SPOTLIGHT

Monthly Current Affairs

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RBI - NABARD - SEBI

SPOTLIGHT – FEBRUARY
2023
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Contents
NATIONAL NEWS ......................................................................................................................................................... 2
STATE NEWS............................................................................................................................................................... 42
AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT..................................................................................................... 53
DEFENCE NEWS ........................................................................................................................................................ 57
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ................................................................................................................ 62
INTERNATIONAL NEWS............................................................................................................................................ 66
REPORTS AND INDICES .......................................................................................................................................... 77
BANKING AND ECONOMY ....................................................................................................................................... 87
GDP FORECASTS .................................................................................................................................................... 110
APPOINTMENTS ....................................................................................................................................................... 111
IMPORTANT DAYS ................................................................................................................................................... 117
AWARDS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 121
SPORTS ...................................................................................................................................................................... 126
MISCELLANEOUS..................................................................................................................................................... 131
QUESTIONS ............................................................................................................................................................... 132

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NATIONAL NEWS
1. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified the FSSAI (Finance)
Regulations, 2023 to maintain a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Fund.
• This fund will include grants given to the food authority by the Central government among
others. This will be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General annually.
• There will be a Finance Committee. The Chairman of the committee will be Executive
Director-Finance of FSSAI (incumbent: Sharad Aggarwal).
o The committee will have a representative from the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare and two members nominated by the FSSAI among others.

2. President Droupadi Murmu will grace the opening of the Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan –
Udyan Utsav 2023.

3. The Startup20 inception meeting has concluded in Hyderabad.

• Chair Startup20 Dr Chintan Vaishnav, launched the Startup20X, which has also been
incorporated under the Startup20 Engagement Group.
• Startup20X has been launched to bring together leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators,
visionaries, educators, incubation professionals, women, youth, artisans, artists, activists,
and others, to discuss experiences and best practices.

4. Aadhaar e-KYC transactions have jumped 18.53% to 84.8 crores between October to
December 2022.

5. President of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA), H.E. Mr.
Csaba Korosi called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

6. Patiala's first Military Literature Festival has been concluded.

7. The first two-day G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group meeting under
India’s G20 Presidency is set to be held in Chandigarh.

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8. In October 2022, the Ministry of Culture has launched the Har Ghar Dhyan Campaign, in
collaboration with the Art of Living organization, to spread awareness about mental health.
• In order to increase outreach, especially to the youth, the project will enlist Art of Living
teachers as meditation coaches, institutions' representatives, and interested members of
the public as meditation ambassadors.
• The project will be completed on Independence Day in 2023.
• The Ministry roped in the University Grants Commission and the school board CBSE to
participate in the campaign.
• According to the National Mental Health Survey of 2015-16, there are 150 million
Indians suffering from mental illness.

9. United Kingdom will be the partner country for Telangana’s flagship pharma - biotech
event named BioAsia 2023.
• Theme - Shaping the Next Generation: Advancing for ONE
o O – One Health
o N – Next Generation
o E - Equity

10. Union Minister for Labour and Employment Shri Bhupender Yadav will organize the First
Employment Working Group meeting to be held in Jodhpur on 2-4th February 2023.
• Areas of discussion -
o Addressing Global Skill Gaps
o Gig and Platform Economy and Social Protection &
o Sustainable Financing of Social Security

11. India conducts the Beating Retreat 2023 ceremony on January 29 to end its Republic Day
celebrations on Raisina Hills. Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force participate in the celebrations.
• United Kingdom used the Beating Retreat Ceremony to call their patrolling units to the
castle. The ceremony started in India in 1955.

12. Ministry of Defence was the top procuring ministry of goods and services from MSME
sellers in the calendar year 2022 through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).

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• In terms of state, Uttar Pradesh ranked top buyer of MSME goods worth Rs 9,642 crore
through GeM in 2022.

13. Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership (IIDL) has organized Model International
Leaders Meet (MILM) on the theme of “G20” at Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini’s Uttan campus
near Mumbai.
• Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, the parent organisation of IIDL has is also the secretariat of
the G20 Civil Society engagement group – Civil20.
• Every year, IIDL organises a Model International Leaders Meet (MILM) to orient students
towards international relations.
• Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership (IIDL), a centre promoted by Rambhau Mhalgi
Prabodhini, is designed to produce trained, ethical, and responsible leaders.

14. Justice G. Rohini-led commission for the sub-categorisation of other backward classes
(OBCs) has now been given 14th extension in its tenure by the President.
• The commission, formed in October 2017 under the Article 340, was initially given 12
weeks to finish the task of sub-categorising the nearly 3,000 castes within the OBC
umbrella and recommend division of the 27% OBC quota among them equitably.
• Reason for the delay – lack of data availability on OBCs

Knowledge Nuggets -
• Reservation percentage as per the Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of
Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pension – 15% (SC), 7.5% (ST), and 27% (OBC)
for recruitment and admission in educational institutions through open all-India
competition
• Other categorizations – Women, Minorities, Persons-with-Disabilities, Ex-servicemen
among others
• Vertical vs Horizontal reservation - Vertical reservation creates a new category of
reservation for example SC, ST, and OBC whereas Horizontal reservation is applied
separately to each vertical category, and not across the board.

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o Horizontal reservation refers to the equal opportunity provided to other categories

of beneficiaries such as women, veterans, the transgender community, and
individuals with disabilities, cutting through the vertical categories.
• The inclusion /exclusion of categories in OBC list is the responsibility of both Centre
and the State whereas the inclusion/exclusion of SCs and STs is the responsibility of only
Centre.
• Indra Sawhney & Others v. Union of India case of 1992 capped the percentage of
reservation to 50%.

15. PM- Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother
Earth (PM-PRANAM) has been launched by Central Government to promote alternatives to
fertilizers.
• PM PRANAM was launched under the GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources)
Dhan Scheme.
• 500 new “waste to wealth” plants will be established under the GOBAR Dhan scheme in
2023-24. Of these, 200 will be Compressed Biogas plants (75 in urban areas) and 300
will be cluster-based plants.
• A total of Rs 10,000 crores has been allocated for this scheme.
• All these announcements were made in the Union Budget 2023-24.

16. Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the Agriculture Accelerator Fund to support agro-
startups.
• It will attempt to implement cost-effective solutions to problems encountered by farmers
by introducing contemporary technologies and boosting output.
• In Union Budget 2023-24, Finance Minister allocated Rs 1.25 lakh crores for agriculture.

17. The Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Program will be launched with an outlay of Rs. 2,200 crores
to boost availability of disease-free and quality planting material for high value horticultural
crops.
• Purpose – for bringing innovative and affordable solutions for challenges faced by farmers,
and bring in modern technologies to transform agricultural practices, increase productivity
and profitability

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• To make India a global hub for millets, the Indian Institute of Millet Research,
Hyderabad will be supported as the Centre of Excellence for sharing best practices,
research and technologies at the international level.
• An agriculture credit target was increased to Rs 20 lakh crores with focus on animal
husbandry, dairy and fisheries.
• A new sub-scheme of PM Matsya Sampada Yojana will also be launched with a targeted
investment of Rs 6,000 crores to further enable activities of fishermen, fish vendors, and
micro & small enterprises, improve value chain efficiencies, and expand the market.

Note: PM-PRANAM, Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Program, MISHTI Scheme for Mangrove
Conservation, Amrit Dharohar Scheme, National Data Governance Policy, Pradhan Mantri PVTG
Development Mission, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0, National Mission to Eliminate
Sickle Cell Anaemia, Mahila Samman Bachat Patra, National Digital Library are covered in Union
Budget 2022-23 video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EebRy4OTH8U

18. Law and Justice Ministry has constituted a working committee, under the chairmanship of
former Law Secretary PK Malhotra, for the drafting of rules and standards for mediation in
India.
• The committee would provide drafts of the rules and regulations as envisaged under the
Mediation Bill/Act and, also to provide suggestions regarding the setting of various

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standards including, certifications, accreditation, grading, criteria etc, for various

stakeholders under the Mediation Bill.

19. US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (UISPF) has launched the US-India Alliance for
Women’s Economic Empowerment.
• The US-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment is a public-private
partnership between the State Department, USAID, USISPF, and George Washington
University designed to catalyse transformational commitments to foster women’s economic
advancement and inclusion in India.

20. First International Financial Architecture Working Group under the Indian G20
Presidency concluded in Chandigarh.

21. Gandhisagar Floating Festival, Asia’s first floating festival, was organized at Mandsaur,
Madhya Pradesh from Feb 1 to 4.
• While the floating festival will conclude on February 4, the tent city for tourists will continue
for 3 months and the adventure activities will go on for six months.

22. PVR Cinemas has launched “India's first multiplex in an airport complex” in Chennai.

23. Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the PM Vishwakarma Kaushal
Samman Yojana (PM-VIKAS) for the artisans and craftspeople of India in the annual Union
Budget 2023.
• Purpose - to unlock the potential of thousands of artists and craftspeople around the
nation, through the provision of skills training, technology, and the opening of credit lines to
them
• Components of the Scheme -
o Financial aid
o Advanced skill training
o Access to the latest technology
o Integration into the MSMEs
o Paperless payments
o Wider reach and introduction to a global market

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24. National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) was given Rs 100
crores approx. in the Union Budget 2023-24.
• Namaste is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment, as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• Union government is looking to enable 100% mechanical desludging of septic tanks and
sewers in all cities and towns.

25. The first meeting of the Sustainable Finance Working Group was organized in Assam’s
Guwahati as part of India’s year-long G20 presidency to mobilise sustainable finance to help
ensure global growth and stability and promote the transition towards a greener, more resilient,
and inclusive societies and economies.

26. Ministry of Cooperation signed an MoU with the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology, NABARD and Common Service Centres (CSC) e-Governance Services India
Limited to enable thousands of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to provide
different services to rural population across the country.
• Under the MoU, the PACS will now be able to function as CSC to provide all the services
listed on the Digital Seva Portal of CSC scheme to citizens, including banking, insurance,
Aadhaar enrolment/update, legal services, agri-inputs like farm equipment, PAN card,
IRCTC, and rail, bus, and air ticket related services.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Last year, the Central Government set a target to establish 3 lakh Primary Agricultural
Credit Societies (PACS) in the next 5 years.
• As of August 2022, there are 63,000 functional PACS out of a total 95,000 such credit
societies in the country, disbursing agriculture finance of Rs 2 lakh crore.

27. Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) has launched National Diagnostics
Catapult (C-CAMP InDx 2.0).
• The programme is anchored by C-CAMP with support from the Bangalore Life Sciences
Cluster (BLiSc) and funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation and FIND, a global alliance for diagnostics.
• Purpose - to boost India's preparedness for current and future pandemics and scale up
diagnostics space for infectious diseases including but not limited to COVID-19

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• C-CAMP InDx 2.0 builds on the hugely successful, India-wide COVID-19 diagnostics
platform, Indigenisation of Diagnostics (CCAMP-InDx) initiative launched in July 2020.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• C-CAMP is an initiative supported by government agencies, including the Department of
Biotechnology, Department of Science and Technology, NITI Aayog-AIM, Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology, Startup India and the Government of Karnataka.
• In one year since its launch, the C-CAMP InDx programme had achieved its target of
producing one million indigenous RT-PCR test kits for SARS CoV2 per day, building
capacity of more than 200 indigenous MSMEs and academic labs, the largest such
cohort in the country.

28. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) under the Ministry of Agriculture
and Farmers Welfare, has partnered with The Development Innovation Lab (DIL) at the
University of Chicago.
• Purpose - to explore the opportunities to harness innovation to improve food security,
address climate change, and allow farmers to increase their incomes
• The DIL was founded by Nobel Laureate Dr Michael Kremer, University Professor in
Economics at the University of Chicago, and a 2019 co-recipient of the Economics Nobel.

29. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will lay the foundation stone for India’s 5th nano urea plant
at Jharkhand's Deoghar at a cost of Rs 450 crores.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world's first nano urea plant at Kalol,
Gujarat in 2022.
• Two plants will be set up at Aonla (Bareilly) and Phulpur (Prayagraj) in Uttar Pradesh. One
plant will be set up near Bengaluru in Karnataka.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• At present, the country's urea (conventional) production is 260 lakh tonnes, while
around 90 lakh tonnes are imported to meet local demand.
• Target – By 2025, around 60 lakh tonnes of production capacity will be added for
conventional urea, while the output of nano urea is estimated to rise to 44 crores bottles
(of 500 ml each) per annum, which will be equivalent to 200 lakh tonnes of conventional
urea.
• At present, the capacity of nano urea is 5 crore bottles per year.

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• India has set a target of eliminating urea imports by 2025.

30. Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) has launched VIHANGAM, a web-based portal, along with a
drone and ground control system, for introducing drone technology in coal mines.
• The portal allows an authorised person to access real time drone video from the mine
through a dedicated 40 Mbps internet lease line near the mines.
• There is a control station that flies the drone and the system can be operated through the
portal from anywhere.
• This pilot project is at present operational at Bhubaneswari and Lingraj opencast mines of
Talcher Coalfields (both in Odisha).
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) contributes more than 20 % of the total coal produced in
India.
• It is one of the eight subsidiaries of Coal India Limited.
• MCL’s CMD - Shri Om Prakash Singh

31. India, France and the UAE have agreed to establish a formal trilateral cooperation initiative
for expanding cooperation in various fields of mutual interest.

32. India Energy Week 2023 was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

A) E20 Fuel
• PM Modi launched the E20 fuel (20% ethanol mixed with 80% petrol)
during the India Energy Week 2023.
• The fuel is being launched in 83 locations in India spread across 11 states
and UTs.
B) IOC’s Unbottled Initiative
• Indian Oil Corporation has launched “Unbottled” initiative, which uses
recycled polyester (rPET) and cotton to create uniforms for retail customer
attendants and LPG delivery personnel.
• Each set of uniforms of IndianOil’s customer attendant shall support
recycling of around 28 used PET bottles.
• Under this brand, IndianOil targets to meet the requirement of uniforms for
the customer attendants of other Oil Marketing Companies, non-combat

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uniforms for the Army, uniforms/ dresses for Institutions & sales to retail
customers.
C) India’s first Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine
• Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and Ashok Leyland (a company of the
Hinduja Group) unveiled India’s first Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine
(H2-ICE) powered heavy-duty truck,
D) 9th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER)
• India hosted the 9th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable, in association
with International Energy Forum.
• Theme – Mapping New Pathways for Energy Security, Inclusivity Growth,
and Energy Transitions
E) Global Oil Outlook to 2025
• Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has released
the Global Oil Outlook to 2025 report.
• India and China will account for 37% of global GDP in 2045.
• Organization of Economic and Cooperation Development (OECD) will
account for 34% of global GDP.
F) MOUs
• Ministry of Petroleum has signed an MOU with International Energy
Agency (HQ - Paris) for sharing data.
• ONGC Videsh Limited signed an MOU with YPF SA (Yacimientos
Petroliferos Fiscales, Sociedad Anonima), Argentina to enhance
cooperation between the two companies in the energy sector.
o Both entities will collaborate for exploration of oil and enhance
research and training in energy field.
• ONGC Videsh currently has a stake in 32 oil & gas projects in 15 countries.

33. India is planning to launch the International Biofuel Alliance during the G20 Summit, just like
the International Solar Alliance.
• USA and Brazil have agreed to support India in this initiative.
• These two countries are the largest biofuel markets in the world. Together, they
accounted for 84% of the world’s ethanol production and 26% of the world’s biodiesel
production.

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• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated ₹35,000 crore for energy transition
in the Union Budget 2023-24 to achieve the net-zero emission target.

34. India is to achieve 100% electrification of Railways by 2024. The target has been achieved in
five different Railway zones.
• The fifth zone to achieve this was the North Central Railways.
• Recently, the Vikarabad (Telangana) – Parli-Vaijnath (Maharashtra) line was electrified.
It will benefit the people in the states of Karnataka, Telangana, and Maharashtra.

35. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has launched the Digital India Mobile
Van to spread awareness of Digital India initiatives and about the G20 Digital Economy
Working Group’s meeting, which will be held in Lucknow.
• The van will provide information about the Digital India initiatives such as Aarogya Setu,
India Stack Global, e-Rupi, PMJDY, Aadhar, Digi locker, e-way bill, UMANG, e-aushadhi,
Co-WIN, etc.
• During the G20 Digital Economy Working Group’s meeting, the Ministry of Electronics
and IT and UN Development Program have partnered to develop digital public
infrastructure in India.

36. Central Government, in collaboration with United Nations Environmental Programme

(UNEP), is implementing a project called ‘Enhancing Circularity and Sustainability’ in India.
• Purpose - to minimize the negative environmental impacts of Indian Textile by
promoting sustainable practices and mainstreaming knowledge on circular production-
based practices in the Textiles and Apparel sectors
• Government has also approved 20 strategic research projects in the areas of Specialty
fibres and geo textiles and amongst the 20 Research projects, 3 projects in the area of
Textile waste recycling have also been approved.

37. The Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Shri Alkesh Kumar
Sharma inaugurated the G20 Cyber Security Exercise and Drill for more than 400 domestic
and international participants under India’s G20 presidency in New Delhi.
• Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) conducted this Cyber Security
Exercise and drill in hybrid mode (Physical and Virtual).

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• Strategic Table Top Exercise (TTX) and Operational Drill were also conducted on
CERT-In Exercise Platform.
• The Strategic Table Top Exercise’s (TTX) theme is “Synergy to counter Global Cyber
Crisis”.
• The Operational Drill’s theme is “Building Collective Cyber Resilience”.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has been operational since
January 2004. The constituency of CERT-In is the Indian Cyber Community. CERT-In is
the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents as and when
they occur.
• In the Information Technology Amendment Act 2008, CERT-In has been designated
to serve as the national agency to perform the functions in the area of cyber security.

38. According to the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises’ data, Maharashtra
tops the list in sales of electric vehicles across all segments which have availed of the FAME
II subsidy, followed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
• The top five states collectively account for over 56% of the 0.85 million electric vehicles
bought through the scheme.

39. A total of ₹7,980 crore has been committed to 99 Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) under
the Fund of Funds Scheme (FFS) for start-ups as on December 31, 2022.

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• The Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) Scheme was approved and established in 2016 with
a corpus of Rs 10,000 crore, with contribution spread over the 14th and 15th Finance
Commission cycle based on progress of implementation, to provide capital to the Indian
startups.
• Under FFS, the Scheme does not directly invest in startups, instead provides capital to
SEBI-registered AIFs, known as daughter funds, who in turn invest money in Indian
startups through equity and equity-linked instruments.
• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has been given the responsibility of
choosing the AIFs and overseeing the disbursal of committed capital.
• State-wise distribution of startups supported under FFS as on 31st December 2022 is as
under:

40. First G-20 Energy Transition Working Group meeting began in Bengaluru.
• The next meeting of the working group will be held in Gujarat.

41. Indian Railways is introducing Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train under the ‘Ek
Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ Scheme.
• This “Garvi Gujarat” tour will depart on 28th February from Delhi Safdarjung Station.

42. As on February 1st 2023, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has achieved a staggering
Rs 1.5 lakh crore of Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) in FY23 alone.
• Going by the current pace, the GeM will exceed its annual target of Rs 1.75 lakh crore.
• Cumulatively, the GeM has surpassed the Rs 3 lakh crore GMV since inception.

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43. IIT-Guwahati will host the first Youth-20 (Y20) Inception Meeting 2023 from February 6-8
under G20 to provide an opportunity to the students to voice up their opinions for the audience
worldwide.
• Union minister of youth affairs and sports, Anurag Singh Thakur will hold a ‘Youth
dialogue’ with Y20 delegates followed by the launch of white paper on various themes.
• The Y20 themes are
o Future of Work: Industry 4.0, Innovation and 21st century;
o Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability as a Way of
Life;
o Peace Building and Reconciliation: Ushering in an Era of No War;
o Shared Future: Youth in Democracy and Governance;
o Health, Wellbeing & Sports: Agenda for Youth.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Started in 2012, the Y20 is the only officially recognised platform for young people to
engage with the G20.

44. IIT-Madras will be provided a grant of Rs 242 Crore over a period of five years to undertake
research on Lab Grown Diamonds (LGD).
• Lab grown Diamonds (LGD) is a technology and innovation-driven emerging sector with
high employment potential. These environment-friendly diamonds have optically and
chemically the same properties as natural diamonds.

45. The first three-day Tourism Working Group Meeting under India’s G20 Presidency began at
Dhordo in Kutch, Gujarat.

46. Supreme Court of India hosted the 73rd anniversary of its establishment.
• This year’s event was aired on social media platforms and saw Singapore’s Chief Justice
Sundaresh Menon, who is of Indian origin, as the chief guest.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Article 124 of the Indian Constitution establishes the Supreme Court.
• Supreme Court of India came into existence on 26th January 1950 and is located on Tilak
Marg, New Delhi.

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• Prior to this, the Federal Court of India was established in 1937. It was functioning
between 1937 and 1950.
• The President appoints the Chief Justice and every other judge of the Supreme Court, on
the recommendations of the National Judicial Appointments Commission.
• There is no fixed tenure period as such. Every judge holds the office in Supreme Court
until s/he attains 65 years of age.
• Justice Harilal Jekisundas Kania was the first Chief Justice of India from 1950-51.

47. Bangladesh will start receiving electricity from the Godda power plant (of Adani Group) in
Jharkhand from the first week of March.

48. Ministry of Minority Affairs announced that, for the first time, Haj package costs have been
reduced by around Rs 50,000 under the new Haj Policy.
• The new Haj Policy will run from 2018-22.
• Under the policy, Indian authorities have abolished the VIP quota for pilgrims and allowed
single women to apply as well.
• A.P. Abdullakutty is the chairman of the Haj Committee of India, a statutory body of the
Indian government that organizes Islamic pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia.

49. Ministry of Corporate Affairs has set up a 16-member Committee on Digital Competition
Law (CDCL) to examine the need for a separate law on competition in digital markets.
• Chair of the Committee - Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs (incumbent: Dr Manoj
Govil)

50. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the Department of Integrative
Medicine at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi.
• Department of Integrative Medicine will further collaborations between traditional and
modern systems of medicine to better serve the citizens.
• Central government has decided to open Integrative Medicine Centers at all government
medical establishments, especially all AIIMS in the country.

51. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has crossed the landmark of 20 crores digitally
linked health records.

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• Under the ABDM, citizens can create their ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account)
numbers, to which their digital health records get linked.
• It was launched in September 2021.

52. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of South India’s 1st
Industrial Corridor Project to be implemented at Tumakuru, near Bengaluru in Karnataka
which is spread over 8500 Acre of land under the Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor.
• Tumakuru Industrial Township has been planned with holistic and integrated approach in
line with the principles of PM-Gati Shakti to address the issue of last mile multi-modal
connectivity to the economic zone.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• There are three types of corridors being developed in India, which are Defence
Industrial Corridors, Industrial Corridors, and Freight Corridors.

Defence Industrial Corridors -

• Defence Industrial Corridors – Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu
• Six nodes viz. Agra, Aligarh, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Kanpur and Lucknow have been
identified for developing Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC).
• Five nodes viz. Chennai, Coimbatore, Hosur, Salem, and Tiruchirappalli have been
identified for developing Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor (TNDIC).
• Ministry of Defence is developing these corridors.

Industrial Corridors -
• Industrial Corridors – Total 11
o Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC);
o Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC);
o Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC);
o East Coast Industrial Corridor (ECIC) with Vizag Chennai Industrial Corridor
(VCIC) as Phase 1;
o Bengaluru Mumbai Industrial Corridor (BMIC);
o Extension of CBIC to Kochi via Coimbatore;
o Hyderabad Nagpur Industrial Corridor (HNIC);
o Hyderabad Warangal Industrial Corridor (HWIC);

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o Hyderabad Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (HBIC);

o Odisha Economic Corridor (OEC);
o Delhi Nagpur Industrial Corridor (DNIC).
• 11 Industrial Corridors Projects are being taken up for development with 32 Projects to
be developed in 04 phases up to 2024-25.
• Ministry of Commerce and Industry is developing these Industrial Corridors.

Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s Website

Freight Corridors -
• Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) is a public sector
undertaking under Ministry of Railways.
• Total – 6 corridors

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Source: Wikipedia

53. Yuva Sangam registration portal was launched in New Delhi to build close ties between the
youth of the North East Region and rest of India under the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha
Bharat.
• Through the Yuva Sangam initiative, youths in the region will travel across different parts of
the country and learn about different cultures in India.

54. Minister for Electronics & Information Technology, Communications and Railways, Shri
Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the ‘Digital Payments Utsav’, a comprehensive campaign
aimed at promoting digital payments across India, at the India Habitat Centre in Delhi.
• The "Digital Payments Utsav" is an extraordinary campaign that will showcase India's
journey of digital transformation, with a series of events and initiatives to be held from
9th February to 9th October 2023.
• The focus of the campaign will be on promoting digital payments in the country, especially
in the cities of Lucknow, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, as part of the G20 Digital
Economy Working Group (DEWG) event.
Mission Bhashini

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• The Minister informed that the Mission Bhashini – National Language

Translation Mission and Digital Payments have made UPI 123 Pay
available in local language.
DigiDhan Awards
• During the event, DigiDhan Awards were presented to 28 top-performing
banks, bankers, and fintech companies in different categories for their
outstanding performance in the digital payments space.
Digital Payment Sandesh Yatra
• A Digital Payment Sandesh Yatra will also be organized to tour the
country to educate citizens about digital payments and its security.
G20-themed QR Code
• One97 Communications Ltd (owner of Paytm) has launched a special
G20-themed, QR Code.
• Paytm Founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma is also the Chair of the Finance
Task Force under 'Startup20' of G20.
o The taskforce will provide a framework on best practices for global
investors to fund Startups across G20 member nations and help in
building investment capabilities.

55. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Som Parkash replied to a parliamentary
question that, under the ODOP- Districts as Export Hubs initiative, products with export
potential have been identified from all 765 districts of the country.
• ODOP has been merged with ‘Districts as Export Hubs Initiative’ being run by the
Department of Commerce for fostering balanced regional development across all districts of
the country.
• ODOP-Districts as Export Hubs initiative is working with manufacturers/producers
across districts along verticals like design, production, manufacturing, packaging, and
market creation to boost sales both in the domestic as well as international market.
• As ODOP-Districts as Export Hubs is not a scheme, there is no financial assistance
provided.

56. Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh have launched Mission
Antyodaya Survey 2022-23, including launching of its portal and mobile application.
• The Survey-2022 questionnaire has 183 indicators and 216 data points covering 21 areas.

pg. 20
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• Mission Antyodaya Survey - 2022-23 will be conducted in all 2,69,253 Gram Panchayats
and equivalent, whose profile has been created on e-Gram Swaraj.
• The questionnaire has been translated into 13 regional languages.

57. ISRO has conducted the recovery trials for the Gaganyaan Mission in a private pool, in
collaboration with Indian Navy.
• The trials were conducted at the Water Survival Test Facility of the Indian Navy, Kochi.
The crew module will splash down in the ocean after re-entering Earth's atmosphere from
space.
• The recovery mission will be carried out in Indian waters and led by the Navy.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Gaganyaan is India’s first human space mission, expected to be launched in 2024.
• Indian astronauts received their training from Russia’s ROSCOSMOS to fly to space in
the mission.
• Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. designed and built the crew module.
• DRDO will provide food for the astronauts, parachutes, and a fire suppression system
and will monitor the health of the crew while they are in space.

58. Skye Air (a drone delivering startup) has launched India’s first Traffic Management System
for drones to allow drone operators to choose their routes.

59. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully launched the Small Satellite
Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2) from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, with EOS-07, Azadi SAT-2,
and Janus-1 satellites onboard.
• It is the second development flight of the SSLV. The first one was not successful in August
2022.
• Azadi-Sat 2 – Developed by SpaceKidz India (who mentored 750 girl students to prepare
the satellite)
• Janus-1 – It is a technology demonstration satellite, developed by Antaris (USA), XDLinx’s
software, and Ananth Technologies (from India). The satellite has been developed in
collaboration with seven countries

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60. Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Railways, Shri
Ashwini Vaishnaw will inaugurate the National Philatelic Exhibition - AMRITPEX 2023 at
Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
• Organizers - Department of Posts under the Ministry of Communications

61. India and European Union have established a new Trade and Technology Council to focus
on green technologies, connectivity, and resilient supply chains.
• They are Strategic Technology, Digital Connectivity, and Digital Governance working group;
Green and Clean Energy technologies; Trade, investment, and resilient value working
group.

62. The 3rd ASEAN Digital Ministers (ADGMIN) meeting with India was conducted virtually on
the theme of “Synergy Towards a Sustainable Digital Future”.
• Co-Chairs – India and Philippines
• India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2023 was also adopted at the meeting.
• Chair of ASEAN and East Asia Summit in 2023 – Indonesia
• Theme of ASEAN Summit 2023 - 'ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth’
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Apart from this, ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) is another
platform for ASEAN. It has eight countries as Dialogue Partners, which are Australia,
China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States
(collectively referred to as the “Plus Countries”).
• The Inaugural ADMM-Plus was convened in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, in 2010.
• The Chairmanship of the ADMM-Plus follows that of the ASEAN. Therefore, the chair in
2023 is Indonesia.

63. India has partnered with Morocco to secure fertilizers after China suspended the export of
ammonium phosphate, a key component in the manufacturing of fertilizer.
• Morocco’s phosphate giant OCP Group will supply 1.7 million metric tonnes of phosphate-
based fertilizer to India over the coming 12 months.
• Under the deal, OCP Group will supply India with 7,00,000 tonnes of fertilizer.

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64. Shri Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched
the ‘Save Wetlands Campaign’, structured on a “whole of society” approach for wetlands
conservation.
• The campaign was launched at the Nanda Lake, Goa during the World Wetlands Day’s
celebration.

65. India received 12 Cheetahs from South Africa in its Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
• India and South Africa signed an agreement on Project Cheetah in January 2023.
• Cheetahs became extinct in India in 1952.
• Project Cheetah, also called Action plan for the Introduction of Cheetah in India was
launched to reintroduce the big cats in the country.

66. 11th meeting of India-Mongolia Joint Working Group was held in New Delhi.

67. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the year-long celebrations commemorating
the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati (12 February 1824 - 30
October 1883), at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi.

68. National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) organized the 1st
International Conference on Communication, Electronics and Digital Technologies –
NICE-DT 2023.

69. Minister of State for Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal will inaugurate the 22nd Bharat Rang
Mahotsav -2023 (annual festival of National School of Drama) at Kamani Auditorium in New
Delhi.
• Organised by National School of Drama (NSD), the prestigious international theatre
festival will be held in Delhi, Jaipur, Rajahmundry, Ranchi, Guwahati, Jammu, Srinagar,
Bhopal, Nashik and Kevadia.

70. Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has constituted a High-Level Committee under
the Chairmanship of Shri S. K. Mehta (chair of Deendayal Port Authority) for drafting revised
Guidelines for operationalization of Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax ferry service.

pg. 23
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• The Committee would simultaneously draft Model Concession Agreement for Ro-Ro / Ro-
Pax Terminal Operator and Model License Agreement for Operation of Ro-Ro/ Ro-Pax/
Fast Passenger Ferry.
• The Ministry has already operationalized Ro-Pax Ferry service between Ghogha – Hazira
in Gujarat and Mumbai – Mandwa in Maharashtra.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Under the Sagarmala programme, the Ministry is financially supporting 51 projects worth
~Rs. 1,900 Crore to boost the urban water transportation services in India, of which, 10
projects worth ~Rs. 500 Crore have already been completed.

71. As per the Smart Cities Mission’s progress report, 22 cities will complete the implementation
of this mission by March 2023.
• The Smart Cities Mission was launched in 2015 to provide clean mobility, air, public safety,
etc.
• So far, the govt has allocated Rs 36,447 crores for the mission. In further stages, Rs 48,000
crores will be allocated. On average, a city receives Rs 100 crores per year in this
mission.

72. Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched a 10-day Aadi Mahotsav festival in New Delhi.
• Theme - A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Crafts, Culture, Cuisine, and Commerce

73. Shri K. Rajaraman (Chairman of Digital Communications Commission) launched the ‘IEEE C-
DOT Certified Telecom Expert Program’ (ICCTEP) to bring learning in the areas of Telecom
including 5G, Cyber Security and Quantum Communication to bridge the skill gap.
• The program was launched by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
and Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).
• This program was launched during the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA)
Workshop centred on “Next Generation Connectivity”.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing
technology for the benefit of humanity.
• Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) is the premier R&D centre of the
Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India.

pg. 24
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74. Ministry of Electronics and IT and Meta have launched the G20 Stay Safe Online
Campaign to increase awareness on online safety.
• The first edition of G20 Employment Working Group was organized in Jodhpur,
Rajasthan.

75. European Investment Bank (EIB) has formally agreed to join the India Hydrogen Alliance
(IH2A) and increase support for green hydrogen projects across India with indicative funding
of €1 billion, subject to Indian government and EIB approvals.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• India Hydrogen Alliance (IH2A) is an industry-led coalition that works together with policy
makers, industry players, energy-sector experts, research agencies, think-tanks, and the
media, to support concerted public policy and private sector actions to developing the
hydrogen economy and a domestic hydrogen supply chain in India.
• IH2A Secretariat – New Delhi

76. Pawan Hans Ltd. launched its helicopter services on six routes in the state of Assam under
the RCS UDAN scheme to provide connectivity on the “Dibrugarh-Jorhat-Tezpur-Guwahati-
Tezpur-Jorhat-Dibrugarh” network.

77. Russia’s key gas producer PAO NOVATEK and Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals
Corporation Ltd. have signed an MOU for the supply of LNG and low-carbon ammonia.
• PAO NOVATEK is the largest independent natural gas producer in Russia, and in 2017,
entered the global LNG market by successfully launching the Yamal LNG project.

78. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Universal Safety
Oversight Audit Programme’s (USOAP) report, India’s aviation safety oversight ranking
has jumped to the 55th position from 112th place earlier.
• This ranking is dynamic and is based upon the outcomes of various Audits undertaken by
ICAO.

79. Ministry of Coal has launched the “Khanan Prahari” mobile app and the Coal Mine
Surveillance and Management System (CMSMS) website.

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• Purpose - for reporting unauthorized coal mining activities so that monitoring and taking
suitable action on it can be done by the concerned Law & Order enforcing authority

80. Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) is hosting the 6th Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation (SCO) Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) Leaders’ Meeting in Lucknow.
• Out of the eight SCO SAI member countries, the heads of SAIs from four countries –
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, alongside the CAG of India, are
expected to take part in the three-day multilateral event.
• Theme - ‘Integrating Emerging Technologies in Audit’
• India signed two MOUs with the SAI of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan to strengthen
cooperation in the field of auditing.

81. India is planning to launch a global initiative called "MIIRA" or Millet International Initiative
for Research and Awareness for global coordination of millet research programs.
• India will contribute the initial money for MIIRA initiative while each G20 member will later
have to contribute to its budget in the form of a membership fee.
• The Indian Institute of Millet Research in Hyderabad will be supported as the Center of
Excellence for sharing best practices, research, and technologies at the international level.
• MIIRA's secretariat will be in Delhi.

82. India and Spain have agreed to collaborate on digital infrastructure, climate action and
sustainable development.

83. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated "Aadi Mahotsav", the mega National Tribal
Festival at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi.
• Organizer - TRIFED
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED)
was established in 1987 under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 by the
Government of India as a National level Cooperative body under the administrative
control of Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• TRIFED aims to market the products produced by tribals to increase their incomes.
• Chairman of TRIFED - Ramsinh Rathwa

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84. Union Cabinet has approved the construction of Shinku La Tunnel to provide all-weather
connectivity in Ladakh.
• The tunnel will be constructed at a cost of Rs 1,681 crore.

85. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the Jal Jan Abhiyan at Shantivan of
Brahmakumaris Sansthan in Abu Road in Sirohi district of Rajasthan.
• It is a joint initiative of Brahma Kumaris Sansthan and the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Under the campaign, people associated with the Brahmakumaris Sansthan and the Ministry
of Jal Shakti will run a public awareness campaign for 8 months to preserve more than
5,000 water bodies across the country and to build new water bodies.
• A target has been set to reach 10 crore people by organising 10,000 programmes through
this campaign.

86. 14th edition of the biennial Aero India event will be held in Bengaluru, Karnataka between
13th-17th February on the theme of “The Runway to A Billion Opportunities”.
• As a prelude to the Aero India 2023, the biennial Aero India International Seminar was
organised by DRDO and the Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI) in Bengaluru on the
theme of “Aerospace and Defence Technologies - Way Forward”.
• Alongside, the Aero India event, the Defence Ministers’ Conclave was also held on the
theme of ‘Shared Prosperity through Enhanced Engagements in Defence (SPEED)’.
Highlights -
A) Defence Minister’s Announcement
• During the 14th Aero India event in Bengaluru, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has
announced that 75% (approx. Rs 1 lakh crore) of the total defence capital procurement
budget has been allocated for domestic industry in FY24, up from 68% in 2022-23.
• In FY 2023-24, Ministry of Defence has been allocated a total budget of Rs 5.94 lakh
crore, which is 13.18% of the total budget (Rs 45.03 lakh crore).
• Capital outlay pertaining to modernisation and infrastructure development has been
increased to Rs 1.63 lakh crore.
• FDI in Defence sector is allowed under automatic route up to 74% and up to 100%
through Government route.
B) Bandhan ceremony

pg. 27
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• The Bandhan ceremony of 14th Aero India witnessed the forging of 266 partnerships
including 201 MoUs, 53 major announcements, nine product launches and three
Transfers of Technology, worth around Rs 80,000 crores.
C) New Technologies displayed at the Aero India Show
• Vertically Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile by Bharat Dynamics Limited
• SAL Seeker ATGM for BMP II by Bharat Dynamics Limited
• Jishnu by Bharat Dynamics Limited
• Goniometer by Bharat Electronics Limited - It is part of any integrated observation and
fire control monitoring system for daytime or night-time use by the Artillery.
D) SURAJ Drone
• Garuda Aerospace unveiled SURAJ, a solar-powered unmanned intelligence,
surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aerial J-Glider was unveiled at the Aero India
2023 show.
E) 9th Defence India Start-up Challenge
• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has also launched the 9th edition of Defence India
Startup Challenges (DISC 9) on “Cybersecurity” with 28 problem statements, and
the iDEX Investor Hub (iIH).
• DISC 9 is a collaboration between Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and
Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).
F) F-35 Aircraft of USA
• F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft was showcased at the event.
G) Startup Manthan
• Defence Innovation Organization (DIO) has signed MOUs with investors at the Sagar
Manthan.
H) Bharat Electronics Ltd
• Bharat Electronics Ltd and Israel Aerospace Industries have signed an MOU to
manufacture LORA Ballistic Missiles for Indian tri-services.
• BEL has also signed MOU with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of
DRDO for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.
o The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft is a 5th generation, multi-role, all-
weather fighter aircraft designed with high survivability and stealth capability.
• BEL has signed an MOU with Cisco for long-term strategic co-operation in the areas of
networking, collaboration and security, among other associated services.

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o As a part of the MoU, Cisco will explore establishing a Cisco Network Training
Academy at the BEL Academy for Excellence (Nalanda), Bengaluru.
I) IISc MOUs -
• Airbus and IISc signed MOU for expanding research in aerospace.
• Bharat Electronics Ltd and IISc signed MOU to collaborate in AI/ML technologies.

87. Central Government has nearly doubled the seafood exports target to USD 14 billion by
2025.
• "In 2021-22, the (seafood) exports figure was worth USD 7.76 billion, which was 17% of
India's agriculture shipments.

88. The Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable will be held on February 25 in Bengaluru on the
sidelines of the G-20 finance track.
• The Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable will be co-chaired by the IMF, the World Bank
and India, which is president of G-20 countries this year.

89. The first-ever Sundarban Bird Festival was organised by the Sundarban Tiger Reserve
(STR) division of West Bengal Forest Department.
• 145 bird species were spotted during the festival.

90. India's first solid waste-to-hydrogen plant was set up in Pune at a cost of over Rs 430
crore.
• The plant will be set up by sustainability solutions provider The GreenBillions Ltd (TGBL)
and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

91. Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved Centrally Sponsored
Scheme- “Vibrant Villages Programme” to help in achieving inclusive growth and retaining
the population in the border areas.
• Duration: FY 2022-23 to 2025-26.
• Financial Allocation: Rs. 4800 Crore.
o Of this amount, Rs. 2500 crore will be used for roads.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Coverage: 19 Districts and 46 Border blocks 4 states (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim) and 1 UT (Ladakh).
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• First phase: It will be taken up in 663 Villages.

• Key focus outcomes:
o Connectivity with all-weather road.
o Drinking water.
o 24x7 electricity – including Solar and wind energy.
o Mobile and internet connectivity.
o Tourist centres and multi-purpose centres.
o Health and wellness centres.
• Under it, funds will be provided for development of essential infrastructure and creation of
livelihood opportunities in targeted border districts to achieve inclusive growth and retain
population.
• This will help in encouraging people to stay in their native locations in border areas and
reverse the outmigration from these villages adding to improved security of the border.

92. Union Cabinet has approved setting up 2 lakh Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
(PACS)/Dairy/Fishery cooperatives in next 5 years.
• Purpose - For strengthening cooperative movement in the country and deepening its reach
up to the grassroots
• Action plan for implementation: It will be prepared by
o NABARD.
o National Dairy Development Board.
o National Fishery Development Board.
• Following schemes have been identified for convergence:
• Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying:
o National Programme for Dairy Development.
o Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund.
• Department of Fisheries:
o Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
o Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development.
• Target: 2 lakh PACS/ Dairy/ Fishery cooperatives would be established in next five years.

NOTE: Those existing primary cooperative societies which cannot be revived will be identified for winding up, and new
primary cooperative societies will be established in their area of operation.

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93. IIT-Kanpur has developed an energy-efficient compressed air-based pipeline system for
transporting coal and minerals, offering round-the-clock monitoring with considerable savings
in time and costs.

94. Textile Advisory Group for Manmade Fibre, led by the Association of Man-Made Fibre
Industry of India and the Association of the Synthetic Fibre Industry, held its first meeting
with Minister of Textiles Shri Piyush Goyal.

95. 23rd edition of the India International Seafood Show (IISS-2023) was held in Kolkata, West
Bengal.
• Organizers - Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and the Seafood
Exporters Association of India (SEAI)

96. Indian Railways and India Post have launched Rail Post Gati Shakti Express Cargo
Service, a joint parcel service of Indian Railways and India Post.
• It has been started on four routes - Delhi to Kolkata; Bangalore to Guwahati, Surat to
Muzaffarpur, and Hyderabad to Hazrat Nizamuddin.

97. Ministry of Tourism will organise the 1st Global Tourism Investors' Summit in New Delhi
from the 17th to 19th of May to showcase opportunities in the Tourism and hospitality sector.

98. Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched a new AI backed up chatbot
named 'Aadhaar Mitra' to help people with their Aadhaar-related queries.
• This AI/ML-based chatbot will take up Aadhaar-based queries like tracking Aadhaar PVC
status, registering and tracking grievances etc and is aimed to offer a 'better resident
experience’.
• The AI chatbot is currently available in both English and Hindi languages.

99. India has finalised its list of activities to be considered for trading of carbon credits in the
international carbon market under the mechanism of the Paris Agreement on climate
change.
• Under the mechanism, high emitting industries/entities can buy credits from those who
earned it through adopting those listed activities.

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• It means any entity can earn and accumulate credit through these selected cleaner
activities and those credits can be traded on a global platform.
GHG Mitigation Activities -
I. Renewable energy with storage (only stored component)
II. Solar thermal power
III. Off- shore wind
IV. Green Hydrogen
V. Compressed bio-gas
VI. Emerging mobility solutions like fuel cells
VII. High end technology for energy efficiency
VIII. Sustainable Aviation Fuel
IX. Best available technologies for process improvement in hard to abate sectors
X. Tidal energy, Ocean Thermal Energy, Ocean Salt Gradient Energy, Ocean Wave Energy
and Ocean Current Energy
XI. High Voltage Direct Current Transmission in conjunction with the renewal energy projects
Alternate Materials -
XII. Green Ammonia
Removal Activities -
XIII. Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage

100. A B20 Conference for the delegates from G20 countries and other invited countries was
held in Imphal, Manipur.
• Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is acting as the secretariate of B20 India’s
Presidency.

101. Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce & Industry (FICCI) in the Consulate General of India, Dubai, and Dubai
Chambers organised a Special Business Event in Dubai to commemorate the successful
year of signing of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
• India-UAE CEPA is the first bilateral trade agreement concluded by UAE and India’s
first bilateral trade agreement in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region.
• It is expected to increase the bilateral trade in goods to $100 billion within five years and
trade in services to $15 billion.
• UAE India Business Council - UAE Chapter (UIBC-UC) was launched.
pg. 32
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Knowledge Nuggets -
• India-UAE Trade After CEPA (April-November 2022) -
o Bilateral Trade - US$ 57.8 bn from US $ 45.3 bn (27.5% growth rate)
India’s exports to the UAE have seen a remarkable growth of 19.32%, reaching US $ 20.8 bn
from US $ 17.45 bn, an increase of US $ 3.35 bn in value terms.

102. Department of Fisheries launched Sagar Parikrama in 2022, to be undertaken by the

Indian Coast Guard, under the 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• Purpose – the welfare of fisherfolk by providing information about the government schemes
for fishing community and resolving their problems for their overall upliftment
• Now, the Phase-III of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ has been launched at Surat, Hazira Port,
Gujarat towards the coastal belt of Maharashtra.
• Maharashtra has 720 Km of coastline covering 5 coastal districts Thane, Raigad, Greater
Mumbai, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg.
• The Phase III has been launched in collaboration with the National Fisheries Development
Board. along with Gujarat government, Commissioner of Fisheries, Maharashtra
government, Indian Coast Guard, Fishery Survey of India, and Gujarat Maritime Board.
• Phase I of Sagar Parikrama - theme is “KRANTI se SHANTI”; Locations - Mandvi, Gujarat-
Okha-Dwarka- Porbandar
• Phase II of Sagar Parikrama locations - Mangrol, Veraval, Diu, Jafrabad, Surat, Daman &
Valsad
Knowledge Nuggets -
• India’s total coastline – 8118km (as per PIB)
• India’s coastal states – total 9 States and 4 Union Territories
• Population along coastline - 2.8 million
• India’s share in fish production globally - 8% (3rd largest fish producer in the world)
• Total fish production of India - 162.48 lakh tonnes (of which 121.21 lakh tonnes are
from inland and 41.27 lakh tonnes from marine)
• Value of the total fish produced – Rs 57,586.48 crores
• Gross Value Added of the Fisheries Sector - 6.72% share of Agriculture GDP and
contributing to about 17% of agriculture exports
Note: As per NCERT book, the land boundary of India is about 15,200 km and the total length of the
coastline of the mainland including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep is 7,516.6 km.

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103. All India Council for Technical Education has launched curriculum for two new
programs designed for design and manufacturing in semiconductors.
• India launched the SemiconIndia- India Semiconductor Mission on 1st Jan 2022. One of
the key elements was that India will develop 85,000 semiconductor professionals over
10 years.
• The first course is a BTech program in semiconductors and second is a diploma program
in semiconductors.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Semicon India program, with a total outlay of ₹76,000 crore, is aimed at the
development of semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in India.
• In line with Semicon India program, the Chips to Startup (C2S) programme was also
launched to train 85,000 engineers (Bachelors, Masters, and Research level combined)
over a period of five years.
• Last year, IIT Hyderabad has already launched B. Tech (Electronics Engineering)
specialization in IC Design and Technology.

104. Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a heatwave alert for the Konkan and
Kutch regions, making it the season's first alert.

105. First G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under the
G20 Indian Presidency is scheduled during 24th-25th February 2023 in Bengaluru,
Karnataka.

106. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has conducted a trial of delivering TB medicines
in a drone (named Vertiplane X3) in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand.
• The government is planning on using drone technology to deliver medicines and, also
sputum samples to laboratories and eliminate TB by 2025.

107. North India's first nuclear plant will be installed in Haryana's Gorakhpur in Fatehabad
district.
• Till date, an amount of ₹4,906 Crore has been spent out of total allocated funds Rs 20,594
Crores.

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108. President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the International Engineering and Technology
Fair (IETF) 2023, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in New Delhi.

109. Union Minister of Tourism has launched the Best Tourism Village Competition Portal
and Rural Tourism Portal.
• The Ministry will organize Global Tourism Investors Summit in May 2023 under the G20
presidency.

110. The first edition of the 3-day Agriculture Deputies Minister’s meeting of the Agriculture
Working Group of G20 was organized in Indore.
• The Agriculture Working Group (AWG) was established in the year 2011 in the sixth
meeting of G20 during Cannes Summit, France.

111. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra
Singh launched a 'Capacity Building Programme for Senior Scientists in Effective
Leadership and Creativity' at the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad.
• Purpose - to impart creative thinking skills to participating scientists, enabling them to
develop competencies necessary for effective leadership

112. Ministry of External Affairs has launched the “mPassport Police” app to fast-track the
passport verification and issuance process.

113. Delhi Metro launched India's first ever indigenously developed Train Control &
Supervision System, the i-ATS (Indigenous - Automatic Train Supervision) for operations
on its first corridor, Red Line (Rithala to Shaheed Sthal).
• It has been jointly developed by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Bharat
Electronics Limited (BEL) under the ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ initiative for the Metro Rail
Transit System.
• With this milestone, India joins the elite club of five nations which have their own ATS
products, after France, Germany, Japan, Canada, and China.

114. India's first hybrid-sounding rocket has been developed under the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission- 2023.

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• Martin Foundation, in association with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation

and Space Zone India, launched the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle
Mission- 2023.
• The reusable rocket was made by the selected top 100 students, while the rest made the
satellites.
• The rocket can be used for research in weather, atmospheric conditions and radiations.

115. ISRO has conducted the electro-magnetic interference/ electro-magnetic compatibility

test for the Chandrayaan-3 at the UR Rao Satellite Centre.

116. Nepal and India have signed an agreement to increase the power import and export
capacity through the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line from 600 megawatts to 800
megawatts.
• The agreement was reached at the Energy Secretary-level Joint Steering Committee (JSC)
meeting in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his then Nepalese counterpart KP Sharma Oli had
launched the 140 km Muzaffarpur-Dalkebar power transmission line in 2016.

117. Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba will chair the Panel on Mission Karamyogi for
training of government employees.
• A 'Karmayogi Talks Series' was also launched by Karmayogi Bharat.

118. India will host the Permanent Mission Roundtables at United Nation Head Quarter as
Chair of G- 20 and ahead of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Summit this year to
be held in New York.
• On February 2023, a roundtable titled ‘Gandhian Trusteeship: A panel discussion on
Sustainable Lifestyles and Enduring Pace’ will be held.

119. First G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under the
G20 Indian Presidency will begin in Bengaluru.
• The meeting will be covering issues such as strengthening multilateral development banks
to address shared global challenges of the 21st century, financing for resilient, inclusive and
sustainable ‘cities of tomorrow’, leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for advancing
financial inclusion.
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120. Ministry of Railways is set to launch Guru Kripa Yatra from 5th April 2023 from Lucknow
with its exclusive Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train.
• The train will visit all the holy Sikh shrines.

121. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced to launch an Over-the-Top

(OTT) platform for Prasar Bharati in this year to increase its footprint in the rapidly changing
broadcasting industry.
• It also aims to take FM radio to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with more auctions for new FM
radio stations this year.
• The announcement was made during the Broadcast Engineering Society (BES) Expo
2023 in New Delhi.
• Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur has informed that as
many as 50 community radio stations were set up in 2022.

122. The Crown Prince of Denmark Frederik Andre Henrik Christian and Crown Princess,
Mary Elizabeth will be on a five-day visit to India from February 26 – March 02, 2023
• His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince had last visited India in 2003.

123. IIT Madras is partnering with the General Insurance Corporation of India to develop a
urine-based tuberculosis diagnosis or screening.
• India will eliminate TB by 2025.

124. Asia Economic Dialogue (External Affairs Ministry’s annual flagship event on
Geoeconomics) was held in Pune, Maharashtra.
• Theme - ‘Asia and the Emerging World Order’

125. India and the UAE are exploring creating a virtual trade corridor to facilitate quicker
clearance of shipments.
• Under the proposal, approvals and clearances related to customs will be given online on
both sides.
• The two countries estimate non-oil trade to touch $100 billion over the five-year period post
implementation of the free trade agreement on 1 May 2022.

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126. Cross Dependency Initiative (business consultant that specializes in climate risk) has
released “Gross Domestic Climate Risk” report.
• 9 Indian states (Punjab, UP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Kerala, and
Assam) are the most vulnerable to climate risks. Mumbai has the highest risk of all.
• 26 provinces in China, 9 in India, and 5 in the US are the most vulnerable of all.

127. Vedanta Group and the Foxconn of Taiwan have come together to build the first
semiconductor manufacturing unit in Dholera of Gujarat.
• According to the agreement, they will invest Rs 1,54,000 crores in this project.
• The project is being implemented under the Gujarat Semiconductor Policy 2022-27.

128. Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, has launched the "Jaadui Pitara" for
learning at the foundational stage under the new National Education Policy (NEP).
• Jadui Pitara comprises of playbooks, toys, puzzles, posters, flash cards, storybooks,
worksheets, reflecting the local culture, social context and languages to pique curiosity and
accommodate the diverse needs of learners at the foundational stage.
• The pitara is available in 13 Indian languages under the National Curriculum Framework
(NCF).
• These resources will be made digitally available on the DIKSHA platform -- the portal and
the mobile app. All foundational learning material will be in the mother tongue.

129. Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, has

informed that India is setting up a Digital University to drastically reduce the cost of higher
education and skill education.

130. India and China held the 26th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and
Coordination meeting.
• Purpose - To bring back normalcy in the bilateral relations and to restore peace along the
Line of Actual Control

131. Namami Gange Executive Committee has recently approved nine projects worth Rs
1,200 crores for reducing pollution in Ganga.
• The projects will be executed in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

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• Atal Ghat Manjhi in Bihar will be developed at Rs 10 crores, as part of these nine
projects.

132. India has joined Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C), launched by US
and UAE in November 2021 to accelerate investment and support for climate-smart
agriculture and food systems innovation.
• India joined the AIM4C on the margins of the I2U2 - Israel, India, the United States and the
United Arab Emirates - Business Forum in Abu Dhabi.
• Diversity, gender equity, and inclusion are the focus areas of the mission.

133. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has visited India to hold bilateral discussions.
• It is Scholz's first visit to India after he became the German chancellor in December 2021.
• Inter-Governmental Consultation mechanism was established between India and
Germany in 2011.

134. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 13th instalment of financial benefits worth
Rs 16,800 crore to over 8 crore eligible farmers under the flagship PM-KISAN scheme ahead
of Holi and rabi harvesting.
• Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), eligible farmers are provided
with a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 every
four months.
• The fund is directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

135. Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) Dr Bibek
Debroy has released the 2nd edition of the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy report to
highlights the focus on language as a critical foundational skill and its importance in acquiring
early literacy.
• The report recognizes Haryana Government’s Initiative – Saksham Haryana – as best
practice.
• The second edition of the report was released at the India Dialogue Conference
organised by Institute for Competitiveness and US-Asia Technology Management
Center, Stanford University.

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136. 31st edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) officially began at Pragati
Maidan, New Delhi.
• Organizers - National Book Trust (NBT) and India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO)

137. W20 (Women 20) inception meeting as part of India's presidency of the G20 forum will
take place in Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
• The W20 is an official engagement group under G20 and was established during the
Turkish presidency in 2015.
• W20 India took over the presidency from W20 Indonesia on December 12, 2022.

138. Central Govt is planning to set up 10 Clean Plant Centres under the ‘Atmanirbhar Clean
Plant Program’, which was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24.
• Imported bio-organism must be kept in quarantine for some time to check their disease,
adaptability etc.
• Imported plants used to be kept in quarantine for two years. These centres will reduce the
time-period for quarantine for horticultural crops to six months.
• The Clean Plant Centres will provide services of disease diagnostic, therapeutics,
multiplying of plants and generation of mother plants.
• The centres will be fully funded by the Centre. The govt will invest Rs 2,200 crores in
these centres by 2030.
• It will be implemented in a Public Private Parternship mode in partnership with research
organisations, agriculture universities and private sector partners.
• National Horticulture Board (NHB) will be the nodal agency for setting up the clean plant
programme.

139. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered upon a 1,300-year-old stupa right
in the middle of a mining site in Odisha's Jajpur district.

140. Department of Telecom (DoT) has offered the usage of 5G test bed free of cost to start-
ups and MSMEs recognised by the government, up to January 2024.

141. India and the UK have officially launched the Young Professionals Scheme to allow
degree-holding Indian nationals (between 18-30 years) to live and work in Britain for up to
two years.
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142. National Statistical Office (NSO) has released the Periodic Labour Force Survey for
June-July 2021-22.
Unemployment Rates
Year Overall Urban Rural Male (Urban Female
+ Rural) (Urban +
Rural)
2019-20 4.8 6/9 3.9 5.0 4.2
2020-21 4.2 6.7 3.3 4.5 3.5
2021-22 4.1 6.3 3.2 4.4 3.3

Labour Force Participation Rate

Year Overall Urban Rural Male (Urban Female
+ Rural) (Urban +
Rural)
2019-20 53.5 49.3 55.5 76.8 30.0
2020-21 54.9 49.1 57.4 77.0 32.5
2021-22 55.2 49.7 57.5 77.2 32.8

Workforce Participation Rates

Year Overall Urban Rural Male (Urban Female
+ Rural) (Urban +
Rural)
2019-20 50.9 45.8 53.3 73.0 28.7
2020-21 52.6 45.8 55.5 73.5 31.4
2021-22 52.9 46.6 55.6 73.8 31.7

143. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the
8th Raisina Dialogue 2023 to be held in Taj Palace Hotel, Diplomatic Enclave, New Delhi
from March 2-3.
• The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the
Ministry of External Affairs.

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STATE NEWS
1. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the Ladli Behna
Scheme to provide Rs 1,000 per month to women from financially poor background in the
state.
• A sum of Rs 60,000 crore will be spent on this scheme in five years.

2. Kerala Government launched the Enterprises Campaign during its 2022-23 budget. The
Campaign was organized under the tagline of “My Enterprises, Nations Pride”.
• The state has also announced 2022-23 as the Year of Enterprises.
• Ernakulam has become the first district in the state to register more than 10,000 new
MSMEs.

3. Telangana State Road Transport Corporation has signed an MOU with Nalsoft Pvt Ltd for
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Enterprise resource planning (ERP) refers to a type of software that organizations use to
manage day-to-day business activities such as accounting, procurement, project
management, risk management and compliance, and supply chain operations.

4. Nagaland government and Patanjali Foods Limited have signed an MoU for development
and area expansion under palm oil cultivation under the National Mission on Edible Oils-
Oil Palm (NMEO-OP).
Knowledge Nuggets -
• The National Mission on Edible Oil - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) was launched in August
2021 with a special focus on the North-East states.
• Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare
• Target – to cultivate 1,000,000 hectares of oil palm by 2027
• The program's introduction of the Viability Gap Payment (VGP) for long term sustainable
development and increased incentives for new farmers are two key features that make it
unique and supportive of the industry.

5. Maharashtra cabinet has designated ‘Jai jai Maharashtra majha’ as the state song.

pg. 42
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• It will gain the formal position on February 19, the birth anniversary of Maratha king
Chhatrapati Shivaji.
• Presently, 12 other states have an official state song -- Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar,
Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil
Nadu and Uttarakhand.
• The song was written by poet Raja Badhe and sung by Shahir Sable, a popular folk singer.

6. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal hosted “Me-Dam-Me-Phi”, a festival of Assam’s Tai

Ahom community to worship and pay respect to the ancestors.

7. Uttar Pradesh govt launched the Aarohini Initiative Training Programme for the safety and
security of girls in all 746 Kasturba Gandhi residential girls’ schools in the state.
• The initiative has been undertaken by Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, Uttar Pradesh, in
association with non-governmental organisations (NGO).
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) scheme was launched by the Government
of India in August 2004 for setting up residential schools at upper primary level for girls
belonging predominantly to the SC, ST, OBC and minorities in difficult areas.
• KGBV is being implemented in educationally backward blocks (EBBs) of the country
where the female rural literacy is below the national average and gender gap in literacy is
above the national average.
• The scheme provides for a minimum reservation of 75% of the seats for girls belonging
to SC, ST, OBC or minority communities and priority for the remaining 25%, is accorded
to girls from families below poverty line.

8. Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced Visakhapatnam
as the new state capital.
• The state will organize the Global Investment Summit (GIS) in Visakhapatnam in March
first week.

9. Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) launched ‘Bal Mitra’, a
WhatsApp Chatbot to provide communication support to children and parents in Delhi.
• DCPCR, a statuary body under the Delhi government was constituted under the
Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.
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10. In June 2022, the Central Ground Water Board reported the groundwater (in the first 100m
reach) of Punjab will be exhausted by 2029.
• In 2039, the groundwater (in 300m reach) will be exhausted.
• Punjab has been divided into three zones - Green Zone, Yellow Zone, and Orange Zone -
based on the extraction and replenishing time.

11. Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang has launched the “Mero Rukh Mero Santati” (Plant A Tree,
leave a Legacy) initiative, in which, 100 trees will be planted after every childbirth.

12. Goa government has launched a helicopter service for high-net-worth individuals and
luxury tourists.
• The helicopter service, which is priced at Rs 8,000 per head for a 10-minute trip, is part of
the Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s attempt to attract high-end tourists.
• The heli service will offer connecting flights between Goa International Airport,
Dabolim, and Manohar International Airport, Mopa.
• Apart from joyrides, the operator is offering trips to Kolhapur, Shirdi, Hampi, and other
places, along with rides to select beaches in Goa.

13. 36th Surajkund Mela - one of the largest international arts and crafts fairs in the world - was
organized in Haryana.
• Every year, there is a theme nation and a theme state that participate in the fair.
• This year, the theme nations were SCO member countries. The theme states were all the
north-eastern states.

14. Kerala has announced to establish the “Green Hydrogen Hubs” at a cost of Rs 200 crores.
• The plants will be set up in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram to produce 60 tonnes of
hydrogen per day.
• The project is to be implemented along with the private partner India Hydrogen Alliance.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Many countries are establishing the Hydrogen Hubs (green hydrogen producing plants),
which are called as the “Hydrogen Valley Projects”.
• These plants have all the facilities for hydrogen production, storage, distribution, etc.

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• Hydrogen Valley projects have already begun in the USA, Europe, China, Japan, and
Australia.

India Hydrogen Alliance (IH2A) -

• India Hydrogen Alliance (IH2A) is an industry-led coalition that works together with policy
makers, industry players, energy-sector experts, research agencies, think-tanks, and the
media, to support concerted public policy and private sector actions to developing the
hydrogen economy and a domestic hydrogen supply chain in India.
• IH2A Secretariate – New Delhi

15. Mr Manjunath Bhanjantri (District Commission of Deoghar, Jharkhand) has started the
Deoghar Mart, an e-commerce website selling local arts and crafts.
• Deoghar is famous for the ancient Baba Baidyanath Temple (one of the 12 Jyotirlingas).
• Khortha and Santhali are the major tribes in Deoghar.

16. Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation has built MV Ganga Vihar, a floating
restaurant at the NIT Ghat on the Ganges.
• India's first Floating Restaurant at Sirhind, Punjab was conceived and built in the early
seventies. Right now, it is in shambles.

17. Yaya Tso, known as birds’ paradise for its beautiful lake located at an altitude of 4,820 metres,
has been proposed as Ladakh’s first biodiversity heritage site (BHS) under the Biological
Diversity Act of 2002.
• The resolution was signed after multiple rounds of consultations between the village
stakeholders and SECURE Himalaya project to declare the high-altitude lake and its
catchment as a biodiversity heritage site.
• Under Section 37 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the State Government in consultation
with local bodies may notify the areas of biodiversity importance as Biodiversity Heritage
Sites.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• The SECURE Himalaya project is a part of “Global Partnership on Wildlife
Conservation and Crime Prevention for Sustainable Development” (Global Wildlife
Program) funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

pg. 45
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• The project promotes sustainable management of alpine pastures and forests in the high
range Himalayan ecosystems.
• It contributes to the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP), a
joint initiative of 12 range country governments, international agencies, civil society,
and the private sector.

18. Kerala Police is operating the OPERATION AAG under the Kerala anti-Social Activities
Prevention Act (KAAPA) to arrest fugitives.

19. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has launched the “Mukhyamantri
Tirth-Darshan Yojana” to provide the option of flights to senior citizens of the state.

20. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023
in Lucknow.
• Japan has announced to invest ₹7,200 crores in Uttar Pradesh.
• The Japanese company Hotel Management International Company Limited (HMI
Group) decided to open hotels in 30 cities including Agra, Ayodhya, and Varanasi.

21. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched phase 2 of the ‘Pudumai Penn’ scheme, a
scholarship scheme.
• The scheme involves the distribution of a scholarship amount of ₹1,000 per month to girl
students pursuing their higher studies after completing their schooling at a government
school. The scholarship is provided through the Social Welfare Department.
• Tamil Nadu Government is planning to build a memorial for the late DMK leader and
former CM of TN M Karunanidhi.
• The state government is already working on a proposal for a 42-metre-tall pen monument
on the sea, at a distance of 360 metres into the Bay of Bengal, at an estimated cost of ₹80
crore.

22. Rajasthan govt has announced an inflation relief package of Rs 19,000 crores in its state
budget.
• In the package, free food packets will be given to families below the poverty line under the
NFSA.

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• LPG cylinders at subsidised rates under Ujjwala Scheme and 100 units of free electricity
per month will be given.
• Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana was launched in 2021 to provide free treatment to the
people of Rajasthan. Under the new relief package, the coverage amount has been
increased to Rs 25 lakh from Rs 10 lakh.

23. Rajasthan State Government has launched the Wetland Ex-Situ Conservation
Establishment (WESCE) plan, in collaboration with France.
• The French Government will finance the project for a period of 8 years. The total cost is
estimated to be around Rs 1200 crores.
• The WESCE is a zoo that will be launched within the Keoladeo National Park (a World
Heritage Site).

24. Lithium deposits, amounting to 5.9 million tonnes, have been found in Jammu and
Kashmir’s Reasi district by the Geological Survey of India (D-G: Dr. S. Raju).
• Lithium, a shiny grey metal, is also called ‘white gold’ because it is a key component of
electric batteries.
• Chile – at 9.2 million tonnes – has the highest lithium reserves, followed by Australia (6.2
million tonnes).
• Now, India’s recent find of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium could position it among the top three
countries in the world with the highest lithium reserves.

25. Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari inaugurated the Rashtriya Sanskriti
Mahotsav- 2023 (RSM) at Azad Maidan, Churchgate in Mumbai.

26. West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose will continue to function as the Chancellor of
State universities.

27. Renault and Nissan have announced a ₹5,300 crore ($600 million) investment in Tamil
Nadu as part of their new India strategy.

28. India's first new mobility-focused cluster - Telangana Mobility Valley (TMV) has been
launched to attract investments of around Rs 50,000 crore and generate more than 4 lakh
jobs in the next five years in the state.
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29. Uttar Pradesh has inaugurated first VFS Global Joint Visa Application Centre (JVAC) and
the VFS Global Academy in Lucknow.
• VFS Global is the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for
governments and diplomatic missions.

30. J&K administration has launched the “Alternate Agriculture System for Sustainability”
project to promote organic farming.
• Purpose - to create six to seven organic clusters per district, covering a total of 2000
hectares of land
• Additionally, it aims to convert another 2,000 hectares into organic production, including
niche crops and default organic areas.
• The program will also provide training to 10,000 farmer families in organic farming and
establish 200 commercial and 3000 low-cost vermicompost units and 100 Integrated
Organic Farming System Units.
• Besides, two Bio-Input Production Units will also be set up to supply organic inputs for
the production clusters.

31. The Department of Collegiate and Technical Education (DCTE), Karnataka and Samsung
Semiconductor India Research (SSIR) have signed an MOU to set up 'Industrial Internet of
Things Labs' (IoT Innovation Labs) in 35 Government Polytechnics across the State.
• The "IoT Innovation Lab" would help foster innovations in solving local problems using
IoT.
• These labs will also be available for students at nearby government institutions to be used,
especially for those who are in engineering and first grade colleges.
• These labs include tools and technologies that can be applied to various STEM
experiments, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones), Automobile, Bio-Medical,
AgriTech, BioTech, and other potential STEM applications.

32. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 130 million loan to increase
agricultural productivity and promote horticulture agribusinesses to raise farmers' income
in Himachal Pradesh.
• Farmers will be organised into cluster-wide Community Horticulture Production and
Marketing Associations (CHPMAs) and district-wide CHPMA cooperative societies.
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33. Uttar Pradesh government has launched the ‘Family ID – One Family One Identity’ portal
to identify families as a unit for implementing the ‘one job per family’ proposal.
• The families which do not have Ration Card, they can avail this card as their family ID. On
the other hand, the families which have a Ration Card, for them, the Ration Card would act
as the family ID.

34. India’s first electric double-decker bus has been launched in Mumbai by Brihanmumbai
Electric Supply and Transport (BEST).

35. A two-day parliamentary workshop was organized at the Gujarat assembly.

36. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched the monthly stipend scheme for junior
lawyers to provide a stipend of Rs 3,000 every month to junior lawyers.

37. Puducherry has launched India's first Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) framework to
balance growth alongside sustainable management of ocean resources and coastal
environment preservation.
• The framework is a part of a pact under the Indo-Norway Integrated Ocean Initiative.
• Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is the process of allocating spaces in marine zones for
human activities.

38. The two-day Global Tech Summit (GTS) is organized at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh’s
new capital.
• Nearly 1,000 delegates from more than 25 countries participated.
• During the Summit, FICCI would hold a session on ‘Digital Bharath’ for creating a new
India driven by technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

39. Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has launched the “Green Bonds” for setting up solar
power plants.
• IMC had floated green bonds to raise a total of Rs 244 crore for setting up a 60 MW solar
power plant.
• It is the first of its kind offering by any civic body in the country in the capital market.
• The Municipal Bonds of the IMC have also been listed on National Stock Exchange.
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40. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will launch India’s first virtual shopping app,
'Momentum 2.0' for the Delhi metro commuters.
• The passengers will be able to get customised services like last-mile connectivity options,
e-shopping choices, digital lockers at the metro stations via this app.

41. Karnataka has released the state budget 2023-24.

• The budget aims at introducing AI traffic signals.
• “She Toilets” will be constructed in Bengaluru.

42. Himachal Pradesh has launched the Mukhyamantri Sukha-Shray scheme to cover orphans,
specially abled children, destitute women and senior citizen.

43. Mastercard and Access Development Services have partnered to launch the
“Mainstreaming Agriculture through Networks and Development Initiatives (MANDI)” in
Assam.
• Purpose - developing FPOs and enhancing financial literacy among farmers by training
them in best agricultural practices, improving their access to market linkages and digital
tools and generating awareness about financial services along with the available
government schemes

44. Jammu and Kashmir govt has approved a Rs 30.40 crore project "Sensor-based Smart
Agriculture" for integration of agriculture with technology driven by Artificial Intelligence and
IoT for automation of practices, enhanced resource use efficiency and profitability.
• In Jammu and Kashmir, over 70% of the economy is based on agriculture, making it an
important area for improving livelihoods through the adoption of digital agriculture for
increasing input use efficiency, production, productivity, and profitability.

45. Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence has signed an MoU with the Government of
Karnataka to promote the welfare of farmers across the state.
• Both entities will explore opportunities for the scaled deployment of the AI-powered early
pest warning and advisory solution - developed by Wadhwani AI - for cotton and other
crops.

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46. 49th edition of the International Khajuraho Dance Festival-2023 was held in Khujaraho,
Madhya Pradesh (UNESCO World Heritage site).
• Padam Shri Nek Ram known as the Millet Man of India is invited in the festival to
celebrate the International Year of Millets-2023.
• Khujaraho is hosting the first G20 Culture Working Group Meeting.

47. T-Hub (a start-up ecosystem enabler of Telangana) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
(HAL) have partnered to support start-ups in the aerospace and defence composite
markets.

48. Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna has presented the biggest budget
2023-24 of Rs 6.9 lakh crore in the history of the state.
• Uttar Pradesh govt allocated ₹1,050 crore under the "Chief Minister Kanya Sumangala
Yojana", ₹600 crore for the "Samuhik Vivah" scheme for the marriage of girls of all
classes.

49. Jammu and Kashmir has approved a 5-year project on "Innovative Extension Approaches
for Revitalising Agriculture in J&K".
• Purpose - empowering farmers and educated youth through technology driven and
inclusive agri-extension services.
• Budget – Rs 463 crore
• The project will also establish business orientation centres at Sher-E- Kashmir
University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) and facilitate real-time
problem redressal through cyber extension including RS-GIS-driven agro-advisories and
ICT-based virtual contacts and communication systems.
• The project will also create a strong MIS system to maintain transparency and
accountability in service delivery and information sharing with parent departments and
administration.

50. Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council organized the first of its kind Pangong
Tso Marathon. The marathon was held on the frozen Pangong Tso lake.

51. Kerala government has launched robotic scavenger named Bandicoot to clean sewages
in the temple town of Guruvayur.
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• Thus, Kerala has become the first state in the country to use robotic technology to clean
all its commissioned manholes.

52. Bihar Cabinet has approved USD 50,000 for developing an early warning system for dense
fog and cold wave conditions in collaboration with the US National Center for Atmospheric
Research (US-NCAR).

53. Shivamogga Airport, a domestic airport, also known as Kuvempu Airport, has been
inaugurated in Shivmogga, Karnataka.
• The airport has been named after Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa, known by his pen name,
Kuvempu, who is one of the greatest Kannada poets of the 20th century.

54. For the first time in Indian history, the Shree Krishna temple in Kerala introduced a
mechanical elephant named Raman to perform the temple rituals.

55. Kerala State Government has signed an agreement with the UN Women to increase the role
of women in the tourist industry of the state.
• Under the agreement, the Responsible Tourism Mission is to be implemented in the state. It
will be a gender-inclusive mission. The mission will promote women-friendly tourist spots.

56. International Bio-resource Conclave & Ethno-pharmacology Congress 2023 started at

City Convention Centre in Imphal, Manipur.

57. Prime Minister inaugurated ‘Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava’ cultural festival at Talkatora
Stadium in Delhi.

58. The Government of Maharashtra immediately issued the notification to change the name of
Aurangabad city to Chatrapati Sambhajinagar and Osmnabad city to Dharashiv.

59. Three-days Ellora-Ajantha International Festival was organized at historical Soneri mahal
situated at campus of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU), after a gap
of 7 years.

60. Karnataka will get India's 1st Marina in the Udupi district.

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• Marina means a small area of water (a harbour) designed for pleasure boats.

61. Two-day Bird Survey Dharoi 2023 was organized in north Gujarat.

62. Odisha launched India’s first AI Chatbot for the agricultural sector ‘Ama KrushAI’ at the
valedictory session of ‘Krushi Odisha 2023’.
• Odisha CM – Naveen Patnaik
• Odisha Governor – L Ganesha

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala
informed Lok Sabha that India is the highest milk producer in the world contributing 24% of
global milk production in the year 2021-22.
• The above statement has been cited from the production data of Food and Agriculture
Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT).
• Milk production of India has registered a 51% increase during 2014-15 to 2021-22 and
increased to 22 crore tonne in the year 2021-22 from 14.6 crore tonnes in 2014-15.
• The value of the output of milk is more than Rs. 9.32 lakh crore during 2021-22.
• On the other hand, egg production has also increased from 78.48 billion in 2014-15 to
129.53 billion in 2021-22, at a growth rate of 8%.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Launched in 2014, the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) aims at
enhancing the quality of milk, milk products and increasing the share of organised
procurement, processing, value addition and marketing.
• Three existing schemes- Intensive Dairy Development Programme, Strengthening
Infrastructure for Quality and Clean Milk Production and Assistance to Cooperatives –
were merged into the NPDD.
• In July 2021, NPDD was restructured with the aim of enhancing the quality of milk and
milk products and increasing the share of organised procurement, processing, value
addition and marketing; for implementation from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

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• One more thing, the National Livestock Mission, Sub-Mission on Feed and Fodder
Development is a separate scheme aiming to increase the availability of fodder and
feed.

2. The 2nd edition of the Indian Rice Congress was conducted at the National Rice Research
Institute at Cuttack, Odisha.
• Theme - “Transforming Rice Research”
• Organizers - Association of Rice Research Workers of the National Rice Research Institute
• Cuttack is called Silver city and a Millennium City.

3. Ministry of Agriculture has approved commercial release of nano-diammonium

phosphate (nano-DAP), which is expected to reduce subsidy and the import dependence on
the fertiliser variety.
• India already produces nano-urea.
• Nano-DAP will be manufactured by India Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) and
Coromandel International.
• Currently, the cost of one bag of conventional DAP is Rs 1,350, while the actual cost of a
bag is Rs 4,000. The gap between actual cost and prices paid by the farmers is borne by
the government under the fertiliser subsidy head.
• IFFCO would be selling 500-ml bottles of nano-DAP costing around Rs 600-650.

4. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has released the Second Advance Estimates
of production of major crops for agricultural year 2022-23.
Crops Estimate
Total Foodgrains 3235.54 Lakh Tonnes (Record)
Rice 1308.37 Lakh Tonnes (Record)
Wheat 1121.82 Lakh Tonnes (Record)
Nutri / Coarse Cereals 527.26 Lakh Tonnes
Maize 346.13 Lakh Tonnes (Record)
Barley 22.04 Lakh Tonnes (Record)
Total Pulses 278.10 Lakh Tonnes. (Record)
Gram 136.32 Lakh Tonnes. (Record)
Moong 35.45 Lakh Tonnes. (Record)

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Oilseeds 400.01 Lakh Tonnes. (Record)

Groundnut 100.56 Lakh Tonnes
Soyabean 139.75 Lakh Tonnes
Rapeseed & Mustard 128.18 Lakh Tonnes. (Record)
Cotton 337.23 Lakh bales (of 170 kg each)
Sugarcane 4687.89 Lakh Tonnes (Record)
Jute & Mesta 100.49 Lakh bales (of 180 kg each)

5. Central Government has given in-principle approval to nine more ethanol projects under its
ethanol interest subvention scheme.
• These projects are expected to add to the additional capacity of about 35 crore litres.
• 299 projects with an expected capacity of about 1,481 crore litres have been granted in-
principle approvals under the ethanol interest subvention scheme since April 22, 2022.
• The government is extending financial assistance in the form of interest subvention at 6%
per annum or 50% of the rate of interest charged by banks, whichever is lower, on the loans
to be extended by banks for five years, including a one-year moratorium.

6. Teja variety of red chilli from Telangana is famous in many countries.

• Khammam Agriculture market is one of the biggest chilli markets in Telangana.

7. NDDB Mrida Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB),
signed an agreement with Sistema.bio, India’s leading biogas company.
• Purpose - to work with smallholder dairy farmers and provide sustainable solutions in
waste-to-energy and open avenues of generating additional income for farmers

8. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar chaired the
National Conference on Agriculture for Zaid (Summer) Campaign-2023 in New Delhi.

9. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and
Textiles, Piyush Goyal has approved the Quality Control Order (QCO) for mandatory
certification of cotton bales under specification No. IS12171: 2019-Cotton Bales.
• The government will approve Quality Control Order (QCO) for mandatory certification
of cotton bales and issue notification on it soon.

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• The minister also presided over the fifth interactive meeting with the Textile Advisory
Group (TAG) in New Delhi to review progress of initiatives for cotton value chain.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Textile Advisory Group was constituted in May 2022 under the chairmanship of
Suresh Kotak.

10. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed a new wheat variety called
HD-3385.
• This variety can overcome the challenges arising out due to changes in weather patterns
and rising heat levels.
• This new wheat variety called HD-3385 is amenable to early sowing, escaping the impact of
heat spikes and can be harvested before March end.

11. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has released Food Safety and
Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Second Amendment
Regulations, 2023.
• The regulations will be enforced w.e.f., September 1, 2023.
• These regulations specify a comprehensive group standard for millets.
• The group standard applies to the following millets -
1. Amaranthus (Chaulai or 6. Finger Millet (Ragi or 11. Little Millet (Kutki)
Rajgira) Mandua) 12. Pearl Millet (Bajra)
2. Barnyard Millet 7. Fonio (Acha) 13. Proso Millet (Cheena)
(Samakechawal or Sanwa or 8. Foxtail Millet (Kangni or 14. Sorghum (Jowar)
Jhangora) Kakun) 15. Teff (Lovegrass)
3. Brown top (Korale) 9. Job's tears (Adlay)
4. Buckwheat (Kuttu) 10. Kodo Millet (Kodo)
5. Crab finger (Sikiya)
• Central Govt will promote millets in the brand name “Shree Anna”.
• Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA),
under the Ministry of Commerce, has signed an MoU with Lulu Hypermarket LLC (a UAE-
based organization) to promote millets in the Gulf Cooperation Council’s region.
Knowledge Nuggets -

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• India registered a growth of 8.02% in the export of millets in the financial year 2021-22
as the export of millets was 159,332.16 metric tonne.
• Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) was
established by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority Act, 1985.
• The Act came into effect from 13th February 1986 by a notification issued in the Gazette
of India.
• APEDA comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Headquarters of APEDA - New Delhi
• Chairman of APEDA - Dr Madhaiyaan Angamuthu

12. Mizoram will soon export ‘bird’s eye chilli’ or ‘Mizo chilli’ of the state to the United States
for the first time.

DEFENCE NEWS
1. Indian Army has organized the 'Exercise Topchi', an annual firepower demonstration and
training exercise conducted at the School of Artillery in Devlali, Nasik district, Maharashtra.

2. Indian military concluded exercise Trishakti Prahar — a joint training exercise — which began
in North Bengal.
• Indian Army, the Indian Air Force and CAPFs participated in the exercise.

3. Indian Air Force has started its annual mega exercise 'Poorvi Aakash’ in the north-eastern
region to check its combat preparedness.

4. General Atomics, a major American energy and defence corporation, has started three
significant projects in India in the field of artificial intelligence, drones and
semiconductors.
• Bharat Forge and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) partnered to set up
aerostructure manufacturing.
• 114ai, an Indian artificial intelligence (AI) company, and General Atomics partnered for
next generation of technologies in artificial intelligence.
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• 3rdiTech, an Indian start-up, and General Atomics partnered in the field of

semiconductors.
• A task force was set up by the US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) in
partnership with the India Electronics Semiconductor Association (IESA) and India
Semiconductor Mission (government’s flagship scheme) to develop a readiness
assessment to identify near-term industry opportunities and facilitate the longer-term
strategic development of complementary semiconductor ecosystems.
• General Atomics Global Corporation’s CEO - Vivek Lall

5. One of India's leading unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) training and manufacturing groups,
Drone Destination (DD), has signed an MoU with IIT Patna to open Bihar’s first
government-approved drone training hub.
• DD is the state-run Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Academy (IGRUA)'s partner for drone
training and has several centres across India.

6. India’s largest chopper (helicopter) manufacturing unit is now ready to start operation in
Tumakuru, Karnataka. The foundation stone for the unit was laid in 2016.

7. India has launched “Operation Dost” to help Turkey and Syria in the deadly earthquake
situation.
• Indian Air Force's C17 Globemaster aircraft flew off from the Hindon Airbase in
Ghaziabad to help earthquake victims in Turkey.
• DOST is the word in Hindi and Turkish which means friends.

8. India has signed an agreement with Mauritius to export the ALH Mk3 helicopters to the
country.
• The agreement was signed in January 2022.

9. According to a new report released by Russian state news agencies, Russia supplied India
with around $13 billions of arms in the past 5 years.
• India has placed orders with Russia for weapons and military equipment exceeding $10
billion. India accounts for 20% of Russia’s defence trade.
• With this, India becomes the biggest defence buyer of Russia.

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10. India and USA military conducted the TARKASHA exercise in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

11. India has signed an agreement with Mauritius to export the ALH Mk3 helicopters to the
country.
• The agreement was signed in January 2022.

12. According to a new report released by Russian state news agencies, Russia supplied India
with around $13 billions of arms in the past 5 years.
• India has placed orders with Russia for weapons and military equipment exceeding $10
billion. India accounts for 20% of Russia’s defence trade.
• With this, India becomes the biggest defence buyer of Russia.

13. India and USA military conducted the TARKASHA exercise in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

14. Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹2,585-crore contract with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for
procuring 41 sets of modular bridges for the Army’s Corps of Engineers.
• These bridges have been designed and developed by Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) and shall be produced by L&T as DRDO-nominated
production agency.

15. Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge, Yard 125 was launched by
Captain Prashant Saxena at M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane.
• It is the first such barge in India.

16. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. has indigenously designed and developed a basic trainer
aircraft HTT-40 to meet the primary training requirements of the Indian defence services.

17. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd will provide the maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO)
services for the operations of MQ-9B drones in India.
• HAL will provide maintenance support services for engines of American MQ-9B Remotely
Piloted Aircraft System, considered one of the most sophisticated armed drones globally.

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18. Indian Army has partnered with Advanced Data Processing Research Institute (ADRIN) to
co-develop niche technology and end products duly aligned to the dynamic requirements of the
force.

19. Indian Army is organising "Operation Sadbhavana" in the Union Territory of Ladakh to
undertake multiple welfare activities, such as running schools and infrastructure
development projects.

20. 4th edition of joint military exercise, “EX DHARMA GUARDIAN”, between India and Japan
conducted at Camp Imazu in Shiga province of Japan.

21. Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, AICTE, Bureau of Police Research and
Development (under Ministry of Home Affairs) and Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre
(I4C, under Ministry of Home Affairs) have launched KAVACH-2023 - a national level
hackathon.
• KAVACH-2023 was launched to identify innovative ideas and technological solutions for
addressing the cyber security and cybercrime challenges of the 21st century.

22. Indian Army organised a Women's Snow Cricket tournament in Panzgam village of north
Kashmir's Kupwara district.
• The event was a first-of-its-kind in Kupwara, wherein young girls played cricket on a
snowy field.

23. Indian Navy's all-women car expedition titled as “Nari Shakti” sets off from National War
Memorial in Delhi to cover 2,300 km.

24. India-Uzbekistan biennial military training Exercise DUSTLIK 2023 (4th edition) was held in
Uttarakhand.
• The Indian contingent will be represented by the 14th Battalion, The GARHWAL RIFLES,
part of Western Command in this bilateral exercise.

25. Indian Air Force has launched 'Vayulink', the data link communication that uses the Indian
Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) that is also known as NAVIC, to send radio
communication to the base station when the signals are low.

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• Purpose - come out with an innovative solution that would help pilots to deal with bad
weather and, also provide them jammer-proof uninterrupted communication with the base
station

26. Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited and Israel Aerospace Industries have concluded
a Memorandum of Agreement to form a joint venture at the Aero India 2023 at Yelahanka
Air Force Station, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• This aims at a single point of contact for extending long-term product support services for
the defence forces of India.
• The new joint venture between both companies is being established for the production of
Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSTAM) air defence systems for India’s Armed
Forces.
• Its headquarters is in New Delhi and support and maintenance for the Indian Armed
Forces.

27. Rolls-Royce Division has signed an MoU with Kalyani Strategic Service (Pune-based
Bharat Forge subsidiary) for naval marine propulsion technology for the Indian Navy.

28. INS Sumedha arrived at Abu Dhabi, UAE to participate in NAVDEX 23 (Naval Defence
Exhibition) and IDEX 23 (International Defence Exhibition), scheduled from 20 to 24
February 2023.
• This indigenously built Saryu class Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels (NOPV) is third of the
series and was commissioned into the Indian Navy in March 2014. This ship has been built
at Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL).
• Naval ships and vessels from eight countries including UAE, China, Pakistan, Bahrain, Italy,
Britain and Kuwait are taking part in NAVDEX.
• EDGE (one of the world's leading advanced technology and defence groups in UAE) signed
an MOU with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to explore the areas of cooperation that
include joint design and development of missile systems and UAVs at IDEX-2023.

29. For the first time, an Indian submarine named INS Shindukesari docked in Indonesia to
strengthen bilateral relations as part of diplomatic-military outreach to ASEAN countries.

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30. Indian Air Force contingent (comprising of 110 Air Warriors) reached at Al Dahfra airbase of
United Arab Emirates for participating in Exercise Desert Flag VIII.
• Exercise Desert Flag is a multilateral air exercise in which Air Forces from UAE, France,
Kuwait, Australia, UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, Republic of Korea, and USA would also be
participating.
• The exercise is scheduled from 27th of February to 17th of March.

31. Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in multilateral air exercise 'Exercise Cobra Warrior' at
the RAF's Waddington Air Force Base in the UK from March 6 to 24.
• This year, the IAF is participating in the exercise with five Mirage 2000 fighters, two C-17
Globemaster III and an IL-78 mid-air refueller aircraft.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
1. Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) has signed an MoU with the
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to collaborate on Technical Vocational Education
and Training (TVET) programmes.
• The MoU will focus on Australian training standards and delivery in sectors ranging across
automotive, allied health, mining, IT, cyber security, renewable energy, logistics, supply
chain and water management.
• Austrade’s Australia-India Future Skills Initiative team in India will execute on these actions
with CII.
• Austrade has also signed an MOU with the Leather Sector Skill Council to collaborate on
Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes and introduce
Australian training standards in the leather sector.

2. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Engineer India Ltd have signed an MOU to
develop Waste to Energy and bio-methanation projects in cities with a population of
million plus.
• The project will enable the "Green Growth" of India (as envisaged in the Union Budget
2023-24).
• There are 59 million plus cities in India like Lucknow, Kanpur, Bareilly, Nasik, Thane,
Nagpur, Gwalior, Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore etc.
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• Target - The initiative will result in an additional processing capacity of 15,000 TPD for Bio-
Methanation and 10,000 TPD for Waste to Energy respectively.

3. India has signed an MOU with Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Joint

Business Council (IMT-GT JBC), Malaysia to further promote the adoption of energy
efficiency and sustainable practices in the region.
• Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a PSU under the Ministry of Power, signed
the MoU.

4. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has signed an MOU with Digital Green (global
development organization) under public private partnership framework to build a national level
digital extension platform.
• The platform will host a digital library to help extension workers access and deliver curated
content to farmers on time and upskill the vast network of extension workers for agriculture,
horticulture, fisheries, livestock and rural livelihood missions through certified online
courses.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Founded by Rikin Gandhi, a technocrat and social development enthusiast, Digital
Green has been working with governments in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh
and Telangana, serving over 25 lakhs farmers and having enhanced the capacities of
over 4000 front like workers.

5. Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) and the National Forensic Sciences
University (NFSU) have signed an MoU for setting up digital forensic laboratories along
with exchange of information and knowledge, technological advancement and skill
development in the field of digital forensics to nab tax offenders.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• DGGI is the apex intelligence organisation, under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and
Customs (CBIC), for collection and dissemination of information and for taking necessary
measures to check evasion of GST.
• NFSU is an institution of national importance established to promote studies and
research in forensic sciences and related fields. It is the first and only institute in the

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field of forensic sciences. It has state-of-the-art technology in digital forensics and

capabilities to study and analyse digital evidence.
• NFSU is established in Delhi in 1972.

6. ISRO and IIT Madras have signed an MOU for collaboration on the application of Extended
Reality (XR) and other technologies in Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.
• This training module will be created on the basis of Augmented Reality (AR)/ Virtual
Reality (VR) / Mixed Reality (MR).

7. India Health Link has signed an MoU with the Uttar Pradesh government for the InvestUP
programme to set up health ATMs across the state to check health vital parameters including
BP, weight, pulse, temperature, and ECG within 10 minutes followed by an instant report.
• India Health Link (IHL) has also developed hPod. The hPod is installed at Sir Gangaram
Hospital, New Delhi.

8. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and The Ocean Cleanup have signed an
MoU to collaborate on eliminating plastic pollution in oceans and rivers around the globe.

9. India and Fiji have signed an MOU on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official
passports.
• Under this agreement, diplomatic and official passport holders will be able to enter, transit,
and stay in each other territories without a visa for a period not exceeding 90 days.

10. Central Water Commission and the IIT-Roorkee have signed an MOU for establishing an
international Centre of Excellence on dam safety.
• The centre will be developed at the IIT-R for which it has received a grant of Rs 108.99
crore from the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• The International Center of Excellence will focus on different safety and rehabilitation
aspects of dams, like hydrological, hydraulic, structural, geotechnical, seismic safety
evaluation, and reservoir sedimentation and silt control.

11. Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and Food Safety & Standards Authority of India
(FSSAI) and National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Hyderabad
(NIPER Hyderabad) have signed a tripartite MoU to address the doping issues in sports.
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• The MOU will create nutritional supplement testing capacity in India, provide information &
build awareness about the risks associated with use of nutritional supplements, increase
research opportunities in the clean sport & anti-doping domain and provide options for safe
and dope-free nutritional supplements for sportspersons.

12. Union Cabinet, chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the
signing of an MOU between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and The
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW).
• Purpose - to provide recognition of the qualification, training of each other members and
admit the members in good standing by prescribing a bridging mechanism on the prevailing
terms and conditions

13. Union Cabinet has approved the signing of an MoU between India and Chile for cooperation
in the field of Agriculture and Allied sectors.
• Under the MoU, a Chile-India Agricultural Working Group is to be constituted which will
be responsible for the supervision, review and assessment of the implementation of this
MoU as well as for establishing frequent communication and coordination.

14. Tata Steel and Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), a constituent of the Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), have signed an MoU to collaborate on research,
academic growth, and sustainable solutions in mining.
• Under the agreement, CBRI will provide scientific inputs to Tata Steel on slope stability
analysis and control measures in mining areas and affordable and sustainable green
housing technologies for the rehabilitation and resettlement of families in mining areas.

15. BEML Ltd has signed an MOU with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)-led special
purpose vehicle (SPV) for supplying metro rolling stock for Bahrain Metro Rail Project Phase-
1.
• BEML is a multi-technology schedule 'A' company under the Ministry of Defence.
• It operates under three major business verticals viz., defence & aerospace, mining &
construction, and rail & metro.

16. Union Cabinet has recently approved the Air Service Agreement signed between India and
Guyana.
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• A total of 40% of Guyana’s population is Indians. The agreement will allow the countries
to enable provisions of air services between them.

17. The Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region of India and the Regional
Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) of Seychelles have signed an MOU on maritime
cooperation to improve safety in the Indian Ocean Region.
• The safety provisions will be based on the SAGAR – Security and Growth for All in the
Region – initiative.
• India has a military base on the Assumption Island of Seychelles. It was built in 1990
and was extended in 2016.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. International Monetary Fund has provided $4.7 billion loan to Bangladesh Government to
tackle the macroeconomic issues.
• Of this, $3.3 billion is given under the extended credit facility of IMF.
• $1.4 billion is given under Resilience and Sustainability Facility for Climate Investments (for
the first time since the facility’s inception).
Knowledge Nuggets -
• The Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) was created by IMF in 2022 to
provide loans to low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries for tackling climate
change and pandemic situations.
• The RSF was created under the Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST) to provide
policy support and affordable longer-term financing to strengthen members’ resilience
and sustainability.

2. India has been invited as the theme country at the Madrid International Book Fair in 2025.

3. The Paris Club will provide financial assurances to the International Monetary Fund on Sri
Lanka’s debt.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• The Paris Club is a forum of 22 creditor countries. It was established in 1956.

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• All 22 are members of the group called Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD).
• Their objective is to find sustainable debt-relief solutions for countries that are unable to
repay their bilateral loans.

4. An Annual Partnership Forum of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) was
organized at UN’s headquarters in New York.
• Punjab-based Patiala Foundation has participated in this meeting.
• NGOs accredited with the UN body, agencies and stakeholders participated in this forum.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Punjab-based Patiala Foundation was accorded ECOSOC Special Consultative Status in
2018 and works in the field of protection and regeneration of livelihood, heritage
conservation, road safety and environment conservation, issues that are the focus of
various Sustainable Development Goals.

5. NASA and IBM have partnered to develop artificial intelligence (AI) based models to
advance scientific knowledge about Earth, and help the world to adapt to a changing
environment.
• The joint work will apply AI foundation model technology to NASA's Earth-observing
satellite data for the first time.
• Example - One project will train an IBM geospatial intelligence foundation model on
NASA's Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 (HLS) dataset, a record of land cover and land use
changes captured by Earth-orbiting satellites.
• This model technology will help researchers provide critical analysis of our planet's
environmental systems.

6. 8th meeting of the US-India Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG) meeting was held in
the US to discuss collaboration in earth and space science as well as global navigation satellite
systems, spaceflight safety and space situational awareness, and policies for commercial
space activities.
• India and US will together launch the NASA-India Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR)
mission in 2024.

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• NISAR is the first satellite mission to collect radar data in two microwave bandwidth
regions, called the L-band and the S-band, to measure changes in our planet's surface
less than a centimetre across.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• In 2005, India and US established their Joint Working Group on Civil Space
Cooperation to expand cooperation in civilian space programs.
• The first meeting of the forum was held in Bengaluru in 2005.

7. Australia has announced to remove the face of the British Monarch from its currency
notes.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize,
Grenada, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are the Commonwealth Group of
Countries which accept England’s monarchy as the Head of the State.
• Australia Capital – Canberra; Currency – Australian Dollar; National Language –
English
• Australia PM – Anthony Albanese
• Australia’s population – 2.6 crore approx.
• Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the
mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller
islands.
• Australia is the largest country by area in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest
country.
• Politically, Australia is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy, comprising six
states and ten territories.
• Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize,
Grenada, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are the Commonwealth Group of
Countries which accept England’s monarchy as the Head of the State.
• Important cities of Australia – Sydney (most populous city and financial centre),
Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.

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8. Republic of Congo (simply Congo) has joined the International Solar Alliance as its 113th
signatory.
• Its neighbour, Democratic Republic of Congo is already a party to this agreement.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Congo Capital – Brazzaville; Currency - Central African CFA franc; Official Language –
French
• Majority of its population is Christian.
• It gained its independence from France in 1960.

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9. Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton announced a Global Climate Resilience Fund
of $50 million for women to fight climate change.
• The fund will empower women and communities to fight climate change and help provide
new livelihood resources and education.
• The Clinton Global Initiative has been launched with the American Indian foundation,
SEWA (Self Employed Women's Association founded by late activist Ela Bhatt) and other
organisations.

10. Jupiter, the largest planet in the Solar System, has the highest number of moons up to 92.
• Saturn has the second highest number of moons up to 82.

11. Sri Lanka is celebrating 75 years of its independence on February 4 on the theme of Namo
Namo Matha – A step towards a century.

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12. South Korea’s Sangwol Society has announced to cover the sites related to Buddha’s life by
walking through India and Nepal.
• Under this, 108 Buddhists will walk and cover 1,100 km in India.
• Buddhist Circuit is one of the fifteen thematic circuits identified for development under
the Swadesh Darshan- Integrated Development of Theme-Based Tourism Circuits
Scheme of Ministry of Tourism.

13. The Quad countries (India, Japan, Australia, and the USA) have launched a public campaign,
Quad Cyber Challenge, to encourage internet users across the Indo-Pacific and beyond to
adopt safe and responsible cyber habits.

14. Bangladesh’s GDP growth rate was recorded at 7.10% for the Financial Year (FY) 2022-23.
• The Per Capita GDP income of Bangladesh is at USD 2,793.
• In 2021, India’s per capital income stood at USD 2,256.6.

15. Myanmar's military-led government, working with Russian State Atomic Energy Corp., or
Rosatom, has inaugurated a nuclear power information centre as a step toward
developing atomic power to fulfil its energy requirements.
• Russia has been promoting cooperation on nuclear power with several Southeast Asian
nations including Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Myanmar Capital – Naypyidaw; Currency – Kyat; Official Language – Burmese
• Myanmar is officially called as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
• At present, Myanmar govt is Unitary assembly-independent republic under a military
junta.
• Myanmar is a member of the East Asia Summit, Non-Aligned Movement, ASEAN, and
BIMSTEC, but it is not a member of the Commonwealth of Nations despite once being
part of the British Empire.
• Mekong-Ganga Cooperation is a collaboration between India and 5 ASEAN nations
(Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam) for cooperation in tourism,
culture, education, as well as transport and communications.
• Mekong river (a prominent river in the Southeast Asia) runs from China, Myanmar, Laos,
Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

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16. Qualcomm Technologies Inc. has introduced the world’s first satellite-based two-way
capable messaging solution for premium smartphones, called Snapdragon Satellite, at the
CES 2023.
• Snapdragon Satellite will offer global connectivity using mobile messaging from around the
world.
• The latest two-way messaging service is powered by Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF Systems.

17. The World Government Summit is held in Dubai, UAE every year. This year, the theme of
the “Summit is Shaping Future Governments”.
• The first edition of the summit took place in 2013.
• World Government Summit Organization is a global, neutral, non-profit organization
dedicated to shaping the future of governments.

18. SpaceX’s Starship Rocket will be used in the Artemis mission to land humans to moon.

19. Italian researchers have discovered a Black Galaxy or Invisible Galaxy using Atacama
Large Millimetre Array (ALMA) in Atacama Desert, Chile.

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20. ‘Ekushey Padak’, the second-highest civilian award of Bangladesh, has been awarded to 19
individuals and two institutions.
• Started in 1976, Ekushey Padak is given in recognition of notable contribution to people
and institutions in their respective fields.
• Bidyanondo Foundation in the social service category and Bangladesh National
Museum are the two institutions which have won the awards.

21. World Health Organization recently confirmed the Marburg disease outbreak in Equatorial
Guinea.
• The Marburg disease virus comes from bats. It spreads through close skin contact, bodily
fluids, and also through infected surfaces.

22. Switzerland is the first WTO member to ratify the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
• The Agreement prohibits subsidies to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and
bans subsidies for fishing overfished stocks and for fishing on the unregulated high seas.

23. Rayyana Barnawi will become the first Saudi Arabian woman to go on a space mission to
International Space Station.
• Barnawi will join fellow Saudi astronaut Ali Al-Qarni on a 10-day mission to the ISS.

24. Black Sea Grain Initiative was launched in 2022 by Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United
Nations to supply food grains by using the Ukrainian ports to ease global food inflation.

25. European Union has planned to ban the sale of gas and diesel cars w.e.f. 2035.

26. 12th World Hindi Conference (Vishwa Hindi Sammelan) is being organized in Nadi, Fiji
from February 15-17, 2023 by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India in
association with the Government of Fiji.
• Theme - “Hindi – Traditional Knowledge to Artificial Intelligence”
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Fiji Capital – Suva; Currency – Dollar; Official Languages – English, Fiji Hindi, and Fijian
• The Republic of Fiji is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South
Pacific Ocean.

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• Fiji is a part of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), which includes
India and 14 Pacific Island Nations (including Fiji).

27. USA has passed a resolution on Arunachal Pradesh Line of Actual Control (LAC)
condemning China.
• The resolution reaffirms Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India.

28. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the UN Security Council’s
first-ever debate about the global implications of sea level rise.
• The council stressed on the risks posed by sea level rise.

29. Spain's Parliament has given final approval to a law allowing people over 16 years of age to
change their legally recognised gender without medical evaluation.

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• Now, they can identify as another gender and confirm it three months later. Those aged 12
to 13 will need a judge's approval while people aged 14 and 15 will need parental
permission.
• Another law passed by Spain Parliament includes paid menstrual leave for women suffering
severe period pain.

30. Qatar has lifted its temporary ban on the import of frozen seafood from India.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Qatar, officially called as the State of Qatar, is a country in Western Asia.
• Capital – Doha; Currency – Qatari Riyal; Language – Arabic
• Ethnicity – 40% people are Arabic (highest); 36% South Asians (second highest – 21%
Indians)
• Islam is the religion of majority of population (65.5%). Hinduism is the second most
followed religion in Qatar (15.1%).
• Form of Government - Unitary authoritarian parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy
• Qatar is in the Persian Gulf.

31. South Africa, Russia and China are conducting the Mosi II naval exercises in the Indian
Ocean, off the South African coast.

32. North Korea had tested a Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile. Hwasong-15 was
first tested in 2017.

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33. US President Joe Biden will announce $500 million in aid to Ukraine.

34. Russian President Vladimir Putin was suspending its participation in the New Start treaty
with the United States.
• The New Start treaty is the last remaining nuclear arms deal between Moscow and
Washington, and it was extended for five years in 2021.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• The New START treaty was signed in Prague in 2010 and came into force the following
year.
• It caps the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia can
deploy and limits the use of missiles that can carry atomic weapons.

35. G7 Summit in 2023 (49th edition) will be hosted by Japan.

36. The inaugural I2U2 (India-Israel-USA-UAE) Business Forum was held at Abu Dhabi, UAE.
• It was the first event of this kind to take place since the official launch of the I2U2 Group
during the I2U2 Leaders’ Summit in July last year.

37. International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced that India and China will contribute more
than 50% of the global growth in 2023.
• Asia is expected to grow by 4.7% in 2023 and by 4.5% in 2024.

38. Brazil has suspended its beef exports to China after a case of mad cow disease, also known
as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy.
• Brazil is the largest beef exporter in the world and China is one of the largest beef
consumers in the world.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• The Mad Cow Disease is incurable.
• The disease occurs due to an infection in a protein called a prion.
• It is a fat neurodegenerative disease which affects brain cells.

39. China has launched the Zhongxing-26 satellite on Long March 3B rocket at a cost of $333
million.
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• Separately, China has blocked ChatGPT (AI software).

40. Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has suspended Russia's membership over the Ukraine
war.
• Reason - Russian Federation's actions unacceptably run counter to the FATF core
principles aiming to promote security, safety, and the integrity of the global financial system.
• Africa's two largest economies, Nigeria and South Africa, have been put in the grey list
by FATF.
• Cambodia and Morocco have been put out from the grey list.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the global money laundering and terrorist
financing watchdog.
• President – Dr Marcus Pleyer
• FATF HQ – Paris, France

41. Bangladesh govt has signed an agreement with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to
increase the use of solar energy in the country.
• The agreement is to be implemented by December 2026.
• The agreement was signed between the ISA Director General Ajay Mathur and the
Bangladesh Power Division Secretary Md. Habibur Rahman.
• The Bangladesh government has set up a target of generating 40% of its total energy
through renewable sources by 2041.

REPORTS AND INDICES

1. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific has released the “Asia-Pacific Regional
Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2022 – Urban Food Systems and Nutrition”
report.
• The 5F crisis – lack of food, feed, fuel, fertilizer and finance pushing millions more people
in the world’s most populous region into hunger and poverty.
• A healthy diet is unaffordable in most countries of Asia and the Pacific for nearly two
billion inhabitants (1.9 billion persons, which is 44.5% of the region’s population).

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2. International Energy Agency (IEA) has released ‘LiFE lessons from India’ report to save
$440 billion of the world by 2030.
• The report highlighted that the saving would be equivalent to around 5% of all fuel
spending across the global economy in a year.
• Africa’s energy consumption is one-third of the world average, while India’s is 35%.

3. Global Quality Infrastructure Index (GQII) 2021 is released by consulting firms Mesopartner
and Analyticar to research and disseminate data on Quality Infrastructure.
• Total countries – 184
• Top – Germany
• India’s rank – 10th Overall
o Accreditation - 5th (as regulated by Quality Council of India)
o Standardization – 9th (as regulated by BIS)
o Metrology – 21st (as regulated by National Physical Laboratory -CSIR)
• Parameters – Quality Infrastructure (QI): Accreditation, Standardization, and Metrology
o QI is the technical backbone for international trade, with metrology, standardization,
accreditation and conformity assessment services providing reliability and trust
between trading partners.

Knowledge Nuggets –

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• The GQII rankings are published and presented post-facto for each year based on the
data collected till the end of that year.
• The 2021 rankings are based on data till end of December 2021, collected and analyzed
through 2022.
• It is an initiative on metrology, standardisation, accreditation and related services,
supported by PTB and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
(BMZ), Germany.

4. According to the “Making the Digital Ecosystem Disabled Friendly” report by Vidhi Centre
for Legal Policy (think tank), WhatsApp is the most accessible app for disabled persons.
• The organization evaluated applications in different categories such as e-commerce, online
payments, transport, food delivery, etc.
• OLA, UBER, TELEGRAM, FLIPKART, AMAZON, ZOMATO, SWIGGY, PAYTM, PHONE
PE, etc. apps were also audited by the Vidhi Centre.
• After auditing, the apps were categorized as “highly accessible”, “moderately accessible”,
and “less accessible”. WhatsApp was highly accessible.

5. YouGov (an international data analytics firm based in the UK) has released a report on
disposable income.
• As per the report, one-third of urban Indian feel that their disposable income has
decreased.
• The Urban Indians intend to increase their savings in the next 12 months.
• Their major expenses are around buying health insurance (26% of income), savings (33%)
and investments for the future (21%).

6. According to the International Energy Agency’s Electricity Market Report 2023 (HQ –
Paris), Asian continent will consume half of the electricity produced in the world by 2025.
• On the contrary, Africa will only use 3% of the world’s electricity by 2025, despite having
1/5th of the world’s population.

7. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has released the Asian Economic Integration Report
2023 report.

8. CloudSEK has released the “Global Threat Landscape Report 2021-2022" report.
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• As per the report, India is the most targeted country by hackers in Asia in 2021 and
2022.
• The number of cyberattacks in India increased by 24.3% in 2022.

9. Centre for Policy Analysis (CPA) has released the “Global Minority Report”.
• India has come out on top on measures of inclusivity towards religious minorities.
• India has the highest level of religious minorities acceptance, followed by South Korea,
Japan, Panama, and the US.
• Maldives, Afghanistan, and Somalia are at the bottom of the list, with the UK and the UAE
coming in at positions 54 and 61, respectively.
• The report analysed 110 nations.
• The Centre for Policy Analysis (CPA) is a research institute, having its headquarters in
India's Patna.

10. National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has released its White Paper on
the “Making India A Global Power House on Farm Machinery Industry” by Hon’ble Ms.
Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.

11. Financial Times has released the list of Top-MBA Universities and Institutes 2023.
Top 5 Global B-Schools Top 5 Indian B-Schools
1st - Columbia Business School, US 39th – Indian School of Business
2nd – Insead, France/Singapore 51st – IIM-Ahmedabad
3rd - Iese Business School, Spain 52nd – IIM-Bangalore
4th - Harvard Business School, US 76th – IIM-Calcutta
4th - Stanford Graduate School of Business 89th – IIM-Indore

12. World Meteorological Organisation has released the “Global Sea-Level Rise and
Implications Key facts and figures” report.
• Global mean sea-level increased by 0.20 m between 1901 and 2018, with an average rate
increase of 1.3 mm/ year between 1901 and 1971, 1.9 mm/year between 1971 and 2006,
and 3.7 mm/year between 2006 and 2018.
• Thermal expansion contributed to 50% of sea level rise during 1971-2018, while ice loss
from glaciers contributed to 22%, ice-sheet loss to 20% and changes in land-water storage
8%.
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13. White Shield (a policy advisory firm) has released the Global Labour Resilience Index 2023
during the World Government Summit.
• Total - 136 countries
• Top – Denmark, followed by Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Singapore, and Sweden
• India’s rank – 65th
• Parameters - technological disruptions, pandemics, green economy transition, etc.
• More than one-third of the countries (49 countries out of 136) score less than 50 out of 100
on labour market resilience.

14. World Bank has released the “Collapse and Recovery: How the COVID-19 Pandemic
Eroded Human Capital and What to Do about It” report.

15. According to the Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI) conducted by the
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for the year 2022, India
stood at 47th position (up from the 48th position).
• Total – 50 countries
• Parameters – The STRI indices takes into consideration the government policies in
several sectors that define the ease of trading in those sectors and industries.
• Based on these factors, STRI indices assign value to countries between zero and one.
• As per the index, zero shows least restriction and one show no restriction. The database
also records details based on a Most Favoured Nation basis.

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16. NASSCOM, in association with Salesforce and Draup, has released the “State of Data
Science and AI Skills in India: Data and the Art of Smart Intelligence” report.
• According to the report, India ranked first in terms of Artificial Intelligence (AI) skill
penetration and AI talent concentration and 5th in AI scientific publications.
• Artificial Intelligence has become the foundational technology for the world’s digital
transformation.
• AI-led disruption in India’s core sectors alone has a potential impact of $500 billion on
India’s economy in GVA (gross value added) terms by 2026.
• India's AI Skills Penetration Factor has been reported to be 3.09, the highest among all G20
and OECD countries.

17. Saudi Arabia is developing its NEOM project at a cost of USD 500 billion.
• NEOM project aims at developing futuristic cities, that will be powered entirely by clean
energy, will be free of cars and will have no streets or zero carbon emissions.
• NEOM- the name is a combination of the Greek word NEO (new) and M both the first letter
of the Arab word Mustakbal (the Future) and of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

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18. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2022-23 report, India is ranked 4th out of
the 51 countries in high-quality entrepreneurial ecosystem.

19. According to the data shared by private market intelligence platform Tracxn, the proportion of
funds allocated to women-led start-ups in India saw an increase in 2022 as compared to 2021.
• Early-stage start-ups raised $8.2 billion in funding in equity rounds in 2022 as compared to
$7.1 billion raised in the previous year.
• Out of this, early-stage funding into women-led start-ups nearly doubled from $550.5 million
in 2021 to $1.1 billion in 2022.

20. US Chamber of Commerce Global Innovation Policy Center has released the International
Intellectual Property Index 2023.
• Total – 55 countries
• Top – USA (score 95.48%)
• India – 42nd (score 38.64%)
• Bottom – Venezuela (score 14.10%)
• Parameters -
(1) Patents, Related Rights, and Limitations
(2) Copyrights, Related Rights, and Limitations
(3) Trademarks, Related Rights, and Limitations
(4) Design Rights, Related Rights, and Limitations
(5) Trade Secrets and the Protection of Confidential Information
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(6) Commercialization of IP Assets and Market Access

(7) Enforcement
(8) Systemic Efficiency

21. WHO, UNICEF, World Bank, UN Population Fund, and UN Department of Economic and
Social Affairs have released the “Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000 to 2020” report.

Global Scenario -
• In 2020, an estimated 2,87,000 women globally died from a maternal cause, equivalent to
almost 800 maternal deaths every day, and approximately one every two minutes.
• The global MMR in 2020 was estimated at 223 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births,
down from 227 in 2015 and from 339 in 2000 – a reduction of 34.3% over the full 20-year
period.
• The average annual rate of reduction (ARR) in the global MMR from 2000 to 2020 was
2.1%.
• India (24,000), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (22,000) and Ethiopia (10,000)
account for 8.3%, 7.5% and 3.6% of global maternal deaths, respectively.
• India’s MMR is 103.

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 3.1 is to reduce maternal mortality to less
than 70 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were launched on 25 September 2015 and came
into force on 1 January 2016 for the 15-year period until 31 December 2030.

22. New Delhi-based ICRIER Prosus Centre for Internet and the Digital Economy (IPCIDE) has
released the “State of India's Digital Economy” report.
• The report focuses on the indicators which are specific to the Indian society.
• The report traces the digital transformation through its four interrelated stages: Connect,
Harness, Innovate and Protect, or the CHIP framework.
• The progress is examined for three types of agents: people, businesses and government.
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BANKING AND ECONOMY

1. Economic Survey of 2022-23 has been released. The entire survey has been explained
comprehensively in this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXSSTt5Yh9c

2. Air India will use the Coruson (cloud software developed by Ideagen, a UK-based company)
to increase its safety management.
• Coruson will help Air India in reporting in–flight incidents on a real time basis.

3. Eminent Air, a drone start-up, that was founded with an aim to leverage drone technology to
transform and revolutionize the logistics industry, has created India’s first ever one-of-its-
kind Drone with Parachute Integrated System.

4. New India Assurance (NIA) has launched its “Pay as You Drive” (PAYD) policy with
features like discounts on renewals, coverage beyond distance limit, and enhanced protections
such as nil depreciation, roadside help, return to invoice, etc.
• The policy buyer can include add-ons with an additional payment for enhanced safeguards,
such as zero depreciation, engine protection, return to invoice, roadside assistance, etc.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• The New India Assurance is a public sector insurance company.
• Other state-owned insurance companies in India -
o Life Insurance Corporation of India
o General Insurance Corporation Of India
o United India Insurance Company Limited
o The Oriental Insurance Company Limited
o National Insurance Company Limited
o Agriculture Insurance Company Of India Limited
• NIA CMD – Neerja Kapur

5. According to RBI’s data, there were 14.19 lakh micro-ATMs across the country as of
December 2022.
• Fino Payments Bank owns 3.55 lakh micro-ATMs, over a quarter of total ATMs.

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• SBM Bank India owns the second highest micro-ATMs, followed by NSDL Payments
Bank.

6. Infibeam Avenues’s flagship payments brand - CCAvenue, has become the first payment
gateway player to process Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) or Digital Rupee
transactions for online retail merchants.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• On December 1, 2022, RBI had launched the first pilot of the e-rupee retail segment in
eight banks.
• In the first phase, it will be launched by State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank and
IDFC First Bank in the across Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar.
• In the second phase, the pilot will be carried out by Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India,
HDFC Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank, with the facility being extended to Ahmedabad,
Gangtok, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Kochi, Lucknow, Patna and Shimla.

7. IDFC FIRST Bank has partnered with ToneTag, a global proximity and voice tech solution
provider, to enable acceptance of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) at merchant
outlets.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• On December 1, 2022, RBI had launched the first pilot of the e-rupee retail segment in
eight banks.
• In the first phase, it will be launched by State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank and
IDFC First Bank in the across Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar.
• In the second phase, the pilot will be carried out by Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India,
HDFC Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank, with the facility being extended to Ahmedabad,
Gangtok, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Kochi, Lucknow, Patna and Shimla.

8. Mobicule, a niche player and expert in debt collection, has launched mCollect Repossession
module, an industry first for banks and NBFCs.
• The revolutionary Asset Repossession Solution is a comprehension solution that maps all
the complex processes in repossession of an asset, as a part of its debt collection and
recovery product.

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9. ONGC’s Sagar Samrat has been converted as a Mobile Offshore Production Unit (MOPU),
which will handle up to 20,000 barrels per day (BPD) of crude oil and is expected to add 6,000
BPD to India’s production.
• ONGC’s Sagar Samrat is an offshore drilling rig facility located in Arabian Sea.
• Chairman of ONGC - Arun Kumar Singh

10. Reserve Bank of India’s Digital Payments Index rose to 377.46 in September 2022 from
349.30 in March.
• Parameters - (i) Payment Enablers (weight 25%), (ii) Payment Infrastructure – Demand-
side factors (10%), (iii) Payment Infrastructure – Supply-side factors (15%), (iv) Payment
Performance (45%) and (v) Consumer Centricity (5%).

11. RBI has partially relaxed the restrictions it had imposed on SBM Bank (India) ltd to stop all
transactions under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS).
• RBI has allowed the SBM Bank to allow ATM/PoS transactions under LRS through KYC-
compliant internationally active debit cards issued by the bank.
Knowledge Nuggets -

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• Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) of RBI allows Indians to transfer money to NRIs
abroad. It was launched in 2004.
• The scheme streamlined overseas payments and was made available for all resident
individuals in India.
• LRS allows parents to transfer money to their children studying abroad. Any Indian
resident can participate in it and transfer up to $250,000 abroad in a financial year.

12. RBI has appointed V. Ramachandra (former Chief General Manager, Canara Bank) as a
member of the Advisory Committee of Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd. (SIFL) and Srei
Equipment Finance Ltd. (SEFL) with immediate effect.
• The Advisory Committee will comprise of Venkat Nageshwar Chalasani, former Deputy
Managing Director, State Bank of India, and T. T. Srinivasaraghavan, former Managing
Director, Sundaram Finance Ltd.

13. KFin Technologies Limited (KFintech), a leading technology-driven financial services

platform providing comprehensive services and solutions to the capital markets ecosystem
across asset classes, has launched its operations in GIFT City.

14. IDFC Ltd is investing Rs 2,200 crore in IDFC First Bank to increase its stake in the bank to
40% from 36.38% currently.

15. Kotak Mahindra Bank has implemented the first phase of the RBI’s Digital Rupee.
• KMBL is among the eight banks shortlisted by RBI to implement a pilot project for issuance
of Digital Rupee.
• Kotal will launch the Digital Rupee pilot in Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad.
• Reliance Retail has become the first merchant to accept RBI’s Blockchain-based CBDC
in-store at its food store Freshpik.
• To launch in-store support for the digital rupee, Reliance Retail has partnered with ICICI
Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and fintech company Innoviti Technologies.

16. Indore Municipal Corporation has launched secured redeemable non-convertible

debentures (NCDs) up to ₹244 crore.
• The issue offers a rate of return of 8.25% per annum payable half-yearly.

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17. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that India will get its first hydrogen train by
December 2023 which will be completely indigenously manufactured.

18. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that Permanent Account Number (PAN)
will be used for common identifier for all digital systems of specified government agencies.
• PAN is a 10-digit alphanumeric number allotted by the income tax department to a person,
firm or entity.

19. Angel tax is a term used to refer to the income tax payable on capital raised by unlisted
companies via the issue of shares where the share price is seen in excess of the fair market
value of the shares sold.
• The Finance Bill, 2023 has proposed bringing non-resident investors in unlisted
companies under the Income Tax Act, also known as the ‘angel tax’.
• The changes to the provisions under which angel tax is levied will become effective from
April 1, 2024 and will be applicable from assessment year 2024-25 onwards.

20. Hinduja Group has received RBI’s approval to increase its stake to 26% in IndusInd Bank
after the recent revision in Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines on private bank ownership.
• Hinduja already owns 16.51% stake in IndusInd Bank.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• In January 2023, RBI issued the “RBI (Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting
Rights in Banking Companies) Directions, 2023”.
• As per the Directions, Promoters can hold 26% of the paid-up share capital or voting
rights of the banking company after the completion of 15 years from commencement of
business of the banking company.

21. Central PSU RailTel Corporation of India has received a work order from the State Bank of
India (SBI) for providing 4G LTE connectivity to 15,000 offsite ATMs spread across India.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• RailTel, a "Mini Ratna (Category-I)" Central Public Sector Enterprise is an ICT provider
and one of the largest neutral telecom infrastructure providers in the country owning a
Pan-India optic fiber network.

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• RailTel was incorporated in 2000 for modernizing the existing telecom system for train
control, operation, safety, and laying optical fiber cable using the right of way along
railway tracks.
• RailTel CMD - Sanjai Kumar

State Bank of India -

• State Bank of India (SBI), a Fortune 500 company, is an Indian Multinational, Public
Sector Banking and Financial services statutory body headquartered in Mumbai.
• It came into effect through the State Bank of India Act, 1955.
• SBI Chair - Dinesh Kumar Khara

22. Azad Engineering Private Limited, a Hyderabad-based market leader in precision

engineering, has been approved as the first Indian company to supply critical rotating parts
for nuclear turbines.
• Azad Engineering has signed a long-term supply agreement with General Electric (GE)
Steam Power for the supply of nuclear turbineparts.

23. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has changed the definition of Broadband in India.
As per the new definition, the download speed of the internet has to be at least 2 Mbps, to
classify as a broadband.
• This is far behind the developed countries. For example, in the US it is 25 Mbps. In
Canada, it is 50 Mbps.

24. Alphabet Inc.'s Google has invested almost $400 million ($529.3 million) in artificial
intelligence startup Anthropic (based in California), which is testing a rival to OpenAI's
ChatGPT.

25. US has emerged as India's top destination for merchandise exports during April-
December 2022 at USD 59.7 billion.
• US was followed by UAE (USD 23.31 billion); Netherlands (USD 14.1 billion); China (USD
11 billion); Singapore and Bangladesh (about USD 9 billion each).

26. Central Govt has announced to convert its debt on Vodafone Idea into equity up to 33%,
becoming its biggest shareholder.
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• Vodafone is telecom joint venture between UK’s Vodafone and Kumar Mangalam Birla-
owned Aditya Birla Group.
• The 33% equity is equivalent to Rs 16,133 crore.

27. In reply to a question on startups, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash
informed that Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) is implemented from April 2021.
• Under the Scheme, Rs 477.25 crore has been approved to 133 incubators of which Rs
211.63 crore has been disbursed as on 31st December 2022.

28. The Central Government is planning to launch the initial public offering (IPO) of the Indian
Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) and state-owned engineering
consultancy firm WAPCOS in the 2023-24.
• DIPAM Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey has been given the official responsibility of
carrying out divestment process of CPSEs.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Tuhin Kanta Pandey is a part of the FM’s Crack Squad.

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• He is the Secretary of DIPAM.

• He played a role in privatisation of Air India and Neelanchal Ispat Nigam, and the initial
public offering of Life Insurance Corporation of India, Responsible for privatisation of Air
India and Neelanchal Ispat Nigam, and the IPO of Life Insurance Corporation of India
o 2023-24 tasks - sale of IDBI Bank and the privatisation of the Shipping
Corporation of India, Container Corporation of India, Bharat Earth Movers, and the
Nagarnar Steel Plant of NMDC (formerly National Mineral Development
Corporation)
• WAPCOS is an engineering consultancy and construction services firm under the Jal
Shakti Ministry.
• IREDA is a mini-ratna NBFC company under the administrative control of MNRE (Ministry
of New and Renewable Energy).

29. The Central Government is planning to increase dearness allowance (DA) for its employees
and pensioners by four percentage points to 42% from existing 38%.
• The proposal will be presented to the Union Cabinet.
• If passed, the DA hike will be effective from January 1, 2023.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Dearness Allowance is a fixed percentage of basic salary which is paid over and above
the salary to government employees to beat inflation.
• Dearness Allowance is applicable on the working employees of the government whereas
the Dearness Relief is applicable on the retired employees of the govt.
• DA/DR are calculated twice in a year in January and July.
• Govt had revised the formula for calculating the DA/DR in 2006.
• Presently, over one crore central government employees and pensioners are getting 38%
dearness allowance.

30. Bengaluru-based micro-savings fintech startup Siply has acquired the Telangana-based new-
age chit platform myPaisaa for $7.5 Million.

31. Microsoft has announced the third phase of its long-term partnership with OpenAI (creator of
ChatGPT) through a multiyear, multibillion dollar investment to accelerate AI breakthrough.

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• Since 2016, Microsoft has committed to building Azure into an AI supercomputer for the
world.

32. Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has
announced that the government will consider a review of the 28% Goods and Services Tax
(GST) levied on cement.

33. RBI has released the Monetary Policy Committee’s reports.

• GDP Forecast for FY24 - 6.4%
• CPI headline inflation moderated to 5.7% (y-o-y) in December 2022.

34. Lendingkart, a digital lending platform for MSMEs, has acquired personal loan provider
Upwards in a cash-and-stock deal worth Rs 100 - Rs 120 crore.

35. Microsoft has announced that its video-conferencing platform Teams Free (classic)
version will no longer be available from April 12.

36. On February 8, Sebi came out with a list of 39 entities, including Nirmal Bang Securities, NJ
Indiainvest and Muthoot Securities, that can use e-KYC Aadhaar authentication services in
the securities market as sub-KYC user agency.
• In May 2020, SEBI had allowed BSE to undertake Aadhaar Authentication service of
UIDAI as KYC user agency (KUA) in the securities market.

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• Further, a KUA can permit Sebi-registered intermediaries to undertake Aadhaar

Authentication of their clients as sub-KUA for the purpose of KYC (Know Your Client).

37. Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued norms for processing returns filed by
digital economy firms that are liable to equalization levy, streamlining the administration of
India’s digital economy tax.
• The Centralized Processing of Equalization Levy Statement Scheme, 2023 sets the
modalities for processing the returns filed by these entities.
• As per this scheme, the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) of the Income Tax
Department which currently processes income-tax returns will also process equalization
levy statements electronically and all communication should be on email or on the Income-
tax portal.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• The equalization levy was introduced in 2016 on online advertisements and later
expanded to cover the sale of goods and provision of services through e-platforms.
• The online advertising services provided by the foreign entities are taxed at 6% and e-
commerce supplies are taxed at 2%.

38. Google has launched “BARD”, its own AI-chatbot similar to ChatGPT.
• Chinese search engine company BAIDU is also developing products very much similar to
Chat GPT.

39. PhonePe has launched cross-border transaction facility to allow Indian travellers make UPI
transactions to foreign merchants using PhonePe platform.
• Cross-border transaction facility by PhonePe to support all international outlets in UAE,
Singapore, Nepal, Bhutan and Mauritius having local QR Code.
• Indians will be able to make payments in foreign currency directly from their banks in the
similar way they do with their international debit cards.
Knowledge Nuggets –
• PhonePe is an Indian digital payments and financial technology company headquartered
in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It is owned by Flipkart.
• The app is available in 11 Indian languages.

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40. RBI Governor Shaktikant Das has announced to set up QR code-based coin vending
machines (QCVM) in 12 cities.
• Coin vending machines are automatic machines that dispense coins against bank
currency notes. These vending machines will dispense coins against debit to the
customer’s account using UPI instead of physical tendering of banknotes.
• The QCVM is a cashless coin dispenser that dispenses coins in exchange for a debit to the
customer's bank account via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

41. MMTC (a PSU of Metals and Minerals Trading) and PAMP (Switzerland based company) have
launched Digital Silver (just like the digital gold).
• Digital Silver is an investment option allowing investors to invest in this digital security which
is backed by silver.

42. RBI has expanded the scope of the Trade Receivable Discounting System (TReDS)
platform.
• Now, insurance facilities can now use the TReDS platform.
• It also permitted eligible entities to undertake factoring business on TReDS and also
allowed secondary market operations on the platform.

43. Samsung Semiconductor India Research (SSIR) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
have announced a partnership to promote research and development in an on-chip
electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection.
• Samsung Semiconductor India Research, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, is the
technology hub. It enables innovation in both hardware development and software-powered
solutions in semiconductor technologies.

44. RBI has allowed DSP Investment Managers to hike its stake in DCB Bank to 9.99% as part
of investment through different mutual fund schemes.

45. SEBI has introduced Blue and the Yellow bonds as sub-categories of green bonds.
• Blue bonds relate to water management and marine sector, while yellow bonds pertain to
solar energy.

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46. MobiKwik and Paytm will now allow users to link their Rupay credit cards to UPI (Unified
Payments Interface) for all merchant payments.
• To start with, only Rupay credit card has been enabled for payments.

47. As per the "Revised Estimates of the Direction of Tax Collection in 2022-23" released by
Central Board of Direct Taxes, the direct tax collection has increased by 24% in 2022-23.
• In 2022-23, the total direct taxes collected were Rs 15.67 lakh crores.
• Reasons for the increase – high corporate and personal income tax payments

48. Kotak Mahindra Bank has acquired micro-finance company Sonata Finance for ₹537 crore
in an all-cash deal.

49. India’s CPI-based Retail inflation rose to 6.52% in January 2023.

• The wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation rate for January 2023 fell to a two-year
low at 4.73%.

50. Amazon.com Inc's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has successfully tested a robotaxi with
employees as passengers on a public road.

51. Reliance Jio and global mobile network operators' organisation GSMA (Global System for
Mobile Communications) have rolled out their digital skills programme to train rural women in
India.

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• The programme aims to provide need-based training to rural women and individuals from
marginalised/low-income groups to help them make meaningful use of digital access.

52. Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance has approved the Indian
Bank to have four executive directors instead of three.

53. Airtel Payments Bank announced the availability of its current account, BizKhata across the
nation for fast activation and limitless transactions.
• The BizKhata business platform unifies all corporate transactions on a single platform
and enables them to keep accurate records while taking advantage of several financial
advantages.

54. South Indian Bank has launched the “SIB Wealth”, a wealth management platform, in
partnership with Geojit Financial Services.
• Purpose - to help the bank’s high net worth (HNI) customers in wealth management by
investing their money in the best financial instruments available in the market

55. Ascenda, the world leader in powering global rewards card and payment value propositions for
financial brands, has partnered with Axis Bank, India's third largest private sector bank, to
power their innovative new rewards program.

56. Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has launched the Sustainable Equity Fund to offer investors an
opportunity to invest in companies that are socially responsible and have been evaluated on
relevant environment, social, and governance (ESG) factors.
• The fund will invest in businesses that have high ESG scores and will concentrate on
stocks that are included in the benchmark ESG indices.

57. Kotak Banking & Financial Services Fund, an open-ended equity fund investing in the
banking and financial services sectors, has been introduced by Kotak Mahindra Asset
Management Company Ltd.

58. South Indian Bank has partnered with Telangana State Treasury (Cyber Treasury) for
enabling online payments.

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• ‘SIBerNet’ internet banking platform is a state-of-the-art facility that is focused on providing

customer services online.

59. Tata Consultancy Services has expanded its long-standing partnership with Phoenix Group,
UK’s largest long-term savings and retirements provider.
• Purpose - to digitally transform the Phoenix Group’s ReAssure business using the TCS
BaNCS™ based platform

60. Edelweiss General Insurance has rebranded itself as Zuno General Insurance Limited.
• The company has also launched a consumer study titled ‘Usage Based Insurance:
Decoding Awareness, Perception and Behaviour’.

61. Bajaj Finance has launched Insurance Mall for its customers to ensure an Easy-buy
experience.
• The new portal offers a plethora of policies and plans in the core insurance segment and
also the company’s one-of-its-kind category of Pocket Insurance and Subscription.

62. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank launched “Hello Ujjivan”, India's first mobile banking
application with 3 V's - voice, visual, vernacular-enabled features.
• Purpose - to provide banking access to individuals who have limited reading and writing
skills
• The app is designed to instil banking habits in Micro-Banking and Rural customers who are
digitally challenged.
• Hello Ujjivan, co-created with Navana.AI, is accessible by voice in eight regional
languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Gujarati, Kannada, Oriya, and
Assamese.

63. Alibaba has sold its entire stake of 3.16% in One97 Communication, parent of Paytm, for Rs
13,600 crores.

64. HDFC Bank has launched a pilot known as 'OfflinePay' to test offline digital payments for
customers and merchants enabling payments transactions even when there is no mobile
network.

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• It is the first-of-its-kind digital payment solution, launched in partnership with Sweden

based Crunchfish Digital Cash AB, a subsidiary of Crunchfish AB, for merchants and
customers under the RBI’s Regulatory Sandbox Program.
• HDFC Bank has also sold its entire 9.95% equity stake held in Softcell Technologies
Global Private Limited (STGPL) for a consideration of ₹9.94 crore.

65. Liberty Global Plc has acquired a 4.9% stake in Vodafone Group Plc (British telecom
company).

66. Cashfree Payments launched 'Co-lend', India's first fully automated escrow management
solution for co-lending.
• 'Co-lend' has been developed in line with the digital lending guidelines announced by the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Cashfree is India's leading payments and API banking solutions company.

67. ICICI Bank has signed an MoU with a European bank BNP Paribas in order to cater to the
banking needs of European corporates operating in India and Indian companies in the
European Union.

68. Air India has placed orders for 250 Airbus aircraft and 220 Boeing planes at a cost of $85
billion approx.
• It is termed as the world’s biggest ever aviation deal.

69. Central Board of Direct Taxes (chair – Nitin Gupta) has notified 6 different income tax
return forms. Important forms -
• ITR-1 SAHAJ: It is for individuals whose income is less than Rs 50 lakh. The income shall
be from house properties, salaries, and other sources. His agricultural income should be
less than Rs 5,000.
• ITR-4 SUGAM: These forms are for individuals whose income is less than Rs 50 lakh. They
can be residents or LLPs.

70. Reserve Bank of India has announced its second global hackathon -- 'HARBINGER 2023 -
Innovation for Transformation' with the theme of 'Inclusive Digital Services'.
• There are four segments in which FinTech will have to innovate, which are
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o 'Innovative, easy-to-use, digital banking services for differently abled (Divyaang);

o RegTech solutions to facilitate more efficient compliance by Regulated Entities
(REs)';
o Exploring use cases/solutions for CBDC-Retail transactions, including transactions in
offline mode'; and
o 'Increasing Transactions Per Second (TPS)/ throughput and scalability of
blockchains'
• Winner of the hackathon will be given a prize of Rs 40 lakh and runner-up of Rs 20 lakh.
• The first hackathon was announced in November 2021 and results were declared in June
2022.

71. According to a NASSCOM’s report, there are more than 27,000 startups in India. Of these,
tech startups count to 1,300.
• India is the third largest tech startup holder in the world. India also has the second-
highest number of unicorns in the world. In 2022 alone, India added 23 unicorns.
• The US is the first largest tech startup holder and China is in second place.

72. EbixCash Limited, a subsidiary of Ebix, Inc., has become the first company in India to
launch the UPI-based transactions for foreign nationals visiting India.
• The pilot will be launched in Bangalore at the G-20 summit.

73. US aerospace company Boeing launched India’s 1st Global Support Centre at Gurugram,
Haryana.
• Boeing announced seven teams comprising university students and early-stage start-up
entrepreneurs as winners of the second edition of 'Boeing University Innovation
Leadership Development' (BUILD) program 2022-23.
• 7 winners -
I. SpaceFields Pvt. Ltd. from the Society for Innovation and Development (SID) –
IISC Bengaluru;
II. HEM Dimensions Pvt. Ltd. from SID – IISC Bengaluru;
III. Scavengex from IIT Madras Incubation Cell;
IV. CeraTattva InnoTech Pvt. LTD. from IIT Madras Incubation Cell;
V. Modulo EV from the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) –
IIT Delhi;
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VI. SAP AEROSPACE from FIIT – IIT Delhi; and

VII. Galanto Innovations Pvt Ltd. Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (IIEC) – IIT
Gandhinagar.

74. RBI has granted in-principle approval to 32 payment aggregators including Amazon Pay,
Google India, Reliance Payment Solutions among others.
• RBI is considering 18 other applications including PhonePe and BhartiPay Services. RBI
has returned applications of four aggregators including Axis Bank led FreeCharge, PayTM
Payments and PayU Payments.
• Infibeam Avenues, Innoviti Payment Solutions, Lyra Network, NSDL Database
Management, Open Financial Technologies, Pine Labs and Razorpay Software Private
Limited are among other entities who have received the approval.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• The payment aggregator framework, introduced formally in March 2020, mandates that
only firms approved by the RBI can acquire and offer payment services to merchants.
• As per RBI rules, the eligibility criteria for a firm applying for PA authorisation is a
minimum net worth of Rs 15 crore in the first year of application and going up to Rs 25
crore by the second year.

75. India’s overall exports is estimated to exhibit a growth rate of 17.33% during April to January
2022-23.

76. Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) has gone live with UPI LITE, a feature enabled by the
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for multiple small-value UPI transactions.
• It will enable faster real-time transactions with a single click through Paytm. With UPI LITE,
the Bank aims to drive the adoption of digital payments across the country.
• Once loaded, a UPI LITE wallet allows a user to do instant transactions of up to Rs 200 in
a seamless way.
• A maximum of Rs 2,000 can be added twice in a day to UPI LITE, making the cumulative
daily usage up to Rs 4,000.
• UPI LITE was launched by the RBI in September 2022. It also de-clutters the bank
passbook of small value transactions, as these payments would now only show in the
Paytm balance and history section, and not in the bank passbook.

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77. Competition Commission of India approved the acquisition of certain assets of Jaiprakash
Associates Ltd and its associate by Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd.

78. National Stock Exchange (NSE) has signed a data licensing agreement with CME Group,
the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, allowing NSE to list, trade and settle rupee
denominated NYMEX WTI Crude Oil and Natural Gas (Henry Hub) derivatives contracts for
Indian market participants.

79. Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has launched the facility of issuance of e-BG (Electronic
Bank Guarantee) in association with the National e Governance Services limited (NeSL).
• NeSL’s Digital Document Execution platform, which provides e-Stamping and e-Sign
functions, will facilitate the e-Bank Guarantee process.
• Beneficiaries will instantly receive an e-Bank Guarantee on NeSL’s platform without further
verification.

80. SEBI has issued Issue Summary Document (ISD) for filing IPO (Initial Public Offer) and for
further issue of securities in XBRL format (eXentisble Business Reporting Language).
• ISD will be implemented w.e.f., March 1, 2023.

81. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will chair the 49th meeting of GST Council in
New Delhi.
• In the meeting, the pending balance of the GST compensation to the tune of Rs 16,982
crores for June 2022 will be cleared.
• The Group of Ministers on Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunals (GSTATs)
was set up in July 2022 under the chairmanship of Haryana Deputy Chief Minister
Dushyant Chautala.
• The GST Council has adopted the report of the Group of Ministers on GST Appellate
Tribunal with certain modifications, and the final draft amendments will be circulated in the
next 5 to 6 days to State Finance Ministers for their comments.
• The panel has suggested that the tribunals should consist of two judicial members, and one
technical member each from the Centre and States, besides a retired Supreme Court
Judge as president.

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• Also, Finance Minister has announced to lower the GST rates on Raab or liquid jaggery
from 18% to nil if it is loose and in case it is pre-packaged and labelled then it will attract a
GST of 5%.
• GST rate on Pencil Sharpener has been reduced to 12% from the existing 18% while on
tags tracking devices or data loggers which are affixed on durable containers, it has been
reduced from 18% to nil, subject to some conditions.

82. Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority of India (PFRDA) has reduced the
timeline for processing partial withdrawal requests in National Pension System to T+2
across all Central Record Keeping Agencies (CRAs).
• India’s pension assets (NPS and APY) continue to show frenetic growth and the assets
under management touched about ₹8.75-lakh crore till February 11 this year.
• The AUM has been growing at 28-30% despite headwinds such as rising inflation and
increase in interest rates in the country.

83. Velocity, a financial technology firm, has launched Lexi, a ChatGPT-powered AI chatbot.
• It is India’s first AI chatbot powered by ChatGPT.

84. Tata Steel successfully completed the first multi-modal shipment of 960 tonnes of TMT
bars from West Bengal's Haldia Port to Tripura's Agartala.

85. Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance (ABSLI), the life insurance subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital
Limited (ABCL), has announced the launch of 'ABSLI Anmol Suraksha Kawach', to address
the short-term protection needs of the policyholders.
• It is a non-linked, non-participating individual, life, pure risk premium, term insurance
solution for policyholders’ short-term protection needs offering a life cover for up to 5 years.
• Policyholders can choose from varied sum assured options (From 50L to 2cr in steps of 25
Lakhs).

86. HDFC Bank has become the first private sector lender to offer its customers the option to
use their Rupay credit cards on the unified payments interface (UPI).
• HDFC bank has raised ₹25,000 crore in non-convertible debentures carrying a coupon
of 7.97%.

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87. State Bank of India (SBI) has launched Amrit Kalash - a new retail term deposit scheme
with a specific duration and benefits like a higher interest rate.
• This new deposit scheme is valid from February 15, 2023, to March 31, 2023.
• Interest rate offered on this tenure is 7.10% for regular citizens and 7.60% for senior
citizens. The period of the deposit is 400 days.

88. National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has partnered with HDFC Life, one of
India’s leading life insurers, under the Skill India Mission, for inducting trained life insurance
advisors and strengthening the last mile reach.
• The partnership will provide training to candidates undergoing the IC38 examination
conducted by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and
drive skill enhancement.

89. RBI has introduced the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010 related
transaction code in NEFT and RTGS Systems.
• RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) Limit – Rs 2 Lakhs; 24/7 availability
• NEFT (National Electronics Funds Transfer) Limit – No limit; 24/7 availability

90. Philips Domestic Appliances has been renamed as Versuni. This comes after Royal Philips
sold its domestic appliance business to Hillhouse Capital in September 2021.

91. Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has emerged as the top performer among state-owned lenders
in terms of loan growth percentage during the third quarter of 2022-23.
• The BoM recorded a 21.67% increase in gross advances on a year-on-year basis.
• BoM was followed by the Union Bank of India with 19.8% growth.
• In terms of Retail-Agriculture-MSME (RAM) loans, BoM has recorded the highest growth
of 19.18%, followed by Punjab & Sind Bank with 19.07% and Bank of Baroda with 18.85%
on an annual basis.

92. RBI has released final guidelines on Interest Rate Risk in Banking Book (IRRBB).
• IRRBB refers to the current or future risk to banks’ capital and earnings from adverse
fluctuations in the interest rates.

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• Excessive IRRBB can pose a significant risk to banks’ current capital base and/or future
earnings. These guidelines require banks to measure, monitor, and disclose their exposure
to IRRBB.
• These guidelines are applicable to all commercial banks (other than Regional Rural Banks,
Small Finance Banks, Payments Banks and Local Area Banks).
Note: The guidelines are technical in nature. Hence, its chances of being asked in the exam are miniscule.

93. Mobility service provider Uber has signed an MOU with Tata Motors to bring 25,000 electric
cars onto its platform.
• The collaboration will help Uber electrify its transport services across the Indian
metropolises of Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and
Ahmedabad.

94. The Income Tax Department released a “tax calculator” tool on its website to help an
assessee compare savings under the new tax regime provisions and the old regime.
• A dedicated tax calculator to check Old Tax Regime in comparison to the New Tax Regime
for Individual/HUF/AOP/BOI/Artificial Juridical Person (AJP) as per Section 115BAC can
now be accessed on the IT Dept website.

95. RBI has introduced a facility to enable all in-bound travellers visiting India to make local
payments using Unified Payments Interface (UPI) while they are in India.
• This measure was announced by the regulator in the Statement on Developmental and
Regulatory Policies.
• Initially, the facility is available to travellers from G-20 countries in Bengaluru, Mumbai
and New Delhi.
• To begin with, ICICI Bank, IDFC First Bank and two non-bank PPI issuers, Pine Labs
Private Ltd and Transcorp International Ltd. will issue UPI linked wallets.

96. India’s UPI and Singapore’s PayNow have been officially integrated to allow “real-time
cross-border payment transfers”.
• Singapore has now become the first country with which cross-border Person to Person
(P2P) payment facilities have been launched.

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• Mechanism - This will help the Indian diaspora in Singapore, especially migrant
workers/students to make low-cost transfer of money from Singapore to India and vice-
versa.
• UPI payments through QR codes are already taking place in Singapore, though at a limited
number of outlets.

97. Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has released new guidelines for
employees and pensioners to allow them to opt for higher pension.
• The new guidelines set the procedures and required documents for existing employees and
those who have retired after September 1, 2014, to opt for higher pension based on actual
salary beyond the earlier prescribed range under Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) of
1995.
• Now, 8.33% of the employees’ actual basic salary (Basic pay + DA) will be deducted
towards the EPS, helping to accumulate larger corpus and receive a higher pension
amount.
• Currently, the EPS contribution from employees is capped at the maximum ₹15,000 for
pensionable salary.
Appendix -
Q.) Who can avail the benefits?

Ans - As per the latest EPFO mandate, the employees meeting these criteria can avail such
benefits:
• Employees who were members before September 1, 2014, and continued to be a
member on or after the said date.
• Employees and employers who contributed on salary exceeding the wage ceiling of
₹5,000 or ₹6,500.
• Employees and employers who did not opt for the joint option in the previous window
while being EPS members.

98. META has launched its new chatbot called LLaMA (Large Language Model Meta AI).
• Google is all set to launch 'Bard', a new conversational AI chatbot.
• Both the companies aim at challenging OpenAI's ChatGPT, which is backed by Microsoft.
Knowledge Nuggets -

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• LLaMA is the third large language model developed by META.

• The first was Glactica and the second was Blender.

99. GST revenues hit ₹1.59 lakh crore in January 2023, which is the second highest monthly
collections on record.

100. India’s first ever municipal bond index named as India Municipal Bond Index (IBMX)
has been unveiled by the National Stock Exchange (NSE).
• The IBMX will track the performance of bonds issued by Indian Municipal Corporations.
• In 2022, fundraising through Municipal Bonds stood at ₹6,252 crore through this route
compared to ₹2,342 crore in 2017.
• The bonds in the index have a credit rating of AA category.
• The index has a base date of January 1, 2021, and a base value of 1,000.

101. India has tasked the International Monetary Fund and the Financial Stability Board
(FSB) with jointly preparing a technical paper on crypto assets.
• The paper could be used to formulate a coordinated and comprehensive policy to regulate
crypto assets.
• The G20 will create a universally acceptable international framework to regulate crypto
assets and said that only a central bank backed monetary unit would qualify as a currency.
• Recently, IMF has also released a nine-point Crypto Action Plan.

102. According to the data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, services exports are
expected to cross USD 300 billion in 2022-23.
• India’s services exports would cross the USD 1 trillion target by 2030.
• IT and ITeS accounts for 40-45% share in the exports. It is followed by travel and tourism,
education, and financial services like banking, and accountancy.

103. Total transfers through the direct benefit transfer (DBT) reached about Rs 5.5 trillion so
far in the current financial year.
• The DBT transfers are expected to surpass Rs 6.3 trillion achieved in FY22.

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104. Kotak Mahindra Bank has launched the 'Kotak fyn', an integrated portal developed to
offer comprehensive digital banking and value-added services to its business banking and
corporate clients.

105. Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has launched its own private cloud platform, 'MAHABANK
NAKSHATRA', to strengthen its Digital Infrastructure.
• Mahabank Nakshatra is the private cloud platform of the bank, which will facilitate high-
performance cloud capabilities for digital infrastructure and hosting applications of the bank.
• The bank has also strengthened its asset monitoring mechanism through adoption of
predictive machine learning model, which can alert well in advance whether a borrowing
account will move into special mention account (SMA)-0 (principal or interest payment
not overdue for more than 30 days).
Knowledge Nuggets -
• SMA are those accounts that shows symptoms of bad asset quality once the account is
overdue or before its being identified as NPA.
• Classification of SMA accounts -
o SMA-0 – Payment of Principal and Interest is overdue for 1-30 days
o SMA-1 – Payment of Principal and Interest is overdue for 31-60 days
o SMA-2 - Payment of Principal and Interest is overdue for 61-90 days

106. SBI has launched the new fund offer (NFO) for the SBI Dividend Fund.
• Aggressive investors who primarily come to equities as an asset class for growth can skip
the offer.
• The fund manager will invest a minimum of 65% of the corpus in dividend-paying
companies, with the portfolio built in a manner that the overall dividend yield is at least
50% more than that offered by the Nifty50 pack.

GDP FORECASTS
1. International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released the World Economic Outlook 2023 report.
• GDP projections -

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Note: For India, data and projections are presented on a fiscal year basis, with FY 2022/23 (starting in April 2022) shown in the
2022 column. India's growth projections are 5.4 percent in 2023 and 6.8 percent in 2024 based on calendar year.

• Inflation projections -
World India
2022 - 8.8% 2022 - 6.8%
2023 - 6.6% 2023 - 5%
2024 - 4.3% 2024 - 4%

2. Former Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar said that India is likely to clock 6% growth
rate next fiscal.

3. Morgan Stanley has forecasted India’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow at 6.2% in
FY24.
• The Union Budget for FY24 had projected nominal GDP growth at 10.5%, as the centre
increased the capital investment outlay steeply for the third year in a row by 33% to Rs 10
trillion.
• The Economic Survey for 2022-23 projected that India would witness a growth between 6-
6.8% in FY24.

APPOINTMENTS
1. US President Joe Biden has named Jeff Zients as the next White House Chief of Staff.

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2. International Cricket Council (ICC) announced an all-13-member female panel of match

officials for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, slated for next month in South
Africa.
• Match Referees: GS Lakshmi (India), Shandre Fritz (South Africa), Michell Pereira (Sri
Lanka)
• Umpires: Sue Redfern (England), Eloise Sheridan (Australia), Claire Polosak (Australia),
Jacqueline Williams (West Indies), Kim Cotton (New Zealand), Lauren Agenbag (South
Africa), Anna Harris (England), Vrinda Rathi (India), N Janani (India), Nimali Perera (Sri
Lanka).

3. Morgan Stanley has appointed Arun Kohli as the India country head. Kohli is already the
chief operating officer for the firm's Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) operations.

4. Unilever (headquartered in London) has named Hein Schumacher as its next chief
executive officer.

5. Puma India appoints Harmanpreet Kaur (captain of Indian women’s cricket team) as its
brand ambassador.

6. Nutella (sweetened hazelnut cocoa spread manufactured by the Italian company Ferrero) has
appointed Ranveer Singh as brand ambassador.

7. NASA has appointed Joe Acaba as its chief of the Astronaut Office.

8. Manuela Roka Botey has been appointed as the first female PM of Equitorial Guinea.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• There are four countries in the world with Guinea name, which are Equatorial Guinea,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Papua New Guinea.
• Equatorial Guinea got independence from Spain in 1968.
• Guinea got independence from France in 1958.
• Guinea-Bissau got independence from Portugal in 1974.
• Papua New Guinea got independence from Australia in 1949.

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• Equatorial Guinea Capital - Malabo (current); Ciudad de la Paz (under construction)

• Equatorial Guinea Currency - Central African CFA franc
• It is a republic.

9. Economics professor and researcher Shamika Ravi has been appointed as a member of the
Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister (EAC-PM).
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) is a non-constitutional, non-
permanent and an independent body constituted to give advice on economic and related
issues to the Government of India, specifically to the Prime Minister.
• Dr Bibek Debroy is the Chairman of the EAC-PM.

10. New Governors have been appointed by the President of India.

Governors States
Abdul Nazeer Andhra Pradesh
Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik Arunachal Pradesh
Lakshman Prasad Acharya Sikkim
C.P. Radhakrishnan Jharkhand

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Shiv Pratap Shukla Himachal Pradesh

Gulab Chand Kataria Assam
S. Abdul Nazeer Andhra Pradesh
Biswa Bhusan Harichandan Chhattisgarh
Sushri Anusuiya Uikye Manipur
La. Ganesan Nagaland
Phagu Chauhan Meghalaya
Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar Bihar
Ramesh Bais Maharashtra
B.D. Mishra Ladakh

11. Former Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides was elected as the next President of
Cyprus.
Knowledge Nuggets -
• Cyprus Capital – Nicosia
• Currency – Euro
• It is a part of the European Union.
• It is one of the transcontinental countries between Europe and Asia.

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12. Myntra has appointed Ranbir Kapoor as its brand ambassador.

13. K. Satyanarayana Raju has been appointed as the new MD and CEO of Canara Bank.

14. Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services has appointed Raul Robello as its new MD and
CEO with immediate effect.

15. Pfizer India has appointed Meenakshi Nevatia as its new CEO and Managing Director,
effective from 3 April, 2023.
• Nevatia will serve in this role for the next five years.
• Pfizer CEO and Chairman - Dr Albert Bourla

16. Hyundai Motor India Ltd has signed on two more women cricketers – Yastika Bhatia and
Renuka Singh Thakur – as its brand ambassadors.
• Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues have already been appointed as
the brand ambassadors of Hyundai Motor.

17. Aniket Sunil Talati has been elected as the President of Institute of Chartered
Accountants of India.
• Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal has been elected as the Vice-President of Institute of
Chartered Accountants of India.

18. Mohammad Shahabuddin Chuppu has been declared as the next president-elect of
Bangladesh.

19. Royal Challengers Bangalore has appointed tennis legend Sania Mirza as the mentor of its
Women’s Premier League (WPL) team.

20. Vivek Ramaswamy (an Indian American) is the CEO of Anti-Woke Inc. He is planning to
contest in the 2024 US elections from Republican party.
• Nikki Haley (Indian-origin American) is also planning to fight the elections.
• Nikki Haley, is a child of Indian immigrants who became South Carolina's first female and
Asian American governor.

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21. Lt. Gen. M.V. Suchindra Kumar has been promoted to the rank of Army Commander and
appointed the next Vice-Chief of Army Staff.
• Vice-Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) Lieutenant General B. S. Raju has been appointed as
the South-Western Army Commander.

22. Neal Mohan (Indian- American business executive) has been appointed as the new CEO of
YouTube.

23. RBI has appointed Vikramaditya Singh Khichi in the Advisory Panel of Reliance Capital.
• The other two members of the advisory committee are Sanjeev Nautiyal (former DMD,
State Bank of India) and Praveen P Kadle (former MD & CEO of Tata Capital Limited).

24. Former commerce secretary BVR Subrahmanyam has been appointed as the chief
executive officer of NITI Aayog.
• Iyer has been appointed as the executive director of the World Bank for a period of three
years in the place of Rajesh Khullar, a 1988-batch IAS officer, who has been repatriated to
his cadre state Haryana.

25. Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has been appointed as National Ambassador of UNICEF India.

26. Shiv Sena party of Maharashtra has elected the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath
Shinde, as its new Chief.

27. Shelly Oberoi from Aam Aadmi Party has become the Mayor of Delhi Municipal
Corporation.

28. US Joe Biden has nominated Ajay Banga (former Mastercard CEO) as the new President of
World Bank.

29. Comptroller and Auditor General, Girish Chandra Murmu has been selected as External
Auditor of the International Labour Organization in Geneva for a four-year term from 2024
to 2027.
• CAG will take over from the incumbent External Auditor of ILO, Supreme Audit Institution of
Philippines.

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30. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Indo-Canadian Afshan
Khan as the coordinator of the 'Scaling Up Nutrition Movement' or SUN Movement.
• The SUN Movement is a country-driven initiative led by 65 nations and four Indian states
united in their mission to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030.

IMPORTANT DAYS
1. January 29 – World Leprosy Day; Theme – Act Now: End Leprosy
• January 30 - National Anti–Leprosy Day; Theme - Let us fight Leprosy and make Leprosy
a history
Knowledge Nuggets -
• The prevalence rate of leprosy in India has come down from 0.69 per 10,000 population
in 2014-15 to 0.45 in 2021-22.
• Further, annual new case detection rate per 100,000 population has come down from
9.73 in 2014-15 to 5.52 in 2021-22.
• India aims to eliminate Leprosy by 2027.
• National Strategic Plan & Roadmap for Leprosy (2023-27) and National Guidelines
for Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) Surveillance in leprosy were also released along
with launch of Nikusth 2.0 Portal.
• Nikusth 2.0 is an integrated portal for leprosy case management under National
Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP). It will aid in efficient data recording, analyzing
and reporting of the data in the form of indicators and a real time dashboard at center,
state and district levels.

2. February 1 – Indian Coast Guard Raising Day (47th edition)

3. February 2 – World Wetlands Day; Theme – Revive and restore degraded wetlands

4. February 4 – World Cancer Day; Theme - Close the Care Gap: Uniting our Voices and Taking
Action
• The "Close the Care Gap” is the campaign of the World Cancer Day for 2022-24.

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• World Cancer Day 2024 Theme - Close the Care Gap: Together, We Challenge Those in
Power
• World Cancer Day 2022 Theme - Close the Care Gap: Realising the problem
• International Day of Human Fraternity (3rd edition)
o 1st Week of February (February 1 to 7) - International Interfaith Harmony Week

5. February 5 - Guru Ravidas Jayanti (his birthday falls on Magh Purnima, the full moon day in
the month of Magh)

6. February 6 – International Day of Zero Tolerance for Genital Mutilation; Theme - “Partnership
with Men and Boys to Transform Social and Gender Norms to End Female Genital Mutilation”

7. February 7 – Safer Internet Day; Theme - Want to talk about it? Making space for
conversations about life online
• Other website shows “Together for a better internet” as the theme of this day.

8. February 10 –
• World Pulses Day; Theme - Pulses for a Sustainable future
• National Deworming Day (The day is celebrated twice a year on Feb 10 and August 10.)

9. February 11 - World Unani Day (birth anniversary of social reformer and Unani scholar Hakim
Ajmal Khan); Theme - Unani Medicine for Public Health
o Mohammad Ajmal Khan (11 February 1868 – 29 December 1927), better known as
Hakim Ajmal Khan, was a physician in Delhi, India, and one of the founders of the
Jamia Millia Islamia University.
• World Day of the Sick; Theme - “Illness is part of our human condition. Yet, if the illness is
experienced in isolation and abandonment, unaccompanied by care and compassion, it can
become inhumane”
• International Day of Women and Girls in Science; Theme - Innovate. Demonstrate. Elevate.
Advance. Sustain. (I.D.E.A.S.): Bringing Everyone Forward for Sustainable and Equitable
Development
o The 8th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly took place
at the UN Headquarters at New York City.

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10. February 12 – International Darwin Day (birthday of Charles Darwin)

• National Productivity Day
o February 12-18 - National Productivity Week; Theme - 'Productivity, Green Growth,
and Sustainability: Celebrating India's G20 Presidency'
Knowledge Nuggets -
• National Productivity Council of India (NPC), established in the year 1958, is an
autonomous organization under Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal
Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• NPC aims at being a promotional body with a professional approach and competence. It
seeks to enhance productivity to contribute to India’s GDP.
• President of NPC - Sh. Piyush Goyal (Minister of Commerce and Industry)

11. February 13 – APEDA Foundation Day (37th edition)

• National Women’s Day (birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, the Nightingale of India)
• World Radio Day; Theme - Radio and Peace
• 2nd Monday in February - International Epilepsy Day (February 13); Theme – Focus on
“STIGMA”
• February 13 to 17 – RBI's Financial Literacy Week; Theme - ‘Good Financial Behaviour –
Your Saviour’

12. February 14 – Cow Hug Day (by Animal Welfare Board of India)

13. February 15 – International Childhood Cancer Day; Theme - ‘Better Survival’

• A three-year campaign is being run since 2021 to spread awareness about childhood
cancer on the theme of #throughourhands.
• Gold ribbon is the ribbon for this day.
• February 15 - Sant Sevalal Maharaj Jayanti
o Sevalal Maharaj (15 February 1739 – 4 January 1773) was an Indian socio-religious
reformer, community leader, and is now revered by the Kshatriyas Gor Banjara
community as a spiritual guru.

14. February 18 - World Pangolin Day

15. February 19 – Nepal's Democracy Day

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16. February 20 -
• World Day of Social Justice; Theme - Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities
for Social Justice
• 37th Statehood Day of Arunachal Pradesh
• World Day of Social Justice; Theme - Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities
for Social Justice

17. February 21 - International Mother Language Day; Theme - Multilingual Education – A

Necessity to Transform Education
• 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
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka.
• Dr Mishra is the first India to receive this award.
• The award instituted in 2021 by UNESCO is given in recognition of the extraordinary
contribution to the preservation, revitalization and development of mother languages.
• On this day, Kerala High Court became the first high court in India to publish its
judgements in the regional language.
• West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee launched the Apan Bangla (Own Bangla) portal for
the Bengali-NRIs to communicate with the state in case of emergency.

18. February 22 – World Thinking Day; Theme – Our World, Our Peaceful Future: The
Environment, Peace and Security
• For 2022-24, the theme of World Thinking Day is “Our World, Our Future”.

19. February 24 – Central Excise Day in India

20. February 28 – National Science Day; Theme - Global Science for Global well being
• The day commemorates the discovery of the Raman Effect by CV Raman in 1928. CV
Raman has also won the Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1930.

21. March 8 – International Women's Day; Theme - “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for
gender equality

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AWARDS
1. The India UK Achievers Honours has been given to 75 Indian achievers, marking India's
75th independence anniversary.
• Important awardees –
Category Winner
Lifetime Achievement Award Manmohan Singh (Former PM)
Living Legend Award Karan Bilimora (British Indian businessman,
life peer)

2. Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) Awards -

Category
KLF Non-Fiction Book Award 2022 (English)
KLF Non-Fiction Book Award 2022 (Hindi)
KLF Fiction Book Award 2022 (English)
KLF Fiction Book Award 2022 (Hindi)
Awards
Sanjeev Sanyal’s Revolutionaries: The Other
Story of How India Won its Freedom
Akshaya Mukul’s Writer, Rebel, Soldier, Lover:
The Many Lives of Agyeya
Kailash Satyarthi’s Tum Pehle Kyon Nahi Aaye
Akhilesh’s AKS
Navtej Sarna’s Crimson Spring
Pravin Kumar’s Amar Desva

3. PM Narendra Modi is the world’s most popular leader with a 78% approval rating, as per
the US-based Morning Consult.
• He is followed by Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

4. Golden Book Awards 2023 (Asia’s most prestigious literary award; sponsored by Wings
Publication International- a publishing house in India) have been announced.
• Wings Publication supports entrepreneurs, coaches, trainers & consultants to establish
authority and thought leadership in form of the book.
• Winners -
Author Book
J.K Rowling Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

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Gaur Gopal Das Energize Your Mind: A Monk's Guide To

Mindful Living
Deepak Chopra The Seven Spiritual Law Of Success: A
Practical Guide To Achieving Your Dreams
Kamlesh Patel The Wisdom Bridge: Nine Principles To A Life
That Echoes In The Hearts Of Your Loved
Ones
Jeff Kinney Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Diper Overlode
Ashneer Grover Doglapan: The Hard Truth About Life And
Start-Ups
Ruskin Bond How To Live Your Life
Raj Shamani Build, Don't Talk - Things You Wish You Were
Taught In School

Note: The important awardees are mentioned here. The complete list of awardees has been given here for
your reference - https://www.business-standard.com/content/press-releases-ani/asia-s-most-prestigious-
book-award-golden-book-awards-announces-winners-2023-123020301324_1.html

5. NASA Webb Telescope has won Prestigious Space Foundation.

• The telescope was jointly developed by European Space Agency, NASA, and Canadian
Space Agency. It is the successor of the Hubble telescope.
• James Webb telescope found a new cluster of galaxies called SMACS 0723.

6. 65th Grammy Awards 2023 (US’s top most awards in the field of music) have been
announced.
• Ricky Kej (Indian music composer and producer) becomes the only living Indian to win
Grammy award thrice.

7. Titas Sadhu, female Indian cricketer, won the ‘Emerging Hero’ award at Sportstar East
Sports Conclave 2023 in Kolkata.

8. Veteran Journalist Dr A.B.K. Prasad has been chosen for the prestigious “Raja Ram Mohan
Roy National Award” for excellence in Journalism-2020 for his outstanding contribution
towards journalism by the Press Council of India.
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9. Fortune Magazine has released the “World's Most Admired Companies” list.

10. R Vishnu Prasad (founder and Chief Scientist of the Vishnu Prasad Research Centre) has
won The Most Distinguished Scientist of the Year 2022 at the Indian Achievers Awards
2022.
• The award was presented by Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of Information and
Broadcasting.

11. Wolf Prize is presented by the Wolf Foundation of Israel to scientists and artists.
• The winners get USD 100,000.
• A total of 8 people won the awards.
Category Winner
Wolf Prize in Medicine Prof. Daniel Drucker of the University of
Toronto, Canada

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Wolf Prize in Agriculture Martinus Th. “Rien” van Genuchten of the

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Wolf Prize in Chemistry John T Wilson, Hiroaki Suga, Jeffery W Kelly
(three scientists for their work on pathological
dysfunctions of RNA)
Wolf Prize in Mathematics Ingrid Daubechies of Duke University, USA
Wolf Prize in Arts Fujiko Nakaya from Japan and Richard Long
from England
Wolf Prize in Physics Professor Can Genuchten

12. VP Nandakumar (MD and CEO of Manappuram Finance Ltd) has won The Hurun Industry
Achievement Award 2022 for his remarkable achievements in the world of business.

13. NTPC Limited won the 'ATD Best Awards 2023' by the Association for Talent
Development (ATD), USA.
• This is the sixth time that NTPC Limited has won this award for demonstrating enterprise
success in the field of talent development.

14. Akshata Rakshe has been crowned as the Taj Miss India 2023.

15. Germany's former chancellor Angela Merkel was awarded the Felix Houphouet-Boigny
UNESCO Peace Prize in Ivory Coast's capital Yamoussoukro.
• Merkel was hailed for welcoming more than 1.2 million refugees and asylum seekers to
Germany in 2015 and 2016.

16. President Colour has been given to the Haryana Police.

• President Colour is the highest award presented to military units, federal forces, and state
police forces. The award has an emblem.

17. Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER, Shri G. Kishan Reddy presented the Ustad
Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2019, 2020 and 2021, at Meghdoot Theatre Complex,
Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi.
• A total of 102 artists (including three joint awards) have been given the awards.
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Knowledge Nuggets -
• Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, given to artists up to the age of 40 years, was
launched in 2006 for identifying and encouraging outstanding young talents in diverse
fields of the performing arts.
• The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar carries a prize of Rs 25,000/-, an Angavastram
and a plaque.

18. The 2nd edition of the Annual Anthem Awards was announced.
• UN Development Program’s anthem “Don’t Choose Extinction” received two awards –
gold and silver – in different categories.
• Gold award in Sustainability, Environment, and Climate-Non-Profit Campaign category and
the Silver Award in Sustainability, Environment, and Climate-Global Awareness Campaign
category were given to UNDP.

19. According to the Guinness World Records report, a team of mountaineers and scientists has
installed the world's highest weather station at an altitude of 8,810 metres (28,904 ft); just 39
metres (128 ft) below Everest's summit.
• Right now, the weather station has been rebuilt.

20. 76th edition of the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) has been announced by UK.
• Best Picture - “All Quiet on the Western Front” (total 7 awards)

21. Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2023 have been announced.
Category Winner
Film of the year RRR
Best Film The Kashmir Files
Best Actress Alia Bhatt
Best Actor Ranbir Kapoor
Best Director R Balki
Best Web Series RUDRA

22. S&P Global has released the ranking of the top 250 independent energy producers in the
world.

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• The energy producers were ranked based on four criteria such as return on investment,
revenue generation, total assets, and profits gained.
• NTPC has topped the ranking.
• Currently, NTPC produces 24% of India’s electricity. By 2050, the corporation will
contribute 50% of the total power production in the country.

23. Computer scientist Hari Balakrishnan has won the 2023 Marconi Prize for fundamental
contributions to wired and wireless networking, mobile sensing, and distributed systems.
• The Marconi Prize is a top honour for computer scientists and is awarded by the U.S.-
based Marconi Foundation.

24. Lionel Messi won The Best FIFA Men’s Player Prize for 2022.
• Alexia Putellas won The Best FIFA Women's Player award for the second successive
year in 2022.

25. Karnataka Bank was awarded with ‘Prathista Puraskar’ under ‘Digidhan Awards 2021-22’
by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• Purpose - for achieving target with highest percentage in BHIM-UPI transactions in private
sector bank category

SPORTS
1. Germany won its 3rd FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup held in Odisha by defeating Belgium.
• Netherlands was at the 3rd position and Australia was the 4th.
• Indian hockey team (captain: Harmanpreet Singh) finished 9th.
• FIH HQ - Lausanne, Switzerland
• Awards-
Category Winner
Best Player Award at FIH Men’s Hockey World Niklas Wellen (Germany)
Cup
Best Goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch (Belgium)
Maximum Team Goals Awards Netherlands

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Fair Play Award Belgium

2. India won their maiden ICC Women’s U-19 World Cup over England, which was held in
Potchefstroom, South Africa.

3. Sports For All (SFA), a multi-sport tech driven platform, has joined Khelo India Youth
Games (KIYG) as sponsor for the next five years.

4. Raphael Varane (French footballer) has announced retirement.

5. Joginder Sharma (Indian cricketer) has announced retirement.

6. India has defeated in New Zealand in its ODI and T20I series.
• Shubham Gill became the youngest cricketer to score 200 in Men’s ODI and fastest Indian
to score 1000 runs. He also became the youngest to score century in all the 3 formats.

7. Khelo India Winter Games 2023 (3rd edition) was held in the picturesque town of Gulmarg in
Jammu and Kashmir.
• The mascot, theme song and jersey for the upcoming KIWG 2023 were unveiled.
• The first Khelo India Winter Games took place in 2020, and Jammu and Kashmir have
come on top in both editions of the games so far.
• J&K won the Khelo India Winter Games with 76 medals. Maharashtra is at the 2nd
position with 27 medals.

8. Saudi Arabia will host the 2027 Asian Football Cup. Qatar is hosting the AFC Cup in 2023.
• The Asian Football Cup is held once in every four years. It is organized by the Asian
Football Confederation.
• 2023 AFC Cup Slogan: Asia to Everyone
• 2027 AFC Cup Slogan: Forward for Asia; Host cities: Dammam, Riyadh, and Jeddah

9. International Boxing Association (HQ - Lausanne, Switzerland) has released its world’s
rankings as of February 8, 2023 -
• 1st – Kazakhstan
• 2nd – Uzbekistan
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• 3rd – India

10. S.D. Prajwal Dev and Nathan Seateun of France clinched the doubles final of the $15,000 ITF
men’s tennis in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

11. Indian high jumper Tejaswin Shankar has won the top position in the New Balance Indoor
Grand Prix in Boston, USA.

12. Ashu won the 67kg bronze medal for India in the Greco Roman category on the concluding
day of the Zagreb Open Ranking Series.
• Ashu is already an Asian Championships bronze medallist.

13. Australia’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Aaron Finch announced retirement from
International Cricket.

14. 5th Khelo India Youth Games has been won by Maharashtra.
• Madhya Pradesh is at the 2nd position and Haryana is at the 3rd position.

15. ICC T-20 Women’s World Cup has started in South Africa.

16. Jean Eric Vergne of DS Penske (French race car driver) won India’s first edition of
Hyderabad E-Prix.

17. India won the first test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy series in Nagpur.
• Border Gavaskar Trophy is given for the test match series between India and Australia.
• A total of four test matches will be played in the trophy.

18. Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships 2023 was held in Dubai, United Arab
Emirates.

19. Zagreb Open Wrestling Championship 2023 concluded in Zagreb, Croatia.

Medal Winners
Gold -

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Silver -
Bronze Aman Sehrawat (57kg)
Ashu (men’s 67kg)

20. Dallas Open is a men's ATP indoor hard court tennis tournament held in Dallas, Texas, USA.
• Men’s Singles - Wu Yibing (first Chinese to win an ATP Tour)

21. Betway SA20 League is a T-20 franchise cricket tournament in South Africa.
• Sunrisers Eastern Cape has won the T20 series.

22. Real Madrid F.C. has won the 5th FIFA Club World Cup 2022 in Morocco by defeating Al
Hilal F.C.
• 2023 FIFA Club World Cup will be hosted by Saudi Arabia for first time from December
12 to December 22.
• The number of teams in the FIFA Club World Cup is 7.

23. India's Akshdeep Singh and Priyanka Goswami qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics and
World Athletics Championships 2023.

24. Akshdeep Singh and Priyanka Goswami won the National Race-Walking Championships.
• They have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

25. Canada, U.S., and Mexico have automatically qualified for the 2026 FIFA men's World Cup.

26. Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has announced his retirement from all forms of
cricket.

27. India women’s team captain Harmanpreet Kaur overtook Rohit Sharma to become the most
capped player in Twenty20 Internationals.

28. Saurashtra won the Ranji Trophy title by defeating Bengal by 9 wickets.

29. Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship 2023 was held in Dubai, UAE.
• Medal Tally – China (1st), South Korea (2nd), India and Thailand (3rd)
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• It is India’s first medal in the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship.

• H.S. Prannoy and P.V. Sindhu have won the bronze medal.

30. 76th National Football Championship for the Hero Santosh Trophy was held in
Bhubaneswar.

31. Indian teen Tilottama Sen has won bronze medal in the women’s 10m Air Rifle at ISSF
World Cup at Cairo in Egypt.
• Great Britain’s Seonaid Mcintosh won gold and Switzerland’s Olympic Champion Nina
Christen came second to win silver.

32. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar has won gold medal in men’s individual 50m rifle
competition at ISSF World Cup at Cairo, Egypt.
• Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil won the gold medal in the 10m Air Rifle individual event.

33. Sergio Ramos Garcia (Spanish Football player) has announced retirement from international
cricket.

34. Australia has won the ICC Women T20 World Cup 2023.

35. Manchester United Football Club has won the Carabao Cup (aka EFL Cup).
• It is a major football trophy played in England.

36. Three-day All-India Taekwondo Championship has been inaugurated in New Delhi.

37. Bengaluru Open 2023 (ATP men’s tennis tournament) has been won by Max Purcell
(Australian) in men’s singles.

38. Indian Greco Roman wrestler Ankit Gulia won Bronze Medal in Ibrahim Moustafa ranking
series in Egypt.

39. Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic breaks Steffi Graf’s record of being at the Number 1
rank for 377 weeks.

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40. Vignesh N R has become India's 80th Grandmasters.

• Brother of Vignesh N R, Visakh N R was already India’s 59th grandmaster.
• They are India’s first pair of brothers who became grandmaster.

MISCELLANEOUS
1. Parimal Dey (former Indian footballer), also called as “Jangla-Da”, has passed away.

2. P. Sainath has authored “The Last Heroes” book.

3. Kasinadhuni Viswanath (winner of Padma Shri and Dadasaheb Phalke awards) was an
Indian film director, screenwriter and actor. He has recently passed away.

4. Vani Jairam (veteran singer and Padma Bhushan recipient) has passed away.

5. Deepfakes is the process of mimicking the voice of a person by using a software.

6. Gaziantep Castle is located in Turkey. A deadly earthquake has hit Turkey and Syria.

7. According to the Archaeological Survey of India’s new report, the Sangam Age is expected
to start from 800 BCE to 300 CE.
• Earlier, the Sangam Age started from 600 BCE.

8. New Zealand has been hit by Cyclone Gabrielle.

9. Elena Fanchini (Italian alpine ski racer) has passed away.

10. Army chief General Manoj Pande has released ‘Savdhaan: A Chronicle of Central
Command’ book.
• The book, authored by Central Command chief Lt Gen Vivek Kashyap and Vikram D
Souza, has been designed and produced by the Times Group.

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11. Burt Bacharach (Oscar and Grammy awards winner and American composer) has passed
away.

12. Lalita Lajmi (Indian painter) has passed away.

13. Shoichiro Toyoda (a Japanese business executive who served as chairman of Toyota Motor
Corporation from 1992 to 1999) has passed away.

14. Thwaites Glacier, nicknamed the Doomsday Glacier, is an unusually broad and vast
Antarctic glacier.

15. Tulsidas Balaram (Indian footballer) has passed away.

16. Balipa Narayana Bhagavatha (famous Yakshagana singer and screenwriter) has passed
away.

17. According to new research published in Nature Communications, scientists have discovered
a fifth layer in Earth – core within Earth’s core.
• Earlier, it was believed that the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core made up the
structure of the Earth.

18. Om Prakash Kohli (Indian politician who was the Governor of Gujarat from 2014 to 2019) has
passed away.

QUESTIONS
Q.1) In October 2022, the Ministry of Culture has Health Survey of 2015-16, there are ____ Indians
launched the Har Ghar Dhyan Campaign, in suffering from mental illness?
collaboration with the Art of Living organization, to [a] 200 million
spread awareness about mental health. The [b] 150 million
Ministry roped in the University Grants [c] 360 million
Commission and the school board CBSE to [d] 420 million
participate in the campaign. Mental Health is an [e] 100 million
emerging pandemic which needs to be dealt with
utmost sincerity. According to the National Mental

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Q.2) United Kingdom will be the partner country [d] Madhya Pradesh
for Telangana’s flagship pharma - biotech event [e] Uttar Pradesh
named BioAsia 2023. Shaping the Next
Generation: Advancing for ONE is the theme of Q.7) Which state declared 2022-23 as the Year of
the event. What does ‘N’ stand for in the full form Enterprises?
of ONE? [a] Kerala
[a] Next Generation [b] Telangana
[b] Nuture [c] Maharashtra
[c] Nation [d] Andhra Pradesh
[d] Neutralise [e] Odisha
[e] Nature
Q.8) Recently, the International Monetary Fund
Q.3) India conducts the Beating Retreat 2023 has provided $4.7 billion loan to Bangladesh
ceremony on January 29 to end its Republic Day Government to tackle the macroeconomic issues.
celebrations on Raisina Hills. Indian Army, Navy, Of this, $3.3 billion is given under the extended
and Air Force participate in the celebrations. credit facility of IMF. $1.4 billion is given under
Which country does the ceremony is taken from? Resilience and Sustainability Facility for Climate
[a] Netherlands Investments (for the first time since the facility’s
[b] Portugal inception). When was this Resilience and
[c] Denmark Sustainability Facility for Climate Investments
[d] Ireland created?
[e] UK [a] 2022
[b] 2019
Q.4) Which state ranked as the top buyer of [c] 2021
MSME goods worth Rs 9,642 crore through GeM [d] 2020
in 2022? [e] 2023
[a] Assam
[b] Uttar Pradesh Q.9) How much is the projected inflation rate of
[c] Meghalaya India in 2024 by the IMF’s World Economic
[d] Tamil Nadu Outlook 2023?
[e] Maharashtra [a] 4%
[b] 6.7%
Q.5) Justice G. Rohini-led commission for the [c] 5.3%
sub-categorisation of other backward classes [d] 2.7%
(OBCs) has now been given 14th extension in its [e] 6.7%
tenure by the President. Under which article was
the commission created? Q.10) January 29 was observed as the World
[a] Article 340 Leprosy Day on the theme of Act Now: End
[b] Article 165 Leprosy in 2023. When is the National Anti–
[c] Article 245 Leprosy Day observed?
[d] Article 176 [a] January 25
[e] Article 180 [b] January 29
[c] January 27
Q.6) Which state has launched the Ladli Behna [d] January 30
Scheme to provide Rs 1,000 per month to women [e] January 31
from financially poor background in the state?
[a] Kerala Q.11) Which company has created India’s first
[b] Arunachal Pradesh ever one-of-its-kind Drone with Parachute
[c] Meghalaya Integrated System?
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[Type here]

[a] Skylark Dronetech Q.16) Who won the Lifetime Achievement Award
[b] IdeaForge at the India UK Achievers Honours?
[c] Eminent Air [a] Manmohan Singh
[d] Edall Systems [b] Narayana Murthy
[e] Amaryllo India [c] Pritam Chakraborty
[d] Shekhar Ravjiani
Q.12) New India Assurance (NIA) has launched [e] Jatin Das
its “Pay as You Drive” (PAYD) policy with features
like discounts on renewals, coverage beyond Q.17) Which brand has appointed Harmanpreet
distance limit, and enhanced protections such as Kaur (captain of Indian women’s cricket team) as
nil depreciation, roadside help, return to invoice, its brand ambassador?
etc. The New India Assurance is a public sector [a] Adidas
insurance company. Who is the CMD of T=the [b] Calvin Klein
New India Assurance? [c] Puma
[a] Neerja Kapur [d] Allen Solly
[b] Kedar Burande [e] Levi’s
[c] Ramesh Kumar
[d] Neerja Sekhar Q.18) Who chairs the Advisory Committee of Srei
[e] Prithul Kumar Infrastructure Finance Ltd.?
[a] Venkat Nageshwar Chalasani
Q.13) According to RBI’s data, there were 14.19 [b] V. Ramachandra
lakh micro-ATMs across the country as of [c] T. T. Srinivasaraghavan
December 2022. Which of the following banks [d] L. Murugan
own the highest number of micro-ATMs? [e] Ritika Singh Verma
[a] ESAF Small Finance Bank
[b] Fino Payments Bank Q.19) What is the value of Digital Payments
[c] Equitas Small Finance Bank Index-September 2022?
[d] India Post Payment Bank [a] 377.46
[e] Utkarsh Small Finance Bank [b] 415.67
[c] 238.90
Q.14) On December 1, 2022, RBI had launched [d] 768.56
the first pilot of the e-rupee retail segment in eight [e] 890.78
banks. Which of the following banks has not been
chosen in the first phase? Q.20) Sagar Samrat is an offshore drilling rig
[a] State Bank of India facility located in Arabian Sea. Recently, it has
[b] IDFC First Bank been converted as a Mobile Offshore Production
[c] ICICI Bank Unit (MOPU), which will handle up to 20,000
[d] Yes Bank barrels per day (BPD) of crude oil and is expected
[e] Canara Bank to add 6,000 BPD to India’s production Which
company does the facility belong to?
Q.15) Who has been appointed as the India [a] IOCL
country head of Morgan Stanley? [b] BPCL
[a] Dhanpreet Kaur [c] HPCL
[b] Rajendra Singh [d] OIL
[c] Amarendra Singh [e] ONGC
[d] Pankaj Salodia
[e] Arun Kohli Q.21) Where was the Gandhisagar Floating
Festival, Asia’s first floating festival organized?
[a] Bharuch
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[Type here]

[b] Mandsaur [d] Mbabane

[c] Kakinada [e] Porto Novo
[d] Narsapur
[e] Bhavnagar Q.27) What is the theme of World Wetlands Day
2023?
Q.22) Where did PVR Cinemas launch “India's [a] Wetlands Action for People and Nature
first multiplex in an airport complex”? [b] Wetlands and Water
[a] Chennai [c] Wetlands and Biodiversity
[b] Mormugao [d] Wetlands and Climate Change
[c] Paradeep [e] Revive and restore degraded wetlands
[d] Haldia
[e] Mundra Q.28) The ‘Revolutionaries: The Other Story of
How India Won its Freedom’ book has won the
Q.23) Which state/UT’s Commission for Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) Non-Fiction Book
Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) launched ‘Bal Award 2022 (English). Who has written this book?
Mitra’? [a] Sanjeev Sanyal
[a] Tamil Nadu [b] Sukant Vatsa
[b] Telangana [c] Kedar Burande
[c] Andhra Pradesh [d] Ritika Singh Verma
[d] Maharashtra [e] Ramesh Kumar
[e] Delhi
Q.29) Who is the author of “The Last Heroes”
Q.24) General Atomics, a major American energy book?
and defence corporation, has started three [a] Neerja Sekhar
significant projects in India in the field of artificial [b] Rabindra Kumar Jena
intelligence, drones and semiconductors. Which [c] Sanjiv Shankar
company has collaborated with General Atomics [d] P. Sainath
for next generation of technologies in artificial [e] Nalin Kumar Srivastava
intelligence?
[a] Tata Elxsi Q.30) In which states will Kotak Mahindra Bank
[b] Bosch implement the first phase of the RBI’s Digital
[c] 3rdiTech Rupee?
[d] 114ai [a] Mumbai
[e] Saksoft [b] Ahmedabad
[c] Delhi
Q.25) Which has become the first merchant to [d] Only A and B
accept RBI’s Blockchain-based CBDC in-store? [e] Only A, B, and C
[a] Bajaj Consumer Care
[b] Reliance Retail Q.31) Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms
[c] Britannia Industries (C-CAMP) has launched National Diagnostics
[d] Emami Ltd Catapult (C-CAMP InDx 2.0). When was the
[e] Godrej Consumer Products platform launched for the first time?
[a] July 2020
Q.26) Recently, Manuela Roka Botey has been [b] August 2021
appointed as the first female PM of Equitorial [c] January 2022
Guinea. What is the capital of Equitorial Guinea? [d] March 2021
[a] Malabo [e] July 2022
[b] Antananarivo
[c] Lusaka
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[Type here]

Q.32) Recently, the Department of Agriculture The initiative will result in an additional processing
and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) under the Ministry capacity of ____ TPD for Bio-Methanation and
of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has _____ TPD for Waste to Energy respectively.
partnered with The Development Innovation Lab [a] 25,000 and 40,000
(DIL) to explore the opportunities to harness [b] 15,000 and 10,000
innovation to improve food security, address [c] 30,000 and 50,000
climate change, and allow farmers to increase [d] 25,000 and 50,000
their incomes. The Development Innovation Lab [e] 40,000 and 80,000
(DIL) was founded by Nobel Laureate Dr Michael
Kremer, University Professor in Economics at Q.37) 8th meeting of the US-India Civil Space
______? Joint Working Group (CSJWG) meeting was held
[a] DePaul University in the US to discuss collaboration in earth and
[b] Auburn University space science as well as global navigation
[c] George Mason University satellite systems, spaceflight safety and space
[d] Texas A & M University situational awareness, and policies for
[e] University of Chicago commercial space activities. When was the Group
created to expand cooperation in civilian space
Q.33) Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah programs?
will lay the foundation stone for India’s 5th nano [a] 2010
urea plant. Where will the plant be set up? [b] 2020
[a] Deoghar [c] 2015
[b] Kalol [d] 2019
[c] Aonla [e] 2005
[d] Phulpur
[e] Bengaluru Q.38) Which company has received RBI’s
approval to increase its stake to 26% in IndusInd
Q.34) Which of the following companies has Bank?
launched VIHANGAM, a web-based portal, along [a] Hinduja Group
with a drone and ground control system, for [b] Tata Group
introducing drone technology in coal mines? [c] Bharti Airtel
[a] Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd [d] Infosys
[b] South Eastern Coalfields [e] Wipro
[c] Western Coalfields
[d] Central Coalfields Q.39) Central PSU RailTel Corporation of India
[e] Bharat Coking Coal has received a work order from the State Bank of
India (SBI) for providing 4G LTE connectivity to
Q.35) Which state has launched a helicopter 15,000 offsite ATMs spread across India. RailTel,
service for high-net-worth individuals and luxury a "Mini Ratna (Category-I)" Central Public Sector
tourists? Enterprise is an ICT provider and one of the
[a] Uttar Pradesh largest neutral telecom infrastructure providers in
[b] Sikkim the country owning a Pan-India optic fiber
[c] Goa network. Who is the CMD of RailTel?
[d] Maharashtra [a] Nalin Kumar Srivastava
[e] Kerala [b] Sanjai Kumar
[c] Gopal Sadhwani
Q.36) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and [d] Rajendra Singh
Engineer India Ltd have signed an MOU to [e] Mihir Kumar Jha
develop Waste to Energy and bio-methanation
projects in cities with a population of million plus.
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[Type here]
Q.40) Who is the author of Fantastic Beasts: The
Secrets of Dumbledore book?
[a] J.K Rowling
[b] Gaur Gopal Das
[c] Deepak Chopra
[d] Kamlesh Patel
[e] Jeff Kinney
Q.41) What is the theme of Strategic Table Top
Exercise of G20?
[a] Synergy to counter Global Cyber Crisis
[b] SHAPE
[c] Camaraderie – Cohesion –Collaboration
[d] DEFENDER
[e] Secure Cyber Environment
Q.42) Government has approved Phase-II of
FAME Scheme with an outlay of Rs. 10,000 Crore
for a period of 3 years commencing from 1st April
2019. Out of total budgetary support, about 86
percent of fund has been allocated for Demand
Incentive so as to create demand for EVs in the
country. According to the Ministry of Heavy
Industries and Public Enterprises’ data, the top
five states in India, collectively account for over
56% of the 0.85 million electric vehicles bought
through the scheme. Choose the correct order of
states in the increasing order of their sales.
[a] Maharashtra < Gujarat < Kerala < Tamil Nadu
< Punjab
[b] Tripura < Himachal Pradesh < West Bengal <
Gujarat < Maharashtra
[c] Andhra Pradesh < Telangana < Odisha <
Maharashtra < Tamil Nadu
[d] Rajasthan < Gujarat< Tamil Nadu < Karnataka
< Maharashtra
[e] Madhya Pradesh < Gujarat < Odisha <
Karnataka < Tamil Nadu
Q.43) A total of ₹7,980 crore has been
committed to 99 Alternative Investment Funds
(AIFs) under the Fund of Funds Scheme (FFS) for
start-ups as on December 31, 2022. The Fund of
Funds for Startups (FFS) Scheme was approved
and established in ____ with a corpus of Rs
_____, with contribution spread over the 14th and
15th Finance Commission cycle based on
progress of implementation, to provide capital to
the Indian startups. _____ has been given the
responsibility of choosing the AIFs and
overseeing the disbursal of committed capital.
[a] 2008, Rs 15,000 crore, SEBI
[b] 2019, Rs 35,000 crore, NHB
[c] 2016, Rs 10,000 crores, SIDBI
[d] 2020, Rs 55,000 crores, SBI
[e] 2018, Rs 60,000 crores, Edelweiss Mutual
Fund
Q.44) Which state has announced to establish the
“Green Hydrogen Hubs” at a cost of Rs 200
crores?
[a] Maharashtra
[b] Kerala
[c] Punjab
[d] Karnataka
[e] Gujarat
Q.45) Bihar State Tourism Development
Corporation has built MV Ganga Vihar, a floating
restaurant at the NIT Ghat on the Ganges. Where
was India’s first Floating Restaurant established?
[a] Paradeep
[b] Sirhind
[c] Surat
[d] Vijaydurg
[e] Hazira
Q.46) Yaya Tso, known as birds’ paradise for its
beautiful lake located at an altitude of 4,820
metres, has been proposed as Ladakh’s first
biodiversity heritage site (BHS) under the
Biological Diversity Act of 2002. The resolution
was signed after multiple rounds of consultations
between the village stakeholders and SECURE
Himalaya project to declare the high-altitude lake
and its catchment as a biodiversity heritage site.
Under which section of the Biological Diversity
Act, 2002 does the State Government in
consultation with local bodies notify the areas of
biodiversity importance as Biodiversity Heritage
Sites?
[a] Section 89
[b] Section 37
[c] Section 50
[d] Section 65
[e] Section 48
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Q.47) Which state’s police is operating the

OPERATION AAG to arrest fugitives? Q.52) Recently, Supreme Court of India hosted
[a] Madhya Pradesh the 73rd anniversary of its establishment. Article
[b] Kerala 124 of the Indian Constitution establishes the
[c] Uttar Pradesh Supreme Court. Supreme Court of India came
[d] Punjab into existence on 26th January 1950 and is
[e] Assam located on Tilak Marg, New Delhi. This year’s
event was aired on social media platforms and
Q.48) Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton saw ____ Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, who is
announced a Global Climate Resilience Fund for of Indian origin, as the chief guest.
women to fight climate change. The fund will [a] Papua New Guinea
empower women and communities to fight climate [b] Singapore
change and help provide new livelihood [c] Malaysia
resources and education. The fund will have a [d] Seychelles
corpus of _____. The Clinton Global Initiative has [e] Senegal
been launched with the American Indian
foundation, SEWA (Self Employed Women's Q.53) Who is the chairman of the Haj Committee
Association founded by late activist Ela Bhatt) of India, a statutory body of the Indian
and other organisations. government that organizes Islamic pilgrimages to
[a] $90 million Saudi Arabia?
[b] $60 million [a] Kabir Qureshi
[c] $25 million [b] Qasim Aslam
[d] $50 million [c] A.P. Abdullakutty
[e] $35 million [d] Bilal Mohmmad
[e] Asad Abdella
Q.49) How many moons does the Jupiter have?
[a] 67 Q.54) Which ministry has set up a Committee on
[b] 89 Digital Competition Law (CDCL) to examine the
[c] 75 need for a separate law on competition in digital
[d] 82 markets?
[e] 92 [a] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[b] Ministry of Finance
Q.50) Which has joined the International Solar [c] Ministry of Electronics and Information
Alliance as its 113th signatory? Technology
[a] Senegal [d] Ministry of Corporate Affairs
[b] Republic of Congo [e] Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
[c] Mexico
[d] Papua New Guinea Q.55) Where has Union Health Minister Mansukh
[e] Solomon Islands Mandaviya inaugurated the Department of
Integrative Medicine?
Q.51) Which IIT will be provided with a grant of [a] Apollo Hospitals
Rs 242 Crore over a period of five years to [b] Safdarjung Hospital
undertake research on Lab Grown Diamonds [c] Asian Institute of Medical Sciences
(LGD)? [d] Billroth Hospitals
[a] IIT-Guwahati [e] Care Hospital
[b] IIT-Kharagpur
[c] IIT-Delhi Q.56) Where did the Prime Minister Narendra
[d] IIT-Bombay Modi lay the foundation stone of South India’s 1st
[e] IIT-Madras Industrial Corridor Project?
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[a] Tumakuru
[b] Ballari
[c] Kalaburagi
[d] Vijayapura
[e] Hassan
Q.57) Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal
Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala
informed Lok Sabha that India is the highest milk
producer in the world contributing 24% of global
milk production in the year 2021-22. Milk
production of India has registered a ______
percent growth during 2014-15 to 2021-22 and
increased to 22 crore tonne in the year 2021-22
from 14.6 crore tonnes in 2014-15. On the other
hand, egg production has also increased from
78.48 billion in 2014-15 to 129.53 billion in 2021-
22, at a growth rate of 8%.
[a] 51%
[b] 10%
[c] 25%
[d] 39%
[e] 40%
Q.58) With which company has Ministry of
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare signed an MOU to
build a national level digital extension platform
under the public private partnership framework?
[a] Aibono
[b] BigHaat
[c] Bijak
[d] Digital Green
[e] Apna Godam
Q.59) How much is the Per Capita GDP income
of Bangladesh for the Financial Year (FY) 2022-
23?
[a] USD 2,793
[b] USD 2,800
[c] USD 2.650
[d] USD 3,400
[e] USD 1,670
Q.60) Recently, Central Government announced
its plan to launch the initial public offering (IPO) of
the Indian Renewable Energy Development
Agency Limited (IREDA) and state-owned
engineering consultancy firm WAPCOS in the
2023-24. Tuhin Kanta Pandey has been given the
official responsibility of carrying out divestment
process of CPSEs. Tuhin Kanta Pandey is the
secretary of which of the following departments?
[a] Department of Expenditure
[b] Department of Revenue
[c] Department of Economic Affairs
[d] Department of Public Enterprises
[e] Department of Investment and Public Asset
Management
Q.61) ISRO has conducted the recovery trials for
the Gaganyaan Mission in a private pool, in
collaboration with Indian Navy. The trials were
conducted at the Water Survival Test Facility,
Kochi. Gaganyaan is India’s first human space
mission, expected to be launched in 2024. The
Indian astronauts are receiving training from ____
agency for the Gaganyaan mission.
[a] UK Space Agency
[b] Canadian Space Agency
[c] CNES
[d] Danish National Space Center
[e] Roscosmos
Q.62) Which company has launched India’s first
Traffic Management System for drones to allow
drone operators to choose their routes?
[a] Garud Aerospace
[b] Skye Air
[c] Skylark Dronetech
[d] Airpix
[e] Amaryllo India
Q.63) Recently, Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO) has successfully launched
the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2)
from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, with EOS-07,
Azadi SAT-2, and Janus-1 satellites onboard.
Which company mentored 750 girl students to
prepare the Azadi SAT-2 satellite?
[a] SpaceKidz India
[b] Symbosim Simulations Private Limited
[c] Vasundharaa Geo Technologies Private
Limited
[d] Xovian Aerospace Private Limited
[e] Garuda Aerospace
Q.64) Where will Minister for Communications,
Electronics & Information Technology and
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[Type here]

Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurate the (ii) NFSU is an institution of national importance
National Philatelic Exhibition - AMRITPEX 2023? established to promote studies and research in
[a] New Delhi forensic sciences and related fields
[b] Ahmedabad (iii) NFSU is the first and only institute in the field
[c] Gandhinagar of forensic sciences, which is located in Lucknow.
[d] Vadodara
[e] Bengaluru [a] Only I
[b] Only I and III
Q.65) With which regional organization has India [c] Only II
set up a new Trade and Technology Council to [d] Only III
focus on green technologies, connectivity, and [e] Only I and II
resilient supply chains?
[a] Trans-Pacific Partnership Q.68) Which of the following payment service
[b] European Union providers have recently allowed the linking of
[c] ASEAN credits cards with UPI?
[d] African Union [a] Google Pay
[e] Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation [b] Paytm
[c] AmazonPay
Q.66) Recently, the 3rd ASEAN Digital Ministers [d] ZestMoney
(ADGMIN) meeting with India was conducted [e] CCAvenue
virtually on the theme of “Synergy Towards a
Sustainable Digital Future”. The meeting was Q.69) What is the theme of World Pulses Day
chaired by India and _____. India-ASEAN Digital 2023?
Work Plan 2023 was also adopted at the meeting. [a] Pulses to empower youth in achieving
This year, the ASEAN Summit will be hosted by sustainable agrifood systems
_____, which will be chair of _____ as well. [b] Pulses improv soil productivity
[a] Philippines, Indonesia, ADMM+ [c] Pulses increase the resilience of farming
[b] Thailand, Cambodia, East Asia Summit systems
[c] Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, ASEAN [d] Pulses – the food of the future
Foreign Ministers’ [e] Pulses for a Sustainable future
[d] Malaysia, Singapore, ASEAN Secretariat
meeting Q.70) Who has won the Hyderabad E-Prix 2023?
[e] Indonesia, Philippines, SEA Regional Forum [a] Valentino Rossi
[b] Giacomo Agostini
Q.67) As per a newspaper article published in [c] Cal Crutchlow
February 2023, the Directorate General of GST [d] Jean Eric Vergne
Intelligence (DGGI) and the National Forensic [e] Marc Márquez Alentà
Sciences University (NFSU) have signed an MoU
for setting up digital forensic laboratories along Q.71) From which country is India planning to
with exchange of information and knowledge, bring 12 Cheetahs in India?
technological advancement and skill development [a] Namibia
in the field of digital forensics to nab tax [b] Kenya
offenders. [c] South Africa
Identify the correct statement(s) with regards to [d] Gambia
the above paragraph. [e] Ethiopia
(i) DGGI is the apex intelligence organization
under the aegis of Goods and Services Network Q.72) Which state has launched the Wetland Ex-
Situ Conservation Establishment (WESCE) plan,
in collaboration with France?
pg. 8
[Type here]

[a] Gujarat [e] Sushri Anusuiya Uikye

[b] West Bengal
[c] Rajasthan Q.78) When is the Safer Internet Day observed?
[d] Tamil Nadu [a] February 1
[e] Telangana [b] February 12
[c] February 8
Q.73) Which edition of the Indian Rice Congress [d] February 7
was conducted at the National Rice Research [e] February 5
Institute at Cuttack, Odisha?
[a] Second Q.79) What is the theme of RBI's Financial
[b] Fourth Literacy Week 2023?
[c] Seventh [a] Good Financial Behaviour – Your Saviour
[d] Eighth [b] Go Digital, Go Secure
[e] Fifth [c] Credit Discipline and Credit from Formal
Institutions
Q.74) India has signed an agreement with _____ [d] Farmers
to export the ALH Mk3 helicopters to the country. [e] Customer Protection
The agreement was signed in January 2022.
[a] Singapore Q.80) Which country has been hit by Cyclone
[b] Japan Gabrielle?
[c] Indonesia [a] New Zealand
[d] Philippines [b] Australia
[e] Mauritius [c] South Africa
[d] Uganda
Q.75) Which country hosts the World Government [e] Namibia
Summit on an annual basis?
[a] USA Q.81) With which company has Ministry of
[b] Denmark Electronics and IT collaborated to launch the G20
[c] Canada Stay Safe Online Campaign to increase
[d] UAE awareness on online safety?
[e] Netherlands [a] Meta
[b] Amazon
Q.76) As per the "Revised Estimates of the [c] Google
Direction of Tax Collection in 2022-23" released [d] Microsoft
by Central Board of Direct Taxes, the direct tax [e] Flipkart
collection has increased by ____ percent in 2022-
23. In 2022-23, the total direct taxes collected Q.82) Which is the first WTO member to ratify the
were Rs 15.67 lakh crores. Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies?
[a] 19% [a] Switzerland
[b] 24% [b] India
[c] 30% [c] USA
[d] 25% [d] Denmark
[e] 18% [e] Netherlands

Q.77) Who is the Governor of Ladakh? Q.83) Which bank has recently received approval
[a] B.D. Mishra from the Department of Financial Services under
[b] Ramesh Bais the Ministry of Finance to have four executive
[c] Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar directors instead of three?
[d] Phagu Chauhan [a] Indian Bank
pg. 9
[Type here]

[b] Axis Bank

[c] Canara Bank Q.89) Asian Development Bank (ADB) has
[d] Bank of Baroda approved a USD 130 million loan to increase
[e] Bank of India agricultural productivity and promote horticulture
agribusinesses to raise farmers' income to which
Q.84) Which company owns the BizKhata state?
business platform? [a] Himachal Pradesh
[a] India Post Payments Bank [b] Meghalaya
[b] Fino Payments Bank [c] Assam
[c] Airtel Payments Bank [d] Gujarat
[d] NSDL Payments Bank [e] Maharashtra
[e] Jio Payments Bank
Q.90) Which company has rebranded itself as
Q.85) Which life insurance company has Zuno General Insurance Limited?
launched the Sustainable Equity Fund? [a] SBI General Insurance
[a] HDFC Life Insurance Co. Ltd [b] Tata AIG General Insurance
[b] Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd. [c] United India General Insurance
[c] ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co. Ltd [d] Reliance General Insurace
[d] Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Co. Ltd. [e] Edelweiss General Insurance
[e] Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance
Q.91) What rank has been given to India by the
Q.86) Which international organization has International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO)
formally agreed to join the India Hydrogen Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme’s
Alliance (IH2A) and increase support for green (USOAP) report?
hydrogen projects across India with indicative [a] 55th
funding of €1 billion? [b] 67th
[a] KfW [c] 78th
[b] EIB [d] 55th
[c] ADB [e] 43rd
[d] AIIB
[e] IBRD Q.92) Choose the correct number of pairs from
the options given below –
Q.87) Which company has launched its helicopter 1) Sage Portal – Ministry of Health
services on six routes in the state of Assam under 2) Sacred Portal – Ministry of
the RCS UDAN scheme? Telecommunications
[a] Himalayan Heli Services Pvt. Ltd. 3) GDAM Portal – Ministry of Power
[b] Airbus Helicopters India 4) SRIJAN Portal – Ministry of Finance
[c] Global Vectra Helicorp Limited 5) Khanan Prahari Portal – Ministry of Coal
[d] Pawan Hans Ltd.
[e] Blueheights Helicopter Charter Services [a] Only 1
[b] Only 2
Q.88) Which state/UT has launched the “Alternate [c] Only 3
Agriculture System for Sustainability” project to [d] Only 4
promote organic farming? [e] Only 5
[a] Delhi
[b] Uttar Pradesh Q.93) Comptroller and Auditor General of India
[c] J&K (CAG) is hosting the ___ Shanghai Cooperation
[d] West Bengal Organisation (SCO) Supreme Audit Institutions
[e] Gujarat (SAI) Leaders’ Meeting in _____. Out of the eight
pg. 10
[Type here]

SCO SAI member countries, the heads of SAIs [d] 230.67 Lakh Tonnes
from four countries – Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, [e] 178.90 Lakh Tonnes
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, alongside the CAG
of India, are expected to take part in the three-day Q.97) ____ World Hindi Conference (Vishwa
multilateral event. The event was organized on Hindi Sammelan) is being organized in Nadi, Fiji
the theme of ‘Integrating Emerging Technologies from February 15-17, 2023 by the Ministry of
in Audit’. During the event, India signed two External Affairs, Government of India in
MOUs with the SAI of _____ and ______ to association with the Government of____.
strengthen cooperation in the field of auditing. [a] 18th, Romania
[a] 8th, Bhopal, Uzbekistan and Iran [b] 20th, Bulgaria
[b] 12th, Baroda, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan [c] 47th, Cuba
[c] 7th, Chennai, Russia, and China [d] 57th, Moldova
[d] 6th, Lucknow, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan [e] 12th, Fiji
[e] 12th, Delhi, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan
Q.98) Which company launched 'Co-lend', India's
Q.94) India is planning to launch a global initiative first fully automated escrow management solution
called "MIIRA" or Millet International Initiative for for co-lending?
Research and Awareness for global coordination [a] Ingenico
of millet research programs. India will contribute [b] Amazon Payments
the initial money for MIIRA initiative while each [c] Stripe
G20 member will later have to contribute to its [d] Open
budget in the form of a membership fee. The [e] Cashfree Payments
Indian Institute of Millet Research in _____ will be
supported as the Center of Excellence for sharing Q.99) Which bank has launched a pilot known as
best practices, research, and technologies at the 'OfflinePay' to test offline digital payments for
international level. customers and merchants enabling payments
[a] Hyderabad transactions even when there is no mobile
[b] Bhopal network?
[c] Chennai [a] Axis Bank
[d] Kochi [b] RBL Bank
[e] Guwahati [c] J&K Bank
[d] Karnataka Bank
Q.95) _______ has launched India's first Marine [e] HDFC Bank
Spatial Planning (MSP) framework to balance
growth alongside sustainable management of Q.100) Who has been elected as the President of
ocean resources and coastal environment Institute of Chartered Accountants of India?
preservation. The framework is a part of a pact [a] Aniket Sunil Talati
under the Indo-_____ Integrated Ocean Initiative. [b] Kedar Burande
[a] Puducherry, Denmark [c] Manmohan Singh
[b] Odisha, Netherlands [d] Chandra Sekhar
[c] Puducherry, Norway [e] Jayant Sinha
[d] Tamil Nadu, Denmark
[e] Odisha, Norway Q. 101) Where has PM Narendra Modi launched
the Jal Jan Abhiyan?
Q.96) How much is the total pulse production [a] Jalpaiguri
estimate for 2022-23? [b] Purba Burdwan
[a] 143.98 Lakh Tonnes [c] Alipurduar
[b] 278.10 Lakh Tonnes [d] Sirohi
[c] 567.89 Lakh Tonnes [e] Bankura
pg. 11
[Type here]

Q. 102) What is the total budget allocation for the Q. 108) How many segments are there in the
defence sector in the Union Budget? second global hackathon of RBI -- 'HARBINGER
[a] Rs 5.94 lakh crore 2023’?
[b] Rs 2.09 lakh crore [a] Four
[c] Rs 0.95lakh crore [b] Seven
[d] Rs 3.45 lakh crore [c] Five
[e] Rs 1.78 lakh crore [d] Eight
[e] Six
Q. 103) How much is the seafood exports target
of India by 2025? Q. 109) Where is India’s 1st Global Support
[a] USD 18 billion Centre located?
[b] USD 80 billion [a] Vandhavan
[c] USD 32 billion [b] Gurugram
[d] USD 14 billion [c] Puhar
[e] USD 25 billion [d] Pipavav
[e] Mombasa
Q. 104) Where is India's first solid waste-to-
hydrogen plant set up? Q.110) When is International Childhood Cancer
[a] Gwalior Day 2023?
[b] Guwahati [a] February 15
[c] Pune [b] February 9
[d] Mumbai [c] February 12
[e] Gurgaon [d] February 28
[e] February 20
Q. 105) Where was the Global Tech Summit
organized? Q. 111) Where was the 23rd edition of the India
[a] Mumbai International Seafood Show (IISS-2023) held?
[b] Visakhapatnam [a] Guwahati
[c] Haldia [b] Kolkata
[d] Mangalore [c] Indore
[e] Vijaydurg [d] Bhopal
[e] Chennai
Q. 106) Where is Indian Army organising
"Operation Sadbhavana"? Q. 112) Which municipal corporation has
[a] Ladakh launched the “Green Bonds” for setting up solar
[b] Mizoram power plants?
[c] Nagaland [a] Anantapur Municipal Corporation
[d] Assam [b] Indore Municipal Corporation
[e] Uttarakhand [c] Guntur Municipal Corporation
[d] Nellore Municipal Corporation
Q. 107) What is the target year set by the [e] Vijayawada Municipal Corporation
European Union to ban the sale of gas and diesel
cars? Q. 113) Which of the following statement(s) is/are
[a] 2035 correct with respect to the KAVACH-2023 - a
[b] 2040 national level hackathon?
[c] 2027 1) The hackathon has been launched by AICTE
[d] 2017 and Ministry of Education
[e] 2020
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[Type here]

2) The hackathon has been launched by UGC, [e] Rs 50 crore

Ministry of Education, and Bureau of Police
Research and Development Q. 118) Which payment bank has gone live with
3) The hackathon has been launched to innovate UPI LITE, a feature enabled by the National
on the cyber security and cybercrime challenges Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for multiple
small-value UPI transactions?
[a] Only 1 [a] India Post payment bank
[b] Only 1 and 2 [b] Fino payment bank
[c] Only 1 and 3 [c] NSFL payment bank
[d] Only 2 [d] Airtel payment bank
[e] Only 2 and 3 [e] Paytm payment bank

Q. 114) Which IIT hosts the international Centre Q. 119) Which bank has launched the facility of
of Excellence on dam safety? issuance of e-BG (Electronic Bank Guarantee) in
[a] IIT-Bombay association with the National e Governance
[b] IIT-Roorkee Services limited (NeSL)?
[c] IIT-Delhi [a] Indian Overseas Bank
[d] IIT-Ropar [b] CSB
[e] IIT-Kharagpur [c] Kotak Mahindra Bank
[d] Bank of India
Q. 115) Union Cabinet has approved the signing [e] State Bank of India
of an MoU between India and _____ for
cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied Q.120) Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and
sectors. Under the MoU, a _____-India DoNER, Shri G. Kishan Reddy presented the
Agricultural Working Group is to be constituted Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2019,
which will be responsible for the supervision, 2020 and 2021, at Meghdoot Theatre Complex,
review and assessment of the implementation of Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi. A total of 102
this MoU as well as for establishing frequent artists (including three joint awards) have been
communication and coordination. given the awards. Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva
[a] Chile Puraskar, given to artists up to the age of 40
[b] Brazil years, was launched in 2006 for identifying and
[c] Argentine encouraging outstanding young talents in diverse
[d] Bolivia fields of the performing arts. What is the prize
[e] Peru money of this award?
[a] Rs 25,000
Q. 116) What is India’s rank in the Services Trade [b] Rs 50,000
Restrictiveness Index (STRI)? [c] Rs 15,000
[a] 47th [d] Rs 35,000
[b] 19th [e] Rs 20,000
[c] 56th
[d] 89th Q. 121) How many fields have been selected by
[e] 12th India which will be considered for trading of
carbon credits in the international carbon market
Q. 117) What is the net worth requirement for the under the mechanism of the Paris Agreement on
Payment Aggregators to receive licence? climate change?
[a] Rs 15 crore [a] 8
[b] Rs 60 crore [b] 13
[c] Rs 25 crore [c] 5
[d] Rs 30 crore [d] 10
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[e] 12 [e] Taiwan

Q. 122) What is the bilateral trade between India Q. 128) What is India's rank in the Global Labour
and UAE during April-November 2022? Resilience Index 2023?
[a] $ 57.8 billion [a] 65th
[b] $ 23.5 billion [b] 78th
[c] $ 77.9 billion [c] 45th
[d] $ 675 billion [d] 23rd
[e] $ 90.2 billion [e] 18th

Q. 123) Which phase of the Sagar Parikarma has Q. 129) Which country is developing its NEOM
been launched by Department of Fisheries? project at a cost of USD 500 billion?
[a] Second [a] Saudi Arabia
[b] First [b] UAE
[c] Third [c] Qatar
[d] Four [d] Bahrain
[e] Seven [e] Oman

Q. 124) What is India’s share in the global fish Q.130) Which bank has launched Amrit Kalash -
production, as per a PIB release? a new retail term deposit scheme with a specific
[a] 9% duration and benefits like a higher interest rate?
[b] 10% [a] HDFC Bank
[c] 12% [b] Bank of India
[d] 8% [c] Indian Bank
[e] 17% [d] State Bank of India
[e] Axis Bank
Q. 125) Where is North India's first nuclear plant
being set up? Q. 131) Delhi Metro launched India's first ever
[a] Charkhi Dadri indigenously developed Train Control &
[b] Bhiwani Supervision System, the i-ATS (Indigenous -
[c] Jhajjar Automatic Train Supervision) for operations on its
[d] Fatehabad first corridor. On which line is the system
[e] Panchkula operated?
[a] Violet Line
Q. 126) Which state has announced to introduce [b] Red Line
AI traffic signals in its state budget for 2023-24? [c] Green Line
[a] Karnataka [d] Blue Line
[b] Himachal Pradesh [e] Pink Line
[c] Kerala
[d] Maharashtra Q. 132) India's first hybrid-sounding rocket has
[e] Madhya Pradesh been developed under the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission- 2023. Which
Q. 127) Which country has recently lifted its company has collaborated with Dr APJ Abdul
temporary ban on the import of frozen seafood Kalam International Foundation to launch the Dr
from India? APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle
[a] Canada Mission- 2023?
[b] Qatar [a] Martin Foundation
[c] UAE [b] Space Zone India
[d] Saudi Arabia [c] Antrix Corporation
pg. 14
[Type here]

[d] Both A and B agriculture with technology driven by Artificial

[e] Both B and C Intelligence and IoT for automation of practices,
enhanced resource use efficiency and
Q. 133) Who is the chair of the Panel on Mission profitability?
Karamyogi? [a] J&K
[a] Rajiv Gauba [b] Lakshadweep
[b] Anurag Singh Thakur [c] Puducherry
[c] Vinay Kaushal [d] Chandigarh
[d] Astik Sinha [e] Delhi
[e] Sukant Vatsa
Q. 139) Which edition of the International
Q. 134) Frederik Andre Henrik Christian and Mary Khajuraho Dance Festival-2023 was held in
Elizabeth are the crown prince and princess of Khujaraho, Madhya Pradesh?
which country? [a] 49th
[a] Denmark [b] 37th
[b] Netherlands [c] 23rd
[c] Norway [d] 18th
[d] Philippines [e] 12th
[e] Germany
Q.140) Who heads the Textile Advisory Group?
Q. 135) Where was the Asia Economic Dialogue [a] Suresh Kotak
organized? [b] Sukant Vatsa
[a] Pune [c] Kedar Burande
[b] Bhopal [d] Ritika Singh Verma
[c] Indore [e] Chandra Sekhar
[d] Gwalior
[e] Surat Q. 141) Recently, Minister of Education,
Dharmendra Pradhan, has launched the "Jaadui
Q. 136) With which country is India planning to Pitara" for learning at the foundational stage
create a virtual trade corridor to facilitate quicker under the new National Education Policy (NEP).
clearance of shipments? Jadui Pitara comprises of playbooks, toys,
[a] Israel puzzles, posters, flash cards, storybooks,
[b] Saudi Arabia worksheets, reflecting the local culture, social
[c] Australia context and languages to pique curiosity and
[d] UAE accommodate the diverse needs of learners at
[e] Oman the foundational stage. In how many languages is
the Pitara available?
Q. 137) In which Indian state will Mastercard and [a] 13
Access Development Services launch the [b] 20
“Mainstreaming Agriculture through Networks and [c] 18
Development Initiatives (MANDI)” project? [d] 21
[a] Assam [e] 37
[b] Odisha
[c] Meghalaya Q. 142) India has joined Agriculture Innovation
[d] Nagaland Mission for Climate (AIM4C) to accelerate
[e] Arunachal Pradesh investment and support for climate-smart
agriculture and food systems innovation. India
Q. 138) Which UT has launched the "Sensor- joined the AIM4C on the margins of the I2U2 -
based Smart Agriculture" project for integration of Israel, India, the United States and the United
pg. 15
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Arab Emirates - Business Forum in Abu Dhabi. [e] Trilateral

Which of the following countries is among the
founding members of the initiative? Q. 148) Which country has curtailed its beef
[a] UK exports due to the mad cow disease?
[b] UAE [a] China
[c] Germany [b] Brazil
[d] Singapore [c] Argentine
[e] Philippines [d] Australia
[e] Indonesia
Q. 143) Where is the Pangong Tso lake located?
[a] Arunachal Pradesh Q. 149) Which country has signed an agreement
[b] Sikkim with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to
[c] Ladakh increase the use of solar energy in the country?
[d] Meghalaya [a] Bangladesh
[e] Mizoram [b] Sri Lanka
[c] Nepal
Q. 144) Which state has launched robotic [d] Bhutan
scavenger named Bandicoot to clean sewage? [e] Tajikistan
[a] Kerala
[b] Assam Q.150) What is India’s rank in the International
[c] Odisha Intellectual Property Index 2023 of the US
[d] Karnataka Chamber of Commerce Global Innovation Policy
[e] Andhra Pradesh Center?
[a] 42nd
Q. 145) For the first time, an Indian submarine [b] 53rd
docked in Indonesia to strengthen bilateral [c] 78th
relations as part of diplomatic-military outreach to [d] 55th
ASEAN countries. What is the name of the [e] 27th
submarine?
[a] INS Shankul Q. 151) Which of the following statement(s) is/are
[b] INS Chakra true about the Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Program?
[c] INS Arihant 1) Central Govt is planning to set up 20 Clean
[d] INS Kalvari Plant Centres
[e] INS Shindukesari 2) The Clean Plant Centres will reduce the time-
period for quarantine for horticultural crops to
Q. 146) With which country does India conduct eight months from two years, at present.
the Exercise Desert Flag VIII? 3) National Horticulture Board (NHB) will be the
[a] UAE nodal agency for setting up the clean plant
[b] France programme
[c] Oman 4) The Clean Plant Centres will provide services
[d] Saudi Arabia of disease diagnostic, therapeutics, multiplying of
[e] Uzbekistan plants and generation of mother plants

Q. 147) Exercise Cobra Warrior is a _____ [a] Only 1, 2, and 3

exercise? [b] Only 3 and 4
[a] Navy [c] Only 2, 3, and 4
[b] Air Force [d] Only 4
[c] Army [e] Only 1, 3 and 4
[d] Coast Guard
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Q. 152) As per a newspaper article of February Q. 157) Giorgia Meloni will be the Chief Guest
2023, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Keynote Speaker at the 8th Raisina Dialogue
has discovered upon a 1,300-year-old stupa right 2023 to be held in Taj Palace Hotel, Diplomatic
in the middle of a mining site in Odisha's ____ Enclave, New Delhi from March 2-3. She is the
district? Prime Minister of which country?
[a] Jagatsinghpur [a] Italy
[b] Kendrapara [b] Romania
[c] Nayagarh [c] Albania
[d] Jajpur [d] Spain
[e] Mayurbhanj [e] Moldova

Q. 153) Which of the following is the correct Q. 158) Which state launched India’s first AI
projection of unemployment rate by the Periodic Chatbot ‘Ama KrushAI’ for the agricultural sector?
Labour Force Survey? [a] Odisha
[a] 2017-18 – 4.7% [b] West Bengal
[b] 2018-19 – 4.9% [c] Assam
[c] 2019-20 – 5.1% [d] Gujarat
[d] 2020-21 – 6.1% [e] Maharashtra
[e] 2021-22 – 4.1%
Q. 159) Which of the following statement(s) is/are
Q. 154) In the PLFS 2021-22, the labour force incorrect about the “Trends in Maternal Mortality
participation rate (LFPR) of urban area was 49.7 2000 to 2020” report of the UN?
and rural area’s LFPR was 57.5. Which one of the 1) As per the report, an estimated 2,87,000
following reasons appropriately justifies the gap? women globally died from a maternal cause in
[a] Unwillingness of Workforce to work 2020.
[b] Unavailability of worthy jobs for educated 2) The global MMR in 2020 was estimated at 223
urban population maternal deaths per 100 000 live births
[c] Provision of guaranteed working days through 3) The average annual rate of reduction (ARR) in
MGNREGA in rural areas the global MMR from 2000 to 2020 was 2.1%.
[d] Low female participation in urban employment 4) The rate of reduction of global MMR was
[e] High availability of working population in rural 34.3% over the full 20-year period from 2000 to
areas 2020.
5) India’s maternal mortality rate was 103 in 2020
Q. 155) What is the female workforce participation
rate during 2021-22, as per the latest PLFS? [a] Only 1, 2, and 3
[a] 31.7 [b] Only 1, 3, 4, and 5
[b] 26.5 [c] Only 2, 4, and 5
[c] 44.7 [d] All are incorrect
[d] 78.8 [e] None are incorrect
[e] 33.5
Q.160) New Delhi-based ICRIER Prosus Centre
Q. 156) With which country has India officially for Internet and the Digital Economy (IPCIDE) has
launched the Young Professionals Scheme? released the “State of India's Digital Economy”
[a] UK report. The report focuses on the indicators which
[b] Netherlands are specific to the Indian society. The report
[c] Denmark traces the digital transformation through its CHIP
[d] Germany framework. What does ‘H’ stand for in this
[e] France framework?
[a] Harbinger
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[Type here]

[b] Harness [d] Hardware

[c] Hefty [e] Harmonious

1 B 51 E 101 D 151 B

2 A 52 B 102 A 152 D

3 E 53 C 103 D 153 E

4 B 54 D 104 C 154 D

5 A 55 B 105 B 155 A

6 D 56 A 106 A 156 A

7 A 57 A 107 A 157 A

8 A 58 D 108 A 158 A

9 A 59 A 109 B 159 E

10 D 60 E 110 A 160 B

11 C 61 E 111 B

12 A 62 B 112 B

13 B 63 A 113 C

14 E 64 A 114 B

15 E 65 B 115 A

16 A 66 A 116 A

17 C 67 C 117 A

18 B 68 B 118 E

19 A 69 E 119 A

20 E 70 D 120 A

21 B 71 C 121 B

22 A 72 C 122 A

23 E 73 A 123 C

24 D 74 E 124 D

25 B 75 D 125 D

26 A 76 B 126 A

27 E 77 A 127 B

28 A 78 D 128 A

29 D 79 A 129 A

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30 E 80 A 130 D

31 A 81 A 131 B

32 E 82 A 132 D

33 A 83 A 133 A

34 A 84 C 134 A

35 C 85 E 135 A

36 B 86 B 136 D

37 E 87 D 137 A

38 A 88 C 138 A

39 B 89 A 139 A

40 A 90 E 140 A

41 A 91 A 141 A

42 D 92 B 142 B

43 C 93 D 143 C

44 B 94 A 144 A

45 B 95 C 145 E

46 B 96 B 146 A

47 B 97 E 147 B

48 D 98 E 148 B

49 E 99 E 149 A

50 B 100 A 150 A

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