Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2021

Notes:
China-based technology major Xiaomi has announced “Mi Air Charge”. It is a new wireless charging technology that has been patented by the company.
This device lets users to charge multiple electronic devices without any cables, pads, or wireless charging stands. But Xiaomi has stated that this device is still in the concept phase and will not be available commercially in the near future.

Notes:
The Indian construction major L&T Construction, has bagged the contract for building 28 steel bridges for Mumbai and Ahmedabad bullet train project.
The order costs about Rs.1000 crore to Rs.2500 crore. It involves procurement, fabrication, assembly and erection of bridges at various sites in the line. This project has been bagged as a consortium of L&T and Japan’s IHI Infrastructure Systems.

Notes:
The Germany-based think tank Germanwatch has recently released Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2021. The index ranks countries as per their vulnerability to climate risks both in terms of fatalities and economic losses
As per the report, India is the 7th worst-hit country on account of extreme weather events in the year 2019.

Notes:
The BCCI has decided to conduct Vijay Hazare Trophy in place of its first-class domestic tournament Ranji Trophy.
BCCI has stated that the decision has been made as per the wishes of majority of the state units. Additionally, BCCI would also be hosting U-19 National One Day tournament for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and a Women’s national 50-over tournament.

Notes:
Bangladesh has sent a third group of Rohingya refugees to Bhashan Char Island, which is a newly developed island in the Bay of Bengal.
Around 4,000 refugees have been sent to the island since December. After the third set of 1,778 refugees, the fourth set is also expected to be sent soon. There have been several calls from human rights activists against resettlement of refugees in the island.

Notes:
China is the largest producer of silk, in the world. It is followed by India in the second place. India is the only country in the world which produces all four major varieties of silk namely – Mulberry, Eri, Tassar, and Muga.
Recently, the Textiles Minister Smriti Irani inaugurated India’s biggest silk fair, the 8th India International Silk Fair. It is held on the virtual platform of Indian Silk Export Promotion Council.

Notes:
The ‘Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change’, is a declaration released by the global maritime industry recently.
The declaration focusses on recognising seafarers as key workers by all governments in line with the UNGA resolution adopted recently. The Maritime Union of India (MUI) urged the Centre to consider the declaration while formulating ‘Maritime India Vision 2030’.

Notes:
The Additional Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Praveen Sinha has been appointed as the acting chief of CBI.
He is a 1988-batch Gujarat cadre IPS officer. After Rishi Kumar Shukla who retired recently, the acting Chief has been appointed till a decision on a New Director is taken. This is the third time in last five years that an interim chief will head CBI.

Notes:
Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has banned the Future Retail’s Chairman Kishore Biyani and other promoters from the securities market for one year.
They have been charged for indulging in insider trading in the shares of the company. SEBI has also imposed a fine of Rs 1 Crore each on the promoters and ordered them to pay back Rs 17.78 crore with interest.

Notes:
After the Monetary Policy Committee meeting, the Reserve Bank of India announced that it will start raising the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) rate from 3 per cent to 4 per cent in four months.
This increase of CRR is to happen in two phases. In the first phase the CRR will be increased to 3.5% on March 27, 2021. In the second phase the rate will be increased to 4% on May 22, 2021.