Daily GK and Current Affairs Quiz – 9th & 10th April 2023

Correct Answer:  C. Maharashtra

Explanation:  The Union Cabinet of the Government of India headed by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi approved the LIGO-India(Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory in India) mega science proposal for research on gravitational waves. The LIGO-India project will establish a state-of-the-art gravitational wave observatory in Hingoli, Maharashtra(India)  in collaboration with the LIGO Laboratory in the United States of America(USA). The LIGO project is piloted by the Department of Atomic Energy(DAE) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The project worth Rs 2600 crore is estimated to be built by 2030. LIGO Laboratory is a consortium of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Correct Answer:  B. Rs 11,300 crore

Explanation:  Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various development projects worth over Rs 11,300 crore in Telangana during his visit to Telangana on 8th April 2023. During his visit, he also addressed the public gathering at the Secunderabad Parade Grounds, Secunderabad, Telangana. He also flagged off the prestigious Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express train connecting Secunderabad and Tirupati. This is the second Vande Bharat train for the two Telugu States, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. This will reduce the travel time between Hyderabad to Tirupathi to about 8 hours 30 minutes (around 3 hours less than the usual travel time) with limited stops at Nalgonda, Guntur, Ongole, and Nellore.

Correct Answer:  C. 19th

Explanation:  According to a survey published by London (United Kingdom) based global magazine ‘Time Out’, India’s Financial Capital Mumbai (Maharashtra) was ranked 19th in the list of ‘Best public transport in the world 2023’.  Mumbai is the only Indian city to feature in the list. The list is topped by Germany’s Berlin with the best public transport system globally. It has the most reliable, safe, and comfortable public transport network. 97% of its residents praised the public transit network, particularly for its metro system, U-Bahn. The survey was conducted among 20,000 respondents in 50 cities worldwide to gauge public sentiment about their local transport systems Top 5 cities on Time out’s list:

Mumbai boasts a grand suburban railway network that is a boon for the metropolitan region with a population of about 12.5 million. 81% of locals say it’s easy to cross Mumbai by public transport. The city has also introduced the Chalo Pay app – a pioneer for Indian public transport. Public transit is a broad term that includes subways, above-ground trains, buses, trams and even ferries. 7 of the top 19 cities are from Asia. Time Out is a media outlet that focuses on hospitality business and labels itself as a global brand ‘dedicated to city life’.

Correct Answer:  B. Priyanshu Rajawat

Explanation:  Indian men’s singles badminton player Priyanshu Rajawat clinched his first-ever tour title, beating Magnus Johannesen of Denmark in the final of the Orleans Masters 2023 in France. This is the first Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 title for Priyanshu Rajawat who was also the youngest team member of the Indian badminton team that won the historic 2022 Thomas Cup in Bangkok. India is the current champion of Thomas Cup, and the sixth nation, having won its first title after beating title holders Indonesia 3–0 in the 2022 edition.

Correct Answer:  B. UAE

Explanation:  United Arab Emirates’s Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) will launch its second nanosatellite to enable remote sensing applications in April 2023.  The SAT-2 6U nanosatellite will be launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The new satellite features a high-resolution camera (4.7 meters) that will be used for Earth observation missions.

The combined use of DEWA SAT-2 images and Internet of Things (IoT) measurements from DEWA SAT-1 will enable DEWA to improve the operational performance of power generation and water desalination plants by providing accurate estimates of seawater temperature, seawater salinity, detection of red-tide, as well as fog monitoring and forecasting.

Correct Answer:  C. Facilitating helicopter services from all the unused helipads

Explanation:  The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (Tidco) has developed a mechanism called Tamil Nadu Regional Aerial Connectivity through Helicopters (TN REACH), which aims to utilize over 80 unused helipads across the state to provide intercity and town connectivity. This would be possible by leveraging the National Civil Aviation Policy and the Helicopter Policy of the Government of India. According to Thangam Thenarasu, the Industries Minister of Tamil Nadu, TN REACH would establish an intra-state network of aerial routes to enable people to travel between cities and towns using helicopters. The mechanism would rely on two existing initiatives – Heli Disha, which is an administrative manual for helicopter operations, and Heli Sewa, which is an online portal for providing landing clearance for helicopter operations.

The implementation of TN REACH, which aims to create an intra-state network of aerial routes using helicopters, would require collaboration between government agencies, helipad operators, and helicopter operators. By leveraging more than 80 unused helipads across Tamil Nadu, this initiative could provide reliable and efficient intercity and town connectivity, especially in areas with inadequate road infrastructure. In addition, a robust helicopter service could prove particularly beneficial in emergency situations where time is critical. The success of this mechanism would depend on the effective cooperation and coordination between all stakeholders involved.

Correct Answer:  D. Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao

Explanation:  The 2023 International Prize in Statistics, which is regarded as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in statistics, has been awarded to Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao, an Indian-American statistician. The prize, established in 2016, is presented once every two years to an individual or team that has made significant contributions to science, technology, and human welfare through the use of statistics. The award is given out by a collaboration of five major international statistics organizations and recognizes major accomplishments by an individual or team. Rao will be honored with the prize, which carries an $80,000 cash award, at the International Statistical Institute World Statistics Congress in Ottawa, Canada, in July.

Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao, born in Karnataka in 1920, is an Emeritus Eberly professor in the statistics department at Pennsylvania State University. He played a significant role in establishing the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata and has been associated with the institute since 1941. Rao holds PhD and ScD degrees from Cambridge University. In addition to being awarded the Padma Bhusan in 1968 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001, Rao was the recipient of the SS Bhatnagar Prize in 1963 and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1967. He also received the Wilks Medal of the American Statistical Association in 1979 and the US National Medal of Science in 2002.

Correct Answer:  C. 10th April

Explanation:  On April 10th every year, World Homeopathy Day is celebrated to honor the birth anniversary of Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy and a German physician. This day is dedicated to recognizing the valuable contributions of homeopathy to the field of healthcare. This year marks the 268th birth anniversary of Samuel Hahnemann. The focus of World Homeopathy Day 2023 is centered on the theme ‘One Health, One Family’. The primary objective of this theme is to advocate for evidence-based homeopathic treatment for the well-being of every family member through the involvement of family physicians within the community.

Correct Answer:  D. Bengaluru

Explanation:  India’s first post office will be constructed using 3D printing technology in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The project at Cambridge Layout in Ulsoor is being implemented by Larsen & Toubro, which has experience in constructing 3D-printed buildings. The 1,100 sqft building is expected to cost 30-40% less than conventional buildings because of technological intervention. The post office is being built at a cost of Rs 23 lakh.

Correct Answer:  B. Ukraine

Explanation:  The first Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Ms. Emine Dzhaparova will be on a four-day visit to India. During the visit, Ms. Dzhaparova will hold talks with Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs. Both sides are expected to discuss bilateral relations. They will also exchange views on the current situation in Ukraine and global issues of mutual interest. Ms. Dzhaparova will also call on Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi and meet Deputy National Security Adviser Vikram Misri. India shares warm and friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation with Ukraine. Over the last 30 years of establishing diplomatic relations, bilateral cooperation between the two countries has made significant progress in the areas of trade, education, culture and defence.

Correct Answer:  B. Uganda

Explanation:  Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is on an African visit to Uganda and Mozambique from April 10 to 15, 2023. According to the Union Ministry of External Affairs, the External Affairs Minister will be on a visit to Uganda from 10 to 12 April. During this he will hold delegation level talks with Ugandan Foreign Minister General JJ Odongo. He is also likely to meet the country’s leadership and other ministers. The External Affairs Minister will inaugurate the transit campus of the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) to be set up in collaboration with India. This will be the first campus of this university outside India. Jaishankar will also address a group of Ugandan businessmen and industrialists. During this, MoU is also expected to be signed between India and Uganda for setting up the first campus of NFSU outside India.

• The External Affairs Minister will visit Mozambique from 13 to 15 April. This will be the first visit by an External Affairs Minister of India to Mozambique.
• The fifth meeting of the India-Mozambique Joint Commission will be chaired by the Foreign Ministers of both the countries.
• During the visit, various types of assistance will be announced from the Indian side to both these countries. There will also be talk on defense cooperation with these two countries.
• In March 2023, India conducted military exercises with nine countries in Africa, as well as a separate meeting with the military chiefs of African countries.
• In March 2023, Cyclone Freddy caused havoc in Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar.

Correct Answer:  D. ₹50,000 crore

Explanation:  The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) scheme has achieved a significant milestone in the financial year ending March 31, 2023. The basic bank accounts under the scheme have registered a record surge of ₹50,000 crores, with the total balance reaching ₹1.99 lakh crore, an increase from ₹1.49-lakh crore in the previous financial year. Additionally, there has been an addition of 5 crore new accounts under the scheme, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 48.65 crores.

According to a senior SBI official, the significant increase in the total balance on a year-on-year basis indicates the growing use of these accounts for various purposes by both the government and beneficiaries. The public sector banks are the key drivers of the scheme, holding ₹1.55-lakh crore with them as deposits, followed by Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) with ₹38,832 crores. Private sector banks hold the remaining deposits.

Correct Answer:  B. Uttar Pradesh

Explanation:  The world’s first conservation and breeding center for the critically endangered Asian king vulture is set to open in Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj district. The center, named Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre (JCBC), is spread over 1.5 hectares and is designed to maintain a sustainable population of the species by breeding king vultures in captivity and releasing them into the wild. The JCBC, worth approximately Rs 15 crore, features multiple aviaries, including breeding and holding aviaries, nursery aviaries for juveniles, hospital and recovery aviaries, a food processing center, and an incubation center.

The Asian king vulture, protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, is localized primarily to northern India and has been listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List since 2007 due to the widespread use of diclofenac in veterinary medicine in India, which caused a population collapse in recent years. Veterinary usage of diclofenac has been banned in India, and the JCBC aims to raise at least 40 vultures in captivity over 15 years to ensure the sustainable conservation of the species.

Correct Answer:  B. Bharat Biotech

Explanation:  At the World Vaccine Congress 2023 held in Washington, USA from April 3-6, Bharat Biotech was awarded the Best Production/Process Development award as a part of the Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) awards. Bharat Biotech, headquartered in Hyderabad, was the sole Indian company among the nominees for the VIE awards in multiple categories such as the best clinical trial company, best clinical trial network, best central/specialty laboratory, best contract research organisation, and best production/process development, among others. Bharat Biotech is known for developing the world’s first intranasal Covid-19 vaccine, iNcovacc, and its intramuscular vaccine, Covaxin, which is used in India’s public vaccination programme and has also been exported.

The World Vaccine Congress is a major international conference focused on vaccines, covering the entire vaccine value chain from basic research to commercial manufacturing. It brings together experts from all over the world to share their knowledge and expertise in vaccine development. The conference has been particularly important in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and has been a platform for sharing groundbreaking discoveries and insights.