Assam Current Affairs – August 15-21, 2020

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Assam Current Affairs & GK – August 15-21, 2020

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of August 15-21, 2020)

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August 15, 2020

Arunachal Pradesh CM launches “Challenge Entrepreneurship Programme” to boost economy
  • Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu launched the “Arunachal Pradesh Challenge Entrepreneurship Programme” to boost entrepreneurship among the people and to set up more industrial units in the state.
  • State government’s scheme “Chief Minister Comprehensive Roads Plan 2019 to 2024” would strengthen and broaden the road infrastructure in the state.
Itanagar selected for implementation of Central Govt’s Urban Forest scheme
  • Arunachal Pradesh capital Itanagar has been selected for implementation of the ‘Nagar Van’ or Urban Forest scheme by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (EFCC).
  • The ‘Nagar Van’ is a scheme being launched by the Union EFCC Ministry that envisages creating forests in 200 urban cities across the country on public-private-partnership basis. The Ministry would offer an initial grant of Rs 2 crore for fencing, maintenance and administrative costs of the earmarked land to be developed.
  • There are only two urban cities in the state – Itanagar and Pasighat – the state capital has been selected for implementation of the scheme this year.
Meghalaya CM launches ‘Restart Meghalaya Mission’ to revive State’s economy
  • A ‘Restart Meghalaya Mission’ was launched by chief minister Conrad K Sangma on the Independence Day, to revive the State economy, which has been hit hard due to COVID-19 pandemic.
  • This mission comprises a series of programs to support our farmers, and entrepreneurs and to build growth promoting basic infrastructure and services.
  • The Mission was based on the recommendations of the Chief Minister’s Task Force on the Economy on short, medium and long term measures for reviving the State economy, which has been hit hard due to the pandemic.
  • An amount of Rs 14,515 crore to be spent over the next three years for the Mission was also announced, out of which, Rs 7,839 crore has been earmarked for this year 2020-21.
  • Six programmes under Restart Meghalaya Mission’ include agriculture and its allied sectors, promotion of well-being and livelihoods in rural area, providing a one-time grant support of upto Rs. 10,000 for any new small business loans of upto Rs. 50,000 for small businesses and entrepreneurs under Chief Minister’s Support programme. Close to 50,000 people are dependent on tourism for sustenance and livelihood in Meghalaya.
PM Narendra Modi becomes longest-serving non-Congress Prime Minister
  • PM Narendra Modi on August 13, 2020 became the longest-serving non-Congress Prime Minister of India surpassing Atal Bihari Vajpayee and also became the fourth-longest serving Prime Minister of the country. Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Manmohan Singh are the three longest-serving Prime Ministers in that order.
  • The BJP in 2014 became the first party to win a majority in over three decades.
Jharkhand Govt unveils new emblem
  • Jharkhand Governor Draupdi Murmu unveiled the new emblem of the state in the presence of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The new emblem reflects vision, renewed vigour and enthusiasm.
  • The new emblem has the Ashoka emblem enclosed within concentric circles, state tribal dance celebration motifs, the Palash flower also known as the flame of the forest and elephants.
  • The verdant green colour in the emblem symbolises the greenery of the state blessed with natural beauty and resources.
  • Elephants symbolise the state’s grand past, strength, and collective wisdom and resolve to move forward while the Palash flower also reflects the state’s natural beauty.
  • The blooming of the flower also indicates arrival of the spring season a harbinger of prosperity.
Centre to receive Rs 57,128 crore from RBI as Financial Year 2020 surplus
  • The Board of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the transfer of Rs 57,128 crore as surplus to the Central government for the accounting year 2019-20, while deciding to maintain the Contingency Risk Buffer at 5.5 per cent.
  • The Board reviewed the current economic situation, continued global and domestic challenges and the monetary, regulatory and other measures taken by the RBI to mitigate the economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic.
  • In the last fiscal, the RBI approved a Rs 1,76,000 crore dividend payment to the government.
  • The Reserve Bank decides on the amount of surplus or dividend transfer to the government based on its income during the period July 1 to June 30.
  • RBI earns via interest income on account of open market operations (OMOs), foreign exchange (FX) gains, and writing back of excess risk provisions. While its liabilities include issuance of notes and deposits held.

August 16, 2020 

  Hyderabad FC signs Assam’s Halicharan Narzary for Indian Super League
  • Start Footbal from Assam, Halicharan Narzary has been signed by Hyderabad FC for Indian Super League’s new season. The player has joined Hyderabad FC from Kerala Blasters.
  • The midfielder has penned a two-year deal with the Hyderabad FC till the end of the 2021-22 season. Narzary has played at the top level for seven teams in the last decade, with four of them in the Indian Super League (ISL).

BIOGRAPHY – Halicharan Narzary

  • Halicharan Narzary is from Kokrajhar in Assam.
  • So far he has made a total of 59 appearances in the competition.
  • Born in 1994, Narzary began his career in 2010 with AIFF’s developmental side Indian Arrows which plied trade in the I-League.
  • He joined NorthEast for ISL’s third season in 2016 before turning out for I-League side Shivajians FC a year later.
Manipur to set up 1st Medicinal and Aromatic Plant hub
  • First Medicinal and Aromatic Plant (MAP) Hub will be set up at Sunushiphai area in Manipur’s Bishnupur District.
  • State Health & Family Welfare Minister L Jayantakumar Singh led officials team have visited the proposed site of the MAP hub at Langjingmanbi Forest Reserve of Sunushiphai in Bishnupur district recently.
  • Manipur State Medicinal Plant Board, MSMPB, will ink an Memorandum of Understanding with the LYS Agency Private Ltd. Kwakeithel, Imphal West District, to start the project.
  • The project will consist of a Distillation Unit, Processing unit and a catchment area of 5 acres of land to grow different varieties of aromatic and medicinal plants of high value.
PM Modi’s 10 major announcements on India’s Independence Day
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi made 10 major announcements on the occasion of Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Delhi.
  • PM announced the launch of the National Digital Health Mission scheme to revolutionise India’s health sector.
  • This scheme will give health cards to every Indian, with immediate effect. Every Indian will be provided a health card. All test, disease, medicines that were prescribed including information of doctor, date of medication, medical reports will be contained in this one health card.
  • Prime Minister Modi also informed of new National Cyber Security strategy has been prepared in the country, to counter the security threats and in cyber world.
  • PM also said that three vaccines for the coronavirus are currently in the testing phase. After approval from the scientists, the stage is set for mass production of these vaccines in the country.
  • National Cadet Corps (NCC) will be expanded, to be ensured across 173 border and coastal districts of the country. Nearly 1 lakh new NCC cadets will be given special training under this campaign.
  • Selected Island, including Lakshadweep will also be connected by submarine optical fibre cable. Work is underway to introduce new development schemes in selected islands.
  • Every village will be connected with optical fibres to provide Internet facility. All villages in India will be connected in the coming 1,000 days.
  • PM Modi announced Project Lion for conservation of Asiatic Lions and Project Dolphin for the conservation of dolphins.
  • To revolutionise the infrastructure in India, a plan has been prepared to connect whole India with Multi-model Connectivity Infrastructure. Investment of more than Rs 100 lakh crore is required for this purpose. Nearly 7,000 projects in different sectors have been identified.
  • PM stressed on strengthening and expanding relations with the neighbouring countries. India’s neighbouring countries are to be linked with the partnership of security, development and trust.
  • PM Modi announced a plan to eradicate pollution from the cities. A special campaign with a holistic approach is also being undertaken to reduce pollution in 100 selected cities.
Himachal CM bestows civil services award to Rural Devt Director Lalit Jain
  • Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur awarded the prestigious civil services award to Lalit Jain, Director, Rural Development and Panchayats, for his work for the self-help groups.
  • Lalit Jain is a 2011 batch IAS officer who started his stint in Himachal Pradesh as Block Development Officer in Paragpur. He started a number of self-help groups to make pickles.
  • As Deputy Commissioner of Sirmaur, he got a chance to work and improve the lives of the rural womenfolk. He started the pattal project for livelihood promotion among the women that became a huge success as pattals made by the women were used in the Janmanch programme.
  • As the Director of Rural Development, Jain also continued with his focus on rural women through the state rural liveihood mission, the impact of which could be seen during the lockdown when women started making masks, PPE kits and sanitisers in various parts of the state.

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August 17, 2020

Assam boxer Lovlina Borgohain awarded Arjuna Award
  • Cricketer Rohit Sharma along with four others – para-athlete Mariappan Thangavelu, table tennis champion Manika Batra, wrestler Vinesh Phogat and hockey player Rani Rampal have been selected for India’s highest sporting award – The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.
  • Assam boxer Lovlina Borgohain awarded Arjuna Award along with 26 other sportspersons. Lovlina is the first woman from Assam to qualify for the Olympics.
  • She is thesecond boxer from the state to represent the country at the Olympics, only after Shiva Thapa.
  • Lovlina won a gold medal at the 1st India Open International Boxing Tournament held in New Delhi and a silver medal at the 2nd India Open International Boxing Tournament held in Guwahati. She has won a bronze medal at the 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships held in Ulan-Ude, Russia.
  • Before Rohit, only three more Indian cricketers – Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli have received India’s highest sporting honour.

The selected sportspersons will receive the awards on August 29, the National Sports Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand.

Arunachal Pradesh CM launches Arunachal Pradesh Challenge Entrepreneurship Programme to boost economy
  • On the occasion of the 74th Independence Day, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu launched the “Arunachal Pradesh Challenge Entrepreneurship Programme” to boost entrepreneurship among the people and to set up more industrial units in the state.
  • CM Khandu said the state government’s scheme “Chief Minister Comprehensive Roads Plan 2019 to 2024” would strengthen and broaden the road infrastructure in the state.
IISc scientists ‘make’ space bricks for lunar habitation
  • Research teams from the premier Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore and the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have developed a process to make bricks on the moon for habitation.
  • The process involves extracting lunar soil and using bacteria and guar beans to harden it (soil) into brick-like structures for habitation on the moon.
  • The making of space bricks brings biology and mechanical engineering together and using them to assemble structure for habitation on the moon’s surface.
  • As guar gum is used instead of cement for structures, space bricks will also lower carbon footprint in the lunar atmosphere.
  • Since micro-organisms produce minerals through metabolism, one bacterium called ‘sporosarcina pasteurii’ can be used to form calcium carbonate crystals through a metabolic pathway called the ureolytic cycle.
  • The Indian space agency launched two unmanned missions to the moon in 2008 and 2019 as part of its inter-planetary exploration to study the earth’s natural satellite.
Port land may be used for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ projects
  • The government proposes to use vast stretches of land with Indian ports to set up manufacturing facilities under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ mission.
  • Major ports of India have over 1 lakh hectares of land, vast stretches of which can be used for development of industrial clusters.
  • Ministry of Shipping is evaluating surplus land with about a dozen major ports in India to evaluate whether it can be used for developing industrial clusters in these areas.
  • Across the world, land near ports is used for building industrial infrastructure that meet both domestic needs and export requirements. Port-led development model should not only help India build capacities for self reliance but also service a vast export market.

August 18, 2020

Author Mousumi Kalita Sachdeva wins Gujarat Sahitya Academy award
  • Delhi-based Assam author Mousumi Kalita Sachdeva was among the 350 writers from 80 countries was awarded the Gujarat Sahitya Academy Award on the occasion of 74th Independence Day.
  • The award was given by Gujarat Sahitya Academy in collaboration with the global Literature Forum Motivational Strips.
Nagaland launches “YellowChain” centralized e-commerce platform
  • Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio launched the Yellow Chain, a single window e-commerce platform developed to promote local business and entrepreneurship in the State.
  • Yellowchain is a single window e-commerce platform developed by Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) to promote local business and entrepreneurship by creating opportunity and environment for small time retailers and aspiring entrepreneurs to expand their scope of business opportunities.
  • Yellowchain is a dynamic, user friendly, easy to use interface designed to create a link between Entrepreneurs, retailers and Service Providers with the Citizens by providing integrated services on a wide range of economic activities.
Tripura’s COVID19 death rate is highest in Northeast
  • Tripura’s COVID19 death rate is 0.83% which is the highest among the Northeast states. Till now, Tripura has registered a total of 7,409 COVID19 positive cases and the number of deaths due to COVID19 infections in Tripura was 62.
  • In Assam, the COVID19 death rate is 0.24% despite registering the highest number of positive cases in Northeast. Mizoram has zero death till now.
  • Arunachal Pradesh’s death rate is 0.18% where 5 persons have died out of total 2,741 positive patients. The death rate in Manipur is 0.36% where 17 patients have died out of a total of 4,687 positive cases.
  • In Meghalaya, death rate is 0.42% where 6 positive patients have died out of a total of 1,418 cases. Nagaland’s death rate is 0.23% where 8 patients have died out of a total of 3,455 cases.
  • In Sikkim, death rate is 0.084% where only one person has died out of 1,187 positive patients.
WWF (India) hosts Dragonfly Festival 2020 to underline need for conservation
  • The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF India), in collaboration with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), launched Dragonfly Festival, 2020. The festival dedicated to dragonflies aims to create awareness for the conservation of these insects.
  • The Festival, started in 2018, the festival focuses on creating a connection between the common man and the insects.
  • In 2018, a dragonfly count was conducted by WWF India and BNHS and a total of 27 species were recorded in Delhi, five of which were rare sightings.
  • The year-long festival will include a number of fun wildlife activities involving sessions with dragonfly experts, interactive webinars, prize winning competitions on photography, art, storytelling, quizzes, and other activities like citizen science projects on backyard counts, exploring the dragonflies across India and documenting their unique behaviour.
Central Govt extends Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme for NBFCs with more flexibility
  • The Central government has extended the Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme 2.0 (PCGS) for non-banking financial companies (NBFC) by three months and has allowed more flexibility to build up the portfolio.
  • Central govt has decided that the ‘AA’ and ‘AA-‘ investment sub-portfolio under the scheme should not exceed 50 per cent, instead of the 25 per cent stipulated earlier, of the total portfolio of bonds or commercial papers purchased by public sector banks under the scheme.
  • The PCGS 2.0, launched under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat economic package aimed to provide portfolio guarantee for purchase of bonds or commercial papers (CPs) with a rating of AA and below issued by NBFCs, HFCs and MFIs by public sector banks.
  • PSBs have approved purchase of securities rated ‘AA/AA-‘ issued by 28 entities and securities rated below ‘AA-‘ issued by 62 entities, amounting to Rs 21,262 crore overall.
China grants 1st patent to indigenously developed Covid vaccine
  • China has granted the first invention patent to a Covid-19 vaccine co-developed by biopharmaceutical firm CanSino Biologics Inc in the country.
  • The vaccine is a recombinant adenovirus vaccine named Ad5-nCoV co-developed by CanSino with a team led by Chinese military infectious disease expert Chen Wei.
  • Cansino applied for a patent with the National Intellectual Property Administration on March 18, 2020, three days after they launched phase one clinical trials on the candidate and received approval on August 11, 2020.
  • CanSino has signed deals with Mexico to conduct late-stage clinical trials for Covid-19 vaccines CanSino has also reportedly been in talks with Russia, Brazil and Chile to launch a Phase III trial on Ad5-nCOV.
UK launches Rs 29 crore fund to support scientists in India
  • The UK government launched a 3 million pounds innovation challenge fund to support scientists in academia and industry to tackle Covid-19 and the threat to our environment.
  • The initiative builds on the Indian and British Prime Ministers’ commitment to bring together the best minds from both countries under the UK-India Tech Partnership, to deliver high-skilled jobs and economic growth as well as to collaborate on some of the world’s biggest challenges.
  • The 3-million pounds fund invites tech innovators with connections to the Artificial Intelligence-Data cluster in Karnataka and the Future Mobility cluster in Maharashtra to submit research and development proposals for tackling Covid-19 or which promote a greener planet. These grants are part of a wider initiative under the Tech Partnership known as “Tech Clusters”.
  • The Indian and British Prime Ministers announced the formal creation of the UK-India Tech Partnership in April 2018.
Ministry Of AYUSH launches awareness campaign to boost immunity
  • The Ministry of AYUSH launched a three-month campaign called “Ayush for Immunity”, aimed at increasing awareness about affordable and easy practices that can be adopted for enhancing immunity and preventing any disease.
  • Ministry of AYUSH Secretary Rajesh Kotecha elaborated on the theme of the event, which is accessible and affordable health for all, through Ayush solutions.
  • There is a need for a behavioural change in people towards immunity enhancing steps, and highlighted the evidences which have established the positive role of traditional medicines and practices in enhancing immunity.
  • A key objective of the event was to acquaint the people with valuable information about strengths of various Ayush-based solutions for enhancing immunity and preventing diseases.
Youth and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju launches nation-wide initiative of Fit India Youth Clubs
  • Union Minister of Youth and Sports Kiren Rijiju launched a nation-wide initiative of Fit India Youth Clubs to promote fitness among every citizen on the occasion of Independence Day.
  • The Fit India Youth Club which is a part of the Fit India Movement, endeavours to harness the power of youth to create mass awareness about the importance of fitness.
  • Under this initiative, 75 lakh volunteers of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and National Service Scheme, along with Scouts and Guides, National Cadet Corps and other youth organizations will come together to register as Fit India Youth Clubs in every block in the country, under the aegis of a district unit.
  • The clubs will organize and encourage schools and local bodies to organize one community fitness programme every quarter.

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August 19, 2020 

E-lab at Assam Agricultural University in collaboration with European Commission agency
  • Assam Agricultural UniversityVice Chancellor Ashok Kumar Bhattacharyya inaugurated e-lab, an e-learning facility at the university in Jorhat.
  • The e-learning facility under AdaptNET programme was opened at the DBT- North East Centre for Agricultural Biotechnology (DBT-NECAB).

The DBT-North East Centre for Agricultural Biotechnology (DBT-NECAB)

  • DBT-NECAB operates through AAU, established the e-learning laboratory as part of the AdaptNET-ERASMUS+ project, funded by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Commission.

AdaptNET

  • AdaptNET has a partnership between four higher educational institutions in India and four institutes in Europe.
  • It is a mission of “Strengthening education, research and innovation for climate smart crops in India”.
  • 29 scientists from India were sent on a training to three European and one Indian institute to strengthen their competencies in climate smart agriculture and serve as ‘master trainers’ in the e-labs.
Satya Pal Malik appointed as Governor of Meghalaya
  • President of India Ram Nath Kovind has appointed Satya Pal Malik as the Governor of Meghalaya.
  • Before that Malik was the Governor of Goa from November 2020 and Governor of Jammu & Kashmir from August 2018 to October 2019.
Mysuru zoo received 3 cheetahs from South Africa
  • Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Garden in Mysuru, Karnataka, got three cheetahs from South Africa’s Ann Van Dyke Cheetah centre under an animal exchange programme.
  • The three cheetahs, including one male and two female African hunting cats and aged 14-16 months arrived after they were flown to Bengaluru from Johannesburg in an air freight carrier under the international animal exchange programme.
  • The three cheetahs are kept in an enclosure under quarantine till they get acclimatized and adopt themselves to the Indian weather conditions.

FACTFILE – Mysore Zoo (Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens

  • It is one of the oldest and most popular zoos in India, and is home to a whopping 1,450 species, including 168 from 25 countries the world over.
  • The 128-year-old zoo, set up by then Mysore Maharaja Chamarajendra Wodeyar in 1892, is spread over 175 acres on the Musuru city’s outskirts.
  • The zoo has recently exchanged animals with its counterparts in Czech Republic, Singapore and Sri Lanka.
IISc Prof Biman Bagchi bags Joel Henry Hildebrand Award award
  • Indian Institute Science (IISc) Bangalore Professor Biman Bagchi has been selected as the 2021 recipient of the Joel Henry Hildebrand Award in theoretical and experimental chemistry of liquids, sponsored by ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company.
  • The American Chemic Society (ACS) national awards programme is designed to encourage the advancement of chemistry in all its branches and to support research in chemical science and industry.

BIOGRAPHY – Prof Biman Bagchi

  • Prof Biman Bagchi is biophysical chemist, theoretical chemist and an Amrut Mody Professor at the solid state and structural chemistry lab in IISc.
  • A chemistry graduate from Kolkata’s Presidency College in 1974, Bagchi obtained master’s degree in chemistry from Calcutta University in 1976 and went to the US where he did PhD from Brown University, Rhode Island in 1980.

FACTFILE – Joel Henry Hildebrand Award in the Theoretical and Experimental Chemistry of Liquids

  • Research and Engineering Purpose: To recognize distinguished contributions to the understanding of the chemistry and physics of liquids
  • The award consists of $5,000 and a certificate. Up to $1,000 in travel expenses to the meeting at which the award will be presented will be reimbursed.
  • The award will be granted regardless of race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, presence of disabilities, and educational background.
  • The award was established in 1980 in recognition of the scientific contributions of ACS Past President Joel H. Hildebrand. The ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co. has sponsored the award since 1992.
ADB approved a $1 billion funding for Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System project 
  • The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $1.049 billion funding for the 82 km long Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System project being implemented by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).
  • The approval of approximately Rs 7,500 crore funding package by the ADB for the high-speed, high-capacity Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS reflects upon the funding agency’s trust in the project that promises to transform regional mobility besides giving push to polycentric economic development across the region.
  • The loan will be used for financing civil works, tracks, station buildings, multi-modal hubs, maintenance depots, traction and power supply of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor.

FACTFILE – Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System

  • Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System is an 82 km long, under-construction, semi-high speed rail corridor connecting Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut. It is one of the three rapid-rail corridors planned under Phase-I of Regional Rapid Transport System (RRTS) project of National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).
  • With maximum speed of 160 km/h, the distance between Delhi and Meerut will be covered in around 62 min.
  • The project will cost ₹30,274 crore and is expected to start operations by 2025.
  • RRTS is a first of its kind project in India and it will use many state-of-the-art technologies for the first time, including ETCS Level-2 signalling systems and ballastless tracks suitable for 180 kmph speed.
IIT Patna, Flipkart partner for joint research in AI and ML
  • Ecommerce major Flipkart has inked an agreement with IIT-Patna to help create industry-focused applied research in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML).
  • IIT-Patna will undertake a number of programmes such as joint research activities, writing research papers, organising seminars and internship/mentorship opportunities.
  • The academic collaboration is expected to bring real-world industry exposure to students and scholars of IIT-Patna, and to provide an opportunity to the faculty members to work closely with Flipkart on research projects.
  • The aim behind this collaboration is to create industry-focused applied research that could help reach e-commerce more consumers and sellers.

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August 20, 2020

Union Govt approves to lease out Guwahati Airport to Adani Enterprises
  • The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for leasing out Guwahati Airport, Jaipur Airport and Thiruvananthapuram Airport of Airports Authority of India (AAI) to the Adani Group.
  • The Union Cabinet accorded its approval for leasing of the three airports for Operation, Management and Development to M/s Adani Enterprises Ltd.
  • The Adani group was declared as the successful bidder in a global competitive bidding conducted by the Airports Authority of India for a period of 50 years.
  • Airport Authority of India (AAI) will get an upfront amount of Rs 1,070 crore from handing over the airports to the private developer. The amount will be used for developing airports in smaller airports.
  • The airports will be re-developed in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. Travellers will get better facilities and will also improve efficiency of airports.
  • About a decade ago, Airports Authority of India’s airports in Delhi and Mumbai were leased on PPP mode for Operation, Management and Development about.
Tripura celebrated the 112th birth anniversary of last king Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya
  • Tripura celebrated the 112th birth anniversary of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya on august 12, 2020.
  • Maharaja Bir Bikram was the last king of Tripura. After his death at the age of 39, Tripura merged with Indian Territory in October, 1949.
  • State Govt had declared state holiday on the birthday of late Maharaja from last year.
  • King Bikram (1908-47), who had ruled the state from 1923 to May 17, 1947, had decided to merge the then princely state of Tripura with the Indian Union by issuing a royal edict on April 28, 1947, appointing Barrister Girija Shankar Guha as his domain’s representative in the Constituent Assembly.
Andhra Pradesh ties up with corporate majors to empower women
  • The Andhra Pradesh government is entering into stage 2 partnership, as part of the YSR Cheyutha scheme, with major corporate players such as Reliance Retail, Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited and Allana group in its efforts to empower women in the state.
  • The partnership aims to establish a productive business environment with end-to-end solutions comprising capital support, market linkages, skill enhancement, and technical support, thereby empowering women and ensuring sustainable income.
  • Reliance Retail will support this initiative by assisting women beneficiaries in setting up Jio Mart Kirana stores that are digitally equipped and function as online stores.
  • Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited will support the YSR Cheyutha initiative through an innovative connecting platform that will establish a direct linkage between the government and beneficiaries, enabling seamless implementation and monitoring.
  • Allana group will support the Cheyutha beneficiaries in rearing buffalo, sheep, and goats and providing technical support on livestock rearing practices.
  • YSR Cheyutha is a scheme that is specifically targeted towards the welfare of the women in the state. Financial assistance to the tune of Rs 18,750 will be given per beneficiary for the next four years to around 25 lakh women between the age group of 45-60 years, belonging to backward communities.
Cabinet approves National Recruitment Agency, single entrance exam for government jobs
  • The Union Cabinet approved setting up of a National Recruitment Agency (NRA) to carry out a national entrance exam for non-gazetted vacancies in both central government departments, and public sector banks. It will conduct a single entrance exam for tens of thousands of positions that the government advertises every year.
  • The current recruitment model comprises several exams by different recruitment agencies. However, UPSC will continue to deal with top administrative exams, including the coveted the civil services exams.
  • NRA will be a multi-agency body to encompass the first level test currently conducted by agencies like Staff Selection Commission (SSC), the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) and the Institute of Banking Service Personnel (IBPS).
  • Other recruitment agencies in the central government would adopt the central eligibility test (CET). CET will work as a screening test, and based on the CET score level, final selection for recruitment shall be made through separate specialised tier one and tier two exams, which shall be conducted by the respective recruitment agencies.
Union Cabinet approves hike in fair price of sugarcane
  • The Union Cabinet approved a hike in the fair and remunerative price (FRP) of sugarcane by Rs 10 to Rs 285 per quintal, for upcoming crushing season 2020-21 (October-September).
  • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its assent to the proposal in this regard by the Department of Food under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
  • The price has been fixed on the basis of a recovery rate of 10 per cent, while the farmers will get additional money at the rate of Rs 28.50 per quintal, if the recovery rate is one per cent higher, at 11 per cent.
Centre rolls out Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs
  • The Union Ministry for MSMEs has launched the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Subordinate Debt for MSMEs, thereby operationalising the Rs 20,000 crore distressed assets fund.
  • The Ministry has issued guidelines for the scheme which was announced under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat economic package.
  • The scheme is applicable for those MSMEs whose accounts have been standard as of March 31, 2018 and have been in regular operations, either as standard accounts, or as NPA accounts during financial year 2018-19 and financial year 2019-20.
  • Promoter(s) of the MSME unit will be given credit equal to 15 per cent of his/her stake (equity plus debt) or Rs 75 lakh whichever is lower.

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August 21, 2020 

Lakhimpur bags title of Fastest Mover City in Northeast
  • Assam’s Lakhimpurhas won the Fastest Mover City Award under population up to 25,000 in the Northeast zone category in Swachh Survekshan survey 2020 conducted by Union Housing & Urban Affairs Ministry.
  • As per the survey, 4,324 urban local bodies (ULBs) have been declared ODF so far. A total of 1,319 cities have been certified ODF+ and 489 cities have been certified ODF++.
Tezpur University generates electricity from solar power
  • Tezpur University is prioritizing the use of renewable energy for generating electricity for its buildings and classrooms as a part of its sustainable campus initiatives.
  • The University considers five thematic areas i.e. energy, water, waste, natural ecosystems and sustainable building for its mission towards sustainable campus.
  • In order to develop Sustainable buildings (also known as green buildings), the University has installed 1000 kWp rooftop grid connected solar power plant under Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) scheme for government buildings under RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Company) mode and has effectively replaced 24% of the monthly electricity consumption of the University during October 2018-July 2020 period.
  • The University also reduces 1614 tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emission due to solar power generation during this period.
  • Tezpur University is the first Academic Institution to initiate the installation of MW Scale Rooftop Grid connected Solar PV power plant in the North Eastern Region of the country.
Indore remains India’s Cleanest city for the fourth time in Swachh Survekshan 2020
  • The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development announced the Swachh Survekshan awards, Indore city in Madhya Pradesh emerged as the cleanest city for the fourth time in a row in the category of more than one lakh population. Indore is followed by Surat city in Gujarat and Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra.
  • The Swachh Survekshan monitors the performance of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, launched in 2014. The survey was conducted in 4,242 cities, 62 cantonment boards and 92 Ganga towns.
  • In the category of less than one lakh population, Karad, Saswad and Lonavala cities in Maharashtra emerged victorious.
  • Ahmedabad in Gujarat ranked first in the cleanest mega city category, while Chhattisgarh’s Ambikapur secured the cleanest smallest city tag. Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh won the award in the small city category.
  • Chhattisgarh ranked first in the category of best performing states with more than a hundred urban local bodies, while Jharkhand emerged first in the less than one hundred category.
OP Jindal Global University awarded coveted Jean Monnet Chair
  • The European Union has awarded the OP Jindal Global University (JGU) with the Jean Monnet Chair. JGU thus became India’s only private university to be awarded the chair in 2020.
  • The Jean Monnet Modules, Chairs and Centres of Excellence are awarded annually. These Chairs foster teaching and research excellence among university professors in areas connected to the European Union Studies.
  • The JGU has received the coveted Jean Monnet Chair on ‘Multi-dimensional Approaches to the Understanding of the EU Data Protection Framework’.
21 Crore Man-Days Employment Provided Under Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyaan
  • Around 21 crore man-days employment has been provided under the Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyaan (GKRA) to the returnees of six states.
  • GKRA is taking action on mission mode to provide employment to migrant workers who have returned to their native villages of six states namely Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
  • Under the Abhiyaan, a large number of structures have been created including 77,974 water conservation structures, 2.33 lakh rural houses, 17,933 cattle sheds, 11,372 farm ponds, and 3,552 community sanitary complexes.
  • The Abhiyaan was launched to boost employment and livelihood opportunities for migrant workers returning to villages and similarly affected citizens in the rural areas, in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

 

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