Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2020

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:
Asiatic Lions are listed as an endangered species by the IUCN. They are currently confined to the Gir National Park. These lions are one among the 5 Pantherine cats living in India. Other Pantherine cats include Bengal Tiger, Snow Leopard, Indian Leopard and Clouded Leopard.

Notes:
The Prime Minister is expected to present the Krishi Karman awards during a function in Karnataka, to 21 states, for their excellent performance in agriculture production. The Krishi Karman award was instituted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare in the year 2010-2011 to recognise the efforts of states in food grain production. Awards are given on the basis of highest total food grain production and highest individual food grain crop production.

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:
Australia recently witnessed severe wild fires that killed nearly 25 people and destroyed several homes across the country. More than hundred bush fires were burning in New South Wales and they could not be controlled. Several million animals are also reported to be killed by the severity of bush fires. Scientists have cited Global warming to be the reason of this early and devastating wild fires.

Notes:
The Ramsar site – designated Bhitarkanika National Park is located in Odisha’s Kendrapara District. It is seen in news recently as the annual census of estuarine crocodiles was conducted in the national park. As per the census, there are 1,757 estuarine or salt water crocodiles in the park, 15 more than the previous year count. The national park is also a mangrove ecosystem and is home to several flora and fauna in addition to crocodiles.

Notes:
The Bangladesh High Court recently ordered the Government to impose a ban on single use plastic in the country’s coastal areas and hotels.
Polythene has been banned in the country since 2002, but the usage of polythene could not be controlled in the country. Hence the court ordered to enforce the ban in a strict manner across the nation within one year from the order.

Notes:
India’s country’s largest public sector bank, State Bank of India has announced a ‘residential builder finance with buyer guarantee’ (RBBG) scheme. It aims at giving a push to residential sales and improve homebuyers’ confidence. Under this scheme, SBI will issue a guarantee for completion of select residential projects to customers who have availed home loans from it. The scheme will focus on affordable housing projects priced up to 2.50 crore rupee in 10 cities initially.

Notes:
As a part of the major Udhampur- Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project, which would connect the Kashmir valley with the Indian Railway network, a new railway bridge is to be constructed connecting Bakkal and Kauri. This bridge in the newly formed Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be the world’s highest railway bridge. The project is expected to be completed by December 2021.
The proposed bridge will be 1.315 km long and will be built 359 m above the river bed. Presently, the highest railway bridge in the world is the Beipan river Shuibai railway bridge of China.