Current Affairs For 3rd September 2023

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Q1. Which nation formally requested Pakistan to consider amendments to the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)?

1. USA
2. India
3. Russia
4. China

Ans:-2)India

India has formally notified Pakistan of its intent to revise the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) due to Islamabad’s unwavering stance on its enforcement. This notification was transmitted via the respective commissioners for Indus waters. The treaty, which was signed in 1960 after nine years of negotiations, includes the World Bank as a signatory.

Q2. The NAMASTE scheme is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and another Union Ministry.

1.Ministry of Housing and urban affairs

2. Ministry of Rural Development

3.Ministry of MSME

4. Ministry of Agriculture and farmers welfare

Ans:-1)Ministry of Housing and urban affairs

The NAMASTE scheme is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) under the Central Sector Scheme. NAMASTE, which stands for National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem, has been allocated a budget of Rs 100 crore in this year’s Union Budget. The Finance Minister has also revealed the government’s ambition to achieve 100% mechanical de-sludging of septic tanks and sewers in all urban areas and towns.

Q3.Which nation has recently formed a partnership with the Joint Business Council of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle?

1. Australia
2. USA
3. India
4. China

Ans:-3)India

India entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Joint Business Council (IMT-GT JBC) to facilitate the advancement of energy efficiency. This significant agreement was formalized during the Working Group meeting on energy transition at Bengaluru as part of the G20 initiatives. The primary objective of this MoU is to bolster the adoption of energy-efficient and sustainable practices. Concurrently, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) inked an MoU with IMT-GT JBC, aligning with the festivities of India Energy Week.

Q4.In which state or Union Territory is the biodiversity site known as ‘Yaya Tso’ situated?

1. Arunachal Pradesh
2. Ladakh
3. Assam
4. Sikkim

Ans:-2)Ladakh

Yaya Tso, often referred to as the “birds’ paradise” due to its stunning lake situated at an elevation of 4,820 meters, has recently been nominated as Ladakh’s inaugural biodiversity heritage site (BHS) in accordance with the Biological Diversity Act. This unique site serves as a nesting ground for various bird species, including the bar-headed goose, black-necked crane, and brahminy duck. Additionally, it holds the distinction of being one of India’s highest breeding locations for the black-necked crane.

Q5. Which fintech firm was the pioneer in introducing cross-border transaction capabilities via the UPI (Unified Payments Interface)?

1. BharatPe
2. Razorpay
3. PhonePe
4. PayTm

Ans:-3)PhonePe

PhonePe has achieved the distinction of being the inaugural Indian fintech firm to facilitate overseas payments. It empowers international transactions via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). As a result, Indian travelers can employ the PhonePe platform for UPI transactions with foreign merchants. PhonePe’s cross-border transaction capability extends its support to all international establishments in countries like UAE, Singapore, Nepal, Bhutan, and Mauritius, provided they have a local QR Code.

Q6.Which company has collaborated with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to engage in research and development related to electrostatic discharge protection?

1. Meta
2. Samsung
3. Apple
4. Nokia

Ans:-2)Samsung

Samsung Semiconductor India Research (SSIR) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have formally disclosed their collaboration, with the objective of advancing research and development in the field of on-chip electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection.

Q7. What is the central theme for the ‘Financial Literacy Week 2023’?

1. Credit Discipline
2. Digital Financial Literacy
3. Good Financial Behaviour, Your Saviour
4. MSMEs, the backbones

Ans:-3)Good Financial Behaviour, Your Saviour

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been organizing the Financial Literacy Week (FLW) annually since 2016 to disseminate financial education messages. The theme for the upcoming Financial Literacy Week, scheduled for February 13 – 17, 2023, is ‘Good Financial Behavior, Your Lifesaver.’ This theme places a significant focus on ‘Saving, Planning, and Budgeting’ as well as ‘Prudent Utilization of Digital Financial Services.’

Q8. In which legal statute or framework is the term ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ formally defined?

1. Rome Statute
2. Statute of the International Court of Justice
3. Charter of the United Nations (UN)

4. International Human Rights Law

   Ans:-1)Rome Statute

   Crimes against humanity encompass acts of atrocity carried out as part of a widespread or systematic assault aimed at any civilian population. The official definition of the term ‘crimes against humanity’ can be found in the 1998 Rome Statute. During a recent Security Conference, United States Vice President Kamala Harris asserted that Russia had engaged in ‘crimes against humanity’ in Ukraine.

Q9. Which state is Kuno National Park, recently featured in the news, located in?

1. Maharashtra
2. Madhya Pradesh
3. Gujarat
4. Assam

Ans:-2)Madhya Pradesh

Kuno National Park, situated in Madhya Pradesh, derives its name from the Kuno River. Originally designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1981, it was subsequently conferred with national park status in 2018. As part of the Cheetah Reintroduction Project, an additional 12 cheetahs have been introduced into Kuno National Park, augmenting the total cheetah population to 20.

Q10. In which state is Northern India’s inaugural nuclear power plant poised to be established?

1. Bihar
2. Haryana
3. Uttarakhand
4. Punjab

Ans:-2)Haryana

The first nuclear power plant in North India is under development in Gorakhpur, Haryana, approximately 150 kilometers north of the national capital. The Department of Atomic Energy has received authorization to establish collaborative ventures with Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to secure resources for the establishment of atomic energy facilities.