Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: February 16, 2023
Current affairs are included in most government exams including the SSC, RRB NTPC, UPSC CDS, Railways, and more. The current events section of the test is given a higher weightage. This section’s preparatory phase is essential. How well-versed the candidate is in current affairs will determine whether or not they can pass this section. We have analysed the most current news from The Hindu, Indian Express, the Economic Times, and other sources to assist all the contenders in performing well in this part.
Motivation++
“In a day, when you don’t come across any problems – you can be sure that you are travelling in a wrong path”
― Swami Vivekananda
Current Affairs: National
Govt launches app ‘Khanan Prahari’ and CMSMS to curb unauthorised mining
The Government of India has launched a mobile app, namely ‘Khanan Prahari’ and a web app Coal Mine Surveillance and Management System (CMSMS), for reporting unauthorised coal mining activities so that monitoring and taking suitable action on it can be done by concerned law and order enforcing authority.
What is ‘Khanan Prahari’ mobile app?
It is a mobile app of the Ministry of Coal to report illegal coal mining.
It is a tool for geo-tagged photographs of any illegal coal mining incident as well as information to any citizen from the location of the incident.
What is a CMSMS application?
CMSMS has been developed to take transparent action to curb illegal mining and the use of space technology as an e-governance initiative of the Government of India.
Objectives:
The objective of the CMSMS application was to detect citizens’ participation against illegal mining by receipt of citizen’s complaints through mobile app and take action on any kind of illegal coal mining activity being carried out within the leasehold boundaries of any Coal Mining Project in the Coalfield Areas.
Question: 1
Which of the following apps was recently launched by the Government to curb unauthorised mining?
A. Koyala Parahari
B. Khanan Prahari
C. Khanij Prahari
D. Khanan Rakshak
Answer: B
Check out the Highlights of the Economic Survey 2022-23 by clicking on the link given below: Economic Survey 2022-23
Current Affairs: Defence and Economy
PM Modi sets USD 5 billion in defence exports by 2024-25
As fighter jets, helicopters and various aircraft roared over Bengaluru to mark the inauguration of the five-day Aero India 2023, the biggest airshow in Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set an ambitious target of USD 5 billion in defence exports by 2024-25.
Important Data:
Defence exports grew by 334% in the last five years and touched a record ₹13,000 crore in 2021-2022.
India is now exporting defence equipment to over 75 countries.
Major exported items are Personal Protective items, Offshore Patrol Vessels, ALH Helicopter, Coastal Surveillance Systems, etc.
Major initiatives that Government takes to boost defence exports:
74% FDI under automatic route.
Notified Open General Export License (OGEL), a one-time export licence, permits the industry to export specified items to specified destinations without seeking export authorisation.
Scheme for the promotion of defence exports to provide an opportunity for prospective exporters to get their product certified by the Government. Earmarking of 25% defence R&D Budget for industry-led R&D.
Major Challenges:
Red-tapism and a poor global impression of PSUs to deliver on time
Due to a lack of well-established processes and infrastructure, the domestic defence industry suffers from disadvantages in terms of less competitive prices and a lack of high technology
Absence of designing and development capabilities (especially in critical technologies)
Limited participation of the private sector and poor industry-academia-defence linkage
Question: 2
According to the recent announcement of PM Modi, what is the defence export target of India by 2024-25?
A. 4 billion USD
B. 5 billion USD
C. 7 billion USD
D. 9 billion USD
Answer: B
Current Affairs: National
India’s first electric AC double-decker bus was inaugurated in Mumbai
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) recently inaugurated the country’s first electric air-conditioned (AC) double-decker bus.
Commuters, however, may have to wait a few more days before they can avail of its services.
The newly launched electric double-decker bus will also be the world’s first – semi-low-floor, air-conditioned, electric double-decker with a wider door on the rear overhang and a rear staircase.
About the Bus:
The electric double-decker bus has a seating capacity of 73.
According to BEST officials, it is equipped with CCTV cameras and automatic doors, and it can be charged in 80 minutes.
Currently, the transport undertaking has 45 electric AC buses of various sizes, and this year 100 more wet-lease buses will be added to its fleet in phases.
Once all approvals have been secured, the bus will run between the Kurla bus station and the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).
The tickets would be priced the same as previously, with a minimum rate of ₹6 payable for a distance of 5 kilometres.
It is equipped with CCTV cameras and automatic doors and can be charged in 80 minutes.
What is Switch Mobility?
Switch EiV 22 is India’s first electric double-decker air-conditioned bus, designed, developed, and manufactured in India with the help of Switch’s global electric bus expertise.
Switch EiV 22 is outfitted with cutting-edge technology, an ultra-modern design, the greatest level of safety, and best-in-class comfort.
Question: 3
In which of the following cities was recently the first electric AC double-decker bus inaugurated?
A. Pune
B. Mumbai
C. Kolkata
D. Delhi
Answer: B
Current Affairs: Space Technology
Saudi Arabia’s first-ever Woman Astronaut to go on a space mission this year
The first-ever woman astronaut of Saudi Arabia will be going to space this year, the latest move by the kingdom to revamp its ultra-conservative image.
Saudi woman astronaut Rayyanah Barnawi will join fellow Saudi Ali Al-Qarni on a 10-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) this year.
Barnawi and Al-Qarni will fly to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as part of a mission by the private space company Axiom Space.
About the mission:
As part of the ISS aboard, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al Qarni will fly to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft as part of a mission by the private company Axiom Space.
The Ax-2 will be launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
About Axiom Space:
Axiom Space Inc. is a privately funded American space infrastructure developer headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Axiom Space carried out its first private astronaut mission to the ISS in April 2022, under which four private astronauts spent 17 days in orbit.
Women Empowerment in Arab:
Since 2017, Saudi women have been allowed to drive and travel abroad without a male guardian.
Besides, women’s proportion in the workforce has more than doubled since 2016, from 17% to 37%.
Facts:
Astronaut Hazzaa al-Mansoori, an Arab Astronaut, spent eight days on the ISS.
Sultan al-Neyadi, an Arab Astronaut will also make a voyage to the space station in February this year.
“Sultan of Space”, Neyadi will become the first Arab astronaut, to spend six months in space when he blasts off for the ISS aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
Question: 4
What is the name of the first-ever woman astronaut from Saudi Arabia to go to space this year?
A. Rayyanah Barnawi
B. Anousheh Ansari
C. Hazzaa al-Mansoori
D. Sara Sabry
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Awards and Recognitions
Egyptian President bestows Global Best M-GOV Awards on IIT Indore students
Students from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore, India, won AED 1 million by winning the gold medal at the World Government Summit in Dubai recently.
Niyati Totala and Neel Kalpeshkumar Parikh of The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore were awarded the prestigious medal by Egyptian President Abel Fattah Al-Sisi.
Why are these students awarded?
These students were the creators of the ‘Blockbill’ app.
Blockbill is a blockchain-based receipt generation app that generates digital receipts for all of its users’ transactions.
How is this App useful?
This app solves multiple problems, which aids the transition away from the production of thermal papers for printing receipts.
Thermal papers, ubiquitous and found in most retail locations, cannot be recycled because of the chemicals used to create them. Blockbill is conceptualised to solve this issue.
About the awards:
The “M-Gov Award” and the “GovTech Award” are annual awards organised by the UAE government as part of the World Government Summit.
These awards are designed to encourage pioneering students, researchers, government agencies and institutions, private sector companies and startups to develop innovative solutions using the latest technologies in order to address evolving local and global challenges and explore new opportunities for a better future for humanity.
Question: 5
Students from the Indian IIT Indore won AED 1 million by winning the gold medal at the World Government Summit in Dubai recently for developing which of the following apps?
A. Blockbill app
B. Hornbill app
C. Arab Plus app
D. Pyramid app
Answer: A
Check out the Highlights of Union Budget 2023 by clicking on the link given below: Union Budget 2023-24
Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology
Inclusive forum on carbon mitigation approaches
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently launched the Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches.
It aims to help improve the global impact of emissions reduction efforts around the world through better data and information sharing, evidence-based mutual learning and inclusive multilateral dialogue.
Details:
To take stock of mitigation policy instruments that countries use to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and estimate the emissions.
To develop and apply a consistent methodology to assess the effects of mitigation policies and policy packages on emission reductions at the country level.
First meeting: Paris, France
Impact:
It will help policymakers to showcase and discern good practices and adopt and adapt mitigation policies.
It will complement other international efforts on climate policy data, including in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Enhanced Transparency Framework.
A total of 133 countries around the world, representing around 91% of global GDP and covering around 83% of global emissions, have adopted net-zero carbon emissions targets.
Factbook: 15-02-2023
Mammatus clouds
NASA has released a picture of Mammatus clouds hovering over Nebraska, US.
Mammatus clouds generally appear in connection with substantial cumulonimbus clouds, but they have also been sighted to form on other cloud types, such as stratocumulus, altostratus and altocumulus.
Turbulence within cumulonimbus often leads to the formation of Mammatus clouds, particularly on the bottom of the projecting anvil, as it quickly descends to lower altitudes.
Their shapes can vary greatly, from a typical bulging shape to a more elongated tube dangling from the cloud above.
The inaugural WPL auction is all set to break new ground for Women’s cricket
Recently the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 inaugural auction was held at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai
A total of 448 cricketers were auctioned, of which 269 players were Indian and 179 players from overseas
A total of 5 teams are included in the WPL 2023
Mumbai Indians
Delhi Capitals
Gujarat Giants
Lucknow Warriors
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Auction facts:
Indian batter Smriti Mandhana bagged a ₹3.4 crore bid from Royal Challengers Bangalore
Indian Women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur bagged ₹1.8 crores and was notched up by Mumbai Indians
Deepti Sharma bagged ₹2.6 crores and was notched by UP Warriorz
Australian player Ashleigh Gardner is the highest-priced overseas player bagging ₹3.2 crore and was notched up by Gujarat Giants
New Zealand declares a National State of Emergency
New Zealand has declared a National State of Emergency in response to cyclone Gabrielle
The information was intimated by the Minister of emergency management, Kieran McAnulty
It is learned that this is the third time in the history of New Zealand to declare an emergency of this kind
The release stated that both Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and the opposition leader were consulted, and the declaration was finalised recently
The National State of Emergency puts the Government in charge of any actions, as opposed to local authorities
This also allows the Government to help affected regions that are becoming overwhelmed
A National State of Emergency lasts seven days, just like a local state of emergency. It can be extended as needed
Noted painter Lalitha Lajmi passes away
Noted painter Lalitha Lajmi passed away recently at the age of 90
She was the sister of the late actor-filmmaker Guru Dutt
The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) shared the news of her demise
Born in Kolkata and hailing from an artistic family, Lajmi was very fond of classical dance and painting
She has held several exhibitions in international art galleries in Paris, London and the Netherlands
Lalita made a small appearance in the 2007 film Taare Zameen Par, starring Aamir Khan, in which she played an art teacher
BIMARU Tag
Recently, the Prime Minister used the BIMARU term in the context of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh states
The BIMARU acronym has been used to refer to Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, to imply they have lagged in terms of economic growth, healthcare, and education
BIMARU means ‘sickly’ in Hindi. The term was used to highlight the backwardness, especially with regard to poor performance in demographic indicators and contribution to population explosion
These states had exceptionally high levels of mortality, morbidity, illiteracy, fertility, undernutrition, and social inequality and lagged in per capita income
Ashish Bose coined the term BIMARU in 1980 to pinpoint India’s demographic malady
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