General Knowledge(GK) (or) General Awareness

Correct Answer :   Asian Athletics Championships

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Lord Hanuman, a divine figure in Hinduism and dear to Indians, will grace the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships as the official mascot.

Asia’s biggest track and field event will commence between July 12 and July 16, 2023 in Bangkok.



The championships are taking place to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Asian Athletics Association.

The Asian Athletics Association wrote about how Lord Hanuman is the epitome of loyalty and courage on its official website.

"As Hanuman exhibits extraordinary abilities in (Lord) Rama's service, including speed, strength, courage, and wisdom ... Hanuman’s greatest ability is, in fact, his incredibly staunch loyalty and devotion," the continental body penned.

The mascot signifies various essential traits of the participating athletes.

"The 25th Asian Athletics Championships 2023 logo indicates the athletes participating in the games, skills, teamwork of athletes, showcase of athleticism, dedication, and sportsmanship," the athletes' body wrote.

Indian epic Ramayan written by Valmiki made it to various Southeast Asian countries because of the influence of Hinduism in these cultures, including Thailand. Ramakien is the Thai version of the Indian legend.

Hosts Thailand are one among nine teams that have taken part in all 23 previous versions of the event, with the 24th Championships in 2021 being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The other eight teams are Hong Kong, Japan, India, Republic of Korea, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Singapore.

Thailand’s fastest under-18 100m runner, Puripol Boonson, is one of the top young athletes in the competitions to watch out for. Indonesian sprinter Lalu Muhammad Zohri and Japan’s middle-distance runner Tanaka Nozomi are some other major attractions at the event. India’s long jumper Murali Sreeshankar will look to leave his mark in the Asian event.

The Indian contingent under the leadership of shot putter Tajinderpal Singh and long jumper Sreeshankar, flew to the capital city of Thailand on July 8, 2023.

Source : Outlook India

Correct Answer :   CarTrade Tech Ltd

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Mumbai-based used cars platform CarTrade Tech Ltd on Monday (10th July 2023) said it will acquire online marketplace OLX India's auto sales business for Rs 537 crore.

* In a stock exchange filing on Monday (10th July 2023), CarTrade said that it will acquire 100% stake in Sobek Auto India Pvt Ltd, the entity that houses OLX India’s automotive business, in an all-cash deal, and the acquisition will likely to be completed in 21-30 days.

* On Monday (10th July 2023), Cartrade's scrip on BSE closed 1.8% lower at Rs 486.3.

* Sobek is a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013. It is engaged in the business of running an automotive digital platform and a classifieds internet business.

* On June 30, 2023, Sobek has acquired the classifieds internet business from OLX India Private Limited on the terms and conditions agreed under a business transfer agreement.

* Last month (June 2023), Prosus-owned OLX has shut down its automotive business unit OLX Autos in a few regions, including Argentina, Mexico and has also laid off 800 employees.

* Earlier this year, OLX announced that they will lay off 15 per cent of their workforce. This amounts to 1,500 employees globally in 2023 as a part of the restructuring. They attributed the move to poor macroeconomic conditions..

Source : Business Today

Correct Answer :   Punjab National Bank

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State-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) has announced the launch of UPI 123PAY, an IVR-based UPI solution. This offering is in line with the Digital Payment Vision 2025, aiming to propel India towards a cashless and cardless society.


Enhancing Transaction Experience with UPI :

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has revolutionized the way transactions are conducted in India, offering customers a seamless, secure, and real-time payment experience. However, until now, UPI services were primarily accessible through smartphones or USSD, relying on robust internet connectivity.


Overcoming Limitations for Greater Accessibility :

PNB recognized that this limitation prevented users without smartphones or residing in low internet connectivity zones from accessing UPI services. To address this issue, PNB has introduced UPI 123PAY, an IVR-based UPI solution.


Simplifying the UPI 123PAY Process :

Using UPI 123PAY is simple and involves the following steps:

Step 1: Dial the bank’s easy-to-remember IVR number, “9188-123-123.”

Step 2: Choose the beneficiary.

Step 3: Authenticate the transaction.


Multilingual Support for Enhanced Convenience :

UPI 123PAY will be multilingual, catering to customers in their preferred language. This feature aims to provide enhanced convenience and accessibility to a wider range of users.


Other Banks Embracing IVR Payments :

Apart from PNB, IDFC First Bank, City Union Bank, and NSDL Payments Bank have also implemented IVR-based payment solutions. This demonstrates the growing acceptance and adoption of IVR technology in the banking sector..

Source : Timesnownews

Correct Answer :   L&T and Navantia

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Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Monday (10th July 2023) announced that it has signed a teaming agreement with Spanish-based Navantia for submission of a techno-commercial bid for the Indian Navy’s prestigious P75 (India) submarine programme.

P75 (India) Submarine Project is expected to be valued at €4.8 billion (over Rs 43,500 crore) and is India‘s largest defence acquisition project.

L&T and Navantia signed an memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the programme on April 11, 2023, at Madrid, which has now culminated in this teaming agreement.

As per the agreement, Navantia would carry out the design of P75(I) submarines based on its S80 class of submarines. The first S80 class submarine was launched in 2021 and is undergoing sea trials prior to its delivery to Spanish Navy at the end of 2023.

Apart from S80 class, Navantia has been involved in design and construction of Scorpéne class of submarines together with DCNS (Now Naval Group) of France, which have been exported to Chile and Malaysia. Navantia has also been involved in the Scorpene submarines (Kalvari class) built in India including handholding of the Indian yard.

Project 75 (India) :

* Project 75 (I) requires the Indian bidder to tie up with a Foreign Collaborator (FC) and execute the programme for delivery of six conventional submarines equipped with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP), while achieving targetted Indigenous Content.

* This would also be followed by a 30-year lifecycle sustenance contract of similar value. P75(I) would be the first programme to be processed under the ambitious Strategic Partnership (SP) model of acquisition of the Ministry of Defence.

* P75(India) programme calls for integration of an AIP system.

* “Navantia’s 3rd Generation AIP solution is the most advanced and efficient AIP system in the world, apart from also being the most compact, easiest to exploit and maintain and environment friendly. It uses bioethanol as a source of hydrogen which is known to be cost efficient, easily available, and does not call for any special infrastructure,” said Larsen & Toubro in its official statement..

Source : CNBC

Correct Answer :   Jammu & Kashmir Bank

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Jammu & Kashmir Bank has been felicitated for The Best Performance in CASA-India (1st Runner up in Small Bank Category) at ICC Emerging Asia Banking Conclave & Awards 2022.

The event saw participation of scores of Banks from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Mayanmar.  
 
Bank’s Branch Manager Goa received the award at a grand function organized by Indian Chamber of Commerce in Goa on 8th July 2023.
 
Speaking on the development, Bank's MD&CEO Baldev Prakash described the award as acknowledgement of Bank's efforts to consolidate the fundamentals of the Bank through a prestigious international platform.
 
Notably, PwC India (PricewaterhouseCoopers), Indian chapter of one of the biggest multinational professional services network, was the Process Reviewer for these Awards.
 
Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group headquartered in Calcutta, is proactive in BFSI segment across BIMSTEC (The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation). There are seven member countries in the BIMSTEC organization- five being from South Asia i.e., Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka and two from Southeast Asia i.e., Myanmar and Thailand.

Source : Crosstownnews

Correct Answer :   Narendra Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be honoured with the Lokmanya Tilak National Award in Pune on August 1, 2023.

Organisers said that the award recognizes his supreme leadership under which India has climbed the ladder of progress.

What is Lokmanya Tilak National Award?

1. On August 1, the 103rd death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak, the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust (Hind Swaraj Sangh) will confer the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

2. This esteemed award is presented annually by the Trust on the occasion of Lokmanya Tilak's death anniversary. Lokmanya Tilak was a prominent figure in India's freedom struggle during the early 20th century.

3. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a passionate advocate for Indian self-rule (Swarajya) and played a crucial role in mobilising the masses.

4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been chosen as the 41st recipient of this award, which includes a memento and citation, in recognition of his exceptional leadership and his efforts in fostering a sense of patriotism among citizens, the trust says.

5. In the previous year, the Lokmanya Tilak National Award was conferred upon senior scientist Tessy Thomas, popularly known as India's "missile woman." She served as the project director for Agni-4 and Agni-5 missile systems, making significant contributions to the country's defence capabilities.
List of recipients of the Loknayak Award

List of some of the individuals who have been conferred the Loknayak Award :

1. Indira Gandhi

2. Atal Bihari Vajpayee

3. Sharad Pawar

4. Rahul Bajaj

5. Cyrus Poonawalla

6. Manmohan Singh

They have received the Loknayak Award in previous years for their selfless contributions to the nation's development.

This year (2023) marks the 41st year of the award..

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   Lakshya Sen

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Commonwealth Games Lakshya Sen delivered an outstanding performance to secure his second BWF Super 500 title by defeating Li Shi Feng from China in straight games during the Canada Open 2023 final.

The 21-year-old player from Almora showcased a remarkable display of badminton skills, combining exceptional speed and power to outclass the reigning All England champion Feng in an exhilarating summit clash.

With a score of 21-18, and 22-20, Sen demonstrated his exceptional skill and unwavering determination, emerging victorious and adding another prestigious title to his growing list of accomplishments.

Lakshya's victory in the tournament marks his second BWF World Tour title, following his previous win at the India Open in January 2022. Ranked 19th at the moment, Lakshya defeated Kunlavut Vitidsarn, the fourth-ranked player in the world, in the Round of 32.

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍 🏆😍

Lakshya defeated reigning All England winner 🇨🇳's Li Shi Feng to clinch the title 🔥💥

📸: @badmintonphoto#CanadaOpen2023#IndiaontheRise#Badminton @lakshya_sen pic.twitter.com/4DIFquYoBK

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 10, 2023

In the semifinals, he achieved a dominant victory over Kento Nishimoto of Japan, who is currently ranked 11th in the world. This win allowed Lakshya to advance to his second Super 500 final and his first BWF summit clash in over a year. He won the match with a score of 21-17, 21-14.

Correct Answer :   Parth Salunkhe

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Parth Salunkhe became the first male archer to win a gold in the recurve category at the Youth World Championships 2023 as India finished with their highest-ever tally of 11 medals.

* The 19-year-old from Satara in Maharashtra provided the perfect icing on the cake by defeating a Korean in the Under-21 men's recurve individual final, Limerick, Ireland last night (9th July 2023).

* Salunkhe, who topped the rankings round, prevailed over seventh seed Song Injun 7-3 (26-26, 25-28, 28-26, 29-26, 28-26) in a hard-fought five-setter.
The medal haul of the 24-member Indian contingent included six gold, one silver and four bronze. Of the 11 medals India won, six were bagged in the U21 category - four gold and two bronze. .

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Max Verstappen

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Red Bull's driver, Max Verstappen has clinched F1 2023 British Grand Prix title, held at the Silverstone Circuit, England.

Lando Norris for McLaren placed second and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton placed third on the podium.

Previous F1 GP winners (2023) :

* Canadian Grand Prix : Max Verstappen
* Spanish Grand Prix : Max Verstappen
* Monaco Grand Prix : Max Verstappen
* Bahrain Grand Prix : Max Verstappen
* Saudi Arabia Grand Prix : Sergio Pérez.

Source : Theguardian

Correct Answer :   Justine Henin

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The International Tennis Federation has awarded Justine Henin its highest honor, the Philippe Chatrier Award 2023.

Henin won seven Grand Slam singles titles, an Olympic gold medal, and was part of Belgium's team that won the Fed Cup now called the Billie Jean King Cup in 2001.

The award, named after the former ITF president, was introduced in 1996 and recognizes people who have made significant contributions to the sport on and off the court.

She was one of the best players of her generation on the court and since retirement has made a significant and ongoing contribution to our sport at all levels, ITF president David Haggerty said Saturday (8th July 2023).

The 41-year-old Henin has established a successful academy in Belgium and a charitable foundation that helps provide sporting opportunities for children with disabilities.

The award will be presented Saturday at the ITF World Champions Awards at London's Victoria and Albert Museum...

Source : Business Standard