June Current Affairs 2020 Weekly Test -3

Answer – 4) Science, Solidarity & Solution
Explanation:
India with 12 other countries lead the “Verified” initiative launched by the United Nations on 21st May 2020, to fight the spreading of misinformation about COVID-19 with fact-based accurate information. The initiative is led by the United Nations Department of Global Communication (DGC) with an aim to provide facts about COVID-19 in the digital space. This will provide information on three theme: Science, Solidarity, Solution – to advocate for support to impacted population.

Answer – 1) Uday Kotak
Explanation:
In pursuance of regulation 3 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) advisory committee regulation 2017, the IBBI board has restructured an advisory committee on Corporate Insolvency Resolution and Liquidation process by including four new members. The new 14-member committee, formed in August 2017, will be chaired by Uday Kotak, the Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank.

Answer – 5) Captain Arjun
Explanation:
The Railway Protection Force of Central Railway (CR), Pune division, Maharashtra launched a Robotic ‘Captain Arjun’ (Always be Responsible and Just Use to be Nice) to intensify the screening and surveillance of passengers. It was launched online by Arun Kumar, Director General (RPF), Railway Board in the presence of Sanjeev Mittal, General Manager, Central Railway, among others The BrainChild behind this innovation is Alok Bohra DIG/RPF, Central Railway.

Answer – 5) Actor
Explanation:
Sushant Singh Rajput, 34-year-old actor committed suicide & found dead at his home in Bandra, Mumbai. He was born on 16th January 1986 in Patna, Bihar. He promoted the Women Entrepreneurship Platform of NITI Aayog which was launched on 8th March 2018. He acted as M.S Dhoni in “MS Dhoni: The Untold Story” in 2016.

Answer – 4) New Delhi
Explanation:
India’s first nationwide online delivery-based natural gas trading platform, “Indian Gas Exchange (IGX)” has been launched by Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during an e-ceremony (virtual). It has been launched on the lines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to provide clean, affordable, sustainable and equitable supply of energy to every citizen. Notably, IGX will work as a wholly owned subsidiary of the India Energy Exchange (IEX), which is India’s energy market platform. Headquarters of IGX located in New Delhi.

Answer – 3) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation:
The Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) of the Government of Uttar Pradesh decided to adopt the scheme of Flatted Factory Model, to ensure the availability of industrial land which means that non-polluting industries can operate in Multistoried buildings.

Answer – 5) Airtel Payments Bank
Explanation:
Airtel Payments Bank launched ‘Suraksha Salary Account’ for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The account will enable the MSMEs & other organisations to make cashless payments & provide financial security to their employees.

Answer – 3) 500 billion
Explanation:
In accordance with the weekly statistical data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s foreign reserves crossed the $500 billion mark as the nation had forex reserves of $501.7 billion as of June 5, 2020 a rise of $8.22 billion in a week. India’s forex reserves comprise foreign currency assets (FCAs), gold reserves, special drawing rights (SDRs), and India’s reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Answer – 2) Deccan Development Society
Explanation:
The Deccan Development Society (DDS), Hyderabad Based non-governmental organisation won the Biodiversity award 2020 and a grant of 40000 Euros (approx. Rs. 35 Lakhs) of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation for the contribution of DDS women in rehabilitation of degraded lands and to promote biodiversity.

Answer – 3) 6
Explanation:
In accordance with the “SIPRI Yearbook 2020-Armaments, Disarmament and International Security” of Swedish think tank, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), from 2019 there is an increase in the nuclear weapons stockpile of India and China. The number of nuclear warheads in the Indian arsenal pegged at 150 in comparison to the 2019 report (on the basis of 2018) when India had 130-140. Importantly, in April 2020, SIPRI had identified India as the 3rd largest military spender in the world, behind the United States (US) and China.
Following table shows the number of warheads of top rankers (as of January 2020):

Answer – 4) Nepal
Explanation:
India has extended its financial aid by NR (Nepalese rupee) 37.23 million for the construction of the sanitation facility for the pilgrims at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal. With this the total outlay of the project reaches Rs 2.33 crore which will be constructed under the Nepal-Bharat Maitri: Development Partnership as a high impact community development scheme by India.

Answer – 1) Pune
Explanation:
The Pune based Serum Institute of India (SII), leading manufacturer of immunobiological drugs and vaccines signs a new supply agreement with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Vaccine alliance Gavi’s procurement partner to supply Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) to low income countries all over the world.

Answer – 4) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
Explanation:
India has joined the first-of-its-type initiative namely Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) as a founding member to support responsible and human-centric development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). With this, India became the 15th founding member of GPAI which also include the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), European Union (EU), Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, and Singapore for launch of GPAI. GPAI will be supported by a Secretariat, to be hosted by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France as well as by two Centers of Expertise- one each in Montreal, Canada and Paris.

Answer – 4) 45 million
Explanation:
According to the report titled “Policy Brief: The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and Nutrition” released by Italy based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), around  45 million people were fall into acute food insecurity since February 2020 due to of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, of which a majority of 33 million people reside in South and Southeast Asia, and most of the remainder in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Answer – 1) Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
Explanation:
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) approved a 2nd loan of USD 750 million to India under the bank’s USD 10 billion COVID-19 Crisis Recovery Facility (CRF); this loan is co-financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to assist India to fight against COVID-19 & its impact on poor. The loan aims to strengthen India’s economic aid for businesses, expand social safety nets for the needy & the health care systems.

Answer – 2) Anil Dave
Explanation:
In order to strengthen the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBIs) enforcement mechanism and also to improve its system of recovery of siphoned off money, the SEBI committee headed by former Supreme Court Judge Anil Dave has proposed a method of quantification of profit made by the defaulter and loss caused to investors in a 424-page exhaustive report.

Answer – 4) Both 1) and 2)
Explanation:
Two Indian startups Stellapps and Zestmoney were featured in the List of Technology Pioneers of 2020, released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) which consist of pioneers addressing the global issues with advanced technologies.

Answer – 3) 9
Explanation:
In accordance with the “World Investment Report 2020” by United Nation’s (UN) trade body, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), India has become the 9th largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2019 after receiving $51 billion last year.

Answer – 5) Singapore
Explanation:
According to the 32nd edition of edition of World Competitiveness Index 2020, which ranked performance of 63 economies across the globe, prepared by Switzerland-based International Institute for Management and Development (IMD)’s World Competitiveness Center (WCC), the Indian economy remained at 43rd position this year.

Answer – 1) Kazuo Ishiguro
Explanation:
Nobel Prize winner (2017) Kazuo Ishiguro (Japan born british author) will release his new novel ‘Klara and the Sun’ & will be published by Faber & Faber in the United Kingdom, Alfred A. Knopf in the United States and Knopf in Canada on March 2, 2021. This is the first novel by him since he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Answer – 4) 28.6%
Explanation:
According to the payroll data of EPFO (Employees’ Provident Fund Organization), an organization tasked to assist the Central Board of Trustees, Employees’ Provident Fund, the formal employment in India saw a 28.6 % increase at 78.58 lakh in 2019-20 as compared to only 61.12 lakh added in 2018-19.

Answer – 1) Karnataka
Explanation:
BS Yediyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka announced that Karnataka will observe 18th June 2020, as “Mask Day” to create awareness to the general public on the importance of wearing a mask, using sanitizers, washing hands and maintaining social distancing against COVID-19.

Answer – 2) 8^th
Explanation:
India was elected unopposed for an 8th term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for two years (2021-22) starting January 2021 by gaining 184 votes in the 193-member General Assembly. Along with India, Mexico, Ireland and Norway were also elected. India was the only candidate for the lone seat from the Asia-Pacific category. India’s overall objective during this tenure in the UN Security Council will be the achievement of N.O.R.M.S: New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System.

Answer – 5) 75
Explanation:
In another proposal, housing loans must account for at least 50% of HFCs’ assets of which at least 75% should be towards individual housing loans. HFCs which do not fulfil this criterion will be treated as NBFC – Investment and Credit Companies (NBFC-ICCs) and will be required to approach the RBI for conversion of their Certificate of Registration from HFC to NBFC-ICC. In order to remain working as HFC, they would have to follow a roadmap to make 75% of their assets individual housing loans. The target has been set at 60% by March 31, 2022, 70% by March 31, 2023, and 75% by March 31, 2024.

Answer – 5) Volkan Bozkir
Explanation:
Volkan Bozkir (69) from Turkey was elected as the president of the 75th United Nations(UN) General Assembly. He is the 1st turkish to hold this post. He will hold the post for 1 year. Volkan Bozkir will succeed Tijjani Muhammad-Bande when the annual session opens on September 15, 2020.

Answer – 4) Megha Majumdar
Explanation:
The Penguin Hamish Hamilton released the “A Burning”, debut novel of Megha Majumdar. The 32-year-old New York’s writer who was born and raised in Kolkata. The book is about the lives of three characters, Tommy Orange, Yaa Gyasi and Jhumpa Lahiri who want to rise to the middle class, to political power, to gain fame in the film industry and how their lives changed in Indian society.

Answer – 5) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation:
In accordance with the official government data, on June 15, 2020, Uttar Pradesh (UP) has provided employment to 57,12,975 workers in 56,981 village panchayats of the state under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), making it the top Indian state to provide highest employment under MGNREGS. This employment is 18% of the total work generated under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in the country.

Answer – 1) Kerala
Explanation:
Classes for State school students, under the name First Bell, will get under way on June 1 through the KITE Victers channel and other online mechanisms. The Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) has brought out the timetable for conducting the classes.

Answer – 5) 2.32
Explanation:
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)’s Jio Platforms stepped into 11th deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), who bought 2.32% stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 11,367 crores. With this investment, Jio Platforms has raised Rs 115,693.95 crores (1.15 lakh crores) from leading global investors since April 22, which is the largest continuous fund raised by a company in the world.

Answer – 4) Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
Explanation:
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has inked Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to make latter as the implementation Agency for Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) – a Special Micro-Credit Facility for Street Vendors.

Answer – 2) Odisha
Explanation:
Raja Parba of Odisha is a three-day festival during the mid-June (preferably starts from 14th June and ends on 16th June) marking the beginning of monsoon. On this day people celebrate menstruation and womanhood, based on the belief that mother earth menstruates for three days which is considered as a sign of fertility.

Answer – 5) 1 Billion
Explanation:
In accordance with the “Global Status Report on Preventing Violence Against Children 2020”, a first of its kind report by United Nations (UN), up to 1 billion children are affected by physical, sexual or psychological violence, with long-lasting and costly emotional, social and economic consequences due to the inability of the countries to protect them by following the established strategies.

Answer – 5) Reliance Industries Ltd
Explanation:
On June 19, 2020, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) became the first Indian company to reach a market capitalization of Rs 11 trillion, as the company was valued at Rs 11.15 trillion. With this, RIL accounts for nearly 9% of the country’s total m-cap of Rs 138 trillion. Its stock on Bombay stock exchange (BSE) was record high at Rs 1,738.95. Notably the company’s share doubled since mid-March 2020.

Answer – 3) Urjit Patel
Explanation:
The former governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Urjit Patel was appointed as the Chairman of National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP). He will start his 4year tenure on 22nd June 2020 succeeding Vijay Laxman Kelkar, former chairman of NIPFP.

Answer – 4) “Every Action Counts”
Explanation:
20th June of every year is observed as World Refugee Day to celebrate the strength and courage of the people who were forced to leave their homes and flee their country due to conflicts or persecution. The day was designated by the United Nations (UN) to honour the refugees all around the world. The theme of this year is “Every Action Counts” to remind that everyone including the refugees can contribute to society in creating a world with equality and equity.

Answer – 4) Ministry of Mines
Explanation:
Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister for Mines has launched SATYABHAMA (Science and Technology Yojana for Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Mining Advancement) Portal, developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC), Mines Informatics Division.

Answer – 1) Rural Development ministry
Explanation:
An employment -cum- rural public works Campaign for 67 lakh migrant workers titled “Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA)” has been launched for 6 states viz. Bihar, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Madhya Pradesh (MP), Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the lines of the announcement made in Rs 20 Lakh crore Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. The outlay of this campaign is Rs 50,000 Crores and the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) is the nodal Ministry for its implementation.

Answer – 1) Amartya Sen
Explanation:
Indian economist, philosopher and Nobel Laureate Amartya Kumar Sen (86) has been selected for 2020 Peace Prize by the Board of Trustees of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade for his decades-long work around issues of global justice. He will be presented with the award by German Publishers’ and Booksellers’ Association, Borsenverein in a ceremony that will take place on October 18, 2020, in Paulskirche (Germany) & will be broadcast live on German public television.

Answer – 2) 69
Explanation:
The Supreme Court asked the government to treat a writ petition, for setting up expert panels to improve India’s performance in the Rule of Law Index, as a “representation” and to decide further action within 6 months’ time. India was Ranked 69th in the WJP Rule of Law Index 2020 India has never been ranked even among top 50 in the Index.

Answer – 1) June 21
Explanation:
21st June 2020 marks the 6th annual United Nations (UN) International Day of Yoga (IDY) to raise awareness about the benefits of practicing yoga and to educate the public on the importance of choosing a healthy lifestyle to achieve good health. The first IDY was celebrated on 21st June 2015. UN declared IDY 2020 theme as “Yoga for Health – Yoga at Home”.

Answer – 3) Madhya Pradesh
Explanation:
The Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, which was shut since March-end due to COVID-19 outbreak, has reopened for tourists recently (June 2020).

Answer – 2) Kempegowda International Airport
Explanation:
A weather-based smart automatic irrigation system (SAIS), a tech-enabled process, has been deployed at Bangalore International Airport (BIAL) to manage its sprawling 100-acre landscape. The BIAL is the first airport in India to deploy a tech-enabled smart irrigation system. The first-of-its-kind system can be controlled from an app on a mobile phone. The SAIS irrigates plants based on the calculation of various parameters, including evapotranspiration (ET), soil moisture and weather conditions, said a press release issued by BIAL, the operator of Kempegowda International Airport.

Answer – 5) Bahrain
Explanation:
The Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) announced that the 4th Asian Youth Para Games will take place in Bahrain from December (1-10) 2021. The event will be organised in partnership with the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Bahrain with the support of the local government.

Answer – 5) Football
Explanation:
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has recommended former India captain IM Vijayan for Padma Shri, the country’s fourth highest civilian award. The 51-year-old former striker, who scored 40 goals in 79 matches for India since making his debut in early 90s, won the Arjuna award in 2003.

Answer – 2) Tamil Nadu
Explanation:
The Grand Anicut Dam, on the Cauvery river, near Trichy, was formally declared open by Tamilnadu to ensure adequate availability of water for mitigating close to three and a half lakh hectares of farm land in the Delta region.

Answer – 5) Uttarakhand
Explanation:
Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand is set to reopen for the public after coronavirus outbreak.

Answer – 4) 5
Explanation:
The Security Council is the only UN body that can make legally binding decisions like imposing sanctions and authorizing the use of force. This 15-member council has 5 permanent veto-wielding members and 10 non-permanent members. Permanent members– China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Answer – 5) APJ Abdul Kalam
Explanation:
The Prime Minister recently mentioned one of his books – “The Family and The Nation” which was written by Acharya Mahapragya along with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

Answer – 2) Odisha
Explanation:
The Kalinga Stadium is a multi-purpose International stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.

Answer – 5) Rome
Explanation:
The HQ of United Nations World Food Programme located at Rome, Italy.