Correct Answer : Option (A) - Elavenil Valarivan

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Indian Olympian and shooter Elavenil Valarivan secured a gold medal in the women’s 10 m air rifle event at the ongoing International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) World Cup being held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday (16th Sep 2023) night.

* She secured a gold by firing 252.2 points in the final of the event. This is India’s first medal in the tournament. In the second place was France’s Oceanne Muller. She scored 251.9 points, falling just short of the Indian. The third position was grabbed by China’s Jiale Zhang, scoring 229 points.

* Sports Authority of India (SAI) Media shared the news of Elavenil’s win on their X (Formerly Twitter) handle.

* The Rio event will be the last ISSF World Cup for rifles and pistol shooters in 2023 before the finals in Doha, Qatar, from November 18 to 27.

* The Indian shooters chosen for the Asian Games 2023, which begin on September 23 in Hangzhou, China, have chosen to skip the Rio World Cup.

* India finished with four medals – one gold, two silvers, and one bronze – at the May ISSF World Cup for rifle and pistol shooters in Baku, Azerbaijan.

* At the ISSF World Cups staged so far in 2023, Indian shooters have won a total of 23 medals – seven gold, four silver, and 12 bronze. The Indians are presently fourth in the medal standings..

Source : Telangana Today

Correct Answer : Option (C) - Karnataka

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The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala — the famed Hoysala temples of Belur, Halebid and Somananthpura in Karnataka have been added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage list.

This inclusion marks the 42nd UNESCO World Heritage Site in India and comes just a day after Rabindranath Tagore's Santiniketan also received this distinguished recognition.

The temples were finalised as India’s nomination for consideration as World Heritage for the year 2022-2023. The 'Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala' have been on UNESCO's Tentative list since April 15, 2014.

All these three Hoysala temples are already protected monuments of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).


What is the history and significance of Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala?

The sacred ensembles of the Hoysalas, constructed during the 12th and 13th centuries are represented here by the three components of Belur, Halebid, and Somnathapura.

While the Hoysala temples maintain a fundamental Dravidian morphology, they exhibit substantial influences from the Bhumija style prevalent in Central India, the Nagara traditions of northern and western India, and the Karnataka Dravida modes favoured by the Kalyani Chalukyas, a PIB statement said describing the temples.

List of all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India :

1. Agra Fort (1983)

2. Ajanta Caves (1983)

3. Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar (2016)

4. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)

5. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004)

6. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)

7. Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)

8. Dholavira: a Harappan City (2021)

9. Elephanta Caves (1987)

10. Ellora Caves (1983)

11. Fatehpur Sikri (1986)

12. Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (2014)

13. Great Living Chola Temples (1987)

14. Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)

15. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)

16. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)

17. Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013)

18. Historic City of Ahmadabad (2017)

19. Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993)

20. Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019)

21. Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana (2021)

22. Kaziranga National Park (1985)

23. Keoladeo National Park (1985)

24. Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986)

25. Khangchendzonga National Park (2016)

26. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002)

27. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985)

28. Mountain Railways of India (1999)

29. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988)

30. Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)

31. Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat (2014)

32. Red Fort Complex (2007)

33. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)

34. Sun Temple, Konârak (1984)

35. Sundarbans National Park (1987)

36. Taj Mahal (1983)

37. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (2016)

38. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)

39. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018)

40. Western Ghats (2012)

41. Santiniketan, West Bengal

42. Sacred ensembles of the Hoysalas, Karnataka

Correct Answer : Option (B) - Carlos Sainz

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Ferrari's Carlos Sainz won the Singapore Grand Prix 2023 on Sunday (Sep 17, 2023) to end Formula 1 leader Max Verstappen's record run of 10 wins in a row and shatter Red Bull's dream of going through the season unbeaten.

McLaren's Lando Norris finished a close second and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton took third place as Red Bull ended up off the podium for the first time since last November's Brazilian Grand Prix.

In a strategic, slow-burning thriller of a race, Sainz - nicknamed "smooth operator" - played his hand perfectly after starting on the pole, slowing the field to close any safety car window and saving his tyres before helping former teammate Norris stave off the chasing Mercedes pair.

Mercedes' George Russell, pushing hard for the win on far fresher medium tyres than the leaders, crashed on the last lap while in third place..

Source : Channel News Asia

Correct Answer : Option (C) - India

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India has won the Cricket Asia Cup 2023 title by defeating Sri Lanka. The 16th edition of the tournament was co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Teams from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India and Nepal participated in it.

The Indian team has dominated this tournament. India has won the Asia Cup title a record 8 times. The Sri Lankan team has won this title 6 times. Pakistan has won the Asia Cup twice.


Asia Cup Winners List :

The 6 nations' cricket tournament Asia Cup 2023 is over on 17th September 2023 in Sri Lanka. The first match was played between Pakistan and Nepal in Multan, Pakistan on 30th August 2023 and the final match was played between India and Sri Lanka. The Asia Cup Winners list from 1984 to 2023 is given below in tabular form. The Asia Cup Winners List table contains the Asia Cup year, winner team, runner-up team, and hosting country.

Correct Answer : Option (B) - Rahul Mishra

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* Rahul Mishra received the French government's Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres honor 2023.

* This award was previously won by his compatriots Ritu Kumar, Ritu Beri, and Wendell Rodricks.

* His works that highlight the highest standards and craft of local artisans in India have been shown at prestigious fashion weeks in Paris, Milan, and Mumbai..

Source : Money Control

Correct Answer : Option (B) - IndusInd Bank

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IndusInd Bank on Thursday, (14 September 2023), announced the launch of the ‘Virtual Commercial Card' to redefine cross-border transactions for corporates and travel agents.

* In a tie-up with Visa, this virtual card has additional layers of security which grants the users control over their international expenses, making it a safe and hassle-free experience for the customers, IndusInd Bank said.

* Launched as ‘Virtual commercial Credit Card’, this offering is tailored to cater to the requirements of corporates and travel industry, who make numerous bookings in multiple foreign currencies.

* "With the Virtual Commercial Cards, these commercial users can generate virtual cards or credentials in foreign-denominated currencies as well, safeguarding the parent card number, ensuring utmost security for transactions. Each virtual card can be fully customised with transaction-specific limits and even the expiry dates can be defined to ensure secure and seamless payment experience," IndusInd Bank said.

* Ramakrishnan Gopalan, Head – Products, India & South Asia, Visa said, “Providing a high degree of control, reduced complexity and complete transparency, this commercial card solution built on the Visa Payables Automation platform also allows for multiple user access and better expense management, while providing the highest standards of transaction security.”

* Sheetal Lalwani, Cofounder & COO, Juspay said, “We’re making it easy for the buyers and suppliers in the corporate & travel industry to streamline their payments processes with our intuitive, frictionless, tokenisation-cum-AFA regulation compliant, and maker-checker workflow based Virtual commercial Card solution in partnership with Indusind Bank and Visa."..

Source : CNBC

Correct Answer : Option (D) - Neeraj Chopra

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Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra finished second in the men’s event at the Diamond League Final in Eugene, Oregon, USA 0n 16th Sep 2023.

The Indian's best throw of 83.80 meter came in his second attempt. However, Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch, won his third title with a best throw of 84.24 meter.

Reigning Olympic and world champion Chopra, who holds the Indian national record of 89.94 meter, won a world championship silver medal at the same venue last year (2022) with an 88.13 meter effort.

Earlier this month, Chopra, who won India's first-ever gold at the World Athletics Championships, failed to defend his Diamond League title, falling just short of Jakub Vadlejch 85.86 meter again, who took home the trophy.

Next, he will defend his title at the Asian Games 2023 starting in Hangzhou later this month..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer : Option (A) - $24.16 Billion

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India’s merchandise exports in August 2023 declined by 6.86% to $34.48 billion compared to $37.02 billion in August 2022. The decline is evident in key sectors like Non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery. India’s trade deficit for August 2023 narrowed to $24.16 billion, showing a 2.8% improvement from the $24.86 billion deficit in the same month last year (2022).


Merchandise Imports Dip : Imports of merchandise also saw a decrease, down by 5.23% to $58.64 billion from $61.88 billion in August 2022.


Trade Deficit Narrows :

* Despite the decline in both exports and imports, India’s trade deficit for August 2023 narrowed to $24.16 billion, showing a 2.8% improvement from the $24.86 billion deficit in the same month last year.

April-August Trends :

* In the April-August period of 2023, merchandise exports contracted by 11.9% to $172.95 billion.
* Merchandise imports also fell by 12% to $271.83 billion during the same period.


Services Sector :

* In August 2023, services exports were estimated at $26.39 billion, slightly down from $26.50 billion in August 2022.
* Services imports for August 2023 stood at $13.86 billion, down from $15.22 billion in August 2022.


Services Sector Growth (April-August) :

* Services exports for the period from April to August 2023 reached $133.38 billion, reflecting a positive growth rate of 5.14% compared to the same period in the previous year.
* Services imports for the same period stood at $71.98 billion.

Sectoral Highlights :

* Notable sectors with substantial growth in merchandise exports in August 2023 included Iron Ore (1556.09%), Oil Meals (57.26%), and Electronic Goods (26.29%).
* Electronic goods exports surged to $2.17 billion in August 2023, compared to $1.72 billion in August 2022, with substantial growth of 35.22% over the April-August 2023 period.


Challenges in Imports :

* Merchandise imports faced challenges in August 2023, with 15 out of 30 key sectors experiencing negative growth.
* Notable sectors with declining imports included Silver (-78.15%), Cotton Raw & Waste (-74.67%), and Fertilisers (-55.69%).


Overall Trade Performance (August 2023) :

* India’s overall exports, including both merchandise and services, stood at $60.87 billion in August 2023, reflecting a 4.17% decline compared to August 2022.
* Imports for the same period totaled $72.50 billion, decreasing by 5.97% year-on-year, resulting in an overall trade deficit of $11.63 billion for August.

Correct Answer : Option (B) - Rs 45,000 crore

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On September 15, the Government of India took a significant step towards strengthening the country’s defense capabilities by approving a series of proposals. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, gave the green light to nine acquisition proposals, amounting to a total of Rs 45,000 crore.

These proposals encompassed various aspects of defense, from the Indian Air Force’s modernization to improving the Indian Navy’s capabilities and enhancing the overall indigenous content in defense projects.


Enhancing the Indian Air Force :

One of the key decisions made by the DAC was the approval of the procurement of 12 Su-30MKI aircraft for the Indian Air Force. These advanced fighter jets will be manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a significant step towards bolstering the nation’s indigenous defense production capabilities. The project involves not only the assembly of aircraft but also the development of related ground systems.

Crucially, these Su-30MKIs will need to incorporate more than 60 percent indigenous content, marking a substantial stride in achieving self-reliance in defense production. These aircraft will be equipped with state-of-the-art Indian weapons and sensors, enhancing the Indian Air Force’s operational capabilities.

A Boost for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ :

The Indian Ministry of Defence emphasized that all these procurements will be sourced from Indian vendors under the Buy Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM)/Buy (Indian) category. This move aligns with the goal of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat,’ or self-reliant India, by promoting indigenous defense manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign imports.


Indian Air Force Upgrades :

In addition to the Su-30MKI procurement, the Indian Air Force is set to receive crucial upgrades. The DAC approved avionic upgrades for Dornier aircraft, enhancing their accuracy and reliability for operations. Furthermore, the Dhruvastra Short Range Air-to-Surface Missile, a potent indigenous precision-guided weapon, will be provided for the indigenously built ALH Mk-IV choppers. These enhancements will significantly improve the Air Force’s capabilities.

Strengthening Mechanized Forces :

The DAC also focused on enhancing the protection, mobility, attack capability, and survivability of mechanized forces. It approved proposals to procure Light Armoured Multipurpose Vehicles (LAMV) and Integrated Surveillance and Targeting System (ISAT-S). Additionally, High Mobility Vehicle (HMV) Gun Towing Vehicles will be acquired to facilitate swift mobilization and deployment of artillery guns and radars. These acquisitions will bolster India’s mechanized forces and increase their readiness.


Next-Generation Survey Vessels for the Indian Navy :

Furthermore, The Indian Navy will receive a substantial upgrade with the approval of the procurement of Next Generation Survey Vessels. These vessels will significantly enhance the Navy’s capabilities in performing hydrographic operations, strengthening its maritime presence and security.

Correct Answer : Option (A) - Max Life Insurance

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Max Life Insurance Company on Tuesday (12th Sep 2023) made its foray into the health and wellness category with the launch of a flagship offering, - Secure Earnings & Wellness Advantage Plan (SEWA).

It is the first of its kind offering in the industry that integrates health, protection, savings and holistic wellness benefits to cater to the evolving needs of the modern consumer, the company said.

It offers a comprehensive plan that covers hospitalisation, ICU, surgeries, critical illness, disability besides life cover.

Aim : To drive insurance adoption amongst women and transgender customers for financial inclusion, it provides a discount of 5 percent in the first year premium to these customer segments.

Additionally, the offering provides customers with access to Max Fit wellness digital app, which incentivises them for a leading a disciplined and healthier lifestyle, by providing enhanced maturity benefits. Customers can unlock a 5 percent discount on the first year premium by registering on the app.

They can record their healthy habits on the app and earn wellness boosters. These accrued wellness boosters will be paid along with the maturity benefit.

As per Max Life’s latest research on retirement (India Retirement Index Study), 59 percent of Indians prioritize health while planning for retirement, reflecting a growing consciousness about holistic well-being. Keeping in mind the evolving preferences of the consumer, SEWA aims to provide a unique blend of financial security and health benefits.

Prashant Tripathy, Managing Director & CEO, Max Life said, “SEWA is a unique product that combines the benefit of health, security and financial stability."..

Source : CNBC