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:
Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) is a think-tank under the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
It recently launched the ‘Seaweed Mission’, which aims to promote commercial farming of seaweeds and its value addition. It also launched the ‘Saksham’ job portal, which will help eliminate middlemen and labour contractors. It also provides skill cards for various types of workers.

Notes:
The Kerala state government has launched ‘Kerala Knowledge Mission’, a digital platform to provide employment and skill training.
Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC), is implementing this mission. Job aspirants and educated unemployed youth would be facilitated to upskill and enhance knowledge apart from gaining employment.

Notes:
Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced that the upper ceiling has been raised from Rs 45,000 to Rs 1.25 lakh per month.
This increase is in accordance with the increase of salary as per the recommendations of the seventh pay commission. This step will ensure that the family members of the deceased employees get access to adequate financial security.

Notes:
Maharaja Suheldev was an Indian king belonging to Shravasti, which is the Gangetic Plains of present-day Uttar Pradesh.
The Government has decided to construct a memorial for the king and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of Maharaja Suheldev Memorial.

Notes:
The final production batch of Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM) was recently flagged off at DRDL, A P J Abdul Kalam Missile Complex, Hyderabad.
The missiles have been designed and developed by DRDO in collaboration with various industry partners and integrated by Bharat Dynamics Limited. The missile system provides defence against aerial targets including fighter aircrafts and missiles.

Notes:
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has recently launched the ‘Pey Jal Survekshan’ survey under the Jal Jeevan Mission- Urban.
This survey is conducted on a pilot basis in 10 cities- Agra, Badlapur, Bhubaneswar, Churu, Kochi, Madurai, Patiala, Rohtak, Surat and Tumkur. The survey would assess distribution of water, reuse of wastewater and mapping of water bodies.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has approved signing of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) between India and Mauritius.
This is the first trade Agreement to be signed by India with any country in Africa. The agreement aims to liberalise norms covering Rules of Origin, Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, Dispute Settlement, Telecom, Financial services and Customs Procedures among others.

Notes:
External Affairs S. Jaishankar participated in a virtual ministerial meeting of the Quad, which is a group of four countries: India, United States, Japan and Australia.
The Quad association was revived in the year 2017, to tackle the aggression of China and enhance the strength of the Indo-Pacific regions. President Joe Biden has reiterated the US commitment for the same issue.

Notes:
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States would pay the World Health Organization (WHO) USD 200 million.
The U.S. is the largest funder of the World Health Organisation, contributing over 15% of its total funds. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had begun the process of withdrawing from the WHO, which has been stopped now by the incumbent President.