Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2021

Notes:
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has signed an MoU with UNDP India to create India’s first Social Impact Bond (SIB).
This bond describes outcome-based targets to be achieved, so that the progress of the outcomes can be tracked. It also ensures the funds are used effectively towards the project. The bonds would support the corporation in improving the healthcare services.

Notes:
The United Kingdom approved the Covid vaccine developed by AstraZeneca along with the University of Oxford, thereby becoming the first country in the world to do so.
The country’s residents are already being administered with the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine since the first week of December 2020. The UK has ordered 100 million doses of the new vaccine, to vaccinate 50 million people.

Notes:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) along with the Indian Navy has conducted a successful trial of the SAHAYAK-NG.
It is the country’s first indigenously designed and developed air droppable container. The container, aided by GPS can carry a payload of up to 50 kg and can be dropped from a heavy aircraft. It is designed and developed by two DRDO labs and a private company ‘Avantel’.

Notes:
CSIR- National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) has discovered an alternative technology to single-use plastics.
The NIIST scientists have developed a technology for manufacturing biodegradable cutleries from agricultural residues and by-products.

Notes:
Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the Virtual Agri India hackathon 2020 in New Delhi.
It is the largest virtual gathering to organise dialogues and promote innovations in agriculture. This year, the event organized by Pusa Krishi, ICAR – IARI, ICAR & Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare. 24 best innovations will be awarded 1 lakh cash award and incubation support.

Notes:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a loan agreement recently.
As per the agreement, the ADB will provide a USD 231-million loan to improve electricity generation capacity in Assam by construction of a 120- (MW) hydroelectric power plant. The proposed hydroelectric project is a project over Kopili river.

Notes:
The first hill-top Buddhist monastery of the Gangetic Valley has been found at Lal Pahari in Lakhisarai district of Bihar.
This is the first monastery located at the top of a hill. This is discovered during a joint collaboration of Bihar Heritage Development Society and the Visva-Bharati University, West Bengal. It was a Vihara, named as Srimaddharmaviharik aryabhiksusanghasya.

Notes:
Over 1700 migratory birds were found dead in the Pong Dam sanctuary in the state of Himachal Pradesh, under mysterious circumstances.
Recently, it was found that those birds have tested positive for bird flu. This makes Himachal Pradesh to join the list of states to report cases of the avian influenza after Rajasthan and Kerala.

Notes:
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is set to commence Seaplane services on select routes. It is called the Sagarmala Seaplane Services (SSPS).
It is to be implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) named the Sagarmala Development Company Ltd (SDCL), which will function under the administrative control of the Shipping Ministry. The SPV will also include airline operators.

Notes:
Leading public sector of India, the Bank of Baroda announced the launch of banking services on WhatsApp.
The services offered by the bank include balance inquiry, mini statement, cheque status enquiry, cheque book request, blocking of debit card among others. It also enables the customers to apply for new digital service.