Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2023

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:
The EU members have recently decided to digitize the Schengen Visa to make visa application process more efficient in Schengen area.
The Schengen area is a region comprising of 27 EU countries that have officially abolished all passports and other types of border control at their mutual borders.

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:
Nevado del Ruiz Volcano is a volcano in Colombia on the Pacific Ring of Fire. It is currently experiencing seismic activities, creating a possibility of eruption in the near future.
It is the highest active volcano in the Andes mountain range.

Notes:
Former US President Donald Trump becomes first ex-President to be charged with crime. He will be charged over hush money payments made to a porn star just before the 2016 presidential election.
The former President is also being investigated in several other cases. They include probes into his role in the US Capitol riot of January 2021, his efforts to overturn his loss in the state of Georgia in the 2020 election, and his handling of classified documents after leaving office.

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:
British Prime Minister rejected a call from the First Minister of Scotland to organize a second referendum for Scotland’s independence. This proposed referendum will provide people in Scotland the right to decide on an independent country.
The last referendum to decide the issue of Scottish independence was carried out in 2014.

Notes:
NASA named the first woman and the first African-American ever assigned as astronauts to a lunar mission.
Christina Koch, an engineer who already holds the record for the longest continuous spaceflight by a woman, was named as a mission specialist, along with Victor Glover, a U.S. Navy aviator, who was selected as the Artemis II pilot.

Notes:
In a first, two Japanese firms recently unveiled their respective laser systems which will be used to shoot down incoming unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ 10-kilowatt laser system is an anti-drone weapon. It is capable of neutralising drones at a distance of 1.2 km within 2 to 3 seconds.