Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2023

Notes:
Air Marshal AP Singh has assumed charge as the new Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force. The Air Marshal was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in 1984.
He has more than 5,000 hours of flying experience. Prior to assuming his current appointment, he was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Central Air Command. He is a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.

Notes:
As per a recommendation made by the Department of Commerce, IIT Madras will be provided a grant of Rs 242 Crore over a period of five years to undertake research on Lab Grown Diamonds (LGD).
In the Union Budget 2023, Union Finance Minister said that Lab grown Diamonds (LGD) is a technology and innovation-driven emerging sector with high employment potential.

Notes:
The Centre has initiated the process to block 138 betting and 94 loan-lending Chinese apps on an emergency basis.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued blocking orders based on emergency request by the Nodal officer of Ministry of Home Affairs. The move was taken after confirming that these apps contain material that is prejudicial to sovereignty of India under Section 69 of IT Act.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate India’s largest Chopper Plant in Karnataka, the foundation stone for which was laid in 2016.
It will be a green-field helicopter manufacturing facility, which will supply choppers to the armed forces and cater for future exports. The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) factory in Karnataka’s Tumakuru will initially produce the Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) on order by the armed forces.

Notes:
Khelo India Winter Games 2023 will be held in the town of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir in February 2023.
Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur launched the Mascot, Theme song and Jersey for 3rd edition of Khelo India Winter Games.

Notes:
Finance Minister stated that the Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission will be launched, to  improve socio-economic conditions of the particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs).
Rs.15,000 crore will be made available to implement the Mission in the next three years under the Development Action Plan for the Scheduled Tribes.

Notes:
Scientists from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, have sequenced the draft genome of four native Indian cow breeds.
For the first time, the genetic makeup of four native Indian cow breeds — Kasaragod Dwarf, Kasaragod Kapila, Vechur, and Ongole has been unravelled.

Notes:
Union Finance Minister announced an initiative called MISHTI ‘Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes’.
Under the scheme, mangrove plantations will be taken up along the country’s coastline apart from salt pans, wherever feasible, through the convergence of the job guarantee scheme MGNREGS, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund, and other sources.

Notes:
The government has agreed to convert Vodafone Idea’s accrued interest worth over Rs 16,000 crore on deferred adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues into equity at Rs 10 a share.
Earlier In October 2022, market regulator SEBI approved the conversion of Vodafone Idea dues into equity.

Notes:
Google has invested nearly USD 400 million in artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic AI. The two companies announced a partnership that will see the AI start-up use Google’s cloud computing services.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei announced that they would use Google Cloud to build reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems and to create a robust AI platform.