4th Week National Affairs Flashcards
- Name the company that has recently (in Nov ‘23) formed a strategic partnership with the
Survey of India (SoI) to create a three-dimensional (3D) digital twin-mapping programme in
India.
1) Genesys International
2) Indrones Solutions Private Limited
3) GeoSpoc Geospatial Services Limited
4) Tresreis Technologies
5) GIS Matrix Services Limited
Answer- 1) Genesys International
Explanation:
The Survey of India (SoI), the National Survey and Mapping Organization of India, and Genesys
International, an Indian mapping company that provides Geospatial solutions, have formed a
strategic partnership to create a three-dimensional (3D) digital twin-mapping programme in India.
• With this partnership, Genesys thus becomes the 1st company to have a public-private
agreement with SoI for digital twinning.
Note: The 3D digital twin will be used by government departments for new initiatives.
i. This aims to develop digital twins of major cities and towns of India, using Genesys’ all-India highly-
accurate navigable maps, the Genesys constellation of sensors and SOI’s Continuously Operating
Reference Stations (CORS) network (902 stations), which allows for real-time high precision
positioning data.
- Which state/UT’s Kishtwar Saffron has recently (in Nov ‘23) got Geographical Indication (GI)
tag status?
1) Uttarakhand
2) Jammu and Kashmir
3) Himachal Pradesh
4) Ladakh
5) Sikkim
Answer- 2) Jammu and Kashmir
Explanation:
Kishtwar Saffron brand, which is cultivated and harvested in the Kishtwar Region of the Union
Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the GI
Registry under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce
and Industry.
i. This recognition emphasizes the distinctive identity and exceptional quality of saffron grown in the
Kishtwar region. The saffron is cultivated in the elevated terrains of Kishtwar and some parts of
Kashmir.
ii. Kishtwar’s saffron, locally known as Kumkum, is also a key cash crop in Jammu’s isolated
mountainous district of Kishtwar that has high medicinal value.
- In which city, All India Football Federation (AIFF)-International Federation of Association
Football (FIFA) Talent Academy was inaugurated in November 2023?
1) Mumbai, Maharashtra
2) Bhubaneswar, Odisha
3) Guwahati, Assam
4) Hyderabad, Telangana
5) Ranchi, Jharkhand
Answer- 2) Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Explanation:
Odisha Chief Minister (CM) Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the All India Football Federation (AIFF)-
International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Talent Academy at Kalinga stadium in
Bhubaneswar, Odisha in the presence of Arsene Wenger, Chief of Global Football Development at
FIFA and former Arsenal manager.
i. This strategic initiative is a collaborative effort between AIFF, FIFA, and the Odisha government to
elevate football development in India.
ii. A total of 50 talented football players, including 15 from Odisha, in the Under-14 category, will be
selected for the AIFF-FIFA academy from across India.
iii. The academy will be headed by a FIFA-appointed coach along with various coaches and staff from
AIFF and the Odisha government.
- In November 2023, India became the Chair of ______________ (Organisation) for 2024.
1) Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
2) International Civil Aviation Organization
3) Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
4) International Sugar Organisation
5) International Olympic Committee
Answer- 4) International Sugar Organisation
Explanation:
On November 24, 2023, India became the Chair of International Sugar Organisation (ISO), apex
international body on sugar and related products, for 2024. This was announced during the 63rd
council meeting of ISO in London, United Kingdom (UK).
• Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution in the Ministry of
Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution attended the meeting.
i. As the Chair of ISO, India will lead the global sugar sector.
ii. India will focus on uniting the members of ISO to adopt more sustainable practices in sugarcane
cultivation, sugar and ethanol production and better utilisation of by-products.
Note- Ethanol blending percentage in India has increased from 5% in 2019-20 to 12% in Ethanol
Supply Year (ESY) 2022–23 (December 2022–October 2023) while the production has increased from
173 crore litres to more than 500 crore litres during the same period.
• The target for ESY 2023–24 (November 2023–October 2024) is 15%.
- In November 2023, _________ (state) Government declared November 25 as “no non-veg day”
to mark the 144th birth anniversary of Sadhu Thanwardas Lilaram Vaswani.
1) Madhya Pradesh
2) Bihar
3) Gujarat
4) Uttar Pradesh
5) Maharashtra
Answer- 4) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation:
Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh (UP) government has declared November 25 as “no non-veg
day” to mark 144th birth anniversary of Sadhu Thanwardas Lilaram Vaswani.
• The day coincides with the observance of International Meatless Day on November 25.
• The announcement was made after the UP government imposed a ban on the production,
storage, distribution and sale of food products with halal certification.
i. Sadhu Thanwardas Lilaram Vaswani was born on 25th November 1879, in Hyderabad, Sind (now in
Pakistan)and died on January 16, 1966.
ii. He founded the Mira Movement in 1933, with an aim to empower and educate women and set up
St. Mira’s School in Hyderabad (Telangana), Sindh(province of Pakistan).
iii. On 25th November 1986, it was declared that Dada JP Vaswani’s birth anniversary will be
observed annually as International Meatless Day.
- Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the recent announcement
made by the National Biofuels Coordination Committee (NBCC) in November 2023?
A) The National Biofuels Coordination Committee (NBCC), chaired by Union Minister of
Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri announced a phased-wise mandatory blending
of Compressed Biogas (CBG) in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Piped Natural Gas (PNG).
B) The CBG is to be blended in CNG for transport and PNG for domestic gas segments of the City
Gas Distribution (CGD).
C) The CBG Blending Obligation (CBO) will be implemented in phases, with voluntary
participation until the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024–2025.
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
The National Biofuels Coordination Committee (NBCC), chaired by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG) announced a phased-wise mandatory blending of Compressed Biogas (CBG) in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Piped Natural Gas (PNG).
• The CBG is to be blended in CNG for transport and PNG for domestic gas segments of the City Gas Distribution (CGD).
• The CBG Blending Obligation (CBO) will promote the production and consumption of CBG in India.
i. The CBO will be implemented in phases, with voluntary participation until the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024–2025, followed by mandatory blending obligation from FY 2025–2026.
ii. The initial mandatory blending percentages are set at 1%, 3%, and 4% of total CNG/PNG consumption for FYs 2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28 respectively.
• From 2028-29 onwards, the CBO will increase to 5%.
- In which city, Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan has recently (in Nov ‘23) inaugurated the Odisha Research Centre (ORC) to develop innovative epistemological
frameworks for the Study of Culture & History?
1) Debagarh
2) Bhubaneswar
3) Rourkela
4) Balasore
5) Khordha
Answer- 2) Bhubaneswar
Explanation:
Union Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE), has inaugurated Odisha Research
Centre (ORC) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha which aims to develop innovative epistemological
frameworks to explore varied and nuanced dimensions of Odisha’s history, culture, economy and
society.
• The inauguration event also witnessed the presence of Biswabhusan Harichandan (Governor of
Chhattisgarh), Raghubar Das (Governor of Odisha) and Bhartruhari Mahtab(Member of
Parliament from Cuttack constituency).
i. The centre will carry out research in art, culture, archaeology, tradition and literature, sociology of
Odisha, political process and political culture, agriculture, commerce, business and industry,
development trends of contemporary Odisha, science & technology and healthcare, and future
technology.
ii. The Centre will also work on smart cities, climate change, environmental protection and
sustainable development, semiconductors, and rare earths and advanced minerals.
- Which of the following points is/are “correct” with respect to the Indo-Pacific Regional
Dialogue 2023 (IPRD-2023) held in November 2023
A) The 5th edition of IPRD-2023 was held with the theme ‘Geopolitical Impacts upon Indo-
Pacific Maritime Trade and Connectivity’ in New Delhi, Delhi.
B) The Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar released a book entitled ‘Building Partnerships –
India and International Cooperation for Maritime Security’ published by National Maritime
Foundation (NMF).
C) The NMF signed 4MoUs of cooperation with four think-tanks in the Indo-Pacific, including
MoU signed with Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE), Nepal.
1) Only A
2) Only A & B
3) Only B & C
4) Only A & C
5) All A, B & C
Answer- 5) All A, B & C
Explanation:
The 5th edition of ‘Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2023” (IPRD-2023) was held from November 15-
17, 2023, the three-day annual apex-level regional strategic dialogue of the Indian Navy (IN), in New Delhi , Delhi, with the theme ‘Geopolitical Impacts upon Indo-Pacific Maritime Trade and
Connectivity’.
• IPRD-2023 Saw Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by National Maritime
Foundation (NMF). It also saw the release of several publications.
• The IPRD-2023 was organised by IN in collaboration with NMF as its knowledge partner.
• IPRD is recognized as maritime counterpart to Raisina Dialogue, highlighting maritime
connectivity’s role in India’s economic progress and the India-Middle-East-Europe Economic
Corridor (IMEC) from the G20 Summit.
• Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar was the Chief Guest for the Commemorative Session
and Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance, delivered the Special Address.
• The Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar released a book entitled ‘Building Partnerships – India
and International Cooperation for Maritime Security’ published by NMF.
• NMF signed MoUs of cooperation with the following four think-tanks in the Indo-Pacific:
• Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE), Nepal;
• Global Centre for Policy and Strategy (GLOCEPS), Kenya
• Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), Vietnam
• The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi, Delhi.
- In November 2023, Union Minister Smriti Zubin Irani, Ministry of Women and Child
Development (MoWCD), launched the Anganwadi Protocol for Divyang (disabled) Children in
an event held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
The protocol provides guidelines for Anganwadi workers to track and help children with
disabilities upto the age of __________.
1) 5
2) 8
3) 6
4) 4
5) 7
Answer- 3) 6
Explanation:
Union Minister Smriti Zubin Irani, Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), has
launched the Anganwadi Protocol for Divyang (disabled) Children in an event held in Vigyan Bhawan,
New Delhi, Delhi.
• The protocol provides guidelines for Anganwadi workers to track and help children with
disabilities upto the age of 6.
i. The protocol is an important commitment under the Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi program of Mission
Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.
ii. It provides training to Anganwadi workers. The Anganwadi eco-system reaches out to over eight
crore children on a daily basis. The children can be further tracked through the Poshan tracker.
- As of November 2023, In which Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), India’s first Telecom
Centre of Excellence (CoE) is set to be established?
1) IIT Delhi
2) IIT Madras
3) IIT Guwahati
4) IIT Roorkee
5) IIT Bombay
Answer- 4) IIT Roorkee
Explanation:
India’s first Telecom Centre of Excellence (CoE) will be established at the Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Roorkee campus in Saharanpur, in Uttar Pradesh (UP). The UP Government will
fund around Rs.30 crore for its establishment.
i. The center will focus on connecting 5G technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop
innovative devices and technologies and will also prepare a base for the launch of 6G technologies.
ii. The foundation stone for the same will be laid by the Chief Minister (CM) of UP Yogi Adityanath on
December 5, 2023.
iii. The Objective of Telecom CoE to develop and promote new technology in the field of telecom.
- In November 2023, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW), rebranded the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs)
as ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandirs‘.
The funds required for renaming the existing facilities have been proposed at Rs. _________ per
facility.
1) Rs. 5,000
2) Rs. 3,000
3) Rs. 6,000
4) Rs. 1,000
5) Rs. 4,000
Answer- 2) Rs. 3,000
Explanation:
On 25th November 2023, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
(MoHFW), rebranded the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) as ‘Ayushman
Arogya Mandirs‘.
• The rebranded AB-HWCs will carry a new tagline ‘Arogyam Parmam Dhanam’.
i. MoHFW has instructed all the states to carry out the rebranding process & to complete it by the end
of 2023.
ii. The funds required for renaming the existing facilities have been proposed at Rs. 3,000 per
facility.
iii. The states must upload new photographs of primary health facilities (which carry the new name)
on the AB-HWC portal.
iv. However, the logo of the National Health Mission (NHM) will be retained as such.
