This is the current affairs of 22 March 2023 Current Affairs, which will help you in your competitive exams.
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1. Due to a powerful earthquake, tremors were felt in northern India. Which neighboring country was at the center of it?
a. Pakistan
b. China
c. Bhutan
d. Afghanistan
Answer: d. Afghanistan
– When did the earthquake occur: It occurred on the night of 21st March 2023 at 10:17 pm.
Epicenter and Depth of the earthquake:
– According to the National Center for Seismology in India, the intensity of the earthquake was 6.6 on the Richter scale.
– However, the US Geological Survey has reported the intensity as 6.5 on the Richter scale.
– The epicenter of the earthquake was under the Hindu Kush Mountains range in Afghanistan.
– This place is located near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
– The earthquake occurred at a depth of 156 kilometers below the ground.
– As a result, the tremors of the earthquake were felt in the northern parts of Pakistan, China, and India.
People felt the earthquake in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
– This level of earthquake is dangerous because a smaller earthquake (6.1 on the Richter scale) had caused the death of a thousand people in Afghanistan in June 2022.
Why did the earthquake have such a far-reaching impact?
– The impact of the earthquake was felt more than 1500 kilometers away from its epicenter.
– In fact, the deeper the earthquake occurs in the earth’s crust, the farther its impact is felt.
– Since the earthquake occurred 156 kilometers below sea level under the Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan, its impact was also felt far away.
More than 1000 people were killed in an earthquake in Afghanistan in 2022.
– A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan on June 22, 2022, in which more than a thousand people died.
– The epicenter of the earthquake was located 40 kilometers south of the city of Khosht in the capital Kabul.
– The earthquake was felt up to 500 kilometers away from the epicenter.
Why do earthquakes occur?
– There are several tectonic plates beneath the Earth’s surface that are stuck on molten lava. These plates keep moving.
– The place where these plates collide is called a fault line.
– Repeated collisions of these plates cause them to bend at the corners.
– When there is too much pressure on the plates, they start to break.
– Then the energy from below tries to find a way out, and after more disturbances, an earthquake occurs.
About five lakh earthquakes occur on Earth every year.
– Only about one lakh of them are felt, and about 100 of them cause significant damage.
The Himalayan region is dangerous in terms of earthquakes.
– The formation of the Himalayas occurred 55 million years ago when the Indian plate collided with the Eurasian plate.
– Even today, the Indian plate is pushing against the Eurasian plate.
– Due to this, there is a serious risk of earthquakes throughout the Himalayan region.
The most destructive earthquake
– The most destructive earthquake occurred in Chile in 1960. Its intensity was 9.6, and around 6000 people died.
– On December 26, 2004, an earthquake in Indonesia triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean, and around 230,000 people were killed.
Recent devastating earthquake
– A destructive earthquake with a Richter scale intensity of 7.8 struck Turkey on February 6, 2023.
– The epicenter was the city of Gaziantep in Turkey.
More than 50,000 people died due to the earthquake.
How can earthquakes be predicted beforehand?
– Earthquake is the most common natural hazard that cannot be predicted. Therefore, it is difficult to develop a warning system for it.
– Theoretically, there is a lead time of a few seconds between the occurrence of an earthquake and its arrival at the earth’s surface. Seismic waves travel at a relatively slow pace – between 5 and 13 kilometers per second.
– Therefore, if the occurrence of an earthquake is detected as soon as it begins, information about it can be related a few seconds before it reaches the ground.
What impact at what speed does an earthquake have?
Richter scale – Impact
0 to 1.9 – Can only be detected by a seismograph.
2 to 2.9 – Mild shaking.
3 to 3.9 – Vibrations like a truck passing nearby.
4 to 4.9 – Windows can break and objects hanging on walls can fall.
5 to 5.9 – Heavy objects like sofas and bookshelves can shake.
6 to 6.9 – Foundations of buildings can crack, and upper floors can sustain damage.
7 to 7.9 – Buildings collapse, and pipes underground can break.
8 to 8.9 – Large buildings and bridges collapse.
9 or higher – Catastrophic destruction, the earth shakes violently, and there is also the risk of a tsunami.
India’s deadliest earthquake:
– The deadliest earthquake in India occurred on January 15, 1934, in Bihar, with a magnitude of 8.1.
Nearly 30,000 people were killed in the earthquake.
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2. The PM MITRA scheme of the central government is related to which of the following?
a. Textile Industry
b. Film Industry
c. Foreign Policy
d. Agriculture Industry
Answer: a. Textile Industry
– The Central government approved the PM MITRA scheme on March 17, 2023.
– The full form of PM-MITRA is ‘PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel’.
– Under this scheme, training, research, and innovation will be promoted in selected cities in terms of the textile industry.
– Along with promoting exports, the development of world-class infrastructure will also be undertaken.
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3. How many states/cities have been selected by the Central Government for Textile Parks under PM MITRA scheme?
a. 5
b. 7
c. 12
d. 18
Answer: b. 7
In how many cities is the permission given for Mega Integrated Textile Region and Park?
– Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
– Dhar, Madhya Pradesh
– Navsari, Gujarat
– Amravati, Maharashtra
– Kalaburagi, Karnataka
– Warangal, Telangana
– Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu
PM-MITRA: ‘PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel’
– Plan worth: 44.45 billion rupees
– Investment: The possibility of creating 2 million jobs with an investment of 700 billion rupees, including FDI.
5F
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tweeted about it. – The Prime Minister has tweeted that PM MITRA Mega Textile Park will promote the fabric sector in line with the 5F (Farm to Fiber to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) vision.
– The special thing about this project is that all the work related to fabrics will be done in one place. From making clothes to their marketing, designing, and export, everything will be possible from this government’s mega-integrated textile park.
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4. The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) suggested to the Central Government to appoint whom as MD and CEO of UCO Bank?
a. Ashwini Kumar
b. Deepak Singhal
c. Shailendra Bhandari
d. Rajesh Singh
Answer: a. Ashwini Kumar
– He is the Executive Director of Indian Bank.
– Now, the Financial Services Institute of India (FSIB) has recommended Ashwini Kumar’s appointment as the Managing Director and CEO of UCO Bank to the central government.
– The final decision on his appointment will be made by the Cabinet Appointments Committee chaired by the Prime Minister.
– In fact, FSIB is responsible for selecting the chief of banks and some other government financial institutions.
– This used to be done under the name of Bank Board Bureau (BBB), which was changed in 2022.
UCO Bank
Established: January 6, 1943
Founder: Ghanshyam Das Birla
Headquarters: Kolkata
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5. Tata Group appointed whom as the in-charge CEO of TCS?
a. Rajesh Singh
b. Viplab Verma
c. Shailendra Bhandari
d. K Kritiwasan
Answer: d. K Kritiwasan’s
– Rajesh Gopinathan, CEO of TCS, resigned in March 2023. However, he will step down from his position in September 2023.
– He had been associated with TCS for 22 years.
Gopinathan became the CEO of TCS in February 2017, replacing N. Chandrasekaran, who became the Chairman of Tata Sons at that time.
– After Gopinathan’s resignation, the company immediately appointed K. Kritiwasan as the new CEO.
– The Tata Group company has issued a statement informing about this.
– Kritiwasan is currently the Chairman of the company’s banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) business group and global head.
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6. Which city has been named the best airport in the world at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2023?
a. Indira Gandhi International Airport
b. Hamad International Airport
c. Singapore Changi Airport
d. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport
Answer: c. Singapore Changi Airport
– Singapore Changi Airport has been declared as the ‘World’s Best Airport’ in the year 2023.
– This ranking was released by the UK-based airline and airport review and ranking site Skytrax.
– Prior to this, Hamad International Airport located in the capital city of Qatar, Doha was at number one.
Singapore:
– PM: Lee Hsien Loong
– Capital: Singapore
– Currency: Singapore Dollar
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7. Which airport has been awarded the best airport in South Asia at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2023?
a. Indira Gandhi International Airport
b. Hamad International Airport
c. Singapore Changi Airport
d. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport
Answer: a. Indira Gandhi International Airport
– Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has been honored with a 4-star rating.
– It is named as the best airport in South Asia.
– In the 2023 ranking, it is placed at 36th position.
– No airport in India could make it to the top 20 ranking.
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8. When is World Puppetry Day celebrated?
a. March 23
b. March 22
c. March 21
d. March 20
Answer: c. March 21
– The objective of this day is to make the ancient folk art accessible to the masses and to create awareness about it among the coming generations.
– Puppetry is a combination of several arts such as writing, performing arts, painting, costumes, sculpture, woodcraft, textile art, stagecraft, music, dance, etc.
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9. When is International Day of Forests celebrated?
a. March 23
b. March 22
c. March 21
d. March 20
Answer: c. March 21
Theme of the year 2023 – Forests and health
– The United Nations (UN) declared March 21 as International Day of Forests by passing a resolution on November 28, 2012.
– This day is celebrated around the world to raise awareness about forests among people.
– Every year, more than 13 million hectares of forests are destroyed.
– Constant cutting of forests brings animals in contact with viruses.
– According to the United Nations (UN), 60 percent of all infectious diseases in the world spread from animals to humans.
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10. When is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination observed?
a. March 23
b. March 22
c. March 21
d. March 20
Answer: c. March 21
– On this day in 1960, 69 peaceful protesters demonstrating against the apartheid law were shot dead by police in Sharpeville, South Africa.
– In their memory, the United Nations established this day, which is celebrated around the world.
– Secretary-General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres.
