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Assam Current Affairs & GK (January 2021 – June 2021)

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Assam Current Affairs & GK (January 2021 – June 2021)

( Assam’s all important Current Affairs & GK topics for January 2021, February 2021, March 2021, April 2021, May 2021 June, 2021)

Go To Assam Current Affairs                      Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz

 

January 02, 2021

Assam Assembly passed Assam Ease of Doing Business (Amendment) Bill, 2020

The Assam Legislative Assembly recently passed the Assam Ease of Doing Business (Amendment) Bill, 2020, to make amendments to the Assam Ease Of Doing Business Act, 2016. The amendment will avail 0.25% additional borrowing from the centre. The new bill will simplify procedures and bring transparency and efficiency in the system.

Key points of Assam Ease of Doing Business (Amendment) Bill, 2020 are

Under the new Amendment Bill, the government has committed to create an investor friendly atmosphere in the state of Assam.

The Government of Assam is to do away with all types of renewal certificate, permissions and licences under be Assam is of doing business Amendment Bill . This is being done because a large number of renewable applications are pending at different levels in Assam. This causes unreasonable delay .

A computerized Central random inspection system is to be implemented. Under the system allocation of inspectors will be done centrally at random. The amendment makes sure that the same Inspector is not assigned to the same unit in the subsequent year.

FACTFILE – Assam Ease of Doing Business Act 2016

  • The Act was enacted in 2016. The Act aimed to streamline the regulatory structures and processes and simplify the procedures related to renew license, certificate, permissions in setting up of Enterprises and industries in the state of Assam.
  • Under the provisions of the Act, Assam Bureau of Investment Promotion was established to oversee the overall supervision and administration of speedy processing of applications.

APSC Main 2020 Test Series - assamexam

January 04, 2021

Asian Development Bank’s $231 mn loan to enhance generation capacity in Assam

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Union Government of India signed a $ 231 million loan to augment electricity generation capacity in the state of Assam through construction of a 120MW hydroelectric power plant that will enhance availability of electricity for households.

This is the third tranche loan for the ongoing Assam Power Sector Investment Programme that was approved by the ADB Board in July 2014. Its two previous tranches, focuses on enhancing capacity and efficiency of the energy generation and distribution systems in Assam to improve electricity service to end users.

The project will add to Assam’s power generation capacity from clean hydroelectric source and improve electricity availability. Increased supply of affordable and clean electricity facilitated through the project will help improve living conditions, promote business expansion, and increase employment opportunities in the state beside reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The proposed hydroelectric project is run-of-the-river project over Kopili river which will help increase electricity supplied from clean energy by 469 gigawatthour (GWh) by 2025 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 360,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually. 

A $2 million grant from Japan fund for poverty reduction (JFPR) is also associated with the project to finance equipment and consulting services to improve capacity for resource management and community resilience.

January 07, 2021

Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia Appointed As Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court

  • Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court. Gauhati High Court acting Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh administered the oath of office to him during a programme in Raj Bhavan.
  • The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Law Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua, Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, high court judges and senior officials of the state government.

FACTFILE – Guwahati High Court

  • The Guwahati High Court was promulgated by the Governor general of India on 1 March 1948 after the Government of India Act 1935 was passed.
  • The High Court of Assam was established with effect from 5 April 1948, for the then Province of Assam. It was originally known as the High Court of Assam and Nagaland, but was renamed as Gauhati High Court in 1971 by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.
  • It’s High Court with largest jurisdiction in terms of states, with its area covering the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram.
  • It has Circuit Benches at Kohima, Aizawl and Itanagar.

January 11, 2021

Assam govt to rehabilitate Dibru Saikhowa National Park forest villagers in Tinsukia & Lakhimpur districts

  • Assam government has decided to rehabilitate the forest villagers of Dibru Saikhowa National Park in Tinsukia and Lakhimpur districts. The villagers of Laika would be rehabilitated in groups in the degraded reserve forest areas of Paharpur, Saleki and Namphai of Digboi forest division in Tinsukia district. And, the villagers of Dadhia will be settled in groups in Adakhana area of Pabha reserve forest in Lakhimpur district.
  • The State government has constituted a committee headed by state forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya to monitor and support the process of relocation and rehabilitation.
  • Around 135 hectares of land in Pabha RF would be diverted to settle the inhabitants of Dadhia while 166 hectares in Paharpur RF and 72 hectares in Namphai RF would be diverted to settle people of Laika.

February 02, 2021

Assam launches Pragyan Bharati & Bhasha Gourab Scheme for Authors and Students 

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched Pragyan Bharati & Bhasha Gourab Scheme  to provide monetary assistance to college students and literary bodies of the state. The schemes- Pragyan Bharati and Bhasha Gourab awarded Rs 1500 to college students, Rs. 50 thousand to 600 writers and Rs 43 crore to 21 Sahitya Sabhas. 

Under Pragyan Bharati scheme, 3,26,046 college students were given Rs 1,500 each for purchasing textbooks. A total of Rs 161 crore was reimbursed for the free admission of 4 lakh eligible students. 

Under the Bhasha Gourab second scheme, the state government provided 21 Sahitya Sabhas with a total of Rs 43 crore as a contribution towards their corpus funds. Under this scheme, 600 authors have been provided with an amount of Rs 50,000 each to help in their literary activities. 

February 10, 2021

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) Cabinet approves Grant-in-aid of Rs.100 crore to Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited, Assam

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today accorded approval to the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for Grant-in-aid of Rs.100 crore to Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizers Corporation Limited (BVFCL), Namrup to sustain operations of it’s urea manufacturing units.

Despite being the first gas based urea manufacturing unit in India and having all the infrastructure and feedstock availability, it has been difficult to maintain reasonable production level from the existing units in a cost effective manner because of their old & obsolete technology. In order to ensure the safe, sustainable and economic operation of the plants, certain equipment and machineries need to be replaced/overhauled. The minimum functional repair to be undertaken for smoother operation of the plants with procurement of mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and catalyst items etc. shall attract an estimated expenditure of Rs.100 crores.

The grant in aid of Rs. 100 crore to BVFCL will restore the urea production capacity of 3.90 Lac MT per annum and ensure timely availability of Urea to Tea Industry & Farming Sector in the entire North Eastern region specially Assam.

FACTFILE – Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizers Corporation Limited (BVFCL)

  • BVFCL, Namrup is a Public Sector Undertaking formed as per Companies Act, under the administrative control of the Department of Fertilizers (DoF), Government of India. 
  • Presently, the Company is operating its two vintage plants viz. Namrup-ll and Namrup-lll in the premises of BVFCL in Namrup. 
  • BVFCL plays an important role of economic growth in the region. 

February 12, 2021

Mandarin Duck spoted in Assam after 118 years 

The Mandarin duck which is a colourful duck from eastern Asia was spotted in Assam recently after 118 years, by the team of avian specialists in the Maguri-Motapung Beel of Tinsukia district in eastern Assam. Spotting of the Mandarin has raised hopes for the wetland which was affected by a blowout and inferno at a natural gas well in the year 2020.

Mandarin duck is the habitat of eastern China and southern Japan. The duck does not come regularly to India. But some of the ducks may join other migratory birds and follow their migration path.

The spotted duck accompanied a flock of Indian spot-billed duck that was migrated either to China or Japan. The last Mandarin duck was spotted in Assam in the year 1902.

FACTFILE – Mandarin duck

The scientific name of mandarin duck is Aix galericulata. It is a perching duck species which is native to the East Palearctic. 

The duck is closely related to North American wood duck.

The ducks were once widespread in East Asia region. But they were exported on large-scale so the population reduced in the eastern Russia and China. Further, the destruction of its forest habitat further accelerated the reduction in population so much so that the population reduced below 1,000 pairs in each of Russia and China. Japan has an estimated population of around 5,000 pairs.

February 18, 2021

Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurated Centre of Perishable Cargo at LGBI Airport 

  • Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the Centre for Perishable Cargo (CPC) at Lokpriyo Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport. The Chief Minister also ceremonially flagged off an export cargo consignment of 600 kilograms of vegetables on the occasion of the inauguration. 
  • This state-of-the-art facility will go a long way towards boosting exports of perishable produce, empowering farmers to add value to agri-products. The building will also solve infrastructure bottlenecks in exports.
  • The CPC was constructed with a total project cost of Rs 19 crore 84 lakhs where Rs 50 lakhs was contributed by the State Government and rest was borne by the Central Government. 
  • The Cargo Centre is built with a 1705 square metre area which will contain cargo handling facilities for inbound and outbound cargo, cold storage along other measures to export agricultural perishable goods. 
  • The CPC has been built by Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC). 
  • Airports Authority of India had leased 4050 square metres of land to AIDC for a period of seven years from May 31, 2017, for setting up the CPC at LGBI Airport, Guwahati. 
  • The CPC is set to have the capacity to handle 10000 Metric Tonnes of perishable cargo with a nominal licence fee of Re 1/per annum with no royalty, as per a Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India directive with approval of Cabinet. 
  • The cargo centre will consist of a one-stop facilitation centre to process perishable cargo with Customs EDI facility and further Forward and Backward Linkage project under TIES (Trade Infrastructure Export Scheme) by Positioning Airlines, Freight Forwarders, Customs Broker House, FPO’s, banks, plant quarantine etc.

APSC Main 2020 Test Series - assamexam

February 19, 2021

PM Modi launches ‘Mahabahu Brahmaputra’ project, lays foundation of 2 bridges in Assam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on launched the ‘Mahabahu-Brahmaputra’ and also layed the foundation stone of Dhubri Phulbari Bridge via video conferencing. He also performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Majuli Bridge. 

The ​’Mahabahu-Brahmaputra’ program is aimed at providing seamless connectivity to the Eastern parts of India and includes various development activities for the people living around River Brahmaputra and River Barak.

The launch of Mahabahu-Brahmaputra will be marked by the inauguration of the Ro-Pax vessel operations between Neamati-Majuli Island, North Guwahati-South Guwahati and Dhubri-Hatsingimari.

The Ro-Pax services will help in reducing travel time by providing connectivity between banks and thus reducing the distance to be travelled by road. Ro-Pax operation between Neamati and Majuli will reduce the total distance of 420 km currently being travelled by vehicles to only 12 km, resulting in a substantial impact on logistics of small-scale industries of the region.

The proposed Dhubri Phulbari Bridge will be located on NH-127B, originating from Srirampur on NH-27, and terminating at Nongstoin on NH-106 in Meghalaya. It will connect Dhubri in Assam to Phulbari, Tura, Rongram and Rongjeng in Meghalaya. The bridge, to be built with a total cost of approximately Rs 4,997 crores, will meet the long-standing demand of the people from Assam and Meghalaya. It will reduce the distance of 205 km to be travelled by road to 19 km, which is the total length of the bridge. 

A permanent Inland Water Transport Terminal will also be built at Jogighopa under the programme, which will connect with the multi-modal logistics park also coming up there. This terminal will help in reducing traffic on the Siliguri Corridor towards Kolkata and Haldia. It will also facilitate uninterrupted movement of cargo even during the flood season to various North-Eastern states like Meghalaya and Tripura and to Bhutan and Bangladesh as well.

February 25, 2021

AIIB to provide $304 million for Assam Power Transmission Project

The Union Finance Ministry has announced that Indian government has signed a loan agreement with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for the Assam Power Transmission Project.

The loan agreement was signed worth $304 million, which will be used for strengthening the electricity transmission system in the state of Assam.

Total estimated cost of the Power Transmission project in Assam is $365 million, out of this, $304 million will be provided by AIIB. And the remaining amount will be provided by Assam govt.

This loan from AIIB has a maturity period of 24 years and a grace period of 5 years.

FACTFILE – Assam Power Transmission Project

  • This power transmission project will build new networks in the state that will ensure the affordable and reliable power supply in the state.
  • The project will also address the substantial energy deficit that the state of Assam faces because of congestion in transmission networks and electricity distribution.
  • The project comprises the laying down of a transmission line and construction of 10 transmission substations.
  • The project also seeks to strengthen the existing intra-state transmission network in the state by connecting it with new networks which will help in achieving the affordable, reliable, secure and efficient power.

March 5, 2021

Assam’s Red rice export to U.S.

The first consignment of Assam’s ‘Red rice’ was flagged off on March 4, 2021 to the United States, by rice exporter ‘LT Foods’.

The ceremony of the flagging-off of the export consignments was carried out by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Chairman Dr. M. Angamuthu in Haryana. The APEDA is involved in promoting rice exports with the help of several stakeholders along the value chain. The government had also set up a “Rice Export Promotion Forum (REPF)” under the parent head of APEDA.

Rice Export from India

The non-basmati rice exports of India have increased to Rs 26,058 crore for the months of April-January 2020-21 as compared to the exports of Rs 11,543 crore for the same period in the fiscal year 2019-2020.

FACTFILE – Red Rice

The red rice, also called as the ‘Bao-dhaan’, is rich in Iron and is grown in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam. It is grown without using any chemical fertilisers. 

FACTFILE – Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

APEDA is the Apex-Export Trade Promotion Active government body, came into effect from February 1986.

The body was set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It was set up under the APEDA Act 1985.

April 14, 2021

Bohag Bihu Bird Count 2021 begins

On April 14, 2021, the Bohag Bihu Bird count began in Assam. The Bohag Bihu Bird count was launched by Bird Count of India (BCI) for the first time.

Bohag Bihu

Bohag Bihu is the traditional ethnic festival celebrated in Assam. It marks the beginning of Assamese new year. 

Rongali Bihu

During Rongali Bihu, many migratory species of birds that visited Assam and its surrounding regions during winter start flying back to their homes.

 

According to State of India’s Birds, 2020, the loss of habitat is mainly due to human activities, toxins, hunting and trapping for pet trade.

Highlights of State of Birds report, 2020

  • 50% of 867 bird species in India are exhibiting population decline.
  • The number of birds in Western Ghats have declined by 75% since 2000.
  • Around 101 bird species in India have been placed under “high concern” category, 442 in “low concern category” and 319 in “moderate concern” category.
  • The population of House Sparrow was stable, however, their population was declining in major cities.
  • All the four Bustards namely the Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican, Macqueen’s Bustard and Bengal Florican are suffering from population decline.
  • The House Sparrow has been declared as the “State Bird of Delhi”.

 

May 4, 2021

Putola Nach- Puppetry Art-form of Assam

  • In collaboration with the UNICEF, a trust based in Assam recently made videos using the traditional art called “Putola Nach”. The art form was used to take the messages related to COVID-19 to the public through social media.
  • The videos named COVID Shatru (enemy), COVID Bibharat (confusion) were released in Assamese. Mama ro Mina ko COVID Katha (COVID Tale of Mama and Mina) was released in Nepali language.

FACTFILE – Putola Nach

  • It is a traditional string puppet theatre from Assam in North East India. It is also called putala bhaona.
  • These dolls are 1.5 metres tall and are made of hollow wood or bamboo and their heads are made of terracotta.
  • Musical Instruments used in performing the art are dhol, harmonium, kansi, double reed wind instrument and a bell metal plate beaten with a stick.
  • There were three different styles of string puppetry in Assam, viz. Kalaigaon, Barpeta-Nalbari and Majuli island.

May 09, 2021

Himanta Biswa Sarma to take over as Assam Chief Minister

Himanta Biswa Sarma, the face of the BJP in Northeast India, will be sworn in as the 15th Chief Minister of Assam. Himanta Biswa Sarma and the outgoing Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, met Governor Jagdish Mukhi and put forward the BJP’s claim to form the government.

Earlier, Mr. Sonowal submitted his resignation to the Governor, paving the way for Sarma to succeed him.

The BJP won 60 of the 126 seats in the Assam Assembly election. Its allies, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), won nine and six seats, respectively.

Dr. Sarma was likely to keep the Finance, Health and Home portfolios with him. He handled Finance and Health in the Sonowal government as also in the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government earlier.

May 11, 2021

Assam become first Indian state to have a digital flood reporting system

With the launch of Flood Reporting and Information Management System (FIRMS), Assam becomes the first state in India to have an real-time digital flood reporting system. Jishnu Barua, Chief Secretary, Assam, launched a digital real-time Flood Reporting and Information Management System (FIRMS) in the state of Assam.

With the river Brahmaputra flowing at the crux, Assam is prone to severe floods and erosion every year. Assam has a mandatory flood reporting protocol in place every year from May 15 to October 15.

FRIMS, a digital real-time flood reporting system, has been developed jointly by Assam State Disaster Management Agency (ASDMA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Tom White, UNICEF India Chief, Emergency and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) congratulated the Assam Government for becoming the first state to have a digital flood reporting system. “Such a system will go a long way in measuring the impact of disaster risk reduction interventions,” he added.

FACTFILE – Flood Reporting and Information Management System (FRIMS)

  • The Flood Reporting and Information Management System (FRIMS) is a digital real-time flood reporting system launched in Assam.
  • Assam is the first Indian state to adopt a digital flood reporting system that will replace the existing system of manual flood reporting.
  • FRIMS has been developed jointly by Assam State Disaster Management Agency (ASDMA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

APSC Main 2020 Test Series - assamexam

May 16, 2021

NABARD provided Rs 1,236 crores Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) to Assam in 2020-21

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) recently announced that it provided Rs 1,236 crores to Assam in 2020-21 from its Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).

Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) was created in 1995-96 with an initial corpus of Rs 2,000 crores. In 2020-21, Rs 29,848 crores was allocated to RIDF.

The fund shall be used for 37 eligible activities as approved by the Govt of India. These eligible activities are classified under the three broad categories, namely, (i) social sector, (ii) agriculture and related sector; and (iii) rural connectivity.

Social Sectors

Solid Waste Management

Construction of Anganwadis

Setting of KVIC centres

Pay and Use toilets

Infrastructure for Rural Education Institutions

Drinking water

Public Health Institutions



Agriculture and Related Sectors

Mechanisation of farm operations

Dedicated Rural Industry estates

Separate Feeder lines

Solar Photovoltaic power plants

Infrastructure works related to solar energy, energy conservation, wind energy.

Desalination plants in coastal areas

Infrastructure for Information Technology in rural areas

Village Knowledge Centres

Mini Hydel Projects up to 25MW

Medium Irrigation Projects

Major Irrigation Projects

Modern Abattoir

Riverine Fisheries

Community irrigation well

Fishing harbour

Grading

Plantation and Horticulture

Seed/ Agriculture/ Horticulture Farms

Market Yard, Godown, Mandi, Rural Haat, Marketing Infrastructure

Cold storage, Public/ Joint sector cold storage at various exit points

Drainage

Flood Protection

Forest Development

Watershed Development

Soil Conservation

Minor Irrigation Projects



Rural Connectivity

Rural bridges and Rural Roads

 

Institutions which are eligible for funds from RIDF

State Governments and Union Territories

State Government sponsored and supported organisations

State owned corporations and state government undertakings

Panchayat Raj institutions and Self-Help Groups

May 26, 2021

Shiva Thapa secures 5th successive medal at Asian Boxing Championships

Assam pugilist Shiva Thapa put up a fabulous performance to defeat Nader Odah in the men’s 64kg quarter-finals at the 2021 ASBC Asian Boxing Championships in Dubai.

With a comprehensive 5-0 victory against Kuwait’s Odah, Thapa progressed into the semi-finals and also confirmed his fifth back-to-back medal at the Asian Championships.

BIOGRAPHY – Shiva Thapa

  • Shiva Thapa is an Indian boxer.
  • Shiva Thapa participated in the 2012 London Olympics, and was the youngest Indian boxer to qualify for the Olympics.
  • Shiva Thapa is ranked 3rd in the bantamweight category in the AIBA Men’s World Ranking.
  • He is the third Indian to clinch Gold at the Asian Games.

May 27, 2021

Assam govt gives OIL Rs 500 crore to increase stake in Numaligarh Refinery Limited 

Assam government will raise its stake in Numaligrah Refinery Limited (NRL) to 26% from the initial level of 12.35%.

Govt of Assam raised its stake in NRL to 18.59%; another 7.41% shall be acquired. Total investment of Rs 2,187 crore, will be the highest ever investment by Govt of Assam in any PSU.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Numaligarh Refinery (NRL) would increase its capacity from the existing 3 million metric tonnes (MMT) to 9 MMT, besides bringing 6 MMT crude oil to Assam from Odisha.

FACTFILE – Numaligarh Refinery (NRL)

  • Numaligarh Refinery is the largest among the four refineries operating in Assam. The refinery was set up as per Clause 7 of Assam Accord signed in 1985.
  • The refinery was commissioned in the year 2000 and since then has consistently excelled in physical and financial performance. 
  • With the decision of the centre to privatize BPCL, NRL’s status as a Public Sector Enterprise was slated to be lost. To retain the public sector characteristics of the NRL, the Assam government accordingly took up the matter with the centre and decided to raise its stake in NRL to 26% from the initial level of 12.35%.

May 29, 2021

Assam hikes daily wages of Tea Garden Workers

The Assam government decided to hike wages of tea garden workers by Rs 38.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, held a meeting with representatives of Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha and other tea bodies to discuss issues pertaining of wage fixation.

With this hike, the tea workers in Brahmaputra valley would get Rs 205 from the existing Rs 167 and tea workers of Barak valley would get Rs 183 from the existing Rs 145.

FACTFILE – Tea Industry of Assam

  • Assam tea industry is India’s largest tea industry and second largest tea production region in the world after China.
  • Assam produces more than 50 % of the tea produced in India and about 1/6th of the tea produced in the world.
  • Tea industry has contributed substantially to the economy of Assam.
  • About 17 percent of the workers of Assam are engaged in the tea industry. 

June 05, 2021

Raimona National Park becomes Assam’s sixth national park

Raimona National Park in Kokrajhar district within the Bodoland Territorial Region has become Assam’s sixth national park. The 422 sq ft wildlife habitat in Kokrajhar district adjoins western-most buffer to Manas Tiger Reserve.

Assam’s Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, under stress for unregulated coal mining in the vicinity is also in the process of being declared as the seventh national park.

Assam already has the five national parks which are Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Orang and Dibru-Saikhowa.

Upgrading Dehing Patkai has been a long-felt need for the conservation of rainforest and elephant habitats. The area of the park includes the northern part of the notified Ripu Reserve Forest (508.62 sq. km), which forms the western-most buffer to the Manas National Park that straddles the India-Bhutan border.

Raimona also shares contiguous forest patches of the Phipsoo Wildlife Sanctuary and the Jigme Singye Wangchuk National Park in Bhutan (total area of 1,999 sq. km) creating a transboundary conservation landscape of more than 2,400 sq. km.

June 10, 2021

Assam gets Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary as its seventh national park

The Assam Government has decided in its recent cabinet meeting to declare Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary as the 7th National Park of the state. The newest national park, also known as Dehing Patkai Rain Forest, has unique floral and faunal diversity, which was recognized by the state government in 2004 when 111.19 square kilometres of the area was notified as Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary.

Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary is home to hoolock gibbon, elephant, slow loris, tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, golden cat, fishing cat, marble cat, sambar, hog deer, sloth bear, and several bird species including the endangered state bird, the white-winged wood duck. 

With the addition big the two new national parks, Dehing Patkai and Raimona, Assam’s total national park goes to seven.

Assam now is the state with the second highest number of national parks in the country, after Madhya Pradesh’s 11. The Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar has nine national parks.

APSC Main 2020 Test Series - assamexam

June 10, 2021

Assam’s Lovlina Borgohain becomes the first female pugilist from the state to qualify for Tokyo Olympics 2020

Assam’s Lovlina Borgohain becomes the first female pugilist from the state to qualify for Tokyo Olympics 2020. The young athlete Lovlina would be seen fighting it out in the Women’s 69 kg Welterweight category at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She is the first lady from Assam to represent India at the Olympics.

BIOGRAPHY – Lovlina Borgohain

  • Lovlina was born on 2 October 1997, and hails from the Golaghat district of Assam. 
  • Lovlina’s career’s biggest break came when she was selected to participate in the 2018 Commonwealth Games welterweight boxing category, where she won a gold medal in the welterweight category. 
  • She had also won the bronze medal at the Asian Boxing Championships in Vietnam in November 2017 and the bronze medal at the President’s Cup held in Astana in June 2017.
  • Lovlina later won a silver medal at the Ulaanbaatar Cup in Mongolia in June 2018 and a bronze medal at the 13th International Silesian Championship in Poland in September 2018.

June 11, 2021

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launches Sishu Seva Achoni for COVID-19 Orphans

Assam CM Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has dedicated Chief Minister Sishu Seva Scheme to the service of the beneficiaries and handed over the cheques of financial assistance to few beneficiaries who lost both their parents due to COVID.

As per the scheme, an amount to the tune of Rs. 7,81,200 would be parked in the bank as fixed deposit in the name of each beneficiary.

Monthly financial assistance of Rs. 3500 which will be realised from the fixed deposit will be given to the beneficiaries till they attain 24 years of age.

On completion of 24 years of age, the principal amount parked as a fixed deposit against each beneficiary would be credited to their bank accounts.

Orphaned adolescent girls will be given accommodation in suitable and reputed institutions like  Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya residential schools, to ensure their sensitive care and proper protection.

June 15, 2021

Assam’s Shahil Dey is Northeast’s first Chess International Master

Shahil Dey from Assam becomes first International Master from Northeast India. The 13-year-old chess player achieved the feat by achieving his third International Master norm at the First Saturday GM held from June 5-14, 2021 at Budapest in Hungary.

Shahil originally from Assam, now lives in Kolkata in order to receive better training facilities. He is coached by IM Roktim Bandyopadhyay.

FACTFILE – Grand Master Title

Grand Master is the highest title a chess player can attain in their entire chess career. This title is given by the highest governing body of chess i.e. FIDE. If the title of Grandmaster once achieved, it can be held for life. However, the “World Chess Federation” has made some rules for it, if a player is found guilty of “cheating and corruption”, then the title can be snatched from him.

June 22, 2021

Assam govt signs MoU with Survey of India for implementation of SVAMITVA scheme in Assam

Assam government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Survey of India for implementing the Svamitva scheme in the state, to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural areas. The MoU was signed between Assam, Director of Land Records and Surveys, Shantanu P Gotmare and Director Assam and Nagaland, Survey of India. It is expected to reduce property related disputes in rural areas and legal cases.

Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Assam Government’s Department of Revenue and Disaster Management will implement the scheme with the support of the Panchayat and Rural Development.

Survey of India will take steps for survey of inhabited rural land by drone as well as establishment of ground based control stations to enable a detailed spatial database of properties in rural areas.

FACTFILE – SVAMITVA scheme

The SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme was launched on the National Panchayati Raj Day i.e. April 24, 2020.

The scheme is a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, State Panchayati Raj Departments, State Revenue Departments and Survey of India.

It aims to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India.

It is a scheme for mapping the land parcels in rural inhabited areas using drone technology and Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS).

The mapping will be done across the country in a phase-wise manner over a period of four years – from 2020 to 2024.

June 24, 2021

World’s first genetically modified rubber plant planted in Assam

  • The world’s first genetically modified (GM) rubber plant was planted on the outskirts of Guwahati. Chairman and Executive Director of the Rubber Board, K.N. Raghavan planted the saplings at the Rubber Board’s Sarutari research farm near Guwahati.
  •  
  • The GM rubber plant was developed at the Kerala-based Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII) through long years of research at its biotechnology laboratory.

Benefits of genetically modified rubber plant

  • The GM rubber plant would be a game-changer in natural rubber cultivation in India, with additional copies of the gene MnSOD (manganese-containing superoxide dismutase) inserted in it.
  • The GM rubber plant is expected to tide over the severe cold conditions during winter, which is a major factor affecting the growth of young rubber plants. Natural rubber is a native of warm humid Amazon forests and it is not naturally suited for the cold conditions in this part of the country.

FACTFILE – Rubber Board of India

  • The Rubber Board is a statutory body constituted by the Government of India, under the Rubber Act 1947, for the overall development of the rubber industry in the country. 
  • Head Office is in Kottayam, Kerala

 

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 305: September 13 -15, 2020

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 305: September 13 – 15, 2020

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

Assam 2020 Yearbook | Quiz Home Page | Quiz Monthly – July 2020 | Current Affairs Monthly – July 2020Current Affairs Assam Quiz - Assam exam

Q1. Which state has been ranked as the best performer in the States’ Start-up Ranking Framework 2019 of DPIIT?

  1. Assam
  2. Gujarat
  3. Karnataka
  4. Goa
B. Gujarat

Gujarat has been named as the best performer among states followed by Karnataka and Kerala. Andaman & Nicobar Islands has been named as the best performer in the category of Union Territory.

 

Q2. Recently, India has initiated an anti-dumping investigation on imports of Vitamin C from which country?

  1. Australia
  2. Saudi Arabia
  3. China
  4. Germany
C. China 

 

Q3. India was ranked at which position on the World Bank’s annual Human Capital Index?

  1. 116th
  2. 132nd
  3. 105th
  4. 121st
A. 116th 

The 2020 Human Capital Index update includes health and education data for 174 countries covering 98 per cent of the world’s population up to March 2020.

Last year India was ranked 115 out of 157 countries. This year India finds itself at 116th from among 174 countries. However, India’s score increased to 0.49 from 0.44 in 2018, as per the Human Capital Index report released by the World Bank.

 

 

Q4. Who has been appointed as the Executive Director at the World Bank by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet?

  1. Rajesh Khullar
  2. David R. Malpass
  3. Vladimir Putin
  4. Angela Merkel
A. Rajesh Khullar

Rajesh Khullar, a 1988 batch IAS officer has been appointed as Executive Director at World Bank. Sameer Kumar Khare, additional secretary in the economic affairs department of the finance ministry and a 1989 batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre, will be the new executive director at Asian Development Bank. Both the appointments are for a period of three years.

 

 

Q5. Recently, the 2+2 inter-sessional meet was held between India and which country?

  1. Singapore
  2. Australia
  3. US
  4. China

C. US

 

Q6. Who among the following has been conferred Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2020 by Euromoney Awards of Excellence?

  1. Harivansh Narayan Singh
  2. Deepak Parekh
  3. Manoj Jha
  4. Aditya Puri
D. Aditya Puri

Aditya Puri, MD of HDFC Bank has been conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award by Euromoney Awards of Excellence 2020 for his skills in building a world-class bank in India at a time where there were no similar institutions in existence.

 

Q7. India and which country has agreed on a 5-point plan to resolve border issues?

  1. Bhutan
  2. Bangladesh
  3. Pakistan
  4. China
D. China

 

Q8. Recently, who represented India in the virtual Meeting of Labour and Employment Ministers of G-20 nations?

  1. Dharmendra Pradhan
  2. Santosh Gangwar
  3. Prakash Keshav
  4. Javadekar Nirmala Sitharaman

B. Santosh Gangwar

 

Q9. Which among the following country has recently elected as a member of the United Nation’s Commission on Status of Women, a body of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)?

  1. India
  2. Pakistan
  3. Malaysia
  4. Canada
A. India 

India, China and Afghanistan had contested the elections to the Commission on Status of Women. While India and Afghanistan had won the ballot among the 54 members, China failed to even cross the half-way mark.

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), one of the main UN organs within the United Nations. CSW has been described as the UN organ promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women. Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide.

 

Q10. A new publication “The Little Book of Green Nudges” has been launched by which of the following organisation?

  1. World Bank (WB)
  2. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF)
  4. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
B. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) launched a new publication, “The Little Book of Green Nudges”. It aims to encourage around 200 million students around the world to adopt environmentally friendly habits and greener lifestyles.

 

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Assam Current Affairs – September 08-14, 2020

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Assam Current Affairs & GK – September 08-14, 2020

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of September 08-14, 2020)

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September 08, 2020

Union Govt to launch nutrition drive for Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) children

  • The Centre will launch a drive to identify Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) children and ensure their adequate nutrition and care during ongoing POSHAN Maah 2020.

  • The drive will have a long-term impact on the health of such children and would improve the country’s nutrition indicators as well.

  • Union Govt is also developing Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh – a repository of an indigenous crop of every region, every district of India.

  • Malnutrition in children is a mammoth health issue the country is facing. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) – 4, 2015-16, every second child in India suffers from at least one form of nutrition failure, which translates to about 77 million undernourished children in India.

  • In the last decade, severe acute malnutrition has increased from 6.4 per cent (NFHS-3, 2005-06) to 7.5 per cent (NFHS -4, 2015-16) in India.

India enters elite club of hypersonic missile nations of US, Russia and China

  • Recently, India has successfully flight-tested hypersonic technology that will pave the way towards the development of missiles travelling at six times the speed of sound.

  • With this technological feat, India enters an elite club to become a member of the hypersonic regime, which includes the United States, Russia and China.

  • This is a step towards the manufacture of advanced Hypersonic Vehicles. India became the fourth country after the United States, Russia and China to get this technology.

  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully demonstrated the Hypersonic air-breathing scramjet technology with the flight test of Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV) from Launch Complex at Wheeler Island.

FACTFILE – Hypersonic

  • In aerodynamics, a hypersonic speed is one that greatly exceeds the speed of sound, often stated as starting at speeds of Mach 5 and above.

  • Hypersonic flight is flight through the atmosphere below about 90 km at speeds above Mach 5, a speed where dissociation of air begins to become significant and high heat loads exist.

Andhra Pradesh launches schemes to boost women, child health

  • Andhra Pradesh CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched two new food schemes – YSR Sampoorna Poshana and YSR Sampoorna Poshana Plus – aimed at fortifying the health of thousands of pregnant and nursing women and children.

  • More than 30 lakh women and children across the state will stand to benefit from monthly supply of rations.

  • As part of YSR Sampoorna Poshana Plus scheme, eight Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) centres and 52 Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centres will distribute nutritious meals in 77 tribal mandals through 8,320 Anganwadi centres, covering 3.8 lakh beneficiaries.

  • YSR Sampoorna Poshana Plus scheme will be implemented in the Anganwadi centres to provide supplementary nutrition to newborn babies, including pregnant women suffering from anaemia.

  • YSR Sampoorna Poshana Plus Scheme will cost the government Rs 307 crore, covering 3.8 lakh beneficiaries in 77 tribal mandals.

  • YSR Sampoorna Poshana Scheme is set to distribute nutritious meals through 47,287 anganwadi centres across the state.

Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2019 presented to broadcaster David Attenborough

  • Noted broadcaster and natural historian David Attenborough has been presented the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2019 by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.

  • Attenborough has been given the prize for “revealing the wonders of the natural world, educating and entertaining generations of people through his films and books for tirelessly working to awaken humankind to the need to preserve and protect the biodiversity on our planet, and advocating the necessity to live a sustainable and harmonious way of life, working with rather than against nature.

FACTFILE – Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

  • The Indira Gandhi Peace Prize or the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development is the prestigious award accorded annually by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust to individuals or organisations in recognition of creative efforts toward promoting international peace, development and a new international economic order; ensuring that scientific discoveries are used for the larger good of humanity, and enlarging the scope of freedom.

  • The prize carries a cash award of 2.5 million Indian rupees and a citation.

September 09, 2020

Union Agriculture Minister launches 22 bamboo clusters in 9 states, National Bamboo Mission logo

  • Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched 22 bamboo clusters in nine states, India is now gearing up to increase exports of bamboo products.

  • The bamboo clusters will be set up in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Uttarakhand and Karnataka.

  • Among the measures taken to promote the sector, the government amended the Indian Forest Act 1927 in 2017 to remove bamboo from the category of trees. Consequently, now anyone can undertake cultivation and business in bamboo and its products.

  • Further, import policy has also been modified to ensure progress of bamboo industry in the country.

  • The government launched the restructured NBM in 2018-19 for holistic development of complete value chain of the sector.

  • The Mission is being implemented in a hub (industry) and spoke model, with the main goal of connecting farmers and to increase supply of appropriate raw material to domestic industry.

Karnataka launches India’s first integrated air ambulance service

  • Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa unveiled the country’s first integrated air ambulance service jointly launched by the International Critical Air Transfer Team (ICATT) and the Kyathi.

  • ICATT, a team comprising emergency medical service experts, and Kyathi, an aviation technology firm, have come together to start the country’s first integrated air-ambulance service.

  • ICATT-Kyathi’s fixed wing aircraft is capable of long distance emergency medical transportation, combined with helicopter and land ambulance services providing last mile connectivity.

  • The fixed wing air ambulance will be stationed at the HAL airport in Bengaluru. The ambulance is equipped with state-of-the-art German Isolation Pod. ICATT-Kyathi will also enable safe transportation for critical Covd-19 patients.

India ranks 4th in renewable energy

  • India has scaled its non-fossil fuel-based power generation to 134 GW, which is about 35 per cent of the nation’s total power generation and it is expected to increase it to 220 GW by 2022.

  • India is providing capacity-building support to ISA members through its ITEC training programme. It has also set up a Project Preparation Facility to develop bankable solar energy projects in ISA member-countries with the help of EXIM Bank of India.

  • Five Public Sector Undertakings under his Ministry will join ISA’s Coalition for Sustainable Climate Action (ISA-CSCA) as corporate partners. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, and GAIL (India) Limited will contribute to ISA Corpus Fund.

  • In 2018, India announced about USD 1.4 billion worth of lines of credit (LOCs) for covering 27 solar projects across 15 countries.

FACTFILE – International Solar Alliance

  • It is a treaty-based international intergovernmental organisation which was jointly launched by India and France on 30th November 2015 during the 21st session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-21) in Paris, France.

  • It was conceived as a coalition of solar-resource-rich countries (which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn) to address their special energy needs.

  • It aim to lower the cost of technology and finance and thereby facilitate deployment of over 1,000 GW of solar energy and mobilize more than USD 1,000 billion into solar power by 2030 in member countries.

  • Headquarter: Gurugram in Haryana, India.

  • As of June 2020, the ISA Framework Agreement has been signed by 86 countries, with 68 having also deposited instruments of ratification.

ADB extends $500 million credit for Delhi-Meerut RRTS Corridor

  • The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed an agreement with the Indian government to extend a $500 million loan for building the 82-km, high-speed Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor.

  • This will be the first tranche of total $1 billion facility that the multilateral funding agency had agreed for the infrastructure project that will improve regional connectivity and mobility in India’s national capital region (NCR).

  • The first tranche of the loan will support construction of the first of three priority rail corridors planned under the NCR Regional Plan 2021 to connect Delhi to other cities in adjoining states.

  • The first tranche financing will be used for constructing electrified tracks, signalling systems, multimodal hubs and stations with design features that are friendly to elderly, women, children and the disabled.

  • A $3 million grant from ADB’s Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction will support various activities, including provision of visual, hearing and mobility aids, such as wheelchairs for differently abled persons.

  • The ADB-administered multi-donor Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund will provide $2.89 million to support innovations in building information modeling, universal access design features, TOD and VCF.

 

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September 10, 2020

Assam CM flags off ferry service in Jorhat

  • Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off Kokilamukh- Kartik Sapori ferry service across the Brahmaputra at Kokilamukh in Jorhat.

  • Students and traders who need to visit the town on a regular basis will mostly be benefitted by the service, which will be run by IWT.

  • The Chief Minister said that the government had been working for all-round development of the State and improving transportation services was one of the key areas.

Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra announced a 15-point programme

  • Giving priority to the education of tribal girls and aiming to free Rajasthan from the curse of child marriages, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra announced a 15-point programme.

  • The Governor said that each girl in the state should be provided education till she turns 18, adding that at least 10 employment fairs will be organised in Rajasthan via Corporate Social Responsibility wherein employment vans will bring jobs under the ‘Rozgar Apke Dwar’ initiative.

  • The 15-point programme also envisions Constitution Parks/Constitution Pillars in universities and a museum in Raj Bhavan.

  • The aim was to bring maternal and infant mortality rates (children below 5) in the tribal areas on par with the national rate and effective implementation of the National Nutrition Mission.

  • To make people aware about non-communicable and lifestyle-related diseases, to build first-aid centres through CSR in scheduled areas.

  • There is a plan to create an alumni network of state-funded universities to ensure maximum donation to the Governor’s Relief Fund.

  • The other points include development of STEAM-C (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, Mathematics-Computer) education system in the state for employment and skill development, the establishment of incubation centres in scheduled areas in collaboration with state-funded universities.

South India’s first Kisan Rail flagged off from Andhra Pradesh

  • Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar have virtually flagged off South India’s first Kisan Rail from Ananthapur to New Delhi.

  • The second Kisan Rail is shipping 214 tonnes of tomatoes, 138 tonnes of bananas, 32 tonnes of sweet oranges, 11 tonnes of papaya, 8 tonnes of melons and 3 tonnes of mangoes to Delhi, from Rayalaseema town.

  • The state government had taken up several initiatives in the agriculture sector for the benefit of farmers, such as providing minimum support price (MSP) by introducing market intervention fund.

  • Nearly 312 lakh metric tonnes of horticulture produce is being harvested across the state in 17 lakh hectares, with 16 per cent share of fruit production in the country.

  • AP Chief Minister made a special request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, explaining the crisis state farmers are confronting, which eventually led to the creation of South India’s first Kisan Rail originating from AP.

Tamil Nadu releases policy for electronics & hardware manufacturing

  • Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy released the state’s Electronic Hardware Manufacturing Policy-2020, with the target for the manufacturing of electronic goods worth US$ 100-billion by the year 2025.

  • This policy envisages making the state contribute 25 per cent of the country’s total electronic hardware export. It aims at attracting semiconductor fabrication units to the state.

  • Providing a 30-per cent capital subsidy, 50 per cent grant for taking land on lease, 5-per cent interest grant for term loans and a monthly financial aid for the first-time trainees in the sector for six months at the rate of Rs. 4,000 for men and Rs. 6,000 for women are some of the features of the new policy.

  • Mobile phones, LED’s, fabless chips, printed circuit boards, solar photovoltaic cells and medical and automobile electronics are some of the areas that are being given focus in the new policy.

September 11, 2020

Kerala tops India’s literacy rate chart with 96.2% rate

  • As per National Statistical Office (NSO) survey report, with 96.2 percent literacy, Kerala has once again emerged as the most literate state in the country.

  • The report on “Household Social Consumption: Education in India as part of the 75th round of National Sample Survey – from July 2017 to June 2018‟ provides for state-wise detail of literacy rate among the persons aged seven years and above.

  • After Kerala, Delhi has the best literacy rate at 88.7 percent, followed by Uttarakhand’s 87.6 percent, Himachal Pradesh‟s 86.6 percent, and Assam’s at 85.9 percent.

  • Andhra Pradesh featured at the bottom with a rate of 66.4 percent, while, Rajasthan is the second-worst performer with a literacy rate at 69.7 percent, followed by Bihar at 70.9 percent, Telangana at 72.8 percent, Uttar Pradesh at 73 percent, and Madhya Pradesh at 73.7 percent.

  • The study has pegged the overall literacy rate in the country at about 77.7 percent.

PM Modi inaugurates Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana to enhance income of dairy farmers, fisheries

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and e-Gopala App, a comprehensive breed improvement marketplace and information portal for direct use of farmers, which will do away with the role of middlemen in procurement and purchase.

  • The project has been started in 21 states and Rs 20,000 crore will be spend in the next four-five years. An amount of Rs 1,700 cr has been initiated to start the project.

  • The Department of Fisheries has approved Rs 1,723 crore worth of proposals for 21 states and Union Territories in phase-I under the PMMSY.

  • The PMMSY is a flagship scheme for focused and sustainable development of the fisheries sector with an estimated investment of Rs 20,050 crore, as a part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ package.

  • An investment of about Rs 12,340 crore is proposed for beneficiary-oriented activities in Marine, Inland fisheries and Aquaculture while about Rs 7,710 crore are proposed for Fisheries Infrastructure.

  • The PMMSY aims at enhancing fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonne by 2024-25, increasing fisheries export earnings to Rs 1,00,000 crore by 2024-25.

India, Japan ink mutual military logistics agreement

  • India and Japan have inked a landmark agreement that will allow their militaries to access each other’s bases for logistics support.

  • The agreement provides for creation of an enabling framework for closer cooperation and interoperability, besides allowing militaries of the two countries to use each other’s bases and facilities for repair and replenishment of supplies.

  • The defence ministry said the pact will enhance the interoperability between the armed forces, resulting in further expansion of bilateral defence engagement under the Indo-Japan special strategic and global partnership.

  • The agreement establishes the enabling framework for closer cooperation between the armed forces of India and Japan in the reciprocal provision of supplies and services.

  • India has already signed similar agreements with the US, France, Australia and Singapore.

  • India has been signing MLSAs with countries primarily eyeing deeper maritime cooperation which is important considering China’s rapid military expansionism in the Indo-Pacific, Indian Ocean and South China Sea.

Microsoft joins NASSCOM to skill 10 lakh students in AI

  • Microsoft joined hands with industry-driven learning ecosystem Nasscom FutureSkills to launch a nation-wide initiative “AI Classroom Series” that aims to skill 10 lakh students in Artificial Intelligence (AI) by 2021.

  • The online classes will include live demos, hands-on workshops and assignments through self-learning, virtual instructor-led training, and mentoring.

  • These introductory sessions on AI will be available for undergraduate students at no cost and will cover the basics of data science, machine learning models on Azure, and understanding of cognitive services to build intelligent solutions.

  • The partnership with NASSCOM FutureSkills is an extension of Microsoft’s global skilling initiative to help 25 million people worldwide acquire new digital skills, needed to thrive in a digital economy.

  • The partnership will also steer collaboration with various academic institutes and colleges to integrate new Cloud and AI technologies into the curriculum.

 

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September 12, 2020

Reliance Industries becomes world’s 40th most valuable firm

  • Billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has become the

  • world’s 40th most valuable firm as it became the first Indian company to cross USD 210 billion in market capitalisation intra-day.

  • This is the first time that an Indian company has crossed the USD 200 billion market capitalisation milestone. It is ranked ahead of companies including Oracle, PepsiCo, SAP, Exxon Mobil, Novartis and Pfizer.

  • RIL is also ranked among Asia’s top 10 most valuable companies.

FACTFILE – Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)

  • Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is an Indian multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Mumbai, India.

  • RIL owns businesses across India engaged in energy, petrochemicals, textiles, natural resources, retail, and telecommunications.

  • RIL is one of the most profitable companies in India, the largest publicly traded company in India by market capitalisation, and the largest company in India as measured by revenue after recently surpassing the government-controlled Indian Oil Corporation.

  • The company is ranked 96th on the Fortune Global 500 list of the world’s biggest corporations as of 2020. It is ranked 8th among the Top 250 Global Energy Companies by Platts as of 2016.

  • Reliance continues to be India’s largest exporter, accounting for 8% of India’s total merchandise exports with a value of ₹1,47,755 crore and access to markets in 108 countries.

Telangana Assembly passes bills for landmark land reforms

  • The Telangana Assembly passed various Bills to bring major reforms in the state’s Revenue Department by reducing human interface for land transactions. Accordingly, the state govt has scrapped the posts of Village Revenue Officers (VROs) and Village Revenue Assistants (VRAs).

  • With the new enactments, record of rights relating to lands will be maintained in electronic form in the Telangana Land Records Management System for ensuring hassle-free revenue administration.

  • The new Revenue Act will remove discretionary powers vested with the officials at different levels and ensure transparent and corruption-free land dealings.

  • Under the new Revenue Act, land mutation or change of land title ownership will be done online via the Dharani portal. This will also allow people to access records of agricultural and non-agricultural land online.

Major health scheme for J&K announced

  • Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha announced a major health scheme under which all residents of the union territory will be given health insurance.

  • The scheme, under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), will provide an annual health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh per household on a floating basis.

  • It will also cover diseases like cancer and kidney disease, as well as coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In addition, all treatments for oncology, cardiology, and nephrology will be covered.

Andhra CM launches ‘YSR Asara’ to free women from debt trap

  • Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the ‘YSR Asara’ scheme, which will benefit 87 lakh women belonging to 8.71 lakh self-help groups (SHGs).

  • The scheme promises to deposit money in the bank accounts of eligible women, amounting to Rs 27,168 crore in total, in four instalments.

  • According to the state govt, the outstanding loans of eligible women on the cut-off date were determined to be amounting to Rs 25,383 crore.

  • Most of these women hailing from poor families were compelled to take these loans for education, healthcare, care of elderly people at home, daily needs and other emergencies. This resulted in getting them into a vicious cycle of debts due to their incapability to cope with the exorbitant rates of interest.

September 13, 2020

Assam Govt announced infrastructure development projects worth around Rs 12,000 crore

  • The Assam state Govt announced a slew of infrastructure development projects worth around Rs 12,000 crore, including the setting up of four new medical colleges, nine women colleges, six degree colleges, ten law colleges, two flyovers and statewide road corridors in the state.

  • An outlay of around Rs 12,000 crore would be the highest ever capital investment in the history of Assam.

  • From December 2020, actual works would start for establishing the four new medical colleges at Biswanath Chariali, Charaideo, Goalpara and Guwahati.

  • In collaboration with Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (MMCH) and Kalapahar TB Hospital, the second medical college in Guwahati would be constructed to make it a best and largest one in entire eastern India in terms of size, services and treatment facilities.

Scientists develop Anti-bacterial Graphene face masks

  • The scientists have successfully produced graphene masks with an anti-bacterial efficiency of 80 per cent, which can be enhanced to almost 100 per cent with exposure to sunlight for around 10 minutes.

  • The graphene masks are easily produced at low cost and can help to resolve the problems of sourcing raw materials and disposing of non-biodegradable masks.

  • The researchers revealed that commonly used surgical masks are not anti-bacterial. And thus, this may lead to the risk of secondary transmission of bacterial infection when people touch the contaminated surfaces of the used masks or discard them improperly.

  • The research team tested their laser-induced graphene with E. coli, and it achieved high anti-bacterial efficiency of about 82 per cent. These laser-induced graphene showed a superior anti-bacterial capacity for aerosolised bacteria.

  • The team is currently working with laboratories in mainland China to test the graphene material with two species of human coronaviruses.

India’s first sea bass hatchery start-up comes up in Karnataka

  • Three young students of Bachelor of Fisheries Science (BFSc) at the Mangalore Fisheries College, A.H. Kaushik, V.S. Karthik Gowda, and S.V. Sachin, saw some shrimp farmers in Andhra Pradesh.

  • The ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) announced the signing of an MoU with the start-up at Karnataka’s Kumta for transfer of sea bass seed production technology.

  • This is the first attempt in the country in setting up a sea bass hatchery in private sector on a start-up mode.

  • The ICAR-CIBA charged Rs 5 lakh for transfer of technology and 10 per cent royalty on the net profit of the company.

  • Canares Aquaculture will get the sea bass eggs or fries and brooder from the ICAR-CIBA, rear it in its tanks for about two-and-half months and then sell it to the farmers.

 

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September 14, 2020

Assam to expand Kaziranga National Park area

  • Assam state govt has approved to expand the Kaziranga National Park by 3053 hectares. This would make the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve to grow to 1085.53 sq km. Presently, the core area of the national park is 430 sq km.

This increase in area of KNP will benefit:

  • It would help to provide connectivity to Orang and Nameri National Parks across river Brahmaputra.

  • It also provides connectivity to the hills of Karbi Anglong to the south of the park.

  • These additional areas are encroachment-evicted areas and suitable wildlife habitat on river islands that are vulnerable to encroachment.

  • It would also lead to the reduction in human-wildlife negative interactions.

FACTFILE – Kaziranga National Park (KNP)

  • Kaziranga National Park is one of India’s oldest reserve areas, located in Golaghat and Nagaon, in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam in northeast India.

  • The park was declared ‘protected’ after Mary Curzon, Wife of Lord Curzon, failed to spot a single rhinoceros in the area.

  • The park has elephants, swamp deer, wild water buffalo, etc. It also has a wide range of flora. It also contains 15 threatened species of fauna.

  • It also has many species of birds and is designated as an ‘Important Bird Area’ by Birdlife International.

FACTFILE – National Parks in Asaam

  • Assam has five national parks—Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Nameri National Park, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Orang National Park.

India becomes member of UN body ECOSOC

  • India has been elected as a member of the United Nation’s Commission on Status of Women, a body of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

  • India will be a member of United Nation’s Commission on Status of Women for four years, 2021 to 2025.

  • India, Afghanistan and China had contested the elections to the Commission on Status of Women. Even as India and Afghanistan won the ballot among the 54 members, China could not cross the half-way mark.

  • The Economic and Social Council is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental.

FACTFILE – The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

  • It is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), one of the main UN organs within the United Nations.

  • CSW has been described as the UN organ promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women. Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide.

  • It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals.

  • It is also responsible for the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits.

NSO’s Report on the Digital Divide

  • Recently, National Statistical Organisation (NSO) published the report on ‘household social consumption’ in its 75th round of the survey which was conducted between 2017-2018. The report shows that digital divide have increased across States, cities and villages, and income groups.

Key Findings of the report

  • One in 10 households have access to computer across the country.

  • Quarter of all homes have Internet connection which is accessed through fixed or mobile network using smartphones.

  • Cities have 42% Internet-enabled homes while in rural India 15% are connected to the internet.

  • Delhi has the highest Internet access covering 55% of the households.

  • Kerala emerges to have the least inequality where 39% of the poorest rural homes and 67% of the richest urban homes have Internet.

  • Odisha have the lowest internet penetration with one in 10 household have access to internet.

  • 20% of Indians above the age of 5 years have basic digital literacy.

Digital divide – It means uneven distribution of access and use of internet and technologies among the group. This term was first used by Lloyd Morrisett.

Internet as Fundamental Right – Kerala High Court in 2019 had declared the right to Internet access is a fundamental right that forms the part of the right to privacy and the right to education under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Various Government Initiatives to reduce the digital divide

  • Bharat Net Programme that acts as the infrastructural backbone to provide Internet access all across the country.

  • National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) have been launched to empower at least one person per household with digital literacy skills by 2020.

 

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 304: September 10 -12, 2020

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 304: September 10 – 12, 2020

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

Assam 2020 Yearbook | Quiz Home Page | Quiz Monthly – July 2020 | Current Affairs Monthly – July 2020Current Affairs Assam Quiz - Assam exam

Q1. Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with which small finance bank to work in cohesion in support of Bank Linkage?

  1. Janalakshmi Small Finance Bank
  2. Utkarsh Small Finance Bank
  3. North East Small Finance Bank
  4. Capital Small Finance Bank.
C. North East Small Finance Bank

Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with North East Small Finance Bank (NESFB) on Saturday to work in cohesion in support of Bank Linkage of the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Producer Groups/ Enterprises under ASRLM. ASRLM is the first amongst all the State Livelihood Missions to initiate the signing of MoU with the new generation small finance banks.

 

Q2. Which country has been elected as a member of the United Nation’s Commission on Status of Women for the period 2021-2025?

  1. US
  2. India
  3. Australia
  4. UAE
B. India

 

Q3. India and which country signed an agreement for reciprocal provision of supplies and services between the armed forces?

  1. China
  2. Bangladesh
  3. Japan
  4. Sri Lanka
C. Japan

India and Japan signed an agreement for reciprocal provision of supplies and services between the armed forces. The agreement establishes the enabling framework for closer cooperation between the Armed Forces of India and Japan in reciprocal provision of supplies and services while engaged in bilateral training activities, United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, Humanitarian International Relief and other mutually agreed activities.

 

 

Q4. What is the rank of India in the Global Economic Freedom Index, 2020?

  1. 79th
  2. 105th
  3. 93rd
  4. 108th
B. 105th 

The Economic Freedom of the World 2020 Annual Report by Canada’s Fraser Institute has been released in India in conjunction with the New Delhi-based think tank Centre For Civil Society. This is the 24th edition of Economic Freedom of the World.

The country was at the 79th spot in last year’s rankings. Hong Kong topped the rankings.

 

 

Q5. The government of which state has recently launched India’s Biggest “Piggery Mission”?

  1. Nagaland
  2. Assam
  3. Meghalaya
  4. Tripura

C. Meghalaya

The main objective of the Piggery Mission is to reduce the annual import of Pork worth Rs 150 Crore and make Meghalaya self-sufficient (“Aatma Nirbhar”) in pork production over the next 3 years.

 

Q6. According to the Living Planet Report 2020 released by the World Wide Fund for Nature what is the average decline in global vertebrate species populations, between 1970 and 2016?

  1. 68%
  2. 50%
  3. 34%
  4. 72%
A. 68%

World Wildlife Fund for Nature is the world’s leading conservation organization. It was established in 1961 and is headquartered at Gland, Switzerland. Its objective is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth.

 

Q7. Which state topped the list of states counted for the well-being of children as per the ‘State of Young Child in India’ report released by Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu recently?

  1. Assam
  2. Kerala
  3. Tripura
  4. Goa
B. Kerala

The Young Child Outcomes Index (YCOI) measures health, nutrition and cognitive growth with help of indicators such as infant mortality rate, stunting and net attendance at the primary school level. Kerala, Goa, Tripura, Tamil Nadu and Mizoram are among the top five States.

 

Q8. Which among the following religious place was recently granted Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration?

  1. Tirupati
  2. Vaishno Devi
  3. Konark
  4. Golden Temple

D. Golden Temple

The Union government has granted a Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence to Sri Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar in Punjab for five years. It will now enable the Golden Temple to receive foreign donations.

 

Q9. Who won the women’s singles title in US Open Tennis 2020?

  1. Naomi Osaka
  2. Victoria Azarenka
  3. Jennifer Brady
  4. Serena Williams
A. Naomi Osaka

 

Q10. India’s first integrated air ambulance service has been launched in which state?

  1. Karnataka
  2. Odisha
  3. Gujarat
  4. Uttarakhand
A. Karnataka

The Integrated Ambulance Service is India’s first air ambulance operating from South India to provide service for medical emergencies. It is combined with helicopter and land ambulance services which will offer last-mile connectivity.

 

APSC Prelims 2020 Test Series

 

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Assam Current Affairs – September 01-07, 2020

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

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

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September 01, 2020

Indian Railways completes solar power installations at 960 stations

  • With the objective of 100 per cent self-sustainability for all power needs, the Indian Railways has completed installation of solar power plants at 960 stations and in the ordering process for 198 MW solar rooftop capacity for 550 additional railway stations.

  • The Indian Railways’ plans were part of its objective to become a net zero carbon emitter by 2030 as it has a landpool of more than 51,000 hectares.

  • Indian Railways plans plans to install solar plants of 20 GW capacity by utilising its vacant land by 2030. And to generate 33 billion units by 2030, 10 billion more than its present requirement.

  • For the first time in the world, Indian Railways sets up solar plant in Bina to directly power railway overhead line, in July, 2020.

Assam Govt plans to overhaul of State’s education sector

  • Assam Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed the Legislative Assembly that the government is planning an overhaul of the education sector with 15 new government colleges, including nine girls’ colleges, coming up in Assam.

  • 150 new high schools will be built in the tea garden areas of Assam and these will be ready to start from the next academic session.

  • Under the New Education Policy, the entire education system would undergo a sea change, where the difference between English medium and vernacular mediums would be reduced and people will gain confidence in the government education sector.

  • Assam is witnessing fast pace expansion in the government education sector with more than 40 lakh students enrolled in government academic institutions and more than 1.5 lakh appointments in this sector in the past eight years.

  • 5.5 lakh students have been given free admission under government scheme.

  • The Govt is ready do some modification in provincialisation rules to regularise the deserving venture institutions of the state.

Former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee passes away

  • Former President of India Pranab Mukherjee died in Delhi at the age of 84.

  • The central government has announced seven days of state mourning for the former president.

BIOGRAPHY – Pranab Mukherjee

  • Pranab Mukherjee served as the 13th President of India, from 2012 to 2017.

  • Born in the village of Mirati in Birbhum district of West Bengal, Mukherjee pursued History, Political Science and Law courses from the Kolkata University before becoming a college teacher and then a journalist.

  • Before becoming finance minister for the first time as part of Indira Gandhi’s Cabinet in 1982, Mukherjee had served as a deputy minister for finance in 1973-74.

  • He was also appointed the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission in 1991 during the time of P V Narasimha Rao’s government at the Centre and held that position for five years.

UP Govt launches Major Dhyan Chand Vijaypath Yojana

  • Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya launched the Major Dhyan Chand Vijaypath Yojana under which 19 international players from the state will get road connectivity to their houses.

  • Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, former pacer Praveen Kumar, Piyush Chawla and Mohammad Kaif are among the 19 athletes who will be benefited from the scheme.

  • The initial list includes 19 players but later on, more players will be added to the scheme.

 

September 02, 2020

Assam’s Darrang ranked second in performance among aspirational districts in India

  • The NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog in its fresh assessment based on the overall performance index has placed Assam’s Darrang district in the second rank among the 124 aspirational districts of the country.

  • The evaluation covered several subjects of development including health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resource, financial inclusion and skill development and basic infrastructure for the last two months of June and July 2020.

  • In the financial inclusion and skill development category, the Darrang district fared even better than the district that bagged the first rank.

Bhaben Baruah Award to Kulada Kumar Bhattacharya

  • The Nalbari district unit of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad conferred the coveted Bhaben Baruah Award for the year 2020 to renowned actor, playwright and the director of Jyoti Chitraban, Kulada Kumar Bhattacharya for his lifetime contributions towards the uplift of preforming arts in the State.

  • The award consists of a cash prize of Rs 10,000, a citation and a seleng sador, among others.

FACTFILE – Bhaben Baruah Award

  • The Nalbari district unit of AJYCP has been presenting the award since 2009. First edition of the award was given to play artist Dulal Roy.

Recipients of the award are

  • Guruji Adya Sarma (2010)

  • Biju Phukan (2011)

  • Nilu Chakravarty (2012)

  • Mahananda Sarma (2013)

  • Jibeswar Deka (2014)

  • Achyut Lahkar (2015)

  • Dharani Barman (2016)

  • Hemanta Dutta (2017)

  • Bidya Rao (2018)

  • Dara Ahmed (2019)

India launches pan-India Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) in electricity

  • Indian power market has gone green with the launch of pan-India Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) in electricity.

  • The introduction of GTAM platform would lessen the burden on Renewable Energy-rich States.

  • The GTAM platform will lead to an increase in the number of participants in the renewable energy sector. 

  • It will benefit buyers of renewable energy through competitive prices and transparent and flexible procurement. And it will also benefit renewable energy sellers by providing access to the pan-India market.

Key features of Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM)

  • Transactions through GTAM will be bilateral in nature with clear identification of corresponding buyers and sellers, there will not be any difficulty in accounting for RPO.

  • GTAM contracts will be segregated into Solar RPO & Non-Solar RPO as RPO targets are also segregated.

  • Further, within the two segments GTAM contracts will have Green Intraday, Day Ahead Contingency, Daily and Weekly Contracts

  • Price discovery will take place on a continuous basis i.e. price time priority basis. Subsequently, looking at the market conditions open auction can be introduced for daily & weekly contracts.

Google expands AI-driven flood forecast to all of India, Bangladesh

  • Google expanding its Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered flood forecasting to all of India and Bangladesh that will provide greater details on timing and water depths in alerts in nine new local languages.

  • This forecasting model that will allow it to double the lead time of many of its alerts providing more notice to governments in India and Bangladesh and giving tens of millions of people an extra day or so to prepare.

  • For several years, the Google Flood Forecasting Initiative has been working with governments to develop systems that predict when and where flooding will occur and keep people safe and informed.

  • Google has been expanding its forecasting models and services in partnership with the Indian Central Water Commission. This partnership aims to build local networks that can get disaster alert information to people who wouldn’t otherwise receive smartphone alerts directly.

IUCAA Pune scientists find one of the farthest galaxies

  • A team of scientists from Pune’s Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCAA) have discovered one of the farthest galaxies in the universe, called AUDFs01

  • The discovery made by a team of astronomers led by IUCAA’s Kanak Saha.

  • The galaxy was discovered by India’s first Multi-Wavelength Space Observatory ‘AstroSat’, which detected extreme-UV light from a galaxy located at an astronomical distance of 9.30 billion light-years from Earth.

FACTFILE – Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA)

  • The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) is an autonomous institution set up by the University Grants Commission to promote nucleation and growth of active groups in astronomy and astrophysics in Indian universities.

  • IUCAA is located in the University of Pune campus.It’s campus designed by Indian architect Charles Correa.

  • IUCAA, along with Persistent Systems, Pune, operates the Virtual Observatory project. The observatory provides users access to raw observational data along with advanced processing software designed by engineers at Persitent.

  • IUCAA, along with the Raman Research Institute and Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, declared a proposal to take a ten percent stake in the Large Telescope Project, which would allow Indian astronomers access to major upcoming observatories such as the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) and the European Extremely Large Telescope (EELT).

IIT Bombay students launch AI-based scanning app “AIR Scanner”

  • AIR Scanner, a free-of-cost mobile application, has been developed Rohit Kumar Chaudhary and Kavin Agrawal, two B.Tech students of IIT Bombay.

  • This app has been launched on Independence Day and the AI (Artificial Intelligence) based Reading Assistant & Document Scanner app can scan documents and also read to users who have difficulty in reading English.

  • The document you scan using your mobile camera will be saved in PDF format and will be stored in the device only.

  • An added advantage of this app is its Artificial Intelligence feature that reads out the scanned pages and also provides the meaning of the selected word to the user in 40 different languages.

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September 03, 2020

Assam Municipal Bill passed bill to defer civic body polls by one year

  • In view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Assam assembly passed the Assam Municipal (Amendment) Bill, 2020 allowing deferring of polls to municipal bodies by one year after expiry of their scheduled terms.

  • The bill also provides for appointment of a senior official as the in-charge of the council concerned after the end of its scheduled term.

  • The state government shall direct the Deputy Commissioner or the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), as the case may be, of the respective jurisdiction, to take over the charge of the Municipal Boards for a period not exceeding 12 months from the date of expiry of the term of the office of the Commissioners.

Read more about Assam Municipal system – Assamexam.com : Assam Municipal Note

India’s GDP contracted by 23.9% in 2020 1st Qrt

  • As per the recent National Statistical Office (NSO) data, India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth contracted by 23.9% in the quarter 1 of 2020. It is the sharpest contraction since India started reporting quarterly data in 1996.

  • Construction, manufacturing, trade, hotels and other services and mining were the worst-hit sectors, due the severe suspension of economic activity in the quarter period due to the Covid pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns.

  • Only sector that showed a positive growth is agriculture, which grew at 3.4%.

Effects on the Economy

  • Job loss since the sectors which have contracted (e.g. construction, manufacturing etc.) are the sectors that create the maximum new jobs in the country.

  • Small-scale sector and informal sector are more affected than the organised sector

  • Defaults in the banking sector after the moratorium ends will add to the banking sector woes, impacting bank’s lending.

  • Household debt will increase with incomes stagnating, salary cuts and job losses.

Real-Time Market of Indian Energy Exchange launched

  • A pan-India real-time market of electricity to enable the buyers and sellers pan-India to meet their energy requirement closer to real time of operation has been launched.

  • With shorter bidding time, faster scheduling, and defined processes enables the participants to access resources throughout the all India grid, the market will promote competition.

  • It is an organized market platform which will bring required flexibility to provide real-time balance while ensuring optimal utilization of the available surplus capacity in the system. The buyers and sellers would have the option of placing buy or sell bids for each 15-minute time block.

Advantages of Real-Time Market of Indian Energy Exchange

  • It would help to mitigate the challenges of grid management and integrate higher amounts of renewable energy resources into the grid.

  • It would provide an alternate mechanism for DISCOMS to access larger markets at competitive prices.

  • It serves the consumers with reliable supply as any last-minute requirement of power can easily be bought from the Real-Time market.

Rajasthan inks MoU worth Rs 4,000 crore in textiles, defence & aviation

  • Rajasthan Govt signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shri Vallabh Pittie (SVP) International Group for the development of facilities related to aviation, defence and textile sectors.

  • Investment of Rs 4,000 crore is estimated under the projects which would generate employment for more than 4,000 people.

  • The company proposed to develop a project for defence and aerospace, including aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, aviation academy and a project related to textile.

J&K Official Languages Bill 2020 gets Cabinet clearance

  • The Union Cabinet gave its nod to the introduction of the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020 in the Parliament.

  • The Bill will include Kashmiri, Dogri and Hindi as official languages in the newly-created Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

  • Now, five languages Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi, Urdu and English will be the official languages in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, as against only English and Urdu which were official languages in the former State.

Scheduled languages under the Eighth Schedule

  • Dogri along with Bodo, Maithili and Santhali was added to the scheduled languages under the Eighth Schedule by 92nd Amendment Act of 2003.

  • The Eighth Schedule consists of the following 22 languages:

  • Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili and Dogri.

  • Of these languages, 14 were initially included in the Constitution.

  • Sindhi language was added by the 21st Amendment Act of 1967.

  • Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali were included by the 71st Amendment Act of 1992.

Union Cabinet approves Mission Karmayogi

  • Union Cabinet has given its nod to Mission Karmayogi – National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building, a scheme to lay the foundation for capacity building for Civil Servants so that they remain entrenched in Indian culture while they learn global best practices.

  • The mission aims to make the Civil Servants more creative, constructive, imaginative, innovative, proactive, professional, progressive, energetic, enabling, transparent and technology-enabled.

  • The institutional framework will consist of Prime Minister’s Public Human Resources (HR) Council, Capacity Building Commission, Special Purpose Vehicle for owning and operating the digital assets and the technological platform for online training, and Coordination Unit headed by the Cabinet Secretary.

  • The Public Human Resources Council comprising select Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, eminent public HR practitioners, thinkers, global thought leaders and Public Service functionaries will serve as the apex body for providing strategic direction to the task of Civil Services Reform and capacity building.

  • The Capacity Building Commission to ensure a uniform approach in managing and regulating the capacity building ecosystem on collaborative and co-sharing basis.

UP government plans to set up toy city in UP

  • Uttar Pradesh government is planning to set up a ‘Toy City’ along the Yamuna Expressway in the state. And for that, 70 entrepreneurs have shown interest in setting up toy units in the state. 

  • The state government would provide subsidised land under the MSME provisions and also make arrangements for the raw material needed for the toy industry.

  • The toy industry in India is worth about Rs 10,000 crore and according to the International Market Analysis, Research and Consulting Group, Indian participation in the global toy industry is merely 0.5 per cent.

  • In the Indian market, the locally made toys account for merely 12 per cent. The majority of the toys are imported from China and other countries.

September 04, 2020

India ranks 48th in Global Innovation Index, 2020

  • India has moved up four places to the 48th rank in the global innovation index and keeps the top position among the nations in central and southern Asia.

  • For the first time, India entered in the top 50 countries in the global innovation index.

  • India has become the third most innovative lower middle-income economy in the world

  • India ranks in the top 15 in indicators such as ICT (Information and Communication Technology) services exports, government online services, graduates in science and engineering, and R&D-intensive global companies.

  • India is the lower middle-income economy with the highest innovation quality.

FACTFILE – Global Innovation Index, 2020

  • The Global Innovation Index (GII) is an annual ranking of countries by their capacity for, and success in, innovation. It is released jointly by the Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

  • A total of 131 countries were analysed under the GII based on metrics include institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication and business sophistication, knowledge and technology outputs and creative outputs.

  • Top countries are Switzerland, Sweden, the US, the UK and the Netherlands. The top 10 positions are dominated by high-income countries.

CSIR-CMERI develops World’s Largest Solar Tree

  • CSIR-CMERI has developed the World’s Largest Solar Tree, installed capacity of the Solar Tree is above 11.5 kWp, which is installed at CSIR-CMERI Residential Colony, Durgapur.

  • It has the annual capacity to generate 12,000-14,000 units of Clean and Green Power. The Solar Tree has been designed to ensure maximum exposure of each Solar PV Panel to Sunlight and also creation of the least amount of shadow area beneath.

  • Each Solar Tree has the potential to save 10-12 tons of CO2 emissions being released into the atmosphere as Greenhouse The surplus generated power can be fed into an Energy Grid.

  • The solar tree has the capability to incorporate IOT based features like round-the-clock CCTV surveillance in agricultural fields, real-time humidity, wind speed, rainfall prediction and soil analytics sensors.

  • This Solar Tree is a Quantum Leap towards making an Energy Reliant and Carbon Negative India in compliance with sustainable development goals.

J&K govt to set up two CIIITs in Jammu, Baramulla

  • The J&K Government is establishing two Centers for Invention, Innovation, Incubation & Training (CIIIT) in Jammu & Kashmir in collaboration with Tata Technologies. This will strengthen industry-academia partnership and to bring quality improvement in technical education.

  • The two centers are being built at Government Polytechnic College, Jammu and Government Polytechnic College, Baramulla and shall be established at a cost of approximately Rs 360.00 crores.

  • The Project is aimed at bringing qualitative improvements in the field of technical education in J&K. They will facilitate to create a ready pool of skilled manpower like engineers; technicians which will augment the industrial growth and in turn employment avenues in the region.

NASA test-fires SLS rocket booster for future lunar missions

  • With overall objective of landing the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024, NASA has completed a full-scale booster test for the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

  • NASA, along with Northrop Grumman, will use data from the test, successfully conducted to evaluate the motor’s performance using potential new materials and processes that can be incorporated into future boosters.

  • The SLS flight support booster firing is a crucial part of sustaining missions to the Moon. The SLS boosters are the largest, most powerful boosters ever built for flight.

  • The two boosters on the rocket provide more than 75 per cent of the thrust needed to launch NASA’s future deep space missions through Artemis lunar programme.

  • The SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, Gateway, and human landing system are part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration.

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September 05, 2020

Assam government to give financial aid under SVAYEM Yojana to 2,00,000 youths

  • To encourage entrepreneurship in the state, the Assam government has decided to provide Rs 50,000 each to 2,00,000 youths of the state.

  • The Rs 50,000 to 2,00,000 youths would be given under the revamped “Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment (SVAYEM)” Yojana.

  • State Govt has earmarked Rs 1,000 crore for this scheme.

  • The financial assistance would be provided to the members of self-help groups or joint liability groups registered before September 1, 2020.

  • Youths below the age of 40 years and with a minimum qualification of matriculation would be considered eligible for this scheme.

 

Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment (SVAYEM) Yojana

Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment (SVAYEM) Yojana is a flagship program announced in the Budget 2017-18, to provide financial support to the youths of Assam to take up income generating activities in the manufacturing, trading and service sector.

Objectives of SVAYEM Yojana

  • To generate employment opportunities in rural as well as urban areas through setting up of new ventures as well as growing existing ventures.
  • To provide financial assistance to micro and small business entities engaged in the manufacturing, trading and services sector.
  • To provide financial assistance for enhancement of income level of traditional artisans ensuring sustainable growth.

Coverage and targeted group under SVAYEM Yojana

  • About One lakh youth of Assam will be provided suitable credit support for taking up income generating enterprises.

Nature of activities eligible for SVAYEM Yojana

  • Manufacturing
  • Processing
  • Service Sector
  • Trading
  • Rural Transport Service (Auto Rickshaw, e-Rickshaw)
  • Tourism
  • Shops, repairing Centres, Handicraft, Cottage Industries etc.

Eligibility criteria for the beneficiary of SVAYEM Yojana

  • Residents of Assam above 18 years of age.
  • The beneficiary should possess educational qualification of at least Class VII.
  • The individual beneficiary should have skills, experiences, knowledge, etc., to undertake the income generating activities.
  • The beneficiary who has already completed Skill Development Training will be given preference.
  • The beneficiary must not be the defaulter of any loan.
  • PMEGP beneficiaries of the last 5 years will not be eligible under the scheme.
Indian Govt proposes mandatory FASTag for vehicles sold before Dec 1, 2017
  • The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed to make FASTags mandatory for vehicles sold before December 1, 2017.
  • The amended provision in Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), 1989 is proposed to be put in force with effect from January 1, 2021.
  • It is proposed to make having a valid FASTag mandatory while getting a new 3rd Party Insurance through an amendment in FORM 51 (Certificate of Insurance), wherein the details of FASTag ID shall be captured.
  • As per Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, FASTag had been made mandatory since 2017 for registration of new four-wheeled vehicles, and is to be supplied by the vehicle manufacturer or their dealers.
Odisha proposes to set up a Bulk Drug Park at Gopalpur
  • The Odisha govt accorded in-principle approval to a proposal for setting up a Bulk Drug Park within the Tata Steel Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Gopalpur in Ganjam district.
  • The proposed project is part of the state government’s aim of creating employment opportunities through industrialization in the non-mineral sector.
  • The cost of the infrastructure development in the park was estimated around Rs 1,500 crore. And the proposed park would create employment opportunities for around 5,000 people.

September 06, 2020

Assam Skill University Bill 2020 passed
  • The Assam Legislative Assembly passed the Assam Skill University Bill 2020 for setting up a state-of-the-art skill university at Mangaldoi in Darrang district.
  • The university will be set up with financial support of about Rs 1000 Crore from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
  • The Assam government has tied up with Singapore based ITE Education Service for setting up of the university.
  • Around 100 bigha land would be allotted for setting the university.
  • The university will open a new vista of opportunities and change the economic landscape of Assam.

FACTFILE – Assam Skill University

  • Assam to set up Skill University at Mangaldoi as a centre of excellence Skill University with an investment of Rs 900 crore.
  • It will be the first skill university in the country.
  • It will be set up with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank.
  • Assam Government has tied up ITE Education Service, Singapore for setting up of the Skill University.
  • It is to hold a capacity of 10,000 seats, of which, 80% of the seats are to be reserved for students of Assam and 20% for other North-Eastern states.
Andhra Pradesh tops in implementing Business Reforms, Assam among worst reformer states
  • Andra Pradesh is the best-performing state in terms of implementing business reforms, as the ranking of states on the basis of implementing the ‘State business reforms action plan’, released by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
  • The ‘State Business Reform Action Plan 2019’ is aimed at improving business environment by streamlining regulatory structures and simplifying procedures, digitisation of information and easing the compliance burden.
  • The Action plan aspires to create creating an investor-friendly business climate by cutting down red tape.
  • Uttar Pradesh stood second and Telangana was the third-best state in implementing business reforms in 2019.
  • States like Haryana, Odisha, Kerala, Karnataka, Bihar, Goa, Assam and surprisingly even Gujarat has been worst-performing states in terms of reform initiatives in 2019 as compared to their performance in previous year.
India-Bangladesh new waterway route with Tripura made operational
  • The first consignment of goods from Bangladesh arrived in Tripura by waterway as part of a trial run for shipping of goods from other parts of India to the northeast region via Bangladesh formally making operational of new waterways between India and Bangladesh.
  • A Bangladeshi vessel tracking 93 km waterways carrying 10 tonnes of arrived western Tripura’s Sonamura. With the arrival of the vessel, the Sonamura-Daukandi 93-km-long new inland waterways protocol route between northeast India’s Tripura state and Bangladesh was formally made operational.
  • A temporary floating jetty was built at Sonamura in western Tripura to start the new waterway through the Gomati river between Tripura and Bangladesh.
  • Agartala via Guwahati is 1,650 km from Kolkata by road while the distance between Agartala and Kolkata via Bangladesh is just 620 km.
  • India and Bangladesh had earlier signed a MoU to ferry various goods including foodgrains from different parts of India to the mountainous northeastern states using Bangladeshi ports and surface roads to save time and transportation costs.
  • There are six ‘ports of call’ each in India and Bangladesh. The five new “ports of call” on the Indian side are Dhulian, Maia, Kolaghat, Sonamura and Jogigopha and on the Bangladesh side Rajshahi, Sultanganj, Chilmari, Daudkandi and Bahadurabad.
  • Two more extended “ports of call” Tribeli (Bandel) and Badarpur in India and Ghorasal and Muktarpur in Bangladesh have been added.

September 07, 2020

Assam passed bill to protect State’s Heritage Sites
  • Assam Legislative Assembly passed bills for creation of three autonomous councils which included Moran, Motok and Kamtapur Autonomous Council.
  • The bills are being termed as a ‘historic’ step towards implementing the Clause 6 of Assam Accord. The bill has been drafted by the Directorate of Archaeology, under the guidance of State Cultural Affairs (Archeology) Minister Keshab Mahanta.

Tangible Heritage Covered under the new Bill

  • This bill covers various museum objects like coins, sculptures, manuscripts, epigraphs or other work of art and craftsmanship and all cultural artefacts of indigenous people.
  • Heritage sites such as xatras, monasteries, stupas, naamghars, masjids, dargahs, and churches besides socio-cultural institutions and habitation structures having traditional architectures as well as monuments and their precincts will also be covered under the new law.
  • All the artefacts covered under tangible heritage that have been in existence for a minimum of 75 years and are not covered under the Assam Ancient Monuments and Records Act, 1959, will be protected under the new law.

Clause 6 of Assam Accord

  • Under the clause, the state government is empowered to take necessary steps to ensure constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, that shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the culture, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.

UN’s International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies observed on September 7
  • For the first time, UN`s International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is observed on September 7, 2020. The theme for this year’s observance day is “Clean Air for All”.
  • Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar will be chairing a webinar, will be joined by Principal Secretaries of the Urban Development Department and Environment Department of 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
  • He will also be reviewing the progress of the activities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) during the course of the webinar.
  • On December 19, 2019, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to observe the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies on September 7 every year starting from 2020.
University of Hyderabad start-up bags Covid-19 challenge grant from USISTEF
  • A start-up company incubated at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) has won a US-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) ignition grant for its “Novel therapeutic strategy to fight against Covid-19”.
  • The proposal by Novel Oncoseek Bio Pvt Ltd., was one of the eleven that were selected from 520 proposals that were received and evaluated.
  • The company is one of the start-up companies of ASPIRE-BioNEST at UoH had earlier received a grant from BIRAC, Government of India to develop a platform to screen the potential drug candidates for Covid-19.
  • Its present proposal, Oncoseek Bio is proposing to create a therapeutic by developing neutralizing novel antibodies directed against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) and other epitopes of the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.
  • The antibodies are conjugated to drug/Zn nanoparticle (ADCs), which would release the drug of choice at the site of action.
IITs to help make ‘agarbatti’ sector self-reliant
  • In an effort to help the India’s embattled MSME sector, the Central govt has decided to rope in IITs to extend their support to the ‘agarbatti’ (incense sticks) industry as part of its ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign aimed at making India self-reliant.
  • The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Ministry has expanded its reach and support to artisans, involved in making agarbattis, as well as to the industry, by its new guidelines.
  • The ministry has looked at all aspects of the industry, beyond just supply of machines for making agarbattis. This includes ensuring supply of inputs and raw materials, the demand for which has increased hugely in the last one year, as per the Centre.
  • It has decided to continuously support the artisans through training, raw material, marketing and financial support.
  • It has also worked on all aspects of this product, like innovation in the fragrance and packaging, use of new or alternate raw materials like re-usable flowers, coir pith, and supply of bamboo sticks.
  • For this purpose, a ‘Centre of Excellence’ is also being set up in the Flavour and Fragrance Development Centre in Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj, which is known to be India’s fragrance capital.
  • The Centre will also set up 10 clusters with proper marketing linkages under SFURTI (Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries) scheme of the MSME Ministry at a total cost of about Rs 50 crore.

 

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 302: September 04 -06, 2020

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 302: September 04 – 06, 2020

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

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Q1. Which state government re-launched its scheme called SWAYEM to provide self-employment to youths of the state?

  1. Gujarat
  2. Assam
  3. West Bengal
  4. Bihar
B. Assam

Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment (SVAYEM) yojana was launched to generate employment opportunities in rural as well as urban areas through setting up of new ventures.

It is a flagship program which was announced by the Hon’ble Finance Minister of Assam to provide financial support to the youths of the state to take up income generating activities in the manufacturing, trading and service sector.

 

Q2. Madhya Pradesh have been paired with which state for implementing the Centre’s ambitious scheme Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Abhiyan?

  1. Kerala
  2. Assam
  3. Manipur
  4. Andhra Pradesh
C. Manipur

Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” was announced on 31st October, 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It was launched to celebrate the Unity in Diversity of our Nation and to maintain and strengthen the fabric of traditionally existing emotional bonds between the people of our Country. To promote the spirit of national integration through a deep and structured engagement between all Indian States and Union Territories through a year-long planned engagement between States.

.

 

Q3. Which of the following state receives first-ever inland shipping cargo from Bangladesh?

  1. Tripura
  2. Assam
  3. Manipur
  4. West Bengal
A. Tripura

The operationalization of this new protocol route will provide an economical, faster, safer and environment-friendly mode of transport and will result in substantial economic benefits to local communities on both sides.

 

 

Q4. Which country has launched the ‘Indo-Pacific strategy’ with ‘key role” for India?

  1. Russia
  2. China
  3. Brazil
  4. Germany
D. Germany

The ‘Indo-Pacific strategy’ will work to maintain rules-based order together with partners in the Indo-Pacific region and will also cooperate with India and Japan for UN Security reforms.

 

 

Q5. Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated a bio diversity park named ‘’Sahityarathi Lakhminath Bezbaroa Sahitya Monishi Upobon’’ in which district?

  1. Dhemaji
  2. Tezpur
  3. Morigoan
  4. Tinsukia

C. Morigoan

 

Q6. Who is recently appointed as the new Chairman of Press Trust of India (PTI)?

  1. Vijay Joshi
  2. Aveek Sarkar
  3. Viveck Goenka
  4. Riyadh Mathew
B. Aveek Sarkar

The Press Trust of India Ltd is the largest news agency in India. Headquartered is located in New Delhi. It was founded on 27th August, 1947.

It provides news coverage and information of the region in both English and Hindi. It is the only news agency in South Asia which operates its own communication satellite, an INSAT, to broadcast news and information.

 

Q7. India started Indra navy Maritime warfare Exercise with which country’s Navy?

  1. Singapore
  2. Thailand
  3. Russia
  4. UK
C. Russia

The primary aim of this exercise is to further consolidate inter-operability built up by the two Navies over the years and also to enhance understanding and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations.

 

Q8. Who represented India in the virtual meeting of BRICS Ministers of foreign affairs

  1. S. Jaishankar
  2. Arjun Munda
  3. Ram Nath Kovind
  4. Prahlad Singh Patel

A. S. Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had represented India in the meeting. The meeting was attended by all five members including China, Brazil and South Africa.

 

Q9. Who has authored the book titled ‘Invertonomics’?

  1. Goonmeet Singh Chauhan
  2. Arundhati Roy
  3. Amitav Ghosh
  4. Chetan Bhagat
A. Goonmeet Singh Chauhan

Invertonomoics is a book of ideas presenting pragmatic models for solving chronic problems of the country arising from the spectrum of Social Inequality, Pollution, Gender disparity, and Decadent Rural Economy.

 

 

Q10. Who among ths following has recently won the 48th annual world open chess tournament conducted online?

  1. Viswanathan Anand
  2. Koneru Humpy
  3. Pentala Harikrishna
  4. P Iniyan
D. P Iniyan

P Iniyan won the prestigious Annual World Open online chess tournament held recently. A total number of 120 players from 16 countries participated in the event.

 

 

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Assam Current Affairs – August 29-31, 2020

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

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of August 29-31, 2020)

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August 29, 2020

Assam’s Ranjan Bezbaruah bestowed with Rashtriya Sanskrit Geetikavi title
  • The Lokobhasha Prachar Samitih has bestowed the title of Rashtriya Sanskrit Geetikavi on Assam’s noted Sanskrit singer, teacher and translator Ranjan Bezbaruah.
  • Lokobhasha Prachar Samitih, Bhubaneswar-based organization, is a national organization that promotes Sanskrit. It has 42 branches in different countries of the world and in different states of India, will confer the title and hand over a certificate to Bezbaruah in a online event.
  • The title was bestowed on Bezbaruah for his excellent, outstanding and continuous contribution in presenting songs popular in other languages in a modern and attractive style in Sanskrit.
  • Bezbaruah’s avowed aim is to take the hits of Bhupen Hazarika and other greats like Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla and Bishnu Rabha to the rest of the country by translating and singing them in Sanskrit without deviating from tune and cadence.
  • His ‘Saare Jahaan se accha Hindustan Hamara’, sung on August 16, 2016, in the Vartavalli programme of Doordarshan, is considered to be one of the most popular Sanskrit songs by the exponents of the language.
Union Social Justice Ministry to launch ‘VISHVAS’ scheme for Loan Beneficiaries
  • Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will come up with the “VISHVAS (Vanchit Ikai Samooh aur Vargo Ke Liye Arthik Sahayta Yojana)” scheme, under which, people from underprivileged sections who have taken bank loans will get five per cent subsidy per annum through direct cash transfer.
  • Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said that the government is diligently working towards promoting economic development of the underprivileged through various focused schemes.
  • Minister Athawale also said that banks need to play a more proactive role in order to help the underprivileged by providing loans to the aspiring entrepreneurs, instead of discouraging them.
New rules for J&K’s governance, law and order under Lt Gov
  • The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has notified new rules for administration of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir ‘The Transaction of business of the government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules, 2019’.
  • It specify the functions of the Lt Governor and the Council of Ministers. These rules provide that “police, public order, All India Services and anti-corruption,” will fall under the executive functions of the Lt Governor.
  • Proposals or matters which affect or are likely to affect the peace and tranquility of the UT or the interest of any minority community, the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes “shall essentially be submitted to the Lt Governor through the Chief Secretary, under intimation to the Chief Minister, before issuing any orders”.
  • The Chief Minister led Council of Ministers will decide service matters of non-All India Services officers, proposals to impose new taxes, land revenue, sale grant or lease of government property, reconstituting departments or offices and draft legislations.
  • I n case of difference of opinion between the Lt Governor and a minister, the decision of the Lt Governor “shall be deemed to have been accepted by the Council of Ministers”.
IIT Alumni Council signs MOU with Russia for building Quantum Computers
  • The Indian Institute of Technology’s Alumni Council has signed an MoU with Lomonosov Moscow State University and Russoft to access and transfer key technologies from Russia to build the world’s largest and fastest hybrid quantum computer in India.
  • Under the agreement, the Russian state-owned companies will transfer critical modules in cryogenics, cryptography and modularised cloud management technology to IIT Alumni Council.
  • These technologies will support solutions for solving infrastructure challenges in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, transport and logistics, pollution and weather forecast.
  • Quantum Computing is million times faster than the supercomputer and thus will drastically reduce the cost of genome testing from over ₹1 lakh per sample to under ₹1,000.
  • The IIT Alumni Council is the largest global body of alumni, students and faculty, spread across all the 23 IITs and partnering Technical Institutes of Excellence.

FACTFILE – Quantum computing

  • Quantum computing is the use of quantum phenomena such as superposition and entanglement to perform computation.
  • Quantum computers are believed to be able to solve certain computational problems, such as integer factorization (which underlies RSA encryption), substantially faster than classical computers.
  • Quantum computing began in the early 1980s, when physicist Paul Benioff proposed a quantum mechanical model of the Turing machine. Richard Feynman and Yuri Manin later suggested that a quantum computer had the potential to simulate things that a classical computer could not.
  • In 1994, Peter Shor developed a quantum algorithm for factoring integers that had the potential to decrypt RSA-encrypted communications.
  • In recent years, investment into quantum computing research has increased in both the public and private sector.

 August 30, 2020

President Kovind virtually presents Arjuna Award to Assam’s boxer Lovlina Borgohain
  • President Ram Nath Kovindvirtually presented the prestigious Arjuna Award to Assam’s boxer Lovlina Borgohain for her outstanding performance in boxing.
  • All the winners of National Sports Awards were connected virtually to President Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan from 9 different Sports Authority of India-designated locations.
  • Lovlina Borgohain from Golaghat district, is the first woman from Assam to qualify for the Olympics and the second boxer from the state to represent India after Shiva Thapa.
  • Lovlina won a gold medal at the 1st India Open International Boxing Tournament held in New Delhi and a silver medal at the 2nd India Open International Boxing Tournament held in Guwahati. She also won a bronze medal at the 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships held at Ulan-Ude in Russia.
  • The other players who won the Arjuna Awad aree Dutee Chand, Sawant Ajay Anant, Sandesh Jhingan, Aditi Ashok, Akashdeep Singh, Deepak, Kale Sarika Sudhakar, Divya Kakran, Rahul Aware, Suyash Narayan Jadhav, Sandeep Para, Manish Narwal, Chirag Chandrasekhar Shetty, Vishesh Bhriguvanshi, Subedar Manish Kaushik, Ishant Sharma and Deepti Sharma.
  • Recently, prize money for the Arjuna Award has been enhanced to Rs 15 lakh from Rs 5 lakh.
Union IT Minister launches “Chunauti” Next Generation Start-up Challenge
  • Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad launched next-generation startup contest `Chunauti” which aims to encourage startups and software products with special focus on Tier-II towns.
  • With Rs 95 crore outlay over a three-year period, the challenge programme aims to identify around 300 startups working in identified areas and provide them seed fund of up to Rs 25 lakh and other facilities.
  • Ministry of Electronics and IT will invite startups in areas such as edu-tech, agri-tech and fin-tech solutions for masses; supply chain, logistics and transportation management, infrastructure and remote monitoring, medical healthcare, diagnostic, preventive and psychological care; and jobs and skilling, linguistic tools and technologies.
  • Startups selected through ”Chunauti” will be offered various support from the government through the Software Technology Parks of India(STPI) centers across India.
  • The startups will be provided cloud credits from leading cloud service providers and they will also get incubation facilities, mentorship, security testing facilities, access to venture capitalist funding, industry connect as well as advisories in legal, Human Resource (HR), IPR and patent matters.
Kerala’s inaugurated its first Marine ambulance
  • Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the first marine ambulance ‘Pratheeksha’ acquired by the state fisheries department. The marine ambulance, having a length of 23m and a width of 5.5m, can move at a speed of 14 knots per hour and are being acquired to rescue fishermen in distress at sea.
  • The boats have facility to provide medical assistance to 10 people at a time. This will help provide first aid to rescued fishermen and shift them to shore as soon as possible. 
  • Each boat will have four sea rescue guards, paramedical staff, emergency medicines and a mortuary. While Pratheeksha will be stationed at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram, Prathyasa and Karunya will be stationed at Vypeen and Beypore in Kozhikode.
14th India-Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue
  • India and Singapore agreed to further enhance the security partnership, while participating in the 14th India-Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue (DPD) via video-conferencing.
  • The dialogue, co-chaired by Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and Permanent Secretary (Defence), Singapore Chan Heng Kee, discussed on various issues of bilateral defence engagements between India and Singapore.
  • The Implementing Arrangement on Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) between India and Singapore was also signed.

August 31, 2020

Cotton University to launch BA programme for sportspersons
  • Cotton University to launch BA programme for sportspersons. The eligibility criteria are 10+2 qualified or equivalent from a recognised Board or Council with proficiency in sports.
  • The applicant must have represented the National Team in International Events or secured one of the first three positions in National Level competitions organised by the respective federation in any SAI recognised sports events.
  • In case of cricket, being a member of the National team (Junior or Senior) selected by BCCI will be considered.

FACTFILE – Cotton University

  • Cotton University is a public state university located in Guwahati.
  • It was established under The Cotton University Act, 2017 of the Assam Legislative Assembly to merge the Cotton College State University and Cotton College.
  • The university made its way to become one of the top 200 institutions of the country by claiming rank in the band of 150–200 in the NIRF 2020 Ranking.

FACTFILE – Cotton College

  • Cotton College was established in 1901 by Sir Henry Stedman Cotton, the Chief Commissioner of the erstwhile British province of Assam.
  • It had been the oldest institute of higher education in Assam and Northeast India.
  • It became the constituent college of Gauhati University in 1948, and then that of the Cotton College State University, when Cotton College State University was established by an Act (Act XIX of 2011) of the Assam Government in 2011.
BHU forms committee to implement National Innovation and Startup policy
  • The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Varanasi has formed a 21-member committee to implement the new National Innovation and Startup policy-2019 introduced by the Union Ministry of Education, at the university level.
  • The committee, headed by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rakesh Bhatnagar will comprises academicians as well as students and alumni, entrepreneurs and experts from different fields.
  • The Design Innovation Centre and Atal Incubation Centre were established in 2015 and 2018 at the BHU campus to promote innovation.
  • The BHU, which was ranked 11th, jumped to fifth position under the public funded institutions category of the country in the recently released Atal Innovation Rankings.
Karnataka plans for India’s 1st toy cluster
  • India’s first toy making cluster would be built at Koppal in Karnataka state’s northwest region.
  • Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said Koppal will be India’s first toy making cluster in a 400-acre special economic zone, with Rs 5,000-crore investment to create 40,000 jobs over the next 5 years.
  • India’s share in the global toy industry was very small, the Prime Minister said it was not fair to have such a small share and all have to work towards improving it. He also referred to the world famous Channapatna toys from the Karnataka’s Ramanagara district.
  • State-run Karnataka Handicrafts Development Corporation provides assistance to the artisans with marketing efforts to promote and market the toys across the country and overseas.
Karnataka starts RO-RO train service between Bengaluru and Solapur
  • Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa flagged off Roll-On/Roll-Off (RO-RO) train between Bengaluru (Nelamangala) to Solapur (Maharashtra) through video conferencing.
  • The RO-RO service reduces accidents on the road, improves safety, saves fuel, and foreign exchange. And ensures faster transport of essential goods, perishables, food items and smaller cargo.
  • It facilitates large-scale movement of goods and reduces pollution, and the cost of transport is lesser than transport by road.
Centre’s borrowing options to states to settle GST compensation
  • States will have to forego borrowing flexibility of 1 percent of state GDP given under the Atmanirbhar Bharat package if they opt to settle their entire GST compensation shortfall for FY21 through market borrowings.
  • As per the design of the options given to the states by the Union Govt to meet GST compensation gap, if the states decide to meet the entire shortfall of Rs 235,000 crores through issue of market debt, then additional unconditional borrowing limit of 0.5 percent and the final (bonus) tranche of 0.5 percent provided under the Atmanirbhar Bharat package.
  • Under option one, the Centre has offered a special borrowing window to states, in consultation with the RBI, for an amount of Rs 97,000 crore (the shortfall arising out of GST implementation) at a “reasonable” interest rate.
  • The second option given by the Centre allows states to borrow entire projected GST compensation shortfall of Rs 2,35,000 crore (total shortfall of Rs 3 lakh crore minus Rs 65,000 crore collected as GST compensation cess) for FY21.

 

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Assam Current Affairs – August 15-21, 2020

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

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

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

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August 15, 2020

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

August 16, 2020 

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

BIOGRAPHY – Halicharan Narzary

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

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August 17, 2020

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

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

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

August 18, 2020

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

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August 19, 2020 

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

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

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

AdaptNET

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

FACTFILE – Mysore Zoo (Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens

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

BIOGRAPHY – Prof Biman Bagchi

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

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

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

FACTFILE – Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System

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

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August 20, 2020

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

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August 21, 2020 

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

 

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Assam Current Affairs – August 08-14, 2020

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Assam Current Affairs & GK – August 08-14, 2020

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of August 08-14, 2020)

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August 08, 2020

IIT Guwahati, Imperial College London develop nano-particle to boost LED performance

  • Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) and Imperial College London in the UK, have developed a tailored ‘meta-grid’ of nanoparticles that could make light-emitting diodes (LEDs) brighter, energy-efficient and durable.
  • Meta-grid or metamaterial grid is a specifically patterned array of nanoparticles acting as metamaterials, capable of exhibiting extraordinary optical properties.
  • The research team has developed a nanoparticle ‘meta-grid’, which needs to be placed at an appropriate location within the epoxy casing of the LEDs, for improving light output from LEDs.
  • A meta-grid is a specially-designed, optimised, a two-dimensional array of specific nanoparticles, of size much smaller than the wavelength of light.
  • With the continuous advancement in nanofabrication technology, it is now possible to fabricate metallic nanoparticles that have a very narrow spread.
  • The research team has developed this novel scheme of boosting the transmission of light generated inside an LED chip across the LED-chip/encapsulant interface.
  • The technique has revealed optimal design parameters for such meta-grids to produce greater light output over any narrow/broadband emission spectrum, besides boosting LEDs’ lifetime by eliminating heating of the chip from unwanted reflections within the chip.

BEL setup Solar-Powered Classrooms in 122 Karnataka Schools

  • Govt of India enterprise Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has set up solar-powered smart classrooms in 122 government schools across the backward Yadgir district in Karnataka state.
  • About 13,000 children studying in 122 government schools of Yadgir district will benefit from smart classrooms, powered by solar power and equipped with hi-tech facilities.
  • With a total cost of Rs 3.8 crore, the smart classrooms offer visually attractive content to help students assimilate the information effectively. It also enables teachers to explain difficult concepts, thereby improve teaching and enhancing academic performance.
  • The smart-class facilities include a 50-inch LED television, CPU with accessories, green board and LED lights charged with solar batteries
  • The company is also installing hand-wash facilities costing Rs 1.02 crore in 100 state-run primary schools across the district to protect children and staff from coronavirus and maintain hygiene.

Manoj Sinha takes oath as new Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir

  • Former Union minister Manoj Sinha was administered the oath of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Justice Gita Mittal in Raj Bhavan.
  • Manoj Sinha  succeeds Girish Chandra Murmu who has now been appointed as the new Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG).
  • Sinha was former Minister of State for Railways and later and later held an independent charge of Ministry of Communication. He has been a member of the BJP national council from 1989 to 1996. He was elected to the Lok Sabha a third term in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014.

Banaras Hindu University -NHAI tie-up to improve road quality

  • A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between Indian Institute of Technology in Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for improving the quality of roads in India.
  • This research work will be carried out under Nikhil Saboo, Assistant Professor /Civil Engineering department, as the principle investigator.
  • This project is aimed at construction of durable and long-lasting roads in India. It will also help in reducing the lifecycle cost by delaying the need for frequent maintenance.
  • The outcome of this project will be implemented through construction of test sections in collaboration with NHAI. This will also help to gain more confidence in adopting the developed technology for construction of durable roads in the country.

Delhi CM launches Electric Vehicle Policy

  • Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched a Electric Vehicle Policy, in a bid to reduce air pollution and boost the economy along with creating new jobs in the national capital.
  • Under the Electric Vehicle Policy, Delhi Government will provide financial assistance to those buying electric vehicles. An assistance of Rs 30,000 will be given on the purchase of 2-wheelers, Rs 1.5 lakh on cars and Rs 30,000 on auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws.
  • A dedicated ‘EV Cell’ will be set up to implement the policy and additionally the government will soon form the ‘State Electric Vehicle Board’ in this regard.
  • 200 charging stations will be set up in one year for the ease of e-vehicle users. There will be no registration fee, road tax under electric vehicle policy as well as low-interest loans for electric commercial vehicles.

GK Quiz for Aug 7-9, 2020 – see video

August 09, 2020

Tripura’s 29% school students have no access to phone, cable TV for online classes

  • Around Twenty nine per cent of school students in Tripura don’t have access to any sort of smart phone, cable TV network or such connectivity to attend online classes.
  • The state government started experimental schooling like online classes, recorded videos etc streamed via local cable television channels, social media under ‘Ektu Khelo Ektu Padho’ project but the students of interior places of the state faced problems due to non-availability of internet devices and cable TVs.
  • State Govt organised the survey, conducted among 3,22,297 students from all eight districts of Tripura during Ektu Khelo Ektu Padho classes, revealed 94,013 students didn’t have access to any sort of phone.
  • Out of 3.2 lakh students, 1, 42,238 didn’t have access to any kind of television, rendering them unable to take the televised recorded lectures or live classes conducted by the state education department.

Girish Chandra Murmu Murmu appointed as CAG of India

  • Former Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor and retired IAS officer Girish Chandra Murmu was sworn in as the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India. He will have a tenure up to November 20, 2024.
  • He is the 14th CAG of India and had server as the first Lt. Governor of UT of Jammu Kashmir.

FACTFILE – Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)

  • The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is constitutional position established by Article 148 of the Constitution of India, which audits all receipts and expenditure of the Govt of India and the state govts, including those of bodies and authorities substantially financed by the government.
  • Various provisions of the CAG are mentioned in the Constitution of India under Article 148 – 151.
  • CAG is also the external auditor of Government-owned corporations and conducts supplementary audit of non-banking company in which Union Government has at least 51 per cent of equity share.
  • The reports of the CAG are laid in Parliament/ State Legislatures and taken into consideration by the Public Accounts Committees (PACs) and Committees on Public Undertakings (COPUs) in the Parliament and the state legislatures.
  • CAG is also the head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department and Indian Audit and Accounts Service.
  • The CAG is ranked 9th and enjoys the same status as a judge of Supreme Court of India in Indian order of precedence.

PM Modi inaugurates Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra in Delhi

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Rashtriya Swacchata Kendra in New Delhi.
  • RashtriyaSwachhata Kendra, an interactive experience centre on the Swachh Bharat Mission was first announced by the Prime Minister on 10th April 2017, on the occasion of the Centenary Celebrations of Gandhiji’sChamparan Satyagraha.
  • In the Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra, visitors will experience a unique 360 degree audio visual immersive show, which will narrate India’s Swachhata Story – a journey into the largest behaviour change campaign in the history of the world.
  • It contains a series of interactive LED panels, hologram boxes, interactive games and much more, to tell the story of the work done to achieve Gandhiji’s vision of a Swachh Bharat.
  • It will showcase three exhibits which are anecdotes from the journey of India from Satyagraha to Swachhagraha. The wall murals around the Kendra also chronicle the core elements of the Mission’s success.

Proposals of stressed Financial Companies worth Rs 6,400 crore sanctioned under special liquidity scheme

  • Union Finance Ministry informed that 15 proposals worth Rs 6,399 crore of stressed NBFCs and HFCs have been sanctioned under the special liquidity scheme announced as part of approximately Rs 21 lakh crore ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ package. Additionally 37 more applications seeking financing of up to Rs 11,037 crore are under process.
  • The scheme permits both primary and secondary market purchases of debt and seeks to address the short term liquidity issues of non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and housing finance companies (HFCs).
  • Any NBFC including microfinance institutions registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the RBI Act, 1934 (excluding those registered as Core Investment Companies) and any HFC registered with the National Housing Bank under the National Housing Bank Act, 1987 are eligible to raise funding from this facility.

Boat ambulance service to be launched in Maharashtra

  • The Maharashtra government has approved for launching a “boat ambulance-cum-mobile medical unit” service between Mumbai and Raigad, on an experimental basis.
  • The boat ambulance will be a speedboat which can accommodate an ambulance to shift patients from Raigad or Ratnagiri requiring urgent medicare at hospitals in Mumbai.
  • This will help slash the crucial two-three hours or the ‘golden hours’ which the patients from these areas spend travelling by road to Mumbai.
  • Procurement of the requisite vessel, equipment, medical supplies, staff, etc and the operational expenses for the project are to done under the supervision of the National Health Mission.

Mahinda Rajapaksa sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new PM

  • Leader of Sri Lanka PodujanaPeramuna party Mahinda Rajapaksa took oath as Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister. Rajapaksa was sworn in as the prime minister of the country for the fourth time.

BIOGRAPHY – Mahendra Rajapaksa

  • Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa is a Sri Lankan politician serving as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and Minister of Finance since 2019.
  • He previously served as President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015 and was Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2004 and 2018 to 2019.

FACTFILE – Sri Lanka

  • Sri Lanka (Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka) is an island country in South Asia, located in the Indian Ocean southwest of the Bay of Bengal and southeast of the Arabian Sea.
  • Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is its legislative capital, and Colombo is its largest city and centre of commerce.
  • It is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. Its geographic location and deep harbours made it of great strategic importance from the time of the ancient Silk Road through to the modern Maritime Silk Road.

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August 10, 2020

Eminent Vaishnavite scholar and xatradhikar Narayan Chandra Goswami passes away

  • Eminent Vaishnavite scholar and the xatradhikar of Majuli’s Natun Kamalabari Xatra, Narayan Chandra Goswami passed away at the age of 80, due to liver cirrhosis disease.
  • Goswami was known for his work on the Brajawali language and neo-Vaishnavite traditions and Sattriya culture.
  • He translated Ramayana from Sanskrit into Assamese.
  • Goswami also edited the Kirtan Ghosa and Naam Ghosa written by Sanakarvdeva and Madhabdeva respectively.
  • He was conferred with the honorary Doctor of Literature (D Lit) degree by Dibrugarh University in 2010. He has been appointed visiting professor of Dibrugarh University by the University authority.
  • Narayan Chandra Goswami has been adorned the ‘Srimanta Sankardev Award’ by the Government of Assam in 2004.
  • ‘Sattra Ratna’ title was awarded to the Sattradhikar by the Assam Sattra Mohasobha in 2005.
  • He recieved the Sahitya Academy Award in 2012.

PM Modi launches Agriculture Infrastructure Fund  of Rs 1 lakh crore

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a financing facility of Rs 1 lakh crore under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund for agri-entrepreneurs, startups, agri-tech players and farmer groups for post-harvest management and nurturing farm assets.
  • The beneficiaries of the scheme will include farmers, PACS, Marketing Cooperative Societies, FPOs, SHGs, Joint Liability Groups, Multipurpose Cooperative Societies, agri-entrepreneurs, startups, and central/state agency or local body sponsored public-private Partnership Projects.
  • PM Modi also released the sixth installment of Rs 17,100 crore to more than 8.55 crore farmer beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN) scheme.
  • The fund would bring about the creation of post-harvest management infrastructures and community farming assets such as cold storage, collection centres and processing units.

India bans import of 101 defence items for self-reliance

  • The government of India will suspend the import of 101 defence items to boost indigenous production. The “embargoed items” include high technology weapon systems like artillery guns, assault rifles, corvettes, sonar systems, and transport aircraft.
  • The embargo on imports is planned to be progressively implemented between 2020 to 2024. Between April 2015 and August 2020, India’s defence services had contracted around Rs 3.5 trillion worth of items that are now on the hold list. Around Rs 4 trillion worth of orders will now be placed with the domestic industry over the next five to seven years.

Separate emission norms for agri, construction machinery proposed

  • The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a draft notification to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 to separate the emission norms for agricultural machinery, including tractors, power tillers and combined harvesters along with those for construction equipment vehicles.
  • It has also proposed to change the nomenclature of emission norms from Bharat Stage (CEV/TREM)-IV and Bharat Stage (CEV/TREM)-V to TREM Stage-IV and TREM Stage-V for agricultural tractors and other equipments and CEV Stage-IV and CEV Stage-V for construction equipment vehicles, to avoid any confusion, between the emission norms of other motor vehicles which have BS as the norm.
  • Suggestions and comments from public and all the stakeholders are invited on the draft notification within 30 days.

August 11, 2020

Assam Cabinet nod for Private Educational Institutions

  • Assam state cabinet also approved the Assam Non-Government Education Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Rules, 2020 that seeks to regulate the fee structure in private institutions. The Rules envisages formation of two committees – one fee regulatory committee and an appellate authority.
  • The cabinet also decided to upgrade the Bajali subdivision to a full-fledged district with creation of 10 officer posts and 85 other posts.
  • The Assam Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2020, which seeks to regularise the street vendors and organise them, was also approved.
  • The State Cattle and Buffalo Breeding Policy, 2020 was also approved by the cabinet and a decision was also taken for implementation of ‘Uberization’ scheme of the ASTC.

Gujarat CM announces ‘Mukhya Mantri Kisan Sahay Yojana’ to compensate farmers for crop damage

  • Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani announced ‘Mukhya Mantri Kisan Sahay Yojana’ scheme under which more than 56 lakh farmers in the state facing crop damage due to natural calamities will get compensation without paying any premium.
  • The state government has decided to implement a scheme where the entire state is covered and none of the farmers are devoid of its benefits like crop loss aid in situations of calamities during kharif season.
  • The scheme covers drought and excess or unseasonal rain. In cases of drought, those tehsils having rainfall less than 10 inches or where there is a gap of more than four weeks between two rainy days, will be considered as calamity affected.
  • The irregularity of rains is the biggest factor in economic loss to the farmers. The benefits of this scheme will be available only to those farmers who have carried out sowing in their fields.
  • For those farmers with 33 per cent to 60 per cent crop damage, financial help of Rs 20,000 per hectare will be given for a maximum of 4 hectares while those farmers who have incurred more than 60 per cent crop loss will get compensation of Rs 25,000 per hectare up to a maximum of four hectares.

Finance Minister launches online dashboard for National Infrastructure Pipeline

  • Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the National Infrastructure Pipeline’s online dashboard through video conferencing. The dashboard is envisaged as a one-stop solution for all the stakeholders looking for information on infrastructure projects.
  • The dashboard is being hosted on the India Investment Grid (IIG) site indiainvestmentgrid.gov.in. IIG is an interactive and dynamic online platform that showcases updated and real-time investment opportunities in the country.
  • The NIP will improve project preparation, attract investments, both domestic and foreign, into infrastructure.
  • Out of the total expected capital expenditure of Rs 111 lakh crore, projects worth Rs 44 lakh crore are under implementation, while projects worth Rs 33 lakh crore are at a conceptual stage. Projects worth Rs 22 lakh crore are under development project identified and DPR prepared, but yet to draw-down funds and the balance projects worth Rs 11 lakh crore are unclassified.

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August 12, 2020

Central Govt releases Rs 6000 crore to assist 14 states including Northeast

  • The Central Govt has released the 5th instalment of states share of revenue deficit grant amounting to over Rs 6,000 crore in an attempt to assist states effectively address the situation arising out of Covid-19.
  • The grant had been released for 14 states – Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and all northeastern states excluding Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The government released Rs 6,195.08 crore to 14 states as the 5th equated monthly instalment of the Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant as per the recommendation of the 15th Finance Commission (FC).
  • The money has been released ahead of schedule and as a special dispensation to meet immediate funding needs of the state governments looking to restore economic activity and minimise losses to its citizens due to disruptions caused by lockdowns.

IIT Kharagpur develops novel vegetable oil to keep heart healthy

  • Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur have developed a vegetable oil powder to keep the heart healthy.
  • The innovation involved tailoring vegetable oils through preparation of oil blends inherently endowed with natural antioxidants as well as well-balanced fatty acids.
  • The team was led by Professor Hari Niwas Mishra from the Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering. The novelty is in its formulation of a nutritionally balanced polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) enriched with antioxidants and producing a synergistic vegetable oil blend.
  • The PUFA-rich oil powder will find extensive use in replacing dairy fat in bakeries and confectionaries, believe researchers Monalisha Pattnaik and Dr. Mousumi Ghosh from the Food Chemistry and Technology Laboratory.
  • The research team has already received several awards for this product including the Gandhian Young Technological Innovation (GYTI) Award, 2020. This work has been recognized for the Young Student Invention and best thesis work at IIT-Kharagpur.

Defence procurement proposals of Rs 8,722.38 crore approved

  • The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved procurement proposals totalling Rs 8,722.38 crore, including for 106 Basic Trainer Aircraft worth over Rs 7,600 crore.
  • The DAC approved the procurement of 106 such aircraft from HAL to address the basic training requirements of the Indian Air Force. Post-certification, 70 aircraft will be initially procured from HAL and another 36 after operationalisation of the HTT-40 fleet in the IAF.
  • To improve the fire power of the Indian Navy, the DAC approved the procurement of an upgraded version of the Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM), which is fitted as the main gun onboard Navy and Indian Coast Guard ships, from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited.
  • The upgraded version of the SRGM has the enhanced capability to perform against fast manoeuvring targets like missiles and Fast Attack Craft and increased maximum engagement range.
  • The DAC approved procurement of 125 mm APFSDS (Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot) ammunition for the Army as a ‘Design and Development Case’.

Himachal Pradesh to compensate flower growers

  • The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet decided to compensate flower growers for losses incurred during the lockdown. The government has also decided to recruit 2,322 people in the Irrigation and Public Health department.
  • The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown thereafter have resulted in cumulative losses of Rs 15.77 crore to the floriculturists from March to May 2020 due to non-transportation of flowers.
  • The state cabinet approved the guidelines for providing financial assistance or relief amounting to Rs 4 crore.
  • In order to ensure smooth operationalization of National Ambulance Services 108, it has decided to make payments over and above the provisions of concession agreements as a special interim measure and stopgap arrangement to employees of GVK-EMRI by enhancing the take home salary of its employees.
  • The Cabinet approved the amendment of the Himachal Pradesh War Awards Act, 1972 for enhancing the grant of War Jagirs from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 annually for all those eligible.

Russia announces world’s first Covid-19 vaccine ‘Sputnik V’

  • Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a coronavirus vaccine, touted as the world’s first such vaccine. The registration of the vaccine lays ground for mass inoculation even as the final stages of clinical trials to test safety and efficacy continue.
  • Russia dubbed its newly launched vaccine against coronavirus “Sputnik V” after the Soviet satellite.
  • The vaccine underwent the necessary tests. However, the vaccine’s registration is conditional and trials will continue while production gets underway.
  • WHO and Russian health authorities are discussing the process for possible WHO pre-qualification for its newly approved COVID-19 vaccine.
  • The coronavirus vaccine is developed jointly by Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian Defence Ministry.

FACTFILE – Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology

  • The Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology is a Russian medical research institute which is headquartered in Moscow and is currently under the purview of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.
  • The institute was founded in 1891 by Felix Blyumental and was named after the prominent Russian scientist Nikolay Gamaleya, a pioneer in microbiology and vaccine research in Russia.
  • The institute is developing a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 in collaboration with the 48th Central Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense and the Vector Institute of the Rospotrebnadzor.

Israel shares AI based medical equipment, technology with AIIMS to tackle COVID19

  • The embassy of Israel and private Israeli companies gave medical equipments and Artificial Intelligence based technologies to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to fight COVID-19.
  • The technologies include contactless monitoring applications, advanced medical management systems, and AI-based solutions such as AI assistant robots that can help medical teams perform various tasks remotely.
  • Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated a mission, and located the most advanced medical equipment that has been developed in Israel using cutting edge technologies to fight Covid-19. The most useful products were collected, some equipment was contributed, and some purchased with special funds allocated by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gabi Ashkenazi.

Google develops Android phone-based earthquake detection tool

  • Google announced an Android-based earthquake detection feature that will alert smartphone users when the earth is about to shake.
  • The Android phone will become a mini seismometer, joining millions of other Android phones out there to form the world’s largest earthquake detection network.
  • All smartphones come with tiny accelerometers that can sense signals that indicate an earthquake might be happening.
  • If the phone detects something that it thinks may be an earthquake, it sends a signal to their earthquake detection server, along with location of where the shaking occurred. The server then combines information from many phones to figure out if an earthquake is happening.
  • The company has collaborated with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to send earthquake alerts, powered by ‘ShakeAlert’, directly to Android devices in California.
  • The ‘ShakeAlert’ system uses signals from more than 700 seismometers installed across the state by USGS, Cal OES, University of California Berkeley, and the California Institute of Technology.

Govt launched National Portal “SURAKHSYA” on Human Elephant conflict

  • India is committed to the cause of saving Elephants and other animals and is working towards robust, practical and cost effective solutions to end the Human Animal Conflict.
  • To manage conflicts and avoid loss of valuable lives of both the humans & elephants, it is important to strengthen the human-elephant coexistence, the Enviornment Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar released a booklet on “Best practices of Human-Elephant Conflict Management in India” on eve of World Elephant Day.
  • The booklet is a pictorial guide of a variety of management inventions successfully adopted by the elephant range states and serves as a reference manual for adoption of the best possible site specific mitigation measures that can be adopted to reduce human – elephant conflict.
  • The National Portal on human elephant conflict called “Surakhsya” for collection of real time information & also for managing the conflicts on a real time basis will help to set the data collection protocols, data transmission pipelines and data visualization tools to enable policy-makers to leverage HEC data for policy formulation and for preparation of Action Plans for mitigation of conflicts. 

FACTFILE – World Elephant Day

  • World Elephant Day is celebrated on August 12 is an international annual event, dedicated to the preservation and protection of the world’s elephants. 
  • The goal of World Elephant Day is to create awareness on elephant conservation, and to share knowledge and positive solutions for the better protection and management of wild and captive elephants.

Walter Martos sworn in as new Prime Minister of Peru

  • Walter Roger Martos Ruiz was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Peru to replace Pedro Cateriano.
  • The new President of the Council of Ministers had served as Defense Ministerand is a retired Army General.
  • Martos has a Master’s degree in Management and Development with special mention in Business Management and Administration and a PhD in Management and Development from the Army’s Scientific and Technological Institute.
  • He also served as the Army Chief of Staff and the Armed Forces Chief of Staff.

FACTFILE – Peru

  • Peru (Republic of Peru) is a country in western South America.
  • It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.
  • Peru is the 19th largest country in the world, and the third largest in South America.
  • Lima is the capital and largest city

Test Series for Junior Admin Asst (Assam Secretariat) 2020

August 13, 2020

Assam Govt to launch “Orunodoi” scheme for women’s financial empowerment

  • The Assam government would provide Rs 830 per month each to 17 lakh poor families under the ambitious “Orunodoi” scheme.
  • Under the new scheme, district-wise selection of beneficiaries would begin from August 17, 2020 and the beneficiaries would start receiving the amount in the bank account of a female family member on the first day of every month, starting from October 2020.
  • The scheme mains to empower women while contributing to economic development. While selecting the beneficiaries, there would be economic criteria and those who have certain movable and immovable assets including land, big houses, vehicles, electronic gadgets, and most government and semi-government employees, would be excluded.
  • A sum of Rs 280 crore has been earmarked for the new scheme which would mean an additional annual income of Rs 10,000 to the poor households to meet their various needs.
  • The beneficiary should be a permanent resident of Assam and their composite household income should be less than Rs two lakh per annum.
  • Priority would be given to households with widows, divorced, unmarried or separated women, and disabled persons.

Ganga Prasad Prasin appointed as vice chancellor of Tripura University

  • Ganga Prasad Prasin is the new vice chancellor of the Tripura University. He is currently working as the Dean in the Department of School of Social Sciences at Manipur Central University. Before that he was a professor of Benares Hindu University.
  • Previous VC, Professor Dharurkar, who joined in the University in 2018, has resigned from his post as corruption charges were raised against him.

FACTFILE – Tripura University

  • Higher education in Tripura has its beginning with Maharaja Bir Bikram College (MBB), the first degree college in the state, established in 1947, and affiliate to Calcutta University (CU).
  • This was followed by Ramkrishna Mahabhidyalay in 1950, Belonia College in 1964 and Ramthakur College in 1967.
  • A post-graduate wing of CU, named Calcutta University Post graduate Centre (CUPGC), established in 1985. And in the same place, Tripura University was established through the Tripura University Act, in 1987.

Ordnance Factory makes bullet-resistant jackets for TN Police

  • The first batch of bullet-resistant jackets made by the Ordnance Clothing Factory, Avadi, was handed over to the Tamil Nadu Police. The bullet-resistant jackets were completely designed and fabricated by Ordnance Clothing Factory Avadi.
  • The unit has the capacity to design and produce different variants of bullet resistant jackets. The jackets supplied to Tamil Nadu Police has special features like high density water repellence, flame retardance and provide protection from bullets fired from hand guns, pistols, AK-47 rifles and others.

Punjab CM launches ‘Smart Connect Scheme’, gives smartphones to students

  • The Punjab government launch Rs 92 crore ‘Punjab Smart Connect Scheme’ accross the state. Simultaneous distribution of phones was done at 26 places by various Ministers, legislators and others.
  • The scheme, for which Rs 100 crore was allocated in the state budget for 2017-18, will benefit 174,015 Class XII students of government schools in the first phase, to be completed by November.
  • This initiative will bridge a major divide that was obstructing these students from affordable access to digital education.

Andhra Pradesh launches Rs 17,000 crore ‘YSR Cheyuta’ scheme to promote women entrepreneurs

  • Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy rolled out Rs 17,000 crore scheme ‘YSR Cheyuta’ for promoting entrepreneurship among women in the state.
  • The scheme aims to give freedom to eligible women to use the amount deposited in their unencumbered accounts for any purpose of their choice.
  • The govt would provide marketing and technical assistance to women and the banks would provide loans.
  • About 23 lakh women in the age group between 45-60 years, from the SC/ST, backward classes and minority communities would get an incentive of Rs 18,750 per annum aggregating to Rs 75,000 in four years.
  • Andhra government had recently signed MoUs with industries like Proctor and Gamble, Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL), Hindustan Unilevel Limited (HUL) and India Tobacco Limited (ITC) to strengthen the rural economy where the scheme beneficiaries could be stakeholders.

NITI Aayog, Dell Technologies launch 2nd student entrepreneurship programme

  • Dell Technologies in association with NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) announced the second Student Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP 2.0) that would mentor eight teams to foray into the world of innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • The virtual SEP 2.0 will help students receive support and guidance to manufacture fully-functional, market-ready products along with patenting their ideas/processes.
  • The first edition of the Student Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP 1.0) helped top 6 innovations of the Atal Tinkering Marathon transform their innovative prototypes into functioning, scaled go-to-market products across six crucial themes having broader social impact.
  • The SEP 2.0 will allow student innovators to work closely with Dell volunteers and avail mentorship to create a test bed for their innovation and collect customer feedback.

FACTFILE – Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs)

  • AIM is establishing ATLs in schools across India with a vision to cultivate one million children in India as neoteric innovators.
  • It is aimed at disrupting the Indian education system, creating a paradigm shift where children as young as 12 years of age are being introduced to the world of technology innovation.
  • It’s objectives are to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds; and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing etc.
  • AIM provides grant-in-aid of Rs. 20 Lakh to each school that includes a one-time establishment cost of Rs. 10 lakh and operational expenses of Rs. 10 lakh for a maximum period of 5 years to each ATL.
  • ATL is a work space where young minds can give shape to their ideas through hands on do-it-yourself mode; and learn innovation skills.

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August 14, 2020 

Rajiv Gandhi University in Arunachal ranked India’s 2nd best central university

  • Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), the only central university of Arunachal Pradesh, has secured the second spot among all other central universities in India, according to the rankings released by the Union Ministry of Education.
  • RGU secured the second position with 83% in the grading of performance of central universities by the Ministry of Education while Jamia Millia Islamia topped the rankings with a score of 90 percent.
  • RGU is closely followed by Jawaharlal Nehru University and Aligarh Muslim University with 82 and 78 percent respectively.
  • The scoring/grading was based on an evaluation of 17 key parameters fixed under a tri-partite Memorandum of Understanding which the RGU, like other central universities had signed in 2019-20 with the Ministry of Education.
  • The objective of the MoU was to access and facilitate the performance of the Central University on selected key parameters against the targets so as to incrementally improve the performance of the University.

FACTFILE – Rajiv Gandhi University

  • Rajiv Gandhi University, formerly known as Arunachal University, is the oldest university in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The foundation stone for the university was laid in 1984 by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The university was renamed as Rajiv Gandhi University in 2005.
  • In May 2020, this year after the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports selected it to establish a centre of sports science education and research under MYAS scheme of National Centre of Sports Sciences and Research (NCSSR). The sports science education and research center, once established would be the first of its kind in the northeast and 6th in the entire country.

Indian Navy sets up New Innovation and Indigenisation Unit

  • Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched a Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO). This organisation will put in place dedicated structures for the end-users to interact with the academia and the industry to foster innovation and indigenisation for self-reliance in defence, in keeping with the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
  • The NIIO is a three-tiered organisation. The Naval Technology Acceleration Council (N-TAC) will bring together the twin aspects of innovation and indigenisation and provide apex level directives.
  • A working group under the N-TAC will implement the projects. A Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC) has also been created for the induction of emerging disruptive technology in an accelerated time frame.
  • The Indian Navy already has a functional Directorate of Indigenisation and the new structures will build upon the ongoing indigenisation initiatives, as well as focus on innovation.

PM unveils ‘Transparent Taxation – Honoring the Honest’ faceless income tax scrutiny, taxpayer charter

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a faceless tax scrutiny programme to honour honest income tax payers in the country.
  • Launching the platform ‘Transparent Taxation – Honoring the Honest’, PM Modi said the department will start faceless appeals from September 25, 2020.

NITI Aayog selects Oracle Cloud to transform Aspirational Districts

  • Niti Aayog has selected Oracle to help it modernise vital IT infrastructure in 112 most backward districts as part of its Aspirational Districts Programme.
  • These 112 districts constitute 28 per cent of population and the new cloud solution aims to aid district magistrates to improve overall performance and transform the quality of life of citizens.
  • Oracle Autonomous Database, the world’s first and only true autonomous database, is at the heart of data management in this programme. Being self-driving, self-securing and self-repairing it requires a minimal IT team and resources to support it.
  • The Oracle Cloud solution incorporates
    • Oracle Content Experience to ensure data and reports are easily accessible.
    • Detailed reporting for the District Magistrates to track their district’s progress real-time, via insights generated with Oracle Analytics Cloud service.
    • Key Performance Indicator tracking by citizens to check how their districts are faring, made available by the use of Oracle Application Express (APEX), a low-code development platform that’s at the heart of this reporting process.
    • Oracle Cloud is also able to integrate and track projects undertaken by District Magistrates to improve their rating.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launches Swachh Bharat Mission Academy

  • Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission Academy’, an IVR-based training course with modules on Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus programme.
  • The ODF Plus is an extension of the ODF programme under the Swachch Bharat Mission. Its objective is to sustain the ODF programme and to take up Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM).
  • The SBM Academy was launched as part of the ongoing week-long behaviour change campaign ‘Gandagi Mukt Bharat’. The SBM Academy course has four chapters, each with four audio lessons and a multiple-choice quiz at the end of the chapter.

Reliance Foundation launches W-GDP Women Connect Challenge

  • Reliance Foundation has forged a new partnership with US Agency for International Development and Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) to bridge the gender digital divide in India.
  • The partnership was announced at a W-GDP event hosted by Deputy Secretary of State of the United States Stephen Biegun and with special guest, Ivanka Trump, Advisor to the President of the United States, and Deputy USAID Administrator Bonnie Glick.
  • The W-GDP Fund was created to source and scale the most innovative programmes to advance women’s economic empowerment. The W-GDP Women’s Connect Challenge supports private sector-led approaches that close the gender digital divide, expands business opportunities, and empowers women.
  • W-GDP will partner with the Reliance Foundation to create an India-specific expression of the WCC and incorporate the lessons of previous W-GDP WCC Rounds.
  • W-GDP seeks to reach 50 million women in the developing world by 2025 by focusing on three pillars women prospering in the workforce, women succeeding as entrepreneurs, and women enabled in the economy.

 

Test Series for Junior Admin Asst (Assam Secretariat) 2020

 

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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)

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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.

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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.

 

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