Current Affairs Quiz - March 2022

Notes:
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) created by the United States in 2004, offers large grants to support economic growth.
Recently, Nepal’s Parliament has approved a USD 500m US grant, in spite of several street protests and opposition in the country. Nepal signed the US government’s MCC pact in 2017 to fund infrastructure projects. But its ratification was not made due to divisions within political parties.

Notes:
A special logo has been unveiled to commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Belgium.
Belgium was among the first European countries to have bilateral relations with India. The logo is a peacock with national flags of both the nationals. The Belgian Royal family has led the economic delegations to India.

Notes:
The Indian Navy conducted ‘Operational Demonstration’ at Visakhapatnam and a colourful International City Parade. It showcased various operations including special operations and sky diving, rescue operations and fly-past by naval aircraft.
The event was conducted as part of the ongoing Multilateral Exercise MILAN 22. Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was the Chief Guest for the event.

Notes:
Ukraine shares borders with four European Union (EU) member states namely Hungary, Poland, Slovakia (West) and Romania (South). It shares border with Russia to the east and north-east. Ukraine also shares borders with Belarus to the north; and Moldova to the south.
The European Parliament, after a debate in which the President of Ukraine addressed and received applause, recommended that Ukraine be made an official candidate for EU membership.

Notes:
Scientists have described a new species of the Neotropical orchid genus Maxillaria from northern Ecuador.
Named Maxillaria anacatalinaportillae, it grows as an epiphyte in cloud rainforests at altitude of 1,700 m above sea level. According to the IUCN Red List criteria, the species should be classified as ‘Critically Endangered’, as per the Scientists.

Notes:
The Union government has allowed manufacture and import of machine-made polyester national flags by amending the 2002 Flag Code of India.
The rules earlier permitted only flags made by “hand-spun and hand woven wool or cotton or silk khadi bunting”. The import of machine-made flags was banned in 2019.

Notes:
Sri Lanka announced nationwide seven-and-a-half hour daily power cuts. This is the longest power cut announced in Sri Lanka in 26 years since 1996.
As per the official sources, the country is not facing an issue of electricity capacity, but a foreign exchange crisis, as the country does not have enough reserves to import fuel.

Notes:
The first potential case of deer-to-human COVID-19 transmission has been reported in Canada, according to a new study.
The researchers identified highly mutated clusters of SARS-CoV-2 genomes in white-tailed deer.  For the study, the researchers analyzed 300 samples from white-tailed deer in South-western and Eastern Ontario. They found that 17 of the deer in South-western Ontario tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Notes:
MyGov, which is the Government of India’s citizen engagement platform has launched “Sabka Vikas MahaQuiz” series commencing from 1st March 2022. This quiz would continue for the entire year and comprise 14 episodes.
This initiative aims to build awareness amongst citizens about good governance, various government schemes and initiatives.

Notes:
Every year, 3rd March is organized as World Hearing Day by the World Health Organisation. This year the World Hearing Day is being organized with the theme “To hear for life, listen with care!”.
This year, WHO will focus on the importance of safe listening as a means of maintaining good hearing across the life course.