8th-9th January Current Affairs : Vision IAS Current Affairs
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1. Name the union minister who has recently (in Jan’ 23) launched the themes, logo, and website of Youth 20 (Y20) Summit?
1) Amit Shah
2) Anurag Singh Thakur
3) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
4) Arjun Munda
5) Dharmendra Pradhan
Option “2” is correct. Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, launched the themes of Youth 20 (Y20) Summit, logo, and website in the Curtain raiser event of Y20 Summit India at Akashwani Rang Bhawan New Delhi, Delhi. i. The Youth20 Group’s inception meeting will take place in Guwahati, Assam, from 6th to 8th February 2023. ii. India is hosting the Y20 Summit for the 1st time. iii. The 5 themes of Y20: • Future of Work: Industry 4.0, Innovation & 21st Century skills. • Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability a way of life. • Peacebuilding and Reconciliation: Ushering in an era of No War. • Shared Future: Youth in Democracy and Governance. • Health, Wellbeing &Sports: Agenda for Youth.
2. In which state/UT, India’s First Festival of Inclusion “Purple Fest: Celebrating Diversity” was commenced in January 2023?
1) Ladakh
2) Jammu and Kashmir
3) Goa
4) Maharashtra
5) West Bengal
Option “3” is correct. On 6th January 2023, ‘Purple Fest: Celebrating Diversity’ (Purple Fest 2023), India’s 1st of its kind inclusive festival commenced at the Entertainment Society of Goa in Panaji, Goa. i. ‘Purple Fest: Celebrating Diversity’, held from 6th to 8th January 2023 with the aim to showcase how to come together to create a welcoming and inclusive world for everyone. ii. Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar inaugurated a 2-day sensitisation workshop in association with the Purple Fest in Goa on “Issues relating to Empowerment of persons with Disabilities”.
3. Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State (MoS) for Culture has recently (in Jan ‘23) inaugurated Astro Tourism – A Sky Gazing event in New Delhi, Delhi.
Which of the following orgnaisation has jointly organised the event?
1) National Council of Science Museums
2) Nehru Memorial Museum & Library
3) Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum
4) Both 1 & 2
5) Both 2 & 3
Option “4” is correct. Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State (MoS) for Culture, inaugurated Astro Tourism – A Sky Gazing event which was jointly organised by the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) and Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML), under the banner of Amrit Mahotsav of Independence, at India Gate Lawns, Kartavya Path, New Delhi, Delhi. i. It is a 3-day program held from 6-8 January 2023 with various activities like Astro Talks by expert Astronomers, an Exhibition on Astronomy, Storytelling related to celestial objects, Experience of using a telescope to see craters of the Moon, Astronomy Activities, Photographic Panel Exhibition, and Astro-Photography.
4. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the year 2022 was the ______ warmest for India since 1901.
1) 6th
2) 3rd
3) 4th
4) 5th
5) 2nd
Option “4” is correct. The India Meteorological Department (IMD)’s Statement on Climate of India during 2022 stated that the year 2022 was the fifth warmest for India since 1901. The annual mean land surface air temperature was 0.51 degrees Celsius above the long-term average, which is the mean temperature for the 1981-2010 period. i. This was lower than the highest warming observed in India in 2016 (anomaly of +0.71 degrees Celsius) and higher than the previous year 2021 (anomaly of +0.44 degrees Celsius).
5. Indian Railways has recently (in Jan ‘23) announced the plan to introduce India’s 1st hydrogen-powered trains on its narrow-gauge heritage lines to transform Indian locomotive
mobility by ___________.
1) July 2023
2) December 2023
3) May 2023
4) March 2023
5) August 2023
Option “2” is correct. Indian Railways is set to introduce India’s 1st hydrogen-powered trains on its narrow-gauge heritage lines to transform Indian locomotive mobility by December 2023. A prototype hydrogenfueled train is now being developed by the Northern railway workshop which will be tested on the Haryana section between Sonipat and Jind. i. The “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative will not only improve the train’s technology and operating system but also promote the use of green energy in public transport systems. ii. The hydrogen-powered train in India was designed after the hydrogen trains that are now operating in China and Germany.
BANKING AND FINANCE
6. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has recently (Jan ‘23) raised around Rs 5,000 crore through how many year bonds?
1) 2 years
2) 4 years
3) 5 years
4) 3 years
5) 6 years
Option “4” is correct. Under its first issue of ‘fund raising through bonds in 2023’, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has raised around Rs 5,000 crore via 3-year bonds. i. The coupon for the 3-year bond was 63%. (The yield on 3-year government bonds was above 7.16 per cent). ii. The issue by NABARD had a base size of Rs 2,000 crore plus a green-shoe option of Rs 3,000 crore.
7. In January 2023, RBI announced that the maiden Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs) for an aggregate sum of _________ will be issued in two tranches in January and February 2023.
Option “5” is correct. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that the maiden Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs) for an aggregate sum of Rs. 16,000 crores will be issued in two tranches of Rs. 8,000 crore each in January and February 2023, with the intention of mobilizing resources for green infrastructure. • The proceeds would be used to fund public-sector projects that will help India reduce its carbon emissions
8. Name the organisation/Ministry that has recently (in Jan ‘23) signed an agreement with the ‘‘Hockey Wali Sarpanch’’ to support the farmers of Rajasthan’s Lambi Ahir Village.
1) Asian Development Bank
2) Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
3) World Bank
4) National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
5) Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Option “4” is correct. To support the farmers of Rajasthan’s Lambi Ahir Village, Neeru Yadav, fondly known as ‘Hockey Wali Sarpanch’ has made an agreement with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to start a Farmers Producers Organisation (FPO), ‘Sachhi Saheli Mahila Agro Producer Company Limited’ i. The FPO was started with the assistance of SIIRD (Society of Indian Institute of Rural Development). Neeru Yadav became the Board of Directors of the company.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
9. Which of the following countries have recently (in Jan ‘23) joined the United Nations (UN) Security Council for 2 years along with Japan and Malta?
1) Ecuador
2) Switzerland
3) Mozambique
4) Only 1 & 2
5) All 1, 2 & 3
Option “5” is correct. The United Nations (UN) Security Council officially welcomed Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland, who now hold the two-year seats that they won without opposition in June, in charge of preserving international peace and security. i. Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland are the 5 countries replacing India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Norway, whose terms ended on 31st December 2022. ii. Mozambique and Switzerland marked their 1st-ever terms on the UN’s most powerful body.
ECONOMY AND BUSINESS
10. Which of the following points is/are ‘correct’ with respect to the 1st First Advance Estimates (FAE) of National Income for FY23 released by National Statistical Office (NSO) in
January 2023?
A) As per the NSO’s first FAE, the Indian economy will grow at a rate of 7% in FY23, up from 8.7% in FY22.
B) Real GDP is estimated to be Rs 157.60 lakh crore in FY23, compared to a Provisional Estimate of GDP of Rs 147.36 lakh crore in FY22
C) The Net National Income (NNI) of India is projected to rise by 6.6 % in FY23 as compared to 8.5 % in FY22.
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 National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI), has released its First Advance Estimates (FAE) of National Income for the financial year 2022–2023 (FY23) at both constant (2011–12) and current prices. i. According to the NSO’s first FAE, the Indian economy will grow at a rate of 7% in FY23, up from 8.7% in FY22. • Real GDP, or GDP at constant (2011-12) prices, is estimated to be Rs 157.60 lakh crore in FY23, compared to a Provisional Estimate of GDP of Rs 147.36 lakh crore in FY22, announced on May 31, 2022. • Nominal GDP, or GDP at current prices, is estimated to be Rs. 273.08 lakh crore in FY23, compared to a Provisional Estimate of GDP of Rs. 236.65 lakh crore in FY22, announced on May 31, 2022. • The nominal GDP growth rate in FY23 is projected to be 15.4 %, down from 19.5 % in FY22. • The Net National Income (NNI) of India is projected to rise by 6.6 % in FY23 as compared to 8.5 % in FY22.
APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS
11. In January 2023, Surinder Chawla was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of which Payments Bank?
1) Paytm Payments Bank
2) Fino Payments Bank
3) India Post Payment Bank
4) Airtel Payments Bank
5) Jio Payments Bank
Option “1” is correct. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Surinder Chawla as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL). • Surinder Chawla is currently serving as Head of Branch Banking at RBL Bank (formerly known as Ratnakar Bank). About Paytm Payments Bank: Chairman- Vijay Shekhar Sharma Headquarters- Noida, Uttar Pradesh Establishment- 2017
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
12. Name the personality who has recently (in Jan ‘23) received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 15th edition of the Jaipur International Film Festival (JIFF 2023).
1) Amitabh Bachchan
2) Subhash Ghai
3) Nandita Das
4) Aparna Sen
5) Ramesh Sippy
Option “4” is correct. Veteran Indian actress-director Aparna Sen was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the opening ceremony of the 15th edition of the Jaipur International Film Festival (JIFF 2023) in Jaipur, Rajasthan, being held between 6th and 10th January 2023. i. She has won 9 National Film Awards which includes: Best Director – 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981); Best Feature Film in Bengali – Paromitar Ek Din (2000) & Best Feature film in English – 15 Park Avenue (2005). Her film Mr. and Mrs. Iyer (2002) won 3 national awards Best Direction, Best Screenplay and Nargees Dutt Award. ii. She was honoured with Padma Shri for Arts in 1987.
13. In January 2023, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, presented the _______ edition of the Digital India Awards (DIA).
1) 4th
2) 7th
3) 5th
4) 3rd
5) 6th
Option “2” is correct. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, presented the Digital India Awards 2022, the 7th edition of the Digital India Awards (DIA), in New Delhi, Delhi, on January 7, 2023. i. The DIA awards are administered by the National Portal of India, which provides a single-window access to information and services offered by government institutions at all levels (centre, state, and local bodies). ii. The selection process for DIA includes the nomination of digital initiatives by government entities through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal, supervised by the Director General Awards at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
14. Name the country that has recently (in Jan ‘23) launched Asia’s 1st hydrogen-powered trains for the Urban Railways with a Range of 600 Km on a single tank.
1) Japan
2) Indonesia
3) Philippines
4) Thailand
5) China
Option “5” is correct. China’s CRRC Corporation Limited has unveiled Asia’s 1st hydrogen-powered trains for the Urban Railways, which have a top speed of 160 kmph (kilometre per hour) and a range of 600 km on a single tank. • It was developed in collaboration with Chengdu Rail Transit and CRRC Changchun Railway Co. i. By 2025, China plans to roll out 50,000 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, with a target of producing 100,000–200,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually from renewable sources.
15. Name the union minister who has recently (in Jan ‘23) launched a “Portal for mapping of Industrial Units and Laboratories” in New Delhi, Delhi.
1) Sarbananda Sonowal
2) Narendra Singh Tomar
3) Piyush Goyal
4) PashuPati Kumar Paras
5) Mansukh L. Mandaviya
Option “3” is correct. On the occasion of the 76th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) – 6th January 2023, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, launched a “Portal for mapping of Industrial Units and Laboratories” during an event organised in New Delhi, Delhi. i. He also launched Standards National Action Plan (SNAP) 2022- 27; Revision Exercise of National Building Code of India (NBC 2016); Revised National Electrical Code of India 2023 and Training Courses on National Building Code of India 2016 and National Electrical Code of India. • Portal for mapping of Industrial Units and Laboratories: is a centralised platform for information on industrial units and laboratories across India. • Standards National Action Plan (SNAP) 2022- 27 will serve as a strong foundation for standardisation to meet the emerging technologies and concerns of sustainability and climate change. • Revision Exercise of National Building Code of India (NBC 2016) – The National Building Code of India, which was initiated by BIS through the National Building Code Sectional Committee has been revised.
BOOKS AND AUTHORS
16. Name the Chief Minister (CM) who has recently (in Jan ‘23) authored the book, ‘Mukhyamantrir Diary 1’ that was launched by Ranjan Gogoi, former Chief Justice of India (CJI).
Option “3” is correct. Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) and former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi launched the book “Mukhyamantrir Diary 1” authored by Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister (CM) of Assam. i. The book chronicles the daily activities of the Himanta Biswa Sarma, during the 1st year of his tenure as CM.
SPORTS
17. Indian Tennis Player Sania Mirza announced her retirement from professional Tennis in February 2023.
In which year, she won her 1st Grand slam by winning the Australian Open Mixed doubles title with Mahesh Bhupathi?
1) 2009
2) 2015
3) 2010
4) 2008
5) 2012
Option “1” is correct. Indian Tennis Player Sania Mirza (36-year-old), the former doubles World No. 1 , has confirmed her retirement from professional Tennis. She announced that the Dubai Tennis Championships, a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 event in Dubai in February 2023 will be her last match. i. She won her first grand slam in 2009 by winning the Australian Open Mixed doubles title with Mahesh Bhupathi. The pair also won the French Open 2012. ii. Sania Mirza became the first Indian to win a WTA singles title in 2005. she was ranked India’s No 1 in Singles from 2003 till her retirement from Singles in 2013.
STATE NEWS
18. In Which state ‘Cherchera harvest festival’ was celebrated in January 2023?
Option “4” is correct. On 6th January 2023, Bhupesh Baghel, Chief Minister (CM) of Chhattisgarh, celebrated the traditional Cherchera festival, an important harvest festival of Chhattisgarh which is popularly known as the “Rice bowl of India”, at Dudhadhari Math in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. i. The festival is celebrated on the full moon night of ‘Paush’ Hindu calendar month in the happiness of taking the crops to their homes after cultivation. The festival usually falls in the month of January.
19. Which state government has recently (in Jan’ 23) signed an MoU with Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Ltd. to promote development of Small Medium Enterprises (SME)?
Option “2” is correct. BSE (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd.) has signed an MoU with the Government of Goa for the development of Small Medium Enterprises (SME) in Goa. i. Under this partnership, BSE will create awareness among SMEs in Goa on the advantages of listing on the exchange and guide them on efficient methods of raising capital through equity infusion. ii. BSE will offer training and capacity-building support to District Industries Center officials and facilitate SMEs with respect to registration or listing on the platform.
CA STATIC GK
20. In which state, the Matheran Hill Railway is located?
Option “4” is correct. The Matheran Hill Railway is a 2 ft narrow-gauge heritage railway in Maharashtra, India, which is administered by the Central Railway.
21. The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is the flagship scheme of which ministry?
1) Ministry of Finance
2) Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
3) Ministry of Education
4) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
5) Ministry of Labour and Employment
Option “2” is correct. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) implemented by National Skill Development Corporation. i. The objective of this Skill Certification Scheme is to enable a large number of Indian youths to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood. Individuals with prior learning experience or skills will also be assessed and certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
22. Who is the current (as of Jan ‘23) Chairman of Paytm Payments Bank?
1) Vijay Shekhar Sharma
2) Anubrata Biswas
3) Srikrishnan H
4) Rishi Gupta
5) J. Venkataramu
Option “1” is correct. About Paytm Payments Bank: Chairman- Vijay Shekhar Sharma Headquarters- Noida, Uttar Pradesh Establishment- 2017
23. Where is the Headquarters of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)?
1) Mumbai, Maharashtra
2) New Delhi, Delhi
3) Hyderabad, Telangana
4) Gandhinagar, Gujarat
5) Kolkata, West Bengal
Option “2” is correct. About Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): President – Piyush Goyal (Union Minister for Consumer affairs, Food & Public Distribution) Director-General – Pramod Kumar Tiwari Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
24. In which state/UT, ‘Bondla Zoological Park’ is located?
Option “4” is correct. About Goa: Chief Minister- Pramod Sawant Governor- P. S. Sreedharan Pillai Zoological park- Bondla Zoological Park Airport- Goa International Airport
25. In which year, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was founded?
1) 1952
2) 1950
3) 1928
4) 1940
5) 1935
Option “3” is correct. The Headquarters of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is Mumbai, Maharashtra and the BCCI was founded in 1928. i. Chetan Sharma reappointed as the chairman of the senior selection committee, exactly two months after his entire panel was disbanded by the BCCI for the Indian team’s semi-final exit in the T20 World Cup.
26. Which state/UT will host the 3rd edition of Khelo India National Winter Games in February 2023?
Option “4” is correct. The ski resort of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district will host the third edition of Khelo India National Winter Games in February 2023. i. The third edition of the games will start from February 10 and culminate on February 14 ii. The main attractions are snowshoe races, ice skating, ice hockey, skiing, nordic skiing, snowboarding, ski mountaineering and ice stock.
27. In January 2023, Indian squash prodigy _________ clinched the girls Under-15 squash title at the British Junior Open tournament in Birmingham, England.
Option “5” is correct. Indian squash prodigy Anahat Singh clinched the girl’s Under-15 squash title at the most prestigious British Junior Open tournament in Birmingham, England. i. The 14-year-old defeated Sohaila Hazem of Egypt, 3-1 in the final. Despite the first set being closely contested, she took the lead and won the tournament. ii. The British Junior Open is held in January every year in the UK where all the best players from all over the world compete to win the coveted title.
28. Aska police station in ________ has been selected (in Jan ‘23) as one of the three best police stations in the country for the year 2022 by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Option “5” is correct. Aska police station in Odisha’s Ganjam district has been selected as one of the three best police stations in the country for the year 2022 by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). i. Aska has also been declared as the best police station in Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS) dashboard for 2022.
29. In which state ‘Pin Valley National Park’ is situated?
Option “2” is correct. About Himachal Pradesh: Chief Minister (CM)– Jai Ram Thakur Governor– Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar National Parks– Great Himalayan National Park; Pin Valley National Park Wildlife Sanctuaries– Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary; Chail Wildlife Sanctuary
30. In which state Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary is located?
Option “2” is correct. Governor – Jagdish Mukhi National Parks – Kaziranga National Park, Dibru – Saikhowa National Park Wildlife sanctuaries – Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary
