Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2023

Notes:
The Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Rajeev Chandrasekhar announced Government of India is going to launch a Digital India Innovation Fund.
The Fund aims to catalyse Deep-tech Startups. He announced this during his address in the event of ‘New India for Young India: Techade of Opportunities’ program at the Catholic Bishop House Campus in Kerala.

Notes:
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.

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:
The ‘Dhanu Yatra’ festival, considered to be the world’s largest open-air theatre, began in the Western Odisha town of Bargarh.
The ‘Dhanu Yatra’ came into existence in Bargarh in 1947-48 as part of the celebration of the country’s Independence. It is celebrated annually and episodes related to Hindu God Krishna is presented through folk art forms.

Notes:
According to the latest UN survey, the Arab region registered a 12 per cent unemployment rate in 2022, which is the highest in the world.
Poverty measured against national lines also surged, affecting 130 million people in Arab countries. More than one-third of the region’s population is affected, excluding Libya and Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The survey showed an expected 3.4 per cent growth next year throughout the Arab region.

Notes:
The gross Goods and Services Tax, GST revenue collected in December, 2022 is Rs 1.495 lakh crore. As per the Finance Ministry, the GST revenues are 15 per cent higher than the GST revenues in the same month last year.
During December, revenue from import of goods was eight per cent higher and the revenues from domestic transaction are 18 per cent higher than the revenues from these sources during the same month last year.

Notes:
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office for a third term as Brazil’s President, after the divisive election in October.
The outgoing leader of the Latin America’s biggest economy is Jair Bolsonaro. The 77-year-old ex-metalworker Lula da Silva previously led Brazil from 2003 to 2010.

Notes:
The Supreme Court of India is set to launch a project, to provide free access to official law reports of its verdicts to law students, lawyers and the general public.
The Electronic Supreme Court Reports (e-SCR) project will be unveiled on the direction of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud. The project will be rolled out on the Supreme Court’s website and will be made available on the mobile application of Supreme Court of India and Judgment portal of National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG).

Notes:
The 108th session of Indian Science Congress (ISC) has been launched in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed the Indian Science Congress 2023.
The five-day event is being hosted by the Nagpur University with the focal theme of ‘Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment’.

Notes:
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has listed around 20 restrictive and discriminatory conditions of procuring agencies under various ministries against local suppliers.
As per DPIIT, the conditions make them non-complaint with the government’s public procurement for Make in India order. It includes additional requirement of bank guarantee for local suppliers, delayed payment terms, excessive past experience requirements etc.