Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2021

Notes:
The United States’ space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced that it has given approval to two Sun exploration heliophysics missions.
Under these missions, researchers study the Sun and relate them to the events taking place in the solar system. The missions include NASA-led Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE) mission and Japan-led Extreme Ultraviolet High-Throughput Spectroscopic Telescope Epsilon Mission (EUVST) mission.

Notes:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has recently approved industrial corridor nodes at Andhra Pradesh’s Krishnapatnam and Karnataka’s Tumakuru.
The nodes are approved under the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC). The project cost of the former node is approved at Rs 2139 crores and the latter is Rs 1701 crores. This will create huge employment opportunities, state-of-the-art infrastructure and connectivity.

Notes:
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has announced that subscribers can now use online mode also to exit from the National Pension System (NPS).
The National Pension System (NPS) was implemented with effect from the 1st January, 2004. It was extended to all citizens of the country from 2009 on a voluntary basis. PFRDA regulates the National pension system (NPS) as well as the pension sector.

Notes:
In the Jhalawar District of Rajasthan, 50 crows had died of Avian influenza (Bird flu) recently. In response, a curfew was imposed surrounding the area.
While, death of crows has also been reported from the city of Jodhpur. The administration ordered to sanitise the affected area and send the samples to the National High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (NHSADL), Bhopal.

Notes:
Private sector bank of India, IDBI Bank has completed the sale of 23 per cent stake in IDBI Federal Life Insurance Company Ltd (IFLI) to Ageas Insurance International.
With the deal amounting Rs 507 crore, Ageas will hold 49 per cent stake in the insurance company, while IDBI will hold 21 per cent. The company is now rebranded as Ageas Federal Life Insurance Company.

Notes:
Deepor Beel is the only Ramsar site of the state of Assam. It is located in the south-western edge of Guwahati.
The site, which houses of a variety of aquatic life forms along with 219 species of birds, was designated a Ramsar site in the year 2002. The District officials has banned Community fishing at the site.

Notes:
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, is organizing ‘Udyog Manthan’, in association with Quality Council of India, National Productivity Council, and major Industry bodies
It is a series of sector-specific webinars to promote the quality and productivity in Indian Industries. The webinar marathon focussing on both manufacturing and services is being held from January 4, 2021 to March 2, 2021.

Notes:
India has recently commenced its 2-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
To mark this event, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador TS Tirumurti installed the tricolour at UNSC. Four other new incoming non-permanent members are Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Norway.

Notes:
The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund Trust has allocated Rs 201.58 crore rupees for installation of 162 dedicated Medical Oxygen Generation Plants.
The Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) plants are to be procured by the Central Medical Supply Store, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The PSA plants are source of medical-grade oxygen.

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.