Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2020

Notes:
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) of Maharashtra launched ‘Mission Zero’ rapid action plan to combat Covid-19.
Under the action plan, as many as fifty dispensary vans will cover various parts of Mumbai for 2-3 weeks to carry out a preliminary examination of patients. As per the data of the Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Maharashtra stands at the top spot with maximum number of people affected by Covid-19 in the country.

Notes:
Under the recently signed agreement, France committed to provide 200 million euros to India, to support the country’s response to tackle COVID-19.
The programme design has been developed by the World Bank in collaboration with the Indian authorities. It seeks to fast track the existing social protection measures of the Indian Government including the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana. The programme will provide assistance to low-income families and protect essential frontline workers.

Notes:
The Department of Economic Affairs, Finance Ministry has recently announced that there is no objection to the proposal of contributions from individuals or institutions towards the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
The proposal has been accepted based on the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The NDRF was constituted under the same act and it supplements SDRF of a state, when adequate funds are not available in SDRF in case of a severe disaster. The central government may constitute a fund to be called the NDRF for meeting any severe disaster.

Notes:
A Japanese broadcaster had reported that the Ishigaki City assembly in Okinawa, in Japan, had passed a bill to change the name of the administrative area covering the islands to Tonoshiro Senkaku from Tonoshiro.
China has recently said that it reserved the right to respond to the city’s decision to rename the area that includes remote islands claimed by both China and Japan. The disputed islands are known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China. It also warned that Japan should not interfere in Beijing’s internal affairs.

Notes:
The PM CARES Fund Trust has allocated Rs 1000 crore for the welfare of migrant labourers, to all states and UTs.
The distribution of the fund is based on the formula of 50% weightage for the population as per 2011 census, 40% weightage for number of positive COVID-19 cases and 10% for equal distribution among all the States/UTs. This fund will be deployed for arranging accommodation, food, medical treatment and transportation of the migrants.

Notes:
The United Nations observes 23 June as International Widows Day since 2011. The theme of ‘International Widows Day’ 2020 is ‘Invisible Women, Invisible Problems’.
The day highlights the necessity to provide them access to Inheritance rights, pension and social protection, decent work and equal pay. UN also urges governments to ensure the rights of widows as per international laws including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Notes:
Republic of Mali, a country in West Africa, has awarded Project Management Consultancy contract to NTPC, for development of 500 MW Solar Park.
The contract has been provided at an event hosted by International Solar Alliance (ISA) in the Ministry of Renewable Energy, New Delhi. NTPC is a central Public Sector Unit under the Ministry of Power. In the year 2019, ISA authorized NTPC as a Project Management Consultant. Earlier the Republic of Togo partnered with NTPC for development of 285 MW Solar Park in Togo.

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.

Notes:
Haritha Haram is a tree-planting program implemented by Telangana to increase the amount of tree cover in the state.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has recently launched the sixth phase of Haritha Haram programme. He also inaugurated the Narsapur Urban Forest Park and examined the Forest revival programme being implemented in Narsapur forest area.

Notes:
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who is also the Chairman of Indian Red Cross Society, launched the ‘eBloodServices’ mobile application through a video conference.
The application of Indian Red Cross Society has been developed by the E-Raktkosh team launched under the Digital India scheme. Through this app, up to four units of blood can be requested. The E-Raktkosh dashboard is used to display the requisite units and it also ensures assured delivery within the specified time.