Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2020

Notes:
Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) has bagged one of world’s largest solar contract from Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).
Under the contract, AGEL is to develop 8 GW of solar projects. It has also committed to establish 2 GW of additional solar cell and module manufacturing capacity at a cost of USD 6 billion (₹45,000 crore). With this contract, AGEL will have 15 GW capacity under operation, construction or under contract.

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 IT subsidiary of the Mahindra Group Tech Mahindra has signed a joint declaration with UN Global Compact urging governments to align their COVID-19 recovery efforts with the latest climate science.
The IT firm and business services provider has also reaffirmed its commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions and target to increase the renewable source of energy to 50% by 2025. It has adopted a low emission technology path to increase the use of renewable energy from 1.7% in 2016 to 18% in 2020.

Notes:
National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has digitally signed a MoU with Rotary India to telecast e-learning content for school children.
The Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank was present during the event. The learning content is to be telecasted in all NCERT TV channels for class 1-12. Under the ‘Vidya Daan 2.0’ programme, Rotary International will provide the e – content in Hindi language to NCERT. Material for special children and Adult Literacy Mission will also be provided.

Notes:
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is the most massive project of Ethiopia at a cost of USD 4.6 billion.
The dam is located on the Blue Nile and its construction began in the year 2011. Recently the Nile basin countries Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan resumed negotiations. Egypt fears that the project will constrict its water supply while Ethiopia desires to become a major power exporter. Sudan has urged the two countries for negotiations.

Notes:
The QS World University Rankings has been released by global higher education consultancy QS Quacquarelli Symonds.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) topped the list for the ninth consecutive year, followed by Stanford University and Harvard University all being American. Only three Indian institutions namely IIT-Bombay (172nd), IISc Bangalore (185th) and IIT Delhi (193rd) feature among the top 200 in the list, with none in the top-100.

Notes:
The European Union has recently directed the social media sites Facebook, Google, and Twitter to provide monthly reports on their efforts to curb misinformation on their platform.
The foreign policy head of EU and the Vice President of European Commission announced this direction while addressing the prevalence of misleading news on Covid-19. They also said that the fake news will influence the economy and weaken their health measures.

Notes:
The Chief minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur has recently launched a new scheme called ‘Panchvati Yojna’.
Under the scheme, that is being implemented by the rural development department, parks and gardens would be developed for senior citizens of rural areas in the state. The main aim of the scheme is provide an opportunity to the elder people to spend their leisure time in a clean environment with Ayurvedic and medicinal plants.

Notes:
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the GST Council recently. As per the announcement, for all those with no tax liabilities, there is no late fee for failing to file returns between July 2017-Jan 2020.
For persons with tax liability, the maximum late fee for non-filing of GSTR-3B returns for the same period is Rs 500. This includes all returns submitted during July 1- September 30, 2020. For tax payers with turnover up to Rs 5 crore, the rate of interest for late furnishing of GST returns for February to April beyond July 6, is reduced from 18% to 9% per annum, till this September end.

Notes:
The United States President Donald Trump has issued an executive order authorising sanctions against individuals involved in an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo can block assets in the U.S. of ICC employees involved in the probe and also block their entry into the U.S. The investigation was held to find whether the U.S. forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan. While Afghanistan is a member of ICC, U.S. is not a member.