Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2021

Notes:
Darwin’s ground sloth (Mylodon darwinii), lived in South America between 1.8 million years and 12,000 years ago.
Though the six living sloth species are relatively small and herbivorous tree-dwellers, some species roamed from Alaska to South America. As per findings of a recent study, the extinct species was between 3 and 4 m long and weighed between 1 and 2 tons. The study also contradicts that all sloths were necessarily herbivores.

 

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 ‘International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction’ is observed every year on October 13. The 2021 edition of the day will focus on “International cooperation for developing countries to reduce their disaster risk and disaster losses”.
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was started in 1989, after the United Nations General Assembly declared the day to promote a global culture of risk awareness and disaster reduction.

Notes:
The Department of Posts has launched the digital version of the Postal Life Insurance policy bonds, also termed as “ePLI bond”.
The bond has been launched in collaboration with Digilocker. All Postal Life Insurance subscribers would be able to download the digital copy of their policy bond from digilocker. Both the Postal Life Insurance (PLI) and Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) policy bonds are available in digital form. It shall be treated at par with the original policy bond issued by the Department of Posts.

Notes:
Every year, 14th of October is celebrated as the World Standards Day, to commemorate all the experts who have contributed to develop the voluntary technical agreements that are published as International Standards. This year’s World Standards Day is observed under the tag line “our shared vision for a better world”.

Notes:
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has launched “U Fill” which is an automated fueling technology at the fuel outlets.
The technology is said to eliminate manual intervention during vehicle fueling enhance the customer experience. The company has launched the technology in 65 cities.

Notes:
China has launched a 3-person manned mission to its space station, for a duration of 6 months in the spaceship named Shenzhou-13. The spaceship was launched by Long March-2F rocket. The crew members are missioned for the setting up of the orbiting structure of China’s own space station.
The activities of the crew include spacewalks and installation of key equipment.

Notes:
Praggnanandhaa is Indian ace Chess player and is one of the young Grandmasters of the country. Recently, he won Julius Baer Challengers Chess Tour by winning against his American opponent Christopher Yoo.
With this victory, Praggnanandhaa has won $12,500 prize money as well as the right to play with an elite set of chess champions at the Meltwater Champions Tour in 2022.

Notes:
The American space agency NASA has launched a robotic spacecraft named Lucy, which is set to reach the Trojans (Jupiter’s asteroids) by 2027.
The spacecraft is designed to reach seven Trojan asteroids along with another one in the main Asteroid Belt. The spacecraft was launched using an Atlas V rocket from Florida.

Notes:
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan became the highest wicket-taker in T20 International cricket after he surpassed Lasith Malinga’s tally of 107 wickets.
Shakib has 108 wickets from 89 T20 International games. He is also the only cricketer to have a double of 100 wickets and 1000 plus runs in this format. The third cricketer in the list is New Zealand’s Tim Southee, with 99 wickets.