Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2021

Notes:
The World Health Organization (WHO) in association with the European Union are launching the 40-million-euro COVID Vaccine programme in six former Soviet republics.
These countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova. Also, it has been observed that the number of COVID positive cases in this region has been declining in the past.

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:
Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) releases the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
As per the recent edition of the data, the IIP measure grew 1 per cent for December 2020. The Consumer Price Index inflation (CPI) decreased to 4.06 per cent in January 2021, due to the decline in vegetable prices.

Notes:
The Department of Science and Technology of India has reported that Indian astronomers have detected huge optical flare in BL Lacertae.
BL Lacertae is a feeding super massive black hole or blazar. The analysis of this old astronomical object may help to trace the mass of the black hole and the source of this emission.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs have recently released the data pertaining to the literacy levels of prison inmates in India.
As per the data, 1,32,729 out of 4,78,600 prison inmates in the country are illiterate. This constitutes 27.37 per cent of the total inmates.

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:
Union Finance Ministry is set to infuse Rs 3,000 crore capital into state-owned general insurance companies, during the current quarter.
The cabinet decided to increase the authorised share capital of National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) to Rs 7,500 crore and that of United India Insurance Company Limited (UIICL) and Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OICL) to Rs 5,000 crore each.

Notes:
A group of six black storks (Ciconia nigra), were spotted recently in the Sigur plateau in the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu.
The species is classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the “Least Concern” category. The sighting of the black stork in this region is considered to be extremely rare.

Notes:
Giant Leatherback turtle are the largest of the seven species of sea turtles. They are found in all oceans except the Arctic and the Antarctic.
In the Indian ocean, they nest at Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Government’s proposal for tourism promotion and port development will threaten this species, which is accorded legal protection by listing in Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Notes:
India is set to host a virtual South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) meet to discuss on management and response of Covid-19 pandemic.
This health secretary-level meet virtually with other SAARC countries, will be conducted as a virtual workshop to exchange best practices amid the pandemic. In 2014, Nepal hosted a SAARC leaders’ summit, which was the most recent meeting of the countries.