General Knowledge(GK) (or) General Awareness

Correct Answer :   Dr. Nitya Abraham

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An Indian-American physician and professor "Dr.Nitya Abraham" has been honoured with the 2023 Young Urologist of the Year Award conferred by the American Urological Association (AUA).

* Dr.Nitya Abraham is an Associate Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Program Director for the Montefiore Urology residency programme.

* Abraham said in a statement that at a time when rates of physician burnout are increasing, "it is wonderful that the American Urological Association and its leaders are recognising the hard work of many young urologists across the country."

* Established by the 2012-2013 American Urological Association (AUA) Young Urologists Committee (YUC) Chair Dr.Michael C.Ost, the Young Urologist of the Year Award is presented annually to select early-career AUA members in recognition of their efforts and commitment to advancing the development of fellow young urologists, the organisation said.

* Abraham is among members selected by their colleagues who serve on the Young Urologists Committee and endorsed by their respective Section/Society to receive the special honour for 2023.

* Abraham has been chosen from the New York region for her accomplishments and contributions.

* Abraham has mentored countless students, residents, fellows and junior faculty both at her institution and others in the New York region.

* She serves as the Chair of the Executive Curriculum Committee for Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

* She is a member of the Society for Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine, and Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU) Young Urologists Committee and social media committee.

Other honorees : Rena Malik, Jesse D. Sammon, Sarah Vij, Alexander J.Ernest, Kerri Thurmon, Zachary Klaassen, and Yahir Santiago- Lastra..

Source : New Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Rafale Fighter Jets

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In a first, Indian Rafale combat aircraft are likely to participate in a multinational wargame codenamed Orion which is being hosted by France involving many of its NATO and other important allies.

* Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jets are likely to fly to France to participate in "Exercise Orion" being held at a French air base there.

* The wargames are planned to be held from the third week of April to May 5, 2023.

* The aircraft likely to take part in the exercise are likely to be from the Western Air Command of the force which has the Golden Arrows squadron as part of it, they said.

* The exercise is taking place in France with the Russia-Ikroane war in the backdrop where NATO led by US is opposing the Russian moves against Ukraine.

* The Rafales of the IAF have earlier participated in wargames with foreign countries which took place within India including the ones with French Air Force in Jodhpur codenamed Desert Knight.

* The French Air Force would be taking part in the wargames with its NATO and other allies with their Rafale and Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft.

* Orion is reportedly the largest ever multinational exercise being carried out by the French defence forces which have involved their Army, Navy and Air Force along with their allies the US and the UK.

* The Indian Air Force is also going to take part in Exercise Copeindia from 10th April 2023 in Kalaikunda, West Bengal. There is the possibility that the schedule of the drills and availability of American F-15 fighter planes may see some changes.

* The Rafale aircraft are the latest fighters to have been inducted into the Indian Air Force and are considered to be the most potent in the entire Asian region..

Source : NDTV

Correct Answer :   China

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The Chinese company "Space Pioneer" successfully launched its Tianlong-2 rocket into orbit early Sunday (2nd April 2023), making space exploration history in the process.

* The 4:48 a.m. Beijing Time launch from China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center located in the Gobi Desert, Inner Mongolia, represented the first time a liquid fueled rocket has been launched into orbit by a Chinese aerospace company, and also the first time a startup company successfully reached orbit on its first attempt.

* The Tianlong-2 rocket's name means "Sky Dragon-2," according to a translation.

* Beyond making its mark on history, the rocket's builder Space Pioneer — also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology Co. — aimsed to launch a small satellite to a polar orbit around Earth that is in a "fixed" position relative to the sun.

* From this sun-synchronous orbit the satellite, named Ai Taikong Kexue or "Love Space Science" and developed by Hunan Hangsheng Satellite Technology Co., Ltd, will test its remote sensing capabilities.

About Tianlong-2 :

* Tianlong-2 is a three-stage rocket that is capable of carrying 2,000 kilograms (2 tons) to low Earth orbit or 1,500 kg (1,5 tons) to a 500-kilometer-altitude sun-synchronous orbit.

* The Beijing Tianbing Technology Co said(opens in new tab) that the 3.35-meter-wide, 32.8-meter-tall rocket is fueled by coal-based kerosene.

* This allowed the three YF-102 gas generator engines of the rocket, which had a take-off mass of 153 tons, to deliver a thrust of 193 tons at take-off.

* "The Tianlong-2 rocket adopts the 'three flat and one vertical' test and launch mode, vehicle-mounted mobile launch, tank car automatic filling, and a self-contained diversion launch device, and can implement liquid rocket launch from a simple cement field, providing a solid foundation for large-scale launches. An innovative model," Beijing Tianbing Technology Co.

Source : Space

Correct Answer :   North Korea

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North Korea carried out an underwater nuclear attack drone "Haeil-2" test from April 4 to April 7, 2023.

* The underwater nuclear attack drone "Haeil-2" entered into the test in Kajin Port, Kumya County, South Hamgyong Province in the afternoon on April 4, 2023.

* It cruised 1000 km of simulated underwater distance in elliptical and "8" patterns set in the East Sea of Korea for 71 hours and 6 minutes.

* In the afternoon on April 7, 2023 it arrived in the waters off Ryongdae Port, Tanchon City, South Hamgyong Province, the place of simulated target, where the test warhead accurately detonated underwater.

* The system will serve as an advantageous and prospective military potential of the armed forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) essential for containing all evolving military actions of enemies, removing threats and defending the country.

* North Korea has ramped up its military activities in recent weeks in a show of force against the United States and South Korea that conduct joint military drills.

* US and South Korean forces held their biggest war games in five years on the southern part of the Korean Peninsula.

* North Korea has been testing various missiles at the same time, including the test of an intercontinental ballistic missile last week and the tests of smaller-range missiles.

* Earlier in March 2023, it had tested an underwater nuclear attack drone able to unleash a "radioactive tsunami," amid deteriorating relations with the US.

* The drone, called the "Unmanned Underwater Nuclear Attack Craft 'Haeil," was tested from 21 March to 23 March 2023..

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   Andaman & Nicobar Command

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India’s only tri-services Andaman & Nicobar command conducted a joint military exercise ‘EX-KAVACH’ on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

* During the exercise, various drills by soldiers were carried out, including amphibious landing, air landing operations, heliborne operations, and rapid insertion of special forces commandos.

* Soldiers weapon systems of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force as well as the Coast Guard were deployed for ‘EX-KAVACH’. The joint service exercise is aimed to finetune joint warfighting capabilities and operational synergy.

About the exercise ‘EX-KAVACH’ :

* The exercise was a tri-service exercise and involved assets of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. This exercise included tri-services joint operations and drills to prepare the armed forces to face any combat challenges in the current warfare scenarios around the globe. Naval warships, amphibious troops of the Army and different types of aircraft of the Indian Air Force were employed during the military drill.

* The coordinated deployment of amphibious assault ships, and surveillance ships, the execution of maritime air strikes, and complicated manoeuvres at sea allowed for multifaceted maritime operations during the drill. The drill also included the airborne insertion of marine commandos from the Navy and Para commandos from the Indian Army, naval gunfire support, amphibious landing forces, and follow-up operations. During the exercise, joint activities for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance were also conducted.

* The exercise was previously conducted in 2021 known as AMPHEX-21. It was conducted from 21-25 Jan 2021 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Even during that exercise, all three services participated.

* The exercise aimed at validating India’s capabilities to safeguard the territorial integrities of its island territories. The exercise involved multi-faceted maritime operations by deploying amphibious assault ships, naval gunfire support, amphibious landing forces and follow-on operations were part of the exercise..

Source : Republic World

Correct Answer :   Peru

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Peru was stripped of hosting the men’s Under-17 World Cup 2023 on Monday (3rd April 2023) because FIFA said the country was not ready to stage the tournament later this year.

* FIFA did not name a replacement host for the 24-team tournament scheduled to be played from Nov. 10-Dec. 2.

* The decision comes one week after FIFA took the men’s Under-20 World Cup from Indonesia because that country did not want to host Israel at its tournament in May.

* FIFA cited Peru’s inability “to fulfill its commitments to completing the infrastructure required to stage the tournament.”

* “There is now not sufficient time to secure the required investment and complete the necessary work with the Peruvian government ahead of the tournament start date,” FIFA said.

* FIFA picked both Peru and Indonesia in 2019 to host the respective 2021 editions of the tournaments. Both have been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

* Argentina wants to stage the Under-20 World Cup. FIFA is expected to confirm a host nation this week..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Kim Cotton

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Women referees and umpires judging in men's competitions is extremely rare. Scripting a new chapter in history, Kim Cotton of New Zealand became the first female on-field umpire to stand in a men's international match between two ICC full-member countries.

* She stood as an on-field umpire in a T20 match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at the University Oval in Dunedin on Wednesday (5th April 2023).

* Cotton, 45, is not new to the profession of a cricket umpire as she has umpired in 16 women's ODIs and 44 T20Is.

* She also marked her presence in men's cricket as a TV umpire during a T20I match between India and New Zealand in 2020.

* Her name is included in some of the elite umpires as she has been one of the on-field umpires for both the 2022 Women's World Cup final (50-over) and the 2023 Women's T20 World Cup final in February.

* Before Cotton achieved the rare feat, Claire Polosak became the first female umpire in a men's international cricket in 2019 when she stood in a Onedayer between Oman and Namibia.

* But they are associate nations and not full-time ICC members.

* Polosak also became the first female match official in a men's Test match as she worked as the fourth umpire during a 2021-22 Border Gavaskar Trophy Test match between India and Australia in Sydney last year...

Source : Zeebiz

Correct Answer :   5

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Former Indian cricket team captain, MS Dhoni was named among the five Indians to have been inducted with the Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) honorary life membership.

Other four Indian Cricketers : Yuvraj Singh, Maithali Raj, Suresh Raina, and Jhulan Goswami

MS Dhoni had featured in 538 international games across formats, scoring over 17,000 runs during the same.

Yuvraj Singh was an integral part of the Indian team that won the first T20 World Cup in 2007.

Correct Answer :   Sanjita Chanu

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Sanjita Chanu, a two-time Commonwealth Games (CWG) gold medalist in weightlifting, has been banned for four years after failing a dope test.

* Sanjita tested positive for Drostanolone Metabolite, an anabolic steroid on the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) prohibited list, during an in-competition test at the National Games in Gujarat last September-October.

* Her dope sample was collected in a competition on September 30, 2022, during the National Games in Gujarat last year.

* It is held that the Athlete has violated Article 2.1 & 2.2 of the NADA ADR, 2021, she is hereby sanctioned with an ineligibility of four (04) years as per Article 10.2.1 of the NADA ADR, 2021, the three-member NADA Anti-Doping Disciplinary panel headed by Chaitanya Mahajan said in the order.

* Sanjita's ban will commence on November 12, 2022, the date of her provisional suspension.

* The period of ineligibility shall commence from the date of provisional suspension i.e,12.11.2022. It shall be noted that the athlete has failed to satisfy the panel that the ADRV was non-intentional as per Article 10.2.1.1 of the NADA ADR, 2023.

* This a is a huge setback for Sanjita, who will be stripped of the National Games silver medal as a result of the positive test.

* As per Article 10.10 of the NADA ADR, 2021, the athlete is hereby disqualified of all of the individual results obtained in the said Event with all Consequences, including forfeiture of all medals, points and prizes since 30-09-2022," the order, dated March 31.

* Sanjita had won gold in 48kg ahead of Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. At the 2018 edition of the CWG in Gold Coast, she was crowned champion in the 53kg category.

* The Manipuri has the option to appeal against the decision of the disciplinary panel. She can do that by approaching to the appeals panel of the NADA within 21 days from the date of receipt of the decision..

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   Kiran Nadar

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Philanthropist and art collector Kiran Nadar was recently conferred “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur” (Knight of the Legion of Honour) by French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain in April 2023.

* The highest French civilian award comes in recognition of Nadar’s outstanding contribution in the field of art, her commitment to providing greater access to culture both nationally and internationally, and her leading role in fostering Indo-French cultural ties.

* Nadar, chairperson of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) — a philanthropic initiative in art — and a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation has played a vital role in advancing Indo-French cultural ties, and artistic cooperation.

* It is an absolute privilege for me to be conferred ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur’ and I am deeply grateful to the French Government for this great honour.

* KNMA has a longstanding relationship with France in the cultural space. Our partnership with France has been instrumental in bringing together diverse perspectives and promoting cultural exchange,” said Nadar in a statement.

* In 2022, KNMA joined hands with Alkazi Foundation, and the French Institute in India to create “Converges”, the largest exhibition of original pictures from French photographers ever shown in India...

Source : Indian Express