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Current Affairs Assam – April 22 - 28, 2019

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

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April 22, 2019

Birangana Sadhani Divas observed in Sivasagar

• Birangana Sadhani Divas was observed centrally in Sivasagar Boarding Field by the Department of Cultural Affairs in association with the Sivasagar district administration.
• Birangana Sadhani was a symbol of sacrifice and patriotism and her act of heroism will continue to inspire not only the Chutias but all others in Assam.
• Chutias were one of the oldest warring tribes of NE India who came into the Hindu fold centuries ago. Defeat of Chutia king Bhismak of the scriptures at hands of Lord Krishna and marriage of Bhismak’s daughter Rukmini with Krishna was symbolical of Chutias accepting Aryan culture.
• The Chutias got assimilated with broad Assamese culture after the defeat of Nitipal at hands of the Ahoms and they were the first people to use Assamese language in the Brahmaputra valley.

Earth day 2019 observed on 22^nd April

• Earth Day is an annual event celebrated globally on April 22, to remind us about the vulnerability of the Earth and the need to wake up to save it for the sake of posterity, was observed by Early Birds, an NGO fighting for protection of Nature.
• Worldwide, various events are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day now includes events in more than 193 countries which are now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network.
• The 2019 theme for Earth Day is to protect threatened and endangered species.
• On Earth Day 2016, the landmark Paris Agreement was signed by the United States, China, and some 120 other countries.
• This signing satisfied a key requirement for the entry into force of the historic draft climate protection treaty adopted by consensus of the 195 nations present at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris.
• In 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco, peace activistJohn McConnell proposed a day to honor the Earth and the concept of peace, to first be celebrated on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere.
• This day of nature’s equipoise was later sanctioned in a proclamation written by McConnell and signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations.
• A month later a separate Earth Day was founded by United States SenatorGaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970.

 Indian, US Navies hold anti-submarine warfare exercise

• Indian and the US Navies have held a joint submarine-hunting exercise in the Indian Ocean, aiming to lay the groundwork for coordinating maritime patrol and reconnaissance.
• Indian and the US’ P-8 anti-submarine aircraft, along with the USS Spruance, a guided-missile destroyer, participated in the anti-submarine warfare training.
• The Indian P-8I Neptune aircraft from the Naval Air Squadron 312 based at Naval Station Rajali in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu, joined the US P-8A Poseidon aircraft from Patrol Squadron VP-8 “Fighting Tigers”, based in Jacksonville, Florida, in the exercise.
• The Spruance and VP-8 are operating with the 7th Fleet, which is the largest forward deployed fleet of the US and operates in the Indo-Pacific region.
• The exercise was the latest in efforts to develop military coordination between the two countries with an eye on the Indo-Pacific.

 April 23, 2019

Khongjom Day observed in Manipur

• In remembrance of the brave sons of the soil who fought in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, the Khongjom Day was today observed at the Khongjom War Memorial Complex at Khebaching.
• Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla and Chief Minister N Biren Singh led other ministers, MLAs, government officers, police personnel and the public in laying floral wreaths on the Khongjom War Memorial and the statue of Paona Brajabasi.
• The dignitaries also offered tarpan in Khongjom river. A guard of honour, general salute, sounding of last post and two minutes’ silence were also part of the observance.
• The Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 is of great historical significance for the people of Manipur as it changed their course of history. From an independent princely State, Manipur became a colony of the British Empire after it lost the war. Historical records amply bear out the fact that a handful of Manipuri soldiers with primitive weapons fought valiantly against an overwhelming number of British soldiers who were equipped with far more superior weapons.
• The War of Khongjom is not only a glorious saga of the freedom struggle of Manipur but is truly representative of the spirit of freedom that engulfed the whole country in a later part of history, she said.

India to have 12 more nuclear plants

• India will soon have 12 more nuclear plants soon to improve the power situation and ensure there is a free flow of uninterrupted power supply for both industries and residential use.
• The Atomic Energy Commission of India’s ChairmanK.N. Vyas, said at the 11th International Forum AtomExpo 2019.
• Nuclear technology helps in betterment of lives through varied usages and is an irreplaceable source of clean, pollution-free energy.
• The first stage of India’s indigenous nuclear power programme has now attained maturity with 18 operating Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs).
• Citing the record run of Kaiga Nuclear Power Station, he said a small unit of indigenously-developed 220-250MW reaction has completed 962 days of uninterrupted run at about 99.3 per cent capacity and the amount of electricity it has generated is “tremendous”.

Ayush Ministry inks MoU with CSIR

• The Ministry of AYUSH inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi for cooperation in research and education in areas of traditional systems of medicine and its integration with modern science.
• The MoU was signed by AYUSH Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha and CSIR Director General DrShekhar C Mande and Secretary, DSIR in the presence of senior officials from both organisations.
• In view of the surge in the usage of herbal medicines and supplements globally, the endeavour of Ministry and CSIR aims to bring the organisations under an umbrella understanding for pursuing focused R&D efforts in the domain.
• Under the MoU, both organisations shall jointly pursue R&D covering fundamental research; AYUSH specific diagnostic tools; linking microbiome, gene expression and prakriti; multi-ingredient herbal formulations, including their standardisation; exploring modern scientific methods for integration with traditional Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) and linking disease signatures.
• Furthering the collaboration in preserving and protecting traditional knowledge related to the Indian systems of healthcare, through the existing TKDL platform and development of international standardised terminologies (disease-morbidity codes) in Ayurveda,Siddha and Unani (ASU), Database on Medicinal plants and foods.

India Post partners with TCS to modernize the e-postal network

• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has partnered with the Department of Posts (DoP) to modernise a network of more than 1.5 lakh post offices across the country, making it the largest distributed e-postal network in the world.
• The multi-year digital core programme will transform the DoP into a multi-service digital hub, modernise the delivery of mail and packages, enhance customer experience and launch innovative services that will drive new revenues.
• Objective of the transformation is to use the DoP’s nation-wide reach to drive financial inclusion and accessibility of citizen services in remote areas.
• This is being accomplished through over 1.3 lakh DARPAN (Digital Advancement of Rural Post Office for A New lndia) hand-held devices that gramindaksevaks use to provide postal, banking, insurance and cash management services in remote villages, even those without network connectivity.
• The web portal has an e-marketplace to help rural artisans, self-help groups and women entrepreneurs reach out to buyers throughout the country. 

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April 24, 2019 

Devotees throng Charantala Mela in West Garo Hills

• The Charantala Mela, devoted to Goddess Kali, saw the convergence of thousands of devotees at Babedpara, Selsella, in West Garo Hills district.
• The annual festival is not only the biggest congregation of Hindus in the Garo Hills, but it also witnesses visits by people from other States seeking blessings from the Goddess.
• According to folklore, the Charantala Mela began at the site after Goddess Kali appeared in a dream and promised to rid the village of a small pox epidemic that afflicted the people in 1965. The village saw about 20 deaths due to the disease that year.
• In the same year, after the epidemic abated, local residents made a makeshift temple from where prayers were offered to the Goddess for her blessings. The word spread far and wide, leading to a huge number of devotees queuing up to offer their prayers.
• The number of devotees, according to the latest estimates available to the committee, has been increasing every year.

National Panchayati Raj Day observed on 24^th April

• National Panchayati Raj Day (National Local Self-Government day) is the national day of Panchayati Raj System in India celebrated by Ministry of Panchayati Raj on 24 April annually.
• Then Prime Minister of IndiaManmohan Singh declared the first National Panchayati Raj Day on 24th April 2010.
• He mentioned that if Panchayati Raj institutions (PRIs) functioned properly and locals participated in the development process, the Maoist threat could be countered.
• The Constitution of India recognizes Panchayats as ‘Institutions of self government’.
• There are 2.51 lakh Panchayats in our country, which include 2.39 lakh Gram Panchayats, 6904 Block Panchayats and 589 District Panchayats.
• There are more than 29 lakh Panchayat representatives. Under the 14^th Finance Commission for the period 2015-20, more than 2 lakh crore Rupees is being allocated to Gram Panchayats for 5 years to undertake physical and social infrastructure projects in the villages.

‘RTS,S’ – World’s first malaria vaccine launched in Africa

• The world’s first and only malaria vaccine was launched in the African country of Malawi as part of a landmark pilot program hoping to protect, in particular, hundreds of thousands of children under five against one of the world’s leading killers.
• Thirty years in the making, RTS,S is the first and to date the only vaccine that has demonstrated it can significantly reduce malaria in children.
• In clinical trials, the vaccine was found to prevent about four in ten malaria cases, including three in ten cases of life-threatening severe malaria.
• An outcome of public-private partnership under the WHO’s coordination, the pilot vaccine program is designed to generate evidence and experience to inform WHO policy recommendations on the broader use of the vaccine.
• It will look at reductions in child deaths; vaccine uptake, including whether parents bring their children on time for the four required doses; and vaccine safety in the context of routine use.

April 25, 2019 

Steps taken to preserve 3 heritage police stations in Assam

• Assam’s Directorate of Archaeology has taken steps to preserve the century-old, heritage police stations at Chatia, Gohpur and Dhekiajuli and it has by this time completed the restoration work of the Chatia Police Station. Chatia was earlier spelled as Sootea.
• Director of Archaeology Dr Deepi Rekha Kouli said conservation of this kind of heritage sites of the British colonial era is a new step taken by the Directorate. All possible standards have been maintained to restore the structure of the Chatia Police Station as per its original layout while conserving the structure.
• Restoration work of the Gohpur Police Station is also going on, while that of the Dhekiajuli Police Station is yet to be started, as, Kouli said the Police Station is yet to be handed over to the Directorate by the Department concerned.
• Restoration of these structures will continue to inspire the archaeological conservationists in the days to come as far as conservation of the colonial heritage structures of the State is concerned, said Dr Kouli.
• It needs mention here that the State’s Directorate of Archaeology has been entrusted with the task of conservation of the heritage police stations at Chatia, Gohpur and Dhekiajuli by the State Government with an announcement in the State Budget for the 2017-’18 fiscal.
• Gohpur Police Station, in the present day Biswanath District, was set up in 1901, while the Chatia Police Station in the same district and Dhekiajuli Police Station in Sonitpur District were set up in 1913.
• These three police stations also bear the memory of the Quit India Movement against the British Colonialists in the State. When the Quit India Movement was at its peak in 1942, freedom fighters marched to the police stations of the State to hoist the Indian National Flag atop the buildings.
• The police stations at Chatia, Gohpur and Dhekiajuli witnessed unprecedented assemblage of the freedom fighters on September 20, 1942. Eight persons, including three women, were shot dead by the British Police on the spot on the Dhekiajuli Police Station compound, when a 5,000-strong group of processionists, led by Kamalakanta Das, entered it to hoist the National flag atop the building of the police station.
• Kanaklata Barua, a teenaged member of the Mrityu Bahini (Death Squad) was shot dead by the colonial police on the Gohpur Police Station compound when she was leading a group of freedom fighters to hoist the Indian National Flag atop the building of the police station.
• Thus, the above three police stations have become inalienably linked with the socio-political life of the State’s people, said Dr Kouli.

UNICEF, NITI Aayog signs LoI for children empowerment

• NITI Aayogs Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and UNICEF India signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to provide an open platform to promote participation, skilling and empowerment among young children across different communities.
• The plan will be implemented through Atal Tinkering Lab initiative to orient the burgeoning innovation ecosystem towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals with a focus on child rights.
• The LoI was signed by Yasmin Ali Haque, UNICEF representative in India, and RamanathanRamanan, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission.
• Through this collaboration, AIM and UNICEF seek to promote participation, skilling and empowerment of adolescent girls and boys in and out-of-school, via Atal Innovation Mission’s programs.
• This strategic partnership will also help effectively build capacities of adolescents, young entrepreneurs, mentors and teachers.

Manipur had the lowest malaria cases among NE States in 2018

• Manipur has the lowest number of cases of malaria among the North Eastern States with only 12 malaria cases reported in 2018. Manipur is approaching nearer the ‘Zero Malaria’ status, said a DIPR report released in connection with the World Malaria Day observance in the State.
• The national target is to eliminate local malaria by the year 2030.
• Manipur has set the target of 2020 for eliminating local malaria, but changed it to 2021 following the 12 malaria cases found positive in 2018. Senapati district had zero malaria cases and deaths in 2018.
• In 2017, the WHO estimated 219 million malaria cases and 4,35,000 malaria deaths in 87 countries.
• The African region has a high share of global malaria with 92 per cent of malaria cases and 93 per cent deaths in 2017.
• India represents 4 per cent of the global malaria burden.
• Among Indian States, Odisha contributes 25 per cent followed by Meghalaya, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Jharkhand.

World Malaria Day observed on 25^th April

• World Malaria Day (WMD) is an international observance commemorated every year on 25 April and recognizes global efforts to control malaria. Globally, 3.3 billion people in 106 countries are at risk of malaria.
• On World Malaria Day 2019, WHO joins the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, the African Union Commission and other partner organizations in promoting “Zero malaria starts with me,,” a grassroots campaign that aims to keep malaria high on the political agenda, mobilize additional resources, and empower communities to take ownership of malaria prevention and care.
• In 2012, malaria caused an estimated 627,000 deaths, mostly among African children. Asia, Latin America, and to a lesser extent the Middle East and parts of Europe are also affected.
• WMD is one of eight official global public health campaigns currently marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with World Health Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Immunization Week, World Tuberculosis Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Hepatitis Day and World AIDS Day
• According to the most recent World Malaria Report, the global tally of malaria reached 429,000 malaria deaths and 212 million new cases in 2015.
• The rate of new malaria cases fell by 21 per cent globally between 2010 and 2015, and malaria death rates fell by 29 per cent in the same period. In sub-Saharan Africa, case incidence and death rates fell by 21 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively.

India Rises to 17^th Spot in Startup Blink’s Startup Ecosystem Ranking

• According to data released by Startup Blink, India moved up to 17th position in 2018 from 37th spot last year in the Startup Ecosystem Ranking for 2019.
• India ranks 17 globally among 100 countries, based on the strength of its startup ecosystem, according to Startup Blink, which tracks startup ecosystems on a number of parameters.
• It used data from startups, accelerators and coworking spaces registered on it platforms as well as data received from global partners such as Crunchbase and SimilarWeb.
• The cities with the most vibrant startup ecosystems in India are Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai.
• In terms of global rankings, the top three spots remained unchanged with the United States, United Kingdom and Canada taking the first, second and third rank respectively.
• The report has taken the startup ecosystems of 1,000 cities and 100 countries into consideration.
• According to Inc42 Data Labs, 3800 new startups were launched in India during the last year. Overall, Indian startups received $11 Bn of funding through 743 deals in 2018.
• Bengaluru was as the top startup city in India at 11th, while New Delhi followed in the 18th spot. Mumbai stood at 29th rank, while Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune also made it to top 100.
• The top three cities in India at the end of 2018 were Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR and Mumbai which had 11,000, 8500 and 9,000 startups respectively.
• Among the leading cities, startups in Bengaluru received $4.7 Bn, while those in Delhi-NCR received a funding of $4.4 Bn, followed by those in Mumbai which received a funding of $914 Mn in 2018.

 Tagore Literary Prize 2019 awarded to Rana Dasgupta

• The second edition of Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize was awarded to author Rana Dasgupta for his 2010 novel “Solo”, a tale of estrangement and the ultimate failure of material existence.
• An amount of $10,000, a Tagore statue and a certificate for contribution to literature was given to Dasgupta.
• The Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize for social achievement was awarded to YoheiSasakawa, the World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, for “his incredible efforts to uproot leprosy and great contribution to world peace”. The Prize was also awarded to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen as “a beacon of democracy”.

FACTFILE – Tagore Prize

• Tagore Prize is founded and launched with a strong vision to be a platform and a vehicle for improving and inspiring World Peace, Literature, Art and Education.
• The prizes promote the culture and beauty of literature just as Rabindranath Tagore had taught us to, but also, the culture and society of tolerance, harmony and non-discrimination.

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April 26, 2019

Assam records all-time high of 81.52 per cent voting

• The overall Lok Sabha poll turnout in Assam stood at an all-time high of 81.52 per cent. The polling percentage this time is the highest ever recorded in the State in any parliamentary elections so far. It surpassed the previous highest figure of 80.12 per cent which was recorded in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
• As per the data released by the Election Commission, the turnout among male voters in the State stood at 81.73 per cent, while the polling percentage among female electorate was 81.30 per cent.
• In the first Lok Sabha elections held 1951-52, the voter turnout in Assam was 47.96 per cent, while it stood at 46.14 per cent in the 1957 elections, 52.75 per cent in 1962, 54.99 per cent in 1967, 50.69 per cent in 1971, 54.88 per cent in 1977, 53.37 per cent in 1980, 77.40 per cent in 1985, 75.25 per cent in 1991, 78.50 per cent in 1996, 61.06 per cent in 1998, 71.26 per cent in 1999, 69.11 per cent in 2004 and 69.54 per cent in 2009.

North East agriculture vulnerable to climate change

• In the North East region, climate change-induced higher agricultural vulnerability, is observed in its northern parts and the vulnerability declines towards its south, says a research paper ‘Climate change vulnerability profiles for North East India.’
• The paper says that additionally, high relative variability and inter-annual variability of rainfall have created increased occurrence of droughts and floods in the recent times, leading to uncertainty in yield and increased agricultural vulnerability.
• It has projected the very high vulnerability of the districts of Tirap, West Siang, Nalbari, Changlang and Dibrugarh remain very highly vulnerable. In the future scenario, the vulnerability of West Sikkim, North Sikkim, East Sikkim and Imphal East to decrease from high to moderate levels, while the vulnerability of the districts of Bishnupur and South Tripura are projected to be decreasing from moderate to low levels.
• The northern part of the NE region shows a reduction in precipitation varying from 3 per cent in the northwest portion to about 12 per cent in the northeastern portion. In the remaining part of the NE region, there is an increase in precipitation varying from zero per cent to as much as 25 per cent in the central portion. Major parts of the NE region, except for some parts of Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur and Assam, show an increase in the evapotranspiration during the near-term scenario.
• State-wise analysis shows that in Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, parts of Meghalaya and Nagaland, the flood magnitude is likely to increase by about 25 per cent in the future compared to the present. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim and parts of Meghalaya are likely to experience floods of lower magnitude (about 5 per cent to 10 per cent less) in future, compared to the present.
• The number of drought weeks during monsoon months shows an increasing trend in Arunachal Pradesh, parts of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur, to the tune of about 25 per cent increase in future.

Point2beNoted: Evapotranspiration

Evapotranspiration is the process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and by transpiration from plants.

World Intellectual Property Day observed on 26 April

• World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually on 26 April. The event was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000 to “raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life” and “to celebrate creativity, and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the globe”.
• This year’s World Intellectual Property Day campaign – Reach for Gold – takes a closer look inside the world of sports. It explores how innovation, creativity and the IP rights that encourage and protect them support the development of sport and its enjoyment around the world.
• 26 April was chosen as the date for World Intellectual Property Day because it coincides with the date on which the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization entered into force in 1970.
• This event has been criticized by a number of activists and scholars as one-sided propaganda in favor of traditional copyright, ignoring alternatives related to copyleft and the free culture movement.
• Following a statement made at the Assembly of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in September 1998, the Director General of the National Algerian Institute for Industrial Property (INAPI) proposed on 7 April 1999 the institutionalisation of an international day for intellectual property.

Government decides to put Medicine labels in regional language

• In order to counter fake, sub-standard and expired drugs, the Union Health Ministry has said Hindi and regional language will be used in the tendering process.
• Drug names and expiry date during tendering will be in Hindi/regional language too for — polio drop and Iron tablets — procured for children under the government programmes.
• The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) recently recommended that government procurement agencies should take necessary steps in the tendering process to include the regional language, along with English, on the label of iron tablets and polio drops in government programmes.
• Since last year, the government has been working on ensuring the most stringent quality control for both the products which directly affect almost all the children born in India.
• The Board constituted a sub-committee under the chairmanship of Dr. R.N. Tandon, honorary secretary general, IMA, New Delhi to examine and give recommendations to streamline the labelling requirements of drugs so as to provide the requisite information to the consumer.

April 27, 2019 

Land survey in Assam to be completed in a year

• Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said proper land surveys have not been carried out in Assam for a long time and that is why land patta could not be issued to the people.
• Sonowal said as the people do not have land patta, they are deprived of various government schemes and those without patta also find it difficult to obtain loans from banks and financial institutions.
• The Chief Minister said that to deal with the problem, the government has started a proper land survey covering the entire State and it is expected that it would be completed within a year. After completion of the land survey, all the records would be computerised and the process of issuing land patta to rightful owners would gather momentum.
• The process of issuing land patta has started in parts of the State, but once the survey is completed and all records are computerised, the process would gather momentum.

18 young Indian scientists in Google contest

• Google selected 18 young scientists from India who will compete in the 2019 Google Science Fair contest for the winning prize of $50,000 and other rewards.
• The global science competition inspires teenagers in the age group of 13-18 years to solve real-world problems with science, technology, engineering and maths.
• This year’s competition saw thousands of entries from more than 100 countries representing some innovative ideas in science and technology.
• From addressing health-related issues to creating more eco-friendly adhesives and fuel to making our water safe to drink, the young students from India presented novel and creative ideas.
• The entries were evaluated based on the creativity, scientific merit and potential for impact of each submission to narrow down the entries to 100 finalists globally.

Japan creates first artificial crater on asteroid

• Japanese scientists have succeeded in creating what they called the first-ever artificial crater on an asteroid, a step towards shedding light on how the solar system evolved.
• They confirmed the crater from images captured by the probe located 1,700 metres (5,500 feet) from the asteroid’s surface.
• Creating an artificial crater with an impactor and observing it in detail afterwards is a world-first attempt.
• JAXA scientists had previously predicted that the crater could be as large as 10 metres in diameter if the surface was sandy, or three metres if rocky.
• The surface is filled with boulders but yet we created a crater this big. This could mean there’s a scientific mechanism we don’t know or something special about Ryugu’s materials.
• The aim of blasting the crater on Ryugu is to throw up “fresh” material from under the asteroid’s surface that could shed light on the early stages of the solar system.
• The mission, with a price tag of around 30 billion yen ($270 million), was launched in December 2014 and is scheduled to return to Earth with its samples in 2020.

FACTFILE – The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

• The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is the Japanese national aerospace and space agency.
• Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on 1 October 2003.
• JAXA is responsible for research, technology development and launch of satellites into orbit, and is involved in many more advanced missions such as asteroid exploration and possible manned exploration of the Moon.
• Its motto is One JAXA and its corporate slogan is Explore to Realize.

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April 28, 2019 

Govt to increase number of Foreigners Tribunals to 1,000

• The Assam Government has decided to increase the number of Foreigners Tribunals under the provisions of the Foreigners Act to 1,000 in phased manner to expedite the cases relating to suspected foreign nationals.
• At present, one hundred Foreigners Tribunals are functioning in the State, but that is not adequate to deal with the cases and around two lakh cases are pending before the Tribunals.
• Moreover, after the publication of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the persons, whose names will not appear in it, will have the right to appeal before the Tribunals, which will add extra burden. If the number of Tribunals is not increased, it will take years to dispose of the cases.
• Keeping these aspects in mind, the Government decided to increase the number of Tribunals to 1,000 so that the cases can be disposed of as quickly as possible. The State Government sought approval of the Centre for increasing the number of Tribunals and recently, the required approval has been received.

SBI launches India’s First Green Car Loan

• India’s largest bank State Bank of India (SBI) launched ‘Green Car Loan’ to encourage customers to buy electric vehicles (EVs) in the country.
• The interest rates on the loan will be 20 basis points (0.2 per cent) lower than SBI’s existing auto loans.
• Thus, the equated monthly instalment (EMI) per Rs 1 lakh will be lower at Rs 1,468 for 96 months (8 years) against Rs 1,622 for 84 months, based on the maximum tenor of existing schemes.
• The scheme comes with the longest repayment period of up to 8 years. The loan is offered with zero processing fee for the first 6 months of the launch.
• SBI along with Wipro joined the Climate Group’s EV100 initiative for enhancing the launch of electric vehicles worldwide.

 World Day for Safety and Health at Work held on 28 April

• The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an annual international campaign to promote safe, healthy and decent work. It is held on 28 April and has been observed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 2003.
• The World Day celebration on 28 April 2019 will be only the beginning of worldwide events and activities to continue throughout the rest of the year.
• Inspired by the ILO centenary and discussions on the future of work, the world day this year attempts to take stock of a 100 years of work in improving occupational safety and health and looks to the future for continuing these efforts through major changes such as technology, demographics, sustainable development including climate change and changes in work organization.
• In 2003, the International Labour Organization (ILO), began to observe World Day in order to stress the prevention of accidents and diseases at work, capitalizing on the ILO’s traditional strengths of tripartism and social dialogue.
• 28 April is also the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers organized worldwide by the trade union movement since 1996.
• The annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April promotes the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally. It is an awareness-raising campaign intended to focus international attention on the magnitude of the problem and on how promoting and creating a safety and health culture can help reduce the number of work-related deaths and injuries.

Indian Army signed MoU with NHPC to build underground tunnels

• The Army has roped in the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd (NHPC), a public sector undertaking, to construct the caves or tunnels. A memorandum of understanding (MoU).
• The Indian Army, in order to stock up on ammunition in a sensitive environment, has set about constructing caves and semi-underground tunnels at mountain ranges near the northern border.
• The project, which is on a pilot basis currently, envisions caves at four locations, to be built at a total cost of around Rs 15 crore.
• There are a total of four proposed tunnels, including one in Tawang sector and one in Jammu and Kashmir.
• The Army is also increasing its ammunition stockpile. Last year, it had finalisedaRs 15,000 crore long-term plan to get domestic private sector players to manufacture seven different types of ammo.
• It also signed 19 contracts worth Rs 11,740 crore to get Smerch rockets, Konkurs anti-tank guided missiles, 125-mm armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot ammunition for its T-90S and T-72 tanks, and other ammunition.

World Veterinary Day 2019 observed on 27^th April

• World Veterinary Day will take place globally on Saturday, April 27th, 2019 as it has been always observed on the last Saturday in April since 2001. This year’s theme is: Value of Vaccination.
• In 2000 the World Veterinary Association created the World Veterinary Day in order to promote the veterinary profession all over the world.
• There is a different theme for this day every year. With the themes, pet owners are reminded of the importance of animal care and how veterinary technicians can help.
• Every year, in order to celebrate the World Veterinary Day, the World Veterinary Association (WVA) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) organize the World Veterinary Day Award.
• The goal of this initiative is to reward the most successful contribution of the veterinary profession on the theme which has been chosen for that year.

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Current Affairs Assam – April 8 - 14, 2019

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

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April 08, 2019

 Nagaland observes 75^th Anniversary of the “Battle of Kohima”

• Nagaland Observes 75th Anniversary of “Battle of Kohima”. The event was attended by the representatives from the UK and Japan who spoke on the theme of ‘Remembrance, Reconciliation and Rebirth’.
• The dignitaries from the UK and Japan sought reconciliation and forgiveness for the sufferings and pain caused against each other at the Battle of Kohima, that was fought in three stages during the Second World War in 1944.

FACTFILE – The Battle of Kohima

• Battle of Kohima is considered as the turning point of the Japanese U Go offensive, or Operation C mission launched in India in 1944 during the Second World War.
• The Battle of Kohima was fought in three stages from 3 April to 22 June 1944 around the town of Kohima in Nagaland in northeast India.
• The battle ended on 22 June when British and Indian troops from Kohima and Imphal met at Milestone 109, ending the Siege of Imphal.
• The battle is often referred to as the “Stalingrad of the East”.
• Kohima was a theatre of the War in 1944 and the Nagas were drawn into it on both sides some with the British and some with the Japanese.

South Korea Becomes First Country to Launch 5G Network

• Three top telecom providers SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus of South Korea launched the world’s first nationwide 5G mobile network on 3^rd April, 2019.
• South Korea launched the 5G services two days ahead of the schedule as there were speculations that US mobile carrier Verizon might start its 5G services early. Verizon began rolling out its 5G services in Chicago and Minneapolis on April 3rd, a week ahead of schedule.

Benefits of 5G Network

• 5G will provide smartphones with near-instantaneous connectivity, 20 times faster than 4G.
• 5G will deliver vastly increased capacity, lower latency, and faster speeds.
• 5G networks will operate in a high-frequency band between 28 GHz and 60 GHz, which is known as the millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum and the sub-6 GHz range that LTE calls home will also be used. Thus, a lot of bandwidth will be available to users.
• The new 5G networks will have a dense, distributed network of base stations in the small cell infrastructure.
• The 5G technology is crucial for the future development of devices such as self-driving vehicles and is expected to bring about $565 billion in global economic benefits by 2034.

Indian Navy signs MOU with Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

• The Indian Navy and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to undertake joint research and development of advanced technologies for the Indian Navy.
• This will be a collaborative arrangement between labs of CSIR, the Indian Navy and Indian industry.
• The MoU was signed by Vice Admiral GS Pabby PVSM, AVSM, VSM Chief of Materiel of Indian Navy and Shri Shekhar C Mande, Secretary DSIR and Director General, CSIR.
• The MoU provides a formal framework for interaction between Indian Navy and CSIR. It would facilitate joint R&D activities in diverse fields of Mechanical, Electronics, Communication, Computer Science, Propulsion systems, Metallurgy and Nanotechnology.
• Some of the immediate projects to be progressed under this MoU include development of alternative desalination technologies, installation of wireless MEMS based sensors for remote operation, Residual Life Assessment studies of Gas Turbine Generator blades to improve reliability.

FACTFILE – Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)

• CSIR is known for its cutting edge R&D knowledgebase in diverse S&T areas, is a contemporary R&D organization.
• It has a dynamic network of 38 national laboratories, 39 outreach centres, 3 Innovation Complexes and 5 units.
• CSIR covers a wide spectrum of science and technology – from radio and space physics, oceanography, geophysics, chemicals, drugs, genomics, biotechnology and nanotechnology to mining, aeronautics, instrumentation, environmental engineering and information technology.
• It provides significant technological intervention in many areas with regard to societal efforts which include environment, health, drinking water, food, housing, energy, farm and non-farm sectors.

April 09, 2019

Manipuris celebrate New Year ‘Sajibu Nongma Panba’

• Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba, the New Year of the Manipuri community, was celebrated across the State on Saturday, 6^TH April 2019. The festival is celebrated on the first day of the Manipuri month Sajibu, which usually falls in March-end or early-April.
• It is the lunar New Year festival of the people who follow the sanamahism religion of the Indian state of Manipur.
• People pray to Gods by offering flowers, fruits and various dishes, while special dishes are prepared from vegetables to be offered to deities along with seasonal endemic items for a grand feast for families.
• The food is offered by the elders of the house to three deities for protection of the family. Married women give gifts to their parents and brothers on the occasion.
• With the advent of the New Year, people pray that the festival ushers in peace, progress and prosperity, and enhances the spirit of unity, cohesiveness and brotherhood among the communities of Manipur.

India retained top spot in remittances in 2018: WB Report

• India has retained its spot as the world’s top remittance recipient with its diaspora sending $79 billion back home in 2018.
• India was followed by China ($67 billion), Mexico ($36 billion), the Philippines ($34 billion) and Egypt ($29 billion), according to the latest edition of the World Bank’s Migration and Development Brief.
• Remittances grew by more than 14 per cent in India. In 2016, India received $62.7 billion in remittances and in 2017 it was $65.3 billion.
• Global remittances, which include flows to high-income countries, reached $689 billion in 2018, up from $633 billion in 2017.
• Regionally, growth in remittance inflows ranged from almost 7 per cent in East Asia and the Pacific to 12 per cent in South Asia.
• The overall increase was driven by a stronger economy and employment situation in the US and a rebound in outward flows from some Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) and the Russian Federation.

FACTFILE – The World Bank

• WB is an international financial institution that provides loans to countries of the world for capital projects.
• It comprises two institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), and the International Development Association (IDA).
• The World Bank is a component of the World Bank Group.
• The World Bank’s most recent stated goal is the reduction of poverty.
• As of end of 2018, the largest recipients of World Bank loans were India ($859 million in 2018) and China ($370 million in 2018), through loans from IBRD

Praful Patel becomes first Indian to be elected as a FIFA Council Member

• All India Football Federation President Praful Patel is elected as a FIFA Council member.
• The AIFF chief was one of the eight candidates vying for the spot in the election which was held during the 29^th AFC (Asian Football Confederations) Congress in the Malaysian capital.
• A total of five candidates, including Patel, was elected in addition to the AFC president, and one female member for the term 2019-2013.
• Under Patel’s leadership, AIFF has been awarded with the AFC’s President Recognition award for grassroots at the AFC Annual Awards in 2014 in Manila, and was given an award for the AFC Best Developing Member Association in 2016.
• The successful hosting of the FIFA U-17 World Cup drew lavish praise from all quarters, and India have also won the bid to host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2020.
• The Indian Club Licensing system has also been dubbed as one of the best in Asia.

London becomes first city to use pollution charge zone

• London is the first city in the world to implement a 24-hour, seven day a week Ultra Low Emission Zone, inside which vehicles will have to meet tough emissions standards or face a charge.
• Introduction of the zone, known as the ULEZ, aims to reduce toxic air pollution and protect public health, according to a press release from the office of Sadiq Khan, mayor of London.
• Vehicles are responsible for around half of harmful nitrogen oxide air emissions in the British capital, contributing to a toxic air health crisis that increases the risk of asthma, cancer and dementia as well as causing thousands of premature deaths every year.
• Under new rules polluting vehicles will be discouraged from entering the ULEZ thanks to a daily charge of £12.50 (around $16) for some cars, vans and motorbikes and £100 ($130) for trucks, buses and coaches.
• Drivers can check whether their vehicle meets ULEZ emission standards using an online tool provided by travel authority Transport for London.

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April 10, 2019 

Indo-Bangla VCs Convention agree for academic collaboration

• With the goal of improving mutual understanding between the people of the Northeastern region of India and Bangladesh by setting up a platform for bilateral communication, cooperation and collaboration in education, the International Convention of Vice Chancellors (ICVC-2019) of Universities of Bangladesh and North East India was organised by Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet under the patronage of University Grant Commission, Bangladesh and in association with University of Science & Technology Meghalaya(USTM) at Sylhet.
• It was attended by more than 30 Vice Chancellors of universities, apart from Directors of institutions and top researchers from both countries and was graced by Dr Dipu Moni, Education Minister of Bangladesh and Prof A Mannan, Chairman, UGC Bangladesh apart from others.
• The Convention has decided to form an international education corridor and work collaboratively towards promotion of higher education, culture, brotherhood and peace.
• It was decided that the meet will be a regular affair to be held in different countries on rotational basis and that the Gauhati University will be hosting the next ICVC while the other universities in the North East would be co-organisers.
• From North East India, 16 Vice Chancellors of Central, State and private universities participated in the Convention along with their Bangladeshi counterparts. The heads of institutions made presentations on their respective universities and engaged in a brainstorming to decide the road ahead.

IMF lowers India’s GDP growth forecast

• India is projected to grow at 7.3 per cent in 2019 and 7.5 per cent in 2020, supported by the continued recovery of investment and robust consumption, thus remaining the fastest growing major economy of the world.
• Growth forecast has been revised downward compared with the October 2018 WEO by 0.1 percentage point for 2019 and 0.2 percentage point for 2020.
• Growth in India is expected to stabilise at just under 7 per cent over the medium term, based on the continued implementation of structural reforms and easing of infrastructure bottlenecks.
• Important steps have been taken to strengthen financial sector balance sheets, including through accelerated resolution of non-performing assets under a simplified bankruptcy framework. These efforts should be reinforced by enhancing governance of public sector banks.
• Reforms to hiring and dismissal regulations would help incentivise job creation and absorb the country’s large demographic dividend; efforts should also be enhanced on land reform to facilitate and expedite infrastructure development, the report said.

David Malpass takes office as World Bank president

• David Malpass took office as the 13^th President of the World Bank Group. Malpass, former undersecretary for international affairs at the US Treasury Department, was chosen by President Donald Trump in early February as the US candidate for the post, following the abrupt resignation of former World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim.
• The World Bank President is Chair of the Boards of Directors of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA).
• The President is also ex officio Chair of the Boards of Directors of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the Administrative Council of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
• Malpass previously served as Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs for the United States. 

April 11, 2019

Konyak women set Guinness record in dance

• The Konyak Union set the Guinness World Records for the largest traditional Konyak dance consisting of 4,687 women participants.
• The official attempt to make the record was made during the Konyak Aoleang-cum-Mini Hornbill Festival in Mon town on April 5. The 4,687 women from over 115 villages in the district sang and danced in full Konyak Naga traditional attire for five minutes and two seconds.
• The dance is an old traditional Konyak dance which is usually performed during the festival.

Kohli Named Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in World

• Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack has named Virat Kohli as the Leading Cricketer in the World for 2018 as well as one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year.
• Indian Skipper Virat Kohli is joined by Tammy Beaumont, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran and Rory Burns in Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year list.
• Indian player Smriti Mandhana bagged the Women’s Leading Cricketer of the Year.
• Rashid Khan of Afghanistan bagged the Leading T20 Cricketer of the Year.

FACTFILE – Wisden or Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack

• Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack (or simply Wisden) is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom.
• Wisden was founded in 1864 by the English cricketer John Wisden (1826–84). Its annual publication has continued uninterrupted to the present day, making it the longest running sports annual in history.
• Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year represent a tradition that dates back in Wisden to 1889. This makes Wisden’s oldest individual award in cricket.
• In 1998, an Australian edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack was launched. It ran for eight editions. In 2012, an Indian edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack was launched.

Astronomers unveil first ever image of black hole

• An international scientific team announced a milestone in astrophysics – the first-ever photo of a black hole – using a global network of telescopes to gain insight into celestial objects with gravitational fields so strong no matter or light can escape.
• The research was conducted by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project, an international collaboration begun in 2012 to try to directly observe the immediate environment of a black hole using a global network of Earth-based telescopes.
• The image reveals the black hole at the center of Messier 87, a massive galaxy in the nearby Virgo galaxy cluster. This black hole resides about 54 million light-years from Earth.
• Black holes, phenomenally dense celestial entities, are extraordinarily difficult to observe despite their great mass.
• A black hole’s event horizon is the point of no return beyond which anything – stars, planets, gas, dust and all forms of electromagnetic radiation – gets swallowed into oblivion.
• The project’s researchers obtained the first data in April 2017 using telescopes in the US states of Arizona and Hawaii as well as in Mexico, Chile, Spain and Antarctica. Since then, telescopes in France and Greenland have been added to the global network. The global network of telescopes has essentially created a planet-sized observational dish.

Government clears procurement of 464 T-90 tanks

• The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) gave the go-ahead for procuring 464 more tanks for almost Rs 13,448 crore ($1.93 billion). The T-90MS is the latest version of the tank with the Russian Army and the Indian Army’s armoured regiments already have the T-90S.
• Russia is prepared for prolonging the license and building up the production of T-90 tanks in India in connection with the Indian government’s decision to purchase more tanks for its armed forces.
• The tanks will be assembled Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi, Chennai from semi-knocked-down (SKD) kits from Uralvagonzavod, the Russian tank manufacturer. The tanks will arm 10 armoured regiments of the Army.
• The HVF had in 2006-07 signed a contract to produce 1,000 T-90S tanks under licence from Russia by 2020. But the HVF has been able to supply only 350-400 T-90S till date.
• The T-90MS also has a guided missile system to annihilate armoured targets, including those equipped with explosive reactive armour (ERA), at ranges up to 5 kilometres. The tank comes equipped with a protection system to insulate and help its crew operate in a Nuclear-Biological-Chemical attack environment.

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April 12, 2019

 Meghalaya records 2nd best voting in history

• Women voters in Meghalaya were more enthusiastic than males in this Lok Sabha election which has seen one of the best polling percentages recorded in the Lok Sabha elections – a healthy 71.41 per cent.
• According to the Election department, the best ever voting percentage recorded was in the 1998 Lok Sabha election when 74.38 per cent voters turned out. However, during that election the Assembly elections were also held simultaneously.
• This is the best standalone voting percentage in the State’s history. The voting percentage is the second highest in the State’s history. This year’s percentage was way ahead compared to 2014 (68 per cent) and 2009 (63 per cent).
• In both the seats of Shillong and Tura, women voters came out in large numbers.

Russian award ‘Order of St Andrew the Apostle’ for Modi

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been honoured with Russia’s highest state decoration, the Order of St Andrew the Apostle, for his role in promoting close ties between the two countries.
• The Russian government said Modi is given the highest state decoration of Russia for “exceptional services” in promoting special and privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly relations between the Russian and Indian peoples.
• Order of St Andrew the Apostle is awarded to prominent statesmen, public figures and those working in the fields of science, culture and arts in recognition of their exceptional services in promoting prosperity and glory of Russia.
• The Order of St Andrew the Apostle is the highest order of the Russian Federation.

Indian and Australian Navies maritime exercise AUSINDEX

• Several Indian Naval Ships participated in AUSINDEX – the ongoing joint maritime exercise between India and Australia – in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam.
• The Indian Navy was represented by INS Sahyadri, INS Ranvijay, INS Kora, INS Kiltan and submarines INS Sindhukirti.
• BridgesofFriendship AUSINDEX19 As a part of Sea Phase of ongoing Australia – India Bilateral Maritime Exercise AUSINDEX-19, IN Ships Sahyadri, Ranvijay, Kora, Kiltan and Her Majesty’s Australian Ships Canberra, Newcastle, Parramatta, Success conducted exercises with submarines INS Sindhukirti and HMAS Collins along with P-8I and P8A long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft of respective navies.
• Australian Navy Ship (HMAS) Canberra, a landing helicopter dock, Newcastle and Paramatta, both frigates, a Durance-class multi-product replenishment oiler along with HMAS Collins, a conventional submarine, also participated in the maritime exercise.
• The bilateral maritime exercise is aimed to strengthen mutual cooperation and enhance interoperability between the Royal Australia Navy (RAN) and Indian Navy by providing opportunities for interaction and exchange of professional views between the personnel of the two navies.

Bill introduced in US congress to provide India ‘NATO ally’ status

• A bipartisan group of half a dozen influential American lawmakers has reintroduced an important legislation in the House of Representatives which seeks to advance the US-India strategic relationship.
• If enacted, the legislation would ensure that the US State Department treats India as a NATO ally for the purposes of the Arms Export Control Act.
• It would send a powerful signal that defence sales to India should be prioritised according to US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, which had worked on this important legislation.
• This adjustment to US law will further allow the US-India partnership to flourish in line with our security commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.
• The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal 2017 included special language recognising the unique US-India defence relationship that designated India as a “Major Defence Partner” of the United States.
• The legislation bolsters national security and helps ensure full alignment between the Department of Defense and the Department of State.
• This legislation would be a major breakthrough for the US-India defense relationship.

FACTFILE – The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

• The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European countries.
• The organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949.
• NATO constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its independent member states agree to mutual defence in response to an attack by any external party.
• NATO’s Headquarters are located in Haren, Brussels, Belgium, while the headquarters of Allied Command Operations is near Mons, Belgium.
• Since its founding, the admission of new member states has increased the alliance from the original 12 countries to 29. The most recent member state to be added to NATO is Montenegro on 5 June 2017.
• The combined military spending of all NATO members constitutes over 70% of the global total. Members have committed to reach or maintain defense spending of at least 2% of GDP by 2024.

April 13, 2019

Assam Higher Secondary Education Council goes digital

• The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC)’s new drive to go digital with its information delivery system is helping the Council make a huge monthly savings of Rs 2,04,000 apart from bridging the information gap with its affiliated institutions.
• By stepping up digitalization in its examination branch and replacing the postal mails with e-mails and bulk messaging.
• The step was conceptualized to eliminate the lengthy and expensive process of bulk posting of letters, notifications and other directions to our 1,500 affiliated institutions across the State.
• The team has created a digital database of all the 1,500 affiliated institutions, including HS schools, colleges and universities. With the help of this any information related to examinations is circulated through mails and bulk messaging under the two step verification system.
• The Council has also started digitizing the tabulation register (TR), which contains the HS final year marks obtained by the students since the year 1986. On completion of the digitized TR, the marks verification, which used to take minimum 15 days, would take only two minutes.
• The Controller of Examination has to issue minimum four official letters every month to all the affiliated institutions, with a single letter costing Rs 34. Thus, in one year, the minimum cost incurred in sending such letters to each of the institutions is approximately Rs 24, 48,000, which we are being able to save now.
• For the first time, the HS first year students also availed the online for fill up facility this year.

Deepa Malik named recipient of Sir Edmund Hillary Fellowship

• Rio Paralympics silver medallist Deepa Malik was named as the recipient of the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Sir Edmund Hillary Fellowship for 2019 in recognition of her inspiring achievements.
• The citation states that the Deepa Malik exemplifies two values that make a great sportsperson: courage and a can-do attitude.
• Deepa Malik will be undertaking a series of visits to Paralympic sporting organisations, and engage with Kiwi athletes, students and the media as well as New Zealand’s significant Indian Diaspora community.
• Deepa Malik will promote cultural as well the people-to-people relationship between India and New Zealand.
• The Fellowship Program which is running since 2008 aims to strengthen the relationship between India and New Zealand by showcasing the different aspects of the warm friendship between the two countries. The fellowship aims to strengthen the ties between India and New Zealand.

NatGeo to set up weather stations on Mt. Everest

• The National Geographic Society will set up automatic weather stations on Mount Everest as part of its multi-year, partnered initiative to increase understanding of extreme environmental conditions.
• NatGeo has been permitted to install five automatic weather stations at different elevations along the climbing route and on the “roof of the world”.
• The NatGeo team had already left for the Everest expedition to carry out research on weather, atmospheric conditions and changing climate by placing weather stations in the high altitude areas to gather data for the improvement of large-scale climate and weather models.
• As per their plan, satellite-link technology will share near-real-time information about conditions on the mountain with scientists, regional managers and climbers.
• It is going to carry out a broad scientific assessment of – and expedition to – Mt Everest and the Solukhumbu region, working closely with Nepali partners.
• The expedition will collect samples for scientific research on current and historical climate patterns. It will use remotely sensed images to improve mapping of the glacial extent to better understand changing environmental conditions.
• NatGeo has also partnered with the Department of Geology and the Department of Botany of Tribhuvan University to study the aspects of extremophiles and biology.

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 April 14, 2019

Telugu Poet K Siva Reddy selected for prestigious Saraswati Samman 2018

• Telugu poet K Siva Reddy is selected for the prestigious Saraswati Samman 2018 for his collection of poetry titled Pakkaki Ottigilite.

FACTFILE – The Saraswati Samman 2018 Awards

• The Saraswati Samman is an annual award for outstanding prose or poetry literary works in any 22 Indian languages listed in Schedule VIII of the Constitution of India.
• It is considered to be among the highest literary awards in India.
• It is named after the Goddess of learning and carries a cash prize of 15 lakh rupees, a citation and a plaque.
• It was instituted in 1991 by the K. K. Birla Foundation.
• The inaugural award was given to Harivanshrai ‘Bachchan’ for his four volume autobiography, Kya Bhooloon Kya Yaad Karoon, Needa Ka Nirman Phir, Basere Se Door and Dashdwar se Sopan Tak.

World’s largest plane successfully completes maiden flight

• The world’s largest aircraft, developed by aerospace venture Stratolaunch, completed its first flight test. With a dual fuselage design and wingspan greater than the length of an American football field, the airplane took off from Mojave Air and Space Port in
• Achieving a maximum speed of 189 miles (302.4 km) per hour, the plane flew for 2.5 hours over the Mojave Desert at altitudes up to 17,000 feet.
• As part of the initial flight, the pilots evaluated aircraft performance and handling qualities before landing successfully back at the Mojave Air and Space Port.
• The test team performed a variety of flight control maneuvers to calibrate speed and test flight control systems, including roll doublets, yawing maneuvers, pushovers and pull-ups, and steady heading side slips.
• Moreover, it conducted simulated landing approach exercises at a max altitude of 15,000 feet mean sea level.
• The aircraft has a world-record wingspan of 385 feet, and is 238 feet long. It is wider than any airplane on the planet. It weighs half a million pounds.

Airtel, FICCI Ladies Organisation launch app for women’s safety

• Bharti Airtel in collaboration with FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) on Sunday launched a mobile app, My Circle, to help women in case they face any problem or a panic situation.
• The application is carrier agnostic which would work on phones with any telecom service network, both Airtel and non-Airtel.
• My Circle app enables women to send SOS alerts to any five of their family or friends in 13 languages including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Punjabi, Bangla, Urdu, Assamese, Oriya, and Gujarati.
• A woman in distress can send an SOS alert by pressing the SOS prompt on the app. It can also be activated by voice command through Siri on iOS, the voice activation through Google Assistant will soon be available on Android devices also.
• The app would instantly send the SOS alert along with the user’s location over SMS to the five contacts selected by the user and advise them to immediately reach out or respond to the emergency situation.
• The app operates by estimating the accurate location of the user which their family or friends can track real time on a link that is sent as part of the alert SMS.
• The free-to-download app is available on Google Play store (Android) and will be available on App Store (iOS) soon.

USTM signs MOU with UGC Bangladesh

• University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh at Sylhet.
• UGC Bangladesh will facilitate and coordinate the interaction of the universities of Bangladesh with USTM to pursue cooperation in exchange visits by students, faculty and administrators for study and research, teaching and discussions in accordance with regulations of both governments and universities.
• The pact will help in exchange of materials in education and research, publications, academic information, instruction and cultural programmes, and institution of fellowships.
• Both the sides agreed for joint research projects and programmes related to global education in areas of peace and conflict transformation; water resource and solid waste management; women empowerment; micro finance and issues related to the overall spread and promotion of education and for all round development of both the countries in specified areas.
• This non-binding Agreement will be effective for a period of five years but will be automatically renewed by mutual agreement for an additional five years, unless the UGC and USTM provide written notification of a decision of non-renewal prior to the expiration date.

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