Assam Current Affairs –November 22 – 28, 2019

Posted on by admin 
Current Affairs Assam – November 22 - 28, 2019

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of November 22 – 28, 2019 )

November 2019 – Monthly PDF | Monthly Quiz eBook

Go To Assam Current Affairs          |        Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz

November 22, 2019

Assam CM inaugurated several infrastructure projects in Goalpara
  • CM Sonowal laid foundation stones of community radio station at Goalpara College to be set up by the district administration and also a project under City Infra Development Fund (CIDF). It includes schemes like development of Bihutoli field, construction of approach road of KV, Bhalukdubi and widening and improvement of the road from ASTC Point to Boro Bazar.
  • Construction of swimming pool and multipurpose indoor stadium at the DN Singha Stadium,Golapara and renovation of the Community Centre at Bapujinagar. Inaugurated the new police station at Agia under the Mission for Overall Improvement of Thana for Responsive Image (MOITRI).
  • Angwadi Model Centre at Budhipara which will have all the composite facilities and the first in the state. Smart Class and Hanging Library at Baladmari High School, solarisation of all the health and wellness centres in the district and that of the plastic shredder machine under Goalpara Municipal Board,GOAL-MART.
  • E-commerce website of the district administration, project under RIDF for construction of RCC bridge at 13 locations and then one-stop centre to support women in distress. A guest house for ASHA workers at Lakhipur, and ceremonial distribution of power tillers under Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI).
Bolo App launched in Hailakandi
  • Bolo App, an effective tool for enhancing learning, has been installed and activated on the smart phones of more than 100 teachers in Hailakandi district.
  • Cluster Resource Centre Coordinators (CRCCs) of Mohanpur, West Mohanpur and Mohanpur Burnie Brase 1 launched the campaign ‘Bolo App on every smart phone’ and invited the teachers with smart phones to attend the programme held at Premlochan HS School at Mohanpur.
  • Bolo is speech-based app designed to help elementary grade kids learn to read – anytime, anywhere – just using their voice.
  • Designed for primary and upper primary grade children, Bolo helps to improve their reading skills, by encouraging them to read aloud and giving them instant feedback – even when completely offline.
  • Bolo listens to what your children read, encourages them when they read well and helps them when they get stuck – just like a real reading tutor.
  • Children can also play interesting word games and earn in-app awards, helping reading become both fun and a daily habit.
  • Multiple children can use the same app, and track their progress separately. Over time the difficulty level of recommended stories will adjust to their reading skills.
Odisha signs MoUs to improve urban service delivery system
  • The Odisha government signed three Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to transform urban service delivery system in the state.
  • The Housing and Urban Development department signed MoUs with e-gov Foundation, Janagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, and Indian Heritage Cities Network Foundation.
  • The E-gov foundation of Nandan Nilekani and Srikanth Nadhamuni will provide a full stack of municipal services applications.
  • These include a feature-rich dashboard portal for all urban local bodies (ULBs), public grievance management system, finance and accounting, property tax management, water and sewerage system, trade licence system, and online building plan approval system.
  • Janagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy of Ramesh and Swathi Ramanathan will undertake a transformative reform of property taxation in ULBs resulting in growth in revenue of ULBs and investment in better service and infrastructure.
  • The Indian Heritage Cities Network foundation entered into an MoU with the Housing and Urban Development and Tourism departments for promotion of heritage-based sustainable development.
Andhra Pradesh Govt has roped in IIM Ahmedabad to work with the ACB
  • Andhra Pradesh has roped in Indian Institute of Management (Ahmedabad) to work with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
  • IIM (A) professor Sundaravalli Narayana Swamy and ACB chief Viswajit on Thursday signed an agreement to work in coordination to identify corruption in high places.
  • After a detailed study, they will submit a report to the government by February third week next year.
  • The panel will frame guidelines to curb corruption right from the village level to all the government departments. A detailed study of the functioning of government departments, the income and expenditure needed for the governance would be taken up. The lacunae in the present governance would be identified and corrective measures suggested.
  • Similarly, a study would be conducted for the proper utilization of the existing resources, increasing the quality of governance and to achieve positive results.

November 23, 2019

 4th India International Cherry Blossom Festival 2019 at Shillong 
  • The 4th edition of India International Cherry Blossom Festival, 2019 was celebrated in Shillong, Meghalaya from 13 to 16 November 2019. The festival is a great example of how natural resources and sustainable tourism can be utilised in an effective manner and create value of something which already exists.
  • The festival celebrates the unique autumn flowering of Himalayan Cherry Blossoms with several cultural events. With the annual festival the state government seeks to focus on Meghalaya’s natural strength such environment and beautiful landscape to enhance the experience of tourists.
  • It was organized to celebrate the mass flowering of autumn Himalayan Cherry Blossoms with several cultural events in Shillong.
  • This year the Republic of Korea was the partner country in the festival. The festival was thus visited by ambassador of South Korea and also showcased stalls with state’s food, wine and crafts alongside several Korean Cultural events, including K-Pop concert and stalls featuring Korean Cuisine and Educational Opportunities at South Korea.
  • Dinabandhu Sahoo, the brain behind Cherry Blossom Festival however highlighted that with every edition of the festival, the footfall of tourists visiting it has increased.
Central Govt plans rail link with NE state capitals
  • The Centre said it has firmed up plans to connect the capitals of the northeastern states (except Sikkim) with the Indian Railway network.
  • The capitals of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura have been connected by Broad Gauge (BG) network. Emphasis has been laid by the Centre during the last five years on quick execution of rail infrastructure projects.
  • The average annual expenditure in New Line, Gauge Conversion and Doubling infrastructure projects during 2014-19 was Rs 26,022 crore per year as against Rs 11,527 crore per year during 2009-14, which is around 126 per cent more than during 2009-14.
  • Similarly, the average budget allotment per year for NE States was Rs 2,122 crore per year during 2009-14. However, it increased by 161 per cent to Rs 5,531 crore per year for this region during 2014-19.
  • In Arunachal Pradesh, a BG railway line was commissioned in February 2015 up to Naharlagun and the first Broad Gauge train was started on February 20, 2015, from Naharlagun (Itanagar) to New Delhi.
  • The work of the Bogibeel Bridge on the Brahmaputra river was completed in 2018 leading to further reduction of rail travel distance from Dibrugarh to Naharlagun by 705 km.
  • In some states, the progress of new line projects of capital connectivity has been affected mainly due to delay in land acquisition and law and order issues. All these capital connectivity projects being in hilly terrain of the Himalayas involve a large number of tunnels and major bridges in a very challenging geological environment.
  • Works on new BG lines have been taken up by the Railways through the Government of India fund to connect the remaining capitals of NE states including Meghalaya (Shillong), Manipur (Imphal), Nagaland (Kohima) and Mizoram (Aizawl).
Prabhat Jha moved Bill to make cleanliness a fundamental duty
  • Prabhat Jha moved the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (amendment of article 51A) in the Upper House seeking to make cleanliness a fundamental duty and called for a mass movement to propagate the message of Clean India.
  • Jha demanded that cleanliness be made a fundamental duty under Article 51A of the Constitution. Swachh Bharat mission should be a part of the fundamental duties and for that there is a need to amend the Constitution. It should be made a national campaign.
Defence  Ministry plans product testing facilities for MSMEs
  • The Ministry of Defence plans to set up 6-8 product testing facilities to enable the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) to test their products for defence supplies.
  • The government has allocated about Rs 400 crore for this scheme whereby it would provide a grant-in-aid of up to 75 per cent of the cost of equipment for the product testing facility.
  • The balance 25 per cent has to be brought in by a consortium of private investors. The product test facility will be a special purpose vehicle (SPV).
  • The test facilities are to come up in the two defence corridors planned in the country, one facility outside the defence corridor may come up early in order the meet the demand.
Scientists developed new material that turns toxic air pollutant into industrial chemical
  • An international team of scientists has developed a new material that can capture a toxic pollutant produced by burning fossil fuels and convert it into useful industrial chemicals using only water and air.
  • The technology could lead to air pollution control and help remedy the negative impact nitrogen dioxide has on the environment.
  • The metal-organic framework (MOF) material provides a selective, fully reversible and repeatable capability to capture nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a toxic air pollutant produced particularly by diesel and bio-fuel use.
  • The NO2 can then be easily converted into nitric acid, a multi-billion dollar industry with uses including, agricultural fertiliser for crops; rocket propellant and nylon.
  • MOFs are tiny three-dimensional structures which are porous and can trap gasses inside, acting like cages.
  • The material, named MFM-520, can capture nitrogen dioxide at ambient pressures and temperatures even at low concentrations and during flow in the presence of moisture, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.
  • The team also used the National Service for Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy at Manchester to study the mechanism of adsorption of nitrogen dioxide in MFM-520.

November 2019 – Monthly PDF | Monthly Quiz eBook

Go To Assam Current Affairs          |        Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz

November 24, 2019

 Union Cabinet approveds strategic disinvestment in five PSUs
  • Union Cabinet approved strategic disinvestment in five PSUs, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), THDC India Ltd and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO). The government will also give up the management control in these companies.
  • Two of the PSUs under the strategic disinvestment plan, THDC and NEEPCO, will be taken over by another state-run power major, NTPC.
  • The government would lower its stake below 51 per cent in select PSUs while retaining their management control. The decision to bring down Centre”s stake will be taken on a case-to-case basis.

FACTFILE – Disinvestment in PSUs

  • Disinvestment in Public sector units in India, is process of public asset sales by President of India on behalf of Govt of India.
  • There were 331 CPSEs in 2017-18, out of which 257 were in operation. Rest (74) of the CPSEs were under construction.
  • As in need of Economic Liberalism and Infrastructure development, in Union Budget of India Total Expenditure of Government of India increased from ₹ 1,13,422 crore (1991-92) to ₹ 21,46,735 Crore(2017-18). To raise the funds partially for these Expenditures and also to minimize fiscal deficits in union budgets, Indian Government started divestment in public sector undertakings. Conceding to demands of privatization and with tough resistance from labour unions, government of India is slowly divesting from PSUs.
  • Major divestment steps were taken in past by the government when they made four strategic disinvestment’s – in Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) and Hindustan Zinc, Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited and VSNL.
  • In budgetary announcement of financial year 2017-18 The Finance Minister noted that the government initiated strategic disinvestment in 24 PSUs, including Air India, this fiscal.
  • Since financial year 1991-92 to 2017-18 government led by political parties sold total public assets of ₹ 3,47,439 Crore. In past recent years Public sector undertaking units performed well as compared to other private competitors and paid huge dividends to government.
 G20 foreign ministers commit to WTO reforms
  • G20 foreign ministers have pledged to push for reforms in the World Trade Organization (WTO) during a meeting in the Japanese city of Nagoya.
  • The announcement was made by Japan”s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on the agreements reached at the event.
  • The G20 shared the view that the WTO needed to be reformed to be able to address current problems.
  • WTO reforms being contemplated included the possibility of improving mechanisms for resolving trade disputes.
  • Motegi also reflected on the need to conclude negotiations for establishing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership for Asia and Oceania with the agreement of 16 countries that have promoted the initiative since its inception.
  • Motegi said the RCEP was one of the initiatives that should be defended to strengthen global free trade.
  • The G20, a forum initially promoted by finance and central bank officials, brings together the richest countries and the world”s major emerging economies in a common platform.
AIIA has inked a MoU with Western Sydney University
  • The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Western Sydney University, Australia aimed at promoting collaboration in research and developing guidelines for integrating Ayurveda principles with modern medicine.
  • All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) signed the MoU on Friday during the visit of the delegation led by Dan Tehan, Minister for Education, Australian government.
  • The memorandum was agreed and exchanged on the occasion of the event ”India- Australia International Education and Research Workshop” held at the Ambedkar International Centre.
  • Complementing the traditional Ayurveda medicine with conventional concepts of modern medicine is expected in generating scientific evidences that further help in contributing to the global healthcare.
  • Both institutions are committed to take the collaboration to the next higher level by identifying specific areas for collaboration in education, research and practices of traditional medicine while ensuring the quality standards and also by encouraging investment in traditional medicine related infrastructure.
President of India awarded the President’s Colour to Naval Academy
  • President Ram Nath Kovind awarded the President’s Colour, the highest honour that is bestowed upon a military unit, to the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala, Kannur in Kerala.
  • The President mentioned that our Armed forces are completely equipped to face any kind of challenges be it in conventional or in the asymmetric domain.
  • He urged the Naval officers to fully utilize the training and be prepared to deliver in all situations for the country.
  • He complimented the commandants, instructors and officers involved in training for producing multi-faceted officers for Indian Navy.
  • President received the Guard of honour from the Academy Cadets.
  • Kerala Governor Arif Muhammed Khan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, and State Minister, Kadamkampally Surendran graced the occasion.
 Karnataka Govt felicitates 7 Bengaluru-founded Unicorns
  • The Karnataka government awarded seven city-founded Unicorns as part of Bengaluru Impact Awards at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2019.
  • Bengaluru Impact Award winning Unicorns include Ola, MuSigma, Big Basket, Swiggy, InMobi, Quikr and Flipkart.
  • The awards were presented by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan, Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan, Additional Chief Secretary, department of IT, BT and S& T E.V. Ramana Reddy and Director of the same department of IT, BT and S& T Prasanth Kumar Mishra.

November 25, 2019

 Assam is the Most Improved state in Economy and Overall category in the India Today State of the States Conclave 2019
  • The annual ‘India Today State of the States Conclave and Awards – 2019’ has adjudged Assam in the ‘Most Improved Big State – Overall’ and ‘Most Improved Big State for Economy’ categories.
  • Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary received both the awards from Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Information and Broadcasting in New Delhi.
  • The India Today ‘State of the States’ study is an attempt to find out which of India’s States offers its citizens the best opportunities, both at work and outside.
  • The categories based on which the States are judged include economy, agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure, inclusive development, law and order, governance, entrepreneurship, environment and cleanliness.
India, Afghanistan exchanges treaty over Extradition
  • India and Afghanistan exchanged the instruments of ratification of their bilateral extradition treaty.
  • The instrument of ratification of Extradition Treaty between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Republic of India, approved and ratified by the relevant authorities of the two governments.
  • The agreement was signed by the authorized representatives of the two countries in New Delhi in September 2019.
50th conference of Governors
  • Five groups of Governors submitted their reports to President Ram Nath Kovind on issues related to tribal welfare, water, agriculture, higher education and ease of living, and identified actionable points in which they can play a facilitating role.
  • These reports were submitted during the 50th conference of Governors which concluded at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The conference took keen interest in tribal welfare issue and pointed out that policies for tribal uplift had to be tailored in accordance with local requirements.
  • Kovind said that the discussions held by Governors and Lt. Governors proved to be a fruitful exercise. On observing November 26 as the 70th anniversary of Indian Constitution, he said a campaign will be launched to create awareness about fundamental duties on the occasion.
  • It is the fundamental duty of every citizen to protect the natural environment including water resources like forests, lakes and rivers. It is also a constitutional duty to continuously strive for excellence in all areas for the progress of the country.
  • Individual and collective efforts for excellence in the areas of higher education, agriculture, inclusive growth and governance will give impetus to public welfare.
 India ranked 44th in Nomura’s Food Vulnerability Index
  • According to a new report by Nomura Global Market Research, India is ranked 44 out of 110 countries in Nomura’s Food Vulnerability Index (NFVI). India has been ranked 44 out of 110 countries.
  • Nomura’s Food Vulnerability Index (NFVI) ranks countries on the basis of their exposure to large swings in food prices.
  • NFVI has three components:
    1. country’s GDP per person,
    2. the share of food in household consumption and
    3. the net food imports.
  • Lower per capita GDP, higher share of food in household consumption and high net food imports would make a country more vulnerable to spikes in food prices.
  • The 50 countries most vulnerable to food price surges in the coming months largely belong to the Emerging Market group. The top 50 together account for almost 60 per cent of the global population.
  • Nomura is an Asia-headquartered financial services group with an integrated global network spanning over 30 countries.

November 2019 – Monthly PDF | Monthly Quiz eBook

Go To Assam Current Affairs          |        Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz

November 26, 2019

 Seng Kut Snem Festival celebrated in Meghalaya
  • The annual festival of the Khasi community, Seng Kut Snem, was celebrated at Shillong with traditional gaiety and fervour.
  • The yearend festival marks the Seng Khasi movement, in which the local people of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region launched a stir against British atrocities on the indigenous way of life. As part of the movement, 16 young men formed an organisation called the Khasi Young Men’s Association on November 23, 1899 to preserve and safeguard the indigenous way of life, also known as ‘Niam Trai Niam Tre’.
  • To commemorate the first anniversary of the movement in 1900, the Seng Kut Snem was celebrated and this has continued till date to remind the people of the movement and its objectives.
  • The festival is also a form of community prayer for protection of the distinct identity of the Khasi race.
 Commonwealth sign pact to reduce violence against women
  • The Commonwealth has announced a new partnership designed to reduce domestic violence in member countries, including India.
  • Secretary-General Patricia Scotland signed a memorandum of understanding with the NO MORE Foundation, a global movement of 1,400 allied organisations and 40 international chapters working together to stop and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault.
  • The two parties have agreed to work together to implement initiatives that work on the prevention of domestic violence and sexual abuse as part of wider efforts to achieve the 2030 sustainable development goals.
  • The partnership is designed to help member countries record accurate data on the prevalence of violence, deliver grassroots projects, train community leaders, educate bystanders” responses and provide awareness resources.
  • The partnership was announced at an event hosted at Commonwealth headquarters in London, to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
 Andhra Pradesh launches helpline for complaints against corruption
  • Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, launched the Citizens’ Help Centre to register complaints of bribery in government offices and also launched a citizens’ helpline number 14400. Any citizen can call on this toll-free number to make complaints about corruption in government offices.
  • The help centre has been launched in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad. It will register complaints and complete the investigation in 15-30 days.
  • The IIM and the ACB signed an agreement to work in coordination to identify corruption in high places. After a detailed study, they will submit a report to the government by February third week.
 70th Constitution Day celebrated on 26 November
  • To commemorate the 70th Constitution Day, President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated a digital exhibition through videoconferencing from the Central Hall of Parliament.
  • The function, organised to commemorate the Constitution Day, attended by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and other dignitaries.
  • The Constitution Day is also celebrated as National Law Day (Samvidhan Diwas) in India. It is celebrated on November 26 every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India.
  • On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India formally adopted the Constitution of India. It came into force on January 26, 1950.
  • The Government of India declared 26 November as Constitution Day on 19 November 2015 by a gazette notification. PM Narendra Modi made the declaration on 11 October 2015 while laying the foundation stone of the B. R. Ambedkar’s Statue of Equality memorial in Mumbai.
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry signs MoAs with 6 states on Light House Projects
  • Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri signed the memoranda of agreement (MoAs) for Light House Projects (LHPs) with Gujarat, Jharkhand, MP, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and UP government.
  • Puri also launched a web portal for the CLSS (credit-linked subsidy scheme) Awas Portal (CLAP), saying it would help stakeholders to work in synergy for on-time release of subsidy to beneficiaries.
  • To meet the demand for over 10 million houses by 2022, the central government had launched the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban in June 2015.
  • For LHPs, the Ministry has introduced a Rs 2 lakh per house technology innovation grant, which is over and above the existing Rs 1.5 lakh per house under PMAY(U).
  • The Ministry developed a web-based real-time monitoring system called CLAP in which all stakeholders, like MoHUA, CNAs, PLIs and beneficiaries, had been integrated.
Special Protection Group (SPG) Amendment Bill introduced in Lok Sabha
  • The Centre introduced the Special Protection Group (SPG) Bill, 2019, in Lok Sabha to change the law that will entitle only the Prime Minister to security services from the elite SPG personnel and former Prime Minister only for a year after he demits office.
  • Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy introduced the Bill which seeks amendment to the Special Protection Group Act, 1988 which provides for the constitution and regulation of an armed force of the Union for providing “proximate security” to the Prime Minister and former Prime Ministers and members of their immediate families and for matters connected therewith.
  • At present, the law allows the SPG to protect former Prime Ministers and their families for a period of 10 years after the end of term. Additionally, it leaves the scope for an extension of the cover beyond ten years in case the perceived threats justify it.

FACTFILE – Special Protection Group (SPG)

  • The Indian Special Protection Group (SPG) is a special force for providing proximate security to the Prime Minister of India and members of their immediate families wherever in the world they are.
  • The SPG was set up in 1985 after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, on the recommendation of the Birbal Nath Committee for raising a Special Protection Unit (SPU).
  • Parliament passed the SPG Act in 1988, dedicating the group to protecting the Prime Minister. At the time, the Act did not include former Prime Ministers. This Act was earlier amended in 1991, 1994 and 1999.
  • Arun Kumar Sinha, IPS is the Director of SPG.
  • 3000 active personnel are active in SPG.

November 27, 2019

 Guwahati to host 65th Filmfare Awards show
  • The Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) inked a memorandum of understanding with the Times Group for organising the 65th Filmfare Awards.
  • The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Bennett Coleman and Company Limited managing director Vineet Jain.
  • Fifty per cent of the proceeds from sale of tickets for the awards show would be given to the Chief Minister’s relief fund.
  • The awards show is being organised to promote Assam tourism in the world encashing the popularity of Bollywood and a huge global reach of the Filmfare award show to nearly two billion people. This is the first time the main Filmfare awards show is being held outside Mumbai.
India’s PSLV-C47 successfully launched Cartosat-3
  • India’s PSLV-C47 successfully launched Cartosat-3 and 13 commercial nanosatellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. 
  • PSLV-C46 was the 74th launch vehicle mission from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. This is the 21st flight of PSLV in ‘XL’ configuration.
  • Cartosat-3 satellite is a third generation agile advanced satellite having high resolution imaging capability.
  • 13 3U cubesats including twelve SuperDoves by Planet Labs and one Meshbed by Analytical Space of United States from USA were also successfully injected into designated orbit. These satellites were launched under commercial arrangement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
  • India successfully placed into orbit its own earth observation satellite Cartosat-3 and 13 American nano satellites in a text book style.
  • India crossed the milestone of putting into orbit 300 foreign satellites. By putting the 13 American nano satellites into orbit.
IIT-K partners TalentSprint for cybersecurity course
  • IIT-Kanpur has partnered TalentSprint, a Hyderabad-based Ed-Tech firm to undertake an advanced certification programme in cybersecurity and cyber defence.
  • The collaboration has been designed for aspiring professionals who are keen to explore the latest trends in cybersecurity technologies.
  • The IIT-Kanpur(IIT-K) has already taken a lead in cybersecurity by setting up the Interdisciplinary Centre for Cyber Security and Cyber Defence of Critical Infrastructures (C3i).
  • The mission and vision of C3i is to do research, education, training, and to spawn startups to create technological safeguards and to protect critical infrastructure.
  • The centre, which is headed by Prof Sandeep Shukla and Prof Manindra Agarwal, will engage with international partners from Israel and the USA in developing research and technology exchange, student training, as well as hosting conferences, workshops, and cyber security competitions to create awareness.
LS passes bill to declare four NIDs in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, MP and Haryana as Institutions of National Importance
  • The Lok Sabha unanimously passed the National Institute of Design (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which declares the four National Institutes of Design (NID) in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Haryana as institutions of national importance.
  • These institutes are currently registered as Societies under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and do not have the power to grant degrees or diplomas. On being declared institutions of national importance, they will be able to grant degrees and diplomas.
  • The Bill, which seeks amendment in the National Institute of Design Act, 2014, will help these four NID institutes to become socially inclusive and address the needs of design in various sectors including agriculture, health care, and transportation.

 FACTFILE – The National Institute of Design (NID)

  • NID is a design schools located in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Gandhinagar. It has 3 active campuses, Main Campus-Ahmedabad, Post Graduate Campus – Gandhinagar and the third one is R&D Campus – Bengaluru.
  • NID is recognised by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research under Ministry of Science and Technology, government of India, as a scientific and industrial design research organisation.
  • NID is accorded as “Institute of National Importance” by Act of Parliament, under the National Institute of Design Act, 2014.
  • Other NIDs are established by Government of India from 2015 onward at Vijayawada, Jorhat, Kurukshetra and Bhopal.

November 2019 – Monthly PDF | Monthly Quiz eBook

Go To Assam Current Affairs          |        Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz

November 28, 2019

 Assam’s Dr Prerana Keshan awarded ‘Wonder Fogsian’ award
  • Dr Prerana Keshan, a gynaecologist of Tinsukia was awarded with the ‘Wonder Fogsian’ award in recognition of her exemplary efforts towards uplift of women’s health in India.
  • She received the award from former Miss World Diana Heyden at the World Conference on Conception to Delivery held at the St Regis Hotel and Resorts Mumbai.
  • FOGSI is the biggest professional body for gynaecologists in India with Dr Nandita Palshetkar as the president.
Indian Army successfully test fires Spike anti-tank missiles
  • The Indian Army has successfully test fired two Spike long-range anti-tank missiles at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Spike is a fourth generation missile which can engage any target with precision at ranges up to 4 km.
  • The Spike missile was the only one to qualify after going through a complex procurement process.
  • To overcome the critical capability void, the Indian Army procured a limited quantity of Spike LR missiles to meet the urgent operational requirement.
Union Cabinet extended term of 15th Finance Commission
  • Its term was scheduled to end on November 30.
  • Post the extension, the Commission will submit two reports, the first for financial year 2020-21 as well as the final report for financial years 2021-22 to 2025-26.
  • The extension of the term will enable the Commission to examine various comparable estimates for financial projections in view of reforms and the new realities, to finalise its recommendations for the period 2020-2026.

FACTFILE – The Fifteenth Finance Commission

  • The Fifteenth Finance Commission is an Indian Finance Commission constituted in November 2017 and is to give recommendations for devolution of taxes and other fiscal matters for five fiscal years, commencing 1 April 2020.
  • The commission’s chairman is N. K. Singh, with its full-time members being Ajay Narayan Jha, Ashok Lahiri and Anoop Singh.
  • In addition, the commission also has Ramesh Chand as part-time member.
Union Cabinet nod to increase authorised capital of FCI to Rs.10,000 crore
  • The Cabinet approved the proposal to increase the authorised capital of Food Corporation of India (FCI) to Rs.10,000 crore from it’s current authorised capital of FCI is Rs 3,500 crore.
  • With the increase of authorised capital, additional equity capital can be infused in FCI through the Union Budget to fund the foodgrains stock perpetually held by FCI.
  • This will reduce the borrowings of the FCI, save its interest cost and reduce food subsidy in consequence.
  • FCI operations require maintaining perpetual stock of foodgrains which needs to be funded by the Centre through equity or long term loans.

FACTFILE – The Food Corporation of India

  • Food Corporation of India is an organization created and run by the Government of India and also run by state Governments. It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Govt. of India.
  • The Food Corporation of India (FCI) was set up on 14 January 1965 having its first District Office at Thanjavur – rice bowl of Tamil Nadu – and headquarters at Chennai, later this was moved to New Delhi. It also has regional centers in the capitals of the states.
IIT-Mandi develops device to screen cervical cancer
  • Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, have developed an artificial intelligence-powered point-of-care device to screen with high accuracy cervical cancer cases by analysing microscopy images.
  • The project has been taken up in collaboration with Aindra Systems, Bengaluru.
  • The research team comprised Anil Sao and Arnav Bhavsar, Associate Professors, School of Computing and Electrical Engineering, and Srishti Gautam and Krati Gupta.
  • Cervical cancer is among the deadliest forms of cancer, and early detection and treatment are vital for the patient.
  • They have applied for international patent for the device and algorithm in 2016.
  • The prototype of device is undergoing clinical trial at Kidwai Memorial Hospital, Bengaluru; Manipal Hospital, Karnataka; and Raja Rajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru.
  • The accuracy of the prototypes has been around 88 per cent.
Scientists develop bacteria which ‘eat’ Carbon Dioxide
  • Israeli researchers have developed bacteria fed only with carbon dioxide, these bacteria, which build the entire biomass of their body from the carbon in the air, may help develop future technologies that reduce greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere and fight global warming.
  • These bacteria were completely weaned off sugar, after a nearly decade-long process.
  • The Israeli scientists have been able to “reprogram” E.coli bacteria, which consume sugars and release carbon dioxide, so they use carbon dioxide from the environment and produce the sugars they need to build their body.
  • The researchers mapped the genes that are essential to this process and added some of them to the bacteria genome in their lab. The researchers believe that the “healthy” habits of these bacteria may prove to be mostly healthy for Earth.

November 2019 – Monthly PDF | Monthly Quiz eBook

Go To Assam Current Affairs          |        Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz