Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2023

Notes:
The Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) is a 6-meter diameter telescope situated in Chile’s Cerro Toco in the Atacama Desert.
It was used to create a detailed map of dark matter, which agrees with Einstein’s theory of gravity.

Notes:
The Arcturus variant, also known as XBB.1.16, is a type of Omicron variant that is spreading in India. It is believed to be responsible for the surge in COVID-19 cases in India.
The surge is being monitored by the WHO as it has shown high infectivity and increased pathogenicity.

Notes:
The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has announced the launch of a pilot phase of ‘Mission 50K-EV4ECO’
The pilot scheme aims at strengthening the EV ecosystem, including uptake for two, three and four-wheelers through direct and indirect lending.

Notes:
Bohag Bihu is an ethnic festival celebrated in North-eastern India, especially in Assam. This year, this 7-day festival will be celebrated in Assam from April 14 to April 20.
It celebrates the onset of the Assamese new year. It is also called as the Rongali Bihu. The first day of the Bihu is dedicated to cattle, which provides livelihood.

Notes:
Pohela Boishakh, also known as Bengali New Year, is a significant cultural festival in Bangladesh and the Bengali-speaking states of India including West Bengal.
The festival is celebrated on the first day of the Bengali calendar, which usually falls in the month of April. This year, it is celebrated on April 15.

Notes:
The ‘Global Conference on Compressed Biogas’ was organised in New Delhi under the theme of “Towards Progressive Policy Framework for a Robust CBG Foundation and Growth.”
Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE): Compressed Biogas (CBG) Producer Forum organised the conference, which is also supported by Ministry for Petroleum & Natural Gas.

Notes:
Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik inaugurated a Millets Food Festival of the member countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Mumbai.
It includes a variety of cuisines made of different millets prepared by chefs from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan, Russia and India.

Notes:
In the Union Territory of Ladakh, people from across Kargil reached the Kargil Bazaar in the form of Mourning Processions to mark Imam Ali Bin Abi Talib’s martyrdom. The day coincides with 21st day of Ramadan.
Imam Ali Bin Abi Talib was the last Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate. He is believed to be the first Imam and the rightful political and religious successor of the Islamic prophet Muhammad by Shias.

Notes:
The Mt Annapurna is situated in the Annapurna mountain range of Gandaki Province of Nepal. It is the tenth highest mountain in the world at 8,091 metres above sea level.
The mountain was recently in news as, an Indian climber Anurag Maloo, who went missing after falling into a deep crevasse on Mount Annapurna, has been found alive in critical condition by rescuers.

Notes:
Cycas pectinate is a plant species of Genus Cycas which is the found in the north-eastern part of India, Nepal, Bhutan, South China etc. It is the only ‘Cycas’ species found in Bhutan.
It usually grows at an elevation of 300 m to 1200 m and in difficult terrains. A new study has found that this vulnerable species is threatened in the Himalayan country due to habitat loss and its overcollection as an ornamental plant.