23rd February 2023 Daily Current Affairs in English
1. What is the name of the indigenous data link communication developed by the Indian Navy?
[A] Vayulink
[B] Rakshalink
[C] Radiolink
[D] Commlink
Answer : [A] Vayulink
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has developed an indigenous data link communication named ‘Vayulink’. It uses the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) that is also known as NAVIC, to send radio communication to the base station when the signals are low. The Vayulink system when the prevents aircraft collision, provides better combat teaming and helps plan real-time basis.
2. As per the ‘Global Labour Resilience Index 2023’, labour market resilience is highest in which region?
[A] South Asia
[B] West and North Europe
[C] North America
[D] Oceania
Answer : [C] North America
Whiteshield, a global strategy and public policy advisory firm, released its Global Labour Resilience Index (GLRI) 2023 during the World Government Summit. The index is a first-of-its-kind measurement tool that assesses the capacity of an economy to limit fluctuations in employment and quickly rebound from setbacks. The report found the labour market resilience is highest in Western and Northern Europe. Countries in Europe and Asia are becoming more resilient, whereas resilience in North America is stagnating.
3. Amrutha Nagarothana Scheme is implemented in which state?
[A] Kerala
[B] Karnataka
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Odisha
Answer : [B] Karnataka
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has announced ₹ 9,698 crore-worth projects in the State Budget 2023-23 for comprehensive development of Bengaluru city. Under the Amrutha Nagarothana Scheme, works worth ₹ 6,000 crore are being implemented in Bengaluru. Development of 108 km of roads has been taken up under the high-density corridors scheme.
4. CERC has approved a proposal to start a spot market segment for which category of power?
[A] Expensive power
[B] Nuclear power
[C] Renewable Power
[D] Wholesale Power
Answer : [A] Expensive power
India’s power regulator has approved a proposal to start a separate spot market segment for ‘expensive’ power, according to an order given to the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX). The approval from the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), given to the country’s largest spot power market, is for electricity derived from costlier sources of imported coal and gas, as well as battery storage.
5. Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) signed MoU with which Indian organization to form a joint venture related to Armed Forces?
[A] HAL
[B] ISRO
[C] BEL
[D] DRDO
Answer : [C] BEL
Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) and India’s Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), both owned by their respective Governments, entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to form a joint venture firm for extending product support services for Indian Armed Forces. MRSAM is an advanced air and missile defence system that provides protection against a variety of aerial platform. The MRSAM is used by the Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Navy and Israeli Defence Forces.
6. What is the interest Subvention rate provided under the ‘Ethanol interest subvention scheme’?
[A] 2 per cent per annum
[B] 4 per cent per annum
[C] 6 per cent per annum
[D] 8 per cent per annum
Answer : [C] 6 per cent per annum
The Government has given in-principle approval to nine more ethanol projects under its ethanol interest subvention scheme. The projects are expected to add to the additional capacity of about 35 crore litres. The government is extending financial assistance in the form of interest subvention at 6 per cent per annum or interest subvention at 6 per cent per annum or 50 per cent of the rate of interest charged by banks, whichever is lower, on the loans to be extended by banks for five years.
7. Which country ranks first Al skill penetration and talent concentration, as per the recent NASSCOM report?
[A] USA
[B] India
[C] China
[D] Russia
Answer : [B] India
According to a recently published NASSCOM report, India ranks first in AI skill penetration and talent concentration and fifth in AI scientific publications. The report states that tech talent in India is three times more likely to have AI skills than in other countries. India’s AI skills Penetration Factor leads all countries across education, finance, hardware and networking, manufacturing, software and IT services.
8. Over 1200 pangolins have been found in illegal wildlife trade in which country from 2018 to 2022?
[A] China
[B] India
[C] USA
[D] Bangladesh
Answer : [B] India
World Pangolin Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in February, which aims to raise awareness about these unique mammals. International non-profit organization TRAFFIC has released a fact sheet on the eve of World Pangolin Day. It reported that 1,203 pangolins have been found in illegal wildlife trade in India from 2018 to 2022. The pangolin scales are used as an ingredient in traditional medicine in China and Southeast Asia.
9. Which is the first Middle East country with which India signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)?
[A] UAE
[B] Saudi Arabia
[C] Oman
[D] Bahrain
Answer : [A] UAE
The historical India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed in the year 2022. The historical India-UAE CEPA is the first bilateral trade accord concluded by the UAE and India’s first bilateral trade agreement in the MENA region. Marking a successful year of CEPA signing, a Special Business Event was organized by FICCI in association with the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi and Consulate General of India, Dubai.
10. Which state hosted the B20 Conference, the official G20 dialogue forum for business community?
[A] Assam
[B] Manipur
[C] Odisha
[D] Gujarat
Answer : [B] Manipur
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh inaugurated a conference on ‘Opportunities for Multilateral Business Partnerships in ICT, Tourism, Healthcare and Handloom’ in Imphal. This was the first of the four sessions of B20 scheduled in Northeast India. B20 is the official G20 dialogue forum for the global business community. Manipur had launched new Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy, Industrial Single Window Clearance Act, 2021 and Integrated Logistics Policy, 2022 for ease of doing business.
11. Which state has passed a new liquor policy, under which all bars operating in the state would be closed?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Assam
[D] Karnataka
Answer : [B] Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh cabinet has decided to close all the bars operating in the state, and the liquor shops only will be allowed to sell liquor to the customers at the shop. ‘Ahatas’, an area attached to a liquor shop for people to drink and shop bars have been closed under the new excise policy. As per the policy, distance of liquor shops from educational institutions has also been increased from the earlier 50 to 100 meters.
12. ‘DUSTLIK’ is a military training exercise undertaken by India with which country?
[A] Iran
[B] Uzbekistan
[C] Sri Lanka
[D] Bangladesh
Answer : [B] Uzbekistan
India-Uzbekistan biennial military training Exercise DUSTLIK 2023 will be conducted in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. The Indian contingent will be represented by the 14th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles, part of Western Command in this bilateral exercise. This joint exercise is aimed at enhancing military capacity to undertake multi-domain operations in a Sub Conventional scenario under United Nations Mandate.
13. Which neighbouring country celebrated ‘National Democracy day’ recently?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Nepal
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Myanmar
Answer : [B] Nepal
Nepal has celebrated ‘National Democracy Day’ recently, to commemorate day when the Nepali people stood against the then autocratic Rana regime. This event ended the 104 years of the Rana regime and subsequently established democracy for the first time in the country.
14. Teja variety of red chilli is prevalently grown in which state/UT?
[A] Odisha
[B] Telangana
[C] Karnataka
[D] Kerala
Answer : [B] Telangana
The rising demand for the popular Teja variety of red chilli in the export market is aiding the Khammam Agriculture Market, which is Telangana’s second largest chilli market yard. The chilli is famous for its culinary, medicinal and other wide-ranging uses. It is also a main ingredient in making pepper spray. The huge demand for Oleoresin, a natural chilli extract, is mainly driving the export of Teja variety of red chilli from Khammam to various Asian countries.
15. Which country launched the ‘Hwasong-15’ is the Intercontinental ballistic missile?
[A] Israel
[B] France
[C] North Korea
[D] USA
Answer : [C] North Korea
The Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) has been recently launched at Pyongyang International Airport, in North Korea. South Korea alleged that North Korea could test-fire intercontinental ballistic missiles on a lower, longer trajectory and conduct its seventh nuclear test this year. North Korea has so far conducted ICBM tests only on lofted trajectories.
16. Which institution announced to set up panel on investor protection regime?
[A] RBI
[B] SEBI
[C] Supreme Court
[D] NITI Aayog
Answer : [C] Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has rejected the government’s submission of a list of experts in a sealed cover for a panel to examine the country’s investor protection regime: The court will select the committee’s members on its own, said a bench headed by Chief Justice Dy Chandrachud. The apex court is hearing public interest litigation (PIL) on the Hindenburg Research report into the Adani Group and the impact it has had on investors. The top Court also rejected the government’s proposal of sealed cover suggestions.
17. Which state/UT conducts the third phase of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ initiative?
[A] Goa
[B] Gujarat
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Kerala
Answer : [B] Gujarat
The third phase of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ initiative, which aims to resolve fisherman issues, is set to begin in Gujarat. Sagar Parikrama is a journey across the coastal belt demonstrating solidarity with all fisherpersons, fish farmers as a spirit of 75th Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. It is an initiative of Government of India, aiming to resolve the issues of the fishers and other stakeholders and facilitate their economic upliftment.
18. Northern India’s first nuclear plant is set to come up in which state?
[A] Bihar
[B] Haryana
[C] Uttarakhand
[D] Punjab
Answer : [B] Haryana
North India’s first nuclear power plant is coming up in Gorakhpur, Haryana, about 150 km north of the national capital. Department of Atomic Energy has been given permission to set up joint ventures with PSUs for resources to open atomic energy plants.
19. Rann Utsav, which was seen in the news, is celebrated in which state?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Karnataka
[C] Goa
[D] West Bengal
Answer : [A] Gujarat
Rann Utsav was conceptualized as a three-day festival, which progressively evolved into a 100-day celebration at Dhordo, a village near Rann of Kutch. A whole new tent city has been created, replete with temporary infrastructure built and rebuilt every year. The Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar arrived in Kutch, Gujarat and participated in the Rann Utsav. It celebrates the nature at the White Desert and the rich cultural and artistic heritage of Kutch.
20. Which state’s Chief Minister is the head of the GoM (Group of Ministers) on online gaming?
[A] Kerala
[B] Odisha
[C] Meghalaya
[D] Uttarakhand
Answer : [C] Meghalaya
The 49th meeting of the GST Council was held recently, under the chairship of the Union Finance Minister. It was decided to clear all pending dues of pertaining to GST compensation to states. The finance minister also spoke about the GoM report on online gaming and said that the report has been submitted. The chair of the GoM is Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.