Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2020

Notes:
India is the largest borrower of Asian Development Bank and the fourth largest shareholder of ADB. The institution has approved nearly $30 billion to India.
Recently, the Asian Development Bank has announced a 1.5 billion Covid-19 package for India to help funding the country’s response to tackle Covid-19. This is a part of the Covid Support program of ADB, under which the lender has provided nearly 20 bn to the Asian countries to revamp their economies.

Notes:
Nagaland has introduced a scheme to levy COVID-19 cess for diesel, petrol and motor spirit. It has levied a cess of Rs 5 per litre for diesel and Rs 6 for petrol and motor spirit, from the night of April 28.
This decision has been taken with the powers conferred under Nagaland (sales of petroleum and petroleum products including motor spirit and lubricants) Taxation Act, 1967 (as amended). Meghalaya has levied sales tax surcharge at 2 percent on motor spirit including petrol and diesel.

Notes:
World Dance day has been celebrated every year on April 29, to commemorate the birth anniversary of the creator of modern ballet type of dance, Jean-Georges Noverre.
The day was created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), which is the main partner for the performing arts of UNESCO. Every year, ITI selects an outstanding dance personality to write a message for the day. This year the Message author is Gregory Vuyani MAQOMA, a dancer from South Africa.

Notes:
The Government of India constituted the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) in the year 2018, to address the dispute over sharing of Cauvery river water among Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.
Recently, the CWMA, which was earlier under the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, has been officially brought under the Jal Shakti Ministry. Along with CWMA, Godavari River Management Board and Krishna River Management Board are also brought under the Department of Water Resources River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Notes:
The United States has placed 10 countries including India on the ‘Priority Watch List’ for lack of sufficient improvements to its intellectual property framework.
The US placed 10 countries, including India and China, and alleged that enforcement of the intellectual properties have weakened or remained inadequate in those countries. The US also highlighted that because of the weak IP enforcement, Americans find it difficult to have an equitable market access.

Notes:
Union MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari has recently launched Bank of Schemes, Ideas, Innovation and Research portal on MSMEs, through the Video conferencing.
The Portal enables the Centre, State and UT governments to access all related schemes. The portal also has features to upload Ideas, Innovations & Researches in the sector. The ideas crowdsourced are evaluated and rated by experts. The portal would be handled and updated by professionals.

Notes:
Professor at the Electrical Engineering Department, IIT Bombay, Mr. Saurabh Lodha has received the Young Career Award in Nano Science and Technology for the year 2020 instituted by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
He has been selected for the prestigious award for contributing in development of logic transistor technologies beyond the conventional silicon transistors and development of nano electronic devices based on two-dimensional ‘Van der Waals’ materials. His work has been presented at global device conferences and have been incorporated in semiconductor equipment for advanced transistor technologies.

Notes:
‘Internet Saathi’ is an initiative of the Technology giant Google in India, along with the Tata Trusts, launched with an objective to improve digital literacy among rural women of the country.
Recently, Google announced in a statement that the company is assisting the female Internet trainers or Saathis to share official health advice in their villages. Moreover, Google has also enabled the local governments to share the location of food centres, shelters and test centres in Google Maps.

Notes:
Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) which functions under the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers have started accepting the orders for medicines on WhatsApp and e-mail. The prescriptions uploaded online are delivered at the doorsteps of the users.
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was launched with an aim of providing quality generic medicines to the people at affordable rates. At present there are over 6300 PMBJKs operating in 726 districts across the country.

Notes:
The State government of Andhra Pradesh has launched a scheme called YSR Matsyakara Bharosa amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Under the scheme, the government will provide a financial assistance of ₹10,000 to each fisherman family. This would help the fishermen community during the lock-down period and during the marine ban period. The monetary relief of fishermen venturing into the sea has also been raised from ₹4,000 to ₹10,000 per head.