Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: February 14, 2023

Scoring well in the Current Affairs 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. We have selected the best of the most current news and put it together in Embibe’s Current Affairs series. In Embibe’s Current Affairs series, we have compiled the finest of the day’s most recent news. The questions on this page were chosen by our experts based on the significant happenings of the day.

Motivation++ 

“Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life; dream of it; think of it; live on that idea. Let the brain, the body, muscles, nerves, every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, and this is the way great spiritual giants are produced”

― Swami Vivekananda

Current Affairs: National Interest

Uttar Pradesh Government Launches Portal for ‘One Family, One ID’

• The Uttar Pradesh government has finally launched the portal for the creation of ‘Family ID – One Family One Identity’ to identify families as a unit for implementing the ‘one job per family’ proposal.
• According to a state government spokesman, all such families that are not eligible for the National Food Security Scheme will be able to avail of the ID, while the ration card ID of the families having it will be considered as their family ID.

Detail: 

• Its objective is to provide or subsidised ration to those families who do not have ration cards and are not eligible for the National Food Security Scheme.
• Through the portal, families can create their ID and can avail the benefits of the schemes.
• For those who already have an ID, the family ID will be the same as the ration card ID.

About One ID:

• For others, an ID will be generated through the portal, and all the families will get a unique identity.
• It will create a comprehensive database of households in Uttar Pradesh.
• This ID will also be useful for other purposes. For example, a family member can use the ID to determine caste and apply for a birth certificate.
• The National Food Security Scheme, which provides or subsidised ration to people living in Uttar Pradesh, can also be availed through the portal.

Question: 1

Which of the following states recently launched the portal for the creation of ‘Family ID – One Family One Identity’?

A. Uttar Pradesh

B. Kerala

C. Assam

D. Rajasthan

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

MobiKwik Becomes India’s First App to Support Credit Cards on UPI

• MobiKwik, India’s leading fintech platform, has become one of the first fintech apps to support RuPay Credit Cards on UPI, bringing a new level of convenience to the millions of Indians who use UPI for their daily transactions.
• With RuPay Credit Cards now linked directly to UPI IDs, MobiKwik’s customers can easily make payments to merchants by scanning the UPI QR code and using UPI PIN for payment authentication.

Details:

• This facility will provide an easy and secure payment experience to MobiKwik customers.
• It will also open up new opportunities for merchants to be part of the credit ecosystem, with the acceptance of credit cards using asset-light QR codes without the need for point-of-sale (POS) terminals.
• RuPay credit cards are issued by all major banks (private and public sector) for both commercial and retail use.
• The integration of RuPay Credit Card with UPI is in line with the vision of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and RBI.
• RuPay Credit Card promotes credit card acceptance in India for merchants who are not part of the credit ecosystem.
• The top UPI apps currently are PhonePe, Paytm, Google Pay, Amazon Pay and BHIM.

Question: 2

Which of the following apps recently became India’s first app to support credit cards on UPI?

A. Google Pay

B. MobiKwik

C. RazorPay

D. PhonePe

Answer: B

Current Affairs: Science and Technology

ISRO Launches New Rocket SSLV-D2 from Sriharikota

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the second edition of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2) from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan space centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, recently.
• The new rocket will attempt to put three satellites – ISRO’s EOS-07, US-based firm Antaris’ Janus-1, and Chennai-based space startup SpaceKidz’s AzaadiSAT-2 – into a 450 km circular orbit during its 15-minute flight.

Details:

• According to ISRO, the SSLV caters to the launch of up to 500 kg satellites to low earth orbits on a ‘launch-on-demand’ basis. 
• The rocket provides low-cost access to space, offers low turn-around time and flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, and demands minimal launch infrastructure.
• The SSLV is a 34 m tall, 2 m diameter vehicle having a lift-off mass of 120 tonnes.
• The rocket is configured with three solid propulsion stages and a velocity terminal module.

Previous Satellite:

• The first test flight of SSLV ended in partial failure on 9 August last year after the upper stage of the launch vehicle injected the satellite into a highly elliptical unstable orbit due to a shortfall in velocity. 
• The investigation into the failure also revealed a vibration disturbance for a short duration on the Equipment Bay (EB) deck during the second stage separation, according to ISRO.

About ISRO:

• It is the national space agency of India. established on 15 August 1969. It launches its space rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
• Headquarters: Bengaluru
• Chairman: S Somnath

Question: 3

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the second edition of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2) from which lunch station?

A. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre

B. Satish Dhawan Space Centre

C. Abdul Kalam Island

D. Master Control Facility, Hassan

Answer: B

Current Affairs: International

India to Organise 12th World Hindi Conference in Fiji

• The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, in partnership with the Government of Fiji, is organising the 12th World Hindi Conference from the 15th to 17th of February, 2023, in Fiji.

Details:

• The first World Hindi Conference was held in 1975 in Nagpur, India. Since then, 11 such conferences have been organised in different parts of the world.
• The main theme of the Conference is “Hindi: From Traditional Knowledge to Artificial Intelligence”.
• The website and logo for the Conference were launched earlier in October 2022 in New Delhi by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.
• Representatives from 50 countries are likely to participate in the World Hindi Conference.
• The event will be used to promote Hindi as a global language.
• The High Commissioner Gopal Baglay emphasised the importance of the Hindi language in bringing people from different nations closer. 
• The 11th World Hindi Conference was held in Mauritius in 2018.

About Hindi Diwas:

• Every year 14 September is observed as Hindi Diwas in India. 
• On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi as the official language of the country.

Question: 4

In which of the following nations will the 12th World Hindi Conference take place this February?

A. Nepal

B. Sri Lanka

C. Fiji

D. Indonesia

Answer: C

Current Affairs: International

World Government Summit 2023 Begins in Dubai

• The 10th edition of the World Government Summit 2023 began today, 13 February, in Dubai. 
• The Summit is being held under the theme of “Shaping Future Governments”. 
• It brings together global thought leaders, global experts, and decision-makers to share and contribute to the development of tools, policies, and models that will be critical in shaping future governments.

Details: 

• The Summit features 20 presidents, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi; President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan; President of Senegal and Chairperson of the African Union, Macky Sall, among others. 
• This year’s edition brings together over 250 ministers from around the world, and over 10,000 delegates, including government officials, thought leaders, celebrities, and global experts. 
• The sessions and forums will be enriched by over 80 international, regional, and governmental organisations.

About the Summit: 

• The World Government Summit is a global forum held annually in Dubai that brings together leaders in government, business, technology, and civil society to discuss pressing issues facing humanity and to shape the future of governments worldwide. 
• The Summit aims to drive positive change and promote innovation in the public sector by exploring new ideas, technologies, and best practices in governance. 

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

Current Affairs: Defence

India-US Joint Military Exercise: TARKASH 

• The National Security Guard (NSG) and US Special Operations Forces (SOF) conducted the joint exercise named TARKASH, which will conclude on 14th February. 
• This is the sixth edition of the exercise.

Details: 

• The exercise by the National Security Guard (NSG) and US Special Operations Forces (SOF) is being held in Chennai.
• For the first time, the Indo-US joint exercise has included a ‘Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) terror response’ in its drill.
• During the course of the joint exercise, both forces also conducted joint mock counter-terrorism drills at multiple locations in Chennai to enhance interoperability and coordination between the two special forces.

Importance:

• The training provided an opportunity for both forces to gain proficiency and enhance skill sets for an effective CBRN terror response. 
• Subject matter experts in Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear warfare from the US Special Forces and the NSG exchanged valuable knowledge in handling CBRN threats in an urban counter-terrorism environment.

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).

• While there is no single, authoritative definition of a WMD in international law, the expression is usually understood to cover nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) weapons.
• According to the United States Department of Homeland Security, “A weapon of mass destruction is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or another device that is intended to harm a large number of people”.

Factbook: 13-02-2023

13 New Governors Appointed in Various States of India

• President Murmu appointed 13 new governors while accepting the resignations of Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Radha Krishnan Mathur.
• The appointment and powers of government can be derived from Part VI of the Indian constitution. Article 153 says that there shall be a Governor for each State. One person can be appointed as Governor for two or more States.
• The term of the governor’s office is normally five years, but it can be terminated earlier.

List:

1. Justice (Retd) S Abdul Nazeer has been appointed as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh
2. Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, has been appointed as the Governor of Chhattisgarh
3. Anusuiya Uikey, the Governor of Chhattisgarh, has been appointed as the governor of Manipur.
4. La Ganesan, the Governor of Manipur, has been appointed as the Governor of Nagaland.
5. Phagu Chauhan, the Governor of Bihar, has been appointed as the Governor of Meghalaya.
6. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, has been appointed as the Governor of Bihar
7. The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh has been appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.
8. Lt General Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik has been appointed as the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh
9. Gulab Chand Kataria has been appointed as the Governor of Assam
10. Ramesh Bais has been appointed as the new Governor of Maharashtra
11. Lakshman Prasad Acharya has been appointed as the Governor of Sikkim
12. CP Radhakrishnan has been appointed as the Governor of Jharkhand
13. Shiv Pratap Shukla has been appointed as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh

Question: 

Who among the following has recently been appointed as the new Governor of Maharashtra?

A. Ramesh Bais

B. Shiv Pratap Shukla

C. Gulab Chand Kataria 

D. S Abdul Nazeer

Answer: A

Khelo India Youth Games-2022: Maharashtra Finishes in First Position, Hosts Madhya Pradesh 3rd

• Curtains came down on the Khelo India Youth Games 2022 in Madhya Pradesh (KIYG2022MP), India’s “Youth Olympics”, at the beautiful Upper Lake area of Madhya Pradesh’s state capital.
• Maharashtra topped the medal tally by winning 161 medals, including 56 gold. Subsequently, Haryana stood second with 128 medals, including 41 gold.
• Host Madhya Pradesh finished third with 96 medals, including 39 gold.
• For the first time, water sports, namely Kayaking and Canoeing, Canoe Salam and Fencing, were part of this edition of the Khelo India Games.

Details: 

Question:

Which state has topped the table in the recently held Khelo India Youth Games 2022 in Madhya Pradesh (KIYG2022MP) or India’s “Youth Olympics”?

A. Haryana

B. Maharashtra

C. Madhya Pradesh

D. Kerala

Answer: B

Lithium Deposits Were Found for the First Time in India

• The Union Ministry of Mines said that lithium reserves have been found for the first time in the country in Jammu and Kashmir. 
• The geological Survey of India has, for the first time, established Lithium-inferred resources of 5.9 million tonnes in the Salal-Haimana area of the Reasi District of Jammu and Kashmir. 
• Lithium is a non-ferrous metal and is one of the key components in EV batteries.
• Currently, India is import-dependent on many minerals like lithium, nickel and cobalt. 

Formula E Race

• The top-tier motorsport series Formula E race will be taking place in India for the first time, providing a big boost to Indian motorsports. 
• Formula E stands for electric – with the entirety of racing cars powered by a battery. 
• It aspires to accelerate change towards an electric future, one race and one city at a time. 
• It is the first global sport to be certified with a net zero carbon footprint. 
• It is powered by a 250 kW battery. 
• They can reach speeds of up to 280 km/h. They promote sustainability and a greener world.

First Sundarban Bird Festival

• Recently, 145 different bird species were sighted during the first Sundarban Bird Festival. 
• The first-ever festival was organised by the Sundarban Tiger Reserve (STR) division of the West Bengal Forest Department, where several teams visited different areas inside the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve. 
• The Bird Festival provides baseline data on Sundarbans’ bird species diversity.
• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in 2021, recorded 428 bird species in the Sundarbans, which is one-third of all the avian species (derived from birds) found in the country.

Grishneshwar Temple

• Recently, Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the historic Grishneshwar temple, the 12th Jyotirlinga in the country.
• Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, also known as Ghushmeshwar Temple, is one of the shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva that is referenced in the Shiva Purana.
• This pilgrimage site is located in Ellora (also called Verul), less than a kilometre from Ellora Caves – a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the state of Maharashtra.
• The temple structure was destroyed by the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th and 14th-century.
• It went through several rounds of rebuilding, followed by re-destruction during the Mughal-Maratha conflict.
• It was rebuilt in its current form in the 18th century by Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore after the fall of the Mughal Empire.

India Is Rated among the Top Five Accreditation Systems in the World

• India’s national accreditation system under the Quality Council of India (QCI) has been ranked 5th in the world in the recent Global Quality Infrastructure Index (GQII) 2021.
• The GQII ranks 184 economies on the basis of their quality infrastructure (QI)
• GQII is an initiative on metrology, standardisation, accreditation, and related services, supported by Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany.
• India’s overall QI system ranking continues to be in the Top 10 at the 10th position, with the standardisation system (under BIS) at 9th and the metrology system (under NPL-CSIR) at the 21st position in the world.

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