Current Affairs Quiz- November, 2019

Notes:
The Andhra Pradesh government has selected IIM Ahmedabad to help  curb corruption in the state administration. The institute would study the structural issues in the government departments in relation to corruption and come out with measures to tackle them. The focus would be on government departments that have earned alleged notoriety for corruption. Based on the IIM-A report, it was expected that the government may suitably amend the PC Act for a complete crackdown on corruption.

Notes:
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has recently launched a project that will connect 500 government-run secondary schools to virtual classrooms in the state. The virtual classes are attended through video conferences where students can meet the teacher on a real-time basis and ask questions. Approx 1.90 lakh students of these schools will also benefit from the project.

Notes:
The Haryana Government has decided to create a dedicated new department namely Department of ‘Foreign Cooperation’ to deal in formulation of country-wise strategies for promotion of investment, employment in the state, education and skill development and promotion of Haryanavi culture and welfare of Haryanavi diaspora. The Haryana Cabinet has also decided to revise the House Rent Allowance admissible to the Ministers from Rs 50,000 to Rs 80,000 plus Rs 20,000 to cover electricity and water charges that is totalling Rs 1 Lakh per month.

Notes:
Due to low quality of life and expenditure on education, India has been ranked 59th on a global annual list of 63 countries in the 2019 IMD World Talent Ranking. The list was topped by Switzerland, followed by Denmark, Sweden and Austria. The ranking is based on the performance in three main categories — Investment & Development, Appeal and Readiness. 

Notes:
The Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh (BPKK) has been launched by Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) in partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in New Delhi. The BPKK is a repository of diverse crops across 128 agro-climatic zones in India for better nutritional outcomes.

Notes:
The Assam Olympic Association (AOA) has decided to launch a new programme –  “Grassroot Olympic – Mission Talent Hunt” – to identify the sports talent in the state and groom them. The AOA will organize sports events in five categories covering players from 10 years to 60 years of age in the state.

Notes:
The Central government has recently banned Meghalaya-based insurgent group Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) for its increased activities of violence and other subversive acts. The government also declared HNLC and its factions, wings and front organisations as “unlawful associations” by exercising powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967.

Notes:
President Ram Nath Kovind presented the prestigious President’s Colour, to the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala, Kerala.  It is recognition of the yeoman service rendered by the institution in training and shaping Indian Naval officers over the last 50 years at three different locations – Kochi, Goa and Ezhimala. The President’s Colour is the highest honour that is bestowed upon a military unit. 

Notes:
For the first time, NASA scientists have discovered the presence of water vapor above  the surface of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa using the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii. The researchers detected 5,202 pounds of water releasing from Europa per second, which could fill an Olympic-size swimming pool within minutes.

Notes:
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has recently released its latest World Energy Outlook (WEO) report. In the 2019 edition, IEA projected a rapid increase in installed installed solar capacity by 2040, from 495 GW now to 3,142 GW. Though, it expects (CO2) emissions to continue rising for decades unless polices reflect greater ambition on climate change. This is primarily due to the longevity of the existing stock of coal-based plants, which account for 30% of all energy-related emissions. IEA is an inter-governmental organisation established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).