Current Affairs Quiz - July 2022

Notes:
Ola Electric launched the country’s first indigenously developed lithium ion cell. The Bengaluru-based two-wheeler maker is set to begin the mass production of the cell ‘NMC 2170’, from its Chennai-based Gigafactory by 2023.
The cell packs more energy in a given space and also improves the overall life cycle of the cell, due to the specific chemicals and materials used.

Notes:
The International Rice Research Institute is an international agricultural research and training organization with its headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna in the Philippines. It was founded in 1960.
India’s Department of Agriculture & Farmer Welfare (DA&FW) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for Phase -2 activities of IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC).

Notes:
‘Jezero’ is a crater on the red planet ‘Mars’ in the Syrtis Major quadrangle. NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover has taken its first sample from the Jezero delta.
The first activity the rover conducted on the rock called Skinner Ridge was an abrasion called Thornton Gap. The process of collecting the core was named Swift Run. At 6.70 cm long, it is the longest core of the mission so far.

Notes:
Indian Naval Warship, INS Satpura and P8I LRMRASW aircraft are taking part in one of the largest multilateral naval exercises, the Rim of the Pacific exercise (RIMPAC).
The exercise involving the Navies of 28 friendly foreign countries is held at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, a state in the United States. INS Satpura is an indigenously designed and built 6000-tonne guided missile stealth frigate.

Notes:
Renowned filmmaker KP Kumaran was awarded the 2021 JC Daniel Award. It is Kerala’s highest award in Malayalam cinema.
The award is presented annually by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, a non-profit institution under the Department of Cultural Affairs.

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:
An MoU was signed by Union Environment Minister of India and Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia, in New Delhi.
It paves way for reintroduction of eight cheetahs in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The MoU also covers cooperation on wildlife conservation and sustainable biodiversity utilisation. India will train Namibian candidates in wildlife management courses at the Wildlife Institute of India.

Notes:
NITI Aayog has released a report titled ‘A proposal for Digital Banks in India: Licensing and Regulatory Regime’.
The report recommends a calibrated approach, comprising ‘Issue of a restricted digital bank licence’, ‘Enlistment in a regulatory sandbox framework enacted by the Reserve Bank of India’ and ‘Issue of a full-scale digital bank licence’.

Notes:
The United States added Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei and Macau to a human trafficking blacklist in its annual report.
The list already included Malaysia, alleging weak efforts to stop forced sex work or assist migrant labourers. The US also added Belarus to the blacklist and placed Bulgaria on a watchlist on concerns it is not taking trafficking seriously.

Notes:
India signed an ‘Agreement to curb trans-border crimes’ with Bangladesh. The countries also decided to complete pending developmental work within 150 yards of the international border.
The agreements were signed during the Director-General level border co-ordination conference between India and Bangladesh, held in Dhaka after two years.