Current Affairs Quiz - February 2022

Notes:
Masada Fortress, which is located in Israel, is a symbol of Jewish Heroism. Israel’s Ambassador to India Naor Gilon shared a video that showed the Masada Fortress in Israel illuminated with lights.
It commemorates the India-Israel Ties, as the two countries celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations. Earlier both the countries unveiled a commemorative logo.

Notes:
A 6,000- crore Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) programme for MSMEs has been announced in the Union Budget, which will be rolled out in the coming five years.
The programme would improve the competitiveness and productivity of MSMEs. The World Bank in June 2021 had approved USD 500 million for the programme to support the government to support the MSMEs impacted by the Covid crisis.

Notes:
Union Budget announced a scheme, under which the government will promote chemical-free natural farming throughout the country.
It is to be implemented with a focus on farmers’ land in 5 km wide corridors along the river Ganga, in the first stage. The Budget also announced that two lakh anganwadis will be upgraded and a national tele mental health programme will also be launched.

Notes:
As per a recent study by UK researchers, it has been found that Climate change is driving plants to flower earlier and earlier.
The average first flowering date of UK plants is a month earlier than it was before 1986. As per the research team, Plants flowering too early could be disastrous for hibernating and migrating animals, and for crops.

Notes:
The marine version of the French-made Rafale fighter jet has been successfully flight-tested at a shore-based facility in Goa.
The Rafale-M competes against the US-made Super Hornet, as both of which are being evaluated for a purchase by the Indian Navy for deployment on INS Vikrant. It is a 44,000-tonne indigenously developed aircraft carrier, that is undergoing trials for commissioning in August.

Notes:
Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), a New Delhi-based rights group released the India Press Freedom Report 2021. As per the report, at least six journalists being killed, many more physically assaulted, and media houses being targeted.
Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tripura topped the list of States and Union Territories where journalists and media houses were targeted in 2021.

Notes:
A tripartite MoU has been signed between State Bank of India, Indira Gandhi Centre for the Arts and National Culture Fund for developing ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design’ at Red Fort, Delhi.
The ABCD project is being implemented by IGNCA, an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture. The project aims for Economic Value Addition to GI products. It will also provide a platform for artisans and designers, to provide a wide market.

Notes:
Under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has installed and commissioned ‘Param Pravega’.
It is claimed to be one of the most powerful supercomputers in the country. The system has a supercomputing capacity of 3.3 petaflops. It is designed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).

Notes:
Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), proposed to be the world’s largest radio telescope, will be built in Australia and South Africa within this decade. It is headquartered in the United Kingdom
India recently signed an interim agreement to work on ‘Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO)’ project. The agreement will be valid for one year. India can make monetary contribution towards the construction while it has not become a Member Country.

Notes:
The Assam Forest Department has announced to hold first-of-its kind leopard census in the state. The city of Guwahati is witnessing increasing leopard-human friction, due to rapid infrastructure development.
The Census will map the leopard’s habitat and establish standards to be followed for infrastructure development.