Current Affairs Quiz - February, 2021

Notes:
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), in partnership with the Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs of India (COWE), has launched the ‘Swavalamban Sashakt – Mega Campaign’.
It is a webinar series to promote the ‘Stand Up India’ scheme. Loan between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore to at least 1 SC or ST borrower and at least 1 woman borrower is provided per bank per branch, to set up a new enterprise.

Notes:
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated over 57000 water structures constructed in Madhya Pradesh under ‘Jalabhishekam’ water conservation campaign.
These water structures were created during the Covid-19 pandemic period by linking the work with the MNREGA scheme. The water structures costing over Rs 200 crore have been inaugurated under the MGNREGA scheme and PM Krishi Irrigation scheme.

Notes:
As per the Chinese lunar calendar, a 12-year cycle is described, which is used in the Chinese Zodiac. As per the country’s Zodiac, this year is celebrated as the Year of Ox.
The country celebrates the festival for sixteen days, beginning from the Chinese New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival. After China adopted the Gregorian calendar, the Chinese New year was renamed as the Spring Festival.

Notes:
The Government of China has banned BBC World News from broadcasting in the country. This announcement has been made by the country’s television regulator.
China has accused BBC for making derogatory reports on the country about coronavirus and the persecution of ethnic minority Uighurs.

Notes:
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has virtually launched the ‘Maa’ scheme under which the state government would provide meal at Rs 5 to poor people.
A platter of food including vegetable and egg curry is to provided at Rs 5 with the state bearing a subsidy of Rs 15 per plate.

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:
Union Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar is to launch software applications for five all India surveys, being conducted by the Labour Bureau.
The Ministry will also release instruction manuals with questionnaire for five All India Surveys including All India Survey on Migrant workers, All India Survey on Domestic Workers, All India Survey on Employment Generated by Professionals, All India Survey on Employment Generated in Transport Sector, and All-India Quarterly Establishment based Employment Survey.

Notes:
Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen Hassen arrived in New Delhi.
He inaugurated the new Chancery and Residence at Ethiopian Embassy in New Delhi along with External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S. Jaishankar. They also discussed on various bilateral and global issues of mutual interest.

Notes:
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposed that the G-20 association set up an emergency task force to prepare a “Global Vaccination Plan” against Covid-19.
As per the UN, this task force should include all countries that are capable of developing vaccines or to produce them, along with vaccination organisations, other technical organisations and international financial institutions.

Notes:
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States would pay the World Health Organization (WHO) USD 200 million.
The U.S. is the largest funder of the World Health Organisation, contributing over 15% of its total funds. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had begun the process of withdrawing from the WHO, which has been stopped now by the incumbent President.