Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2020

Notes:
The Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan has announced that Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON) project would be launched by December 2020.
The objective of the Rs 1,500 crore scheme is to provide free internet access to the poor and at affordable rates to others. It is being implemented by Kerala State IT Infrastructure Limited and Kerala State Electricity Board. Using the KSEB posts, optical fibre cables are being laid across the state.

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:
The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Mann Ki Baat address announced the Video Blogging Contest named “My Life – My Yoga” (also called “Jeevan Yoga”).
It is a collaboration of Ministry of AYUSH and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The contest is a part of activities related to the 6th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on 21st June 2020. The contest is open to participants from all countries. The first phase will select winners within the country and the second phase will select global winners.

Notes:
Bobby Joe Morrow, veteran athlete from the United States, recently passed away at the age of 84. The sprinter had won three gold medals in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
Bobby Morrow won the 100 and 200 meters in Melbourne Olympics and was a crucial part of the winning 400 relay team of the US and helped the relay team set a world record. He was honoured as “Sportsman of the Year” by Sports Illustrated. He won the AAU’s James E. Sullivan Award and was also inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1989.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has approved further changes to the definition of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Earlier, the Union Minister had proposed that Micro units can have up to Rs 1 crore investments and turnover up to Rs 5 crore while Small units can have up to Rs 10 crore investments and turnover up to Rs 50 crore. The investment limit of a medium unit has been increased from Rs 20 crore to Rs 50 crore and the turn over limit from Rs 100 crore to Rs 250 crore. The Cabinet also approved Rs 20,000-crore fund for stressed entities and equity infusion of Rs 50,000 crore.

Notes:
Veteran politician and former Union Minister P Namgyal recently passed away at the age of 83, after contracting Covid-19.
He was also 3-time Member of Parliament from Ladakh representing the Congress Party. He had served as Minister of state for Parliamentary Affairs, Surface Transport and Chemicals & Petro chemicals. The Senior leader played a crucial role in obtaining ‘Tribal area’ status for Ladakh.

Notes:
India’s oldest music label Saregama has entered into a global deal with social media giant Facebook to license its music.
Under the deal, Saregama’s music is licensed for features such as videos, stories via music stickers and other creative content offered by Facebook. Hereafter, Facebook and Instagram users will be able to add music to their posts and stories from Saregama music label.

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 filmmaker and screen-writer Basu Chatterjee, passed away recently due to age related illness, at 93 years.
The film maker was known for his critically acclaimed films such as ‘Chhoti Si Baat’, ‘Baaton Baaton Mein’, ‘Ek Ruka Hua Faisla’ and ‘Rajnigandha’ among others. He was famous among the middle-class audience in the 70s for his unique film -making.

Notes:
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) recently released the State of India’s Birds report. As per the report, 15 bird species of Kerala have been flagged among ‘species of concern’.
The bird species on the list include Banasura, Ashambu laughingthrushes, White-bellied Sholakili, Broad-tailed grassbird, Nilgiri thrush, Nilgiri pipit and White-rumped vulture among others. The authorities said that the entry of two bird species- Heart-spotted woodpecker and Forest wagtail is more concerning.