Current Affairs Quiz - May 2022

Notes:
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), to up-skill the technical staff.
More than 4000 ISRO technical employees will be trained in the programme over the course of the next 5 years. It aims to create a formal framework for short-term courses for capacity- building of the technical staff of ISRO as per the industry requirements.

Notes:
INS Gharial, as part of Mission SAGAR IX, delivered over 760 kgs of 107 types of critical lifesaving medicines to Sri Lanka.
The recent mission aims to provide medical aid to Sri Lanka during its ongoing economic crisis. The Indian Navy undertakes several humanitarian operations titled Mission SAGAR to assist friendly countries, in line with the Government’s vision of SAGAR – Security and Growth for All in the Region.

Notes:
The US Food and Drug Administration issued a proposal to ban menthol cigarettes and flavoured cigars.
It aims to reduce smoking in the American population as well as to reducing tobacco-related health disparities. As per a US government survey 85 per cent of African Americans smoke menthol cigarettes. The proposed ban does not cover electronic cigarettes.

Notes:
The ‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)’ scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1st May 2016 at Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.
It was a major step towards social inclusion by providing Free LPG connection to every BPL household. To celebrate the achievements of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) decided to celebrate 1st May 2022 as Ujjwala Diwas. Oil marketing companies will organise more than 5000 LPG panchayats on the occasion of Ujjwala diwas.

Notes:
According to the RSF 2022 World Press Freedom Index, India’s ranking has fallen down to 150th position from last year’s 142nd place.
This year, Norway (1st) Denmark (2nd) and Sweden (3rd) were ranked at the top positions, while North Korea remained at the bottom of the list of 180 countries and territories. Reporters sans frontieres (RSF) or Reporters without Borders, a global media watch-dog releases the report every year.

Notes:
India and Germany recently inked a joint declaration of intent on Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force
India and Germany also agreed to work together with focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) startups as well as AI research and its application in sustainability and health care. India’s Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Jitendra Singh visited Germany as part of his official tour.

Notes:
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the country’s first greenfield grain-based ethanol plant in Purnea.
The 105-crore plant by Eastern India Biofuels is the first one developed since the Centre gave approval to Bihar’s ethanol production and promotion policy-2021. The state government has proposed opening at least 17 ethanol plants over the next two years.

Notes:
Telangana state Government has issued orders to extend insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh for handloom and power loom weavers under the Nethanna Bima Scheme on par with farmers Rythu Bima insurance scheme.
The insurance coverage would be extended to weavers in the age group of 18 to 59 years. In its latest budget, Rs.12,000 crore was allocated for textiles sector and of these, Rs.300 crore was allocated for handloom weavers.

Notes:
Union Minister for MSME Narayan Rane inaugurated the ‘Enterprise India National Coir Conclave 2022’ being organised under the “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
During the event, Coir industry awards were distributed to 44 coir & coir products manufacturing and exporting units. Coir Board also introduced new coir products like coir composite fruit bowl, geo-textile shadow lamp among others.

Notes:
The Department of Telecom has removed ‘Network operation and control centre’ (NOCC) charges for the use of space segments for all services like VSAT, satellite telephony etc for which permits are issued by the department.
This step is expected to enhance ease of doing business. The DoT earlier levied Rs 21 lakh per transponder a year for 36 megahertz of spectrum as NOCC charges. The department also levied NOCC charges of Rs 6,000 for every trial of antenna used for receiving and transmitting signals.