Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2020

Notes:
A leading research agency, HexGn conducted a study of the funding patterns in the start-up ecosystem in the year 2019. The total international funding for technology start-ups decreased by 22% to $293 billion when compared to the funding of $375 billion, last year. However, the start-up funding in India has grown by 18% to $14 billion in 2019. For the first time, two Indian cities namely Delhi NCR and Bengaluru were ranked in the “Global Top 10 Cities for Start-up Funding” list.

Notes:
Academy award winning American actress Renee Zellweger won the ‘Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama’ award in the Golden Globe awards 2020. With this year’s award, Zellweger has been presented with the coveted Golden Globe awards for the fourth time. In the biopic film ‘Judy’, she had played the critically acclaimed role of Judy Garland. She had earlier won the Academy award for best supporting actress for her role in the movie titled ‘Cold Mountain’.

Notes:
The third ‘International Symposium on Marine ecosystems- challenges and opportunities’ (MECOS-3) is to be held in Cochin from January 7 to 10, 2020. The summit will be organised by the Marine Biological Association of India at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin. A veteran Marine Fisheries Researcher of Finland, Petri Suuronen will be the Chief Guest. The event will focus on United Nation’s SDG Goal of ‘Life Under water’ and sustainable utilisation of marine wealth.

Notes:
The ace footballer of the Italy team, Daniele De Rossi recently announced his retirement from professional football. He was associated with the Roma football club and played Serie A league matches for nearly 18 years.
Daniele represented Italy in the 2004 Olympics and he was also a part of the FIFA world cup winning Italy team in 2006. The fourth highest capped player of Italy, retired from the national team in 2017. Recently, he was playing for Argentina’s Boca Juniors club.

Notes:
E-Commerce Giant Amazon recently partnered with the leading retailer, Future Group. By this partnership the Future Group would be allowed to access the online platform of Amazon and Amazon India will be designated as the authorised online store of the Future Retail Ltd (FRL) stores.
This agreement would also deepen the market presence of Amazon in India, while increasing the reach of the Future Group’s products. Big Bazaar is a famous subsidiary of Future Group.

Notes:
The 31st edition of the International Kite Festival was inaugurated in Ahmedabad by the Chief Minister of Gujarat and the Governor of the state. Ahmedabad has been the official host of the festival since 1989.
Several kite makers and enthusiasts all over the world will participate in the festival to display and fly their kite creations. The festival is organised as a part of the ‘Uttarayan’ celebrations of the state of Gujarat. The festival is expected to boost the tourism sector of the state.

Notes:
Khurana shared the 1968 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine with Marshall W. Nirenberg and Robert W. Holley for research that showed the order of nucleotides in nucleic acids, which carry the genetic code of the cell and control the cell’s synthesis of proteins. In 1972, he also created the first ever artificial gene.

Notes:
North East Gas Grid project is being implemented by IGGL, a Joint Venture company of five CPSEs (GAIL, IOCL, ONGC, OIL and NRL). The total length of the pipeline is planned to be 1,656 km and will be built at estimated cost of Rs. 9,265 crore (Including interest during construction). It will cover eight states of the North-Eastern region i.e., Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, MeghMizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

Notes:
The Union External Affairs Minister S. Jai Shankar recently launched the book titled ‘PAX SINICA: Implications for the Indian Dawn’ authored by Dr. Samir Saran. The book was co-authored by Akhil Deo. The book highlights the steps of China during the presidency of Xi Jinping and the key policy measures of China.
Dr Samir Saran is the President of the renowned Asian think tank, Observer Research Foundation. He is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s South Asia advisory board.

Notes:
The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi will participate in the interaction program with students named ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ scheduled for the year 2020. The event is to be organised at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on January 20.
The Human Resources and Development Ministry recently asked for suggestions and questions from students, teachers and parents ahead of the grand event. This is the third edition of the event, where the Prime Minister will meet thousands of students and address them about overcoming examination fear.