Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2021

Notes:
Grand Anicut Canal, also called as ‘Kallanai’ is said to be the oldest water regulating structure in the world, constructed in the 2nd century A.D by the Chola King Karikal Cholan.
Recently, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the extension, renovation and modernization of the Grand Anicut Canal System. The project is to be taken up at a cost of Rs 2,640 crores. He also inaugurated the 1000-Crore Discovery Campus in IIT, Chennai.

Notes:
Malaria caused over 400,000 human deaths in the year 2019. It is said to be causing highest number of deaths among all vector-borne diseases.
Researchers from Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), and Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology have released the detailed genome of the malaria mosquito vector.

Notes:
The Department of Science and Technology has announced major changes to India’s mapping policy. This step aims to enable the Indian companies access to modern mapping technologies.
As per the guidelines released by the Science and Technology Ministry, there are no restrictions for acquiring and producing geospatial data and geospatial data services including maps.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Abhyudaya scheme. It aims to provide coaching facilities to the interested candidates for competitive exams like NEET and IIT-JEE.
This scheme would provide facilities similar to that of Kota and Prayagraj to those in other parts of the state who are not able to avail those services. Over 50,000 students are selected under the scheme.

Notes:
Global Ratings major “S&P Global Ratings” has projected Indian economy to grow at 10% for the next financial year 2021-22.
This is 1% less than the growth projections made by the Economic Survey (11%) for the next financial year. S&P’s projections is based on continued normalisation of economic activities in India.

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:
S. Chinny Krishna, the co-founder of Blue Cross of India, has been conferred with the prestigious ‘Prani Mitra’ award for 2021 by the Animal Welfare Board of India.
Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Giriraj Singh presented the award to Mr. Krishna in New Delhi, for his lifetime service to animals. It is the country’s highest award for animal welfare.

Notes:
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has been conferred the Skoch Chief Minister of the Year Award.
The award has been provided based on a year-long study of results of the projects being implemented by various state governments of the country. Over 123 projects were implemented in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Notes:
Special Window for Completion of Construction of Affordable and Mid-Income Housing Projects’ (SWAMIH) fund was set up by the Government of India with a corpus of Rs.250 billion. The fund was established to complete stalled housing projects in India.
SBICAP Ventures Ltd is the fund manager. This fund is set to deliver its 1st finished apartment soon. It is proposed to handover 16 projects in the current financial year.

Notes:
The Indian and Indonesian Navies undertook a conducted Passage Exercise (PASSEX) Military exercise in the Arabian sea.
The exercise aims to enhance operational interoperability and overall cooperation between the two navies. Indian naval ship INS Talwar and Indonesian Navy’s multirole corvette KRI Bung Tomo participated in the exercise.