Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2021

Notes:
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) is an independent and international non-governmental organisation which works towards the realisation of human rights in the Commonwealth countries.
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative has recently issued a statement calling for the withdrawal of sedition cases file against journalists in India. It also sought the repealing of sedition and criminal defamation laws.

Notes:
India’s apex rights body NCPCR – National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has identified 50 “religious places” for complete elimination of child labour.
These places include Taj Mahal and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya. The commission has stated that collaborative intervention would be made with stakeholders including child welfare police officers, anti-human trafficking unit etc in this regard.

Notes:
Researchers at the Atomic Minerals Directorate, a unit of India’s Atomic Energy Commission, have estimated deposits of Lithium in Mandya District, Karnataka.
Lithium is a rare metal which is used to build batteries for electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, lubricating grease, high energy additives, mobile phone components etc. As per preliminary survey, reserves of 14,100 tonnes of Lithium metal have been found in the place.

Notes:
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, the legendary vocalist, is being rerembered on his birth anniversary today. The year-long birth centenary celebrations of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi begin today. Hailed as the Tansen of India, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, brought Hindustani classical music closer to the common man. He received the Bharat Ratna in 2008.

Notes:
The Education Ministry constituted a task force to prepare roadmap on imparting technical education in mother tongue. It was set up in December 2020.
The committee will be headed by the Higher Education Secretary Amit Khare, with representations from Directors from different IITs and NITs. This was announced in the Rajya Sabha by the Ministry.

Notes:
World Cancer Day is being observed on February 4 from 2000, when it was first established at the ‘World Cancer Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium’ in Paris.
It was on the same day, the ‘Charter of Paris Against Cancer’ was signed by the General Director of UNESCO and then French President. The theme of the Cancer Day is ‘I Am and I Will’, which is being continued since 2019.

Notes:
Andhra Pradesh became the second State in the country to undertake the power sector reforms stipulated by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
The state has been granted permission to mobilise additional financial resources equivalent to 0.15 per cent of its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), which means an additional borrowing of Rs 1,515 crore.

Notes:
American digital payments major, PayPal Inc. announced that it will shut down its payment operations in the country.
PayPal, which was offering its payment gateway to Indian brands and online merchants, will shut down its domestic payment services in India, from April 1. It was also providing international remittance services for small and medium enterprises.

Notes:
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is promoting the Floating Structure infrastructure in India. It has implemented projects including passenger floating jetties in Goa, water-aerodromes at Sabarmati River and seaplane services at Sardar Sarovar Dam.
Recently, the Ministry issued guidelines for floating structures to suggest technical aspects for implementation of Minor Harbors, Waterdromes, Floating Jetties among others.

Notes:
SVAMITVA is a new scheme launched under the Panchayati Raj Ministry in 2020. It aims to provide the property cards to the property owners through drone survey by Survey of India.
Out of the total budget allocation to the Ministry, a provision of Rs.200 crores has been made for the SVAMITVA scheme. The pilot phase of the scheme was approved with Budget outlay of Rs.79.65 crore, to be implemented in 9 States.