Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2020

Notes:
Leading stock exchange, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) announced that it has signed a pact with private sector bank Yes Bank to empower the small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
As per the BSE, the agreement aims to empower SMEs listed on the platform, through awareness and knowledge-sharing programmes, for export promotion and banking and financial solutions. The bank will also offer customised services and products to the listed SMEs.

Notes:
The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has revised the ideal weight for adult Indian men from 60 kg to 65 kg.
Similarly, the NIN has revised the ideal weight for adult Indian women from 50 kg to 55 kg. The definition of Indian adult also stands revised from 20-39 years to 19-39 years.

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:
Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan has launched the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Technologies for Rural Development.
The technologies have been launched under a joint initiative of CSIR, Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) and Vijnana Bharti (VIBHA). The technologies include improved beehive, dehumidified drier and agricultural waste-based biodegradable plates.

Notes:
The United States has committed USD 1.9 million to support vulnerable people in India including those involved in informal sector workers.
This financial assistance from US Agency for International Development (USAID) is provided by the American people to partners in India. This will support the Revive alliance, to address challenges caused by unemployment and income gaps faced by workers.

Notes:
In order to commemorate the Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, “Shramdan” drive was organized by the Department of Justice, Government of India at New Delhi on 2nd October, 2020.
During the event, all the officers and staff members of Department of Justice participated in a cleanliness drive to clean the office premises.

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:
Madhabi Puri Buch is the first woman Whole-time member (WTM) of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
She is also the first from the private sector to be appointed a SEBI Board member. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has recently approved the extension of her appointment as WTM for one year beginning October 4, 2020.

Notes:
India has successfully test fired its indigenously developed nuclear capable hypersonic missile ‘Shaurya’.
The surface-to-surface tactical missile, with a strike range of around 1,000 km, has been test fired from a test range in Odisha. ‘Shaurya’ is the land variant of India’s K-15 missile and is capable of carrying payloads of 200 kg to 1000 kg.

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.