Categories

National Current Affairs
National Current Affairs May 1st Week 2019
Category : National Current Affairs
posted Date :
Total No.of views :
Total No.of Comments :
Rating: 
0 / 5 (0 votes)

 1. Defence Ministry set to have three new tri-service agencies

In a bid to bolster its capabilities to tackle threats emanating from hackers, mostly from China and Pakistan, India is all set to have Defence Cyber Agency (DCA) by next month. This agency will be headquartered in the capital. 
Senior Navy officer Rear Admiral Mohit Gupta will be the first head of this agency -- DCA.
The work has almost been completed. A new building has been hired in the national capital which will act as the headquarters of the formation," sources in the Defence Ministry said.
Agreed upon by the Defence Ministry and the three services, it was decided that the cyber agency would be headed by Rear Admiral Gupta. The Navy is expected to announce his formal appointment anytime, sources said.
DCA is one of the three agencies along with the Special Forces and Space to be set up as per the clearance given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Combined Commanders` Conference in Jodhpur last year.
The DCA will include a lot of existing capability from the armed forces that will help tackle threats in the cyber domain and will also have the elements of DRDO working in it, sources said.
The Special Forces agency would be headed by a Major General rank officer of the Army and is likely to come up at Agra. Agra already has a Para brigade and the wherewithal to airlift Special Forces operatives in large numbers as the base co-exists with an Indian Air Force (IAF) transport aircraft squadron specialising in these operations. 
 
2. Fani: Government takes extensive safety measures
 
Extensive safety measures have been taken by the Government with zero casualty target.  
A massive exodus got underway in coastal Odisha as Lakhs of people left their homes in probably the largest evacuation ahead of a natural disaster in the country. 
Our correspondent reports that the Odisha government has moved more than 11 lakh people to safety and advised the public to remain indoors.
After crossing Odisha, cyclone Fani is likely to move towards West Bengal. It is also likely to impact parts of the northeast, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. 
There is a forecast of massive tides up to 1.5 metres and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. Our Kolkata Correspondent reports that leaves of the Government employees in the coastal districts have cancelled. 
NDRF Director-General said, 81 teams of NDRF has been deployed along the affected coastline. 
The Indian Coast Guard and the Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief and rescue operations. Army and Air Force units in the three States have also been put on standby. 
In neighbouring Bangladesh, the government has issued mass evacuation orders in 19 coastal districts to prevent casualties from the cyclone. The cyclone is expected to make landfall in Bangladesh after hitting Indian coastlines.
The Home Ministry`s Control Room helpline number for Cyclone Fani 1938 is operational to provide latest information. Odisha’s emergency helpline number for Cyclone Fani is 06742534177.
The Railways has also released helpline numbers: Bhubaneswar- (0674-2303060), Puri- 06752-225922,  Cuttack- 0671-2201865.
 
3. Politics of Jugaad: The Coalition Handbook
 
Journalist Saba Naqvi has composed a book named “Politics of Jugaad: The Coalition Handbook” in which she examines the possibility of a coalition government after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
The book discusses the nature of transformation in Indian political parties and their role in present times.
The author, Saba Naqvi is a well-known journalist and political analyst in India. She has authored other books, namely, ‘In Good Faith’ (2012), ‘Capital Conquest’ (2015), and ‘Shades of Saffron’ (2018).
 
4. 750th Birth Anniversary of Sri Vedanta Desika
 
In order to commemorate the 750th birth anniversary of Sri Vedanta Desikan, Vice President, M. Venkaiah Naiduunveiled a postage stamp in New Delhi on May 2, 2019. The stamp has been released by Indian postal department.
The releasing of commemorative postage stamps inspire the younger generation to practice humanism, peace and compassion propagated by the great saint and spiritual icon.
Born in 1268 CE, he was Sri Vaishnava philosopher and one of the most brilliant stalwarts of Sri Vaishnavism in the post-Ramanuja period. He was an awardee of Vedanta Desika (supreme teacher of the conclusion of all knowledge).  He also received titles such as ‘Kavitarkika-kesari’ and ‘Kavitarkika-simham’ (lion amongst poets); and ‘Ramanuja-daya-patram’. The most essential feature of his philosophy is the ‘aspect of inclusion’ which means anyone, irrespective of any caste or creed could join Sri Vaishnava fold. he basis of his spiritual teachings was peace and humanity.
 
5. EC declines to advance poll timing due to Ramzan
 
Election Commission has rejected a plea to advance commencement of polls during the last three phases of the Lok Sabha elections to 5 AM instead of 7 AM due to Ramzan. 
The Supreme Court had directed the Election Commission to take a call on a plea seeking to advance the voting timing to 5 AM for the remaining phases of the Lok Sabha elections due to heat waves and Ramzan.
According to the poll panel, the polling hour which is 11 hours is long enough against the statutory eight hours for the convenience of all sections of the society and it does not find it feasible to alter the existing hours for polling for the 5th, 6th and 7th phase. 
The sixth and seventh phase is on 12th and 19th of this month.
The EC had set up a committee of officers on the issue.
Campaigning has intensified for the remaining two phases of Lok Sabha elections. 
Top leaders of various political parties are holding rallies and road shows in different parts of the country. 
 
6. Green number plates are now mandatory for all-electric vehicles
 
The Indian government had earlier proposed a special green-coloured number plate for all-electric vehicles in the country.
Indian government had earlier proposed a special green-coloured number plate for all electric vehicles in the country. Putting the year old plan in action, the Central government has now asked the state transport departments to make it mandatory for all EVs to use the green number plates, irrespective of the year in which they were bought.
The special number plate is supposed to have the vehicle number spelled out in white colour on a green background. The new mandate is supposed to help provide a preferential treatment to the vehicles with no carbon emissions, like parking, free entry in congested areas as well as a concessional toll on highways.
With the introduction of the second phase of FAME - Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles scheme back in February this year, the centre had announced multiple incentives for EV users and makers alike through a total allocated budget of Rs 10,000 crore. These will be used in the form of subsidies to the buyers as well as to those manufacturing electric vehicles in the country, with at least 50% indigenous production.
The allotted budget under the FAME-II will also be used to set up an EV infrastructure across the country, including charging stations. With the second phase of the FAME scheme, the government aims to support 1 million e-two-wheelers, 500,000 e-three-wheelers, 55,000 e-four-wheelers and 7,000 e-buses. Subsequently, around 7200 charging stations will be put up across major cities of India.
 
7. IIT Indore pips older peers to feature in top 50 Asia University Rankings
 
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore enters in the top 50 Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings.
It has yet again pipped its older peers like IIT Bombay, Delhi, and Madras to be the only IIT to rank.
The latest rankings, however, have seen the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru maintain its lead position at 29th, same as last year.
On the other hand, IIT Bombay which ranked 44 last year, fell 10 places to be ranked at 54th position this year.
Indian Institute of Technology Indore (IIT Indore or IITI), located in Madhya Pradesh, is one of the Institutes of Technology established by the Government of India in 2009.[1][2] It is one of the eight new Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) established by theMinistry of Human Resource Development, Government of India under The Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Act, 2011 which declares eight new IITs as well as the conversion of Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University to IIT.
 
8. Unnat Bharat Abhiyan scheme
 
A Special Purpose Vehicle under the Ministry of Electronics & IT, (Information Technology) CSC (Common Services Centre) e-Governance Services India Limited, has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)Kanpur to upscale ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’.
‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan project’ is being led by Dr. Reeta Singh, from IIT Kanpur.
‘ Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’ is the programme of the HRD (Human Resource Development) Ministry which is working towards achieving solutions for increasing sustainable growth in rural India.
IIT-Kanpur has brought together 15 leading higher education institutions from UP (Uttar Pradesh) to work together with CSC, under this policy, for the villages’ development.
Through CSCs, they will adopt gram panchayats and equip themselves with citizen-centric services.
 
9. FAME-II plan stands to reduce 64% energy needs and 37% carbon needs by 2030
 
The Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) has notified certain observations regarding second phase of the Faster Adoption and Manufacture of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India). 
It has observed that India can save 64% of anticipated road-based mobility-related energy demand and 37% of carbon emissions by 2030. 
The reduction in energy demands would lead in the reduction of 156 million tonnes of oil equivalent in diesel and petrol consumption and net savings of approximately $60 billion in 2030 at current oil rates. This will boost the India’s vision of reducing oil imports by 10% by 2022.
The tentative aim is to have 30% electric vehicles by 2030 and the electric vehicle penetration in India is currently at 1%. Therefore, CII added that FAME alone is not enough to reach the 2030 target.
If transport has to be eco friendly, it must increase its share of renewable along with environmentally sustainable batteries. As per CII, transport continues to be the highest oil consuming sector and the use of diesel and petrol grew at 5.9% and 9.9% respectively in the last decade. 
As per government’s estimates, the country’s import dependency on oil has increased to 83.7% in the 10-month period of FY 2019 from 78.3% of total consumption in 2014-15.
The government has allocated Rs.10,000 cr  for FAME-II which is Rs.895 cr higher than allocated for FAME-I.
The CII suggested to boost the domestic manufacturing of vehicles, components and batteries, along with skill development across the value chain, and the strategic sourcing of key raw material.
 
10. Modi announces Rs 1000 cr assistance for cyclone-hit Odisha
 
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has said that Central Govt will provide manpower,  machine, material and money for restoration work in cyclone FANI affected areas in Odisha.  
Visiting the cyclone-affected areas in Odisha, Prime Minister said that 1000 crore rupees financial assistance will be given to Odisha.
Before the cyclone, 381 crore rupees assistance in advance was declared by the  Prime Minister. 
After an areal survey of the cyclone-affected areas. Prime Minister said that whatever will be required for restoration and rehabilitation work, Center will not hesitate to provide it as assistance. 
He also said that a team of officials of Prime Minister`s Office will camp in  Bhubaneswar for the supervision of the reconstruction work. 
Prime Minister praised the fishermen of the community of Odisha for their high level of awareness about cyclone so that the casualty was minimised. 
Eastern Command of Indian Navy is now providing relief materials at cyclone-affected areas of Puri and Khurda districts. 
Three helicopters and three vessels are deployed for relief work. The doctors of Navy are providing medical assistance to the injured in camp hospitals.