Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2023

Notes:
New York has become the first state in the US to prohibit the use of natural gas and other fossil fuels in newest buildings, in a victory.
The new law mandates the use of eco-friendly technologies, such as heat pumps and induction stoves, in new housing developments across the state.

Notes:
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has set up Agriculture and Market Information System (AMIS).
It is an inter-agency platform which boosts transparency in the food market and promote policy response for food security. In its latest monitor, the AMIS revealed that India’s corn, soyabean and rice production will be affected due to the El Nino weather event.

Notes:
The Ministry of Railways has established the Rail War Room at the third floor of the Railways Ministry, New Delhi.
The war room is equipped with latest communications facilities. The room will function round-the-clock to improve the services of the Indian railways and facilitate fast redressal of public complaints.

Notes:
Naykap Gokab is an online platform that was launched recently in Bhutan to promote local innovative ideas and solutions.
This platform will connect innovators, policymakers, and investors to ease their collaborations and increase investment opportunities.

Notes:
Nano-QuIC (Nanoparticle-enhanced Quaking-Induced Conversion) is a ground-breaking diagnosis method that will enable quick and accurate detection of neurodegenerative diseases Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and chronic wasting disease in animals. It was developed by University of Minnesota researchers.

Notes:
The IBM has launched Watsonx – an AI and data platform capable of enabling countries to integrate artificial intelligence in their business.
It can be used for automatically generating codes using natural language and deploy AI models for tasks such as chemical creation and climate change modelling.

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IIT Roorkee has unveiled new labs to drive India’s clean energy transition.
Two new labs namely Renewable Grid Integration Laboratory and Green Hydrogen Laboratory were inaugurated at the IIT Roorkee’s Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy (HRED).

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The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently conducted a successful trail run of blood bag delivery by drones under the iDrone Initiative.
This drone flight carried 10 units of whole blood samples from Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), Greater Noida and Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC), New Delhi.

Notes:
The OFDA 4000 is a cutting-edge equipment capable of testing the authenticity of Pashmina. It was procured recently by Handicrafts and Handloom Department Kashmir.
The equipment is capable of testing more than 40000 fibres in less than a minute and can determine such characteristics of the fibre.

Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently concluded the first integrated test on an intermediate configuration of the 2000 kN (Kilonewton) semi-cryogenic engine.
This test was conducted at the newly-commissioned Semi-cryogenic Integrated Engine & Stage Test facility at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC).