Current Affairs Quiz 1st February 2023 Quiz

Exp. Tamil Nadu to host the first G20 Education Working Group meet

Tamil Nadu will host the first meeting of the Education Working Group on 1 & 2 February 2023 at IIT Madras.

It will focus on four priorities and those are ensuring foundational literacy and numeracy, especially in the context of blended learning.

As many as 75 delegates from G20 members and invited countries and three international organizations are attending.

The seminar has generated a lot of interest among the G20 member countries with 15 of them having sent inputs highlighting their best practices in the field of digital technology for school, higher education, and skill development.

G20 in News (Note – All Meetings are Under the Presidency of G20 by India)

• India’s first Model G-20 Summit inaugurated by – India’s G-20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant
• First Employment Working Group Meeting – Jodhpur (2 – 4 February 2023)
• First International Financial Architecture Working Group Meeting – Chandigarh (30 – 31 January 2023)
• Startup 20 Engagement Group Meeting – Hyderabad (28-29 January 2023)
• First Meeting of the Youth-20 Group – Guwahati (6 – 8 February 2023)

• First G-20 Environment Meeting – Bengaluru (9 -11 February 2023)

Exp. Bengaluru to host first G20 Energy Transition Working Group meeting

The first G20 Energy Transition Working Group meeting under India’s Presidency will be held in Bengaluru from 5 – 7 February 2023.

The delegates from G20 countries and guest countries will be part of the Working Group.

In addition leading, international organizations such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, United National Development Program, International Energy Agency, Clean Energy Ministerial, and International Solar Alliance among others will send its representatives for the meeting.

Technology gaps in energy transition, low-cost financing for energy transition, energy security and diversified supply chain, industrial low carbon transition and fuel for future are the priority areas set for the Working group discussion.

The meeting will have 9 special invitee guest countries – Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, UAE and Spain along with G20 member countries.

G20 in News (Note – All Meetings are Under the Presidency of G20 by India)

• Business-20 (B-20) Inception Meeting – Gandhinagar (22- 24 January 2023)
• Think-20 Meeting – Bhopal (16 – 17 January 2023)

• Secretariat for Science 20 (S20) Meeting – IISc Bengaluru
• G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting – New Delhi (March 2023)
• First G-20 Meeting – Puducherry (31 January 2023)

Exp. President Murmu addressed 31st Foundation Day of NCW

President Droupadi Murmu addressed the 31st Foundation Day of the National Commission for Women (NCW) in New Delhi on 31 January 2023.

The theme of the programme is ‘Sashakt Nari Sashakt Bharat.’

The theme is aimed at acknowledging the stories of women who have excelled their journey to leave a mark.

NCW was founded in January 1992 as a statutory body under the National Commission for Women Act of 1990.

It was established to review the constitutional and legal safeguards for women, recommend remedial legislative measures, facilitate the redressal, of grievances, and advise the Government on policy matters affecting women.

President Murmu in News

• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 18th National Jamboree of the Bharat Scouts and Guides in Rajasthan
• President Droupadi Murmu has inaugurated Samvidhan Udyan at Raj Bhavan in Jaipur, Rajsthan
• President Murmu lays foundation stone for PRASHAD project in Telangana
• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated project worth Rs 43.08 cr at Srisailam Temple
• President Droupadi Murmu launched startup platform ‘herSTART’ for women entrepreneurs
• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated projects in Gujarat worth 1,330 crore

Exp. Goa government launched ‘the Vision for All School Eye Health’ program

The government of Goa has launched the Vision for All School Eye Health program in partnership with OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and Prasad Netralaya.

The Vision for All School Eye Health will focus on training 2000 teachers on basic visual acuity tests for the children in their respective schools, followed by detailed refraction by qualified professionals from Prasad Netralaya.

OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation has committed to providing 25,000 free spectacles to children identified with refractive error.

The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation is a registered charitable organization reflecting the commitment of EssilorLuxottica to eliminating uncorrected poor vision in a generation.

About Goa

• Capital – Panaji
• Chief Minister – Pramod Sawant
• Governor – S. Sreedharan Pillai

Exp. Assam cabinet approved floriculture mission

The Assam Cabinet has approved a state floriculture mission with an initial investment of Rs 150 crore, covering 20,000 farmers.

A cabinet committee has also been formed to prepare for an event on April 14, marking the Assamese New Year, when an attempt will be made to enter record books with the assembly of 10,000 ‘Bihu’ dancers.

The Assam Cabinet, headed by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, approved a state floriculture mission with an initial investment of Rs 150 crore that covers 20,000 farmers.

The cabinet has also approved several other essential decisions including setting up a different CM Secretariat at Dibrugarh and building a new Raj Bhavan in Tezpur.

Under State Floriculture Mission, the flower cultivation area will be expanded from 2,200 hectares to 3,288 hectares within three years.

About Assam

• Capital – Dispur
• Chief Minister –Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Governor – Prof Jagdish Mukhi

Exp. Visakhapatnam will be the new Andhra Pradesh capital

Visakhapatnam will be declared the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said at the International Diplomatic Alliance meeting in New Delhi.

When Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, the new state got Hyderabad as its capital.

The Andhra government in 2015 led by TDP’s N Chandrababu Naidu, operating out of Hyderabad in the interim, had declared that Amaravati, in the Vijayawada-Guntu region on the banks of the river Krishna, would come up as the new capital.

Then in 2020, the state planned to have three capital cities — Visakhapatnam for the executive, Amaravati for the legislature, and Kurnool for the judiciary.

The chief minister further announced that the state government is organizing the ‘Global Investors Summit’ in Visakhapatnam on March 3 and 4. He invited the states to Andhra Pradesh’s capital city and summit.

About Andhra Pradesh

• Capital – Amaravati
• Chief Minister – YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
• Governor – Biswabhsrin Harichandan

Exp. IMF expects Indian economy growth to slow down to 6.1% in 2023

According to IMF’s World Economic Outlook, the economic growth of India would decline from 6.8% in 2022 to 6.1% in 2023, before picking up to 6.8% in 2024.

The report has also stated that the growth in emerging and developing Asia is expected to rise in 2023 and 2024 to 5.3% and 5.2%, respectively.

The IMF also expected that global growth would fall from around 3.4% in 2022 to 2.9% in 2023 and rise to 3.1% in 2024.

Updated GDP List

• World Bank – 6.9% (FY23)
• MOODY’S. – 7% (FY23)
• S&P – 7% (FY23), 6% (FY24)
• IMF – 6.1% (FY23), 6.8% (FY24)
• ADB – 7% (FY23), 7.2% (FY24)
• RBI – 6.8% (FY23)
• India Ratings – 6.9% (FY23)
• FITCH RATING – 7% (FY23), 6.7% (FY24)
• FICCI – 7% (FY23), 6.4% (FY24)
• OECD – 6.6% (FY23), 5.7% (FY24)
• CRISIL – 7% (FY23), 6% (FY24)
• UN – 5.8% (FY23)
• NSO – 7%
• SBI – 6.8% (FY23)
• Morgan Stanley – 7.2% (FY23), 6.4%(FY24)
• Nomura – 7.2% (FY23)
• UNTCAD – 5.7% (FY23)
• Goldman Sachs – 5.9% (FY23)

Exp. Madhvendra Singh appointed as CEO of Gujarat Maritime Cluster

Gujarat Ports Infrastructure Company Limited has appointed Madhvendra Singh as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Gujarat Maritime Cluster.

The Gujarat Maritime Cluster (GMC) is the first of its kind Commercial Maritime Cluster in the country aimed at creating a hub for maritime services of international standards.

It is the first and only maritime cluster in India.

The Gujarat Maritime Cluster will host an array of maritime, shipping industry companies and service providers along with relevant government regulatory agencies at GIFT City in Gandhinagar.

Recent Appointment

• Chairman of Amul – Shamalbhai B Patel
• Administrator of Shooting World Cup 2023 – Former SC Judge AK Sikri
• DG of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) – Vikram Dev Dutt
• Director of National Health Authority – Praveen Sharma

• CEO of Vedanta’s Cairn Oil & Gas – Nick Walker
• Chief Economist of OECD – Clare Lombardelli (UK)

Q.9. Footwear manufacturer and designer Puma India has signed whom as its new brand ambassador?

फुटवियर निर्माता और डिजाइनर प्यूमा इंडिया ने किसे अपना नया ब्रांड एंबेसडर बनाया है?

(a) Harleen Deol / हरलीन देओल

(b) Harmanpreet Kaur / हरमनप्रीत कौर

(c) Renuka Singh / रेणुका सिंह

(d) Smriti Mandhana / स्मृति मंधाना

(e) Deepti Sharma / दीप्ति शर्मा

Exp. Puma India signed Harmanpreet Kaur as brand ambassador

Footwear manufacturer and designer Puma India has signed Harmanpreet Kaur as its new brand ambassador.

Harmanpreet Kaur will promote the brand's footwear, apparel and accessories including select collections through the brand campaign.

With this, Harmanpreet joins PUMA's roster of brand ambassadors which includes Virat Kohli, Neymar Jr, Sunil Chhetri, MC Mary Kom, K L Rahul, and Avani Lekhara.

Harmanpreet Kaur has the record of the fourth fastest women's T201 hundred in the world to her name.

Recent Brand Ambassador

• Nikhat Zareen – NMDC (National miner company)
• Smriti Mandhana - Herbalife Nutrition
• Sourav Ganguly - Jahaan Bandhan, Wahaan Trust campaign (Bandhan Bank)
• Anushka Sharma - Puma India
• Deepika Padukone - American furniture retailer Pottery Barn
• Virat Kohli - Wearables martwatch leader Noise
• Prasoon Joshi - Uttarakhand State
• Janhvi Kapoor - Marico's Saffola Fittify
• Deepa Malik - Ambassador of Nikshay Mitra (TB Campaign)
• Suryakumar Yadav - UrbanGabru (Men's grooming brand)

Exp. Murali Vijay announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket

Former India opener Murali Vijay has announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket.

He represented India in 87 international matches across all formats, playing 61 Tests, 17 ODIs, and 9 T201s.

He scored 3982 runs in Tests with 12 centuries and 15 fifties, 339 runs in ODIs with a solitary half-century, and 169 runs in T20Is.

He last played first-class and List-A cricket for Tamil Nadu in late 2019.

The right-handed batter has also scored 2619 runs in 106 IPL matches, winning back-to-back titles with the Chennai Super Kings in 2010 and 2014, with two tons and 13 fifties, his last appearing in September 2020.

In September 2020, he made his last professional cricket appearance in the IPL.

Recently Retired Players

• Hashim Amla – – International Cricket – South Africa
• Hugo Lloris – International football – France
• Gareth Bale – International football – Wales
• Sania Mirza – International Tennis – India
• Farhaan Behardien – International Cricket – South African
• Karim Benzema – International football – France
• Ben Stokes – One Day International Cricket – England
• Dinesh Ramdin – International Cricket – West Indies

Exp. Best marching contingents & tableaux of Republic Day Parade 2023 announced

The government has announced the list of the best marching contingents and tableaux for the Republic Day Parade 2023.

Results have been announced on the basis of the assessment of the panels and online poll for the popular choice.

Three panels of judges were appointed for assessing the performance of Marching Contingents from three Services, Marching Contingents from Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)/other auxiliary forces and tableaux from various States/Union Territories and Ministries/Departments. On the basis of the assessment of the panels, the results are as under –

• Best Marching Contingent among the three services – Punjab Regiment Centre Contingent
• Best Marching Contingent among CAPF/other auxiliary forces – CRPF Marching Contingent
• Best three Tableaux (States/UTs)-

First – Uttarakhand (Manaskhand)

Second – Maharashtra (Sade Tin Shaktipithe & Nari Shakti)

Third – Uttar Pradesh (Ayodhya Deepotsav)

• Best Tableau (Ministries/Departments) – Ministry of Tribal Affairs (Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs))
• Special Prize
• Central Public Works Department (Biodiversity Conservation)
• ‘Vande Bharatam’ Dance Group

The online poll for the popular choice was conducted between January 25-28, 2023 on the MyGov web page. The results are:

• Best Marching Contingent among the three services – Indian Air Force Marching Contingent
• Best Marching Contingent among CAPF/other auxiliary forces – CRPF Marching COntingent
• Best three Tableaux (States/UTs)-

First – Gujarat (Clean-Green energy efficient Gujarat)

Second – Uttar Pradesh (Ayodhya Deepotsava)

Third – Maharashtra (Sade tin Shaktipeeth and Nari Shakti)

• Best Tableau (Central Ministries/Departments) – CAPF (Ministry of Home Affairs)

Exp. Chahal becomes highest wicket-taker for team India in T201 history

Yuzvendra Chahal has become the highest wicket-taker for Team India in T201 Cricket history.

He achieved the landmark during the second T201 against New Zealand in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Chahal has taken 91 wickets in 75 matches, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar is second on the list with 90 wickets in 87 T201s.

The third bowler in this list is Ravichandran Ashwin with 72 wickets.

Highest wicket-taker for team India in T201 history

• Yuzvendra Chahal – 91 wickets in 75 matches
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 90 wickets in 87 matches
• Ravichandran Ashwin – 72 wickets in 65 matches
• Jasprit Bumrah – 70 wickets in 60 matches
• Hardik Pandya – 64 wickets in 86 matches

Exp. Odisha’s VK Pandian honoured with FIH President’s Award 2023

An IAS officer, and private secretary to Odisha CM, V Karthikeyan Pandian has been conferred with FIH’s President’s award.

Pandian was awarded for successfully hosting the 2023 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 in Bhubaneswar and Sundargarh.

Previously, He successfully organized other hockey tournaments like the Champions Trophy, Hockey World League, and FIH Pro-League.

Recent Awards

• First Asian to bag Oscar nomination for Best Actress – Michelle Yeoh (Film – Everything Everywhere All at Once)
• Subhash Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award 2023 – Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) & Lunglei Fire Station (LFS)
• Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia Lifetime Achievement Award – Dr. Prabha Atre

• Gaja Capital Business Book Prize 2022 – Harish Damodaran
• Most distinguished scientist of the year 2022 – R Vishnu Prassad

Exp. 1 February – Indian Coast Guard Day

The Indian Coast Guard Day is celebrated on February 1 every year to honour organizations that look after maritime security.

This year, India will be celebrating the 47th Coast Guard Day.

The interim Indian Coast Guard was originally established on February 1, 1977, to prevent the sea-borne smuggling of goods that hampered India’s domestic economy.

On August 18, 1978, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Day was officially established by the Parliament to be celebrated on February 1.

Currently, the Indian Coast Guard is ranked as the fourth largest Coast Guard in the world.

Exp. Noted writer K.V. Tirumalesh passed away

Noted poet and writer, KV Tirumalesh passed away recently at the age of 82.

He got the Sahitya Akademi award in 2016 for his collection of poems – Akshaya Kavya – along with several other literary awards. His critical works include an essay on Da Ra Bendre’s poems and existentialism in Kannada.

He was also a retired professor, who taught at the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad.