Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 21st February 2023

Correct Answer:  B. Lunar exploration mission

Explanation:  In a boost to India’s lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3 has successfully undergone EMI-EMC (Electro-Magnetic Interference/ Electro-Magnetic Compatibility). The EMI-EMC test is conducted for satellite missions to ensure functionality of the satellite subsystems in the space environment and their compatibility with the expected electromagnetic levels. As per the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), it is a major milestone in the realization of the satellites. During the Chandrayaan-3 lander EMI/EC test, Launcher compatibility, Antenna Polarization of all Radio-Frequency (RF) systems, Standalone auto compatibility tests for orbital and powered descent mission phases, and Lander & Rover compatibility tests for post-landing mission phase were ensured. The performance of the systems was satisfactory. Chandrayaan-3 is a planned third lunar exploration mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Correct Answer:  B. Meesho

Explanation:  The Ministry of Rural Development and Meesho signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive digital inclusion of all women registered under State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs) and enable them to sell online. This will give a big boost to the work of marketing. 2.35 crore self-help groups were there till 2014. Over the last few months, Meesho has tied up with several government-run self-help groups (SHGs), such as Sanjeevini – Karnataka State Rural Livelihood Mission and UMEED – Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission.

Correct Answer:  D. Madhya Pradesh

Explanation:  The 49th Khajuraho Dance Festival began on February 20 in Khajuraho. Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel inaugurated ‘Khajuraho Dance Festival-2023‘. The festival will end on February 26. Madhya Pradesh State Rupankar Art Award will be given at the function and an exhibition of artefacts has also been organised at the venue. Under the Department of Culture, this festival is being organised with the joint efforts of Ustad Alladin Khan Academy of Music and Arts, Department of Tourism, Archaeological Survey of India, World Dance Alliance and Chhatarpur District Administration. The first meeting of the Culture Working Group under the chairmanship of India in G-20 is also being held in Khajuraho from 23 to 25 February.

Other festivals of Madhya Pradesh

• Lokrang Festival, Bhopal
• Akhil Bhartiya Kalidas Samaroh, Ujjain
• Bhagoria Haat Festival, West Nimar (Khargon) and Jhabua
• Ujjain Kumbh Mela, Ujjain
• Malwa Utsav, Indore & Ujjain
• Chethiyagiri Vihara Festival, Sanchi
• Tansen Sangeet Samaroh, Gwalior

Correct Answer:  B. 15,000

Explanation:  India achieved more than 15,000 transplants for the first time in a year in 2022.  Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan announced this during National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation Scientific Dialogue held on 19 February 2023. An annual increase of 27% in transplant numbers has been observed. There is a fast resurgence in transplant activities post-COVID.

The health secretary underlined three priority areas — programmatic restructuring, communication strategy and skilling of professionals. He suggested wide orientation and re-orientation through training programmes, newly-designed courses and digital interventions for healthcare professionals and domain knowledge experts. The health secretary suggested that consultations and discussions can lead to memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and consequentially, creation of centres of excellence at the state and regional levels where these specialised services can be provided to the needy.

Correct Answer:  B. Jaipur

Explanation:  The 18^th World Security Congress 2023 is being organized in Jaipur from 20th to 23rd February. 18th UIC World Security Congress 2023 is important for UPSC Prelims 2023 and UPSC Mains Exam (GS Paper 2- International Relations). Union internationale des chemins de fer (UIC) or International Union of Railways (UIC) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) are coming together to organize 18th World Security Congress in Jaipur this year from 20th to 23rd February. The Congress will start with inaugural session on 21st February 2023 and conclude with a valedictory session on 23rd February 2023. Union internationale des chemins de fer (UIC) or International Union of Railways (UIC) represents the railway sector and promotes rail transport worldwide. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is a prime security and Law Enforcement Agency in the field of Railway Security in India.

• The International Union of Railways (UIC) and Railway Protection Force are organising it.
• Theme: “Railway Security Strategy: Responses and Vision for Future”.
• At Congress, heads of security of member railway organisations come together for technical cooperation amongst railways.
• India is currently chair of the UIC Security platform.
• The 18th edition of the Congress will be attended by the Heads of Security of Railway Organizations from across the world, apart from the concerned officials of UIC, partner international organizations, Indian Railways, RPF and senior police officials of India.
• The Congress is divided into 4 sessions with underlying sub-themes of “Protecting Critical Assets & Freight”, “Human Security Approach”, “Best Railway Security Tools & Practices across the World” and “Vision 2030”.
• Previously, in 2006 and 2015, RPF India had successfully organized and hosted the International UIC World Security Congress in New Delhi.​

Correct Answer:  D. Madhya Pradesh

Explanation: The Madhya Pradesh government has approved a new excise policy discouraging liquor consumption and taking a step closer to prohibition. Under the new policy, “ahatas” or drinking areas attached to liquor outlets, and shop bars will be closed. The policy will increase the distance of liquor shops from educational institutions, girls’ hostels and religious places from 50 metres to 100 metres.  All ahatas and shop bars are being shut in the state. Now, only liquor will be sold at the shops and places of drinking will not be allowed. Currently, Bihar and Gujarat are two major states where liquor sale is completely prohibited. The policy will also introduce more stringent laws to cancel driving licenses in cases of drunk driving.

Correct Answer:  C. IIT Kanpur

Explanation: An energy-efficient compressed air-based pipeline system has been developed by IIT Kanpur to transport coal and minerals. It provides round-the-clock surveillance with considerable savings in time and cost. Professor Bishakh Bhattacharya and research scientists Kanhaiya Lal Chaurasia and Yashasvi Sinha of the Department of Mechanical Engineering have developed the cargo-based hyperloop system. In this, coal and other minerals can be sent from one place to another at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour through robotic systems.

• It will work on compressed air based pipeline system.
• Under this system, the pipeline will be laid inside the ground.
• It will neither use battery nor will it require electricity, rather it will run on air pressure.
• This system will address challenges such as material loss, uncertainty in delivery time, and air pollution.

This system will not only save transportation time but also reduce dust pollution at the mining sites and loading points. The system, developed at the Smart Materials, Structures and Systems (SMSS) lab of IIT Kanpur, was recently successfully demonstrated at the UP Global Investors Summit 2023 and received positive feedback from experts in the field.

Correct Answer:  C. 102

Explanation:  The Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER, Shri G. Kishan Reddy presented the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar  (UBKYP) 2019, 2020 and 2021, at Meghdoot Theatre Complex, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi. Sangeet Natak Akademi, the national academy of Music, Dance and Drama, and the apex body of the performing arts in the country, in the meeting of its General Council held on 8 November 2022 in New Delhi selected 102 artists (including three joint awards) of India who have made a mark as young talents in their respective fields of performing arts for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2019, 2020 and 2021. Yuva Puraskar will be given annually and the total number of Yuva Puraskar in a year shall not exceed 33. The Yuva Puraskar may be given in the following five Fields of activity:

1. Music
2. Dance
3. Theatre
4. Other Traditional / Folk/ Tribal/ Dance/ Music/ Theatre and Puppetry
5. Contribution / Scholarship in Performing Arts

Correct Answer:  B. 90

Explanation:  RBI issued norms for lending and borrowing of government securities. The Reserve Bank of India issued draft norms for lending and borrowing of government securities. As per the draft Reserve Bank of India (Government Securities Lending) Directions, 2023, Government Securities Lending (GSL) transactions will be completed in a minimum one day and a maximum of 90 days. Banks, market participants and other interested parties can submit their comments by 17 March 2023. According to the draft, the government securities except Treasury Bills would be eligible for lending/borrowing under a GSL transaction.

• The central government (including Treasury Bills) and the state governments issued Government securities would be eligible for placing as collateral under a GSL transaction.
• Earlier, RBI proposed the introduction of securities lending and borrowing in government securities (G-secs). Its main aim is to facilitate participation in the securities lending market.
• Any entity undertook repo transactions in government securities and RBI approved entity would be eligible to participate in GSL transactions as a lender of securities.

Correct Answer:  C. Haryana

Explanation:  North India’s first nuclear plant will be installed in Gorakhpur, Haryana. Nuclear plants are mostly confined in southern states such as Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and in western Maharashtra. Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that the government is committed to increase India’s nuclear capacity. Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP) will have two units of 700 MWe capacity each. It will be a pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) indigenous design.

Construction of the fire water pump house (FWPH), and safety-related pump house (SRPH) is under progress. Manufacturing of other equipment is in various stages and all steam generators for the first unit have been received at the site. At present, India has total 22 nuclear reactors and the total installed capacity is 6,780 MW. The world’s first thorium based nuclear plant “Bhavni” using Uranium-233 is being set up at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu. It is the first-of-its-kind and is going to be completely indigenous. The experimental thorium plant “Kamini” already exists in Kalpakkam.

Correct Answer:  C. 21st February

Explanation:  Every year on February 21, the world celebrates International Mother Language Day to encourage linguistic, cultural, and multilingualism variety. The aim of the celebrations is to preserve traditional knowledge and cultures through sustainable methods and support multilingualism in societies. The theme of the 2023 International Mother Language Day, “Multilingual education – a necessity to transform education” aligns with recommendations made during the Transforming Education Summit, where an emphasis was also placed on Indigenous people’s education and languages.

Correct Answer:  A. Actor

Explanation:  Telugu actor and politician Nandamuri Taraka Ratna has passed away at the age of 39 due to cardiac arrest. Taraka Ratna was the grandson of legendary film actor and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister late NT Rama Rao and son of Nandamuri Mohan Krishna. Taraka Ratna, made his debut in 2002 with Okato Number Kurraadu. He went on to star in films like Yuva Rathna, Taarak, Bhadradri Ramudu and Amaravathi. Taraka Ratna made his OTT debut last year with Disney Plus Hotstar’s 9 Hours. He was last seen in S5 No Exit.

Correct Answer:  C. V Madhusoodanan Nair

Explanation:  A noted writer, V Madhusoodanan Nair has been selected for Jnanappana Puraskaram 2023 for his contribution to the field of literature. The award consists of a Rs 50,001 cash prize, 10-gram gold locket with an image of Sree Guruvayoorappan, a citation, and a memento. This award was instituted by Guruvayur Devaswom in memory of ‘Poonthanam Namboothiri’, the ardent devotee of Guruvayoorappan, who wrote Jnanappana. The award will be presented on February 24, 2023.

Correct Answer:  B. Nepal

Explanation:  In a solemn ceremony at Nepal’s Shree Muktinath Temple, a bell was placed in honor of India’s late Chief of Defense Staff, General Bipin Rawat. The bell, named “Bipin Bell,” was installed as a tribute to the late CDS. The bell was placed during the visit of four former Indian army chiefs-Gen VN Sharma, Gen JJ Singh, Gen Deepak Kapoor and Gen Dalbir Suhag. The four former Indian army chiefs were in Nepal to reduce the 260th Nepali Navy Day celebrations, the keep the Indian Navy band from 11 Gorkha Rifles made their first-ever efficiency.