Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2022

Notes:
The United States has recently launched its National Security Strategy (NSS). All U.S. Presidents are mandated by the ‘Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986’ to bring out their NSS.
The strategy aims to communicate the executive’s vision of national security to the legislative. Joe Biden’s administration also released the National Defense Strategy, the Nuclear Posture Review and the Missile Defense Review.

Notes:
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently dedicated Maze Garden and Miyawaki Forest in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.
The Miyawaki Forest is named after the technique developed by a Japanese botanist and ecologist Dr Akira Miyawaki to plant saplings of various species close to each other which develops into a dense urban forest.

Notes:
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won Brazil’s presidential election by a small margin of 2 million votes thereby defeating incumbent Jair Bolsonaro.
Although the Left-wing former leader Lula wins presidency, incumbent far-right contender Jair Bolsonaro has not conceded his defeat yet. The election marked the first time that the sitting president failed to win re-election.

Notes:
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 7th edition of India Water Week at the India Expo Centre in Greater Noida.
The 7th India Water Week will be celebrated from 1-5 November with the theme of ‘Water Security for Sustainable Development and Equity’. The event will address the issues of sustainability of water resources development and management in line with the sustainable development goals.

Notes:
The International Open Access Week is celebrated around the world from 24 to 30 October. It is an annual initiative to promote open access (OA) in the academic and research world.
This year the motto is Open for Climate Justice and aims to raise awareness of how open access can be a means for climate justice. In India, CSIR-NIScPR is one of the largest Open Access publishers of India which publishes 15 Diamond Open Access scholarly journals. In 2022, the International Open Access Week, entered its fifteenth year of celebration.

Notes:
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has invited stakeholder comments on the proposed new common ITR form.
At present, taxpayers are required to furnish their Income-tax Returns in various forms including ITR-1 to ITR-7 depending upon the type of person and nature of income.  The draft proposes to introduce a common ITR by merging all the existing returns of income except ITR-7.

Notes:
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar represented India in the Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government.
Dr. Jaishankar also expressed interest in expanding India-SCO trade on the basis of fair market access. A Joint Communique of SCO Heads of Government and other Decisions were adopted at the conclusion of the Meeting.

Notes:
As per a new study, Blue whales may swallow roughly 10 million microplastic pieces daily, or up to about 95 pounds (43.5 kg) of plastic.
Krill-favoring humpbacks may ingest about 4 million microplastic pieces (up to 38 pounds of plastic) daily, while those favoring fish may take in roughly 200,000 pieces (up to a couple of pounds of plastic).

Notes:
HDFC ERGO has launched first-of-its-kind satellite index-based Farm Yield Insurance Policy for farmers.
The satellite-based index will be used to provide localized farm level coverage and it will provide comprehensive cover across the crop life cycle from sowing to harvesting, basis satellite-based data.

Notes:
Indian President inaugurates Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) North Eastern Regional Campus at Aizawl.
The President attended the Convocation of Mizoram University (MZU) On the occasion and she also virtually inaugurated various education-related projects which a permanent campus of Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) at Aizawl.