3rd February Current Affairs : Vision IAS Current Affairs
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1. In January 2023, Union Minister of Railway, Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that India’s first hydrogen train will be designed and manufactured in India by ________ on heritage circuits.
1) August 2023
2) November 2023
3) September 2023
4) December 2023
5) October 2023
Option “4” is correct Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that India’s first hydrogen train will be designed and manufactured in India by December 2023, as the Union Budget 2023–24 focuses on green growth. • Once operational, the hydrogen train will operate on heritage circuits such as Kalka-Shimla before being expanded to other places. i. The train’s purpose is to exhibit India’s cultural heritage through trains, which will be updated by adding new circuits to the list, such as the Guru Kripa circuit. ii. The Union Budget 2023-24 has an allocation of Rs. 2.41 lakh crore for Railways.
2. According to the data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), India’s unemployment rate declined to 4 months low at ________ in January 2023.
1) 8.03%
2) 7.92%
3) 8.30%
4) 6.43%
5) 7.14%
Option “5” is correct According to the data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), India’s unemployment rate declined by 7.14% in January 2023, the lowest in 4 months, from 8.30% in December 2022. The unemployment rate was 8.03% in November 2022, 7.92% in October 2022 and 6.43% in September 2022. • Rural unemployment was 6.48% in January 2023, and Urban unemployment was 8.55%. i. Jammu and Kashmir had the highest unemployment rate among the states with 21.8%, followed by Haryana (21.7%), and Rajasthan (21.1 %). ii. Chhattisgarh has the lowest unemployment rate among the states with 0.5%, followed by Odisha (1.5%), Tamil Nadu (1.8%), and Madhya Pradesh (1.9%).
3. Name the company that has recently (in Feb ‘23) signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna to open Bihar’s 1st Drone Training Centre.
Option “3” is correct Delhi-based Drone Destination Private Limited (DD), one of India’s leading Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) training and manufacturing groups, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna (Bihar) to open Bihar’s 1st Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-authorized Drone Training Centre. • DD is the drone training partner of Indira Gandhi National Flying Academy (IGRUA) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and has several centres across India. • IIT Patna plans to develop a drone centre of excellence to propel the UAV ecosystem. i. Drone Destination became the 1st Drone Training Organisation to certify more than 1,200 DGCAcertified Drone Pilots in India, along with IGRUA and Sanskardham, the training partners of DD.
4. Which company has recently (in Feb ‘23) announced the list of 120 startups and innovators for the Extended Reality (XR) Startup Programme in New Delhi, Delhi along with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)?
Option “1” is correct The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Meta (Meta Platforms, Inc formerly named Facebook) have announced the list of 120 startups and innovators for the Extended Reality (XR) Startup Programme in New Delhi, Delhi. i. The Programme includes an Accelerator and a Grand Challenge, aiming towards boosting the emerging Tech ecosystem in India. ii. The programme will discover, nurture, and accelerate XR Technology startups and innovators across India. iii. The programme supports 40 early-stage start-ups working in XR technologies with a grant of Rs 20 lakh each.
ECONOMY AND BUSINESS
5. In which International Airport, the PVR Cinemas has recently (in Feb ‘23) launched India’s 1st multiplex housed within an airport complex?
1) Indira Gandhi International Airport
2) Kempegowda International Airport
3) Chennai International Airport
4) Mangaluru International Airport
5) Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport
Option “3” is correct PVR Cinemas launched its 5-screen property at PVR Aerohub in Chennai International Airport, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN). This is India’s 1st multiplex housed within an airport complex. i. There are 1155 seats available, and it is outfitted with cutting-edge cinematic technologies including 2K RGB+ laser projectors, REAL D 3D digital stereoscopic projection for incredibly clear, razor-sharp, ultra-bright pictures, and advanced Dolby Atmos high-definition immersive audio. ii. PVR Cinemas will have 12 locations in Chennai with 77 screens after this launch, and it will strengthen its position in TN with 88 screens spread across 14 properties.
BANKING AND FINANCE
6. Name the company that has recently (in Feb ‘23) announced the commencement of its operations in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Option “2” is correct KFin Technologies Limited (KFintech) has announced the commencement of its operations in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar, Gujarat. i. KFintech has formally signed deals with 4 GIFT City funds and 2 global funds in GIFT City, while discussions with other asset managers continue. ii. KFintech is a top provider of technology-driven financial services that spans all asset classes and offers comprehensive services and solutions to the Indian capital markets ecosystem. iii. The Gift City IBU (IFSC (International Financial Services Centre) business unit) of KFintech will meet the rising demand for portfolio management, private wealth, and alternative investments.
7. In February 2023, IDFC First Bank received _________ (Amount) investment from IDFC Ltd and raised its stake in the bank from 36.38% to 40%.
Option “4” is correct The board of IDFC Limited gave its in-principle approval for an investment of Rs 2,200 crore in IDFC First Bank, raising its stake in the bank from 36.38% to 40%. • IDFC Limited, the parent firm, is planning a reverse merger with IDFC First Bank. i. Additionally, the IDFC board has approved a special interim dividend of Rs. 11 per share, resulting in a payout of Rs. 287 crore to the Government of India (GoI), IDFC’s largest shareholder.
8. Which company has recently (in Feb ‘23) become the first organized retail chain in India to accept the RBI-created and blockchain-based Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) [e₹] payments?
1) Reliance Retail
2) Future Group
3) Aditya Birla Retail
4) Godrej Consumers Product
5) Avenue Supermarts
Option “1” is correct Reliance Retail has become the first organized retail chain in India to accept the RBI-created and blockchain-based Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) [e₹] payments at its gourmet food store, Freshpik. • All Reliance Retail outlets in India will gradually accept digital rupee payments. • The CBDC is a digital version of fiat money that will coexist with actual cash. i. Innoviti Technologies, a payments-focused financial-tech firm, announced the launch of in-store payments via digital rupee in the retail segment (e ₹-R) in collaboration with Reliance Retail, ICICI Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited.
9. Name the bank that has recently (in Feb ‘23) announced the implementation of the first phase of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) or “Digital Rupee” (e₹).
1) Axis Bank
2) Kotak Mahindra Bank
3) Canara Bank
4) Punjab National Bank
5) Bank of India
Option “2” is correct Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) has announced the implementation of the first phase of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), referred to as the “Digital Rupee” (e₹). i. KMBL launched the CBDC to a Closed User Group (CUG) of customers, including retail customers and businesses. • The Digital Rupee pilot will be launched by KMBL in Mumbai (Maharashtra), Delhi, and Ahmedabad (Gujarat). Note- The “Digital Rupee” (e₹) is a legal tender equivalent to bank notes and coins but issued in a digital form by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
10. In February 2023, Indore Municipal Corporation launched secured redeemable NonConvertible Debentures (NCDs) of ___________ (Amount).
Indore municipal corporation has launched secured redeemable Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) of face value of Rs 1000 each, aggregating up to Rs 122 crore. The issue contains an option to retain oversubscription up to Rs 122 crores, making the total issue size to Rs 244 crores. • Rate of return: The issue offers a 8.25% rate of return per annum, payable half yearly. • Each NCD shall consist of 4 separate transferable and redeemable principal tranches, each having a face value of Rs 250. i. The NCDs will be issued from 10 to 14 February 2023 and they are proposed to be listed on the National Stock Exchange of India Limited. ii. Rating: The NCDs that are proposed to be issued have been rated ‘IND AA+/Stable’ as per India Ratings and ‘CARE AA;(Stable)’as per Care Ratings.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
11. Which of the following is/are ‘correct’ with respect to the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF)\ Book Awards 2022 announced in the 9th edition of KLF in January 2023?
A) The KLF Non-fiction Book Award 2022 in English has been awarded to Sanjeev Sanyal’s Revolutionaries: The Other Story of How India Won its Freedom
B) The Hindi non-fiction award has been won by Kailash Satyarthi’s Tum Pehle Kyon Nahi Aaye and Akhilesh’s, AKS
C) In the fiction category, Navtej Sarna’s Crimson Spring won in the English section, while Pravin Kumar’s Amar Desva won in Hindi.
1) All A, B & C
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) Only A
Option “1” is correct The Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) [9th edition] has announced the KLF Book Awards 2022 in a variety of categories and languages including English, Hindi, Nepali, Maithili, Odia, and other Indian languages. • The 9th KLF will take place in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from February 24 to 26, 2023. i. The KLF Non-fiction Book Award 2022 in English has been awarded to Sanjeev Sanyal’s Revolutionaries: The Other Story of How India Won its Freedom, and Akshaya Mukul’s Writer, Rebel, Soldier, Lover: The Many Lives of Agyeya. ii. The Hindi non-fiction award has been won by Kailash Satyarthi’s Tum Pehle Kyon Nahi Aaye and Akhilesh’s, AKS. iii. In the fiction category, Navtej Sarna’s Crimson Spring won in the English section, while Pravin Kumar’s Amar Desva won in Hindi. iv. Poet Ranjit Hoskote won the poetry award for his English collection Hunchprose, while Pankaj Chaturvedi’s Aakash Mein Ardhachandra won in Hindi.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
12. In January 2023, United States (US) based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GAASI) began significant projects in which of the following fields in India?
1) Semiconductors
2) Artificial intelligence
3) Drones
4) Both 1 & 2
5) All 1, 2 & 3
Option “4” is correct General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a major energy and defence corporation based in the United States (US), has begun 3 significant projects in India in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), drones, and semiconductors following the establishment of a landmark India-US initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). • GA-ASI has formed a partnership with Bharat Forge Limited (BFL), one of India’s leading forging companies, in the critical field of aerostructure manufacturing. • In order to create the next generation AI technologies, GA-ASI has partnered with 114ai, an Indian AI company. • In the field of semiconductors, GA-ASI has partnered with the Indian start-up 3rdiTech. i. The US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) have decided to form a private-sector task force that will strengthen collaboration between the two countries in the global semiconductor ecosystem.
APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS
13. Who was recently (in Jan ‘23) appointed as the 1st Female Prime Minister of Equatorial Guinea?
1) Ignacio Milam Tang
2) Silvestre Siale Bileka
3) Manuela Roka Botey
4) Vicente Ehate Tomi
5) Francisco Pascual Obama
Option “3” is correct Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, appointed Manuela Roka Botey, deputy minister of education, as the Prime Minister (PM) of Equatorial Guinea. • She became the first woman to hold the post of PM in Equatorial Guinea. i. She succeeds Francisco Pascual Obama Asue who served as the PM of Equatorial Guinea, since 2016 for 3rd consecutive term.
OBITUARY
14. Former Indian _________ player Parimal Dey, who was fondly known as “Jangla-da,” passed away in February 2023.
1) Football
2) Badminton
3) Hockey
4) Tennis
5) Boxing
Option “1” is correct A former Indian footballer Parimal Dey, who was fondly known as “Jangla-da” passed away at the age of 81. i. Parimal Dey played for India in 5 matches, scoring just one goal for the Indian team, the gamewinning goal against the Republic of Korea in the bronze-medal game of the 1966 Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ii. He has won the Durand Football Tournament, commonly known as the Durand Cup (1967, 1970), and the Rovers Cup (1967, 1969, 1973). • In 2018-2019, Parimal Dey was conferred with the ‘Banglar Gourav’ award for football. • He was conferred with the “Banga Bhushan” title by the Government of West Bengal in 2019 after his retirement from active football.
IMPORTANT DAYS
15. What is the theme of the United Nations (UN) World Wetlands Day 2023 that was observed across the globe on 2nd February 2023?
1) Wetlands Action for People and Nature
2) Wetlands and Water
3) Wetland Restoration
4) Wetlands and Biodiversity
5) Wetlands and climate change
Option “3” is correct The United Nations (UN)’s World Wetlands Day 2023 observed across the globe on 2nd February 2023 with the theme of Wetland Restoration. i. The day also marks the date of the adoption of the “Convention on Wetlands of International Importance” (Ramsar Convention), an intergovernmental treaty adopted on 2nd February 1971, in the city of Ramsar, on the shores of the Caspian Sea, in Iran. According to the UN, “Revive and restore degraded wetlands” is the theme which highlights the importance of wetland Restoration. ii. The 2023 campaign visual shows a person restoring a wetland through the action of re-planting. The visual features the outward “Ripple Effect” with the headline “It’s Time for Wetland Restoration”. iii. The first World Wetlands Day was celebrated in 1997 and the first-ever UN-recognised World Wetlands Day on 2nd February 2022.
BOOKS AND AUTHORS
16. Name the author of the book, “The Last Heroes- Foot Soldiers of Indian Freedom”.
1) Prannoy Roy
2) Sitaram Yechury
3) Harsh Mander
4) Palagummi Sainath
5) Rajat Sharma
Option “4” is correct Indian Columnist (Journalist) and author Palagummi Sainath (P Sainath) has authored a new book titled “The Last Heroes- Foot Soldiers of Indian Freedom” which broadly deals with the history of India’s freedom struggle written from the perspective of common people. • The book was published by India Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House. i. P Sainath provides a graphic account of the participation of 15 ordinary persons, men and women, belonging to rural and tribal society, who were described as “Foot Soldiers of Indian Freedom.”
STATE NEWS
17. In which Indian city, the ‘Gandhisagar Floating Festival 2023’, Asia’s first floating festival was inaugurated in January 2023?
Option “2” is correct Usha Thakur, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Religious Trust and Endowments, Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP), inaugurated the Gandhisagar Floating Festival 2023, Asia’s first floating festival, in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh(MP). • The unique and first-of-its-kind floating festival will have land, air and water-based adventure activities. i. The first edition of the 5-day floating festival was inaugurated in Mandsaur. After the 5-day festival which concludes on 5th February 2023, the tent city for tourists will continue for 3 months (till 30th April 2023) and adventure activities will continue for 6 months. ii. The festival is organised by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB) to promote Gandhisagar as a tourist destination in both the domestic and international markets. • The Gandhisagar Floating Festival is operated and managed by LJS, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
18. Which state Government has recently (in Jan ‘23) launched a ‘Ladli Bahna’ scheme to provide Rs 1,000 per month to women from financially poor backgrounds?
Option “5” is correct Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister (CM) of Madhya Pradesh(MP), launched a new scheme ‘Ladli Bahna’ to provide Rs 1,000 per month to women from financially poor backgrounds in Madhya Pradesh. • CM noted that a sum of Rs 60,000 crore will be spent on this scheme over a period of 5 years. i. The Ladli Bahna Scheme for the poor women from lower and middle classes of all sections on the line of Ladli Lakshmi Scheme. • Under this scheme women will get financial assistance of Rs 12000 per year(Rs 1000 per month). ii. The announcement was made during a programme on the banks of the Narmada River in Narmadapuram, MP. Note: He also stated that the government is set to construct a Narmada corridor and Narmada lok on the line of the Mahakal Lok at the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain.
19. Name the WhatsApp chatbot that was recently (in Feb ‘23) developed by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) to enable two-way communication between people and the child rights panel.
1) Bal Mitra
2) eKavach
3) Bal Swaraj
4) Chirag
5) Bal Chakra
Option “1” is correct Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of the Government of Delhi, launched the WhatsApp Chatbot ‘Bal Mitra’ developed by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) to enable twoway communication between people and the Commission (child rights panel) and eliminate the information gap. i. “Bal Mitra”can be accessed by sending a WhatsApp message to DCPCR Helpline No. 9311551393 will enable Children, parents, and concerned citizens to interact with the Commission more quickly and effectively. ii. Aim: To make the Commission more accessible, efficient and responsive to the needs of children in distress and those at high risk.
CA STATIC GK
20. Who is the current (as of Feb ‘23) Director of UTI Asset Management Company Limited (UTI AMC)?
Option “2” is correct Narasimhan Seshadri is the present Director of UTI Asset Management Company Limited (UTI AMC). Incorporated in- 2002. i. Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India, Life Ins
21. In SWIFT code, the 1st four alphabetic characters represent _______.
1) User Name
2) Branch Code
3) Location Code
4) Country Name
5) Bank Name
Option “5” is correct SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is a 8 to 11 Alphabetic code that is a combination of various kinds of letters and are used to identify the branch codes of the banks. • It is approved by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The components of SWIFT code are: • The first four alphabetic characters representing the bank name, • The next two alphabetic characters represent the country name • The next two letters or digits represent the location code, and • The last 3 letters or digits represent the branch code. Example: SWIFT Code of a branch of Punjab National Bank in Delhi is PUNBINBBDRG
22. In which state ‘National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary’ is located?
Option “3” is correct About Madhya Pradesh: Chief Minister– Shivraj Singh Chouhan Governor– Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel National Park– Ghughwa Fossil National Park(Dinosaur Fossil National Park), Vanvihar National Park Wildlife Sanctuary– National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary; Ghatigaon wildlife sanctuary
23. How many Payments Banks are there in India?
1) 9
2) 8
3) 4
4) 10
5) 6
Option “5” is correct According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), There are 6 Payment Banks are in India List of Payment Banks: • Airtel Payments Bank Limited • Fino Payments Bank Limited • India Post Payments Bank Limited • Paytm Payments Bank Limited • NSDL payment bank • Jio payment bank The main objective of the payment bank is providing small savings accounts and payments or remittance services to low income households,small businesses,other unorganized sector entities and other users.
24. What is the capital of Equatorial Guinea?
1) Bissau
2) Asmara
3) Malabo
4) Banjul
5) Maseru
Option “3” is correct About Equatorial Guinea: President- Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo Capital- Malabo Currency- Central African Franc (CFA)
25. Which country has emerged as the largest oil supplier to India in February 2023?
1) Russia
2) Iran
3) Saudi Arabia
4) Kuwait
5) United Arab Emirates
Option “1” is correct Russia has become the largest oil supplier to India and contributes significantly to the country’s energy security, Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov announced at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)-Russian Council Dialogue.
26. In February 2023, Microsoft Corp announced a premium Teams messaging offering powered by ChatGPT. In ChatGPT, What does ‘T’ stand for?
1) Technique
2) Transformer
3) Text
4) Transerve
5) Transmission
Option “2” is correct Microsoft Corp announced a premium Teams messaging offering powered by ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer). This will simplify meetings using the AI chatbot that has taken Silicon Valley by a storm. i. OpenAI-owned ChatGPT will generate automatic meeting notes, recommend tasks and help create meeting templates for Teams users. ii. ChatGPT is a chatbot launched by OpenAI in November 2022. It is built on top of OpenAI’s GPT-3 family of large language models, and is fine-tuned (an approach to transfer learning) with both supervised and reinforcement learning techniques.
27. In February 2023, the Mahindra Electric Mobility Ltd (MEML) was officially merged into the parent company, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd (M&M).
Who is the current (as of Feb ‘23) Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mahindra Group?
Option “4” is correct Dr. Anish Shah is the Managing Director and CEO of the Mahindra Group. i. Mahindra and Mahindra announced its electric vehicle unit has merged with it. Mahindra Electric Mobility Ltd (MEML) is now officially merged into the parent company, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd (M&M). ii. The company’s Board had undertaken that MEML would merge into M&M with effect from April 1, 2021, to synergise EV development, manufacturing and sales operations. iii. The merger process, which has been underway, received the final NCLT approval on 13th January, 2023
28. The PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan Yojana) scheme is an initiative of which ministry?
1) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
2) Ministry of Jal Shakti
3) Ministry of Power
4) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
5) Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Option “1” is correct The PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan Yojana) scheme is an initiative of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). It is a scheme for farmers for installation of solar pumps and grid connected solar and other renewable power plants in the country. i. The government has extended the PM-KUSUM scheme till March 2026 as its implementation was significantly affected due to the pandemic. ii. Launched in 2019, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) aimed at adding solar capacity of 30,800 MW by 2022 with total central financial support of Rs 34,422 crore, including service charges to the implementing agencies.
29. DP World has recently (in Feb ‘23) won a contract to develop, operate and maintain a megacontainer terminal at Deendayal Port in ______________.
1) Maharashtra
2) Gujarat
3) Kerala
4) Karnataka
5) Goa
Option “2” is correct Logistics company DP World announced it has won a major contract to develop, operate and maintain a mega-container terminal at Deendayal Port in Gujarat under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode. i. The company won the mandate to set up the 2.19 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) capacity terminal at Tuna-Tekra from Deendayal Port Authority under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. ii. The 1,100-metre berth terminal will be capable of handling vessels carrying more than 18,000 TEUs.
30. In which state ‘Sanjay Gandhi National Park’ is located?
Option “5” is correct Sanjay Gandhi National Park, also known as SGNP, is an protected area in Mumbai, Maharashtra. i. The park was named ‘Krishnagiri National Park’ in the pre-independence era. ii. After this, an independent unit of the Forest Department called ‘Borivali National Park Sub-division’ administered the area. Krishnagiri National Park was created in 1974 and later renamed as ‘Borivali National Park’. iii. In 1981, it was re-dedicated as ‘Sanjay Gandhi National Park’ in memory of Sanjay Gandhi, the son of ex-Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi.
