Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2023

Notes:
Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance notifies changes in rates on small savings schemes.
Recently, the government hiked the interest rates on various small savings schemes including senior citizen savings scheme for the January to March quarter. The PPF will continue to earn 7.10%, while Sukanya Samriddhi account scheme will continue to earn 7.6% interest rate.

Notes:
Iran has recently commenced its annual drill in the coastal area of the Gulf of Oman and near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Commandos and airborne infantry would participate in the war-games, dubbed ‘Zolfaghar-1401’ along with drones, fighter jets, helicopters, military transport aircraft and submarines.  The strait is located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and is crucial to global energy supplies.

Notes:
The Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission (StartupTN) has rolled out special packages of assistance for Green Tech, Rural Impact and Women-led startups.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched the initiative, which included funds earmarked under StartupTN’s flagship grant scheme, Tamil Nadu Startup Seed Grant Fund (TANSEED). It also announced a 50 per cent increase in grants for startups falling under special categories.  He also launched a MentorTN portal, under which budding startups can approach successful entrepreneurs, professionals and trusted subject matter experts.

Notes:
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the first phase of a new bridge on the Zuari River which will improve connectivity between North Goa and South Goa.
Zuari Bridge is the second largest cable-stayed bridge in India, behind Mumbai’s Bandra-Worli sea link. The bridge is part of a Rs 2,530 crore road project covering a distance of 13.2 kilometres between Bambolim and Verna villages in Goa. Dilip Buildcon is constructing the new Zuari bridge.

Notes:
The Union government spent more than Rs 13,000 crore on cleaning the Ganga since 2014. The Ganga Council recently met in Kolkata and Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the meeting through video conference.
Uttar Pradesh received the largest outlay among states at 4,205 crore. Bihar is in second place at 3,516 crores. Bengal (1,302 crore), Delhi (1,253) and Uttarakhand (1,117) are the other regions in the top five states.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is working on a new industrial policy.
The draft ‘Statement on Industrial Policy 2022-Make in India for the world’ has been circulated to different ministries for their views and comments. It proposes to increase financing sources for industry and a scheme for promoting Made in India brand.

Notes:
A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has upheld by a 4-1 majority the Centre’s 2016 decision to withdraw from circulation currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations.
The majority, comprising Justices S Abdul Nazeer, B R Gavai, A S Bopanna, V Ramasubramanian, held that the Centre’s notification was valid and satisfied the test of proportionality. Justice BV Nagarathna in her dissenting view held that though demonetisation was well-intentioned and well thought of, it has to be declared unlawful on legal grounds.

Notes:
Department of Posts under Tamilnadu Circle released a Special Cover on 60 Years of The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc).
The Institute of Mathematical Sciences is a premier research institute in Chennai, India founded by Alladi Ramakrishnan in 1962. Since its inception, members of the institute have engaged in research in fundamental and interdisciplinary sciences.

Notes:
The Telangana government has decided to join the free rice scheme of the Centre under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
The Central scheme aims to supply five kgs of rice per head per month in a family to 54.44 lakh NFSA cardholders in the State. The State government will extend the scheme to an additional 35.52 lakh cardholders at its own cost.