ANSWER: D

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: B

• It is held in Hague, Netherlands.
• It’s the first global attempt to prevent proliferation of Lethal Autonomous Weapons (LAWS) and insert ethics, moral factor into rapidly developing weaponisation technology that has potential for cataclysmic damage.
• Purpose of REAIM 2023
  • Put the topic of responsible AI in military domain higher on political agenda.
  • Mobilise and activate wide group of stakeholders to contribute to concrete next steps.
  • Foster and increase knowledge by sharing experiences, best practices and solutions.
• Role of AI in military domain
  • Training and simulation to provide battlefield experience to soldiers.
  • Surveillance, specifically in difficult to reach border regions, to provide situational awareness.
  • Offensive capabilities, such as autonomous armed drones, which can execute targets.
  • Reconnaissance and tactical support in combat situations such as targeted strikes.
• Issues with use of AI in military
  • Principle of distinction between civil and military targets and population.
  • Data biases: AI is biased to certain kinds of data such as racial or gender bias. This impacts rational decision making.

 ANSWER: B

• Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) will provide Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services for engines of US’s MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft System as India is in discussions to buy 30 MQ-9B drones to enhance its surveillance capabilities along the China border and the Indian Ocean region.
• In another development , Germany based HENSOLDT and HAL announced a collaboration agreement covering design/IPR Transfer for design and manufacturing of Obstacle Avoidance System (OAS) for Indian helicopters.

MQ-9B Sea Guardian

• The MQ-9B Sea Guardian has changed the game in maritime domain awareness. It’s the first unmanned aerial system of its kind that can search the ocean surface and the depths in support of naval intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
• It is designed to fly over the horizon via SATCOM for up to 30 hours (depending on configuration) in all types of weather.
• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) of US is the manufacturer of the MQ-9Bs.
• Indian Navy operates two MQ-9B Sea Guardians taken on lease in 2020.

 ANSWER: A

• Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched its chatbot ‘Aadhaar Mitra’.
• A Chatbot is software that simulates human-like conversations with users via chat. Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)-based chatbot can answer queries related to Aadhaar.
• It can provide information about most Aadhaar services such as Aadhaar Centers, Aadhaar Enrolment/Update status, PVC i.e., plastic card order status, Complaint status etc.
• It is available in both English and Hindi languages.
• Residents can simply type their query in the chatbot and get the desired answers immediately.
• Aadhaar Mitra also offers an added feature of watching related videos and is regularly trained on latest developments and features of Aadhaar.

 ANSWER: C

• All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) and Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) jointly launched KAVACH- 2023.
• KAVACH- 2023 is a national level hackathon to identify innovative ideas and technological solutions for addressing cyber security and cybercrime challenges of 21st century.
• It’ll be conducted in two phases. Youth from educational institutions and registered start-ups are expected to participate in it.
• The Kavach problem statement includes 20 unique and important matters, which are shared by BPRD and Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre. These critical problems include women’s safety apps, obscenity blocker solutions, phishing detection solutions, dark web crawlers, citizen safety apps and malware analysis tools.
• Prize money worth Rs. 20 Lakh will be awarded to winning teams.

ANSWER: A

• World Government Summit 2023 was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates recently.
• Its theme for 2023 is “Shaping Future Governments”.
• It is a global forum held annually in Dubai.
• It brings together leaders in government, business, technology, and civil society to discuss pressing issues facing humanity and to shape future of governments worldwide.
• The summit aims to drive positive change and promote innovation in the public sector by exploring new ideas, technologies, and best governance practices.

 ANSWER: A

• Due to a downgraded corn production outlook in the United States and Argentina, the International Grains Council (IGC) has lowered its world total grains (wheat and coarse grains) production forecast to 2.248 billion tonnes, down by 8 million tonnes.

About International Grains Council (IGC)

• IGC is an intergovernmental organisation which came into existence in 1995 as a result of International Grains Agreement.
  • It is a successor of International Wheat Council (IWC), 1949.
• Headquarters– London, UK.
• Objectives: Promote expansion, openness and fairness in grains sector, contribute to grain market stability and enhance world food security.
• Members: Countries who are party to Grains Trade Convention (GTC), 1995 are members of IGC.
  • At present there are 30 members including India.
• GTC is the only international treaty covering trade in grains.

ANSWER: C

• The 4th edition of the joint military exercise, Exercise Dharma Guardian, between India and Japan is being conducted in Japan from 17th February to 2nd March 2023.
• The exercise is an annual training event with Japan and is crucial and significant in terms of security challenges faced by both nations in the backdrop of the current global situation.
• The exercise will further enhance the level of defence co-operation between The Indian Army and Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces, furthering the bilateral relations between the two nations.
• Other Military Exercises between India and Japan are
  • JIMEX (naval),
  • SHINYUU Maitri (Air Force) and
  • Exercise Veer Guardian.

ANSWER: C

• World Pangolin Day is observed annually on the third Saturday in February, and this year it falls on February 18.
• It is a day to remember and celebrate pangolins, raise awareness, and fight against global pangolin capture in Africa and Asia. Pangolin Day marks the 12th edition of the event.
• An estimated one million of these magnificent creatures have been and continue to be harvested from the wild in African and Asian nations to meet the enormous demand for their scale, skin, blood, and even foetuses, which are believed to have multiple purposes in fashion, traditional medicine, and cookery.
• A pangolin is a mammal of the order Pholidota, the only member of the family Manidae.
  • Pangolins are the only mammal to be covered in scales made of keratin, which protect them from predators.
• They are found in tropical regions of Africa and Asia.
• Pangolins are nocturnal animals that spend most of their time in trees, eating ants and termites.
• They have long tongues that they use to lick up their prey. They are also proficient swimmers.

 ANSWER: B

• Tulsidas Balaram, one of the country’s finest footballers and a member of the golden era of Indian football (1951-1962), passed away. He was 86.
• He played in two Olympics in 1956 and 1960 and reached the pinnacle of Asian football when India, under the guidance of legendary coach Syed Abdul Rahim, won the Asian Games gold in Jakarta, beating South Korea 2-1 in 1962.
• Balaram scored 131 goals, including 14 for India, across seven seasons.

 ANSWER: A

• Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar has been named as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff, while incumbent Lt Gen B S Raju will take charge as South Western Army Commander.
• Lt Gen Kumar has been promoted as Army Commander and appointed as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff.
  • He is serving as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) in the Army Headquarters at present.
• Lt Gen Kumar is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla.
• He was commissioned into 1 Assam Regiment in June 1985.
• He has commanded the 59 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, an Infantry Brigade, and an Infantry Division on the Line of Control. Lt Gen Kumar has also commanded the highly active White Knight Corps.

 ANSWER: C

• The three-day district-level Shivratri fair opened at historic Lord Shiva Temple, Kathgarh in Indora sub division of Kangra district recently.
• Thousands of devotees from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu throng the temple to pay their obeisance.
• Kathgarh Mahadev Temple is located in Kangra district.
  • Situated on the border of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, this is the only Shiv temple in the world, where the Shivling is divided into two parts.
  • It is believed that these two forms of Shiva automatically separate and then merge.
  • One is worshiped as Lord Shiva and the other part is worshiped as Devi Parvati.
  • The distance between two parts of Shivling automatically increases according to the planetary constellations. In summer this form splits into two parts and in winter it assumes one form.
  • This old temple, built in Mughal style, comprises 6 feet tall and 5 feet round ‘Shivalinga’.

 ANSWER: B

• Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Anurag Thakur launched DD Himachal channel here today. The channel will broadcast programmes round the clock.
• DD Himachal had started operations in 1995 with a 30-minute programme, which was gradually increased to four hours a day.
• the channel would help the state show its art and culture, heritage and other attractions to the rest of the country and the world.
• The channel will be available on DTH platform. People would be able to see this channel in any part of the country.
• The 24×7 channel would help boost tourism in the state by showcasing various places of tourist interest available in the state.