Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2023

Notes:
Chennai’s drone startup Garuda Aerospace has partnered with the Union Bank of India as 150 Garuda Agri Kisan drones received sanction for a loan under the Kisan Pushpak Scheme.
The drone loan will help farmers to digitise land record operations for crop production, and spraying of fertilisers, chemicals and pesticides. The Agri Infrastructure Fund Scheme finances 150 drone applications that will benefit the farmer community and create 150 skilled pilots who will engage to become entrepreneurs.

Notes:
India is hosting the ‘Voice of Global South Summit’. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the Foreign Ministers’ Session at the Voice of Global South Summit.
He said that the case for a Global South-sensitive model of globalisation is becoming stronger and India stands for a shift from self-centered globalisation to one that is human-centered.

Notes:
Essel Mining and Industries Limited (EMIL), a subsidiary of the Aditya Birla group, has been trying operationalise a big diamond project in Madhya Pradesh. There are protests over human displacement, environmental damage, loss of livelihood
The mine is inside a forest in Buxwaha, located 200 kms from Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh accounts for about 90% of the total diamond resource of the country. Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are the other states that produce diamonds.

Notes:
The US government has announced name changes for five places whose designations included a racist term for Native American women.
Deb Haaland, who is the first Native American cabinet secretary in US history created a task force to replace derogatory names of the nation’s geographic features. The sites are in the states of California, North Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.

Notes:
Swedish state-owned mining company, LKAB, announced that it has discovered more than one million tonnes of rare earth oxides in the country.
This is the largest ever known deposit of rare earth oxides in Europe. Currently, no rare earths are mined in Europe and the continent mostly imports them from other regions. According to a report, 98 per cent of rare earths used by the European Union were sent by China.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh is the top destination for mobile gamers, according to India Mobile Gaming Report 2022.
The report was released by the gaming platform Mobile Premier League. Uttar Pradesh is followed by Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar and West Bengal. Other states like Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Himachal Pradesh have seen the highest increase in mobile gamers in 2022 compared to 2021.

Notes:
Mexico has brought into force one of the world’s strictest anti-tobacco laws by enacting a total ban on smoking in public places.
The step was first approved in 2021. It also includes a ban on tobacco advertising. Several other Latin American countries have also passed legislation to create smoke-free public spaces. Mexico’s existing 2008 law, which created smoke-free spaces in bars, restaurants and workplaces, is now extended to an outright ban in all public spaces.

Notes:
Bhavin Rabari, the lead child actor of Gujarati film Chhello Show bagged International Press Academy (IPA) award in the ‘Best Breakthrough Performance’ category at the 27th Satellite Awards held in the United States.
The picture is also the first Indian film to be shortlisted for the Oscars in the ‘Best International Feature Film’ class after 21 years.

Notes:
The Major Ports Adjudicatory Board Rules, 2023, framed under the Act, has been notified by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
The Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 came into force in November 2021. As per the rules, the Adjudicatory Board shall consist of a Presiding Officer and two members. The Presiding Officer shall be a retired Judge of Supreme Court of India or a retired Chief Justice of a High Court and the two Members shall either be a retired Chief Secretary of a State Government or equivalent; or a retired Secretary of the Government of India or equivalent.

Notes:
The NASA Sea Level Change Team conducted a study recently, which shows that average sea level rise approaching the 1-foot mark for most coastlines of the contiguous U.S. by 2050.
As per the study, the Gulf Coast and Southeast will see the most change. The results from the NASA Sea Level Change Team could help refine projections for coastal communities for catastrophic and nuisance floods.