Current Affairs Quiz - January 2022

Notes:
The United Nations Development Programme-India announced Content creator and actor Prajakta Koli as their first UNDP India Youth Climate Champion.
The UNDP recognised her contribution towards mental health, women’s rights and girl child education through various global social campaigns. As UNDP India Youth Climate Champion, Koli will be responsible for interacting with young minds to create awareness on climate issues.

Notes:
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi topped the global rating survey among the world leaders as the most popular leader, with an approval rating of 71 percent.
The survey was released by Morning Consult Political Intelligence and it is based on data collected from January 13-19, 2022. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrado came second with 66 percent rating and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi ranked third with 60 percent rating.

Notes:
The ‘Living Root Bridges’ are found in Meghalaya. They are made from rubber tree roots, known as ‘Ficus elastica’ tree and their tangled roots provides a stable alternative to wooden bridges.
Recently, the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has underlined some green rules for the living root bridges to get the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma sought UNESCO recognition on its 50th statehood day – January 21.

Notes:
India’s first ever District Good Governance Index (DGGI) was released in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
In the composite ranking of the index, the Jammu district tops the list followed by districts of Doda, Samba, Pulwama and Srinagar in the UT. The Index is a framework document which assesses the performance under ten governance sectors with 58 indicators.

Notes:
“The International Day of Education” is annually celebrated on January 24. This year the theme of the fourth year of celebration is ‘Changing Course, Transforming Education’.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2018 proclaimed the celebration of this day. India celebrates ‘National Education day’ celebrated on November 11 to mark the birth anniversary of India’s first Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

Notes:
The Australian government has bought the copyright of the Aboriginal flag, to free the symbol of identity from fights over who can use it.
Indigenous artist Harold Thomas created the flag in 1971 as a protest image. It is used as the dominant Aboriginal emblem and an official national flag. Now, the flag can be reproduced by anyone without fear of legal threats.

Notes:
India’s star opener Smriti Mandhana was named the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year for her contribution across all formats in 2021. She was short-listed for ‘the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy’
The Indian T20 Vice-Captain is only the second India woman player to bag an ICC award after veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami, who was named the ICC Player of the Year in 2007. England captain Root was named ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for 2021 and Pakistan skipper Babar Azam named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2021.

Notes:
Pakistan has raised USD 1 billion loan with Sukuk (Islamic Bond), at highest ever interest rate of 7.95%.
In return for the loan, Pakistan has also agreed to pledge a portion of the Lahore-Islamabad motorway, which is a national sset built in the 1990s. The last Islamic Bond issued by Pakistan was in 2017, which was a 5-year Sukuk at a rate of 5.6%.

Notes:
The Lok Sabha secretariat has launched a new app, Digital Sansad, which enables people to follow the proceedings in Parliament.
It also contains the live telecast of Sansad proceedings. Citizens can access general information on MPs, on budget speeches since 1947, House discussions from 12th Lok Sabha to 17th Lok Sabha.The app will also help members of parliament access services such as checking personal updates.

Notes:
Telineelapuram International Bird Sanctuary is located in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district. Recently, mass deaths of migratory spot-billed pelicans happened at the Bird Sanctuary.
According to government data, about 113 species of exotic birds come to these areas each year from Siberia, Russia, Malaysia, Hungary, Singapore and Germany for breeding. This year, over 100 birds that prey on nearby water bodies have died.