Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: November 2, 2022
A key component of the government examinations is current affairs. Although this portion is straightforward to score well on, it might be challenging to prepare. In Embibe’s Current Affairs series, we have compiled the finest of the day’s most recent news. The questions on this page were chosen by our experts based on the significant happenings of the day.
Current Affairs: Defence
IMT TRILAT
The first edition of the India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise (IMT TRILAT), a joint maritime exercise among the Indian, Mozambique and Tanzanian navies, commenced at Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, on 27 Oct 22.
The Indian Navy was represented by the guided missile frigate, INS Tarkash, a Chetak helicopter and MARCOS (Special Forces).
The exercise was scheduled over three days from 27 to 29 Oct 2022 and included harbour and sea phases.
The Exercise has Three Broad Objectives:
Capability development to address common threats through training and sharing of best practices
Enhancing interoperability
Strengthening maritime cooperation
Details:
As part of the harbour phase, capability-building activities such as Visit, Board, Search and Seizure; small arms training; joint diving operations; damage control and fire fighting exercises; and cross-deck visits were scheduled.
The sea phase included boat operations, fleet manoeuvres, Visit, Board, Search and Seizure operations, helicopter operations, small arms firing, formation anchoring and EEZ patrols.
Contribution to the Enhancement of Maritime Security:
These exercises reflect India’s and the Indian Navy’s commitment to enhancing maritime security and cooperation with maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and promoting SAGAR, Safety and Growth for All in the Region.
Question:
In the recently conducted first edition of the India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise, the Indian Navy was represented by which of the following frigates?
A. INS Tarkash
B. INS Trishul
C. INS Talwar
D. INS Trikand
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Defence
Indian Navy’s Goa Maritime Symposium (GMS) 2022
The fourth edition of the Goa Maritime Symposium (GMS) is being conducted by the Naval War College (NWC) at Goa from 31 Oct to 01 Nov 2022.
The participants of the Symposium comprise Captains/ Commanders and equivalent-rank officers from Navies/ Maritime forces from friendly foreign countries, viz., Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, besides India.
Rationale:
Conceptualised and instituted by the Indian Navy in 2016, the GMS is a forum for fostering collaborative thinking, cooperation and mutual understanding between India and key maritime nations of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The NWC, Goa, conducts the symposium biennially, and three editions of the event have been organised thus far.
With the IOR becoming the focus of the 21st-century strategic landscape, the symposium plays a constructive role in bringing together stakeholders for evolving policies, strategies and implementation mechanisms for comprehensive security in the maritime domain.
Theme:
The theme of GMS-2022 is “Maritime Security Challenges in the Indian Ocean Region: Converting Common Maritime Priorities into Collaborative Mitigation Frameworks”.
The theme is underpinned by the idea of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ (SAGAR) and five principles of Maritime Security, which imply that the prosperity of our region is interlinked with the maritime fate of all IOR littorals.
Question:
The fourth edition of the Goa Maritime Symposium (GMS) is being conducted by
A. Indian Naval Academy
B. Indian Coast Guard Academy
C. Indian Maritime University
D. Naval War College
Answer: D
Current Affairs: Defence
Exercise Garuda-VII
Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air and Space Force (FASF) are participating in a bilateral exercise named ‘Garuda VII’ from 26 October to 12 November 2022 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
Details about Exercise:
In this exercise, FASF will participate with four Rafale fighter aircraft, one A-330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft and a contingent of 220 personnel.
The IAF is participating with Su-30 MKI, Rafale, LCA Tejas and Jaguar fighter aircraft, as well as the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Mi-17 helicopters.
The IAF contingent will also include Combat Enabling Assets like Flight Refuelling Aircraft, AWACS and AEW&C.
Rationale:
Participation of the IAF and FASF in this exercise will promote professional interaction, exchange of experiences and enhancement of operational knowledge, besides strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
This joint exercise will provide a platform for both countries to enhance operational capability and interoperability while also sharing best practices.
About Previous Versions of Exercise:
This is the seventh edition of the bilateral exercise.
The first, third and fifth editions were conducted in India in 2003, 2006 and 2014 at Air Force Stations Gwalior, Kalaikunda and Jodhpur, respectively.
The second, fourth and sixth editions were conducted in France in 2005, 2010 and 2019.
Question:
The Indian Air Force is participating in Exercise Garuda-VII with the air force of which country?
A. Indonesia
B. France
C. USA
D. Israel
Answer: B
Current Affairs: Defence
SIMBEX 2022
The Indian Navy hosted the 29th edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) from 26 to 30 October 2022 at Visakhapatnam.
Details of Exercise:
SIMBEX-2022 was conducted in two phases – Harbour Phase at Visakhapatnam from 26 to 27 October 2022, followed by the Sea Phase in the Bay of Bengal from 28 to 30 October 2022.
Two ships from the Republic of Singapore Navy, RSS Stalwart (a Formidable Class Frigate) and RSS Vigilance (a Victory Class Corvette) arrived in Visakhapatnam on 25 October 2022 for participation in the exercise.
About SIMBEX Series of Exercises:
SIMBEX series of exercises began in 1994 and were initially known as Exercise Lion King. The scope and complexity of the exercise has risen substantially over the past two decades to include advanced naval drills covering a wide spectrum of maritime operations.
Cooperation between India and Singapore:
The exercise exemplifies the high level of cooperation between India and Singapore in the maritime domain.
It also highlights the commitment and contribution of the two nations towards enhancing maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
Question:
The 29th edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise ‘SIMBEX’ was conducted in Visakhapatnam recently. By what name was this Exercise known initially?
A. Exercise Seal
B. Exercise Lion King
C. Exercise Elephant code
D. Exercise condor
Answer: B
Current Affairs: Days and Events
National Unity Day 2022
Personnel of the CRPF 151 battalion at Kaliveru in Charla Mandal organised bike and cycle rallies in the Mandal on Sunday in connection with the “Rashtriya Ekta Diwas” (National Unity Day) celebrations to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31.
About the Day:
Every year October 31 is dedicated to observing the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Sardar Vallabhbhai was the first Minister of our country who played a vital role in forming states by bringing the princely states together under the Union of India.
Therefore, he is denoted as the man of unity who brought the states together.
This year marks the 147th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The reason behind the celebration of this day is to make people aware of the ideas of staying together and uplifting society.
History and Significance:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced this day in 2014 with the theme of Run for Unity.
Observing this day provides strength and resilience for the nation to hold on to unity, integrity, and security.
India, being the land of unity in diversity, has various cultural institutions that promote this day.
Even an award is dedicated to Rashtriya Ekta Diwas to inspire the nation with the contributions made by individuals for the country.
Question:
Every year 31st October is celebrated as National Unity Day and is dedicated to observing the birth anniversary of which of the following leaders?
A. APJ Abdul Kalam
B. Lal Bahadur Shastri
C. Indira Gandhi
D. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Answer: D
Current Affairs: Persons and Appointments
Lula da Silva: Becomes Brazil’s New President
Lula da Silva emerged as Brazil’s new president on Sunday after he defeated incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro in fierce voting, which was a tight race between the two politicians.
With more than 99 per cent of the votes tallied in the runoff vote, da Silva earned 50.9 per cent votes, and Bolsonaro got 49.1 per cent votes.
This was the country’s closest election in over three decades.
Who is Lula da Silva?
As per AFP, Lula grew up in deep poverty.
He was the seventh of eight children born to a family of illiterate farmers in the arid northeastern state of Pernambuco.
When he was seven, his family joined a wave of migration to the industrial heartland of Sao Paulo.
Lula worked as a shoeshine boy and peanut vendor before becoming a metalworker at the tender age of 14.
In the 1960s, he lost a finger in a workplace accident. He rose quickly to become head of his trade union and led major strikes in the 1970s that challenged the then-military dictatorship.
In 1980, he co-founded the Workers’ Party, standing as its candidate for president nine years later.
Lula lost three presidential bids from 1989 to 1998, finally succeeding in 2002 and again four years later. This was his sixth presidential campaign.
Facts:
Lula’s victory means Brazil is trying to overcome years of turbulence since the reelection of President Dilma Rousseff in 2014.
The huge challenge that Lula has will be to pacify the country.
U.S. President Barack Obama called him “the most popular politician on Earth.
Question:
Who has become the new president of Brazil in the recent elections-2022?
A. Jair Bolsonaro
B. Lula da Silva
C. Dilma Rousseff
D. Alexandre de Moraes
Answer: B
Current Affairs: International
1st ASEAN-India Start-up Festival 2022
The recent launch of the first-ever ASEAN-India Start-up Festival marked the 30th anniversary of ASEAN and India’s relationship.
Dr Srivari Chandrasekhar, Secretary, the Department of Science and Technology, inaugurated the Festival in Bogor, Indonesia.
It was hosted by the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation (COSTI), in collaboration with the Indian Department of Science and Technology (DST), via the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (Indonesian: Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional, BRIN) and the IIT Kanpur Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC).
What is ASEAN-India Startup Festival?
The ASEAN-India Startup Festival is a flagship initiative that aims to strengthen cooperation and collaboration in science, technology, and innovation between ASEAN Member States and India, as outlined in the ASEAN-India Partnership Plan of Action for Peace, Progress, and Shared Prosperity (2021-2025).
Rationale:
This festival provides an opportunity for participating delegates from ASEAN and India to connect with businesses and investors from around the world, and further strengthen cross-border ties with ASEAN countries in the field of science and technology.
The successful holding of the 1st ASEAN-India Start-up Festival saw opportunities to strengthen ASEAN-India cooperation further to accelerate the startup economy.
What is Pitch Battle?
Participating startups will compete in a ‘Pitch Battle’ – a pitch deck competition – on the third day of the festival, with a total winning prize of US $7,500.
SIIC and BRIN have begun the application process to select 30 Indian and 30 ASEAN startups to participate in the festival.
Question:
The first-ever ASEAN-India Start-up Festival-2022 was recently held in which of the following cities?
A. Delhi
B. Bogor
C. Jakarta
D. Jaipur
Answer: B
Current Affairs: Agriculture and Technology
Kalanamak Rice
Indian Agriculture Research Institute has successfully tested two new dwarf varieties—Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1638 and Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1652—in Uttar Pradesh that give double the yield.
What is Kalanamak Rice?
Kalanamak, a traditional variety of paddy with a black husk and a strong fragrance, considered a gift from Lord Buddha to the people of the Sravasti when he visited the region after enlightenment, is all set to get a new look and name.
Grown in 11 districts of the Terai region of northeastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal, the traditional variety has been prone to lodging, a reason for its low yield.
The Problem and the Solution with Kalanamak Rice:
Lodging is a condition in which the top of the plant becomes heavy because of grain formation, the stem becomes weak, and the plant falls to the ground.
Addressing the problem, the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) has successfully developed two dwarf varieties of Kalanamak rice.
They have been named Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1638 and Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1652.
GI Tag:
The traditional Kalanamak rice is protected under the Geographical Indication (GI) tag system.
It is recorded in the GI application that Lord Budhha gifted Kalanamak paddy to the people of Sravasti so that they remembered him by its fragrance.
Fact:
In an effort to promote Uttar Pradesh’s ‘Kalanamak rice’, it has also been given the PM’s award.
Kalanamak rice is an ODOP product of Siddharthnagar, an aspirational district located in the Terai belt of Uttar Pradesh.
It is known for its unique aroma and nutritional qualities and is featured in the world’s speciality rice by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UN.
Question:
Kalanamak rice which is considered a gift from Lord Buddha to the people of the Sravasti majorly grows in which of the following states?
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Bihar
C. Madhya Pradesh
D. Gujarat
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Science and Technology
Red Mud
CSIR- Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI) has converted red mud into X-ray shielding tiles in a green and economically viable manner through a ceramic route by adding a certain weight percentage of high Z material and binder with it.
How is this Useful?
These tiles can be used to build radiation shielding structures in diagnostic X-rays, CT scanner rooms, Cath labs, bone mineral density, dental X-rays, etc., instead of the toxic lead sheet to protect the public from radiation hazards.
What is Red Mud?
Red mud is the waste generated in the Bayer process of alumina production from bauxite.
It is also known as bauxite residue.
Red mud is defined as a “High Volume Low Effect Waste”.
Nearly 1 to 1.5 tonnes of RM is being generated while producing one tonne of alumina from the bauxite ore through the Bayer process.
It is considered to be toxic due to its extreme alkalinity and heavy element leaching.
Annually, about 175 million tonnes of red mud have been generated globally and stored in a specially designed clay-lined pond.
Among them, India produces nearly 9 million tonnes of red mud every year.
The clay-lined ponds often break out and pollute soil, groundwater, and air and become fatal for both humans and wildlife.
Other Usage:
Noteworthy, only 3-4% of red mud has been utilised by the industries to produce cement, bricks, source of iron ore, etc.
The beneficial utilisation of red mud is becoming a global issue.
Red mud contains 30–55% of Fe2O3, which is suitable for attenuating high-energy ionising radiations like X- and gamma rays.
Question:
Red mud is the waste generated in the Bayer process of alumina production from which of the following ores?
A. Cinnabar
B. Magnetite
C. Bauxite
D. Galena
Answer: C
Question:
Recently CSIR- Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute has converted which of the following bi-product of the Bayer process into X-ray shielding tiles?
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