10 PM Current Affairs Quiz: February 29, 2020

Astronomers have observed a small object orbiting Earth, which they have dubbed a “mini-moon” or the planet’s “second moon”. It is actually an asteroid, about the size of a car; its diameter is about 1.9-3.5 m. And unlike our permanent Moon, the mini-moon is temporary; it will eventually break free of Earth’s orbit and go off on its own way. Dubbed 2020 CD3, the mini-moon was discovered by Kacper Wierzchos and Teddy Pruyne of the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona on the night of February 15. The Minor Planet Center of the International Astronomical Union acknowledged the discovery: “Orbit integrations indicate that this object is temporarily bound to the Earth… Further observations and dynamical studies are strongly encouraged.”

The Indian Space Research Organization on Tuesday said it is scheduled to launch its geo imaging satellite ‘GISAT-1’ on March 5. It is the first state-of-the-art agile Earth observation satellite which will be placed in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit by GSLV-F10. GISAT-1 will facilitate near real time observation of the Indian subcontinent, under cloud free condition, at frequent intervals.

EASE are a set of banking reforms which aims to incorporate technological aids for ensuring better banking experience, wider financial inclusion and easier credit distribution. Enhanced Access and Service Excellence (EASE 3.0) aims to provide advanced solutions that will make the public sector banking smart and technology-enabled. It will include facilities like Palm Banking for End-to-end digital delivery of financial service, Banking on Go via EASE banking outlets, digitalised branch experience, tech-enabled agriculture lending among others.

Union Tribal Affairs Minister Shri Arjun Munda launched the “Programme for Capacity Building of Scheduled Tribe Representatives in Local Self Governments” at a programme in Bhubhaneswar (Odisha) today. He also launched “1000 Spring Initiatives” and an online portal on GIS-based Spring Atlas with hydrological and chemical properties of the Springs on the occasion. Addressing on the occasion, he said that ‘1000 Springs Initiative’ aims at improving access to safe and adequate water for the tribal communities living in difficult and inaccessible part of rural areas in the country. It is an integrated solution around natural springs. It includes provision of infrastructure for piped water supply for drinking; provision of water for irrigation; community-led total sanitation initiatives; and provision for water for backyard nutrition gardens, generating sustainable livelihood opportunities for the tribal people. He hoped that the learning and suggestions coming out of the consultation will be used for further expansion of the project.

Kudumbashree is the poverty eradication and women empowerment programme implemented by the State Poverty Eradication Mission (SPEM) of the Government of Kerala in 1997. The name Kudumbashree in Malayalam language means ‘prosperity of the family’. The mission aims at the empowerment of women through forming self-help groups and encouraging microcredit and entrepreneurship among women.