Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2020

Notes:
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog has signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) with CGI India. The aim of the partnership is to create a successful and innovative workforce from ATL schools.
CGI India is one of the largest IT and business consulting services firms. Under the partnership, CGI has agreed to adopt 100 schools with ATLs across Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai to promote and train students.

Notes:
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has recently inaugurated operations of the first phase of the International Institute of Advanced Virology.
It has been located at the Life Science Park at Thonakkal in Thiruvananthapuram. Renowned virologist, Dr Akhil Banerjee was appointed as the Head of the research Institute, which is currently under the Department of Science and Technology.

Notes:
The Global Handwashing Day is observed on October 15 every year. It aims to increase the awareness about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective way to prevent diseases.
This year, the theme of the Global Handwashing Day is ‘Hand Hygiene for All’. The day assumes significance amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, during which researchers advise people to wash hands regularly to fight the virus.

Notes:
Tamil Nadu state government has started implementing the Smart Black Board scheme in 80,000 government schools.
Under the Smart Black Board scheme, audio visual teaching material is used that can be fed into the computer screens using pen drives. This project is expected to ensure better teaching environment.

Notes:
The UN trade and development body, UNCTAD has revealed that the export growth declined in India in the third quarter of 2020 relative to the same quarter last year.
However, in September the export growth rose by four per cent. UNCTAD also estimates that the value of global trade to contract by 7 per cent to 9 per cent with respect to 2019.

Notes:
Sri Lankan parliament has recently passed the controversial 20th Amendment to its constitution. It was passed with two-thirds majority, after a two-day long debate.
The amendment provides for greater immunity for the Executive President and provides with immense powers to the President. Eight opposition MPs voted in favour of the legislation, which was opposed by their party and challenged in Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court.

Notes:
Maharashtra has recently inaugurated the platform named ‘Tarang Suposhit Maharashtracha’, to fulfil the nutritional requirements of lactating mothers and children in the state.
The platform is based on the interactive voice response system. The platform also aims to create awareness about the nutritional requirements of women and children in the state. The state stood first in the ‘Poshan Mah’ observed this year.

Notes:
The Union Home Ministry has approved Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to set up 47 additional border outposts.
The outposts are to be set up to enhance security along the border. This decision has been announced during the 59th Raising Day of Indo-Tibetan Border Police, which is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces of India.

Notes:
Mars orbiter Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (Maven) is the Mars orbiter mission launched in the year 2013, to investigate the upper atmosphere and ionosphere of Mars.
As per a recent study of data and images sent by ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) and NASA’s MAVEN, Mars is losing its atmosphere to outer space at a faster rate, when compared to other terrestrial planets in the solar system.

Notes:
IIT Kharagpur and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) have jointly developed a technology for remotely controlled factory operations. This is an Industry 4.0 solution that enables real-time quality correction during industrial production.
The project was supported by the Department of Heavy Industries. Through this development, IIT Kharagpur aims to stimulate innovation in advanced manufacturing to boost the capital goods sector.