Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2020

Notes:
The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), which will the world’s largest visible-light telescope hwne completed, is proposed to be set up in Mauna Kea, on the island of Hawaii.
Physics Nobel Laureate Professor Andrea Ghez collaborated with Indian astronomers on the design of instruments and science prospects of the TMT project. India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) are involved in the project.

Notes:
The Interstate Migrant Policy Index (IMPEX) has been released recently. It was developed by the Mumbai-based research non-profit India Migration Now (IMN).
The index assesses the performance of the states on eight policy areas by considering over 60 policy indicators. The states of Kerala, Goa, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh were most successful in integrating migrant workers, while Delhi performed poorly.

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:
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:
‘National Rail and Transportation Institute’ (NRTI) is the first and only transportation university of India, which is located in Vadodara, Gujarat.
NRTI has recently launched seven new programmes including Undergraduate, MBA and MSc. The MSc programme is offered in partnership with the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom whereas the MBA programs focus at Transportation and Supply Chain Management.

Notes:
The World Health Organisation has recently announced that it will set up a Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India.
This announcement was made by WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. This new centre would enable WHO to implement WHO traditional medicine strategy 2014-2023.

Notes:
Recently, a law has been passed by China’s legislature that allows it to disqualify “unpatriotic” opposition members in Hong Kong’s parliament, despite being elected by the people.
Four Pro-Democratic law makers have been ousted from the Hong Kong’s parliament on security grounds. Britain has condemned China for this act and has accused China of breaking its international treaty obligations.

Notes:
Surat became the first city to finalise a project under the Affordable Rental Housing Complex (ARHC) scheme for migrant workers.
The ARHC scheme was announced under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Under the scheme, unoccupied government housing projects will be given to private firms, to renovate and operate as rental housing.

Notes:
City of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh has entered the Guinness World Records for the ‘largest display of oil lamps’.
During the ‘Deepotsav’ celebrations, over 5.8 lakh earthen lamps were lit on the banks of river Saryu on November 13. The lamps were kept lit for 45 minutes and retained Guinness World Record for the second year.

Notes:
The Canada-based Resonance Consultancy Ltd has recently released the World’s Best Cities report, to rank the world’s best cities with population more than a million.
The ranking was based on 25 ranking parameters. Three cities namely London, New York and Paris bagged the first three ranks. India has only one representative on the list with Delhi being ranked in the 62nd position.