Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2020

Notes:
The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) recently collaborated with NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) to launch an artificial intelligence (AI) based module for Indian school students.
The AI-Base Module is to be implemented in nearly 5,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) and is expected to reach as many as 2.5 million students. The module with activities and videos on AI concepts is to be introduced from 27 February.

Notes:
Larsen & Toubro ship building company recently handed over the offshore Patrol Vessel ICGS Varad to the country. The ship has been commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard at L&T Kattupalli shipyard, near Chennai.
This is the fifth in the series of the seven patrol vessels built by L&T, contracted by the Defence Ministry. ICGS Varad is also the first major defence ship to clear all sea acceptance trials in a single sea sortie.

Notes:
As per the recent report by online payment processor Worldline India, Bengaluru accounted for the highest number of digital transactions in India in 2019.
Bengaluru, which was the leading city in digital transactions in 2018, is followed by Chennai, Mumbai and Pune this year. The report also revealed that United Payments Interface (UPI) was the most preferred mode of payment, followed by debit cards and immediate payment service (IMPS).

Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh assembly Speaker recently announced that the state’s MLAs’ Local Area Development Fund (MLALAD Fund) to Rs.3 Crore per annum.
The fund has been increased from the previous limit of Rs. 2 Crore a year. This hike in the limit is expected to accelerate the developmental activities made in the constituencies. In 2018, the state government had increased MLALAD funds from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 2 crore per annum

Notes:
Rare Disease Day is observed across the world on the last day of February each year. This year it is observed on February 29, 2020.
The main objective of Rare Disease Day is to raise awareness among the general public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on the lives of patients. It is estimated that more than 300 million people are living with rare diseases.

Notes:
The Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) is an array of radio telescopes, located in Pune. It is operated by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, under the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai.
Recently, this is one of the four telescopes, through which the biggest explosion seen in the universe since the Big Bang, have recently been discovered. The newly discovered blast released five times more energy than the previous most massive explosion. The other telescopes are from NASA, Europe and Australia.

Notes:
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla recently launched “Suposhit Maa Abhiyan”, that aims to provide nutritional support to pregnant women and adolescent girls.
The scheme was launched in Kota, Rajasthan which is also the Speaker’s parliamentary constituency. Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani also attended the launch programme.

Notes:
RaIDer-X is a new explosive detection device, which was recently unveiled at the National Workshop on Explosive Detection (NWED-2020) in Pune. It has been co-developed by the laboratory of DRDO-High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
It is claimed that the device can detect explosives from a stand-off distance and even bulk explosive in concealed condition. The device can be engineered to detect a number of explosives even with contaminants.

Notes:
Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela-2020 is being organised in New Delhi by ICAR-IARI (Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Agricultural Research Institute) from March 1 to 3. The event is being conducted at the ICAR-IARI Mela Grounds, New Delhi.
Bharat Bhushan, a 42-year-old farmer from Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, has been selected for the ‘Innovative Farmer Award’ by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. Innovative farmers are felicitated during the event.

Notes:
Veteran Konkani writer and dramatist Richard John Pais recently passed away at the age of 51. He has written several short stories, satirical writings and poems in Konkani language.
Pais was presented the T M A Pai award for his literary work ‘Fathor’. Many of his plays have been presented in Konkani theatres. He had also served as the editorial head of a news portal called Daijiworld.