Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2021

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:
The first three sets of a 10-metre short-span bridge, designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), were inducted to the Indian Army.
The bridges are manufactured at the Larsen & Toubro facility at Talegaon in Pune. The bridges were developed by the Research and Development Establishment (Engineers), DRDO in Pune. The DRDO has also developed five metre and 15 metre types of the bridge.

Notes:
The European Union and China have recently agreed to the long-awaited investment treaty, which aims to open up new corporate opportunities.
The accord was confirmed by China’s president Xi Jinping and EU leaders including European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. This is also the most ambitious treaty China has ever agreed with a third country.

Notes:
The 51st edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to be held in Goa from 16th to 24th of January, 2021.
Recently, the registrations have commenced for media delegates, who desire to attend the event, which will be held in a hybrid mode, on account of the Covid-19 pandemic. The registration will be open till January 10, 2021.

Notes:
The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) is an association of organizations, which regulate the world’s securities and futures markets.
International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), established by the Government of India in 2019, has become an associate member of the IOSCO. With this, IFSCA can exchange information at the global level, learn from the best practices of the other regulators.

Notes:
The world’s largest floating solar energy project is set to be constructed at Omkareshwar dam on Narmada river, Madhya Pradesh.
The 3,000-crore project, which will construct a 600 MW plant, will begin power generation by 2022-23. World Banks’s IFC and Power Grid will provide the financial assistance to this project, which includes installing solar panels in the dam.

Notes:
People of Tamil Nadu celebrate the ‘Thai Poosam’ festival, which is dedicated for the worship of the Tamil God Lord Muruga.
After the devotees requested to declare the day as a public holiday, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami issued an order for the same. It is also celebrated in some parts of Kerala and in other countries like Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius and Indonesia.

Notes:
An all-female team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was recently deployed for contingency duties in Uttar Pradesh’s Garh Mukteshwar town, on the banks of the Ganga river.
The team who are professionally trained handled the rescue boats and related equipment. The first batch of over a hundred women disaster combatants and rescuers was also inducted in the NDRF.

Notes:
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath launched Kisan Kalyan Mission, to promote the income of farmers.
The scheme aims to double the income of the farmers in Uttar Pradesh by 2022. The Chief Minister also ensured that the development schemes for farmers will be launched in 825 localities across the state.

Notes:
The Delhi Government has introduced a new “School bag policy”, to reduce the weight of school bags of the students, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP).
The Government also directed the schools in the National Capital Region to implement the policy soon. As per the policy, the weight of school bags for students between classes 1-10 should not be more than 10 per cent of their body weight.