Correct Answer : Option (A) - Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Monday (20th Feb 2023) laid the foundation stone for the world's largest Divyang Park -- Anubhuti Inclusive Park -- in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Gadkari said that instead of sympathy, this park will show empathy, hence this park has been named Anubhuti Divyang Park.

"The park will have adapted facilities for all 21 types of disabilities like touch and smell garden, hydrotherapy unit, water therapy, independent room for mentally challenged children, mother," the minister said.

In 2016, the Central government had passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.

"Taking initiative under this, the Central government has created some Divyang Parks in south India and Madhya Pradesh. In this series, Anubhuti Inclusive Park is being built for disabled children and general citizens on the Pardi campus in Nagpur," he said.

The minister said that a provision of about Rs 12 crore was made by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the park being built in an area of 90,000 sq ft.

He added that various projects have been conceptualised for the disabled as well as the general public and senior citizens...

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer : Option (B) - 18th February 2023

Actor and Telugu Desam Party leader Nandamuri Taraka Ratna passed away on Saturday (18th February 2023) in Bengaluru’s Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital.

* Tarak Ratna had been undergoing treatment at the hospital after he suffered a massive heart attack during a road show in Kuppam in Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh on January 27.

* Nandamuri Taraka Ratna, grandson of late movie icon NT Rama Rao and cousin of Tollywood star Jr NTR, was taking part in a political event for Telugu Desam Party when he suffered a heart attack and collapsed.

* The actor-politician was initially rushed to a hospital in Kuppam. He was later shifted to Narayana Hrudayalaya hospital in Bengaluru.

* Taraka Ratna, 39, made his debut in 2002 with Okato Number Kurraadu. He went on to star in films like Yuva Rathna, Taarak, Bhadradri Ramudu and Amaravathi.

* Taraka Ratna made his OTT debut last year with Disney Plus Hotstar’s 9 Hours. He was last seen in S5 No Exit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences, “Pained by the untimely demise of Shri Nandamuri Taraka Ratna Garu. .

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer : Option (C) - Meghana Pandit

Professor Meghana Pandit, a leading Indian-origin medic was appointed the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, one of the UK’s largest teaching hospitals.

* Pandit becomes the trust’s first female chief and she is also the first person of Indian heritage to be appointed CEO of any National Health Service (NHS) trust in the Shelford Group, which represents some of the biggest teaching hospitals in the country.

* Pandit, who was serving as the interim CEO at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) since July 2022, was permanently appointed to the post following a “rigorous and competitive process,” which concluded after what OUH described as an extensive national and international recruitment search.

* Pandit trained in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the Oxford Deanery and was Visiting Lecturer in Urogynaecology at the University of Michigan in the US.

* She has served as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) within the NHS trusts and led the development of a clinical strategy with the responsibility of overseeing hundreds of doctors.

* She is an Honorary Professor at Warwick University and an Associate Fellow at Green Templeton College, University of Oxford..

Source : The Print

Correct Answer : Option (D) - February 13, 2023

Renowned manga creator, illustrator, and designer "Leiji Matsumoto" passed away on February 13, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. due to acute heart failure. He was 85.

* His immediate family already held a service with his manga creator wife Miyako Maki as the chief mourner.

* Matsumoto was born with the given name Akira in 1938 at Kurume City in Fukuoka Prefecture, and he debuted as a manga artist in 1953 with Michibachi no Bōken (Honeybee's Adventure) while he was still in high school.

* After graduating high school, he moved to Tokyo and became popular in the 1950s as a shōjo manga creator under a pen name. He then adopted his most famous pen name, Leiji Matsumoto, in 1965.

* His notable works include Space Pirate Captain Harlock, Galaxy Express 999, and Queen Emeraldas — all of which inspired multiple anime or live-action adaptations — and he contributed designs and created the tie-in manga for Space Battleship Yamato.

* He also supervised animated music videos for French electronic pop group Daft Punk's Discovery album, and the videos were strung together into the INTERSTELLA 5555 film. His designs and works have influenced multiple generations of artists around the world.

* In 2001 Matsumoto was awarded the "Medal with Purple Ribbon" honor, and in 2010 he was awarded with the "Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette." In 2012 he received the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) decoration from the French government..

Source : Anime News Network

Correct Answer : Option (D) - Ashwini Vaishnaw

Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stressed that the Government today is willing to walk the talk and its Say-do ratio is very high with readiness to receive feedback and sustain industry efforts for a long period of time.

Inaugurating the SemiconIndia Conference of Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain Ecosystem in New Delhi on 18th Feb 2023, he also highlighted the success achieved in telecom manufacturing and Vande Bharat development.

Speaking on the occasion, Electronics and Information Ministry Secretary Alkesh Kumar Sharma highlighted that Electronics Manufacturing is not sustainable without the development of the semiconductor ecosystem in the country.

He said that only then it will drive overall economic growth in various sectors including automotive, power, telecom and electronics..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer : Option (A) - Parshottam Rupala

Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, starts the Sagar Parikrama Phase-III from Hazira Port, Gujarat, and proceeds towards the coastal line of Maharashtra at Satpati, Vasai, Versova, and Parikrama will end at Sasson Dock, Mumbai.

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, and National Fisheries Development Board, along with the Department of Fisheries, Government of Gujarat, Commissioner of Fisheries, Government of Maharashtra, Indian Coast Guard, Fishery Survey of India, Gujarat Maritime Board, and fishermen representatives, takes part in the event.

Shri Jatindra Nath Swain, Secretary, Fisheries, Government of India; and senior officials of the Department of Fisheries, Govt of India, National Fisheries Development Board, Fishery Survey of India, and Indian Coast Guard grace the occasion.

The journey is accompanied by the State Fisheries officials, Fishermen representatives, Fish-Farmers, entrepreneurs, stakeholders, professionals, officials, and Scientists from across the nation.

The main objectives of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ are :

(i) to facilitate interaction with fishermen, coastal communities and stakeholders so as to disseminate information of various fisheries related schemes and programs being implemented by the Government.

(ii) demonstrating solidarity with all fisher folk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholder as a spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

(iii) to promote responsible fisheries with focus on sustainable balance between the utilization of marine fisheries resources for food security of nation and livelihoods of coastal fisher communities.

(iv) protection of marine ecosystems.

Phase I :  Phase I Programme of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ was organized in Gujarat, started on 5th March, 2022 from Mandvi and ended on 6th March 2022 at Porbandar, Gujarat.

Phase II : The voyage Sagar Parikrama as Phase –II programme started on 22nd September 2022 from Mangrol to Veraval and ended at Mul Dwaraka, on 23rd September 2022 from Mul Dwaraka to Madhwad.

Phase III : Phase III Program of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ starts from today i.e., 19th Feb 2023 from Surat, Gujarat, and ends on 21st Feb 2023 at Sasson Dock, Mumbai..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer : Option (B) - February 19

The birth anniversary of the great Maratha emperor Chhatrapati "Shivaji Maharaj" is celebrated with grand festivities across Maharashtra and other parts of the country every year on February 19.

* The first Chhatrapati and the great Maratha warrior was born in Pune’s Shivneri Fort in 1630. Shivaji Maharaj is not only revered in Maharashtra, but also equally respected across India for his progressive thinking, rich cultural legacy and efforts to free India from foreign invaders to realise his dream of Swarajya.

* On the occasion of 393rd birth anniversary of Chhratrapati Shivaji Maharaj, this year (2023) Shivaji Jayanti will be celebrated on February 19 at the Agra Fort.

Shivaji Jayanti History and Significance :  Social reformer from Maharashtra, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule was the first to initiate the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti in 1870, after he discovered his tomb in Raigad Fort. Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti was first celebrated in Pune, as the Raigad Fort lies 100 kilometres away from the place.

* Jyotirao Phule, great freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak continued the tradition of celebrating the day. The freedom fighter is also credited for highlighting the contributions of the Maratha King among the public during the freedom movement.

* One of the biggest advocates of Marathi and Sanskrit languages in his regime, the Maratha King truly stands tall as a hero of the nation and a role model for many for his contribution to India’s history and culture..

Source : News18

Correct Answer : Option (C) - New Delhi

The 49th GST Council Meeting was held on 18th February 2023 in New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

This meeting is being conducted within a span of three weeks from the Union Budget 2023. Soon after the 48th  meeting, while addressing the media, Finance Minister mentioned that the next meeting will be held in January 2023.

Key decisions of the 48th GST Council Meeting which required amendments to the GST Act were incorporated in the Finance Bill 2023.

Meeting : 49th GST Council Meeting
Date : 18th February 2023
Chairperson : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
Venue : Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi
Attendees : Finance Ministers of all the states

Source : F T L

Correct Answer : Option (C) - Haryana

North India’s first nuclear power plant is coming up in Gorakhpur, Haryana, about 150 km north of the national capital, said Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday (18th Feb 2023).

* Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s regime, one of the major achievements would be the installation of nuclear/ atomic energy plants in other parts of the country, which were earlier confined mostly to the southern states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh or in the west in Maharashtra.

* The minister said that this was keeping in line the focus on increasing India’s nuclear capacity. He added that a bulk approval of installation of 10 nuclear reactors came under the Modi government.

* The minister said that the Department of Atomic Energy has also been given permission to set up joint ventures with PSUs for resources to open atomic energy plants, having the potential to fulfill India’s energy needs in times to come.

* According to Department of Atomic Energy, Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana’s(GHAVP) having two units of 700 MWe capacity each of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) indigenous design is under implementation near Gorakhpur village in Fatehabad district in Haryana.

* Till date, an amount of ₹4,906 crore has been spent out of total allocated funds 20,594 crore.

* Construction of other Main Plant buildings/structures viz. Fire Water Pump House (FWPH), Safety Related Pump House (SRPH), Fuel Oil storage area-1&2 (FOSA-1&2), Ventilation stack, overhead tank (OHT), Switchyard Control Building, Safety related & Non-safety related Tunnel & Trenches, Retaining walls and Garland Drain is progressing well. Ground improvement in Turbine Building -1 & 2, 220 kV Switchyard and IDCT-1A is completed..

Source : Mint

Correct Answer : Option (D) - Odisha

The National Tiger Conservation Authority of Central Government has approved the Odisha Government’s proposal to declare Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Sambalpur district a tiger reserve.

The proposal was submitted by the Odisha Government to Central Government for approval by National Tiger Conservation Authority during 2018. It got approval this month (February 2023).

The State Government will soon notify Debrigarh as tiger reserve. After Simlipal and Satkosia, Debrigarh will be the third tiger reserve of Odisha.

With this, Debrigarh will find place in entire Country map as a Tiger Reserve which will increase tourist footfall. Adjoining districts will have more hotels, travel agencies and job opportunities will increase..

Source : News Room Odisha