Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2020

Notes:
As per the recent statement of the International Energy Agency, China will surpass the United States to become the world’s biggest oil refiner in 2021.
The United States has been at the top in the list of oil refiners since the beginning of the oil regime in the mid-nineteenth century. Also, in 1967 the United States possessed over 35 times the refining capacity of China.

Notes:
The Asian Development Bank has approved a USD 50 million loan to improve resource planning and operational efficiencies in West Bengal.
This loan will be supplemented by a USD 350,000 technical assistance grant for other reforms including monitoring of IFMS (Integrated Financial Management System) reforms.

Notes:
According to the IMD, Cyclone Nivar is estimated to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts and make landfalls in the evening on November 25.
The IMD also highlighted that the cyclone will cross as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph strengthening up to 145 kmph. Over 1000 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescue personnel have been deployed in the state of Tamil Nadu and its neighbouring coastal areas.

Notes:
Union Food Processing Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has recently inaugurated a mega food park (MFP) at Phagwara of Kapurthala district in the state of Punjab.
The Mega Food park has been built at a cost of Rs 107.83 crores and spread over 55 acres of land. It is expected to benefit over 25000 farmers and create employment opportunities for more than 5000 people. 37 MFPs have been sanctioned in our country as on date, and 20 of them are functioning.

Notes:
Veteran Indian-American physician Ajay Lodha has passed away due to complications from Covid-19, at the age of 58, in the United States.
He is the former President of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI). The physician has received several honours including the Ellis Island Medal of Honour in 2016. He was known for his contribution to the diaspora in the U.S, especially the Rajasthani community.

Notes:
Indian army has successfully test fired the land-attack version of the surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, in the Andaman and Nicobar.
The range of the new version of the missile has been extended to 400 km from the original 290 km. The Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy will carry out separate test-firing of the new version of the air-launched and naval versions of the missile.

Notes:
India has recently announced the launch of Phase-IV of the High Impact Community Development Projects in Afghanistan.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced this during the 2020 Afghanistan Conference organized in Geneva, co-hosted by the United Nations, the Government of Afghanistan, and the Government of Finland. India would undertake over 100 projects worth 80 million dollars in Afghanistan.

Notes:
India and Finland recently signed an MoU for developing cooperation in the field of Environment protection and biodiversity conservation.
The MoU also seeks to exchange best practices in areas like prevention of air and water pollution, waste management, and promotion of circular economy. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar signed the MoU virtually with his Finnish counterpart.

Notes:
Under a new law approved by the Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority will be renamed to Saudi Central Bank.
However, the Central Bank will continue to use its acronym “SAMA” due to its historic significance and relevance. The new law also mandates the objectives of the Central Bank to maintain monetary stability, support economic growth and to directly report King of Saudi Arabia.

Notes:
The “Swasthya Sathi” scheme is a health insurance scheme of the state of West Bengal, which was launched in Dec 2016. It provides secondary and tertiary health care up to Rs.5 lakh per annum per family.
The Chief Minister of West Bengal has recently announced that the “Swasthya Sathi” scheme would cover entire population of the State.