Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2019

Notes:
In a first of its kind offer from any national carrier, IRCTC will compensate passengers of India’s first corporate train – New Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express – in case of delay in the train schedule. An amount of Rs 100 will be paid in case the delay is for over an hour and Rs 250 for delay of over two hours. The latest offer is in addition to the Rs 25-lakh free insurance that will be given to passengers of the train. This travel insurance also includes coverage of Rs 1 lakh against household theft and robbery during travel period of the passengers, which is again a first for those travelling on board trains. The train will be flagged off on October 4.

Notes:
On the eve of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, India’s largest ‘charkha’ (the 1,650-kg spinning wheel) made of used plastic waste was inaugurated by Union Minister Smriti Irani in Noida. The ‘charkha’ symbolizes Gandhi’s dream of Swadeshi (self sufficing and self reliance). It measures 14 ft × 20 ft × 8ft and is made of 1,250 kg of used plastic. The charkha has been recognized as the largest made of used plastic waste in the country by India Book of Records.

Notes:
Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has flagged off  the nation-wide ‘Fit India Plog run’ at Indira Gandhi stadium in New Delhi to mark 150th Gandhi Jayanti. Plogging is a concept brings together fitness and cleanliness as participants pick up plastic and other waste from the road while jogging. The run is being organised at over two thousand places all over the country including 225 places in the national capital.

Notes:
On the occasion of nationwide Paryatan Parv 2019, the Union Ministry of Tourism launched the Audio Guide facility App “Audio Odigos” for 12 sites of India (including Iconic Sites) for the benefit of the tourists. It offers Government of India (GoI) verified content with visuals & voice over support. The app contains an inbuilt map of the site for a smooth navigation during the tour. Listeners will be offered various versions of history like Synopsis, Detailed History and Podcasts. The audio can be chosen in their preferred language & version of the history. 

Notes:
Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) has launched an Automated Real Time Performance Smart-board for effective monitoring and measurement of the key programmes of the government such as Digital India, Aadhaar, Digital Payments etc. The aim of Smart-board is to be a single window access for Centre, State or District specific projects implemented by MeitY. It will provide real-time, dynamic analytical project monitoring for critical and high priority Programme of the ministry.

Notes:
The International Teachers’ Day  is celebrated every year on 5th October with an aim to acknowledge the significant role of educators across the world. The 2019 theme “Young Teachers: The Future of the Profession”, recognizes the critical importance  of  reaffirming  the  value  of  the  teaching  mission. The day also aims to address some of the issues that are key to attracting the brightest minds and young talents in the profession and retaining them.

Notes:
The Union government has launched a Prakash portal – ‘Power Rail Koyla Availability through Supply Harmony’ – for better coordination among the Ministries of Power, Coal and Indian Railways for coal supply to power plants. The portal, which is developed by NTPC, is designed to help in mapping and monitoring entire coal supply chain for power plants, viz – – coal stock at supply end (mines), coal quantities/ rakes planned, coal quantity in transit and coal availability at power generating station

Notes:
England all-rounder Ben Stokes has been named the 2019 PCA (Professional Cricketers’ Association)  Player of the Year award after his splendid show in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup and a remarkable unbeaten 135 run to win the third Ashes Test against Australia at Headingley. 

Notes:
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has launched the Pragati Rath of the HDFC bank that will provide financial and digital literacy to the people during a month-long initiative by moving to different parts of the state.

Notes:
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is hosting the first-ever World Cotton Day (WCD) in Geneva on 7th October 2019. Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani is representing India in the 5-day event of WCD. The WCD will celebrate the many advantages of cotton, from its qualities as a natural fibre, to the benefits people obtain from its production, transformation, trade and consumption. It will also serve to shed light on the challenges faced by cotton economies around the world because cotton is important to least developed, developing and developed economies worldwide.