Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2020

Notes:
The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh recently approved the proposal of the state forest department to declare ‘Lac farming’ as an agricultural activity. It is to be approved in the cabinet soon.
Lac is the sticky secretion of several species of lac insects. Thousands of lac insects colonise the branches of the host trees and secrete the Lac pigment. Chhattisgarh is one of the leading producers of lac in the country. This step will increase the productivity and credit availability of farmers cultivating lac.

Notes:
Indian American Scientist Rajiv Joshi has been awarded the prestigious Inventor of the Year award by the New York Intellectual Property Law Association. He is an alumnus of IIT Mumbai.
As per the Press Trust of India, he has more than 250 patented inventions in the US and is currently working at IBM Thomson Watson Research Center in New York. He has been selected for the award for his contribution in electronic industry and improving artificial intelligence capabilities.

Notes:
Narmada Basin Projects Company Ltd. (NBPCL) is a wholly-owned company of Madhya Pradesh government. Central PSU under Ministry of Power, Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has recently partnered with NBPCL to fund projects worth ₹22,000 crore in Madhya Pradesh.
Hydroelectric projects and power components of 12 major multipurpose projects are to be set up by deploying the funds. Major multipurpose projects, which are to be financed include Basaniya Multipurpose Project, Chinki Boras Multipurpose Project Dudhi Project, among others.

Notes:
Multinational service network Deloitte recently conducted ‘Global State of the Consumer Tracker’ survey using an online panel, among the people across the world aged above 18.
As per the study, consumers in India are the most worried during these uncertain times and are placed at the top of the Global anxiety index with a score of 33. India was followed by Mexico and Spain. However, the anxiety score of India has gradually declined during the month of May.

Notes:
Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology (CIPET) has been renamed as Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET).
CIPET is a premier national institution under the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. It is located at SIDCO Industrial Estate, Chennai. With expanded coverage, CIPET will undertake efforts to promote the entire petrochemical sector with a focus on Academics, Skill improvement and Research.

Notes:
Leading E-commerce platform Flipkart has signed a MoU with Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation, to enable farmers to sell their fresh fruits online.
Under the agreement, India Post would function as the last-mile delivery partner during this season. Mango Board, Farmer Producer Organisations, sellers, growers, and traders can enrol themselves in the Flipkart platform to supply several varieties of mangoes across the state.

Notes:
The state government of Karnataka recently announced that it would launch a first-of-its kind project called “State Health Register”.
The aim of the project is to maintain the health database of all its citizens in the register. As per the state’s release, a survey of all 6.5 crore people in the state using ASHA team, Primary Health Centre, members from Revenue and Education Departments. It will be implemented in Chikkaballapur district on a pilot basis.

Notes:
Rajya Sabha MP and former Union Minister of State for Finance Veerendra Kumar recently passed away at the age of 83.
He was the Managing Director of the Kerala-based Mathrubhumi group of publications. He had also served as the Union Minister of State for Labour. The politician was a prolific writer and a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi award and the Kerala Sahitya Academy award. He had been a member of the Rajya Sabha since April 2016.

Notes:
The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is celebrated on 29 May every year, to pay tribute to the contribution of the peacekeepers.
This year the theme of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, 2020 is “Women in Peacekeeping: A Key to Peace”. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. UN honours more than 3,900 UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives during their service, since 1948.

Notes:
Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi has recently passed away at Raipur after suffering from a heart attack, at the age of 74.
When the state was carved out from Madhya Pradesh to be held as a separate state in the year 2000, he was selected to head the state. The veteran leader was an Indian Administrative Officer turned politician. He had also served as the Collector of Raipur during the early years of his career.