Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2020

Notes:
Indian private sector lender IndusInd Bank recently announced that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Sumant Kathpalia as the Chief executive.
Sumant Kathpalia is currently serving as the head of Consumer banking business of the bank. He is to replace the incumbent Chief Executive Romesh Sobti and to take charge from 24 March, 2020 for three years.

Notes:
Larsen & Toubro ship building company recently handed over the offshore Patrol Vessel ICGS Varad to the country. The ship has been commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard at L&T Kattupalli shipyard, near Chennai.
This is the fifth in the series of the seven patrol vessels built by L&T, contracted by the Defence Ministry. ICGS Varad is also the first major defence ship to clear all sea acceptance trials in a single sea sortie.

Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh assembly Speaker recently announced that the state’s MLAs’ Local Area Development Fund (MLALAD Fund) to Rs.3 Crore per annum.
The fund has been increased from the previous limit of Rs. 2 Crore a year. This hike in the limit is expected to accelerate the developmental activities made in the constituencies. In 2018, the state government had increased MLALAD funds from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 2 crore per annum

Notes:
11 Renewable Energy Management Centres (REMCs) were inaugurated by the Union Power Minister R K Singh, for renewable energy integration. He also inaugurated the Northern Region Renewable Energy Management Centre (NR-REMC).
The government had approved the implementation of the Renewable Energy Management Centres -REMCs as a central scheme. Maharatna CPSE under the Ministry of Power, PowerGrid was named as the implementing agency.

Notes:
Indian Railways recently launched its first ‘Restaurant on Wheels’ at Asansol Railway station, located in the state of West Bengal.
The restaurant, which is to serve both the passengers and general public, is developed by refurbishing two over aged MEMU coaches. This addition in infrastructure is expected to generate non-fare revenue earnings of approximately Rs 50 lakhs in the next five years.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India is conducting one-year and three-year tenor LTRO to help banks to reduce their lending rates. In the latest bi-monthly policy review, it announced term repurchase agreements (repos) of one-year and three-year tenors for Rs 1 trillion at the policy repo rate.
RBI has conducted three LTRO- Long-term repo operation on February 17, February 24 and March 1. The fourth operation is scheduled on March 9. In the third LTRO of three-year tenor, RBI has received 66 bids amounting to Rs 1.71 trillion.

Notes:
Union Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is the nodal ministry for implementing the ‘e-Vidhan’ project in all 31 states and Union Territories of the country.
The National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) creates a massive data depository and aims to bring all the legislatures of the country on a single platform. Recently the assembly of Arunachal Pradesh implemented the e-Vidhan project under which data can be accessed anywhere at any time by the legislators.

Notes:
China has recently taken over as the President of the UN Security Council for the month of March 2020.
The Security Council was established by the UN Agreement to maintain international peace and security. The council has 15 members (5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members for two-year terms). The 15 members assume presidency every month in a rotation basis.

Notes:
Two Scientists – Dr Shweta Rawat from Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), DRDO and Dr. Shalini Gupta, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT-Delhi were recently conferred with the ‘National Award for Young Women Showing Excellence through Application of Technology for Societal Benefits’ by the President of India Ramnath Kovind.
Dr.Shweta has developed a female-specific Full Body protector whereas Dr.Shalini has successfully led the development of a technology SeptifloTM, for point-of-care diagnosis and treatment of bacterial septicaemia.

Notes:
Lalit Kala Akademi is organising the 61st National Exhibition of Art from March 4 to 22 in New Delhi. The exhibition was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (IC) Prahlad Singh Patel. The Exhibition displays several artworks selected by a jury panel.
The President of India Ram Nath Kovind conferred the 61st annual Lalit Kala Akademi Awards on 15 meritorious artists recently.