Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2020

Notes:
As per the recent statement from the Oil India Limited (OIL), it has brought in a snubbing unit from Calgary, Canada.
The snubbing unit is a special technology, which is to be deployed to tackle the Baghjan oilfield blow-out. The OIL-owned well erupted on May 27 and has been burning for over five months now.

Notes:
The One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme was launched to provide uniform pensions for Armed Forces Veterans, who are retiring in the same rank with the same length of service.
The Prime Minister has recently highlighted that the One Rank One Pension scheme has completed five years since its implementation. The pension is provided irrespective of the time they retire.

Notes:
The Fifteenth Finance Commission (XVFC) led by the Chairman N K Singh has recently submitted its Report to President of India Ram Nath Kovind.
Last year, the Commission submitted its report with recommendations for the year 2020-21 and it was accepted and tabled in the Parliament. Now, the Commission has submitted recommendations for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Notes:
Tata Medical and Diagnostics Ltd. (TataMD), the healthcare arm of the Tata Group, has recently launched ‘TataMD’s CHECK’.
It is the world’s first CRISPR Cas-9 based diagnostic tool. Tata has also collaborated with the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) and other research bodies to develop the diagnostic solution.

Notes:
Japan has formally proclaimed Crown Prince Akishino as the first in line as heir to the throne.
Last year, his elder brother Emperor Naruhito became monarch. But as per the Japanese law, only males can inherit the throne, and so the only offspring of Naruhito, the 18-year-old Princess Aiko, is ineligible.

Notes:
The Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan held a consultation with the Indian diaspora.
This interaction was aimed at enabling them to make valuable contributions in India’s Science Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) 2020. This interaction with Indian diaspora is seen as first of its kind.

Notes:
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recently announced relaxations to Islamic laws. These relaxations allowing unmarried couples to cohabitate, lifts some restrictions on alcohols and on criminalising honour killings.
This is seen as a major step towards westernisation of the nation and aims to improve personal freedom.

Notes:
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi is set to unveil a life size statue of Swami Vivekananda. The statue is being unveiled at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus at New Delhi on November 12th.
The statue would be unveiled by the Prime Minister in a virtual mode. The statue has been installed in JNU campus with the support of the JNU alumni.

Notes:
Researchers have recently discovered a new hidden gene in the novel coronavirus named ORF3d.
The new overlapping gene is expected to contribute to the unique biology and pandemic potential. This may also lead to the development of new vaccines against the virus. The study has been published in the journal ‘eLife’.

Notes:
COVISHIELD, the Covid-19 potential vaccine candidate has recently completed the enrolment of Phase III clinical trials.
COVISHIELD has been developed by the Serum Institute of India with a master seed from Oxford University and AstraZeneca. SII has already manufactured 40 million doses of the vaccine and will make the vaccine available by joining hands with ICMR.