Correct Answer :   30 May 2023

---

Congress leader Suresh 'Balu' Dhanorkar breathed his last at a private hospital in Delhi-NCR on Tuesday (30 May 2023). He was 48 years old.

* He was the lone Congress MP from Chandrapur Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra.

* Dhanorkar was the lone Congress MP from Chandrapur Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra. He was earlier part of the Shiv Sena, winning the Warora-Bhadrawati Assembly seat in 2014. He quit the party in 2019 and joined the Congress before the Lok Sabha elections.

* He was fielded from Chandrapur parliamentary constituency where he defeated former union minister and BJP leader Hansraj Ahir.

* Dhanorkar is survived by his wife Pratibha, an MLA, and two sons.

* A party spokesperson told news agency PTI that Dhanorkar was airlifted to Delhi from Nagpur on May 28 for medical treatment. He was shifted to the national capital in an air ambulance after he complained of stomach pain, a statement from the MP said.

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   Recep Tayyip Erdogan

---

In Turkiye, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won the presidential election, extending his rule to a third decade.

* Erdogan defeated opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in runoff vote 28th May 2023.

* With 99.43 percent of the votes counted, preliminary official results announced by Turkiye’s Supreme Election Council (YSK) showed Erdogan winning with 52.14 percent of the votes.

* Kilicdaroglu received 47.86 percent. The result is expected to be confirmed in the coming days.

* The vote seals Erdogan’s place in history as he extends his 20-year rule for a further five years.

* Prime Minister Narendra Modi today(29th May 2023) congratulated Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan his on re-election as the President of Türkiye. In his message, Mr Modi expressed confidence that India-Turkiye bilateral ties and cooperation on global issues will continue to grow in the coming times..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Cambodia

---

King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni arrived (29th May 2023) in New Delhi this afternoon on a three-day visit to India. He was received by Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh upon arrival.

* The King will have bilateral meetings with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow (30th May 2023).

* He will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the morning following which he will pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat.

* Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will call on the King. President Murmu will host a State Banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary in the evening.

* The visit marks the culmination of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Cambodia.

* This visit by the King of Cambodia is taking place after almost six decades, with the last being that of the current King’s father in 1963.

* India and Cambodia enjoy warm and friendly relations marked by civilisational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties.

* The multifaceted relationship is based on shared cultural values, commitment to foster economic growth, collaboration in the fields of defence and security and convergence on regional and global issues.

* India actively assists Cambodia in capacity building and human resource development. India has also extended grants and concessional loans for developmental projects.

* Conservation and restoration of the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm and Preah Vihar are being carried out under India's funding.

* India has extended a grant of 1.5 million dollars for purchase of demining equipment and has offered a line of credit worth 50 million dollars for procurement of defence equipment from India..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Nigeria

---

Bola Tinubu, from Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress party, has been sworn in as the new President of Nigeria on 29th May 2023.

In February 2023, he defeated former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The swearing ceremony was attended by the Indian defense minister, Rajnath Singh, who is on a three-day visit to Nigeria.

Agenda of visit : To strengthen the India-Nigeria bilateral relations

This is the first-ever visit of an Indian Defence Minister to Nigeria..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   May 29th

---

The International Day of UN Peacekeepers is observed annually on May 29th. It is a day dedicated to honoring the contributions and sacrifices of United Nations (UN) peacekeepers in maintaining peace and security around the world. The day also serves as a tribute to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

International Day of UN Peacekeepers Theme : The theme of the 75th anniversary “Peace begins with me” recognizes the service and sacrifice of peacekeepers, past and present, including more than 4200 who have given their lives under the UN flag. It also pays tribute to the resilience of the communities that we serve, who continue to strive for peace despite many obstacles.

This campaign also calls on each of us to join the global movement for peace. Alone, we can never succeed. But, together, we can be a strong force for change.

The International Day of UN Peacekeepers holds great significance for several reasons:

Recognizing Peacekeeping Efforts : The day serves as a global recognition of the crucial role played by UN peacekeepers in maintaining peace and security around the world. It acknowledges their commitment and tireless efforts in preventing conflicts, protecting civilians, and promoting stability in areas affected by violence and war.

Honoring Fallen Peacekeepers : The International Day of UN Peacekeepers is an occasion to honor and remember those peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. It pays tribute to their bravery and sacrifice, emphasizing the profound impact they have made in the pursuit of peace. The day offers an opportunity to express gratitude and support to the families and loved ones of fallen peacekeepers.

Promoting Awareness and Understanding : The day raises awareness about the challenges faced by UN peacekeepers and the complex nature of their work. It helps foster understanding and appreciation among the general public, highlighting the significance of peacekeeping operations in resolving conflicts and preventing the escalation of violence. By promoting awareness, the day encourages support and solidarity for peacekeeping efforts.

Advocating for Peace and Security : The International Day of UN Peacekeepers serves as a platform for advocating peace and security at the international level. It encourages governments, organizations, and individuals to recommit themselves to the principles of peacekeeping and to strengthen their support for UN peacekeeping missions. The day emphasizes the need for collective action and cooperation to address global conflicts and promote a more peaceful world.

Strengthening International Peacekeeping : The day provides an opportunity to reflect on the achievements, challenges, and future directions of UN peacekeeping. It encourages discussions and dialogue on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of peacekeeping operations, including the development of new strategies, technologies, and approaches. The day’s significance lies in its role as a catalyst for advancing the field of international peacekeeping and promoting continuous improvement in peacekeeping practices.

History of International Day of UN Peacekeepers :

* The International Day of UN Peacekeepers has its origins in the United Nations General Assembly. In 2002, the General Assembly designated May 29th as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers to honor the memory of peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the service of peace.

* The choice of May 29th as the date for this observance was significant. It marks the anniversary of the creation of the first UN peacekeeping mission.

* On May 29, 1948, the UN Security Council authorized the establishment of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) to oversee the ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This mission became the first-ever peacekeeping operation conducted by the United Nations...

Source : UN, PIB

Correct Answer :   Assam

---

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (29th May 2023) flagged off Assam's first Vande Bharat Express via video conferencing. This is also the first Vande Bharat service in the Northeast.

* PM Modi said the launch of the first Northeast Vande Bharat train is expected to give a fillip to tourism and boost connectivity in the Northeast.

* The Vande Bharat Express will boost business and tourism by connecting key destinations such as Kamakhya Temple, Kaziranga Sanctuary, Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam, Shillong and Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh," he stated.

* Taking a jibe at the previous governments in Assam, the Prime Minister said development was "devoid" for a long time before the BJP came to power in the state in 2016.

* The train will connect Guwahati with New Jalpaiguri and is expected to save about an hour of journey time when compared with the current fastest train connecting the two places. It will cover the 410-kilometre-long journey in five-and-a-half hours. This is the 18th Vande Bharat Express service, which went operational Monday (29th May 2023).

* The train will depart from New Jalpaiguri at 6:10 am and reach Guwahati at mid-day. From Guwahati, the Vande Bharat Express will depart at 4.30 pm and reach New Jalpaiguri around 10:20 pm.

* It will run six days a week and stop at six stations -- New Alipurduar, Kokrajhar, New Bongaigaon and Kamakhya, including New Jalpaiguri and Guwahati junctions...

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   May 28

---

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's birth anniversary in 2023 is 28th May 2023, which is Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's 140th birthday.

* He is one of the most famous and well-known political personalities in Indian history. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was also an activist, writer, and politician. When he was at school, he participated in all of the school events, and he did everything he could to contribute to the independence cause.

* It used to continue even when Savarkar, also known as Veer (brave), moved to London on a scholarship to study law at Gray's Inn.

* After that, he began to take part in several debates, and he also frequently discussed India House in Highgate's political issues with other participants. He also participated in numerous plans to depose the British monarchy.

* Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose his name last year (2022) on his Independence Day, joining the ranks of so many others, like Jawaharlal Nehru, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi, Babasaheb Ambedkar, and others.

* In fact, each of these warriors gave their lives in the line of duty. In 2023, Maharashtra's Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, decided that on May 28, this day would be commemorated as Swatantrya Veer Gaurav Din, or the birth anniversary of Savarkar.

* Vinayak Damodar Savarkar died in Mumbai in 1966. So, we've compiled a collection of some of the most renowned quotes uttered by the one and only Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

Correct Answer :   6% to 6.5%

---

India’s GDP is expected to grow in the 6 - 6.5% range in FY24, with agriculture growth continuing at a healthy pace, a recovery in industrial growth and the services sector remaining resilient, according to Bank of Baroda’s economic research department (ERD).

The projection takes into account an expected slowdown in the global economy, which may impact the external sector, and the continued resilience of the domestic economy.

RBI Projects 6.4% Growth for FY24 : Governor Shaktikanta Das of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has projected a real GDP growth rate of 6.4% for FY24. He cited increased rabi output, which enhances prospects for agriculture and rural demand. Additionally, the sustained recovery of contact-intensive sectors is expected to support urban consumption. Das also highlighted broad-based credit growth, improved capacity utilization, and the government’s focus on capital spending and infrastructure as factors that will bolster investment activity.

CARE Ratings Forecasts 6.1% GDP Growth in FY24 : CARE Ratings, a credit rating agency, estimates India’s economic growth for FY24 to be 6.1%. The agency emphasizes the government’s emphasis on capital expenditure (capex) and the growing intent of the private sector to invest, which should support investment demand. However, lower external demand and rising interest rates pose risks to investment revival. For FY23, CARE Ratings projects GDP growth at 7%, taking into account improving rural demand, rising rural wages, and the need for domestic demand to accelerate.

Moody’s Predicts 6.5% Growth for 2024 : Moody’s Investors Service, a global credit rating agency, forecasts India’s growth rate to be 6.5% for 2024 and 5.5% for 2023. Moody’s attributes the primary drivers of economic growth in these years to the decisions made by central banks regarding interest rates. They expect global economic growth to slow in 2023 due to cumulative monetary policy tightening. Moody’s forecasts a gradual improvement in G20 global economic growth, from 2.0% in 2023 to 2.4% in 2024..

Source : The Hindu Businessline

Correct Answer :   59th

---

This year marks the 59th death anniversary of the former Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India after Independence and played a significant role in the freedom struggle of India.

On the 59th Death Anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the legendary leader of India. PM Modi took this thought to Twitter and expressed his tribute.

Key Points :

* Jawaharlal Nehru was a mighty politician and freedom fighter who fought against the Britishers during the freedom struggle.

* Nehru fought against the Britishers and was among the key leaders of the Indian National Congress (INC).

* On May 27, 1964, the first Prime Minister of India took his last breath. He was the PM from 1947 to 1964 till he died at the age of 74.

* Nehru’s birth anniversary on November 14 is also celebrated as Children’s Day every year in India. He had a great fondness for kids, and children use to call him Chacha Nehru.

About Jawaharlal Nehru :

* Jawaharlal Nehru was born on November 14, 1889, in Allahabad, India, and died on May 27, 1964, in New Delhi.

* He was the first prime minister of independent India (1947–64), who established a parliamentary government and became noted for his neutralist policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the 1930s and ’40s.

* After the Lahore session of 1929, Nehru emerged as the leader of the country’s intellectuals and youth.

* Gandhi had shrewdly elevated him to the presidency of the Congress Party over the heads of some of his seniors, hoping that Nehru would draw India’s youth—who at that time were gravitating toward extreme leftist causes—into the mainstream of the Congress movement.

* Gandhi also correctly calculated that, with added responsibility, Nehru himself would be inclined to keep to the middle way.

Correct Answer :   28th May 2023

---

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (28th May 2023) inaugurated the new Parliament building on New Delhi and installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber. He was accompanied by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

The task of constructing the new Parliament building was a mammoth endeavour. It witnessed several key construction activities being done off-site as well. Further, the construction also saw the usage of materials sourced from across the country.

About New Parliament :

* Constructed by: Tata Projects Ltd

* Three main gates : Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar, and Karma Dwar

* The new building can comfortably seat 888 members in the Lok Sabha chamber and 300 in the Rajya Sabha chamber

* The new Lok Sabha chamber has a peacock theme and Rajya Sabha's theme is based on National Flower, Lotus.

Source : Times of India