Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2023

Notes:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India inked a deal for a $295 million loan for the implementation of the Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Bihar Roads Project.
The loan aims to enhance approximately 265 kilometers of state highways in Bihar with climate and disaster resilient features, alongside incorporating road safety elements.

Notes:
Amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea, China views the US presence as a violation of its territorial claims and has employed the “cabbage strategy,”.
It involves the construction of artificial islands and encircling disputed areas with numerous ships to assert control gradually. The situation has led to measures, including detaining trespassers and the possibility of implementing an air identification zone over the South China Sea by various nations involved.

Notes:
The Government of India’s Think Tank – NITI Aayog has come out with advisory guidelines for livestock telemedicine in India. The guidelines suggest for allocation of a unique user ID to registered veterinary practitioners and animal keepers, with mandatory consent from the animal keepers.
However, the framework grants registered veterinary practitioners immunity from any penalties if they are unable to establish a veterinarian-client-animal relationship during telemedicine consultations in emergency situations.

Notes:
As per the information given by the Health Ministry in the Lok Sabha this week, Delhi saw the highest number of deaths due to rabies in the country in 2022.
While Delhi reported 48 fatalities, West Bengal saw 38 deaths, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra at 29 each.

Notes:
The Hyderabad-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) released BARI Chinabadam-12 (ICGV 07219), an improved groundnut variety in Bangladesh.
The variety is available for cultivation for the upcoming season post rains. It has resistance to foliar fungal diseases and matures four days earlier than its counterpart.

Notes:
Formula One racing driver Max Verstappen secured his eighth win in a row, one short of the all-time record, at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Verstappen won the race with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez clinching second position and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at third place.

Notes:
Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek began her 70th straight week as the World No. 1 in the latest WTA Rankings.
Four-time Major winner Swiatek increased the gap between herself and World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka by winning her maiden WTA 250 title in Warsaw, her home tournament.

Notes:
The ‘2023 Plastic Overshoot Day’ Report was released recently by the Swiss-based research consultancy Earth Action.
According to this report, approximately 68,642,999 tonnes of extra plastic waste will be dumped into the environment this year.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the Lokmanya Tilak National Award. He is the 41st recipient of the award.
The Lokmanya Tilak National Award is handed out by the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust. The trust was founded in 1983 in honour of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Other notable recipients include former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh.

Notes:
The Ministry of Home Affairs has recently introduced a fresh visa category named “Ayush Visa” to cater to foreign nationals seeking medical treatment, including therapeutic care, wellness, and yoga in India.
The Ayush Visa has been introduced to address the requirement for a dedicated visa program for foreign visitors seeking treatment under Ayush systems or Indian medicine.