Current Affairs Quiz - February 2022

Notes:
Aryabhatta Research Institute for Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Science & Technology
ARIES, along with Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune has organised Indo-US Workshop on “Space Radiation Workshop: Radiation Characterisation from Sun to Earth, Moon, Mars and Beyond”.

Notes:
Antonio Costa is serving as the current Prime Minister of Portugal since 2015. The 60-year old leader of Socialist Party has been re-elected for the second term in the snap general election.
The vote was called in November last year after former Communist and Left Bloc allies joined the right to strike down his minority government budget.

Notes:
The Union Budget announced a new scheme called ‘Parvat Mala’ or National Ropeways Development Programme.
The scheme will be launched for regions like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, J&K, and the northeast to facilitate a modern system of transportation and connectivity in hills.

Notes:
‘World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day’ is observed on January 30 every year, to raise awareness on neglected tropical diseases.
This year’s World NTD Day was commemorated under the theme ‘Achieving health equity to end the neglect of poverty-related diseases’. Some examples of NTDs are Chagas disease, Chikungunya, Dengue, Leprosy, Rabies and Trachoma among others. They affect 1 billion people globally.

Notes:
A new study has been done at an altitude of 3106 meters at the top of the mountain “Hoher Sonnenblick” in the “Hohe Tauern” National Park in Austria
The study is investigating the amount of plastic trickling down on us from the atmosphere. According to the study. About 30% of the nanoplastic particles measured on the mountain top originate from a radius of 200 kilometers, from cities. Around 10% of the particles measured in the study were blown onto the mountain by wind and weather over 2000 kilometers.

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:
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 ‘Swachhta Saarthi Fellowship 2022’ was announced by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the government of India under its ‘Waste to Wealth’ mission.
This fellowship has been announced for empowering young innovators- who are engaged in community work of waste management- in the role of ‘Swachhta Saarthis’. ‘Waste to Wealth’ mission is one of the nine national missions of the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).

Notes:
“Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram” has been extended over the 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26) at an outlay of Rs 2,710.65 Crore.
The RYSK Scheme is the flagship Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. The Scheme beneficiaries are the youth in the age-group of 15-29 years. Its objective is to motivate youth to strive for excellence in their respective fields and use their energy for national building.

Notes:
Article 275 of the Constitution deals with the ‘Grants from the Union to certain States’. Recently, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, released monthly Post Devolution Revenue Deficit (PDRD) Grant of Rs. 9,871 crore to 17 States.
This was the 10th instalment of the PDRD grant released to the States. The Grant is provided to the states under the Article 275 of the Constitution. The Commission has recommended PDRD grants to 17 States.