Correct Answer :   Anjali Sharma

---

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur has congratulated Anjali Sharma of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh for conquering Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, wearing Luanchari.

* Lunachari is traditional dress of Himachal Pradesh.

* Anjali Sharma is working to promote Gaddi culture on the peaks of the mountains.

* Earlier, at the age of 15, Anjali had conquered the peak of 5289 meters in the first attempt.

* She has also conquered Hanuman Tibba and Pahar Deo with a height of 6001 meters.

* Lunachari is a traditional dress of Himachal Pradesh.

About Mount Kilimanjaro :

* Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain and the world’s largest free-standing mountain.

* It is located in Tanzania, has an elevation of 5,895 meters (19,340 ft) and is the highest peak on the African continent.

* The mountain is a snow-capped volcano.

* It is made up of three cones : Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira.

* It was included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

* It is also called a stratovolcano (a term for a very large volcano made of ash, lava, and rock).

Correct Answer :   $5.98 Billion to $578.78 Billion

---

India's foreign exchange reserves rose $5.98 billion to $578.78 billion as on March 24, 2023, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data showed on Friday (31st April 2023).

* Data for the previous week showed that India's foreign exchange reserves rose to $572.8 billion, the highest level since early February.

* India's foreign currency assets (FCA), the biggest component of the forex reserves, saw a rise of $4.38 billion to $509.72 billion.

* India's gold reserves rose by $1.37 billion to $45.48 billion while SDRs and India's reserve position in the IMFs saw an increase of $18.41 million and $5.15 million each.

* At the start of the last year 2022, the overall forex reserves were at about $633 billion. Much of the decline can be attributed to RBI's recent intervention and a rise in the cost of imported goods.

* Indian rupee firmed against the dollar on Friday (31st April 2023) on likely fiscal year-end related inflows and strength in local equity markets. The rupee finished at 82.1650 per dollar, compared to its previous close of 82.3375.

* The currency halted a five-quarter long losing run with gains of 0.67%, while for the overall financial year it declined 7.8%, its biggest loss since 2020.

* Indian equities rallied 1.6% on the last day of the fiscal year, as most Asian shares rose and European stocks opened higher after fears over a wider banking crisis seemed to abate...

Source : Economic Times

Correct Answer :   France

---

France has invited PM Narendra Modi to visit Paris as a guest at the annual Bastille Day parade, which will be held in July 2023.

The PM and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to discuss several major agreements including those on the Indo-Pacific region, nuclear power, and defense, as the two countries mark the 25th year of their strategic partnership.

Earlier, Manmohan Singh was invited as the b Day parade guest in 2009.

About Bastille Day Parade :
 
* The Bastille Day military parade is a French military parade held on the morning of 14 July each year in Paris since 1880.

* It is one of the oldest regular military parades in the world.

* The fall of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 is widely regarded as the beginning of the French Revolution.

* The Bastille was a fortress prison located in the heart of Paris, which became a symbol of royal tyranny and oppression...

Source : The Hndu

Correct Answer :   Odisha

---

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik released Rs 877 crore to the accounts of over 43 lakh farmers through direct benefit transfer (DBT) mode on the occasion of Utkal Divas (1st April 2023).  

* The state government extended another round of funds to Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) for undertaking kharif operation.

* However, farmers of the by-election bound Jharsuguda district did not receive the KALIA benefit in view of the model code of conduct in force.

* Congratulating the farmers on the occasion of the formation of Odisha as a separate state, the chief minister said the development of the state is closely linked with the welfare of the farmers.

* While emphasising on crop diversification, the CM said the state government has taken host of measures for the development of agriculture sector. The need of the hour is farm mechanisation and use of modern technology to increase productivity and income of the farmers.

* In a bid to increase production of nutritious food, the state government has launched several grain-based schemes on mission mode. He advised the farming community to go for crop diversification in a big way.

* Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Ranendra Pratap Swain said the KALIA has made the farmers self-reliant and freed them from the clutches of private money lenders.The state government is providing financial assistance of Rs 4,000 in two instalments during kharif and rabi seasons to partly meet the input cost.

About KALIA scheme :

It was launched in December 2018.

Aim : To reduce poverty and accelerate agricultural prosperity.

Source : New Indian Express

Correct Answer :   3rd April 2023

---

Former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court Thottathil B Radhakrishnan passed away at a private hospital in Kochi early this morning (3rd April 2023). He was 63.

* Justice Radhakrishnan also served as the Chief Justice of Telangana, Hyderabad and Chattisgarh High Courts and was a  judge of the Kerala High Court.

* An expert in civil, constitutional and administrative matters, he also chaired the expert committee formed by the Kerala Forest Department to conduct field studies and record details of houses, commercial establishments and other structures that surround wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in the state...

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Reserve Bank of India

---

The Reserve Bank of India has appointed Neeraj Nigam as executive director, effective 3rd April 2023, the central bank said in a release.

* Prior to this, Nigam was heading the Bhopal office of the central bank as regional director.

* Nigam will oversee the departments of consumer education and security, financial inclusion and development, legal, and secretary in his capacity as executive director.

* In the RBI's central office as well as regional offices, Nigam has more than three decades of expertise in regulation and supervision, human resource management, property management, currency management, bank accounts, and other areas...

Source : Freepress Journal

Correct Answer :   Ron Malka

---

Adani Group on Monday (3rd April 2023) appointed Ron Malka, former envoy of Israel to India, as the Executive Chairman of the Haifa Port Company (HPC).

* A consortium of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) and Israel's Gadot Group won the tender in July last year to privatise the strategic Port of Haifa in Israel for USD 1.18 billion.

* Malka has shared the news on his Twitter handle and said that he has assumed charge as the Executive Chairman of the company.

* Malka served as the ambassador of Israel to India from 2018 to 2021.

* The Port of Haifa is the second largest port in Israel in terms of shipping containers and the biggest in shipping tourist cruise ships.

* The Adani Group officially took over the Israeli port in January this year at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials.

* Israel expects that the Adani Group's major entry into the country will lead to more Indian investments, especially in the fields of renewable energy and defence...

Source : Economic Times

Correct Answer :   April 2

---

World Autism day is observed annually on April 2 to promote awareness and advocacy for the rights of people with autism.

* This year (2023) marks the 16th anniversary of the day.

* World Autism day Theme 2023 : This year the theme is “Contribution of Autistic Individuals at Home, at Work, in the Arts, and Policymaking.”

* In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day, following a proposal put forward by the State of Qatar...

Source : UN

Correct Answer :   2nd April 2023

---

Salim Durani, the debonair India cricketer of the 1960s with a movie star looks, a puckish sense of humour, and a penchant for hitting monstrous sixes on demand, died on Sunday (2nd April 2023). He was 88.

* His death was confirmed by sources close to the family. He had been living with his younger brother, Jahangir Durani, in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

* Durani had undergone a proximal femoral nail surgery after he broke his thigh bone in a fall in January this year.

* The Kabul-born Durani, who packed a punch with his bat and was also a handy left-arm orthodox bowler, played 29 Tests and was instrumental in India defeating England 2-0 in the historic five-match Test series in 1961-62, picking up eight and 10 wickets in the team's victories at Calcutta and Madras.

* In the era of 1960-1973, Durani marked his presence with his pure ability to send the ball flying into the stands. He was an allrounder and had a unique ability to finish off the game either with the bat or with the ball. He was a part of India's successful victory against England in 1961-62.

* Durani capped off an impressive display by picking up eight wickets against the English team.

* In his illustrious career, Durani also picked up the wickets of one of the best cricketers like Clive Lloyd and Gary Sobers.

* With his slow left-arm orthodox bowling style Durani certainly knew how to increase the intensity in a game and add a touch of entertainment for the fans as well.

* The former Indian cricketer featured in 29 Test matches for team India and scored 1,202 runs with an average of 25.04. He also had a century and seven half-centuries in his career.

* With the ball, Durani picked up 75 wickets and 6/73 remained his best bowling figure in an inning. Once, when he was dropped for a test series, fans chanted slogans like "No Durrani, no Test."

* Durani, known for his fine dressing style and swagger, scored just one century though he had seven fifties in the 50 innings he played for the country, scoring 1,202 runs.

Born : 11 December 1934

Died : 2 April 2023.

Source : Mint

Correct Answer :   1st April 2023

---

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (1st April 2023) flagged off the Bhopal-Delhi Vande Bharat Express train in Madhya Pradesh capital.

* The Vande Bharat Express train service between Rani Kamlapati Railway Station in Madhya Pradesh and Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi.

* The train will cover a distance of 701 kilometres in 7 hours and 30 minutes and will operate on all days except Saturday (1st April 2023).

* It will stop at Veerangana Laxmibai Jhansi, Gwalior, and Agra.

* It is the country’s first semi-high speed train service, with a maximum speed of 160 km/h.

* The train was designed and manufactured in India, with 80% of its components being indigenous.

* It offers several amenities to passengers, such as Wi-Fi, automatic doors, bio-vacuum toilets, GPS-based passenger information systems, and more.
The train is also eco-friendly, as it uses regenerative braking systems to conserve energy.

* The introduction of the Vande Bharat Express is a significant step towards the modernization and improvement of the country’s railway infrastructure.