Correct Answer :   7.65%

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The United States has emerged as India's biggest trading partner in 2022-23 on account of increasing economic ties between the two countries.

* According to the provisional data of the commerce ministry, the bilateral trade between India and the US has increased by 7.65 per cent to USD 128.55 in 2022-23 as against USD 119.5 billion in 2021-22. It was USD 80.51 billion in 2020-21.

* Exports to the US rose by 2.81 per cent to USD 78.31 billion in 2022-23 as against USD 76.18 billion in 2021-22, while imports grew by about 16 per cent to USD 50.24 billion, the data showed.

* On the other hand, during 2022-23, India's two-way commerce with China declined by about 1.5 per cent to USD 113.83 billion as against USD 115.42 billion in 2021-22.

* Exports to China dipped by about 28 per cent to USD 15.32 billion in 2022-23, while imports rose by 4.16 per cent to USD 98.51 billion in the last fiscal. Trade gap widened to USD 83.2 billion in the last fiscal as against USD 72.91 billion in 2021-22.

* Experts believe that the trend of increasing bilateral trade with the US will continue in the coming years also as New Delhi and Washington are engaged in further strengthening the economic ties.

* Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President A Sakthivel said that increasing exports of goods such as pharmaceutical, engineering and gems and jewellery is helping India to push its shipments to America..

Source : Economic Times

Correct Answer :   Nandini Gupta

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19-year-old Nandini Gupta from Rajasthan’s Kota has been crowned Femina Miss India 2023. The first and second runner-ups in the coveted beauty pageant were Delhi’s Poonja and Manipur's Thounaojam Strela Luwang respectively.

* Nandini was crowned the new beauty queen of India at the 59th edition of India’s most prestigious beauty pageant. The gala ceremony was held at the Indoor Stadium, Khuman Lampak, Imphal, Manipur.

* “WORLD - here she comes! Nandini Gupra has conquered our stage and taken over our hearts with her magnetism, charm, endurance and beauty! We’re so proud and can’t wait to see her on the Miss World stage! We’re so proud of your journey and all the hard work you’ve undertaken to earn the crown to your full credit. May you shine always! Ladies and gentlemen, welcome your new reigning queen, Nandini Gupta, Femina Miss India World 2023,” read the post shared on the official website of Femina Miss India.

* Nandini holds a degree in Business Management and is also a model. The grand finale ceremony held on 15th April 2023 was a star-studded affair and celebs like Ananya Pandey and Kartik Aaryan gave power-packed performances. The event was hosted by Bhumi Pednekar and Maniesh Paul...

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   Pema Khandu

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Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu, on Sunday (April 16, 2023), inaugurated the Shar Nyima Tsho Sum Namyig Lhakhang (Gonpa) at Gyangkhar village.

* Gyangkhar village is located at Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

* The Gonpa has a great historical importance for the well-being and betterment of humans, particularly for the people of Shar Nyima Tsho Sum and all Buddhists in general, said Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu.

* The 11- 12th-century Gonpa was on the verge of collapse but it has been restored with a new structure.

* The sacred place has been restored with new structure, other requisites, performing all rituals and blessings for the well-being and betterment of all sentient beings, Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu said...

Source : Nenow

Correct Answer :   Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)

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* Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is planning to set up a joint venture with US-based clean energy technology company LanzaJet Inc and multiple domestic airlines for production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), people aware of the development said.

* The proposed venture will set up a plant to make SAF with alcohol-to-jet technology at the state-run company’s Panipat refinery in Haryana at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore.

* IOC will possess a 50% share, while LanzaJet Inc will hold a 25% share..

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   Japan, India, and France

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Japan, India and France have announced a common platform for talks among bilateral creditors to coordinate restructuring of Sri Lanka's debt.

* The move is expected to serve as a model for solving the debt woes of middle-income economies.
 
* Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki told a briefing that to be able to launch this negotiation process with such a broad-based group of creditors is a historical outcome.  He said this committee is open to all creditors.
 
* French Director General of the Treasury Emmanuel Moulin told the briefing that the group is ready to hold the first round of talks as soon as possible.
 
* The island nation of 22 million people last month secured a 2.9 billion dollar programme from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to tackle its huge debt burden.

* But the middle-income economy could not apply for relief under the G-20’s common framework for debt treatments, which targets only low-income countries.  This has put the onus on major economies to come up with an alternative scheme, leading to the creation of the new platform.
 
* Sri Lanka owes 7.1 billion dollar to bilateral creditors, with 3 billion dollar owed to China, followed by 2.4 billion dollar to the Paris Club and 1.6 billion dollar to India, according to official data from Sri Lankan government..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   New Delhi

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IFGE- CBG Producers Forum is organizing Two Day Global Conference on Compressed Biogas under theme “Towards Progressive Policy Framework for a Robust CBG Foundation and Growth” supported by Ministry for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India.

* The Conference is being held on 17th & 18th April 2023 at Silver Oak, Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi, with the objective to apprise the industry regarding the initiatives taken by Government of India for development of Compressed Biogas Industry and to identify the areas where policy modifications are required.  

* Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Hon’ble Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of India will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest and inaugurate the conference. Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Hon’ble Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India will grace the Dinner Session as the Chief Guest and Shri Pankaj Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India will grace the occasion as the Guest of Honour.

* India is dedicated to achieve net zero target by 2070, there are several initiatives taken by current leadership and government by various means to reduce emission.

* Compressed Biogas (CBG) has also an important role in emission reduction and it is being promoted by SATAT Scheme (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation). CBG has higher calorific value and properties similar to CNG and can be utilized as alternative green renewable and can replace CNG in automotive, industrial and commercial areas, given the abundance of biomass availability within the country...

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   15 April

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World Art Day is celebrated each year on 15 April. UNESCO too proclaimed this day at the 40th session of it’s General Conference in 2019. The day is celebrated to honor the contributions of artists and promote the importance of art in our lives.

World Art Day Theme 2023 : This year's theme is 'Art is good for the health'.

World Art Day History :

* First observed in 2012, World Art Day was celebrated to commemorate the renowned artist Leonardo Da Vinci -- renowned for his incredible artistic work ‘Mona Lisa’. The painting is considered as the most influential painting in the world.

World Art Day Significance :

* With the World Art Day being celebrated, it gives people an opportunity to reunite and share mutual circumstances. Also, the day gives artists opportunity to express one’s inner thoughts without saying much.

* Several activities across the world like debates, cultural events, workshops, and conferences are being organised to commemorate this day and celebrate their work.

* Few of the most celebrated painters and sculptors of the world includes: Leonardo Da Vinci, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, M F Hussain, Amrita Sher-Gill, etc..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   G. Kishan Reddy

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The Bharat Gaurav Tourist train on Ambedkar Circuit was launched from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station in New Delhi on Friday (14th April 2023) by "G. Kishan Reddy", Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER, and Dr Virendra Kumar, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Aim : To provide passengers with glimpses into the life of Bharat Ratna Baba Saheb Ambedkar while promoting domestic tourism and the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.

* The 07 nights and 08 days tour is the government's first initiative to tour on the Ambedkar circuit and includes visits to prominent places associated with the life of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, such as New Delhi, Mhow, Nagpur, and sacred Buddhist sites such as Sanchi, Sarnath, Gaya, Rajgir, and Nalanda.

* There is a pantry car that serves vegetarian meals for the tourists and the special train has been equipped with an infotainment system, CCTV cameras, and security guard services.

* The Bharat Gaurav Tourist train first stop is at New Delhi Railway Station, from where tourists were taken by buses to visit Baba Saheb Ambedkar Memorial in New Delhi. The next stop is at Dr Ambedkar Nagar (Mhow), the birthplace of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, followed by Nagpur railway station, where tourists will visit Deekshabhoomi, a consecrated monument of Navayana Buddhism and where Babasaheb Ambedkar had embraced Buddhism in 1956.

* After Nagpur, the train moves to Sanchi, where tourists will see the stupa and other Buddhist sites. The train will then proceed to Varanasi, where tourists will visit Sarnath and the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The next destination will be Gaya, where tourists will witness the famous Mahabodhi Temple and other monasteries...

Source : CNBC

Correct Answer :   Varanasi

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The message from Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) on G20 MACS Meeting to be held on 17-19 April 2023 in Varanasi :

* The meeting will feature the MAHARISHI Initiative i.e., Millets And Other Ancient Grains International ReSearcH Initiative. This International Initiative will focus on Research and Awareness wi agro-biodiversity, food security, and nutrition aligning with the International Year of Millets 2023.

* “Agriculture is the foundation of the civilization, culture and heritage of India. Indian Agriculture is unique, diversified and vast providing livelihood and income to more than half of our population.

* During the last 75 years, the country has marched from a ship-to-mouth to self-sufficient to a food exporting nation.

* It achieved science- and policy-backed agri-revolutions including Green, White, Blue, Yellow, Golden, Silver, Brown, Grey and rainbow revolutions, which transformed Indian agriculture.

* Food production increased by 6 to 70 times since 1950 with only 1.3 times increase in the net cultivated area.

* The Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) in G20 is instrumental in promoting joint action to put science-based solutions for achieving sustainable, resilient and profitable agri-food systems. It provides a good platform for discussion, deliberations and exchange of knowledge, science and technologies for food and nutrition security and strengthening cooperation among the G20 nations.

* In consonance with India’s G20 Presidency theme “One Earth, One Family, One Future”, the Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) will pursue discussion on food and nutrition security, resilience to climate change, One Health approaches, digital agriculture, and public–private partnerships for research, education and extension.

* The 12th MACS meeting under India’s Presidency has identified the theme of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems for Healthy People and Planet. In this theme, there are four priority areas on which focused discussion will take place. The areas are, firstly Food Security and Nutrition – the role of frontiers in science and technology;

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   125 Feet

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Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday (14th April 2023) unveiled the 125-ft tall bronze statue of BR Ambedkar in Hyderabad, to mark the 132nd birth anniversary of the architect of the Indian Constitution.

* The statue in Hyderabad is India's tallest statue of Ambedkar.

* The unveiling ceremony was held on a grand scale with arrangements in place to ensure that over 35,000 people from all 119 constituencies attended it. As many as 750 state-run Road Transport Corporation buses were being operated for the public.

* The statue stands next to the State Secretariat on the banks of Hyderabad's famous Hussain Sagar lake.

* KCR held a meeting recently with his ministers and other officials to discuss the inauguration of the statue. There, it was decided that flower petals would be showered from a helicopter on the statue.

* Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar was invited as the sole chief guest at the event..

Source : India Today