Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2020

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated six mega development projects in Uttarakhand under the Namami Gange Mission.
A first of its kind Museum named ‘Ganga Avalokan’ on the River Ganga at Haridwar, was also inaugurated. The Prime Minister also released a book titled “Rowing Down the Ganges” and a new logo for the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Notes:
As per the recent cautionary message from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a new virus named ‘Cat Que’ emerged in China.
This virus comes from Culex mosquitoes and pigs in China and Vietnam. As per ICMR, India also provides breeding climate to this species of Culex mosquitoes. This is published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR).

Notes:
The Supreme Court of India has ordered all the states and UTs to provide dry ration to all sex workers in the country.
The apex court has also insisted that the ration should be provided without insisting on ration card or any other identity proof. The top court has pronounced this order on observing the hardships faced by sex workers due to the COVID pandemic.

Notes:
Leading Power Sector organisation, NTPC Ltd has recently signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Power.
Under the MoU, the key targets were fixed for the year 2020-21, which include 340 BU of electricity generation, 15 MMT of coal production under excellent category. It also includes other financial parameters including Capex and Revenue from operations.

Notes:
The CEO of NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant has stated that the organization is fine tuning parameters and indicators used in ranking the 112 Aspirational Districts of India.
The Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) was launched by the national think tank NITI Aayog in January 2018. It aims to transform 112 most backward districts that have shown relatively lesser progress in key social areas.

Notes:
As per a report titled “Annual Crime in India 2019” published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), crime against Scheduled Castes (SCs) has increased over 7% and crimes against Scheduled Tribes (STs) has increased over 26% in 2019.
As per the report, Uttar Pradesh has recorded the highest number of crimes against SCs in 2019 followed by Rajasthan and Bihar.

Notes:
Indian Meteorological Department was established in 1875. As per a recent a recent release by the IMD, India received above normal monsoon during the 4-month long rainfall season of this year.
This year has recorded the second highest rainfall in the last 30 years. IMD has stated that the country received 109% rainfall during the Long Period Average, with 3 out of the 4 months receiving above normal precipitation.

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 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Committee of Directors (CoD) to run Dhanlaxmi Bank.
RBI is said to have approved a three-member interim committee of directors, headed by G Subramonia Iyer, to run the bank. Earlier, the shareholders voted out the bank’s MD and CEO Sunil Gurbaxani.

Notes:
Singapore based sovereign wealth fund GIC and global private equity firm TPG Capital have invested a total of Rs. 7,350 crores in Reliance Retail.
Reliance Retail Ventures has attracted more than USD 2 billion in investments from global investors, over the past few months. GIC will invest for a 1.22 percent stake while TPG Capital Management will invest for a 0.41 percent equity stake.