Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2023

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.

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.

Notes:
National Panchayat Awards 2023 were conferred recently by Panchayati Raj Ministry to recognize best performing Panchayats in the areas that align with the 17 SHGs.
Telangana won 8 out of 27 various categories of the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP) for the years 2021 – 2022. It was followed by Kerala with 4, Jammu and Kashmir with 3, and Maharashtra with 3.

Notes:
Rayyanah Barnawi is set to become the first woman astronaut from Saudi Arabia. Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni will take off from Florida on a private mission to the International Space Station.
There are two other astronauts who will join Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni in their voyage. They are Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and John Shoffner, a businessman from Tennessee who will serve as pilot.

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:
‘Mircha’ Rice from Bihar’s West Champaran recently received GI tag. Since this rice’s size and shape appear like a black pepper, it is known as Mircha or Marcha Rice.
This rice is famous for its aroma, palatability and its aromatic rice flakes making qualities. The cooked rice is fluffy, non sticky, sweet and easily digestible.

Notes:
The Goa Restriction on Transfer of Agricultural Land Bill 2023 was passed recently by the state legislative assembly.
It seeks to impose restrictions of the sale of agricultural lands in Goa to non-agriculturalists. It aims to save the state’s paddy fields from being taken over by buyers for non-agriculture purposes.

Notes:
The 5th Cycle of India’s Tiger Census was released recently by Prime Minister Modi. This census revealed that India’s tiger population stands at 3,167 in the wild.
This figure is 200 more than it had four years ago. India is estimated to have more than 70% of the world’s tigers.

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.