Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2023

Notes:
A team made up of international scientists have recently discovered 20 new frog species in Madagascar.
The team placed the frogs within the genus Mantidactylus and subgenus Brygoomantis. Before now, the group had just 14 members, but now has received 20 new members, and as per the researchers a lot of them sound like a creaking door or a gurgling stomach.

Notes:
Supreme Court ruled that a citizen can seek enforcement of the fundamental rights to freedom of speech not just against the state.
With this the Supreme Court has extended the ground for seeking these rights against other private citizens. The court ruled that the right of free speech and expression guaranteed under the Article 19(1)(a) cannot be curbed by any additional grounds other than those already laid down in Article 19(2).

Notes:
The government has approved Rs 28.11 crore to extend the interest-free loan to tobacco farmers Andhra Pradesh.
This measure will help the Flue Cured Virginia tobacco farmers overcome the damage caused by Mandous Cyclonic rains, as per the Commerce Ministry. The interest-free loan to the eligible farmers will be administered by the Tobacco Board.

Notes:
At present, the government and state-owned Life Insurance Corporation hold a little over 94 per cent in IDBI Bank and are classified as its co-promoters. The central government is looking to sell nearly 61 per cent stake in IDBI Bank.
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) accepted the central government’s request to reclassify its shareholding in the Bank after its disinvestment as ‘public holding’.

Notes:
‘SPRINT Challenges’ was launched to give a boost to the usage of indigenous technology to Indian Navy
Recently, the Indian Navy has inked an agreement with Sagar Defence Engineering for acquiring armed autonomous boat swarms. This is the 50th contract that has been signed under ‘SPRINT’ challenge.

Notes:
On the 76th Foundation Day of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the portal for mapping of Industrial Units and Laboratories was launched.
Commerce and Industry Ministry also launched standards clubs in schools, Standards National Action Plan (SNAP) 2022-27, revised National Building Code of India (NBC 2016) and National Electrical Code of India 2023.

Notes:
Delhi government is set to launch a new mobility card for commuters to pay fares electronically on both buses and the metro.
Delhi Transport department issued a notice inviting a tender for the project. The cards are part of the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), which enables passengers from any part of the country to use NCMC-compliant RuPay debit card for travel.

Notes:
Bhitarkanika National Park, located in Odisha, reported an increase in the number of birds to 1,39,959 birds this year compared to 1,38,107 last year.
While the number of bird count increased, the diversity of species has decreased compared to last year. This year the National Park saw 140 species of birds compared to 144 last year. Many rare and endangered species were spotted this time.

Notes:
As per the list of the top-performing global airports of 2022 released by Cirium Aviation Analytics, Haneda Airport of Tokyo, Japan is placed in the first place.
Bangalore’s Kempegowda International Airport won the 2nd rank, whereas Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport acquired the 7th rank.

Notes:
The Central government has extended the tenure of Dr Michael Debabrata Patra as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India for one more year.
Michael Debabrata Patra took over as Deputy Governor of the RBI in January 2020. He was an Executive Director of India’s central bank before being elevated to the post of Deputy Governor.