This is the current affairs of 14 October 2023. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
PDF Download: Click here
1. In which Olympic Games the proposal to include cricket was approved by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)?
a. Paris 2024
b. Los Angeles 2028
c. Brisbane 2032
d. None Of these
Answer: b. Los Angeles 2028
– International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has stated that a proposal to include five new sports in the 2028 Olympics (Los Angeles) was put forward.
– These sports include T20 cricket, baseball, flag football, squash, and lacrosse.
– The IOC’s Executive Committee has approved it.
– However, the final decision will be made through voting during the 141st session of the IOC in Mumbai on October 15-16.
Cricket will be included in the Olympics 128 years later.
– Cricket was last included in the 1900 Paris – Olympics, during which the British cricket team emerged victorious against France.
————–
2. What is India’s rank in the Global Hunger Index 2023?
a. 66
b. 97
c. 115
d. 111
Answer: d. 111
– India has slipped to the 111th position in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023, which covers 125 countries.
– India’s score in this index is 28.7 out of 100, which falls in the ‘serious’ category of hunger severity. Progress in reducing hunger has nearly stalled since 2015.
– However, the central government has consistently expressed concerns about India’s performance, attributing it to flawed methodologies.
India’s rankings in previous years:
– 2023: 111th out of 125 countries
– 2022: 107th out of 121 countries
– 2021: 101st out of 116 countries
– 2020: 94th out of 107 countries
– 2019: 102nd out of 117 countries
Who issued the report
– Irish aid agency Concern Worldwide and German organization Welt Hunger Hilfe have jointly released the Global Hunger Index for October 2023.
– Through this index, hunger and malnutrition in the world are monitored.
How is the Global Hunger Index calculated?
– This index is calculated based on the GHI scores of countries.
There are four indicators in the GHI score:
1- Undernourishment (the condition of insufficient nutrient quality and quantity for the body, often referred to as undernourishment)
2- Child Mortality (the mortality rate of children under the age of five)
3- Child Stunting (children under the age of five whose height is low for their age, indicating chronic malnutrition)
4- Child Wasting (children under the age of five whose weight is low for their height, indicating acute malnutrition)
India’s Status in GHI 2023:
1- 16.6% of India’s population is undernourished.
2- 3.1% of children under the age of five die.
3- 35.5% of children under the age of five are stunted.
4- 18.7% of children under the age of five have low weight for their height.
Global Hunger Index: Focus on the Fight Against Hunger Worldwide
– The pause in the global fight against hunger is due to the combined effects of “unprecedented crises,” including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, economic slowdowns, the impacts of climate change, and more.
Top Countries:
– Belarus, Chile, China, Kuwait, and 16 other countries share the same score and hold the top positions.
– Note: The United States, the United Kingdom, and several other countries are not included in this index.
Status of Neighboring Countries:
– China: Ranked 1 to 20 (with a score of less than 5).
– Sri Lanka: Ranked 60 (with a score of 13.3).
– Bangladesh: Ranked 81 (with a score of 19.0).
– Pakistan: Ranked 102 (with a score of 26.2).
– Afghanistan: Ranked 114 (with a score of 30.6).
India’s Government Response:
– The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) once again raised questions about the GHI and referred to it as an “imperfect measure of hunger that does not accurately reflect India’s situation.”
Initiatives to Combat Hunger and Malnutrition in India
National Food Security Act, 2013:
– This act grants the right to receive subsidized food products under the Targeted Public Distribution System to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population.
POSHAN Abhiyan:
– Full Form : PM’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment
– Launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
– The aim of this scheme is to reduce stunting, anemia, and undernutrition.
Food Fortification:
– Food fortification is a process in which essential vitamins and minerals (iron, iodine, zinc, vitamin A, and D) are added to key food products such as milk, rice, and salt to improve their nutritional content.
Mission Indradhanush:
– Under this mission, vaccination against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) is provided to children under two years of age and pregnant women.
Eat Right India Movement:
– This is an initiative by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) aimed at transforming the country’s food system to ensure safe, healthy, and clean food for all.
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme:
– This scheme was initiated in 1975.
– It provides a package of six services to children in the 0-6 years age group, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
—————-
3. Israel asks 1 million Palestinians to leave northern Gaza area
– On October 13, 2023, Israel has instructed all the residents of Northern Gaza to evacuate the area and move southward within 24 hours.
– About half of Gaza’s population, approximately 1 million people, live in this region.
– The Israeli Defense Forces have announced that in the coming days, the military will continue its operations in the city of Gaza and will also make efforts to ensure that the civilian population is not affected.
– The military claims that Hamas fighters are hiding in the tunnels under the city and among residential buildings in Gaza, mingling with the local population.
More than three lakh soldiers mobilized:
– In preparation for the assault on Gaza, Israel has deployed 100,000 soldiers, and over 360,000 reserve soldiers are being called up. It is anticipated that Israel intends to seize control of Gaza territory.
United Nations Warns of Serious Humanitarian Consequences:
– The United Nations has stated that Israel’s actions will affect nearly 1 to 1.1 million people.
– In a statement, the United Nations has said, “The United Nations believes that such a large number of people being displaced from one place to another will have serious humanitarian consequences.”
– United Nations agencies and International Red Cross teams have been seen moving from the city of Gaza towards the south. It is possible that preparations for evacuation are underway.
– This area is densely populated, and the number of casualties, including children and the elderly, has already increased in hospitals due to Israel’s previous attacks.
—————–
4. The 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers Summit (P20) was held in which city?
a. Mumbai
b. Paris
c. Chennai
d. New Delhi
Answer: d. New Delhi
– P20 Summit: When and Where Organized: The P20 Summit was held on October 13 and 14, 2023, at the Vigyan Bhavan Convention Center in New Delhi.
– The summit was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
– It includes participation from speakers and presidents of parliamentary bodies from G20 countries.
What PM Modi Said:
– Prime Minister Modi expressed regret that even in the United Nations, there is no consensus on the definition of terrorism.
– Without naming the crisis in Israel, he said that what is happening in different parts of the world today is affecting everyone.
– “Terrorism, wherever it may be, and for whatever reason, is against humanity.”
– PM Modi mentioned how nearly 20 years ago, terrorists targeted the Indian Parliament. At that time, the Parliament was in session, and the terrorists’ intention was to capture and eliminate the parliamentarians. The world is realizing the magnitude of the challenge posed by terrorism.
Canadian Parliament Speaker Absent
– The Speaker of the Canadian Parliament did not participate in this meeting. In June, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of involvement in the assassination of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India-Canada relations have been strained. India had dismissed these allegations as “baseless.”
– Lok Sabha Speaker – Om Birla
– Rajya Sabha Chairman – Jagdeep Dhankhar
—————-
5. Which Tamil writer was honored with Saraswati Samman 2022?
a. Shivshankari
b. Advan Sundaram
c. Balakumaran
d. Charu Nivedita
Answer: a. Shivshankari
– She was honored with this award for her autobiography “Surya Vamsam” on October 12, 2023.
– This award was presented by the K.K. Birla Foundation, and it was conferred upon her by the former Union Minister M. Veerappa Moily.
– Along with the award, she also received a citation, a plaque, and a prize of 1.5 million rupees.
– The selection committee for this book was chaired by former Supreme Court judge Arjun Kumar Sikri.
– “Surya Vamsam” provides a deep insight into the life of an innocent child.
– Shivashankari has authored 36 novels, 150 short stories, five travelogues, seven collections of essays, and three autobiographies.
– She has also prepared two collections of Tamil short stories.
About Saraswati Award:
– The Saraswati Award is one of India’s most prestigious literary awards.
– So far, 32 Saraswati Awards have been bestowed upon deserving authors, including Shivashankari’s “Surya Vamsam,” which is now part of this illustrious list.
—————-
6. Which two companies of Railway Ministry got Navratna status in October 2023?
a. IRCTC and IRCON
b. IRFC & RITES LTD
c. Delhi Metro and IRCTC
d. IRCON AND RITES LTD
Answer: d. IRCON AND RITES LTD
– On October 12, 2023, the Ministry of Finance declared Eircon (Eircon International Limited) as the 15th Navratna and Rights (Rights Limited) as the 16th Navratna.
– The Navratna status will help Rights further enhance its brand, compete more effectively in the global market, and make more significant strides on new fronts for development.
– With the conferment of the “Navratna” status, companies will benefit by improving their market credibility and undertaking large-scale PPP projects.
—————–
7. Name the 15th Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) of the country?
a. IRCTC
b. IRCON
c. RITES LTD
d. IRFC
Answer: b. IRCON (Indian Railway Construction Limited)
– Ircon’s core competence lies in railway, road, and extra high-tension substation engineering and construction.
– Ircon operates extensively in India and several states of other countries.
– The company reported a consolidated annual turnover of INR 10,750 crores and a post-tax profit of INR 765 crores for the financial year 2022-23.
Ircon:
– Founded: 1976
– Headquarters: New Delhi
– Chairman and MD: Yogesh Kumar Mishra
—————–
8. Name the 16th Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) of the country?
a. IRCTC
b. IRCON
c. RITES LTD
d. IRFC
Answer: c. RITES LTD (Rail India Technical and Economic Service)
– Rights Limited is a leading transportation infrastructure and engineering firm in India.
– It provides services in various sectors, including transportation, railways, export of rolling stock, national highways, airports, urban engineering and sustainability, ports and waterways, and energy management.
Rights Limited:
– Founded: 1974
– Headquarters: Gurugram
– Chairman and MD: Rahul Mithal
——
Categories of PSU/CPSE in the country:
– Maharatna, Navratna, Miniratna Category-1, and Miniratna Category-2.
– The status of Maharatna and Navratna is for Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). Private sector companies are not included in this.
When was the category of Navratna companies introduced in India?
– In the year 1997.
When was the category of Maharatna companies introduced in India?
– In the year 2009.
What are the benefits of getting the status of Maharatna, Navratna, and Miniratna?
– They have more opportunities for growth. Maharatna, Navratna, and Miniratna companies have greater administrative autonomy, the right to invest, merge, and other policies for expansion.
List of ‘Navratna’ companies:
1- Bharat Electronics Limited
2- Container Corporation of India Limited
3- Engineers India Limited
4- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
5- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited
6- National Aluminium Company Limited
7- National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited
8- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited
9- NMDC Limited
10- Rail Vikas Nigam Limited
11- Steel Authority of India Limited
12- Shipping Corporation of India Limited
13- ONGC Videsh Limited
14- National Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited
15- Ircon
16- RITES Limited
List of ‘Maharatna’ companies:
1- Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
2- Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
3- Coal India Limited
4- GAIL (India) Limited
5- Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
6- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
7- NTPC Limited
8- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
9- Power Finance Corporation
10- Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
11- Rural Electrification Corporation Limited
12- Steel Authority of India Limited
13- Oil India Limited
——————
9. When is World Standards Day celebrated?
a. 13 October
b. 14 October
c. 15 October
d. 16 October
Answer: b. 14 October
Theme of 2023:
– “Shared Vision for a Better World – Standards for Sustainable Development Goals” (incorporating SDG3)
SDG 3 (Sustainable Development Goal 3):
– Achieve universal health coverage and access to health services for all, including essential healthcare services for men and women
– End preventable deaths of newborns, infants, and children under 5 years of age
– Eradicate epidemics
– Prevent and control communicable diseases and avoid unnecessary pain and suffering from non-communicable diseases and malnutrition.
– World Standards Day aims to highlight the importance of standardization in the global economy.
– To create awareness among consumers, regulators, and industry about the importance, and need for standardization in the global economy.
– Bureau of Indian Standards also emphasized on the principle of one nation one standard.
– Celebrating World Standards Day started in the year 1970.
—————
10. When is World White Cane Day celebrated?
a. 13 October
b. 14 October
c. 15 October
d. 16 October
Answer: c. 15 October
– This day is dedicated to the visually impaired.
– The main objective of this day is to fill enthusiasm and enthusiasm among visually impaired children.
– White cane is a device that helps blind people to walk on the streets.
– It also symbolizes the skills and talents, mobility and independence of the user.
