Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2023

Notes:
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) launched the “Adopt a Heritage 2.0” programme under which corporates are invited to fund amenities at monuments from their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds.
The aim of “Adopt a Heritage 2.0” programme is to enhance the visitor experience at centrally protected monuments, improve amenities, and bolster the culture and heritage value of the country.

Notes:
Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das has been ranked as the top central banker globally by US-based Global Finance magazine.
Das has been rated ‘A+’ in the Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2023.Das has been placed at the top of the list of three central bank governors who have been rated A+.

Notes:
India emerged champions in the Men’s Hockey5s Asia Cup, beating arch-rivals Pakistan 2-0 in a shootout after both teams were locked at 4-4 in regulation time.
With the win, India have booked their place in the FIH Men’s Hockey5s World Cup 2024.

Notes:
National Carbon Registry is open-source software that allows countries to manage their carbon credit trading data and processes. The software was launched by the UNDP in August 2023. It is the first of its kind to allow countries to customize the code to their specific needs. The registry is supported by the Digital4Climate Working Group, which includes the UNDP, World Bank, UNFCCC, and EBRD. The group aims to build a digital public infrastructure to address climate challenges and carbon markets.
The carbon registry system allows companies to track their emissions and then offset them by investing in emission-reducing projects. For example, a company might invest in a project that captures methane from a landfill or replaces high-emitting lightbulbs with low-emitting LED lights. The registry’s framework is based on globally recognized ISO standards. Independent verification bodies ensure that carbon reduction projects follow strict rules in offsetting.

Notes:
Meghalaya government has adopted AI-enabled robotic technology to safeguard Umiam Lake, a prominent tourist attraction. Umiam Lake, also known as Barapani Lake, is located 15 km north of Meghalaya’s capital, Shillong, surrounded by lush East Khasi hills. Formed in 1965 for hydroelectric power generation, it resulted from the Umiam Umtru Hydroelectric Power Project. The lake primarily draws water from the confluence of Umkhrah and Umshvrpi streams, forming the Wah Ro-ro stream. With a catchment area spanning 220 square km, including Shillong, it offers water sports and adventure activities, making it a favored destination in Meghalaya.

Notes:
One of the primary objectives of the Aditya-L1 mission is to study the upper layers of the Sun, specifically the chromosphere and corona, to gain a better understanding of their behavior and interaction with each other.

Notes:
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched a set of innovative digital payment products during the Global Fintech Fest 2023 in Mumbai.
‘Credit Line on UPI’ enables pre-sanctioned credit lines from banks via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), providing users with access to instant credit. ‘UPI LITE X’ facilitates offline payments, while ‘UPI Tap & Pay’ enhances digital payments through Near Field Communication (NFC) technology for QR code-based transactions. ‘Hello! UPI – Conversational Payments on UPI’ allows voice-enabled UPI payments in Hindi and English through UPI apps, telecom calls, and IoT devices.

Notes:
The Indian men’s Table Tennis team clinched the bronze medal at Asian Table Tennis Championships 2023 held at Pyeongchang, the Republic of South Korea.
The team composed of Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran faced a semi final defeat to Chinese Taipei. The Asian Table Tennis Championships 2023 was a qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Notes:
In a first of its kind, Chinese scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health have successfully grown human kidneys inside pig embryos.
This has presented a potential solution to the shortage of transplant organs. This groundbreaking achievement involved inserting human stem cells into pig embryos, resulting in kidneys containing 50 to 60 percent human cells.

Notes:
The Australian Navy is rapidly developing AI-powered unmanned submarines called “Ghost Sharks,” with a per-unit cost of just over AUD$23 million. These AI-powered subs will be delivered by mid-2025, offering a cost-effective and swift solution to enhance naval capabilities.
Alongside, the country is also s investing in a costly and slow project to acquire up to 13 nuclear-powered attack submarines, with each sub estimated to cost over AUD$28 billion ($18 billion).