12th January 2023 Daily Current Affairs in English
1. ‘Kumarakom and Beypore’, which were selected under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme, are located in which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Kerala
[C] Rajasthan
[D] Haryana
Answer : [B] Kerala
Kumarakom in Kottayam and Beypore in Kozhikode from Kerala have been selected for development under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme. The two places are among 34 other destinations from 19 state and Union Territories selected under the scheme of the Ministry of Tourism. Kerala has many places declared under eco circuit, spiritual circuit, rural circuit, as part of the Swadesh Darshan scheme 1.0.
2. ‘Centralised Receipt and Processing Centre (CRPC)’ and ‘Integrated Ombudsman Scheme’ are related to which institution?
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] Reserve Bank of India
[C] DPIIT
[D] ISRO
Answer : [B] Reserve Bank of India
The Reserve Bank of India recently released Annual Report of Ombudsman Schemes for 2021-22. The Centralised Receipt and Processing Centre (CRPC) was established by RBI under the Integrated Ombudsman Scheme 2021. As per the report, the volume of complaints received by the ombudsman schemes or consumer education and protection cells during the year 2021-22 increased by 9.39 per cent to 4,18,184. According to the Report, complaints relating to the digital modes of payment and transactions were the highest in number.
3. What is the theme of the “National Science Day 2023”?
[A] Sustainable Science
[B] Atmanirbhar India and Science
[C] Global Science for Global Wellbeing
[D] Behavioural Science
Answer : [C] Global Science for Global Wellbeing
Union Minister of State Science & Technology; Dr Jitendra Singh released the theme for the ‘National Science Day 2023’, titled “Global Science for Global Wellbeing”. The National Science Day (NSD) is celebrated every year on 28 February to commemorate the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’ since 1986. On this day Sir C. V. Raman announced the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’.
4. Bhitarkanika National Park, which was seen in the news, is located in which state/UT?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Odisha
[C] Jharkhand
[D] Maharashtra
Answer : [B] Odisha
Bhitarkanika National Park, located in Odisha, reported an increase in the number of birds to 1,39,959 birds this year compared to 1,38,107 last year. While the number of bird count increased, the diversity of species has decreased compared to last year. This year the National Park saw 140 species of birds compared to 144 last year. Many rare and endangered species were spotted this time.
5. Which institution launched a new system to measure and grade hospital performance under AB PM-JAY?
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] NHA
[C] NSO
[D] IMA
Answer : [B] NHA
The National Health Authority (NHA) is introducing a new system to measure and grade hospital performance under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). The new initiative will introduce the concept of ‘value-based care’, where payment will be outcome based and providers will be rewarded according to the quality of the treatment delivered. The providers will be rewarded for helping the patients improve their health.
6. Which Union Ministry issued advisory to television channels on reportage of violence?
[A] Ministry of Home Affairs
[B] Ministry of Information and broadcasting
[C] Ministry of Women and Child Development
[D] Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Answer : [B] Ministry of Information and broadcasting
The Ministry of Information and broadcasting has issued an advisory to television channels against reporting incidents of accidents, deaths, and violence including violence against women, children and the elderly. Ministry observed that the videos are being taken from social media and broadcast without editorial discretion and urged to ensure compliance and consistency with the Programme code.
7. Which country attempted ‘Start Me Up’ mission, its first orbital space launch?
[A] Qatar
[B] UK
[C] Italy
[D] Germany
Answer : [B] UK
The UK attempted its first orbital space launch from UK soil, making it the privately-owned Virgin Orbit’s first international launch. The repurposed Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 aircraft, named ‘Cosmic Girl’ took off from Cornwall, UK. However, the mission dubbed ‘Start Me Up’ failed due to an anomaly in a satellite launch. The rocket was carrying nine small satellites.
8. What is the expansion of ‘V-CIP’, which was seen in the news related to banking?
[A] Venture Capital Identification process
[B] Video based Customer identification process
[C] Voice based Customer identification process
[D] Venture Capital Investment Process
Answer : [B] Video based Customer identification process
Reserve Bank of India announced that a fresh KYC process can be done by visiting a bank branch or remotely through a Video-based Customer Identification Process (V-CIP). If there is no change in the KYC, a self-declaration from the individual customer is sufficient to complete the re-KYC process.
9. India has deployed a women-only platoon of peacekeepers to Abyei UN Mission, located in which country?
[A] Israel
[B] South Sudan
[C] Afghanistan
[D] Vietnam
Answer : [B] South Sudan
India has deployed a women-only platoon of peacekeepers to the UN Mission in Abyei on the border of Sudan and South Sudan. This is a part of the Indian Battalion in the United Nations Interim Security Force, Abyei (UNISFA). It is also the single largest deployment of women peacekeepers in recent years. India is among the largest troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping.
10. Which airport of India won the second rank in the Cirium list of top-performing global airports of 2022?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Bengaluru
[C] Mumbai
[D] Chennai
Answer : [B] Bengaluru
As per the list of the top-performing global airports of 2022 released by Cirium Aviation Analytics, Haneda Airport of Tokyo, Japan is placed in the first place. Bangalore’s Lempegowda International Airport won the 2nd rank, whereas Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport acquired the 7th rank.
11. Joshimath, which was recently seen in the news for its land subsidence, is located in which state/UT?
[A] Assam
[B] Uttarakhand
[C] Bihar
[D] Ladakh
Answer : [B] Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand authorities declared ‘Joshimath’ as a landside and subsidence-hit zone, after cracks appeared in many roads and hundreds of houses. The exact reason behind Joshimath land subsidence is still unknown but unplanned construction, over-population, obstruction of the natural flow of water, and hydel power activities are cited as possible causes.
12. Which state/UT imposed a ban on plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] New Delhi
[C] West Bengal
[D] Gujarat
Answer : [B] New Delhi
Delhi government announced imposition of a temporary ban on plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in the national capital. The decision was in view of the worsening air quality, as it reached the severe category owning to unfavourable meteorological conditions including clam winds and low temperatures. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) directed to implement anti-pollution curbs.
13. Which city is the host of the Meeting of the First Education Group of G-20 countries?
[A] Kochi
[B] Chennai
[C] Bengaluru
[D] Pune
Answer : [B] Chennai
The First Education Group of G-20 countries is scheduled to meet in Chennai, from the 31st of January to the 2nd of February. The Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the State government and a team from IIT Madras participated in the review meeting.
14. Which state launched a dedicated platform for investors from the global diaspora to make investments in the State’s start-ups?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Gujarat
[D] Punjab
Answer : [B] Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin launched ‘Global Tamil Angels platform’ of Start-upTN, an investment platform for Tamil diaspora. The platform lets investors from the global Tamil diaspora to make investments in the State’s start-ups. It was launched at the “Global Startup Investors Summit”, jointly organized by the Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission and FeTNA International Tamil Entrepreneur Network. A multi-crore American Tamil Fund (ATF) by investors from the Tamil Diaspora in the US was also announced.
15. India signed and exchanged letters for ‘Young Professionals Scheme’ with which country?
[A] Australia
[B] UK
[C] USA
[D] Finland
Answer : [B] UK
India and the United Kingdom marked the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas by exchanging letters to formalize the Young Professionals Scheme. The scheme allows up to 3,000 graduates in age bracket of 18-30 to get a two-year visa to study in each other’s countries. It aims to pave a way for the youth to understand the culture of one another. The launch of the ‘Young Professionals’ scheme was announced in November 2022 at G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.
16. Michael Debabrata Patra, whose term was recently extended serve in which organization?
[A] Supreme Court
[B] Reserve Bank of India
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] Election Commission
Answer : [B] Reserve Bank of India
The Central government has extended the tenure of Dr Michael Debabrata Patra as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India for one more year. Michael Debabrata Patra took over as Deputy Governor of the RBI in January 2020. He was an Executive Director of India’s central bank before being elevated to the post of deputy Governor.
17. USA announced USD 100 million to which neighbouring country of India for flood recovery and reconstruction aid?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Pakistan
[C] Afghanistan
[D] Nepal
Answer : [B] Pakistan
The United States has announced an additional USD 100 million to Pakistan for its recovery and reconstruction efforts. The floods which occurred last year killed as many as 1,739 and affected 33 million people. The funding also includes humanitarian assistance to support flood relief and recovery efforts in refugee hosting areas.
18. Jack Ma, who was seen in the news, is a billionaire from which country?
[A] Japan
[B] China
[C] USA
[D] South Korea
Answer : [B] China
The billionaire founder of Ant Group, Jack Ma, announced to give up control of the Chinese fintech giant after a regulatory crackdown. Ant Group runs Alipay, the main online payment system in China. Jack Ma founded e-commerce giant Alibaba and controls more than 50% of Ant Group. After the changes in governance structure, he will possess just over 6% of the company.
19. Suryakumar Yadav, who was seen in the news, is associated with which sports?
[A] Chess
[B] Cricket
[C] Badminton
[D] Tennis
Answer : [B] Cricket
Suryakumar Yadav has become the fastest player to reach 1,500 runs in T20 International cricket in terms of balls faced. He took only 843 balls to reach this landmark. The fastest batters to reach this milestone are Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Australian veteran Aaron Finch and Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, who all took 39 innings to score 1,500 runs in T20 International cricket. Pakistan’s Mohammed Rizwan reached the milestone in 42 innings and he is mow followed by Suryakumar.
20. Which state is the host of the ‘Khelo India Senior Women National Kho Kho league’?
[A] Punjab
[B] Kerala
[C] Odisha
[D] Gujarat
Answer : [A] Punjab
The Khelo India Senior Women National Kho Kho league is set to take place at Chandigarh University, Punjab. The league is being organized by the Kho Kho Federation of India and will be held over three phases with financial support from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Kho Kho women’s league for junior and sub-junior age groups is scheduled in Hotwar, Ranchi.