Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2020

Notes:
India has recently donated 1.8 million N95 masks to Philadelphia, the largest city in the US state of Pennsylvania, to help tackle COVID-19.
This move is seen as an example of strong -US partnership in the health sector. The city Mayor had earlier requested India for the supply of masks to be used by frontline workers. It is also the sixth-most populous city in the United States.

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:
The issue price of the 7th series of sovereign gold bond (SGB) scheme has been fixed at Rs,5051 per gram.
The SGB will be available for subscription from Oct12 to Oct 16, 2020. These Gold bonds are issued by the Reserve Bank of India on behalf of the Government of India.

Notes:
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed all NGOs seeking foreign donations to open a designated FCRA account at the State Bank of India’s New Delhi branch by March 31, 2021.
The NGOs registered under FCRA shall not receive any foreign donations in any other bank account from April 1, 2021. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2020 was amended by Parliament in September.

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 Government has allowed 20 states to raise Rs.68,825 crore from the market through open market borrowing. This would help the states to bridge the GST revenue shortfall.
The estimated shortfall in GST compensation to states is Rs.2.35 lakh crore. The central Government had given 2 options to the states – either borrower Rs.97,000 crore through a special window of RBI or borrower Rs.2.35 lakh crore from the market.

Notes:
Every year, the International Day of Rural Women is observed by the United Nations on 15th October. The first such day was observed in 2008 after the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in this regard in 2007.
The day recognises the crucial role played by rural women in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.

Notes:
The Government of India has contributed USD 1 Million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in Near East.
This financial aid given by India will support the Agency’s relief programmes and services like education, health care, and other social services.

Notes:
Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) recently announced that Union Bank of India’s MD and CEO Rajkiran Rai G has been elected as the association’s chairman for the term 2020-21.
State Bank of India’s Chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara has been elected as the Deputy chairman of the association.

Notes:
The production of food grains in India during the 2020-21 kharif season has been estimated at 144.52 million tonnes.
This record high estimate is made despite COVID 19 crisis prevailing in the country. As per official release, the production of food grains during the 2019-20 kharif season stood at 143.38 million tonnes.