Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2020

Notes:
As per the data published in the Lancet journal, the potential Covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University has produced strong immune response.
The institution has completed phase 1 and phase 2 trials and the study highlighted that the trials have not led to any unexpected reactions. Jenner Institute of the University of Oxford has developed the potential vaccine, which is backed by the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca.

Notes:
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) for sharing of data.
Under the MoU, certain Income-tax Return (ITR) related information will be seamlessly shared by the Income Tax Department to Ministry of MSME. With this data, the Ministry will be able to check and classify the enterprises, as per the MSME category.

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:
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:
The Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant-3 in Gujarat has recently achieved criticality. This is an indigenously designed 700 MWe (megawatt electrical) reactor.
Achieving criticality means that it has reached normal operating condition of a reactor. It therefore indicates that the plant is ready to generate power. Prime Minister and Home Minister congratulated the nuclear scientists for this achievement.

Notes:
1987 batch Bihar cadre IAS officer Rajesh Bhushan has been appointed as the new Health secretary, after July 31 this year.
As per the recent Personnel Ministry order, Rajesh Bhushan, the Officer on Special Duty in the Department of Health and Family Welfare will succeed the present Secretary Preeti Sudan. Sushil Kumar has been appointed secretary of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. Ram Kumar Mishra has been named Women and Child Development secretary.

Notes:
The Union Government has issued a certificate of Geographical Indication (GI) registration for Saffron grown in the Union Territory of Jammu &Kashmir.
The GI tag would ensure better remunerative price to the farmers growing Saffron in Kashmir Valley. This would also increase export of the unique Kashmir saffron and curb the fake products being sold. The UT is also inaugurating a Spice Park next month.

Notes:
The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) is to set up its own Cotton warehouse in Vietnam, to boost Exports.
A government-to-government Memorandum of Understanding is also being prepared to export 1.5-2 million bales of cotton to Bangladesh. CCI holds surplus stocks of cotton before the next harvest season and this plan has been made.

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:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth will jointly inaugurate the new Supreme Court building of Maldives.
The new building located in Port Louis has been built with the financial assistance of India. It is one among the five projects implemented under a USD 353-million special economic package provided by India in 2016.