Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2023

Notes:
The One District One Product (ODOP) initiative is aimed at promoting balanced regional development across all districts of the country.
ODOP has been merged with ‘Districts as Export Hubs Initiative’ being run by the Department of Commerce (DoC) with Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as a major stakeholder. Under the ODOP- Districts as Export Hubs initiative, products with export potential have been recently identified from all 765 districts of the country.

Notes:
Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh recently inaugurated Mission Antyodaya Survey (MAS) 2022-23.
The objectives of the scheme are- conducting an annual survey at the Gram Panchayat level to monitor the progress in the development process in rural areas, Panchayat wise ranking and making Gap report, which serves as an important input for the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP).

Notes:
The Christ the Redeemer statue is a landmark statue located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Made of soapstone and reinforced concrete, this statue is an important symbol of Christianity and a renowned tourist destination.
The statue is recognized as one of the most iconic and celebrated works of art and engineering in history. A Photographer recently captured the exact moment when lightning struck Christ the Redeemer statue.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Mines announced that lithium reserves have been found in Jammu and Kashmir, a first in the country.
The Geological Survey of India established 5.9 million tonnes of inferred lithium resources in the Salal-Haimana area of Reasi District in Jammu and Kashmir. This could boost the manufacturing of rechargeable batteries for electric cars, smartphones, and laptops and cut India’s dependence on lithium imports. ​​

Notes:
IMF has again called for comprehensive reforms of China’s growth model saying that China’s potential growth has started falling.
This is IMF’s second warning in a week when it called for reforms to sustain growth highlighting the diminishing returns of China’s investment-led growth.

Notes:
Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita stepped down from her position citing a lack of support in the country.
Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe and a former Soviet Republic. The pro-Western government had been in power for just 18 months. Moldova’s President Maia Sandu accepted Gavrilita’s resignation.

Notes:
WhatsApp has been named India’s most accessible app for persons with disabilities in a report titled ‘Making the Digital Ecosystem Disabled Friendly’.
The report was released by the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, which evaluated accessibility features of messaging, online payments, transport, e-commerce, and food delivery. WhatsApp was the only app rated as ‘highly accessible’ based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Notes:
Eighteen-year-old Jerlin Anika Jayaratchagan, a Deaflympic champion, qualifies in the general category at the Olympics.
Jerlin Anika became the first Woman Deaflympian to receive the prestigious Arjuna Award. She holds the record of the youngest player to represent India in Summer Deaflympics at the age of 13 She clinched three gold medals at the 2021 Summer Deaflympics.

Notes:
China announced that i will begin work on its ambitious new railway line connecting Xinjiang and Tibet.
The railway line is also running close to the LAC and through the disputed region of Aksai Chin, according to the new railway plan. Aksai Chin remains a disputed area between India and China for a long time. The proposed railway line is considered as a threat to India’s sovereignty, despite claims from Beijing that the new construction is civilian in nature.

Notes:
The Kala Ghoda Association’s Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2023 was recently organised in Mumbai, Mahrashtra.
The festival began in 1999 and has evolved into a first-of-its-kind multi-disciplinary street art festival. The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival was held after two years at its iconic venue in Mumbai. It includes a number of verticals such as children, food, dance, literature, heritage walks among others.