Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2023

Notes:
Nepal has celebrated ‘National Democracy Day’ recently, to commemorate day when the Nepali people stood against the then autocratic Rana regime.
This event ended the 104 years of the Rana regime and subsequently established democracy for the first time in the country.

Notes:
The 49th meeting of the GST Council was held recently, under the chairship of the Union Finance Minister.
It was decided to clear all pending dues of pertaining to GST compensation to states. The finance minister also spoke about the GoM report on online gaming and said that the report has been submitted. The chair of the GoM is Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.

Notes:
The New START Treaty is the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the US and Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently announced Russia’s intention to suspend the participation in this treaty.
The treaty caps the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the two countries can deploy. It was signed in 2010 between former US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Notes:
An invasive species is an organism that is not indigenous, or native, to a particular area. The Burmese python is a species of constrictor snake found in Southeast Asia.
It is one of the world’s largest snakes, capable of growing more than 20 feet long and weighing over 200 pounds.  It has become an invasive species in certain parts of the world, particularly in the Everglades wetland in the US. The snake feeds on a variety of animals and this invasive species is a significant threat to native wildlife.

Notes:
First loss default guarantee (FLDG) arrangement allowed fin-tech companies to provide a guarantee to compensate for up to a certain percentage of default in a loan portfolio.
The RBI has banned the FLDG arrangement under its digital lending guidelines due to concerns regarding fin-techs taking on default risks without regulation. Fintech lenders are exploring alternative business models.

Notes:
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a free trade agreement between 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Philippines Senate recently ratified the country’s entry into the RCEP. The RCEP, which was signed in 2020, represents the largest trade bloc in history. RCEP aims to increase economic integration and reduce trade barriers among its member nations.

Notes:
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), India’s largest central armed police force, falls under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The CRPF was established on July 27, 1939. It is planning to organize its 84^th Raising Day event in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. This is the first time that this annual event will be held in Left Wing Extremism-affected area.

Notes:
Anopheles stephensi is a mosquito species that can transmit both Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria parasites.
Recently, Kenya recorded this species, making it the sixth and the latest country in Africa to report the invasion of this vector. The species is well adapted to urban areas and has been spreading to new regions, including parts of East Africa.

Notes:
The I2U2 Group consists of four countries – India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
Recently, the inaugural I2U2 Business Forum was organized in Abu Dhabi. This meeting discussed the possibility of building integrated agricultural facilities across India.

Notes:
The ‘Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava’ cultural festival will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi.
The festival is part of the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative of the Indian Government. The ‘Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava’ cultural festival celebrates the cultural heritage of Karnataka. It is organized under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. This festival will feature various art forms from Karnataka such as dance, music, drama, poetry etc.