31st January 2023 Daily Current Affairs in English
1. What is the name of the first Indian space mission to observe the Sun?
[A] Aditya-L1
[B] Surya-L1
[C] Rakshak-L1
[D] Samyukth-L1
Answer : [A] Aditya-L1
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is aiming to launch the Aditya-L1 mission by June or July 2023. Aditya-L1 is the first Indian space mission to observe the Sun and solar corona. Scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru recently handed over one of the most challenging scientific payloads to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
2. Which state announced to give monthly allowance to unemployed youth from next financial year?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Assam
[C] Chhattisgarh
[D] Rajasthan
Answer : [C] Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel announced to give monthly allowance to unemployed youth from next financial year (2023-24). Bhupesh Baghel also announced the formulation of a rural industry policy to boost the cottage industry-based rural economy. He also announced housing assistance scheme for labourers, scheme for women entrepreneurs.
3. Which city is the host of ‘National Child Science Congress’ in 2023?
[A] Ahmedabad
[B] Mysuru
[C] Pune
[D] Kolkata
Answer : [A] Ahmedabad
The 30th National Child Science Congress began at Science City in Ahmedabad. Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST) and Gujarat Council of Science City are hosting the congress. Over 1400 delegates including child scientists, teachers, evaluators, and government officials will attend the congress. As many as 850 student from across the country will showcase their projects.
4. Which state is undertaking the Caste-Based Survey (CBS) in India?
[A] Jharkhand
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Bihar
[D] Arunachal Pradesh
Answer : [C] Bihar
The first phase of the Caste-Based Survey (CBS) is completed in Bihar. The caste-based survey is being carried out in two stages. The first phase was a household counting exercise, which has now been completed. The form for its next phase where information on people’s caste and socio-economic status will be collected, is being finalized.
5. US-based Hindenburg Research published a report accusing which business group for stock manipulation?
[A] Reliance Industries
[B] Adani Group
[C] ITC Limited
[D] Aditya Birla Group
Answer : [B] Adani Group
A report recently published by Hindenburg Research has accused Adani Group of stock manipulation, improper use of tax havens and money laundering. It has also raised concerns about the group’s mounting debts. The report has led to sharp erosion in the valuation of listed companies like Adani Enterprises, Adani Power, Adani Total Gas, Adani Transmission, Adani Ports & SEZ, Adani Green Energy and NDTV among others.
6. MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) partnered with which company for XR Startup Program?
[A] Google
[B] IBM
[C] Meta
[D] Mastercard
Answer : [C] Meta
MeitY Startup Hub (MSH), an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and Meta have announced the list of 120 startups and innovators for the XR Startup Program. XR Startup Program is a collaboration between MeitY Startup Hub and Meta to discover, nurture, and accelerate Extended Reality (XR) technology startups and innovators across India. The Accelerator Program supports 40 early-stage start-ups working in XR technologies with a grant of Rs. 20 lakhs each.
7. Which state has launched the ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’ (Mohalla Clinics) for providing health services to common public?
[A] Kerala
[B] Punjab
[C] Uttar Pradesh
[D] Gujarat
Answer : [B] Punjab
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) head Arvind Kejriwal launched 400 “Aam Aadmi Clinics” in Amritsar, Punjab. The first set of 100 Mohalla clinics were opened in Punjab last year and more than 10 lakh people had availed health services in the Mohalla Clinics.
8. National Institute of Biologicals is an autonomous institute under which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
[B] Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
[C] Ministry of Science and Technology
[D] Ministry of Electronics and IT
Answer : [A] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
National Institute of Biologicals was set up in 1992, as an apex autonomous institute under the administrative control of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, virtually inaugurated the National Summit on Quality of Biologicals.
9. Opium poppy production in which country dramatically rose recently, as per United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime?
[A] India
[B] Afghanistan
[C] Myanmar
[D] Nepal
Answer : [C] Myanmar
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime observed that the Opium poppy production in Myanmar increased dramatically following the 2021 military coup. As per the office, political and economic turmoil drove farmers to cultivate the crop. The country’s economy has been paralysed following the military power grab in February 2021 and subsequent clashes between the junta and anti-coup rebels.
10. Sri Chamarajendra Zoo, which was seen in the news, is located in which state?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] West Bengal
[D] Bihar
Answer : [A] Karnataka
Sri Chamarajendra Zoo also called as the Mysuru Zoo, put three healthy lion cubs on public display, for the first time since their birth. The cubs (two males and one female) were born to five-year-old lioness Nirbhaya who was brought from Nandan Van Zoo at Rajpur in 2021. She was paired with lion Raju who was brought from Junagadh zoo in Gujarat in 2019.
11. Which Union Ministry launched the National logistics portal-marine (NLP-M)?
[A] Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
[B] Ministry of Jal Shakti
[C] Ministry of Science and Technology
[D] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Answer : [A] Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways launched the national logistics portal-marine (NLP-M). It is a single-window platform aimed at bringing all trade stakeholders together and reducing the cost of logistics through real-time mapping and provisioning. The commerce ministry had also launched a similar single window portal for establishing business in 2021.
12. Which state commenced its first survey of migrants?
[A] Jharkhand
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Uttar Pradesh
Answer : [A] Jharkhand
Jharkhand Migration Survey is a part of the State’s Safe and Responsible Migration Initiative (SRMI) launched by the end of 2021. The objective is to prepare a database of migrant workers that can be used when the government is formulating policies. Two-month exercise involves 24 districts, 60 enumerators and 11,000 households.
13. Which institution launched mobile app to book tickets for Wagah border retreat ceremony parade?
[A] ITBP
[B] BSF
[C] CRPF
[D] CISF
Answer : [B] BSF
The Border Security Force (BSF) has launched a mobile app to ease the process of booking tickets for tourists from all over the world for the retreat ceremony parade. The parade is held at the Attari-Wagah border joint check post (JCP) between India and Pakistan in Amritsar. The retreat ceremony at the Wagah-Attari border began in 1959 and has been a routine practice since then.
14. The customary Halwa ceremony, is associated with releasing of which document?
[A] Economic Survey
[B] Union Budget
[C] RBI Annual Report
[D] State of Finance Report
Answer : [B] Union Budget
The Halwa ceremony, marking the final stage of the Budget preparation process for Union Budget 2023-24, was held recently. Like the previous two Union Budgets, Union Budget 2023-24 will also be delivered in paperless form. All the 14 Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), Finance Bill, as prescribed by the Constitution, will available on the ‘Union Budget Mobile App’.
15. Which company acquired the Cloud Services Start-up ‘Cloudify’?
[A] Microsoft
[B] Dell
[C] Samsung
[D] Google
Answer : [B] Dell
Dell Technologies has acquired Israeli startup Cloudify that is known for cloud orchestration and infrastructure automation. According to reports, Dell spent close to USD 100 million in buying the startup to boost its cloud services business. Cloudify is an open source, multi-cloud orchestration platform.
16. Which country signed a deal with India to relocate dozens of cheetahs?
[A] Egypt
[B] South Africa
[C] Australia
[D] Argentina
Answer : [B] South Africa
South Africa has signed an agreement with India to introduce dozens of African cheetahs to India over the next decade. In September, eight African cheetahs were released at Kuno National Park in central India after a 8,000 km journey from Namibia.
17. Which country has announced to allot land to Indian industries in Suez Canal Special Economic Zone?
[A] South Africa
[B] Egypt
[C] Australia
[D] Germany
Answer : [B] Egypt
A joint statement released by India and Egypt at the summit meeting said that Egypt plans to allot land to Indian industries in Suez Canal Special Economic Zone and India can arrange the master plan for the proposal. India has offered to encourage its companies to undertake overseas investments. The current level of bilateral trade is USD 7.26 billion dollars in jurisdiction, connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
18. Which country has shut down the major ransomware network Hive?
[A] China
[B] USA
[C] Russia
[D] Israel
Answer : [B] USA
The US Justice Department announced on it had shut down the Hive ransomware operation, which extorted more than USD 100 million from more than 1,500 victims worldwide. The US authorities working with German and Netherlands law enforcement took over Hive’s website and servers after having infiltrated it for nearly seven months.
19. Which country has appointed its first representative to fight Islamophobia?
[A] USA
[B] Canada
[C] New Zealand
[D] Germany
Answer : [B] Canada
Canada has appointed its first special representative on combatting Islamophobia as the government seeks to tackle hatred after a series of attacks targeting members of Muslim communities in the country in recent years. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that human rights advocate Amira Elghawaby would hold the post, to offer advice on government policies, legislation and other programmes.
20. Who is the only female Indian tennis player to win six grand slams, till date?
[A] Sania Mirza
[B] Saina Nehwal
[C] Ankita Raina
[D] Karman Kaur Thandi
Answer : [A] Sania Mirza
Sania Mirza is the first and only female Indian tennis player to win six grand slams, till date. Recently Sania and Rohan Bopanna lose Australian Open mixed doubles title to the Brazilian team. Sania will retire in February following a competition in Dubai. Sania has won six Grand Slam tournaments, three of which were in mixed doubles and three in women’s doubles championships.