Current Affairs Quiz-September, 2020

Notes:
Under the Swachh Bharat Mission of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, an event with a duration of a fortnight is observed to focus on the issues of Swachhata.
Named as ‘Swachhata Pakhwada’, the event was started in the year 2016 and an annual calendar is provided to the Ministries with a fortnight allotted to them. Recently, the Department of Fertilizers is observing Swachhta Pakhwada from September 1-15.

Notes:
Indian Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and his counterparts from Australia and Japan attended the Australia-India-Japan Economic Ministers’ Joint meeting on Supply Chains Resilience.
As per the joint statement released, the countries have decided to launch an initiative to build a resilient supply chain in Indo-Pacific region. They have also decided to keep their markets open and thereby creating a transparent trade environment. This is expected to reduce China’s dominance.

Notes:
The third round of the monthly sero-prevalence survey began in the National Capital Region, to analyse the situation of the Covid-19 spread.
Under the survey, using the blood samples, the presence of antibodies for Covid-19 will be checked, which will explain the extent of the spread of the virus. In the last survey, it was found that 29.1 per cent of people had antibodies. This time, the sample size will be 17,000.

Notes:
State-owned Public sector undertaking Coal India announced that it is set to invest over Rs 1.22 lakh crore on various projects to achieve 1 billion tonnes of fuel output.
Out of the total 500 projects to be funded, CIL will invest a major part in projects related to coal evacuation, mine infrastructure and project development by 2023-24. Coal India also posted a 7.1 per cent year-on-year growth in coal output.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a MoU with Finland in the field of geology.
The MoU seeks for cooperation in the field of geology and mineral resources between Geological Survey of India (Ministry of Mines) and Geological Survey of Finland. The countries would work for mutual economic, social and environmental benefits.

Notes:
Researchers of the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) have developed a method to detect corona virus infection using mass spectrometer.
In this method, the virus detection can be done with sensitivity of 90 % and specificity of 100 %. The time taken from sample to result is 30 minutes. IGIB is an institute under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Notes:
The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd (APIIC) has entered into a MoU with CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology for setting up of Bulk Drug Park in the state.
As per the MoU, CSIR-IICT will act as a knowledge partner and provide technical assistance to prepare a proposal to be submitted by the Andhra Pradesh Government to the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, for seeking financial assistance.

Notes:
IIT Tirupati (IITT) in collaboration with Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati, have developed a new technology named the ‘Hybrid sterilization system’.
It can decontaminate the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that are used by the Health workers to contain the spread of COVID 19. This Portable Optical Cavity Sterilization Unit (POSCU) sterilises the PPEs and other items which can be reused.

Notes:
The UN Women released a report titled “From Insights to Action: Gender Equality in the wake of COVID-19”, along with UN Development Programme (UNDP).
The report highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic will immensely affect women and push 47 million more women and girls into extreme poverty by the year 2021. It also warned that the gender poverty gap will worsen in South Asia and poverty in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Notes:
The Government of Assam has re-launched an old scheme named “SVAYEM” which aims to provide self-employment to 2 lakh youth in the state. SVAYEM stands for Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment.
The scheme would provide Rs.50,000 as seed capital to selected youth, to commence their business. The total outlay of the scheme is Rs.1000 crore.