Current Affairs Quiz - February 2022

Notes:
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a new partnership under the Sustainable Access to Markets and Resources for Innovative Delivery of Healthcare (SAMRIDH) initiative.
The partnership with AIM, NITI Aayog will promote SAMRIDH’s efforts to reach sustainable healthcare models and innovative financing mechanisms to improve the quality of spending in the health sector.

Notes:
As per NASA’s recent announcement, there are currently 25,000 total objects tracked on-orbit and about 6,100 below 600 km.
SpaceX’s Gen2 expansion involves launching 30,000 satellites, which will double the number of tracked objects in orbit. As per NASA, this may impact NASA’s science and human spaceflight missions. Amazon also raised concerns that its Kuiper System may be impacted.

Notes:
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Centre’s Gross domestic product (GDP) deflator projection for 2022-23 is 3 to 3.5 per cent.
GDP deflator is a measure of inflation and is the difference between nominal GDP and real GDP. Union Budget assumes a nominal GDP growth rate of 11.1 per cent for FY23.

Notes:
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) recently launched an agro ecology-based programme JIVA.
It aims to promote natural farming under NABARD’s watershed and wadi programmes in 11 states covering five agro-ecological zones. It aims to nudge the farming community towards natural farming.

Notes:
The birth anniversary of Tilka Manjhi, a revolutionary freedom fighter and tribal leader was observed recently.
He organized Adivasis into an army and led the famous Santhal Hool in 1784, to loot the treasury of the East India Company and distributed it among the poor and needy during severe famine. It is referred to as Santhal Hool, the revolt of the Santhals.

Notes:
Environment clearance has been issued to as many as 60 mining areas and legal mining of Bajri (riverbed sand) is initiated in Rajasthan.
Four years ago, the Supreme Court banned the sand mining activities in riverbeds until a scientific replenishment study was completed. The apex court later appointed a Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to probe the issue of illegal sand mining.

Notes:
The Archaeological Survey of India is an Indian government agency functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture
ASI is the process of reviving its ‘Underwater archaeology wing’ that has not been functioning over recent years. ASI appointed Alok Tripathi, an expert in underwater archaeology, as its Additional Director General in 2021.

Notes:
Philippines has signed a USD 375 million deal with India to buy three batteries of the BrahMos cruise missile from India.
Recently India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held discussions with his Philippines counterpart Teodoro L Locsin, on mutual national security and development aspirations. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar has undergone a three-day maiden visit to the Philippines.

Notes:
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked a never-before-used emergency power to curtail protests demanding end of Covid restrictions.
This decision was taken after anti-government protests in the Canadian capital and blockades at border crossings with the US. The country is witnessing over two weeks of “Freedom Convoy” protests by Canadian truckers and their supporters, demanding an end to all Covid restrictions.

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.