Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2023

Notes:
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has selected DSP Pension Fund Managers as the 11th fund manager permitted to manage retirement savings under the National Pension System (NPS).
PFRDA is looking to tap regional rural banks (RRBs) to enhance its reach to citizens across the country.

Notes:
The Annual IAEA General Conference was held in Vienna. At this event, India announced its plans to generate 22 GW power through nuclear energy to achieve Net Zero.
Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Ajit Kumar Mohanty shared India’s ambitious plans to step up nuclear power generation during a meeting with IAEA Director General.

Notes:
A new dispute arose when China erected a barrier close to the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. It has reignited a longstanding territorial dispute between China and Philippines that dates back to 2012.
The South China Sea is situated just south of the Chinese mainland and is bordered by the countries of Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Notes:
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio has recently created a new US record for the longest spaceflight. He returned to Earth with two Russian cosmonauts, after being stuck in space for just over a year.
The trio landed in a remote area of Kazakhstan, descending in a Soyuz capsule as a replacement after their original ride was hit by space junk and lost all its coolant while docked to the International Space Station.

Notes:
Despite having the largest population and the highest electricity demand in India, Uttar Pradesh is facing challenges in attaining its solar energy goals.
A report by the nonprofit organization Vasudha Foundation, in collaboration with the government’s public policy think tank NITI Aayog, revealed that Uttar Pradesh had the highest electricity demand in the country in July 2023, along with Maharashtra, both recording 15.3 billion units of electricity consumption.

Notes:
Researchers at the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) conducted an experiment with antimatter, demonstrating that it responds to gravity by falling, consistent with the behavior of ordinary matter, aligning with Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity.
Despite the expected equal production of matter and antimatter during the Big Bang, very little antimatter exists, and the two are incompatible, leading to annihilation upon contact.

Notes:
Saudi Arabia- based top refineries company Aramco announced its first global investment in liquefied natural gas, part of a broader bid by the energy giant to expand beyond oil.
The company would acquire a minority stake worth USD 500 million in MidOcean Energy, which is managed by the U.S. investment firm EIG.

Notes:
The Sycamore Gap Tree is a famous sycamore tree situated in a dip between two hills in Northumberland, England. It was among the UK’s most-photographed trees.
This 300-year-old tree has been cut down by a teenager in an attempt of vandalism. Hadrian’s Wall, which is almost 2,000 years old and stands next to the sycamore, sustained some damage.

Notes:
K.N. Shanth Kumar of The Printers (Mysore) was elected Chairman of the Press Trust of India’s Board of Directors for a one-year term.
He was also Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC), a member of the Executive Committee of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) for more than 20 years. This is the second time that he is serving as the Chairman of the Board of PTI, the last time being 2013 to 2014.

Notes:
The Indian men’s hockey team qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics after defeating Japan 5-1 in the final of the Asian Games.
India’s captain, Harmanpreet, scored two goals, while Manpreet, Amit Rohidas and Abhishek scored one goal each. India’s win reclaimed the Asian Games gold medal after nine years. India has played 17 matches without a loss, as of now.