Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: April 19, 2023

A part of the question paper for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, IAS, Railway-RRB, UPPSC, UGC NET, SBI, MPPSC, etc., is devoted to the Current Affairs section. Moreover, scoring well in this 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.

The most recent events from around the globe have been selected by our specialists at Embibe and are included in this post.

Current Affairs: Days and Events

World Heritage Day 2023

• World Heritage Day is celebrated on 18 April. It is marked to raise awareness about the importance of cultural heritage and the need to preserve it for future generations. 
• The day was established by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and was approved by the UNESCO General Conference in 1983.

Theme:

• Every year, ICOMOS suggests a subject for its members, partners, and anyone interested in commemorating World Heritage Day to organise activities around. The theme for this year is Heritage Changes.

Significance:

• This Day aims to increase awareness of the value of cultural assets, the vulnerability of sites and monuments, and the measures necessary to protect and conserve them. 
• The event highlights culture’s significance while acknowledging the numerous obstacles to achieving this goal. 
• It encourages us to honour and appreciate diverse cultural expressions around the world. It also seeks to promote the preservation of these cultural expressions.

Question: 1

World Heritage Day is celebrated on 18 April every year. What is the theme for the year 2023?

1. Heritage Changes
2. Heritage Forever
3. Heritage our honour
4. Heritage beyond all

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: National Interest 

Global Conference on Compressed Biogas underway in New Delhi

• A two-day Global Conference on Compressed Biogas is underway in New Delhi. 
• The Conference is being conducted on the theme of “Towards Progressive Policy Framework for a Robust CBG Foundation and Growth”. 
• The objective of this Conference is to apprise the industry regarding the initiatives taken by the Central Government for the development of the Compressed Biogas Industry and to identify the areas where policy modifications are required.
• Compressed biogas or CBG—a biofuel—is similar to compressed natural gas (CNG) as both are compressed methane, but CBG is produced from agricultural waste. The development of CBG plants in the country would reduce its dependence on imports of natural gas.
• CBG has higher calorific value and properties similar to CNG and can be utilised as an alternative green renewable and can replace CNG in automotive, industrial and commercial areas, given the abundance of biomass availability within the country.
• India’s biggest compressed biogas plant, and the only one on paddy straw, was commissioned in Sangrur. 

Question: 2

The Global Conference on Compressed Biogas is currently being held in which of the following cities?

1. Guwahati
2. Sangrur
3. Delhi
4. Karnal

Answer: C

Current Affairs: International 

Montana becomes the first US state to pass a bill banning TikTok

• Montana becomes the first US state to pass legislation banning TikTok on personal devices. 
• TikTok has been accused of posing a national security risk through data gathered from users. 
• This US state has constituted a bill known as SB 419, passed by a vote of 54 to 43.
• The legislation makes it illegal for app stores to offer TikTok. It, however, excludes the present users of the app. 
• If signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte, the ban could come into effect in January 2024.
• Violations of the bill could carry a penalty of up to 10,000 US Dollars, which would be enforced by Montana’s Department of Justice. The penalties apply to companies rather than individual users.

Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions

Appasaheb Dharmadhikari honoured with Maharashtra Bhushan Award by Amit Shah

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2022 to spiritual leader and social activist Dattatreya Narayan alias Appasaheb Dharmadhikari at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai.
• Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were present on this occasion.
• The Maharashtra Bhushan Awards were instituted in 1995 after the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance came to power in the state. This award was given to persons who made outstanding contributions to society.
• Over 20 lakh followers of preacher-social worker 77-year-old Dattatreya Narayan Dharmadhikari, popularly known as Appasaheb Dharmadhikari, came from all over Maharashtra and the rest of the country to witness the presentation of Maharashtra’s highest civilian award.
• The award comprises a medal, a citation and ₹25 lakh, which Appasaheb donated to the chief minister’s relief fund.

Current Affairs: National Interest 

PM Modi inaugurates Northeast’s first AIIMS in Guwahati

• The long-awaited All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), located at Changsari on the outskirts of Guwahati, Assam, has been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The 950-bed hospital’s building expenses amounted to ₹1,126 crores. The Prime Minister laid the foundation in May 2017.
• Meanwhile, a foundation stone was also laid for the Assam Advanced Healthcare Innovation Institute (AAHII), a joint initiative of the Assam government and IIT Guwahati.
• The AIIMS and a medical college each in Kokrajhar, Nagaon, and Nalbari were among various projects worth more than ₹3,400 crore initiated and dedicated to the nation in Assam.
• The prime minister also launched the distribution of 1.1 crore Ayushman cards to beneficiaries who will be able to avail of cashless healthcare medical treatment benefits up to ₹5 lakh with these cards.

Question: 3

PM Modi recently inaugurated the Northeast’s first AIIMS in which of the following cities?

1. Imphal
2. Gangtok
3. Guwahati
4. Itanagar

Answer: C

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

Factbook: 18-April-2023

Sabarimala Greenfield Airport proposal receives Central approval

• The plan to establish the Sabarimala greenfield airport at Erumely has received a major boost, with the project proposal receiving approval from the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• The Sabarimala airport is proposed to be built at Cheruvally Estate in the Kottayam district.
• The Sabarimala airport is planned to be constructed on a sprawling 2,266 acres of land in Cheruvally Estate.
• Once completed, Sabarimala Airport will boast the longest runway in the state, measuring 3.5 km.

Syria Becomes Biggest Narco-State in the World

• It came to light that Syria’s earnings are largely from Captagon; hence it is now the largest narco-state in the world. 
• A narco-state is one whose economy and income depend on the trading of illegitimate drugs.
• Captagon is a dangerous alternative to amphetamine and is considered an illegal drug at a global level. The cost of this drug is not much; however, with bribing and corruption, the range increases up to USD 14 – USD 20.

Question: 4

Which of the following countries has recently become the largest narco-state in the world?

1. Afghanistan
2. Mexico
3. Cuba
4. Syria

Answer: D

Virginia Norwood rewarded as The Mother of Landsat

• The 96-year-old Virginia Tower Norwood, who took her last breath on 26 March 2023, has been a pioneer in Aerospace.
• One of her biggest contributions includes inventing the multispectral scanner that was thoroughly used in the Landsat Project. 
• This device could measure Earth from space and provide various images of the planet through which scientists could assess its workings. 

MRF emerges as ‘second strongest tyre brand in the world

• Tamil Nadu-headquartered MRF Limited has emerged as the second-strongest tyre brand in the world.
• The report also features MRF as the most valued Indian tyre brand, which scored high in the sustainability perception value and is the only Indian tyre manufacturer to be featured in the top 10.
• MRF has scored high in almost all parameters and is also featured as the second fastest-growing tyre brand in the world.
• It scored 83.2 out of 100 in brand strength and was awarded a AAA- brand rating.

Question: 5

Which of the following has recently emerged as the second-strongest tyre brand in the world?

1. CEAT
2. Apollo
3. MRF
4. Good Year

Answer: C

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