12th & 13th March 2023 Daily Current Affairs in English
1. Which state’s Governor returned the Prohibition of Online Gambling Bill passed by the state cabinet?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] West Bengal
[D] Punjab
Answer : [B] Tamil Nadu
Governor R.N. Ravi returned to the State government the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill, passed by the Assembly. It was cited that the House did not have “legislative competence” to frame it. The state Cabinet has decided to table the Bill again, which intends to ban online gambling in Tamil Nadu. As per Article 200, if a Bill is passed by the House a second time, with or without any amendments, and presented to the Governor for agent, the Governor shall not withhold assent.
2. Which country hosted the third session of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR)?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Nepal
[C] India
[D] USA
Answer : [C] India
India hosted the third session of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) at New Delhi. Over 1200 subject experts, practitioners, academicians and delegates deliberated upon various cross cutting issues on disaster risk reduction based on the 10-point agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sendai Framework.
3. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act was recently expanded to include which products?
[A] Virtual digital assets
[B] Real Estate
[C] Jewellery
[D] Electronics
Answer : [A] Virtual digital assets
The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 was enacted by the Indian Parliament to prevent money laundering. The Indian Government has expanded the Prevention of Money-laundering ACT (PMLA) to include transactions involving the exchange, transfer and safekeeping of virtual digital assets.
4. Which Union Ministry implements the ‘Swadesh Darshan 2.0 programme’?
[A] Ministry of Culture
[B] Ministry of Railways
[C] Ministry of Tourism
[D] Ministry of Home Affairs
Answer : [C] Ministry of Tourism
Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) programme is the revamped version of the Swadesh Darshan Scheme (SDS). It was launched by the Union Ministry of Tourism to create theme-based tourist circuits across India. As many as 30 cities from 15 states are shortlisted to be developed as sustainable and responsible destinations under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 programme. These include Dwarka and Dholavira in Gujarat, Colva and Porvorim in Goa and Nalanda and Gaya in Bihar.
5. NASA’s Curiosity Rover recently captured the crepuscular rays on which planet?
[A] Earth
[B] Mars
[C] Jupiter
[D] Venus
Answer : [B] Mars
NASA’s Curiosity Rover recently captured the crepuscular rays on Mars for the first time. The rover captured the view when the sun illuminated the cumulous clouds. When the atmosphere contains dry particles like dust and smoke, light from the Sun rising or setting can scatter, resulting in the formation of sunbeams known as crepuscular rays. These rays pass through openings in clouds or between objects.
6. ‘Atmospheric Rivers’ are expected to bring heavy rain, flooding, and heavy snowfall in which country?
[A] Australia
[B] USA
[C] Canada
[D] UK
Answer : [B] USA
Atmospheric river is a narrow and elongated region in the atmosphere that carries a substantial amount of water vapor outside the tropics. It is also known as tropical plume, tropical connection, moisture plume, water vapour surge, and cloud band. Atmospheric rivers can be thousands of kilometers long and transport water vapor equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. California is currently bracing for the arrival of atmospheric rivers, which are expected to bring heavy rain, flooding, and heavy snowfall.
7. Nocticola pheromosa, which was recently discovered, belongs to which species?
[A] Spider
[B] Snake
[C] Cockroach
[D] Turtle
Answer : [C] Cockroach
Nocticola pheromosa is a newly discovered species of cockroach found in a nature reserve in Singapore. The cockroach, named after a cockroach-like Pokemon called Pheromosa, was identified through a series of analysis. This marks the first time a cockroach from the Nocticola genus has been found in Singapore; and it joins 22 other species from its genus found across tropical regions.
8. With reference to space science, what is Orion?
[A] Exo-planet
[B] Constellation
[C] Satellite
[D] Telescope
Answer : [B] Constellation
V883 Orionis is a protostar that is in the Orion constellation and is associated with IC 430, a unique Hobject, which is believed to be part of the Orion Nebula cluster. Gaseous water has been detected in the planet-forming disc around the V883 Orionis using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). This discovery backs the hypothesis that water on Earth is older than the Sun.
9. As per a recent report economic, social, and environmental factors like climate change are the primary reasons for which process?
[A] Poverty
[B] Migration
[C] Urbanization
[D] Pollution
Answer : [B] Migration
According to a report titled “Everyday Mobility and Changing Livelihood Trajectories: Implications for Vulnerability and Adaptation in Dryland Regions”, short-distance migration accounts for the most significant proportion of global migratory movements. the report states that economic, social, and environmental factors like climate change are the primary reasons behind short-distance relocation in most migratory movements. The study focused on inhabitants of drylands in India and parts of Africa like Ghana, Kenya and Namibia.
10. Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is a joint project between USA and which country?
[A] India
[B] Germany
[C] Japan
[D] France
Answer : [B] Germany
The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) was a telescope mounted on a Boeing 747 SP aircraft that used infrared light to observe the universe. It is a joint effort between NASA and the German Aerospace Center and was cancelled in 2022 due to its high cost and inadequate scientific output. For the first time, Oxygen-18 was detected in Earth’s mesosphere and lower-thermosphere using the data collected by the GREAT instrument on SOFIA observatory. This is the first time that the heavy oxygen has been detected outside a laboratory.
11. Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, which was seen in the news, is located in which state/UT?
[A] Assam
[B] West Bengal
[C] Goa
[D] Bihar
Answer : [C] Goa
The Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in the Western Ghats of South India, situated near Valpoi in North Goa. The sanctuary is being considered to be designated as a tiger reserve due to the presence of Bengal tigers. It is administered by the Goa State Forest Department. The Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is currently engulfed in forest fire.
12. Scientists from which country developed a new conductive polymer coating called HOS-PFM?
[A] India
[B] USA
[C] China
[D] Japan
Answer : [B] USA
Scientists at Berkeley Lab, USA have developed a new conductive polymer coating called HOS-PFM that could potentially enable longer-lasting and more powerful lithium-ion batteries for electric cars. The coating is designed to conduct both electrons and ions simultaneously, leading to increased battery stability, high charge/discharge rates and longer battery life.
13. Karenia brevis, which causes Red tide, is a?
[A] Fish
[B] Dolphin
[C] Algae
[D] Fungi
Answer : [C] Algae
Red tide is caused by a toxic algae species known as Karenia brevis. It occurs when the algae multiply in large numbers and form blooms, resulting in the water turning reddish-brown. The algae produce the brevetoxins, which is fatal for aquatic life and capable of making humans sick. It was responsible for the deaths of over 2,000 tonnes of marine life between 2017 and 2018. Red tide has recently occurred in the coast of Florida.
14. Odin is the god of poetry, wisdom, magic and death, associated with which mythology?
[A] Egyptian mythology
[B] Norse mythology
[C] Georgian mythology
[D] Chinese mythology
Answer : [B] Norse mythology
Odin is the god of poetry, wisdom, divination, magic and death in the Norse mythology. He is believed to be the king of Asgard. Scientists from Scandinavia have found the oldest known reference on Odin in an inscription on a gold disc discovered in western Denmark. The discovery represents the earliest solid evidence of Odin being worshipped, at least 150 years earlier than the previous oldest known reference.
15. A recent study using ‘Semi-supervised Machine Learning’ found that over 10 million older adults in India may have which disease?
[A] Dementia
[B] Alzheimer’s disease
[C] Parkinson’s disease
[D] Epilepsy
Answer : [A] Dementia
Semi-supervised machine learning algorithm uses both labeled and unlabeled data to train a modal. Semi-supervised learning is often used in cases where obtaining labeled data is expensive or time-consuming. Using a semi-supervised machine learning algorithm, scientists have found that more than 10 million older adults aging 60 years and above in India may have dementia. The prevalence rate of dementia in older adults in India is found to be 8.44 percent.
16. Which country launched the ‘New Women and Girls Strategy’ on International women’s day?
[A] Australia
[B] USA
[C] UK
[D] Germany
Answer : [C] UK
On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, UK’s ‘New Women and Girls Strategy’ was launched. The plan focuses on promoting gender equality globally. It commits the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to dedicate over 80% of its bilateral aid programmes towards gender equality by 2030. The plan aims to combat gender-based violence, empower women and girls, champion their health and rights and increase education opportunities for girls.
17. Which state launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana’?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Telangana
[D] Odisha
Answer : [B] Madhya Pradesh
The state government of Madhya Pradesh has launched a new scheme called Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana to empower women financially. Under this scheme, women aged 23 to 60 years with an annual family income of less than Rs. 2.5 lakh or less than 5 acres of land will receive Rs. 1,000 per month. The funds under this scheme will be distributed from June 10 this year.
18. India launched the ‘Education qualification recognition mechanism’ with which country?
[A] UK
[B] Australia
[C] Germany
[D] Italy
Answer : [B] Australia
The ‘Australia-India education qualification recognition mechanism’ is a newly launched bilateral arrangement that allows degrees obtained in Australia to be recognized in India and vice versa. It covers online curses as well. It was finalized recently by the education ministers of India and Australia. However, professional registrations of engineering, medicine, and law graduates will remain outside the ambit of this agreement.
19. Which Article enables citizens to approach the Supreme Court if they believe that their fundamental rights have been denied?
[A] Article 14
[B] Article 23
[C] Article 27
[D] Article 32
Answer : [D] Article 32
Article 32 of the Indian Constitution grants citizens the power to approach the Supreme Court to obtain justice if they believe that their fundamental rights have been denied. The apex court of India recently clarified that Article 32 is meant to provide remedies for the enforcement of rights, and not for challenging of judgements.
20. Which city hosted the Meeting of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Courts of the SCO?
[A] Mumbai
[B] New Delhi
[C] Ahmedabad
[D] Chennai
Answer : [B] New Delhi
The 18th meeting of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Courts of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was held in New Delhi, India. The first meeting was held in 2006 in Shanghai. The last edition was held in Dushanbe. The 18th meeting involved interactions between the Chief Justice from member or observer states and representatives from the SCO Secretariat and SCO RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure).