Correct Answer :   6%

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S&P Global Ratings has kept its forecast for India's economic growth unchanged at 6% for 2023-24 and 6.9% for 2024-25.

* In the quarterly economic update for Asia-Pacific, S&P highlighted that the inflation rate will be eased to 5% in 2023-24 from 6.8% in the current financial year (2022-23).

* It has also been forecasted that the GDP of India will grow by 7% in the current financial year ending March 31 (2022-23).

* "India leads, with average growth of 7% in 2024-2026," the update said.

* S&P expects the subcontinent's GDP to rise to 6.9% in 2024-25 and 2025-26 and later to 7.1% in 2026-27..

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   Andhra Pradesh

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The second G20 Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) meeting under G20 Indian Presidency is scheduled to take place in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on 28th and 29th March 2023.

* Around 63 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries and international organisations will participate in the meeting to further the discussions on the 2023 Infrastructure Agenda under the Indian G20 Presidency and follow up on the discussions held during the first IWG meeting held in Pune in January 2023.

* The G20 Infrastructure Working Group deliberates on various aspects of infrastructure investments, including developing infrastructure as an asset class, promoting quality infrastructure investment, and identifying innovative instruments for mobilizing financial resources for infrastructure investment.

* The outcomes of the Infrastructure Working Group feed into the G20 Finance Track priorities and promote Infrastructure Development.

* Indian G20 Presidency's theme :  'One Earth, One Family, One Future' sets the tone for the 2023 Infrastructure Agenda under the 2023 Indian G-20 Presidency.

* The theme underlines the message of equitable growth and aptly ties up with the discussions' central agenda, which is building resilient, inclusive and sustainable urban infrastructure.

* In the second IWG meeting, discussions will focus on the agenda for the Infrastructure Working Group under the Indian Presidency.

* The flagship priority to be discussed in this meeting is “Financing Cities of Tomorrow: Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable”, along with other priorities outlined in the 2023 Infrastructure Agenda..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   March 27th

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The international theatre community and ITI centers celebrate World Theatre Day on March 27th every year. On this day, theatre arts are celebrated to raise awareness about their importance in entertainment and the changes they bring to society.

* Additionally, it helps to promote theatre in all its forms across the world and to make people aware of the importance of theatre.

* Ever since the Greeks, theatre has been one of the most popular forms of entertainment. Live performers, actors, and actresses use different forms of fine arts to present a real experience before an audience in a particular place or on stage.

* This day provides theatre communities with the opportunity to spread the word about their work to governments and opinion leaders so they are aware of the value and importance of dance in its various forms.

World Theatre Day 2023 Theme : The International Theatre Institute has set the theme of this year's World Theatre Day as "Theatre and a Culture of Peace."

World Theatre Day History :

* The International Theatre Institute founded World Theatre Day in 1961. In 1962, Jean Cocteau wrote a message for World Theatre Day.

* Since then, this date has been celebrated annually on the 27th of March (the anniversary of the opening of the "Theatre of Nations" season in 1962 in Paris). In addition to its 85 centers worldwide, the international theatre institute encourages colleges, schools, and theatre professionals to participate in this event...

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   Dr. Tapan Saikia

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Assam’s highest civilian award 'Assam Baibhav’ for the year 2023 has been conferred on renowned medical practitioner Dr. Tapan Saikia.

* He received the honour for his notable work in the field of healthcare (Cancer Care) and Public Service, generating awareness and early detection of cancer in Assam and other northeastern states.

* The award was conferred by Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria at a ceremony organised at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakhetra in Guwahati on Friday (24th March 2023).

* State chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was also present at the award ceremony.

* A total of 21 civilians in different fields received the three state civilian awards for their distinguished service.

* Five eminent personalities received the Assam Saurav award. The ‘Assam Saurav’ award was conferred to Krishna Roy in the field of art and culture, Gilbartson Sangma and Smt Nayanmoni Saikia in the field of sports, Dr. Binoy Kumar Saikia in the field of science, and Dr. Sashidhar Phukan in the field of healthcare and public service.

15 others were awarded with the ‘Assam Gaurav’ award :

The awardees are Smt Dhritimala Deka (Public Service), Shri Debajit Barman (Agriculture & Allied), Shri Rustom Basumatary (Tourism), Shri Manje La (Agrotourism), Shri Binanda Hatibaruah (Environment & Forest), Shri Atul Ch Baruah (Social Work), Smt Kalyani Rajbonshi (Entrepreneur, SHG Worker), Smt Shila Gowala (Public Service), Dr Jogesh Deuri (Agriculture & Allied (Sericulture), Dr Pankaj Lal Gogoi (Entrepreneur), Shri Sarbeswar Basumatary (Progressive Farmer), Shri Manthang Hmar (Pineapple Farmer & Exporter), Dr. Dhrubajyoti Sharma (Horticulturist & Entrepreneur), Shri Dayal Goswami (Mukha Shilpa) and Dr. Syed Ifthikar Ahmed (Anti AIDS and Anti Drugs campaigner)...

Source : Pratidin Time

Correct Answer :   26 March 2023

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Renowned Malayalam actor ‘Innocent’ Vareed Thekkethala passed away on Sunday (26th March 2023). The actor, who became a household name with his versatile performances in the Malayalam film industry, died at the age of 75.

* Innocent, who beat cancer when diagnosed in 2012, is survived by his wife Alice, and two children.

* Innocent, who was also a one-time MP, starred in numerous Malayalam films including Ramji Rao Speaking, the Malayalam film that was remade as Hera Pheri in Hindi.

* His other renowned works included Akkare Ninnoru Maran, Gandhinagar 2nd Street, Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam, Nadodikkattu, Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu, Vadakkunokkiyantram, Ramji Rao Speaking, Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal and Mazhavil Kavadi, Thoovalsparsham, Gajakesariyogam, Dr Pasupathy, No.20 Madras Mail, Kottayam Kunjachan, Kilukkam, Sandesham, Keli, Adhwaytham, Kabooliwala, Vietnam Colony and Devaasuram.

Born : 4 March 1948, Irinjalakuda

Died : 26 March 2023.

Source : News18

Correct Answer :   NIUA

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The first Urban Climate Film Festival under U20 engagement events is being organised by the National Institute of Urban Affairs(NIUA) from from 24 March to 26 March 2023.

* A curated selection of 11 films from nine countries will be showcased in the festival to create wider awareness of the impact of climate change on life in cities.

* The festival is being organised with support from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the French Development Agency and the European Union..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Bhupender Yadav

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Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav said that under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi India is moving to revive the Aravallis through various initiatives like single-use plastic ban, water conservation efforts and natural resources protection.

Shri Bhupender Yadav (25th March 2023) launched the Aravalli Green Wall Project, a major initiative to green the 5 km buffer area around the Aravalli Hill Range in four states at a function organised to celebrate the International Day of Forests at Tikli Village in Haryana.

At the event, Shri Yadav unveiled the National Action Plan to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation Through Forestry Interventions and a FAQ on Agro-forestry published by Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. The Union Minister also participated in a plantation drive.

The Union Minister said that the Aravalli Green Wall Project will not only increase the green cover and biodiversity of the Aravalli through afforestation, reforestation and restoration of water bodies, but also improve the soil fertility, water availability and climate resilience of the region.

He said that the project will benefit the local communities by providing them with employment opportunities, income generation and ecosystem services.

He appreciated the efforts of the Haryana Forest Department and other stakeholders for their cooperation and support in implementing the project and reiterated the government's commitment to achieve the national goal of creating an additional 2.5 billion tonnes of carbon sink by 2030..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   10%

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The Centre has notified a hike in wage rates up to 10% under the rural job guarantee program, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for 2023-24 with Haryana having the highest daily wage at ₹357 per day and Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh the lowest at ₹221.

The wage hikes, which range from ₹7 to ₹26, will come into effect from April 1, 2023.

Compared to last year's rates, Rajasthan registered the highest percentage increase in wages. The revised wage for Rajasthan is ₹255 per day, up from ₹231 in 2022-23.

Bihar and Jharkhand have registered a percentage increase of around eight from last year. Last year, the daily wage for a MNREGA worker in these two states was ₹210. It has now been revised to ₹228.

For Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, which have the lowest daily wages at ₹221, the percentage increase from last year was recorded at 17.

In 2022-23, the two States had a daily wage of ₹204.

The increases in the wages for states range between two and 10%. Karnataka, Goa, Meghalaya and Manipur are among the States to register the lowest percentage increase.

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is a flagship programme aimed at enhancing livelihood security of households in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Nirmala Sitharaman

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Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday (24th March 2023) announced the establishment of a committee to review the New Pension System (NPY) amid demands from a section of employees and the decision by some opposition-governed states to revert to the old pension scheme, which offers 50% of the last pay drawn by government employees as pension.

* The panel, headed by finance secretary TV Somanathan, will “evolve an approach which addresses needs of employees while maintaining fiscal prudence to protect common citizens,” the minister told the Lok Sabha as she moved 64 amendments to the Finance Bill.

* From January 2004, the government has opted to move to NPS for all new recruits, with the government employees contributing 10% of their salary towards pension and the govt making a matching contribution.

* Recently, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, HP, and Punjab have decided to opt out of NPS..

Source : Times of India

Correct Answer :   Last Saturday of March

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Earth Hour was observed annually on the Last Saturday of March from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

* In 2023, this day was observed on March 25 at 8.30 pm local time.

* It is a worldwide movement organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to encourage individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights for one hour.

* It was first started in Sydney, Australia on March 31, 2007, at 7:30 pm local time and has since gained popularity and momentum..

Source : Indian Eexpress