16th February 2023 Daily Current Affairs in English
1. The Union Ministry of Mines announced that lithium reserves were found for the first time in which state/UT?
[A] Jharkhand
[B] Chhattisgarh
[C] Jammu and Kashmir
[D] Karnataka
Answer : [C] Jammu and Kashmir
The Union Ministry of Mines announced that lithium reserves have been found in Jammu and Kashmir, a first in the country. The Geological Survey of India established 5.9 million tonnes of inferred lithium resources in the Salal-Haimana area of Reasi District in Jammu and Kashmir. This could boost the manufacturing of rechargeable batteries for electric cars, smartphones, and cut India’s dependence on lithium imports.
2. Which planet has the highest number of moons, as of 2023?
[A] Saturn
[B] Jupiter
[C] Mars
[D] Venus
Answer : [B] Jupiter
Jupiter recently became the planet with the most moons, after a dozen new moons were discovered around it. The planet has surpassed Saturn with its list of 92 moons in all. The spacecraft, dubbed Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer or Juice, has arrived at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. It is a new mission from Earth is ready to explore the planet’s biggest moons and will be launched in April this year.
3. Which Telescope has been selected for the ‘2023 John L. Jack Swigert, Jr’. Award for Space Exploration?
[A] James Webb Telescope
[B] Hubble Space Telescope
[C] Chandra X-ray Observatory
[D] Spitzer Space Telescope
Answer : [A] James Webb Telescope
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope team has been selected to receive the ‘2023 John L. Jack Swigert, Jr’. Award for Space Exploration. It is a prestigious award from the Space Foundation. This annual award honors a space agency, company, or consortium of organizations in the realm of space exploration and discovery.
4. How many satellites were placed in the orbit aboard the SSLV D2 launch vehicle of ISRO?
[A] One
[B] Three
[C] Five
[D] Seven
Answer : [B] Three
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its second developmental flight of a Small Satellite Launch Vehicle – SSLV-D2. It placed three satellite into a 450 km-circular orbit, which are ISRO’s Earth Observation Satellite – EOS 07, U.S.-based firm Antaris’ Janus-1 and Chennai-based space start-up SpaceKidz’s AzaadiSAT-2.
5. Which company launched the World’s first satellite-based two-way messaging system?
[A] Meta
[B] Qualcomm
[C] AMD
[D] Samsung
Answer : [B] Qualcomm
Snapdragon Satellite, which was launched recently, is the world’s first ‘satellite-based, two-way capable messaging solution’. The solution works for smart-phones developed by Qualcomm in partnership with Iridium Inc. The technology was initially introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023. On a Snapdragon Satellite, emergency messaging will be activated on the next-gen smart-phones.
6. As per a recent report, what was the top financial activity done in India in the last 12 months?
[A] Putting money in savings
[B] Paying for health insurance
[C] Investments in stocks and shares
[D] Repaying Loans
Answer : [A] Putting money in savings
As per YouGov’s latest report, over a third of urban Indians have claimed that their disposable income has decreased in the last 12 months. Putting money in their savings (33 per cent), paying for health insurance (26 per cent) and investments in stocks and shares (21 per cent) were the top three financial activities done in the past 12 months, as per the report.
7. ISRO commenced the training for crew module recovery for its Gaganyaan Mission, along with which Armed Force?
[A] Indian Army
[B] Indian Navy
[C] Indian Air Force
[D] Indian Coast Guard
Answer : [B] Indian Navy
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), along with the Navy, started training for crew module recovery when it splashes down in the sea after re-entering the atmosphere. This training was done as a part of preparation for its first human spaceflight (Ganganyaan). The training aims to finalise the standard operating procedure for the recovery of the crew members as soon as possible. The trials commenced at the water survival test facility of the Navy in Kochi.
8. Which company launched India’s First drone air traffic management system?
[A] Garuda
[B] Drona
[C] Skye Air
[D] Pixxel
Answer : [C] Skye Air
Skye Air, a Gurugram-based drone solutions provider, launched traffic management system for drones in India. The software was launched in the presence of Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India Nitin Gadkari. It will allow drone operators to plan routes, make flight plans and assess risks before running drone-based operations in the country.
9. As per the annual report of International Energy Agency, which region will use half of world’s electricity by 2025?
[A] North America
[B] Europe
[C] Asia
[D] Oceania
Answer : [C] Asia
According to a new forecast released by the International Energy Agency, Asia will use half of the world’s electricity by 2025, for the first time. As per the annual report, China will be consuming more electricity than the European Union, United States and India combined. Africa, which is home to almost a fifth of world’s nearly 8 billion inhabitants, will account for just 3% of global electricity consumption in 2025.
10. ‘AMRITPEX’, a national-level exhibition which was inaugurated recently, is related to which field?
[A] Finance
[B] Environment
[C] Philately
[D] Sports
Answer : [C] Philately
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the National Philatelic Exhibition – AMRITPEX in New Delhi. Philately is the collection and study of postage stamps. The event displays more than 20,000 exhibits under 13 competitive categories and a special section on Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The Department of Posts also released a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
11. Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove delta is governed by India along with which country?
[A] Nepal
[B] Bangladesh
[C] Myanmar
[D] Laos
Answer : [B] Bangladesh
Sundarbans is a mangrove area in the delta formed by the confluence of Padma, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal. It is the world’s largest mangrove delta, governed by the Governments of India and Bangladesh. Wildlife enthusiasts spot 145 different species during the first Sundarban bird festival. Birds like Eurasian curlew, lesser sand plover and brown hawk owl were among the 5,065 birds that were spotted.
12. Prime Minister recently flagged off two Vande Bharat trains in which state?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Gujarat
[C] Uttar Pradesh
[D] Bihar
Answer : [A] Maharashtra
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat trains in Maharashtra high-speed rail connection. The Mumbai-Solapur and Mumbai-Sainagar Vende Bharat Express were flagged off from Mumbai. With this, the number of Vande Bharat Express trains running from Mumbai will increase to three and the count will go up to 10 for the country.
13. Which is the first Fintech company to support RuPay Credit Cards on UPI?
[A] Razorpay
[B] PayTm
[C] Mobikwik
[D] PhonePe
Answer : [C] Mobikwik
MobiKwik has become the first fintech app to support RuPay Credit Cards on UPI. The facility will help millions of customers who use UPI for their daily transactions. With RuPay Credit Cards now linked directly to UPI IDs, customers can easily make payments to merchants by scanning the UPI QR code and using UPI PIN for payment authentication.
14. IMF has called for comprehensive reforms of which country’s growth model?
[A] China
[B] Russia
[C] India
[D] Sri Lanka
Answer : [A] China
IMF has again called for comprehensive reforms of China’s growth model saying that China’s potential growth has started falling. This is IMF’s second warning in a week when it called for reforms to sustain growth highlighting the diminishing returns of China’s investment-led growth/
15. Natalia Gavrilita stepped down from the position of Prime Minister of which country?
[A] Moldova
[B] Malta
[C] France
[D] Italy
Answer : [A] Moldova
Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita stepped down from her position citing a lack of support in the country. Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe and a former Soviet Republic. The pro-Western government had been in power for just 18 months. Moldova’s President Maia Sandu accepted Gavrilita’s resignation.
16. Which app has been India’s most accessible app for persons with disabilities, in a recent report?
[A] Zomato
[B] WhatsApp
[C] PayTm
[D] Bhim
Answer : [B] WhatsApp
WhatsApp has been named India’s most accessible app for persons with disabilities in a report titled ‘Making the Digital Ecosystem Disabled Friendly’. The report was released by the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, which evaluated accessibility features of messaging, online payments, transport, e-commerce, and food delivery. WhatsApp was the only app rated as ‘highly accessible’ based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
17. Indian Institute of Science (IISc) partnered with which company for R & D in electrostatic discharge protection?
[A] Meta
[B] Samsung
[C] Apple
[D] Nokia
Answer : [B] Samsung
Samsung Semiconductor India Research (SSIR) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have recently announced a partnership. The partnership aims to promote research and development in an on-chip electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection.
18. Which city is the host of India’s first ever Formula E Championship?
[A] Hyderabad
[B] Bengaluru
[C] Kochi
[D] Bhubaneswar
Answer : [A] Hyderabad
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur flagged off the Formula E Championship in Hyderabad. Hyderabad city hosts India’s first ever Formula E-race Hyderabad E-Prix at the ‘Hyderabad Street Circuit’ on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake. This is also the first motorsport event in the country in the last 10 years. Hyderabad is the 27th city in the world to host the race as non-carbon emission event.
19. Jerlin Anika, who was seen in the news, is associated with which sports?
[A] Tennis
[B] Badminton
[C] Squash
[D] Chess
Answer : [B] Badminton
Eighteen-year-old Jerlin Anika Jayaratchagan, a Deaflympic champion, qualifies in the general category at the Olympics. Jerlin Anika became the first Woman Deaflympian to receive the prestigious Arjuna Award. She holds the record of the youngest player to represent India in Summer Deaflympics at the age of 13 She clinched three gold medals at the 2021 Summer Deaflympics.
20. A. B. K. Prasad, who was chosen for Raja Ram Mohan Roy National Award, is associated with which profession?
[A] Businessperson
[B] Scientist
[C] Journalist
[D] Sportsperson
Answer : [C] Journalist
Veteran journalist A. B. K. Prasad has been chosen for the prestigious Raja Ram Mohan Roy National Award for excellence in journalism. This was announced by the Press Council of India, New Delhi. He has a journalistic career over 75 years. He has the honour of being the editor of all mainstream journals of Andhra Pradesh. He also served as the chairman of the Official Language Commission in Andhra Pradesh.