Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2021

Notes:
DeFi stands for Decentralised finance. Defi is the financial ecosystem built on blockchain applications that can used for any financial activity.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is looking to warn on DeFi (decentralised finance) applications and projects. As per media reports, RBI has sought legal advice on their workings. India doesn’t have any regulation to deal with cryptocurrencies as well as DeFi, at present.

Notes:
The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) along with GIFT city has launched the FinTech Hackathon Series named “I-Sprint’21”. The first series of the Hackathon is “Sprint01: BankTech” with special focus on Banking.
The IFSCA was established in April 202 under the provision of IFSCA Act 2019. It is headquartered at GIFT City – Gandhinagar.

Notes:
Indian professional footballer and the Captain of Indian National Football team – Sunil Chhetri has recently scored his 77th international goal, in a match against Nepal at the SAFF Championships in Male.
With this, he has equalled the goal table of Pele, former legendary Brazilian Footballer. This record was made by him in his 123rd match for India.

Notes:
The Memoirs of Rajnish Kumar, former Chairman of State Bank of India (SBI), is set to be released on October 18. The book is set to be published by Penguin Random House India (PRHI)
The book describes his journey as a banker, from being a probationary officer in SBI to becoming its Chairman in 2017. The book also captures various changes he witnessed in India’s banking sector during his career.

Notes:
Punjab National Bank, the country’s second largest Public Sector Bank, has launched a “6S Campaign” including different schemes such as – Swabhiman, Samruddhi, Sampark and Shikhar, Sankalp and Swagat.
The objective is to drive awareness campaign for development of financial services in the country. It aims to create awareness on credit growth, social security schemes and drive digital banking push, especially credit outreach for the agricultural sector.

Notes:
Union Environment Minister released important publications of the Central Zoo Authority, at the National conference for Zoo directors and veterinarians organized by Central Zoo Authority and hosted by Sardar Patel Zoological Park, Gujarat.
First is the Vision Plan (2021-2031) for Indian zoos to upgrade them to global standards and strengthening of Central Zoo Authority. It focusses on animal care, research, and visitor experiences. Second is the WASH Manual for Zoos- for creating and maintaining WASH facilities within the premises for staff and visitors. He also gave away ‘Prani Mitra’ Awards, set up by CZA.

Notes:
Under the Italy’s G20 Presidency, an Extraordinary Leaders’ Summit has been convened, to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. The meeting would be held in a virtual format.
India has been invited by Italy, to take part in the meeting for discussing the humanitarian needs in Afghan and to review the livelihood requirement in the country.

Notes:
Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, known as ASKAP, is a radio telescope situated at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory in Australia. It is run by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australian Government agency.
Recently, using this telescope, Astronomers have discovered unusual signals coming from the direction of the Milky Way’s center. This new signal had very high polarisation and varying brightness. It was named as ‘ASKAP J173608.2-321635’.

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:
Uttar Pradesh Government has directed all state secondary schools to set up ‘Arogya Vatikas’ on school premises. Vatikas or Gardens would be used to grow medicinal plants.
Arogya Vatika will be set up in all secondary schools of the state. As per the state government, it will help conserve the environment as well as boost the immunity and well-being of students. The order also states that all students should be made aware of the medicinal values of the plants.