Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2020

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:
The International Mountain Day is celebrated across the world on December 11 every year. The day aims to encourage sustainable development in mountains. The theme of this year’s International Mountain Day is ‘Mountain biodiversity’.
United Nations General Assembly designated the Mountain Day in the year 2003. The UN also declared 2002 as the UN International Year of Mountains.

Notes:
The Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has recently extended a USD 448-million line of credit (LOC) for various infrastructure projects in Uzbekistan.
Extended on behalf of the Indian government, the LoC would be used in various projects in transport, water and technology sectors in the country. EXIM Bank has so far extended 266 LOCs to various countries.

Notes:
India’s largest Central Armed Police Force, the Central Reserve Police Force has set up the National Centre for Divyang Empowerment (NCDE).
This is a facility for training the CRPF personnel, who are injured and become physically challenged in the line of duty. The personnel will be trained in the latest technologies like artificial intelligence, cyber security or warfare among others.

Notes:
The Swadhinata Sarak, which is a road link between India and Bangladesh, is set to be reopened on 26th March 2021.
Swadhinata Sarak is a road that was formed in the Meherpur district of Bangladesh, that was formed during a provisional government was in charged in 1971. The reopening of the road will be held to mark the 50 years of Bangladesh’s Independence and to enhance Indo-Bangladesh bi lateral ties.

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 Union Cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding between Indi and United States for exchange of information in areas of mutual interest in the electricity sector.
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), India and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), USA would join hands for this arrangement. The MoU will help to improve regulatory framework in power sector.

Notes:
The United States of America (USA) has lifted Sudan off the list named “State sponsor of terrorism”. Earlier the two countries in October 2020 reached an agreement to lift Sudan’s name from the list.
As per the agreement, Sudan is required to pay a sum of USD 335 million to the victims of 1998 twin bombings on the US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya.

Notes:
The Ministry of External Affairs has recently launched an Economic diplomacy website, to project ‘Brand India’ to global investors.
It is managed by the Economic Diplomacy Division of the Ministry. The website will also showcase India’s economic, regional and state-wise trends, the economic and policy profiles of state/ UTs. It connects the Indian businesses and the interested investors through agencies like APEDA.

Notes:
India has pledged USD 1 million to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) scientific research budget, to develop innovative anti-doping testing methods
As on date, this is the highest among contributions made by other countries. India’s National Dope Testing Laboratory was earlier suspended by WADA, and is to be inspected by next year.