Correct Answer :   1 Only

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Recently, the world-famous Basohli Painting which is popular for its miniature art style from Kathua district of Jammu has obtained the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.

* Basholi paintings originated in the Basholi region of Jammu and Kashmir.

* It is a reputed school of miniature paintings known for its vivid, evocative colours, bold lines, and deep-set facial patterns.

* It is considered the first school of Pahari paintings.

Patronage : The Basholi painting style flourished during the 17th and 18th centuries under the patronage of local rulers and wealthy merchants.

Features of the Bisholi painting :

* It has peculiar characteristics, they have perfect geometrical patterns, bright colours and glossy enamel.

* Colours used : Ochre yellow, brown, and green grounds predominating.

* The figures in the paintings are shown clad in rich costumes, stylised faces and large bulging eyes lent unique individuality to these paintings.

* Themes : The portraits of local rulers, Radha-Krishna, and Madhava-Malati love themes and themes from the Bhagavata Purana.

* These are painted on paper, cloth, or wood using natural pigments and dyes...

Source : Times of India

Correct Answer :   Colombia

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Recently, People living on the upper slopes of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia are being evacuated after an increase in seismic activity.

* Nevado del Ruiz is an ice-clad stratovolcano located in the Andes Mountains of Colombia, South America.

* It is part of the former Ruiz-Tolima volcanic complex as well as the dangerous Pacific Ring of fire.

Previous eruption :

* The volcano has erupted several times in the past, with the most catastrophic eruption occurring on November 13, 1985.

* Since the 1985 eruption, has remained active, with several smaller eruptions occurring in the years following the disaster...

Source : BBC

Correct Answer :   Pacific Ocean

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* Recently, scientists photographed a snailfish swimming 8,336 meters below sea level near Japan, making it the deepest recorded fish ever caught on camera.

* Scientists dropped an autonomous "lander" camera into the Izu-Ogasawara Trench near Japan and filmed the snailfish.

* It is located in the western Pacific Ocean, on the boundary between the Philippine Sea Plate and the Pacific Plate.

* It is one of the most seismically active regions on Earth.

* The trench is formed by the Pacific Plate subducting beneath the Philippine Sea Plate...

Source : Science Alert

Correct Answer :   Kenichi Umeda

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Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt. Ltd. (SMIPL) on Tuesday, 4th April 2023, announced the appointment of Kenichi Umeda as its new Managing Director.

* Umeda replaces Satoshi Uchida, who has completed his term as Managing Director of the company.

* Umeda brings with him over 27 years of valuable industry experience across various global markets, the company informed through its official release. He will be responsible for further growing and strengthening Suzuki Motorcycle India’s position in the Indian and overseas markets.

* Commenting on his appointment, Kenichi Umeda said, "I am excited to take on this new role and lead Suzuki Motorcycle’s operations in one of the world's largest two-wheeler markets."

* India is an important market for Suzuki. Delivering innovative products and solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers has been the priority for Suzuki Motorcycle India since its inception. I am very excited to work with the talented team at Suzuki Motorcycle India and contribute to its growth story.

* According to Suzuki, Umeda has a unique style of leadership, a customer-centric business approach, and above all, he comes with renewed passion and commitment towards the brand Suzuki Motorcycle.

* The release says that the appointment of Kenichi Umeda as new Managing Director of Suzuki Motorcycle India reflects SMC's commitment to focus on the growth of India operations...

Source : Zeebiz

Correct Answer :   April 4

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International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is observed every year on April 4 to raise awareness against explosive mines and gather assistance towards their eradication.

The mine action community plays a significant role towards achieving the mine action goals and it is led by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).

International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance 2023 Theme : The United Nations Mine Action Service has chosen the theme “Mine Action Cannot Wait”, for this year’s campaign to highlight decades of problems faced in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam due to these explosives.

International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance History :

* In 1997, the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention was established for signature which first led the campaign against mines and 164 countries have ratified it since then.

* Later, on December 8, 2005, the UN General Assembly declared April 4 as the International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance for Mine Action every year globally.

* Since then the UNMAS has been working towards catering to the needs of the affected people and eliminating the threats of explosive hazards to civilians, humanitarians, and peacekeepers.

The UNMAS gets assistance from other organisations and states across the globe to help people affected by land mines.

International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance Significance :

* The celebration of International Day of Mine Awareness and Action aims to provide a world free of landmines and explosive remnants of war. This is to help individuals and communities survive in a safe environment where the needs of the victims are taken care of.

* The significance of the day is the establishment of an accountability framework for the United Nations and the introduction of the 'Theory of Change' of the UN in the mine action program.

* On this day, 12 UN Departments and Offices of the Secretariat, specialised agencies, funds, and programs come together to play a significant role in 30 countries and 3 territories to work on mine action programs...

Source : CNBC TV

Correct Answer :   28th March 2023

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The Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto — who wrote the haunting score to "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" and won an Oscar for 1987's "The Last Emperor" — has died aged 71.

* His management team announced that he died on 28th March 2023. He had been treated for cancer in recent years.

* Born 1952 in Tokyo, Japan, the composer enjoyed the music of The Beatles in his early years as well as classical greats like Bach.

* He played keyboard with the influential electronic act Yellow Magic Orchestra, a band he co-founded in 1978.

* The group would go on to enjoy international success, with its experimental use of synthesizers widely though to have shaped the emergence of genres including house and techno.
But Sakamoto was best known for his soundtrack work, which brought numerous awards.

* He wrote the score and starred alongside David Bowie in the 1983 film "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence." Four years later, he took home a Golden Globe and Oscar for best music for his score for the "The Last Emperor."

* He worked continuously until his later years, including the score for 2015 film "The Revenant." An album of music from the composer, curated by "The Revenant" director Alejandro González Iñárritu, is set to be released on May 5...

Born : 17 January 1952, Nakano City, Tokyo, Japan

Died : 28 March 2023, Tokyo, Japan

Source : CNN

Correct Answer :   Sudha Shivkumar

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Chennai-based Sudha Shivkumar took over as the 40th president of FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), the oldest women-led and women-centric business chamber of Southeast Asia, at the 39th annual session.

* Under her leadership, the FLO will carry out many interventions towards fostering larger contributions of women in India’s industrial and economic growth story, according to a statement.

* Ms. Shivkumar said her focus would be to transform the power of women’s voices into forward thinking economic initiatives by changing perceptions and influencing policies.

* She is a lawyer and investment banker by profession. At present, she is a director at her family run business focused on auto ancillaries. Ms. Shivkumar was the Chairperson of FLO Chennai Chapter in 2016-17...

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Bhutan

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Bhutan king "Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck" on Monday (3rd April 2023) arrived in India for a two-day visit.

* He was welcomed by Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, who received him at the airport.

* The king will hold talks with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (4th April 2023).

* Bhutan holds strategic importance for India and the defence and security ties between the two countries have seen significant growth in the last few years..

Source : Deccan Herald

Correct Answer :   ₹35,012 Crore

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Public sector banks (PSBs) have transferred unclaimed deposits of ₹35,012 crore as of February 2023 to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad informed the Lok Sabha on Monday (3rd April 2023).

* “As per information available with the RBI, as of the end of February 2023, the total amount of unclaimed deposits transferred to RBI by PSBs in respect of deposits which have not been operated for 10 years or more was ₹35,012 crore," Karad said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

* SBI tops the list with an unclaimed amount of ₹8,086 crore, while Punjab National Bank has ₹5,340 crore and Canara Bank has ₹4,558 crore. These unclaimed deposits belong to 10.24 crore accounts transferred to the RBI.

* To a question that if SBI officials do not assist/extend any help to the family of deceased and even they do not contact the family who have submitted death certificates of deceased, the minister said, the bank provides help to family of the deceased in settling all cases of claims...

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   Bahrain

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Bahrain has taken a significant step towards incentivizing investments and job creation by launching a new initiative, the Golden Licence.

* The Golden Licence is designed to provide streamlined services and benefits to local and foreign businesses with large-scale investment projects in Bahrain.

* This initiative is a testament to Bahrain's growing investment attractiveness, as the country has recently achieved its highest real GDP growth rate in almost ten years.

* Companies with significant strategic projects and investments exceeding US$50 million or those creating more than 500 jobs in Bahrain will be eligible for the Licence.

* The Golden Licence offers various benefits, including prioritized land allocation for investments, infrastructure services, utilities, and streamlined access to government services like business licensing and building permit approval, as well as support from Tamkeen and Bahrain Development Bank.

* This initiative was introduced by Bahrain's Cabinet, chaired by Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Aim : To attract local and international investments to create job opportunities, in line with Bahrain's Economic Recovery Plan.

* Under the Licence, companies will enjoy integrated cooperation with different government departments and a designated account manager from Bahrain's Economic Development Board. There may also be a review of existing laws and regulations where necessary and applicable.

* The Golden Licence is an essential step for Bahrain's fiscal and economic reforms to attract and incentivize investments that promote job creation and contribute to the country's economic growth where Indians constitute the country's largest expatriate groups with a population of 350,000..

Source : AIR