Correct Answer :   Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

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The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Engineers India Limited to develop Waste to Energy and bio-methanation projects in cities with a population of million plus as a part of furthering the ‘Green Growth’ agenda.

* The MoU was signed in the presence of Manoj Joshi, Secretary, MoHUA and Vartika Shukla, C&MD, EIL.

* The thrust on sustainable solid waste management is strengthened under the ambit of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, with the overall vision of creating garbage-free cities.

* Focusing on this objective, the ministry has decided to set up large-scale solid waste processing facilities in million plus cities.

* There are 59 million plus cities in India and for management of organic/wet fraction of municipal solid waste bio-methanation plants have been proposed in these million plus cities.

* Waste to Energy and bio-methanation projects will integrate the concept of circularity in waste management by producing green energy from dry and wet waste component of municipal solid waste.

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   Bal Mitra

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The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) launched its WhatsApp chatbot on Wednesday with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, terming it an important initiative to make governance citizen-friendly.

The chatbot, called ‘Bal Mitra’, is an effort to enable two-way communication between people and the child rights panel.

The chatbot will help citizens and the commission to interact more effectively.

Featues of Bal Mitra : Some of the features of the chatbot include complaint registration, searching information and tracking complaint status, and seeking information on admissions, among others.

“Good governance involves timely nudges and DCPCR ‘Bal Mitra’ will help us make our governance more effective. It will eliminate the gap of information between the government and citizens.”..

Source : The Print

Correct Answer :   Goa

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The government of Goa has launched the "Vision for All School Eye Health" program in partnership with OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and Prasad Netralaya.

* The programme is an extension of the current Vision for All Goa eye health program.

* The Vision for All Goa eye health program commenced in February 2021 and its monthly camps have screened 50,000 citizens as well as provided free spectacles to 16,000 people in need.

* The Vision for All School Eye Health will focus on training 2000 teachers on basic visual acuity tests for the children in their respective schools, followed by detailed refraction by qualified professionals from Prasad Netralaya.

* OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation has committed to providing 25,000 free spectacles to children identified with refractive error.

* Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, informed that Identification and addressing eye health issues among children at the early stage itself is very critical and important to stop the further progression.

* In this direction, the Government of Goa is organizing a training program for schoolteachers to identify eye health problems among children and refer them for further treatment.

* The trained teachers will further compulsorily do basic visual acuity tests for every child before the start of the academic year...

Source : The Print

Correct Answer :   2nd February 2023

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Legendary filmmaker and Dadasaheb Phalke awardee K. Viswanath passed away in Hyderabad around midnight Thursday (2nd February 2023). He was 92.

* Viswanath was unwell for some time and was suffering from age-related issues.

* Popularly known as Kalatapasvi, Viswanath was born in 1930 in Andhra Pradesh and gained popularity in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films.

* A prominent name not just in Telugu cinema but also in Tamil and Hindi films, he became the 48th recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke award, the highest recognition in Indian cinema. He was conferred with the award for the year 2016.

* Viswanath, who started his journey as a sound artiste, directed award-winning films such as "Sankarabharanam", "Sagara Sangamam", "Swati Mutyam", "Saptapadi", "Kaamchor", "Sanjog" and "Jaag Utha Insaan" in his long career that included an equally successful stint in front of the camera.

* Viswanath, who made 50 movies since 1965, was a celebrated filmmaker in the Telugu film industry. He had also been active in Tamil and Hindi cinema.

* He debuted as a director with "Aatma Gowravam", which starred Akkineni Nageswara Rao and won the Nandi Award for the best feature film.

* The filmmaker followed it with "Chelleli Kapuram", "O Seeta Katha", "Jeevana Jyoti" and "Sarada".

* Viswanath also ventured into mainstream acting, working in movies like "Swarabhishekam" (which he directed as well), "Pandurangadu", "Narasimha Naidu", "Lakshmi Narasimha" and "Seemasimham", "Kuruthipunal", "Kakkai Siraginilae" and "Bagavathi", among others.

Awards : His Padma Shri in 1992, 5 National Awards, 20 Nandi Awards (given by the Andhra Pradesh government) and 10 Filmfare trophies including the Lifetime Achievement award.

Born : 19 February 1930, Repalle, Andhra Pradesh

Died : 2 February 2023

Source : NDTV

Correct Answer :   Ladakh

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The Biodiversity Management Committee, the panchayat of Chumathang village, along with SECURE Himalaya Project recently resolved to declare "Yaya Tso" as Ladakh’s first biodiversity heritage site (BHS) under the Biological Diversity Act.

Yaya Tso, known as birds' paradise for its beautiful lake located at an altitude of 4,820 metres, has been proposed as Ladakh’s first biodiversity heritage site (BHS).

The resolution was signed after multiple rounds of consultations between the village stakeholders and SECURE Himalaya project to declare the high-altitude lake and its catchment as a biodiversity heritage site.

The Secure Himalaya project is funded by the Global Environment Facility.

The proposed Yaya Tso site will have an approximate area of 60 square kilometers, which will also include the lake’s watershed, they said, adding Yaya Tso is among the most beautiful lakes in Ladakh...

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   Nagaland

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Nagaland government and Patanjali Foods Ltd have signed a MoU for development and area expansion under palm oil cultivation and processing for Zone-II (Mokokchung, Longleng and Mon districts) of Nagaland under the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm  (NMEO-OP).    

* The MoU was signed by the Director of Agriculture, Nagaland, M Ben Yanthan, and Patanjali Foods Ltd Head-NE Region, Oil Palm Subhas Bhattacharjee at the Directorate of Agriculture, Kohima on 31st January 2023.

* According to  Patanjali Foods Ltd, the signing of MoU with the Government of Nagaland will certainly bring a big boost for the oil palm growers in the state of Nagaland and the region.

* Patanjali Foods Ltd is already working in the states of Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Tripura in the North East...

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Australia

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The Reserve Bank of Australia has announced that it will remove the portrait of the British monarchy, Queen Elizabeth II from its A $5 banknotes.

* The new currency notes of the $5 would feature an Indigenous design rather than an image of King Charles III.

* The other side of the note will continue to feature the Australian Parliament.

* King Charles III, who became British monarch, is the head of state in Australia, NZ, and 12 other Commonwealth realms outside the UK...

Source : nbcbayarea

Correct Answer :   February 2

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World wetlands day is observed on February 2 every year with an aim to raise global awareness about the crucial role of wetlands for people and the planet.

World Wetlands Day 2023 Theme : The theme of World Wetlands Day 2023 is “It's Time for Wetlands Restoration,”.  It highlights the urgent need to prioritize wetland restoration.

World Wetlands Day History : World wetlands day marks the date of the adoption of the convention on wetlands on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, a city in Iran.

World Wetlands Day Significance : Wetlands play a critical role in supporting a wide range of biodiversity and maintaining many natural cycles. It plays an important role in water purification and flood control, provides a habitat for the diverse plant as well as animal species, and supports local livelihoods.

The day educates people and creates awareness among the public about the restoration of vital ecosystems like wetlands on a global level...

Source : Zeebiz

Correct Answer :   Sheikh Hasina

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The biggest book fair of Bangladesh 'Ekushey Boi Mela’ was inaugurated in Dhaka on Wednesday (1st February 2023) by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

* It is for the first time after three years that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the book-fair in person at the Bangla Academy venue.

The theme of 2023 book fair : The Theme is ‘Poro Boi, Goro Desh: Bangbandhur Bangladesh’- Read books, build the country, a country of Bangabandhu’s dream.

* The month-long book fair is being organised on the grounds of the historic Suhrawardy Udyan and the Bangla Academy.

* More than 900 stalls have been allotted to 601 organisations on both the venues. A total of 38- pavilions have also been allocated this year.

* Prime Minister Hasina also unwrapped seven books on the occasion including a compilation of books written by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman  and a few others on the life and work of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

* Sheikh Hasina also distributed the Bangla Academy Award 2022 in recognition of the literary works in Bangla.

* Ekushey Book Fair started in 1972 to commemorate the sacrifices of people killed by Pakistani forces on 21 February 1952 demanding Bangla as the mother language for the then East Pakistan. It has been organised every year by the Bangla Academy since 1978...

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Australia

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The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade – Australian Government agency) has signed an MoU with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to collaborate on Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes.

* The MoU will focus on Australian training standards.

* Focus Areas :   automotive, allied health, mining, IT, cyber security, renewable energy, logistics, supply chain and water management.

* Austrade’s Australia-India Future Skills Initiative team in India will execute on these actions with CII.

* The Australia-India Future Skills Initiative (the Initiative) is the Australian Government’s flagship program to support India’s workforce and skills development through partnerships with Australian vocational education, training and skills providers...

Source : Economic Times