Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2023

Notes:
The Gaan Ngai festival of the Zeliangrong community is celebrated in Manipur. It is celebrated every year after harvesting.
During the festival, the Zeliarong community shows their gratitude by offering their harvest to the almighty. It is a custom to produce new fire by rubbing dry wood and split bamboo pieces and distribute them to other households. The Zeliarong community in Manipur comprises Rongmei, Liangmei, and Zeme tribes.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission with a total initial outlay of Rs 19,744 crore.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘National Hydrogen Mission’ on Independence Day in 2021. If the electricity used for the process of generating hydrogen comes from a renewable source then the hydrogen is referred to as green hydrogen.

Notes:
The founder of cryptocurrency company FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried faces eight criminal counts, including wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy, among others
He recently pleaded not guilty Manhattan federal court, to charges of defrauding investors related to the collapse of the crypto exchange. He is accused of redirecting the deposits of FTX customers without their consent to his Alameda Research hedge fund.

Notes:
Space Kidz India, a Chennai-based space tech start-up is set to launch their satellite made by 750 girls from government schools aboard an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launch vehicle.
A targeted launch date of January 16 has been set for the satellite named AzaadiSAT. Space Kidz India selected 10 girl students from 75 government schools across the country for this mission. The project is also supported by Niti Aayog.

Notes:
The ruling Taliban has signed a deal with a Chinese company to extract oil from northern Afghanistan’s Amu Darya basin.
The agreement is the first major international energy extraction deal the Taliban signed since taking control of Afghanistan in 2021.

Notes:
Divya Deshmukh holds the record of being the youngest to retain the National women’s chess champion title.
Before ten months Divya Deshmukh became the youngest National women’s chess champion. The 17-year-old player defeated the 2016 Asian champion Bhakti Kulkarni with 9.5 points. Mary Ann Gomes (9) finished second while the top seed Vantika Agarwal (8.5) ended up third.

Notes:
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Microsoft signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the growth of space-tech startups in India.
The MoU seeks to empower space tech startups across the country with technology tools and platforms, market support and mentorship. The space-tech startups identified by ISRO will be onboarded onto the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub platform.

Notes:
As part of the Government’s e-governance initiative, an online Invitation Management Portal was launched
The Aamantran portal can be used to extend e-Invitations to dignitaries/guests and Online Sale of Tickets to general public for witnessing Republic day and Independence day events.

Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a statewide 100-day ‘UP Global City’ campaign, ahead of the upcoming Global Investors Summit and G20 summit.
The campaign will focus on urban facilities, improving air quality, better cleanliness, and proper disposal of garbage among others.

Notes:
The US Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval for the Alzheimer’s disease drug Lecanemab.
The drug has shown “potential” as an Alzheimer’s disease treatment by appearing to slow progression. Though it is not a cure, the drug works by binding to amyloid beta, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.