This is the current affairs of 27 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. Which country’s court sentenced death to 8 former Indian Navy officers?
a. Israel
b. Pakistan
c. China
d. Qatar
Answer: d. Qatar
Content on these questions:
– Which former naval officers were sentenced?
– Why was the death penalty pronounced?
– What did former naval officers do in Qatar?
– Commander Purnendu has received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in Qatar.
– What did the government do for 14 months of arrest?
– About Qatar
– Indians in Qatar
– What is the nature of the relationship between India and Qatar?
– Business Relations
– Defense Relations
– History of challenges in the relationship
– What is Qatar’s international status?
– A court in Qatar has sentenced 8 former Indian naval officers to death.
– They have all been in separate prisons in Qatar for 14 months (since August 2022).
– The Indian government has expressed astonishment at this.
– Legal avenues are being explored to secure their release.
– The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a statement saying that we are awaiting details of the judgment.
– Note: Qatar holds a significant international status. Qatar has mediated the release of two American hostages from Gaza due to its substantial international standing.
Former Naval Officers Sentenced:
– Commander Purnendu Tiwari
– Commander Sugnakar Pakala
– Commander Sanjeev Gupta
– Commander Amit Nagpal
– Captain Navtej Singh Gill
– Captain Saurabh Vashisht
– Captain Beirendra Kumar Verma
– Sailor Ragesh
Note: Several of these individuals have served as commanders in the Indian Navy.
About Qatar:
– Capital: Doha
– Emir: Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (Qatar is under the rule of the Thani dynasty)
– The country’s principal and chief executive is the Emir.
– Prime Minister: Mohammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani (he is the head of the government)
Qatar is home to one of the world’s largest reserves of petroleum and natural gas.
– Neighbor country: Saudi Arabia
– Sea: Arabian Gulf (Persian Gulf)
Why the Death Penalty Pronounced?
– The Qatari government has not made the allegations against the 8 Indians public yet.
– However, there is discussion about their arrest in solitary confinement being related to security-related offenses.
– Reports in Qatar’s local media claimed that these former Indian naval officers were allegedly involved in spying for Israel.
– According to BBC, based on reports from Indian and other global media, these ex-naval officers are accused of allegedly providing information about Qatar’s secret operations to Israel, which was supposedly related to the purchase of advanced Italian submarines. In other words, these officers could also face charges of espionage on behalf of Israel. Qatar’s intelligence agency claims to have electronic evidence regarding this alleged espionage.
– Israel is interested in this submarine project because Qatar is a close friend of Iran, and Israel is suspicious that Iran may have an interest in these submarines.
– However, no factual information related to this has been presented in local media.
– When asked about the charges against them, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said in January 2023 that these questions should be directed to Qatari officials.
For a month, there was no information about the arrest for both the family and the government.
– The State Security Bureau of Qatar’s intelligence agency arrested 8 former officers of the Indian Navy on August 30, 2022.
– After that, their family members were unable to establish contact with them.
– The Indian Embassy was informed about their arrest for the first time in mid-September.
– On September 30, these Indians were allowed to talk to their family members on the phone for a short period.
– The first consular access was granted on October 3, a month after their arrest.
– During this time, an official from the Indian Embassy was allowed to meet them.
– Afterward, these individuals were given permission to call their family members every week.
– The second consular access was provided in December.
What Did the Former Naval Officers Do?
– According to media reports, the 8 former Indian naval officers had retired early and had gone to Qatar.
– Before their arrest, they were working in a private company called Doha Global Technologies and Consultancy in Qatar.
– This company provides defense services, and its chief is retired Squadron Leader Khamis Al Ajmi of the Royal Air Force of Oman.
– They were also arrested along with 8 Indian citizens, but in November, they were released.
– This company provides training and other services to the Qatari Navy (QENF).
– The company describes itself as an expert in operating, repairing, and maintaining defense equipment.
Commander Purnendu Honored in Qatar
– Commander Purnendu Tiwari was serving as the Managing Director at Doha Global Technologies.
– He received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in 2019 for his services in advancing bilateral relations between India and Qatar.
– He is the only individual from the Armed Forces to receive this award.
– At that time, P. Kumaran, the then Indian Ambassador in Doha, and the former Chief of Qatar Defense Forces International Military Corporation also welcomed Purnendu.
What Did the Government Do for 14 Months?
– This matter was raised in Parliament in December 2022.
– At that time, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar told Parliament that the release of the former naval officers is a sensitive issue and is a priority for us.
– However, with the sentencing of 8 former Indian naval officers to death, the Indian government is in shock.
– The Ministry of External Affairs has stated that they are exploring legal avenues to secure their release.
What Is Expected Now?
– In this case, the Indian government will use diplomatic and legal means.
– It should be remembered that in 2016, when Narendra Modi visited Qatar, Qatar released 23 Indians who were imprisoned as a goodwill gesture.
– PM Modi also tweeted about it, so we have a precedent for such situations.
Indians in Qatar
– There are 8 million Indians living and working in this country.
– Indians form the largest expatriate community in Qatar.
What Is the Nature of Relations Between India and Qatar?
– Both countries have maintained friendly relations for decades.
– Relations have grown since the visit of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Qatar in November 2008, which was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister.
– The Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, visited India in 2015, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Qatar in 2016.
– Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has visited the country on at least three occasions.
– The late Sushma Swaraj became the first Indian Foreign Minister to visit Qatar in 2018.
Business Relations
– Bilateral trade is worth $15 billion, with most of India’s imports from Qatar being LNG and LPG, valued at over $13 billion.
– India imports 40% of its petroleum gas needs from Qatar.
Defense Relations
– During the visit of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2008, an India-Qatar Defense Cooperation Agreement was reached.
– This agreement was extended in 2018 for the next five years.
– The Indian Navy and Coast Guard regularly visit Qatar.
– Joint naval exercises named “Zair Al Bahar” have been organized between the “Qatari Emiri Navy” and the Indian Navy.
Challenges in Relations, If Any
– The first significant challenge to relations occurred in June 2022 due to derogatory references to a prophet on a TV show by the then BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
– Shortly after the controversy escalated, Qatar expressed its objection and demanded a “public apology” from India.
– The imprisonment of eight former naval personnel and the announcement of the death penalty are the second major challenge in recent years.
What Is Qatar’s International Role?
– The news of the death penalty comes at a time when the Middle East is simmering due to Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
– Qatar plays a mediating role in this region.
– It has deep sympathy among the Palestinians.
– The office of the organization “Hamas,” which launched an attack on Israel on October 7, is located in Qatar.
– Qatar has mediated in the release of two American hostages from captivity by Hamas in Gaza.
– Prior to this, Qatar mediated between the Taliban and the United States. Afterward, the United States left Afghanistan, leaving the Taliban in control.
– In this context, Qatar holds significant international importance.
– In the past decade, relations between Saudi Arabia and Qatar deteriorated. During that period, Saudi Arabia and some neighboring countries attempted to impose an economic blockade, but it had little effect on Qatar. However, the economic blockade was lifted later.
– The 2022 FIFA World Cup was held in Qatar.
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2. Who inaugurated the 37th National Games in Goa?
a. President
b. Prime Minister
c. Hime Minister
d. Sports Minister
Answer: b. Prime Minister Narendra Modi
37th National Games
– Dates: From October 26 to November 9, 2023
– Location: Goa
– Opening Venue: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
– Number of Participants: More than 10,000
Goa
Capital – Panaji
Chief Minister – Pramod Sawant
Governor – P.S. Sreedharan Pillai
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3. What is the mascot of the 37th National Games?
a. Moga
b. Barasingha
c. Sheru
d. Kathal
Answer: a. मोगा / Moga
– Moga is an Indian bison. It is the state animal of Goa.
– It is the largest extant bovine (Gaur) species.
National Games (National Games)
– The National Games were first held in 1924 in Lahore, British India.
– The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) organizes these games.
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4. Which Indian player won the gold medal in javelin throw in the Asian Para Games by breaking his previous world record?
a. Sumit Antil
b. Rakesh Awasthi
c. Rajendra Verma
d. None of These
Answer: a. Sumit Antil
– Sumit Antil threw the javelin 73.29 meters in the F64 category on Wednesday.
– He surpassed his previous world record of 70.83 meters in the para javelin throw.
– The F64 category is related to athletes with lower limb amputations who participate in standing events using prosthetics.
Awards for Sumit Antil
– 2021 – Khel Ratna Award
– 2022 – Padma Shri Award
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5. WHO ने किस भारतीय को टीबी के लिए रणनीतिक और तकनीकी सलाहकार समूह में नियुक्त किया?
Which Indian was appointed by WHO to the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for TB?
a. Rahul Dev
b. Sarang Dev
c. Vivek Rajan
d. Wasim Khan
Answer: b. Sarang Dev
– Professor Sarang Dev serves as the Deputy Dean of Faculty and Research at the Indian School of Business (ISB) and Executive Director of Max Institute of Healthcare Management.
WHO
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Established: 7 April 1948
Director General: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
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6. When is International Animation Day celebrated?
a. 26 October
b. 27 October
c. 28 October
d. 29 October
Answer: c. 28 October
– This day was declared by the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) in the year 2002.
– This organization is a member of UNESCO.
– The purpose of International Animation Day is to recognize and honor the work of animation artists, scientists and technicians.
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7. When is Infantry Day of Indian Army celebrated?
a. 26 October
b. 27 October
c. 28 October
d. 29 October
Answer: b. 27 October
– This day is celebrated to commemorate the first military incident of independent India.
– Actually, after independence in 1947, the Kashmir Valley was attacked by Pakistani Army and Lashkar invaders.
– Then the 1st battalion of the Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army fought to achieve victory in the first attack on Indian soil.
What is infantry?
– Infantry is a general branch of the military engaged in military combat on foot. The soldiers of this branch fight at close range with the enemy.
Indian army
Army Chief: General Manoj Pandey
CDS: General Anil Chauhan
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8. When is Jammu and Kashmir Accession (Merger) Day celebrated?
a. 20 October
b. 21 October
c. 24 October
d. 26 October
Answer: d. 26 October
– This day is celebrated remembering 26 October 1947.
– On this day Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession, in which Jammu and Kashmir joined the Dominion of India.
Accession Day is a public holiday in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Note- This day became an official public holiday in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time in 2020 after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A on 05 August 2019.
Jammu and Kashmir
– Capital: Srinagar (Summer) Jammu (Winter)
– Lieutenant Governor and Administrator: Manoj Sinha
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9. Who was appointed by BCCI as the head coach of the Indian women’s cricket team?
a. Amol Majumdar
b. Sulakshana Naik
c. Jatin Paranjape
d. Sulakshana Naik
Answer: a. Amol Majumdar
– He is a former cricketer.
– He has scored more than 11000 runs including 30 centuries in 171 first class matches.
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10. How many rupees subsidy did the Union Cabinet approve for fertilizers in Rabi season?
a. 10,303 crores
b. 15,303 crores
c. 22,303 crores
d. 32,303 crores
Answer: c. 22,303 crores
– This subsidy is for phosphate and potash fertilizers for the Rabi season.
– Union Minister Anurag Thakur stated that the prices of DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) have increased globally, but our government will continue to provide DAP to farmers at the rate of 1,350 rupees per bag, as before.
What are Rabi crops?
– The sowing of Rabi crops primarily occurs between October and November.
– The harvesting of Rabi crops takes place between March and April.
– Rabi crops require a cool and dry climate during their growing period and ripening.
– Examples of Rabi crops include wheat, barley, gram, lentils, mustard, and safflower.
What are Kharif crops?
– Kharif crops are those crops sown in June-July and harvested around October.
– These crops require higher temperatures and humidity during sowing and a wet environment during growth.
– Examples of Kharif crops include rice, sorghum, pearl millet, maize, mung beans, urad beans, soybeans, and others.
