Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2021

Notes:
The Maharashtra government recently announced that they have scrapped the position of Police Naik.
The decision is set to impact nearly 45000 constables in the state police force. Before this decision, a police constable (PC) would get promoted to Police Naik (PN) after 10 years of service. In another 10 years they will move to the Head Constable (HC) rank and retire as Assistant Sub Inspectors (ASI).

Notes:
World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF jointly released the 2021 State of The World’s Hand Hygiene report.
As per the report, all households in the world’s 46 least developed countries could have handwashing facilities by 2030 if the world invested less than $1 per person per year, in hand hygiene. An annual cost to governments on promoting handwashing with soap at home comes to 2.5% of the average government health expenditure in these countries.

Notes:
The Government of India has recently launched the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Telecom manufacturing, which aims to increase investment and hence production levels in the sector.
Under the scheme, 31 global and local companies would strive for incremental production capacities amounting Rs 1.82 lakh crore over a period of five years

Notes:
The Naval forces of China and Russia have commenced the “The Naval Interaction-2021” joint Naval exercise, which aims to enhance the two country’s capability and hone their skills to jointly deal with maritime security threats.
The exercise is taking place at Russia’s Peter the Great Gulf in the Sea of Japan.

Notes:
Actor William Shatner flew aboard a Blue Origin rocket-ship on a suborbital trip and landed in the Texas desert to become at age 90 the oldest person ever in space.
Blue Origin, U.S. billionaire businessman Jeff Bezos’s company carried out its second tourist flight. Shatner was one of four passengers aboard the fully autonomous New Shepard spacecraft. The four astronauts travelled above the internationally recognized boundary of space known as the Karman Line, about 100 km above Earth.

Notes:
Global Handwashing Day 2021 is observed on October 15, to spread awareness about the importance of hygiene. The theme for 2021 is “Our Future is at Hand – Let’s Move Forward Together.”
The day was founded by the Global Handwashing Partnership, an international alliance of institutions that promoted effective handwashing with soap. In 2008, the first World Handwashing Day was celebrated in more than 70 nations and 120 million children.

Notes:
India defeated Nepal 3-0 for its eighth SAFF Championship title. During the match, Sunil Chhetri equalled the ace footballer Lionel Messi with his 80th international strike.
Second half goals from Chhetri (49th minute), Suresh Singh (50th) and Sahal Abdul Samad (90th) helped India win the title. Chhetri became the second highest goal-scorer in international football among active players.

Notes:
Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), the premium to be paid by farmers is fixed at 1.5% of the sum insured for rabi crops and 2% for Kharif crops, while it is 5% for cash/horticultural crops.
The balance premium is split between the Centre and states. The government has constituted a working group, to roll out an overhauled PMFBY from kharif 2022. The working group will find out reasons for high premium rates and suggest mechanism to rationalize them. This comes at the backdrop of exit of several states from the scheme

Notes:
October is observed as the ‘Cybersecurity Awareness Month’. It is co-led by the National Cyber Security Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
This year, the theme is “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.” Cybersecurity Awareness Month is being observed for 18 years. National Bullying Prevention Month is also observed in October. It was started 15 years ago by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center.

Notes:
The first meeting of the Foreign ministers of India, Israel, the UAE and the USA held recently. It is dubbed as the New QUAD.
The virtual meeting discussed on increasing trade, enhancing cooperation in maritime security and global public health, as well as joint infrastructure projects in transportation and technology. Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar held discussions with his counterparts.