This is the current affairs of 4 January 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 the year 2024, the number of BRICS member countries will increase from 5 to how much?
a. 8
b. 10
c. 12
d. 15
Answer: b. 10
– The current chairperson of BRICS, Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced the permanent membership of five new countries on January 1, 2024.
– With this addition, the total number of member countries has become 10.
– The new members are Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
– Prior to this, BRICS consisted only of India, Russia, China, South Africa, and Brazil.
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2. Name the five new member countries of BRICS?
a. Egypt, Argentina, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE
b. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE
c. Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE
d. France, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE
Answer: b. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE
– Earlier, BRICS included only India, Russia, China, South Africa and Brazil.
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3. Despite getting consent from BRICS, which country refused to become its member?
a. Argentina
b. Pakistan
c. France
d. Germany
Answer: a. Argentina
– In fact, during the summit held in South Africa in 2023, formal agreement was reached to include these five countries in BRICS.
– At that time, Argentina also expressed interest in joining BRICS, but after a change in power following elections, it has distanced itself.
– President of Argentina, Javier Milei, announced that his country will not become a member of BRICS because traditionally it is close to the United States.
Argentina
– Continent: South America
– Capital: Buenos Aires
– President: Javier Milei
– Currency: Argentine Peso
#BRICS New Members#
Egypt
– Continent: Africa and Asia
– Capital: Cairo
– President: Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
– Currency: Egyptian Pound
Ethiopia
– Continent: Africa
– Capital: Addis Ababa
– President: Sahle-Work Zewde
– Prime Minister: Abiy Ahmed
– Currency: Birr
Iran
– Continent: Asia
– Capital: Tehran
– Supreme Leader: Ali Khamenei
– President: Ebrahim Raisi
– Currency: Iranian Rial
Saudi Arabia
– Continent: Asia
– Capital: Riyadh
– King: Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
– Crown Prince and Prime Minister: Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud (MBS)
– Currency: Saudi Riyal
United Arab Emirates
– Continent: Asia
– Capital: Abu Dhabi
– President: Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan
– Prime Minister: Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum
– Currency: UAE Dirham
#Former BRICS Members#
India
– Capital: New Delhi
– Prime Minister: Narendra Modi
Russia
– Continent: Asia and Europe
– Capital: Moscow
– President: Vladimir Putin
– Currency: Ruble
China
– Continent: Asia
– Capital: Beijing
– President: Xi Jinping
– Currency: Chinese Yuan
South Africa
– Continent: Africa
– Capital: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)
– President: Cyril Ramaphosa
– Currency: South African Rand
Brazil
– Continent: South America
– Capital: Brasília
– President: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
– Currency: Brazilian Real
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4. Truck drivers in several states went on strike in protest against which new law related to ‘Hit and Run’?
a. Section 106 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
b. Section 304 of Indian Penal Code (IPC)
c. Section 206 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
d. Section 420 of Indian Penal Code (IPC)
Answer: a. Section 106 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
– The Parliament has passed the law replacing the Indian Penal Code (IPC) with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). However, it may take until December 2024 for it to come into effect.
– Truck and taxi drivers are opposing the provisions of Section 106 of the new law.
– Although Central Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has stated that the law will not be implemented immediately, and it will take time. Everyone’s concerns will be heard.
What is the new law on ‘Hit and Run’?
– Hit and run refers to hitting someone and fleeing. For such cases, the government has made some provisions in Section 106(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
– Section 106(2): Whoever, by negligence, drives a vehicle causing the death of a person, and without giving information to the police or magistrate immediately after the incident, may face imprisonment for up to 10 years and may also be fined.
– If the person committing the offense informs the police or magistrate after the accident, the punishment may be reduced. Under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a maximum sentence of 5 years and a fine can be imposed. Both sections are non-bailable, meaning the driver will not be granted bail from the police station if the sentence is more than 3 years.
Why was the need for the new law? Why did the government bring it?
– According to NCRB, every year, more than 50,000 people in the country die due to hit and run incidents. To reduce the statistics of deaths in road accidents, the central government felt the need for this law.
How were such accidents dealt with under the previous law?
– Until now, such cases were dealt with under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In cases of injuries in a road accident, Section 337 was applicable, with provisions for up to 6 months of imprisonment and fines up to 500 rupees.
– If there is a fracture along with an injury in an accident, i.e., a bone is also broken, then the case is registered under Section 338. In this case, the punishment could be imprisonment for up to two years and a fine of up to 1000 rupees.
– If someone dies due to reckless driving, Section 304-A is applicable, where the case could result in imprisonment for up to 2 years and a fine.
Why are drivers across the country opposing the provisions of the new law? What are they afraid of?
– After an accident, if the driver does not flee from the scene, people catch and beat him. – Sometimes, the crowd sets the vehicle on fire, which results in the driver getting burned along with the vehicle.
– Often, accidents occur due to poor roads, stray animals, etc. Drivers should not be penalized for the failure of state and central governments in these situations.
– In the case of collisions with pedestrians or small vehicles, people tend to hold the driver of the larger vehicle responsible for the accident, which is unfair.
– Before making these laws, stakeholders, including state governments and associations of drivers and truckers, were not adequately consulted.
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5. Which edition of ‘Indian Science Congress’, to be held in January, was postponed?
a. 106th
b. 107th
c. 108th
d. 109th
Answer: d. 109th
– The Indian Science Congress, scheduled to be held at Lovely Professional University, Punjab, from January 3 to January 5, 2024, has been postponed. Although the event for this year has been postponed, no decision has been made yet regarding rescheduling it for a later date.
– Earlier, the 108th edition of the Indian Science Congress was held in R.T.M. Nagpur University in 2023.
– Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the events for the years 2021 and 2022 were not organized.
Conflict between the Government and the Association
– According to the Indian Express, the organization of the event has been postponed due to tensions between the government and the Indian Science Congress Association.
– The Secretary-General of the association, Ranjeet Kumar Varma, mentioned that they hope to be able to organize the Science Congress before March 31 and expressed hope that the Prime Minister will participate in the program.
On what issue is the dispute with the government?
– Actually, the event for 2024 was supposed to take place at Lucknow University, but a month before, the organizers, citing a lack of funds, shifted it to Lovely Professional University. This became a major controversial issue.
– It is reported that there was no consultation with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the central government for this change. While DST provides approximately 6 crore rupees for the event, serving as a major source of funding.
Indian Science Congress:
– Establishment: 1914
– Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal
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6. Name the new spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs?
a. Vinod Verma
b. Rakesh Bagchi
c. Nana Kusum
d. Randhir Jaiswal
Answer: d. Randhir Jaiswal
– Randhir Jaiswal assumed the post of official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs on 2 January 2023.
– He replaces Arindam Bagchi, who has been appointed as India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva.
– Randhir Jaiswal is a 1998 batch IFS officer.
– He earlier served as the Consul General of India in New York.
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7. Which is the first Union Territory to implement PM Vishwakarma Yojana (PMVY)?
a. Delhi
b. Ladakh
c. Jammu Kashmir
d. Puducherry
Answer: c. Jammu Kashmir
– Jammu and Kashmir has become the first union territory to implement the Prime Minister Vishwakarma Yojana.
What is the PM Vishwakarma Yojana?
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Prime Minister Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Yojana on Vishwakarma Jayanti (17th September).
– A budget of 13,000 crore rupees will be allocated for this scheme from the financial year 2023-24 to 2027-28.
– The scheme is expected to benefit around 30 lakh traditional artisans across the country.
At the beginning of the scheme, 18 trades have been included:
1. Carpenter (woodwork)
2. Boat maker
3. Weapon maker
4. Blacksmith
5. Lock maker (repairman)
6. Hammer and toolkit maker
7. Goldsmith
8. Potter
9. Sculptor
10. Cobbler
11. Rope worker
12. Basket, mat, broom maker
13. Traditional doll and toy maker
14. Barber
15. Garland maker
16. Washer
17. Tailor
18. Fish net maker
Loan will be available at concessional interest
– In the first phase of the scheme, workers will be eligible for a loan of 1 lakh rupees at an interest rate of 5%.
– Subsequently, in the next phase, this amount will be increased to 2 lakh rupees.
– Under the scheme, artisans and craftsmen will receive two types of training – Basic and Advanced.
– A daily stipend of 500 rupees will be provided during the training.
– The government will provide a support of 15,000 rupees for purchasing modern tools.
– Support such as branding and online market access will also be provided.
Jammu and Kashmir
– Lieutenant Governor – Manoj Sinha
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8. Under which law did the Home Ministry declare Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masrat Alam faction) as an illegal organization?
a. IPC
b. TADA
c. POTA
d. UAPA
Answer: d. UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act)
– The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) is an Indian law aimed at preventing unlawful activities by organizations in India.
– Under the UAPA, the Ministry of Home Affairs has declared the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Muslim League (Masrat Alam Group) as an “unlawful association” for a period of five years.
– Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that the organization and its members in Jammu and Kashmir are involved in anti-national and separatist activities, supporting terrorist attempts.
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9. Who won the presidential election of the Democratic Republic of Congo for the second time?
a. Moise Katumbi
b. Felix Tshisekedi
c. Etienne Tshisekedi
d. Antony Pentone
Answer: b. Felix Tshisekedi
– President Felix Tshisekedi has once again secured victory with approximately 73% of the votes.
– He previously became president in 2019, and now, with the recent election win, he will serve as president for the second time.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
– Continent: Africa
– Capital: Kinshasa
– President: Felix Tshisekedi
– Currency: Congolese Franc
– Neighboring Countries: Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Angola
