10 PM Current Affairs Quiz #70 January 24, 2020

Explanation: Minister of Atomic Energy and Space inaugurated India’s first global Mega Science Exhibition “Vigyan Samagam” in Delhi. It is a multi-venue mega-science exhibition. It is being hosted in a caravan mode at four cities – Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Delhi – from May 2019 to March 2020. It is organized jointly by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM).

Explanation: 1t.org is a World Economic Forum initiative, designed to support the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, led by UNEP and FAO. 1t.org offers a platform for leading governments, businesses, civil society and ecopreneurs committed to serving the global trillion trees community.

Explanation: The latest edition of the Democracy Index spells gloom for India. The world’s biggest democracy slipped 10 places in the 2019 global ranking to 51st place. The survey published on January 22 attributes the primary cause of “the democratic regression” to “an erosion of civil liberties in the country”. India’s overall score fell from 7.23 to 6.9, on a scale of 0-10, within a year (2018-2019) — the country’s lowest since 2006. The average global score also recorded its worst value ever, down from 5.48 in 2018 to 5.44, driven by a sharp regression in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, a lesser one in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and by stagnation in the remaining regions that were covered. The report published on Wednesday by The Economist Intelligence Unit — the research and analysis division of The Economist Group, which is the sister company to The Economist newspaper — records how global democracy fared, analyzing 165 independent states and two territories.

Explanation: A new World Economic Forum report has warned of huge risks to the economy from the biodiversity loss and climate change as businesses are more than dependent on nature. Releasing the Nature Risk Rising Report ahead of its 50th Annual Meeting, the World Economic Forum said about 25 per cent of earth’s assessed plant and animal species are threatened by human actions, with a million species facing extinction. Expressing apprehension, the report said, over half the world’s total GDP is moderately or highly dependent on nature and its services and, as a result, exposed to risks from nature loss. The report said that China, the European Union and the US have the highest absolute economic value in nature-dependent industries. Pollination, water quality and disease control are three examples of the services that an ecosystem can provide. Construction, agriculture & food and beverages are the three largest industries that depend most on nature. As nature loses its capacity to provide such services, these industries could be significantly disrupted. This World Economic Forum report, produced in collaboration with a British study team, found that many industries have significant “hidden dependencies” on nature in their supply chain and may be more at risk of disruption than expected.

Explanation: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou on Tuesday jointly inaugurated the first convention centre established in Africa by India to honour the memory of Mahatma Gandhi. The External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the establishment of the Mahatma Gandhi International Convention Centre (MGICC) is a landmark for India-Niger friendship, as also a symbol of India’s firm commitment towards Africa. It is the first centre to be established in Africa by India to honour the memory of Mahatma Gandhi whose 150th Birth Anniversary was observed last year. The convention centre has been designed as a spacious, modern and eco-friendly facility, including a 2,000 capacity Plenary Hall, to witness high-level and wide-ranging participation from African Union member states and other high-level conventions. Mr. Jaishankar, the first Indian Foreign Minister to visit the West African country, arrived in Niamey on Monday on the first leg of his three-day two-nation trip to Niger and Tunisia. The tour is his first outreach to the African continent after becoming Foreign Minister last year. Earlier, Mr. Jaishankar met Prime Minister Brigi Rafini during which the two leaders discussed bilateral ties. He also met his counterpart of Niger, Kalla Ankourao and held discussions on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues. The bilateral relations have expanded significantly in recent years. India has provided Lines of Credit to Niger for projects in transport, electrification, solar energy and potable drinking water.