Current Affairs Quiz - July 2022

Notes:
Under ‘Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana’, the States were asked to propose at least 15% of the length of annual projects using any of the new technologies or materials.
The step aims to promote cost-effective and fast construction technologies in the construction of rural roads. The ‘Vision document on New Technology Initiatives, 2022’ has been launched in May 2022.

 

Notes:
The US House of Representatives passed a bill to protect marriage equality. It is also feared that the Supreme Court could roll back the recognition of same-sex marriage.
The legislation ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ was passed as 47 Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting the measure. The bill will now go to the Senate for a vote.

Notes:
As per a recent survey of the Reserve Bank of India, the US surpassed the UAE as the top source country of India’s remittances, accounting for 23% of total remittances.
India is by far the world’s largest recipient of remittances, as it received $87 billion in 2021 with a growth of 4.6%. The share of remittances from the Gulf Cooperation Council region in India’s inward remittances is estimated to have declined.

Notes:
India and European Union (EU) recently attended the 10th round of ‘Human rights dialogue’ in New Delhi.
India and the European Union deliberated on the importance of safeguarding freedom, independence and diversity, including human rights defenders and journalists. Germany, a key member of the EU, had earlier criticised Indian authorities over fact-checker Mohammed Zubair’s arrest.

Notes:
Draupadi Murmu, the NDA’s presidential candidate, emerged victorious in the presidential election with 64.03 percent votes.
She bagged a total of 6,76,803 votes over her rival Yashwant Sinha who got 3,80,177 votes. Draupadi Murmu also scripted history to become the first tribal leader to be elected as the President of India.

Notes:
‘World Brain Day (WBD) 2022’ is marked every year on July 22, to increase public awareness and promote advocacy related to brain health.
This year, the World Brain Day is dedicated to the theme “Brain Health for all”. WBD 2022 campaign will focus on five key messages globally: Awareness, Prevention, Advocacy, Education and Access.

Notes:
The 13th Petersberg Climate Dialogue began recently in Berlin. The two-day ministerial meet is chaired by Germany and Egypt, the hosts of annual climate meet (COP-27).
The informal ministerial meet proposes to build consensus and provide political direction to resolve divergences in improving implementation of climate action, which is the core goal of COP-27.

Notes:
As per a recent government data, Tamil Nadu tops the list of states so far as utilisation of funds under Smart City Mission.
Tamil Nadu has spent over Rs 3932 crore out of the Rs 4333 crore released by the Centre, Uttar Pradesh is at second position with utilisation of Rs 2699 cr out of the release of Rs 3142 crore. Ther Smart Cities Mission (SCM) was launched on 25 June, 2015.

Notes:
According to NITI Aayog’s India Innovation Index 2021, India’s gross expenditure on research and development (R&D) is one of the lowest in the world, with just USD 43 per capita.
It said that India needs to boost this expenditure and at least be on a par with its BRICS or ASEAN counterparts like Russia (USD 285) and Brazil (USD 173). In India, the government spends more than 55% on R&D and private sector is to be encouraged to take up research.

Notes:
The United States has reported its first case of polio in nearly a decade after a patient had tested positive for the disease in the state of New York.
As per studies, the case of the highly contagious polio virus may have originated outside of the US. Healthcare providers are asked to be on alert for more cases and people in the area are asked to get vaccinated.