Current Affairs Quiz - January, 2021

Notes:
Pope Francis has changed the Church law to explicitly allow women to do more things during Mass. However, he reaffirmed that they cannot be priests.
The Pope amended the law to formalise the common practice in various parts of the world allowing women to read the Gospel and serve on the altar as Eucharistic ministers. Earlier, these roles were reserved only to men.

Notes:
The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) organised its first ever Red Ribbon club Quiz Competition.
NACO was established in 1992 as a division of Health Ministry. Headquartered in NeW Delhi, it is implementing the ‘Adolescence Education Programme’ in schools, in association with NCERT. It has also established 12,500 Red Ribbon Clubs (RRCs) to create awareness among the college youth.

Notes:
Google has completed its USD 2.1 billion acquisition of fitness-gadget making firm Fitbit for approximately USD 2.1 billion.
This acquisition has come at the time when the US government regulators are pursuing an antitrust case. Google announced about this acquisition before 14 months, which will help expand the Tech Major’s presence in the market.

Notes:
The noted social activist and Padma Shri awardee D Prakash Rao, died recently in Cuttack. He was 63 years and died of brain stroke.
He is known for his significant contribution for uplifting and imparting education to slum and orphan children of Cuttack. He started the school named ‘Asha O Ashwasana’ in Cuttack to provide free education to children residing in slums.

Notes:
India and Japan have recently entered into a MoU in the field of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), including 5G standardisation.
As per the terms of MoU, both the countries will enhance cooperation in 5G technologies, telecom security, submarine optical fibre cable system to islands, spectrum management, smart cities etc.

Notes:
The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) was launched in the year 2015 and is implemented by the Union Ministry of Skill Development.
The 3rd Phase of the scheme has been launched recently, that aims to impart training to of eight lakh candidates over a scheme period of 2020-2021 with an outlay of Rs 949 crore.

Notes:
India’s first Labour Movement Museum is to be launched in the Houseboat tourism hub, Alappuzha in the state of Kerala.
The Museum aims to showcase the history of world labour movement, by showcasing the important documents of the World Labour movement and the exhibits of Kerala’s labour movement. Conservation architect Dr Benny Kuriakose is leading the project of outlay Rs 9.95 Crore.

Notes:
The Prime Minster of India Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project (Phase-II) and Surat Metro Rail Project.
The Metro Projects are said to be environment friendly ‘Mass Rapid Transit Systems’. The Prime Minister also flagged off 8 trains connecting Kevadiya in Gujarat, where the Statue of Unity is located, to various parts of the country.

Notes:
A Tintin drawing, created by the Belgian artist Herge, is sold recently for €2.6 million (USD 3.1 million) at Paris, France.
This makes the artwork the most expensive comic book art in history. The art contains a red dragon drawn on a black background by the frightened character’s face.

Notes:
The Government of Russia has recently announced its decision on pulling out of the Open Skies treaty.
The treaty came into effect in 2002, which permits a member country to spy on any part of the host nation, with the latter’s consent. As per the treaty, any signatory country can make aerial imaging over the host nation after giving a notice of 72 hours and sharing the exact flight path.