Current Affairs Quiz-September, 2020

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:
In the Global Innovation Index (GII) released for the year 2020 by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Cornell University and INSEAD business school, India has been ranked at 48th position among 131 nations.
India has moved up by 4 places from the previous ranking. Switzerland has topped the chart followed by Sweden and US.

Notes:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published a report titled ‘Enhancing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)’.
The report identifies 16 ways to address the issue of Food loss and waste. It also suggests that these aspects are to be added in National climate plans, so that the ‘Mitigation and adaptation contributions’ from food systems can be improved by 25 per cent.

Notes:
“Chakr”, an IIT Delhi incubated start-up has developed an equipment named ‘Chakr DeCoV’ to decontaminate N95 masks.
The equipment is designed in the shape of a cabinet. It uses ozone gas for cleaning the pores of N95 masks, thus ensuring complete decontamination of all layers of the mask.

Notes:
An important meeting of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) was held virtually under the chairmanship of Sri Lanka.
During the meeting discussions were focussed on ways to expand cooperation among its member nations to deal with various challenges Covid-19. BIMSTEC is a multinational grouping of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal.

Notes:
A painting of V.S. Gaitonde has become the most expensive work of art by an Indian artist, as it has fetched Rs 32 Crore at an auction held at Mumbai auction house Pundole.
The untitled oil-on-canvas painting was created in the year 1974 and was bought by an unnamed international buyer. This sale breaks the record held by another art work of V.S. Gaitonde that fetched Rs 29.3 crore in the year 2015.

Notes:
The Kaziranga National Park in Assam, which is home to the Asiatic one-horned rhinos, is to be expanded by 3,053 hectares.
The Government of Assam has issued a notification approving 7th, 8th and 9th addition to the National Park. These additional areas include encroachment-evicted areas at riverine islands that were vulnerable to encroachment.

Notes:
The Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2019 was conferred to the British broadcaster David Attenborough. The price was conferred to him in a virtual event by former Indian PM Manmohan Singh.
The “Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development” was instituted in 1986 and is awarded to individuals / institutions who work to achieve international peace. It consists of a monetary award of Rs.25 lakh along with a citation.

Notes:
The Indian Civil & Administrative Services (Central) Association has been renamed as “IAS Association” recently.
The new name was unanimously cleared in the body’s Annual General Meeting there by dropping the reference to the ‘colonial-era’ ICS. Also, a new moto “Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam” meaning “Perfection in action is Yogah” has been chosen during the meeting.

Notes:
The Hindustan Aeronautical Limited-HAL’s indigenously developed Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) has successfully demonstrated high altitude capability in hot and high weather conditions in the Himalayas.
The helicopter also demonstrated its payload capability in Siachen glacier. The Army version of LUH is to be presented for Initial Operational Clearance.