Correct Answer :   8 February 2023

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Legendary American pop composer, songwriter, and pianist, Burt Bacharach, passed away in Los Angeles on Wednesday (8 February 2023). He was 94.

* Bacharach died of natural causes, according to his publicist, Tina Brausman.

* The veteran musician was known for creating some unforgettable melodies like 'Walk on By,' 'Do You Know the Way to San Jose,' 'I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,' 'Alfie' and 'I Say a Little Prayer' among many others.

* Bacharach had won several accolades, including eight Grammys and three Oscars. Besides, he had also received two Golden Globes and a lifetime achievement prize. Bacharach penned nine number-one songs and nearly 50 Top 100 singles.

* Over the course of his long career, Bacharach collaborated with several stars, including Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, and Tom Jones. He had also collaborated with the White Stripes and gone on tour with Marlene Dietrich.

* The 94-year-old musician is survived by his wife Jane and three children. His fourth child, Nikki, predeceased him.

Born : 12 May 1928, Kansas City, Missouri, United States

Died : 8 February 2023, Los Angeles, California, United States.

Source : The Quint

Correct Answer :   Mumbai

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Mumbai campus of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah Arabic Academy, located in Andheri’s Marol (Mumbai) on Friday (10th February 2023) evening.

Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq and head of the Dawoodi Bohra Community, will be present to welcome the Prime Minister for the programme.

This will be the fourth campus of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah Arabic Academy (also known as Jamea). It is the premier educational institute of the Dawoodi Bohra community.

First established over two centuries ago in Surat, Gujarat, in 1810, Jamea seeks to prepare young Dawoodi Bohra men and women for leadership positions within society, global citizens dedicated to serving others and committed to acting in accordance with the values, principles, and ideals imparted to them over the course of their education.

In 1983, the Karachi campus was inaugurated by Pakistani president Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Jamea’s third campus was inaugurated in Nairobi in 2017 by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta...

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

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Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister "Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu" laid the foundation stone of a five-storey building of Himachal Niketan at Dwarka in New Delhi 8th Feb 2023.

* The building, being built at a cost of Rs 57.72 crore, would provide accommodation for students and visitors from the state.
 
* “Besides the existing Himachal Bhawan and Himachal Sadan, the "Himachal Niketan" will be the third alternative for people visiting the National Capital for various purposes”.

* Besides two VIP rooms, there would be 36 rooms for students and 40 general suites.

* There would also be three-room type dormitories for staff.

* It would also have a facility to park around 53 vehicles and 87 two-wheelers in the basement.

* The Himachal Niketan will consist of 81 rooms in total.

Source : Tribune India

Correct Answer :   55th

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India has jumped to the 55th position from 112th place in the ranking of oversight capability of global aviation Safety.

* According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), after the final report India's safety oversight capability ranking has climbed from 112 to 55.

* The ICAO had last month (January 2023) audited the DGCA to check its effective implementation  (EI) of critical safety elements.

* The ICAO undertakes audit of all the contracting states under this programme. “It may be noted that this ranking is dynamic and is contingent upon the outcomes of various Audits undertaken by ICAO",

* Under its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) Continuous Monitoring Approach, an ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) was undertaken in India from November 9 to 16, 2022.

* According to the statement, as the scope of the mission did not include the areas of AIG and ANS, the updated overall EI of 85.65 per cent is calculated based on the latest USOAP results on record for these two areas.

(AIG) is Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation, and (ANS) is Air Navigation Services..

Source : Dailypioneer

Correct Answer :   Rene Zondag

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Peter Burwash International (PBI) president Rene Zondag inaugurates Tennis center in Pune on 10th Feb 2023.

* One of the leading tennis coaching programme, Peter Burwash International (PBI) has tied up with Ileseum Club in Bavdhan, Pune, to have its second training centre in India.

* The first PBI centre at the Padukone-Dravid Centre in Bengaluru has been successfully guiding some of the prominent players like Sahaja Yamalapalli, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Rishi Reddy, through its Director Cesar Morales. The High performance centre has over 200 players.

* The second centre in Pune, which is set to expand further, including to other cities like Mumbai, Solapur and Chennai, will have Milos Milunovic as its technical director.

* “We are looking at having about 50 courts in different centres, and train about 1000 players in about a year or so”, said Gurpavit Singh, the founder of Ileseum clubs, on Friday (10th Feb 2023).

* Rene Zondag, president of PBI, announced the opening of the new centre, which spans 12.5 acres and offers top-notch amenities.

* Gurpavit, who is pleased to join with PBI, expressed the expectation that the improved infrastructure, workshops, and educational programmes will assist advance India’s tennis industry...

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Jammu & Kashmir

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Lithium reserves have been found for the first time in the country, in Reasi district of Jammu division (Jammu & Kashmir).

* Speaking at the 62nd Central Geological Programming Board meeting in New Delhi on 9th Feb 2023, Union Mines Secretary, Vivek Bharadwaj disclosed that Lithium reserves have been discovered in Jammu and Kashmir.

* Lithium blocks are rare and much in demand gobally for electric batteries. Lithium is a non-ferrous metal and is one of the key components in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles.

* It is also used in some non-rechargeable batteries for things like heart pacemakers, toys and clocks. Lithium is a metal that is known for its low density, high energy-to-weight ratio and its ability to store large amounts of energy.

* Currently, India is import-dependent for Lithium, nickel and cobalt. After the discovery, Lithium blocks will be explored and eAuctioned, so that J&K figures on the global map so far as availability of Lithium reserves in the world are concerned. .

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Dubai

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The World Government Summit 2023 is set to begin on 13th February 2023 in "Dubai".

Theme : The Summit will be held under the theme of "Shaping Future Governments".

* It will bring together global thought leaders, global experts, and decision makers to share and contribute to the development of tools, policies, and models that will be critical in shaping future governments.

* The Summit will feature 20 presidents, including Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi; President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan; President of Senegal and Chairperson of the African Union, Macky Sall, among others.

* 2023 edition will bring together over 250 ministers from around the world, as well as over 10,000 government officials, thought leaders, and global experts. The sessions and forums will be enriched by over 80 international, regional, and governmental organizations.

* The World Government Summit is a global forum held annually in Dubai, that brings together leaders in government, business, technology, and civil society to discuss pressing issues facing humanity and to shape the future of governments worldwide.

AIM :  To drive positive change and to promote innovation in the public sector by exploring new ideas, technologies, and best practices in governance.

* The World Government Summit features a diverse range of speakers and participants, including heads of state and government, ministers, CEOs, experts, and representatives from international organisations.

* Over the course of the summit, attendees engage in discussions, debates, and interactive sessions on topics such as the future of work, sustainable development, artificial intelligence, and the role of government in shaping a better world..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   PK Rosy

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Google Doodle marked the 120th birth anniversary of PK Rosy, the first female lead in Malayalam cinema.

Rosy was born Rajamma in Thiruvananthapuram and her passion for acting began at a young age.

According to Google, in an era when performing arts was discouraged in many sections of society, especially for women, Rosy broke barriers with her role in the Malayalam film "Vigathakumaran" ('The Lost Child').

She played the character of Sarojini, a Nair woman, in the film.

A Dalit woman essaying a Nair character enraged members of the Nair community.

As per reports, her home was burnt down by upper castes and she eloped, got married to lorry driver Kesavan Pillai and spent the rest of her life in Tamil Nadu as 'Rajammal'...

Source : New Indian Express

Correct Answer :   February 10

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Every year World Pulses Day is celebrated on February 10 with an aim to spread awareness about the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production.

Pulses also known as legumes, are considered as global foods, and are produced in almost every country.

World Pulses Day 2023 Theme : 'Pulses for a Sustainable Future'

World Pulses Day history :

* The UN General Assembly recognised the value of pulses in 2013 and adopted the year 2016 as the International Year of Pulses (IYP). The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN increased public awareness of the nourishing and environmental benefits of pulses.

* In 2019, the UN General Assembly dedicated February 10 as World Pulses Day a day to Pulses to increase awareness and access to pulses globally.

* As the International Year of Pulses concluded, Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa, proposed the observance of World Pulses Day.

* Pulses are nutrient-rich and a great source of protein. They are low in fat and rich in fibre and they help in lowering cholesterol and in controlling blood sugar.

World Pulses Day Significance : Pulses hold significant importance for farmers as a crop because they can both sell and consume them.

* Pulses are also easy to grow and require less water to flourish. They can better tolerate drought and climate-related disasters, providing security and economic stability to the farmers.

* The nitrogen-fixing properties of pulses improve soil fertility and increase the productivity of the farmland. Thus, the celebration of World Pulses Day is important to spread awareness about the importance of pulses and their adoption across the world...

Source : CNBC

Correct Answer :   Narendra Modi

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PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the three-day-long Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023 in Lucknow on 10th February 2023.

He has also inaugurated Global Trade Show and launched Invest UP 2.0.

It is the flagship investment summit of the Uttar Pradesh Government.

Aim : To bring together policymakers, industry leaders, academia, think tanks, and leaders from across the world to collectively explore business opportunities and forge partnerships..

Source : AIR