Correct Answer :   8th May 2023

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Renowned Bengali author Samaresh Majumdar died on Monday (8th May 2023). He was 79. The award-winning writer passed away in the evening around 5:45 pm.

* Majumdar was admitted to the hospital on April 25 due to a bleeding in brain. A family member said that he had a history of respiratory ailments and after he was admitted, they got worse.

* West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled the death of the Samaresh Majumdar, calling it an “irreparable loss to the literary world”.

* Born on March 10, 1944, novelist Majumdar is best known for his ‘Animesh’ series. He was first published in the year 1967- a novel named ‘Dour’ (Run). One of his works was even was adapted into the 2013 film ‘Arjun-Kalimpong E Sitaharan’.

* Majumdar is also known for ‘Uttoradhikar’, ‘Kaalpurush’, ‘Satkahan’, and ‘Adventures of Detective Arjun’.

* The writer-poet has innumerable accolades under his belt, including Sahitya Akademi Award which he won for ‘Kalbela’ in 1984.

* Apart from this, he has been conferred the Anand Award and Bankim Award. In 2018, the West Bengal government honoured him with the 'Banga Bibhushan' award..

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT)

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India Post has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and Tripta Technologies for logistics services.

The MoU will benefit small and medium traders as they will be able to use India Post as a logistics service provider across the country.

The partnership between India Post, CAIT and Tripta Technologies will provide shipping and the last mile delivery services to CAIT's strong trader base and small and medium business in the unorganised sector.

The MoU marks a significant milestone for taking e-commerce to small towns and rural areas and is expected to benefit thousands of traders.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan described it as a major initiative to streamline parcel operations of India Post. He said the government has transformed the India Post by expanding service areas and through technology induction.

The Minister added that banking and insurance services have been initiated in India post along with financial inclusion services..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Myanmar

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Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal and Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Transport & Communications of Myanmar, Admiral Tin Aung San, jointly inaugurated the Sittwe Port in Rakhine State, Myanmar on Tuesday (9th May 2023).

* During this event they received the first Indian Cargo ship which was flagged off from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata.

* Speaking at the inaugural function, Sarbanand Sonowal highlighted the close historical, cultural and economic ties between India and Myanmar. He reiterated India’s long standing commitment towards the development and prosperity of people of Myanmar through developmental initiatives such as the Sittwe Port.

* The Sittwe Port and the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) are important projects for India as they will help the North East become the Gateway to SouthEast Asia, while delivering large scale benefits to the people of Myanmar.

* A vibrant Sittwe Port can catapult Myanmar's Rakhine State into a major connectivity hub. It can fuel productive inland waterway traffic, boosting tourism, agriculture and manufacturing along the Kaladan river and generating economic dividends for the nation and the wider region, said the Minister.

* He further said that the Sittwe Port is set to be a gamechanger for maritime connectivity and trade in the region. The operationalisation of this port is a major step towards sustainable, environment friendly and  seamless connectivity between India, Myanmar and beyond, said the Shipping Minister Sarbanand Sonowal.

* The port will provide an alternative connectivity between Mizoram and Haldia in West Bengal or any Indian port through the Kaladan river in Myanmar.

* The multimodal connectivity project envisages road transport from Mizoram to Paletwa in Myanmar. Thereafter from Paletwa to Sittwe in Myanmar by Inland Water transport and Sittwe to any port in India by maritime shipping.

* Sittwe Port has been developed as a part of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) funded under grant in aid assistance from Government of India. Once fully operationalized the waterway and road components of KMTTP will link the East coast of India to the North-eastern states through the Sittwe port..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Indonesia

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The 42nd Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) started in Indonesia on May 8, 2023.

Theme 2023 : The guiding theme chosen by the organizers as the main axis of the event is “ASEAN Affairs: Epicenter of Growth”, seeking to demonstrate the bloc’s hopes and efforts to become the center and driving force behind development.

* President Joko Widodo said that Indonesia wants to encourage the member countries of the group to unite in terms of production power, so that the Southeast Asia region becomes the center of global growth.

* ASEAN member nations have a total population of around 650 million inhabitants, which represents an enormous potential, complemented by the fact that the bloc’s economies have consistently remained above the world average, he stressed.

* Widodo, who holds the presidency of the bloc, emphasized that many of the products consumed in the world, have their origin in the countries of this region, which can also be the epicenter of the production of highly competitive items such as televisions, batteries and electric vehicles.

* According to Indonesia’s Minister for Coordination of Economic Affairs, Edi Prio Pambudi, the region is attracting a lot of attention, and ASEAN will surely respond to the current global economic situation.

* ASEAN is an organization formed by the governments of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore in 1967.

Aim : To promote economic growth in the Southeast Asian region.

Source : Plenglish

Correct Answer :   Kiren Rijiju

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Union minister Kiren Rijiju aunching the trailer of the "first ever" movie in Tagin language of his home state Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday (6th May 2023).

* He said the film "Love in 90s" will be tax free and that he will ask the state government to promote it through other means as well.                       

* The film looks at displaying the culture of the Tagin community before the whole country and the world, Rijiju said while urging people to watch it.    

* Reminiscing about the 90s, the law minister said, "Life was very beautiful in those days. The young generation will enjoy the movie, but people from 90s who experienced love in those days will feel it."     

* He added that the National Institute of Film and Television coming up at Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh will promote the art and culture of the region.

* Director of the film, Tapen Natam, said he felt proud to be able to come from one of the remotest corners of the country to the national capital, and release the trailer of his movie thanks to Rijiju's help...

Source : Outlook India

Correct Answer :   May 8

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World Thalassaemia Day takes place on May 8 every year. It is dedicated to Thalassaemia patients who are battling an inherited disorder where the oxygen-carrying proteins in the blood are lesser than normal.

* In simpler words, the body fails to produce the required amount of haemoglobin. Hence, it is a day to create awareness regarding blood disease.

World Thalassaemia Day 2023 Theme : This year, the theme of International Thalassaemia Day is “Strengthening Education to Bridge the Thalassaemia Care Gap" which focuses on improving the skills and knowledge of the patients affected by the disease.

World Thalassaemia Day History : In 1994, World Thalassaemia Day was established and organized by the Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF), a non-profit organisation which was founded in 1986 by Mr Panos Englezos, Thalassaemia patients and their parents who represented the National Thalassaemia Association in the UK, USA, Greece, Italy and Cyprus. The day was first observed in memory of Mr Panos’ son, George, who had died from the disease.

World Thalassaemia Day Significance : It creates awareness about the disease among people, healthcare workers, and policymakers, and focuses on its prevention, treatment, and management. Several organizations and global communities work together to make Thalassemia treatment available to every affected person...

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   May 8

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World Red Cross Day is also known as Red Crescent Day is celebrated on May 8 every year to honor the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, who founded the Red Cross and was awarded the first Nobel Peace Prize.

He was born on May 8, 1828. This day recognises the significant contributions of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement toward providing humanitarian services to individuals regardless of their race, religion, or political beliefs.

A variety of events, fundraisers, and awareness campaigns are held around the world to honor the humanitarian work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement on World Red Cross Day. The day serves as an opportunity to acknowledge the organization's significance and honor the millions of volunteers worldwide who have dedicated their time and resources to helping those in need.

World Red Cross Day 2023 Theme : The theme of World Red Cross Day 2023 is ‘Everything we do comes #fromtheheart’.

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, is a time to celebrate the spirit of humanitarianism and recognise the individuals who make a difference in their communities.

World Red Cross Day History : The first Red Cross Day was celebrated on May 8, 1948. During World War II, the Tokyo proposal came into effect in 1946.

The Board of Governors of the League of Red Cross Societies (LORCS), which later became the General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross Societies, suggested the possibility of annual celebrations.

Two years later the proposal of celebrating annually World Red Cross Day was adopted on 8 May 1948, the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross. As of 1984, the event is officially known as "World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day"..

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   Rajasthan

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After Jammu and Kashmir, lithium reserves have been traced in Rajasthan's Degana district , according to officials it is said that lithium reserves are higher than the ones recently found in Jammu and Kashmir.

* Officials have even alleged that the quantity of lithium here can meet around 80% of India's demand. For the first time, lithium reserves were found in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi in February 2023.

* This was the first significant mineral discovery in India, as previously only a small reserve had been discovered in Karnataka. It attributes the discovery to the mines ministry's new focus on rare earth.

* Since lithium is a key component of batteries used in electric vehicles, the government is searching for rare metal reserves both within and outside the country.

* Apart from GSI, a consortium of three Public-sector Undertaking companies – National Aluminium Company, Hindustan Copper, and Mineral Exploration Corp – is working to provide a vehicle for research & development for recycling, acquisition, and also joint manufacturing of Lithium-ion batteries.

* Lithium reserves are concentrated in the lithium triangle in South America – Argentina, Bolivia & Chile, with 50% of the deposits concentrated in these regions. China, meanwhile, has the lead over other countries and China controls 75% of Lithium refining.

* India's plan to increase EV penetration by 30% by 2030 relies heavily on lithium - as of now, only a little more than 1% of all vehicle sales in the country are electric vehicles.

* A lithium battery is the only alternative for electric vehicles since it has a high power-to-weight ratio, enabling it to provide a large charge while keeping the vehicle's curb weight low. It is more energy efficient and performs better at a wide range of temperatures. This makes it a safer, more reliable method than other materials..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   G Kishan Reddy

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* Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy has inaugurated a PM Jan Aushadhi Kendra at Warasiguda in Secunderabad 7th May 2023.

* Mr Reddy said these Jan Aushadhi Kendras provide affordable healthcare and generate self-employment opportunities for youth.

* He said the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi scheme has been launched to make quality generic medicines available to the common man at low cost.

* He said medicines are available at 50-90 percent lower prices in Janausadhi Kendras than the rates found in regular medical shops. The Union Minister said that there is no compromise on the quality of medicines even if they are given at a low price..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Rajnath Singh

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Monday (8th May 2023) inaugurated the nation’s first Indian Air Force Heritage Centre in Chandigarh’s Sector 18.

* Spread across 17,000 sqft at the Government Press Building, the heritage centre highlights the IAF’s role in various wars. It houses five vintage aircraft and will provide visitors with cockpit exposure and an experience with flight simulators.

* It also houses the first IAF-made patent aircraft Air Force ‘Kanpur-1 Vintage Prototype Aircraft’, a single-engine indigenous flying machine designed and built by the late Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh in 1958 at Base Repair Depot Kanpur.

* Singh is accompanied by Chandigarh Union Territory (UT) Administrator Banwarilal Purohit, Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, Member of Parliament (MP) Kirron Kher and other officers of the administration.

* A souvenir shop equipped with the IAF’s memorial and scale models has been set up at the centre. A theme-based cafe will also be operational for the public.

* The Defence Minister, who is on a one-day visit to Chandigarh, will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for a few other projects in the city as well.

* A beautiful one-foot wall that has pictures of 58 vintage and retired aircraft will serve as a visual treat to visitors..

Source : Indian Express