Correct Answer :   New Delhi

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* The three-day Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela, organized by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), was inaugurated 2nd March 2023 by the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in New Delhi, 2nd March 2023.

* Along with thousands of farmers, scientists and startup entrepreneurs are participating in the fair. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Tomar said that Shree Anna is being widely promoted throughout the world through the International Year of Millets, with which Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi aims to empower the Small Farmers, who constitute 86 percent of farmers in the country.

* Even while he is occupied all the time as the Prime Minister, Shri Modi is concerned about the welfare of these small farmers living in the villages. Millets are grown by these very small farmers.

* In order to make them prosperous, the Prime Minister has bestowed Millets with their pride of place by naming them as “Shree Anna” and has also planned several programs...

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   70

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* The Indian government has approved the procurement of 70 HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force.

* Reason : It will meet the shortage of basic trainer aircraft of IAF for the training of newly inducted pilots.

* The HTT-40 is a turboprop aircraft designed to have good low-speed handling qualities and provide better training effectiveness.

* The aircraft will be supplied over six years.

* Cost : 6,828 crore rupees.

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   01 March

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World Civil Defence Day is observed on March 1 to raise awareness about the importance of civil defence measures in protecting people and their property from natural disasters, accidents, and other emergencies.

The day honours the work of several civil defence organisations. The day also recognises the efforts put in by the organisations in protecting communities and saving lives.

World Civil Defence Day was first celebrated in the year 1990 by the International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO).

World Civil Defence Day 2023 Theme : The theme for this year is – “The role of information technology in risk assessment”. The theme was announced by the ICDO Secretary General via an official video. The theme is based on the interest and importance of the role of technical systems, technological applications, and artificial intelligence techniques in determining risks related to civil protection and civil defence.

Furthermore, the theme also highlights the importance of civil defence measures in responding to health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and other disasters that have significant health impacts.

World Civil Defence Day History : In 1931, French Surgeon-General George Saint-Paul founded the Association of Geneva Zones. He was badly affected by the horrors of the First World War and thus aimed to create safety zones where people could seek protection in times of war.

World Civil Defence Day Significance : World Civil Defence Day highlights the importance of civil defence measures undertaken in protecting people and communities from emergencies. It provides an opportunity for governments, civil society organisations, and individuals to review and assess their preparedness plans and identify areas for improvement.

The day also recognises the contribution of civil defence personnel, who work tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of their communities...

Source : CNBC

Correct Answer :   Jitendra Singh

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Union MoS (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh has launched (28th February 2023) the VAIBHAV Fellowship scheme for the Indian Diaspora abroad.

Aim : To improve the research ecosystem of India’s Higher Educational Institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations between Indian Institutions and the best institutions in the world

Eligible applicant :

* Should be NRI, PIO, or OCI.

* Must have obtained Ph.D/M.D/M.S degree from a recognized University.

Correct Answer :   Nicola Fox

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NASA announced on Monday (27th February 2023) it has picked a longtime solar scientist who heads its heliophysics division to become the U.S. space agency’s science chief.

* Nicola Fox, former top scientist on the Parker Solar Probe mission studying the sun, was named as NASA’s associate administrator for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate.

* A memo to agency employees from NASA chief Bill Nelson, obtained by Reuters, first announced Fox’s appointment. He lauded Fox’s past work on missions to better understand the sun and how solar wind affects satellites and planets.

* “She has been instrumental in making this complex area accessible to the public,” Nelson said. “Her work already spans so many areas of importance to the agency.”

* NASA later announced Fox’s appointment publicly on Monday, saying her new role was effective immediately.

* Fox will lead NASA’s science directorate, a unit with an annual budget of roughly $7 billion that oversees some of the agency’s best-known programs from the robotic hunts for past life on Mars to exploring distant galaxies with the James Webb Space Telescope.

* She will also oversee a NASA study group formed in 2022 to help the U.S. military detect and characterize UFOs, or so-called Unidentified Aerial Phenomena – mysterious objects that the White House and Pentagon officials see as threats to U.S. airspace.

* Fox succeeds Thomas Zurbuchen, a Swiss-American astrophysicist who had led the directorate since 2016 before his retirement in December. Sandra Connelly, formerly Zurbuchen’s deputy, had led the directorate in an acting capacity...

Source : The Print

Correct Answer :   Dinesh K Tripathi

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Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Tuesday (28th February 2023) took charge as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Mumbai-headquartered Western Naval Command (WNC).

* He succeeds Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh who retired from service.

* Prior to taking over as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Vice Admiral Tripathi served as the Chief of Personnel at the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Navy).

* An alumnus of Sainik School Rewa and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, he was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1985.

* A communication and electronic warfare specialist, he served on several frontline warships of the Navy.

* He has also held various important operational and staff appointments which include Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet at Mumbai, Director of Naval Operations, Principal Director Network Centric Operations and Principal Director Naval Plans at New Delhi.

* On promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral, he served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at the Integrated headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Navy) and as the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet..

Source : NDTV

Correct Answer :   Rajesh Malhotra

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Rajesh Malhotra, a 1989-batch Indian Information Service (IIS) officer, was on Tuesday (28th Feb 2023) appointed as the Principal Director General of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), a government order said.

* Malhotra succeeds Satyendra Prakash, who superannuated on Tuesday(28th Feb 2023). Prakash had taken charge as Principal DG of the PIB in August 2022.

* Malhotra will be the principal spokesperson of the government of India and take charge of his new role on March 1, 2023.

* Malhotra, already designated as the Principal D-G, was handling the media and communication division of the ministries of Finance, and Corporate Affairs. He comes with 30 years of operational experience in planning and implementation of media and communication strategies for the Election Commission of India and various Central ministries and departments.

* During the pandemic, he is credited with “effectively steering the media and communication policy in the Ministry of Finance in sync with various Aatmanirbhar Bharat packages announced by the government”.

* He was associated with Election Commission of India as in-charge of media and communication for 21 years (1996-2017).

* The I&B Ministry also named Priya Kumar as the Director General of Doordarshan News (DD News) from March 1, 2023. She will succeed Mayank Agrawal who superannuated on Tuesday (28th Feb 2023)..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   New Delhi

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The two-day G20 Foreign Ministers meeting under India's presidency got underway in New Delhi on Wednesday (1st March 2023).

A gala dinner is being hosted this evening for the visiting dignitaries. The formal meeting will be held tomorrow, with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar chairing two sessions.

The first session will focus on multilateralism and issues related to food and energy. The second session will focus on new and emerging threats including counter-terrorism and narcotics, global skill mapping, and focus on global talent pools.

Briefing media, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra informed that 40 delegations and 30 international organisations are expected to participate in the meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Center..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Lithuania

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India and Lithuania on Tuesday(28th February 2023) agreed to work in the areas of deep tech startups as well as forge lasting ties in manufacturing of semiconductor chips.

* A high-level Lithuanian delegation led by Economy and Innovation Vice Minister Karolis Aemaitis on Tuesday (28th February 2023) called on Union Science & Technology Minister Jitendra Singh and discussed ways and means to revive the 2010 agreement in the area of science and technology.

* Responding to the keen interest of the Indian minister to give a further fillip to startup culture to create more job opportunities and wealth creation, Aemaitis assured him that Lithuania has robust know-how and capacities in life sciences, biotechnology and other STEM areas and keen to have cooperation between the two countries in high tech startups.

* Singh said that India has made rapid advances in the last nine years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in areas of science, technology and Innovation and conveyed to the Lithuanian side that India is ready to extend all help to its age-old partner.

* He said, apart from rapid and globally recognized achievements in space, its biotech laurels in terms of 4 indigenous vaccines of COVID is before the world.

* The Lithuanian Minister mentioned that a global MNC from his country, "Teltonika" is working with Taiwan for manufacturing of sophisticated chips and the company has a presence in India also and can take collaboration of chip making to a new height in years to come.

* The Department of Science & Technology, through the MEA, has been negotiating a Science & Technology Agreement with Lithuania since 2010. In April 2010, a revised Indian counter-draft incorporating few minor modifications was formally submitted to the Lithuanian side and its formal response is still awaited..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)

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National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and with due support from Ministry of Tourism 28th February 2023 signed an MoU with Switzerland based Hotel and Tourism Management Institute (HTMi) to jointly provide certificate, diploma, advance diploma  and certification courses in hospitality trades to the aspiring students.

* A tri-party MoU was signed by NSDC, HTMi and Lamrin Tech Skill University (LTSU).

* The first MoU signed between National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and HTMi outlined the broad contours of this partnership and the second was a tripartite MoU between NSDC, HTMi and Lamrin Tech Skill University(LTSU).

* With LTSU as an implementation partner for first phase of this partnership, NSDC & HTMi envisage similar such partnerships as the program gets scaled up.

* The collaboration between NSDC and HTMi intends to equip students with hospitality industry-specific skills  through a unique combination of classroom and work based learning.

* The tri-party MoU was signed by Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, COO (Officiating CEO), NSDC and MD, NSDC International, Ian Robert James Larmour, CEO, Hotel and Tourism Management Institute and Dr. Sandeep Singh Kaura, Lamrin Tech Skills University, Punjab, and Adviser to Govt. of Punjab.

* The students aiming to make a career in the sector will benefit from the programme and provide specialization across different programmes, including degree & postgraduation, Swiss European culinary arts, as well as the professional certification.

* The full time 6-month certification programme is designed to strengthen the basics and fundamentals of professionals while providing them on-the job training across diverse hospitality sectors to provide a competitive edge to the student in the domestic and international markets..

Source : PIB