Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2023

Notes:
First Peoples of Australia are people who lived in the Australia’s continental mainland and surrounding islands for tens of thousands of years before the arrival of first Europeans in the early 17th century.
A referendum will be issued this year by the Australian government to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. It will decide whether these people should be formally consulted in the law making process.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in the Combined Commanders’ Conference in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
He will also flag off a Vande Bharat Express service to Delhi. Combined Commanders Conference is a biennial event that brings together India’s top military brass to discuss issues related to military and national security.

Notes:
‘Coastal Kerala Geckoella’ is a newly discovered species of ground-dwelling gecko. It is endemic to the low hills and coastal forest in northern Kerala.
Chengodumalaensis is a small, nocturnal species that is found on the ground among leaf litter and rocks in forests. Scientists have discovered the new species of ground-dwelling gecko, from the coastal forests of northern Kerala.

Notes:
The ALE, a Japanese company, is currently planning to create an “Artificial Meteor Shower”. The meteor shower will be created using pressure driven system of gas tanks.
ALE is sending satellites into space to create the world’s first human-made meteor shower. It is named ‘Sky Canvas’ and the project was initially scheduled for launch in 2020. It was delayed due to a satellite malfunction.

Notes:
Sarbat Khalsa is a deliberative assembly of all factions of Sikhs that dates back to the 18th century. It is held twice a year on the occasion of Baisakhi and Diwali.
The last “Sarbat khalsa” was held on February 16, 1986. It was recently announced that the convening of a Sarbat khalsa congregation is the sole prerogative of the Akal Takht chief.

Notes:
Nevado del Ruiz Volcano is a volcano in Colombia on the Pacific Ring of Fire. It is currently experiencing seismic activities, creating a possibility of eruption in the near future.
It is the highest active volcano in the Andes mountain range.

Notes:
Former US President Donald Trump becomes first ex-President to be charged with crime. He will be charged over hush money payments made to a porn star just before the 2016 presidential election.
The former President is also being investigated in several other cases. They include probes into his role in the US Capitol riot of January 2021, his efforts to overturn his loss in the state of Georgia in the 2020 election, and his handling of classified documents after leaving office.

Notes:
Squirrelpox virus is a deadly disease affecting the United Kingdom red squirrels. Invasive, non-native grey squirrels from North America are the main carriers of this pathogen.
The pox killed up to 80% of red squirrels over winter at one of just three sites 11,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Welsh government to fund vaccine research.

Notes:
The Stand up India Scheme was launched in 2016 to promote entrepreneurship focusing on economic empowerment and job creation. The scheme has been extended till 2025.
Over Rs 40,700 crore was sanctioned under the Stand Up India Scheme over the seven years of its implementation. Around 80 percent of the loans under this scheme were provided to women.

Notes:
The UN Statistical Commission is the highest decision-making body for international statistical activities.  Shigeru Kawasaki of Japan is the current chair of the Commission.
India has recently been elected to this body for a 4-year term starting from January 1, 2024.