Current Affairs Quiz - June 2022

Notes:
The Controller General of Accounts (CGA) released the fiscal deficit for 2021-22, which improved to 6.71 per cent of the GDP over the revised budget estimate of 6.9 per cent. The fiscal deficit in absolute terms was Rs 15,86,537 crore (provisional).
The increase was mainly on account of higher tax realisation. The tax receipts during the fiscal stood at Rs 18.2 trillion as against the revised estimates (RE) of Rs 17.65 trillion.

Notes:
United States Department of Defense (DoD) announced the authorization of a security assistance valued at up to USD 700 million.
The assistance has been announced to meet critical Ukrainian needs for its fight. This authorization is the eleventh drawdown of equipment from the country for Ukraine since August 2021. The United States has now committed USD 5.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.

Notes:
Denmark is set to join the European Union’s defence policy after it held a referendum for the decision. Denmark is the only EU member that is not part of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
The Denmark government has succeeded in abolishing an exemption secured in a 1993 referendum on the Maastricht Treaty. Sweden and Finland also placed historic bids to join NATO, which will be taken up at the upcoming summit.

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:
Ministry of Tourism, in association with the United Environment Program (UNEP) and Responsible Tourism Society of India (RTSOI) organised the ‘National summit on developing sustainable and responsible tourist destinations’ in New Delhi.
On this occasion, the Ministry of Tourism launched the national strategy for sustainable tourism and the responsible traveller campaign.

Notes:
Germany has recently hosted the 10-day meeting of parties to the Antarctic Treaty in Berlin. A majority of parties held the opinion that there is scientific evidence for the emperor penguins species to be put under the special protection.
It is said that China has blocked efforts to step up protection of emperor penguins in Antarctica. The species are threatened by the effects of global warming on their natural habitat in Antarctica.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the national portal for credit-linked government schemes named ‘Jan Samarth Portal’.
Jan Samarth Portal is a one-stop digital portal linking government credit schemes, to connect beneficiaries to lenders. It provides people with the right government benefits through simple and easy digital processes.

Notes:
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and India’s public service broadcaster Prasar Bharati are exploring the feasibility of a technology called ‘direct-to-mobile’ (D2M) broadcasting.
It allows broadcasting video and other forms of multimedia content directly to mobile phones, without the need of an active internet connection. The technology is also expected to improve consumption of broadband and utilisation of spectrum.

Notes:
India and Canada have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to increase cooperation on climate action, environmental protection and conservation through various initiatives in areas such as renewable energy and plastic pollution.
The two countries will collaborate, exchange information and support each other’s climate and environmental goals.

Notes:
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang declared Blue Duke the state butterfly, on the occasion of World Environment Day.
Blue Duke whose scientific name is ‘Bassarona durga durga’, is endemic to Sikkim and the eastern Himalayas. Blue Duke falls in Schedule 2 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and is a protected species in the Himalayas. As many as 720 species of butterflies are found in Sikkim.