Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2021

Notes:
The National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) has collaborated with Telangana Artificial Intelligence Mission (T-AIM) to launch an Innovation Factory.
It aims to recognise and promote innovative Artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for challenges in agricultural sector. The start-ups, companies and institutions winning the challenge will get Rs 1 lakh prize money along with mentorship from state entities.

Notes:
The United States of America (USA) has recently imposed sanctions on companies belonging to Iran, China and United Arab Emirates.
These sanctions are imposed for doing business with Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and on three other Iranian entities dealing with conventional arms proliferation.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently drained Rs 2 trillion of liquidity from the system using its 14-day reverse repo auction.
This is a part of Reserve Bank’s process of normalising liquidity operations. The present Reverse Repo rate is 3.35%, while the cut off rate for the said auction was set at 3.55%. RBI has stated that it has got bids worth Rs 3.06 trillion.

Notes:
Veteran Indian classical musician Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan has recently passed away at the age of 89, at Mumbai.
The legendary musician was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991, followed by Padma Bhushan in 2006 and Padma Vibhushan in 2018. He was also honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in the year 2003.

Notes:
On the occasion of ‘Prarambh: Startup India International Summit’, the Prime Minster Narendra Modi announced the launch of Startup India Seed Fund with a corpus of Rs.1000 crore.
The fund is intended to provide initial capital for startups, which would promote the setting up of new startups and promote their growth. The ‘Prarambh’ summit marked the 5th anniversary of the Startup India initiative, launched in the year 2016.

Notes:
India’s senior oncologist and chairperson of the Adyar Cancer Institute Dr V Shanta passed away at the age of 93.
She was known for serving the poor and downtrodden at the institute during her 50 yearlong medical service career. The veteran was presented various awards Padma Shri, Magsaysay Award, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.

Notes:
The Indian Railways has recently renamed one of the oldest trains, the Howrah-Kalka Mail, as the ‘Netaji Express’.
The Mail was started in the 19th Century as one of the early commercial passenger train services in India. This has been announced as a part of the 125th birth anniversary of Subash Chandra Bose. It is said Netaji took this train from Bihar, when he escaped from his house in Kolkata in 1941.

Notes:
Dragon fruit is a wild cactus species native to the Americas and it is called pitahaya in those regions.
The fruit-bearing species was first introduced to India after 1990.
Many states of India including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal cultivate the fruits. However, India imports the fruit to meet its demand. Recently, Gujarat state government proposed to rename dragon fruit as ‘Kamalam’.

Notes:
The Government of Andhra Pradesh headed by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched the door delivery programme for ration, wherein 9,260 “Mobile Dispensing Units” / vehicles will supply ration (rice and other essential commodities) at the door steps of ration cardholders in the State.
This move aims to eliminate adulteration of food commodities and also prevent formation of long queues at the fair price shops.

Notes:
Namrup is a town located in the southeastern part of Assam state. Recently a meeting was held by the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers regarding the upcoming urea plant at Namrup.
The 12.7 lakh MMTPA capacity project is to be implemented jointly by the National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), Oil India Limited (OIL), Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF), Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL) and Assam government.