Correct Answer :   Raman Research Institute (RRI)

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Raman Research Institute (RRI) has joined hands with the Indian Navy to develop secure maritime communications using quantum technologies.

* The Bengaluru-based institute inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Weapons and Electronics Systems Engineering Establishment (WESEE), the R&D establishment of the Indian Navy, last week.

* RRI said that the MoU is five years, and under this agreement, RRI’s Quantum Information and Computing (QuIC) lab will lead the research efforts towards developing quantum key distribution techniques that the Indian Navy could leverage in the nation’s efforts towards securing free space communications.

* Professor Urbasi Sinha, Group Head, QuIC lab, said, “This is a great opportunity for us to use indigenously developed science and technology knowledge to serve our nation. We are excited about the collaboration and believe that with our expertise in the domain of secure quantum communications, we will be able to help foster cutting-edge research towards identification of potential maritime use-cases for the Indian Navy.”

* This lab has been leading the country’s research in the field of secure quantum communication. Some of its major achievements include the development of an end-to-end simulation toolkit named “qkdSim”, ensuring safety in communication platforms; establishing secure communication, both between two buildings and, more recently, between a stationary source and a mobile receiver..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Rajasthan

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat Express train on April 12, 2023.

* It is the world’s first semi-high-speed passenger train on high-rise overhead electric (OHE) territory.

* It will make its inaugural journey between Jaipur and Delhi Cantt railway stations.

* It will operate between Ajmer and Delhi Cantt, with stops at Jaipur, Alwar, and Gurgaon.

* It will complete the Ajmer-Delhi Cantt journey in 5 hours and 15 minutes..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Rajnath Singh

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* Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated a three-day International Conference on Defence Finance and Economics in New Delhi on April 12, 2023.

* Through this platform, policymakers, academicians and government officials can share their insights and experiences on Defence Finance and Economics for evolving security challenges.

* Delegates from the USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Kenya will participate in the conference..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Tamil Nadu

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The Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Monday (10th April 2023) approved a long-pending Bill to ban online gambling, which includes online rummy and poker with stakes in the State.

* The legislation, called the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill, also seeks to regulate online gaming including fantasy sports which may now need vetting by a multi-member committee, Justice K Chandru, retired Madras High Court judge who led the four-member committee tasked with giving recommendations on online gambling in the state.

* Across party lines, there was consensus to ban these games in the state, Chandru said. He added that for all other online games, including fantasy sports, a Committee will be set up to look individually into the companies and determine if they need to be regulated or banned.

* Malay Kumar Shukla, Secretary, E-Gaming Federation, said, “We are examining the legislation and shall be taking appropriate action based on legal advice in due course of time.”

* The Central government on Thursday (11th April 2023) released new rules for online gaming that entail a framework of multiple self-regulatory organisations (SROs) for the sector, while prohibiting any game that involves betting and wagering..

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   12 April 2023

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Keshub Mahindra, India's oldest billionaire and chairman emeritus of Mahindra & Mahindra, passed away on Wednesday (12 April 2023) aged 99.

* Mahindra had a net worth of $1.2 billion, according to Forbes. After retiring from his position as Chairman, Mahindra Group, on August 9, 2012, he handed over the reins to his nephew, Anand Mahindra.

* During the 48 years of his chairmanship, the Mahindra Group expanded from being an automobile manufacturer to other business segments like IT, real estate, financial services and hospitality. He played key roles in forging business alliances with global majors such as the Willys Corporation, Mitsubishi, International Harvester, United Technologies, British Telecom and many others.

* Mahindra graduated from Wharton, University of Pennsylvania, USA. Born on October 9, 1923 in Shimla, he joined the Mahindra & Mahindra Group in 1947 and became the Chairman in 1963.

* He has also served on several Boards and Councils in both the private and public domain, including SAIL, Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals, Indian Hotels, IFC and ICICI. Mr. Mahindra was also the Founder Chairman of HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited); Vice-Chairman of Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd; Chairman Mahindra Ugine Steel Co. Ltd; Director of Bombay Dyeing & Manufacturing Co. Ltd. and Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Limited.

Born : 9 October 1923, Shimla
Died : 12 April 2023

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   Himachal Pradesh

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Himachal Pradesh's economy is largely banking on agriculture and animal husbandry. With a livestock population of about 4.41 million, their care is an essential part of every rural household.

* For them, the state government has launched a project named Sanjeevani that helps in empowering the livelihood of small dairy farmers and livestock owners.

* It will enhance the lives of farmers by providing them convenient and quality care for livestock at their doorsteps. Telemedicine and technology will help reducing the turnaround time of services and also arrest outbreaks to one extent.

* For this a collaboration was signed by the Animal Husbandry Department with Bharat Financial Inclusion Ltd. (BFIL), a subsidiary of IndusInd Bank.

* The collaboration under National Animal Disease Control Programme-Mobile Veterinary Van (NADCP-AHD-MVU) will enhance the delivery of livestock care at doorsteps at just a phone call. The toll-free telephone number will be operational soon, an official statement said.

* The government is ensuring that livestock is provided quality treatment in a time-bound manner, and the farmer is saved of additional expenses like traveling to the point of care for availing quality medicines and veterinary services like artificial insemination, medicines, vaccination, surgery and infertility testing..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh

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* Jharkhand High Court judge Aparesh Kumar Singh was appointed as the Chief Justice of Tripura High Court on Tuesday (11th April 2023).

* The President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, Judge of the Jharkhand High Court, to be the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court with effect from the date he assumes charge from the offic.

* Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh replaced Justice T Amarnath Goud, who was the acting chief justice of Tripura High Court since last November..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Ratnakar Patnaik

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Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), the country's largest insurer, on Tuesday (11th April 2023) announced the appointment of Ratnakar Patnaik as its new Chief Investment Officer (CIO), effective from April 10, 2023.

* Patnaik, a seasoned insurance professional, has been with LIC since September 1990 when he joined as a Direct Recruit Officer. He holds a major in Physics and is a fellow of the Insurance Institute of India.

* During his 32-year-long career at LIC, Patnaik has worked across four zones, mostly in marketing assignments. He has headed the Indore and Jamshedpur divisions as Senior Divisional Manager and served as Regional Manager (CLIA) in the Eastern Zone for three years.

* He was promoted as Chief (Investment – Front Office) and joined the Central Office in May 2021.

* The outgoing CIO, P R Mishra, has been transferred and posted to another assignment.

* His appointment as CIO of LIC is expected to strengthen the insurer's investment strategy and add value to the corporation's financial operations.
Patnaik strongly believes in team work and has empathetic people sense. Has interest in sports, movies and books..

Source : CNBC

Correct Answer :   Aam Aadmi Party

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* The Election Commission of India (ECI) has granted the national party status to Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

* AAP was recognized as a state party in the NCT of Delhi.

* While ECI has withdrawn the national party status of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Communist Party of India (CPI).

* Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has received recognition as a state party in Nagaland.

* Tipra Motha Party got recognition as a state party in Tripura..

Source : Times Now News

Correct Answer :   South Korea

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South Korea's anti trust regulator has fined Alphabet Inc.’s Google 42.1 billion won ($32 million) for blocking its rival from releasing video games.

* Korea’s Fair Trade Commission said that the company is using its clout in the mobile app market to squeeze out a rival.

* Google, reportedly tried to block Korean platform rival One Store Co.’s business development. It allegedly asked Korea’s major game companies including NCSoft Corp. and Netmarble Corp., as well as smaller firms and Chinese companies, to exclusively release their new games in Google’s Play Store, in return for Google promoting their games and providing further support abroad.

* Game makers affected by Google's action include Netmarble , Nexon and NCSOFT, as well as other smaller companies, the antitrust regulator added.

* Such actions by Google began in June 2016, when One Store started in Korea and continued through April 2018, when the watchdog launched the probe, the regulator said.

* Those activities hindered One Store’s ability to attract new games and resulted in a drop in sales during the period, it said. Google earned around 1.8 trillion won in sales through this activity, the FTC estimated.

* Google’s “actions differ from normal marketing activities," Yu Seong Wook, director general for the commission’s Anti-Monopoly Bureau, said at a briefing as reported by Bloomberg.  “Google’s intention was to exclude One Store from the market, which it saw as a strong competitor."

* The Korean regulator has ordered Google LLC, Google Korea, Google Asia Pacific to cease offering support to mobile game companies in exchange for promises of exclusivity..

Source : Mint