National Current Affairs April 4th Week 2021
Foundation Stone for Project Parasol:
The integrated Solar Dryer and Pyrolysis pilot plant`s foundation stone was recently laid in Chennai.
Highlights:
♦ The pilot is part of the Indo-German `Pyrasol` challenge, which aims to transform urban natural waste into biochar and electricity in smart cities.
♦ With the help of the Indo-German Science & Technology Centre, it was given to CSIR-CLRI.
♦ The aim of the project is to develop technology for the joint processing of fibrous organic waste (FOW) and sewage sludge (SS) from Indian smart cities into hygienic and particularly valuable biochar that can be used for power generation, carbon sequestration, and environmental improvement.
Project Pyrasol:
With an integrated and interactive approach, the project focuses on managing and organising collection, care, and disposal systems of city wastes in Indian Smart Cities as well as other city centres.
About Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (STC):
Founded by India and Germany to promote Indo-German R&D collaboration with a focus on enterprise participation, applied research, and technology growth. IGSTC`s flagship initiative, "2+2 Ventures," catalyses innovation-centric R&D projects by combining the strengths of Indian and German research and educational institutions, as well as public and private industries.
J&K Government Employees Will Be Monitored by a Special Task Force:
The government of J&K formed a Special Task Force (STF) to identify and investigate government officials who are involved in any cases involving threats to national security or anti-national activities.
Highlights:
♦ The chairman of the Special Task Force will be the ADGP (CID), J&K, and members will include representatives from the Home Department, Law Department, Justice Member, Parliamentary Affairs, and the concerned department.
♦ The STF will investigate employees accused of engaging in activities that include action under Indian Constitution Article 311(2)(C).
♦ The STF has been charged with gathering such personnel`s records and working with other Terror Monitoring Group (TMG) contributors to identify such individuals.
♦ The cross comes when a number of government officials have been seen in public sharing their political views on the Kashmir dispute in the past.
###National Commission for Minorities
The Delhi High Court has ordered the Centre to fill the vacant positions of chairperson and five other members of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) by July 31, 2021.
Highlights:
♦ In 1978, the Ministry of Home Affairs Resolution called for the establishment of the Minorities Commission (MC).
♦ In 1984, the MC was separated from the Ministry of Home Affairs and placed under the newly formed Ministry of Welfare, which in 1988 removed linguistic minorities from the Commission`s jurisdiction.
♦ The MC became a legislative body in 1992, when the NCM Act was enacted, and it was called the NCM.
♦ The first Statutory National Commission was established in 1993, and five non-secular groups were designated as minority communities: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians (Parsis).
♦ Jains were officially recognised as a minority group in 2014.
Composition:
NCM is made up of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and five individuals, all of whom must come from minority communities. The Central Government must appoint a total of seven people from among people of eminence, capacity, and dignity.
Tenure:
From the date of assumption of office, each Member is assigned to a workplace for a period of three years.
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National Current Affairs April 3rd Week 2021
Rural Development Ministry`s Gender Samvaad Event:
The Gender Samvaad Event was recently launched by the Ministry of Rural Development. It is a collaboration between DAY-NRLM and IWWAGE. The aim of the Gender Samvaad Match was to raise awareness about gender-related interventions under the DAY-NRLM. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihood Mission is abbreviated as DAY-NRLM. Initiative for What Works to Advance Women and Girls in the Economy (IWWAGE) is an acronym for Initiative for What Works to Advance Women and Girls in the Economy.
About Gender Samvaad:
♦ It provides opportunities to learn from the best practises of various states in order to strengthen girls agencies. For example, encouraging women`s access to land rights and participation in Farmer Producer Organizations, developing strong structures for public service delivery, and promoting good food, nutrition, health, and sanitation practises.
♦ It aids in the global recognition of gender interventions.
♦ In addition, the tournament provides opportunities to engage with experts for advice about how to overcome implementation challenges.
♦ It aims to raise awareness about the importance of focusing attention on gender issues.
♦ Women in DAY-NRLM: DAY-NRLM has reached the process with more than sixty million women. It`s crucial for organising them into Self-Help Groups. These programmes make it easier for women to receive livelihood assistance and provide financial resources.
♦ DAY-NRLM on Gender issues: In 2016, the DAY-NRLM introduced a gender operational approach to address gender issues. This was accomplished by staff training and capacity building. In addition, institutional structures had been put in place so that girls could come to them with their grievances.
♦ DAY-NRLM: It`s a campaign aimed at reducing poverty. It receives some funding from the World Bank. It all started with a goal of covering seven crore rural poor households through Self Help Groups and assisting them with livelihoods.
###To handle digital payments, LIC has partnered with Paytm:
The Life Insurance Corporation of India has chosen Paytm, a local payment processor, to handle its digital payments. Following a previous agreement with another charge gateway, the country`s largest current insurer is looking for a new agreement as the bulk of its payments have switched to digital modes.
Keynotes:
♦ The new agreement calls for a simple pricing mechanism, a wider range of charge options, and more payment channel players (wallets, banks, and so on). Following the COVID-19 pandemic, LIC has seen an increase in e-payments. The Public Sector Unit insurer collects premiums worth Rs 60,000 crore through digital channels, which excludes bank payments.
♦ LIC Chairperson: M R Kumar;
♦ LIC Headquarters: Mumbai;
♦ LIC Founded: 1 September 1956;
♦ Paytm HQ: Noida, Uttar Pradesh;
♦ Paytm Founder & CEO: Vijay Shekhar Sharma;
♦ Paytm Founded: 2009.
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National Current Affairs April 2nd Week 2021
Basic Savings Account in Post Offices:
The amendments to the postal savings account programme for 2019 were recently announced by the Ministry of Finance. Beneficiaries of government welfare programmes can now open simple savings bank accounts at any post office in the country, according to the Ministry of Finance.
Highlights:
♦ You can open an account with the Indian Post Payment Bank or a commercial bank of your choice. The account can be opened with no money down.
♦ The beneficiary of every government benefit package should open the account. The account should also be opened by the minor`s beneficiary. Minors, on the other hand, must nominate a guardian.
♦ The new notice excludes basic savings accounts established under the 1981 post office savings account law.
♦ The account was set up under the Pradhan Mantri Yojana. A simple savings account is the Jan Dhan Yojana. A total of 422,000 accounts have been created so far. They currently have a 14.5 crore rupee balance.
♦ A simple savings account is the post office savings account. The minimum amount required to open an account is 500 rupees. The minimum deposit is ten rupees, and there is no limit to the amount you can deposit.
###Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Jamakkalam Weavers:
The Covid pandemic has had a negative effect on GI-labeled Bhavani jamakkalam development.
Highlights:
♦ Bhavani Jamakkalam refers to blankets and rugs made in Bhavani, Tamil Nadu`s Erode District.
♦ The Indian government has recognised it as a geographical indication.
♦ Geographical indicators (GI) are symbols that appear on goods with a particular geographical origin and a quality or reputation that can be traced back to that origin.
♦ Many goods, such as agricultural products, food, wine and spirits, handicrafts, and industrial products, use geographical indications.
♦ Darjeeling tea was the first commodity in India to receive a Geographical Indication (GI) code.
♦ A geographical indication`s registration is valid for ten years, after which it must be revised. Geographical indications (Registration and Protection) of Commodities Act 1999 governs geographical indications in India.
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National Current Affairs April 2nd Week 2021
INS Sarvekshak On A Deployment To Mauritius:
The INS Sarvekshak hydrographic survey ship is being deployed to Mauritius to perform joint hydrographic surveys with its Mauritius counterparts.
Highlights:
♦ Mauritian staff will be qualified in specialised hydrological equipment and practises throughout the deployment phase. The ship began conducting hydrological surveys in the "Port Louis deep sea region."
♦ The INS Sarvekshak is a specialist survey ship with cutting-edge survey equipment including a deep sea multi-beam echo sounder, side scan sonar, and a fully automated digital measurement and processing system.
♦ In addition, the ship is outfitted with a Chetak helicopter that will be used extensively throughout the investigation.
♦ INS Sarvekshak has conducted international cooperation inquiries in Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, and Kenya in recent years.
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National Current Affairs April 1st Week 2021
ULPIN Pin is a special land parcel identification number issued by the government:
Within a year, the central government plans to grant a 14-digit identification number to each piece of land in India.
Highlights:
♦ It would then, on a voluntary basis, merge its land records database with income court records, bank records, and Aadhaar numbers.
♦ In 2021, ten states will implement the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) system.
♦ It will be promoted across India in March 2022
♦ This number will uniquely identify each land under investigation and prevent land fraud, particularly in rural India, as it is referred to as "the Aadhaar for land."
♦ The plot`s longitude and latitude will be used to classify it, as well as detailed surveys and geo-referenced cadastral maps.
♦ This is the next step in the "Digital Indian Land Record Modernization Program" (DILRMP), which began in 2008 and has increased in scale many times.
Military Farms - Indian Army Has Closed Them:
The Indian army`s military farm was closed on March 31 after 132 years of service. The military farm was built to provide sanitary milk to the entire British Indian garrison.
Highlights:
♦ Both farm officials and staff have been redeployed within the ministry to continue to provide services to the company now that the military farm has been closed.
♦ Several plans have been made in the past to close the farm.
♦ The Quarter Master General division suggested closing in 2012.
♦ In December 2016, the DB Shekatkar (retd) Committee recommended that the farm be closed once more.
♦ On February 1, 1889, the first military farm was built in Allahabad.
♦ 30,000 cattle were added to 130 farms across India after independence.
♦ Also farms were established in Leh and Kargil in the 1990s.
♦ These farms have produced 35 million litres of milk and 25,000 tonnes of hay per year for over a century.
♦ The farm must be located far away from the city, so a farm is needed.
♦ With the growth of cities, cantonments have expanded into towns, and milk is increasingly purchased on the open market.
♦ People have also uncovered numerous allegations of corruption involving the farm over the years. One of the reasons for the farm`s closure is because of this.
♦ The farm was also celebrated for pioneering artificial insemination technology for cattle and establishing an organised dairy industry in India.
♦ These farms provided Yeoman-style services during the 1971 War, supplying milk to the Northern Command on the front lines of the Western and Eastern War and during Operation Kargil.
###Directorate General of Training Vocational Training:
The Directorate General of Training (DGT), which is part of the Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship, is the supreme agency in charge of developing and coordinating national vocational training programmes (including women`s vocational training). DGT also runs field institutes under its direct supervision that provide technical training in a variety of fields.
Major functions of the DGT:
♦ Create general policies, guidelines, and requirements for vocational training.
♦ Diversify, refresh, and extend the number of training facilities for craftsmen.
♦ In specially developed training institutions, organise and conduct advanced training and study.
♦ Implement, govern, and broaden the scope of apprenticeship training in compliance with the Apprenticeship Act of 1961.
♦ Organize women`s workforce training services.
♦ Assist with career planning and job placement.
♦ Provide paid work and self-employment assistance to scheduled castes/tribes and disabled people.
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