26th January 2023 Daily Current Affairs in English

1. Which city is the host of the ‘G-20 Working Group on Environment and Climate Sustainability’ meeting?

[A] Chennai

[B] Bengaluru

[C] Kochi

[D] Varanasi

Answer : [B] Bengaluru

A sensitization workshop on G-20 Environment and Climate Sustainability is being organized in Bengaluru. The first meeting of the G-20 Working Group on Environment and Climate Sustainability will be held in Bengaluru in February 2023. The G-20 Working Group will focus on Arresting Land Degradation Restoration of Degraded Lands and Enhancement of Biodiversity.

2. Narayanpur left bank canal with modern irrigation system has been inaugurated in which state?

[A] Kerala

[B] Tamil Nadu

[C] Karnataka

[D] Odisha

Answer : [C] Karnataka

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched several projects related to water security, farmers’ welfare and road connectivity in Karnataka. He launched Narayanpur left bank canal with modern irrigation system at Yadgir in North Karnataka. It is implemented at a cost of 4699 crore rupees and will help irrigate over five lakh hectares in the backward regions of Yadgir, Raichur and Kalburgi.

3. ‘Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity’ is to be set up in which state/UT?

[A] Assam

[B] New Delhi

[C] Uttarakhand

[D] Telangana

Answer : [B] New Delhi

Indian Ports Association has signed MoU with Research and Information System for Developing Countries for setting up a Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity in New Delhi. The proposed project of Transhipment Port at Galathea bay at Greater Nicobar in Andaman & Nicobar Islands will be advantageous for the BIMSTEC Nations.

4. Which country is the host of the ‘FIDE World Championship 2023’?

[A] Kazakhstan

[B] Italy

[C] Israel

[D] India

Answer : [A] Kazakhstan

Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan is set to host the FIDE World Chess Championship Match during Aril – May 2023. The current world champion Magnus Carlsen won’t play in the 2023 FIDE World Chess Championship. Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren will battle to seize the throne of the World Champion.

5. Prime Minister Modi to name 21 islands of Andaman & Nicobar after which awardees?

[A] Bharat Ratna

[B] Padma Vibhushan

[C] Padma Bhushan

[D] Param Vir Chakra

Answer : [D] Param Vir Chakra

Prime Minister Modi named 21 islands of Andaman & Nicobar after Param Vir Chakra awardees, to give due honour and recognition to real-life heroes. The move was taken on Parakram Diwas, also known as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti. The national event aims to mark the birth anniversary of prominent Indian freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

6. Which city is the host of ‘G20’ s first Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group Meeting’?

[A] Chennai

[B] Bengaluru

[C] Kolkata

[D] Mumbai

Answer : [B] Bengaluru

G20’s first Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group Meeting is set to be held in Bengaluru. It will focus on the promotion of the blue economy along with coastal sustainability, restoration of degraded lands and ecosystems, enhancement of biodiversity and strengthening of a circular economy. The delegates are scheduled to visit the Kalkere Arboretum and Bannerghatta Biological Park in Bengaluru.

7. Who is the winner of the Bahrain’s ISA Award for Service to Humanity Himalayan Cataract Project?

[A] Dr Sanduk Ruit

[B] Dr Santhosh G Honavar

[C] Dr Vineet Ratra

[D] Dr Aditya Kelkar

Answer : [A] Dr Sanduk Ruit

Nepalese ophthalmologist Dr Sanduk Ruit has won Bahrain’s ISA Award for Service to Humanity, a top civilian award of Bahrain. The award carries a cash prize of USD 1 million, a certificate of merit and a gold medal. He is the recipient of the Padma Shri Award by the Indian Government, the National Order of Merit of Bhutan as well as the Ramon Magsaysay Award.

8. Charaideo Maidams, which are seen in the news, are located in which state?

[A] West Bengal

[B] Assam

[C] Karnataka

[D] Andhra Pradesh

Answer : [B] Assam

The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the Centre has nominated the maidams of Ahom Kingdom in Charaideo to seek a UNESCO World Heritage Site tag for the historic site. The Charaideo Maidams are the representation of the late medieval mound burial tradition of the Tai Ahom community in Assam. The Maidams are managed by the Archaeological Survey of India and the State Department of Archaeology.

9. Which state is to set up a turtle conservation and rehabilitation centre?

[A] Odisha

[B] Tamil Nadu

[C] Goa

[D] Andhra Pradesh

Answer : [B] Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu government will set up a ₹ 6.30 crore turtle conservation and rehabilitation centre in Chennai. The centre will be set up at the Guindy Park with facilities including turtle pool, shed. It will also act as a temporary home to sick and injured turtles before they are released back to the natural habitat.

10. During the sugar season in 2021-22, which country was the world’s largest producer and consumer of sugar?

[A] China

[B] USA

[C] India

[D] Indonesia

Answer : [C] India

India has produced a record over 5,000 Lakh Metric Tons (LMT) of sugarcane in the sugar season 2021-22. During the sugar season between October and September 2021-22, India has emerged as the world’s largest producer and consumer of sugar. It has also become the world’s second-largest exporter of sugar after Brazil.

11. Which state/UT launched a water conservation scheme to renovate over 2000 ponds and construct over 2000 percolation tanks?

[A] Odisha

[B] Jharkhand

[C] West Bengal

[D] Chhattisgarh

Answer : [B] Jharkhand

Jharkhand government launched a water conservation scheme with an outlay of Rs 467.32 crore to benefit the farmers in the state that experienced drought last year. Under the programme, 2,133 ponds will be renovated and 2,795 percolation tanks will be constructed in all the blocks of 24 districts of the state.

12. Shompen tribe of people, which were seen in the news, are located in which state/UT?

[A] Jharkhand

[B] Madhya Pradesh

[C] Andaman and Nicobar Islands

[D] Assam

Answer : [C] Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Constitutional Conduct Group, which includes nearly 100 farmer civil servants, has written to President Droupadi Murmu protesting the mega-infrastructure project in the Great Nicobar Island. The Union Environment Ministry gave clearance for the diversion of 130.75 sq. km. of forest in Great Nicobar Island for a ₹ 72,000-crore project that includes a trans-shipment port, an airport, a power plant and a greenfield township. The project threatens to displace the ‘extremely vulnerable’ Shompen tribe.

13. Ministry of information and Broadcasting directed to block the BBC Documentary on Prime Minister Modi under which rules?

[A] Information Technology Rules, 2021

[B] The Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867

[C] National Investigation Agency Act, 2008

[D] Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967

Answer : [A] Information Technology Rules, 2021

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued directions to block the first episode of BBC Documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ on YouTube. Over 50 tweets linking to the videos were also asked to be blocked. Directions to block the documentary on YouTube and twitter were said to be issued using emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021.

14. What is the average days of employment provided per household under MGNREGS as of 2022?

[A] 30

[B] 42

[C] 62

[D] 75

Answer : [B] 42

The average days of employment provided per household under the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is at a five-year low, this financial year. As of January, the average days of employment provided per household is 42 days while it was 50 days in 2021-22, 52 days in 2020-21, 48 days in 2019-20 and 51 days in 2018-19. There has been a decline in demand for jobs under the scheme this financial year.

15. Which Union Ministry relaxed the Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme norms to promote ease of doing business?

[A] Ministry of Commerce and Industry

[B] Ministry of Home Affairs

[C] Ministry of Corporate Affairs

[D] Ministry of Finance

Answer : [A] Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Union Commerce Ministry relaxed Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme norms to promote ease of doing business. Under the scheme, imports of capital goods are allowed duty free, subject to an export obligation. The latest relaxation will be available for hotel, healthcare, and educational sector.

16. UNESCO dedicated this year’s International Day of Education to the girls and women of which country?

[A] Iran

[B] Afghanistan

[C] Israel

[D] Vietnam

Answer : [B] Afghanistan

UNESCO dedicates this year’s International Day of Education of Afghan girls and women, on the occasion of the International Day of Education, on 24 January. UNESCO is hosting an event at the United Nations in New York. The first panel discussion will be devoted to the education of girls and women in Afghanistan. UNESCO will renew its call to immediately restore their fundamental right to education. 2.5 million (80%) of school-aged Afghan girls and young women are out of school.

17. Wagner group, which was designated as transnational criminal organization by the US, is from which country?

[A] Russia

[B] Iran

[C] Israel

[D] Afghanistan

Answer : [A] Russia

The US Treasury Department designated the Russian mercenary organization Wagner Group as a ‘transnational criminal organization’. It will impose additional sanctions next week against the group and its support network across the world. The US has released newly declassified photos of Russian railcars travelling from Russia to North Korea.

18. What is the name of the marine mammal group including whales, dolphins and porpoises?

[A] Cetaceans

[B] Cervidae

[C] Geckos

[D] Ranidae

Answer : [A] Cetaceans

Cetaceans, the marine mammal group encompassing whales, dolphins and porpoises, evolved around 50 million years ago. A New research reveals the genes that allowed whales to grow to giant sizes. These four genes helped in fostering great size and also in mitigating disadvantageous consequences including higher cancer risk and lower reproductive output.

19. Which state/UT released the ‘Hockey & India – A Golden Legacy’ book by Sportstar on Indian hockey?

[A] Odisha

[B] West Bengal

[C] Andhra Pradesh

[D] Uttar Pradesh

Answer : [A] Odisha

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik released the publication titled ‘Hockey & India – A Golden Legacy’ book by Sportstar on Indian hockey. With 192 pages of old and new pictures from 1928 to the present, the book is a collector’s edition for public in general and fans of Indian sports in particular.

20. Elena Rybakina, who eliminated World Number one lga Swiatek in the Australian Open, is from which country?

[A] Japan

[B] Italy

[C] Kazakhstan

[D] USA

Answer : [C] Kazakhstan

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina recently eliminated World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in straight sets to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals for the first time. The Kazakhstan-based player clinched a 6-4, 6-4 win to make her maiden Australian Open quarterfinal. Rybakina is the 2022 Wimbledon winner from Kazakhstan beat Poland’s Swiatek, is a three-time major champion, including titles at the French Open and U.S. Open last season.