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General Knowledge(GK) (or) General Awareness

Welcome to the General Knowledge Section of Free Time Learning. As we are aware General Knowledge (GK) is a very important area in all the competitive exams held in the country. Nowadays, a good knowledge of general awareness is very important in clearing any competitive and government recruitment examinations.

These General Knowledge Question are very important and usefull to UPSC, IAS/PCS, UPPSC, IBPS, SBI, RBI, SSC, CGL, Railway, APPSC, TSPSC, KPSC, TNPSC, TPSC, UPPSC, MPSC, RPSC, BPSC, MPPSC, UKPSC, MPSC, and other competitive exams.

A)
5.2%
B)
5.7%
C)
6.1%
D)
6.5%

Correct Answer :   6.5%


The Indian economy is seen growing 6.0-6.8 per cent with a baseline real GDP growth of 6.5 per cent in the next financial year 2023-24 on the back of a rebound in private consumption, higher capital expenditure, near-universal vaccination coverage enabling spending on contact-based services, and strengthening of the balance sheets of the corporates, says the Economic Survey for 2022-23 tabled in Parliament on Tuesday (31 January 2023).

Key Points :

* The government stated in its Economic Survey 2022-23 report that their baseline scenario for growth for 2023–2024 was 6.5%, with nominal growth—which takes inflation into account—predicted at 11%.

* Since the COVID-19 pandemic, India’s economy has recovered, but the crisis in Russia and Ukraine has increased inflationary pressures and forced central banks, including India’s, to change their ultra-loose monetary policy.

* The Economic Survey 2022-23 report found that even though inflation remained over the central bank’s target in 2022–2023, the rate of price increases was neither too high nor too low to discourage private consumption or hamper investment.

* India’s economy will expand by 6.5 percent in 2023–2024 compared to 7 percent this fiscal year and 8.7 percent in 2021–2022

* India will continue to be the world’s fastest-growing major economy, according to the Economic Survey 2022-23.

* To be 11 percent in nominal terms in the upcoming fiscal year

* Private consumption, more capital expenditures, a stronger corporate balance sheet, increased financing to small enterprises, and the return of migrant workers to cities all contributed to growth.

* India is the world’s third-largest economy by purchasing power parity and the fifth-largest by exchange rate.

* The economy has almost “recouped” what it lost, “renewed,” and “renergised,” what had stalled during the pandemic and since the conflict in Europe.

* Real GDP growth will be between 6 and 6.8% next fiscal year, depending on regional and international political and economic developments, according to the Economic Survey 2022-23.

* India recovered from the epidemic quite quickly, and growth will be underpinned by strong domestic demand and an increase in capital investment in the upcoming fiscal year.

* The RBI expects inflation to be 6.8 percent this fiscal year, which is higher than the upper goal limit but not high enough to discourage private consumption or too low to reduce incentives for investing.

* Long-term inflation may make borrowing costs “higher for longer” and lengthen the tightening cycle.

* With the possibility of additional interest rate increases by the US Fed, the challenge to the rupee’s depreciation continues.

* Given the elevated global commodity prices and the continued strength of the economic growth momentum, the CAD may continue to widen.

* The rupee may see devaluation pressure if CAD widens much more, according to the Economic Survey 2022-23.

* An overall manageable external environment

* India has enough foreign exchange reserves to cover CAD and participate in the FX market to control currency volatility.

* elevated potential risks to the outlook for the world economy as a result of continuing inflation in advanced economies and indications of additional rate hikes by central banks

* In comparison to a number of developed countries, inflation did not “climb too much above” the acceptable limit.

* The second part of this year saw a loss of export stimulus due to slowing global GDP and declining worldwide trade.

* On the strength of low inflation and moderate lending costs, bank credit growth is anticipated to be robust in FY24.

* Over 30.5 percent of credit growth went to small firms between January and November of 2022.

* After the release of pent-up demand and a drop in inventory, housing prices have firmed up.

* In the current fiscal year’s April to November, Central Government Capex increased by 63.4 percent.

* Unaffected by the FPI pullout, the stock market saw positive reruns in calendar year 2022.

* India fared better than other economies in overcoming an unprecedented mix of difficulties.

* GST paid by small firms has increased and currently exceeds pre-pandemic levels after declining in FY21, demonstrating the success of focused government assistance, according to the Economic Survey 2022-23.

* Plans like PM KISAN and PM Garib Kalyan Yojana made a big difference in reducing poverty.

* Drive economic growth through credit distribution, the capital investment cycle, the expansion of public digital platforms, and programmes like PLI, the National Logistics Policy, and PM Gati Shakti.

* In the current fiscal year, private consumption and capital formation-led economic growth have contributed to job creation; urban employment rates have fallen while Employee Provident Fund registrations have risen..

* India’s economic resilience has enabled it to meet the task of reducing external imbalances brought on by the crisis between Russia and Ukraine while maintaining development momentum.

* The increase in growth rates in 2021–22 and the first half of the current fiscal year caused production processes to change from “mild acceleration” to “cruise mode,” although export growth has since decreased.

Published On : January 31, 2023
A)
Carlos Alcaraz
B)
Rafael Nadal
C)
Stefanos Tsitsipas
D)
Novak Djokovic

Correct Answer :   Novak Djokovic


Novak Djokovic defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of the Australian Open 2023 men's singles match. Djokovic wins the Australian Open for the tenth time and the 22nd grand slam. With his 22nd Grand Slam championship, he equals Rafael Nadal.

Aryna Sabalenka won the women's singles tennis championship at the 2023 Australian Open by defeating Elena Rybakina in the final, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The 2023 Australian Open was a Grand Slam tennis event held in Melbourne Park from January 16 to 29, 2023.

Grand Slam titles : 22 (Australian Open 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023; French Open 2016, 2021; Wimbledon 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022; U.S. Open 2011, 2015, 2018)...

Source : Reuters

Published On : January 30, 2023
A)
$1.275 billion to $513.364 billion
B)
$1.421 billion to $524.32 billion
C)
$1.575 billion to $501.52 billion
D)
$1.727 billion to $573.727 billion

Correct Answer :   $1.727 billion to $573.727 billion


India’s foreign exchange reserves increased by $1.727 billion to $573.727 billion in the week ended 20 January 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Friday (27th January 2023).
 
* India’s forex reserves stood at $561.583 billion as on January 13, 2023.
 
* The Foreign Currency Assets stood at $503.65 billion. FCA is a major component of the overall reserves. Expressed in dollar terms, FCA includes the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves.
 
* At the start of 2022, the overall forex reserves were at $633.61 billion and dropped to a two-year low in October.

* Much of the decline can be attributed to RBI's intervention and a rise in the cost of imported goods. It is still down sharply from a peak of over $642 billion touched in September last year (2022)...

Source : Economic Times

Published On : January 29, 2023
A)
Belgium
B)
Australia
C)
Germany
D)
India

Correct Answer :   Germany


Germany beat Belgium 5-4 in the penalty shootout to win the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India on Sunday (29th Jan 2023).
 
The scores were level at the end of regulation time at 3-3. This is Germany’s third Hockey World Cup title after they won it in 2002 and 2006. 
 
With this, they draw level with Netherlands and Australia. Germany also became the fourth team to register a come-from-behind win in a World Cup final. From a 2-0 deficit to a 3-2 to lead and ultimately a shootout, they eventually became champions.
 
Earlier in the day, the Netherlands beat Australia 3-1 to claim the bronze medal. It was the first time since 1998 that Australia failed to finish on podium at the FIH World Cup.

FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 standings – all teams

1. Germany
 
2. Belgium
 
3. Netherlands
 
4. Australia
 
5. England
 
6. Spain
 
7. New Zealand
 
8. Korea
 
9. Argentina
 
9. India
 
11. South Africa
 
11. Wales
 
13. France
 
13. Malaysia
 
15. Chile
 
15. Japan...

Source : Olympics

Published On : January 29, 2023
A)
England
B)
Australia
C)
South Africa
D)
India

Correct Answer :   India


India beat England in the first-ever ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 final in Potchefstroom, South Africa. India bowled out England for a paltry 68 and won by 7 wkts.

This is the first ICC trophy India has won in women’s cricket. The Indian women’s cricket team has never won a World Cup at any level. The seniors reached the World Cup final on three occasions across formats but failed to go the distance. Bowling first, India cleaned up the English side for mere 68 runs in 17.1 overs.
 
England captain and stellar all-rounder Grace Scrivens has been named Player of the Tournament after a run of outstanding performances with bat and ball.
Titas Sadhu of India poses after being named Player of the Match following the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup 2023 Final match.

ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Scores :
 
* India Women Under-19s: 69/3 (14 ov);  India won by seven wickets, with 36 balls to spare.
India 69 for three in 14 overs (Soumya Tiwari 24 not out, Gongadi Trisha 24, Shafali Verma 15, Alexa Stonehouse one for 8, Hannah Baker one for 13)
 
* England Women Under-19s: 68/10 (17.1 ov)
England 68 all out in 17.1 overs (Ryana Macdonald-Gay 19, Sophia Smale 11, Titas Sadhu two for 6, Parshavi Chopra two for 13, Archana two for 17)
 
Playing XI of Both teams :

* India U19s Women XI : SS Sehrawat, Shafali Verma (Captain), SM Tiwari, G Trisha, RM Ghosh, HN Basu, TR Sadhu, MS Kashyap, Archana, P Chopra, SM Yadav

* England U19s Women XI : G Scrivens, L Heap, N Holland, Seren Smale, CR Pavely, RL Macdonald-Gay, A Stonehouse, J Groves, EJ Anderson, Sophia Smale, HL Baker...

Source : Cricbuzz

Published On : January 29, 2023
A)
Google
B)
Meta
C)
Microsoft
D)
Apple

Correct Answer :   Microsoft


Microsoft said on Monday (23rd January 2023) that it was making a “multiyear, multibillion-dollar” investment in OpenAI, the San Francisco artificial intelligence lab behind the experimental online chatbot ChatGPT.
 
The companies did not disclose the specific financial terms of the deal, but a person familiar with the matter said Microsoft would invest $10 billion in OpenAI.
 
Microsoft had already invested more than $3 billion in OpenAI, and the new deal is a clear indication of the importance of OpenAI’s technology to the future of Microsoft and its competition with other big tech companies like Google, Meta and Apple.
 
With Microsoft’s deep pockets and OpenAI’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence, the companies hope to remain at the forefront of generative artificial intelligence — technologies that can generate text, images and other media in response to short prompts. After its surprise release at the end of November, ChatGPT — a chatbot that answers questions in clear, well-punctuated prose — became the symbol of a new and more powerful wave of A.I.
 
The fruit of more than a decade of research inside companies like OpenAI, Google and Meta, these technologies are poised to remake everything from online search engines like Google Search and Microsoft Bing to photo and graphics editors like Photoshop.
 
The deal follows Microsoft’s announcement last week that it had begun laying off employees as part of an effort to cull 10,000 positions. The changes, including severance, ending leases and what it called “changes to our hardware portfolio” would cost $1.2 billion, it said.
 
Satya Nadella, the company’s chief executive, said last week that the cuts would let the company refocus on priorities such as artificial intelligence, which he called “the next major wave of computing.”..

Source : NY Times

Published On : January 28, 2023
A)
HAL
B)
DRDO
C)
IIT Mumbai
D)
Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) Bengaluru

Correct Answer :   Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) Bengaluru


Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru handed over Visible Line Emission Coronagraph (VELC) payload for Aditya-L1 mission to ISRO in a ceremony held on January 26, 2023 at the Centre for Research and Education in Science and Technology (CREST) Campus, Hosakote, near Bengaluru.

VELC payload was designed and realised at CREST campus. The payload was handed over to Director, U R Rao Satellite Centre (USRC) by Director, IIA in the presence of Chairman, ISRO/ Secretary, DOS Shri S Somanth.

Project Director of Aditya-L1 Smt. NigarShaji, and Principal Investigator of VELC Dr. B Raghavendra Prasad were present on the occasion. The payload would be integrated to the satellite at URSC.
 
VELC has a mechanism to occult the solar disc to separate and discards the light from the disk.The light from the Corona is captured by the coronagraph for further processing. VELC aims to collect the data for solving how the temperature of the corona can reach about a million degrees while the Sun’s surface itself stays just over 6000 degrees Centigrade.

For this, the payload targets at the continuous observations of the Corona, right from its lowermost boundary upwards after having discarded the bright light from the solar disc.
 
VELC weighs 90 kg and is 1.7 m x 1.1 m x 0.7 m in dimension...

Source : ISRO

Published On : January 27, 2023
A)
4
B)
6
C)
9
D)
14

Correct Answer :   6


On the occasion of Republic Day 2023, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced the winners of Padma Awards on Wednesday (25th January 2023).

06 Padma Vibhushans, 09 Padma Bhushan, and 91 Padma Shris were among the 106 Padma awards.

19 of the honorees are female. Former Samajwadi Party chairman Mulayam Singh Yadav will be awarded the Padma Vibhushan in the category of public affairs posthumously. The President bestows these honors during ceremonial festivities held in Rashtrapati Bhawan in March and April of each year.
 
Padma Awards is the highest civilian awards of  India. The award is presented in three categories including Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri to honour people for their notable work in different disciplines and fields like art, social work, literature and education, public affairs,etc.
 
Know the complete list of Padma awardees of 2023.

1. Shri Balkrishna Doshi (Poshumous)
2. Shri Dilip Mahalanabis (Posthumous)
3. Mulayam Singh Yadav(Posthumous)
4. Shri Zakir Hussain
5. Shri S M Krishna
6. Shri Srinivas Varadhan..

Source : Mint

Published On : January 27, 2023
A)
Virat Kohli
B)
Babar Azam
C)
Ben Strokes
D)
Rohit Sharma

Correct Answer :   Babar Azam


In the 2022 ICC Awards, Babar Azam won both the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy and the Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year, beating out tough fields in both categories.

A year after being named 'ODI Cricketer of the Year' in 2021, the flamboyant hitter continued to dominate international cricket, being the first player to score 2000 runs in all forms in 2022. Babar easily surpassed that mark, accumulating 2,598 runs at an impressive average of 54.12.

Published On : January 27, 2023
A)
6.7 percent
B)
6.2 percent
C)
5.8 percent
D)
5.3 percent

Correct Answer :   5.8 percent


The United Nations (UN) has cut its GDP growth forecast for India for calendar year 2023 to 5.8 percent, citing the effect of tighter monetary policy and weak global demand.
 
"Growth in India is expected to remain strong at 5.8 percent, albeit slightly lower than the estimated 6.4 percent in 2022, as higher interest rates and a global slowdown weigh on investment and exports," the UN's World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023 report, published on January 25,2023.

The report is written by the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the UN Conference on Trade and Development, and the regional economic commissions for Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, and Western Asia.

Like several other central banks around the world, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reacted to elevated inflation and hiked the policy repo rate by 225 basis points in 2022 to 6.25 percent...

Source : CNBC

Published On : January 27, 2023