Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2020

Notes:
The CEO of NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant has virtually launched India’s first digital asset management platform DigiBoxx.
It is a digital file storage, sharing and management Software as a service (SaaS) product. He also became the first user of the platform, which provides a secure way to store all files in one centralised location.

Notes:
India has successfully conducted the first Army version test of the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) from a test range off Odisha coast.
This advanced missile has been jointly developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries. The new generation MRSAM can neutralise airborne threats including projectiles.

Notes:
National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) is a Central Public Sector Undertaking, based at Mumbai. It was incorporated in the year 1975.
The objective of the agency is to promote the integrated development of Indian Film industry. Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved to merge four of its film media units, namely Films Division, Directorate of Film. Festivals, National Film Archives of India, and Children’s Film Society, India with NDFC.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has recently approved 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcasting services.
The Cabinet also approved revised guidelines for DTH services, similar to those of Commerce Ministry and increased the licence period to 20 years, from the present scenario of 10 years.

Notes:
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced that India’s biggest hockey stadium is to be built in the city of Rourkela in the state.
The upcoming facility is likely to host matches of men’s Hockey World Cup in 2023. The stadium with a 20000-seat capacity, will be constructed in the Biju Patnaik University of Technology campus.

Notes:
The state government of Karnataka has inaugurated the ‘Farmer Registration and Unified Beneficiary Information System (FRUITS), an e-Governance Portal for farmers.
It aims to create a single repository of all details of the farm lands and farm loans of all farmers of the state. Farmers will be given an identification number on the portal, using which banks can access the details before lending. Canara Bank is set to run FRUITS portal on a pilot basis.

Notes:
India’s first hot air balloon wildlife safari in a tiger reserve has been launched in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.
The Tiger Reserve is situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Under the programme, people can watch tigers, leopards, Indian sloth bear and other wild animals from a height, in restricted buffer areas.

Notes:
The Navies of India and Vietnam has concluded the two-day naval passage exercise PASSEX in the South China Sea.
This exercise has been organised as part of efforts to boost maritime cooperation between the two countries. Indian Navy Ship (INS) Kiltan reached Vietnam under Mission Sagar-III with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) stores for flood-affected people of Central Vietnam.

Notes:
Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace has successfully test fired a solid propulsion rocket stage (named Kalam-5).
This is the first private company in India has successfully designed, developed and tested a full solid propulsion rocket stage. It is built with advanced carbon composite structure in an automated process. The company is also to test-fire Vikram-1 launch vehicle’s third stage (Kalam-100).

Notes:
The Assam government recently tabled a Bill in the Legislative Assembly to abolish all state-run Madrassas by converting them into general schools from April 1, 2021.
Amid constant objections on tabling the Assam Repealing Bill, 2020, it was placed on the first day of the winter session. There are 610 state-run Madrassas across Assam and the state government is spending Rs 260 crore annually.