This is the current affairs of 25 October 2023. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. By which year has India set a target to build its own ‘space station’?
a. 2025
b. 2030
c. 2035
d. 2040
Answer: c. 2035
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi told ISRO scientists that we should work on building our own space station by 2035 and sending humans to the moon by 2040.
– The first Indian human spaceflight is expected to take place in 2025.
– The PM also mentioned working on the Venus Orbiter mission and Mars Lander.
– In October 2023, during the review of India’s first human spaceflight mission ‘Gaganyaan’ with ISRO scientists, the Prime Minister set this target.
– Three astronauts will go 400 km above Earth and return after 3 days.
– The first Indian human spaceflight is expected to take place in 2025.
– In ‘Gaganyaan,’ a team of 3 members will be sent 400 km above Earth’s orbit for a 3-day mission.
– Afterward, the crew module will be safely landed in the sea.
– If India succeeds in its mission, it will become the fourth country to do so after the United States, China, and Russia.
What is the International Space Station?
– Traveling to and from space is a complex and expensive process.
– Normally, astronauts cannot stay in space and conduct research. Therefore, a satellite was needed where scientists could stay and conduct research.
– For this purpose, the International Space Station (ISS) was launched in 1998.
– It has cost more than 100 billion dollars to build.
– The ISS is the world’s largest space station.
– The ISS orbits at an altitude of about 400 km from Earth, going around the Earth at a speed of 28,000 km per hour. At this speed, it completes one orbit around Earth in just 90 minutes.
How many space stations have been established so far?
– Research and study in the field of space have been ongoing since the 1960s.
In fact, due to the competition during the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United States were the first to start work in this field.
– The Soviet Union established the first space station in 1971, which was named “Salyut.”
– Two years later, the United States established a space station named “Skylab,” although it was only operational for a limited time.
– So far, 11 space stations have been established. However, currently, NASA’s International Space Station is the only one in operation.
– China launched its human-crewed module “Tiangong” for its permanent space station in 2021, although it is currently in the experimental phase.
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2. Under which mission did the UP CM flag off 51 new buses whose drivers and conductors are women?
a. Mission Women Companion
b. Mission Women Driver
c. Women Conductor Mission
d. Mission Poor Driver
Answer: a. Mission Women Companion
– On October 22, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated these buses in Ayodhya on the occasion of Durga Ashtami at the Ram Katha Park.
Mission Women Companion:
– These buses will be operated primarily by women, both as drivers and conductors.
– The aim of this initiative is to empower and connect women drivers and conductors.
– This is a positive change for women.
Note: Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister: Dayashankar Singh.
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3. From which year will the Indian Army start retiring Cheetah and Chetak helicopters?
a. 2024
b. 2025
c. 2026
d. 2027
Answer: d. 2027
– According to The Hindu newspaper, the Indian Army will phase out these helicopters from 2027 upon the completion of their Total Technical Life (TTL).
– This announcement was made in October 2023.
– Currently, the Army has 190 out of the original 246 Cheetah, Chetak, and Cheetal helicopters.
– Approximately 130 of these helicopters are 30 to 50 years old.
– Only a few of the helicopters are new.
Before retiring the old helicopters, the Army will introduce new helicopters:
– The Army can replace the old helicopters with the indigenous Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) in large numbers.
– The Army expects to receive six LUHs between December 2024 and June 2025.
– The Armed Forces have been trying to replace the Cheetah and Chetak for over a decade.
Light Utility Helicopter (LUH):
– The HAL Light Utility Helicopter is a lightweight helicopter with a single engine developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
– Its maiden flight took place on September 6, 2016, in Bengaluru.
– The LUH is a 3-ton class helicopter with a glass cockpit for surveillance and reconnaissance missions and as a light transport helicopter.
– It can fly at a maximum speed of 220 km/h, has a service ceiling of 6.5 km, and a range of 350 km with a payload of 400 kg.
HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited):
– This is an Indian manufacturer of military aircraft and helicopters.
– It was founded as Hindustan Aircraft on December 22, 1940, and later became Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in 1964.
Cheetah Helicopter:
– The HAL jointly manufactured it with the French company Aerospatiale.
– The Indian Army inducted it in 1976-77.
– It is a helicopter that can fly at high altitudes.
– On June 21, 1972, it set a world record by flying to an altitude of 12,442 meters.
– Its length is 12.92 m, width is 2.38 m, and height is 3.09 m.
– It has a cruise speed of 192 km/h.
Chetak Helicopter:
– The Chetak is the oldest operational flying machine in the Indian Air Force.
– The Chetak helicopter is a two-ton class helicopter.
– It was manufactured jointly by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Aerospatiale in France.
– It was introduced into the Indian Air Force in 1962.
– Its length is 12.82 m, width is 2.59 m, and height is 2.97 m.
– It has a cruise speed of 185 km/h.
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4. Joint training exercise “Exercise Harimau Shakti 2023” was organized between the armies of India and which country?
a. Japan
b. Malaysia
c. USA – United States of America
d. Singapore
Answer: b. Malaysia
– Date: October 23 to November 5, 2023
– Location: Umaroi Cantonment, Meghalaya
– The previous edition was held in Pulai, Kluang, Malaysia in November 2022.
Exercise Hirimau Shakti 2023
– This exercise involved approximately 120 soldiers from both armies.
– In the Malaysian Army contingent, soldiers from the 5th Royal Battalion of the Malaysian Army are participating.
– The Indian contingent is represented by a battalion of the Rajput Regiment.
– Drones/UAVs and helicopters will also be used in this exercise.
– Both armies will undergo joint training in jungle, semi-urban, and urban environments.
– The objective of this exercise is to enhance bilateral relations between the Indian Army and the Malaysian Army and increase the level of defense cooperation.
Establishment of Joint Civil Surveillance Center
– Both armies will establish a Joint Command Post and an Integrated Civil Surveillance Grid.
Indian CDS – General Anil Chauhan
Indian Army Chief – General Manoj Pandey
Indian Navy Chief – Admiral R. Hari Kumar
Indian Air Force Chief – Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhary
Malaysia
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Prime Minister: Anwar Ibrahim
Currency: Ringgit
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5. Who won the gold medal in the Women Shooting (R2 10 meter Air Rifle Standing SH1) category in the 4th Asian Para Games?
a. Avani Lekhara
b. Deepa Malik
c. Bhavinaben Patel
d. C.R. Madhav
Answer: a. Avani Lekhara
– She won the gold medal with a score of 249.6 points.
About Avani Lekhara:
– She is a resident of Jaipur.
– Avani was not differently-abled from her childhood. In 2012, she had an accident which resulted in a spinal cord injury.
– After that, she became unable to stand and walk again.
– Since then, she has been using a wheelchair.
– After the accident, Avani suffered from depression for a few days and confined herself to her room for some time.
– With the efforts of her parents, Avani regained her self-confidence and, inspired by the biography of Abhinav Bindra, she started pursuing shooting.
– Avani Lekhara had previously won silver at the Para World Cup Shooting in 2019 and 2021.
Note:
– This is the Asian Para Games 2022, which is scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province in China in the year 2023.
– Dates: October 22 to October 28.
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6. Which athlete won the gold medal in the men’s 5000 meters T11 final in the 4th Asian Para Games?
a. Nishad Kumar
b. Shailesh Kumar
c. Ankur Dhama
d. Praveen Kumar
Answer: c. Ankur Dhama
– She completed this race in 16 minutes and 37.29 seconds.
About Ankur Dharma:
– He was born on July 7, 1994, in Khekada, Uttar Pradesh.
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7. Which Indian athlete won the gold medal in the Men’s High Jump- T47 event in the 4th Asian Para Games?
a. Nishad Kumar
b. Shailesh Kumar
c. Ankur Dhama
d. Praveen Kumar
Answer: a. Nishad Kumar
– He won a gold medal in the men’s high jump – T47 event by clearing a jump of 2.02 meters.
About Nishad Kumar:
– He is an Indian Paralympian and high jumper.
– He hails from the Una district of Himachal Pradesh.
– His father is a farmer.
– When Nishad was eight years old, he had his right hand severed by a machine used to cut grass in the fields.
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8. Which Indian athlete won the gold medal in the Men’s High Jump- T63 event in the 4th Asian Para Games?
a. Pranav Surma
b. Shailesh Kumar
c. Ankur Dhama
d. Praveen Kumar
Answer: b. Shailesh Kumar
– Shailesh Kumar won a gold medal with a record jump of 1.82 meters.
About Shailesh Kumar:
– He is an Indian athlete.
– He was born on June 8, 1996, in Uttar Pradesh.
– He is the son of a farmer.
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9. Which Indian athlete won the gold medal in the Men’s High Jump- T64 event in the 4th Asian Para Games?
a. Pranav Surma
b. Shailesh Kumar
c. Ankur Dhama
d. Praveen Kumar
Answer: d. Praveen Kumar
– Praveen won a gold medal in the men’s high jump – T64 event by clearing a jump of 2.02 meters.
– The T64 category is for athletes with leg amputation who compete standing with prosthetics.
About Praveen Kumar:
– He is an Indian Paralympian.
– He was born on May 15, 2003, in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
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10. Which Indian athlete won the gold medal in the men’s club throw F51 event in the fourth Asian Para Games?
a. Pranav Surma
b. Shailesh Kumar
c. Ankur Dhama
d. Praveen Kumar
Answer: a. Pranav Surma
– Surma, 29 years old, broke the Asian Para Games record with an attempt of 30.01 meters.
About Pranav Surma:
– He is an Indian athlete.
– When Surma was 16 years old, he had a spinal cord injury after an accident, which left him paralyzed.
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11. Who won the gold medal in the Women’s Para Canoe KL2 event in the 4th Asian Para Games?
a. Prachi Yadav
b. Deepa Malik
c. Bhavinaben Patel
d. Deepti Sharma
Answer: a. Prachi Yadav
– In the fourth Asian Para Games, this is Prachi Yadav’s second medal.
– Before this, she had won a silver medal.
About Prachi Yadav:
– Prachi Yadav was born on May 29, 1995, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
– She is an Indian Para Canoe athlete.
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12. Who won the gold medal in the 400 meter race of Women T20 in the 4th Asian Para Games?
a. Prachi Yadav
b. Deepa Malik
c. Bhavinaben Patel
d. Deepti Jeevanjee
Answer: d. Deepti Jeevanjee
– She completed this race in a record time of 56.69 seconds.
– Her dedication on the track was unmatched, leaving the audience in awe.
About Dipti Jivanji:
– Dipti was born on September 27, 2003.
– She is an Indian Para athlete.
