Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: February 03, 2023
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The most recent events from around the globe have been selected by our experts at Embibe and are included in this post. Go through and start your preparation right away!
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“Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is”
– Bhagavad Gita
Current Affairs: Defence
Indian Military Holds Joint Training exercise Trishakti Prahar in North Bengal
The Indian military recently concluded exercise Trishakti Prahar—a joint training exercise—which began in North Bengal on 21 January.
Aim:
As per defence sources, the exercise aimed to practise battle preparedness of the security forces, using the latest weapons and equipment in a networked, integrated environment involving the Army, the Indian Air Force and CAPFs.
Details:
Swift mobilisation and deployment drills were practised throughout North Bengal as part of the exercise. All organisations, including the Civil Administration, Civil Defense Organisations, Police, and CAPFs, coordinated their efforts to ensure effective movement and rapid mobilisation.
The exercise demonstrated the joint application of ground and aerial assets in a networked environment, including the most modern fighter aircraft, helicopters, tanks, infantry combat vehicles, medium and field artillery guns, infantry mortars, and other New Generation Infantry weapons and equipment.
As part of the “Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan”, newly introduced weapons and equipment made in India participated in the exercise as well.
The “Integrated Fire Power Exercise” demonstrated the ability of the Indian Armed Forces to apply resources from the Indian Air Force, Airborne Special Forces, and Security Forces in a coordinated manner in a networked environment.
Question:
The Indian military recently concluded a joint training exercise Trishakti Prahar in which of the following states?
A. Maharashtra
B. Uttarakhand
C. West Bengal
D. Arunachal Pradesh
Answer: C
Current Affairs: National
Visakhapatnam to be Andhra Pradesh’s New Capital
As the matter of developing Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh lies pending in the Supreme Court, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy recently reiterated that Visakhapatnam would become the capital of the state soon.
Details:
The announcement of a new capital for Andhra comes nine years after the state of Telangana was formed in 2014 and given Hyderabad as its capital.
The identity of the new capital for Andhra Pradesh has been the source of social, legal, economic, and political friction over the past several years.
In 2015, then-chief minister Chandrababu Naidu said Amaravati would be the capital, and for this, over 33,000 acres of land had been acquired from farmers around Amaravati.
Why Visakhapatnam?
Visakhapatnam is an important port city on the eastern coast of India. Visakhapatnam Port is one of 13 major ports in India and the only major port of Andhra Pradesh.
It is India’s third largest state-owned port by volume of cargo handled and the largest on the Eastern Coast.
It is located midway between the Chennai and Kolkata Ports on the Bay of Bengal. It is also a major industrial city with a rich cultural and spiritual heritage.
The Hindu god of courage, Visakha, inspired the name Visakhapatnam. It is bordered on the east by the Eastern Ghats and faces the Bay of Bengal.
Because of its scenic views and beautiful beaches, it is also known as the City of Destiny.
Question:
Which city will soon serve as the state capital, according to recent announcements from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy?
A. Kurnool
B. Amaravati
C. Guntur
D. Visakhapatnam
Answer: D
Check out the Highlights of the Economic Survey 2022-23 by clicking on the link given below: Economic Survey 2022-23
Current Affairs: National
‘Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha’ Being Recognised as Maharashtra State Song
Maharashtra Cabinet recently cleared the decision to designate Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha as the state song, which will now be played along with the National Anthem at all government events from 19 February, the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
It is for the first time since the establishment of Maharashtra as a state in 1960 that the government has declared an official state song.
Significance of Song:
‘Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha, Garja Maharashtra Majha,’ which means ‘Glory to Maharashtra,’ was written by Raja Badhe and sung by Balladeer Krishnarao Sable, popularly known as Shaheer Sable.
The official state song of Maharashtra will be ‘Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha’: Sudhir Mungantiwar, the State Minister for Cultural Affairs said. In Maharashtra, this song will be played at official and ceremonial functions.
Facts:
The government announced the decision to increase the amount of Maharashtra Bhushan prize to ₹25 lakhs from ₹10 lakhs.
It is the highest state government award conferred to a civilian for achievements in their respective field.
Presently, 12 other states have an official state song—Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand.
Protocol:
The Cabinet also cleared the guidelines to be followed while the state song is played.
The guidelines mandate that common citizens must remain in alert positions with exceptions made for children, pregnant women, the sick, divyang and senior citizens.
State board textbooks will also carry the state song from next year.
Question:
Who among the following wrote the song “Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha,” which was recently recognised as the state song of Maharashtra?
A. Raja Badhe
B. Krishnarao Sable
C. Anant Thakrey
D. Raja Roshan
Answer: A
Current Affairs: International
India Announces Support to Bhutan for 3rd International Internet Gateway
India recently announced its help for the development of Bhutan’s third international internet gateway.
According to the Embassy of India in Bhutan, the government will facilitate a concessional rate to reduce the cost of the gateway’s operations.
Details:
The Indian Prime Minister announced India’s preparations to launch a Bhutanese satellite into space and provide a third international internet gateway for Bhutan.
The Government of India will be facilitating a concessional rate to bring down the cost of operations of the gateway.
The getaway is expected to enhance redundancy, connect remote pockets of Bhutan, increase internet bandwidth and reduce the cost of internet connectivity for users.
“e-launch” of the Second Phase of the Rupay Card:
The first phase of the project was launched in August 2019 with 10,428 successful transactions of ₹36.52M.
The second phase anticipates empowering the banks to issue Rupay cards to Bhutanese citizens, which means that Bhutanese card holders can access the Rupay network in India.
Indian Contribution:
The Government of India is contributing Nu 1.98 billion (₹198 crores) during the 12th Five-Year Plan (2018-2023) to support Bhutan’s digital transformation through several people-centric projects in education, e-governance, trade, and service delivery.
Question:
For which of the following neighbouring nations has India recently offered to help in developing a third international internet gateway?
A. Bangladesh
B. Bhutan
C. Nepal
D. Sri Lanka
Answer: B
Current Affairs: Economy
India Has Become the World’s Third-Largest Aviation Market
India has become the third-largest aviation market in the world and is growing rapidly, with the number of airports increasing to 147 from just 74 in 2014, President Droupadi Murmu said recently.
The UDAN Yojana has played an important role in this regard, UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) is the government’s ambitious regional air connectivity scheme, and UDAN flights have carried around 1.15 crore people over the last six years.
Facts:
India’s aviation sector has become the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world in terms of handling domestic traffic.
India is currently the seventh-largest civil aviation market in the world and is expected to become the third-largest civil aviation market within the next ten years.
Domestic traffic contributes around 69% of the total airline traffic in South Asia, and India’s airport capacity is expected to handle 1 billion trips annually by 2023. The Indian aviation industry has recovered fully from the covid-19 pandemic shock, as indicated by the air traffic movement, which stood at 613,566 in the first quarter of FY 2022-23 compared to 300,405 in the same period last year, an increase of 104.24%.
About the Ministry of Civil Aviation:
The Ministry of Civil Aviation is responsible for formulating national policies and programmes or developing and regulating the Civil Aviation sector in the country.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation is responsible for administrating the Aircraft Act, 1934, Aircraft Rules, 1937 and various other legislations pertaining to the aviation sector in the country.
Shri Jyothiradithya M. Scindia is the Minister of Civil Aviation, and Gen (Dr) VK Singh (Retd.) is the Minister of State.
Question
According to recent data, India recently held which rank in terms of handling domestic traffic in the aviation market in the world?
A. 2nd
B. 3rd
C. 4th
D. 5th
Answer: B
Check out the Highlights of Union Budget 2023 by clicking on the link given below: Union Budget 2023-24
Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology
Yaya Tso to Become Ladakh’s First Biodiversity Heritage Site
Yaya Tso has been proposed as Ladakh’s first biodiversity heritage site (BHS) because of its beautiful lake, known as a birds’ paradise and located at an elevation of 4,820 metres.
The Biodiversity Management Committee, the panchayat of Chumathang village, along with the SECURE Himalaya Project, recently resolved to declare Yaya Tso as Ladakh’s first BHS under the Biological Diversity Act.
Facts about the Yaya Tso Lake:
Lake Yaya Tso is known as a bird’s paradise for its beautiful lake located at an altitude of 4,820 metres in Ladakh.
It is a nesting habitat for a large number of birds and animals, such as the bar-headed goose, black-necked crane and brahminy duck
It is also one of the highest breeding sites of the black-necked crane in India.
What Is the Secure Himalaya Project?
The Global Environment Facility provided funding for the project, which began in 2017.
It supports the government’s efforts for the conservation of snow leopard and its habitat by developing and implementing a landscape-based approach for Himalayan ecosystems, and addresses key issues of habitat degradation, threatened livelihoods and illegal trade in wildlife.
Question:
Which of the following sites is going to be Ladakh’s first biodiversity heritage site?
A. Lahaul-Pangi and Kinnaur Landscapes
B. Gangotri-Govind and Darma-Byans Landscapes
C. Khangchendzonga-upper Teesta Valley
D. Yaya Tso birds paradise
Answer: D
Factbook: 02-02-2023
Adani Group acquires Haifa port for $1.2 bn
The Adani Group recently acquired the strategic Israeli port of Haifa for USD 1.2 billion and vowed to transform the skyline of this Mediterranean city as part of its decision to invest more in the Jewish nation, including opening an artificial intelligence lab in Tel Aviv.
It is located in northern Israel, adjacent to the city of Haifa along the Mediterranean sea.
It is also located on the busy Suez Canal shipping route.
The Haifa port is one of the two biggest commercial ports in Israel.
It handles nearly half of the country’s container cargo and is also the nation’s principal port for passenger traffic and cruise ships.
The Port of Haifa was constructed in 1933 by the British. Since 1948, it has been rebuilt and developed by the Israeli government.
Suzuki to use cow dung for producing biogas to power CNG cars
India’s largest car manufacturer Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), has announced that it will use cow dung to power its CNG cars.
Maruti currently sells 14 CNG models, including Alto, Alto K10, S-Presso, Celerio, Eeco, etc.
The company has approximately 70% share in India’s CNG car market.
SMC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian government agency National Dairy Development Board and Banas Dairy, Asia’s largest dairy manufacturer, to conduct verification of biogas.
The company has also invested in Fujisan Asagiri Biomass LLC, which generates electricity using biogas derived from cow dung in Japan.
Usman Khawaja bags the inaugural Shane Warne Men’s Test Player of the Year award
Usman Khawaja has won the inaugural Shane Warne Men’s Test Player of the Year award following a superb 12 months in Australian test Cricket.
Khawaja has been Australia’s leading run-scorer in the five-day format, accumulating 1020 runs at 78.46 during the voting period.
Last week, Khawaja was named in the ICC Test Team of the Year alongside Australian teammates Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon and Marnus Labuschagne.
This award is named in honour of the legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne, who passed away last March.
Coal India Ltd to Launch M-Sand Projects in Broader Schemes
Coal India Ltd (CIL) has envisaged processing the fragmented rock (known as Overburden Rocks (OB) for sand production in mines.
OB material contains about 60% sandstone by volume which is harnessed through crushing and processing of Overburden.
M sand is a form of artificial sand manufactured by crushing large hard stones, mainly rocks or granite, into fine particles, which are then washed and finely graded.
It is widely used as a substitute for river sand for construction purposes, mainly in the production of concrete and mortar mix.
National Gallery of Modern Art celebrates the 110th birth anniversary of Amrita Sher-Gil
The National Gallery of Modern Art celebrates the 110th birth anniversary of Amrita Sher-Gil.
She is one of the pioneers of the modern movement in Indian art.
She was influenced by the works of Paul Cézanne, Amedeo Modigliani, and Paul Gauguin.
Influenced in particular by wall paintings of Ajanta Caves, she attempted to fuse their aesthetic with European oil painting techniques.
Her famous works include “Group of Three Girls”, “Brahmacharis”, “Bride’s Toilet”, “Gypsy Girl”, “Young Girls”, and “Mother India”.
Ukraine’s Odesa in UNESCO’s World Heritage List
Recently, the World Heritage Committee decided to add the historic centre of Ukraine’s Black Sea port city of Odesa to its list of World Heritage sites.
This decision recognises the extraordinary universal value of the site and the duty of all humanity to protect it. The Historic Centre of Odesa has also been inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The List of World Heritage in Danger is designed to inform the international community of conditions that threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List and to encourage corrective action.
As of 2023, the 52 properties are decided by the Committee to include on the List of World Heritage in danger.
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