Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2023

Notes:
The Lok Sabha has recently passed the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023. It aims to expand the scope of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
The Bill acknowledges India’s international commitments and the national target set by the country for achieving Net Zero Emission by 2070.

Notes:
West Bengal, which is home to about 40% of mangrove forests in India, announced the setting up of a ‘Mangrove Cell’ in the State, on the occasion of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.
This platform will bring continuity to the efforts of State government in mangrove management. The Cell has an annual action plan for the plantation of mangroves and it will look at maintenance and coordinate with NGOs.

Notes:
Taiwan staged its first-ever military drill at Taoyuan International Airport, halting commercial traffic as soldiers practised defending the facility against a simulated attack by Beijing.
The exercise is part of Taiwan’s week-long massive wargames, the annual “Han Kuang” (Han Glory) drills. This is the first such drill held at Taiwan’s biggest airport near the capital since it opened in 1979.

Notes:
Researchers from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology have conducted a recent study, indicating the potential formation of three glacial lakes near Parkachik Glacier in Ladakh due to rapid ice melting.
The increasing glacial melt is concerning as it raises the risk of glacial lake outbursts and may also cause water scarcity, given that glaciers serve as the main water source for the region.

Notes:
India and Papua New Guinea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the sharing of INDIA STACK.
It was signed between the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) of the Papua New Guinea and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) of India.

Notes:
The compound mixed archery team of Aman Saini and Pragati clinched a gold medal, India’s fourth in the event, at the World University Games in Chengdu, China.
The Indian archers have also won two more medals in archery in men’s and women’s compound team events.

Notes:
The Central African Republic, a land locked country in African continent, has conducted a voting in a referendum for a new constitution. This comes after the country witnessing multiple coups.
In 2020, Mr. Touadera secured a second term as President of the country until 2025. If the referendum is passed, it would allow the existing President for a third term.

Notes:
NASA is using rocks from Scotland’s Isle of Rum to practice testing methods for examining Martian rocks, as they share similarities in geological, mineral, and chemical content.
The igneous rocks from the Isle of Rum exhibit comparable geological, mineral, and chemical characteristics to those discovered on Mars.

Notes:
The Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) is native to Spain and Portugal’s Iberian Peninsula. The wolf was declared extinct in the Andalusia region in 2020, as reported by the regional government.
No evidence of wolf presence was found in Andalusia during the same year.

Notes:
The Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida is set to host India’s inaugural MotoGP Bharat race, making it the 31st country to host a motorcycle grand prix.
Despite having previously held Formula 1 races, this will mark the first time India hosts the premier motorcycle race.