Current Affairs Quiz- September, 2019

Notes:
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has rolled – out programme ‘Build for Digital India’ along with Google for engineering students. The programme will offer a platform to engineering students to develop market-ready, technology-based solutions that address key social problems. As part of the program, engineering students across the country will be invited to present their ideas and solutions in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, education, smart cities and infrastructure, women safety, smart mobility and transportation, environment, accessibility and disability and digital literacy. Applicants will take part in online and offline learning opportunities on key technologies such as Machine Learning (ML), Cloud and Android that will be offered through Google’s Developer Student Club network and other Google Developer networks. Google will also offer mentorship sessions in product design, strategy and technology to the most promising products and prototypes. This initiative will not only motivate the college students across India to innovate but will also produce some good technology solutions for some major social challenges of India.

Notes:
The 14th Conference of Parties (COP14) to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is at Greater Noida on 2nd September 2019. The core agenda of the 12-day Conference is to reverse land degradation and its outcomes while accelerating positive achievements for people and for ecosystems. The main objective of the convention is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought or desertification. The delegates from 196 countries are participating in COP14. The Parties to the Convention will agree on the actions they will take over the next 2 years and beyond to get the world on a sustainable development path.

Notes:
In Thailand, the first US-Asean Maritime Exercise (AUMX) officially started at the Royal Thai Fleet headquarters at Chon Buri’s Sattahip district. The aim of the 5-day AUMX is to train the regional navies in delivering humanitarian assistance and mitigating disasters. The exercise provides a new multilateral venue to work together on shared maritime security priorities in the region. The joint exercise will involve 1,250 military personnel. The AUMX is co-led by the US and the Royal Thai Navy and will be preceded with pre-sail activities in Thailand, Singapore and Brunei, followed by sea drills in international waters in the Gulf of Thailand as well as the South China Sea. The exercise will conclude in Singapore.

Notes:
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has recently confirmed the presence of tigers in high-altitude regions of Sikkim, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh in a study submitted to the Union Ministry of Environment. The Ministry will use a study on the status of tiger habitats in high altitude ecosystems to have a high altitude tiger master plan. The report provides the action strategy for a high altitude tiger master plan with gainful portfolio for local communities and ensuring centrality of tiger conservation in development, through an effective coordination mechanism, involving stakeholders and line departments operating within the landscape. The study is led by the Global Tiger Forum (GTF) with range country governments of Bhutan, India and Nepal. It is also supported by the Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHPC) of the IUCN and KfW (German Development Bank). The GTF is the only intergovernmental and international body established with members from willing countries to embark on a global campaign to protect the Tiger. Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.

Notes:
Nobel Laureate from Bangladesh Professor Muhammad Yunus has been conferred the ‘Lamp of Peace of Saint Francis ‘ award by the Vatican for his contribution towards establishing peace and harmony. The ceremony was recently took place at the historical Papal Basilica of Assisi in Italy. The award is recognition for distinguished work by an individual for promoting peace and dialogue among people. The Lamp of Peace award was first given to the Polish trade union leader Lech Walesa in 1981. Dalai Lama, Mikhail Gorbachev and Angela Merkel are a few other prominent persons who received this award earlier.

Notes:
After IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur has been selected for the “Sophisticated Analytical and Technical Help Institute (SATHI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the Union government. The SATHI Centre will run 24×7 round the year. At least 70% of instrument time will be reserved for external users from other academic institutes, national laboratories, start-ups, entrepreneurs and the industry.  The institute will treat the SATHI Centre as its Social Scientific Responsibility (SSR) programme to promote the culture of science-based entrepreneurship and start-ups in the country.

Notes:
On 5th September, Afghanistani leg spinner Rashid Khan (20) has scripted history as he became the youngest-ever Test captain after leading his team against Bangladesh in the one-off Test. Previously, the record was held by former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu. At the age of 19 years and 165 days, Rashid Khan  had also become the youngest player to captain an international side.

Notes:
The 28th cycle of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) between the navies of the two countries has started in Bangkok, Thailand from September 5 to 15  to increase bilateral ties and maritime cooperation. The objectives of the Indo-Thai CORPAT are to ensure effective implementation of United Nations Conventions on Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Notes:
Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has kick-started POSHAN Maah (nutrition month) 2019 with a year-long social and mass media campaign on the Eat Right India movement. This movement is aligned with the government’s flagship public health programmes such as POSHAN Abhiyaan, Anemia Mukt Bharat, Ayushman Bharat Yojana and Swachh Bharat Mission. Dr. Vardhan also launched the new Eat Right India logo that represents a healthy plate, an online eat right quiz and online course for frontline health.

Notes:
On 9th September 2019, a 3-day long International conference ANGAN for Energy Efficiency in Building Sector is being organized by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)  in New Delhi. Indo-German Technical Co-operation is also partnering in the event. Experts and policy makers from 16 countries are participating in this event to discuss various alternative options and technologies in the field of design and construction of energy efficient commercial as well as residential buildings. The event will provide a platform to deliberate on interdependence between organizations, systems sustainability and feedback loops for better resource efficiency.