Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2020

Notes:
The fourth edition of the Ministerial on Climate Action (MoCA) was recently held through video conferencing.
India’s Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar represented the country in the meeting. It was co-chaired by European Union, China and Canada to discuss on the implementation of the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Notes:
An employee who earns a monthly salary of up to Rs 15,000 is mandatorily required to join the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) scheme.
Union Cabinet has approved extension of EPF contribution of 24% i.e., employees share of 12% and employers share of 12%, for another 3 months till August 2020. Under the AtmaNirbhar Yojana, the Government had earlier proposed to make the 24% contribution. This will cost Rs 4680 crore to the Government.

Notes:
The Indian Space Research and Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch Brazil’s Amazonia -1 satellite onboard PSLV.
This satellite has been designed, assembled and tested in Brazil and it will be the first Earth Observation satellite. The launch of the PSLV is scheduled to be held next month while the date is to be released by ISRO soon.

Notes:
The fifteenth summit between India and the European Union (EU) is scheduled to be held on July 15, through video conferencing.
Prime Minster Narendra Modi is to represent India. The President of European Council, Charles Michel and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen will represent the EU. The summit was supposed to be held in March and Indian Prime Minister was scheduled to visit Brussels, the capital of EU.

Notes:
The United Arab Emirates has recently announced its plans to send its first Mars mission and it has become the first Arab country to do so.
Until now, only the United States, India, USSR and the European Space Agency have successfully sent their Mars orbiter missions. China is in the process of launching its first Mars rover. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) is heading the Mars project of the UAE.

Notes:
The state of Chhattisgarh has the become the first in the country, to organise an state-wide e-Lok Adalat, through video conferencing.
As per the State Legal Services Authority, more than 3,000 cases will be taken up for virtual hearing in over 200 benches of various districts, including the High Court. This step is expected to clear pending cases by following precautionary measures amidst Covid-19.

Notes:
England’s present skipper Ben Stokes recently became the second-fastest all-rounder to reach 4000 runs and 150 wickets in test matches.
The 29-year-old all-rounder is only after the West Indies legend Gary Sobers, who achieved the feat in 63 tests, while Stokes reached the milestone in 64 tests. He achieved this during the third day of the first Test match held between England and West Indies at the Ageas Bowl.

Notes:
The United Nations has recently released a report titled ‘the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World’, prepared jointly by FAO, UNICEF, IFAD and WFP.
As per the report, the number of undernourished people in India has fell down from 249.4 million in 2004-06 to 189.2 million in 2017-19. There was a rise in obesity level in India, as per the report. India and China are the only Asian countries that reported a reduction in number of undernourished people.

Notes:
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has launched development projects worth Rs 44 lakhs in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The projects include the formation and development of Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The SHG members are provided training and skill development to promote rural entrepreneurship in Mushroom Cultivation and Bamboo Handicrafts making etc. An annual Micro-Entrepreneurship Development Programme will also be organised by NABARD in the UT.

Notes:
The Lourdes Roman Catholic shrine located in France has recently organised the world’s first ever e-pilgrimage after the coronavirus crisis.
About 80 million from across the world attended the programme. Mass and prayers are broadcasted on television and social media for the e-pilgrimage named ‘Lourdes United’. During summer, pilgrims visit the shrine and light candles in the sanctuary, where Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared.