Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2023

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:
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:
A team of scientists led by the Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode, have discovered a new species of insect pathogenic fungus.
The fungus, isolated from leafhopper pest of Malabar tamarind, has been named Metarhizium indicum to indicate its Indian origin. It is said to have a potential biocontrol application.

Notes:
The European Space Agency has successfully launched its mission to Jupiter’s moons. The Ariane 5 rocket was launched from the ESA’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) project aims to send a satellite on an eight-year journey to reach the icy moons of the planet, gas giant.

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:
The CL-Flam is a low-cost camera for multispectral imaging of flame developed by IIT Indore in collaboration with the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and NASA-Caltech, USA.
It is capable of simultaneously capturing multiple spectral 3D images of 4 chemical species in a flame.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched a new Central Sector Scheme “Marketing and Logistics Development for Promotion of Tribal Products from North -Eastern Region (PTP-NER)”.
The scheme with a substantial outlay of Rs.143 crore is intended to benefit Scheduled Tribes of North-eastern India. programme has been designed to strengthen the opportunities for tribal craftsmen to support their livelihoods.

Notes:
Aragam village of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district is set to be converted into India’s largest book village to promote Kashmiri literature and culture.
The initiative is jointly implemented by Pune-based NGO ‘Sarhad’ and the Jammu and Kashmir Government.

Notes:
The Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal to bring in industry-friendly reforms related to Authority Holding Sealed Particulars or AHSP.
Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP) is responsible for holding of sealed particulars and patterns along with supply of certified copies of drawings & specifications in respect of defence related items.