This is the current affairs of 27 & 28 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. Who became the first Indian to win a gold medal in the World Athletics Championships?
a. Hima Das
b. Neeraj Chopra
c. Nishant Sandhu
d. Naveen Kumar
Answer: b. Neeraj Chopra
– Neeraj Chopra made history by winning the gold medal at the World Athletics Championship held in Budapest, Hungary.
– For the first time in the 40-year history of the event, an Indian won the gold medal.
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2. Neeraj Chopra created history by winning the gold medal in which sport of the World Athletics Championships 2023?
a. Javelin Throw
b. Long Jump
c. Shot Put
d. Discus Throw
Answer: a. Javelin Throw
– Neeraj Chopra has won the Gold Medal at the World Athletics Championship held in Budapest, Hungary.
– Neeraj has become the first Indian to achieve this feat in the men’s javelin throw event.
– He is also the first Indian athlete to do so.
– Neeraj threw the javelin at a distance of 88.17 meters in his second attempt.
– His performance remained strong afterward.
– The World Athletics Championship is being hosted in Hungary.
World Athletics Championship Javelin Throw Final Scores:
1. Neeraj Chopra, India: 88.17 meters – Gold
2. Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan: 87.82 meters – Silver
3. Jakub Vadlejch, Czech Republic: 86.67 meters – Bronze
Previously Achieved Medals by Neeraj Chopra:
– In the 2022 World Championship, he won a silver medal with a throw of 88.13 meters.
– He earned a gold medal in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
– He secured gold medals for India in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
– In 2016, he won gold in the Under-20 World Championship.
Neeraj Chopra from Haryana:
– Neeraj Chopra was born on December 24, 1997.
– He hails from Khandra village in Panipat city, Haryana.
– His father, Satish Kumar, is a small farmer.
Two More Indians Achieved:
– Keshorn Walcott stood fifth with a throw of 84.77 meters.
– Deepak Mannu secured sixth place with a throw of 84.14 meters.
– The javelin throw final had 12 participants.
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3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the ‘Tomb of the Unknown Soldier’ located in which country in August 2023?
a. South Africa
b. Greece
c. Germany
d. USA
Answer: b. Greece
– In Athens, the capital of Greece, there is the ‘Tomb of the Unknown Soldier’ in Syntagma Square.
– This is the tomb of Greek soldiers who sacrificed their lives in various conflicts.
– It commemorates the valor and sacrifice of anonymous soldiers who gave their lives in the service of their nation during various wars.
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4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the ‘Grand Cross of the Order of Honour’ of which country?
a. Malta
b. Bulgaria
c. Greece
d. Egypt
Answer: c. Greece
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a one-day trip to Greece on August 25, 2023.
– During the visit, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou honored PM Modi with the ‘Grand Cross of the Order of Honor’ of Greece.
First Visit of an Indian PM in 40 Years:
– This marked the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) to Greece in 40 years.
– The last high-level visit to Greece was in September 1983 when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited the country.
About the ‘Grand Cross of the Order of Honor’:
– Established in 1975.
– This honor is bestowed by the President of Greece upon Prime Ministers and distinguished personalities who have contributed to elevating Greece’s stature due to their distinguished positions.
About Greece:
– Greece is located in the European continent.
– Its people are referred to as Greek or Hellenic.
– In English and other Western languages, they are known as Greeks.
– The residents here refer to their country as “Ellas.”
– Capital: Athens
– Currency: Euro (€)
– President: Katerina Sakellaropoulou
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5. Which country started releasing radioactive water of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, due to which many countries of the world expressed concern about radiation?
a. Germany
b. Japan
c. Indonesia
d. South Korea
Answer: b. Japan
– Japan has begun releasing radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean in August 2023.
– Approximately 460,000 liters of water will be released daily.
– This process will continue for the next 30 years.
– China and South Korea are concerned about this action.
– The potential impact is on marine life and fish in the ocean.
– The radioactive water could have an impact on human bodies if consumed.
– The company TEPCO, responsible for maintaining the nuclear plant, started by releasing a small amount of water from the initial tanks as a sample.
– All conditions were checked and no irregularities were observed.
– The pump that releases water from the plant will be active 24/7.
Origin of the Radioactive Water:
– About 12 years ago, on March 11, 2011, Japan experienced a magnitude 9.1 earthquake at 3:42 AM.
– This led to a tsunami due to the shifting of the ocean’s crust.
– As a result of the tremors, reactors in the nuclear plant by the seaside in Fukushima were shut down.
– Emergency generators were started to cool the reactor.
– The emergency generator cooled the hot reactor, but water entered the plant before the emergency generator was turned off.
– This caused the emergency generator to stop working, leading to the reactor melting down.
– Shortly after, a catastrophic explosion occurred in the nuclear power plant.
– For several months, seawater was used to cool the reactor.
– About 133 million liters of seawater were used to cool the nuclear reactors to prevent a chain reaction.
Radioactive Materials in the Water:
– Out of 65 types of radioactive materials, 64 have dissolved.
– These include elements like carbon-14, iodine-131, cesium-137, strontium-90, cobalt, hydrogen-3, and tritium.
– Many of these materials are harmful to humans. Most of them have short half-lives and their effect has already diminished.
– However, materials like carbon-14 can remain radioactive for up to 5,000 years.
– Additionally, tritium particles are still present in the nuclear reactor water.
China’s Response:
– China has stated that Japan’s actions are endangering the world.
– This could have a negative impact on Japan’s relations with neighboring countries.
UN Approval for Water Release:
– The UN’s atomic agency, IAEA, has approved the release of radioactive water into the sea.
– In the area where water is being released, fishing within a radius of 3 kilometers is prohibited.
– Scientists, however, believe that this restriction will not be effective, as fish travel long distances in the ocean.
– If these fish reach consumers through seafood companies, radioactive particles can easily enter the human body.
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6. Which program has been started by the central government for the safety star rating test of the car?
a. BNCAP
b. INCAP
c. BCACP
d. ACPS
Answer: a. BNCAP (भारत न्यू कार असेसमेंट प्रोग्राम)
– On August 22, 2023, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, launched BHARAT NCAP.
– It was implemented from October 1, 2023.
– It will be on par with global NCAP standards.
– BHARAT NCAP has been developed while considering India’s road conditions, driving patterns, and other circumstances.
Use of Crash Test Dummies:
– Crash test dummies resembling humans are used in these tests.
– During the test, a vehicle is crashed into a hard object at a fixed speed.
– During this process, around 4 to 5 crash test dummies are used in the car.
– A child dummy is placed on the rear seat.
This child safety seat is fixed.
– The crash test evaluates the effectiveness of the airbags.
– The extent of damage to the dummies is examined.
– The performance of the car’s safety features is assessed.
– Ratings are given based on these criteria.
Star Rating System for Cars:
– Car manufacturers can get their vehicles tested under this new program to receive a star rating ranging from one to five stars.
– The star rating corresponds to the car’s compliance with safety standards.
– Higher star ratings indicate better adherence to safety standards.
– The star rating might influence car prices, but the extent of the impact is uncertain.
Is Safety Rating Mandatory?
– Nitin Gadkari mentioned that safety star ratings are not mandatory for car manufacturers.
– It is optional for them to undergo a safety audit for their vehicles.
– They can choose to conduct safety audits according to their preferences.
– Safety audits were initially conducted abroad before being introduced in the country.
– More than 1,000 road accidents occur in India every day, resulting in over 400 deaths.
– Car safety ratings are expected to improve this situation.
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7. When is International Dog Day celebrated?
a. 25 August
b. 26 August
c. 27 August
d. 28 August
Answer: b. 26 August
– International Dog Day is celebrated on August 26th, 2022.
– The first International Dog Day was organized on August 26th, 2004.
– This day is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of dogs.
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8. When is Women’s Equality Day celebrated?
a. 26 August
b. 27 August
c. 28 August
d. 29 August
Answer: a. 26 August
– This day is a symbol of the passage of women’s suffrage in the United States in the year 1920.
– The purpose of celebrating this day is to grant equal rights to women all around the world, so that they can contribute their maximum potential to society, the nation, and the world’s development.
– International Women’s Equality Day helps us applaud the courageous women who, despite discrimination and violence, led the women’s movement to success.
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9. When is National Sports Day celebrated?
a. 28 August
b. 29 August
c. 30 August
d. 31 August
Answer: b. 29 August
– Every year on the occasion of the birth anniversary of hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, National Sports Day is celebrated on 29th August.
– The government renamed the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award to Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in his honor on the 6th of this month.
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10. When is the International Day against Nuclear Tests observed?
a. 28 August
b. 29 August
c. 30 August
d. 31 August
Answer: b. 29 August
– The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about the effects of nuclear weapon testing explosions or any other nuclear explosions.
– This day has been proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly.
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11. Which state government has expanded the Mukhyamantri Nashta Yojana to 31,008 schools?
a. Tamil Nadu
b. Kerala
c. Arunachal Pradesh
d. Punjab
Answer: a. Tamil Nadu
– Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expanded the breakfast program in the Nagapattinam district on August 25, 2023.
– Now, students from 31,008 government primary schools in rural and urban areas will receive breakfast.
– How much will be the cost of the breakfast program expansion?
– ₹404.41 crores
This expansion of the program will benefit around 1.7 million students from classes 1 to 5.
– CM Stalin had previously announced in the legislature that to encourage economically disadvantaged students in their education, address nutritional deficiencies, and bridge learning gaps, the government will provide free nutritious breakfast to primary students.
– The goal behind this initiative is to ensure that students attend school without hunger. The government stated that the plan will be implemented in a phased manner.
When did this program start?
– Tamil Nadu government first initiated the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme on September 15, 2022.
– It was launched on the occasion of the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C.N. Annadurai, in Madurai.
– The program was initially introduced in 1,545 government primary schools during the first phase.
Tamil Nadu
Chief Minister: Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin
Governor: Raveendra Narayana Ravi
Capital: Chennai
