Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2020

Notes:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India has recently signed a USD132.8 million loan to modernize the distribution network and improve the quality of power supplied in Meghalaya.
This project supports the state government’s initiative “24×7 Power for All” initiative. This will also help the state reduce its high technical and commercial losses. Meghalaya has achieved 100 per cent electrification while there were incidents of frequent power interruptions.

Notes:
As per the US Air Quality Index released recently, Lahore is named the most polluted city in the world, followed by Delhi and Kathmandu.
Lahore, the cultural capital of Pakistan, has reported a particulate matter (PM) rating of 423. The The United States Environmental Protection Agency registers air quality as ‘satisfactory’ if the AQI is under 50.

Notes:
British Racing Driver and World Champion Lewis Hamilton has clinched the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix title.
Another French driver Romain Grosjean survived a horrific collision with a barrier on the opening lap. With this victory, Lewis Hamilton has won his 95th Formula one title. This is also his 11th victory of the season.

Notes:
BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture company set up by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Mashinostroyenia of Russia.
Recently, Indian Navy test-fired the naval version of BrahMos missile in the Bay of Bengal. The missile was test-fired from a Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvijay, hitting a decommissioned target ship. Earlier, the Indian Army and Air Force test-fired the missile.

Notes:
The ‘International day for the abolition of slavery’ is observed every year on December 2, since 1986.
It aims to raise awareness about slavery and put an end to all kinds of slavery including trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, child labour among others. It marks the date of the adoption of the UN Convention related to trafficking and exploitation.

Notes:
Facebook-backed Libra cryptocurrency has been renamed as “Deim” which means “Day” in Latin.
The Libra Association has made this decision in order to gain approval from regulators and to increase its publicity. The new Deim crypto currency is proposed to be launched in early 2021, which would be backed by USD.

Notes:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 430 million multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) to improve Power Distribution Network of Uttar Pradesh.
Named as the ‘Uttar Pradesh Power Distribution Network Rehabilitation Project’, it aims to improve the quality of electricity supply in the state. The project is estimated to benefit around 70 million people in 46,000 rural villages.

Notes:
The United States has issued an order to ban the cotton and cotton products from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), one of the largest producers of China.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency issued “Withhold Release Order” to increase economic pressure on the Xinjiang region. US cites the reason for the ban as ‘slave labour’ of detained Uighur Muslims used by China.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently directed HDFC Bank to temporarily halt all its digital launches and new sourcing of credit card customers.
The country’s largest private sector lender has been asked to stop the digital launches as the bank had faced technical glitches in the past two years. RBI also asked the bank’s board to examine the lapses and fix accountability.

Notes:
Recently, a NGR (negotiating group on rules) meeting on fisheries subsidies was organized by the World Trade Organization.
Indian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the WTO has stated that member countries should cut down subsidies on unsustainable fishing which leads to the problem of over fishing. India also asked to reduce the role of dispute panels in fisheries management.