29th & 30th January 2023 Daily Current Affairs in English
1. Which institution released the ‘World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023’ report?
[A] World Bank
[B] United Nations
[C] World Economic Forum
[D] Asian Development Bank
Answer : [B] United Nations
As per United Nations (UN) World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023 report, India’s growth is likely to remain strong at 5.8 per cent. The growth estimation was slightly lower than the estimated 6.4 per cent in 2022, due to higher interest rates and effect of global slowdown on investment and exports. UN also predicted a worsening outlook in most developing regions amid the fear of a possible recession.
2. India signed an MoU with which country to exchange programmes of different genres in radio and TV platforms?
[A] Bangladesh
[B] Egypt
[C] UAE
[D] Singapore
Answer : [B] Egypt
India and Egypt signed an MoU to facilitate content exchange, capacity building, and co-productions between Prasar Bharati and the National Media Authority of Egypt. Both broadcasters will exchange their programmes of different genres like Sports, News, Culture, Entertainment on a bilateral basis. The MoU will also facilitate co-productions and training of the officials of both broadcasters in the latest technologies.
3. Dilip Mahalanabis, who was awarded the Padma Vibhushan award in 2023, was associated with which profession?
[A] Statistician
[B] Politician
[C] Doctor
[D] Businessperson
Answer : [C] Doctor
The President has approved the conferment of 106 Padma Awards- 6 Padma Vibhushan, 9 Padma Bhushan and 91 Padma Shri Awards in 2023. Mulayam Singh Yadav (Posthumous), Balkrishna Doshi (Posthumous) Zakir Hussain, SM Krishna, Dilip Mahalanabis (Posthumous) and Srinivas Varadhan were conferred Padma Vibhushan. Dr Dilip Mahalanabis served the country and saved millions of lives when there was an outbreak of cholera in 1971, during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. He was the pioneer of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS).
4. Odesa Port City, which was seen in the news, is located in which country?
[A] Russia
[B] Ukraine
[C] Australia
[D] UAE
Answer : [B] Ukraine
The historic centre of the Ukrainian port city of Odesa has been designated an endangered World Heritage site by UNESCO, despite opposition from Russia. Odesa, also known as the pearl of the Black Sea, has been bombed several times since Russia invaded Ukraine. Seven other sites in Ukraine have been added to UNESCO World Heritage List, including the Saint-Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv and the historic centre of the western city of Lviv.
5. After China, which is the second country in the world to start the ‘trade-plus-one’ (T+1) settlement cycle?
[A] USA
[B] Russia
[C] India
[D] France
Answer : [C] India
After China, India will become the second country in the world to start the ‘trade-plus-one’ (T+1) settlement cycle in top listed securities. It aims to bring operational efficiency, faster fund remittances, share delivery, and ease for stock market participants. Until 2001, stock markets had a weekly settlement system. The markets then moved to a rolling settlement system of T+3, and then to T+2 in 2003.
6. Which institution released the ‘Stressed Assets Securitisation Framework’?
[A] RBI
[B] SEBI
[C] NSE
[D] NITI Aayog
Answer : [A] RBI
The Reserve Bank of India released a discussion paper on the securitization of stressed assets framework. It aims to improve the quality of the sale and resolution of such accounts. In September 2019, a task force for the development of a secondary market for corporate loans suggested the creation of a similar framework for non-performing assets.
7. Which Union Ministry has proposed the issuance of ‘Tax-paid green bonds’?
[A] Ministry of Power
[B] Ministry of Finance
[C] Ministry of Corporate Affairs
[D] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Answer : [A] Ministry of Power
India’s Union Power ministry has proposed allowing some power financing companies including Power Finance Crop (PFC), REC Ltd, and Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) to issue tax-paid green bonds. The power ministry has proposed PFC as the nodal agency for climate financing to tap cheaper finance from multilateral agencies. The issuer pays for tax-paid bonds, instead of the investors, getting higher returns on investment.
8. Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with which Ministry, organizes the Veer Gatha Project?
[A] Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
[B] Ministry of Education
[C] Ministry of Skill Development
[D] Ministry of Home Affairs
Answer : [B] Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Defence in collaboration with Ministry of Education, Department of School Education & Literacy, organized the Veer Gatha Project 2.0. Under the project, school students may be motivated to do projects/activities based on gallantry award winners. Veer Gatha Edition-1 was attended by 8 lakh students last year, while this time the number of these entries has crossed 19 lakhs.
9. Jal Jeevan Mission was announced on the Independence Day of which year?
[A] 2014
[B] 2016
[C] 2019
[D] 2021
Answer : [C] 2019
Jal Jeevan Mission was announced on 15th August, 2019 to provide every rural household with tap water connection by 2024. As India celebrates its 74th Republic Day, over 11 crore rural households of the country have access to tap water connection. Only 3.23 crore (16.72%) had access to tap water, when the mission as launched in 2019.
10. Which city hosted the ‘Krishi Mahotsav – Exhibition and Training programme’?
[A] Chandigarh
[B] New Delhi
[C] Kota
[D] Mysuru
Answer : [C] Kota
The mega Krishi Mahotsav – Exhibition and Training programme recently concluded in Kota, Rajasthan. It was organized by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It was attended by thousands of farmers, with the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar gracing the occasion.
11. Which Asian country has been elected as the Vice-Chair of FAO’s Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR)?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] India
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Thailand
Answer : [B] India
In the 12th Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group (ITWG) on Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) at Rome, India was elected as Vice-Chair and represented Asia & Pacific region. The Working Group, established by the FAO’s Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), functions to review technical issues, advice and make recommendations to the Commission and further implement the Commission’s programme related to AnGR.
12. Which city is the host of the “G20-Startup20 Engagement Group’ inception Meeting?
[A] Bengaluru
[B] Kolkata
[C] Hyderabad
[D] Pune
Answer : [C] Hyderabad
The G20 Startup20 Engagement Group will hold its first inception meeting in Hyderabad. Delegates from G20 nations and nine special invites from observer countries, and representatives from multilateral organizations will attend the meeting. The Startup20 inception meeting is expected to lay a foundation for the official Policy Communique, a Startup Handbook with a set of commonly agreed-upon definitions and terminologies, and a Global Innovation Centre to foster collaborations across borders.
13. Food Corporation of India (FCI) approved the sale of which product under the Open Market Sale Scheme?
[A] Rice
[B] Wheat
[C] Millets
[D] Sugarcane
Answer : [B] Wheat
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) decided to off load 30 LMT wheat from the Central pool stock to the market, through various routes under Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic). Offloading of 30 LMT wheat within a span of two months through multiple channels will have immediate impact on the rising Wheat and Atta prices. Wheat will be offered to the Flour millers, Bulk Buyers etc. through e-auction, and to State Governments/UTs for their schemes without e-auction.
14. Section 376 DB of the Indian Penal Code, which was seen in the news, is associated with punishment for which act?
[A] Offences relating to religion
[B] Gangrape of a minor under 12 years of age
[C] Criminal Misappropriation of Property
[D] Offences Relating to Elections
Answer : [B] Gangrape of a minor under 12 years of age
CJI Chandrachud-led bench of the Supreme Court decided to examine a petition challenging the constitutional validity of Section 376 DB of the Indian Penal Code. This section describes the punishment for gangrape of a ‘minimum mandatory sentence’ of life imprisonment for the remainder of the convict’s life and even death. Mandatory minimum sentencing refers to a sentence which must be imposed without leaving any discretion to the court.
15. Which country’s military contingent participated in the Indian Republic Day parade in 2023?
[A] UAE
[B] Egypt
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Singapore
Answer : [B] Egypt
India celebrated its 74th Republic Day at the newly refurbished Central Vista. A military contingent of the Egyptian Army with 144 personnel marched in India’s Republic Day Parade. Female camel riders participated in the Republic Day parade for the first time and the Indian Navy tableau featured a women aircrew of Dornier aircraft.
16. Which institution manufactured the first intranasal COVID-19 vaccine named ‘INCOVACC’?
[A] Dr Reddys Lab
[B] Serum Institute
[C] Bharat Biotech
[D] Biocon
Answer : [C] Bharat Biotech
The world’s first made-in-India intranasal Covid-19 vaccine INCOVACC, manufactured by Bharat Biotech, was launched on the occasion of 74th Republic Day. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched the vaccine. INCOVACC was approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) in November for limited emergency use as a heterologous booster dose in adults. The vaccine is now available on CoWIN.
17. Which major tech company announced to change its policy to comply with the Competition Commission of India (CCI)’s directives?
[A] Meta
[B] Microsoft
[C] Google
[D] Amazon
Answer : [C] Google
Tech major Google announced that it would change its Android and Play politics in India in order to comply with the Competition Commission of India (CCI)’s directives. The Supreme Court last week said it would not block the actions the CCI wanted for antitrust reasons.
18. Kappad beach, which was seen in the news, is located in which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Kerala
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Telangana
Answer : [B] Kerala
Kappad is the only beach in Kerala with the international Blue Flag certificate, which is given to beaches that meet guidelines on ensuring eco-friendly measures, safety and hygiene. A team of experts commenced a scientific study to prepare a proposal on protecting the 3.5-km stretch of coastline from Thuvvappara at Kappad beach to Valiyamangad near Koyilandy, in Kozhikode district in the state.
19. Which institution released a report on global trans-fat elimination 2022?
[A] FSSAI
[B] WHO
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] CDC
Answer : [B] WHO
World Health Organization released a report on global trans-fat elimination 2022. The fourth annual report monitors global progress towards the 2023 target for global elimination of industrially produced trans-fatty acids (TFA). Mandatory TFA policies are currently in effect for 3.4 billion people in 60 countries (43% of the world population). Best-practice policies to eliminate trans-fatty acids came into effect in India in January 2022.
20. What species is ‘Noble’s Helen’, which was spotted recently?
[A] Snake
[B] Turtle
[C] Butterfly
[D] Spider
Answer : [C] Butterfly
A swallowtail butterfly which disappeared from its previously known ranges from Myanmar and southern China to Vietnam has been recorded for the first time in India. Butterfly enthusiasts recorded the extremely rare Noble’s Helen (Papilio noblei) from three locations in the Namdapha National Park of Arunachal Pradesh.