Current Affairs Question and Answers for Competitive Exams

Chaudhary Charan Singh, Vice Chancellor of Haryana Agricultural University, Professor B.R. Kamboj received M.S. Received Swaminathan Award.

World Environment Day is the biggest international day for the environment. Led by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and held annually since 1973, it has become the largest global forum for environmental outreach. It is celebrated by millions of people across the world.

World Environment Day 2023 is hosted by Côte d'Ivoire and supported by the Netherlands and the theme will focus on solutions to plastic pollution under the #BeatPlasticPollution campaign. It's a reminder that people's action on plastic pollution matters. The steps governments and businesses are taking to tackle plastic pollution are a result of this action.

- Host: Côte d'Ivoire in partnership with the Netherlands

- Theme: Solution to plastic pollution

SARAS means Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society. These are organized at many places across India to promote rural artisans. Recently, “Didi Lakhpati Tripura Agargati” (Progressive Tripura through women entrepreneurs) was the unique theme of Saras Mela 2023 launched by Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha. With the aim of showcasing and economically empowering small business owners and self-help group members, more than 300 stalls have been set up for 15 days. Rural artisans, craftsmen and housewives from remote parts of the state are participating to sell indigenous products like handicrafts, handloom items, delicacies etc.

General Dong Jun has been appointed as China's new Defense Minister, replacing General Li Shangfu, who mysteriously disappeared from public view without any explanation four months ago. Dong Jun, 62, has a naval background and was previously deputy commander of the Southern Military Command overseeing the sensitive South China Sea region. His appointment is seen as a significant step by President Xi Jinping to put a loyalist in charge of the 2.3 million-strong People's Liberation Army, especially amid rising tensions with the US and Taiwan.

China has introduced a revolutionary new ocean drilling ship called 'Mengxiang', which is designed to penetrate the Earth's crust and reach the mantle for the first time in human history. If successful, Mengxiang's planned drilling to breach the Mohorovicic Discontinuity (Moho) 7,000 meters below sea level will open the door to unprecedented scientific exploration and discovery within the planet. Designed through collaboration between the Geological Survey of China and more than 150 institutions, Mengxiang is a huge, specially equipped ship capable of withstanding extreme conditions.

The Telangana government has introduced a new common application form named ‘Praja Palna Guarantee Darakasthu’ to enable access to schemes under its flagship ‘Six Guarantees’ program to support the deprived sections. The one-page form is designed for basic details regarding identity, address, contact etc., while the second page collects relevant information and documents for specific welfare measures like financial assistance, subsidized ration, electricity, housing etc. Applications will be made under this standardized format. The public outreach initiative will be open from January 1 across the state to expand direct benefit transfers.

Uttar Pradesh retained the top position for the third consecutive year in ensuring widespread use of the Supreme Court e-Committee's Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS), a nationwide platform integrating courts, police, prisons and forensic laboratories. Is. Over 1.56 crore entries have been logged by UP. So far through a single window system, which enables seamless information exchange at every stage – from FIR registration to imprisonment. Madhya Pradesh and Bihar are at second and third place respectively. Widespread adoption by UP Police aims to employ data analytics of ICJS to predict crimes, better manage law and order situations and reduce the pendency of cases.

January 1, 1948 saw a massacre of tribals by the police in Kharsawan city of present-day Jharkhand. This happened during the protest against the merger of the Kharsawan princely state into the state of Odisha. Thousands of protesters and local people had gathered there to listen to the speech of Jai Prakash Singh Munda. However, he could not reach the venue and was fired upon by the police on the restive crowd, killing hundreds. This massacre is being seen as reminiscent of the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. The exact number of deaths remains disputed, with official estimates ranging from 35 to unofficially a few thousand.

South Africa has approached the International Court of Justice asking it to declare that Israel is in breach of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention with its bombing campaign in Gaza. South Africa has historically been sympathetic to Palestine due to its experience under apartheid. However, many African countries have softened their stance on Israel over the years.

Recently Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh has taken over as the new Material Chief of the Indian Navy from Vice Admiral Sandeep Naithani. The Chief of Material is the head of the material branch of the Navy, which deals with logistics and maintenance. Vice Admiral Deshmukh is an alumnus of VJTI Mumbai and a post graduate of the Defense Services Staff College, Wellington.