Current Affairs Quiz - June 2022

Notes:
Maharashtra has overtaken Uttar Pradesh (UP) to regain its position as India’s top sugar producer, in the year 2021-22, after five-year gap.
The state’s output for the 2021-22 crushing year-October-September- stood at 138 lakh tonnes (lt). That is highest ever beating the previous 107.21 lakh tonnes of 2018-19. Maharashtra is followed by Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.

Notes:
Israel archaeologists have recently found a 2,100-Year-Old ancient farmstead at the archaeological site of Horbat Assad in Israel.
They also unearthed loom weights used for weaving garments, large ceramic storage vessels, and iron agricultural implements, including various picks and scythes. The ancient coins retrieved date the farmstead to the second half of the second century BCE.

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:
World Milk Day was established by the (FAO) Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in the year 2001. It is celebrated to recognize the importance of milk as a global food and to celebrate the dairy sector.
FAO organised the ‘Enjoy Dairy Rally’ to celebrate the World Milk Day. This year’s theme highlighted the work being done to accelerate climate action and help reduce the dairy sector’s impact on the planet. The day aims to raise awareness of the action towards Dairy Net Zero.

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:
Soft robots are robots that are flexible and unlike traditional robots can be used to perform more delicate functions.
Soft robots can be programmed to execute specific tasks such as reaching into difficult gaps or holding onto delicate objects.

Notes:
India and Israel adopted a ‘Vision statement’ for strengthening defence cooperation in future. The statement marked 30 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Israeli counterpart held bilateral talks in New Delhi. The two leaders discussed defence cooperation and the global and regional defence scenario. Israel recently signed the instrument of ratification of the International Solar Alliance.

Notes:
The world’s largest plant- the ribbon weed (Posidonia australis) has recently been discovered off the West Coast of Australia.
It is a sea-grass which is measured to be 180 km in length. Ribbon weed rhizomes can usually grow to around 35cm per year and with this, the scientists arrived at its lifespan of 4,500  years. It has double the number of chromosomes than other similar plants, and managed to survive the volatile atmosphere of the Shark Bay.

Notes:
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently signed deals worth 1.3 billion Canadian dollars to settle a Blackfoot tribe’s land claim.
The 1.3 billion Canadian dollar (USD 1 billion) settlement is one of the largest agreements of its kind reached in Canada. It aims to correct the mistakes dating back over a century when Canadian government broke promise and wrongfully took half of Siksika Nation’s reserve land to sell to settlers.