Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2020

Notes:
As per the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, senior bureaucrat P D Vaghela has been named as the new Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
P D Vaghela was a 1986- batch Gujarat cadre IAS officer replaces R S Sharma, who has held the post since 2015. Vaghela is to hold will serve as TRAI Chairman for three years or till he attains the age of 65.

Notes:
iDEX4Fauji is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Defence to identify innovations created by Indian Armed Forces personnel.
The initiative has been launched to reward innovations identified by members of the Armed Forces and will boost innovative ideas from soldiers/ field formations. The Minister also launched Defence India Startup Challenge-4.

Notes:
The 19th round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Myanmar was recently held through virtual mode.
India committed to provide debt service relief under the G-20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative, for the period May 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Both the countries agreed to enhance their mutual cooperation. A Joint Trade Committee Ministerial Meeting is also to be held on October 20.

Notes:
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has developed highly purified ‘Antisera’ for prevention and treatment of Covid-19.
ICMR along with Hyderabad-based Biological E. Limited have developed highly purified antisera, which was raised in animals, for prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19. This was previously used in medical science to treat many viral and bacterial infections.

Notes:
The Union Finance Ministry has permitted Uttar Pradesh to raise an additional Rs.4851 crore of debt which is linked to the reforms undertaken in Public Distribution System (PDS). The additional borrowing can be done by rolling out “One Nation One Ration Card” scheme in the state.
Andhra Pradesh has been permitted for additional borrowing of Rs.2,525 crore for which it will have to make reforms on Ease of Doing Business. In May, the centre increased the borrowing limits of states from 3% to 5% of GSDP. Out of the additional 2%, 0.25% is linked to reforms in PDS and 0.25% is linked to ease of doing business.

Notes:
The Union Minister of Jal Sakthi Ministry Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has launched a 100-day campaign to provide potable piped water supply in Schools and Anganwadi Centres, under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
The 100-day programme was envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month, while releasing ‘Margdarshika’ for Gram Panchayats.

Notes:
The Japanese automobile manufacturer Honda has announced to withdraw from Formula One (F1 racing) by the end of the 2021.
The decision has been announced by Honda, to achieve its goal of carbon neutrality and other environmental initiatives. Honda has been the engine supplier for the F1 teams Red Bull and Alpha Tauri.

Notes:
On Mahatma Gandhi’s 151st birth anniversary, the world’s highest architecture Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates was illuminated with Mahatma Gandhi’s image along with his message.
His famous quote ‘Peace between countries must rest on the solid foundation of love between individuals’ was displayed on the iconic tower.

Notes:
The Indian Army has recently built a memorial in Eastern Ladakh for its 20 personnel killed in the violent clash at Galwan Valley.
The memorial has the names of all 20 personnel killed on June 15, in a clash to evict Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The memorial has inscription titled “Gallants of Galwan”. The troops were led by Col. B Santhosh Babu.

Notes:
The South Pacific territory of New Caledonia has recently rejected independence from France. It chose to remain French in a recent referendum.
In the referendum made two years ago in 2018, the percentage of votes rejecting the breakaway was 56.7 percent, while this year, the percentage was 53.26 percent. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed this result.