Current Affairs Quiz - June 2022

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:
Panna Tiger Reserve is located in Vindhyan Hills in northern Madhya Pradesh. The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti recently released the final report of the Integrated Landscape Management Plan for Greater Panna Landscape.
The plan has been prepared in respect of the Ken-Betwa Link Project by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), for better habitat protection, and management of species such as tigers, vultures, and gharial.

Notes:
Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh addressed the ‘Start-up India-2022 Expo and Conclave’ as the Chief Guest.
It was organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi.  After the launch of ‘StartUp India StandUp India’, the number of StartUps in India has grown to 70,000 from about 400 from 2014 to 2022.

Notes:
The Government has approved 8.1 per cent rate of interest on employees’ provident fund (EPF) deposits for the year 2021-22, from 8.5 per cent provided in the previous year.
The 8.1 per cent EPF rate of interest is the lowest since 1977-78, when it stood at 8 per cent. The interest rate on EPF deposits was decided by the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) and was ratified by the finance ministry 2021.

Notes:
China successfully launched its third manned mission to its new space station, sending three astronauts to continue construction work for six months.
China’s Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced that the Shenzhou-14 spacecraft was launched by a Long March 2F rocket. The team will live and work at the Tiangong Space Station’s Tianhe core module for six months.

Notes:
Sony has announced that it formed a new company to build and supply devices that allow small satellites in orbit to communicate with one another via laser beams.
The devices will work between satellites in space and satellites communicating with ground stations. There are around 12,000 satellites in orbit, a number that is projected to increase rapidly in the coming years

Notes:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin recently flagged off the luxury cruise liner “Empress” from Chennai port.
This is regarded as the first luxury cruise liner to be operated from the state. The eleven-storey tourist vessel can accommodate up to 2000 passengers and 800 crew members. The package also includes an anchor at Puducherry and Visakhapatnam harbours.

Notes:
India successfully tested the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile Agni-4. The successful training launch was carried out from APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha.
Agni-4 is an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile with a range of around 4,000 km. It was developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and can carry a 1,000-kg payload and can go as high as 900 km.

Notes:
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to monetise highway stretches to the extent of 1,750 km in the year 2022-23.
This asset monetisation move would help NHAI raise around Rs 20,000 crore. It has also prepared a list of road assets to be monetised in the current fiscal from different parts of the country. NHAI’s debt burden stood at worrisome Rs 3.5 trillion at the end of last financial year.

Notes:
Australia’s highest court has made a landmark ruling that will curtail the Government’s citizenship Powers and how governments can deal with extremists.
The High Court restored Delil Alexander’s Australian citizenship that was illegally cancelled in July last year by the then-Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews. Delil Alexander was suspected to be Islamic State group fighter.