Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: January 09, 2023

Government examinations like the SSC, RRB NTPC, UPSC CDS, Railways, and so on include a current affairs section. In the test, the current affairs part has more weightage. The preparation part of this section is crucial. Successfully cracking this section depends on how informed the candidate is about current events. To help all the candidates score well in this section, we have analysed the most recent news from The Hindu, Indian Express, the Economic Times, and so on.

Motivation++

“Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck”

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

Current Affairs: Days and Events

World Day of War Orphans 2023

• World Day for War Orphans is observed every year on 6 January. 
• The focus of the day highlights the plight and challenges faced by orphans who have lost their parents as a result of wars and conflicts. 
• These children are subjected to hardships that are more than just physical neglect after losing their caregivers. 
• It is a very significant event to note that the aftermath of war is not just harsh on a single part of society.

History:

• The first orphanage in the world to support widows and orphans of war was established by the Romans in 400 A.D. Children whose parents were killed in military service were cared for until the age of eighteen.
• ‘SOS Enfants en Detresse’, a French organisation, adopted the World Day for War Orphans.
• The aim was to work towards bringing a sense of normalcy to the lives of children affected by wars. 
• It is commemorated on 6 January every year. 
• The day is marked by several awareness programmes, working to give people a better understanding of the struggles of orphaned children in the aftermath of war.

Significance:

• Perhaps the most significant reason the day is marked is to highlight the debilitating aftereffects of war. 
• The focus is especially shifted to orphans and their plight. Children who have no direct part in the war often end up suffering the most. 
• The day is marked to understand the full impact of how destructive wars can be and the weight of loss it brings along.
• The day is also commemorated to give a platform to the war orphans and let them know their voices are heard. 
• World Day for War Orphans gives these children a chance to narrate their stories to the world. More than that, it is a chance to hear their needs.
• World Day for War Orphans is a chance to raise awareness about the poor conditions orphans are often forced to live in.

Question:

World Day for War Orphans is observed every year on

A. 6 January

B. 15 July

C. 22 September

D. 19 December

Question: A

Current Affairs: National

Varanasi Cantt Railway Station Achieves a 5-Star Rating

• The Varanasi Cantt railway station has become one of the ‘Eat Right’ stations after being awarded a five-star ‘Eat Right Station’ certification for providing high-quality, nutritious food to passengers.

What Is an Eat Right Station?

• The “Eat Right Station” certification is awarded by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to the railway stations that set benchmarks (as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006) in providing safe and wholesome food to passengers.

About FSSAI:

• FSSAI is an autonomous statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. 
• The station is awarded a certificate upon a conclusion of an FSSAI-empanelled third-party audit agency with ratings from one to five. 
• “The five-star rating indicates full compliance by the station to ensure safe and hygienic food is available to passengers.

Which are the Other Stations?

• The other railway stations with Star certification include Anand Vihar Terminal Railway Station (Delhi), Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Mumbai), Mumbai Central Railway Station, Vadodara Railway Station, Chandigarh Railway Station and Bhopal Railway Station. 
• Other prominent Eat Right stations are Igatpuri Station in Maharashtra, Mysore City Station in Mysore, Jaipur Railway Station, Gwalior Station, Durgapur Station, Kolkata Railway Station and Bhubaneswar Station.

Question: 

Which of the following railway stations in Uttar Pradesh recently awarded a five-star ‘Eat Right Station’ certification?

A. Agra Cantt

B. Prayagraj Station

C. Varanasi Cantt

D. Gorakhpur Station

Answer: C

Check out the Highlights of the Economic Survey 2022-23 by clicking on the link given below:
Economic Survey 2022-23

Current Affairs: National

India Hosts the Youth 20 (Y20) Summit for the First Time

• Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur today, 6 January, launched the themes of the Y20 summit, logo and website in the Curtain raiser event of Y20 Summit India at Akashwani Rang Bhawan New Delhi. 
• The Y20 Summit India is being organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry and the National Institution for Transforming India. 

What Is the Y20 Summit?

• The Y20 Summit, also known as the G20 Youth Summit, is an international forum for young leaders from G20 countries to come together and discuss global issues and challenges. 
• The summit, which is held in conjunction with the G20 Summit, provides a platform for young people to engage with government officials and policymakers and to share their ideas and recommendations on how to address these issues.
• For the next eight months, there will be Pre summits on the five Y20 (Youth 20) themes along with various discussions and seminars at different Universities across states in India in a run-up to the final Youth-20 Summit.

India’s G-20 Presidency:

• For India, the G20 Presidency also marks the beginning of “Amritkaal”, the 25-year period beginning from the 75th anniversary of its independence on 15 August 2022, leading up to the centenary of its independence, towards a futuristic, prosperous, inclusive and developed society, distinguished by a human-centric approach at its core. 
• India is playing a significant role in finding workable solutions at the international level to ensure holistic well-being embodying the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

Question: 

Which of the following summits is also known as the G20 Youth Summit?

A. GY-20 Youth Summit

B. Y20 Summit

C. G20 Cultural Event

D. Youth Asia Summit

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Sports

World’s Biggest ‘Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium’ Built in India

• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik recently inaugurated one of the largest hockey stadiums in India in Rourkela ahead of the Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023.
• The facility was built by the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO).
• Built at an estimated cost of ₹261 crores, the stadium, located in Sundargarh district, has been christened as Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium Complex. 
• It has been built on 50 acres in a record 15 months with a seating capacity of 20,000. 
• The stadium also has practice centres adjacent to it with certified turfs and lighting.

About the 2023 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup:

• The 2023 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup will be the 15th edition of the Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for men’s national field hockey teams organised by the International Hockey Federation 
• Dates: Friday, 13 January 2023 – Sunday, 29 January 2023
• Teams: 16 (from 5 confederations)
• Venue(s): Kalinga Stadium; Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium
• Mascot: “Olly” promotes awareness for Olive Ridley Turtles 
• India’s first match against Spain is arranged to be played at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium on 13 January. 
• India will have a match against England at the same venue after two days.

Features of the stadium: 

• Apart from the main turf, it has a practice turf close to the main stadium. It also has
• fitness centre,
• hydrotherapy pool,
• dressing and changing room,
• connecting tunnel and five-star accommodation,
• There are 250 rooms, which can accommodate 400 players.
• There are six entry and exit points for those visiting the stadium. Also, there is a huge parking space for two and four-wheeler vehicles. Initially, the National Hockey Stadium of Lahore was the biggest stadium in the world.

Question: 

World’s biggest International Hockey Stadium for Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 is built in which of the following states?

A. Andhra Pradesh

B. Punjab

C. Haryana

D. Odisha

Answer : D

Current Affairs: Sports

Hydro Tourism to be Started in Ladakh

• In Ladakh, the Tourism Department is adding another feather to its cap with plans to start Hydro tourism. The Ladakh Tourism department, in collaboration with National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, NHPC, is planning aquatic sports to begin Hydro tourism at the world’s highest hydropower project on the Indus river, near Alchi in Leh.
• Aquatic sports like Kayaking, Jet Skiing, Motorboating, Ice Skating during winter, and boating during the summer season will be rolled out in a phased manner.

Border Tourism:

• Similarly, the tourism department is also introducing border tourism in cooperation with the Fire and Fury Corps of the Indian Army.

Other Initiatives:

• The department has also planned to develop infrastructure along the river for tourist attractions such as camping sites and souvenir shops. 
• This can also help local entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their products. Also, floating cafeterias will be set up where tourists can get a taste of the local Ladakhi delicacies onboard.

Question: 

Which of the following states/UT is going to start Hydro Tourism?

A. Odisha

B. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

C. Leh

D. Daman and Diu

Answer: C

Current Affairs: National

World’s First Palm-Leaf Manuscript Museum Built in Kerala

• A treasure house of both obscure and celebrated tales of the erstwhile Travancore kingdom that became Asia’s first to defeat any European power on Indian soil, the recently opened Palm leaf Manuscript Museum in the Kerala capital has further brightened the state’s cultural and academic space.

About the Museum: 

• This museum has brightened the state’s cultural and academic space. Accordingly, the museum is a storehouse of curious nuggets of administrative, socio-cultural and economic facets of the Travancore kingdom, which spanned over a period of 650 years till the end of the 19th century.
• The museum accounts of the famous Battle of Colachel wherein the Travancore king Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma (1729-58) defeated the Dutch East India Company at Colachel. This 1741 victory ended Dutch expansion in India, and Travancore, under Marthanda Varma, became Asia’s first state to defeat any European power.

Scripts:

• The museum has around 187 manuscripts in the record. 
• The old age stories are entirely based on primary sources, which are documents written on cured and treated palm leaves assigned to the corners of the records rooms.
• In the first phase, the historical material was chosen after carefully sieving from a huge stock of 1.5 crore palm-leaf stored records from across the state.

Galleries of the Museum include: 

1. ‘History of Writing’
2. ‘Land and people’
3. ‘Administration’
4. ‘War and Peace’
5. ‘Education and Health’
6. ‘Economy’
7. ‘Art and Culture’
8. ‘Mathilakam Records’

Question: 

World’s first Palm-leaf Manuscript Museum has recently been built in which of the following states/UT?

A. Delhi

B. Tamil Nadu

C. Kerala

D. Madhya Pradesh

Answer: C

Check out the Highlights of Union Budget 2023 by clicking on the link given below:
Union Budget 2023-24

Current Affairs: Science and Technology

The First-ever “National Genome Editing and Training Centre” Inaugurated at Mohali

• Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the “National Genome Editing and Training Centre” at National Agri-food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) Mohali, Punjab.

Details: 

• NGETC is a one-roof state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a national platform to cater to the regional needs to adapt different genome editing methods, including CRISPR-Cas mediated genome modification.
• This quantum jump in the number of startups must equally and proportionally reflect in Agri and biotech as well because this area is yet to be fully explored and taken advantage of by Indian entrepreneurs and youth. 

Question:

The first-ever “National Genome Editing and Training Centre” was recently inaugurated in which of the following cities?

A. Karnal

B. Guwahati 

C. Mohali

D. Bhubaneswar

Answer: C

Fact Book – 06th January 2023

Jaydev Unadkat Becomes the First Bowler to Secure a First-Over Hat-Trick in Ranji Trophy

• Saurashtra pace veteran Jaydev Unadkat became the first-ever bowler to clinch a hat-trick in the first over of a Ranji Trophy match.
• The bowler did so in Saurashtra’s Elite – Group B match against Delhi at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
• Captain Unadkat was the highest wicket-taker in the Vijay Hazare Trophy last month. He bagged 19 wickets in 10 matches. 
• Unadkat has played 96 first-class matches so far in which he has taken 353 wickets.

Assam Government Announces Recipients of Assam State Civilian Awards

• The recipients of the Assam State Civilian awards, “Asom Baibhav,” “Asom Sourav,” and “Asom Gourav” awards for the years 2022–2023, have just been revealed by the Assam government. 
• People who have made important contributions to the state and its citizens are honoured and recognised through these awards.
  • Asom Baibhav- Dr Tapan Saikia- ₹5 lakhs
  • Asom Sourav awarded to five people-Krishna Roy, Gilbert Sangma, Dr Binoy Kumar Saikia, and two others- ₹4 lakhs each
  • Asom Gourav awarded to 15 people- Debajit Barman, Rustom Basumatary, Manje La, and ten others- ₹3 lakhs each

Cape Verde Becomes the First Country to Name a National Stadium in Honour of Pele

• African Portuguese-speaking country Cape Verde became the first country responding to the call made by FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to name a stadium after a former Footballer Pele.
• The stadium to be renamed after him is the 15,000-seater Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde which opened in 2014.
• The three-time FIFA World Cup winner, Pele scored over 1000 goals in his career and is regarded by many as the greatest footballer of all time.

Fourth Edition of the International Education Awards 2022, held at Gurgaon

• The fourth edition of the International Education Awards 2022 was held at the Hyatt Regency, Gurgaon, on 30 December 2022 
• The award was organised by Kiteskraft Productions. 
• The award is conferred to identify, encourage and recognize educators for their contributions to education. The award recognizes the personalities who have caused a positive change in the methods of learning.
• Kiteskraft Productions awarded around 170 plus educators across the country for their innovative and visionary approaches in the education sector. 

India Identifies Two Lithium Mines and One Copper Mine in Argentina

• India has identified two lithium mines and one copper mine in Argentina for a possible acquisition or long-term lease. 
• Argentina, Chile and Bolivia form the Lithium Triangle. 
• Lithium is found in cedemine rock formation and in brine form, which is called ‘salar’ in Latin America. 
• The other alternative is its liquid form. 
• In South America, it is generally extracted from salt flats by pumping brine into ponds and processing lithium salts that crystallise once the water has evaporated. 
• Australia is the top lithium producer globally.

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