Current Affairs Quiz - February 2022

Notes:
Chinese researchers have claimed to develop an artificial intelligence nanny (AI Nanny), which can monitor and take care of embryos as they grow into foetuses in an Artificial womb.
The artificial womb, or “long-term embryo culture device”, is a container where the researchers grow mouse embryos in cubes filled with nutritious fluids. The AI technology helps to detect the smallest signs of change in the embryos and make changes. This may help in solving birth defects.

Notes:
Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine named ‘Spikevax’ has received full approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, for use in people ages 18 and older.
This is the second Covid-19 vaccine to receive full approval from the FDA after Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, Comirnaty, which was approved in August. This is also the first product of Moderna to receive licensure in the U.S.

Notes:
Union Budget announced a scheme, under which the government will promote chemical-free natural farming throughout the country.
It is to be implemented with a focus on farmers’ land in 5 km wide corridors along the river Ganga, in the first stage. The Budget also announced that two lakh anganwadis will be upgraded and a national tele mental health programme will also be launched.

Notes:
The Union Budget announced a new scheme called ‘Parvat Mala’ or National Ropeways Development Programme.
The scheme will be launched for regions like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, J&K, and the northeast to facilitate a modern system of transportation and connectivity in hills.

Notes:
Ministry of Commerce and Industry notified the second phase of the scheme for enhancement of competitiveness in the capital goods sector.
The scheme was notified with a financial outlay of ₹1,207 crore. It would consist of a budgetary support from the government of ₹975 crore and the rest of ₹232 crore would come through the industry contribution.

Notes:
Ministry Of Statistics And Programme Implementation released the 28^th edition of the publication, ‘Energy statistics India – 2022’.
It is a repository of statistics on energy resources and highlights India’s commitment and progress made in sustainable energy systems. The publication presents the concepts of production, consumption, trade, energy balance etc. The data is collected from Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Power, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Notes:
Two new Ramsar sites were announced on the occasion of World Wetlands Day. They are: Khijadiya wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat and Bakhira wildlife sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh.
India has a network of 49 such sites covering 10,93,636 hectares, which is the highest in South Asia. The Union Environment Ministry had earlier notified the Sultanpur National Park and Bhindawas wildlife sanctuary in Jhajjar as Ramsar sites in Haryana.

Notes:
Telangana launched Mission Bhagiratha in 2015 to make drinking water sources safe and sustainable.
Several districts of the state are hard-rock terrains with minimum rainfall. The fluoride content in groundwater is higher than permissible levels. The scheme addressed these issues by constructing around 50 water treatment plants (WTP) across the state. The state has been tapping water from various reservoirs, projects and river flows, from the basins of Krishna and Godavari.

Notes:
Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), proposed to be the world’s largest radio telescope, will be built in Australia and South Africa within this decade. It is headquartered in the United Kingdom
India recently signed an interim agreement to work on ‘Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO)’ project. The agreement will be valid for one year. India can make monetary contribution towards the construction while it has not become a Member Country.

Notes:
The Assam Forest Department has announced to hold first-of-its kind leopard census in the state. The city of Guwahati is witnessing increasing leopard-human friction, due to rapid infrastructure development.
The Census will map the leopard’s habitat and establish standards to be followed for infrastructure development.