2024 Latest Current Affairs, Daily Current Affairs in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020

1 .

Hydrogen Blended PNG Project Starts Operation at NTPC Kawas in which state on 3 January 2023?

A)

Gujarat

B)

Maharashtra

C)

Tamil Nadu

D)

Karnataka

Correct Answer : Gujarat

The state-run power major on Tuesday (3 January 2023) announced that it has commissioned India's first green hydrogen blending operation in the piped natural gas (PNG) network of its Kawas township, Surat.

* In an exchange filing, NTPC said that the green hydrogen blending has been started in the PNG network of NTPC Kawas township, Surat.

* The project is a joint effort of NTPC and Gujarat Gas (GGL).

* The power generation company stated that the first molecule of green hydrogen from the project was set in motion by P Ram Prasad, Head of Project, Kawas in presence of other senior executives of NTPC Kawas and GGL. After the start of blending operation, NTPC Kawas held awareness workshops for township residents with help of GGL officials, it added.

* The foundation stone of the project was laid by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi on 30 July 2022.

* This set-up is geared up to supply H2- NG (natural gas) to households of Kawas township at Adityanagar, Surat.

* Green hydrogen in Kawas is made by electrolysis of water using power from already installed 1 megawatt (MW) floating solar project.

* Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), the regulatory body has given approval for 5% vol./vol. blending of green hydrogen with PNG to start with and the blending level would be scaled phase wise to reach 20%.

* Green hydrogen when blended with natural gas reduces CO2 emissions keeping net heating content same.

* NTPC states that this feat is achieved only by a few select countries like the UK, Germany, Australia, etc.

* This would bring India to the center stage of the global hydrogen economy.

* India will not only reduce its hydrocarbon import bill significantly but also bring forex ashore by being a green hydrogen and green chemicals exporter to the world.

* NTPC is India’s largest energy conglomerate. It has a presence in the entire value chain of the power generation business..

Source : Business Standard

Published On : January 4, 2023

2 .

Which state announced to set up of Rs 101 crore CM's Sukhashraya Sahayata Kosh for the destitute in the state?

A)

Punjab

B)

Arunachal Pradesh

C)

Madhya Pradesh

D)

Himachal Pradesh

Correct Answer : Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu sunday (1s Jan 2023) announced to set up of Rs 101 crore CM’s Sukhashraya Sahayata Kosh for the destitute in the state.

Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh informed that 40 Congress MLAs agreed to contribute Rs one lakh each from their first salary for the fund and also requested the MLAs from BJP and other parties to contribute.

The collected fund will be spent on the higher education of destitute children to encourage them to pursue courses such as engineering, medicine, management, and other streams from reputed institutions like IIT, IIM, AIIMS, and NIT.

* CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that there are 6,000 destitute children in Himachal Pradesh.

* The CM’s Sukhashraya Sahayata Kosh with an expenditure of Rs 101 crore would provide the facility of higher education to needy children.

* Through the CM’s Sukhashraya Sahayata Kosh other than bearing the educational expenses, the government would also provide Rs 4000 monthly pocket money to the destitute children and women pursuing higher education.

* The state government will bear the expenditure on skill development education, higher education, and vocational training of such children.

* They will also be given financial assistance as per their requirement so that they can lead a respectable life.

* The state government was committed to ensuring the welfare of needy children, orphans, destitute women, and senior citizens.

* The Chief Minister informed that receiving assistance from this fund would be free from government restrictions and no income certificate would be needed.

* The assistance will be given directly to the beneficiary’s account immediately by the department of social justice and empowerment on a simple application...

Source : Times of India

Published On : January 4, 2023

3 .

Second Phase of Sari Festival "VIRAASAT" Begins in which city on 3rd to 17th January 2023?

A)

Chennai

B)

New Delhi

C)

Mumbai

D)

Ahmedabad

Correct Answer : New Delhi

The second phase of the Sari Festival “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven Saris of India will begin from 3rd to 17 January 2023 in New Delhi . The Union Ministry of Textile is organising the festival.

Over 90 participants from different parts of India the will display a wide variety of sarees like handloom Saris of Jamdani, Ikat, Pochampally, Banaras Brocade, Tussar Silk (Champa), Baluchari, Bhagalpuri Silk, Tangail, Chanderi, Lalitpuri, Patola, Paithani etc

The first phase of “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven Saris of India started on 16th December 2022 and concluded on 30th December 2022.

The event was inaugurated by Hon’ble Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman on 16th December 2022, along with Hon’ble Minister of State Smt. Darshana Jardosh and other women parliamentarians.

The event is likely to bring renewed focus on the age-old tradition of Sari weaving and thereby improve earnings of the handloom community.

Union Textile minister: Piyush Goel

Published On : January 4, 2023

4 .

Who has been appointed as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Bank of Singapore, with effect from March 6, 2023?

A)

Wee Ee Cheong

B)

Helen Wong

C)

Jason Moo

D)

Mohd Rashid Mohamad

Correct Answer : Jason Moo

One of Asia’s largest private banks, Bank of Singapore, has appointed Jason Moo, formerly of wealth manager Julius Baer, as its new chief executive from 6 March 2023, the bank said on Tuesday (3rd Jan 2023).

Part of Singapore’s second-biggest listed lender OCBC , the bank said Moo would succeed Bahrin Shaari, who retired on December 31 after 13 years with it.

“Having worked in top global financial markets, Jason will bring a unique set of skills and perspectives,” its chairman, Lai Teck Poh, said in a statement.

The appointment comes at a time of growing competition in Asia’s private banking industry as global wealth management firms battle to expand their share in a fast-growing market.

Bank of Singapore had total assets under management of $109 billion by Sept. 30 last year.

In December, Zurich-based Julius Baer said Moo would leave his role as head of private banking for Southeast Asia. Moo was also manager of its Singapore branch.

Prior to joining Julius Baer in 2020, Moo worked at Goldman Sachs for more than two decades, most recently as its Singapore chief executive and head of Southeast Asia and Australia for private wealth management. (Reporting by Yantoultra Ngui; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Clarence Fernandez)..

Source : Reuters

Published On : January 4, 2023

5 .

Who inaugurated the 100-metre, Siyom Bridge in Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh on 3rd Jan 2023?

A)

Amit Shah

B)

Nitin Gadkari

C)

Yogi Adityanath

D)

Rajnath Singh

Correct Answer : Rajnath Singh

Defence minister Rajnath Singh will visit Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday (3rd Jan 2023) morning to inaugurate a 100-metre bridge, which will open an alternative route to the India-China border.

The Siyom Bridge is one of the 28 projects completed by the Border Roads Organisation at a cost of Rs 724 crore to strengthen border infrastructure.

Singh, who arrived at the IAF base at Chabua in Assam’s Dibrugarh on Monday (2nd Jan 2023), will travel to Boleng in Arunachal’s Siang district on Tuesday (3rd Jan 2023).

The defence minister will physically inaugurate the steel arch superstructure Siyom Bridge on the Along-Yingkiong Road, which will facilitate faster induction of troops, heavy equipment like howitzers and mechanised vehicles to forward areas of the Upper Siang district, Tuting and Gelling, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

He has virtually inaugurated other 27 projects in Ladakh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Punjab and J&K..

Source : Times of India

Published On : January 4, 2023

6 .

Who launched two programme named 'Didir Suraksha Kawach' and 'Didir Doot' on 2nd Jan 2023?

A)

Mamata Banerjee

B)

Suvendu Adhikari

C)

Arvind Kejriwal

D)

Nitish Kumar

Correct Answer : Mamata Banerjee

Ahead of panchayat polls in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress Chairperson and Chief Minister "Mamata Banerjee" on Monday (2nd Jan 2023) launched a fresh public outreach programme to reach out to people of the State.

* Under the initiative ‘ Didir Suraksha Kawach’ (Didi Protection Shield)‘ about 3.5 lakh volunteers of the Trinamool Congress will reach out to all 2 crore households of the State in a span of 60 days.

* Launching the campaign Ms. Banerjee said that while ‘ Duare Sarkar (Government at Doorstep)‘ was an attempt at government level to reach out to the people, the new initiative is an initiative at the party level .

* Under the scheme the volunteers will try to extend the benefits of 15 flagship schemes of the West Bengal government to the people of the State.

* The public outreach comes at a time when the State government is battling scams including the recent protests at the panchayat level over irregularities in the allocation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

* On the issue of corruption at panchayat level the Chief Minister pointed out that panchayats get funds directly from the Centre and there is not much which the State government can do instead of keeping a watch and sending reports if there are allegations of corruption.

* Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee who was seated on the stage with the Chief Minister during the launch said that a mobile application has been developed and a training programme will be held at a local level will be undertaken before the initiative kicks off on January 11, 2023.

* The outreach is similar to ‘Didi ke Bolo (Tell Didi)‘ campiagn of the party which was launched ahaed of 2021 Assembly polls in the State..

Source : The Hindu

Published On : January 4, 2023

7 .

In which city does PM Modi inaugurate the 108th Indian Science Congress?

A)

Bengaluru

B)

Ahmedabad

C)

Lucknow

D)

Nagpur

Correct Answer : Nagpur

The 108th Indian Science Congress (ISC) will be held at R.T.M. Nagpur University in Nagpur, Maharashtra, from January 3-7, 2023.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Indian Science Congress through video conferencing on January 3, 2023. ISC 2023 is the first major scientific event to be held in India this year (2023).

PM Modi told the gathered scientists that the country is now ranked 40th on the Global Innovation Index 2022, up from the 81st rank in 2015, and underlined that scientific developments should ultimately make the country atmanirbhar.

This year (2023), the Indian Science Congress is focused on ‘Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment’ and will showcase achievements made by women scientists as well as young innovators across the country.

“When the spirit of national service gets infused in science along with passion, results are unprecedented. I am sure, India’s scientific community will ensure a place for our country of which it was always.

Deserving,” he said. The Prime Minister also stressed on the increasing importance of data gathering and analysis as well as the importance of traditional knowledge alongside modern knowledge..

Source : Indian Express

Published On : January 4, 2023

8 .

Which country took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first six months of 2023?

A)

Italy

B)

Sweden

C)

Germany

D)

Finland

Correct Answer : Sweden

The Swedish presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first six months 1 January - 30 June 2023.

During the first half of 2023, Sweden holds the presidency of the Council of the EU. Sweden has identified four priorities for the work under its third presidency of the Council :

* security - unity

* competitiveness

* green & energy transition

* democratic values and the rule of law – our foundation

The Swedish presidency will prioritise continued economic and military support for Ukraine, as well as support for Ukraine's path towards the EU. It will devote its attention to European competitiveness, reducing risks of volatile energy prices and energy market reform, the green transition and the upholding of the rule of law..

Source : Consilium

Published On : January 4, 2023

9 .

Karnataka seer Sri Siddeshwara Swamiji when did passes away?

A)

31st Dec 2022

B)

1st Jan 2023

C)

2nd Jan 2023

D)

3rd Jan 2023

Correct Answer : 2nd Jan 2023

Senior Lingayat pontiff and famous Karnataka seer Siddeshwara Swami passed away after prolonged illness on Monday (2nd Jan 2023). He breathed his last at his ashram. Siddeshwara Swami was 81-year-old.

The seer of the Sri Jnana Yogashrama of Vijayapura was suffering from various ailments but had refused to take treatment other than pain relief. He had been facing age-related ailments for several weeks and had been confined to a wheelchair.

His mortal remains will be kept at his ashram till 8 am on Tuesday (3rd Jan 2023). After that, his body will be kept at Sainik School till evening 5 pm and will be taken for final cremation from there..

Source : Times Now News

Published On : January 3, 2023

10 .

The Election Commission has appointed folk singer Maithili Thakur as the icon of which state?

A)

Punjab

B)

Gujarat

C)

Bihar

D)

Maharashtra

Correct Answer : Bihar

The Election Commission has appointed folk singer, Maithili Thakur as the state icon for Bihar.

* She will create awareness among the voters for their participation in the electoral process.

* She was born in Madhubani district of Bihar.

* She is a trained in Indian classical and folk music.

* She was recently selected for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar of the Sangeet Natak Akademi for her contribution to the folk music of Bihar for 2021..

Source : Business Standard

Published On : January 3, 2023