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Assam Current Affairs – June 15-21, 2020

Posted on July 4, 2020July 16, 2020 by admin

Assam Current Affairs – June 15- 21, 2020

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of June 15 – 21, 2020 )

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June 15, 2020

Dibru Saikhowa National Park suffered grave damage in Baghjan blaze

Environmentalists are worried that the grave damage has been caused by the Baghjan gas well blowout and fire to Dibru Saikhowa National Park and Maguri Motapung Beel, an important wetland and Important Bird Area site.
The Maguri Beel has borne the brunt of the gas-condensate leakage and also the blaze that is still raging. A panel is assessing the situation, and water and soil samples of both the wetland and the national park have been sent for testing.
The wetland and its peripheral areas had been covered with an oily substance and unless removed immediately, the wetland’s ecology would suffer long-term damage. Much of the grassland has been burnt after the fire. Carcasses of a Gengetic river dolphin, fish, and birds have been recovered from the wetland in the past few days.

India builds first ever infectious disease diagnostic lab

India’s builds first everinfectious disease diagnostic lab (I-LAB). This rapid response mobile labrotary is part of Indian Govt’s Aatmnirbhar Bharat.
This labrotary was built in a record time of eight days from the date of receipt of Automotive Chassis, from Bharat Benz, with the support of Department of Bio-Technology.
This lab is a BSL-2 facility with on site Elisa, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) test and Bio chemistry analysers.
It cas capacity to test Elisa about 200 per day and RTPCR about 50 per day.

Kathy Sullivan the first American Woman to walk in space reaches Challenger Deep, the deepest spot in the ocean

The astronaut Kathy Sullivan has become the first woman to reach the Challenger Deep, about seven miles below the ocean’s surface.
She is also the first American woman to walk in space, which makes Dr. Sullivan the first person to both walk in space and to descend to the deepest point in the ocean.

FACTFILE – Challenger Deep

The Challenger Deep is the deepest known point in the Earth’s seabed, with a depth of 10,902 to 10,929 metres.
It is located in the Western Pacific Ocean, at the southern end of the Mariana Trench near the Mariana Islands group.
The depression is named after the British Royal Navy survey ship HMS Challenger, whose expedition of 1872–1876 made the first recordings of its depth.
The first descent by any vehicle was by the manned bathyscaphe Trieste in January 1960; unmanned visits followed in 1996, 1998 and 2009.

Australian honour for Indian musician Shobha Sekhar

Indian Musician Shobha Sekhar, the founder of Kalakruthi a music organisation in Australia receives the Medal of the Order of Australia(OAM) for her service to Indian music and dance.
The Melbourne-based artiste and lecturer, University of Melbourne, figures in the Queen’s Birthday 2020 Honours List and will be conferred the Medal of the Order of Australia.
Kalakruthi is affiliated to The Music Academy, Chennai, and the students receiving lessons in advanced levels from the faculty of the Academy’s music school.

FACTFILE – The Medal of the Order of Australia

The medal of the order of Australia is awarded to the individuals contributing to their community or to Australia globally or domestically.
The recipients are nominated and assessed independently as worthy of recognition.

Maharashtra to sign 12 MoUs with global investors

Starting the ”Magnetic Maharashtra” initiative, Maharashtra Govt is ready to sign 12 major MoUs with global companies for investments in the state.
Important MoUs shall be signed with companies from USA, China, South Korea and Singapore besides a bilateral investment discussion, via video-conferencing.
There has been interest from other countries like Russia, Japan, Germany and others in various sectors like engineering, automobiles, food processing, ESDM, IT, ITES, and others.
The state will also unveil its ”Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0” roadmap featuring pathbreaking ease of business initiatives of like Plug & Play infrastructure, a land bank of over 40,000 acres, flexible rentals/pricing structures, automatic permissions with 48 hours, specialised labour protection guidance, and the entire ecosystem for investments in the state.

June 16, 2020

Jaideep Mazumdar from Assam appointed as Ambassador to Austria

Jaideep Mazumdar, the senior most serving Indian diplomat from Assam, has been appointed Ambassador to Austria and Montenegro, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations (UN) in Vienna and India’s Governor on the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna.
Earlier, Mazumdar was India’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia. He also served in Hong Kong, Beijing, Bangladesh, Nepal, UN and Cairo.

Indian-American soil scientist Rattan Lal wins prestigious World Food Prize

Eminent Indian-American soil scientist Rattan Lal was named this year’s recipient of USD 250,000 World Food Prize, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
He is helping millions of small farmers around the world with his work on increasing food production and recycling of nutrients.
Rattan Lal was named as the 2020 World Food Prize Laureate for developing and mainstreaming a soil-centric approach to increasing food production that conserves natural resources and mitigates climate change.
Dr Lal’s research in soil science is helping the earth’s estimated 500 million small farmers be faithful stewards of their land though improved management, less soil degradation, and the recycling of nutrients.
A native of India and citizen of the United States, Lal has in his career of over 50 years and across four continents promoted innovative soil-saving techniques that benefited the livelihoods of more than 500 million smallholder farmers, improved the food and nutritional security of more than two billion people and saved hundreds of millions of hectares of natural tropical ecosystems.
Lal is the founding Director of the Carbon Management and Sequestration Center at The Ohio State University (OSU).

FACTFILE – World Food Prize

The World Food Prize is an international award recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity, or availability of food in the world.
Since 1987, the prize has been awarded annually to recognize contributions in the world food supply.
Conceived by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug, the prize emphasizes the importance of a nutritious and sustainable food supply for all people.

Points2Remember

Prof. M. S. Swaminathan was the first Indian to receive this award in 1987, for introducing high-yielding wheat and rice varieties to India starting India’s Green Revolution.
In 1989, Dr Verghese Kurien was selected for this award for founding the Operation Flood, the largest agricultural development program in the world which made the farmer the owner of his cooperative, due to that, India emerged as the largest producer of milk in 1998.

PepsiCo Foundation commits $3 million for safe water in Bengal, Maharashtra

The PepsiCo Foundation has committed to invest $3 million with the NGO ”WaterAid” to provide safe water access to agricultural communities and help women in high water-risk areas in West Bengal and Maharashtra.
It aims to provide 2 lakh farmers and families access to piped water supply for household use, increased water resources, and will establish community-managed water distribution systems in these communities.
The investment is in line with the government”s Jal Jeevan Mission which aims to provide functional household tap connections to every rural household by 2024.
The PepsiCo Foundation also announced that they have helped more than 4.4 crore people gain access to safe water since 2006, with investment of more than $46 million since 2005 as a founding partner or early investor in programmes with partners like Safe Water Network, Water.org, WaterAid and many other NGOs.

10% quota for TN Govt school students in medical colleges

The Tamil Nadu cabinet gave its nod to promulgation of an ordinance to provide 10 per cent horizontal quota for students of state government schools.
The decision is taken as per the report submitted by the one-man commission, headed by former Madras High Court Justice P. Kalaiyarasan.
The horizontal quota will be for students who pass the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to undergraduate course in medical colleges.

Haryana brings Covid-19 care under Ayushman Bharat Yojana

Haryana Govt brought Covid-19 patients under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
The state health authority has also increased the medical management package by 20 per cent to help patients avail quality treatment facilities.
Golden cards for over 22.14 lakh people have been made under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
So far, over 1.12 lakh patients had been treated under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana and costing the state Rs 135.33 crore.

Centre allocates Rs 2,522 crore to Rajasthan under Jal Jeevan Mission

The central government has allocated Rs 2,522 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme for Rajasthan to mitigate the state’s drought and water scarcity problems and ground water pollution.
Rs 1,051 crore was given to Rajasthan in the last financial year, Rs 2,522 crore has been allocated under the Jal Jeevan Mission this year, which is one-and-a-half times increase in allocation.
In the present situation, the state will have more than Rs 3,500 crore as the central share.

Airtel Payments Bank launches ”Suraksha salary account” for MSMEs

Airtel Payments Bank announced the launch of ”Suraksha Salary Account” for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Through this account, MSMEs and other organisations will be able to make cashless payments and also provide a financial security blanket to their employees.
Suraksha Salary account offers a wide range of benefits including ”Hospicash Insurance” and ”Personal Accidental” insurance cover.
The policy will cover Covid-19 as well and mitigate the impact on the account holder due to potential loss of pay and savings during hospitalization.
The account holder will also get free of charge group accidental cover of Rs 1 lakh.
The account holder can make cash withdrawals, cash deposits and transfer money at Airtel Payments Bank’s 500,000 banking points across India.

IIT-M researchers develop microwave process to make biofuel oils

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) researchers have developed a simple microwave process to produce biofuel oils with high energy values from two waste products, agricultural waste such as rice straw and bagasse and discarded plastics.
Biofuel oils generated from renewable biological sources are considered a practical and pragmatic replacement for petroleum and petrochemicals. Biomass is the only renewable source of carbon on the earth with immense potential for the production of energy, chemicals and materials with zero carbon footprints.
Agricultural waste products such as rice straw, sugarcane bagasse and wood chips, among others, can potentially serve as bio-oil producing biomass. One of the common methods to produce bio-oil from biomass is ”pyrolysis” of the biomass components into fuel components.
Plastics that are rich in hydrogen, can serve as the hydrogen supplier to biomass in its conversion to low-oxygenate bio-oils. The IITM researchers used microwave to co-pyrolyse biomass and plastics. Microwave heats materials quickly and uniformly and is a selective and energy-saving technology.

Government launches AarogyaPath portal for healthcare supply chain

AarogyaPath, a web based solution for the healthcare supply chain was launched to serve manufacturers, suppliers and customers to effectively deal with the Covid-19 pandemic and to remove supply chain bottlenecks during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The vision of this initiative is to set up an information management and forecasting database platform at national level, by capturing the demand and supply scenarios for key healthcare needs items.
This public platform will help healthcare users like hospitals, pathology laboratories, research institutes, medical colleges and patients, providing seamless access to suppliers, manufacturers for prevailing needs and demand related to medical equipment, diagnostic instruments, drugs, Personal Protective Equipment, respiratory assistance devices.
AarogyaPath will become the national healthcare information platform of choice in the recent future by filling a critical gap in last-mile delivery of patient care within India through improved availability and affordability of healthcare supplies.

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June 17, 2020

Assam to launch the Assam Targeted Surveillance Programme

The Assam government has decided to launch the Assam Targeted Surveillance Programme (ATSP) to randomly test 50,000 samples in 11 days. The random testing under the ATSP would be conducted in four categories of people.
Under the ATSP, random testing of people and workers involved in truck parking, loading and unloading of goods, including railway goods and godowns, would be conducted.
Random testing would also be conducted on all frontline district officials, including health workers, police personnel, officials of the transport department and the district administration, Covid-19 management teams, hotel staff and family members of people released from the institutional quarantine centres.

India 9^th is the largest recipient of FDI in 2019

India received USD 51 billion in Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in 2019 and was the world’s 9^th largest recipient of FDI in 2019, according to a report by the UN’s trade body. This is an increase from the 42 billion dollars of FDI received in 2018, when India ranked 12 in the world.
The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report revealed a lower but positive economic growth in India in the post-COVID19 pandemic period and India’s large market will continue to attract market-seeking investments to the country.
In India, the biggest FDI host in the subregion, with more than 70 per cent of inward stock, the number of Greenfield investment announcements declined by four per cent in the first quarter, and Merger & Acquisitions contracted by 58. Information and communication technology and the construction industry are the sectors where most of the investments came in.
Global FDI flows are forecast to decrease by up to 40 per cent in 2020, this would be for the first time since 2005 that global FDI falls below the USD 1 trillion mark.
Companies in India are the subregion’s largest investors, with more than 90 per cent of outflows in 2019.
Investments from India are expected to decline in 2020, with the largest MNEs revising their earnings down by 25 per cent in early 2020 due to the impact of the pandemic.

First ever 5^th state of matter ever ‘Bose-Einstein condensate‘ observed in space

NASA scientists on Earth have collaborated with astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) to corral the first ever Bose-Einstein condensate outside of Earth’s gravity.
Bose-Einstein condensate is the fifth state of matter, and it lives way longer in space.
To make a BEC, scientists must first corral and then supercool atoms. In the near-zero gravity in space, they can mix the ingredients in a much smaller catchment “trap”, which on Earth’s surface, the atoms begin to repel each other and fly apart almost instantaneously.
Without gravity, the atoms float like everything else; and scientists can study them for the first time in microgravity. Previously, scientists were able to study tiny lengths of microgravity-like conditions by dropping experiments in freefall and other common workarounds.
CAL is “the coolest spot in the universe,” piggybacking cutting-age cooling technology from Earth’s surface with the naturally ice cold temperature in deep space.
As atoms approach absolute zero, they slow and become more and more pliable, forming BECs more readily. Researchers are using laboratory-favorite rubidium, one of just a handful of elements known to form BECs.

FACTFILE – Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC)

Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) is called the fifth state of matter which is typically formed when a gas of bosons at low densities is cooled to temperatures very close to absolute zero (-273.15 °C).
Under such conditions, a large fraction of bosons occupy the lowest quantum state, at which point microscopic quantum phenomena, particularly wave function interference, become apparent macroscopically.
This state was first predicted, generally, in 1924–1925 by Albert Einstein following and crediting a pioneering paper by Satyendra Nath Bose on the new field now known as quantum statistics.

BIOGRAPHY – Satyendra Nath Bose

Satyendra Nath Bose was an Indian mathematician and physicist specialising in theoretical physics. He is best known for his work on quantum mechanics in the early 1920s, collaboration with Albert Einstein in developing the foundation for Bose–Einstein statistics and the theory of the Bose–Einstein condensate.
A Fellow of the Royal Society, he was awarded India’s second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan in 1954.
The class of particles that obey Bose–Einstein statistics, bosons, was named after Bose by Paul Dirac.

Indian Institute of Toxicology Research develops disinfection machine for N95 masks, PPE kits

The Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR), Lucknow, has developed a disinfection machine in association with a startup called Major Technology, for N95 masks and PPE kits which makes them reusable.
It has been tested by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur and the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, and has received positive reviews.
This equipment will help in saving on the cost of new Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits and masks and also save the environment as bio-medical waste will be reduced.
CSIR-Indian Toxicological Research Institute (CSIR-IIITR), Lucknow was established in 1965, which is the constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research .

India joins Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence

India joined the league of leading economies including USA, UK, EU, Australia and others to launch the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI).
GPAI will bring together leading experts from industry, civil society, governments, and academia to collaborate to promote responsible evolution of Artificial Intelligence.
By joining GPAI as a founding member, India will actively participate in the global development of Artificial Intelligence, leveraging its experience around use of digital technologies for inclusive growth.
GPAI is a first initiative of its type for evolving better understanding of the challenges and opportunities around Artificial Intelligence using the experience and diversity of participating countries.

FACTFILE – Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)

GPAI is an international and multi-stakeholder initiative to guide the responsible development and use of AI, based on human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation, and economic growth.
Founding Members are Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
It will bring together leading experts from industry, civil society, governments, and academia to conduct research and pilot projects on AI. Initially it will comprise four working groups focused on responsible AI, data governance, the future of work, and innovation and commercialisation.
GPAI will be supported by a Secretariat, to be hosted by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, as well as by two Centers of Expertise- one each in Montreal (Canada) and Paris (France).

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June 18, 2020

India elected for 8^th term as Non-Permanent Member of UN Security Council

India has been elected as a Non-Permanent Member of the UN Security Council for a two-year term for the 8^th time.
India, the endorsed candidate from the Asia-Pacific states, won 184 votes out of the 192 ballots cast in the elections for the five non-permanent seats of the Security Council.
Along with India, Ireland, Mexico and Norway also won the Security Council elections, for whom the two-year term as the non-permanent member would begin from January 1, 2021.

FACTFILE – Membership of the United Nations Security Council

Membership of the United Nations Security Council is held by the five permanent members and ten non-permanent members.
Prior to 1966, there were six elected members, while the permanent members have in essence not changed since the creation of the United Nations in 1945.
Elected non-permanent members hold their place on the Council for a two-year term, and half of these places are contested each year.
To ensure geographical continuity, a certain number of members is allocated for each of the five UN regional groupings.

IIT Guwahati develops high quality, affordable Covid-19 kits

Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati announced that its researchers have created several affordable and high-quality Covid-19. These affordable and sterile Viral Transport Media (VTM) kits, RT-PCR kits and RNA isolation kits have been developed at IIT Guwahati jointly with RR Animal Healthcare Ltd. with inputs from Gauhati Medical College And Hospital.
The VTM kits are the first stop source used to collect the nasal and oral swab specimens from the individual source to the laboratory safely for culture and testing.
The large scale production of all these kits has commenced to meet the requirement of the Assam State as well as will be made available across the country.

Turkey’s Volkan Bozkir elected president of 75^th UN General Assembly

Turkish diplomat Volkan Bozkir has been elected president of the 75^th session of the UN General Assembly, which begins in September 2020.
In a secret ballot vote, Bozkir was unopposed for the post, received 178 ballots in support as 11 nations abstained.
Bozkir is currently serving as a Justice and Development (AK) Party lawmaker from Istanbul and head of the Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
Bozkir is the first Turkish national to head the General Assembly. For the 74th session of 2019-2020, the first seat was occupied by Tijjani Muhammad-Bande from Ghana.

FACTFILE – President of the United Nations General Assembly

The President of the United Nations General Assembly is a position voted for by representatives in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) every year.
The President presides over the sessions of the General Assembly.
The presidency rotates annually between the five geographic groups: African, Asia-Pacific, Eastern European, Latin American and Caribbean, and Western European and other States.
It is customary that no permanent member of the United Nations Security Council ever serves as UNGA president.
Most powerful countries have never held the presidency, such as the People’s Republic of China, France, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Point2Remember

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit from India was the President of the 8^th United Nations General Assembly in 1953. She was also the first woman president of UNGA.
Paul-Henri Spaak was the President of the first session of the General Assembly of the new United Nations in 1945.

Google launches program to support Indian startups creating solutions

Google expanded its programme for startups ‘Google for Startups‘ to support startups working on the solutions to solve real-life challenges towards the new normal post COVID-19 landscape in India.
Google for Startups has opened applications for the new batch of Google for Startups Accelerator, with a special focus on health-tech, fin-tech, edu-tech, agri-tech, retail and SaaS startups.
Google for Startups also announced the launch of ‘Emerging stronger: Playbook’ for startups to face the Covid-19 Challenge.

Khelo India State Centres of Excellence to be set up across India

The Union Sports ministry is going to establish Khelo India State Centres of Excellence under the Khelo India Scheme. One such centre will be identified in each State and Union Territory with an aim to create a robust sporting ecosystem in the entire country.
In the first phase of Khelo India State Centre of Excellence, state-owned sports facilities in eight states including Karnataka, Odisha, Kerala, Telengana, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland which will be upgraded.
While funds for expert coaches, supporting staff, equipments, infrastructure will be extended through the Khelo India Scheme, respective State and Union Territory will be responsible for all aspects of management of the centre including, boarding, lodging and maintenance.

June 19, 2020

India ranked 43^rd in IMD’s World Competitive Index 2020

India continues to remain ranked 43^rd , among the 63 nations, on the World Competitiveness Index compiled by Institute for Management Development (IMD) mainly due weakness in poor infrastructure and insufficient education investment.
US has moved down to 10th place, while India is ranked second after China (20^th), followed by Russia (50th), Brazil (56th) and South Africa (59th).

TOP Countries Rank

Rank 1 – Singapore
Rank 2 – Denmark
Rank 3 – Switzerland
Rank 4 – Netherlands
Rank 5 – Hong Kong

AIIB clears $750 million loan to India for COVID-19

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved a $750 million loan to India to help strengthen its response to the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on millions of poor and vulnerable households.
Co-financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the funding assistance will bolster economic aid for businesses, including for the informal sector, expanding social safety nets for the needy, and strengthening the country’s healthcare systems.
Many of the world’s low and middle-income countries are still in the early stages of the health crisis but are already feeling the impact of the pandemic. This poses an enormous risk for millions across India who have only recently emerged from poverty.

FACTFILE – Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank with the main purpose of supporting the building of infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region.
The bank currently has 82 members as well as 20 prospective members
The bank started operation after the agreement entered into force on 25 December 2015, after ratifications were received from 10 member states holding a total number of 50% of the initial subscriptions of the Authorized Capital Stock.
The allocated shares are based on the size of each member country’s economy (GDP Nominal (60%) and GDP PPP (40%)), and the number of shares determines the fraction of authorized capital in the bank.
The starting capital of the bank was $100 billion, equivalent to 2⁄3 of the capital of the Asian Development Bank and about half that of the World Bank.
The bank was proposed by China in 2013 and the initiative was launched at a ceremony in Beijing in October 2014. It received the highest credit ratings from the three biggest rating agencies in the world.

NASA , ESA and JAXA to provide satellite data on Covid-19

NASA has partnered with European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to unveil a global view of Covid-19 impacts, named “Covid-19 Earth Observation Dashboard”. This dashboard of satellite data will show the impacts of the global response to the coronavirus pandemic on the environment and socioeconomic activity.
This dashboard is a tri-agency collaboration that brings together current and historical satellite observations with analytical tools to create a user-friendly information resource for the public and researchers. It will track key indicators of changes in air and water quality, climate, economic activity, and agriculture.

Two Indian firms in WEF’s 2020 Technology Pioneers

World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced its 2020 cohort of Technology Pioneers of100 new tech firms which are leaders in carbon capture, alternative meat and circular economies, while some of them aims to address food security, financial access etc.
The 20^th cohort of Technology Pioneers comprised 2 Indian firms namely – ZestMoney and Stellapps.
ZestMoney is an Indian Artificial intelligence-based digital lending platform which disburses affordable credit to millions.
Stellapps is India’s data-led, internet of things-based startup platform which is enagaged in digitization of the dairy supply chain.
The WEF’s Technology Pioneer community comprises of early to growth-stage companies from around the world. These companies are generally involved in the design, development and deployment of new technologies and innovations, and poised to make a significant impact on business as well as society.

Fitch revises India’s Sovereign Rating Outlook to Negative

Fitch Ratings Ltd. revised India’s long-term outlook to negative from stable, citing risks due to continued acceleration in the number of new Covid-19 cases.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has significantly weakened India’s growth outlook with economic activity expected to contract 5% in the current fiscal.
Recently, all three large global rating agencies have reviewed India’s sovereign rating. Moody’s downgraded India by one notch and retained a negative outlook on the rating.
Standard & Poor’s reaffirmed India’s rating and the outlook. Fitch has retained the sovereign rating but changed the outlook to negative.
India’s medium-term gross domestic growth outlook may be negatively affected with banks and non-bank lenders facing new asset-quality challenges. Fiscal metrics have deteriorated significantly due to the impact of a growth slowdown on revenue, fiscal deficit and public sector debt ratios.

June 2020 Current Affairs Monthly PDF | Assam 2020 Yearbook | June 2020 Quiz Monthly PDF

June 20, 2020

New fish species ‘Schizothoraxsikusirumensis‘ discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

A new species of fish has been discovered in Arunachal Pradesh by Dr.Keshav Kumar Jha, Associate Professor & Head, Department of Zoology, Jawaharlal Nehru College, Pasighat.
The fish species is named as Schizothoraxsikusirumensis, and belongs to genus Schizothorax.
The name of this fish species has been derived from the name of the rivers where it was found. This fish was collected from the junction of River Siku and Sirum near Gakang area under Mebo circle of East Siang District of the Arunachal Pradesh.

Heartfulness Institute partners with AYUSH Ministry to host global Yogathon

Heartfulness Institute has partnered with the Ministry of AYUSH and the United Nations Department of Public Information to host a global Yogathon, that includes a call to make compassion contagious, to showcase the need for compassion and will inspire people how to live a life of compassion.
Union Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent Charge) Shripad Naik and Rajya Sabha MP Suresh Prabhu are among those who will participate in the Yogathon.
June 21 is marked as the International Day of Yoga and the day has been celebrated annually on 21 June since 2015.
Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice which originated in India.

Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry signs MoU with SIDBI for implementing PM SVANidhi

Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry and Small Industries Development Bank of India, SIDBI signed an MoU to engage SIDBI as the implementation agency for PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi).
SIDBI will implement the PM SVANidhi Scheme under the guidance of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It will also manage the credit guarantee to the lending institutions through Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises.
SIDBI will also develop and maintain a customized and integrated IT Platform providing end-to-end solutions, including documentation of all the processes and workflows for an end-to-end solution, through a Portal and a Mobile App.
PM SVANidhi was launched on 1^st June 2020, for providing affordable Working Capital loan to street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have been adversely affected due to Covid-19 lockdown.
This scheme targets to benefit over 50 lakh Street Vendors who can avail a working capital loan of up to ten thousand rupees, which is repayable in monthly instalments in the tenure of one year.

Climate Change Tracker – India’s first climate change assessment released

India released its own national report on the state of the climate crisis ‘ Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region’. The report is prepared under the aegis of the ministry of earth sciences (MoES).
As per the report, India’s average temperature has increased by 0.7 degrees Celsius between 1901-2018, and that this is due to the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG).
Best-case scenario of immediate mitigation of emissions, India’s temperature will still rise by 2.7 degrees Celsius by 2099 and in worst-case scenario temperature will rise by 4.4 degrees Celsius in the same period.
Surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean (including the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea) have risen by 1 degree Celsius between 1951-2015, which higher than the global average.
The report establishes that precipitation over north India has decreased by 6% (1951-2015) due to the polluting aerosol “brown cloud”.
The April-June heatwaves will become four times more frequent by 2099 (compared to 1976-2005), and their duration might also double.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates an International Workshop on Good Governance Practices

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates an International Workshop on Good Governance Practices in a Pandemic for International Civil Servants.
The two-day international Conference is being attended by 81 International Civil Servants from 16 Countries including the Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Army Major General HJS Gunawardena, 19 Senior Secretaries to Government from Bangladesh, 11 District Administrators from Myanmar, Senior officials from Bhutan, Kenya, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Somalia, Thailand, Tunisia, Tonga, Sudan and Uzbekistan.
The international webinar workshop was jointly organized by Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), Ministry of External Affairs and National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances.
The Workshop was jointly conceptualized by the Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances and National Centre for Good Governance with the objective of disseminating India’s good governance practices to ITEC countries.

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June 21, 2020

Assam’s COVID-19 recovery rate among top 3 states

Assam was performing better in COVID-19 management than many other states and the State’s recovery rate of 63.3% was among the top three.
The State crossed another milestone today by crossing the 3 lakh test mark. The number of test conducted per million populations in the State now is 8229, which is among the top six states.
2.43 lakh people have returned to the State from outside till date and all have been tested for COVID-19 and quarantined. 173 trains and 711 flights have come to Assam till date. The number of returnees is gradually decreasing.

Nita Ambani recognized among top philanthropists of 2020

The Town & Country, America’s leading general interest magazine, has featured Nita Ambani and the Reliance Foundation among the top philanthropists of 2020 “who are saving lives and our sense of hope” given the circumstances of Covid-19.
The coverage spotlights Ambani for leading Reliance Foundation’s efforts in feeding frontline workers and the poor, its financial contributions, and for setting up India’s first Covid-19 hospital.
Nita Ambani is the only Indian in the list which features prominent global individuals like Oprah Winfrey, Laurene Powell Jobs, Donatella Versace, Michael Bloomberg, Leonardo Di Caprio and more.
The magazine states that The Reliance Foundation – the philanthropic initiative of Reliance Industries, founded and chaired by Ambani-distributed millions of meals and masks to frontline workers and the poor, set up India’s first hospital for Covid-19 patients, and donated $72 million to an emergency fund.

500 year old temple found submerged in Mahanadi river of Odisha

The 60-feet temple, believed to be around 500 years old, was located recently in the mid-river near Baideswar in the Padmavati area in Cuttack.
The temple dates back to the late 15th or early 16th century, considering the construction style of the Mastaka and the materials used for the construction.
The Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH) would approach the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to take steps for relocating and restoring the temple. INTACH has so far located as many as 65 ancient temples in the Mahanadi river during its documentation project.
The region used to be known as “Satapatana” in the early days. However, with the river changing its course due to catastrophic floodings, the entire village was submerged.
INTACH Odisha had launched its project on the documentation of the heritage of the Mahanadi valley early last year. A comprehensive survey of the heritage, on both bank of Mahanadi river has been undertaken in the nine districts, which is in its final stage of completion.

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Assam Current Affairs – June 08-14, 2020

Posted on June 18, 2020July 16, 2020 by admin

Assam Current Affairs & GK – June 8 - 14, 2020

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of June 8 – 14, 2020 )

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June 08, 2020

Assam CM urged for innovation to add value to traditional products

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal called for innovation to add value to the traditional products of the State to capture global markets. He was taking part as chief guest at ‘Udyam Assam – celebrating success, supporting startup dreams’, a celebratory event commemorating the success of Assam Startup–The Nest at Ambari.
Assam Startup–The Nest under the aegis of the Industry and Commerce department, in the first year of its foundation, has incubated 75 startups, which cumulatively have a turnover of around Rs 11 crore and generated 1,690 direct and over 40,000 indirect employment so far.
Underlining the uniqueness of traditional textiles, bell metal products, etc. of the State, CM Sonowal said those products have all the ingredients to draw people’s attention. To match the changing consumer behaviour, there is a need to be more innovative and IT-enabled services would help give marketing advantages to these products.
Initiatives like Startup India, Skill India, Digital India and Make in India set the ball rolling for a level playing field for Indian entrepreneurs in the global platform. These programmes have started to deliver results now with Indian startups making a strong presence in the global market.
CM handed over cheques of the first instalment of financial grants to 31 startups incubated by the centre under the My Assam Startup ID. He also launched a new initiative named ‘Udyam – Youth Entrepreneurship programme’ for the homecoming migrant workers.

Haryana to have NABL labs in all districts

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has accorded an approval to a proposal for setting up a centralized testing facility accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) in every district.
This will ensure that all tests related to agriculture, food, soil, environment, health, water, etc, can be carried out under one roof.
At present only four NABL accredited labs are operational in Karnal, Gurugram, Kurukshetra and Kaithal.
But labs are conducting testing of potable water quality only. With the Chief Minister”s consent these labs will be upgraded to multifarious testing labs.
At the meeting, the Chief Minister was apprised that four NABL accredited labs are already functional and these are to be set up in 18 districts.
The Chief Minister had instead directed the officers for setting up a centralized or multifarious testing facility in 18 districts and upgrading these four labs too.

Bande Utkala Janani gets state anthem status in Odisha

The Odisha Cabinet approved a proposal to give state anthem status to ”Bande Utkala Janani”.
This patriotic poem was written by Kantakabi Laxmikanta Mohapatra in 1912. It was the opening song of Utkal Sammilani during the fight for the formation of a separate province.
It will now be played at all government functions and state Assembly without instruments. All government schools and colleges, functions can play this song with instruments.

FACTFILE – Bande Utkala Janani

Bande Utkala Janani is an Odia patriotic poem written by Laxmikanta Mohapatra. When Odisha became a state on 1 April 1936.
Odisha Cabinet on 7 June 2020, accorded this poem as STATE ANTHEM status. It was a long standing demand of people of the State to accord state song status to this poem.
The poem envisages a Utkala who maintains her self-respect and dignity from a position of confidence and strength rather than insecurity and fear.
Once Rabindra Nath Tagore wrote in one of his essays i.e. “A Vision of India’s History” that ‘the history of India has been the history of a struggle between the mechanical spirit of conformity in social organization and the creative spirit of man which seeks freedom and love in self-expression’ justifies Laxmikanta as a true patriotic poet.
This song was first sung at the Utkal Sammilani’s Conference at Balasore in 1912. This song was used as a weapon by the Utkal Sammilani to emancipate Odisha.
It was made compulsory at the end of any Odisha Legislative Assembly Session and in the beginning of school prayer in State Govt. schools in Odisha during the 1990s.

Govt. of India inaugurated The Urban Learning Internship Programme(TULIP)

Union human resource development (HRD) minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and minister of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) Hardeep Singh Puri jointly inaugurated The Urban Learning Internship Programme (TULIP) to provide internship opportunities to thousands of fresh graduates and engineers of the county under the ‘Smart City’ projects.
Under the internship programme, students will get to work for 100 smart cities under ministry of housing and urban development. According to the TULIP portal, there are a total of 295,200 internships under 23,970 companies.
Objective of the program to provide a platform for Short-term exposure to fresh graduates to enhance their professional development through experiential learning with ULBs and smart cities.
Harnessing fresh energy and ideas towards ULBs and smart cities endeavours to solve critical challenges.
The duration of the internship will be a minimum of 8 weeks up to 1 year. Amount of stipend/subsistence allowance/expenses would be payable at the discretion of the ULB/ smart city and there shall be no liability of providing any employment on the ULB or smart city, whatsoever.
A digitally signed and shareable certificate regarding successful completion of internship shall be issued jointly by MoHUA, State Government, AICTE and the ULB/smart city.

June 09, 2020

Singaporean experts arrive to check Assam oil well gas leak

A three-member expert team from a Singapore-based emergency management firm reached Assam’s Tinsukia district from where gas is “uncontrollably” flowing out from a well.
State-owned Oil India Limited (OIL) brought the foreign experts to control their gas well blowout at the Baghjan village in Tinsukia, around 550 km east of Guwahati, after natural gas started spewing.
The experts from Singapore”s ”Alert Disaster Control”, led by Michael Ernest Allcorn, along with the OIL team, reached Baghjan well site.
They emphasised that safety of the local people in the area and the technical team working at the well site will be their prime concern while carrying out the operations.
As many as 650 families, comprising 2,500 people, have been shifted to three relief camps after the OIL”s oil well at the Baghjan village started releasing natural gas into the air. OIL will pay Rs 30,000 as immediate relief to each impacted family.

IIT Guwahati students develop mobile app for seamless air travel

Students of the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) have developed a mobile application, ‘Flyzy’, to provide seamless air travelling experience to passengers during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The application has been developed by IIT-G’s Deepak Meena, third year B Tech student of the Department of Chemistry and Hansraj Patel, third year B Tech student of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering along with Arjit Singh, fourth year B Tech student of the Department of Electrical Engineering of Seth Jai Parkash Mukund Pal Institute of Engineering and Technology (JMIT).
Flyzy has been developed as per International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidelines.
The application seeks to provide contactless boarding, taking into account easier baggage drop, manageable parking and better shopping experience, besides providing necessary updates during the whole journey.
The students also seek to build Flyzy into an aviation information technology company for providing stress-free and safe journey to flyers.
The idea behind the mobile-based software is because majority of the people have smart phones.
Moreover, it is hybrid software which will support face-biometric recognition in the future, without even changing the complete software system of the airport.
It said that the idea is not only relevant during the present pandemic situation but will also be of use during the non-crisis time.
The main idea behind the application is to provide a seamless journey to passengers as they move through the airport, especially to the first-time flyers.
The application will guide them thoroughly and provide them with an easy understanding and implementation of several airport functions.
Passengers can shop from the airport using the application and can also pay from the application. They can either opt for the takeaway or gate delivery option. The application also supports multi-currency payments.

Indian Energy Exchange launches real-time electricity market

Energy trading platform Indian Energy Exchange launched the real-time electricity market (RTM) on its platform, a move that will help utilities buy and sell power just an hour before the requirement.
The RTM enables consumers, including distribution companies (DISCOMs) and captive users, to buy power on exchanges just an hour before delivery.
The real time market is an endeavour by the regulator, CERC, to make the power market dynamic by enabling trade in electricity through half-hourly auctions, Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) said in a regulatory filing.
There will be 48 auction sessions during the day with delivery of power within one hour of closure of the bid session.
With the fast-paced shift towards renewable energy, the real-time electricity market will facilitate the distribution utilities to manage the challenge of intermittency associated with renewables

FACTFILE – Indian Energy Exchange

The Indian Energy Exchange is an electronic system based power trading exchange regulated by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC).
IEX started its operations on June 27, 2008. It pioneered the development of power trading in India and provides an electronic platform to the various participants in power market, comprising State Electricity Boards, Power producers, Power Traders and Open Access Consumers (both Industrial & Commercial).
IEX is one of the two operational Power Exchanges in India. Ever since its incorporation, it has held an influential market share.

India, Denmark sign MoU to boost cooperation in power sector

India and Denmark have signed an MoU to develop strong and long-term cooperation between the two countries in the power sector.
The MoU provides for collaboration in areas like offshore wind, long term energy planning, forecasting, flexibility in the grid, consolidation of grid codes to integrate and operate efficiently variable generation options, flexibility in the power purchase agreements, incentivise power plant flexibility, variability in renewable energy production etc.
The Indian electricity market would benefit from cooperation with Denmark in these areas.
The MoU signed by Sanjiv Nandan Sahai, Secretary (Power) from the Indian side and Freddy Svane, Ambassador of Denmark to India from the Danish side, provides for establishment of a Joint Working Group (JWG).
The JWG will be co-chaired by Joint Secretary-level officials and will report to a Steering Committee, jointly chaired by the Secretary-level officers from both sides.
The governments will endeavour to take necessary steps to encourage and promote strategic and technical cooperation in the power sector for mutual benefit in the identified areas through the MoU.

IIT Madras researchers demonstrate role of microRNA in tongue cancer

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) said its researchers have identified a specific microRNA (miRNAs) called ”miR-155 that is over-expressed in tongue cancer.
Mirnas affect cancer growth by inhibiting or enhancing the functions of certain proteins.
It has been seen that a type of protein called ”programmed cell death 4” –pdcd4– helps in stopping cancer cells from growing and spreading.
Inhibition of this protein has been known to cause the spread of oral, lung, breast, liver, brain and colon cancers.
IIT Madras collaborated with researchers from Cancer Institute and Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital at Chennai and Indian Institute of Science at Bengaluru.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs containing 20–24 nucleotides that participate in virtually all biological pathways in animals.
According to the researchers, many of the oncomirs affect cancer by suppressing the performance of tumour suppressing agents that can prevent growth and spread of cancer cells, although some oncomirs are also involved in preventing tumour growth itself.
It is therefore important to identify the types of miRNAs that are associated with both suppression and proliferation of cancer cells.
They have also shown that knocking out miR-155 causes death of cancer cells, arrests the cell cycle, and regresses tumour size in animal models and reduces cell viability and colony formation in benchtop assays.
The research team has shown beyond doubt that miR-155 is overexpressed in tongue cancer cells and tongue tumour tissues.
Their study has shown that the restoration of Pdcd4 levels through molecular manipulation of miR-155 can lead to potential therapeutic developments for cancers, especially of tongue cancer.

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June 10, 2020

Publication Board of Assam organised Online poetry conference

Publication Board of Assam’s magazine Prakash organised an online poetry conference ‘Echo of Hope’.
Altogether eight poets from Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand and Bangladesh participated in the conference.
PBA Secretary Pramod Kalita said that Barun Kumar Biswas from Bangladesh, Agnivesh Mahapatra from Odhisa, Rashmi Sharma from Jharkhand and Lutufa Hanum Selima Begum, Pranjit Bora, Rajiv Bora, Dipak Borgoyary and Kaushik Kisholoi from Assam recited poems at the conference. They also engaged in a discussion related to poetry.
Renowned linguist Dr Bhaskarjyoti Sarma moderated the conference. Secretary of Prakash Mihir Deori welcomed the guest poets at the beginning of the online conference.

PM Modi launches grievance redressal technology platform ‘CHAMPIONS’ for MSMEs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a technology platform CHAMPIONS (Creation and Harmonious Application of Modern Processes for Increasing the Output and National Strength) which aims at making the smaller units big by solving their grievances, encouraging, supporting, helping and handholding.
The portal is basically for making the smaller units big by solving their grievances, encouraging, supporting, helping and handholding. It is a real one-stop-shop solution of MSME Ministry.
This ICT based system is set up to help the MSMEs in present difficult situation and also to handhold them to become national and international champions.
The detailed objectives of the platform is to grievance redressal, to help them capture new opportunities, and to identify and encourage the sparks. Through grievance redressal, it will try to resolve the problems of MSMEs including those of finance, raw materials, labor, regulatory permissions etc particularly in the Covid created difficult situation.
It also aims to help them capture new opportunities including manufacturing of medical equipment and accessories like PPEs, masks, etc and supply them in National and International markets.
It is a technology packed control room-cum-management information system. In addition to ICT tools including telephone, internet and video conference, the system is enabled by Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics and Machine Learning.

Indian scientists develop AI to enhance brain tumour diagnosis

Scientists in India and Japan have developed a highly accurate machine tool to help clinicians choose the most effective treatment strategy for patients with glioma brain tumour.
A new machine learning approach classifies a common type of brain tumour into low or high grades with almost 98 per cent accuracy.
According to the researchers, gliomas are a common type of brain tumour affecting glial cells, which provide support and insulation for neurons.
Much of the data available in the MRI scans cannot be detected by the naked eye, such as details related to the tumour shape, texture, or the image”s intensity. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms help extract this data.
Medical oncologists have been using this approach, called radiomics, to improve patient diagnoses, but its accuracy still needs to be enhanced.
Kyoto University”s Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS, Japan) bioengineer Ganesh Pandian Namasivayam collaborated with Indian data scientist Raman to develop a machine learning approach that can classify gliomas into low or high grade with 97.54 per cent accuracy.
The choice of patient treatment largely depends on being able to determine glioma”s grading.
The team, including Rahul Kumar, Ankur Gupta and Harkirat Singh Arora, used a dataset from MRI scans belonging to 210 people with high-grade glioma and another 75 with low-grade glioma.
They developed an approach called CGHF, which stands for: A computational decision support system for glioma classification using hybrid radiomics and stationary wavelet-based features.
They chose specific algorithms for extracting features from some of the MRI scans and then trained another predictive algorithm to process this data and classify the gliomas.
They then tested their model on the rest of the MRI scans to assess its accuracy. The method outperformed other approaches for predicting glioma grades from brain MRI scans.

Rajasthan govt interacts with 30 European companies in webinar

The Rajasthan government held a web interaction with representatives of 30 European companies, offering them the best opportunities for making investments.
State Chief Secretary D.B. Gupta and several senior bureaucrats participated in this webinar with ambassadors, diplomats and business representatives from several European countries, and invited them to invest in the state.
Gupta briefed the participants about the opportunities and USPs of Rajasthan as well as the transparent and attractive policy frameworks of incentives and concessions provided by the state.
He also highlighted the advantages of Rajasthan with regard to connectivity, the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, skilled manpower availability, resource advantages as well as infrastructure strength.
The webinar was attended by representatives of European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC) and European Economic Group (EEG).
Diplomats from various European countries, including Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland, Bulgaria and Belgium, among others, along with representatives of many multinationals operating in Europe participated in the discussion.
More than 30 companies across various sectors like pharmaceutical, agro product, fertilisers, cement, skill development, power and tourism participated in the Webinar.

June 11, 2020

IIT Guwahati ranked 470^th in QS World University rankings 2021

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) has been ranked 470th globally in the QS World University rankings 2021.
This marks an improvement of 21 places by the institute, which was ranked 491st in the 2020 edition of the QS World University rankings.
IIT Guwahati has improved from 71.2 in 2020 (Global Rank 89th) to 77.9 in 2021 (Global Rank 55th).
The QS World University rankings 2021 announced were based on six metrics – academic reputation, employers’ reputation, faculty-student ratio, citation per faculty, international faculty and international students.

ICAR, IFFCO sign MoU for collaborative research

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO) signed an MoU for collaborative research, test and validation of different products through ICAR institutes and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).
To disseminate technological advancements through training, awareness programmes, campaigns, field trials and demonstrations for the benefit of farmers.
Dr T. Mohapatra, Secretary DARE & DG, ICAR stressed the need for reducing use of fertilisers.
He emphasised that with collaborative research and extension, if consumption of fertilisers could be reduced to even 15 per cent, it will be a significant contribution.
He emphasised technology validation and commercialisation. He said that the Action Plan should be discussed and finalised.
Dr Udai Shanker Awasthi, Managing Director, IFFCO praised ICAR for its tremendous achievements in the field of agriculture.

India plans to reduce weapons imports and focus on domestic manufacturing

Under its “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan”, the government has decided to soon initiate procurement of arms and ammunition from local industries to reduce import dependence on foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
The Union Home Ministry (MHA) which is responsible for the country’s internal security will urge private industries to come forward to meet the expectations of the government so that procurement of arms and ammunition from foreign countries could be curtailed.
This is an attempt to achieve the vision of “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan” as India has been for the last many years dependent on outside OEMs.
To promote indigenous defence manufacturing and reduce imports, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, last month, had announced that a list of weapons and equipment banned for import would be made in consultation with the Department of Military Affairs headed by the Chief of Defence Staff.
In a bid to boost domestic manufacturing of arms and ammunition under the government”s ”Make in India” initiative, the MHA in 2017 had notified new Arms rules that allow arms manufacturing licences to be valid for the lifetime of the licensee company.
There are nearly 100 firms licensed by the MHA for the manufacture of guns (single barrel/double barrel) and around 30 firms manufacturing cartridges (blank or live cartridges or both) up to the quota permitted in their licences.

Centre allots Rs 4,000 crore to states under ”Per Drop More Crop”

The Central government has allocated Rs 4,000 crore as annual allotment to states for the current financial year under ”Per Drop More Crop” component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY-PDMC). The Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers” Welfare is implementing the ”Per Drop More Crop” component of PMKSY-PDMC, which focuses on enhancing water efficiency at farm level through micro irrigation technologies such as ”drip and sprinkler” irrigation.
The drip micro irrigation technique not only helps in saving water but also reduces fertilizer usage, labour expenses and other input costs.
Micro Irrigation Fund corpus of Rs 5,000 crore has been created with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), an apex development financial institution in India.
The objective of the fund is to facilitate the states in mobilizing the resources for expanding coverage of micro irrigation by taking up special and innovative projects and also for incentivising micro irrigation beyond the provisions available under PMKSY-PDMC to encourage farmers to install micro irrigation systems.
So far, micro irrigation funds have been released to Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu for Rs 616.14 crore and for Rs 478.79 crore, respectively, through NABARD.
The area covered under these projects is 1.021 lakh hectare in Andhra Pradesh and 1.76 lakh hectare in Tamil Nadu.

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June 12, 2020

IIT Guwahati ranks 7^th best in NIRF rankings 2020

Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) has been ranked 7th among all top higher educational institutions in the country in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Ranking 2020 released by Union HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.
IIT-G has achieved its best ever rank with a score of 68.81 in the ‘overall’ category of the NIRF this year. Last year, the institute was ranked 9th in the ‘overall’ category with a score of 65.47.
IIT-G has also been ranked 7th among all the engineering institutes in India. It has improved its score from 70.87 in 2019 to 74.90 this year.
The main reason for the improvement in the rankings in both the categories is the strong growth seen across three parameters assessed – Research and Professional Practice (RPC), Graduation Outcomes (GO) and Perception.
Most of the state and central universities from the NE region, including the Gauhati University, Tezpur University and the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) have slipped in the overall rankings.

National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings 2020

IITs have emerged as the top institutes in India’s NIRF rankings 2020. Once again, IIT-Madras has gained the top rank in the overall category. IISc has secured the second rank this year again and the third top-ranked institute is IIT-Delhi.
In the fifth NIRF ranking, in the university category, top rank is obtained by the IISc followed by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and at third rank is Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
Miranda House is the top college in India and in the Pharma category, Jamia Hamdard has once again claimed the top position.
The education institutes and universities all over India are ranked across several parameters including teaching, learning and resources, research and professional practices, graduation outcome outreach and inclusivity, and perception.

Top engineering institutes in India

The top rank is obtained by IIT-Madras once again.

Rank 1: IIT-Madras

Rank 2: IIT-Delhi

Rank 3: IIT-Bombay

Top medical colleges in India

Rank 1: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS, New Delhi)

Rank 2: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER Chandigarh)

Rank 3: Christian Medical College, Vellore

Top management colleges

Indian Institute of Ahmedabad has taken over the Indian Institute Bangalore. The tussle between IIM A and IIM B continuous for the top rank for this year, IIM-A is the top management institute.

Rank 1: IIM-Ahmedabad

Rank 2: IIM-Bangalore

Rank 3: IIM-Calcutta

FACTFILE – NIRF Ranking

The NIRF is a methodology adopted by the Ministry of HRD to rank institutions of higher education in India. The Framework was approved and on 29 September 2015.
There are separate rankings for different types of institutions depending on their areas of operation like universities and colleges, engineering institutions, management institutions, pharmacy institutions and architecture institutions.
The ranking framework evaluates institutions on five broad generic groups of parameters, i.e. Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR), Research and Professional Practice (RP), Graduation Outcomes (GO), Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) and Perception (PR).
Rankings help universities to improve their performance on various ranking parameters and identify gaps in research and areas of improvement.

Railways successfully runs double stack container trains in electrified territory

The Indian Railways created a world record by commissioning the first high rise Over Head Equipment (OHE) and successfully running double stack containers in electrified territory on the Western Railway.
The Railway Ministry said that Indian Railways created a new world benchmark by successfully running the first double stack container train in high rise OHE electrified sections, which has contact wire height of 7.57 metre.
The operations successfully commenced from Palanpur and Botad stations in Gujarat.
With this remarkable development, Indian Railways has proudly become the first Railway to run double stack container train with high reach pantograph in high rise OHE territory.

Wipro partners with CloudKnox for Cloud security solutions

In partnership with CloudKnox Security, IT major Wipro announced new solutions to enable enterprises to proactively protect and manage their hybrid and multi-Cloud infrastructure by continuously detecting and remediating over-permissioned identities.
As part of the partnership, Wipro will offer an Access Governance for Hybrid Cloud “as-a-service” offering, powered by CloudKnox. This offering provides continuous protection of critical Cloud resources.
Wipro Ventures, the corporate investment arm of Wipro, invested in CloudKnox through it’s recently announced $150 million Fund II, to strengthen the strategic partnership.
With the proliferation of hybrid and multi-Cloud workloads and identities (be it humans, service accounts, bots or resources), the problem of managing authorizations and entitlements related to permissions for identities is becoming more complex and critical.
While adoption of private and public Cloud is increasing, existing security solutions are inadequate to manage identities and resources across such a hybrid environment.
With this partnership, Wipro has a first-mover advantage offering Identity Governance and secure Cloud Workloads for customers who are migrating and managing Hybrid Cloud infrastructures.

June 13, 2020

Assam NGO Touch of Humanity to promote sign language learning

Touch of Humanity, an NGO, in collaboration with the Assam Association of the Deaf started an initiative to enhance awareness and stress the importance of understanding and learning the sign language.
In the initiative, tutorial videos on the sign language will be provided on the Facebook page of Touch of Humanity.
Founder president of Touch of Humanity Hirakjyoti Bora said, if each and every person of the world learns the language, it will be very easy for the deaf and mute persons to communicate with other people.
And their soul motto is to reach each and every individual, especially the students, and our dream is to have Sign Language as a regular subject in our academics as we have German and other languages.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath launches schemes for child labourers in UP

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the ”Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana”, a scheme to educate child labourers in the state.
The chief minister said that the scheme would help children who are forced to work as labourers due to compelling circumstances in the family.
Under the scheme, unsupported children in the age group of 8 to 18 years would be entitled to school education. These children would be given admission in the Atal residential schools in the state.
The Atal residential schools are under construction in 18 divisions of the state.
Boys would be given a stipend of Rs 1,000 per month while the girls would get Rs 1,200 per month.
Those studying in class 8,9 and 10 would an additional amount of Rs 6,000 per year to encourage them.
The government will identify children labourers who are orphan or whose parent is physically challenged and they are landless.
The state government has identified 2,000 such children form 57 districts.
These children and their families will get the benefit of all government welfare schemes
Children who are not academically inclined will be sent for skill development.

MGNREGA support for migrant labourers, got 84% more work

Under the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) the daily wage labourers in the villages got 84 per cent more work in June than in the corresponding period last year.
Under the scheme, an average of 3.42 crore people have been offered daily work across the country in June, which is 83.87 per cent higher than the corresponding period last year.
According to statistics from the Union Rural Development ministry, an average of 2.51 crore people got work under MGNREGA in May, which is 73 per cent higher than the average figure of 1.45 crore in the corresponding period last year.
Therefore, in May employment under the scheme increased by 73.1 per cent.
The average number of daily wage labourers working under the MGNREGA scheme in June has been 3.42 crore, while 1.86 crore people benefitted under the scheme in June last year.
Under MGNREGA, employment is calculated on the basis of man days. On an average, in June, this figure has been 3.42 crore man days.
The wages paid to the labourers under the MGNREGA are directly deposited into their bank accounts and nearly Rs 31,500 crore were released to the states from the amount allocated for the scheme.
The total budgetary allocation under the MGNREGA in the current financial year 2020-21 was Rs 61,500 crore, but on May 17, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an allocation of additional amount of Rs 40,000 crore for the scheme.
Under MGNREGA, 60 per cent of the allocated amount is spent on providing work to unskilled labourers while up to 40 per cent is included in the project along with the cost of the material used in the work and wages paid to the skilled labour.
MNREGA pays special attention to water conservation and irrigation infrastructure development, which strengthens agriculture and rural economy.

3 firms operating from Hyderabad selected for NASA’s Covid ventilator

The three Indian companies selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to manufacture VITAL ventilators to treat Covid-19 patients are operating from Hyderabad.
Alpha Design Technologies Pvt Ltd, Bharat Forge Ltd and Medha Servo Drives Pvt Ltd, which are among 21 companies picked up worldwide by NASA to manufacture Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally (VITAL) ventilators to treat critically-ill Covid-19 patients.
According to NASA”s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, manufacturers were selected to make Covid-19 specific ventilator VITAL.
It’s simpler and more affordable than traditional ventilator, freeing the latter for more severe symptoms. Its design can be used in the field hospitals.

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June 14, 2020

Centre asks 8 NE states to set up e-offices in a fixed time

The central government has advised to all the eight northeastern states to set up e-office in a fixed time and all technical and financial support to achieve the e-office mission to be implemented right from civil secretariat to district level in all the states would be provided by the centre.
The implementation of e-office in state secretariats of northeastern states would result in creation of paperless state secretariats in a time bound manner where officers would be empowered with virtual private networks, digital signature certificates and promote less contact governance.
The workshop on e-office for northeastern states was attended by Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Sikkim and Meghalaya and the IT Ministers of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. Chief Secretaries and senior officials of NE states have also attended the workshop.

AP govt signs Bhogapuram airport deal with GMR

The Andhra Pradesh government and GMR group have signed an agreement to build an international airport at Bhogapuram in the state.
The greenfield airport project to come up at Bhogapuram near Visakhapatnam, is being developed as a crucial gateway to the northern part of Andhra Pradesh.
The agreement was inked in the presence of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy at his camp office by representatives of both sides.
While Special Chief Secretary, Industries, Kari Kalavan signed the pact on behalf of the state government, GMR Chairman, G.B.S. Raju signed on behalf of GMR Airports Ltd (GAL).
The Bhogapuram airport project was cleared by the state government on Thursday. As against the original plan of providing 2,700 acres, the developer will now get 2,200 acres. The state government would be developing the remaining 500 acres.
The connectivity between Vizag and the airport will be developed and all steps will be taken for laying a Metro train line from the airport to city.

Govt unveils PM SVANIDHI scheme to provide affordable loans to street vendors

Union Government launched PM SVANIDHI – Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi – a special micro-credit facility scheme for providing affordable loan to street vendors.
The scheme is aimed at enabling the street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have been adversely affected due to COVID-19 lockdown. Street vendors play significant role in ensuring availability of the goods and services at affordable rates at the door-step of the city dwellers.
The scheme targets to benefit over 50 lakh street vendors, who had been vending on or before 24th March this year, in urban areas.
The vendors can avail a working capital loan of upto ten thousand rupees, which is repayable in monthly instalments in the tenure of one year.
On timely and early repayment of the loan, an interest subsidy at the rate of seven per cent per annum will be credited to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer on six monthly basis.
If the vendor will repays the instalments in time or earlier, they will develop his credible credit score that makes him eligible for higher amount of term loan to 20 thousand rupees and so on. Urban Local Bodies will play pivotal role in the implementation of the scheme.
The lending institutions under the Scheme include Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Small Finance Banks, Cooperative Banks, NBFCs, Micro Finance institutions and Self Help Group banks.

Rural mart launched to promote local products

A rural mart under the NABARD’s Krishak Samridhi Project, implemented by the Ajagar Social Circle, an NGO based in Agia, was inaugurated at Agia town, Goalpara.
Inaugurating the rural Mart Goalpara AGM-DD Rajkumar Metei said the aim behind the mart is to provide a market for domestic products produced by rural people of the area.
The rural mart will provide a market linkage to the local people and artisans engaged in producing indigenous items to fetch competitive prices.
The rural mart will act as an aggregate of the collective market products produced by rural artisans and weavers besides the farmers from where they will be able to get farm inputs at lower prices.
Moreover, around 1,200 rural people, including women entrepreneurs will be benefited from the project.
Various handicraft items including bamboo products, handloom items, vegetables and fruits and small farm tools are available at the rural mart currently.

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Assam Current Affairs – June 01-07, 2020

Posted on June 15, 2020July 16, 2020 by admin

Assam Current Affairs & GK – June 1 - 7, 2020

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of June 1 – 7, 2020 )

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June 01, 2020

Centre sanctions Rs 1,407 crore to Assam under Jal Jeevan Mission

The Government of India has sanctioned Rs 1,407 crore for 2020-21 under the Jal Jeevan Mission, in response to a proposal submitted by the Assam government to provide tap connection to 13 lakh households.
Realisation of the goal of Jal Jeevan Mission in Assam is not difficult taking into account the abundant water resources in the State, both ground water and surface water.
The State government plans to immediately provide household tap connection to remaining households belonging to weaker and marginalised sections on priority.
A detailed road map has also been prepared giving priority on covering households in quality-affected habitations, aspirational districts, SC, ST dominated villages and habitations.

Asiatic Lion population increased by 29% in last five years

The population of the Asiatic Lion, the pride of Gujarat, has grown from 523 in 2015 to 674 in 2020, a growth of about 29% as per the latest census. The territory of the big cat has also increased by 36% from 22 thousands square kilometre to 30 thousands km during the same period.
The Forest Department conducted an exercise ”Poonam Avlokan” on June 5 and 6, during the two-day census, the department counted a total of 674 lions. Among them are 161 males and 260 female adults and 45 male and 49 female along with 22 unidentified sub-adults. Plus, 137 cubs were also identified.
The lion census in Gujarat is conducted every five years.
There has been a steady growth in lions” population from 284 in 1990 to 359 in 2005. But from there, it just climbed with 411 in 2010 to 524 in 2015 and 674 in 2020.
The growth in population is directly related to the expanding distribution area or the territory of beasts. During 1990, the area was around 13,500 sq.km, which is expanded to around 30,000 sq.km across nine districts of Saurashtra, in 2020.
The Forest Department used the ”Direct Beat Verification” method, also known as Block Count Method. The exercise was carried out exclusively by the Forest Department’s staff from 13 administrative divisions, involving around 1,400 personnel.
During the 2-day census, data was recorded using modern technology such as GPS for location, time, number of individuals, individual identification marks, radio collar numbers, images and forest data. The collected data was extracted and analysed using GIS and statistical software.

FACTFILE – Asiatic lion

The Asiatic lion is a Panthera leo leo population found in India’s Gir National Park and environs of Gujarat.
The lion is one of five pantherine cats inhabiting India, along with the Bengal tiger (P. tigris tigris), Indian leopard (P. pardus fusca), snow leopard (P. uncia) and clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa).
On the IUCN Red List, it is listed under its former scientific name Panthera leo persica as Endangered because of its small population size and area of occupancy.
Until the 19th century, it occurred in Saudi Arabia eastern Turkey, Iran, Mesopotamia, and from east of the Indus River to Bengal and Narmada River in Central India.
Since the turn of the 20th century, it is restricted to the Gir Forest National Park and surrounding areas.
This lion population has steadily increased since last couple of decades.
In June 2020, an estimation exercise counted 674 Asiatic lions in the Gir forest region, an increase of 29 per cent over the 2015 census figure.

SGPGIMS develops cheaper, faster test for COVID-19

The Department of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) has developed a faster and much cheaper test for COVID-19 infection.
The technology is the first rapid RNA (Ribonucleic acid)-based test that can detect COVID-19 infection within a lab time of 30 minutes and will cost only around Rs 500.
The test is a single-tube lab test which takes less than 30 minutes of laboratory time and has high specificity and sensitivity. It does not require sophisticated instrumentation or any expertise for result interpretation.
This point-of-care test will have a direct impact on mass screening, and will especially benefit the people in screening/holding areas of various service centres such as hospitals and airports.

Union Cabinet approves distressed asset fund of Rs 20,000 crore for MSMEs

The Union Cabinet approved a distressed asset fund for MSMEs to facilitate provision of Rs 20,000 crore as subordinate debt.
The scheme was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last month under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ economic package.
The government contribution to the distressed asset fund is Rs 4,000 crore through its investment in the Credit Guarantee Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) set up by it along with SIDBI.
Functioning MSMEs which have become non-performing assets or are stressed will be eligible for access to the fund.
Under the scheme, the Centre will provide guarantee coverage of up to 85 per cent for loans up to Rs 5 lakh and 75 per cent for loans beyond Rs 5 lakh to MSMEs from financial institutions.
It provides a debt facility of up to 15 per cent of promoter contribution or Rs 75 lakh to the promoters, who, in turn, will infuse the amount in the MSME unit as equity.

June 02, 2020

Assam CM forms 3-member panel on State’s economy

The Advisory Committee for revitalization of economy of Assam in the backdrop of the situation arising out of COVID-19 pandemic and consequent lockdown submitted its report to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
The Chief Minister announced constitution of a three-member ministerial committee under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma to study the recommendations of the report and suggest broad roadmap for their implementation.
Industry Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary and Agriculture Minister Atul Bora will be its members.
The Advisory Committee with seven members, headed by retired IAS officer Subash Chandra Das, assessed the macro-economic and socio-economic impact as well as sector specific impact of COVID-19.
The committee made the sector specific recommendations on agriculture and allied sector, industries, trade and commerce, transport, tourism and hospitality, construction sector, employment including migrant labours.
The committee observed that as the economy needs to be made fully functional gradually, standard operating protocols, rules and guidelines need to be made for the sectors which are still closed with special emphasis on the opening of tourism and hospitality industry including hotels, restaurants with other personal care services and industries.

CCEA clears 50-83% MSP hike for 14 kharif crops

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), approved 50-83 per cent rise in the minimum support price (MSP) of 14 kharif crops for the 2020-21 marketing season.
The highest MSP rise was proposed for nigerseed (Rs 755 per quintal), followed by sesamum (Rs 370 per quintal), urad (Rs 300 per quintal) and long staple cotton (Rs 275 per quintal).
The increase was in line with the 2018-19 budget announcement of finalising MSPs at least 1.5 times of the All-India weighted average cost of production (CoP) to allow reasonably fair return to farmers.
The expected returns for farmers will be the highest for bajra (83 per cent), followed by urad (64 per cent), tur (58 per cent) and maize (53 per cent). For other crops, the return is estimated to be at least 50 per cent.
The MSP for common grade of paddy has been set at Rs 1,868 a quintal and grade-A paddy, Rs 1,888 per quintal for the crop year 2020-21 (July-June). Similarly, the MSP for jowar hybrid is Rs 2,620 per quintal and other jowar Rs 2,640 per quintal.
The MSP for tur (pigeon pea) has been finalised at Rs 6,000 per quintal, moong (Rs 7,196 per quintal), urad (Rs, 6,000 per quintal), groundnut (Rs 5,275 per quintal), sunflower (Rs 5,885 per quintal), soybean (Rs 3,880 per quintal), sesame (Rs 6,855 per quintal) and nigerseed (Rs 6,695 per quintal).
The MSP for medium-staple and long-staple cotton have been set at Rs 5,515 and Rs 5,825 per quintal, respectively. The new MSP for bajra is Rs 2,150 per quintal, ragi Rs 3,295 per quintal and maize Rs 1,850 per quintal.

Moody’s downgraded India’s sovereign rating to Baa3

Moody’s Investor Service downgraded India’s sovereign rating to Baa3 from Baa2, with a negative outlook.
The rationale for Moody’s first such downgrade in two decades was “policy-making institutions will be challenged in enacting and implementing policies which effectively mitigate the risks of a sustained period of relatively low growth, significant further deterioration in the general government fiscal position and stress in the financial sector”.
The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth in FY20 is estimated at 4.2 per cent, the slowest rate since FY09. For FY21, Moody’s expects India’s economy to contract 4 per cent.
Incidentally, Moody’s had upgraded India’s rating to Baa2 in November 2017 on expectation that the government would effectively implement key reforms.

Highest ever allocation of fund worth Rs 1,01,500 crore in MGNREGS for FY 2020-21

A provision of Rs 1,01,500 crore has been made under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the current financial year 2020-2021. Out of which, a sum of Rs 31,493 crore has already been released.
A total of 60.80 crore person days has been generated so far and work has been offered to 6.69 crore persons. And total of 10 lakh works have been completed so far during the current Financial Year 2020-2021.
A sustained focus is on taking up works related to water conservation and irrigation, plantation, horticulture and Individual Beneficiary works for livelihood promotion.

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June 03, 2020

Assam Govt appoints Samudra Gupta Kashyap as SIC

The Assam government appointed Samudra Gupta Kashyap as the State Information Commissioner (SIC), a first time the coveted post going to a journalist.
A well-known name in Assam’s journalism, Kashyap has also been working as a State resource person for the RTI Act. He retired as a senior assistant editor from The Indian Express and is a regular columnist in many newspapers.
As a journalist, he had also efficiently used the RTI Act as a tool to gather information in the last part of his career.

Govt transfers Rs 53,000 crore under PMGKP

The Finance Ministry said, around 42 crore beneficiaries have been directly given cash support through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) amounting to Rs 53,248 crores under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP).
The government has transferred Rs 8,488 crore into the bank accounts of PM Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries.
Also, 8.58 crore free Ujjwala cylinders have been delivered while a total of 9.25 crore cylinders have been booked, under which, the government has decided to distribute free cooking gas cylinders to Ujjwala beneficiaries for three months till June 30.
The government has also released First instalment of PM-KISAN (Rs 16,394 crore) and transferred it to 8.19 crore identified farmers who got Rs 2,000 directly in their account.
The government has also disbursed Rs 20,344 crore to women Jan Dhan account holders till June 2. A sum of Rs 10,029 crore was disbursed to 20.05 crore Women Jan Dhan account holders (98.3 per cent beneficiary as first instalment of Rs 500 payment.
Moreover, Rs 10,315 crore has also been credited to 20.63 crore women Jan Dhan account holders (100 per cent beneficiaries) as second instalment payment.
The government has also released Rs 2,814 crore to about 2.81 crore old age persons, widows and disabled persons. Each beneficiary received an ex-gratia cash of Rs 500 under the scheme as the first instalment and another Rs 500 as second instalment.

Union IT Ministry launches schemes to boost electronic manufacturing

Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad launched three major schemes to boost manufacture of electronics in the country. These schemes are expected to attract substantial investments, increase production of mobile phones and their parts or components to around Rs 10 lakh crore by 2025, and generate around 5 lakh direct and 15 lakh indirect jobs.
The Minister launched the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) for large-scale electronics manufacturing, Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS), and Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0) Scheme.
The PLI Scheme will extend an incentive of 4-6 per cent on incremental sales of goods manufactured in India and covered under the target segments to the eligible companies for five years subsequent to the base year.
The SPECS will provide financial incentive of 25 per cent on capital expenditure for the identified list of electronic goods, including electronic components, semiconductor, and display fabrication units, among others.
The EMC 2.0 will provide support for the creation of world-class infrastructure along with common facilities and amenities, including Ready Built Factory (RBF) sheds or Plug and Play facilities for attracting major global electronics manufacturers, along with their supply chains.
The government aims to increase the domestic value addition for mobile phones by 35-40 per cent by 2025.
According to the government the schemes will help offset the disability for domestic electronics manufacturing and hence strengthen the electronics manufacturing ecosystem in the country.

Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra topped FSSAI food safety index for 2019-20

Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have topped an index that ranked states ensuring food safety in 2019-20, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The index ranks states on five parameters of food safety: human resources and institutional data, compliance, food testing facility, training and capacity building besides consumer empowerment.
Among the smaller states, Goa came first followed by Manipur and Meghalaya.
Among Union Territories, Chandigarh, Delhi and Andaman Islands secured top ranks.

June 04, 2020

IIT Guwahati project on bamboo furniture designing for use at health centres

The Department of Design of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, has carried out a project involving designing of bamboo furniture for use in hospitals and health centres.
The project is mainly aimed at strengthening sustainable infrastructure facilities and meeting the requirements of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) located in the rural areas of the State.
It also aimed for a sustainable and participatory design approach by utilisation of locally available materials and craft skill manpower led by active participation of local government departments.
The current pandemic crisis has brought to the fore the need for seeking self-reliance of sustainable solutions that are contextually appropriate for meeting the needs of the community.
The designs developed by the department’s team could provide a sustainable solution to meet local infrastructure needs of PHCs and added that they are also cost-effective.
Besides, it could also be an ideal way of creating employment opportunities for crafts persons who can use locally available bamboo and cane in this region.
The design team is already in touch with two local entrepreneurs who have agreed to undertake the manufacture of a simpler version of the hospital bed. Around 200 beds can be manufactured per day.

Bengal to plant 5 crore mangrove trees in Sundarbans

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the state government will plant 5 crore mangrove trees in Amphan-hit Sundarbans region within one month.
Banerjee said that it is important to protect the natural mangrove cover in the region that protects people and the wildlife living in the biodiversity reserve.
The state environment department would carry out the plantation of 5 crore mangrove trees in the region within one month starting from the World Environment Day observed on June 5.
A large part of Sundarbans, spanning across Kolkata’s adjoining South 24-Parganas and North 24-Parganas district, was severely battered due to cyclone Amphan on May 20.

EESL, GAIL India sign MoU for ‘trigeneration’ projects

Natural gas Company GAIL India and Energy Efficiency Services (EESL) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), for development of ”trigeneration” projects in India, with the aim to build a closer strategic partnership by jointly exploring business opportunities in ”trigeneration” segment in India.
Under the MoU, GAIL and EESL shall jointly undertake studies and if found viable, 50:50 joint venture will be incorporated for undertaking trigeneration projects.
The ”trigeneration” or ”combined cooling, heat and power” project involves natural gas-fired generators to produce electricity. Under this, the waste heat from fuel gas is recovered to produce steam, which is used for heating and also in absorption chillers for cooling.

Cabinet approves ordinance for ‘One India, One Agriculture Market’

The Union Cabinet approved the Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, which will pave the way for creating ‘One India, One Agriculture Market’.
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, said the ordinance will create an ecosystem where farmers and traders will enjoy freedom of choice of sale and purchase of agri-produce.
It will also promote barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade and commerce outside the physical premises of markets notified under the state Agricultural Produce Marketing legislations, and this is a historic step in unlocking the vastly regulated agriculture markets in the country.
There are restrictions for farmers in selling agri-produce outside the notified APMC market yards. The farmers are also restricted to sell the produce only to the registered licensees of the state governments.
Barriers exist in free-flow of agricultural produce between various states owing to the prevalence of various APMC legislations enacted by the state governments.
The ordinance basically aims at creating additional trading opportunities outside the APMC market yards to help farmers get remunerative prices due to additional competition.

New Microsoft programme to empower agritech startups in India

Microsoft launched a new programme to help agritech startups in India build industry-specific solutions, scale and grow with access to deep technology, business and marketing resources.
The three-tier programme offers tech and business enablement resources to Series C startups that can boost their businesses with Azure benefits (including free credits), unlimited technical support and help with Azure Marketplace onboarding.
Startups with enterprise-ready solutions can scale quickly with joint go-to-market strategies, technical support and new sales opportunities with Microsoft’s partner ecosystem.
Lastly, agritech startups that are looking to create digital agriculture solutions have the opportunity to co-build customized solutions with Azure FarmBeats without investing in deep data engineering resources.
Available on the Azure Marketplace, Azure FarmBeats enables aggregation of agricultural datasets across providers and generation of actionable insights by building artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) models based on fused datasets.
Using Azure FarmBeats, startups can acquire, aggregate and process agricultural data and rapidly develop their own AI/ML models.
Agritech startups in the country received more than $248 million funding in the first half of 2019, a growth of 300 per cent as compared to the same period in the previous year.
Bringing together startups, corporates, industry bodies, governments and venture capital firms, the programme aims to create a shared platform for learning and innovation.

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June 05, 2020

NGO Help Earth launched website on Guwahati’s biodiversity

NGO Help Earth has developed a website, wildguwahati.com, highlighting Guwahati city’s urban biodiversity.
The website will be formally launched on the occasion of World Environment Day which it will celebrate in a digital way due to the ongoing lockdown restrictions and norms for social distancing.
Going with the theme of this year’s World Environment Day ‘Time for Nature’, They have developed the website based on our comprehensive study on urban biodiversity of Guwahati spanning over six years, and which is still continuing.
They have catalogued the vertebrate biodiversity of Guwahati which is now presented in a form of website and is freely accessible to all.
The main aim of the initiative is to popularise and highlight the importance of urban biodiversity. The website presents a checklist of terrestrial vertebrates of Guwahati consisting of 26 species of amphibians, 57 species of reptiles, 214 species of birds and 36 species of mammals.

Gairsain declared the summer capital of Uttarakhand

Gairsain town in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand was officially declared as the new summer capital of the hilly state.
Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya gave her nod to the state government’s move declaring Gairsain or Bhararisen as the new summer capital of the state.
The Uttarakhand state is divided into two divisions Garhwal and Kumaon, with a total of 13 districts.
The winter capital of Uttarakhand is Dehradun, the largest city of the state.

IIT-BHU develops anti-microbial mask

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has developed an anti-microbial multilayer face mask.
The face mask has been developed to annihilate pathogenic micro-organisms stuck to the outer surface of the mask and limit further spread of secondary infections.
The mask currently being sold in the market act as a filter to stop the entry of microbes to oral and nasal airways but are not effective on the microbe stuck to the mask surface.
The mask has been developed by doctor Marshal and his team at the School of Biomedical Engineering in the IIT-BHU. According to Marshal, this shortcoming of masks could be very dangerous for medical and paramedical staff due to the presence of higher viral or bacterial load on their outer surface. They addressed this problem by stacking different layers of nano-metal conjugated with protonated amine matrix.
Earlier, the institute had developed a prototype of UV-C light-based surface-cum-room sanitizer, full body sanitization device and several other innovations to fight against coronavirus.

Andhra Pradesh deploys IBM Watson chatbot to answer Covid-19 queries

The Andhra Pradesh National Health Mission portal has integrated the IBM Watson virtual agent to help the residents quickly get answers to their queries about Covid-19.
The chatbot is designed to understand and respond to common questions about Covid-19 in English, Telugu and Hindi.
The objective of this type of advanced technologies — chatbots or virtual agents — is to help reduce the waiting times for calls that users make to the telephone lines of state services relating to the novel coronavirus.

RBI announces creation of Payments Infrastructure Development Fund

The Reserve Bank announced the creation of a Payments Infrastructure Development Fund with an initial contribution of Rs 250 crore and contribution of same amount will be from card issuing banks and card networks operating in the country.
The fund has been created to encourage the adoption of ‘Points of Sale’ machines by businesses in tier-3 to tier-6 centres and Northeastern states.
The PoS machines allow businesses to accept e-payments, thereby, mitigating the need to deal in cash.
The PIDF will also receive recurring contributions to cover operational expenses from card issuing banks and card networks. RBI will also contribute to yearly shortfalls, if necessary.
The PIDF will be governed through an Advisory Council and managed and administered by the Reserve Bank.

June 06, 2020

Assam Governor launches project ‘Hariyali’ in BTAD

Assam Governor Professor Jagdish Mukhi launched a project titled, ‘Hariyali’ by planting 1500 saplings at the headquarters of 15 Battalion of Shashtra Seema Bal (SSB) at Kajalgaon in the district.
Under this project, a total of four lakh saplings will be planted in all the four districts (one lakh for each district) of BTAD till the month of August to enrich the green cover which is 36.5 per cent at present.
Mukhi said, Although three protected areas – Manas National Park, Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Chakrasila Wildlife Sanctuary have the potential to sustain wide varieties of flora and fauna, we have to work assiduously for the protection of the environment and our natural legacy of rich biodiversity.
About 40 lakhs plants, including flowering, fruiting, medicinal and other plant varieties are to be planted in the BTAD areas within August.
As a part of the above initiative, 10 lakh saplings will be planted in each of the four BTAD districts – Udalguri, Baksa, Kokrajhar and Chirang.

India ranks 168^th on Environmental Performance Index

India has been ranked 168^th out of 180 countries in the 2020 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), according to researchers at Yale and Columbia universities.
Denmark has ranked first in the world, followed by Luxembourg, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Germany in the top 10 countries in the 2020 EPI, a biennial scorecard of national results on a range of sustainability issues.
The EPI report has become the premier metrics framework for global environmental policy analysis, ranking 180 countries on 32 performance indicators across 11 issue categories covering environmental health and ecosystem vitality.
India struggles to perform well on several of the 2020 EPI”s environmental issue categories. For air quality, India and Pakistan both rank at the very bottom of the 2020 EPI, at 179th and 180th places, respectively.
On biodiversity and habitat, India places 148th in the world, failing to maximize the conservation potential of its protected areas, especially in marine ecosystems.
Perhaps most critically, India places 106th in the world on climate change mitigation.
Low EPI scores for India suggest a need for national sustainability efforts on a number of fronts, including air and water pollution, biodiversity protection, and the transition to a clean energy future.

President Kovind promulgates ordinances for agriculture market reforms

President Ram Nath Kovind promulgated the ordinances for major agricultural reforms which aim to give freedom to the farmers to sell their agriculture produce anywhere in the country and pave the way for contract farming.
The Union Cabinet had cleared Farmers” Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Ordinance 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance 2020 which were notified.
The amendment of essential goods act has also been given approval following which the agriculture commodities like onion, potatoes, oilseed, edible oil and cereals have been removed from the list of essential commodities.
The President has promulgated the two ordinances with the aim of giving a boost to rural India for farmers engaged in agriculture and allied activities.
By recognizing the bottlenecks preventing the holistic development of marketing of the agriculture produce, the Government drafted and circulated the Model Agriculture Produce and Livestock Marketing (APLM) Act 2017, and also the Model Agriculture Produce and Livestock Contract Farming Act of 2018, for adoption by the states.

Indian Railways has installed bio toilets across 68,000 coaches

As part of its “Swachh Rail-Swachh Bharat” initiative, the Indian Railways has installed bio toilets across 68,000 coaches.
A total of 49,487 bio-toilets have been installed in 14,916 coaches during 2019-20.
This takes the cumulative number of bio-toilets to more than 2,45,400 fitted in 68,800 coaches with a coverage of 100 per cent.
Integrated mechanised cleaning is also being provided at 953 railway stations pan India.
More than 1,100 pairs of trains, including Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto and other important long distance mail/express trains, have been equipped with the facility of Onboard House Keeping Service (OBHS) for cleaning of coach toilets, doorways, aisles and passenger compartments during the run of the trains.
The Railways also informed that the OBHS service is also supported by SMS-based on demand “Coach-Mitra” service to cover over 1060 pairs of trains.
At present, around 315 PBCMs have been installed at 229 stations including several district headquarters railway stations.
Automatic coach washing plants (ACWP) have been installed in eight locations while quick watering facility at 29 locations have also been installed in order to reduce water filling time at the stations.

Centre to develop 200 ‘urban forests’ in five years

On the occasion of the World Environment Day on June 5, the Central government announced the implementation of ”Nagar Van” scheme to develop 200 Urban Forests across the country in the next five years.
World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5 every year. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change celebrates the day by focusing on the theme declared by the United Nation’s Environment Programme and organises several events.
India has eight per cent of world’s biodiversity, despite having many constraint like only 2.5 per cent of the world’s landmass, has to carry 16 per cent of human as well as cattle population and having only four per cent of freshwater sources.

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June 07, 2020

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw named EY World Entrepreneur of the Year

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Executive Chairperson and Managing Director of Biocon Limited, has been named EY World Entrepreneur of the Year for 2020.
The BioconMD was picked from among 46 nominations from 41 countries.
She also becomes the second woman to hold the title, following Olivia Lum of Hyflux Limited from Singapore in 2011.
Kiran, 67, founded Biocon, a bio-enzymes company, in 1978 with just two employees and $500. The company is now employs more than 11,000 people.
She is the third award winner from India. Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, Uday Kotak (2014) and Infosys founder Narayana Murthy (2005) are the former recipients.

India to host 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup

Asian Football Federation (AFC) has awarded the hosting rights of the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup for the second time to India.
India had hosted the AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the first time in 1979.
As hosts, India will get an automatic qualification to the tournament. Although India had not yet bagged an AFC Women’s Asian Cup till now, it had finished as runners-up in 1981 and 1983 and won a bronze medal in 1981.
This year, the AFC committee has also decided to expand the Asian Cup from eight teams to 12.

ISRO signs MoU with ARIES for space situational awareness

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Aryabhatta Research Institute (ARIES) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Astrophysics.
This MoU will pave the way for future collaborations between ISRO and ARIES in establishing optical telescope observational facilities for space object tracking, R&D studies in space weather, astrophysics, and Near Earth Object (NEO).
The MoU was signed by R. Umamaheswaran, Scientific Secretary, ISRO and Prof (Dr) Dipankar Banerjee, Director, ARIES.
Space objects” orbital tracking, analysis and space weather studies are important aspects in Space Situational Awareness and Management to safeguard Indian space assets from critical conjunction threats like space debris.
Future endeavours in space exploration depends on research and development (R&D) in astrophysics, solar sciences, and space environment.

National Digital Library caters to students in all languages

A National Digital Library has been set up by the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry for all students in the country.
This portal covers all subjects from primary to post-graduate level, includes subjects such as elementary education, law, medicine and engineering. It provides more than 4.5 crore text resources.
A major feature of this library is the diversity of its text content. Students from each state can study books in their own dialect or language. The library is essential for students engaged in research.
Online books are also being provided to students pursuing higher education through another digital platform ”Shodh Sindhu”, which provides high quality research material. It provides 10,000 national and international journals as well as 31 lakh and 35,000 books to the students through the e-platform of the HRD ministry.

Union Finance Ministry releases Rs 36,400 crore as GST compensation to states

The finance ministry has released Rs 36,400 crore to states as compensation for their revenue loss in the goods and services tax (GST) regime for the period from December, 2019 to February, 2020.
With this the Centre has released its entire GST compensation due to states for financial year 2019-20 and also given extra compensation for February that is accounted for in the current fiscal FY21.
GST compensation is released at the end of every two months’ period. So, for FY20, dues are actually paid only upto January with compensation for the February-March period getting settled in next fiscal.
After the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime was put in place, the Centre assured the states, through legislation, that the revenue shortfall will be compensated fully for first five years. 2015-16 was assumed to be the base year for calculating the compensation amount for a financial year.
The growth rate of revenue for a state during the five-year period is assumed at 14 per cent per annum. Any shortfall in this growth number is to be compensated by the Centre.

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Assam Current Affairs – May 29 – 31, 2020

Posted on June 7, 2020June 10, 2020 by admin

Assam Current Affairs & GK – May 29 – 31, 2020

( Covers all important Assam & North-East Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of May 29 – 31, 2020 )

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May 29, 2020

Health Ministry includes RMNCAH+N activities in essential services

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare categorised RMNCAH+N activities in the essential services category. These activities are related to pregnancy care management, newborn care and childhood illness management, immunisation services, management of severe acute malnutrition in children, family planning services, comprehensive abortion care services and adolescent health services as essential.
The Ministry said that in addition to priority to health facilities and healthcare workers, it is also vital that essential health services for vulnerable population like this segment are continued during the pandemic.
Provision of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) services during and post COVID-19 Pandemic.
The Ministry said any area exiting in ”containment/buffer zone” can start RMNCAH+N activities as listed in ”areas beyond buffer zone” after a minimum gap of 14 days following delisting.
Similarly, an area entering a ”containment and buffer zone” should restrict these activities immediately.
Drugs, commodities needed for continuing the RMNCAH+N services, should be treated as essential commodities.
Home deliveries of essential medicines like IFA, Calcium, ORS, Zinc, contraceptives etc can be organized in the containment zone.
The Health Ministry said the campaign-mode servicing like mass vitamin prophylaxis, Campaigns for Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF), National Deworming Day (NDD) and Test Treat and Talk (T3) camps for anaemia could be provided on an alternative mechanism like through home delivery of essential services and commodities etc based on local situation.
The Ministry asserted that critical services for women, children and adolescents should be provided irrespective of their COVID-19 status and under no circumstances should there be a denial of essential services.

Tamil Nadu signs 17 investment MoUs worth Rs 15,128 crore

The Tamil Nadu government signed 17 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) involving an investment of Rs 15,128 crore having a potential to generate about 47,150 jobs.
The MoUs were signed with companies that are already operating in the state like Daimler India Commercial Vehicles and also with new investors.
The investing companies are from Germany, Finland, Taiwan, China, France, South Korea, Japan, USA, Australia, England and Netherlands.

CSIR-IIIM, RIL to develop and scale-up new COVID-19 diagnostic test

The Institute of Integrative Medicine in Jammu has tied up with Reliance Industries Ltd to develop and scale-up a new Reverse Transcriptase-Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (RT-LAMP)-based COVID-19 diagnostic kit.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has also been signed between IIIM-Jammu and RIL, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
The IIIM is a research institute under the CSIR.
COVID-19 RT-LAMP test is a nucleic acid-based test carried out from nasal or throat swab sample from patients.
The test has been developed and successfully demonstrated using synthetic templates.
It is a rapid (45-60 minutes), cost-effective and accurate test.
It has been tested with a small number of samples of patients and validating the kit on more number of patient samples is planned and will be done together with RIL.
The advantage of this test is that the RT-LAMP-based COVID-19 kit components are easily available and these can be completely manufactured in India.
The current COVID-19 testing is done by real-time PCR and their components are mostly imported.
These tests are expensive and require highly trained manpower, costly instruments and a relatively high-end lab and cannot be deployed at remote locations in quarantine centres, airports and railway stations.
The RT-LAMP test can be done with minimal expertise in a very basic lab setup like mobile units or kiosks for testing at airports, railway stations, bus stands and other public places.

May 30, 2020

New waterways linking NE India, Bangladesh

New waterways between Tripura and Bangladesh would start within three months and it would boost trade and numerous economic activities.
State CM Deb said that a temporary jetty would be built at Sonamura in western Tripura within three months before starting the new waterways through Gomati river between Tripura and Bangladesh.
After operating the small vessels to carry various goods during the monsoon season, dredging for operating big vessels and ships would start in the Gomati river during the winter season.
To operate vessels smoothly between Tripura and Bangladesh, 18 km waterways (15 km in Bangladesh territories and 3 km in Tripura territories) in the Gomati river would require dredging.
The Gomati river, one of the eight rivers of Tripura flows to Bangladesh, linked with Meghna, one of the major rivers in the neighbouring country.
The Second Addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade was signed in Dhaka on May 20 by Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das and Bangladesh Shipping Ministry Secretary Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury.
In the Second Addendum, Sonamura (Tripura)-Daudkhandi (Bangladesh) stretch (93 km) of the Gomti river was included as IBP route number 9 and 10 in the protocol and it would improve connectivity of Tripura and adjoining northeastern states of India with Bangladesh”s economic centres and would help the hinterland of both the countries.

Odisha govt announces Rs 17000 crore livelihood package

The Odisha government announced a special package to provide employment opportunities for migrant workers and people affected due to Covid-19 pandemic in the rural areas.
The council of ministers” meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, approved the package named Special Livelihood Intervention Plan.
The livelihood intervention package will be implemented from June 2020 to March 2021 as the public health crisis has led to an economic crisis in the rural areas.
The plan is aimed at generating employment in rural areas through sectors like agriculture, fisheries, animal resources development, MGNREGS, forest and handlooms and handicrafts.
Under the package, the government would provide assistance to the farmers for various crop cultivation including flower, mushroom, and plantation of fruit-bearing trees.
About 2 lakh farmers would be assisted for plantation of fruit-bearing trees including mangoes in the state while women self-help groups will be provided assistance for mushroom cultivation.
The Odisha government also announced two industrial parks of 1,000 acres each at Dhamra in Bhadrak district and another in Dhenkanal district with an investment of about Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 crore each.
A textile park will be set up at Dhamra, which will provide employment opportunities for 20,000 people. A medical park will be set up at Dhenkanal, which will create job opportunities for 16,000 people, said the Chief Secretary.

IIT Madras restoration project at Chilika Lake

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) said its researchers undertook a major restoration project at the famous Chilika Lake – the largest brackish water body in Asia located in Odisha to help in tripling the population of the Irrawaddy dolphins while also benefitting over 2 lakh fishermen.
According to IIT-M, its intervention in the year 2000 and continuous monitoring since then has benefitted over 200,000 fishermen living in 132 villages as it resulted in a seven-fold increase of fish catch and tourists to co-exist with the lake ecosystem with minimal disturbance to the environment. Due to the successful restoration, the lake was removed from the threatened list (Montreux record) 1st from Asia.
Chilika Development Authority also received the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award and Evian special prize 2002 for outstanding achievement.
In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, an international treaty for the conservation of wetlands.
The Chilika lagoon is over 4,000 years old and spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha.
The highly productive ecosystem of the lake supports the livelihood for fishermen and also acts as drainage for Mahanadi river basin.
The lake was in a degraded condition and included in the threatened list (Montreux Record) by Ramsar Convention in 1993. This warranted urgent action for restoration of the lake.
The hydrodynamic regime of the lagoon was affected due to shifting of the mouth towards the northeast and subsequent reduction of seawater into the lake. Consequently, the ecology, biodiversity and economy of the area were also affected.

May 31, 2020

Assam Govt ties up with UNICEF for students’ career guidance portal

The State government in partnership with UNICEF Assam, has launched a career guidance portal to counsel children on their future and choices of professional life.
The portal brings more than 500 career options to students from Class IX to Class XII, with specific focus on gender inclusivity.
The portal is a result of the vision of the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for secondary and senior secondary students.
At present available in English and Hindi, the portal www.assamcareerportal.com, will also be made available in Assamese in the near future.
This career guidance portal will help the student community to take appropriate decisions regarding their careers.
The principals and teachers of secondary and senior schools will act as focal points for each of 4,373 secondary schools, so that they can orient and guide students on every aspect of the portal and how it can be used.
The department, along with UNICEF, plans to orient all district-level officials and teachers via a virtual platform.
The objective of the portal is to help students stay informed on various career opportunities, orienting them about the requisite skills and education needed to pursue a career of their choice.
With all the career information available to the students with one login, the career guidance portal will also aim to serve them with information regarding numerous scholarship opportunities.
UNICEF Assam has been in the lead technical role for this initiative and has supported in development of the career portal for children in secondary and higher secondary classes with partner iDream Career.
The portal has been adapted to Assam’s context and it features over 500 careers that are regularly updated and also includes non-traditional career areas such as agriculture and food sciences, hospitality and tourism, virology, animation and graphics and sports and fitness.
As of now, the portal has information of about almost 19,000 colleges along with information on 1,150 entrance tests and 1,050 scholarships for students to access. The portal is expected to benefit more than eight lakh students from classes IX to XII.

NHAI plans to develop Model Stretches in every state

In order to exhibit the model stretches of National Highways as per norms, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is planning to develop 57 stretches of NH (1,735 km) across the country near each state capital.
These Model Stretches will also serve as a platform to educate the highway engineers of the country, including state PWD engineers.
These stretches will have all the required safety and aesthetic features like road signs, road markings, road furniture & safety items, proper junctions and entry/exit points, functional drains, pedestrian facilities, street lighting, plantation & landscaping, toll plaza, user facilities & wayside amenities.
The stretches will also be equipped with CCTV cameras at all vulnerable locations, no black spots to avoid accidents and eco-friendly measures.
The idea is to make the highway stretch look like a perfect textbook version of a model road.
Some of the NH sections identified for development as Model Stretches are Dausa to Jaipur, Jalandhar to Amritsar, Srinagar to Banihal, Varanasi Ring Road, Chennai Bypass, MP/MH border to Nagpur including Nagpur Bypass, Brahmaputra Bridge to Guwahati.
The NHAI has issued policy guidelines to help its regional officers identify and plan the development of Model Stretches and complete the work in a timely manner.
The NHAI HQ will be monitoring the progress through an online e-portal (Data Lake), where pictures/videos of each Model Stretch would be uploaded apart from other related information.

Centre allows movement of persons and goods across borders

The Centre, while announcing the guidelines for phased re-opening of the lockdown, said that from June 1, there will be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods. The restrictions will be limited to only containment zones up to June 30.
There shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods. No separate permission/ approval/ e-permit will be required for such movements.
The MHA emphasised that no state/UT shall stop the movement of any type of goods/cargo for cross land border under treaties with neighbouring states.
However, if a state/ Union Territory based on reasons of public health and its assessment of the situation proposes to regulate movement of persons, it will give wide publicity in advance regarding the restrictions to be placed on such movement, and the related procedures to be followed.
Movement by passenger trains and Shramik Special trains; domestic passenger air travel; movement of Indian nationals stranded outside the country and of specified persons to travel abroad; evacuation of foreign nationals; and sign-on and sign-off of Indian seafarers will continue to be regulated as per the SOPs issued.

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Assam Current Affairs – May 22 – 28, 2020

Posted on June 7, 2020June 10, 2020 by admin

Assam Current Affairs & GK – May 22 – 28, 2020

( Covers all important Assam & North-East Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of May 22 – 28, 2020 )

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May 22, 2020

First International Tea Day celebrated on 21^st May

The tea industry marked its first International Tea Day on 21 May, 2020, as an effort to raise awareness of the long history and the deep cultural and economic significance of tea around the world.
The goal of the day is to promote and foster collective actions to implement activities in favour of the sustainable production and consumption of tea and raise awareness of its importance in fighting hunger and poverty.
International Tea Day is observed annually on May 21, according to the United Nations. The concerning resolution was adopted on December 21, 2019 and calls on the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to lead the observance of the Day.
An International Tea Day has been celebrated on December 15, since 2005, in tea producing countries like India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Uganda and Tanzania.
In Assam, Dikom Tea Estate, celebrated International Tea Day by honouring the souls, who have engraved the deep roots of Dikom tea estate centuries ago by lighting candles and thanking each and everyone.
The estate on this auspicious day inaugurated its Information Centre and also launched its e-learning portal in YouTube.

Odisha govt raises kharif loan target to Rs 9,000 crore

The Odisha government has raised the cooperative kharif loan target to Rs 9,000 crore from Rs 7,500 crore.
Cooperation Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain said small and marginal farmers, migrants, joint liability groups and women self-help groups had been given priority.
Proper planning had been made to provide short-term credit for fisheries, animal husbandry, dairy and poultry sectors.
The government has set the target of providing Rs 5,000 crore crop loan by the quarter ended June and Rs 4,000 crore by quarter ended September.

India and Bangladesh adds five more ‘ports of call’

To boost trade, economic activity and connectivity, India and Bangladesh have added five more “ports of call” on either side and increased the protocol (water) routes from 8 to 10.
These additions to the protocol will facilitate bilateral trade with improved reliability and cost effectiveness for the business community and the people of both the countries.
The Second Addendum was signed by Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das and Bangladesh Shipping Ministry Secretary Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury.
There are six “ports of call” each in India and Bangladesh. The new five “ports of call” on the Indian side are Dhulian, Maia, Kolaghat, Sonamura and Jogigopha and on the Bangladesh side Rajshahi, Sultanganj, Chilmari, Daudkandi and Bahadurabad.
Two more extended ”ports of call” Tribeli (Bandel) and Badarpur in India and Ghorasal and Muktarpur in Bangladesh have been added.
The Indian transit cargo is mainly coal, fly-ash, POL and heavy machineries for power projects in the northeast. The other likely cargo is fertilizers, cement, grain, farm products and containers.
Both the countries have also agreed to introduce trade between Chilmari (Bangladesh) and Dhubri (Assam, India) through the use of shallow draft mechanised vessels.
The new “ports of call” will enable loading and unloading of cargo transported on the India-Bangladesh Protocol Route and stimulate economic development of new locations and their hinterland.
This protocol, first signed in 1972 soon after independence of Bangladesh, is a reflection of shared history, trusted friendship and mutually beneficial partnership.
It was last renewed in 2015 for five years with a provision of automatic renewal for the next five years, giving long-term assurance to stakeholders.

ICMR comes up with fully indigenous diagnostic platform for COVID-19

The Indian Council of Medical research said that it has validated a completely indigenous diagnostic platform for COVID-19 diagnosis. The apex medical research body in the country said the platform offers a reliable and affordable option to augment the SARS-CoV-2 testing capacity in India.
This fully indigenous diagnostic platform offers a reliable and affordable option to augment the SARS-CoV-2 testing capacity in India.
The platform comprises a TrueNat machine, inbuilt RNA extraction system, RT-PCR chips, collection swabs and viral lysis medium (VLM).
Single assay has a turnaround time of 35-50 minutes for 1-4 samples with a total of 12-48 samples being tested per day, depending upon the type of machine.
It also added that the biosafety and biosecurity requirements are minimal in view of the sample being collected in viral lysis medium (VLM), which inactivates the virus.
ICMR has now recommended the TrueNat COVID-19 test as a two-step test: step one i.e. E gene screening assay for all COVID-19 suspect samples to be followed by step two for the RdRp based confirmatory test in all E gene positives.

UN launches global initiative to combat COVID-19 misinformation

The UN launched an initiative called “Verified” to counter COVID-19 misinformation by increasing the volume and reach of trusted, accurate information.
Verified, led by the UN Department for Global Communications (DGC), will provide information around three themes: science, solidarity and solutions.
It will also promote recovery packages that tackle the climate crisis and address the root causes of poverty, inequality and hunger.
The initiative is calling on people around the world to sign up to become “information volunteers” to share trusted content to keep their families and communities safe and connected.
The DGC will partner with UN agencies and UN country teams, influencers, civil society, business and media organizations to distribute trusted, accurate content and work with social media platforms to root out hate and harmful assertions about COVID-19.

May 23, 2020

Sikkim’s first viral research and diagnostic lab inaugurated

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang inaugurated the State’s first viral research and diagnostic laboratory (VRDL) at the STNM Hospital at Sochaygang, which is certified by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
With the establishment of the laboratory, Sikkim will no longer have to depend on other States for COVID-19 and other medical tests. Samples from Sikkim are being sent to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri for RTPCR testing for COVID-19.
The laboratory has a capacity to conduct 90 tests at a time. It will take three-and-a -half hours to deliver test results of a batch of 90 samples.
It may be mentioned here that 75 per cent of the cost of construction and establishment of the laboratory was borne by the ICMR, while 25 per cent of the funds were provided by a private firm from its CSR fund.

Beekeeping will help achieve goal of doubling farmers’ income

Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar said on Friday beekeeping will be an important factor in achieving the goal of doubling farmer’s income.
Addressing a webinar organised by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), Union Minister said the government has allocated Rs 500 crore towards beekeeping under the Atmanirbhar Abhiyan.
India is among the world’s top five honey producers. Compared to 2005-06, honey production has risen by 242 per cent and exports up by 265 per cent.
The National Bee Board has created four modules to impart training as part of the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) and 30 lakh farmers have been trained in beekeeping. They are also being financially supported by the government.
Indian government is implementing the recommendations of the committee to promote beekeeping and has launched ”Honey Mission” as part of ”Sweet Revolution” which has four components. Even small and marginal farmers can adopt beekeeping since investment is low and returns high.

Centre released Rs 19,100 crore released under PM-KISAN during lockdown period

The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said, the Centre has released an amount of Rs 19,100.77 crore under the Pradhan MantriKisanSamman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme during the lockdown period after March 24 till date and around 9.55 crore farmer families have been benefitted under this scheme.
As per the latest data, around 34.87 lakh hectares area coverage under summer rice as compared to 25.29 lakh ha during the corresponding period of last year.
About 12.82 lakh ha area coverage under pulses as compared to 9.67 lakh ha during the corresponding period of last year.
As far as course cereals are concerned, around 10.28 lakh ha area is under coverage as compared to 7.30 lakh hectares during the corresponding period of last year.
About 9.28 lakh ha area is under coverage under oilseeds as compared to 7.34 lakh ha during the corresponding period of last year.
As per the latest data of the procurement, a quantity of 5.89 lakh MT gram (chana), 4.97 lakh MT mustard and 4.99 lakh MT toor has been procured by NAFED during the lockdown period.
In Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2020-21, a total of 337.48 lakh MT wheat arrived in FCI out of which 326.96 lakh MT was purchased.

UN’s The State of the World’s Forests released

The latest edition of UN’s The State of the World’s Forests released stated Urgent action is needed to safeguard the biodiversity of the world’s forests amid alarming rates of deforestation and degradation,.
The report shows that the conservation of the world’s biodiversity is dependent on the way in which we interact with and use the world’s forests.
The report was produced by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership, for the first time, with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and technical inputs from the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC).
It highlights that some 420 million hectares of forest have been lost through conversion to other land uses since 1990, although the rate of deforestation has decreased over the past three decades.
The COVID-19 crisis has thrown into sharp focus the importance of conserving and sustainably using nature, recognizing that people’s health is linked to ecosystem health. Protecting forests is key to this, as they harbour most of the earth’s terrestrial biodiversity.
This report shows that forests contain 60,000 different tree species, 80 per cent of amphibian species, 75 per cent of bird species, and 68 per cent of the earth”s mammal species.
Despite slowing of the rate of deforestation in the last decade, some 10 million hectares are still being lost each year through conversion to agriculture and other land uses.
The report presents a comprehensive overview of forest biodiversity, including world maps revealing where forests still hold rich communities of fauna and flora, such as the northern Andes and parts of the Congo Basin, and where they have been lost.
The Aichi Biodiversity Target to protect at least 17 per cent of the earth’s terrestrial areas by 2020 has been achieved for forests, although progress is still required to ensure the representativeness and effectiveness of such protection.
The largest increase in protected forest areas occurred in broadleaved evergreen forests such as those typically found in the tropics. Over 30 per cent of all tropical rainforests, subtropical dry forests and temperate oceanic forests are now located within protected areas.

Union Cabinet approved Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme for small business borrowers

Union Cabinet approved the Rs 3 lakh crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for MSMEs and MUDRA borrowers.
Under the Scheme, 100 per cent guarantee coverage would be provided by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC) for the additional funding of up to Rs 3 lakh crore in the form of a ECLGS facility. A amounts of Rs 41,600 crore shall be provided by the Centre, spread over the current and the next three financial years.
The scheme would be applicable to all loans sanctioned under ECLGS during the period from the date of announcement of the scheme to October 31, 2020, or till an amount of Rs 3 lakh crore is sanctioned under the ECLGS, whichever is earlier.
The main objective of the scheme is to provide an incentive to Member Lending Institutions (MLIs), including banks, financial institutions, and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to increase access to and enable availability of additional funding facility to MSME borrowers, in view of the economic distress caused by the COVID-19 crisis, by providing them 100 per cent guarantee for any losses suffered due to non-repayment of the ECLGS funding by borrowers.
All MSME borrower accounts with outstanding credit of up to Rs 25 crore as on February 2020, which were less than or equal to 60 days past due as on that date and with an annual turnover of up to Rs 100 crore, would be eligible for collateral-free loan under the scheme.
The amount of ECLGS funding to eligible MSME borrowers will either be in the form of additional working capital term loans in case of banks or additional term loans in case of NBFCs and it would be up to 20 per cent of their entire outstanding credit up to Rs 25 crore as on February 29, 2020.

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May 24, 2020

Academic TV channel launched in Assam

The State Education Minister HimantaBiswaSarma launched a new academic television channel, GyanVriksha, to compensate for the academic losses induced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The academic channel, started under Assam government’s SamagraShikshaAbhiyan, would contain study material from Class I to Class XII, apart from various co-curricular and skill development activities.
The channel, initially to be operated through cable network, would be gradually broadcast through the DTH operators in a phased manner.
Initially, the channel will be available only in Assamese and gradually contents would be developed in other languages.
The minister also advised all the students to learn from BiswaVidya, Assam YouTube channel, which has also been developed as a mobile application.

Mizoram cabinet grants industry status to sports

To give a boost to the sports sector in Mizoram, the Mizoram state Cabinet granted industry status to sports.
State Sports minister Robert Romawia Royte said the cabinet has cleared the proposal of the Sports and Youth Service department to grant sports an industry status.
This significant move will help to take forwards the segment in a more systematic and sustainable manner. It will usher in rapid as well as large scale development in various fields of sports.
Mizoram was the first state to grant industry status to sports. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and other big industrial bodies have been demanding industry status to sports since a long time.

Bangladesh produces 1^st generic version of remdesivir

Bangladesh-based Beximco Pharmaceuticals has become the worlds first company to produce a generic version of the antiviral drug remdesivir, originally developed by US-based Gilead Sciences.
Remdesivir was originally designed as an Ebola treatment, It works by attacking an enzyme that a virus needs in order to replicate inside our cells.
Beximco’s production of the generic version will ensure quick supply of the drug to many countries in the South Asia.
A recent clinical trial in the US showed the drug helped shorten the recovery time for people who were seriously ill. However, it did not significantly improve survival rates. Experts have warned that the drug should not be seen as a magic bullet for coronavirus. But in the absence of any clear treatment for COVID-19, many countries are willing to try remdesivir.

HUL, UNICEF extend tie-up for delivery of hygiene products in tea gardens in Assam

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has stated that it has extended its collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to support delivery of essential hygiene products to tea plantation workers based in Assam for use during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The collaboration will benefit families residing in the tea estates of the region and will facilitate the reach of key communication assets and availability of essentials such as soaps and toilet cleaners for tea plantation workers.
The initiative focuses on enhancing awareness related to COVID-19 amongst the tea plantation workers and local communities and on helping them take necessary precautions to stay safe during the pandemic.
UNICEF has been playing a key role in the tea plantations since 2010 through various interventions and the primary focus has been on the well-being of children and women.
In April 2020, HUL committed Rs 100 crore towards helping India fight the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of this effort, HUL has rolled out many initiatives to ensure that citizens of India across all walks of life have access to essential products such as soaps, sanitizers and toilet cleaners, and understand the causes and implications of the virus through simple and direct communication.

May 25, 2020

Tripura gets first international waterway

In a major development, the 93-km Sonamura-Daudkhandi stretch of the Gomati river has been approved of, as an India-Bangladesh protocol route. It is expected to strengthen the bilateral trade between the two countries, besides boosting Tripura’s economy and helping it emerge as the gateway to the North East.
Within six days of the Chief Minister’s appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the landmark decision has come as the second addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade, which was signed in Dhaka.
Under the current protocol, there are six ports of call each in India and Bangladesh. These are Kolkata, Haldia, Karimganj, Pandu, Silghat and Dhubri on the Indian side and Narayanganj, Khulna, Mongla, Sirajganj, Ashuganj and Pangaon on the Bangladesh side.
As per the protocol, inland vessels of both the countries can operate on the designated protocol route and dock at the ports of call in each country, notified for loading and unloading of cargo. There has been significant improvement in the movement of cargo vessels in an organised manner on the protocol route.
The inbound cargo to India mainly comprises coal, fly ash, POL and ODC for power projects in the North East, while around 30 lakh MT of fly ash is exported by cargo from India to Bangladesh per annum. Around 638 inland vessels take up approximately 4,000 loaded voyages annually.

IIT Guwahati researchers develops material that can separate oil and water

A team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) has successfully developed a graphene-based super-hydrophobic material which can separate oil and water.
Dr. Uttam Manna, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, IIT Guwahati and his team have developed the material and it can separate oil and water from both oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions.
Hydrophobic materials are known as non-polar materials with a low affinity to water. This characteristic makes such materials water repelling. These materials are largely governed by the physical architecture and the chemical composition, thus, such materials can be rationally created by combining low-surface-energy materials with hierarchical roughness.
The research group manipulated graphene, which is a form of carbon, to have super-hydrophobic properties suitable for separation of oil from water in emulsions.
The team developed a simplistic method to produce graphene oxide-polymer composites with hierarchical topography and low surface energy chemistry in the confined space.
Materials with extreme water repellence capacity are considered best for removing oil from water, and they are being extensively studied for applications such as water purification and self-cleaning surfaces.

India becomes 2^nd largest PPE kits producer in the world

From zero, India is now the second largest Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) manufacturing country in the world. It was made possible within a span of 60 days and now more than a hundred units spread all across India are manufacturing such kits.
Before the Covid-19 crisis starts, India did not manufacture PPE kits and the requirements were met through imports. But now the country is manufacturing at least 3.5 lakh to four lakh PPE kits every day.
Government of India encouraged textile manufacturing units to produce PPE kits. In the first phase, five such units came forward to manufacture PPE kits. Now the number of such units supplying kits to the Government has increased to more than a hundred, while, around 500 other units are certified to manufacture it.
Most of the units manufacturing PPE kits are originally textile industries and there were some initial hiccups in encouraging such companies to shift to manufacturing PPE kits.
Though the production of PPE kits increased, the Government is not allowing exports as of now as the country has heavy demand for the item. Once the situation improves, the Government may decide to allow exports, but no such decision has yet been taken.

Union Cabinet nod to Rs 20,050 crore Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

The Union Cabinet gave its nod to the implementation of Rs 20,050- crore Pradhan MantriMatsyaSampadaYojana (PMMSY), a scheme to promote ”Blue Revolution” in the country through sustainable development.
The scheme will be implemented in the next 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25.
Out of the Rs 20050 crore, the share of the Central government will be Rs 9,408 crore and the state governments” Rs 4,880 crore while the share of beneficiaries will be Rs 5,763.
The PMMSY will address the critical gaps in the fisheries sector and aid it in realizing its potential.
The scheme is expected to create direct gainful employment opportunities to about 15 lakh fishers, fish farmers, workers, vendors and other rural/urban populations in fishing and allied activities. Besides, it promises to offer indirect employment opportunities, including enhancement of incomes.
It will help in augmenting fish production and productivity at a sustained average annual growth rate of about 9 per cent to achieve a target of 22 million metric tons by 2024-25 through sustainable and responsible fishing practices.
The scheme also aims to improve availability of certified quality fish seed and feed, traceability in fish and including effective aquatic health management and help in creation of critical infrastructure, including modernisation and strengthening of value chain.
The PMMSY, a 5-year scheme, will be implemented as an umbrella scheme with two separate components as a Central sector scheme (CS) and (b) Centrally-Sponsored Scheme (CSS).

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May 26, 2020

UN lists Manipur’s “Khudol” among top global initiatives to fight COVID-19 pandemic

Manipur’s “Khudol” has been listed among the top 10 global initiatives for an inclusive fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The listing of the initiative among the top 10 global initiatives was done by the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth.
The “Khudol” initiative was launched by an Imphal-based NGO “Ya_All”, aims to ensure food supplies and health services for the people living with HIV, daily-wage earners, LGBTQI+ community, children, and adolescents.

FACTFILE – Khudol

Khudol is a crowdfunded initiative of Ya_All, .
The initiative aims to ensure food supplies and health services for the people living with HIV, daily-wage earners, LGBTQI+ community, children, and adolescents.
Under the initiative network of 100 volunteers has been mobilized.
The volunteers have, so far, provided around 2,000 families and individuals with over 1,000 health kits, 6,500 sanitary pads, and 1,500 condoms.

FACTFILE – Ya_All

Ya_All, means Revolution in Manipuri, is an Imphal-based NGO which was founded in 2017 to organise mental health workshops.
Founder of Ya_All: Sadam Hanjabam.
It was founded in 2017. The initiative aims to organize mental health workshops and work mostly on the health and well-being of adolescents, youths, LGBTI community.

India developed Intelligent Testing Strategy for being ”ahead of virus”

The Indian Council of Medical Research said that India developed an Intelligent Testing Strategy to remain ”ahead of the virus” by developing testing infrastructure that is laboratories and other means of testing.
The country now has capacity of testing 2 lakh samples per day, in 610 total labs (432 public, 178 private) and is currently testing 1.1 lakh samples in a day and has the capacity to test 1.4 lakh samples per day, which is being raised to 2 lakh samples per day.
Most states have been working with the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) to deploy TrueNAT machines for COVID-19 testing.
Through this machine, testing is done in such areas or districts where modern virological laboratories in private or public sectors don”t exist.
More labs are being set up and additional machines are deployed in states like UP, Bihar, West Bengal as well as rest of the country to meet possible higher requirements.

Indian Army Major gets UN award for anti-sexual violence campaign

An Indian Army Major, Major Suman Gawani, who has been selected for the 2019 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for her role in the organisation”s anti-sexual violence campaign, has been called a “powerful role model” by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Major Suman Gawani is with the Army Signal Corps, through her “support, mentoring, guidance and leadership, she helped to create enabling environment for UN Peacekeepers” by combating sexual violence in conflict situations.
While deployed as a military observer with the UN Mission in South Sudan, Gawani ‘mentored over 230 UN Military Observers on conflict-related sexual violence and ensured the presence of women military observers in each of the Mission’s team sites”.
She also trained South Sudanese government forces and helped them to launch their action plan on conflict-related sexual violence.
Gawani shares the award with Commander Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo, a Brazilian Naval officer working in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic,

Indian-American scientist Rajiv Joshi wins inventor of the year award

Indian-American inventor Rajiv Joshi has bagged the prestigious Inventor of the Year award in recognition of his pioneering work in advancing the electronic industry and improving artificial intelligence capabilities.
Dr Joshi, who is a master inventor with more than 250 patented inventions in the US, works at the IBM Thomson Watson Research Center in New York.
He was presented with the prestigious annual award by the New York Intellectual Property Law Association early this month during a virtual awards ceremony.
An IIT Mumbai alumnus, Joshi has an MS degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a PhD in mechanical/electrical engineering from Columbia University, New York.
His invention span from novel interconnect structures and processes for more scaling, machine learning techniques for predictive failure analytics, high bandwidth, high performance and low power integrated circuits and memories and their usage in hardware accelerators, meant for artificial intelligence applications.
Many of these structures exist in processors, supercomputers, laptops, smartphones, handheld and variable gadgets and many other electronic items. His innovations have advanced day-to-day life, global communication, health sciences and medical fields impacting the world.

May 27, 2020

Arunachal Pradesh and AAU sign a MoU for GI Registration of Khamti Lahi Rice, Tawang Maize and Adi Ginger

Govt of Arunachal Pradesh and AAU Jorhat have agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for GI Registration of Khamti Lahi Rice, Tawang Maize and Adi Ginger (Kekir) and for other agro-technology practices, processing, packaging and marketing of agricultural produces.
Khamti Lahi Rice is known for its uniqueness in terms of its taste, aroma, size, shape, colour and cooking method and sought the technical support and cooperation from the Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat for its cultivation, processing, packaging and marketing and also for its Intellectual Proprietary Right protection like – GI Tag Registration in a proper scientific way for generating employment and as an income source for the people/farmers of the State.

Arunachal Pradesh Govt sought the help of AAU, Jorhat for GI Registration of Tawang Maize and local Adi Ginger (Kekir) along with Khamti Lahi Rice which are pending for last many years.
AAU, Jorhat, the premier Institute for Agriculture in North East region is also sought to come up with ideas and suggestions for market opportunity and accessibility.

IIT-M researchers develop engineered magnesium alloy for automobiles

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) said its researchers have developed a high-performance magnesium alloy that can replace steel and aluminium in automobiles.
IIT-M said its researchers working with University of North Texas and US Army Research Laboratory Teams have developed an engineered magnesium alloy.
The engineered magnesium alloy with significantly improved properties can replace steel and aluminium alloys in automotive and aerospace components.
The current industrial application of wrought magnesium alloys in structural components is very limited due to their poor moderate/low strength, poor ductility, yield strength asymmetry and lack of high strain rate super plasticity despite their density being two-third of aluminium and one-quarter of steel.
Light-weight vehicles consume less fuel to run and are therefore one of the strategies to increase vehicle’s energy-efficiency.
The new engineered alloy is strong, highly ductile and its superplasticity is achieved at higher strain-rates which reduces overall manufacturing time, effort and costs.
It is also lightweight, which helps lower the carbon footprint of vehicles. Lightweight vehicles need lesser fuel to run and are therefore more fuel-efficient.
Being one of the lightest and energy-efficient structural materials, magnesium alloys are potential candidates to replace steel and aluminium alloys in automotive and aerospace components since their density is two-thirds of aluminium and one-quarter of steel.

AMRIT app developed to track corona suspects

The Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) at Prayagraj, has developed a new mobile application which will help the administration and the corona control room to track suspected patients.
The mobile app named ”AMRIT” (Assessment, Monitoring, Reporting and Intelligent Tracking), will help chemist shops, medical practitioners and other organisations to submit information about suspected corona patients.
The app will also track people who are taking over the counter medicines for suppressing symptoms like cough/cold/fever and unknowingly spreading the infection to those who are coming in their contact.
The admin panel of the app will keep record and information about all the registered patients or customers, chemist shops, medical practitioners and other organizations like government offices, hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
The app also has ASHA workers registration feature and has been designed to help the ASHA workers/anganwadi workers in easily submitting the information to the control room.
The app has also been designed to facilitate door to door survey by health workers/ social workers where they can easily send information about the suspected corona patients in a family without any delay.

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May 28, 2020

Jahnabi Phookan appointed as National President of FICCI FLO

Jahnabi Phookan has been appointed as National President of FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO), the oldest women-led and -focused business chamber of Southeast Asia and the women’s wing of the apex chamber Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
She took over from outgoing National President Harjinder Kaur Talwar at the 36th FLO ANNUAL SESSION- Rising Above Covid Challenges.
FICCI FLO represents over 8000 women entrepreneurs and professionals across 17 chapters nationally and works aggressively towards promoting economic empowerment and equal opportunities for women.
In her role as the National President, she will focus on empowering women with entrepreneurship capabilities and professional excellence, enabling them to take up new challenges and maximise opportunities in the new normal post Covid.
Jahnabi is an entrepreneur, a co-founder of two National Tourism Award-winning companies: Jungle Travels India and Assam Bengal Navigation Company under JTI Group. Her companies are encompassed in travel & hospitality – boutique river cruising, small group specialised tours, tea and textiles – all of which empower young people’s livelihoods, especially women and their communities.

UP Govt sets up disaster relief team for locust attack

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has set up a Disaster Relief Team, headed by the Deputy Director, Agriculture Directorate, to deal with locust attacks in various parts of the state.
The team will survey various districts where locust presence has been found and will take remedial measures for the same. The state government has also set up a control room to coordinate with various districts on the issue.
District level committees are also being set up for the purpose under the chairmanship of the Chief Development Officer (CDO).
Farmers have been asked to spray pesticides in their farmlands and also play loud music since locusts are said to turn away if they hear loud music.

Karnataka to install 15 Covid screening smart kiosks

The Karnataka government will install 15 Covid screening smart kiosks across the state for random population screening. The kiosks will address the need for higher and quicker community testing for the virus.
The kiosks will ensure the safety of both the healthcare worker and the Covid test taker.
Looking like two conjoined telephone booths, the kiosk provides separate enclosures for the Covid tester and the test taker, separated by a transparent airtight partition.
Both the enclosures have separate entries, lighting and ventilation arrangements, including a mic and speaker for communication.
Replaceable gloves and hand sanitizer are made available in the kiosk.
An attendant wearing a PPE will first collect basic information about people coming for tests: vitals (weight, age, any existing health condition), persons” travel history, if they have come in contact with any known Covid patients, and check their temperature using an IR temperature gun.
The information is then stored in an app.
Later, the test taker will be given a kit to collect his swab sample for testing and move into the kiosk enclosure for the healthcare worker to collect his sample.
On completion, the worker will return the swab sample for the test taker to put it in a vial and drop it in an ice box. After every sample collection, the kiosk is disinfected.

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Assam Current Affairs – May 15 – 21, 2020

Posted on May 29, 2020May 29, 2020 by admin

Assam Current Affairs & GK – May 15 – 21, 2020

( Covers all important Assam & North-East Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of May 15 – 21, 2020 )

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May 15, 2020

Assam likely to shift academic year to April-March

The Government of Assam is contemplating changing the academic year of the State’s school and colleges from January-December to April-March every year, as per suggestions of a task force constituted for the purpose. If is happens, then the current academic year is also likely to be extended till March 31, 2021.
The measure has been suggested to compensate the loss of academic days due to the prevailing lockdown crisis.
The change if implemented will also be in conformity with the academic year of CBSE and education boards of most of the other states.
To minimise the damage of COVID lockdown, the government has urged the teacher community to encourage and motivate the students for optimum utilisation of the e-initiatives like Diksha App, Biswa Bidya Assam App and classes broadcast through Doordarshan and All India Radio.

ELISA kits produced by ZydusCadila has 98% sensitivity

The ICMR said that the first batch of the ELISA kits produced by ZydusCadila has similar sensitivity and specificity of 98.7 per cent and 100 per cent, respectively.
The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, has validated the first batch of ELISA kits produced by ZydusCadila and found similar sensitivity and specificity of 98.7 per cent and 100 per cent, respectively.
According to the ICMR, the ELISA kit is cost-effective, sensitive, rapid and a large number of samples can be tested at any level of clinical setting, including public health centres and hospitals.
After the development at the ICMR-NIV, the technology has been transferred for mass production to ZydusCadila, which is an innovation driven global healthcare company.
This test kit has the advantage of testing 90 samples together in a single run of 2.5 hours, so that healthcare professionals can proceed quickly with the necessary next steps on their patients” triage paths.

India’s Infant Mortality at 32 per 1,000 live births

India’s infant mortality rate (IMR) has improved very marginally from 33 per 1,000 live births in 2017 to 32 in 2018, according to data released by the Registrar General of India. India’s IMR was it was 129 in 1971.
Nagaland has the best IMR at 4 while Madhya Pradesh continues to have the worst IMR in the country at 48.
The urban rural differential in MP is huge with the rural IMR at 51, while the urban IMR at 32.
Among large states, Kerala is the best performer being the only state with an IMR in single digits at 7. It is also the only state which has now achieved the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal in this regard.
The largest decline in IMR has been registered by Mizoram with a decline from 15 to 5.
The registrar also released data for death and birth rates. While India’s birth rate stood at 20, the death rate was 6.2. In 1971, India’s birth rate was 36 and death rate was 14.9.
Delhi has the lowest at 3 while Chhattisgarh has the highest death rate in the country at 8.

Govt announces Rs 5,000 crore Special Credit facility for street vendors

The Centre announced Rs 5,000- crore special credit facility to benefit nearly 50 lakh such vendors. The scheme will be launched within one month.
Rs 10,000 loan will be given to the needy vendors, but this is not a fixed amount, and will be decided after consultation with banks.
Digital payments will be incentivized through monetary rewards and enhanced working capital credit would be made available for good repayment behaviour.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the scheme will support nearly 50 lakh street vendors and will provide liquidity of Rs 5,000 crore.

Union Govt allocates Rs 40,000 crore more for MGNREGS

The government announced an additional Rs 40,000 crore allocation for the rural employment guarantee scheme to help provide jobs to migrant workers returning home. This is over and above the Rs 61,000 crore budgeted earlier.
Also, public expenditure on health will be increased, Investments in grassroot health institutions to be ramped up. Programme for multi-mode access to digital or online education to be launched immediately.

NDMA developed National Migrant Info System (NIMS), a central database for migrant workers

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has come forward and developed a National Migrant Info System (NIMS) a central online repository to facilitate their seamless movement across states amid the Covid-19 induced lockdown.
The Union Home Ministry has also asked the states to upload data on the NIMS dashboard for better coordination, movement monitoring and contact tracing. Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote to all the chief secretaries in this regard.
The portal will maintain a central repository and help the sending as well as receiving state/district to ask for and give their acceptance in an online format seamlessly.
This system will help in speedy communication between states without creating additional work at the level of the field officers.
Some of the key features of this system will be a unique ID generated for each migrant, which can be used for all transactions and help any state can visualise how many people are going out from where and how many are reaching their destination states.

One nation, one ration card for migrants

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled the second tranche of fiscal stimulus, emphasizing ”one nation, one ration card”. Technology systems will be used to enable migrants to access Public Distribution System from any fair price shop in India by March 2021 one nation, one ration card.
This scheme will enable a migrant beneficiary to access the PDS from any fair price shop in the country.
As many as 67 crore beneficiaries in 23 states covering 83 per cent of the PDS population will be covered by national portability by August 2020.
One-hundred per cent national portability will be achieved by March 2021. All states and UTs will complete full FPS automation by March 2021.

May 16, 2020

Assam incurring Rs 1,000 crore loss daily

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the State is incurring a daily loss of Rs 1,000 crore during the lockdown period, even as he expressed optimism that the economic package of Rs 20 lakh crore announced by the Central government would help the state’s economy.
As per a survey done by the Confederation of Indian Industry, which pegged the daily loss of the State at Rs 1,000 crore.
The stimulus announced by the Centre would bail the State out of the current crisis and also largely benefit the MSME sector, which forms the backbone of the industrial sector of the State.
The Centre, in its economic package, has allocated Rs 3 lakh crore for the MSME sector of the country.
The MSMEs form 99.9 per cent of the industries in Assam and the industrial sector contributes 39 per cent of the State’s GDP. There are over one lakh MSMEs in the State, providing direct and indirect employment to 40 lakh people.

Meghalaya Cabinet nod to agricultural reforms

The Meghalaya Cabinet approved of a Bill to introduce reforms in the agricultural sector by amending a 20-year-old legislation.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said the Cabinet discussed the 1980 Act on agriculture and felt that vital aspects were left out from its purview that need to be amended.
The Meghalaya State Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 will include livestock and aquaculture and facilitate their marketing.
State Assembly would take up the Bill for consideration and passage, when it reconvene on May 20.

COVID-19 could cost global economy $8.8 trillion, says ADB report

The global economy could suffer between $5.8 trillion and %8.8 trillion in losses — equivalent to 6.4 per cent to 9.7 per cent of the global GDP due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) report ‘Updated Assessment of the Potential Economic Impact of COVID-19’ found that economic losses in Asia and the Pacific could range from $1.7 trillion under a short containment scenario of 3 months to $2.5 trillion under a long containment scenario of six months, with the region accounting for about 30 per cent of the overall decline in global output.
Governments around the world have been quick in responding to the impacts of the pandemic, implementing measures such as fiscal and monetary easing, increased health spending, and direct support to cover losses in incomes and revenues.
Sustained efforts from governments focused on these measures could soften COVID-19”s economic impact by as much as 30 percent to 40 per cent, it said, adding this could reduce global economic losses due to the pandemic to between $4.1 trillion and $5.4 trillion.
The analysis, which uses a Global Trade Analysis Project-computable general equilibrium model, covers 96 affected economies with over 4 million COVID-19 cases.
This new analysis presents a broad picture of the very significant potential economic impact of COVID-19.
These findings can provide governments with a relevant policy guide as they develop and implement measures to contain and suppress the pandemic, and lessen its impacts on their economies and people.

Rs 3,500 crore allocated for free food grain supply to migrants for 2 months

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced free food grain supply to migrants for 2 months, this is the second tranche of measures of the government’s self-reliant campaign
Migrants who neither come under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) nor are they state card beneficiaries in states where they are stationed will be provided 5 kg of grains per person and 1 kg of ”chana” per family for two months.
About 8 crore migrants are expected to benefit and Rs 3,500 crore will be spent on this intervention for 2 months.
The cost will be fully borne by the government of India. State governments would be responsible for the implementation and identification of migrants through guidelines
under MNREGA support for migrants, 14.62 crore person-days of work generated till May 13 and actual expenditure to date is around Rs 10,000 crore.

Union Govt announces structural reforms for the ‘self-reliant India’ programme

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced deep structural reforms under the Rs 20 lakh crore economic package for the ”self-reliant India” programme. Minister detailed makeover initiatives for eight key sectors, to be supported and promoted via structural reforms.
The biggest reform measure, ending one the last great central monopolies, announced was for the coal sector, where mining has been deregulated. Nearly 50 blocks would be offered for auction immediately, and in a departure from the tradition, there will no eligibility conditions, only upfront payment with a ceiling.
The Rs 50,000 crore infrastructure development will be instituted for evacuation of coal to help Coal India’s (CIL) achieve the 1 billion tonnes output target by 2023-24, plus the coal produced from private blocks.
The coal-based methane gas reserves will also be auctioned and incentives be provided for conversion of coal into gas.
A new regime for seamless composite exploration-cum-mining-cum-production will be introduced, and joint auction of bauxite and coal blocks for the aluminium industry will be conducted. The foreign direct investment (FDI) limit for the industry will be raised from 49 per cent to 74 per cent under the automatic route.
The Centre will also go for corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board to improve autonomy, accountability and efficiency in ordnance supplies.
Six more airports have been identified for the second round of bidding for operation and maintenance on the public-private partnership (PPP) basis. The air space availability will also be eased to allow airlines save cost and passengers, flying time.
DISCOMS in the Union Territories would be privatised. ARs 8,100 crore revamped-up viability gap funding scheme was also announced for social infrastructure projects.
The government will encourage the private sector’s participation in the space sector through collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and a liberal geo-spatial data policy.

Centre to take up affordable rental housing for migrants, urban poor

The Centre will launch a scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for migrant labour and the urban poor to build affordable rental housing facilities for them.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that under the scheme, government-funded housing in different cities will be converted into affordable rental housing complexes under the public-private partnership mode.
Further, the government will also incentivise manufacturing units, industries, institutions, associations to develop affordable rental housing complexes on their private land and operate them.
The Centre will also incentivise state agencies and central government organisations on the similar lines to develop affordable rental housing complexes and operate them.

States allowed to use disaster funds for migrants’ shelter, food

The Centre said it has permitted state governments to utilise the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for setting up shelter for migrants and providing them food, water etc,
The Central government also released Rs 11,002 crore of its contribution in advance to all state governments on April 3, to augment funds in their SDRF.
The disbursal of revolving fund to SHGs was on-boarded on PAISA portal in April 2020 on a pilot basis in Gujarat and it is under process of being rolled out across all the states in May 2020. 7,200 new SHGs of urban poor have been formed during the period starting March 15.
The Centre said to promote formalisation of labour, it is emphasizing on appointment letters for all workers along with annual health check-up for employees.

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May 17, 2020

Assam CM Sonowal asks agri-scientists to evolve triple cropping system

As part of activities chalked out to strengthen the agro-based economy, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited the Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Kahikuchi campus of Krishi Vigyan Kendra and asked the agricultural scientists to develop ways and means for a triple cropping system in the State.
CM urged the agri-scientists to empower the farming community as well as increase fertility of the crop area to sustainably practise triple cropping in the State throughout the year, to infuse a fresh lease of life into the rural economy.

TRIFED & Art of Living Foundation collaboration to provide free ration kits to needy tribes India artisans

TRIFED under Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Art of Living Foundation (AOL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in respective programmes of each organisation for promoting Tribal Enterprises.
The Art of Living Foundation has agreed to provide free ration kits to needy tribes India artisans.
TRIFED Regional Offices have compiled the list of needy tribal artisans and have identified 9,409 needy tribal artisans located across the country for distribution of ration kits under #iStandWithHumanity campaign of Art Of Living.

Madhya Pradesh launches country’s first ever ‘FIR AapkeDwar’ Yojana

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Dr Narottam Mishra launched country’s first ever ‘FIR AapkeDwarYojana’ in Bhopal. Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to implement such an innovative scheme.
Launching the scheme at the new Police Control Room, Dr Narottam Mishra said that now people would not be required to visit police station to lodge an FIR.
FIR AapkeDwar scheme has been started as a pilot project in 23 Police Stations including one urban and one rural Police Station at 11 Divisional Headquarters.
Dial 100 vehicle would have trained Head Constables to lodge FIR. FIRs in complaints of general nature will be lodged on the spot. In case of serious complaints, guidance will be sought from senior officers.
The Minister also launched helpline ‘Dial 112’ on the occasion, to facilitate immediate availability of ambulance, police and fire fighting services wherever needed.

Central Govt allows direct listing by Indian companies abroad

The government has thrown open the doors for Indian public companies to directly list their shares abroad and access a larger pool of capital. It has also allowed private companies that list NCDs on stock exchanges not to be regarded as listed companies.
Necessary regulations allowing direct overseas listing by the Indian entity is expected soon after amendments to the Company Act and FEMA regulations are passed.
At present direct listing by the Indian companies on foreign stock exchanges is not permitted. Likewise, foreign companies are also not allowed to directly list their equity shares on the Indian stock exchanges.
Indian companies are allowed to raise capital abroad through the depository receipts (ADR and GDR). Unlike direct listing, depository receipts are securities listed overseas against shares of listed domestic companies.
But with this window increasingly becoming unpopular, Centre and market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) are exploring other ways to mobilise capital for the corporate and provide larger play for overseas investors in the country.
At least 15 Indian companies have tapped the ADR and GDR route, including the Infosys, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries.

FDI limit for defence manufacturing to be raised to 74%

The Union government has decided to raise the limit for foreign direct investment (FDI) for defence manufacturing from 49 to 74 per cent under the automatic route.
Time-bound defence procurement process and faster decision-making will take place under the new policy. And a will set up a project management unit to support contract management. Further, realistic setting of general staff qualitative requirements of weapons or platforms will be taken up.
Under the new regime, the government will also overhaul the trial and testing procedures.
In a bid to enhance self-reliance in defence production, the government will notify a list of weapons and platforms for a ban on import with year-wise timelines. Indigenisation of imported spares will also be taken up.
Further, the government will take up separate budget provisioning for domestic capital procurement.
The government has also decided to corporatize Ordnance Factory Board to improve autonomy, accountability and efficiency in ordnance supplies.

May 18, 2020

Digendra Nath Barua, North-East’s first chemical engineer passes away

Digendra Nath Barua, the first chemical engineer of the northeastern region, former MD of the Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) died at the Apollo Hospital at the age of 98.
Barua started his career with the Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation at Namrup and shifted to the AIDC from he retired from AIDC in 1976-77.
Barua was instrumental in rapid industrialisation of the State.
He played a major role in setting up the Federation of Industries of North Eastern Region (FINER) and NEDFi.
He also initiated establishment of the Assam Petrochemicals Limited and the Cachar Sugar Mill.
After his retirement, Barua was instrumental in setting up the Guwahati Stock Exchange and was its working president. As president of the Guwahati Management Association (GMA) for long 12 years.

Govt to launch ‘PM eVIDYA’ for access to digital education

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that ”PM eVIDYA” programme for multi-mode access to digital education will be launched immediately.
PM eVIDYA programme will consist of ”Diksha” involving e-content and QR coded energized textbooks for all grades and will be called as ”one nation, one digital platform.
One earmarked TV channel per class from 1 to 12, also named as ”one class, one channel”, will also be rolled out. It will also envisage extensive use of radio, community radio and podcasts and special e-content for visually and hearing impaired.
Under the ”PM eVIDYA” programme, the Finance Ministry said that top 100 universities will be permitted to automatically start online courses by May 30, 2020.
Besides this, Manodarpan, an initiative for psychosocial support of students, teachers and families for mental health and emotional wellbeing, will also be launched immediately.
National Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission for ensuring that every child attains learning levels and outcomes in grade five by 2025 will be set afloat by December, this year.
Top-100 universities will be permitted to automatically start online courses by May 30, 2020.
Special e-content for visually impaired and hearing impaired children, developed on a digitally accessible information system and learning material for disabled children in sign language has been made available on the NIOS website and YouTube.
This platform integrates all efforts related to digital, online, on-air education, so that 33 crore students can have multi-mode access to quality education.

Union Govt launches ‘Mission Sagar’ for assistance to Indian Ocean nations

Government of India launched Mission Sagar to provide assistance to Indian Ocean Region Nations amid the coronavirus crisis.
As part of the Government of India outreach amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Indian Naval Ship Kesari has departed for Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, to provide Food Items, COVID related Medicines including HCQ Tablets and Special Ayurvedic Medicines with Medical Assistance Teams.
The Ship will deliver consignments of Covid related essential medicines to Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles and about 600 tonnes of food items to Maldives.
In addition, in the case of Mauritius, a special consignment of Ayurvedic medicines is also being sent.
The consignments meant for Madagascar and Comoros also includes Hydroxychloroquine tablets, which have already been sent earlier to Mauritius, Maldives and Seychelles.

IIT-Madras startup developing wearable tracker

An Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras-incubated startup Muse Wearables is developing a wrist-based tracker with skin temperature, heart rate and SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation) sensing which can continuously track these body vitals remotely that will help in early diagnosis of COVID-19 symptoms.
The tracker is Bluetooth-enabled and can be connected to the mobile phone via an app called the ”Muse Health App”.
The user vitals and activity data are stored on the phone as well as a remote server.
Priced at around Rs 3,500, the new wearable product will soon be deployed in the market for consumers across all the 70 countries that the startup currently sells in.
The tracker can get notifications from the AarogyaSetu App and raise an alert to the user when he enters a COVID containment zone. Muse Wearables has already completed product design for the tracker and are now working on finalizing and fabricating the product.
The wearable tracker’s major objective is to enable remote detection of COVID-19 and Monitoring of COVID-19 patients by providing a low-cost solution that is accessible to everyone.
The unique features of the product include remote monitoring of patient vitals by doctors and experts, automatic alerts and emergency response system if a user’s vitals are out of range.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman providesbreak-up of Economic package of Rs 20,97,053crore

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman listed all the measures and allocations made under the Rs 20 lakh crore economic package for the ”self-reliant India” programme, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
She listed measures worth Rs 20,97,053 crore including RBI measures and steps announced under Pradhan MantriGaribKalyana Package (PMGKP).
Under the break-up, on the first day announcements with allocations worth Rs 5,94,550 crore were made, while on the second day steps on agriculture, housing, rural sectors worth Rs 3,10,000 crore were made.
Besides, Rs 1,50,000 crore were allocated for several schemes to revive agriculture and allied sectors amongst others on the third day.
On the fourth and the fifth day, the FM gave a mega push to boost mining, defence, civil aviation and power distribution sectors via structural reforms and stimulus worth Rs 48,100 crore.
The package also include earlier announcements under PMGKP worth Rs 1,92,800 crore and RBI measures including Rs 8,01,603 crore which come to Rs 9,94,403 crore.

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May 19, 2020

Assam to get Rs 300 crore from World Bank to deal with Covid-19

The Assam government expects to get Rs 300 crore from the World Bank to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic management effectively. Of the Rs 300 crore World Bank aid, 80 per cent is a grant and remaining 20 per cent a loan.
The negotiation with the World Bank through the central government’s Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) is now in advance stage.
Assam government has launched a new scheme “Ruthless Quarantine With Big Heart”. “Under this mandatory quarantine protocol, each suspected person must be in 14 days quarantine.”
The Assam government on May 7 launched an ambitious community-based surveillance (ACSP) for Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) across the state to contain the possible spread of Covid-19. Under the ACSP, health workers including doctors would go to all 30,000 villages to identify the ILI and SARI cases in the villages. ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) and MPW (Multi-Purpose Workers) along with other health staff would be the front line workers to undertake this.

Governor’s rule in Tripura autonomous tribal body

Governor’s rule was imposed in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) as the polls have been postponed indefinitely due to the nationwide lockdown to check the spread of novel coronavirus.
K. Rao, former Tripura Chief Secretary and a retired IAS officer, has been appointed as the Administrator of the autonomous body.
Tripura Governor Ramesh Bais appointed Rao, who of late was the member of the Tripura Police Accountability Commission, to run the politically important tribal autonomous body on his behalf.
Mukhi on April 27 appointed Rajesh Prasad, a 1995-batch IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, as the administrator of the BTC following the promulgation of Governor’s Rule.
The politically important BTC, which started functioning in December 2003, comprises four districts of western Assam Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang and Udalguri and is home to over 31,00,000 people, the majority of whom are tribals.

Indian Navy’s breathable PPE kit ‘NavRakshak’

The Indian Navy”s indigenously-made PPE kit, ”NavRakshak”, made for enhancing comforts of the health workers under Indian conditions.
The ”NavRakshak” with an innovative ”breathable” fabric material, has brought new hopes to the medical world and healthcare professionals from whose perspective it has been designed.
It has two distinctive factors; optimal protectiveness and optimal breathability. Breathability is the ability of the fabric to permit water vapour to pass through and to prevent the entry of water. The comfort properties of a fabric depend on its ability to transmit water and vapor from the body to prevent accumulation of liquid on the skin. In this way, thermal energy generated by the body will be transmitted, and vapour moisture will be diffused, resulting in a comfortable condition.
NavRakshak uses a non-woven advanced quality fabric of specific GSM with a certain stitching technique. The unique character of the fabric used is its strong uniform structure which can act as an excellent barrier for liquids, particles, blood and body fluids.
The new technology has already been tested by INMAS (Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences) Delhi, a DRDO organization tasked with the testing and certification of PPE.
The PPE passed with 6/6 Synthetic blood penetration resistance test pressure (Government of India mandates minimum 3/6 and above level as per ISO 16603 standard).

Union Govt decriminalises minor violations under Companies Act

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said minor technical and procedural defaults under the Companies Act will be decriminalised. The decriminalised violations include shortcomings in CSR reporting, inadequacies in board report, filing defaults, delay in holding of annual general meetings.
The majority of the compoundable offences sections will be shifted to internal adjudication mechanism (IAM) and power of regional directors for compounding have been enhanced.
The government will drop seven compoundable offences and five offences will be dealt with under alternative framework. Amendments will de-clog the criminal courts and National Company Law Tribunals (NCLT).
No fresh insolvency case will be admitted for the next one year in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The government will also set up a special insolvency framework for MSMEs under Section 240A of the Insolvency of Bankruptcy Code. This has been a long pending demand of the industry and economists.
The threshold for insolvency will also be raised to Rs 1 crore from the current Rs 1 lakh which will be supportive for the MSME sector.

May 20, 2020

17,000 stranded people reach North-East by 13 special trains

A total of 13 Shramik Special trains have arrived in the NE region so far bringing over 17,000 stranded persons from other parts of the country.
As of now, 13 have arrived in various north-eastern states like Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Assam with about 17,000 stranded people. Some more trains, bringing stranded people, will be arriving in the NE states within th days.
While 93 trains have arrived at various places of Bihar falling under the NFR, one train has arrived at New Jalpaiguri and three at New Cooch Behar stations in West Bengal till date.
NFR has jurisdiction over the entire NE region, including Sikkim, besides parts of West Bengal and Bihar.
The passengers of Shramik Special trains are mainly students, patients, and migrant labourers with their families.
Passengers are been given free meals, water and necessary medical help by Railways as and when required during journey.
Indian Railways has already operated more than 1,565 Shramik Special trains and transported more than 20 lakh passengers across the country.

India’s Health Minister Harsh Vardhan to be the chairman of the WHO’s Executive Board

India’s Health Minister Harsh Vardhan is set to be the chairman of the WHO”s Executive Board. He has been elected to the post and will take charge succeeding Japan’s Dr Hiroki Nakatani.
This all important Executive Board has 34 members who are technically qualified and represent their nations. All of the 34 are designated by their respective states in the World Health Assembly.
Since last year itself WHO’s South East Asia group had decided that India would be elected to the Executive Board for three years from 2020. The proposal was signed by the 194-nation World Health Assembly.

India to miss global nutrition targets by 2025

India is among 88 countries that are likely to miss global nutrition targets by 2025, according to the Global Nutrition Report 2020. India as one with the highest rates of domestic inequalities in malnutrition.
In 2012, the World Health Assembly identified six nutrition targets for maternal, infant and young child nutrition to be met by 2025.
These require governments to reduce stunting by 40% in children under 5 and prevalence of anaemia by 50% among women in the age group of 19-49 years, ensure 30% reduction in low-birth weight and no increase in childhood overweight, increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months up to at least 50% and reduce and maintain childhood wasting to less than 5%.
According to the Global Nutrition Report 2020, India will miss targets for all four nutritional indicators for which there is data available, i.e. stunting among under-5 children, anaemia among women of reproductive age, childhood overweight and exclusive breastfeeding.
The report emphasises on the link between malnutrition and different forms of inequity, such as those based on geographic location, age, gender, ethnicity, education and wealth malnutrition in all its forms.
India is identified as among the three worst countries, along with Nigeria and Indonesia, for steep within-country disparities on stunting, where the levels varied four-fold across communities.
Stunting level in Uttar Pradesh is over 40% and their rate among individuals in the lowest income group is more than double those in the highest income group at 22.0% and 50.7%, respectively.
In addition, stunting prevalence is 10.1% higher in rural areas compared to urban areas. There are nearly double as many obese adult females as there are males (5.1% compared to 2.7%).

WWF India to host First digital Model Conference of Parties

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India in association with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will host the first digital Model Conference of Parties (MCOP) on May 22-23 with an aim to put the power of decision making in the hands of children.
The MCOP 2020 aims to provide an opportunity to the future leaders to gain knowledge and experience in environmental problem solving.
The WWF’s partners United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme and National Biodiversity Authority will also be associated with the event.

DoPT exempts pregnant women employees from attending office

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has exempted pregnant women officials and staff members from attending office.
Union Personnel Minister Jitendra Singh said that pregnant women employees, who are not already on maternity leave, will also be exempted from attending office. Persons with disabilities will also to be given similar exemption from attendance.
Government servants who have underlying co-morbidities and were undergoing treatment for these ailments before the lockdown, may, as far as possible, be exempted upon production of medical prescription.
While officers of the level of Deputy Secretary and above are expected to attend office on all working days, the officers and staff below the level of Deputy Secretary will attend office with 50 per cent attendance every alternative day and those not attending the office should work from home and remain available on telephone and electronically.

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May 21, 2020

India up at 74^th place on WEF’s global Energy Transition Index

India has moved up two positions to rank 74th on a global ‘Energy Transition Index’ with improvements on all key parameters of economic growth, energy security and environmental sustainability, the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Releasing the annual rankings, the Geneva-based international organisation for public-private cooperation said Covid-19 will compromise the transition to clean energy without an urgent stakeholder action as unprecedented disruptions due to the pandemic threaten this transition.
The WEF study measuring readiness for clean energy transition in 115 economies showed that 94 have made progress since 2015, but environmental sustainability continues to lag.
Sweden has topped the Energy Transition Index (ETI) for the third consecutive year and is followed by Switzerland and Finland in the top three.
The WEF said the “emerging centres of demand” such as India (74th) and China (78th) have made consistent efforts to improve the enabling environment, which refers to political commitments, consumer engagement and investment, innovation and infrastructure, among others.
For India, gains have come from a government-mandated renewable energy expansion programme, now extended to 275 GW by 2027.
India has also made significant strides in energy efficiency through bulk procurement of LED bulbs, smart meters, and programs for labelling of appliances. Similar measures are being experimented to drive down the costs of electric vehicles.
India is one of the few countries in the world to have made consistent year-on-year progress since 2015. India’s improvements have come across all three dimensions of the energy triangle — economic development and growth, energy access and security, and environmental sustainability. It indicates a strong positive trajectory, driven by strong political commitment and an enabling policy environment.
The index benchmarks 115 economies on the current performance of their energy systems across economic development and growth, environmental sustainability, and energy security and access indicators- and their readiness for transition to secure, sustainable, affordable, and inclusive energy systems.

IIT Guwahati finds new ways to prevent memory loss due to Alzheimer’s disease

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) researchers have discovered new ways that can help prevent or reduce short-term memory losses associated with the Alzheimers disease.
The research team explored new ways to prevent the accumulation of neurotoxic molecules in the brain that are associated with short-term memory loss due to Alzheimer’s disease.
They reported some methods such as the application of low-voltage electric field and the use of ‘trojan peptides’ to arrest aggregation of neurotoxic molecules in the brain.
The idea of using ‘Trojan peptide’ comes from mythological “Trojan Horse” used as subterfuge by the Greeks in the battle of ‘Troy’.
A defining hallmark of Alzheimer’s is the accumulation of Amyloid beta peptides in the brain. The research team seeks methods to reduce the accumulation of these peptides, in order to arrest the progression of Alzheimer’s.
The IIT-G researchers found that application of a low-voltage, the safe electrical field can reduce the formation and accumulation of toxic neurodegenerative molecules that cause short-term memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease.

US student builds website to track COVID-19 in India

A computer science student from the US, has created a website to help India keep track of COVID-19 infection rates. Jeremy Philemon has applied his skills in the creation and updating of covid19india.org, a website that aggregates data from every part of the country of 1.35 billion people.
The covid19india.org website presents a “tracker” based on that database of up-to-date numbers entered by hundreds of volunteers.
Philemon started the website in early March 2020 when India saw a sudden jump in positive COVID-19 cases. He realised there was no central place for residents and officials to find data on infection rates.
He also open-sourced the website on the software development platform GitHub, which helped to patch bugs and to introduce new features and improvements.
Designing covid19india.org also has taught him more about tailoring website design with users in mind.

Centre releases Rs 46000 crore from tax pool for states

The Centre released the May 2020 month instalment of states” share in Central taxes amounting to over Rs 46,000 crore.
The sanction for May instalment follows release of April instalment last month ahead of schedule as a special dispensation to meet immediate funding needs of the state governments looking to restore economic activity and minimise losses to its citizens due to disruptions caused by lockdowns.
The highest share of central taxes for May has gone to Uttar Pradesh with a net transfer of Rs 8,255.19 crore. This is followed by Bihar at Rs 4,631.96 crore. West Bengal has got Rs 3,461.65 crore while Madhya Pradesh has got Rs 3,630.60.
Maharashtra share has been lower at Rs 2,824.47 crore. Goa and Sikkim have got the least from central pool of taxes at Rs 177.72 crore and Rs 178.64 crore, respectively.
In its interim report for FY21, the 15th Finance Commission has reduced the share of states in the divisible pool of central taxes by one percentage point to 41 per cent, factoring in the conversion of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories.
It assigned 15 per cent weight to the population of a state, down from the 17.5 per cent allocated by the 14th Finance Commission, but raised the weight under demographic performance from 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent.

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Assam Current Affairs – May 08 – 14, 2020

Posted on May 15, 2020June 10, 2020 by admin

Assam Current Affairs & GK – May 8 – 14, 2020

( Covers all important Assam & North-East Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of May 8 – 14, 2020 )

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May 08, 2020

Assam starts community surveillance for SARI, ILI to curb Covid-19

The Assam government started community-based surveillance for Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) across the state to contain the possible spread of Covid-19.
Under the Assam Community Surveillance Plan (ACSP), health workers including doctors would go to the 25,000 villages to identify the ILI and SARI cases in the villages and as and when required, samples would be collected for testing.
The ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) and MPW (Multi-Purpose Workers) along with other health staffers will be involved in this task.
A State Level Task Force headed by the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare and a State Level Coordination Committee led by Commissioner and Secretary of the Department have been formed.
The ACSP would ensure that all SARI and ILI cases are tested for Covid-19, and then map and link the places and accordingly, plan for adequate beds and ICU facilities.

India ranks 53^rd in Budget Transparency and Accountability survey

India has been placed at 53rd position among 117 nations in terms of budget transparency and accountability, according to the Open Budget conducted by International Budget Partnership (IBP).
It has provided India’s Union Budget process a transparency score of 49 out of 100, which is higher than the global average of 45.
New Zealand tops the chart with a score 87. South Africa (87), Mexico (82) and Brazil (81) are among the top countries providing extensive information to public for scrutiny.
India performs well in publishing timely and relevant information in the audit reports and in-year reports and has scored well and above many other countries. But the absence of a published Pre-Budget Statement and not bringing out a Mid-Year Review pulled down the transparency score for the Union Budget of India.
The survey, covering 117 countries, rates the level of budget transparency across countries on a scale of 0-100, based on several normative, internationally comparable indicators.
It evaluates for each country, the availability of eight key budget documents of the Central or Federal Government, and assesses whether these are made public, in a timely manner, and provide comprehensive information.
The Open Budget Survey is part of the International Budget Partnership’s Open Budget Initiative, a global research and advocacy program to promote public access to budget information and the adoption of accountable budget systems.

Air India operated its first evacuation flights under Vande Bharat Mission

National passenger carrier Air India operated its first evacuation flights under India’s “Vande Bharat Mission” from New Delhi to Singapore, to ferry 14 passengers to Singapore.
Besides Air India, its subsidiary Air India Express operated two flights from Kerala to Gulf. Air India Express operated the Cochin-Abu Dhabi-Cochin and Kozhikode-Dubai-Kozhikode service.
Besides the one-way ferry service, Air India has also invited passengers, who qualify under the government’s new international travel norms to apply for passage from India to various destinations the airline will send its aircraft to conduct evacuation flights.
As per plans, these two airlines will operate 64 flights in seven days to bring back 14,800 stranded Indians from 12 countries. Overall, more than 190,000 Indian nationals, who would have to pay a one-way ferry service charge, are expected to be brought back in the airlift operation.

Major labour laws suspended in Uttar Pradesh for 3 years

The Uttar Pradeshgovernment has finalised an ordinance suspending a majority of labour laws in the state for three years. This is an attempt to help both existing and new industrial units in the state.
The recommendations regarding the labour laws were finalised by a group of ministers comprising labour minister Swami Prasad Maurya and MSME Minister Sidharth Nath Singh.
The state cabinet has cleared the Uttar Pradesh Temporary Exemption from Labour Laws Ordinance, suspending more than 30 labour laws in the state.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had said recently that Uttar Pradesh would amend labour laws to attract new investments, especially from China.
About eight of them are being retained under the ordinance.There are more than 40 labour laws, some of which are now redundant.
These include the Bonded Labour Act of 1976, Employee Compensation Act of 1923 and Building and Other Construction Workers’ Act of 1996, Provisions of laws pertaining to women and children, like the Maternity Act, Equal Remuneration Act, Child Labour Act and section 5 of the Payment of Wages Act which states that wages of a person earning less than Rs 15,000 a month cannot be deducted are also being retained.
Other labour laws like those related to settling industrial disputes, health and working conditions of workers and trade unions, contract workers and migrant workers will be frozen for three years. Factory Owners have been given more powers to hire and fire without attracting punitive measures from the labour department up to a certain limit.

May 09, 2020

Bamboo Conclave for North-East held via Video Conferencing

A Bamboo Conclave was held through Video Conference and featured the participation of representatives of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), the Union Ministry of Agriculture and various other stakeholders from different sectors.
The conclave was addressed by Union Minister of State (I/C) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr Jitendra Singh. The minister emphasized on the importance of Bamboo to India’s Post- COVID economy.
He stated that Bamboo will provide India an opportunity to evolve as an economic power with the support of its Bamboo resources.
Bamboo is vital to India’s Post- COVID economy and will provide an opportunity for India to emerge as an economic power with the support of its Bamboo resources.
The amendment in the Indian Forest Act brought about by the govt in 2017, as a result of which, home grown bamboo has been exempted from it in order to enhance livelihood opportunities through bamboo.
The total requirement of “Agarbatti” in India is about 2,30,000 per annum and the market value of it is up to Rs 5000 crore. But India has been importing a large bulk of it from countries like China and Vietnam.
It is an opportunity for the North Eastern region to help India become world competitive and self-sufficient in the changed scenario, as Northeast consists 60% of India’s reserve of Bamboo.
In future, Ministry of North East will try to work out a time bound plan for promotion of bamboo manufacturing and trade, and also work out feasibility of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in this sector.
Bamboo can be processed into multiple products, including bio-diesel and green fuel, wooden lumbers and plywood, which can change the entire face of the economy and create employment opportunities in multiple sectors.

Assam CM invites companies to set up ventures in State

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal made an open invitation to companies to set up their business ventures in Assam as the State has a power surplus of 350 MW to cater to their electricity need.
CM Sonowal said that though the State has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, the unrelenting endeavour of the government’s power companies has yielded into a power surplus of 350 MW.
The Chief Minister invited companies to invest in Assam and set up their units to explore the business-friendly ambience including availability of energy.
Chief Minister also hailed the role of every personnel of power department and the power companies in maintaining their high standard of professionalism and providing uninterrupted supply to the State.

PM Modi, Italy PM discuss health, economic impact of COVID-19

Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the measures required to address the health and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with his Italian counterpart Giuseppe Conte over a phone call.
PM Modi also conveyed his condolences for the loss of lives in Italy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He commended the fortitude shown by citizens of Italy during the crisis.
Both the leaders expressed solidarity with each other and appreciated the mutual cooperation extended towards each other’s stranded nationals.
The leaders agreed to continue active consultation and cooperation between India and Italy, to further strengthen bilateral relations.
PM also assured Conte of India’s unstinted support to Italy in provision of essential medicines and other items.

Defence Ministry and Tata Power ink to modernise 37 airfields

Union Ministry of Defence inked a deal with Tata Power SED worth Rs 1,200 crore to modernise the infrastructure of 37 airfields for the Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
Modernisation of 37 airfield infrastructure is happening under Phase II of the programme. Under Phase I, 30 airfields were upgraded.
The project is a turnkey project that includes installation and commissioning of modern airfield equipment’s like Cat-II Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Cat II Air Field Lightning System (AFLS) etc.
The modern equipment around the airfield will also be directly connected to Air Traffic Control (ATC), thereby providing excellent control of the airfield systems to the air traffic controllers.
The up-gradation of navigational aids and infrastructure under this project would enhance the operational capability by facilitating air operations of military and civil aircraft even in poor visibility and adverse weather conditions while enhancing aerospace safety.

UP CM Yogi launches ‘Pravasi Raahat Mitra’ App

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, launched the ‘Pravasi Rahat Mitra’ App that is aimed at aiding migrant citizens coming to Uttar Pradesh from other states so that they can take advantage of government schemes. It will also help to monitor their health besides providing jobs and livelihood information, suitable to their skills.
The data collection of these migrant citizens will be done through the app that has been developed by the state revenue department in collaboration with United Nation Development Program.
The app will have full details of the persons staying in the shelter center and the migrants who have reached their homes directly from other states. The status of distribution of ration kits to migrant citizens will also be recorded in the app.
The data collected through the app will be installed on the state-based Integrated Information Management System.

AIIB extends $500 million loan for India’s Covid fight

Board of Directors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s (AIIB) has approved a loan of $500 million to support India’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic by strengthening health care system.
It will be co-financed by the World Bank and would support India in addressing significant challenges posed to the public health system.
The financing will enable the Government of India to scale up efforts to limit the transmission of cases, strengthen the health system to expand its response capacity and enhance preparedness to manage future outbreaks.
The project also supports the purchase of medical equipment, enhanced disease detection capabilities and strengthened research and is expected to address the needs of infected people, at-risk populations, medical and emergency personnel and service providers at medical and testing facilities as well as national and animal health agencies.

FACTFILE – Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) loans to India

India is the top borrower from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
Next to India, Indonesia has emerged as the second largest borrower with about USD 600 million loans.
Significantly in the pipeline for lending for India by the 84-member bank this year included any projects worth billions of dollars.
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has an authorised capital of USD 100 billion.
China is the largest shareholder with 26.06 per cent voting shares in the bank. India is the second largest shareholder with 7.5 per cent followed by Russia 5.93 per cent and Germany with 4.5 per cent.
Borrowing from AIIB is preferred by a number of countries as it charges about one to 1.5 per cent interest with long term repayment including five-year grace period.
The AIIB board viewed Indian projects favourably due to India’s economic credentials as well as well-prepared project reports.

Rice research station recommended 10 new varieties for Assam farmers

Gerua-based Regional Rainfed Lowland Rice Research Station (RRLRRS) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Rice Research Institute (ICAR-NRRI) has recommended 10 new rice varieties for farmers of Assam.
These varieties have been found suitable for lowland rice ecology and for the climatic condition of Assam after tests and field trials.
High protein varieties – CR Dhan 310, CR Dhan 309, CR Dhan 311
Climate smart varieties – CR Dhan 801, CR Dhan 802
Aromatic high yielding variety – CR Dhan 909
Four high yielding varieties suitable for lowland situation – CR Dhan 307, CR Dhan 506, CR Dhan 601 and Chandrama
While CR Dhan 601 and Chandrama are suitable for cultivation in all seasons, the other eight varieties are basically for planting only in the kharif season.

FACTFILE – ICAR-NRRI-Regional Rainfed Lowland Rice Research Station (RRLRRS) Gerua, Assam

The Regional Rain-fed Lowland Rice Research Station (RRLRRS) as a sub-station under ICAR-NRRI was established on September 15, 1997 at Gerua in the Hajo circle of the Kamrup district of Assam, upon request of the Assma Govt to consider establishing a sub-station of National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) in the state to assist it’s efforts on rice research, as NRRI plays a pivotal role in rice research of the country.

Main mandates of the ICAR-RRLRRS are

To conduct basic, strategic, applied and adaptive research on crop improvement, production and protection for increasing and stabilizing rice productivity in rainfed lowland ecosystem.
To explore, evaluate, conserve and exchange rice germplasm.
To develop high yielding and input responsive rice varieties resistant/tolerant to different biotic and abiotic stresses under rainfed lowland ecosystem.
To generate appropriate agronomic and protection technologies for increasing and sustaining the productivity of rice-based production systems under rainfed lowland ecosystem.
To import training to the farmers, field functionaries, extension specialists and research workers on improved rice production cropping and farming systems.

Trust Area of Research

Strengthening the breeding strategy to evolve suitable Sali varieties with tolerant to flood.
Development of short duration varieties with blast resistance and cold tolerance for Boro season.
Development of flood resistant rice varieties for lowland, semi-deep and deep water conditions.
Development of appropriate integrated insect pest and disease management strategies.

Salient Achievements

Released rice variety ‘Chandrama’ as Boro and Sali for Assam.
Released aromatic high yielding rice variety ‘CR Dhan 909’ as Sali crop for Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra and UP for irrigated and rainfed lowland ecology.
Rice varieties ‘Naveen’ have been identified suitable as pre-flood Ahu crop and ‘Abhishek’ as post-flood Sali rice crop.
Continual maintenance of over 830 Eastern Indian rice germplasm.
Use of pheromone traps @ 20/ha recorded the lowest incidence of dead heart (3.45%) and white ear head (2.01%).

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May 10, 2020

NIAB Hyderabad develops portable device ‘eCovSens’ to detect Covid

Researchers from Hyderabad-based National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) have developed a portable device ‘eCovSens’ that could possibly be used as a diagnostic tool for detection of COVID-19 antigens from saliva samples of suspected coronavirus patients within 30 seconds.
Developed by a group of scientists, led by Sonu Gandhi from NIAB, Department of Biotechnology, the device is named as ‘eCovSens’ and is at present in validation stage.
The biosensor device has the potential to directly detect a specific protein of the SARS-CoV-2, even when the proteins are present in low concentrations in the human saliva.

FACTFILE – The National Institute of Animal Biotechnology

National Institute of Animal Biotechnology is an Indian autonomous research establishment of the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology.
The state of the art Animal Biotechnology and Transgenics institute is housed in the Aryabhata Block of the sprawling University of Hyderabad in Gachibowli.
The primary mandate of NIAB is towards the development of sustainability and globally competitive livestock (farm animals) for public and industry through innovative and cutting edge technology.

CAIT to launch national e-commerce marketplace ‘Bharatmarket’

Traders’ body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has announced to launch a national e-commerce marketplace ‘Bharatmarket’ soon for all retail traders in collaboration with several technology partners.
The marketplace will integrate capabilities of various technology companies to provide end-to-end services in the logistics and supply chains from manufacturers to end consumers, including deliveries at home.
The e-commerce portal will include a nationwide participation by retailers and aims to bring 95 per cent of retail traders onboard the platform, who would exclusively run the portal.
The traders body is looking to enrol about one crore retailers on this e-marketplace in 2020 and make it the world’s largest and most-unique e-marketplace ever.

ICMR partners with Bharat Biotech to develop Covid-19 vaccine

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) partnered with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) to develop a fully indigenous vaccine for coronavirus.
The team will use the virus strain isolated at ICMR”s National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune.
The strain has been successfully transferred from NIV to Bharat Biotech International Ltd (BBIL).
Work on vaccine development has been initiated between the two partners.
ICMR-NIV will provide continuous support to BBIL for vaccine development.
ICMR and BBIL will seek fast-track approvals to expedite vaccine development, subsequent animal studies and clinical evaluation of the candidate vaccine.

Ex-RBI Governor Rangarajan heads panel to tackle Tamil Nadu’s fiscal challenges

The Tamil Nadu government has set up a high-level committee comprising of economists, industrialists, vice chancellors, bankers, government officials, headed by former RBI Governor C. Rangarajan to look at the fiscal challenges being faced by the state and the way forward in the context of Covid-19.
The committee’s terms of references are
- To assess the overall immediate and medium-term impact of Covid-19 on different sectors of the Tamil Nadu economy, including impact of the lockdown, additional costs and implications due to social distancing and other precautionary measures;
- Assess opportunities and threats in the short and medium term.
- Measures required to help important sectors of the economy to overcome Covid-19 pandemic.
- Identify specific reform measures to be taken by the state government to support the growth of important sectors of the economy.
- Asses the Covid-19 impact on TN’s fiscal situation, the way forward to improve it, including increasing the tax: Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), diversifying revenue source and repriotising expenditure.

Over 60 per cent of styrene vapour leaked from LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam

Over 60 per cent of the styrene vapours that leaked from a tank in LG Polymers near Visakhapatnam, killing at least 11 people.
Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney issued an order appointing a high-level to probe into the causes behind the gas leak and suggest measures to improve the protocol for industrial safety of similar types of plants.

What is styrene?

It is a flammable liquid that is used in the manufacturing of polystyrene plastics, fiberglass, rubber, and latex.
Styrene is also found in vehicle exhaust, cigarette smoke, and in natural foods like fruits and vegetables.

Effect on Human

Short-term exposure to the substance can result in respiratory problems, irritation in the eyes, irritation in the mucous membrane, and gastrointestinal issues.
Long-term exposure could drastically affect the central nervous system and lead to other related problems like peripheral neuropathy. It could also lead to cancer and depression in some cases.

May 11, 2020

USFDA approves emergency use of investigational vaccine, Remdesivir

The US food and drug regulatory body has allowed the emergency use of an investigational anti-viral vaccine to treat COVID-19 patients after some researches, found that the drug helped recover some of the infected cases faster.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave emergency use authorisation (EUA) for the use of investigational anti-viral Remdesivir in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
The EUA allows for Remdesivir to be distributed in the US and administered intravenously by health care providers, as appropriate, to treat suspected or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in adults and children hospitalised with severe condition.
Remdesivir is authorised for the treatment of hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19 disease, the optimal duration of treatment is still being studied in ongoing clinical trials.
Indian-American Subramanian, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine is one of the lead investigators of the study.

National Institute of Virology develops ‘COVID Kavach’ that tests 90 samples together

The National Institute of Virology in Pune has successfully developed the first indigenous anti-SARS-CoV-2A (Covid-19) human IgG ELISA test kit for antibody detection of the deadly virus.
This kit was validated at two sites in Mumbai and has high sensitivity & accuracy. Additionally, it also has the advantage of testing 90 samples together in a single run of 2.5 hours.
The ICMR technology has been transferred to ZydusCadila for mass-scale production and the Drug Controller General has granted commercial production & marketing permission to Zydus.

FACTFILE – National Institute of Virology, Pune

The National Institute of Virology, Pune is an Indian virology research institute, and one of the translational science cells part of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
It was founded in 1952 in collaboration of the ICMR and the Rockefeller Foundation as a part of the global programme of investigations on the arthropod-borne group of viruses.
It was originally known as ‘Virus Research Center’. To expanded scope and activities, it was re-designated as the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in 1978
It has been designated as a WHO H5 reference laboratory for SE Asia region. It is identified as the WHO Collaborating Center for arboviruses reference and hemorrhagic fever reference and research.
NIV is also the National Monitoring Centre for Influenza, Japanese encephalitis, Rota, Measles, Hepatitis and Coronavirus.

DRDO develops devices to sanitise phones, currency notes

The RCI, a premier laboratory of DRDO based at Hyderabad, has developed an automated contactless UVC sanitising cabinet to sanitise mobile phones, iPads, laptops, currency notes, cheque leafs, challans, passbooks, and paper.
Research Centre Imarat (RCI), a part of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), developed the Defence Research Ultraviolet Sanitiser (DRUVS).
The proximity sensor switches clubbed with drawer opening and closing mechanism makes its operation automatic and contactless. It provides 360 degree exposure of UVC to the objects placed inside the cabinet.

NASSCOM creates end-to-end covid-19 platform for Telangana

The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) successful delivered of an end-to-end ‘COVID’ platform to Telangana government.
The platform brings together solutions from multiple technology leaders and delivers more than 100 dashboards, from over 30 government and public datasets, with hundreds of thousands of data points, which will help the state combat the pandemic.
The NASSCOM taskforce has developed a covid-19 India Vulnerability Map, which will provide real time streaming of data about the coronavirus, across regions and states in the country.
The platform will source data from public sources that includes select social channels, websites, blogs, forums and public data sets to create actionable reporting dashboards and will allow the got to project insights sourced from the information with public datasets display.

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May 12, 2020

Centre releases Rs 6000 crore to assist 14 states including 6 NE states

The Centre released the second instalment of states’ share of revenue deficit grant amounting to over Rs 6,000 crore, to assist states effectively address the situation arising out of Covid-19.
The grant had been released for 14 states including Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Sikkim and six North Eastern states excluding Arunachal Pradesh.
The money has been released ahead of schedule and as a special dispensation to meet immediate funding needs of the state governments looking to restore economic activity and minimise losses to its citizens due to disruptions caused by the lockdown.
Much of this money is expected to be used by states towards paying the salaries to their staff as sharp fall in tax collections in April.

Assam CM interacts with PSUs, industry bodies

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal interacted with representatives of Central and State Government PSUs, industry and tea associations at the Assam Administrative Staff College and solicited their suggestions to arrest the economic slowdown.
He also talked to several industry leaders through video conference who joined the interaction from different parts of the State and the country.
Industries in Assam contribute 39 per cent to the State GDP and provide direct employment to approximately 4 lakh people and indirect employment to around 20 lakh people and this sector has been severely affected by the lockdown.
Stating that due to lockdown big and small tea gardens incurred loss to the tune of around Rs. 500 crores, Sonowal assured the industry leaders that continuous efforts to revive the economy were underway.
The State government has taken up steps to facilitate return of migrant workers of the State who are stranded at different places of the country, CM Sonowal stressed on making best use of their skills to boost the industrial sector.

Kashmir Saffron receives Geographical Indication (GI) Tag

Kashmir saffron has been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry.
The spice is cultivated and harvested in the Karewa highlands and some regions of Kashmir, including Pulwama, Budgam, Kishtwar and Srinagar.
The application was filed by the Directorate of Agriculture, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, and facilitated by the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Kashmir, and Saffron Research Station, Dussu.
Iran is the largest producer of saffron and India is a close competitor. With the GI tag, Kashmir saffron would gain more prominence in the export market.
Kashmir saffron is renowned globally as a spice and is a very precious and costly product. It rejuvenates health and is used in cosmetics and for medicinal purposes.
The unique characteristics of Kashmir saffron are its longer and thicker stigmas, natural deep-red colour, high aroma, bitter flavour, chemical-free processing, and high quantity of crocin , safranal and picrocrocin.
The saffron available in Kashmir is of three types — Lachha Saffron, Mongra Saffron, and Guchhi Saffron.

TS Tirumurti appointed new Permanent Representative of India to UN

T. S. Tirumurti, an IFS officer of 1985 batch, has been appointed as the next Ambassador or Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations.
At present, he is holding the position of Secretary, Economic Relations, at the MEA headquarters in Delhi.
Tirumurti succeeds Syed Akbaruddin who is credited with effectively presenting India’s position on a range of crucial issues at the UN’s headquarters in New York for last several years.

May 13, 2020

African Swine fever outbreak in Assam

With the outbreak of the African swine fever, animals especially the pig’s health issue, have become a serious concern for the State as piggery is a lucrative way of livelihood for a large section of Assamese youths.
More than 14,000 pigs died of swine fever and new cases have been reported from Nagaon district.
According to the Assam Pig Breeding Policy, 2019, the pig farmers of Assam are facing six major challenges including the pig health issue.
The policy stated that there is a big gap between the requirement and availability of feed and feed crops in Assam. This is because cultivation of maize, which is an important feed ingredient for pigs, is not popular in Assam. Because of this its cost is very high in the State and availability is not adequate.
Indigenous varieties of pig are very poor performers in terms of body weight and prolificacy and it makes them unsuitable for profitable commercial ventures.
Citing the issue of climate change and global warming, the policy stated that both the factors may have serious implications on the pig sector.
Most of the pig producers of the State are small and marginal farmers who have limited capacity to adopt the latest technological advancements.

GI Tag to Manipur Black Rice, Gorakhpur Terracotta

Chak-Hao, the black rice of Manipur and the Gorakhpur terracotta have bagged the Geogrphical Indication (GI) tag.
The application for Chak-Hao was filed by the Consortium of Producers of Chak-Hao (Black Rice), Manipur and was facilitated by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Manipur and the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC).
Chak-Hao, a scented glutinous rice which has been in cultivation in Manipur over centuries, is characterised by its special aroma. It is normally eaten during community feasts and is served as Chak-Hao kheer.
Chak-Hao has also been used by traditional medical practitioners as part of traditional medicine. This rice takes the longest cooking time of 40-45 minutes due to the presence of a fibrous bran layer and higher crude fibre content.
The terracotta work of Gorakhpur is a centuries-old traditional art form, where the potters make various animal figures like, horses, elephants, camel, goat, ox, etc. with hand-applied ornamentation.

Prime Minister announced package of Rs 20 lakh crore to boost economy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a massive financial package to revive, reform and make the country self-reliant, while at the same time welcoming foreign capital and strengthening of supply chains.
Prime Minister announced stimulus measures which will take the total amount announced by the Ministry of Finance and the RBI to a total of Rs 20 lakh crore which is about 10 per cent of India’s GDP.
According to the Prime Minister, it is now the time to make India self-sufficient in every way and every Indian should buy and promote local goods.
The package will give emphasis on land, labour, liquidity and laws. The package will also focus on the farmers and the labourers.
The package will give rise to a rational tax system, strong financial system besides encouraging businesses and bringing in investments into India. As new infrastructure and rational tax systems are the focus area for a quantum leap of growth.

Tamil Nadu’s Arumbavur wood carvings get GI tag

The unique Arumbavur wood carving was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Arumbavur is a Town Panchayat in Perambalur district in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The application for GI was made by the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited (Poompuhar), Arumbavur Wood Carvers’ Handicrafts lndustrial Cooperative Society Ltd, and the Arumbavur Temple Car and Woodcarving Artisans Welfare Society.
The Arumbavur wood carvings are primarily making sculptures on the wooden logs of Indian siris (Poo Vaagai, Albizialebbeck), Mango (Mangiferaindica), Lingam tree (Mavilangam), Indian Ash fiee (Othiyan – Odinawodier), Rosewood, Neem tree (Vembu – Azadirachtaindica).
The unique aspect of the Arambavur wood carvings is that it is often inspired by architectural details on temple sculptures and carvings indigenous to the region.
The art form also draws inspiration from mythology and mythical deities.
The Arumbavur wood carvings revolve around idols and deities, temple chariots and temple cars, door panels of houses, pooja rooms and temples, decorative figures, poojamandapam.
The artisans used to go to the particular place where the temple car has to be made and stay in that temple for a period of upto four years and complete the work.
Sculptures of Lord Vinayaka, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Krishna, Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi can be seen in Arumbavur Wood Carvings, along with motifs such as hamsa/mythical swans, poomakhumbhal cornucopia, kaamadhenu, Temple chariots and temple cars and other floral motifs.

Uttar Pradesh transfers Rs 225 crore to MGNREGA beneficiaries

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath transferred Rs 225.39 crores to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) beneficiaries through direct bank transfer.
State govt has raised the honorarium of the ‘gram sewaks’ who are beneficiaries under MGNREGA, to Rs 6,000 per month from the earlier Rs 3,630 per month.
CM Govt also appealed to the MGNREGA workers to help in generating more employment in their villages and districts and ensure that the needy get employment.

Microsoft launches ‘Back2Business’ solutions for SMBs in India

Microsoft announced the launch of new solutions designed to help Indian small and medium businesses (SMBs) maintain business continuity and embark on their Cloud adoption journeys amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Curated for specific scenarios in different organisation sizes, these “Back2Business” solution boxes bring together offerings across Azure and Modern Workplace.
There are solution packages designed to accelerate the Cloud adoption journeys of SMBs. These are curated to help ramp up legacy systems, migrate workloads to Azure or modernise apps and websites.
The Back2Business Solution Boxes offer speed in deployment and usage and flexibility with pay-as-you-go pricing, along with our commitment to privacy and security.

US commit $3.6 Million aid to India for COVID-19 Battle

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has committed $3.6 million to assist India’s efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
The initial tranche of funding will seek to further strengthen and support the Central government’s efforts to increase laboratory capacity for SARS-COV-2 testing, including molecular diagnostics and serology.
The funds will also support the development of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) centers that can improve the ability of hospital networks to detect Covid-19 cases and strengthen local health systems through enhanced surveillance and monitoring systems.
The CDC will work with local partners to assist in the development of a strong public health workforce to support India’s capacity to respond not only to this pandemic but also to future threats as well.
It will also include planning for health emergency operation centres. The CDC India programme will provide technical assistance for the ongoing crisis emergency and risk communication efforts of the government.

Central relief package of Rs 1.70 lakh crore for poor

The Union government recently announced a relief package of Rs 1.70 lakh crore under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) for the poor to help them fight the battle against coronavirus.
The Centre proposes to pay 24 per cent of the monthly wages into the EPF account for the three months – March, April and May.
The benefits will be available to establishments having up to 100 employees with 90 per cent or more such employees earning monthly wages up to Rs 15,000.
The entire employees’ EPF contribution and employer’s EPF and EPS contributions of the monthly wages for the three months shall be paid directly by the Central government in the EPF account of the employees.
The employer in relation to any eligible establishment shall disburse wages for the month to all employees of the establishment and file ECR to avail the benefit under the scheme.

Researchers of IIT Guwahati, Singapore institute use data science models

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati and the Duke-NUS Medical School of Singapore have used data science models to analyse and carry out a state-wise assessment of the COVID-19 situation in India.
The data-driven assessment was carried out by Dr Palash Ghosh, Assistant Professor of IIT Guwahati, in collaboration with Dr Bibhas Chakraborty, Associate Professor at the Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
The assessment can predict the total number of infected people for different states in India in the next 30 days, based on the growth of active cases in recent times, along with the daily infection-rate (DIR) values for each state.
The researchers label a state as severe if a non-decreasing trend in DIR values is observed over the last two weeks along with a near exponential growth in active infected cases.

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May 14, 2020

Assam to introduce new inter-district tourism scheme

The Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) has decided to introduce an inter-district tourism plan in the State in a bid to encourage the local youths.
The ongoing lockdown has made a huge impact on the tourism sector, and, therefore, the ATDC has come forward with a new move of helping the unemployed youths.
The chairman of the ATDC, Jayanta Malla Baruah informed that the ‘PunyaDham’ scheme would be implemented within the state this year, which is likely to attract more tourists.
It is to be noted that the State Tourism department has incurred a huge loss due to the impact of novel corona virus.

Finance Ministry’s 15 measures to revive economy

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced 15 new and some enhanced measures to revive businesses, and support workers via fiscal incentives and regulatory easing, consist of slew of fiscal and regulatory measures for MSMEs, real estate, NBFCs, power distribution and general businesses.
As a major reform measure for the MSME sector, the Centre has decided to give a new definition to MSMEs. Specifications wise, the investment limit for defining MSMEs has been revised upwards. Additional criteria such as turnover have been considered for defining MSMEs.
Rs 3 lakh crore “collateral-free automatic loans” for businesses, including MSMEs, will be provided to meet operational liabilities built up, buy raw material and restart business.
A Rs 50,000 crore ”Fund of Funds” for MEMEs, which face severe shortage of equity, was also announced. Another scheme worth Rs 20,000 crore for “subordinate debt for stressed MSMEs.
The Centre will not to go in for global bidding for government procurement for tenders up to Rs 200 crore, thereby, promoting the participation of MSMEs.
e-market linkage for MSMEs will be provided and the CPSEs will pay all receivables to MSMEs within 45 days.
Rs 30,000 crore special liquidity scheme for non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), housing finance companies (HFCs) and micro-finance institutions (MFIs) was also announced.
A Rs 45,000 crore partial credit guarantee scheme for NBFCs. Under this measure, first 20 per cent loss will be borne by the Centre, and even unrated papers will be eligible for investment, enabling NBFCs to reach out even to MSMEs in far-flung areas.
A Rs 90,000 crore liquidity injection plan was announced for the financially stressed power distribution companies, which will allow these entities to clear their dues towards power generation companies.
The Union Ministry for Housing and Urban Affairs will issue advisory to states and Union Territories to declare the Covid-19 situation as a ”force majeure” under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act.
Centre to reduce the TDS (tax deduction at source) rates for non-salaried specified payments made to residents, and the TCS (tax collection at source) rates by 25 per cent for the specified receipts. This will be applicable to the payment for contract, professional fees, interest, rent, dividend, commission and brokerage.

Tamil Nadu’s Kovilpatti kadalaimittai gets GI tag

The famous Kovilpattikadalaimittai has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. It is manufactured in Kovilpatti and adjacent towns and villages in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu
The application was filed by the Kovilpatti Regional Kadalaimittai Manufacturers.
Kovilpatti kadalaimittai is a candy made of peanuts held together with glistening syrup, and topped with wisps of grated coconut dyed pink, green and yellow.
It is made using all natural ingredients such as the traditional and special ‘vellam’ (jaggery) and groundnuts and water from the river Thamirabarani is used in the production, which enhances the taste naturally.

Govt to use Rs 3,100 crore from PM-CARES for ventilators, migrants’ welfare

The Centre allocated Rs 3,100 crore from the PM CARES (Prime Minister”s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations) Fund to fight against COVID-19.
The bulk of it, Rs 2,000 crore, will be spent to buy ventilators, while a significant Rs 1,000 crore is being earmarked for the migrant labourers. As much as Rs 100 crore is kept for supporting vaccine development.
As much as 50,000 ‘Made in India’ ventilators will be purchased from PM CARES Fund at a cost of about Rs 2,000 crore. These ventilators will be provided to government-run COVID hospitals in all states and UTs for better treatment of critical COVID-19 cases.
A lump-sum assistance of total Rs 1,000 crore from the Fund is earmarked for the welfare of the migrant labourers. The money will be distributed to states and UTs.
The money is meant to strengthen districts’ efforts in providing accommodation facilities, making food arrangements, providing medical treatment and making transportation arrangements of the migrants.
State/UT-wise funds will be released on the weightage of (a) population of the state/UT as per 2011 Census – 50% weightage (b) Number of positive COVID-19 cases as on date – 40% weightage and (c) equal share (10% weightage) for all states/UTs to ensure basic minimum sum for all states.
Meanwhile, Rs 100 crore is kept for developing a vaccine for COVID-19. Indian academia, start-ups and industry have come together in cutting-edge vaccine design and development on the money is meant to support their research and development.

UN slashes India’s growth rate to 1.2% for 2020-21

United Nations has slashed India’s economic growth projection for the current fiscal year to 1.2 per cent, which would still be the second-highest growth rate among major economies trailing China.
The mid-year World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) update expects India’s rate of gross domestic growth to increase to 5.5 per cent in the next fiscal year.
The growth rate for the world ravaged by Covid-19 is projected to shrink by 3.2 per cent this year, with the developed countries bearing the brunt with their economic growth dropping by 5 per cent.
China is expected to grow by 1.7 per cent this year and increase its rate to 7.6 per cent next year. South Asia’s economies overall to shrink by 0.6 per cent during the current year.

Gilead inks pact with 3 Indian drugmakers to produce, sell Remdesivir

US drug-maker Gilead Sciences has signed non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreements with three Indian pharmaceutical companies Cipla, Hetero Labs and Jubilant Life Sciences, to manufacture and sell the anti-viral drug to treat severe COVID-19 patients. Gilead would provide technology transfers to the drug manufacturers to facilitate the production.
Gilead’s Remdesivir has received emergency use authorisation (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms.
Hetero which has been working with the ICMR for necessary approvals, said Remdesivir would be manufactured at its formulation facility in Hyderabad.
Cipla will be permitted to manufacture the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and finished product, and market it in 127 countries, including India and South Africa under Cipla’s own brand name.
Remdesivir is given to patients intraveinous one time each day for up to 10 days depending on recommendations of healthcare providers, according to the FDA. The drug may help decrease the amount of the coronavirus in bodies and help patients get better faster.
Possible side effects of Remdesivir include infusion-related reactions and increases in levels of liver enzymes. It’s all of the risks are not known yet.

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 262: May 04-06, 2020

Posted on May 12, 2020June 11, 2020 by admin

Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz Set 262 : May 04 – 06, 2020

( Daily and Monthly Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz & MCQ for APSC Exams and various Assam exams)

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Q1. Recently, which state has launched an “Agro-Entrepreneur Facilitation Desk” to help the entrepreneurs of the state to get subsidies and incentives from Central government funding agencies?

Assam
Uttar Pradesh
Tripura
Maharashtra

C. Tripura

Q2. Recently, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has launched ‘IDEAthon’ on “The Future of River Management”. The NMCG operates under which Ministry?

Jal Shakti Ministry
Health Ministry
Environment Ministry
Ministry of Civil Aviation

A. Jal Shakti Ministry

Q3. Indian journalist who has won 2020 Pulitzer award in the field of feature photography?

Dar Yashin
Channi Anand
Mukthar Khan
All of the above

D. All of the above

Q4. Who has been chosen for the Nikkei Asia Prizes 2020 in ‘Science and Technology’ category?

Naidem Makarim
Thalappil Pradeep
Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak
Devi Prasad Shetty

B. Thalappil Pradeep

Q5. Who was recently awarded the commemorative World War II medal by Russia?

Donald Trump
Narendra Modi
Kim Jong Un
Scott Morrison

C. Kim Jong Un

Q6. Who among the following has been appointed as the permanent representative of India to the United Nations?

Ramesh Babu
T S Tirumurti
Gautum Bambawale
Syed Akbaruddin

B. T S Tirumurti

Q7. Recently, which state launched three schemes, Birsa Harit Gram Yojana (BHGY), NeelambarPitambar JAL Sammridhi Yojana (NPJSY) and Veer SahidPoto Ho Khel Vikas Scheme (VSPHKVS) for rural job creation?

Madhya Pradesh
Tamil Nadu
Andhra Pradesh
Jharkhand

D. Jharkhand

Q8. Recently, which organisation has developed Ultra Violet Disinfection Tower ‘UV Blaster’ for chemical free and rapid disinfection?

NASA
ISRO
DRDO
TRAI

C. DRDO

Q9. Who has been recently appointed as US representative to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), lending arm of World Bank?

Ashok Michael Pinto
Taranjit Singh Sandhu
Harsh Vardhan Shringla
Abhijeet Banerjee

A. Ashok Michael Pinto

Q10. Which country will launch its first Arktika-M satellite for monitoring the Arctic climate?

China
Russia
Japan
US

B. Russia

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Quiz Set 260 (Special Quiz on Covid-19): April 28-30, 2020

Posted on May 12, 2020June 7, 2020 by admin

Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz Set 260 : April 28 – 30, 2020

( Daily and Monthly Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz & MCQ for APSC Exams and various Assam exams)

Assam 2020 Yearbook | Quiz Home Page | Quiz Monthly – March 2020 | Current Affairs Monthly – March 2020

Q1. Which International organisation has declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January and a pandemic on 11 March 2020?

United Nations
World Health Organization
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
United Nations Environment Programme

B. World Health Organization

Q2. The Corona virus is primarily spread between people during close contact, mostly via?

small droplets produced by coughing, sneezing, and talking
air from respiration
skin to skin touches
lipid and Blood transfer

A. small droplets produced by coughing, sneezing and talking

Q3. The World Health Organization (WHO), the specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health, has headquartered in

Geneva, Switzerland
New York, USA
London, USA
VernNew York, USA

A. Geneva, Switzerland

Q4. Which strain of coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a respiratory illness?

SARS-CoV-2
SARS-CoV-1
SARS-CoV-2019
ACE-2

A. SARS-CoV-2

Q5. Basic Reproduction Number (R0), the basic reproduction number of an infection can be thought of as the expected number of cases directly generated by one case in a population where all individuals are susceptible to infection, for COVID-19 is 5.7. Which is the following disease is having maximum R0?

Measles
Polio
Covid-19
Influenza

A. Measles

Q6. The index case of Covid-19 in India was reported from

Delhi
Mumbai
Bangalore
Thrissur

D. Thrissur

Q7. The Covid-19 outbreak has been declared an epidemic and provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 have been invoked in India. The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 was first enacted to tackle

Cholera spread in Gujarat
Swine flu spread in North India
Malaria spread in West Bengal
Bubonic plague in Mumbai

D. Bubonic plague in Mumbai

Q8. Which of the following drugs is a medication primarily used to prevent and treat malaria, is now being used in treatment of COVID-19 cases, on emergency basis?

Antihistamines
Temozolomide
Hydroxychloroquine
Cyclophosphamide

C. Hydroxychloroquine

Q9. The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak was identified in December 2019 in of the following place?

Lombardy, Italy
Wuhan, China
Hong Kong
New York, USA

B. Wuhan, China

Q10. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a

Double-stranded RNA viruses
Negative strand RNA viruses
Positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus
Satellite viruses

C. Positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus

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Assam Current Affairs – May 01 – 07, 2020

Posted on May 12, 2020June 10, 2020 by admin

Assam Current Affairs & GK – May 1 - 7, 2020

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of May 1 – 7, 2020 )

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May 01, 2020

IIT Guwahati students develop low-cost intubation box

A team of students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) has designed and developed a low-cost intubation box, which can prove useful in treating patients undergoing treatment for COVID-19.
The device that functions as an aerosol obstruction box placed atop the patient’s bed on the head-side, limits the flow of virus-laden droplets from the patient to the doctor, especially during the process of intubation.
The device, inspired by the design of Taiwanese anaesthesiologist Dr Hsien Yung Lai, has been developed and designed by a student venture for medical innovation named ‘Mitochondrial’, which is mentored by Dr S Kanagaraj and Dr Sajan Kapil of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of IIT Guwahati.
It is a low-cost alternative to intubation boxes and is easier to manufacture and deliver amid the lockdown.
The team has received assistance from DRDO, New Delhi for prototyping and testing the product at the Solid State Physics Laboratory, New Delhi, and is consulting Dr Johann Christopher of Care Hospitals, Hyderabad and Dr Abhijeet Bhatia of NEIGRIHMS, Shillong to ensure efficacy of the design.The projected cost per box is Rs 2,000, which is significantly lower than prices of existing alternatives.
The team has received assistance from DRDO, New Delhi for prototyping and testing the product at the Solid State Physics Laboratory, New Delhi, and is consulting Dr Johann Christopher of Care Hospitals, Hyderabad and Dr Abhijeet Bhatia of NEIGRIHMS, Shillong to ensure efficacy of the design.
The transparent material allows visual access to the head of the patient inside and the armholes on the box allow for the care provider to perform any necessary tasks, including intubation and extubation, which are cough-inducing processes.
The team has started a crowd-funding campaign to manufacture these boxes and provide them to government hospitals free of cost.

Arunachal Pradesh gets first COVID-19 testing lab

Arunachal Pradesh’s first COVID-19 qRT-PCR laboratory opened today at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) Hospital at Naharlagun.
The COVID-19 testing laboratory will start collecting samples for suspected coronavirus from May 1 onwards.
The State Government has initiated the work to establish two more COVID-19 testing laboratories – one at Pasighat and the other at C-Sector, Naharlagun.
With the establishment of the COVID-19 qRT-PCR laboratory at the TRIHMS, samples of around 100 people can be tested on a single day. This will increase to another 200 samples a day once the laboratory at C-Sector, Naharlagun.

PM Modi directs India should reduce dependence on defence imports

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed that India should reduce dependence on imports and take forward “Make in India” to build its domestic capabilities in defence equipment. He also stressed on the reforms to ensure a self reliant defence industry.

The Prime Minister held a meeting to discuss ways to boost defence and aerospace sector, in which he emphasised strengthening the domestic capacity for designing, developing and manufacturing state-of-the-art defence equipment.
Modi held a detailed meeting to deliberate the potential reforms to ensure a robust and self-reliant defence industry in India that caters to short and long term needs of the armed forces and initiatives to give a boost to the economy in the backdrop of COVID-19.
The discussions involved reforming of the functioning of the ordnance factories, streamlining procurement procedures, focused resource allocation, encouraging R&D innovation, attracting investment in critical defence technologies and promotion of exports.
The Prime Minister laid emphasis on positioning India among the top countries of the world in defence and aerospace sectors, from design to production, with active participation of public and private sector fulfilling the twin objectives of self-reliance and exports.
He reviewed the proposed reforms for attracting domestic and foreign investment in defence sector.

Tamil Nadu sets up portal for people wanting to return from abroad

The Tamil Nadu government announced a dedicated portal for people of the state living overseas and wanting to return after lifting of lockdown and resumption of flights.
The state government said owing to cancellation of international flights many students, workers and others from Tamil Nadu were unable to return.
Those wanting to return are requested to register in portal www.nonresidenttamil.org, which would enable the government to know the number of people looking forward to return and prepare the quarantine facilities.

IIT-BHU‘s MCIIE develops low-cost UVGI system to fight coronavirus

The Malviya Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (MCIIE) at the IIT-BHU has developed an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) system, which has been installed at the Covid-19 lab of the BHU Hospital for sanitisation.
As per the latest research, UVC light-based sterilizer can kill a range of micro-organisms, like viruses (including SARS syndrome, coronavirus and Nipah virus) and bacteria in a short time.
The system has a series of UV lamps (depending upon size of place of installation), each having 22 watts capacity.
This system can produce UVGI dose of more than 2,400 microwatt sec/cm square to ensure complete inactivation of coronavirus.
It also works on auto timer and its visual red/green indicator ensures safety of the user against the UV dose.
The system can be used in hospitals, operation theatres, ICUs and IVF labs, microbiological labs, special wards, dental facilities, laboratories, pharmaceutical units and patient care wards.

May 2, 2020

Assam museums to go virtual

The State Museum authorities have formulated a schedule to bring all the museums of Assam closer to the audience through virtual platforms available on the internet.
The programme headed by YS Wunglengton, Director of Museums, Assam, comprising a series of video talks, presentations, interactive sessions has been designed by the museum professionals for the benefit of the audience of all categories which will be available on the Facebook page of Assam State Museum, initially, and likely to be expanded on all other social media platforms.
The museum authority has already published the first video by YS Wunglengton giving a glimpse of the Assam State Museum describing vividly the masterpieces housed in the museum.
The upcoming presentations shall be advertised regularly on the Facebook page of the Assam State Museum.
Also, a live question and answer session will be conducted on alternate days, for two weeks by the end of May, where students and general public can directly ask questions related to museums and its collections.
The entire programme is planned to utilise the digital platform available and make the museum objects accessible to the general public virtually.

Arvind Kumar Sharma appointed Secretary, MSME

Arvind Kumar Sharma (IAS) assumed charge as Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
Sharma has emphasised that MSME sector is very crucial for the society and the economy.
Prior to this appointment, Sharma was serving as Additional Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). He is 1988 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre.
Sharma has also worked in the government of Gujarat at various positions, including at field and policy level, and has extensive experience of handling the portfolios of regulatory and developmental administration, disaster management, corporate management, industrial/investment promotion and infrastructure development.

Kovilpatti groundnut candy gets GI tag

The tasty Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai or groundnut candy has finally got the unique GI tag from the Geographical Indications Registry.
Part of Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu, Kovilpatti groundnut candy has a unique taste and is famed for it and the application for the GI tag was made in 2014 by the Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai manufacturers.
The groundnut candy made with jaggery syrup and topped with wisps of grated coconut dyed in pink, green and yellow.
There are about 150 groundnut candy manufacturers in Kovilpatti employing about 6,000 workers now
Within India the Kovipatti groundnut candy is sold in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai and other places and is also exported to Sri Lanka, Dubai.

Researchers develop fast antibody blood test for Covid-19

A team of researchers has developed a quick, sensitive test of antibodies against coronavirus in human blood, which could help doctors track a person”s exposure to the disease, as well as confirm suspected Covid-19 cases which have been tested negative by other methods.
The study revealed that researchers from China wanted to develop a fast, sensitive antibody test to help identify people with current or past exposure to novel coronavirus.
The researchers based their test on a technique called lateral flow immunoassay (LFA); a home pregnancy test is an example of this kind of assay.
They attached a viral coat protein to a specific region on a strip of nitrocellulose — a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose through exposure to nitric acid – and then added human serum.
The serum flowed from one end of the strip to the other, and any antibody against the viral protein bound to that region on the strip. Then, the team detected the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with a fluorescently labelled antibody.
This fluorescence-based detection is much more sensitive than some other LFAs, such as pregnancy tests, that can be read by the naked eye.
The researchers tested the new assay on seven serum samples from Covid-19 patients and 12 samples from people who had tested negative for the disease by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), a common diagnostic test that occasionally fails to detect positive cases.

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May 3, 2020

Black rice of Manipur gets GI Tag recognition

Chakhao, the black rice of Manipur, has bagged the Geogrphical Indication (GI) tag. The Geographical Indications Registry has confirmed it on their website – http://ipindiaservices.gov.in/GirPublic/Application/Details/602).
The registration process took more than a year, which included documentation by a team of the State Agriculture Department.
Chakhao, a scented glutinous rice variety, is being cultivated in Manipur for many centuries. It is grown in the plains and hills of Manipur where the soil quality is rich. It is characterised by its special aroma. People usually have it during community feasts and is used to prepare ‘kheer’.
Chakhao is also used by traditional medical practitioners as part of traditional medicine, as it is said to be anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, beneficial for heart and to prevent onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
In black rice cultivation, farmers neither apply agro-chemicals nor use any motorised implements. Only human labour is used for farming.
GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
Earlier, Kachai lemon of Manipur, grows at Kachai village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, had got the GI tag. This lemon contains 45-51 mg ascorbic acid per 100 ml, which is the highest among citrus fruits. GI tag application for a local pea variety called Hawaitharak-makhayat-mubi is also under process.

Assam to open borders with NE States for stranded people

The State government opened a helpline for stranded people in other States wanting to return and has also decided to allow those in NE States to enter Assam from tomorrow onwards.
However, the State government has made a fervent appeal to all such people residing outside to avoid the massive evacuation arrangement and the elaborate screening and quarantine measures being put in place, if they can defer their return to the State for some time.
People stranded in other NE States, except Sikkim, can enter the State but will have to follow the strict screening protocol at the border checkposts.
After the mandatory screening, medical officers at the gate will take a call on whether to put them in home quarantine facility or admitted to hospital.
Night curfew will be imposed in Assam, so all such people will have to travel during day hours.
For those people stranded in other States, the State government has opened a helpline – 7428159966.
Those wanting to return will have to give a missed call in the number, following which a link will be send for filling up an application.

CSIR-IICT develops RT-PCR kit for COVID-19 testing

Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research-India Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) announced that it has developed indigenous RT-PCR kits for COVID-19 testing in partnership with Genomix Biotech
CSIR-IICT developed an affordable reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) kit indigenously using recombinant technology for production of several enzymes used in the kit and optimized the reagent conditions to match the regulatory requirements.
Genomix Biotech will optimize the kit for COVID-19 diagnosis by adding the Taqman probes. CSIR-IICT and Genomix Biotech plan to approach Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) or its recognized laboratory for validation to launch the product.
The availability of RT-PCR kits in the market has serious limitations as most of them are currently imported.
The RT-PCR kit developed by CSIR-IICT can also be used in various other disease diagnostics of humans, animals and plants.
This technology is also expected to bring down the overall cost of RT-PCR based diagnosis in the country.

KGMU, CDRI collaborate for corona vaccine

The King George’s Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow is now collaborating with the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) for three major research projects, including development of a vaccine for the coronavirus.
The university, which is conducting highest number of corona tests in the state, has also been approached for the use of natural herbal products in the treatment of the disease by the Central AYUSH ministry.
There are at least seven research projects initiated simultaneously by the KGMU in collaboration with other scientific institutes.
Three research projects – one is a molecular research to know the reasons for disease causation, second one is for finding treatment methodologies and a third project is to develop a vaccine for the virus.

IFCN launches WhatsApp bot to fight COVID-19 misinformation

Poynter Institutes International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) launched its chatbot on WhatsApp to help two billion users of the Facebook-owned instant messaging platform to check veracity of information related to COVID-19.
The IFCN’s bot connects people with independent fact-checkers in more than 70 countries and also with the largest database of debunked falsehoods related to the new coronavirus.
By using the IFCN’s bot on WhatsApp, citizens from all over the world will be able to easily check whether a piece of content about COVID-19 has already been rated as false by professional fact-checkers.
Since January, more than 80 fact-checking organisations from 74 countries have identified more than 4,000 hoaxes related to the novel coronavirus.
All this information now forms the CoronaVirusFacts database and is updated daily by the IFCN so chatbot users can navigate and easily access its content.
The IFCN”s bot also provides users with a global directory of fact-checking organisations.
The system is capable of identifying the user”s country via the person”s mobile country code and then providing them with their closest fact-checking organisations.
The person can then submit a piece of information for review directly to its local fact-checker or visit its website to learn more about what has been circulating in the region.

May 4, 2020

Three new species of little horned frogs discovered in Northeast India

Three new species of horned frogs have been discovered in Northeast India and named using local lingo, by a team of Irish and Indian biologists from the University College Dublin, the Natural History Museum, UK and University of Delhi.
Two of the new species have been named using words adapted from local tribal languages at their sites of discovery.
Naga Hills Horned Frog (Megophrys awuh), where the word ‘awuh’ means ‘frog’ in the Pochury language, the primary native tribe from the Melluri district of Nagaland state.
Tamenglong Horned Frog (Megophrys numhbumaeng), where the name is derived from ‘nwmbwmaeng’ meaning ‘forest spirit’ from the Rongmei (Ruangmei) language, the primary native tribe from the Tamenglong district of Manipur state.
The third new species, the Dzükou Valley Horned Frog (Megophrys dzukou), was named after the only place that this potentially endangered new species was found, which lies on the border of Nagaland and Manipur states.
The discoveries have concluded the eleventh new species of horned frog to be named from Northeast India following research by the same core team published in 2011, 2013, and 2018 (which included the 11 cm Giant Himalayan Horned Frog).

Assam CM constitutes economic advisory panel

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal constituted an economic advisory committee as a measure to revive the economy of the State and break the stagnation brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The eight-member committee led by retired IAS officer Subhash Das would study various aspects of the State’s economy and provide recommendations to bring back economic buoyancy through systematic interventions.
Retired vice chancellor of Assam Agricultural University Dr KM Bujarbarua, professor of Gauhati University Dr Madhurjya Bezbarua, associate professor at Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development Dr Joydeep Barua, managing director of Rashtriya Gramin Vikash Nidhi Dr Amiya Sarma, ARIAS Society’s agribusiness consultant Gautam Goswami, State organising secretary of Bharatiya Kishan Sangha Krishnakanta Bora and journalist Adip Kumar Phukan are the other members of the committee.

PM Modi participates in NAM Summit

A summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in the format of a contact group was held through videoconference in a bid to boost coordination among member states in fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The summit, themed “United against COVID-19,” was initiated by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the current chairman of the NAM.
This was the first time that Prime Minister Modi attended the NAM summit after assuming office in his first term in 2014.
Modi at the NAM summit said that the coronavirus pandemic had demonstrated the limitations of the existing international system.
Prime Minister said we need a new template of globalisation based on fairness, equality and humanity. We need international institutions that are more representative of today”s world.
Briefing the NAM summit about India’s efforts in combating the pandemic, Modi said, despite our own needs, we have ensured medical supplies to our 123 partner countries including 59 members of Non-Aligned Movement. We are active in global efforts to develop remedies and vaccines.

FACTFILE – Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a forum of 120 developing world states that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc.
After the United Nations, it is the largest grouping of states worldwide.
Drawing on the principles agreed at the Bandung Conference in 1955, the NAM was established in 1961 in Belgrade, SR Serbia, Yugoslavia through an initiative of the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser and the Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito.
This led to the first Conference of Heads of State or Governments of Non-Aligned Countries. The term non-aligned movement first appears in the fifth conference in 1976, where participating countries are denoted as “members of the movement”.
The purpose of the organization was enumerated by Fidel Castro in his Havana Declaration of 1979 as to ensure “the national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of non-aligned countries” in their “struggle against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, and all forms of foreign aggression, occupation, domination, interference or hegemony as well as against great power and bloc politics.”
The countries of the Non-Aligned Movement represent nearly two-thirds of the United Nations’ members and contain 55% of the world population.

IIT-Madras startup creating nanoparticle coating material to tackle corona

An Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras-incubated startup Muse Wearables is developing novel and scalable methods for coating textiles with nanoparticles-based antimicrobial agents that can inactivate the human coronavirus on contact.
These coatings are expected to be effective up to 60 wash cycles, thereby making the textiles re-usable.
The coated textiles can be primarily used to manufacture N95 masks, surgical masks, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and food packaging bags, among others, with inherent properties of inactivating the virus.
Some highlights of these nano-particles coated textiles include, anti-microbial properties – it continuously captures and destroys viruses and other microbes upon contact. Other viruses are as small as 30 nanometres can also be inactivated permanently.
It does not leach while washing in water and is environment-friendly. At present, the particles can be coated on materials like cotton, polyester and cotton polyester.
It is non-toxic and therefore can be safely used for making masks and other PPEs.
Currently, the startup is assembling the coating machine and will shortly commence coating various textiles with different nanoparticle solutions.
The start-up is also partnering with a mask manufacturing company to launch five-layered Antiviral N95 Masks at an estimated price of Rs 300 per piece.

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May 5, 2020

Italian researchers claim world’s first Covid-19 vaccine

Italian researchers have claimed that they have successfully developed a vaccine to contain coronavirus (Covid-19) which is likely to work on humans.
Luigi Aurisicchio, CEO of Takis, the firm developing the medication, said that a coronavirus candidate vaccine has neutralised the virus in human cells for the first time.
The researchers experimented with the vaccine on mice that had successfully developed antibodies that blocked the virus from infecting the cells.
All of the vaccine candidates currently being developed are based on the genetic material of DNA protein “spike”, the molecular tip used by the coronavirus to enter human cells. They are injected with the so-called “electroporation” technique, which consists of an intramuscular injection followed by a brief electrical impulse, helping the vaccine break into the cells and activating the immune system.

Assam Govt to resume public transportation through ASTC

The State transport department has taken initiatives to resume public transportation through the Assam State Public Transport Corporation (ASTC).
The department has ensured strict compliance of all the safety guidelines like social distancing to safeguard public health along with use of masks and disinfecting of the buses after each trip.
It has also deployed joint enforcement teams to monitor movement of buses and to ensure that more than 50 per cent of the seats are not occupied and that small passenger vehicles do not carry more than two passengers.
The department will also make arrangements to ensure that the people of Assam stranded in various Northeastern states can safely return to their homes.
It is coordinating with the governments of all NE states in this regard.

CCMB joins hands with Eyestem for Covid-19 research

The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and Eyestem Research Private Ltd, Bengaluru, announced a public private collaboration in the fight against Covid-19
Hyderabad-based CCMB will use Eyestem”s human lung epithelial cell culture system provided as part of its Anti-Covid screening (ACS) platform to understand the molecular and pathological characteristics of the Covid-19 virus with a view to establishing a rational basis for testing potential drugs in vitro.
Eyestem Research is working to democratize access to cell therapy as well as disease modeling platforms.
CCMB, a premier research organization in frontier areas of modern biology, is an autonomous laboratory under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
It responded to the current crisis and was the first academic laboratory outside the ICMR to initiate Covid-19 testing and kit validation. In addition, CCMB has initiated a variety of research projects on SARS-CoV2.

22 MPs elected as member of the Committee on Public Undertakings

22 MPs from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have been elected to serve on the Committee on Public Undertakings. The Committee will serve with effect from May 1 for the term of 2020-2021 ending on April 30, 2021.
Of the 22 members in the Committee, 15 are from the Lok Sabha and seven from the Rajya Sabha. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has appointed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Delhi Meenakshi Lekhi as Chairperson of the Committee.
Heena Vijay Kumar Gavit, Chandra Prakash Joshi, K. Kanimozhi, Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru, Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam, Ajjunlal Meena, Janardan Mishra, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Saugata Roy, Arvind Kumar Sharma, Ravneet Singh, Sushil Kumar Singh, Uday Pratap Singh and Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas are the members from the Lok Sabha and Prasanna Acharya, Birendra Prasad Baishya, Anil Desai, Joginipally Santosh Kumar, Om Prakash Mathur, Surendra Singh Nagar and M. Shanmugam from the Rajya Sabha.

FACTFILE – Committee on Public Undertakings

The Committee on Public Undertakings is a committee of selected members of parliament, constituted by the Parliament of India, for the purpose of examining the reports and accounts of the public sector undertakings (PSUs) as specified in the schedule IV of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
This committee along with the Public Accounts committee (PAC) and the Estimates committee (EC) are the three financial standing committees of the Parliament of India.
The committee consists of twenty-two (21) members, fifteen elected by Lok Sabha, and not more than seven members of Rajya Sabha.
The members are elected every year from amongst its members of respective houses according to the principle of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote.
The chairperson is appointed by the Lok Sabha speaker.
The term of office of the members is one year.
A minister is not eligible to become a member of the committee.

ICMR deploys IBM Watson assistant to empower frontline testing facilities

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has collaborated with tech giant IBM to bring its Artificial intelligence-powered Watson virtual assistant on its portal to respond to queries from front-line staff and data entry operators across the country on COVID-19.
The virtual agent has been deployed on protected pages of the ICMR website that can be accessed only by authorized personnel who are involved with sample collection and testing in hospitals and diagnostic labs.
The queries could be related to nature and process of data to be captured by test labs, how to record inventory of test kits and reagents, process of reporting to various Government agencies and references to the latest guidance, in addition to responding to queries on COVID-19 in general.
The Watson virtual agent is able to understand and respond to common queries in English and Hindi from approved testing facilities for COVID-19 across India at scale, around the clock in a uniform and timely manner.
The virtual agent is also expected to help in on-boarding new data entry operators and staff of diagnostic centres, as the COVID-19 test network expands across the country.
The deployment of IBM”s chatbot AI platform is aimed to help ICMR effectively manage the process of capturing data relating to COVID-19.

May 6, 2020

Assam tea industry to incur loss of Rs 600 crore

Assam’s tea industry has incurred a loss of nearly Rs 600 crore during the lockdown, with the decline in production estimated at 32 million kilograms.
The state government has already announced the waiver of the minimum fixed charge of supply of natural gas to the tea gardens which were closed during the lockdown period.
Tea industry is the biggest industry in the State and being seasonal, the lockdown coincided with start of the new season. The tea industry has been hit hard as their major production period has been affected.
The tea industries in Assam contribute 39 per cent to the State GDP and provide direct employment to approximately 24 lakh people.
All the 15 gardens and factories of Assam Tea Corporation Limited (ATCL) have been allowed to function in full capacity and that the State government has also ensured the payment of full wages to all 16,720 workers and employees during the lockdown period.
Tea production in Assam in 2019 was 715.49 million kg, i.e., 51.51 per cent of the total tea production of1,389.70 million kg in India.

Assam CM directs proper screening of people entering State

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal directed the Kokrajhar and Dhubri district administrations to ensure proper screening of people entering the State through Srirampur and Chagolia-Boxirhat gates along the border with West Bengal to check the spread of COVID-19.
The Chief Minister visited a screening camp adjacent to Srirampur gate at Gossaigaon Sub-Division in Kokrajhar to review the measures taken to screen the movement of people from across the inter-state boundary.
The Chief Minister also asked the police to keep a strict surveillance on some reported vulnerable points to thwart any design of unauthorised movement from the neighbouring state.
The district administration has set up a quarantine centre at an area adjacent to Chagolia Gate with all facilities to quarantine around one thousand people.
He also said that adequate arrangements have been made to screen the health status of drivers, handymen and others coming to the State through Srirampur Gate and maintained that strict instruction has been given to ensure that nobody can enter the State without going through mandatory screening.

Israel Institute for Biological Research develops coronavirus antibody

The Israel Defense Minister Naftali Bennett has said that Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) has developed an antibody which can neutralise the virus responsible for COVID-19 within the bodies of those infected.
The antibody that attacks the virus in a monoclonal way and can neutralise it within the bodies of those ill.
Located in Ness Ziona, the Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) is a secretive unit that works under the country” Prime Minister”s Office.
After completing the development phase of the antibody, the researchers are now in the process of patenting the find and in the next stage, researchers will approach international companies to produce the antibody on a commercial scale.

Engineering student from Varanasi has designed an ‘anti-COVID-19 robot

An engineering student from Varanasi has designed an ”anti-COVID-19 robot” which will help the security forces shock lockdown violators.
Vishal Patel, a third year student of mechanical engineering at the Ashoka Institute in Varanasi, has developed this robot that can not only run on shallow water but can also operate comfortably on smooth and bumpy surfaces.
Patel, who built the robot under the supervision of his senior Shyam Chaurasia, claims that the device is also a security shield for police personnel.
It will also help the police to crack down on those flouting the lockdown rules. The police who are at a risk from coronavirus infection can maintain social distancing by operating through the robots who will monitor the situation.
With a moving camera, remote and through the Internet, this device can be followed by two-way calling while sitting at a police checkpoint.

UP govt launches portal jansunwai.up.nic.in for stranded migrants

The UP government has launched a public hearing portal – jansunwai.up.nic.in. Where people form Uttar Pradesh who are stranded in other states can register themselves if they wish to return.
The government will then prepare a plan for their return. However, registration on the website should not be considered as permission to travel.
The applicants will have to agree to be quarantined on their return. The applicant will have to provide an undertaking because if the information is found to be incorrect, action can be taken against the applicant under the Epidemics Act and Disaster Management Act.
Applicants will have to provide information like their name, age, mobile number, email, identification card details, who they will be travelling with, date of travel, medical details of family members and those they will be travelling with, whether they were quarantined for 14 days before date of travel, current address, address in UP, among other details.
Applicants will also have to declare whether they have stayed in any containment zone in the past two months.

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May 7, 2020

CSIR-NEIST launces special website on COVID-19 launched in Assam

A special website on COVID-19 – www.neist.res.in/covid19 – was launched by CSIR-NEIST. The portal has been designed and developed by CSIR-NEIST with a goal to disseminate wide array of information about the current COVID-19 pandemic.

IIT Guwahati steps up e-learning activities

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has stepped up activities of its online educational facilities.
The institute is continuing its online classes for all the theory courses, numbering more than 350, and aims to complete them by May 15.
The annual progress seminars, synopsis and viva-voce examinations of PhD students are also being conducted on an online mode to continuously monitor their progress as well as ensure that this unexpected lockdown does not delay their career growth.
The existing e-classroom facilities at IIT-G’s Centre for Educational Technology (CET) are being used for recording lectures on various subjects, besides holding student-teacher interactions, and interactions with remote students through video conferencing.

Meteorological Centre to come up in Ladakh

The Central government has decided to establish a Meteorological Centre in Ladakh to meet the meteorological services of the newly-carved Union Territory.
The decision came in pursuance to the approval accorded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
The Meteorological Centre will cater to all the operational meteorological services of Ladakh and issue weather forecast and adverse weather warnings as per the mandate of India Meteorological Department.
It will also keep close liaison with Srinagar’s Meteorological Centre, Delhi’s Regional Meteorological Centre and the state authorities.
All matters relating to establishment, general administration, financial and technical matters for the Meteorological Centre will be dealt with by Delhi”s Regional Meteorological Centre.

Uttar Pradesh Govt launches tele-medicine facility in all districts

The Uttar Pradesh government has started tele-consultancy facility in all districts to enable non-Covid-19 patients to get medical consultation from their homes.
The Chief Minister said that the telephone numbers of doctors who are offering their services should be publicised through newspapers and asked officials to take steps on a war footing to improve emergency health services.
The state government has set up 23,000 beds and deployed 2,481 doctors in government hospitals in 75 districts.
Adityanath said that special training was being given to health workers to protect themselves from getting infected.

IIT Delhi startup launches reusable antimicrobial mask

An IIT-Delhi startup named Nanosafe Solutions has launched an antimicrobial and washable face mask that can be reused upto 50 launderings. Named “NSafe”, which the team claims can reduce cost of using mask effectively.
The mask is a highly engineered triple-layered product consisting of – inner hydrophilic layer for comfort, middle layer having antimicrobial activity and outer most layer having water and oil repellent behaviour.
The team that developed the mask consists of Dr Anasuya Roy, an IIT Delhi alumnus, Founder and CEO of Nanosafe Solutions and Professor Mangala Joshi, Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering, IIT Delhi.
The mask enhances protection to the wearer through three different mechanisms: mechanical filtration, antimicrobial decontamination and repulsion of aerosol droplets.

May 2020 Current Affairs Monthly PDF | Assam 2020 Yearbook | May 2020 Quiz Monthly PDF

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Assam CM urged for innovation to add value to traditional products

Haryana to have NABL labs in all districts

Bande Utkala Janani gets state anthem status in Odisha

Govt. of India inaugurated The Urban Learning Internship Programme(TULIP)

Singaporean experts arrive to check Assam oil well gas leak

IIT Guwahati students develop mobile app for seamless air travel

Indian Energy Exchange launches real-time electricity market

India, Denmark sign MoU to boost cooperation in power sector

IIT Madras researchers demonstrate role of microRNA in tongue cancer

Publication Board of Assam organised Online poetry conference

PM Modi launches grievance redressal technology platform ‘CHAMPIONS’ for MSMEs

Indian scientists develop AI to enhance brain tumour diagnosis

Rajasthan govt interacts with 30 European companies in webinar

IIT Guwahati ranked 470th in QS World University rankings 2021

ICAR, IFFCO sign MoU for collaborative research

India plans to reduce weapons imports and focus on domestic manufacturing

Centre allots Rs 4,000 crore to states under ”Per Drop More Crop”

IIT Guwahati ranks 7th best in NIRF rankings 2020

National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings 2020

Railways successfully runs double stack container trains in electrified territory

Wipro partners with CloudKnox for Cloud security solutions

Assam NGO Touch of Humanity to promote sign language learning

UP CM Yogi Adityanath launches schemes for child labourers in UP

MGNREGA support for migrant labourers, got 84% more work

3 firms operating from Hyderabad selected for NASA’s Covid ventilator

Centre asks 8 NE states to set up e-offices in a fixed time

AP govt signs Bhogapuram airport deal with GMR

Govt unveils PM SVANIDHI scheme to provide affordable loans to street vendors

Rural mart launched to promote local products

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Centre sanctions Rs 1,407 crore to Assam under Jal Jeevan Mission

Asiatic Lion population increased by 29% in last five years

SGPGIMS develops cheaper, faster test for COVID-19

Union Cabinet approves distressed asset fund of Rs 20,000 crore for MSMEs

Assam CM forms 3-member panel on State’s economy

CCEA clears 50-83% MSP hike for 14 kharif crops

Moody’s downgraded India’s sovereign rating to Baa3

Highest ever allocation of fund worth Rs 1,01,500 crore in MGNREGS for FY 2020-21

Assam Govt appoints Samudra Gupta Kashyap as SIC

Govt transfers Rs 53,000 crore under PMGKP

Union IT Ministry launches schemes to boost electronic manufacturing

Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra topped FSSAI food safety index for 2019-20

IIT Guwahati project on bamboo furniture designing for use at health centres

Bengal to plant 5 crore mangrove trees in Sundarbans

EESL, GAIL India sign MoU for ‘trigeneration’ projects

Cabinet approves ordinance for ‘One India, One Agriculture Market’

New Microsoft programme to empower agritech startups in India

NGO Help Earth launched website on Guwahati’s biodiversity

Gairsain declared the summer capital of Uttarakhand

IIT-BHU develops anti-microbial mask

Andhra Pradesh deploys IBM Watson chatbot to answer Covid-19 queries

RBI announces creation of Payments Infrastructure Development Fund

Assam Governor launches project ‘Hariyali’ in BTAD

India ranks 168th on Environmental Performance Index

President Kovind promulgates ordinances for agriculture market reforms

Indian Railways has installed bio toilets across 68,000 coaches

Centre to develop 200 ‘urban forests’ in five years

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw named EY World Entrepreneur of the Year

India to host 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup

ISRO signs MoU with ARIES for space situational awareness

National Digital Library caters to students in all languages

Union Finance Ministry releases Rs 36,400 crore as GST compensation to states

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May 15, 2020

Assam likely to shift academic year to April-March

ELISA kits produced by ZydusCadila has 98% sensitivity

India’s Infant Mortality at 32 per 1,000 live births

Govt announces Rs 5,000 crore Special Credit facility for street vendors

Union Govt allocates Rs 40,000 crore more for MGNREGS

NDMA developed National Migrant Info System (NIMS), a central database for migrant workers

One nation, one ration card for migrants

May 16, 2020

IIT Guwahati ranked 470^th in QS World University rankings 2021

IIT Guwahati ranks 7^th best in NIRF rankings 2020

India ranks 168^th on Environmental Performance Index

India up at 74^th place on WEF’s global Energy Transition Index