Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2020

Notes:
Social media Giant WhatsApp announced that it is set to partner with banks to expand banking services in India.
India is the biggest market of WhatsApp with over 400 million users. The messaging platform has already collaborated with banks including ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank for automated business messaging. This partnership would help expand banking services for low-income people and in rural areas.

Notes:
India is set to procure HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) standoff missiles from France.
The Indian Air Force is expected to receive first five Rafale combat aircrafts from France by July 29. HAMMER is a medium-range air-to-ground weapon. It was originally designed and manufactured for the French Air Force and Navy.

Notes:
Department of Science and Technology has launched a 15-crore fund to support India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme.
The fund has been launched in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE) of Russia. Start-ups from India and Russia will work together for technology development and cross-country technology adaptation. FICCI will implement the program in India.

Notes:
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar has virtually inaugurated a world-class Honey Testing Laboratory.
The state of Art laboratory has been established by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) with support of National Bee Board (NBB), in Anand, Gujarat. Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare has approved the National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) for a period of 2 years.

Notes:
Veteran Dancer Amala Shankar has passed away recently in Kolkata at the age of 101. She is the wife of classical dancer Uday Shankar.
She entered the profession at a very younger age and her first dance performance was in Belgium in the year 1931. She was active in the dance field till her 92nd year. She had won several awards and accolades including the West Bengal government’s Banga Bibhusan award in 2011.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India has signed necessary documents for extending USD 400 million currency swap facility to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka had earlier requested for a currency swap facility under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework. This swap arrangement will remain available till November 2022 and is expected to assist Sri Lank to address the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Notes:
Ministry of Rural Development has announced that the average completion time for houses under restructured Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) has come down to 114 days.
Earlier, the number of days for construction under the scheme used to be 314 days. The scheme was launched the scheme in the year 2016, with an objective of Housing for all by the year 2022. It strives to construct as many as 2.95 crore houses with all basic amenities by the year 2022.

Notes:
The birth anniversary of 11th President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, October 15 has been recognised by the United Nations to be celebrated as World Students’ Day.
Recently, the country remembered the Missile Man of India on his fifth death anniversary, on July 27. While addressing students at Indian Institute of Management Shillong, the former President died of cardiac arrest.

Notes:
The Chairman of Tata Sons N Chandra Sekaran announced that Thierry Bollore would be appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tata’s British luxury arm Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).
Thierry Bollore, who was previously working with the Renault, will assume office with effective from September 10. He is to succeed Professor Sir Ralf Speth, who would take up the position of Non-Executive Vice Chairman of Jaguar Land Rover.

Notes:
The government has recently notified changes in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms on civil aviation.
As per the amendments, it will permit Non-resident Indian (NRI) nationals to own 100 per cent stake of Air India. The divestment process for the national carrier, Air India was initiated in the month of January and the deadline to bid has been for three times. Recently, the deadline was extended till August 31.