Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2023

Notes:
Debt-for-nature swaps are financial arrangements where a fraction of a developing country’s foreign debt is waived, and in return, the country makes investments in local environmental conservation. Debt-for-nature swaps have been implemented successfully in many countries to promote environmental conservation. However, they are not seen as a long-term solution since only small portion of the debt is waived off.

Notes:
Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) and India’s Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), both owned by their respective Governments, entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to form a joint venture firm for extending product support services for Indian Armed Forces.
MRSAM is an advanced air and missile defence system that provides protection against a variety of aerial platforms. The MRSAM is used by the Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Navy and Israeli Defence Forces.

Notes:
Rann Utsav was conceptualised as a three-day festival, which progressively evolved into a 100-day celebration at Dhordo, a village near Rann of Kutch.
A whole new tent city has been created, replete with temporary infrastructure built and rebuilt every year. The Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar arrived in Kutch, Gujarat  and participated in the Rann Utsav. It celebrates the nature at the White Desert and the rich cultural and artistic heritage of Kutch.

Notes:
The Mukaab is a new development project that has been announced by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
The ambitious plan aims to build the largest inner-city building in the world named ‘The Mukaab’ in Riyadh, the country’s capital. It aims to develop the world’s largest modern downtown in Riyadh in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

Notes:
The Sansad Ratna Awards recognize and felicitate the top performing Members of Parliament based on their work in the apex legislative body.
These awards were instituted in 2010 based on the concept initialised by former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam. The inaugural edition of these awards was launched by the former President APJ Abdul Kalam. The 13th edition of the Sansad Ratna Award ceremony will be held in March this year in New Delhi.

Notes:
Whale stranding is a phenomenon that occurs when whales become stranded on land, and cannot return to the ocean.
Several factors have been proposed as reason for mass stranding, including the topography of the region, illness, human activities, and increasing noise pollution in the oceans. Certain regions such as Tasmania, New Zealand’s Golden Bay, and Massachusetts’s Cape Cod are known hotspots for whale stranding. Recently, 14 pilot whales got stranded on the shore of Sri Lanka’s Kalpitiya.

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:
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:
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 Urban 20 (U20) Engagement Group held its inaugural event in Ahmedabad, attended by more than 70 delegates from 42 cities. This is the largest recorded attendance since the inception of U20.
The U20 meeting focused on the role of cities in economic prosperity and ecological harmony. The meeting aimed to equip city governments with on-ground solutions to close the gap between policy and practice.