Current Affairs Quiz-September, 2020

Notes:
According to the recent data from the Controller General of Accounts, India borrowed a record high Rs 39, 165 Crores from Multilateral agencies.
India has undertaken this borrowing to meet expenses related to tackling Covid-19. This is the highest external financing for any full fiscal year. Earlier, in the financial year 2016-17, India had borrowed Rs14,811 crore in external sources.

Notes:
The Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment, Thaawarchand Gehlot has recently released a book containing 33 Action Plans 2020-21 of all the schemes of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment.
This is the first time that the Department has released comprehensive Annual Action Plan 2020-21. The aim is to provide specific targets for the Ministry, State Governments and NGOs.

Notes:
American private equity firm Silver Lake is to invest around Rs 7500 crore in Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL).
Through this, Silver Lake will acquire 1.75% equity stake in Reliance Retail. Earlier, the US-based firm announced a USD 1.35 billion investment in Jio Platforms and this is the second billion-dollar investment by Silver Lake in the subsidiary of Reliance Industries.

Notes:
The first India-France-Australia Trilateral Dialogue was held in a virtual mode recently. The virtual meet was co-chaired by Harsh Vardhan Shringla, the Foreign Secretary of India.
The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation among the three countries in Indo-Pacific Region. Moreover, the participants discussed on economic and strategic challenges in the context of the COVID-19.

Notes:
Leading Private sector bank of India, ICICI Bank has launched an exclusive programme for start-ups named ‘iStartup2.0’.
Under this programme, a Current Account can be created for new businesses that are up to ten years old seamlessly. The Bank has integrated its APIs with the website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and the account number is obtained at the time of incorporation.

Notes:
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a report titled Countdown to 2023: WHO report on global trans-fat elimination 2020.
As per the report, more than 100 countries have to take actions to remove harmful substances from their food supplies. Due to consumption of trans fats, 5 lakh deaths per year is estimated due to coronary heart disease.

Notes:
The Government of Gujarat has announced the state’s first Heritage Tourism Policy. The policy permits use of historic buildings (pre-1950 historical buildings) such as heritage palaces and forts, as heritage hotels, heritage museums, heritage banquet halls and heritage restaurants etc.
Under the policy, the State Government will offer an aid of Rs. 5 – 10 crore for renovation of these heritage structures.

Notes:
A fish brood bank is set to be established at Sitamarhi (Bihar) and aquatic disease referral laboratory is proposed to set up at Kishanganj (Bihar) as a part of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
These facilities will enhance production of fish by ensuring timely availability of quality and affordable fish seed.

Notes:
Amazon India has recently confirmed that the Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan will become the first Indian celebrity whose voice will feature on the Alexa voice assistant.
The company is to add the voice of the actor as a paid upgrade and that will be added through the Alexa Skills interface. His voice would be used in notifications about weather, jokes and advices, as a part of attracting customers.

Notes:
Former Union Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh passed away recently. He succumbed to post-COVID19 illness at AIIMS.
He was from Bihar and belonged to Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD), which he resigned few days ago. Singh is often called the architect of the MNREGA scheme, which was implemented when he was the Union Minister for Rural development.