This is the current affairs of 20 & 21 October 2023. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. ISRO successfully tested ‘Crew Space System’ for Gaganyaan mission, where was its rocket launched from?
a. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram
b. Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
c. Dr. Abdul Kalam Island (Wheeler Island)
d. Space Centre, Thoothukudi
Answer: b. Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
– Mission Name: Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1)
ISRO successfully tested the crew escape system of the Gaganyaan mission on October 21, 2023.
– It was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 10 AM in the morning.
– After reaching an altitude of 17 km, the crew module was landed in the Bay of Bengal, 10 km away from Sriharikota.
– The testing of the system responsible for safely bringing the astronaut back to Earth in case of rocket failure was conducted.
Three Components of the Test Flight:
– A single-stage liquid rocket was developed for the abort mission, along with the crew module and crew escape system.
– The environment inside the crew module was not exactly the same as it will be during a human mission.
The mission was postponed twice:
– The mission was postponed twice on the day of the launch.
– It was scheduled for launch at 8 AM, but due to unfavorable weather conditions, the timing was changed to 8:45 AM.
– The engine failed to fire five seconds before the launch, leading to an abort of the mission.
– ISRO later announced that the issue had been resolved, and the vehicle was now completely safe.
Testing Created an Abort-Like Situation:
– The test vehicle carried the crew module upward.
An abort-like situation was simulated when the rocket was traveling at 1.2 times the speed of sound.
– At an altitude of approximately 17 km, the crew module and the crew escape system separated.
– The crew module was carried about 2 km away from here and landed in the sea, 10 km away from Sriharikota.
What was tested:
– In this mission, scientists tested whether the abort trajectory functioned correctly.
– Testing was conducted to ensure that astronauts can safely land in the event of a rocket malfunction during the actual mission.
– For mission testing, a total of four test flights are planned. Following TV-D1, TV-D2, D3, and D4 will be sent.
Unmanned Mission to Space in Early 2024:
– In the beginning of 2024, the first unmanned mission of the Gaganyaan project is planned.
– In an unmanned mission, no humans will be sent into space.
– After the success of the unmanned mission, a manned mission will follow, in which humans will go into space. ISRO has set a timeline for the manned mission in 2025.
ISRO:
– Chairman: S. Somnath
– Headquarters: Bangalore
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2. Which neighboring country of India increased its stockpile of nuclear weapons to 500 in the last one year?
a. Pakistan
b. China
c. Bangladesh
d. Myanmar
Answer: b. China
– In October 2023, the U.S. government stated that China has significantly increased its stockpile of nuclear weapons in the past year.
– The number has now risen to 500, up from around 400 nuclear weapons that the U.S. Department of Defense estimated China had in 2021.
– A yearly report issued by the U.S. military headquarters, the Pentagon, also mentioned that China aims to double its nuclear weapon stockpile to 1,000 by 2030 and reach 1,500 by 2035.
– However, the report indicates that China still maintains a policy of not being the first to use nuclear weapons.
– China is excavating a large area in eastern Xinjiang to construct underground silos (storage) for its nuclear arsenal.
Fewer Nuclear Weapons Compared to Russia and the U.S.:
– The report acknowledges that these increases are significant, but China’s nuclear weapon stockpile is still considerably smaller when compared to the arsenals of the United States and Russia.
– According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia possesses approximately 5,889 nuclear weapons, and the United States has 5,244.
World nuclear forces, January 2023
Country : 2023 : 2022
Russia : 5889 : 5977
USA: 5244: 5428
China : 410 : 350
France : 290 : 290
UK : 225 : 225
Pakistan : 170 : 165
India : 164 : 160
Israel : 90 : 90
North Korea : 30 : 20
Total : 12512 : 12705
Which countries deployed nuclear weapons?
Country : 2023 : 2022
Russia : 1674 : 1,588
America : 1770 : 1744
France : 280 : 280
Britain : 120 : 120
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3. PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) train, name it?
a. Speed rapid
b. Super Vande India
c. Namo Bharat
d. Namo Rail
Answer: c. Namo Bharat (RapidX)
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated RRTS trains on 20 October 2023.
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4. From which railway station did PM Modi inaugurate the country’s first semi-high speed regional train ‘NaMo Bharat’ (RapidX)?
a. Duhai Depot Station
b. Sahibabad Railway Station
c. Guldhar Railway Station
d. Belanganj Railway Station
Answer: b. Sahibabad Railway Station
– Sahibabad Railway Station is located in the Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh.
– The first ‘Namobharat’ train started on the Delhi-Meerut corridor.
About the Corridor:
– The Delhi-Meerut corridor has a total length of 82 kilometers.
– Service has commenced on a 17-kilometer stretch of this corridor, which includes 16 stations.
– Currently, the train will stop at five stations (Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldharpur, Duhai, and Duhai Depot).
– The entire corridor is expected to be operational by the year 2025.
– The estimated cost of the corridor is approximately 30,000 crore rupees.
What is the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS)?
– It is a new rail-based, semi-high-speed, high-frequency commuter transit system.
– This system project is implemented by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).
– NCRTC is a joint venture company of the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.
Speed of Namo bharat (RapidEx):
– This train is designed to operate at a speed of 180 kilometers per hour.
– However, its operational speed is 160 kilometers per hour, and the average speed is 100 kilometers per hour.
How many types of coaches are there in Namo bharat?
– Namo bharat is a six-coach train, one of which is a premium coach, while the others are standard coaches.
– The premium coach is distinct and superior to the standard coaches.
– In the premium coach, information about speed and location will be displayed on screens, similar to an aircraft.
How many corridors will be developed under the RRTS project?
– According to The Indian Express, a total of eight corridors will be developed under the project.
– Out of these, construction is underway for three corridors in the first phase.
1- Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Corridor – 82 kilometers
2- Delhi-Gurugram-SNB-Alwar Corridor – 164 kilometers
3- Delhi-Panipat Corridor – 103 kilometers
Corridors to be developed in the future:
– Delhi-Faridabad-Ballabhgarh-Palwal
– Ghaziabad-Khurja
– Delhi-Bahadurgarh-Rohtak
– Ghaziabad-Hapur
– Delhi-Shahdara-Badout
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5. Arunachal Pradesh approved the formation of ‘Special Tiger Protection Force’ (STPF) to protect which tiger reserves?
a. Namdapha Tiger Reserve
b. Pakke and Kamlang Tiger Reserve
c. both a and b
d. Champa Tiger Reserve
Answer: c. Both a and b (Namdapha Tiger Reserve and Pakke and Kamlang Tiger Reserve)
– On October 18, 2023, Arunachal Pradesh approved the formation of the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) for the security of the state’s three tiger reserves (Namdapha, Pakke, and Kamlang).
– This approval was in accordance with the directions of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
– This will create 336 regular posts.
– According to the National Tiger Census of 2022, there are a total of 9 tigers in the state’s three tiger reserves.
– A decrease in the number of tigers was observed from 2018 to 2022, with 20 tigers fewer.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA):
– NTCA was established in December 2005.
– Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Chairman: Bhupendra Yadav.
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6. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced the formation of which three new districts in October 2023?
a. Malpura, Raigarh and Morvan
b. Malpura, Sujangarh and Kuchaman
c. Jodhabaipur, Morvan, Kuchaman
d. Sujangarh, Malpura and Triveni
Answer: b. Malpura, Sujangarh and Kuchaman
– This announcement was made in October 2023.
– With the addition of these three, the total number of districts in Rajasthan has now become 53.
– Prior to this, in August 2023, 19 new districts and three new divisions were created in Rajasthan.
Which districts were separated to create new ones:
– Malpura will be separated from Tonk.
– Sujangarh will be separated from Churu.
– Kuchaman will be separated from Nagaur.
Rajasthan:
– Chief Minister – Ashok Gehlot
– Governor – Kalraj Mishra
– Capital – Jaipur
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7. Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Manohar Singh Gill passed away on 15 October 2023, which award has he received?
a. Dadasaheb Phalke
b. Arjuna Award
c. Padma Bhushan
d. Padma Vibhushan
Answer: d. Padma Vibhushan
– He was 86 years old. He had been unwell for quite some time.
– He served as the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Minister of Statistics and Program Implementation in the government of Manmohan Singh.
– He was a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Punjab cadre.
– He served as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) between December 1996 and June 2001.
Note:
– He has also been awarded the second-highest civilian award of the country, Padma Vibhushan.
– His major achievement was the introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Election Commission:
– Chief Election Commissioner – Rajiv Kumar
– Election Commissioners – Anup Chandra Pandey, Arun Goyal
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8. On which border did Union Minister Nitin Gadkari hoist the country’s highest national flag (418 feet)?
a. Munabao
b. Nadabet
c. Longewala
d. Attari Wagah
Answer: d. Attari Wagah
– The Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, hoisted the national flag on October 19, 2023.
– The flag was hoisted at the Border Security Force (BSF) museum during a visit to the Atari border.
– This flag is more than 18 feet taller than the Pakistani flag.
– The height of the Indian flag is 418 feet.
– Prior to this, the height of the Indian flag was 360 feet.
– The height of the Pakistani flag is 400 feet.
Flag for Border Surveillance:
– A surveillance system has been installed on top of the flag.
– This system will assist BSF soldiers in monitoring activities near the border.
Where is the Attari Border?
– Attari is a village located in the Amritsar district of the Indian state of Punjab, about 25 kilometers west of Amritsar city.
– It is situated on the India-Pakistan border.
– Across the border, in Pakistani Punjab, there is a settlement called Wagah.
– The distance between Wagah and Atari is 3 kilometers.
Note:
– The last Indian station of the Delhi-Lahore Samjhauta Express is Atari.
– Both India and Pakistan lower their respective national flags simultaneously at sunset.
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9. During the war between Israel and Hamas, about 500 people died in a missile attack on which hospital in ‘Gaza’?
a. Al-Ahli Hospital
b. Al-Makhtoum Hospital
c. Al-Noori Hospital
d. Al-Bilal Hospital
Answer: a. Al-Ahli Hospital
– Hamas claimed that Israel was responsible for the attack.
– On the other hand, Israel has stated that it was not involved in the hospital attack and that it was caused by a misfired rocket from the Islamic Jihad.
– President Joe Biden, who went on an official visit to Israel, said he believes that the attack was not carried out by Israel.
– Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed sorrow over the attacks in Gaza.
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10. Which country did President Joe Biden visit in October 2023 during the Israel-Hamas war?
a. Palestine
b. Jordan
c. Saudi Arab
d. Israel
Answer: d. Israel
– U.S. President Joe Biden arrived in Israel on October 17, 2023.
– After visiting Israel, Biden had planned to meet with leaders in Jordan, Egypt, and Palestine.
– However, following the attack on Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza that resulted in the deaths of nearly 500 people, his visit to all these countries has been canceled.
– Along with this, the meeting with Arab leaders has also been called off.
Situation in Gaza is Deteriorating:
– According to reports, people in Gaza are now struggling to survive.
– Most people have lost their homes, and they are spending nights on the streets.
– Water supply is nearly cut off.
– People lack both money and supplies, and the shops are running out of goods.
Concerns of Arab Nations:
– The conflict in Gaza and the explosion at the hospital have once again disturbed the sleep of leaders and presidents of Arab countries.
– In late 2010, a businessman in Tunisia set himself on fire in frustration with corruption and officials.
– The following year, a series of protests began in Arab countries.
– This had frightened the leaders who were afraid of losing not only power and wealth but also their lives.
– Prime Minister of Israel – Benjamin Netanyahu
– President of Palestine – Mahmoud Abbas
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11. Who launched the fourth agricultural road map of Bihar?
a. President Draupadi Murmu
b. Prime Minister Narendra Modi
c. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar
d. NSA Ajit Doval
Answer: a. President Draupadi Murmu
– President Draupadi Murmu launched Bihar’s fourth agriculture road map on October 18, 2023.
– This road map will be in effect from 2023 to 2028 (5 years).
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12. Tell the budget of the fourth agricultural road map of Bihar?
a. 1.45 lakh crore
b. 1.63 lakh crore
c. One lakh crore
d. 96 thousand crores
Answer: b. 1.63 lakh crore
– It has been allocated a budget of ‘1,63,000 crores’.
– This road map will be in effect from 2023 to 2028 (5 years).
– In the coming five years, a focus will be placed on crop diversification, improved irrigation facilities, land and water conservation, climate-resilient agriculture, among other subjects.
– Through this, efforts will be made to increase both production and productivity while improving the income of farmers.
– Agriculture forms the basis of livelihood for 75 percent of the population in the state.
What will happen in the fourth agriculture roadmap…?
– Production of pulses and oilseeds will be increased. – Minimum use of pesticides and a focus on growing healthy grains will be emphasized.
– A Center of Excellence will be established for research on soil and water conservation. Training will be provided for climate-resilient farming.
– Targets are set to build ponds and check dams to ensure water reaches every field.
– Barren land will also be utilized. Lemon grass and mint cultivation will be promoted.
– 100 seed hubs and 20 millet hubs will be established.
A mission and program will be initiated to increase the production of coarse grains.
– Secondary agriculture colleges will be opened to manage poultry and ensure profitable prices for agricultural products.
– A secondary agriculture college will be established in Sabour, Bhagalpur. Postgraduate-level education will be available here, and a degree in M.Tech will be offered.
– Operation of plant conservation centers will continue under PPP mode. This sector will provide employment opportunities for the youth.
– 4.80 lakh pump sets will receive free electricity connections.
– Distribution of 31,078 transformers will be carried out in the agricultural feeders.
– All 54 market committees and rural markets in the state will be modernized.
– The establishment of the Agriculture Marketing Directorate.
– 534 mobile animal healthcare units will operate.
– 101 animal hospitals will be opened. This means that an animal hospital is being opened for every 8 to 10 panchayats to ensure proper care and treatment for animals.
– A new dairy plant will be opened in Gopalganj.
#The History of Agriculture Roadmaps in Bihar…#
First Agriculture Roadmap: 2008 to 2012
– The first agriculture roadmap was released in 2008.
– Its aim was to increase farmers’ income.
– Due to this, in the year 2011-12, a farmer from Nalanda produced the highest rice yield per hectare, surpassing China. China held the previous record per hectare.
– A village in Nalanda district also set a world record for potato production.
Second Agriculture Roadmap: 2012 to 2017
– The second roadmap was launched by the then President Pranab Mukherjee.
– As a result, there was significant growth in the production of fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, and fish. – This increased productivity greatly benefited the farmers.
Third Agriculture Roadmap: 2017 to 2023
– In 2017, the then President Ram Nath Kovind initiated the third roadmap.
– The work was planned under the third agriculture roadmap from 2017 to 2022, but its tenure was extended by one year until 2023.
– Bihar’s fish production increased by 2.5 times under this agriculture roadmap.
– Bihar has now become self-reliant in fish production.
– Bihar received the Krishi Karman Award for rice, wheat, and maize production.
– There was also significant growth in the production of potatoes, cauliflower, eggplant, and tomatoes.
– Bihar’s production of foxnuts (Makhana) also saw considerable growth.
Fourth Agricultural Road Map: 2023 to 2028
Bihar
– CM – Nitish Kumar
– Capital – Patna
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13. 41 diplomats of which country had to leave India in October 2023, whose diplomatic immunity the Indian government had said would be withdrawn?
a. China
b. Pakistan
c. Canada
d. Bangladesh
Answer: c. Canada
– Following the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, tensions flared, leading 41 Canadian nationals to leave India.
– Prior to this, the Indian government had told Canada to bring back dozens of its employees through its High Commission in Delhi, or they would lose the diplomatic immunity granted to them.
– Diplomatic immunity refers to special privileges accorded to foreign diplomats, including exemptions from local laws.
– India’s decision was based on the principle that the number of Canadian diplomats in India should match the number of Indian diplomats in Canada.
– It is worth noting that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had accused Indian agencies of being involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18, resulting in increased tensions between both countries.
What Canada Said After India’s Move:
– Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau has reiterated that they do not want to escalate tensions with India.
– Canada’s Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly stated that 21 diplomats are still in India, but due to calling the rest back, there is now a staff shortage.
– This will necessitate Canada limiting its services in India, which could lead to the suspension of some consulate activities in Bangalore, Mumbai, and Chandigarh.
What India Said:
– The Indian government stated that they have not violated any international standards in the mutual presence of diplomatic missions in New Delhi and Ottawa.
– This statement came shortly after Canada accused India of violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by calling back 41 diplomats.
Canada:
PM – Justin Trudeau
Capital – Ottawa
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14. In which state did PM Modi launch 511 Pramod Mahajan Rural Skill Development Centres?
a. Uttar Pradesh
b. Maharashtra
c. Rajasthan
d. Madhya Pradesh
Answer: b. Maharashtra
– These 511 Pramod Mahajan Rural Skill Development Centers are being established in 34 rural districts of Maharashtra.
– Prime Minister Modi initiated these 511 centers via video conferencing on October 19, 2023.
Objectives of Pramod Mahajan Rural Skill Development Centers:
– These centers will provide employment opportunities for rural youth.
– Various skill development training programs will be organized for rural youth in different sectors.
– Each center will provide training to approximately 100 youth in at least two vocational courses.
– Training will be provided in collaboration with industry stakeholders and agencies under the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
Who was Pramod Mahajan?
– The late Pramod Mahajan was a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
– He was popular in Maharashtra and the western regions of India.
Maharashtra:
– Capital: Mumbai
– Chief Minister: Eknath Shinde
– Governor: Ramesh Bais
