Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2021

Notes:
The Aerial Archaeological Mapping Explorer has been launched to offer virtual flights over ancient landscapes. The digital aerial archaeology tool will allow users to see landscapes from England’s past.
Historic England, the agency that looks after the tool, enables people to discover previously unknown details through virtual flights over England, about local landscapes, including prehistoric hill forts, Roman settlements and cold war military stations etc.

Notes:
Subject Expert Committee on Covid-19 granted emergency use approval to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for children in the 2-18 years age group.
Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech had completed Phase-2 and Phase-3 trials of Covaxin on children below 18 years of age and submitted the trial data to the Drugs and Comptroller General of India (DCGI). The first group examined was between 12 -18 years, the second group was between 6- 12 years and the third age group was between 2-6 years.

Notes:
The Director-General of the World Health Organisation has set up the WHO Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins on Novel Pathogens (SAGO).
The SAGO will advise the Secretariat on technical and scientific considerations on emerging and re-emerging pathogens. An Indian epidemiologist, Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, will be part of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Scientific Advisory Group for determining the origin of covid-19 pandemic.

Notes:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually conducted the final breakthrough blast of the Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, recently. The construction of the tunnel is expected to be over by June 2022.
Sela tunnel is expected be the world’s largest bi-lane tunnel at an altitude of more than 13,000 feet. The construction is being undertaken by Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The tunnel goes through Sela Pass and will cut down the distance to the China border through Arunachal Pradesh by 10 km.

Notes:
The President of India Ram Nath Kovind has awarded President’s Tatrakshak Medal (PTM) and Tatrakshak Medal (TM) to Indian Coast Guard personnel.
The awards are being given to the personnel of Indian Coast Guard on Republic Day and Independence Day every year, since 26 Jan 1990. The awards are given for their act of exemplary gallantry and meritorious service on the occasion of the Republic Day 2021.

Notes:
‘Mera Ghar Mere Naam’ scheme, which was launched by the Punjab Government for providing proprietary rights to people living in villages.
Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi extended the ‘Mera Ghar Mere Naam’ scheme those living within ‘lal lakir’ in cities also. ‘Lal lakir’ refers to land that is part of the village habitation and is used for non-agriculture purposes only.

Notes:
Solar Energy Corporation of India ltd, a central PSU under the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has invited for bids and expression of interest to install a 1,000 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
This is in line with the Government of India’s vision of producing 450 GW renewable energy by 2030 and achieve the SDG.

Notes:
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has unveiled the “Bhoodan Grove” plaque at Jerusalem Forest of Israel.
This is in recognition of Jayaprakash Narayan’s visit to Israel in 1958 and a 27-member Sarvodaya team in 1960 to Israel, to study the social structure of Israel’s communal and cooperative institutions.

Notes:
Every year, 16th October is observed as International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN), which is an event marking the night when moon is near the first quarter phase.
On this date, the moon will be in waxing gibbous, an intermediate phase in which it is not yet full. Celebration of this event is sponsored annually by the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA.

Notes:
The Indian Navy received its 11th P-8I long range maritime patrol aircraft from Boeing. The Navy has signed a contract of 12 P-8Is from Boeing in two batches.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also launched an ‘Integrated Unmanned Road Map for Indian Navy’ at the second edition of the Naval Commanders Conference. This will outline all unmanned aerial and underwater platforms and efforts of the Navy in modernisation.