Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2020

Notes:
The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) was established in 1972, by an act of Parliament, to act as the nodal agency for the development of Indian seafood industry. It is head-quartered at Kochi.
Recently, MPEDA announced that it is to start the upgradation and modernisation 25 fishing harbours in the country. The project is to be undertaken with the assistance from the Centre
at a proposed outlay of Rs 2500 crore.

Notes:
The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) under the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, releases the annual Public Sector Enterprises Survey, on the performance of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).
Recently, the Public Enterprises Survey -2018-19 was tabled in both the Houses of Parliament, which stated that BSNL, Air India and MTNL are the top loss-making PSUs for the third consecutive year. The top three profit-making PSUs include Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Indian Oil Corporation and NTPC.

Notes:
European countries witnessed a devastating storm named ‘Ciara’, which caused huge damage and killed as many as six people. The hurricane-force winds and heavy rains damaged several thousand buildings in the region.
The storm moved on near Germany, after hitting Britain and Ireland. It was called as ‘Ciara’ by the Irish weather service and dubbed as ‘Sabine’ in Germany. Flood warnings are given and flight operations are suspended in the countries.

Notes:
The 33-year-old cricket star of Australia, David Warner won the Allan Border medal of Cricket Australia, for being the Player of the year.
He had been suspended in 2018 for ball-tampering. This is Warner’s third award after he won the coveted award in 2016 and 2017. He was also named the T20 player of the year. Women’s all-rounder Ellyse Perry won the Belinda Clark award.

Notes:
According to the latest study by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Maharashtra records the highest number of missing women in the last three years, followed by West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.
NCRB compiled this data on missing children and women, on the directions of the Supreme Court. The study was based on the annual ‘Crime in India Report’ compiled by the agency for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. The highest number of missing children was reported in Maharashtra and West Bengal.

Notes:
The Ministry of health and family welfare recently said in a notification that all medical devices sold in the country would be treated as drugs and would be regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940, from April 1, 2020.
As of now, only 23 medical devices are being categorised as drugs. Only a few of these including cardiac stents and intrauterine devices have been brought under price control. The decision was taken after discussing with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB).

Notes:
National Productivity Council (NPC) is an institution for propagating productivity movement in India, which functions under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The formation of National Productivity Council is being celebrated annually as Productivity Day (12th February) and following seven days as Productivity Week (12th – 18th February). The organisation conducts various events throughout the week for promoting productivity.

Notes:
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a global financial institution headquartered in Rome, Italy. It is a specialised agency of the United Nations, to address poverty and hunger.
The 43rd session of the Council of Governors of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) recently held in Rome, on the theme: Investing in sustainable food systems to end hunger by 2030. Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta presided over the opening ceremony.

Notes:
The United Nations Security Council has recently adopted a resolution for a ‘lasting ceasefire’ in the North African oil-rich country Libya.
The resolution which was drafted by Britain was approved by 14 countries with only Russia refraining from voting. The resolution is aimed at supporting for a lasting ceasefire in Libya without any pre-condition. The country has been in chaos since 2011, after its leader Moamer Kadhafi was killed.

Notes:
The global sports icon Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash three weeks ago, was recently named as finalist of ‘Basketball Hall of Fame’.
One of the most dominant players in NBA history played for the Los Angeles Lakers during his 20-year career. Many other former Basket ball players and national coaches have also been named finalists of the ‘Basketball Hall of Fame’.