Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2023

Notes:
The U.S. President Joe Biden announced that the country is nominating Ajay Banga to lead the World Bank
The 63-year- old leader currently serves as Vice Chairman at General Atlantic. He was President and CEO of Mastercard was awarded the Padma Shri in 2016. He has worked as the Co-Chair of the Partnership for Central America, is a member of the Trilateral Commission, a founding trustee of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum among other prestigious positions.

Notes:
The Kerala government launched robotic scavenger named ‘Bandicoot’, to clean sewages in temple town of Guruvayur.
It becomes the first state in the country to use robotic technology to clean all its commissioned manholes. It was launched under Guruvayur Sewerage Project in Thrissur district by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), as part of the 100-day action plan of the state government.

Notes:
The Indian High Commission in London opened its visa application process for U.K. nationals to apply for the new Young Professionals Scheme (YPS).
Under the reciprocal scheme signed between India and UK at the G20 summit in Indonesia last November, Indian and British nationals aged between 18 and 30 can apply to live and work in either country for a period of up to two years.

Notes:
Seattle has become the first US city to ban discrimination based on caste after a vote by the city council.
The caste system in India dates back over 3,000 years and divides Hindu society into rigid hierarchical groups. Similar bans on caste bias that have been introduced on the campuses of US universities in recent years.

Notes:
Rajesh Malhotra, a 1989-batch Indian Information Service (IIS) officer, was appointed as the Principal Director General of the Press Information Bureau.
He has taken over the position after the superannuation of Satyendra Prakash. Previously, Rajesh Malhotra had been working in Ministry of Finance since January 2018.

Notes:
The Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar launched the Grievance Appellate Committee.
It is a faceless dispute resolution mechanism that makes digital platforms accountable to DigitalNagriks. The mechanism is an important part of the overall framework of making the internet Open, Safe, Trusted and the digital platforms accountable.

Notes:
Ales Bialiatski, the Nobel laureate, and the co-founder of Viasna human rights group has been awarded 10 years of imprisonment by the Belarus Court.
He was arrested in 2021 and his human rights organization for charged with smuggling and violation of public order. He received Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 for his role in promoting human rights and democracy.

Notes:
Polystoechotes punctate, which was thought to be extinct in the eastern United States, has been recently found at the US state of Arkansas.
It was rediscovered in 2012 after more than 5 decades. As per the researchers, the giant Jurassic-era insect may also be found in remote parts of the Ozark mountains.

Notes:
The South Korean military has introduced a concept known as the “Kill Web” in response to the escalating nuclear threat from North Korea.
This concept is a key part of Military Innovations 4.0, which seeks to utilize the latest AI technologies to ensure the country’s army can win a war with minimal casualties in the shortest possible time. It aims to employ a multi-layered integrated system that incorporates cyber operations, electronic warfare, and other tactics.

Notes:
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has introduced the Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure.
It aims to provide standardized and real-time tracking of greenhouse gases. The new platform integrates space-based and surface-based observing systems to improve the measurement of planet-warming pollution and inform policy decisions.