Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2020

Notes:
A function was held to commemorate the 76^th Anniversary of the First Flag Hoisting of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Port Blair. Subhash Mela Committee Swarajdweep has organised bike rally. The cultural programmes were also conducted.

Notes:
Uttarakhand is preparing for its maiden snow leopards survey after the winter is over. Experts estimate that there are over 80 snow leopards in Uttarakhand. However, a census of this cat has not yet been conducted.

Notes:
Taiwan parliament had recently passed an anti-infiltration law to counter the perceived threats from China as the nation prepares itself for a presidential vote. This legislation is part of the Taiwanese government’s efforts to curb China’s influence in the politics and democratic process through illegal funding, media etc.

Notes:
Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge will launch the environmental prize called the Earthshot. The multi-million pound award will be given to five winners each year for the next 10 years, starting from 2021. Its aim is to provide at least 50 solutions to the world’s greatest problems by 2030.

Notes:
Ransthamb is a memorial to the Bhima-Koregaon battle in Maharashtra. It is also known as Jaistambh or victory pillar. It is located in Bhima Koregaon village in Pune. It was visited by many in light of the 202^nd anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle that was fought in 1818.

Notes:
The incumbent Chairman of Railway Board, Vinod Kumar Yadav recently assumed office as the Chairman after his reappointment has been approved by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet. He was appointed as the Chairman for the first term on January 2019. Recently the Cabinet approved the restructuring of the Railway board and the merger of several cadres in the administration. A new post of CEO was also created during the restructuring exercise.

Notes:
The 3rd installment of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM- KISAN) scheme was released by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in Tumakuru, Karnataka. This latest installment is expected to benefit nearly six crore beneficiaries. The PM- KISAN scheme was launched by the Prime Minister on February 2019 to provide financial assistance of Rs.6000 per year to eligible farmers in three installments of Rs.2000 each. The payment of second installment began from April 2019.

Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently signed an MoU with National Institute of Technology (NITK), Suratkal located in Karnataka, to set up its regional academic centre for space research at the institution. The academic centre would jointly participate in research and development in emerging space technologies. ISRO would also provide an annual financial support of Rs. 2 Crore to the centre for the research projects.

Notes:
For his commended performance in the movie ‘Joker’, American actor Joaquin Phoenix won the ‘Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama’ award in the Golden Globe awards 2020. The Joker movie was nominated in four categories in the ceremony and won two awards namely Best Actor (Drama) and Best Original Score. Joker is a psychological thriller film which was directed by Todd Philips. The movie was released in October 2019 and created records by collecting revenues in box offices world-wide.

Notes:
The domestic lighting scheme of Central Government, Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) and LED Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) completed five years since they were launched. Energy Efficiency Services Limited, a joint venture of the Public Sector Undertaking (PSUs) companies under the Power Ministry is the implementing agency of the schemes. Under the UJALA scheme, more than 36 Crore LED bulbs have been distributed.