Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2023

Notes:
Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative was launched by the US to increase Ukraine’s capacity to defend itself from Russia’s aggression.
Under this initiative, USD 2.6 billion military aid package was announced by the US.  USAI is an authority under which the United States procures capabilities from industry.

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:
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:
The ‘Government Trends Report’ was released recently by the Deloitte Center for Government Insights.
It highlighted 9 trends that are reshaping how the governments deliver solutions to the common citizen. The report cites six shifts that have emerged as factors behind this transition in the government’s approach towards delivering public value.

Notes:
RailTel Corporation of India Limited recently bagged an order worth around ₹76.10 crores from Bihar State Electronics Development Corporation (BSEDC) to implement and manage Electronic Knowledge Network (100 Mbps internet connectivity, wi-fi system and Smart Classes).
This project will be implemented in the Academic/Administrative buildings of Government Engineering Colleges and Polytechnic Institutes within the state.

Notes:
In Japan, an estimated 1.5 million working-age people are living in isolation, a phenomenon known as hikikomori.
Due to the phenomenon, they avoid social contact, further raising worries about their mental health and social well-being. According to a survey, the COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to about one-fifth of the specific incidents, with the most common reason being “quitting jobs”.

Notes:
As per the report released by US-based Global Energy Monitor, the operating coal fleet grew by 19.5 gigawatt in 2022 globally.
As per the report, the war between Russia and Ukraine resulted in a slowdown of coal retirements. China accounted for 59 per cent of the new coal capacity while Bangladesh ranked the 9th among the rest of the countries after India, Pakistan, Vietnam and Indonesia, among others.

Notes:
Indian government approved a project to build an advanced gravitational-wave detector in Maharashtra at an estimated cost of Rs 2,600 crore.
In the US, there are already two such LIGO observatories. The third such cutting-edge gravitational-wave observatory will be LIGO-India. The facility is expected to be completed by 2030.

Notes:
My Village My Heritage Programme is implemented under the aegis of the National Mission for Cultural Mapping (NMCM).
NMCM seeks to develop a comprehensive database of art forms, artists and other resources across India. Over 1 lakh villages have been covered under this programme.

Notes:
A fourth joint meeting between the delegates of the UAE and Qatar was held in Abu Dhabi to follow up on the implementation of the AlUla Declaration.
The AlUla Declaration, which was signed in 2021, resolved the dispute with Qatar and called for unity and the strengthening of relations among GCC countries.