Current Affairs Today 2nd June 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 2nd June 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

1. International Sex Workers Day is observed on 2 June.
2. Telangana Day is celebrated on 2 June each year from 2014
3. Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded India’s sovereign rating one notch to the lowest investment grade (Baa3) from ”Baa2”, with negative outlook.
4. The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises has once again changed the definition of MSME.
5. Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri SVANidhi Scheme for street vendors.
6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched CHAMPIONS, the technology platform on 1 June.
7. The Government has announced that it is to provide Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to 1.5 crore dairy farmers belonging to Milk Unions and Milk producing Companies within the next two months from 1 June-31 July 2020, under a special drive.
8. Indian Energy Exchange launched Real Time Electricity Market (RTM).
9. The Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendra achieved sales up to Rs 100.40 crores in the first two months of the financial year 2020-21.
10. The Union Cabinet approved hike of Minimum Support Price of 14 Kharif crops.
11. The National Association of Software and Services Companies(NASSCOM) announced that it has delivered an end-to-end coronavirus tracking platform for Karnataka, called the Karnataka Listening Dashboard for COVID-19.
12. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launched Skill Register developed by Information Technology Department to create a sound data base of migrants, who have entered Himachal Pradesh during the lockdown in the wake of Corona pandemic.
13. Centre has approved 175 crore rupees for implementation of Jal jeevan mission in Meghalaya during 2020-21.
14. Centre has approved 812 crore rupees for implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in Odisha during 2020-21.
15. National Jal Jeevan Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti has approved the Annual Action Plan of Arunachal Pradesh to achieve 100 per cent household tap connections in the state.
16. The think tank of India, NITI Aayog organized convention on agreological and natural farming approaches in the country.
17. India is poised to emerge as the world’s largest electronics and mobile manufacturing country.
18. The Board of BEML (formerly Bharat Earth Movers Limited) in its 362nd meeting has given its approval for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MELCO to study and planning for initiating a joint venture (JV) company between BEML and MELCO.
19. Private sector lender Yes Bank Limited has acquired a 24.19% stake in Dish TV India Ltd, a company providing Direct to Home (DTH) television service in India, following invocation of 44.53 crore pledged shares due to default in payment of debt by Dish TV and some other companies.
20. RK Chaturvedi assumed charge as Secretary in the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India.
21. J&K cadre IAS, Pradip Kumar Tripathi, has taken over as Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Govt. of India.
22. Sports Authority of India (SAI), the apex national sports body of India, in association with National Sports Federations (NSF) has launched India’s 1st -ever national-level open online coaching and education programme called “Khelo India e-Pathshala” to grassroots players.
23. A research project undertaken by the team of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has helped Chilika lake in Odisha, in tripling the population of the Irrawaddy dolphins.
24. The developer team of Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne(Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne – EPFL) and ETH Zurich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich) developed the “SwissCovid”, first of its kind for digital contact tracing app utilizing the Exposure Notification API (Application Programming Interface) of Apple and Google and based on a decentralized approach to track the spread of coronavirus.
25. The Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) developed a disinfection unit called Ultra Swachh.
26. American sprinter, Bobby Joe Morrow, who won three athletics gold medals at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, has passed away. He was 84.
27. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red-colour coded warning to coastal Maharashtra and Gujarat for June 4 in view of a cyclonic storm, named ‘Nisarga’, developing in the Arabian Sea.
28. The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has approved support for research at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) (BHU) Varanasi to identify lead compounds from available and approved drugs for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug molecules.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

International Sex Workers Day is observed on 2 June

• International Sex Workers Day is observed on 2 June.
• The day aims to spread awareness about the rights of sex workers so that they too can live a life of respect.

History:

• On 2 June 1975, approximately 100 sex workers gathered at Sant-Nizier Church in Lyon, France, to express anger about their exploitative living conditions and work culture. The Church was brutally raided by the police forces on 10 June. This action became a national movement. The day is now celebrated in Europe and worldwide. The day aims to ensure they have the same rights as all other human beings do. It is expected that it will help them to tackle problems of them being exploited, abused, or trafficked.

Telangana State Formation Day celebrated on 2 June

• Telangana Day is celebrated on 2 June each year from 2014.
• The day marks the state’s bifurcation from Andhra Pradesh.
• Telangana State Formation Day 2020 marks the sixth Telangana State Formation Day.
• It is the 29th state of India after the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act was passed in the Parliament.

Highlights:

• The bill was introduced on 5 December 2013 in the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh.
• The Bill Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 was passed in the Parliament of India in February 2014.
• The bill was given assent by the President and published in the Gazette on 1 March 2014.
• Telangana state was formed officially on 2 June 2014.

Extra Shots:

Telangana:

• Founded on: 2 June 2014
• Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan
• Chief Minister: K.Chandrashekar Rao
• Capital: Hyderabad

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Moody’s downgrades India’s sovereign rating to ‘Baa3’, maintains negative outlook, revises GDP for FY21 to -4%

• Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded India’s sovereign rating one notch to the lowest investment grade (Baa3) from ”Baa2”, with negative outlook.
• ”Baa3” is the lowest investment grade, just a notch above junk status.
• Moody’s has also revised its FY21 GDP estimate for India to 4% contraction against 0% growth projected earlier.
• However, the economic growth is projected to pick up at 8.7% in FY22 and 6% in FY23.

Extra Shots:

Moody:

• CEO: Raymond W. McDaniel Jr.
• Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
• Parent organization: Moody’s Corporation
• Founder: John Moody
• Founded: 1909, New York, New York, United States

Government changes Definition of MSME

• The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises has once again changed the definition of MSME.
• Before this, the change in definition was made while the Finance Minister announced the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Package’.
• The definition of MSME is now based on “Investment (Capital) And Annual Turnover”

The new and old definition of MSME is mentioned below:

Category	New Capital	New Turnover	Old Capital	Old Turnover
Micro	1 Crore	5 Crore	25 Lakh	10 crore
Small	10 Crore	50 Crore	5 Crore	2 Crore
Medium	50 Crore	250 Crore	10 crore	5 Crore

• The turnover with respect to exports will not be counted in the limits of turnover for any category of MSME units whether micro, small or medium.
• This will help in attracting investments and creating more jobs in the MSME sector.

The government has made the following approvals related to MSME sector:

• Provisioning of Rs 20,000 crore as subordinate debt to provide equity support to the stressed MSMEs.
• This will benefit 2 lakh stressed MSMEs.
• Equity infusion of Rs. 50,000 crore for MSMEs through Fund of Funds (FoF).

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

GoI launches PM SVANidhi scheme

• Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri SVANidhi Scheme for street vendors.
• The Union cabinet has cleared the credit amount for the scheme as well.
• The PM SVANidhi or PM Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi is a credit facility scheme that will help more than 50 lakh urban and rural street vendors.
• The scheme will help the street vendors restart their livelihoods.
• Under the scheme, Rs 10,000 of credit is to be provided to street vendors.
• The street vendors shall return the amount as monthly installments within a year.
• The scheme was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman during her announcement of package of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

PM launched CHAMPIONS, a Technology Platform to empower MSMEs

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched CHAMPIONS, the technology platform on 1 June.
• The platform aims to empower Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• It is an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) based system.
• The entire ICT architecture is created in house with the help of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) at no cost.

Aim:

• CHAMPIONS portal will enhance the smaller units by solving their grievances. It also aims to encourage, support, help the MSMEs.
• It is expected to act as a real one-stop-shop solution of MSME Ministry.

CHAMPIONS:

• CHAMPIONS stand for Creation and Harmonious Application of Modern Processes for Increasing the Output and National Strength.
• The ICT based system will help the MSMEs in present difficult situations, the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose of CHAMPIONS:

• CHAMPIONS will resolve the problems of MSMEs including those of finance, raw materials, labor, regulatory permissions, etc. particularly in the COVID-19 created a difficult situation.
• CHAMPIONS will help the MSME sector to capture new opportunities including manufacturing of medical equipment and accessories like Personal protective equipment (PPEs), masks, etc and supply them in National and International markets;
• It will identify and encourage potential MSMEs who are able to withstand the current situation and can become national and international champions.
• The platform is a technology-packed control room-cum-management information system. In addition to ICT tools including telephone, internet, and video conference, the system is enabled by Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Analytics, and Machine Learning.
• It is also fully integrated on a real-time basis with GoI’s main grievances portal CPGRAMS and MSME Ministry’s own other web-based mechanisms.
• Also, the physical infrastructure is created in one of the MSME Ministry’s rooms in record time.
• A network of control rooms is created in a Hub & Spoke Model in New Delhi in the Secretary of MSME’s office.
• The spokes are located in the States in various offices and institutions of the MSME Ministry.
• So far, 66 state-level control rooms have been created and made functional.
• The control room are connected through video conference in addition to the portal of Champions.
• A detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) has been issued to the officers.
• Staff have been deployed and training has been conducted for them.

Kisan Credit Cards campaign launched for 1.5 crore dairy farmers

• The Government has announced that it is to provide Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to 1.5 crore dairy farmers belonging to Milk Unions and Milk producing Companies within the next two months from 1 June-31 July 2020, under a special drive.
• The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in association with the Department of Financial Services has issued KCC application format to all State Milk Federation and Milk Unions for implementing the same on a mission mode.

Kisan Credit Cards campaign:

• The campaign aims to provide KCC to 1.5 crore dairy farmers.
• The campaign is a part of the PM’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat package for Farmers.
• The first phase of the KCC campaign has set a target to cover all farmers who are members of dairy cooperative societies and associated with different Milk Unions and who do not have KCC.
• Farmers who already have KCC based on their land ownership can get their KCC credit limit enhanced. Interest subvention shall be available only to the extent of Rs.3 lakhs.
• Also, the general limit for KCC credit without collateral remains Rs.1.6 lakh.
• In the case of farmers whose milk is directly procured by the Milk Unions falls under tie-up arrangements between the producers and processing units without any intermediaries. The credit limits without Collateral can be up to Rs.3 lakh.
• KCC campaign will ensure more credit availability for dairy farmers associated with Milk Unions and assuring repayment of loans to banks.

Real Time Electricity Market launched by Indian Energy Exchange

• Indian Energy Exchange launched Real Time Electricity Market (RTM).
• The main aim of the launch is to help discoms plan their power requirements.

Working of the market

• The market will conduct 48 auction sessions during the day and the power will be delivered within one hour of closure of the bid session.
• The market, thus, will help distribution companies manage their power demand-supply variation.
• It will also help meet power supply needs in a better way.
• Real Time electricity market aims to allow power utilities manage their demand dynamically.
• It will help to save huge deviation-related penalties.
• Also, it integrates renewables in an effective way.
• The market will facilitate utilities reduce their dependency on deviation framework.
• This will help save huge penalties.
• The RTM will also help grid operators enhance renewables by facilitating the discoms manage their challenges of intermittency that are associated withThe RTM will help the discoms forecast and schedule green energy.
• This will help India achieve its target of 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022.

Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendra: Sales up to Rs 100 crores

• The Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendra achieved sales up to Rs 100.40 crores in the first two months of the financial year 2020-21.
• The sales were high as compared to the sales in the same two months period of 2019-20.
• The Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendra have saved Rs 800 crores through the sales of medicines in the two months of the financial year 2020-21.
• The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) are responsible for the success.
• It is the BPPI that implements Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana through the network of Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Kendra.
• Currently BPPI is actively working to fight against COVID-19.
• It is maintaining adequate stock of medicines that are under great demand such as Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin and Paracetamol.
• It also holds adequate stocks of hand sanitizers and face masks.
• BPPI also places purchase order of procurement of medicines of high demand to friendly countries.

GoI increases Minimum Support Price of 14 Kharif crops

• The Union Cabinet approved hike of Minimum Support Price of 14 Kharif crops.
• The Minimum Support Price of Paddy has been increased by Rs 53 per quintal.
• The MSP of paddy has been fixed at Rs 1,868 per quintal for the year 2020-21.
• The rates of pulses, oil seeds and cereals have also been increased.
• The MSP of cotton has been increased from Rs 5,255 per quintal to Rs 5,515 per quintal.
• The Cabinet approved the hike in prices of MSP based on the recommendation of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices.
• Also, the umbrella scheme Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Saraks Han Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) will help in providing return to farmers.

PM-AASHA

• The scheme consists of three sub-schemes namely Price Deficiency Payment Scheme, Price Support Scheme, Private Procurement and Stocklist Scheme Apart from this, the farmers are to be provided food security through PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) scheme and also through Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan yojana.

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Karnataka launches COVID-19 tracking platform built by NASSCOM

• The National Association of Software and Services Companies(NASSCOM) announced that it has delivered an end-to-end coronavirus tracking platform for Karnataka, called the Karnataka Listening Dashboard for COVID-19.
• As part of the launch, NASSCOM has provided the 1st set of dashboards to state government’s use and will add more soon.

Purpose of the platform:

• The analytics-driven platform is to assist state governments in sustainable industry recovery & helps them make informed decisions to reopen their economies in a phased manner across the state.
• The multi-faceted, open-architecture platform has various advanced Artificial intelligence(AI) technology models & allows real- time streaming of infectious data across regions and states.

Information provided by the platform:

• COVID summary- key facts useful for officials to get a quick glance of state and district level numbers;
• COVID source analysis- cases in the last 24 hours and their origin & spread analysis; Testing summary- COVID+ rates by number of tests;
• Tests by category- useful to understand the source of infections;
• Hospital capacity- bed occupancy and availability by district;
• India summary- state level summary to give details on COVID

Extra Shots:

NASSCOM:

• Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh
• Chairman: UB Pravin Rao
• President: Debjani Ghosh

Himachal Pradesh CM launches Skill Register to create a sound data base of migrants

• Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launched Skill Register developed by Information Technology Department to create a sound data base of migrants, who have entered Himachal Pradesh during the lockdown in the wake of Corona pandemic.
• interested persons can register through skillregister.hp.gov.in. this would ensure the uploading of educational qualification, skills and job requirement of the people who have returned to the State.
• This would also help in identifying skill available in the State and in analysis of skill upgradation requirements and help the industries in getting information regarding skilled manpower at a click of the button.
• This registration would be based on unique mobile number and Aadhar number and it would be intimated through SMS.
• The reports regarding skill would be prepared district wise, educational qualification wise and work experience wise.
• The skill register would be linked with the industrial houses so that the industries could get consolidated information according to their requirements.

Etra Shots:

Himachal Pradesh:

• State formed on: 25 January 1971
• Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya
• Chief Justice: Lingappa Narayana Swamy
• Chief Minister: Jai Ram Thakur
• Official language: Hindi

Centre approves 175 crore rupees for implementation of Jal jeevan mission in Meghalaya

• Centre has approved 175 crore rupees for implementation of Jal jeevan mission in Meghalaya during 2020-21.
• Jal Jeevan Mission was launched by Union Government last year aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connection to every rural household by 2024.
• Jal Shakti Ministry said, Meghalaya proposed 100 per cent tap connections to all the households by December, 2022.
• Out of five lakh 89 thousand total rural households, the State is planning to provide one lakh 80 thousand tap connections in 2020-21.

Etra Shots:

Meghalaya:

• State formed on: 21 January 1972
• Governor: Tathagata Roy
• Chief Minister: Conrad Sangma

Centre approves 812 crore rupees for implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in Odisha

• Centre has approved 812 crore rupees for implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in Odisha during 2020-21.
• Jal Shakti Ministry said, this allocation is a significant jump from last year’s allocation of 297 crore rupees.
• Out of 81 lakh rural households in Odisha, State Government has planned to provide over 16 lakh household connections in 2020-21.
• The state is planning 100 per cent household tap connections by the year 2024.
• Priority is being given for 100 per cent coverage of villages under water-scarce areas, quality-affected areas, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna villages, villages in Aspirational Districts and SC/ST dominated habitations.
• Jal Jeevan Mission encourages participation of local community in surveillance of water quality.

Extra Shots:

Odisha:

• Capital: Bhubaneswar
• Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik
• Governor: Ganeshi Lal
• National Park: Bhitarkanika NP, Simlipal NP

Ministry of Jal Shakti approves Annual Action Plan of AP to achieve 100% household tap connections

• National Jal Jeevan Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti has approved the Annual Action Plan of Arunachal Pradesh to achieve 100 per cent household tap connections in the state.
• The state proposed to provide 100 per cent tap connections to all the households by March, 2023. Centre approved 255 crore rupees for the state under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in 2020-21.
• States are given additional funds in form of performance grants based on their achievement in terms of tangible outputs – the household tap connections and commensurate financial progress.
• Out of 2.18 lakh total rural households, the state is planning to provide 77,000 tap connections in 2020-21.
• While planning, thrust is given on covering households in aspirational district, quality-affected habitations, and Sansad Adarsh Gramin Yojna villages on priority.

Extra Shots:

Arunachal Pradesh:

• Statehood day: 20 February 1987
• Governor: Brig. (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Retd.)
• Chief Minister: Pema Khandu
• Capital: Itanagar
• Districts: 25
• Official languages: English
• Literacy: 66.95%

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

NITI Aayog organizes Convention to boost Natural Farming

• The think tank of India, NITI Aayog organized convention on agreological and natural farming approaches in the country.
• The convention was attended by international experts, policy makers.
• The think tank presented current plans of India at the convention. According to NITI Aayog, Natural Farming that predominantly depends on cow dung, biomass, urine, soil aeration and mulch is indigenous system of farming in the country.
• India intends to reach 20 lakh hectares of organic farming in the country.
• India intends to reach 20 lakh hectares of organic farming in the next five years.
• Of this, 12 lakh hectares are to be brought under Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati Programme.

The following programmes were highlighted at the convention

• Paramparagat Krishi yojana, a scheme to promote organic farming was launched in 2015.
• Under the scheme, around 8 lakh farmers and 7 lakh hectares of land were brought under organic farming in the last 4 years.
• Andhra Pradesh alone has brought 2 lakh hectares of land under the organic farming by implementing the scheme.
• The other states that have taken up the scheme includes Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka.

Extra Shots:

NITI Aayog:

• Website: niti.gov.in
• Formed: 1 January 2015
• Objectives: Foster involvement and participation in the economic policy-making process by the State Governments of India
• Jurisdiction: Government of India
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Chairperson: Narendra Modi

RANKS AND INDICES

India poised to emerge as world’s largest electronics and mobile manufacturing country

• India is poised to emerge as the world’s largest electronics and mobile manufacturing country.
• Union Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad announced Production Linked Incentive Scheme, Component Manufacturing Scheme and Cluster Scheme for development of the electronics manufacturing sector.
• The three new schemes are expected to attract substantial investments, increase production of mobile phones and their parts to around 10 lakh crore by 2025.
• It will also generate around five lakh direct and 15 lakh indirect jobs.
• He unveiled the historic roadmap for setting up of large number of electronic and mobile manufacturing units in the country.
• India’s global share in electronics has risen from 1.3 per cent in 2012 to three per cent in 2018 and from just two mobile manufacturing factories, the country has now 200 such units.
• The country has become the second largest manufacturer of mobile phones in the world the government will ensure that the country emerges as a leading electronic manufacturing hub where Global and local companies will work together to help drive the growth factor.

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

Board of BEML approved signing of MoU with MELCO as a part of Expression of Interest (EoI)

• The Board of BEML (formerly Bharat Earth Movers Limited) in its 362nd meeting has given its approval for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MELCO to study and planning for initiating a joint venture (JV) company between BEML and MELCO.
• This approval is on the lines of invitation of BEML regarding Expression of Interest (EoI) for Manufacturing, Partnerships under “Make in India” policy.
• The JV will be for manufacturing of certain propulsion systems and other railway electrical equipment utilised for electric multiple units for Indian Metro Rail Projects, Indian Railway Projects and other products.

Extra Shots:

Melco

• President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO):Takeshi Sugiyama
• Headquarter:Tokyo, Japan

BEML:

• Headquarter: Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Chairman and Managing Director (CMD): Deepak Kumar Hota

ACQUISITION & MERGER

YES Bank picks 24.19% stake in Dish TV by invoking pledged shares

• Private sector lender Yes Bank Limited has acquired a 24.19% stake in Dish TV India Ltd, a company providing Direct to Home (DTH) television service in India, following invocation of 44.53 crore pledged shares due to default in payment of debt by Dish TV and some other companies.
• It is to be noted that as of March 31, 2019, Dish TV’s debt stood at Rs 2,758 crore.

Dish TV promoters share after the deal:

• Following the transaction, Dish TV promoters led by Jawahar Goel will only have just 30.37% stake in the company.
• But before as on March 31, 2020 they owned 54.56% stake in the company, out of which over 93% was pledged with the lenders.
• This is the 6th such transaction done by Yes Bank to pick majority stake in a non-banking entity after CG Power, Cox & Kings, Reliance Infrastructure, Reliance Power and Sical Logistics, due to invocation of pledge against shares of a company that had availed loans from the bank and later failed to repay the dues.

Extra Shots:

Yes Bank Limited:

• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• MD & CEO: Prashant Kumar
• Tagline: Experience our Expertise.

Dish TV India Ltd:

• Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh
• CEO: Anil Dua

APPOINTMENT IN NEWS

RK Chaturvedi assumed charge as Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals

• RK Chaturvedi assumed charge as Secretary in the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India.
• Chaturvedi has replaced P.Raghavendra Rao who superannuated on 31 May 2020.

RK Chaturvedi:

• RK Chaturvedi is a 1987-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre. Prior to this, he served as an Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor in the Ministry of Culture. He has worked as Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and as DG in the National Skill Development Authority (NSDA).

Extra Shots:

The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in India is the federal ministry with administrative purview over three departments namely:- Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals Department of Fertilisers Department of Pharmaceuticals The Ministry is headed by the Minister of Chemicals and fertilisers. D. V.

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Jurisdiction: India
• Annual budget: 71,897 crores INR (2020-21 est., US$10 billion)
• Departments: Department of Pharmaceuticals, Department of Fertilizers, Department of Chemicals and Petro-Chemicals
• Officeholders: Rao Inderjit Singh (MOS independent charge), Mansukh L. Mandaviya (Minister of State)

Pradip Kumar becomes new Secretary in Ministry of Steel

• J&K cadre IAS, Pradip Kumar Tripathi, has taken over as Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Govt. of India.
• Prior to this, Shri Tripathi has been posted as Special Secretary and Establishment Officer in Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

Extra Shots:

The Ministry of Steel is an executive branch agency of the Government of India that is responsible for formulating all policies regarding steel production, distribution and pricing in India.

• Departments: Kudremukh Iron Ore Company
• Founded: 2017
• Jurisdiction: India
• Headquarters: Udyog Bhawan, Dr. Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi – 110 011
• Annual budget: 47.9 crores INR (2018-19 est., US$6.7 million)
• Officeholders: Birender Singh (Minister), Vishnu Deo Sai (Minister of State)

SPORT CURRENT AFFAIRS

SAI in collaboration with NSF launches India’s 1st online coaching programme ‘Khelo India e-Pathshala‘

• Sports Authority of India (SAI), the apex national sports body of India, in association with National Sports Federations (NSF) has launched India’s 1st -ever national-level open online coaching and education programme called “Khelo India e-Pathshala” to grassroots players.

Highlights:

• Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju and Union Minister of Tribal Affairs and Archery Association of India president Arjun Munda have inaugurated the programme via a webinar.
• A total of 21 games are included in this program, where veteran players showcase their technical skills and talk to young players and help them improve their technical and overall game.
• The 21 games include, athletics, archery, boxing, cycling, fencing, football, gymnastics, hockey, judo, kayaking & canoeing, kabaddi, para games, rowing, shooting, taekwondo, table tennis, Volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.

Extra Shots:

Sports Authority of India (SAI):

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Director General: Sandip Pradhan

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

IIT Madras Researches Uses Dredging Methodology to help triple Irrawaddy Dolphin’s population in Odisha’s Chilika Lake

• A research project undertaken by the team of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has helped Chilika lake in Odisha, in tripling the population of the Irrawaddy dolphins.
• Chilika lake is Asia’s largest and world’s second largest brackish water body and home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals.
• The researchers developed a dredging methodology for enhancement of fishery resources and the increase of population of Irrawaddy dolphin with minimum impact on the lake ecosystem.
• Dredging is a four-part process consisting of the excavation (loosening or dislodging) of the material from the bottom of the river, bringing the material to the surface (together extraction), transportation and disposal.
• As a result, the fish production increased 7-fold and the population of highly threatened Irrawaddy dolphin also increased, thus promoting ecotourism which immensely benefitted the local fishers
• The team carried out the restoration work in 6 months at a cost of Rs 10 crore and the lake is now off the threatened list.

Swiz launches world’s first app “SwissCovid” with Exposure Notification API of Apple and Google

• The developer team of Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne(Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne – EPFL) and ETH Zurich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich) developed the “SwissCovid”, first of its kind for digital contact tracing app utilizing the Exposure Notification API (Application Programming Interface) of Apple and Google and based on a decentralized approach to track the spread of coronavirus.
• On permitting the notification system the Exposure Notification system generates a random ID for the device to protect the users location and identity which changes every 10-20 min.
• The phones will exchange these IDs with the other devices via bluetooth and check with the random IDs with COVID-19 positive cases in the database and if any ID matches the app will notify the further instructions from the health authorities.
• The access for the API is requested by 22 countries including the states in the US (Alabama, South Carolina, Virginia, North Dakota).

Extra Shots:

EPFL:

• President: Martin Vetterli
• Location: Switzerland

ETH Zurich:

• President: Joël François Mesot(Joel Mesot)
• Secretary General: Katharina Poiger Ruloff
• Location: Switzerland

“Ultra Swachh” Booth developed by DRDO to disinfect PPEs

• The Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) developed a disinfection unit called Ultra Swachh.
• The unit is used to disinfect articles such as electronic items, Personal Protective Equipment, fabrics, etc.
• The Unit uses an advanced oxidative process called Ozonated Space Technology to disinfect the items.
• The device also uses Ozone Sealant Technology that involves trapping of Ozone.
• The Ultra Swachh Unit houses a catalytic converter that makes it environment friendly.
• It also holds several safety features such as door interlocks, emergency shut down, delay cycle, dual doors, leak monitors, etc.
• The system complies to International Standards of Industrial, Personal, Occupations and Environmental Safety.

Ozone as disinfectant

• Ozone is an oxidizing compound that rapidly oxidizes organic materials, manganese, iron, etc. Ozone is highly unstable and oxidises to form oxygen within 15 to 20 seconds. This property of ozone is used in disinfection.
• Because of its high oxidization potential, ozone disinfects or rather oxidises cell components. When the cellular wall or membrane of a cell gets damaged, the cell falls apart. This process is called lysis. It is through this process, ozone oxidises or kills microorganisms.

OBITUARY

Former Olympic Sprint Champion Bobby Morrow of America Passes Away at 84

• American sprinter, Bobby Joe Morrow, who won three athletics gold medals at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, has passed away. He was 84.
• Known as ‘The San Benito Bullet’, Morrow won the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in Melbourne, becoming the first man only after fellow American Jesse Owens (1936) to win sprint treble.
• Carl Lewis (1984) and Usain Bolt (2012 and 2016) are the only other men to win the three sprint titles at the same Games.
• Marrow was named Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of the Year” in 1956 and set 11 ratified world records during his career.

MISCELLANEOUS

IMD Reports ‘Cyclone Nisarga’ over Arabian Sea Likely to hit Maharashtra and Gujarat on 3 June

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red-colour coded warning to coastal Maharashtra and Gujarat for June 4 in view of a cyclonic storm, named ‘Nisarga’, developing in the Arabian Sea.
• As per IMD’s data, the low-pressure area developing currently over east central Arabian Sea and the Lakshadweep Islands is likely to intensify into a severe cyclone and cross the north Maharashtra and south Gujarat coasts on June 3.
• Cyclone Nisarga will bring strong winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall to coastal Maharashtra and Gujarat.
• Unlike cyclone Amphan, which was categorised as an extremely severe cyclonic storm that devastated parts of West Bengal, the cyclone Nisarga is expected to be less intense when it hits the coast.

Extra Shots:

IMD:

• Headquarters location: New Delhi
• Founder: Government of India
• Founded: 1875
• Agency executive: Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology
• Jurisdiction: India
• Parent organization: Ministry of Earth Sciences

IIT BHU to re-purpose approved drugs from DrugBank database to treat COVID-19 disease

• The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has approved support for research at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) (BHU) Varanasi to identify lead compounds from available and approved drugs for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug molecules.

Highlights:

• Currently, the available treatments are focused only on symptomatic relief to help the patient overcome the infection.
• It is expected that the repurposing of pre-existing drugs to help circumvent both the time and money required to find an effective cure.
• The IIT (BHU) researchers are working on developing new drug candidates against SARS-CoV-2 by exploring DrugBank.
• DrugBank is a database of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug compounds.
• This database will be used for searching drugs against SARS-CoV-2 database compounds as an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 main protease, a key enzyme required for SARS-CoV-2 assembly and multiplication.
• Extensive computational and experimental studies will be carried out to identify an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 main protease.
• From the available crystal structure of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, a structure-based inhibitor design will be done by the researchers.
• The researchers will experimentally validate the designed inhibitor(s) on recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Protein will be carried out.
• Various inhibitor parameters will be calculated to establish the effectiveness of the inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro enzyme function.
• The study is based on the fact that the enzyme SARS-CoV-2 Mpro is key for processing and polyprotein for virus assembly, the inhibition of this key protein can have an anti-viral effect.
  

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