Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2020

Notes:
Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati claimed to have developed a new technology to harvest water from the air.
The researchers have used the concept of hydrophobicity, which is the property of a material to repel water. Slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces or SLIPS material is chemically patterned and used.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet headed by the Prime Minster Narendra Modi has approved for an MoU between SEBI and Financial and Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), Luxembourg.
The MoU is expected to enhance the cooperation between the two countries in the field of securities regulations.

Notes:
India, Iran and Uzbekistan are on discussion about the joint use of Chabahar port, located in Iran. In this regard, a joint trilateral meeting would be held to deliberate regarding the same.
The trilateral meeting would be held in a virtual mode and is set to be chaired by the Dy. Minister of Iran, Dy. Minister of Uzbekistan and senior Foreign Ministry official from India.

Notes:
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has decided to launch an international award / prize in the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Rahman. The award would be given in the field of “Creative economy”.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Rahman politician belonging to Bangladesh and is commonly called as the “Father of Nation” of Bangladesh.

Notes:
Vigyan Yatra is the name of the promotional activity of the India International Science Festival. Mobile science exhibition vans were flagged off from many cities as a part of the activity, to promote the culture of science among the people.
The sixth edition of the India International Science Festival to be organised from December 22 to 25 on a virtual platform due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notes:
Project Loon is the subsidiary of Technology giant Google. It undertakes the project of delivering internet access to remote parts of the world.
The project uses helium-filled balloons for this purpose. In the month of October, the company has announced that the balloons set a new record for the longest stratospheric flight by staying in air for 312 days.

Notes:
UNESCO has launched the ‘2020 State of the Education Report for India: Vocational Education First’ report, virtually in New Delhi.
This is the second edition of the State of Education Report and it focuses on technical and vocational education and training (TVET). UNESCO also reaffirmed to support India in the National Skill Development Mission.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Gujarat and laid the foundation stones for various developmental projects.
The Hybrid Renewable Energy Park in the district of Kutch will be the country’s largest renewable energy generation park, when completed. Foundation stones were also laid for a fully automated milk processing and packing plant and a Desalination plant in Mandvi, Kutch.

Notes:
The Prime Minister headed Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a financial assistance amounting Rs.3500 crore to sugarcane farmers of the country.
The funds are to be credited directly into the bank accounts of the farmers. The decision is expected to benefit 5 crore sugarcane farmers and 5 lakh workers employed in the sugar mills.

Notes:
E-commerce platform Snapdeal has partnered with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to allow buyers to make digital payments at the time delivery.
This QR-based facility aims to assist new or first-time users who are not comfortable in pre-paying for the goods. The delivery executive will generate a UPI-linked QR code, which will be scanned by the customer for payment.