Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: February 22, 2023

This section covers the GK and Daily Current Affairs Quiz with MCQs on National Affairs, International Affairs, Economy, Banking Affairs, Polity, Geography, Environment, Sports, etc. for competitive examinations viz. UPSC, SSC, Bank PO, Bank Clerk, IBPS, Railways, Government Jobs, UPPSC, MPSC, and other state exams. This current affairs quiz will help you in the General Awareness section conducted in various Banking, SSC, Insurance, Railways, and other govt job entrance exams. The current affairs quiz will also help you outshine the crowd with all the information you gain from this article.

Motivational Quote

“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other”

– Walter Elliot

Current Affairs: Days & Events

International Mother Language Day 2023

• International Mother Language Day is celebrated on 21 February.
• The primary goal of the day’s celebration is to raise the global literacy rate. The majority of people in the world—more than 40%—cannot acquire an education in their mother tongue.
• Promoting education in the mother tongue is necessary, particularly in hilly areas with a large indigenous population. The day also focuses on the ethnic minority population.
• This is emphasised by the UN’s International Mother Language Day. In addition to this, the day emphasises various international cultures.

Importance of the day:

• The United Nations states that education in the mother tongue improves brain functions related to cognition. Thinking in your own language is usually simple.
• It aids in inclusive development. Also, it helps to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. Even people in remote areas can be taught about the global crisis.
• This day celebrates languages and multilingualism as powerful tools for social inclusion and international progress.

The theme of International Mother Language Day 2023:

• “Multilingual education – a necessity to transform education”

History of International Mother Language Day:

• The proposal to celebrate International Mother Language Day was initiated by UNESCO in 1999. The resolution was passed by the UNGA in 2002.

Question
When is International Mother Language Day celebrated?

A. 19 Feb

B. 20 Feb

C. 21 Feb

D. 22 Feb

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: Person In News

BVR Subrahmanyam appointed the new CEO of NITI Aayog

• The National Institution for Transforming India is a public policy think tank. The council has all the chief ministers of the state and Lieutenant Governors of UTs. 
• Apart from them, there are temporary members, such as four ex-officio members, a CEO, and three part-time members. All the temporary members, including the CEO, are appointed by the Prime Minister. 
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently appointed BVR Subrahmanyam as the new CEO of NITI Ayog.

Why a new CEO?

Parameshwaran Iyer, the former CEO of NITI Aayog, has been named the Executive Director of the World Bank.

About BVR Subrahmanyam:

• He served as the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir. He was a 1987 IAS officer from the Chhattisgarh cadre 
• He served as the private secretary to then-prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh during his reign from 2004 to 2008
• He was also kept in the loop during the entire bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir
  

Question:

Who has been appointed as the new CEO of NITI Aayog?

A. Amitabh Kant

B. Parameshwaran Iyer

C. BVR Subrahmanyam

D. None of the Above

Answer: C

Current Affairs: Defence

INS Sumedha participated in IDEX and NAVDEX

• The INS Sumedha is participating in the NAVDEX (Naval Defence Exhibition) and IDEX (International Defence Exhibition) being held in Abu Dhabi from 20 to 24 February. 
• The Naval Ship showcased the indigenous ship-building skills of India at the exhibitions.

INS Sumedha:

• It is a SARAYU class NOPV. NOPV means Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel. 
• The first INS SUMEDHA was built in Goa and joined the Navy in 2011.
  

IDEX:

• The first IDEX was held in 1993. The exhibition is biennial and focuses mainly on defence technologies rather than defence products.
• IDEX is held in Abu Dhabi, UAE and is one of the largest defence exhibitions in the Middle East.

Significance:

• India is trying to increase its defence exports. By 2025, India aims to achieve ₹35,000 crore in defence exports. 
• India is increasing its investment in the defence sector to reach its target. 

Question: Which Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV) is participating in the current NAVDEX (Naval Defense Exhibition) and IDEX (International Defense Exhibition)? 

A. INS Sumedha

B. INS Savitri

C. INS Sharada

D. None of the above

Answer: A

Current Affairs: International

Hwasong-15: North Korea’s Intercontinental ballistic missile

• The HWASONG 15, the intercontinental ballistic missile, has recently been demonstrated by North Korea.
• In 2017, the missile made its initial flight. HWASONG is capable of travelling to the US mainland.
• It can travel 950 km downrange and 4,475 km in altitude.

Launch Vehicle

• HWASONG 15’s launch vehicle is enormous. It has large nine-axles on it. 
• The Transporter Erector Launcher is the common name for missile vehicles. 
• These vehicles have the ability to both carry and erect missiles for launch.

Question

Which of the following missiles was recently demonstrated by North Korea?

A. HWASONG 12

B. HWASONG 14

C. HWASONG 15

D. None of the Above

Answer: C

Current Affairs: International

NEOM: Saudi’s Future Mega City

• Saudi Arabia recently declared that one-fifth of the futuristic megacity known as the NEOM had been built. 
• The nation is investing USD 500 billion in the city’s construction. Clean energy will be used to power the city’s engineering projects. 
• There will not be any automobiles on the roads. The name NEOM is made up of the letters NEO and M. The Greek word NEO means “new” in English.
• The letter M in the name stands for the Arabic word Mustakbal, which means the future. M Also stands for crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

Key Facts of NEOM

• The proposal to construct the city was brought by crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman
• The city is located on the Red Sea Coast and is larger than Kuwait or Israel. The city is spread around 26,500 square kilometres
• There will be ten different regions in the city like the airport, bay, floating industrial complex, etc.
• OXAGON: It is a floating industrial complex. It will house a desalination plant, a research centre, and a hydrogen plant
• TROJENA: A skiing centre will be made
• Agriculture: 6,500 hectares of farmlands will be created outside the city
• The 2029 Asian Winter Games will be hosted by NEOM

Question

What is the name of the futuristic megacity that would be made by Saudi Arabia?

A. NEOB

B. NEOV

C. NEOM

D. NEOS

Answer: C

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

Current Affairs: Defence

India-Uzbekistan conduct Military Exercise DUSTLIK 2023

• The fourth Edition of the DUSTLIK 2023 military exercise between India and Uzbekistan is being held in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. 
• The nations will share their expertise and train their troops in multi-domain operations during the exercise. 
• India’s GARHWAL Rifles from the Western Command participates in the exercise.
• Uzbekistan, the North Western Military Command, participates in the exercise. The exercise is biennial or performed once every two years.

Why is DUSTLIK important?

• Uzbekistan is important to India for connectivity to Iran and the Central Asian region. India is trying to expand its trade in the Central Asian region.
• The conflicts in Afghanistan are a big hindrance, and to counter such security issues, India needs the support of other Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan.

Question

India conducts Ex- Dustlik with which country?

A. Kazakhstan

B. Uzbekistan

C. Turkmenistan

D. None of the Above

Answer: B

Factbook: 21-February-2023

Khalistan Tiger Force and Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force declared terrorist organisations

• The Central Government banned two groups and declared an individual a terrorist for their subversive and anti-India activities.
• The two organisations are the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), which seeks to resurrect terrorism in Punjab, and the Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF), which was founded by cadres from terrorist organisations like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Saurashtra lifts Ranji Trophy, defeating Bengal

Ranji Trophy final:

• Recently, Saurashtra defeated Bengal by nine wickets to clinch its second Ranji Trophy 2022-23 title at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. 
• Saurashtra won their maiden Ranji Trophy in 2019-20. 
• In 2019–20, Saurashtra won the Ranji Trophy for the first time.
• On the fourth day of the Ranji Trophy final at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, inspirational skipper Jaydev Unadkat led by example with a six-wicket haul to lead Saurashtra to a commanding nine-wicket victory over Bengal.
• This is Saurashtra’s second Ranji Trophy Crown in the last three seasons.

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