Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: October 28, 2022
Due to their inability to stay updated with current events, the majority of candidates find the current affairs portion challenging. However, by using the proper materials, such as daily current affairs blogs and mock tests, aspirants may easily score in the current affairs part of any competitive examination.
Our experts at Embibe have chosen the most recent occurrences from across the globe and have put them in this article so that candidates can boost their preparation and score well.
Current Affairs: Defence
HAWK Air Defence Equipment
The United States is considering retrieving older HAWK air defence equipment from storage to send to Ukraine, which is facing a heavy barrage of Russian drone-fired and cruise missiles.
What is HAWK Air Defence Equipment?
HAWK, short for ‘Homing All the Way Killer’, entered service with the US Army in 1959, during the Vietnam War.
It is a mobile air defence system.
It is a medium-range surface-to-air missile.
Details and Success of the System:
It underwent upgrades over the decades that followed, including a major one in 1971 that produced the so-called I-HAWK (or improved HAWK), with a kill probability of 85%.
The first versions of the system had a range of 25 km for aerial targets and an altitude of 14 km. After modernisation: the maximum target interception range increased to 40 km with a maximum interception altitude of 18 km.
The HAWK system was the predecessor to the PATRIOT missile defence system that Raytheon built in the 1990s.
US forces largely stopped using HAWK from the early years of the new century.
US assistance to Ukraine:
The US has provided almost $17 billion worth of security assistance to Ukraine since the launch of Russia’s invasion on February 24.
Question:
HAWK air defence equipment recently in news is made by which of the following countries?
A. Israel
B. UK
C. USA
D. France
Answer: B
Current Affairs: National
National Intellectual Property Award: 2021 and 2022
The Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) has won the National Intellectual Property Award for 2021 and 2022.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, had instituted the award.
Detail:
The total ‘patent’ applications filed in India (at least one Indian applicant) by IIT-M in 2021 were 120 and 68 (abroad).
A total of 133 patents were granted in India and seven abroad. Six patents were licensed, five were assigned, and 11 were commercialised.
About the Award:
The annual award recognises achievers, including individuals, institutions, organisations and enterprises, for their IP creations and commercialisation that contribute to strengthening the country’s IP ecosystem and encourage creativity and innovation.
Question:
Which institute won the National Intellectual Property Award for 2021 and 2022?
A. DRDO
B. IIT Delhi
C. IIT Madras
D. HAL
Answer: C
Current Affairs: International Relations
Roadmap 2030 for India-UK Future Relations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently congratulated British Prime Minister-elect Rishi Sunak and said he looked forward to working closely together on global issues and implementing the Roadmap 2030 for bilateral relations.
The Roadmap 2030 for India-U.K. future relations was launched last year.
What is India-UK Roadmap 2030?
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed the ‘2030 Roadmap for India-UK Relations’ in a virtual meeting on 4th May 2021.
The roadmap outlines ambitions for the partnership between the two countries over the next ten years.
The roadmap heralds the commencement of an ‘Enhanced Trade Partnership’ between India and the United Kingdom, with goals of doubling the value of UK-India trade by 2030 and expediting the first phase of pre-negotiations for a future trade deal.
It is also the first since the formal ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ agreement in 2005.
Key Points about the Roadmap:
Trade Agreement
Migration and Mobility Partnership
Ease of Doing Business
Education
Boost for Indian start-ups
India-UK Relations:
It is significant to mention here that strong historical and cultural links bind India to the United Kingdom.
With the elevation to a Strategic Partnership in 2004, India’s multidimensional bilateral relationship with the United Kingdom became much stronger.
Since the Strategic Partnership in 2004, there have been regular exchanges of visits at the Prime Ministerial level.
India is the United Kingdom’s second-largest foreign investor.
While the United Kingdom is India’s 18th-largest trading partner and third-largest investor after Mauritius and Singapore.
In addition, many bilateral trade agreements exist between the two countries in order to strengthen ties.
Question:
Which of the following is not a key feature of India-UK Roadmap 2030 for future relations?
A. Ease of Doing Business
B. Education
C. Boost for Indian start-ups
D. Nuclear energy
Answer: D
Current Affairs: International and Geopolitics
Dirty Bomb
Amid Russia’s allegations of Ukraine trying to use ‘dirty bombs’ in the ongoing war, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged both nations to avoid any escalation of the conflict.
What is a Dirty Bomb?
A dirty bomb is a mix of explosives, such as dynamite, with radioactive powder or pellets.
The blast carries radioactive material into the surrounding area when the dynamite or other explosives are set off.
Is a Dirty Bomb the same as an Atomic Bomb?
An atomic bomb, like those bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, involves the splitting of atoms and a huge release of energy that produces an atomic mushroom cloud.
A dirty bomb works completely differently and cannot create an atomic blast.
Instead, a dirty bomb uses dynamite or other explosives to scatter radioactive dust, smoke, or other material to cause radioactive contamination.
What are the Main Dangers of a Dirty Bomb?
The main danger of a dirty bomb is the explosion, which can cause serious injuries and property damage.
The radioactive materials used in a dirty bomb would probably not create enough radiation exposure to cause immediate serious illness, except for those people who are very close to the blast site.
However, the radioactive dust and smoke spread farther away could be dangerous to health if it is inhaled.
Because people cannot see, smell, feel, or taste radiation, you should take immediate steps to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Facts:
There is no recorded use of ‘dirty bombs’. They have, so far, been tested only.
The aftermath of the use of such an explosive device can be devastating for the area, and the clean-up could be highly expensive and time-consuming.
It may well be rendered unusable for a long time, depending on the amount of radioactive material used in the bomb.
Question:
Which of the following is another name used to describe Dirty Bomb?
A. Radiological Dispersal Device
B. Pellet Bomb
C. Radiological Exposure Device
D. Dynamite Exposure device
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology
New Species of Critically Endangered Plant Spotted
A rather frail-looking plant spotted on the granite hillocks of Palakkad has been identified as a new species of the genus Allmania.
Named Allmania multiflora, the species is quite special from both the botanical and conservation points of view, according to researchers.
About:
An annual herb that grows to a height of about 60 cm, Allmania multiflora is only the second species of this genus identified so far anywhere.
The discovery came 188 years after botanists described the genus and the first species.
The first species, Allmania nodiflora, was originally published under the genus Celosia as Celosia nodiflora in 1753.
Specimens found in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) were first described as Allmania nodiflora in 1834.
Status:
Given its small population, the researchers have assessed it as ‘Critically Endangered’, applying IUCN Red List criteria.
Threats:
Its population is quite small.
It could be accidentally exploited by local people as a vegetable along with amaranthus.
Question:
Recently a new species of a critically endangered plant, Allmania, was spotted after 188 years in which of the following states?
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Assam
C. Kerala
D. Himachal Pradesh
Answer: C
Current Affairs: Environment
Katraj Zoological Park to Get Zebras from Abroad
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is likely to import ‘Grant Zebras’ for its Rajiv Gandhi Zoological and Wildlife Research Centre in Katraj.
Details:
The PMC plans to procure five Zebras—two male and three female—for its Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park in Katraj from foreign zoos and animal breeders as donations, gifts, disposal of surplus animals, and exchange of animals.
The civic body will spend an estimated ₹1.33 crore for the transportation of the animals.
The Grant Zebras will be the first ones among foreign animals to be procured for the park in phases.
What is Grant’s Zebra?
The Grant’s zebra is the smallest of six subspecies of the plains zebra.
Even still, they weigh between 485 and 700 pounds, with a shoulder height of 4 to 4 ½ ft.
The males, on average, are 10% larger than their female counterparts. Zebras have excellent eyesight and hearing and can run up to 40 mph.
This subspecies represents the zebra form of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem and others across central Africa.
About Katraj Zoological Park:
The Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, commonly known as the Rajiv Gandhi Zoo or Katraj Zoo, is located in Katraj, Pune district, Maharashtra State, India.
It is managed by the Pune Municipal Corporation.
Question:
Katraj zoological park, likely to import Grant’s zebras from Africa, is situated in which of the following states/UT?
A. Maharashtra
B. Kerala
C. Madhya Pradesh
D. Odisha
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Ecology
Trees Beyond Forests Programme–launched in Assam
The Assam government and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) recently launched the “Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI)” programme for bringing farmers, companies, and private institutions together to expand the tree coverage outside of traditional forests in the State.
About the Programme and its Objectives:
The new programme seeks to enhance carbon sequestration, support local communities, and strengthen the climate resilience of agriculture, thereby supporting global climate change mitigation and adaptation goals.
Through agroforestry or integrating trees into farming systems, TOFI will improve the resilience of farming systems while increasing the income of farmers in Assam in partnership with the Environment and Forest Department and the AADB.
The objective is to increase the tree coverage outside traditional forests by 2.8 million hectares, contributing to India’s nationally determined contribution target of creating an additional “carbon sink” of 2.5–3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030.
What is Carbon Sequestration?
Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is one method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of reducing global climate change.
For example, deforestation is a source of carbon emission into the atmosphere, but forest regrowth is a form of carbon sequestration, with the forests themselves serving as carbon sinks.
Data:
Assam is one of seven states where the US will allocate up to $25 million under the TOFI programme. The other states are Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
Question:
Which of the following states/UT recently launched the trees beyond forests programme?
A. Haryana
B. Rajasthan
C. Assam
D. Tamil Nadu
Answer: C
Current Affairs: Days and Events
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2022
Audiovisual heritage refers to documents like film, sounds, radio, television programmes and other audio and video that are of socio-cultural importance and need preservation for posterity. Such documentations help us observe and understand the past and protect our memories and culture.
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (WDAH) is celebrated on 27th October every year to highlight and promote the importance of such preservation.
Theme:
“Enlisting documentary heritage to promote inclusive, just and peaceful societies” is the theme for WDAH this year.
It refers to the importance of archiving visual and sonic information to preserve history for society’s benefit and progress.
History:
On 27th October 1980, the ‘Recommendation for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images’ was adopted at the 21st General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Belgrade, Serbia.
This adoption occurred as a result of the efforts of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) since the late 1970s. The 33rd session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 2005 proclaimed 27th October as World Day for Audiovisual Heritage to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 1980 recommendation mentioned above.
Significance:
Recorded images, motion pictures and sounds give us insights into people’s lives, cultures, languages, communities and global flora and fauna. Such documents are vital as a source of knowledge for humanity and help preserve cultural and social diversity. Conservation of those documents ensures present and future generations get access to them and help preserve our collective memories.
Celebration:
The WDAH celebration is part of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Goal 16, Target 16.10. It states, “Ensure public access to information and protect fundamentaldoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.”
Question:
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage (WDAH) is celebrated every year on
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