Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2020

Notes:
As per the World Bank’s ‘South Asia Economic Focus’ report, India’s GDP is estimated to contract by 9.6 per cent in 2020-21.
Earlier the World Bank had forecasted that the country’s economy would suffer a 3.2 per cent contraction due to the impact of the nationwide lockdown. The report also highlighted that India’s growth would touch 5.4 per cent in 2021-22.

Notes:
The Nobel Peace Prize 2020 was awarded to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for feeding millions of people amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The WFP was founded in the year 1961. The UN organisation had helped 97 million people last year and distributed to over 15 billion rations to people in 88 countries last year. The award consists of a gold medal, a diploma and a cheque for 10 million Swedish kronor.

Notes:
China has formally joined the WHO-backed global Covid-19 vaccine initiative known as COVAX, after signing the agreement with Gavi, the international Vaccine Alliance.
As the United States and Russia stayed out of the initiative, as of October China is the biggest economy to join the WHO-backed global vaccine alliance. The initiative aims to distribute 2 billion doses of vaccines by the end of 2021.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank has decided to move to the Next Generation Treasury Application (NGTA) for managing the country’s foreign exchange and gold reserves.
NGTA is a web-based application, which would provide flexibility to introduce new products and securities. It can also support multi-currency transactions, settlements and various transactions in asset classes like Fixed Income, Forex, Money Market and Gold.

Notes:
The Kardhungla Pass is located in the Leh District of Ladakh. It serves as a gateway to Shyok and Nubra Valley. The pass is strategically important since it is used to carry supplies to Siachen Glacier. It is maintained by the Border Roads Organisation.
Recently, Indian Airforce has created a record of highest skydive landing at the Khardung La Pass,as a part of the 88th IAF day celebration. The pass is located at an altitude of 17,982 feet.

Notes:
A group of researchers of West Bengal have discovered India’s first dragonfly fossil at Latehar district of Jharkhand.
The researchers have stated that the fossil would be at least 2.5 million years old. The dragonfly is about 3cm long and has a wingspan of about 2.5cm. The fossil dates back to Permian era (300 million years ago).

Notes:
The Bangladesh Cabinet has recently approved the draft law to include death penalty as the highest punishment for rape.
Previously, Lifetime imprisonment was the highest punishment. Bangladesh President Mohammed Abdul Hamid signed the ordinance approving the death penalty for rapists. There have been nationwide protests seeking for the move.

Notes:
In order to clear the backlog for compensatory afforestation, the state of Uttarakhand has decided to conduct a plantation drive in Uttar Pradesh’s Bundelkhand region and in parts of Rajasthan.
The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) of Uttarakhand has set a target of 3,500 hectare of afforestation in the current financial year.

Notes:
Union Law Minister of India Ravi Shankar Prasad will host the seventh meeting of Ministers of Law and Justice of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
The virtual meeting which is to be held on October 16 will be attended by Law and Justice Ministers of China, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyz Republic. India will also host the second meeting of the Experts Working Group.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister of India has approved a special package of Rs.520 crore to Union Territory of JK and Ladakh. The package is approved for a period of years till FY 2023-24.
The package would ensure funding of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) in the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh on a demand-driven basis, without linking fund allocation with poverty ratio.