Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2021

Notes:
The 6th ministerial meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) began in Nur-Sultan, the capital city of Kazakhstan.
The CICA is an intergovernmental forum aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and ensuring peace, security, and stability in Asia. The first CICA summit was held in June of 2002. The members include 27 Asian countries, including India, China, Russia, nine observer states, and five international organizations.

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:
The Indian Army has bagged a gold medal at the Cambrian Patrol Exercise, which was held in the UK. The 4/5 Gorkha Rifles represented the Indian Army in the exercise.
The competition witnessed representation from 96-armed force teams of nations across the globe. This competition tests the ultimate levels of human endurance and team spirit and is considered as the “Olympics of military patrolling”.

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.

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.

Notes:
India is set to host young leaders from 75 democracies under the initiative of Gen-Next Democratic Network.
As per the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), this initiative is a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Young leaders below the age of 35 from the ruling party, opposition party and other major parties are being invited. The first batch will include leaders from Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Japan, Indonesia, Chile and Zambia.

Notes:
The Delhi government is set to begin its ‘Red Light On, Gaadi Off’ campaign, which aims to reduce pollution in the national capital.
The campaign urges commuters to switch off the engines of their vehicles as soon as they stop at a red light. This was first introduced by the government last year. This year, the first phase of the campaign will run for a month till November 18. It will take place in two shifts – from 8am-2pm and then 2pm-8pm.

Notes:
Russia’s Energy Ministry signed an agreement with India’s Steel Ministry to increase coking coal supply to India up to 40 million tonnes per year.
The deal was signed at the Russian Energy Week Forum, held in Moscow. Russia currently supplies around 80 lakh tonnes of coal to India. The pact also aims for development of coal deposits, development of coal logistics and promotion of R&D in production.

Notes:
Mount Aso is the largest active volcano in Japan, and is one of the largest in the world. It is located in the island of Kyushu, and its peak is located 1,592 meters above sea level.
Japan’s Mount Aso volcano recently erupted, spewing a huge column of hot gas and ash over 3,500 metres into the sky. Japan’s meteorological agency raised alert level for the volcano to level 3 on a scale of 5, and asked people not to approach the mountain.

Notes:
International Union for Conservation (IUCN), Global conservation body alerted Assam government on the threats faced by Bengal florican.
As per IUCN, Development activities and the state government’s plan to set up a university at Kokilabari seed farm near Manas National Park in Assam has posed a threat to the Bengal florican. IUCN urged that the Kokilabari seed farm, which is a haven for the Bengal florican, should be protected by declaring it a community reserve.