Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2020

Notes:
The Indian Coast Guard has recently launched an operation named “Operation Oliva”. This operation aims to protect the Olive Ridley turtles of the Odisha coast, which are endangered.
The Coast Guard has launched two ships near the major nesting sites, to prevent entry of fishing vessels. Aircrafts of the coast guard have also been deployed as a part of this operation.

Notes:
Social media major Facebook has launched a new iOS app called Collab, which lets users create collaborative musical videos.
Launched as a rival to the Chinese short-video making platform TikTok, this experimental app is now available on the App Store in the United States. Facebook had earlier launched Reels feature on Instagram and another app Lasso.

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:
In a bilateral meeting between India’s Education Minister and Foreign Secretary of UK, the countries agreed to strengthen their engagement in the field of education and research.
They also agreed to set up a joint Task Force consisting of designated higher education organizations from both the countries, for working towards mutual recognition of academic qualifications.

Notes:
22 hatchlings of black softshell turtles that were reared at a temple in Assam have been released into the wetlands of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve recently.
These species of turtles are considered ‘Extinct in the wild’, as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A very few numbers of them are left in some temple ponds, mostly in Assam.

Notes:
The Himalayan serow has been spotted for the first time in the Himalayan cold desert region, in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh.
These are herbivores animals and are found between 2000 m and 4000 m altitude. They have an appearance similar to that of a goat, but with long ears. They have a habit of standing with fore legs stretched.

Notes:
The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi lit the ‘Swarnim Vijay Mashaal’ at the National War Memorial (NWM) in Delhi. This has kick started the 50th-anniversary celebrations of the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
In December 1971, the Indian Armed Forces won a battle against the Pakistan counterpart, which resulted n creation of a new nation called Bangladesh.

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:
India and the United Kingdom held discussions on issues that are on the UN Security Council agenda, ahead of India taking up a non-permanent seat.
In June 2020, India was elected unopposed to the UN Security Council as non-permanent member, for a two-year term starting January 1, 2021. India’s priorities including reformed multilateralism and counterterrorism were briefed to the U.K side.

Notes:
Goa Liberation Day is observed on December 19 every year in India to mark the day on which the Indian armed forces freed Goa in 1961.
When India gained independence in 19547, Goa was under the Portuguese rule. After unsuccessful negotiations, the then Indian Prime Minister ordered for a military operation. The Armed Forces conducted ‘Operation Vijay’ from December 18, 1961, and freed Goa.