14th February 2023 Daily Current Affairs in English

1. Which country recently partnered with Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Joint Business Council?

[A] Australia

[B] India

[C] USA

[D] China

Answer : [B] India

India signed a MoU with Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Joint Business Council (IMT-GT JBC), to promote adoption of energy efficiency. The MoU was signed during the Working group meeting of G20 on energy transition at Bengaluru. The MoU aims to further promote the adoption of energy efficiency and sustainable practices. Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) signed MoU with IMT-GT JBC coinciding with the India Energy Week celebrations.

2. As per FAO recent database, which country ranked first in milk production across the world?

[A] Brazil

[B] India

[C] China

[D] Argentina

Answer : [B] India

According to production data of Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT), India ranks first in the world contributing twenty-four percent of global milk production in the year 2021-22. The milk production of India has registered fifty-one percent increase between 2014-15 and 2021-22 and increased to twenty-two crore tonne in the year 2021-22.

3. Which neighbouring country of India partnered with Russia for developing nuclear power?

[A] Sri Lanka

[B] Nepal

[C] Myanmar

[D] Bangladesh

Answer : [C] Myanmar

Myanmar’s military-led government has inaugurated a nuclear power information centre, along with Russia’s state atomic energy company. This is seen as a step toward developing atomic power to fill energy shortages in the Southeast Asian nation. Myanmar hopes to build and operate a reactor under a preliminary agreement between Myanmar and Russia’s Rosatom That was signed in 2015.

4. Which Union Ministry launched the ‘Digital Payments Utsav’?

[A] Ministry of Finance

[B] Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

[C] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

[D] Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Answer : [B] Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, launched a comprehensive campaign plan, ‘Digital Payments Utsav’, in New Delhi. Digital Payments Utsav, has been planned this year to promote Digital Payments across the country and to celebrate the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and G20 Presidency. Digital Payment Sandesh Yatra was also flagged off to make citizens aware of digital payments solutions. DigiDhan awards were presented to banks that perform well in digital payments.

5. Which Indian state topped the medal tally in the 5^th Khelo India Youth Games?

[A] Haryana

[B] Tamil Nadu

[C] Maharashtra

[D] Madhya Pradesh

Answer : [C] Maharashtra

In the fifth Khelo India Youth Games recently concluded in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra ranks first in the medal table with 161 medals including 56 gold medals. Maharashtra had already won the titles in 2019 and 2020. Haryana claimed the first runners-up trophy with 128 medals, followed by the hosts Madhya Pradesh in the third place.

6. ‘Districts as Export Hubs Initiative’ is implemented by which Union Ministry?

[A] Ministry of Commerce and Industry

[B] Ministry of MSME

[C] Ministry of Rural Development and Entrepreneurship

[D] Ministry of Finance

Answer : [A] Ministry of Commerce and Industry

The One District One Product (ODOP) initiative is aimed at promoting balanced regional development across all districts of the country. ODOP has been merged with ‘Districts as Export Hubs Initiative’ being run by the Department of (DoC) with Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as a major stakeholder. Under the ODOP-Districts as Export Hubs initiative, products with export potential have been recently identified from all 765 districts of the country.

7. After the RBI Monetary Policy Statement announced in February 2023, what is the repo rate?

[A] 5.50%

[B] 5.75%

[C] 6.25%

[D] 6.50%

Answer : [D] 6.50%

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India hiked the key policy rate, the Repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.50 per cent in a bid to control the retail inflation. The RBI has increased the repo rate by a cumulative 250 basis points to 6.50 per cent since May this year. The RBI has projected GDP growth for the next fiscal (FY2024) at 6.4 per cent.

8. Which country launched ‘Operation Dost’ to extend assistance to Turkey and Syria after the massive earthquake?

[A] Pakistan

[B] China

[C] India

[D] Russia

Answer : [C] India

India launched ‘Operation Dost’ to extend assistance to Turkey and Syria after the devastating earthquake. The seventh ‘Operation Dost’ flight reached earthquake-hit Syria with over 23 tons of relief material. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the flight is carrying more than 35 tons of relief material, of which over 23 tons is headed for relief efforts in Syria, and around 12 tons to Turkey.

9. ‘Gazlantep Castle’, which was seen in the news, is a historical site located in which country?

[A] Russia

[B] Ukraine

[C] Turkey

[D] USA

Answer : [C] Turkey

The earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria has badly damaged Gaziantep Castle, a historic site and tourist attraction in south-eastern Turkey. The castle collapsed during the 7.8 magnitude earthquake which hit Turkey. According to archaeological excavations, the castle was first built as a watchtower in the Roman period in the second and third centuries C.E. and expanded over time. Most recently, it served as ‘Gaziantep Defense and Heroism Panoramic Museum’.

10. Which Union Ministry signed an MoU with Digital Green to build a national-level digital extension platform?

[A] Ministry of Home Affairs

[B] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

[C] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

[D] Ministry of Finance

Answer : [C] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare signed an MoU with Digital Green under a public-private partnership framework to build a ‘National-level digital extension platform’. The platform will host a digital library of multi-format multi-lingual content and upskill extension workers for agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, livestock and rural livelihood missions through certified online courses.

11. Which Union Ministry launched the Mission Antyodaya Survey (MAS) 2022-23?

[A] Ministry of Rural Development

[B] Ministry of MSME

[C] Ministry of Finance

[D] Ministry of Agriculture

Answer : [A] Ministry of Rural Development

Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh recently inaugurated Mission Antyodaya Survey (MAS) 2022-23. The objectives of the scheme are-conducting an annual survey at the Gram Panchayat level to monitor the progress in the development process in rural areas, Panchayat wise ranking and making Gap report, which serves as an important input for the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP).

12. What is the rank of India in the Global Quality Infrastructure Index (GQII) 2021?

[A] First

[B] Third

[C] Fifth

[D] Seventh

Answer : [C] Fifth

India’s national accreditation system ranked fifth in the world in the Global Quality Infrastructure Index (GQII) 2021. The GQII ranks the 184 economics in the world on the basis of the quality infrastructure (QI). India’s overall QI system ranking continues to be in the 10^th position, with the standardization system (under BIS) at 9^th and the metrology system (under NPL-CSIR) at 21^st position in the world.

13. Which city is the host of the 14^th Aero India event 2023?

[A] Lucknow

[B] Gandhinagar

[C] Bengaluru

[D] Ranchi

Answer : [C] Bengaluru

The 14^th edition of the Aero India 2023 is being held by the Indian Department of Defense Production at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru. The event is expected to showcase India’s growth in aerospace and defence capabilities. The event also provides an opportunity for defence personnel to interact with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) representatives.

14. Which country introduced new bank stress-test scenarios to examine the ability of the 23 biggest lenders?

[A] India

[B] USA

[C] UK

[D] China

Answer : [B] USA

US Federal Reserve, the country’s central bank recently introduced Wall Street bank stress-test scenarios. The central bank will examine the ability of the 23 biggest US lenders to withstand crisis conditions without degrading their capital. For the first time, the so-called stress test will feature an ‘exploratory market shock’ to the trading books of the largest and most complex banks.

15. Which city is the host of the third edition of Khelo India Winter Games?

[A] Guwahati

[B] Shimla

[C] Gulmarg

[D] Leh

Answer : [C] Gulmarg

The third edition of Khelo India Winter Games recently kicked off at Gulmarg, in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. Over 1500 sportspersons from across the country will participate in nine different winter sports disciplines. Jammu and Kashmir holds the distinction to have topped in both the previous editions of the Khelo India Winter Games held so far.

16. Which state approved a new policy for industries and the electric vehicles focusing on MSMEs, infrastructure and power?

[A] Kerala

[B] Punjab

[C] Odisha

[D] Haryana

Answer : [B] Punjab

The Punjab Cabinet has approved a new policy for industries and the electric vehicles effective from October 17, 2022, for a period of five years. The industrial policy of the state focuses particularly on the three key sectors – Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), infrastructure and power. Under the new policy, the state will develop 15 industrial parks covering general and sector specific requirements of various industrial sectors and 20 rural clusters across the state.

17. Which is the first Fintech company to launch cross-border transaction facility through UPI?

[A] BharatPe

[B] Razorpay

[C] PhonePe

[D] PayTm

Answer : [C] PhonePe

PhonePe recently became the first Indian fintech company to enable payments abroad. It allows international transactions through Unified Payments Interface (UPI). With this, Indian travellers can make UPI transactions to foreign merchants using PhonePe platform. Cross-border transaction facility by PhonePe will support all International outlets in UAE, Singapore, Nepal, Bhutan and Mauritius having local QR Code.

18. Which Indian state implements the ‘Pudumal Penn’ scholarship scheme for girl students?

[A] Tamil Nadu

[B] Kerala

[C] Karnataka

[D] Andhra Pradesh

Answer : [A] Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched phase 2 of the ‘Pudumai Penn’ scheme, a scholarship scheme for girl students, in Chennai. The scheme involves the distribution of a scholarship amount of ₹ 1,000 per month to girl students pursuing their higher studies after completing their schooling at a government school. The scholarship is provided through the Social Welfare Department.

19. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, which was seen in the news, is used to treat which disease?

[A] Polio

[B] Cancer

[C] Tuberculosis

[D] Diabetes

Answer : [B] Cancer

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is the latest innovation in the field of medicine, to treat cancer. Rather than relying on drugs, like chemotherapy or immunotherapy, the CAR T cell therapy treatments utilize a patient’s own cells that have been altered in a lab to stimulate T-cells and attack tumour cells. Currently, CAR T-cell therapy has received clearance for treating leukemia and lymphoma types of cancer.

20. QR Code-based Coin Vending Machine, which was announced recently, dispenses coins using which technology?

[A] Aadhar enabled payment system

[B] Unified Payment Interface

[C] Central Bank Digital Currency

[D] Bharat Bill Payment System

Answer : [B] Unified Payment Interface

QR code-based coin vending machine or QCVM has been announced as a part of the recently concluded RBI Monetary policy. QCVM is intended to dispense coins similar to how ATMs dispense currency notes. Coins can be with drawn using the UPI QR code in designated vending machines. RBI plans to launch the product in 19 locations across 12 cities.