Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2023

Notes:
Presidents of Russia and Iran have signed an agreement via a video link to finalize the construction of the Rasht (Iranian city on Caspian Sea)-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway.
The project is expected to boost the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Notes:
iDEATION is a flagship startup program of the Assam-based Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL).
The NRL and the T-Hub (Technology Hub), an innovation hub and ecosystem enabler based out of Hyderabad, have recently inked an MoU to collaborate on business innovation and growth hack.

Notes:
Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is organising Asia’s largest event on Civil Aviation, Wings India 2024.
The event is scheduled to be held in January 2024 at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad, India. The theme of the event is “Connecting the World: Setting the stage for India @ 2047” (100 Years of India’s Independence).

Notes:
INDIAai is a central programme launched to promote artificial intelligence in India and beyond.  The National AI Portal of India is a joint venture by MEITY, NEGD and NASSCOM.
Seven working groups set up under INDIAai are expected to submit their recommendations for a comprehensive framework governing various facets of AI in the near future.

Notes:
Green Tug Transition Programme was launched by the Indian Government to make the country a ‘Global Hub for Green Ship’ building by 2030.
India’s first National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) in Gurugram, Haryana. As part of this initiative, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, VO Chidambaranar Port, Paradip Port, and Deendayal Port, Kandla, will procure two tugs each.

Notes:
The UDAN 5.1 was launched recently by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. It will specifically focus on helicopter routes.
It aims to further enhance the connectivity to remote areas of the country and achieve last-mile connectivity through helicopters.

Notes:
AIRAWAT is an AI supercomputer in the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune. It is India’s largest and fastest AI supercomputing system, with a remarkable speed of 13,170 teraflops.
It was ranked at 75th position in the world by the 61st edition of Top 500 Global Supercomputing List. The supercomputer has been installed this year.

Notes:
Georgi Gospodinov is the first Bulgarian author to win International Booker Prize. He authored the book titled “Time Shelter”.
He is one of the leading voices of contemporary European literature. For translating his work “Time Shelter” into English, his translator Angela Rodel and him shared the 2023 International Booker Prize.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Oil is currently taking steps to merge the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) into Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL).
The MRPL and HPCL are two listed subsidiaries of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). It is an Indian central public sector undertaking under the ownership of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Notes:
USS Gerald R. Ford is the largest aircraft carrier in the world. It recently made its first foreign call.
The ship is named after the 38th President of the United States, Gerald Ford. The ship sailed into Oslo, a first for such a U.S. ship, in a show of NATO force at a time of heightened tension between NATO and Russia over the war in Ukraine.