Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2020

Notes:
The forest department of Assam and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) recently made a seizure of illegally smuggled marine life products.
Most of the seized products were sea fans and endangered aquatic species. This seizure is seen as the biggest of its kind in India. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change.

Notes:
The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) works under the UN to mobilise the global efforts in SDGs. It is headquartered in New York.
UN SDSN and the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) published the Europe Sustainable Development Report 2020. It reports the progress of the European Union, its member states, and other European countries towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Notes:
Mastercard, the National Institute for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (ni-msme) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have partnered to launch Digital Saksham.
It is a capacity building initiative to create awareness on digitization for MSMEs in the country. Under the programme, more than 3 lakh micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across 25 cities in seven states of India will be trained in the digital space.

Notes:
The technology major Nokia is set to lead the project Hexa X which is the European Commission’s 6G initiative.
The project aims to establish next generation wireless networks. It project would create a 6G network a unique capability to understand human intentions, anticipate needs, make interactions.

Notes:
The Urban Governance Index (UGI)-2020 has released by the Mumbai-based non-profit organisation Praja Foundation.
As per the index, Odisha tops the list of states in urban governance followed by Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. The study assessed the urban governance reforms across 40 cities in 28 states and NCT of Delhi.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved an expenditure of Rs.22,810 crore, for providing a wage subsidy through the employee’s provident fund organization (EPFO).
This is a part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana. This move is set to incentivize creation of new job opportunities during the Covid recovery phase of the economy.

Notes:
The Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX) has been launched by the Asian Development Bank. This initiative is set to support to its developing member economies to procure and deliver COVID-19 vaccines.
The total cost of this project is USD 9 billion. The aim of the scheme is to help ADB’s member countries to vaccinate their people and tide away from the ongoing COVID crisis.

Notes:
Google, Intel, Dell and Citrix along with other technology major in the industry have partnered to form Modern Computing Alliance. The alliance aims to address some of the greatest IT challenges faced by the players in the industry and would provide “cloud first” computing solutions.
The alliance would be creating a seamless, user-friendly experience across the web and devices.

Notes:
Russia has successfully test-launched its heavy lift Angara A5 space rocket for the second time, the first launch having undertaken in 2014.
As per the state space agency Rocosmos, these Angara rockets do not use aggressive and toxic propellants, thereby increasing environmental safety in the areas adjacent to the launch complex and in the drop zones.

Notes:
The Goa Shipyard Limited has launched the fifth Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) named ICGS Saksham for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
This is the last such Offshore Patrol Vessel being launched by the shipyard for the ICG. The vessel is fitted with 30-mm guns, quick response boats which makes it capable of handling emergencies along the coast, emergencies along the coast and piracy.