Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2020

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in a virtual bilateral summit.
Both the countries signed 9 pacts and agreed to widen counter-terror partnership. They also decided to explore connectivity routes via International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

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:
The Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS) transaction was introduced in India in the year 2004. Presently, RTGS handles a transaction volume of Rs 4.17 lakh crore per day and it is used by 237 participant banks.
Recently, Reserve Bank of India has permitted for round the clock RTGS facility in India, which makes India one among the very few countries offering this service.

Notes:
Several bar-headed geese have recently migrated to Point Calimere Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu.
These birds have the ability to fly in extreme weather and very high altitudes. They might have flown thousands of miles from Tibet, Central China and Mongolia. They breed in these countries and migrate to India during winter.

Notes:
The Department of Posts and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) have launched a new digital payment application named ‘DakPay’.
It is a suite of digital banking services provided through their postal network, across the country. The features include Domestic Money Transfers – DMT, Virtual debit card, UPI payment, AePS and Bill payment.

Notes:
Maharashtra had tabled the Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law (Maharashtra Amendment) Act, 2020, as well as Maharashtra Exclusive Special Court Law in the state legislature.
The government has accepted the demand of the Opposition and sent the bill to a joint committee of both houses of the state legislature. The bill seeks to provide strict punishments for crimes such as rape, acid attack, and derogatory material on social media against women and children.

Notes:
The World Bank has recently approved four India projects worth over USD 800 million to support development schemes.
The projects include Chhattisgarh Inclusive Rural and Accelerated Agriculture Growth Project (CHIRAAG), Enhancing Classroom Teaching and Resources Project in Nagaland and Second Dam Improvement and Rehabilitation Project (DRIP-2) across various states.

Notes:
The 4th Bilateral Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting between the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) India and the National Narcotics Board (BNN), Indonesia was held.
The Indian delegation was led by Rakesh Asthana, Director General, Narcotics Control Bureau. During the meeting, NCB highlighted issues of Heroin and Amphetamine Type Stimulant (ATS) trafficking in the country through land and sea routes.

Notes:
A new feature has been added in the RuPay cards that will allow offline contactless transactions even in areas with limited internet connectivity.
This has been introduced by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Additionally, the facility of reloadable wallet facility has also be introduced to boost retail transactions.

Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has set up a dedicated control centre for Space Situational Awareness (SSA).
It has been named as Netra” and is aimed at monitoring, tracking and protecting India’s space assets. It is set up at ISTRAC campus at Peenya, Bangalore.