11th February 2023 Daily Current Affairs in English
1. The Union Budget 2023-24 has allocated Rs. 2,516 crore for the computerization of which unit, over the next 5 years?
[A] State Cooperative Banks
[B] District central cooperative banks
[C] Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
[D] Multi-state Cooperative Banks
Answer : [C] Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
The Union Budget 2023-24 has allocated Rs. 2,516 crore for the computerization of 63,000 PACS over the next 5 years. Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) are village-level cooperative credit societies that act as the last link to the 3-tier cooperative credit structure, which is headed by the State Cooperative Bank or SCB. Credit from the SCB is transferred to the district central cooperative banks (DCCBs), which will then transfer the credit to the PACS.
2. ‘State of the Union (SOTU) Address’ is associated with which country?
[A] UK
[B] USA
[C] Australia
[D] China
Answer : [B] USA
US President Joe Biden recently delivered the State of the Union (SOTU) Address at the Joint Session of the Parliament in the US Capital in Washington DC. This is Biden’s second SOTU address. According to the country’s Constitution, the US President is required to deliver the state of the Union to Congress and recommend measures that he judges to be necessary and beneficial.
3. Bard is an AI chatbot that is being developed by which tech major?
[A] Microsoft
[B] Google
[C] Meta
[D] Twitter
Answer : [B] Google
Bard is an AI chatbot that is being developed by Google as a competitor for the popular Microsoft-backed ChatGPT. Bard will use AI to generate answers in text when queries are typed by the users. This chatbot will function based on the AI model called LaMDA, which was introduced by Google in 2021 as a generative language model for dialogue applications.
4. ‘TReDS’ is an electronic platform that facilitates the transactions for which entities?
[A] Pharma companies
[B] Exporters
[C] MSMEs
[D] Banks
Answer : [C] MSMEs
The Trade Receivable Discounting System (TReDS) is an electronic platform that facilitates the financing or discounting, trading and setting invoices of the MSMEs. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to expand the scope of the TReDS to allow the use of insurance facilities. This will facilitate secondary market operations on the TReDS.
5. ‘Eagle 44 (Oghab 44)’ is the first underground air force base of which country?
[A] Iran
[B] North Korea
[C] Israel
[D] France
Answer : [A] Iran
The Eagle 44 (Oghab 44) is the first underground air force base of Iran. It is capable of housing fighter jets equipped with cruise missiles. The unveiling of the Oghab 44 is seen as a display of Iran’s aerial military strength in response to a joint drill conducted by the US and Israel. It will host jets and drones equipped with long-range cruise missiles to destroy adversary targets in case of attck.
6. Which institution released regulatory measures on climate risks and sustainable finance?
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] Reserve bank of India
[C] Securities Exchange Board of India
[D] Ministry of Finance
Answer : [B] Reserve bank of India
The Reserve bank of India (RBI) has recently announced regulatory measures on climate risks and sustainable finance. The new guidelines focused on creating a broad framework for promoting the acceptance of green deposits, a disclosure framework on financial risks associated with the climate crisis and guidelines for climate scenario analysis and stress testing.
7. Operation AAHT was conducted recently by which institution?
[A] Indian Army
[B] Indian Coast Guard
[C] Railway Protection Force
[D] Central Reserve Police Force
Answer : [C] Railway Protection Force
Operation AAHT was conducted recently by Railway Protection Force (RPF) to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking. As part of this operation, the RPF makes use of its infrastructure and intelligence to father analyse clues about victims, source, route, destination, popular trains used for human trafficking and other details. It collaborates with the local police to curb human trafficking.
8. Which Indian state/UT proposed the Wetland Ex-Situ Conservation Establishment (WESCE)?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Uttarakhand
[C] Sikkim
[D] Gujarat
Answer : [A] Rajasthan
The Wetland Ex-Situ Conservation Establishment (WESCE) is a zoo that is being proposed by the state government of Rajasthan. It is set to be established within the Keoladeo National Park, a World Heritage Site also known as the Bharatpur bird sanctuary. The WESCE will display a range of wetland species like water buffaloes, dolphins, crocodiles, and others.
9. The Black Galaxy or ‘Invisible galaxy’ was recently discovered in which country?
[A] Turkey
[B] Italy
[C] China
[D] Israel
Answer : [B] Italy
The Black Galaxy or ‘Invisible galaxy’ was recently discovered by researchers in Italy. It was found and characterized using the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array. The Black Galaxy is compact and has a large amount of interstellar dust. It is forming stars at a rate 1,000 times faster than the Milky Way.
10. The Indian Armed Forces are set to procure armed Predator MQ 9A drones from which country?
[A] France
[B] Israel
[C] USA
[D] Russia
Answer : [C] USA
The Indian Armed Forces are looking to procure 18 armed Predator MQ 9A drones from the United States. Of these 18 drones, six will be provided for each of the three armed forces. These unmanned aerial vehicles are capable of flying up to 50,000 feet for a maximum duration of 24 hours. It is capable of carrying air-to-ground missiles to target high-value ground targets or air-to-air missiles.
11. ‘High Mobility Artillery Rocket System’ (HIMARS) is manufactured by which country?
[A] France
[B] Israel
[C] USA
[D] Russia
Answer : [C] USA
The US State Department gave the nod for the sale of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers to Poland. The HIMARS and the related equipment will be sold to Poland at a cost of around USD 10 billion. HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is a type of artillery system that can fire long-range rockets with pinpoint accuracy. It has been used in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
12. Which country is the host of the ‘International Marine Protected Areas Congress’ in 2023?
[A] Canada
[B] Australia
[C] Chile
[D] Argentina
Answer : [A] Canada
Experts at the 5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress in Canada have recommended the setting up of Marine Protected Areas. Marine protected areas are regions in the ocean where human activities are regulated by the government. These protected areas are set up to address issues such as pollution, litter, overfishing, and climate change.
13. Which international associated launched ‘Cyber Challenge’ to enhance the cyber security within their individual territories?
[A] ASEAN
[B] G-20
[C] QUAD
[D] G-7
Answer : [C] QUAD
The Quad Challenge was launched by the QUAD member states (Australia, India, Japan, and the United States) to enhance the cyber security within their individual territories. This campaigns calls on Internet users across the Indo-Pacific region and other places to joint the pledge to practice safe and responsible cyber habits.
14. What is the expansion of ‘GLOFs’, which are sudden and powerful releases of water?
[A] Global Level Outburst Floods
[B] Glacial Lake Outburst Floods
[C] Glacier Local Outburst Floods
[D] Geological Lake Outburst Floods
Answer : [B] Glacial Lake Outburst Floods
Glacial Lake Outburst Floods, or GLOFs, are sudden and powerful releases of water from glacial lakes due to the failure of a dam made of glacial materials. GLOFs are dangerous in mountainous areas, where they can lead to flash floods, landslides, and other environmental risks. According to a new study, over 3 million individuals in India are at risk from GLOF.
15. National industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) functions under which Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[B] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
[C] Ministry of Rural Development and Entrepreneurship
[D] Ministry of Defence
Answer : [A] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) is an apex government body that comes under the aegis of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). It is responsible for development of industrial corridors like Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor, Bengaluru – Mumbai Industrial Corridor and others. The Indian Government has sanctioned and approved 8 projects under NICDIT.
16. India’s largest helicopter manufacturing facility was inaugurated in which state?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Karnataka
[C] Uttar Pradesh
[D] Maharashtra
Answer : [B] Karnataka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Helicopter Factory at Tumakuru in Karnataka. The factory is India’s largest helicopter manufacturing facility and will initially produce LUHs. He also unveiled the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). Initially, this factory will produce around 30 helicopters per year and can be enhanced to 60 and then 90 per year in a phased manner.
17. The GDP growth rate of which neighbouring country of India was recorded at 7.10 percent for FY22?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Bangladesh
[C] Pakistan
[D] Nepal
Answer : [B] Bangladesh
Bangladesh recorded a 7.10 percent GDP growth rate for the Financial Year (FY) 2022 which marks an increase from 6.94 percent in FY 2021 and 3.45 percent in FY 2020. As per the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the per capita income of Bangladesh is USD 2793. The service sector in the Bangladesh economy has the highest share of 51.48 percent.
18. What is the name of the new classification of germs, like bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, that are not easily killed by antibiotics?
[A] Micro-germs
[B] Super-bugs
[C] Ultra-bugs
[D] Future-bugs
Answer : [B] Super-bugs
Superbugs are types of germs, like bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites that are not easily killed by antibiotics. According to a recent report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), superbugs could be a major cause of death in the future. Overuse of antibiotics in animal farming and pollution from pharmaceutical companies can cause these germs to become resistant to antibiotics.
19. Which country is being hit by devastating forest fires following a blistering heat wave?
[A] Argentina
[B] Chile
[C] Brazil
[D] Uganda
Answer : [B] Chile
In Chile, at least 23 people were killed in devastating forest fires which occurred after a blistering heat wave in the central part of the country. The state of emergency has been extended in the South American country. According to an official briefing on Saturday at least 979 people have been affected following the calamity.
20. Tejaswin Shankar, who was seen in the news, is associated with which sports?
[A] Weight lifting
[B] High jump
[C] Cricket
[D] Chess
Answer : [B] High jump
Commonwealth Games 2022 bronze medallist Tejaswin Shankar won the men’s high jump event at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix 2023 in Boston, USA. At the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold event, Tejaswin Shankar claimed first place with a jump of 2.26 metres. He beat the 38-year-old Donald Thomas of the Bahamas, a 2007 world champion.