Current Affairs Quiz-September, 2020

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:
“Wilmington” in the US state of North Carolina has been declared as the World War 2 Heritage City. It is first of such cities to be announced.
This announcement was made by the US President Donald Trump during a ceremony held to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War 2. During the WW2, North Carolina Shipbuilding Company situated in Wilmington built 243 ships in 5 years as a part of the USA’s emergency ship building programme.

Notes:
India has recently initiated an anti-dumping investigation on imports of Vitamin C from China, as per the recent statement from the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR).
Earlier, Bajaj Healthcare filed a complaint to DGTR that dumping is leading to a decline in its market share, profits and causing damage to the domestic industry. Vitamin-C is mainly used by the pharmaceutical companies.

Notes:
Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot is set to launch the Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline “KIRAN”.
This 24×7 Toll-Free Helpline has been developed by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, to provide psychological support and rehabilitation services to persons with Mental Illness, across the country.

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.

Notes:
United Kingdom has named the Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott as a trade adviser. He headed Australia from 2013 to 2015.
Along with the 62-year old former Prime Minister, Former member of the European Parliament, is to become Adviser to Britain’s Board of Trade. However, there were allegations that Tony Abbott was not suitable for the job due to his conservative social views.

Notes:
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar has recently inaugurated 22 bamboo clusters in 9 States viz. Gujarat, MP, Maharashtra, Odisha, Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Uttarakhand and Karnataka.
He also unveiled a logo for the National Bamboo Mission, selected through a contest conducted. The yellow-green logo showcases a bamboo culm with half an industrial wheel and half farmers.

Notes:
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi is set to hold a programme named ‘SVanidhi Samvaad’ with street vendors from Madhya Pradesh.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan will also participate in the program through video conferencing. Prime Minister is to interact with three beneficiaries from the state through virtual mode. 4.5 lakh street vendors of Madhya Pradesh registered in the PM SVANidhi scheme.

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:
Union Minster of Petroleum has stated that Five state run oil and natural gas PSUs will become corporate partners of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
These PSUs would make financials contribution to ISA’s corpus fund. This announcement was made during the 1st World Solar Technology Summit organized by ISA. ONGC, IOCL, BPCL, HPCL and GAIL are the 5 PSUs.