Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2021

Notes:
India has ranked 40th out of 43 pension systems across the world in the 2021 Mercer CFS Global Pension Index survey.
In 2020, India was placed at 34th position out of 39 pension systems. Iceland was ranked highest with an overall index value of 84.2 while Thailand had the lowest overall index value at 40.6.
The index analyses the strengths of retirement pension systems around three sub-indexes – adequacy, sustainability and integrity.

Notes:
People of Thailand are using capsules of a herbal medicine called green chiretta (Andrographis paniculata) to treat asymptomatic and mild COVID.
In Thailand, Green chiretta – nicknamed the “king of bitters” is a common herbal medicine. In early 1990s, researchers concluded after a clinical trial that chiretta is equally effective as paracetamol to treat fever and sore throat in patients with inflammation of the pharynx and tonsils.

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:
The Indian Railways has recently ordered to dissolve Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC).
The Cabinet secretariat had recommended to integrate, and undertake structural reforms in various bodies under Railways Ministry. It also suggested merger of various institutions of the railways. The report on ‘Rationalisation of Government Bodies under the Ministry of Railways’ was prepared by Sanjeev Sanyal, Principal Economic Advisor.

 

Notes:
The ‘Police Commemoration Day’ is observed every year in India on October 21. The day is observed memory of 10 police personnel who died at Hot Springs in Ladakh while fighting Chinese troops in 1959.
The Police Forces across the country paid tributes to 377 martyrs from the police and Central Armed Police Forces from last year. They also paid tributes to the warriors, who lost their lives during the times of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Notes:
Former US President Donald Trump has recently announced plans to launch a new social media network, called TRUTH Social.
Though he was active in social media, Mr Trump was banned from Twitter and suspended from Facebook after his supporters stormed the US Capitol. Last year, Twitter and Facebook even started deleting some of his posts or labelled them as ‘misleading’.

Notes:
Cumbre Vieja is an active volcanic ridge, is located in Spain’s La Palma Island, a part of Canary Islands. Recently, as the volcano started erupting, a total of around 7,500 people have been forced to be evacuated.
As per the Scientists, the eruption could continue for three more months. The molten rock has already covered more than 866 hectares and damaged around 2,185 buildings. The economy of La Palma is largely based on tourism and banana plantations.

Notes:
Konkan Shakti 2021 is the first-ever tri-services joint exercise between India and the UK. The week-long exercise has begun recently.
The exercise will be a platform to share each other’s experiences and to showcase the cooperation between the two countries. The maritime component of the exercise will be conducted off India’s west coast and the Harbour phase will be held in Mumbai. The land phase of the exercise will be held at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 1 crore on Paytm Payments Bank recently.
The penalty was for submitting information that did not reflect the factual position. It is an offence under Section 26 (2) of the Payments and Settlement Act. RBI also imposed a penalty of Rs Rs 27.78 lakh on Western Union Financial Services for non-compliance with Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS) directions.

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.