Correct Answer :   SS Dubey

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S.S. Dubey, a 1989-batch Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) officer, has taken charge as the 28th Controller General of Accounts (CGA) effective from 6th March 2023.

Prior to this role, he was an Additional Controller General of Accounts, Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

Shri Dubey has served as Chief Controller of Accounts in Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion etc. and as Controller/Deputy Controller of Accounts in Ministry of Environment & Forest, Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Revenue, Department of Supply etc. and was in-charge of budgeting, accounting, payment, internal audit etc.  He also served as Financial Advisor & Chief Accounts Officer in Bank Note Press, Dewas.

On his Central deputation, Shri Dubey served as Joint Secretary & Financial Advisor to Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. 

He was also Deputy Secretary/Director to Ministry of Food, Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution and supervised Targeted Public Distribution System (PDS) and CWC (PSU).

Shri Dubey was Government of India nominee Director on Board of Public Sector Undertakings like Engineering Projects India ltd., NBCC, HUDCO and Metro Rail Corporations of several states.

Besides, serving Government of India, Shri Dubey also has international experience of five years in United Nations, where he worked as Head of Procurement and Logistics, United Nations World Food Programme, New Delhi.

Controller General of Accounts (CGA) is ‘the Principal Advisor’ on Accounting matters to the Union Government.  CGA is responsible for establishing and managing a technically sound Management Accounting System and preparation & submission of the accounts of the Union Government.  CGA is also responsible for exchequer control and conduct of internal audits for the Central Government.

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   26%

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The share of female borrowers in the retail loans outstanding has gone up to 26 per cent at Rs 26.07 lakh crore as of December 2022 from 25 per cent (Rs 20.47 lakh crore) in December 2021, an increase of Rs 5.60 lakh crore.

Total retail loan outstanding was Rs 100.28 lakh crore in December 2022, up from Rs 81.91 lakh crore a year ago, according to data compiled by CRIF High Mark, a credit information bureau.

Among major retail loan products availed by female borrowers in India, gold loans (42 per cent share), education loans (35 per cent), home loans (32 per cent) and loan against property (29 per cent) have higher share of female borrowers (by portfolio outstanding), compared to other products, as of December 2022, CRIF High Mark said.

The maximum Y-o-Y increase in portfolio outstanding of female borrowers for gold loans was 64 per cent, two-wheeler 42 per cent and personal loan 35 per cent as of December 2022.

Among female borrowers, the average ticket size (ATS) has increased for all major retail loan products from CY 2020 to CY 2022, except personal loan and consumer durable (CD) loans.

The ATS of personal loan for female borrowers has reduced by 17 per cent from CY 2020 to CY 2022 while that for male borrowers has reduced by 30 per cent during the same period.

The ATS of auto loan, gold loan and personal loan is higher for female borrowers than male borrowers in CY 2022, while ATS of two-wheeler and consumer durable loans for both female and male borrowers is the same in CY 2022..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   7th March 2023

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India has celebrated the Jan Aushadhi Diwas on March 7 every year since 2019. The day is the culmination of a week-long event that begins on March 1.

* The day is marked in order to promote awareness about generic medicines and how they can be helpful for millions across the country.

* Jan Aushadhi Diwas History : The Jan Aushadi Diwas was launched on March 7, 2019, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).

* The campaign and day were launched with an aim of expanding access to generic medicines and also promoting their use among the many millions of families who often could not afford expensive branded drugs.

* The campaign was part of a greater push to improve healthcare access for those in the country. The campaign and day were launched by the government’s Department of Pharmaceuticals, which still organises events across the country for the day. The medicines are sold through Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana Kendras (PMBJPK), which number over 9,000 today.

* Jan Aushadhi Diwas Significance : While India is already one of the cheapest countries when it comes to median drug costs, across both branded and generic drugs, costs for filling prescriptions are still the biggest healthcare cost for most families in the country. However, with so many individuals living near or under the poverty line, it can be difficult for them to purchase an extensive list of medicines.

* Under the PMBJP, medicines are available at a 50 percent discount on the average price of the top three different brands resulting in at least a 50 percent discount on branded drugs. Discounts often run even higher if a particular branded medicine is sold for a higher value.

* Due to the deep discounts on equivalent medicinal drugs, people have been able to save a large amount of money. According to government data, total savings of Rs 20,000 crore over the past eight years have been achieved under the scheme..

Source : CNBC

Correct Answer :   Shaktikanta Das

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* Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Shaktikanta Das on Monday (March 6, 2023), launched the mission Har Payment Digital Payments Awareness Week 2023.

* Theme 2023 : With the theme “Digital Payment Apnao; Auron ko Bhi Sikhao”, amid Digital Payments Awareness Week 2023 (DPAW).

* "The message of “Digital Payment Apnao, Auron ko bhi Sikhao” – “Adopt digital payments and Also teach others” – under the mission Har Payment Digital – is very relevant and expected to create greater awareness and usage among the people," said Das.

* India's central bank governor further noted that it is a matter of pride that payment systems in India have witnessed over 1,000 crore transactions every month since December 2022.

* "This speaks volumes of the robustness of our payments ecosystem and acceptance by consumers," said the RBI governor.

* A recent pan-India digital payments survey (covering 90,000 respondents) revealed that 42 percent of respondents have used digital payments.

* Das further pointed out that the mission “Har Payment Digital” is aimed at reinforcing the ease and convenience of digital payments and facilitate the onboarding of new consumers into the digital fold.

Source : Money Control

Correct Answer :   UN Women India

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* The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and UN Women India joined hands together to launch a new programme “FinEmPower” which aims to empower women towards financial security.

* In commemoration of International Women's Day, BSE and UN Women India organised the 'Ring the Bell for Gender Equality' initiative to accelerate investment for women leaders and entrepreneurs in BSE.

* Sundararaman Ramamurthy, MD & CEO, BSE and Susan Ferguson, representative of UN Women India jointly attended the function 'Ring the Bell for Gender Equality'.

Correct Answer :   Delhi Airport

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Delhi Airport has been ranked among the cleanest airports in Asia-Pacific as a part of Airport Council International (ACI)’s annual service quality award. ACI is a trade association of global airports.

* The airport service quality award is based on passenger surveys carried out to rate customer satisfaction on the day of travel.

* The surveys cover over 30 performance indicators across key elements of a passenger’s airport experience such as ease of finding your way, check-in, shopping, and dining offerings.

* According to ACI, 144 awards have been won by 75 airports globally based on over 465,000 surveys collected in 2022.

* In addition to the award for best airports by size and region, four new categories were introduced in 2022--airport with the most dedicated staff; the easiest airport journey; the most enjoyable airport, and the cleanest airport.

* While Delhi was ranked among the top airports for cleanliness, none of the Indian airports made it to the winners list in the other new categories.

* The airports were ranked for their cleanliness based on passenger feedback on cleanliness of washrooms/toilets, health safety among others.

* “At Delhi airport, consistency in enhancing service standards is paramount. This honour resonates with our values and relentless commitment towards providing travelers a truly world-class experience,” said Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO of Delhi International Airport Limited...

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   Conrad K Sangma

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Conrad K Sangma, National People's Party president, 7th March 2023 took oath as the chief minister of Meghalaya for the second consecutive term.

* Later 7th Mar 2023, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)'s Neiphiu Rio will take oath as Nagaland chief minister.

* Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, both from the NPP, took oath as deputy chief ministers, underlining the strength of the regional party in the rainbow coalition which has come to power.

* BJP's Alexander Laloo Hek, UDP's Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla, and Shakliar Warjri of the HSPDP also took oath as ministers.

* In all seven other MLAs from the National People's Party (NPP), two from the UDP and one each from BJP and HSPDP were also administered the oath of secrecy as members in Sangma's cabinet by Governor Phagu Chauhan at Raj Bhavan.

* Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit attended the swearing in ceremony as did BJP president J P Nadda.

* Interestingly the saffron party had described Sangma's government as "most corrupt" in the run up to the election but was the among the first parties to strike a post election deal to set up a government in the northeastern state.

* Marcuise N Marak, Rakkam A Sangma, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Comingone Ymbon and A T Mondal were among those from the NPP who were sworn-in as cabinet ministers.

* The NPP-led alliance has 45 MLAs including 26 from NPP and two from the BJP.

* On Monday (6th Mar 2023), 58 newly elected MLAs were sworn in as members of the assembly with pro-tem speaker Timothy D Shira administering the oath of office and secrecy to them..

Source : NDTV

Correct Answer :   Shivraj Singh Chouhan

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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday (4th Mar 2023) made an announcement to make Mauganj tehsil a separate district.

Four tehsils which fall in the limits of Rewa district, Mauganj, Hanumana, Naigarhi and Dev Talab will be merged to form the new district Mauganj of the state.

The Chief Minister announced while addressing a public welfare program organised at Mauganj in Rewa district on Saturday (4th Mar 2023).

He added that the process of making the district would start from Saturday itself and the National Flag would be hoisted at the district headquarters on August 15.

On the occasion Chouhan transferred an ex-gratia amount of Rs 605 crore to 27,310 labour families of the state with a single click in their accounts under Mukhyamantri Jan-Kalyan (Sambal) Yojana 2.0. Besides, he performed bhoomi-pujan and inaugurated development works worth Rs 738.92 crore.

Addressing the program CM Chouhan said, “Sambal is a scheme for the welfare of the poor. In this, poor families are given various types of help from birth to education etc. Rs 4 lakh is given to the family in case of accidental death, Rs 2 lakh in case of normal death and Rs 1 lakh in case of disability.

The previous government had stopped this scheme and struck off the names of a large number of beneficiaries. Our government has started the scheme again and has also done the work of adding names. So far 13 lakh deleted names have been added.”..

Source : The Print

Correct Answer :   Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

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Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced a nearly five-fold increase in the monetary award under the Himachal Pradesh Mahila Vikas Protsahan Puraskar.

Presiding over a state-level event for International Women's Day (8th March), Sukhu on Monday (6th Mar 2023) said the monetary award for the Mahila Vikas Protsahan Puraskar has been hiked to Rs 1 lakh from the current Rs 21,000.

The allowance for district-level awards has been raised from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000..

Source : Ptinews

Correct Answer :   Jitendra Singh

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Dr Jitendra Singh informed (6th March 2023) that the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare has decided that all the pension portals like Pension Disbursing Bank portals, ANUBHAV, CPENGRAMS, CGHS etc. will be integrated in a single portal in the form of the newly created “Integrated Pensioners’ Portal” (https://ipension.nic.in) to ensure “Ease of Living for the elder citizens”.

* Addressing the Bankers Awareness Workshop in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Dr Jitendra Singh said, in tune with Vision of Prime Minister for an “Integrated Approach to bring Ease of Living”.

* The move will mitigate the problems faced by the pensioners with the banks like Change of bank, Submission of life certificate, Submission of death certificate of pensioners, Pension slip and retrieval of pension slip, Income tax deduction data/form 16, Pension receipt information, the websites of Pension Disbursing Banks will also be integrated with the Integrated Pensioners Portal.

* The Minister also pointed out that the task of Integration of Pension Seva Portal of SBI and Canara Bank with Bhavishya portal have been completed.

* With this integration, the pensioners can now get their pension slip, status of submission of Life Certificate and Form-16 through the Integrated Pensioners’ Portal.

* He also informed that all 18 Pension disbursing banks will be integrated in Integrated Pensioners’ Portal.

* Dr Jitendra Singh said, DoPPW will take care of not only serving/retiring employees but also work for the Ease of Living of our pensioners and Digital Life Certificate is another step towards this direction.

* He pointed out that in November 2014, an Aadhar based scheme for online submission of digital life certificate, “Jeevan Pramaan” was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure transparency and “Ease of Living” for pensioners while submitting their life certificate...

Source : PIB