Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2019

Notes:
Indian middle-order batsman Ambati Rayudu from Andhra Pradesh retired from all forms of cricket on July 3, 2019. He did not specify reasons for calling it quits. He was in India’s official standbys list for the on-going World Cup but was omitted twice. Rayudu played 55 ODIs for India, scoring 1694 runs at an average of 47.05. However, he did not play any Test.

Notes:
After 18 years of research, the scientists from the University of Queensland in Australia and a team of Indian researchers have identified a new gene – called NAPRT1 – directly linked to schizophrenia. Using DNA from thousands of people in India, the team has found clues in the quest for the causes of schizophrenia, and for potential treatments. This study identified a gene that encodes an enzyme involved in vitamin B3 metabolism — we were also able to find this gene in a large genomic dataset of schizophrenia patients with European ancestry. The team of Indian researchers was led by R. Thara, co-founder and director of the Chennai-based Schizophrenia Research Foundation. Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality.

Notes:
The historic walled city of Jaipur in Rajasthan has recently declared UNESCO World Heritage site at the ongoing 43rd Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee at Baku, Azerbaijan. The city was founded in 1727 AD under the patronage of Sawai Jai Singh II. It is known for its iconic architectural legacy and vibrant culture, and serves as the capital city of the culturally-rich state of Rajasthan. In town planning, it shows an interchange of ancient Hindu, Mughal and contemporary Western ideas that resulted in the form of the city. In addition, Jaipur City is an exceptional example of a late medieval trade town in South Asia and defined new concepts for a thriving trade and commercial hub. Additionally, the city is associated with living traditions in the form of crafts that have national and international recognition.

Notes:
In Maharashtra, the state government has decided to inter-link rivers to solve the crisis of drought. For Mumbai, the best option is the Damnganga-Pinjal river inter-linking project that will fulfill Mumbai’s water needs till 2060. The project proposes to divert excess water from reservoirs in the Damanganga basin to Mumbai through the Pinjal dam, built on the Pinjal river in Vaitarna basin.

Notes:
The state of Maharashtra achieved first rank in NITI Aayog launched “Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index (AMFFRI). The index ranks states based on the degree of reforms they have undertaken in agricultural marketing. Gujarat ranked second with a score of 71.5 out of 100, closely followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. NITI Aayog launched an index to rank States and UTs based on implementation of seven provisions proposed under model APMC Act like joining e-NAM initiative, special treatment to fruits and vegetables for marketing and level of taxes in mandis. These indicators reveal ease of doing agribusiness as well as opportunities for farmers to benefit from modern trade and commerce and have wider option for sale of her/his produce. These indicators also represent competitiveness, efficiency and transparency in agri markets.

Notes:
In Tamil Nadu, the Kanchi Athi Varadar festival has started in Kanchipuram from July 1, 2019. The temple of Varadar is in Kancheepuram. The deity is made of fig tree and hence the name Athi Varadar. He is immersed in Anantasaras, the temple tank. He is brought out once in 40 years, pujas done for 45 days and restored to his water bed. The last time he came out was on July 2, 1979, and earlier on July 12, 1939. More than one lakh devotees thronged the temple on the first day.

Notes:
In Gujarat, India’s first design development centre ‘Fashionova’ has recently launched in Textile city Surat to provide a platform to apparel business aspirants. It offers scope to fulfil all business needs from co-working space, technicians, expert advice to cognitive workshops and industry exposure. The main objective of this centre is to provide a strong platform to all those who have a flair of the apparel business. It fulfills, on a large scale, all business needs from co-working space, technicians, expert advises to cognitive workshops and exposure to the industry.

Notes:
The ‘WorldSkills India’s International Cloud Computing Challenge 2019’ will be organized by NASSCOM in partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). Ten countries including India are participating in the competition, along with New Zealand, Belgium, Japan, China, South Korea, Russia, Oman and Ireland. The finalists would further compete in the 45th “WorldSkills International Competition 2019”, to be held in Kazan, Russia in August 2019. The “WorldSkills India” is an NSDC initiative launched in 2011 to provide a platform to the youth, along with industries and educators to compete, experience, learn and develop key professional skill sets required for Industry 4.0. The NSDC is headquarterd at New Delhi & Anil Manibhai Naik is its chief.

Notes:
Former India captain Rahul Dravid has been appointed as Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. He will oversee all cricket related activities at NCA and will be involved in mentoring, coaching, training and motivating players, coaches and support staff at the NCA. He will also work closely with the National men’s and women’s Head coaches and coaches for India Developmental teams including India A, India Under 19, India Under 23 teams — to identify key training methods and the areas for development. Dravid will also be responsible for monitoring progress of the developmental teams and provide necessary inputs on the same to the senior men’s and women’s head coaches.

Notes:
As per the Finance Bill 2019, a new section — 15HAA — has been inserted in the SEBI Act to act against entities that tamper or destroy electronic databases or fail to furnish information when sought by the capital markets regulator. Now, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) can impose penalties of up to Rs 1 crore on brokers for certain violations. These new powers assume significance as the regulator is in the midst of probing the leak of sensitive data through WhatsApp and also recently passed fresh orders on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) co-location matter, which had been challenged at the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT).