Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2020

Notes:
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) – Kanpur has developed BEEG (Bio compost Enriched Eco-friendly Globule), an indigenous seed ball.
It contains indigenous seeds, compost, and clay. The seed balls, if thrown at target places, would germinate when comes in contact with water. It is aimed to help farmers to eliminate the requirement for digging pits and planting samplings during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Notes:
The President of India honoured 202 freedom fighters across the country. This was done on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of Quit India Day.
Every year, on this occasion, the President of India hosts an “At Home” reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan to honour the freedom fighters. But this year, State/UT governments are requested to honour the freedom fighters at their homes, on behalf of the President.

Notes:
The Supreme Court of India ruled that the daughters cannot be deprived of their right of equality and they will have equal coparcenary rights in joint Hindu family property even if the father died before the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005.
The daughters will have the right to inherit their ancestral property with retrospective effect with similar rights and liabilities as sons hold. Coparcener refers to a person who assumes a legal right in parental property by birth.

Notes:
Founded by two former scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Space tech start-up Skyroot Aerospace is the first Indian private company to build a homegrown rocket engine.
The company has recently test-fired an upper stage rocket engine successfully. It has also planned to launch the first satellite into the lower earth orbit by the end of 2021. The company had also manufactured India’s first 3D printed Cryogenic rocket engine.

Notes:
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) undertook a survey titled ‘Youth and Covid-19: impacts on jobs, education, rights and mental well-being’.
As per the survey, almost half of the world’s youth population is undergoing anxiety or depression-causing situations. More than a third are not sure of their future career prospects due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The survey was conducted to study the effect of pandemic on the lives of youths aged 18 to 29 years.

Notes:
The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 chaired by Dr V K Paul, Member NITI Aayog, met for the first time on 12th August. The meeting was co-chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The expert group has been constituted under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It discussed on the parameters required in selecting the COVID-19 vaccine candidates for India and procurement mechanisms for COVID-19 vaccine.

Notes:
American businessperson and veteran media giant Sumner Redstone, has recently passed away at the age of 97 years.
During his long tenure in the field of media, he built a great media empire including CBS and Viacom serving as the Executive Chairmen of both companies. He was also the Chairman of the Board of National Amusements theatre chain. Redstone’s autobiography was titled “A Passion to Win”.

Notes:
Israel has successfully conducted the test of its advanced missile defence system called ARROW 2. It is designed to defend the country from ballistic attacks. The test was conducted jointly with US Missile Defence Agency.
Arrow 2 is a part of multi-layered defence system that Israel has developed to defend short and mid-range rockets as well as long range missiles.

Notes:
At the 74th Independence Day celebration on 15th August 2020, the Films Division would screen two documentary films – ‘India wins Freedom’ and ‘India Independent’.
Apart from the above 2 films, 14 selected films on Independence movement were showcased in the “Online Patriotic Film Festival” being organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting from 7th Aug 2020 to 21st Aug 2020 in www.cinemasofindia.com.

Notes:
The Center for Biopharma Analysis (CBA), which is set up at Pune has been virtually inaugurated by the Secretary of Department of Bio Technology. It is an initiative of the Venture Centre, which is a Technology Business Incubator hosted by CSIR- National Chemical Laboratory, Pune.
The CBA is supported and funded by National Bio Pharma Mission implemented by the Department of Bio Technology. The CBA is a facility with high end instrumentation which complies with globally accepted standards of Bio pharmaceutical analysis.