Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2022

Notes:
Tokenization is the process of replacing original card details with an alternative code called a ‘token’. The token would be unique and it provides an additional degree of protection for customer card details.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2019 allowed card networks to tokenize card transactions. The deadline for successful execution of tokenization of card-based payments was October 1.

Notes:
The Bannerman’s Turaco, known in the Oku language as the Fen, is a bird deep cultural value for the people in Cameroon.
It has a heavy yellow bill with a dark red culmen and exposed nostrils. It also has a loud, distinctive call that can be heard up to 1 kilometre. As per experts, the bird, which is already under IUCN List of Threatened Species, could disappear entirely, if forest disappears. The number of birds estimated to be 1,500, are falling due to habitat destruction and tradition of hunting birds for feathers.

Notes:
October 2 is celebrated as Swachh Bharat Diwas across India. Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), which organises Swachh Bharat Diwas-2022, implements two programmes -Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G) and Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
President of India Droupadi Murmu confers the awards for Swachh Survekshan Grameen (SSG) 2022, Swachhta Hi Sewa 2022, Sujlam 1.0 and 2.0, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) Functionality Assessment, Har Ghar Jal certification and Start-up Grand Challenge.

Notes:
Forest Survey of India (FSI) released a report on Tiger safari project in Corbett Reserve, based on field visits and an analysis of satellite images.
As per the report, over 6,000 trees on 16.21 hectares of land were felled for the proposed Pakhro tiger safari project in Corbett Tiger Reserve. A Supreme Court advocate and wildlife activist filed a petition in October 2021.

Notes:
India’s Mars orbiter craft has completed eight years in its orbit, beyond its designed mission life of six months.
The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) is the maiden interplanetary mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in September 2014 in its first attempt. ISRO is yet to announce its plans on a follow-on ‘Mangalyaan’ mission to the Mars.

Notes:
Tesla CEO Elon Musk presented a prototype humanoid robot named ‘Optimus’ that shares artificial intelligence software and sensors with its cars’ Autopilot driver assistance features.
The Optimus robot is designed for mass production in millions of units. It carries a 2.3kWh battery pack, runs on a Tesla SoC, and contains Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity. The human-like hands with ‘Biologically Inspired Design’ will make them suitable for picking up objects of various shapes and sizes, holding a bag, and containing a precision grip on small parts.

Notes:
The Australian government has announced a zero extinctions target for the country’s plants and animals. This is the first time a federal government announcing such a target.
The goal forms part of a 10-year plan to improve the trajectory of 110 species and 20 places, and protect an additional 50m hectares of land and sea area by 2027. The number of priority species has increased from 100 to 110 and locations have increased from six to 20.

Notes:
The Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development chaired by Bhartruhari Mahtab submitted its report on ‘Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)’.
It is implemented by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. As per the report, Under PMKVY 3.0, in 2021-22, only 72 % was utilised.  Under PMKVY 3.0, out of about four lakh candidates, only 8% have been placed.  During PMKVY 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0, about 20% of the total enrolled candidates dropped out of the training programme.

Notes:
India handed over indigenously produced motorbikes to Lebanon. The Made-in-India motorbikes, a part of bilateral assistance, were handed over to Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants.
India also announced to organise an artificial limb fitment camp in the west Asian country. The country also appreciated the positive role played by the Indian Battalion at United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Notes:
The World Bank downgraded India’s economic growth forecast to 6.5% for the current fiscal year (2022-’23) from its earlier estimate of 7.5% announced in June.
The Reserve Bank of India had also cut its growth forecast to 7% from an earlier estimate of 7.2% after increasing the repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.9% to fight inflation. UNCTAD also projected that India’s economic growth will decline to 5.7% this year from 8.2% in 2021.