ANSWER: B

 ANSWER: B

 ANSWER: D

 ANSWER: A

• International Conference On Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) is an annual international conference by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
  • Disaster resilient infrastructure include vital buildings, public communal facilities, transit systems, telecommunications, and power systems that are strategically designed to withstand the impact of a natural disaster like a flood, earthquake, or wildfire.
• It could bring down the economic cost of rebuilding the whole infrastructure after natural disasters.
• Assist in achieving targets pertaining to a reduction in mortality due to disasters.
• Help in non-disruption of Energy, transportation, and telecommunications for an effective post-disaster response.
• Initiatives
  • India announced the creation of a CDRI after the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (2016).
  • Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) identifies investing in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for resilience and to “build back better” in reconstruction as priorities
  • Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund was announced in 2023 acts as a financial resource and is key to the success of initiatives.
  • Inclusion of the CDRI in working groups of G20.

About Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)

• A global partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, private sector, and academic and research institutions, launched in 2019 by Indian Prime Minister at UN Climate Action Summit (New York).
• Objective: To promote resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks, thereby ensuring sustainable development.
• Membership: Currently, it has 31 Countries (including India), 6 International Organisations and 2 private sector organisations as members.
• HQ- New Delhi
• It’ll work at intersection of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Paris Climate Agreement.

 ANSWER: A

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs recently released data related to the PM SVANidhi scheme, which aims to provide micro-credit support to street vendors to alleviate the pandemic-induced economic stress.
• The data reveals that out of 42.7 lakh loans disbursed under the scheme, amounting to ₹5,152.37 crore, only 9.3% were given to street vendors from minority communities.
• Additionally, the share of loans given to minority street vendors has declined steadily from 10.23% in 2020-21 to an all-time low of 7.76% in 2022-23.
• The disbursal of loans across states appears to be aligned with the population of each state, with Uttar Pradesh disbursing the highest number of loans and Sikkim disbursing only one loan. Uttar Pradesh also gave the highest number of loans to minority street vendors at 95,032.

About PM SVANidhi Scheme

• The scheme was announced as a part of the Economic Stimulus-II under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
• It has been implemented since 1st June 2020, for providing affordable working capital loans to street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have been adversely affected due to Covid-19 lockdowns.
• A total of 13,403 vending zones have been identified so far.
• 42 lakh street vendors are to be provided benefits under PM SVANidhi Scheme by December, 2024.
• It is a Central Sector Schemee., fully funded by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs with the following objectives:
  • To facilitate working capital loan;
  • To incentivize regular repayment; and
  • To reward digital transactions

 ANSWER: C

• As per the report India is going to sign a weapons deal worth Rs. 2400 crore with the United States that includes Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedoes.
• These will be used to upgrade MH 60 ‘Romeo’ helicopters, the most advanced multi-role helicopters currently in service with the Indian Navy.
• MK 54 lightweight torpedoes are used by US surface ships, fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters, and are their primary anti-submarine warfare weapon.
• It can operate in shallow waters and in the presence of countermeasures.
• It is powered by a reciprocating external combustion engine.
• It can track, classify, and attack underwater targets.

 ANSWER: B

• Recently, The Prime Minister of India, participated in the Combined Commanders’ Conference in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh for three days.
• The theme of the conference was ‘Ready, Resurgent, Relevant’.
• Combined Commanders’ Conference is a biennial event where the country’s top military brass come together to brainstorm on military matters and national security.
• The Military Commanders discussed a wide range of issues related to national security, including jointness and theaterisation in the Armed Forces.

 ANSWER: B

• Sanjita Chanu, a weightlifter from India who has won the Commonwealth Games twice, has been banned for four years by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) of India after she tested positive for banned drugs.
• The testing took place during the National Games held in Gujarat in September-October 2022, and the results showed the presence of drostanolone, an anabolic-androgenic steroid prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

 ANSWER: A

• The 10th edition of India Sri Lanka annual bilateral maritime Exercise SLINEX-23 is underway  at Colombo .
• The Indian Navy is represented by INS Kiltan, an indigenous Kamorta class ASW corvette and INS Savitri, an Offshore Patrol Vessel.
• SLINEX aims at enhancing interoperability, improving mutual understanding and exchanging best practices while jointly undertaking multi-faceted maritime operations.

 ANSWER: D

• On April 6, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) is celebrated to acknowledge the significance of sports and physical activity in our personal lives and communities worldwide.
• The 2023 global theme for the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is “Scoring for People and the Planet.”

 ANSWER: B

• The Pre-International Paragliding Accuracy World Cup Championship was inaugurated in Palampur.
• A total of 103 pilots representing more than one dozen countries took off from Billing in the championship that will conclude on April 9.
• The Bir Billing Paragliding Association (BPA) is the organiser of the event, while the HP State Tourism Department is the title sponsor.
• In the five-day championship top ranking pilots from India, the USA, Nepal, Spain and the Netherlands are participating.
• Ten pilots from Indian Army, one each from Navy and Air Force and five from the paramilitary are also participating.