Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: October 31, 2022
For competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, IAS, Railway-RRB, UPPSC, UGC NET, SBI, MPPSC, etc., a section of the question paper is dedicated to the Current Affairs section. If the aspirants have an effective preparation strategy, scoring high in this section is not difficult. The candidates can ace the current events section with the right study material and analysis of daily news.
Current Affairs: National
Gujarat Achieved 100% Tap Water Connections in Rural Areas
The Gujarat government has achieved 100% tap water connections in rural areas under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
What is the Jal Jeevan Mission?
Launched by Prime Minister Modi in 2019, the mission targets to make available 55 litres of water per person every day to each rural household through household tap connections by 2024.
Aim:
It ensures the functionality of existing water supply systems and water connections, water quality monitoring and testing, as well as sustainable agriculture.
Other States/UTs which have achieved 100 per cent:
Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Daman and Diu
Puducherry
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Haryana
Goa
Telangana
Question:
Which of the following states recently achieved 100 per cent tap water connections in rural areas under the Jal Jeevan Mission?
A. Gujarat
B. Uttar Pradesh
C.Tamil Nadu
D. Assam
Answer: A
Current Affairs: National
GM Mustard, gets Regulator Approval for Field Cultivation
India’s biotech regulator, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), has approved genetically modified (GM) mustard, technically called Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11), for commercial cultivation, paving the way for the country’s first transgenic food crop.
What is Hybrid Mustard?
Hybridisation involves crossing two genetically dissimilar plant varieties that can even be from the same species.
The first-generation (F1) offspring from such crosses tend to have higher yields than what either parent can individually give.
Such hybridisation isn’t easy in mustard, as its flowers have both female (pistil) and male (stamen) reproductive organs, making the plants largely self-pollinating.
Since the eggs of one plant cannot be fertilised by the pollen grains from another, it limits the scope for developing hybrids–unlike in cotton, maize or tomato, where this can be done through simple emasculation or physical removal of anthers.
How does the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee provide approval?
GEAC is a body responsible for the appraisal of proposals relating to the “release” of GM organisms and products (ordinarily considered hazardous) into the environment.
In this case, it has recommended the environmental release of DMH-11 “for its seed production and testing…prior to commercial release”.
In other words, it has given the green signal for commercial cultivation by farmers, with the production of seed material being the first step.
Major Benefit:
The compelling motive here could be India’s spiralling edible oil import bill.
The country produces only 8.5–9 million tonnes (mt) of edible oil annually while importing 14–14.5 mt, which entailed a record foreign exchange outgo of $18.99 billion in the fiscal year that ended 31st March 2022.
Question:
Which crop has recently been approved for commercial cultivation as the country’s first transgenic food crop by GEAC?
A. Wheat
B. Tomato
C. Mustard
D. Maize
Answer: C
Current Affairs: Environment
Two New Indian Beaches receive ‘Blue Flag’ Certification
Two Indian beaches, Minicoy Thundi beach and Kadmat beach, located in Lakshadweep, have received the International eco-label ‘Blue Flag’ from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
With the new additions, the number of beaches certified under the Blue Flag Certification is twelve.
What are Blue Flag Beaches?
Blue Flag certification is a globally recognised eco-label accorded by the “Foundation for Environment Education in Denmark”.
The iconic Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary awards for beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators.
In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained.
Objective behind the declaration of Blue Flag Beaches:
Central to the ideals of the Blue Flag programme is the aim of connecting the public with their surroundings and encouraging them to learn more about their environment.
As such, environmental education activities must be offered and promoted in addition to a permanent display of information relevant to the site in terms of biodiversity, ecosystems and environmental phenomena.
About Thundi Beach:
Thundi Beach is one of the most pristine and picturesque beaches in the Lakshadweep archipelago, where white sand is lined by the turquoise-blue water of the lagoon.
It is a paradise for swimmers and tourists alike.
About Kadmat Beach:
Kadmat Beach is popular with cruise tourists who visit the island for water sports. It is a paradise for nature lovers with its pearl white sand, blue lagoon waters, moderate climate and friendly locals.
Both beaches have designated staff for beach cleanliness and maintenance and for the safety and security of swimmers.
Facts:
As per the Blue Flag website data, a total of 5042 sites are awarded certificates across 48 countries.
Spain, with 729 sites, tops the list of countries with Blue Flag awarded sites. It is followed by Greece and Turkey, with 591 and 560 sites, respectively.
India is placed at 36 spots, as per the data available on the Blue Flag website.
Question:
Minicoy Thundi beach and Kadmat beach both have been accorded the blue flag certification recently. In which of the following states/UT are they located?
A. Odisha
B. Goa
C. Andaman and Nicobar
D. Lakshadweep
Answer: D
Current Affairs: Defence
Tata and Airbus to make C-295MW Transport Aircraft for IAF
In a major boost to the ‘Make in India’ initiative and domestic aviation manufacturing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of a transport aircraft manufacturing project for the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Vadodara in Gujarat on 30th October.
Details:
The project, valued at 219.35 billion rupees ($2.66 billion), involves the supply of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force.
Airbus will deliver 16 aircraft in fly-away condition between September next year and August 2025. Tata group will make the rest, including its software unit Tata Consultancy Services and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd.
The first made-in-India aircraft is expected in September 2026.
What is a C-295MW Transport Aircraft?
The C-295MW is a transport aircraft of 5-10 tonne capacity with contemporary technology that will replace the ageing Avro aircraft of the IAF.
It has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para-dropping of troops and cargo. Its abilities include short takeoff and landing from semi-prepared surfaces.
About Airbus SE:
Airbus SE is a European multinational aerospace corporation. Airbus designs, manufactures and sells civil and military aerospace products worldwide and manufactures aircraft in Europe and various countries outside Europe.
Airbus’s registered headquarters is in Leiden, Netherlands, but its head office is located in Toulouse, France.
Facts:
This is for the first time the C-295 aircraft will be manufactured outside of Europe. This is very significant for the domestic aerospace sector.
The aircraft will be able to operate from Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) and even unprepared runways, and it can carry around 40-45 paratroopers or around 70 passengers.
Question:
Tata and Airbus are going to set up a production unit in which of the following cities for the manufacturing of C-295MW transport aircraft for IAF?
A. Kanpur
B. Vadodara
C. Jaisalmer
D. Chennai
Answer: B
Current Affairs: International and Security
UNSC’s Counter-Terror Meet in India
The United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) two-day meeting in India on counter-terrorism will focus on dealing with the use of the internet, new payment mechanism and drones by terrorists.
The meeting is being hosted in Mumbai today, 28 October and will be hosted in Delhi on 29 October.
This will be the first such meeting of the UNSC-CTC in India since its establishment in 2001. The Permanent Representative of India to the UN serves as the Chair of the CTC for 2022.
Theme:
‘Countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes’.
What is the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the United Nations Security Council (UN CTC)?
The UN CTC, comprising all 15 members of the Security Council, was established by Resolution 1373 (2001) on 28th September 2001.
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter (concerning threats to international peace and security), the Security Council adopted the resolution to enforce counter-terrorist measures in United Nations Member States.
The Committee monitors the implementation of resolution 1373 by means of direct dialogue with each Member State. It analyses States’ regular reports to the Committee. It follows up its analysis with responses that identify the areas in which States need to improve in order to achieve full implementation of the resolution.
The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) was established in 2004 to support the Committee in this work.
Objective of the Meet:
Mindful of addressing this issue while also recognising the potential of technologies to increase the effectiveness of counterterrorism efforts, the committee has come together in India to hold its special meeting on countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.
The focus (will be) specifically on rapid development, growing use by member states and the increasing threat of use for terrorist purposes of 3 significant technologies –
Internet, including social media
New payment technologies and fundraising methods
Unmanned aerial systems
Question:
The United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) two-day meeting in India on counter-terrorism will be held in which two cities?
A. Delhi and Mumbai
B. Mumbai and Ahmedabad
C. Ahmedabad and Jaipur
D. Jaipur and Delhi
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Arts and Entertainment
‘Pather Panchali’ – Declared All-Time Best Indian Film by FIPRESCI
Satyajit Ray’s feature film Pather Panchali has been named the best Indian film of all time by the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI).
Based on Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay’s 1929 Bengali novel of the same name, “Pather Panchali”, was Ray’s directorial debut.
It starred Subir Banerjee, Kanu Banerjee, Karuna Banerjee, Uma Dasgupta, Pinaki Sengupta and Chunibala Devi.
Details:
The 1955 film has received the number one slot in the top ten films in the history of the Indian cinema list, which was declared after a poll conducted by the India chapter of FIPRESCI.
As per a press release issued by FIPRESCI-India, the poll was conducted in secret and involved 30 members.
What is the International Federation of Film Critics?
The International Federation of Film Critics is an association of national organisations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world for “the promotion and development of film culture and for the safeguarding of professional interests”. It was founded in June 1930 in Brussels, Belgium.
President: Alin Tasciyan
Headquarters: Munich, Germany
Type of business: Film critics organisation
Abbreviation: FIPRESCI
General Secretary: Klaus Eder
Question:
Which of the following has been named the all-time best feature film of Indian cinema by the International Federation of Film Critics?
A. Bhuvan Shome
B. Ghatashraddha
C. Sholay
D. Pather Panchali
Answer: D
Current Affairs: Days and Events
Fiji to host 12th World Hindi Conference in 2023
Fiji is the first country in the Pacific to hold the 12th World Hindi Conference.
The conference is taking place under the aegis of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Government of Fiji from 15-17 February 2023.
What is the World Hindi Conference?
The World Hindi Conference, in Hindi: Vishwa Hindi Sammelan, is a world conference on the Hindi language. It consists of several Hindi scholars, writers and laureates from different parts of the world who contribute to the language.
Frequency: Once in 3 Years
Inaugurated: 10th January 1975
Journey of Hindi from India to Fiji:
Hindi is taught in primary and secondary schools and the Universities of Fiji, and Fijian Hindi is enshrined in the constitution of Fiji as an official language.
It started from 1879 to 1916 when the British took Indian labourers to work in the sugarcane fields. The numbers were around 60,000.
The conference will take place in the Fijian city of Nadi and will witness the participation of over 1000 experts in the Indian language; there will be scholars, writers, and more.
Facts:
So far, 11 World Hindi Conferences have been organised in various countries, and this time the 12th World Hindi Conference will be organised in Fiji.
The Hindi language is very popular in several countries, including New Zealand, Fiji, Singapore, and Mauritius.
Question:
The 12th World Hindi Conference in 2023 will be held in which of the following Pacific countries?
A. New Zealand
B. Vanuatu
C. Fiji
D. Kiribati
Answer: C
Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology
Greenhouse Gas Bulletin
WMO’s Greenhouse Gas Bulletin reported the biggest year-on-year jump in methane concentrations in 2021 since systematic measurements began nearly 40 years ago.
The reason for this exceptional increase is not clear but seems to be a result of both biological and human-induced processes.
What is a Greenhouse Gas Bulletin?
It is an annual report of the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
WMO is the specialised agency of the UN for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences.
Key Findings of 2022 Report:
Atmospheric levels of the 3 main greenhouse gases warming our planet—carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide—all reached new record highs in 2021.
This is the result of both biological and human-induced processes.
Emissions will also increase by 10.6% by 2030 from 2010 levels.
Question:
According to the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, a report by the UN’s World Meteorological Organization, which of the following are the three main greenhouse gases warming our planet?
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