Correct Answer :   Parshottam Rupala

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Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala will be launching the “Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative (APPI)” as well as the World Bank funded Animal Health System Support for One Health (AHSSOH) project under the aegis of National One Health Mission tomorrow i.e.on 14th of April 2023  at India Habitat Center, New Delhi.

Aim : To create an ecosystem for a better animal health management system using the One Health approach

* The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has inked a collaborative project on the Animal Health System Support for One Health (AHSSOH).

* The project will be implemented in five States and it envisages improving capacity building of stakeholders involved in animal health and disease management.

* The project calls for participation by Human Health, Forest and Environment Department at the national, regional as well as local for creating and strengthening the One Health architecture including community engagement.

* The Project Aim : To cover 151 districts in five participating states, wherein it will target upgradation of 75 district/regional laboratories, upgradation/strengthening of 300 veterinary hospitals/dispensaries, aims to train 9000 para-veterinarians/diagnostic professionals and 5500 veterinary professionals.

* In addition to the above, the awareness campaign on prevention of zoonotic diseases and pandemic preparedness at community level by reaching out to six lakh households.

* The collaborative project will be implemented over a five-year period as Central sector scheme with a financial provision of Rs. 1228.70 Cr.

* In addition to this the project will develop an ecosystem for continuous training of veterinarians and para-veterinarians on innovative disease management practices apart from networking laboratories and integrating disease reporting system for enhanced surveillance of zoonotic and other animal diseases. These foundational activities will help in preparedness for pandemic diseases that impact animals.

The key activities under APPI which are at different stages of execution are as follows :

* Defined joint investigation and outbreak response teams (National & state)
* Design an overall integrated disease surveillance system (built on National Digital Livestock Mission)
* Strengthening the Regulatory system (e.g., Nandi online portal and Field trial guidelines)
* Creating disease modelling algorithms and early warning systems
* Strategizing Disaster Mitigation with National Disaster Management Authority
* Initiate targeted R&D to develop vaccines/diagnostics/therapies for priority diseases
* Build genomic and environmental surveillance methods to improve the timeliness and sensitivity of disease detection.

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Pushkar Singh Dhami

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The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Mr. Pushkar Singh Dhami launched ‘A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) programme in the State of Uttarakhand.

* Addressing the gathering at Survey of India Auditorium Dehradun, Mr. Pushkar Singh Dhami, said that women have played a pivotal role in formulation and holistic development of livestock sector especially in Uttarakhand.

* Implementation of various schemes being run by state and central government is not possible without active participation of women. Already mid-day meal and vaccination program are being successfully operated by ‘ASHAS’/women in anganwadis and schools.

* In this context, women have been chosen to strengthen livestock related activities in remote rural areas, keeping in mind their important role for the same under A-HELP scheme, envisioned by Govt. of India.

* Under this program trained A-HELPs will give their vital contribution in preventing various infectious diseases of animals, artificial insemination under Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), tagging of animals and animal insurance.

* He further said that “it will be an incomparable example of incorporation and involvement of women power, for socio-economic upliftment as per vision of the  Prime Minister of India ,Shri Narendra Modi Ji..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Bengaluru

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Bengaluru will soon have India’s first post office constructed using 3D printing technology. The project at Cambridge Layout in Ulsoor is being implemented by Larsen & Toubro, which has experience in constructing 3D-printed buildings.

* According to S Rajendra Kumar, chief postmaster general of the Karnataka circle, the Ulsoor Bazaar post office is being relocated to Cambridge Layout.

Aim : To reduce the construction cost. The 1,100 sqft building is expected to cost 30-40 per cent less than conventional buildings because of the technological intervention.

* The post office is being built at a cost of Rs 23 lakh.

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Solar Energy Corporation of India

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State-owned Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI) has got the status of Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE).

* A communication to this effect has been issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, a ministry statement said on Wednesday.

* The SECI has been accorded the status of Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) on Monday (10th April, 2023), it stated.

* Incorporated in the year 2011, SECI is the primary implementing agency for renewable energy schemes/projects of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy towards fulfilment of India's international commitments.

* Till date, SECI has awarded Renewable Energy (RE) project capacities of over 56 GW.

* SECI is also active in setting up of projects through its own investments as well as for other public sector entities as Project Management Consultant (PMC).  SECI enjoys highest credit rating of AAA by domestic rating agency ICRA..

Source : Outlook India

Correct Answer :   Kolkata

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Kolkata Metro on Wednesday (12th April 2023) achieved a new milestone when a Metro rake completed a journey under the bed of river Hooghly through a tunnel 32 metres below water level.  

* P. Uday Kumar Reddy, General Manager, Metro Railway, travelled from Mahakaran to Howrah Maidan station in Rake No. MR-612 to witness this historic event.

* This rake crossed river Hooghly at 11:55 hrs. H.N. Jaiswal Additional General Manager, Metro Railway and MD, KMRCL [Kolkata Metro Railway Corporation Limited] as well as other senior officers of Metro Railway and KMRCL accompanied him during this journey, a press statement by Metro Railway, Kolkata said.

* General Manager Reddy offered puja at Howrah station once the Metro rake reached there.

* Describing the development as a “historic event’ Mr. Reddy informed that the trial runs from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade will be conducted for the next seven months and after that regular services on this stretch will begin. It is expected that commercial services on this stretch will begin this year.

* Two Metro rakes had been taken to Howrah Maidan station from Esplanade station, for the trial runs along the 4.8-km underground section from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade.

* Tunnels under the bed of river Hooghly, 32 metres below the water level, are considered an engineering marvel and are part of East West Metro Project that aims to connect Howrah Maidan with Rajarhat along the 16.6-km route.

* The process of laying the tunnel was completed in 2017. The underwater tunnels will connect Kolkata and Howrah with a Metro station at Howrah which will be the deepest Metro station (33 metres below surface) of the country. The Metro is expected to cover the 520-metre stretch under the river Hooghly in a span of 45 seconds.

* At present about 9.1 km of the East West Metro line from Salt Lake Sector V to Sealdah is operational. Services of East West Metro Railway was started in phases with first phase in February 2020 and the latest in July 2022.

* With this historic operation of the metro, India's Kolkata city has joined cities like London, Paris, New York, Shanghai and Cairo where this type of metro is used.

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Jagan Mohan Reddy

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According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR),  Andhra Pradesh’s CM Jagan Mohan Reddy has the highest assets totaling Rs 510 crore, followed by Arunanchal Pradesh’s Pema Khandu (over Rs 163 crore) and Odisha’s Naveen Pattnaik (over Rs 63 crore).

* Out of the 30 CMs analyzed, 29 are crorepatis with the average assets being Rs 33.96 crore for every CM.

* West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has the lowest total assets of about Rs 15 lakh, the ADR said.

* The ADR and Election Watch (NEW) said they have arrived at this conclusion after analysing the self-sworn poll affidavits of all the 30 current chief ministers of states and union territories.

* There are 28 state chief ministers and two union territories — Delhi and Puducherry — also have chief ministers.

* The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir does not have a chief minister currently..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   49

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National Mission for Clean Ganga has signed an agreement with 49 Universities to inspire youth towards water conservation and river rejuvenation.

* The MoU aims to bring the student community to the forefront of the mass movement for creating a sustainable ecosystem of rivers.

* Speaking on the occasion, Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that ensuring the cleanliness and purity of River Ganga with the rejuvenation of rivers are the prime objectives of the Namami Gange Mission.

* He said, water is a crucial factor to sustain life. He suggested organizing debates and other competitions in the universities to spread awareness of the importance of water conservation and river rejuvenation..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   11 April 2023

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Veteran Liberation War fighter and legendary public health activist Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury passed away in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 11 April 2023. He was 81.

* Dr. Zafrullah was suffering from kidney-related ailments and other old-age-related problems.

* Dr. Zafrullah received international acclaim for his work in the field of public health. He won the Ramon Magsaysay Award in the Community Leadership category in 1985 and the Right Livelihood Prize in 1992 for his outstanding work in the public health sector. For his outstanding work to provide healthcare services to the poor, he was known as ‘poor people’s doctor’.

* Dr. Zafrullah was a veteran freedom fighter. In 1971, he left his medical studies in the UK to join the liberation war of Bangladesh. He set up a big field hospital near Melaghar in Tripura during the liberation war of Bangladesh to treat the freedom fighters wounded in the war and the refugees.

* In 1977, he was awarded the Independence Award, the highest civilian award in Bangladesh.    

Born : 27 December 1941, Chittagong Division, Bangladesh

Died : 11 April 2023 .

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   5.6%

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The industrial output of the country (India) in February 2023 rose 5.6 percent, on a year-on-year basis. As per the data from the Ministry of Statistics released on 12th April 2023.

* Tthe index of industrial production (IIP) expanded as the manufacturing sector's output increased by 5.3 percent in February 2023, and Mining output rose by 4.6 percent. Power generation surged 8.2 percent during the month under review.

* For the month of January 2023, IIP growth was revised to 5.5 percent from 5.2 percent.

* IIP grew 1.2 percent in February 2022..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Sanjay Agarwal

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* The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday (12th April 2023) approved the reappointment of Sanjay Agarwal as Managing Director & CEO and Uttam Tibrewal as Whole Time Director of AU Small Finance Bank (SFB).

* The re-appointment has been done for the next three years, till 2026.

* The Shareholders had already approved the re-appointment via postal ballot on March 09, 2022.

* Sanjay Agarwal was first appointed as managing director of Au Financiers on 14 February 2008. As the company transformed into a Small Finance Bank on 19 April 2017, he became the Managing Director & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank (SFB).

* Uttam Tibrewal joined the board of AU Small Finance Bank in 2005. The industry veteran comes with over two decades of experience in Financial Service sector with rich experience in the field of Agriculture & Rural Economy, Financing small scale industry, Accountancy, Banking, Risk and Business Management...

Source : Economic Times