Correct Answer :   India and Mexico

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India and Mexico on Saturday (4th March 2023) signed an MoU on research, technology and innovation collaborations in New Delhi.

* It will specifically focus on several key technology areas including Aerospace, Electronics, Earth and Ocean Sciences and Water, Mining, Minerals, Clean Energy, Biotech and Healthcare.

* Terming both the countries as Privileged Partners, Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh assured  Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard that India with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and sister Organizations will provide tangible results in the three priority areas of Water, Lithium and Vaccines flagged by the Mexican side.

* In his address, Mr Ebrard expressed his gratitude to India for sending COVID Vaccines during the peak of the pandemic..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Anurag Singh Thakur

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Youth Affairs and Sports and Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur launched Yuva Utsava - India@2047 from Ropar in Punjab on 4th March 2023. He also launched the Dashboard of Yuva Utsav during the event.
 
* In his address he said that in the first phase , Yuva Utsav is being organised in 150 districts across the country to promote youth power till the 31st of March, 2023. In the first phase, programmes are being conducted by schools and colleges of the districts.

* He said, as the country is celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahatsav,  it is a matter of pride that Yuva utsav has started from Punjab which has immensely  contributed to the freedom struggle.

* He urged the youth of the country to contribute in taking our country's development, heritage and values at higher levels as India has a biggest population who is under 35 years.

* He said, India is a mother of democracy and has the biggest Yuva Shakti.
 
* Minister said that there are a lot of hopes from Yuva Shakti in Janbhagidari. He urged the youth to work in building the nation and bring a change in whatever field they think is required as youth are the builders of tomorrow.
 
* Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through its flagship youth organisation Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan is conducting ‘Yuva Utsav India @2047’ in all districts across the country.The Yuva Utsav will be held from March to June 2023.

* This all India celebration of youth power will be held on three levels. Yuva Utsav will begin with a one-day district-level programme.The first phase of the programme is planned to be held in 150 districts from the 4th to 31st of March, 2023...

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Punjab

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The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has been awarded as top performer among all Discoms's across the country for energy conservation measures under Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) program of the Union Ministry for Power.

* The award ceremony was held at New Delhi on 1st March 2023.

* A PSPCL spokesperson said that a total number of 80,686 ‘Energy saving certificates’ (ESCerts) were issued to PSPCL during PAT cycle-II by the Ministry of Power.

* The value of each ESCert is around Rs 1,840 thus total value of Rs 14.84 crore and these can be traded at Power Exchanges. The ‘Top performer award’ and letter of appreciation was given to PSPCL by Union power minister RK Singh during National Function at Delhi...

Source : Times of India

Correct Answer :   Amit Shah

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Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah launched Safe City Projects in Bengaluru, Karnataka on 3rd March 2023.

* Shri Amit Shah flagged off Mobile Command and Control Centre and new fleet of 112 vehicles in Bengaluru. Several dignitaries, including the Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri Basavaraj Bommai, were present on the occasion.

* In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi envisaged the Bangalore Safe City Project, and this project will equip the police with technology to meet the challenges of future.

* He added that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is giving a new dimension to the policing of the entire country in a phased manner through the Safe City Project.

* Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has always insisted that technology should be used with sensitivity and technology should reach to the poorest of the poor. Police should be fit and sensitive, only then it can serve the people because the sense of service comes from sensitivity.

* He said that the Police Technology Mission launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is working with a holistic approach, and this initiative will be helpful in making India's police the best police force in the world at the time of the centenary of independence.

* Shri Amit Shah said that the Safe City project is being implemented on a trial basis in 8 cities, and central government has decided to provide Rs. 2,840 crore for this project. He said that in this first phase, Rs 667 crores have been spent, about 4,100 surveillance cameras have been installed and the most modern command centre with 8 drones equipped with cameras has been set up in Bengaluru.

* He added that Shri Modi’s Safe City project is a completely Make in India project, as the technology used for this is not only excellent but also 100 percent indigenous. Shri Shah informed that 30 security grids have been prepared in Bengaluru, which will immediately connect the victim to the control room..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   March 4th

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World Obesity Day is observed on March 4th every year to promote practical solutions and help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight while undertaking proper treatment.

* Obesity is a global problem that affects everyone. Around the world, approximately 800 million people are living with the disease while millions are at risk to get affected.

* The World Obesity Day highlights one of the biggest health crises faced by about 1 billion people across the planet, today. That number is expected to climb to 1.9 billion people, by 2035.

* Obesity in children is expected to jump by 100 per cent between 2020 and 2035. One in every four people may be obese by 2035.

* The World Health Organization or WHO is fighting global obesity on many fronts which include monitoring global trends. Food and lifestyle are two things that lead to obesity. During our fast-paced lifestyle, it is important to keep a track on what we eat.

World Obesity Day History : orld Obesity Day was established in 2015 as an annual campaign with the goal of stimulating and supporting practical actions that will help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight and reverse the global obesity crisis.

World Obesity Day 2023 Theme : World Obesity Day returns on 4 March 2023 with the theme : ‘Changing Perspectives: Let’s Talk About Obesity’.

World Obesity Day 2023 Significance : The goal of the World Obesity Day campaign is to encourage and support practical actions which enable obese patients in particular and people in general, to develop and maintain healthy body weight and reverse the obesity crisis affecting the globe.

Correct Answer :   Odisha

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Gold mines have been found at different locations of three districts of Odisha, Informed Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallik on Monday(27th Feb 2023) in the state assembly.

The surveys of the Directorate of Mines and Geological Survey Of India (GSI) revelation the presence of Gold reserves in three districts including Deogarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj.

The gold deposits have been found in the Adas area Deogarh, seven places each in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts.

An estimated 1,685 kg of gold ore has been detected by the GSI experts along with copper in the Adas area.

A survey by the directorate of mines and geology found gold reserves in Gopur, Gajipur, Kusakala, Adal and Saleikana, Dimirimunda and Karadanga areas in Keonjhar.

The geologists had detected one gram of gold per tonne ore in two quartz veins in the Telkoi tehsil area during a survey in 1989-96.  

According to preliminary estimation, the team had detected 2.5 gm to 10 gm of gold per one-tonne ore in a quartz vein of 60 metre long and one metre wide in the Gopur area...

Source : New Indian Express

Correct Answer :   4th March

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NATIONAL SECURITY DAY 2023 : March 4 is observed as National Security Day in India annually. It is also known as Rashtriya Suraksha Diwas, celebrated to honour the Indian Security Forces.

Aim : The day aims to show gratitude to our security forces which include the police force, para-military force, guards, commandos, army officers and other forces who are involved in maintaining peace and security of the people of our country.


National Security Day History : The idea of National Security Day or National Safety Day was launched in 1972 and is organised every year. The NSC or the National Safety Council takes responsibility for managing the event every year. The Safety Council was founded by the Ministry of Labour on March 4, 1966, to develop sustainable Safety, Health and Environment movement.

The council was working towards such a noble cause and that’s why they urged the people of the NSC to celebrate their foundation day as National Security Day of India. The one-day celebration was soon prolonged to a week-long celebration named National Safety Week. The National Safety Council is a non-profit Government organisation. As mentioned earlier, the council promotes the SHE movement.

National Security Day Theme 2023 : The National Safety Council of India announced the theme for 2023 to be ‘Nurture young minds - Develop safety culture’. The NSC announces a new theme for the year to celebrate the week-long celebration.

They raise awareness on various mishaps and topics which need to be addressed to officials and citizens of India. During the week-long celebration, they aim to educate people on themes and work towards the betterment of their citizens...

Source : News18

Correct Answer :   2 March 2023

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Former Chief Justice of India A.M. Ahmadi passed away on Thursday (2nd March 2023) at his home here.

* Ahmadi was the chief justice from 1994 to 1997.

* Having begun his judicial career as a City Civil and Session Court judge in Ahmedabad, he was the only Chief Justice of India who started at the very lowest rank to rise to the highest position of the Indian judiciary.

* Justice Ahmadi was a felicitated jurist not only in India but across the world. He was invited by various international organisations, including UNO and World Bank to lead special projects.

* He was the recipient of honors from highly reputable legal institutions such as American Inn of Laws and Middle Temple Inn of Honorable Society of Middle Temple, London.

* Apart from receiving the degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) from six of the most reputable Indian universities, he was the author of numerous path breaking judgements. His expertise was wide ranging from constitutional law to human rights, freedom of speech, criminal, taxation, centre-state and interstate relations. He was also the Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University.

* A man of principles, he did not shy away from controversial judgements. He dissented in the Judges' case, wrote a separate judgement in the Bommai's case, passed the midnight judgement against General Vaidya's assassins and formed a part of the minority in a judgement relating to Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act to be unconstitutional.

* Apart from being one of the longest serving Chief Justices of India, he also shouldered the responsibility of heading various Commissions and was contributing actively in the field of Arbitrations till the end of his life..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   37th Place

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India's financial capital Mumbai has been ranked 37th in the global list of movement in luxury home price rise as it saw an appreciation of 6.4% in luxury home prices in 2022, according to a Knight Frank India report. One can buy 113 square metres of prime property in Mumbai for $1 million.

* Property prices in Mumbai are expected to rise by 3% in 2023, says the report, adding the city is the 18th most expensive prime residential market globally. Also, it ranked among the five most expensive ones in Asia-Pacific.

* Monaco holds on to its title as the "most expensive residential market" globally. However, in 2022, the strong currency rewarded the US dollar-based buyer with two extra square metres for their money compared with a year ago.

* The report says New York (33 sq m) has leapfrogged London (34 sq m), again due to the strength of the greenback, making it the “third priciest city”, although the two cities along with Singapore (34 sq m) are pretty evenly tied.

* New York also retained its crown as the most “active super-prime market”, with 244 sales of $10 million or more. Los Angeles and London complete the top three with 225 and 223 respectively.

* Dubai’s 44% annual price growth may conjure up notions of high prices, but values are rising from a low base, the report adds. “Here, $1 million buys 105 sq m, five times as much space as in Hong Kong. For real value, head to Cape Town or São Paulo where the same budget bestows more than 200 sq m.”

* The Covid pandemic-induced boom in prime, super-prime and ultra-prime markets globally continued into 2022, the report finds. Some 1,392 sales were transacted at or above US$10 million across 10 global markets. While this represents a decline compared with the record-breaking 2,076 transactions recorded in 2021, it is still 49% above 2019 levels and equates to US$26.3 billion in sales...

Source : Fortune India

Correct Answer :   India and Australia

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India and Australia signed a Framework Mechanism for Mutual Recognition of Qualifications that will help ease the mobility of students and professionals between the two countries.

* The agreement was signed following a bilateral meeting in New Delhi on 2nd Mar 2023 between India’s Education Minister "Shri Dharmendra Pradhan" and the Australian Education Minister "Mr. Jason Clare".

* This agreement is part of the commitment by Prime Ministers of both countries at the 2nd India-Australia Virtual Summit held on 21st March 2022, wherein they had agreed to establish a Joint Taskforce for mutual recognition of qualifications. 

* Secretary, School Education, Shri Sanjay Kumar; Secretary, Higher Education, Shri Sanjay Murthy and Secretary, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari attended the meeting.

* A Task Force was accordingly set up consisting of senior officials of education and skill ministries and regulators on both sides. It  has come up with a comprehensive mechanism  that covers both education and skill qualifications of the two countries and will help facilitate two way mobility of young people for education and employment purposes by mutually recognizing various levels of education and skill qualifications.

* Shri Pradhan also invited Minister for the 7th Australia India Education and Skill Council (AIESC)  meeting to be held in September and for the G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting in June this year (2023).

* The signing of G-to-G mechanism for mutual recognition of qualifications, the announcement of the IEIF Critical Skills Project and 11 institutional MoUs mark a landmark moment in educational relations between  India and Australia.

* The developments today will create more opportunities for two-way mobility of students and professionals for the purpose of education and employment, and pave the way for making education the biggest enabler in taking India-Australia bilateral relationship to greater heights  realise shared aspirations.

* The Ministers had good conversations on further deepening our long-standing bilateral relations, invigorating our vibrant partnership and boosting engagements in education, skill development, deep-tech research and areas of mutual interest.

* Mr Clare said that the Australian government will be contributing 1.89 million dollars for running skills programme in India in the area of agriculture which is a critical sector for India. He further informed that Australia is working on top priority basis to clear the pendency of education visas for Indian students. Mr Clare expressed his gratitude to Shri Pradhan for the kind welcome and hospitality and said that he looks forward to their meeting later in the year.

* In today’s bilateral meeting the two sides also discussed issues like promoting student mobility and  enhancing research and academic collaborations between Indian and Australian universities through the mechanism of Joint/ Dual/ Twinning degrees that have been brought in recently under NEP2020...

Source : PIB