Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2023

Notes:
Smart Cities Mission is the Indian Government’s urban renewal program that seeks to create sustainable and citizen-centric smart cities.
It is being implemented by the Union Ministry of Housing Urban Affairs in collaboration with the state governments. As many as 22 smart cities are expected to complete all projects under the Smart Cities Mission. The remaining 78 smart cities under this mission are expected to complete their projects in the next 3 to 4 months.

Notes:
Nigeria has recently announced demonetization to address corruption and bring down inflation. Its purpose is to bring back most of the money that is in circulation outside the banking system and to minimize money laundering.
Nigerians are required to turn in their old 1,000, 500 and 200 naira banknotes as part of this initiative in return for new naira notes. With the African country being largely dependent on cash, the shortage of new naira notes is causing chaos in Nigeria.

Notes:
The Tanimbar corella, which is also referred to as Goffin’s cockatoo, is a type of cockatoo that is found exclusively in the forests of Yamdena, Larat, and Selaru islands in the Tanimbar Islands archipelago in Indonesia.
It was later introduced to the Kai Islands, Singapore, and Puerto Rico. A new study found that Goffin’s cockatoos are capable of combining multiple tools to achieve a complex task that is only been recorded in humans and chimpanzees.

Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its second developmental flight of a Small Satellite Launch Vehicle — SSLV-D2.
It placed three satellites into a 450 km-circular orbit, which are ISRO’s Earth Observation Satellite – EOS 07, U.S.-based firm Antaris’ Janus-1 and Chennai-based space start-up SpaceKidz’s AzaadiSAT-2.

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.

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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:
Veteran journalist A.B.K. Prasad has been chosen for the prestigious Raja Ram Mohan Roy National Award for excellence in journalism.
This was announced by the Press Council of India, New Delhi. He has a journalistic career over 75 years. He has the honour of being the editor of all mainstream journals of Andhra Pradesh. He also served as the chairman of the Official Language Commission in Andhra Pradesh.

Notes:
The winners of the 2023 Wolf Prize were announced recently. The eight recipients come from five different countries and three of the laureates are from the United States.
Israel’s Wolf Prize has been awarded since 1978 and is considered one of the world’s most prestigious awards for scientific and artistic achievements. The scientific categories include Medicine, Agriculture, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics. The art categories are in Painting and Sculpting, Music, and Architecture.

Notes:
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducts Financial Literacy Week (FLW) every year since 2016 to propagate financial education messages.
The theme for this year’s Financial Literacy Week to be observed during February 13 – 17, 2023 is ‘Good Financial Behaviour, Your Saviour’, with emphasis on ‘Saving, planning, and budgeting’ and ‘Prudent use of digital financial services’.

Notes:
Australia recently observed the 15 year Anniversary of ‘Stolen Generation’ apology, for forcibly removing Indigenous children from families under old assimilation policies.
Australia committed about USD 300 million to improve life outcomes including safe and reliable water for remote Indigenous communities, building of new homes, making essential food affordable and accessible, and supporting families impacted by family violence.