Current Affairs Quiz - May 2022

Notes:
The Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary in Rajasthan was notified as India’s 52nd tiger reserve, as announced by the Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.
This is Rajasthan’s fourth tiger reserve after Ranthambore, Sariska and Mukundra. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approved to make Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary as tiger reserves last year. Wild animals like Indian wolf, leopard, striped hyena, sloth bear, golden jackal, chinkara, nilgai and fox can be seen in the Reserve.

Notes:
During the XV World Forestry Congress, held in Seoul, South Korea, the Seoul Declaration was adopted.
The Declaration, signed by 141 participant countries, focuses on identifying key areas that can help to tackle multiple crises of the humanity. It also highlighted the need to triple investments for restoring degraded land by 2030.

Notes:
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the Vadnagar International Conference in Gandhinagar in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
On International Museum Day, the Gujarat government announced to make the city of Vadnagar into a world-class heritage tourism destination. Vadnagar is known for its monuments, works of art, and archaeological and historical heritage. Vadnagar is also the native place of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Notes:
The Drought in Numbers, 2022 report was released at the ongoing 15th Conference of Parties (CoP15) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
As per the report, the effect of severe droughts was estimated to have reduced India’s gross domestic product by 2-5 per cent over the 20 years from 1998-2017. India has featured as one of severely drought-impacted countries and nearly two-thirds of the country suffered drought during 2020-2022.

Notes:
Senior IAS officer Nidhi Chibber has been appointed as the chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
Nidhi Chibber, a 1994 batch Indian Administrative Service officer of Chhattisgarh cadre, is currently Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries. She succeeds the incumbent chairperson Dr Vineet Joshi IAS, as per the order issued by the Personnel Ministry.

Notes:
The Supreme Court ruled in a landmark judgment that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s recommendations are not binding on the Centre and the states.
The Supreme Court struck down the integrated GST (IGST) levy in an ocean freight case and ruled that the recommendations have only persuasive value. It said Parliament and the state legislatures had equal powers to legislate on GST and the Council must work in a harmonious manner.

Notes:
The Election Commission of India announced that it will lead ‘Democracy Cohort on Election Integrity’ in partnership with 100 democratic countries. The cohort aims to share experience and expertise with poll management bodies of various nations.
‘Summit for Democracy’ started as a two-day virtual event hosted by the United States in December 2021. The United States proposed a “Year of Action” and to host a ‘Leaders’ Summit for Democracy’ at the end of 2022. In the India-led Cohort, New Zealand, Finland and the EU have expressed interest to partner.

Notes:
HANSA-NG, the new generation two-seater flying trainer aircraft designed and developed by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), successfully completed in-flight engine relight test.
The test was carried out at the aeronautical test range (ATR) facility of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), Karnataka.

Notes:
The Indian Navy successfully carried out the maiden test firing of the first indigenously developed naval anti-ship missile from Sea king 42B helicopter. The test firing was done in association with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The test was conducted at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Odisha’s Balasore. The anti-ship version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired jointly by the Indian Navy and the Andaman and Nicobar Command.

Notes:
According to a statement issued by the commerce and industry ministry, India has recorded highest ever annual FDI inflow of USD 83.57 billion in the Financial Year 2021-22.
FDI equity inflow in manufacturing sectors has increased by 76 per cent in 2021-22. Singapore was the topmost investor in India last fiscal year, accounting for 27% of the FDI, followed by the US at 18% and Mauritius at 16%. In 2020-21, the inflows were USD 81.97 billion.