Current Affairs Quiz - May 2022

Notes:
The researchers at the University of Florida (UF) in the US demonstrated that plants can successfully sprout and grow in lunar soil.
Plants were grown in Moon’s soil, also known as lunar regolith, brought back to Earth by astronauts in the Apollo missions. Arabidopsis plant is used in the research as its genetic code is fully mapped. This is a step towards producing food and oxygen on the Moon during future space missions.

Notes:
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested solid rocket booster HS-200, a key component for the Gaganyaan manned mission programme.
The test was conducted at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. HS-200 booster loaded with 203 tonnes of solid propellant was tested for duration of 135 seconds. The launch vehicle is indigenous developed by ISRO in participation with various industries.

Notes:
Defence minister Rajnath Singh launched two made-in-India warships ‘Surat’ and ‘Udaygiri’ in Mumbai. This is the first time two indigenously built warships have been launched together, the Mazgaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL).
Surat is the fourth guided missile destroyer of P15B class, and Udaygiri is the second stealth frigate of P17A class. Both warships have been designed in-house by the Directorate of Naval Design (DND) and built at Mazgaon Dock Shipbuilders, Mumbai.

Notes:
May 17 is celebrated as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, to commemorate the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
It is observed every year to raise awareness of the benefits that the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT). ITU is headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland and it functions under the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Notes:
Western Central Railway has recently developed a battery-operated dual-mode locomotive named Navdoot.
This engine runs on both modes i.e. battery and electricity. At present, it is being used during shunting of trains at Jabalpur, Mudwara, and other stations on a trial basis. This e-engine can pull 18 coaches at a speed of 30 kmph. Railways will save 1000 liters of diesel every day with this new locomotive.

Notes:
The ‘India International Centre for Buddhist Culture & Heritage’ is set to be built at Lumbini, Nepal, by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), India with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture (India).
International Buddhist Confederation, is a grantee body under the Ministry of Culture. The Buddhist Centre will be the first ‘Net Zero Emission’ building in Nepal.

Notes:
Bombay Stock exchange (BSE) has approved the appointment of S. S. Mundra as the Chairman of the company, subject to approval of SEBI.
Mundra retired as Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2017 after serving for three years. He was Chairman and Managing Director of Bank of Baroda from where he superannuated in 2014. He served as RBI’s nominee on the Financial Stability Board and its various committees. He was also the Vice-chair of OECD’s International Network on Financial Education (INFE).

Notes:
Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB), a regional rural bank sponsored by Canara Bank, has bagged six national awards for outstanding achievement in enrolment of Atal Pension Yojana (APY).
The awards were presented by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). The bank had enrolled over 2.6 lakh accounts under the APY totally and during 2021-22, the bank had enrolled over 58,000 accounts as against the target of 39,000.

Notes:
The Delhi High Court recently declared the AAP government’s doorstep ration delivery scheme– Mukhymantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojna not valid.
The High Court Bench said that the Delhi government can bring another doorstep delivery scheme but it cannot use grains provided by the Centre for this doorstep scheme.

Notes:
Union Science and Technology Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh launches the Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) and Scientific Research Infrastructure Sharing Maintenance and Networks (SRIMAN) Guidelines on the occasion of Technology Day.
Dr Jitendra Singh also presented awards to 7 most successful Start-ups for their pioneering work in areas like Quantum data security, covid testing kits, A-I powered Robot for electronic assembly, Cryogenic technologies and Cyber security systems