Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2022

Notes:
World Bank approved USD 250 million financing to help Bangladesh strengthen environment management and promote private sector participation in green investment.
The Bangladesh Environmental Sustainability and Transformation (BEST) Project will help the country tackle key pollution issues. An E-waste management facility will be set up to process 3,500 metric tons of e-waste annually.

Notes:
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Orion capsule made its closest approach to the Moon within 130 km.
The feat has been achieved after Apollo 17 flew half a century ago. The spacecraft is set to parachute into the sea and splash down on December 11. NASA shared a picture of the ‘Moon and the distant crescent Earth’ captured by the Orion spacecraft.

Notes:
Yoginder K Alagh, a veteran economist and former Union minister, reecntly passed away at the age of 83.
He was the Union minister of state for Planning and Programme Implementation, Science and Technology and Power during 1996-98. He also served as the Vice Chancellor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi.

Notes:
Centre has launched a plan to develop the power transmission system for integration of 500 GW of green energy by 2030.
The union ministry of power constituted a high-level committee under chairperson of Central Electricity Authority with representatives from SECI, Central Transmission Utility of India Ltd, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, among others for planning the transmission system required for having 500 GW of non-fossil fuel based installed capacity by 2030.

Notes:
Chairperson of the Tata Group, N Chandrasekaran was appointed the chair of B20 India, to lead the business agenda during India’s G20 presidency.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is appointed as the B20 India Secretariat by the Centre to lead the B20 India process.

Notes:
The delegations from Sweden and Nepal last week visited the National Health Authority (NHA), to study India’s Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
NHA is the government department that is responsible for implementing the PMJAY scheme. The health assurance scheme aims to provide a health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 100 million poor families.

Notes:
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) got a vote-share close to 13% in Gujarat Elections. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI) rulebook, a political party can apply to be recognised as a national party if it is ‘recognised’ in at least four states; or polled at least 6% of the total votes in any four or more states in the previous Lok Sabha or assembly election, and sent at least four MPs to the Lok Sabha in the previous Lok Sabha election; it has won at least 2% of the total seats in the Lower House, from no less than three states.

Notes:
The 4-day meeting of G20 Development Working Group (DWG) is set to begin in Mumbai under India’s Presidency.
The Development Working Group meeting aims to discuss developmental issues in Developing Countries, Least Developed Countries and Island Countries.

Notes:
‘World Soil Day’ is being observed annually on 5 December to focus on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for sustainable management of soil resources.
The theme of this year’s World Soil Day is ‘Soils: Where food begins’. An international day to celebrate soil was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences in 2002. The Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO Conference endorsed World Soil Day in June 2013.

Notes:
Every year UNICEF Day is celebrated on December 11. UNICEF was originally called the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund and now officially called as United Nations Children’s Fund.
After World War II, the United Nations formed the International Children’s Emergency Fund to provide with humanitarian aid for the well-being of the children whose future was at risk. It also defends children’s rights and helps them fulfil their potential.