Current Affairs 2023

G Kamala Vardhana Rao has taken over the charge as the CEO of which institution?

• [A] myGOV
  

• [B] UIDAI
  

• [C] FSSAI
  

• [D] FCI

Answer explanation

G Kamala Vardhana Rao has taken over the charge as the CEO of food regulator FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India).
The FSSAI is a statutory body established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Prior to this, Rao was serving as the Managing Director of Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), a Miniratna PSU under the Ministry of Tourism.

Which company is acquiring Ford India’s manufacturing plant?

• [A] Eicher Motors
  

• [B] Tata Motors
  

• [C] Mahindra and Mahindra Motors
  

• [D] Hyundai Motors

Answer explanation

Tata Motors said the acquisition of Ford India’s manufacturing plant at Sanand through its subsidiary will be completed by January 2023.
Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Limited (TPEML) announced that would acquire Ford India’s Sanand plant in Gujarat for around ₹725 crore. The acquisition included the entire land and buildings, vehicle manufacturing plant along with machinery and equipment and transfer of all eligible employees of FIPL’s vehicle manufacturing operations at Sanand.

Which country has taken over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first six months of 2023?

• [A] Finland
  

• [B] Sweden
  

• [C] Italy
  

• [D] Germany

Answer explanation

Sweden has taken over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first six months of the year, on January 1, 2023,
It followed Czech Republic, which headed the Council in the second half of 2022. This is the third time that Sweden has taken over the Presidency of the Council. The EU Council Presidency rotates every six months between the Member States of the EU.

What is the name of the difference between the total revenue and total expenditures of a country in a year?

• [A] Fiscal Deficit
  

• [B] Revenue Deficit
  

• [C] Primary Deficit
  

• [D] Budget Deficit

Answer explanation

Fiscal Deficit is the difference between the total revenue and total expenditures of a country in a year.
The Fiscal Deficit at the end of November touched 59 per cent of the full year budget estimate. According to data released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), the fiscal deficit was ₹978,154 crore in the April-November period 2022-23.

India recently signed a ‘Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement’ in which country?

• [A] Sri Lanka
  

• [B] Austria
  

• [C] UAE
  

• [D] Bangladesh

Answer explanation

India signed a ‘Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement’ (MMPA) with Austria for migration and mobility of Indian students and professionals.
External Affairs Minister S Jai Shankar is the first visit of an Indian foreign minister to Austria in 27 years. India had earlier signed mobility agreements with the UK, France, Germany and Finland.

Ajay Kumar Srivastava has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of which bank?

• [A] Punjab National Bank
  

• [B] State Bank of India
  

• [C] Indian Overseas Bank
  

• [D] Indian Bank

Answer explanation

The Centre has appointed Ajay Kumar Srivastava as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Indian Overseas Bank.
Partha Pratim Sengupta has demitted office as MD & CEO of the bank after his superannuation. Sanjay Vinayak Mudaliyar, Chief General Manager at Bank of Baroda is appointed as executive director in IOB. As of 30 September 2022, the Government of India held 96.38% in IOB.

Who is the head of the Committee set up to discuss measures to protect Ladakh’s culture, language and employment?

• A] Jamyang Tsering Namgyal
  

• [B] Amit Shah
  

• [C] Nityanand Rai
  

• [D] RK Mathur

Answer explanation

The Centre has constituted a High Powered Committee to discuss measures to protect Ladakh’s unique culture, language and employment.
A 17 member committee has been set up under the Chairmanship of Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai. Other members include Ladakh Lieutenant Governor RK Mathur, MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, and nominee officials of Home ministry among others.

Which institution conducts the ‘Systemic Risk Survey (SRS)’ in India?

• [A] State Bank of India
  

• [B] Reserve Bank of India
  

• [C] Bombay Stock Exchange
  

• [D] National Stock Exchange

Answer explanation

The Reserve Bank of India conducts the Systemic Risk Survey (SRS) in India. As per the recent survey, confidence of respondents in Indian financial system improved as 93.6 per cent of them remaining fairly or highly confident of the stability of the Indian financial system.
The 23rd round of the RBI’s Systemic Risk Survey was conducted in November 2022. The survey captured perception of risk to financial stability from external sector and their views on the likelihood of a global recession in 2023.

Which institution commissioned India’s first green hydrogen blending project?

• [A] ONGC
  

• [B] NTPC
  

• [C] PFC
  

• [D] GAIL

Answer explanation

NTPC Ltd commissioned India’s first green hydrogen blending project in the piped natural gas (PNG) network of NTPC Kawas Township, Surat.
The project is a joint effort of NTPC and Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL). Green hydrogen in Kawas is made by electrolysis of water using power from already installed 1 MW floating solar project. This feat has been achieved only by few countries like UK, Germany, and Australia.

Baibhav, Saurav  and Gaurav’ are the civilian awards provided by which state?

• [A] West Bengal
  

• [B] Assam
  

• [C] Odisha
  

• [D] Jharkhand

Answer explanation

Assam Government released the list of winners of the Highest Civilian Awards- the Assam Baibhav Award.
There will be one recipient for the Assam Baibhav, five recipients for the Assam Saurav and fifteen recipients for the Assam Gaurav awards respectively. Dr Tapan Saikia, associated with the Healthcare & Public Services sectors, has been declared the Assam Baibhav for the year 2023.