Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2021

Notes:
Border Security Force (BSF) organises the Operation “Garam Hawa” in summer season and operation “Sard Hawa” during the winter season every year.
BSF has recently launched “Operation Sard Hawa” of this year, under which it aims to increase security on the borders in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. This operation was scheduled from January 21 to 27, coinciding with the Republic Day.

Notes:
Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli belonging to the ruling communist party of Nepal, has been expelled from the party by leaders Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and former PM Madhav Kumar.
This decision has been made by the party, after the PM P. Sharma Oli dissolved the Lower House of the Parliament called “Pratinidhi Sabha”.

Notes:
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award in India.
President has approved conferment of 119 Padma awards comprising 7 Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan and 102 Padma Shri awards. Former Chief minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi and former union minister Ram Vilas Paswan have been awarded the Padma Bhushan.

Notes:
The Union Agriculture Ministry has proposed a Rs 19,000 crore National mission on edible oil for approval in the upcoming budget.
The mission seeks a five-year plan to achieve self-sufficiency in cooking oil production along with cutting its import. India spends almost Rs 75,000 crore annually in importing edible oil which will also promote local production and cut its cost.

Notes:
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has been re-elected as the President of Portugal. The right-wing President won the elections with 60.7 percent of the vote.
Although the Prime Minister Antonio Costa is a Socialist, the President has a prominent role in the nation’s polity with superior role in foreign policy and national security. President of Portugal has the power to dissolve the Parliament.

Notes:
The U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order which allows all qualified Americans to serve in the country’s military.
Former President Barack Obama allowed transgender people to serve in the Military while the previous President Donald Trump banned the process. Now, this new order would repeal the ban while also providing the necessary medical care to the persons.

Notes:
World Economic Forum (WEF) launched a global coalition at the ongoing Davos Agenda Summit to end racism at work place.
It has been named as “Partnering for Racial Justice in Business” initiative. Recently, Indian companies Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services joined the alliance, whose founding members include 48 organisations including Google, Microsoft, Deutsche Bank, EY, among others.

Notes:
As per the Science Magazine, Scientists have discovered a rare Martian Mineral named ‘Jarosite’ in the Antarctic ice.
After boring more than a mile deep in the Antarctic region, the yellow-brown mineral which is rarely seen on Earth but found more on Mars was spotted. Mars is believed to be a dusty place and this discovery may be used to explain this theory.

Notes:
The report titled “World Gold Demand Trends” has been released by the World Gold Council. As per the report, Gold purchase by central banks of various countries declined sharply in 2020 and fell by nearly 60% to 272.9 tonnes.
The decline in purchase was most particular in Q2 of the FY 2020-21.

Notes:
The Budget Session of Parliament recently began with the address of President Ram Nath Kovind to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.
During the address, the President mentioned that the ‘Amrut Mahotsav’ will be observed in the country from this year, to mark commencement of the celebrations towards the 75th year of India’s Independence.