Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2020

Notes:
The state government of Andhra Pradesh has recently launched a financial assistance scheme called ‘Jagananna Chedodu’.
The scheme aims to provide direct cash transfer of Rs 10,000 into the bank accounts of each of 2,47,040 beneficiaries every year. The beneficiaries include barbers, washermen and tailors. The government has also released Rs 247.04 crore for the implementation of this scheme.

Notes:
The Chief Minister of Gujarat has recently announced that the Phase-2 of the Saurashtra-Narmada Avataran Irrigation (SAUNI) Yojana will be completed before 15th of August.
The scheme was launched with an aim of providing adequate drinking water to the state and meet the drinking water and irrigation requirements of Saurashtra and Kutch regions from Narmada river. It is also expected to fill 115 water reservoirs of arid Saurashtra and Kutch region. The first phase of SAUNI Yojana was launched in the year 2016.

Notes:
As per the recent statement from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Custom (CBIC), Customs duty on bamboo imports by agarbatti manufacturers has been hiked from 10 per cent to 25 per cent.
This is expected to encourage use of domestic bamboo by all industries. Earlier, only the large agarbatti manufacturers were able to import bamboo at lower rate. But due to the reduction in import, farmers as well as MSME agarbatti manufacturers would be benefitted. Moreover, uniform rate will help to prevent misuse and rate related disputes.

Notes:
The Union Government has recently constituted an Empowered Group of Secretaries to facilitate investment in the country.
The committee, which is to be headed by the Cabinet Secretary, will identify potential investors and help in accelerating investment in key sectors of the economy. The committee will also recommend specific incentive packages for both domestic and foreign investors. The 7-member empowered group has CEO of NITI Aayog along with secretaries of DPIIT, Commerce, Revenue and Economic Affairs as its members.

Notes:
Research institute of Brazil, the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) has announced that the Amazon rainforest witnessed deforestation of 829 sq km in May 2020.
This is the highest monthly level of deforestation observed in the forest since 2015. The institute also announced that deforestation increased by 91 sq km compared to the same period last year. The Prime Minister of Brazil is advocating for farming and mining in protected areas to improve economy.

Notes:
One of the world’s largest consumer-focused private equity firms L Catterton will buy a 0.39% stake for Rs 1894.50 crore in Jio Platforms.
Another global investment firm TPG will also buy a 0.93% stake in Jio for Rs 4,546.80 crore in the digital unit of Reliance Industries Limited. Since April 22, Jio Platforms has raised Rs 104,326.95 crore from leading global investors including Facebook, Silver Lake among others.

Notes:
India has recently launched its first nationwide gas trading platform called Indian Gas Exchange (IGX).
The first online delivery-based exchange has been launched by the Indian Energy Exchange, a power trading exchange regulated by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission. IGX will be incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Indian Energy Exchange. The platform is powered by technology from global exchange GMEX.

Notes:
The Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has extended a line of credit (LOC) worth USD 215.68 million to the Malawi government for drinking water supply schemes and other development projects.
With this recent agreement, EXIM bank has extended five LOCs to Malawi, with the total value of LOCs being USD 395.68 million. Under this LOC, the projects covered are supply of irrigation network, cotton processing plant, green belt initiative, construction of water supply system, among others.

Notes:
India has recently joined the Global Partnership for Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) as its founding member, along with USA, UK, EU, Australia among others.
Union minister for Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad announced that this multi-stakeholder international partnership will promote responsible human centric development and use of Artificial Intelligence. India has recently launched the National AI Strategy and also launched its dedicated National AI Portal.

Notes:
Two Indian firms namely ZestMoney and Stellapps feature in the new list of Tech Pioneers released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
The 100 firms selected as pioneers will be invited to participate at World Economic Forum workshops, events and high-level discussions. Zestmoney offers affordable credit as an alternate to traditional way of finance. Stellapps, is a farm-to-consumer dairy technology solutions company.