Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2020

Notes:
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has recently laid the foundation stone for a Water Supply Project in the state of Manipur.
It is an externally funded project with an outlay of Rs 3054.58 crores with a loan funded by the New Development Bank. The Centre had provided funds under Jal Jeevan Mission for freshwater household tap connections (FHTCs). The project aims to provide FHTCs to remaining households across 16 districts of Manipur.

Notes:
India is set to procure HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) standoff missiles from France.
The Indian Air Force is expected to receive first five Rafale combat aircrafts from France by July 29. HAMMER is a medium-range air-to-ground weapon. It was originally designed and manufactured for the French Air Force and Navy.

Notes:
E-Commerce Giant Flipkart has announced that it will acquire parent Walmart’s wholesale business, ‘Best Price’.
The loss-ridden cash-and-carry business of Walmart in India is the last part of Walmart to be acquired by Flipkart marking a complete consolidation. This acquisition is expected to help Flipkart to expand its business-to-business vertical.

Notes:
Reserve Bank of India releases a bi annual report called the financial stability report (FSR). The latest edition was released recently.
RBI has estimated that the gross non performing asset (GNPA) ratio of all banks may increase from 8.5% in March 2020 to 12.5% by March 2021. GNPA ratio of public sector banks will increase to 15.2% in March 2021. The main reason for this dip is the slowdown in the economy due to the Covid-19 induced lock-down.

Notes:
The Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc has recently signed an order that bans all imports of wildlife either dead or alive including eggs and larvae.
The order also includes tougher penalties for crimes involving the trade in wildlife. Amidst the coronavirus spread, this ban has been imposed in Vietnam, which is a popular destination for endangered wildlife products used in medicine or cuisine.

Notes:
The Central Reserve Police Force has recently celebrated its 82nd Raising Day on July 27. The Prime Minister and Home Minister greeted its personnel.
The CRPF came into existence as Crown Representative’s Police on July 27, 1939. After the enactment of the CRPF Act on December 28, 1949, it became the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). It aims to secure the internal security of the country.

Notes:
India Meteorological Department, Union Ministry of Earth Sciences launched a weather forecast application for general public.
Named as Mausam, the application offers information on five details including current temperature, humidity, wind speed and wind direction for 200 cities. The information is updated eight times a day. While this app is meant for everyone, IMD already has another app meant only for farmers and agriculturists called Meghdoot.

Notes:
The world’s first electrified rail tunnel fit to run double-stack containers is being constructed by the Indian Railways in Haryana.
Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL) has recently conducted a tunnel-breaking ceremony on completion of caving work for the tunnel of Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) through Aravalli mountain range. One among the biggest railway tunnels, it connects Rewari and Dadri and itwill be completed within a year.

Notes:
Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has recently announced the National Awards for excellence in Earth System Science.
The Life Time Excellence Award is being awarded to Professor Ashok Sahni for his contribution in the field of Geology and Biostratigraphy. The National Award for Ocean Science and technology is being awarded to Dr. V. V. S. S. Sarma and Dr. M. Ravichandran.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has approved the change in the name of Union Ministry of Human Resource Development.
The HRD Ministry that is currently headed by Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, has been renamed as Ministry of Education. The name change was a key recommendation of the National Education Policy. In 1985, Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi changed the name of the Education Ministry to HRD Ministry.