Current Affairs Quiz - February 2022

Notes:
NASA has released an updated International Space Station Transition Report. It includes the goals for the next decade of station operations leading to a smooth transition to commercial services.
It also includes the steps being taken to develop both the supply and demand side of the low-Earth orbit commercial economy, and technical steps and budget required for transition.

Notes:
New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell was named the recipient of the ICC ‘Spirit of Cricket’ award 2021 for his significant gesture played during T20 World Cup semi-final versus England.
Mitchell, who opened the batting for New Zealand in the World Cup, won the award for his gesture during the game. He felt he had obstructed the way of bowler Adil Rashid in that moment.

Notes:
Maharashtra was voted as the best tableau among the States/UTs in the popular choice category. Its tableau was based on theme ‘Biodiversity and State Bio-symbols of Maharashtra’.
The general public was invited to vote for the best marching contingents and tableaux in the popular choice category. Uttar Pradesh’s tableau, based on the theme ‘ODOP and Kashi Vishwanath Dham’, was adjudged the best among 12 States and UTs. Ministry of Education and Ministry of Civil Aviation, Marching contingent of the Navy and CISF were named winners in respective categories.

Notes:
China and Russia “No limits” partnership, backing each other over standoffs on Ukraine and Taiwan. They also promised to collaborate more against the West.
This was declared President Xi Jinping hosted President Vladimir Putin on the opening day of the Winter Olympics at Beijing. The countries also agreed to work together on space, climate change, artificial intelligence and control of the internet.

Notes:
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar was appointed chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Ministry of Education said the appointment has been made for a period of five years, or until he turns 65, whichever is earlier. As per National Education Policy, the Higher Education Commission would subsume the regulatory bodies such as the UGC and AICTE.

Notes:
According to the Salesforce Global Digital Skills Index, among 19 countries, India has the Index’s highest digital readiness score at 63 out of 100.
In India, 72 per cent of respondents say they are actively learning digital skills to prepare themselves for future of work. 66 percent said they are equipped with resources to learn digital skills. The Index is based on a survey of over 23,500 workers in 19 countries, with an average global score of 33.

Notes:
The United States has approved a USD 100m support contract with Taiwan to boost the island’s missile defence systems amid tensions with China.
The funds would be used to improve the self-ruled island’s Patriot missile defence system, as per the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

Notes:
Jammu & Kashmir became the first Union Territory to be on-boarded the National Single Window System (NSWS).
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launched the J&K Single Window Clearance System integrated with NSWS. NSWS is linked with India Industrial Land Bank (IILB), which hosts 45 industrial parks of J&K. This will help the Investors to discover available land parcels in J&K.

Notes:
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have found a new mammal species in the country namely the White Cheeked Macaque, in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Macaque was first discovered in China in 2015 and its existence was not known in India before this. The White Cheeked Macaque has white cheeks, long and thick hair on the neck and a longer tail than other Macaques. It is the last mammal to have been discovered in Southeast Asia.

Notes:
The Department of Science & Technology (DST) has established the National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture and Utilisation (NCOE-CCU) at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.
This is India’s first such centre centrally funded by the DST. This Centre of Excellence explores the potential of Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) technologies, which will help India achieve its climate change goals.