Today’s Current Affairs MCQs/ GK MCQs 23rd December 2023

These current affairs today are a part of our daily current affairs. We cover a wide range of topics from state, national, and international news that are relevant and important for competitive exams. Our team prepares today’s current affairs after going through many newspapers, such as The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, PRS, etc.

Scroll down for current affairs for 23rd December 2023.

Enhanced Safety Measures at 117 Central Railway Stations

• Ram Karan Yadav, the general manager of Central Railway, has unveiled a crucial initiative for passenger safety. In his inaugural press conference, Yadav revealed plans to introduce panic switches at 117 railway stations within the Central Railway network.
• The Central Railway has joined forces with RailTel through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement this safety feature. 
• The goal is to complete the installation of panic switches across all stations within a year.
• These panic switches are a proactive safety measure, providing passengers with a direct communication tool during emergencies. 
• This enables them to quickly seek assistance from Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel.

French President Macron to Attend India’s Republic Day

• President Emmanuel Macron is slated to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. 
• This marks the 6th occasion of a French leader participating in this esteemed event, underscoring the significance of the bilateral relationship.
• President Macron follows the footsteps of his predecessors, with former French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac serving as the Chief Guest in 1976 and 1998. 
• Additionally, former Presidents Valery Giscard d’Estaing, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Francois Hollande have all contributed to this tradition in the years 1980, 2008, and 2016, respectively.
• This year’s Republic Day holds special significance as India and France commemorate the 25th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership. 
• The enduring collaboration spans various sectors, reflecting the depth and breadth of diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between the two nations.

Surge in India’s Coking Coal Imports; Russia Among Top Suppliers

• India has experienced a five-year high in coking coal imports, reaching 38.14 million tonnes from April to November this fiscal year. 
• This shows a slight increase compared to the nearly 38.12 million tonnes imported during the same period last year.
• Traditionally, India has sourced a significant amount of coking coal, crucial for steelmaking, from Russia and Australia. 
• Russia, once the sixth-largest coal supplier to India, has now climbed to the third spot, surpassing countries like Canada and Mozambique.

International News: WHO’s Concern for Afghan Children’s Health

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised an alarm, revealing that over one million children in Afghanistan are facing severe malnutrition. 
• WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency, stating that Afghanistan needs $185 million to effectively address this crisis.
• He mentioned that 30 percent of Afghanistan’s entire population is dealing with acute food insecurity. 
• This includes almost one million severely malnourished children and 2.3 million children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition.

Defence News: IAF & USI Inaugurate Arjan Singh Annual Lecture

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the United Services Institution of India (USI) recently collaborated to launch the first Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh Annual Lecture at USI, Shankar Vihar.
• The inaugural lecture, delivered by Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria, marked the beginning of an annual tradition aiming to inspire and educate the audience about the dedication, vision, and leadership exemplified by Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh.
• On August 1, 1964, Arjan Singh assumed the role of Chief of the Air Staff, showcasing his ascent to a key leadership position. 
• His pivotal leadership played a crucial role in the Indian Air Force’s success in the 1965 Indo-Pak War, highlighting his strategic acumen.

Record High Foreign Exchange Reserves Reach $616 Billion

• India’s foreign exchange reserves have hit an impressive $616 billion, reaching the highest level since March 25, 2022. 
• In the week ending on December 15, the reserves saw a substantial increase of $9 billion, marking the second-highest weekly increment this fiscal year. 
• This surge was mainly driven by the growth in foreign currency assets, rising by $8 billion during the week. 
• The Indian rupee also appreciated by 0.4% in the previous week, influenced by the decline in the dollar index following the US Federal Reserve meeting.

Additional Tax Devolution of ₹72,961 Crore Released to States

• The central government, in its ongoing effort to empower state governments, has disbursed an additional ₹72,961.21 crore as tax devolution to states on December 22, 2023. 
• This follows a similar transfer earlier in December, bringing the cumulative amount transferred to states in December to an impressive ₹1.46 lakh crore. 
• Uttar Pradesh leads in receiving the largest share with ₹13,089 crore, followed by Bihar at ₹7,338 crore. The distribution is based on various factors, including population.

Ministry of Rural Development Partners With JioMart to Boost Self-Help Groups’ Products

• The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has collaborated with JioMart, a venture of Reliance Retail, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). 
• This partnership aims to expand the reach of products crafted by Self-Help Groups (SHGs) associated with the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). 
• The MoU enables SHGs to become sellers on the JioMart e-commerce platform, with JioMart providing assistance in setting up and managing their accounts. 
• The partnership also offers opportunities for SHGs to participate in marketing promotions on the JioMart platform.

SASTRA Ramanujan Awards 2022 and 2023 Announced

• The SASTRA-Ramanujan Awards for 2022 and 2023 were conferred upon mathematicians Yunqing Tang and Ruixiang Zhang in a ceremony at the SASTRA campus in Kumbakonam. 
• These prestigious awards, offering a commendable cash prize of USD 10,000 and a citation, are presented annually on the birthday of the legendary Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan. 
• Instituted by SASTRA in 2005, the awards honor individuals under the age of 32 who have made remarkable contributions to the field of mathematics.

UNESCO Awards Recognize Indian Heritage Conservation Efforts

• UNESCO has acknowledged four Indian projects for their exceptional contributions to cultural heritage conservation in the Asia-Pacific region. 
• The Rambagh Gate and Ramparts in Amritsar, Punjab, received the highest honor, the “Award of Excellence,” for its inclusive and accessible urban revitalization project. 
• The Church of Epiphany in Haryana and Bikaner House in Delhi were bestowed with the “Award of Merit” for their exemplary conservation efforts. 
• Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) Terminal 2 (T2) has also been recognized among UNESCO’s ‘Most Beautiful Airports’ for its outstanding design, receiving the ‘Special Prize for an Interior.’

1. What is the current level of India’s foreign exchange reserves?

1. $500 billion
2. $600 billion
3. $616 billion
4. $700 billion

2. Which state leads in receiving the largest share of the additional tax devolution?

1. Uttar Pradesh
2. Bihar
3. Maharashtra
4. Tamil Nadu

3. What is the aim of the Ministry of Rural Development partnership with JioMart?

1. To promote urban development
2. To boost agriculture
3. To extend the reach of Self-Help Groups’ products
4. To enhance digital literacy

4. What are the SASTRA-Ramanujan Awards presented for?

1. Literature
2. Mathematics
3. Physics
4. Economics

5. Which Indian project earned the “Award of Excellence” from UNESCO for cultural heritage conservation?

1. Rambagh Gate and Ramparts
2. Church of Epiphany
3. Bikaner House
4. Kempegowda International Airport Terminal 2

6. What is the subject of the inaugural lecture at USI, Shankar Vihar?

1. Indian Air Force Success
2. Leadership of Arjan Singh
3. Indian Foreign Exchange Reserves
4. Tax Devolution to States

7. What is the significant achievement of Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh mentioned in the information?

1. Success in the 1965 Indo-Pak War
2. Highest Foreign Exchange Reserves
3. JioMart Collaboration
4. SASTRA-Ramanujan Awards

8. What is the purpose of the collaboration between the Ministry of Rural Development and JioMart?

1. Urban Development
2. Agricultural Boost
3. Self-Help Groups’ Product Reach
4. Mathematics Education

9. What recognition did Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport Terminal 2 receive from UNESCO?

1. Award of Excellence
2. Award of Merit
3. Most Beautiful Airport
4. Special Prize for an Interior

Today’s Current Affairs MCQs/ GK Quiz 22nd December 2023

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