Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2020

Notes:
Technological Major Google introduced a unique feed named ‘Discover’ which provides curated articles to Google Pixel and Google app users based on their interests.
In its latest update to the app, this new feature has been introduced which enables the users to report misleading articles on the ‘Discover’ feed. Users can now report misleading content as various categories which includes violent, misleading, abusive and others.

Notes:
Famous Marathi actor Jairam Kulkarni recently passed away in Pune at the age of 88. His last movie was ‘Khel Aayushyacha’, which was released recently.
Jairam Kulkarni had acted in more than 150 films, which includes several critically acclaimed films. Before starting his career as an actor, Kulkarni had worked in Akashwani.

Notes:
Every year March 20 is observed as World Sparrow Day to raise awareness about sparrows around the world. It highlights the huge decrease in population of the bird as the house sparrow is on the verge of extinction.
The initiative was started by the India-based Nature Forever Society (NFS), founded by the conservationist Mohammed Dilawar. The first World Sparrow Day was celebrated in 2010 across the globe.

Notes:
In order to curb the spread of misinformation and fake news on coronavirus and to reduce the panic among the citizens regarding the COVID-19, the Government of India has launched an official chatbot on the social media platform WhatsApp.
This Chatbot is named ‘MyGov Corona Helpdesk’ and is available to all WhatsApp users. Any user can save the number announced (9013151515) and start using the chatbot.

Notes:
Bengaluru-based mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta was seen in news recently as he has been nominated for the Limca Book of World Records for becoming the first Indian to climb the highest volcanoes of all 7 continents.
He had also been named in the Guinness Book of World Records. He achieved the feat in 2019 and the acknowledgement came recently. He scaled the highest volcano of Antarctica – Mt Sidley as he completes his 7 summits and Volcanic 7 summits. He also holds a world record for being the world’s youngest to summit the highest mountains of each continent.

Notes:
Afghanistan recently pledged $1 million contribution to the SAARC Corona Emergency Fund, which was proposed by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India proposed an initial contribution of $10 million to tackle the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus. After the announcement, Nepal and Bhutan committed nearly $1 million and $100,000 respectively to the SAARC Corona Emergency Fund. Maldives pledged $ 0.2 million to the fund.

Notes:
The United States announced that it has successfully tested a hypersonic missile on March 20, 2020. This is a follow-up exercise of the first joint US Army and Navy flight experiment conducted in 2017.
The hypersonic missile can travel faster than the current nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. They travel at low altitudes and switch direction in flight and as they do not follow a predictable arc like traditional missiles, it is harder to track and intercept them.

Notes:
America-based Heritage Foundation released its Index of Economic Freedom last week. Singapore emerged as the top nation in the index and overtook Hong Kong as the world’s most independent and free economy.
Singapore achieved this feat for the first time since 1995, the report was first published. Hong Kong has ever been placed at the top since then. India is ranked in 120th position in the report and It improved its score by 1.3 points from 2019 to score 56.5 in 2020

Notes:
A specialised agency of the United Nations- International Telecommunication Union (ITU) launched ‘The Global Network Resiliency Platform’.
The platform aims to ensure availability of telecommunication services during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The new platform will assist governments and the private sector by ensuring that the networks are kept strong and telecommunication services are made available to all.

Notes:
The government recently approved to continue the scheme for Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) on export of garments beyond March 31.
It is to be continued till it is merged with the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products scheme (RoDTEP), which was introduced in last September. By continuing RoSCTL scheme, all taxes and levies in the textile sector which are not rebated under other mechanisms will be rebated.