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

Correct Answer :   6.4%

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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) projects growth in India’s gross domestic product (GDP) to moderate to 6.4% in fiscal year (FY) 2023 ending on 31 March 2024 and rise to 6.7% in FY2024, driven by private consumption and private investment on the back of government policies to improve transport infrastructure, logistics, and the business ecosystem.

* The projection is part of the latest edition of ADB’s flagship economic publication, Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2023, released 4th April 2023.

* The growth moderation for India in FY2023 is premised on an ongoing global economic slowdown, tight monetary conditions, and elevated oil prices. However, FY2024 is expected to see faster growth in investment, thanks to supportive government policies and sound macroeconomic fundamentals, lower nonperforming loans in banks, and significant corporate deleveraging that will enhance bank lending, according to ADO April 2023.

* Despite the global slowdown, India’s economic growth rate is stronger than in many peer economies and reflects relatively robust domestic consumption and lesser dependence on global demand, said ADB Country Director for India Takeo Konishi.

* The Government of India’s strong infrastructure push under the Prime Minister’s Gati Shakti (National Master Plan for Multimodal Connectivity) initiative, logistics development, and industrial corridor development will contribute significantly to raising industrial competitiveness and boosting future growth.

* Inflation will likely moderate to 5% in FY2023, assuming moderation in oil and food prices, and slow further to 4.5% in FY2024 as inflationary pressures subside.

* In tandem, monetary policy in FY2023 is expected to be tighter as core inflation persists, while becoming more accommodative in FY2024. The current account deficit is projected to decline to 2.2% of GDP in FY2023 and 1.9% in FY2024. Growth in goods exports is forecast to moderate in FY2023 before improving in 2024...

Source : ADB

Correct Answer :   Canara Bank

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Canara Bank has introduced “Premium Payroll Package” for the Salary account holders with competitive features. The product has been designed to meet all Banking requirements of Salaried Customers.

* The features such as free Term Life Insurance, Insta over Draft, free Personal & Air Accident Insurance coverage, Premium Cards are some of the unique features of the product apart of the other various features offered. Account is designed in terms of the whole 360-degree requirement of the salaried class.

* On the occasion, Shri. K. Satyanarayana Raju, MD&CEO, Canara Bank, elaborated the different unique features of the product & said that, “It gives me immense pleasure to introduce this new premium service to our customers as our customers deserves the best.”

* Canara Bank’s customers can avail this facility across all its branches in India.

Eligibility :

All employees of a firm/company with a minimum of 5 employees.

Age : 18-65 years

Salary Band : Rs. 50,000-Rs.1,00,000.

Source : Financial Express

Correct Answer :   Skyroot Aerospace

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In Telangana, private space vehicle company Skyroot Aerospace has test-fired its 3D-printed "Dhawan II engine" for a duration of 200 seconds.

* The engine was developed by the company for its heavier vehicle, Vikram II. The cryogenic engine that was tested yesterday will be used as the upper stage of the updated version of Vikram-II.

* A cryogenic upper stage instead of a solid fuel stage enhances the payload carrying capacity of a rocket.

* The Skyroot carried out its first sub-orbital flight in November last year (2022). The launch used a single-stage solid fuel Vikram S rocket.

* The Vikram-1 rocket, the first in the series of rockets being developed by the company, will use three solid-fuel stages to take satellites to orbit.

* A company release in Hyderabad stated that the Skyroot plans to carry out its first orbital flight by the year-end, with the updated Vikram II rocket scheduled to become launch-ready by next year (2024).

* This schedule will make the company the first private launcher from South Asia...

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Kenya

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On April 11 2023, Kenya’s 3U Earth observation satellite, the Taifa-1, designed and developed by SayariLabs and EnduroSat, will launch aboard SpaceX‘s Falcon-9 Rocket at the Vandenberg Base, California.

* In addition, a delegation team, led by the Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru from Kenya, will travel to the USA to witness the launch of the Taifa-1.

* The satellite mission was established to leverage its hyperspectral camera to enable the availability of accurate and timely Earth observation data for relevant stakeholders in a wide range of sectors to make strategic developmental decisions in the country.

* In addition, satellite data from Taifa-1 will enable authorities to support the agricultural industry, alleviate food insecurity, ensure efficiently managed natural resources, and enable proper environmental observations, among other benefits..

Source : Africa News

Correct Answer :   6.3%

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World Bank has predicted India's economy to slow in the current fiscal (2023-24) to 6.3% on the back of shrinkage in consumption due to slower income growth.

* The report estimates India's inflation to moderate from 6.6% to 5.5% in the current fiscal.

* The Current Account Deficit (CAD) is expected to be 5.2% in FY24.

* The Economic Survey had projected a growth of 6.5% for the current fiscal while RBI's latest projection pegs growth for FY24 at 6.4%..

Source : Money Control

Correct Answer :   4

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The American Space Agency, NASA has selected the first woman astronaut, "Christina Koch" for its Artemis II mission.

Other crew members : Victor Glover (First Black Astronaut) and Reid Wiseman of NASA, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

* It will involve a fly-by of the moon and a 10-day journey back to Earth.

* It is part of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to land the first woman and the next man on the moon by 2024..

Source : NASA

Correct Answer :   MS Dhoni

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Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni completed 5000 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) during a game against Lucknow Super Giants at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday (3rd April 2023).

* Dhoni became the seventh cricketer to breach the 5000-run mark in the IPL in his 208th innings. Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and AB de Villiers are also part of the 5000-run club.

* Dhoni, playing at the Chepauk after a gap of four years began his innings in style by smoking Mark Wood for a maximum in ver first ball.

* Walking in after the fall of Ravindra Jadeja, Dhoni slapped Wood over the wide of the third-man region for a maximum and then drilled the short ball well over the deep square leg boundary for his second six. In the process, the CSK skipper breached the 5000-run mark in the IPL.

* The CSK skipper tried for another maximum but was caught by Ravi Bishnoi at deep cover as CSK posted a challenging 217 for the loss of seven wickets...

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Indian Air Force and the US Air Force

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The Indian Air Force and the US Air Force started the joint exercise 'Cope India' at Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal from April 10 to 21, 2023.

This exercise will enhance operational capability and interoperability between the two air forces.

While Japan will also join as an “observer” in the exercise and witness “air combat and mobility elements” operating from multiple air bases like Kalaikunda, Panagarh, Agra, and Hindon...

Source : Times of India

Correct Answer :   Gregoria Mariska Tunjung

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Gregoria Mariska Tunjung from Indonesia has clinched the Women's title in the 2023 Spain Masters, held in Madrid, Spain from 28 March-2 April 2023.

* She defeated Indian Badminton player, P V Sindhu.

* While Japanese badminton player, Kenta Nishimoto won the men's title.

Other winners :

* Men's doubles : He Jiting and Zhou Haodong (China)

* Women's doubles : Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning (China)

* Mixed doubles : Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Bøje (Denmark)..

Source : H T