Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2023

Notes:
Raccoon Stealer is an information stealing malware that is usually delivered via email. It was used to target 8 central government entities of India, including the IT Department and central paramilitary forces.
National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), a specialised intelligence agency under the National Security Advisor, wrote to the affected agencies informing them of the attack.

Notes:
Ladakh’s Wood Carving recently received GI (Geographical Indications) tag. In December last year, the government also granted GI Tag for Raktsey Karpo apricot of Ladakh.
Wood carving of Ladakh has been a vibrant art form in the Ladakh region, including the capital Leh and Kargil.

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:
The Union Finance Ministry notified the formation of a committee to review the pension system for government employees.
The four-member committee is headed by Finance Secretary T V Somanathan. It will also have Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT); Special Secretary, Department of Expenditure; and Chairman of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) as its members.

Notes:
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Vietnam have signed a joint declaration of intent to launch talks on establishing a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) between the two countries.
The UAE is Vietnam’s largest trade partner in the Arab countries, accounting for 39% of its total trade, and the volume of non-oil trade between the two countries reached USD 8 billion in 2022.

Notes:
Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution Instrument is a new NASA device that will track pollution over North America.
It will enable scientists to monitor air pollutants and their sources from space. The spectrometer designed to measure air pollution across greater North America at a high resolution and on an hourly basis.

Notes:
United Sharp Sword is being conducted by People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command in Taiwan Strait.
It would involve police patrol drills to the north and south of Taiwan and in the sea and airspace of the eastern part of Taiwan.

Notes:
Vibrant Villages Programme has been launched by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah during his visit to Arunachal Pradesh. It is implemented by the Home Ministry.
It is a centrally sponsored scheme that will provide for the comprehensive development of 2,967 villages situated at the northern border in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and UT of Ladakh.

Notes:
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which was adopted in 1982, governs world’s oceans and seas.
India and Vietnam recently highlighted the significance of UNCLOS and reiterated their commitment to resolve any disputes based on this international law.

Notes:
Draft ‘Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy’ was released recently by the Indian Government. It seeks to nurture start-ups and other entities to co-create the future of India’s growing maritime sector.
The Draft policy seeks the creation of digital Portal based selection of startups ensuring a transparent process.