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:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a small finance bank (SFB) licence to the Centrum Group-BharatPe consortium.
Incorporated as Unity SFB, the lender is set to start operations in some weeks. The consortium will take over the assets and liabilities of the strssed Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank. Bindra-led Centrum Capital and its partner BharatPe, will infuse Rs 1,800 crore into the SFB. BharatPe would also move its loan assets to Unity SFB.

Notes:
The Tawang Ganden Namgyal Lhatse (Tawang Monastery), which is the second largest monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, is located in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
India strongly rejected China’s objection to a recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh by Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu. China has been objecting to visits of Indian leaders to Arunachal Pradesh, citing it as a part of South Tibet. Tawang provides a strategic entry into India’s northeastern region and is a critical point in the corridor between Tibet and Brahmaputra Valley.

Notes:
The President of India Ram Nath Kovind has awarded President’s Tatrakshak Medal (PTM) and Tatrakshak Medal (TM) to Indian Coast Guard personnel.
The awards are being given to the personnel of Indian Coast Guard on Republic Day and Independence Day every year, since 26 Jan 1990. The awards are given for their act of exemplary gallantry and meritorious service on the occasion of the Republic Day 2021.

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:
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:
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a 100-million-euro ($116 million) mental healthcare drive, including 24-hour suicide helpline.
La Lloreria, or the Crying Room was inaugurated in Madrid, which aims to remove the attached to mental health, crying and seeking help. As per Government Data, In 2019, as many as 3,671 people died from suicide in Spain. One in 10 adolescents has been diagnosed with a mental health condition.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Culture, International Buddhist Confederation in association with the Government of Uttar Pradesh is organising the Abhidhamma Day on the auspicious occasion of Ashwin Poornima.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also participating in an event marking Abhidhamma Day at Mahaparinirvana Temple. Eminent monks from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, South Korea, Nepal, Bhutan, Cambodia and ambassadors of several nations will take part in occasion.

Notes:
Russia is set to host the third meeting of the Moscow format of consultations on Afghanistan. India will be represented at joint-secretary level at the meeting.
The Moscow Format was established in 2017 as a six-party system comprising Russia, Afghanistan, India, Iran, China and Pakistan. It was then expanded with the inclusion of more countries. Its meetings were held in Moscow in 2017 and 2018. India and Taliban may have their first face-to-face meeting at the occasion.

Notes:
As per media reports, China’s military conducted two hypersonic weapons tests recently. China first tested a rocket using ‘Factional orbital bombardment system (FOBS), to launch a hypersonic glide vehicle capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
China is also reported to have conducted a second hypersonic test in August. However, the Foreign Ministry of China cited the test as a routine spacecraft test to verify the technology of the spacecraft’s reusability.