Current Affairs Quiz - December, 2020

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has recently approved ₹59,000 crore Post Matric Scholarship for more than four crore Scheduled Caste (SC) students.
In the scheme, which is to be implemented in the next five years, the total investment is ₹59,048 crore, out of which 60% will be borne by the Central Government. The rest will be spent by the state Government. Transfer of financial assistance to the students would be on DBT method.

Notes:
Renowned Malayalam poet, conservationist and women’s rights activist Sugathakumari passed away at the age of 86.
The writer has released 15 collections of much-acclaimed poems. Sugathakumari was also the first chairperson of the Kerala State Women Commission and led the launch of Kudumbashree Missions. She had received various awards including the Padma Shri, the Saraswati Samman among others.

Notes:
The DGNCC Digital Forum was launched recently in New Delhi. This Forum will provide a platform to National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets across the country to share their experiences of various NCC activities.
Since April 2020, over one lakh NCC Cadets served as the frontline volunteers in the fight against Covid-19 across the country under Exercise NCC Yogdan.

Notes:
The state government in Kerala has announced Rs 10,000 crore worth development projects would be completed or launched in the next 100 days.
The Chief Minister also announced that nine new industrial units, including the Defence Park in Palakkad would be inaugurated. The state also targets job openings through poverty eradication mission, Kudumbashree.

Notes:
Israel passed its controversial Nation State Law before two years. Recently, the Arab-Israeli citizens and rights groups moved the country’s Supreme Court to scrap these laws.
As per the petition, the articles in the law, especially those related to Israel’s official language and land allocation laws, are unconstitutional and are discriminatory towards non-Jewish citizens of the country.

Notes:
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently flagged off the 100th Kisan Rail from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal.
The multi-commodity train service will carry vegetables and fruits. The Government of India has also extended a subsidy of 50% on transportation of fruits and vegetables. Kisan Rail enables the farmers to transport their agricultural produce across the country.

Notes:
The regulators of China have asked Ant Group, which owns China’s largest digital payment platform Alipay, to rectify its business.
The financial giant company is owned by the famous Chinese businessperson Jack Ma. The firm was asked to comply with the country’s regulatory requirement and to continue as a provider of payments services. Earlier, the Alibaba group was asked to curb monopolistic practices.

Notes:
Saudi Arabia has recently announced the discovery of four new oil and gas fields, as announced by the Saudi Energy Minister.
The state-owned Oil company Saudi Aramco has discovered the new Non-conventional oil and gas fields in different locations around the country. In August, the country has announced the discovery of two oil and gas fields.

Notes:
As per a research paper authored by RBI Deputy Governor Michael Debabrata Patra and another official, maintaining 4 per cent inflation is appropriate for India.
The paper highlights that targeting a lower rate could create a deflationary stand to the monetary policy. At present, RBI has been mandated to maintain retail inflation at 4 per cent +/- 2 per cent. The inflation target is to be reviewed by March 2021.

Notes:
The Tourism Ministry of Uttarakhand has requested the state government of Madhya Pradesh, to bring in white Tiger.
Uttarakhand has made this request to bring white tigers to Nainital’s Sitabani Wildlife Reserve for a Tiger safari project. White tiger cubs are present in the Maharaja Martand Singh Judeo White Tiger Safari and Zoo in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.