Daily Current Affairs January 16

Dear Champions, as you all know that a lot of competitive exams have been notified consequently. Candidates have to prepare themselves according to the level of competition and expectation of the Recruitment board. Regarding that one of the most important topic is Daily Current Affairs January 16. Current Affairs in the form of contemporary events of national & international play a crucial role in almost every competitive exams like Banking, Insurance, SSC, UPSC, TNPSC, Railway etc.

Current affairs are the most dynamic yet scoring among all sections and need to be prepared from the right source. Here, we cafunsta team, providing  Daily GK Updates, Current Affairs Questions, and Monthly  current affairs pdf.

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January 16| Daily Current Affairs 2023

Important Days – Daily Current Affairs January 16

1. Martin Luther King Jr Day is celebrated on_____________?
A) January 16th
B) January 12th
C) January 13th
D) January 14th
E) None of these
Answer: A) January 16th

• DAY : Martin Luther King Jr Day
• DATE : 16 January
• OTHERS : Martin Luther King Jr Day is a federal holiday in the United States that takes place on the third Monday in January. It honors the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

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Banking and Finance – Daily Current Affairs January 16

2. Which payments Bank get final RBI nod to operate as Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit?
A) India Post Payments Bank
B) FINO Payments Bank
C) Paytm Payments Bank
D) Airtel Payment Bank
E) None of these
Answer: C) Paytm Payments Bank

• Paytm Payments Bank said it has received final approval from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as a Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit (BBPOU).
• Under Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), a BBPOU is allowed to facilitate bill payment services of electricity, phone, DTH, water, gas insurance, loan repayments, FASTag recharge, education fees, credit card bill and municipal taxes.
• BBPS is owned by the National Payments Corporation of India.
• So far, Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) has been undertaking this activity under in-principle authorisation from RBI.
• ”PPBL has got the final approval from RBI to operate as Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit (BBPOU) under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. As an entity under Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), PPBL has got the final authorization to conduct bill payment and aggregation business as a BBPOU”.

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3. Who issued guidelines on acquisition in banks?
A) RBI
B) SEBI
C) SIDBI
D) IRDAI
E) None of these
Answer: A) RBI

• The Reserve Bank of India on Monday issued Directions on “Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights in Banking Companies”, allowing promoters to hold 26 per cent of the paid-up share capital or voting rights of a bank after the completion of 15 years from commencement of its business even as any person intending to make an acquisition which is likely to result in major shareholding in a bank has to seek its prior approval for acquisition.
• Further, the central bank wants continuous monitoring of such shareholders for ‘fit and proper’criteria.

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4. Kotak Mahindra Bank hiked FD rates by ________ bps on this tenor in force?
A) 25 bps
B) 35 bps
C) 45 bps
D) 55 bps
E) None of these
Answer: A) 25 bps

• Kotak Mahindra Bank, one of the leading lenders in the private sector, raised its interest rates on fixed deposits under ₹2 crore.
• According to the bank’s official website, the new rates are in effect as of today, January 16, 2023.
• Following the revision, the bank has hiked interest rates by 25 bps on a tenor of 2 years to less than 3 years and on the rest of the tenors the bank has kept the interest rates unchanged.

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Business and Economy – Daily Current Affairs January 16

5. WPI inflation cools to ___________% in December?
A) 5.72%
B) 6.78%
C) 4.95%
D) 9.69%
E) None of these
Answer: C) 4.95%

• The wholesale price-based inflation declined to 4.95 per cent in December 2022, mainly due to fall in prices of food articles and crude petroleum.
• The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation was 5.85 per cent in November 2022 and 14.27 per cent in December 2021.
• Inflation in food articles was (-)1.25 per cent, while in fuel and power it was 18.09 per cent during December 2022.
• Inflation in manufactured products was 3.37 per cent during the month, the commerce and industry ministry said.
• “The decline in the rate of inflation in December 2022 is primarily contributed by fall in prices of food articles, mineral oils, crude petroleum & natural gas, food products, textiles and chemicals & chemical products”.

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6. Retail inflation eased to 12-month low of ________% in December?
A) 5.72%
B) 6.78%
C) 4.45%
D) 9.69%
E) None of these
Answer: A) 5.72%

• Retail inflation, based on the consumer price index (CPI), eased to a one-yearlow of 5.72 percent in December from 5.88 percent the previous month.
• As perthe Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation data releasedyesterday, the retail inflation slipped to lowest level since December 2021.
• Food Price Index dipped to 4.19 percent in December from 4.67 percent inNovember.
• The CPI has come below the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) upper margin of 6 percent for the first time in the calendar year 2022.
• The government has mandatedthe central bank to maintain retail inflation at four per cent with a margin of two per cent on either side.

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Acquisitions and Mergers – Daily Current Affairs January 16

7. Who partnered with VFS to extend MSME loans?
A) RBI
B) SEBI
C) SIDBI
D) IRDAI
E) None of these
Answer: C) SIDBI

• The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has entered into a partnership with VFS Capital to extend loans to the MSME sector, the Kolkata-based microfinance institution said.
• VFS Capital will extend MSME loans upto Rs 5 lakh at 13 per cent interest rate per annum, a top company official said.
• ”We have tied up with SIDBI to provide loans to the SME and MSME sectors. VFS Capital expects to disburse Rs 30-40 crore under the scheme this fiscal,” MD and CEO Kuldip Maity said.
• The loan book of the MFI during 2022-23 is expected to be around Rs 1,100-1,200 crore from Rs 805 crore in the last financial year, he said.
• Maity said the company is planning to expand its footprint in the north-western part by launching operations in Rajasthan by the end of January.

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8. SPIC MACAY and which ministry collaborated for ‘Music in the Park’ series under “Shruti Amrut”?
A) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
B) Ministry of Agriculture
C) Ministry of Education
D) Ministry of Culture
E) None of these
Answer: D) Ministry of Culture

• SPIC MACAY organizes its very popular ‘Music in the Park’ series this year under the name “Shruti Amrut”in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the New Delhi Municipal Council.
• The beauty of Indian Classical Music was showcased by eminent artists from across the country.
• In this series, the first event of 2023 was held in Nehru Park, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.
• The concert begun with Sarod performance by Aman Ali Bangash, 7th Generation musician from Senia Bangash Gharana.
• He was accompanied by Anubrata Chatterjee (Tabla) and Abhishek Mishra (Tabla).
• Following this, Hindustani Vocal performance by Padma Bhushan Begum Parween Sultana of Patiala Gharana accompanied by Akram Khan (Tabla), Shrinivas Acharya (Harmonium) and Shadaab Sultana (Vocals) were performed.

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Awards – Daily Current Affairs January 16

9. Which movie won Best Foreign Language Film, Best Song for ‘Naatu Naatu’ at Critics Choice Awards 2023?
A) RRR
B) Pushpa: The Rise
C) Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
D) Vikram
E) None of these
Answer: A) RRR

• SS Rajamouli’s “RRR” continued its winning streak as the global blockbuster won two trophies — Best Foreign Language Film and Best Song for “Naatu Naatu” — at the Critics Choice Awards (CCA) here.
• The Telugu magnum opus, headlined by Ram Charan and Jr NTR, was nominated in five categories at the CCA — Best Picture, Best Director (Rajamouli), Best Foreign Language film, Best Visual Effects (V Srinivas Mohan) and Best Song (‘Naatu Naatu’).
• In the Best Foreign Language Film, “RRR” was competing against films such as “All Quiet on the Western Front”, “Argentina 1985”, “Bardo”, “False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths”, “Close” and “Decision to Leave”.

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Defence – Daily Current Affairs January 16

10. Which edition of Naval Exercise VARUNA between India and France began?
A) 21st
B) 22nd
C) 23rd
D) 24th
E) None of these
Answer: A) 21st

• The 21st Edition of the Bilateral Naval Exercise between India and France- Exercise VARUNA commenced on the Western Seaboard.
• The exercise will be conducted till the 20th of this month and will witness advanced air defence exercises, tactical manoeuvres, surface firings, underway replenishment and other maritime operations.
• The Ministry of Defence in a statement said that this exercise provides an opportunity to learn from each other’s best practices.
• The exercise facilitates operational-level interaction between the two navies to foster mutual cooperation for good order at sea, underscoring the shared commitment of both nations to security, safety and freedom of the global maritime commons.

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11. Raksha Mantri graced ‘Shaurya Sandhya’ organised as part of 75th Army Day celebrations in ____________?
A) Varanasi
B) Chennai
C) Noida
D) Bengaluru
E) None of these
Answer: D) Bengaluru

• Showcasing the valour and adventurous facets of the Indian Army, ‘Shaurya Sandhya’ was organised in Bengaluru on the occasion of 75th Army Day on January 15, 2023.
• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh graced the event, which was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande, Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen BS Raju, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command Lt Gen Ajai Kumar Singh, other senior military personnel, families of gallantry awardees, renowned sportspersons, prominent civil personalities, personnel of paramilitary forces, police forces and other defence establishments located in Bengaluru as well as students.

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International Affairs – Daily Current Affairs January 16

12. Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum began in_____________?
A) Switzerland
B) Ireland
C) Germany
D) New Zealand
E) None of these
Answer: A) Switzerland

• The 53rd edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will begin at Davos in Switzerland.
• The meeting will continue till 20th January.
• The theme for this year’s WEF meeting is ‘Cooperation in a Fragmented World’.
• The congregation of experts, academics, investors, and political and business leaders will discuss some of the pressing issues the world is facing, such as the Russia-Ukraine crisis, global inflation and climate change and promote innovative solutions.

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13. India’s imports from Russia rose _____% in April-December as crude shoots up?
A) 200%
B) 100%
C) 400%
D) 300%
E) None of these
Answer: C) 400%

• Russia has become India’s fourth largest import source in April-December 2022, with total goods imports from the country during the period rising 400 per cent (year-on-year) to $32.88 billion.
• This is largely due to increased sourcing of discounted crude from the country, accounting for about two-third of Russian imports, following the Ukrainian crisis, per data released by the Commerce & Industry Ministry.
• In 2021-22, Russia was India’s eighteenth largest import partner accounting for $9.86 billion of imports.

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National Affairs – Daily Current Affairs January 16

14. 1st Health Working Group meeting under G-20 India Presidency will be held from January 18 in __________?
A) Varanasi
B) Chennai
C) Gandhinagar
D) Thiruvananthapuram
E) None of these
Answer: D) Thiruvananthapuram

• The 1st Health Working Group meeting under G-20 India Presidency will be held from the 18th to 20th of January, 2023 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• In a significant milestone, India assumed the presidency of the G-20 on the 1st of December, 2022.
• India is currently part of the G-20 Troika comprising Indonesia, India and Brazil, marking the first time that the troika is consisting of three developing and emerging economies.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated that G-20 India Presidency will be inclusive, action-oriented and decisive.
• The theme unveiled by Prime Minister: ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ enunciates India’s philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.
• It is a clarion call to the world to collectively work towards building a healthier post-pandemic world.

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15. B-20 inception meeting will be organised in ____________ from January 22?
A) Varanasi
B) Chennai
C) Gandhinagar
D) Bengaluru
E) None of these
Answer: C) Gandhinagar

• As part of India’s G-20 presidency, a Business-20 (B-20) inception meeting will be organised at Gandhinagar in Gujarat between the 22nd to 24th of January.
• The meeting will be held to formulate policy recommendations to be submitted to G-20 ahead of the leaders’ Summit.
• This will be the first of 15 events that the State is set to organise as part of India’s G-20 presidency.
• The inaugural ceremony of the B-20 inception meeting will be attended by Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Ashwini Vaishnaw, State Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, India’s Sherpa to G-20 Amitabh Kant and Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran.
• More than 150 policy-makers, business executives, CEOs, and senior executives representing enterprises from G-20 countries will take part in the inaugural meeting.

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16. Govt declared which state as ‘Free Area’ for purposes of Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009?
A) Tamil Nadu
B) Punjab
C) Jammu and Kashmir
D) Telangana
E) None of these
Answer: C) Jammu and Kashmir

• Jammu and Kashmir Government has declared the whole Union Territory as a “Free Area” for purposes of the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009.
• AIR Jammu Correspondent reports that according to a notification issued by the Government on Monday in this regard, the declaration has been made in the exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (5) of section 6 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals (PCICDA) Act, 2009, and in supersession of notification S.0 424 dated 05.09.2022 after the Government on being satisfied that no cases of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) have been reported from any district of Union Territory of J&K.

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17. Which state selected to host WEF Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution?
A) Tamil Nadu
B) Punjab
C) Kerala
D) Telangana
E) None of these
Answer: D) Telangana

• The World Economic Forum (WEF) has chosen Hyderabad for establishing its Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution focused on healthcare and life sciences.
• The C4IR Telangana will be an autonomous, non-profit organisation and the only such of World Economic Forum in India with a thematic focus on healthcare and life sciences, Industries and IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao’s office said after Telangana government and WEF entered into a collaboration agreement at the Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

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18. Who among the following launched Fit India Healthy Hindustan Talk Series with Millets Special episode?
A) Mansukh Mandaviya
B) Nitin Gadkari
C) Rajnath Singh
D) Anurag Singh Thakur
E) None of these
Answer: D) Anurag Singh Thakur

• Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, January 15th launched Fit India’s Healthy Hindustan Talk Series with a special episode on Millet.
• During the special curtain raiser episode, the Minister had a special session with the Fit India Healthy Hindustan Icons, where he discussed fitness, a healthy diet chart, the needs of senior citizens and a special session on the importance of Millets in our daily life.
• The series, an online talk show by eminent fitness experts and Fit India Icons will kick off on 22nd January until 12th March 2023 and would be aired on the official YouTube and Instagram handles of Fit India, every Sunday at 11 am.

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