Current Affairs Quiz: 19 January 2023

AffairsCloud brings you the complete and important daily Current Affairs Quiz 19 January 2023 to achieve more marks in Banking, Insurance, UPSC, SSC, CLAT, Railways and all other competitive Exams. We have prepared the current affairs quiz question from our daily current affairs 2023 updates.

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1. In which country, the European Union (EU) has recently (in Jan ‘23) launched its first mainland orbital launch complex, “Spaceport Esrange,”?
   1) Denmark
   2) Sweden
   3) France
   4) Norway
   5) Ireland
   
   Answer & Explanation

   Answer-2) Sweden
   Explanation:
   The European Union (EU) has launched its first mainland orbital launch complex, “Spaceport Esrange,” a new satellite launch and reusable rocket test facility at Esrange Space Center near the city of Kiruna in northern Sweden.
   i. It was inaugurated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf, and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
   ii. The first satellite launch from Spaceport Esrange is scheduled for early 2024.
   
   
   
2. Which bank has recently (in Jan ‘23) signed an MoU with the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) to provide financial assistance to the dealers of SAIL across India?
   1) South Indian Bank
   2) Axis Bank
   3) ICICI Bank
   4) RBL Bank
   5) IndusInd Bank
   
   Answer & Explanation

   Answer-1) South Indian Bank
   Explanation:
   A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been inked between the South Indian Bank (SIB) and Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) to provide financial assistance to the dealers of SAIL across India.
   i. The bank will serve the MSME (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) and corporate customers of SAIL by providing financial assistance for working capital, especially steel procurement through its 928 branches.
   
   
   
3. Who has recently (in Jan ‘23) became the 1st IAF Woman Fighter Pilot to participate in aerial wargames abroad.
   1) Mohana Singh Jitarwal
   2) Bhawana Kanth
   3) Shaliza Dhami
   4) Punita Arora
   5) Avani Chaturvedi
   
   Answer & Explanation

   Answer-5) Avani Chaturvedi
   Explanation:
   Su-30MKI pilot Squadron Leader Avani Chaturvedi, one of the first 3 women combat pilots in the Indian Air Force (IAF), is scheduled to participate in the inaugural air exercise Veer Guardian 2023 in Japan. She became the first IAF Woman Fighter Pilot to participate in aerial wargames abroad.
   • Veer Guardian 2023 aims to strengthen the bilateral air defence cooperation between India.
   i. Veer Guardian 2023, from 16th to 26th January 2023, will be held at the Hyakuri Air Base and its surrounding airspace in Omitama, as well as the Iruma Air Base in Sayama, Japan.
   
   
   
4. Which bank has recently (in Jan ‘23) bagged the Best Small Bank award in the best banks survey for the year 2022 by Business Today (BT)-KPMG Best banks survey?
   1) Yes Bank
   2) Tamilnad Mercantile Bank
   3) IndusInd Bank
   4) Dhanlaxmi Bank
   5) Kotak Mahindra Bank
   
   Answer & Explanation

   Answer-2) Tamilnad Mercantile Bank
   Explanation:
   Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB) Limited has bagged the Best Small Bank award in the best banks survey for the year 2022 done by Business Today-KPMG (BT-KPMG Best banks survey).
   i. The award was received by S. Krishnan, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Award (CEO) of TMB limited, from Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) of India, in a function held in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
   
   
   
5. Who has been recently (in Jan ‘23) appointed as the Deputy National Security Adviser (Dy NSA) in the National Security Council Secretariat of India?
   1) Shivshankar Menon
   2) Nehchal Sandhu
   3) Pankaj Kumar Singh
   4) Vikram Misri
   5) Ajit Kumar Doval
   
   Answer & Explanation

   Answer-3) Pankaj Kumar Singh
   Explanation:
   The Appointment Committee of Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Pankaj Kumar Singh, as Deputy National Security Adviser (Dy NSA) in the National Security Council Secretariat of India.
   i. He has been appointed on a re-employment contract of 2 years with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post, or until further orders.
   ii. Pankaj Kumar Singh, a 1988-batch IPS officer, previously served as 29th Director General (DG) of the Border Security Force (BSF) and retired on 31st December 2022.
   iii. He has authored and published various articles including the book “Journey to the country of Shiva.”
   
   
   
6. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of_________, has recently (in Jan ‘23) announced his resignation amid the ongoing Anti-Corruption Drive.
   1) Thailand
   2) Philippines
   3) Nepal
   4) Singapore
   5) Vietnam
   
   Answer & Explanation

   Answer-5) Vietnam
   Explanation:
   President of Vietnam, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, submitted his resignation after the communist party blamed him for the violations and wrongdoings by the senior ministers under him during his 2016-2021 stint as Prime Minister(PM) of Vietnam.
   i. His resignation is a part of the anti-corruption drive which also led to the dismissal of 2 Deputy Prime Ministers (Pham Binh Minh and Vu Duc Dam). The anti-corruption drive is led by Nguyen Phu Trong, the Communist party general secretary.
   ii. Nguyen Xuan Phuc served as PM of Vietnam from 2016 until April 2021, when he was elected 11th President of Vietnam.
   
   
   
7. Which company has recently (in Jan ‘23) invented a “System and Method for Controlling Generation and Movement of Fugitive Dust” to minimize & control the fugitive dust in mining areas?
   1) Singareni Collieries Company Limited
   2) Vedanta Limited
   3) Tata Steel Mining Limited
   4) Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited
   5) Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited
   
   Answer & Explanation

   Answer-4) Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited
   Explanation:
   Ranchi (Jharkhand)- based Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL), a consultancy subsidiary of Coal India Limited(CIL) has invented a “System and Method for Controlling Generation and Movement of Fugitive Dust” to minimize and control the fugitive dust in mining areas.
   • CMPDIL received a patent (Patent No. 416055) for its invention in December 2022.
   i. The invention relates to the coordinated application of windbreak (WB) and vertical greenery systems (VGS) to reduce the production and dispersion of fugitive dust.
   ii. This system can be utilised to reduce and control fugitive dust in mines, thermal power plants, railway sidings, ports, etc.
   
   
   
8. Name the plant species that has recently (in Jan ‘23) listed in the protected plants list under Schedule III of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
   1) Neelakurinji
   2) Paper Plant
   3) Canna Lily
   4) Royal Purple Plant
   5) Silver Fern
   
   Answer & Explanation

   Answer-1) Neelakurinji
   Explanation:
   The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has listed Neelakurinji or Kurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) in the list of protected plants under Schedule III of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
   • The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, prohibits picking, uprooting or destroying plants and also prohibits the cultivation and possession of these plants.
   i. Neelakurinji has been included in the list after the Center expanded the earlier protected list of six plant species to 19.
   ii. Neelakurinji is a tropical plant species and is native to the shola forests in the Western Ghats. It is also found in Shevaroy Hills in the Eastern Ghats, Annamalai Hills in Kerala and Sanduru Hills in Karnataka. Its flowers are violet-blue in colour and bloom once in 12 years.They have no scent or medicinal value.
   
   
   
9. Name the Indian Tennis players who has recently (in Jan ‘23) won the Men’s doubles title at the Bangkok Open 2023(2), held at Nonthaburi, Thailand in January 2023?
   1) Sriram Balaji and Divij Sharan
   2) Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni
   3) Sumit Nagal and Divij Sharan
   4) Yuki Bhambri and Arjun Kadhe
   5) Arjun Kadhe and Saketh Myneni
   
   Answer & Explanation

   Answer-2) Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni
   Explanation:
   India’s Tennis players, Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni(1st seed), have won the Men’s doubles title at the Bangkok Open 2023(2) held in Nonthaburi, Thailand from 9th to 14th January 2023.

   • The Indian duo defeated Christopher Rungkat of Indonesia and Akira Santillan of Australia in the finals.

   Category	Winner	Runners
   Men’s Singles	Arthur Cazaux (France)	Lloyd Harris (South Africa)
   Men’s Doubles	Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni (India)	Christopher Rungkat (Indonesia) and Akira Santillan (Australia)