Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2023

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:
A High-Level Conference on Accelerating Rail Digital Transformation in Asia and Pacific Region was held recently in New Delhi.
It was jointly organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Union Ministry of Railways.

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:
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived in Washington DC to attend the 2023 Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), along with G20 meetings, Investor/ Bilateral meetings, and other associated meetings.
Finance Minister Sitharaman and RBI Shaktikanta Das will jointly chair the 2nd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting.

Notes:
State Energy Efficiency Index 2021-22 was developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency in collaboration with the Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
In SEEI 2021-22, 5 states – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan and Telangana – are in the Front Runner category (>60 points) while 4 states are in the Achiever category. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Chandigarh are the top-performing states in their respective state groups. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh showed the most improvement since the last index.

Notes:
Sri Lanka’s Anti-Terrorism Bill was introduced recently to replace the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act.
There has been immense international pressure, including from the UN Human Rights Council, on Sri Lanka to repeal the 1978 law. It provides the police with broad powers to search, arrest, and detain suspects. The proposed legislation is facing criticism due to its broad definition of terrorist act.

Notes:
The government has retained the interest rate payable on savings in General Provident Fund (GPF) at 7.1% for the April to June 2023 quarter.
Interest rates on General Provident Fund (GPF) are revised periodically according to the government’s issued notifications.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the framework for acceptance of Green Deposits of regulated entities (RE).
The idea is to foster and develop a green finance ecosystem in the country. The framework shall come into effect from June 1, 2023.

Notes:
The first-ever Global Buddhist Conference will be hosted by India on April 20 and 21. It will be organized based on the theme “Response to Contemporary Challenges from Philosophy to Praxis”.
It will cover subjects such as Buddhism and peace, environmental crisis, health and sustainability, and the preservation of the Nalanda Buddhist tradition, Buddhist pilgrimage, living heritage and Buddha relics.

Notes:
Cassiopeia A is a supernova remnant situated in Cassiopeia constellation. It was nicknamed the Green Monster in honour of Fenway Park in Boston.
The remnants of this supernova was captured with high detail by the James Webb Space Telescope.