Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2023

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:
The British government has opened its second ballot under the UK-India Young Professional Scheme. This is a scheme for Indians aged between 18 and 30 years with graduate-level qualifications for visas to the United Kingdom.
It offers eligible young Indians the opportunity to live, work or study in UK for up to two years. This joint scheme between UK and India was formally launched this year in February. This scheme will enable candidates to enter the UK at any time while their visa is valid and leave or return anytime during their stay.

Notes:
In a historic decline, Japan’s population decreased in all 47 prefectures for the first time, while the number of foreign residents reached a record high of nearly three million people.
The population of Japanese nationals decreased by around 800,000 individuals, or 0.65%, to 122.4 million in 2022 compared to the previous year, marking the 14th consecutive year of decline.

Notes:
The single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars is called as ‘Formula E’. Jake Dennis became the first British driver to win the all-electric Formula E world championship when he finished second for Avalanche Andretti in the London E-prix.
Formula E’s first season was in 2014-15 and Dennis is the eighth driver to take the title with France’s Jean-Eric Vergne the only double champion.

Notes:
The capital markets regulator – SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has released the guidelines for the Corporate Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF).
The fund’s purpose is to serve as a backstop facility, facilitating the purchase of investment-grade corporate debt securities during times of market stress, thereby boosting confidence among participants in the corporate debt market.

Notes:
The Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Mela is a scheme pertaining to the state of Uttar Pradesh, was started in the year 2020. It has benefited over 12 crore patients in the state.
The Union Health Ministry has planned to adopt Uttar Pradesh’s successful healthcare model, including the concept of Jan Arogya Mela, which provide medical attention to attendees and refer critical patients to specialized hospitals.

Notes:
China has granted Pakistan a two-year rollover on a USD 2.4-billion loan for a period of two years.
This move is expected to provide relief to Pakistan, which is facing a severe Balance of Payments crisis. Its current reserves barely cover two months’ worth of import bills.

Notes:
Union Ministry of Education inaugurated the logo, slogan – “Jan Jan Sakshar,” and the mobile application for ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram.
The ULLAS initiative aims to transform education and literacy nationwide by creating a learning ecosystem that provides basic education, digital and financial literacy, and critical life skills to individuals aged 15 and above who missed the chance to attend school.

Notes:
The Danish World No.1 Viktor Axelsen clinched victory in the Japan Open final after defeating Jonatan Christie of Indonesia.
In women’s singles, world number two An Se-Young of South Korea beat He Bing Jiao of China to clinch the title. She also replaced replacing Japan’s reigning world champion Akane Yamaguchi to bag the World No. 1 spot.

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.