4th February Current Affairs : Vision IAS Current Affairs
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1. Which company recently (in Feb’ 23) became the first Indian company to supply critical rotating parts for nuclear turbines by agreeing to a long-term supply deal for nuclear turbine parts with GE Steam Power?
1) Azad Engineering
2) TurboTech Precision Engineering
3) Siemens India
4) Kessels Engineering Works
5) Arani Power Systems
Option “1” is correct Azad Engineering Private Limited, Hyderabad (Telangana)-based precision engineering firm and GE Steam Power, an American energy technology company, have agreed to a long-term supply deal for the supply of nuclear turbine parts. i. Azad Engineering has been approved as the 1st Indian company to supply critical rotating parts for nuclear turbines. The first set of critical parts has now been delivered and will be assembled on nuclear turbines manufactured in Belfort, France. ii. To help clients deliver reliable power while they make the transition to a lower carbon future, GE Steam Power offers a wide range of technology and services for power plants.
2. In February 2023, the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) Indigenisation of Diagnostics (InDx) launched the National Diagnostics Catapult (C-CAMP InDx 2.0) in New Delhi, Delhi.
The C-CAMP InDx 2.0 received funding from which of the following organisations?
1) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
2) Rockefeller Foundation
3) FIND
4) Both 1 & 2
5) All 1, 2 & 3
Option “5” is correct The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) Indigenisation of Diagnostics (InDx) launched the National Diagnostics Catapult (C-CAMP InDx 2.0) in New Delhi, Delhi, i. The programme was launched in the presence of Dr Parvinder Maini, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India (GoI). ii. The program is anchored by C-CAMP with support from the Bangalore Life Sciences Cluster (BLiSc) and funding from The Rockefeller Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and FIND, a global alliance for diagnostics
3. Which of the following ministries have recently (in Feb ‘23) signed an MoU with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), & CSC e-Governance Services India
Limited to Enable Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to Operate as Common Service Centres (CSCs).
1) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
2) Ministry of Cooperation
3) Ministry of Science and Technology
4) Both 1 & 2
5) Both 2 & 3
Option “4” is correct The Ministry of Cooperation, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), and CSC e-Governance Services India Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enable Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and provide services offered by Common Service Centres (CSCs) in New Delhi, Delhi. i. According to the MoU, PACS would be able to operate as CSCs and provide over 300 services to the rural population, including their 13 crore farmer-members.
4. Name the ministry that has recently (in Feb ‘23) signed an MoU with the Engineers India Limited(EIL) to develop Waste to Energy & bio-methanation projects in cities with a million plus population.
1) Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
2) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
3) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
4) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
5) Ministry of Rural Development
Option “2” is correct The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs(MoHUA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with Engineers India Limited(EIL) to develop Waste to Energy and biomethanation projects in cities with a population of million plus(million plus cities). This MoU is in line with India’s Green Growth Agenda. i. Under this MoU, EIL will assist and handhold the million plus cities in developing such projects for larger quantum of waste integrating circularity in waste management. ii. In the 1st phase, 25 million plus cities will be selected for developing large-scale process plants.
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
5. IndusInd International Holdings Ltd. (IIHL) has recently (in Feb ‘23) received preliminary approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to increase its ownership in IndusInd Bank to __________.
1) 26%
2) 15%
3) 39%
4) 31%
5) 42%
Option “1” is correct IndusInd International Holdings Ltd. (IIHL), a subsidiary of the Hinduja Group, has received preliminary approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to increase its ownership in IndusInd Bank Ltd. (IndusInd Bank) to 26%. • As a result, the Hinduja Group will contribute more than Rs. 10,000 crore to IndusInd Bank. i. With this, IndusInd Bank has become the first bank to have its promoter increase its shareholding to 26%.
BANKING AND FINANCE
6. Which bank has recently (in Feb ‘23) issued a work order to RailTel Corporation of India Ltd. (RailTel) to provide 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution) connectivity to 15,000 offsite Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) across India?
1) HDFC Bank
2) Indian Bank
3) ICICI Bank
4) Bank of India
5) State Bank of India
Option “5” is correct State Bank of India (SBI) has issued a work order to RailTel Corporation of India Ltd. (RailTel), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Railways, to provide 4G LTE (LongTerm Evolution) connectivity to 15,000 offsite Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) distributed across India. i. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 253.35 crore (excluding taxes). ii. The project also includes the operation and maintenance of the entire network for 5 years.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
7. Which company has recently (in Feb ‘23) collaborated with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) based models to get
advanced scientific knowledge about Earth & help the world to adapt to a changing environment?
1) Google
2) Microsoft Corporation
3) IBM
4) Oracle Corporation
5) Accenture
Option “3” is correct The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and IBM (International Business Machines Corporation), headquartered in New York, United States of America(USA), have collaborated to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) based models that will make it easier to mine vast datasets to advance scientific knowledge about Earth and help the world to adapt to a changing environment. i. Under this collaboration, NASA and IBM will create AI foundation models to analyze petabytes of text and remote-sensing data to make it easier to build AI applications tailored to specific questions and tasks.
8. Which organisation has recently (in Feb ‘23) launched a batch of 53 internet satellites Starlink to orbit on its Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States of America(USA)?
1) Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
2) Blue Origin
3) Canadian Space Agency
4) European Space Agency
5) SpaceX
Option “5” is correct SpaceX launched a batch of 53 internet satellites Starlink to orbit on its Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States of America(USA). This marks the 200th flight of SpaceX Falcon 9. i. The previous missions of the rocket include SpaceX’s CRS-24 cargo mission to the International Space Station(ISS) in December 2021, Eutelsat’s Hotbird 13 F telecom satellite in October 2022; and the OneWeb 1 flight in December 2022. ii. To date, SpaceX has launched more than 3,800 Starlink satellites and all All Starlink satellites to date have flown aboard Falcon 9 rockets.
9. In January 2023, the __________ meeting of the US-India Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG) was held between India and the United States (US) to discuss the collaboration in Earth and space science as well as human space exploration.
1) 3rd
2) 7th
3) 1st
4) 8th
5) 6th
Option “4” is correct On 30 and 31 January 2023, delegates from India and the United States of America(USA) gathered at the United States (US) Department of State for the 8th meeting of the US-India Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG) and discussed on collaboration in Earth and space science as well as human space exploration. i. The meeting was co-chaired by Jennifer R Littlejohn, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs and Karen Feldstein, Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations at NASA for the United States and Shantanu Bhatawdekar, Scientific Secretary of ISRO for India. ii. The CSJWG discussions were focused on space, earth, global navigation satellite systems, spaceflight safety and space situational awareness, and policies for commercial space.
SPORTS
10. Footballer ‘Raphaël Xavier Varane’ was recently (in Feb ’23) announced his retirement from International Football. Which country did he represent in International Football?
1) Argentina
2) France
3) Portugal
4) Spain
5) England
Option “2” is correct French footballer Raphaël Xavier Varane (29 years old) has announced his retirement from international football to focus on his career with Manchester United. i. He was a part of the France national football team (nicknamed: Les Bleus) that won the Fédération Internationale De Football Association (FIFA) world cup in 2018 and was a runner-up in 2022. ii. He became only the 4th player in history to win both the World Cup and the Champions League in the same year (2018), joining Christian Karembeu (in 1998), Roberto Carlos (in 2002), and Sami Khedira (in 2004).
11. Indian Cricketer, “Joginder Sharma”, has recently (In Feb ‘23) announced his retirement from all forms of Cricket.
Which team did he play for in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 2008 to 2012?
1) Royal Challengers Bangalore
2) Kolkata Knight Riders
3) Chennai Super Kings
4) Mumbai Indians
5) Delhi Capitals
Option “3” is correct Indian Cricketer, Joginder Sharma (39), who was known for bowling the last over in 2007 Twenty20 (T20) World Cup final against Pakistan, announced his retirement from all forms of Cricket. • Joginder Sharma currently serves as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Haryana. He joined the Haryana Police in October 2007. i. He made his debut for Haryana against Madhya Pradesh in the 2002-2003 Ranji Trophy. He played domestic cricket for Haryana. ii. Joginder Sharma represented the Indian Cricket Team in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007. iii. He played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 2008 to 2012 and was part of the 2 IPL-winning CSK teams (2010 & 2011).
12. Which of the following points is ‘Incorrect’ with respect to the New Zealand Tour of India, Twenty 20 Internationals (T20I) and One Day Internationals (ODI) series 2022-2023?
1) India defeated New Zealand in a comprehensive manner in both ODI (under the captainship of Rohit Sharma) and T20I (under the captainship of Hardik Pandya).
2) India defeated New Zealand by 90 runs in the 3rd and Final ODI match held in Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore, Madhya Pradesh(MP), to win the series by 3-0.
3) India defeated New Zealand by 168 runs in the 3rd and final T20I match held in Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to win the series by 2-1.
4) Shubman Gill scored 208 runs and became the youngest player to score a double-hundred in men’s ODIs.
5) During the 2nd ODI match of India against New Zealand, Suryakumar Yadav became the fastest Indian to complete 1000 runs in ODIs, surpassing records set by Virat Kohli and Ishan Kishan.
Option “5” is correct During the 2nd ODI match of India against New Zealand, Suryakumar Yadav became the fastest Indian to complete 1000 runs in ODIs, surpassing records set by Virat Kohli and Ishan Kishan. Explanation: India defeated New Zealand in a comprehensive manner in both ODI (under the captainship of Rohit Sharma) and T20I (under the captainship of Hardik Pandya). • India defeated New Zealand by 90 runs in the 3rd and Final ODI match held in Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore, Madhya Pradesh(MP), to win the series by 3-0. • India defeated New Zealand by 168 runs in the 3rd and final T20I match held in Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to win the series by 2-1. • During the 1st ODI match of India against New Zealand held in Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, Telangana, Shubman Gill, aged 23 years 132 days, scored 208 runs and became the youngest player to score a double-hundred in men’s ODIs. • He also became the fastest Indian to complete 1000 runs in ODIs, surpassing records set by Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan. He achieved the feat in 19 innings. • Following his outstanding performance in the ODI series against New Zealand, Indian Batter Shubman Gill climbed 20 places to reach his career-best of number 6 on the ICC Men’s ODI players Ranking • Virat Kohli is ranked 7th while Rohit Sharma is ranked 9th on the list. Babar Azam of Pakistan tops the list. • Mohammed Siraj of India tops the ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings for bowlers following a consistent run of performances in the series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand in 2023. • Siraj is the first Indian bowler after fellow pacer Jasprit Bumrah to clinch the top spot in the ICC bowler’s rankings in ODIs. Bumrah reached the first position in July 2022.
ENVIRONMENT
13. Name the non-governmental organisation (NGO) from India that has recently (in January 2023) shared initiatives for road safety and environmental conservation at the UN ECOSOC Partnership Forum 2023.
1) Patiala Foundation
2) Smiley Children Society
3) Child Rights and You
4) Save the Children India
5) GiveIndia
Option “1” is correct The 2023 Partnership Forum of an annual session, the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), was held on 31 January 2023, back-to-back with the Council’s Coordination Segment, at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, United States (US). i. Punjab-based Patiala Foundation, a Non-governmental organization (NGO) from India, shared initiatives such as reflective stickers for bicycles, a ‘helmet bank’ and a ‘children’s challan book’ for road safety and environmental conservation.
OBITUARY
14. A renowned Telugu filmmaker & Padma Awardee ‘Kasinadhuni Vishwanath’, passed away in February 2023. In which year did he receive the Padma Shri award in the field of Art?
1) 2007
2) 2016
3) 1992
4) 2005
5) 2000
Option “3” is correct Padma Shri and Dadasaheb Phalke awardee, Kasinadhuni Vishwanath (K Viswanath), a renowned Telugu filmmaker and actor, passed away in Hyderabad, Telangana at the age of 92. He was popularly known as ‘Kalatapasvi’. i. He was awarded the Padma Shri (Field-Art), the fourth-highest civilian award in India, in 1992. ii. He was the 48th recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest award in the field of Cinema, for the year 2016. iii. K. Vishwanath was a five-time National Film Awards winner for his movies Sankarabharanam, Sagara Sangamam (twice), Swathi Muthyam, and Swarna Kamalam.
STATE NEWS
15. Which of the following points is/are ‘correct’ with respect to the Kerala state government budget for 2023–24 presented in February 2023 by the Finance Minister of Kerala, KN Balagopal?
A) The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) has allotted Rs. 1,000 crore for the development of the Vizhinjam ring road as an industrial corridor.
B) Rs. 1000 crore allocated for “Make in Kerala,” with an initial investment of Rs. 100 crore this fiscal.
C) The Union Government has reduced the state’s borrowing limit by Rs. 2700 crore in FY24.
1) All A, B & C
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) Only A
Option “1” is correct Kerala Finance Minister (FM) KN Balagopal presented to the Legislative Assembly the budget for fiscal year 2023–24 (FY24), the second full budget of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) government led by Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister (CM) of Kerala. • The Union Government has reduced the state’s borrowing limit by Rs. 2700 crore in FY24. i. The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) has allotted Rs. 1,000 crore for the development of the Vizhinjam ring road as an industrial corridor. ii. During the project duration, Rs. 1000 crore would be allocated for “Make in Kerala,” with an initial investment of Rs. 100 crore this fiscal. • Rs. 100 crore for the “Make in Kerala” project, which focuses on agriculture start-ups in particular. iii. The Kerala government has set aside Rs. 100 crore for welfare programmes and Rs. 2,000 crore to combat price increases, in addition to a plethora of initiatives in the infrastructure and higher education sectors.
16. Name the state/UT that has recently (in Feb ‘23) launched ‘Mero Rukh Mero Santati’ (Plant a Tree, Leave a Legacy) initiative to plant 100 trees for every child born.
Option “5” is correct Prem Singh Tamang, Chief Minister (CM) of Sikkim, launched the initiative, named ‘Mero Rukh Mero Santati’ (Plant a Tree, Leave a Legacy), under which 100 trees will be planted for every child born in Sikkim. i. The initiative is aimed at strengthening the connection between parents, children, and nature by planting trees to commemorate childbirth. ii. At the programme, CM Prem Singh Tamang distributed token seedlings to some new parents.
CA STATIC GK
17. In which state ‘Pampadum Shola National Park’ is located?
1) Karnataka
2) Telangana
3) Kerala
4) Tamil Nadu
5) Andhra Pradesh
Option “3” is correct About Kerala: Chief Minister – Pinarayi Vijayan Governor – Arif Mohammed Khan National Parks – Pampadum Shola National Park; Mathikettan Shola National Park Wildlife Sanctuaries (WLS) – Peppara WLS; Shendurney WLS
18. When was the Supreme Court of India established?
1) 1947
2) 1952
3) 1950
4) 1954
5) 1952
Option “3” is correct Chief Justice (CJI) of Singapore Sundaresh Menon sat on the Supreme Court of India bench headed by CJI D Y Chandrachud. i. Justice Sundaresh Menon, who has been serving as the fourth chief justice of Singapore since 2012, is in India to take part in a function to be held on Saturday to mark the 73rd anniversary of the establishment of the Supreme Court. Justice Menon is the chief guest at the function. ii. The Supreme Court of India came into existence on January 28, 1950, two days after India became a Republic.
19. Who is the current (As of Feb ‘23) Union minister of Road Transport and Highways?
Option “2” is correct Nitin Jairam Gadkari is the present Union minister of Road Transport and Highways. i. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has asked states to register vehicles owned by people with disabilities under the ownership category of “Divyangjan” and extend necessary tax benefits, instead of insisting on only new and adapted vehicles for extending these benefits to them. ii. Persons with disabilities who own a vehicle and hire a driver can’t be deprived of getting the vehicle registration under the “Divyangjan” category. iii. This means now it is the ownership of the vehicle and not the type of vehicle that will be the deciding factor for registration under the “Divyangjan” category.
20. In February 2023, Lahari Bai, emerged as a real brand ambassador of the coarse grains in tribal-dominated Dindori district of _________.
Option “5” is correct At a time when the Narendra Modi government is working hard to make India a global hub of ‘Shree Anna’ (millets) cultivation and research, a 27-year-old Baiga tribal woman Lahari Bai, has emerged as a real brand ambassador of the coarse grains in tribal-dominated Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh in the International Year of Millets (2023).
21. Coach ‘Graham Reid’ related to which sports?
1) Hockey
2) Badminton
3) Football
4) Cricket
5) Boxing
Option “1” is correct Indian men’s hockey team coach Graham Reid, who had guided India to a historic bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (Held in 2021), resigned from his post in January 2023. i. His decision to step down came in the aftermath of India’s disappointing showing at the 2023 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup which ended in January 2023. ii. India finished joint-ninth, alongside Argentina, out of 16 teams at the marquee event held in Odisha. It was the lowest-ever finish by a host nation in the event’s history.
22. Who is the current (as of Feb ‘23) Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hero MotoCorp?
1) Pradeep Dinodia
2) Vikram S. Kasbekar
3) Pawan Munjal
4) Vasudha Dinodia
5) Tina Trikha
Option “3” is correct Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hero MotoCorp- Pawan Munjal i. The country’s largest two wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp announced that it has commenced deliveries of its electric scooter VIDA V1 in Delhi after having started the process in Bengaluru and Jaipur. ii. The company is planning rapid expansion of its sales and charging network across multiple cities coinciding with the start of the sales process.
23. The Central government has recently (in Feb ‘23) raised the minimum download speed of broadband connectivity to _______________.
1) 2 Mbps
2) 3 Mbps
3) 5 Mbps
4) 6 Mbps
5) 4 Mbps
Option “1” is correct The government has revised the definition of broadband connectivity. The Center has specified a higher minimum download speed of 2 Mbps (megabits per second). i. Earlier, the definition notified by the Telecom Department in July 2013 had benchmarked it to 512 kbps (kilobits per second) as minimum download speed.
24. Who is the current (as of Feb ‘23) Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the IndusInd Bank?
Option “5” is correct About IndusInd Bank Ltd: MD & CEO – Sumant Kathpalia Established – 1994 Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra Tagline – We Make You Feel Richer
25. Which bank has recently (in Feb ‘23) appointed ‘Rajan Pental’ as an executive director for a period of three years?
1) ICICI Bank
2) YES Bank
3) HDFC Bank
4) Axis Bank
5) IndusInd Bank
Option “2” is correct Private lender YES Bank announced that it has appointed Rajan Pental as an executive director for a period of three years with effect from February 2, 2023. i. Rajan Pental is currently the Global Head of Retail Banking of Yes bank. He has been part of Yes Bank since November 2015. He has been responsible for building a strong retail portfolio for the bank.
