This is the current affairs of 22 & 23 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 city was the 15th BRICS summit held, in which PM Modi attended?
a. Delhi
b. Beijing
c. Johannesburg
d. Cape Town
Answer: c. Johannesburg (South Africa)
South Africa
– President: Cyril Ramaphosa
– Currency: South African Rand
– Capitals: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)
– Largest City: Johannesburg
– BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa
– Summit Dates: August 22-24, 2023
PM Modi Arrives in Johannesburg
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 22, 2023, to participate in the 15th BRICS Summit.
– The PM will stay in Johannesburg, South Africa, until August 24.
– During this time, he will engage in bilateral discussions with some member countries.
– Chinese President Xi Jinping has also arrived in Johannesburg for the BRICS Summit.
40 Countries in the Race to Become BRICS Members
– The BRICS group, formed 14 years ago in 2009, is considered quite significant this time.
– The primary reason is the competition to become a member of this organization. About 40 countries have expressed a desire to join the organization.
– This includes Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Iran. This time’s summit will have an expanded outreach to the Center Point Group. However, the five member countries have not yet reached a consensus on this issue.
– According to a report by the news agency ‘ANI,’ around 45 guest countries could participate in this year’s summit. After the conference, there will be an Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus dialogue, involving invited countries from South Africa.
What Does This Mean for India?
– This BRICS Summit holds special importance for India.
– After the military standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 2020, this is the first in-person summit, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will come face-to-face with President Xi Jinping.
– This meeting will be crucial in resolving the LAC situation, where an estimated 100,000 soldiers are stationed on both sides.
– Additionally, there are other reasons that make this summit necessary. Just two weeks after the BRICS Summit, India will host the G20 Summit.
Who Will Be There?
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Lula, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
– They will discuss the “Johannesburg Declaration” to be issued at the end of the summit.
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2. Who became the second Indian woman wrestler to win a gold medal in the Under-20 World Wrestling Championships?
a. Sonam Malik
b. Manisha Bhanwala
c. Priya Malik
d. Antim Panghal
Answer: c. Priya Malik
– Hosted In: Amman, Jordan
– Event Dates: August 14 to August 20, 2023
– In the Under-20 World Wrestling Championship 2023, India has won a total of 14 medals.
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3. In the Under-20 World Wrestling Championship 2023, Priya Malik won the gold medal in how many kg freestyle category for women?
a. 76 KG
b. 61 KG
c. 70 KG
d. 65 KG
Answer: a. 76 KG
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4. In the Under-20 World Wrestling Championship 2023, Mohit Kumar won the gold medal in how many kg men’s freestyle category?
a. 76 KG
b. 61 KG
c. 70 KG
d. 65 KG
Answer: b. 61 KG
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5. In the Under-20 World Wrestling Championship 2023, Antim Panghal won the gold medal in how many kg freestyle category for women?
a. 76 KG
b. 61 KG
c. 53 KG
d. 65 KG
Answer: c. 53 KG
Note: In the last Junior World Wrestling Championship, India’s first female wrestler to win the title was in the freestyle wrestling category. She secured this title in the 2022 edition.
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6. In the Under-20 World Wrestling Championship 2023, Savita won the gold medal in how many kg freestyle category for women?
a. 76 KG
b. 62 KG
c. 53 KG
d. 65 KG
Answer: b. 62 KG
Under-20 World Wrestling Championship 2023
– Hosted In: Amman, Jordan
– Event Dates: August 14 to August 20, 2023
Under-20 World Wrestling Championship 2023
India’s Total Medals: 14
Gold – 4
Silver – 3
Bronze – 7
Total – 14
Gold Medals:
– Kumar Mohit (61 KG)
– Priya Malik (76 KG)
– Antim Panghal (53 KG)
– Savita (62 KG)
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7. In which state did President Draupadi Murmu launch the “My Bengal, Addiction Free Bengal” campaign?
a. Bihar
b. West Bengal
c. Maharashtra
d. Jharkhand
Answer: b. West Bengal
– On August 17, 2023, President Draupadi Murmu initiated the campaign at Raj Bhavan, Kolkata, organized by the Brahmakumaris organization.
– The campaign aims to address the issue of misuse of addictive drugs in society and the country.
– President Draupadi Murmu stated, “Drug addiction is a matter of concern for both society and the nation.”
Governor of West Bengal – C.V. Anand Bose
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8. Which Indian won the gold medal in the Asian Junior Squash Individual Championship 2023 (U-17)?
a. Anahat Singh
b. Dolly kumari
c. Rekha Bharti
d. Sonia Rajput
Answer: a. Anahat Singh
– On August 20, 2023, Anahat Singh won the gold medal by defeating Hong Kong’s Ena Kwong in the final.
– She has also represented India in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Won the British Junior Open Squash:
– In the beginning of this year (2023), Anahat had won the British Junior Open Squash title in the Under-15 category by defeating Soheila Hazem of Egypt in the final.
Asian Junior Squash Individual Championship 2023
– Hosted In: Dalian, China
– Event Dates: August 16 to August 20, 2023
About Anahat Singh:
– She is a squash player.
– She is 15 years old.
– Born on March 13, 2008.
– She hails from Delhi.
– She is currently studying.
– She started playing badminton at the age of 6.
Asian Squash Federation:
– Established: 1980
– Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
– President: David Y. Y. Mui
What is Squash?
– Squash is a racket sport played by two players (or four players for doubles) using a small, hollow rubber ball on a court with four walls.
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9. Name the mission of Russia which crashed on Moon in August 2023?
a. Chandrayaan-3
b. Luna-25
c. Cosmodrome
d. Lonar-24
Answer: b. Luna-25
– Russia launched it on August 10, 2023.
– The spacecraft was launched with the help of the Soyuz 2.1b rocket.
Why did Luna-25 Crash?
– Russia’s space agency Roscosmos revealed that on the evening of August 19, 2023, Luna-25 lost contact.
– The space agency attributed this to a technical glitch.
– According to the space agency, there was a problem during the pre-landing orbit change.
Initial Analysis Reveals:
– Early analysis by the space agency indicates that the spacecraft deviated from the set parameters due to calculations.
– The calculated values were higher than they should have been, resulting in the thrusters firing for a longer duration.
– This led to a decrease in speed, and the spacecraft ended up in an off-design orbit, ultimately resulting in a crash.
Why is the Country Interested in the Southern Pole of the Moon?
– Navigating through the challenging regions of the Moon’s southern pole is a difficult task. However, the region is of immense scientific interest due to the presumed abundance of ice – a vast resource of potential fuel, oxygen, and drinking water. This ice could potentially serve as a resource for future lunar habitation efforts.
Only Three Countries Have Succeeded So Far:
– Only three countries have successfully managed lunar landings: the Soviet Union, the United States, and China.
– India aims to become the first to land on the Moon’s southern pole.
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10. Who has been appointed as the brand ambassador of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)?
a. Rahul Dravid
b. Rohit Sharma
c. Mahendra Singh Dhoni
d. Virat Kohli
Answer: a. Rahul Dravid
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)
Chairman: J. Krishnakumar
Established: 1976
Headquarters: Mumbai
Rahul Dravid
– He hails from Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
– He is an Indian cricketer.
– He played cricket for India from 1996 to 2012.
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11. Who has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Bolivia?
a. Anil Chauhan
b. Vishvas Vidu Sapkal
c. Atul Sikarwar
d. Raghav Kumar Singh
Answer: b. Vishvas Vidu Sapkal
– He is a member of the 1998 batch of the Indian Foreign Service Officers (IFSO).
– He has been appointed as the Ambassador of India to the Plurinational State of Bolivia.
– Currently, he is serving as the Ambassador of India to the Republic of Peru.
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12. Name the player who reached the final of FIDE Chess World Cup after Viswanathan Anand?
a. Gukesh D
b. R Praggnanandhaa
c. Arjun Erigaisi
d. S. P. Sethuraman
Answer: b. R Praggnanandhaa
– He is the first Indian to achieve this after Viswanathan Anand.
– He is only 18 years old at the moment.
– The World Cup is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
In the final, he is competing against the world’s number one chess player, Magnus Carlsen.
