Correct Answer :   Dr. Joyita Gupta

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Indian-origin professor Dr Joyeeta Gupta has received the Spinoza Prize, the highest distinction in Dutch science for her work in the field of climate change at a ceremony in the Netherlands.

The prize was presented to her by the Netherlands' Minister for Education, Science, and Culture, Robert Dijkgraaf at The Hague on Wednesday (4th Oct 2023).

The Dutch Research Council (NWO) prize is worth 1.5 million euros which Gupta intends to spend on scientific research and activities related to knowledge utilisation.

Joyeeta Gupta is a Dutch environmental scientist who is professor of Environment and Development in the Global South at the University of Amsterdam..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Jon Fosse

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Norwegian author Jon Fosse has been awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable, said the Swedish Academy.

It added that Fosse is today one of the most widely performed playwrights in the world and has become increasingly recognized for his prose.

The human condition is the central theme of Fosse’s body of work, irrespective of genre, it said.

The Nobel Prize committee said that Jon Fosse presents everyday situations that are instantly recognizable in people's lives. Fosse's radical reduction of language and dramatic action expresses the most powerful human emotions of anxiety and powerlessness in the simplest terms, it said praising the author. Fosse has now joined an illustrious list of past winners that ranges from Toni Morrison to Ernest Hemingway...

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Outlook Group

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Outlook Group announces the launch of its highly anticipated retirement planning event, “40After40”, in association with IDFC FIRST Bank.

A one-of-its-kind platform, "40After40" is a two-day event and expo, which will be held at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on January 23-24, 2024.

It’s a one-stop shop for all conversations around timely retirement, panel discussions, chats, masterclasses, interactions with planners, product presentations etc.

The elderly population in India has been rising; it is projected to rise 41 per cent over a decade—from 138 million in 2021 to 194 million in 2031, according to a National Statistical Office (NSO) report, Elderly in India 2021.

Similarly, projections from statista.com for 2021-31 show that the growth rate of the elderly population is expected to be five times the growth rate of the total population. Further, life expectancy in India has also gone up from around 60 years in the late 1990s to around 70 years in 2023 and is only likely to go up further.

In this scenario, it is the need of the hour for individuals of all age groups, and especially those crossing the age of 40, to become conscious and start planning for their retirement years.

The Need For A Retirement Platform :

The event is only one part of the Outlook Money Retirement platform. The Outlook Group, along with IDFC FIRST Bank, aims to approach the key question of retirement through the various print and digital platforms within the group.

“With rising life expectancy and shrinking sizes of families and homes, it’s the need of the hour to have a conversation about and highlight the importance of retirement savings and planning. Outlook Money and IDFC FIRST Bank believe that anyone can save enough for retirement if an individual takes a planned approach with proper guidance. The earlier one starts, the better,” said Nidhi Sinha, editor, Outlook Money.

The retirement initiative is a part of Outlook Money’s commitment towards empowering individuals to achieve financial security and prosperity in their golden years. “Our retirement platform, of which 40After40 is a key part, wants to create awareness and generate debates that can make a material difference in the way people think about their own future and government institutions address their needs,” said Indranil Roy, CEO, Outlook Group.

We aim to reach at least 50 million page views of the retirement-related content that is being created on Outlook Money’s retirement platform to ensure the message goes far and wide..

Source : The Week

Correct Answer :   HAL

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The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, HAL handed over the twin seater variant of LCA Tejas fighter aircraft to Indian Air Force in the presence of Union Minister of state for Tourism and Defence Ajay Bhat in Bengaluru on 4th October 2023.

LCA Tejas twin seater is a light weight all weather, multi-role 4.5 generation aircraft.

The aircraft developed indigenously has static stability, qudraplex fly by wire flight control, carefree manoeuvring, advanced glass cockpit, integrated digital avionics systems and advanced composite mateirals for the airframe.

The induction of the aircraft into Indian Airforce, marks an important milestone when India joins the list of a very few elite countries who have created such capability and have them operational in their defence forces.

Speaking on the occasion, MoS Defence Ajay Bhat said that it is an historic occasion 4th Oct 2023 when the moto of Atma Nirbhar Bharat is realised by the development off twin seater Tejas with advanced features. He said it is an important achievement that showcases indigenous capabilities.
         
Air Force Chief Vivek Ram Chaudhari and HAL MD C B Ananthakrishnan also attended the programme. Later Air Force Chief Vivek Ram Choudhary said, that the induction of Tejas fighter Aircraft into the Air Force has created a new chapter in history also it has increased its performace and power.

He said that talks have already held for the handover of 83 Light Combat Aircraft in to Air Force and the intention is to have a force of 220 Light Combat Aircraft in the coming days.
         
In the Progragramme a special documentary film showing the production and speciality of Tejas was screened..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Squash

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The Indian squash pair of Dipika Pallikal and Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu clinched gold in mixed doubles event at the ongoing Asian Games 2023.

The pair of Deepika Pallikal and Harinder Pal Sandhu won the gold medal by defeating the Malaysian pair 2-0 in the final of the mixed doubles squash event.

Moments each one of us will cherish forever 💙

Here is the moment when @DipikaPallikal and @Sandhu_Harinder were bestowed with 🥇

SonySportsNetwork #AsianGames #Cheer4India #Hangzhou2022 #Squash #TeamIndia | @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/5I0IJ4HDPX

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) October 5, 2023

Earlier, Indian archers Jyoti Vennam, Aditi Swamy, Preneet Kaur won gold medal in women's compound archery team.

Till 5 October 2023, India has won a total of 84 medals with 21 gold medals, 31 silver medals and 32 bronze medals..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Neeraj Chopra

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* Neeraj Chopra secured the gold medal and Kishore Kumar Jena clinched the silver in the Men’s Javelin Throw competition at the Asian Games 2023, held at Hangzhou.

* Japan’s Roderick Genki Dean secured the bronze medal

Other Winners :

* India won gold in the compound archery mixed team final
* India wonbronze in the 35km race walk mixed team final.  
* Lovlina Borgohain won silver in women's 75 kg boxing final.
* Parveen settled for bronze in the 57kg women's boxing semifinal.

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   3

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The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 to

Moungi G. Bawendi : Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA

Louis E. Brus : Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

Alexei I. Ekimov : Nanocrystals Technology Inc., New York, NY, USA

Two American scientists and a Russian have been awarded the 2023 Nobel prize in chemistry for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots, which helped drive a revolution in nanotechnology.

The Nobel Prize is given every year for outstanding contributions in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace and Economics..

Correct Answer :   North East Small Finance Bank

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Fintech unicorn slice and Guwahati-based North East Small Finance Bank (NESFB) have announced a merger between the two entities in the only instance of a fintech startup merging with a SFB.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the deal and will see slice becoming an SFB, a first of its kind development in the fintech and banking space.

In a statement, the fintech said it is awaiting shareholder consent and other regulatory approvals.

Having received a nod from the central bank, the merger will help realise their shared goal of integrating cutting-edge technology offerings with grassroots financial inclusion efforts.

This merger brings together slice’s digital prowess and NESFB’s grassroots banking foundation. The combined entity supercharges its commitment to financial accessibility and will bring an unparalleled digital banking experience to its customers.

This merger is also emblematic of RBI’s unwavering commitment to fostering innovation and promoting digital financial inclusion..

Source : CNBC

Correct Answer :   Annu Rani

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India's Annu Rani on Tuesday (3rd Oct 2023) won her second Asian Games medal, and her first gold, in women's javelin throw in Hangzhou. Annu threw the javelin 62.92m in her fourth attempt which helped her jump to the lead.

Sri Lanka's Dilhani Lekamge won silver with a best throw of 61.57m while Lyu Huihui (61.29m) of China won bronze.

This is Annu's second Asian Games medal. The 31-year-old had won bronze in Incheon in 2014 with a best throw of 59.53m. She ended up finishing sixth at the 2018 Asian Games where Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian to win gold in javelin by winning the men's event.

Annu's gold is the second from track and field for India on Tuesday and fourth from athletics overall. Parul Chaudhary earlier won the women's 5000m event, adding to the silver she won at the women's 3000m steeplechase final on Monday (2nd Oct 2023).

Annu threw 56.99m in her first attempt and followed that up with a throw of 61.28m. She then threw 59.24m before flinging 62.92m in her fourth attempt. That gave her the lead and she followed that up with a throw of 57.66m. Her final throw was a foul but her gold medal had already been confirmed by then.

It added to the golds won by by shotputter Tajinderpal Singh Toor and men's 3000m steeplechase winner Avinash Sable. Toor defended his Asian Games gold while Sable smashed the Games record to cruise to a comfortable win..

Source : Hindustan Times

Correct Answer :   India and Bangladesh

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India and Bangladesh commenced the 11th edition of annual joint military exercise, SAMPRITI on 03rd October 2023 in Umroi, Meghalaya. The exercise underscores the importance of enhancing interoperability between the two armies, sharing tactical drills, and promoting best practices.

SAMPRITI-XI, scheduled for 14 days, will engage approximately 350 personnel from both sides. Centered on the conduct of Sub-Conventional Operations as per Chapter VII of the UN mandate, SAMPRITI-XI will include a Command Post Exercise (CPX) and a Field Training Exercise (FTX), culminating in a Validation Exercise.

Sampriti Exercise is a bilateral defence cooperation exercise between the armies of India and Bangladesh. It is seen as a part of Indo-Bangladesh defence cooperation.

This exercise, alternatingly organised by both countries, signifies strong bilateral defence cooperation initiatives. With its inception in Jorhat, Assam in 2009, the exercise has witnessed ten successful editions till 2022.

20 Officers from each contingent will participate in the CPX, focusing on decision-making after thorough deliberations. This will be followed by FTX wherein grassroots-level operations will be validated.

The FTX will include a series of joint tactical drills for counter-terrorist operations such as hostage rescue, crowd control measures, and use of helicopters in counter-terrorist operations. T

The Validation Exercise will be conducted on 14th and 15th October 2023 in Darranga Field Firing Range, Assam. During the course of the exercise, the participants will also get to witness the prowess of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ Equipment Display.

SAMPRITI-XI promises to further enhance defence cooperation between India and Bangladesh, fostering deeper bilateral relations, cultural understanding, and mutual benefits from shared experiences in Sub Conventional Operations..

Source : AIR