Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2020

Notes:
USD 1 billion (equivalent to Rs 7,485 crore) financial support by way of loan has been approved by the Manila based-Asian Development Bank (ADB) for Delhi-Meerut regional rapid transit system.
The project is first of the three priority rail corridors in country. The financial assistance from ADB will be used for construction of railway tracks, station buildings, maintenance facilities and power supply.

Notes:
The National Commission on Population under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recently released a report titled ‘Population projections for India and States 2011 – 2036’.
As per the report, the sex ratio of the country is estimated to increase from 943 in 2011 to 957 during 2036. The Infant Mortality rate (IMR) is to go down to 30 by the end of 2031-35. The total population of India is estimated to increase from 121.1 crores to 151.8 crores.

Notes:
The state Government of Maharashtra, has decided to exempt all serving and retired soldiers from the Gram Panchayat property tax. A Government resolution has been passed in this regard.
Earlier, the exemption was applicable only to Defence Gallantry Awardees or their dependents. The present decision has included all the serving and retired soldiers.

Notes:
A massive fire outbreak has recently occurred in the Srisailam hydroelectric power plant located in the state of Telangana.
Nine people including five engineers of Telangana State Power Generation Corporation were killed in the massive fire. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao directed to launch an investigation into the incident. He also announced compensation to the families of the deceased and the injured.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh is set to be the first state in the country to recruit candidates to government jobs on the basis of National Recruitment Agency (NRA) test.
This decision has been informed by the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, a day after the Union cabinet approved setting up of NRA to conduct a Common Eligibility Test (CET), for conducting examinations which are presently conducted by IBPS, RRB, SSC among others

Notes:
Spain has recently reported an outbreak of West Nile Virus spread by mosquitos. It spreads due to mosquitoes and causes West Nile Fever.
It has claimed the lives of two people in Spain and several people were admitted in hospital. It was originally discovered in Uganda in 1937. It was indigenous to Asia, Africa, Europe and Australia. This RNA virus belongs to the Flaviviridae family, which also has Zika virus, yellow fever virus and Dengue virus.

Notes:
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), an US based India-centric business advocacy group has announced to honour Anand Mahindra and Shantanu Narayen with 2020 Leadership Awards.
The Mahindra group Chairman and Adobe Chairman and CEO are awarded for promoting US-India bilateral ties. It will be presented at 3rd Annual Leadership Summit of USISPF titled “US-India Week: Navigating New Challenges”, that will be virtually convened from August 31.

Notes:
Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is set to have the largest ecosystem of incubation ecosystem in the country, in a year by setting up 21 centres of excellence.
The proposed 21 centres of excellence (CoEs) will incubate new technologies in various sectors. Out of the 21 CoEs, 12 of them are already operational. Three centres are related to Agriculture and one more is proposed to be launched.

Notes:
Fisheries and Animal Resources Department of the Odisha Government has launched a new scheme to promote intensive Aquaculture through Bio-floc technology in fisheries.
Bio-floc technology is an advanced fish farming technology to provide livelihood support to entrepreneurs, unemployed youth and fish farmers of the state. It aims at increasing fish productivity and make the state self-sufficient in fish production.

Notes:
In order to enhance the ease of doing business, the Aadhaar authentication has been activated by the Government for registration to GST. The Aadhaar based GST registration of an entity would be completed in 3 working days and there is no requirement for physical verification.
Those not opting for Aadhaar based registration will be subjected to physical verification of place of business activity and other related documentary verification. The time required for non-Aadhaar registration would be up to 21 days.