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Assam Current Affairs – August 01-07, 2020

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Assam Current Affairs & GK – August 01-07, 2020

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of August 01-07, 2020)

August 2020 Current Affairs Monthly PDF  |  Assam 2020 Yearbook  | July 2020 Quiz Monthly PDF

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August 01, 2020

Natasurya Phani Sarma Award to Aishwarya Kakati and Bhabesh Baruah
  • Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal presented Natasurya Phani Sarma Award for the year 2020 to renowned theatre artistes Aishwarya Kakati and Bhabesh Baruah. The award comprises a sarai, commendation, man bastra and a cheque of Rs 2 lakh each.
  • A financial outlay of Rs 1.5 crore has been earmarked for the preservation of the samadhikshetra of Natasurya Phani Sarma.
  • The State government would set up a museum in memory of the cultural doyens like Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Natasurya Phani Sarma and Dr Bhupen Hazarika.

BIOGRAPHY – Phani Sarma (1910–1970)

  • Phani Sarma was an Indian theatre actor, playwright, film actor and director.
  • In 1933 Phani Sarma starred in the first Assamese film, Joymati, directed by Jyoti Prasad Agarwala.
  • He acted in Agarwalla’s second picture Indramalati. And acted and directed Siraj in 1948 and Pioli Phukan in 1955.
Rajesh Bhushan appointed as Union Health Secretary
  • IAS officer Rajesh Bhushan took charge as the Union health secretary. He will succeed Preeti Sudan.
  • A 1987 batch Bihar cadre IAS officer, he was appointed Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Health in April 2020.

FACTFILE – Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

  • The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is an Indian government ministry charged with health policy in India and for all government programs relating to family planning in India.
  • The Minister of Health and Family Welfare holds cabinet rank as a member of the Council of Ministers.
  • The Ministry publishes the Indian Pharmacopoeia through the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), an autonomous body for setting standards for drugs, pharmaceuticals and healthcare devices and technologies in India
Andhra Pradesh approves bills for trifurcation of state capital
  • Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan gave his assent to the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020, and the AP Capital Region Development Authority (Repeal) Bill, 2020, passed by the State Legislature.
  • One bill is for abolition of Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) that was created during the previous Telugu Desam Party (TDP) regime for building the capital in Amaravati, the other is aimed at decentralizing the administration by creating three state capitals.
  • The government plans to shift the executive capital to Visakhapatnam, judicial capital to Kurnool and retain Amaravati as the legislative capital.
  • The Governor had reportedly sought legal opinion on the procedure involved in the passage of the bills Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020 and the Bill to repeal AP Capital Region Development Authority Act, 2014
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) signs agreement with KVIC for supplies
  • The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) an agreement with the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), becoming the first among the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to get supplies from the Commission.
  • A total of 1,200 quintal of mustard oil is being procured from the KVIC by the ITBP with a total financial implication of Rs 1.73 crore.
  • It was decided during a meeting held at the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Directors General of the CAPFs in October last year that the use of terry Khadi uniform and other items of swadeshi origin should be made available to the CAPFs.
  • The ITBP had suggested that dhurries, blankets, towels, mustard oil, yoga kit, hospital bed sheets, pickels can be purchased for the forces through KVIC.
DIAT develops ‘Aashray’ medical bed isolation to combat COVID-19
  • Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, (DIAT) has developed ‘Aashray’, a medical bed isolation system to combat COVID-19 by preventing or minimising the spread of the virus.
  • This medical bed isolation is a low cost, reusable solution to maintain proper isolation of COVID-19 patients by creating a suction or negative pressure near exhale.
  • The product is modular and portable in design and can be suitable for different requirements such as institutional, hospitals and home/individual quarantine.

GK Quiz for Aug 1-3, 2020 – see video

August 02, 2020

Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya second best in NITI Aayog’s Aspirational districts ranking
  • Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya has ranked second best in the list of aspirational districts ranked by NITI Aayog for the period of 2020 February-June. 
  • While Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh has topped the list of aspirational districts, Bahraich of Uttar Pradesh have been placed at the second and third positions respectively. And Nawada district in Bihar has been ranked fourth and Moga district in Punjab is at the fifth place.
  • Health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion, skill development and basic infrastructure were the development areas that were taken into consideration for the ranking.
  • The aspirational districts programme, launched in January 2018, aims to transform districts that have shown relatively lesser progress in key social areas and have emerged as pockets of under-development.
Gujarat to set up Gujarat Skills Development Corporation (GSDC)
  • With the help of the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC), the Gujarat government will be setting up the Gujarat Skills Development Corporation (GSDC), with seed fund of Rs 100 crore.
  • the state government will have 25 per cent share in the corporation, while 24 per cent stakeholding will be that of NSDC. The remaining 51 per cent of the share will be held by 10 private companies in equal proportion.
  • Gujarat government has already provisioned Rs 30 crore in the budget 2020-21 for the purpose.
  • The GSDC will be supporting and creating high quality skills training institutes in the state and will carry out activities such as skills financing, CSR lead skilling, capacity building, industry connect, market analytics, international collaboration knowledge and advisory services and NSQF courses, which are presently undertaken by the NSDC.
Hamed Bakayoko is the new Prime Minister of Ivory Coast
  • Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara chose Hamed Bakayoko to be the Prime Minster of the country.

 FACTFILE – Ivory Coast

  • Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d’Ivoire, is a country located on the south coast of West Africa.
  • Ivory Coast’s capital is Yamoussoukro in the centre of the country, while its largest city is the port city of Abidjan.
Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs receives SKOCH Gold Award
  • Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has received SKOCH Gold Award for its Empowerment of Tribals through IT enabled Scholarship Schemes project of Scholarship Divison of the Ministry.
  • The 66thSKOCH 2020 Competition was entitled “INDIA RESPONDS TO COVID THROUGH DIGITAL GOVERNANCE”.
  • To assimilate with the larger vision of ‘Digital India’ and to realize the cherished goal of e-governance, MoTA has integrated all 5 Scholarship Schemes with DBT Portal under the guidance of DBT Mission. The portal provides facility to States for data sharing through Web services and States can up-load proposal, UCs and SOE online.
6th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting held in Russia
  • Environment Ministers of the five BRICS countries i.e. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa participated in the 6th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting which was conducted virtually.
  • Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar represented India and he expressed that the aspirations of the grouping are similar and best practices among the BRICS nations towards attainment of Sustainable Development Goals should be shared.
  • India will assume the BRICS Presidency in 2021.

 FACTFILE – BRICS

  • BRICS is the acronym coined for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
  • Since 2009, the BRICS nations have met annually at formal summits.
  • The Five BRICS countries represented over 3.1 billion people and four of five members are in the top 10 of the world by population.
  • These five nations had a combined GDP of US$18.6 trillion which is about 23.2% of the gross world product.

August 2020 Current Affairs Monthly PDF    |  Assam 2020 Yearbook  | July 2020 Quiz Monthly PDF

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August 03, 2020

UNICEF to engage more NCC volunteers in Northeast
  • The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Assam unit and the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Directorate for the Northeastern Region, signed an agreement to engage more NCC volunteers to deal with children’s’ issues in the North East.
  • These two organizations will involve young people in planning, designing initiatives and communications on critical children issues, and provide them with opportunities to share their stories.
  • The goal is to reach out to 1 million young people in the North East as change-makers and create spaces for developing their leadership.
Serum Institute gets DCGI nod for clinical trials of Oxford vaccine
  • The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given approval to Pune’s Serum Institute of India to conduct clinical trials of Oxford University-Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine in India.
  • The Serum Institute of India(SII) received approval after a thorough evaluation based on the recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee on COVID-19.
  • The Oxford University-Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine candidate is in the midst of Phase II and III clinical trials in the UK, Phase III trials in Brazil, and Phase I and II clinical trials in South Africa.
MSME Minister approves Khadi Agarbatti Aatmanirbhar Mission
  • Union Minister for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Nitin Gadkari has approved a scheme to raise production of ‘agarbatti’ to make India self-reliant on this product.
  • The Khadi Agarbatti Aatmanirbhar Mission, proposed by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), eyes employment generation as well as making India self-reliant in agarbatti production. It will aid the private incense sticks makers scale up production without any capital investment by them.
  • The KVIC will provide automatic incense sticks production and powder mixing machines to artisans by the private agarbatti manufacturers who will sign the agreement as business partners.
  • The KVIC will provide a 25 per cent subsidy and recover in easy instalments the rest cost of machine from artisans every month.
  • The business partner will provide raw material to artisans and will pay them wages on work basis. The cost of training of artisans will be shared by the KVIC and the private business partner on 75:25 per cent basis.
Hyderabad airport gets UNICEF-funded Mass Fever Screening System
  • Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has received a UNICEF-funded a mass fever screening system to further enhance the efficacy of screening of passengers in view of COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in coordination with the Asian Development Bank, has provided state-of-the-art thermal scanner funded by the UNICEF.
  • The system automatically adjusts and adapts to the surrounding ambient temperature without any human intervention. Thus provides easy identification of passengers with elevated temperature, while simplifying operations and minimizing handling.
  • The Hyderabad Airport continues to handle the international relief flights under the government of India’s largest offshore evacuation programme of Vande Bharat Mission (VBM).

GK Quiz for Aug 1-3, 2020 – see video

August 04, 2020

Northern Railway runs first-ever Vyapar Mala Express train to Tripura’s Jirania
  • The Indian Railways ran a special type of cargo service for transportation of cargo through the first “Vyapar Mala Express”. Traders book part of the goods carrying rake as per their requirement or supply order.
  • The first “Vyapar Mala Express” which started from Delhi’s Kishanganj station to reach Tripura’s Jirania station.
India’s first snow leopard conservation centre to be set up in Uttarakhand
  • Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat announced that India’s first conservation centre for snow leopards is to be set up in the forests of Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.
  • The centre to be developed by the Uttarakhand forest department along with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will work for conservation, restoration of Himalayan ecosystems, and creating livelihoods for local people.
  • The project also aims at the conservation of other endangered species along with the snow leopards.
  • Snow leopards are one of the most enigmatic wild cat species due to their reclusive nature. There are around 86 snow leopards in Uttarakhand right now.
  • In 2017, the central government had launched the six-year ‘SECURE Himalaya’ project, to support the conservation of the significant biodiversity of the mountain regions, including conservation projects of animals and forest resources spread over Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim.
Andhra Pradesh ties up with India’s FMCG majors to empower women
  • Andhra Pradesh government signed a pact with three FMCG major – Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), ITC and Procter and Gamble (P&G), for marketing and technology support for economic empowerment of women under two new schemes of the state.
  • An Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the virtual presence of Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, HUL Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Mehta, ITC Executive Director Sanjiv Puri and P&G India CEO Madhusudan Gopalan.
  • The FMCG companies will give handholding to women under the YSR Cheyutha scheme, to be launched shortly, that aims to provide annual financial assistance of Rs 18,750 for next four years to women of 45-60 years age group belonging to SC/ST and backward class and minorities communities.
  • They will also help in providing marketing opportunities and technology support to women under this proposed scheme.
  • The AP government also plans to launch YSR Asara Scheme in September 2020 under which Rs 6,700 crore will be spent annually on 90 lakh women and 9 lakh self-help groups in the state.
Andhra launches virtual campaign ‘E-RakshaBandhan’ on cybercrimes against women
  • Andhra Pradesh CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched ‘E-RakshaBandhan’ campaign aimed at creating public awareness on cybercrimes against women and children.
  • The virtual cybercrime awareness programme jointly developed by Andhra Pradesh Police and Crime Investigation Department (CID), will focus on ensuring the safety of women and children in cyber space.
  • The campaign aims at creating awareness among the public on the sharp rise in cybercrimes, would be conducted through online sessions in the form of webinars, workshops, competition, covering different topics related to cybercrimes.
IIT Madras and Helyxon deploy remote monitoring device for Covid-19 patients
  • IITMadras’ Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre (HTIC) and Helyxon, a healthcare startup, have developed an AI-backed remote patient monitoring system ‘OXY2 ‘ for Covid-19 to keep tabs on critical parameters like temperature, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and heart rate.
  • Equipped with geo-fencing tracking alerts, the OXY2 can keep a tab on the patient’s vital parameters and inform the medical staff about any aberration.
  • The device is completely self-contained, portable, wireless and can be clipped on to patient’s finger and data is streamed to a central monitoring system or any smart phone.
UAE becomes 1st Arab Nation to open a Nuclear Power Plant
  • The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has begun start-up operations in the initial unit of its first nuclear power plant at the Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi. 
  • The $22.4 billion Barakah nuclear power plant on the Gulf coast west of Abu Dhabi is being developed by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).
  • When fully operational, the four reactors will generate 5,600 megawatts (MW).
  • To diversify its energy economy, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and project its image as a regional leader in science and technology, the UAE has started this project.

August 2020 Current Affairs Monthly PDF  |  Assam 2020 Yearbook  | July 2020 Quiz Monthly PDF

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August 05, 2020

Prakash Javadekar launches 24×7 Doordarshan Assam channel
  • A 24-hour channel Doordarshan Assam dedicated was launched by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar.
  • The Doordarshan channel in Assam is part of a new-found focus on northeast region.
  • Doordarshan Assam would also be contributing in a major way to the educational development of the state like other regional channels and it will be another milestone in the government’s effort to provide online education in regional languages across states.
  • Doordarshan Assam which will include serials, music programmes, travelogues, reality shows, feature films etc and will have ethnic touch highlighting cuisine, folk culture and tribal life of the state and region.
Nokia Centre of Excellence to set up robotics lab at IISc Bengaluru
  • Finnish firm Nokia announced collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru to establish a network robotics laboratory for research on socially relevant use cases based on 5G and emerging technologies.
  • The Nokia Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Networked Robotics will promote interdisciplinary research involving robotics, advanced communication technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop use cases across areas like emergency management, agriculture and industrial automation, engagement and cooperation between academia, start-ups and industry ecosystem partners in research.
  • The tie-up would to help IISc in capacity building and human resources development in cutting-edge technology of robotics, 5G and autonomous systems.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu launches E-GyanMitra mobile app for online education
  • Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu has launched E-GyanMitra mobile app for online education.
  • Through this app, the students from primary till the higher secondary can take online classes and give there tests/exams.
  • The teachers will post the lectures and quiz for the students and the student can access those lectures, the teacher can monitor the progress of the students learning.

FACTFILE – Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

  • Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu is a union territory in western India.
  • It was created through the merger of the former union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu on 26 January 2020.
  • The UT is made up of four separate geographical entities Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Daman and the island of Diu, which were part of Portuguese India.
Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launches ‘Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan 2020-21
  • Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched ‘Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan, 2020-21, a national programme for popularizing science among school students.
  • This is a platform to indentify the talented minds with a scientific aptitude in the field of science and to promote the scientific acumen among the students.

GK Quiz for Aug 4-6, 2020 – see video

August 06, 2020

Manoj Sinha appointed as new Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir
  • Former Union Minister Manoj Sinha has been appointed the new Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, after the resignation of Girish Chandra Murmu who is appointed as the new CAG of India.
  • Manoj Sinha was born on July 1, 1959 in Mohanpura of Ghazipur district of eastern UP.
  • He has served as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Communications and Minister of State for Railways in the Government of India.

FACTFILE – Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir

  • The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir is the head of state of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The office of lieutenant governor was established after an Act was passed in August 2019 in the Parliament of India, reorganising the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories; Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on 31 October 2019.
  • Provisions contained within the act created the positions of Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.
India contributes over USD 15 million to India-UN Development Partnership Fund
  • India has contributed around USD 15.5 million to the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, as per its commitment to supporting developing nations in their developmental priorities across all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti handed over a cheque of USD 15.46 million to the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) Director Jorge Chediek.
  • The tranche of USD 15.46 million includes USD 6 million to the overall fund, in which all the developing countries are eligible for partnership, and USD 9.46 million dedicated to the Commonwealth countries.

FACTFILE – India-UN Development Partnership Fund

  • The India-UN Development Partnership Fund was started in 2017
  • It is managed by the UNOSSC and implemented under the leadership of partner developing countries leveraging the strengths of United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes.
  • Till now as many as 55 projects and proposals have been approved to date with a total contribution of USD 41.8 million towards a USD 150 million multi-year pledge.
Union Agriculture Minister launches Sahakar Cooptube NCDC Channel
  • Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched the SahakarCooptube NCDC Channel, a new initiative by National Cooperative Development Corporation.
  • The Minister also launched guidance videos produced by NCDC on ‘Formation and Registration of a Cooperative’ for eighteen different states in Hindi and regional languages.
  • Union Government under AtmaNirbhar Bharat has recently announced a series of transformative measures and sector specific financial packages to help agriculture.
  • The initiatives are steps taken with the objective for India to become food factory of the world.
Punjab to distributing smartphones to HS students
  • The Punjab Cabinet approved for distribution of 1,73,823 smartphones to students of government schools, who are preparing to take their Class XII board exams with the help of online education amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • The phones will be equipped with various smart features such as touch screen, camera and pre-loaded government applications like the ‘e-Sewa App’ with e-content related to Class XI and Class XII, as approved by the Department of School Education.
  • The Cabinet noted that four months of the academic year 2020-21 had already elapsed without regular on campus classes, and while private schools are conducting online classes, the students of government schools are facing a competitive disadvantage, especially those studying in Class XII.

August 2020 Current Affairs Monthly PDF  |  Assam 2020 Yearbook  | July 2020 Quiz Monthly PDF

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August 07, 2020

Union Cabinet approved National Education Policy 2020
  • The Union Cabinet approved the National Education Policy 2020, with proposal for large scale, transformational reforms in both school and higher education sectors.
  • This education policy replaces the thirty-four year old National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986.
  • Based on the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability, this policy is aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and aims to transform India into a knowledge society and global knowledge superpower by making education more flexible, multidisciplinary and pragmatic.

Some of the important proposals under the new policy are

  • New Policy aims for Universalization of Education from pre-school to secondary level with 100 % Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in school education by 2030, by bringing 2 crore children, who are out of school children, back into the main stream.
  • Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education to be raised to 50 % by 2035. For this purpose an additional 3.5 crore seats to be added in higher education
  • New 5+3+3+4 school curriculum with 12 years of schooling and 3 years of Anganwadi/ Pre-schooling
  • Emphasis on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, no rigid separation between academic streams, extracurricular, vocational streams in schools. Vocational Education to start  from Class 6 with Internships
  • Assessment reforms with 360 degree Holistic Progress Card, tracking Student Progress for achieving Learning Outcomes.
  • Higher Education curriculum to have Flexibility of Subjects and Multiple Entry / Exit to be allowed with appropriate certification.
  • Teaching upto at least Grade 5 to be in mother tongue/ regional language. Promotes Multilingualism in both schools and Higher Education.
  • Academic Bank of Credits to be established to facilitate Transfer of Credits
  • National Research Foundation to be established to foster a strong research culture.
  • National Educational Technology Forum to be created to facilitate and promote use of technology with equity.
  • To set up a Gender Inclusion Fund,Special Education Zones for disadvantaged regions and groups.
  • National Institute for Pali, Persian and Prakrit , Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation to be set up.
Odisha becomes first state to get ‘Tsunami Ready’ tag
  • Odisha has become the first state to get two coastal villages ‘tsunami ready’, this also makes the India to become the first in the Indian Ocean region to achieve the honour.
  • Venkatraipur village of Ganjam district and Noliasahi village of Jagatsinghpur district have been acknowledged by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO for greater preparedness to face the tsunami disaster.
  • In a virtual event to be organised by Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) Secretariat in Perth, Australia and the Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Centre (IOTIC) in Jakarta, Indonesia, ‘Certificate of Recognition’ will be handed over to the communities of Venkatraipur and Noliasahi as Tsunami Ready villages.
  • The Indian Ocean Tsunami Ready Programme of IOC-UNESCO is a community performance-based programme that facilitates tsunami preparedness as an active collaboration of the community, community leaders, and national and local emergency management agencies. It aims to improve coastal community preparedness for tsunami emergencies, to minimise the loss of life and property and to ensure structural and systematic approach in building community preparedness.
  • Regular tsunami mock drills are being conducted in the tsunami-prone villages as a part of International Tsunami Drills and National Tsunami drills. The Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) for last-mile connectivity has been set up in the tsunami-prone villages.
Pradeep Kumar Joshi appointed as new Chairman of UPSC
  • Professor Pradeep Kumar Joshi is appointed as the new chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) that conducts the civil services and other class job selection examinations.
  • Joshi, currently a member in the Commission, will succeed Arvind Saxena who completes his term as UPSC chairman.
  • Earlier he was the chairman of both Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commissions. He joined the UPSC as member in May 2015.
  • Other members of UPSC are Bhim Sain Bassi, Air Marshal A S Bhonsle (retired), Sujata Mehta, Manoj Soni, Smita Nagaraj, M Sathiyavathy Bharat Bhushan Vyas, T C A Anant and Rajiv Nayan Choubey.

FACTFILE – Union Public Service Commission

  • The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is India’s premier central recruiting agency, responsible for appointments to and examinations for All India services and group A & group B of Central services.
  • The agency’s charter is granted by Part XIV of the Constitution of India, titled as Services Under the Union and the States.
  • It is also required to be consulted by the Government in matters relating to the appointment, transfer, promotion and disciplinary matters. The commission reports directly to the President and can advise the Government through him.
  • It was originally established on 1 October 1926 as Public Service Commission, it was later reconstituted as Federal Public Service Commission by the Government of India Act 1935.
  • UPSC is one of the few institutions which function with both autonomy and freedom.
India’s first Kisan Special Parcel Train flagged off from Devlali Railway Station
  • Union Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal and Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar flagged off the India’s first Kisan Special Parcel Train ‘ Kisan Rail’ which will transport material between Maharashtra’s Devlali and Bihar’s Danapur Railway station.
  • The Kisan Rail will carry fruits and vegetables and will make stoppages at several stations and pick-up and deliver them. It will halt at Nasik Road, Manmad, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Burhanpur, Khandwa, ltarsi, Jabalpur, Satna, Katni, Manikpur, PrayagrajChheoki, PanditDeendayalUpadhyay Nagar and Buxar.
  • This initiative will help in bringing perishable agricultural products like vegetables, fruits to the market in a short period of time. The Kisan Rail train with frozen containers is expected to build a seamless national cold supply chain for perishables, inclusive of fish, meat and milk.
Maharashtra & Google tie-up to deploy learning tools for schools
  • The Maharashtra govt announced a partnership with Google that will enable 2.3 crore students and teachers to access the technology giant’s blended learning programmes that combine classroom approach with online learning.
  • Google will deploy free tools like G Suite for Education, Google Classroom and Google Meet to facilitate remote learning.
  • The School Education Department will provide individual educators and students with their own G Suite ID to ensure every student – irrespective of their location – experiences continuity in learning.
Andrzej Duda sworn in President of Poland for 2nd term
  • Andrzej Duda was sworn in as the President of Poland for his second five-year term in office after he was re-elected.
  • He is the second president in post-communist Poland to win a second five-year term, after Aleksander Kwasniewski from 1995 to 2005.
  • Duda won the run-off elections with with 51.03 per cent of the votes, while his rival, Warsaw Mayor RafalTrzaskowski received 48.97 per cent.

 FACTFILE – Poland

  • Poland is a country located in Central Europe.
  • It has an area of 312,696 square kilometres and has a largely temperate seasonal climate.
  • With a population of nearly 38.5 million people, Poland is the fifth most populous member state of the European Union.
  • Poland’s capital and largest metropolis is Warsaw.

 

August 2020 Current Affairs Monthly PDF  |  Assam 2020 Yearbook  | July 2020 Quiz Monthly PDF

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GK Quiz for Aug 7-9, 2020 – see video

Assam Current Affairs – July 29 – 31, 2020

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Assam Current Affairs & GK – July 29 - 31, 2020

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

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

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July 29, 2020

HRD Minister launches ‘India Report on Digital Education 2020’
  • Union Minister for HRD Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ virtually launched India Report on Digital Education, 2020, which elaborates on the innovative methods adopted by Ministry of HRD, Education Departments of States and Union Territories for ensuring accessible and inclusive education to children at home and reducing learning gaps.
  • Ministry of Human Resource Development has initiated many projects like DIKSHA platform, Swayam Prabha TV Channel, Online MOOC courses, On Air – Shiksha Vani,   DAISY by NIOS for differently-abled, e-PathShala, National Repository of Open Educational Resources to develop e-content and energized books, telecast through TV channels, E-learning portals , webinars and other digital initiatives along with State/ UT Governments.
  • The report has been prepared by Digital Education Division of MHRD in consultation with Education Departments of States and UTs.
  • School Education is envisaged as a comprehensive and convergent programme committed to universalize digital education across the wide spectrum of schools from pre-nursery to higher secondary classes.
  • Various State and Union Territories Governments have also managed the critical task of providing digital education at the doorstep of the students, social media tools like WhatsApp Group, Online classes through YouTube channel and Google meet.
  • States and UTs have also distributed textbooks at children’s doorsteps.
India can be major agro products exporter with effective policy
  • A study conducted by MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai shows that India can emerge as top five exporters of agro commodities in the world, if governments take effective measures to handhold farmers.
  • Through focused intervention in capacity building, India can enhance its agro export to surpass Thailand and Indonesia and become the fifth largest exporter in the world.
  • The government should re-orient the role of its extension centres, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), to handhold farmers in growing those varieties of crops that are demanded in the global market.
  • KVKs should guide farmers on prudential use of pesticides and other agro chemicals so that they conform to the global quality standards, so that India’s export consignments are rejected because of presence of higher level of pesticides.
  • India has made remarkable progress in export of niche products such as capsicum chilly, castor oil, tobacco extracts; and also made considerable progress in export of basmati rice, meat and marine products.
  • As per latest WTO data, India ranks eighth with annual agro exports of $39 billion, after EU, USA, Brazil, China, Canada, Indonesia and Thailand.
  • As per FAO data, India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world but its share in world exports is 1.7-1.8 per cent.
IRCTC, SBI Card launch new Co-branded contactless Credit Card
  • IRCTC and SBI Card together launched their new Co-branded Contactless Credit Card on RuPay Platform.
  • The new RuPay credit card is equipped with Near Field Communication (NFC), with which, users can expedite their transactions at the POS machines by just tapping the card on the machines.
Hetero launches generic Covid-19 drug Favivir
  • Drug firm Hetero has launched genericoral antiviral drug Favipiravir used for treatment of patients with mild to moderate Covid-19, in India under the brand name ‘Favivir’ at Rs 59 per tablet.
  • The company has been granted the manufacturing and marketing approval for Favipiravir from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).
  • Favivir is the second drug developed by Hetero after Covifor (Remdesivir) used in the treatment of Covid-19.
  • This medication has demonstrated positive clinical outcomes, it improves treatment accessibility to a significant amount of Covid-19 patient population, which have mild to moderate symptoms.

July 30, 2020

Union Cabinet approves National Education Policy 2020
  • The Union Cabinet approved the National Education Policy 2020, with large scale, transformational reforms in both school and higher education sectors in the country.
  • This education policy will replace the thirty-four year old National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986.
  • Built on the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability, this policy is aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and aims to transform India into a vibrant knowledge society and global knowledge superpower by making both education more holistic, flexible, multidisciplinary, suited to present needs.
  • New Education Policy aims for Universalization of Education from pre-school to secondary level with 100 % Gross Enrolment Rate (GER) in school education by 2030, by bringing 2 crore out of school children back into the main stream.
  • It proposes new 5+3+3+4 school curriculum with 12 years of schooling and 3 years of Anganwadi/ Pre-schooling. It also emphasis on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, no rigid separation between academic streams, extracurricular, vocational streams in schools. And teaching upto at least Grade 5 to be in mother tongue/ regional language.
  • GER in higher education to be raised to 50 % by 2035 ;  and additional 3.5 crore seats to be added in higher education. Higher Education curriculum is also to have more flexibility of Subjects, with multiple entry / exit to be allowed with appropriate certification.
  • Academic Bank of Credits to be established to facilitate Transfer of Credits.
  • National Research Foundation to be established to foster a strong research culture
  • Light but Tight Regulation of Higher Education, single regulator with four separate verticals for different functions
  • Affiliation System to be phased out with graded autonomy to colleges.
  • The new policy also advocates increased use of technology with equity; and for these purpose a National Educational Technology Forum to be created.
  • NEP 2020 promotes Multilingualism in both schools and HEs; National Institute for Pali, Persian and Prakrit , Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation to be set up.
Earth Sciences Ministry announces National Awards for excellence in Earth System Science
  • Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) announced National Awards for excellence in Earth System Science. The Life Time Excellence Award is being awarded to Professor Ashok Sahni for his significant contribution in the field of Geology, Vertebrate Paleontology and Biostratigraphy.
  • The National Award for Ocean Science and technology is being awarded to Dr. V. V. S. S. Sarma, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Vishakapatnam and Dr. M. Ravichandran, Director, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Goa. Dr. S. Suresh Babu will be awarded the National Award for Atmospheric Science and Technology.
  • The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) provides the nation with the best possible services for weather, climate, ocean, coastal and natural hazards, for the Public Safety and socio-economic benefits. It also deals with exploration and sustainable harnessing of ocean resources – living and non-living.
MoES-Knowledge Resource Centre Network launched
  • Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has launched the “MoES-Knowledge Resource Centre Network (KRCNet)” under the Digital India initiative of Government of India.
  • The Ministry aims to develop a World-Class Knowledge Resource Centre Network (KRCNet). The traditional libraries of the MoES system will be upgraded into a top-notch Knowledge Resource Centres (KRC).
  • KRCs will be interconnected and integrated into the KRCNet portal. It will be a single point entry to the intellectual assets of the ministry.

 Salient objectives of the MoES-Knowledge Resource Centre Network (KRCNet)

  • Establish a Total Quality Management (TQM) system by securing ISO certification for documenting MoESknowledge resources, its maintenance, easy retrieval and dissemination.
  • Collect, collate, analyze, index, store and disseminate the intellectual resources, products and project outputs available in MoES headquarter and its institutes.
  • Develop and maintain an up-to-date meta-data of the print & digital resources available in MoES headquarter and MoES institutes, including MoES services.
  • Provide 24X7 access to the subscribed knowledge contents through the KRCNet portal.
  • Application of information analytical tools & techniques like bibliometrics, scientometrics, big-data analytics, social media analytics etc., for policy formulation, report preparation and information dissemination.
  • Periodically organize training workshops to popularize usage of electronic journals, databases, digital products, data analytics etc.
Haryana engages Garuda Aerospace for drone-based anti-locust spraying
  • Drone-as-a-Service (DAAS) provider Garuda Aerospace has bagged a contract from the Haryana government for spraying anti-locust pesticide in the state.
  • Haryana is the third state after Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to have contracted Garuda Aerospace for drone-based anti-locust operations.
  • The Ministry of Civil Aviation gave conditional exemption to the Haryana government for use of remotely piloted systems for anti-locust operations.
  • Garuda Aerospace has been carrying out drone-based anti-coronavirus sanitation orders from several municipal corporations and smart cities like Varanasi, Rourkela, Raipur, Chennai and Hyderabad.

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July 31, 2020

‘BANDICOOT’ robot to clean manholes in Guwahati
  • Guwahati Development Department (GDD) Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya inaugurated the first-ever manhole cleaning robot to end manual scavenging.
  • The robot named ‘BANDICOOT’ has been procured by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) along with six Skid Steer Loaders from JCB and six Backhoe Loaders from CASE and BOBCAT companies each.
  • The BANDICOOT robot is also the first of its kind in the world that was developed by a Start-up India company called Genrobotics under the Make in India initiative, funded by CSR of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).
  • Guwahati is the third city in the entire country to procure this innovative technology to clean manholes after Gurugram and Coimbatore.
Hardik Satishchandra Shah appointed Private Secretary to PM Modi
  • IAS officer Hardik Satishchandra Shah has been appointed the Private Secretary (PS) to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah is a 2010-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, is currently serving as a Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

FACTFILE – Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)

  • The Prime Minister’s Office consists of the immediate staff of the Prime Minister of India, as well as multiple levels of support staff reporting to the Prime Minister.
  • The PMO is headed by the Principal Secretary, currently PK Misra.
  • It was originally called the Prime Minister’s Secretariat until 1977, when it was renamed during the Prime Ministership of Morarji Desai ministry.
PM Modi inaugurated the Supreme Court building of Mauritius
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Supreme Court building of Mauritius with his counterpart Pravind K. Jugnauth via video conference, in presence of senior members of judiciary from Mauritius and other dignitaries from both the countries.
  • Prime Minister Modi said India and Mauritius jointly celebrated yet another landmark as a symbol of special friendship between the two countries.
  • The Supreme Court building of Mauritius has been constructed with Indian grant assistance and will be the first India-assisted infrastructure project within the capital city of Port Louis after Covid-19.
  • This project is one of the five projects being implemented under the ‘Special Economic Package’ of $353 million extended by the Government of India to Mauritius in 2016.
Union cabinet approval for remaining HRD Ministry as Ministry of Education
  • The Union Cabinet has approved the change of name of the Ministry of Human Resource Development as Ministry of Education.
  • The name change was done as per the recommendation of the draft New Education Policy 2020. The HRD ministry name was adopted in 1985, during the tenure of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, before that it was the Ministry of Education.

FACTFILE – Ministry of Education (MoE)

  • The Ministry of Education (MoE) is responsible for the implementation and formulation of the National Policy on Education approved by Union cabinet of India and to ensure that it is implemented in letter and spirit.
  • Planned development, including expanding access and improving quality of the educational institutions throughout the country, including in the regions where people do not have easy access to education.
  • The Ministry is divided into two departments – (1) Department of School Education and Literacy, which deals with primary, secondary and higher secondary education, adult education and literacy, and (2) Department of Higher Education, which deals with a university education, technical education, scholarship, etc.
Power Finance Corporation signs agreement with IIT- Kanpur
  • Power Finance Corporation (PFC), a PSU under Ministry of Power and country’s leading NBFC, signed a MoA with Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) for Training, Research, and Entrepreneurship Development in Smart Grid Technology.
  • As per the MoA, PFC will provide financial assistance of Rs. 2.38 Crore to IIT-K under its CSR initiative.
  • PFD will provide support to IIT-K in developing infrastructure for research and development on smart grid technology. And IIT-K will provide training on smart grid technology to 90 participants and provide fellowship to 9 selected candidates for development of ideas on Smart Grid Technology. The fellows will be assisted by Start-up Innovation and Incubation Centre (SIIC) of IIT-K and encouraged to take up entrepreneurial activities.
Punjab launches immunity boosting milk ‘Verka haldi’
  • Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh launched a nutritional drink ‘Verka haldi’ or turmeric milk, produced by Milkfed to boost people’s immunity amid the Covid-19 pandemic, with the hope that this milk would soon emerge as a popular drink among consumers, to stay healthy and boost their immunity in the fight against coronavirus.
  • The Verka milk had been prepared by using a unique ‘haldi’ formulation, that had been developed and patented by Department of Biotechnology of Punjabi University in Patiala.
  • Verka Haldi Dudh has been launched, as part of Mission Fateh, at a price of Rs 25 for 200 ml which is within the reach of all sections of society and will be beneficial for health of young and old alike.

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Assam Current Affairs – July 22 – 28, 2020

Posted on by admin 
Assam Current Affairs & GK – July 22 - 28, 2020

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

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July 22, 2020

Centre to Provide Rs 346 crore to Assam to tackle flood fury
  • Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat has announced to provide the first instalment of Rs 346 crore under the Flood Management Programme (FMP) in Assam.
  • The massive devastation caused by over a month long flood along with erosion in the state. The monsoon flood in Assam has killed at least 89 people, while around 26.32 lakh people in 26 of the 33 districts were affected.
  • The flood also badly damaged 115,515 hectares of crop area and infrastructures across the state.
  • The central minister requested the Chief Minister to send proposals for sanctioning money under Disaster Risk Management Fund which would facilitate the state government to get more funds from the Central Government for flood management, relief, erosion and other mitigation.
  • The Chief Minister also urged for funds to strengthen 5,000 km of embankments built since 1951 in the state, which also turned into road cum embankments.
Junior Administrative Assistant (Assam Secretariat) Test Series 2020 – Mock & Sectional Tests

 

Andhra Pradesh inks MoU with AMUL for dairy development
  • Andhra Pradesh government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with cooperative giant Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL).
  • The MoU is expected to give a boost to the empowerment of women self-help groups by encouraging the milk cooperatives in the government sector.
  • Joining hands with AMUL will help the women groups and dairy farming in the cooperative sector with an opportunity and exposure to world class infrastructure, technology and marketing opportunities which would improve their standard of living and self reliance of women.
  • Though the Andhra Pradesh stands fourth in milk production, only 24 per cent was going to the organised sector. The partnership with AMUL will help farmers to get good price and women groups.
Punjab signs pacts with IIT Ropar for skill development
  • Punjab state government has signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the IIT Ropar to boost skill development.
  • The MoUs provide for IIT’s Technical Education Department to become academic mentor for engineering colleges in Gurdaspur and Ferozepur, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Skill Institute at Shri Chamkaur Sahib, five government polytechnics and 10 government ITIs.
  • IIT Ropar would help the state in developing one model ITI and one model polytechnic.

FACTFILE – Indian Institute of Technology Ropar

  • Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (IIT Ropar) is an engineering, science and technology higher education institute located in Rupnagar, Punjab.
  • It is one of the eight newer Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India under The Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Act, 2011.
India’s first public Electric Vehicle charging plaza inaugurated at New Delhi
  • Union Minister for Power, New and Renewable Energy, RK Singh, inaugurated India’s first public Electric Vehicle (EV) charging plaza at Chelmsford Club in New Delhi.
  • The charging plaza has been set up with a focus on enhancing energy efficiency and promoting e-mobility. This plaza will host 5 EV chargers of different specifications.
  • The minister also launched retrofit of air-conditioning to improve indoor air quality for safety and efficiency (RAISE) – a joint initiative of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
  • This is a part of the initiative to “Retrofit of Air-conditioning to improve Indoor air quality for Safety and Efficiency” developed for healthy and energy-efficient buildings, in partnership with USAID’s MAITREE programme.
Ministry of Youth Affairs partners with UNICEF to promote volunteerism among youth
  • Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has partnered with UNICEF to strengthen the resolve to mobilise 1 crore youth volunteers to achieve goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat
  • MYAS signed a memorandum of intent was signed with YuWaah (a multi-stakeholder platform formed by the UNICEF) to work in partnership to promote volunteerism among India’s youth.
  • The partnership will leverage both Indian ministry and UN efforts to work with young people to co-create and implement solutions at scale tackling education, skilling and unemployment challenges for the youth in India.

July 23, 2020

NITI Aayog recommends mandatory use of 25% recycled material in infra projects
  • Niti Aayog will recommend to the government to mandate the use of recycled materials up to 25 per cent in large infrastructure projects, in line with the global move to promote the use of secondary products.
  • Amitabh Kant, Chief Executive Officer of Niti Aayog, said that Govt should make 25 per cent use of recycled products (metals, plastics and paper) in large infrastructure projects to promote secondary products across India
  • Using recycled products by up to 25 per cent may reduce the raw material cost of the project by at least 10-15 per cent.
PM Modi at India Ideas Summit
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the keynote address at the India Ideas Summit, the Summit is being hosted by the US-India Business Council (USIBC). The theme for this year’s Summit is ‘Building a Better Future’.
  • PM Modi said India has what is needed to power the global economic recovery and there has never been a better time to invest in the country. 
  • India’s rise means a rise in global integration with increasing openness, a rise in competitiveness with access to a market which offers scale, and a rise in returns on investment with the availability of skilled human resources. 
  • USA and India partnership can play an important role in helping the world bounce back faster after the pandemic.
NSDC and Airtel Payments Bank joins hands to skill rural youth
  • Airtel Payments Bank and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) announced a partnership to skill the youth in rural India and enable them to find employment opportunities in the financial services sector.
  • The partnership will leverage NSDC’s experience, training infrastructure and wide network with Airtel Payment Bank’s industry insights, to design and conduct targeted skill development programmes for rural youth.
  • The skill development programme will be tailored for imparting knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs, such as business correspondent and field sales executive, in the financial services sector.
  • The programme will focus on the adoption of digital tools to drive online banking and digital financial services, given the growing penetration of affordable smartphones and 4G networks in the country.
  • This collaboration will also extend to e-Skill India, NSDC’s digital skilling initiative.

FACTFILE – Airtel Payments Bank

  • Airtel Payments Bank is a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel.
  • It is the first company in India to receive a payments bank license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and it became the first live payments bank in the country.
  • It is a joint venture between Bharti Airtel Ltd. and Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd (holds 19.9% stake).
China launches first Mars mission Tianwen 1
  • China successfully launched its first Mars probe aiming to complete orbiting, landing and roving in a single mission.
  • A Long March-5 rocket, China’s largest and most powerful launch vehicle, carrying the spacecraft with a mass of about five tonnes, soared into the sky from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan province.
  • The Chinese Mars probe named Tianwen 1 or Quest for Heavenly Truth 1, will fulfil three scientific objectives (i) orbiting the red planet for comprehensive observation, (ii) landing on Martian soil and (iii) sending a rover to roam the landing site.
  • It will conduct scientific investigations into the planet’s soil, geological structure, environment, atmosphere and water.
  • The probe consists of three parts — the orbiter, the lander and the rover — and they will separate in Mars orbit. The orbiter will remain in the orbit for scientific operations and relay signals while the lander-rover combination makes an autonomous descent and landing.
Consumer Protection Act, 2019 comes into force from 20 July
  • The Consumer Protection Act,2019 comes in to force from 20 July, with its salient features including the establishment of central authority to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers.
  • This new Act will empower consumers and help them in protecting their rights through its various notified rules and provisions like Consumer Protection Councils, Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, Mediation, Product Liability and punishment for manufacture or sale of products containing adulterant / spurious goods.
  • Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) will be empowered to conduct investigations into violations of consumer rights and institute complaints/prosecution, order recalls of unsafe goods and services, order discontinuance of unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements, impose penalties on manufacturers/endorsers/publishers of misleading advertisements.
  • The rules for the prevention of unfair trade practice by e-commerce platforms will also be covered under this Act. Every e-commerce entity is required to provide information relating to return, refund, exchange, warranty and guarantee, delivery and shipment, modes of payment, grievance redressal mechanism, payment methods, security of payment methods, charge-back options, etc. including country of origin.
  • E-Commerce platforms have to acknowledge the receipt of any consumer complaint within forty-eight hours and redress the complaint within one month.
India, Maldives sign agreement for establishment of ‘Emergency Medical Services’ in Malé
  • India and Maldives have signed an agreement for the establishment of ‘Emergency Medical Services’ in capital Male.
  • It is one of the several small and medium projects that are being financed by India under a grant assistance of around 20 million US dollars for the neighbouring country.
  • Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shaheed thanked the Indian government and said that the emergency medical service unit will enhance timely access to quality emergency care and will increase collaboration between healthcare facilities and disaster response agencies.

 FACTIFLE – The Maldives

  • The Republic of Maldives is a small island nation in South Asia, situated in the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean.
  • It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 700 kilometres from the Asian continent’s mainland.
  • The Maldives is one of the world’s most geographically dispersed sovereign states as well as the smallest Asian country by land area and population, with around 515,696 inhabitants.
  • It is the world’s lowest-lying country, with an average ground-level elevation of 1.5 metres above sea level.
  • Malé is the capital and the most populated city
  • The Maldives archipelago is located on the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge; this also forms a terrestrial ecoregion, together with the Chagos Archipelago and Lakshadweep.
  • The Maldives is a founding member of SAARC and also a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Non-Aligned Movement.

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July 24, 2020

Tripura NGO’s scheme for well-off to help underprivileged people
  • An NGO from Tripura, Purvaudaya launched “Heart of Humanity”, a project to assist the poor and the needy people by connecting the well-off section of society with underprivileged people.
  • Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, along with other ministers inaugurated three outlets of Purvaudaya in Agartala and outskirts areas in which clothes and food would be distributed to the poor free of cost.
  • At these outlets, the well-off citizens will donate unused and discarded items like clothes, mattresses, quilts, blankets, shoes, toys, books, artefacts, bags, etc which are still in good condition so that the needy people can take them for their use.
Funding of over Rs 8,700 crore approved for 81 stressed housing projects under SWAMIH scheme
  • Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said under the Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH initiative Rs 8,767 crore has been approved for 81 projects, enabling the completion of almost 60,000 homes across India.
  • While reviewing the performance of the Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH), Finance Minister underlined the need for speedy efforts to complete construction of projects for which last-mile funding has been sanctioned.
  • She also suggested that both private and public sector banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and housing finance companies (HFCs) should see the special window as a stakeholder and increase support for early completion of stressed projects.
  • Sitharaman asked the Department of Economic Affairs to closely monitor the performance of SWAMIH to ensure that the capital raised is used for resolving stressed projects on urgent basis.
Greta Thunberg awarded €1-million Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity
  • Teenage Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was awarded the 2020 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity, worth €1-million (or $1.15 million) in prize money
  • Established in 2020, the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity aims to recognize individuals, groups or organizations whose contributions toward mitigating climate change stand out for “novelty, innovation and impact.”

FACTFILE – Gulbenkian Prize

  • Gulbenkian Prize is a series of prizes awarded annually by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
  • The main Gulbenkian Prize was established in 1976 as the Gulbenkian Science Prize awarded to Portuguese individuals and organizations.
  • The Gulbenkian Science Prize has now been restructured and is known as Gulbenkian Prizes on Cohesion, Knowledge and Sustainability and three prizes are awarded in each of the fields.
India successfully test-fires Dhruvastra
  • Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducts flight trials of the anti-tank guided Nag Missile (HELINA), which has been named now as Dhruvastra.
  • The trials were carried out in direct and top attack mode, at Interim Test Range, Balasore, Odisha.
  • This is a third-generation, fire-and-forget, anti-tank guided missile. It will support both the airborne forces of the Indian Army as well as the Mechanised Infantry.
  • The land version of this missile is already available for integration the Nag missile carrier (NAMICA). The missile in the helicopter-launched configuration has been designated as Helicopter-launched NAG (HELINA).
  • After the completion of a successful trial, this can be fired from the indigenous `Dhruv’ Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), as well as Rudra (ALH WSI) attack helicopter.

July 25, 2020 

Assam CM launches Drone for surveillance of forests
  • Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal unveiled a surveillance quadcopter (drone) and an anti-depredation quick response vehicle, which will help intensify vigil and curb man-animal conflict.
  • An intensified 24X7 surveillance would become possible over the forest cover and check incidents of man-animal conflict.
  • The drone will narrow-cast any purported movement of poachers in the national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and other reserve forests.
Odisha approves investment proposals worth Rs. 2,172.92 crore
  • The Odisha government has approved four investment proposals worth Rs 2,172.92 crore. The State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) approved the projects in metal and metal downstream sector, which will likely generate employment for 1,122 people.
  • Rungta Mines Limited proposed to set up 34 MTPA beneficiation plant in two phases with an investment of Rs 975 crore.
  • It also proposed to set up 20 MTPA underground slurry pipeline with an investment of Rs 951 crore.
  • Shyam Metalics and Energy Limited would expand its Pellet Plant from 0.3 MTPA to 1.2 MTPA capacity with a total investment of Rs 76.92 crore.
Rajesh Bhushan appointed as Health Secretary and Ajay Tirkey as Secretary of Department of Land Resources
  • Rajesh Bhushan, IAS officer of 1987 Batch, Bihar Cadre has been appointed as the new Health Secretary in the Union Health Ministry. He will succeed Preeti Sudan upon completion of her tenure.
  • Ajay Tirkey has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Land Resources in the Ministry of Rural Development.
  • Ram Mohan Mishra is appointed as Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
  • Anil Kumar Jain has been given additional charge as Secretary, Mines along with his post of Secretary in the Coal Ministry.
IIT Kharagpur’s portable device to test Covid-19
  • Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur have developed a portable diagnostic device that can detect Covid-19 infection in 60 minutes at an estimated cost of Rs 400.
  • This entire non-invasive saliva-based test can be conducted in a very low-cost portable enclosure. The technology essentially uses a disposable simple paper-strip for chemical analysis and visualisation of results.
  • The device has been designed to be usable at locations with extremely poor resources. It can be operated by minimally trained personnel, precluding the needs for skilled technicians.
  • It is ready for commercialisation of the product and any corporate or start-up can approach the institute for technology licensing and commercial scale of production.
Turkmenistan granted observer status in the World Trade Organization (WTO)
  • Turkmenistan has been granted Observer status by the World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council. Turkmenistan has become the last former Soviet republic to establish formal ties with the trade body.
  • Neighbouring Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Afghanistan — have acceded to the WTO, while Uzbekistan has been in on-and-off negotiations on WTO accession since 1994.

 FACTFILE –World Trade Organization (WTO)

  • The World Trade Organization is an intergovernmental organization that is concerned with the regulation of international trade between nations and is the largest international economic organization.
  • Commenced on 1 January 1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement, signed by 123 nations on 15 April 1994, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which commenced in 1948.
  • The WTO has 164 members and 25 observer governments
Nicaragua to join International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement
  • Nicaragua has become the 87th country to join the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement, an initiative led by India to promote sustainable energy.
  • Nicaragua’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Jaime Hermida Castillo signed the agreement at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations.

FACTFILE – International Solar Alliance

  • The International Solar Alliance is an alliance of 121 countries, most of them being sunshine countries which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
  • It was jointly launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former French President Francois Hollande at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015.
  • It is a major global initiative for the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement, envisioning rapid deployment of solar energy units. Last year the ISA amended its Framework Agreement to enable membership for all member countries of the United Nations.
  • Inclusion of UN member countries to the alliance will put solar energy in global agenda and the expanding membership will lead to the initiative benefitting the world at large.
  • The ISA Framework Agreement was opened for signature during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Morocco in November 2016 and the ISA became a treaty-based intergovernmental body in December 2017.
  • The ISA’s first assembly was held in New Delhi in October 2018.

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July 26, 2020 

Assam-origin scientist Dr Hifzur R Siddique makes major discovery in liver cancer
  • Dr Hifzur R Siddique, Assam-origin scientist now working as an assistant professor with Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has made a path-breaking discovery in determining a major cause of liver cancer.
  • The discovery has the potential to serve as a therapeutic target for drug design by providing direction to the management strategy for this terminal disease.
  • Together with Prof Keigo Machida of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles and other collaborators, Dr Hifzur R Siddique has discovered that the central regulatory pathway of liver cancer is caused by alcohol and hepatitis infection.
  • The team found that the cancer cells and cancer stem cells accumulate TBC1D15, which promotes cancer in two ways– initially by interfering with the normal asymmetric cell division and then enhancing the cancer-causing NOTCH protein.
TRIFED signs MoU with IIT Delhi for Unnat Bharat Abhiyan
  • The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) has entered into a partnership with IIT Delhi for the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), a flagship national programme of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. 
  • A tripartite MOU was signed between TRIFED, IIT Delhi, on behalf of the UBA, as the National Coordinating Institute, and Vijnana Bharati, a Swadeshi Science Movement at IIT Delhi .
  • Tribal entrepreneurs under TRIFED’s Van Dhan programme will now be able to get access to the expertise of the entire network of 2600 + academic and research institutions under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA).
  • Together with IIT Delhi, the “National Coordinating Institute (NCI)” for Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA)” ,TRIFED envisages promoting Tribal Livelihoods and Income generating programmes through synergistic collaboration among the concerned Ministries, District Administration, local Panchayat Raj Institutes (PRIs), Voluntary Organisations, other stakeholders, as well as the other participating institutions.
  • TRIFED is implementing the Van Dhan Yojana a programme for value addition, branding and marketing of MFPs by establishing Van Dhan Kendras of around 300 tribal members each across the country to facilitate the creation of sustainable livelihoods for the forest-based tribal gatherers.
  • The partnership will benefit the tribal people and many more upcoming initiatives in the pipeline and will accelerate the transformation of tribal lives and livelihoods by reinvigorating their flagging economic condition.
Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launches state-of-the-art honey testing lab at Anand
  • Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated a ‘World Class State-of-the-Art Honey Testing Laboratory’ established by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Anand (Gujarat) with support of National Bee Board (NBB).
  • Based on the parameters notified by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI), NDDB has set-up this lab with all the facilities and developed the test methods and protocols, accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
  • The ministry has taken up several activities to promote beekeeping under Mission on Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). The National Mission for Beekeeping being implemented through the National Bee Board and the states.
  • The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare has approved the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission(NBHM) for a period of two years.
India ranked 3rd in gaining forest area in the world
  • As per the latest Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), India has ranked third among the top 10 countries that have gained in forest areas in the last decade. India makes up for two per cent of total global forest area.
  • FAO brings this comprehensive assessment every five years since 1990. This report assesses the state of forests, their conditions and management for all member countries.
  • The top 10 countries that have recorded the maximum average annual net gains in forest area during 2010-2020 are China, Australia, India, Chile, Vietnam, Turkey, the United States, France, Italy and Romania.
  • The Asian continent reported the highest net gain in forest area in 2010-2020, it recorded 1.17 million hectares (ha) per year net increase in forests in the last decade.
  • India has been taking up massive afforestation and plantation schemes. During 2010-20, the rate of increase in naturally regenerating forest was just 0.38 per cent according to the FRA 2020.
  • India reported maximum employment in the forestry sector in the world. India accounted for 6.23 million, or nearly 50 per cent of 12.5 million people who are employed in the forestry sector globally.

July 27, 2020                    

PM Modi praises skilled artisans of Assam, Tripura and Manipur for value addition to bamboo products
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised skilled artisans of Assam, Tripura and Manipur for value addition to bamboo products including water bottles, tiffin boxes etc with the aim of making the country ‘Atmanirbhar’.
  • During his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’, PM said these indigenous products boost the income of the people and the business during the festivities and various other occasions.
  • The government has set up a new National Bamboo Mission (NBM) to focus on the development of the bamboo sector in the country. Now the North Eastern Council Cane & Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) act as a coordinating and facilitating agency for the North-Eastern region.
  • The North-Eastern region has now slowly become bamboo industry hubs as more youths and entrepreneurs are engaging in this craft with the support from the government. Various value-added bamboo products including bamboo tiffin boxes manufactured at a small town- Churachandpur of Manipur State have become popular.
  • Zogam Bamboo Works of Churachandpur now could provide jobs to a number of young craftsmen of the district and its products have international buyers from Singapore, Dubai, Oklahoma etc. 
Delhi govt launches ‘Rozgar Bazar’ web portal to generate more jobs
  • The Delhi government launched a web portal to make job opportunities available to those who lost employment due to the COVID-induced lockdown, a move aimed at reviving the capital’s economy.
  • The web portal http://jobs.delhi.gov.in can be used by those looking for jobs and also for employers looking to recruit people.
  • Recruiters can go to the website and update their requirement. Job seekers can also go there and update their qualification, experience and requirement.
Kannan C S Warrier receives 2019 National Award of Excellence for Outstanding Research in Forestry
  • Coimbatore-based scientist, Kannan CS Warrier, has received the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education’s National Award of Excellence for exceptional research in forestry, including conservation of endangered sacred groves in the Alappuzha district of Kerala.
  • Sacred groves, also called kavu in Malayalam, are remains of natural forests, which are seen on the premises of Hindu ancestral homes (tharavaad). The breakdown of the joint family system spelt doom for Kerala’s sacred groves.
India builds World’s first-ever electrified Rail Tunnel for running Double Stack Container Trains
  • Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL) has completed caving work for the one-kilometre long tunnel of Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) through Aravalli mountain range in Haryana.
  • The tunnel connects Mewat and Gurugram district of Haryana and negotiates a steep gradient on the uphill and downhill slope of the Aravalli range.
  • The D-shaped tunnel with a cross-sectional area of 150 square metres, can accommodate double line with higher OHE (Over Head Equipment) to enable double-stack container movement on WDFC, making it world’s first electrified rail tunnel fit to run double-stack containers.

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July 28, 2020

Assam CM Sonowal launches 2nd phase of PMAY(U) in State
  • Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal centrally laid the foundation stone of the second phase of the flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) at a residence of Nagaon Choukitoop.
  • During the inaugural ceremony, CM distributed cheques of the first instalment of Rs 80,000 among three beneficiaries and also distributed cheques of last instalment among three beneficiaries of the town.
  • He also transferred the first and last instalments of Rs 80,000 and 30,000 respectively among 4000 and 2000 beneficiaries of the State through an electronic device.
India sends 10 diesel locomotives to Bangladesh Railways
  • India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal flagged off 10 broad gauge diesel locomotives to Bangladesh Railways under its “neighbourhood first” policy.
  • The 10 diesel locomotives were handed over from the Gede station of Sealdah Division of Indian Railways to Darshana station of Bangladesh Railways.
  • The handing over of these locomotives, under grant assistance from the Indian government, fulfils an important commitment made during the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in October, 2019.
  • Both the countries have stepped up their rail cooperation in mitigating the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, as trade via land border faced disruptions. There was the highest ever exchange of freight trains in the month of June 2020.
RBI to extend $400 million currency swap facility to Sri Lanka
  • The Reserve Bank of India has signed necessary documents for extending a USD 400 million currency swap facility to Sri Lanka to boost the island nation’s draining foreign exchange reserves due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Haryana to host the Khelo India Youth Games in 2021
  • Haryana will host the fourth edition of the Khelo India Youth Games in 2021.
  • Star Sports will be the Official Broadcast Partner of the Khelo India Youth Games.
  • KIYG is a part of the revamped national programme for development of sports ‘Khelo India’ which was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2017.
  • The 2020 edition of KIYG was held in Guwahati.
  • The Khelo India Scheme aims to encourage sports all over the country.
Junior Administrative Assistant (Assam Secretariat) Test Series 2020 – Mock & Sectional Tests

 

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Assam Current Affairs – October 08 – 14, 2019

Posted on by admin 
Current Affairs Assam – October 8 - 14, 2019

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of October 8 – 14, 2019 )

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October 08, 2019

  IAF celebrates 87th Air Force Day
  • Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrated 87th anniversary on Air Force Day at Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria were present at the event.
  • Every year, the Air Force Day is celebrated at Hindon base in presence of the IAF chief and senior officials of the three armed forces.
  • The IAF was founded on October 8, 1932, and the force has participated in several crucial wars and landmark missions.

 FACTFILE – Indian Air Force (IAF)

  • The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks fourth amongst the air forces of the world.
  • Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflict.
  • It was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire which honoured India’s aviation service during World War II with the prefix Royal .
  • After India gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, the name Royal Indian Air Force was kept and served in the name of Dominion of India. With the government’s transition to a Republic in 1950, the prefix Royal was removed after only three years.
 Nobel prize in physics awarded to James Peebles, Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz
  • 2019 Nobel Prize in physics awarded to James Peebles, Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz for research on cosmology and exoplanets.
  • Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm awarded half of the 9 million Swedish kronor (£740,000) prize to Canadian scientist Peebles for his theoretical discoveries about the evolution of the universe.
  • A Swiss duo of astronomers, Mayor and Queloz, have awarded the prestigious prize for their discovery of the first planet beyond our solar system. The duo has succeeded in discovering the first exoplanet 50 light years away in the constellation of Pegasus.
 William Kaelin and Gregg Semanza and Peter Ratcliffe win Nobel Prize in Medicine for work on how cells adapt to oxygen  
  • Three Americans, William G. Kaelin and Gregg. L. Semanza and Briton Peter J. Ratcliffe, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
  • The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute announced that the three recipients were recognized for their discoveries of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability.
  • With their work they were able to understand how oxygen levels affect cell metabolism and physiological function.
  • Their discoveries could pave the way in the development of new strategies to fight anemia, cancer and other diseases, according to the institute.
  • Kaelin, born in New York in 1957, is a specialist in internal medicine and oncology.
  • Semenza, born in 1955 and also a New Yorker, is a paediatrician.
  • Ratcliffe was born in Lancashire in 1954, and is an expert in nephrology, a medicine specialising in kidneys.

FACTFILE – The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

  • It is awarded yearly by the Nobel Foundation for outstanding discoveries in the fields of life sciences and medicine.
  • One of five prizes bequested in 1895 by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, it is an award for scientific progress through laboratory discoveries in experimental physiology.
  • As of 2019, 110 Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine have been awarded to 207 men and 12 women.
  • The first one was awarded in 1901 to the German physiologist Emil von Behring, for his work on serum therapy and the development of a vaccine against diphtheria.
  • n 1902, the award went to Ronald Ross for his work on malaria while staying in India.
  • The prize consists of a medal along with a diploma and a certificate for the monetary award.
 India receives first Rafale fighter in France
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally received the first of the 36 Rafale fighter jets in France, The fighter jet was handed over at Merignac at a facility of Dassault Aviation.
  • Rajnath Singh was shown a short audio-visual clip on the history of aircraft manufacturing by Dassault before the handing over ceremony.
  • His French counterpart Florence Parly was also present during the handover ceremony.
  • India chose October 8 for receiving the first Rafale jet not only because it is the occasion of Dussehra, but the day is also celebrated as Air Force Day every year.
  • The first jet bears the tail number RB 001 which is the initials of Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria, who played a key role on behalf of India in the Rafale negotiations with France.
  • India had entered into an inter-governmental agreement with France and Dassault in September 2016 to acquire 36 Rafale jets in flyaway condition at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore.
  • Rafale, a 4.5 generation multi-role combat aircraft, will greatly increase India”s geo-political stature in South Asia because no other country, including Pakistan, has as advanced an aircraft in its inventory.
  • The first squadron of the Rafale aircraft will be stationed at the Ambala Air Force Station in Punjab, considered as a strategic air base given its proximity to the Indo-Pakistan border.
  • The second Rafale squadron will be based at the Hashimara Air Force Station in Alipurduar district of West Bengal which at present is home to the ageing MiG 27 Russian aircraft.

 October 09, 2019

  India ranks 68th on Global Competitiveness Index
  • India has moved down 10 places to rank 68th on the annual global competitiveness index, while Singapore has replaced the U.S. as the world’s most competitive economy.
  • India, which was ranked 58th in the annual Global Competitiveness Index compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF), is among the worst-performing BRICS nations along with Brazil.
  • India ranks high in terms of macroeconomic stability and market size, while its financial sector is relatively deep and stable despite the high delinquency rate, which contributes to weakening the soundness of its banking system.
  • India is ranked also high at 15th place in terms of corporate governance, while it is ranked second globally for shareholder governance.
  • India also punches above its development status when it comes to innovation, which is well ahead of most emerging economies and on par with several advanced economies.
  • The healthy life expectancy, where India has been ranked 109th out of total the 141 countries surveyed for the index.
  • India needs to grow its skills base, while its product market efficiency is undermined by a lack of trade openness and the labour market is characterised by a lack of worker rights’ protections, insufficiently developed active labour market policies and critically low participation of women.
  • India is followed by some of its neighbours including Sri Lanka at 84th place, Bangladesh at 105th, Nepal at 108th and Pakistan at 110th
National Health Mission index: Haryana, Assam, Kerala among top 5 performers
  • Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Haryana, Assam, Kerala and Punjab have emerged as the top five states or Union Territories in the first ever exercise to rate their performance on several parameters of the National Health Mission.
  • Twenty per cent of NHM funds are based on the states’ performance, which means better performing states received a financial incentive — Rs 3,000 crore is set aside for incentive-based payments.
  • West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Bihar were penalised as they didn’t achieve the set benchmarks for mental health services.
  • Twenty-three states earned an incentive for screening of 30-plus population for non-communicable diseases, including 11 states that earned full points for screening more than 15 per cent of the 30-plus population.
  • Tamil Nadu reported 100 per cent screening, followed by Goa (68 per cent) and Daman and Diu (57 per cent).
  • Only six states — Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Kerala, Punjab and Tripura — earned full incentive for implementation of the Human Resource Information System (HRIS). Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and UP were able to partially achieve the target in terms of HRIS implementation.
  • Among the parameters, the highest weightage was given to incremental improvement as per the NITI Aayog ranking of states on ‘Performance on Health Outcomes’. Other parameters include operationalisation of Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs), provisioning of mental health services in districts covered under the National Mental Health Programme, screening of 30-plus population for non-communicable diseases, implementation of HRIS and grading of Primary Health Centres (both urban and rural).
  • Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Sikkim did not make the cut for assessment.
 Union Govt launches Ganga Aamantran Abhiyan
  • Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat yesterday launched a unique initiative called ‘Ganga Amantran’ to connect with the stakeholders of the river.
  • It is a pioneering exploratory open- water rafting and kayaking expedition on the Ganga River and will continue till 11th of next month.
  • The expedition will start at Devaprayag and culminate at Ganga Sagar covering the entire stratch of over 25,000 kilometres of the River.
  • This is the first ever effort by National Mission for Clean Ganga to raft across the entire stretch of the river.
  • And also the longest ever social campaign undertaken through an adventure sporting activityy to spread the message of River Rejuvenation and Water Conservation on a massive scale.  
 Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launches eDantseva
  • Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched a website and mobile application of ‘eDantseva’, the first-ever national digital platform on oral health information and knowledge dissemination.
  • e-DantSeva is the first-ever national digital platform that provides oral health information both in the form of a website and mobile application.
  • The initiative of the Union Health Ministry with the AIIMS and other stakeholders aims to sensitize the public about the significance of maintaining optimum oral health and equips them with the tools and knowledge to do so, including awareness on the nearest oral health service facility.
  • The Union Health Minister also released the Braille booklet and voice over on oral health education for the visually impaired individuals along with the oral health posters for pregnant women and children.
  • e-DantSeva contains information about the National Oral Health Program (NOHP), detailed list of all the dental facility and colleges, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material.

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 October 10, 2019

 Study finds poor wages, housing, healthcare in Assam TEs
  • Assam Govt initiated study report ‘Addressing The Human Cost of Assam Tea’ on the working and living conditions of plantation workers found crumbling houses with no toilets, poor wages, lack of quality health and education entitlements.
  • The new research, commissioned by Oxfam India and undertaken by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), found that the State government’s commitment to increase the minimum wages of tea plantation workers to Rs 351 met with hurdles of financial viability of the sector.
  • The research showed that the relentless squeeze by supermarkets and brands on the share of the end consumer price for tea makes poverty and hardship for workers in Assam.
  • Combined with rising costs and the impacts of the climate crisis, it is also contributing to a severe economic crisis for the entire Indian tea industry.
  • The research also found that despite working for over 13 hours a day, tea workers earn between Rs 137 and Rs 167.
  • Many women tea-leaf pluckers regularly work upto 13 hours a day receiving between Rs 110 and Rs 130 per day.
  • Tea brands and supermarkets typically capture over two-thirds of the price paid by consumers for Assam tea in India – with just 7 per cent remaining for workers in tea estates.
  • Indian tea estates are legally obliged under the Plantation Labour Act to provide decent working condition, besides housing, healthcare and education facilities.
  • The condition of housing and sanitation is very poor in majority of tea estates with dilapidated or nonexistent facilities.
  • The Indian tea sector continues to be the largest private sector employer but poor implementation of labour laws is putting at risk the viability of the tea industry as a whole.
 WHO to collaborate with govt to accelerate Ayushman Bharat
  • The Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) provides a strategic roadmap for WHO to work with the Central government towards achieving its health sector goals, in improving the health of its population and bringing in transformative changes in the health sector.
  • The WHO India Country Cooperation Strategy 2019-2023 has identified accelerating progress of the Ayushman Bharat programme as the top strategic priority.
  • The CCS covers the period 2019-23 and it notes that significant improvements in health have been achieved in the past two decades.
  • The document notes that the government has set a series of ambitious goals in its National Health Policy 2017, including achieving universal health coverage, with a focus on poor and vulnerable populations, and doubling public spending on health.
  • The four areas identified for strategic cooperation of WHO with the country encompass: to accelerate progress on UHC, to promote health and wellness by addressing determinants of health, to protect the population better against health emergencies, and to enhance India’s global leadership in health.

FACTFILE – Ayushman Bharat Yojana or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) or National Health Protection Scheme

  • It is a national scheme that aimed at making necessary interventions in primary, secondary and tertiary health-care systems,in a holistic fashion.
  • It was launched in 2018, under the aegis of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India.
  • 26 states and union territories accepted the scheme, except four states: Delhi, Odisha, West Bengal and Telangana. More than a lakh (100,000) people have taken benefit of the scheme till October 2018.
  • More than 825,000 e-cards were generated and there was a push to recruit private hospitals to the scheme
 Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval to MoUs in radio, TV
  • The Union Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval for the memorandum of understandings (MoUs) signed between Indian and foreign broadcasters in radio and television.
  • The MoUs will help the public broadcaster explore new visions and strategies to address the demands of new technologies and competition, media liberalisation and globalisation.
  • Broadcasting of programmes to be obtained through mutual exchange, co-production will lead to equity and inclusiveness among viewers and listeners of DD (Doordarshan) and AIR (All India Radio).
  • Exchanges of technical know-how, expertise and training of manpower will help the public broadcaster meet challenges in the field of broadcasting.
 IIT Madras students develop AI-based Drones for disaster relief
  • Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras students have developed an Artificial Intelligence(AI)-based solution called ‘Eye in the Sky’ for disaster management and aid services, utilizing drones with swarm intelligence for collecting data and analyzing it in real-time.
  • A team of engineering students is building drones enabled with AI and computer vision to develop an end-to-end solution for identifying accurate and critical information on people trapped in disaster-hit areas and communicate them to relief task force.
  • Its analytical modules are based on the latest available technology with the team creating their own databases for some of the modules.
  • The team plans to collaborate with hardware companies that can provide scalable drone technology to conduct the required spot surveillance of disaster struck areas.
  • According to the students, the final aim of the startup is to make end-to-end drone software solutions which can be used by any disaster response force of the world and thus help in saving lives.
  • The project uses some innovative technologies that can help in among other things accurate detecting of people from high and low altitudes, detecting whether a person is able to move or not, detection of people buried under the debris where only a part of the body is visible to the outside world.
 India, Thailand seek to enhance physical & digital connectivity
  • India and Thailand discussed ways to enhance physical and digital connectivity between them as well as identifying areas for cooperation in fields such as agriculture, science and technology, and information technology.
  • The issues were discussed in the 8th Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai.
  • The Ministers had a restricted bilateral meeting, which was followed by delegation-level talks.
  • Both sides reviewed the progress made in all areas of bilateral relationship, including political, defence and security, economic and commercial, connectivity, cultural, tourism and people-to-people ties.
  • Both sides noted that bilateral trade has grown by 20 per cent last year and the investment is also growing.
  • Both sides decided to hold the next meeting of Joint Trade Committee to discuss ways and means to enhance trade and investment.
  • They also exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indian-Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC), UN and other sub-regional and international organizations.
  • Both Ministers also witnessed the signing of MOU between the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of India”s Ministry of External Affairs and Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs of Thailand”s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 October 11, 2019

 Audiovisual archive for NE region comes up in Shillong
  • An archive aimed at preserving the rich audiovisual productions of the Northeastern region has been inaugurated at St Anthony’s College in Shillong.
  • Documentary films, newsreels, interviews, amateur footage, sound recordings and photographs related to the states of the region are available in analogue and digital formats in the archive located at the St Anthony’s College.
  • The Northeast India Audiovisual Archive can also be accessed online at www.nearchive.in.
  • Supported by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) of Japan, the archive will also be working in collaboration with Japan’s Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival for their expertise. The SPF carries out a range of programmes aimed at promoting international understanding, exchanges and cooperation.
 Union HRD Ministry launches Dhruv platform to promote talents in childrens
  • The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry launched the Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Programme called ”Dhruv”, a platform to help meritorious students achieve excellence in science, performing arts and creative writing.
  • The programme has been launched to identify and encourage talented children to enrich their skills and knowledge.
  • HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal said the programme included students of performing arts, since it had the power to move ideas and people.
  • In the first batch, 60 outstanding students have been selected. To begin with, it will cover science and performing arts. The students have been broadly chosen from classes IX to XII. At the 14-day programme science and performing arts students will be separated into two groups.
  • The programme was launched at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) headquarters in Bengaluru.
 Kolkata’s e-plan bags global award at C40 meet
  • The low carbon commute transition of Kolkata with planned introduction of 5,000 e-buses and electrification of all ferries that run across the Ganges river by 2030 won the world”s seven best climate projects.
  • The announcement of the 2019 C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards was made at the C40 World Mayors Summit.
  • The awards showcased projects that demonstrated ambitious climate action while ensuring better, longer lives for the greatest number of people.
  • Each of the seven winning cities are formidable examples of what leadership looks like in building an innovative, resilient, and inclusive future.
  • Worldwide, cities account for about 70 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions, making them uniquely positioned to have a significant impact in the fight against climate change.
  • Finalists for the 2019 C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards were selected from projects featured in Cities100, which showcases 100 of this year”s most forward-thinking and inclusive climate action projects from around the world.
  • Cities100 is a collaboration between C40 and Nordic Sustainability and is funded by the Danish philanthropic association Realdania.
 Andhra Pradesh launches free mass eye screening programme
  • The Andhra Pradesh government launched a free mass eye screening programme with an aim to eradicate blindness.
  • Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the programme ”Dr YSR Kanti Velugu” at Anantapur on the occasion of ”World Sight Day”.
  • As a part of health reforms the government decided to implement the programme to provide cashless comprehensive primary, secondary and tertiary quality eye care services to the state”s entire population.
  • The programme, to be implemented in six phases over the next three years, is estimated to cost about Rs 560.88 crore including free eye screening, spectacles, strengthening of government institutions, hiring of temporary staff, cataract surgeries and other secondary and tertiary eye care management.
  • The first phase will continue till October 16, over 70 lakh students will receive primary basic screening by Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), teachers, Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) and other staff members.
  • The two-months-long second phase will be launched on November 1. In this phase, secondary screening and prescription of spectacles will be provided to the students.
  • From the third to sixth phase, the state government will provide primary mass eye screening, prescription and distribution of spectacles, secondary and tertiary care management.
  • The Program will be conducted through village volunteers, ASHA, ANM, Primary Health Centre staff, Para Medical Ophthalmic Officers (PMOOs), all government institutions, Vision Centres, NGOs and all other healthcare functionaries.
 AASHRAY’s best eco-friendly Puja pandal award to Bishnupur Guwahati puja
  • Bishnupur Bimalanagar Durga Puja Samiti of Guwahati with a theme of Eco-system was adjudged as the best eco-friendly Durga Puja pandal in Assam by AASHRAY an organisation working for environment conservation.
  • The Subhash Pally Kalibari Durga Puja Samiti Dibrugarh with the theme Education was declared as the second.
  • While Dergaon Rajahuwa Durga Puja Samiti with the theme of forest conservation and traditional dhak and Barowary Durga Puja Samiti with the theme Assamese Culture were declared jointly third.
  • The Sripuria Purbanchal Durga Puja Samiti with the theme rhino conservation was named for the fourth position.
  • To make awareness on cutting down the use of plastic in Durga Puja pandals and to ensure cleanliness during the puja celebration, the best puja pandal award was announced at the state level.

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October 12, 2019

 Environmentalist Chandi Prasad gets Indira Gandhi award
  • The Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for this year has been awarded to eminent environmentalist, Chandi Prasad Bhatt.
  • The award carries a citiation and cash of Rs 10 lakh will be given to Bhatt by Congress President Sonia Gandhi on October 31, the martyrdom day of Indira Gandhi .
  • Bhatt, who hails from Uttarakhand, is an eminent Gandhian environmentalist and has been associated with the Chipko Andolan
  • Bhatt has been the recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, Padmi Shri, Padma Bhushan and Gandhi Peace Prize in the past.
  • The award was announced by Motilal Vora, Member Secretary to the Advisory Committee for the award.

BIOGRAPHY – Chandi Prasad Bhatt

  • Chandi Prasad Bhatt is an Indian Gandhian environmentalist and social activist, who founded Dasholi Gram Swarajya Sangh (DGSS) in Gopeshwar in 1964, which later became a mother-organization to the Chipko Movement, in which he was one of the pioneers.
  • He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1982, followed by the Padma Bhushan in 2005.
  • He is known for his work on subaltern social ecology, and considered one of India’s first modern environmentalists.
Asian Development Bank approved the first installment of Rs 1,650 crore for Tripura
  • The first instalment of Asian Development Bank”s (ADB) Rs 1,650 crore loan for infrastructure development in seven of the eight district headquarter towns in Tripura, has been approved.
  • The Department of Economic Affairs, under the Finance Ministry of the Indian government has approved the first instalment of Rs 17.75 crore ($2.5 million) of the ADB loan to take up development of seven district headquarters through Urban Development Department of the state government.
  • The first instalment of Rs 17.75 crore would be spent mainly for conducting engineering survey, preparing estimates and DPRs (Detailed Project Reports) for roads, water supply, drainage, sewerage and major urban infrastructure works in these seven district towns.
 Union Ministry of Health launches ‘Mission 2023’
  • The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched the ”World Health Organization (WHO) India Country Cooperation Strategy 2019-2023: A Time of Transition programme in New Delhi.
  • The Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) aims to provide WHO with a strategic roadmap to plan its work with India to achieve its health sector goals.
  • Four areas have been identified for strategic cooperation with WHO.
  • The objective of the programme is to protect people”s health, promote healthy lifestyle and strengthen India”s global leadership in the health sector
  • The government has also launched several initiatives to support the same including the Fit India movement, Poshan Abhiyaan and the Eat Right India movement

October 13, 2019

 ‘Lachit-I’ the first sailing expedition on Brahmaputra to start
  • NCC Directorate of North Eastern Region has embarked on a pioneering project to conduct the first-ever sailing expedition on the Brahmaputra to commemorate the Battle of Saraighat.
  • The ‘Lachit-I’ 10-day expedition will be flagged off from Biswanath Chariali on October 16 and after traversing 220 km, it will culminate at Pandu on October 25.
  • ADG NCC Maj Gen Bipin Bakshi said the waters of the mighty Brahmaputra have been selected for this ambitious initiative, using the expertise available with the military personnel of NCC, three sturdy whaler sailing boats of the Naval NCC Units and support from the Army Eastern Command as well as the Assam government.
  • The focus of this expedition on the same waters where the famous Battle of Saraighat was fought in 1671, is to rekindle the memories of the epic bravery of the sons of the soil of Assam, while fostering a spirit of adventure amongst the youth.
 Assam CM opens Kaziranga park for tourists
  • Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal opened the Kaziranga National Park for the visitors for this season.
  • Sonowal ceremoniously put the Bagori and Kohora Range of the park open for the tourists at functions held at Bagori and Mihimukh.
  • Sonowal said that it is a matter of great pride and prestige that Kazirnaga National Park has earned its name in the 17 most iconic centres of the country.
  • Sonowal also called upon every stakeholder to make a united effort for the serenity and beauty of the park.
  • Emphasising on the cleanliness of Kaziranga National Park, Sonowal said that all households, restaurants, hotels, resorts must keep their peripheral areas clean to make Kaziranga more beautiful and serene.
 Lieutenant General Harsha Gupta named new Commander of White Knight Corps
  • Lieutenant General Harsha Gupta has been appointed as the new Commander of the White Knight Corps, the XVI Corps of the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • He took over from Lieutenant General Paramjit Singh Sangha, who relinquished the post with a traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Nagrota Military Station
  • Lt Gen Gupta, who belongs to the Sikh Light Infantry, asked officers and troops to remain combat ready on order to thwart the enemy”s designs by maintaining synergy between the Army, the civil administration and the para-military forces.
  • Lt Gen Sangha conveyed his appreciation to all ranks for their professionalism and steadfast dedication to duty.

FACTFILE  – The White Knight Corps

  • The White Knight Corps, a part of the Northern Command of the Indian Army, was raised in June 1972
  • It has its headquarters at Nagrota Cantonment, Nagrota, Jammu district, Jammu and Kashmir.
  • In 2005 IX Corps (India) was raised in part of the XVI Corps’ area, taking over two of its divisions. It includes 10th Infantry Division (India), headquartered at Akhnoor, 25th Infantry Division, headquartered at Rajauri and 39th Infantry Division, with its headquarters at Yol.
  • It is the largest wheeled formation in the world.

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October 14, 2019

 Khasi film ‘Iewduh‘ wins award at Busan film fest in South Korea
  • Iewduh, a Khasi film directed by Pradip Kurbah and produced by Shankar Lall Goenka, has won the Kim Ji-seok Award at the 24th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in South Korea.
  • Iewduh was the first film from Meghalaya to enter the BIFF, which is an important destination for Asian filmmakers.
  • Iewduh director Pradip Kurbah dedicated the Kim Ji-seok Award to the people of Meghalaya and thanked Goenka for producing the film.
  • Iewduh, also known as Barabazar, is one of the oldest and largest daily markets in Shillong. The film talks about the daily lives of the people in the market.
  • The film, made under the banner of Shiven Arts, will premiere in India at the 21st Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival later this month.
  • Iewduh has also been selected for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa.
 IIT Madras inks pact with ExxonMobil for research on energy and biofuels
  • The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT M) has signed an agreement with ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company for conducting collaborative research on energy and biofuels.
  • The five-year agreement is focused on data analytics, gas conversion and transport and is aimed towards finding low-emission solutions. 
  • One of the projects being taken up is for developing novel approaches to convert agro residue biomass to sugars and high value chemicals.
  • The current trend is to develop fuels and fine chemicals from non-food lignocellulosic biomass and agricultural residues, known as second-generation biomass.
  • Lignocellulosic biomass is the only source of renewable carbon with the ability to maintain carbon neutrality in the environment by reducing the net greenhouse gas emissions.
  • India is the third highest producer of agro-residues globally with surplus potential of over 230 million tonnes annually, after China and Brazil.
  • The biofuel potential is expected to get realised in the near future with the new biofuel policy of the government.
 Indian origin Abhijit Banerjee and his wife Esther Duflo wins Nobel Prize in Economics
  • Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Michael Kremer of Harvard University were awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics “for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.”
  • In just two decades, their new experiment-based approach has transformed development economics, which is now a flourishing field of research.
  • Banerjee, born 1961 in India, got his PhD in 1988 from Harvard University. Duflo, who was born in 1972 in Paris, obtained her Ph.D in 1999 from MIT. Kremer, who was born in 1964, got his doctorate from Harvard in 1992.
  • The three were recognized for their ability to divide the vast issue of tackling global poverty into smaller subjects.

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Assam Current Affairs – October 01 – 07, 2019

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Current Affairs Assam – October 1 - 7, 2019

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of October 1 – 7, 2019 )

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October 01, 2019

  Seaplanes set to be introduced in Assam
  • The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will introduce water aerodrome or seaplanes in three locations in Assam for the first time, which will boost tourism and connectivity in the state.
  • Three river fronts were selected in Assam to introduce the water-based ferry for the first time in India.
  • The three locations selected for the seaplanes include Guwahati, Umrangso and the Kaziranga National Park.
  • At the end of next year or by early 2021, the water aerodrome or seaplane services would be launched in the Brahmaputra river and Umrangso reservoir.
  • Three jetties would be built in three locations at a cost of Rs 50 crore.
  • An area of open water that can be used by seaplanes or amphibious planes for landing and take-off is called a water aerodrome.
  • The water aerodrome or seaplane services were planned to be introduced under the UDAN scheme, announced by the Central government earlier.
  • The Union government had earlier planned to launch water aerodrome or seaplane services in six or seven sites. These are Guwahati river front, Umrangso reservoir and Kaziranga National Park in Assam, Nagarjuna Sagar in Andhra Pradesh-Telangana, Sabarmati river front, Shatrunjay Dam and Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat).
  • SpiceJet on a trial basis had conducted seaplane operations in Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
 Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria takes over as IAF chief
  • Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, took over as the new air chief with an assertion that India is ready for any kind of threat. Bhadauria, succeeds Birender Singh Dhanoa.
  • The 26th Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has over 4,250 hours of flying experience with 26 different fighter and transport aircraft. He was also extensively involved in the flights of the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas” initial prototypes. Bhadauria was the key negotiator in the deal for 36 Rafale fighters which India is acquiring from Dassault company of France.
  • Bhadauria said the induction of the Rafale fighter would be a game-changer for India as it would give a big boost to the IAF”s capability.

BIOGRAPHY – Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria

  • Bhadauria served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Southern Air Command from 1 March 2017, succeeding Air Marshal Sunderraman Neelakantan, to 1 August 2018.
  • He also served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Training Command from 1 August 2018 after retirement of Air Marshal S R K Nair, and held the office till his elevation to the Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
  • He took office of Vice Chief of the Air Staff on 1 May 2019 after superannuation of Air Marshal Anil Khosla.
  • Bhadauria has been awarded several medals: the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (January 2013), the Vayu Sena Medal (January 2002) and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (January 2018).
  • He was appointed as the honorary air force ADC to the President of India on 1 January 2019
 India successfully test-fired the BrahMos missile
  • India successfully test-fired the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from the coast of Odisha along the Bay of Bengal.
  • The missile was launched from the Interim Test Range in Chandipur.
  • Featuring an Indian propulsion system, airframe, power supply and other major indigenous components, the missile was successfully test-fired for its full range of 290 km during the launch that was jointly conducted by the DRDO and BrahMos Aerospace.
  • The indigenous content in the formidable weapon has reached a high value with the successful mission thus bolstering India”s defence indigenization and the flagship ”Make in India” programme of the Central government.
  • The BrahMos, which derives its name from the rivers Brahmaputra of India and Moskva of Russia, has been jointly developed by India and Russia.
  • The versatile weapon has been operationalized in the Indian armed forces with all three services.
 Cisco MOU with Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to launch e-learning solutions at NSTIs
  • Cisco signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Directorate General of Training (DGT) of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, to bring the benefits of digital technology to six National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs).
  • Under the initiative, NSTIs in Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Noida and Kanpur will be equipped with Cisco connected classroom solution.
  • Which uses Cisco”s collaboration solutions, like Cisco TelePresence and Cisco Webex, to offer next-generation digital learning experience to students and faculty.
  • The platform is aimed at providing NSTIs with access to new learning experiences, like virtual field trips and specialised skill modules, guest lecturers, as well as industry-connect and mentorship programmes irrespective of location.
  • Interested trainers and trainees across all ITIs will also have access to new educational resources through the Bharat Skills portal, using their smartphones and other connected devices, enabling them to learn anywhere, anytime and on any device.
 Naval version of India’s LCA-Tejas has successfully completed
  • The naval version of India”s indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas has successfully completed in a single sortie the cycle of short take-off and arrested recovery, necessary for operating on an aircraft carrier.
  • The sortie was undertaken at a shore-based test facility of INS Hansa in Goa.
  • A prototype of the LCA”s naval version took off a ski jump from the shore-based location and was subsequently trapped on an arresting gear site.
  • This was the first occasion when the complete cycle of short launch and arrested recovery necessary for aircraft carrier operations was accomplished in a single sortie.
  • The experiment was conducted to test the capability of the aircraft, which is under development by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), to take off and land on shorter runways on an aircraft carrier.

October 02, 2019

  Sushil Mishra takes charge as CMD of Oil India Limited
  • Sushil Chandra Mishra assumed the charge of Chairman and Managing Director of Oil India Limited. He has over 35 years of experience in Oil India Limited (OIL).
  • He also holds a unique distinction of achieving OIL’s first ever overseas discovery as operator in Gabon, setting a foundation for OIL to carry out extensive exploration and production activities at global landscape for its growth.
  • Prior to taking over the charge as the CMD, he held the position of Executive Director (Rajasthan project), Jodhpur and was responsible for successfully implementing India’s first and deepest cycle system.

FACTFILE – Oil India Limited (OIL)

  • Oil India Limited (OIL) is the second largest hydrocarbon exploration and production Indian public sector company with its operational headquarters in Duliajan, Assam, India.
  • The company is a state-owned Navratna under the administrative control of India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas with its corporate offices in Noida in the New Delhi-NCR region.
  • OIL is engaged in the business of exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas, transportation of crude oil and production of liquid petroleum gas.
  • It’s history spans the discovery of crude oil in the far east of India at Digboi, Assam in 1889 to become a upstream petroleum company is present.
 Indian Army to help strengthen Maldivian security forces
  • Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat handed over some transport vehicles to the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) as part of India”s efforts to boost the operational capacities of the island nation.
  • Talks are underway to hand over different types of weapons and ammunition to the Maldives army.
  • Assistance will also be given to Maldives to set up an engineering workshop and a diagnostic set-up for the vehicles and other equipment that have been given.
  • Rawat, who is on a five-day visit to the country has met Maldives Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi, MNDF Chief Major General Abdulla Shamaal and MNDF Vice Chief Brigadier General Abdul Raheem Abdulla.
  • Discussions during the meeting revolved around the assistance that India”s military could provide in order to boost the training and operational capabilities of the archipelago nation.
 TN govt partners with Facebook to boost blood donations in state
  • The Tamil Nadu government announced that it has directed all blood banks in the state to use the blood donation feature on Facebook to reach out to the voluntary donors.
  • The government feels social media can help to create awareness and enable voluntary blood donations.
  • The state government has issued a directive to all blood banks and hospitals in the state to use the Facebook blood donation feature, in order to bridge the gap between blood donors and nearby blood banks.
  • All banks have gone through comprehensive training workshops to join on board the Facebook blood donation feature and have also learnt how they can connect with donors on this social media site, based on their needs.
  • Over 22 million people in India have registered as blood donors on Facebook.
  • Launched in 2017, blood donation feature on Facebook connects people willing to donate blood with opportunities nearby.
  • People can sign up as donors on this social media platform and get notified when blood banks nearby post about their blood requirements.

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October 03, 2019

  IIT Guwahati implements PM’s scholarship scheme for J&K students
  • The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) along with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has begun implementing the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu and Kashmir Students.
  • IIT Guwahati signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AICTE for extending internships to students from Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The objective of the MoU is to provide exposure to the youth from Jammu and Kashmir to advanced academic culture at the higher learning institutes of the country.
  • As per the MoU signed, IIT-G will enrol 100 meritorious students from Jammu and Kashmir in batches of 25, for internship at the institute from May 1 to 30, 2020.
  • The MoU includes academic, education and research collaboration where IIT Guwahati will design a detailed programme with popular science lectures from its faculty as well as guest faculty from outside the institute.
  • The internships will be primarily in the field of research and will be done under various professors at the institute.
 Odisha launches Mo Sarkar initiative
  • Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the ”Mo Sarkar” initiative on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
  • Under the programme, the Chief Minister and Ministers will call the people to seek their feedback on the kind of response and service they received during their visit to the government hospitals and police stations.
  • The Chief Minister made phone calls and spoke to people from Balangir, Sundergarh, Malkangiri, Jajpur and Baripada to seek feedback on their experiences at government hospitals.
  • He also spoke to people from Nayagah, Ganjam, Balasore and Bhawanipatna regarding the service offered at police stations.
  • In the first phase, the programme would cover all police stations and district headquarters hospitals (DHHs).
  • Under the programme, when a complainant visits a police station for filing a complaint, his or her mobile number will be uploaded by the police personnel onto the centralised database.
  • The ”Mo Sarkar” initiative is an important transformative move under the 5T programme introduced by Patnaik. The 5Ts aim at achieving progress through Transparency, Teamwork, Technology, Time and Transformation.
 India sets up integrated control room to handle natural calamities
  • The government is setting up an integrated control room for emergency response especially to handle natural disasters and to carry out a strategic level of monitoring.
  • The Ministry of Home Affairs proposes to establish an integrated Control Room for Emergency Response in the national capital for handling natural disasters and emergency situations with situational awareness and strategic level of monitoring.
  • The comprehensive backend and control room infrastructure will be primarily located at New Delhi City Centre-II towers at Jai Singh Marg in New Delhi with an additional room infrastructure in North Block, which will serve as a front office to the control room.
  • is also planned to augment existing National Database for Emergency Management (NDEM), a GIS-based repository of data, at Shadnagar in Hyderabad and integrate it with control room.
  • NDEM supports the total cycle of disaster, emergency management for the country, in near real time with a complete database.
  • The control room will be based on state-of-the-art information technology and will be equipped with latest video walls.
 Indian Army Chief, Maldivian President discuss defence ties
  • Indian Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat met Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who hailed efforts to revitalise the bilateral defence cooperation.
  • Gen Rawat is on a five-day official visit to Maldives which is aimed at giving a boost to the bilateral defence ties at a time when China is making aggressive moves to make inroads in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation.
  • The Indian Army Chief discussed with the Maldivian President issues related to the defence cooperation and ways to step it up.
  • The Maldivian President commended the joint efforts of both Armed Forces at enhancing and revitalising the bilateral defence cooperation.
  • Rawat had met Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid to discuss mutual relations between the two countries and on working out ways to make the Indian Ocean Region a conflict-free zone.
  • He also handed over a fleet of transport vehicles to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) in order to help it increase its operational capability.

October 04, 2019

  Silchar ranked 8th in list of 10 most unclean cities in India
  • Silchar received a embarrassing distinction of being ranked at 8th position in the list of ten most unclean cities across the country.
  • Despite atmospheric and territorial challenges, the workers at the SLRM centre have been able to convert a substantial quantity of waste into saleable resource in just 79 days of its journey.
  • Project Coordinator C Srinivasan informed that assignment at the SLRM centre is for a period of 18 months only while his team has only 15 more months left to accomplish the target.
  • Deputy Commissioner Laya Madduri expressed the possibilities of turning Silchar free of trash and urged all the stakeholders to pitch in efforts to make it worth a resource-oriented destination for sustainable development in the coming days.

 Assam in Swachh Survekshan 2019 Ranking

  • Rank #303 Guwahati
  • Rank #370 Nagaon
  • Rank #415 Dibrugarh
  • Rank #423 Silchar
 ISRO showcase Space Science in 7 Karnataka colleges
  • To mark the ‘World Space Week’ of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said it would showcase the benefits of space science to students of seven colleges in Karnataka from October 4 to 10.
  • The U.R. Rao Satellite Centre has teamed up with seven colleges to tell students the benefits of our space programme to attract them to science & technology stream.
  • The seven institutions are: Poornaprajan Pre-university College at Udupi; SJM Institute of Technology, Chitradurga; Konkan Education Trust High School, Kumta; R.V. College of Engineering, Bengaluru; Tontadarya College of Education, Gadag; Sri Sai Vidyaniketan Residential School, Shahpur; and Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumkur.
  • Competitions for students, exhibition models of satellites, posters, videos and talks about the Indian space programme were part of the agenda.
  • The satellite centre designs, develops and makes satellites for the space programme to serve key sectors and spur national development.
  • The UN observes the space week every year from October 4 to 10, coinciding with the launch of the first man-made earth satellite — Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957 — and the signing of the Outer Space Treaty on October 10, 1967.
 Indian Oil launches drive to turn plastic waste into bitumen
  • Indian Oil Corporation has taken up various initiatives to support the government”s drive to eliminate single use plastic by converting these toxic wastes to productive use.
  • These initiatives were launched to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatama Gandhi and as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
  • The company will use its refinery operations to convert the single use plastic waste into specialised bitumen that can be used for construction of roads and highways.
  • A pilot project has been done at Faridabad via the creation of a “Single Use Waste Plastic” based bituminous road.
  • The company will commercially supply the specialised bitumen for use in road construction going ahead.
  • Has developed special grade crumb rubber modified bitumen (CRMB55) which has been designed using waste single use plastic material.
  • The company issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) for procurement of single-use plastic waste which can be economically converted into the specialised bitumen.
  • The national EoI is for assessing the market availability and willingness of various organised aggregators and NGOs to supply different types of waste plastics in commercial quantities on consistent basis.
 New French, EU envoys present credentials to Indian President
  • New French ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain and the European Union Ambassador Ugo Astuto presented their credentials to President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
  • Lenain underscored the historic ties of friendship and trust between the two nations and said the two sides are united by a strategic partnership since 1998, which recently expanded to include digital technology and cybersecurity.
  • Lenain also highlighted France’s determination to deepen the two countries’ strategic cooperation, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • He shared France’s desire to forge a partnership for the future with India by supporting the major programmes shaping tomorrow’s India.
  • Astuto said the European Union and India upgraded their long-standing relationship to a strategic partnership in 2004, based on their common goals and principles.
  • Since then, the EU and India have been cooperating closely, reinforcing political, economic and people-to-people ties.
  • This cooperation was further broadened at the last summit in 2017 and has received new momentum through the adoption of the EU’s strategy on India, in November 2018.
  • The EU and India enjoy strong trade and investment relations and are members of the G20, where they co-operate in shaping the global economic agenda, supporting sustainable development and the multilateral international trade system.
  • The EU is also collaborating with India on several flagship initiatives such as Smart Cities, Clean Ganga, as well as in the context of the International Solar Alliance.
 Flipkart and UP Khadi & Village Industries Board ink pact
  • Flipkart has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Uttar Pradesh Khadi & Village Industries Board (UPKVIB) as part of the Flipkart ‘Samarth’ initiative.
  • This initiative is aimed at enabling artisans, weavers and craftsmen from diverse backgrounds and rural parts of the country to set up their business on Flipkart.
  • The MoU was signed in the presence of Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
  • As part of the Samarth programme, eligible entities and artisans will receive incubation support in the form of onboarding, cataloguing, account management, business insights, dedicated seller support, reduced commission (where eligible) and warehousing.
  • The Uttar Pradesh government is supporting the initiative by fast-tracking collaboration between Flipkart and UPKVIB registered affiliates that work in the arts, handicrafts and textile space.
  • UPKVIB and Flipkart will work together to help weavers and artisans sell Khadi fabrics and village industries products across Flipkart’s pan-India customer base of over 160 million.

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October 05, 2019

  IIT Guwahati-AICTE pact to benefit J-K students
  • Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for implementing the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme for students from Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The objective of the MoU is to provide exposure to the youths from Jammu and Kashmir to advanced academic culture at the higher learning institutes of the country.
  • The exchange of agreements was held at the IIT Council meeting recently between Prof TG Sitharam, Director of IIT Guwahati, and Prof Anil D Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of AICTE, in the presence of Union Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD) Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.
  • As per the pact, IIT Guwahati will enroll 100 meritorious students from Jammu and Kashmir in batches of 25, for internship at the institute from May 1 to 30 next year.
  • The MoU includes academic, education and research collaboration where IIT Guwahati will design a detailed programme with popular science lectures from its distinguished faculty as well as guest faculty from outside the institute.
 NHA, Google tie up for Ayushman Bharat implementation
  • The National Health Authority (NHA) has joined hands with Google to collaborate and strengthen the implementation of the government”s flagship health scheme, Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).
  • The two organizations will be working closely to explore various user cases for increasing process efficiencies in day-to-day applications.
  • Google will also support NHA in improving PM-JAY”s digital presence and showcasing relevant content to the 50 crore entitled beneficiaries.
  • Google will also help provide training and support to NHA personnel to build on digital skills.
  • The collaboration will seek to bolster PM-JAY”s objective of reaching the poor and vulnerable, reducing their high out-of-pocket health expenditure, and improving access to quality healthcare.
  • The NHA is implementing the programme, hailed as the world”s largest public funded health insurance scheme aimed to bring quality healthcare to around 50 crore poor and vulnerable Indians across India.
  • The mission of NHA is to create the world”s best health assurance programme on an efficient and technologically robust eco-system.
 WHO, FIFA sign deal to promote healthy lifestyle through soccer
  • The World Health Organization and FIFA signed a four-year cooperation deal that aims to encourage people to follow a healthy lifestyle through soccer.
  • WHO, in return, will provide FIFA with a series of technical health advice aimed at improving hygiene and preventing diseases.
  • Measures include banning smoking at stadiums or during events organized by the soccer international governing body.
  • Both parties have already collaborated in order to ban smoking at soccer competitions, as happened at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
  • The deal also includes initiatives that boost physical activities through soccer with the backing of national soccer federations, goodwill ambassadors, soccer players, coaches and volunteers.

October 06, 2019

 ‘Brahmaputra Dialogue’ discussion on promotion of startups in NE, South East Asia
  • The 2nd edition of the Brahmaputra Dialogue, an initiative to provide a platform for thought leaders across all sectors to discuss, deliberate and arrive at outcome-based solutions regarding key issues concerning India’s North-east and the greater South East Asia region held at Guwahati.
  • The topic of the event was ‘Accelerating the Startup Ecosystem in North East India and the Future of Business and Trade in the South East Asian region’ where Arjun Vaidya, Aryata Agarwal, Shyamkanu Mahanta, Pranjal Konwar and Sriparna Baruah took part as the panelists.
  • More than 60 young leaders and entrepreneurs from diverse professional backgrounds attended the session.
  • Discussions were also held about the challenges and opportunities of doing business in the region, and key steps to promote North-east as a startup hub in India.
 India, Bangladesh sign 7 pacts
  • India and Bangladesh marked the “sonali adhyay” (golden era) in bilateral ties with the inking of seven agreements, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with visiting Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina.
  • During the talks, the Bangladesh PM voiced concerns over Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) and raised the Teesta water and the Rohingya refugee issues.
  • The two sides hailed the bilateral ties. The agreements, included pact for a joint coastal surveillance system.
  • Through video link, the two leaders inaugurated three development partnership projects
  • 1. Import of bulk LPG from Bangladesh to Tripura through trucks
  • 2. Vivekananda Bhaban (student’s hostel) at Ramakrishna Mission, Dhaka
  • 3. Bangladesh-India Professional Skill Development Institute (BIPSDI) at the Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB), Khulna.
  • The two leaders emphasised on initiatives for development of closer maritime security partnership, and noted the progress made in the finalisation of an MoU for establishment of a coastal surveillance radar system in Bangladesh.
  • Both sides agreed to expedite commissioning of a joint study on prospects of signing a bilateral comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA).
  • Modi and Sheikh Hasina also agreed to expedite work towards drawing upon a $500 million defence line of credit, extended by India to Bangladesh. The implementation arrangements for this was finalised in April.
  • They also signed an MoU on withdrawal of 1.82 cusec of water from the Feni river by India for the drinking water scheme for Sabroom town in Tripura.
  • The two leaders agreed that the loss of civilian lives at the border was a matter of concern and asked border forces to enhance coordinated measures to bring such border incidents down to zero.
 School kids plant 350 trees near Mumbai station
  • As part of the ongoing ”Joy of Giving Week” organised by the Western Railway (WR), around 150 students of the Ryan Group of Institutions (RGI) planted more than 350 Ashoka tree saplings near the Jogeshwari station.
  • The children were accompanied by a favourite cartoon character, Nicktoon ”Dora the Explorer” and child actor Abhishek Sharma in the event organised by the WR, Nickelodeon and RGI to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
  • During the week, there will be more activities for the children focusing on awareness and conservation of the environment, educating them on the consequences of carbon footprints and related aspects.
  • Pioneering children-related empowerment themes, Nickelodeon has also organized campaigns like ”Surakshabandhan”, International Day of Yoga and Road Safety Week.

 

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October 07, 2019

  IIT Guwahati develops AI powered Smart-Engineer
  • The Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) announced the development of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) assisted engineering system design tool called the ‘Smart-Engineer’.
  • The current version of the Smart-Engineer is able to address the fundamentals involved in the design of induction motors.
  • The early results are very promising, and we now intend to expand the capability of Smart-Engineer to include the finer aspects of motor design.
  • The tool is built by a team comprising PhD and Masters students, Rajendra Kumar, Bikash Sah, Ankit Vishway and Rajendra Kumar, by leveraging the IBM Watson AI Platform and IBM Cloud.
  • The ‘Smart-Engineer’, built by the e-mobility lab at the IIT-G seeks to address one of the primary hurdles in indigenising the EV technology, which is the lack of trained human resources in engineering design and system integration.
  • It will enable companies to store and maintain the collective knowledge of expert engineers, which in turn can preserve and promote further theoretical and practical advancements in design thinking/philosophy.
 Indian women in UAE launch mission to protect environment
  • The Indian Ladies Association (ILA), a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based community welfare body, has launched a year-long mission to protect the environment through a series of initiatives, including collection of discarded paper, e-waste, cleaning of beaches and tree planting in Abu Dhabi.
  • The ILA has committed to run sustainable environmentally friendly and social awareness campaigns in the community each month and this would continue throughout the year to educate people about the environment and seek their participation in making the world a greener place.
  • The ILA just provides a platform to the community to come forward and participate in the environmentally friendly campaigns.
  • The ILA is one of the five Indian community organisations in Abu Dhabi which are registered with the UAE’s Ministry of Community Development.
  • It was also planning to spread environmental awareness among labourers. As part of the mission, the ILA will visit labour camps to give saplings to workers to plant.

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Assam Current Affairs – September 01 – 07, 2019

Posted on by admin 
Current Affairs Assam – September 1 - 7, 2019

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of September 1 – 7, 2019 )

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September 01, 2019

  Final NRC published, 19 lakh excluded
  • The final National Register of Citizens (NRC) was published on Saturday excluding names of 19,06,657 persons who had applied for inclusion of names in the citizenship document.
  • Any person not satisfied with the outcome of the verdicts on claims and objections would be able to approach the foreigners tribunals.
  • The process of NRC update in Assam differs from the rest of the country and is governed by Rule 4A and the corresponding Schedule of the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003. These rules have been framed as per the cut-off date of March 24 (midnight), 1971 decided as per the Assam Accord.
  • A total of 3,30,27,661 members applied through 68,37,660 applications. The particulars submitted by the applicants were taken up for scrutiny to determine.
  • The NRC update is a mammoth exercise involving around 52,000 State government officials working for a prolonged period. The entire process of NRC update has been meticulously carried out in an objective and transparent manner, the release said, adding, adequate opportunity of being heard has been given to all persons at every stage of the process.
 Ministry of Electronics and IT partners with Google to roll out “Build for Digital India”
  • The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) entered into a partnership with Google with the aim of rolling out “Build for Digital India”
  • A programme that will give engineering students a platform to develop market-ready, technology-based solutions that address key social problems.
  • The programme will invite ideas from students to focus on areas of healthcare, agriculture, education, smart cities and infrastructure, women safety, smart mobility and transportation, environment, accessibility and disability and digital literacy.
  • As part of the programme, engineering students across the country will be invited to apply and join in a learning journey that will help them transform their bright ideas into real-world solutions.
  • Applicants will take part in online and offline learning opportunities on key technologies such as Machine Learning, Cloud and Android.
  • These will be offered through Google’s Developer Student Club network and other Google Developer networks.
  • Google will also offer mentorship sessions in product design, strategy and technology to the most promising products and prototypes.
IIT Kharagpur and Amazon Web Services (AWS) join hands to develop AI portal
  • To promote learning and development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur announced a collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to develop a National Artificial Intelligence Resource Portal (NAIRP) platform.
  • NAIRP was launched with initial funding from the Ministry of Human Resources Development, as part of the National Digital Library of India (NDLI) platform.
  • It builds upon and expands NDLI to AI by indexing a wide variety of AI-specific resources such as learning materials, courses, workbooks, datasets, codes, tools and platforms.The upcoming portal will provide search, browse, learning and computation services.
  • Hands-on AI training will be facilitated to all AI learners, practitioners, and researchers in India through workbooks and the cloud.
  • The system will start off using AWS Cloud, and will also be connected in the future with the in-house cloud developed at IIT Kharagpur.

FACTFILE – Amazon Web Services (AWS)

  • Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms and API, on a metered pay-as-you-go basis.
  • These cloud computing web services provide a set of primitive abstract technical infrastructure and distributed computing building blocks and tools.
  • AWS’s version of virtual computers emulate most of the attributes of a real computer including, hardware central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) for processing, local/RAM memory, hard-disk/SSD storage; a choice of operating systems; networking; and pre-loaded application software such as web servers, databases, customer relationship management (CRM), etc.
  • The AWS technology is implemented at server farms throughout the world, and maintained by the Amazon subsidiary.
  • AWS operates from many global geographical regions including 6 in North America.
  • AWS comprised various services spanning a wide range including computing, storage, networking, database, analytics, application services, deployment, management, mobile, developer tools, and tools for the Internet of Things. The most popular include Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3).
  • As of 2017, AWS owns a dominant 34% of all cloud (IaaS, PaaS) while the next three competitors Microsoft, Google, and IBM have 11%, 8%, 6%.

September 02, 2019

 Sivasagar becomes first district in Assam to launch e-office
  • The Upper Assam Divisional Commissioner Julie Sonowal launched e-office (e-file management system) at the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Sivasagar. With this initiative, Sivasagar has attained the status of being the first district in the State to launch ‘e-office’.
  • With the office of the Deputy Commissioner trasitioning towards a complete electronic file management system, four more offices of the district, namely, office of the Superintendent of Police, office of the District Transport Officer, Agriculture office and Zila Parishad will also come under the e-office system.
  • Attending the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner Dr S Lakshmanan elaborated upon the advantages of e-office. With the benefit of having zero maintenance cost, the system will not only provide full confidentiality of the office files, but will also save us from the worries of space management.
  • The success of the system will depend largely on the quality, dedication and involvement of the manpower working with the system.
  • The Deputy Commissioner highlighted the importance of e-office and the facilities available in the system for better service delivery to the citizens.
  • The e-office is a Mission Mode Project developed and designed by National Informatics Centre (NIC) which was first implemented by the Government of Assam at the Assam Secretariat in 2017.
  • Later, it was extended to the Directorate, Commissionerate, attached offices and districts levels. The Secretariat Administration Department (SAD) is the Nodal Department of the project in Government of Assam.
5 new governors appointed is various states
  • President of India, Ram Nath Kovind announced new governors for five states in the country.
  • Kalraj Mishra has been transferred from Himachal Pradesh to Rajasthan, where he replaces Kalyan Singh as the new Governor.
  • BandaruDattatreya replaces Mishra in Himachal Pradesh.
  • Bhagat Singh Koshyari has been appointed the new Governor of Maharashtra shunting out Vidyasagar Rao.
  • In Kerala, Arif Mohammed Khan replaces P. Sathasivam as the new Governor.
  • DrTamilisaiSoundararajan has been made the new governor of Telangana replacing E.S.L. Narasimhan.
Himachal Pradesh signs pacts to tap 250 MW solar power
  • Himachal Pradesh signed two pacts for setting up solar power plants with an outlay of Rs 1,000 crore.
  • One pact for Rs 600 crore was signed with Renew Energy Private Ltd for setting up a 150 MW solar plant, which is proposed to commission by 2021.
  • While the second was signed with CSE Development (India) Private Ltd for setting up a 100 MW plant.
  • On behalf of the state government, the pacts were signed here by Principal Secretary PrabodhSaxena where Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was also present.
  • The solar plants would be set up in Una and Kangra districts.
Pune-based agritech startup Agrostar is helping boost crop yields for farmers
  • Nearly 70 per cent of small farmers — those cultivating fewer than three acres — in India often find their crops damaged by unforeseen weather and pests. An even higher number, 74 per cent, lack access to farming-related information.
  • To bridge this knowledge gap, Pune-based agritech startup AgroStar has a multi-lingual mobile app on Google Cloud Platform that is helping boost crop yields and encourage sustainable practices for small farmers in the country.
  • Launched as an on-premise, e-commerce platform selling farm tools in 2008, the firm turned to Google Cloud Platform (GCP) to expand its offerings.
  • The firm now uses Cloud-based analytics and is deploying machine learning (ML) models to provide timely advice in five languages — from seed optimization, crop rotation and soil nutrition to pest control and commodity price forecasting to small farmers.

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September 03, 2019

 IAF inducted Eight Apache choppers at Pathankot
  • The Indian Air Force (IAF) inducted eight Apache helicopters at the Pathankot Air Base in Punjab.
  • The variant of the helicopter, Apache A64E, is the most advanced version and has been designed by the US-based manufacturer Boeing to meet the IAF”s requirements.
  • Boeing formally handed over the aircraft keys to Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa at the function in Pathankot.
  • The eight helicopters were brought to India in two separate batches. They were delivered at the Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad over July and August in two equal batches of four choppers each.
  • India had signed a multi-billion contract with Boeing in September 2015 for purchasing 22 Apache helicopters. The entire fleet is scheduled to be delivered to the IAF by the year 2020.

FACTFILE – Apache helicopter

  • The Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter is an advanced multi-mission helicopter being operated worldwide by the US, UK, Israel and many numbers of countries. The helicopter has proved itself as an operational success across the world. It is one of the most fierce attack helicopters in the world.
  • It is a twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two. It features a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems.
  • The U.S. Army is the primary operator of the AH-64. It has also become the primary attack helicopter of multiple nations, including Greece, Japan, Israel, the Netherlands, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. It has been built under license in the United Kingdom as the AgustaWestland Apache.
Haryana CM launches UDAN regional connectivity scheme
  • Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched the UDAN regional connectivity scheme that will allow tourists to fly from Hisar to Chandigarh for just Rs 1,674 in 45 minutes.
  • The launch of the flight was part of the Centre”s UDAN, or ”UdeDeshkaHarNagarik” scheme, building efficient regional air connectivity.
  • The Air Shuttle Services and Flying Training Organisation is also being set up at TheHisar airport by SpiceJet for the training of at least 100 cadet pilots per year initially.
  • Four meritorious girls with state domicile will get 50 per cent fee concession for the entire training and 10 per cent students with domicile will get 50 per cent waiver on tuition fee.
  • SpiceJet has also committed to ensuring absorption as well as placement of 70 per cent pilot trainees.

FACTIFLE – UDAN (UdeDeshkaAamNaagrik)

  • UDAN is a regional airport development and “Regional Connectivity Scheme”(RCS) of Government of India, with the objective of “letting the common citizen of the country fly”, aimed at making air travel affordable and widespread, to boost inclusive national economic development, job growth and air transport infrastructure development of all regions and states of India.
  • At the beginning of the scheme, out of total 486 airports, 406 were participating unserved airports, 27 were well served airports out of 97 non-RCS airports and 12 were operational airports out of 18 participating underserved regional operational airports with regular fixed-wing scheduled flights.
  • The scheme has two components. The first component is to develop new airports and enhance the existing regional airports to increase the number of operational airports for scheduled civilian flights from 70 (in May 2016, total 98 operational including army airports) to at least 150 airports (by December 2018) with regular scheduled flights. Initially more than 100 underserved (no more than 7 scheduled flights per week) and unserved regional airports will be developed by December 2018, for which the initial funding of ₹45,000 million(equivalent to ₹47 billion, US$680 million or €610 million in 2018) for the enhancement of 50 regional airports was approved in May 2017.
  • The second component is to add several hundred financially-viable, capped-airfare, new regional flight routes to connect more than 100 underserved and unserved airports in smaller towns with each other as well as with well served airports in bigger cities by using “Viability Gap Funding” (VGF) where needed.
  • Union government share of “Viability Gap Funding” is from the cess applied to flights to popular routes to main cities and respective state governments have also offered additional benefits to the flight operators to make UDAN-RCS viable.
  • UDAN-RCS Round-Iconcluded in April 2017, 5 airlines companies were awarded 128 fixed-wing flight routes to 70 airports (including 36 newly made operational airports, taking the number of total number of operational airports with civilian scheduled flights to 106 and total 131 airports operational with civilian and army operation including dual-use airports), several of which have already become operational by November 2017 and most of remaining routes will become operational by 15 December 2017.
  • UDAN-RCS Round-IIresults will be awarded in late December 2017, from among the 141 proposals received for 502 new regional routes from 17 airlines and helicopter companies to operate flight services.
  • Number of aircraft jumped 38% to 548 in December 2017 from 395 in 2014 and 50 aircraft are being added every year. Subsequent phases with inclusion of seaplanes will boost the number of potential landing sites from nearly 500 airports to over five lakh (500,000) waterbodies as well as more locations along India’s 7,000 km coastline.
  • UDAN-RCS is both enabler and beneficiary of other key Government of India schemes, such as Bharatmala, Sagarmala, Dedicated Freight Corridors, Industrial corridor, BharatNet, Digital India and Make in India, National e-Governance Plan, Startup India and Standup India.
 Cabinet clears hike in ethanol prices for 2019-20
  • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved an increase in prices of ethanol for the upcoming sugar season 2019-20 (October-September).
  • The CCEA decided to increase prices of ethanol derived from “C heavy” molasses to Rs 43.75 per litre from the 43.36 per litre.
  • The prices of ethanol derived from “B heavy” molasses would also be increased from Rs 52.43 to Rs 54.27 per litre.
  • The CCEA also decided that the price of ethanol from the sugarcane juice, sugar and sugar syrup route would be fixed at Rs 59.48 per litre.
  • The government has been implementing EBP Programme wherein OMCs sell petrol blended with ethanol up to 10 per cent.
  • This programme has been extended to whole of India except the Union Territories of Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands with effect from April 1 this year to promote the use of alternative and environment-friendly fuels.
  • The government intervention also seeks to reduce import dependence for energy requirements and give a boost to the agriculture sector.

September 04, 2019

 IIT Guwahati develops AI chatbot to support EEE students
  • A team of postgraduate students from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, along with their faculty members are developing an Artificial Intelligence-enabled chatbot named “ALBELA” to teach and support first year students of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE).
  • The chatbot would help students find their class schedule, tutorial schedule, and examination queries via a AI-based chat window.
  • Students at times may hesitate to approach an instructor regarding their queries, but with this chat-based system students can clear their doubts, both technical and non-technical, according to the institution.
  • The team is developing the analytical problem solving skill. It will be helpful for the students to learn how to solve analytical problems related to the course.
 Union Cabinet approved infusion of Rs 9,300 crore in IDBI Bank
  • The Union Cabinet approved infusion of over Rs 9,000 crore capital in the IDBI Bank to meet the regulatory capital requirements by raising the capital adequacy ratio (CAR).
  • The government and the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India — will infuse Rs 9,300 crore in the bank. Of this, the government will infuse RS 4,557 crore and the LIC Rs 4,743 crore.
  • The IDBI Bank”s capital base has got eroded with the CAR at 8.1 per cent. The government and the LIC own 49 per cent and 51 per cent stake in the bank.
  • The move is aimed at supporting the credit growth and the regulatory compliance by lenders.
  • IDBI Bank has been a poor performer on many metrics. Its non-performing asset (NPA) is at 29 per cent and has reported loss in the 11 straight quarters.
  • The bank is under the Reserve Bank of India”s prompt corrective action (PCA) framework.

FACTFILE – Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI Bank Limited)

  • IDBI Bank was established in 1964 by an Act to provide credit and other financial facilities for the development of the fledgling Indian industry. Initially it operated as a subsidiary of Reserve Bank of India RBI transferred it to GOI . Many institutes of national importance finds their roots in IDBI like Sidbi, Exim bank, NSE and NSDL.
  • It currently has 3,702 ATMs, 1892 branches, including one overseas branch in Dubai, 58 e-lounges and 1407 centers.
  • The bank has an aggregate balance sheet size of INR 3.74 trillion as on 31 March 2016.
  • On June 29, 2018 Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has got a technical go-ahead from Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to increase stake in IDBI Bank up to 51%. LIC of India completed acquisition of 51% controlling stake in IDBI Bank on January 21, 2019 making it the majority shareholder of the bank. Subsequent to enhancement of equity stake by LIC of India on January 21, 2019, IDBI Bank stands re-categorized as a Private Sector Bank.
 BRICS countries are stepping up technology transfer and transformation
  • BRICS countries are stepping up technology transfer and transformation, said a conference organised by the BRICS Technology Transfer Center in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province.
  • Representatives from enterprises, universities and research institutes in 11 countries and regions, including the BRICS members (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) held discussions on seeking closer international technology cooperation.
  • A display and trading system for international technology transfer was launched on the occasion.
  • Eighteen per cent of global GDP and 17 per cent of R&D spendings come from BRICS countries, which account for 42 per cent of the world’s population.
  • The BRICS Technology Transfer Center was set up in Kunming in 2018 to promote industrial transformation of advanced innovations.
 

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September 05, 2019

 Assam Governor launches Poshan Maah
  • Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi today launched the ceremonial beginning of Poshan Maah (Poshan Month) at a function held at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakhshetra.
  • It may be noted that the entire month of September is being celebrated as RashtriyaPoshanMaah and this year the theme is ‘Complementary feeding’ with the vision to address malnutrition with a targeted approach by 2022.
  • Governor Mukhi said the PoshanAbhiyaan has been launched to emphasise the need for healthy nutrition and it should be the one-liner objective to generate awareness about this mission to involve more and more people so that no targeted group is left behind.
  • At the same time, he observed that special emphasis should be given in the tea garden areas to make up for the nutritional deficiency and reduce low birth weight in those areas.
  • He said that though the programme strives to reduce the level of stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia and low birth weight among babies, without unified efforts it would be very difficult to achieve the target.
  • He therefore called for inter-departmental convergence for the success of the objective.
  • The Governor also emphasised the need for coordination, convergence and cordiality among all the stakeholders for making the PoshanMaah a huge success.
  • As part of the programme a pledge was also administered to make a malnutrition-free India by 2022.

FACTFILE – POSHAN Maah

  • Month of September 2018 was celebrated as Rashtriya POSHAN Maah. The activities in POSHAN Maahfocussed on Social Behavioural Change and Communication (SBCC).
  • The broad themes were: antenatal care, optimal breastfeeding (early and exclusive), complementary feeding, anaemia, growth monitoring, girls’ – education, diet, right age of marriage, hygiene and sanitation, eating healthy – food fortification.
  • More than 12.2 Crore women, 6.2 Crore men and over 13 Crore children (male and female) were reached through the various activities undertaken during POSHAN Maah. It is worth mentioning that 30.6 Crore people were reached in 30 days. POSHAN Maah has given a major impetus to the Abhiyaan.
 15 MoUs exchanged during PM Modi’s visit to Russia
  • A total of 15 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) or agreements were exchanged during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Vladivostok in Russia.
  • Joint Statement “Reaching New Heights of Cooperation through Trust and Partnership”.
  • Joint Strategy for the Enhancement of India-Russia Trade and Investments.
  • Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and Government of the Russian Federation and on the cooperation in the production of spare parts for Russian/Soviet military equipment.
  • Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in Audiovisual Co-production.
  • Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation on bilateral cooperation in the road transport and road industry.
  • Memorandum of Intent between the Ministry of Shipping of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation on the Development of Maritime Communications between the Port of Chennai, Republic of India and the Port of Vladivostok, Russian Federation.
  • Plan for cooperation between the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Ministry of Finance, Republic of India and the Federal Customs Service (Russian Federation), for combating customs violations in 2019-2022.
  • Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of the Republic of India on the use of Natural Gas for Transportation.
  • Programme between the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation on expansion of cooperation in oil and gas sector.
  • Memorandum of Understanding between Coal India Limited and Far East Investment and Export Agency to cooperate in coking coal mining projects implementation in the Russian Far East.
  • Cooperation Agreement between Invest India and the Russian Direct Investment Fund for Investment Collaboration.
  • Cooperation agreement between the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry the Roscongress Foundation.
  • Memorandum of Understanding between the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Autonomous Non-profit Organization Agency for Strategic Initiatives to promote New Projects.
  • Memorandum of understanding between the Joint Stock Company NOVATEK and PETRONET LNG Limited on cooperation with respect to the joint development of downstream LNG Business and LNG supplies.
  • Agreement on Cooperation between Joint-Stock Company Rosgeologia and Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited.
 Bihar Govt signs pact with Skymet Weather Services for weather forecasts
  • Bihar government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Skymet Weather Services, India”s largest private weather monitoring and agri-risk solutions company, to facilitate weather forecast services.
  • The MoU intends to support the Bihar Water Resource Department in disaster preparedness from the data shared by Skymet Weather on rainfall forecast and inclement weather alerts.
  • Bihar is one of India”s most flood prone areas.
  • Skymet will be supporting with information on weather forecast, which will help to incorporate measures to share timely information with the people at large.

September 06, 2019

 Bhagat Singh Koshyari takes oath as Maharashtra Governor
  • Former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Bhagat Singh Koshyari, sworn-in as the 19th Governor of Maharashtra.
  • Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog of the Bombay High Court administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new Governor at the sprawling Raj Bhavan facing the Arabian Sea.
  • After taking oath, Koshyari, who had served as a college teacher in Uttar Pradesh”sEtah, also greeted all teachers on the occasion of Teachers Day.
  • Koshyari, 77 takes over from C.V. Rao, whose term ended earlier this week.

FACTFILE – The Governors and Lieutenant Governors/Administrators of Indian States/UTs

  • The Governors and Lieutenant Governors/Administrators of the states and union territories of India have similar powers and functions at the state level as that of the President of India at Union level.
  • Governors exist in the states while Lieutenant Governors exist in Union Territories and in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
  • The governor acts as the nominal head whereas the real power lies with the Chief ministers of the states and his/her councils of ministers.
  • In India, a lieutenant governor is in charge of a union territory. However, the rank is present only in the union territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Puducherry (the other territories have an administrator appointed).
  • The governor of Punjab acts as the administrator of Chandigarh.
  • The governors and lieutenant governors are appointed by the President for a term of five years.
 India inks two defence MoUs with South Korea
  • India and South Korea signed two MoUs pertaining to defence co-operation during Defence Minister RajnathSingh”s visit to the East Asian nation.
  • The MoUs are aimed at furthering defence educational exchanges and extension of mutual logistical support for the navies of both countries.
  • Singh met his South Korean counterpart JeongKyeongdoo during his three-day visit to the country.
  • The two leaders had a comprehensive review of bilateral defence co-operation and noted that defence co-operation lies at the heart of the Special Strategic Partnership between India and South Korea.
  • India and Korea were also discussed apart from exchange of views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.
  • Singh paid homage at the National Cemetery of Korea and also visited the War Memorial where he presented a copy of the citation received by the Indian 60th Para Field Hospital for its exceptional contributions during the Korean War.
 President Kovind confers awards to 46 teachers on Teachers’ Day
  • President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the National Awards to 46 teachers at Vigyan Bhawan on the occasion of Teachers” Day.
  • Teachers from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Rajasthan and Jharkhand received the prestigious awards for their innovation and making their classes interesting.
  • For the first time that a teacher from an army school, which is governed by the Defence Ministry, has also been included to the list of the award winners.
  • The Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry had invited nominations for the prestigious awards between May 6 and June 25, from which the teachers were selected on the basis of a three-tier process.
  • The teachers were first required to nominate themselves online, following which the district, state and the national level committees selected them.
  • The nominated teachers gave a presentation before the independent Jury comprising a senior educationist.
  • The prestigious award carries a silver medal, certificate and Rs 50,000 as award money.

 

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September 07, 2019

 President felicitates 27 women for role in Swachh Mission
  • President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Swachh Bharat Awards on 27 women champions from each state for their outstanding contribution to the Swachh Bharat Mission.
  • These women worked at the grassroots level to provide better sanitation access to their families.
  • The President said the biggest achievement of the Swachh Bharat Mission was that it had become a campaign of every Indian and was not just a government campaign.
  • While referring to the UN sustainable development goals to be achieved by 2030, the President said India was set to achieve the cleanliness target in 2019 itself, 11 years ahead of schedule.
  • The goals for the next phase should be achieved by strengthening the first phase’s success.
  • The culture of cleanliness should be imbibed and the attention should be paid towards maintenance of facilities set up during the first phase.
  • The Swachhta Pakhwada Award was given to the Department of Defence. Power Grid Corporation received the award in the category of public sector undertakings. Gujarat and Sikkim were given Open Defecation Free (ODF) and Behaviour Change awards.
 CII Telangana to train 5,000 teachers in IT skills
  • The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Telangana, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Telangana Department of School Education to train 5,000 government teachers in basic IT skills.
  • The project would be implemented in collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and CII member companies.
  • About 500 corporate volunteers would be involved in implementing the project, which will be launched in Hyderabad and will later be expanded to Warangal, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and other districts.
  • Vijay Kumar, Director, Department of Education, and V. Rajanna, past Chairman of CII Telangana and Senior Vice-President & Global Head – Technology Business Unit, Tata Consultancy Services, signed the MoU.
 Indo-US joint military exercise begins in Washington
  • A joint military exercise between India and the US began in Washington as part of the ongoing defence co-operation between the two nations.
  • It is being conducted at the Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington.
  • Named YudhAbhyas, the exercise is one of the largest joint-running military training and defence co-operation endeavours between India and the US.
  • Armies of India and the US will jointly train, plan and execute a series of well-developed operations for neutralization of threats of varied nature during the exercise.
  • At the end, a joint exercise will be undertaken by both countries in an operational setting under a UN mandate. Experts from both sides will hold academic and military discussions to share each other”s experiences on varied topics for mutual benefit.
  • The exercise will provide an opportunity to the armed forces of both countries to train in an integrated manner at the Battalion level, with joint planning at Brigade level, whereby multiple scenarios will be rehearsed to understand each other”sorganisation structure.
 Arif Mohammed Khan sworn in as Kerala Governor
  • Arif Mohammed Khan took oath as the new Governor of Kerala. Chief Justice of Kerala High Court Hrishikesh Roy administered the oath of office to Khan in presence of state Chief Minister PinarayiVijayan.
  • Khan was appointed as the Governor of Kerala on September 1 and he replaces Justice (Retd) PalanisamySathasivam who was appointed as governor of the state in September 2014.
  • Khan was appointed as the Governor of Kerala on September 1 and he replaces Justice (Retd) PalanisamySathasivam who was appointed as governor of the state in September 2014.

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Assam Current Affairs – August 22 – 28, 2019

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Current Affairs Assam – August 22 - 28, 2019

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

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August 22, 2019

NRL records highest ever revenue of Rs 18,511 crore
  • The Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) has recorded the highest ever revenue from operations of Rs 18,511 crore during the year 2018-19, registering a growth of 16.25 per cent over the previous year. However, the profit after tax for the financial year was marginally lower at Rs 1,968 crore as compared to last year.
  • This was revealed at the 26th annual general meeting of the NRL, which was held at its corporate office in Guwahati on Friday. The meeting was presided over by D Rajkumar, Chairman and Managing Director – Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Chairman, NRL and was attended by Managing Director SK Barua, other members of the NRL Board and shareholders of the company.
  • The company has declared a total dividend of Rs 17 per share for the year 2018-19.
  • The earnings per share (EPS) for the year stood at Rs 27.79, while the net worth of the company at the close of the financial year 2018-19 reached Rs 5,551 crore, signifying strong economic fundamentals.
  • The NRL’s contribution to the Central and State exchequers in the form of taxes, duties and dividends during the year 2018-19 has been Rs 4,159 crore.
  • The NRL recorded highest ever sales volume of 2,978 TMT during the year 2018-19 surpassing the previous high of 2,912 TMT in 2017-18. High speed diesel sales reached an all-time high of 1,949 TMT, while paraffin wax sales was 36 TMT, including export of 8 TMT. By the year-end, 35 countries were included in the list of NRL’s wax export market. 80 TMT gas oil (diesel) was exported to Bangladesh from it’s terminal at Siliguri.
  • In recognition to its outstanding performance in different spheres of activities, NRL was conferred several awards and accolades during the year. They include the ‘Fastest Growing Miniratna of the Year 2018’ recognition by Dalal Street Investment Journal; ‘Governance Now PSU Award’ for Best Miniratna PSU in Strategic Performance; ‘Refinery Performance Improvement Award’ by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and ‘Dun & Bradstreet PSU Award’ for best overall Miniratna.
  • The project also includes simultaneous laying of over 2,000 km of pipeline for transporting imported crude oil from Paradeep port in Odisha to Numaligarh and then to facilitate evacuation of products from Numaligarh to Siliguri in West Bengal, making NRL an active player in the midstream section.
  • The year 2018-19 also marked the beginning of a few strategically important projects for NRL. The ground breaking ceremony for the 130-km Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline, for transporting products from Siliguri Marketing Terminal to Bangladesh, was held in September 2018 in the presence of Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh through video conferencing.
  • Assiduous efforts to establish the first bamboo biomass-based 2G Bio Refinery Plant in the country was brought to realisation with the formation of the joint venture company – ‘Assam Bio-Refinery Pvt Ltd’ – in June 2018.
  • The NRL also took its first steps in the upstream business of exploration and production under Open Acreage Licensing Policy/Discovered Small Field rounds. After due diligence, the company is now in the process of acquiring 20 per cent participatory interest in Namrup Block from M/s Oil India Limited for which farm out agreement has already been signed.
Rajiv Gauba appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary
  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mr Gauba as the Cabinet Secretary with a tenure of two years from 30th of this month.
  • Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba will be the new Cabinet Secretary. Mr Gauba who is a 1982 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre will replace P.K. Sinha.
  • It has also approved the appointment of Mr Gauba as Officer on Special Duty in the Cabinet Secretariat from the date of his assumption of charge till he takes over as Cabinet Secretary. 

FACTFILE – Cabinet Secretary of India

  • The Cabinet Secretary is the top-most executive official and senior-most civil servant of the Government of India.
  • The Cabinet Secretary is the ex-officio head of the Civil Services Board, the Cabinet Secretariat, the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), and all civil services under the rules of business of the government.
  • The Cabinet Secretary is the senior-most cadre post of the Indian Administrative Service, ranking eleventh on the Indian order of precedence.
  • The Cabinet Secretary is under the direct charge of the prime minister. Since 2010, the Cabinet Secretary’s term length was extended to a maximum of four years.
Ajay Kumar appointed as Defence Secretary
  • The government has appointed Ajay Kumar as Defence Secretary. Ajay Kumar, is a 1985 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre and is currently serving as Secretary, Department of Defence Production.
  • He will succeed Sanjay Mitra, upon completion of his term. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointments.
  • Brij Kumar Agarwal has been appointed as Secretary to the Lokpal and Subash Chandra as Secretary of Department of Defence Production. 
MoUs signed to push agri-entrepreneurship in Odisha
  • State-owned Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Ltd (APICOL) signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to promote agriculture entrepreneurship and enhance the income of farmers.
  • One MoU was signed with Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN), a non-government organisation, to promote entrepreneurial ventures at the grassroots level.
  • The scheme will operate in 40 tribal dominated blocks spread over 12 districts on a pilot basis to promote entrepreneurial ventures at the grassroots level.
  • Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO), farmer interest groups and small and marginal Farmers will be assisted by the Agriculture Entrepreneurs (AE) for increasing the income of farmers through enhanced production and productivity in agriculture and allied sectors.
  • Another MoU was signed between APICOL and CSC e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC-SPV) for successful implementation of the Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana (MKUY).
  • CSC-SPV, a central government undertaking, will help in implementation of the Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana launched in June last year with the objective to establish more commercial agri-enterprises in the state.
Telangana inks pact with Google to increase local language use in Google tools
  • Google India and the Telangana Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve and get more local language content online using Google’s digital publishing tool, Navlekha.
  • As part of the MoU, Google will work with the state government to help digitise the government”s content in Telugu to make it easier for the common man to get access to all the information and services on government sites in their local languages.
  • Besides, Google will also collaborate with the government to support its digital literacy vision and aid in the overall digitization agenda of the state.
  • Google will also be involved in providing technical mentorship and advisory support to various government departments for successful implementation of multiple digital projects.
Millennium City Marathon partners with MCG to promote water conservation
  • The Millennium City Marathon (MCM) will be partnering with the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) to promote water conservation.
  • Milind Soman, who completed the Ironman challenge in 2015 and the ULTRAMAN in Florida in 2017 along with Abhishek Mishra, will join the marathon as the brand ambassador.
  • The fifth edition of the Millennium City Marathon (MCM) to be held on December 1.
  • In a first, the marathon will also have a Kids’ run category. The 5km timed race will be open for children aged 12 years and above.

August 23, 2019

Miyawaki method of afforestation launched at Amingaon
  • Environment, Forest & Wildlife Minister Parimal Suklabaidya inaugurated a Miyawaki method afforestation programme at Amingaon.
  • The innovative plantation method pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, aims at building a forest in a considerably very short period of time, and the method has been adopted under Guwahati Refinery’s Swachhta Pakhwada observance.
  • As part of the initiative, Guwahati Refinery will plant 5,000 saplings of indigenous plants at the site with an aim to build a small forest resonating with Indian Oil’s theme ‘Lungs of Guwahati City’.
e-Visa facilitation centre to be set up in Champhai
  • The Mizoram Government will set up an e-Visa centre in Champhai near the Myanmar border to facilitate issuing of visa online for entry into Myanmar.
  • The proposed e-Visa facilitation centre will be set at the Champhai district deputy commissioner’s office within one or two months from now.

 

PM Modi embarks on 3-nation visit
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a three nation tour to France, UAE and Bahrain. The Prime Minister will hold high level meetings with the top leadership of the three countries and will also attend G7 summit in France.
  • In the first leg of his tour, Prime Minister Modi will arrive in Paris where he will hold bilateral meetings with President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Edouard Philippe.
  • On UAE, there would be comprehensive talks with His Highness the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Crown Prince and PM would be releasing a stamp to mark Bapu’s 150th Jayanti.
  • In Bahrain there would be interactions with the Indian diaspora andattend the special ceremony marking the re-development of the temple of Lord Shreenathji, among the oldest temples in the Gulf region.
Nepal, India ink MOU on food safety
  • Nepal and India inked an agreement on food safety standards, while India handed over cheques amounting to Rs 3.74 billion for two projects, including reimbursement for post-quake reconstruction, during the Fifth Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting.
  • The Fifth Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting was attended by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Nepalese counterpart Pradeep Kumar Gyawali.
  • The two sides inked a memorandum of understanding on food safety between the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control of Nepal and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
  • The Indian government handed over a cheque of Nepali Rs 2.45 billion towards reimbursement to the Nepal government for post-earthquake housing reconstruction in Nuwakot and Gorkha districts.
  • The Indian government handed over another cheque Nepali Rs 1.29 billion towards strengthening road infrastructure in the Tarai region of Nepal.

 

CSC signs MOU with Ministry of Panchayat
  • The Common Service Centre SPV (CSC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to convert all gram panchayats into digital panchayats.
  • Besides supporting the over 2.5 lakh gram panchayats in data digitisation, the CSC will also ensure speedy delivery of all panchayat-level services.
  • This MoU will also act as a catalyst in promoting Rural BPOs in every gram panchayat.
  • The gram panchayat bhawans will host the CSCs so that all government services and social schemes are made easily available to villagers.
  • The CSC will help all gram panchayats to regularly update all Ministry of Panchayati Raj applications and provide them online services.
  • These CSCs in the panchayat buildings will regularly update data for all schemes and programmes being run by the Central and State governments.
  • The CSC will help all gram panchayats to regularly update all Ministry of Panchayati Raj applications and provide them online services.
  • These CSCs in the panchayat buildings will regularly update data for all schemes and programmes being run by the Central and State governments.
  • The MoU will also ensure that the CSCs will maintain records of all gram panchayats in digital format, besides supporting them in conducting various surveys.
  • The CSCs will also work as digital literacy centres for all elected representatives of gram panchayats.
  • The CSC will also be responsible for overall project management, monitoring and coordination with the ministry, the state government, other ministries and gram panchayats.
  • The CSC is a strategic cornerstone of the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), approved by the government in May 2006, as part of its commitment to introduce e-governance on a massive scale. The CSCs would provide high quality and cost-effective video, voice and data content and services, in the areas of e-governance, education, health, telemedicine, entertainment as well as other private services.

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August 24, 2019

Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd bags honours at Bangkok meet
  • Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd (APL), a state government undertaking located at Namrup and a pioneer petrochemicals company in the entire North East, received two awards during an international seminar on “Indo-Thai Economic Cooperation” held at Bangkok, Thailand.
  • Institute of Economic Studies (IES) conferred two prestigious awards – International Icon Award 2019 to APL managing director Ratul Bordoloi and Gold Medal to APL for its remarkable steps in the field of methanol economy as well as for India’s first green and clean fuel pilot project of methanol cooking stove.

FACTFILE – Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited

  • Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited is a semi-governmental Indian company with major stakes held by Government of Assam, Oil India Limited and Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC).
  • The company was incorporated in 1971 and by 1976 had started production at their small methanol plant located at Namrup along with formaldehyde and a few urea-formaldehyde resins like urea-formaldehyde glue and urea-formaldehyde moulding powder. Post expansion in 1989 and 1998, the company expanded the methanol plant to the capacity of 100TPD (tonnes per day) and formaldehyde plant to 100TPD.
  • The company announced in September 2017 that it would invest ₹1,337 crore (US$190 million) and expand to produce 500TPD methanol and 200TPD formalin and become the largest producer of methanol in India.
  • Natural gas, supplied by Oil India Ltd, is used as feedstock for methanol production. Urea and carbon dioxide are supplied by Namrup Fertilizer Plan.
  • APL marked a new era in the field of alternative cooking fuel and methanol economy as well by launching Asia’s first canister-based and India’s first methanol cooking stove.
  • APL has also introduced methanol as an alternative fuel in tea factories and started a pilot project at the Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Jorhat.
Delhi Lt. Governor launches safety app for city travelers
  • Delhi Lt. Governor Anil Baijal launched a “QR Code Scheme” called Himmat Plus designed to enhance the safety and security of commuters, particularly of women, travelling in the yellow and black taxis and auto-rickshaws from airports, as well as Railway and Metro stations in the national capital.
  • Around 3,000 auto-rickshaws and taxis are now associated with this initiative.
  • Explaining the objective of the scheme, Railways Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Dinesh Kumar Gupta said the purpose of developing this application was to provide quick emergency help to Delhi citizens.
  • The citizens can avail this service just by downloading and registering on the app at no cost. Once users complete the registration, they can avail emergency help with just a click.

Former PM Manmohan Singh takes oath as Rajya Sabha member
  • Former Prime Minister and Congress leader Manmohan Singh took oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan.
  • Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu administered the oath in presence of many senior Congress leaders.
  • Interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel attended the oath ceremony held in the chairman’s chamber.
  • The 86-year-old was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan where the Congress has a slim majority in the state Assembly.
Odisha announces Rs 500 crore package for Puri city
  • Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a package of Rs 500 crore to develop Puri as a World Heritage city.
  • The package focused on a range of modernisation plans that include infra development, multi-lane road, bridges, multi level parking, amenities, revival of Musa river, rehabilitation of the affected people in security zone, renovation of lakes and Mathas.
  • As per the announcement, new link road connectivity from Puri bypass from Malatipatpur to Jagganath Ballav Matha will be built at a cost of Rs 190 crore. This 1.5 km iconic link will be connected by a Trumpet Bridge.
  • The Jagganath Ballav Matha will be developed as an attractive pilgrim centre with multi-level car parking, amenities, commercial and meditation space and multi-modal hub at a cost of Rs 180 crore.
  • Musa river will be revived and connected to Mangala river at a cost of Rs 85 crore.Besides, Atharnala will be developed as an iconic pedestrian heritage bridge with the support of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
  • The government has also planned to develop a lake on 28 acres of land at a cost of Rs 35 crore.Many heritage lakes of Puri such as Sweta Ganga, Markanda, Narendra and Indradyumna will be renovated and heritage sites will be preserved.
Russia launches 1st ever floating nuclear power plant
  • Russia has launched the world’s only floating nuclear power plant, built to withstand tsunamis and crashes with icebergs, despite criticism by environmentalists who consider it a time bomb comparable to the Chernobyl nuclear station.
  • The Akademik Lomonosov set sail from the northern White Sea port of Murmansk and was headed for Pevek in the Chukotka region some 4,700 km away.
  • The floating nuclear power station measuring 472 feet in height and 98 feet abeam, and which is being towed by two icebreakers, will call in at its destination port in three weeks and will begin to generate electricity in December.
  • With a combined power of 70 megawatts and 50 gigacalories, the plant has the capacity to provide electricity for a city of almost 100,000 inhabitants.
  • Once it begins operations, the nuclear power plant, which will remain at anchor but attached to port infrastructure on land, will remain active for 40 years.
Government announces major steps to boost MSMEs
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced measures to boost the subdued micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector.
  • Sitharaman announced that all pending GST refunds due to MSMEs will be paid within 30 days.
  • All future GST refunds shall be paid within 60 days from the date of application.
  • Public sector banks will issue an improved one-time settlement (OTS) policy based on “check box” approach to benefit MSME borrowers in settling their overdues.
  • The government has also decided to soon shift to a single definition for MSMEs.

August 25, 2019

Imphal Airport to be renamed Bir Tikendrajit International Airport
  • The eighth session of the 11thManipur Legislative Assembly took a major decision to rename the Imphal International Airport as Bir Tikendrajit International Airport. Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who is also the Leader of the House, moved a resolution and it was supported by Leader of Opposition O Ibobi Singh.
  • The Imphal airport, located about 7 km south of the state capital, is the second largest and second busiest airport in the North East after Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. More than 10 flights operate from Imphal daily.

FACTFILE – Bir Tikendrajit

  • Tikendrajit Singh (29 December 1856 – 13 August 1891) also known as Koireng was a prince of the independent Kingdom of Manipur in present-day northeastern India.
  • He was the commander of the Manipuri army and engineered a palace revolution that led to the events known as the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 or the ‘Manipur Expedition’.
  • Bir Tikendrajit was a prince of the then kingdom of Manipur who was sentenced to death for waging war against the British in 1891.
Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley passed away
  • Former Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley passed away on 24th August at Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
  • The minister had complained of trouble in breathing, following which he was admitted to the institute.
  • He was being attended by a team of endocrinologist, nephrologist and cardiologist and was kept under observation since then.
  • Jaitley proved to be one of the most important leaders in the Vajpayee and Modi governments. He was the go-to troubleshooter in their cabinets.

 

PM Modi releases Mahatma Gandhi stamps,launches Rupay card in UAE
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi released postage stamps on Mahatma Gandhi to commemorate his 150thbirth anniversary in the presence of Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
  • India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) share values of peace, non-violence and pluralism. The fact that the Gandhi stamp is launched as the UAE celebrates the Year of Tolerance has special significance.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi also launched the RuPay card making the UAE the first country in the Middle East to initiate the Indian indigenous system of electronic payment. 
  • Modi launched the RuPay card by making a special purchase which he will offer as ‘prasad’ at the Shreenathji Temple in Bahrain.
  • An MoU to establish a technology interface between the payment platforms in India and UAE was exchanged between the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and UAE’s Mercury Payments Services in the presence of the prime minister.

FACTFILE – RuPay

  • RuPay is a card scheme, conceived and launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on 26 March 2012.
  • It was created to fulfil the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) vision to have a domestic, open and multilateral system of payments.
  • RuPay facilitates electronic payment at all Indian banks and financial institutions.
  • NPCI maintains ties with Discover Financial, JCB to enable RuPay card scheme to gain international acceptance.
  • In India, 90% of credit card transactions and almost all debit card transactions are domestic; however, the cost per transaction was low with RuPay compared to the foreign card schemes.
  • RuPay cards are accepted in India, Singapore, Bhutan, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain etc.
  • RuPay cards are accepted at 97% of all PoS terminals in India. RuPay has partnered with 39 PoS-acquiring banks in India to accept their cards at PoS terminals located at different merchant locations.
 

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August 26, 2019

Cachar district selected for Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao project
  • Cachar District has been selected by the Central Government as one of the project districts in the State for implementation of the flagship scheme ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao'(BBBP) to empower the girl child, said Deputy Commissioner Laya Madduri.
  • DC Madduri said, “Empowerment of girl child has been a challenge as well as an opportunity for us here as well across the state and the country overall. Along with Dhemaji, the inclusion of the district as one of the project destinations on a pilot run gives us the scope to bring in certain vital measures towards the cause. A detailed action plan has been prepared which would be implemented soon.”
  • Elaborating further on this, Madduri said that the campaign would kick off within the next fortnight and the execution would be in two simultaneous broad categories. “We would get support from the Unicef for training the human resources to create district-level resource persons to augment gender sensitization. Also, the formation of Gudda-Guddi board and #Silcharkibeti campaign are in the scheme of things, the Deputy Commissioner maintained.”

FACTFILE – Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao

  • Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao is a campaign of the Government of India that aims to generate awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services intended for girls in India.
  • The scheme was launched with an initial funding of ₹100 crore (US$14 million).
  • According to census data in India, the child sex ratio (0–6 years) in India was 931 girls per 1,000 boys in 2001, which dropped to 918 girls for every 1,000 boys in 2011.
  • A 2012 UNICEF report ranked India 41stamong 195 countries. In the Population Census of 2011 it was revealed that the population ratio of India 2011 is 919 females per 1000 of males. The Sex Ratio 2011 shows a downward trend from the census 2001 data.
Centre launched 85 people-oriented development schemes in Jammu and Kashmir
  • The Centre launched 85 people-oriented development schemes, like PM-KISAN, PM-KISAN-Pension, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and Stand-Up India, in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The government aims to achieve 100 per cent coverage of these schemes, which come under 21 ministries, within one month.
  • A slew of insurances schemes, including the Atal Pension Yojana, has also been introduced in the newly carved Union Territory and the government plans to provide electricity to all the J&K households.
  • Governor Satya Pal Malik said, “As we march to a new and bright future, I want every resident of J&K to benefit from the changes that have been made. I want every eligible individual to be covered by the development programmes being implemented by the Government of India all over the country, including J&K.

 

PV Sindhu becomes First Indian to Win BWF World Championships Gold
  • PV Sindhu became the first Indian to win the BWF World Championships, crushing Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara 21-7, 21-7 in just 38 minutes in a one-sided final.
  • With the win, Sindhu now has a full set of medals at World Championships – two bronze medals, two silver medals and a gold medal.
  • Sindhu’s gold is the second medal that India won at the Worlds this year with Sai Praneeth winning a bronze in men’s singles category.
  • This is Sindhu’s fifth medal at the World Championships, which is the joint highest in women’s singles in the history of the tournament along with Xhang Ning of China, a two-time Olympic gold medallist.
  • Apart from the two silvers, Sindhu won in the last two editions, she had also won the bronze in 2013 and 2014.

FACTFILE – The BWF World Championships

  • The BWF World Championships, also known as the World Badminton Championships is a badminton tournament sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF).
  • The tournament offers the most ranking points, together with Summer Olympic Games.
  • The winners will be crowned as the “World Champions” and awarded gold medals. However, it does not offer any prize money.
 PM Modi conferred with top Bahraini award
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the King Hamad Order of the Renaissance by Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa in recognition of New Delhi”s strong friendship with the Gulf nation and his efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.
  • Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Bahrain.
  • Modi and the Bahraini King reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations.
  • Three MoUs were also inked, in the field of space, culture, the International Solar Alliance and RuPay card.
  • The three MoUs were on: Statement of Intent on collaboration between Indian Space Research Organisation and National Space Science Agency in the area of Space Technology,Statement of Intent on collaboration of the Kingdom of Bahrain with International Solar Alliance (ISA),Cultural Exchange Programme between India and Bahrain.
  • The Prime Minister also spent time at the Shreenathji Krishna temple in Manama, which is being renovated. Modi also interacted with the Indian community at the temple.

August 27, 2019

IIT Guwahati, RD Grow ink MoU on water purification technology
  • Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RD Grow Green India Pvt Ltd on technology transfer for chemical-free treatment technique of drinking water.
  • The agreement was signed recently at the institute’s North Guwahati campus between Dr TG Sitharam, Director of IIT Guwahati, and Rajeev Saikia, Managing Director of RD Grow Green India Pvt Ltd.
  • “Drinking water contamination is a major problem in most of the States, including Assam. This ‘chemical free’ treatment technique might be useful to the citizens in the rural and urban areas. I appreciate the initiative made by the team from IIT Guwahati that has resulted in one of the successful incubations of a company, RD Grow Green India Pvt Ltd, within IIT Guwahati, which has taken up the challenge to supply contaminant-free drinking water in Assam using the technology,” said Dr Sitharam.
  • The technology is based on the ‘Apparatus and Method for Removal of Fluoride, Iron, Arsenic and Microorganisms from Contaminated Drinking Water’ developed by Prof Mihir Kumar Purkait of the Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati. The technology is patented by Prof Purkait under the Indian patent ‘Number: 286481’.
  • Explaining the technology, Prof Purkait said, “In electro coagulation process, an applied potential generates the coagulant species in situ as the sacrificial metal anode (aluminium or iron) dissolves, while hydrogen is simultaneously evolved at the cathode. Coagulant species aggregate the suspended particles or precipitate and adsorb dissolved contaminants.”
  • Tiny bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen that are formed during electrolysis of water collide with air bubbles which compel the pollutant particles to float.

FACTFILE – Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

  • IIT Guwahati is a public institution established by the Government of India, located in Guwahati, in the state of Assam in India.
  • It is the sixth Indian Institute of Technology established in India.
  • IIT Guwahati is officially recognised as an Institute of National Importance by the government of India.
  • The history of IIT Guwahati traces its roots to the 1985 Assam Accord signed between the All Assam Students Union and the Government of India, which mentions the general improvement in education facilities in Assam and specifically the setting up of an IIT.
  • IIT Guwahati was established in 1994 by an act of parliament and its academic programme commenced in 1995.
Sapta Shakti Natural Park opened in Jaipur
  • Lieutenant General Cherish Mathson, GOC-in-C, Sapta Shakti Command, inaugurated the Sapta Shakti Nature Park.
  • On the occasion, an information booklet containing details of plants, migratory birds and evolution & execution of the project was also released by Mareena Mathson, Regional President, Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA).
  • In April the General Mathson noticed a natural wet land near the Dravyavati Sewage Treatment plant teeming with birds including few migratory birds.
  • The idea of developing it into a nature’s park was conceived. Harsh Vardhan, famous ornithologist of Rajasthan, too contributed his expertise and supervised the plan.
  • After three months, there are over 1,500 trees, two ponds, panoramic view point for sunrise and sunset and about 30 different varieties of birds, which form the Nature Park.
  • Besides serving as a source of oxygen, it has attracted large number of migratory birds as well. A complete eco-system has been created.

Punjab launches plantation drive to mark 550th Prakash Parva
  • Punjab has begun a plantation drive of flower trees in Sultanpur Lodhi to mark the 550th Prakash Parva of Guru Nanak Dev in November.
  • Under this project 550 saplings of ”gulmohar” and ”amaltas” will be planted, out of which nearly 300 have already been planted, in the historic Gurudwara Sri Ber Sahib and the banks of the holy Bein river, besides flower beds for providing a picturesque view to millions of devotees likely to converge there.
  • Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner D.P.S. Kharbanda said 1,100 MGNREGA workers have been involved to undertake the plantation of four lakh flowering plants all along the Bein river facing Gurdwara Sri Ber Sahib.
  • Apart from this, flowers of celosia, cristata, French marigold lemon, French marigold, orange Celosia plumosa, gomphrena purple and cosmos bippinatus varieties will be planted in the flower beds spread over nearly four acres on the outskirts of Bassowal village.
  • It has also been decided to write 550 on an elevated soil platform by planting marigold flowers in commemoration of this sacred occasion. All the flowers being planted would blossom during the last week of October till January.

Tamil Nadu government launches Education TV channel
  • Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami said the state government”s 24-hour Education TV channel will broadcast not only programmes that are related to studies but also about skill development as well as suggestions to parents.
  • Palaniswami said a sum of Rs 1.35 crore was spent on procuring modern cameras, drones and technical equipment for the channel.
  • The channel will have experts on different subjects clearing doubts and on tests to take to prepare for competitive exams, among others.

Tiktok, IIMC join hands to train budding media professionals
  • TikTok announced its partnership with Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) to train budding media professionals on the existing industry-wide challenges arising from the evolving social media landscape in India.
  • Under this partnership, TikTok and IIMC would organise a series of workshops with the students and professors of IIMC across its six regional campuses starting on August 26.
  • The workshops would feature a curriculum that incorporates insights and learnings shared by thought leaders from new media, internet-based companies and the educational institutional community.

FACTFILE – Indian Institute of Management Calcutta

  • Indian Institute of Management Calcutta is a public business school located in Joka, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
  • It was the first Indian Institute of Management to be established.
  • IIM Calcutta is the first and only triple accredited management school from India (and one amongst 86 such business schools globally.
  • It offers a two-year full-time MBA, Fellow Program in Management (equivalent to PhD), and Executive Post Graduate Diploma in Management (equivalent to executive MBA).

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August 28, 2019

IIT Guwahati, private firm find solution to Assam’s contaminated water
  • The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with RD Grow Green India Private Ltd, which has made it possible to treat contaminated ground water without using any chemical.
  • Drinking water contamination is a major problem in most states, including Assam. This chemical-free treatment technique might be useful to citizens both in rural and urban areas.
  • The technology is based on the principle Apparatus and Method for Removal of Fluoride, Iron, Arsenic and Micro-organisms from Contaminated Drinking Water.
  • RD Grow Green India is an incubating company at the Technology Incubation Centre in IIT Guwahati and is working on this project for the treatment of contaminated drinking water and industrial effluents.
  • At least 24 districts in Assam currently face the problem of either arsenic or flouride contamination of ground water.
  • In the past announced many schemes to remove arsenic and fluoride contamination but none of them have proved effective.
Microsoft to train Govt techies in India
  • Microsoft India announced the “Digital Governance Tech Tour” programme to skill government IT officials in new-age technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and intelligent cloud computing,
  • Microsoft will organise a series of physical and virtual workshops to train 5,000 government IT personnel over a period of 12 months.
  • The programme was inaugurated during the “Digital Governance Tech Summit 2019” by Amitabh Kant, CEO NITI Aayog and Ajay Prakash Sawhney, Secretary Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
  • The “Digital Governance Tech Tour” will be open to technocrats and IT professionals across the entire government ecosystem, including employees of public sector undertakings, government partners as well as solutions/systems integrators.
  • Participants will learn a range of skills, including being able to move, transform and analyze data, design and deployment skills for end-to-end solutions, and monitoring and troubleshooting in the cloud, including a deep dive into the fundamentals of Azure Cloud.

Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya, India’s first woman DGP passes away
  • Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya, who created history as India’s first women Director General of Police (DGP), has died here after a brief illness.
  • The second woman IPS in the country after Kiran Bedi, Bhattacharya was a 1973 batch officer and created a record when she became the DGP, Uttarakhand in 2004 – the first female police officer in India to attain the position.
  • A native of Amritsar, Bhattacharya was keenly interested in joining the police force and went all out to achieve her ambition.
  • During her tenure as DGP of Uttarakhand, she supported the downtrodden, combated bias against women and implemented the policy of female home guards manning traffic.
  • During her 33-year-long police career, she was awarded the President’s Police Medal in 1997, served with the CISF and represented India at an InterPol meet in Mexico in 2004.

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Assam Current Affairs – August 08 – 14, 2019

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Current Affairs Assam – August 8 - 14, 2019

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of August 8 – 14, 2019 )

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August 08, 2019

Assam CM lays foundation of one lakh houses under PMAY(G)
  • Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone of more than one lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Grameen) at a function held at the Sarusajai Sports Complex.
  • The Chief Minister handed over sanction letters for loan to one thousand Self Help Groups (SHGs) under the Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission and three thousand appointment letters to youths under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana`
  • The Panchayat and Rural Development department has set a target of making two lakh houses under the PMAY.
  • In the financial year 2019-20, of the total 1,94,338 registered houses, the State government has received sanctions for 1,22,304 houses.

FACTFILE – Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana (PMGAY),

  • Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana (PMGAY), previously Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), is a social welfare flagship programme, created by the Indian Government, to provide housing for the rural poor in India. A similar scheme for urban poor was launched in 2015 as Housing for All by 2022.
  • Indira Awaas Yojana was launched in 1985 by Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, as one of the major flagship programs of the Ministry of Rural Development to construct houses for BPL population in the villages.
  • Modern technology like information communication and space technology are being used to make sure the accurate selection of beneficiaries.
  • PMGAY combines all of the following schemes together – Aadhaar platform, Skill India and Jan Dhan Yojana, and Make in India. Besides this, the government is also planning to deploy MGNREGA scheme to train and allocate labour
  • The Swachh Bharat and MGNREGA amongst other institutions funded totilets for the PMGAY scheme.
  • 1 crore pucca houses are to be constructed for the people of the rural areas in the next three years.
  • Totally, 4 crore households will be constructed under the PMAY-G scheme by the year 2022
  • The estimated total expenditure of PMAY-G is Rs.60,000 crore.
The New Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 passed in Parliament
  • The new Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 proposes penalty for celebrities endorsing false or misleading advertisements of a product, along the manufacturers of the products.
  • The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha and was already approved by the Lok Sabha earlier. It will replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
  • A Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) will be set up to protect, promote and enforce consumer rights, under the Bill.
  • The CCPA will have an investigation wing headed by a Director General to inquire into violations of consumer rights and for imposing penalties.
  • The CCPA can impose a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh on celebrity endorsers and manufacturers for a false or misleading advertisement under Clause 21.
  • The authority can also order imprisonment of up to two years for false advertising.
  • In case of a repeat offence, the authority can impose a penalty of up to Rs 50 lakh and a jail term of up to five years.
  • Endorsers can be barred from promoting advertisements for up to a year, extending up to three years for repeat offenders.
  • The Bill defines “endorsement”, as any message, verbal statement, demonstration or depiction of the name, signature of an individual.
  • Endorsement can also be a depiction of the name or seal of any institution or organisation, which makes the consumer to believe that it reflects the opinion, finding or experience of the person making such endorsement.
RBI slashes lending rate by 35 base points to 5.40 %
  • The Reserve Bank of India reduced its key lending rates by 35 basis points, the RBI’s monetary policy committee (MPC) in its third policy review of the current fiscal reduced the repo, or short term lending rate for commercial banks, by 35 basis points to 5.40 per cent from 5.75 per cent.
  • The reverse repo rate was revised to 5.15 per cent, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the bank rate to 5.65 per cent.
  • On growth, the MPC reduced the growth forecast to 6.9 per cent from 7 per cent in FY2019-20.
  • The GDP growth for the first quarter of FY2020-21 is projected at 7.4 per cent.
  • Real GDP growth for 2019-20 is revised downwards from 7 per cent in the June policy to 6.9 per cent — in the range of 5.8-6.6 per cent for H1:2019-20 and 7.3-7.5 per cent for H2 – with risks somewhat tilted to the downside.
Rajasthan launches new higher education model
  • A new higher education model has been launched in Rajasthan for distribution of faculties and movable assets among the government colleges at the district level to rationalise the availability of resources.
  • Minister of State for Higher Education Bhanwar Singh Bhati inaugurated the model, titled Resource Assistance for Colleges with Excellence, in the presence of principals of colleges.
  • The colleges in need will submit their requirement to the nodal college in the district, which will send the teachers on deputation, if needed, and provide the facilities such as projectors, digital libraries, equipment and technicians
  • The model will help the colleges situated in small towns facing shortage of faculties and infrastructure.
  • Though the sanctioned posts of teachers in the government colleges are 6,500, the State at present falls short by about 2,000 teachers.
  • Until the additional posts are created and new appointments made, the RACE is expected to help channelise resources and ensure quality education.

August 09, 2019

Guwahati slips to 81st spot from 26th spot in Smart Cities list
  • The delay in starting the major projects under the Guwahati Smart City Limited (GSCL), has made Guwahati slump from the 26th position to the 81st in the list of smart cities in the last three years.
  • High officials of GSCL said that at the initial stage they had proposed some major projects like pan city, development of the Borsola Beel, development of the Bharalu river, development of the Deepor Beel, development of the Morabharalu river, development of the Brahmaputra riverfront, installation of smart bio-toilets and water ATMs, refurbishment of the Gandhi Mandap, etc.
  • But due to various technical reasons and delay caused by dragging official formalities, the GSCL could not start most of these projects except installation of bio-toilets and water ATMs along with refurbishment of the Gandhi Mandap.
  • Due to some technical reasons, the GSCL has handed over the Deepor Beel Development Project to the forest department. The forest department is yet to take any step to implement the project.
  • The GSCL is going to start developing the Brahmaputra riverfront and the pan city project soon. They have already obtained ‘no objection certificates’ from most of the line departments for these two projects and the work will start soon.
  • Under the Brahmaputra riverfront development project the GSCL will prepare a master landscape design for a 6-km stretch of the riverfront for development of a walkway, cycle track, jogging track, smart city pavilions, etc. It will also take bank protection measures along with various infrastructural works like development of viewpoint, water stairs, fountains, interactive pond, ramps, stairs, jetty, ferry terminals, kiosks, bridges over outflow structures, etc.
Delhi Cabinet approves Free wifi Hotspot in the Capital
  • The Delhi cabinet approved free WiFi hotspots across the national capital, there will be 11,000 hotspots all over the city.
  • A total of 4,000 hotspots will be installed at bus shelters and 7,000 in various colonies. Each of the 70 Assembly constituency will get 100 hotspots
  • The project, with an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore, will be on ground in three-four months.
  • Each user will get 15 gb limit per month.
  • About 200 users can use the hotspots simultaneously having a speed of 200 mbps in a radius of 50 meters.
  • The free WiFi will be an addition to what people are already getting from the telecom companies.
Indian firm develops MedGeneome Labs test to detect drug-resistant TB mutation
  • Genetic diagnostic and drug discovery research firm MedGeneome Labs claimed to have developed the first whole genomic sequencing-based test to detect early drug-resistant mutation in tuberculosis (TB) bacteria.
  • The breakthrough DNA test will enable a doctor to correctly prescribe the most effective drug to a TB patient without a time-consuming trial and error process.
  • The test is based on the whole genome sequencing of mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the TB causing bacteria, to assess the mutations in bacteria”s genome and allows a clinician to determine which drug will work for a patient.
  • The conventional tests available in the country equip us to identify resistance in a limited fashion. Mtb (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) is slow-growing, taking 6-8 weeks for culture growth, thereby delaying not only TB diagnosis, but also the drug resistance testing.
  • Spit sequence is a culture-free method to identify Mtb and predict drug resistance in 10 days.
IIT-M, NIOT working on generating power from ocean waves
  • Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) and National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) are working towards developing better turbines that can harness the power of ocean waves to generate electricity.
  • The research is being headed at IIT-M by Dr Abdus Samad, Associate Professor, Department of Ocean Engineering, who works towards extracting energy from the ocean waves.
  • The recent research by IIT-M and NIOT, is being funded by Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, and focuses on improving the devices and machines used for wave energy harvesting.
  • The challenges to realising practical wave energy have been that while waves harbour copious energy, they are also unsteady and the ocean has unpredictable forces acting on the energy devices.
  • Efficient recovery of energy from waves hinges on improving the performance of devices that convert inconsistent wave movement to electricity.
  • The aerodynamic performance of the turbine plays a major role in the wave-to-wire conversion efficiency.
  • The turbine is the heart of the wave energy system and a huge amount of research works are done through fluid dynamic analysis, experimental system development, design, and tests.

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August 10, 2019

Indo-Bangla talks on NE connectivity with Chittagong
  • India and Bangladesh held preliminary discussions on the proposed new connectivity between the North Eastern States and the port city of Chittagong in Bangladesh.
  • The discussions took place during the delegation-level meeting held between Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and visiting Bangladesh minister Nurul Islam Sujan at the Rail Bhavan.
  • India and Bangladesh have decided to enhance railway connectivity between the two neighbours.
  • The Railway Minister announced that the frequency of the Kolkata-Dhaka Moitree Express and the Kolkata-Khulna Bandhan Express would be increased to meet growing demand of passengers from both countries.
  • On the proposed connectivity between the North East and Chittagong, the details would be firmed up during the visit of Bangladesh Prime Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the former is expected to visit India in October.
  • India and Bangladesh are in the process of laying a new railway line connecting Tripura and Bangladesh. Work had already started on the 45-km rail link between Agartala and Akhaura, a sub-district of Chittagong.
Two wildlife reserves near Mumbai declared as ‘Eco-Sensitive Zone’
  • The Centre has declared two wildlife sanctuaries near Mumbai as ”Eco-Sensitive Zone”(ESZ), according to Union Minister for Environment Prakash Javadekar.
  • There are 11 more such ESZs in Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh,
  • The two wildlife sanctuaries in Maharashtra are Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary (TWLS) and Tansa Wildlife Santuary (TWS), both lush green areas spread across several hundred square kms in Palghar and Thane districts adjoining Mumbai.
  • They also serve as the catchment areas for lakes and reservoirs supplying drinking water to the country”s commercial capital.
  • The total protected area of the TWLS is around 86 sq km and will have the ESZ of 67 sq km.
  • For the TWS, the total protected area would be around 305 sq kms with the ESZ of around 490 sq km which will also include 150 villages.
  • Both the TWLS and TWS are ranked as major habitats for several wildlife, including leopards.
  • Declaring an ESZ, or a buffer zone, around a wildlife reserve would help conserve the ecosystem since only agriculture, a few small scale industries and minor infra-works are permitted within the ESZ.
UP Govt plants 22 crore saplings in a day
  • Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a massive plantation drive by planting a sapling in Jaiti Khera village of Lucknow. The state government plans to create a world record by planting 22 crore saplings in a day.
  • The Chief Minister said that next year, the state would set a target of planting 25 crore saplings in a day.
  • He asked the forest officials to identify the trees that are over 100-year-old and take steps to preserve them as heritage trees.
  • A sum of Rs 100 crore had been provided from the Chief Minister”s Contingency Fund for the plantation drive, under which saplings planted have been geotagged to ensure monitoring of their growth.

August 11, 2019

J&K Re-organisation Act gets President”s approval
  • President Ram Nath Kovind gave his approval to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which was passed by the Parliament.
  • Notwithstanding the controversy, the Bill was passed in the Parliament with the Lok Sabha giving its nod after a little over seven hours discussion. The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha earlier.

FACTFILE – Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019

  • The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 is an act of the Parliament of India. It contains provisions to reconstitute the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir, a part of the larger region of Kashmir, which has been the subject of dispute among India, Pakistan, and China since 1947, into two Indian-administered union territories, one to be called Jammu and Kashmir, and the other Ladakh, on 31 October 2019.
  • The introduction of the bill was preceded by a Presidential Order under the Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which superseded the 1954 Presidential Order.
  • A bill for the act was introduced by the Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, in the Rajya Sabha, on 5 August 2019. The bill was passed in Rajya Sabha the same day and was passed by the Lok Sabha on 6 August 2019.
  • The introduction of the bill was preceded by a presidential order under Article 370 of the Indian constitution that revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
Jharkhand govt launches direct money transfer scheme for small farmers
  • Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu launched the Jharkhand government’s ‘Mukhya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana’ under which money will be directly transferred into the bank accounts of farmers in the state
  • Under the scheme, beneficiaries having farm land of less than one acre to five acres, will get 5,000 to 25,000 rupees in their bank accounts.
  • As soon as Mr Naidu launched the scheme, money was transferred into the bank accounts of farmers, and some them showed their mobile phones with the money transfer message to the vice-president.
  • Mr Naidu said conservation of rainwater should be made people’s movement and hoped that farmers will use traditional method to help conserve ground water.
  • Praising the Centre and the state government’s efforts in protecting the interests of farmers, Mr Naidu stressed on the importance of developing village and recalled the efforts made by him when he was the Union Rural Development minister.
    Under the Mukhya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana, approximately 35 lakh farmers will benefit and by October 3,000 crore rupees will be sent in the accounts of the beneficiaries.
TCIL signs MoUs with Benin, Guinea
  • Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd, a PSU under Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, has entered into a strategic alliance with the African countries of Benin and the Republic of Guinea, as part of a larger pan-African e-network project on education and medicine.
  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed by President Ram Nath Kovind during the first ever state visit from India to Benin, Gambia and Guinea.
  • The MoU is for setting up of the e-VBAB Network as part of a larger pan African e-network project on education and medicine. The e-VBAB is e-vidhyabharti and e-arogyabharti (e-VBAB) network.
  • TCIL will, initially, extend free tele-education courses to about 15,000 African students and tele-medicine courses to 5,000 doctors and paramedics in Africa, which may be extended more on a self-sustainable model later after looking at its success.
  • The PAN African e-network project has been now renamed as e-Vidya Bharati and e-Arogya Bharati (e-VBAB) Network Project.
  • The Ministry of External Affairs has initially proposed to start a pilot project with 14 African countries namely Ghana, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Zambia, Uganda, South Sudan, Liberia, Benin, Republic of Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mozambique and Sudan. TCIL has initially signed an MoU with two countries — Benin and The Republic of Guinea – during the President’s recent visit to West Africa.
 

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August 12, 2019

Government signs peace pact with Tripura terror outfit National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT)
  • A tripartite Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed in New Delhi between the Central and Tripura governments and National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) facilitating to surrender of 88 terrorists of the banned outfit.
  • After the signing of the MoS, the NLFT (SD) representatives called on Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
  • the MoS was signed by Union Home Ministry’s Joint Secretary (North-East) Satyendra Garg, Tripura government’s Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Kumar Alok and Sabir Kumar Debbarma and Kajal Debbarma on behalf of the NLFT (SD faction). 
  • NLFT (SD faction) has agreed to abjure the path of violence, join the mainstream and abide by the Indian Constitution.
  • It was agreed that the 88 NLFT cadres would surrender soon with their arms and ammunition.
  • The government also told the NLFT (SD) leaders that surrendered members of the outfit would be given surrender benefits as per the Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Scheme, 2018 of the Union Home Ministry. 

FACTFILE – National Liberation Front of Tripura

  • The National Liberation Front of Tripura (abbreviated NLFT) is a Tripuri nationalist militant organisation based in Tripura, India. It has an estimated 550 to 850 members.
  • The NLFT seeks to secede from India and establish an independent Tripuri state, and is an active participant in the Insurgency in Northeast India.
  • The NLFT is currently designated as a terrorist organisation in India.
  • T he Baptist Church of Tripura was initially set up by missionaries from New Zealand in the 1940s. Despite their efforts, even until the 1980s, only a few thousand people in Tripura had converted to Christianity. In the aftermath of one of the worst ethnic riots, the NLFT was born in 1989 with the backing of the Baptist Church of Tripura.

FACTIFLE – Tripura Peace Accord

  • Tripura Peace Accord is the tripartite accord signed-in on 10 August 2019 by the Government of India, Government of Tripura and the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) to end the insurgency.
  • The tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed by Satyendra Garg, Joint Secretary (Northeast) of Ministry of Home Affairs, Kumar Alok, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Tripura and Sabir Kumar Debbarma and Kajal Debbarma of NLFT.
Two crore farmers to be enrolled under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan-Dhan Yojana
  • The CSC e-Governance Services India, which manages over 3.5 lakh common service centres across the country, has set a target of enrolling 2 crore small and marginal farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan-Dhan Yojana by August 15.
  • The PM-KMY was launched by Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh which entitles eligible farmers for monthly pension of Rs 3,000 per month.
  • The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has roped in CSC, a special purpose vehicle under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, as exclusive “enrolling agency” for enrollment of subscribers.
  • Any eligible farmer who wants to join the scheme can visit his nearest CSC along with his Aadhaar card and bank passbook or account details.
  • Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs), who manage CSCs, will complete online registration process after taking all relevant details of farmers.
  • After the authentication process is completed, the enrolled farmer will be informed and his PM-KMY Pension Card with a unique Pension Account Number will be generated.
  • The scheme is being implemented across the country, including Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Farmers holding up to 2 hectare farm land will be eligible for the PM-KMY scheme.
GRSE launches 5th Fast Patrol Vessel for coast guard
  • The fifth and last Fast Patrol Vessel for the Indian Coast Guard was launched at the Raja Bagan Dockyard Unit of premier warship maker Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).
  • Inspector General Rajan Bargotra, Commander Coast Guard Region (North East) and others senior GRSE and ICG Officials graced the occasion.
  • The ship – 50M long, 7.5 M wide and with a displacement of around 308 Tons – has a maximum speed of 34 knots with an endurance of more than 1,500 nautical miles.
  • The FPVs come with an efficient hull form developed in-house and proven after extensive model testing.
  • The FPV designs, which are exclusive to GRSE are an improvisation on the Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPV) built by the defence PSU for the Indian Coast Guard in 2013.
  • The fuel- efficient and powerful platforms are well suited for patrolling, anti-smuggling, anti-poaching, and rescue operations.

August 13, 2019

‘Bulbul Can Sing’ wins Rajat Kamal Award at the National Film Award
  • ‘Bulbul Can Sing’ by renowned director Rima Das has won the National Film Award and has been declared the best Assamese film. The 66th National Film Awards were announced by chairperson, feature film category Rahul Rawail, chairperson, non-feature film category, AS Kanal, and chairperson, best writing on cinema Utpal Borpujari.
  • Gujarati film Hellaro was declared the best feature film, while Badhai Ho bagged the award for best popular film providing wholesome entertainment. Hindi movie Padman was declared best film on social issues, while Kannada film Ondalla Eradalla got Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration.
  • Ayushman Khurana and Vicky Kaushal jointly won the best actor award for their performances in Andhadhun and Uri: The Surgical Strike
  • Keerthy Suresh was declared winner of the best actress trophy for her performance in Telugu movie Mahanati.
  • Aditya Dhar won the best director award for Uri: The Surgical Strike.
  • Marathi movie Naal received the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director.
  • Rima Das of Village Rockstar fame won the Rajat Kamal Award, which carries a prize money of Rs 1 lakh. Produced by Flying River Films, the film was awarded for capturing the trials, tribulations and aspirations of a group of teenagers in rural Assamese backdrop.
  • The Land of Poison Women directed by Manju Bora and produced by Aaas Productions also won Rajat Kamal Award for depiction of an individual’s effort to break the myth of “poison women” in a remote part of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Bobby Sarma Baruah was awarded the Rajat Kamal for Best Sherdukpan Film for the film Mishing, which was produced by BB Entertainment Trade Private Limited.
  • Ma’ama directed by Dominic Sangma and produced by Anna Films was adjudged the best Garo film.

FACTFILE – National Film Awards

  • The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremonies in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government’s Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.
  • Every year, a national panel appointed by the government selects the winning entry, and the award ceremony is held in New Delhi, where the President of India presents the awards. This is followed by the inauguration of the National Film Festival, where the award-winning films are screened for the public.
  • Declared for films produced in the previous year across the country, they hold the distinction of awarding merit to the best of Indian cinema overall, as well as presenting awards for the best films in each region and language of the country. Due to the national scale of the National Film Awards, it is considered the Indian equivalent of the American Academy Awards.
Goa CM signs MoU for business ties with Russian province
  • Chief Minister Pramod Sawant signed and exchanged a memorandum of understanding for business cooperation with Governor of Russian province of Kamchatka, Vladimir Ilyukhin, at Vladivostok, Russia.
  • Sawant is in Russia, as part of a 150-member-strong Indian delegation led by Union Minister Piyush Goyal, which includes Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
  • Russia, chaired a sectoral session on minerals, metals, rare-earths and fisheries with business representatives of India and Russia.
  • Goa is one of the favourite beach tourism destinations for Russian tourists, near a lakh of who visit the state every year.
World’s largest water pump house begins operation in Telangana
  • Lakshmipur pump house, a key component of Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) and claimed to be the world’s largest pump house, has successfully commenced operations in Telangana.
  • Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) unveiled Laximpur Underground Pumping Station (LUPS), also called as the Package 8 of the mega project across the Godavari river.
  • Around 3,000 cusecs of water was lifted to a height of 111 meters and flown into Mid-Manair reservoir through the gravity canal.
  • LUPS would enable live storage of water in reservoirs throughout the year in the Godavari river belt.
  • MEIL described the pump house as outstanding engineering marvel as it is the world’s largest underground pumping station constructed at 470 feet below the earth’s surface.
  • Billed as the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project, Kaleshwaram was formally inaugurated in June.
  • It is designed to irrigate 45 lakh acres for two crops in a year, meet drinking water requirement of 70 per cent of the state and also cater to the needs of industry.
Reliance jio in long-term strategic partnership partners with Microsoft
  • Reliance Jio has announced a long-term strategic partnership with Microsoft. The two companies working together on a number of solutions comprising connectivity, computing, storage solutions, and other technology services and applications essential for Indian businesses.
  • Microsoft will be working with Jio to give a push to data analytics, AI (Artificial Intelligence), cognitive services, blockchain, Internet of Things, and edge computing among small and medium enterprises to make them ready to compete and grow, at the same time help in the GDP growth in India.

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August 07, 2019

North East Startup and Craft Fair gets under way
  • The North East Startup and Craft Fair-2019 organised by NEDFi at the newly constructed NEDFi Haat at Rupnagar, was inaugurated by Dr Inder Jit Singh, Secretary, Ministry of DoNER.
  • The fair has a total of 54 participants out of which 27 are startups. Seven participating startups have been funded by NEDFi. With varieties of tea stealing the show at national and international exhibitions, the NEDFi event has white tea from Nagaland and white and purple tea from Barpathar in Karbi Anglong on offer.
  • The state-specific products include sun-dried roselle, non-fermented bamboo shoots, sun-dried Mizo lomba flower, hatkora candy, zinger drink and roasted inca seeds of Mizoram. Sikkim has brought yacon syrup, organic buckwheat, beaten rice and organic pulses.
  • Assam’s startups and food processing units have brought purple tea, green tea, orthodox tea, passion fruit squash, pickles, king chilli sauce, lemon juice, orange juice, exotic variety rice, mustard oil, etc.
  • Dried and smoked chicken and pork pickle are on offer for foodies at the Manipuri stalls along with vegetarian and non-vegetarian ground spices, dry fish, black rice, etc.
  • The Nagaland stalls are offering ginger powder, white tea, dried cardamom, fruit candies of pineapple, wild apple and gooseberry. Meghalaya has brought turmeric latte brand, red sticky rice, lakadong turmeric powder, coffee and black pepper.
  • The craft section has masks from Majuli, wrap-around dresses from Nagaland, Arunachal, Mizoram and Manipur, tribal jewellery from Arunachal and Nagaland, black pottery and kauna craft from Manipur and other traditional attire and handicraft from the eight NE states.
Government issues scheme for PSBS purchase of pooled assets of NBFCS
  • The Government has issued a scheme regarding partial credit guarantee, The Scheme would enable the public sector banks (PSBs) to purchase pooled assets of financially sound NBFCs amounting to Rs.One lakh crore.
  • It is expected that this measure would provide liquidity to the NBFC Sector and, in turn, enable them to continue to play their role in meeting the financing requirements of the productive sectors of economy including MSME, retail and housing.
  • The scheme has been named as ‘Partial Credit Guarantee offered by Government of India (GoI) to Public Sector Banks (PSBs) for purchasing high-rated pooled assets from financially sound Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)/Housing Finance Companies (HFCs)’.
  • The aim of the scheme is to address temporary asset liability mismatches of otherwise solvent NBFCs/HFCs without having to resort to distress sale of their assets for meeting their commitments.
  • The window for one-time partial credit guarantee offered by GoI will open from the date of issuance of the Scheme by the Government for a period of six months, or till such date by which Rupees One lakh crore assets get purchased by banks, whichever is earlier.
All India Radio to train students in English
  • The All India Radio (AIR) will now help students brush up their English speaking skill. From September 1 “Aao Angrezi Seekhein (Come lets learn English)” will be on air from 11 a.m. onwards on all working days.
  • The joint project by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Uttar Pradesh government and the UN International Children”s Fund (UNICEF) will include a total of 120 episodes of 15 minutes each that would be broadcast for the 2019-20 academic session.
  • The pilot project will be launched from the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV) where students of Class 5 to 8 of and junior high schools will take their English lessons by listening to the radio programme.
  • The programme will guide students on how to use English language in daily conversation and also stress on pronunciation of words.
  • The teachers have been directed to note down the highlights of each episode in a register and revise the lesson with students.
  • The programme is meant to improve their English speaking skill just by listening. Students will not be required to do any writing work.

FACTFILE – All India Radio (AIR)

  • All India Radio (AIR), officially known since 1956 as Akashvani, is the national public radio broadcaster of India and is a division of Prasar Bharati.
  • It was established in 1936 It is the sister service of Prasar Bharati’s Doordarshan, an Indian television broadcaster.
  • Headquartered in the Akashvani Bhavan building in New Delhi, it houses the Drama Section, the FM Section, the National Service, and is also home to the Indian television station Doordarshan Kendra, (Delhi).
  • All India Radio is the largest radio network in the world, and one of the largest broadcasting organizations in the world in terms of the number of languages broadcast and the spectrum of socio-economic and cultural diversity it serves.
  • AIR’s home service comprises 420 stations located across the country, reaching nearly 92% of the country’s area and 99.19% of the total population. AIR originates programming in 23 languages and 179 dialects.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee opens World’s 1st museum on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
  • West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Inaugurated the world”s first museum dedicated to the life and teachings of 16th century saint and social reformer Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
  • The Gaudiya Mission, a spiritual and philanthropic organisation established in 1935, propagates the teachings of Sri Chaitanya and the Vaishnava faith. It has many centres in India and temples in London and New York.
  • The museum is a three-storey structure built on an area of approximately 1,350 square metres and includes galleries, public utility areas and a library.
  • Each floor is dedicated to different phases of the saint”s life starting from his birth, his marriage with Vishupria, journey throughout the country up to the period after he attained ”Sanyasa” (sainthood).
  • Life-size models, 3D films, audio tracks and animatronics will ensure maximum engagement of the visitors.
  • The museum has been designed by the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM).

BIOGRAPHY – Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

  • Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, was a Bengali Hindu mystic, saint, and the chief proponent of the Achintya Bheda Vedanta school and the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition within Hinduism.
  • He also expounded the Vaishnava school of Bhakti yoga, based on Bhagavata Purana and Bhagavad Gita.
  • Of various forms and direct or indirect expansions of Krishna such as Lord Narasimha, Mahavishnu and Garbhodaksayi Vishnu respectively, he is Krishna in the mood of a devotee.
  • He popularised the chanting of the ‘Hare Krishna mantra’ and composed the Siksastakam (eight devotional prayers) in Sanskrit.
  • His followers, Gaudiya Vaishnavas, revere him as a Krishna with the mood and complexion of his source of inspiration Radha.
  • His birthday is celebrated as Gaura-purnima.
  • Chaitanya is sometimes referred to by the names Gauranga or Gaura due to his fair complexion, and Nimai due to his being born underneath a Neem tree.

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Assam Current Affairs – August 01 – 07, 2019

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Current Affairs Assam – August 1 - 7, 2019

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of August 1 – 7, 2019 )

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August 01, 2019

Aminul Laskar elected as the Deputy Speaker of Assam Assembly
  • BJP legislator from Sonai constituency Aminul Haque Laskar was today elected as the Deputy Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly.Laskarwas the lone candidate for the post and he was elected unopposed.
  • Assembly Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami declared Laskar elected during today’s session of the House.
  • After the announcement, senior leaders, including Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and other ministers as well as MLAs belonging to both the treasury benches and the Opposition, escorted Laskar to his chair, amidst thumping of desk.
  • Extending his felicitations, Goswami exuded confidence that the newly elected Deputy Speaker will fulfil his role and responsibilities with dedication, and by taking into confidence everyone in the House.
  • Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia said he and members of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) are happy at Laskar’s elevation to the post of Deputy Speaker and assured all cooperation in the running of the House.

FACTFILE – Assam Legislative Assembly

  • The Assam Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Indian state of Assam.
  • It is housed in Dispur, the capital of Assam, geographically situated in present Western Assam region.
  • The Legislative Assembly comprises 126 Members of Legislative Assembly, directly elected from single-seat constituencies. Its term is five years, unless sooner dissolved.
  • According to provisions of the Government of India Act 1935, a bicameral legislature of Assam province came into existence in 1937. After the Government of India Act, 1935 was passed, it paved the way for the formation of Assam Legislative Assembly, and became a bicameral legislature.
Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 passed in Rajya Saba
  • The Rajya Sabha passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 to improve road safety, raise penalties for traffic violations, curb RTO (Regional Transport Office) corruption and other measures to transform the transport sector.
  • Under the amendments, the minimum penalty for driving without licence has been increased to Rs 5,000 from Rs 500 while the fine for driving despite disqualification has been increased to Rs 10,000.
  • Also, driving without wearing a helmet will attract a penalty of Rs 1,000.
  • A new provision has been added to the Bill with regard to underage drivers under which the guardians or vehicle owners shall be held guilty in case of an offence by a juvenile.
  • A fine of Rs 25,000 with three years imprisonment will be imposed and the juvenile will be tried under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act while the registration of the vehicle will be cancelled.
  • Over speeding will now attract a fine of Rs 1,000 for light motor vehicle and Rs 2,000 for medium passenger vehicle while not wearing seat belt will cost Rs 1,000.
  • Fine of Rs 10,000 for not providing passage to emergency vehicles.
  • The Bill also provides for a National Road Safety Board, to be created by the Central government through a notification.
  • The Board will advise the Central and state governments on all aspects of road safety and traffic management, including standards of motor vehicles, registration and licensing of vehicles, standards for road safety and promotion of new vehicle technology.
  • The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019, is based on the recommendations of the Group of Transport Ministers (GoM) of states constituted by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to address the issue of road safety and to improve the facilitation of the citizens while dealing with transport departments.
Lok Sabha passes Bill for adjudication of river water rows
  • Bill to streamline the adjudication of inter-state river water disputes and make the present legal and institutional architecture robust was on Wednesday passed in the Lok Sabha.
  • The draft legislation proposed to introduce a mechanism to resolve the water disputes amicably by negotiations through a Disputes Resolution Committee (DRC).
  • The DRC would be established by the Centre consisting of experts from relevant fields before the water dispute was referred to the Tribunal.
  • The Bill seeks amendment to the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 considering the increase in demand for water by the states and that inter-state river water disputes were on the rise.
  • The Bill seeks to provide for a single standing Tribunal (with multiple benches) instead of multiple Tribunals, which shall consist of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and not more than six members (three judicial and three experts).
  • The term of office of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall be five years or till they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
  • It is proposed that the assessors, who provide technical support to the Tribunal, shall be appointed from amongst experts serving in the Central Water Engineering Service not below the rank of Chief Engineer.
  • The total time period for adjudication of a water dispute has been fixed at a maximum of four and a half years.
  • The decision of the Bench of the Tribunal shall be final and binding on the states concerned.
Cabinet approves new subsidy rates for fertilizers
  • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved subsidy rates for P&K (phosphatic and potassic) fertilizers for the year 2019-20.
  • The subsidy rates for nitrogen will be Rs 18.90 per kg, Rs 15.21 per kg for phosphorus, Rs 11.12 per kg for potash and Rs 3.56 per kg for sulphur.
  • The expected expenditure for release of subsidy on P&K fertilizers during 2019-20 will be Rs 22,875.50 crore.
  • This will enable the manufacturers and importers to formalize supply contracts for fertilizers and fertilizer inputs and make fertilizers available to the farmers.

August 02, 2019

Centre releases Rs 191 crore, State Govt Rs 189 crore to implement Guwahati Smart city
  • The Central government has till now released Rs 191 crore to implement the Guwahati Smart City Project, while another Rs 189 crore has been released by the State government.
  • Various projects have been taken up with funds allotted by the Centre and the State government and these include beautification of Gandhi Mandap, setting up of 30 smart bio-toilets and 20 water ATMs and project management consultancy, among other activities.
  • The West Guwahati Water Supply Project implemented by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), is progressing at a fast pace and over 95 per cent work has been completed.
  • The South East Guwahati Water Supply Project is targeted for completion by 2023.
  • The JICA-funded water supply scheme has witnessed progress of 56 per cent so far and steps have been taken to complete it by 2020.
  • GMDA is also undertaking work on cleaning and dredging of water bodies like Silsako, Bondajan, Pamohi river and Borsola Beel to increase their water retaining capacity.
  • Work has been completed on clearing and widening of the Pamohi river and the drain along the National Highway 37 from ISBT to ensure passage of excess water of the Basistha and Mora Bharalu rivers to the Deepor Beel.

The Arbitration and Conciliation Amendment Bill passed in Lok Shaba

  • A Bill seeking to make India a hub of arbitration for settling commercial disputes in a shorter period of time was passed in the Lok Sabha.
  • The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2019, moved by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad for passage, seeks to set up the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) for creating an independent and autonomous regime for institutionalized arbitration.
  • The Bill seeks to amend section 11 of the Act relating to “Appointment of Arbitrators” so as to change the present system of appointment of arbitrators by the Supreme Court or the High Court, to a system where the arbitrators shall be appointed by the “arbitral institutions” designated by the Supreme Court or the High Court.
  • Government’s move to amend the earlier law on the alternative dispute resolution mechanism is aimed at making India a major arbitration centre in the world on the lines of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) among others.
  • The draft legislation provides for establishing an independent body to lay down standards for timely and cost-effective disposal of cases and eventually improving ease-of-doing business.
  • The proposed law provides for setting up of an independent Arbitration Council of India (ACI) to frame arbitral institutions and grade arbitrators.
President Kovind gives assent to multiple Bills
  • President Ram Nath Kovind has given his nod to the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 that abolishes the practice of instant Triple Talaq. 
  • The law comes into force retrospectively from 19th September 2018. A Gazette Notification to this effect was issued.
  • The bill seeks to declare the practice of instant Triple Talaq as void and illegal and makes it a cognizable offence. 
  • It also provides allowance to women victims and their dependent children. The offence is made compoundable with the permission of the Magistrate at the instance of the married Muslim woman upon whom talaq is pronounced
  • President Ram Nath Kovind has also given his assent to the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
  • The Bill seeks to amend the Companies Act, 2013. It aims to tighten Corporate Social Responsibility-CSR compliance, transfer certain responsibilities to National Company Law Tribunal and recategorise certain offences as civil offences. 
  • President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill 2019. The law comes into force retrospectively from 21st February, 2019.
  • The bill seeks to provide for a comprehensive mechanism to ban the unregulated deposit schemes other than deposits taken in the ordinary course of businesses and to protect the interest of depositors.
  • It will work as a crackdown on Ponzi schemes and will help protect the interests of poor people and their hard-earned money. Depositors have been given a top priority in the bill.
  • The bill also proposes adequate provisions for repayment of deposits in cases where such schemes nonetheless manage to raise deposits illegally. 
Scientists create new technique to 3D print heart scaffold
  • Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University used soft and living materials to create a biological scaffold, making a step closer to being able to 3D print a full-sized, adult human heart.
  • The study reported the first-of-its-kind technique that could print tissue scaffolds out of a major structural protein in the human body.
  • Human organs like the heart are built from specialised cells that are held together by a scaffold called the extracellular matrix (ECM).
  • It has not been possible until now to rebuild the complex ECM using traditional methods.
  • The technique called FRESH can print pieces of the heart out of collagen and cells into truly functional parts like a heart valve or a small beating ventricle.
  • The collagen is a desirable 3D-printing biomaterial since it makes up literally every single tissue in human body. But it starts out as a fluid and tends to deform during printing.
  • The FRESH technique allows collagen to be deposited layer-by-layer within a support bath of gel, so that the collagen could solidify in place before being removed from the gel.
  • Then, the support gel would be melted away by heating from room temperature to body temperature without damaging the printed structure.
  • The FRESH is a robust and adaptable tissue engineering platform since a wide range of other soft gels including fibrin, alginate, and hyaluronic acid can be used.

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August 03, 2019

North East gets 49 projects worth Rs 1,232 crore
  • The Centre has sanctioned 49 development projects worth Rs 1,232 crore for the northeastern region in the first 50 days of the Modi government.
  • The projects include construction and renovation of roads, bridges and upgrading of tourist spots. The Ministry of Development of North-East Region (DoNER) has sanctioned 49 projects worth Rs 1,232 crore in the first 50 days of Narendra Modi government’s second term which began on May 30.
  • While eight new projects have been sanctioned for Rs 586.3 crore under the North East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS) and the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), some other projects are upgrade of the AT Road from Tsusangra to Input Junction (26 km) with three bridges, Tenning-Lekie Road (37 km) in Nagaland, and the Dikhow Bridge-Amguri road leading to Nagaland.
  • Upgrade of the Tuensang- Longleng road in Nagaland, construction of the Mukroh-Umspar road linking Jrikyndeng in Meghalaya, improvement of eco-tourism centre connectivity from Amarpur (Fatiksagar) to Chabimura in Tripura, improvement of Gandacherra-Raishyabari road for easy access for the tourists from Dhalai to Narikel Kunja Island in Tripura are also part of the projects.
  • In addition, 36 ongoing projects under various schemes like the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) scheme, special packages and schemes of the North Eastern Council were completed at an approved cost of Rs 529.18 crore.

FACTFILE – Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

  • The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region is a Government of India ministry, established in September 2001, which functions as the nodal Department of the Central Government to deal with matters related to the socio-economic development of the eight States of Northeast India: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim.
  • It acts as a facilitator between the Central Ministries/ Departments and the State Governments of the North Eastern Region in the economic development including removal of infrastructural bottlenecks, provision of basic minimum services, creating an environment for private investment and to remove impediments to lasting peace and security in the North Eastern Region.
  • Jitendra Singh is the current Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (Minister of state, Independent Charge).
Indian, Chinese soldiers mark 92nd year of PLA
  • Defence personnel from India and China gathered at Nathu La, Damai, Bumla and other places along the Line of Actual Control to mark the 92nd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
  • Special border personnel gathering between India and China, was held at Nathu La (Sikkim), Damai, Bumla (both Arunachal Pradesh) and other places along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of PLA foundation day.
  • The PLA troops interacted with the visiting Indian delegation and presented a cultural programme comprising of several events to celebrate the occasion.
  • As a gesture of goodwill, the Indian side also reciprocated with traditional cultural performances to mark the occasion.
  • The LAC with China traverses the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

FACTFILE – Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)

  • The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is the armed forces of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and of its founding and ruling political party, the Communist Party of China (CPC).
  • The PLA consists of five professional service branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and the Strategic Support Force. Units around the country are assigned to one of five theater commands by geographical location.
  • The PLA is the world’s largest military force and constitutes the second largest defence budget in the world. China is one of the fastest modernising military powers in the world and has been termed as a potential military superpower, with significant regional defense and rising global power projection capabilities.
  • As per Credit Suisse, the PLA is the world’s third-most powerful military.
  • The PLA is under the command of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the CPC. It is legally obliged to follow the principle of civilian control of the military, although in practical terms this principle has been implemented in such a way as to ensure the PLA is under the absolute control of the Communist Party.
  • Its commander in chief is the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (usually the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China).
Parliament approves bill to scrap 58 obsolete laws
  • Parliament passed a bill to repeal 58 old central laws which the government said has been done to achieve maximum governance. The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2019 was passed by the Rajya Sabha through voice vote.
  • Moving the bill in the Upper House, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said government has decided to get rid of redundant and absolute laws. A committee has identified 1824 old laws.
  • So far, 1,428 old and archaic central Acts have been repealed and about 75 laws — which the Centre drafted for states in view of the President rule — have also been repealed till date.
  • The current bill aims to repeal 58 old central laws, which have become “irrelevant”. This is being done to ensure minimum legislation and maximum governance.
Rajya Sabha passes UAPA Bill to tag individuals as terrorists
  • A Bill amending the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 that allows the government to tag individuals as terrorists was passed by the Rajya Sabha.
  • The Bill, under which the government can designate individuals as terrorists if they commit or participate in acts of terrorism, prepare for acts of terror, promote terrorism or are otherwise involved in terrorism.

August 04, 2019

Agarwood plantation to help ailing tea industry in Assam
  • After the accomplishment of the bid to commercialise the traditional Agarwood plantation and Agarwood-related trades in the State with the provision to infuse artificial inoculation of the fungus, locally known as ‘Sanchi Vecur’ (Agarwood fungus), in the immature Agarwood trees, bids are now afoot to join-up the State’s beleaguered tea industry with Agarwood plantation, so as to open up a new vista for the plantation-based economy of the State.
  • This endeavour would go a long way in providing both the tea industry and the Agarwood-based industry of the State a new direction. The economic prospect of this stitching together of the two traditional industries of the State is tremendous. This can act as a game changer for both the tea and the Agarwood sectors, they asserted.
  • Jehirul Islam, who was the brain behind the State Government’s latest Cabinet decision to accord commercial activities status to Agarwood-based industry, has been engaged in generating public awareness about the importance of Agarwood plantation and Agarwood-based industry for the past over one decade now.
  • Legally, tea estates of the State can use five per cent of their unused land for other plantation activities. So, this much of the TE land in the State could be well used for Agarwood plantation.
  • Resorting to Agarwood plantation on the fallow land, TEs would be highly benefited and since the tea industry is an organised one, its taking to Agarwood plantation is also going to help the Agarwood industry as well.Agarwood trees can also act as shade trees in tea plantations.
  • This will in the long run help the State’s economy to grow.
ISRO to build centre to protect high value Space assets
  • The Indian space agency said that the foundation stone for a centre to monitor and protect high value space assets from space debris has been laid.
  • Sivan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), laid the foundation stone for the Space Situational Awareness Control Centre in Peenya, Bengaluru.
  • Space Situational Awareness & Management (SSAM) has become an internationally significant area due to the ever growing manmade space debris population and the increased collision threat with operational spacecraft.
  • ISRO has set up a Directorate of Space Situational Awareness and Management aiming at protecting high valued space assets from space debris close approaches and collisions.
  • To carryout systematically all activities related to SSAM, a control centre is being established at Bengaluru.
  • The control centre would facilitate the intensified activities foreseen for SSAM, in view of the increasing debris population and operational space assets.
  • The control centre would host a range of activities pertaining to protection of Indian space assets from inactive satellites, pieces of orbiting objects, near earth asteroids and adverse space weather conditions.
  • It would assimilate the tracking data of inactive satellites from indigenous observation facilities and generate useful information from bare observations through analysis.
Parliament passes Code on Wages bill to ensure minimum wage
  • Parliament approved a bill to enable introduction of minimum wage for every worker besides addressing issues like delay in payment to employees.
  • The Code on Wages Bill, 2019 — which seeks to amend and consolidate the laws relating to wages, bonus and matters connected therewith.
  • The Bill will subsume four labour laws — Minimum Wages Act, Payment of Wages Act, Payment of Bonus Act and Equal Remuneration Act.
  • As per the bill, the tripartite committee comprising representatives of trade unions, employers and state government would fix a floor wage for workers throughout the country.
  • At present there are 12 definitions of wages in the different Labour Laws leading to litigation besides difficulty in its implementation.
  • The definition has been simplified in the Bill and is expected to reduce litigation and also reduce compliance cost for employers.
 

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August 05, 2019

Madhabilata Literary Award to Sarifa Khatoon Choudhury
  • Sarifa Khatoon Choudhury, an Assamese poet, president of the Tinsukia Zila Sahitya Sewa Mancha and retired principal of Dangari HS School, has been selected for the Madhabilata Literary Award 2017-18.
  • Atul Sharma, the managing trustee of the Madhabilata Literary Trust, said that the award will be presented to her at a special programme in October. The award carries a memento, a citation, an anga bastra and Rs 10,000 in cash.
  • The Madhabilata Literary Trust instituted this award in 2005 and since then it has been presenting the award after every two years to an eminent writer of Tinsukia district for his or her contributions to Assamese literature.
  • Authors like Robin Choudhury, Horendra Nath Borthakur, Punnya Saikia, Joykanta Gondhiya, Sushil Kumar Gogoi and Parul Sharma have received this award.

BIOGRAPHY – Khatoon Choudhury

  • Khatoon Choudhury started her poetic career during her school days. Hundreds of her poems have been published in various magazines, periodicals and newspapers of Assam and other places.
  • Three collections of her poems have also been published. She also participated in the South Asian Literary Festival held in New Delhi in 2018. A few of her poems have been translated into English.
India test-fires Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile
  • India test-fired a sophisticated all-weather and all-terrain Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) from a test range in Odisha.
  • The state-of-the-art missile has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the India Army.
  • The air defence system, QRSAM, was test-fired from a mobile truck-based launch unit at complex 3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur.
  • The all-weather and all-terrain missile, which can be mounted on a truck and stored in a canister, is equipped with electronic counter measures against jamming by aircraft radars.
  • QRSAM uses solid-fuel propellant and has a range of 25-30 km.
  • The test flights had successfully demonstrated their aerodynamics, propulsion, structural performance and high manoeuvring capabilities.
UN team for study on transforming Assam into a skilled economy
  • Representatives from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), led by Keshav C Das, Programme Coordinator (Energy and Environment), paid a courtesy call to Dipok Kumar Barthakur, Vice Chairman of the State Innovation and Transformation Aayog (SITA), Assam
  • During the visit, the representatives made their plans known for an assessment study for transforming Assam into a skilled economy.
  • They opined that Assam needs a holistic approach to vocational education and skill development by having a defined approach for both short-term and long-term training courses to meet the objectives of the Skill India programme.
  • The representatives also sought the help of SITA in their future endeavour in organising a State-level workshop or seminar after completion of the study.
  • Discussions took place on the GIS platform for resource-based planning and computing and networking infrastructure for the State designed to integrate in alignment with the national-level GIS infrastructure.
  • GIS asset and GIS portal and applications were also discussed during the occasion.

August 06, 2019

Centre to launch Rs 3,000 crore projects in 100 days in North-East region
  • The Centre has decided to launch 200 projects worth Rs 3,000 crore in the North East in the first 100 days of the new Modi government. Keeping in mind the targeted approach for bringing the rest of India closer to the North East, an action plan has been formulated for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
  • Among the initiatives the DoNER has taken in the 100 days action plan is to sanction or start or complete or operationalise 200 projects worth about Rs 3,000 crore, which means on an average two projects for Rs 30 crore per day.
  • The Narendra Modi government has always accorded top priority to the “hitherto neglected” areas of the country – the North Eastern region being one of them. During the first five years of his term as Prime Minister, Modi undertook over 30 visits to the North East and his personal outreach put all the development activities on a fast track.
  • In the first term of the Modi government, the primary focus was not only to bring the North East closer to the rest of India, but actually to bring the rest of India closer to the North East.
  • A key project under the action plan is setting up of a bamboo industrial park at Manderdisa in Dima Hasao district in an area of 75 hectares at a cost of Rs 50 crore.
  • In addition, 36 ongoing projects under various schemes like the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) Scheme, special packages, schemes of the North Eastern Council (NEC) have been completed with approved cost of Rs 529.18 crore.
Lok Sabha Passes bill to increase number of SC judges to 33
  • Lok Sabha passed a bill which seeks to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from the present 30 to 33 with a view to reduce pendency of cases.
  • As of now, the Supreme Court has a sanctioned strength of 30 judges, plus the chief justice of India – 31 judges.
  • Once the bill gets parliamentary approval, its sanctioned strength will go up to 33, plus the CJI, according to the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill piloted by Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Lok Sabha passes Bill to define identity of transgenders
  • A Bill seeking to empower transgenders by defining their identity and prohibition of discrimination against them was passed in the Lok Sabha.
  • The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019, Minister for State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Rattan Lal Kataria said the draft legislation will benefit transgender persons and bring them into mainstream of society.
  • The Bill prohibits discrimination against a transgender person, including denial of service or unfair treatment in relation to education, employment, healthcare, enjoyment of goods, facilities, opportunities available to the public, right to movement, right to reside, rent, or otherwise occupy property, opportunity to hold public or private office, access to a government or private establishment in whose care or custody a transgender person is.
  • It prohibits government as well as private entities from discriminating against transgender persons in employment matters, including recruitment, and promotion and that every establishment is required to designate a person to be a complaint officer to deal with complaints in relation to the Act.
  • The Bill which also seeks facility to every transgender person to have a right to reside and be included in his household.
  • It defines a transgender person as one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth. A transgender person may make an application to the District Magistrate for a certificate of identity, indicating the gender as ”transgender” as per the Bill.
  • A revised certificate may be obtained only if the individual undergoes surgery to change their gender either as a male or a female, the Bill defines. It states that the relevant government will take measures to ensure the full inclusion and participation of transgender persons in society.
  • It recognizes offences against transgender persons like forced or bonded labour (excluding compulsory government service for public purposes), denial of use of public places, removal from household, and village, physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or economic abuse. Penalties for these offences vary between six months and two years.

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August 07, 2019

IIT Guwahati builds hand-held device to detect bacteria
  • Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati researchers have developed a low-cost, hand-held device for rapid detection of bacteria, bringing portable bacterial detection kits closer to reality.
  • This novel, low-cost diagnostic device is a biocompatible sensor that can detect bacteria without cell culture and microbiological assays.
  • The ready-to-use diagnostic tool could facilitate rapid detection and diagnosis at the point of care.
  • The researchers believe that besides being useful in a healthcare set up, the device could aid anti-bioterrorism measures and environmental monitoring applications.
  • The Organic Field Effect Transistor (OFET)-based bacterial diagnostic device has been shown to have the ability to distinguish between Gram positive and Gram negative types. The sensor detects the charges on the cell walls of bacteria.
  • Current diagnostic processes are frustratingly time-consuming, especially when time is of the essence in administering treatment.
  • While newly developed techniques such as real time qPCR can detect bacteria faster than conventional assay-based methods, they are restricted by the need for expensive apparatuses and trained personnel.
  • The current device is particularly useful for the detection of bacteria primarily for water-borne diseases. These sensors will also be useful in instantaneous detection of time-critical illnesses such as meningitis.
Parliament passed the Jammu and Kashmir Re-organisation Bill 2019
  • Parliament passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019 and approved the resolution to abrogate the Constitution’s Article 370.
  • The Bill, which was passed by Rajya Sabha, was approved by the Lok Sabha.
  • The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha with over 350 members voting in its favour.
  • Home Minister Amit Shah said as Article 370 stops Jammu and Kashmir to associating with India, it should be abolished.
  • Shah asserted that the decision has been taken for the welfare of the Valley.
President declares abrogation of provisions of Article 370
  • President Ram Nath Kovind has declared abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The move came after both houses of Parliament passed a resolution in this regard.
  • In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (3) of Article 370 read with clause (1) of Article 370 of the Constitution of India, the President, on the recommendation of Parliament, is pleased to declare that, as from the 6th August, 2019, all clauses of the said article 370 shall cease to be operative.

FACTFILE – Article 370 of the Indian constitution

  • Article 370 of the Indian constitution gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir state in India, – conferring it with the power to have a separate constitution, a state flag and autonomy over the internal administration of the state.
  • The article was drafted in Part XXI of the Constitution: Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions.
  • The Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir, after its establishment, was empowered to recommend the articles of the Indian constitution that should be applied to the state or to abrogate the Article 370 altogether.
  • After consultation with the state’s Constituent Assembly, the 1954 Presidential Order was issued, specifying the articles of the Indian constitution that applied to the state. Since the Constituent Assembly dissolved itself without recommending the abrogation of Article 370, the article was deemed to have become a permanent feature of the Indian Constitution.
  • This article, along with Article 35A, defined that the Jammu and Kashmir state’s residents live under a separate set of laws, including those related to citizenship, ownership of property, and fundamental rights, as compared to residents of other Indian states. As a result of this provision, Indian citizens from other states could not purchase land or property in Jammu & Kashmir.
  • On 5 August 2019, President Ram Nath Kovind issued a constitutional order superseding the 1954 order, and making all the provisions of the Indian constitution applicable to Jammu and Kashmir based on the resolution passed in both houses of India’s parliament with 2/3 majority.
  • Following the resolutions passed in both houses of the parliament, he issued a further order on 6 August declaring all the clauses of Article 370 except clause 1 to be inoperative.
  • In addition, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act was passed by the parliament, enacting the division the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories to be called Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh. The reorganisation took place on 31 October 2019.
  • Rajya Sabha passes bill to evict MPs living in govt houses illegally
  • Seeking to swiftly evict illegal occupants from government accommodation, the Rajya Sabha passed the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill, 2019.
  • The bill which amends the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, was moved by Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. It has already been passed by the Lok Sabha.
  • The amendment being brought is very limited one and relates to public premise for residential accommodation. It applies to members of Parliament, government officers and employees.
  • The bill has proposed to insert a new sub-section (3A) in section 7 of the Act requiring that if the person challenges the eviction order passed by the estate officer in any court, he has to pay the damages for every month for the residential accommodation held by him.
  • The existing law has lengthy eviction process involving a show-cause notice and appeal provisions. As a result, it takes years at times to evict the unauthorised occupant.
  • The bill has proposed to apply summary eviction procedure to residential accommodation given on licence basis with a short show-cause notice of three days to the unauthorised occupants.

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Assam Current Affairs – July 22 – 28, 2019

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Current Affairs Assam – July 22 - 28, 2019

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

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July 22, 2019

  Tripura set to scale up white tea production
  • The successful completion of pilot projects on white tea has paved the way for planters in Tripura to go for full-scale production of the ‘costly and delicate’ variety.
  • Earlier this year, the 95-year-old Golokpur tea estate in Unakoti district of the State set a record when it sold its white tea for Rs 10,000 a kg to a Banglore-based retailer.
  • White tea is minimally processed. It is harvested even before the plant leaves unfurl fully with the buds still covered by fine white hairs, hence, the name white tea.
  • Besides fetching good money, white tea will also earn the tea estate a good name, as people in the industry know that the production process is difficult. We have been getting more orders for this special variety, De said.
  • Fatikcherra, another 101-year old tea estate in the hill State, has produced 6.8 kg white tea this year, which fetched Rs 5,500 per kg.
  • Around one quintal of white tea has been produced in the State this year. Tripura annually produces nine million kg of tea in 58 gardens.
  • The agro-climatic condition is favourable for tea production in Tripura. Now we have got a logo approved for Tripura tea, and even convinced the tribal villagers to grow wild tea near the Tripura-Mizoram boundary.
  • The Tea Board of India is now trying to convince planters to turn to organic brew, besides encouraging white tea production, he said.
  • Tripura has always had a problem of auctioning tea as there is no auction centre in the State. The Bangladesh Government has, however, agreed to allow planters from Tripura to auction their produce at Sreemangal subdivision of Moulavibazar district, which is near the Tripura border.
 Russia launches manned spacecraft to space station
  • Russia’s Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft carrying three astronauts successfully took off for the International Space Station (ISS) and entered the planned orbit.
  • Soyuz MS-13, carrying Roscosmos astronaut Alexander Skvortsov (commander), Luca Parmitano (flight engineer-1) from Italy and Andrew Morgan (flight engineer-2) of the US, will automatically approach the ISS and dock to it.
  • The new expedition will join Roscosmos astronaut Alexei Ovchinin, and NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch on the ISS.
  • The space launch was conducted on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing of the US Apollo 11 spacecraft.
 Rajasthan government launches ‘police training’ programme for school students
  • The Rajasthan government has formally launched a training programme for school students, in line with the National Cadet Corps practice, which aims to curb rising adolescent delinquency and make them aware of basic laws and legal procedures.
  • The training programme initiated jointly by the state education and police departments will be available in selected government schools in the current academic session.
  • The two-year programme for students of classes 8 and 9 aims to curb rising adolescent delinquency, strengthen the teenagers mentally and physically, and make them aware of basic laws and legal procedures.
  • On the guidelines of the central government, the SPC training programme has been launched in 930 state government schools and 70 KendriyaVidyalayas.
  • As many as 15 modules covering all aspects of public and personal life, including personality development, physical and mental growth and social responsibility, have been developed for the SPC training which would be imparted at three levels that include indoor classes, outdoor activities and visits to relevant places and offices.

July 23, 2019

 Tiger number in Assam goes up to 190
  • Assam now has 190 tigers, marking an increase from 167 recorded in the 2014 Tiger Census. The country’s total tiger population is 2,967 tigers and the growth in the fourth cycle of the Tiger Census has seen a 33 per cent increase.
  • Nine years ago it was decided in St. Petersburg that target of doubling tiger population will be 2022. India completed this target four year early, as per the ‘All India Tiger Estimation Report 2018’.
  • As per the later tiger census, Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of tigers at 526, closely followed by Karnataka at 524 and Uttarakhand at number three with 442 tigers.
  • While Assam witnessed an increase in tiger population, Nameri Tiger Reserve saw a declining trend. Chhattisgarh and Mizoram saw a decline in their tiger numbers while tiger numbers in Odisha remained constant. Loss in North East is due to poor sampling, the Report said, adding that all other states witnessed a positive trend.
  • The Tiger Census 2014 pegged the total number of big cats in the country at 2226 while the 2010 census put the figure at 1706 and the 2006 version at 1411, indicating that tiger numbers have been increasing continuously.
 India successfully launches Chandrayaan-2
  • India successfully launched its second moon mission Chandrayaan-2 from its most powerful rocket with a plan to land the rover on September 7 in the unexplored lunar south pole.
  • The most complex and prestigious mission ever undertaken by the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO), if successful, will also make India the fourth country after Russia, the US and China to pull off a soft landing on the moon.
  • The Rs 978-crore unmanned mission also brought woman power to the fore as it was helmed by two woman scientists of the ISRO–RituKaridhal and M Vanitha, the Mission and Project directors respectively.
  • Joined by President Ram NathKovind and leaders across the political spectrum, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the scientists.
  • The ISRO is aiming for a soft landing of the lander in the South Pole region of the moon where no country has gone so far.
  • Immediately after Chandrayaan-2’s separation from the rocket, the solar array of the spacecraft automatically got deployed and the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network at Bengaluru successfully took control of the spacecraft.
  • Chandrayaan-2 comes 11 years after ISRO’s successful first lunar mission Chandrayaan-1 which scripted history by making more than 3,400 orbits around the Moon and was operational for 312 days till August 29, 2009.
 IIT Kharagpur students develop AI App for elderly care
  • Students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur have developed two interconnected android smartphone applications.
  • The app named ‘CARE4U’, developed by an interdisciplinry team of 2nd year B.Tech students, connects the caregiver to the elderly.
  • While one of these apps can be installed on the phones of the elderly, the other can be attached to the smartphone of the caregiver.
  • The neural network-based fall detection algorithm in the app installed on the phone of the elderly can detect whether the elderly has fallen down.
  • If there is a fall, it automatically calls the caregiver and emergency services with the location of the elderly person.
  • The other features include detecting emotion by taking a picture and calculating the mood index.
  • To make this feature more effective the team has developed a cognitive intelligent chatbot for the elderly person to engage with.
  • Moreover, the app can also do other activities like make a call, send a text, book a cab and so on. It also has a record of medical histories, an account of allergies, an SOS button, real-time location tracking, among others.
  • The ‘CARE4U’ app includes a ‘Medicine Reminder’ feature to remind both the elderly person as well as the caregiver that it is time for the former to take medicine.
 The National Medical Commission Bill, 2019 Introduced in Lok Sabha
  • Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan introduced The National Medical Commission Bill, 2019, to provide for a medical education system that also encourages community health perspective and makes services of medical professionals accessible to all citizens.
  • The Bill seeks to replace the Medical Council of India and usher in major changes in medical education sector as well as promote national health goals that encourage medical professionals to adopt latest medical research in their work and to contribute to research.
  • The Bill that seeks to improve access to quality and affordable medical education and ensures availability of adequate and high quality medical professionals all over the country to promote equitable and universal healthcare.

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July 24, 2019

 Assam relaxes restrictions on Agar tree cultivation
  • The Assam government has relaxed the restrictions on cultivation of the scented Agar tree. The Cabinet approved growing and cutting of Agar and Chandan trees on non-forest lands.
  • The Cabinet also approved setting up of an International Trade Centre for Agar in Golaghat.
  • The plantation of Agar tree is seen in Assam’s Sibsagar, Sadiya, Nagaon, Darrang, Goalpara and Cachar districts of Assam.
  • Apart from Assam, the tree is also grown in Khasi Hills and Garo Hills districts of Meghalaya and also found in the forests of Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh.
  • As Agar wood was classified under the wood based industries, cutting of Agar tree was not allowed and there was requirement of registration for sending the same outside.
  • At present the Hojai district in Assam is the hub of distilling the agar oil.
 Assam Govt’s important Cabinet decisions
  • Procurement and distribution of free sugar to the tea garden beneficiaries under ANNA Scheme at 2 kg per family per month.
  • Through the Assam Municipal Amendment Act, educational qualifications has been set for Ward Commissioners – Class 12 pass for general category candidates, Class 10 for SC/ST/OBC category.
  • An international trade centre for Agar Tree will be set up at Golaghat.
  • 3-year exemption on levy of cess on green leaves for big tea gardens.
  • New syllabus for APSC examination in line with UPSC exam.
  • Reservation of 80 per cent in managerial and supervisory and 90 per cent in non-managerial cadre in State PSUs and industries availing benefits from State Government.
  • Under the New Assam State Industrial Policy, 2019, power subsidy at Rs 2 per unit will be given for a period of 5 years subject to a maximum of Rs 50 lakh per annum.
  • 50,000 subsidy to the higher education loans.
  • The number of wards in Guwahati Municipal Corporation has been increased to 60.
  • The honorarium for GP Member has been hiked from Rs. 1500 to Rs 2000, AP Member from Rs. 2500 to Rs. 3000 and ZP Member from 3500 to Rs. 4000.
  • The New Film Policy approved under which Rs. 25 lakh subsidy will be given for films whose production cost is Rs. 1 crore. Films honoured with National Award will get Rs 1 crore and those nominated for Oscar Rs 2 crore. Moreover, a corpus fund will be created collecting Rs. 1 from each ticket sold for the welfare of artistes.
 UN calls nations to join clean air initiative
  • The United Nations, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN Environment and Climate and Clean Air Coalition announced the clean air initiative and urged governments participation.
  • The announcement was made by Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Climate Action Summit.
  • The climate and the air pollution crisis are driven by the same factors and must be tackled by joint actions.
  • The governments at all levels have both an urgent need and huge opportunity not only to address the climate crisis, but also to improve the health and save the lives of millions of people around the world, all while making progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • The clean air initiative calls on national and sub-national governments to commit to achieving air quality that is safe for citizens, and to align climate change and air pollution policies by 2030.
  • According to the World Bank, air pollution costs the global economy around $5.11 trillion in welfare losses.
  • Meeting the Paris Agreement on climate change, however, could save over 1 million lives a year by 2050 and yield health benefits worth $54.1 trillion, twice the costs of mitigation, through reduced air pollution alone.
  • Governments at all levels can join the initiative by committing to specific actions, including implementing air quality and climate change policies that will achieve the WHO ambient air quality guideline values.
  • The initiative comprises implementing e-mobility and sustainable mobility policies and actions with the aim of making a decisive impact on road transport emissions.
 Lok Sabha passes Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill
  • The Lok Sabha passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which seeks to transform Indian roads with adequate safety measures to reduce road accidents, imposing stiffer penalties for violations and weeding out corruption.
  • As part of the initiative, the Centre will develop a system for cashless treatment of road accident victims in the so-called golden hour—the period up to an hour after a traumatic injury, during which there is highest likelihood of preventing death by providing medical care.
  • The bill also seeks to protect good Samaritans, ensuring that people who come forward to help accident victims will not be harassed by the law.
  • The proposed law has suggested higher penalty for offences such as driving without a licence, speeding, dangerous driving, drunk driving and for vehicles plying without a permit.
  • There will be strict provisions and suspension of licence for dangerous driving and driving without seat-belts.
  • The bill proposes a fine of as much as ₹10,000 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, up from the existing ₹2,000.
  • Besides, the Govt will have the power to increase the penalty by 10% every year.
  • Under the bill, the Centre can tell an automobile manufacturer to recall motor vehicles in case of defects that cause damage to the environment.
  • The bill caps the maximum liability for third-party insurance in case of an accident at ₹5 lakh, compared with ₹50,000 now.
  • There will also be an eight-time increase in compensation in case of hit-and-runs.
 Bills to overhaul labour laws, boost jobs moved in Lok Sabha
  • Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar, introduced The Code on Wages, 2019, and The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2019.
  • The Code on Wages seeks to consolidate the laws relating to wages, bonus and connected matters.
  • The Bill will replace 44 archaic labour laws and aims to set standards of minimum wages across industry, including small businesses, which employ nearly 90 per cent of India”s work force.
  • It will repeal four existing laws, including one on wage payments passed in 1936 and one on minimum wages dating to 1948.
  • The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code seeks to consolidate and amend the laws regulating the occupational safety, health and working conditions of the persons employed in an establishment.
  • It proposes a single-registration, single-licence regime for companies, instead of multiple permissions under 13 labour laws and allows women to work night shifts.

July 25, 2019

 Rail link to Gangtok from all NE State capitals by 2022
  • The Railways is set to link Sikkim’s capital, Gangtok, to capitals of all North Eastern States by March 2022. With this linkage, all the seven North Eastern State capitals will be connected to the national railway network, the Railways official added.
  • The capitals of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura have already been connected by a broad gauge rail network.
  • Work on new broad gauge lines has been taken up to connect the other State capitals – Shillong (Meghalaya), Imphal (Manipur), Kohima (Nagaland), Aizawl (Mizoram) – which is expected to be completed by 2020.
  • In Sikkim, the project has been riddled with land acquisition issues. The project of laying a broad gauge line from Sivok to Rangpo of length 45 km was sanctioned in 2008-09. However, the project has been in limbo since then with just 19 per cent of the work being completed so far, officials said.
  • Among the most significant of the ongoing projects is the 111-km Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal line, 64 per cent of which has been completed so far will not only put the Manipur capital on the railway map in the next couple of years but also prepare grounds for taking the railways to Moreh on the Myanmar border and beyond to become part of the proposed Trans-Asian Railway.
  • A 10-km section from Jiribam-Vaingaichungpao has already been completed.
  • In Aizawl, 58.43 per cent of the 51.38-km Bhairabi-Sairang line has been completed, while in Kohima, the Railways has made a progress of 25.23 per cent in the 82.5-km Dimapur-Zubza line.
  • In Shillong, the 21.50-km Tetelia-Byrnihat line has seen a 40 per cent progress, while a 10-km section from Tetelia-Kamlajari has been completed. Another line in the State, the 108.40-km Byrnihat-Shillong line has only seen progress of around 5 per cent.
 IIT scientists devise robotic hand for Paralytics
  • The scientists at the IIT-Kanpur have ventured into the world’s first robot hand for the rehabilitation of stroke patients.
  • The device is a two-finger robotic hand (exoskeleton) that uses a four-bar mechanism and has four degrees of freedom (DOF).
  • Professor Ashish Dutta and Professors K S Venkatesh have achieved this feat.
  • The exoskeleton can be used by a patient on the hand.
  • It uses brain signals, with the help of the brain computer interface (BCI) that is worn on the head, and helps paralysed patients to open and close the movement of their thumb, forefinger and middle fingers for physical practice.
  • The exoskeleton is operated by an MEGA microcontroller of 300 Mhz and powered by a battery.
  • The device has sensors that control the pressure of the fingertip applied by the patient.
  • If the patient can close or move the finger, the device follows the movement passively.
  • If it does not, then the device actively forces the finger to close, while taking BCI instructions using signals.
 HAL delivers Chetak helicopter to Indian Navy
  • Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) delivered a Chetak helicopter to the Indian Navy. The documents were handed over by S Anbuvelan, General Manager of Helicopter Division-HAL to Commodore Vikram Menon, VSM, CSO(Air), HQNA at an event.
  • HAL entered into a contract with the Indian Navy in August of 2017 for the supply of eight Chetak helicopters with the delivery schedule of the first two in August of 2019 and the rest in August of 2020.
  • These helicopters are fitted with the latest communication and navigation systems developed by HAL and the company is committed to providing continuous support to the Chetak fleet.
  • These helicopters are used by the Navy for communication duties (passenger transport), cargo/ material transport, casualty evacuation, search and rescue, areal survey and patrolling, emergency medical services, electronic news gathering, anti hijacking, offshore operation and under-slung operation.
  • HAL has so far produced more than 350 Chetak helicopters and delivered around 80 to the Indian Navy. Presently, 51 helicopters are flying with the Navy and the serviceability has always remained high.
 RS passes Bill including death penalty for child abuse
  • Rajya Sabha passed the bill for amending the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
  • The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was moved by Union Women and Child Development Minister SmritiIrani.
  • The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 provides for stringent punishment including life imprisonment for using children for pornographic purposes.
  • The new law is expected to discourage the trend of child sexual abuse by acting as a deterrent due to the strong penal provisions in it.
  • It intends to protect the interests of vulnerable children in times of distress and ensure their safety and dignity.
 The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019
  • The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019, which would replace the ordinance on the same, seeks to tackle the menace of illicit deposit-taking, being done by exploiting regulatory gaps and due to lack of strict administrative measures.
  • A Bill to protect depositors from Ponzi schemes and put in place a mechanism by which the investors can be compensated was passed by the Lok Sabha.
  • The Bill also provides for 1-10 years punishment and Rs 2 lakh to Rs 50 crore fines to deter any such act.
  • The Bill ensures that no hardship is caused to genuine businesses, or to individuals borrowing money from their relatives or friends for personal reasons or to tide over a crisis.
  • It contains a clause, which bans deposit-takers from promoting, operating, issuing advertisements or accepting deposits in any unregulated deposit scheme.
  • The Bill also proposes to create three different types of offences — running of unregulated deposit schemes, fraudulent default in regulated deposit schemes, and wrongful inducement in relation to unregulated deposit schemes.
  • The proposed law also provides for attachment of properties or assets and subsequent realisation of assets for repayment to depositors.
  • It will enable creation of an online central database for collection and sharing of information on deposit-taking activities.
  • The Bill also aims to prevent such unregulated deposit schemes or arrangements at their inception.
 Andhra Pradesh passes law to reserve 75% jobs for locals
  • The Andhra Pradesh government has made it mandatory for existing and upcoming industries in the state to reserve 75 per cent jobs for locals.
  • This hass been done through the passage of a new law called the Andhra Pradesh Employment of Local candidates in the Industries/Factories Bill, 2019.
  • Passed by the state legislative assembly the bill asks existing industries to ensure 75 per cent employment to the local candidates within three years from the date of commencement of this Act.
  • In case there are no qualified/suitable candidates available, the employers will have to train and engage local candidates within three years in close collaboration with government agencies, according to the bill.

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July 26, 2019

 Proposal for a new greenfield airport at Silchar, NE airports to get major face-lift
  • The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has received a proposal to develop a new greenfield airport at Silchar. The response from the Minister came in reply to an unstarred question (no. 5361) on whether there is any proposal to build new or develop existing airports in Assam and other states in North East raised by Guwahati MP Queen Ojha on July 25.
  • The Minister mentioned that for the Silchar airport, the AAI has requested the State Government to share the land details for conducting the pre-feasibility study.
  • Referring to the question on the development of existing airports across North East, the minister informed that the AAI has started work to build new terminal building at the LGBI Airport at Guwahati and also at the Imphal airport, re-carpetting of runway at Leelabari airport, extension of runway and other important allied works at Dibrugarh and Barapani airports, strengthening of runway at the Dimapur airport, construction of hangar and cargo building at Agartala airport and other development work at Rupsi and Teju airports.
  • The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also granted ‘in principle’ approval for setting up of a new greenfield airport at Hollongi in Arunachal Pradesh for which steps for bidding documents are in process.
 Clean Green Arunachal campaign launched
  • The Aalo Forest Division has launched the Clean Green Arunachal Campaign and Vanmahotsav, 2019, under the theme, ‘Plant more trees, make environment pollution free’. As many as 4,900 saplings were planted at various locations on the occasion.
  • Plastic-free zone: The Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Aalo has been declared a plastic and tobacco-free zone under the Swachhata Challenge. Officers and other staff have been given clear instructions not to bring plastic items like water bottles and single-use plastic items and tobacco products within the premises of the office building.
  • Regular water supply will be provided by the PHED, Aalo, and an alternative site for dumping of office waste is being identified. Disciplinary action will be taken against the office staff violating the decision under the Arunachal Pradesh Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1997.
 IIT Kanpur inks pact with Ericsson to deploy NB-IoT to monitor Delhi’s air pollution
  • Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) entered into a partnership with Swedish telecom gear maker Ericsson to deploy Narrow-band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) to monitor air pollution in Delhi.
  • With support from Ericsson, IIT will develop and deploy India”s first NB-IoT based low cost particulate matter sensors at multiple locations across Delhi.
  • As part of the memorandum of understanding (MoU), Ericsson will use locally developed air quality sensors that are capable of sharing environmental data including PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 levels at defined time intervals.
  • This will lead to better monitoring and analysis of data collected from different parts of the capital.
  • The findings will be shared with local authorities and other key stakeholders on a periodic basis.
  • The sensors are automated and will relay information on defined time intervals, providing data on pollution levels, sources and locations in a sustainable and cost-efficient way.
 Whatsapp teams up with NITI Aayog to promote women entrepreneurs
  • India’s Niti Aayog entered into a partnership with Facebook-owned WhatsApp to support the growth of a robust ecosystem to promote women entrepreneurs in India.
  • Under this partnership, WhatsApp, in collaboration with NITI Aayog, will announce an annual calendar of events aimed at capacity building of the women entrepreneurs and evolve specific programmes aimed at addressing challenges being faced by women entrepreneurs.
  • WhatsApp will also provide support amounting to $100,000 for the winners of NITI Aayog’s Women Transforming India (WTI) Awards 2019.

July 27, 2019

 NE police forces join hands to fight human trafficking
  • With human trafficking becoming a major cause of concern for Assam and other states of the Northeast, the police forces of the region have decided to improve coordination with real time input sharing to deal with the menace.
  • The heads of the police forces of the northeastern states have also stressed the need for a detailed research on the issue by a reputed organisation.
  • At least 380 cases of human trafficking were reported in Assam only in the last five years and the actual number can even be higher as in some cases, the families of the affected girls do not come forward to report such incidents to police. As per records of the Assam Police, 82 trafficking cases were reported in 2014, 73 in 2015, 75 in 2016, 79 in 2017 and 70 cases were reported last year.
  • The Assam Police has already created an anti-human trafficking cell in the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and efforts would be made to make the cell more active.
  • Most of the girls trafficked from Assam end up in states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, and they are often lured with job offers.
 NGT nod for Delhi Government’s water conservation project
  • The National Green Tribunal (NGT) gave its nod to Delhi Government’s water conservation project on Yamuna floodplains.
  • The project aims to conserve water on floodplains and build mega reservoir between Pall and Wazirabad to meet water demand.
  • Under the project, small ponds will be created to catch water from an overflowing Yamuna during this monsoon season.
 Cabinet approves merger of National Institute of Miners’ Health with ICMR-National Institute of Occupational Health
  • The Union Cabinet, has approved to dissolve National Institute of Miners’ Health (NIMH), an autonomous Institute under Ministry of Mines (MoM) and merge with ICMR-National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH), Ahmedabad.
  • Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) with all assets and liabilities; and absorb all the employees of NIMH in NIOH in the similar post/pay scale as the case may be and their pay be protected.
  • NIMH, ICMR, NIOH, MoM and Department of Health Research (DHR), MoH&FW to take actions required for effecting dissolution and merger/amalgamation of NIMH with NIOH
  • The merger of NIMH with NIOH will prove beneficial to both the Institutes in term of enhanced expertise in the field of occupational health besides the efficient management of public money.
 Cabinet approves creation of buffer stock of sugar
  • The Cabinet has approved the creation of buffer stock of 40 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of sugar for one year and to incur estimated maximum expenditure of Rs.1674 crores for this purpose.
  • However, based on the market price and availability of sugar, this may be reviewed by the Dept. of Food and Public Distribution any time for withdrawal / modification.
  • The reimbursement under the scheme would be met on quarterly basis to sugar mills which would be directly credited into farmers’ account on behalf of mills against cane price dues and subsequent balance, if any, would be credited to the mill’s account.
  • Creation of buffer stock of 30 LMT of sugar for one year from 1st July, 2018 to 30th June, 2019 was one of the various interventions which were made by the Government.

 

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July 28, 2019

 Assam Police to induct hi-tech Sillinger boats
  • Assam Police is all set to induct a fleet of highly-sophisticated Sillinger boats that could be pressed into action for combat and non-combat operations, especially along the Indo-Bangla riverine border.
  • Sillinger boats, which are used by armed forces across the world, would be deployed with trained operators. Assam shares the riverine border stretch of 110 kilometres with Bangladesh.
  • As many as 70 Sillinger boats would be procured as part of its upgrading exercise in the first phase. Each boat will come with a payload capacity of 1,100 kilograms.
  • Sillinger boats are inflatable and would allow fast movement for the armed forces on the riverine areas. Along with that, it could be deployed for a wide range of missions, including rescue and search operations.
  • Once the boats are procured, a team of technicians would also be developed by the Assam Police.
 Assam Legislative Assembly inks pact with UNICEF
  • The Assam Legislative Assembly signed a Letter of Understanding (LoU) with UNICEF Assam to work together on issues related to children in the State. The letter was signed by the Principal Secretary of State Assembly Mrigendra Kumar Deka and UNICEF Assam officer-in-charge Sweta Patnaik in the presence of Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami.
  • 41 per cent of Assam’s population is children, which is almost the majority. The sustainable development goals which are related to women and children will be the purview for the Committee for the Welfare of Women and Children.
  • Addressing the need for protecting the rights of children, starting with their right to survival, MLA Dr Numal Momin said Assam has made significant strides in improving under-five mortality rate and stunted growth, but a lot is needed to be done to improve quality and access to nutrition, sanitation, drinking water and health interventions, among others, especially in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
  • Assam loses 87 infants and 96 under-five children daily. About 36 per cent children in the State are malnourished, which could be due to several reasons such as mothers not receiving adequate diet during pregnancy and lactation in the first 1,000 days.
 CISCO partners with Google to launch free high-speed Wifi in India
  • Global networking giant Cisco in partnership with Google announced to roll out free high-speed Wi-Fi access globally, starting with India.
  • The first pilot under the partnership has been rolled out at 35 locations in Bengaluru.
  • Cisco will work with Google”s “Station Platform” to provide communities around the country access to a free public Wi-Fi.
  • It will run on https environment — the same environment in which we do online banking transactions.
  • The service will be supported by advertisements.
  • By September this year, 200 locations in Bengaluru will be Wi-Fi enabled, followed by another 300 by in the second phase.
  • The locations include public spaces like bus stops, hospitals and government offices, etc.
  • According to a TRAI report, globally, there is on Wi-Fi hotspot for every 150 people, and in India, eight million additional hotspots must be installed to achieve the same ratio — creating new market opportunities for infrastructure providers and internet service providers.
  • India has only 52,000 Wi-Fi hotspots today, necessitating a proactive strategy to make high-speed Wi-Fi hotspots ubiquitous across the country.
 Delhi to get country’s most advanced & tallest ATC tower
  • National capital’s IGI Airport will soon sport the country’s most technologically advanced and highest ATC tower, which is expected to enhance the safety and the efficiency of air transport management services over the city’s sky.
  • The migration procedures have already commenced from the old ATC to the new tower and the process is expected to be completed before 15 August.
  • At present, AAI which has been mandated to handle the air traffic management services at the airport is running a parallel operation to test the automation and other systems in the new facility.
  • The commissioning of the new tower is expected to enhance the efficiency of air traffic management services at the IGIA which is the busiest airport in India.
  • On an average, Delhi Air Traffic Control handles more than one flight operation every minute throughout the day.
  • At least 1,200 landings and take-offs happen every day from Delhi airport along with overflying traffic of at least 250 planes.
  • Besides, the new facility with its physical and technologically advanced equipment is expected to provide a more robust safety systems.

  • At a height of 102 meters, the tower enables air traffic controllers to have better visibility of all the three runways, apron area and taxiways.

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