November Current Affairs 2020 Weekly Test -3

Answer – 4) Maharashtra, UttarPradesh
Explanation:
On November 15, 2020 Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) announced that Sur Sarovar also known as Keetham Lake in Agra, Uttar Pradesh and Lonar Lake in Maharashtra, the only crater lake of Country has been added to the ‘Ramsar Sites’. These 2 wetlands have been included in the ‘List of Wetlands of International Importance’ established by Article 2.1 of the convention.

Answer – 5) Indonesia
Explanation:
The World Health Organization (WHO) listed nOPV2 (novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2) Polio vaccine produced by Indonesia’s Bio Farma PT for Emergency Use Listing (EUL), this is the first approval by WHO of its kind amidst several outbreaks in several parts of the world. The nOPV2 vaccine is aimed at containing outbreaks of circulating Vaccine-Derived Polio Virus (cVDPVs) in African Countries, Meditarranean countries as well as Western Pacific and Southeast Asian Region. VDPVs are caused by the virus strains used in the polio vaccines regaining their ability to cause polio. The main objective behind EUL is to make the medicines, vaccines and diagnostics available faster to address the emergency (Public Health Emergency of International Concern).

Answer – 4) 2025
Explanation:
The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) launched a 3 month campaign to reduce childhood pneumonia deaths. The scheme focuses to raise awareness regarding childhood pneumonia and its early intervention, enabling the caregivers across the country to identify critical symptoms at early stages and immediate care-seeking with qualified providers. Target of the Initiative is to reduce less than 5 pneumonia deaths, per a 1000 live births, to less than 3 deaths by 2025 through the accelerated SAANS (Social Action and Awareness to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully) initiative.

Answer – 4) SBM Bank India
Explanation:
SBM Bank (India) Limited (SBM Bank India), the wholly-owned subsidiary of State Bank of Mauritius has partnered with Fintech PayNearby to launch a neo banking platform. The bank is also looking at collaborative banking in other segments and where companies may have access to a large number of customers but not have a banking license.

Answer – 2) Sadat Rahman
Explanation:
17 year old Sadat Rahman from Bangladesh won the International Children’s Peace Prize 2020 for his involvement in setting up his social organization and creating mobile application ‘Cyber Teens’ to end cyberbullying. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai presented the award to Sadat Rahman, during a ceremony in the Netherlands.

Answer – 4) 15
Explanation:
15 Asia-Pacific countries including 10 members of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and their 5Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia signed the World’s largest regional free-trade agreement “Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership – RCEP” on the sidelines of the 37th ASEAN virtual Summit hosted by Vietnam. India had pulled out of RCEP in 2019 over concerns on Imports.
RCEP’s members account for 2.2 Billion People with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 26.2 Trillion.

Answer – 4) The Nurse and Diabetes
Explanation:
United Nations (UN)’s World Diabetes Day is annually observed across the globe on 14th November to recognise the need to undertake multilateral efforts to promote and improve the health of the humans and to provide access to treatment and healthcare education.
The theme of the World Diabetes Day 2020 is “The Nurse and Diabetes”, which focuses on the vital role of the nurses in supporting the lives of the diabetic patients. As a part of the World Diabetes day, WHO has announced the Global Diabetes Compact, a comprehensive and inclusive approach to support the member nations to implement programmes to prevent and manage diabetes.

Answer – 4) Parbhani, Maharashtra
Explanation:
Jai Bhawani women’s cooperative textile mill which is set to come up at Parbhani, Maharashtra will be the first Textile Mill in Asia which will operate on Solar Power.
The Textile Mill is spread across Thirty acres of land and will process cotton to cloth.
Once Functional, the mill will provide jobs to many women in the district. Ginning, Pressing, Weaving and Spinning of cotton will be done in the mill itself.
It is being set up at a cost of INR 100 Crores and will add momentum to the industrial sector in the district. Parbhani is the leading cotton producing district in Maharashtra. Majority of the farmers grow cotton as it is seen as a profitable investment.

Answer – 2) Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited
Explanation:
Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited (ESFBL) launched ‘Eva’, a unique savings account for Indian women. The product addresses the wellbeing of women in every aspect such as Health, Wealth and Prosperity. Smriti Mandhana, Indian Woman cricketer has been appointed as the new brand ambassador of ESFBL.

Answer – 3) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
Explanation:
In accordance with the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) first ever estimation based on high-frequency data namely “nowcast”, India’s Gross domestic product (GDP) contracted 8.6% in the quarter ended September 2020 i.e. Q2FY21. Nowcast is prepared by a team of economists including Michael Debabrata Patra, RBI’s deputy governor. As per it, India also has entered a technical recession in the first half of FY21 for the first time in its history as the economy had slumped about 24% in Q1FY21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rises to 7.61% in October 2020 as compared to 7.27% in the previous month of September, 2020.

Answer – 2) World Bank (WB)
Explanation:
Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), which handles government’s disinvestment programme has signed an agreement with World Bank (WB) under which the latter provide advisory services to DIPAM for asset monetization. This was approved by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
This project would facilitate and accelerate the non-core asset monetization process and help unlock the value of these unused/ marginally used assets for further investments and growth.

Answer – 5) Senapathy (Kris) Gopalakrishnan
Explanation:
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed Senapathy (Kris) Gopalakrishnan, co-founder and former co-Chairman, Infosys as the 1st chairperson of Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH). He is currently the Chief Mentor of Start-up Village, an incubation hub for start-ups. RBIH will be guided and managed by a Governing Council (GC) led by a Chairperson of RBI. The governing council has also 9 other members.
On August 6, 2020 RBI in its Monetary Policy Statement on Development and Regulatory Policies announced that RBI will set up a RBIH to promote innovation across the financial sector by leveraging the technology and creating an environment that facilitates and fosters innovation.

Answer – 4) Renu Devi
Explanation:
Nitish Kumar of Janata Dal (United) party was sworn-in as the 23rd Chief Minister (CM) of Bihar. His swearing-in ceremony was administered by Governor Phagu Chauhan, along with Nitish Kumar 14 Ministers from NDA (National Democratic Alliance) took oath as Ministers. Nitish Kumar has been sworn in as the CM of Bihar for Four Consecutive Terms.
He is also taking charge as CM of Bihar for the seventh time in two decades.
Four-Time BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) MLA’s (Member of Legislative Assembly), Tarkishore Prasad (Constituency – Katihar) and Renu Devi (Constituency – Bettiah) were sworn-in as Deputy Chief Ministers.
Renu Devi is the First Woman Deputy CM of Bihar

Answer – 2) Glasgow, United Kingdom
Explanation:
The UK (United Kingdom) Government announced SSE, ScottishPower, NatWest Group and National Grid as the first Principal Partners for the 2021 United Nations (UN) Climate Conference also known as COP26. As Principal Partners, they will be the top tier of sponsorship for COP 26. COP26 is scheduled to take place on November 1-12, 2021 at SEC Centre, Glasgow, Scotland (UK).

Answer – 4) Operation Thunder
Explanation:
The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and World Customs Organization (WCO) conducted Operation Thunder, in 103 countries between September 14, 2020, and October 11, 2020 against environmental crimes. It resulted in large seizures of protected forestry and wildlife specimen and triggered arrests and investigations worldwide, including India. During the Operation, India Customs along with INTERPOL and WCO intercepted an 18-tonne shipment of red sandalwood destined for the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The participating countries focused mainly on the species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Answer – 1) Two
Explanation:
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the opening of the first cohort under the Regulatory Sandbox (RS) with “Retail Payments”, as its theme. In this regard, Reserve Bank received applications from 32 entities of which six have been selected for the ‘Test Phase’.
Therefore as of November 16, 2020, two sandbox entities viz. Natural Support Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd. of Jaipur, Rajasthan and Nucleus Software Exports Ltd. of New Delhi have started the first test phase of their products viz. “eRupaya” and “PaySe” respectively.
Regulatory sandbox usually refers to live testing of new products or services in a controlled regulatory environment for which regulators may (or may not) permit certain relaxations for the limited purpose of the testing.

Answer – 1) Lakshmi Vilas Bank
Explanation:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposed a draft scheme of amalgamation of the capital starved Lakshmi Vilas Bank Ltd. (LVB) with DBS Bank India Ltd. (DBIL). This decision has been taken after the Central Government has imposed a one-month moratorium on LVB on November 17, 2020 that temporarily capped withdrawals at Rs 25,000. The moratorium will be effective upto December 16, 2020. The draft scheme invited suggestions and objections from members, depositors and other creditors of LVB and DBIL by November 20. RBI also appointed Thothala Narayanaswamy (T.N.) Manoharan, a former Non Executive Chairman of Canara Bank, as Administrator of LVB.

Answer – 2) Yes Bank
Explanation:
YES Bank launched ‘YES BANK Neokred Card’, a Co-Branded Prepaid Card in partnership with Neokred Technologies to encourage cashless payments. The prepaid card will be offered to the corporate partners of Neokred across various sectors. The card offerings can be personalized to suit the needs of companies looking for salary cards or expense cards for their employees

Answer – 4) Goa
Explanation:
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of New & Renewable Energy (DNRE), Government of Goa to discuss the implementation of India’s First 100 MW (MegaWatt) decentralised solar convergence project under the newly formed Convergence Energy Services Limited (Convergence) in Goa. Goa is the first state to adopt the concept of amortising the cost of pumps and LED lights into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

Answer – 4) Delhi
Explanation:
In accordance with the annual report and ranking of best cities around the world titled “2021 World’s Best Cities” by Resonance Consultancy Ltd, London, United Kingdom (UK) is at top spot for the 6th consecutive year. It was followed by New York, United States (US) and Paris (France) at 2nd and 3rd rank respectively. Notably only one Indian city, Delhi, is listed in the ranking at 62 which was ranked 81st in previous year ranking. The report has ranked 100 cities around the world with a population of more than 10 lakh. The ranking was based on the 25 ranking factors grouped into six core categories. Notably, for the first time, the cities were also ranked on new criteria such as unemployment, the rate of COVID-19 infections (as of July) and income disparity.

Answer – 3) Larsen & Tubro (L&T)
Explanation:
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) delivered First Hardware – a Booster Segment – ‘S-200’ for Ganganyaan Launch Vehicle to ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) in a virtual flag-off ceremony. The Virtual flag-off ceremony was presided over by Dr K Sivan, Chairman, ISRO. The Booster segment was produced at L&T’s Powai Aerospace Manufacturing Facility, Mumbai, Maharashtra. The Critical booster segment has a diameter of 3.2 meters, 8.5 meters in length and weighs 5.5 tons.
ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission aims to send a three-member crew to space for a period of 5-7 days by 2022 when India completes 75 years of Independence.

Answer – 5) 26%
Explanation:
The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has issued a notice asking all eligible news websites, portals, aggregators and agencies which are uploading or streaming news and current affairs through digital media to comply with the 26% foreign direct investment (FDI) policy for digital news media. They need to share suitable details within one month i.e. by December 16, 2020.
This notification is issued on the lines of the Union Cabinet decision’s on September 18, 2019 which had permitted 26% FDI for digital news media under Government approval route. Also, this decision will enable the government to check foreign influence and interference in domestic affairs.

Answer – 2) Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Explanation:
Bhubaneswar, Capital of Odisha became the First City in the Country to get ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9001:2015 Certification for Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) services. Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) was the first civic body to implement FSSM regulations in Odisha. The National Policy on Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) was launched by the Ministry of Urban Development in 2017 and FSSM plans are part of AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) State Level Implementation Plans.

Answer – 1) Nigeria
Explanation:
In accordance with the new report by World Health Organisation (WHO) and United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) titled “Progress Towards Regional Measles Elimination Worldwide 2000-2019”, India is among six countries with the highest number of infants who had not received the vaccine against measles.
A total of 1.2 million children did not receive the first dose of measles-containing-vaccine (MCV1) in 2019 in India. The other five countries are Nigeria (3.3 million), Ethiopia (1.5 million), Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (1.4 million), Pakistan (1.4 million), and Philippines (0.7 million).

Answer – 1) 2020
Explanation:
It should be noted that the Member States of GPC had agreed to reduce new adult HIV infections by 75% at the end of 2020 from 2010 levels. Therefore, this year’s meet was significant in achieving the 2016 UNGA commitment to end AIDS by 2030.
Indian side is also committed to achieve the 90-90-90 targets across the country by the end of 2020 and elimination of (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.
This target envisages the following by 2020:
90% of people living with HIV will know their HIV status.
90% of people who know their HIV-positive status will be accessing treatment
90% of people on treatment will have suppressed viral loads.

Answer – 3) Sustainable sanitation and climate change
Explanation:
United Nations (UN)’s World Toilet Day is annually celebrated across the globe on 19th November to celebrate Toilets and to raise awareness about the 4.2 billion people across the globe who are living without any access to safely managed sanitation. The First UN’s World Toilet Day was observed on 19th November 2013. Every year the UN Water, the UN’s coordination mechanism on water and sanitation sets the theme of the World Toilet Day. The theme of the 2020 World Toilet Day is “Sustainable sanitation and climate change”

Answer – 4) BHUVAN
Explanation:
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific’s (ESCAP) report ‘Geospatial Practices for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific 2020: A Compendium’ has cited the role of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s ‘BHUVAN” Geo-Portal in combating COVID-19 in India. It has also cited the efforts of ISRO for supporting sustainable development projects in the country. The report was released by the UN on November 18, 2020. BHUVAN is a national geo-portal developed and hosted by ISRO; it contains geo spatial data, services and tools for analysis for combating COVID-19.

Answer – 3) Lotay Tshering
Explanation:
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering jointly e-launched RuPay card Phase-II which will allow Bhutanese card holders to access RuPay network in India. Through this initiative, Bhutanese people can access around one lakh ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) and 20 Lakh Point-of-Sale terminals (PoS) across India.
In August, 2019 Rupay Card Phase-I enabled India’s RuPay card holders to access ATMs and PoS terminals across Bhutan. Around 11, 000 successful transactions were done by Indians visiting Bhutan through Rupay Card issued by Indian Banks since the start of the initiative. The numbers were substantially low due to Pandemic.

Answer – 1) World Bank (WB)
Explanation:
The Government of India, the Government of Meghalaya and the World Bank (WB) signed a $120-million Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project (MITP) to improve and modernize the transport sector of Meghalaya. The loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a maturity of 14 years including a grace period of 6 years. The project enables Meghalaya to utilize its vast development potential for high value agriculture and tourism. It will support the ‘Restart Meghalaya Mission’ of the state govt.

Answer – 2) ICICI Bank
Explanation:
ICICI Bank Ltd in partnership with Pine Labs launched ‘ICICI Bank Cardless EMI’ (Equated Monthly Installments). ICICI Bank becomes India’s first bank and first in industry to launch a fully digital payment mode, a Cardless EMI facility at retail stores.
Purpose- The facility allows the bank’s pre-approved customers to use their mobile phone and PAN(Permanent Account Number)instead of wallet or cards, to purchase their gadgets or home appliances at retail stores across PAN India.

Answer – 4) Delhi
Explanation:
Delhi Government and the Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for carrying out detailed study of measures for state revenue. The study will provide comprehensive data analysis related to GST (Goods & Services Tax), vehicle tax, stamp duty, excise duty, and a comparative state analysis to improve the tax revenue capacity of Delhi.

Answer – 4) Douglas Stuart
Explanation:
New York based Scottish writer Douglas Stuart (44 years) won the Booker Prize 2020 for his debut novel “Shuggie Bain” published by Grove Atlantic in the United States and Picador in the United Kingdom. Shuggie Bain is a story of a boy from 1980’s Glasgow with a mother with alcohol addiction. He is the second Scottish writer to win the award after James Kelman who won the Booker Prize in 1994 for his book titled “’How Late It Was, How Late”.

Answer – 3) Dr Bish Agrawal
Explanation:
Dr. Bish Agrawal, Chairman of Accord India and Founding Partner of Alto Partners won 2020 AESC (Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants) Lifetime Achievement Award. He is the first Asian to receive this recognition. He was honoured during the week’s (November 17to November 19, 2020) AESC Global Conference that was held virtually.

Answer – 2) Dr. Adam Yao Liu
Explanation:
Dr. Adam Yao Liu, a political scientist trained at Stanford University, won the Export-Import Bank of India’s (India Exim Bank’s) BRICS Economic Research Award 2020 for his for his Ph.D. dissertation, “Building Markets within Authoritarian Institutions: The Political Economy of Banking Development in China.”
The award was announced by David Rasquinha, Managing Director (MD) of India Exim Bank, during the 10th Annual BRICS Financial Forum over a virtual platform, organised by VEB.RF Russian National Development Corporation.

Answer – 1) ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization)
Explanation:
The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) (operational name NavIC –Navigation with Indian Constellation) has been accepted as a component of the World Wide Radio Navigation System (WWRNS) for operation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). India became the Fourth Country in the world to have its independent regional navigation satellite recognised by IMO. The Other three countries are the United States (US), Russia and China. The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of IMO approved the recognition of IRNSS as a component of the WWRNS during its meeting (102nd session) held from November 4-11, 2020. IRNSS was developed by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization). The Government of India approved the project in May, 2006.

Answer – 2) Asian Development Bank
Explanation:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $50 million (about Rs 370 crore) policy-based loan to help boost West Bengal’s Digital Platforms for Public Finance Reforms.
Objective:
To improve operational efficiencies and resource planning and management in West Bengal. To integrate the financial and information systems and expand the automation reforms in the state govt’s operation, which is expected to strengthen the delivery of public services and generate fiscal savings.

Answer – 2) -10.6% (contract by 10.6%)
Explanation:
The Moody’s Investors Service has revised upwards the India’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) for the Fiscal 2020 (April 2020-March 2021) to -10.6% (contract by 10.6%) from -11.5% projected earlier. The upward revision is due to the latest stimulus prioritizes manufacture and job creation, and changes the focus to longer-term growth.
It has also projected India’s GDP growth for fiscal 2021-22 at 10.8%, against the previous estimate of 10.6%. The medium term growth is expected to be around 6%.

Answer – 3) Mastercard
Explanation:
Mastercard and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) entered into partnership under the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP) Initiative to launch Project Kirana. Project Kirana is a 2 year economic empowerment program for women that drives small business growth through digital financial inclusion. The programme will be implemented by DAI and ACCESS Development Services in the selected cities of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, Kanpur and Varanasi.

Answer – 2) Girish Chandra (G.C.) Murmu
Explanation:
Girish Chandra (G.C.) Murmu, 14th Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India elected as the External Auditor of Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) for 3 years. He will take charge of this position from the Supreme Audit Institution of Switzerland.
The election took place at the IPU’s virtual meeting of the 284th session.

Answer – 3) 62nd
Explanation:
According to 56th Edition of the TOP500 project which ranks and details the 500 most powerful non-distributed computer systems in the world, India’s Supercomputer – PARAM Siddhi-AI – Ranked 62 in the list of most powerful non-distributed computer systems in the World. In a non-distributed computer system (co-located), all the components are in a single location. The Top500 project Rankings are published twice a year. Another Supercomputer, Pratyush – Ranked 77 featured in the Top 100 while “Mihir” – Ranked 145 featured in the list of Top 500 supercomputers in the list. Both Pratyush and Mihir are located at two Government Institutes.

Answer – 5) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation:
The Meja Thermal Power Plant, Uttar Pradesh’s first supercritical power plant, will be fully operational by December. Meja Urja Nigam Pvt Ltd (MUNPL) is a 50:50 joint venture (JV) of state-owned NTPC Ltd and Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL).
The JV was incorporated in 2008 to set up a 1,320-megawatt (with 2X660 MW units) coal-based Meja Thermal Power Plant at Meja, about 45 km from the state’s Prayagraj district.

Answer –4) Hyderabad, Telangana
Explanation:
State Bank of India (SBI) announced the adoption of 15 tigers of Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad for a period of one year. Om Prakash Mishra, Chief General Manager, Hyderabad gave a cheque of INR15 lakh to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden. SBI will continue to adopt the tigers in future years also..

Answer – 3) Arunachal Pradesh
Explanation:
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu told the officials engaged in the construction of the greenfield airport at Hollongi near here, to complete the project by August 2022. Khandu accompanied by state’s Civil Aviation Minister Nakap Nalo and a host of departmental officers and legislators took first hand report of the ground facts of the maiden airport in the state capital.
Earlier the completion target was November 2022 which, has been changed to August 2022.

Answer – 4) Assam
Explanation:
Even as a gas well operated by Oil India Limited (OIL) in Baghjan, Assam, continues to blaze out of control, the same company wants to drill for oil just a kilometre away from the site – at the edge of a Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is a national park in Assam, India, located in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts. It was designated a Biosphere Reserve in July 1997 with an area of 765 km², including a core area of 340 km² and a buffer zone of 425 km².

Answer – 1) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Explanation:
Financial position of the Chennai-based Lakshmi Vilas Bank, which has a network of 563 branches and deposits of Rs 20,973 crore, has undergone a steady decline, with continuous losses over the last three years eroding the bank’s net-worth. The bank has not been able to raise adequate capital to address these issues. It was also experiencing continuous withdrawal of deposits and low levels of liquidity. Serious governance issues in recent years have led to deterioration in its performance. LVB posted a net loss of Rs 397 crore in the September quarter of FY21, as against a loss of Rs 112 crore in the June quarter. Almost one fourth of the bank’s advances have turned bad assets. Its gross non-performing assets (NPAs) stood 25.4% of its advances as of June 2020, as against 17.3% a year ago.

Answer – 3) Geneva, Switzerland
Explanation:
Headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland, UNAIDS is leading the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Since the first cases of HIV were reported more than 35 years ago, 78 million people have become infected with HIV and 35 million have died from AIDS-related illnesses. Since it started operations in 1996, UNAIDS has led and inspired global, regional, national and local leadership, innovation and partnership to ultimately consign HIV to history.

Answer – 2) Puerto Rico
Explanation:
The Arecibo telescope’s long and productive life has come to an end. The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced today it will decommission the iconic radio telescope in Puerto Rico following two cable breaks in recent months that have brought the structure to near collapse. The 57-year-old observatory, a survivor of numerous hurricanes and earthquakes, is now in such a fragile state that attempting repairs would put staff and workers in danger.

Answer – 1) Tamil Nadu
Explanation:
The Chennai Snake Park, located in Tamil Nadu, officially the Chennai Snake Park Trust, is a not-for-profit NGO constituted in 1972 by herpetologist Romulus Whitaker and is India’s first reptile park. Also known as the Guindy Snake Park, it is located next to the Children’s Park in the Guindy National Park campus. Recently an Iguana garden has been inaugrated here.

Answer – 2) Tristan da Cunha
Explanation:
The isolated UK Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha, which is home to the world’s most remote human settlement, declared the largest fully protected marine reserves in the Atlantic Ocean at 687,000 square kilometres. This will close over 90 percent of their waters to harmful activities such as bottom-trawling fishing, sand extraction and
deep-sea mining.

Answer – 5) Assam
Explanation:
Airports Authority of India (AAI) stated that Rupsi Airport at Kokrajhar district, Assam is ready to start commercial operation under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) by January 2021. It is Assam’s 7th airport and Northeast’s 14th airport. It is a British-era airport that was originally constructed during World War-II to supply arms, manpower and ammunition to the Allied forces. The flight operations came to a halt in the 1980s. At an estimated cost of Rs 69 crore it has been re-developed.