Weekly Current Affairs (1st to 7th February 2022) Part - 2 - UPSC PDF Download

Important News – India

Q.1. Services e-Health Assistance and Teleconsultation (SeHAT) is scheme implemented by which ministry under which home delivery of medicines has been started?

Correct Answer is Ministry of Defence.

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had launched SeHAT scheme in May 2021.
• SeHAT is the tri-services teleconsultation service of the Ministry of Defence designed for all entitled personnel and their families.

Q.2. Which historical monument has been finalised for nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage sites for the year 2022-2023?

Correct Answer is Hoysala temples.

• ‘Sacred Ensembles of Hoysala’ have been on UNESCO’s tentative list since April 15, 2014.
• The Hoysala temples represent human creative genius and stand testimony to the rich historical and cultural heritage of our country.

Q.3. Which Biodiversity Park of India has been declared as India’s first “other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECM) site by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)?

Correct Answer is Aravalli Biodiversity Park, Gurugram.

• The OECM tag does not bring any legal, financial or management implications, but designates the area as a biodiversity hotspot on the international map.
• The OECM tag is given by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to areas that are not protected but support rich biodiversity.

Q.4. Government has approved the Indian Footwear and Leather Development Programme (IFLDP) for continuation from 2021-22 to till?

Correct Answer is 31 March 2026.

• IFLDP has been approved by the cabinet for continuation till March 31, 2026, or till further review, whichever is earlier.
• The programme aims at development of infrastructure for the leather sector, address environmental concerns specific to the leather sector, facilitate additional investments, employment generation and increase in production.

Q.5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the ‘Statue of Equality’ to commemorate the 11th-century Bhakti saint Sri Ramanujacharya in?

Correct Answer is Hyderabad.

• The statue will encourage youth and will be a symbol of knowledge, detachment, and ideals.
• PM Modi landed in the city earlier this afternoon where he also attended the 50th-anniversary celebrations of ICRISAT.

Q.6. The world's third-largest cricket stadium is going to be built in which city of India?

Correct Answer is Jaipur.

• Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly laid the foundation stone of the project virtually.
• This stadium is being built on the Jaipur-Delhi bypass.

Q.7. Which is set to become the first station to be ready between Mumbai – Ahmedabad Bullet Train route for India’s first futuristic High Speed Rail project?

Correct Answer is Surat.

• The MAHSR corridor will cover 12 stations in total- Surat, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, Sabarmati, Bilimora, Bharuch, Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi stations.
• Once the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project is ready, the journey time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will be 2.07 hours (limited stops), 2.58 hours (halting at stations) vis a vis existing train journey duration of seven-eight hours.

Q.8. PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission will provide support for how many rural Health and Wellness Centres in 10 High Focus States?

Correct Answer is 17,788.

• PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission which was earlier known as Prime Minister Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana, is one of the largest pan-India scheme for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country.
• The scheme was announced in the Budget speech of Financial Year 2021-22 on 1st February last year with an outlay of 64 thousand 180 crore rupees over six years till the year 2025-26

Q.9. Which IIM will establish the country’s first research chair in ESG in collaboration with the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIF)?

Correct Answer is IIM, Ahmedabad.

• The newly formed ‘NIIF Chair in ESG at IIMA’ will work closely with the Arun Duggal ESG Centre for Research and Innovation at IIMA.
• It will function as the principal hub of knowledge and insights that allows businesses and policy makers to incorporate ESG principles in their long-term business and governance decisions.

Q.10. The Central Government has decided to continue the Scheme of “Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram, RYSK for another?

Correct Answer is five years.

• The decision was taken with a view to achieving the objectives of developing the personality and leadership qualities of the youth and to engage them in nation building activities.
• Government of India also decided to continue the NSS(National Service Scheme) over the 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26) at an outlay of Rs. 1,627 Crore.
• NSS is implemented in Senior Secondary Schools, Colleges and Universities in all States and UTs across the country.

Important News – State

Q.1. Which state government has promulgated an ordinance to enhanced the retirement age for its employees by 2 years to 62?

Correct Answer is Andhra Pradesh.

• Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan promulgated the AP Public Employment (Regulation of Age of Superannuation) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022 to this effect.
• On January 21, the state Cabinet approved the proposal to amend the AP Public Employment (Regulation of Age of Superannuation) Act, 1984 in line with the announcement made by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Q.2. Spituk Gustor is an annual celebration of culture and traditional heritage of which state/union territories?

Correct Answer is Ladakh.

• It is a two-day annual celebration of Ladakhi culture and traditional heritage celebrated every year.
• The main attraction of the festival was the colourful mask dance locally called Chams performed by the monks of the monastery in their best robes depicting different deities such as Mahakala (Gonbo), Paldan Lhamo (Shridevi), White Mahakala, Protector Deity.

Q.3. India’s first ‘geological park’ will be set up in which state?

Correct Answer is Madhya Pradesh.

• Approval for the park has been granted by Geological Survey of India, under ministry of mining, Government of India for construction of the park with an investment of Rs 35 crores.
• The geological park will be built in Lamheta, because this place is among significant places in the world, from the geological point of view.

Q.4. Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which state that has been declared Ramsar sites recently?

Correct Answer is Gujarat.

• Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary (Ramsar site No. 2464), a freshwater wetland near the coast of the Gulf of Kutch, was formed following the creation of a bund (dike) in 1920 by the then ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Nawanagar to protect farmlands from saltwater ingress.
• The sanctuary is now part of Marine National Park, Jamnagar, the first marine national park in the country.

Q.5. Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which state that has been designated as Ramsar sites on the occasion of World Wetland Day 2022?

Correct Answer is Uttar Pradesh.

• With this, the total number of Ramsar sites in India goes up to 49 covering an area of 1,093,636 hectares.
• Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary (site no. 2465), a freshwater marsh in the Sant Kabir Nagar district, is the largest natural floodplain wetland of eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Q.6. The traditional Torgya Festival celebrated in which state?

Correct Answer is Arunachal Pradesh.

• The traditional Torgya Festival is celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh by Monpa community.
• The objective of the festival is to welcome a healthy and prosperous new year and ward off any kind of external aggression and protect people from natural disasters.

Q.7. Which state’s tableau selected as the best state tableau at the Republic Day parade in 2022?

Correct Answer is Uttar Pradesh.

• The tableau of Uttar Pradesh was based on the theme 'One District One Product' and Kashi Vishwanath Dham'.
• The second place went to Karnataka for its tableau based on 'Cradle of Traditional Handicrafts'.
• The third position went to Meghalaya for its tableau on 'Meghalaya's 50 years of Statehood and its tribute to women-led cooperative societies & SHGs'.

Q.8. Which state tops India’s list in the number of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) owned by entrepreneurs from the Scheduled Castes?

Correct Answer is Maharashtra.

• Tamil Nadu with 42,997 enterprises and Rajasthan with 38,517 units occupy the second and third slots, according to the data furnished by the Office of the Development Commissioner in the Union Ministry of MSME.
• The fourth, fifth and sixth slots belong to Uttar Pradesh (36,913 units), Karnataka (28,803 enterprises) and Punjab (24,503 units) respectively.

Q.9. In a bid to spread voter awareness among voters which state’s Chief Electoral Officer has unveiled its Election Mascot – ‘Shera’?

Correct Answer is Punjab.

• The Election Mascot, ‘Shera’ represents the rich cultural heritage of Punjab.
• Promoted under the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) project, the Mascot aims to increase voter awareness and participation in the elections to increase voter turnout and promote ethical voting.

Important News – World

Q.1. 11th meeting of India and which country’s Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC) was held in New Delhi?

Correct Answer is Oman.

• The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and Mohammed Bin Nasser Bin Ali AL Zaabi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Defence of Oman.
• The JMCC is the highest forum of engagement between India and Oman in the field of defence.

Q.2. India and Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding with (MoU) for the construction of a motorable Bridge over which river?

Correct Answer is Mahakali.

• It will connect Dharchula in India to Darchula in Nepal.
• It will be constructed under Indian grant assistance.
• The newly announced project to build a bridge over the Mahakali river would strengthen Nepal-India relations.

Q.3. Which country was India’s top most trading partner in 2021?

Correct Answer is USA.

• The US is followed by China on second. The value of trade between India and China was $110.4 billion.
• In 2020, China was India’s top trading partner and the US was in the second rank. In 2019 USA was India’s top trading partner and China was on second.

Q.4. Which country has tested fired Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRMB) named “Hwasong-12”?

Correct Answer is North Korea.

• The launch was the seventh missile test that Pyongyang has conducted since the start of 2022. It is also the longest-range missile that North Korea has launched since 2017.
• The launch of the “Hwasong-12-type surface-to-surface intermediate- and long-range ballistic missile” was organised by the Academy of Defence Science (ADS), the Second Economic Committee.

Q.5. Which global IT Services and Technology Solutions Company, has partnered with Microsoft for its launch of ‘Microsoft Cloud for Retail’?

Correct Answer is ITC Infotech.

• The company has been a partner with Microsoft for over three decades.
• The ‘Microsoft Cloud for Retail’ collaboration is expected to further strengthen the relationship.
• Sonata Software delivers solutions for retailers world-wide, leveraging world-class IPs, in-house migration and modernisation tools.

Q.6. Which country scored the highest in the Salesforce Global Digital Skills Index 2022, that measures global employee sentiments and readiness to acquire the key digital skills needed by businesses today and over the next five years?

Correct Answer is India.

• India had the highest digital readiness score of 63 out of 100, with 72% respondents saying they were actively learning digital skills to prepare themselves for the future of work
• The index is based on a survey of more than 23,500 workers in 19 countries, with an average global readiness score of 33 out of 100.

Q.7. World’s first hydrogen-powered flying boat is all set to be manufactured and launched in?

Correct Answer is Dubai.

• Swiss startup THE JET ZeroEmission has signed an agreement with UAE-based Zenith Marine Services and USbased DWYN to manufacture and operate ‘The Jet’.
• THE JET’ features cutting-edge characteristics and technologies, making it capable of flying in silence over the waters at a cruising speed of 40 knots.

Q.8. Which company surpassed U.S chipmaker Intel to become the world’s leading chipmaker by revenue in 2021?

Correct Answer is Samsung Electronics

• While Intel posted relatively flattish results, Samsung took the lead with a strong DRAM and NAND flash market performance in 2021. Samsung also saw solid momentum in logic chips this year.
• In terms of semiconductor sales in 2020, Samsung was at the second position behind Intel (approximately $62 billion revenue versus Intel’s $76 billion).

Q.9. Sergio Mattarella has been re-elected as President of which country?

Correct Answer is Italy.

• The 80-year-old emerged as the most popular choice after six days of often tense voting in Rome.
• Mattarella was reconfirmed with a broad majority, namely 759 votes in favor from a total of 983 lawmakers and regional representatives actively taking part in the ballot.

Q.10. Which country will procure 420 broad-gauge wagons from India?

Correct Answer is Bangladesh.

• The agreement worth Tk. 231 crore will be implemented within 27 months of the signing of the contract.
• This project is being implemented with the joint funding of the Government of Bangladesh and Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Rolling Stock Operation Improvement Project.

Honor & Awards

Q.1. Name the Indian hockey player who won the prestigious World Games Athlete of the Year 2021 for his 2021 performances?

Correct Answer is PR Sreejesh.

• He becomes 1st Indian man and only the second Indian to receive the accolade.
• In 2020, Indian women's hockey captain Rani Rampal became the first Indian to win the honour.
• Sreejesh was part of the Tokyo Olympics-bronze medal winning side.

Q.2. Name the sports person who has been nominated for the prestigious 2022 Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award?

Correct Answer is Neeraj Chopra.

• The other 5 nominees are Daniil Medvedev(Australian Open runner-up), Emma Raducanu(British tennis star), Pedri(Barcelona and Spain footballer), Yulimar Rojas (Venezuelan athlete) and Ariarne Titmus(Australian swimmer)
• The winners will be revealed in April following a vote by the Laureus World Sports Academy, made up of 71 sporting greats.

Q.3. Who has been named the recipient of the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award?

Correct Answer is Daryl Mitchell.

• As a result, Mitchell has become the fourth New Zealand player to win the award, following the footsteps of Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson.
• Mitchell won the award for refusing to take a single in the high-pressure T20 World Cup semi-final against England in Abu Dhabi on November 10, 2021.

Q.4. In popular choice category award, which state has won first position for Best Tableau among 12 states/UTs category for 2022?

Correct Answer is Maharashtra.

• “The second place went to Uttar Pradesh [popular choice], while the tableau of Jammu and Kashmir on theme ‘Changing face of Jammu & Kashmir’ finished third,”.

Sports News

Q.1. Who won the Tata Steel Masters chess 2022?

Correct Answer is Magnus Carlsen.

• Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi lost to Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan in the 12th and penultimate round of the tournament.
• The Norwegian, who will get a win by forfeit (over Daniil Dubov) in the final round, is a full point ahead of his closest competitors — Richard Rapport and Mamedyarov.

Q.2. India defeated which country to win bronze medal at 2022 Women’s Hockey Asia Cup tournament?

Correct Answer is China.

• Sharmila Devi and Gurjit Kaur scored goals from India’s side.
• It was held from 21st to 28th Jan 2022 at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat, Oman.
• Meanwhile, Japan defeated South Korea to win gold at Women’s Hockey Asia Cup tournament.

Q.3. Which Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise have become the first-ever sports Unicorn in the country?

Correct Answer is Chennai Super Kings.

• CSK is four-time Indian Premier League (IPL) winners.
• MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeated mighty Kolkata Knight Riders last year to win their recordextending fourth IPL title in Dubai.

Q.4. In February 2022, who got selected as the Torchbearer of Winter Olympic 2022 by the China Government?

Correct Answer is Qi Fabao.

• The Winter Olympics was opened in a lavish ceremony to be attended by President Xi Jinping and more than a dozen world leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, five Central Asian Presidents and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
• He “took the flame from Wang Meng, China’s four-time Olympic short track speed skating champion, at Winter Olympic Park.

Q.5. Arif Khan is associated which sports, who is the lone Indian athlete to attend the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics?

Correct Answer is Skiing.

• The 31-year-old Arif will be the lone Indian competitor at the Games, having qualified in Slalom and Giant Slalom events. India sent a six-member contingent to the Games including a coach, a technician and a team manager.
• Arif is the first Indian to secure qualification in two events of the same edition of the Games.

Q.6. Which Country won the African Cup of Nations title in football?

Correct Answer is Senegal.

• Sadio Mané scored the winning spot kick to start the celebrations and make up for missing a penalty in the seventh minute of the game.
• The final had ended 0-0 after extra time.
• Senegal had lost two finals previously, including at the last African Cup in Egypt in 2019, when Mané was left inconsolable.

Q.7. By defeating which country India has won the record fifth time ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup title?

Correct Answer is England.

• India lifted a record fifth ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup title after beating England by four wickets in the summit clash at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
• Earlier, India had won the U19 World Cup in 2000, 2008, 2012, and 2018.

Books and Authors

Q.1. Who is the author of the biography of the Tokyo Olympic Gold Medalist Neeraj Chopra titled “Golden Boy Neeraj Chopra”?

Correct Answer is Navdeep Singh Gill.

• The biography on Tokyo Olympics-2021 gold medalist Neeraj Chopra was released by chairperson of Punjab Kala Parishad Surjit Patar and president of Punjabi Sahit Akademi Lakhwinder Singh Johal, amid the presence of the author and his family members.
• It is the seventh book written by Navdeep and the sixth placing focus on the sports as well as the sportspersons.

Q.2. Who is the author of the graphic novel titled ‘Atharva - The Origin’, in which Cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been portrayed as the superhero Atharva?

Correct Answer is Ramesh Thamilmani.

• Dhoni unveiled the first look of his upcoming graphic novel Atharva - The Origin.
• The project is created by Virzu Studios in association with MIDAS Deals.
• The graphic novel has been written by Ramesh Thamilmani.

Q.3. Who has authored the book titled ‘India, That is Bharat: Coloniality, Civilisation, Constitution’?

Correct Answer is J Sai Deepak.

• The book is the first part of a comprehensive trilogy, which examines the far reaching impact of European ‘colonial consciousness’ on Bharat. Upon a thorough reading of the book, what really lingers is the wellresearched arguments put forth.

Science and Defence

Q.1. A Global Center of Excellence in Affordable and Clean Energy has been launched at which IIT?

Correct Answer is IIT Dharwad.

• The center is supported by the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) donation from Honeywell Hometown Solutions India Foundation (HHSIF).
• The first phase of the CSR project with HHSIF is to establish equipment for the GCoE-ACE mainly as skill development, fabrication, and R&D equipment.

Q.2. What would the name of the fifth submarine of Project 75, of the Scorpene class that has commenced her maiden sea trials?

Correct Answer is INS Vagir.

• The submarine, launched in November 2020 from the Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), would be named Vagir, after commissioning.
• Last year, INS Vela, the fourth submarine in the series of six submarines of Project-75, was inducted into the Navy.

Q.3. Which defence PSU signed a contract worth ₹3131.82 crores for the manufacture and supply of Konkurs anti-tank missiles for the Indian Army?

Correct Answer is Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

• Bharat Dynamics will manufacture and supply Konkurs anti-tank missiles to the Indian Army
• Konkurs - M is a second generation, mechanized infantry anti-tank guided missile, to destroy armored vehicle equipped with explosive reactive armour.

Q.4. Param Pravega, one of the most powerful supercomputers in India has been installed and commissioned in which institutions?

Correct Answer is Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.

• The system, which is expected to power diverse research and educational pursuits, has a total supercomputing capacity of 3.3 petaflops (1 petaflop equals a quadrillion or 1,015 operations per second), the premier science research institution based in Bengaluru.
• It has been designed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).

Q.5. Which IIT has launched the beta version of ‘Swarajability’, a job portal powered by AI that helps people with disabilities acquire relevant skills and find jobs?

Correct Answer is Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad.

• The project is funded by Kotak Mahindra Bank, while IIT-H provided AI expertise, Visual Quest developed the platform, and Youth4Jobs skilling services.
• The platform will analyse the profiles of the job seekers and suggest the skills they would require to become eligible.

Q.6. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will make its third venture to the Moon through the Chandrayaan-3 mission in?

Correct Answer is August 2022.

• This was stated by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to Lok Sabha.
• This year is expected to be quite busy for ISRO as major projects such as Gaganyaan and Aditya solar mission are also in the pipeline. ISRO will conduct 19 missions till December this year.