Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2023

Notes:
NTPC Ltd commissioned India’s first green hydrogen blending project in the piped natural gas (PNG) network of NTPC Kawas Township, Surat.
The project is a joint effort of NTPC and Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL). Green hydrogen in Kawas is made by electrolysis of water using power from already installed 1 MW floating solar project. This feat has been achieved only by few countries like UK, Germany, and Australia.

Notes:
The draft rules for online gaming in India was released by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY)
The ‘Draft Amendments to the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021’, propose a ban on betting and wagering in online games. The rules propose setting up a self-regulatory body for grievance redressal and mandating know-your-customer (KYC) rules for gamers and online gaming intermediaries.

Notes:
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship conducts the ‘Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM)’.
PMNAM will be conducted across 242 districts across states and union territories this year. The event will see participation of several local businesses that will provide local youth the opportunity of apprenticeship training.

Notes:
Odisha Government recently inaugurated the ‘Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium’ in Rourkela. The state government claims that it is the world’s largest facility in terms of seating capacity and certified by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
The Rourkela facility will host the Men’s World Cup Hockey, organised by the FIH, along with Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar from January 13 to 29, 2023.

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:
Delhi government announced imposition of a temporary ban on plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in the national capital.
The decision was in view of the worsening air quality, as it reached the severe category owning to unfavourable meteorological conditions including clam winds and low temperatures. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) directed to implement anti-pollution curbs.

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.

Notes:
The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) conducts ‘Nidhi Apke Nikat’ outreach program on 10th of every month in all field offices.
It aims to expand its reach and attract more participation. Bhavishya Nidhi Adalat, which was a grievance redressal mechanism of EPFO has been renamed as Nidhi Aapke Nikat.

Notes:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah released a book titled ‘Revolutionaries- The Other Story of How India Won Its Freedom’
The Author of the book is Economist Sanjeev Sanyal who is also a member of Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.  Some other books authored by him include Land of the Seven Rivers, The Indian Renaissance and The Ocean of Churn.

Notes:
The UK Prime Minister signed a landmark defence agreement with the Japanese Prime Minister at London.
This is regarded as the most significant defence agreement between the two countries in more than a century, which allows UK forces to be deployed to Japan. The UK is the first European country to have a Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan.