Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2020

Notes:
The President of United States of America Donald Trump has announced its plans to distribute 150 million “15 minute” rapid Covid-19 test kits in the coming weeks.
Out of these 50 million test kits would be used for most vulnerable communities of the country, like nursing homes, assisted living facilities etc.

Notes:
Serum Institute of India (SII) has partnered with Gavi COVAX and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to produce an additional 100 million doses of the COVID 19 vaccine.
The vaccine is presently being tested by SII. The additional production is targeted at 61 Low- and Middle-Income countries, including India.

Notes:
Major E-commerce giant Amazon has launched its new Fulfilment Centre in Tamil Nadu. This is aimed to strengthening the firm’s network in the state.
This facility is expected to offer significant employment opportunities in Tamil Nadu and give a boost to the Economy. The facility has a 7 lakh cubic feet of storage space and can accommodate lakhs of products, appliances and furniture.

Notes:
NITI Aayog has organized a two-day national-level consultation programme on natural farming from 29th to 30th September.
The programme aims to bring out the socio-economic and environmental benefits of natural farming and to boosting farming income. Central and state government officials, scientists and experts from agriculture universities participated in this event.

Notes:
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Vaishwik Bharatiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Summit on October 2.
The summit is a global virtual summit of overseas and resident Indian Researchers and Academicians. It is to be organised from October 2 to October 31. The summit creates a single platform for Science and Technology (S&T) related discussions.

Notes:
Indian Foreign Service officer Devyani Uttam Khobragade has been appointed as India’s next ambassador to Cambodia.
This has been announced by the Ministry of External Affairs. Ms Khobragade is a 1999-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, currently serving as a joint secretary in the External Affairs Ministry. She has served in Indian missions in Berlin, Islamabad, Rome and New York.

Notes:
RAISE 2020 – `Responsible Artificial Intelligence for Social Empowerment 2020’ would be organized jointly by Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology and the national think tank NITI Aayog.
The event would be held from October 5 – 9, 2020 in a virtual mode. Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate the summit.

Notes:
The E Way bill system is being implemented by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). It is an Electronic Way bill for movement of goods to be generated on the eWay Bill Portal. A GST registered person cannot transport goods more than Rs.50,000 without an e way bill.
Finance Secretary Dr Ajay Bhushan Pandey has recently stated that more than 5.74 crore e-way bills have been generated in the month of September 2020 which is seen as a sign of revival of business activities in the country.

Notes:
The Department of Economic Affairs of the Union Finance Ministry is responsible for preparing the Union Budget.
The Finance Ministry has commenced the exercise for Union Budget 2021-22 by issuing the traditional circular. The Budget is expected to be presented to Parliament on February 1, 2021. The discussions will start from October 16 and continue till the first week of November.

Notes:
Union Ministry of Tourism organised a webinar on “Charkhe pe Charcha” under its Dekho Apna Desh Webinar Series on 2nd October 2020.
The Webinar focused on spinning wheel and Khadi. Mahatma Gandhi placed Khadi in the forefront as a symbol of boycott of foreign cloth and thereby opposing colonialism. The webinar aimed to explore the dimensions of khadi in the freedom struggle of India.