Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2020

Notes:
The famous 11-day Dhanu Jatra, the annual drama-based open-air theatrical performance is conducted in and around the city of Bargarh in Western Odisha. It is based on mythological story of Lord Krishna and his Uncle, King Kansa. In November 2014, it was conferred with the National Festival Status.

Notes:
The Union Finance Minister had unveiled a Rs. 102 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline. To create a road map for the national infrastructure pipeline from 2019-2020 to 2024-25, finance ministry had set up a task force. It is to be headed by the Economic Affairs Secretary.

Notes:
On 1^st January each year, India and Pakistan exchange a list of their nuclear installations in accordance with the Agreement on the Prohibition of attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities. This agreement prohibits both the countries from attacking each other’s atomic facilities.

Notes:
The Prime Minister of Britain, Borris Johnson recently announced to increase the minimum wage of the workers by more than four times the rate of the inflation prevailing in UK. For the workers of age more than twenty-five, an increase of 6.2 % is to be provided so that the national living wage of 8.21 pounds would rise to 8.72 pounds. This decision, being the biggest increase since 2016, is taken at the back drop of economic uncertainty existing in the county.

Notes:
The 27th edition of National Children’s Science Congress was recently organised in the capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram. The Congress was inaugurated by the Vice President of India, Venkiah Naidu. More than 650 young student scientists from many states and union territories across the country and some students from the Middle East countries participated in the event and exhibited their projects and inventions.

Notes:
Former Prime Minister and Army General of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Cissoko Embalo recently won in the second round of the presidential elections of the country. Jose Mario Vaz is the incumbent President of the country, who failed to win in the first round elections held earlier. Umaro Embalo, served as the Prime Minister under the presidency of Jose Mario Vaz from 2016 to 2018. Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa, which gained independence from Portugal in 1974.

Notes:
The third edition of the ‘Khelo India Youth games’ will be held at Guwahati, Assam from January 10 to 23, 2020. The ceremony to launch the games was held at Guwahati and was attended by the Union Sports Minister and Chief Minister of Assam. The logo, mascot, theme song and the jersey of players were also launched. More than 10000 participants from all over the country are expected to take part in this national event in 20 different sports which includes cycling and lawn bowls for the first time.

Notes:
Maharashtra Government recently launched ‘Cyber Safe Women’ scheme on the birth anniversary of the social reformer and educationist Savitribhai Phule. Under this initiative, awareness camps will be held across all the districts of the state regarding cyber safety. The Maharashtra Cyber department and Police in all districts will conduct the awareness campaign in more than 100 schools and colleges and educate women on using cyber space safely.

Notes:
The powerful Military Commander of Iran, General Qassim Soleimani was killed in the air strike conducted by the United States. The President of the US is said to have ordered a drone attack on the vehicles, in which the Iran military personnel were travelling near the Bhagdad Airport. Another commander and adviser to Soleimani, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was also killed in the attack. Soleimani was the commander of the Quds Force of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

Notes:
The State Government of Odisha recently launched the e-Gazette portal, to release all gazette publications of the state in digital format. This scheme is launched a s part of the ‘5T initiatives’ of the Odisha Government. After the launch of the portal, the gazette notifications will be published online saving paper and cost of transportation. All the departments of the state will be asked to upload their data in the portal, which will be monitored and verified by digital signatures.