15th February 2023 Daily Current Affairs in English
1. Nebraska’s Sand Hills, where a new type of quasi-crystal was discovered, is located in which country?
[A] China
[B] Turkey
[C] USA
[D] Ukraine
Answer : [C] USA
Quasicrystal is a substance that has atoms orderly arranged like a crystal but its atomic structure is more complex and does not repeat periodically in all directions. This unique complex pattern makes it different from a normal crystal. Recently, a new type of quasicrystal was discovered in the north central Nebraska’s Sand Hills in the USA. It had 12-fold symmetry. It may have been created during an accidental electrical discharge because of a downed power line or a lightning strike.
2. Which state allocated Rs 13,000 crore to implement the project of transferring water collected in Chambal River to other districts?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Punjab
[D] Haryana
Answer : [B] Rajasthan
The government of Rajasthan has allocated Rs 13,000 crore to implement ‘Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project’ during the recent state budget. The objective of the Project is to harvest the surplus water collected during the rainy season in the Southern Rajasthan Rivers like Chambal and its tributaries like Kunnu, Parvati, and Kalisindh and transfer it to south-eastern districts.
3. Which article of the Indian Constitution deals with the appointment of Governors for each state in India?
[A] Article 142
[B] Article 153
[C] Article 27
[D] Article 52
Answer : [B] Article 153
Article 153 of the Indian Constitution deals with the appointment of Governors for each state in India. President of India Droupadi Murmu appointed governors in 12 states and a Union Territory while accepting the resignation of two. Governor Ramesh Bais is now Governor of Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh governor B D Mishra has been appointed as L.G of Ladakh.
4. ‘Smart Cities Mission’ is an initiative of which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Rural Development
[B] Ministry of Home Affairs
[C] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
[D] Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Answer : [C] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Smart Cities Mission is the Indian Government’s urban renewal program that seeks to create sustainable and citizen-centric smart cities. It is being implemented by the Union Ministry of Housing Urban Affairs in collaboration with the state governments. As many as 22 smart cities are expected to complete all projects under the Smart Cities Mission. The remaining 78 smart cities under this mission are expected to complete their projects in the next 3 to 4 months.
5. Which state/UT is the host of ‘India’s First Frozen Lake Marathon’?
[A] Sikkim
[B] Arunachal Pradesh
[C] Ladakh
[D] Uttarakhand
Answer : [C] Ladakh
India’s first “frozen-lake marathon” is going to be organized at Pangong Tso Lake in the union territory of Ladakh. This event will be held at an altitude of 13,862 feet and cover a distance of 21 kilometers. The marathon will start at Lukung and end at Maan village. The Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will oversee the event. This marathon is called the ‘Last Run’ to highlight the issue of climate change.
6. Which state recently announced a 100 percent increase in Annual Statement of Rates for registration of real estate property?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Kerala
[C] Odisha
[D] West Bengal
Answer : [A] Gujarat
The state government of Gujarat has recently announced a 100 percent increase in Annual Statement of Rates. The Annual Statement of Rate (ASR), also known as the Jantri rate, is the minimum rate set by state governments for registering real estate property when it changes ownership. These rates differ between cities and places based on the type, location, and size of the property.
7. Which African country recently announced demonetization to address corruption and bring down inflation?
[A] Egypt
[B] Nigeria
[C] South Africa
[D] Tanzania
Answer : [B] Nigeria
Nigeria has recently announced demonetization to address corruption and bring down inflation. Its purpose is to bring back most of the money that is in circulation outside the banking system and to minimize money laundering. Nigerians are required to turn in their old 1,000, 500 and 200 naira banknotes as part of this initiative in return for new naira notes. With the African country being largely dependent on cash, the shortage of new naira notes is causing chaos in Nigeria.
8. Prime Minister Modi recently inaugurated a new campus of the Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah in which city?
[A] Mysuru
[B] Varanasi
[C] Mumbai
[D] Chennai
Answer : [C] Mumbai
Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah is an Arabic academy that exclusively caters to the education of children belonging to the Dawoodi Bohra community. Prime Minister Modi recently inaugurated a new Mumbai campus of the Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah. It is the second such campus in India. The first campus was set up in 1810 in Surat.
9. Which country has planned to launch Millet International Initiative for Research and Awareness (MIIRA)?
[A] USA
[B] India
[C] Indonesia
[D] Sri Lanka
Answer : [B] India
India has planned to launch a global initiative called the Millet International Initiative for Research and Awareness (MIIRA) to promote the consumption and production of millets. MIIRA will coordinate international millet research programs and support research on millet crops. This global initiative will also raise awareness and promote millet consumption India will provide the initial funding, while other G20 countries will contribute to the budget.
10. Which Indian reformer found the ‘Arya Samaj’?
[A] Rabindranath Tagore
[B] Dayanand Saraswati
[C] Ramakrishna Paramahams
[D] Shri Aurobindo
Answer : [B] Dayanand Saraswati
Dayanand Saraswati was an Indian philosopher and social reformer who founded the Arya Samaj, a movement aimed at promoting Hindu reformation and the pursuit of Vedic knowledge. He believed in the unity of God and rejected the caste system and idol worship. Dayanand Saraswati is known for highlighting the importance of education, particularly for girls and the downtrodden sector. His birth anniversary was recently observed in India.
11. What is the name of the exercise between National Security Guard (NSG) and US Special Operations Forces (SOF)?
[A] VIKAS
[B] TARKASH
[C] BHIM
[D] VIRAT
Answer : [B] TARKASH
The TARKASH exercise is a joint bilateral exercise between India’s National Security Guard (NSG) and US Special Operations Forces (SOF). The sixth edition of this exercise is being held in Chennai from January 16 to February 14. This is the first time that the ‘Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) terror response’ is included in TARKASH.
12. What is the name used to describe a group of synthetic chemicals called per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)?
[A] Forever Chemicals
[B] Ultra-Synthetic Chemicals
[C] Eco Chemicals
[D] Ice Chemicals
Answer : [A] Forever Chemicals
‘Forever chemicals’ is a term used to describe a group of synthetic chemicals called per – and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are highly persistent in the environment and resist degradation. They are called ‘forever’ chemicals because they do not break down naturally and can persist for decades or even centuries. A new study led by Oxford University found high levels of forever chemicals in the ice around Norway’s Svalbard.
13. Tanimbar corella, which was seen in the news, are cockatoos found exclusively in which country?
[A] India
[B] Indonesia
[C] China
[D] Argentine
Answer : [B] Indonesia
The Tanimbar corella, which is also referred to as Goffin’s cockatoo, is a type of cockatoo that is found exclusively in the forests of Yamdena, Larat and Selaru islands in the Tanimbar Islands archipelago in Indonesia. It was later introduced to the Kai Islands, Singapore, and Puerto Rico. A new study found that Goffin’s cockatoos are capable of combining multiple tools to achieve a complex task that is only been recorded in humans and chimpanzees.
14. What is the CPI-based inflation recorded in January 2023?
[A] 4.52%
[B] 5.52%
[C] 6.52%
[D] 7.00%
Answer : [C] 6.52%
The Indian government announced that retail inflation increased to 6.52% in January from 5.72% in December 2022, mainly due to the rise in flood prices. Retail inflation is measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The Reserve Bank of India’s household survey on inflation expectations forecasts that retail inflation will remain elevated in the next year due to a general increase in prices across different sectors.
15. ‘Christ the Redeemer’ statue is a landmark monument located in which country?
[A] Australia
[B] Brazil
[C] Argentine
[D] Russia
Answer : [B] Brazil
The Christ the Redeemer statue is a landmark statue located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Made of soapstone and reinforced concrete, this statue is an important symbol of Christianity and a renowned tourist destination. The statue is recognized as one of the most iconic and celebrated works of art and engineering in history. A Photographer recently captured the exact moment when lightning struck Christ the Redeemer statue.
16. Hericium erinaceus, which was seen in the news, belongs to which species?
[A] Mushroom
[B] Cotton
[C] Apple
[D] Dragon Plant
Answer : [A] Mushroom
Hericium erinaceus, also known as lion’s mane mushroom, is an edible mushroom found in North America, Europe, and Asia. Researchers have recently identified a new active compound in the lion’s mane mushroom. This compound is found to be capable of boosting nerve growth and enhancing the memory capacity. This may have a potential to counter Alzheimer’s disease.
17. Emden Port, which was seen in the news, is located in which country?
[A] Germany
[B] USA
[C] Australia
[D] Italy
Answer : [A] Germany
The Emden Port is the western-most sea port in Germany’s coast. It is situated at the mouth of the Ems River into the North Sea. The Pakistan government is providing military supplies to Ukraine via the Emden Port. It has recently dispatched rocket supplies from the Karachi port for Ukraine via the German port. More than 10,000 rockets have been shipped via this route to be used in Grad multi-barrel rocket launchers. Ukraine is helping Pakistan to upgrade its Mi-17 helicopters.
18. What is the theme of the ‘World Radio Day 2023’?
[A] Sustainability in Radio
[B] Radio and Peace
[C] Free Press
[D] Independent Journalism
Answer : [B] Radio and Peace
World Radio Day is observed on February 13 to raise global awareness about the importance of radio as a medium of mass communication. UNESCO declared this day to commemorate the establishment of the United Nations Radio in 1946. The theme for the year 2023 is ‘Radio and Peace’. It highlights the radio’s role as an independent medium of peacemaking. The subthemes for this day are ‘Support for Independent Radio’ and ‘Radio in Conflict Prevention and Peace-building’.
19. ‘Presidents’ Day’ which was seen in the news, is associated with which country?
[A] USA
[B] China
[C] Brazil
[D] France
Answer : [A] USA
Presidents’ Day is federal holiday in the US that is celebrated on the third Monday of February every year. The holiday is a tribute to past US presidents, particularly George Washington, who was born on February 22. The significance of the holiday is to pay tributer to the leaders who have served the country.
20. Keeladi, which was seen in the news, is an excavation site found in which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Kerala
[C] Punjab
[D] Uttarakhand
Answer : [A] Tamil Nadu
Sangam age was believed to be between 300 BCE to 300 CE. As per the recent findings by the Archaeological Survey of India at Keeladi, the Sangam age has been pushed to 800 BCE. Keeladi is a small village along the Vaigai River, about 13 km from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The eport is based on the archaeological findings from the first two phases of excavation carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India.