court judges, he is the senior-most Judge belonging to a scheduled caste and the only chief justice belonging to a scheduled caste among the chief justices of high courts across the country,” the collegium, which also comprised justices Sanjiv Khanna, Bhushan R Gavai, Surya Kant and Aniruddha Bose, said in its resolution on the day.

With Justice Varale’s elevation, the Supreme Court will for the first time have three judges from the Scheduled Caste category, including justices Gavai and CT Ravikumar.

Who is Prasanna Bhalachandra Varale?

* Justice Varale was born on 23 June 1962 at Nipani in Karnataka. He graduated in Arts and Law from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. He enrolled as an Advocate in 1985.

* He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in July 2008 and became a permanent judge three years later.

* Varale served as a judge in the Bombay High Court for a tenure of 14 years and was subsequently appointed as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court in October 2022.

* Distinguished as the sole Chief Justice among High Courts hailing from the Scheduled Caste, he proudly asserts his birth in a family "blessed by Dr B R Ambedkar.".

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   Emmanuel Macron

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India will be celebrating its 75th Republic Day on January 26, 2024 and for this year’s grand Republic Day Parade at the Kartavya Path in New Delhi, the President of France, "Emmanuel Macron" is the Chief Guest.

The parade will also be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, the Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and the Heads of Defence Staff among other dignitaries. Ahead of the Republic Day 2024, take a look at the complete schedule of PM Modi and the Chief Guest Emmanuel Macron.

Republic Day 2024 Theme : 

The themes for the Republic Day 2024 this year, are ‘Viksit Bharat’ ‘Bharat – Loktantra ki Matruka’ (Developed India and India Mother of Democracy).

Republic Day 2024 Full Schedule :

As mentioned earlier, the Republic Day Parade 2024 in New Delhi will be attended by President Murmu, PM Modi and other important dignitaries of the country. Take a look at the complete schedule of the Republic Day..

7:30 AM is the Unveiling Of National Pride : The morning of Republic Day begins with the unfurling of the National Flag of India with the National Anthem; a moment that invokes the feeling of nationalism and pride for the country in each person.

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM is the Dignitary Arrival and their Grand Welcome : The Chief Guest of Republic Day 2024, President of France Emmanuel Macron will be given a grand ceremonial welcome; this moment will be a significant diplomatic moment for both India and France.

10:30 AM is the Commencement Of Parade : The much-awaited Republic Day Parade 2024 will begin at 10:30 AM, showcasing the principles of democracy, unity in diversity and cultural vibrance, that truly represent India.

Republic Day 2024: Parade Timings, Venue, Route : The Republic Day Parade 2024 will take place at 10:30 AM at the Kartavya Path in New Delhi. The route for the parade goes from Vijay Chowk to Kartavya Path with vibrant tableaus representing each state.

Correct Answer :   Microsoft

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Microsoft's, opens new tab stock market value crossed the $3 trillion milestone for the first time on Wednesday (24th Jan 2024), retaining its place as the world's second most valuable company, just behind Apple, opens new tab.

Microsoft and Apple shares have been vying for the top spot as the most capitalized stock on Wall Street since the start of the year, with the iPhone maker briefly losing its crown to the software giant earlier in January 2024.

Shares of Microsoft hit a record high of $405.63, up 1.7 per cent, enabling it to breach the $3 trillion market capitalization level. But it later closed at $402.56, valuing Microsoft at $2.99 trillion, just below the threshold price of $403.65 that would have kept it above $3 trillion.

Apple's shares pared earlier gains and closed down 0.35 per cent at $194.50, giving it a market value of $3 trillion, according to LSEG data.

Backed by its investment in ChatGPT maker OpenAI, Microsoft is widely seen as a frontrunner in the race for market dominance in the rollout of generative artificial intelligence (AI) among other tech heavyweights, including Google owner Alphabet (GOOGL.O), opens new tab, Amazon.com (AMZN.O), opens new tab, Oracle (ORCL.N), opens new tab, and Facebook owner Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab.

Using OpenAI's technology, Microsoft has rolled out newer versions of its flagship productivity software products as well as its Bing search engine, which is expected to better compete with Google's dominant search offering.

Apple, on the other hand, is facing slowing demand for its iPhones, particularly in China, where the company is offering customers rare discounts to boost sales amid stiff competition from homegrown rivals such as Huawei Technologies (HWT.UL).

"I think it's AI optimism for Microsoft," said Stifel analyst Brad Reback, adding that Apple doesn't seem to have the same "clear AI story" coupled with concerns about iPhone sales growth rates and penetration.

The 54 analysts covering Microsoft's stock have a median price target of $425, up from $415 a month ago, and their average recommendation is "buy", according to LSEG data.

Buoyed by AI optimism, Microsoft shares gained nearly 57 per cent in 2023 and are up 7 per cent this year. Apple's stock rose by 48 per cent last year and is up about 1 per cent year-to-date.

Wall Street's run-up to record highs will be put to the test in the coming weeks as megacap US technology-related companies begin reporting results..

Source : Zeebiz

Correct Answer :   Zydus

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New Delhi, Zydus Lifesciences on Thursday (25th Jan 2024) said it has received approval from the US health regulator to market a generic medication to manage postherpetic neuraliga.

The company has received final approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to manufacture and market Gabapentin tablets in strengths of 300 mg and 600 mg, respectively, Zydus Lifesciences said in a regulatory filing.

The drug maker is the first company to receive final approval for generic Gabapentin tablets (300 mg and 600 mg), it added.

The product will be launched immediately in the US market, the drug firm stated.

As per IQVIA data, the product had an annual sales of USD 85 million in the US. Shares of Zydus were trading 2.27 per cent down at Rs 735.30 apiece on the BSE..

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   Droupadi Murmu

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The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Kaushal Bhawan – a new building of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in New Delhi on January 24, 2024.

On the occasion, the President visited the exhibition stalls set up by the beneficiaries of various initiatives of the Government such as PM Vishwakarma, PM JANMAN, Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and interacted with them.

The Kaushal Bhawan whose foundation stone was laid in March 2019 will provide office space for the Ministry as well as its associated organisations – the Directorate General of Training, the National Council for Vocational Education and Training and the National Skill Development Corporation.

This state-of-the-art office building, equipped with modern facilities and infrastructure has been built with the aim of providing a safe, convenient and efficient work environment to usher in new work culture and give a fillip to Skill India Mission..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Oman

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The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on 15th December, 2023, between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology of the Sultanate of Oman on cooperation in the field of Information Technology.

* The MoU intends to promote comprehensive cooperation between the Parties through mutual support, sharing of technologies, information and investments in the field of Information Technology.

* The MoU shall come into effect from the date of signature of the Parties and shall be remain in force for a period of 3 years.

* Both G2G and B2B bilateral Cooperation in the field of Information Technology will be enhanced.

* MoU envisages improved collaboration leading to employment opportunities in the field of IT.

Background :

* MeitY has been mandated to promote international cooperation in emerging and frontier areas of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) under bilateral and regional frameworks of cooperation.  MeitY is collaborating with a number of countries and multilateral agencies for fostering bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the ICT domain.

* Over the period, MeitY has entered into MoUs/Agreements with its counterpart organizations/agencies from various countries to promote cooperation and exchange of information in the ICT domain.  This is in consonance with the various initiatives taken by Government of India such as Digital India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India etc. to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.  In this changing paradigm, there is an imminent need for exploring business opportunities, sharing of best practices and attracting investment in the digital sector with the objective of enhancing mutual cooperation..


Source : PM India

Correct Answer :   Visakhapatnam

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The 14th edition of the Annual All India Police Commando Competition (AIPCC) began on January 22, 2024 at the Greyhounds Training Centre in Kapuluppada, Visakhapatnam. Elite commando forces from 16 states are participating in this week-long competition.

Inauguration and Dignitaries :

Commissioner A. Ravi Shankar inaugurated the event, emphasizing its significance in fostering inter-state cooperation and showcasing the prowess of India’s top commando units. The Additional Director General of Greyhounds, R.K. Meena, added prestige to the occasion with his presence.

Participating States and Forces :

The competition has attracted elite commando forces from across the country. Notable participants include the Special Operations Group (SOG) from Odisha and Chhattisgarh, C-60 from Maharashtra, and paramilitary forces such as BSF, CRPF, Assam Rifles, ITBP, RPF, SSB, and CISF. The diverse representation promises a competition of unparalleled intensity and skill.

Competition Format :

The competition is structured in five phases, each designed to challenge the participants’ skill, endurance, and teamwork. With teams comprising 13-15 commandos, the event aims to push the limits of the commandos’ capabilities. The competition spans a week, providing a comprehensive assessment of the participants’ tactical acumen and physical prowess.

Judging Criteria and Expert Panel :

A distinguished panel of judges from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) will evaluate the commandos throughout the competition. Their expertise ensures a fair and meticulous assessment of the participants, adding a layer of credibility to the event. The judging criteria encompass various facets, including strategic thinking, execution precision, and adaptability to diverse scenarios.

State Team Representation :

The state team, a crucial aspect of the competition, comprises personnel from the Greyhounds and Octopus units. Their performance not only contributes to individual glory but also adds to the overall standing of their respective states in the competition.

A Showcase of Dedication and Skill in the 14th All India Police Commando Competition :

The 14th All India Police Commando Competition is not merely a display of physical prowess but a testament to the dedication and skill of the nation’s law enforcement agencies. The competition promises to be a riveting spectacle of tactical brilliance and strategic acumen, showcasing the best of India’s elite commando forces.

Correct Answer :   January 24

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National Girl Child Day 2024, observed annually on January 24th in India, plays a pivotal role in highlighting the importance of empowering girls and addressing the challenges they face in society. Initiated in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, this day marks a commitment to promote gender equality, empower girls, and protect their rights.

National Girl Child Day History :

The inception of National Girl Child Day (NGCD) in 2008 was a crucial step in India’s journey towards gender equality. This day emerged from the recognition that girls in India confront numerous challenges, including gender-based violence, child marriage, and restricted access to education and healthcare. These issues not only impede girls’ personal development but also negatively affect the nation’s progress.

The first NGCD was celebrated with the theme “Saving our Girls: Educating our Girls.” Since then, it has been observed annually with various themes, each underscoring the need to empower and address specific challenges faced by girls.

National Girl Child Day 2024- Theme

As of the latest information, the theme for National Girl Child Day 2024 has not been announced. However, the day consistently focuses on promoting girls’ rights and opportunities, with an emphasis on education, and skills, and enabling them to reach their full potential?.

National Girl Child Day 2024- Celebrating :

National Girl Child Day serves as a beacon of hope, spotlighting the challenges faced by girls and championing their rights, education, and overall well-being. Activities like sports events, cultural programs, career guidance sessions, health and hygiene workshops, and storytelling sessions featuring inspiring women are typically organized. These events aim to motivate girls and instil a sense of resilience and empowerment?.

National Girl Child Day 2024 -Government Initiatives and Objectives :

The Government of India marks this day by highlighting various schemes and initiatives focusing on education, health, and nutrition for girls. The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme, launched in 2015, is a notable initiative addressing the declining child sex ratio and promoting girls’ rights and welfare?.

The Importance of Participation :

National Girl Child Day is not just a government-led initiative; it calls for participation from all sectors of society. Engaging in community service projects, organizing health camps, and supporting initiatives that empower girls are ways in which individuals and organizations can contribute.