Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2023

Notes:
The Next Census will only count Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain as distinct religion options.
This is despite demands from several sections including Sarnaism, the Lingayat religion, to be counted as a separate religion. Census 2021, which was to be conducted in two phases, has been postponed indefinitely, with the Central government initially attributing the delay to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notes:
International Organic Mahotsav-2023 is being organized from June 2 to 4 in Gadiraju Palace in Visakhapatnam.
The Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) is organising the event, which will connect farmers practicing natural farming methods and potential consumers of these crops.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has approved the City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain 2.0 (CITIIS 2.0).
CITIIS 2.0 is a program conceived by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD), KfW, the European Union (EU), and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). The program will run for a period of four years, from 2023 till 2027.

Notes:
Currency demand paradox happens when currency in circulation rising when digital payments are rising too. This phenomenon is seen in India.
The RBI has explained the ‘currency demand paradox’ in India. In India, while UPI-led retail digital payments grew at a CAGR of 50 per cent and 27 per cent in terms of volume and value, during 2016-17 to 2021-22, the currency in circulation to GDP ratio also peaked at 14.4 per cent in 2020-21.

Notes:
Obstetric fistula is a health condition characterized by the formation of an opening between the passage through which a baby is delivered and the urinary or digestive system.
Zamibia recently unveiled the Obstetric Fistula Strategic Plan for the period 2022 to 2026. On May 23, Zambia commemorated International Day for Elimination of Obstetric Fistula with theme “20 years on — progress but not enough! Act Now to End Fistula by 2030”. As of 2018, more than 33,000 women and girls were affected in the country.

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:
The Japanese Parliament Diet’s upper chamber recently approved a legislation to tackle loneliness and social isolation. It will come to effect on April 1 next year.
In a survey conducted by the government in 2022 for people age 16 or over nationwide, 40.3% of all respondents said that they had felt lonely.

Notes:
The United States and Taiwan have signed a trade deal aimed at deepening economic relations between both sides in a move that has sparked a warning from China.
Washington and Taipei maintain a multibillion-dollar annual trade and unofficial ties through the de facto US embassy. The Chinese foreign ministry accused Washington of violating agreements on the status of Taiwan.

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 Indian government is planning to bring hair transplant centres, skin and cosmetology clinics, dental cosmetology clinics and therapy centres under the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act.
At present, this Act currently requires only hospitals to be registered under it.