Current Affairs Quiz - October, 2020

Notes:
The Supreme Court of India has ordered all the states and UTs to provide dry ration to all sex workers in the country.
The apex court has also insisted that the ration should be provided without insisting on ration card or any other identity proof. The top court has pronounced this order on observing the hardships faced by sex workers due to the COVID pandemic.

Notes:
It is reported that fraudulent transactions amounting Rs 12,705 crore has taken place in Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited (DHFL) during FY17 to FY19. These frauds pertain to development of 2 Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects undertaken by DHFL.
This observation was made by “Grant Thornton”, a transaction investigating agency. The assistance of Grant Thornton was sought by the administrator of DHFL appointed under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

Notes:
Leading Power Sector organisation, NTPC Ltd has recently signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Power.
Under the MoU, the key targets were fixed for the year 2020-21, which include 340 BU of electricity generation, 15 MMT of coal production under excellent category. It also includes other financial parameters including Capex and Revenue from operations.

Notes:
NITI Aayog and the Embassy of the Netherlands, New Delhi recently signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) on ‘Decarbonization and Energy Transition Agenda’.
Under this partnership, NITI Aayog and the Dutch Embassy aim to create innovative technological solutions to accommodate cleaner energy. It also aims to lower the net carbon footprint, to promote bio-energy technologies among others.

Notes:
The E Way bill system is being implemented by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). It is an Electronic Way bill for movement of goods to be generated on the eWay Bill Portal. A GST registered person cannot transport goods more than Rs.50,000 without an e way bill.
Finance Secretary Dr Ajay Bhushan Pandey has recently stated that more than 5.74 crore e-way bills have been generated in the month of September 2020 which is seen as a sign of revival of business activities in the country.

Notes:
Singapore based sovereign wealth fund GIC and global private equity firm TPG Capital have invested a total of Rs. 7,350 crores in Reliance Retail.
Reliance Retail Ventures has attracted more than USD 2 billion in investments from global investors, over the past few months. GIC will invest for a 1.22 percent stake while TPG Capital Management will invest for a 0.41 percent equity stake.

Notes:
European Union has imposed sanctions against Belarus, the land locked eastern European country.
The sanction has been imposed to pressurize the President to hold fresh elections in the country. Earlier, UK and Canada imposed sanctions against Belarus. It has been alleged by various nations that the elections which took place in Belarus on August 9 was not held by fair means.

Notes:
Digital payments firm Paytm has recently launched a mini-app store, with an aim to support Indian developers.
This initiative is seen as a direct challenge to Google in the App store system. The payment app was earlier temporarily removed from Google’s Play Store for violating developer guidelines. Paytm provides listing and distribution of these mini-apps within its application.

Notes:
Indian Army Chief General M M Naravane and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla have handed over 3,000 vials of Remdesivir to Myanmar.
The vials were handed over to Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, during their two-day visit, which aims to expand ties in areas including connectivity, defence and security. This is also the first visit of Army Chief to the country.

Notes:
Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) functions under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Divyangjan under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been between the ISLRTC and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to make educational materials such as NCERT Textbooks and Teachers Handbook accessible for hearing impaired children in their preferred format of sign language.