24th January 2023 Daily Current Affairs in English
1. Indian Army launched a joint Training exercise ‘Cyclone – I’ with which country?
[A] USA
[B] Egypt
[C] France
[D] Sri Lanka
Answer : [B] Egypt
The first ever joint exercise between the special forces of the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army named ‘Exercise Cyclone-I’. the Joint Training Exercise is in progress at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. This is the first exercise of its kind bringing the special forces of both the nations on a common platform.
2. Bhopal declaration, which was seen in the news, was launched after which meeting?
[A] ASEAN
[B] SAARC
[C] G-20
[D] G-7
Answer : [C] G-20
Over 300 intellectuals from India and abroad released the Bhopal Declaration after discussing the G-20 agenda in the meeting of Think-20 under G20 in Bhopal. The Bhopal Declaration made an appeal to focus more on inclusive development. It also emphasized promoting traditional medicine system like AYUSH and encouraging value-oriented development in infrastructure development.
3. NASA has awarded 425 million dollars to which Company for the agency’s sustainable flight demonstrator project?
[A] Boeing
[B] Air Bus
[C] Tesla
[D] Apple
Answer : [A] Boeing
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, has awarded 425 million dollars to Boeing Company for the agency’s sustainable flight demonstrator project. Under the project, Boeing will work with NASA to build, test, and fly a full-scale demonstrator aircraft and validate technologies aimed at lowering emissions. NASA will invest 425 million dollars, while Boeing and its partners will contribute the remainder of the agreement funding.
4. India is set to start supplying diesel to which country through a Friendship pipeline?
[A] Japan
[B] Nepal
[C] Sri Lanka
[D] Bangladesh
Answer : [D] Bangladesh
The India-Bangladesh Friendship pipeline (IBFPL) will start supplying diesel to Bangladesh on an experimental basis for June this year. About 131.5 kilometer long pipeline has been constructed for importing diesel from India. Out of this, 126.5 kilometer pipeline is in Bangladesh and 5 kilometer line is in India. The international pipeline will carry diesel from the Siliguri based marketing terminal of the Numaligarh Refinery Limited to Parbatipur depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).
5. Which is the first country to back the debt restructure programme of Sri Lanka?
[A] India
[B] Pakistan
[C] China
[D] Australia
Answer : [A] India
India has sent financing assurances to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It thereby becomes the first of Sri Lanka’s creditors to officially back the crisis-hit Island nation’s debt restructure programme. India’s move takes Sri Lanka one step closer to a crucial USD 2.9-billion package from the IMF.
6. Which institution introduced a blocking of funds facility for trading in secondary markets?
[A] RBI
[B] SEBI
[C] IRDAI
[D] PFRDA
Answer : [B] SEBI
Capital markets regulator SEBI proposed to introduce a blocking of funds facility for trading in secondary markets. This move is aimed at safeguarding investors’ money from misuses and default by stock brokers. This is similar to Application Supported by Blocked Amount (ASBA)-like facility already available for the primary market. This move eliminates the need to transfer funds to stock broker.
7. Which Union Ministry is associated with which Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code?
[A] Ministry of Finance
[B] Ministry of Corporate Affairs
[C] Ministry of MSME
[D] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Answer : [B] Ministry of Corporate Affairs
The Government proposed a set of changes to the existing Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) aiming to enhance the efficiency of the bankruptcy process and expanding the scope of the framework. According to the release from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Fast-Track Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (FIRP) is proposed to allow financial creditors to drive the insolvency resolution process for a corporate debtor outside of the judicial process.
8. Which Union Ministry notified the ‘Major Port Authorities Board Rules, 2023’?
[A] Ministry of Jal Shakti
[B] Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
[C] Ministry of Home Affairs
[D] Ministry of MSME
Answer : [B] Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
The Major Ports Adjudicatory Board Rules, 2023, framed under the Act, has been notified by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 came into force in November 2021. As per the rules, the Adjudicatory Board shall consist of a Presiding Officer and two members. The Presiding Officer shall be a retired Judge of Supreme Court of India or a retired Chief Justice of a High Court and the two Members shall either be a retired Chief Secretary of a State Government or equivalent; or a retired Secretary of the Government of India or equivalent.
9. What species is Geochelone elegans, which was seen in the news recently?
[A] One-horned rhinoceros
[B] Indian star tortoise
[C] Great Indian Bustard
[D] Asiatic Lion
Answer : [B] Indian star tortoise
A recent study on the Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) distributed across South Asia has revealed that the genetic diversity of the species as well as habitat has been affected because of illegal trade. The researchers behind the study have also raised concerns over unscientific translocations that have resulted in genetic mixing between different populations, posing a challenge in segregating available populations at the genetic level. The details of the study were recently been published in a peer reviewed international journal.
10. Which country’s ‘Sea Level Change Team’ has released a study on Rising Sea Levels on Coasts?
[A] Japan
[B] Philippines
[C] Indonesia
[D] USA
Answer : [D] USA
The NASA Sea Level Change Team conducted a study recently, which shows that average sea level rise approaching the 1-foot mark for most coastlines of the contiguous U.S. by 2050. As per the study, the Gulf Coast and Southeast will see the most change. The results from the NASA Sea Level Change Team could help refine projections for coastal communities for catastrophic and nuisance floods.
11. Researchers have discovered a rare low-altitude basalt plateau in which state/UT?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Kerala
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Goa
Answer : [C] Maharashtra
Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune recently discovered a rare low-altitude basalt plateau in Manjare village, Thane district. This is the fourth type of plateau to be identified in the region. The plateau houses 76 species of plants and shrubs from 24 different families discovered in Thane region in the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats is one of four global biodiversity hotspots in India.
12. What is the name of the employment drive announced to provide give jobs to 10 lakh people in India?
[A] Bharat Job Mela
[B] Rozgar Mela
[C] Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojana
[D] Pradhan Mantri Employment Scheme
Answer : [B] Rozgar Mela
Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits in different government departments and organisations. The event was part of the ‘Rozgar Mela’ drive which was announced by him last year to give jobs to 10 lakh people. The new recruits will join various positions under the central government like junior engineers, loco pilots, technicians among others.
13. As per the estimates from the World Population Review, which country is the most populous country in the world, as of 2022?
[A] China
[B] India
[C] Indonesia
[D] Pakistan
Answer : [B] India
As per the estimates from the World Population Review, an independent organization focused on census and demographics. India may have already surpassed China as the world’s most-populous nation. India’s population stood at 1.417 billion as of end 2022, 5 million more than the 1.412 billion reported by China. China announced the first decline in population numbers since the 1960s.
14. Geotail mission was a joint project of NASA and which country’s space agency?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] Japan
[D] Australia
Answer : [C] Japan
The Geotail mission was a joint project of Japan’s Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NASA from 2003. NASA-JAXA Geotail spacecraft, which was involved in studying Earth’s magnetosphere, the protective magnetic bubble of the planet has come to an end after 30 long years in orbit.
15. Which institution releases the Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks’ Outlook 2021-22?
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] SBI
[C] RBI
[D] NABARD
Answer : [C] RBI
The Reserve Bank of India released the 9th volume of the annual publication titled ‘Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks’ Outlook 2021-22’. The publication also provides bank-wise information of Scheduled Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks on financial rations on Capital Adequacy, Profitability, and Employee Productivity.
16. Which state has rolled out menstrual and maternity leaves for students for the first time in the country?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Kerala
[C] West Bengal
[D] Tamil Nadu
Answer : [B] Kerala
Kerala announced menstrual and maternity breaks will be provide to all female students in all institutions under the control of the state government’s higher education department. As per the state’s Chief Minister, this is the first time in the country that a state government has taken such a pro-women decision for female students in universities and colleges.
17. Which state has rolled out a ‘comprehensive action plan for conservation of elephants and mitigation of human-elephant conflict’?
[A] Kerala
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Odisha
[D] Karnataka
Answer : [C] Odisha
The Odisha government has introduced a ‘comprehensive action plan for conservation of elephants and mitigation of human-elephant conflict’. This is a zonation approach to maintain a long-term viable population of 1700-1800 elephants in the State. According to the plan, steps will be taken to minimize the incidence of human-elephant conflict and consequent death of humans and elephants.
18. Which country supplies the Apache attack helicopters to India?
[A] Japan
[B] France
[C] USA
[D] Israel
Answer : [C] USA
The United States supplies Apache attack helicopters to India. The first fuselage out of six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, which is the main body of an aircraft, was dispatched by TBAL to Arizona in the U.S. for final assembly. The first fuselage for the Indian Army’s contract for six Ah-64E Apache attack helicopters has rolled out of the Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) facility in Hyderabad. It ia the Joint Venture between Tata Advanced Systems Limited and aircraft manufacturer-Boeing.
19. Which country is the host of the Feria Internacional del Turismo (FITUR) international tourism trade fair?
[A] India
[B] Spain
[C] UK
[D] France
Answer : [B] Spain
Feria Internacional del Turismo or FITUR, the international tourism trade fair was hosted by Spain in Madrid. India participated in an international tourism trade fair to help fast-track the recovery of the country’s inbound tourism to the pre-pandemic levels. It is one of the world’s largest international travel exhibitions.
20. ‘First Movers Coalition (FMC) Leadership Meeting’ is associated with which institution?
[A] World Bank
[B] World Economic Forum
[C] International Monetary Fund
[D] NITI Aayog
Answer : [B] World Economic Forum
India participated in the First Movers Coalition (FMC) Leadership Meeting of the World Economic Forum. The Meeting discussed on the world need for clean energy technologies to confront climate crisis globally. India had proposed for the Startup 20 (S-20) agenda as the G20 President. The Europe for Indian Business corridor was also organized.