Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2021

Notes:
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank group, has extended a loan of $250 million to HDFC Bank to boost affordable housing finance in India.
Under the loan agreement, at least 25 per cent of the financing has been allocated for green affordable housing, which is expected to encourage this market in India. India still has an early stage of Green housing market, which needs strengthening.

Notes:
The Indian Space Research Organisation launched a customised space-themed merchandise programme. Recently eight companies have registered for partnership with ISRO, to undertake this programme.
Interested persons will be able to purchase authorised products related to ISROs missions and work, such as scale models, T-shirts, space-themed educational games, science toys, among others. This brand promotion exercise will create awareness and interest among students, children and public, in space science and technology.

Notes:
China’s east Zhejiang province has been worst affected by the Typhoon In-Fa which has made its landfall here recently. The land fall associated rains have triggered large scale floods in the region, which has led to several deaths. This is the 6th typhoon in this region during 2021.
Recently, China has also been affected with torrential rains that have affected about three million people, which was never witnessed in the last 1000 years.

Notes:
Tunisia’s President Kais Saied recently dismissed the government and froze the Parliament. The President also said he would assume executive authority with the assistance of a new Prime Minister.
The 2014 democratic constitution in the country split powers between president, prime minister and parliament. This move has led to a massive gathering of people, who filled the capital in support of the move. The President said that his actions were in line with Article 80 of the constitution.

Notes:
According to a World Trade Organization (WTO) report on the trends in world agricultural trade in the past 25 years, India has entered into the top 10 list of agricultural produce exporters in 2019. Its main exports are rice, cotton, soya beans and meat. At ninth place, India’s share in global agri exports was 3.1% in 2019.
European Union in 2019 (16.1%) overtakes the US as the top exporter. US, which topped the lsit in 1995 is at 2nd place with 13.8% share in 2019. Brazil is at the third place.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has launched an integrated portal named Earth System Science Data Portal. This portal would make available various earth related data for the public.
The portal was launched as a part of the 15th Foundation Day celebration of the ministry on 27th July 2021 and has been developed in tune with the Digital India initiative of the Government of India.

Notes:
Jammu & Kashmir’s mountainous Kishtwar district has been affected by a cloud burst which is followed by a severe flash flood.
The state’s Disaster Response Force has been swung into action, but the hilly region and difficult terrain are posing challenges in the rescue operations, since the upper areas of the districts are not accessible by road.

Notes:
The Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021 which has been introduced in the 2021 monsoon session of Parliament has received its nod from the Upper House (Rajya Sabha).
This bill seeks to replace 90-year-old laws and regulations on lighthouses and it seeks to provide a fresh framework for management of vessel traffic services in India.

Notes:
On the occasion of International Tiger Day, Bhupendra Yadav (Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate change) stated that 14 Tiger reserves of India have received accreditation of the Global Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CA|TS). The 14 accredited tiger reserves are Manas, Kaziranga and Orang in Assam; Satpura, Kanha and Panna in Madhya Pradesh; Pench in Maharashtra; Valmiki tiger reserve in Bihar; Dudhwa in Uttar Pradesh; Sunderbans in West Bengal; Parambikulam in Kerala; Bandipur in Karntaka and Mudumalai & Anamalai in Tamil Nadu.
CA|TS is a set of criteria that sets best practice and standards to manage tigers and their conservation. It is a globally accepted conservation tool. CA|TS was launched in 2013. It was developed by tiger and protected area experts. It is an important part of T*2 , the global goal to double the number of tigers by 2022. The long term goal of CA|TS is to ensure safe heavens for Tigers.

Notes:
Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed on July 29 in Rajya Sabha and on July 26 in Lok Sabha. This bill was passed to bring changes in the legislation for helping the MSME (Micro, small and medium enterprises) sector. It will help in improving the availability of working capital for MSMEs.
The contribution of MSMEs to GDP is high. This sector contributes about 30% to GDP and Government is aiming to increase the contribution of MSMEs to 40% to provide benefits to the rural population and poor people.