This is the current affairs of 26 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. Angered by the remarks of the UN chief on the issue of Israel-Hamas war in the UNSC ministerial meeting, which country demanded his resignation?
a. America
b. India
c. Israel
d. Iran
Answer: c. Israel
– On October 25, 2023, a tense meeting took place at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) between Israel and Hamas amid their conflict.
– United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a statement regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict and the civilian casualties in Palestine, which has sparked discussion from all sides.
– This statement has left Israel very angry.
– In the UNSC, Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen expressed his anger, resigned, and demanded an apology from Guterres.
– Following this, Cohen canceled the proposed meeting with Guterres.
– This has caused tension between Israel and the UN Secretary-General.
– In fact, Israel hinted at blocking visas for UN human rights officials.
What statement did the UN Secretary-General make?
– On October 7, 2023, Antonio Guterres criticized the attack by Hamas on Israel but also emphasized that “it is necessary to understand that the Hamas attack did not happen suddenly. Palestinians have been living under a 56-year-long occupation.”
– He said, “Killing civilians and making hostages (by Hamas) is wrong. However, it is equally unacceptable to target the homes of civilians and launch rocket attacks on them (by Israel) in any way.”
– He mentioned that Palestinians have seen the construction of settlements on their land, and the common people are troubled by the daily violence, all while witnessing the destruction of their economy. People have been evicted from their homes, and homes have been demolished. There is little hope for a political solution among the people.
He also discussed the humanitarian crisis among Palestinians in Gaza. Over the past two weeks, 5,800 people have been killed in Israeli bombings in Gaza, including many children and women.
– Antonio Guterres said, “I am deeply concerned about clear violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. The safety of civilians should be paramount in any military conflict, and the use of civilians as human shields is never acceptable.”
– He also stated, “Ensuring people’s safety does not mean telling 1 million people to evacuate an entire area in 24 hours. They should be placed in a situation where there is no place to live, no food, no water, no medicine, and they are being bombed.”
– Guterres emphasized that the creation of a separate Palestinian state is the ultimate solution.
Israel gave a strong response:
– After the statement by the UN Secretary-General, Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen expressed his displeasure.
– Right in front of Guterres, Cohen said, “Secretary-General, what world are you living in?”
– He accused Guterres of “tolerating and justifying” terrorism.
– Later, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, wrote on Twitter, “A UN Secretary-General who sympathizes with those who commit mass murder, the murder of children, women, and the elderly, cannot be an appropriate person to lead the United Nations. I demand your resignation. – There is no legitimacy in talking to those who show mercy to the most heinous perpetrators of crimes against Israeli citizens and Jews.”
– Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen later canceled his meeting with Guterres.
Note: In this meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was also present.
– Tensions in the Middle East are escalating.
– Meanwhile, the United States has issued a warning to Iran not to get involved in this matter.
– The question arises: who will stop the unbridled actions of Israel?
– India has expressed its concern at the UN about the current situation.
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2. Showing solidarity, leaders of three organizations against Israel held a meeting in Beirut (Lebanon) (October 2023), name them?
a. Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestine Islamic Jihad
b. Hamas, Taliban and Hezbollah
c. Hamas, Al Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Taiba
d. None of these
Answer: a. Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestine Islamic Jihad
– Lebanon’s organizations Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hamas have come together against Israel.
– The leaders of all three organizations met in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
– During this meeting, discussions were held on stopping Israeli attacks in Gaza and the West Bank.
Success of Iran’s Plan:
– According to The Jerusalem Post, this meeting is being seen as a success of Iran’s plans.
– Iranian media reports from Al-Mayadeen indicate that this meeting shows increasing coordination among the three organizations.
– In fact, Iran has been wanting the three organizations to unite against Israel for several years.
– Now, it seems that this is finally happening.
Attacks on Israel by Three Organizations:
– On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel.
– The following day, on October 8, Hezbollah from Lebanon also fired rockets at Israel.
– Palestinian Islamic Jihad also carried out rocket attacks.
– Israel has evacuated cities along the border with Lebanon. It is now facing a challenge from Hezbollah.
Iran Funds These Organizations:
– It is believed that Iran provides funding to these organizations along with training for their fighters.
– Many of their top leaders reside in Iran, and they have close ties with the Iranian government.
NATO Member Turkey with Hamas:
– The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who represents a key NATO member, defended the Palestinian organization Hamas, which has carried out attacks on Israel.
– Erdoğan was scheduled to visit Israel but on October 25, 2023, he stated, “I will not go to Israel. Hamas is not a terrorist organization. Its members are freedom fighters participating in the struggle for their land and citizens. They are trying to protect their land and citizens. We are against attacks on civilians, whether they are Israeli or not.”
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3. In which country did India resume visa service on October 25, where this service was suspended for almost a month?
a. China
b. Canada
c. France
d. Pakistan
Answer: b. Canada
– The Indian High Commission in Ottawa has stated that India has partially resumed visa services in Canada from October 26, 2023.
– Currently, Canadian citizens can apply for visas in four categories: entry, business, medical, and conference.
– The suspension of visa services had been in effect since September 21, 2023, following increased tensions between India and Canada after the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Suspension of Service due to Threats to Indian Diplomatic Unit:
– The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had stated on September 21, 2023, that threats were being received by the Indian diplomatic unit in Canada, which was unable to perform its duties. This was the reason for the suspension of visa services. The Ministry had mentioned that Canada was providing a safe haven for terrorists and their activities.
Note: In October 2023, Canada had to recall 41 diplomats from India. India had asked Canada not to reduce the number of diplomats, warning that diplomatic immunity could be revoked.
Canada:
– Prime Minister: Justin Trudeau
– Capital: Ottawa
– Currency: Canadian Dollar
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4. What name did the NCERT committee suggest to use in place of ‘India’ in social science books up to class 12?
a. Aryavarta
b. Hindustan
c. Bharat
d. Jambudweep
Answer: c. Bharat
– The NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) had formed several committees to revise the social science curriculum for schools.
– One of these is the 2022 Social Science Committee.
– This committee has suggested that in all social science textbooks up to the 12th grade, ‘India’ should be referred to as ‘Bharat.’
– The committee’s chairman, Professor C.I. Issac, told the media that “we hope it will be implemented from the next academic year, but it depends on NCERT.”
– Later, when asked by the media, NCERT said that commenting on this issue would be “premature.”
What else is recommended:
– The committee has also recommended bringing out ‘Hindu Victories’ in books.
– The committee suggests that Indian rulers and their introductions in history should also find a place.
– In addition, a change from ‘Ancient History’ to ‘Classical History’ has also been recommended.
The Constitutional Status of the Country’s Name
– In the first line of Article 1 of the Indian Constitution, it is written, “India, that is, Bharat, shall be a Union of States.”
India vs. Bharat: Why?
– During the G20 Summit, the official invitation letter for a state banquet hosted by the President mentioned ‘The President of India’ as ‘The President of Bharat.’
– Since then, there has been a push in the media to change the name from India to just Bharat.
– Subsequently, in October 2023, addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said, “Namaste from Bharat.”
Where Did the Name ‘Bharat’ First Come From?
– The roots of the name “Bharat,” “Bharat,” or “Bharatvarsh” are found in the ancient literature and epic Mahabharata.
– The Puranas describe Bharat as the land “between the sea in the south and snow in the north.”
– Bharat is also the name of an ancient king in the Puranic stories, who was an ancestor of the Bharata tribe mentioned in the Rigveda and is, in an extended sense, the forefather of all the people on the subcontinent.
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5. When is World Day for Audiovisual Heritage celebrated?
a. 26 October
b. 27 October
c. 28 October
d. 29 October
Answer: b. 27 October
– UNESCO and the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA) have declared this day for celebrating audiovisual heritage.
– The purpose of observing this day is to raise awareness about the importance of visual and audio recordings in every individual.
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6. When and how long is Disarmament Week celebrated?
a. 20 to 27 October
b. 21 to 28 October
c. 22 to 29 October
d. 24 to 30 October
Answer: d. 24 to 30 October
– United Nations Day is observed from October 24th and continues until October 30th.
– One of the primary goals of the United Nations is to achieve world peace.
– The week is celebrated annually to raise awareness and understanding of disarmament issues.
– The aim of the week is to reduce the use of arms, especially nuclear weapons, to bring peace in society.
United Nations
Secretary-General – Antonio Guterres
Headquarters – New York
Established – 1945
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7. Which neighboring country announced free tourist visa for Indians?
a. Pakistan
b. China
c. Afghanistan
d. Shri Lanka
Answer: d. Shri Lanka
– Sri Lanka has granted this exemption to travelers from countries including India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand.
– The Sri Lankan government has made this decision as part of its efforts to revive the tourism sector of the island nation, which has been hit hard by the pandemic.
– It will be initiated as a pilot project until March 31, 2024.
– Travelers from these countries will be able to obtain free visas to visit Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka
President – Ranil Wickremesinghe
Prime Minister – Dinesh Gunawardena
Executive and Judicial Capital – Colombo
Legislative Capital – Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
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8. Who inaugurated IFFCO’s Nano DAP (Liquid) plant in Gandhinagar, Gujarat?
a. Narendra Modi
b. Amit Shah
c. Rajnath Singh
d. Vivek Verma
Answer: b. Amit Shah
– In October 2023, Central Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated IFFCO’s nano DAP (Di-ammonium phosphate) factory.
– It is located in Kalol, Gandhinagar.
Liquid Nano DAP
– It contains 8% nitrogen and 16% phosphorus.
– Prepared to replace the traditional 50-kilogram bags of liquid DAP fertilizer.
Agriculture Minister – Narendra Singh Tomar
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9. Name the winner of Sakharov Prize 2023?
a. Barack Obama
b. Jeena Mahsa Amini
c. Vivek Ram Chaudhary
d. None of These
Answer: b. Jeena Mahsa Amini
– European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced the awardee for this award.
– Just 22 years old, Mahsa Amini died in the custody of Iran’s religious police on September 16, 2022. Her alleged crime was violating the strict dress code of the Islamic Republic for women.
– Following this, there was an uprising in Iran.
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10. Who made the record of becoming the fastest to score 2,000 runs in ODI cricket?
a. Virat Kohli
b. MS Dhoni
c. Hashim Amla
d. Shubhman Gill
Answer: d. Shubhman Gill
– Opener Shubman Gill became the fastest to reach 2,000 runs in ODI cricket during the World Cup match against New Zealand on 22 October.
– He scored so many runs in just 38 innings.
