Current Affairs – 11/08/2020

National

1. Which state announced a scheme to deliver sand to customer's doorstep?

a. Odisha
b. Karnataka
c. Andhra Pradesh
d. Rajastha

Explanation: The State Government of Andhra Pradesh recently announced that it would deliver sand to the customer’s
doorstep. The scheme was launched as a pilot project in the Krishna District and would be expanded to other districts
as well. The Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) would be the implementing agency of the
delivery scheme. The state recently launched the new sand policy in September 2019 and has been taking various steps
to curb illegal sand trade.

International

1. Which nation extended USD 1 million assistance to Antigua, Barbuda to fight the COVID-19 pandemic?
a. USA
b. Japan
c. India
d. Russia

Explanation: The Indian government has extended an assistance of USD 1 million to Antigua and Barbuda to combat
the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The provided assistance is aimed at improving health capacities and infrastructure
in the Caribbean country. As per the Indian High Commission to Guyana, the assistance from India will be used for
improving health infrastructure and for the procurement of life-saving medical supplies and equipment such as
ventilators.

India-CARICOM: The same level of assistance, i.e. USD 1 million, has been offered to each Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) country. CARICOM is a group of twenty developing countries in the Caribbean.

2. Which nation has announced USD 500 million assistance for Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP)?
a. USA
b. Israel
c. Italy
d. India

Explanation: India will fund the implementation of a major connectivity project in Maldives through a USD 400
million line of credit and USD 100 million grant, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday after holding
wide-ranging talks with his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid. The 6.7 km Greater Male Connectivity Project
(GMCP) will be the largest civilian infrastructure project in Maldives, connecting Male with three neighbouring islands
- Villingili, Gulhifahu and Thilafushi,

3. Which swine fever has spread to Indian state Meghalaya that affected more than 17,000 pigs?
a. Australian
b. American
c. African
d. Asian

Explanation: African swine fever (ASF) has spread to Meghalaya killing more than 17,000 pigs due to the highly
contagious disease in adjoining Assam. This disease is believed to have been transmitted from China where it has
resulted in the death of several animals in 2019.

About African Swine Fever: It is a contagious hemorrhagic viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. It is a
contagious hemorrhagic viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. It is caused by a large DNA virus of
the Asfarviridae family, which also infects ticks of the genus Ornithodoros.

Vaccine related to it: There is no approved vaccine against ASF unlike classical swine fever (Hog Cholera) which is
caused by a different virus. Although signs of ASF and classical swine fever (CSF) may be similar, the ASF virus is
unrelated to the CSF virus.
 4. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has committed USD ___ million
with an aim to empower intellectually disabled children?
a. 15
b. 25
c. 35
d. 45

Explanation: Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has committed USD 25 million to
expand Unified Champion Schools (UCS) to six countries -- India, Argentina, Egypt, Pakistan, Romania and Rwanda.

The initiative that encourages activation and empowerment of the youth resonated with the theme of the International
Youth Day 2020, "Youth Engagement for Global Action" by empowering young people with and without intellectual
disabilities to create lasting social change through inclusion in education. The 4-year project will play a critical role in
making the Indian education system more inclusive by creating 120 Unified Champion Schools across 12 states.

5. Which nation has launched a new version of ‘clean your Plate Campaign’?
a. Japan
b. China
c. USA
d. Indonesia

Explanation: China has stepped up measures to reduce food waste, after President Xi Jinping called the amount wasted
"shocking and distressing". The "Clean Plate Campaign" comes after Mr Xi highlighted that Covid-19 had "sounded
the alarm" on food waste.

Business and Economy

1. PM Modi launched the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) of financing facility under the Agriculture
Infrastructure Fund worth _______ recently.
a. 1 Lakh Crore
b. 25,000 Crore
c. 50,000 Crore
d. 5 Lakh Crore
Answer: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today launched a new Central Sector Scheme of financing facility under
the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund of Rs. 1 Lakh Crore. The scheme will support farmers, PACS, FPOs, Agri-
entrepreneurs, etc. in building community farming assets and post-harvest agriculture infrastructure. These assets will
enable farmers to get greater value for their produce as they will be able to store and sell at higher prices, reduce
wastage, and increase processing and value addition.

2. Under which section of IBC, 2016, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India amended the Insolvency
and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016?
a. Section 240
b. Section 280
c. Section 360
d. Section 300
Answer: In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (t) of sub-section (1) of section 196 read with section 240 of
the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (31 of 2016), the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India amended the
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016
by Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) (Fourth
Amendment) Regulations, 2020.

3. How much was the amount that was transferred to farmers under PM-KISAN as 6th instalment recently?
a. 25,000 crore
b. 21,000 crore
c. 15,000 crore
d. 17,000 crore

Answer: PM Narendra Modi also released the 6th instalment of funds of Rs. 17,000 crore to 8.5 crore farmers under
the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna (PM-KISAN) scheme. With this transfer, the scheme has provided
over 90,000 Crore to 10 Crore farmers since its launch on 01 December 2018. The scheme has also been instrumental
in supporting farmers during the Covid-19 pandemic, through the release of nearly Rs 22,000 Crore to aid the farmers
during the lockdown period.
 4. How much is the maximum loan amount under the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), a
credit guarantee scheme for MSME?
a. 10 Crore
b. 5 Crore
c. 2 Crore
d. 1 Cror

Answer: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Central Government have extended its Emergency
Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), credit guarantee scheme for the micro, small and medium
enterprises(MSME), to cover the loans given to the large firms, self-employed professionals and people who have taken
a loan for business purpose.The turnover limits to avail the loan under the scheme was increased to annual turnover of
Rs.250 crore and outstanding loans up to Rs.50 crores from annual turnover up to Rs.100 crore with outstanding loans
of up to Rs.25 crore.The maximum loan amount under the scheme is also increased to Rs.10 crores from Rs.5 crores.

Appointments/Resignations/Obituaries
1. Which former RBI Deputy Governor is appointed as Non-Executive Chairman of Indiabulls Housing
Finance Ltd.
a) SS Mundra
b) JP Gandhi
c) Rajeev Soni
d) Poonam Mishra

Explanation- Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited (IBH) appointed Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy
Governor Subhash Sheoratan Mundra (ss Mundra) as its Non- Executive Chairman with immediate effect.

Note- IBH’s Executive Chairman Sameer Gehlaut has taken up the position of chief executive officer of another
listed firm Indiabulls Ventures Ltd.

2. Which Indian cricketer has been appointed as the brand ambassador of eBikeGo?
a) MS Dhoni
b) Virat Kohli
c) Harbhajan Singh
d) Rohit Sharma

Explanation- eBikeGo, Amritsar based e-mobility start-up appointed Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh as its brand
ambassador for a year. He will help the company to upgrade itself and will also have an active presence on the
company’s website and campaign across media.

Science and Technology

1) Indian Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessel launched which was manufactured by Goa Shipyard Limited.
What is its name?
a) Sarthak
b) Submit
c) Sambhav
d) Saksham

Explanation: In order to enhance maritime security, on August 13, 2020, an Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) for the
Indian Coast Guard was launched and re-christened as Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) “Sarthak” during a ceremony
held at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) which was conducted through video conferencing from Coast Guard
headquarters at New Delhi. It was launched by Ms. Veena Ajay Kumar, wife of Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar.
Sarthakarthak, the 4th in the series of five OPVs deployed by the ICG has been designed and built indigenously by
GSL on the lines of “Make in India” which has about 70% indigenous content.

2) IIT Delhi Found WHO listed Priority Pathogens in the Waters of which River?
a) Ganga
b) Godavari
c) Yamuna
d) Indus

Explanation: The research team of Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi(IIT-D) found the critical group and multi
drug resistant bacteria of the World Health Organization’s(WHO’s) 2017 list of antibiotic resistant priority
pathogens, in the waters of River Yamuna. The study was conducted on the 20 major sewer drains and the waters of
Yamuna at 5 locations across Delhi over two seasons and isolated the Faecal Coliform(FC) from all the samples. The
research paper on the study was published in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering.

Important Days

1. When is Independence Day observed in India?

a. August 13
b. August 14
c. August 15
d. August 16

Explanation: Independence Day, in India, is celebrated annually on August 15. Independence Day marks the end of
British rule in 1947 and the establishment of a free and independent Indian nation. It also marks the anniversary of the
partition of the subcontinent into two countries, India and Pakistan, which occurred at midnight on August 14–15, 1947.
(In Pakistan, Independence Day is celebrated on August 14.

History: India had been ruled by the British for several years. For about 100 years India was ruled by the East India
Company. In 1757 the Company won the Battle of Plassey started exerting power over India. In 1957 India had it's first
rebellion against the foreign rule in which almost the entire country united against the British. Unfortunately, India was
defeated but after that Indian rule passed to the British crown who ruled till India was independent. It was only after a
long campaign for independence and Britain being weakened after two world wars was India finally granted its
freedom.

India gained independence on 15th August 1947 at midnight. Unfortunately, as India got independence, it was divided
into two countries, India and Pakistan. Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day on 14th August rather than 15th August
though.

2. When is Day of the assumption of the Virgin Mary observed?

a. 13 August
b. 14 August
c. 15 August
d. 16 August
Explanation: August 15 is the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary. In the United States, it is a holy day of obligation
(in years when it does not fall on a Monday).

On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption of Mary to be a dogma of faith saying, “We pronounce,
declare and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma that the immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having
completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory.” The pope proclaimed this
dogma only after a broad consultation of bishops, theologians and laity. There were few dissenting voices. What the
pope solemnly declared was already a common belief in the Catholic Church.

3.When is victory over Japan Day observed in United Kin?

a. 10 August
b. 12 August
c. 15 August
d. 16 August

Explanation: Victory Day is observed in Europe and it refers to the surrender of Nazi Germany on 8th May, 1945,
after six years of war.

Despite the battle against the Nazis coming to an end, and Hilter dead, Japan stood firm and war continued to rage on
in the Pacific where Japan, a key German ally, fought off the advancing US army. The Japan surrender didn’t come
until after the German surrender, and this marked the end of World War II entirely, which is why there’s a separate
day of remembrance and celebration.

History: The Japanese surrendered from World War II following the fallout of the atomic bombs the Americans
dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August respectively. The Allied leaders issued Japan something called
a Potsdam Declaration, which called for the unconditional surrender of their armed forces. While the Soviets had been
allied with Britain and the US in the fight against Hitler, they weren’t actually at war with Japan at the time when the
country was issued the Potsdam Declaration.