This is the current affairs of 19, 20 & 21 August 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 country was the Malabar Naval Exercise organized, for which China deployed 300 satellites for surveillance?
a. India
b. USA
c. Australia
d. Japan
Answer: c. Australia
– The Malabar naval exercise took place in Australia from August 11 to 21, 2023.
– It involved participation from Quad countries including India, Japan, Australia, and the United States, along with their navies and defense forces.
– The exercise is being conducted in two phases: the Harbor Phase and the Sea Phase.
– It focuses on practicing how to destroy targets in enemy territory and engage enemy targets in the air, as well as how to neutralize enemy submarines.
Which Indian ships were sent:
– This year, India sent INS Kolkata and Sahyadri for the Malabar exercise.
Chinese espionage:
– China monitored the Malabar exercise through 300 satellites and 3,000 flights for ground-based activity surveillance.
– During this period, Australia’s Defense Department took necessary steps to safeguard the information about its own and other countries’ warships from Chinese surveillance.
– Several countries, including India, kept an eye on China’s satellites.
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2. In August 2023, what percentage of export duty did the central government impose on onion exports?
a. 20%
b. 30%
c. 40%
d. 50%
Answer: c. 40%
– After tomatoes, now the rising prices of onions have increased people’s worries. Compared to last year, onions have become 14 times more expensive.
– To control onion prices in the country, the central government has imposed a 40% duty on exports.
– No tax was collected on onion exports until now.
– The government aims to maintain onion availability in the country and keep prices under control through this step.
– The Ministry of Finance has issued a notification stating that export duty on onions has been implemented immediately and will remain in effect until December 31.
What will be the impact of this:
– Due to this government decision, traders will have to pay a 40% tax on the total price of onions exported abroad.
– The purpose of increasing export duty is to encourage traders to sell onions in the country rather than exporting them.
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3. Where is the country’s first 3D-printed post office located?
a. Bengaluru
b. Bhubaneswar
c. Lucknow
d. Delhi
Answer: a. Bengaluru
– Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the country’s first 3D-printed post office building in Bangalore on Friday (August 18).
– This building has been constructed by Larsen & Toubro Construction Company using 3D concrete printing technology and covers an area of about 1000 square feet.
– It was completed in 45 days.
3D Printer:
– This printer operates based on computerized three-dimensional design.
– The construction of the building, including its foundation and walls, was carried out using a 3D printer.
Ashwini Vaishnaw:
– Ministry – Railways, Electronics & Information Technology, Communications
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4. Which state government declared a state disaster in August 2023 due to heavy rainfall and landslides?
a. केरल / Kerala
b. Arunachal Pradesh
c. Himachal Pradesh
d. Uttarakhand
Answer: c. Himachal Pradesh
– During the monsoon season in Himachal Pradesh in 2023, there were 113 instances of landslides occurring within 55 days. Events related to rain and landslides have led to the death of 330 people.
– This season, the state of Himachal Pradesh has suffered a loss of 10,000 crore rupees due to the rain.
– On August 18, 2023, Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Sukhoo declared a state disaster.
– With the declaration of a state disaster, the government will work with increased focus to reconstruct the infrastructure that was destroyed. For this, the government will also need to allocate additional funds.
Reasons for the damage to the hills of Himachal:
– Unscientific construction – The hills were directly cut for hydroelectric projects, which also resulted in the destruction of the foundations of mountains.
One major reason for the devastating impact of flooding in the region is the unregulated construction of hydroelectric projects, which has fundamentally altered the flow of mountain rivers.
– Water blockade – With the disappearance of slopes, water is not flowing but staying in the hills.
– Encroachment on water flow – Settlements have been established along the course of water flow, blocking the path of discharge.
– Currently, 168 hydroelectric projects are operational, producing 10,848 megawatts of electricity. Looking to the future, it is estimated that by 2030, 1,088 hydroelectric projects will be operational to generate 22,640 megawatts of energy. These hydroelectric projects raise concerns about the inevitability of frequent disasters in hilly areas.
– In order to attract tourists, wide roads were constructed by cutting into the mountains, weakening the hills.
Himachal Pradesh:
CM – Sukhbir Singh Sukhoo
Governor – Shiv Pratap Shukla
Capital – Shimla
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5. RBI has launched which web portal to help track unclaimed deposits in banks?
a. UDGAM
b. UDAAN
c. RBIIN
d. DEPOSIT
Answer: a. UDGAM
– The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a centralized web portal named UDGAM to help track unclaimed deposits in various banks.
– UDGAM stands for “Unclaimed deposits – gateway to access information.”
– This portal has been developed by Reserve Bank Information Technology Private Limited (ReBIT).
– Currently, users can access details of their unclaimed deposits in seven banks through this portal.
– The banks included are SBI, PNB, Central Bank, DBS Bank, South Indian Bank, Dhanlaxmi Bank, and City Bank.
RBI Governor – Shaktikanta Das
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6. In August 2023, President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the warship ‘VindhyaGiri’. This warship is built under which project?
a. Project 34
b. Project 25A
c. Project 18
d. Project 17A
Answer: d. Project 17A
– President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the warship ‘VindhyaGiri’ in the Hooghly River in Kolkata on Thursday (August 17).
– This is the sixth warship built under ‘Project 17 Alpha’.
– It has been constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE).
– The warship has a length of 149 meters.
– It weighs around 6,670 tons and can achieve a speed of 28 nautical miles.
– It is capable of countering threats from air, surface, and underwater dimensions.
Project 17A:
– Project 17 Alpha (P-17A) is a series of Indian Navy stealth guided-missile frigates launched in 2019.
– The construction is being undertaken by two companies: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).
– These guided-missile frigates are built with a specific stealth design that includes techniques to evade radar detection, making it harder for enemies to spot them.
– The first stealth ship launched under Project 17A was INS Nilgiri in 2019.
– All these ships are named after mountain ranges in the Himalayas.
– They include ‘Nilgiri’, ‘Himgiri’, ‘Udaygiri’, ‘Dunagiri’, ‘Taragiri’, and the sixth warship is ‘VindhyaGiri’.
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7. On failing a doping test, how long was the ban imposed on Duttee Chand?
a. One year
b. Two years
c. Three years
d. Five years
Answer: d. Five years
– Dutee Chand is known as India’s fastest female athlete and the holder of the national record in the 100 meters.
– Failing a doping test has hit her hard, resulting in a four-year ban.
– During the test, the presence of ‘Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator’ (SARM) was detected in her body.
– The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) imposed a ban on Dutee Chand starting from January 3, 2023.
What Dutee Chand said:
– She stated that she was diagnosed with stage-1 cancer in 2021.
– Following the doctor’s advice, she took medication that resulted in her failing the doping test.
– She has challenged the decision of the four-year ban.
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8. Name the President of Athletics Federation of India (AFI), who was elected to the World Athletics Executive Board.
a. Rakesh Verma
b. Adil Sumariwala
c. Ajit Singh
d. None of these
Answer: b. Adil Sumariwala
– She was elected in the World Athletics elections held in Budapest, Hungary in August 2023.
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9. Which country’s team won the FIFA Women’s Football World Cup 2023?
a. Spain
b. England
c. Australia
d. India
Answer: a. Spain
– The final match was played on August 20, 2023, at the Sydney Olympic Stadium in Australia.
– Spain defeated England 1-0 and won the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
– Olga Carmona, the captain of the Spanish team, scored a goal in the 29th minute of the game.
– This marks the first time that Spain’s women’s team became world champions.
SPAIN:
Capital – Madrid
Monarch – Felipe VI
Prime Minister – Pedro Sánchez
Currency – Euro
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10. When is World Photography Day celebrated?
a. 18 August
b. 19 August
c. 20 August
d. 21 August
Answer: b. 19 August
Theme of the year 2023:
– LANDSCAPES
Natural Scenes
– World Photography Day commemorates the beginning of photography on January 9, 1839, in France.
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11. When is the World Mosquito Day observed?
a. 19 August
b. 20 August
c. 21 August
d. 22 August
Answer: b. 20 August
– The main purpose of this is to raise awareness among people about diseases caused by mosquito bites and prevention measures.
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12. When is National Renewable Energy Day celebrated?
a. 18 August
b. 19 August
c. 20 August
d. 21 August
Answer: c. 20 August
– This day was initiated by the central government in the year 2004 as National Energy Conservation Day.
– The purpose of this day is to promote the use of renewable energy sources and encourage the reduction of energy consumption from conventional sources instead of their increased use.
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13. Sadbhavna Diwas is celebrated on 20 August to mark the birth anniversary of which former Prime Minister of India?
a. Indira Gandhi
b. Atal Bihar Vajpayee
c. Rajiv Gandhi
d. Lal Bahadur Shastri
Answer: c. Rajiv Gandhi
– On this day, August 20, 1944, Rajiv Gandhi was born.
– This day is observed to pay homage to the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and to promote the spirit of goodwill.
– The Indian National Congress established the Rajiv – Gandhi Sadbhavana Award in 1992, one year after his death.
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14. When is World Senior Citizen Day celebrated?
a. 21 August
b. 22 August
c. 23 August
d. 24 August
Answer: a. 21 August
– This day is celebrated by the United Nations General Assembly.
– This day aims to raise awareness about issues affecting the elderly, such as declining health with age, mistreatment and support for the elderly, and to recognize and acknowledge the achievements of senior citizens and to identify them.
– On August 21, 1988, International Senior Citizens Day was first celebrated in the United States.
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15. Which country’s cricketer Wahab Riaz announced his retirement from international cricket?
a. Bangladesh
b. Pakistan
c. New Zealand
d. Sri Lanka
Answer: b. Pakistan
– Wahab made his debut in international cricket in the year 2008.
– In August 2023, he announced his retirement from international cricket.
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16. Which country’s cricketer Wanindu Hasaranga announced his retirement from Test cricket?
a. Bangladesh
b. Pakistan
c. New Zealand
d. Sri Lanka
Answer: d. Sri Lanka
– Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has retired from Test cricket.
Hasaranga made his Test debut against South Africa in 2020.
