Current Affairs Quiz - February 2022

Notes:
Australia has recently designated the koala an endangered species, which was classified as vulnerable only 10 years ago.
The impact of prolonged drought, summer bushfires, and the cumulative impacts of disease, urbanisation and habitat loss over the last twenty years have led to the decision. From now, Koalas will be provided with greater protection under Australia’s national environment law.

Notes:
U.S announced USD 5 billion to be made available under the new National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.
It aims to build a national electric vehicle charging network. The money will be used over five years to build thousands of electric vehicle charging stations.

Notes:
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is a regulatory authority established under the SEBI Act 1992. It is the principal regulator for Stock Exchanges in India.
SEBI has recently penalised the National Stock Exchange (NSE), its former CEOs Chitra Ramkrishna and Ravi Narain for governance lapses in hiring of its chief operating officer (COO) Anand Subramanian.

Notes:
The Government has approved the umbrella scheme of modernisation of police force for the next five years (2021-22 to 2025-26) with a financial outlay of Rs 26,275 crore.
More than Rs 18,000 crore of this money has been allotted towards security related expenditure in Jammu and Kashmir, Left Wing Extremism areas and the Northeast.

Notes:
Kiribati or the Republic of Kiribati, is an independent island nation located in the central Pacific Ocean.
The country had closed the borders for two years and managed to keep Covid away. Recently, as it reopened and the first flight landed, it is facing a challenge with the outbreak of the virus. India has sent a consignment of medical supplies among other Covid 19 supplies.

Notes:
India celebrates National Productivity Day on February 12 every year. The National Productivity Council (NPC) organises this special day.
NPC is an autonomous organisation established in 1958 under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. National Productivity Council celebrates productivity week February 12 to 18, across the nation under the theme “Self Reliance Through Productivity.”

Notes:
The Northern Mariana Islands, a United States territory, is located only 2500km southeast of Japan.
Japan has planned to dump more than 1 million tonnes of treated water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power station into the Pacific Ocean. The Northern Mariana Islands has proposed another viable solution to the plan to be considered.

Notes:
After Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Karnataka High Court has struck down the state’s ban on online gambling, declaring it to be ultra vires under the Constitution.
The Court struck down key amendments to the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, which were brought in last year to ban all forms of gambling in the state. The Court said that the state may bring in legislation to regulate betting and gambling, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

Notes:
India and Australia have signed a letter of intent (LoI) on New and Renewable energy technology. It aims to scale up manufacturing and deployment of ultra low-cost solar and clean hydrogen.
The LoI was signed during the 4th India – Australia Energy Dialogue. The dialogue was co-chaired by Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, R.K. Singh and his Australian counterpart.

Notes:
Guru Ravidas was an Indian mystic, poet and social reformer who made remarkable contributions in the form of devotional songs, verses, spiritual teachings during the Bhakti movement.
February 16 is marking the celebration of 645th birth anniversary of the Guru. It is observed as Guru Ravidas Jayanti all across the nation. He was born in 1377 C.E. in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. He actively opposed the caste system and promoted communal harmony.