July Current Affairs 2020 Weekly Test -4

Answer – 5) China
Explanation:
Pakistan and Gezhouba Group Company Limited of China signed an Engineer Procurement and Contract (EPC) agreement for the 700 MW Azad Pattan Hydel Power Project on Jhelum River in the Sudhnoti District of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan witnessed the signing in a ceremony in Islamabad. This 1.5 billion USD project is a 2nd power project under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Answer – 1) Union Bank of India
Explanation:
Union Bank of India (UBI), after its amalgamation with Corporation Bank and Andhra Bank, has announced a corporate agency agreement with Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) to distribute latter’s policies. As per the pact, UBI can act as a financial supermarket by offering LIC products of term insurance, pension, plan, children plan, ULIPs, and endowment schemes to its account holders, whereby they can select products according to their choice.

Answer – 4) Iran
Explanation:
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a paramilitary force, launched the underground ballistic missiles from the depths of the Earth for the 1st time in a completely camouflaged way during the last day of ‘Great Prophet 14’ (code name- “Payambar e Azam 14”) military exercise near Gulf waters.

Answer – 1) P. Harikrishna
Explanation:
Indian Grandmaster P. Harikrishna finished overall second spot in the Grandmaster Triathlon Tournament at 53rd Biel International Chess Festival which took place in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. Poland’s Radoslaw Wotjaszek finished first in the Biel Chess Festival. The Grandmaster Triathlon Tournament consists of three rounds of chess competition – Classical, Rapid & Blitz and it is part of Biel Chess Festival. He grabbed the top spot in Accentus Chess960, another separate tournament which was held in the Biel International Chess Festival 2020.

Answer – 1) Prakash Chandra Kandpal
Explanation:
Non-life insurer SBI General Insurance Company Limited announced that it has appointed Prakash Chandra (P C) Kandpal as its Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO), effective from July 20. He succeeds Pushan Mahapatra, who has been appointed as a director (strategic investments & digital initiatives), effective from 18th July, 2020.

Answer – 1) Greta Thunberg
Explanation:
A 17 years old climate activist from Sweden namely Greta Thunberg became the first recipient of the inaugural (1st edition) Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity, awarded by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. The award in the amount 1 million euro ($1.15 million) recognized her ability to mobilize younger generations for the cause of climate change.

Answer – 1) Russia
Explanation:
The Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects in the Defense Industry informed that Russia for the first time conducted a successful flight test of the MGTD-20 gas turbine engine made by 3D-printing. The flight tests were held at Kazalbash aviation center in Tatarstan. The production of the aircraft is scheduled on 2021-2022.

Answer – 1) Gujarat
Explanation:
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) announced that, Unit-3 of Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP-3), India’s First 700 MWe (megawatt electric) and indigenously developed Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) in Surat, Gujarat achieved its first criticality – initiation of controlled and sustained nuclear fission reaction on 22nd July 2020 (Wednesday).

Answer – 5) Maldives
Explanation:
India and Maldives inked an agreement to set up Geydoshu Mas Plant (Neighborhood Fish Processing Plants) at two islands in the Addu city of Maldives namely Maradhoo and Hulhudhoo. The Contract signing ceremony was held virtually in Addu City, which was attended by Maldives’ Foreign Secretary Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed, High Commissioner of India to the Maldives Sunjay Sudhir, along with other members of Maldives’ Ministry of Foreign affairs.

Answer – 1) 87th
Explanation:
The Republic of Nicaragua became the 87th country to sign the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement, an initiative to promote sustainable energy, led by India. Out of the 87 signed countries 67 countries have also ratified the ISA Framework agreement.

Answer – 1) Reliance Industries Limited
Explanation:
As stock market data, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) becomes the 1st Indian company to reach Market Capitalisation (m-cap) of Rs 13 lakh crore. It becomes the world’s 48th largest company by m-cap, ahead of Abbott Labs, Oracle, Chevron and Unilever. It also crossed the stock price of Rs 2000 for the 1st time. Globally, Saudi Aramco is the company with the highest market cap of $1.7 trillion, followed by Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet. Reliance is the 10th highest m-cap company in Asia. China’s Alibaba Group is ranked 7th globally.

Answer – 2) “Building a Better Future”
Explanation:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the keynote address at the two days long (July 21-22) virtual India Ideas Summit 2020 which was hosted by US-India Business Council (USIBC) under the theme “Building a Better Future”. The year 2020 marked the 45th anniversary of the formation of the Council.

Answer – 5) China
Explanation:
Tianwen-1, China’s first fully homegrown Mars Mission, was launched by Long March 5 Rocket from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan Island, China.

Answer – 5) Ministry of Coal
Explanation:
The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah launched ‘Vriksharopan Abhiyan’ the tree plantation campaign of the Coal Ministry in the presence of Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs.

Answer – 4) 113
Explanation:
In accordance with the “Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality in India 2016-18”, released by the Office of the Registrar General’s Sample Registration System (SRS), the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India has declined to 113 in 2016-18 from 122 in 2015-17 and 130 in 2014-2016 and almost 100 deaths lesser than in the period of 2007-2009.

Answer – 3) Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Explanation:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) agreed to partner toward the “Green Recovery”. This is to help hands for the people who are facing the harsh economic impact due to COVID-19 pandemic. They agreed to strengthen collaboration on non-sovereign operations while ensuring GCF’s processes are as flexible as possible to foster at-scale financing. ABD has offered a support package of USD 20 billion for COVID-19.

Answer – 3) 1st
Explanation:
The 1st edition of two days long (July 22-23, 2020) world’s largest Global Fintech Fest (GFF) was held virtually, which was organized by Payments Council of India (PCI) and Fintech Convergence Council (FCC) at National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) under the theme “Fintech: With and Beyond COVID”. The aim of the fest was to bring together the global FinTech and Banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector.

Answer – 1) Deepak B. Phatak
Explanation:
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) publicized the “Report of the Committee for Analysis of QR (Quick Response) Code” under the chairmanship of Prof. Deepak B. Phatak on its website for comments / suggestions of various industry players currently involved in or associated with the use of QR codes before August 10, 2020.

Answer – 1) Partha Pratim Sengupta
Explanation:
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has appointed Mr. Partha Pratim Sengupta as its new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and his tenure ends by December 31, 2022 or until further orders. He succeeds Karnam Sekar who was retired on June 30, 2020.

Answer – 2) Steve Waugh
Explanation:
Australia’s 1999 World Cup-winning skipper and legendary batsman Steve Waugh had been in India before the Coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc in the world. Waugh was on a mission to discover cricket in India with his camera for his photobook “Spirit of Cricket”.

Answer – 2) Nitin Gadkari
Explanation:
Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise(MoMSME), launched http://www.restartindia.com, a mentoring platform. It was initiated jointly by Muthoot Fincorp and INKtalks to support the MSME sector to restart the business across the nation.

Answer – 4) North Korea
Explanation:
On the request of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Government of India (GoI) has extended medical assistance in the form of anti-tuberculosis medicines worth about US$ 1 million to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) popularly known as North Korea. It is to be noted that New Delhi’s medical assistance is under the aegis of an ongoing WHO’s anti-tuberculosis programme in North Korea and hence exempted from the sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Answer – 2) India
Explanation:
India builds one kilometer (km) long World’s first electrified rail tunnel that fits double stack containers. It cuts through Aravalli mountain on the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) near Sohna, Haryana. The project is implemented by the DFCCIL (Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited).

Answer – 5) Sri Lanka
Explanation:
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has agreed to a USD 400 million currency swap facility for Sri Lanka, valid till November 2022. This will help Sri Lanka to meet its short-term international liquidity requirements and to boost its foreign exchange reserves following the economic crisis resulting from COVID-19.

Answer – 4) 12.5%
Explanation:
In accordance with the 21st issue of Financial Stability Report (FSR), July 2020 by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released on July 24, 2020, the gross nonperforming assets (GNPA) ratio of all scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) may increase from 8.5% in March 2020 to 12.5% by March 2021 under the baseline scenario; the ratio may escalate to 14.7% under a very severely stressed scenario.

Answer – 2) Arnab Chaudhuri
Explanation:
Arnab Chaudhuri posthumously awarded with The ‘Legend of Animation’ award, 2020. This award is instituted by the Toonz Media Group (TMG) as a part of the Animation Masters Summit (AMS), 2020 – Digital Edition.

Answer – 5) 3rd
Explanation:
In accordance with the latest Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2020 brought out by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), India has ranked 3rd among the top 10 countries that have gained in forest areas during 2010-2020. FRA 2020 examined the status of, and trends in, more than 60 forest-related variables in 236 countries and territories in the period 1990–2020. India reported 0.38% annual gain in forest, or 266,000 ha of forest increase every year at an average. It’s naturally regenerating forest rate was also 0.38% in 2010-20.
Top ten countries for average annual net gain in forest area, 2010–2020

Answer – 2) Ambala AFS
Explanation:
Forty-six months after the €7.87 bn (Rs 59,000 crore) Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA), that was signed between India and France in September 2016, the first five of 36 Rafale fighter jets, from France were landed in Ambala in Haryana after covering a distance of nearly 8500 km to join the Indian Air Force (IAF). The five aircraft include two twin seater trainer aircraft and three single seat fighter aircraft. These fighter jets are manufactured with 13 India Specific Enhancements (ISE), by Dassault Aviation, a french company.

Answer – 4) “IAF in the Next Decade”
Explanation:
Rajnath Singh, Union Minister of Defence inaugurated the Air Force Commanders Conference(AFCC) at the Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan), New Delhi. The conference chaired by Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria was conducted from 22nd July 2020 to 24th July 2020. The theme of the conference was “IAF in the Next Decade”.

Answer – 1) Haryana
Explanation:
The Minister of State of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju and Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar announced that Haryana will host the 4th edition of Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) in 2021 through video conference. The Games will be held in Panchkula in Haryana. Star Sports will be the Official Broadcast Partner like the previous year. The games will take place after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Answer – 1) S Jaishankar
Explanation:
The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World, a book authored by External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar, argues about the standards of India in the global order. The book was published under the HarperCollins India publications. The book centers about the three burdens that India’s foreign policy carries.

Answer – 3) Viral V. Acharya
Explanation:
The book titled “Quest for Restoring Financial Stability in India” authored by former Reserve Bank of India(RBI) deputy governor Viral V. Acharya. The book portrays his quest to restore financial stability in India and offers a concrete plan for sustained improvement. The book is published by SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd.

Answer – 3) Mausam
Explanation:
On July 27, 2020, In the event of 14th Foundation day of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Earth Sciences launched the mobile app “Mausam” designed and developed by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)’s Digital Agriculture & Youth (DAY) team, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Answer – 2) World Bank
Explanation:
Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare announced that the Central Government in collaboration with the World Bank has decided to convert the area of ravines in the region of Gwalior-Chambal belt of Madhya Pradesh into cultivable land. The decision was made through a virtual meeting with Adarsh Kumar, representative of the World Bank.

Answer – 3) 2.5%
Explanation:
According to The report titled, ’Implications of AI on the Indian Economy’ by National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) along with the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) and Google, a unit increase in Artificial Intelligence(AI) intensity (measured as the ratio of AI to total sales in the firm) can result in a 2.5% increase in India’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP) in the immediate term.

Answer – 1) Aditya
Explanation:
The plugboats.com announced the winners of the 1st ‘Gussies’ electric boat awards officially known as ‘Gustave Trouvé Award for Excellence in Boats and Boating’. “Aditya”, India’s first & largest Solar Powered ferry, won the Gustave Trouvé Award under the Excellence in Electric Boats Designed for Paying Passengers category. Aditya built by Navalt Solar and Electric Boats is operating under the Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD). The ferry was designed by the Department of Ship Technology, Cochin University of Science and Technology.

Answer – 2) Archana Soreng
Explanation:
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres named Indian climate activist Archana Soreng among 7 members to his new Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. The members will advise him regularly on accelerating global action and also provide solutions to tackle the worsening climate crisis. This is to mobilize climate action as part of the COVID-19 recovery efforts. The other members of the group are Nisreen Elsaim from Sudan, Ernest Gibson from Fiji, Vladislav Kaim from Moldova, Sophia Kianni from the United States, Nathan Metenier from France, and Paloma Costa from Brazil.

Answer – 4) Bijapur, Chhattisgarh
Explanation:
In accordance with the delta rankings for aspirational districts by government think-tank NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog, Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh has topped the list of aspirational districts in Overall Delta Ranking for the February-June 2020 period. Bijapur has been followed by Ri-Bhoi (Meghalaya) and Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh) at 2nd and 3rd positions respectively. The delta rankings for aspirational districts considers an incremental progress in five developmental areas viz. Health and Nutrition, Education, Agriculture and Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development and Basic Infrastructure.

Answer – 5) Bangladesh
Explanation:
Reconstruction of a 300-year-old temple, Sree Sree Joy Kali Matar temple began in Natore, Bangladesh with Indian assistance. The Indian High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das inaugurated the event virtually. The High Commission of India in Bangladesh added that an MoU for the reconstruction of the temple at Lalbazar, Natore was signed on 23 October 2016.

Answer – 5) Jin Liqun
Explanation:
During the 5^th annual meeting of Board of Governors of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Jin Liqun was elected President of AIIB for a second five-year term commencing January 16, 2021. The election result was announced by chair of AIIB’s Board of Governors, Liu Kun, who is a Minister of Finance, People’s Republic of China. Under President Jin’s leadership, AIIB has grown from 57 founding members to 103 approved members from around the world.

Answer – 2) USD 3 Million
Explanation:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved the 3 Million USD grant (about Rs.22 Crore) from the ADB’s Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund (APDRF), financed by Japanese government to India to support the Government’s emergency response to COVID-19.

Answer – 1) Mauritius
Explanation:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth jointly inaugurated the new Supreme Court building of Mauritius in Port Louis through video conference. The Supreme Court building has been constructed with Indian grant assistance of US$ 30 million and is the first India-assisted infrastructure project within the capital city of Port Louis.

Answer – 4) Avni Doshi
Explanation:
A debut novel ‘Burnt Sugar’ authored by Avni Doshi has been published in the United Kingdom (UK) and it was one among the 13 authors longlisted for the prestigious 2020 Booker Prize. A version of the same novel has been published in India under the title Girl in White Cotton.

Answer – 5) July 29
Explanation:
29th July is annually celebrated as International Tiger Day or the Global Tiger Day to create awareness among the general public on the importance of tiger conservation and protection of their natural habitat and to promote the resolution of the tiger range countries to double the tiger population by 2022. The first Global Tiger Day was celebrated on 29th July 2011. The Global Tiger Day slogan for 2018,2019 and 2020 is “Their Survival is in Our Hands”.

Answer – 2) New Delhi
Explanation:
Defence Minister of India, Shri Rajnath Singh and the Defence Minister General of Indonesia Mr. Prabowo Subianto agree to expand the military ties during the Defence Minister’s dialogue held at New Delhi. Objective: To expand the defence industries and military ties between two countries and to expand the technology sharing.

Answer – 3) West Bengal
Explanation:
President of West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee, Somendra Nath Mitra died at the age of 78 in Bellevue Hospital, Kolkata due to Kidney and heart ailments. He was born on 31st December 1941, Katorah, Jessore, Bangladesh. He served as the member of the 15th Lok Sabha, elected from the Diamond Harbour constituency in West Bengal state in 2009 as a Trinamool Congress candidate.

Answer – 3) 6%
Explanation:
Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the first education policy of the 21st century i.e. National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which has replaced 34 years old NPE, 1986. This was announced by Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Keshav Javadekar. With this, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) will officially be renamed the Ministry of Education (MoE). It should be noted that from now onwards the education sector will get allocation of 6% of total Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Answer – 4) 50%
Explanation:
This new policy aligned to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-4 of 2030 Agenda is aimed at Universalization of Education from pre-school to secondary level with 100 % Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in school education by 2030. Policy also aims to achieve 100% youth and adult literacy. GER in higher education is to be raised to 50% by 2035 with the addition of 3.5 crore seats.

Answer – 3) United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Explanation:
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Pure Earth, international non-profit organization authored and published the first of kind report on the health crisis titled “The Toxic Truth: Children’s Exposure to Lead Pollution Undermines a Generation of Future Potential” states that around lead poisoning affects large number of children all across the globe. The report states that around 1 in every 3 that is around 800 million children across the world has the blood lead level above or at 5 micrograms per decilitre, the amount at which action is required and Almost 50% of these children live in South Africa.

Answer – 4) BOB Financial Solutions Limited
Explanation:
BOB Financial Solutions Limited (BFSL) has chosen Fiserv, Inc. to enable the digitization of their end-to-end card issuance and processing cycle and support the launch of several new and high-tech products including contactless credit cards, virtual credit cards among others. For this purpose, BFSL will utilize Fiserv’s FirstVisionTM, an end-to-end managed services solution.

Answer – 2) Nagaland
Explanation:
The famed Hornbill Festival in Nagaland is unlikely to be held this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior official said on Monday. The 10-day Hornbill Festival that usually starts on December 1 celebrates the culture and heritage of different tribes of the State. It is attended by lakhs of people from across India and abroad.

Answer – 2) Hyderabad
Explanation:
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad is a globally recognized autonomous institution under Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India. The Centre provides free dedicated ocean information services to the Nation, using state-of-the-art technology and research, for increasing Safety and Profit. The three primary services provided are the Tsunami Early Warning Service, Ocean State Forecast Service and Potential Fishing Zone Advisory Service. ​ Swachhata Pakhwada was held at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services till 15 July.

Answer – 2) Turkana
Explanation:
Fishermen on the shores of Kenya’s Lake Turkana, the world’s biggest desert lake, have no doubt about what is to blame for their dwindling fish stocks: a giant hydroelectric dam built by Ethiopia on the River Omo, which feeds the lake.

Answer – 4) Baikal
Explanation:
There is a possibility of over 100 liters of fuel leakage into Russia’s Lake Baikal (deepest lake in the world) from banked vessel. The prosecutor’s office previously said that it had launched a probe over the spill of oil products from a vessel that had heeled during the storm. The incident occurred at the pier in the village of Khuzhir.

Answer – 5) Assam
Explanation:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Oil India Limited (OIL) and two concerned state entities to explain how environmental clearances for the seven proposed drilling sites in the Dibru- Saikhowa National Park, Assam were given.

Answer – 2) Maharashtra
Explanation:
According to the Agharkar Research Institute, the color of Lonar lake water in Maharashtra turned pink due to a large presence of the salt-loving ‘Haloarchaea’ microbes. The color of the lake water recently turned pink, which not only surprised locals, but also nature enthusiasts and scientists. The water samples have been tested by the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and the Agharkar Research Institute in Pune.

Answer – 5) Dehradun
Explanation:
Recently, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), has decided to study the migration of the Pied Cuckoo Bird (Jacobin Cuckoo or Chaatak), by tagging the bird with satellite transmitters. The study will be conducted along with the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) and the Government of India’s Department of Biotechnology. IIRS is a constituent unit of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is headquartered in Dehradun.

Answer – 3) K Kasturirangan
Explanation:
In June 2017, Committee for the Draft National Education Policy was constituted under the Chairmanship of eminent scientist Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, which submitted the Draft National Education Policy, 2019 to the HRD Ministry on 31st May, 2019.

Answer – 3) Maharashtra
Explanation:
The Union Ministry of Coal has removed the Bander coal mine in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra from the list of mines that are up for the auction under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015. Bander was a part of the Tadoba–Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra the ministry said in a withdrawal notice issued on July 21, 2020. This was according to the notification declaring the area as an ecologically sensitive zone issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Answer – 2) Assam
Explanation:
Two rhinos were spotted on July 28, 2020 in a residential area near Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary as forest area remains flooded following rainfall in Assam. Hundreds of wild animals have been marooned, a total of 132 animals at the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve have died due to floods related incidents.