Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2023

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:
Commonwealth Games 2022 bronze medallist Tejaswin Shankar won the men’s high jump event at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix 2023 in Boston, USA.
At the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold event, Tejaswin Shankar claimed first place with a jump of 2.26 metres. He beat the 38-year-old Donald Thomas of the Bahamas, a 2007 world champion.

Notes:
The US and Brazil, two of the world’s largest biofuels markets, are joining an India-led initiative of International Biofuels Alliance.
The Alliance will aim to boost demand for the lower-emissions energy source. India has also earmarked 350 billion rupees (USD 4.3 billion) in its union budget to promote energy security.

Notes:
Scientists have discovered the oldest known stone tools in Kenya, dating back 2.9 million years, known as Oldowan toolkit.
This toolkit included hammer-stones, cores and flakes. It is a critical invention for early human ancestors that expanded across Africa and China. The discovery provides a glimpse of importance of stone technology in adapting to different environments.

Notes:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched phase 2 of the ‘Pudumai Penn’ scheme, a scholarship scheme for girl students, in Chennai.
The scheme involves the distribution of a scholarship amount of ₹1,000 per month to girl students pursuing their higher studies after completing their schooling at a government school. The scholarship is provided through the Social Welfare Department.

Notes:
Article 153 of the Indian Constitution deals with the appointment of Governors for each state in India.
President of India Droupadi Murmu appointed governors in 12 states and a Union Territory while accepting the resignation of two. Jharkhand governor Ramesh Bais is now Governor of Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh governor B D Mishra has been appointed as L-G of Ladakh.

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:
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:
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:
The government has launched a mobile app namely ‘Khanan Prahari’ and a web app Coal Mine Surveillance and Management System (CMSMS) for reporting unauthorized coal mining activities.
The objective of the CMSMS application was to detect participation against illegal mining by receipt of citizen’s complaints through mobile app.