Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2020

Notes:
As per the recent statement from the Earth Sciences Ministry, the Economic benefits from the use of weather forecasting services to farmers and fishermen since 2015 amounted to Rs 19,000 crore.
The Ministry cited a study it had commissioned from the research firm National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER). The Ministry also stated that this can record Rs 5000 crore, when extrapolated to the next five years.

Notes:
Visa has recently partnered with Indian leading private sector bank HDFC Bank and Digit Secure, to deploy PCI certified Tap to Phone card acceptance solution.
DigitSecure has become the first company based in Asia-Pacific to receive PCI security certification for deploying this technology. India has also joined a list of over 15 markets that provide Visa Tap to Phone technology for merchants.

Notes:
Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has recently launched a challenge named “Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge”. It aims to develop and implement initiatives that would improve the quality of life of young children, caregivers and families.
It is a 3-year challenge that would be open for 100 Smart Cities, cities with population of more than 5 lakh and State/Union Territory capitals.

Notes:
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar recently virtually addressed the first India -Nordic – Baltic Conclave.
The Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) co-operation framework includes eight countries namely Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently inaugurated several development projects in the city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, via video conferencing.
The development projects include Sarnath Light and Sound show, infrastructure facilities for protection and conservation of cows, Varanasi city smart lighting work among others.

Notes:
Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev has clinched his maiden Paris Masters title. This is also his career’s eighth title.
He has registered his victory against the German star Alexander Zverev. It was the first time that the two players were in the finals of any international tournament.

Notes:
The IIT Alumni Council has launched MegaScope, which includes data analysis, testing and genomics to diagnose infections accurately. It would also be used to prescribe personalised medicine.
The MegaScope aims to improve accuracy of testing and predict the disease severity thereby enhancing treatment effectiveness.

Notes:
The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman represented India in the first BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting.
The meeting was held under the Russian Chairmanship. The meeting is expected to include discussions on the outcomes of the G20 Saudi Presidency in 2020, a digital platform for the New Development Bank and to expand membership of the New Development Bank.

Notes:
The Prime Minister of Armenian has announced that a peace agreement has been signed with Russia and Azerbaijan. The agreement aims to end the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed area of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Under the agreement, all military operations in the disputed area have been stopped and Russia has deployed peacekeeping forces in the Armenia – Azerbaijan border.

Notes:
World Pneumonia Day is observed every year on 12 November. The day was established by the Stop Pneumonia Initiative in 2009 to raise awareness about the disease.
Pneumonia is considered as the leading disease which causes more deaths of children around the world. ‘Stop Pneumonia Initiative’ and ‘Every Breath Counts Coalition’ jointly mobilise the people about tackling the disease.