This is the current affairs of 16 January 2023. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. In which city the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) started on 15 January 2024?
a. Paris (France)
b. Davos (Switzerland)
c. Berlin, Germany)
d. New York (USA)
Answer: b. Davos (Switzerland)
– Event Duration: January 15 to 19, 2024
– Theme of the Meeting: ‘Rebuilding Trust’ (Reconstruction of Trust)
– Keeping in mind the world scattered with wars and crises, the theme of the meeting has been chosen.
– Three ministers from India (Smriti Irani, Ashwini Vaishnav, and Hardeep Singh Puri) and 3 Chief Ministers will participate in this event.
– The event will include the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom, and political leaders and business figures from India, the United States, China, France, and Sri Lanka.
About the World Economic Forum (WEF):
– The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit and international organization.
– It was established in 1971, with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland (Cologny Municipal).
– German Professor Klaus Schwab founded WEF in 1971.
– The forum provides a shared platform for political, business, social, and educational leaders from leading sectors to shape global, regional, and industrial agendas. It is an independent and impartial organization with no personal interest.
– The forum is famous for organizing its annual meeting at the end of January in Davos, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland.
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2. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), what percentage of jobs in the world are at risk of being lost due to artificial intelligence?
a. 20%
b. 25%
c. 40%
d. 55%
Answer: c. 40%
– The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, has stated that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will prove to be a dangerous factor for job security worldwide.
– Before participating in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, which began on January 15 in Davos, Switzerland, IMF Chief Georgieva mentioned a new report.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
– AI, i.e., Artificial Intelligence.
– It is a machine that is intelligent, can analyze data on its own, converse, speak languages, and understand. It can search for answers to difficult questions and accomplish given tasks.
– Examples of AI include OpenAI’s Chat-GPT and Google’s BERT.
– These are just examples; AI is now being used more effectively in various forms.
Key Points from the IMF Chief:
– The impact of AI may be less in developing countries, but globally, about 40% of jobs could be affected by AI. She cautioned the world for 2024.
– Jobs in developed countries developed through AI may be at risk by 60%. This poses a danger to job security. However, AI will create opportunities to increase productivity.
– We should focus particularly on helping low-income countries progress rapidly so that they can benefit from the opportunities arising from Artificial Intelligence.
The impact of AI can also be positive:
– According to the IMF report, about half of the jobs worldwide may be adversely affected by AI.
– Positive effects of AI may be observed on the remaining half of jobs.
– According to the report, the threat of Artificial Intelligence will be most significant in countries where there is a high demand for skilled jobs.
– IMF Chief Georgieva said, on one hand, your job could be completely eliminated due to the advent of Artificial Intelligence, and on the other hand, jobs could increase.
– If job opportunities increase, your productivity will also increase. This will directly impact the country’s economy.
Impact on Jobs:
– Human jobs are decreasing rapidly worldwide due to the rapid growth of automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
– Big companies like Google and Amazon are laying off employees.
– Most layoffs are happening in technology-related companies in the name of cost-cutting and the fear of a slowdown.
– Artificial Intelligence is not only replacing humans, but HR officers are also using it for recruitment.
IMF:
– Headquarters: Washington D.C.
– Establishment: December 27, 1945
– Managing Director: Kristalina Georgieva
– First Deputy Managing Director: Gita Gopinath
– Objective: To promote international monetary cooperation, facilitate international trade, promote sustainable economic growth, provide resources to members facing balance of payments difficulties, prevent and help resolve international financial crises.
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3. What is the official slogan of the 9th Asian Winter Games 2025?
a. Dream of sports, love among world
b. Dream of Winter, Love Among Asia
c. Winter Spots, Warm life
d. None of these
Answer: b. Dream of Winter, Love Among Asia (Dream of Winter, Love Among Asia)
– The unveiling of their main symbols took place in Heilongjiang, China, for the 9th Asian Winter Games scheduled to be held in 2025.
– The official slogan, “Dream of the Winter, Love Among Asians,” reflects the spirit of unity and sportsmanship, showcasing the passion for winter sports among Asian countries.
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4. What is the mascot of the 9th Asian Winter Games 2025?
a. Elephanta
b. york and elephant
c. penguin
d. Binbin’ and ‘Nini’
Answer: d. ‘Binbin’ and ‘Nini’
– Shubhankar “Binbin” and “Nini,” Siberian tiger cubs, symbolize the vitality of the games.
– The symbol, named “Breakthrough,” creatively integrates elements of Chinese culture and Olympic symbols, including a speed skater, a plum blossom, and a dance ribbon. It represents a fusion of dynamic motion, beauty, and cultural significance, symbolizing the dynamic spirit of the Asian Winter Games.
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5. According to the NITI Aayog report, how many people came out of multidimensional poverty during 2013-14 to 2022-23 (9 years)?
a. 14.82 crore people
b. 14.82 crore people
c. 34.82 crore people
d. 44.82 crore people
Answer: b. 24.82 करोड़ लोग / 14.82 crore people
– Discussion Paper Title: Multidimensional Poverty in India since 2005-06
– Release Date: January 2024
– Released by: CEO of NITI Aayog, B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
What is Multidimensional Poverty?
– Most countries define poverty as a lack of financial resources. However, people experiencing poverty themselves perceive it more broadly, meaning multidimensional poverty.
– The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is a globally recognized comprehensive measure that goes beyond monetary aspects to illustrate poverty across various dimensions.
– In India, it is determined as the National MPI (Multidimensional Poverty Index).
– To measure it, 12 indicators are identified in three categories (Health, Education, and Living Standards).
– These indicators include (1) Nutrition, (2) Child and Adolescent mortality, (3) Maternal health, (4) Years of schooling, (5) School attendance, (6) Cooking fuel, (7) Sanitation, (8) Drinking water, (9) Electricity, (10) Housing, (11) Assets, and (12) Bank accounts.
A person performing poorly in at least one-third of these indicators is considered multidimensionally poor.
Facts about Multidimensional Poverty:
– In the fiscal year 2013-14, multidimensional poverty in the country was 29.17%, which has reduced to 11.28% in 2022-23. This reflects a decrease of 17.89 percentage points.
– Over these nine years, 24.82 crore people have moved out of multidimensional poverty.
– In Uttar Pradesh, during the last nine years, 5.94 crore people have moved out of multidimensional poverty. This state has witnessed the largest reduction in the number of poor people.
– Following Uttar Pradesh, Bihar has seen 3.77 crore, Madhya Pradesh 2.30 crore, and Rajasthan 1.87 crore people moving out of poverty.
NITI Aayog:
– Established: January 1, 2015
– Chairperson: Prime Minister
– Vice Chairperson: Suman Bery
– CEO: BVR Subrahmanyam
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6. Name the new monarch of Denmark?
a. Mette Frederiksen
b. Mary Donaldson
c. Margrethe II
d. Frederick X
Answer: d. Frederick X
– Frederick X became the new emperor of Denmark on January 14, 2024.
– His mother, Queen Margrethe II, voluntarily abdicated the throne, after which his coronation took place.
Where does power lie in Denmark?
– In Denmark, formal power resides with the elected parliament and its government.
It is expected that the emperor will remain above partisan politics.
– They will represent the nation with traditional duties, ranging from official ceremonies to national day celebrations.
Denmark:
– Capital: Copenhagen
– Currency: Danish Krone
– Prime Minister: Mette Frederiksen
– Population: Approximately 5.9 million
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7. Poet Munawwar Rana passed away on 14 जनवरी 2024, for which book he had received the Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu language?
a. Shahdaba
b. Duniya
c. Sulooq
d. Muflis
Answer: a. Shahdaba
– Munawwar Rana was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 for his book ‘Shahdaba’ in the Urdu language.
– However, in 2015, he returned the award in protest against the increasing intolerance.
– The book ‘Shahdaba’ consists of approximately 30 ghazals, 40 nazms, and one song.
– He gained attention for a book he wrote about his mother.
– He was born on November 26, 1952.
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8. Who is the author of the book ‘Gandhi A Life in Three Campaigns’, which was launched in January 2024?
a. PK Singhal
b. MJ. Akbar
c. Rajend Vishwanath
d. VK Nayyar
Answer: b. MJ. Akbar
– The author of the book is MJ Akbar and its foreword has been written by K Natwar Singh.
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9. Which state government launched Operation Amrit (Antimicrobial Resistance Intervention For Total Health) to stop excessive use of antibiotics?
a. Uttar Pradesh
b. Bihar
c. Kerala
d. Tamil Nadu
Answer: c. Kerala
– The objective is to conduct surprise inspections in pharmacies to identify over-the-counter sales of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription.
– In reality, misuse of antibiotics leads to the development of bacterial drug resistance, rendering the drugs less effective or ineffective.
– Due to this reason, the Kerala government has initiated Operation Amrit.
– A toll-free number has been provided to register complaints.
– The activities of Operation Amrit are part of the Kerala Antimicrobial Resistance Strategic Action Plan (KARSAP) under the Antibiotic Literacy Initiative.
Kerala:
– Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
– Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan
– Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
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10. Jharkhand government declared 158 blocks of how many districts as drought affected in January 2024?
a. 7
b. 14
c. 16
d. 17
Answer: d. 17
– The Jharkhand government has declared 158 blocks in 17 districts as drought-affected after below-average rainfall.
– Around 15 lakh farmers have been affected by this drought.
– In the more than 20 years since the formation of Jharkhand, 10 drought years have been officially declared, occurring approximately once every three years in the state.
– The state has requested special central assistance from the NITI Aayog to develop the foundational framework for irrigation and strengthen drought resilience.
– Only 20% of agriculturally viable land in Jharkhand has irrigation facilities, making the impact of low rainfall widespread.
Jharkhand:
– Chief Minister: Hemant Soren
– Governor: C.P. Radhakrishnan
– Capital: Ranchi
