Current Affairs Quiz - September, 2021

Notes:
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is a NASA robotic spacecraft currently orbiting the Moon in an eccentric polar mapping orbit. It was the first United States mission to the Moon in over ten years. It was launched on June 18, 2009.

The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), a robotic spacecraft operated by NASA was launched together with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) in 2009.

Notes:
The Kun Peak is a part of Nun Kun mountain massif. It is also the second highest summit of the massif with elevation of 23,219 ft in the eastern Himalayan Range. The peak is located near the Suru valley, Kargil, Ladakh.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged-in a team of National Institute of Mountaineering & Allied Sports (NIMAS) Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh, in New Delhi. The team completed a mountaineering expedition to Mount Kun between July 15, 2021 and August 10, 2021. NIMAS is a premier mountaineering institute functioning under the aegis of Ministry of Defence.

Notes:
Pew Research Centre recently released a report on the country’s religious composition, following a survey by the using data from the Census and the National Family Health Survey (NFHS).
As per the report, population growth rates have declined for all of India’s major religious groups. The slowdown is more among religious minorities. The survey also says India’s religious composition has remained unchanged, except the Northeast.

Notes:
The National Science Foundation’s Green Bank Observatory (GBO) along with other partners have released a new high-resolution image of the Moon. This is the best-ever image taken from the ground using new radar technology on the Green Bank Telescope (GBT).
The resolution of the new Tycho Crater image contains approximately 1.4 billion pixels. The image covers an area of 200km by 175km. The entire crater, which measures 86km in diameter, has been captured.

 

Notes:
The state assembly of Rajasthan has passed the Compulsory Registration of Marriages (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which amends the Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act, 2009.
The bill mandates registration of marriages, including child marriages within 30 days from the date of marriage. The information on child marriage should be given by the parents or guardians within 30 days of the wedding.

Notes:
The Centre has allocated 600 lakh tonnes of foodgrains for free distribution under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
The additional 5 kg food-grains scheme was initially announced in the month of April, 2020 and was later extended till November 2021 in four phases. As per official data, 83 per cent grains out of the 600 lakh tonnes, were lifted by states till September 15.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to announce a nationwide rollout of the Pradhan Mantri Digital Health Mission. It includes three basic platforms, health ID, doctor’s registry, and the health facility registry.
The unique digital health ID will contain all the health records of the person. The National Digital Health Mission is currently in its pilot phase across the UTs of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.

Notes:
India and Australia held the first Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on Coal and Mines through Video conferencing. It is held ahead to the India-Australia Energy Dialogue scheduled to be held next month.
The discussions focused on Indian coal resources, strategic minerals-demand and supply scenario and engagements with Australia. They also discussed collaboration on Clean Coal Technology, Surface Coal Gasification, Coal Bed Methane, sharing of Technology for fire quenching, Coal Based Hydrogen, among others.

Notes:
In the month of September 2021, US president Joe Biden, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison and British prime minister Boris Johnson jointly announced the formation of the trilateral security alliance AUKUS.
The US has also ruled out adding India or Japan to the trilateral partnership. This alliance is seen as an effort to counter China in the Indo-Pacific. It will also allow the US and the UK to provide Australia with the technology to develop nuclear-powered submarines for the first time.

Notes:
The Report on Deposits with Banks is released by the Reserve Bank of India, which states that Bank deposits have grown by 11.9% year-on-year during FY 2020-21 compared to FY 2019-20. This is on account of growth in CASA (Current Account – Savings Account deposits).
The report states that Maharashtra, UP and Karnataka constitute for 1/3rd total bank deposits in India.