Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2023

Notes:
The “World Energy Transitions: Outlook 2023” Report was released recently by the International Renewable Energy Agency.
According to this report, while significant progress has been made towards increasing renewable energy generation, the global energy transition is still falling short of the 1.5°C pathway.

Notes:
Catanduanes Island is the 12th largest island in the Philippines. A shallow earthquake of 6.2 magnitude struck this island recently.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), tsunami waves will arrive and last for hours.

Notes:
The plasmonic paint makes use of nanoscale structural arrangement of aluminum and aluminum oxide and not traditional pigments to create different colors. It has been recently created by Florida-based researchers.
It is believed to be the lightest paint in the world. It is also the first environmentally friendly, large-scale and multicolor alternative to pigment-based colorants.

Notes:
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry and Amazon India have signed a collaboration agreement in New Delhi to boost India’s creative economy and promote creative talent in the country.
As part of the agreement, Amazon Prime Video will sponsor scholarships, create internship programmes, and offer job opportunities for students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute.

Notes:
After raising repo rate in six consecutive policies, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), decided to pause its rate hike cycle amid rising concerns over global financial stability.
The Monetary Policy Committee decided to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent in this meeting.

Notes:
The UN Statistical Commission is the highest decision-making body for international statistical activities.  Shigeru Kawasaki of Japan is the current chair of the Commission.
India has recently been elected to this body for a 4-year term starting from January 1, 2024.

Notes:
Places of Worship Act, 1991 is a law that protects the character of the places of worship as it stood on August 15, 1947 and prevent any changes that could compromise the character.
The Supreme Court’s 3-judge bench will hear petitions challenging this law in July 2023.

Notes:
Target Olympic Podium Scheme’s purpose is to identify, groom and prepare potential candidates for Olympic medals.
The Sports Ministry’s Mission Olympic Cell recently gave nod for financial assistance under this scheme for 12 para-badminton players, who are set to participate in the upcoming Brazil Para-Badminton International.

Notes:
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is situated in Kerala in the Western Ghats. A Division Bench of the Kerala HC has ordered the wild elephant locally called ‘Arikompan’ to be captured, radio-collared and translocated to this protected area.
The Forest department approached the Assam government to procure a Satellite Radio Collar to be attached to the wild tusker in Idukki before it is translocated from Idukki to Parambikulam.

 

Notes:
The World Bank has forecast a 6.3% economic growth rate for India in the current fiscal year (FY) 2023-24, in its South Asia Economic Focus: Expanding Opportunities: Toward Inclusive Growth report.
This is a downgrade of 0.7 percentage points since its October forecast. The primary reasons for this are high borrowing costs and slower income growth causing weaker consumption, as well as the government tightening fiscal expenditure.