Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2021

Notes:
SEBI’s board recently cleared a proposal for setting up a ‘Gold exchange’ and a ‘Social Stock Exchange’. In the Gold Exchange, the metal will be traded in the form of Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs) and they will be notified as securities.
Any recognised stock exchange, existing as well as new, can launch trading in EGRs. Vault manager should be a body incorporated in India, registered with SEBI and should have a net worth of at least Rs 50 crore. The social stock exchange will be operated for fundraising by social enterprises.

Notes:
The Union Finance Ministry has extended the validity of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) by another six months till March 31, 2022, or till guarantees for the overall ceiling of Rs 4.5 lakh crore are issued, whichever is earlier.
The scheme is aimed to support micro, small and medium enterprises, by helping them deal with funds shortage and promote exports.  As of September 24, 2021, over Rs. 2.86 lakh crore worth of loans were sanctioned under the scheme

Notes:
Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-Hyderabad) researchers have recently developed an alternative to corneal transplantation.
The research team have developed a hydrogel from discarded corneas from human and bovine sources using a novel method. The team discovered that this tissue-specific hydrogel can prevent cells from scar tissue formation. The team also demonstrated that this hydrogel can be applied after injury which helps to regenerate the cornea without scarring.

Notes:
Lucy is a mission of the USA’s NASA, to study Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids. This is set to provide new insights into the solar system’s formation 4.5 billion years ago
The probe is named Lucy after an ancient fossil that provided insights into the evolution of human species. It is set to be launched on October 16 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. It will have a 12-year journey to eight different asteroids- one in the Main Belt between Mars and Jupiter and seven Trojans.

Notes:
Technology Major Facebook launched its largest creator education and enablement programme in India. Named “Born on Instagram” the programme includes e-learning course, aimed at encouraging, educating and enabling creators.
The programme was originally launched in 2019. It focusses on content creators who drive more users, viewers and commerce across different platforms. The programme will also provide live masterclasses with experts, latest information on trends, product updates and challenges.

Notes:
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), is an infra development bank headquartered at Beijing. The Bank has recently approved financial assistance in the form of a loan amounting $356.67 million to support the Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL).
The financial assistance would be utilised for construction of CMRL’s Phase-II development which aims to provide an integrated connectivity between suburban rail, bus stations and the airport.

Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh government named actor Kangana Ranaut as the brand ambassador of its ambitious ‘one district-one product’ programme.
The Uttar Pradesh government has launched the one district-one product (ODOP) programme with the aim to create product-specific traditional industrial hubs across 75 districts of the state. It aims to reap the benefits of scale in terms of procurement of inputs, availing common services etc. It also aims to improve the employment opportunities.

Notes:
A framed iron bridge named “Ponte di Ferro” also known as “Ponte dell’ Industria” located in Rome, Italy has been completely damaged by a fire. The bridge collapsed and plunged into the River Tiber.
This bridge was opened in 1863 and connects the densely populated Ostiense and Portuense regions. This is one of the very few iron bridges in the city as most of the others are made of stone.

Notes:
The Ministry of Textiles has approved continuation of Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) with a total outlay of ₹160 crore. The scheme will now continue up to March 2026.
Under the scheme, infrastructural support, market access, design and technology up-gradation support are provided to handicraft artisans.

 

Notes:
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will launch the ‘Swechha’ programme, which aims to promote the health and hygiene of women and adolescent girls.
Under the initiative, the state government will provide sanitary napkins at government educational institutions free of cost. 10 lakh adolescent girls studying from 7th-12th grades in all government schools and intermediate colleges across the state would be provided 10 sanitary napkins will be given every month.