This is the current affairs of 4 August 2023. Here are 10 questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. Name the cabinet secretary of the country, whose tenure has been extended by the central government for the third time by one year.
a. Rajeev Sinha
b. Dinkar Gupta
c. Rajeev Gauba
d. Samant Goyal
Answer: c. Rajeev Gauba
– They will remain in the position until 30th August 2024.
– The position of Cabinet Secretary is the highest bureaucratic position in the country.
– They were appointed to this position for two years in 2019.
– Now, their term has been extended for the third time on 3rd August 2023.
– They are an IAS officer from the 1982 batch of the Jharkhand cadre.
– Rajiv Gauba is known as the chief architect of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, which bifurcated the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two separate union territories after revoking the special status provided under Article 370.
– Born in Punjab, Shri Gauba completed his graduation in Physics from Patna University.
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2. Union Government has upgraded ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) to which Ratna status?
a. Maharatna
b. Navratna
c. Miniratna
d. None of these
Answer: b. Navratna
– ONGC Videsh Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ONGC, India’s premier national oil company.
– The decision to grant it the status of ‘Navratna’ was made by the Ministry of Finance in August 2023.
– Before this, ONGC Videsh was categorized as a Category-1 ‘Mini Ratna.’
– ONGC Videsh Limited’s primary business is to explore opportunities outside India for oil and gas production, including exploration, development, and production of oil and gas.
– ONGC Videsh Limited has stakes in 38 oil and gas assets in 17 countries.
– During the financial year 2023, its annual turnover was 11,676 crore rupees, and net profit was 1,700 crore rupees.
ONGC:
– Founded: 1956
– Chairman: Arun Kumar Singh
ONGC Videsh Limited:
– Founded: 1965\
Criteria to become a ‘Navratna’:
– To become a ‘Navratna,’ a company should first hold the status of a Mini Ratna.
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3. Union Government upgraded Oil India Limited (OIL) to which Ratna status?
a. Maharatna
b. Navratna
c. Miniratna
d. None of these
Answer: a. Maharatna
– With this decision by the Ministry of Finance, there are now a total of 13 Maharatna companies in the country.
– The status of Maharatna is only granted as an upgrade to Navratna companies.
– For this, the average turnover of the past three years should be more than 25,000 crore rupees.
– An average profit of 2,500 crore rupees is essential, and global projection is also crucial.
Oil India Limited:
– Founded: 1959
– Headquarters: Duliajan, Assam
– Chairman: Dr. Ranjit Ratan
– Oil India Limited (OIL) is a Central Public Sector Enterprise engaged in the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas, transportation of crude oil, and production of liquefied petroleum gas.
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Categories of PSUs in the country:
– Maharatna, Navratna, Miniratna Category-I, and Miniratna Category-II.
– The status of Maharatna and Navratna is for Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). Private sector companies cannot be included in these categories.
When was the status of Navratna companies introduced in India?
– Year 1997
When was the status of Maharatna companies introduced in India?
– Year 2009
What are the benefits of being conferred with the status of Maharatna, Navratna, and Miniratna?
– They get more opportunities for development. Maharatna, Navratna, and Miniratna companies have more administrative autonomy, authority for investment and mergers, and freedom to decide other policies for expansion.
List of ‘Maharatna’ companies:
1. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
2. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)
3. Coal India Limited
4. GAIL (India) Limited
5. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)
6. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
7. NTPC Limited
8. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
9. Power Finance Corporation
10. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL)
11. Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC)
12. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
13. Oil India Limited
List of ‘Navratna’ companies:
1. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
2. Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR)
3. Engineers India Limited (EIL)
4. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
5. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL)
6. National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO)
7. National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited (NBCC)
8. Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited (NLC)
9. NMDC Limited
10. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL)
11. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL)
12. Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCI)
13. ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL)
Note: Previously, there were also 13 Navratna companies. However, Oil India Limited has now become a Maharatna company, and ONGC Videsh Limited has become a Navratna company. Hence, the count remains 13.
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4. According to the central government, India will get its first polar research vessel in five years, tell its cost?
a. 1,600 crores
b. 2,300 crores
c. 2,500 crores
d. 2,600 crores
Answer: d. 2,600 crores
– Central Minister of Earth Sciences, Kiren Rijiju, informed the Rajya Sabha about it on 3rd August 2023.
– He said that India’s goal is to establish its first polar research vessel (PRV) in the next five years to maintain its presence in Antarctica.
– During the ongoing financial year, there is hope for the Cabinet’s approval of a proposal related to the ship.
– The government wants to construct this icebreaker vessel within the country itself.
Why is the Polar Research Vessel necessary?
– Currently, India has three research base stations in the polar region (Antarctica).
– The country requires icebreaker vessels to have continuous access to these research stations. These ships can reach places with less ice, and then teams reach the stations via helicopters.
– The Polar Research Vessel not only facilitates research and logistics in the polar region but can also serve as a research platform for scientists in the oceanic areas, including the Southern Ocean.
Tender was previously issued for the ship.
– In 2014, the Cabinet had approved ₹1,051 crores for the acquisition of the ship. A tender was also issued for this purpose.
– However, later, the government abandoned the project because the company to whom the order to build the ship was given added some conditions that were not part of the bidding process.
– Nevertheless, now a new attempt has been initiated.
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5. Who became India’s number one chess player by surpassing Viswanathan Anand in the FIDE Live Rankings (August 3)?
a. Aditya S Samant
b. Pranesh M
c. Sayantan Das
d. Gukesh D
Answer: d. Gukesh D
– At the end of August 2023, when the FIDE ratings are published, Viswanathan Anand will not be the top-ranked Indian player for the first time in 36 years.
– 17-year-old Grandmaster Gukesh D, who had already broken into the top 100 last year in April, will take his mentor’s place.
– Gukesh achieved this milestone by defeating Mistrradin Iskandarov in the second round of the FIDE World Cup in August 2023, reaching a live rating of 2755.9 and securing the 9th position in the Classic Open category.
– This FIDE event is taking place in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku.
– Before this, in July 2023, the 17-year-old player, Gukesh, became the youngest chess player to cross the 2750 rating mark, surpassing former World Champion Magnus Carlsen.
FIDE Live Ranking (as of 3rd August 2023) for the Top 10 players:
FIDE
– Founded: 20th July 1924
– Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
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6. Which country’s cricketer Moeen Ali announced his retirement from Test cricket?
a. India
b. Pakistan
c. England
d. Australia
Answer: c. England
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7. Who has been selected by the PSEB (Public Enterprises Selection Board) panel as the Chairman and Managing Director of Engineering Projects India Limited (EPIL)?
a. Shivendra Nath
b. Rahul Singh
c. Vivek Yadav
d. Asaram Singh
Answer: a. Shivendra Nath
– The Public Enterprises Selection Board is responsible for the selection and appointment of individuals to key positions in Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs), including Chairman, Managing Director, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, and Functional Director.
Engineering Projects India Limited (EPIL)
– EPIL is a Public Sector Enterprise under the Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Ministry.
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8. Who has been appointed as the new Corporate Vice President of Microsoft India and South Asia by Microsoft?
a. Rahul Mahajan
b. Puneet Chandok
c. Rakesh Yadav
d. Vishal Agarwal
Answer: b. Puneet Chandok
– They will oversee the integration of Microsoft’s businesses in entire South Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
Microsoft:
– Founders: Bill Gates, Paul Allen
– Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States
– Chairman: Satya Nadella (Chairman and CEO)
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9. Which neighboring country of India approved the security agreement with America?
a. Bhutan
b. China
c. Pakistan
d. Sri Lanka
Answer: c. Pakistan
– The Pakistani Cabinet silently approved signing a new security agreement with the United States.
– Pakistan’s previous security agreement with the United States was in 2005 and had expired in 2020.
– Now, Pakistan has once again entered into this agreement.
– The CISMOA (Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement) is a foundational agreement that the United States signs with its allies and partner countries to maintain close military and defense relationships.
– Both countries have now reaffirmed the provisions that include joint exercises, operations, training, basing, and equipment.
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10. On what grounds did the Supreme Court stay the sentence of Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case?
a. Trial judge not giving any specific reason for imposing maximum sentence
b. No need for maximum sentence
c. All of the above
d. none of these
Answer: a. Trial judge not giving any specific reason for imposing maximum sentence
– Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has been granted relief by the Supreme Court in the criminal defamation case over the ‘Modi surname’ remark.
– A bench of three judges of the Supreme Court, in an interim order on August 4, 2023, has temporarily halted the punishment of the Congress leader.
– However, the court stated that Rahul Gandhi’s alleged comments, if made, were not appropriate. It was mentioned that a person in public life should exercise caution to some extent, and Rahul Gandhi should have been more cautious.
– Prior to this, the Gujarat High Court had refused to stay the punishment.
– Now, after receiving relief from the Supreme Court, Rahul’s Lok Sabha membership can be reinstated.
What did the Supreme Court say in its order?
– According to the Supreme Court’s order, apart from the court’s comments, the trial judge did not state any specific reason for imposing the maximum punishment. If the punishment was even one day less, the provisions related to disqualification would not apply. It is expected that the trial judge would state the reasons for imposing the maximum punishment for a non-cognizable offense. However, the appellate court and high court have spent considerable pages rejecting the stay on conviction, but these aspects have not been considered. In such cases, it is expected that a public figure would exercise caution to some extent.
– According to the order, the impact of the trial court’s decision is extensive. It not only affected Rahul Gandhi’s right to continue in public life but also the right of the voters who elected him. Considering these aspects, especially the fact that the trial judge did not provide any reason for imposing the maximum punishment, which resulted in disqualification as an MP and pending action on the conviction, there is a need to stay the order on the stay of conviction.
Supreme Court asked – Why was the maximum punishment given?
– The Supreme Court stated that the Gujarat High Court’s decision is quite interesting. Rahul Gandhi could have received a lesser punishment. The court wants to know why the maximum punishment was given. The court believes that if the judge had imposed a sentence of one year and eleven months, Rahul Gandhi would not have been disqualified.
What was the case?
– In this case, Rahul Gandhi was first convicted by the Surat Magistrate Court, which sentenced him to two years of simple imprisonment for his remark “Why is the nickname of all thieves Modi?” made during a political rally in Kolar on March 23, 2019.
