Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2021

Notes:
India and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) signed a USD 304 million loan agreement for the Assam Intra-State Transmission System Enhancement Project.
The project aims to construct transmission substations and lay required transmission lines. It will also upgrade 15 substations, transmission lines and ground wire to optical power ground wire. The remaining project cost USD 61 million would be financed by the state.

Notes:
According to the provisional data from the Union Commerce Ministry of India, the two-way trade stood at USD 77.7 billion last year.
With this, China regained its position as India’s top trade partner in 2020, with the higher reliance of India on imported machines. The bilateral trade with the United States stood at USD 75.9 billion. The UAE remains the third trade partner.

Notes:
The Horticulture Department of Karnataka has collaborated with International Flower Auction Bangalore, to set up a flower processing centre.
This centre is aimed to convert unsold flowers into value added and useful products like floral papers, incense sticks, flower petal powder, floral embedded works etc.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has recently approved the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for the pharmaceuticals and IT hardware sectors.
The PLI scheme for pharmaceuticals with an outlay of Rs 15000 crore, has a duration of nine years, till 2028-29. The Cabinet also approved the PLI Scheme for IT hardware such as laptops, tablets, all-in-one PCs and servers with an outlay of Rs 7350 crore.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet approved a proposal to impose President’s Rule in Puducherry. Earlier, the Congress-led Government in the Union territory lost power during a vote of confidence.
The Cabinet took the decision as no party came forward to stake claim to form the government in the UT, following the resignation of the Chief minister V Narayanasamy. After the Lieutenant Governor had recommended President’s Rule, the Cabinet has approved the same.

Notes:
The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is an international agreement between all the member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
India as well as South Africa have proposed the WTO to consider the TRIPS waiver on COVID-19 vaccines. If India succeeds in getting the waiver, it will reduce the cost of vaccines significantly and facilitate free flow of medicines and easy technology transfer across the world.

Notes:
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has constituted an internal working group committee to revisit its information and security guidelines.
This has been constituted on the wake of increase in cyberattacks across the globe in financial sector during the covid-19 pandemic.

Notes:
The market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed to introduce a concept called ‘accredited investors’.
SEBI has noted that accredited investors, (also known as qualified investors or professional investors) are those who have an understanding of various financial products, the risks and returns associated with them. They can take informed decisions regarding investments and are recognised by many securities and financial market regulators globally.

Notes:
The National Bamboo Mission (NBM) was originally launched as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in 2006-07, under the Agriculture Ministry. It was then restructured with the Cabinet approval in 2018.
Recently, the National Bamboo Mission along with the NITI Aayog and Invest India to organise a conference, National Consultation on Opportunities and Challenges for Bamboo in India’. Union Minster Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the conference, along with various Ministers and officials.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh approved a law to give life imprisonment to food adulterators, with the cabinet recently approving a Penal Law (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2021.
In 2019, a massive rally was organised in the state against food adulteration, with the participation of several citizens of all age groups.