Current Affairs Quiz- November, 2019

Notes:
The 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit 2019 has started in Bangkok, Thailand on 1st of November with theme ‘Advancing Partnership for sustainability’. During 5-days summit East Asia summit (EAS) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Summit (RCEP) will be also held. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend this summit on 3rd and 4th November. The ASEAN is a group of 10 member countries that encourages political,economic and social co-operation in the region. The summit would  discuss comprehensive and sustainable ASEAN economic development and s on negotiations related to the RCEP including market opening. The RCEP is a proposed Free Trade Agreement ( FTA) between the 10 members state of ASEAN and its partner countries.

Notes:
The 14-day long joint Indo-French exercise ‘Shakti-2019’ has started at the Mahajan field firing ranges in Bikaner, Rajasthan. The aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability between the two armies and further strengthening the military relations between them. The exercise will facilitate both the armies to know each other better, share their operational experience and enhance awareness through information exchange.

Notes:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has represented India at a meeting of Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Tashkent on November 1-2. It was the 3rd CHG meeting of the SCO after India became the member of the grouping in 2017.The SCO is an influential regional security grouping which is seen as a counterweight to NATO. The aim of the SCO is to maintain peace, stability and security of the region. The SCO represents over 40% of humanity and nearly 20% of the global GDP.

Notes:
The first-of-its-kind-ready-reckoner ‘Red Atlas Action Plan Map’ has been launched by Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu along with the ‘Coastal Flood Warning System App (CFLOWS-Chennai). The ‘Red Atlas Map’ is prepared by the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences to aid Tamil Nadu government in effective flood mitigation in Chennai which witnessed the worst deluge in 2015. The purpose of the atlas is to  flood mitigation, preparedness, operations and management aspects. The CFLOWS-Chennai is a complete webGIS-based decision support system that can be used both for mitigation planning operations before flooding and in real time to for aspects like relief work.

Notes:
The IIT Madras has launched the newly designed ‘Arise-A Standing Wheelchair’ standing wheelchair for disabled at IIT Madras Research Park. The standing wheelchair is designed by TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research & Device Development (R2D2). The purpose of this wheelchair is that it will help a person in a wheelchair to stand without any help.

Notes:
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has recently launched two new IT Initiatives – ICEDASH and ATITHI – for improved monitoring and pace of customs clearance of imported goods and facilitating arriving international passengers. ICEDASH is an Ease of Doing Business (EODB) monitoring dashboard of the Indian Customs that allows public see and compare import clearance times at all ports and airports across India.  The ATITHI app will facilitate hassle-free and faster clearance by Indian Customs at the airports and increase the experience of international tourists and other visitors at the airports. 

Notes:
The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) Igniter Complex has recently inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik at High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) in Pune, Maharashtra. The purpose of the laboratory is to design & develop any kind of ignition systems for key DRDO projects. Ignition is a crucial and highly critical phenomenon in the ignition chain of Rocket motor. The Ignition system for Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Nag, Pinaka, Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM), etc. have been designed and developed in HEMRL. The technology for AKASH, Nag missiles and Pinaka Mk-I Rocket has been transferred to Ordnance Factory, Dehu Road, Pune and private industries.

Notes:
The World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD) is observed every year on 5th of November to spread awareness about precautionary measures against tsunami and share innovative approaches to risk reduction. In 2019, the day promotes Target (d) of the “Sendai Seven Campaign,” which focuses on reducing disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services.

Notes:
The world’s first multi-targeting and carbohydrate-based drug “GV-971” for Alzheimer’s disease is extracted from brown algae. Recently, China has approved this home-grown seaweed-based  drug to potentially cure disease. The drug is the only Alzheimer’s medicine out of more than 320 developed by pharmaceutical companies around the globe to survive clinical trials. The orally taken drug can treat mild to moderate forms of the disease and improve cognition. The Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible and progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory, thinking ability and the capability to carry out simple tasks.

Notes:
In Moscow, the 19th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) meeting has been co-chaired by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Russian Defence Minister General Sergey Shoigu. Both sides agree to constitute specific working groups for after-sales support of key defence platforms. The Russian Defence Minister assured robust Russian participation in DefExpo 2020 i.e. scheduled to be held in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow between February 5-8. Russia also assures full support in increasing India’s defence capabilities under ‘Make in India’ initiative.