Monthly Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2018

Notes:
Ramesh Abhishek, secretary in Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), has released State Business Reform Assessment 2018 at an event in New Delhi on July 10. In it, Andhra Pradesh has topped the ease of doing business rankings, while Telangana is in 2nd and Haryana is in 3rd position. DIPP in collaboration with the World Bank conducts an annual reform exercise for all States/UTs under the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP). In it, 17 states have achieved a reform evidence score of more than 90% and 15 have achieved a combined score of 90% and more. While Chhattisgarh has topped in terms of property registration, Rajasthan has topped in terms of construction permit. West Bengal has topped in terms of labour regulation and Karnataka topped in terms of environmental registration. Uttarakhand has topped in terms of land availability and Odisha has topped in terms of paying taxes. Uttar Pradesh tops in terms of obtaining utility permit.

Notes:
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched a technology challenge on identifying solutions and promoting suitable techniques for cleaning of sewerage systems. The objective is eliminating human entry into septic tanks and manholes. The challenge will be a part of the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention which will be held on 2nd of October 2018. The proposals have been invited by the MoHUA from interested innovators, companies, academic institutions, research and development centers, NGOs and municipal bodies, to provide innovative technical solutions which eliminate the need for human entry into sewers. According to the 2011 census, there were more than 2 million toilets in the country which had to either be serviced manually or disposed waste into open drains.

Notes:
On July 11, the Andhra Pradesh government launched the much-awaited ‘Anna Canteens’ in various parts of the state that will offer subsidised food for the poor. About 100 canteens were opened in 35 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the first phase. They would serve breakfast, lunch and dinner for just Rs 5 a plate on week days. The canteens across the State offer a uniform menu that includes idli on all days or puri, upma and pongal on select days for breakfast and rice with a curry, pickle, dal or sambar and curd for lunch and dinner. In it, anyone can make a donation in the name of their near and dear ones on special occasions and the names of the persons would be displayed at the respective canteen. Each canteen is expected to serve at least 350 plates of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The capacity could be extended up to 500 plates when needed. The project is taken up by the Akshaya Patra Foundation, which provides the meals, in collaboration with the Municipal Administration and Civil Supplies Departments.

Notes:
On 10th April 2022, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Nadabet Seema Darshan Project along the India-Pakistan border in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat. The project, which is being developed on the pattern of Wagah Border, will include an exhibition hall and a parade ground with an amphitheatre for 5,000 people. People can watch the border where the Gujarat’s seacoast meets the landmass. The project seeks to show how the BSF jawans protect the border round-the-clock. The project will encourage local economic activity in the Rann region, alongside visit to adjoining flamingo and wild ass sanctuaries.

Notes:
The play script “Hello Farmaish”, which is being shortlisted for The Hindu Playwright Award 2018, is written by Sneh Sapru. The play script is a satire that describes as a drama with bold streaks of magic realism. The winner of The Hindu Playwright Award will be announced on August 9, 2018 on the eve of the opening of the 14th edition of The Hindu Theatre Fest in Chennai on August 10. The award, instituted in 2008, carries a prize of Rs 2 lakh for the best original, unpublished and unperformed play script in English.

Notes:
The 4th National Conclave on Mines & Minerals was held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on 13th July 2018 for showcasing blocks which will be auctioned by the states in FY 2018-19 to the potential investors. The aim of the conclave was to carry forward the efforts of the Union Government for strengthening the mineral auction regime as well as help in expediting auctions and bring in greater participation from the stakeholders. This Mining Conclave provided unique opportunity to the State Governments to showcase their auctionable mineral blocks with regard to its exploration, mineral resources, transport connectivity from mineral block, policy scenario in State and incentives to attract prospective investors. It also provided a great opportunity to the investors to identify the mineral blocks and participate in the auction of suitable mineral blocks.

Notes:
On 15 July, 2018, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Bansagar canal project in Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. This dam project is a joint venture between Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and includes a total canal network of 171 kms. These canals will bring waters from Shahdol district in Madhya Pradesh for Adwa Barrage, Meza Dam and Jirgo reservoir.  The project promises to be greatly beneficial for the farmers of Mirzapur and Allahabad districts of Uttar Pradesh. It would hopefully  benefit 1 lakh 70 thousand farmers of Mirzapur and Allahabad districts.

Notes:
Sanskrit is one of the languages in the Eighth Schedule and is also an official language in Uttarakhand.

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The World Customs Organization is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. It was founded in 1952 and its main work is in areas covering the international conventions and standards related to customs, trade, IPR protection etc.

Notes:
According to the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/ GM Crops in 2017 by International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA), India has the world’s fifth largest cultivated area under genetically modified (GM) crops. However, this entire area is under single crop – cotton. Currently, the country with highest area under transgenic crops, at 75 mh, is the United States. US grows GM soyabean, maize (corn), cotton, alfalfa, canola, sugar-beet, potato, apples, squash and papaya.