Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2023

Notes:
Horaglanis populi is a newly discovered species of aquifer-dwelling catfish. It was found in the lateritic aquifer systems in Kerala.
The state currently has 4 endemic species of Horaglanis genus. The new species has 4 pairs of well-developed barbels and a blood-red body. Its length is less than 3.2 cm. It is blind and does not have pigments. It is highly vulnerable to extinction due to its small ranges.

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 Union Cabinet has granted an extension of the 22nd Law Commission’s term until August 31, 2024. The Commission is chaired by former Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Rituraj Awasthi.
The Commission is responsible for identifying and repealing outdated laws, reviewing existing laws, and proposing necessary changes. It will also simplify Central Acts and remove inconsistencies. The Commission is also investigating key issues such as the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code and holding simultaneous elections.

Notes:
The US administration has unveiled a new Commercial Arms Transfer (CAT) policy that places greater emphasis on human rights in its arms export policy,
This is in contrast to the Trump-era policy that gave more importance to commercial considerations. The new policy covers the review of government-to-government weapons transfers, security assistance, and licensed commercial sales of US-origin military equipment overseen by various government departments.

Notes:
Phosphor-gypsum, a by-product of fertilizer production, is composed of gypsum but is weakly radio-active due to naturally occurring uranium and thorium.
It is not commonly used in construction due to concerns about its radioactivity, resulting in indefinite storage. The NHAI is exploring the possibility of using phosphor-gypsum waste material in the construction of national highway and achieve circular economy. An Indian fertilizer company recently constructed a road using the neutralised phosphor-gypsum waste material.

Notes:
Mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is a fatal and progressive disease affecting the central nervous system of adult cattle.
Brazil, one of the world’s largest beef exporters, has temporarily suspended its beef exports to China after a confirmed case of mad cow disease.

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.

Notes:
The Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) is a division of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that provides financial assistance to the world’s most impoverished countries.
It was established in 1999, to replace the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility. The IMF recently sought urgent action from the international community to strengthen the global financial architecture, including global financial safety net and the debt resolution.

Notes:
The Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple in Kerala’s Thrissur district has made history by being the first temple in India to use a mechanical, lifelike elephant for its rituals, instead of a live one.
Named ‘Irinjadappilly Raman’, the robotic elephant was gifted to the temple by animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India. It is used to promote cruelty-free ceremonies and support the rehabilitation and life of real elephants in forests.

Notes:

• According to data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India, Maharashtra, New Delhi and Goa have the maximum mutual fund penetration in India, due to high income levels, high literacy rates and substantial inflows rom corporations and high net-worth individuals (HNIs).
• While Jharkhand is one of the top 10 states with a depth of 13%, MF penetration is barely 5-6% in Telangana and Kerala. Jharkhand ranks 16^th in terms of per capita AUM (Rs 10, 750) despite having a higher penetration.
• The highest per capita AUMs are in New Delhi, Goa and Maharashtra. These are the only three states where the per capita AUM exceeds Rs. 1 lakh.
• The states with the lowest per capita AUM are Manipur, Bihar and Tripura.
• Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Bihar have the lowest penetration rates among large states.