Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2021

Notes:
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States has recently issued new guidelines on Drones also called as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
As per the rules, small drones will be allowed to fly over people and at night in the United States. The Drone manufacturers and operators require a Remote ID, under the new rules. This will increase security by identification of the UAVs from the ground.

Notes:
‘Five Eyes’ is an intelligence network of five nations namely Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the US.
The collaborative network was formed to respond to the threats posed by North Korea and China. As per media reports, Japan had provided intelligence to the US and the UK on China’s forceful detainment of Muslim Uyghurs, last year.

Notes:
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan has been nominated by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) as a member on the GAVI Board.
The Minister is to succeed Mr. Myint Htwe of Myanmar and will represent the South East Area Regional Office (SEARO)/ Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) constituency from 1st January 2021 until 31st December 2023.

Notes:
The External Affairs Ministry has recently launched the Global Pravasi Rishta portal and application to connect with the Indian diaspora across the world.
The application and portal aim to create a three-way communication between the External Affairs Ministry, Indian missions and the diaspora, who are around 3.12-crore. While the app will be used by the diaspora, the portal will be used by the missions.

Notes:
Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the Virtual Agri India hackathon 2020 in New Delhi.
It is the largest virtual gathering to organise dialogues and promote innovations in agriculture. This year, the event organized by Pusa Krishi, ICAR – IARI, ICAR & Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare. 24 best innovations will be awarded 1 lakh cash award and incubation support.

Notes:
Over 1700 migratory birds were found dead in the Pong Dam sanctuary in the state of Himachal Pradesh, under mysterious circumstances.
Recently, it was found that those birds have tested positive for bird flu. This makes Himachal Pradesh to join the list of states to report cases of the avian influenza after Rajasthan and Kerala.

Notes:
India’s food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has capped the quantum of trans fatty acids (TFA) in oils and fats to 3% for 2021. The cap is further reduced to 2% for 2022.
Trans fat are found to increase the risk of heart attacks and death from coronary heart disease. The WHO has called all its members to eliminate trans-fat by 2023.

Notes:
As per the World Health Organisation’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), the two doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine should be administered within a period of 21 to 28 days.
However, the United Kingdom is said to have extended the gap between the first and second dose of Pfizer’s vaccine by more than the prescribed interval.

Notes:
The Government of India has decided to form a committee to protect the language, culture and land of Ladakh.
The Committee will be headed by the Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy. It will also include elected representatives from Ladakh, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, central government, and the Ladakh administration.

Notes:
India recently launched the world’s first double stack long-haul container train. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the train on the 306km-long Rewari-Madar section of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC).
One such train carries freight equivalent to 270 high-capacity trailer trucks. The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India is constructing the Western and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor.