Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: October 19, 2022
Instead of reading books to prepare for the Current Affairs portion, use Embibe’s daily current affairs updates and continue the normal newspaper reading habit. A thorough review of The Hindu, Economic Times, and India Today is referred to present these questions to the aspirants. We have organised the most recent subjects for today’s current affairs into categories for general preparation.
Current Affairs: Award and Recognitions.
World Green City Awards 2022
Hyderabad recently bagged the coveted World Green Cities Award in Brazil, beating Paris, Bogota, Mexico City, Montreal, and Fortaleza.
The award announced during a dinner gala hosted in Jeju, Republic of Korea, recognises ‘nature-orientated approaches to city design and operation’.
About the Awards:
The AIPH World Green City Awards is an ongoing competition, with entries open every 2 years, allowing approximately 18 months from the call for entries to the awards ceremony.
Cities are invited to enter, and the winners are announced at special gala event awards ceremonies. Winners may also be invited to showcase their greening projects at an AIPH-approved International Horticultural Expo.
What is the Association International of Horticulture Producers-AIPH?
After the end of the second world war, in 1948, a group of representatives from the national grower associations of Western Europe united with an ambition to mend relations between European horticulturists to reform the burnt bridges.
This vision inspired them to make the Association International of Horticulture Producers (AIPH), laying the foundations for the international community that exists today also. The organisation strives for a world in which humanity, technology, and nature exist in a healthy and stable equilibrium.
Benefits:
Gain recognition for the greening they have done and the benefits to their city
Promote their city at an international level.
Inspire a global movement for greener cities.
Demonstrate that their city is highly desirable to live and work in.
Showcase how urban nature can improve the health of citizens, increase job opportunities, stimulate economic development, and strengthen greening regulations.
Demonstrate how ambitious local actions contribute to achieving global agendas.
List of other cities that won the AIPH awards in different categories:
Living Green for Biodiversity:
Reverdecer Bogotá, Bogota D.C, Colombia.
Living Green for Climate Change:
Mexico City’s Environmental and Climate Change Program, Mexico City, Mexico.
Living Green for Health and Wellbeing:
Transforming degraded land into Urban Micro Parks, City of Fortaleza, Brazil.
Living Green for Water:
The Phytotechnology Stations at the Montréal Botanical Garden / Space for Life, City of Montreal, Canada.
Living Green for Social Cohesion:
OASIS Schoolyard Project, City of Paris, France.
Question:
Which of the following Indian cities has recently won the AIPH World Green City Award?
A. Bangalore
B. Hyderabad
C. Guwahati
D. Chandigarh
Answer: B
Current Affairs: International.
India to host the 90th General Assembly of INTERPOL.
The 90th General Assembly of INTERPOL, the world’s largest police body with 195 members, will be held in New Delhi from 18 to 21 October.
The General Assembly is the international policing organisation’s top governing body and meets once a year to take key decisions.
About the meeting:
The meeting will be attended by around 2,000 overseas dignitaries, including ministers, police chiefs, police officers, and support staff from 195 INTERPOL member countries, apart from INTERPOL head office representatives, Indian officials and media representatives.
What is Interpol?
The International Criminal Police Organization, commonly known as INTERPOL, is an international organisation that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime control.
It is the world’s largest international police organisation, headquartered in Lyon, France, with seven regional bureaus worldwide and a National Central Bureau in all 195 member states.
What is the General Assembly of INTERPOL and its objectives?
The General Assembly is INTERPOL’s supreme governing body and meets once a year to take key decisions related to its functioning.
According to the PMO, the INTERPOL General Assembly meeting is taking place in India after a gap of about 25 years —it was last held in 1997.
The meeting of INTERPOL’s General Assembly is a way for member states to discuss the objectives set by the organisation, review and approve the programme of activities, go through the financial policy for the coming year, and have opportunities for knowledge sharing.
Question:
India recently hosted the 90th General Assembly of INTERPOL in which of the following cities?
A. Jaipur
B. Thiruvananthapuram
C. Delhi
D. Bhopal
Answer: C
Current Affairs: Ecology.
“Indian Bisons or gaurs” to be reintroduced in Sri Lanka.
Close on the heels of the project that translocated cheetahs from Namibia, the Indian government is considering a proposal from Colombo to export a number of gaurs, or Indian bisons, to Sri Lanka to revive the population of gavaras that have been extinct in the island since the end of the 17th century.
If the project is cleared, it would be the first such agreement between India and Sri Lanka and part of a global trend of “wildlife or zoological diplomacy”.
About the proposal:
The suggestion for the proposal came from world-renowned Sri Lankan conservationist Rohan Pethiyagoda, who was awarded the Linnean Medal 2022 (U.K. -based equivalent of the Nobel prize for zoology) for his work on restoring fresh water and forest biodiversity.
Experts say that while “zoological diplomacy” had been practised worldwide, they draw a distinction between “gifts or loans” of animals in captivity to translocation and reintroduction of a species, particularly between neighbouring countries with similar ecosystems.
About Sri Lankan Gaur:
Gaur, called the Gavara in Sinhala, was once widespread, and archaeological remains in ancient caves on the island included the remains of the animal.
By the end of the 17th century, however, the species appears to have been extirpated in Sri Lanka, although they remain prominent in iconography and mythological stories.
About Indian Gaur:
The Indian gaur, a reclusive beast that lives in the wild, is the largest wild bovine that is a protected species and included in Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 and listed as vulnerable in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
There are about 13,000 to 30,000 gaurs in the world, with approximately 85% of the population present in India. It is also found in Burma and Thailand.
The first-ever population estimation exercise of the Indian gaur carried out in the Nilgiris Forest Division in February 2020 estimated around 2,000 Indian gaurs to be inhabiting the division.
Question:
Which of the following Indian wild animals is going to be reintroduced in Sri Lanka that was extinct on the island since the 17th century?
A. Rhinoceros
B. Gaur
C. Tiger
D. Sloth bear
Answer: B
Current Affairs: Defence.
India-Africa Defence Dialogue.
India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) will be held on 18 October on the sidelines of the 12th DefExpo in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will host his counterparts from African Nations during the dialogue.
Theme:
The broad theme of the dialogue was ‘India-Africa: Adopting Strategy for Synergising and Strengthening Defence and Security Cooperation’.
What is India-Africa Defence Dialogue?
The first-ever India-Africa Defence Ministers Conclave was held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, in conjunction with DefExpo on February 06, 2020.
In continuance of the ‘Lucknow Declaration’ and in consultation with stakeholders, IAAD will be held alternative years on the sidelines of DefExpo.
The IADD will explore new areas of convergence for mutual engagement, including in areas like capacity building, training, cyber security, maritime security and counter-terrorism.
India-Africa ties:
India and Africa share close and historical ties. India’s approach towards Africa is guided by the Kampala Principles enunciated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2018. India’s engagement rests on African priorities as outlined by Africans themselves.
India has contributed around 200,000 soldiers and police officers as part of the UN peacekeepers.
India has also actively supported Africa in its cybersecurity and anti-terrorism efforts.
India’s defence cooperation with Africa began in 1956, following Emperor Haile Selassie’s request to then-Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to open its first-ever overseas training institution in Africa.
Question:
India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) was recently held in which of the following cities?
A. Gandhinagar
B. Delhi
C. Lucknow
D. Shimla
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Technology.
The heaviest rocket, LVM3 of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), will launch 36 satellites of British start-up OneWeb Broadband Communication Satellites from the spaceport in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota on October 23, 2022. It will mark the launcher’s entry into the global commercial launch service market.
LVM3 was earlier called GSLV Mk III.
Details:
Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) is the heaviest rocket of ISRO.
LVM3 was earlier called Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III).
The name of the vehicle is changed from GSLV to LVM because the rocket will not deploy the satellites in the geosynchronous orbit.
It is not the first time that ISRO has re-designated the vehicle to LVM-3.
In 2014, the GSLV-Mk-III was also named LVM-3 as it launched with the Crew module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE) into space.
NewSpace India Limited:
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a central public sector enterprise (CPSE) under the Department of Space and the commercial arm of the space agency, had signed two launch service contracts with the UK-based Network Access Associates Limited (OneWeb) for launching OneWeb LEO (low earth orbit) broadband communication satellites on-board ISRO’s LVM3.
What is GSLV Mk III?
GSLV Mk III is configured as a three-stage vehicle with two solid strap-on motors, one liquid core stage and a cryogenic upper stage.
It is a medium-lift launch vehicle primarily designed to launch communication satellites into geosynchronous orbit.
GSLV Mk III has the capability to launch a 4000 kg payload into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and an 8000 kg payload into LEO.
Question:
LVM3 of ISRO will launch 36 satellites of OneWeb Broadband Communication Satellites from which of the following space stations?
A. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
B. Satish Dhawan Space Centre
C. Master Control Facility, ISRO
D. Abdul Kalam Wheeler Island.
Answer: B
Current Affairs: Culture.
4 cities on the list for the G20 culture track.
As part of India’s G20 Presidency between December 2022 and November 2023, the Government plans to host five key meetings focusing on the “culture track” at Khajuraho, Bhubaneswar, Hampi and Agra.
About the cities:
These cities have been chosen mainly for well-known monuments and UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort (UP), the Hindu and Jain temples of Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh), the Konark Sun Temple around 65 km from Bhubaneswar (Odisha), and the sites at Hampi (Karnataka). Agra will host two of the five meetings.
About culture track:
For the culture track, a G20 Secretariat has been set up within the Ministry of Culture, which will employ a professional organisation “for research documentation, coordination and research to support the G20 work-stream on culture,”.
Alongside the five meetings, approximately 250 cultural events will be scheduled at the sidelines of the meetings for the delegates throughout the G20 presidency.
Relevance of G20 Presidency to India:
It provides a fantastic opportunity for India to shape the global agenda on culture across multiple work streams and engagement areas, including:
protection and restitution of cultural property;
advancement of traditional cultural practices for sustainable living;
promotion of cultural and creative industries for livelihood generation; and
preservation and dissemination of culture by leveraging technology.
Fact:
During the G20 Presidency starting December 1 this year, India will invite Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and UAE as guest countries.
The G20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries — Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US — and the European Union.
Question:
During the G20 Presidency of India, which of the following cities will be part of the G20 culture track? A. Delhi
B. Bhubaneswar
C. Jaipur
D. Ahmedabad
Answer: B
Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology.
Six varieties of Neelakurinji identified in the Western Ghats.
Recently a team of experts has identified six varieties of neelakurinji on a vast area on the Kallippara hills at Santhanpara in the Idukki regions of the western ghats.
What is Neelakurinji?
The neelakurinji flower appears once every 12 years and can only be viewed here in Munnar.
Neelakurinji or ‘Strobilanthes kunthiana’ blooms in 40 or so varieties, a majority of them being blue in colour. ‘Neela’ literally translates to ‘blue’, and kurinji is the name given to it by the tribals of the area.
Last seen in 2006, the time for viewing them begins in August and lasts up to October.
In Munnar, one can view this great sight from Kovilur, Kadavari, Rajamala and Eravikulam National Park.
Eravikulam is incidentally home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, hosting a majority of the remaining population of the species on the planet.
Alongside Strobilanthes kunthiana, the types of neelakurinji flowers that have been identified from the hill ranges include;
Strobilanthes anamallaica,
Strobilanthes heyneanus,
Strobilanthes pulnyensis, and
Strobilanthes neoasper.
Importance:
The primary settlers of Kodaikanal hills, the Paliyan and Puliyan tribes, are believed to have used the Neelakurinji blooming cycle to calculate their age.
With every new bloom, the members of the tribe added 12 years to their age.
Kurinji flower is used to describe the associated mountainous landscape where it blooms in Sangam Literature classical Tamil literature.
Question:
Neelakurinji flower, which appears once every 12 years and is recently seen in the news, is found in which ecological region of India?
A. Trans-Himalayan Region
B. Coastal Region
C. Indian Desert
D. Western Ghats
Answer: D
Current Affairs: Economy, Agriculture.
‘One Nation, One Fertiliser’ scheme.
India moved to ‘One Nation, One Fertiliser’ recently as PM Modi launched a scheme to ensure affordable quality fertiliser of the ‘Bharat’ brand to the farmers.
The initiative is a part of ‘Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojna’ and came at a two-day event – PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022, felicitating farmers in Delhi.
All about the One Nation One Fertiliser scheme:
All subsidised soil nutrients – urea, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MoP), and NPK – will be marketed under the single brand Bharat across the nation.
With the launch of this scheme, India will have a common bag design across the country, like Bharat urea, Bharat DAP, Bharat MOP, Bharat NPK, and so on.
Rationale:
The rationale is that since fertilisers of a particular category must meet the nutrient-content specifications of the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), there is no product differentiation among different brands for each type of fertiliser.
For example, DAP should have the same nutrient content, whether it is produced by one company or another. So the concept of ‘One Nation, One Fertiliser’ will help farmers overcome their confusion over brand-specific choices, as all DAP fertiliser brands must have 18% nitrogen and 46% phosphorus.
Objectives:
It will reduce competition.
To remove the burden on the exchequer.
Removal of supply chain hurdles.
Easy reach of fertilisers to farmers.
Prevent the criss-cross movement of fertilisers.
Reduce high freight subsidies.
‘One Nation, One Fertiliser’ is to maximise farm production by ensuring the easy availability of fertilisers and other Agri services to farmers at affordable prices and thereby promoting the balanced nutrient application.
Question:
According to the recently launched ‘One Nation, One Fertiliser’ scheme, fertiliser will be marketed under which single banner?
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