1st & 2nd January 2023 Daily Current Affairs in English

1. Which Union Ministry launched the ‘Prajjwala Challenge’?

[A] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

[B] Ministry of Rural Development

[C] Ministry of Home Affairs

[D] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Answer: B [Ministry of Rural Development]

Ministry of Rural Development’s Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) has launched the Prajjwala Challenge.

Under the challenge, ideas are invited from individuals, Enterprises, Start ups, Private Sector, Civil Society and others to transform the rural economy.

2. Which institution has urged stock exchanges to set up Investor Risk Reduction Access (IRRA) platform?

[A] RBI

[B] SEBI

[C] NITI Aayog

[D] Supreme Court

Answer: B [SEBI]

Markets regulator SEBI has asked stock exchanges to set up an Investor Risk Reduction Access (IRRA) platform

The platform will give investors an opportunity to square off their position or cancel pending orders in case of disruption of trading services. There is a rise in instances of glitches in systems of trading members, some of which lead to disruption of trading services.

3. What is the target for agricultural and processed food products from India for 2022-23?

[A] USD 3.56 billion

[B] USD 13.56 billion

[C] USD 23.56 billion

[D] USD 43.56 billion

Answer: C [USD 23.56 billion]

India’s agricultural and processed food products exports rose by 16 per cent in the first eight months (April-November) of the current financial year 2022-23 on an annual basis.

For the year 2022-23, an export target of $23.56 billion has been fixed for the agricultural and processed food products basket. At present, the agricultural exports attained 74 per cent of its annual export target.

4. Which Department under the ‘Ministry of Finance’ notifies changes in rates on small savings schemes?

[A] Department of Expenditure

[B] Department of Economic Affairs

[C] Department of Revenue

[D] Department of Financial Services

Answer: B [Department of Economic Affairs]

Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance notifies changes in rates on small savings schemes.

Recently, the government hiked the interest rates on various small savings schemes including senior citizen savings scheme for the January to March quarter. The PPF will continue to earn 7. 10%, while Sukanya Samriddhi account scheme will continue to earn 7.6% interest rate.

5. New Jalpaiguri, which was in the news related to Vande Bharat Express, is located in which state?

[A] Assam

[B] West Bengal

[C] Andhra Pradesh

[D] Gujarat

Answer: B [West Bengal]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off the Vande Bharat express connecting Howrah and New Jalpaiguri. It is a railway station in Siliguri, West Bengal and is considered as the gateway to the northeast.

The Vande Bharat Express covers a distance of 564 km in 7.45 hours, will save three hours of travel time. The Vande Bharat express will be preferred by tea industry executives and tourists travelling to the Himalayas in North Bengal and Sikkim.

6. G Kamala Vardhana Rao has taken over the charge as the CEO of which institution?

[A] myGOV

[B] UIDAI

[C] FSSAI

[D] FCI

Answer: C [FSSAI]

G Kamala Vardhana Rao has taken over the charge as the CEO of food regulator FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India).

The FSSAI is a statutory body established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Prior to this, Rao was serving as the Managing Director of Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), a Miniratna PSU under the Ministry of Tourism.

7. Which city is the host of ‘Cooperative Beneficiaries Conference’?

[A] Chennai

[B] Bengaluru

[C] Cochin

[D] Ahmedabad

Answer: B [Bengaluru]

Union Minister of Home and Cooperation, Amit Shah addressed the ‘Cooperative Beneficiaries Conference’ in Bengaluru, Karnataka

The first cooperative society in the whole country was established in Gadag district of Karnataka in 1905. The Minister announced that one cooperative society will be formed in every panchayat of the country. NABARD, NDDB and the Ministry of Cooperation have prepared an action plan to form 2 lakh new such cooperative societies in three years.

8. What is the name of the fund to be launched by the Government of India for catalysing deep tech start-ups?

[A] Digital India Innovation Fund

[B] Start Up Integration Fund

[C] Deeptech Innovation Fund

[D] Bharat Innovation Fund

Answer: A [Digital India Innovation Fund]

The Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Rajeev Chandrasekhar announced Government of India is going to launch a Digital India Innovation Fund.

The Fund aims to catalyse Deep-tech Startups. He announced this during his address in the event of ‘New India for Young India: Techade of Opportunities’ program at the Catholic Bishop House Campus in Kerala.

9. Ksheer Bhagya scheme is implemented in which state?

[A] Gujarat

[B] Karnataka

[C] Odisha

[D] West Bengal

Answer: B [Karnataka]

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated Mega Dairy at Mandya, Karnataka. The mega dairy inaugurated at a cost of Rs 260 crore would process 10 lakh liters of milk per day and capacity to increase it upto 14 lakh liters per day.

To remove malnutrition among children through the Ksheer Bhagya scheme, milk is being provided to 65 lakh children in government schools and 39 lakh children in Anganwadis.

10. Which company is acquiring Ford India’s manufacturing plant?

[A] Eicher Motors

[B] Tata Motors

[C] Mahindra and Mahindra Motors

[D] Hyundai Motors

Answer: B [Tata Motors]

Tata Motors said the acquisition of Ford India’s manufacturing plant at Sanand through its subsidiary will be completed by January 2023.

Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Limited (TPEML) announced that would acquire Ford India’s Sanand plant in Gujarat for around ₹725 crore. The acquisition included the entire land and buildings, vehicle manufacturing plant along with machinery and equipment and transfer of all eligible employees of FIPL’s vehicle manufacturing operations at Sanand.

11. Which company has partnered with the Spain-based Stark Future SL, in the field of electric motorcycles?

[A] Hero Motorcorp

[B] Eicher Motors

[C] TVS Motors

[D] Honda Motors

Answer: B [Eicher Motors]

Automobile firm Eicher Motors, the parent company of Royal Enfield, announced a strategic collaboration in the space of electric motorcycles with Spain-based Stark Future SL.

As part of this collaboration, the board of Eicher Motors has approved an investment of 50 million euros for 10. 35% equity stake in Stark Future. Stark Future is a European electric motorcycle manufacturer with focus in the area of performance electric motorcycles.

12. Aung Suu Kyi is the former leader of which country?

[A] Thailand

[B] Myanmar

[C] Bangladesh

[D] Nepal

Answer: B [Myanmar]

A military court in Myanmar sentenced the country’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi to a further seven years in prison on charges of corruption.

This has increased her total jail term to 33 years. The court ruling found Suu Kyi guilty of corruption in relation to purchase, repair and rental of a helicopter for use during natural disasters and state affairs

13. Which country commenced its annual war-game ‘Zolfaghar-1401’, in the coastal area of the Gulf of Oman?

[A] UAE

[B] Iran

[C] Afghanistan

[D] Israel

Answer: B [Iran]

Iran has recently commenced its annual drill in the coastal area of the Gulf of Oman and near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Commandos and airborne infantry would participate in the war-games, dubbed ‘Zolfaghar-1401’ along with drones, fighter jets, helicopters, military transport aircraft and submarines. The strait is located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and is crucial to global energy supplies.

14. Pyongyang is the capital city of which country?

[A] South Korea

[B] North Korea

[C] Singapore

[D] Malaysia

Answer: B [North Korea]

North Korea has recently fired three ballistic missiles toward the sea east of the Korean Peninsula, as per the South Korean military.

The three short-range ballistic missiles were fired from North Hwanghae Province, south of the capital Pyongyang. The launches came a day after South Korea successfully conducted a test flight of a solid-propellant space launch vehicle. North Korea has fired around 70 ballistic missiles this year, including about eight intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM).

15. Which Indian chess player won silver in the World Blitz Chess Championship in Kazakhstan?

[A] Gukesh

[B] Praggnananda

[C] Koneru Humpy

[D] Viswanathan Anand

Answer: C [Koneru Humpy]

35-year-old Indian Chess player and former World rapid champion Koneru Humpy won Silver medal at World Blitz Chess Championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Savitha Shri, a 15-year-old girl from Tamil Nadu won bronze at the World rapid and blitz chess championship.

16. In 2023, Portugal Football team captain Cristiano Ronaldo joined the club Al Nassr of which country?

[A] Germany

[B] Saudi Arabia

[C] UAE

[D] Qatar

Answer: B [Saudi Arabia]

Ace Football player Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

He left the Manchester United last month. Ronaldo will arrive in Saudi Arabia after a spell at Spanish giants Real Madrid from 2009-18 where he won two La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, four Champions League titles and three Club World Cups.

17. Which state’s women’s U-18 team won the Khelo India Youth Games 2022?

[A] Kerala

[B] Haryana

[C] Telangana

[D] Punjab

Answer: B [Haryana]

Hockey Haryana’s women’s team won the Khelo India Youth Games 2022 Women’s Under 18 Qualifiers after defeating Madhya Pradesh in the final at Bhubaneswar.

In the final match, Pooja and Gurmail Kaur scored a goal each for Haryana. Odisha stepped up to claim third place after beating Hockey Jharkhand.

18. Which state announced special schemes for Green Tech, Rural Impact and Women-led startups?

[A] Telangana

[B] Tamil Nadu

[C] Punjab

[D] New Delhi

Answer: B [Tamil Nadu]

The Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission (StartupTN) has rolled out special packages of assistance for Green Tech, Rural Impact and Women-led startups.

Chief Minister M. K. Stalin launched the initiative, which included funds earmarked under StartupTN’s flagship grant scheme, Tamil Nadu Startup Seed Grant Fund (TANSEED). It also announced a 50 per cent increase in grants for startups falling under special categories. He also launched a MentorTN portal, under which budding startups can approach successful entrepreneurs, professionals and trusted subject matter experts.

19. India is in talks with which country to sign a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT)?

[A] UK

[B] Saudi Arabia

[C] Sri Lanka

[D] Australia

Answer: B [Saudi Arabia]

India and Saudi Arabia are in talks to sign a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) to obtain formal assistance from each other in investigations related to criminal cases.

Saudi Arabia is only among 12 other countries that does not have either an MLAT or any other bilateral agreement with India to facilitate such investigations. India has so far signed MLATs with 45 countries. India is also in talks to finalise MLATs with Italy and Germany.

20. Which Union Ministry is developing Eco-Parks on reclaimed land and to promote mine tourism?

[A] Power Ministry

[B] Mines Ministry

[C] Coal Ministry

[D] Steel Ministry

Answer: C [Coal Ministry]

Union Coal Ministry is developing Eco-Parks on reclaimed land and to promote mine tourism. As part of the ongoing efforts, eight eco-parks have been constructed recently in different parts of the country and two more such parks will be completed in 2022-23.

An MOU was recently signed between NCL and Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board to boost Singrauli Eco-Tourism Circuit.