January current affairs

Question 1

Which country is the world’s top producer of ‘Rare earth material’?
[A] India
[B] Japan
[C] China
[D] USA

Answer 1

China is the world’s top producer of rare earth material. Recently, the country has 3 state-owned rare earth mining companies to form a new entity named ‘China Rare Earths Group’.
China has been strengthening its supply chain of rare earth materials. Rare earth is a combination of 17 minerals used as vital ingredients in the production of consumer electronics as well as military equipment.

Question 2

Who has been appointed as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Railway Board?
[A] Shobith Thripathi
[B] Vinay Kumar Tripathi
[C] Rajesh Arora
[D] Kumar Verma

Answer 2

The Appointments Committee of Union Cabinet has approved the appointment of Vinay Kumar Tripathi as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Railway Board.
Presently, he is serving as the General Manager, North Eastern Railway. He is an 1983 batch Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE).

Question 3

Where is the headquarters of the ‘Conference on Disarmament’ located?
[A] Geneva
[B] Paris
[C] Rome
[D] New York

Answer 3

The Conference on Disarmament is a multilateral disarmament forum, to negotiate arms control and disarmament agreements. It is based at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
India’s senior diplomat Anupam Ray has been appointed as India’s next permanent representative to the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, as per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The Indian Foreign Service officer is currently serving as a joint secretary in the MEA.

Question 4

‘Aquamation’, which was seen in the news, is related to ……….
[A] Cultivation of sea animals
[B] Sewage Water Treatment
[C] Water Cremation
[D] Bio-Toilets

Answer 4

Aquamation, or alkaline hydrolysis, is an environmentally friendly way of Cremation. It is also called as water cremation, green cremation or chemical cremation.
It is a process in body of the deceased is immersed in a mixture of water and alkali in a pressurized metal cylinder and heated to around 150 degree centigrade. The Nobel Peace Prize winning anti-apartheid campaigner Desmond Tutu was cremated using ‘Aquamation’.

Question 5

Which country has taken over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first six months of 2023?
[A] Finland
[B] Sweden
[C] Italy
[D] Germany

Answer 5

Sweden has taken over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first six months of the year, on January 1, 2023,
It followed Czech Republic, which headed the Council in the second half of 2022. This is the third time that Sweden has taken over the Presidency of the Council. The EU Council Presidency rotates every six months between the Member States of the EU.

Question 6

The New Integrated food security Scheme subsumes two current schemes of which Ministry?
[A] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
[B] Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
[C] Ministry of Home Affairs
[D] Ministry of Rural Development

Answer 6

The new integrated food security Scheme was rolled out with effect from 1 January 2023. It would provide free food grains to 81.35 crore beneficiaries under National Food Security Act (NFSA).
The new scheme will subsume two current food subsidy schemes of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution namely the Food Subsidy to FCI for NFSA, and Food Subsidy for decentralized procurement states.

Question 7

Which country has handed over the chairmanship of Wassenaar Arrangement to India in 2023?
[A] France
[B] Germany
[C] Ireland
[D] USA

Answer 7

India assumed the chairmanship of the plenary of the Wassenaar Arrangement for one year on January 2023.
The 42-member Wassenaar Arrangement is a voluntary export control regime that monitors transfers of conventional weapons and dual-use goods. Ireland’s ambassador handed over the chairmanship to India’s ambassador last year. India joined the Wassenaar Arrangement in December 2017 as its 42nd participating state.

Question 8

Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who is a recipient of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, is the President of which country?
[A] Israel
[B] Guyana
[C] Ukraine
[D] UAE

Answer 8

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the ninth President of Guyana, is one among the 21 recipients of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA).
He will also be the Chief Guest at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be held this time in Indore. US-based businessman Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, and DSB Group CEO Piyush Gupta are among 21 recipients.

Question 9

The ‘Brahma Kumaris’ spiritual movement that originated in which state?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Gujarat
[D] West Bengal

Answer 9

The ‘Brahma Kumaris’ is a spiritual movement that originated in Hyderabad, Sindh, during 1930s. The movement was founded by Lekhraj Kripalani.
President of India, Droupadi Murmu attended the launch of the National Campaign on ‘RISE-Rising India through Spiritual Empowerment’, organized by Brahma Kumaris at Mount Abu, Rajasthan.

Question 10

Siyom bridge’ has been inaugurated in which state/UT?
[A] Assam
[B] Jammu and Kashmir
[C] Arunachal Pradesh
[D] Punjab

Answer 10

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Siyom Bridge in Arunachal Pradesh, constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
It is one among the 28 projects, mostly along the border with China. They include 12 in Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir, five in Arunachal Pradesh, three each in Sikkim, Punjab and Uttarakhand, and two in Rajasthan.

Question 11

Where is the headquarters of ‘Asian Pacific Postal Union’?
[A] Mumbai
[B] Bangkok
[C] Colombo
[D] Dhaka

Answer 11

Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU) is an intergovernmental organisation of 32 member countries of the Asia-Pacific region. It is the only restricted union of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), a UN specialised agency.
India will take over the leadership of the Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU) from this month, as per the Ministry of Communications.

Question 12

Vaidehi Chaudhari, who won her maiden singles title recently, plays which sports?
[A] Table Tennis
[B] Tennis
[C] Badminton
[D] Squash

Answer 12

22-year-old Vaidehi Chaudhari has clinched the USD 15,000 ITF women’s tournament singles in Gwalior after beating top seed Ksenia Laskutova.
It was Vaidehi’s maiden singles title in the professional circuit. She had won her maiden doubles title earlier with Laskutova as her partner. Vaidehi is also the reigning National Tennis champion.

Question 13

‘Bailey Suspension Bridge’ has been inaugurated in which state/UT?
[A] Jammu and Kashmir
[B] Arunachal Pradesh
[C] Assam
[D] Karnataka

Answer 13

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated the Bailey Suspension Bridge over river Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir.
The 240 feet high Bailey Suspension Bridge has been completed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), a month before the deadline. The launching of the new bailey suspension reinforced bridge was initiated in October.

Question 14

Which Union Ministry launched the ‘Draft Online Gaming Policy’?
[A] Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
[B] Ministry of Science and Technology
[C] Ministry of Home Affairs
[D] Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

Answer 14

The draft rules for online gaming in India was released by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY)
The ‘Draft Amendments to the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021’, propose a ban on betting and wagering in online games. The rules propose setting up a self-regulatory body for grievance redressal and mandating know-your-customer (KYC) rules for gamers and online gaming intermediaries.

Question 15

Which start-up built the ‘AzaadiSAT’ satellite, which is made by 750 school girls?
[A] Dhruv Aerospace
[B] Pixxel
[C] Space Kidz India
[D] Astra

Answer 15

Space Kidz India, a Chennai-based space tech start-up is set to launch their satellite made by 750 girls from government schools aboard an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launch vehicle.
A targeted launch date of January 16 has been set for the satellite named AzaadiSAT. Space Kidz India selected 10 girl students from 75 government schools across the country for this mission. The project is also supported by Niti Aayog.

Question 16

Which Indian state has launched a 100-day Global City Campaign?
[A] Gujarat
[B] West Bengal
[C] Assam
[D] Uttar Pradesh

Answer 16

The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a statewide 100-day ‘UP Global City’ campaign, ahead of the upcoming Global Investors Summit and G20 summit.
The campaign will focus on urban facilities, improving air quality, better cleanliness, and proper disposal of garbage among others.

Question 17

Which organisation publishes the Food Price Index (FFPI)?
[A] UNICEF
[B] FAO
[C] IMF
[D] World Bank

Answer 17

The UN agency, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has published its latest Food Price Index (FFPI) which tracks the monthly international prices of cereals, vegetable oil, dairy, meat and sugar.
The FFPI averaged to 132.4 points in December, which is one per cent lower than the previous December. The FFPI was notably higher in 2022 than in 2021.

Question 18

‘Kumarakom and Beypore’, which were selected under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme, are located in which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Kerala
[C] Rajasthan
[D] Haryana

Answer 18

Kumarakom in Kottayam and Beypore in Kozhikode from Kerala have been selected for development under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme.
The two places are among 34 other destinations from 19 states and Union Territories selected under the scheme of the Ministry of Tourism. Kerala has many places declared under eco circuit, spiritual circuit, rural circuit, as part of the Swadesh Darshan scheme 1.0.

Question 19

Which state is the host of the 26th National Youth Festival?
[A] Kerala
[B] Karnataka
[C] Bihar
[D] West Bengal

Answer 19

The 26th National Youth Festival is scheduled in the twin cities of Hubballi – Dharwad in Karnataka from 12th to 16th January.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur said that the theme of this year’s Youth Festival is ‘Vikasit Yuva, Vikasit Bharat’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Youth Festival-2023 on 12th January, on the Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

Question 20

Which city is the host of the ‘All India Presiding Officers (Assembly Speakers) Conference’?
[A] Pune
[B] Jaipur
[C] Chennai
[D] Varanasi

Answer 20

Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has inaugurated the 83rd All India Presiding Officers in Jaipur.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Speakers and Deputy Speakers of various Legislative Assemblies including the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman also present in the conference. This 83rd Conference of All India Presiding Officers is being held in Rajasthan after eleven years.

Question 21

Which organisation released the ‘Global Risks Report 2023’?
[A] World Bank
[B] World Economic Forum
[C] International Monetary Fund
[D] Asian Development Bank

Answer 21

The Global Risks Report 2023 was recently released by the World Economic Forum (WEF). As per the report, failure to mitigate climate change’ as well as ‘failure of climate change adaptation’ are the two most severe risks facing the world in the next decade.
They are followed by ‘natural disasters and extreme weather events’ and ‘Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse’.

Question 22

Which country is set to send rescue capsule to rescue three crew of the International Space Station?
[A] USA
[B] Russia
[C] China
[D] Israel

Answer 22

Russia announced that it would send rescue capsule to rescue three crew of the International Space Station, after a meteorite damaged the spacecraft.
The docked Soyuz MS-22 had a major leak last month, spraying radiator coolant into space and prompting a pair of cosmonauts to abort a planned spacewalk. Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos said the strike caused no immediate threat to the crew of the space statio

Question 23

Which state adopted a resolution urging the Centre to implement the Sethusamudram project?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Karnataka
[D] Odisha

Answer 23

Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution, urging the Centre to immediately implement the Sethusamudram project.
Sethusamudram project was originally conceived in 1890 by Commander Taylor and in 2004, Rs 2,427 crore was allotted by the UPA government. The project aims to link Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka by creating a shipping canal. It started in July 2005 but was stalled after protests by environmentalists and Hindu activists against demolition of Ram Setu.

Question 24

Which city is the host of ‘Cooperative Beneficiaries Conference’?
[A] Chennai
[B] Bengaluru
[C] Cochin
[D] Ahmedabad

Answer 24

Notes:
Union Minister of Home and Cooperation, Amit Shah addressed the ‘Cooperative Beneficiaries Conference’ in Bengaluru, Karnataka
The first cooperative society in the whole country was established in Gadag district of Karnataka in 1905. The Minister announced that one cooperative society will be formed in every panchayat of the country. NABARD, NDDB and the Ministry of Cooperation have prepared an action plan to form 2 lakh new such cooperative societies in three years.

Question 25

Ajay Kumar Srivastava has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of which bank? [A] Punjab National Bank [B] State Bank of India [C] Indian Overseas Bank [D] Indian Bank

Answer 25

The Centre has appointed Ajay Kumar Srivastava as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Indian Overseas Bank. Partha Pratim Sengupta has demitted office as MD & CEO of the bank after his superannuation. Sanjay Vinayak Mudaliyar, Chief General Manager at Bank of Baroda is appointed as executive director in IOB. As of 30 September 2022, the Government of India held 96.38% in IOB.

Question 26

Satyendra Nath Bose, whose birth anniversary was observed recently, was associated with which profession? [A] Politics [B] Science [C] Sports [D] Business

Answer 26

Satyendra Nath Bose was a Mathematician and physicist from India. He was born on January 1, 1894, in Calcutta, India. The Government of India honoured him with the title Padma Vibhushan in 1954. Bose became a Fellow of the Royal Society and was nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha in 1958. Bose was also appointed as the National Professor, which was the highest honour in India for any scholar.

Question 27

Which Union Ministry launched a five-pronged energy efficiency plan to become carbon-neutral by 2030? [A] Ministry of Coal [B] Ministry of Railways [C] Ministry of Steel [D] Ministry of Tourism

Answer 27

The Union Railways Ministry has rolled out a five-pronged energy efficiency plan to become carbon-neutral by 2030. The policy is broadly focuses on five action points namely sustainable buildings, cloud-based data monitoring and management portal, energy efficiency in equipment and appliances, power quality and restoration, and capacity building and awareness.

Question 28

Anil Kumar Lahoti has taken over the charge of new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of which institution? [A] UIDAI [B] Railway Board [C] PMFBY [D] Tribes India

Answer 28

Anil Kumar Lahoti has taken over the charge of new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Railway Board, Ministry of Railways. Prior to this, Anil Kumar Lahoti worked as Member (Infrastructure) of the Railway Board. He was behind the planning and construction of Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi and the Ajmeri Gate side station building. He was also associated with planning for redevelopment of New Delhi station as a World Class station.

Question 29

Which country recently switched to euro from its kuna currency and became the 20th member of the Eurozone? [A] Slovenia [B] Croatia [C] Serbia [D] Romania

Answer 29

Correct Answer: B [Croatia] Notes: Croatia switched to the euro and entered Europe’s borderless zone as Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic called a historic moment for his country. The Balkan nation bid farewell to its kuna currency and became the 20th member of the Eurozone. It is now the 27th nation in the passport-free Schengen zone. It is the world’s largest zone which enables more than 400 million people to move freely around its members. The country of 3.9 million people joined the European Union in 2013.

Question 30

Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who is a recipient of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, is the President of which country? [A] Israel [B] Guyana [C] Ukraine [D] UAE

Answer 30

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the ninth President of Guyana, is one among the 21 recipients of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA). He will also be the Chief Guest at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be held this time in Indore. US-based businessman Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, and DSB Group CEO Piyush Gupta are among 21 recipients.

Question 31

Which city is the host of the ‘VIRAASAT’ festival organised by the Ministry of Textiles? [A] Mumbai [B] Tiruppur [C] Ahmedabad [D] New Delhi

Answer 31

The second phase of the Sari Festival ‘VIRAASAT’- celebrating 75 hand-woven Saris of India is hosted at Handloom Haat, Janpath, New Delhi. The Ministry of Textiles is organizing the festival, while the first phase was held in December 2022. Handloom saris drawn from several exotic locations of India including Jamdani, Ikat, Pochampally, Chanderi, Lalitpuri and Patola are on display and sale at the exhibition.

Question 32

Divya Deshmukh, who became the National women’s champion, plays which sports? [A] Squash [B] Tennis [C] Table-Tennis [D] Chess

Answer 32

Divya Deshmukh holds the record of being the youngest to retain the National women’s chess champion title. Before ten months Divya Deshmukh became the youngest National women’s chess champion. The 17-year-old player defeated the 2016 Asian champion Bhakti Kulkarni with 9.5 points. Mary Ann Gomes (9) finished second while the top seed Vantika Agarwal (8.5) ended up third.

Question 33

Who is the first Indian Tennis player to win a WTA singles title? [A] Yuki Bhambri [B] Sania Mirza [C] Ramkumar Ramanathan [D] Lakshya Sen

Answer 33

Sania Mirza became the first Indian to win a WTA singles title in 2005. She reached her career-high ranking of world number 27 by 2007. Recently, the 36-year-old has confirmed her retirement from professional Tennis. She will be playing at her final Grand Slam appearance in women’s doubles at the Australian Open alongside Kazakhstan’s Anna Danilina. She will retire at the WTA 1000 event in Dubai. Sania Mirza has won six Grand Slam doubles titles, the first for any Indian.

Question 34

Kangla Nongpok Thong, eastern gate of the Kangla fort, has been inaugurated in which state? [A] Assam [B] Manipur [C] West Bengal [D] Sikkim

Answer 34

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh handed over and dedicated the Kangla Nongpok Thong, an eastern gate of the historic Kangla fort in Imphal to the people of the state. The Nongpok Thong will be manned by India Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel while the Nongchup Thong (western gate) will remain closed. The Nongpok Thong was constructed through Imphal Smart City Limited (ISCL) as Funding Agency.

Question 35

Who is the first Indian Tennis player to win a WTA singles title? [A] Yuki Bhambri [B] Sania Mirza [C] Ramkumar Ramanathan [D] Lakshya Sen

Answer 35

Sania Mirza became the first Indian to win a WTA singles title in 2005. She reached her career-high ranking of world number 27 by 2007. Recently, the 36-year-old has confirmed her retirement from professional Tennis. She will be playing at her final Grand Slam appearance in women’s doubles at the Australian Open alongside Kazakhstan’s Anna Danilina. She will retire at the WTA 1000 event in Dubai. Sania Mirza has won six Grand Slam doubles titles, the first for any Indian.

Question 36

Which Indian state is the birth place of the modern-day polo, the Sagol Kangjei? [A] Assam [B] Manipur [C] West Bengal [D] Arunachal Pradesh

Answer 36

Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled a 120-feet-tall statue of a polo player riding a pony at Marjing Polo Complex in Imphal, Manipur Manipur is considered the birthplace of the game and it reached the British before 1850. In November last year, the first Chief Minister’s Sagol Kangjei Championship was held during the Sangai festival to promote the indigenous game. The ponies in Manipur are becoming vulnerable due to lack of grazing grounds.

Question 37

Which Indian state is the host of the Purple Fest, the first Inclusive festival for persons with disabilities? [A] Maharashtra [B] Goa [C] Gujarat [D] Kerala

Answer 37

Goa organised the Purple Fest, the first Inclusive festival for persons with disabilities. It celebrated the lives and achievements of PwDs and served as a platform to increase awareness towards the inclusion of such persons in the society. Purple Fest was organized at Panjim, by the Directorate of Social Welfare, Office of the State Commissioner for PwDs (Goa), Goa Tourism Development Corporation, Information & Publicity Department (Goa) and Entertainment Society of Goa.

Question 38

Deepor Beel, is the only Ramsar site of which state? [A] Assam [B] Madhya Pradesh [C] Punjab [D] Haryana

Answer 38

Deepor Beel, the only Ramsar site of Assam, recorded over 26,000 birds of 97 different species during a recent bird count. The site recorded 10,289 birds of 66 species recorded in 2021. It is troubled by developmental projects and urban waste. A spot bird photography contest was also held during the event and repeat of the bird count exercise is scheduled during the Asian Waterfowl Count.

Question 39

Which institution launched a new system to measure and grade hospital performance under AB PM-JAY? [A] NITI Aayog [B] NHA [C] NSO [D] IMA

Answer 39

The National Health Authority (NHA) is introducing a new system to measure and grade hospital performance under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). The new initiative will introduce the concept of ‘value- based care’, where payment will be outcome based and providers will be rewarded according to the quality of the treatment delivered. The providers will be rewarded for helping the patients improve their health.

Question 40

Which state launched a dedicated platform for investors from the global diaspora to make investments in the State’s start-ups? [A] Karnataka [B] Tamil Nadu [C] Gujarat [D] Punjab

Answer 40

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched ‘Global Tamil Angels platform’ of Start-upTN, an investment platform for Tamil diaspora. The platform lets investors from the global Tamil diaspora to make investments in the State’s start-ups. It was launched at the “Global Startup Investors Summit,” jointly organised by the Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission and FeTNA International Tamil Entrepreneur Network. A multi-crore American Tamil Fund (ATF) by investors from the Tamil Diaspora in the US was also announced.

Question 41

Road Transport and Highways Ministry observes Road Safety Week in which month? [A] November [B] December [C] January [D] February

Answer 41

Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry observes Road Safety Week from 11th to 17th of January. During the Week, various activities is being organised throughout the Country to create awareness among general public. Ministry will conduct several activities including Nukkad Nataks (Street Shows) and Sensitization Campaigns at various locations.

Question 42

Which state is the host of the 26th National Youth Festival? [A] Kerala [B] Karnataka [C] Bihar [D] West Bengal

Answer 42

The 26th National Youth Festival is scheduled in the twin cities of Hubballi – Dharwad in Karnataka from 12th to 16th January. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur said that the theme of this year’s Youth Festival is ‘Vikasit Yuva, Vikasit Bharat’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Youth Festival-2023 on 12th January, on the Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

Question 43

Which country has announced a ban on single-use plastic shopping bags from 2024? [A] USA [B] UAE [C] Singapore [D] China

Answer 43

The United Arab Emirates announced a ban on single-use plastic shopping bags to take effect next year. The law would prohibit the import, production and circulation of such bags from January 1, 2024. A similar ban would apply to plastic cups, plates and cutlery from January 1, 2026. The UAE, host of this year’s United Nations climate summit, declared its aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Question 44

ReNew Power said installed India’s first 3x platform wind turbine generators (WTGs) in which state? [A] Tamil Nadu [B] Rajasthan [C] Karnataka [D] West Bengal

Answer 44

ReNew Power said installed India’s first 3x platform wind turbine generators (WTGs) in Gadag, Karnataka. The new WTGs will be a part of the country’s first ‘Round the Clock’ renewable energy project, combining wind, solar and a battery energy storage system (BESS). This project will produce enough energy to power over 1 million households in India annually.