Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2023

Notes:
The Union Budget 2023-24 has allocated Rs. 2,516 crore for the computerization of 63,000 PACS over the next 5 years.
Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) are village-level cooperative credit societies that act as the last link to the 3-tier cooperative credit structure, which is headed by the State Cooperative Bank or SCB. Credit from the SCB is transferred to the district central cooperative banks (DCCBs), which will then transfer the credit to the PACS.

Notes:
The US State Department gave the nod for the sale of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers to Poland.
The HIMARS and the related equipment will be sold to Poland at a cost of around USD 10 billion. HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is a type of artillery system that can fire long-range rockets with pinpoint accuracy. It has been used in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Notes:
UNESCO is set to announce Visva-Bharati University as a heritage university and it is set to become the world’s first living heritage university.
It was founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921, as a center for culture, promoting the arts, language, humanities, music, and culture studies. Rabindranath Tagore’s philosophy of open-air education is followed at the university.

Notes:
Kerala Police have recently arrested 113 people who were accused in various criminal cases, under ‘Operation Aag’.
The raids are being held to arrest those who were placed under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act. Other initiatives of the state police include ‘Pink patrol’ which is specifically for women’s safety, ‘Prasanthi’ for senior citizens among others.

Notes:
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the National Philatelic Exhibition- AMRITPEX in New Delhi. Philately is the collection and study of postage stamps.
The event displays more than 20,000 exhibits under 13 competitive categories and a special section on Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The Department of Posts also released a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Notes:
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur flagged off the Formula E Championship in Hyderabad.
Hyderabad city hosts India’s first ever Formula E-race Hyderabad E-Prix at the ‘Hyderabad Street Circuit’ on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake. This is also the first motorsport event in the country in the last 10 years. Hyderabad is the 27th city in the world to host the race as non-carbon emission event.

Notes:
The annual rate of inflation based on all India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) number is 4.73% (Provisional) for the month of January, 2023 against 4.95% recorded in December 2022.
Decline in the rate of inflation is primarily contributed by mineral oils, chemicals and chemical products, textiles, crude petroleum and natural gas, textiles, and food products. DPIIT releases index numbers of wholesale price in India on monthly basis.

Notes:
Periyar Tiger Reserve is a protected area in Kerala. It was declared as a national park in 1982. A 4-day bird survey, which was conducted recently by the state forest department, has identified 231 bird species in the Periyar Tiger Reserve
Among these birds, 14 were endangered and 20 were endemic to the Western Ghats. It also found the presence of 11 bird species that were not recorded during the previous surveys.

Notes:
The International Engineering and Technology Fair 2023 was inaugurated recently by President of India Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi.
This is the 25th edition of the global fair. It covers 11 areas of emerging technologies and provides a global platform to bring together policymakers, technical experts, CEOs, sourcing personnel, diplomats, government and trade dignitaries.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India released the Draft Reserve Bank of India (Government Securities Lending) Directions, 2023.
These draft norms seek to regulate the lending and borrowing of government securities (G-secs) in the securities lending market.  According to the draft norms, the Government Securities Lending (GSL) transactions can be done for a minimum duration of 1 day and a maximum duration of 90 days.