Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2021

Notes:
CSIR- Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Chandigarh developed a personal reading machine “Divya Nayan” for visually impaired people. In this device, any printed or digital document can be accessed in the form of speech output. The device can analyse a multi column document and provide seamless reading on the basis of principle of contact scanning. User can place the device over the document to be read and manually scan it. The image is converted into text, text is converted to speech and audio with the help of language dependent optical character.
Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) was established by the Government of India in September 1942. It is an autonomous body and has emerged as the largest research and development organisation in India. Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India is its parent organisation. The institute was founded by Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar.

Notes:
On 1 August 2021, Lt Gen Tarun Kumar Chawla has been appointment as the Director General of Artillery. He takes over the appointment from Lt Gen K Ravi Prasad, PVSM, VSM who completed thirty nine years of distinguished service in the army.
Lt Gen Tarun Kumar Chawla, AVSM is an alumnus of St. Thomas High School and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. He was commissioned into a Field Regiment of Artillery in June 1984. He has also served as a Military observer at the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL).

Notes:
A virtual meeting “BRICS Counter Terrorism Working Group” was oraganised recently on July 28-29 under the chairmanship of India. It was the 6th meeting of the BRICS Counter Terrorism Working Group.
The main outcome of the meeting was the finalisation of the BRICS Counter Terrorism Action Plan containing specific measures for the implementation of the BRICS Counter Terrorism Strategy adopted by BRICS leaders in 2020.
BRICS includes five major emerging economies : Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The BRICS members are known for their significant influence on regional affairs. It was founded in 2006.

Notes:
P V Sindu is the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. She won her first Olympic medal, which was a silver medal, at Rio Olympics 2016. She won a bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics 2021 after defeating He Bing Jiao of China.
PV Sindhu belongs to Hyderabad, Telangana. Her Personal coach is Park Tae Sang and the national coach of Badminton is Pullela Gopichand.  She got Padma Bhushan Award in 2020. She has been also awarded with Pamda Shri (2015), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2016 and Arjuna Award in 2013.

Notes:
According to the Ministry of Defence, a hotline was established between Indian Army at Kongra La in North Sikkim and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at Khamba Dzong in the Tibet Autonomous Region. It was established on 1 August, 2021. PLA Day is celebrated on August 1 by the People’s Republic of China. It is also known as Army Day.
The hotline was established with a motive of maintaining  peace & tranquility at the borders and nearby areas and build trust and strengthening cordial relations.
India and China have two military hotlines in eastern Ladakh (Chushul and Daulat Beg Oldi). The 12th round of Corps Commander talks was held on July 31, 2021 at Moldo (Chinese side).

Notes:
The first orchid conservation centre of North India has been inaugurated in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The main purpose of the conservation centre is to conserve orchid species and create ventures for tourism and livelihood for local people.
Orchid is a flowering plant and its scientific name is Orchidaceae.
All orchid species are protected under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES was enforced on 1 July, 1975.
Ivonne Higuero is the current Secretary-General of CITES. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Notes:
“Delhi@2047” initiative was launched recently by Arvind Kejriwal. The aim of this initiative is to build partnerships with the private sector, CSR initiatives and  philanthropic organisations to achieve the vision for Delhi by 2047 and make Delhi as the Global city in the world. The main objectives under this initiative are Increasing Delhi’s per capita income to Singapore’s level, Providing 24*7 water supply before the upcoming elections, to bid for the 2048 Olympics, making roads as per the European standards and many other facilities.

Notes:
“Health and Wellness Savings Account” has been launched by Suryoday Small Finance Bank (SFB) to provide support during medical emergencies. A resident individual with an age limit 18 years to 65 years of age can open the joint or single account. The account will provide a health insurance of Rs.25 lakhs, annual healthcare package etc.
For getting the medical benefits, the individual will have to maintain an average monthly balance of Rs. 3 lakh and he/she should be eligible as per the health declaration form.
Suryoday Small Finance Bank was established in 2017. It is headquartered in Mumbai. Baskarbabu Ramchandran is the current CEO &  MD of the bank.

Notes:
Khalid Mansoor has been appointed as the chief of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority. He replaced Asim Saleem Bajwa. Khalid Mansoor has more than 30 years of experience in energy and petrochemical sectors. He has a good knowledge about execution, management and operations related to mega-projects.
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a collection of infrastructure projects that are under construction in the regions of Pakistan and China.  It was established on 22 May, 2013.

Notes:
Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system. The United States of America has approved the sale of one Harpoon Joint Common Test Set (JCTS) along with the related equipment to India for an estimated cost of USD 82 million. This will help in improving India’s capability to meet current and future threats.
The principal contractor of the deal will be Boeing Company which is headquartered in Chicago, USA. The present CEO & President of Boeing Company is David L. Calhoun.