Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: April 14, 2023
Current affairs are included in most government exams including the SSC, RRB NTPC, UPSC CDS, Railways, and more. The current events section of the test is given a higher weightage. This section’s preparatory phase is essential. How well-versed the candidate is in current affairs will determine whether or not they can pass this section. We have analysed the most current news from The Hindu, Indian Express, the Economic Times, and other sources to assist all the contenders in performing well in this part.
Current Affairs: National Interest
India’s first semi-high-speed regional rail service named ‘RAPIDX’
India’s first semi-high-speed regional rail services have been named ‘RAPIDX’ by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).
The trains will run on the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors, being implemented to connect key urban nodes across the National Capital Region (NCR).
A joint venture company of the Union government and states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, the NCRTC is tapping green energy by the installation of solar panels on stations and depots as well as the use of blended power in traction, which is planned to be increased progressively.
The RAPIDX services on the first RRTS corridor, Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut, will serve this 82-km long corridor and significantly reduce the travel time between Delhi and Meerut.
The priority corridor between Sahibabad and Duhai, a 17 km stretch, is expected to start this month.
NCRTC is targeting to commission the entire Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor for the public by 2025.
Q1.) What is the name of India’s first semi-high-speed regional rail services?
(A) RAPIDX
(B) RAPIDFast
(C) RAPIDRUN
(D) RAPIDXX
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: Economics
India set to grow by 5.9% this fiscal: IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that India’s economy will grow by 5.9% for the current fiscal year, April 2023 – March 2024.
The IMF estimated a 6.3% economic growth rate for India for the next fiscal year, a downward revision of 0.5 percentage points from the last forecast.
The IMF maintained an optimistic outlook on India, explaining the down revision as an adjustment for historical numbers that were better than expected.
Global output growth is projected by the IMF to slow to 2.8% in 2023 (calendar year), picking up to 3% in 2024.
Reasons for slow recovery:
The global economy’s gradual recovery from both the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine remains on track”.
Additionally, China’s reopened economy was strongly rebounding, supply chain disruptions were unwinding, and the negative impacts of the war on food and energy prices were receding.
Q2.) What is the growth rate projected by the IMF for the Indian economy in the current fiscal year April 2023-March 2024?
(A) 6.5%
(B) 5.4%
(C) 5.9%
(D) 6%
Answer: C
Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology
Mission Arikompan: Kerala Forest department gets satellite radio collar from Bengaluru
Mission Arikompan is likely to be delayed as the Kerala Forest Department is yet to get a satellite radio collar.
The forest department has initiated ‘Mission Arikompan’, an operation to capture the rogue tusker by the name of Arikompan.
The forest department has come up with a plan to capture it with tranquilliser shots and train it to be a ‘kumki’, a captive elephant used for operations against rogue elephants.
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is located in Palakkad district and Thrissur district of Kerala.
It is in the Sungam range of hills between the Anaimalai Hills and Nelliyampathy Hills.
The Western Ghats, Anaimalai Sub-Cluster, including all of Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, has been declared by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee as a World Heritage Site.
Current Affairs: Index and Ranking
World’s Most Criminal Countries List
As per the statistics, Venezuela has topped the list of the World’s Most Criminal Countries. There are several crimes committed around the world, like drug trafficking, robbery, murder, kidnapping, rape, etc.
The second position was given to Papua New Guinea, followed by Afghanistan, South Africa, etc. It has been found that people get involved in such misconduct due to higher rates of unemployment.
While India was ranked 77th, the US and UK were in the lead in terms of criminal ranking. Turkey, Japan and Germany stood in the least positions with criminal records.
Q3.) What is India’s rank on the list of the world’s most criminal countries?
(A) 78th
(B) 76th
(C) 77th
(D) 75th
Answer: C
Current Affairs: Days and Events
Jallianwala Bagh massacre 104th anniversary
On 13 April 1919, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place in Amritsar, Punjab, which is remembered as a tragic event and a symbol of the atrocities committed against the Indian people during the British colonial era.
The massacre played a significant role in India’s fight for independence, as it increased the nation’s determination to achieve self-rule and break from British subjugation.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Day 2023 marks 104 years since the tragic incident that is seen as a turning point in Indian History. It was this that led to Gandhi’s full commitment to the cause of Indian nationalism and independence from Britain.
Q4.) When did the Jallianwala Bagh massacre take place in Amritsar?
(A) 13 April 1919
(B) 10 April 1930
(C) 14 April 1919
(D) 16 April 1919
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Report and Index
Andhra Pradesh tops State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2022
Andhra Pradesh topped the country by achieving more than 60 points in the latest State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2022.
Andhra Pradesh received 77.5 points in SEEI-2022.
It showed the most improvement in energy efficiency parameters compared to last year’s SEEI.
Notably, the SEEI-2022 was launched by Union Minister for Power R K Singh recently.
Four other states, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan and Telangana, are also among the front-runners, along with Andhra Pradesh.
The index was developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a statutory body under the Ministry of Power, in association with Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy (AEEE).
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh showed the most improvement since the last index.
The SEEI tracks progress in managing the state’s and India’s energy footprint, driving energy efficiency policies and programmes at the state and local levels.
Q5.) Which state topped the country in the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2022?
(A) Jammu and Kashmir
(B) Andhra Pradesh
(C) Madhya Pradesh
(D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: B
Current Affairs: Sports
Indian GM Gukesh wins title at World Chess Armageddon Asia and Oceania event
D Gukesh, a young Indian grandmaster, beat Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan, a former world rapid champion, in the final to win the World Chess Armageddon Asia and Oceania event.
Gukesh emerged winner in a topsy-turvy summit clash.
The first game of the ‘new’ match was a draw after a perpetual check from Gukesh. He won the next game to emerge champion.
The 16-year-old Indian Gukesh won in a field that included former world classical champion Vladimir Kramnik, Daniil Dubov, Yangyi Yu (China), Vidit Gujrathi and Karthikeyan Murali (both India) and Parham Maghsoodloo (Iran), apart from Abdusattorov.
An Armageddon game is a variation of blitz chess in which a winner is chosen after a series of games that end in draws. A drawn game in Armageddon is counted as a win for Black.
Current Affairs: National Interest
Solar Energy Corporation of India gets ‘Miniratna Category-I’ status
Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has been accorded the status of Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) on 10th April 2023.
Its formal announcement has been issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.
SECI has achieved this feat in a short span of time due to its consistent performance, mobility and flexibility in operations.
SECI has played a central role in the rapid addition of RE generation capacity in the country and has contributed to the country’s climate commitments, carbon reduction strategies and sustainable energy transition.
It is making steady progress towards achieving the Prime Minister’s ‘Panchamrita’ goals and achieving 500 GW non-fossil fuel-based non-fossil fuel-based capacity by 2030.
Check out the Highlights of Union Budget 2023 by clicking on the link given below: Union Budget 2023-24
Factbook: 13-April-2023
The US and the Philippines launch the biggest joint drills yet in the South China Sea
American and Filipino forces launched their largest combat exercises in decades in the Philippines and its waters across the disputed South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
The annual drills by the longtime treaty allies called Balikatan—Tagalog for “shoulder-to-shoulder”—will run up to 28 April and involve more than 17600 military personnel.
About 12200 U.S. military personnel, 5400 Filipino forces and 111 Australian counterparts are taking part in the exercises, the largest since Balikatan started three decades ago.
Exercise Balikatan is the most prominent annual military exercise between the Philippines and the United States.
The exercises have been the cornerstone of Philippines–United States military relations since the closure of U.S. bases in the Philippines.
Australian armed forces have participated in Balikatan exercises annually since 2014.
IAF to participate in Hellenic (Greek) Air Force Military Exercise “INIOCHOS” for the first time
According to exclusive information from Newpost, the Indian Air Force has informed just a few weeks ago to participate in the large air exercise organised by the HAF.
The IAF’s presence in the INIOCHOS 23 exercise – which will be held from 24 April to 5 May – is one of the few for India outside the country, and indeed with the most powerful fighter – along with the Rafale – at their disposal in their arsenal.
It is characteristic that Su -30 MKs have gone outside India to participate twice in Red Flag in the USA, the world’s largest air exercise. Apart from the Americans, the Su -30 MKs have only co-trained outside the country with the French and the British.
Touted as one of Europe’s largest military exercises, Iniochos 2023, as per HAF’s website, will involve a large number of HAF assets, such as fighters, including RAFALE, Air Defence Systems, helicopters, transport, and training aircraft.
Furthermore, apart from India’s Su30MKI Iniochos 2023 will see the participation of air assets from countries like:
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