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 Foreign portfolio investment (FPIs) has reached a new height as the net FPI in Indian equities crossed the mark of $31.7 billion, during the current financial year.
This is the highest investment in a financial year since FY 2012-23, in India. During that year, India recorded a net FPO inflow of $25.8 billion.

Notes:
In the 2020 Democracy Index’s global ranking released by the Economist Intelligence Unit, India has slipped two positions and stood at 53rd position.
India’s score has declined from 7.92 in 2014 to 6.61 in 2020 and its ranking fell from 27 in 2014 to 53 in 2020.

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 Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Defence have recently approved 26 green zone sites across the country, to operate Drones. With this, the total green sites stand at 32.
Under the No-Permission-No-Takeoff (NPNT) compliance regulations, the drones are not authorised to fly without the NPNT automated green signal. The Government is also developing the Digital Sky platform, for automatic authorisations.

Notes:
The first meeting of the Joint Working Group in the field of Renewable Energy between India and the Kingdom of Bahrain was held recently in virtual format
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and Bahrain in July 2018, for promoting bilateral cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy. The meeting focussed on enhanced cooperation in the field of solar, wind and clean hydrogen.

Notes:
The Serum Institute of India (SII) and UNICEF have recently entered into a long-term supply agreement.
Under the agreement, the UNICEF will have access to 1.1 billion doses of AstraZeneca/Oxford and the Novavax vaccines to distribute around 100 countries.

Notes:
As the Union Commerce and Industry, the Central Government is working on establishing a Single Window System for clearances and approvals of industries in the country.
A centralized Investment Clearance Cell was proposed last year, to prevent the investors from visiting various IT platforms and offices to obtain clearances. This one-stop digital platform will enable them receive all central and state clearances and approvals required.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a programme in the state of Assam named ‘Asom Mala’. It aims to improve state highways and major district roads.
The programme also aims to provide quality inter-linking roads between the National Highways and the Rural roads. Another objective of the scheme is to promote ‘Multi-modal transportation’ in the state.

Notes:
After the Glacier burst occurred in the state of Uttarakhand, over hundred persons are missing in the massive flash flood.
The flood washed away two hydel power projects namely the Rishiganga small hydro project and National Thermal Power Corporation’s (NTPC) Tapovan project. The projects are located on the banks of the Dhauliganga river in the state.