Current Affairs Quiz - May 2022

Notes:
The Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the amendments to the National Policy on Biofuels.
It advanced the target of blending 20 percent ethanol in petrol to 2025-26 from 2030. At present, about 10 percent of ethanol is blended in petrol. More feed stocks have been allowed for the production of bio-fuels which can be doped with auto fuels.

Notes:
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal launched the India-UAE Startup bridge in Mumbai, as a part of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed between the two countries recently.
The bridge will facilitate joint training sessions for incubators in India and the UAE, to provide market access information to start-ups in sectors such as textiles, gems, jewellery and leather. This is one of the fastest trade agreements to be signed between two countries.

Notes:
Government eMarketplace (GeM), CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. (CSC-SPV), and Department of Posts, inked a MoU for the outreach and capacity-building of last-mileGovernment buyers, sellers and service providers in public procurement.
The MoU was signed after the successful integration of GeM and India Post on 5th May 2022. It would enable all last-mile Govt buyers, sellers and service-providers to avail the logistics services and facilities over GeM through the India Post facilities located in the remotest parts of India.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) asked all banks and ATM operators to make cardless cash withdrawal facility, known as ICCW (Interoperable Card-less Cash Withdrawal), available at all ATMs across all banks in India.
UPI would be used for customer authorisation in such transactions, settlement would be through the National Financial Switch (NFS)/ATM networks. The card-less cash transactions shall be processed without levy of any charges.

Notes:
The Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw approved an Rs 8.34 crore collaborative initiative on Hyperloop Technology with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.
Hyperloop is a new system transportation that proposes using magnetic levitation technology in tubes to enable speeds similar to aeroplanes. The Railways will collaborate with the institute to set up a Centre of Excellence for Hyperloop Technology.

Notes:
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launched Single National Portal for Biotech researchers and Start-ups ‘BioRRAP’.
Through the portal, approvals for a particular application are awarded through a unique BioRRAP ID.  It will help the researchers and start-ups seeking regulatory approval for biological research and development activity in the country.

Notes:
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launched the ‘Indira Gandhi Shehri Rozgar Guarantee Yojana’ in the 2022-23 State Budget. Employment will be provided for up to 100 days in a year, and the state will bear an expense of Rs 800 crore. All those aged between 18 and 60 years and residing within urban body limits are eligible for the scheme.
Recently the job description of the scheme was launched, which includes tree plantation, cleaning ponds and lakes, collecting garbage from door to door and segregating it, catching stray animals among others.

Notes:
International Day for Biological Diversity is observed on May 22 every year. The theme for this year is “Building a shared future for all life”.
The United Nations proclaimed the day, which aims to spread awareness about issues of biodiversity in the world. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate change Bhupender Yadav inaugurated Biological Diversity Exhibition at Chennai.

Notes:
HDFC launched a ‘Spot Offer’ on WhatsApp, to provide in-principle home loan approval to home buyers within two minutes.
The platform, which has been built by HDFC and Cogno AI, will offer a conditional home loan approval. Over 91% of new loan applications received by HDFC are through digital channels. In the new facility provided to salaried resident Indians, there is no waiting time for the approval letter.

Notes:
The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad was ranked at 47th place in the latest Financial Times (FT) Executive Education Rankings for 2022, for its open programmes.
In the customized programmes category, the Indian School of Business (ISB) was ranked 38th globally. IIM Bangalore was the second best institute from India at 43rd rank, followed by IIM Ahmedabad at 50th rank.