Daily Current Affairs For BPSC as on 19.01.2023

NATIONAL:

1. Doppler Weather Radar Network

Why in news – Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the entire country would be covered by Doppler Weather Radar Network by 2025.

Key Points –

• Aim - to predict extreme weather events more accurately.

• Total radar network in India - 37 in 2023. It would add 25 more in the next 2-3 years.

• Formed in 1875, the IMD (Hq – New Delhi) is a principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology.

• IMD became a member of the World Meteorological Organisation in April 1949.

2. Saansad Khel Mahakumbh 2022-23

Why in news – PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the 2nd phase of Saansad Khel Mahakumbh 2022-23 on Jan 18, 2023.

Key Points –

• It was organised in Basti district in UP.

• The first phase of the Khel Mahakumbh was organised from 10th to 16th December 2022.

3. Complete E-Governance

Why in news – Jammu & Kashmir has become the first union territory in India to completely switch to a digital method of administration.

Key Points –

• All governmental and administrative services in this union territory are currently ‘only’ offered digitally.

4. Lumpy Skin Disease

Why in news – The Jammu and Kashmir government has declared the whole union territory as "Free Area" for purposes of Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals (PCICDA) Act, 2009.

Key Points –

• Reason - No cases of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) have been reported from any district of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

• PCICDA Act, 2009 - Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals.

INTERNATIONAL:

1. China’s Population Falls

Why in news - According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, its population fell to 1,411.8 million in 2022, from 1,412.6 million in 2021.

Key Points –

• As per United Nations projections, India’s population stood at 1,417.2 million in 2022 (more than China’s) and is expected to reach 1,428.6 million in 2023.

• Crude death rate (CDR) — The number of persons dying per year per 1,000 population - 7.3 (China) and 7.4 (India) in 2020.

• Total fertility rate (TFR) – For India, it is 2.0 in 2019-21 (NFHS- 5) which is below replacement level (2.1). China - 1.3 in 2020.

• China officially ended its one-child policy, introduced in 1980, from 2016.

2. Ebola Disease Outbreak

Why in news - Uganda declared the end of the Ebola disease outbreak on Jan 11, 2023.

Key Points –

• It is caused by the Sudan ebolavirus.

• The first case was confirmed in the central Mubende district in September 20, 2022.

• Ebola, formerly known as haemorrhagic fever, is a rare, severe and fatal disease in humans.

• It was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.



3. Lucile Randon

Why in news - The world's oldest known person, French nun Lucile Randon, has died aged 118.

Key Points –

• She passed away on January 17, 2023.

• She was born in southern France on February 11, 1904.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:

1. PARAKH

Why in news - NCERT has notified India’s first national assessment regulator PARAKH.

Key Points –

• It would work on setting norms, standards and guidelines for student assessment and evaluation for all recognised school boards in the country.

• It was launched as part of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020.

• The next National Achievement Survey (NAS) in 2024 would be conducted by PARAKH.

• PARAKH - Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development.

ENVIRONMENT:

1. Neelakurinji

Why in news - Ministry of Environment has listed Neelakurinji under Schedule III of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Key Points –

• Neelakurinji is a shrub that grows in the shola forests of the Western Ghats in South India.

• It blooms once every 12 years.

• Scientific Name: Strobilanthes kunthiana.

• The Eravikulam National Park, near Munnar, is known for widespread blooming of the kurinji.

REPORTS & INDICES:

1. Global Economic Prospects Report

Why in news – The World Bank released the Global Economic Prospects report.

Key Points –

• As per World Bank, Pakistan is South Asia’s weakest economy.

• The World Bank in its report said that Pakistan’s economic growth would slow further to 2% in 2023.

• Floods in Pakistan in July 2022 was cited as the main reason for the faltering economic situation.

• Pakistan’s forex reserves have hit a new low of USD 4.6 billion which would be barely adequate to pay for foreign bills for three weeks.

AWARDS & HONOURS:

1. 28th Critics Choice Awards 2023

Why in news - The 28th Critics Choice Awards were held on Jan 16, 2023.

Key Points –

• RRR won the Best Song award for Naatu Naatu, as well as Best Foreign Language film.

• The film had earlier scored a victory at the Golden Globes as the song Naatu Naatu won for Best Song.

• RRR was also nominated for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Visual Effects.

ECONOMY:

1. Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS)

Why in news - Paytm Payments Bank has received final approval from RBI to operate as a Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit (BBPOU).

Key Points –

• Under BBPS, a BBPOU is allowed to facilitate bill payment services of electricity, phone, DTH etc.

• BBPS is owned by the National Payments Corporation of India.

FESTIVALS:

1. Jallikattu 2023

Why in news - ‘Jallikattu’ event (Mancuvirattu) started in full swing in three villages of Tamil Nadu’s Madurai.

Key Points –

• It is a sport where a bull is let loose among a crowd and people participating in the sport are supposed to take control of the bull by holding on to its hump for as long as they can.

• Jallikattu is a popular sport played during the Pongal harvest in mid-January.

BIHAR:

1. ASER Report 2022

Why in news - The annual status of education report (ASER) – 2022 was released by Pratham Foundation.

Key Points –

• The ASER report covered 52,959 children across 1,140 villages in 38 districts of Bihar.

• The attendance in primary schools increased marginally from 56.5% in 2018 to 59.3% in 2022 (national average - 72.9%).

• The teachers’ attendance in primary schools showed higher increase during the period from 68.5% to 80.9% (national average - 86.8%).

• Bihar witnessed 4% increase in government school enrolment between 2018 (78.1%) and 2022 (82.2%).

• The number of 15-16-year-old girls not enrolled in school has fallen to 6.7% in 2022 from 28.2% in 2006.

• In arithmetic levels, Bihar has done better than the national average (21.6%).

• Against the nation average of 30.5% students going in for paid tuition, it is 71.7% in Bihar.

• In government schools, enrolment has risen from 78.1% in 2018 to 82.2% by 2022. (Total enrolment - 98%).

2. Smart City Award 2022

Why in news – Two projects of smart city Patna have been included in the top 13 smart cities.

Key Points –

• Two schemes are –

A. Smart Adalatganj talab

B. Swachhangini scheme.

• Swachhangini Women sanitation workers safely clean a sewer using a new mechanized system in Patna.

POINTERS:

• In which city was the Think-20 meeting organized – Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

• Which company has launched an ambulance service for delivery partners and their dependents - Swiggy.

• Who has set a Guinness World Record by creating 'mirror typing' books - Michele Santelia (Italy).

• Who has won the Spanish Super Cup by defeating Real Madrid 3-1 - Barcelona.

• Who has won the Best Actor award at the Critics' Choice Awards 2023 - Brendan Fraser, (The Whale).

• NTPC Renewable Energy Limited has tied up with which state government for cooperation in renewable energy development – Tripura.

• In which country the last Nizam of Hyderabad passed away – Turkey.

• India has announced to donate 12,500 doses of pentavalent vaccine to which country - Cuba.

• Which state has announced a new policy to regularize unauthorized construction inside GIDC industrial estates – Gujarat.

• Who has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) - Anurag Kumar.

 

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