Current Affairs Quiz-September, 2020

Notes:
After the Parliament passed two agricultural sector reforms bills, The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all mandated Rabi crops for marketing season 2021-22 to encourage farmers ahead of sowing the operations of winter crops. The biggest crop of Rabi season, Wheat has been hiked by Rs. 50 to Rs. 1975 per quintal along with other five Rabi crops(Lentil (masoor), gram, barley, safflower and mustard/rapeseed).

Notes:
Recently, Microsoft had announced its plans to acquire US-based ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks. Bethesda Softworks is one of the largest, privately held game developers and publishers in the world. Microsoft is to acquire the company for $7.5 billion. The deal comes as a major boost for Xbox – Microsoft’s gaming offering, with Bethesda bringing an impressive portfolio of games, technology, talent, as well as a track record of blockbuster commercial success

Notes:
The Government of India has integrated the Industrial Information System (IIS) portal with the Geographic Information System(GIS) of six states to provide information and updates on land availability and plot level information to investors anywhere in the world on real time bass and help them to make informed decisions. Industrial Information System (IIS) portal is a GIS-enabled database of industrial areas/clusters across the country.

Notes:
Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) are organizations of exporters, set up under the Societies Registration Act/ Companies Act which came into force on 21 May,1860. Its objective is promotion of Indian exports. The councils are responsible for promotion of a particular group of products/ projects/services as given in Appendix 2T of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-2020. Presently, there are fourteen Export Promotion Councils.

Notes:
Panchayats are the local government and a subject of State in part of State list of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Article 243-243O of PART-IX deals with Panchayati Raj and in particular Article 243-D ensures participation of women in Panchayati Raj Institutions by mandating not less than one-third reservation for women out of total number of seats to be filled by direct election and number of offices of chairpersons of Panchayats.

Notes:
The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures (CICA) was organised virtually, which was also attended by the Union External Affairs Ministry Dr S Jaishankar.
During the meeting, the Chairmanship of CICA was transferred from Tajikistan to Kazakhstan. A new Executive Director was also appointed. India has been a member of CICA from the year of its inception in 1999.

Notes:
The foundation stone of ‘Centre for Disability Sports’ was laid at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh in an event organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The Cabinet has approved the setting up of a Centre for Disability Sports at Gwalior in February 2019. The estimated outlay of the project to set up the Centre is Rs.170.99 crore. This will be the first exclusive centre of Disability sports in the country.

Notes:
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) is a strategic forum organised between the United States, Japan, Australia and India.
Recently, the QUAD consultation of the four member countries was held virtually to discuss regional issues of common interest. The last Ministerial engagement was held in September 2019. The Senior officials reaffirmed their commitment for an inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

Notes:
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) released the first look design of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). The RRTS trains would have an outer body made of steel which is light in weight, thus enabling it to travel at a design speed of 180 kmph.
These trains would be fully air conditioned. NCRTC – a joint venture company of Govt of India and States of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, would implement the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS).

Notes:
In the year 2015, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared 28 September as International Day for Universal Access to Information.
The UN General Assembly also adopted 28 September later. This year, the International Day focuses on to the right to information in times of crisis. It also highlights the advantages of having constitutional guarantees for public access to information.