Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: January 03, 2023
A part of the question paper for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, IAS, Railway-RRB, UPPSC, UGC NET, SBI, MPPSC, etc., is devoted to the Current Affairs section. Moreover, scoring well in this portion is not difficult if we have a sound preparation plan. Candidates can ace the current affairs section of any exam by using the right tools and daily news analysis.
The most recent events from around the globe have been selected by our specialists at Embibe and are included in this post.
Motivation++
“We will either find a way, or make one”.
‘Anibal Barca’
Current Affairs: National
India’s First Underwater Metro Services to Begin in Kolkata by December 2023
India’s first underwater metro service, the East-West Metro Corridor project, is expected to be completed by December 2023, as per the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC).
Details:
The Kolkata Metro, which is the first metro railway in the country, started its journey in 1984.
The East-West Metro Corridor project, which is India’s first underwater metro service, is expected to be completed by December 2023.
The underwater metro, which will run through the Hooghly River, will connect the cities of Kolkata and Howrah.
Two German-made tunnel boring machines (TBMs) – named Prerna and Rachna – were deployed for the process.
Of the total 16.55 km length of the project, 9.30 km length between Sector V and Sealdah is operational. The remaining 7.25 km length is likely to be operational by December 2023.
The first metro rail system in India was also started in Kolkata from Dum Dum to Tollygunge in 1984.
The first metro rail system in the world was started in London on 10 January 1863.
Cost:
It costs about ₹120 crores per kilometre to build the tunnel, but the manufacturing cost of the tunnel underwater, which is deep in the Hooghly River, costs increased to around ₹157 crores per kilometre.
Question:
India’s first underwater metro service will begin in December 2023 in which of the following states?
A. Gujarat
B. Assam
C. Odisha
D. West Bengal
Answer: D
Current Affairs: Important Events
Indian Science Congress-2023
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will address the 108th Indian Science Congress (ISC) on 3rd January 2023 via video conferencing.
It will be organised at Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU), Maharashtra.
Last year it was organised at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), GKVK Campus, Bangalore, and Karnataka in January 2022.
Theme:
The focal theme of this year’s ISC is “Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment”.
It will witness discussions on issues of sustainable development, women empowerment and the role of science and technology in achieving this.
About Science Congress and its Rationale:
The Indian Science Congress was first held in 1914.
The website of the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), which organises the annual event, said that the association was formed with certain goals.
The objectives include advancing and promoting the cause of science in India, holding an annual congress at a suitable place in India and publishing proceedings, journals, transactions and other publications, along with securing and managing funds and endowments for the promotion of science, among others.
Major Events:
Children’s Science Congress
Farmer’s Science Congress
Tribal Science Congress
Question:
Which of the following is not an event to be held at Indian Science Congress-2023?
A. Women’s Science Congress
B. Children’s Science Congress
C. Farmer’s Science Congress
D. Tribal Science Congress
Answer: A
Check out the Highlights of the Economic Survey 2022-23 by clicking on the link given below: Economic Survey 2022-23
Current Affairs: International
India Assumed Chairmanship of Wassenaar Arrangement on 1st January 2023
India assumed chairmanship of the plenary of the Wassenaar Arrangement for a year on 1st January 2023, just five years after joining the 42-member voluntary export control regime that monitors transfers of conventional weapons and dual-use goods.
This decision was taken in last year’s meeting held in Vienna.
Ireland’s ambassador Eoin O’Leary handed over the chairmanship to India’s ambassador Jaideep Mazumdar, who is the permanent representative to the UN and international organisations in Vienna.
India joined the Wassenaar Arrangement in December 2017 as its 42nd participating state.
About Wassenaar Arrangement:
The body is a multilateral export control regime that promotes transparency and greater responsibility in the transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies through regular information exchanges among its members.
The regime is aimed at tracking such transfers and preventing “destabilising accumulations” of conventional arms and dual-use goods.
The Benefit of India Assuming Chairmanship:
The plenary of the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) is the main decision-making body that operates on consensus.
As the incoming chair of the body, India “remains ready and committed to work in close cooperation with other members to further the WA goal of contributing to regional and international security and stability”.
India’s Main Focus:
India Can Bolster Anti-Terrorism Efforts
Prevent Arms Diversion to Terrorists
Strong Anti-Proliferation Framework
The democratisation of space and Defense Technologies
Fact:
Wassenaar Arrangement’s Secretariat is in Vienna, Austria.
Question:
Consider the following statements
India assumed chairmanship of the plenary of the Wassenaar Arrangement for a year on 1st January 2023
Wassenaar Arrangement has 42 member states comprising mostly NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and EU states
India joined the Wassenaar Arrangement in December 2022 as its 42nd participating state
Which of the above statements is/are correct
A. Only 1 and 2
B. Only 2 and 3
C. Only 1 and 3
D. All are correct
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Art and Culture
10th Edition of Dhaka Lit Fest
Over 500 speakers, performers, and thinkers representing five continents will participate in the four-day event of the 10th edition of Dhaka Lit Fest, which is all set to take place on 5 – 8 January 2023.
It is popularly known as the Festival of Ideas.
Details:
The four-day event has over 175 sessions, as well as a diverse mix of conversations and dialogues, sessions on science and technology, activities for children and young adults, film screenings, and theatrical, music, and cultural performances.
Participants:
The 10th edition of the Dhaka Lit Fest is set to feature Nobel Prize-winning author and internationally acclaimed prize-winning speakers; winners of the Booker and International Booker, Neustadt International, PEN/Pinter, Prix Médicis, Academy Award, Windham-Campbell Prize, Albert Medal, Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, Aga Khan Award, and others.
About Dhaka Lit Fest:
Dhaka Lit Fest began in 2011 with the commitment to promote Dhaka and Bangladeshi literature and culture to the world. Over 30,000 people participated in the ninth Dhaka Lit Fest, last held in 2019.
Sadaf Saaz, Ahsan Akbar and Kazi Anis Ahmed are the directors of the Dhaka Lit Fest (DLF).
DLF has been a popular annual event in the winter calendar of Bangladesh.
Question :
The 10th edition of Dhaka Lit Fest (DLF) will be held soon in Bangladesh is also called as
A. festival of Books
B. festival of ideas
C. festival of Ballads
D. festival of conscience
Answer: B
Current Affairs: Science and Technology
India Gets Its First IVF Mobile Unit for Animals
India yesterday got its first In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) mobile unit for animals in Gujarat’s Amreli.
The mobile IVF lab was inaugurated by union minister Purushottam Rupala.
According to the minister, the IVF mobile van was “dedicated in a joint venture of the Government of India and Amar Dairy”.
This is India’s first IVF mobile unit. With the help of this unit, the work of providing IVF technology to the cattle rearers of Amreli has started.
The unit was donated by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and will allow veterinarians to perform IVF procedures on animals in remote and underserved areas of the country.
About Mobile Unit:
The IVF mobile unit is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, including an incubator, micromanipulators, and a microscope.
It is also staffed by a team of experienced veterinarians and technicians who are trained in the latest IVF techniques.
Planning is to deploy the IVF mobile unit to various locations around the country, including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and other areas where animals are in need of fertility services.
Rationale:
It will allow veterinarians to provide much-needed fertility treatments to animals in areas where access to specialised care is limited.
The IVF mobile unit is also expected to be a valuable resource for conservation efforts, as it will allow researchers to breed and reintroduce endangered species back into the wild.
It will help to improve the health and well-being of animals in India.
Question:
In which of the following states/UT has the country’s first mobile in vitro fertilisation (IVF) unit been established for animals recently?
A. Gujarat
B. Andhra Pradesh
C. Rajasthan
D. Delhi
Answer: A
Current Affairs: National
Centre to Roll Out a New Integrated Food Security Scheme Starting 1 January 2023
The government is set to roll out the centre’s new integrated food security scheme from 1 January 2023.
As per the decision made by the cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the new scheme would provide food grains to 81.35 crore beneficiaries under NFSA for the year 2023.
The scheme would also ensure effective and uniform implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
What Are the Features of This Scheme?
The Department of Food and Public Distribution’s two current food subsidy programmes will be merged into a single integrated programme.
Food Subsidy to FCI for NFSA
Food Subsidy for decentralised procurement states, dealing with procurement, allocation and delivery of foodgrains to the states under NFSA
food grains will simultaneously guarantee that mobility under the ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ (ONORC) is implemented consistently across the nation and will reinforce this platform based on personal preference.
For 2023, the Central Government would pay a food subsidy of more than ₹2 lakh crores.
The Rationale of the Scheme:
The scheme has been launched with the objective of fulfilling the government’s duty of ensuring access to food and nutritional security for everyone.
The cabinet decided to launch a new Central Sector scheme to fulfil the vision of One Nation – One Price – One Ration.
67% of the population, i.e., 81.35 crore persons, is the most vulnerable population. It will be covered under NFSA.
Under the scheme, the Government of India will provide food grains to all NFSA beneficiaries, i.e., Antyodaya Ann Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Household (PHH) persons for the next year through the widespread network of 5.33 lakhs Fair Price Shops across the country.
In terms of accessibility, affordability, and availability of food grains for the poor, the judgement would reinforce the NFSA 2013 requirements.
Check out the Highlights of Union Budget 2023 by clicking on the link given below: Union Budget 2023-24
Current Affairs: National
The Ministry of Rural Development Launches Prajjwala Challenge
With an aim to invite ideas, solutions and actions that can transform the rural economy, the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) has launched the Prajjwala Challenge.
It is one of the platforms where ideas are invited from individuals, Social Enterprises, Startups, the Private Sector, Civil Society, Community Based Organisations, Academic Institutions, Incubation centres, Investors, etc., having the potential to transform the rural economy.
What Is the Prajjwala Challenge?
The Prajjwala Challenge was launched by the Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi.
The Mission is looking for ideas and solutions around Innovative Technology Solutions, Inclusive Growth, Value Chain Interventions, Enhanced Women Entrepreneurship, Cost-effective Solutions, Sustainability, place-based employment, localised models, etc.
The Broad Contours Fall into the Following Categories:
Focus on Women and Marginalised section of the community
Localised Models
Sustainability
Cost Effective solutions
Multi-sectoral ideas and solutions, etc.
About DAY-NRLM:
DAY-NRLM is one of the flagship poverty alleviation programs of the Ministry of Rural Development, which aims at creating efficient and effective institutional platforms for the rural poor, enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.
Question:
Which of the following ministries/departments recently launched Prajjwala Challenge?
A. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
B. Ministry of Rural Development
C. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
D. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR)
Answer: B
Fact Book – 02nd January 2023
Lula Was Sworn in as Brazil’s President
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been sworn in as the new president of Brazil – the third time he has held the country’s highest office.
The veteran left-wing politician, known widely as Lula, also led the country between 2003 and 2010 and defeated Jair Bolsonaro in October’s poll.
Benjamin Netanyahu Was Sworn in as Israel’s Prime Minister for a Sixth Term
Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in as Israel’s prime minister for a sixth time, leading the Jewish state’s most right-wing government to date.
Netanyahu, 73, already Israel’s longest-serving Prime Minister has the support of 63 lawmakers in the 120-member Knesset (Israeli parliament).
India’s Koneru Humpy Wins Silver Medal at ‘World Blitz Championships’
Koneru Humpy won silver at the Fide World Blitz Chess Championships, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal at the prestigious tournament. This year it was held in Kazakhstan’s capital Almaty.
Koneru Humpy beats China’s Zhongyi Tan to win the silver medal.
After Viswanathan Anand, she is the second Indian to win a medal at World Blitz.
This was Humpy’s first medal at World Blitz, as per Chessbase India.
The International Chess governing body FIDE organises the World Rapid and Blitz chess championship at the end of the year.
Chhattisgarh: ‘Nijaat’ Campaign Selected for the International IACP Award 2022
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the US-based international organisation, has selected the anti-drug and illicit liquor campaign ‘Nijaat’ of Chhattisgarh police for ‘Leadership in Crime Prevention’ in the institutional category.
The campaign was launched by the Chhattisgarh police under the leadership of the IPS officer Santosh Kumar Singh who pioneered the drive with intensified efforts in districts of Korea, Rajnandgaon and presently continuing in Korba.
Nijaat Abhiyan includes strict action against illegal drug dealers, intensive public awareness and rehabilitation of the addicts.
Croatia Adopts Euro, Enters Borderless Europe Club
Croatia on 1st January 2023, switched to the euro and entered Europe’s borderless zone – two steps Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic called a “historic moment” for his country that joined the European Union nearly a decade ago.
At midnight, the Balkan nation bid farewell to its kuna currency and became the 20th member of the eurozone.
It is also now the 27th nation in the passport-Schengen zone, the world’s largest, which enables more than 400 million people to movely around its members.
Aung San Suu Kyi Was Jailed for Another Seven Years
The ousted leader of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been sentenced to a further seven years in prison for alleged corruption.
A Myanmar military court has sentenced Aung San Suu Kyi to a further seven years in prison, taking her overall jail time to 33 years.
Her previous convictions had landed her a total of 26 years imprisonment.
Suu Kyi was detained on Feb. 1, 2021, when the military seized power from her elected government.
Aung San Suu Kyi is a Burmese politician, diplomat, author, and a 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate who served as State Counsellor of Myanmar and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2016 to 2021.
Cristiano Ronaldo Joins Saudi Arabian Club Al Nassr
Portugal Football captain Cristiano Ronaldo has joined the Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr on a contract until 2025.
The club said it would inspire their league, nation, and future generations, boys and girls, to be the best version of themselves.
The 37-year-old Ronaldo said he is eager to experience a new football league in a different country.
The Portugal captain was after leaving Manchester United following a controversial interview in which he had criticised the club.
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