5th & 6th February 2023 Daily Current Affairs in English
1. Which institution will be provided a grant of Rs 242 Crore to undertake research on Lab Grown Diamonds?
[A] IISc Bengaluru
[B] IIT Madras
[C] IIT Delhi
[D] IIT Kharagpur
Answer : [B] IIT Madras
As per a recommendation made by the Department of Commerce, IIT Madras will be provided a grant of Rs 242 crore over a period of five years to undertake research on Lab Grown Diamonds (LGD). In the Union Budget 2023, Union Finance Minister said that Lab grown Diamonds (LGD) is a technology and innovation-driven emerging sector with high employment potential.
2. Dholavira, which was seen in the news, is located in which state/UT?
[A] Assam
[B] West Bengal
[C] Gujarat
[D] Arunachal Pradesh
Answer : [C] Gujarat
Dholavira is believed to have been occupied around 3500 BC (pre-Harappan) till around 1800 BC. It was also named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2021. The first G20 Tourism Working Group meeting will be held in Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. During the occasion, delegates will be taken on an excursion to Dholavira, the southern centre of the Harappan Civilisation. Representatives from United Nations’ World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), and International Labour Organisation (ILO) will also participate in the meeting.
3. WAPCOS, an engineering consultancy and construction services firm under which Union Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Rural Development
[B] Ministry of Jal Shakti
[C] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
[D] Ministry of MSME
Answer : [B] Ministry of Jal Shakti
WAPCOS is an engineering consultancy and construction services firm under the Jal Shakti Ministry. In September 2022, it filed draft papers with market regulator SEBI for launching an IPO by selling 3.25 crore shares held by the Government. Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) announced recently that the Government is targeting to launch the initial public offering (IPO) of IREDA, and WAPCOS, in the next fiscal.
4. Which Union Ministry issued orders to block over 100 betting and loan-lending Chinese apps?
[A] Ministry of External Affairs
[B] Ministry of Finance
[C] Ministry of Defence
[D] Ministry of Electronics and IT
Answer : [D] Ministry of Electronics and IT
The Centre has initiated the process to block 138 betting and 94 loan-lending Chinese apps on an emergency basis. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued blocking orders based on emergency request by the Nodal officer of Ministry of Home Affairs. The move was taken after confirming that these apps contain material that is prejudicial to sovereignty of India under Section 69 of IT Act.
5. Which country’s Chief Justice is the chief guest of the 73rd foundation day of the Supreme Court of India?
[A] Bangladesh
[B] Singapore
[C] USA
[D] France
Answer : [B] Singapore
Singapore Chief Justice Sunadresh Menon attends as chief guest of the 73rd foundation day of the Supreme Court of India. The Singapore chief Justice delivered a lecture on the “Role of judiciary in a changing world” as this year’s event was aired on social media platforms. On January 28, 1950, two days after India became the Sovereign Democratic Republic, the Supreme Court of India was established.
6. Which Indian armed force unveiled a revised doctrine to lay out its role in “no war, no peace scenario” (NWNP)?
[A] Indian Army
[B] Indian Navy
[C] Indian Air Force
[D] Indian Coast Guard
Answer : [C] Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force (IAF) launched a revised doctrine in which it laid out the role of air power in the “no war, no peace scenario” (NWNP) that India typically faces. The doctrine, which refers to air power as aerospace power, highlighted the use of air power as part of a joint military strategy involving the two other forces. The doctrine also emphasized that defensive and offensive counter-operations are linked.
7. Dust particles in which state are recently found to have heavy concentration of toxic metals?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] New Delhi
[C] Jharkhand
[D] Haryana
Answer : [C] Jharkhand
Dust particles in Jamshedpur and adjoining areas in Jharkhand have a heavy concentration of toxic metals. Though they are not carcinogenic, the particles pose a high health risk, especially for children. Thgis was revealed at a conference held by the state pollution control board and Ranchi Municipal Corporation in association with ASAR, an organization working on clean air and environment. As of now, Ranchi does not have environment-operated continuous air quality monitoring system.
8. Which neighbouring country of India marked its 75th Independence anniversary on 4th February 2023?
[A] Bangladesh
[B] Afghanistan
[C] Sri Lanka
[D] Nepal
Answer : [C] Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka marked its 75th independence anniversary on 4th February 2023. Several activists, Buddhists and Christian clergy announced a boycott of the celebration in the capital. A group of activists began a silent protest in the capital, condemning government’s independence celebration and failure to ease the economic burden. University students also attempted a protest march.
9. What is the disinvestment target of the Finance ministry for the year 2023-24?
[A] Rs 98000 crore
[B] Rs 82000 crore
[C] Rs 65000 crore
[D] Rs 51000 crore
Answer : [D] Rs 51000 crore
For the next fiscal year 2023-24, the Union Budget has pegged disinvestment revenue at Rs 51,000 crore. The government has also scaled down the disinvestment target for the current fiscal to Rs 50,000 crore, from Rs 65,000 crore budgeted last year. The Government expects divestment processes initiated in the current fiscal to be closed by the next fiscal year, including IDBI, Shipping Corporation of India and NMDC Steel.
10. Which institution regulates the limits of shares or voting rights in a banking company?
[A] SEBI
[B] RBI
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] NITI Aayog
Answer : [B] RBI
The Reserve Bank of India issued Master Direction-Reserve Bank of India (Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights in Banking Companies) Directions. As per the directions, permission to acquire shares or voting rights in a banking company for non-promoter will be limited to 10% in case of individuals, non-financial institutions, and financial institutions connected with large industrial houses. The limit is 15% in case of financial institutions, PSUs and government. RBI recently allowed DSP Investment Managers to hike its stake in DCB Bank to 9.99 per cent.
11. India agreed to establish a ‘Defence and Energy Bloc’ with which other countries, recently?
[A] USA, Israel
[B] France, UAE
[C] Germany, UAE
[D] Sri Lanka, UAE
Answer : [B] France, UAE
The foreign ministers of France, India and the UAE have agreed to establish a formal trilateral cooperation initiative. The ‘Defence and Energy Bloc’ aims to promote international stability and prosperity, and expand their defence ties with a focus on the Rafale fighter jets.
12. India’s Largest Chopper Plant is set to be inaugurated in which state/UT?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Karnataka
[D] Gujarat
Answer : [C] Karnataka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate India’s largest Chopper Plant in Karnataka, the foundation stone for which was laid in 2016. It will be a green-fled helicopter manufacturing facility, which will supply choppers to the armed forces and cater for future exports. The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) factory in Karnataka’s Tumakuru will initially produce the Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) on order by the armed forces.
13. ‘Doly Jahur and Ilias Kanchan’ who were seen in the news, are the eminent artists from which country?
[A] India
[B] Pakistan
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Afghanistan
Answer : [C] Bangladesh
Eminent artists Doly Hajur and Ilias Kanchan will be honoured with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for their contribution to the film Industry in Bangladesh. This was announced in the National Film Awards 2021 recently announced in the country. Lal Moroger Jhuti (Call of the Red Rooster) and Nona Joler Kabbo (The Salt in our waters) will be jointly awarded in the Best Film Category.
14. Union Sports Ministry formed an Oversight Committee to probe allegations against federation of which sports?
[A] Chess
[B] Wrestling
[C] Hockey
[D] Badminton
Answer : [B] Wrestling
Union Sports Ministry formed an Oversight Committee to probe allegations against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Former wrestler Babita Phogat has joined the Oversight Committee panel. The Oversight Committee is also conducting an enquiry into the allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment, intimidation, financial irregularities and administrative lapses of WFI.
15. Which state/UT is the host of the ‘Khelo India Winter Games 2023’?
[A] Sikkim
[B] Arunachal Pradesh
[C] Jammu and Kashmir
[D] Himachal Pradesh
Answer : [C] Jammu and Kashmir
Khelo India Winter Games 2023 will be held in the town of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir in February 2023. Youth Affairs and sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur launched the Mascot, Theme song and jersey for 3rd edition of Khelo India Winter Games.
16. The US Defence officials have shot down a surveillance balloon of which country?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] Russia
[D] Afghanistan
Answer : [B] China
After floating over the US for days, a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon has been shot down by the US Defence officials. The balloon is said to have a payload the size of several buses. China’s foreign ministry denied that the balloon was used for surveillance, and it said that it was a civilian airship used for meteorological and other scientific research.
17. As per the Union Budget 2023, what is the per capita income in India, as of date?
[A] Rs 4.15 lakh per annum
[B] Rs 3.75 lakh per annum
[C] Rs 2.55 lakh per annum
[D] Rs 1.97 lakh per annum
Answer : [D] Rs 1.97 lakh per annum
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in her Budget speech that the per capita income in India has more than doubled to ₹ 1.97 lakh over the past nine years. The EPFO membership has more than doubled to 27 crore. She also announced that the government made cash transfer of ₹ 2.2 lakh crore under the PM-KISAN scheme.
18. Which state/UT recently notified directions to charge groundwater extraction by industries and other establishments?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Punjab
[C] Bihar
[D] West Bengal
Answer : [B] Punjab
The state government of Punjab notify a policy to meter and charge groundwater extraction by industries and other establishments. Anyone with an existing bore-well or digging afresh will have to take permission from Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA). There will be exemptions including farmers using water for agriculture purposes, places of worship, drinking and domestic Water Supply Scheme of Government, among others.
19. Which state/UT Child Rights body launched its WhatsApp chatbot for more effective interaction?
[A] Odisha
[B] Telangana
[C] New Delhi
[D] Goa
Answer : [C] New Delhi
The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) launched its WhatsApp chatbot for more effective interaction. The chatbot will be used for complaint registration, searching information, and tracking complaint status. It will be used by the commission for nudge-based awareness communications to children, women, Anganwadi workers, etc.
20. What is the agricultural credit target for the current fiscal year 2023-24, as per the Union budget?
[A] Rs 15 lakh core
[B] Rs 20 lakh crore
[C] Rs 25 lakh core
[D] Rs 30 lakh crore
Answer : [B] Rs 20 lakh crore
As per the Union budget 2023-24, the government proposed to increase the agricultural credit target to ₹ 20 lakh crore with a focus on animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries. The target has been increased from Rs 18 lakh crore, with an increase of 11.11% year on year. An Agriculture Accelerator Fund will be set up to encourage agri-startups by young entrepreneurs. The agriculture sector has been growing at an average annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent in the last six year.