Current Affairs is the most important area in all competitive exams. But the difficulty level is very high. That’s why; many aspirants get confused, how to select Current Affairs for Preparation of Competitive Examination? In this Post, Daily Current Affairs 22&23 January 2023, we have tried to cover each and every point and also included all important facts from National/ International news that are useful for upcoming competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Railway, State Govt. etc.
Current Affairs for Competitive Exam – 22&23 January 2022
Vikram Dev Dutt named as next DGCA director general
Directorate of General of Civil Aviation: Vikram Dev Dutt has been appointed as the incoming director general of the Directorate of General of Civil Aviation by the Cabinet’s appointments committee (DGCA). On February 28, 2023, he will assume control of the aviation regulatory body. He will be succeeding the incumbent DGCA chief Arun Kumar. Earlier, Dutt had also served as the CMD of Air India. He had taken charge in January last year.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
In 2022, as part of a senior-level bureaucratic reorganisation carried out by the Centre, Dutt was appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of Air India Ltd. Dutt is a 1993-batch IAS officer of AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory) cadre. Kumar, a 1989-batch IAS officer, was leading the DGCA as its director general since July 2019.
Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Alok, Additional Secretary, National Disaster Management Authority, and Satinder Pal Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs were among the additional appointments that the ACC approved on Saturday in accordance with the order.The ACC has also approved the extension of the central deputation tenure of Ashutosh Jindal, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, for a period of one year beyond 16.02.2023 which is up to 16.02.2024 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
About the DGCA:
In January 1978, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) was established as a department of the DGCA. As a result of the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182, on 1 April 1987 the BCAS became an independent agency of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Indian Navy conducts “AMPHEX 2023” mega exercise in Andhra
Exercise AMPHEX 2023: Along with the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, the Indian Navy recently completed a six-day long massive military exercise near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. The “largest” biennial tri-services amphibious exercise AMPHEX 2023 was conducted from January 17 to 22. The exercise is to review the preparedness of the Indian Navy and the Army during the war, national calamities and coastal security enforcement. The exercise is being held close to the Naval Enclave in Suryaraopeta village in the rural Mandal of Kakinada off the coast of Kakinada.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
The exercise took place amid growing concerns over China’s increasing military forays into the Indian Ocean, a region considered as the backyard of the Indian Navy. The joint operations conducted during the exercise saw participation by a large number of troops from Indian Army, amphibious warships from Indian Navy and aircraft from the Indian Air Force.
About the Indian Navy
The Indian Armed Forces’ maritime division is known as the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy’s Supreme Commander is the country’s president. The navy is led by a four-star admiral named the Chief of Naval Staff. As a blue-water navy, it operates significantly in the Persian Gulf Region, the Horn of Africa, the Strait of Malacca, and routinely conducts anti-piracy operations and partners with other navies in the region. It also conducts routine two to three month-long deployments in the South and East China seas as well as the western Mediterranean sea simultaneously.
Interesting facts
- The Maratha Emperor, Chhatrapati Shivaji Bhosle of the 17th century is considered as “Father of the Indian Navy”.
- The role of the Indian Navy is to secure the marine edges of the country and update the worldwide relations of India through seaport visits, joint exercises, altruistic missions, upheaval help, etc. Its objective is also to improve the circumstance in the Indian Ocean Zone.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral R Hari Kumar;
Indian Navy Founded: 26 January 1950;
Indian Navy headquarters: New Delhi
Brazil and Argentina to Begin Preparations for Common Currency
Brazil and Argentina to Begin Preparations for Common Currency: Brazil and Argentina aim for greater economic integration, including the development of a common currency, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Argentine leader Alberto Fernandez said in a joint article they penned. They also decided to advance discussions on a common South American currency that can be used for both financial and commercial flows, reducing costs of operations and external vulnerability. The focus of the proposal, which will be addressed at a summit in Buenos Aires, will be on how a new currency, which Brazil proposes naming the “sur” (south), may increase regional trade and lessen dependency on the U.S. dollar.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
More About The Common Currency Program:
The idea of a common currency was raised originally in an article written last year by Fernando Haddad and Gabriel Galipolo, now Brazil’s finance minister and his executive secretary, respectively, and was mentioned by Lula during the campaign.
Lula’s Push For Greater Regional Integration:
Lula chose Argentina for his inaugural international trip since taking office, keeping with the tradition of first visiting Brazil’s largest trading partner in the region. That follows four years of tense relations during the government of former Brazilian right-wing President JaJir Bolsonaro.
Lula’s trip to neighboring Argentina also marks the return of Brazil to the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which Brazil left in 2019 under order from Bolsonaro, who refused to participate in the regional group due to the presence of Cuba and Venezuela.
Both presidents emphasized the need for a good relationship between Argentina and Brazil to strengthen regional integration, according to the article. The leaders also emphasized the significance of strengthening the Mercosur trade group, which consists of Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay and which Haddad, the finance minister of Brazil, has noted had been abandoned in recent years.
About MERCOSUR:
- Mercosur is a sub-regional bloc of South American Countries.
- Its purpose is to promote free trade and the fluid movement of goods, people, and currency
- Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela are its full members.
- Its associate countries are Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Suriname
- The Mercusor trading bloc was established in 1991
- Headquarter : Montevideo (Uruguay)
Parakram Diwas 2023 celebrates as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Birth Anniversary
Parakram Diwas 2023: Subhas Chandra Bose, Netaji On January 23, a national holiday known as Parakram Diwas is observed in India to commemorate the birth of notable Indian liberation warrior Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, also known as Jayanti or Netaji Jayanti. This year nation celebrates 126th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. On the occasion of Netaji Jayanti, who turned 124 in 2021, Parakram Divas was first observed. It is a recognised holiday in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Tripura, and Assam. The Indian government honours Netaji on this day.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Importance of Parakram Diwas:
The purpose of the holiday is to recall and honour Netaji’s tremendous devotion to the country and his unwavering spirit. He was crucial to the cause for Indian independence. Netaji was a prominent nationalist, politician, and freedom fighter. This day has been set aside to encourage Indians, particularly young people, to strive to his strength, perseverance, selflessness, and patriotic fervour in the face of adversity. He oversaw the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fouj). He was the founder-head of the Azad Hind Government.
About Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
- • On January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Odisha, Netaji was born. He earned a philosophy degree and was subsequently chosen for the Indian Civil Services. He refused to join as he did not want to serve the British Government.
- Later, in 1919, he travelled to England to complete the Indian Civil Service (I.C.S. ), finishing fourth in his class with the highest English score. He didn’t want to work for the British government, therefore in 1921 he resigned and went back to India.
- • When Netaji returned to India, Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, who would eventually serve as his political mentor, urged him to join the Indian National Congress (I.N.C.). Netaji joined the Indian National Congress in 1921.
- He regarded Swami Vivekananda as his spiritual guru and was greatly affected by his ideas. Bose was elected president of the All India Youth Congress in 1923 and later served as president of the Congress in 1938 and 1939.
- Bose was an excellent student and a true nationalist of India. Netaji Bose obtained a B.A. in philosophy from the Scottish Church College, which is a component of the University of Calcutta.
- During World War II, in Southeast Asia, Netaji formed and led a 5,000-man force known as the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) under the slogan ‘Delhi Chalo’ In order to garner popular support in his home state of Bengal, he also founded a new political party.
- Government records claim that on August 18, 1945, a plane crash near Tohuku, Japanese Taiwan, resulted in third-degree burns for Netaji. Although the authorities announced his death in 2017, there are still a number of rumours about his whereabouts.
Exam related facts
- Netaji started a newspaper called “Swaraj”.
- He had written a book called “The Indian Struggle”. The book covers the Indian Independence movement between 1920 and 1942.
- The term “Jai Hind” was coined by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
- With the slogan “Give me blood and I will give you freedom”, he awakened the country towards fighting against the British.
Govt to combine CGHS with Ayushman Bharat
Proposal To Merge CGHS With Ayushman Bharat: In a bid to provide more hospital options for patients, the government is considering allowing Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries to avail treatment at hospitals empaneled with the flagship Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY). Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) are being integrated by the National Health Authority (NHA) (ABDM).
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Purpose Of Merger
This is aimed at creating digital health identification of CGHS beneficiaries and storing their digital health records, thus ensuring quick treatment to the needy. About 100 million health records have been connected to ABDM so far in this.
CGHS
CGHS was started in 1954 with the aim of providing comprehensive healthcare to central government employees and pensioners and their dependent family members. More than 4.1 million beneficiaries are now served by the scheme throughout 75 cities.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) aims to develop the framework required to sustain the country’s integrated digital health infrastructure. It will bridge the existing gap amongst different stakeholders of Healthcare ecosystem through digital highways.
Using their 14-digit Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) number, citizens can view and manage their medical records digitally. It creates comprehensive medical history across healthcare providers with citizens sharing relevant health records with ABDM-registered healthcare providers digitally.
Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY)
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is a national public health insurance fund of the Government of India that aims to provide free access to health insurance coverage for low income earners in the country. Roughly, the bottom 50% of the country qualifies for this scheme. People using the program access their own primary care services from a family doctor. When anyone needs additional care, then PM-JAY provides free secondary health care for those needing specialist treatment and tertiary health care for those requiring hospitalization.
PhonePe Raises $350 Mn From General Atlantic, Joins India’s Decacorn Club
PhonePe Raises $350 Mn From General Atlantic, Joins India’s Decacorn Club: Payments and financial services unicorn PhonePe has raised $350 million in funding from General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm, at a pre-money valuation of $12 billion, making the Walmart-owned start-up the most-valued financial technology (fintech) player in India. The investment is the first tranche of the company’s most recent round of funding, which may see influential foreign and Indian investors invest up to $1 billion in the fintech company. With this funding round, the home-grown digital payments start-up has more than doubled its valuation — from $5.5 billion in 2020. With a $12-billion valuation, it has joined the decacorn club.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
More About This Fundraise By PhonePe:
- PhonePe has managed to raise late-stage funding amid a funding winter. General Atlantic will be infusing substantial capital, along with Walmart and other new investors, to a final raise of $1 billion.
- The most recent fundraising follows after the company’s recently announced full separation from Flipkart and change of domicile to India. It could not be immediately ascertained how the market capitalisation table of the company will look like, given other investments will come in some weeks.
- Additionally, Qatar Investment Authority and Microsoft have brought shares directly into the company as part of its complete separation from Flipkart.
- PhonePe plans to deploy the funds to make investments in infrastructure, including development of data centres and build financial services offerings at scale in the country. The organisation also intends to make investments in brand-new industries like financing, insurance, and wealth management.
- PhonePe recently announced a full separation from Flipkart Group. After partial separation from Flipkart in December 2020, several Flipkart shareholders, led by Walmart, acquired shares in the recent separation. This move will allow both companies to chart their growth paths and build their businesses independently.
Significance of This Move:
The money, according to PhonePe, which was established in December 2015, will enable it to “turbo-charge” digital payments in India and promote greater financial inclusion. The company has more than 400 million registered users, implying more than one in four Indians use its services.PhonePe has the largest market share in the UPI payments space. With this fundraise, PhonePe ranks above other decacorns like Swiggy, Oyo, Ola, Paytm, Dream11, RazorPay, and Polygon.
What is a Decacorn:
A startup company with a current valuation of more than $10 billion is called a decacorn. According to CBInsights, there are presently eighteen decacorns within the world, with ten being from the USA. Toutiao (Bytedance), a Chinese digital media/AI company is at the highest of the list with a present valuation of $75 billion.
Decacorns are the evolved versions of unicorns. What separates them isn’t simply the funding. It’s the distinctive business model, the revenue model, and also the rate. They’ve received such investments and have a post-money valuation of over $10 billion as a result of they’ve shown the globe a fantastic growth rate that the others couldn’t.
New Zealand’s ruling Labor Party elected Chris Hipkins as the country’s 41st prime minister
New Zealand’s ruling Labor Party elected Chris Hipkins as the country’s 41st prime minister: New Zealand’s ruling Labor Party on 22 January elected Chris Hipkins as its leader and the country’s 41st prime minister, replacing Ms Jacinda Ardern.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
An overview of the news
- Hipkins was the only candidate for the position and was confirmed by 64 MPs in what is known as the Labor caucus.
- Known as “Chippy”, Hipkins played a key role in the response to COVID-19.
- He was first elected to Parliament in 2008 for the Labor Party.
- He was appointed Minister of Health in July 2020 before becoming the Minister of COVID Response.
- Before Hipkins can officially become prime minister, Ardern must submit her resignation to King Charles III’s representative in New Zealand, Governor General Cindy Kiro.
- Kiro Hipkins will then be appointed to the role and sworn in.
- The Labour party has also selected Carmel Sepuloni as the deputy prime minister.
About New Zealand
- Prime Minister: Chris Hipkins
- Capital: Wellington
- Currency : New Zealand dollar
Brazilian President sacks army chief after anti-govt riots
Brazilian President sacks army chief after anti-govt riots: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sacked the country’s army chief, Julio Cesar de Arruda after rioting in the capital.
An overview of the news
Arruda has been sacked in Brazil over the occupation of government buildings by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
General Tomás Miguel Ribeiro Paiva has been appointed as the country’s army chief in place of Arruda.
Unrest erupted in Brazil as supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed government buildings, the Brazilian Congress, the presidential palace and the Supreme Court. Military intervention was called for by the protesters to dismiss the newly elected Lula. Elections were held in Brazil in October. Bolsonaro was defeated in these elections, won by a leftist party led by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in as the President of Brazil for the third time. After this, Bolsonaro’s supporters refused to accept the election results.
Punjab government launches ‘School of Eminence’ project
Punjab government launches ‘School of Eminence’ project: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann launched the ambitious project ‘School of Eminence’.
An overview of the news
- The objective of this project is to ensure holistic development of the students along with the rejuvenation of education in government schools so that they become responsible citizens.
- Under the’School of Eminence’ project, 117 government schools in 23 districts will be upgraded.
- Special emphasis will be given through the project from class 9th to 12th.
- Abudget provision of Rs 200 crore has been made for the ‘School of Eminence’ project.
- State-of-the-art infrastructure, academics, human resource management, sports and co-curricular activities and community engagement are the major five pillars of the project.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Punjab State –
- Capital – Chandigarh
- Governor – Banwari Lal Purohit
- Chief Minister – Bhagwant Mann
- Legislative Assembly – 117 seats
- Lok Sabha – 13 seats
National Sports Club of India Snooker Open Crown 2023
National Sports Club of India Snooker Open Crown 2023: Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB’s)Laxman Rawat’Boulkline’ emerged winnerat the NSCI All India Snooker Open, defeating fellow PSPB challenger Aditya Mehta 9-6 in a best-of-17-frame final.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
An overview of the news
- Laxman Rawat had finished runner-up in the previous edition of the tournament, losing to Sourav Kothari.
- This is Rawat’s first major title after two-three years.
- NSCI Snooker Open Crown
- The NSCI Snooker Open Crown is a snooker tournament organised by the National Sports Club of India (NSCI).
- The tournament is open to players from all over India and consists of a best-of-17-frames final.
- The tournament is considered a major title in Indian snooker and the champion of the tournament is awarded the NSCI Snooker Open Crown.
Foundation Day of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura
Foundation Day of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura: The foundation day of the three northeastern states Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya is being celebrated on 21st January.
An overview of the news
Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya were granted full statehood on January 21, 1972 under the North Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.
Merger of Manipur with India:
Manipur became a part of India from 15 October 1949 after the merger treaty on 21 September 1949.
Manipur was made a Union Territory in 1956.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Merger of Tripura with India:
Tripura was a princely state until its merger with the Indian Union on 15 November 1949.
After the death of Bir Bikram Singh, the last Maharaja of Tripura on 17 May 1947, Maharani Kanchan Prabha (wife of Maharaja Bir Bikram) represented the state of Tripura and merged it with India.
Merger of Meghalaya with India:
The rulers of the Garo and Khasi regions acceded to the Indian Union in the year 1947.
Meghalaya was created as an autonomous state within Assam under the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969.
UNESCO dedicates International Day of Education 2023 to Afghan girls, women
UNESCO dedicates International Day of Education 2023 to Afghan girls, women: UNESCO has decided to dedicate the International Day of Education to be celebrated on January 24, 2023, to Afghan girls and women.
An overview of the news
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said that no country in the world should prevent women and girls from getting education and it is a universal human right that should be respected.
The international community has a responsibility to ensure that the rights of Afghan girls and women are restored without delay. UNESCO and other international organisations should take concrete steps to address the issue of women and girls in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. According to UNESCO, currently around 80 percent of Afghan girls and young women of school-age are out of school under Taliban rule, as they are denied access to secondary schools and universities.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Since 15 August 2021, Afghanistan has barred girls from attending secondary school, restricted the freedom of movement of women and girls, and excluded women from most areas of the workforce.
About UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN).
It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. It is also a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG), a coalition of UN agencies and organisations aimed at fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Director General: Audrey Azoulay
- Founded: 16 November 1945 in London, United Kingdom
- The organisation has 193 members and 11 Associate members.
