Current Affairs Today 1st July 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 1st July 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

  1. The National Doctors’ Day is organized on 01 July annually in India by the Indian Medical Association (IMA),to honour the legendary physicians and emphasizes on value of doctors in our lives, to offer them our respects by commemorating one of their greatest representatives
  2. National Charted Accountants Day or CA Day is celebrated on July 1 every year.
  3. National Postal Worker Day is observed on 1st July every year. This day is celebrated to the recognition of postal workers across the world.
  4. The National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow, has set up an “Advanced Virology Lab” for testing COVID-19 disease.
  5. On 30th June 2020, a Bell 206-B3 Helicopter was flagged off with spray equipment for Air Force Station in Rajasthan’s Barmer from the helipad facility in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar.
  6. The first edition of Fisheries and Aquaculture Newsletter was launched.
  7. Through Finance Act 2019, amendments were brought to the Indian Stamp Act, 1899. The amendments made come into effect from 1st July 2020 onwards.
  8. The Department of Food and Public Distribution has estimated that food grains (Rice and Wheat) and pulses worth Rs 1,48,938 crore will be distributed under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana in the period between 8 months from April to November 2020.
  9. Madhya Pradesh government has launched “Hamara Ghar-Hamara Vidyalaya” over a virtual platform to take care of academic regularity of the students during the Lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.
  10. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath today launched the ambitious piped water project ”Har Ghar Jal” that means water to every house for Bundelkhand region.
  11. Char Dham Yatra begins today in Uttarakhand with restrictions.
  12. In Mizoram, the 34th anniversary of Mizo peace accord is being celebrated today on 1st
  13. A Memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Waste to Energy plant at Okhla, Delhi, between Indian Oil, NTPC Ltd and South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) on 30 June 2020.
  14. Former Reserve Bank of India governor, Chakravarthi Rangarajan has been conferred with the first Prof. P C Mahalanobis Award in Official Statistics for lifetime achievements.
  15. Artificial Intelligence-enabled MyGov Corona Helpdesk received two awards at the CogX 2020 are held annually in London, the UK. CogX is a prestigious Global Leadership Summit and Festival of AI & Emerging Technology.
  16. Foodtech giant, Swiggy has launched its digital wallet in partnership with ICICI Bank. The digital wallet named ‘Swiggy Money’ will provide users with a single-click checkout experience.
  17. ICRA today has announced the appointment of Mr. Ramnath Krishnan as President of Ratings.
  18. Fabindia, which operates a chain of stores selling a range of artisan’s products, announced former Indigo airlines president Aditya Ghosh has been appointed as a member of its board of directors.
  19. Senior diplomat Indra Mani Pandey has been appointed as the next Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva.
  20. Researchers from Raman Research Institute (RRI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), have launched Quantum Key Distribution or QKD.
  21. Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science & Technology (INST), Mohali, have synthesized a novel inorganic-organic hybrid compound that can inhibit breast, lung, and liver cancer cells.
  22. Indian Institute of Technology-Gandhinagar IITGn has developed an Artificial Intelligence-based tool to detect COVID-19 from Chest X-ray.
  23. Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has launched the National Anti-Doping Agency’s first mobile app named as “NADA App”.
  24. Karnataka government has launched a portal called “Skill Connect Forum” to connect job seekers with employers on a common platform.
  25. Best-selling author and the Director of the Nehru Centre in London, Amish Tripathi, have released his new book of fiction titled ‘Legend of Suheldev: The King Who Saved India’.
  26. Renowned Kannada writer Geetha Nagabhushan has passed away due to cardiac arrest. She was 78.
  27. Legendary comedian, Carl Reiner passed away.
  28. Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) are to organize a photo/painting and a one-minute-film competition.
  29. The World’s first-ever Online B.Sc. Degree in Programming and Data Science is prepared and to be offered by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.
  30. The Government of Goa allotted land to a consortium of 49 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME) units to set up India’s first Maritime Cluster, Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa provided 14,380 square Metres of land to set up the Common Facility centre.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

National Doctors’ Day Observed on 01 July

  • The National Doctors’ Day is organised on 01 July annually in India by the Indian Medical Association (IMA),to honour the legendary physicians and emphasise on value of doctors in our lives, to offer them our respects by commemorating one of their greatest representatives
  • The day commemorates the birth anniversary of the second Chief Minister of West Bengal, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy who was born on July 1, 1882 and died on the same date in 1962.
  • The theme of 2020 Doctors Day is “Lessen the mortality of COVID 19”.

Extra Shots:

IMA

  • Headquarters: New Jersey, United States
  • Founded: 13 October 1919, Buffalo, New York, United States
  • Motto: The Association of Accountants and Financial Professionals in Business

National Charted Accountants Day observed on 1st 2020

  • National Charted Accountants Day or CA Day is celebrated on July 1 every year.
  • This day is celebrated to commemorate the finding of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) by the parliament of India in 1949.
  • Every year on the day of the establishment of the ICAI, CA Day is celebrated to honour the Chartered Accountant.

 Extra Shots:

ICAI: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India is the national professional accounting body of India. It was established on 1 July 1949 as a statutory body under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 enacted by the Parliament to regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India.

National Postal Worker Day observed on 1st July

  • National Postal Worker Day is observed on 1st July every year. This day is celebrated to the recognition of postal workers across the world.
  • National Postal Worker Day is a unique way to say ‘thank you’ to the postmen and all delivery personnel, as online shopping has become a lifeline for many of us.
  • In India, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, postal services have uniquely diversified.
  • Workers in postal departments have become the new ‘corona warriors’, playing an active role in India’s fight against COVID-19.

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

NBRI to set up Advanced Virology Lab to test COVID-19 disease

  • The National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow, has set up an “Advanced Virology Lab” for testing COVID-19 disease.
  • The facility has been established as per the guidelines of the Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Highlights:

  • Advanced Virology Lab is a Bio-Safety Level (BSL) 3 level facility. Biosafety levels are assigned to a facility depending on the pathogen it deals with.
  • As per the ICMR guidelines, the BSL2 level facility is recommended for COVID-19 and in an advanced manner.
  • The lab is facilitated with “Negative Pressure”, which means it has a suction facility that can suck any aerosol and pass it through filters. It can filter viruses or bacteria to make it a safe COVID-19 testing facility. This will reduce the possibility of infections at culturing facilities.
  • The facility will be added to the testing capacity of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Currently, the testing facility in UP tests about 20,000 samples per day.
  • The Lab will start testing 100 samples a day in the first week and later it will scale up to 500 samples a day.

Helicopter Services for Locust Control flagged off by Union Minister

  • On 30th June 2020, a Bell 206-B3 Helicopter was flagged off with spray equipment for Air Force Station in Rajasthan’s Barmer from the helipad facility in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar.

Highlights

  • Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar flagged off the Helicopter.
  • The Helicopter will be deployed for locust control in the desert areas of Rajasthan. Districts that the Helicopter will cover are Nagaur, Jodhpur, Barmer, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Jodhpur.
  • The Helicopter will be able to cover about 25 to 50-hectare area in one flight. In a single flight, it will have the capacity to carry 250 liters of pesticide.

Objective of the Helicopter Operation

  • United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned last week that the Desert Locusts may breed in the semi-arid/desert regions of Rajasthan as the monsoon rains will make it suitable for them to breed.
  • The bell helicopter will work towards reaching areas in the desert that is not easily accessible through drones and spray mounted vehicles.

Locust Control Operations

  • From 11th April to 28th June 2020, a total of 2,33,487 hectares of land has been covered under locust control operations in 9 states of India. In terms of crop loss, only from the state of Rajasthan, there have been reports of minor crop losses.

First Edition of ‘Matsya Sampada’ launched by Union Minister

  • The first edition of Fisheries and Aquaculture Newsletter was launched.
  • The name of the newsletter is ‘Matsya Sampada’.
  • The newsletter was launched by the Union Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Giriraj Singh.
  • From the first quarter of 2020-21, newsletter Matsya Sampada will be published on a quarterly basis.
  • The operational guidelines for the PMMSYscheme have also been published in the first edition of the newsletter.

Aim of Matsya Sampada

  • Through the newsletter, the Department of Fisheries will aim to reach out to the fishers and fish farmers of the country.
  • The newsletter will serve as a means of communication for educating and providing the latest information and developments related to the fisheries and aquaculture sector to all the stakeholders involved in the sector.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

  • With an investment of Rs 20050 crore, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) was launched in May 2020.
  • Through the scheme, responsible and sustainable development of the fisheries sector will be aimed, which will further help in creating an AtmaNirbhar Bharat.
  • Under the scheme, 55 lakh (5.5 million) jobs are expected to be created over the next 5 years as the target has been set for an additional 7 million (70 lakh) tonnes of fish production per year.

Centralized System of Stamp Duty collection comes into effect from 1st July 2020

  • Through Finance Act 2019, amendments were brought to the Indian Stamp Act, 1899. The amendments made come into effect from 1st July 2020 onwards.

Highlights:

  • These amendments were made for building a pan-India securities market and to boost Ease of Doing Business.
  • For building a pan-India securities market, a centralized system of stamp duty with a unified rate has been brought under the amendments.
  • A uniform stamp duty across all the states will be imposed for all financial securities transactions.
  • For stock exchange, duty on the transaction of securities will be deposited to the Central Government.
  • As per the legal and institutional mechanism, the stamp duty is collected by the State Government, under the uniformity, the Central Government will deposit it to the State Government based on the place from where the trade took place.
  • For other financial securities transactions (non-stock exchange), depositories will collect stamp duties on behalf of the State Government.

Estimated Rs 1, 48,938 crore of food grains and pulses will be distributed from April to November 2020

  • The Department of Food and Public Distribution has estimated that food grains (Rice and Wheat) and pulses worth Rs 1,48,938 crore will be distributed under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana in the period between 8 months from April to November 2020.

Breakdown of the Estimation

  • The estimations were made based on Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) for the previous three months April to June 2020 of the scheme.
  • Under the Yojana, 5 Kg of Rice/Wheat is provided for free to each member of the beneficiary family per month, also 1 Kg of pulses is provided to each beneficiary family per month.
  • Estimations made suggests that a total of 32 million tonnes of foodgrains worth Rs 1,22,829 crores will be provided from April to November 2020. An estimate of approx Rs 11,800 crore of Pulses will be distributed in total during the April to November 2020 period.
  • Apart from the above costs, Rs 3109.52 crores for distribution of foodgrains to migrant labourers in the months of April and May 2020 and Rs 11,200 crore for Central Issue Price under the National Food Security Act from April to November 2020 was been included in the estimation.

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

MP Govt launches ‘Hamara Ghar-Hamara Vidyalaya’ campaign

  • Madhya Pradesh government has launched “Hamara Ghar-Hamara Vidyalaya” over a virtual platform to take care of academic regularity of the students during the Lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The scheme will start on 6th July 2020.

“Hamara Ghar-Hamara Vidyalaya” campaign:

  • Under the scheme, the school bells are going to be heard within the student’s house and the teachers will begin the class of the students after the bell.
  • The scheme provides a school-like environment for the children taught at their home through online classes.
  • The classes will be held from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm with 1 hours classes for every subject.
  • The scheme will provide the topic preparation for the teachers of class 1 to 8.
  • The timetable for the students’ education and other activities under this scheme are prepared by the School Department of Education.
  • As per the time table, the students will have subject classes from Monday to Friday and Saturday the students will be engaged in activities like yoga, write and listen to stories etc.
  • Under this scheme, the teachers will discuss take feedback from the students and parents.

Extra Shots:

Madhya Pradesh:

  • Capital: Bhopal
  • Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
  • Governor: Anandiben Patel (Additional Charge)
  • National Park: Bandhavgarh NP, Fossil NP, Kanha NP, Madhav NP, Panna NP, Pench NP, Sanjay NP, Satpura NP

UP CM Yogi Adityanath launches piped water project ”Har Ghar Jal” for Bundelkhand region

  • Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath today launched the ambitious piped water project ”Har Ghar Jal” that means water to every house for Bundelkhand region.
  • The 12 projects for which the foundation stone was laid by the Chief Minister in Jhansi today are part of the ”Jal Jeevan Mission” Har Ghar Jal, started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • Union Janshakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and State BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh along with other state ministers were present during the launch in Jhansi district.
  • Under the first phase of project which costs 2185 crores the 3 districts of Bundelkhand region will be covered.
  • Work for this first phase is expected to complete in next 2 years.

Extra Shots:

Uttar Pradesh:

  • Capital: Lucknow
  • Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
  • Governor: Anandiben Patel
  • State formed in: 24 January 1950
  • Literacy Rate: 67.68%

Char Dham Yatra begins in Uttarakhand

  • Char Dham Yatra begins today in Uttarakhand with restrictions.
  • State government has issued ‘Standard Operating Procedure’ for pilgrimage to the four revered shrines – Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
  • No pilgrim from outside Uttarakhand will be allowed. The SOP mentioned that every pilgrim must carry identification and address proof.
  • Anyone from containment zone or buffer zone will not be allowed to travel to any of the four shrines.

Extra Shots:

Uttarkhand

  • Capital- Dehradun
  • Governor- Baby Rani maurya
  • CM-Trivendra Singh Rawat
  • National Park -Jim Corbett NP, Gangotri NP, Nanda Devi NP, Rajaji NP

Mizoram celebrates 34th anniversary of Mizo peace accord

  • In Mizoram, the 34th anniversary of Mizo peace accord is being celebrated today on 1st
  • The Mizo peace accord has been the most successful accord ever signed in the country and the world as well.
  • Mizoram has become the most peaceful state and a beacon of hope for the world and proved peace can be attained and sustained.
  • The state government has declared public holiday for government offices and educational institutions to mark the day.
  • The peace accord was signed between the Union government and the erstwhile underground Mizo National Front (MNF) on the 30th June in 1986.
  • The signatories were MNF leader Laldenga, R. D. Pradhan, Union Home Secretary, and Lalkhama, Mizoram Chief Secretary.

 Extra Shots:

Mizoram:

  • State formed on: 20 February 1987
  • Governor: P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
  • Chief Minister: Zoramthanga
  • Deputy Chief Minister: Tawnluia
  • Capital: Aizawl
  • Literacy rate: 91.58%
  • Shares borders: Assam, Manipur, and Tripura

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

Indian Oil, NTPC Ltd, and SDMC signed MoU for Waste to Energy plant in Delhi

  • A Memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Waste to Energy plant at Okhla, Delhi, between Indian Oil, NTPC Ltd and South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) on 30 June 2020.

MoU Provisions:

  • Under the MoU, Indian Oil, SDMC, and NTPC will jointly develop a demonstration Waste-to-energy Plant at Okhla landfill site in Delhi, using Gasification technology.
  • The Plant will process 17,500 tons per annum of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) produced from combustible components of Municipal Waste to generate syngas which shall in turn be used to generate electricity.
  • This Energy plant is expected to bring solutions to the management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Delhi.
  • The gas generation from waste will also help in cutting imports of petroleum products and saving foreign exchange.
  • The technology that is used in the Delhi plant will result in less emission and also provide usable residues.

Extra Shots:

Indian Oil

  • Chairperson: Sanjiv Singh
  • Headquarters: New Delhi

NTPC

  • Founded: 1975
  • Headquarters: New Delhi, India
  • Owner: Government of India
  • Organization type: State-owned enterprise
  • Purpose: Electricity generation and distribution natural gas exploration, production, transportation and distribution

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

Former RBI Governor C Rangarajan conferred with 1st P C Mahalanobis Award

  • Former Reserve Bank of India governor, Chakravarthi Rangarajan has been conferred with the first Prof. P C Mahalanobis Award in Official Statistics for lifetime achievements.
  • He received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution in providing solutions in the issues related to the estimation of national income.
  • The award has been instituted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) from 2020, and will henceforth be awarded annually for the outstanding and meritorious contribution of an individual for the development and promotion of official statistics.

MyGov Corona Helpdesk received CogX 2020 award

  • Artificial Intelligence-enabled MyGov Corona Helpdesk received two awards at the CogX 2020 is held annually in London, the UK. CogX is a prestigious Global Leadership Summit and Festival of AI & Emerging Technology.
  • MyGov Corona was awarded under the categories ‘Best Innovation for Covid-19 – Society’ and ‘People’s Choice Covid-19 Overall Winner’.
  • The awards were won by JioHaptik Technologies.

MyGov Corona Helpdesk:

  • MyGov is a citizen engagement platform that facilitates two-way communication between the Central government and citizens.
  • It facilitates participatory governance in India, in the fight against COVID-19.
  • The AI-enabled MyGov Corona Helpdesk was jointly developed by MyGov, JioHaptik Technologies, and WhatsApp team in the record time of five days including the weekend.
  • MyGov Corona Helpdesk demonstrated the true Public, Private and Partnership (PPP), wherein, citizen-centric services were provided by MyGov
  • The technology was designed, developed, and deployed by JioHaptik Technologies, and ideas given by the public were factored-in on a daily basis to improve the services and solution.
  • Indian chatbot ‘MyGov Corona Helpdesk’ was chosen after a rigorous evaluation, among hundreds of entries that made a difference to society during the pandemic.

CogX:

  • CogX is a large AI event that is held annually in London with over 15,000 participants. Representatives from the highest levels of business, government, industry, and research participants in the event.
  • The Cogx Awards are presented to the best-of-the-best in AI and emerging technologies across the world.
  • The JioHaptik was awarded the honour for providing AI-enabled technological solutions for ‘MyGov Corona Helpdesk’ that has helped safeguard lives amid a pandemic.

APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS

Swiggy tie-up with ICICI Bank for Digital Wallet

  • Foodtech giant, Swiggy has launched its digital wallet in partnership with ICICI Bank. The digital wallet named ‘Swiggy Money’, will provide users with a single-click checkout experience. Through this partnership, Swiggy customers allow storing money to be used for orders on the platform.
  • Swiggy has used ICICI Bank’s ‘insta wallet service’ built on its cloud platform which allows the Foodtech to create a digital wallet instantaneously for customers.
  • The service shall also be open to customers who do not bank with ICICI, who will, however, be required to provide details of a government ID to the bank.

Extra Shots:

Swiggy

  • Founded: August 2014
  • CEO: Sriharsha Majety
  • Headquarters location: Bengaluru
  • Founders: Sriharsha Majety, Nandan Reddy, Rahul Jaimini

ICICI Bank:

  • CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Founder: Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India
  • Founded: June 1994, Vadodara

ICRA appoints Ramnath Krishnan as President of Ratings

  • ICRA today has announced the appointment of Mr. Ramnath Krishnan as President of Ratings.
  • Krishnan has displayed tremendous leadership skills over his long career, holding multiple senior roles in India and abroad, successfully managing large teams and building businesses across geographies.
  • Krishnan is a highly regarded finance professional and we could not have chosen a better candidate to lead our ratings business with his deep knowledge of risk, credit and markets.

Extra Shots:

ICRA:

  • Headquarters: India
  • CEO: Naresh Takkar
  • Founded: 1991
  • Owner: Moody’s Corporation

Fabindia appoints former Indigo president Aditya Ghosh to board of directors

  • Fabindia, which operates a chain of stores selling a range of artisans products, announced former Indigo airlines president Aditya Ghosh has been appointed as a member of its board of directors.
  • Ghosh will be guiding the management teams with strategy and new initiatives.
  • Ghosh is a seasoned professional with over 22 years of experience and has had multiple roles including leading IndiGo and also OYO Hotels & Homes.
  • Fabindia operates 327 stores across 118 cities in India and 14 international stores selling a wide range of products produced by artisans living largely in rural areas.

Extra Shots:

Fab India

  • CEO: Viney Singh
  • Founder: John Bissell
  • Founded: 1960
  • Successor: William Nanda Bissell
  • Headquarters: New Delhi, India

Indra Mani Pandey appointed as next Ambassador & Permanent Representative of India to UN

  • Senior diplomat Indra Mani Pandey has been appointed as the next Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva.
  • Mr Pandey, a 1990 batch IFS officer is presently additional secretary in the External Affairs ministry.
  • He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

Extra Shots:

UN:

  • Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
  • Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States
  • Official languages: Arabic; Chinese; English; French; Russian; Spanish;
  • Secretary general: António Guterres

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS

RRI introduces qkdSim toolkit to ensure safety in secure quantum communication platforms

  • Researchers from Raman Research Institute (RRI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology (DST),has launched Quantum Key Distribution or QKD.
  • The qkdSim simulation toolkit aims to ensure safety in secure quantum communication platforms.

Highlights:

  • qkdSim is a unique simulation toolkit for end-to-end QKD simulation which is based on modular principles that allow it to be grown to different classes of protocols using various underpinning technologies.
  • The simulation toolkit will satisfy the recent advisories by the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure online communication via secure platforms. This comes as due to the increasing need for measures to ensure security in the virtual world as the COVID-19 confines most day to day activities to the digital space.
  • QKD will ensure the security of the key transfer process that lies in using the laws of quantum physics.
  • RRI team plans to expand the current scope of qkdSim to include entanglement based QKD protocols and experimental comparisons for the same. It will lead to a whole new software that will be highly beneficial to the experimental secure quantum communication community.
  • This software will be a foundation for the National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications developments in the country.

Scientists synthesize inorganic-organic hybrid compound that can inhibit breast, lung, liver cancer cells

  • Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science & Technology (INST), Mohali, have synthesized a novel inorganic-organic hybrid compound that can inhibit breast, lung, and liver cancer cells.
  • It is expected that this will open up new possibilities for metallodrugs.

Highlights:

  • The solid compound is based on phosphomolybdate cluster, an inorganic salt of phosphomolybdic acid.
  • The compound belongs to the Polyoxometalates (POMs) family, which had earlier been identified to have antitumor potential.
  • Scientists have recently figured out the mechanism by which the compound kills the cancer cells.
  • POMs are an evolving class of inorganic metal oxides.
  • The scientists probed into the mechanism of how the cancer cells are attacked by the compound, the team synthesized it by hydrothermal method.
  • The results showed that the hybrid solid is less toxic towards normal cells, and its antitumor activity was also found to be comparable with that of a routinely used chemotherapeutic agent.
  • So far, POMs have evolved as a promising candidate for future metallodrugs for combating cancer.

IITGn team develops AI-based tool to detect Covid-19 from chest X-ray

  • Indian Institute of Technology-Gandhinagar IITGn has developed an Artificial Intelligence-based tool to detect COVID-19 from Chest X-ray.
  • This tool can be used for quick preliminary diagnosis before the medical test.
  • The Artificial Intelligence-based tool has been developed by the researchers of the Computer Science and Engineering Department of IITGn.
  • The tool is developed by Kushpal Singh Yadav-an M.Tech student of Computer Science & Engineering under the guidance of Professor Krishna Prasad Miyapuram, Associate Professor of Cognitive Science and Computer Science at IITGn.
  • The system is now live as a web-interface on covidxray.iitgn.ac.in/.
  • Any user can upload a digital copy of the chest x-ray or CT-scan in standard image formats such as jpeg, png etc and check whether he or she is COVID-19 positive or not.
  • The format of any test image of a new person will be automatically transformed and diagnosed using the AI tool.

WEBPORTALS & APP IN NEWS

Kiren Rijiju launches “NADA App” for athletes

  • Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has launched the National Anti-Doping Agency’s first mobile app named as “NADA App”.

Highlights:

  • The recently launched mobile application aims to bridge the gap between NADA and the athletes by offering easily-accessible information on various aspects of sport, prohibited substances as well as dope-testing.
  • The NADA app is expected to act as a one-stop guide for all anti-doping and medication related information.
  • It also offers comprehensive information on commonly-prescribed medicines.
  • Athletes can also use this mobile application in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) to update their whereabouts, know about decisions from the disciplinary and appeal panels and for Dope Control Officers to record their availability for testing.

Benefits of the Mobile Application

  • Information on medicines that are commonly prescribed and used by Athletes will be available in the application
  • Information on Inadvertent use of prohibited substances that may affect the career of athletes
  • Registered Testing Pool (RTP) athletes under NADA can update their whereabouts, this will ensure a smoother and quicker process for conducting tests as per availability of Dope Control Officers
  • This will make athletes self-dependent for information on which medication or substance is to be used or not

 Extra Shots:

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is a branch of the Government of India, which administers Department of youth affairs and Department of Sports in India. Kiren Rijiju is the current Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, who is in the capacity of Minister of State.

  • Officeholder: Kiren Rijiju (MOS independent charge)
  • Founded: 27 May 2000
  • Jurisdiction: India
  • Headquarters location: New Delhi
  • Annual budget: 1,943.21 crores INR (2017-18 est., US$270 million)
  • Departments: Department of Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, Department of Youth and Sports Development

Karnataka government launches portal “Skill Connect Forum”

  • Karnataka government has launched a portal called “Skill Connect Forum” to connect job seekers with employers on a common platform.

Highlights:

  • It also provides job seekers information on available jobs.
  • The portal will bridge the gap between job seekers and the employers.
  • Any individual can register on the “Skill Connect Forum” portal by uploading their details such as qualification, skill sets and other details.
  • In the same manner, employers will also register on the portal which will match the requirement and availability.
  • If a person is unemployed, he will be imparted a skill and then enabled to get a job.

Extra Shots:

Karnataka:

  • Capital: Bengaluru
  • Chief Minister: B. S. Yediyurappa
  • Governor: Vajubhai Vala
  • National Park: Anshi NP, Bandipur NP, Bannerghatta NP, Kudremukh NP, Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarahole) NP.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

‘Legend of Suheldev’: Amish Tripathi releases new book set in 11th century India

  • Best-selling author and the Director of the Nehru Centre in London, Amish Tripathi, has released his new book of fiction titled ‘Legend of Suheldev: The King Who Saved India’.
  • The book was published by Publishers Westland Publications Pvt Ltd.
  • The book is set in 11th century India, when Mahmud of Ghazni and his Turkic army invaded the country and destroyed the Somnath temple, only to be met with a “fierce resistance” from king Suheldev.

OBITUARY

Sahitya Akademi winning Kannada writer Geetha Nagabhushan passes away at 78

  • Renowned Kannada writer Geetha Nagabhushan has passed away due to cardiac arrest. She was 78.
  • Nagabhushan was the first woman writer in Kannada literature to bag the Kendra Sahitya Akademi award, Nadoja award of Karnataka govt, as well as serve as the chairperson of Karnataka Sahitya Academy.
  • She has authored 27 novels, 50 short stories, 12 plays and two collections of poetry.

Legendary comedian Carl Reiner passes away

  • Legendary comedian, Carl Reiner passed away.
  • He was a prolific writer, comedian, director and actor.
  • He had a run as a movie director with such films as “Oh, God!” (1977) and “The Jerk” (1979).
  • He won several Emmys awards in writing and producing.

MISCELLANEOUS

DST-SERB, INSA launched photo and film competition with the theme Science through My Eyes

  • Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) are to organize a photo/painting and a one-minute-film competition.
  • The competition aims to help people go beyond their discipline and see, understand, and appreciate science around them.

Highlights:

  • The competition will foster and promote the scientific spirit, interest in research, and will encourage creative abilities.
  • The theme for the competition is ‘Science through My Eyes.’
  • Some examples of sub-themes are science in the lab, kitchen, sports, hospital, at home, or at work.
  • The creation may include any work in the above forms related to the COVID-19 virus, healthy life, geo-heritage, health, fascinating space.
  • The competition is open to Indian nationals only.
  • There is no entry fee for registration.
  • A team of two may also be made to create the work.
  • The entry can be in the name of an individual or a team of 2 individuals.
  • The entries for the participation in the event may be e-submitted anytime during 11 am on 30th June 2020 and 5 pm on July 15th, 2020.

World’s first-ever Online B.Sc. Degree in Programming and Data Science launched by IIT Madras

  • The World’s first-ever Online B.Sc. Degree in Programming and Data Science is prepared and to be offered by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.
  • The Online Course was launched through a virtual event by the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on 30th June 2020.

Highlights:

  • In three different stages, the course will be offered.
  • First, Foundation Program, after successful completion of the Foundation program the student will receive a Certificate. Second, the Diploma Programme and the third, Degree Programme.
  • For joining the Courses, a student needs to appear in the qualifier exam for which they have to fill a form and pay the fee for the qualifier exam of for which they have to fill a form and pay the fee for the qualifier exam of Rs 3000.
  • For the qualifier exam students will be provided access to 4 weeks of online lectures on 4 subjects- Mathematics, Statistics, English, and Computation Thinking.
  • At the end of 4 weeks, students will have to appear in the qualifier exam.
  • Students who secure more than 50 percent marks in the qualifier exam will be able to get themselves enrolled in the Foundation Programme.

Goa Government Allots Land to 49 MSME Units to Set up India’s First Marine Cluster

  • The Government of Goa allotted land to a consortium of 49 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME) units to set up India’s first Maritime Cluster, Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa provided 14,380 square Metres of land to set up the Common Facility centre.

Highlights:

  • The Project is aimed to create a world class facility for ship designing, ship building, ship repairers and marine equipment manufacturing.
  • The project is supported by the Union shipping ministry, Directorate General of Shipping, and Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
  • The 49 MSME units under this project will provide direct benefits to an additional 180 units.
  • The ships built in the centre will be used for local purpose and will be exported to the European and Asia-Pacific Region.

Extra Shots:

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, a branch of the Government of India, is the apex executive body for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and laws relating to micro, small and medium enterprises in India.

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