Daily & Latest Current Affairs in 2025

Correct Answer :   Mansukh Mandaviya

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Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the IFFCO Nano Urea Liquid Plants at Aonla and Phulpur in Uttar Pradesh on 14th February 2023.

* Addressing the event, Dr Mandaviya stated that today is an important day because Nano urea plants have been dedicated to the nation. He said that Nano Urea, in the coming times will ensure the progress of the farmers, increase their income. In this way it will change the future of our farmer.

* Union Minister highlighted the benefits of Nano urea stating that it is the best green technology and provides solution of pollution.

* It saves the soil and also increases the production and hence is the best for the farmers.

* He further said that Government’s Expert Committee has given approval to Nano DAP and it will also come to replace DAP shortly. 

* He added that Nano-DAP will immensely benefit our farmers and it will be available at half the cost of DAP.

* Dr Mandaviya also underlined the efforts of the government in making Nano urea available to the farmers. He also pointed out the challenges in bringing Nano urea ranging from getting approvals from various departments, convincing the farmers to tackling conventional urea lobby.

* Dr Mandaviya also said that it is an alternate fertiliser. We for the years, used urea and DAP to increase the productivity. When we use urea, only 35% Nitrogen (Urea) gets used by the crop and the unused affects soil. Today, the productivity of the soil is declining and crop production is saturated, it was essential to go to alternate fertilisers.

* The Union Minister appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has always worked towards increasing farmer income and their prosperity. He also insisted on natural farming, Biofertilizers, and alternate fertilizers.

* He also commended PM’s role during COVID, the prices of fertilizers increased, and one Urea bag touched the Rs 4000 mark but PM ensured that the price of fertilizers was not increased.

* The Union Minister congratulated IFFCO for its endeavors. He noted that Commerce, business, and profit are not foremost for Sahakarita but farmers’ welfare is.

* Dileep Sanghani, Chairman IFFCO, Balvir Singh, Vice Chairman IFFCO, Dr. Uday Shankar Awasthi MD, and CEO of IFFCO, Keshari Devi MP Phulpur among those present during the inauguration events....

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Garuda Aerospace

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Drone startup Garuda Aerospace on Wednesday (15th Feb 2023) unveiled its Solar-powered drone "SURAJ", designed specifically for surveillance operations, at Aero India 2023 here.

* Principal Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and former DRDO Chief Dr. Satheesh Reddy unveiled it.

* According to the company, SURAJ is an ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) high-altitude drone designed specifically for surveillance operations, providing "real-time information to the high command and protecting jawans on the ground."

* Recently, Garuda Aerospace had raised USD 22 Million, the "largest ever" Series A funding in the drone sector.

About "SURAJ" Drone : The drone will carry a versatile payload of high-resolution zoom cameras with thermal imagery and foliage-penetrating lidar sensors with a maximum capacity of 10 kg.

This cutting-edge technology will capture, process, and transmit photos and videos in real-time, ensuring that the headquarters and base have access to vital information before planning strategic operations and terms, the start-up said.

It has an endurance of 12 hours and can fly at an altitude of 3000 ft. The drone is all set to support various Indian and global giants namely the Indian Army, Navy, Airforce, BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, DRDO, MOD, and MHA..

Source : Zeebiz

Correct Answer :   Mumbai

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Mumbai has overtaken Delhi to become the world’s second-most polluted city in terms of the global Air Quality Index (AQI).

* According to Switzerland-based air quality monitoring tech company IqAir, Sarajevo in Bosnia has been ranked as the world's most polluted city for the period between January 29 and February 8, 2023.  

* As per the AQI data on the IqAir website, Mumbai has an AQI of 163, which falls under the unhealthy category.

* Lahore is in the third position. Delhi is in the sixth spot with 155 US AQI, while Kolkata is in the 17th position with a US AQI of 135.

* As per past records of IqAir, Mumbai at the 10th position on the most polluted list on January 29.

* It rose to the top on 2nd February 2023, following which the air quality improved marginally around February 8, 2023.

* But on 13th February 2023, it surpassed Delhi to become the second most polluted city in the world for air quality.

* IQAir has joined hands with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Greenpeace to measure the air quality in India. Its studies are based on data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).  

Why Mumbai’s air quality is falling :

During the peak winter months of November to January in 2022-23, air quality in India’s financial hub, Mumbai, has noticeably fallen due to various factors.

Experts have blamed the dust due to roads and construction activities and smoke from vehicles for the high pollution levels in Mumbai.

A 2020 study by NEERI and IIT-B has stated that road or construction dust is the main source of air pollution in Mumbai as there is a heavy concentration (about 71 per cent) of the particulate matter in Mumbai's air. The remaining comes from industrial and power units, airports, and garbage dumps..

Source : Business Today

Correct Answer :   EbixCash

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EbixCash Limited, a subsidiary of US-based Ebix Inc, has become the first company in India to launch and enable Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions for foreign nationals visiting India.

* On 8th February 2023, the RBI proposed permitting inbound travellers access to UPI for merchant payments (P2M) while they are in the country.

* The facility will initially be extended to travellers from G-20 countries arriving at select international airports and later across all other entry points.

* The central bank had also recently allowed non-resident Indians, who have international mobile numbers linked to their NRE/NRO accounts, to use the UPI network when in India.

* “As a part of that initiative, EbixCash has become the first entity to enable UPI services for foreign delegates attending the G-20 summit. EbixCash will carry out a pilot launch shortly in Bangalore at the G-20 summit, involving dignitaries from across the world”.

* EbixCash World Money is the foreign exchange division of EbixCash and has a network of over 81 retail branches, 250 franchisee partners and duty-free shops, 27 bank clients, 1,200 corporate clients and 5-star hotels.

* It is a leading player in India’s airport and seaport Money Exchange business with retail kiosks in 20 international airports, and 12 seaports. Ebix Inc is a leading international supplier of on-demand software and e-commerce services to the insurance, financial, healthcare and e-learning industries...

Source : The Hindu Businessline

Correct Answer :   Singapore

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For the first time, the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry has partnered with the Government of Uttar Pradesh for economic cooperation.

* A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the two parties. This agreement is in addition to the signed deals at the UP Global Investors Summit.

* Under this, the governments of Singapore and Uttar Pradesh have taken up urban development, and sustainability and will cooperate in areas of mutual interest including the development industry and skill development.

* The agreement also includes a Sustainable Industrial Park, upgradation and digitization of MSMEs, content development, training pedagogy (pedagogy training), training of trainers, certification as well as training of government officials.

* Singaporean companies and 58 delegates participated in the UP Global Investors Summit held in Lucknow from February 10 to February 12 , 2023.

* Countries including Singapore, Japan, Netherlands and Denmark have also joined UP Global Investors Summit as partner countries..

Source : NDTV

Correct Answer :   14 February 2023

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Veteran actor Javed Khan Amrohi passed away due to lung failure at a hospital in Mumbai on Tuesday, 14 February 2023. He was in his early 70s.

* Amrohi was known for his work in several Bollywood films like Lagaan, Andaz Apna Apna, Chak De! India, Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke, Laadla, and Ishq, among many others.

* He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2001 for the film 'Lagaan'.

* He worked in about 150 movies including Andaz Apna Apna (1994), and Chak De! India (2007).

* He also worked in TV series such as Mirza Ghalib (directed by Gulzar) and Karim (the barber) in Nukkad (directed by Saeed Akhtar Mirza).

* He was also a member of the acting faculty at the Zee Institute of Media Arts..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Uttar Pradesh

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Asian Waterbird Census conducted in the "Saman Bird sanctuary" revealed that there has been a decline in the number of migratory bird species from North Asia and Central Asia.

* The Saman Bird Sanctuary in the Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh is a seasonal oxbow lake on the Ganges floodplain.

* It is designated as Ramasar wetland in 2019.

* The Sanctuary regularly provides refuge to over 50,000 waterbirds.

* Spread in an area of 500 hectare, the Saman Bird Sanctuary is a unique sanctuary located in the Mainpuri district includes several smaller wetlands - ideal habitat for water birds.

* It's one among 467 IBA Sites in the country (Important Bird & Biodiversity Area) designated by the Birdlife International having rich birdlife diversity and also is an important wintering site for many migrants.

* This year (2023) several migratory birds which come under IUCN threatened classification were recorded. A decrease in the number and species of migratory birds was recorded during the recent Asian Waterbird Census (AWC), 2023, carried out at the newly designated Ramsar site - Saman Bird Sanctuary in Mainpuri...

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   1 Only

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To empower youth by providing them entry level skill training in Railway Training Institutes, “Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana” (RKVY) has been notified on Indian Railways.

* Banaras Loco Works, Varanasi has been nominated as the nodal PU for coordinating / organizing the skill development program under RKVY.

* The training has commenced in September, 2021 on pan- India basis. So far, 23,181 candidates have been enrolled under RKVY and 15,665 candidates have completed their training successfully.

* Under this scheme, the training is imparted in fourteen (14) industry relevant technical trades such as Electrician, Welder, Machinist, Fitter etc.

* At 94 training locations which are generally spread across more than one State/ Union Territory including remote locations spread over Indian Railways.

* The candidates from any part of the country can join this training. The training is provided free of cost to the candidates. A dedicated website has been developed for monitoring RKVY.

* There is no provision of providing employment under this scheme. However, this scheme is a skill development programme for the unemployed youths of India to impart technical training in various trades to enhance their employability and entrepreneurship...

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Arunachal Pradesh

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The Apatanis, one of the major ethnic groups of the eastern Himalayas, practise a distinctive form of agriculture where rice and fish are grown together.

* These farmers have been practising integrated rice-fish farming in their mountain terraces of Arunachal Pradesh since the 1960s.

* The potential areas of rice-fish culture in the Apatani plateau are Napping, Yachuli, Ziro-II, Palin and Koloriang.

* Apatanis principally use three rice varieties : Emeo, Pyape and Mypia.

* The total area of the Apatani Plateau is 10,135 square kilometres, where rice-fish culture is undertaken approximately in 592.0 hectares (ha) of irrigated rice lands out of 715.7 ha.

* Apatani Plateau is a land of diverse cultures.

* The major festivals of Apatanis are the Myoko, Dree, Yapung and Murung. People here believe that these traditional festivals ensure better productivity and well-being.

* Apatani Plateau has a climate ranging from humid subtropical to temperate. So, this plateau receives adequate rainfall during the summer season.

* The permeability and water-retaining capacity of the clayey, loamy soil favour this unique farming technique.

* This integrated rice-fish cultivation is a low-input and eco-friendly practice. The stocked fish practically depend on the natural food sources of the rice fields and thus, farmers hardly need to use any supplementary fish feeds.

* The farmers sometimes use household and agricultural wastes and excreta of domestic animals like pigs, cows, mithun (Bos frontalis) and goats to make farming more sustainable and organic...

Source : Down to Earth

Correct Answer :   Both 1 and 2

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The Central Government listed 7 priorities – called ‘Saptarishi’ in Budget 2023- inclusive development, Last mile delivery, Infrastructure, Green growth, Youth power, Unleashing potential, and Financial inclusion.

Key Initiatives under Youth Power :

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 :

* It will be launched to skill lakhs of youth within the next three years.

* The scheme will emphasize on-job training, industry partnership, and alignment of courses with the needs of the industry.

* The scheme will also cover new-age courses for Industry 4.0, like coding, Artificial Intelligence, robotics, mechatronics, IOT, 3D printing, drones, and soft skills.

What is Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana?

* It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) implemented by the National Skill Development Corporation.

* Objective : To enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood.

* Under the scheme, individuals with prior learning experience or skills will also be assessed and certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)...

Source : DNA India