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 31 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 – 31 January 2022
Murali Vijay Announces Retirement From All Forms Of International Cricket
Murali Vijay Announces Retirement From All Forms Of International Cricket: Murali Vijay, a veteran Indian opener, has declared his retirement from all forms of international cricket. In the Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia in December 2018, he made his final appearance for India. Murali appeared in 61 Tests, 17 ODIs and nine T20Is for India during his international career that began back in 2008 when he came in for Gautam Gambhir in the playing XI of the final Test match of Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia in Nagpur. He scored 3982 Test runs, including 12 hundreds and 15 fifties, 339 ODI runs, one half-century, and 169 T20I runs.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
He also played 135 first-class and 94 List A cricket matches for Tamil Nadu, last appearing 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.
Recently retired cricketers:
International Cricket: Farhaan Behardien (South African)
One Day International Cricket: Ben Stokes (England)
International Cricket: Dinesh Ramdin (West Indies)
T20 International: Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh)
International Cricket: Lendl Simmons (West Indies)
International Cricket: Eoin Morgan (England)
International Cricket: Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan)
International Cricket: Ross Taylor (New Zealand)
All Form of Cricket: Tim Bresnam (England)
Test Cricket: Danushka Gunathilaka (Sri Lanka)
All Form of Cricket: Chris Morris (South Africa)
International Cricket: Suranga Lakmal (Sri Lanka)
International Cricket: Kieron Pollard (West Indies)
All Form of Cricket: Hamish Bennett (New Zealand)
International Cricket: Rahul Sharma (India)
T20Is international: Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh)
ODI cricket: Aaron Finch (Australia)
All forms of cricket: Robin Uthappa (India)
International cricket: Rachael Haynes (Australian woman cricketer)
International cricket Jhulan Goswami (India)
Murali Vijay Announces Retirement From All Forms Of International Cricket: Murali Vijay, a veteran Indian opener, has declared his retirement from all forms of international cricket. In the Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia in December 2018, he made his final appearance for India. Murali appeared in 61 Tests, 17 ODIs and nine T20Is for India during his international career that began back in 2008 when he came in for Gautam Gambhir in the playing XI of the final Test match of Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia in Nagpur. He scored 3982 Test runs, including 12 hundreds and 15 fifties, 339 ODI runs, one half-century, and 169 T20I runs.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
He also played 135 first-class and 94 List A cricket matches for Tamil Nadu, last appearing 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.
Recently retired cricketers:
International Cricket: Farhaan Behardien (South African)
One Day International Cricket: Ben Stokes (England)
International Cricket: Dinesh Ramdin (West Indies)
T20 International: Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh)
International Cricket: Lendl Simmons (West Indies)
International Cricket: Eoin Morgan (England)
International Cricket: Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan)
International Cricket: Ross Taylor (New Zealand)
All Form of Cricket: Tim Bresnam (England)
Test Cricket: Danushka Gunathilaka (Sri Lanka)
All Form of Cricket: Chris Morris (South Africa)
International Cricket: Suranga Lakmal (Sri Lanka)
International Cricket: Kieron Pollard (West Indies)
All Form of Cricket: Hamish Bennett (New Zealand)
International Cricket: Rahul Sharma (India)
T20Is international: Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh)
ODI cricket: Aaron Finch (Australia)
All forms of cricket: Robin Uthappa (India)
International cricket: Rachael Haynes (Australian woman cricketer)
International cricket Jhulan Goswami (India)
Air Marshal A.P. Singh to be new Vice Chief of Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force: The Indian Air Force’s next Vice Chief has been named as Air Marshal A P Singh. When Air Marshal Sandeep Singh leaves the military, he will take his place. Air Marshal A P Singh is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command. On February 1st 2023, he will take over as Vice Chief. On December 21, 1984, he was commissioned into the Indian Air Force’s fighter stream.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Career and Experience of Air Marshal A P Singh
- Air Marshal A P Singh is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot with more than 4,900 hours of service flying on a variety of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft.
- He served as the Flight Commander, Commanding Officer of a MiG 27 squadron, and Air Officer Commanding of an air base during his operational tenures.
- As a test pilot, he has served in Aircraft and System Testing Establishment in various ranks and capacities.
- He also led the MiG 29 Upgrade Project Management Team in Moscow, Russia. He was the Project Director (Flight Test) at National Flight Test Centre looking after the flight testing of Light Combat Aircraft Tejas and Air Defence Commander at the South Western Air Command.
- Prior to taking over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command, he was Senior Air Staff Officer at the Eastern Air Command.
Economic Survey: Meaning, Importance and Highlights
Economic Survey: Meaning, Importance and Highlights– The Economic Survey, an important annual report that analyses the state of the Indian economy. A day before the budget is presented, the survey is introduced in Parliament. However, the Constitution neither binds the government to present the Economic Survey nor is the government obliged to go with its recommendations. It is completely left to the government to decide if it will adopt or reject the suggestions made in the Economic Survey.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Significance of Economic Survey:
The Survey enables a bird’s-eye view of trends seen in several industries over the preceding year, including, for example, agriculture, manufacturing, employment, infrastructure, prices, exports, imports, foreign exchange reserves, and money supply.
- It highlights the government’s policy initiatives, reviews the performance of development programmes and discusses the prospects of the economy in the short- and medium-term scenarios.
- Importantly, the survey projects the gross domestic product (GDP) growth, and provides an insight into the economic outlook for the country.
- It pinpoints the quality of policy responses needed under the prevailing economic situation.
Why is it presented before the Budget:
The survey provides key inputs which influence the budget-making process. Considering the fact that it provides a detailed analysis of economic developments of the past financial year, it sets the context for the budget.
The survey was de-linked from the Budget in the year 1964 and circulated in advance so that a context of the Budget can be provided. This way it helps in better understanding of the budget proposals.
History of Economic Survey:
The first economic survey was released in the financial year (FY) 1950-51.
- In the next 14 years that followed, it was presented along with the Union Budget.
- Starting from 1964, it preceded the budget and was released a day before the budget session in the parliament.
Who prepares the Economic Survey:
Under the general direction of the Chief Economic Adviser, the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs in the Finance Ministry created the Economic Survey. After receiving inputs from the senior officers in the Ministry of Finance, the final version of the Economic Survey is scrutinized by the Finance Secretary and finally approved by the Union Finance Minister.
Dr V Anantha Nageswaran as Chief Economic Advisor :
Nageswaram was a former part-time member of the PM’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC). Since KV Subramanian announced his intention to return to academia after his three-year term ends on December 17, 2021, he has taken over as the new CEA. Prior to this appointment, Nageswaran has worked as a writer, author, teacher and consultant. He has taught at several business schools and institutes of management in India and in Singapore and has published extensively.
He was the Dean of the IFMR Graduate School of Business and a distinguished Visiting Professor of Economics at Krea University. From 2019 to 2021, he served as a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India. He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and a doctoral degree from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.
Republic Day 2023: Uttarakhand tableau wins first prize
Republic Day 2023: Uttarakhand tableau wins first prize: Uttarakhand tableau which showcased the state’s wildlife and religious sites at the 74th Republic Day parade has won the top prize. During the formal march at Kartavya Path on January 26, Uttarakhand’s tableau showcased the state’s wildlife and religious sites. In the foreground of the tableau, reindeer, deer and various birds were shown roaming in the world-famous Corbett National Park. The central part of the tableau depicted the state animal of Uttarakhand, musk deer, national bird peacock and ghoral. The rear of the tableau featured Jageshwar Dham, a collection of 125 small and large old temples in Manaskhand’s Almora district, as well as well-known deodar trees.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
For its tableau, Uttarakhand took home the top honours, followed by Uttar Pradesh in second place and Maharashtra in third. The tableau of Maharashtra on Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav presented “Sade Tin Shaktipithe” and “Nari Shakti”, while that of Uttar Pradesh showcased Ayodhya Deepotsav.
Republic Day 2023: Other winners in different categories:
- Gujarat’s tableau emerged as the numero uno in the popular choice segment.
- Army’s Punjab Regiment has been adjudged the best marching contingent among the three services, while the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) marching contingent won the top prize among the CAPFs and other auxiliary forces.
- Among the ministries and departments, the tableau of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (Eklavya Model Residential Schools) won the best prize.
- The tableau on biodiversity conservation from the Central Public Works Department and the dance troupe “Vande Bharatam” won a special award.
- The IAF’s marching contingent emerged as the winner among the three services in the popular choice category.
- Gujarat won the category’s top honour among the tableaux created by states and union territories, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra in that order. Kutchi embroidery and decoration, known for its mirror work, traditional ‘bhungas’ and renewable energy production were the focus elements in the Gujarat tableau. The village of Modhera, famous for its Sun Temple, and being India’s first round-the-clock solar-powered village was also showcased in the tableau.
- Among the central ministries and departments, the tableau by the CAPF, the Ministry of Home Affairs, emerged as the best in the popular choice segment.
How these tableau selected?
Three panels of judges were appointed for assessing the performance of the marching contingents from the three services, those from Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and other auxiliary forces, and tableaux from various states and union territories, and various ministries and departments. Citizens voted in an online poll on MyGov for their favourite tableaux and marching contingents in the popular choice category. The poll for the popular choice was conducted between January 25 and 28.
Simlipal National Park: History, Location, Geography and Climate
Simlipal National Park: History, Location, Geography and Climate- Simlipal National Park is a tiger reserve is located in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha which covers an area of 2,750 km2. The Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, which also contains the Simlipal Tiger Reserve, Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary, is a part of the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve. Simlipal National Park derives its name from the abundance of red silk cotton trees growing in the area. The park is home to the Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, gaur, and chausingha. It has been a protected area since 2009 and a component of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves established by UNESCO.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Simlipal National Park History Location
Simlipal Tiger Reserve covers an area of 2,750 km2, out of which 1,194.75 km2 forms the core area. It has the peaks of Khairiburu at 1,178 m and Meghasani at 1,158 m. The main waterfalls are the Barehipani Falls at a height of 217 m and the Joranda Falls at 181 m.
Simlipal National Park History
The Simlipal elephant reserve mainly originated as a hunting ground for royals. It was formally designated a tiger reserve in 1956 and under Project Tiger in May 1973. In 1979 “Mugger Crocodile Scheme” was started at Ramatirtha, Jashipur.
Simlipal was designated as a wildlife sanctuary by the Odisha government in 1979. Later in 1980, the state government suggested creating a national park on 303 square kilometres of the sanctuary. In 1986, the area of the national park was increased to 845.70 square kilometers. The Government of India declared Simlipal as a biosphere reserve in 1994.
UNESCO added Simlipal national park to the list of Biosphere Reserves in May 2009. 10,000 people are living in 61 villages in the forest which is why the Simlipal is yet to be declared a full-fledged park, despite its having the status of one of the 18 biospheres of India.
Simlipal National Park Geography
In the Odisha province’s Mayurbhanj district sits the Simlipal Tiger Reserve. Simlipal Elephant Reserve is an ecosystem complete with forest vegetation mainly Sal trees, fauna, and the Ho or Santhal tribal settlements. The high hills are surrounded by Meghasani/Tunkiburu, which is the highest peak in the park. At an altitude of 1,165 meters followed by Khairiburu at above 1,000 meters elevation.
12 rivers cut across the plain area of Simlipal National Park. The prominent rivers include Budhabalanga, Palpala Bhandan, Kharkai River, and Deo. Two notable waterfalls, Joranda/Jorodah (181 metres) and Barheipani/Barhai (217 metres), can also be found in the forest.
Simlipal National Park Climate
The climate of Simlipal National Park is moderate. In summer there is a hot temperature of around 40 °C whereas the winter months can be as low as 14 °C. The rainfall ranges from moderate to heavy.
Simlipal comes under a high cerebral malaria-prone zone. In cerebral malaria, the sequestrated red blood cells can breach the blood-brain barrier possibly leading to coma. Cerebral malaria, if not detected, causes death. Initial symptoms of cerebral malaria are often mistaken as those of acute jaundice. There have been many recorded cases of death due to cerebral malaria after visits to Simlipal.
In 2021, large fires broke out in the Simlipal Tiger Reserve and continued to burn for over two weeks before they were brought under control. The 2021 Simlipal forest fires resulted in widespread environmental damage and caused an exodus of fauna from the park into nearby human habitations.
Coal India Ltd to Launch M-Sand Projects in Broader Schemes
Coal India Ltd to Launch M-Sand Projects in Broader Schemes: Coal India Ltd (CIL) has envisaged processing the overburdened rocks for sand production in mines where fragmented rock or Overburden (OB) material contains about 60 percent sandstone by volume which is harnessed through crushing and processing of Overburden. The overlying soil and rocks are removed as waste during opencast mining in order to extract coal, and OB is heaped in dumps.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Coal India Ltd to Launch M-Sand Projects in Broader Schemes – Key Points
- Most of the waste is disposed of at the surface which occupies a considerable land area and requires extensive planning and control to minimize the environmental impact of mining.
- Sand is classified as a ‘minor mineral’. The administrative control over minor minerals lies with the State Governments and is regulated through state-specific rules.
- Finding alternatives to river sand became necessary because of the high demand, constrained supply, and complete restriction on sand mining during the monsoon to protect river ecosystems.
- Sand Mining Framework (2018) prepared by the Ministry of Mines envisages alternative sources of sand in the form of Manufactured Sand (M-Sand) from crushed rock fines (crusher dust), and sand from Overburden (OB) of coal mines.
- OB to M-Sand initiative of CIL is facilitating the processing of waste overburden in its OC Mines.
- Manufactured Sand (M-Sand) from the overburden of coal mines has a number of advantages in terms of sustainability and economy, including cost-effectiveness, consistency, environmental advantages, reduced water consumption, better workability, freed OB dumps, best out of waste, and helps maintain the water table next to some other.
New Zealand to introduce Debbie H. Medal to honour women cricketers
Debbie H. Medal: The inaugural Debbie Hockley Medal will be given to one outstanding women’s cricket player at this year’s annual cricket awards ceremony, according to New Zealand Cricket (NZC). Debbie, regarded as one of the world’s best batters during her playing days and one of the finest to have played the game, played 118 ODIs and 19 Tests for New Zealand from 1979 to 2000. She will present the new award in person on the awards night. In ODIs, she amassed 4064 runs at 41.89, including four hundreds and 34 half-centuries, while she took 54 wickets. She was the first woman to play 100 ODIs and the first to surpass 4,000 ODI runs. She captained New Zealand on 33 occasions in both formats.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
About the Debbie Hockley
- Debbie is the only woman to have won the supreme New Zealand Cricketer of the Year Award, having been honoured in 1998, 13 years before it was changed to the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal. She expressed her delight at having her name associated with the new award.
- Debbie joined Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, Enid Bakewell, and Belinda Clark (all of Australia) as the fourth woman to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame (England). In the Test arena, she scored 1301 runs at an average of 52.04, including four centuries, seven half-centuries and a top score of 126 not out against Australia, at Auckland in 1990.
- Debbie was also the first woman to be elected President of NZC, also the first to aggregate 1500 World Cup runs, and the first to play more than 40 World Cup matches. She played in the 2000 ODI World Cup championship match between New Zealand and Australia at Lincoln before calling it quits on international cricket. In the 1999 New Year’s Honours, she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to cricket and, in 2021, a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, also for services to cricket.
- Debbie was also the first woman to be elected President of NZC, also the first to aggregate 1500 World Cup runs, and the first to play more than 40 World Cup matches. She retired from international cricket after playing in New Zealand’s victorious ODI World Cup final against Australia, at Lincoln in 2000.
NMDC Signed Champion Boxer Nikhat Zareen As its Brand Ambassador
NMDC Signed Champion Boxer Nikhat Zareen As its Brand Ambassador: NMDC has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with World Boxing Champion and gold medal winner of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Nikhat Zareen to represent NMDC as its brand ambassador. NMDC is a National miner and India’s largest producer of iron ore.
The company has decided to be represented by someone who shares their dedication to upholding the reputation of the nation. The power, courage, agility, and sense of pride associated with the NMDC brand are embodied by Nikhat Zareen.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
About NMDC
NMDC Signed Champion Boxer Nikhat Zareen As its Brand Ambassador- Key Points
- Sumit Deb, CMD, NMDC, informed that they are elated to welcome Nikhat Zareen to the NMDC family.
- Deb also added that her personality is synonymous with NMDC’s brand values of reliability and sturdiness and this association will add to the overall brand personality of both stakeholders.
- Nikhat Zareen on the occasion noted that it is an honor for her to join hands with the NMDC in bringing laurels to the country.
- She is grateful that they supported me train for the 2024 Summer Olympics, and she is committed to making her parents and the country proud.
About NMDC
NMDC Limited, formerly National Mineral Development Corporation, is a central public sector undertaking. It is a property of the Indian government’s Ministry of Steel. Iron ore, copper, rock phosphate, limestone, dolomite, gypsum, bentonite, magnesite, diamond, tin, tungsten, graphite, coal, etc. are all explored by it.
It is India’s largest iron ore producer and exporter, producing more than 35 million tonnes of iron ore from three mechanized mines in Chhattisgarh and Karnataka. At Panna in Madhya Pradesh, it also runs the only mechanised diamond mine in the nation. NMDC is in the process of demerging its Nagarnar iron and steel plant by mid-2022, and publicly listing the demerged company.
Unilever appoints Hein Schumacher as new CEO
Unilever appoints Hein Schumacher as new CEO: Hein Schumacher has been named the next CEO of Unilever, the company has announced. Hein will replace Alan Jope, who announced in September 2022 his intention to retire from Unilever. Hein presently serves as CEO of the global dairy and nutrition company Royal FrieslandCampina and joined Unilever’s board of directors as a non-executive director in October of last year. He will begin as Unilever CEO on 1 July 2023, after a one-month handover period.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Career and experience: Hein Schumacher
Hein is a business leader with an excellent track record across multiple leading companies in the consumer goods industry. As CEO of Royal FrieslandCampina, an €11bn turnover business operating in over 40 countries, he has delivered significant portfolio and organisation change as part of transforming it into a more focused, growth-driven and sustainable business.
Prior to joining Royal FrieslandCampina as CFO in 2014, Hein worked for H.J. Heinz for over a decade – during a time of significant change at the company – across the US, Europe and Asia. Heinz employed him for his final four years in China, where he oversaw the turnaround of the Asia Pacific region. Hein started his finance career with Unilever before moving on to Royal Ahold NV.
NSE becomes world’s largest derivatives exchange for 4th straight year
NSE becomes world’s largest derivatives exchange for 4th straight year: According to the Futures Industry Association (FIA), the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) emerged as the world’s largest derivatives exchange in 2022, in terms of the number of contracts traded.
This is the fourth consecutive year when the exchange earned the top spot.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
In addition, the exchange was ranked third in the equity segment by the number of trades (electronic order book) in 2022.
NSE HQ: Mumbai
World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 2023: 30th January
World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 2023: 30th January- World Neglected Tropical Diseases(NTD) Day is annually observed across the world on 30th January to create awareness about Neglected Tropical Diseases(NTD).
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
2023 theme: Act Now. Act Together. Invest in Neglected Tropical Diseases
Focus: On strengthening the interventions to promote equitable health services for all
The first World NTD Day was observed on 30 January 2020. Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of 20 diseases caused by a variety of pathogens.
All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), 2020-2021
All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), 2020-2021: The Government of India started the AISHE in 2010-11. A task force formed from AICTE, UGC, National Medical Council, Distance Education Council, and representatives from leading universities conduct the survey. In 2020-21, the survey was started under the leadership of the Ministry of Education. The survey mainly focuses on higher education in the country.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Key Findings of AISHE
The number of students pursuing higher education increased by 7.5% as compared to 2019-20 and increased by 21% as compared to 2014-15. The numbers were more than 4.14 crores. This is the first time, the figures crossed the 4 crore mark. The number of females joining higher education increased by 13 lakhs as compared to 2019-20. The numbers were more than 2 crores. The number of Scheduled Caste Students pursuing higher education increased by 28% as compared to 2014-15. The number of female Scheduled Caste students pursuing higher education increased by 38% as compared to 2014-15
The number of ST students pursuing higher education increased by 47% as compared to 2014-15. In the females, the increase was 63.4%. Number of OBC students: The increase was by 32% as compared to 2014-15; In females, the increase was by 39%. Substantial improvement was seen in the Gross Enrolment Ratio. The number of students enrolled in distance education increased by 7% as compared to 2019-20
The total number of universities in the country increased by 70 as compared to 2019-20. The number of colleges increased by 1,453. The Gender Parity Index increased to 1.05. It was 1 in 2017-18. The total number of teachers in the country increased by 47,914 as compared to 2019-20. Top States in terms of number of enrolment. UP, TN, Maharashtra, MP, Rajasthan, and Karnataka.
North Eastern States
Total enrolment was 12.06 in 2020-21. It was 9.36 lakhs in 2014-15. The number of female enrolments was 6.14 lakh in 2020-21. It was higher than for males! Males: 5.92 lakhs.
Third Interpol Young Global Police Leaders Program begins
Third Interpol Young Global Police Leaders Program begins: The third edition of the Interpol Young Global Police Leaders Program has been launched in New Delhi with the theme ‘Trust’.
An overview of the news
The Young Global Police Leaders Program will be conducted from 25 January to 2 February 2023. In which 60 participants from 44 countries are participating. The major objective of this program is to build trust among the public-police as well as international police forces. It is being organised by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
The event brings together Young Police Leaders to do important work in their respective countries and helps them develop an international perspective and understanding.
International Criminal Police Organisation/Interpol
Interpol was established in the year 1923 with the aim of facilitating criminal investigation across the world. Interpol consists of 195 countries including India. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in India is the associate agency of Interpol.
Headquarters – Lyon, France
Chairman – Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi
