Tag: current affairs july 2021

Assam Current Affairs – July 15-21, 2021

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – July 15-21, 2021

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of July 15-21, 2021)

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July 15, 2021

Cachar District received National SKOCH award 

  • Cachar Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli received the prestigious National Silver SKOCH award under the health category on the project called ‘Pushti Nirbhor’. 
  • The ‘Pushti Nirbhor’ is a convergence project with transformation and development along with Panchayat and Rural Development Department in one of the” Axom Adarxo Gram yojna” villages name Dinnathpur Bagicha near Indo-Bangladesh Border under Katigorah, Cachar District of Assam. 
  • The main objectives were to train the villagers towards becoming self-reliant especially during the pandemic situation, to explore the household Nutri gardens and earn the marketing value and meet up the nutritional need of the families. 
Tripura’s Famous ‘Gandharaj’ Lemon Flies to Germany
  • After gaining popularity in India, the famous ‘Gandharaj’ lemon of Tripura has now been exported to Germany. Notably, 500 ‘Gandharaj’ lemons have been sent to Germany on an experimental basis. 
  • The 500 ‘Gandharaj’ lemons are accompanied by paper lemons and 1 metric tonne of jackfruit. Those agricultural products from Tripura will go to Germany via Guwahati. If the demand increases, the fortunes of the farmers of Tripura will be escalated. 
  • Earlier, Kazi Nemu,’ the Assamese lemon, which is one of the main food items of every Assamese people, has made its way into the markets of London. This Assamese lemon is exclusively grown and found in Assam.
  • As the Kazi Nemu consignment came to light, many people from London are excited to buy the Assamese Kazi Nemu/ Assam lemon to taste. 
  • Prior, between December 2020 and January 2021, a massive consignment of ‘Kazi Nemu’ weighing almost 6 MT was exported to the European business sectors. ‘Kazi Nemu’ is utilized for preparing refreshing drinks and pickles as well as garnishing curry and other dishes. 
  • In June 2021, ‘Leteku,’ the Burmese grapes, grown in the Darrang district of Assam, were exported to Dubai.
US Aviation Administration approves Blue Origin for Human Space Travel
  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved “Blue Origin license” in order to carry humans on New Shepard launch system into space.
  • Former Amazon.com Chief Executive, Jeff Bezos, is to fly to space on July 20, 2021 through Blue Origin’s maiden crewed voyage.
  • Blue Origin is authorized to carry humans while FAA license is valid through August. Blue Origin is approved to conduct these missions from its Launch Site One facility in Texas.
  • Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, spaceX firm are working to usher in new era of routine commercial civilian space travel. Space travel has been popularized as “billionaire space race.” Proving rocket travel is safe for public is a significant key of developing a space tourism market which is going to be $3 billion market.

FACTFILE – Space Tourism

  • Space Tourism is human space travel for recreational purposes. There are different types of space tourism such as orbital, suborbital and lunar space tourism. 
  • Till date, orbital space tourism has been performed only by Roscosmos. 
  • Various agencies like Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic & SpaceX are working to develop suborbital space tourism vehicles.

FACTFILE – Blue Origin

  • Blue Origin, LLC is an American privately funded aerospace manufacturer and sub-orbital spaceflight services company headquartered in Kent, Washington.
  • It was founded in 2000 by Jeff Bezos, the founder and executive chairman of Amazon, the company is led by CEO Bob Smith and aims to make access to space cheaper and more reliable through reusable launch vehicles..

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July 16, 2021

Six universities to be set up in Assam under Tejasvi Navadhitamastu Edu-Infra Funds
  • Six universities are to be set up in Assam under Tejasvi Navadhitamastu Edu-Infra Funds (TNEIF). This scheme was launched in the 2017-18 budget to re-imagine and re-structure higher education in the state. 
  • Each of the six institutions to be established under the Tejasvi Navadhitamastu Edu-Infra Funds (TNEIF) would receive a budget allocation of Rs 8 crore (2021-22), Rs 22 crore (2022-23), and Rs 20 crore (2023-24).
  • The six universities that are to be established under this scheme are: 
  • 1. Majuli University of Culture 
  • 2. Rabindranath Tagore University (Hojai) 
  • 3. Bhattadev University (Pathsala) 
  • 4. Madhabdev University (Narayanpur) 
  • 5. Birangana Sati Sadhini State University (Golaghat) 
  • 6. Aniruddhadev Sports University (Chabua) 

 

Key Highlights of State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021 report

  • The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently published its “State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021 report” which highlights the a grim scenarios of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Food security.
  • FAO’s study was conducted in 63 low- and middle-income countries. They covered a population of 3.5 billion on changes in income of people.
  • Global Food Policy Report 2021 is published by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). As per report, impacts of rising poverty and reduced livelihoods are reflected in rising food insecurity & decreasing diet quality. This in turn have devastating consequences for health & nutrition in low- and middle-income countries.

Highlights of the Global Food Policy Report 2021

  • As per study, there is a significant decrease in the affordability of healthy food because of loss in income.
  • Covid-19 pandemic led to an additional 141 million people being unable to afford healthy diet because of loss of income and rising food price
  • As the 2020 ended, global consumer food prices were highest in six years which continued to increase in first four months of 2021.
  • Cost of healthy diet was 60 percent more than diet that meets “requirements for essential nutrients”.
  • Overall decline in food intake has increased hunger levels in 2020. It thus made primary Sustainable Development Goal of ending hunger by 2030 impossible.
Nepal, India sign deal for Lower Arun Hydropower project
  • Nepal has inked a USD 1.3 billion deal with Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) of India to develop a 679-megawatt hydropower project in eastern Nepal.
  • This will be the second mega venture in Nepal, undertaken by India. It is the single largest foreign investment project.
  • To develop the project, a memorandum of understanding was signed by Chief Executive Officer of Investment Board of Nepal Sushil Bhatta and Chairman & Managing Director of SJVN Nand Lal Sharma in Kathmandu.
  • The 679-megawatt Hydropower project is the second mega project undertaken by India after USD 1.04 billion 900-MW Arun-3 hydroelectric project in Nepal.

FACTFILE – Arun River

  • It is the largest trans-Himalayan River that passes through Nepal. River drains into Sapta Kosi river system.
  • In Tibet, it is known as Men Qu in upper reaches and as Peng Qu for most of its course towards north of Himalayan crests.

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July 17, 2021

Govt launched ‘School Innovation Ambassador Training Program’
  • Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda jointly launched ‘School Innovation Ambassador Training Program’ on July 16, 2021.
  • School Innovation Ambassador Training Programme was designed by the innovation cell of education ministry and All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) for school teachers for first time.

FACTFILE – School Innovation Ambassador Training Program

  • This Programme will provide training to teachers from Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)- affiliated schools including Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Kendriya Vidyalayas, and Eklavya Residential Model Schools in India.
  • Teachers will be trained in online mode only for a duration of two months. Training will be provided in five modules to encourage innovation and creativity among school students.
  • Five modules include- entrepreneurship, innovation, intellectual property rights, product development, design thinking and idea generation etc.

FACTFILE – All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)

  • AICTE is a statutory body and a national-level council for technical education. It was established in November 1945 as an advisory body under the Department of Higher Education. In 1987, it was given statutory status by an Act of Parliament.
  • It is involved in proper planning and coordinated development of technical education & management education systems across India.
Bhutan became the second country to adopt BHIM UPI
  • Bhutan has become first country to adopt Unified Payment Interface (UPI) standards of India for its quick response (QR) code.
  • Bhutan after Singapore has become the second country to have BHIM-UPI acceptance at merchant locations.
  • International wing of the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) called NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL) announced partnership with Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) of Bhutan to implement BHIM UPI QR-based payments in Bhutan.
  • Bhutan will also become the only country to issue & accept RuPay cards and accept BHIM-UPI.
  • BHIM-UPI is a very important achievement of India in area of fintech. During covid-19 induced lockdown, BHIM-UPI became an effective mechanism of payment. In 2020-21, it processed 22 billion financial transactions of worth rupee 41 lakh crore.

FACTFILE – National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) 

  • National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) is an umbrella organisation involved in operation of retail payments and settlement systems in India. It was launched by Reserve Bank of India and Indian Banks’ Association to create a robust payment and settlement infrastructure.

FACTFILE – Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) App

  • It is an Indian mobile payment App developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It is based on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and named after B. R. Ambedkar. It was launched on December 30, 2016. 
  • BHIM app facilitates e-payments directly through banks and supports all Indian banks which use UPI.

FACTFILE – Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

  • UPI is built over Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) infrastructure that allows user to instantly transfer money in real-time.
  • It allows users to transfer money in multiple bank accounts without revealing bank account details to other party.
‘RBI Retail Direct’ scheme – Key Highlights
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced the “RBI Retail Direct facility” scheme on July 12, 2021.
  • RBI’s Retail Direct Scheme is a one-stop solution to facilitate investment in Government Securities (G-Sec) by individual investors.
  • Under this scheme, retail investors will be provided a facility to open and maintain Retail Direct Gilt Account (RDG Account) with RBI.
  • This facility was launched as part of continuing efforts towards increasing retail participation in government securities. It was launched to improve ease of access by retail investors by online access to primary as well as secondary government securities market.

Key Features of the ‘RBI Retail Direct’ scheme

  • Under the scheme, Retail investors (individuals) will have the option to open & maintain ‘Retail Direct Gilt Account’ (RDG Account) with RBI.
  • RDG Account can be opened using an ‘Online portal’ provided for the purpose of this scheme.

FACTFILE – Government Securities (G-Sec)

  • G-secs are debt instruments issued by government to borrow money. These instruments are not tax-free. They are the safest form of investment because they are backed by government. They are however, subject to fluctuations in interest rates. It can be issued in- 
  • Short term- such a treasury bills for 91-days, 182-days and 364 days
  • Long term- with bonds maturity of one year or more.

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July 18, 2021
Cachar inaugurated ‘Mamoni Bazar’ exclusively for women 
  • With a vision to explore the power of women, Cachar Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli inaugurated a market shed christened as ‘Mamoni Bazar’ for women at Dinnathpur Bagicha under Katigorah.
  •  The market shed was constructed at a cost of Rs 10 lakh under the DMFT (District Mineral Foundation Trust).
  • Mentionably, this market shed is the first of its kind in the Barak Valley and it is among the identified ‘Adarsh Villages’ of Cachar District. The scheme has been taken up under a sustainable ‘Convergence’ project that will be carried out under the regular monitoring of the District Heads of Agriculture, Zilla Parishad, Fishery, Handloom & Textile and NRLM among others.
India’s first monk fruit cultivation begins in Kullu, H.P
  • Cultivation of China’s  ‘monk fruit’ from has started in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. The fruit was introduced for field trials in Himachal Pradesh by Palampur-based Council of Scientific Research and Industrial Technology-Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology (CSIR-IHBT).
  • Monk fruit is known for its properties as non-caloric natural sweetener. Field trials have begun three years after CSIR-IHBT imported its seeds from China and grew it in house. Fifty seedlings of fruit were planted in fields of a farmer from Raison village for field trials and a ‘Material Transfer Agreement’ was signed with the farmer.
  • Flowering pattern, pollination behaviour and fruit setting time were also documented in order to draw complete life-cycle of monk fruit in agro-climatic conditions of the region.
  • Monk fruit is “a perennial crop”. It is having a life span of four to five years. Fruiting on this crop starts eight to nine months after germination.

FACTFILE – Monk Fruit

  • Monk Fruit took its name from Buddhist monks who first used it. During the 20th century, Professor G W Groff had also made an unsuccessful attempt to grow Monk plant because flowers did not appear.
  • Monk fruit (siraitia grosvenorii), is known for its intensely sweet taste. It is used as a non-caloric natural sweetener. The sweet taste of monk fruit is because of content of group of cucurbitane-type triterpene glycosides called mogrosides.
Integrated Ratings for State Power Distribution Utilities launched
  • Union Power Minister, R.K. Singh, released 9th Integrated Ratings for State Power Distribution Utilities on the occasion of on the occasion of 36th Foundation Day of Power Finance Corporation (PFC).
  • While releasing Integrated Ratings for State Power Distribution Utilities, minister underlines that, Annual Integrated Rating exercise for rating period 2019-20 covering 41 State Power Distribution Utilities has been completed with participation of all utilities.
  • Indian Power sector will benefit from a fair and accurate assessment of true position of distribution sector. It will also help in assessing & improving its performance.

FACTFILE – Power Finance Corporation Ltd.

  • PFC is an Indian financial institution under Ministry of Power. It was established in 1986. PFC works as the financial backbone of Indian Power Sector. It is also India’s largest infrastructure finance company.

 

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July 19, 2021

Meghalaya Govt clears State PPP policy to facilitate private investment
  • The Meghalaya Cabinet cleared the Meghalaya Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy 2021 to facilitate more private investment in the state. Meghalaya was one of the three states in the country that don’t have a PPP policy and with this new policy, the state government aims to “promote growth by attracting investments while safeguarding and promoting the interests of the communities.”
  • Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that one unique aspect incorporated in this policy is Community PPP, whereas in most of the other states, PPP policy mostly deals with large infrastructural projects but we have introduced this concept. 
  • The Community PPP idea is to enable communities to work with private parties in the field of tourism, agriculture, horticulture, veterinary and others. Under the CPPP, the community shall be actively involved and contribute through the entire process.
  • Various aspects like the Land Transfer Act, land ownership and protection of the people have been taken into consideration while formulating this policy. 
Requirement of a PPP Policy in Meghalaya
  • Meghalaya has a severe deficit of infrastructure, be it roads, telecom or power. Eg. the road density in the State is only 47.8 Km per 100 square km which is way lower than the national average of 180. The per capita annual consumption of electricity in Meghalaya, at 880 kWh, is also much below the national average of 1,200 kWh.
  • To achieve the vision of being among the Top 10 Indian states within the next 10 years, it would be required to not just deficit these gaps, but surpass the national average on many counts.
  • All these would require massive investments, estimated at about Rs. 25,000 Cr over the next 10 years. The Government with an annual budget size of approx. 17,000 Cr (of which the development budget is only about Rs. 3,000 Cr) does not have the quantum of resources to undertake all these activities.
  • The Public-Private Partnership Policy would help the state leverage investments along with sector-specific expertise from the private sector.

Proposed Institutional Framework: 

  • An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGM), headed by the Chief Minister, shall be set up to approve projects greater than Rs. 50 Cr.
  • An Empowered Committee on Infrastructure (ECI), headed by the Chief Secretary, shall be set up to approve projects up to Rs. 50 Cr.
  • A State PPP Cell, headed by a senior Secretary from the planning department shall be set up as the nodal agency. It would be housed within Meghalaya Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (MIDFC) under the Planning Department.
  • Land belonging to Government Departments or taken on lease from communities/individuals shall be used for the project. And all provisions related to the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act, 1971 will be applicable to ensure that the rights of the communities/individuals are protected.

 

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Tripura to promote commercial cultivation of agar
  • The government of Tripura has taken initiatives to promote commercial cultivation of Agar trees and has set a target of achieving Rs 2,000 crore business from this sector in the next three years.
  • Tripura has also plans to export 1,500 kg of Agar oil and 75,000 kg of Agar chips in the year 2021-22.
  • Tripura government has launched a draft named Tripura Agar Wood Policy 2021 and a target has been set up of doubling the plantation by the year 2025. Presently, there are over 50 lakh agar trees in the state.
  • Agar (Aquilaria malaccensis) is an evergreen tree that grows in abundance in the state of Tripura. This species has a huge potential of creating an economic revolution in the state after bamboo, rubber and other major forestry crops. Due to low input cost for its growth and management and its intercropping adaptation could make agar a cash crop.

FACTFILE – Agarwood

  • Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) is a fragrant dark resinous wood used in incense, perfume, and small carvings.
  • Prior to infection, the heartwood is odourless, relatively light and pale coloured; however, as the infection progresses, the tree produces a dark aromatic resin, called aloes or agar, in response to the attack, which results in a very dense, dark, resin-embedded heartwood.
  • The resin-embedded wood is valued in Indian-North Eastern culture for its distinctive fragrance, and thus is used for incense and perfumes.
  • The aromatic qualities of agarwood are influenced by the species, geographic location, its branch, trunk and root origin, length of time since infection, and methods of harvesting and processing.
Indian Govt announces launch of National Logistics Excellence Awards
  • On July 19, 2021, to turn the spotlight on the logistics sector, the Govt of India announced the launch of a new category of awards named the National Logistics Excellence Awards, to provide due recognition to the various players involved in the logistics supply chain in the country.
  • The first category of the awards includes service providers and logistics infrastructure and second category will be awarded for the various user industries.
  • The launch of the National Logistics Excellence Awards will highlight best practices which include process standardisation, consolidation, digital transformations, technological upgrade and sustainable practices in the logistics sector.
  • Through these awards, the govt aims to turn the spotlight on logistics service providers who have attained adopted digitisation and technology, operational excellence, pursued sustainable practices and improved customer service among the many other achievements.
  • For the user industries, these awards will showcase efforts towards supplier ecosystem development, supply chain transformation, automation, skill development and other similar endeavours.

 

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July 20, 2021

IIM Shillong holds Virtual Workshop for Business Incubators of NE India
  • The ‘Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research & Analysis and Incubation and Enterprise Support Centre’ at IIM Shillong hosted a two-day virtual workshop cum roundtable discussion for ‘Business Incubators of North-East India’. 
  • The virtual workshop cum roundtable discussion was attended by representatives of various incubators from the North Eastern (NE) States.
  • Several topics were covered with such as status of business incubators in NE, managing incubators in Indian context, technology commercialization through incubation, offering specialized services, implementing a mentoring program, raising finance for incubated startups marketing and stakeholder management.
Assam to form ‘Population Army’ to curb Birth Rate
  • The Assam government is mulling to form a ‘population army’ to spread awareness especially in the Muslim-dominated areas where the state has witnessed a population explosion.
  • Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said that a team of around 1000 youngsters will be sent to various areas including the char areas, sandbars, to distribute contraceptives and to talk about the benefits of a small family.
  • In 2017, Assam had brought in the Population and Women Empowerment Policy or bill in which government employees were asked to strictly follow the two-child norm. The new law may bring loan waiver and other government schemes under this population rule.
India becomes world’s 5th largest Forex reserve holder
  • Recently, India has surpassed Japan, China, Russia and Switzerland to become the world’s fifth-largest foreign exchange reserve holder with $608 billion.
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Govt of India are actively monitoring the country’s external position and accordingly fine-tuning the various policies and regulations so as to ensure strong macroeconomic growth of India.
  • India’s balance of payments has surplused in both the capital and current accounts in the year 2020-21 which largely contributed to the gains in the foreign exchange reserves of the country.
  • India’s present foreign exchange reserves are sufficient enough to provide a buffer against unforeseen external shocks and also to cover imports for more than 18 months.
  • The RBI regularly undertakes various measures to diversify the currency reserves of the country by increasing operations in the Forex swap and repo markets, exploring new markets or products and purchasing of gold.
  • The RBI’s intervention in the foreign exchange market to smooth out valuation changes due to movement of the US dollar against other international currencies in the reserve basket, exchange rate volatility, movement in gold prices, inflow of aid receipts and interest earnings from the deployment of foreign currency assets are the main causes for the variation in the country’s Forex reserves.

FACTFILE – Forex Reserves

  • The Forex reserves are assets which are held by the central bank of a country and it mainly comprise of bonds, foreign currencies, gold, bank deposits, financial assets and special drawing rights.
Asian Development Bank has downgraded India’s economic growth forecast
  • The Asian Development Bank has downgraded India’s economic growth forecast for the current financial year to 10 % from 11% that it had previously projected in April 2021. This downgrade was done taking into account the adverse impact of the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic.
  • In the last quarter of fiscal year which ended in March 2021, India’s GDP growth recovered to 1.6%. A second wave of the pandemic induced many state governments to impose strict containment measures hence, the growth projection for FY2021-2, was downgraded to 10% from the previously predicted 11%.
  • For South Asian countries, ADB said that the economic outlook for this sub region is being hit by the new waves of COVID-19 from the months of March to June 2021. The GDP growth forecast for the South Asian region has been downgraded from 9.5% to 8.9 % for the year 2021-22.

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July 21, 2021

Rs 370 Crores Approved for Brahmaputra River Front Project 
  • In order to move on with the concept of developing Guwahati into a Smart City, a 1.3-kilometer length of the Brahmaputra Riverfront project has been approved at a cost of Rs. 370 crore.
  • The Riverfront is located on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River and is part of Guwahati’s core business district. Between Rajbhawan (Kharghuli Hill) and Kamakhaya Temple is a six-kilometer-long riverfront (Nilachal Hill).
  • Visitors and locals of Guwahati will benefit from amenities such as a walkway, a cycle track, and a jogging track, among others. 
  • Viewpoints, Waterstairs, Fountains, Interactive Ponds, Ramps, Stairs, Jetty, Ferry Terminals, Kiosks, Bridges across outflow structures, and other infrastructure improvements are proposed for the Brahmaputra Riverfront. 
IOC to build India’s first green hydrogen plant at Mathura
  • IOC, India’s largest oil firm will build the country’s first ‘green hydrogen’ plant at its refinery in Mathura. This decision has been undertaken with the view of preparing for a future to cater to the growing demands cleaner forms of energy.
  • Earlier, ‘grey hydrogen’ production projects have been announced making use of fossil fuels such as natural gas. Several hydrogen production units are being planned to be set up by IOC.
  • Forecasts state that Indian fuel demand will climb to 400-450 million tonnes by 2040 as against 250 million tonnes and hence, it will be important to invest in CNG, LNG, ethanol and biodiesel.
  • Hydrogen is is a clean fuel but manufacturing it causes carbon by-products and it is energy-intensive. Through the process of coal gasification brown hydrogen is created while this process throws off carbon waste.
  • The ultimate clean hydrogen resource is green hydrogen production and it uses renewable energy to create the hydrogen fuel.
China rolls out high speed 600km/hr Maglev train
  • On 20th July, 2021 China rolled out a 600km per hr high-speed  magnetic levitation (maglev) train in Qingdao located in the Shandong Province of East China.
  • Currently, maglev train is the fastest available ground vehicle. Shenzhen to Shanghai trip which took 10 hours will now be shortened to only 2.5 hours.
  • The new maglev train displays a number of technological advancements which also include a 30% more efficient self-developed brake system.
  • This project was started in the year 2016 and a prototype vehicle was developed in the year 2019 which made a trail run in June 2020.
  • Shanghai, the financial hub of China, is currently the only Chinese city which operates a high-speed maglev line. This line is operational since 2003 and the Shanghai maglev train connects the Pudong airport to downtown Shanghai.

China’s High-speed railway network

  • China has the largest high-speed railway network and covers 95% of its cities. By 2035, China aims to build 4,60,000 kilometres of highways, 25,000 kilometres of high-level sea lanes and 2,00,000 kilometres of railways.
  • The Shanghai maglev train or Shanghai Transrapid is a maglev train line that operates in Shanghai. It is the oldest commercial maglev still in operation, and the first commercial high-speed maglev with cruising speed of 431 km/h. It is also the fastest commercial electric train in the world.

 

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Assam Current Affairs – July 08-14, 2021

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – July 08-14, 2021

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of July 08-14, 2021)

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July 08, 2021

Assam govt to use only hand-woven gamosa and traditional food items in official events
  • Assam Govt decided to use only hand-woven gamosa and traditional food items in official events, in an effort to support and promote locally available products. 
  • The move will come as a huge relief to those producing and trading gamosas and traditional delicacies because sales have been hit by the restrictions imposed to check the spread of the Covid-19.
  • This step will come as a huge relief to those producing and trading gamosas and traditional delicacies because sales have been hit by the restrictions imposed to check the spread of the Covid-19.
  • State Govt also decided to play the state anthem – O Mur Apunar Dex – at the beginning of all government programmes and the national anthem Jana Gana Mana at the end. 
  • Govt also decided a one-year service extension to best-performing non-gazetted employees.
  • There are over 4,000 primary weaver cooperative societies in Assam, producing handloom fabrics, including gamosas which earned the geographical indication (GI) tag in 2019. Last year, Assam had tied up with e-commerce firm Flipkart to promote its artefacts and handloom products.
GIS-based India Industrial Land Bank (IILB) gaining popularity
  • According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, India Industrial Land Bank will achieve pan-India integration by December 2021. The India Industrial Land Bank system (IILB) has been integrated with industry-based GIS systems of 17 states. System was integrated so that details can be updated on the portal in a real-time basis.
  • IILB has grown in popularity after its website is registering 30 per cent increase in page views per month since April 2021. It has received 55,000 page views in June 2021 as compared to 44,136 page views in May. United States have maximum number of visitors after India. It is followed by Australia, United Kingdom, Singapore, UAE, Germany, and Indonesia.

FACTFILE – India Industrial Land Bank (IILB)

  • IILB is a GIS-based portal and acts as one-stop repository of all industrial infrastructure-related information. Land Bank System was developed by Integrating Industrial Information System (IIS) with state GIS (Geographic Information System). 
  • It currently comprises 4,000 industrial parks mapped over an area of 5.5 lakh hectares of land. This portal serves as a decision support system for investors who scout for land remotely.
  • Information regarding connectivity, infrastructure, natural resources & terrain are shared through this portal. Portal also share plot-level information regarding vacant plots, line of activity, and contact details.

 

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July 09, 2021
Assam Cabinet has approved bill for protecting cattle
  • The Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021, will be placed before the State Assembly in the upcoming session. It seeks to replace the existing The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950, that allows the slaughter of cattle above 14 years of age with proper approval by local veterinary officers.
  • The move aims to stop cattle being smuggled into Bangladesh via the international border. The legislation would prohibit cattle movement from other parts of the country into Assam as well as from the state to the rest of the country.

Cattle Slaughter Laws in India

  • In 2005, the Supreme Court of India upheld the constitutional validity of anti-cow slaughter laws enacted in different states of India. Around 20 states in India currently have laws to regulate cow slaughter (it includes cattle slaughter as well).
Software Technology Parks of India to launch five Centres of Excellence in 5 NE States
  • The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) will soon launch 12 more Centres of Excellence (CoE) in various parts of the country. 
  • The Five CoEs will come up in North East, one each in 5 north-east capital cities — Gangtok (IT Applications in Healthcare and AgriTech), Itanagar (GIS Applications including Drone Tech), Kohima (IT Applications in Graphic Design), Aizawl (Gaming), and Agartala (Data Analytics)
  • For nurturing start-up ecosystem and to create world class software products by Indian start-ups, STPI has embarked the journey of establishing domain-centric CoEs in various emerging technology areas such as Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision, Internet of Things (IoT), Fintech, Block chain, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Gaming and Animation etc through collaborative model.
  • STPI has in the past launched 13 CoEs at Chennai, Bhubaneswar, Mohali, Bengaluru, Pune, New Delhi, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Shillong, Imphal and Lucknow.
  • STPI under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Indian government, working with the objective of encouraging, promoting, boosting software exports, and nurturing the startup ecosystem in the country.

 

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July 10, 2021
Fish Farming emerging as “go-to” profession in Assam 
  • Assam has been making steady progress in the fish farming sector since 2016 with fish production of 3.93 lakh metric tonnes in the last six years, informed state’s Fisheries Minister Parimal Suklabaidya. 
  • Exuding optimism that the fish production in the state would increase up to five lakh metric tonnes with the creation of gene bank, the minister informed that the government had spent Rs 10 crore for this purpose. 
  • State Government in Assam has been making concerted efforts to make use of the vast water resources of the state to increase fish production. 
  • Many youths who have come back to the state due to the COVID-induced lockdown have taken up fish farming by constructing individual and community ponds with Government subsidies.  Of the 12,000 individual and community ponds, 10,000 ponds have been constructed.
New Department to be created in Assam to protect Indigenous Faith, Culture
  • The Assam cabinet decided to create a new department to protect the culture and practices of people belonging to tribal and other indigenous communities. The new department would ensure that the state’s indigenous population gets to preserve their faith and traditions, while providing requisite support to them.
  • The indigenous people of Assam are people belonging to ethnic groups who have been living in this region before colonialism in 1826 (when NE became a part of India) as per the United Nations Indigenous or Native or original inhabitants definition. 
  • The indigenous people of Assam belong to the following ethnic groups:

Khasis, Keot(Kaibarta), Jaintia, Dom/Nadiyal Kaibarta, Koch-Rajbongshis, Bodo, Mising, Rabha, Deori, Tiwa(Lalung), Ahom, Moran, Koch-Rajbongshi, Motok, Dimasa, Karbi, Sutiya, Sonowal Kachari, Thengal Kachari, Sarania Kachari, Mech Kachari, Tai Phake, Tai Khamyang, Tai Aiton, Tai Turung, Tai Khamti, other Tai ethnic groups, various Naga ethnic groups, Mizo, various indigenous Arunachali ethnic groups like Adi, Nyishi, Mishmi, Apatani, Barman Kachari, Tripuri, Kalitas of North and Upper Assam are mostly Mongoloid converts, etc., Assamese Brahmins including Ganaks, Assamese Kayasthas, Kalitas of Lower Assam (not Kalitas of North and Upper Assam as most of them are Mongoloid converts), other indigenous ethnic groups of neighbouring North-East states.

Department of Biotechnology & National Institute of Biomedical Genomics creates world’s 1st database of Oral Cancer variants dbGENVOC
  • The Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology & National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG) has created a first of its kind database of genomic variation in oral cancer, called dbGENVOC.

FACTFILE – dbGENVOC

  • It is a free resource and a browsable online database of GENomic Variants of Oral Cancer. First release of dbGENVOC comprises of 24 million somatic and germline variants which have been derived from whole exome sequences of 100 oral cancer patients & whole genome sequences of 5 oral cancer patients.
  • Somatic variation data from 220 patient samples were collected from USA and analyzed by TCGA-HNSCC project.
  • dbGENVOC is a catalogue of genomic variants as well as a built-in search engine. It allows a reasonable extent of statistical and bioinformatic analysis to be carried out such as identification of variants in associated altered pathways in oral cancer.
  • It will be updated annually with variation data of new oral cancer patients from India southeast Asia. It will support advances in oral cancer research.

 

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July 11, 2021
Assam-origin Indian-American Samir Banerjee wins 2021 Junior Wimbledon title
  • Indian-American Samir Banerjee, having roots in Assam, won the junior Wimbledon title after defeating Victor Lilov in the boys’ singles final at the All England Club. He became the first American to lift the junior Wimbledon title in six years.
  • Samir Banerjee is an American tennis player. He has a career high ITF junior combined ranking of 2 achieved on 12 July 2021.
  • Samir’s grandfather, Hiranmay Banerjee, was a resident of Assam and served as the General Manager at Oil India Limited (OIL), which has its headquarters at Duliajan in Assam’s Dibrugarh district.
Novak Djokovic won Grand Slam Wimbledon Tennis Championship Title 2021
  • Novak Djokovic has won his 6th Grand Slam Wimbledon Tennis Championship men’s singles title 2021. Wimbledon Championship 2021 was the 134th edition, 53rd Open Era, and the third Grand Slam Tournament of 2021.
  • Wimbledon Championship 2021 tournament was started on June 28, 2021 for which finals were played in London, England on July 11, 2021. The tournament in 2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic for the first time since World War II.
  • Wimbledon Men’s Single Championship 2021 was held at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, England. Roger Federer, with 8 titles, won maximum number of titles in 2021 tournament.

FACTFILE – Wimbledon Championship

  • Wimbledon Championship is the oldest tennis tournament worldwide, and is widely regarded as most prestigious championship. It has been held since 1877 at All England Club in Wimbledon, London.
  • Wimbledon is one among four Grand Slam tennis tournaments. Other tournaments are Australian Open, French Open and US Open. 
  • Wimbledon is the only major tournament which is still played on traditional tennis playing surface, Grass.

BIOGRAPHY – Novak Djokovic

  • He is a Serbian professional tennis player, ranked as world No. 1 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
  • He has been No. 1 for record of 334 weeks. He has also finished as year-end No. 1 on Open Era joint record six occasions (shared with Pete Sampras).
  • As of now, he has won an all-time joint record 20 Grand Slam men’s singles titles (shared with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal)  and 85 ATP singles titles.

India’s First Private LNG Facility plant inaugurated at Nagpur

  • Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, inaugurated India’s first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility plant at Nagpur, Maharashtra. Union Minister emphasized on the importance of alternate biofuels and diversification of agriculture towards the energy & power sector.
  • Union Ministry have also designed a policy that encourages development of imports substitute, cost-effective, pollution-free and indigenous ethanol, LNG, bio CNG and hydrogen fuels. Surplus in rice, corn and sugar can be used as alternative fuel in order to prevent it from going to waste.

FACTFILE – Liquefied natural gas (LNG)

  • LNG is natural gas, mainly methane (CH4) with some mixture of ethane (C2H6), that has been cooled down to liquid form for easier non-pressurized storage & transport. It takes up around 1/600th of volume of natural gas in gaseous state. It is odorless, colorless, non-toxic and non-corrosive gas.
  • LNG is produced from hydrocarbon deposits containing a wide range of hydrocarbon products like methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10).
  • Acidic elements like hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2) along with oil, mud, water, and mercury, are removed from LNG to deliver clean sweetened stream of gas.

 

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July 12, 2021
Dibrugarh-Imphal flight becomes operational under UDAN programme
  • Domestic carrier Indigo started another flight from Dibrugarh to Imphal, under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – UDAN programme of the Government of India. The Indigo flight will now connect Kolkata and Imphal with Dibrugarh on a daily basis, and the flight will take around 1 hour and 15 Minutes to reach Imphal from Dibrugarh.
  • The RCS- UDAN scheme has added wings to the existing travel experience, especially for first-time travellers. At present, there are nine flights departing from Dibrugarh Airport.
  • Dibrugarh Airport is now connected to four state capitals of North East India- Guwahati, Agartala, Imphal and Dimapur. 
  • The flights under the RCS- UDAN scheme have connected various remote areas of North-East India, making travelling convenient for the public in the region. This is the third flight under RCS- UDAN scheme to start its operations from Dibrugarh Airport.

FACTFILE – UDAN-RCS

  • UDAN-RCS, UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) is a regional airport development and “Regional Connectivity Scheme” (RCS) of Government of India, with the objective of “letting the common citizen of the country fly”, aimed at making air travel affordable and widespread, to boost inclusive national economic development, job growth and air transport infrastructure development of all regions and states of India.
  • At the beginning of the scheme, out of total 486 airports, 406 were participating unserved airports, 27 were well served airports out of 97 non-RCS airports and 12 were operational airports out of 18 participating underserved regional operational airports with regular fixed-wing scheduled flights.
  • UDAN scheme will add to this number by expediting the development and operationalisation of India’s potential-target of nearly 425 unserved, underserved, and mostly underdeveloped regional airports with regular scheduled flights.
Assam Govt presents deficit budget of Rs 566 crore for Fiscal Year 2021-22
  • Assam’s first woman Finance Minister Ajanta Neog presented a deficit budget of Rs 566 crore for the Fiscal Year 2021-22. 
  • Minister Neog stated that the aggregate income of the government has been calculated at Rs 2,89,770.68 crore for FY 2021-22, and the total expenditure for the financial year has been estimated at Rs 2,89,367.10 crore.

Key highlights of the Assam Budget 2021-22

  • The government has allocated Rs 40 crore for aiding the families who lost their loved ones due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The budget promises Rs 1 lakh one-time compensation to the next of the kins of those who have died due to COVID-19.
  • The budget also promises smartphones to class IX and X students in government schools.
  • Assam government will recruit 1 lakhs youths for government jobs in the state.
  • The Budget will provide microfinance loan waivers to economically vulnerable people through incentives.
  • The government has also proposed to build 1000 KM of embankments and roads so as to make Assam flood-free.
  • The budget made no new tax proposal, and tax rates remain unchanged.
  • The budget also allocated funds for 5 new medical colleges at Golaghat, Dhemaji, Morigaon, Bongaigaon and Tamulpur.
  • Under the poverty alleviation Orunodoi scheme, financial assistance has been increased from Rs 830 to Rs 1,000 per month to ensure support for financially weaker families.
  • Budget proposed piped gas supply to 2,69,648 families of tea garden workers.
National Dolphin Research Centre to be set up in Patna
  • The National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) will be set up in Patna, Bihar. Opening up of the research centre will be a big step towards conservation of endangered Gangetic River dolphins.
  • To set up the research centre, NDRC is coming up on 4,400 square metre plots of land in premises of Patna University.
  • Bihar urban development department has already cleared construction of NDRC’s building at a distance of 200 metres from the Ganga.
  • Dolphin habitat has been threatened and disturbed in River Ganga. Thus, NDRC is now conservation efforts of dolphins. NDRC will provide an opportunity for in-depth research on dolphins including on changing behavior, food habits, survival skills, cause of death and other such aspects.

FACTFILE – Project Dolphin

  • Project Dolphin was started on the lines of Project Tiger, which has helped in increasing tiger population. This initiative got in-principle approval in December 2019 at first meeting of National Ganga Council (NGC), headed by the Prime Minister.
  • This is a “Special Conservation program” taken up to save the Gangetic Dolphin. This project will be implemented by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

FACTFILE – Gangetic River dolphin

  • Gangetic Dolphin is India’s national aquatic animal. It has been listed as Schedule I animal under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. It has been declared “endangered” by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
  • Gangetic Dolphin is one among four freshwater dolphin species across world. Other three freshwater dolphins are found in Yangtze River in China, Indus River in Pakistan and Amazon River in South America.
  • Dolphin is found in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Bihar is home to half of estimated 3,000 Gangetic dolphins in India.

 

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July 13, 2021
National Asset Reconstruction Company became a legal entity
  • The National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARC) has finally become a legal entity registered with the Registrar of Companies, Mumbai. NARC is also called as bad bank is finally here in India. It is considered as a one-stop solution for banking systems stressed assets menace.
  • Under the first phase, 22 stressed accounts amounting to Rs 89,000 crore has been identified to transfer to NARC. With this, Rs 2 lakh crore worth of bad loans accounts will be transferred to the newly incorporated bad bank.
  • SBI is expected to transfer bad loans worth Rs 20,000cr. PNB will transfer about Rs 8,000cr stressed assets while Union Bank of India will transfer about Rs 7,800cr NPAs to NARCL.
  • Total stress in the banking system is more than Rs 15 lakh crore. So, banks burdened with stressed assets and limited capital find it difficult to manage NPAs. Further, Government can only provide a limited capital. Thus, this bad bank model will help both government and banks to manage NPAs.

FACTFILE – National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARC)

  • NARC was Incorporated on July 7, 2021 and it has an authorised capital of Rs 100 crore and paid-up capital of Rs 74 crore.
  • Sixteen banks, 12 state-owned and 4 private banks will invest in NARCL. Canara Bank will be the sole sponsor of NARL with 12% stake and SBI is going to be the second-largest shareholder with 9.9%.
Ladakh is 1st UT to achieve 100% first dose coverage
  • Ladakh has become first Union Territory to vaccinate all residents and guest population; comprising of migrant labourers, hotel workers and Nepalese citizens earning their livelihood in the territory; with first dose of Covid-19 jab.
  • As per data, total of 89,404 people from all eligible age groups have been administered with first dose of Covid vaccine. Second dose has been administered to 60,936 people.

FACTFILE – Ladakh

  • Ladakh is a region administered by India as union territory. It comprises of part of larger Kashmir region, which has been a subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China.
  • Ladakh was established as a Union Territory on October 31, 2019 after passing “Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act”.
  • Ladakh is bordered by Tibet Autonomous Region in east, Himachal Pradesh in south, Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in west while southwest corner of Xinjiang along the Karakoram Pass in north.
  • Ladakh extends from Siachen Glacier in Karakoram range in north to main Great Himalayas in south. Eastern end of UT comprises of uninhabited Aksai Chin plains. Aksai Chin is claimed by Indian Government as part of Ladakh, however it is under Chinese control since 1962.
World Population Day 2021 observed on July 11, 2021
  • World Population Day has observed on July 11 every year and highlights problems of overpopulation. The day also raises awareness about the effects of overpopulation on environment and development. 
  • The year 2021 marked the 32nd world population day. The day is observed every year with a specific theme. Theme for World Population Day 2021 is “Rights and choices are the answer: Whether baby boom or bust, the solution to shifting fertility rates lies in prioritizing the reproductive health and rights of all people.”
  • Every year events and activities like seminar discussions, educational information sessions etc are organized across schools and colleges to draw attention towards issues of growing population.
  • To raise people’s awareness on issues related with population like importance of family planning, poverty, gender equality, maternal health and human rights, the day becomes significant.

FACTFILE – World Population Day

  • First World Population Day was observed on July 11, 1989. This day was established by the Governing Council of United Nations Development Programme in 1989.
  • This day was suggested by Dr. K. C. Zachariah when population reaches Five Billion. Dr Zachariah was working as Senior Demographer at World Bank then.

 

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July 14, 2021
Italy wins the  European Championship trophy 2020
  • Italy has won second European Championship trophy after defeating England by 3-2 in penalty shoot-out in final of Euros 2020 trophy at Wembley Stadium in London.
  • This is the first major international trophy won by Italy since their 2006 FIFA World Cup win.

FACTFILE – UEFA European Football Championship

  • It is the primary association football competition among senior men’s national teams of members of Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Competition has been held every four years since 1960.
  • Euros 2020 was postponed until 2021 because of COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. It was originally called as “European Nations’ Cup”.
  • In the tournament, the host nations qualify automatically while other members are required to compete in the qualifying process.
India’s first 5-star Hotel atop Railway Track in Gandhinagar
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to inaugurate a newly-built five-star hotel on the top of redeveloped Gandhinagar railway station on July 16, 2021.
  • This project on redevelopment of Gandhinagar railway station and construction of five-star hotel started by Indian Railway Stations Redevelopment Corporation (IRSDC) in January 2017.
  • The Luxury hotel atop the railway station is having 318 rooms.Hotel is spread across 7,400 square meters. It was built at a cost of Rs 790 crore.
NTPC to set up India’s largest solar park at Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
  • Govt owned company NTPC Ltd is to set up India’s largest solar park at Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. The solar park will have the capacity of 4.75 gigawatt.
  • NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd got the go-ahead from ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) for this project under “ultra-mega renewable energy power parks (UMREPP) scheme”.
  • NTPC plans to list NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd. NTPC has also announced its target to reduce net energy intensity by 10% under its energy compact goals.
  • NTPC has planned to invest ₹1 trillion between 2019 and 2024 in order to become a 130 GW power producer by 2032.

FACTFILE – Green Energy Parks

Under the ultra-mega renewable energy power parks (UMREPP) scheme, several state-run companies including NTPC have planned to build massive green energy parks in wind & solar resource rich states like Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

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Assam Current Affairs – July 01-07, 2021

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – July 01-07, 2021

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of July 01-07, 2021)

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July 01, 2021

Assam’s Burmese grapes exported to Dubai
  • In a major boost to harness the export potential of farm and processed food products from the North-eastern states, a shipment of fresh Burmese grapes, locally known as leteku, has been exported to Dubai from Assam’s Darang district. The consignment of leteku, which is enriched with Vitamin C and iron.
  • Kiega EXIM Pvt Ltd exported the consignment from the LGBI airport, Guwahati, to Dubai.

Role of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

  • Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has been carrying out promotional activities to bring the North-eastern states on the agriculture and processed food products export map of India. 
  • It facilitated exports of the first consignment of ‘red rice’ to the USA from Assam. Iron-rich ‘red rice’ is grown in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam, without the use of any chemical fertilisers. The rice variety is referred to as bao-dhaan, which is an integral part of Assamese food.
  • APEDA has also assisted in exports of Geographical Indications (GI) certified kaji nemu (Assam Lemon) to London.
 
Mizoram’s Lalremsiami becomes first Mizo female Olympian from state
  • Hockey India selected a 16-member squad who will be representing the Indian Women’s Hockey Team at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. 
  • Among the eight Olympic debutants, Mizoram’s Lalremsiami became the first female Mizo Olympian from the state to be selected for the coveted games.
  • Lalremsiami will be playing with the Indian Women’s Hockey team as a forward, Manipur’s Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam will be playing for the team as a midfielder.
  • She represented the U-18 side at the Asian Youth Olympic Games qualifier. She finished the tournament scoring seven goals in five games.
  • In 2017, she was included in the senior team that went on to win gold at the Asia Cup.
  • In the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy, she played a total of 31 minutes on the field across five matches scoring two goals, including an equalizer in a crucial final round-robin match. Consequently, she was also named the tournament’s ‘U-21 rising star award’.
  • Lalremsiami was included in the 18-member squad for the 2018 World Cup as India’s youngest player at 18.
  • She scored four goals at the Jakarta Asian Games, and also Lalremsiami became the first sportsperson from Mizoram to win an Asian Games medal.
  • In the same year, at the Buenos Aires Youth Olympics, she helped India secure a silver medal which was their first in the history of the Games.

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July 02, 2021
Social media app “Bujulo” from Nagaland to launch soon
  • A multi-messaging-based social media application called “Bujulo,” developed by Hiboka Sumi from Nagaland is expected to be launched next month. Bujulo is a start-up company founded by Hiboka Sumi from Dimapur. 
  • The app allows users to create and share short-form videos and contents and also allows them to spontaneously jump into chat and live stream rooms. Through Bujulo, one can send text messages, voice messages, pictures and videos to one another, and also post stories as pictures, text and videos.

 

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July 03, 2021
IIT Guwahati and NESAC forge ties to develop NorthEast India
  • A MoU was signed between Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati and North Eastern Space Application Centre (NESAC), aiming for the development of the northeastern region and creating skilled professionals in the field.
  • IIT Guwahati to offer internship programmes, joint degree programmes, short-term training programmes, student exchange programmes and joint projects, in collaboration with the North Eastern Space Application Centre (NESAC). 
  • A multidisciplinary approach would be adopted to Northeast India which is prone to disasters like floods, earthquakes, landslides and riverbank erosion which stand as an obstacle to the growth of the region.
  • Signing of this agreement with IIT Guwahati and specifically with CDMR (Centre for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction) at IIT-G focusing on training and education and Research will further enhance NESAC in strengthening capacity building, training and research in this region.

 

Assam Forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya inaugurates Dehing Patkai National Park
  • Assam Forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya inaugurated the Dehing Patkai National Park in Dibrugarh district. Inaugurating the seventh National Park, Assam Minister Suklabaidya said it is a red letter day for Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts including the state of Assam as a whole that Dehing Patkai National Park has come up.
  • The rich floral and faunal diversity of the park well known for its rainforest will soon attain the stature of one of the best national parks in the country. Assam is blessed with nature’s bounty and lauded the people of the state for taking steps towards the conservation of nature. 
  • The Minister said that the state government would take necessary steps for infrastructure development of the park to attract tourists.

FACTFILE – Dehing Patkai National Park

  • Dehing Patkai National Park is located in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam.
  • It covers an area of 231.65 km2 (89.44 sq mi) rainforest.
  • It was declared a wildlife sanctuary on 13 June 2004, and on 13 December 2020 Government of Assam upgraded it into a national park. On 9 June 2021 Forest Department of Assam officially notified it as a national park.
  • The Dehing Patkai forms the largest stretch of lowland rainforests in India. 
  • The Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as Dehing-Patkai Elephant Reserve under Project Elephant.
  • It is home to elephants, hoolock gibbons, golden cat, clouded leopard and other animals.

 

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July 04, 2021
Nagaland launches ‘NISHTHA tele-track’ home-based isolation care platform for COVID-19 
  • For the efficient management of COVID-19, Nagaland Health Minister S Pangnyu Phom launched the “NISHTHA Tele-track” platform, a comprehensive tech-enabled home-based isolation care model for monitoring and follow-up of COVID-19 patients in the state.
  • The NISHTHA Tele-track platform developed with support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) NISHTHA Jhpiego will have access to report mild symptoms and record vitals at home. 
  • The initiative is being rolled out in two highly affected areas of Nagaland, namely Kohima and Dimapur to contain the spread of COVID-19.
  • Through teleconsultation, the patients will also have access to their physical and mental well being, with a pool of physicians, diet and mental health counsellors attending to them.

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July 05, 2021
New underground spider species ‘Gravelyia boro’ discovered in Assam
  • Gravelyia boro is the newly-discovered burrow spider which belongs to the Nemesiidae family comprising 184 species worldwide.
  • Spiders belonging to two different species have been found in the Jharbari range of western Assam’s Chirang Reserve Forest. One species has burrowing habit and the other species jumps.
  • Gravelyia boro is the newly-discovered burrow spider. It belongs to the Nemesiidae family comprising 184 species worldwide.
  • Gravelyia boro spider name has been derived from the Bodo community which is one of the largest ethnolinguistic groups in Assam.
  • Dexippus kleini, on the other hand, is an oriental jumping spider. This species of spider was discovered by Thorell about 2,600 km away in Sumatra. Dexippus kleini is a member of Salticidae, the largest family of all spiders on earth. Both the species were discovered from Bodoland Territorial Region and have been described in the latest issue of Acta Arachnologica published by the Arachnological Society of Japan.
Historic passenger train trial run from Silchar to Vaingaichunpao completed
  • The passenger train trial run from Silchar railway station in Assam to Vaingaichunpao in Manipur’s Tamenglong district was successfully completed, marking a new breakthrough for Indian Railways.
  • N. Biren Singh, Manipur Chief Minister, called the major milestone for Indian Railways a ”historic moment” since it was the first time a direct connecting route to Manipur’s Vaingaichunpao railway station was established.
  • The passenger train made a brief stop at Jiribam railway station, where officials and citizens honoured the train and hosted the national flag, followed by the national anthem. This accomplishment is expected to benefit the State of Manipur by linking it directly to Assam’s Silchar town and allowing locals to easily go elsewhere.
  • Indian Railways is on a quest to become ”future ready”, with plans to deliver 58 super-critical and 68 essential projects totaling more than Rs 1,15,000 crore over the next four years. 
  • Over the past year, 29 super-critical projects totaling 1,044 km in length and costing Rs 11,588 crore were completed. The Indian Railways has identified 58 ‘Super Critical Projects’ totalling 3750 km in length and costing Rs 39,663 crore. 
  • A total of 27 of these 58 ‘Super Critical Projects’ will be completed by December 2021, with the remaining two projects is expected to be completed by March 2022.

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July 06, 2021
Sikkim archer Tarundeep Rai to represent India at Tokyo Olympics
  • 37-year old archer from Sikkim, Tarundeep Rai, is all set to represent India at the Tokyo Olympics this year. Rai is the sole sportsmen from the state to represent Sikkim at the international event, and is a great prospect for India in sports like Archery.
  • The Olympian has already represented India at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2012 London Olympics, but failed to clinch a medal at both events.
  • The archer has previously won many medals for India at other international events like the Aian Games and World Archery Championship, however, the Olympics still remains a dream for him.
  • Rai won a Bronze at the 15th Asian Games in Doha followed by a Silver at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
Assam’s Shahil Dey becomes Northeast’s first Chess International Master
  • Shahil Dey, the 14-year-old boy  from Assam, has become Northeast’s first chess International Master. He was granted his first International Master standard at the GM Round Robin Tournament held in Serbia.
  • The 14-year-old chess ace has addressed India at different competitions. In acknowledgment of his accomplishments in chess, he has likewise been awarded ‘ National Child Award.’
  • The former Under-7 and Under-9 National champion’s overall performance rating currently remains at 2473. He began to participate in competitions at the age of five in Guwahati.

 

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July 07, 2021
Mizoram to introduce Hmar language as a medium of instruction at primary school level
  • Following a High Court order, the Mizoram government has finally decided to implement the Hmar Accord and introduce Hmar language at the primary school level in Mizoram. The High Court directed the Mizoram government to implement the same.
  • Hmar language would be introduced as a medium of instruction in all primary schools primarily within the Hmar-dominated Sinlung Hills Council (SHC) areas from the next academic session.
  • The first phase of the workshop for translation of Mizo medium textbooks of class I to V in Hmar Language was held in Aizawl.
  • Initially, the Hmar medium will be introduced at class-I for the first academic calendar (2022-2023) and up to class-II in the next academic session (2023-2024).

FACTFILE – Hmar language 

  • The Hmar language or Khawsak ṭawng belongs to the Kukish branch of the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. 
  • As per 2011 Census of India figure, there are 29,268 Hmar/Khawsak speakers in Assam, 48,375 in Manipur, 1,700 in Meghalaya, 18,587 in Mizoram.
  • Hmar/Khawsak is a recognised language in the School curriculum of Assam, Manipur and Mizoram, and also recently recognised as one of the Modern Indian Language (MIL) at Manipur University.
  • Board of Secondary Education, Assam has also included Hmar(Khawsak dialect) as an MIL in its matriculation syllabus from 2005.
  • Both Assam University, Silchar and Manipur University has permitted Khawsak Hmar language to be studied as Modern Indian Language in the Graduation level.
Sher Bahadur Deuba to be appointed Nepal’s new Prime Minister
  • Supreme Court of Nepal has passed an order to appoint Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba as prime minister Nepal.
  • Five-member constitutional bench of supreme court’ order also reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives for second time in five months.
  • President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari had dissolved the 275-member lower house on May 22, 2021 for the second time in five months on the recommendation of Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli.
  • President of Nepal has the power to dissolve House of Representatives or Parliament under Article 76 (7) of Constitution of Nepal.
  • Bidhya Devi Bhandari dissolved parliament after considering claims of support by both sides. KP Sharma Oli had claimed to have support of 153 lawmakers including members of Janata Samajbadi Party, and Nepali Congress President Deuba had the support of 149 parliamentarians.

 

 

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