Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2020

Notes:
The Union Agriculture Ministry has given approval for subsidised loans worth Rs 3,971.31 crore for implementing micro-irrigation projects.
The interest subvented loans are being offered under Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) created with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). Out of the total loans, maximum loan has been approved for Tamil Nadu.

Notes:
The Agreement establishing an African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was signed in 2018, in Kigali, Rwanda.
The AfCFTA is expected to become operational on 1 January 2021, which will be the world’s largest free trade area by number of countries. It will also create a single African market for goods and services. Africa Industrialization Day is celebrated on November 20 every year.

Notes:
The US and Taiwan signed an agreement to establish annual economic talks for five years. The agreement can be extended another five years once the current pact is over.
This pact has been signed amidst the objections expressed by China to the support of the US for Taipei. ‘Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue with Taiwan’ was also launched, to promote cooperation.

Notes:
The Union Government has recently approved 28 Food Processing Projects worth more than 320 crore rupees. They are supported with a grant of over Rs 107 crore by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
They are approved under the Scheme for Creation and Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC). The aim of the scheme is to create processing and preservation capacities and expansion of existing food processing units.

Notes:
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have developed a solar-powered Unmanned Autonomous Survey Craft for Indian ports and inland waterways.
It would help to conduct autonomous hydrographic and oceanographic surveys and provide real-time data transmission over long distances. It had a successful field-test recently off the Chennai coast at Kamarajar port.

Notes:
The Martyrdom Day of Guru Tegh Bahadur is observed across the country as Shaheed Diwas every year on November 24.
In the year 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth of the ten Gurus of the Sikhism was executed. He was the youngest son of Guru Hargobind. He had also contributed many hymns to the Guru Granth Sahib.

Notes:
As per the recent report released by ‘Transparency International’, as many as 74 per cent of the respondents said corruption is one of the biggest problems in their country.
The report also highlighted that around 19 % paid a bribe in the last 12 months, to access public service and youngsters are more likely to pay a bribe or use personal connection to avail public service.

Notes:
Several groups of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and other parts of the country, demanding the repeal of the new agriculture reform laws passed by the Union Government, are holding protests under the name of ‘Delhi Chalo’.
The farmers were granted permission to hold peaceful protests at Nirankari Ground in North west Delhi. As per the farmers, the new agriculture laws will dismantle the minimum support price (MSP) system.

Notes:
The Government of France has decided to re-introduce tax on big Digital firms like Facebook, Amazon, Google etc.
In the early 2020, France suspended the tax on such big digital firms in exchange for a promise by USA to reduce taxation on French products. Since the US administration pulled out of the negotiation, France has decided to reintroduce levy of tax on digital firms.

Notes:
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to become the first Arab Gulf country to generate electricity from coal.
A USD 3.4 billion Hassyan coal plant is being set up in Dubai with a capacity of 600 MW. The capacity is expected to increase to 2,400 MW by 2023. Most of the existing power plants in UAE runs on Gas.