Daily Current Affairs Today MCQ : 21 February 2023 Quiz

India’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow at 6.2 per cent in FY24 as drivers of domestic demand remain intact amid fears of an impending slowdown, Morgan Stanley said in a research report released.

Earlier, the Union Budget for FY24 had projected nominal GDP growth at 10.5 per cent, as the centre increased the capital investment outlay steeply for the third year in a row by 33 per cent to Rs 10 trillion.

The Economic Survey for 2022-23 projected that India would witness a growth between 6-6.8 per cent in FY24, depending on the trajectory of economic and geo-political developments globally.

India is on track to become the world’s third largest economy by 2027, surpassing Japan and Germany, and have the third largest stock market by 2030.

Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has signed an MoU with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the domestic manufacture and supply of its Long-Range Artillery Weapon System (LORA) for the Indian Tri-services.

This state-of-the-art strategic weapon system will be manufactured by BEL, as the prime contractor, based on the workshare arrangement with IAI.

Key Points -

The MoU was signed at the ongoing Aero India 2023.

It is in line with the Government of India’s "Make in India" initiative for major weapon systems.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed that India is set to spend 75% of defense capital outlay on procurement from domestic firms.

The LORA system provides ballistic assault capabilities for multiple ranges with a precision level of 10 meters CEP (circular error probable).

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is an Indian Government-owned aerospace and defense electronics company.

World Pangolin Day is observed annually on the third Saturday in February, and this year it falls on February 18.

It is a day to remember and celebrate pangolins, raise awareness and fight against global pangolin capture in Africa and Asia.

Pangolin Day marks the 12th edition of the event.

World Pangolin Day provides us with an opportunity to increase our awareness of these remarkable animals and the threats they face.

About Pangolin -

There are eight species of pangolin:

4 Species in Africa: Black-bellied pangolin, White-bellied pangolin, Giant Ground pangolin and Temminck’s Ground pangolin.

4 Species in Asia: Indian pangolin, Philippine pangolin, Sunda pangolin and the Chinese pangolin.

The Kollam district panchayat has won the Swaraj Trophy for the best district panchayat in the State for the 2021-22 financial year.

The Kannur district panchayat stood second in the rankings.

Kollam district, is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India.

The district has a cross-section of Kerala’s natural attributes.

It is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an inland lake.

Key Points -

The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation bagged the trophy for the best corporation.

The Mulanthuruthy grama panchayat won the award for the best grama panchayat in the State and Pappinissery and Marangattupilly grama panchayats won the second and third places.

The award for the best block panchayat went to Perumpadappu, while Kodakara and Nedumangad won the second and third places.

Tirurangadi won the award for the best municipality, while Wadakkanchery and Sulthan Bathery won the second and third places.

The Kallikkad grama panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram won the Mahatma award for the best implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

The Kollam Corporation won the Mahatma Ayyankali award for the implementation of the Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme (AUEGS).

Wadakkanchery and Vaikom won the award for municipalities.

Antaris announced that the world’s first satellite fully conceived, designed and manufactured using the company’s end-to-end cloud platform, JANUS-1 has successfully reached orbit.

JANUS-1 was launched by the Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) SSLV-D2 rocket.

JANUS-1 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre of India under a commercial arrangement with New Space India Limited (NSIL).

Key Points -

The JANUS-1 satellite features five payloads from a range of global providers, which will be commissioned and begin nominal operations.

JANUS-1 is a 6U satellite featuring payload and subsystem technologies from AICRAFT, Morpheus Space, Netra, SayariLabs Kenya, SpeQtral, Transceles, trial, and Zero-Error Systems (ZES).

It will perform internet of things (IoT) communications, advanced experimental laser communications, radio communications, and machine learning (ML) during orbit.

Antaris SatOS software manages core bus responsibilities while orchestrating multitenant payloads and onboard computing—in addition to showcasing secure TT&C protocols with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and ATLAS Space Operations, who are providing ground communications services.

The project was completed in just 10 months from concept to launch readiness with a cost savings of 75% over comparable satellite missions.

To improve the quality of life and encourage people to stay in their native locations in border areas, the union government announced a Rs 4800 crore centrally sponsored scheme for four years through FY26.

The Cabinet approved the "Vibrant Villages Programme" to ensure the comprehensive development of villages along the northern border areas.

Out of the financial allocation of Rs 4800 crore, Rs 2500 crore would be used for constructing roads.

Vibrant Villages Programme -

The scheme will provide funds for the development of essential infrastructure and creation of livelihood opportunities in 19 Districts and 46 Border blocks 4 states and 1 UT along the northern land border of the country which will help in achieving inclusive growth and retaining the population in the border areas. In the first phase 663 Villages will be taken up in the programme.

The scheme would help in encouraging people to stay in their native locations in border areas and reversing the outmigration from these villages adding to improved security of the border.

Famous Yakshagana singer and screenwriter Balipa Narayan Bhagwat passed away at the age of 85.

He had mastered a unique style of singing, due to which fans have given it the name of "Balipa Style".

Bhagwat has written more than 30 Yakshagana "Prasanga" (scripts).

He was well versed in over 100 Yakshagana episodes, which he composed by heart.

He had served in the field of Yakshagana for about 60 years.

He was the chief Bhagwat of Kateel Durgaparameshwari Prasadita Yakshagana Mandali (Kateel Mela).

Born on April 13, 1938 in Padre village of Kasargod district (Kerala), Bhagavata wrote several Yakshagana episodes.

He was honoured with several other awards including the "Karnataka Sri" award in 2002 for All India Kannada literature.

The Central Water Commission (CWC), Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti entered into a Memorandum of Agreement for Development of International Centre of Excellence for Dams (ICED).

This will be under externally funded Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project Phase II and Phase III.

ICED, Roorkee will provide specialized technical support services to the Indian and overseas dam owners.

It will also carry out applied research, education, and technology transfer in dam safety management at local, regional, national, and international levels.

Tata Motors has appointed Rajan Amba as the Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover India.

He will take charge on March 1, 2023.

Rajan will be replacing Rohit Suri, who announced his retirement from the position of MD and President back in January 2023.

Prior to joining Tata Motors, Amba was the Chief Operating Officer at Carat Lane.

He also held several top managerial posts at Titan and Nike.

Tata Motors Founded: 1945, Mumbai

Tata Motors Headquarters: Mumbai

Tata Motors Founder: J. R. D. Tata

The Indian Cricketer Chetan Sharma submitted his resignation letter to Jay Shah, secretary of BCCI and instantly received approval for the same.

In February 2023, he came under severe attack after he reveals confidential information about the Indian Cricket Team.

Indian National Cricket Selectors is a committee of cricket administrators.

It is usually composed of former cricket players and is appointed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Its responsibility is to select members of cricket teams to represent India at various levels.

The term for selectors was increased from one year to two years in 2006, with a provision for an additional year based on performance.

The selectors are appointed by the BCCI’s three-member Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC).