Weekly Current Affairs (8th to 14th February 2022) Part - 2 - UPSC PDF Download

Important News – India

Q.1. An igloo cafe named ‘Snowglu’, claimed to be world’s largest cafe of its kind has been opened in?

Correct Answer is Jammu & Kashmir.

• The cafe has been set up at the famous ski resort of Gulmarg.
• Syed Wasim Shah, the creator of the igloo, claimed the structure to be the world's largest cafe of its kind.

Q.2. What is the theme of the ASEAN-India High Level Conference on Renewable Energy, being organized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the Ministry of External Affairs of Government of India?

Correct Answer is Experience and Innovations for Integrated Renewables Market.

• The High Level Conference focused on the theme: “Experience and Innovations for Integrated Renewables Market”.
• The ASEAN-India High-Level Conference featured five technical sessions, which would facilitate peer-to-peer discussions between experts from India and ASEAN on themes of mutual interest.

Q.3. U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) partnered with which organization under the SAMRIDH scheme to Accelerate Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship to Accelerate Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship in India?

Correct Answer is NITI Aayog.

• The initiative aims to improve access to affordable and quality healthcare for vulnerable populations in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and rural and tribal regions.
• Under this partnership, AIM and SAMRIDH have announced a Call for Proposals for healthcare innovators and entrepreneurs in India.

Q.4. Which has become the first Union Territory to be integrated with the National Single Window System (NSWS)?

Correct Answer is Jammu and Kashmir.

• National Single Window System (NSWS) was launched in September 2021 by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• It is a digital platform that serves as a guide for investors to identify and to apply for approvals as per their business requirements.

Q.5. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)' has been extended till?

Correct Answer is March 2026.

• PMKSY is a comprehensive package which will lead to creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet.
• The scheme will boost growth of food processing sector but also help in providing better prices to farmers and creating huge employment opportunities.

Q.6. The flagship scheme 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)' has been extended till March 2026 with an allocation of?

Correct Answer is Rs 4,600 crore.

• PMKSY is a comprehensive package which will lead to creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet.
• The scheme will boost growth of food processing sector but also help in providing better prices to farmers and creating huge employment opportunities.

Q.7. Which organization has organized Exclusive International Business Expo titled as ‘India Telecom 2022?

Correct Answer is Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council.

• It is being held from 8th to 10th February
• Aim: to provide opportunities to the Indian telecom stakeholders to meet qualified overseas buyers
• It will be held under Market Access Initiative Scheme (MAI) of Department of Commerce and with support of Department of Telecommunications and Indian missions in different countries.

Q.8. Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched a dedicated storefront for ayurvedic products on which e-commerce platform ?

Correct Answer is Amazon.

• This Ayurveda product storefront will enhance the visibility of unique Ayurveda products like skin-caresupplements, immunity boosters, oils, juices and more from small businesses and startup brands
• It will make shopping easier as product selection has been done according to focus areas and health benefits like pain management, immunity boosters, etc.

Q.9. Atal Tunnel has officially been certified by the World Book of Records, as the 'World's Longest Highway Tunnel above 10,000 Feet', what is the length of the tunnel ?

Correct Answer is 9.02 km.

• Notably, Atal Tunnel was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 3, 2020.
• The 9.02 km long, strategically significant, Atal Tunnel, that runs under the 'Rohtang Pass' was constructed on the Manali - Leh Highway under the challenging conditions of freezing temperatures in extremely difficult terrain.

Q.10. As per ‘Women in the Boardroom report’ released by the Deloitte Global, what is the percentage of Women representation of board seats in India in 2021?

Correct Answer is 17.1 per cent.

• However, only 3.6 per cent of the board chairs are women, down by 0.9 per cent since 2018
• Austria, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the UK, and the US saw the most notable increases in women in board chairs.

Q.11. What is India’s rank in the 9th annual ranking of top 10 countries outside of the United States (US) for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in 2021 released by the US Green Building Council (USGBC)?

Correct Answer is 3rd.

• It has been topped by China with 1,077 LEED projects certified in 2021, followed by Canada at 2nd position with 205 projects.
• The ranking highlights countries and regions outside the US that are doing good in healthy, sustainable, and resilient building design, construction, and operations.

Q.12. With what financial outlay the central government has pproved the continuation of a mega police modernisation scheme for five years up to 2025-26?

Correct Answer is Rs 26,275 crore.

• The total financial outlay of the scheme will be Rs 26,275 crore.
• The scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) since 1969-70.
• This scheme comprises all relevant sub-schemes that contribute to the modernisation and improvement.

Q.13. What is India’s rank in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index 2021?

Correct Answer is 46th.

• The report described the state of democracy in 165 countries.
• The report was prepared based on five parameters viz. functioning of the government, electoral process and pluralism, political participation, civil liberties and political culture.

Q.14. Recently held Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short Fiction and Animation films (MIFF-2022) was which edition of the field ?

Correct Answer is 17th.

• Films that were completed between September 01, 2019 to Dec 31, 2021 are eligible for entry in MIFF-2022.
• It is organized by Films Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting with support from Govt of Maharashtra, since 1990

Q.15. By which year India will achieve zero-diesel use in agriculture and replace fossil fuel with renewable energy?

Correct Answer is 2024.

• For this, states should develop action plan to achieve the assigned targets and specific agency dedicated for energy efficiency and conservation
• This initiative is a part of government’s commitment to increase the share of non-fossil fuels by 2030 and become a net zero emitter by 2070.

Q.16. Kameng sector is located in which state/UT, where seven army personnel died in an avalanche?

Correct Answer is Arunachal Pradesh.

• All the seven personnel were later found deceased. The area is located at an altitude of 14,500 feet and had been witnessing heavy snowfall since the last few days.
• The Army had lost six personnel to avalanches and snow-slides in the Siachen Glacier in 2019, and 11 others in other parts of the country.

Q.17. Which is the nodal agency the hackathon, Powerthon-2022 that was launched by the Union Power Ministry?

Correct Answer is REC.

• Union Power Minister R K Singh launched a hackathon, named Powerthon-2022, to find tech-driven solutions for quality power supply.
• It is launched under RDSS (Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme). New ideas and concepts will be rewarded with licence.

Important News – State

Q.1. Which state government has launched 'Paray Shikshalaya', an open-air classroom for students from class 1 to 7?

Correct Answer is West Bengal.

• The aim of this initiative is to encourage students who dropped out of schools during the Covid-19 pandemic to continue their education.
• The initiative has been started by the Bengal government keeping in mind the ongoing COVID pandemic situation, which has forced the students to stay back home and attend online classes.

Q.2. Which state government has inked an MoU with the Social Alpha through its "Clean Energy International Incubation Centre (CEIIC)?

Correct Answer is Kerala.

• Kerala Development & Innovation Strategy Council (KDISC) and Energy Management Centre(EMC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
• The MoU emphasizes KDISC, EMC, and CEIIC's shared commitment to collaborate in the areas of innovative and clean energy technologies that are aligned with Kerala's programs and initiatives.

Q.3. Amazon India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with which state government to support the growth the women entrepreneurs?

Correct Answer is Karnataka.

• Amazon India would launch Sanjeevini-KSRLPS in its marketplace and extend benefits of the 'Saheli'programme to train and empower thousands of women entrepreneurs to come online and access a wider market for their products.

Q.4. State-owned THDC India Ltd (THDCIL) has signed a pact to build 10,000-megawatt (MW) solar power projects entailing an investment of Rs 10,000 crore in?

Correct Answer is Rajasthan.

• THDC India Limited (THDCIL) signed the letter of intent (LoI) of 10,000 MW in Rajasthan with an estimated investment of Rs 40,000 crore for the establishment of renewable energy parks/ projects of 10,000 MW in the august 2021.

Q.5. India’s first commercial-scale biomass-based hydrogen plant will come up in which state?

Correct Answer is Madhya Pradesh.

• The plant will produce a tonne of hydrogen per day, from 30 tonnes of biomass feedstock.
• It will also produce biochar and methane.
• The plant is being put up by a joint venture of Watomo Energies Ltd and Biezel Green Energy with an investment of ₹24 crore.

Q.6. State-run Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with which state government to develop 10,000 megawatt (MW) of solar power projects in the state in the next five years?

Correct Answer is Rajasthan.

• A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the same will be inked shortly, and the investment is estimated at ₹50,000 crore.

Q.7. WE HUB is an exclusive incubator for women entrepreneurs of which state government that has launched a unique incubator programme for rural areas?

Correct Answer is  Telangana.

• The year-long programme targets to accelerate small and medium enterprises, besides strengthening the local supply chain.
• WE HUB, promoted by the Telangana Government has called for applications for the rural incubation programme.

Q.8. Which state government and the British Council, an international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural exchange, have signed a 3-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to renew the partnership in Education, English and Arts?

Correct Answer is Telangana.

• To facilitate research between institutions and assist to expand higher education globally, to offer global opportunities for the youth of Telangana.
• Under the extended 3 year MoU, the British Council has also signed an agreement with the Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH) to work closely to engineer new partnerships between universities, research institutions and centres of excellence in the UK and in Telangana.

Q.9. The Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) government signed a pact with which country for the transformation of the sheep farming sector in the J&K Union Territory (UT)?

Correct Answer is New Zealand.

• To improve farmer’s remuneration, transfer of technology in research and development, marketing and value addition of sheep products of J&K.
• The agreement was signed through the virtual mode in the presence of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Navin Choudhary, principal secretary of agriculture production and farmers welfare department animal.

Q.10. ‘Operation Parivartan’ has been initiated by which state to eliminate the cultivation of cannabis ?

Correct Answer is Karnataka.

• Such an initiative was never been taken up before and it helps the state to fight against the drugs menace.
• This operation was led by the Andhra Pradesh Police with the Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) in Visakhapatnam.

Q.11. Which state govt signed an agreement with the Anil Agarwal Foundation of the Vedanta Group to develop 25,000 Anganwadi centres as Nand Ghar in the state?

Correct Answer is Rajasthan.

• The foundation will develop Nand Ghars by spending about Rs 750 crore (Rs 3 lakh per Anganwadi).
• The chief minister said the development of Anganwadi centres as Nand Ghar will improve their infrastructure as well as provide quality education and nutrition to children.
• This will also help in further reducing maternal and child mortality.

Q.12. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has signed an MoU with which state govt to support its ‘Majhi Vasundhara’ campaign?

Correct Answer is Maharashtra.

• The beginning of a new partnership between UN Environment Programme and the Government of Maharashtra will support the state in the implementation of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures,” said a statement from UN office.

Important News – World

Q.1. Which has become the first country in the world to administer a DNA vaccine against COVID-19?

Correct Answer is India.

• The ZyCoV-D which is the World’s first plasmid DNA vaccine has been produced by Ahmedabad-based vaccine manufacturer Zydus Cadila and it was administered for the first time in Patna On February 05, 2022.
• It is a Painless and Needleless vaccine given at intervals of 28 days and 56 days.

Q.2. World Oil Outlook 2021 is a flagship publication by which organization?

Correct Answer is Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

• It is a flagship publication by Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
• Govt has been taking up the issue, bilaterally with crude oil-producing countries with OPEC to convey India's serious concerns over crude oil price volatility.

Q.3. India has agreed to provide grant to which country to implement ‘Unitary Digital Identity framework’, apparently modelled on Aadhaar card?

Correct Answer is Sri Lanka.

• It will be categorized as a national level programme.
• This will provide personal identity verification device based on biometric data, digital tool that can represent identities of individuals in cyberspace, and identification of individual identities that can be accurately verified in digital and physical environments.

Q.4. According to TomTom Traffic Index's global top 25 list which city has emerged as the most congested cities in the world in 2021?

Correct Answer is Istanbul.

• Delhi and Pune ranked 11th and 21st among 404 cities across 58 countries, according to TomTom Traffic Index's global top 25 list.
• However, the congestion level in Delhi during 2021 was 14% less than 2019 while in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Pune, the level dropped by 18%, 32% and 29% respectively, according the report.

Q.5. Which country ranked 1st in the Economic Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index 2021?

Correct Answer is Norway.

• The report described the state of democracy in 165 countries.
• The report was prepared based on five parameters viz. functioning of the government, electoral process and pluralism, political participation, civil liberties and political culture.

Q.6. Which country has announced ‘Maitri' Scholars Program under which it will provide over USD 11 million for four years to support Indian students to study in that country’s world-leading universities?

Correct Answer is Australia.

• The Maitri Fellowships Program will provide USD 3.5 million over four years to build links between future  leaders, will support mid-career Australian and Indian professionals to collaborate on strategic research initiatives.
• Australia will also provide over USD 6 million over four years for the Maitri cultural partnerships to support cultural exchanges and boost the role of the creative industries in our two countries.

Q.7. India signed agreement with UN World Food Program for distribution of wheat to which country?

Correct Answer is Afghanistan.

• India has committed to send relief to Afghanistan as part of a humanitarian assistance, to be sent in truck convoys through Pakistan by road.
• Rome-headquartered WFP thanked India for the agreement to support Afghans who are facing humanitarian crisis.

Q.8. Which country is the host of One Ocean Summit 2022?

Correct Answer is France.

• India supported the French initiative of a ‘High Ambition Coalition on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction’. 
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the conference and said that India is committed to eliminating singleuse plastic.

Q.9. Which country’s central bank has launched ‘Five-year plan for financial standardisation’?

Correct Answer is China.

• The plan is to be implemented during the 2021-2025 period.
• China will strengthen its cross-border yuan payments system and explore setting up infrastructure standards for a digital fiat currency as part of the plan.

Honor & Awards

Q.1. Which International Airport has been awarded the ‘Voice of the Customer’ award by the Airports Council International (ACI)?

Correct Answer is Mangaluru International Airport, Karnataka.

• ACI is a trade association of the world airports.
• The airport was awarded for demonstrating relentless efforts in gathering passenger feedback on customer needs in 2021 and providing the best-in-class travel experience.

Q.2. Who became the youngest female pilot to circumvent the globe, traveling across five continents in five months while flying in a single-seater sport plane?

Correct Answer is Zara Rutherford.

• It took her 155 days, but 19-year-old Zara Rutherford accomplished her goal: to become the youngest woman to fly solo around the world.
• Rutherford departed Belgium on August 18 in a Shark UL plane, a two-seat ultralight plane equipped with extra fuel tanks, two radios and a parachute.

Q.3. Who has been awarded the Test batting award in the 15th edition of the ESPNcricinfo Awards?

Correct Answer is Rishabh Pant.

• The Test bowling award went to Kyle Jamieson for his 5 for 31, which helped New Zealand become the first  World Test champions.
• England fast bowler Ollie Robinson was named Debutant of the Year for his 37 wickets at 21.16 in eight Tests, which made him England’s second highest wicket-taker in Tests in 2021.

Q.4. Who will be facilitated for the first time with the 18th late Madhavrao Limaye award in the category of Karyakram Khaasdar (Efficient Member of Parliament) for the year 2020-21?

Correct Answer is Nitin Gadkari.

• This award will be facilitated by Nashik Public Library, Sarvajanik Vachanalay. Earlier, the award was given to Karyaksham Aamdaar, an efficient Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Maharashtra.

Sports News

Q.1. Which country has won the AFC Women`s Asian Cup India 2022 Football tournament?

Correct Answer is China.

• China PR defeated South Korea (Korea Republic), 3-2, to win the AFC Women`s Asian Cup India 2022 final title at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on February 06, 2022.
• This is the record-extending 9th AFC Women`s Asian Cup title won by China.

Q.2. Veteran cricketer Suranga Lakmal plays for which country, who announced his retirement from international cricket?

Correct Answer is Sri Lanka.

• The 34-year-old right-arm fast bowler and right-handed batsman aim to join the English county club Derbyshire after retirement.
• Lakmal has represented Sri Lanka in 165 international matches across formats, in his international career spanning over 12 years.

Q.3. The Ahmedabad IPL franchise has been named as?

Correct Answer is Gujarat Titans.

• The Ahmedabad IPL franchise has been named “Gujarat Titans” by its owner CVC Capital. Hardik Pandya has been declared as the Captain of this team.
• Earlier in January 2022, Lucknow’s IPL team was named as “Lucknow Super Giants” by its owner RPSG Group.

Books and Authors

Q.1. Who has authored the book titled “India-Africa Relations: Changing Horizons”?

Correct Answer is Rajiv Kumar Bhatia.

• The book is published by Routledge India.
• The book also provides a detailed exploration of India–Africa partnership in all its critical dimensions.
• The book describes the historical backdrop and shared colonial past to focus on and contextualise the evolution of the India – Africa engagement.

Q.2. Who has authored the book titled “Atal Bihari Vajpayee”, the biography on the former Prime Minister of India?

Correct Answer is Sagarika Ghose.

• It is a biography on the former Prime Minister of India.
• Sagarika Ghose is a jounalist. She has also authored a book titled “Indira: India’s Most Powerful Prime Minister”.

Science and Defence

Q.1. "Winter Camp" is a joint military exercise of which multilateral groups?

Correct Answer is NATO.

• The "Winter Camp" exercise in northeast Estonia, just 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the Russian border, included some 1,300 British, Estonian and French troops operating in extreme conditions.

Q.2. Which operation has been launched by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to curb human trafficking?

Correct Answer is Operation AAHT.

• The RPF that recued more than more than 2,000 women and children between 2017-21 from the clutches of traffickers intensified the crackdown on human trafficking with the increasing number of cases.
• The National Crime Records Bureau registers about 2,200 cases of Human Trafficking cases on an average each year.

Q.3. The National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture and Utilisation (NCOE-CCU) has been established at which institution?

Correct Answer is IIT- Bombay.

• The Department of Science & Technology (DST) has established the National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture and Utilisation (NCOE-CCU) at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay.