Current Affairs Quiz - June 2022

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:
Vaikom Muhammed Basheer was a famous writer of Malayalam literature. He was a recipient of the Sahitya Academy Fellowship and Padma Shri award.
The 28th death anniversary of writer Vaikom Muhammed Basheer is set to be marked at his residence at Beypore with a range of programmes named ‘Basheer Fest’. The event will be organised in association with Chalachitra Academy, Folklore Academy and Sahitya Akademi and others.

Notes:
Sri Lankan cabinet passed the 21st Amendment to the Constitution to empower Parliament over the executive president.
The 21st Amendment is expected to dissolve the section, which gives unfettered powers to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after abolishing the 19th Amendment that will strengthen Parliament. It also includes reforms including barring dual citizens from contesting elections to hold public office.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched ‘Mukhyamantri Matrushakti Yojna’ a nutrition scheme for pregnant and lactating mothers- in Gujarat’s Vadodara.
The financial outlay of the scheme is Rs 800 crore. Every month, all identified beneficiaries will receive Poshan Kits along with other ICDS services. Poshan Sudha Yojana, which aims to meet the nutritional needs of pregnant women, has also been expanded to all tribal- areas of Gujarat.

Notes:
The theme for International Day of Yoga 2022 is “Yoga for Humanity”. The International Yoga Day is observed with a unique theme every year since 2015. This year’s main event demonstration was led by Prime Minister Modi at Mysuru Palace.

Notes:
Noc Kupaly is celebrated by Poland and other Slavic countries during the shortest night of the year (summer solstice). This pagan festival celebrates the idea of fertility and purification. The celebrations involve bonfire lighting, herb collecting and bathing in a river.

Notes:
Observed on June 23, UN Public Service Day aims to recognize the importance of public institutions and public servants in ensuring the development of all sectors across the globe.
The 2022 theme is “Building back better from COVID-19: Enhancing innovative partnerships to meet the Sustainable Development Goals”.

Notes:
A joint India-UK Commonwealth Diplomatic Academy programme was recently announced by the foreign ministers of the UK and India.
It aims to equip diplomats from all Commonwealth member states with expertise and skills required for addressing emerging challenges that have global-level impact. This academy programme will be hosted in New Delhi. This was announced during the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which was held in Rwanda, East Africa from June 24 to 25.

Notes:
A new species of jumping spider christened Pseudomogrus sudhii was discovered by a group of researchers in the Thar Desert in Rajasthan’s Desert National Park. The new species was named after the renowned arachnologist Sudhikumar.
This 4-millimetre-long spider is found only in India and United Arab Emirates. The male members of this species have dark brown head covered with small white hairs, black eye region and a dark band along the pale-yellow coloured abdomen. The females’ head is yellow with black eyes and white spotted light-yellow abdomen.

Notes:
Kempe Gowda was a chieftain under the Vijayanagar Empire, who was known for the fortification of Karnataka’s capital, Bengaluru in 1537.
His birth anniversary is observed every year across Karnataka on June 27 since 2017. In his honour, Kempe Gowda International Award was instituted earlier this year, to recognize the contributions towards development of Bengaluru. The recipients of the inaugural edition of this award are former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna, Infosys founder NR Narayan Murthy and veteran badminton player Prakash Padukone.