Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2022

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) hiked the repo rate by 35 basis points (bps) to 6.25 per cent with immediate effect.
The policy rate is now at its highest level since August 2018 and this is the fifth rate hike by the central bank in this financial year. MPC decided to remain focused on the withdrawal of accommodative stance. The standing deposit facility (SDF) rate stands adjusted to 6.00 per cent and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate to 6.50 per cent.

Notes:
Indian shuttler Manisha Ramadass has been named the Badminton World Federation (BWF) female Para-Badminton Player of the Year.
The World Champion in the SU5 section, Manisha Ramadass won 11 gold and five bronze medals overall in 2022. BWF Male Para-Badminton Player of the Year went to WH2 world champion and reigning Paralympic champion Daiki Kajiwara. Viktor Axelsen and Zheng Si Wei/Huang Ya Qiong won the BWF Player of the Year Awards.

Notes:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released the ‘Global status of black soils’ Report on the occasion of World Soil Day, December 5, 2022.
As per the report, Black soils, which feed the global population, are under threat, with most losing at least half of their soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. As per the FAO, the reasons are Land-use change, unsustainable management practices and excessive use of agrochemicals.

Notes:
Government of UT, Ladakh has approached the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) to develop Spatial Data Infrastructure geoportal ‘Geo-Ladakh’ for UT-Ladakh.
A Memorandum of Understanding was earlier signed between Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), ISRO and UT-Ladakh Administration. The portal provides geospatial data visualization and analytics for Ladakh.

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:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will launch India’s first-ever surety bonds insurance product to boost liquidity in the infrastructure sector, as per Union minister Nitin Gadkari.
The surety bonds will help in boosting the liquidity in the infrastructure sector by providing relief to the contractors’ working capital stuck in bank guarantees.

Notes:
Sushmita Shukla, Indian-origin veteran of the insurance industry, has been appointed as First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
The appointment was approved by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of New York. She has been appointed as First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective March 2023, as the second-ranking officer.

Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced that the test run of hypersonic vehicles was successfully conducted with Headquarters of the Integrated Defense Staff (HQ IDS).
The Trisonic Wind Tunnel system helps with the aerodynamic design of rockets and re-entry spacecraft. The tunnel can simulate flight at speeds from 68 metres per second to 1,360 metres per second.

Notes:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin launched the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission to protect the natural resources in the state as well as to restore them.
The State’s Climate Action Plan will be implemented by the Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company (TNGCC). Tamil Nadu has decided to stop any additions to its existing coal power capacity as the mission sought to generate half of electricity through renewable sources by 2030.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India’s sixth Vande Bharat Express between Bilaspur (Chattisgarh)-Nagpur (Maharashtra) route.
It will be operated by the Southeast Central Railways (SECR). The Vande Bharat Express can run up to a maximum speed of 160 kmph and has travel classes with better passenger amenities. The Prime Minister also launched phase-I of the Nagpur Metro.