Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2021

Notes:
The Prime Minster of Netherlands Mark Rutte along with the entire cabinet of Ministers have stepped down from power, taking responsibility for a scandal involving investigations into child welfare payments.
Earlier, thousands of families were wrongly accused of child welfare fraud and told to pay money back to the government.

Notes:
The Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) of Union Petroleum Ministry has launched a month-long awareness campaign named SAKSHAM.
It is intended to create awareness among common public about fossil fuels, the health & environmental impacts of increasing carbon footprints. The campaign would strive consumers to adopt cleaner fuel and bring about efficient use of fossil fuels.

Notes:
Russia has recently informed the United Nations that it is withdrawing and sending home 300 military instructors sent to Central African Republic (CAR), intended to train the African Nation’s Army.
The army of CAR was facing stiff offensive reactions from rebel groups ahead of last month’s elections.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has retained State Bank of India, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank as domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs), by data collected as on March 31, 2020.
D-SIBs are also called as the banks which are considered as “too big to fail” meaning its failure will impact the country significantly. As per the D-SIB framework, RBI declares the names of the D-SIB banks and fixes additional common equity requirement.

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 Union cabinet approved the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between India and Uzbekistan for solar energy cooperation.
Under the MoU, the two countries will identify research and pilot projects in fields such as solar photovoltaic, storage technologies and technology transfer. National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), Ministry of New & Renewable Energy is involved in the projects.

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:
Scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology, have spotted rare hot UV-bright stars in a massive cluster in our Galaxy called NGC 2808.
The Astronomers have used the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) onboard the first multi-wavelength space satellite of India, AstroSat.

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:
Tesla Chief Executive Officer the world’s richest person at present, Elon Musk announced that he has decided to give away USD 100 million as prize for the best carbon capture technology.
Carbon dioxide, released in electricity generation and industrial processes can be captured using various methods including post-combustion, pre-combustion and oxyfuel. The International Energy Agency also stated about the role of carbon capture technology in net-zero emissions recently.