4th February 2023 Daily Current Affairs in English

1. India launched the ‘Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies’ with which country?

[A] Australia

[B] France

[C] USA

[D] UK

Answer : [C] USA

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval launched the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) laong with his American counterpart Jake Sullivan. In May 2022, US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced iCET to expand their strategic technology partnership and defense industrial cooperation between the governments, businesses, and academic institutions.

2. What is the sanctioned judicial strength of the Supreme Court of India?

[A] 25

[B] 28

[C] 30

[D] 34

Answer : [D] 34

The five-member Supreme Court collegium led by Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud recommended to the government two High Court Chief Justices for appointment as apex court judges. The Supreme Court has seven vacancies now while it has a sanctioned judicial strength of 34. The central government is expected to clear the names of three high court chief justices and two HC judges. With this, the working strength of the Supreme Court will go up to 32. Currently, it is 27.

3. As per the Economic Survey, what is the estimated economic growth rate in 2023-24?

[A] 5.5%

[B] 6.0%

[C] 6.5%

[D] 7.0%

Answer : [C] 6.5%

Chief Economic Advisor, CEA Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran said that the Indian economy is expected to grow at 6.5 per cent in 2023-24. The range of growth is projected between 6 and 6.8 per cent while India is expected to be 5 trillion dollar economy by 2025-26. IMF in its World Economic Outlook Update, maintained India’s GDP forecast for current Financial Year at 6.8 per cent.

4. Which state/UT launched a ‘Real-time source apportionment supersite’ to tackle pollution?

[A] New Delhi

[B] Maharashtra

[C] West Bengal

[D] Telangana

Answer : [A] New Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched the real-time source apportionment ‘supersite’. It is a joint venture of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, IIT-Delhi, IIT-Kanpur and TERI. The supersite will share details of sources of pollution on an hourly basis as well as forecast for the next three days. The mobile van will go to a particular place and the data collected will be analysed at the supersite.

5. Who has assumed charge as the new Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force?

[A] Air Marshal AP Singh

[B] Air Marshal VR Chaudhari

[C] Air Marshal Sandeep Singh

[D] Air Marshal HS Arora

Answer : [A] Air Marshal AP Singh

Air Marshal AP Singh has assumed charge as the new Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force. The Air Marshal was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in 1984. He has more than 5,000 hours of flying experience. Prior to assuming his current appointment, he was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Central Air Command. He is a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.

6. Which state has mandated one-year work experience for recruitment in state government departments?

[A] Odisha

[B] Goa

[C] Gujarat

[D] Uttarakhand

Answer : [B] Goa

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that one-year work experience would be made compulsory for recruitment in state government departments. The practice would help the government in getting skilled manpower. The Chief Minister also launched ‘Har Ghar Dhyan’ organized by the Directorate of Art and Culture in collaboration with Art of Living.

7. As per the Economic Survey, what is the budgeted expenditure on healthcare, as a percentage of GDP in FY23?

[A] 2.5%

[B] 2.1%

[C] 1.9%

[D] 1.5%

Answer : [B] 2.1%

As per the Economic Survey 2022-23, the central and state governments budgeted expenditure on healthcare touched 2.1% of GDP in FY23 and 2.2% in FY22. In FY21, the figure was only 1.6% in FY21. The Survey said that the share of expenditure on health in total expenditure on social services has risen from 21% in FY19 to 26% in FY23 (BE). Out of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) as a percentage of total health expenditure has declined from 64.2% in FY14 to 48.2% in FY19.

8. Hibbertopterus lamsdell, which was discovered, belongs to which species?

[A] Scorpion

[B] Turtle

[C] Spider

[D] Snake

Answer : [A] Scorpion

Hibbertopterus lamsdelli is a new species of Giant Sea Scorpion. It belongs to Hibbertopteridae, an extinct group of aquatic arthropods in the Order Eurypterida. Eurypterids are better known as sea scorpions. The species existed during the Kasimovian age, between 307 and 303 million years ago. Its diet included small crustaceans, ostracodes, conchostracans, invertebrate larvae and gastropod eggs.

9. National Commission for Women was founded in which year?

[A] 1952

[B] 1975

[C] 1992

[D] 1998

Answer : [C] 1992

The President of India Droupadi Murmu addressed the 31^st Foundation Day of the National Commission for Women in Delhi. The theme of the programme is ‘Sashakt Nari Sashakt Bharat’ aimed at acknowledging and celebrating the stories of women who have excelled and paved their journey to leave a mark. NCW was founded in January 1992 as a statutory body under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.

10. Which city is the host of the first G20 Energy Transition Working Group Meeting?

[A] Hyderabad

[B] Bengaluru

[C] Chennai

[D] Amritsar

Answer : [B] Bengaluru

The first G20 Energy Transition Working Group meeting under India’s Presidency will be held in Bengaluru from February 5^th to 7^th. Technology gaps in energy transition, low-cost financing for energy transition, energy security and diversified supply chain, industrial low carbon transition and fuel for future are the priority areas of the Working group discussion.

11. Which state’s tableaux has been adjudged as the best in the Republic Day Parade 2023?

[A] Tamil Nadu

[B] Uttarakhand

[C] Assam

[D] West Bengal

Answer : [B] Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand has been adjudged the best state/UT tableau in the Republic Day Parade 2023, by a panel of judges. Gujarat’s tableau has won an online public poll conducted by MyGov. The tableau of Ministry of Tribal Affairs (Eklavya Model Residential Schools EMRSs) has been adjudged as the best tableau in ministries/departments category. Indian Air Force marching contingent has been adjudged as the best Marching Contingent among the three services.

12. Which country emerged as the India’s third largest exports destination after the US and UAE during April – December 2022?

[A] Netherlands

[B] Russia

[C] China

[D] Australia

Answer : [A] Netherlands

Netherlands emerged as India’s third largest exports destination after the US and UAE during April – December 2022. The change is due to a surge in shipment of goods such as petroleum products, electronic items, chemicals, and aluminium goods. India’s trade surplus with the Netherlands has also increased from USD 1.5 billion in 2017 to USD 12.3 billion in 2022.

13. Which European country has invited Indian techies offering work opportunities?

[A] Sweden

[B] Finland

[C] Norway

[D] Italy

Answer : [B] Finland

Finland has invited Indian tech employees to migrate there for work, offering opportunities as global tech companies lay off thousands of employees. Over 10,000 Indians live in Finland for work and education. Finland aims to double work-based migration and triple study-based migration by 2030. Business Finland, a government organization for innovation funding and trade, travel and investments signed MoU with the Confederation of Indian Industry for talent mobility, in December 2022.

14. Which company has retained its spot as the top-selling car-maker in World for third straight year?

[A] Volkswagen

[B] Toyota

[C] Skoda

[D] Morris Garage

Answer : [B] Toyota

Japan-based Toyota Motor Corp continues to be the world’s top-selling automaker, for a third straight year. The company recently said it sold 10.5 million vehicles in 2022. Though the company was hit by chip-related supply constraints, strong demand in Asia and increase in production capacity helped it boost global production by 5% in 2022. Volkswagen Group is at the number 2 position, as it sold 8.3 million vehicles in 2022.

15. Novak Djokovic replaced which tennis player in the ATP rankings to become the top ranked player, in January 2023?

[A] Carlos Alcaraz

[B] Rafael Nadal

[C] Stefanos Tsitsipas

[D] Daniil Medvedev

Answer : [A] Carlos Alcaraz

Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open championship returned him to the top rank in the ATP rankings, replacing Carlos Alcaraz. His four-place rise from No.5 to No.1 is the largest jump to the top spot in the 50-year history of the computerized rankings for men’s tennis. This marks Djokovic’s 374^th week leading the ATP. With the 10^th title at the Australian Open, he tied Rafael Nadal with 22 Grand Slam trophies.

16. Which Union Ministry launched the ‘Visit India Year – 2023’ initiative?

[A] Minister of Culture

[B] Minister of Tourism

[C] Minister of Railways

[D] Minister of External Affairs

Answer : [B] Minister of Tourism

Minister of Tourism G. Kishan Reddy launched the Visit India Year – 2023 initiative. He also unveiled its logo, kicking off plans and activities for promoting tourism in the country. Over one lakh foreign delegates, will visit India this year and they will be showcased the entire arena of India’s culture, including monuments and festivals.

17. ‘1932 Khatiyan Bill’, which was seen in the news, is associated with which Indian state/UT?

[A] Jharkhand

[B] Assam

[C] Telangana

[D] Madhya Pradesh

Answer : [A] Jharkhand

Jharkhand governor Ramesh Bais sent the ‘1932 Khatiyan Bill’ back to the Hemant Soren government for reconsideration. The Governor described it to be violative of Article 16 of the Constitution and court rulings. The state government had passed the ‘Jharkhand definition of local persons and for extending the consequential, social, culture and other benefits to such local persons Bill, 2022’.

18. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan said the State capital would be shifted to which city?

[A] Kurnool

[B] Visakhapatnam

[C] Vijayawada

[D] Guntur

Answer : [B] Visakhapatnam

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan said the State capital would be shifted to Visakhapatnam. He was addressing the preparatory meeting for Global Investors Summit to be held in Visakhapatnam. The State government had proposed three capitals, Visakhapatnam (Executive capital), Amaravati (Legislative capital) and Kurnool (Judicial capital). Amaravati is the present capital of Andhra Pradesh.

19. ‘VAYAM RAKSHAMAH (We Protect) is the ,motto of which armed force?

[A] Indian Army

[B] Indian Navy

[C] Indian Air Force

[D] Indian Coast Guard

Answer : [D] Indian Coast Guard

The Indian Coast Guard celebrated its 47^th anniversary of its distinguished service’ to the nation. Its motto is ‘VAYAM RAKSHAMAH’ meaning ‘We Protect’. The Indian Coast Guard over these four and half decades has been patrolling the country’s maritime border. It stands tall as the fourth largest Coast Guard in the world.

20. What is the GST collection in India in January 2023?

[A] Rs 0.97 Lakh crore

[B] Rs 1.21 Lakh crore

[C] Rs 1.55 Lakh crore

[D] Rs 2.01 Lakh crore

Answer : [C] Rs 1.55 Lakh crore

The GST collection in January surged to over ₹1.55 lakh crore, second highest-ever collection recorded. This is for the third time, in the current financial year that the GST collection has crossed ₹ 1.50 lakh crore mark. The highest collection so far is the ₹ 1.68 lakh crore gross mop-up reported in April 2022.