Current Affairs - 2019-20

Notes:
Anita Kundu, a Haryana police sub-inspector from Hisar, has made history by becoming the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest from the China side on May 2017. Earlier, she had scaled the Mt. Everest from Nepal side in May 2013.

Notes:
The International Day of Forests is observed every year on March 21 to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests and of trees outside forests for the benefit of current and future generations. The 2017 theme is ‘Forests and Energy’. The theme highlights the importance of wood energy in improving people’s lives, powering sustainable development and mitigating climate change.
 

Notes:
Alliance 8.7 is for a world without forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour. It is an initiative under the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It calls for effective measures to end forced labour, modern slavery, and human trafficking, as well as child labour in all its forms.

Notes:
Kandhamal Haladi is a golden yellow spice, named after the Kandhamal district in Odisha where it is produced. It is being cultivated there from time immemorial and is known for its medicinal value.

Notes:
Recently, based on the recommendations of Kokate committee, the Union Health Ministry had imposed the ban on 344 FDC drugs under Section 26A of Drugs and Cosmetics Act in March 2016. The ban was imposed because of FDC being unsafe and not having a therapeutic justification. India is one of the world’s largest markets for FDC drugs that make up almost half the market share. It was imposed over fears that these drugs cause anti-microbial resistance and might even cause organ-failure because of high toxicity. It also aimed at curbing the misuse of medicines.

Notes:
The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) is a statutory Corporation set up to promote and provide financial assistance to cooperatives. Its headquarters is located at New Delhi. Recently, NCDC’s new youth-friendly scheme ‘Yuva Sahakar-Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme’ has been launched to attract youth to cooperative business ventures. It was launched by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh. The scheme will be linked to Rs 1000 crore ‘Cooperative Start-up and Innovation Fund (CSIF)’ created by the NCDC. It would have more incentives for cooperatives of North Eastern region, Aspirational Districts and cooperatives with women or SC or ST or PwD members. The funding for the project will be up to 80% of the project cost for these special categories as against 70% for others. The scheme envisages 2% less than the applicable rate of interest on term loan for the project cost up to Rs 3 crore including 2 years moratorium on payment of principal. All types of cooperatives in operation for at least one year are eligible.

Notes:
Deontay Wilder is the 2018 WBC World Heavyweight Champion. He is an American professional boxer. He has held the WBC Heavyweight title since 2015 and thus has become the first American world heavyweight champion in nine years, the longest period in boxing history without an American champion. Who is the 2018 WBC World Heavyweight Champion female?

Notes:
Simona Halep is a Romanian professional tennis player and is currently world number 1 on the WTA Tour. She first broke into World top 50 in 2012. She received the ranking in October 2017.

Notes:
Srikanth Kidambi is an Indian professional badminton player. He trains at Gopichand Badminton Academy, Hyderaba

Notes:
India has won a total 13 medals in the all time medal count as of 2018 World Wrestling Championships. It has won 1 gold medal, 3 silver medals and 9 bronze medals.