Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2021

Notes:
India’s think tank NITI Aayog released the second edition of its India Innovation Index, which ranks different states and UTs based on the basis of their support to innovation.
The first edition of the index was launched in October 2019. The states and UTs have been divided into 17 ‘Major States’, 10 ‘North-East and Hill States’, and 9 ‘City-States and UTs’. Karnataka retained the first spot in this year’s index followed by Maharashtra.

Notes:
The Ministry of Electronics and Information technology (MeitY) has recently asked WhatsApp to withdraw its new privacy policy.
The Ministry has termed the policy as unilateral, unfair and unacceptable and asked the firm to reconsider its approach to data privacy and data security. Detailed information about the data sharing protocols was also sought.

Notes:
The Assam Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of Science City at Tepesia, in the outskirts of Guwahati.
It would be built at a total expenditure of Rs. 184 crores. The main building is being built by National Council of Science Museum, Union’s Cultural Affairs department and state’s Science and Technology Department.

Notes:
The Start-up Advisory Council was notified in January 2020, which aims to advise the Government to nurture innovation and start-ups in the country. It is chaired by the Commerce and Industry Minister.
The Centre has recently nominated 28 non-official members for the Start-up Advisory Council notified last year, including the founders of top start-up firms in the country including Byju’s, Urban Company, Snapdeal and Ola Cabs.

Notes:
The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) is a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Textiles. It is a Mini Ratna company headquartered at Mumbai.
The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) announced recently that it has planned to export at least 10 lakh bales of cotton during the current cotton season (October 2020-September 2021). Bangladesh would be the main focus country.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has recently approved investment of Rs 5281.94 crore investment for the Ratle hydropower project in Jammu and Kashmir.
The 850-megawatt (MW) plant is to be set up on Chenab river, which flows from India into Pakistan. A new Joint Venture Company (JVC) of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC) will also be formed.

Notes:
NASA has recently posted a picture of Abell 370, a massive cluster of galaxies, captured through its Hubble Space Telescope.
As per the statement of NASA, the massive gravity of the cluster makes the light to bend as it passes through. This phenomenon distorts the view of the galaxies behind Abell 370, which is located at 4.9 billion light-years away from the Earth.

Notes:
The Supreme Court upheld the validity of Section 32 A of the Insolvency Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in its recent judgement.
The apex court held that the successful bidders for a corporate debtor under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) would be immune from any investigations being conducted by investigating agencies such as the ‘Enforcement Directorate’ or statutory bodies such as SEBI.

Notes:
Google’s parent company Alphabet recently announced that it is to shut down the ambitious nine-year ‘Loon’ Internet balloon project.
The company aimed to deliver global internet access with a fleet of balloons floating on the edge of space. As per the company, the commercial viability of the project of the Google’s X lab, is considered risky and long.

Notes:
Recently, the Central Board of Investigation (CBI) has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against two UK based firms Cambridge Analytica and Global Scientific Research.
The FIR has been filed after 30 months since probe was initiated against these two firms, based on a complaint by the IT Ministry. Investigation have revealed that the firm Global Scientific Research has illegally harvested Indian data and passed on to Cambridge Analytica for commercial gains.