Current Affairs - January, 2023 - Free Time Learning

1 .

Gogoro, Belrise to Bet $2.5 bn on Battery-swapping Infra in which state?

A)

Tamil Nadu

B)

Karnataka

C)

Uttar Pradesh

D)

Maharashtra

Correct Answer : Maharashtra

Gogoro, a Taiwanese firm that is in the business of sustainable mobility technology and battery-swapping infrastructure, on Tuesday (17th Jan 2023) announced a 50-50 joint venture with Belrise Industries (earlier known as Badve Engineering) to invest $2.5 billion (Rs 20,500 crore) over eight years to build battery-swapping and energy infrastructure in Maharashtra.

A non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in Davos on Tuesday (17th Jan 2023) with the state government.

In an interview from Davos, Gogoro founder Horace Luke said : “We will put up smart battery stations to begin with in top 10 densely populated cities in Maharashtra, including Pune and Mumbai. India is the holy grail where we need to put our solutions.”

Luke said the company had a proven technology with over 1.2 billion batteries and it was doing around half a billion battery swaps in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, among others.

The partner was chosen because of its expertise, he said. It accounted for 35 per cent of body chassis and suspension parts for two-wheelers in the country.

Luke, however, said the investment would not only come from the two (only initially) but they expected to rope in climate and infrastructure funds and even vehicle makers.

The joint venture comes at a time when the government is finalising the draft swapping policy, which is aimed at greater interoperability.

It also seeks to reduce the upfront cost of buying an electric vehicle by obviating the need to pay the entire battery cost (the battery accounts for 40-50 per cent of the cost of the vehicle) and instead going in for swapping...

Source : Business Standard

Published On : January 18, 2023

2 .

Who was appointed as the Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA) in National Security Council Secretariat for two years?

A)

Pankaj Kumar Singh

B)

Brajesh Mishra

C)

Shivshankar Menon

D)

M. K. Narayanan

Correct Answer : Pankaj Kumar Singh

Pankaj Kumar Singh, the former director general of the Border Security Force (BSF), was on Tuesday (17th Jan 2023) appointed as the deputy national security advisor (Dy NSA) of India, according to an order issued by the Centre.

who headed the BSF till December 31 last year (2022) before he retired, has been appointed as Dy NSA on a re-employment contract of two years, the order said.

As the BSF chief, Singh oversaw the force coming up with low-cost anti-drone technology to tackle intruding drones at the Indo-Pakistan border.

In the new role as Dy NSA, he will assist NSA Ajit Doval in creating and implementing the country’s national security strategies, including assessing threats posed by terrorism, data security, cyber threats, readiness of concerned agencies and cooperation between different organisations dealing with security issues.

When Singh took charge of the BSF on August 31, 2021, he had created history by being the only son-father due to have held the top post of a paramilitary force during their services..

Source : Hindustan Times

Published On : January 18, 2023

3 .

Which Renewable Energy Ltd (NTPC REL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Tripura in New Delhi?

A)

SAIL

B)

NTPC

C)

NHPC

D)

NALCO

Correct Answer : NTPC

NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NTPC REL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Tripura in New Delhi.

Reason : For the development of Floating and Ground Mounted based Renewable Energy Projects in Tripura.

This MoU was signed by Rajiv Gupta (Chief GM, NTPC REL) and Mahananda Debbarma (DG and CEO, Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency).

It also embarks upon the journey towards the development of large-sized Renewable Energy Projects in Tripura...

Source : PIB

Published On : January 18, 2023

4 .

Which University in Canada and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have detected a radio signal, originating from atomic hydrogen in a distant galaxy?

A)

University of Toronto

B)

Dalhousie University

C)

McGill University

D)

Laval University

Correct Answer : McGill University

Astronomers from McGill University in Canada and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have used data from the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), in Pune, to detect a radio signal originating from atomic hydrogen in an extremely distant galaxy.

The IISc said on Monday that the astronomical distance over which the signal has been picked up is “the largest so far by a large margin”.

The findings have been published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

While detection of radio waves with 21 cm wavelength, emitted by atomic hydrogen, is possible through low-frequency radio telescopes like GMRT, the “extremely weak” nature of the radio signal makes it nearly impossible to detect emissions from a distant galaxy.

The most distant galaxy detected through the 21-cm emission, so far, was at redshift z=0.376..

Source : Deccan Herald

Published On : January 18, 2023

5 .

Who has been appointed as the new Ambassador of India to the Republic of Armenia?

A)

Nripendra Misra

B)

Sibi George

C)

Nilakshi Saha Sinha

D)

Arindam Bagchi

Correct Answer : Nilakshi Saha Sinha

Nilakshi Sinha, currently a joint secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Armenia.

According to a news statement from the Ministry of External Affairs of India. She is also expected to begin the task soon...

Source : ANI

Published On : January 17, 2023

6 .

Which country will introduce a stamp with Jawaharlal Nehru's portrait on its 75th Independence Day?

A)

Nepal

B)

Fiji

C)

Bhutan

D)

Sri Lanka

Correct Answer : Sri Lanka

As part of its 75th National Independence Day celebrations, Sri Lanka has decided to release a commemorative stamp that includes portrait of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, according to a press release issued by the President's Media Division of Sri Lanka.

The government has decided to celebrate the 75th National Independence Day with pride together with the new reformist program for the next 25 years.

The main ceremony of the National Independence Day Celebrations will be held on February 4 at 8:30 am at Galle Face Green under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

Buddhist and Hindu religious programs have been organized in Colombo, and accordingly, on February 4 at 6:30 a.m., a Buddhist religious program has been organized at Dharmakirtyarama Temple, Polwatta, Colombo, and Hindu religious programs have also been organized at New Kadireshan Temple, Colombo...

Source : NDTV

Published On : January 17, 2023

7 .

The first district for the deployment of innovative 5G use cases, Vidisha is located in which state?

A)

Gujarat

B)

Odisha

C)

Karnataka

D)

Madhya Pradesh

Correct Answer : Madhya Pradesh

A joint initiative by the Vidisha District Administration and the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), under the direction of Additional Secretary (Telecom) & Administrator USOF, made Vidisha, a district of Madhya Pradesh.

The first district ever in India for on-ground implementation of groundbreaking 5G use cases proposed by startups.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has been fostering partnerships of Digital Communication Tech - startups & SMEs to potential user communities, viz. State governments, Smart cities, Aspirational districts, vertical industries, etc., through the Telecom Startups & MSMEs Mission (TSuM) & 5G Vertical Engagement Partnership Program (VEPP).

This is accomplished to accelerate Digital Transformation across socio-economic verticals.

To implement 5G/4G/IoT innovative approaches of Startups & SMEs at Vidisha (Aspirational district), Madhya Pradesh with a primary focus on Health, Agriculture, Diary, Education & Skill Development, benefiting the Vidisha community as a whole, the "5G use case promotional pilot" is being spearheaded by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), DoT, which is a trailblazer in emerging Digital communication Technologies...

Source : Mint

Published On : January 17, 2023

8 .

Which public sector bank partnered with 'Garuda Aerospace' under the Kisan Pushpak Scheme?

A)

Union Bank of India

B)

Canara Bank

C)

State Bank Of India

D)

Asian Development Bank

Correct Answer : Union Bank of India

Garuda Aerospace, a drone company based in Chennai, has teamed with the Union Bank of India to finance 150 Garuda Agri Kisan drones under the Kisan Pushpak Scheme.

The drone loan will assist farmers in digitizing land record activities for agricultural production as well as spraying fertilizers, chemicals, and pesticides.

The Agri Infrastructure Fund Scheme funds 150 drone applications that will assist farmers and train 150 qualified pilots to become entrepreneurs.

Published On : January 17, 2023

9 .

Which country Population Shrinks for the First Time Since 1961?

A)

India

B)

China

C)

Russia

D)

United States

Correct Answer : China

China's population fell last year for the first time in six decades, a historic turn that is expected to mark the start of a long period of decline in its citizen numbers with profound implications for its economy and the world.

The country's National Bureau of Statistics reported a drop of roughly 850,000 people for a population of 1.41175 billion in 2022, marking the first decline since 1961, the last year of China's Great Famine.

That possibly makes India the world's most populous nation. U.N. experts predicted last year India would have a population of 1.412 billion in 2022 though they did not expect the South Asian nation to overtake China until this year.

India, however, only collects population figures every 10 years and its latest census, originally scheduled for 2021, has been delayed due to the pandemic...

Source : Reuters

Published On : January 17, 2023

10 .

When is observed as National Startup Day every year in India?

A)

January 14

B)

January 15

C)

January 16

D)

January 17

Correct Answer : January 16

January 16 is observed as National Startup Day every year in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in 2021 declared that January 16 would be observed as National Startup Day to celebrate the Indian startup ecosystem.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has marked an entire week as National Startup Week from January 10 to 16.

Startup India Innovation Week 2023 includes knowledge-sharing sessions for entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, and other enablers, involving relevant stakeholders from the startup ecosystem such as Government officials, incubators, corporates and investors.

Startup Day aims to engage startup ecosystem stakeholders across to spur the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation in India.

As per the website, Startup India is a flagship initiative of the Government of India, intended to catalyse startup culture and build a strong and inclusive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in India.

An action plan was also unveiled by Prime Minister Modi, which comprises 19 action items spanning areas such as ‘simplification and handholding,’ ‘funding support and incentives’ and ‘industry-academia partnership and incubation.’..

Source : Zeebiz

Published On : January 17, 2023