Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2020

Notes:
The United Nations (UN) has collaborated with the Vaccine Confidence Project at the University of London, to launch a new initiative named ‘Halo’.
It aims to tackle the issue of misinformation around Covid-19 vaccines. Over 100 scientists have come together to share authentic information on safety and effectiveness of vaccines via the social media. Over 22 scientists have joined Team Halo from India.

Notes:
The only known white giraffe, which was seen in the news, is found in Kenya. The giraffe has been fitted with a GPS tracking device to help protect it from poachers.
Leucism, a genetic trait causes the white color in animals. The single male giraffe is in a dangerous state at the risk of poaching. The GPS tracking device, which is attached to one of the giraffe’s horns, will alert wildlife rangers about its location.

Notes:
India’s first convergence project to generate green energy is to be launched in the state of Goa. Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and Department of New & Renewable Energy (DNRE), Goa, have signed a MoU regarding the project.
Apart from implementation of decentralized solar energy projects, EESL shall also replace over 6000 agricultural pumps with BEE star rated energy efficient pumps and distribute over 16 Lakh LED bulbs for rural households.

Notes:
United Kingdom has recently pledged to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030.
This deadline is five years earlier than previously pledged by Britain. Earlier, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced “Green revolution”, to cut emissions to net-zero by 2050. Last year, Britain became the first G7 country to set a net-zero emission target by 2050.

Notes:
World Toilet Day is observed on November 19 to create awareness about sanitation and encourage people to use toilets.
The theme of this year is ‘Sustainable sanitation and climate change’.
Today is World Toilet Day. This day is being observed to create awareness about sanitation and encourage people to use toilets. Under Swachh Bharat Mission, India constructed over 11 crore household toilets and converted over six lakh villages into open defecation free.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a Tech Summit in Bengaluru via video conference. It was organised by the Government of Karnataka along with Software Technology Parks of India (STPI).
Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), Karnataka’s Vision Group on IT, Biotechnology & Start-Up are also involved in organising the summit. The theme of this year’s Tech summit is “Next is Now”.

Notes:
World Philosophy Day was introduced by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO in 2002.
The UNESCO General Conference proclaimed that World Philosophy Day would be celebrated on every third Thursday of November, in 2005. This year, the observance calls all countries to focus on the philosophical reflections of the current pandemic.

Notes:
Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited and the New Development Bank signed a loan agreement for lending 500 million dollars for the ‘Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System Project’.
The Rapid Transit System will provide a fast, safe and comfortable public transport system in the National Capital Region.

Notes:
The Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PM-FME) Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme, launched under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, under Food Processing Ministry.
Recently, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the capacity building component of the scheme. With an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore over a period of five years it aims to formalise micro-enterprises in the unorganized segment of the food processing industry.

Notes:
Global financial services and payment technology company Mastercard has partnered with USAID to launch a programme called ‘Project Kirana’.
Under the programme, the organisations aim to expand financial inclusion and encourage women who own or operate kirana shops to adopt digital payments, thereby helping to increase their revenue. Around 3000 women are to be enrolled across Uttar Pradesh, in a pilot step.