Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: February 09, 2023
General Awareness Section can be the easiest and most qualifying section in most competitive exams with the right focus. To bag a good score in these sections one must follow the current affairs for at least a few minutes on a daily basis. Current affairs are vastly diversified with topics from politics, finance, sports, etc and getting lost in this vastness might be confusing sometimes. It is essential for candidates who are preparing for competitive exams to know what topics to focus on instead of wandering.
Motivation++
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”
― Eleanor Roosevelt
Current Affairs: Science and Technology
Jupiter Becomes the Planet with Most Moons
Astronomers recently discovered 12 new moons around Jupiter, increasing the total number of moons it has to 92 – the largest number any planet in our solar system has (Saturn has 83 moons).
The moons were discovered using telescopes in Hawaii and Chile in 2021 and 2022 and have been added to a list kept by the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Centre (the size of these moons ranges from 1-3 km).
Details:
Upcoming missions to Jupiter include –
ESA’s spacecraft to Jupiter to study the planet and some of its biggest icy moons (in 2023)
NASA’s Europa Clipper to explore Jupiter’s moon Europa which could harbour an ocean beneath its frozen crust (in 2024).
NASA earlier launched Mission Lucy to explore Jupiter’s Trojan Asteroids.
Apart from Jupiter and Saturn, Uranus has 27 confirmed moons, Neptune has 14, Mars has two, and Earth has one moon, while Venus and Mercury have no moons.
Question:
Recently which of the following has been designated as the planet with the largest number of moons any planet has in our solar system?
A. Jupiter
B. Saturn
C. Uranus
D. Neptune
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: Environment and Ecology
Save Wetlands Campaign Launched
Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, launched the ‘Save Wetlands Campaign’ in the presence of the Chief Minister of Goa.
What Is the Save Wetlands Campaign?
The Save Wetlands Campaign is structured on a “whole of society” approach to wetlands conservation, enabling affirmative actions for wetlands conservation at all levels of society.
This campaign over the next year will include sensitising people to the value of wetlands, increasing the coverage of wetland mitras and building citizen partnerships for wetlands conservation.
Activities involved:
sensitising people to the value of wetlands
increasing the coverage of wetland mitras
building citizen partnerships for wetlands conservation
World Wetlands Day:
It is observed on 2nd February every year to commemorate the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in 1971. India has been a party to the Convention since 1982 and has so far declared 75 wetlands as Ramsar sites
The 2023 theme for World Wetlands Day is ‘Wetland Restoration’, which highlights the urgent need to prioritise wetland restoration
Question:
Which of the following Union Ministers recently launched the Save Wetlands campaign in Goa?
A. Ashwini Vaishnav
B. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
C. Pralhad Joshi
D. Bhupender Yadav
Answer: D
Current Affairs: National
Yuva Sangam Portal Launched
Union Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan has launched the Yuva Sangam portal to strengthen people-to-people connections and build empathy between the youth of the North Eastern States and other States.
It is an initiative of the Ministry of Education.
Details:
Under the project, 1000 youth in the age group of 18 to 30 years (300 from the North East, 700 from other states) will be sent to youth exchange programs in the North East and other states of the country.
Through Yuva Sangam, the youth of the North East will get an opportunity to know the tradition, culture, tourist places, food, languages and diversity of the eight states of the country and the youth of other states of the country.
Question:
Recently launched Yuva Sangam portal has majorly launched in orientation with which of the following regions?
A. Western ghats
B. Coastal region
C. The Himalayas
D. The North Eastern region
Answer:D
Current Affairs: Science and Technology
NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, NISAR
An Earth-observation satellite jointly developed by NASA and ISRO that will help study Earth’s land and ice surfaces in greater detail is all set to be shipped to India as per the sources.
What Is the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) Satellite?
NISAR is a joint Earth-observing mission between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with the goal of making global measurements of the causes and consequences of land surface changes using advanced radar imaging.
The mission is targeted to launch in 2024. NASA is providing the mission’s L-band synthetic aperture radar, a high-rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers, a solid-state recorder and a payload data subsystem.
ISRO provides the spacecraft bus, the S-band radar, the launch vehicle and associated launch services.
The NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) Mission will measure Earth’s changing ecosystems, dynamic surfaces, and ice masses, providing information about biomass, natural hazards, sea level rise, and groundwater. It will support a host of other applications.
NISAR will observe Earth’s land and ice-covered surfaces globally with 12-day regularity on ascending and descending passes, sampling Earth on average every six days for a baseline 3-year mission.
What Is Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)?
It refers to a technique for producing fine-resolution images from a resolution-limited radar system.
It requires that the radar be moving in a straight line, either on an aeroplane or, as in the case of NISAR, orbiting in space.
Question
Which of the following space agencies and ISRO recently collaborated to develop an Earth-observation satellite?
A. China National Space Administration
B. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
C. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
D. Russian Federal Space Agency
Answer: C
Current Affairs: National
Indore Becomes First Civic Body to Launch Green Bonds
Indore Municipal Corporation ranked top in cleanliness survey for six consecutive years, has become the country’s first civic body to launch green bonds, seeking to raise ₹244 crore for a 60-MW solar plant at its water pumping station.
Details:
The public issues of the green bonds will be open for subscription from 10-14 February, Pushyamitra Bhargav, mayor of Indore, and Divyank Singh, chief executive of the Indore Smart City Development Commission.
The issue will be listed on the National Stock Exchange.
What Is a Green Bond?
A green bond is a type of fixed-income instrument that is specifically earmarked to raise money for climate and environmental projects.
These bonds are typically asset-linked and backed by the issuing entity’s balance sheet, so they usually carry the same credit rating as their issuers’ other debt obligations.
Green bonds may come with tax incentives to enhance their attractiveness to some investors.
The phrase “green bond” is sometimes used interchangeably with “climate bonds” or “sustainable bonds”.
Green bonds are part of a larger trend in socially responsible and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing.
Types of Green Bonds:
Fixed Income Securities: Fixed Income Securities Commercial Paper Certificate of Deposit (CD), Zero Coupon Bond.
Government Bond Issuances: Treasury Bond (T-Bond), Municipal Bonds, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) Treasury STRIPS.
ETFs and Mutual Funds.
Question:
Which of the following becomes the first civic body to launch green bonds?
A. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
B. Indore Municipal Corporation
C. Municipal Corporation of Delhi
D. Kolkata Municipal Corporation
Answer: B
Check out the Highlights of Union Budget 2023 by clicking on the link given below: Union Budget 2023-24
Current Affairs: Economy
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Lays Foundation Stone for South India’s 1st Industrial Corridor Project
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of South India’s 1st Industrial Corridor Project to be implemented at Tumakuru, which is spread over 8500 acres of land under the Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor.
Details:
Krishnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Tumakuru (Karnataka), and Ponneri (Tamil Nadu) have been identified as priority nodes under NICP’s (National Industrial Corridor Programme) Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC).
NICP aims to promote world-class manufacturing facilities and develop futuristic industrial cities in India.
The broad objective is to provide plug-and-play infrastructural facilities for setting up large-scale manufacturing units.
Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor was the first corridor taken up for development in 2011.
Subsequently, Amritsar- Kolkata, CBIC, Vizag-Chennai, East Coast, etc., were added.
Important Features of NICP
Land parcels are developed for immediate allotment to manufacturing units.
Statutory clearances, including environmental clearance, are being taken beforehand.
National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) for unified development.
Factbook 08-02-2023
Wolf 1069 b
Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet Wolf 1069 b which is orbiting a red dwarf star Wolf 1069.
An exoplanet is any planet beyond our solar system.
Red dwarfs are stars with very low mass and are generally referred to as the coolest stars.
It is orbiting in its star’s habitable zone (Goldilocks zone), potentially making it a prime candidate for liquid water to exist on its surface.
It is tidally locked to its parent star, meaning one side is always in daylight, and the other is always in darkness.
Korean Cultural Centre India Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Ties Between India, South Korea
A group of 108 Buddhist monks from South Korea will walk over 1,100 kilometres in the next 43 days—from 9 February to 23 March—tracing the Buddha’s footsteps and life journey in India.
The walking pilgrimage will begin from Sarnath in Varanasi and culminate at Shravasti after traversing through Nepal.
Relations started with bilateral consular relations in 1962. In 1973, it was upgraded to diplomatic ties (Ambassador-level).
Sharing Kinship and Buddhist Connection according to “SamgukYusa”, written in the 13th century, a Princess from Ayodhya married King Kim-Suro of Gaya Confederacy, Korea and became Queen Hur (Heo) Hwang-ok in 48 AD.
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), operationalised on 1 January 2010.
Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation Agreement was signed in 2011. In 2022, trade between the two nations reached an all-time high at USD 27.8 bn.
Target is to reach USD 50 bn by 2030. Also launched the ‘Korea Plus’ initiative to promote and facilitate Korean Investments in India.
Naval Variant of LCA Lands First Time on Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant
The Naval variant of India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) made its maiden landing on board the INS Vikrant, marking a milestone towards the Navy’s self-reliance plans.
This was followed by a landing and take-off by a twin-engine MiG-29K fighter jet (Russian origin).
INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier commissioned in Sept 2022, is currently in the process of getting operationalised.
In Jan 2020, DRDO demonstrated a successful landing of Naval LCA on INS Vikramaditya along the lines of which the DRDO is in the process of developing a Twin Engine Deck- Based Fighter (TEDBF) for INS Vikrant.
Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2023
Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2023 is being organised in Mumbai (Maharashtra) from 4 -12 February.
This festival was started in 1999 by Kala Ghoda Foundation.
It is named Kala Ghoda because it is held at a place in the South Mumbai area where there is a statue of a black horse.
Events and workshops under the festival are scattered across the precinct, the stretch beginning from the Kala Ghoda statue is where all the art installations are set up every year.
This time, the stretch boasts over 18 installations.
Anatolian Plate
Recently an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck Turkiye, one of the most seismically active regions in the Mediterranean and the world.
Turkiye (the Turkish/Anatolian plate) sits between three major tectonic plates: African, Arabian and Eurasian.
The Anatolian Plate is a continental tectonic plate comprising most of the Anatolia (Asia Minor) peninsula (and the country of Turkey).
To the east, the East Anatolian Fault, a left lateral transform fault, forms a boundary with the Arabian Plate.
To the south and southwest is a convergent boundary with the African Plate.
The Anatolian plate is divided into three major fault zones: North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), East Anatolian Fault Zone (EAFZ), and South Eastern Anatolian Thrust Zone (SAT)
Collisions between the Arabian and African plates with Eurasia typically result in earthquakes.
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