Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2021

Notes:
As per the recent report released by Tracxn, a company which tracks investments and financials, the number of start-ups founded in Bengaluru has been higher than in San Francisco, United States in the past five years.
In 2015, 3,080 firms were founded in the Indian city, as against 2,040 companies in San Francisco. Similarly, in 2020, 805 firms were founded in Bengaluru, whereas the US city’s count was 619. Bengaluru has around 13,000 active start-ups, at present.

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:
Arribada is a term used to describe the mass migration of sea turtles, where large groups of females assemble at a nesting site on the beach.
Recently, the Olive Ridley turtles have started laying eggs in the beach in this nesting season. The nesting season which usually begins in November was delayed by a few weeks this year, due to changes in climate conditions due to the cyclones Nivar and Burevi.

Notes:
The “Anti radicalism bill” of France, that aims to strengthen oversite of mosques, schools and sports clubs has been put to vote in the nation’s law making assembly.
The bill has been proposed to rid France of radical Islamists and ensure respect for French value. This is considered to be President Emmanuel Macron’s landmark project.

Notes:
Pi Beam – an IIT Madras-incubated start-up has recently launched a 2-wheeler named PiMo. This vehicle can be charged faster than a smart mobile phone.
It has a range of 50 km and is priced at Rs.30,000/-. This vehicle does not require registration and is targeted at personal and commercial users.

Notes:
The three-day Mandu Festival began at Mandu, the historic town of Madhya Pradesh. The state also inaugurated Dino Adventure Park & Fossils Museum.
During the Mandu Utsav, Handicrafts related to handmade art are displayed to encourage local artisans. Dinosaur Park is the country’s first modern fossil park to display 24 eggs and various fossils of dinosaurs.

Notes:
The high-level meeting chaired by Union Communications minister Ravi Shankar Prasad announced that a Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU) will be set up.
It will address the matters regarding Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC) and financial frauds done through mobile phones. The Ministry would also set up a web/mobile application and SMS-based system for redressal mechanism.

Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Australian Space Agency signed an amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding, for space cooperation with Australia.
The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison last year.

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:
Pakistan has decided to register Himalayan pink salt as Geographical Indications (GI), to curb the unauthorised use of the products by other countries.
The rare salt is extracted from the Salt Range in Punjab which extends along the mountains of Pakistan and the north of the Jhelum River. Pakistan is fighting a case in the European Union against India’s move to register Basmati rice as GI.