This is the current affairs of 18th & 19th April 2023. Here are 11 questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
PDF Download: Click here
1. According to the UNFPA report ‘State of World Population 2023’, which is the most populous country in the world?
a. China
b. India
c. Brazil
d. USA
Answer: b. India
The name of UNFPA’s report is State of World Population 2023 (SOWP).
– In April 2023, India became the most populous country in the world.
– As of April 2023, India’s population is 1.4286 billion.
China’s population is 1.4257 billion.
– This means our population is about 3 million more than China’s.
– Global experts had predicted at the beginning of 2023 that India would become the most populous country this year.
– UN has been releasing population-related data since 1950.
– This is the first time that India’s population has exceeded China’s.
– Prior to this, in November 2022, the UN announced that the world’s population had surpassed 8 billion.
In India, the highest number of youths are:
– 25% of people up to the age of 14
– 18% of people between 10-19 years of age
– 26% of people between 10-24 years of age
– Almost 68% of people between 15-64 years of age.
– This means that with 68% of its population being youth and working-age, India has the potential to be one of the largest workforce in the world, which can lead to global benefits.
– According to a report by UNFPA, India has the highest number of youth, but this is not the case in China.
– In China, the highest number of people are elderly. There are 20 crore people in China who are over 65 years old.
Fertility rate decreased.
– India’s total fertility rate (number of live births per woman) is estimated to be 2.0.
– This could lead to a decline in the country’s population around 2050.
—————
2. According to the UNFPA report, what is the average life expectancy of men and women in India respectively?
a. 71 and 74 years
b. 76 and 82 years
c. 74 and 71 years
d. 82 and 88 years
Answer: a. 71 and 74 years
In 2023, the average life expectancy (probability of surviving) for those born:
– In India, the average life expectancy for men is 71 years and for women it is only 74 years.
– While in China, the average life expectancy is better than India.
– In China, the average life expectancy for men is 76 years and for women it is 82 years.
– A representative of UNFPA India said that India is a powerful country.
– It is consistently advancing in education, health, cleanliness, and economic development.
————–
3. Which country shut down all its nuclear power plants?
a. Ukraine
b. India
c. Germany
d. Japan
Answer: c. Germany
– The German government has shut down its remaining three nuclear power plants on April 15, 2023.
– These plants were planned to be shut down in 2022, but it couldn’t happen due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Why were the nuclear power plants shut down?
– According to the German government, these three plants are neither safe nor better for the environment.
– In fact, Germany wants to shift to 100% renewable energy by 2035.
– Therefore, the decision was made to shut down the plants.
– Germany started using nuclear energy 60 years ago.
– Germany’s environment minister, Steffi Lemke, said, “Nuclear energy has provided electricity for three generations, but its legacy has become dangerous for 30,000 generations.”
Who has how many nuclear power plants?
Country – Number of Power Plants – Production Percentage
– USA – 96 – 30.9%
– China – 50 – 13.5%
– France – 58 – 13.3%
– Russia – 39 – 7.9%
– Japan – 33 – 1.7%
– South Korea – 24 – 6.0%
– India – 22 – 1.6%
– Canada – 19 – 3.6%
– Ukraine – 15 – 2.8%
– UK – 15 – 1.8%
– Spain – 7 – 2.2%
– Belgium – 7 – 1.3%
– Sweden – 7 – 1.9%
– Germany – 6 – 2.4%
What is a nuclear power plant?
– Various types of plants are used to generate electricity.
– Such as thermal power plants, hydro plants, and nuclear power plants.
– A nuclear power plant is a power plant that uses uranium and thorium elements as fuel.
– In this, the chain reaction of energy is activated by bombarding neutrons on uranium.
– Which continuously releases energy in a chain reaction from uranium.
– This energy is used to generate electricity.
– According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, by the year 2022, about 433 nuclear power reactors are operating in 32 countries around the world.
– About 57 are currently under construction.
————-
4. In which city did Apple open its first Indian store?
a. Delhi
b. Mumbai
c. Bangalore
d. Noida
Answer: b. Mumbai
– Apple’s CEO Tim Cook opened the first flagship store in Mumbai on April 18, 2023.
– This store is located in the Bandra Kurla Complex.
– Its name is Apple BKC.
Store Apple BKC:
– There is a team of more than 100 people in Apple BKC.
– All these people can communicate with customers in more than 20 languages.
– This store is spread over an area of 20,000 square feet inside the Jio World Drive mall.
– It was opened to celebrate the company’s 25 years in India.
– This store is quite attractive.
Which devices will Apple host?
– The Apple Store will host devices such as iPhone, MacBook, iPad, Watch, accessories, Apple TV, and more.
– The store will also work as a service center, but visitors will need to make an appointment in advance for this.
– Customers can also order these devices online and pick them up from the Apple BKC store.
– Trade-in facility will also be available.
Note- The second Apple store will open in Delhi on April 20, 2023.
Apple
– CEO: Tim Cook
– Founded: April 1, 1976
– Headquarters: Cupertino, California, USA.
————–
5. Which Indian swimmer won 5 gold medals at the 58th Malaysia Invitational Age Group Swimming Championships?
a. Vedant Madhavan
b. Sajan Prakash
c. Aryan Panchal
d. Vaishnav Thakur
a. Vedant Madhavan
– The 58th Malaysia Invitational Age Group Swimming Championship was held at the National Aquatic Center, Bukit Jalil, Malaysia from April 13-16, 2023.
Gold medals were awarded in the following distances:
– 50 meters
– 100 meters
– 200 meters
– 400 meters
– 1500 meters
About Vedant Madhavan:
– Vedant Madhavan was born on August 21, 2005, in Mumbai.
– He is 17 years old.
– He is the son of famous actor R Madhavan.
– In October 2022, Madhavan won a total of 7 medals for Maharashtra in the Junior National Aquatic Championship.
– According to Times of India News, two months ago at the Khelo India Youth Games 2023 held in Bhopal, Vedant won seven medals (5 gold and 2 silver).
————-
6. When is World Heritage Day celebrated?
a. 19 April
b. 18 April
c. 17 April
d. 16 April
Answer: b. 18 April
– Theme for the year 2023: Heritage Changes
– This day is celebrated every year by the United Nations (UN).
– The day is celebrated to recognize the efforts of organizations working to protect human heritage.
– As of 2022, there are 3691 monuments and sites in India.
– Many of these have been named as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with 40 of them being recognized as such.
– Among these, there are 32 cultural sites, 7 natural sites, and one mixed heritage site.
————
7. The first census of Mangrove Pitta birds was conducted in two coastal districts (Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur) of which state?
a. Himachal Pradesh
b. Kerala
c. Odisha
d. Karnataka
Answer: c. Odisha
– In the first census conducted in April 2023, 179 Mangrove Pitta birds were found.
How many forest officers team did census
– In this study by forest officials, a total of 32 teams were deployed at 32 pre-determined locations.
– The census was conducted using the point count method.
– Forest officials conducted the census either by walking through the jungle or using traditional boats in the water.
– The highest number of birds was found in the mangroves near the mouth of the Mahanadi River inside the Bhitarkanika National Park.
Mangrove Pitta Bird:
– This bird is related to the “Pittidae” family and its scientific name is “Pitta megarhyncha”.
– These birds are also found in the coastal mangrove forests of India.
– They are mainly found in certain regions of eastern India, including Bhitarkanika in Odisha and the Sundarbans in West Bengal.
Odisha
– Capital: Bhubaneswar
– Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik
– Governor: Ganeshi Lal
————–
8. Name the winner of Malcolm Adiseshia Award 2023?
a. Omveer Srivastava
b. Utsa Patnaik
c. Nitin Chauhan
d. Devlal Sharma
Answer: b. Utsa Patnaik
– Economist Utsa Patnaik has been chosen for the prestigious Malcolm Adiseshiah Award 2023.
– This award is given every year by the Malcolm and Elizabeth Adiseshiah Trust.
Malcolm Adiseshiah Award:
– Malcolm was an Indian development economist and educator.
– In 1998, UNESCO established the Malcolm Adiseshiah International Literacy Prize in recognition of his contributions to education and literacy.
– This honor includes a citation and a prize amount of 2 lakh rupees.
– The award will be presented at an event in Chennai.
————–
9. When is World Liver Day celebrated?
a. 19 April
b. 20 April
c. 21 April
d. 22 April
Answer: a. 19 April
Year 2023 Theme:
– Be Vigilant, Do Regular Liver Check-Up, Fatty Liver Can Affect Anyone.
Why is the liver important?
– Fights infections and diseases
– Removes toxic substances from the body
– Controls cholesterol levels
– Helps in blood clotting
– Produces many essential proteins in the body.
————–
10. Central Government started the first Ambedkar Circuit tourist train, name it?
a. Baba Saheb Tourist Train
b. Ambedkar Tourist Train
c. Indian poor tourist train
d. Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train
Answer: d. Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train
– Central Minister of Culture and Tourism, Kishan Reddy, flagged off the “Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train” on 14th April 2023.
– The train departed from the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station in New Delhi.
– This train will cover major locations related to the life of Dr. Ambedkar, such as New Delhi, Mhow, Nagpur, Sanchi, Sarnath, Gaya, Rajgir, and Nalanda during its eight-day journey.
Purpose of this train:
– The Central Minister of Culture and Tourism, Kishan Reddy, said, “The purpose of the Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train is to showcase a glimpse of the life of Bharat Ratna Baba Saheb Ambedkar to all travelers.”
Facilities available in the train:
– The train is equipped with a well-appointed pantry, an infotainment system, and CCTV cameras.
– The pantry car will serve fresh vegetarian meals to the passengers on their seats.
– This train is being operated under the “Dekho Apna Desh” initiative.
– Railway Minister: Ashwini Vaishnaw.
————
11. When is Save Elephant Day celebrated?
a. 19 April
b. 18 April
c. 17 April
d. 16 April
Answer: d. 16 April
Theme for the year 2023:
– Safeguarding Elephant Habitats for a Sustainable Tomorrow
– Every year, this day is celebrated on April 16th.
– This day was first celebrated in 2012.
– The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about the dangers and difficulties that elephants face and the various challenges they must overcome to survive.
