Current Affairs Quiz - June 2022

Notes:
The Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) has been approved for continuation till 2025-26 with the total outlay of Rs 13,554.42 crore.
The extension of the scheme is over the 15th Finance Commission Cycle for five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26. The scheme will create sustainable employment opportunities for about 40 lakh persons in five financial years. It is implemented by the Ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises.

Notes:
The World Health Organization (WHO) released a report titled ‘Tobacco: Poisoning Our Planet’ to coincide with World No Tobacco Day.
It found that the tobacco industry is responsible for the annual loss of eight million human lives, 600 million trees, 200,000 hectares of land, 22 billion tonnes of water, and releases about 84 million tonnes of CO2 into the Earth’s atmosphere. The report called for steps to make the industry more accountable for the destruction.

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:
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) recently launched Operation Rakth Chandan recovered 14.63 MT of Red Sanders estimated at Rs 11.70 crores in the international market.
The red sanders were seized from a consignment at ICD Sabarmati which was to be exported to Sharjah, UAE. The suspect container was scanned through a ‘container scanning device’.

Notes:
Etalin hydroelectric project is proposed to be set up in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The 3,097-MW project requires diversion of over 1100 hectares of forest land and felling of over 280,000 trees.
Wildlife scientists and conservationists in the state have written to Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), about the threats to local biodiversity from the project

Notes:
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award will be introduced in the state for sportspersons.
The Chief Minister also said the ‘Rajiv Gandhi Rural Olympics’ will start from August 2022 and over 27 lakh players of all ages will participate in it. He also inaugurated Rajasthan High Performance Sports and Rehabilitation Centre.

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:
Punjab government has recently launched e-stamping facility after abolishing physical stamp papers of all denominations.
The move aims to bring efficiency and is expected to save Rs 35 crore annually. Stamp papers of any denomination can be obtained only through e-stamp from stamp vendor or from banks authorised by the state government. The facility has been started with the assistance of National e-Governance Services Limited.

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 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.