Current Affairs Quiz - February 2022

Notes:
‘Nord Stream 2’ is a 1,230-kilometer-long natural gas pipeline constructed under the Baltic Sea. It directly links Russian gas to Europe via Germany.
Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz has suspended the certification of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, amidst Russia’s recognition of two separatist regions in Ukraine.

Notes:
The 2nd South Asian Athletic Federation (SAAF) Cross-Country championship and the 56th National Cross Country Athletics Championship will be held in Kohima on March 26.
The tournament will be the first ever international athletics event in Nagaland. More than 600 athletes will participate in the event from all the AFI-affiliated states and UTs of the country and also South Asian countries.

Notes:
A study by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Pune, described the discovery of a new frog species growing in freshwater sources along all the states spanned by Western Ghats.
Euphlyctis jaladhara, or Jaladhara skittering frog, was spotted during the forest surveys focusing on freshwater bodies in Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat and UT of Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Notes:
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme was launched 24th of February in 2019  to provide income support to all landholding farmer’s families.
Under the Scheme, an amount of Rs 6000 per year is transferred in three equal installments of two thousand rupees directly into the bank accounts of the farmers. Over 1.80 lakh crore rupees have been transferred directly, under PM KISAN scheme.

Notes:
System for Pension Administration (Raksha)- SPARSH is an initiative of the Defence Ministry. It aims for efficiency and transparency in pension administration.
Recently, Defence Ministry has signed an MoU to onboard pension services under SPARSH initiative across over four lakh Common Service Centres. The MoU will provide connectivity to pensioners, especially those who reside in remote areas of the country.

Notes:
The Government of Delhi has approved a new Film Policy, 2022 – which aims to promote Delhi as a hub for filming and other related activities.
The policy provides for setting up of Rs 50 crore ‘Delhi Film Fund’ to support producers and host international film festivals. The policy also envisages a subsidy of up to Rs 3 crore to the industry.

Notes:
The majority Meitei community has been demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in Manipur. They are dominant in two-third of the 60 constituencies across Imphal Valley.
Although most Meiteis are Hindus, they still follow the old tribal system. Till 1935, Meiteis were entered in the census of India as ST. However, there are also opinions in the communities against the demand of ST status.

Notes:
Narsinh Mehta was a 15th century poet who was a devotee of Lord Krishna. Recently, researchers of Bhakta Kavi Narsinh Mehta University (BKNMU)- Junagadh, discovered a new species of spider and named it Narsinhmehtai in honour of Narsinh Mehta.
The admirers of the poet objected to the nomenclature, arguing it was already a global name and objected the association of his name to a spider.

Notes:
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) is a Government owned telecommunications technology development centre, functioning under Ministry of Communication
The premier Telecom R&D centre has bagged three awards at 12th Annual Aegis Graham Bell Awards for its indigenously designed and developed innovative Telecom solutions in various categories. The categories are ‘Tech for Social Good, Preventive measures to combat COVID 19, and Innovation in Lockdown Management’

Notes:
Union Minister for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Narayan Rane inaugurated the ‘MSME Conclave’ at Sindhudurg.
He also announced the establishment of MSME-Technology Centre with an outlay of Rs. 200 Crore, in Sindhudurg.  MSME Conclave for National SC/ST Hub was also inaugurated as a part of the Conclave.