Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2020

Notes:
The state government of Madhya Pradesh is set to launch a ‘Roko -Toko’ campaign for urging people to wear masks.
Roko-Toko in Hindi means stop and campaign and it seeks to nudge people who do not wear masks in public places to practise mask-wearing. The state also runs a scheme called ‘Jeevan Shakti Yojana’, under which selected organisations will provide masks to people at a price of Rs 20 per piece.

Notes:
United Nation’s Children Fund (UNICEF) has announced its partnership with trade body FICCI, to develop a campaign to support the most vulnerable populations and children.
FICCI and UNICEF will jointly work on an action plan based on the document prepared by the International Chamber of Commerce and UNICEF. FICCI’s Economic Development Foundation (SEDF) will be deployed to mobilise funds, reach out the vulnerable and provide assistance.

Notes:
Andhra Pradesh state government officials along with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) launched ‘Operation Muskaan’ in the state.
This week-long drive aims to trace the missing children, prevent child labour and bonded labour, and rescue children engaged in domestic works. Hundreds of children are being rescued in the drive and are united with parents or provided with shelters.

Notes:
France celebrates its national day Fête nationale also called as Bastille Day every year on July 14. It commemorates the storming of the Bastille fortress on July 14, 1789, which was a turning point in the French Revolution.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, the country celebrated a downsized ceremony, as the historic annual military parade was called off, for the first time since 1945. Only half of the soldiers gathered at the Place de la Concorde.

Notes:
Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has recently released a set of guidelines on Digital Education through online medium.
It is named ‘PRAGYATA’, which includes eight steps of digital learning namely Plan- Review- Arrange- Guide- Yak(talk)- Assign- Track- Appreciate. It aimed at addressing teachers, parents, and students on coping with stress during digital learning and recommended screen time for children.

Notes:
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released a report titled the ‘World Wildlife Crime Report 2020’.
As per the report, Pangolin is the world’s most trafficked mammal and the number of times the mammal’s scales were seized increased nearly ten times between 2014 and 2018. The report also highlighted that zoonotic diseases account for 75 per cent of all emerging infectious diseases.

Notes:
Malini Parthasarathy has been named the new Chairperson of The Hindu Group of Publications. She is to replace the current head, N Ram.
The former editor of the Hindu from 2013 to 2016 was also the Co-Chairperson of The Hindu Group of Publications. She also founded a think tank named ‘The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy’.

Notes:
As per the recent data by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India posted a trade surplus of USD 790 million in June 2020.
This surplus has been recorded for the first time after over 18 years. Due to the Covid-19 induced decrease in domestic demand for crude oil, gold and other industrial products, the country’s import was deeply reduced. This led to a trade surplus with imports of USD 21.11 billion and exports of USD 21.91 billion.

Notes:
According to the statement released by the Ministry of Defence, special financial power has been delegated for capital acquisition cases up to Rs 300 crore, to the three armed services.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh has granted this power amid the growing border tensions between India and China, to fast-track urgent capital acquisition of arms and ammunition.

Notes:
The Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has recently inaugurated the construction work at the Diamer-Bhasha dam in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
When completed, Diamer-Bhasha would be Pakistan’s third largest dam after Tarbela and Mangla dams. The project will generate 4,500MW electricity and is expected to be completed by 2028. Pakistan had signed a Rs 442 billion contract with a joint venture of Chinese state-run firm and Pakistan’s military arm.