Current Affairs 22 February 2023

CONTENTS

1. Special Rupee Vostro Accounts Arrangement
2. El Niño-La Niña
3. New START Treaty
4. GST Council
5. Adenovirus
6. Rhododendron

Special Rupee Vostro Accounts Arrangement

Context:

Recently, government officials informed that 20 Russian banks, including Rosbank, Tinkoff Bank, Centro Credit Bank and Credit Bank of Moscow have opened Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVA) with partner banks in India.

Relevance:

GS III: Indian Economy

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What is the SRVA arrangement?
2. Functioning of the SRVA Arrangement
3. What is the eligibility criteria of banks?

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El Niño-La Niña

Context:

India is experiencing a colder than normal winter thanks to the north-south winter flow set up by the climate phenomenon known as La Niña. The La Niña itself is going on for a record-breaking third consecutive year. Now, forecasts for the 2023 fall and winter are predicting that there is a 50% possibility for its companion phenomenon, the El Niño to occur.

Relevance:

GS-I: Geography (Climatology, Important Geophysical Phenomena), GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Impact of Climate Change)

Dimensions of the article:

1. La Niña
2. El Niño 

Click Here To Read More: Special Rupee Vostro Accounts Arrangement

New START Treaty

Context:

Days before the first anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin announced in an address to his nation that Russia is suspending its participation in the New START, the last remaining major military agreement with the United States.

Relevance:

GS II: International Relations

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About New START Treaty
2. When did the process of nuclear disarmament begin?
3. Why Russia Suspended the Inspection?
4. What are the various Treaties signed Between USA & Russia?

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GST Council

Context:

Recently, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council in its 49th Meeting has reached consensus on the constitution of the GST Appellate Tribunal to resolve the rising number of disputes under the old indirect tax regime.

Relevance:

GS III- Indian Economy

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What is GST?
2. GST Council
3. What has changed this time?

Click Here To Read More: GST Council

Adenovirus

Context:

Bengal health authorities have been asked to be vigilant after the state recently recorded a big spike in adenovirus cases.

Relevance:

GS II: Health

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About Adenovirus
2. Transmission modes
3. Treatment

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Rhododendron

Context:

Recently, the Botanical Survey of India has published a new report titled ‘Rhododendrons of Sikkim and Darjeeling Himalaya- An Illustrated Account’, which lists 45 taxa of rhododendrons.

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

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