Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2020

Notes:
The 12th BRICS summit 2020 was held in a virtual mode recently. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the virtual summit, chaired by the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The theme of the summit is “Global stability, shared security and innovative growth”. Other agendas of the summit include intra-BRICS cooperation, mitigating the effect of Covid-19, counter-terrorism cooperation, among others.

Notes:
Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) has signed an agreement with World Bank.
Under the agreement, World Bank will provide advisory services to DIPAM for asset monetization, as per the recent statement of Union Ministry of Finance. DIPAM handles the monetization of non-core assets of government CPSEs under strategic disinvestment of value of ₹100 crore and above.

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.

Notes:
The Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin has recently approved to begin a major governance reform in the country. The reforms are to begin from January 1, 2021.
These reforms were to be implemented earlier, but were postponed due to many factors including COVID 19. The proposed reforms are aimed to improve the efficiency of Government functioning.

Notes:
The International Crops Research Institute of Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) headquartered at Hyderabad, Telangana. It was founded in 1972 by a group of international organisations.
Recently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has permitted the ICRISAT to use Drones for agricultural research activities. It was founded in 1972 by a consortium of organisations convened.

Notes:
India is placed at 77th position in the Global bribery risk rankings by TRACE, an anti-bribery standard setting organisation.
It measures the business bribery risk in 194 countries, territories, and other regions. Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and New Zealand present the lowest commercial bribery risk. Last year, India stood at 78th rank.

Notes:
The Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) Ministry celebrates the Naturopathy Day on November 18.
It was first celebrated in the year 2018, with the aim of promoting drug-less system of medicine. It seeks to prevent diseases by modifying the diet and lifestyle. Ayurveda Day is marked on November 5, Unani Day on February 11, Siddha Day on January 4. World Homeopathy day is marked on April 10.

Notes:
The Government of India, the state Government of Meghalaya and the World Bank signed a USD 120 million Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project (MITP).
The project aims to improve about 300 km of strategic road segments and bridges in the state by using climate resilient solutions. It will also make Meghalaya, a major connecting hub for international trade through the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and the Nepal Corridor.

Notes:
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated the ‘Aqua Bazaar’ and ‘Aqua Hub’ project.
Over 150 state-of-the-art fish markets are to be set up in rural areas named ‘Aqua-bazaar’, and a hub and spoke model will be formed in urban areas. Aqua hubs will come up in big cities from where produce will be distributed to retail outlets.

Notes:
Tarun Gogoi, the former Chief Minister of Assam has recently passed away, at the age of 84. He had tested positive for Covid-19 in August.
He was also the longest serving chief minister of Assam. Being a veteran Congressman, Gogoi was elected the Chief minister of Assam in 2001 in the state elections, following which he led the party to a record three consecutive electoral victories in the state.