Current Affairs Quiz - January 2022

Notes:
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth jointly inaugurated India-assisted social housing units project in Mauritius virtually.
They also laid foundation stone for Civil Service College and a 8 MW Solar PV Farm, undertaken with India’s support. They also signed agreement for the extension of USD 190M Line of Credit from the India to Mauritius for the Metro Express and other infrastructure projects, and an MoU on the implementation of small development projects.

Notes:
Kiribati is one of the most isolated islands in the world. It is located in Oceania and is about 4,800km from Australia.
Until last week, Kiribati had recorded just two Covid cases. After the passengers on the first international flight tested positive for Covid, the country has imposed its first lock-down.

Notes:
India’s first state-of-the-art, Para-badminton academy with advanced equipment and facilities has been set up in Lucknow.
The centre has been launched by Dronacharya awardee and Head national coach of Indian para-badminton team, Gaurav Khanna, along with Ageas Federal Life Insurance. It aims to improve India’s medal prospects at the 2024 Paralympics.

Notes:
The Assam government is set to confer the state’s highest civilian award ‘Assam Baibhav’ on industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata.
The state will also confer Assam Baibhav, Assam Saurav and Assam Gaurav Awards. The Assam Saurav award will be conferred on fiver personalities including Olympics medallist Lovlina Borgohain.

Notes:
January 26 marks the date the British fleet sailed into Sydney Harbour in 1788 to start a penal colony. For many Indigenous Australians, it is “Invasion Day”.
Prime Minister participated in the national flag-raising and citizenship ceremony in Australia’s capital, Canberra. While many protesters held rallies across the country with some carrying the Aboriginal flag and “change the date” signs.

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:
India Pavilion at EXPO2020 Dubai launched the USD 150-million fund India-UAE venture capital fund in the UAE.
It is the first such fund to be set up in the UAE. The fund aims to invest and nurture promising startups through an accelerator to fuel the growth of India-UAE start-ups. It will be funded by investors across UAE, India and GCC countries.

Notes:
A total of 246 rebels from the Tiwa Liberation Army (TLA) and United Gorkha Peoples Organisation (UGPO), formally surrendered and laid down arms in Assam.
TLA was formed in 2014 and UGPO was formed in 2007. They deposited 277 types of arms, grenades and 720 rounds of ammunition. As many as 462 former militants of five different terrorist outfits had surrendered last year in the state.

Notes:
Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar launched the Karnataka Brain Health Initiative, a first-of-its-kind plan in India.
The plan has been undertaken by NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences) in association with NITI Aayog. Under the new programme, Doctors will be trained in screening and treating mental health patients.

Notes:
Ain Sefra, also known as the ‘Gateway to the Sahara’, is located in northwest Algeria. The area is surrounded by the Atlas Mountains and is 1,000 metres above sea level.
Recently, the Sahara Desert, commonly known for its hot and dry climate, witnessed a rare snowfall. Temperatures dipped to -2 degrees Celsius near the town of Ain Sefra, which has a heat record of over 50°C. The occurrence of rare snowfall this time is due to climate change.