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Question

25. Name the bank that has recently (in Sept ‘23) launched ‘SAATHI (Sustainable Access and Aligning Technology for Holistic Inclusion)’ to provide basic banking services at all centres for a minimum of four hours per day in fixed outlets. 1) Punjab National Bank 2) Bank of Baroda 3) Indian Bank 4) State Bank of India 5) Bank of India

Answer 1

Answer- 3) Indian Bank Explanation: Indian Bank has launched a new initiative called IB(Indian Bank) SAATHI (Sustainable Access and Aligning Technology for Holistic Inclusion), to provide basic banking services at all centres for a minimum of four hours per day in fixed outlets through the business correspondent (BC) channel. i. The initiative was launched by Shanti Lal Jain who is the Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Indian Bank in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. ii. The program makes it easier for customers to access and use banking services, and it also offers both basic and value-added services to customers. iii. To implement the initiative, Indian Bank needs to have more than 5,000 newly appointed new BCs (by March 2024) along with 15 Corporate Business Correspondents (CBCs). Presently, they have only 10,750 BCs and 10 CBCs.

Answer 2

Answer- 5) All A, B & C Explanation: On September 17, 2023, i.e. on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti, the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi dedicated the Phase -1 of the India International Convention and Expo Centre (IICC), also known as Yashobhoomi to the nation located in Dwarka Sector 25, New Delhi, Delhi. i. IICC is India’s largest convention and exhibition centre with a total indoor area of 300,000m2. ii. He also launched PM Vishwakarma Scheme covering 18 focus areas of artisans and craftsmen along with its logo, tagline ‘‘Samman Samarthya Samridhi” and portal (https://pmvishwakarma.gov.in/). iii. He released a customized stamp sheet, a tool kit e-booklet and video on the occasion. iv. The launch/release was made from the IICC, New Delhi.

Answer 3

Answer- 4) Both 1 & 2 Explanation: Santiniketan in West Bengal (WB) and Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas in Karnataka were inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage list. Santiniketan is the 41st and Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas is the 42nd World Heritage site in India. Both were listed under the Cultural heritage category. This was announced during the 45th extended session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO being held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 10 to 25 September 2023. Note: At present, India has a total of 42 UNESCO World Heritage sites, which includes 7 natural heritage sites, 1 mixed heritage site and 34 Cultural Heritage sites.

Answer 4

Answer- 2) Indian Men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma lifted the Asia Cup trophy for the third time in his career to join Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni in an elite list. Explanation: India have lifted the Asia Cup for a record-extending eighth time after defeating the defending champions Sri Lanka in the Finals of Asia Cup 2023, at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The 16th Edition of Asia Cup 2023 was Co-hosted by Sri Lanka as well as Pakistan for the 1st time from 30 August to 17 September 2023. With eight titles (seven ODI and one T20I), India became the most successful team in the history of the tournament. Where Sri Lanka is the second most successful team with six titles and Pakistan have won two. Indian Men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma lifted the Asia Cup trophy for the second time in his career to join Mohammad Azharuddin and MS Dhoni in an elite list. Azharuddin and Dhoni were the only two captains to have won the Asia Cup twice before Rohit. Azhar won the titles in 1991 and 1995 while Dhoni won in 2010 and • • • • 2016. • • • • Rohit had first won the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2018, which was played in the Twenty20 International (T20I) format. Virat Kohli hits a ton against Pakistan in Asia Cup to become the fastest batsman to score 13,000 One Day International (ODI) runs. Rohit Sharma becomes the sixth Indian to enter the 10,000 ODI runs club after Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni and Rahul Dravid. hubman Gill becomes the first batter to score 1,000 ODI runs in 2023

Answer 5

Answer- 1) All A, B & C Explanation: On September 19, 2023, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance; and Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoAFW), inaugurated Kisan Rin Portal (KRP), Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS) Manual, and Door-To- Door Kisan Credit Card (KCC) campaign (Ghar-Ghar KCC Abhiyaan) during an event at Pusa Complex, New Delhi, Delhi. These initiatives are focused on Agri-credit (KCC & MISS) and Crop Insurance (PMFBY/RWBCIS). MISS stands for Modified Interest Subvention Scheme, PMFBY for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and RWBCIS for Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme. Kisan Rin Portal (KRP) aims to give farmers subsidized loans under the KCC scheme, and also assist them in availing subsidized agriculture credit through MISS. During the event, Ghar Ghar KCC Abhiyaan was also launched which will initiate from October 1, 2023 till December 31, 2023 which aims to connect around 1.5 crore beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) who are not yet connected to KCC scheme. WINDS Manual is launched to enhance the impact of the Weather Network Data Systems (WINDS) initiative which was launched in July 2023 to utilize advanced weather data analytics to make informed weather decisions on agriculture.

Answer 6

Answer- 5) HDFC Bank Explanation: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved re-appointment of Sashidhar Jagdishan as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HDFC Bank Limited for a period of 3 years with effect from 27th October 2023 to 26th October 2026. i. He has been MD and CEO of the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Bank since October 2020, after he took charge from Aditya Puri(the bank’s longest serving CEO (26 years- since September 1994). ii. Sashidhar Jagdishan joined HDFC Bank in 1996 as a Manager in the Finance function and became Business Head of finance in 1999. He was appointed as Chief Financial Officer in 2008.

Answer 7

Answer- 2) Kalyani Group Explanation: The Indian Army has inducted Six hundred indigenously manufactured self-neutralising anti-tank mines, known as “Vibhav”, to provide mobility kill against all enemy armoured vehicles. i. The introduction of Vibhav into the Indian Army’s armoury enhanced their defences against enemy armoured vehicles and strengthened their overall operational capabilities. ii. Vibhav, the point-attack anti-tank munition, was developed in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in India. These mines have safety and actuation mechanisms to ensure operator safety. iii. Vibhav is being manufactured by the Kalyani Group for the Indian Army.

Answer 8

Answer- 3) IndusInd Bank Explanation: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched ‘Skills on Wheels’ initiative in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and IndusInd Bank. MSDE minister and Shri Om Birla,Speaker, Lok Sabha have jointly launched the initiative during the inauguration of the program ceremony. To equip rural youth, especially women, with key digital skills and make them job and future- • ready • This initiative will empower 60,000 youth over a period of 5 years with relevant skills training to improve the livelihood of rural households.

Answer 9

Answer- 3) Only B & C Explanation: Net financial savings of households fell to a nearly five-decade low of 5.1% of GDP in FY23, down from 7.2% in FY22. This marked a notable decrease from the previous fiscal year, where it stood at 7.2% (FY22), as per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data. National Financial Switch (NFS) usage decreased from 11.5% in FY21 to 5.1% in FY23, as per data from RBI’s Flow of Financial Assets and Liabilities of Household released in September • 2023. • Household financial liabilities saw a substantial increase, rising to 5.8% of GDP in FY23, up from 3.8% in FY22. This indicates that households have increasingly relied on borrowing to meet their consumption needs.

Answer 10

Answer- 5) Airbornics Defence and Space Private Limited Explanation: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully tested the indigenously developed ‘Type V Heavy Drop System’ from a cargo aircraft which is capable of paradropping arms, ammunition, and other equipment to inaccessible places/battlefields. The design of this system has been developed by Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, Uttar Pradesh (UP). Type V Heavy Drop System, is a parachute, developed under the ‘Make In India’ initiative. i. About Type V Heavy Drop System: The parachute is manufactured by Airbornics Defence and Space Private Limited. It is a multi-stage parachute system comprising eight Main canopies, three extractor parachutes and one drogue parachute. The parachute weighs up to 20 tons & has a platform which is made up of a special Aluminium- based metal.

Answer 11

Answer- 1) All A, B & C Explanation: The Government of India (GoI) has introduced Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP), a new set of National Awards in the field of Science, Technology, and Innovation. i. RVP is set to become one of the highest recognitions in the field of science, technology, and innovation in India, and it will replace nearly 300 awards given by various science departments with 56 centrally administered awards. The RVP will be given in 13 domains. ii. The RVP will comprise 3 Vigyan Ratna awards, as well as 25 Vigyan Shri, 25 Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, and 3 Vigyan Team awards. Vigyan Ratna (VR) award is set to recognize lifetime achievements & contributions made in any field of science and technology. Vigyan Shri (VS) award is set to recognize distinguished contributions in any field of science and technology. Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB) award is intended to recognise and encourage young scientists under the age of 45 who have made outstanding contributions to any field of science and technology. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar(SSB) awards have been given by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR) since 1958 across seven domains. Vigyan Team (VT) award is to be awarded to a team of three or more scientists/researchers/innovators who have made an exceptional contribution in any field of science and technology while working in a team.

Answer 12

Answer- 5) All A, B & C Explanation: On September 20, 2023, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the following proposals: i. Acquisition of additional unit holding in Highways Infrastructure Trust by 2452991 Ontario Limited and acquisition of equity stake in Highway Concessions One Private Limited by 2743298 Ontario Limited ii. Recently, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposed acquisition of certain shareholding in TVS Credit Services Limited by PI Opportunities Fund-I Scheme-II along with certain Individuals. The proposed combination relates to the acquisition of 10.98% stake (on a fully diluted basis) of Target by the Acquirers. PIOF-II shall be acquiring about 10.79% of shareholding in the Target, whereas the Individual Acquirers shall collectively be acquiring 0.19% shareholding in Target. iii. The proposed combination relates to acquisition of approximately 24.16% of the total equity shareholding in Quality Care India Limited (QCIL) by Centella Mauritius Holdings Limited. iv. The Proposed Combination envisages acquisition of ~72.49% of the total equity shareholding of Quality Care India Limited (Target), on a fully diluted basis, by BCP Asia II Topco IV Pte. Ltd (BCP Asia II/Acquirer) from Touch Healthcare Private Limited.

Answer 13

Answer- 5) Both 2 & 3 Explanation: HDFC Asset Management Company Limited(HDFC AMC) received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to acquire additional holdings of up to 9.5% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of Karur Vysya Bank Limited(KVB) and DCB Bank Limited. The approval has been granted with reference to the application made by HDFC AMC to RBI. The holding of HDFC AMC in both the banks should not exceed (individually) 9.5 % of the paid- up share capital or voting rights of the Bank at all times. i. RBI instructed HDFC AMC not to reduce the shareholding below 5% without prior approval from RBI. If the aggregate holding falls below 5%, prior approval of RBI will be required to increase it to 5% or more of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of the Bank. ii. The RBI has given HDFC AMC one year time to buy the shares of DCB Bank. • If HDFC AMC does not buy the shares within one year, the RBI’s approval will be cancelled.

Answer 14

Answer- 3) Kisan e-Mitra Explanation: Kailash Choudhary, Minister of State (MoS) for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), launched “Kisan e-Mitra”, an AI (Artificial Intelligence) Chatbot for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme in New Delhi, Delhi. i. The chatbot will enhance the efficiency and accessibility of the PM-KISAN scheme, providing farmers with rapid, clear, and easily accessible responses to their inquiries. ii. The MoA&FW successfully integrated the AI chatbots into government schemes. This is the first AI Chatbot integrated with a major Union government flagship scheme. iii. The introduction of the AI chatbot in the PM-KISAN grievance management system is aimed at empowering farmers with a user-friendly and accessible platform.

Answer 15

Answer- 1) Singapore Explanation: The Indian Navy (IN) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) are conducting the 30th edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX 2023), a joint naval combat exercise, from 21st to 28th September 2023 in the southern parts of the South China Sea off the coast of Singapore. SIMBEX 2023 is conducted in two phases including the land phase and the sea phase. Land Phase: It was held from 21st to 24th September 2023 at RSS Singapura – Changi Naval Base, Singapore. Sea Phase: It is held from 25th to 28th September 2023 in the southern reaches of the South China Sea in international waters. i. Indian Navy’s Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvijay, Kamorta-class corvette INS Kavaratti, Sindhughosh class diesel-electric submarine INS Sindhukesari and a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft are taking part in this exercise.

Answer 16

Answer- 2) Axis Bank Explanation: On September 21, 2023, Axis Bank launched ‘NEO for Business’, a distinctive one-stop Transaction Banking platform for Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). i. This is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive digital proposition that supports real, current, and emerging Transaction Banking needs of MSMEs. ii. It has contemporary UX (User Experience)/UI (User Interface) along with bank-grade security features. iii. “NEO for Business” is the latest launch as part of “NEO by Axis Bank” branding. NEO by Axis Bank is the digital banking proposition for its corporate banking customers/clients.

Answer 17

Answer- 2) Only A & B Explanation: The Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar 2022-23 ,the most prestigious award offered by the Indian government for “achievements in implementing the official language” was presented at the Hindi Diwas Samaroh 2023. • • This prestigious award ceremony was part of the 3rd All-India Official Language Conference (Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan) that took place at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune, Maharashtra, from September 14-15. Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare(DoPPW) gets the Prestigious First Raj Bhasha Kirti Puraskar, 2022-23. This marks the 2nd consecutive year where DoPPW has been recognized as the best performing department in the category of Ministries/Departments with less than 300 employees. Power Finance Corporation (PFC) received the prestigious ‘Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar’ in the ‘A’ category for the year 2022-23. PFC secured the third position in the category of Public Sector Undertakings. Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) awarded for Outstanding implementation of Official Language Policy in the “Ministry/Department category” with more than 300 personnel for the year 2022-23.

Answer 18

Answer- 1) All A, B & C Explanation: The Vice President of India, ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar has reconstituted the panel of vice-chairpersons with the eight member panel with 50 percent(4 members) of women parliamentarians with effect from 13th September 2023. For the first time in the history of Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of the Indian Parliament) has given equal representation to women members in the panel. The four new women Vice-Chairpersons were announced by Jagdeep Dhankhar in the Upper House, on the first day of the Special Session of the Parliament which was held from 18th-22nd September, 2023. i. The four new women Vice-Chairpersons are: Kanta Kardam (Uttar Pradesh), Sumitra Balmik (Madhya Pradesh), Mamata Mohanta (Odisha) and Geeta alias Chandraprabha (Uttar Pradesh). ii. The male members of the panel are Akhilesh Prasad Singh(Bihar), Narain Dass Gupta(Delhi),V. Vijayasai Reddy(Andhra Pradesh) & Santanu Sen(West Bengal). iii. The Vice President of India, ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar has constituted 13 women Parliamentarians to the panel of vice-chairpersons.The panel was reconstituted for a day to discuss the Women’s reservation Bill or Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023. • • • The Women’s Reservation Bill 2023, officially titled as The Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023 and commonly referred to as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, has been introduced in the Indian Parliament. This legislation is to allocate 33 percent of the seats in the directly elected Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies to women.

Answer 19

Answer- 3) Airbus Explanation: On September 7, 2023, Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara (Gujarat) and Airbus, an European multinational aerospace corporation, signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration to enhance India’s aviation sector. Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya is a Central University under Ministry of Railways in Vadodara, Gujarat. This is India’s first University in the Transportation and Logistics sectors. The MoU entails a partnership between two entities to establish a C295 aircraft facility in Vadodara. It will support the creation of sector-specific training programs for students and professionals, collaborative research, industry exposure for faculty, student internships, placements, and scholarships.

Answer 20

Answer- 2) 30th; Switzerland Explanation: According to the 8th edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Countries Rankings 2023, India improved its ranking by one spot to claim 30th rank in 2023 with an overall score of 40.8. India was ranked 31 out of 85 in 2022. The list is topped by Switzerland, among 87 countries, for the second consecutive time and sixth time overall. Switzerland secured a place in the top 25 for all 10 subrankings. Switzerland is followed by Canada at 2nd rank, and Sweden at 3rd rank. The rankings are developed in collaboration with global marketing communications company WPP and its proprietary BAV brand analytics tool, and by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, United States (US). The ranking evaluated 87 countries, more than 17,000 respondents on 73 attributes.

Answer 21

Answer- 2) Only A & B Explanation: Global Fintech Fest (GFF) is the largest fintech 3-day conference held from September 5 to 7, 2023 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It was jointly organized by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the Payments Council of India (PCI), and the Fintech Convergence Council (FCC). Theme: Global collaboration for a responsible financial ecosystem -Inclusive | Resilient | Sustainable. The 5th edition of GFF will take place on October 8-10, 2024. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s address at the Global Fintech Fest 2023 in Mumbai covered several important aspects of India’s financial ecosystem and its challenges. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das recently announced five new innovative payment solutions developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) at the Global Fintech Fest 2023. Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director, Lulu Financial Holdings won the Global Fintech Awards 2023 under the Fintech Personality of the Year – Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) Category. The Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) made a significant impact at the Global Fintech Festival (GFF) 2023 in Mumbai, organized an industry meet-up under the theme “Reimagine Aadhaar #together.” The State Bank of India (SBI), the largest lender in the country, has unveiled the ‘Nation First Transit Card,’ also known as the RuPay National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) Prepaid Card, at the Global Fintech Fest 2023.

Answer 22

Answer- 1) Union Bank of India Explanation: Union Bank of India (UBI) has introduced two new Debit Card variants, the HNI Emperio RuPay Metal Debit Card and the RuPay Empower Her Debit Card, in association with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). With this, UBI became the first Public Sector Bank (PSB) to offer Metal Debit Card cards, serving High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNI) and women customers. These cards are issued on the RuPay network. The cards were unveiled at the Global Fintech Fest(GFF) 2023 in Mumbai, Maharashtra by UBI’s MD & CEO (Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer), A. Manimekhalai, and NPCI’s COO (Chief Operating Officer), Praveena Rai.

Answer 23

Answer- 5) All A, B & C Explanation: Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has given awards to the ‘Swachh Vayu Survekshan-2023′ winners on the occasion of the “International Day of Clear Air for Blue Sky” on 7th September 2023, at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh . ‘Swachh Vayu Survekshan- 2023’ was conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the initiative of the MoEFCC. The 2nd edition of Swachh Vayu Survekshan took place in 2023. i. ‘National Clean Air City’ Awards: Category 1: Indore (Madhya Pradesh) secured the first rank followed by Agra (Uttar Pradesh) and Thane (Maharashtra) in the second and third place respectively. Those cities with a population above 10 lakh fall under category 1. Category 2: Amravati of Maharashtra bagged the top rank followed by Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) and Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) in the second and third place respectively . Category 3: Parwanoo of Himachal Pradesh bagged the top rank followed by Kala Amb(Himachal Pradesh) and Angul(Odisha) in the second and third place respectively. The award comes with a cash price, trophy and Certificate with the title “National Clean Air City”.

Answer 24

Answer- 5) All A, B & C Explanation: Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina, PM of People’s Republic of Bangladesh exchanged 3 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen bilateral cooperation between India and Bangladesh. i. PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, who was visiting India as a guest to participate in the G-20 Leaders Summit held from 9th to 10th September 2023 in New Delhi, Delhi. ii. The 3 MoUs were, • MoU on Cooperation in Digital Payment mechanisms between National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Bangladesh Bank. • MoU on renewal of the Cultural Exchange Program (CEP) between India and Bangladesh for 2023-2025. • MoU between Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC) to boost cooperation in agricultural research and education.

Answer 25

Answer- 4) Odisha Explanation: Chennai(Tamil Nadu) based Geographical Indications Registry has granted Geographical Indication(GI) tags to Odisha’s ‘Koraput Kalajeera Rice’, which is also known as the ‘Prince of Rice’. i. Kalajeera rice has been exclusively cultivated by the tribes and farmers of Koraput district in Odisha over generations. • Koraput Kalajeera Rice(Class 30 – Rice) was categorised as ‘Agriculture’ under Goods. ii. Geographical Indication Registry functions under the the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoCI).

Answer 26

Answer- 5) All A, B & C Explanation: Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Jakarta, Indonesia from 6th to 7th September 2023 at the invitation of Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia. • The 20th ASEAN-India Summit was held in Jakarta, Indonesia and it was co-chaired by Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia, and PM Narendra Modi on the theme ‘ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth‘. • The Indian Side announced to establish an Indian Embassy in The Indian Side announced to establish an Indian Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste. • Two Joint Statements, one on Maritime Cooperation, and the other on Food Security were adopted during the meeting. • PM Narendra Modi unveils a 12-point plan to strengthen ASEAN-India cooperation. • In 2022–2023, bilateral trade between India and ASEAN reached USD 131.5 billion, accounting for 11.3% of India’s overall trade. • The 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) adopted the EAS Leaders’ Statement on Maintaining and Promoting the Region as an Epicentrum of Growth and exchanged views on a wide range of regional and international issues. • EAS is the Indo-Pacific’s premier forum for strategic dialogue and it was established in 2005. It has 18 members now.

Answer 27

Answer- 4) Only A & C Explanation: Novak Djokovic won his 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open 2023 by defeating Daniil Medvedev in the men’s singles final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium(Hard Court), New York City, New York, United States of America(USA). · The 143rd edition of the US Open was held from 28th August to 10th September 2023(Main-draw). i.Coco Gauff (Women’s Tennis Association WTA- Ranking 3) won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open 2023 by beating Aryna Sabalenka(WTA Ranking 1) in the Women’s Singles final. ii.Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury won the men’s doubles title at the US Open by beating Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden in the final. iii.Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe won the women’s doubles title at the US Open by defeating 2020 US Open champions Vera Zvonareva and Laura Siegemund in the finals. iv. Harri Heliovaara and Anna Dalinina won the mixed doubles title at the US Open 2023 by defeating Jessica Pegula and Austin Krajicek in the finals.

Answer 28

Answer- 4) Only A & C Explanation: The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DePWD) under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) launched 5 Pioneering Initiatives to Foster Inclusivity and Empower Persons with Disabilities(PwDs). i. An Online Case Monitoring Portal developed by the Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) was launched to simplify and expedite the grievance resolution process for PwDs. ii. The initiatives were launched by Pratima Bhoumi, Minister of State (MoS), MoSJE at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC) in New Delhi, Delhi. iii. The other 4 initiatives were: DEPwD has partnered with Council of Architecture(COA) to introduce universal accessibility courses within Bachelor of Architecture programs. DEPwD released the anonymous data through the UDID portal for research purposes. This will provide insights at various levels, facilitating a deeper understanding and informing targeted interventions. PM-DAKSH Portal introduced by DEPwD is a comprehensive digital platform designed to empower PwDs in their pursuit of skill training and employment opportunities The booklet, Pathways to Access: Courts on Disability Rights, by DEPwD is a compilation of notable judgments from India’s Supreme Court and High Courts concerning disability rights.

Answer 29

Answer- 3) ICICI Bank Explanation: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the re-appointment of Sandeep Bakhshi as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the ICICI Bank Limited for three years with effect from 4th October, 2023 to 3rd October 2026. i. This is his second extension of tenure; the first extension happened in 2021 for two years which is about to expire on 3rd October 2023. ii. He has been serving as the MD & CEO of ICICI Bank since 2018 succeeding Chanda Kochchar.

Answer 30

Answer- 5) PM Narendra Modi handed over the G20 Presidency to Giorgia Meloni, the President of Italy, which will assume the presidency of the grouping from December 1, 2023. Explanation: The two-day 18th G20 (Group of 20) Leaders’ Summit, under India’s presidency, happened in Bharat Mandapam International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from September 9th to 10th, 2023. This is the first ever G20 Summit being hosted by India. • The meeting was held under the theme of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth – One Family – One Future”. It is inspired from the Maha Upanishad, an old Sanskrit scripture. • During the 18th G20 Summit, Indian PM Narendra Modi announced that the African Union has been included as a member of the G20, making it the 21st member. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a significant announcement about the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi declaration during the 18th G20 summit. • On September 9, 2023, at the G20 Summit held in New Delhi, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA), a collective effort aimed at reducing the world’s dependency on petrol and diesel fuels. A total of 19 countries and 12 international organizations have so far agreed to join. • On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the President of USA, H.E. Mr. Joe Biden co-chaired a special event on Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). • The two days G20 Leaders’ Summit 2023 was concluded on 10th September,2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the G20 Presidency to Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil, which will assume the presidency of the grouping from December 1,2023 this year. • On the margins of G20 Leader’s summit, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak forged new strategic partnership with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on September 9,2023.

Answer 31

Answer- 3) United Nations Development Programme Explanation: On September 12, 2023, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) signed a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on technical cooperation for the joint development of data-driven innovations in agriculture and food systems to support smallholder farmers. i. Aim: To promote sustainable agriculture, reducing vulnerability by sharing best practices and optimizing investments ii. Under this MoU, NABARD and UNDP will share open-source data for product development, technology transfer, collective climate action, and agrarian policy support to enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

Answer 32

Answer- 1) Cashfree Payments India Private Limited Explanation: Cashfree Payments India Private Limited in collaboration with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launched “AutoPay on QR(Quick Response)”, a feature enabling customer onboarding through a 2-step process. i. The 2 step process involves scanning the QR code and approving an e-mandate through Unified Payments Interface (UPI) apps. ii. Cashfree Payments works with banks to build the core payments and banking infrastructure that powers the company’s products. iii. It is also integrated with major platforms such as Shopify, Wix, PayPal, Amazon Pay, Paytm, and Google Pay.

Answer 33

Answer- 1) The Union Cabinet approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) 2.0 for release of 84 lakh LPG connections over 5 years from Financial Year 2023-24 to 2027-28. Explanation: The Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals on 13th September 2023. The Union Cabinet has passed a resolution to commemorate the success of the 18th G20 Summit, hosted for the first time by India in New Delhi from September 9th to 10th, 2023. The Union Cabinet approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) 2.0 for release of 75 lakh LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) connections over 3 years from Financial Year 2023-24 to 2025-26. The Union Cabinet has approved the eCourts Project Phase III as a Central Sector Scheme spanning 4 years (starting from 2023 onwards) with financial outlay of Rs.7210 crore. Approval of MoUs between India and 3 other Countries: The Union Cabinet approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology(Meity) of India and the Ministry of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia in June 2023. The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister approves the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 12th of June 2023 between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Information and Communications of the Republic of Sierra Leone. The Union Cabinet also approved another MoU which was signed between the Meity of Government of India and the Ministry of Information, Communications Technologies, Utilities and Energy of Antigua & Barbuda in June 2023. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs(CCEA) approved the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) proposal for foreign investment in M/s Suven Pharmaceuticals Limited,a public limited Indian pharmaceutical company listed on the National Stock Exchange(NSE) Limited and the Bombay Stock Exchange Limited(BSE) of India.

Answer 34

Answer- 5) All A, B & C Explanation: On September 13, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued guidelines on Responsible Lending Conduct which directs Regulated Entities (REs) to release all original movable or immovable property documents, and remove charges registered with any registry within 30 days of full repayment or settlement of personal loans by borrowers. Official notification of ‘Responsible Lending Conduct – Release of Movable / Immovable Property Documents on Repayment/ Settlement of Personal Loans‘. These Directions are applicable to all cases where release of original movable / immovable property documents falls due on or after December 1, 2023. If REs delay property document release or fail to file charge satisfaction forms after 30 days post-loan settlement, they must explain the reasons to the borrower. If the delay is REs’ fault, they must compensate the borrower at Rs 5,000 for each day of delay. i. RBI also revised its guidelines on categorizing the investments by banks, to align them with global standards by issuing RBI (Classification, Valuation and Operation of Investment Portfolio of Commercial Banks) Directions, 2023 which will be effective from April 1, 2024. The change in the norms follows the revisions proposed in the Discussion Paper (DP) on January 14, 2022 regarding the current norms for the classification, valuation, and operation of investment portfolios of commercial banks. With the implementation of revised Directions, RBI (Classification, Valuation and Operation of Investment Portfolio of Commercial Banks) Directions, 2021 dated August 25, 2021 will be repealed.

Answer 35

Answer- 5) Rahul Mishra Explanation: The Government of France has awarded the “Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) to the Indian Fashion Designer Rahul Mishra. The award recognises his achievements in the field of arts as a designer, and his commitment to promote Indian crafts and know-how internationally. i. The award also honours his contribution to the cultural relationship and cooperation between France and India. ii. On 12th September 2023, Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India, presented the insignia of the award to Rahul Mishra at a special ceremony at the Residence of France, New Delhi, Delhi.

Answer 36

Answer- 4) Bangladesh Explanation: Indian Under 16 (U-16) men’s football team won the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-16 Championship 2023 title defeating Bangladesh (2-0) in the finals. The 2023 SAFF U16 Championship was held from 2nd to 10th September 2023 in Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan. 2023 SAFF U16 Championship is the 8th edition of the SAFF U-15/U-16/U-17 Championship, the annual international football competition contested by the national teams of SAFF members(India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan). This marks the 5th title of India in the SAFF U-15/U-16/U-17 Championship. With this India became the most successful team of the tournament with 5 titles (U15 title in 2017 & 2019; U16 title in 2013 and 2023 and U-17 title in 2022).

Answer 37

Answer- 5) All A, B & C Explanation: Droupadi Murmu, President of India, was on a two-day visit to Gujarat from September 12 to 13, 2023. During her visit, i. President Droupadi Murmu on her 2-days visit to Gujarat, inaugurated the ‘National e-Vidhan Application’ (NeVA) which aims to make the functioning of the State Assembly paperless by transforming them into ‘Digital House’. ii. On 13th September 2023, President Droupadi Murmu virtually launched the Ayushman Bhav campaign as well as the Ayushman Bhava portal from the Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The launch of the Ayushman Bhav campaign and the portal marked a significant step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and ensuring healthcare for all. iii. On 12th September 2023, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the First Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights (GSFR) in an event held at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Convention Centre, National Agricultural Science Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.

Answer 38

Answer- 2) Only A & B Explanation: From September 9-11, 2023, the His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister (PM) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, paid a State visit to India on the invitation of Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi. This marks the Prince’s 2nd State visit to India, His Royal Highness earlier visited India on a State Visit in February 2019. i. The Crown Prince and the PM of India co-chaired the first meeting of the India – Saudi Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) which was set up with the signing of an Agreement by both leaders during the PM Narendra Modi state visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in October 2019. This SPC made India the fourth country with which Saudi Arabia formed such a partnership, after the United Kingdom (UK), France, and China. ii. The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the Saudi Ministry of Energy have signed a MoU to strengthen their energy partnership, supporting India’s transition to sustainable energy and global climate change mitigation efforts. iii. A MoU was inked between Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Bank of Saudi Arabia for cooperation in the technical field and the establishment of the SME Bank

Answer 39

Answer- 5) LivQuik Technology(India) Private Limited Explanation: National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched a RuPay ON-THE-GO(OTG)ring named 7 Ring, the first contactless payment wearable ring which was made in India. i. The ring was unveiled in Global Fintech Fest, 2023 (GFF 2023) which was held during 5th to 7th September 2023 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. ii. 7 Ring is designed, assembled, manufactured and patented in India. The ring was made in collaboration with 7 (Sevenring Innovations Private Limited) and LivQuik Technology(India) Private Limited. iii. 7 Ring is a sleek, wearable ring that is made from a very strong and scratch-resistant material called zirconia ceramic(ZrO2) which is also used in aerospace applications

Answer 40

Answer- 4) Both 1 & 2 Explanation: Chennai(Tamil Nadu) based Geographical Indications Registry has granted Geographical Indication(GI) tags to Bhaderwah Rajmash(Red kidney beans) and Ramban Sulai Honey of Jammu & Kashmir(J&K) and Chokuwa rice(Magic Rice) of Assam. The Geographical Indication Registry functions under the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoCI).

Answer 41

Answer- 2) Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Explanation: The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) to enhance the socio-economic upliftment of Safai Karamcharis, manual scavengers, waste pickers, and their families. The MoU signed for the fiscal years (FY) 2023-24 and 2024-25 will focus on empowering the marginalized communities across India. i. The collaborative effort aims to expand activities that promote safety, education, skill development, entrepreneurship, and long-term employment prospects, enabling the overall growth of sanitation employees. ii. This collaboration aims to share expertise and resources in order to effectively implement programmes that empower marginalised communities. iii. The MoU emphasises the objective to accelerate inclusive growth by allocating and utilising money for targeted welfare programmes more effectively.

Answer 42

Answer- 5) Savart Explanation: Savart, one of India’s leading investment advisory firms, launched a Portfolio Management Service (PMS) ‘The Ad Astra Fund’, World’s First fully automated fund in Hyderabad, Telengana.It uses Artificial Intelligence(AI) research system Advanced Process Automation & Research Technology (APART) to make investment decisions. i. The fund enhanced possibilities of attaining more returns on investments. ii. The fund received investment of about Rs 31 crores on Day1 and plans to achieve an Assets under management(AUM) of Rs 350 crores by the end of FY24.

Answer 43

Answer- 1) Falcon Explanation: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launches ‘Falcon’, an open-source Hyperledger Fabric Deployment Helper, to streamline the deployment and management of Hyperledger Fabric based blockchain networks on Kubernetes clusters. The primary goal of introducing ‘Falcon’ is to simplify the complex process of establishing, configuring, and managing various components of the Hyperledger Fabric network within a Kubernetes environment. These components include Fabric nodes, peers, orderers, and channels. About the Falcon: i. Falcon is an open-source project created under General Public License (GPL) licence (GPL-3.0). ii. Falcon is expected to help blockchain developers to use the distributed ledger technology to facilitate efficient, reliable, and automated deployment of network as well as Web3 solutions. Note: NPCI has launched blockchain technology based “Vajra Platform” to make payments fast and secure in 2020.

Answer 44

Answer- 3) Amazon Explanation: Amazon, an American multinational technology company focusing on e-commerce, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with India Post to simplify cross-border logistics for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) exporters. The MoU was signed during the (Fourth) Amazon Smbhav Summit 2023 held on 31st August 2023 in New Delhi, Delhi. i. During the event, Amazon introduced “Amazon सह-AI (Amazon Sah-AI)”, a generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) -based personal digital assistant. ii. The fourth edition of Amazon Smbhav Summit took place in 2023, focused on innovation, financial inclusion and sustainability for small businesses and consumers. iii. During the event, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, unveiled the postal stamp to commemorate the 10-year partnership between India Post and Amazon.

Answer 45

Answer- 4) Egypt Explanation: Indian Army contingent comprising 137 personnel has departed to Egypt to participate in “Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23“, a multinational tri-services joint military exercise scheduled to be conducted from 31 August to 14 September 2023 at Mohammed Naguib Military Base in Hammam, Egypt. Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23 will be led by US CENTCOM (United States of America Central Command), and the Egyptian Army. This exercise will provide a unique opportunity for the Indian Army to share best practices and experiences with other armies aimed at enhancing defense cooperation. In the 2023 edition, 34 countries will participate in Exercise BRIGHT STAR-23 including the USA, Saudi Arabia, Greece, and Qatar. It will be the largest-ever joint military exercise in the West Asia and North Africa region. For the 1st time, Indian Armed Forces are participating in Exercise BRIGHT STAR with a total strength of 549 personnel. The Indian Army is being represented by a contingent from 23 JAT Battalion.

Answer 46

Answer- 5) Su Nan-cheng: “Health Care Available to the Poor” from Thailand Explanation: Philippines based Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) announced the 65th edition of the Ramon Magsaysay Award(2023). The 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Award is set to be held in Manila, Philippines on 11th November 2023. Ravi Kannan: “Hero for Holistic Healthcare” from India. Miriam Coronel–Ferrer: “Women in Peace-Building Pioneer” from the Philippines. Eugenio Lemos: “Food Sovereignty Visionary” from Timor-Leste. Korvi Rakshand: “Education-for-All Champion” from Bangladesh. Note: The Ramon Magsaysay Award is regarded as the ‘Nobel Prize of Asia’.India has received a total of 59 awards, while the Philippines has received 65 awards, making it the highest among all countries.

Answer 47

Answer- 4) Only A & C Explanation: The 26th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG), was organised on the 25th and 26th of August 2023 at Brilliant Convention Centre, Indore, Madhya Pradesh(MP), to deliberate on providing better facilities to the citizens. During the conference, the National Award for e-Governance 2022-23 (NAeG 2023) were presented for exemplary implementation of e-Governance initiatives. The 26th NCeG was organised on the theme ‘Viksit Bharat, Empowering Citizens’. The National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) team of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) won the Gold Award under the Excellence in Government Process Reengineering for Digital Transformation (Category-1) of the NAeG 2022-23 from the DARPG, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. The West Bengal government also received a Gold Award in the Government Process Reengineering for Digital Transformation Category 1 of the NAeG 2022-23 from the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions for the Suvidha Vehicles Facilitation System. SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj received the Gold Award in the Application of Emerging Technologies for Providing Citizen Centric Services, Category 2 of the NAeG 2022-23.

Answer 48

Answer- 2) Gabon Explanation: On August 30, 2023, General Brice Oligui Nguema, Chief of the Gabonese Republican Guard, was unanimously appointed as the Transitional President of Gabon and Chairman of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions. i. He will be sworn in as Transitional President before the Constitutional Court on Monday September 4, 2023. ii. The African Union(AU)’s Peace and Security Council has decided to “immediately suspend” Gabon following the military coup.

Answer 49

Answer- 1) Jaya Varma Sinha Explanation: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Jaya Varma Sinha as the Chairperson & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Railway Board. She becomes the 1st woman to hold the post since the establishment of the Railway Board in 1905. i. She succeeded Anil Kumar Lahoti whose tenure as chairman and CEO ended on 31st August 2023. ii. Jaya Varma Sinha will hold the post till 31st August 2024. Previously was set to retire on 1st October 2023, but she will be re-employed until her tenure is over. iii. Prior to this appointment, she was serving as the Member (Operations and Business Development), Railway Board.

Answer 50

Answer- 5) All A, B & C Explanation: The Central Board Of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, launched an invoice incentive scheme called ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikar‘. The scheme aims to incentivise citizens and consumers to ask for Goods and Service Tax (GST) invoices from the seller when making business-to-consumer (B2C) purchases of goods or services. The scheme was launched in the 3 States (Assam, Gujarat and Haryana) and in 3 Union Territories(UT) (Puducherry, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli). i. Aim: The scheme aims to enhance GST processes and revenue collection. This initiative offers cash rewards, ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 crore, through monthly and quarterly lucky-draws. This indirectly contributes to curbing tax evasion, fostering accountability, and supporting the formal economy’s growth. Criteria: Invoices with a minimum purchase value of Rs 200 are eligible for the lucky draw, and individuals can upload a maximum of 25 invoices in a month.

Answer 51

Answer- 2) 6.7% Explanation: Global rating agency Moody‘s in its Global Macro Outlook has raised India‘s growth forecast to 6.7% from 5.5% for 2023 calendar year amid strong economic growth in Q1FY24. i. The strong growth of the services sector and a surge in capital expenditures contributed to India’s impressive 7.8% GDP growth in the April to June,first quarter of the fiscal year 2023-24 (Q1FY24), which was lower than RBI’s projection of 8 % for the same period of Q1FY24. ii. Moody’s recent growth forecast for India, predicting a 6.7% economic growth rate in 2023, stands slightly higher than the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) projection of 6.5% for the fiscal year 2023- 24(FY24).

Answer 52

Answer- 5) Shanta Thoutam Explanation: Telangana’s 1st woman Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) Shanta Thoutam was honoured with the World Innovation Award at the first BRICS innovation forum held at Moscow, Russia. The cloud city concept was the core topic of the forum. The award is given for her contribution to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-4 through a systematic effort to implement innovative solutions. i. The Award was established by the World Organisation for Development, an international Non- Governmental Organization (NGO) with special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). ii. The award is given to honour leaders from the developing countries who have made personal contributions for the achievement of sustainable development goals(SDG).

Answer 53

Answer- 2) Singapore Explanation: Indian-origin Singapore-born economist Tharman Shanmugaratnam (66 years) has been elected as the 9th President of Singapore after securing 70.4% (1,746,427 votes) of more than 2.48 million valid votes cast. i. He will succeed incumbent Halimah Yacob, Singapore’s first female President elected without a contest in 2017 whose term will conclude on September 13, 2023. ii. Tharman Shanmugaratnam defeated Ng Kok Song, a former Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) Chief Investment Officer (CIO), who had 15.72% of votes (390,041), and Tan Kin Lian, NTUC Income Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who bagged 13.88% votes (344,292).

Answer 54

Answer- 4) Air India Explanation: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the Phase I merger of Vistara owned Tata SIA Airlines Limited (TSAL) into Air India Limited (AIL), with AIL emerging as the surviving entity (Merged Entity). AIL requested for the merger in April 2023. Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA) will hold 25.1% shareholding in Air India with an investment of Rs 2,059 crore in the entity. TSAL is a joint venture between TSPL and SIA, with TSPL and SIA holding 51% and 49% of the total shareholding, respectively. i. The entity will have 49% of the total flights on the New Delhi (Delhi)-Mumbai (Maharashtra) route and 52% of the total flight on New Delhi (Delhi) -Bengaluru(Karnataka) route.

Answer 55

Answer- 1) INS Mahendragiri Explanation: Nilgiri class stealth frigate Indian Navy Ship (INS) Mahendragiri was launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited(MDL), Mumbai, Maharashtra. INS Mahendragiri is the seventh and last stealth frigate of Project 17A of the Indian Navy(IN). This is also the 4th frigate constructed by MDl. The ship was launched by Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar, wife of Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar. INS Mahendragiri is named after a mountain peak in Eastern Ghats located in Odisha. It has a length of 149 metre, a width of 17.8 metre, launch weight of 3450 tons and capable of reaching a top speed of 28 knots.

Answer 56

Answer- 5) All A, B & C Explanation: On 2nd September 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) launched Aditya- L1(Lagrange Point 1), India’s 1st observatory-class space-based solar mission, launched by PSLV-C57 (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) rocket from the Second Launch Pad (SLP), Satish Dhawan Space Centre – SDSC (formerly Sriharikota Range – SHAR) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh(AP). PSLV-C57 is the 59th flight of PSLV and the 25th mission using the PSLV-XL configuration. The PSLV-C57/Aditya-L1 Mission’s objective is to study the Sun, the nearest star and the largest object in the solar system, over the next 5 years. The spacecraft is planned to be stationed in the halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is about 1.5 million kilometres (km) from the Earth. Aditya-L1 will undergo a Trans-Lagrangian1 insertion maneuver and begin its 110 day trajectory to L1. Mission Director: Nigar Shaji, an ISRO woman scientist from Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu is the Mission Director of the Aditya-L1 mission. The spacecraft carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic and particle detectors. VELC, developed at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics(IIA), Bengaluru, Karnataka, will study the solar corona and dynamics of Coronal Mass Ejections. SUIT, developed at Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics(IUCAA), Pune, Maharashtra, will image the Solar Photosphere and Chromosphere in near UV and also measure the solar irradiance variations in near UV.

Answer 57

Answer- 2) Gujarat Explanation: The World Health Organization (WHO) released the outcome document of the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit 2023 in the form of the “Gujarat Declaration”. This reaffirms the global commitments towards indigenous knowledge, biodiversity andtraditional, complementary and integrative medicine. WHO’s Traditional Medicine Global Summit “Towards Health and Well-being for All” co-hosted by the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Government of India (GoI) and WHO was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India, on 17-18 August 2023.

Answer 58

Answer- 4) Only A & C Explanation: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship(MSDE) and Ministry of Education(MoE), released “Annual Capacity Building Plan (ACBP)”, “Know your Ministry Induction Module” of MSDE and “Training Module for Directors” of Department of Higher Education (DoHE), MoE. These initiatives were launched by the MSDE, DoHE, Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL) and Capacity Building Commission (CBC). All these initiatives are launched under Mission Karmayogi. These aims to enable the government officials with competence to become future ready and for efficient public service delivery.

Answer 59

Answer- 5) Bajaj Auto Consumer Finance Limited Explanation: Bajaj Auto Consumer Finance Limited (BACFL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bajaj Auto Limited, has received the Certificate of Registration from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to start the business of Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC). i. The certification of registration was issued on 31st August 2023 under Section 45-IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 to commence/carry on the business of the NBFC without accepting public deposits.

Answer 60

Answer- 5) Shaktikanta Das (India) Explanation: United States of America (US)-based Global Finance magazine has rated Shaktikanta Das, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as A+ in the Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2023. i. Along with Shaktikanta Das, Thomas J Jordan Chairperson of the Swiss National Bank, Switzerland and Nguyen Thi Hong, Governor of State Bank of Vietnam, Vietnam were rated A+. ii. The Central Banker Report Cards, published annually by Global Finance since 1994, grade the central bank governors of 101 key countries, territories and districts, including the European Union, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the Bank of Central African States, and the Central Bank of West African States.

Answer 61

Answer- 5) Kotak Mahindra Bank Explanation: Dipak Gupta, Joint Managing Director (MD) of the Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited took over as the Interim MD and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank till 31st December 2023. He will hold the position till the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposes its successor. i. The appointment of Dipak Gupate follows the early resignation of Uday Kotak from the position of MD & CEO with effect from 1st September 2023. His tenure as MD & CEO expires on 31st Devember 2023. ii. Uday Kotak will continue as a part of Kotak Mahindra Bank as a non-Executive director.

Answer 62

Answer- 2) Mohun Bagan Super Giant Explanation: Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated East Bengal Football Club 1-0 to win the Durand Cup 2023 (132nd edition) trophy held in Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan(Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata, West Bengal. i. Mohun Bagan became the first team to win the 17 titles in the Durand cup surpassing East Bengal with 16 titles. ii. The Durand Cup2023 was held from 3rd August to 3rd September 2023, was organised by the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS)- a part of Indian Armed forces, in association with All India Football Federation (AIFF). iii. The Durand Cup is the oldest football competition in India & Asia, and also the third oldest in the world.

Answer 63

Answer- 5) Pakistan Explanation: On September 2, 2023, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team won the inaugural Men’s Hockey5s Asia Cup Salalah 2023 by defeating Pakistan with 4-4 (2-0) by a penalty shootout in the final in Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment – Pitch 1(Stadium), Salalah, Oman. With this win, India qualified for the FIH Men’s Hockey5s World Cup Oman 2024. The championship held from 29 Aug – 2 Sep 2023 was for the Senior Men category, and served as a qualifying tournament for the FIH Men’s Hockey5s World Cup Oman 2024. Indian Men’s hockey team was given the Gold medal with a trophy and Pakistan got Silver medal and Oman won Bronze.

Answer 64

Answer- 5) All A, B & C Explanation: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) circular titled ‘Operation of Pre-Sanctioned Credit Lines at Banks through UPI’ announced the inclusion of pre-sanctioned credit lines as funding accounts in Unified Payments Interface (UPI). This decision broadens the scope of UPI by incorporating credit lines as a funding account. A credit line in UPI refers to a pre-approved amount of credit that a bank offers to its customers. This credit line allows customers to make transactions or payments even if they don’t have sufficient funds in their bank account at that moment. i. The circular applies to Scheduled Commercial Banks, excluding Payment Banks, Small Finance Banks, and Regional Rural Banks. ii. This directive is issued under Section 10(2) read with Section 18 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (Act 51 of 2007). iii. Banks can establish terms and conditions for the use of these credit lines, including credit limits, credit periods, interest rates, in accordance with their board-approved policies.

Answer 65

Answer- 2) Rajesh Nambiar Explanation: The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) has appointed Rajesh Nambiar, Chairman and Managing Director(CMD) of Cognizant India, as its Chairperson. He will replace Anant Maheshwari (former president of Microsoft India) who was appointed as Chairman of NASSCOM (2023-2024) in April 2023. In April 2023, Rajesh Nambiar was appointed as the Vice-Chairperson of NASSCOM for the period 2023-24. He will be supporting the NASSCOM Executive Council for 2023-2025 along with NASSCOM President Debjani Ghosh. The Executive council aims to make the software industry a USD 500 billion worth by 2030.

Answer 66

Answer- 2) Only A & B Explanation: National Teachers’ Day 2023 was observed across India on 5th September 2023 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a renowned educationist, who served as the 1st Vice President and 2nd President of Independent India. The day was first observed on 5th September 1962, the 77th birthday of Dr. S Radhakrishnan. Since then, September 5 has been celebrated as National Teachers Day across India. i. On the occasion of the National Teachers Day 2023 (5th September 2023), President of India, Droupadi Murmu, conferred the National Award to Teachers’ 2023, to 75 selected Teachers across India at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi. ii. The 75 honorees comprised 50 school teachers, 13 educators from higher education, and 12 teachers from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). Each award carries a certificate of merit, a cash award of Rs. 50,000, and a silver medal.

Answer 67

Answer- 4) Both 1 & 2 Explanation: On 5th September 2023, The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Union Bank of India (UBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB). i. These agreements will enable IREDA to work with UBI and BoB in loan syndication and co-lending for a variety of renewable energy projects involving both established and cutting-edge renewable energy technology. ii. IREDA is a Mini Ratna (Category- I) Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) under the administrative control of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE)

Answer 68

Answer- 2) Only A & B Explanation: On September 5, 2023, i.e. on the occasion of National Teachers’ Day 2023, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE) launched the Malaviya Mission – Teachers Training Programme by the University Grants Commission (UGC) at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi. • • • • • He also inaugurated the Portal of the Programme (https://mmc.ugc.ac.in/) and released its information brochure. The Portal is set up by UGC for teachers interested in capacity-building programs. Malaviya Mission – Teachers Training Programme aims to improve the quality of teachers’ training, build leadership skills in teachers and help realise the goals of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. 111 Human Resource Development Centres (HRDCs) in Higher Education Institutions (HEI) have been identified Under Malaviya Mission(MM). These HRDCs will be renamed as Madan Mohan Malaviya Teachers’ Training Centers. The MoE also inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Adobe, an American multinational computer software company, to help children learn Artificial Intelligence (AI) by developing creative expression in classrooms using the application Adobe Express.

Answer 69

Answer- 4) Both 1 & 2 Explanation: On September 5, 2023, the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), unveiled the G20 (Group of Twenty) Tourism and SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) Dashboard. The dashboard was launched by the Union Minister Gangapuram Kishan Reddy, Ministry of Tourism in a virtual ceremony. G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard is an outcome of the G20 Tourism Working Group. The dashboard is developed under the leadership of India’s G20 Presidency and with the expert knowledge partnership of UNWTO.

Answer 70

Answer- 4) Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh Explanation: Madhya Pradesh(MP) Chief Minister(CM) Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the city of Sanchi in Raisen district in MP as India’s first Solar City. This is in line with Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi’s vision of developing a solar city in every state by 2070. The 3 MW and 5 MW solar plants in Nagauri and Gulgaon of Sanchi respectively cater to the city’s electrical and agricultural needs. In addition to this, an 8 MW grid-connected solar plant is under construction within Sanchi • • • city. • • Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (MPUVNL) acted as the nodal agency of the solar city project. MPUVNL campaigned for ‘Urja Saksharta Abhiyan’ to educate the people of Sanchi about energy saving.

Answer 71

Answer- 4) Grene Robotics Explanation: Hyderabad’s(Telangana) Grene Robotics in partnership with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) launched ‘Indrajaal’ which is India’s first and the only counter-drone system that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning(ML) to counter drone threats. i. The drone was unveiled in the presence of Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh who is the Governor of Uttarakhand. ii. Indrajaal drone works on AI-driven platform GreneOS & it is the world’s only autonomous wide area, counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) that can defend against all classifications and all levels of autonomous drones.

Answer 72

Answer- 4) Only A & C Explanation: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals on 6th September, 2023: The Union Cabinet has approved a scheme for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) aimed at developing Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). The scheme is part of the government’s efforts to enhance renewable energy integration and reduce peak power demand costs. It was first introduced in the Union Budget 2023. Total project outlay: Rs.9,400 crore. Government contribution: 40% of the total project cost, amounting to Rs.3,760 crore, provided as VGF. Remaining 60% of project costs to be invested by participating companies. The Cabinet approved an additional amount of Rs. 1164.53 crore for the Industrial Development Scheme (IDS), 2017, for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, proposed the allocation of additional funds under the Central Sector Scheme for Industrial Development Scheme 2017 for Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved a proposal from Puducherry to implement a 10% quota for students studying in government schools in medical admissions in Puducherry. The Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) is responsible for finalizing the list of students for admission to various higher education courses. Eligibility: For NEET-qualified students who have studied from Class I-XII in government-run schools in Puducherry.

Answer 73

Answer- 4) Bengaluru, Karnataka Explanation: On 5th September 2023, K J George, Minister of Energy, Government of Karnataka, inaugurated India’s first 500 Kilo-volt-amperes (kVA) Underground Power Transformer Station on 15th Avenue in Malleswaram, Bengaluru (Karnataka). i. This facility was developed in collaboration with Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) at a cost of Rs 1.9 crore. ii. Electricity related works are done by BESCOM and civil works by BBMP.

Answer 74

Answer- 3) Only B & C Explanation: On September 6, 2023, the 5th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) was held via Video Conferencing. The Meeting was chaired by its Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) Vivek Kumar Dewangan. i. Highlights from AGM: REC Limited is committed to increase its green project loan portfolio to Rs 3 lakh crore by 2030, representing more than a 10-fold increase. The Ministry of Power has granted REC the authority to provide loans to non-power infrastructure and logistics sectors, contributing to India’s development. REC Limited raised USD 1.15 billion in August 2023 in two tranches from a consortium of six banks as Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners (MLABs) under its Market Borrowing Programme of Rs. 1.20 lakh crore for 2023-24. REC Limited secured a Foreign Currency Term Loan of USD 100 million from EXIM (Export Import) Bank of India. This is the first term loan being extended by Exim Bank to REC.

Answer 75

Answer- 2) SBI Cards Explanation: SBI Cards & Payment Services Limited (SBI Card), India’s largest pure-play credit card company, launched ‘SimplySAVE Merchant SBI Card’, a Credit Card for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The card has been designed to offer interest-free short-term credit options for MSME merchants and other exclusive benefits. i. SimplySAVE Merchant SBI Card was unveiled by Mr. Dinesh Khara, Chairman, State Bank of India (SBI) at Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, Maharashtra. ii. This card will address the need for easy and timely access to formal credit by providing interest- free short-term credit to MSMEs. iii. This card is available on the RuPay network and can also be linked to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for payments through various UPI-enabled third-party apps.

Answer 76

Answer- 1) Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Explanation: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) along with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited (MHI) launched the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 47 (H-IIA F47) which carried X-ray astronomical satellite X- Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) and Lunar lander Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM). The rocket was launched from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan. With this, Japan is yet to become the fifth country to soft land on the moon; The fourth Country was India with its launch of Chandrayaan 3 mission in August 2023. i. X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) satellite, a joint project of JAXA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) and the European Space Agency(ESA). The satellite aims to observe plasma winds flowing through the universe which helps in understanding the evolution Explof stars and galaxies. XRISM is said to resolve mysteries regarding the formation of the universe. ii. SLIM is the small spacecraft(2.4 metres) with two objectives such Demonstration of high-precision landing technology ( by using pin-point landing technique and obstacle detection technique). Realisation of a lightweight lunar and planetary probe system to allow more frequent lunar and planetary exploration missions.

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