Current Affairs Quiz - January 2022

Notes:
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the General Assembly and laid out the priorities for 2022.
Terming it as a ‘Five-alarm global fire’ he listed down the five priorities as the raging COVID-19 pandemic, a morally bankrupt global financial system, the climate crisis, lawlessness in cyberspace, and diminished peace and security.

Notes:
The Department of Food and Public Distribution under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution with its principal agency, FCI (Food Corporation of India) has developed a roadmap to launch the Online Storage Management (OSM) in the country.
The OSM seeks to create a single source of information for the food grains stored in the country for central pool through integrating State portals with the central portal.

Notes:
China has published trial rules for the approval of gene-edited plants. Gene editing involves altering the genes of a plant to change or improve its performance.
It is seen as less risky than genetically-modifying them. This move aims to promote the seed industry of China and ensure food security to its huge population. China has also passed regulations for approval of genetically modified (GM) crops.

Notes:
‘Najafgarh jheel’ is a trans-boundary wetland between Delhi and Haryana. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had earlier directed Haryana and Delhi to prepare an Environment Management Plan for the jheel.
The NGT has directed Delhi and Haryana to enforce the Environment Management Plans that the two governments have prepared for the rejuvenation and protection of the Najafgarh jheel.

Notes:
India and France signed an MoU on scientific cooperation for advancement in Human Health. CSIR and Institut Pasteur would jointly research on emerging and remerging infectious diseases and inherited disorders.
This MoU seeks to enable delivery of effective and affordable healthcare solutions to people across the world.

Notes:
The European Commission proposed a set of digital rights and principles, for the first time in the world. It aims to protect people’s rights, support democracy and ensure a fair and safe online environment.
The rights and principles also cover digital devices, ensuring that they support the green transition goals of the association. The digital rights and principles aim to provide a guide for policy makers and companies when dealing with new technologies.

Notes:
Union Minister for Power R K Singh interacted with renewable energy developers, industry and various government representatives to discuss on the Draft policy on the energy storage system’.
The Minister also indicated that people may be free to set up standalone energy storage systems (ESS). The Government has planned to de-license the setting up of those systems, under the policy for ESS.

Notes:
Coal Controller’s Organization, a subordinate office under the Ministry of Coal, released its flagship publications, the ‘Coal Directory of India 2020-21’.
The Statistical Publication contains information on the performance of Coal and Lignite sectors during the financial year 2020-21. It also provides the grade wise data of production and dispatch and reserves of coal. The publication also provides information on import- export and prices of coal.

Notes:
In a new study, researchers have found that the highest levels of atmospheric mercury pollution in the world are found in a patch of the Peruvian Amazon.
The study shows that illegal Gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon is causing record high levels of atmospheric mercury pollution. Birds from this area have up to 12 times more mercury in their systems than birds from less polluted areas.

Notes:
India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2022 was approved in the 2nd ASEAN Digital Ministers meeting held in the virtual mode.
The Work Plan focuses on tackling the use of stolen and counterfeit mobile handsets and WiFi Access network interface, for the public interest. It also includes knowledge sharing in emerging areas ICT such as Internet of Things, 5G, Advanced Satellite Communication and Cyber Forensics.