Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2020

Notes:
The United States Senate has named that veteran Indian-American scientist Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan as the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF).
NSF is a top American body, that promotes fundamental research in non-medical fields of science and engineering. The 58-year old Scientist is the Chief Research and Innovation Officer at Arizona State University, at present. He is to replace France Cordova as the 15th Director of the NSF. He is also the second Indian-American ever to be nominated for the position.

Notes:
Union Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh is to attend the Russian Victory Parade on June 24, to be held at Russia’s capital Moscow.
The Victory Parade is organised to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the victory of Russia in the Second World War. Earlier, it was announced that a Tri-Service 75- Member Indian Military Contingent has reached Moscow to participate in the Victory Parade, along with other invited troops.

Notes:
The United Nations designated June 21 as International Day of Yoga by passing a resolution on December 11, 2014, during the 69th session of the General Assembly.
The first International Day of Yoga was celebrated in the year 2015, across the world. This year, the celebration marks the 6th International Yoga Day. The United Nations theme for this year is ‘Yoga for Health – Yoga at Home’.

Notes:
Rajinder Goel, who was considered as one of the finest left-arm spinners of the country, passed away recently, at the age of 77
Rajinder Goel took part in about 157 first-class matches, most of them for Haryana. He also holds the record for clinching maximum wickets in Ranji trophy with 637 wickets. The legendary spinner made his debut in the year 1957 and played domestic cricket until the age of 44. He was awarded the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award by BCCI.

Notes:
Jharkhand is set to become the first state to launch an employment guarantee scheme for urban poor on the lines of the Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The scheme named ‘Mukhyamantri Shramik Yojna’ will guarantee 100 days of work in a financial year for urban unskilled labourers. Under the scheme, if the person doesn’t get work within 15 days of request, unemployment allowance would be given. An urban employment guarantee council would be formed, headed by the Chief Minister and Urban development minister as the vice president.

Notes:
Every year the United Nations Public Service day is observed on June 23 to honour people engaged in public service, around the world.
On 20 December 2002, the United General Assembly designated 23 June as UN Public Service Day. The United Nations also established the UN Public Service Awards (UNPSA) programme in 2003, to recognise the UN Public Service Day and to encourage youngsters to take up their career in public sector.

Notes:
World Olympic Day or the International Olympic Day is celebrated across the world on June 23. It was introduced in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on 23 June 1894.
The objective of celebrating the Olympic Day was to promote participation in sports and games across the globe, regardless of age, gender, or other abilities. This year, the world’s largest 24 hour digital-first Olympic workout is organised, to celebrate the day virtually. The campaign is named ‘Stay Healthy, Stay Strong, Stay Active with the #Olympicday Workout On 23 June’.

Notes:
Information Technology firm Intuit India was placed in the top spot in the list of India’s Best Companies to Work for – 2020.
The list is released by Great Place to Work Institute, a global research, consulting firm that helps organisations identify great workplaces. Intuit India is followed by DHL Express (India) and Ujjivan Small Finance Bank. Harrisons Malayalam Ltd SBU-B, the first plantation company and Kerala’s first company to feature in the Top 5 list, bagged 4th place.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval to declare Kushinagar airport as an international airport.
The airport is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Kushinagar is a Buddhist cultural site and its declaration as international airport will improve connectivity to several other Buddhist sites including Sravasti, Kapilvastu and Lumbini. As the place is near the international border, it would improve tourism and economic development of the region.

Notes:
Researchers from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun have traced the paleoclimatic history of the Indus River in Ladakh Himalaya, by using geometric data from overlapping gravels of channel fills.
WIHG is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology. The researchers have studied the discharge when the river experienced an increase in land elevation, due to the deposition of sediment and incision. Their study has been published in the journal titled Geomorphology.