Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2022

Notes:
The Ethereum crypto-currency has announced a shift of its consensus algorithm from proof-of-work (PoW) to environment-friendly proof-of-stake (PoS).
With this event called ‘The Merge’, the energy used to maintain the whole Ethereum network will drop by 99.9 percent, which will result in a 0.2 percent decrease in world electricity use.

Notes:
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has unveiled a detailed framework for Social Stock Exchange (SSE).
It specifies minimum requirements for a Not-for-Profit Organisation (NPO) for registration and disclosure requirements. The capital markets regulator SEBI earlier notified rules for Social Stock Exchange (SSE) to provide social enterprises with an additional avenue to raise funds.

Notes:
India’s Presidency of the prestigious Asia-pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development, AIBD has been extended for one more year.
This was decided by the AIBD member countries at the two-day General Conference held in New Delhi. At present, CEO of Prasar Bharati and Director General of Doordarshan- Mayank Kumar Agrawal is the President of AIBD.  Malaysia-based AIBD was established in 1977 as a regional inter-governmental organisation of UN-ESCAP.

Notes:
India and Egypt have agreed to identify proposals for expanding cooperation between defence industries of the two countries.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held bilateral talks with his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo. They signed a MoU on cooperation in the field of defence for enhancing defence cooperation across all sectors of mutual interest. The Egyptian Defence Minister was invited to India-Africa Defence Dialogue and IOR Defence Ministers’ Conclave to be held as part of Defence Expo in Gandhinagar.

Notes:
The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced recently that India’s longest river cruise service for over 4,000 km will start in 2023.
The river cruise service will be operated between Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Bogibeel in Assam. The route will connect rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra via Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBRP). The Union Minister also inaugurated Bogibeel Riverfront Passenger Jetty built by Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR).

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a copy of the Braille version of the Assamese Dictionary ‘Hemkosh’.
Hemkosh was among the earliest Assamese dictionaries dating back to the 19th century. Hemkosh is the first etymological dictionary of Assamese language based on Sanskrit spellings. It was compiled by Hemchandra Barua.

Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested hybrid motor, which will be used for a new propulsion system for upcoming launch vehicles
The 30 kN hybrid motor was tested at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu. The test was supported by ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). The motor uses Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) as fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) as the oxidiser.

Notes:
Union Communications Ministry has prepared the draft Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022 and invited from stakeholders and industry associations.
In July 2022, a Consultation Paper on ‘Need for a new legal framework governing Telecommunication in India’ was published. Based on the consultations and deliberations, the Ministry has prepared the draft Bill to develop a modern legal framework in telecommunications.

Notes:
The Assam government signed two MoUs with Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) and SIDBI Venture Capital Fund to revamp MSME sector in the state.
The agreements were signed at MSME conclave held in Guwahati. The agreement with CGTMSE aims to provide additional guarantee coverage for the loans given to Micro and Small Units in Assam. SIDBI Venture Capital Fund shall work as Investment Manager for the proposed Assam Start-up Venture Capital Fund.

Notes:
Amazon announced its first solar project in India with three new solar farms in Rajasthan, with a combined energy capacity of 420 megawatts (MW).
Amazon aims to use 100% renewable energy across its business by 2025. The Indian project includes a 210-MW project to be developed by ReNew Power, a 100-MW project to be developed by Amp Energy India, and a 110-MW project to be developed by Brookfield Renewable Partners.