Daily & Latest Current Affairs in 2025

Correct Answer :   Narendra Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference in New Delhi on 18th March, 2023. He will also address the gathering on the occasion.

The conference will be attended by Agriculture Ministers of various countries, international scientists, nutritionists, health experts, start-up leaders and other stakeholders.

About The Global Millets Conference :

* The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM). The declaration was based on India’s proposal.

* All central government ministries/departments, states/UTs, farmers, start-ups, exporters, retail businesses and other stakeholders are being engaged to promote and spread awareness about the benefits of millets (Shree Anna) for the cultivator, consumer and climate.

* This is being done in line with the Prime Minister’s vision to make the celebrations of IYM 2023 a ‘people’s movement’ and position India as the ‘global hub for millets’

Global Millets Conference: Key Issues :

The two-day global conference will have sessions on all important issues related to millets (Shree Anna).

The important issues are :

* Promotion and awareness of millets among producers, consumers and other stakeholders

* Millets’ value chain development

* Health and nutritional aspects of millets

* Market linkages, research and development

Millets: Key Points :

* 2023 is the International Year of Millets (IYoM).

* Recently Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) have collaborated with international retail hypermarket chain Lulu Group to facilitate millets export from India to the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCCs)..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Rajasthan

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Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has announced the formation of 19 new districts and three new divisions in the state, earmarking Rs 2,000 crore for infrastructure development for them.

* This is the first time since 2008 that new districts have been carved out in Rajasthan, taking the number of districts in the state to 50.

* Gehlot made the announcement on Friday (17th March 2023) in the Assembly, which also passed the 2023-24 budget through a voice vote.

* The chief minister said a high-level committee was formed to look into the formation of new districts and it had submitted its report to the government.

* "The state will now have 19 new districts," Gehlot said during a discussion on the budget.

* The three new divisions will be in Banswara, Pali and Sikar, he added.

* The chief minister proposed a budget of Rs 2,000 crore for the first phase of infrastructure and human resource development for the new districts and divisions.

* Rajasthan is the biggest state in the country in terms of area and some of the places in the state are located more than 100 kilometres away from the respective district headquarters, Gehlot said.

* Small districts lead to effective administration and management, and control over law and order becomes easier.

* Various states have formed new districts. So there was a demand within the state for these new districts..

Source : CNBC

Correct Answer :   Australia

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Tim Paine, the former captain of the Australian test cricket team, has announced his retirement from cricket after playing his last Sheffield Shield first-class match for Tasmania against Queensland.

Paine led the Australian team in 23 tests from 2018 to 2021 and played a total of 35 tests in his career. He took over as captain after Steve Smith was stripped of the role following the ball-tampering scandal during Australia’s 2018 tour of South Africa.

Paine stepped down from the captaincy in 2021 after admitting to sending inappropriate messages to a former Cricket Tasmania employee.

In his test career, Paine had an average of 32.63 with a highest score of 92 and made 157 dismissals as a wicketkeeper. He also played 35 one-day internationals for Australia. Paine, who hails from Hobart, played for Tasmania for over 18 years, debuting in 2005 and featuring in 153 first-class matches....

Correct Answer :   Haridwar

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International Ayurvet conclave on the theme 'Veterinary and Ayurveda', was inaugurated at Rishikul campus of Ayurvedic University at Haridwar on Friday (17th March 2023). The event will conclude on March 19, 2023.

Addressing the seminar, Union Minister of State for Animal husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Sanjiv Baliyan said, Ayurveda is being used for treatment of animals from times immemorial.

He said that government has taken initiative to validate use of Ayurveda in the treatment of animals. He said that attempt will be made to include this subject in the syllabus of various universities..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka’s Seylan Bank has opened an Indian rupee-denominated Nostro account in Indian Bank in Mumbai. The arrangement will help settle cross-border transactions using Indian rupee between the two nations.

* In a statement, the Sri Lankan bank said the initiative will enable local customers to enter into transactions denominated in the Indian Rupee, eliminating the need to conduct Trade and Remittance transactions in US dollars.

* India has been trying to increase Indian rupee-based trade settlements, which will help the traders on both sides given shortages in Foreign Exchange.

* In an event to promote the use of the rupee in the settlement of transactions held earlier this month, the Indian High Commissioner had said that as a next step, mechanisms need to be created by which Indian tourists can pay in Indian rupees, enabling Sri Lanka to attract more tourists.
 
* Sri Lanka’s banks have been opening Nostro accounts in India-based banks. Likewise, banks from the Indian side have maintained similar accounts in Sri Lanka for a reciprocal arrangement.
 
* The state-run Bank of Ceylon carried out its first rupee settlement in December 2022 and has completed transactions of over Rs 1 crore. Similarly, the State Bank of India has started rupee settlements this month, while the Indian bank has been completing similar transactions since January this year...

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Japan

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Prime Minister of Japan "Kishida Fumio" will be on a two-day visit to India from 20th March 2023. He will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the meeting, both sides will discuss bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. They will also discuss their priorities for their respective Presidencies of the G7 and G20.

* Our correspondent reports that India-Japan relations were elevated to Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ in 2014.

* The India-Japan partnership encompasses a wide range of areas, ranging from defence and security, trade and investment, Science and Technology, Education, and healthcare, among others.

* Defence and security cooperation has emerged as one of the most important pillars of the Special Strategic and Global Partnership and an important factor in ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

* Bilateral trade stood at 20.75 billion dollars last year, which was the largest ever. Japan is the fifth largest investor in India..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Nagpur

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In Maharashtra, Nagpur City will host the Civil20 India (C-20) Inception meeting from 20th to 21st of March 2023. C-20 is one of the empowered group, working under the ambit of G-20 Secretariat, which provides a platform for Civil Society Organisations around the world to voice the people’s aspirations to the world leaders in G20. 

Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, Spiritual leader Mata Amritanandmayi will be present 20th March 2023 in the inaugural ceremony of the meeting organized at 3.30 pm in Hotel Raddison Blu in Nagpur.  

Dr.Swadesh Singh, Sous Sherpa of C-20, while addressing in the pre-event press conference regarding Inception meeting of C-20 in Nagpur today informed that the two-day Conference will focus on the perspective of the Civil Society Organizations and non-government organisations.

The deliberations of Civil Society Organisation on various issues will be put in the Inception issues like Health, Lifestyle for Environment, Art and Crafts will be discussed which will take the shape of Policy pact.

Dr.Singh also informed that around 250 delegates and 30 speakers will participate in the two-day inception meeting. The delegates will also visit the wildlife in Pench Tiger Reserve of Nagpur along with other tourist places on the 22nd of March 2023..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Jangaon District

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In Telangana, an Agri Legal Aid Clinic has been inaugurated 18th March 2023 in Jangaon District to provide benefits to the farmer community.

* Supreme Court Judge Justice V. Ramasubramanian has virtually inaugurated the clinic in the presence of Judges from Telangana High Court from Hyderabad.

* The Telangana Legal Services Authority with technical support from NALSAR University of Law, and an NGO, Legal Empowerment and Assistance for Farmers Society has launched the first-ever Agri Legal Aid Clinic in the state.

* The Clinic is aimed at educating farmers on various agricultural legislations, Farmer Welfare Schemes, their rights, responsibilities, and the availability of legal remedies for the redressal of their problems. The trained Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) of the Legal Services Institutions will be operating the clinics..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   50

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TIME Magazine has recently revealed its annual list of the 50 greatest places in the world for 2023, highlighting destinations that offer unique and sustainable experiences as travel rebounds this year.

* This year 2023 list covers a wide range of locations, from the serene clear blue lagoons and ancient temples to the city where the notorious narco-terrorist Pablo Escobar once resided.

* The chosen destinations reflect changes in the travel landscape, focusing on originality and sustainability as people seek out new experiences. The list provides inspiration for travellers who are looking for an unforgettable adventure.

* Among the chosen destinations are two locations from India : Ladakh and Mayurbhanj.

The list also includes other incredible destinations around the world :

* Willamette Valley, Oregon

* Río Grande, Puerto Rico

* Tucson, Arizona

* Yosemite National Park, California

* Bozeman, Montana

* Washington, DC

* Vancouver, Canada

* Churchill, Canada

* Dijon, France

* Pantelleria, Italy

* Naples, Italy

* Aarhus, Denmark

* St Moritz, Switzerland

* Timisoara, Romania

* Sylt, Germany

* Berat, Albania

* Budapest, Hungary

* Vienna, Austria

* Barcelona, Spain

* Brisbane, Australia

* Kangaroo Island, Australia

* Dominica

* Mexico City, Mexico

* Guadalajara, Mexico

* Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

* Pantanal, Brazil

* Medellín, Colombia

* Ollantaytambo, Peru

* Roatán, Honduras

* Kyoto, Japan

* Nagoya, Japan

* Isan, Thailand

* Phuket, Thailand

* Jeju Island, South Korea

* Luang Prabang, Laos

* Giza and Saqqara, Egypt

* Chyulu Hills, Kenya

* Ruhengeri, Rwanda

* Rabat, Morocco

* Dakar, Senegal

* Loango National Park, Gabon

* Freetown Peninsula, Sierra Leone

* The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

* Aqaba, Jordan

* Jerusalem

* Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

* Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia.

Source : Business Today

Correct Answer :   New Delhi

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The 3rd annual edition of the International SME Convention 2023 (ISC) is going to be organized jointly by the Ministry of MSME & Ministry of External Affairs , India SME Forum, along with Govt. of Madhya Pradesh as a Key State Partner and Govt. of Uttar Pradesh as Associate State Partner.

* International Network for SMEs (INSME) and World Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (WUSME) are the international partners and TATA AIA is the insurance partner for the ISC 2023 from 19th – 21st March 2023 in New Delhi.

* Shri Narayan Rane, Union Minister for MSME will be the chief guest for the inaugural event with Guests of Honour- Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Minister of State for MSME & Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs, Shri Om Prakash Saklecha, Minister of MSME & Science & Technology, Govt. of MP and Shri Rakesh Sachan, Minister of MSME, Khadi, Village Industries, Sericulture & Textile, Govt. of UP along with presence of senior officers from Central and State Governments.

* This year ISC, 2023 is expecting the participation of 1500+ SMEs with the main focus areas being India's major four Sunrise Sectors, which are Cleantech & Green Energy, Manufacturing, Services Sector and Agro food Processing & Agri Implements sector.

* There will be several panel discussions that will aim to provide actionable insights and recommendations for building sustainable ecosystems for MSMEs and Plugging SMEs into Global Value Chains, by building strategic partnerships, leveraging digital platforms, focusing on innovation, complying with standards and regulations, and accessing finance.

* This edition will also feature 2 days packed sessions at conference, 3 days power business breakfast & networking with like-minded, successful entrepreneurs and business leaders..

Source : PIB