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 Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani has recently launched a State-funded scheme named Mukhya Mantri Kisan Sahay Yojana.
It has been launched to replace the central crop-insurance scheme Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Gujarat has exited from the scheme as it considers that the insurance scheme charges hefty premium cost to the State. The new alternate scheme will cover all farmers for the current kharif season.

Notes:
One of India’s leading public transit organization – the Delhi Metro has proposed to upgrade its entire fare collection system which will enable the travellers to pay for the distance they have travelled using debit and credit cards.
The passengers need not recharge their smart cards for making payments at the Automatic Fare Collection Gates (AFC Gates). This move has been made by DMRC in order to promote digitalization of the fare collection system.

Notes:
E-commerce major Amazon announced that it will launch its online pharmacy in India. The first online platform will be set up in Bengaluru.
The new service named ‘Amazon Pharmacy’ will offer both prescription-based drugs and over-the-counter medicines. It will also sell health devices and traditional Indian medicines. Amazon is witnessing severe competition with Flipkart and JioMart.

Notes:
The Online Performance dashboard of Ministry of Tribal Affairs called the “Empowering Tribals, Transforming India” has been launched. The dashboard was launched by Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog and Ramesh Chand, Member of NITI Aayog.
The Dashboard is an interactive online platform that shows the real-time details of 11 schemes / initiatives of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. It also displays performance of 5 Scholarship Schemes of the Ministry.

Notes:
Soumya Swaminathan, the Chief Scientist of World Health Organisation, was conferred with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s special award, for her advisory role in fighting the COVID-19 in the state.
The Chief Minister’s Best Practices award was given to the Department of treasuries. Greater Chennai Corporation and Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation were also awarded for their significant roles in the fight against the pandemic.

Notes:
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has built an infrastructure at Rihand project in Uttar Pradesh.
The project has been designed to transport fly ash in bulk at affordable rates to cement plants. NTPC has committed to utilise the fly ash completely from power plants. The power plants will upgrade their infrastructure for utilising the fly ash using the loading facilities of the Indian Railways.

Notes:
The Platform for Investor Education (PIE) has been launched by the IIM Bangalore and National Stock Exchange (NSE) – Investor Protection Fund Trust.
The platform would help in investor education through simple and easy-to-understand audio-visual format. It will reflect the current developments in financial markets through the research initiative by the faculty of IIM Bangalore.

Notes:
The Governor of Goa, Satya Pal Malik has been transferred as the Governor of Meghalaya, as per a recent communication from the Rashtrapathi Bhavan.
He is to replace the incumbent Governor of the North Est state, Tathagata Roy who completed his five-year tenure. The Governor of Maharashtra, Bhagat Singh Koshyari, will discharge the additional functions of the Goa Governor.

Notes:
Chetan Chauhan, a former Indian cricketer passed away due to COVID-19 related ailments. Chauhan had turned into a politician and was a minister in the Uttar Pradesh state cabinet.
Chentan Chauhan had played 40 Test matches for India and was 73 years old when he passed away. He had served at various positions in the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA).