Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2021

Notes:
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has been constituted under the leadership of Jayant Sinha. This committee would visit the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and discuss on the separation of the debt management function from the RBI.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan and former Governor of RBI Manmohan Singh is also a member of the committee.

Notes:
Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha won votes of confidence in Parliament, which would help him to steady his government. The Government has been facing criticism in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Prayuth and his government had survived two other no-confidence debates since the 2019 general election. Pro-democracy activists have been opposing his policies have been seeking his resignation since last year.

Notes:
The Tamil Nadu government has announced plans to set up India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve in the Palk Bay on the southeast coast of the state.

Dugong or Sea Cow is an endangered marine mammal that is facing extinction due to habitat loss, sea pollution and loss of seagrass. Dugong is found in Gulf of Mannar, which is a shallow bay area between south eastern tip of Tamil Nadu and western part of Sri Lanka, and at Palk Bay.

Notes:
India and Nepal have signed a MoU (memorandum of understanding), under which India would help Nepal in reconstruction of 14 cultural heritage and 103 health sector projects which were damaged during the 2015 earthquake. The total cost of these reconstruction is 420 crore Nepalese Rupees.

This is a part of India’s post-earthquake reconstruction package, under which India has committed a total grant of USD 250 million to Nepal.

Notes:
Karnataka has decided to ban online gambling or betting, and to amend the Karnataka Police Act, 1963. The ban does not include lottery or betting on horse races as mentioned by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J.C. Madhuswamy. This decision was undertaken after the Karnataka High Court repeatedly asked the State Government to take a stand on online betting.

Notes:
The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) has signed a MoU with Tamil Nadu Generation & Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO). Under the MoU, IREDA will extend technical expertise & support to TANGEDCO for Renewable energy project development, to bid process management, and provide implementation support. IREDA will also assist TANGEDCO in debt raising by developing financial models, assistance in the understanding market instrument, underwriting services for the proposed debt requirement, conducting pre-market surveys, and road shows to evoke interest amongst potential investors. TANGEDCO is planning to undertake 20,000 MW of Solar Power Project, with adequate Battery Storage, 3,000 MW of Pumped Storage Hydro Electric Project, and 2,000 MW of Gas Based Power Plant for efficient Renewable integration.

Notes:
Amazon India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the industries and mines department of government of Gujarat to help drive e-commerce exports in the state. As part of the MoU, Amazon will train and onboard MSMEs from the state on Amazon Global Selling, enabling them to sell their unique Made in India products to millions of Amazon customers across more than 200 countries and territories.

Notes:
Reserve Bank of India has taken public sector lender UCO Bank out of Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework (PCA) on improvement in financial and credit profile. This decision gives the bank more freedom for lending, especially to corporations and grows the network, subject to prescribed norms. The Kolkata-based lender was placed under PCA in May 2017 on account of high Net Net-Performing Assets (NPAs) and negative Return on Assets (RoAs). As of March 2021, its net NPAs declined to 3.94% from 8.54% in March 2017 (FY17).

Notes:
The fourth Conference of the Protectors of Emigrants was held on September 10, 2021, coinciding with the date of enactment of the Emigration Act, 1983. Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan delivered the keynote address and observed that Protectors of Emigrants have an important role to play in informing youth and workers about new destinations and opportunities.

Notes:
On September 11, 2021, the Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Prahlad Singh Patel, inaugurated a Food Processing Unit of M/s Sahara Frozen Foods in Morena, Madhya Pradesh. Food Processing Unit was inaugurated under a central sector cold chain scheme called Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana. It was launched on the last day of Food Processing Week. Food Processing week was celebrated from September 6, 2021 to September 12, 2021 as a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.’