Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2021

Notes:
As per the first advanced estimates of the national income released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), India’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in FY 2020-21 is estimated to contract by 7.7%.
This is against the growth rate of 4.2% in the fiscal year 2019-20. There is an estimated contraction in all sectors except the agriculture in the current fiscal. While manufacturing sector is likely contract by 9.4%, Agriculture sector is estimated to grow by 3.4% compared to the last year.

Notes:
The Pioneers Program was started by US space agency NASA in 2020, which aims to research on astrophysics science using smaller hardware.
Recently, NASA has approved four small-scale astrophysics missions as a part of the Pioneers Program. The concepts include small satellites named Aspera, Pandora and StarBurst and a balloon mission named PUEO. These missions will help study about cosmic phenomena.

Notes:
The entire state of Punjab has been declared a ‘controlled area’ amidst the outbreak of the Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in neighbouring states.
It has also imposed a complete ban on the import of live birds and unprocessed poultry meat into the state. Bird Flu has been reported from as many as six states including Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Gujarat.

Notes:
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar released Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of 146 National Park and Wildlife Sanctuaries as well as that of the zoos in the Country.
At present, India has 903 Protected Areas, which covers about 5% of the total geographic area of the country. 10 best National Parks, 5 coastal and Marine parks and top five Zoos in the country will be ranked and awarded every year.

Notes:
France has hosted the One Planet Summit recently, in which 30 leaders, government officials and heads of international organizations participated. The summit was held in a virtual mode due to the ongoing COVID pandemic.
During the summit, which focussed on protecting terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and agroecology, 50 countries pledged to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030.

Notes:
The Financial Stability Report (FSR) released by Reserve Bank of India has predicted that gross non-performing assets of Banks in India, may rise to 13.5% by September 2021 from the level of 7.5% in September 2020.
The report has also stated that in case of a severe stress scenario, the Gross NPA may further worsen to 14.8%.

Notes:
The Annual Cherry Blossom Festival event was organised at Mao of Manipur recently. The event was held in a virtual format.
The entire Mao town was adorned with cherry blossom flowers and it was streamed live on Face book, YouTube, Instagram etc. Traditional folk dances and Special ballet named Cherri Nachom was also a part of the event.

Notes:
North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un was recently given a new title, “General secretary” of the ruling Workers’ Party.
The new title, which was formerly held by his late father and grandfather, was announced by the ongoing Congress of the country. In 2016, he was named as the ‘Party Chairman’. The family’s bloodline named “Paektu”, empowers their direct family members to rule the country.

Notes:
The Central Government had set up a committee to review the guidelines on television rating agencies under the chairmanship of Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi S Vempati.
The committee has recently submitted its report to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. The Ministry will evaluate the recommendations made by the committee in the report

Notes:
India’s Bharat Dynamics and the global Aerospace company Thales have signed an agreement to collaborate on the STARStreak Air Defence system.
To be undertaken with the support of both the Governments of India and the United Kingdom, the project will enable the export if the system to various customers including the UK Armed Forces. With this, BDL can also offer the system to Indian Armed Force with 60% indigenous content.