Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2019

Notes:
The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to implement NCERT course in Class ninth and tenth standard in all government schools of the state from the next academic session. The School Education Minister Dr Prabhuram Chaudhary has said that Parents-Teachers Association meetings will be held once in every 3 months in order to improve the standard of education in government schools. In it, parents and teachers will have an open discussion on students’ education and their problems. He also pointed that Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country, where the tradition of transfer of teachers as per their convenience has been started online.

Notes:
Indian cyclist Ronaldo Singh has won gold in the men’s junior Keirin event at the 2019 Asian Track Cycling Championships at Incheon in South Korea. Apart from Ronaldo, James Singh clinched a bronze medal in the same event. India also secured 2 bronze medals in men’s and women’s Jr. sprint team.

Notes:
The World Iodine Deficiency Day (WIDD) is observed every year on 21st of October  to raise awareness of iodine deficiency and its devastating effects on brain development. Iodine is an essential micronutrient required for normal thyroid function, growth, and development. Its deficiency is a major cause of preventable mental retardation. In its most severe forms, Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs) can lead to cretinism, stillbirth and miscarriage; even mild deficiency can cause a significant loss of learning ability.

Notes:
The International Osteoporosis Foundation observes the World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) every year on October 20th to raise global awareness on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. The 2019 theme is ‘Love your bones and Protect your future’.

Notes:
On the occasion of 2019 International Snow Leopard Day (ISLD), the Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar  launched the first national protocol to enumerate the snow leopard population in India. It was launched at the inaugural session of the 4th steering committee meeting of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) in Delhi. Poaching is a major threat for the snow leopards. The Project Snow Leopard is an initiative of the Environment Ministry which aims to safeguard and conserve India’s unique natural heritage of high altitude wildlife populations and their habitats by promoting conservation through participatory policies and actions. Snow leopards play a critical role in their ecosystem as top predators.

Notes:
The Indian Army has decided to conduct exercise codenamed ‘Sindhu Sudarshan’ in the deserts of Rajasthan from Nov 29 to Dec 4. The purpose of the exercise is to evaluate the capability of the defence services to strike deep into enemy territory in an integrated air-land battle. Over 40,000 troops will participate in an all-arms battle array of Divisions and Brigades carrying out offensive operations in deserts.

Notes:
Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has recently  inaugurated the International Workshop on Environment Flows at Delhi. He also formally released the first version of the Guidance Document on Environment flow assessment in India. The purpose of the workshop is to assist in the e-flows implementation in India by answering the following questions: What are the overall aims and targets for e-flows assessment in India? & What are the short- and long-term steps to implement e-flows according to the overall aims and targets.

Notes:
To celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev, India and Pakistan have recently signed the landmark agreement to operationalise the historic Kartarpur Sahib Corridor at Zero Point, just about 4 km from the International Boundary.  It will connect the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Punjab with the Gurdwara at Kartarpur in Pakistan. The agreement will allow access to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Norowal district of Pakistan where the founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev spent last 18 years of his life. The highlights of the Agreement are as follows: Indian pilgrims of all faiths and persons of Indian origin can use the corridor and the travel will be Visa Free.

Notes:
India has been ranked 63rd among 190 countries, as per latest Doing Business Report (DBR, 2020) of World Bank (WB). As per report, the World Bank (WB) has recognized India as one of the top 10 improvers for the third consecutive year. India’s recovery rate under resolving insolvency has improved significantly from 26.5% to 71.6%. The time taken for resolving insolvency has also come down significantly from 4.3 years to 1.6 years. India has reduced the number of procedures in granting construction permits. Apart from this, India continues to maintain its first position among South Asian countries. 

Notes:
China will host the inaugural edition of the expanded 24-team FIFA World Cup for Clubs in 2021. The current Club World Cup features 7- teams including the holders of the UEFA Champions League. Qatar will host the competition in 2019 & 2020.