Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2020

Notes:
Bombay High court recently quashed a clause in the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, 2010, which converted permanent posts to term posts of five years. Hereafter, the Principals can serve beyond 5 years and continue to hold their posts till retirement.
Recently, the UGC also released guidelines for examinations and academic calendar for universities, as the regular sessions may be affected amidst the Covid-19 outbreak. As per the guidelines, the academic session for freshers may begin in September and session for enrolled students in August.

Notes:
Veteran Indian Foreign Service Officer T. S. Tirumurti has been appointed as the next Ambassador or Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations.
The officer is currently serving as the Secretary (economic relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs. He replaces Sayyad Akbaruddin, who is superannuating this month. Prior to this appointment, Tirumurti has held several prime engagements and positions in India’s external affairs.

Notes:
Union MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari has recently launched Bank of Schemes, Ideas, Innovation and Research portal on MSMEs, through the Video conferencing.
The Portal enables the Centre, State and UT governments to access all related schemes. The portal also has features to upload Ideas, Innovations & Researches in the sector. The ideas crowdsourced are evaluated and rated by experts. The portal would be handled and updated by professionals.

Notes:
As per the recent statement of U.N. World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Ozone depletion has hit the highest level, which is the highest level since 2011.
The WMO also highlighted that the hole has now been closed. As per the spokesperson, the ‘springtime phenomenon’ in the northern hemisphere was caused by ozone depleting substances in atmosphere and cold winter in stratosphere. But this phenomenon is not due to the pandemic.

Notes:
Apex Traders body, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has recently announced that it would launch a national e-commerce marketplace ‘bharatmarket’.
The platform aims to connect all retail traders to the market, in collaboration with technology partners, who will provide services in logistics and supply chains from manufacturers to end consumers.

Notes:
International Astronomy Day is celebrated twice a year, during autumn and spring. The Astronomy Day 2020 is celebrated on May 2 and the next edition of this year on September 26, 2020.
The President of the Astronomical Association of Northern California had organised the celebration of first Astronomy Day in 1973. The objective of celebrating this day is to inculcate the awareness about the universe and the field of astronomy.

Notes:
An Extraordinary Virtual G20 Digital Economy Ministers meeting was convened recently to discuss the challenges posed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Union Minister Communications and Electronics & IT Ravi Shankar Prasad represented India in the meeting. Digital Ministers of other G20 member also attended the virtual meeting. The G20 Digital Economy Task Force COVID-19 Ministerial Statement was released which ensured global digital measures to tackle the pandemic.

Notes:
Under the Rebate of State Levies (ROSL) Scheme, exporters can claim refunds from the Centre for all the levies and duties they pay at the State level. It was extended only to exporters of apparel and made-ups.
It was discontinued last year and replaced with the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies scheme (RoSCTL). Recently, ₹464.13 crore has been allocated for issue of duty credit scrips (certificates) by the DGFT to exporters who have pending claims under the ROSL scheme.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation along with Directorate General of Civil Aviation has launched a portal named GARUD (Government Authorisation for Relief Using Drones).
The portal has been launched with an aim of providing fast-track exemptions to government agencies for drone operations associated with Covid-19 response. However, the Ministry also warned about penal action and cancellation of exemption if the provisions are violated.

Notes:
The Think tank of the country NITI Aayog in coloration with Mumbai-based Piramal Foundation has launched a campaign ‘Surakshit Dada-Dadi & Nana-Nani Abhiyan’.
The campaign focusses on ensuring well-being of senior citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is expected to cover as many as 29 lakh senior citizens in 25 aspirational districts named by NITI Aayog. This project is currently piloted in seven states and will create awareness about the health and lifestyle of elder people.