Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2023

Notes:
Finland has become the 31st member of the NATO security alliance, doubling the length of member states’ borders with Russia.
Finland’s accession is seen as a setback for Russia’s Vladimir Putin. He had repeatedly complained of NATO’s expansion before his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Notes:
Consumer price inflation in Pakistan jumped to a record 35.37% in March from a year earlier, the statistics bureau said.
At least 16 people were killed in stampedes for food aid. The inflation number was 31.5% in February. The food, beverage and transport prices surged up to 50% year-on-year.

Notes:
Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell is the data backbone of the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
It recently celebrated its 22nd foundation day. After the dismantling of Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM) in petroleum sector, Oil Coordination Committee (OCC) was abolished and a new cell called Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC) was created effective 1st April 2002.

Notes:
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was founded in 1969 to protect the interests of the Muslim world.
The Indian government recently criticised the OIC after the organization’s secretariat issued statement alleging the targeting of Muslim community in several states during Ram Navami processions.

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 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:
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:
Idaho is a rocky mountain state in the United States. Idaho recently introduced an abortion trafficking law to restrict travel for abortions.
The bill makes it illegal for an adult to help minor get an abortion without parental consent.

Notes:
Siren sphagnicola is a newly discovered species of Siren. Sirens are elongated eel-like aquatic salamanders.
The species was found in the seepage areas in the eastern Gulf Coastal Plain of the US. One of these species, Siren reticulata, was recently described.

Notes:
cVigil App was launched by the Election Commission of India to fast track complaints regarding the Model Code of Conduct violations.
It is currently playing a critical role in enforcing the Model Code of Conduct and preventing irregularities in the polling process.