Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2021

Notes:
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar launched the Indo-French year of Environment along with his French counterpart.
India and France have environment projects being undertaken in Assam, Rajasthan and a project to be started in Jharkhand. The objective of this event is to strengthen Indo-French cooperation in sustainable development.

Notes:
India conducted the 5th Act East Forum (AEF) meet with Japan and both the countries reviewed progress of various ongoing projects in the North-eastern region.
India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and Japan’s vision for a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ are realised through the Act East Forum, which also provides a collaborative platform in the North Eastern Region. The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

Notes:
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has recently introduced several changes to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Rules.
It includes mandatory “Impact Assessment” for big CSR projects. It also includes mandatory disclosure of all CSR projects and the CSR Committee’s composition on the company’s website.

Notes:
The state government of Rajasthan has recently reduced value-added tax (VAT) by two percent on petrol and diesel. This has relaxed the fuel prices in the state. Recently, the price of premium petrol price crossed Rs.100 in the state.
Petrol, Diesel and other fuels in India have been kept outside the ambit of Goods and Services Tax (GST). Presently, the state governments determine the VAT on these fuels.

Notes:
Swami Vivekananda started the ‘Prabuddha Bharata’, a monthly journal of the Ramakrishna order in 1896, to spread the message of India’s spiritual knowledge.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 125th Anniversary celebrations of ‘Prabuddha Bharata’ organized by Advaita Ashrama in Uttarakhand. It is the place of publication of the journal. Several leaders like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Sri Aurobindo have contributed to the journal.

Notes:
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recently amended its Emirati Nationality Law, for granting citizenship to expatriates. This move is aimed to attract and retain individuals with specialised skills.
The amendment seeks to grant UAE citizenship to investors, and professionals like scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors and their families.

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 15th Finance Commission headed by NK Singh, with 117 core recommendation, has tabled its report in the Parliament recently.
The Finance Commission maintained the vertical devolution of taxes with the states at 41%. The divisible pool of financial resources is recommended at 42%, with 1% adjustment made for change of status. So, the vertical devolution of taxes to the states stands at 41%.

Notes:
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in her Budget speech that a “Deep Ocean Mission” will be launched.
A budget outlay of more than Rs 4,000 crore has been announced over five years. This programme will undertake deep ocean survey exploration. It also includes projects to conserve deep-sea biodiversity.

Notes:
Tech major Google has launched a new initiative named ‘Startup School’ to train start-up founders and their teams across the Asia Pacific region.
It is a virtual programme which provides a series of free virtual courses for start-up founders and their teams. Courses on digital marketing, product knowledge and business strategy would be the focus areas.