Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2023

Notes:
The H3 rocket is a Japanese launch vehicle developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
The first launch attempt of the H3 rocket was expected to take place in February, 2023. However, it was aborted due to an anomaly in the first stage system. The second launch attempt is expected to take place at the end of March this year.

Notes:
India and Spain agreed to collaborate on digital infrastructure, climate action and sustainable development.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Mr Pedro Sánchez discussed several bilateral and international issues of mutual interest. They have also reviewed ongoing bilateral initiatives and expressed satisfaction at the high-level exchanges and growing cooperation in defence, economic and commercial sectors.

Notes:
Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) has enabled UPI LITE, a feature designed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
With this launch, PPBL has become the first payments bank to launch the feature. A UPI LITE wallet allows a user to do instant transactions of up to ₹200. A maximum of ₹2,000 can be added twice in a day to UPI LITE, making the cumulative daily usage up to ₹4,000.

Notes:
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh inaugurated a conference on ‘Opportunities for Multilateral Business Partnerships in ICT, Tourism, Healthcare and Handloom’ in Imphal.
This was the first of the four sessions of B20 scheduled in Northeast India. B20 is the official G20 dialogue forum for the global business community. Manipur had launched new Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy, Industrial Single Window Clearance Act, 2021 and Integrated Logistics Policy, 2022 for ease of doing business.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh cabinet has decided to close all the bars operating in the state, and the liquor shops only will be allowed to sell liquor to the customers at the shop.
‘Ahatas’, an area attached to a liquor shop for people to drink and shop bars have been closed under the new excise policy. As per the policy, distance of liquor shops from educational institutions has also been increased from the earlier 50 to 100 meters.

Notes:
The rising demand for the popular Teja variety of red chilli in the export market is aiding the Khammam Agriculture Market, which is Telangana’s second largest chilli market yard.
The chilli is famous for its culinary, medicinal and other wide-ranging uses. It is also a main ingredient in making pepper spray. The huge demand for Oleoresin, a natural chilli extract, is mainly driving the export of Teja variety of red chilli from Khammam to various Asian countries.

Notes:
Whale stranding is a phenomenon that occurs when whales become stranded on land, and cannot return to the ocean.
Several factors have been proposed as reason for mass stranding, including the topography of the region, illness, human activities, and increasing noise pollution in the oceans. Certain regions such as Tasmania, New Zealand’s Golden Bay, and Massachusetts’s Cape Cod are known hotspots for whale stranding. Recently, 14 pilot whales got stranded on the shore of Sri Lanka’s Kalpitiya.

Notes:
The US administration has unveiled a new Commercial Arms Transfer (CAT) policy that places greater emphasis on human rights in its arms export policy,
This is in contrast to the Trump-era policy that gave more importance to commercial considerations. The new policy covers the review of government-to-government weapons transfers, security assistance, and licensed commercial sales of US-origin military equipment overseen by various government departments.

Notes:
The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was established as a result of a 2012 agreement between India and China
Its main purpose is to facilitate regular and institutional exchanges between the two neighbours. Recently, the top official in India’s External Affairs Ministry visited China to attend the 26th WMCC. It was held in Beijing.

Notes:
Mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is a fatal and progressive disease affecting the central nervous system of adult cattle.
Brazil, one of the world’s largest beef exporters, has temporarily suspended its beef exports to China after a confirmed case of mad cow disease.