Correct Answer :   Manika Batra

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Manika Batra created history on Friday (29th Sep 2023) as she became the first Indian to reach the quarterfinals of the individual table tennis event at the Asian Games 2023. Batra defeated Thailand's Suthasini Sawettabut 4-2.

Manika Batra made history by advancing to the quarterfinals of the women's table tennis competition at the ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou. On Friday, she triumphed over Thailand's Suthasini Sawettabut in a nail-biting round of 16 match-up, winning 4-2 (11-7, 6-11, 12-10, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6).

After a tense tie at 2-2 following the first four sets, Batra managed to secure victory in the subsequent two sets.

With the win, Batra also became the first Indian singles player to reach the quarterfinals in table tennis at the Asian Games. She is now set to face Wang Yidi, with a spot in the semifinals and a guaranteed medal on the line.

In contrast, the men's competition saw mixed results for the Indian team in their round of 16 matches. The seasoned duo of Achanta Sharath Kamal and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran were defeated 0-3 (5-11, 4-11, 7-11) by China's Fan Zhendong and Wang Chuqin. However, Manush Utpalbhai Shah and Manav Vikash Thakkar clinched a hard-fought victory of 3-2 (3-11, 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8) against Singapore's Yew En Koen Pang and Izaac Quek Yong. They will next face top seeds Woojin Jang and Jonghoon Lim in the quarterfinals..

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   India

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Shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Swapnil Kusale and Akhil Sheoran clinched gold in men’s rifle 3P team event at the ongoing Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou on Friday (29th Sep 2023).

En route to their gold medal, the Indian shooters also broke the World Record after achieving a cumulative 1769 points, eight more than the previous record set by the United States in 2022 at the CAT championships.

HIGHLIGHTS :

Swapnil and Aishwary amassed an identical 591 cumulative points to finish first and second respectively in the qualification event to advance into the final, which will happen later in the day. Despite ending up on same points, Swapnil(33) finished above compatriot Aishwary(27) in the rankings table due to superior inner 10s record.

Additionally, both the shooters set a new qualification Asian Games and Asian record.

Akhil, despite finishing fifth in individual rankings, had to unfortunately miss out on the qualification as only two shooters from a country can take part in the final..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Roshibina Devi

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India's Roshimina Devi won silver medal in the 60 kg women's Wushu category in the Asian Games 2023.

In the same shooting, the men's 10 meter pistol team (Sarabjot Singh, Arjun Singh Cheema and Shiva Narwal) won the gold medal for the country.

India has won a total of 6 gold medals so far..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Do-228

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) has recently celebrated the arrival of the first of six state-of-the-art Dornier Do-228 aircraft, exclusively manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This upgraded version of the aircraft is set to bolster the IAF’s operational capabilities with its advanced features, marking a significant milestone in the modernization efforts of the Indian defense forces.


A Strategic Deal for Modernization :

The foundation for this crucial development was laid in March when the Ministry of Defence inked a deal with HAL for the procurement of six Dornier-228 aircraft, allocating a budget of Rs 667 crore. This deal represents a significant step forward in the ongoing efforts to modernize and upgrade the Indian Air Force’s fleet.


Legacy and Advancements of the Dornier-228 Aircraft in the IAF :

The Dornier-228 aircraft has a rich history within the IAF, having been employed for Route Transport Role and communication tasks. These versatile aircraft have also played a pivotal role in training transport pilots, contributing to the overall proficiency of the Air Force. However, the introduction of this new batch of six aircraft heralds a new era of capabilities and efficiency.

These upgraded Dornier-228 aircraft come equipped with a range of advanced features that set them apart. The inclusion of new engines, composite propellers, advanced avionics, and a modern glass cockpit significantly enhances their performance and usability.

Versatility at its Best :

One of the standout characteristics of the Dornier-228 aircraft is its versatility. Designed to fulfill various needs, from utility and commuter transport to maritime surveillance, these aircraft are true multipurpose assets. Their ability to operate from semi-prepared or short runways makes them particularly valuable, especially in the challenging terrains of the northeastern and island regions of India.


Strengthening Operational Capability :

The addition of these six Dornier-228 aircraft to the IAF’s fleet is poised to make a substantial impact on the Air Force’s operational capability, particularly in remote and challenging areas. With enhanced fuel-efficient engines and five-bladed composite propellers, they are well-suited for short-haul operations, providing crucial support where it is needed the most.


A Symbol of Regional Unity: India’s Gift to Sri Lanka :

In a demonstration of strong regional partnership and camaraderie, the Indian Navy has taken a significant step by presenting its Dornier Do-228 maritime patrol aircraft to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). This gesture underscores the enduring cooperation between India and Sri Lanka and highlights the importance of unity among neighboring nations in the pursuit of shared security and prosperity.

The transfer of this maritime patrol aircraft to the SLAF not only enhances Sri Lanka’s maritime surveillance capabilities but also strengthens the bonds of friendship and collaboration between the two nations. It serves as a shining example of how regional cooperation can play a pivotal role in maintaining stability and security in the Indian Ocean region.

Correct Answer :   The Kapol Co-operative Bank

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The RBI on Monday (25th Sep 2023) said it has cancelled the license of Mumbai-based The Kapol Co-operative Bank Limited as the lender does not have adequate capital and earning prospects.

Consequent to the cancellation of the license, the cooperative bank has been prohibited from conducting the business of 'banking' which includes, among other things, acceptance of deposits and repayment of deposits with immediate effect, the Reserve Bank said in a statement.

The Additional Secretary & Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Ministry of Cooperation, has also been requested to issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator for the bank, it said.

On liquidation, the RBI said every depositor would be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of ₹ 5 lakh from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).

About 96.09 per cent of the depositors are entitled to receive full amount of their deposits from DICGC.

Giving details, the RBI said the bank does not have adequate capital and earning prospects and its continuance is prejudicial to the interests of its depositors.

"The bank with its present financial position would be unable to pay its present depositors in full," the RBI said.

As of July 24, 2023, DICGC has already paid ₹ 230.16 crore of the total insured deposits based on the willingness received from the concerned depositors of the bank..

Source : NDTV

Correct Answer :   Deependra Singh Airee

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Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee holds the record for the fastest fifty in T20 cricket, courtesy his astonishing nine-ball half-century scored vs Mongolia at the Asian Games 2023 in a group stage match. The knock is also the fastest 50 in T20 Internationals (T20Is).

Dipendra Singh Airee scored an unbeaten 52 off just 10 balls in the match played at the Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field in Hangzhou, Republic of China. The record knock featured an astonishing eight sixes. It also included six successive sixes, of which five came in the penultimate over.

🚨| 𝐓𝟐𝟎𝐈 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭#DipendraAiree 🆚 Mongolia -

5️⃣0️⃣ - 9 Balls

Witness history in the making as Nepal's Dipendra Airee's fastest-ever innings breaks @YUVSTRONG12's T20I record 🏏#SonySportsNetwork #Cheer4India #IssBaar100Paar #Cricket #Hangzhou2022 |… pic.twitter.com/oFwfEa9Oxv

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 27, 2023

Before the Nepalese batter, former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh held the record for the fastest 50 in T20 cricket for almost 16 years. Considered one of the most iconic batting performances in modern cricket, Yuvraj's memorable knock came gainst England at Durban in the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup in 2007. It still stands as the fastest 50 at the T20 World Cup.

In the group stage match, Yuvraj Singh reached his half-century in just 12 balls. During his 58 off 16 balls, Yuvraj Singh hit three fours and seven sixes, six of which came in consecutive balls in a single Stuart Broad over. It was the first time any player hit six sixes in a single over in T20 cricket...

Source : Olympics

Correct Answer :   Sift Kaur Samra

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Indian shooter Sift Kaur Samra clinched the gold medal in the 50m rifle 3 positions women's individual final by a whopping 7.3 points at the Asian Games 2023.

The 22-year-old shooter scored a total of 469.6 points to shatter the world record in the event.

Meanwhile, Ashi Chouksey settled for a bronze medal with 451.9 points. She was in silver medal contention, however, lost out to China's Zhang Qiongyue in the standing elimination round at Hangzhou.

Earlier, the women's team of Manu Bhaker, Isha Singh and Rhythm Sangwan had won gold in the 25 meter pistol event.  

The Indian duo had bagged the silver medal in the 50m rifle 3 positions women's team event earlier today (27th Sep 2023)..

Source : Olympics

Correct Answer :   India

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India's dressage team cantered to its first ever Asian Games 2023 gold and only second medal in this discipline in the history of the sport with the quartet of Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh, Vipul Hriday Chheda and Anush Agarwalla living up to expectations, here on Tuesday (26th Sep 2023).

The Indian quartet was performing well in the selection trials as their scores either matched or were better than the Asian Games medal winners from the previous editions.

It was more about the colour of medal they would win and they grabbed the top place on the podium by aggregating 209.205 percentage points, leaving behind China (204.882 %) and Hong Kong (204.852%).

The last time the sport of equestrian contributed to India's Asian Games tally was in 1986 when the country won a dressage bronze.

In the 1982 edition in New Delhi, the Indian team had grabbed three gold medals in Eventing and Tent Pegging competitions.

Raghubir Singh had won a gold in individual Eventing in 1982 and then added another yellow metal in Team Eventing alongside Ghulam Mohammed Khan, Bishal Singh and Milkha Singh.

Rupinder Singh Brar won the third gold medal in individual Tent Pegging.

In dressage, the horse and rider are judged on how they perform a series of movements. Each movement is marked out of 10 (from 0 to 10).

Each rider gets an overall score and from there, a percentage is worked out. The rider with the highest percentage is the winner of his class.

Top three scorers in a team are counted to determine the winner.

It was a long and difficult journey for the Indian team which has an interesting mixture of riders.

All of them left home at a young age and have been training in Europe separately for the last few years away from their family.

They took part in the Asian Games selection trials organised in Europe by the Equestrian Federation of India.

Their horses were quarantined in Aachen in Germany for seven days under strict rules before they were brought to China on September 21..

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   Odisha

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Odisha Scientist Swati Nayak wins Norman Borlaug Field Award 2023

Fondly called “Bihana Didi” (Seed Lady) by local communities in Odisha, Indian agricultural scientist "Swati Nayak" became the third Indian agriculture scientist to win the prestigious Norman Borlaug Field Award 2023.

The Norman Borlaug Field Award 2023 is presented by the World Food Prize Foundation in memory of the Nobel awardee Dr. Norman Borlaug, for outstanding achievements in international agriculture and food production by individuals under 40.

Nayak speaks to businessline about the importance of the award, her work with the agricultural community and more..

Source : The Hindu Businessline

Correct Answer :   PNB

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Power PSU REC Ltd and public lender Punjab National Bank (PNB) on Tuesday (26th Sep 2023) inked an agreement to co-finance projects in power, infrastructure and logistics projects.

The two entities will jointly finance loans worth Rs 55,000 crore, REC said in a statement.

"REC Limited signed an MoU with Punjab National Bank (PNB) on Tuesday (26th Sep 2023) to jointly explore the possibility to fund the Power Sector and Infrastructure and Logistics Sector projects under the consortium arrangement. REC and PNB will associate with each other to co-finance loans amounting to Rs 55,000 crore over the next three years," the statement said.

The memorandum of agreement was signed between TSC Bosh, Executive Director (Infra & Logistics), REC, and PNB Chief General Manager Rajeeva in the presence of other senior officials of the two companies.

Under the Ministry of Power, REC Limited provides long-term loans and other finance products for the power infrastructure sector, comprising generation, transmission, distribution, and renewable energy, among others.

The company has a loan book of over Rs 4,54,393 crore..

Source : India Times