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 8&9 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 – 8&9 January 2022
Power Grid Ranked 1st in Services Sector in PE Survey 2021-22
Power Grid Ranked 1st in Services Sector in PE Survey 2021-22: In the areas of Gross Block, Value Addition, Net Profit, Net Worth, Dividend Declaration, and Contribution to the Central Exchequer, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) was placed first in the services sector. It was also ranked third among the Top 10 profit-making Closes. The results were published in the Public Enterprises Survey 2021-2022 by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Power Grid Ranked 1st in Services Sector in PE Survey 2021-22- Key Points
- The Public Enterprises Survey is a unique data repository to measure the progress and contribution of the CPSEs to the Indian economy.
- As of December 31, 2022, POWERGRID and its subsidiary had 1,73,791 circuit kilometres of transmission lines in its entire transmission assets.
- It also includes 270 substations and a transformation capacity of 4,93,043 MVA.
- POWERGRID has maintained transmission system availability by more than 99%.
- This was possible with the use of state-of-the-art maintenance techniques, automation, and digitization.
About Powergrid Corporation of India Ltd
Powergrid Corporation of India Ltd is an Indian Central public sector under the ownership of the Ministry of Power, Government of India. It is engaged in the transmission of bulk power across different states of India. Gurugram is home to POWERGRID’s corporate headquarters. In India, the power grid transmits around 50% of all the power.
The Power Grid Corporation Ltd was incorporated on 23rd October 1989 under the Companies Act 1956. The original name of POWERGRID was “National Power Transmission Corporation Limited”.
Nation celebrates 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas on 9th January 2023
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas or NRI Day 2023: On January 9, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, also known as NRI Day, is publicly marked to commemorate the day Mahatma Gandhi arrived in Mumbai, India from South Africa. The day is celebrated to acknowledge the contribution of the non-resident Indian community in helping in the development of the country. From January 8–10, 2023, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, hosted the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. This year marks the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, often known as NRI Day.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2023: Theme
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the official theme of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2023 is “Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s Progress in Amrit Kaal.” The theme is the contribution of the Indian diaspora to the growth of the nation. It is important to note that every year a new theme is chosen to celebrate the day.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2023: Significance
The purpose of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is to give NRIs a forum to discuss their attitudes toward India and to build bridges of goodwill with their fellow citizens. It also entails informing the natives of their brothers’ accomplishments abroad and informing the foreigners of what their fellow citizens expect of them.
Another goal of the organisation is to establish a network of Indians living abroad in 110 different nations. educating the general public on the contribution that immigrants have made to India’s positive international relations. establishing a link between the rising Indian generation and the immigrant brethren. to talk about the challenges that Indian workers encounter when working abroad.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: History
The historical background of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas can be followed back to 2000 when the Public Authority of India chose to celebrate 9th January as a day for the NRI people group. The meaning of 9th January as NRI Day comes from the way that Mahatma Gandhi got back to India from South Africa on this day in 1915.
After this day was administered in 2000, it was first celebrated in 2003. Here are more insights concerning the historical backdrop of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas – The Pravasi Bhartiya Divas date is the 9th of January. Most people celebrated this as NRI Day in India. NRI Day and pravasi Bhartiya divas is the same thing.
CJI DY Chandrachud to be Conferred with “Award for Global Leadership”
CJI DY Chandrachud to be Conferred with “Award for Global Leadership”: The Harvard Law School Center on the Legal Profession (HLS CLP) has announced Chief Justice of India Dr. DY Chandrachud as the 2022 recipient of its “Award for Global Leadership” in recognition of his lifetime service to the legal profession in India and across the world. On January 11, 2023, he will receive the honour at a virtual ceremony.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
CJI DY Chandrachud to be Conferred with “Award for Global Leadership” – Key Points
- Chief Justice Dr. DY Chandrachud and Professor David Wilkins of Harvard Law School will converse at the occasion. The “Award for Global Leadership” is the Centre’s highest Professional Honor.
- The Centre brings together leading academics, legal practitioners, and thought leaders to honor and recognize individuals whose achievements have been impactful to the legal profession.
- Professor Wilkins has praised India and Justice Chandrachud’s contribution to issues such as the mental health and well-being of lawyers.
- Former US Permanent Representative to the UN and current Director of the Agency for International Development, Samantha Power, Brad Smith, Vice Chair of Microsoft, and Kenneth Frazier, Former Chair and CEO of Merck, are among the most recent honorees.
- Chief Justice Chandrachud, took oath as the Chief Justice of India in November 2022. He holds an LLM and an SJD from Harvard Law School.
About Dr. DY Chandrachud
Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandrachud is an Indian judge who is currently serving as the 50th Chief Justice of India. He is the former ex-officio executive chairman of the National Legal Services Authority while being J1 of the Supreme court of India. He is also the former chief justice of Allahabad Highcourt and former judge of Bombay High Court.
Forex Reserves at $562.9 bn; Fall by $70 bn in 2022
Forex Reserves at $562.9 bn; Fall by $70 bn in 2022: India’s foreign exchange reserves fell by $70.1 billion in 2022, data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shows. In the week ending December 30, the foreign exchange reserves were $562.9 billion. The RBI’s intervention in the currency markets to combat volatility and the depreciation of other important currencies that the central bank holds are both contributing factors to the fall in foreign exchange reserves. The RBI net sold $33.42 billion till September, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. The RBI holds major currencies including pound sterling, yen and euro in its reserves, which are expressed in US dollar terms.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Fall of The Rupee Through-out the Year:
- The rupee depreciated 10.2% against the US dollar in calendar year 2022.
- The rupee breached 80 against the dollar in September and has remained at Rs 81-82 levels since then.
- The rupee is likely to trade with an appreciating bias in the range of 81-83 against the dollar till March.
- In 2023, the Indian currency is expected to remain in the range of 80-83, the forex reserves and forward cover will aid in ensuring that the rupee will remain range bound.
A Reducing Import Cover:
By September 2021, forex reserves had reached a peak of $642.5 billion, before dropping to a low of $631.5 billion by the end of February 2022, when the conflict between Ukraine and Russia broke out. RBI had said that FX reserves of $564.1 billion as on December 9 are equivalent to 9.2 months worth of imports, lower than the projected 15 months of imports at the peak levels.
A Further Deteriorating Trend:
With the US Federal Reserve retaining a hawkish stance on interest rates, the rupee might breach 83 levels, according to analysts. On the trade front, the rupee will continue to be under pressure from imports of crude oil and other commodities.
Despite its slide, the rupee has been more resilient compared to its peers in other emerging markets due to RBI intervention. However, it has come at the cost of significant depletion in the foreign exchange reserves. According to reports, the foreign reserves slightly increased by $44 million over the week ending December 30. The increase was mainly due to increase in the gold reserves of $354 million, which was offset by decline of $302 million in the foreign currency assets. The RBI held 785.35 metric tonne of gold as of September 30.
Former West Bengal Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi passes away
Keshari Nath Tripathi: Keshari Nath Tripathi, a prominent member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a former governor of West Bengal, died at the age of 88. Tripathi, who was also a senior attorney at the Allahabad High Court, was born on November 10, 1934, in the former city of Allahabad. He joined RSS when he was just 12 and later switched to Bharatiya Jana Sangh. He was jailed in Naini Central Jail in 1953 for participating in the ‘Kashmir Andolan’ and again in 1990 for taking part in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
About the Keshari Nath Tripathi:
- A senior advocate of Allahabad high court, Tripathi served as a member of the UP Legislative Assembly six times. He served as the representative for Jhunsi from 1977 to 1980 and for Allahabad South for five terms in a row from 1989 to 2007. Between 1991 and 2004, he also held the office of Speaker of the UP Legislative Assembly three times.
- On July 14, 2014, Tripathi was appointed as the governor of West Bengal. He had additional charge of Bihar as governor twice and additional charge as governor of Meghalaya and Mizoram as well.
- An active leader who was admired across ranks in the BJP, Tripathi was elected MLA for the first time in 1977 from Jhunsi assembly constituency in Prayagraj district. After then, he won six more elections for the Assembly, with his most recent victory being in 2002 from the Allahabad South seat. He contested the 2007 and 2012 Assembly polls too but faced defeat both the times.
Prez Droupadi Murmu Laid foundation Stone of SJVN’s 1000 MW Bikaner Solar Power Project
Prez Droupadi Murmu Laid foundation Stone of SJVN’s 1000 MW Bikaner Solar Power Project: President Droupadi Murmu laid the foundation stone of state-owned energy firm SJVN’s 1,000 MV Bikaner Solar Power Project. The event was done virtually by the President of India in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The project is being implemented by SJVN Limited through its owned subsidiary SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL).
In the Rajasthani region of Bikaner, close to the village of Banderwala, 500 acres are being used for the solar power project. It is one of the highest solar yield areas in India.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Prez Droupadi Murmu Laid foundation Stone of SJVN’s 1000 MW Bikaner Solar Power Project – Key Points
- The Bikaner Solar Power Project has a development cost of Rs. 5492 crore and viability gap finance support of Rs. 44.72 per megawatt. The project is scheduled to be commissioned by March 2024.
- After commissioning the project will generate 2454.55 million units in the first year and approximately 56838 MU would be generated on a cumulative basis over 25 years.
- The maximum usage charges have been fixed at Rs 2.57 per unit.
- This will help in providing cheaper electricity to the consumer.
- Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also attended the event.
- Commissioning of this project will help the government to achieve the renewable target of 500 GW by 2030.
- Usage of domestically manufactured Solar Photovoltaic cells and modules shall give a push to the Make in India drive.
- The project will also lead to a reduction in Carbon emissions of 27,85,077 tonnes.
Kerala Becomes Country’s First Fully Digital Banking State
Kerala Becomes Country’s First Fully Digital Banking State: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared Kerala as the first state in the country to go fully digital in its banking service and said this recognition would boost the state economy. Vijayan said this achievement was possible due to social interventions through local self-government institutions along with infrastructure development and technological advances in the banking sector.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON) project:
It is a joint venture between the state, Kerala State Electricity Board, and the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Ltd. (KSITIL), with the state owning the remaining 2% and the two corporations holding 49% each. A consortium led by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) is executing the project and will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the 35,000-km-long network for the next seven years. Funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), the project is estimated to cost Rs 1,028.20 crore, which includes capital expenditure, administrative overheads and annual operational expenditure of Rs 104.4 crore.
Everyone in the state will have access to the internet thanks to the K-FON, and an optic fibre network measuring 17,155 km has been installed. Once the project gets completed, internet will be available to everyone in the state either for a cheaper price or for free-of-cost.
Kerala’s the right to Internet:
Kerala is the only State in India that has declared ‘the right to Internet’ as a basic right of its citizens. Rights become meaningful only when they can be exercised. The Kerala Fibre Optic Network project is our attempt to ensure that all Keralites can enjoy Internet-based services as a right. It is our effort to bridge the digital divide.
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance signs Suryakumar Yadav for a new campaign
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance: Cricketer Suryakumar Yadav will be featured in ICICI Prudential Life Insurance’s new digital-first campaign, “360° Financial Protection with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance.” According to the company, Yadav has emerged as a consistent and dependable batter in the white ball format since his international debut. The campaign’s central message is how ICICI Prudential Life Insurance offers a comprehensive suite of protection products providing all-around life cover that offers 360-degree financial protection in any critical situation.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Since making his international debut, Suryakumar Yadav has rapidly advanced to become one of the white ball format’s most dependable and consistent batters. The multi-dimensional batter is popularly known as “Mr. 360 degree” for his wide array of shots covering every inch of the field. His 360 degree playing style and his traits of dependability and consistency have a seamless fit with the values of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance which customers depend on. The Company also provides a 360 degree financial protection against any unfortunate event, critical illnesses, and accidents.
Y20 summit curtain raiser event
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SUMMIT:- Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, introduced the Y20 Summit’s themes, logo, and website at the curtain-raiser ceremony for the Y20 Summit India in New Delhi. India is hosting the Y20 summit for the first time. Panel Discussion on “How India can harness its youth population to be a superpower” was also held in the second session of today’s event.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Anurag Thakur also spoke about the Themes of Y20 i.e.
- Future of Work: Industry 4.0, Innovation & 21st Century skills,
- Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability a way of life,
- Peacebuilding and Reconciliation: Ushering in an era of No War,
- Shared Future: Youth in Democracy and Governance and Health, Wellbeing & Sports: Agenda for Youth.
For India, the G20 Presidency also heralds the start of “Amritkaal,” the 25-year period starting from the country’s 75th anniversary of independence on 15 August 2022 and ending with its 100th anniversary of independence. During this time, India will work to create a futuristic, prosperous, inclusive, and developed society that is distinguished by a human-centric approach at its core. India is playing a significant role in finding workable solutions at the international level to ensure holistic well-being embodying the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
ABOUT Y20:-
The Y20 is the G20’s (Group of 20) official youth engagement group. The G20 is a forum for the biggest and most developed economies in the world. The Y20 is a process which brings together young leaders from across the globe, to discuss and debate global challenges and agree policy recommendations they would like to see G20 leaders take forward.
The list of policy recommendations is known as a communiqué, which is announced publicly at the Y20 Summit and presented to world leaders as part of the official G20 summit. India is hosting the Y20 summit for the first time.
India’s main goal in the Youth 20 Engagement Group is to gather young leaders from all across the world to explore concepts for a better future and create an action plan. The activities to be undertaken by Y20 during India’s presidency will focus on global youth leadership and partnership. In a run-up to the final Youth-20 Summit, for the next eight months, there will be Pre summits on the five Y20 themes along with various discussions and seminars at different Universities across the country.
2022 makes it to the top five: IMD
WHAT DOES THE REPORT SAY:- Over India, the annual mean land surface air temperature in 2022 was +0.51 degrees Celsius higher than the long-term average (1981-2010 period). Since national records began in 1901, the year 2022 ranked as the sixth warmest on record. Although greater than the previous year 2021 (anomaly of +0.440C), this is still lower than the maximum warming recorded over India in 2016 (anomaly of +0.710C). The all India mean temperatures during the winter (January to February) season was normal with anomaly of -0.04°C while during other seasons, it was above normal ( pre-monsoon (March to May) season (anomaly of ±1.06°C), monsoon (June to September) season (anomaly of +0.36°C) and post-monsoon (October to December) season (anomaly of +0.52°C).
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
The five warmest years on record, in descending order were 2016 (+0.71°C), 2009(+0.55°C), 2017 (+0.541°C), 2010 (+0.539°C) and 2022 (+0.51°C). It may be mentioned that 11 out of the 15 warmest years were during the recent fifteen years (2008- 2022).
Impacts of Extreme Weather Events 2022:-
Tropical Cyclones in the Indian Seas:
In 2022, there were three cyclones formed over the north Indian Ocean. Of these, two were Severe Cyclonic Storms “ASANI” and “MANDOUS” and one was Cyclonic Storm “SITRANG”.All the cyclones formed over the Bay of Bengal.
Other than Tropical Cyclones, various parts of the country also experienced Extreme Weather Events like extremely heavy rainfall, landslide, lightning, thunderstorm, etc. There was also significant flooding in India at various stages during the monsoon season, particularly in the north-east in June 2022.
