Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2021

Notes:
Global payment major Mastercard has announced that it will support some select cryptocurrency directly on its network.
It highlighted that it will give preference to ‘stable coins’ or cryptocurrencies that are linked to fiat currencies like the dollar. It also laid down four conditions for stable coins to be accepted including consumer protection, compliance among others.

Notes:
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has recently imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on National Stock Exchange (NSE).
In the co-location case filed in 2015, NSE was alleged for its failure to comply with the stock exchange and clearing corporation rules. SEBI also lashed penalty on the former Chief Executives fot being liable to the acts of NSE.

Notes:
The Government of India has approved applications from leading medical devices manufacturing companies, under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
These companies include Siemens Healthcare, Sahajanand Medical Technologies, Nipro India Corporation and Wipro GE Healthcare.

Notes:
Hewlett Packard (HP) India and National Skill Development Corporation signed a partnership to provide early skill development of students.
Under the agreement, HP would provide worksheets and content to enhance home learning. NSDC will host the content from the company’s ‘Print Learn Center’ on ‘eSkill India’, its digital skilling platform.

Notes:
As per the press release issued by the Indian Embassy, India is to provide Nepalese Rupee 142 million to Nepal for the restoration and conservation of three cultural heritage sites.
These projects are being implemented under USD 50 million grant assistance committed by India earlier. The three sites in the Kathmandu Valley include Seto Machindranath Temple, construction of Dharamshala at Budhaneelkantha and conservation of Kumari Home.

Notes:
The Department of Science and Technology has announced major changes to India’s mapping policy. This step aims to enable the Indian companies access to modern mapping technologies.
As per the guidelines released by the Science and Technology Ministry, there are no restrictions for acquiring and producing geospatial data and geospatial data services including maps.

Notes:
The Indian Navy got its third Scorpene submarine, which will be commissioned in Mumbai as INS Karanj. This is a part of the six submarines, which are being constructed under Project 75.
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited has delivered three Scorpene submarines to the Indian Navy named Khanderi, Kalvari and Karanj.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Abhyudaya scheme. It aims to provide coaching facilities to the interested candidates for competitive exams like NEET and IIT-JEE.
This scheme would provide facilities similar to that of Kota and Prayagraj to those in other parts of the state who are not able to avail those services. Over 50,000 students are selected under the scheme.

Notes:
India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin became the first player in the 143-year history of Test cricket to take 200 wickets against left-handed batsmen.
He achieved the feat during the second day of India’s second Test against England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. With 391 wickets, he is also the second highest wicket taker in the country.

Notes:
Nigerian American economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been appointed as the new director-general of World Trade Organization (WTO). With this appointment, she becomes the first African women to be the Chief of WTO.
WTO is an intergovernmental organization that is regulates the trade between nations. It is headquartered at Geneva.