Weekly Current Affairs (8th to 14th January 2022) Part - 2 - UPSC PDF Download

Important News – India

Q.1. Which entity has organized the first ever Startup India Innovation Week from 10th to 16th January 2022?

Correct Answer is DPIIT.

• This virtual week-long innovation celebration aims to commemorate the 75th year of India’s independence ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
• This is designed to showcase the spread and depth of entrepreneurship across India.
• India is emerging as a global innovation hub, boasting the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.

Q.2. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged-in India’s first multi-dimensional adventure sports expedition conducted by National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports in?

Correct Answer is  France.

• The expedition was conducted in November last year and the team comprising 12 people - eight Army personnel and four youths of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Mr Singh interacted with some of the members of the team present in New Delhi.
• He distributed appreciation certificates and commended the team for completing the expedition without any injuries to the members.

Q.3. Which school has organized 82nd Indian Public Schools' Conference (IPSC) Principals’?

Correct Answer is Doon School.

• It is being organized by Doon School.
• IPSC started in 1939 with a few residential schools now has a strength of 81 schools including Sainik Schools and Military Schools.

Q.4. Which railway station has been renamed as Ekta Nagar railway station?

Correct Answer is Kevadiya Railway Station.

• Statue of Unity’s Kevadiya railway station falls under the Vadodara division.
• New station code of Ekta Nagar railway station will be EKNR.
• Numerical code of Ekta Nagar railway station will be 08224620.

Q.5. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) works under which ministry?

Correct Answer is  Ministry of MSMEs.

• Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC), under the Ministry of MSME, has launched two new productsKhadi babywear and handmade paper ‘Use and Throw’ Slippers
• Beginning from January 14, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is starting the sale of Khadi handmade paper “Use & Throw” slippers for the use of devotees and workers.

Q.6. According to the Henley Global Mobility Report 2022, Indian passport has been ranked at what position?

Correct Answer is 83rd.

• However, in 2020, its rank stood at 84 while in 2016, India was ranked 85th along with Mali and Uzbekistan.
• Japan and Singapore top the index.
• The current rankings are for first quarter of 2022 and India shares the position with Sao Tome and Principe in Central Africa, behind Rwanda and Uganda.

Q.7. In January 2022, an ‘MSME Technology Centre’ was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in which place?

Correct Answer is Puducherry.

• The centre was inaugurated during the inauguration event of the 25th National youth Festival (12th & 13th January 2022) in Puducherry.
• He also inaugurated the ‘Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Manimandapam’, a modern auditorium with an open-air theatre in Puducherry.

Q.8. According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, which state recorded maximum forest cover increase in two years?

Correct Answer is Andhra Pradesh.

• In 2021, the total forest and tree cover in India is 80.9 million hectares.
• This is over 24.60 percent of the geographical area of the country.
• According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, the top five states in terms of increase in forest cover are Andhra Pradesh (647 sq km), Telangana (632 sq km), Odisha (537 sq km), Karnataka (155 sq km) and Jharkhand (110 sq km).

Q.9. According to the biennial India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, what percent of geographical area of the country is under forest and tree cover?

Correct Answer is 24.62%.

• The top five states in terms of increase in forest cover are Andhra Pradesh (647 sq km), Telangana (632 sq km), Odisha (537 sq km), Karnataka (155 sq km) and Jharkhand (110 sq km).
• The report is published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI).
• In the year 2022, 17th edition of the report is released by the environment minister Bhupender Yadav.

Q.10. Who has launched the 'North East on Wheels Expedition’ in New Delhi to promote the Culture of Northeastern States?

Correct Answer is Meenakashi Lekhi.

• It is scheduled to be held between 8th to 16th April this year to mark the celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• 75 Bikers participating in this expedition will be selected from all over the country and will cover about 9000 km in the North-East Region in 6 groups.

Q.11. Which Indian city will get India’s first heli-hub designed to have many aviation facilities like heliport, hangars, repairs, and any other related services?

Correct Answer is Gurugram.

• The heli-hub is proposed to be built in Gurugram & would be near the metro facility along with easy connectivity to industrial areas (Noida & Bhiwadi).

Q.12. Which Indian airport has been ranked eight for on-time performance among large international airports globally for 2021 by Cirium — a provider of aviation data to the travel, finance, aerospace and aviation industries?

Correct Answer is Chennai International Airport, Chennai.

• In a review conducted by Cirium, an organisation that specialises in offering aviation data to travel, finance, aerospace, and aviation industries, the airport has been ranked 8th for 'on-time performance' for the year 2021.
• Besides that, Chennai airport is the only Indian airport to figure in the top 10 positions of the list.

Q.13. Which IT company of India has been selected by the Ministry of External Affairs for the 2nd phase of the Passport Seva Programme, the country’s largest mission-critical e-governance programme?

Correct Answer is Tata Consultancy Services.

• Launched in 2008, the PSP saw TCS transforming the delivery of passport-related services, digitizing the processes, and setting global benchmarks in timeliness, transparency, and reliability.
• In the next phase, TCS will refresh existing facilities and systems, and develop innovative new solutions to enable the issuance of e-passports.

Important News – State

Q.1. Five-day National Youth Festival 2022 will be held in which state/union territories?

Correct Answer is Puducherry.

• National Youth Festival will be held to celebrate the 159th birth anniversary of spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda.
• The five-day festival will be held in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
• The festival aims to ignite, unit, motivate and activate the youth of India towards nation building.

Q.2. The 9th edition of the North East Festival was held in which city of North East Region?

Correct Answer is Guwahati.

• The festival aimed to promote and highlight the commercial and tourism potential of the North East Region.
• The festival held in the format of a carnival also discussed the business, economic, socio-political issues of the region.

Q.3. Which state government has announced that a mini Olympics will be organized in order to promote and encourage Olympic sports among the youth?

Correct Answer is Maharshtra.

• Competition will be arranged around 1st May, to mark Maharashtra Day
• This event will be called ‘Maharashtra State Olympic Competition’
• ‘Olympics Vision Document’ will be prepared considering requirements of 2024, 2028, 2032 Olympics

Q.4. Van Vihar National Park and Zoo located in which state where India’s oldest sloth bear, named as Gulabo (40 years) passed away recently?

Correct Answer is Madhya Pradesh.

• India’s oldest sloth bear, named as Gulabo (40 years) passed away at the Van Vihar National Park and Zoo, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh due to failure of internal organs.
• She was the oldest sloth bear of the country and was one of the star attractions in the park
• She was rescued from a street performer (Madaari) in May 2006.

Q.5. According to biennial India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, has the largest forest cover in the country?

Correct Answer is Madhya Pradesh.

• The report is published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI).
• In the year 2022, 17th edition of the report is released by the environment minister Bhupender Yadav.
• This report was first published in the year 1987.

Q.6. Kachai Lemon Festival is celebrated in which state?

Correct Answer is Manipur.

• Theme: 'Organic Kachai Lemon for Safe Environment and Rural Transformation'
• Kachai Lemon has been accorded Geographical Indication (GI) registration tag and widely grown in Kachai Village of Ukhrul district, Manipur.

Q.7. Which state has topped the medal chart at the recently concluded IndiaSkills 2021 National Competition?

Correct Answer is Odisha.

• This event was organised in New Delhi by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
• From over 150 winners, 59 of them won gold medals with a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.
• Furthermore, 73 won silver medals with prize money of ₹ 75,000 while 53 received bronze medals and a cash prize of ₹ 50,000.

Q.8. Which state/union territories has signed an MoU with UAE’s pioneering financial services company, Century Financial that will invest 100 million dollars in the state/UT?

Correct Answer is Jammu and Kashmir.

• Investment will cover 3 hotels and one commercial cum residential complex in Jammu & Kashmir.
• The owner of Century Financial Sh. Bal Krishen is originally a native of the Doda district of Jammu and has been a forerunner in supporting his home region.

Important News – World

Q.1. The first Colombo Security Conclave Virtual Workshop was conducted by which country?

Correct Answer is India.

• Delegates from Member and Observer States of the of Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) including Sri Lanka, Maldives, India, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Bangladesh participated in the workshop.

Q.2. Alikhan Smailov has been appointed as the prime minister of which country?

Correct Answer is Kazakhstan.

• Smailov, 49, served as first deputy prime minister in the previous cabinet which Tokayev dismissed last week amid violent unrest in the oil-rich Central Asian nation.
• Kazakh security forces have detained 9,900 people over the unrest.

Q.3. Maya Angelou, who become the first Black woman to appear on the US quarter, in a new version of the coin unveiled by the US Mint was a?

Correct Answer is poet.

• The poet and writer, who died in 2014, was the author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, in which she wrote about the racial discrimination she experienced growing up.
• The author of 36 books – and the recipient of more than 20 honorary degrees – she read her poem On the Pulse of the Morning at Bill Clinton’s 1992 inauguration, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2010.

Q.4. Which two countries passport shares top rank in the Henley Passport Index 2022, released in January 2022?

Correct Answer is Japan and Singapore.

• Germany and South Korea hold onto joint 2nd spot on the latest ranking, with passport holders able to access 190 destinations visa-free, while Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Spain share 3rd place, with a score of 189.
• India’s passport power has improved this quarter compared to 2021.
• It now ranks at 83rd position in the Henley Passport Index, climbing seven places from 90th rank last year.

Q.5. Which country has discovered huge potential natural gas hydrate deposits of 0.11 to 0.73 trillion cubic feet in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ)?

Correct Answer is Bangladesh.

• It is equivalent to 17-103 TCF of natural gas reserves.
• The study undertaken over the last three years was conducted by the Petrobangla, Bapex, local experts and the National Oceanography centre in Southampton, UK.

Honor & Awards

Q.1. Which film won the 79th Golden Globe Awards 2022 for Best Motion Picture – Drama?

Correct Answer is The Power of The Dog.

• The Power of The Dog won the two biggest awards - Best Motion Picture (Drama) and Jane Campion won the Best Director.
• Will Smith took home his first Golden Globe. He won the Best Film Actor (Drama) for King Richard.

Q.2. Who won the best actress in Motion Picture-Drama award at 79th Golden Globe Awards 2022?

Correct Answer is Nicole Kidman.

• The Power of The Dog won the two biggest awards - Best Motion Picture (Drama) and Jane Campion won the Best Director.
• Will Smith took home his first Golden Globe. He won the Best Film Actor (Drama) for King Richard.

Q.3. Kenneth Branagh wins 'Best Screenplay Motion Picture' at 79th Golden Globe Awards 2022 for?

Correct Answer is Belfast.

• 'Belfast' is a 2021 coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Kenneth Branagh.
• The film stars Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Ciaran Hinds, Colin Morgan, and newcomer Jude Hill.
• The movie centres around a young boy's childhood amidst the tumult of Belfast, Northern Ireland, in the 1960s.

Q.4. Who has been awarded the 12th Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar Award 2022?

Correct Answer is Harshaali Malhotra.

• She received the award from Bhagat Singh Koshyari (Governor of Maharashtra)
• She played the role of Munni, who was mute young girl from Pakistan in Salman Khan starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

Sports News

Q.1. Fourteen-year-old Bharath Subramaniyam held from which state who has become the73rd Grandmaster of India?

Correct Answer is Tamil Nadu.

• The Chennai-based teenager completed his final GM Norm and crossed the requisite 2500 rating at Vergani Cup Open in Italy.
• Subramaniyam finished seventh overall in the event held at Cattolica by scoring 6.5 points from nine rounds.

Q.2. Who has won the Men’s Singles title in the Melbourne Summer Set ATP 250 event?

Correct Answer is Rafael Nadal.

• It was Nadal’s 89th tour-level crown as the Spaniard saved a set point in the first set tie-break and rallied from a game down in the 2nd set against Cressy.
• The Spaniard, playing his first competitive tournament since August, was largely untroubled as he wrapped up the win in an hour 48 minutes.

Q.3. Who has won the Women’s Singles title in the Melbourne Summer Set ATP 250 event?

Correct Answer is Simona Halep.

• Amanda Anisimova of the United States clinched her second career WTA singles title in a three-set thriller final at Melbourne Summer Set 2 after defeating 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 Belarusian qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
• 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal defeated American Maxime Cressy in the Men’s Singles final of the Melbourne Summer Set ATP 250 event.

Q.4. Which country won the ATP Cup title 2022?

Correct Answer is Canada.

• Denis Shapovalov opened the match for Canada with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Pablo Carreno Busta.
• Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov won a deciding doubles against Russia on Saturday in the semifinals to knock out the defending champions.

Q.5. Ramkumar Ramanathan is associated with which sports?

Correct Answer is Tennis.

• The unseeded pair beat top seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo in the final to mark a victorious debut on the ATP Tour.
• This is Ramkumar's first ATP Tour title while Bopanna won his 20th.
• The Adelaide tournament is a warm-up for the Australian Open, the season's first Grand Slam.

Q.6. Who has won the Adelaide International women single title?

Correct Answer is Ashleigh Barty.

• This was Barty’s 14th career singles title and second in Adelaide.
• He defeated 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and 2020 French Open winner Iga Swiatek of Poland en route to the title in Adelaide, without dropping a set or a service game against Rybakina, Kenin or Swiatek.

Q.7. Which corporate group has replaced Chinese mobile maker Vivo as the title sponsor for Indian Premier League?

Correct Answer is Tata Group.

• Vivo had in 2020 pulled out as IPL sponsor after the Galwan Valley military face-off between India and China.
• At that time, mobile gaming platform Dream11 had stepped in as title sponsor for a year.
• Vivo was back in 2021 and could have continued this year as well.

Q.8. Who has been appointed as the captain of 18-member Indian squad at the Women’s Hockey Asia Cup 2022 to be held in Muscat, Oman?

Correct Answer is Savita Punia.

• Indian women are the defending champions at the continental event.
• Indian women’s hockey team features 16 players who were part of Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where the Indian eves finished fourth.
• Vice-captain: Defender Deep Grace Ekka.

Q.9. Renowned cricketer Chris Morris who has announced retirement from all forms of cricket, represented which country?

Correct Answer is South Africa.

• Morris, who represented Proteas in 69 games across all formats last played for his country in an ODI against Australia in 2019.
• Since then, he has been plying his trade in franchise leagues around the world.
• Morris in his announcement also mentioned that he has taken up a coaching role with the domestic side Titans.

Books and Authors

Q.1. Who has authored the book titled ‘Ratan N. Tata: The Authorized Biography’, the authorized biography of Ratan Tata?

Correct Answer is Thomas Matthew.

• The book is set to hit the stands in November 2022.
• It will be published by HarperCollins.
• The book chronicles Ratan Tata’s childhood, college years, and early influences, among other things.

Q.2. The book titled “Indomitable: A Working Woman’s Notes on Life, Work and Leadership” is an autobiography of?

Correct Answer is Arundhati Bhattacharya.

• Arundhati Bhattacharya is a retired Indian banker and former first-ever woman Chairperson of the State Bank of India.
• Indomitable features the story of Arundhati Bhattacharya’s life as a banker and the difficulties she faced in the male-dominated sector.

Science and Defence

Q.1. What is the carrying capacity of the India's first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) Vikrant?

Correct Answer is 40,000-tonne.

• It is planned to be inducted in August 2022.
• The 40,000-tonne aircraft carrier is the largest and most complex warship to be built in India
• It successfully completed a five-day maiden sea voyage in August and underwent 10-day sea trials in October 2021.

Q.2. multi-national exercise ‘Sea Dragon’ that focuses on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training in Indo-Pacific region was led by?

Correct Answer is USA.

• Participating members are Quad nations (United States, Australia, India and Japan), Canada and South Korea
• It includes more than 270 hours of in-flight training, classroom sessions for pilots, flight officers

Q.3. In January 2022, an extended range sea-to-sea variant of which missile was successfully test-fired by India from the Indian Navy’s newly commissioned INS Visakhapatnam?

Correct Answer is  BrahMos.

• BrahMos, deployed by the Navy on its warships first in 2005, has the capability to hit sea-based targets beyond radar horizon.
• The naval variant was originally tested in October and December 2020 from the Navy’s indigenously-built stealth destroyer INS Chennai and Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvijay, respectively.

Q.4. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully flight tested the final deliverable configuration of MPATGM. What is full form of MPATGM?

Correct Answer is Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile.

• The indigenously developed anti-tank missile is a low weight, ‘fire and forget’ missile and is launched from a man portable launcher, integrated with thermal sight.
• While the Indian Army has been mainly using various imported anti-tank guided missiles in the past, the DRDO has been working on ATGMs to be launched from different platforms as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

Q.5. In collaboration with which of the following bodies has the NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) recently launched 'ATL Space Challenge 2021'?

Correct Answer is ISRO & CBSE.

• It was launched in collaboration with ISRO and CBSE
• The challenge was designed for all the school students, mentors and teachers across the country
• It witnessed over 2500 submissions from both ATL and Non-ATL students across the country from which 75 top innovators were selected and announced.