Current Affairs Quiz 22 January 2021 | Current Affairs for SSC, IBPS, Railway, UPSC Exams

Explanation:

Power Grid Corporation has signed an agreement with Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd. (HPSEBL) in Shimla (H.P.) to improve telecom connectivity in hilly areas. The deal comprises the utilization of 500 Kms of OPGW Telecom network. It is a type of cable that is used in overhead power lines. The cable contains a tubular structure having one or more optical fiber and surrounded by layers of aluminium and steel wires.

Explanation:

State-owned SBI, along with private sector lenders ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank continue to be Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) or institutions which are 'too big to fail'. The Reserve Bank had issued the framework for dealing with domestic systemically important banks on July 22, 2014. The D-SIB framework requires the Reserve Bank to disclose the names of banks designated as D-SIBs starting from 2015 and place these banks in appropriate buckets depending upon their systemic importance scores (SISs).

Explanation:

The government nominated 28 non-official members on the National Startup Advisory Council, including Byju’s Chief Executive Officer Byju Raveendran, Ola Cabs co-founder Bhavish Aggarwal, Kalaari Capital Managing Director Vani Kola and SoftBank India country head Manoj Kohli. The term of the non-official members of this council shall be for two years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Explanation:

NITI Aayog released a book on faecal sludge and septage management in urban areas. Jointly developed with National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (NFSSM) Alliance, the book presents 27 case studies across 10 states and various service and business models adopted by Indian cities while implementing faecal sludge and septage management (FSSM) initiatives. Accordingly, FSSM planning prioritizes human excreta management, a waste stream with a high potential for spreading diseases. Universal access to toilets was achieved in urban India with the construction of 66 lakh household toilets and more than 6 lakh community and public toilets.

Explanation:

The Union Cabinet has given its approval to an investment of Rs 5281.94 crore for 850 MW Ratle Hydro Electric Project located on river Chenab in Kishtwar district by a new Joint Venture Company (JVC) to be incorporated between National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC) with equity contribution of 51 per cent and 49 per cent respectively. It will be located on river Chenab, in Kishtwar district of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Explanation:

The 5th Defence Ministers' Dialogue (DMD) between India and Singapore was successfully held on 20 January 2021 through a video conference and continues the substantial increase in bilateral cooperation and defence partnership over the years. At this 5th DMD, both Ministers witnessed the signing of the Implementing Agreement on Submarine Rescue Support and Cooperation between the two Navies.

Explanation:

DRDO signed framework MoU with MoRTH for geo-hazard managementThe Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) entered into a framework Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to strengthen collaboration in the field of technical exchange and co-operation on sustainable geohazard management. DRDO’s Defence Geo-Informatics Research Establishment (DGRE) is working for the development of critical technologies for enhancing combat effectiveness in various kinds of terrains and avalanches.

Explanation:

Days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrates the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the Indian Railways renamed one of its oldest trains, the Howrah-Kalka Mail, as the ‘Netaji Express’. It is said that Bose took this train from Gomoh in Bihar after he escaped from his house in Kolkata in 1941.

Explanation:

The Gujarat government’s move to rename dragon fruit as ‘Kamalam’, since according to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani the fruit’s outer shape resembles a lotus, has split internet and social media platforms with twitteratis and others posting comments ridiculing it or taking a sarcastic dig. Dragon fruit is the fruit of a species of wild cactus indigenous to South and Central America, where it is called pitaya or pitahaya. The fruit’s flesh is usually white or red — although there is a less common yellow pitaya too — and is studded with tiny seeds rather like the kiwifruit.

Explanation:

NITI Aayog, along with the Institute for Competitiveness, released the second edition of the India Innovation Index. The report examines the innovation capabilities and performance of the states and union territories. The first edition of the index was launched in October 2019. The India Innovation Index 2020 examines the innovation capabilities and performance of the states and union territories.