Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2019

Notes:
Dr Hargovind Laxmishanker Trivedi (87) was the renowned nephrologist, immunologist and stem cell researcher. He passed away in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on 2nd October 2019. He was an expert in handling kidney transplant surgeries & was awarded Padma Shri in 2015 for his contribution to society as a nephrologist.

Notes:
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched the YSR Vahana Mitra welfare scheme under which the owner-driver of an auto-rickshaw (or taxicab) gets Rs 10,000 grant per annum. The amount is meant to meet maintenance expenses, and for obtaining insurance and fitness certificates among other documents.

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:
In Maharashtra, the 63rd Dhammachakra Pravartan Din has celebrated at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur on 9th October 2019. The Buddhist followers from the different parts of the country and abroad reached at the venue to pay homage to the Architect of Indian Constitution Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.  It is a day to celebrate the Buddhist conversion of Dr. Ambedkar.

Notes:
Mexican actress Yalitza Aparicio has been named UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Indigenous Peoples. She made history as the first indigenous performer nominated for a best actress honor at the 2019 Academy Awards for her performance in the film “Roma”, in which she speaks in an indigenous language and in Spanish.

Notes:
Indian women’s cricket captain & right-handed batswoman, Mithali Raj has become the 1st female player to complete 20 yrs in international cricket. She achieved the feat while leading India to an emphatic 8-wicket win over South Africa Women in the first ODI at Vadodara on 10th October 2019. Mithali made her ODI debut against Ireland on 26th June 1999 & completed 20 years and 105 days in the 50-over format. She has played 204 ODIs till now, the most by a female.

Notes:
Austrian author Peter Handke has been honoured  with the 2019 Nobel Prize in literature for an influential work that with linguistic ingenuity has explored the periphery and the specificity of human experience. His notable works include “Short Letter, Long Farewell” and “A Sorrow Beyond Dreams”. He will receive 9 million Swedish kronor (£740,000), as well as a medal and a diploma.

Notes:
NASA has recently launched its new Ionospheric Connection Explorer (Icon)  satellite  from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to explore the mysterious, dynamic region where air meets space. The refrigerator-size Icon satellite will study the airglow formed from gases in the ionosphere and also measure the charged environment right around the 360-mile-high (580-kilometer-high) spacecraft. Apart from this, a NASA satellite ‘Gold’ ( launched in 2018) is also studying the upper atmosphere, but from much higher up. 

Notes:
On 9th October 2019, the Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Programme “DHRUV”  has been launched by Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank   from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Headquarters at Bengaluru and will conclude on 24th of this month at IIT Delhi. 60 brightest and talented students from Science, Mathematics and Performing Arts have been chosen for the programme. The programme is named after the Pole Star and every student to be called ‘DHRUV TARA’. It aims to sharpen innovative imagination, skills and knowledge of the students who are expected to contribute to bringing solutions to socio-economic, political and environmental issues in the country. 

Notes:
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his efforts to end his country’s long-running border conflict with neighboring Eritrea. His peace deal with Eritrea ended a 20-year military stalemate following their 1998-2000 border war.  Abiy was named as the winner of the 100th Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, where he will receive the award in December 2019. The award is seen as a welcome boost for Africa’s youngest leader as he faces worrying inter-community violence ahead of a parliamentary election in May 2020.