Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2021

Notes:
The number of registered births in 2020 was 10.04 million, which is over 15 percent down from the number of registered births of the last year.
As per the data, this is the fourth consecutive year to register a decline in birth rate. China launched the one-child policy in the late 1970s to slow rapid population growth. It was reversed only in the year 2016.

Notes:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru to create the Joint Advanced Technology Program–Center of Excellence.
JATP was created by the former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam in 1983, in which DRDO scientists collaborated with the faculty of IISc. The CoE is to be set up in the premises of IISc, Bangalore.

Notes:
Veteran novelist and screenwriter from France, Jean-Claude Carriere passed away recently, at the age of 89.
He was a prolific writer with a long career spanning six decades. He also won the Oscar award for Best Live Action Short Film and the Oscar Honorary Award (2014) for lifetime achievement. Indian government awarded Padma Shri to him in 2015.

Notes:
As per the recent data given by the Agriculture Ministry, the Government has procured over 620 lakh tones of paddy, in the current Kharif Marketing Season.
This is said to be an increase of 17.60 per cent against the last year of around 527 lakh tonnes. Punjab contributed over 202 lakh tonnes, 32.71 per cent of total procurement. Over 1,17,000 crores have been spent for Minimum Support Price.

Notes:
Vigyan Jyoti programme, was launched by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) which encourages gilrs take interest in science and build their career.
The second phase of Vigyan Jyoti programme was commenced on the occasion of International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11, 2021. This will extend the scheme to 50 more districts in additional to the 50 districts.

Notes:
India records the highest number of Road crash deaths, across the world. The World Bank recently released a report titled “Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities: The Burden on Indian Society”.
Union Transport minister Nitin Gadkari released the report, which highlights the unequal impact of a road crash on poor households. Over 75% of the poor households in India reported a decline in their income after a road traffic crash.

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 Textile Minister Smriti Irani rolled out the commercial Jute seed distribution scheme. The productive variant of Jute seeds will help enhance the income of Jute farmers.
Jute Corporation of India had signed an MoU with National Seeds Corporation for commercial distribution of around one thousand Metric Tonne jute seeds for the year 2021-22.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted an eight-member expert panel to lay down a regulatory road map for urban co-operative banks (UCBs).
The committee will be headed by former deputy governor of RBI, N. S. Vishwanathan. The group will also study the consolidation prospects in the sector. The expert committee has been asked to submit its report within three months.

Notes:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched e-Chhawani portal, which aims to provide online municipal services to citizens across 62 Cantonment Boards.
Through the portal, application for renewal of leases, online registration of births and deaths and online application for water and sewerage connection can be made easier. Residents of the cantonment areas can also lodge complaints on civic issues online.