Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2019

Notes:
In Assam, the  ‘Plants for Plastic’ campaign has been launched by the Bongaigaon District administration in a bid to gradually collect and remove the harmful plastics from the eco- system. The aim of the campaign is to encourage people to collect and remove plastic from their houses, commercial establishments and educational institutions. Under this unique initiative, any person can deposit 1Kg plastic in the Municipality office and get a valuable sapling for free.

Notes:
Kerala has topped the NITI Aayog’s report titled ‘The Success of Our Schools-School Education Quality Index’ (SEQI) in list of 20 states, followed by Rajasthan and Karnataka. While the most-populous state Uttar Pradesh was ranked at the bottom position during 2016-17. The report is based on indexing of states and Union Territories (UTs) on the learning outcomes for school-going children. Of the 7 UTs, Chandigarh came at the top position, followed by Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Delhi, Puducherry, Daman & Diu, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. This school education report has considered 2015-2016 as the base year and 2016-2017 as the reference year.

Notes:
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has named an asteroid after Indian classical singer Pandit Jasraj. With this, Pandit Jasraj has become the first Indian maestro to have a planet named after him. The asteroid, which is located between Mars and Jupiter, was discovered by Mt. Lemmon Survey  at Mount Lemmon in Arizona  (United States) in November 2006.

Notes:
Annu Rani has become the first Indian to qualify for Women’s Javelin Throw final at World Athletics Championships (WAC) in Doha. She smashed her own national record during the qualification round of the Championships with best attempt of 62.43 metres.

Notes:
As part of the celebration of the 2019 International Day of Older Persons, President Ram Nath Kovind has conferred the Vayoshreshtha Samman-2019 on the eminent senior citizens and institutions in recognition of their services towards the cause of the elderly persons. The Vayoshreshtha Samman is a Scheme of awards instituted by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and  Empowerment  and gradually upgraded to the status of National Awards for institutions involved in rendering distinguished service for the cause of elderly persons. The awards are intended to show-case the government’s concern for senior citizens and its commitment towards them with the aim of strengthening their legitimate place in the society.

Notes:
Babita Tade, who won Rs. 1 crore on quiz show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, has been appointed as the Amravati district ambassador for the Election Commission (EC)’s SVEEP programme ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls. The Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) is a flagship programme of the Election Commission for spreading voter awareness and promoting voter literacy in the country. Tade works as a mid-day meal cook in a government school for a meager sum. 

Notes:
In Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Swachh Bharat Diwas 2019 in Ahmedabad & declared India as Open Defecation Free (ODF) country.  He also released postage stamp and silver coin to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. PM Modi also underlined that the government would achieve its target of single-use plastic-free India by 2022.

Notes:
The book titled ‘India and the Netherlands – Past, Present and Future’ has been penned by Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands Venu Rajamony. The book highlights the significant place India occupied in the Dutch worldview and the relationship between the two nations secured by strong economic ties and vibrant exchanges in culture, sports, and yoga.

Notes:
The 2019 edition of World Space Week (WSW) is celebrating the 50th anniversary of humankind’s first step on the Moon on 20th July 1969 with theme “The Moon: Gateway to the Stars” from 4th to 10th October. The theme is devoted to our nearest space neighbor to celebrate the incredible achievement of landing on the Moon and to spark consideration of the value of the Moon in humankind’s future space endeavors.

Notes:
The Uttarakhand government has launched an awareness campaign – Urjagiri – to stop power theft & saving. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat  has instructed the officers of UPCL Vigilance Cell to effectively stop the power theft so that honest customers do not have to bear the brunt of the power theft.