Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2021

Notes:
The Union Power Ministry has set a revised policy to use biomass pellets in coal-burning thermal power plants.
This guideline encourages the use of agricultural waste which is otherwise burnt by farmers, causing air pollution. The decision mandates three categories of thermal power plants to use a five per cent blend of biomass pellets along with coal. The policy will come into force in October 2022

Notes:
The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an intergovernmental organization, established in the year 1974 and is headquartered at Paris, France. It was established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The IEA has invited India to become its full-time member. If India becomes a full-time member of the forum, then it would be required to maintain a strategic oil reserves of 90 days.

 

Notes:
The World Health Organisation (WHO) releases a new report every three years. Titled ‘Mental Health Atlas’, is a compilation of data provided by countries around the world on mental health policies, financing, human resources, availability and utilization of services and data collection systems. It also has new targets for 2030.
It serves as a guide for countries for the development and planning of mental health services. It includes data on newly-added indicators on service coverage, mental health integration into primary health care, preparedness for the provision of mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies and research on mental health. It also includes

Notes:
India’s rank has slipped by six places from last year to 90 on the Henley Passport Index, which lists the world’s most travel-friendly passports.
The index ranks the passports of countries according to the number of destinations their holders can visit without a prior visa. The rankings are based on the analysis of data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Japan and Singapore hold the first rank on the passport index, while the second position is shared by South Korea and Germany.

Notes:
Former bureaucrat Amit Khare, who retired recently as higher education secretary, has been appointed as advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He has been appointed for two years on contract basis, as per a personnel ministry order issued. Mr Khare is a 1985 batch (retired) IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre.  The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment in the rank and scale of secretary to government of India.

Notes:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has kept India’s growth forecast for 2021-22 unchanged at 9.5%, in its latest World Economic Outlook report.It also projected India’s economy to grow 8.5% in FY23.
In July, IMF had slashed India’s growth forecast for FY22 to 9.5% from earlier projection of 12.5%. It has lowered the global growth projection marginally to 5.9% from 6% earlier. Supply disruptions in advanced economies and worsening pandemic impact in developing countries are the reasons.

Notes:
The Manila headquartered Asian Development Bank has announced that it has elevated its target to deliver climate financing to its developing member countries to $100 billion. This would be achieved in the period 2019–2030.
This decision has been made by the ADB on account of worsening climate crisis and call for increased climate finance.

Notes:
The Malabar series of exercises, which began as an annual bilateral naval exercise between India and the US in 1992.
The Indian Navy is set to participate in the Second Phase of Multilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar along with the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, Royal Australian Navy and the United States Navy. It is being conducted in the Bay of Bengal from 12 – 15 Oct 2021. First Phase of the exercise was conducted in the Philippines Sea in August.

Notes:
A key UN biodiversity summit, with an aim to protecting biodiversity has commenced in China, which witnessed the participation of delegates from about 195 countries. Discussion on “30 by 30” agenda that would accord 30% of the Earth’s land and oceans protected status by 2030 is being discussed in the summit.
During the summit, Chinese Government has committed and pledged a sum of $233 million into a fund, to protect biodiversity in developing countries.

Notes:
The Government of Mizoram has launched a 10-day campaign named “All Mask” to re-sensitise citizens on the importance of wearing masks to combat the virus. This is being observed throughout the state.
This comes at the backdrop of 1000 new Covid-19 cases being reported in the state daily, for more than a month continuously.