Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2020

Notes:
Russia has become the first country to register and approve the world’s first Covid-19 vaccine. It has named the vaccine as ‘Sputnik V’.
This has been named as a reference to the world’s first satellite sent by the country. Russia claims that is has received requests from more than 20 countries for 1 billion doses of its newly-registered Covid-19 vaccine.

Notes:
The Democratic party’s Presidential nominee Joe Biden has named the Indian-origin senator Kamala Harris as his Vice-Presidential candidate.
The 55-year old Indian origin leader is currently the US Senator from California. Joe Biden has made history by selecting the first black woman to compete on behalf of a major party’s presidential process.

Notes:
International Youth Day is celebrated every year on 12th August. The theme of this year’s International Youth Day is, “Youth Engagement for Global Action”.
In 1998, a resolution to observe August 12 every year as International Youth Day was passed in the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, which was hosted by the Government of Portugal in cooperation with the United Nations.

Notes:
Under the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (SVANidhi) Scheme which was launched by Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, the number of loans sanctioned by Financial Institutions has crossed 1 lakh mark.
The scheme facilitates sanction of collateral free working capital loans up to Rs.10,000 of 1-year term to street vendors. The scheme has been launched as a part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Financial Assistance Package for COVID 19.

Notes:
The Union Steel Ministry, in association with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), has proposed to organise a webinar titled ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat: Fostering Steel Usage in Housing & Building Construction and Aviation Sectors’.
The webinar would be conducted with the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and Ministry of Civil Aviation. It would focus on promoting designs and construction in Building, Housing, and Airport Projects.

Notes:
“Fit India Freedom Run” has been launched by the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju, through an online programme.
A large number of Government organizations and Private organizations will participate in the event. In view of the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic, the participants can run at their own place and at their own pace between 15th August and 2nd October.

Notes:
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties. With this, the UAE has become the first Gulf Arab country to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.
UAE also became the third Arab country to enter into diplomatic ties with Israel. This agreement is a part of the deal to stop the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state. US President Donald Trump announced about the strategic ties.

Notes:
Among all the Indian Prime Ministers, Narendra Modi has the longest tenure as head of elected government.
Including his term of more than 12 years as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, his total term as the head stands over 18 years and 300 days. He is also the longest-serving non-Congress prime minister of the country. The term as the head of Jawaharlal Nehru was over 16 years and that of Indira Gandhi was over 15 years.

Notes:
The Government of Jharkhand has unveiled a new logo for the state. It was unveiled at Ranchi by the Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
It is a circular logo with the National Emblem of India placed at its center, between concentric circles. These concentric circles depict the state’s abundant natural resources and its rich culture. The logo contains “Palash flower” which is the state’s flower and “Elephant” which is the state animal.

Notes:
The strategic tunnel under the Rohtang Pass was named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in December last year.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has recently announced that the ‘Atal Tunnel’ in Rohtang would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by September 2020. The 8.8-km long tunnel will be the longest tunnel among those in the world above an altitude of 3000 metres.