Daily Current Affairs Quiz: November 18, 2020

Notes:
The West Bengal government has planned to constitute anti-electrocution cells to protect wild elephants in the state.
These multi-departmental cells will have members including those from the Forest Directorate, Electricity Department, District Administration and Police along with the Local Panchayat members. It was also decided to alter the high-tension lines and electric poles to avoid hurting the animals.

Notes:
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has recently announced a grant of Rs 900 crore for research and development of COVID-19 vaccine.
The grant has been announced to the Department of Biotechnology for the vaccine research. The grant is provided for Covid Suraksha mission. The actual cost of vaccine and distribution expenses will be announced later.

Notes:
COVISHIELD, the Covid-19 potential vaccine candidate has recently completed the enrolment of Phase III clinical trials.
COVISHIELD has been developed by the Serum Institute of India with a master seed from Oxford University and AstraZeneca. SII has already manufactured 40 million doses of the vaccine and will make the vaccine available by joining hands with ICMR.

Notes:
The Mukhya Mantri Rural Street Vendor Scheme has been launched by the state government of Madhya Pradesh, on the lines of Pradhan Mantri street vendor scheme
Recently, the Chief Minister transferred the interest-free loan of 10 thousand rupees each into the accounts of rural street vendors. He also launched a roadmap to Aatma Nirbhar Madhya Pradesh, with special focus on education and health.

Notes:
World Pneumonia Day is observed every year on 12 November. The day was established by the Stop Pneumonia Initiative in 2009 to raise awareness about the disease.
Pneumonia is considered as the leading disease which causes more deaths of children around the world. ‘Stop Pneumonia Initiative’ and ‘Every Breath Counts Coalition’ jointly mobilise the people about tackling the disease.