Current Affairs Quiz - July 2022

Notes:
NHPC has recently signed two agreements to develop green hydrogen technology in Leh, Kargil districts.
As per the agreement signed for Leh district, NHPC will develop a Pilot Green Hydrogen fuel cell-based Microgrid, including hydrogen production, to meet its power requirement. The hydrogen generated in Kargil will be used in fuel cells, to run buses in the local area.

Notes:
The British government launched an ‘Aviation Passenger Charter’ to help passengers know their rights when faced with problems at airports.
Long queues and cancelled flights caused by staff shortages have caused chaos, prompting airlines to cut back their schedules. The new charter helps passengers know what to do if they are confronted by cancellations, delays or missing baggage.

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:
Sri Lanka’s interim President Ranil Wickremesinghe prohibited the use of the word ‘His Excellency’ to address the President and abolished the presidential flag.
He was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s acting president until a successor is elected to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who resigned after protests against his government for mishandling the economy.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to adopt a simple four-tiered regulatory framework for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs).
The framework will be based on size of deposits, with an aim to strengthen their financial soundness. An expert committee, headed by former RBI deputy governor N S Vishwanathan, made a host of recommendations for strengthening the UCBs.

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:
Varuna, India’s first drone that can carry human pay-load has a range of 25 km. The passenger drone can carry 130 kg payload and has 25-33 minutes of flight time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently watched the demonstration of India’s first passenger drone, Varuna. ‘Varuna’ drone has been designed and developed by a startup ‘Sagar Defence Engineering’.

Notes:
Russia and Ukraine have signed a landmark deal with the United Nations and Turkey on resuming grain shipments.
This agreement aimed to ease a global food crisis and help avert famine by providing more wheat, sunflower oil, fertiliser and other products into world markets. The UN World Food Programme says some 47 million people are now in a stage of acute hunger. The deal included a ‘de facto ceasefire’ for the ships and facilities covered.

Notes:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 96.3 million loan to fund safe drinking water and sanitation project in Himachal Pradesh.
The 770 crore loan has been provided under the Himachal Pradesh Rural Drinking Water Improvement and Livelihood Project. The project will connect 75,800 households to the service, providing uninterrupted water supply to about 370,000 residents across 10 districts.

Notes:
The Tokyo-based International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) is the global forum of ports for industry collaboration and excellence.
IAPH has appointed Ennarasu Karunesan as its official representative in India. Ennarasu, an Indian Ports Advisor, has 33 years of leadership in the ports sector.