Current Affairs Quiz September 2023

Current Affairs - November 1-30, 2023

• Tamil Nadu:

  • India's first Net Zero Business Park opened in Chennai.
  • The park, certified by IGBC, focuses on energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste management.
  • The park plans to invest $500 million in Chennai.
  • IIT Madras established its first international campus on Zanzibar Island.
  • The campus offers Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Technology (MTech) programs focusing on Data Science and AI.
  • The campus welcomes all nationalities, fostering global perspectives and collaboration.
  • IIT Madras launched an incubator information platform (CREST) to streamline the startup ecosystem and to assist incubators and accelerators in India. The platform centralizes information.
  • The city of Kochi was listed as one of the best places to visit in Asia in 2024 by Condé Nast.
  • Kochi was praised for its sustainable initiatives, local festivals, and tourist attractions like waterways, lagoons, and rivers.

• State:

  • Uttarakhand is preparing to be the first state in India to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

• National:

  • The new Bihar Reservation Amendment Bill has been approved, increasing the reservation quota for backward, extremely backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes from 50% to 65%.
  • India's first telecom center of excellence established in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, marking a significant leap in telecom and technology innovation.

• India and the World:

  • 6th India-OPEC Energy Dialogue took place in Vienna, Austria.
  • The dialogue emphasized global energy stability and prosperity.
  • India stands as the third-largest energy consumer, crude oil importer, and fourth-largest global refiner.

• International:

  • 27 countries and the European Union signed the first-ever agreement on AI safety in the UK known as the Bletchley Declaration.

• Conferences & Summits:

  • AI Safety Summit 2023, held in the UK.
  • Global Fisheries Conference India 2023, held in Ahmedabad.
  • 8th India Water Impact Summit held in New Delhi.
  • India-Nordic Baltic Business Summit organized in New Delhi.
  • 14th International Conference of National Human Rights Institutions held in Copenhagen, Denmark.

• Committees:

  • 6th Session of India-Ethiopia Joint Trade Committee concluded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

• Defence:

  • The Indian Navy's newest warship, the 'Surat', honors Surat's maritime heritage.
  • The fourth edition of the bilateral exercise 'Bongosagar-23' and the fifth edition of coordinated patrol (CORPAT) between Indian and Bangladesh navies took place in the Northern Bay of Bengal.

• Economy:

  • October GST collections reached a 10-month high of 1.72 lakh crore.
  • Fitch Ratings upgraded India's mid-term GDP growth forecast to 6.2%.

• Appointments:

  • Heeralal Samariya was appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC).
  • Senior IPS officer Alok Sharma appointed as the Director of the Special Protection Group (SPG).

• Awards:

  • Nandini Das awarded the British Academy Book Prize.
  • Vihaan Talya Vikas won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award (under-10 category).
  • Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission received the Global Responsible Tourism Award.

• Books & Authors:

  • Romulus Whitaker's memoir, "Snakes, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll," will be released in January.
  • Sharmishtha Mukherjee's book, "Pranab, My Father", was published by Rupa Publications.
  • Professor (Dr.) Mohan Kumar's book, 'India's Moment', was launched in London.

• Science, Technology & Environment:

  • ISRO's Aditya-L1 spacecraft captured its first high-energy X-ray glimpse of solar flares.
  • Hanson Robotics and Dictador appointed a humanoid robot, Mika, as CEO.
  • A new species of wasp, 'Taeniogonalos dhritiae,' discovered in the Western Ghats of Kerala.
  • The first chikungunya vaccine, Ixchiq, was approved by the US FDA.

• Sports:

  • Vidit Gujrathi and R. Vaishali emerged victorious at the Grand Swiss Chess tournament.
  • The Indian women's hockey team secured the gold medal at the Women's Asian Champions Trophy.
  • Jannik Sinner helped Italy win the Davis Cup title.
  • Pankaj Advani won the IBSF World Billiards Championship title for the 26th time.

• Obituary:

  • Leela Omchery, a renowned classical musician and accomplished musicologist, passed away.
  • N. Sankaraiah, a communist leader, passed away.
  • Justice Fathima Beevi, India's first woman judge of the Supreme Court, passed away.
  • Henry Kissinger, a prominent American foreign-policy figure, passed away.

• Important Days:

  • A range of important days observed in November 2023, with various themes and focus areas. (See page 72 for more details).

• Miscellaneous:

  • "AI" was named the Collins Word of the Year for 2023.
  • The world's largest iceberg, A23a, began moving after 30 years.
  • Angkor Wat in Cambodia declared the 8th Wonder of the World.

Test your knowledge of recent developments in India with this quiz covering various topics such as the GI tag for Ladakh Seabuckthorn, recognition for Kochi, and initiatives launched by the Indian government. Challenge yourself with questions about significant events, bills, and international trade.