Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2020

Notes:
The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Alumni Council to encourage listing of start-ups.
IIT Alumni Council is the largest body of alumni, students and faculty across all the 23 IITs. The partnership aims at developing confidence among investors in the start-up’s platform. This will also ensure a complete ecosystem for the proposed social stock exchange.

Notes:
Madhya Pradesh has topped in implementing the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atma Nirbhar Nidhi-PM SvaNidhi scheme.
The scheme was launched to provide a free working capital of 10,000 rupees for one year to street vendors. The state also provides assistance for vendors of rural areas in the state, along with those in urban areas. Over 15000 cases have been approved in the state and loans worth above 15 crore have been approved.

Notes:
India and Iran partnered to construct a rail line from Chabahar port to Zahedan, along the border with Afghanistan, four years ago.
Recently, Iran decided to proceed without India’s assistance and its Transport Minister has inaugurated the track-laying process for the Chabahar-Zahedan line. Recently, China finalised a 25 year-USD 400 billion strategic deal with Iran.

Notes:
The Chairman of Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani has recently become the world’s sixth-richest person, as per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Mukesh Ambani has recently crossed SpaceX founder Elon Musk and Alphabet co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, to reach this position. Last week, he had surpassed Warren Buffet. The wealth of Mukesh Ambani is now worth USD 72.4 billion.

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 flagship initiative of NITI Aayog, Atal Innovation Mission, (AIM) has launched a programme named ‘Demo-Days’.
The programme aims to identify start-ups with potential Covid-19 innovations and help them develop their ideas into workable solutions which will be deployed across the country. This was launched in partnership with other state-owned bodies including BIRAC, DBT, DST, Start-up India etc.

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:
Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik recently inaugurated the 5th edition of the Conference on Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Technologies.
The webinar was jointly organised by Tamil Nadu Technology Development & Promotion Centre (TNTDPC), Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The theme of the conference is Empowering India with ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Mission’.

Notes:
Indian Council of Agricultural Research, an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has recently celebrated its 92nd Foundation Day on July 16.
It was established on the same day in the year 1929 and was formerly known as Imperial Council of Agricultural Research. ICAR also announced the annual awards to various institutions and persons.

Notes:
Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar has informed that the Zonal Master Plan of Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone has been approved by the government.
The Minister announced this during the review meeting of the Chaardhaam Road Project. This approval will fast-track the execution of the project of the Uttarakhand state and will help to conserve ecology in the state.