Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2020

Notes:
The state assembly of Odisha has recently passed the ‘Odisha State Backward Classes (Amendment)’ Bill. This will enable the Backward Class Commission of the state to conduct a survey, which will identify socially and economically backward classes on the basis of socio-educational conditions.
The Commission amended the ‘Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993’. The state government recently constituted the ‘Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes’ and Justice Raghunath Biswal was named as chairperson.

Notes:
When India won the final match of the World cup against Sri Lanka in 2011, which was the last World Cup of Sachin, his fellow team mates lifted the legend and carried him to make a lap of honour. This was named as ‘Laureus best sporting moment in the last 20 years’.
Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi and six-time Formula 1 World champion Lewis Hamilton were named as Joint winners of ‘Laureus World Sportsman of the Year’ Award.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme on 19th February, 2015 at Suratgarh in Rajasthan. Fifth year of the launch of the scheme is being observed on the ‘Soil Health Card (SHC) Day’, this year.
The scheme aims at issuing soil health cards to all farmers every two years. The card would provide details about the nutritional deficiencies in soil, so that the farmers can supplement the soil with suitable fertilizers and increase the yields.

Notes:
Election commission chief of Afghanistan announced the result of last September’s election held in the country. Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani has been declared the winner of the polls with 50.64% of the vote.
There were allegations of vote-manipulation and fraud after the September poll, though only a small part of the country came forward to vote. Abdullah Abdullah came second with 39.52% votes.

Notes:
Shiv Chhatrapati Award is the highest sports award presented annually to the state players by the Government of Maharashtra. The State Government instituted the award during 1969–70.
Recently 48 sportspersons including 25 women athletes are selected to be conferred with the Shiv Chhatrapati Award for 2018-19. Five coaches will be presented with awards for best coach and Wrestling coach Pandharinath Pathare will receive the lifetime achievement award.

Notes:
The United Kingdom’s Home Secretary Priti Patel recently announced the launch of the country’s new Points-based visa system. The system provides visas to only those persons who gain required points. It aims at attracting the high-skilled employees from around the world and cutting down incoming low-skilled labourers.
The new system is expected to come into force from January 1, 2021, which is the end of the transition period after exit of the UK from the European Union (EU). This system applies to both EU member and non member countries including India.

Notes:
Nripendra Misra, the former principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been selected as the chairman of the Ram Temple Complex Development Committee.
Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas chief Nritya Gopal Das has been named as the Chairman of the Sri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

Notes:
NITI Aayog recently organised ‘Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Conclave 2020: Partnerships, Cooperation and Development of North Eastern States’ in Guwahati, Assam.
The conclave was organised in association with the North Eastern Council, Government of Assam, Tata Trust, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS). The three-day event commenced from February 24th in Guwahati

Notes:
The fourth Anniversary of the launch of Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) was observed on 21st February. In 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Mission under the Ministry of Rural Development, on the same date.
Under the mission, well planned Rurban clusters are created to stimulate local economic development and thereby creating an inclusive rural development.

Notes:
The National Organic Food Festival was recently inaugurated in New Delhi by the Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani.
‘Unleashing India’s Organic Market Potential’ is the theme of the festival. Hundreds of woman entrepreneurs and different self-help groups (SHGs) from across the nation exhibit their organic products in the three-day festival.