29th and 30th January Current Affairs : Vision IAS Current Affairs
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1. In which country, the 3rd edition of the Interpol Young Global Police Leaders Programme (YGPLP) began in January 2023?
1) Indonesia
2) United Arab Emirates
3) France
4) India
5) Singapore
Option “4” is correct On 25th January 2023, the 3rd edition of the Interpol Young Global Police Leaders Programme (YGPLP) began in New Delhi, Delhi (India). The 9-day Interpol YGPLP will end on 2nd February 2023. i. The theme of the 3rd Interpol YGPLP is “Trust”, which aims to build trust between public-police and also to build trust factors between international police forces in the era of technology. ii. Around 60 participants from 44 countries took part in the event, which is being organised by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
2. Name the Indian city that will host the Space 20 programme of G20 (Group of 20) in April 2023.
Option “2” is correct Meghalaya Governor BD Mishra, announced that as a part of the G20 (Group of 20) programme, Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, is set to host the Space 20 programme on 17th and 18th April 2023. • The Space20 programme will discuss the contribution of the space partnerships to the economy of the countries. i. India has decided to host around 200 G20 meetings across India during its yearlong Presidency of G20. India holds the Presidency of the G20 from 1st December 2022 to 30th November 2023.
3. Who has recently (in Jan ‘23) inaugurated the ‘1Ton/day Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Recycling facility’ at the Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET) in Hyderabad, Telangana?
Alkesh Kumar Sharma, the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), inaugurated 1Ton/day Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Recycling facility at the Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET), an autonomous scientific society under MeitY in Hyderabad, Telangana. i. The indigenously developed e-waste recycling technologies will boost India’s Mission to Atmanirbharata and circular economy. ii. The Center of Excellence (CoE) on E-waste Management, the first of its kind in India, was established by C-MET using the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
4. Name the company that has recently (in Jan ‘23) signed an MoU with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), and Banas Dairy to conduct verification of biogas.
1) Renault India
2) Hyundai India
3) Maruti Suzuki
4) Tata Motors
5) Honda Motor
Option “3” is correct
In 2022, while announcing its Growth strategy for 2030, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), India’s largest car manufacturer, announced that it will use cow dung to power its Compressed natural gas (CNG) cars. i. Maruti Suzuki, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), and Banas Dairy, Asia’s largest dairy manufacturer, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct verification of biogas.
5. Which of the following points is/are ‘correct’ with respect to the Grievance Appellate Committees (GACs) on IT Rules 2021 was notified by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in January 2023?
A) The MeitY notified that the government had established 3 GACs, with 5 members each (1 chairperson and 4 whole time members), to address the grievances of the users against the content moderation decisions of social media platforms.
B) The members of the committee are appointed for a 3 years term.
C) Rajesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) was appointed as the Chairperson (ex officio) of Panel 1 of GAC.
1) All A, B & C
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) Only A
Option “3” is correct The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notified that the government had established 3 Grievance Appellate Committees (GACs), with 3 members each, to address the grievances of the users against the content moderation decisions of social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook in India. • The GACs are established based on the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (“IT Rules 2021”) amended in October 2022. Member of GACs: • The 3 GACs will have a chairperson and 2 whole time members. • The chairperson will be a government official while the members are retired government officials and senior executives from different industries. • The members of the committee are appointed for a 3 years term.
6. In January 2023, The Indian Railways introduced the “Ideal Train Profile” to ___________ and revenue generation in reserved mail express trains.
1) Check the wheels alignment
2) Maximize the seat capacity
3) Ensure proper sanitation
4) Increase modal share of the Railways in freight
5) Install the Bio-toilets in Coaches
Option “2” is correct The Indian Railways has introduced the “Ideal Train Profile” to maximize capacity utilization and revenue generation in reserved mail express trains by analyzing the demand pattern of each individual train on a regular basis. i. The “Ideal Train Profile” is essentially a decision support tool for seat capacity optimization, as there can be more than 5,000 different ticket-class combinations on a single train journey. ii. The pilot project began on 7 zonal railways: The Eastern, Central, Northern, Southern, South Central, Western, and West Central Railways. • The pilot project has already been implemented in more than 200 Indian Railways trains.
7. Which institution/organisation has recently (in Jan ‘23) signed an MoU with Germany basedSiemens Healthineersthe to ensure the availability of low-cost Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technology in India?
1) Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N)
2) Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER)
3) National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT)
4) Software Technology Parks of India (STPI)
5) Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)
Option “2” is correct The Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER), an autonomous (Research and Development) R&D institution under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Siemens Healthineers, a Germany-based Healthcare Company, signed an MoU to ensure the availability of low-cost Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technology in India. i. This collaboration will advance the development of new, improved, and innovative technologies for advancing healthcare and diagnostic access in India.
8. Which organisation has recently (in Jan ‘23) launched a massive district outreach program “Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0” in all the districts of the country?
1) Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation
2) Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
3) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
4) Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India
5) Employees State Insurance Scheme
Option “1” is correct Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) launched a massive district outreach program “Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0” in all the districts of the country. i. The program was e-launched by Ms Arti Ahuja,Secretary (Ministry of Labour & Employment) from the EPFO Headquarters, in the presence of Central Provident Fund Commissioner (CPFC) and officers of EPFO. ii. Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0 will be conducted on the 27th of every month at all district headquarters of EPFO (starting from January 2023) to reach out to all the districts of the country on the same day. iii. EPFO organized camps in 685 districts of the country to create participatory awareness among all stakeholders and provide a grievance redressal platform.
9. Who has recently (in Jan ‘23) inaugurated the National Logistics Portal (NLP) (marine) in New Delhi, Delhi?
1) Nitin Jairam Gadkari (Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways)
2) Sarbananda Sonowal (Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways)
3) Amit Shah (Union Minister of Home Affairs)
4) Dharmendra Pradhan (Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship)
5) Piyush Goyal (Union Minister of Commerce and Industry)
Option “2” is correct Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush, inaugurated the National Logistics Portal (NLP) (marine) in New Delhi, Delhi. i. The NLP (marine) will act as a Single window Logistics portal for reducing logistics costs. It will connect all the stakeholders of the logistics community via Information Technology. ii. It was envisaged by the Ministry of Ports Shipping Waterways and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
10. Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the visit of Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, to India in January 2023?
A) The Egyptian Computer Emergency Readiness Team (EG-CERT) and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has signed an MoU to collaborate on cyber security
B) The Ministry of Culture, GoI, and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt have signed an MoU to strengthen cultural ties with the Arab Republic of Egypt.
C) India and Egypt inked an MoU to enhance content exchange, capacity building, and coproductions between Prasar Bharati (India) and the National Media Authority of Egypt.
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Option “5” is correct Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, visited India for 3 days from January 24 – 27, 2023 at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to attend India’s 74th Republic Day celebrations as the Chief Guest. • India and Egypt have exchanged commemorative postal stamps to honour the 75th anniversary of the establishment of India-Egypt relationship. • In order to collaborate on cyber security, the Egyptian Computer Emergency Readiness Team (EG-CERT) and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) have signed a MoU. • A Memorandum of Cooperation in the fields of Information Technology between India and Egypt. • MoU on Cooperation in Youth Matters between India and Egypt. • The Ministry of Culture, GoI, and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt have signed an MoU to strengthen cultural ties with the Arab Republic of Egypt. The MoU has been signed for continued cultural cooperation for a period of 5 years. • India and Egypt inked an MoU to enhance content exchange, capacity building, and coproductions between Prasar Bharati (India) and the National Media Authority of Egypt, at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
11. Which country will host the 15th BRICS summit in August 2023?
1) Brazil
2) South Africa
3) India
4) China
5) Russia
Option “2” is correct On 26th January 2023, Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister of Russia, and Osman Saleh, the foreign minister of the State of Eritrea, jointly announced South Africa’s Durban as a host of the 15th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Summit. The summit will be held in August 2023. i. Previously, South Africa hosted the 5th BRICS Summit from 26 to 27 March 2013.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
12. In January 2023, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced a plan to launch the ________________ (mission), 1st Indian space mission to observe the Sun by June or July 2023.
Option “3” is correct The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the Aditya-L1 mission, 1st Indian space mission to observe the Sun and the solar corona, to the L1 orbit (which is the first Lagrangian point of the Sun-Earth system) by June or July 2023 since the launch window for the mission would close by August 2023. • L1 orbit allows Aditya-L1 to look at the Sun continuously. i. The Aditya-1 Mission, originally known as Aditya-L1, was initially meant to put into an 800- kilometre (km) low-Earth orbit (LEO) as a 400-kg class satellite but it was later decided that the satellite would be launched into a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth system’s first Lagrangian Point (L1).
BANKING AND FINANCE
13. Name the insurance company that recently (on January 23) launched a non-participating unit-linked individual life insurance plan for millennials and GenX customers.
1) Aviva Life Insurance
2) Reliance General Insurance
3) Exide Life Insurance
4) Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance
5) Aegon Life Insurance
Option “1” is correct Aviva Life Insurance launched Aviva Signature Investment Plan, a unit-linked non-participating individual life insurance plan targeting millennial and GenX customers. The plan comes with two options, Signature Millennial and Signature GenX. i. Signature Millennial has an inbuilt premium waiver and a guaranteed amount for a dependent parent, spouse, or child after the death of the insured person. • All future premiums are waived in case of death of the life insured during the policy term in the Signature Millennial option. ii. Signature GenX enables customers to grow their wealth for up to 60 years through disciplined monthly savings
14. Which country’s central bank has recently (in Jan’ 23) launched the “AfriGo” domestic card scheme to boost the cashless economy and compete with foreign cards?
1) Gambia
2) Kenya
3) Madagascar
4) Libya
5) Nigeria
Option “5” is correct The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, launched a domestic card scheme ‘AfriGo’ to boost the cashless economy and compete with foreign cards like Mastercard and Visa. i. Objective: To save the country’s foreign transaction fees. ii. Through this launch, Nigeria was joining China, Russia, India and Turkey to be a country with a domestic card scheme and the AfriGo is owned by CBN and Nigerian banks.
15. Name the company that has recently (in Jan ‘23) launched its first line of customised health insurance products.
Option “3” is correct RenewBuy has launched its first line of customised health insurance products, RenewBuy Health Wellness plan with a focus on the large uninsured segment beyond the tier 1 markets i. This new product aims to bridge that gap in purchasing such products in smaller cities compared to metro cities and has introduced various benefits in pre-hospitalization and Out-Patient Department (OPD) treatments.
16. Which company has recently (in Jan ‘23) launched ‘Timepay Evok’, a UPI Application Programming Interface (API) engine for Payment Aggregators and Payment Gateways (PAPGs)?
1) Network People Services Technologies Ltd
2) Dev Information Technology Ltd
3) AAA Technologies Ltd
4) Ducon Infratechnologies Ltd
5) Tracxn Technologies Ltd
Option “1” is correct NPST (Network People Services Technologies Ltd), a banking technology provider, has launched Timepay Evok, a UPI (Unified Payments Interface) API (Application Programming Interface) engine for PAPGs (Payment Aggregators and Payment Gateways). i. The Timepay Evok, which is a modern-day payment platform, will act as a one-stop UPI payment solution for digital merchants and ensures secure, reliable, and fast-paced payment collections.
17. Name the bank that has recently (in Jan ‘23) renewed its Bancassurance agreement with Star Health and Allied Insurance for a long-term period.
1) Union Bank of India
2) Bank of Baroda
3) Punjab National Bank
4) Canara Bank
5) Bank of India
Option “3” is correct Star Health and Allied Insurance, renewed its strategic corporate agency Bancassurance tie-up with Punjab National Bank (PNB) for a long-term period. i. PNB will continue to distribute Star Health’s insurance products across all their branches pan India. ii. Under the agreement, Star Health’s best-in-class health insurance products will be available through the PNB’s distribution network across India, providing customers with a one-stop solution for all their health insurance needs.
SPORTS
18. Name the company that has been recently (in Jan ‘23) named as the title sponsor of the 1st ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race, which will take place in Hyderabad, Telangana, in February 2023.
1) Greenko Group
2) Suzlon Energy Limited
3) Azure Power Global Limited
4) Adani Group
5) Tata Power Solar Systems Limited
Option “1” is correct Greenko Group, a dispatchable renewables company, has been named the title sponsor of the 1st ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race which will be held in India. The Formula E 2023 will be held in Hyderabad, Telangana, on 11th February 2023. • Greenko will use renewable energy to power the entire 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix event, making it the world’s first Net Zero event of this scale. i. Greenko’s core, a lifestyle brand, was named as the new title sponsor of the Formula E 2023 CORE Diriyah E-Prix in Saudi Arabia, which was held within the town walls of the UNESCO World Heritage site on 27th and 28th January 2023.
IMPORTANT DAYS
19. When was the 17th edition of Data Protection Day observed across the globe?
1) 29th January 2023
2) 27th January 2023
3) 25th January 2023
4) 28th January 2023
5) 26th January 2023
Option “4” is correct The 17th edition of Data Privacy Day or Data Protection Day was observed across the globe on 28th January 2023. It is an international initiative to raise awareness about the significance of protecting Data Privacy Day 2023, promoting trust, and respecting privacy. i. The day commemorates the anniversary of the opening for signature of Convention 108, the global data protection Convention, on 28th January 1981. ii. The title of Convention 108 is “Convention for the protection of individuals with regard to the automatic processing of personal data”. • The Committee of Convention 108 established the Stefano Rodotà Award to recognise innovative and original academic research projects in the field of data protection
OBITUARY
20. Jamuna, former Member of Parliament (MP) of Lok Sabha & Veteran Telugu film actor, passed away in January 2023.
In which year, she was elected to Lok Sabha from Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh?
1) 1992
2) 1989
3) 1990
4) 1980
5) 1997
Option “2” is correct Veteran Telugu film actor and former Member of parliament (Lok Sabha) Jamuna passed away in Hyderabad, Telangana. • Jamuna was born on 30th August 1936 in Hampi, Madras Presidency, British India (now Karnataka, India). i. In the 1980s, she joined the Indian National Congress (INC). She was elected to Lok Sabha from Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh on behalf of the Congress in 1989.
CA STATIC GK
21. NEFT is a nationwide payment system facilitating one-to-one funds transfer. In NEFT, what does ‘E’ stand for?
Option “2” is correct National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) is a nation-wide payment system facilitating one-to-one funds transfer. i. Under this Scheme, individuals, firms and corporates can electronically transfer funds from any bank branch to any individual, firm or corporate having an account with any other bank branch in the country participating in the Scheme.
22. Which of the following organizations is ‘Not’ the World Bank arms?
1) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
2) International Development Association
3) International Finance Corporation
4) Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
5) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Option “5” is correct Five organizations are under World Bank: • International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) • International Development Association (IDA) • International Finance Corporation (IFC) • Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) • International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
23. Who was recently (in Jan ‘23) appointed as the Chairman of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) for a three-year tenure?
Option “2” is correct The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for appointment of Arun Kumar Singh, former chairman of oil refining and marketing company BPCL, as Chairman of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) for a three-year tenure.
24. Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) is a unique ____ digit number issued to the state & central employees to receive their pension throughout their life under the National Pension System.
1) 7
2) 12
3) 10
4) 9
5) 11
Option “2” is correct Permanent Retirement Account Number(PRAN) is a unique 12 digit number issued to the state and central employees to receive their pension throughout their life under the National Pension System (NPS). (This NPS scheme was launched in 2004). i. It is regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), created by an Act of the Parliament of India.
25. In which state “Raimona National Park” is located?}
Option “3” is correct Governor – Jagdish Mukhi Chief Minister – Himanta Biswa Sarma National Parks – Orang National Park, Dihing Patkai National Park, Raimona National Park Wild life Sanctuaries – Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary, Panidihing Wildlife Sanctuary
26. Who is the current (as of Jan‘23) Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
1) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
2) Antonio Guterres
3) Henrietta H. Fore
4) Tedros Adhanom
5) Jens Stoltenberg
Option “1” is correct
About World Trade Organization (WTO): Director-General – Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Establishment – 1995 Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland Members – 164 Members
27. Who authored the book, ‘Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love’?
1) Nikki Haley
2) Leslie Libert
3) John Bolton
4) Mike Pompeo
5) Rick Scott
Option “4” is correct The book ‘Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love,’ was authored by Mike Pompeo, former US Secretary of State. i. In his book titled Pompeo claims that Afghanistan’s former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah were involved in corruption at the highest levels that limited the US’ ability to successfully exit the war-torn country in August 2021.
28. Which state/UT has recently (in Jan ‘23) announced a plan to start e-scooter service to address the last mile connectivity issues?
Chief minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal announced that Delhi government will soon start an escooter service to address the last mile connectivity issues. i. These scooters will be self-driven, and will last for 60km in one charge, he said while addressing a press conference. ii. The project will initially be started in Dwarka which has no metro stations or bus stops. Subsequently, other locations with high footfall will be identified
29. Where is the Headquarters of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) located?
1) Vienna, Austria
2) Brussels, Belgium
3) Lyon, France
4) Geneva, Switzerland
5) London, United Kingdom
Option “3” is correct
About International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL): Secretary General– Jurgen Stock President– Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Headquarters– Lyon, France Established in – 1923
30. What is the capital of Nigeria?
1) Abuja
2) Niamey
3) Maputo
4) Kigali
5) Bamako
Option “1” is correct About Nigeria: Capital – Abuja Currency – Nigerian naira (NGN) President – Muhammadu Buhari
