Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2023

Notes:
The Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal), a central sector water conservation scheme, will continue for an additional two years beyond its original 2025 end date. It is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The major objective of the Scheme is to improve the management of groundwater resources in select water stressed areas in identified states viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

Notes:
XPoSat (X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite) is India’s first polarimetry mission. It is currently being built by ISRO and Raman Research Institute.
According to ISRO, “XPoSat will study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions” and will carry two payloads. It is only the world’s second polarimetry mission to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions.

Notes:
The ancient Olmec artefact known as “Gateway to the Underworld” has been returned to Mexico from the US five decades after it was stolen.
The piece, officially known as Monument 9 of Chalcatzingo, is considered Mexico’s most sought-after piece from the ancient Olmec civilization.

Notes:
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced that Ahmednagar will be renamed Ahilyanagar in an ode to 18th-century Maratha queen Ahilyabai Holkar.
Ahilyabai Holkar reigned Malwa from 1765 to 1795. She had established Maheshwar (in Madhya Pradesh) as the seat of the Holkar dynasty. In February, the government had renamed Osmanabad as Dharashiv and Aurangabad as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

Notes:
Zambia’s Kafue National Park (KNP) is the third largest national park in Africa. New reports reveal that lion and leopard population in this region are rebounding, after 50 years of poaching.
Scientists found leopard densities in southern KNP increased threefold — from about 1.5 leopards in 2019 to approximately 4.4 leopards per 100 square kilometres in 2022. This was due to rigorous counter-poaching operations for four years.

Notes:
Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan today released the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2023.
The UGC Act 1956 provides for Central Government to declare any institution other than a University to a status of Institution Deemed to be University. The New Regulations will encourage universities to focus on quality and excellence, strengthen the research ecosystem and have a long-term impact in transforming higher education landscape.

Notes:
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the first phase of ‘Shiv Srishti’, a theme park based on the life of Shivaji Maharaj in Pune, Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra government recently announced that it will provide Rs 50 crore for the construction of Shiva Srishti. It will be constructed at the base of Raigad fort.

Notes:
Rajasthan chief minister (CM) Ashok Gehlot declared that families will get free electricity for up to 100 units, while a fixed rate for the next 100 units will be provided.
The scheme, which will cover all sections of the people, will come into effect from June 1. Last year, the prices of cooking gas were slashed by more than half to provide 12 cylinders a year at Rs 500 each.

Notes:
Shangri-La Dialogue was held in Singapore recently. It is organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and participated by 41 countries.
During this conference, Germany’s Defence Minister recent announced that the country will be sending two warships to the Indo-Pacific in 2024.

Notes:
The West Bengal government launched 20 buses equipped with ‘Shuddha Vayu’ devices that measure air quality along their routes.
These Bus Roof Mounted Air Purification Systems (BRMAPS) have air filters to capture pollutants, and the collected data will be transmitted to the pollution control board’s database for monitoring pollution levels along the bus routes.