Current Affairs Quiz - June 2022

Notes:
Scientists have discovered the world’s largest recorded bacterium Thiomargarita magnifica in a Caribbean mangrove. It was measured to be more than a centimetre long. It can reach a maximum length of 2 cm.

Notes:
The research wing of the Uttarakhand Forest Department has discovered a rare carnivorous plant species named Utricularia Furcellata in the Uttarakhand’s Mandal Valley.
This discovery is significant as this plant is found for the first time in western Himalayan region. The plant belongs to the genus bladderworts. It uses complex plant structures to trap targets ranging from protozoa to insects, mosquito larvae and tadpoles. It uses the mechanical process of creating a vacuum or negative pressure area to attract preys into the trap door.

Notes:
India’s national standard body, the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) has formulated and published standards for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
BIS functions under the aegis of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. The new standards are released for test specifications for Lithium-ion Traction Battery Packs and Systems for Electrically Propelled Road Vehicles, considering real-life scenarios.

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The 14th BRICS Summit, which was convened under Chairship of Chinese President Xi Jinping in a virtual format, concluded with the Beijing Declaration.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led India’s participation at the Summit. The declaration supported talks between Russia and Ukraine. They expressed support for United Nations agencies and Red Cross to provide humanitarian assistance. The summit called for finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the UN framework.

Notes:
The Himachal Pradesh is set to implement a buy-back scheme in schools and colleges to purchase single-use plastic items from students.
Under the new scheme, the government will pay students Rs 75 for a kg of single-use plastic items they deposit with the school. The scheme aims to inculcate a habit of environment conservation among the youngsters

Notes:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a video conference with Senior Defence Minister of Malaysia, to discuss various issues concerning bilateral, regional and defence industrial cooperation.
The ministers discussed the existing defence cooperation activities and framework, and ways to enhance them under the existing Malaysia India Defence Cooperation Meeting (MIDCOM) framework.

Notes:
The World Bank approved a USD 250 million loan for the Indian government’s road safety programme to addresses the high road accident fatality rate in the country.
The loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a maturity of 18 years. According to a World Bank study, road crashes are estimated to cost the Indian economy between 5% and 7% of GDP a year.

Notes:
International Day of the Tropics is observed annually on June 29, to highlight the importance of the tropics and the environmental and socio-economic challenges faced in these regions.
The Tropics are the regions around the equator that lie between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This region hosts about 40 per cent of the Earth’s population and 80 per cent of its biodiversity.

Notes:
Dr V Krishnamurthy, former chairman of public sector undertakings such as Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and Maruti Udyog (now Maruti Suzuki), passed away recently.
He is regarded as the ‘Father of Public Sector Undertakings’. He had served as Secretary of Industries for the Government of India, Member of the Planning Commission, and many other Prime Minister’s Committees. He was conferred Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan for his services.

Notes:
The England Men’s white-ball captain Eoin Morgan has retired from international cricket after his 13-year career with England.
The 35-year-old won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup as Captain in 2019, the first time England Men had won the world title. He was also a part of the England team that won the 2010 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup. He is the all-time leading run-scorer and most-capped player for England Men in both ODI and T20I matches.