Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2021

Notes:
Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) is an apex advisory body formed in 1997, for the development of the Major and non-Major Ports.
Recently, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Port, Shipping and Waterways Mansukh Mandaviya chaired the 18th meeting of MSDC through a video conference. He highlighted that the ‘Indian Port Bill 2021’ will ensure optimum management and utilization of the coastline.

Notes:
The Fisheries Department of Kerala has established a seven-member committee, headed by P. Sahadevan, former additional director of fisheries, for safety of fishers.
The Committee will study and submit a report on methods to resolve issues related to safety at sea, coastal security and vessel monitoring systems. It will also study on illegal and unregulated fishing.

Notes:
India’s premier think tank the NITI Aayog had convened a National Convention on Prevention of Maternal, Adolescent and Childhood Obesity.
NITI Aayog described obesity as a silent epidemic. It also called for a multi-sectoral approach to target the adolescents for promoting activity and healthy lifestyle. Global experts and representatives from UN bodies including UNICEF, WHO and WFP participated.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs has enlarged and expanded the definition of small and medium companies (SMC).
As per the new definition, small and medium companies are unlisted entities which are not banks, financial institutions or insurance firms. They should have a turnover of up to Rs 250 crore and borrowings up to Rs 50 crore in the immediately preceding accounting year.

Notes:
Scientifically referred to as Hylocereusundatus, the dragon fruit is called as ‘Kamalam’ in India, due to its resemblance to a lotus flower.
Recently, India exported its first consignment of the Dragon Fruit sourced from the farmers of Sangli district, Maharashtra to Dubai, as per the announcement from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Notes:
Every year, the United Nations observes 26th June as “International Day in Support of Victims of Torture”.
The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in its general assembly in the year 1948. In 1975, the UN adopted a Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel treatment.

Notes:
Indian Government is implementing BharatNet in PPP model in 16 States, which aims to provide broadband internet to all villages. Out of 2,50,000-gram panchayats, 1,56,223-gram panchayats have been made service ready by 31 May, 2021
Recently, the Finance Ministry announced an additional sum of Rs 19,041 crore to expand the reach of broadband internet to all remaining villages under the BharatNet PPP model.

Notes:
2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) was developed by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS), a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with Dr Reddy’s company.
Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) has commercially launched 2-DG drug, an oral drug used to treat moderate to severe Covid patients.

Notes:
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, but the peninsula is internationally recognised as a part of Ukraine. Ukraine and the United States have launched a military exercise Sea Breeze 2021.
It involves more than 30 countries in the Black Sea and southern Ukraine. Russia’s embassy in Washington called for the latest exercises to be cancelled.

Notes:
National Statistics Day is celebrated on June 29 on the birth anniversary of late Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, the ‘father of Indian statistics’.
End Hunger, Achieve Food Security and Improved Nutrition and Promote Sustainable Agriculture (Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 of the UN) is the theme of this year’s National Statistics Day.