5th January 2023 Daily Current Affairs in English
1. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva recently took charge as the President of which country?
[A] Brazil
[B] France
[C] Italy
[D] Argentina
Answer : [A] Brazil
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office for a third term as Brazil’s President, after the divisive election in October.
2. Which country recently switched to euro from its kuna currency and became the 20th member of the Eurozone?
[A] Slovenia
[B] Croatia
[C] Serbia
[D] Romania
Answer : [B] Croatia
Croatia switched to the euro and entered Europe’s borderless zone as Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic called a historic moment for his country.
The Balkan nation bid farewell to its kuna currency and became the 20th member of the Eurozone. It is now the 27th nation in the passport-free Schengen zone. It is the world’s largest zone which enables more than 400 million people to move freely around its members. The country of 3.9 million people joined the European Union in 2013.
3. As per the CMIE’s latest report, which state had recorded the highest unemployment rate among states in December 2022?
[A] New Delhi
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Haryana
[D] Andhra Pradesh
Answer : [C] Haryana
India’s unemployment rate reached a 16-month high of 8.3 percent in December 2022 according to a report by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE).
CMIE added that the increase was partly due to the increase in labour participation rate. The urban unemployment rate increased to 10.09 percent in December while the rural unemployment rate was marginally lower at 7.44 percent. At 37.4 percent, Haryana reported the highest unemployment rate among states, followed by Rajasthan at 28.5 percent and Delhi at 20.8 percent.
4. Which country inaugurated the Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA), with the support of China?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Nepal
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Bhutan
Answer : [B] Nepal
Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachand inaugurated the country’s third international airport in Pokhara built with Chinese assistance.
The Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA), a flagship project of Nepal-China Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, was constructed with Chinese loan assistance. Besides the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Gautam Buddha International Airport was upgraded as international airport in May 2022.
5. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who is a recipient of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, is the President of which country?
[A] Israel
[B] Guyana
[C] Ukraine
[D] UAE
Answer : [B] Guyana
President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the ninth President of Guyana, is one among the 21 recipients of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA).
He will also be the Chief Guest at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be held this time in Indore. US-based businessman Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, and DSB Group CEO Piyush Gupta are among 21 recipients.
6. ‘Starlink’ is a satellite internet constellation designed and manufactured by which company?
[A] Amazon
[B] SpaceX
[C] Blue Origin
[D] Apple
Answer : [B] SpaceX
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation designed and manufactured by SpaceX to provide high-speed internet to people living in remote locations. SpaceX launched the first batch of a new generation of 54 Starlink satellites into orbit aboard the Falcon 9 rocket. The The touchdown of the Falcon 9 first stage marked a successful end to SpaceX’s 60th launch of SpaceX in 2022, nearly doubling the record of 31 launches made in 2021.
7. Which city is the host of the ‘VIRAASAT’ festival organized by the Ministry of Textiles?
[A] Mumbai
[B] Tiruppur
[C] Ahmedabad
[D] New Delhi
Answer : [D] New Delhi
The second phase of the Sari Festival ‘VIRAASAT’- celebrating 75 hand-woven Saris of India is hosted at Handloom Haat, Janpath, New Delhi. The Ministry of Textiles is organizing the festival, while the first phase was held in December 2022. Handloom saris drawn from several exotic locations of India including Jamdani, Ikat, Pochampally, Chanderi, Lalitpuri and Patola are on display and sale at the exhibition.
8. Which country is set to launch ‘Electronic Supreme Court Reports (e-SCR) project’?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Pakistan
[C] India
[D] Bangladesh
Answer : [C] India
The Supreme Court of India is set to launch a project, to provide free access to official law reports of its verdicts to law students, lawyers and the general public. The Electronic Supreme Court Reports (e-SCR) project will be unveiled on the direction of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud. The project will be rolled out on the Supreme Court’s website and will be made available on the mobile application of Supreme Court of India and Judgment portal of National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG).
9. ‘Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)’ is related with which institution?
[A] World Bank
[B] World Trade Organisation
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] World Economic Forum
Answer : [B] World Trade Organisation
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has floated draft control orders (QCOs) for 16 products including air coolers, bicycles and bottled water dispensers. The items under these orders cannot be produced, sold, imported and stocked unless mark. These orders are issued in consonance with the WTO (World Trade Organisation) Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT).
10. Which state announced that no rhinos were poached in 2022, the first time since 2000?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Assam
[C] Bihar
[D] Odisha
Answer : [B] Assam
The Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that no rhinos were poached in Assam in the year 2022. Since 2000, it is for the first time there were no incidents of rhino poaching in the state. Assam’s Kaziranga National Park is the biggest habitat for one-horned rhinos globally. In 2021, the Assam government established a 22-member task force for containing the act of poaching.
11. Which city is the host of the Indian Science Congress (ISC)?
[A] Nagpur
[B] Indore
[C] Varanasi
[D] Cochin
Answer : [A] Nagpur
The 108th session of Indian Science Congress (ISC) has been launched in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed the Indian Science Congress 2023. The five-day event is being hosted by the Nagpur University with the focal theme of ‘Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment’.
12. Who is the head of the Committee set up to discuss measures to protect Ladakh’s culture, language and employment?
[A] Jamyang Tsering Namgyal
[B] Amit Shah
[C] Nityanand Rai
[D] RK Mathur
Answer : [C] Nityanand Rai
The Centre has constituted a High Powered Committee to discuss measures to protect Ladakh’s unique culture, language and employment. A 17 member committee has been set up under the Chairmanship of Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai. Other members include Ladakh Lieutenant Governor RK Mathur, MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, and nominee officials of Home ministry among others.
13. In which year, the decision of Demonetisation was announced in India?
[A] 2014
[B] 2016
[C] 2017
[D] 2018
Answer : [B] 2016
A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has upheld by a 4-1 majority the Centre’s 2016 decision to withdraw from circulation currency nates of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations. The majority, comprising Justices S Abdul Nazeer, B R Gavai, A S Bopanna, V Ramasubramanian, held that the Centre’s notification was valid and satisfied the test of proportionality. Justice BV Nagarathna in her dissenting view held that though demonetization was well-intentioned and well thought of it has to be declared unlawful on legal grounds.
14. Which institution declares ‘Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs)’ in India?
[A] Ministry of Finance
[B] Reserve Bank of India
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] Supreme Court
Answer : [B] Reserve Bank of India
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lists Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) of India, that are too big to fall. In the recent list, RBI listed the top three Indian lenders-State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank – as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs). They attract closer supervision and regulation from RBI.
15. Which country has banned most foreigners from buying homes, to tackle housing crunch faced by locals?
[A] USA
[B] China
[C] Canada
[D] Germany
Answer : [C] Canada
Canada has banned most foreigners from buying Homes, to make more homes available to locals facing a housing crunch. The ban prohibits people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents from buying residential properties, and imposes a c$10,000 fine on those who breach it.
16. Which institution has listed restrictive norms of Ministries that violate ‘Make in India’ Plan?
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] DPIIT
[C] Central Vigilance Commission
[D] Enforcement Directorate
Answer : [B] DPIIT
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has listed around 20 restrictive and discriminatory conditions of procuring agencies under various ministries against local suppliers. As per DPIIT, the conditions make them non-complaint with the India order. It includes additional requirement of bank guarantee for local suppliers, delayed payment terms, excessive past experience requirements etc.
17. Which state/ UT launched ‘Legal Aid Defense Counsel System’?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Jammu and Kashmir
[C] Telangana
[D] Jharkhand
Answer : [B] Jammu and Kashmir
The acting Chief Justice of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, Justice Tashi Rabstan, launched Legal Aid Defense Counsel System in 10 districts of the UT. The system would be extended to the remaining 10 districts in the coming months to ensure quality legal services.
18. Vaidehi Chaudhari, who won her maiden singles title recently, plays which sports?
[A] Table Tennis
[B] Tennis
[C] Badminton
[D] Squash
Answer : [B] Tennis
22-year-old Vaidehi Chaudhari has clinched the USD 15,000 ITF women’s tournament singles in Gwalior after beating top seed Ksenia Laskutova. It was Vaidehi’s maiden singles title in the professional circuit. She had won her maiden doubles title earlier with Laskutova as her parter. Vaidehi is also the reigning National Tennis Champion.
19. Scientists from which country has developed a new technology to filter micro-plastics from water?
[A] India
[B] South Korea
[C] Australia
[D] UAE
Answer : [B] South Korea
Scientists from South Korea have developed a new water purification system that can efficiently filter out microplastics. The polymer used is inexpensive with excellent adsorption performance and photo-thermal properties. In a recent experiment, over 99.9 percent of contaminants were taken out of the water in 10 seconds.
20. Which institution conducts the ‘Systemic Risk Survey (SRS)’ in India?
[A] State Bank of India
[B] Reserve Bank of India
[C] Bombay Stock Exchange
[D] National Stock Exchange
Answer : [B] Reserve Bank of India
The Reserve Bank of India conducts the Systemic Risk Survey (SRS) in India. As per the recent survey, confidence of respondents in Indian financial system improved as 93.6 percent of them remaining fairly or highly confident of the stability of the India financial system. The 23rd round of the RBI’s Systemic Risk Survey was conducted in November 2022. The survey captured perception of risk to financial stability from external sector and their views on the likelihood of a global recession in 2023.