Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2020

Notes:
The procurement of 106 Basic Trainer Aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for Indian Air Force has been approved by the Ministry of Defence.
The procurement of 106 HTT-40 aircraft from HAL was approved by Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the highest decision-making authority of the Defence Ministry. A total of Defence Acquisition proposals worth over Rs.8500 crore was cleared by the DAC.

Notes:
Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation and a private engineering firm Afcons jointly completed India’s deepest underground ventilation shaft.
The ventilation shaft is 43.5m deep and is part of the East West Metro Line of Kolkata. These special purpose shafts are used for ventilation of the tunnels and for evacuation during critical times or emergencies.

Notes:
The Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative was launched by the United States in 2019, aiming to promote women’s economic empowerment.
Recently, India’s Reliance Foundation has partnered with US Agency for International Development (USAID) and W-GDP. The W-GDP Women’s Connect Challenge (WCC) to be launched by the Reliance Foundation to bridge gender digital divide and empower women.

Notes:
According to a recent data from the NASA’s Dawn Spacecraft, the dwarf planet Ceres, which lies in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, is not a barren space rock.
It was earlier believed that the dwarf planet is barren but the data collected reveal that it is a water-rich place and there could be a large and deep reservoir of salt water. In the year 2015, the Dawn spacecraft arrived at Ceres, which us far smaller than the Earth’s moon.

Notes:
The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is an annual film festival held in Goa, every year in the month of November.
The Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant has confirmed that the Film Festival will be held as per schedule in Goa between November 20 and 28, this year. This festival is organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals in association with the state government- owned Entertainment Society of Goa.

Notes:
As per the recent announcement of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the INOX Group will be the official sponsor of the Indian team for the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.
Due to the prevalent COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics was rescheduled to next year, from July 23 to August 8 in 2021. The Group will also support the team’s promotions through its entertainment company – INOX Leisure Limited that owns a multiplex chain across the country.

Notes:
The state of Assam has proposed to launch a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme named “Arunodoi”.
This scheme will be launched in lines with the flagship DBT scheme Jan Dhan Yojana. This is claimed as the largest DBT scheme of Assam till date. The scheme also called as Orunodoi, seeks to transfer Rs 830 per month to around 19.7 lakh families. The main beneficiaries of the scheme will be women.

Notes:
The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently delivered his Independence Day speech on August 15, 2020.
In the speech, he mentioned about the launch of two new projects: Project Lion and Project Dolphin. The Project Lion aims to conserve Asiatic Lions and its landscape in a holistic manner. It will also help to tackle the Human-wildlife conflict and provide livelihood opportunities. Project Dolphin aims to conserve and protect Dolphins in the rivers and in oceans.

Notes:
The United Nations Security Council has rejected a resolution made by the United States to extend a ban of Arms on Iran.
Only the Dominican Republic supported the proposal of the United States in the 15-member UN Security Council. Russia and China opposed the proposal while Germany, France, the UK and eight other member countries abstained from voting.

Notes:
Considered as extinct over seventy years back, the Woolly flying squirrel was spotted at Gangotri National Park in Uttarakhand.
As per the Forest Research Institute, the flying squirrel was added in the IUCN Red List. It was spotted during the survey conducted in the national park. The animal uses its wool-like furry claws like a parachute and fly.