Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2020

Notes:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) of Government of India has launched a new national portal called SURAKHSYA. It has been launched for real time data collection on Human Animal conflict.
The portal is launched as a part of the World Elephant Day, which is observed every year on 12th August. The portal would be used by policy makers for preparation of Action Plans and Strategies to mitigate conflicts.

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 President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has recently won a landslide re-election victory, as per the country’s central Election Commission.
As per the figures of the votes counted, around 80 per cent of the votes were secured by the President. His main rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, won over 9 per cent of the votes. At least one person was killed and dozens were injured in the clashes held during the elections.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Tourism organised a themed webinar titled “Cellular Jail: Letters, Memoirs & Memories”, as a part of the “Dekho Apna Desh” webinar series. The webinar has been organised ahead of the 74th Independence Day celebrations.
The Cellular Jail is in Andaman and Nicobar Islands where Indian Nationalist who were part of freedom struggle were exiled and imprisoned. The Webinar showcased the journey of India’s independence struggle through the galleries and cells of the Cellular jail.

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:
The construction work of the Katra (Jammu and Kashmir) – Delhi Express Road Corridor is proposed to be completed in 3 years and will be operational by 2023. The express corridor would bring down the travel time from Katra to Delhi to around six and half hours.
One key feature of this road is that it will connect the holy cities of Katra and Amritsar, and other major religious shrines between the two destinations.

Notes:
Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi announced that its arm MI India will distribute over 2,500 smartphones worth Rs 2 crore to Indian children, to support online education.
MI India will partner with Indian non-profit organisation ‘Teach for India’, to carry out the distribution process. The hand sets would be used in shifts to utilise the service effectively, to enable children access quality education.

Notes:
According to a new report by Purely Diamonds, Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city of Vietnam is the cheapest city to rent in the world.
The report also revealed that New York is the most expensive city to rent, in the world. The Indian Capital, Delhi is the second cheapest city in the world. Delhi is followed by the capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai. New York is followed by Los Angeles as the second most expensive city.

Notes:
ICGS SARTHAK – the new Offshore Patrol Vessel of Indian Coast Guard has been launched. The vessel is indigenously designed and built by Goa Shipyard Limited. It is the fourth vessel among the five series Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV).
The new vessel is set to be deployed for Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance, Coastal Security and other duties related to search and rescue operations.

Notes:
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind has approved 84 gallantry awards for Defence personnel. Abdul Rashid Kalas, Head Constable of Jammu and Kashmir Police has been posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra.
The third highest gallantry award in peacetime, Shaurya Chakra has been awarded to nine Army personnel including Lt.Col. Krishan Singh Rawat, Major Anil Urs and Havildar Alok Kumar Dubey and IAF Wing Commander Vishak Nair. The President approved Sena Medal to 60 Army personnel, four Nao Sena Medal and five Vayu Sena Medal.