Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2020

Notes:
The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) has been released by Germanwatch and NewClimate Institute together with the Climate Action Network (CAN International).
India came one rank down from ninth in 2019, to tenth position this year. No country bagged the first three ranks. The fourth rank is presented to Sweden, followed by the UK and Denmark. The index assesses the performances of 57 countries and European Union in four categories.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet headed the Prime Minster Narendra Modi has approved a scheme named PM-WANI, which stands for PM – Wi-Fi Access Network Interface.
The proposed scheme provides for free wireless internet in public spaces. It is expected to enhance the Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living in India.

Notes:
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has recently lowered the expected contraction for India in the current fiscal to 8 per cent from 9 per cent.
After falling by 23.9 per cent in Q1 of fiscal year 2020, the Indian economy began to normalise with only 7.5 per cent in Q2. This was released in ADB’s latest ‘Asian Development Outlook 2020 Update’.

Notes:
Plasmodium Ovale, a malaria causing parasite has been detected in the state of Kerala. This has been detected in a soldier who had come from Sudan.
Malaria is caused by plasmodium parasites, that are transmitted to humans by bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. There are five parasite species that cause malaria and two among them – Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax are the greatest threats.

Notes:
Scientists have stated that the strongest meteor shower of the year – “Geminids meteor shower” would be active from December 4 to 20 this year. These meteors originate from 3200 Phaethon Asteroid and its diameter is about 5 Km. This meteor was discovered in the year 1983 and has been named after the Greek myth of Phaethon the son of Sun god Helios.

Notes:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conducts a national level health survey called as the ‘National Family Health Survey’.
So far four editions of the survey have been conducted, with the latest being conducted in 2015-16. The Health Ministry has released the phase 1 results of the Fifth edition of the survey. The Under 5 and infant mortality rate (IMR) has decreased in 18 states and UTs.

Notes:
Eswatini Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini, who was undergoing treatment for coronavirus, has recently passed away. He is the first Prime Minister to die from the Covid pandemic.
Eswatini, which was earlier called as ‘Swaziland’ before official renaming in 2018, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is surrounded by Mozambique and South Africa. Eswatini is one of the smallest countries in Africa.

Notes:
In the year 2018, artists, journalists and activists gathered in the San Isidro region of Cuba, to protest against the country’s rules on censorship of cultural activities.
Hence, it came to be known as the Movimiento San Isidro, or the San Isidro Movement (MSI). After a member of MSI was arrested in November this year, its members began a hunger and then were arrested. The Government name the protestors as agents of Imperialism.

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:
The Indian Naval ship named Himgiri has been launched and commissioned into Indian Waters recently.’
The ship has been constructed as a part of Project 17A for the Indian Navy. It is the first of three stealth frigates being built under the Project at GRSE in Kolkata and at Mazagon Docks Limited in Mumbai.