Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2020

Notes:
The United General Assembly decided to commemorate 4 June of each year as the ‘International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression’.
The objective of the day is to acknowledge the pain of the children across the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse. UN had also ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Moreover, the target 16.2 of the UN’s 2030 SDG agenda seeks to end all forms of violence against children.

Notes:
The Chairperson of India’s largest listed real estate firm DLF, Kushal Pal Singh was seen in news, as he stepped down from his leadership role, at the age of 90. He will continue to serve in a non-executive position.
He took over as Chairman of DLF in 1995 and was considered as the face of the popular firm. K.P.Singh will be replaced by his son Rajiv Singh, who is currently serving as the Vice Chairman, as per the announcement of the firm.

Notes:
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR has partnered with Atal Innovation Mission, AIM to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in various sectors.
Under the Letter of Intent signed, the two institutions would support world class start-ups and promote innovation and research in the MSME industry through CSIR incubators and ARISE initiative of AIM. They will also work together on new models of innovation like CSIR Innovation parks.

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:
The Indian Naval Ship Kesari reached Port Victoria in Seychelles to provide COVID-19 related essential medicines, as a part of Mission Sagar.
Under Mission Sagar, the government of India is extending assistance to friendly foreign countries in fighting COVID-19 pandemic. The programme is being implemented in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and other Government agencies. This is in line with the ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ vision proposed by the Government earlier.

Notes:
Debt-ridden IL&FS announced that it has completed the sale of its 50 per cent stake in GIFT (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) City to the Gujarat government.
The sale has generated over Rs 32 crore for its equity value. It has also reduced its consolidated debt by more than Rs 1,200 crore. Gujarat Urban Development Company Ltd (GUDCL) is the owner of the remaining 50% stake in GIFTCL. It has offered to purchase IL&FS’s share in GIFTCL.

Notes:
The president of the UN General Assembly is Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, who is a Nigerian diplomat. He had also served as the Vice President of UNGA.
Tijjani Muhammad-Bande has recently announced that world leaders will not be arriving in New York for their annual gathering in late September. This happens for the first time in the 75-year history of the UN due to the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 193 heads of state and government will give speeches during the General Debate, the process of which will be announced.

Notes:
Pune-based Defence Institute of Advanced Technology in Pune has developed a nano-technology based disinfectant spray named ‘ANANYA’ to combat Covid-19.
The formulation is effective in disinfecting all types of surfaces, including masks, PPEs, hospital linens, medical instruments. It can also be used to disinfect common places like elevator buttons and door knobs. The material has been developed by synthesising silver nanoparticles and a commercially available drug, Ampicillin. Commercial production is to be commenced soon.

Notes:
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recently released the results of the second ‘State Food Safety Index’.
The index was released on the occasion of the webinar ‘Food Safety is everyone’s business’, organised by FSSAI to celebrate the World Food Safety Day during a webinar. Gujarat has topped among larger States in the index, while Chandigarh tops among UTs. Goa topped among smaller States in the index. A e-handbook on ‘Eat Right during COVID-19’ was also released.

Notes:
The Union Government has created the Micro Irrigation Fund with the corpus of Rs. 5000 crore with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
Under the fund, NABARD will provide the amount to states on concessional rate of interest to promote micro-irrigation. Moreover, the annual allotment of Rs. 4000 crore has been made under the ‘Per Drop More Crop’ component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY- PDMC). The scheme focuses on improving water use efficiency through micro Irrigation techniques.