Current Affairs Quiz - June 2022

Notes:
The Ministry of Education (MoE) announced the launch of a special three-year skill based bachelor degree programme for ‘Agniveers’.
The degree programme offered by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) will be recognised both in India and abroad for employment and education. Agniveers are the defence personnel to be recruited under the newly launched ‘Agnipath’ scheme.

Notes:
India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed, nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile from a test range off the Odisha coast.
The missile was developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation of India. It has a range of around 250 km and can carry a one tonne payload. The test comes around 10 days after India tested its Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile Agni-IV, which can travel as far as 4,000 km.

Notes:
Union Steel Minister Ram Chandra Prasad Singh inaugurated a six-lane highway in Surat made of steel slag, a first-of-its kind.
The road constructed using 100 per cent slag, which is a by-product of steel manufacturing. The road has been jointly made with the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), which is a laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel (AMNS).

Notes:
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR released the ‘2022 Global Trends Report’. As per the report, 100 million people have now been forced to flee their homes globally.
UNHCR also highlighted worldwide food insecurity, the climate crisis, war in Ukraine and other emergencies from Africa to Afghanistan as leading causes. As per the report, the number displaced by war, violence, persecution and human rights abuses stood at 89.3 million, by the end of 2021.

Notes:
India and other member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) supported an initiative of China to organise a joint border operation ‘Solidarity-2023’ for the border agencies of the member countries next year.
India’s Border Security Force (BSF) Director announced this at the conclusion of the eighth meeting of the heads of border authorities of the competent bodies of SCO member states, which was held in Delhi, under the chairmanship of India.

Notes:
Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) recently clarified that the Padma Bridgeis not part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
It is a multipurpose road-rail bridge across the Padma River, the main distributary of the Ganges. When completed it will be the largest bridge in Bangladesh and the first fixed river crossing for road traffic. BRI or the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative is a flagship programme of President Xi Jinping for trade and connectivity and India has raised concerns over the BRI projects.

Notes:
Former rebel fighter Gustavo Petro secured majority of votes in the Colombia’s presidential election and is set to become the first leftist President of the country.
A shift of South American politics to the left has been observed with the victories in Peru last year, and in Chile and Honduras this year. During the pandemic, Colombia saw anti-establishment protests against corruption, stagnancy, increased taxation and a new health care reform.

Notes:
South Korea launched its first domestically built space rocket ‘Nuri’ in the country’s second attempt. Earlier, the country failed to place a payload into orbit.
If the launch is successful, South Korea will become the world’s 10th nation to place a satellite into space with its own technology. The performance verification satellite will also help South Korea launch more satellites.

Notes:
Every year, World Refugee Day is observed on June 20, to highlight the difficulties faced by refugees who have been displaced from their homes.
The United Nations has celebrated this day since 2001 and the day marks the 50th anniversary of the 1951 refugee convention. The theme for this year’s World Refugee Day is ‘Whoever, Whatever, Whenever. Everyone has a right to seek safety.

Notes:
The General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice.
It aims to celebrate the unity of cultural heritage and traditions, as well as to strengthen ties among people. The seasonal movement of the Sun’s daily path appears to stand still at a northern or southern limit before reversing direction. There are two solstices that occur annually namely the Summer Solstice around June 21 and Winter Solstice around December 21.