Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: February 21, 2023

Government examinations like the SSC, RRB NTPC, UPSC CDS, Railways, and so on include a current affairs section. In the test, the current affairs part has more weightage. The preparation part of this section is crucial. Successfully cracking this section is completely dependent on how informed is the candidate, about current events. In order to help all the candidates score well in this section, we have analysed the most recent news from The Hindu, Indian Express, the Economic Times, and so on.

Motivational Quote

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts”

Current Affairs: National Interest

The First Nuclear Plant in North India

• The construction of a new nuclear power plant in Gorakhpur, Haryana, was recently announced by the Union Minister for Science and Technology.
• This will be the first nuclear power plant in North India. A total of 560 hectares of land will be used to construct the facility, which is capable of producing 2800 MW. In 2014, its foundation stone was laid. 
• Even though the building process has only started, by 2025, the first phase should be finished and the second by 2028. After the second phase is finished, the plant will be producing 2800 MW at full capacity.

Who is building this plant?
Indian National Power Corporation Limited. All of the nuclear power stations in the nation are under the control of this public sector unit.

Cost of the project:

The project will be built at an estimated cost of ₹20,594 crore. This cost estimation was done in 2014. With increasing inflation, the cost would have now increased.

Question: 1
Where is North India’s first nuclear plant being built?

A. Gurugram
B. Delhi

C.Gorakhpur

D. Ambala

Answer: C

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

Manipur hosts the B20 Summit

• The State of Manipur hosted the B20 conference in conjunction with the G20 meeting. 
• The conference’s focus was on sustainable development and growth. 
• It was consistent with the G20 summit’s overarching concept of “One Planet, One Family, One Future”.

About the B20 Conference:

• The conference had attendees from over 23 nations.
• The conference was attended by the Union Ministers of State for Trade, External Affairs, etc. 
• Business 20 refers to B20. It belongs to the G20’s involvement groups.
  

Why Manipur:

• Manipur has 2.72 million residents. Manipur is one of the northeastern states regarded as the entryway to South East Asia. Additionally, India will use these states to carry out its ‘Act East’ strategy. 
• Manipur is one of the “Seven Sisters”, which will serve as a link between South East Asia and India. 
• After the India-Myanmar Asian Highway construction completes, it will only take 16–18 hours to travel from Bangkok to Manipur. 

Question: 2

Which state has hosted the B20 Conference?

A. Nagaland

B. Manipur

C. Assam

D. Tripura

Answer: B 

Current Affairs: Economy 

One Year of India-UAE CEPA

• The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was signed by India and the UAE in 2022. The nations recently marked the anniversary of the agreement’s signing in 2023.
• A trade agreement is CEPA. India and the UAE signed the CEPA, which covers topics like intellectual property, MSME, digital commerce, non-tariff measures, agriculture, taxation, customs valuation, and trade in products.

Background

On 18 February 2022, during a fictitious summit between Indian Prime Minister Modi and UAE President Zayed Al Nahyan, the two nations signed the pact.

Achievements using CEPA

• Trade between the nations increased to USD 57.8 billion as a result of CEPA. 
• The value of trade between the nations was USD 45.3 billion before the pact. 
• Trade went up by 27.5%.

Significance

• The first bilateral agreement that India inked with the Middle East or North Africa was the India-UAE CEPA.
• The volume of Indian exports to the UAE increased by 19.32% between April 2022 and November 2022. The contract became effective in May 2022. 
• The main trade sectors were food security, energy, education, and health care.

Question: 3
India recently signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with which country?

A. Australia

B. China

C. UAE

D. None of the Above

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Environment & Wildlife

World Pangolin Day: Data on Pangolin poaching in India

• World Pangolin Day is observed on 18 February 2023. The third Saturday of February is the designated holiday each year. 
• The celebration’s primary goal is to raise awareness of the pangolin population reduction. 
• In Africa and Asia, pangolin populations are quickly declining. Their medical value is the main cause of the decline. Scales from pangolins have a number of therapeutic benefits.

Conservation:

IUCN: Critically Endangered

CITES: APPENDIX I: This appendix prohibits international trade

Wild Life Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Why are pangolins in such great demand on the global market?

Pangolin scales offer excellent therapeutic qualities. They are employed in the treatment of rheumatism, strokes, and back discomfort.

The significance of pangolin:

Pangolins are very important to balance the ecosystem. They are very important in the food chain. One pangolin consumes 70 million insects per year. They are considered natural pest controllers.

Question: 4

World Pangolin Day was observed on which day in 2023?

A. 17th February

B. 18th February

C. 19th February

D. 20th  February

Answer: B

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

Current Affairs: Defence

BEL and Israel Aerospace to form Joint Venture

• A Memorandum of Understanding was recently inked at the Aero India Air Show by the Defence Ministry’s Bharat Electronics Limited and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
•  The deal states that BEL and IAI would create a joint venture. The country’s missile defence system will receive assistance from the joint venture.

About the Joint Venture:

• The JV will manufacture interceptors, launchers, advanced phased array radar, etc.  
• The Joint Venture’s main area of concentration will be MRSAM.

Why is the focus on MRSAM?

• MRSAM is an advanced air and missile defence system that protects against a variety of aerial attacks. It is used by the Indian Armed forces. 
• MRSAM, “Medium Range Surface To Air Missile”, was jointly developed by DRDO and IAI.
  

MoU to build LORA:

• In addition to the JV, IAI will assist BEL in building the LORA weapon system under the terms of an Agreement that the nations also inked. 
• The Long Range Artillery System is LORA. A long-range sea-to-ground ballistic missile launcher is what it is. Moreover, it will help ground-to-ground systems. 
• It is capable of launching missiles with a variety of ranges, ranging from 90 km to 430 km. 

Question: 5

With which of the following nations has BEL recently signed a Joint Venture Memorandum of Understanding?

A. Israel

B. Iran

C. Turkey

D. UAE

Answer. A

FactBook: 20-02-2023

1. “mPassport Police App”: Police verification for passport in just five days

• To simplify and hasten the process of police verifying passport issuing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) has recently released the “mPassport Police App”.
• Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, introduced the new digital services during the 76th Raising Day Parade of the Delhi Police.
• Everyone in Delhi who applies for a passport won’t have to wait 15 days for police verification, according to Shah, who announced the services.

2. Kollam district won Swaraj Trophy 2021-22 for the State’s best District Panchayat

• The Kollam district panchayat has recently been awarded the Swaraj Trophy as the State’s top district panchayat for the fiscal year 2021–2022. 
• The district has a cross-section of Kerala’s natural attributes. It is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an inland lake.
• The district panchayat of Kannur stood second in the rankings. 

3. UNDP’s “Don’t Choose Extinction” climate campaign wins two Anthem Awards

• The ‘Don’t Choose Extinction’ campaign, launched by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to raise awareness about the climate emergency, has won Gold and Silver in two different categories at the 2nd Annual Anthem Awards. 
• The International Academy of Digital Arts and Science (IADAS), which was established by the Webby Awards in 2021, made this announcement. 
• The Awards are meant to recognise individuals, businesses, and organisations that have had a positive societal effect via their activities. 
• Its objective is to establish a new standard for effective work that motivates others to take the initiative in their communities.

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