Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2021

Notes:
Scientists have named a newly identified gecko species, the Jackie’s day gecko (Cnemaspis jackieii), after Jackie Chan.
This lizard is one of 12 new gecko species found in India and all 12 species are endemic to the Western Ghats. Due to its agile nature, similar to the ace martial artist Chan, it has been named so. It is one of 12 new gecko species found in India that the researchers describe in Zoological Research.

Notes:
Defence ministry signed agreement with the US to procure MK 54 torpedo and expendables worth Rs 423 crore, for Indian Navy.
These weapons are the outfit of P-8I Aircraft which has been used for Long-range Maritime Surveillance, Anti-Submarine Warfare and Anti-Surface Warfare. The Indian Navy has a total of 11 P-8I aircraft in its fleet, which are manufactured by the US aerospace company Boeing.

Notes:
India has become the top source of Chinese rice imports during January-August this year. The shipments during the month of August alone accounted for 45 per cent of the total imports.
This data has been released in the USDA’s Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report on China’s rice prices. It said Indian rice made up 23 per cent of total imports by China during January-August this year.

Notes:
Under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) of the Ministry of Rural Development, a total of 152 Centre for Financial Literacy & Service Delivery (SAKSHAM Centres) were launched across 77 districts of 13 states.
The Centres would act as one stop solution for basic financial needs of Self-Help Group (SHG) households in rural areas. The main objective of the Centre is to provide financial literacy and deliver financial services to SHG members and rural poor.

Notes:
HDFC Bank, Mastercard and USAID has committed a sum of $100-mn credit facility for small businesses in India.
The new credit facility aims to expand lending to small businesses that need financing to maintain and grow their operations. It also lays emphasis on supporting women-led businesses and focus more on digitization of banking services.

Notes:
The 52nd edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is set to be held in Goa, from November 20 to 28.
The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur announced that Hollywood veteran Martin Scorsese and celebrated Hungarian film-maker Istevan Szabo will be honoured with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement award at this year’s film festival. IFFI has also invited major OTT players to participate in the festival.

Notes:
WeProtect Global Alliance, a global movement released the ‘Global Threat Assessment report 2021’. As per the report, COVID-19 contributed to a significant spike in child sexual exploitation and abuse online.
WeProtect Global Alliance is a global movement of more than 200 governments, private sector companies and civil society organisations. It aims to transform the global response to child sexual exploitation and abuse online.

Notes:
A statistical analysis conducted by Mumbai-based International Institute for Population Studies shows that life expectancy in India has dropped by two years due to Covid-19 pandemic.
According to IIPS, the life expectancy at birth for men and women has declined from 69.5 years and 72 years in 2019 to 67.5 years and 69.8 respectively in 2020. The study also found out that the Covid mortality was reported to be the highest for men in the age group of 35-69.

Notes:
India’s low-cost airline Go First became the first airline to launch direct flights from Srinagar to Sharjah.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off the first international flight services from Srinagar to Sharjah, from the Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport in Srinagar. This is expected to enhance the economic bonds between India and UAE. Go First will operate four flights every week between Srinagar and Sharjah.

Notes:
The Group of Seven wealthy nations agreed on a collective set of principles to govern cross-border data use and digital trade.
The deal is expected to bridge the highly regulated data protection rules used in European countries and the more open methods of the United States. Trade ministers from the G7 reached agreement at a meeting held recently in London.