Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 269: May 25-27, 2020

Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz Set 269 : May 25 – 27, 2020

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

 

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Q1. Recently, who was appointed as National President of FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO)?

  1. Atul Sahai
  2. Jahnabi Phookan
  3. Abhas Jha
  4. Chanda Kochhar
B. Jahnabi Phookan

 

Q2. Recently, which state government has initiated the process of getting GI tag for Khamti Lahi Rice, Tawang Maize and Adi Ginger?

  1. Assam
  2. Tripura
  3. Arunachal Pradesh
  4. Uttarakhand
C. Arunachal Pradesh

 

Q3. Recently, India set up military war game Centre ‘INDIA’ in which country?

  1. Uganda
  2. Italy
  3. Russia
  4. Spain
A. Uganda

 

Q4. Which state has become the first Indian state to accord industrial status to sports?

  1. Manipur
  2. Assam
  3. Mizoram
  4. Sikkim
C. Mizoram 

 

Q5. Which is the first state to release report on conservation of endemic, threatened floras?

  1. Nagaland
  2. Assam
  3. Uttarakhand
  4. Arunachal Pradesh

C. Uttrakhand

 

Q6. Which Indian peacekeeper has been selected for the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award 2019?

  1. Suman Gawani
  2. Nanaji Dedsmukh
  3. Kuldip Nayar
  4. Mukund Naravane
A. Suman Gawani

 

Q7. Recently, who among the following was appointed as new president of New Development Bank?

  1. K V Kamath
  2. Marcos Prado Troyjo
  3. Anil Kishora
  4. Abul  Ahsan
B. Marcos Prado Troyjo

 

Q8. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has completed construction of 440m long tunnel below Chamba town. The tunnel is inaugurated in which state recently?

  1. Maharashtra
  2. Himachal Pradesh
  3. Uttarakhand
  4. Uttar Pradesh
C. Uttarakhand

 

Q9. Name the Indian-American IBM scientist, who has bagged the prestigious NYIPLA “Inventor of the Year award” for the year 2020?

  1. Rajiv Joshi
  2. Shiva Ayyadurai
  3. Madhu Sudan
  4. Vilayanur Subramanian Ramachandran
A. Rajiv Joshi

 

Q10. Recently, who has been appointed as the new Chairman of JP Morgan South Asia and South East Asia?

  1. Aiman Ezzat
  2. Leo Puri
  3. Sandip Pradhan
  4. Arun Singhal
B. Leo Puri

 

 

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 268: May 22-24, 2020

Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz Set 268 : May 22 – 24, 2020

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

 

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Q1. The Khudol, a crowdfunded initiative of which Indian state/UT is among the top 10 global initiatives announced by UN for an inclusive fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?

  1. Manipur
  2. Mizoram
  3. Nagaland
  4. Arunachal Pradesh
A. Manipur

 

Q2. ‘Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana’ meant for senior citizens, has now been extended till which year?

  1. 2021
  2. 2022
  3. 2023
  4. 2024
C. 2023

 

Q3. Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar and which organisation has recently launched NBA-UNDP India’s Biodiversity Samrakshan Internship Programme?

  1. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  2. World Health Organisation (WHO)
  3. International Labour Organisation (ILO)
  4. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
A. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

 

Q4. Who has been appointed by to a key position on climate change and disaster management in South Asia by the World Bank?

  1. Raghuram Rajan
  2. Kaushik Basu
  3. Jayati Ghosh
  4. Abhas Jha
D. Abhas Jha 

 

Q5. Who among the following is set to take charge as the Chairman of the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board?

  1. Nirmala Sitharaman
  2. Praful Patel
  3. Harsh Vardhan
  4. Hiroki Nakatani

C. Harsh Vardhan

 

Q6. The Union Cabinet approved how much amount of Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for the MSME?

  1. Rs. 3 Lakh Crore
  2. Rs. 10 Lakh Crore
  3. Rs. 6 Lakh Crore
  4. Rs. 5 Lakh Crore
A. Rs. 3 Lakh Crore

 

Q7. Recently, which company has signed agreement to acquire 24% stake in Indian Railway Station Development Corporation (IRSDC)?

  1. RITES
  2. TALENT
  3. ATEC
  4. SEED
A. RITES

 

Q8. Recently, which state has launched a new space defense unity to monitor and counter threats to the country’s satellites?

  1. India
  2. Germany
  3. Japan
  4. China
C. Japan

 

Q9. The researchers at which IIT has developed a solar ‘parabolic trough collector’ system for concentrating solar energy for industrial applications?

  1. IIT Kanpur
  2. IIT Madras
  3. IIT Dhanbad
  4. IIT Pune
B. IIT Madras

 

Q10. Recently, scientists at Pune based Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), have mapped two alternative dwarfing genes Rht14 and Rht18 in which of the following crop?

  1. Rice
  2. Maize
  3. Wheat
  4. Millet
C. Wheat

 

 

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 267: May 19-21, 2020

Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz Set 267 : May 19 – 21, 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 – April 2020 | Current Affairs Monthly – April 2020
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Q1. Oil India Limited has recently received environmental clearance for its exploration project beneath which national park?

  1. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
  2. Jim Corbett National Park
  3. Bandipur National Park
  4. Rajbari National Park
A. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park

 

Q2. Which country has recently approved the new political map which includes India’s Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura under its territory?

  1. Nepal
  2. China
  3. Bangladesh
  4. Bhutan
A. Nepal

 

Q3. “Rajiv Gandhi Nyay Yojana” is launched by which state recently?

  1. Punjab
  2. Chhatisgarh
  3. Gujarat
  4. Madhya Pradesh
B. Chhatisgarh

 

Q4. ‘Mee Annapurna’, an inclusive programe has been recently launched for the welfare of farmers in which state?

  1. Maharashtra
  2. Tamil Nadu
  3. Nagaland
  4. Odisha
A. Maharashtra 

 

Q5. Who has been honored with 2019 Alexander Dalrymple Award from UK?

  1. Vinay Badhwar
  2. Thomas Thabane
  3. Sachin Bansal
  4. Bipin Rawat

A. Vinay Badhwar

 

Q6. Recently, which state has launched the first cyber security accelerator for start-ups in India?

  1. West Bengal
  2. Mizoram
  3. Karnataka
  4. Rajasthan
C. Karnataka

 

Q7. “Samagra Shiksha programme” is the initiative of which India state/UT to facilitate students access to education through technological interventions recently?

  1. Uttar Pradesh
  2. Jammu and Kashmir
  3. Chandigarh
  4. Madhya Pradesh
B. Jammu and Kashmir

 

Q8. Which zone of railways has developed the robot “Rail-BOT (R-BOT)” to assist railway doctors?

  1. South Eastern
  2. South Central
  3. Western
  4. Eastern
B. South Central

 

Q9. A rare palm from South Andaman called ‘Pinanga andamanensis’ has been recently replanted in which state to prevent its extinction?

  1. Himachal Pradesh
  2. Assam
  3. Meghalaya
  4. Kerala
D. Kerala

 

Q10. The researchers of which nation has developed “heat resistant” coral to fight bleaching?

  1. China
  2. UK
  3. India
  4. Australia
D. Australia

 

 

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 266: May 16-18, 2020

Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz Set 266 : May 16 – 18, 2020

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

 

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Q1. How much additional was fund allocated for MGNREGA to provide employment boost in the country?

  1. 25,000 cr
  2. 40,000 cr
  3. 20,000 cr
  4. 15,000 cr
B. 40,000 cr

 

Q2. Recently, Telia Rumal of which state got Geographical Indication (GI) tag?

  1. Telangana
  2. Bihar
  3. Uttarakhand
  4. Goa
A. Telangana

 

Q3. What is the rank of India on the Global Energy Transition Index 2020?

  1. 83rd
  2. 74th
  3. 96th
  4. 43rd
B. 74th

 

Q4. Recently, how much fund has been allocated to support micro food enterprises under Aatmanirbhar Bharat economic package?

  1. Rs 10,000 crore
  2. Rs 15,000 crore
  3. Rs 20,000 crore
  4. Rs 10,00 crore
A. Rs 10,000 crore

 

Q5. Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda launched the “GOAL (Going Online As Leaders)” programme recently in partnership with which company to provide mentorship to tribal youth through digital mode?

  1. Google
  2. Facebook
  3. Whatsapp
  4. Wechat

B. Facebook

 

Q6. Government of which state has recently launched ‘Atmanirbhar Sahay Yojna’ to help lower-middle-income group?

  1. Uttar Pradesh
  2. Madhya Pradesh
  3. Gujarat
  4. Rajasthan
C. Gujarat

 

Q7. What is the target set by Indian government for renewable energy installation by 2022?

  1. 175 GW
  2. 185 GW
  3. 120 GW
  4. 145 GW
A. 175 GW

 

Q8. Recently, NABARD has sanctioned Rs. 1500 crores to ensure continuous credit flow to farmers, through state cooperative banks to which state?

  1. Uttar Pradesh
  2. Punjab
  3. Maharashtra
  4. Madhya Pradesh
B. Punjab

 

Q9. Who has recently assumed charge as the next Economic Affairs Secretary?

  1. Subhash Chandra Grag
  2. Debasish Panda
  3. T.V. Somnathan
  4. Tarun Bajaj
D. Tarun Bajaj

 

Q10. Researchers of which Indian Institute has recently developed an interactive COVID-19 dashboard called “MIR AHD Covid-19 Dashboard”?

  1. IIT Delhi
  2. IIT Guwahati
  3. IIT Gandhinagar
  4. IIT Madras
C. IIT Gandhinagar

 

 

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 265: May 13-15, 2020

Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz Set 265 : May 13 – 15, 2020

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

 

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Q1. The Union Minister for the Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) recently attended the Bamboo Conclave through video conference to boost the economy of the country with the help of Bamboo resources. Who is the present Minister of DoNER?

  1. Paban Singh Ghatowar
  2. Mani Shankar Aiyar
  3. Jitendra Singh
  4. Annasaheb M. K. Patil
C. Jitendra Singh

 

Q2. Recently, which country has named one of its streets after Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore on his 159th birth anniversary?

  1. Myanmar
  2. Israel
  3. Nepal
  4. Singapore
B. Israel

 

Q3. Recently, Sohrai Khovar painting of which state got Geographical Indication (GI) tag?

  1. Telangana
  2. Jharkhand
  3. Tamil Nadu
  4. Rajasthan
B. Jharkhand

 

Q4. As per the new definition for MSME, what is the investment & turnover criteria for “Medium” units?

  1. Rs 10 crore and Rs 50 crore, respectively
  2. Rs 25 crore and Rs 75 crore, respectively
  3. Rs 20 crore and Rs 100 crore, respectively
  4. Rs 50 crore and Rs 500 crore, respectively
C. Rs 20 crore and Rs 100 crore, respectively

 

Q5. How much amount was allocated from PM CARES Fund Trust to fight COVID-19 Pandemic?

  1. Rs. 2700 crores
  2. Rs. 1700 crores
  3. Rs. 3100 crores
  4. Rs. 2300 crores
C. Rs 3100 crores

 

Q6. Government of which state has launched ‘Matir Smristi’ scheme to utilise 50,000 acres of barren land in 6 districts for income-generating activities?

  1. Odisha
  2. West Bengal
  3. Assam
  4. Tripura
B. West Bengal

 

Q7. As per the recent survey released by International Budget Partnership (IBP), what is the rank of India in Budget Transparency and Accountability survey?

  1. 53rd
  2. 45th
  3. 78th
  4. 61st
A. 53rd

 

Q8. Recently, which Indian airport which has won the SKYTRAX Award 2020 for Best Regional Airport in India and Central Asia?

  1. Indira Gandhi International Airport
  2. Chattrapati Shivaji International Airport
  3. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport
  4. Kempegowda International Airport
D. Kempegowda International Airport

 

Q9. Recently, which organisation lab has developed an automated contactless UVC sanitisation cabinet, called Defence Research Ultraviolet Sanitiser (DRUVS) to sanitise electronic gadgets, papers & currency notes?

  1. DRDO
  2. BARC
  3. CSIR
  4. ICAR
A. DRDO

 

Q10. Name the India’s first indigenous COVID-19 antibody test kit developed by National Institute of Virology recently?

  1. SECURE
  2. ELISA
  3. SURAKSHA
  4. BHAROSA
B. ELISA

 

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 264: May 10-12, 2020

Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz Set 264 : May 10 – 12, 2020

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

 

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Q1. Which IIT has organised Poster Making Competition under ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Campaign’?

  1. IIT Dhanbad
  2. IIT Roorkee
  3. IIT Guwahati
  4. IIT Indore
C. IIT Guwahati

 

Q2. Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) and which organization has recently signed a MoU to collaborate in programmes of each organisation for promoting Tribal Enterprises?

  1. Art of Living Foundation (AOL)
  2. Bharat financial Inclusion
  3. Udaan Welfare Foundation
  4. Bharti Foundation
A. Art of Living

 

Q3. First state in India to provide mid-day meal ration?

  1. Assam
  2. Kerala
  3. Madhya Pradesh
  4. Mizoram
C. Madhya Pradesh

 

Q4. Name the mission recently launched by government of India to send medical aid to five Island nations in the Indian Ocean?

  1. Mission India
  2. Mission Sagar
  3. Mission Possible
  4. Mission Island
B. Mission Sagar

 

Q5. Who among the following has been appointed as the new Chairman of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)?

  1. Manoj Ahuja
  2. Aditya Kumar Anand
  3. Ajay Kumar
  4. Aditya Negi
A. Manoj Ahuja

 

Q6. Recently, who has been appointed as the Secretary in the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE)?

  1. Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi
  2. Anand Kumar
  3. Atanu Chakraborty
  4. Ajay Bhushan Pandey
A. Indu shekhar Chaturvedi

 

Q7. First state in India to launch an innovative Scheme “FIR Aapke Dwar Yojana”?

  1. Uttar Pradesh
  2. Rajasthan
  3. Goa
  4. Madhya Pradesh
A. Madhya Pradesh

 

Q8. According to the recent data released by the Registrar General of India, has the worst infant mortality rate in the country?

  1. Nagaland
  2. Madhya Pradesh
  3. Bihar
  4. Maharashtra
B. Madhya Pradesh

 

Q9. Who has been recently appointed as the Director general of Labour Bureau in Ministry of Labour and Employment?

  1. D P S Negi
  2. Shri Taranjit Singh Sandhu
  3. Jawed Ashraf
  4. Vinay Mohan Kwatra
A. DPS Negi

 

Q10. Recently, which organization has organized the Indo-Bangladesh ‘Virtual Conference’ to boost trade and business between the two countries?

  1. India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO)
  2. Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)
  3. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
  4. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
C. Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)

 

 

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Assam Current Affairs – April 29 – 30, 2020

  Current Affairs Assam – April 29 – 30, 2020

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

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 APRIL 29, 2020


Manipuri doctor Thangjam Dhabali Singh conferred ‘Order of Rising Sun’ by Japan

  • Thangjam Dhabali Singh, doctor from Manipur has been conferred the ‘Order of Rising Sun’ by the Japan government for promoting a better understanding of Japan in India and deepening ties between the two countries.
  • The ‘Order of the Rising Sun’ is conferred on persons with achievements in international relations, promotion of Japanese culture, environmental preservation, welfare or achievements in their fields. It was constituted by Japanese Emperor Meiji in 1875.
  • Thangjam Dhabali Singh, an allopathic doctor by profession and founder of the Manipur Tourism Forum (MTF), was conferred the ‘Order of Rising Sun – Gold and Silver Rays’ by the Japan government.
  • Singh had organised the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal of the Second World War. Several Japanese citizens, including officials from the Embassy of Japan in India, had participated in the event.
  • With support from the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and the Nippon Foundation of Japan, the Imphal Peace Foundation was launched on June 22 last year. The MTF played an important role in giving shape to it during Th Dhabali Singh’s tenure as president of the forum.
  • The Embassy of Japan in India has paid tributes to Singh’s long years of service in consolidating Japan-India relationship.

Cabinet approves empanelment of 17 IPS officers for ADG posts

  • The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet approved empanelment of 17 IPS officers of 1991 batch to hold the posts of Additional Director General (ADG) of Police or equivalent level at the Centre.
  • The 7 IPS officers include G.P. Singh, Praveen Vashista, Shamsher Singh, Rashmi Ranjan Swain, Arun Kumar Choudhary, R.A. Chandra Sekhar, Pratap Reddy, AlokRanjan, Yogesh Mudgal, and A. Sunil Achaya.
  • The list also has IPS officers Dharam Chand Jain, Amaresh Pujari, K. JayanthMurali, PiyushAnand, Alok Sharma, Nuzhat Hassan and S. Jagannathan.

Justice Datta takes oath as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court

  • Justice DipankarDatta was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari administered the oath of office to the new CJ at a function in Raj Bhavan attended by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
  • Born on February 9, 1965, Chief Justice Datta started his legal practice from November 1989, in the High Court and Supreme Court, fighting constitutional and civil matters
  • Appointed as a permanent Judge of Calcutta HC in June 2006, over the past 16 years as a judge, he has also served in the high courts of Guwahati, Jharkhand before being appointed the Chief Justice of Bombay HC.
  • He replaces Chief Justice BhushanDharmadhikari who retired on April 27.

Asian Development Bank approves $1.5 billion loan to India for Covid response

  • The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $1.5 billion loan to the Government of India to help fund its response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
  • The support would also be available for immediate priorities such as disease containment and prevention, as well as social protection for the poor and economically vulnerable sections of the society, especially women and disadvantaged groups.
  • ADB”s COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support (CARES) Program will contribute directly to the improvement of access to health facilities and care, as well as social protection for more than 800 million people, including families below the poverty line, farmers, health care workers, women, senior citizens, people with disabilities, low wage earners, and construction workers.
  • The CARES Program is funded through the COVID-19 pandemic response option (CPRO) under ADB”s Countercyclical Support Facility.
  • CPRO was established as part of ADB”s $20 billion expanded assistance for developing member countries” COVID-19 response.
  • The CARES Program will be provided with a $2 million technical assistance grant to support the government to strengthen its operational framework and efficient targeting, delivery, and monitoring and evaluation of its pro-poor economic package, as well as its health sector and social protection interventions.
  • ADB will support government efforts and coordinate with other development partners to stimulate the economy, build capacity for monitoring and evaluation of government programs, and improve economic resilience against future shocks.
  • This will include the economic recovery of affected industries and entrepreneurs through better access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises along with credit enhancement facility for infrastructure projects and the strengthening of public service delivery at national and state levels.

APRIL 30, 2020

J&K govt signs MoU with Tata Tech for two CIIITs

  • The J&K administrationsigned an MoU with Tata Technologies for setting up two Centres for Invention, Innovation, Incubation and Training (CIIITs) one each at Government Polytechnic Colleges in Jammu and Baramulla districts.
  • The MOU was signed in the presence of J&K Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu by Navin Kumar Choudhary, J&K Principal Secretary (Technical Education) and AnandBhade, president of Tata Technologies.
  • The signing of the MoU will ensure 100 per cent placement for the trainees after completion of various courses.
  • The partnership would enable efficient, effective, integrated and sustainable service delivery in the implementation of the CIIIT.
  • The project is aimed at bringing qualitative improvements in the field of technical education and to create a learning environment for training manpower to cater to the industry requirements in J&K and outside.

N. Patel takes oath as Vigilance Commissioner

  • Eminent banker N. Patel was sworn-in as Vigilance Commissioner. Patel was administered the oath of office by Central Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari on video link.
  • The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Vigilance Commissioner Sharad Kumar, the Commission”s Secretary and other senior officers.
  • Patel was the Managing Director and CEO of Andhra Bank and was an Executive Director in the Oriental Bank of Commerce.
  • The tenure of Vigilance Commissioner is of four years or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years.
  • The Central Vigilance Commission has a Central Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners.

Uttar Pradesh govt to amend Epidemic Act

  • The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 to ensure stricter punishment for those assaulting corona warriors, including doctors, paramedical staff, police personnel and sanitary workers.
  • The ordinance with the amendment made by the UP government — Uttar Pradesh Epidemic Disease Covid-19 Regulations, 2020 — will be introduced at the earliest.
  • It is proposed that the ordinance will have provisions for fine up to Rs 5 lakh and jail term up to seven years.
  • The ordinance means stern punishment for those who have been insulting and attacking corona warriors, including doctors, health workers, police personnel and sanitary workers involved in the battle against coronavirus. Spitting on corona warriors will also be an offence under this.

IIT Guwahati collaborates with Hester Biosciences to develop COVID-19 vaccine

  • Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) announced that it has joined hands with Ahmedabad-based pharmaceutical company Hester Biosciences to develop a vaccine for COVID-19.
  • The vaccine will be based on recombinant avian paramyxovirus-based vector platform. The recombinant avian paramyxovirus-1 will be used to express the immunogenic protein of SARS-CoV-2.
  • IITG and Hester Biosciences expect the vaccine to be ready by the end of this year to start animal studies. The work is currently in its early stage of development.
  • IIT Guwahati’s Associate Professor of the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Dr Sachin Kumar and his team have generated the recombinant avian paramyxovirus-1-based vaccine platform for classical swine fever and Japanese Encephalitis. The role of IIT-G is to produce the recombinant vaccine candidate.
  • The team at IITG has generated the recombinant avian paramyxovirus-1 based vaccine platform for Classical Swine Fever and Japanese Encephalitis. The role of the institute is to produce the recombinant vaccine candidate.
  • The recombinant avian paramyxovirus-1 expressing the SARS-CoV-2 protein could be used as a vaccine candidate for further study.
  • IITG and Hester have collaborated to develop and manufacture a recombinant vaccine against COVID-19 disease as a preventive measure.

Nearly half of global workforce at risk of losing livelihoods due to COVID, ILO reports

  • Almost 1.6 billion workers in the informal economy, which constitute half of the global workforce, face an immediate danger of losing their livelihoods due to the continued sharp decline in working hours because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Monitor “COVID-19 and the world of work” revealed.
  • More than 430 million enterprises in hard-hit sectors such as retail and manufacturing risk “serious disruption”.
  • Globally, there are some 3.3 billion workers. Two billion have jobs in the informal economy, the most vulnerable workers in the labour market and they have suffered massive damage to their capacity to earn a living.
  • Due to lockdowns or because they work in hard-hit sectors, these workers globally have seen a 60 per cent drop in income during the first month of the crisis.
  • This translates into a more than 80 per cent decline in Africa and the Americas, 70 per cent in Europe and Central Asia, and 21.6 per cent in Asia and the Pacific.

FACTFILE – International Labour Organization (ILO)

  • The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice through setting international labour standards.
  • It was founded in 1919 under the League of Nations, it is the first and oldest specialised agency of the UN.
  • The ILO has 187 member states: 186 out of 193 UN member states plus the Cook Islands.
  • It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • The ILO’s international labour standards are broadly aimed at ensuring accessible, productive, and sustainable work worldwide in conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity.
  • The organization is unique in the UN for its tripartite structure: All standards, policies, and programmes require debate and input from governments, employers, and workers.
  • In 1969, the ILO received the Nobel Peace Prize for improving fraternity and peace among nations, pursuing decent work and justice for workers, and providing technical assistance to other developing nations.

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Assam Current Affairs – February 08 – 14, 2020

Current Affairs Assam – February 8 - 14, 2020

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

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FEBRUARY 08, 2020


Tocklai Tea Research Institute made breakthrough in micro-propagation of Tea plants
  • The Jorhat-based Tocklai Tea Research Institute (TTRI) has achieved a major breakthrough in micro-propagation of tea plants by applying the tissue culture technology. So far, this technology could not be utilised for mass propagation of tea plants. This achievement of the TTRI is hailed as a remarkable one and will have far-reaching benefits for the country’s tea industry in matters of quality.
  • So far, most of the tea tissue culture work was successful in the laboratory only, and that too using the germinating seeds as the starting material, he said.
  • Pranita Hazarika, a young lady scientist of the TTRI, has solved the problems faced so far in transferring the tissue cultured tea plants from ‘flask to field.’ The plants developed by her have completed one year of luxuriant growth and received the first prune on January 20 last.
  • The work demonstrated that the tissue culture technology can in fact be made applicable for commercial micro-propagation of tea plantlets at a reasonable price and much faster pace than the conventional methods. It throws up the possibility of complete transformation of the entire supply chain management of tea planting material in the near future and is thus going to have a far-reaching impact on the tea industry. The tissue culture has the potential to generate a large number of plantlets within a short time from a single cell or tissue or explants, that is plant parts.
  • The conventional tea plant multiplication methods either through germinating seed or vegetative nodal cuttings are unable to meet the mounting demand from tea gardens for good planting material and calls for a rapid low cost alternative technology. Thus, making available climate resilient and superior cultivars as well as innovative technology for adoption by the tea gardens are crucial components for ensuring sustainability of the tea industry.
  • The procedure is quite reproducible and requires less time by concurrently inducing rooting and hardening of micro-shoots. In-vitro regeneration of tea plantlet from shoot explants collected from the field has also been successfully carried out.
  • Efforts at utilising the tissue culture technology were hitherto accosted by several problems. Further, there were reports that the few hardened tea plants developed in laboratories did not grow well in the outdoor field conditions.

FACTFILE – Tocklai Tea Research Institute

  • The Tocklai Tea Research Institute was established in 1911, at a site near the River Tocklai in Jorhat, Assam, India. The initial construction of a laboratory and two bungalows was funded by the tea industry, subsidised by the national government of India, and the Indian states of Assam and Bengal.
  • The beginning of a new era of tea research in India was marked by the establishment of the Scientific Department of Indian Tea Association (ITA) in the year 1900. This was consolidated with the creation of the Tocklai Experimental Station in 1911.
  • The formation of the Tea Research Association (TRA) in 1964 with Tocklai at the centre of all activities further expanded the horizon of tea research to cover the entire Northeast India.
  • Research on all aspects of tea cultivation and processing is carried out at the Tocklai Tea Research Institute, Jorhat, the oldest and the largest research station of its kind in the world.
  • Apart from research on various aspects of tea cultivation and processing, the research on tissue culture of modern tea and its medicinal benefits are also being carried out here.
  • Transfer of technology to its member estates is carried out through its advisory network covering 1,076 tea estates occupying 341,049 hectares (1,317 sq mi) of land spread over The South Bank, North Bank, Upper Assam, Cachar, Tripura, Dooars, Darjeeling and Terai.
  • Tocklai has its regional R & D Centre at Nagrakata, West Bengal.
  • Chairman – PK Bezboruah.

India, Sri Lanka to cooperate on fight against terrorism
  • India and Sri Lanka agreed to furthering cooperation with each other in combating terrorism in South Asia.
  • During a visit of the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to New Delhi.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi said,Terrorism is a major danger in our region. Both countries have fought this problem firmly.
  • Prime Minister Modi also revealed that Sri Lankan police officers have started participating in anti-terrorism courses in India”s training institutes

IIT Madras and AIIMS Mangalagiri partner for tech solutions
  • Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) announced collaboration with AIIMS Mangalagiri on affordable technology solutions.
  • IITM said the partnership between the two institutions will also feature academic and research collaborations.
  • Officials of the two institutions discussed on the areas of collaborations like healthcare robotics, predictive models using artificial intelligence and remote presence point-of-care solutions to improve hospital and community health out-comes.

FEBRUARY 09, 2020

Bangladesh win maiden ICC U-19 World Cup, defeated India in final
  • Bangladesh cricket team clinched its maiden ICC Under-19 World Cup title after beating favourites India cricket by three wickets in the summit clash at JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom.
  • Set a revised target of 170 under D/L method, after a brief rain interruption, Bangladesh won the match with 23 balls to spare. Sent in to bat, India’s batting wilted under pressure as a superb Bangladesh bowling attack shot the defending champions out for a paltry 177 in 47.2 overs.
  • Yasashvi Jaiswal (88 off 121 balls) was once again a standout performer but not for once did he look like dominating the Bangladesh bowling unit whose new ball bowlers Shoriful Islam (2/31 in 10 overs) and Tanzim Hasan Shakib (2/28 in 8.2 overs) literally stifled the Indians for runs.
  • The third seamer Avishek Das (3/40 in 9 overs) was the most successful bowler in terms of figures but it was Shoriful’s first spell with channelised aggression that put the Indians on the back-foot from the onset.
  • After a short rain break towards the end, the target was revised to 170 from 46 runs but Bangladesh reached 170 for 7 in 42.1 overs to win the match.
  • Opener Parvez Hossain Emon top-scored for Bangladesh with a 79-ball 47 while captain and wicketkeeper Akbar Ali was not out on 43 from 77 deliveries.
  • For the India U-19 side, Ravi Bishnoi was the most successful bowler with figures of 4/30 while Sushant Mishra had 2/25.
  • India thus missed out on a record fifth title in their seventh final appearance.

FACTFILE – ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup

  • The ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup is an international cricket tournament organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) contested by national under-19 teams.
  • First contested in 1988, as the Youth World Cup, it was not staged again until 1998. Since then, the World Cup has been held as a biennial event, organised by the ICC.
  • he first edition of the tournament had only eight participants, but every subsequent edition has included sixteen teams.
  • India have won the World Cup on a record four occasions, while Australia have won three times, Pakistan twice, and Bangladesh, England, South Africa and the West Indies once each. Two other teams New Zealand and Sri Lanka have made it to tournament finals.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath announces Rs 2,500 stipend for students

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that government would soon introduce an internship scheme under which students of classes 10, 12 and undergraduates would be linked to various technical institutes and given Rs 2,500 per month as stipend.

  • The Chief Minister said that the internship period would be six months or one year after which the government would help in their placement.
  • He said that of the Rs 2,500, the state government would give Rs 1,000 while the Centre would contribute Rs 1,500.
  • The Chief Minister further announced that an ITI and a skill development centre would be opened at every tehsil so that the youth could hone their skills.

Wipro recognized 18 Indian educational under it’s earthian awards
  • Global software major Wipro recognized 18 Indian educational institutions for embedding sustainability in the learning process as part of earthian awards.
  • Wipro earthian is a flagship program that tries to bring together the themes of sustainability and education in meaningful ways.
  • The programme helps stimulate curiosity and interest in young minds in critical areas of sustainability.
  • Some of the winning institutes are Government Senior Secondary School Bojoghari, East Sikkim, Rajkiya Uccha Madhyamik Vidyalay, Sirohi, Rajasthan, St. Joseph”s Educational Institute, Chandor, Goa and BMS College of Engineering, Bengaluru among others.
  • In its ninth edition, earthian, a sustainable education program for schools and colleges, received 1,300 project entries out, of which 10 schools and eight colleges emerged winners for the year 2019.
  • As part of the programme, teams of students from the educational institutes demonstrated understanding on biodiversity, water and waste along with other activities such as writing essays on those topics.

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FEBRUARY 10, 2020

Justice T Vaiphei takes over as Chief of Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC)
  • Retired Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court, Justice T Vaiphei has taken over charge as the chairperson of the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC).
  • The MHRC was functioning under acting chairperson Peter JP Hanaman after Justice Aftab H Saikia retired last year. As per rules, only Chief Justices of High Courts can be appointed as chairperson of the commission.
  • Justice Vaiphei took charge on February 7 in the presence of Hanaman, member Baffyndalyne Giri and other officials and staff of the Commission. Justice Vaiphei was earlier the chairperson of the Assam Human Rights Commission.

BIOGRAPHY – Justice T Vaiphei

  • Justice Vaiphei graduated in 1976 and passed his LLB in 1979 from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi.
  • He enrolled in the Bar Council of Assam in 1980 and was appointed as the Additional Advocate General of Mizoram in 1999.
  • He was elevated as Additional Judge of the Gauhati High Court in 2003. Justice Vaiphei was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court on September 21, 2016.
  • After his retirement in 2018, he was appointed as the chairperson of the Assam Human Rights Commission.

92nd Academy Awards – Joaquin Phoenix for ‘Joker’ and list of other winners
  • The 92nd Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, honored the best films of 2019 and took place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. During the ceremony, AMPAS presented Academy Awards (Oscars) in 24 categories.
  • This event marked the first time in Oscar history that more than three films had received ten or more nominations.
  • The South Korean film Parasite led the ceremony with four awards and became the first film not in the English language to win Best Picture, as well as the first South Korean submission to be nominated for (and win) Best International Feature Film.
  • The war film 1917 won three awards, while Ford v Ferrari, Joker, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood won two awards each. American Factory, Bombshell, Hair Love, Jojo Rabbit, Judy, Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl), Little Women, Marriage Story, The Neighbors’ Window, Rocketman, and Toy Story 4 won one award each.
  • Hollywood star Joaquin Phoenix finally ended his dry run at the Oscars as he picked up the best actor trophy for his performance in and as “Joker” at the 92nd Academy Awards. Phoenix had emerged as an undisputed frontrunner against the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”), Adam Driver (“Marriage Story”), “Antonio Banderas (“Pain & Glory”) and Jonathan Pryce (“The Two Popes”).
  • Phoenix’s career most praised performances include “Signs “, “We Own the Night”, “Two Lovers”, “The Immigrant”, “Her”, “You Were Never Really Here” and “Inherent Vice”.

Winners of the Oscar 2020 Award

Best Picture

Parasite – Kwak Sin-ae and Bong Joon-hodouble-dagger

Best Director

Bong Joon-ho – Parasitedouble-dagger

Best Actor

Joaquin Phoenix – Joker as Arthur Fleck / Jokerdouble-dagger

Best Actress

Renée Zellweger – Judy as Judy Garlanddouble-dagger

Best Supporting Actor

Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as Cliff Boothdouble-dagger

Best Supporting Actress

Laura Dern – Marriage Story as Nora Fanshawdouble-dagger

Best International Feature Film

Parasite (South Korea) in Korean – directed by Bong Joon-hodouble-dagger


IIIT-Delhi partners with edu-venture Extramarks to promote research in AI
  • The Indraprastha Institute of Education Technology, Delhi (IIIT-D) signed an MoU with the global education technology company, Extramarks, to promote and encourage research in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  • Extramarks, in partnership with IIIT-D will set up a research laboratory in the computer science department, which will be dedicated to the task of creating new breakthroughs in the area of ”AI in Education”.
  • This partnership opens the doors of constructive research for our students, who will benefit greatly from the practical experience they will gain from engaging with Extramarks.
  • The benefit will accrue to all students, teachers and schools who adopt such futuristic technologies in classrooms as well as home-learning segment.

Skill development centre for women opened in Jammu
  • Union Minister Rattan Lal Kataria inaugurated a skill development centre at the Kashmiri Pandit Migrant Colony in the Jagti.
  • Opened under the Athroot initiative, a project by Sewa Bharti Jammu, a non-government organisation, for uplift of women Kashmiri migrants residing in different migrant camps in and around Jammu.
  • The initiative is aimed to impart training and create self-help groups to empower women and girls to earn a livelihood and shape a better future.
  • The women are provided vocational training in various skills, like embroidery, stitching, spice grinding, pickle making, soap making, classical music and computer courses.
  • It also has a Bal Sanskar Kendra to impart social and moral education to kids.
  • The project is being run under the supervision of Anjali Radhu, a resident of Jagti.

FEBRUARY 11, 2020


Smart Idea Innovation Award 2020
  • State Minister for Fisheries, Excise, Environment and Forest Parimal Suklabaidya gave away the prizes to winners of the 6th Dinanath Pandey Smart Idea Innovation Award.
  • Ha Tade from Arunachal Pradesh won the Dinanath Pandey Smart Idea Innovation Award 2020 for his innovation SOFT.SPY, a device which helps in recording the minute details of a vehicle’s movement – both two-wheelers and four-wheelers.
  • The award has been instituted by the family of Dinanath Pandey who was a master innovator and tried to change the way of life with his innovations.
  • The ‘Innovation Festival’ which is organised by the Indian Council for Science Museum in collaboration with the National Innovation Foundation (NFI), provides a common platform to people of all the states in the north-eastern region working in different fields like innovators, artists, performers, craftsmen and science-demonstrators among others to showcase their creativity.
  • More than 34 innovators from the north-eastern states and West Bengal participated in the two-day exhibition ‘Innovation Festival’.

 


 16 villages in Hailakandi district solar electrified under Souro Shakti project  
  • Altogether 16 villages which did not have access to conventional electricity have been covered following installation of 349 solar street lights in Hailakandi district under project Souro Shakti.  
  • Remote and interior villages such as Ramnathpur, Gutguti, Baruncherra, Nunai FV, Kukicherra, Kanchiwala, Ahyalapur and Sahebmarra, to name just a few, have been brought under solar street lights. Another eight villages which have been groping in dark since independence have been recently installed with 80 solar street lights.
  • Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) has helped connect off grid interior villages such as Raifalmara, Bhai Bonti, Bangla Basha, Gendacherra, Gutguti and Bandukmara Grant with rooftop solar panels covering about 1,551 individual households.
  • The remotest corners of the district still lack electricity connectivity due to lack of terrain and off grid issues. In a bid to ensure that these remote villages are also mainstreamed, solar as an alternative source of energy was proposed to be tapped into, as it is eco-friendly, renewable and self serving option. ONGC was asked to sponsor the project through its CSR initiative.
  • Renewable energy-based solar power will boost small businesses, create local jobs and build economies. This will improve living standards in villages. That in turn will ensure women’s empowerment, better health and education.
  • Almost all the sub centres and health institutions including the SK Roy Civil Hospital have been covered under Project Souro Shakti and have all been lit by solar lights irrespective of availability of electricity. 255 solar lights have been installed in the health sector alone.

Ayurveda Institute Bill introduced in Lok Sabha
  • The Government introduced the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill, 2020 in the Lok Sabha which seeks to confer the status of institution of national importance to a cluster of ayurveda institutions in Gujarat Ayurveda University campus in Jamnagar.
  • The three institutes which would be clubbed are Institute of Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gulab Kunverba Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya and Institute of Ayurveda Pharmaceutical Sciences.
  • Introducing the Bill, Minister of State for Ayush Shripad Yesso Naik said he would consider the suggestions made by the members of the house regarding the draft law.

Andhra Pradesh ink MoUs with 11 institutes for developing agriculture sector
  • The Andhra Pradesh government signed 11 MoUs with leading organisations from across the country to develop agriculture sector in the state.
  • The state’s Agriculture Department signed the MoUs with the officials of various institutes in the presence of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and his cabinet collages Kurasala Kannababu, Mopidevi Venkataramana and Kodali Venkateswara Rao.
  • Arun Kumar, Special Commissioner, Agriculture, signed the MoUs with the officials of the institutes.
  • As part of these MoUs, farmers will be trained in organic and natural farming techniques. They will also be offered training in various agriculture domains.
  • The institutes with which the state signed the agreements include the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai, the National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM), Hyderabad, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, the Central Fertiliser Quality and Training Institute (CFQTI), Faridabad, the National Seed Research and Training Institute (NSRTI), Varanasi, the Central Institute of Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Hyderabad, the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly, the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals (IAHVB), Bengaluru, and the ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Bhubaneswar.

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FEBRUARY 12, 2020


Assam Govt to make higher education free
  • Launching two scholarship schemes for students, Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the State government is working to make higher education completely free, including taking care of the “hidden costs”.
  • Sarma was speaking at a function organised to launch the Gyan Deepika Scholarship announced in the State Budget 2019-20. Under the scheme, the State government would provide subsidy of Rs 700 per month for 10 months through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) on dues to 13,414 hostel students of government colleges and State universities.
  • The Government of Assam also launched the HPC Scholarship Scheme to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh to students whose parents are currently employed in Hindustan Paper Corporation’s units at Panchgram and Jagiroad.
  • The two schemes by Government of Assam are of significant importance in providing financial relief to families with children who aspire to pursue higher education.
  • The government has taken measures which will ensure that higher education too is completely free and there are no hidden costs for students. Parents should not spend a single penny for education of their students, including their pocket money.
  • Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the State government is putting efforts to develop the personality of students who are academically brilliant, socially conscious and professionally successful.

WHO launches global research forum against coronavirus
  • A two-day global research and innovation forum led by the World Health Organization (WHO) was launched to mobilise international action in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
  • Co-hosted by the WHO and the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness and funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
  • The forum gathers roughly 400 participants, both live and online, including leading scientists from virus-related disciplines around the world, representatives of countries with confirmed novel coronavirus cases and those of public health agencies, ethics experts with related expertise, and representatives of major research donors.
  • Chinese representatives from the National Health Commission and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention will brief the forum on China”s research on the outbreak, listen to views of all parties and participate in discussions.
  • The forum is to identify the uncharted waters of the virus, prioritize research options and coordinate global efforts to avoid duplication of research, and speed up vaccine and medicine development.

Sanjay Vatsayan takes over as Eastern fleet commander
  • Rear Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan took command of the eastern fleet deployed across the indo-pacific region to safeguard the nation”s maritime interest. He took charge at Visakhapatnam.
  • The Eastern Fleet comprising of frontline warships of the Indian Navy are deployed across the indo-pacific region to safeguard the nation”s maritime interest.
  • Rear Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan is an alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Naval War College, Mumbai and the National Defence College, New Delhi.
  • The Admiral, who is a Gunnery and Missile systems specialist, has vast experience at sea and ashore.
  • He has commanded missile vessels Vibhuti and Nashak, the guided-missile corvette Kuthar and has also been the commissioning Commanding Officer of the indigenously constructed state-of-the-art stealth frigate Sahyadri.
  • Rear Admiral Vatsayan has also held vital appointments dealing with personnel policy and naval plans at the integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy).
  • Prior to assuming Command of the Eastern Fleet, he was serving as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans) at New Delhi.

Odisha govt signs MoU with HDFC Bank to boost startups
  • The Odisha government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the HDFC Bank Limited to provide smart banking solutions to Startups in the state.
  • The Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Department signed the MoU with the HDFC Bank in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
  • The bank would provide smart banking solutions to the Startups recognised by the Startup Odisha along with opportunity to pitch their solutions to requisite stakeholders and will work towards providing them an opportunity to showcase their solutions.
  • In addition, the bank will extend incubation and acceleration support to all Startups banking with them.
  • HDFC Bank is having third party alliances to provide discounts for startups across key business support functions like shared work spaces, digital marketing, content writing, tax and legal advisory, financial management, compliance among others.

 


FEBRUARY 13, 2020


Assam Cabinet nod for scholarships, grants to tea community
  • The State Cabinet approved the Swahid Dayal Das Panika Swaniyojan Achoni under which financial assistance of Rs 25,000 would be given to youths of the community to “encourage entrepreneurship.”
  • The one time grant will benefit some 15,000 youths of the tea tribe community.
  • To further “empower” students of the tea tribe community, the Cabinet approved the Simon Sing Horo Special Scholarship scheme of Rs 10,000 each to HSLC and HS passed candidates belonging to the community.
  • The Cabinet also approved provisions for construction of pucca houses for workers of the Assam Tea Corporation Limited gardens at the cost of Rs 1.3 lakh per house.
  • The Cabinet further resolved to increase allotment of agricultural land from 3 bighas to 7 bighas under the Land Policy 2019.
  • The Cabinet approved an amount of Rs 20,000 each to install solar kits in those PMAY houses which do not have electricity connection.

‘120% rise in Budget allocation for NE rly projects a big boost’
  • The General Budget 2020-21 has proposed an increase in the allocation for railway projects in Assam and the Northeast and it will help in upgradation of facilities and expansion of network in the region.
  • Subhanan Chanda, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), said that the Union Budget has proposed an allocation of Rs 4,669 crore for railway projects in Assam and the Northeastern states taken together. This is 120 per cent more than the average annual outlay of Rs 2,122 crore for the same region during 2009-2014.
  • The proposed outlay includes a number of projects for doubling of railway lines in the region, including the newly proposed doubling of the 381 km-long Lumding-Tinsukia-Dibrugarh section at an estimated cost of Rs 3,810 crore.
  • He said that the Budget has also allocated additional funds for other ongoing doubling works including Rs 200 crore for the New Bongaigaon-Rangiya-Kamakhya section (142.97 km), Rs 450 crore for New Bongaigaon-Goalpara-Guwahati (Kamakhya) section (176 km) and Rs 400 crore for the Digaru-Hojai section (102 km).

J&K and Ladakh to host 1st edition of Khelo India Winter Games
  • The Sports Ministry is set to organise the first-ever Khelo India Winter Games in the Union Territory of Ladakh in the third week of February and in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the first week of March.
  • Seven different sporting disciplines have been chosen with an effort to popularise winter games among the youth of the country.
  • The Games will have Open Ice Hockey Championship, Figure Skating and Speed Skating and the competition will be conducted at Block, district and Union Territory levels with an expected participation of about 1,700 athletes.
  • The competitions of the Khelo India J&K Winter Games will be held at Kongdori in Kashmir’s hill resort of Gulmarg in four age categories for both boys and girls. Athletes in the age categories of 19-21 years, 17-18 years, 15-16 years and 13-14 years can compete in Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Snow Boarding and Snow Shoeing.

Odisha government approved Rs 803.65 cr action plan for more green cover
  • The Odisha government approved its annual action plan entailing an expenditure of Rs 803.65 crore under CAMPA for the 2020-21 fiscal to increase the green cover in the coastal state.
  • The action plan was approved by the state-level steering committee on Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy.
  • The government decided to undertake various activities under the action plan, including block plantation, assisted natural regeneration, bald-hill plantation, maintenance of previous year”s plantation, fodder and fruit-bearing plantation, bamboo culture and wildlife management.
  • A target has been set to take up plantation in 1,500 hectares, with 1,600 saplings per hectare during 2020-21 and to grow 5,71,48,000 seedlings during the period.
  • Rs 41.13 crore was approved for maintenance of the fire protection line, operation of 216 fire protection squads and support to the Vana Surakhya Samiti (VSS) for fire protection work.

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FEBRUARY 14, 2020


Strengthening of case for Classical language status to Assamese
  • With new breakthroughs emerging on the antiquity of the Assamese script, and research shows that Assamese script to be far older than previously thought, some sections have called for according it the status of Indian Classical Language.
  • Generally the Indian Classical Language status is given to languages which have a rich heritage and are of independent nature. The status is awarded by the Government of India and so far this honour has been bestowed on six languages of India – Tamil in 2004, Sanskrit in 2005, Telugu in 2008, Kannada in 2008, and Malayalam in 2013, with Odia being the latest addition to the list in 2014.
  • Languages declared as classical get three primary benefits.
    • First, two major international awards for those who contribute significantly to Indian Classical Languages are presented every year.
    • Secondly, the government has to set up a Centre of Excellence for the study of Classical Languages.
    • Thirdly, Central universities can give grants for Professional Chairs for Classical Languages.
  • According to eminent scholar Dr Nagen Saikia, the Assamese language deserves the status of classical language. The Assamese language has a long glorious history dating back to the prehistorical times.
  • According to Ashok Sarma, who is doing extensive research in Kamrupi civilisation, script, and language, the Assamese language has much more antiquity than ever thought.“We can trace the written form to the 4th century BC, i.e., the language found in the Mahasthangarh stone inscription (now in Bangladesh). It should be noted that today’s Bangladesh was within the territory of ancient Kamrup in the manner the ancient Indian civilisation of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro are now in Pakistan. The language of the Mahasthangarh inscription was in Prakrit language and it did not belong to Ashoka’s empire. The language of this inscription cannot be Magadhi Prakrit either because the contemporary language of the Ashokan edicts was not found anywhere after his reign. If the language was to be the language of Magadh, then it could not be extinct,” he said.
  • The criteria evolved by the Government of India to judge the eligibility of a language to be declared as classical language include
    • (a) high antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1,500-2,000 years,
    • (b) a body of ancient literature/text which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers,
    • (c) the literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community, and
    • (d) the classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots.

Sri Lanka engages Indian Navy to carry out shore-based survey
  • Enhancing bilateral relationship, Sri Lanka has engaged India to carry out hydrographic and several shore-based survey activities off its south-west coast.
  • The Indian government has assigned the task to the Indian Navy.
  • Indian Navy’s Sandhayak class hydrographic survey ship, INS Jamuna, has been deployed to Sri Lanka based on a mutual agreement to carry out Joint Hydrographic Survey off the South West Coast of Sri Lanka.
  • The ship is commanded by Captain H.A. Hardas.
  • Over the two-month deployment period, the ship will carry out detailed hydrographic surveys and several shore-based survey activities.
  • Sri Lanka Navy personnel will embark the ship during the conduct of the joint survey and additionally the personnel will also be provided ”hands on” survey training during every operational turnaround in port.
  • INS Jamuna also hosted a meeting between Rear Admiral Sisira Jayakody, Chief Hydrographer of Sri Lankan Navy, officers of Sri Lankan hydrographic department and Indian officers of the ship.

20th edition of ”Hunar Haat” begins in Delhi
  • The 20th edition of the ”Hunar Haat” was inaugurated at the India Gate lawns, the 10-day event is based on the theme of “Kaushal Ka Kam”.
  • Master artisans, craftsmen as well as culinary experts from across the country will be participating in the event.
  • The event was inaugurated in the presence of Railways and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Minorities Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
  • Hunar Haats have been organised at various places in the country such as Delhi, Mumbai, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Punducherry and Indore.
  • In the coming days ”Hunar Haats” will be organised in Gurugram, Bangaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Dehradun, Patna, Bhopal, Nagpur, Raipur, Puducherry, Amritsar, Jammu, Shimla, Goa, Kochi, Guwahati, Bhubneshwar, Ajmer and other places.
  • At the India Gate lawns, more than 250 stalls have been set up where master artisans, craftsmen and culinary experts from across the country are participating.
  • They are here displaying exquisitely handmade indigenous products.

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Assam Current Affairs – February 01 – 07, 2020

Current Affairs Assam – February 1 - 7, 2020

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

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FEBRUARY 01, 2020


Economic Survey 2019-20 presented in the Parliament
  • The Economic Survey of India is the flagship annual document of the Ministry of Finance, Govt of India. It is prepared under the guidance of the Chief Economic Adviser of India. This document is presented to both Houses of Parliament during the Budget Session. The first Economic Survey of India was presented in 1950-51 as part of the Union Budget. After 1964 it was separated from the Budget and presented each year during the Budget Session before the presentation of the budget. The document is non-binding.
  • The Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Economic Survey 2019-20 in the Parliament on January 31, 2020. Krishnamurthy V. Subramanian is the Chief Economic Adviser of Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

Highlights of the Economic Survey 2019-20

  • GDP growth pegged at 6-6.5% in fiscal year starting April 1, 2020, up from 5% in the current fiscal.
  • Uptick in growth projected in second half of current fiscal based on 10 factors including higher FDI flows, build up of demand pressure, positive GST revenue growth.
  • Share of formal employment increased from 17.9% in 2011 -12 to 22.8% in 2017-18 reflecting formalisation in Indian economy.
  • To achieve GDP of $5 trillion by 2024-25, India needs to spend about $1.4 trillion over these years on infrastructure.
  • Around 2.6 crore new jobs created in rural, urban areas between 2011-12 and 2017-18 among regular wage/salaried employees.
  • Declining inflation from 3.2% in April 2019 to 2.6% in December 2019, reflecting weakening demand pressure in the economy.
  • GST collections grew by 4.1% for the centre during April-November 2019.
  • Government should deliver expeditiously on reforms to revive growth. The Survey suggests government to systematically examine areas where it needlessly intervenes and undermines markets.
  • Excessive government intervention in markets, especially when the market can do the job of enhancing citizens welfare perfectly well, stifles economic freedom.
  • Economic Survey calls for improving governance in public sector banks, more disclosures to build trust and for measures to make it easier to start new business, register property, pay taxes, enforce contracts.
  • The Survey also calls for easing of crude prices lowers current account deficit; imports contract more sharply than exports in first half of current fiscal.

Government to restructure Ministry of External Affairs
  • The government has decided to restructure the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the MEA will get decentralised by setting up several verticals, specialisation-wise.
  • This will enable separation of consular services and other routine administrative affairs from the diplomacy involved in areas like economics, trade, development, technology, cultural exchange etc.
  • Each vertical is to be headed by a ”political director” at Additional Secretary level.
  • Until now, like all other ministries, the MEA has been a pyramid like structure, with lot of work pressure on Joint Secretaries and the four Secretaries.
  • The restructuring began with handing over all the four development partnership divisions responsible for foreign aid and development projects in South Asia and Africa to Akhilesh Mishra, who was heading the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
  • The council, which is the cultural arm of MEA, will be under Dinesh Patnaik.
  • The economic section will be handled by P. Harish and three divisions of Africa will be under Nagma Mallik.
  • All multilateral meetings and summits will now be handled by VikramDoraiswami.
  • The ministry also plans to expand and hire experts from the private sector and non-profit bodies as well.

European Investment Bank to invest 600 million euros in Pune Metro
  • The European Investment Bank (EIB) will invest 600 million euros (Rs 4,800 crore) in the upcoming Pune Metro Rail (PMR) project, the Maharashtra government announced.
  • A Memorandum of Understanding for the first tranche of 200 million euros (Rs 1,600 crore) was signed in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
  • The state government said, This will enable easier and affordable access to jobs, healthcare, education, reduce pollution, generate employment and slash commuting time for over 600,000 daily commuters among Pune’s three million population.
  • The fundings received will be utilised for the underground sections, a metro depot and other purposes.
  • The PMR will be 32.50 km long, costing around Rs 11,420 crore, running both on the surface and underground with 30 stations.
  • The PMR will help India achieve several United Nations” sustainable development goals like SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 11 (sustainable cities) and SDG 5 (gender equality).

FEBRUARY 02, 2020

Union Budget 2020-21 presented in the Parliament

The Union Budget of India for 2020–2021 was presented by the Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman on 1 February 2020. The central ideas of the Budget are – “Aspirational India, Economic development, A Caring Society.”

Highlights & Important Point

~ Income Tax & other Personal Taxes ~

    • A simplified and new Income Tax Regime has been proposed as an option to the old regime.
    • Income between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakh: Reduced to 10% from the current 20%
    • Between Rs 7.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh: Reduced to 15% from the current 20%
    • Between Rs 10 lakh to Rs 12.5 lakh: Reduced to 20% from the current 30%
    • Between Rs 12.5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh: Reduced to 25% from the current 30%
    • Above ₹15 lakh: Continue at 30%, but without exemptions

However, those who wish to continue to pay old rates may do so.

~ Business Sector ~

  • Concessional corporate tax rate of 15 per cent to new domestic companies in manufacturing and power sector.
  • Corporate tax for existing companies slashed to 22 per cent.
  • Govt proposes 100 per cent tax concession to sovereign wealth funds on investment in infra projects.
  • Concessional tax rate of 15 per cent extended to power generation companies.
  • Tax concession for sovereign wealth fund of foreign governments and other foreign investments.
  • Tax benefits to Start-ups by way of deduction of 100 per cent of their profits are enhanced by increasing turnover limit and period of eligibility period of eligibility.
  • Concessional tax rate for cooperatives proposed.
  • Turnover threshold for audit of MSMEs increased.
  • Extension of time limits pertaining to the tax benefits for affordable housing.
  • Issuance of Unique Registration Number to all charity institutions for easy tax compliance.
  • Health cess to be imposed on imports of medical equipment.
  • Dividend Distribution Tax removed and classical system of dividend taxation adopted
  • Simplified GST return shall be implemented from 1st April 2020. Refund process to be fully automated.
  • National Textile Mission to be launched with a proposed Rs 1,480 crore allocation. National Technical Textiles Mission for a period of 4 years
  • Allocation of Rs 27,300 crore for development of industry and commerce.
  • Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country has increased to $284 billion during 2014-19 from $190 billion in previous five years.
  • Scheme to encourage manufacturing of mobile phones, electronic equipment and semiconductor packaging
  • NIRVIK Scheme for higher export credit disbursement launched
  • Setting up of an Investment Clearance Cell to provide end to end facilitation
  • Extension of invoice financing to MSMEs through TReDs
  • A scheme to provide subordinated debt for entrepreneurs of MSMEs
  • Scheme anchored by EXIM Bank and SIDBI to handhold MSMEs in exports markets

 

~ Health Sector ~

  • Rs 69,000 crores allocated for the healthcare sector.
  • More than 20,000 empanelled hospitals under PM Jan Arogya Yojana.
  • FIT India movement launched to fight NCDs
  • Expansion of Jan Aushadhi Kendra Scheme to all districts by 2024

 

~ Infrastructure Sector ~

  • 9,000 km of economic corridor will be set up.
  • Chennai-Bengaluru expressway will also be started.
  • Delhi-Mumbai expressway to be completed by 2023.
  • 100 more airports to be developed by 2025
  • Transport infrastructure: Rs 1.7 lakh crore
  • National Infrastructure Pipeline: Rs 22,000 crore
  • National Logistics Policy to be launched soon National Logistics Policy to be launched soon
  • Accelerated development of Highways
  • Railways will set up Kisan Rail through PPP model so that perishable goods can be transported quickly.
  • 150 trains will run under the public private partnership (PPP) mode, also four stations will be redeveloped with the help of the private sector.
  • More Tejas type trains for tourist destinations
  • Coporatizing at least one major port
  • An International Bullion Exchange to be set up at GIFT City.
  • Power sector: Efforts to replace conventional energy meters by prepaid smart meters.
  • Gas Grid: Expand National Gas Grid to 27,000 km

 

~ Education & Training ~

  • Rs 99,300 crore allocated for education in FY21.
  • Govt will start Ind-Sat Exam to promote under Study in India programme and a degree-level online education programme for the deprived.
  • A total of Rs 3,000 crore will be given for skill development.
  • About 150 higher educational institutions will start apprenticeship embedded courses.
  • Internship opportunities to fresh engineers by urban local bodies.
  • Special bridge courses to improve skill sets of those seeking employment abroad.
  • Degree level online education programmes for students of deprived sections of the society.

 

~ Social Welfare Sector ~

  • Allocation for Swachh Bharat Mission for 2020-21 stands at Rs 12,300 crore.
  • In further push to PM Modi’s ‘Nal se jaal’ scheme, govt proposes Rs 3.6 lakh crore towards piped water supply to households.
  • Rs 35,600 crore allocated for nutritional related programme in FY21.
  • Rs 85,000 crore has been budgeted for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and other backward classes.
  • Rs 53,700 crore for Scheduled Tribes
  • Allocation for senior citizens and ‘Divyang’ enhanced to Rs 9500 crore.
  • Rs 4,400 crore to tackle Delhi’s air pollution problem.
  • Extends additional Rs 1.5 lakh tax benefit on interest paid on affordable housing loans to March 2021.
  • Tax holiday to affordable housing developers.

 

~ Women and Child Development ~

  • A task force to be appointed to recommend regarding lowering MMR and improving nutrition levels
  • Rs 28,600 crore will be allocated in FY21 for women-linked programmes.

 

~ Banking and Financial Sector ~

  • DICGC has been permitted to increase Deposit Insurance Coverage for a depositor from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per depositor.
  • Amendments in Banking regulation Act to strengthen Cooperative Banks.
  • Proposal to sell balance holding of the government of India IDBI Bank to private investors.
  • Recovery eligibility limit for NBFCs reduced to asset size of 100 crore or loan size of 50 lakh.
  • Separation of NPS Trust for government employees from PFRDAI
  • Specified categories of government securities would be opened for non-resident investors
  • FPI Limit for corporate bonds to be increased to 15 per cent.
  • New debt ETF proposed mainly for government securities

 

~ Technology Sector ~

  • 550 WiFi facilities have been commissioned at railway stations.1 lakh gram panchayats to get optical fibre link
  • An allocation of Rs 6,000 crore will be provided for BharatNet scheme.
    Rs 20,000 crore for renewable energy sector in a bid to tackle pollution and climate change.
  • A new scheme of smart meters will be launched.
  • An allocation of Rs 8,000 crore will be made for National Mission on Quantum Computing and Technology.
  • Knowledge Translation Clusters for emerging technology sectors
  • Scaling up of Technology Clusters harbouring test beds and small scale manufacturing facilities.

 

~ Disinvestment ~

  • Govt proposed an ambitious disinvestment target of PSU stake sales to the tune of Rs 2.1 lakh crore in the next financial year 2020-21.
  • Government to sell part holding in LIC.
  • Govt to also sell stake in IDBI Bank to private investors.

 

~ Agriculture & Allied Sectors ~

  • Budget allocation of Rs 2.83 lakh crore for agriculture and allied activities.
  • Doubling farmers incomes by 2020.
  • Krishi Udaan under Ministry of Civil Avaition on international and national routes to benefit farmers. Krishi Udaan scheme to transport agri products to national as well international destinations to be launched.
  • Self Help Groups will be allowed to set up village agri storage facilities.
  • NABARD will map and geo-tab 162 mn tonne capacity agri warehouses across country. FCI and Warehousing Corporation of India to build warehousing facility on their land.
    Government to incentivise farmers to go solar.
  • Over 6 crore farmers under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna have been insured.
  • Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha and Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) to be expanded, providing 20 lakh farmers in setting up standalone solar pumps.
  • Railways will set up Kisan Rail through PPP model so that perishable goods can be transported quickly.
  • Agri-credit target for the year 2020-21 has been set at Rs 15 lakh crore.
  • One horticulture crop in one district on cluster basis will be promoted.
    Viability gap funding for creation of efficient warehouses on PPP mode.
  • SHGs run Village storage scheme to be launched.
  • Integartion of e-NWR with e-NAM.
  • Elimination of FMD and brucellosis in cattle and PPR in sheep and goat by 2025.
  • Increasing coverage of artificial insemination to 70 per cent.
  • Doubling of milk processing capacity by 2025.
  • Fishery extention through 3477 Sagar Mitras and 500 fish FPOs.
  • Raise fishery exports to `1 lakh crore by 2024-25
  • Fish Production target of 200 lakh tonnes by 2022-23.

 

~ Culture & Tourism ~

  • Five archaeological sites would be developed as iconic sites with on-site museums would be developed at Rakhigarhi in Haryana, Hastinapur in Uttar Pradesh, Sivasagar in Assam, Dholavira in Gujarat and Adichanallur in Tamil Nadu.
  • Indian Institute of Heritage and Conservation
  • Museum of Numismatics and trade
  • Tribal museum in Ranchi
  • Maritime Museum in Lothal
  • Tourism promotion gets Rs 2500 crore.
  • Ministry of Culture to get Rs 3,150 crore.

 

~ Fiscal Scenario ~

  • Fiscal deficit target pegged at 3.8% of GDP for FY 2019-20. FY21 fiscal deficit target pegged at 3.5% of GDP.

 

~ Miscellaneous ~

  • G20 Presidency in 2022 – Allocation of Rs 100 crore
  • Allocation of Rs 30,757 crore for Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir
  • Allocation of Rs 5,958 crore for Union Territory of Ladakh

 

  • State of Indian Economy §
  • Between 2006-2016, 271 million are out of poverty and we should be proud of it.
  • Total of 60 lakh new taxpayers and 105 crore e-way bills generated under GST
  • Central government debt reduced to 48.7 per cent of GDP in 2019 from 52.2 per cent.
  • India is now 5th largest economy in world.
  • Gross enrollment of girls is 94.32 per cent in elementary levels, 81.32 per cent in secondary level and 59.7 per cent in higher secondary level.
  • Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country has increased to $284 billion during 2014-19 from $190 billion in previous five years.
  • Nominal growth of GDP for 2020-21 has been estimated at 10 per cent
  • Receipts for 2020-21 estimated at 22.46 lakh crore rupees, and expenditure at 30.42 lakh crore rupees
  • ‘Vivad se Vishwas’ scheme for direct tax payers whose appeals are pending at various forum. 4.83 lakh direct cases pending in various appellate forums. Under the scheme, taxpayer to pay only amount of disputed tax. They will get complete waiver on interest and penalty if scheme is availed by March 31, 2020.
  • 15th Finance Commission has cut state share of central taxes by one percentage point to 41 per cent.
  • Rs 12.7 lakh crore to be transferred to states and union territories in 2020-21.
  • Government has insured 6.11 crore farmers under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna.

Centre to soon release National Logistics Policy
  • To create a single window e-logistics market, the Centre plans to release a ”National Logistics Policy”.
  • It will create a single window e-logistics market and focus on generation of employment, skills and making MSMEs competitive.
  • At present, India”s logistics sector is highly fragmented and the policy aims to reduce the logistics cost from 14 per cent of GDP to less than 10 per cent by 2022.
  • The sector provides livelihood to more than 22 million people and improving the sector will facilitate 10 per cent decrease in indirect logistics costs, leading to the growth of 5 to 8 per cent in exports.
  • The policy which has been formulated by the Commerce and Industry Ministry will improve India”s trade competitiveness, create more jobs, improve India”s performance in global rankings and pave the way for India to become a logistics hub.

 


Gopal Baglay appointed as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka
  • The government appointed Gopal Baglay as the next High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka.
  • Baglay, who is currently in the Prime Minister”s Office in New Delhi, will take over from Taranjit Singh Sandhu who was recently appointed as Ambassador to the US.
  • An 1992 batch IFS officer, Baglay has served in Moscow, London, Kathmandu and Islamabad besides holding key positions in the Ministry of External Affairs.


Government to launch new schemes to support export sector
  • To support and promote exports, the Centre proposed to launch new schemes in FY 2020-21.
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, said that the Centre plans to launch the Nirvik and ”Reversion of duties and taxes on exported products” scheme.
  • To achieve higher export credit disbursement, a new scheme, Nirvik is being launched, which provides for higher insurance coverage, reduction in premium for small exporters and simplified procedure for claim settlements.
  • It is proposed to digitally refund to exporters, duties and taxes levied at the Central, State and local levels, such as electricity duties and VAT on fuel used for transportation, which are not getting exempted or refunded under any other existing mechanism.
  • The development assumes significance as these schemes are expected to facilitate higher exports.

National Recruitment Agency for all computer based exams
  • Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that a National Recruitment Agency (NRA) will be set up for all computer-based examinations for recruitment to non-gazetted government and public sector banks posts.
  • The move has the potential to give a breath of fresh air for the youth of the country, who have been stuck in the vicious cycle of recruitment exams and an indefinite wait for jobs.
  • The Minister said that at present, candidates have to appear for multiple examinations conducted by multiple agencies at different points of time for similar posts.
  • To mitigate the hardship faced, it is proposed to set up a NRA as an independent, professional, specialist organisation for conduct of a computer-based online Common Eligibility Test for recruitment to non-gazetted posts
  • Non-gazetted jobs are the government jobs or posts which do not give the person the authority to issue an official stamp on the behalf of the government.
  • In terms of types of jobs, this includes Group B, Group C and Group D government jobs.

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FEBRUARY 03, 2020

Karbi New Year ‘Nikam Kimi’ celebrated
  • Nikam Kimi, the Karbi New Year was celebrated with pomp and gaiety throughout the district by different celebration committees.
  • As per the Karbi calendar, February 1 is considered as New Year by the community.
  • Nikam Kimi was celebrated throughout the day by holding various Karbi traditional events and games where male, female and youth participated.
  • It may be mentioned here that Ningkam Kimi was welcomed by symbolically releasing pigeons in the sky by the dignitaries.
  • The Karbi Ningkan Kimi (Karbi New Year) was celebrated with splendour and exuberance across the twin hill district of Karbi Anglong on February 1.
  • The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) declared February 1 as official holiday.

US, India celebrate 70th Fulbright exchange program
  • The United States and India celebrated the 70th anniversary of the prestigious Fulbright exchange program which has awarded scholarships to over 11,000 Indians and Americans so far.
  • US Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce from Washington to attend the gala event in New Delhi.
  • The Fulbright program, created by Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946, was designed to increase mutual understanding among the people of the United States and the people of other countries. It has now grown into the premier US international educational exchange program in the world.
  • The binational United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) was among the earliest of the Fulbright Commissions or foundations.
  • On February 2, 1950, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and US Ambassador to India Loy Henderson signed a bilateral agreement to implement and administer a country Fulbright Program on behalf of the partner governments.
  • Since its inception, USIEF has awarded approximately 11,128 Fulbright Fellowships to Indians and Americans.
  • On July 4, 2008, the United States and India signed a historic new Fulbright agreement that made India a full partner in the governance and funding of the Fulbright Program.

Sakhi centre, one-stop centre to provide support to women of sexual violence, inaugurated in Tezpur
  • Sakhi, a one-stop centre to provide integrated support and assistance under one roof for women affected by sexual and physical violence, was inaugurated at VidyaMandir building at Dhanua Nagar, Morabharalipaar.
  • The one-stop centre has been set up by the Sonitpur district administration and the Social Welfare Department to provide integrated services of medical and legal aid, guidance on the procedure of registering police complaints, along with psycho-social counselling and temporary shelter to women who have been victims of sexual or physical violence.
  • A toll-free number 181 has also been made available for women in distress.
  • The scheme is Centrally sponsored by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development under the National Mission for Empowerment of Women.

FEBRUARY 04, 2020


Madhya Pradesh’s Kalidas Awards for Assam dance guru, Kathak danseuse
  • Veteran classical dance guru from Assam, Jatin Goswami, and renowned Kathak danseuse Guru Uma Sharma will be conferred Madhya Pradesh”s prestigious cultural award, National Kalidas Samman, for 2017 and 2018 respectively during the Khajuraho Dance festival.
  • The award amount comprises Rs 2 lakh and a plaque.
  • Goswami, 87, is a legendary choreographer of the Sattriya dance form which originated in eastern Assam.
  • It is a dance-drama form with origins in the Krishna-centric Vaishnavist monasteries of Assam and attributed to the 15th century Bhakti movement scholar and saint Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev.
  • Sharma has a reputation as a senior guru, choreographer and dancer in the field of Kathak dance.
  • Born in Delhi in 1942, she received dance education from Guru Hiralal and GirivarDayal.
  • Following the Kathak tradition of the Jaipur Gharana, she also received guidance from ShambhuMaharaj and BirjuMaharaj. Her dedication to Kathak is acknowledged the world over. She has also received the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.

India to have 10 more Defence Attaches
  • To strengthen India’s defence diplomacy, the Ministry of Defence announced creation of 10 new posts of Defence Attaches (DAs).
  • The government has introduced a new scheme to promote defence exports through Defence Attaches to their respective countries.
  • Under this scheme, funds have been allocated for export promotion to 34 countries.
  • The Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) have also opened offices for their liaison officers in countries like Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar, Oman and others.
  • India has also offered several defence Line of Credits (LOC) to friendly countries to allow Indian defence exports and increase their presence in the global market.

IIT-Madras builds AI technology to convert brain signals into language
  • Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) have developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to convert brain signals of speech impaired humans into language.
  • The researchers can potentially interpret nature’s signals such as the plant photosynthesis process or their response to external forces.
  • Electrical signals, brain signals, or any signal in general, are waveforms which are decoded to meaningful information using physical law or mathematical transforms such as Fourier Transform or Laplace Transform.
  • The output result is the ionic current, which represents the flow of ions which are charged particles.
  • These electrically driven ionic current signals are worked on to be interpreted as human language meaning speech. This would tell us what the ions are trying to communicate with us.
  • They tested this concept by getting experimental electrical signals through experiments in the laboratory to get signals from nanofluidic transport inside nanopores.
  • The nanopores were filled with saline solution and mediated using an electric field.

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FEBRUARY 05, 2020


Highest priority accorded to North Eastern Region in Union Budget 2020-21
  • Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region is Jitendra Singh (Minister of state, Independent Charge) said the hallmark of the Union Budget 2020-21 is that it accords the highest priority to the overall development of the Northeastern region.
  • The budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) saw a hike of over 14 per cent from Rs 2,670 crore last year to Rs 3,049 crore in 2020-21.
  • The budget for the North Eastern Council (NEC) has been doubled from Rs 700 crore to Rs 1,474 crore in the last five years.
  • The budget has accorded the highest priority to the overall development of the Northeastern region keeping in tune with the vision and declaration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he came to power in 2014.
  • He said there is a constant and progressive rise in funds for the development of the Northeastern region since 2014.
  • In case of the Ministry of DoNER, the budgetary allocation for 2020-21 is Rs 3,049 crore as against Rs 2,670 crore in the Revised Estimate (RE) 2019-20. Of the total Rs 3,049 crore, the provision for development of infrastructure is around Rs 2,900 crore compared to Advance Estimate (AE) 2014-15 of Rs 1,719 crore.
  • The budget allocation of the Ministry of DoNER in 2020-21 is higher by 77.26 per cent, he said.
  • In case of schemes being implemented by the North Eastern Council (NEC), the current year’s budgetary allocation is Rs 1,474 crore, an increase of 19.23 per cent over RE 2019-20 allocation of Rs 1,237 crore.
  • The government is ensuring smooth access to financial assistance from multilateral and bilateral funding agencies to help introduce innovative and global best practices. The Central government has effectively used an online portal to reduce gestation period. This has improved the flow of funds to the Northeast region.
  • The inland waterways received a boost in the last five years. The Jal Vikas Marg on National Waterway-1 will be completed. Further, the 890-km Dhubri-Sadiya waterway will be completed by 2022.
  • Plans are afoot to energise eco-heritage sites. Government proposes to establish an Indian Institute of Heritage and Conservation under the Ministry of Culture; it shall have the status of a deemed university to start with.
  • Five archaeological sites – Rakhigarhi (Haryana), Hastinapur (Uttar Pradesh), Sivasagar (Assam), Dholavira (Gujarat) and Adichanallur (Tamil Nadu) – would be developed as iconic sites with on-site museums.

Union Cabinet approves amendment Bill for IIITs
  • The Union Cabinet has approved the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
  • The Bill grants statutory status to five Indian Institutes of Information Technology in Public-Private Partnership mode at Surat, Bhopal, Bhagalpur, Agartala and Raichur and declare them as Institutions of National Importance along with the existing 15 Indian Institutes of Information Technology under the Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Public-Private Partnership) Act, 2017.
  • The Bill, once it gets parliamentary approval, will amend the principal Acts of 2014 and 2017 to enable these IIITs to use the nomenclature of Bachelor”s in Technology (B.Tech) or Master”s in Technology (M.Tech) or Ph.D degree as issued by a university or Institution of National Importance.
  • It will enable the institutes to attract enough students required to develop a strong research base in the country in the field of information technology.
  • The five IIITs at Surat, Bhopal, Bhagalpur, Agartala and Raichur are already functioning as societies registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860.
  • After changes in the existing laws, these institutions will be covered under the IIIT (PPP) Act, 2017, similar to 15 others established under the scheme in the PPP mode.

UP to procure Dornier aircraft to ferry passengers
  • Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that his government will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with HAL for two 19 seater Dornier aircraft for non-military purpose.
  • The aircraft can be used to ferry passenger from one destination to another.
  • The Chief Minister said that flight services could be started from Lucknow to Varanasi or Lucknow to Agra.
  • He also said that his government is making a military manufacturing policy so that Uttar Pradesh can become a hub of defence production.
  • The Chief Minister also said that the corridor is being developed with an objective of promoting indigenisation and supporting the ”Make in India” initiative towards fulfilling equipment requirements worth over $250 billion by 2025.
  • The Chief Minister announced that his government has planned to develop the Ganga Expressway from Uttar Pradesh to Bihar.

 


FEBRUARY 06, 2020


Chief Minister Conrad Sangma inaugurated Meghalaya Police Academy
  • Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma inaugurating the Meghalaya Police Academy in Ri-Bhoi district. With this, Meghalaya got its own police academy which, in due course of time, is expected to be developed as a research centre to study the social pattern related to crimes and the health of the State’s population.
  • The Meghalaya Police Academy is located at Umran, Niangbyrnai, close to the North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA) in Ri-Bhoi district. The academy will initially take in 40 trainees.
  • This centre should also function as a research centre by bringing together the society, not necessarily in policing, but in maintaining law and order with simple standard operating procedures right from the village level.
  • Maintaining law and order has become more complicated, and requires specialised training and skill sets under the changing scenario. Issues like cyber crimes have made a huge impact on the society and stressed the need of analysing situations with new skills and technologies.
  • The first phase of the academy has been built with a total fund of Rs 50 crore provided by the 13th Finance Commission from 2013. Work for the second phase of the academy will start soon with an additional fund of Rs 92 crore from the 15th Finance Commission.
  • The NEPA, which was established in 1978, is mandated to provide training to recruits in the police forces from all the North Eastern State. Some State Police personnel undergo training at the NEPA, while the majority are trained at the Police Training School (PTS).

HAL signs MoU with Israeli firm to make & sell drones
  • Indian state-owned aerospace and defence company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bengaluru based Dynamatic Technologies Limited (DTL) and Israel Aerospace Industries Limited (IAI) at DefExpo 2020.
  • In India drones are playing significant role in wars and other tactical missions such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).
  • HAL has the best capability and infrastructure available in India to manufacture world class and battle-proven drones.
  • HAL as a long-time partner of IAI is involved in the depot level maintenance of all ranges of drones supplied by IAI to the Indian forces since 2004.
  • The partnership would be the first in the country to manufacture IAI designed UAVs in India such as short range tactical class having long endurance.
  • This collaboration will enhance technology sharing and business partnership between India and Israel.

Union Cabinet decision for Cooperative Banks to come under RBI regulations
  • The Union Cabinet has taken a major step to reform the cooperative banks of the country. Now the banking operations of as many as 1540 cooperative banks of the country have come under the regulation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
  • At present, commercial, scheduled and nationalised banks regulate under RBI.
  • But now under the Banking Regulation Amendment Act 2019, the norms of commercial banks will be applicable on cooperative banks as well.
  • The administrative system of the cooperative banks will continue as per the rules of the Co-operative Registrar as usual.
  • RBI norms will apply only to the banking system of cooperative banks.
  • Now candidates will have to qualify and fulfil certain conditions to become a cooperative bank officer.
  • Rules will also have to be followed for loan waiver. If the situation worsens, RBI will also have the rights to supersede and take control of the bank.

South Salmara Mankachar district bagged national award for Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
  • The South SalmaraMankachar district has bagged a national award for proper execution of Pradhan Mantri MatruVandanaYojana (PMMVY) scheme.
  • Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani, presented the award at a function held at New Delhi recently.
  • Indore of Madhya Pradesh and Kurnool of Andhra Pradesh shared first and the second prize respectively, while South SalmaraMankachar district bagged the third prize.
  • The Assam team was represented by JishnuBaruah, Additional Chief Secretary of Assam; Hemen Das, Secretary to the Government of Assam, Social Welfare Department; Niva Das, Joint Director, Social Welfare Department and KishoriBaruah, District Social Welfare Officer of South SalmaraMankachar district.

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FEBRUARY 07, 2020


Govt proposes jail term for ads promoting magic remedies
  • The Health and Family Welfare Ministry has proposed the draft amendment to the Drugs and magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements Act, 1954), with a stringent punishment of a jail term of up to five years and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh.
  • For advertisements for magic remedies and drugs for fair skin, enhancing sexual performance, stammering, infertility in women, premature ageing and greying, increasing brain capacity among others.
  • The draft amendment has made several additions to the list of diseases, disorders, conditions covered in the Act.
  • The Act says that medicines, “magic remedies” and products to cure any of these 78 diseases, disorders, conditions named should not be advertised.
  • Under the Act, the first conviction is punishable with imprisonment of up to six months or fine or both; and a subsequent conviction can result in imprisonment of up to a year or fine, or both.
  • The amendment proposes to increase the penalties. For the first conviction, the proposed punishment is imprisonment of up to two years and fine up to Rs 10 lakh. For subsequent conviction, the imprisonment may extend to five years with a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh.
  • The draft bill also proposes an expansion of definition of an advertisement.
  • It says, “any audio or visual publicity, representation, endorsement or pronouncement made by means of light, sound, smoke, gas, print, electronic media, internet or website and includes any notice, circular, label, wrapper, invoice, banner, poster or such other documents.

Tripura CM seeks Israeli help in security, water management
  • Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb held a meeting with Israeli Ambassador to India Ron Malka in New Delhi and discussed mutual cooperation in a variety of fields including security and surveillance systems.
  • Deb discussed diverse potential areas of cooperation with the Israel Ambassador.
  • The Chief Minister discussed about the joint cooperation on the areas of security and surveillance system, water management, agriculture, food processing, packaging, cold storage, technology transfer, tourism and culture.
  • The Israeli Ambassador expressed willingness to visit Tripura along with his team soon.

J&K Administrative Council approved the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission
  • The Jammu & Kashmir Administrative Council approved the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and the roadmap to achieve 100 per cent coverage of piped water supply by December 2021 across the region aligning it to the National Mission of Jal Jeevan.
  • The objective of the mission is to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to every rural household with priority to desert, drought prone,border areas, schools, anganwadi and health centres.
  • Under the mission, sustainability of the water supply system will be ensured besides empowerment and development of human resource in the sector so as to meet the demands of construction, plumbing and water quality management.
  • Under the National Jal Jeevan Mission, every rural household of the country will be connected with piped water supply by 2024 with an aim ”HarGharNal Se Jal”.
  • At present, 30.5% of J&K’s rural households have piped water connections compared to the national average of 18%.
  • To achieve 100 per cent coverage under JJM in a phased manner by December 2021, the PHE Department has carried out a detailed exercise to prepare a District Water Security Plan through the District Water and Sanitation Mission headed by the concerned Deputy Commissioners.
  • In the initial phase, seven districts viz. Poonch, Reasi, Samba, Srinagar, Ganderbal, Shopian and Pulwama will be covered for 100% piped water supply by June 2020.
  • In the second phase, seven more districts will be covered by June 2021 and the remaining six districts shall be covered in the third phase ending December 2021.

Indian, Russian companies ink 14 defence MoUs
  • As many as 14 MoUs were signed between Russian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Indian companies at Defexpo currently on in Lucknow.
  • The MoUs were signed during the fifth round of India-Russia military industrial conference which was co-chaired by Ajay Kumar, Defence Secretary, and Oleg Ryazantsev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russian Federation.
  • The first ”Request for Proposal” for manufacturing of parts in India under the provision of inter-governmental agreement was also handed over by the Indian Navy to the identified Indian industry.
  • Representatives from both the countries acknowledged that the MoUs would pave the way for more contracts for joint manufacturing of spares parts.
  • The IGA provides framework for partnership of Russian OEMs with Indian industry for manufacturing of spare parts of Russian origin equipment in use by the Indian defence forces.
  • The Indian side has taken steps to expedite the collaboration between the Indian and Russian companies as the country looks forward to expeditious commencement of manufacturing in India.

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Assam Current Affairs – October 29 – 31, 2019

Current Affairs Assam – October 29 - 31, 2019

( Covers all important Assam Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of October 29 – 31, 2019 )

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October 29, 2019


  Assam Govt forms panel to review Detention Centres
  • The Assam Government has formed a special review committee on the conditions prevailing in state detention centres.
  • The Committee headed by DIG (Border) would comprise Inspector General of Prisons, retired District and Sessions Judge Hardeep Singh, one representative to be nominated by Deputy Commissioner of the district concerned and any other member co-opted by the Chairman.
  • The Committee will visit all detention centres in the state and review the legal aid status and health status of each detainee and provide recommendation for improvement if needed and also review the quality of food, hygiene and living conditions in the detention centres.
  • The committee is also tasked to check the education system for the children staying in the centres and provide suggestion.
  • The panel will conduct the review urgently and submit its consolidated report within three months.

 President signed a warrant paving Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde as next Chief Justice of India
  • Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde will be the next Chief Justice of India (CJI) as President Ram Nath Kovind signed a warrant paving the way for him to take over the top post.
  • Justice Bobde will be sworn in as Chief Justice on November 18 and will serve the post for around 18 months. He will retire on April 23, 2021.
  • His career as Justice began on March 29, 2000 when he was appointed as Additional Judge in the Bombay High Court, and was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court on April 12, 2013.
  • Justice Bobde was part of the five-judge constitution bench hearing longest running Ayodhya land dispute case in which the judgement is still awaited.
  • He was part of the in-house panel which has handled one of the most controversial cases related to allegations of sexual harassment against the incumbent Chief Justice.

 Odisha govt approves Rs 17.5 crore under the ”Mo Sarkar” initiative for 587 police stations 
  • The Odisha government approved Rs 17.5 crore additional annual contingency fund for 587 police stations for providing better services under the ”Mo Sarkar” initiative.
  • Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sanctioned the additional contingency fund.
  • All the 44 police stations under the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Commissionerate Police will each get Rs 40,000 a month, 142 police stations in urban areas Rs 30,000 each, and 351 police stations in rural areas Rs 20,000 each.
  • Four Mahila police stations, 5 traffic police stations, 15 railway police stations, four cyber police stations, one economic offences police station, one STF police station, one HRPC police station, and one crime branch police station will receive Rs 30,000 per month. Eighteen marine police stations would receive Rs 20,000 per month.
  • The objective of the ‘Mo Sarkar’ programme is to provide service with dignity to people who are coming to government offices for different purposes. The phone numbers of people who are coming to government offices will be collected randomly with the purpose to improve the governance system by collecting feedback on behaviour and professionalism of government officers.

 CSCs to provide telemedicine services in rural areas
  • The Common Service Centres (CSCs) will provide telemedicine services in rural areas through video conferencing in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush. The service will be launched in Tamil Nadu next month and in other states later.
  • The telemedicine service will be available round the clock via CSC’s video conferencing platform, which works on low bandwidth and doesn’t need broadband connection.
  • A pan-India network, it enables the government’s mandate of a socially, financially and digitally inclusive society.
  • The CSCs, which act as access points for delivery of digital services, will be provided some medicine kits to cater to prescription requirement and the patient or the VLE can either purchase the rest.

 IIT Madras develops AI Platform to solve complex engineering problems
  • A team of experts from IIT-Madras have developed algorithms that enable novel applications using artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and deep learning models to solve engineering problems.
  • The research is led by Dr Vishal Nandigana, an assistant professor – fluid systems laboratory, department of mechanical engineering at IIT Madras.
  • Nandigana revealed that his team has developed the AI and deep learning algorithm which essentially solves a wide variety of problems in numerous engineering fields, including thermal management, semiconductors, automobile, aerospace and electronics cooling applications among others, thereby eliminating manual intervention.
  • The team is planning to start a company to deploy its AI software called ‘AISoft,’ which is said to help solve engineering problems across various disciplines, seamlessly.

October 30, 2019


 IIIT Hyderabad MOU with TiE to promote Deep Tech Special Group
  • International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H) and The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) have signed a MoU to promote a Deep Technology Special Interest Group.
  • The group will nurture the next generation products and companies in fintech, healthtech, medtech, agritech, technology for social good and other areas.
  • TiE Deep Tech Special Interest Group (SIG), aims to become the catalyst and vehicle to empower, enable and provide profiting visibility for enterprises and much needed exposure to global applications and markets.
  • IIIT Hyderabad will support this programme by bringing a good pool of talented engineers, deep tech knowledge base, technocrats, research and development capabilities.
  • SIG intends to identify, encourage and showcase the leading deep tech products and companies to the domestic and global community of customers and investors. The programme intends to identify six to nine most innovative deep tech products or companies per group.

FACTFILE – International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT Hyderabad)

  • IIIT Hyderabad is a Not-for-Profit Public Private Partnership institute deemed to be university, focused on information technology and other fields such as computer science, electronics and communication, and their interdisciplinary applications across other domains.
  • IIIT Hyderabad was set up in 1998 under the public private partnership model, with the state government supplying a grant of land and buildings.
  • As special officer for IIIT Hyderabad and Secretary IT for the state government, Ajay Prakash Sawhney was responsible for shaping the conceptual model and overseeing initial development of the institute.

FACTFILE – The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE)

  • The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE) is a Silicon Valley non-profit supporting start-ups through networking and the raising of capital for new and experienced entrepreneurs. By 2000, it had helped create businesses worth more than $75 billion.
  • TiE was founded in 1992 by the trio of an Indian-American businessman and angel investor, Kanwal Rekhi; an MIT professor and founder of Cirrus Logic, Suhas Patil; and the founder of Gateway Design Automation, Prabhu Goel.

 Odisha govt announces incentives for sportspersons
  • Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik nnounced monthly allowance for sportspersons and inmates of state-run sports hostels.
  • As per the announcement, the monthly allowance of girl students at all the sports hostels is enhanced to Rs 500 while it has been enhanced to Rs 300 per month for boy students.
  • The Chief Minister announced the incentives after detailed interaction with sports hostel students with an objective to fulfill their needs and create enough opportunities for excellence.
  • For out of station participation in recognised sports competition organised by national sports federation or similar level, sportspersons will be given an allowance of Rs 300 per day.
  • Sportspersons achieving gold medal at national level competitions will get a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 for one year while the amount will be Rs 500 and Rs 300 for silver and bronze medal winners.
  • Sports hostel students will get this amount in addition to their monthly allowances.
  • If the medal winners create a record at the national level and the record is not broken for one year, then the record holder will get an additional monthly allowance of Rs 5000 for one year. Sportspersons selected for national teams will get a monthly allowance of Rs 1000 for one year.

 India, Saudi Arabia inks Strategic Partnership Council agreement
  • India and Saudi Arabia inked the Strategic Partnership Council Agreement to elevate their ties to the next level, even as both sides signed 11 other deals, including in energy and security cooperation and defence production. PM Narendramodi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sign the Strategic Partnership Council Agreement.
  • The other agreements between the two sides, inked by their respective officials, were on cooperation in the field of renewable energy, on security cooperation, on combating illicit trafficking and smuggling of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and chemical precursors and in the field of defence – on collaboration in military acquisition, industries, research, development and technology.
  • Another MoU was on collaboration in civil aviation, in medical products regulations, a Letter of Intent between Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monshaat) of the Saudi Arabia and Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog,A a cooperation Programme between the Foreign Service Institute, and Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute of Diplomatic Studies (IDS).
  • Another agreement was between Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) and Saudi Aramco. Both sides inked an MoU for Cooperation between National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), and another between National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Saudi Payments.

 Himachal Pradesh brings over 2,000 panchayats under natural farming
  • A total of 2,209 panchayats out of the total 3,226 have been brought under the ambit of natural farming in Himachal Pradesh.
  • This fact came to light at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Shrikant Baldi of the state-level Task Force for Promotion of Organic and Zero Budget Natural Farming under Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kissan Yojana.
  • Natural farming is a technique of farming that requires no ploughing or tilting or use of chemical fertilizers.
  • A target of training 50,000 farmers has been fixed for this year. As many as 20,579 farmers have been trained out of which 15,391 have started practicing natural farming in their fields.
  • A list of practices for different crops under natural farming will be prepared for the farmers.
  • At the meeting, approval was given for a master trainer to hold a maximum of five training sessions per month till March 2020.
  • Approval was also given for an additional amount of Rs 2,500 per month for block technology manager and assistant technology manager recruited under Agricultural Technology Management Agency on performance basis till March 2020.

 Microsoft developed a smartphone-based driving test system
  • Microsoft Research has developed a smartphone-based driving test system that leverages the power of Artificial Intelligence to make a fair analysis of a driver’s ability before issuing him or her a license.
  • The system has already been deployed at Dehradun Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Uttarakhand and is ready for wider adoption across the country.
  • The technology that Microsoft developed to automate driver’s license tests is called HAMS, which is short for Harnessing AutoMobiles for Safety.
  • Automation using HAMS technology can not only help relieve evaluators of the burden but also make the process objective and transparent for candidates.

 

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October 31, 2019


 Jammu and Kashmir officially bifurcated into two UTs
  • Jammu and Kashmir ceased to exist as a state and its official bifurcation into two Union Territories – of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
  • The state has been officially divided into the two Union Territories pursuant to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019, which the government passed in Parliament on August 5.
  • The Central government had also that day abrogated Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Girish Chandra Murmu, a former bureaucrat from Gujarat, take oath as the first Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir UT.
  • Former IAS officer R.K. Mathur sworn in as the first Lt. Governor of the Union territory of Ladakh.

 DRDO exhibits new fuel cell-based marine propulsion system
  • A fuel cell-based marine propulsion system, which can boost the combat lethality of India”s conventional submarines several fold by enhancing their submerged endurance, was demonstrated by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Ambernath, Maharashtra.
  • The demonstration of the operational mechanism of a land-based prototype of the Air Independent Propulsion system, engineered to fit on a submarine, was carried out at the Naval Materials Research Laboratory in Ambernath in the presence of Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh.
  • The Air Independent Propulsion system has a force multiplier effect on the lethality of a diesel electric submarine as it enhances the submerged endurance of the boat, several folds. Fuel cell-based AIP has merits in performance compared to other technologies.
  • The DRDO is developing the system for the Indian Navy”s submarines that are powered by the conventional diesel-electric technology.

 Mumbai, Hyderabad designated as UNESCO creative cities
  • Indian cities Mumbai and Hyderabad are among the 66 urban settlements designated as creative cities by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
  • Mumbai has been selected for its contribution in the world of film, and Hyderabad for gastronomy.
  • The designation came on World Cities” Day, celebrated on October 31, making the two cities part of the 246-member Organisation”s Network of Creative Cities.
  • The Network brings together cities that base their development on creativity, whether in music, arts and folk crafts, design, cinema, literature, digital arts or gastronomy.
  • UNESCO creative cities commit to placing culture at the centre of their development strategies and to share their best practices.

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