Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2020

Notes:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has created a new laboratory named Defence Geo Informatics Research Establishment.
It has been formed by merging two existing labs namely Manali-headquartered Snow and Avalanche Studies Establishment (SASE) and the Delhi-based Defence Terrain Research Establishment. The new lab will focus on research on the terrain along the borders with China and Pakistan.

Notes:
The New Zealand Government has recently declared a climate emergency. This decision has been taken by the government to stress the fact that if emission cuts are not recorded, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predictions on adverse environmental effects would be witnessed.
The country also announced that its public sector would strive to become carbon neutral by 2025.

Notes:
The cyclone name “Burevi” was suggested by Maldives. The second cyclone approaching India from Bay of Bengal has been named as “Burevi” as per the guidelines of World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
The storm commenced its course from South West Bay of Bengal and it is the fifth tropical cyclone system that has developed in the Norther Indian Ocean, this year.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held on December 4, 2020 decided to keep interest rates unchanged with an “accommodative” policy stance.
The MPC has kept repo rate unchanged at 4% and maintained reverse repo rate at 3.35%. RBI also predicted a real GDP growth of -7.5% for FY21, from the earlier prediction of -9.5%. MPC also expected that the inflation rate will remain high.

Notes:
Bhasan Char is an uninhabited island in Bangladesh. It is located in the Bay of Bengal, about 60 kilometers from the mainland.
The Bangladesh government started the process of relocating the Rohingyas from Cox’s Bazar refugee camp to the newly developed facility at the Bhashan char Island. Bangladesh constructed shelter houses for Rohingya refugees at an estimated cost of 2,300 crore takas.

Notes:
The Chairperson of HCL Technologies Roshni Nadar is listed to be wealthiest woman of India in the year 2020.
The list of 100 leading Wealthy Women in India has been recently released by Kotak Wealth Hurun. Out of the 100 women, 31 self-made women on the list. Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar Shaw has been ranked second in the list.

Notes:
In the first-of-its-kind study by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Malayan Giant Squirrel is at the verge of extinction.
It has projected that the numbers of the Malayan Giant Squirrel could decline by 90 per cent in India by 2050. If steps are not taken by the Government, the species could become extinct in the country.

Notes:
Chinese scientists have developed a quantum computer named Jiuzhang. China has claimed it to be the world’s first light-based quantum computer.
It is said that the computer can solve extremely esoteric calculations called Gaussian boson sampling in 200 seconds, which a conventional supercomputer would take 600 million years to provide result.

Notes:
India Empowerment Fund is set to be launched by the IIT Alumni Council for investing a sum of Rs.50,000 crore in India’s research system.
The fund would be invested in a period of 10 years. The fund will be operated as IIT Angel Fund and would be regulated under Angel Investor Funds.

Notes:
The famous stone chariot in front of the Vijaya Vittala Temple in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hampi, has been covered by a protective ring by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
This chariot is among three famous stone chariots in India while the other two are in Konark, Odisha, and Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. Hampi chariot, was built during the dynasty of Vijayanagara rulers who ruled from 14th to 17th century CE.