Current Affairs Quiz - June 2022

Notes:
Israel has signed a free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates, its first big trade pact with an Arab state.
The agreement, which aimed at boosting trade between the two Middle Eastern nations, would encourage more Israeli companies to set up offices in the UAE, particularly in Dubai. The deal with Israel is UAE’s second bilateral free trade agreement after a similar accord with India in February.

Notes:
National Statistical Office (NSO) marginally slashed its year-on-year gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 8.7 per cent, down from 8.9 per cent estimated in February.
The fourth quarter (January-March period of 2021-22) GDP growth was recorded at 4.1 per cent. The economy witnessed a 6.6 per cent contraction in 2020-21. The latest GDP growth estimate is lower than the second advance estimate of 8.9 per cent (released in February) and first advance estimate of 9.2 per cent (released in January).

Notes:
India recorded its highest-ever textiles and apparel exports in the financial year 2021-22 at USD 44.4 billion.
The exports including handicrafts recorded an increase of 41 per cent over corresponding figures in FY21. USA was the top export destination for the country’s textiles and apparel shipments with 27 per cent share, followed by the European Union (18 %), Bangladesh (12 %) and UAE (6 %).

Notes:
Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Lavender Festival, the first-of-its kind in India, in Bhaderwah, Jammu and Kashmir.
Bhaderwah in Doda district is the birthplace of the purple revolution and it is known for lavender cultivation in terms of land and climate. CSIR-Aroma Mission, under the Ministry of Science & Technology, aims to develop aroma-related science and technology to reach farmers, industry, and society.

Notes:
Maharashtra government has decided to make six Road Transport Office’ (RTO) services online. People, who need a permanent driving licence or verification for an international driving licence will need to go to the RTO.
Maharashtra’s transport department provides 80 online services and now six more services have been included.

Notes:
The species, Eublepharis pictus, also known as the Painted Leopard Gecko, was originally found in Visakhapatnam in 2017.
The species, which was considered as East Indian Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis hardwickii), has now been identified as a member of a new species. It appears to be common in the forests of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The two species appear to be separated by the Brahmani River.

Notes:
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami won from the Champawat bypoll by a margin of over 55,000 votes.
He had earlier lost from Khatima assembly constituency in the Uttarakhand Assembly Polls 2022 even though BJP won a clear majority in the state. This was a crucial victory for the Chief Minister to win the bypoll to retain the Chief Minister post.

Notes:
The Chandigarh UT Administration and the Indian Air Force (IAF) signed an MoU on the Indian Air Force Heritage Centre.
The centre will have simulators, decommissioned aircraft, aero engines and other IAF artefacts. The centre will also include virtual reality and AI technology. The Heritage Centre will be informative and motivate the country’s youth to join the armed forces.

Notes:
Cambodia has partnered with China for modernisation of ‘Ream Naval Base’. It would be able to accommodate ships of up to 5,000 tons displacement.
Cambodia denied that it will allow any Chinese military presence at a port. United States and other countries have expressed concern that it will be used by China as a naval outpost on the Gulf of Thailand. China also recently signed a security deal with the Solomon Islands.

Notes:
The annual Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela started at the famous Ragnya Devi temple in Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir.
The Tullmulla shrine is also the symbol of centuries-old culture and brotherhood among different communities of Kashmir. The Mela is being celebrated after two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.