Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2020

Notes:
Alphabet Inc’s Google has recently announced that it is set to launch a virtual private networks (VPN) service for its consumers.
The VPN service would be available for its Google One cloud storage services. VPN is used by individuals in countries where access to certain sites and services have been banned by governments.

Notes:
The 15th Finance Commission (FFC) has announced that it is set to submit its report to Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on 9 November, this year.
The report will have recommendations for next five years beginning the financial year 2021-22. The report may be tabled in the Parliament along with action taken report by the government, during the next budget session.

Notes:
The Government of India has notified that that no leather footwear can be produced, sold, traded, imported or even stocked, unless they bear the BIS mark.
The notification has been issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). This move is aimed to contain import of cheaper leather products in India.

Notes:
Kerala aims to start providing free, high-speed Internet to schools, public offices, and poor households in the state by December, this year.
Kerala is the first among all states to launch such project, which is similar to the Centre’s BharatNet project. The Kerala Fibre Optic Network Project or KFON has awarded the contract to a consortium led by public-sector company Bharat Electronics Limited.

Notes:
Students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have developed a digital game to create awareness about Covid-19.
The online one-minute game has been created as part of an elective course. The game which aims to create awareness among the children, is available for free in 12 languages. The game has derived inspiration from the popular game Super Mario.

Notes:
Indian boxer Sanjeet won gold in the Alexis Vastine international boxing tournament in Nantes in 91 kg category. World silver-medallist Amit Panghal also won gold in 52 kg category.
Ashish Kumar also won gold in the 75kg category opponent pulled out due to injury. Kavinder Singh Bisht won silver while India earned three bronze medals.

Notes:
The Panna Biosphere Reserve that is located in Madhya Pradesh, has been included in the UNESCO’s “World Network of Biosphere Reserves”. Additionally, Fuvahmulah and Addu Atoll of Maldives have also been included in the list.
Panna is a critical tiger habitat in India and it was accorded Biosphere Reserve status by Government of India in 2011.

Notes:
E-commerce giant Flipkart has recently acquired mobile gaming start-up Mech Mocha, which runs the first live-social gaming platform, ‘Hello Play’.
After the acquisition, the intellectual property from the start-up and the skilled gaming team will also join Flipkart. This is a part of the Walmart-owned company’s initiatives to engage with users on its platform.

Notes:
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has been signed by Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA). The MoU sets key targets for IRDAI to be achieved in the year 2020-21.
IREDA is a “Mini Ratna” Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. It is categorized as a Public Financial Institution and NBFC by Reserve Bank of India.

Notes:
An enhanced version of the Pinaka Mk-1 missile has been successfully test fired from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
The Pinaka Mk-1 missile system has been developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This enhanced version is set to replace the existing Pinaka systems deployed by the Indian Army along boarders of China and Pakistan.