General Knowledge(GK) (or) General Awareness

Correct Answer :   Jagat Prakash Nadda

---

BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Wednesday (22nd Feb 2023) launched a book "Modi: Shaping a Global Order in Flux" .

* While addressing the readers, Nadda said, "This book is going to open a debate on how PM Modi has taken a decision which has changed India's image worldwide.

* It's necessary to understand what was the image of India before Modi ji came to power." Recalling the old image, Nadda said, "The economy was declining, India had an image of a corrupt state, repeated terrorist attacks and a lack of stable govt. The very sad part was that the authority of the PM was eroded".

* He further said, "Unlike in the past, India doesn't shy to take positions. For a long time, India has been shying from taking hard positions. However, under PM Modi, on international issues, India can take a stand on complex issues. A classic example is the Russia-Ukraine war".

* Book is forewarded by Union External Affair Minister S. Jaishankar. Editors are Sujan Chinoy, Vijay Chauthaiwala, and Uttam Kumar Sinha..

Source : The Hans India

Correct Answer :   Dr. Mahendra Kumr Mishra

---

Indian educationist and social worker for the promotion of indigenous languages in Odisha "Dr. Mahendra Kumr Mishra" was conferred the International Mother Language Award by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka on Tuesday (21st Feb 2023).

* Dr. Mishra is the first India to receive this award. Dr. Mishra has worked over three decades on the language, culture  and education of the marginalised languages of Odisha.

* The award instituted in 2021 by UNESCO is given in recognition of the extraordinary contribution to the preservation, revitalization and development of mother languages.

* Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina conferred the two national awards and two international awards to four recipients in Dhaka.

* Bangladeshi nationals Habibur Rahman and Ranjit Singha were given the national awards, while Mahendra Kumar Mishra and Mother Language Lovers of World Society, Vancouver, Canada were conferred with the international awards.

* Inaugurating a four-day programme of the International Mother Language Institute and conferring the award on Tuesday (21st Feb 2023), Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stressed the need ‘for research to preserve, revitalise and develop the mother languages of the world as many languages are being lost’.

* Dr. Mahendra Mishra said that the award is a recognition of the marginalised languages which will provide the speakers of these languages an identity in society and the world...

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   UAE

---

Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), an aerospace company in India, and EDGE, the top defence company in the UAE, inked a Memorandum of Understanding at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX).

The Memorandum of Understanding is signed to examine potential areas of collaboration, such as collaborative development of missile systems and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).

Both businesses will also investigate the use of HAL’s tiny gas turbine engines on EDGE’s guided weapons, the use of EDGE’s GPS jamming and spoofing gear on HAL’s platforms, and chances for additional knowledge exchange.

At EDGE and HAL’s top-notch facilities in the UAE and India, the two businesses will also look at cooperating on mission computers, training programmes, and the use of additive manufacturing of metallic parts.

UAE Defence Expo :

* The MOU was signed at INDEX, which is known as one of the biggest tri-service defence shows in the world by Dubai’s EDGE and India’s HAL.

* IDEX-2023 will be held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from February 20–24, 2023.

* Sunjay Sudhir, the Indian ambassador to the UAE, stopped by IDEX, the country’s premier defence exposition.

* The ongoing defence show has seen the signing of agreements by additional firms. For instance, Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) group business ICOMM secured a contract for the first-ever Transfer of Technology (ToT) in defence products with UAE-based EDGE entity CARACAL.

* In accordance with the “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” objectives, ICOMM will domestically produce the whole line of small guns produced by CARACAL for the Indian market.

* UAE inked defence contracts totaling $2.22 billion (or 8.14 billion dirhams) on February 21 at IDEX.

* The largest agreement was a 4.7 billion dirham contract for EDGE, whose book value in 2017 was around $5 billion, to supply Desert Sting P5 systems to Tawazun Council through its subsidiary Halcon.

* ADASI, a different EDGE division, has closed a 1.33 billion dirham sale for its Shadow system.

* Clients of EDGE can be found across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

Correct Answer :   Uttar Pradesh

---

Indian Railways achieved a significant milestone (21st Feb 2023) in Railway electrification. With the completion of electrification of Subhagpur-Pachperwa Broad Gauge (BG) route in North Eastern Railway, Indian Railways has completed the electrification of all Broad Gauge(BG) routes in Uttar Pradesh.

This will improve rail connectivity in the region and will improve the speed of trains in the region.

With this achievement, Indian Railways has completed electrification of BG routes in six zonal railways namely, East Coast Railway, North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway, Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway, West Central Railway.

Also, Highly Utilized Network (HUN-5), Jhansi-Muzzaffarpur-Katni is fully electrified now. This will improve connectivity between Jhansi-Lucknow-Barabanki-Burhwal, Gonda-Anandnagar-Gorakhpur-Valmikinagar-Sugauli, Muzzaffarpur-Bachwara and Narkatiyaganj-Raxual-Sitamarhi-Darbhanga-Samastipur, Sitamarhi-Muzzaffarpur-Hazipur including Bhatni-Varanasi—Naini(Allahabad)-Manikpur-Satna-Katni and Chhapra-Varanasi.

With 85% of RKM electrified, Indian Railways is rapidly progressing to accomplish Mission100Percent Electrification and become the largest green railway network in the world..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Central Bank of India

---

Central Bank of India said that it has entered into a strategic co-lending partnership with Moneywise Financial Services Pvt Ltd (MFSPL) to offer micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) Loans at competitive rates.

* The said loans would be subject to compliance with the applicable laws and guidelines issued by Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

* "The participation by both the entities in this co-lending arrangement will result in greater expansion of portfolio by Central Bank of India and Moneywise Financial Services, the public sector bank said in a statement.

* Moneywise Financial Services (MFSPL) is an RBI regulated non banking financial company focused on MSME Lending.

* MFSPL's AUM as on December 2022 stood approximately at Rs 800 crore.

* Under the arrangement, Moneywise Financial Services will originate and process MSME loan proposals under MSME Sector as per jointly formulated credit parameters and eligibility criteria and Central Bank of India will take into its books 80% of the MSME Loans under mutually agreed terms.

* Moneywise Financial Services will service the loan account throughout the life cycle of the loan.

* The co-lending arrangement is expected to help both the entities to expand their reach across India.

* Central Bank of India is engaged in providing banking and financial services with wide range of products and services to individuals, commercial enterprises, large corporates, public bodies and institutional customers...

Source : Business Standard

Correct Answer :   Tamil Nadu

---

Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi released two books — Pt. Deendayal Udadhyaya: Dispersions of Thought and Pt. Deendayal Udpadhyaya: Integral Humanism authored by Professor B. Dharmalingam in Chennai on Tuesday (21st Feb 2023).

* According to a Raj Bhavan release, addressing at the event, Governor said four prominent western ideologies — Theology, Darwinian theory, Karl Marx theory and Rousseau’s social contract theory — caused “damage to our national growth”.

* The Governor explained that the theology “created reckless exploitation of natural resources, conflict between humans and nature, and resulted in climate crisis”.

* The Darwinian Theory “which insist on the survival of the fittest, meant those who are weak got no right to exist and only the strong prospered. It is the law of the jungle where there is no compassion, or sense of right or wrong”, the release quoted as saying.

* On theory of Karl Marx, he said it raised perpetual conflicts between haves and have-nots. “This model created divisions between and within different segments. It triggered perpetual conflict in society,” he said.

* The Rousseau’s social contract theory, “considered an individual as primary stakeholder and supports supremacy of the individual over collectives and state and society is a product. Like six blind men and an elephant, everyone looked at part of it, but nobody looked at it in totality.”

* According to him, “We have committed a grave mistake by misunderstanding and misusing the term ‘Dharma’ as the English counterpart of ‘religion’.” He reiterated dharma as the eternal law of the universe by which all have to abide...

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Pt Prem Kumar Mallick

---

Noted classical singer and professor in the department of music and performing arts of Allahabad University (AU) Pt Prem Kumar Mallick was selected for the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for the year 2019.

* Mallick (62) would be given the award by President Droupadi Murmu at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on 23 February 2023 for his contributions in the field of music (Hindustani Vocal).

* He will receive this award along with other artistes from across the country for the award for years 2019, 2020 and 2021 for their contributions in the field of dance, music, theatre and other performing arts announced in November 2022.

President of Allahabad University Teachers’ Association (AUTA) prof AR Siddiqui said : “AUTA congratulates prof Mallick for his achievement and this award has made the entire AU fraternity feel so proud.”

* Mallick is a twelfth-generation exponent of Dhrupad vocal music from the Darbhanga gharana. He began training under his father Dhrupad legend Pt Vidur Mallick and also received guidance from his grandfather Pt Sukhdev Mallick.

* In 1980, the President of India presented him with a gold medal for coming first at the All India Radio National music competition...

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   Tata Motors

---

Tata Motors, India’s leading automobile manufacturer and the pioneer of India’s EV evolution, on Monday (20th Feb 2023) signed an MoU with Uber, India’s leading ridesharing app, to bring 25,000 XPRES–T EVs into their premium category service.

* The agreement between Uber and Tata Motors is the largest EV commitment yet between an automaker and a ridesharing platform in India.

* Tata Motors will begin deliveries of XPRES-T EVs to Uber fleet partners in a phased manner starting this month. The partnership will aid the electrification of Uber services across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad.

* As Uber continues to move towards its zero-emissions goal, the partnership with Tata Motors will lay the groundwork for the meaningful expansion of four-wheeler electric vehicles (EVs) on a mobility platform in India.

* Uber has committed to 100% of rides taking place in zero-emission vehicles, on public transit, or with micro-mobility by 2040.

* Uber is focused on finding new, innovative, and affordable ways to help drivers and fleets go electric and will lean in on industry partnerships across EV manufacturers, Fleets, and EV infra partners among others to advance EV transition.

* Shailesh Chandra, MD, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility informed that working towards the aim of growing India’s e-mobility market, they are delighted to announce their partnership with Uber, India’s leading ridesharing app, for their expansion of sustainable mobility options....

Source : Economic Times

Correct Answer :   Australia

---

Australia will host the Malabar multilateral naval exercise, consisting of India, Australia, Japan and the U.S., for the first time this year (2023) August.

* The high tempo of bilateral engagement between the two countries will continue with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong scheduled to visit India early March during which officials said some major defence initiatives could be announced.

* “Malabar 2023 is scheduled to be held in August and Australia will host this edition”.  

* “The exercise is likely to be held in Perth. However, a final decision is yet to be taken as the modalities are still being finalised,” two officials independently stated.

* Ms. Wong is scheduled to attend the G-20 Foreign Ministers meeting on March 1 and 2 and Mr. Albanese is scheduled to visit India on March 8 on a bilateral visit.  The visit comes months after the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement came into force.

* The Quad Foreign Ministers are scheduled to hold a meeting a day after the G-20 meeting. Australia is scheduled to host the Quad summit later this year.

* Australia was included as a permanent member of Ex Malabar in 2020 amid the standoff with China in Eastern Ladakh. Japan hosted the last edition of Malabar which was held in November 2022 which also marked 30 years of the exercise which began as a bilateral exercise between India and the U.S. in 1992.

* In fact, the Navy Chiefs of the four countries, also part of the Quadrilateral grouping, were present for the inaugural ceremony in Japan last year as the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force also hosted an International Fleet Review and the 18th Western Naval Symposium before the naval war games.

* The four Navies Chiefs also met exchanged views on “further enhancing inter-operability” in future editions of the Malabar multilateral naval exercise...

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Tata Group

---

Tata Group on Tuesday (21st Feb 2023) bagged the title rights for the inaugural Women's Premier League beginning in Mumbai on 4th March 2023.

* According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the Tata Group has secured the title sponsorship rights for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for five seasons (BCCI).

* From February 15, 2023, to July 31, 2027, or up until 30 days after the conclusion of the WPL Season 2027, the salt to software conglomerate will hold the title sponsorship rights. On January 28, the BCCI published the tender for the purchase of WPL title rights.

* The bidding paper could only be purchased until February 9; meanwhile, bids had to be submitted by February 11 to be considered.

* The Tata Group is also the title sponsor of the Indian Premier League (IPL). It bagged the rights for Rs 600 crore for two years. Earlier, the title sponsorship rights were held by Chinese cell phone maker Vivo for two years.

* The sale of media rights had fetched BCCI Rs 951 crore and the five teams were sold for Rs 4700 crore...

Source : Economic Times