Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2020

Notes:
The United Nations General Assembly has recently adopted a new voting procedure for the upcoming election of new members of the Security Council.
This change is due to the restrictions for large gathering and to ensure social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic. Usually, the assembly meet in a horseshoe-shaped assembly chamber at UN headquarters. But now, the ambassadors from 193 UN member nations will cast secret ballots at predetermined places and time slots.

Notes:
The state government of Uttarakhand has recently launched a scheme called ‘Mukhya Mantri Swarojgar Yojana’, to provide loans to the migrant workers amid Covid-19 pandemic.
Under the scheme, Uttarakhand government will provide loans worth ₹25 lakh in the manufacturing sector and ₹10 lakh in the service sector. The migrant workers who are returning to the state are eligible to apply for the loans, that will be provided by nationalised banks, scheduled commercial banks and co-operative banks.

Notes:
Recently, a rare species of Trionychidae turtle was caught by local fishermen at Deuli Dam under the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
It was rescued and released by the forest department in Deuli dam. Trionychidae turtles are softshell turtles, that are usually found in Africa, Asia, and North America. As per the forest department, the turtles weigh more than 30 kilograms and has a maximum life is 50 years.

Notes:
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) was launched by the Agriculture Ministry under National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) in 2015. It was launched with an aim to promote organic farming among small and marginal farmers.
Recently, the NITI Aayog organised an online High-level Roundtable, which was attended by several national and international experts and policy makers. It aims to boost agroecological and natural farming practices in India. The Agriculture Minister said that PKVY covered 7 lakh hectares and 8 lakh farmers.

Notes:
The Government of India has recently prohibited the export of alcohol-based hand sanitizers in containers with dispenser pump.
As per the notification of the Directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT), the alcohol-based hand sanitizers exported in any other form or packaging, will be allowed for exports. Earlier, On May 6, the government had prohibited the export of all alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet recently amended the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 in view of helping farmers and transforming the agriculture sector.
With the amendment, commodities like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes will be removed from list of essential commodities, thereby attracting private sector/foreign direct investment into agriculture sector. The cabinet also approved two ordinances to promote barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade and commerce and give a level playing field with wholesalers and exporters.

Notes:
Veteran diplomat and former spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry Raveesh Kumar has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Finland.
The 1995-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, served as the spokesperson of the MEA from July 2017 to April 2020 and handled many important issues. In his 25-year career, he had served in several crucial missions including Deputy Chief of Mission in Jakarta and Consul General in Frankfurt. He is set to replace ambassador Vani Rao in Finland.

Notes:
Ordnance Factory Board, which functions under the Ministry of Defence, recently bagged Rs 1,094 crore order from Defence Ministry to make 156 Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs).
The Infantry Combat Vehicles with upgraded features are to be developed for the use of Indian Army. As per the official statement, the ICVs will be manufactured by Ordnance Factory in Telangana. The vehicles, which will be highly mobile, will also be powered with high-powered engines.

Notes:
International Sex workers day is celebrated on June 2, every year across the world, to highlight the plight of sex workers.
On the same day in the year 1975, hundreds of sex workers gathered in the Church Saint-Nizier in France, to sensitise people about their exploitative living conditions and to demand an end to police harassment. The Odisha Human Rights Commission has directed the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation commissioner to provide ration and other assistance to sex workers in Bhubaneswar.

Notes:
Seasoned banker and Managing director and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank, Uday Kotak has recently assumed office as the president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for 2020-21.
As per the chamber, Uday Kotak takes over from the present Chairman and Managing Director of Kirloskar Systems, Vikram Kirloskar. The MD and CEO of Tata Steel, T V Narendran is now the President designate of CII for 2020-21.