21 April 2023 – Daily Current Affairs for UPSC Exams

21st April 2023 – Daily Current Affairs Questions for UPSC Prelims Exams

Which country has launched Fengyun-3 satellite?

Answer: China

• China has successfully launched the Fengyun-3 meteorological satellite.
• The satellite will monitor severe weather conditions like heavy rainfall.
• Satellite information will be helpful in dealing with natural disasters like landslides and floods.
• The satellite was launched using a Chang’e-4B carrier rocket.
• This successful mission was the 471st launch for the Chang Zheng rocket family.
• The Chang Zheng rocket family is one of the most reliable and consistent rocket families globally.

Gary Ballance of which cricket team has retired from all forms of cricket?

Answer: England cricket team

• Gary Ballance has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
• Balance had recently resumed his career with Zimbabwe.
• Balance scored four centuries in 23 Tests for England between 2014 and 2017.
• Balance is the second batsman in world cricket to score a century playing Test cricket for two different countries.
• Former Australian batsman and South African captain Kepler Wessels was the first cricketer to achieve this feat.

Who has launched ASBA-like facility for secondary market trading in India?

Ans: SEBI

• SEBI gives priority to empowering investors and promoting fair dealing in the securities market of the country.
• The Application Supported by Blocked Amount (ASBA) facility is the latest initiative garnering huge attention in the secondary market.
• ASBA is a payment mechanism that allows investors to block the money during IPO subscription in their savings account instead of transferring it to a broker’s account.
• ASBA ensures the safety of investors’ funds and facilitates the process of applying for shares in an IPO.
• ASBA reduces the time taken for refunds and provides more liquidity to investors.

Which state has topped in labor day production for the fourth consecutive year under MGNREGA?

Answer: Rajasthan

• Rajasthan has topped the country under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
• Rajasthan has generated 35.61 crore person days under the scheme at a total cost of Rs 10,175 crore.
• Tamil Nadu (33.45 crore), Uttar Pradesh (31.18 crore), Andhra Pradesh (23.96 crore) and Bihar (23.69 crore) are generating more person days under the scheme.
• 4,47,558 families have completed 100 days of work in Rajasthan under MNREGA.
• Uttar Pradesh has 4,99,947 households which have completed 100 days of work and is on top in the country.
• 4,48,913 households have completed 100 days of work in Kerala, second only to Uttar Pradesh.

Which country has launched its first operational Earth observation satellite “Taifa-1”?

Answer: Kenya

• Kenya launched its first operational Earth observation satellite “Taifa-1” on 15 April 2023 on a rocket from rocket company SpaceX.
• The launch rocket carried 50 payloads from various countries, including Turkey, under SpaceX’s ‘rideshare programme’.
• Taifa-1 was designed and developed by SayariLabs and EnduroSat.
• The satellite was built over two years at a cost of 50 million Kenyan shillings ($372,000).
• The satellite’s primary objective is to collect agricultural and environmental data, including floods, droughts and wildfires, to help Kenya deal with disaster management and food insecurity.