This is the current affairs of 31st March 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. With which company did the Ministry of Defense sign an agreement to develop the first ‘satellite’ of the Indian Army?
a. Skyroot Aerospace
b. New Space India Limited (NSIL)
c. Polar Space
d. None of these
Answer: b. New Space India Limited (NSIL)
– In March 2023, the Defense Ministry has signed an agreement worth 2,963 crore rupees with NSIL to build an advanced communication satellite for the Indian Army.
– The Indian Army is expected to receive this satellite facility by the year 2026.
About NSIL
– NSIL is the commercial arm (commercial section) of ISRO, known as New Space India Limited.
– NSIL enters into agreements for commercial activities and ISRO fulfills its requirements.
First Satellite for the Army
– At present, both the Air Force and the Navy have their own satellite facilities.
– The Indian Army was dependent on the Air Force’s ‘GSAT 7A’ satellite for its requirements.
– Now, this facility is also being made available to the Indian Army.
Why was there a need for an advanced communication satellite?
– Actually, the Indian army has conducted detailed research on cyber and electromagnetic warfare in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
– This made the army feel the need to establish a reliable satellite communication system.
– These satellites can also provide high-speed internet service in remote areas.
– Since the Russian attack, internet service in Ukraine has been running only with the help of satellites. One of the reasons for Ukraine’s continued existence in the war is the communication satellite.
– This satellite system will strengthen the Indian army’s network-centered warfare capabilities.
Need for Advanced Communication Satellite
– ISRO will develop an advanced satellite for the army.
According to the Ministry of Defense, this geostationary satellite will be the first of its kind in the 5-ton category.
– This satellite will be developed to control communication for soldiers, weapons, and air platforms.
It will be a geostationary satellite and will have advanced security.
– It will assist in remote control of aircraft (drones), air defense weapons, and other important mission platforms.
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2. Ministry of Defense signed defense procurement agreements worth Rs 37,500 crore for Army and Navy
– After the approval of the Defense Acquisition Council of India, this agreement was made. The agreement has a list worth 375 billion rupees, which includes:
i) 2,963 crore rupees: agreement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) for the development of an advanced communication satellite for the army.
ii) 2,400 crore rupees: agreement with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the automated air defense control and reporting system ‘Project Akashatir’ for the army.
– Akashatir is a network of sensors-radar that will alert the Indian Air Defense units as soon as they detect enemy aircraft, jets, helicopters, and drones. After this, missiles and rockets that are fired from the ground and the surface-to-air missiles will be taken down.
iii) 412 crores: agreement with BEL for the purchase of Sarang electronic support measure system for navy helicopters.
– Akashatir will be able to monitor low-altitude airspaces in the Indian Army’s war zones and effectively control ground-based air defense weapon systems.
iv) 9,100 crore rupees: Swati radar system (field) capable of detecting better air weapons system and tracking weapons for the army.
v) 1,700 crores: agreement with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited for BrahMos missiles and Next Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Battery (Long Range) for the army.
vi) 19,600 crores: Agreement with Goa Shipyard and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (Kolkata) for the next generation of 11 offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and 06 missile vessels (missile ships) for the Navy.
vii) 1,700 crores: Agreement with BEL for 13 Lynx-U2 fire control systems for the Navy – this is a naval gun fire control system through which the accuracy of attacks is determined. It will be installed on the new generation of offshore patrol vessels.
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3. What is the personal passport ranking of India in Arton Capital’s Global Passport Index 2023?
a. 85
b. 138
c. 144
d. 185
Answer: c. 144
– It is important to note that the Global Passport Power Index and the Henley Passport Index are different. As per the January 2023 (Q1) report of the Henley Passport Index, India ranks 85.
– In the personal Passport Index for the year 2023, India ranks 144 out of 199 countries.
– However, in terms of the Global Passport Power Index, India ranks 71.
– India’s mobility score has decreased from 73 to 70.
According to the report, there has been a significant drop in India’s ranking due to the policies of the European Union. As a result of these policies, Indian citizens traveling to countries like Serbia now require a visa in 2023.
In December 2022, the Serbian government withdrew the visa requirement and allowed visa-free entry and a 30-day stay in Serbia for all Indian passport holders.
Personal Passport Power Rank 2023
Rank and Country
1) UAE
2) Sweden
3) Germany
4) Finland
5) Luxembourg
Global Passport Power Index 2023
Rank and Country
1) UAE
2) Sweden, Germany, Finland, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, South Korea
3) Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, Norway, Poland, Ireland, UK, USA, New Zealand, Greece, Canada, Malta, Czech Republic, Australia, Slovakia, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Andorra, San Marino, Brunei, Chile.
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4. In which city did the construction of the country’s first urban transport ropeway begin, the foundation stone of which was laid by PM Modi?
a. Lucknow
b. Varanasi
c. Delhi
d. Mumbai
Answer: b. Varanasi
– In March 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the world’s third and India’s first urban public transport ropeway.
Benefits of the ropeway:
– PM said, “The ropeway is a good thing for those who are afraid of the traffic in Varanasi.
– After the ropeway is built, the distance between the Varanasi Cantt railway station and the Kashi Vishwanath corridor will be just a few minutes by bus.
About the ropeway:
– Length: 3.8 kilometers (from Varanasi Cantt to Kashi Vishwanath temple)
– Cost: 6.4449 billion rupees
– Height from the ground: 50 meters (164 feet)
– Construction time: 2 years
– Who will build it: Switzerland’s Bartholet company and National Highway Logistics Private Limited (NHLPL)
10 passengers can ride in one cable car.
– Trolleys will be available for passengers every two and a half minutes.
– 3,000 people can travel in one direction per hour. That means 6,000 people can travel from both directions in one hour.
Urban transport ropeways in two countries in the world, Varanasi is the third.
– Ropeways are being used for urban transport in Bolivia’s La Paz and Mexico.
Uttar Pradesh:
– CM – Yogi Adityanath
– Governor – Anandiben Patel
– Capital – Lucknow
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5. When is Rajasthan Day celebrated?
a. March 28
b. March 29
c. March 30
d. March 31
Answer: c. March 30
Why is Rajasthan Day celebrated?
– In fact, on January 14, 1949, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel announced the merger of many princely states including Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer into a single entity at a public meeting in Udaipur.
– Acting on this announcement, Sardar Patel inaugurated the larger Rajasthan in a ceremony in Jaipur on March 30, 1949.
– Therefore, Rajasthan Day is celebrated every year on March 30.
Rajasthan:
– CM – Ashok Gehlot
– Governor – Kalraj Mishra
– Total districts – 50 (13 new districts added)
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6. In which city the first meeting of G20 Chief Scientific Advisors Roundtable (G20-CSAR) was held?
a. Lucknow
b. Ramnagar
c. Dehradun
d. Mumbai
Answer: b. Ramnagar (Uttarakhand)
– The meeting was chaired by the Chief Scientific Officer of the Central Government, Ajay Kumar Sood.
– Discussions were held on learning from the COVID-19 pandemic and how to deal with such situations in the future.
– The G20 Chief Scientific Advisors Roundtable (G20-CSAR)
– The tagline of the G20 summit, to be chaired by India, is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which means One Earth, One Family, One Future.
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7. In which city the first meeting of the G-20 Trade and Investment Working Group was held?
a. Lucknow
b. Ramnagar
c. Dehradun
d. Mumbai
Answer: d. Mumbai
– G-20 Trade and Investment Working Group
This meeting was held in Mumbai from 28th to 30th March 2023.
– Central Commerce Secretary, Sunil Barthwal welcomed all the 70 representatives who participated in the meeting in Mumbai.
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8. In which city the One World TB Summit was organized in March 2023?
a. Lucknow
b. Varanasi
c. Delhi
d. Mumbai
Answer: b. Varanasi
– On World TB Day (24th March), Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘One World TB Summit’.
200 representatives from 40 countries participated in this.
– The theme of World TB Day this year was ‘YES! We can End TB World TB Day 2023’, and the One World TB Summit was based on the same theme.
– While the whole world has set a target to become TB-free by 2030, India has set a target to achieve this by 2025 only.
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9. Who has been appointed as the brand ambassador of Bihar Khadi Handicrafts and Handlooms?
a. Maithili Thakur
b. Sharda Sinha
c. Malini Awasthi
d. Neha Singh Rathore
Answer: a. Maithili Thakur
– Maithili Thakur is a folk singer and an emerging young artist.
– In March 2023, the Bihar State Khadi Gramodyog Board appointed her as the brand ambassador for Bihar Khadi.
Maithili Thakur said that she will make an effort to connect – Bihar’s handloom products with young people around the world.
– Dilip Kumar, the CEO of Bihar Khadi Board, said that they are trying to connect the country’s leading artists with Bihar Khadi.
Bihar
– CM – Nitish Kumar
– Governor – Rameshwar Thakur
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10. Who became the new President of ASSOCHAM (Association of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry)?
a. Vivek Katju
b. Rakesh Maria
c. Anil Ambani
d. Ajay Singh
Answer: d. Ajay Singh
– Ajay Singh, the chief executive officer of SpiceJet, has been appointed as the new president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham).
– Assocham is a representative organization for trade and commerce associations in India.
Currently, more than one lakh companies in India are its members.
Assocham
– Headquarters – New Delhi
– Established – 1920
