Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2021

Notes:
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has approved eight Chinese names for features around the area on the Moon
Last year, China’s spacecraft Chang’e-5 probe landed near those places to collect samples from the lunar surface and return to Earth. China has been naming geographical entities on the Moon since 2010.

Notes:
As per a new study, a 4,000-year-old war memorial known as the ‘White Monument’ in Syria was built to honour soldiers who died in battle.
The White Monument, was first excavated several years ago, is found to be built above layers of buried adult males, may have been a memorial to the community’s dead, rather than a symbol of victory over the enemy.

Notes:
West African leaders have suspended Mali from their regional association- the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The 15-member bloc held an emergency summit in Ghana’s capital, Accra, in response to last week’s coup. Mali’s military has toppled the President and Prime Minister for the second time in nine months.

Notes:
China has announced that it would permit couples to have three children as against the present two children limit, which was brought in 2016.
This decision has been made by the Chinese government, since the country’s birth rates have registered a steep decline as per the latest census release.

Notes:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced new labels, using Greek alphabets, for various variants of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
As per the WHO, Covid variant first found in India (B1.617.2) will be referred to as Delta, while earlier found variant in the country (B.1.617.1) will be known as Kappa.

Notes:
The Gujarat government has decided to grant Centre of Excellence (CoE) status to seven private universities in the state.
The Chief Minister Vijay Rupani gave in-principle approval to grant CoE status to seven universities including Nirma University, CEPT University, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, DAIICT, Ahmedabad University, Charotar University of Science and Technology and Marwadi University.

Notes:
The Research Design & Standards Organization (RDSO), which functions under the Indian Railways has recently become the country’s first institution to be declared as Standard Developing Organization (SDO).
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) launched the scheme of ‘Recognition of SDO’, to attain the “One Nation One Standard” of the Government.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet of the Government of India has approved and ratified a MoU between India and Maldives on cooperation in sustainable urban development.
The MoU would strengthen the bilateral ties and generate employment in urban planning, waste management, housing, green mobility, efficient power systems etc. The MoU was signed in the month of Feb 2021, and would be in force for an infinite time period. The Cabinet also approved an MoU with Japan in the same field.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister has approved the Model Tenancy Act, whose draft was first released in the year 2019. The Union Government has requested all states to enact this law by fresh / amendment legislations.
The model act proposed for a rent authority to regulate renting of premises. This aims to protect the interest of landlords and the tenants.

Notes:
Kerala retained the top spot in the Niti Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index released in the year 2021. India’s overall score across SDGs improved by six points, from 60 in 2019 to 66 in 2021
The annual index evaluates the progress of states and UTs on social, economic and environmental criteria. Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu grabbed the second and third spots respectively while Bihar is placed at the last place in the index.