Correct Answer :   Mumbai

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Mumbai has overtaken Delhi to become the world’s second-most polluted city in terms of the global Air Quality Index (AQI).

* According to Switzerland-based air quality monitoring tech company IqAir, Sarajevo in Bosnia has been ranked as the world's most polluted city for the period between January 29 and February 8, 2023.  

* As per the AQI data on the IqAir website, Mumbai has an AQI of 163, which falls under the unhealthy category.

* Lahore is in the third position. Delhi is in the sixth spot with 155 US AQI, while Kolkata is in the 17th position with a US AQI of 135.

* As per past records of IqAir, Mumbai at the 10th position on the most polluted list on January 29.

* It rose to the top on 2nd February 2023, following which the air quality improved marginally around February 8, 2023.

* But on 13th February 2023, it surpassed Delhi to become the second most polluted city in the world for air quality.

* IQAir has joined hands with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Greenpeace to measure the air quality in India. Its studies are based on data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).  

Why Mumbai’s air quality is falling :

During the peak winter months of November to January in 2022-23, air quality in India’s financial hub, Mumbai, has noticeably fallen due to various factors.

Experts have blamed the dust due to roads and construction activities and smoke from vehicles for the high pollution levels in Mumbai.

A 2020 study by NEERI and IIT-B has stated that road or construction dust is the main source of air pollution in Mumbai as there is a heavy concentration (about 71 per cent) of the particulate matter in Mumbai's air. The remaining comes from industrial and power units, airports, and garbage dumps..

Source : Business Today

Correct Answer :   EbixCash

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EbixCash Limited, a subsidiary of US-based Ebix Inc, has become the first company in India to launch and enable Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions for foreign nationals visiting India.

* On 8th February 2023, the RBI proposed permitting inbound travellers access to UPI for merchant payments (P2M) while they are in the country.

* The facility will initially be extended to travellers from G-20 countries arriving at select international airports and later across all other entry points.

* The central bank had also recently allowed non-resident Indians, who have international mobile numbers linked to their NRE/NRO accounts, to use the UPI network when in India.

* “As a part of that initiative, EbixCash has become the first entity to enable UPI services for foreign delegates attending the G-20 summit. EbixCash will carry out a pilot launch shortly in Bangalore at the G-20 summit, involving dignitaries from across the world”.

* EbixCash World Money is the foreign exchange division of EbixCash and has a network of over 81 retail branches, 250 franchisee partners and duty-free shops, 27 bank clients, 1,200 corporate clients and 5-star hotels.

* It is a leading player in India’s airport and seaport Money Exchange business with retail kiosks in 20 international airports, and 12 seaports. Ebix Inc is a leading international supplier of on-demand software and e-commerce services to the insurance, financial, healthcare and e-learning industries...

Source : The Hindu Businessline

Correct Answer :   Singapore

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For the first time, the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry has partnered with the Government of Uttar Pradesh for economic cooperation.

* A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the two parties. This agreement is in addition to the signed deals at the UP Global Investors Summit.

* Under this, the governments of Singapore and Uttar Pradesh have taken up urban development, and sustainability and will cooperate in areas of mutual interest including the development industry and skill development.

* The agreement also includes a Sustainable Industrial Park, upgradation and digitization of MSMEs, content development, training pedagogy (pedagogy training), training of trainers, certification as well as training of government officials.

* Singaporean companies and 58 delegates participated in the UP Global Investors Summit held in Lucknow from February 10 to February 12 , 2023.

* Countries including Singapore, Japan, Netherlands and Denmark have also joined UP Global Investors Summit as partner countries..

Source : NDTV

Correct Answer :   14 February 2023

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Veteran actor Javed Khan Amrohi passed away due to lung failure at a hospital in Mumbai on Tuesday, 14 February 2023. He was in his early 70s.

* Amrohi was known for his work in several Bollywood films like Lagaan, Andaz Apna Apna, Chak De! India, Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke, Laadla, and Ishq, among many others.

* He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2001 for the film 'Lagaan'.

* He worked in about 150 movies including Andaz Apna Apna (1994), and Chak De! India (2007).

* He also worked in TV series such as Mirza Ghalib (directed by Gulzar) and Karim (the barber) in Nukkad (directed by Saeed Akhtar Mirza).

* He was also a member of the acting faculty at the Zee Institute of Media Arts..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Uttar Pradesh

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Asian Waterbird Census conducted in the "Saman Bird sanctuary" revealed that there has been a decline in the number of migratory bird species from North Asia and Central Asia.

* The Saman Bird Sanctuary in the Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh is a seasonal oxbow lake on the Ganges floodplain.

* It is designated as Ramasar wetland in 2019.

* The Sanctuary regularly provides refuge to over 50,000 waterbirds.

* Spread in an area of 500 hectare, the Saman Bird Sanctuary is a unique sanctuary located in the Mainpuri district includes several smaller wetlands - ideal habitat for water birds.

* It's one among 467 IBA Sites in the country (Important Bird & Biodiversity Area) designated by the Birdlife International having rich birdlife diversity and also is an important wintering site for many migrants.

* This year (2023) several migratory birds which come under IUCN threatened classification were recorded. A decrease in the number and species of migratory birds was recorded during the recent Asian Waterbird Census (AWC), 2023, carried out at the newly designated Ramsar site - Saman Bird Sanctuary in Mainpuri...

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   1 Only

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To empower youth by providing them entry level skill training in Railway Training Institutes, “Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana” (RKVY) has been notified on Indian Railways.

* Banaras Loco Works, Varanasi has been nominated as the nodal PU for coordinating / organizing the skill development program under RKVY.

* The training has commenced in September, 2021 on pan- India basis. So far, 23,181 candidates have been enrolled under RKVY and 15,665 candidates have completed their training successfully.

* Under this scheme, the training is imparted in fourteen (14) industry relevant technical trades such as Electrician, Welder, Machinist, Fitter etc.

* At 94 training locations which are generally spread across more than one State/ Union Territory including remote locations spread over Indian Railways.

* The candidates from any part of the country can join this training. The training is provided free of cost to the candidates. A dedicated website has been developed for monitoring RKVY.

* There is no provision of providing employment under this scheme. However, this scheme is a skill development programme for the unemployed youths of India to impart technical training in various trades to enhance their employability and entrepreneurship...

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Arunachal Pradesh

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The Apatanis, one of the major ethnic groups of the eastern Himalayas, practise a distinctive form of agriculture where rice and fish are grown together.

* These farmers have been practising integrated rice-fish farming in their mountain terraces of Arunachal Pradesh since the 1960s.

* The potential areas of rice-fish culture in the Apatani plateau are Napping, Yachuli, Ziro-II, Palin and Koloriang.

* Apatanis principally use three rice varieties : Emeo, Pyape and Mypia.

* The total area of the Apatani Plateau is 10,135 square kilometres, where rice-fish culture is undertaken approximately in 592.0 hectares (ha) of irrigated rice lands out of 715.7 ha.

* Apatani Plateau is a land of diverse cultures.

* The major festivals of Apatanis are the Myoko, Dree, Yapung and Murung. People here believe that these traditional festivals ensure better productivity and well-being.

* Apatani Plateau has a climate ranging from humid subtropical to temperate. So, this plateau receives adequate rainfall during the summer season.

* The permeability and water-retaining capacity of the clayey, loamy soil favour this unique farming technique.

* This integrated rice-fish cultivation is a low-input and eco-friendly practice. The stocked fish practically depend on the natural food sources of the rice fields and thus, farmers hardly need to use any supplementary fish feeds.

* The farmers sometimes use household and agricultural wastes and excreta of domestic animals like pigs, cows, mithun (Bos frontalis) and goats to make farming more sustainable and organic...

Source : Down to Earth

Correct Answer :   Both 1 and 2

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The Central Government listed 7 priorities – called ‘Saptarishi’ in Budget 2023- inclusive development, Last mile delivery, Infrastructure, Green growth, Youth power, Unleashing potential, and Financial inclusion.

Key Initiatives under Youth Power :

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 :

* It will be launched to skill lakhs of youth within the next three years.

* The scheme will emphasize on-job training, industry partnership, and alignment of courses with the needs of the industry.

* The scheme will also cover new-age courses for Industry 4.0, like coding, Artificial Intelligence, robotics, mechatronics, IOT, 3D printing, drones, and soft skills.

What is Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana?

* It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) implemented by the National Skill Development Corporation.

* Objective : To enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood.

* Under the scheme, individuals with prior learning experience or skills will also be assessed and certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)...

Source : DNA India

Correct Answer :   February 15

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The world celebrates International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) every year on February 15. The Childhood Cancer International, a federation of numerous parent-founded child cancer support groups, was established that day.

International Childhood Cancer Day Theme 2023 : The International Childhood Cancer Day campaign will run for three years, starting in 2021 and ending in 2023.

* The theme for the three-year campaign is ‘Better Survival’.

* The campaign is a component of the attempt to meet the WHO Global Childhood Cancer Initiative's objective goal of at least 60% of children diagnosed with cancer worldwide surviving by 2030.

International Childhood Cancer Day History : In 1994, Childhood Cancer International was founded. It is the world's biggest organisation for pediatric cancer patient support. The organisation is made up of more than 170 different groups, including parent organisations, associations for children with cancer survivors, support groups for children with cancer, and cancer societies. Childhood Cancer International established International Childhood Cancer Day as a yearly celebration in 2002.

International Childhood Cancer Day Significance : The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 400 000 children and teenagers are diagnosed with cancer each year. International Childhood Cancer Day is marked to increase awareness of the disease and offer support for the families of those children who have cancer. This is also a day to honour all the kids whose lives were taken by cancer.

Organizations and people join forces on this day to raise awareness of the value of early detection. One of the best strategies to lower the death rate from children's cancer is early diagnosis..

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   Kerala

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The monthly stipend scheme mandating payment of Rs. 3000 per month for junior lawyers in "Kerala" was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday (11th Feb 2023).

* The scheme promises a monthly stipend of Rs. 3,000 for junior lawyers in the State.

* Lawyers below 30 years of age with less than three year of practice and an annual income less than Rs. 1 lakh are eligible for the stipend.

* The event was organised by the Bar Council of Kerala and the Kerala Advocates' Welfare Fund Trust Committee. Justice S. Manikumar, Kerala High Court Chief Justice, was the Chief Guest of the event.

* The Kerala Government had declared the stipend scheme in a government order issued on 24.06.2022.

* The order was issued considering the Kerala Advocates' Stipend Rules notified by the State Bar Council in 2021 which stipulate that the stipend to lawyers may be disbursed from the Fund by the Trustee Committee on a monthly basis or at such intervals as decided by the Trustee Committee and shall be paid into the bank account of the applicant.

* Section 9 of the Kerala Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 1980 enables the Trustee Committee to provide monthly stipends to junior lawyers. The stipend is to be disbursed out of the Advocates Welfare Fund constituted under the Act...

Source : Livelaw