Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2021

Notes:
The Government of India, West Bengal state government and the World Bank signed a USD 105 million project to improve the inland water transport infrastructure in Kolkata, West Bengal, according to the Ministry of Finance.
Called as the ‘West Bengal Inland Water Transport, Logistics and Spatial Development Project’, it will improve passenger and freight movement across the Hooghly river and improve accessibility in Kolkata Metropolitan region.

Notes:
The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi launched the Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) and Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) in 2015.
The two programmes are being implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs under the Ministry of Power. Under the schemes, EESL distributed LED bulbs and LED street lights across the country, to save energy.

Notes:
The World Bank recently released its flagship Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report. As per the report, the global economic output is projected to grow by 4% in 2021.
World Bank also estimated that Indian economy would grow at 5.4% in fiscal year 2021-22 and by 5.2% in the following year 2022-23. Earlier, the World Bank had forecasted a contraction of 9.6% in fiscal 2020-21.

Notes:
The Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife (SC-NBWL) has recently approved the advisory for management of Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) in the country.
The Committee also approved the inclusion of Caracal, a wild cat found in some parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, in the list of critically endangered species. At present, there are 22 wildlife species under recovery programme for critically endangered species.

Notes:
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has termed India’s Equalisation Levy on e-commerce companies as ‘discriminatory’.
The Equalisation Levy or the Digital Service Tax is locally called as the Google Tax. The USTR also said that the Digital Service Tax burdens US commerce and hence it is actionable under Section 301 (of Trade Act, 1974).

Notes:
Justice Hima Kohli became the first woman Chief Justice of Telangana High Court when she sworn in, in the presence of Governor of the state.
She was earlier serving as a Delhi High Court judge, prior to this promotion. She had also served as the Standing Counsel and Legal Advisor to the New Delhi Municipal Council. The present Chief Justice of Telangana Raghavendra Singh Chowhan is transferred to Uttarakhand High Court.

Notes:
A one-member commission was created under the Labour Ministry’s Central Advisory Contract Labour Board (CACLB), to prepare an action plan for the welfare and development of guest and contract workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Veteran IAS officer C V Ananda Bose, who was in-charge of the commission, has recommended payment of a basic living wage in the event of employment loss. He also sought to establish Labour Authority of India as a nodal body.

Notes:
Veteran Fashion designer Satya Paul, known for his contemporary sari designs, died in Tamil Nadu, at the age of 79.
Initially he opened a clothing store and export business, and further expanded it to luxury fashion designing. He started a luxury clothing business in his own name. He also opened shops in many countries including UK, France and Japan.

Notes:
The country’s first Solar Electric RORO service will be introduced during the year 2021-2022, the Kerala Governor announced in the Assembly.
He also announced that the state’s first amphibious water bus will also be launched. The state has planned to launch barge Service for cargo movement and high-speed tourist services.

Notes:
The country’s second largest public sector bank, Punjab National Bank has partnered with IIT Kanpur and FIRST (Foundation for Innovation & Research in Science & Technology), to establish Fintech Innovation Centre (FIC).
The Innovation centre will be set up at the IIT campus, which will facilitate research and development in technological solutions used in the Banking and Finance Sector.