Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2020

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.

Notes:
The Government of United Kingdom (UK) has launched a £3 million Innovation challenge fund in India. The fund is aimed at supporting scientists in industry and academia to cope with acute global challenges like COVID-19 and other environment threats.
The fund aims to bring together best minds under “UK India Tech Partnership”. The fund has specifically invited innovators associated with “AI-Data cluster” in Karnataka and “Future Mobility cluster” in Maharashtra to submit research proposals.

Notes:
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recently released ‘National Cancer Registry Programme Report 2020’.
As per the report, the number of people affected by cancer could increase by 12% in the next five years. By 2025, around 1.5 million people are estimated to suffer from the disease, increased from 1.39 million in 2020. Tobacco-related cancers find the major portion in the list.

Notes:
Every year, August 19 is observed as the World Humanitarian Day by the United Nations (UN), to commemorate humanitarian workers killed and injured in the course of their work.
This year, the UN has initiated a global conversation / campaign -to thank #RealLifeHeroes to celebrate the humanitarians who have committed their lives to help others. The day marks the 2003 bomb attack killing 22 people, including the Iraqi chief humanitarian, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

Notes:
Former Indian footballer turned coach Bhaskar Maity passed away at a Navi Mumbai. He was 67 years old.
He was celebrated as one of the most reliable goalkeepers of India in the 1970s and ’80s. Bhaskar Maity made his debut for India at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok, against Iraq. He has also represented Maharashtra State in the Santosh Trophy from 1975 to 1979. Maity served as the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF) coach.

Notes:
Yes Bank has executed an agreement with GPL Finance and Investments Limited for the complete sale of equity shareholding of YES Asset Management Limited “YESAMC” and YES Trustee Limited “YTL”.
Both these firms are wholly owned subsidiaries of YES Bank Limited. It is expected that the sale would be completed in the next 8 to 12 months. After completion of the sale, the two firms Yes Bank will completely exit from its mutual fund business.

Notes:
Pakistan has acquired an advanced warship named “054A/P, a guided missile frigate” from China.
This is the largest ship that China has built for any country and it is one among the 4 most sophisticated naval warships that is being built for Pakistan. This acquisition would double the combat power of Pakistan’s Navy.

Notes:
Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital is to organise an online international conference on ‘Aerosol Air Quality, Climate Change and Impact on Water Resources and Livelihoods in the Greater Himalayas’.
ARIES, an autonomous research institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) is organising the conference along with Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University between 14th -16th September 2020.

Notes:
India’s central Bank the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed to conduct a special Open Market Operations (OMO) aggregating Rs.20,000 crore where simultaneous purchase and sale of government securities would happen in two equal tranches.
This special OMO by sale and purchase of Government securities would manage the yield in Bond Markets. The prime objective of this operation is to raise the short-term yields and lower the long-term yields.

Notes:
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has recently announced that the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) are permitted to first clear the goods imported by them through Customs and then pay Customs duty within 14 days.
This measure is a part of the ‘Turant Customs’ initiative which seeks to introduce a Faceless and Paperless Customs environment. This announcement will lead to faster clearance of the goods imported by the PSUs.