Current Affairs Quiz - November, 2021

Notes:
According to a release issued by the Union Health Ministry of India, “Har Ghar Dastak” (Knock Every Door) campaign is scheduled to start soon in districts with low vaccination rates.
It aims to motivate people to get vaccinated. As per the Health Ministry, there were more than 10.34 crore people in the country who had missed the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine that they were due to take while more than 12 crore unutilised doses were available with the States.

Notes:
The United States has issued its first passport with an “X” gender designation. The country would also offer the option to non-binary, intersex and gender-nonconforming people early next year.
This is regarded as a milestone in the recognition of the rights of people who don’t identify as male or female. The department now also allows applicants to self-select their gender as male or female, not requiring them to provide medical certification.

Notes:
During the recently concluded G20 Summit, the leaders adopted the Rome Declaration and emphasised on Covid-19 immunisation across the globe
World leaders had discussions on issues of global importance such as fighting the pandemic, improving health infrastructure, boosting economic cooperation and furthering innovation. The countries agreed that the COVID-19 immunisation is a global public good.

Notes:
River Mandakini, a tributary of the Yamuna, starts in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district and flows into the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh Chitrakoot district.
The river flows through Sati Anusuiya, a perennial trough where many springs feed into it. It was seen in the news recently, as encroachment, concretisation and pollution are causing severe damages to the river.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Rural Development has entered a MoU with e-commerce company Flipkart, under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY NRLM).
This partnership aims to sell products made by artisans, SHGs and Women under DAY NRLM in flipkart platform, thus creating a national level market for these products.

Notes:
Britain Based oil and gas explorer Cairn Energy PLC has stated that it has changed its name to Capricorn Energy PLC and the same could come into effect from December 2021.
The company has been involved in a USD 1 billion retrospective tax dispute with the Government of India, and the case has come to a point of closure.

Notes:
The Science and Technology Ministry awarded the ‘Swarnajayanti Fellowships’ to seventeen scientists from institutions across India.
They are honoured for their innovative research ideas in various disciplines. Department of Science and Technology (DST) will provide support to perform research, along with a fellowship of Rs 25,000 per month for five years. DST supports the awardees by giving them a research grant of Rs 5 lakh for five years.

Notes:
World Economic Forum released a research report titled “Mission 2070: A Green New Deal for a Net Zero India”, in collaboration with Kearney and Observer Research Foundation.
In the latest research report, the World Economic Forum has highlighted that a Green New Deal for India could bring a $15 trillion economic opportunity by 2070. It also stated that India’s transition to net zero economy can create more than 50 million net new jobs.

Notes:
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Netherlands-based publishing company Elsevier has launched journal ‘Solar Compass’ with Ambassador Stephane Crouz at the COP26 Climate Conference.
The ISA is an inter-governmental treaty-based international organisation initiated by India. Ajay Mathur, Director-general of International Solar Alliance released the first official call for papers to authors around the world.

Notes:
Zydus Cadila’s ZyCoV-D is the world’s first plasmid DNA vaccine. It is also the first Covid-19 vaccine that can be administered using a needle-free applicator.
The 3-dose shot was approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency use in adults and children aged 12 years and above. The Government of India has placed an order with the company for one crore doses of its Covid-19 vaccine ‘ZyCoV-D’.