Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2023

Notes:
‘Coastal Kerala Geckoella’ is a newly discovered species of ground-dwelling gecko. It is endemic to the low hills and coastal forest in northern Kerala.
Chengodumalaensis is a small, nocturnal species that is found on the ground among leaf litter and rocks in forests. Scientists have discovered the new species of ground-dwelling gecko, from the coastal forests of northern Kerala.

Notes:
Jang Palpung Zangdok Palri Monastery is situated in Tawang district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
This Buddhist monastery recently introduced dances of two deities Palden Lhamo and Gonpo, or Mahakala.

Notes:
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) Researchers have developed a three-dimensional (3D) paper-based portable device that can detect adulteration in milk within 30 seconds.
The test could be even performed at home. It can detect multiple substances commonly used as adulterating agents including Urea, detergents, soap, starch, hydrogen peroxide, sodium-hydrogen-carbonate, and salt, among others.

Notes:
Sarbat Khalsa is a deliberative assembly of all factions of Sikhs that dates back to the 18th century. It is held twice a year on the occasion of Baisakhi and Diwali.
The last “Sarbat khalsa” was held on February 16, 1986. It was recently announced that the convening of a Sarbat khalsa congregation is the sole prerogative of the Akal Takht chief.

Notes:
World Autism Awareness Day is observed on April 2 every year. The theme for 2023 is “Transformation: Toward a Neuro-Inclusive World for All”.
This year’s celebration focuses on the contribution of autistic people in the home, work, arts and policy-making.

Notes:
Central Bureau of Investigation is a premier investigative agency set up under the Ministry of Home Affairs on April 1, 1963.
Its Diamond Jubilee Celebrations was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on April 3 this year.

Notes:
International Seabed Authority has decided to start taking permit applications in July from companies that want to mine the ocean’s floor.
The undersea mining will be conducted to extract key battery materials — cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese — from potato-sized rocks called ‘polymetallic nodules’ found at depths of 4 kilometers to 6 kilometers.

Notes:
‘Chondrostereum purpureum’ is a plant fungus that causes silver leaf disease in plants. A plant mycologist from India has become the first person in the world to contract a plant fungal disease.
It attacks most species of the rose family Rosaceae, particularly the genus Prunus. Among the millions of fungi present, only a few hundreds of fungi infect humans and animals.

Notes:
The ‘Vaikom Satyagraha’ began on March 30, 1924 in the temple town of Vaikom, Kerala in the princely state of Travancore, marking the beginning of “temple entry movements” across the country.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers recently inaugurated the centenary celebrations of anti-caste struggle Vaikom Satyagraha.

Notes:
In the financial year 2022-2023, procurement of goods and services from government portal Government e Marketplace (GeM) has crossed the Rs 2 lakh crore mark.
After the GeM portal was launched in 2017, business worth about Rs 400 crore was done and the business tripled last year to Rs 1 lakh crores, while it reached the 2 lakh crore-mark in 5 years.