Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2021

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:
The Government has recently stated that Madhya Pradesh was the worst hit state in terms of crop loss due to floods in the year 2019. It has registered zero crop loss in 2017 and 2018.
The estimated crop loss in the state was 6.047 million hecatres due to extreme rainfall and flood.

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:
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:
An unmanned Russian cargo ship launched successfully loaded with supplies for the International Space Station.
Named as ‘Progress MS-16’, the cargo ship blasted off from the Russia’s Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan. The ship is carrying water, propellant and other supplies. It is set to dock at the space outpost two days after the launch.

Notes:
India nominated Ajay Mathur was elected as the next Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). He succeeds Upendra Tripathy, who has serving as DG since 2017.
The Director-General has a four-year term, which can also be renewed for an additional term. Mathur is the chief of the New Delhi-based The Energy and Research Institute, at present.

Notes:
As per a communication issued by the President Ramnath Kovind, Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi was removed from her post.
This step has been taken amid a political crisis in the Puducherry Union territory and ahead of the assembly elections in April-May this year. The additional charge of the UT has been given to the Telengana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan.

Notes:
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has granted recognition to Mallikarjun Kharge as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
The Indian National Congress Leader succeeds Ghulam Nabi Azad whose term has ended recently. Mallikarjun Kharge was a former Union minister and had been Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, earlier.

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:
According to the Institute of International Finance, the total amount of global debt stood at USD 281 trillion at the end of 2020.
It also revealed that the countries, companies and households raised USD24 trillion last year to tackle the economic crisis created due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The total debt was over 355 per cent of global GDP.