Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2020

Notes:
‘Viewpoints’ is a market research application of the tech-major Facebook. It asks user to participate in surveys, tasks and product-testing and reward them for the same.
It was in news recently as the company announced that it would financially reward the select group of users, who agree to record their voice to improvise the firm’s speech-recognition technology. The users will have to record the audio using a new programme called ‘Pronunciations’ in the application.

Notes:
IRCTC introduced the Artificial Intelligence-based on-line chatbot ‘ASKDISHA’ in 2018, which assists the users of the site in ticket booking and tourism.
It was recently seen in news, as IRCTC has upgraded the chat-bot to converse in Hindi language, so that it can resolve the queries of passengers in Hindi. In an average, 3000 queries are being handled by ASK DISHA in Hindi per day.

Notes:
Scientists in Netherlands have named a new species of land snail discovered in Brunei after Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. Craspedotropis gretathunbergae is a newly discovered species of land snail. It was named in honour of the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. The snail is noted for being sensitive to droughts, forest degradation and temperature extremes. It belongs to a group of snails called Caenogastropods.

Notes:
Carnival of Aalst is an annual three day event held in Belgian city of Aalst. It was formerly recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. However, in December 2019, UNESCO withdrew its recognition of Aalst Carnival as part of the cultural heritage of humanity. The event started on 23rd February, 2020 despite of withdrawal.

Notes:
Central Vista is an ambitious plan that includes setting up of a new Parliament building, bringing all central ministries closer, and redeveloping the existing heritage structures in and around the central vista. Under the project, eight new government office buildings, a new Parliament House and a residential complex near the South Block that could house the homes of the Prime Minister and the Vice-President are among the projects that may come.

Notes:
In a first, supranational institution Asian Development Bank, has listed its 10-year ₹-850 crore Masala bond on the Global Securities Market (GSM) of the India International Exchange at GIFT City. Asian Development Bank’s Masala bonds are dual listed at both Luxembourg and India INX.

Notes:
The Tibetans are celebrating Losar, the New Year of the community, from February 24 to 26, 2020. Losar is celebrated on the first through third days of the first lunar month. This year, they are welcoming Male Iron Rat / Mouse Year 2147 by offering prayers.

Notes:
Abhay Kumar Singh has been recently appointed as the Chairman & Managing Director of the Indian PSU, NHPC Limited.
He has assumed the charge of Chairman and Managing Director of the company on February 24, 2020 and will serve till the date of his superannuation. Abhay Kumar has replaced Ratish Kumar who held additional charge of the post of Chairman & Managing Director.

Notes:
The ‘Central Excise Day’ is celebrated every year in India on February 24. The day is celebrated to encourage the employees of excise department to perform their duties more efficiently.
Various seminars, workshops and cultural events are organized all over the country, to mark the event. It is also observed to commemorate the Central Excise and Salt Act, which was enacted on February 24, 1944.

Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that geo imaging satellite, GISAT-1 will be launched on March 5.
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F10) will launch the satellite from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The 2275-kg world-class earth observation satellite GISAT-1 will be placed in the geosynchronous transfer orbit.