Defence Current Affairs November 4th Week 2020
India successfully test-fired land-attack version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile:
As part of a series of scheduled weapons experiments, the Indian Army successfully test-fired the surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile BrahMos. For its precision strike capabilities, BrahMos is known. Test-fired in Andaman and Nicobar was the land-attack variant of the BrahMos missile. In order to improve the overall combat capabilities of the military, the IAF is also incorporating the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile into over 40 Sukhoi fighter jets.
Land-attack version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile
♦ The missile range was extended up to 400 km. Originally, the range was at 290 km.
♦ The speed of the missile is maintained at 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound.
♦ Recently, India has test fired a number of missiles including an anti-radiation missile named Rudram-1 which is planned to be inducted into service by 2022.
BrahMos:
BrahMos Aerospace is an India-Russian joint venture. The company produces the lethal weapon that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms. The BrahMos missile provides the IAF a much-desired capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night and in all weather conditions.
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Important Days Current Affairs November 4th Week 2020
Indian Constitution Day is observed on 26 November:
On 26 November, Indian Constitution Day is observed. The day is observed in order to distribute the value of the constitution and to spread Ambedkar`s thoughts and ideas. The day is celebrated to mark the 71st anniversary of the Constituent Assembly`s adoption of the Indian Constitution this year.
History:
On 26th November 1949, the constitution of India was adopted. It came into force on 26th January 1950, marking the beginning of a new era in the history of India. On 19th November 2015, during the year-long celebration of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. B R Ambedkar, the Government of India declared November 26th as the Constitution Day. This initiative was undertaken by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi who made this official declaration on 11th October 2015. Earlier, this day was celebrated as Law Day.
What is the Significance of Constitution Day?
B.R Ambedkar was the one who drafted the Indian Constitution and the year 2015 was the 125th birth anniversary of Ambedkar. It is essential to be aware of Constitution Day history. On this day, attempts are made to generate general awareness of the Indian Constitution and spread his nationalist ideas. Constitution day is celebrated on 26th November every year by many schools where the students are made to read the Preamble to the Indian Constitution. As Indians, we must be aware of our Indian Constitution and this day attempts to generate that awareness in us.
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International Current Affairs November 4th Week 2020
Construction of Dams by China on the Brahmaputra:
The construction on the Chinese side of several dams on the Brahmaputra River (known as Yalong in China) has become a matter of recurrent concern in India. As the population and economy of India and China continue to rise in the face of rising consumer demand, both countries face water shortages and are vying to build new projects to address these challenges.
Brahmaputra:
♦ It originated with the name Siang or Dihang, and originated in the Kailash Mountains near Mansarovar Lake, from the Chemayungdung glacier. In Arunachal Pradesh, it enters India west of Sadiya town.
♦ Tributaries: Dibang, Lohit, Siang, BurhiDihing, Tista and Dhansari.
♦ Due to its geographical location and primary climatic conditions, this is a perennial river with some special characteristics. Twice a year it is inundated. The melting of snow in the Himalayas in summer triggered one flood and the other was caused by monsoon flows.
♦ Flooding has risen in frequency and is devastating due to climate change and its effects on elevated and low flows.
China:
China is home to almost 20% of the world`s population and owns just 7% of the world`s water supplies, which are also subject to extreme contamination caused by rapid industrialization. China`s southern regions are rich in water supplies, compared with the water-stressed areas in the south. China aims to link the major rivers in these areas through canals, aqueducts and other connectivity projects to ensure water safety in order to solve this issue.
For this cause, the Mekong and its tributaries and other rivers have been blocked by China, affecting countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in Southeast Asia. China sees these ventures as a continuation of its historic tax structure as an upper-class nation in Asia. Smaller countries cannot resist or even play an important role in negotiations effectively.
India:
India accounts for 17% of the world`s population and 4% of its water. The water pressure is intense. Many metropolitan areas face shortages of water in summer. Much of the population of India lives on the Ganges Plain, where water is available all year round, but summers are harsh and dry in the southern and western regions, and rainfall is scarce and erratic on the eastern coast. An ambitious North-South river link project has also been proposed by India. It was however, criticised for the possible disturbance of fragile ecosystems.
SITMEX-20 been Concluded in the Andaman Sea:
In the trilateral naval exercise of India, Thailand and Singapore, the second edition of SITMEX-20 ended in the Andaman Sea. SITMEX is a tripartite maritime exercise carried out between the Indian, Singaporean and Thai navies. India hosted its first exercise since 2019.
Highlights:
♦The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is hosting the 2020 exercise. The SITMEX series of exercises, in addition to improving interoperability between friendly navies, also aims to reinforce mutual confidence and to establish shared understanding and procedures to improve overall maritime security in the region.
♦In the keynote speech of the Shangri-La Dialogue in June 2018, the Prime Minister of India declared that a trilateral naval exercise had been conducted between India, Singapore and Thailand.
♦The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia`s premier defence summit. It was launched in 2002.
♦The first Singapore-India-Thailand Maritime Exercise (SITMEX) hosted by the Indian Navy was conducted near Port Blair in September 2019. SITMEX is conducted once a year.
♦The SITMEX series of exercises aims to enhance the interoperability between the Indian Navy, Singapore Navy (RSN) and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and absorb best practices.
♦It also aims to reinforce mutual confidence and establish shared understandings and procedures in the Indo-Pacific region to enhance overall maritime security. This move is in line with the SAGAR vision of India (Safety and Development for All in the Region).
♦RSN (Singapore) is hosting the 2020 edition of this exercise. For this exercise, the Indian Navy deployed the INS Kamota indigenous anti-submarine warfare frigate and the INS Kamuk guided-missile frigate.
###Indian Navy Refits Maldivian Ship CGS Huravee:
Visakhapatnam Naval Shipyard completed the modification of the Maldives Coast Guard MNDF CGS Huravee.
Highlights:
♦ On February 22, the ship arrived in Visakhapatnam to be updated. While it has been restricted since March 20 due to the COVID19 pandemic, the activities of the Navy Shipyard have been carefully designed and conducted, and adequate. For major refurbishment/replacement of main thrusters/auxiliary equipment, protection makes it possible.
♦ An significant assurance for the reliability and capability of ships is given by the update of the ship`s power generation equipment. Moreover in order to ensure that ships serving the Maldives Coast Guard have improved efficiency and sustainability in the coming operating period, many sets of systems and equipment have been successfully overhauled.
♦ To accomplish full operational readiness, the ship has undergone comprehensive port and sea trials. In 2006, India submitted Huravee to the Maldives in order to improve the relationship between the two countries and further cooperation in the Indian Ocean region to ensure maritime stability.
♦ It was originally owned by INS Tillanchang, a locally built Trinkat-class patrol ship. The Ship was constructed in 2001 at Garden Reach Shipyard and Engineer`s Office in Kolkata.
♦ MNDF CGS Huravee (formerly INS Tillanchang) is a Trinkat-class patrol vessel locally manufactured at the Garden Reach shipyard and engineers in Kolkata, installed in 2001.
♦ The Indian government subsequently donated it to the Maldives in 2006 to improve the relationship between the two countries. And more cooperation in the Indian Ocean area to ensure maritime safety.
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Economy Current Affairs November 4th Week 2020
IBBI has Amended The Regulations For Liquidation:
The Indian Bankruptcy and Bankruptcy Commission (IBBI) amended the liquidation regulations under the Bankruptcy and Bankruptcy Act (IBC).
Highlights:
♦ In order to ensure that the company can not easily identify the supplier under the IBC, the liquidator of the company can distribute or move properties that are not readily realisable to others.
♦ It is appropriate to discuss the above transition or transfer of assets with the stakeholder committee.
♦ The concept of non-liquidate assets includes any assets of the debtors of the business that can not be sold through the options available.
♦ Any or all of the company`s assets in liquidation can be sold by the liquidator and these assets face certain conflicts or are involved in some fraudulent transactions.
IBBI:
IBBI was established in 2016 under IBC. It is responsible for the implementation of IBC. It supervises bankruptcy professionals and professional institutions, professional bankruptcy entities and information utilities. It prepares and implements rules for the bankruptcy settlement and bankruptcy processes of companies and individuals under the Code.
Loan For Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System Project was Signed:
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the National Capital Region Transport Co., Ltd. (NCRTC) and the New Development Bank (NDB) signed a loan agreement to provide 5 Billion dollars in loans.
Highlights:
♦ The Project is an 82.15 km long semi-high-speed railway corridor under construction, connecting Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut.
♦ It is one of the three rapid rail corridors planned for the first phase of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project of the National Capital Region Transportation Corporation (NCRTC).
♦ The MRT system will provide a fast, reliable, safe and comfortable public transportation system in the national capital area.
♦ High-speed connections will lead to the balanced economic development of the entire region, thereby bringing economic benefits to the entire social class and many development nodes, rather than all economic activities occurring in one place.
♦ This will help reduce traffic congestion and total emissions in the NCR transportation sector.
New Development Bank:
It is a multilateral development bank. The four BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) were co-founded at the 6th BRIC Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil in 2014. Goal: Support the infrastructure and sustainable development of the BRICS and other emerging economies with insufficient service levels to achieve faster development through innovation and cutting-edge technologies. Headquarters: Shanghai, China. In 2018, the New Development Bank was granted observer status in the United Nations General Assembly.
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Environment Current Affairs November 4th Week 2020
Greenlands Largest Glacier- Likely to Melt Faster Than Expected:
According to recent research, the three main glaciers, namely the Helheim Glacier, Jacob von Isbre and Kenglussuge Glacier, have enough frozen water to lift the global sea level to around 1.3 metres. It melted earlier than anticipated. The current situation indicates that until 2000, due to the melting of many glaciers, sea levels were increasing. But Greenland and Antarctica`s ice sheets have been the single largest cause of sea-level rise in the last 20 years.
Highlights:
♦ The research found that between 1880 and 2012, Jakobshavn Isbrae (also known as Ilulissat Glacier Greenland) lost more than 1.5 trillion tonnes of ice. It further illustrates that the Kangerlussuaq and Helheim glaciers lost 1.4 trillion tonnes and 31 billion tons, respectively, between 1900 and 2012. The researchers found out that the sea level has risen by 8 millimetres with this melting.
♦ 6.5 percent of the ice sheet of Greenland is released by the Ilulissat Glacier. Around 10 per cent of Greenland`s icebergs are formed. Typically, icebergs which burst from glaciers are very wide, up to 1 km in height. Jakobshavn Glacier was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2004. Located near the town of Ilulissat, Greenland, the Ilulissat Glacier ends in the sea on the Ilulissat Ice Fjord.
♦ On the east coast of the Greenland Ice Sheet, the Kangerlussuaq Glacier is the largest glacier. Kangerlussuaq flows into the Kangerlussuaq Fjord, which is the second-largest fjord in eastern Greenland.
♦ One of the main glacier sources in Greenland is the Helheim Glacier. In Norse mythology, it is named after the Realm of the Dead. For the Helmil Fjord (a branch of the Sermilik system), Helheim provides water. Greenland`s largest glacier can melt more rapidly than expected.
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Schemes Current Affairs November 4th Week 2020
Union Education Minister Holds A Review Meeting On UBA:
A review meeting on the progress of the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan Plan (UBA) was held by the Union Education Minister via video conference. Driven by the vision of fundamental change in the process of rural growth, Unnat Bharat Abhiyan uses information organisations to help create an inclusive Indian architecture.
Highlights:
♦ UBA was launched by the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) to connect higher education institutions with local communities, including Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER). Cooperation to resolve development challenges through appropriate technology.
♦ The plan`s mission is to encourage higher education institutions to work with people in rural India to jointly recognise the challenges of development and to develop effective solutions to accelerate sustainable growth.
♦ It also aims to build a virtuous circle between society and an inclusive academic system by providing the emerging industries with information and practises, and to enhance the ability of the public and private sectors to respond to rural development needs in India.
♦ Currently, 2,474 research institutes have adopted 13,072 villages, according to the UBA programme.
♦ The technological measures under the plan were able to improve the village`s living conditions.
♦ Technical interventions under UBA cover different topics, which are roughly classified as follows:
-Sustainable agriculture
-Water resources management
-Craftsmen, industry and people`s livelihood
-Infrastructure (infrastructure and services) and rural energy system
♦ Various new and old innovations have been built by involvement in the fields mentioned above, which have changed the living conditions in the countryside.
###National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) Review By Union Health Minister:
Union Health Minister reviews implementation of the National Digital Health Mission and Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY. The National Health Mission (NHM) was launched by the government of India in 2013.
National Health Mission:
The National Health Mission (NHM) was launched by India`s government in 2013, replacing the National Rural Health Mission and the National Urban Health Mission. It was extended further in March 2018, to last until March 2020. It is directed by the Director of the Mission and monitored by the appointed National Level Monitors of the Government of India.
Some of the Objectives of the National Digital Health Mission:
-Establishment of Digital Health Systems.
-Creation of Registries
-Enforcement of adoption of open standards by all national digital health stakeholders
-Establishment of Standardized personal health records
-Enterprise-class health application systems.
Salient Features of National Digital Health Mission:
1.The institutional framework of the mission runs at different levels starting from the apex level, followed by the board of directors, CEO and operations.
2.It is an IT-enabled healthcare infrastructure system
3.Health ID-It will be a directory of all the information relevant to health. Every participating stakeholder will be part of this health ID system on a voluntary basis, including healthcare providers and Indian residents. Each citizen interested in accessing the benefits of this mission will establish a unique health ID.
4.Health data consent managers will be linked with unique health IDs of the patients; who will aid the seamless exchange of the health records between the patient and the doctors.
5.The healthcare services will be provided through a mobile app or through an official website.
6.He/she will be the one responsible for delivering health services throughout the region. Digi Doctor. As a remote doctor, an interested healthcare professional will act to offer prescriptions to patients sitting in a different position altogether. Free digital signatures that can be used to administer medications will be assigned to him or her.
Ayushman Bharat Programme:
The Ayushman Bharat programme was launched in 2018 to address health issues at all levels – primary, secondary, and tertiary. It has two components: i) Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (PM-JAY), earlier known as the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) ii) Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)
An integrated solution comprising health insurance and primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare is Ayushman Bharat. The HWCs are aimed at increasing access at the primary level to cheap and quality healthcare services. PM-JAY will cover financial insurance at the secondary and tertiary level for the use of health care facilities. With over 50 crore recipients, Ayushman Bharat is the largest government-funded healthcare programme in the world. It was dubbed `Modicare`.
Need for Ayushman Bharat:
♦ The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO71st )`s round revealed several grim statistics about the healthcare system in the country.
♦ About 86% of rural households and 82% of urban households do not have access to healthcare insurance.
♦ Over 17% of the country’s population spend a minimum of 1/10th of their household budgets on availing health services.
♦ Unexpected and serious healthcare problems often lead families to debt.
♦ Over 19% and over 24% of urban and rural households, respectively, meet their financial needs for healthcare by borrowing.
♦ To address these serious concerns, the government launched the Ayushman Bharat programme along with its two submissions, PMJAY and HWCs, under the National Health Policy 2017.
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National Current Affairs November 4th Week 2020
Union Ministry notifies the draft rules under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Regulations:
The Ministry of Labor and Trade Union informed the states of the draught rules under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Regulations 2020. The draught rules stipulate the regulations related to the safety, health and working conditions of dockworkers, building or other construction workers, mine workers, and interstate migrant workers in the 2020 Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Regulations (OSH Regulations) Implementation, contract workers, in-service journalists, audiovisual workers and promoters.
Highlights:
♦ The draught rule includes a letter of appointment in a specified format, including name, skill category, compensation, and a way to obtain from each employee in the company a higher salary or higher position within three months after the rule takes effect.
♦ According to the draught regulations, no worker can be working in any company until an appointment letter has been received. It also allows employers for any plant, port, mine and building or other construction employees who are over 45 years old to complete a free annual health check.
♦ In the annual travel allowance regulations, there are also clauses. It also offers a single electronic registration, licence, and annual detailed return to institutions. A single licence has been issued across India to provide or employ contractors in more than one state for five years, compared to the existing work order-based licence.
♦ The Workplace Safety and Health Code also forbids contract employees from being hired for core activities that define and categorise core and non-core activities. The rules regulating the payment of salaries to contract employees specify that the wage period is set by the employer and that the wage period does not exceed one month.
♦ In addition, before the expiry of the seventh day of the last day of the pay period, the salary of each person working as a contract worker in the company or by the contractor shall be paid. It also stipulates that only through bank transfer or electronic means will salaries be charged.
♦ According to legislation, a safety committee must be set up by any organisation that hires 500 or more employees to give workers the opportunity to voice their concerns regarding workplace safety and health issues. For the composition and duties of the safety committee, regulations have been laid down.
♦ Rules on the safety conditions for women who are engaged in all types of work before 6 am and after 7 pm have been developed with the consent of women in all institutions.
♦ It stipulates that one hour between 15 and 30 minutes should be counted as 30 minutes in order to determine overtime on every day. Less than 30 minutes is officially deemed to be no timeout. The rules on mining were also streamlined and combined with the rules on "Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions".
RCS UDAN - Second Direct Flight Commenced Operations:
Driven by the Government of India`s RCS-UDAN (Regional Connectivity Program – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), India has taken another big step in improving regional air connectivity. The second direct flight will start from Hyderabad in Telangana. Fly to Nashik in Maharashtra.
Highlights:
♦ Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) was launched in 2016 as a regional connectivity plan under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
♦ Developing the regional aviation market is an innovative plan. The aim is to create affordable but economically viable and profitable flights on regional routes so that ordinary people can afford to fly even in small towns.
♦ The plan envisages the revitalization of existing runways and airports to provide connectivity to the country’s unserved and underserved airports.
♦ According to the plan, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) was designated as the implementing agency.
♦ UDAN 2-Under UDAN 2.0, the helipad is preferentially connected to the Northeast and Hilly States.
♦ UDAN 3-Include a tourist route in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, including a seaplane connected to a seaplane.
♦ UDAN 4-78 new routes under UDAN Round 4, as well as helicopter and seaplane operations, have also been included.
###National Medicinal Plants Board Founding Day:
In order to celebrate its founding day, AYUSH State Minister Shri Shripad Yesso Naik hosted an electronic event organised by the National Committee of Medicinal Plants on November 24, 2020. The "NMPB 2020 Status Report" and "Ayur-veg" e-books were released on this occasion as well.
Highlights:
♦ National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) was established in 2000 and belongs to the AYUSH department.
♦ This committee was formed by the Indian government to coordinate all medicinal plant issues and support policies and plans to promote trade, export, conservation and cultivation.
♦ The main goal of NMPB is to encourage the cultivation and sustainable management of medicinal plants nationwide, and to reduce the pressure on the collection of forest wild habitats.
♦ NMBP is committed to the in situ and ex situ protection and expansion of local medicinal plants and aromatic species of medical significance in order to meet the increasing demand for medicinal plants.
♦ By training, capacity building, and raising awareness through promotional activities such as the development of home/school herbal gardens, NMPB also promotes R&D.
♦ The NMPB also seeks to encourage quality assurance and standardisation programmes through the formulation of Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP), the writing of quality, safety and efficacy standards monographs, the development of agricultural technology and reliable institutions, and the establishment of a quality certification system for planting materials.
National Pharmacy Week is observed in November:
The 59th National Pharmacy Week was jointly celebrated by the Pharmaceutical Association of India and the Delhi Pharmaceutical Trust from November 16, 2020, to November 22, 2020. "Pharmacists: Frontline Health Professionals" is the theme of the 2020 celebration.
Highlights:
♦ In the third week of November each year the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) organises the NPW to allow all stakeholders to understand the presence of pharmacists in society and to understand the role of registered pharmacists in terms of medicines, their use, handling and distribution effects.
♦ India is the largest producer of generic drugs worldwide. 50 percent of global vaccine demand is accounted for by the Indian pharmaceutical industry. Indian pharmaceutical firms supply about 80 percent of the antiretroviral drugs used to combat AIDS.
♦ In terms of sales volume, the Indian pharmaceutical market is the third-largest market in the world. The cost of medicine is the lowest in the world. It is lower than in the United States.
♦ The Indian pharmaceutical industry is also under government pressure to restrict costs. The Indian government has placed some price controls in the sector in order to make generic drugs affordable to most people. This has had an immense effect on pharmaceutical firms` net profit.
Cabinet Approvals:
Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the following:
♦ On the application of RBI under section 45 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the Cabinet approved the Lakshmi Vilas Bank Limited (LVB) amalgamation scheme with DBS Bank India Limited (DBIL) to protect the interests of depositors and in the interest of financial and banking stability.
♦ The Cabinet has accepted the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the BRICS Countries on Physical Culture and Sports Cooperation. This will lead to the growth of knowledge and skills in sports science, sports medicine, coaching techniques, etc. This will boost the success of athletes at international tournaments and improve bilateral relations with BRICS member countries.
♦ Cabinet approved the proposal for equity infusion by Government of Rs.6000 crores in NIIF Debt Platform sponsored by the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), comprising of Aseem Infrastructure Finance Limited (AIFL) and NIIF Infrastructure Finance Limited (NIIF-IFL). Under this:
Only Rs.2,000 crore would be allocated during the year 2020-21. However, in view of the unprecedented financial situation and availability of limited fiscal space due to the prevailing COVID-19, the proposed amount may be disbursed only if there is readiness and demand for debt raising.
NIIF will take all necessary steps to use the equity investments from Domestic and Global pension funds and sovereign wealth funds expeditiously.
♦ Cabinet approved the MoU signed between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Vereniging van Registercontrollers (VRC), the Netherlands. The MoU is aimed to strengthen and develop the Accounting, Financial, and Audit Knowledge Base between the Netherlands and India. It would help to generate greater employment opportunities for Indian Chartered Accountants and also greater remittances back to India.
###Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot e-Launched National Portal for Transgender Persons:
The `National Portal for Transgender People` was launched by Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot e-. In Vadodara, Gujarat, he also e-inaugurated `Garima Greh: A Shelter Home for Transgender Persons`.
Highlights:
♦ The National Portal for Transgender Persons has been developed as per the Notification of Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020.
♦ The Portal would help a transgender person in applying for a Certificate and Identity card digitally from anywhere in the country.
♦ The portal will help the transgender person to get the I-Card without any physical interface and without having to visit any office. The portal will also monitor the status of the application that ensures transparency in the process. Once the Certificate and I-card are issued, the applicant can download them from the Portal itself.
♦ In case of delay or rejection, the applicant has the option to submit grievances through the Portal which are forwarded to the concerned person and will be resolved at the earliest.
♦ The portal aims to help a lot of people from the community to come forward and get Transgender Certificate and Identity Cards as per their self-perceived identity which is an important provision of The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019:
On 10 January 2020, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 became effective. It is the first tangible step in ensuring the well-being of transgender people. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020, were released by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to enact the Act. This ensures that comprehensive welfare programmes meet and allow the Transgender Community to enter the mainstream of society. It also seeks to ensure that people who are transgender are able to attain their self-perceived identity card without any inconvenience.
Garima Greh: A Shelter Home for Transgender Persons:
The Transgender Home Shelter Scheme includes shelter services, food, clothes, leisure facilities, opportunities for skill growth, yoga, meditation/prayer, physical exercise, library facilities, legal assistance, professional guidance on gender change and surgery, capacity building for trans-friendly organisations, support for jobs and skills building, etc. 10 cities have been selected by the Nodal Ministry to set up the 13 Shelter Homes and expand the facilities to transgender persons. The cities include Vadodara, New Delhi, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Jaipur, Kolkata, Manipur, Chennai, Raipur, Mumbai, etc. The scheme will rehabilitate a minimum of 25 transgender persons in each homes identified by the Ministry.
Science & Technology Current Affairs November 4th Week 2020
IRNSS Accepted As a Component of The World Wide Radio Navigation System
The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) has been accepted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as part of the World Radio Navigation System (WWRNS) operating in the Indian Ocean region.
Highlights:
♦ This will enable merchant ships to use IRNSS to obtain location information similar to GPS and GLONASS to assist in navigating longitude in seawater in areas covered by 50°N latitude, 55°E longitude, 5°S and 110°E.
♦ IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellite system developed by India. It aims to provide accurate location information services to assist ships in the Indian Ocean waters.
♦ India has become the fourth country in the world to have an independent regional navigation satellite system, which has been recognized by the IMO as a part of WWRNS.
♦ The other three countries whose navigation systems have been approved by the IMO are the United States, Russia and China.
###Nyaya Bandhu App iOS Version Launched
The iOS version of Nyaya Bandhu App was launched and its launch on the UMANG platform. Nyaya Bandhu App was launched by the Ministry of Justice.
Highlights:
♦ The Nyaya Bandhu application was introduced in 2019 by the Ministry of Justice to use technology to promote pro bono advocates.
♦ The Ministry of Justice is institutionalising the process of pro bono delivery on the legal level, according to the Pro bono initiative (launched in 2017).
♦ Free legal services have been established to expedite and promote the registration of practising lawyers and create connections with registered eligible beneficiaries, thereby consolidating the free culture of the nation.
♦ "Pro bono" comes from Latin and means "for the public interest." Legally speaking, it refers to the provision of free legal aid and representation by advocates to marginalized groups in accordance with Article 39A of the Constitution.
♦ The Ministry hopes to instil a free culture in the legal sector by maintaining a database of attorneys who voluntarily offer free legal services.
♦ In order to eliminate any geographical obstacles to access to justice, the Nyaya Bandhu application helps to use technology.
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Person Current Affairs November 3rd Week 2020
Veermamunivars 140th birth anniversary was celebrated on 8 November:
The 140th anniversary of Veermamunivar’s birth was celebrated on November 8, 2020. Veeramamunivar, a Jesuit priest, is famous in the Tamil literature circle for his epic Thembavani. Christian missionaries also composed small literary works including Thevaram based on hymns sung by the Saivaite saints.
Highlights:
♦ Veermamunivar was attracted by the bhakti movement that thrived in Tamil Nadu and the singing of hymns by the Nayanmar and Azwar people.
♦ The Bhakti movement refers to the trend of spiritual spirituality that appeared in Hinduism in the Middle Ages, which later became the de facto catalyst for the formation of Sikhism.
♦ It originated in southern India (now Tamil Nadu and Kerala) in the eighth century and spread northward. From the 15th century, it swept across the east and north of India, and reached its peak in the 15th to 17th centuries CE.
♦ The movement began with Saiva Nayanars and Vaisnava Alvars, who lived between the 5th and 9th centuries AD. Their efforts eventually helped spread Bhakti’s poems and ideas throughout India from the 12th to the 18th century.
♦ The movement was inspired by many poets and saints, who advocated a wide range of philosophical positions, from the dualism of Devata theology to the absolute monism of Advata Vedanta.
♦ The Bhakti movement began with the purpose of reforming Hinduism.
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International Current Affairs November 3rd Week 2020
Railway Line to Connect China and Tibet:
China has begun to build a strategic railway line (this is the second major railway line to Tibet) that will connect Sichuan Province in southwest China with Linzhi, Tibet, near the border of Arunachal Pradesh in India. Linzhi (also known as Nyingchi) is located near the border of Arunachal Pradesh.
Highlights:
♦ The India-China border dispute involves a 3,488-kilometer line of actual control, which is the actual border between the two countries. China claims that Arunachal Pradesh is a part of southern Tibet, but India firmly rejected it.
♦ Just like the Qinghai-Tibet Railway Line (which connected Lhasa (the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR)) to the mainland in 2006), this will be the second route to connect the Tibet Autonomous Region with the mainland.
♦ The Sichuan-Tibet Railway departs from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, and enters Tibet via Qamdo, shortening the journey from Chengdu to Lhasa from 48 hours to 13 hours.
♦ When there is a crisis on the border, the railway can act as a "fast track" for the transportation of strategic materials.
♦ Since this railway runs near the southwest border of China, it will greatly improve the efficiency and convenience of military personnel and material transportation and logical materials.
###Tristan Da Cunha Declared Marine Reserves In The Atlantic Ocean:
Tristan da Cunha was declared the largest fully protected marine protected area in the Atlantic Ocean.
Tristan da Cunha:
It is also home to the most remote human settlement in the world. This is also an isolated British Overseas Territory. It is a remote volcanic island group in the South Atlantic. It has its own constitution. It is also home to tens of millions of seabirds and several unique terrestrial birds. It is also home to the World Heritage Site of Gough and the inaccessible islands, which is one of the most important seabird islands in the world.
Key facts:
♦After joining the British "Blue Belt Project", it will become the largest forbidden zone in the Atlantic Ocean and the fourth largest in the world.
♦This means that fishing, mining and any such activities are prohibited.
♦This will close more than 90% of its waters for harmful activities such as trawling, sand mining and deep-sea mining.
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Environment Current Affairs November 3rd Week 2020
Two New Ramsar Sites were Declared:
Ramsar sites that are protected by the International Ramsar Wetland Convention have been declared to be Lake Meteor in Lonar in the Buldhana District of Maharashtra and Soor Sarovar in Agra. The total number of Ramsar sites in India, including the latest data, is 41, the highest in South Asia.
Highlights:
♦ The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty passed in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea.
♦ It entered into force for India on February 1, 1982. Those wetlands of international importance are declared Ramsar wetlands.
♦ The Convention`s mission is through local and national actions and international cooperation, to "conserve and rationally use all wetlands and to contribute to the realisation of sustainable development throughout the world."
♦ The Montreux Record is a record of wetland sites on the list of wetlands of international significance. Owing to technological growth, pollution or other human disturbances, the ecological characteristics of these wetlands have occurred, are present or may alter. As part of the Ramsar List, it is remembered.
♦ Currently, India has two wetlands in the Montreux record: Keoladeo National Park - Rajasthan and Loktak Lake - Manipur. Chilika Lake- Odisha was placed in the record, but then deleted from the record.
Lonar Lake:
♦ Lonar Lake, located in the volcanic basalt of the Deccan Plateau, was formed by a meteor impact between 35,000 and 50,000 years ago. The lake is part of the Lonar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is under the unified control of the Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR).
♦ It is also named the Moon Crater and is a National Geological Heritage Monument that has been notified. Geographical heritage refers to geographical structures that can provide insight into the earth`s evolution or history, or can be used for education, of intrinsic or cultural meaning.
♦ It is the second Ramsar site in Maharashtra, second only to Nandur Madhmeshwar bird sanctuary in the Nashik region. The water of the lake is highly salty and alkaline, and contains special microorganisms such as anaerobic bacteria, cyanobacteria and phytoplankton.
Soor Sarovar Lake:
♦ Located in the Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, which was declared a bird sanctuary in 1991, it is also known as Lake Keetham. The lake is situated in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, along the Yamuna River. An region of 7.97 square kilometres covers the Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary. There are more than 165 migratory and resident bird species today. It also has a bear rescue centre to rescue bears from dancing.
###Deemed Forests in the State of Karnataka
Karnataka has declared that 6.64 billion hectares (almost 67 percent) of the state`s 994,000 hectares of forest will be declassified and handed over to the tax bureau. The recognised forest issue is a contentious issue in Karnataka, and cross-party legislators frequently argue that "unscientifically" identified as such issues are large quantities of agricultural and non-forest land.
Highlights:
♦ Deemed forests are a contentious subject, comprising about 1% of India`s forest land, as they refer to land tracts that appear to be a "forest" but have not been notified by the government or in historical records.
♦ The concept of deemed forests has not even been clearly defined in any law including the Forest Conservation Act 1980.
♦ Areas included in Karnataka: The expert committee formed by the state government determined the "deemed forest" as:
-Regardless of ownership, land with forest characteristics.
-The densely wooded area of the tax bureau has not been handed over to the forest department.
-It is recommended that densely forested areas be handed over to the Ministry of Forestry.
-The dense woodland is allocated to the transferee, but there is no cultivation.
-Dense plantation in the forest department.
♦ In its 1997 and 2002 reports, the Expert Committee established 4,318 million hectares of forest land in Karnataka, including 33,23 billion hectares of recorded forest area based on forest records and 994 million hectares of reported forest land. "deemed forests. ".
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Schemes Current Affairs November 3rd Week 2020
PLI Scheme Extended to 10 Key Sectors:
Union Cabinet has revealed the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme to encourage domestic manufacturing investments in ten key sectors.
Highlights:
♦ PLI centres to support homegrown assembling and cut down on imports by giving money motivators on gradual deals from items made in the nation.
♦ Other than welcoming unfamiliar organizations to set shop in India, the plan means to urge neighbourhood organizations to set up or extend, existing assembling units.
♦ 10 new areas added. The ten areas have been recognized based on their capability to make occupations and make India confident, which include:
- Advance ChemistryCell (ACC) Battery
- Electronic/Technology Products
- Automobiles& Auto Components
- Pharmaceuticals drugs
- Telecom & Networking Products
- Textile Products: MMF segment and technical textiles
- Food Products
- High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules
- White Goods (ACs & LED)
- Speciality Steel
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National Current Affairs November 3rd Week 2020
Scientists Selected for Swarna Jayanti Fellowships:
The Department of Science and Technology - DST has selected 21 scientists to participate in the 2020 Swarna Jayanti Scholarship.
Highlights:
♦ Scientists selected for this award will be allowed to carry out unfettered research freely and flexibly in accordance with the expenditures approved in the research plan.
♦ The Swarna Jayanti Scholarship Program is established by the government. Commemorate the 50th anniversary of India`s independence.
♦ It provides specialist help and support to selected young scientists who have a good track record and enables them to engage in basic research in the frontier fields of science and technology.
♦ Under the plan, the winners will receive support from DST, which will cover all requirements for performing research and will include Rs scholarships. 25,000/- per month for five years.
♦ In addition, DST also provides support to the winners by providing them with a five-year research grant of 500,000 rupees. In addition to the salary received from his alma mater, a fellowship is also provided.
♦ In addition to fellowships, grants for equipment, computing equipment, consumables, emergency expenses, domestic and international travel, and other special requirements (if any) are also covered based on the results.
♦ Scholarships are aimed at specific scientists rather than specific institutions. They are very selective and have strict academic monitoring.
Viability Gap Funding Scheme Approved by The Cabinet:
Union Cabinet approves Continuation and Revamping of the Scheme for Financial Support to Public-Private Partnerships(PPP) in Infrastructure Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme.
Highlights:
♦ The approval has been given to continue the scheme till 2024-25 with a total outlay of Rs.8100 crore.
♦ The Revamped Scheme is principally identified with the presentation of the accompanying two sub-plans for mainstreaming private cooperation in social framework:
♦ Sub-scheme 1: caters to social sectors like wastewater treatment, water supply, solid waste management, health and education, etc.
♦ These undertakings face bankability issues and helpless income streams to provide food completely to capital expenses.
♦ The tasks qualified under this class ought to have in any event 100% operational cost recuperation.
♦ Sub-scheme 2: will support demonstration/pilot social sector projects. The undertakings might be from the wellbeing and instruction areas where there is at any rate 50% operational cost recovery.
♦ The scheme aims to advance PPPs in social and financial framework prompting the productive making of resources and guaranteeing their legitimate activity and upkeep and make the monetarily/socially fundamental ventures economically reasonable.
♦ The plan would be valuable to people in general everywhere as it would help in the production of foundation for the nation.
###GAIL Completes Kochi-Mangaluru Pipeline:
Kochi – Mangaluru natural gas pipeline project is ready for commissioning. The pipeline will supply natural gas to all seven areas (Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod) that Kerala passes through and the hilly Wayanad area.
Highlights:
♦The 444-kilometre-long natural gas pipeline was launched in 2009 with an estimated cost of Rs 29.15 billion.
♦The project will be put into use in 2014.
♦However, due to opposition in terms of security and commercial reasons, land prices are the main obstacle, so the cost of the project has almost doubled to 57.5 billion rupees.
♦The 1st phase of the project was put into use in the Kochi Metropolitan Area in August 2013.
♦GAIL India has completed the last 540 meters of the sinister extension of the Chandragiri River in northern Kerala.
♦The pipeline will supply natural gas to all seven areas (Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod) that Kerala passes through and the hilly Wayanad area.
♦Kuttanad is the main connection point of the pipeline, from which the pipeline branches to Mangaluru and Bengaluru.
Significance of the project:
With the commissioning of the pipeline, the demand for natural gas in Kerala is expected to increase from the current 60 million cubic meters to 800-90 million cubic meters per year. Through tax alone, the country can make a profit of 100 billion rupees, which can profit from it. In addition, huge environmental benefits are also expected. The pipeline will supply natural gas to all seven areas (Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod) that Kerala passes through and the hilly Wayanad area.
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Economy Current Affairs November 3rd Week 2020
IFSC Authority approves the International Financial Services Centres Authority (Banking) Regulations, 2020:
International Financial Services Centres (IFSC) Authority approves the International Financial Services Centres Authority (Banking) Regulations, 2020.
Highlights:
♦ Setting out the prerequisites for setting up IFSC Banking Units (IBUs).
♦ Allowing people occupant outside India (having total assets at least USD 1 Million) to open unfamiliar money accounts in any uninhibitedly convertible cash at IFSC Banking Units (IBUs).
♦ Allowing people inhabitant in India (having total assets at least USD 1 Million) to open unfamiliar money accounts in any unreservedly convertible cash at IFSC Banking Units (IBUs) to embrace any passable current record or capital record exchange or any mix thereof under the Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS) of the Reserve Bank of India.
♦ Setting out the reasonable exercises of IBUs including credit upgrade, credit protection, and deal, acquisition of portfolios, take part in figuring and relinquishing of fare receivables and attempt gear renting, including aeroplane renting.
♦ Allowing the Authority to decide the business that a Banking Unit might be allowed to direct in INR with people occupant in India and people inhabitant outside India, subject to settlement of the budgetary exchange comparable to such business in unreservedly convertible unfamiliar money.
###Inflation Data for October was Released:
The wholesale price inflation data for the month of October 2020 was released.
Highlights:
♦The wholesale price-based inflation is measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
♦Wholesale Inflation rose to its highest level in eight months, reaching 1.48% in October 2020, compared with 0% in October 2019 and 1.32% in September 2020.
♦Wholesale price inflation data was released by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
♦The inflation rate for manufactured goods reached a 19-month high of 2.1 months, and the core inflation rate rose to the highest level in 18 months at 1.7%.
♦Core inflation excludes volatile commodities from the commodity basket that tracks “overall inflation”.
♦These volatile commodities mainly include food and beverages (including vegetables) as well as fuel and light oil (crude oil).
Inflation:
Inflation denotes to the increase in the price of most goods and services that are used daily or daily, such as food, clothing, housing, entertainment, transportation, consumer necessities, etc. It measures the average price change of a basket of goods and services over time. Inflation indicates a decline in the purchasing power of a country`s currency unit. This may eventually lead to a slowdown in economic growth. However, moderate inflation is needed in the economy to ensure that production is promoted. In India, the inflation rate is mainly measured by two main indexes-WPI (Wholesale Price Index) and CPI (Consumer Price Index), which measure price changes at the wholesale and retail levels respectively.
Wholesale Price Index:
The Wholesale Price Index measures the changes in the prices of goods sold and traded in bulk by wholesale businesses to other businesses. Published by the Office of Economic Adviser, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It is the most widely used inflation indicator in India. Major criticism for this index is that the general public does not buy products at wholesale price. The base year of All-India WPI has been revised from 2004-05 to 2011-12 in 2017.
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Awards Current Affairs November 3rd Week 2020
National Water Awards Winners were Declared:
The winners of the National Water Awards for the year 2019 have been declared. The awards are given in several categories such as ‘Best State’, ‘Best District’, ‘Best School’, ‘Best Newspaper’, ‘Best NGO’, ‘Best Industry’, etc. with sub-categories also.
Highlights:
♦ The Best State Awards for first 3 positions were backed Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
♦ Special Category States - 1st place is given to Mizoram
♦ Best District Awards in Revival of Rivers and Water Conservation were given to:
♦ Ayodhya and Almora - North
♦ Vellore and YSR Kadapa - South
♦ Sangli and Kachchh - West
♦ Bilaspur and Surajpur - East
♦ West Tripura (WC) - Northeast
♦ Khandana and Vizianagaram - Aspirational district category
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Science & Technology Current Affairs November 3rd Week 2020
Covid Vaccine Jointly Developed by Pfizer and BioNTech:
A vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer and BioNTech was 90 per cent effective in preventing Covid-19 infections in ongoing Phase 3 trials.
Highlights:
♦ The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine uses messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, which relies on synthetic genes that can be generated and manufactured in weeks, and produced at scale more rapidly than conventional vaccines.
♦ Unlike traditional vaccines, which work by training the body to recognise and kill proteins produced by pathogens, mRNA tricks the patient’s immune system to produce viral proteins itself. The proteins are harmless, but sufficient to provoke a robust immune response.
♦ The huge thought behind immunizing the general population is to arrive at an intonation point where endless individuals will have taken the antibody that the infection needs more practical hosts to keep hopping from individual to individual and, in the end, as the staggering number of individuals who are basically incompletely resistant increment, the infection ceases to exist. This is a type of crowd invulnerability.
###Kerala Fibre Optic Network Project Free Internet:
Kerala’s goal is to provide free internet to poor families and public institutions by December.
Highlights:
♦ The project aims to achieve the government`s goal of making Internet access as a "civil right."
♦ Aims to provide free high-speed Internet to more than 2 million families below the poverty line(BPL).
♦ This is a cooperation plan between the State Electricity Company Kerala Electricity Authority and Kerala IT Infrastructure Co., Ltd.
♦ Internet service providers and cable TV operators can also join fibre optic network projects to provide services.
♦ The state government stated that it will link up to 30,000 government offices and schools through high-speed networks.
♦ Once the project is launched, it will be another milestone for the state.
♦ The state has achieved a number of Human Development Indicators (HDI) that match the first world countries, especially in health.
###Param Siddhi Supercomputer Positioned In 63rd Place:
India`s AI supercomputer Param Siddhi ranks 63rd among the world`s top 500 most powerful non-distributed computer systems.
About Param Siddhi
♦ Param Siddhi is a high-performance computing artificial intelligence (HPC-AI) supercomputer established under C-DAC`s National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).
♦ The supercomputer with Rpeak 5.267 Petaflops and 4.6 Petaflops Rmax (continued) was conceived by C-DAC and jointly developed with the support of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the Department of Electronics and Information Technology of NSM.
♦ The Param Siddhi supercomputer is based on the NVIDIA DGX Super POD reference architecture network and the HPC-AI engine, software framework and cloud platform developed locally by C-DAC, which will help deep learning, visual computing, virtual reality, accelerated computing and graphics virtualization.
Important Days Current Affairs November 3rd Week 2020
World Children`s Day is Observed on 20 November:
The World Children’s Day is celebrated on November 20 every year to promote international solidarity and awareness of children around the world and improve the welfare of children.
Highlights:
♦ November 20 is an important day because The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959. The United Nations General Assembly passed the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.
♦ In order to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the founding of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched the “Going Blue” campaign. The Indian Parliament is also part of the Parliament.
♦ India celebrates Children’s Day on November 14 every year. India ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992.
♦ The mortality rate of children under the age of 5 has dropped significantly from 117 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 39 in 2016. The number of children receiving drinking water increased from 62% in 1992 to 92% in 2019.
♦ The National Child Policy of 2013 was passed to confirm the government’s commitment to a rights-based approach to the ongoing challenges in the situation of children.
♦ In the same period, the "Right to Education Act 2009" increased the primary school enrollment rate of girls from 61% to almost universal.
♦ According to the 2006 Prohibition of Child Marriage Law, the prevalence of child marriage dropped from 47% in 2005-2006 to girls before the age of 18, and to 27% in 2015-2016.
♦ Through innovative programs and methods such as Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, Child-Friendly Schools, Children`s Budget and POSHAN Abhiyan, the state and federal governments are ensuring that children receive appropriate protection and opportunities for growth and development.
♦ The theme of International children day 2020 is, ” Investing in our future means investing in our children”.
Convention on the Rights of the Child:
It is a treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. According to the "Convention", everyone under the age of 18 is considered a child. It stipulates the racial, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child, regardless of race, religion or ability. It includes the right to education, the right to rest and leisure, and the right to protect against mental or physical abuse (including rape and sexual exploitation). This is the widely ratified human rights treaty in the world.
World Toilet Day is observed on 19th November
Every year, November 19th is World Toilet Day. World Toilet Day is the United Nations Day of Remembrance, which aims to celebrate toilets and raise awareness of the 4.2 billion people who do not have safe sanitation facilities.
Highlights:
♦ World Toilet Day involves taking action to respond to the global health crisis and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
♦ The theme of World Toilet Day 2020: Sustainable Sanitation and Climate Change. 2013 is the first official World Toilet Day.
♦ One-third of the people on this planet still cannot use clean and safe toilets; 1,000 children die every day due to poor sanitation; better sanitation can improve nutrition and health, especially for women and children In terms of.
♦ In India, Jal Shakti (Jal Shakti) Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) led the "Swachi Bharat Mission-Glayen (SBMG)" commemorative event to improve people’s safety Awareness of sanitation and promotion of the major contributions of various regions to Swachhata.
Foundation Day Celebrations at NIPER-Hyderabad:
NIPER - National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research celebrated its 14th Foundation day in Hyderabad on November 10, 2020. NIPER-Hyderabad has secured 5th position in ‘Pharmacy’ category under National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2020.
Highlights:
♦ NIPERs are organizations of national significance under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, GOI.
♦ NIPERs are autonomous foundations engaged with advanced education, innovative work in the drug sciences.
♦ The first NIPER was set up in Mohali in 1998.
♦ As of now, there are seven such NIPERs in Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Hajipur, Guwahati and Rae Bareli. The six were set up in 2007.
♦ NIPER is an individual from the Association of Indian Universities and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
♦ Thrust areas for research of the organizations incorporate tuberculosis, jungle fever, diabetes, Leishmaniasis and immunomodulation.
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Memorandum of Understanding Current Affairs November 2nd Week 2020
Four Agreements Signed Between India and Maldives:
India and Maldives have concurred more than four MOUs during the visit of India`s Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla to the Maldives. The four MOUs were finished paperwork for collaboration in sports and youth issues; availability venture, the setting of plant and soil testing labs.
Highlights:
♦ One of the four MoUs was finished paperwork for the award of $100 million by India for the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP). This task will interface Maldives capital Male with three islands. The absolute expense of this ♦ GMCP venture is $500 million. Rest $400 million for the task will likewise be given by India. This understanding was marked with the Foreign Minister of Maldives, Abdulla Shahid.
♦ The subsequent understanding marked between the two nations is to set up a plant and soil testing research facility with an award of 1.71 million Maldivian rufiyaas.
♦ The third arrangement has been finished paperwork for the foundation of a medication detox office with another award of 7.7 million Maldivian rufiyaas.
♦ The fourth MOU was marked to expand participation in the field of sports and youth issues between both the nations.
♦ Maldives is the 6th nation visited by the secretary after the limitations because of COVID-19. Unforgiving Vardhan Shringla was on a 2-day visit to Maldives.
♦ Other five nations visited by Shringla after COVID-19 are-the UK, Myanmar, Bangladesh, France and Germany. Shringla and Maldives Foreign Secretary additionally had discusses the monetary recuperation after the effect of pandemic, accelerating the execution of the continuous collaboration ventures, advancing the travel industry, and so forth
♦ These MOUs will assist with improving the relations between the two nations. Maldives the travel industry has been significantly influenced by COVID-19 and in view of this India gave an advance of $250 million to the nation in September 2020.
♦ The Indian unfamiliar secretary valued the "India First" strategy of Maldives and furthermore said that it is unequivocally responded by India through "Neighborhood first" arrangement.
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Defence Current Affairs November 2nd Week 2020
DRDO is Developing Fire Detection and Suppression System:
The DRDO - Defense Research and Development Organization has built up an innovation called "Fire Detection and Suppression System (FDSS)" for passenger transports.
Highlights:
♦ FDSS innovation can distinguish fire in transports in under 30 seconds and stifle it in 60 seconds in this manner lessening the danger to life and property to a critical degree.
♦ Shows were given on water fog based FDSS for the passenger compartment and airborne based FDSS for motor fire.
♦ The FDSS for passenger compartment contains a water tank of 80-litre limit, a 6.8 kg nitrogen chamber pressurized to 200 bar introduced at the suitable area in the transport.
♦ The FDSS for motor includes an airborne generator with which the fire concealment could be accomplished inside 5 seconds of the framework initiation.
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National Current Affairs November 2nd Week 2020
New Online System of MSME/Udyam Registration:
The new online system of MSME/Udyam Registration launched by Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Ministry, w.e.f. July 01, 2020, has stood the test of Time & Technology as more than 11 lakh MSMEs have successfully registered themselves by now.
Highlights:
♦ Ministry of MSME had revised the definition of MSMEs and process of registration w.e.f. July 01, 2020. It also launched a new portal for MSME/Udyam registration (https://udyamregistration.gov.in).
♦ The portal is working smoothly. This portal is seamlessly integrated with CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) and GST (Goods and Service Tax) networks as also with the GeM (Government e-Marketplace). It may be noted that through this integration, now MSME registration is a totally paperless exercise.
♦ Ministry has instructed all of its Field Establishments such as MSME-Development Institutes, MSME Technology Centers, NSIC, KVIC, Coir Board to extend full support to entrepreneurs for Udyam Registration.
♦ All District Magistrates and District Industries Centers have been requested to expedite registration by the MSMEs.
♦ Grievances of MSMEs relating to registration are being handled by CHAMPIONS’ platform through its network of Central Control Room and 68 State Control Rooms across the country.
♦ The registrations till October 31, 2020 (more than 10 Lakh), the trend and broad picture is as follows:-
♦ Nearly 3.72 lakh enterprises have registered under the Manufacturing category whereas 6.31 lakh enterprises under the Service sector. The share of Micro Enterprises is 93.17% whereas Small and Medium Enterprises are 5.62% and 1.21% respectively.
♦ About 7.98 lakh enterprises are owned by Male whereas 1.73 lakh enterprises by Female entrepreneurs. 11,188 enterprises are owned by Divyangjan entrepreneurs. The Top 5 Industrial sectors of registrations are – Food Products, Textile, Apparel, Fabricated Metal Products and Machinery & equipment.
♦ And about 1,01,03,512 persons have been given employment by these registered units. 5 leading States for Udyam registrations are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.
♦ Registration without PAN is permitted up to 31.03.2021 as a transitional arrangement. Similarly, Registration without GST number is also permitted up to 31.03.2021 as a transitional arrangement.
♦ Enterprises which are not yet enlisted, should enrol themselves to profit the advantages of Ministry of MSME and other Government offices. The enlistment is liberated from cost and ought to be done uniquely on the Government entrance appearing .gov.in.
###The target of Beneficiaries under NFSA-Department of Food & Public Distribution:
As a part PDS reforms, to modernise the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and to improve the transparency and efficiency in its operations. A total of nearly 4.39 Crore ineligible/bogus ration cards have been weeded out in the country during the period 2013 to 2020.
Highlights:
♦ Transparency in TPDS achieved through digitization of ration cards/beneficiaries databases, Aadhaar seeding, detection of ineligible/bogus ration cards, de-duplication of digitised data, migration/deaths of beneficiaries and during the run-up to the implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA)
♦ The respective quota of NFSA coverage is regularly utilised by concerned State/UT for the `Rightful Targeting` of beneficiaries under NFSA i.e. inclusion/addition of other genuine & rightfully eligible beneficiaries/households by issuing new ration cards to them, while remaining within the respective ceiling limits of coverage defined for each States/UT under the Act.
♦ NFSA provides coverage for 81.35 Crore persons to receive highly subsidised foodgrains through TPDS, which is nearly 2/3rd of the country’s population as per the Census of 2011.
♦ Currently, more than 80 Crore persons in India are receiving foodgrains (Rice, Wheat and Coarse grains) at highly subsidised Central Issue Prices of Rs. 3, 2 and 1 per Kg respectively under NFSA, on monthly basis
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Schemes Current Affairs November 2nd Week 2020
Fund released by Prime Ministers Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP):
In the name of the Prime Minister`s Jobs Generation Program (PMEGP), the Ministry of MSME, the Government of India, has alerted the general public and potential entrepreneurs against cheating.
Highlights:
♦ The PMEGP is a scheme introduced in 2008 for the central sector. The Ministry of Micro , Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) manages it.
♦ The PMEGP programme is being introduced by the KVIC (Khadi and Village Industries Commission) at the national level. It is the key cortical unit for the execution of the Programme.
♦ The Scheme is implemented by lenders, District Industries Centres (DICs), State KVIC Directorates and Khadi State and Village Industries Boards (KVIBs) at the state level.
♦ Individuals over the age of 18, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Cooperative Societies involved in the establishment, and establishments enrolled under the 1860 Societies Registration Act are eligible for benefits under this programme. When setting up the undertaking, there is no pay wall.
♦ New units, units that have benefited from government appropriations under either state or central government plans, are given assistance separately; existing units are not eligible for PMEGP subsidies.
♦ At least 75 activities will be awarded to each region to achieve the nation`s comprehensive growth.
♦ Physically challenged, a higher rate of appropriation is qualified for OBC, SC / STs, ladies, northeastern local candidates in rural regions.
Five Year Completion of One Rank One Pension:
Through the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, which was announced 5 years earlier in 2015, the Union government has allocated more than Rs. 42,700 crore to 20.6 lakh resigned defence workers.
Highlights:
♦ OROP provides uniform benefits to be given to military officials in similar situations for a term of service of similar duration, regardless of the actual of the date of retirement.
♦ OROP reveals that any issues can be fixed at periodic intervals between staff members retirees` pension rates.
♦ Prior to OROP, ex-servicemen used to claim compensation when they retired, according to the Pay Committee`s decisions.
♦ The most prominent number of OROP recipients is found in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. Military personnel who have retired are covered by it until 30 June 2014.
♦ The plan`s implementation focused on the Koshiyari board `s proposal, a 10-part all-party parliamentary board framed under Bhagat Singh Koshiyari `s presidency.
♦ The decision to update the OROP was taken in November 2015 by a submission, the benefit being convincing as of July 2014. This has been a long-standing interest of the nation`s retired servicemen.
♦ Under this Order, military personnel resigned before 30.06.2014 were covered. OROP means that any soldier who resigns in a similar role earns a similar pension, irrespective of his retirement date.
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Science & Technology Current Affairs November 2nd Week 2020
Ephemeral Messaging Feature is now in WhatsApp:
A new Ephemeral Messaging (disappearing messages) functionality on the platform has been revealed by the WhatsApp app. By November 2020, this feature will be available to all users globally.
Highlights:
♦ Mobile-to-Mobile transmission of multimedia messages that instantly disappear from the recipient`s screen after the message has been displayed is an ephemeral function.
♦ The word "ephemeral" describes something that lasts only for a short period of time.
♦ Other messaging apps, such as Telegram and Signal, already offer such an alternative.
♦ Turning on messages that disappear-users can have some more control over which chats are saved.
♦ The time limit for all users is set at seven days and has been determined.
ISRO Successfully Launched PSLV-C49/EOS-01 Mission:
The earth observation satellite EOS-01 has been successfully launched by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). Onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C49), India `s newest Earth observation satellite, EOS-01, was launched.
Highlights:
♦ The PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) is an ISRO-designed and operated four-stage expendable medium-lift launch vehicle.
♦ The main goal is to launch low-earth orbit satellites, however small-sized Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) satellites can also be launched by PSLV.
♦ India`s third generation launch vehicle is the PSLV. It is the first Indian launch vehicle with liquid stages to be built.
♦ Satellite phase 2 (Vikas Engine) and phase 4-liquid fuels, first and third phase-solid fuels.
♦ The EOS-01 Earth observation satellite has been put in an orbit of 575 km. The EOS-01 is for agriculture, forestry and disaster management support applications.
♦ The mission also included bringing nine other spacecraft into orbit. The nine satellite customers originated from the United States, Lithuania and Luxembourg.
♦ After the COVID-19 pandemic triggered lockdown interrupted 10 missions scheduled by the organisation, this is ISRO`s first mission in 2020.
♦ The mission`s success is a reflection of the organisation`s resilience to succeed in the mission, even in the face of restrictions on the movement of goods and people.
###Gov Tech-Thon 2020 has concluded on 1st November:
The Gov Tech-Thon 2020 closed on November 01, 2020. It is 36 hours, pan - India virtual hackathon coordinated by IEEE, National Informatics Center (NIC) and Oracle, under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
Highlights:
♦ The virtual hackathon got enrollments from more than 1300 competitors framing 390 groups.
♦ Shortlisted 447 candidates from 100 groups partook in the Hackathon on the five-issue proclamations gave by 3 central government services – Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers` Welfare, Ministry of Road Transport and Highway and Ministry of Education.
♦ NIC, set up in 1976, is an appended office of the MeitY. It gives ICT and e-Governance backing to the Government.
♦ NIC led "Informatics-Led-Development" by executing ICT applications in social and policy management and encourages electronic conveyance of administrations to the administration (G2G), business (G2B), resident (G2C) and government representative (G2E).
IEEE Computer Society:
IEEE is the world`s biggest specialized proficient association committed to propelling innovation to assist humankind. IEEE has in excess of 419,000 individuals in more than 160 nations. It participates in propelling the hypothesis, practice, and use of PC and data handling science and innovation, just as the expert remaining of its individuals.
###
International Current Affairs November 2nd Week 2020
Annual Resolution of India on Counter-Terror:
India`s annual counter-terrorism resolution was recently adopted by the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly ( UNGA) by consensus.
- India Resolution-Measures to prevent the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists were co-partnered by 75 countries & more, adopted by consensus without a vote.
- India is the victim of state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, highlighting the serious threat to international peace and security arising from the acquisition by terrorist groups of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
- India`s resolution predates the Security Council`s (UNSC) adoption of resolution 1540.
- From its 2004 resolution, the United Nations Security Council ( UNSC) took a decision to prevent States from providing any form of assistance to non-State actors attempting to produce, manufacture, possess, transport, procure, transmit or use nuclear weapons, chemical or biological weapons and their supply, in particular for terrorist organizations.
- The CCIT-Comprehensive Agreement on International Terrorism has not yet been agreed to by the UN.
- In 1996, India suggested the adoption of the CCIT by the UNGA to include a comprehensible legal structure for counter-terrorism.
- The CCIT (Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism) aims to describe terrorism in a universal way, to prosecute terrorists under special rules, to make cross-border terrorism an extraditable crime worldwide.
United Nations General Assembly(UNGA):
UNGA is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, performing as the United Nations(UN) leading policy-making and popular agency. The UN (international organisation) was founded in 1945. It is currently composed of 193 member states.
###Irans PMO Has Conveyed About Equipment For The Chabahar-Zahedan Railway Line:
Iran`s Port and Maritime Organization (PMO) has passed on to India a request for locomotives and signalling equipment for the Chabahar-Zahedan railway line. Iran has been confronting trouble in acquiring them straightforwardly because of the authorizations forced by the USA.
Highlights:
♦ Iran has likewise requested that India initiate the USD 150 million credit line which was offered to it by India during the Iranian President`s visit in 2018.
♦ Chabahar Port is on the Gulf of Oman and is just 72 km away from the Gwadar port in Pakistan which has been created by China. The port fills in as the main maritime port of Iran and comprises of two separate ports named Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari.
♦ In May 2016, India, Iran and Afghanistan consented to the three-dimensional arrangement which involved the foundation of Transit and Transport Corridor among them utilizing Chabahar port in Iran as one of the territorial centre points for ocean transportation.
♦ Development of a rail line from Chabahar port to Zahedan, along the fringe with Afghanistan as another shipping lane to Afghanistan and Central Asia, was likewise a piece of it.
♦ The state-claimed Indian Railways Construction Ltd. (IRCON) marked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Iranian Rail Ministry to offer a wide range of assistance, superstructure work and financing (around USD 1.6 billion).
♦ In July 2020, Iran chose to continue with the rail line development all alone, referring to delays from the Indian side in starting and financing the undertaking.
♦ IRCON finished the site review and possibility report, and had been trusting that the Iranian side will name a nodal authority.
♦ Despite the fact that the task has made sure about an extraordinary waiver from the USA, India is reluctant to manage the development organization which has joins with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and is under the authorizations.
♦ The IRGC is a firm stance power which works its own military framework in corresponding to Iran`s standard military. In April 2020, it dispatched Iran`s first military satellite, Noor.
♦ The dread of assents by the USA has likewise affected Indian interest in the Farzad-B gas field task of Iran.
Exchange: It is being viewed as a door to brilliant open doors for exchange by the three nations with other Central Asian nations in the wake of Pakistan denying travel admittance to India.
Security: China is forcefully seeking after its own Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) added to the One Repertoire One Road (OBOR) venture. The port can likewise go about as a counter to Pakistan`s Gwadar Port, which is being created with Chinese speculation.
Availability: In future, the Chabahar venture and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) will supplement each other by improving Indian network with Russia and Eurasia.
###Armenia, Azerbaijan signs Peace Deal Brokered by Russia:
Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed the Russia-Brokered Peace Deal, an agreement that aims to end the military conflict over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. The signing event follows six weeks of fighting between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenians.
Highlights:
♦ Under the deal, Azerbaijan will keep areas of Nagorno-Karabakh that it has taken during the conflict.
♦ Armenia has agreed to withdraw from several other adjacent areas over the next few weeks.
♦ Russian peacekeepers will be deployed to patrol the front line at Karabakh. They will guard the Lachin corridor which links the Karabakh capital, Stepanakert, to Armenia.
Important Days Current Affairs November 2nd Week 2020
National Cancer Awareness Day is on 7th November:
National Cancer Awareness Day is observed on November 07 every year in India. The National Cancer Awareness Day is celebrated to generate awareness about cancer prevention and early detection.
Highlights:
♦ The National Cancer Awareness Day is closely connected to the scientist Madame Curie`s birth anniversary.
♦ Marie Curie, a scientist, is recognised for her invention of radium and polonium (radioactive materials), as well as for her involvement to cancer control.
♦ Marie Curie`s work led to the creation of radiotherapy and nuclear energy for cancer treatment. On November 07, 2014 in India, the 1st National Cancer Awareness Day was recognised.
♦ Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death worldwide in 2018, according to the WHO (World Health Organization), there were approximately 18 million cases worldwide, of which 1.5 million came mostly from India.
♦ In 2018, there were about 0.8 million deaths from cancer in India, comparison to 9.5 million worldwide. It is estimated that the number of new cancer cases in India will double by 2040. Around 1.1 million new cases are reported in India every year.
♦ Nearly two-thirds of cases are only diagnosed at an advanced stage, reducing the likelihood of survival for patients. It is estimated that one woman in India dies of cervical cancer every 8 minutes.
♦ Tobacco use accounted for 3,17,928 deaths (approx) in men and women in 2018.
♦ Oral cavity cancers and lungs cancers account for over 25% of deaths in males and breast cancer and oral cavity cancer account for 25% cancers in females.
♦ To provide cancer treatment facilities in the country, the National Cancer Control Program was established in 1975. In 1984-85, it was enacted to provide a motivation for cancer early detection and prevention.
###National Legal Services Day is on 9th November
The National Legal Services Day is observed on 9th November annually to spread awareness for ensuring reasonable fair and justice procedure for all citizens.
Highlights:
♦ National Legal Services Day (NLSD) was first begun by the Supreme Court of India in 1995 to give assistance and backing to poor and more vulnerable segments of the general public.
♦ Free legitimate administrations are given in issues before Civil, Criminal and Revenue Courts, Tribunals or some other power practising legal or semi-legal capacities.
♦ Article 39A of the Constitution gives that State will make sure about that the activity of the overall set of laws advances equity on a premise of equivalent chance, and will specifically, give a free lawful guide, by appropriate enactment or plans or in some other manner, to guarantee that open doors for making sure about equity are not denied to any resident by reason of financial or another inability.
♦ Articles 14 and 22(1) likewise make it mandatory for the State to guarantee uniformity under the watchful eye of law and an overall set of laws which advances equity on a premise of equivalent occasion to all.
♦ Destinations of Legal Services Authorities are:
-Give free legitimate guide and counsel.
-Spread legitimate mindfulness.
-Coordinate lok adalats.
-Advance settlements of debates through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanisms. Different sorts of ADR components are Arbitration, Conciliation, Judicial settlement including settlement through Lok Adalat, or Mediation.
-Give remuneration to survivors of wrongdoing.
Lawful Services Institutions that offering Free Legal Types of assistance:
National Level: National Legal Services Authority. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) was established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. The Chief Justice of the nation is the Patron-in-Chief.
State Level: It is going by the Chief Justice of the High Court of the state who is its Patron-in-Chief.
District Level: District Legal Services Authority. The District Judge is its ex-officio Chairman.
Sub-Division/Taluka Level: Sub-Divisional/Taluka Legal Services Committee. It is by a senior Civil Judge.
High Court: High Court Legal Services Committee
High Court: Supreme Court Legal Services Committee
###
Schemes Current Affairs November 1st Week 2020
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP):
A progress report of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) is being conducted by the Union Cabinet Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda. In 2008, the Department of Pharmaceuticals launched PMBJP (Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana) under the Janaushadi Campaign, which was renamed as PMBJP in 2015-16.
Highlights:
♦ PMBJP scheme has achieved sales of Rs. Three hundred fifty-eight crores worth of pharma products through 6600 Janaushadhi Kendras during the first seven months of the fiscal year 2020-21 (till October 31) and is likely to surpass Rs` sales. 600 crore for the entire year.
♦ The sales figure has seen a drastic increase from Rs 7.29 crore in 2014-15 to Rs. 433 crore in 2019-20.
♦ The BPPI (Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India) was appraised for ensuring the supply of medicines, drugs, and other pharma products like masks to people at affordable rates during the Covid-19 pandemic.
♦ The implementing agency of the PMBJP is BPPI. BPPI was established in December 2008 under the Department of Pharmaceuticals and registered as an independent society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
Aim:
The scheme plans to increase the coverage of quality generic pharmaceutical products, thus lowering out-of-pocket medication spending and redefining the unit cost per person of care. Via education and publicity, PMBJP also aims to raise awareness of generic medicines so that quality is not synonymous with a high price.
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras:
It is also known as Janaushadhi Kendras, which was set up to provide generic drugs across the country under the PMBJP. Instead of a brand name, generic drugs are sold under an official name. Under this scheme, all procured drugs are checked at NABL (National Accreditation Board Laboratories) certified laboratories for quality assurance and comply with the benchmarks of the World Health Organization Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO GMP).
Janaushadhi Week:
In order to inform the general public about the benefits of the price and quality of the medicines offered at Jan Aushadhi Kendras, this week was celebrated nationwide from March 1 to March 7 , 2020.
Janaushadhi Sugam Application:
In August 2019, this application was launched to assist individuals to locate Janaushadhi Kendra nearby via Google Maps and check for generic Janaushadhi medicines. It helps to examine the relation between generic and branded medicinal goods in the context of Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and total savings, etc.
###Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive - PRASHAD:
Union Minister of State for Tourism & Culture inaugurated the "Tourist Facilitation Centre" facility on November 04, 2020, at Guruvayur, Kerala, constructed under PRASHAD Scheme. The `National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive` (PRASHAD) was launched by the Tourism Ministry in 2014-15 to develop integrated development of identified pilgrimage and heritage destinations.
Objectives:
♦ To rejuvenate important national/ global pilgrimage destinations and to Enhance tourism attractiveness of identified pilgrimage destinations and heritage cities.
♦ To follow community-based development through the `Pro-Poor` tourism concept and `responsible tourism’ concepts. Assurance of active involvement of local communities through employment generation
♦ To create awareness among the local communities about the importance of tourism and increase income sources, improved living standards, and overall development of the area.
♦ Promote heritage in heritage structures, especially under integrated tourism development of heritage city, local arts, culture, handicrafts, cuisine, etc., to generate livelihood in the identified places.
♦ Strengthen the mechanism for bridging the infrastructural gaps at identified pilgrimage destinations and throughout heritage cities.
♦ Swadesh Darshan is one of the Ministry of Tourism`s flagship schemes for the development of thematic circuits in the country in a planned and prioritized manner.
♦ The Scheme is 100% centrally funded, and efforts are made to achieve convergence with other Central and State Governments schemes and leverage the voluntary funding available for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of Central Public Sector Undertakings and Corporate Sector.
###
Science & Technology Current Affairs November 1st Week 2020
Satellites to detect drug cultivation in Odisha:
OSAC - (Odisha Space Application Centre) has proposed to help law enforcement agencies detect illicit cannabis cultivation using remote sensing & artificial intelligence technologies.
Highlights:
♦ The proposal - high-resolution satellite imagery may be used for detecting cultivation of hemp (a variety of cannabis).
♦ Apart from developing mobile-based applications (mobile app) for field-level officials, OSAC has also proposed to make a mechanism for citizen reporting through a mobile app
♦ The state of Odisha is one of the leading cannabis-producing states in the country of India.
♦ Cannabis is grown in forest regions of Boudh, Rayagada, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Kandhamal, Nayagarh and Angul and districts.
♦ Although law enforcement agencies have intensified their raids, it is difficult to trace the cultivation on a real-time basis.
###Recent Study on Asteroid 16 Psyche:
A recent NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) analysis found that asteroid 16 Psyche could be made entirely of metal and is worth an estimated 10,000 quadrillion US dollars, floating between Mars and Jupiter.
Highlights:
♦ Asteroid 16 Psyche is located between Mars and Jupiter, 370 million kilometres from the ground, and Psyche has a diameter of 140 miles.
♦ Unlike other asteroids made up of rocks or ice, the dense and metallic object of Psyche may be the nucleus of an earlier planet that failed to develop.
♦ The recent research of Psyche `s structure through the Hubble Space Telescope and ultraviolet observation gives a clearer sight.
♦ In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into LEO-low Earth orbit and is still operational.
♦ Psyche may be a rare asteroid consisting almost entirely of iron(Fe) and nickel(Ni) that is close to the centre of the earth. More than ten thousand quadrillion US dollars will be worth of iron.
♦ Ultraviolet ( UV) light reflected by Psyche was the same as the way iron absorbs sunlight.
Psyche mission by NASA:
The Psychology mission`s primary objective is to launch it in 2022 to thoroughly research this asteroid and confirm the scientists` hypotheses. The first mission to study this metallic asteroid will be this mission. In early 2026, Psyche`s spacecraft will land on an asteroid. Since the composition of Psyche is very close to the centre of the earth itself, its analysis would also provide an insight into the violent history of collisions and accretion that created it on earth.
###Luhri Stage-I Hydro Power Project:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by PM has approved Rs.1810.56 crore for 210 MW Luhri Stage-I Hydro Electric Project located on river Sutlej which is situated in Shimla &Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh.
Highlights:
♦ This Hydro Power project will generate 758.20 million units of electricity annually.
♦ This project is being implemented by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) on Build-Own-Operate-Maintain (BOOM) basis with active support from India`s and State Government.
♦ The MoU of this project was signed with the Govt. of Himachal Pradesh during Rising Himachal, Global Investor Meet.
♦ The government of India is also supporting this project by providing grants of Rs. 66.19 crore for enabling infrastructure, which has helped in reducing power tariff.
♦ The Luhri Stage-I Hydro Electric Project shall be commissioned within 62 months.
♦ The power generated from the project will provide Grid stability and improve the power supply position.
♦ The project would also reduce 6.1 lakh Tons of carbon dioxide from the environment annually, thus contributing to an improvement in air quality.
♦ The project`s construction activities will result in direct & indirect employment to around 2000 persons and contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the state.
♦ Himachal Pradesh will benefit with free power worth around Rs. 1140 crore from Luhri Stage-I Hydro Electric Project, during Project Life Cycle of 40 years.
♦ The Project Affected Families will be provided with 100 units of free electricity per month for ten years.
♦ SJVN has forayed into the fields of Renewable Energy, Power Transmission, and Thermal power generation.
♦ SJVNL has envisaged Internal Growth Targets of total installed capacity from all sources of 5000 MW by 2023, 12000 MW by 2030, and 25000 MW by the year 2040.
Environment Current Affairs November 1st Week 2020
WII to conduct a study on Olive Ridley:
Wildlife Institute of India(WII) to conduct a study on Olive Ridley turtles and their movement.
Highlights:
♦ The species of Olive ridley turtles are the most abundant of all sea turtles found in the earth.
♦ Their habitats are warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic & Indian oceans.
♦ Olive Ridley turtles spend their entire lives in the ocean & migrate thousands of kilometres between feeding & mating grounds in a year.
♦ CITES Appendix I banned international trade of these turtles and their products but the turtles are still extensively poached for their meat, leather and eggs and their shell, though iillegal to harvest, it has a significantly major market around the coastal regions.
♦ The severe threat for turtles is the accidental killing of adult turtles by entanglement in trawl nets & gill nets due to uncontrolled fishing during their mating season around nesting beaches.
♦ In the view of decreasing the accidental killing in the country, the Odisha state government has made it mandatory for trawls to use TEDTurtle Excluder Devices (TEDs).
♦ Rushikulya rookery coast in the Ganjam district of Odisha, Gahirmatha beach (Bhitarkanika National park) and the mouth of the Debi River are the major nesting sites in Odisha.
IUCN status: Vulnerable
###Project Lion: Proposal identifies six relocation sites:
Six new sites (except the Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary) under Project Lion announced by PM Narendra Modi on Independence day were (August 15, 2020).
Highlights:
♦ The six new sites included are:
♦ Madhav National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
♦ Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan.
♦ Mukunda Hills Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan.
♦ Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh.
♦ Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan.
♦ Jessore-Balaram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat.
♦ Lion relocation has been discussed since 1995, when the Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary was identified as an alternate site.
♦ The population of Lions in Gir has low genetic diversity, making it vulnerable to threats of extension from epidemics.
♦ Lions are found in Gujarat across 30,000 sq km called the Asiatic Lion Landscape (ALL).
♦ The 2013 Supreme Court order directed Gujarat to relocate lions to the Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary.
Asiatic Lions:
These Lions are Listed as ‘Endangered’ under the IUCN Red List. Asiatic Lion’s population is restricted to the state of Gujarat in India (Gir National Park).
###The U.S formally exits Paris pact on curbing climate change:
The United States has officially left the Paris Agreement.
Highlights:
♦ Some 189 countries remain committed to the 2015 Paris accord.
♦ Paris Agreement is a historic international accord that brings almost 200 countries together in setting a common target to reduce global greenhouse emissions to fight climate change.
♦ The pact seeks to keep global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels, and to try and limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
♦ To this end, each country has pledged to implement targeted action plans that will limit their greenhouse gas emissions.
♦ The Agreement asks rich and developed countries to provide financial and technological support to the developing world in its quest to fight and adapt to climate change.
National Current Affairs November 1st Week 2020
CM of Assam lays foundation stone of Indo-Israeli Centre of Excellence:
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone of Indo-Israeli Centre of Excellence for Vegetables Protected Cultivation near Guwahati with Israeli Ambassador Dr Ron Malka on November 2, 2020.
Highlights:
♦ Rs. 10.33-crore project is to bolster the agricultural activities in the state by giving exposure to the latest Israeli technologies.
♦ Centre of Excellence would provide a major boost to agricultural and horticultural production in Assam, that it would be an extra value added to the government`s efforts to double farmers` income.
♦ The close bond of friendship between India and Israel in recent years and said that India and Israel is a perfect match where both countries complement each other.
♦ He said, even in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, both India and Israel fought together.
###Fortification of Rice & its distribution through PDS:
In order to implement the Centrally Funded Pilot Scheme on Rice Fortification & Distribution through PDS (Public Distribution System), fifteen states have been established. For three years , starting in 2019-2020, the Pilot Scheme has been approved with a total budget outlay of Rs.174.6 Crore. For the implementation of the Pilot Scheme, 15 State Governments have established their respective districts.
Highlights:
♦ In this review meeting of an existing pilot scheme to distribute fortified rice in 15 districts, it was agreed that the government is implementing policies to distribute fortified rice through the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid Day Meal Schemes across India from 2021, with particular emphasis on Aspirational districts, to combat chronic anaemia and undernutrition.
♦ Rice fortification actively increases the content of important micronutrients, i.e. vitamins and minerals (including trace elements) in food servings, thus enhancing the nutritional consistency of the food supply and offering limited health benefits to public health Risk.
♦ Regular milled rice is low in micronutrients & serves primarily as a source of carbohydrate only.
♦ The fortification of rice is a significant possibility to increase nutrition. Fortified rice will contain Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Iron, and Zinc.
♦ Procedure for fortification: The concentration of just one micronutrient might be increased in a single food (e.g., the iodization of salt), or, there might be a whole range of food–micronutrient combinations.
♦ The Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations, 2016 for fortifying staples, namely Wheat Flour and Rice, Milk and Edible Oil and Double Fortified Salt, were operationalized by FSSAI-Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in October 2016 to reduce the high burden of micronutrient malnutrition in India.
♦ In addition to supplementation and dietary diversification, India`s National Nutritional Strategy, 2017, identified food fortification as one of the strategies to overcome deficiencies such as anaemia, vitamin A and iodine.
Fortified Rice Kernels
Fortifying rice is achieved by grinding broken rice into powder and combining the powder with nutrients, then using an extrusion process to form rice-like kernels. Then these fortified kernels are combined in a proportion ranging from 1:50 to 1:200 with standard rice.
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
On October 2, 1975, the ICDS was launched. A bundle of six services (Supplementary Nutrition, Immunization, Health Check-up, Pre-school Non-formal Education, Nutrition & Health Education, and Referral Services) is offered by the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme for children aged 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Mid-day Meal Scheme
In 1995, the scheme was launched. It ensures that a hot cooked meal is given free of charge every working day to every child within the age group of six to fourteen years studying in Classes I to VIII who enrols and attends school. The Department of School Education and Literacy is under the Mid Day Meal Scheme.
Aspirational Districts
The programme was introduced in January 2018 to expeditiously boost, through cooperative and competitive federalism, the socio-economic status of 117 districts. The goal of this programme is to change districts quickly, showing comparatively less success in key social areas.
###Three initiatives of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs:
The minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs launched three initiatives: the Nurturing Neighborhoods Challenge, the Data Maturity Assessment Framework, and an online training programme for City Data Officers (CDOs) during an event.
Highlights:
The Nurturing Neighborhoods Challenge:
It is a 3-year initiative that will support cities developing, pilot, and scale solutions that enhance the quality of life of young children, their caregivers, and families in the public realm. The challenge is conducted with the support of the Bernard van Leer Foundation, Netherlands, with the technical backing from WRI India. Through the challenge, selected cities will receive technical assistance and capacity- building to reimagine parks and open spaces; improve access to early childhood facilities; adapt public spaces with early childhood-oriented amenities; The challenge will be open to all Smart Cities, other cities with more than five lakh population, and capitals of States and UTs.
The Data Maturity Assessment Framework (DMAF):
DMAF cycle-2 will support cities in creating a `culture of data` under the Data-Smart Cities initiative of the smart cities Mission. This framework`s core objective is to enable cities to assess their data maturity concerning a standardized framework covering aspects of enabling policies, governance structures, data management, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement at the city level. This is expected to play an enabling role in democratizing the data culture for open- innovation, collaboration, co-creation, and academic research. The assessment for this cycle has been expanded to include cities other than Smart Cities.
The CDO Training Programme:
MoHUA has partnered with Tata Trusts to launch a six-week guided e-learning course called `Enabling Data-Driven Decision Making in Urban Local Bodies.` Specially designed for City Data Officers (CDOs) appointed in the 100 Smart Cities, this practice-based digital course will expose CDOs to basic and advanced data collection tools, analysis, and visualization. CDOs will also understand practical data-driven governance principles and show how to create actionable data policy frameworks using a use-case approach to enable practical learning and application.