Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2020

Notes:
The 88-year-old veteran Indian Mathematician C.S. Seshadri has recently passed away. He was considered as a leader of Mathematics especially in the field of algebraic geometry.
He started the School of Mathematics as part of the SPIC Science Foundation in 1989, which then transformed into the Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI). He was also awarded the Padma Bhushan award in 2009.

Notes:
Form 26AS is an annual statement, that contains information on various taxes deducted on the tax-filer’s income by deductors.
Recently, the Income Tax Department of CBDT has introduced a new ‘Form 26AS’ with an aim to assist Tax payers in filing Income Tax Return quicker. The new form will calculate the correct tax liability and is expected to bring in transparency in tax administration.

Notes:
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has approved insurance cover of ₹25 lakh to all panchayat members in the Union Territory.
All elected BDC chairperson, sarpanches, panches and elected members of municipal bodies are covered in the event of death due to militancy. Last month, a sarpanch was shot dead by militants in south Kashmir. The UT also made an amendment to grant short-term permits to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) on land up to 1 hectare, till September 30, 2021.

Notes:
Major Global companies including Microsoft, Nike, Starbucks, Unilever and Mercedes-Benz among others are collaborating to form a new consortium.
The group named ‘Transform to Net Zero’ pledges to share resources and strategies for curbing carbon emissions. It has planned to work with the non-profit Environmental Defense Fund for implementing this programme.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Director General of Civil Aviation have permitted Maharashtra to use drones for inspecting power transmission lines and towers.
Maharashtra is the first state to be permitted for using drones for surveillance of faulty extra high voltage (EHV) power lines, to reduce the risk of the staff involved. As per the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (MSETCL), each zone will be given a drone with HD cameras.

Notes:
European Union leaders have approved 1.82 trillion-euro (approximately 2.1 trillion) budget after discussions of four days at a Summit held in Brussels.
The EU also finalised a 750-billion-euro coronavirus recovery fund, which is sent to be provided as loans and grants to the member countries that are hardly hit by the coronavirus. The grants were finalised at a total of 390 billion euros.

Notes:
India and Russia are set to sign a Defence logistics sharing pact by the end of this year. Under the pact, both the countries can have seamless access to each other’s military bases and support facilities.
An annual summit is expected to be held for signing this agreement. As Russia continues to be a leading arms supplier to India, this agreement will enhance more interoperability and support to military platforms like warships and aircraft.

Notes:
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has launched a new ‘Jet Zero Council’, to tackle aviation emissions in the country.
The council was launched to mark the Prime Minister’s completion of 1 year in his office, as a part of the 350-million-pound plan to fight climate change. The council will bring together the Government, environment sector and aviation industry experts to develop the zero-emission long-haul passenger plane. UK has a target of becoming net zero by 2050.

Notes:
A space technology start-up named Digiantra Research and Technology (DRT) developed India’s first in-orbit space debris monitoring and tracking system.
The company has also been selected for the ‘Society for Innovation and Development’ incubation program at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore. The country’s first air and space surveillance company has received a grant of Rs 25 lakhs for developing space debris monitoring systems.

Notes:
Union Minster for micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector Nitin Gadkari launched a mentoring platform named ‘RestartIndia’.
The platform has been conceptualised by Muthoot Fincorp and INKtalks. Restart India is a single platform which provides information on various schemes being implemented by the government. It also helps the businesspersons to connect with experts from various sectors.