Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2020

Notes:
Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers implements the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojna (PMBJP) scheme through the network of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs).
The scheme aims to make quality medicines available at affordable prices to all and reduce out of pocket expenses for healthcare. The scheme was seen in news recently, as it achieved sales of Rs. 100.4 Crores in the first two months of 2020-21. During March, April & May 2020, the Kendras have sold Rs. 144 Crores worth affordable medicines.

Notes:
Global credit ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service has currently degraded India’s foreign currency and local currency long-term issuer ratings to Baa3.
The agency had previously rated India’s ratings as Baa2. The reason for the downgrade of ratings was the high challenges to be faced by the policy-making institutions in enacting and implementing policies for sustainable growth in the country. Moody’s had upgraded India’s ratings to Baa2 in November 2017.

Notes:
Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal has recently launched ‘Delhi Corona’ app for real-time information on availability of hospital beds.
The dedicated application would display the availability of beds at both private and government hospitals in the city, available at any particular time. Moreover, the app will also provide redressal of complaints related to refusal of hospitals in admitting COVID-19 positive patients.

Notes:
Central American countries El Salvador and Guatemala have recently witnessed a tropical storm Amanda.
The heavy rains from Tropical Storm Amanda caused many people dead and missing. It has caused extreme damages across the two countries. The countries have set up temporary shelters to accommodate thousands of people after their homes were damaged.

Notes:
Major technology company Microsoft has announced the launch of a programme named “Microsoft for Agritech Startups”.
The programme is to focus on the start-ups that are committed to driving transformation in agriculture. The programme seeks to assist start-ups in building industry-specific solutions, access to deep technology and markets. The selected start-ups can also get access to Azure FarmBeats, an aggregation platform available in Azure Marketplace.

Notes:
Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank launched the information booklet titled ‘Safe online learning in the times of COVID-19’.
The booklet, which has been jointly developed by NCERT and UNESCO, aims to raise awareness in students and teachers about safe online environment. This has been launched at the backdrop of several children and teachers being actively engaged in digital learning platforms amid the lockdown due to Covid-19.

Notes:
Member countries of the Group of 20 (G 20) recently pledged more than USD 21 billion to fight the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Earlier in the month of March, the G20 countries injected more than $5 trillion into the global economy to fight the virus and its economic impact across the world. The member countries also urged the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to support the vulnerable countries.

Notes:
The Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot has recently launched the Raj Kaushal Portal and Online Shramik Employment Exchange through video conferencing.
This initiative will enable the migrant labourers who have lost their livelihoods, to get employment and to provide suitable labour force to the industries facing shortage in labour. The portals have been developed by the State IT Department Rajasthan Skill and Livelihoods Development Corporation. The portal has data of nearly 53 lakh workers and 11.18 lakh industries.

Notes:
The government has recently modified public procurement norms to give maximum preference to companies whose goods and services have 50 per cent or more local content.
The revised Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order 2017, has introduced a concept of Class-I, II and non-local suppliers. Class I supplier has local content equal to or more than 50 % local content. Only Class-I local supplier, shall be eligible to bid irrespective of purchase value and hence be given maximum preference in all government purchases.

Notes:
World Brain Tumour Day is observed on 8 June every year, across the world. The objective of the day is to raise awareness and educate general public about brain tumour.
The World Brain Tumour Day was initially designated by Leipzig-based non-profit organisation
German Brain Tumour Association in the year 2000. Later it was acknowledged across the world. The observance also highlights the need of more research in the field.