Current Affairs Today 9th June 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 9th June 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

  1. The Government of India has allowed taxpayers to fill their NIL GST monthly reurn form through SMS.
  2. According to World Bank, India’s economy will shrink by 3.2 per cent in the current fiscal.
  3. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), launched its flagship programme Turant Customs, at Bengaluru and Chennai.
  4. National Green Tribunal has directed Gujarat based chemical company Yashashvi Rasayan Private Ltd to deposit Rs. 25 crore.
  5. The Government of India has allocated Rs 1,01,500 crores under the MGNREGA programme in the year 2020-21 so far.
  6. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 18th Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for the Union Territories (UTs) of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh through a Video Conference on 8 June.
  7. The Tamil Nadu Government has scrapped public examinations for the Tenth Standard this year due to the looming Covid-19 situation.
  8. Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh has inaugurated “Plant Health Clinic” at the Directorate of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Imphal.
  9. The state cabinet of Odisha has adopted “Bande Utklala Janani” or Glory to mother Utkala as the anthem of Odisha through video-conferencing.
  10. The West Bengal government on Monday announced a hike in the salary and stipend of junior doctors, house staff and interns of state-run hospitals to boost their morale during the crisis of coronavirus outbreak.
  11. In an innovative move aimed at helping passengers travel safely during the Covid-19 pandemic, the first automated Mask and Sanitizer Dispenser (MSD) machine was commissionedby a Delhi based vendor in the East Central Railways.
  12. Madhya Pradesh has started a plantation drive named “Thank Mom” on the premises of its Social Justice and Disabled Welfare Directorate on World Environment Day.
  13. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has started Yoga practice for its officers to make them physically and mentally fit at a time when Coronavirus is spreading rapidly in the country.
  14. The Health Ministry of South-Pacific nation, New Zealand has declared that the nation has become free from “Coronavirus”.
  15. The World Bank in its latest Global Economic Prospect downgraded its projection of growth of India by -9%.
  16. India and Denmark signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Indo-Denmark Energy Cooperation to develop cooperation in the power sector.
  17. Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) has entered into an MoU with Breathe Applied Sciences for Conversion of Carbon dioxide to clean fuels such as methanol and other useful chemicals on large scale.
  18. Tech Mahindra has signed a joint declaration with UN Global Compact and hence joined 155 global companies in calling for policies to build resilience against future shocks by supporting the activities targeted to hold global temperature rise to within 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, in order to reach net-zero emissions before 2050.
  19. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has collaborated with non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to push sales in the rural areas where demand recovery is expected to be quicker than urban areas.
  20. The J&K Government today ordered that Hashmat Ali Yatoo, Managing Director, J&K Handicrafts (S&E) Corporation shall hold the charge of Managing Director Jammu & Kashmir Handloom and Handicrafts Corporation.
  21. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has designed developed and inducted an Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation (ARPIT).
  22. The Union Minister of India Shri Jitendra Singh recently launched COVID BEEP, the first physiological parameter monitoring system of our country for COVID-19 patient.
  23. Online waste exchange website of Andhra Pradesh Environment Management Corporation (APEMC) has been launched by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
  24. “Raj Kaushal Portal” and “Online Shramik Employment Exchange” has been launched by the Rajasthan Goverment.
  25. Karnataka Revenue Minister R.Ashoka launched Meghasandesha App & Varunamitra web portal to provide real-time information and alerts on weather, rainfall, flooding in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike(BBMP) jurisdiction.
  26. Former Union minister Arjun Charan Sethi died in a hospital due to a brief illness.
  27. Aimed at enhancing farmer income, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) and Government of Himachal Pradesh have entered into a strategic partnership to boost cultivation of Saffron and Heeng in the country.
  28. Eastern Indian education sector major Techno India Group on Monday kicked off a pan-India hackathon to moot and develop innovative technology solutions that would thrive in a post-Covid world.
  29. Flipkart has launched a voice assistant in its grocery store Supermart to enable consumers discover and buy products easily using voice commands.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

GoI facilitates filling of NIL GST Return through SMS

  • The Government of India has allowed taxpayers to fill their NIL GST monthly reurn form through SMS.
  • This will improve ease of GST compliance to more than 22 lakh taxpayers.
  • The facility of filing the NIL form through SMS has been made available in GSTN portal. The portal also allows the users to track their returns.

NIL GST return:

  • The GST return has to be filed by every registered person irrespective of business profits. If there are no invoices issued in a month then NIL GST return is filed.
  • The NIL GST is filed when a registered GST payer has not turned out taxable supplies for which the return is to be prepared.

Extra Shots:

GST:

  • The GST is the single tax imposed on goods and services. The GST bill was first introduced in 2014 as the Constitution (122nd) Amendment bill.

 The major provisions include

  • Article 246A: State have powers to tax goods and services.
  • Article 279A: GST Council is formed by the President to govern GST. It is chaired by the Union Finance Minister.

India’s economy to contract by 3.2 per cent in fiscal year 2020/21: World Bank

  • According to World Bank, India’s economy will shrink by 3.2 per cent in the current fiscal.
  • The Washington-based multilateral lender said that the COVID-19 pandemic and the multi-phased lockdown imposed to curb its spread has resulted in a devastating blow to the Indian economy.
  • In its latest edition of the Global Economic Prospect, the World Bank downgraded its projection of India by a massive negative nine per cent.
  • In India, growth is estimated to have slowed to 4.2 per cent in the fiscal year 2019/20 (the year ending in March-2020) and output is projected to contract by 3.2 per cent in fiscal year 2020/21, when the impact of COVID-19 will largely materialise.

Extra Shots:

World Bank:

  • Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
  • President: David Malpass
  • Parent organization: World Bank Group
  • Membership: 189 countries (IBRD); 173 countries (IDA)
  • Purpose: Economic development

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

CBIC launches its flagship programme ‘Turant Customs’ at Bengaluru & Chennai

  • Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), launched its flagship programme Turant Customs, at Bengaluru and Chennai.

Highlights:

  • This is a giant leap forward to leverage technology for faster Customs clearance of imported goods.
  • Importers will now get their goods cleared from Customs after a faceless assessment is done remotely by the Customs officers located outside the port of import.
  • Now, the goods imported at Chennai may be assessed by the Customs officers located at Bengaluru and vice versa, as assigned by the Customs’ automated system.
  • Turant Customs is a mega reform for the ease of doing business.
  • The start of Turant Customs at Bengaluru and Chennai will be the first phase of the All India roll out which would get completed by 31st December this year.
  • The first phase will cover imports of Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics machineries at the ports, airports and ICDs of Bengaluru and Chennai.
  • Turant Customs will benefit the importers by eliminating routine interface with the Customs officers and providing uniformity in assessment across the country.

Extra Shots:

CBIC:  Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs

  • Chairperson: M. Ajit Kumar
  • Elected officer responsible: Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister of India
  • Founded: 1 January 1964
  • Governing body: Government of India
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Subsidiary: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence

NGT imposes Rs. 25 crore penalty on Gujarat’s Yashashvi Rasayan Pvt Ltd

  • National Green Tribunal has directed Gujarat based chemical company Yashashvi Rasayan Private Ltd to deposit Rs. 25 crore.
  • NGT has imposed this penalty for the incident of blast at the company after the blast in Dahej plant.
  • The fire had spread rapidly and also damaged the second plant in the factory.

Extra Shots:

NGT:

  • Committee report: 24 November 2009
  • Enacted by: Parliament of India
  • Enacted: 5 May 2010
  • Bill published on: 31 July 2009

Highest Allocation to MGNREGA Programme

  • The Government of India has allocated Rs 1,01,500 crores under the MGNREGA programme in the year 2020-21 so far.
  • This is the highest provision of funds allocated for the scheme since its launch.
  • The Government of India has already released Rs 31,493 crores. So far 6.69 crore persons have been offered work under the scheme.
  • In May 2020, Rs 2.51crores was spent for the scheme per day.
  • Under the scheme, the focus is given to irrigation, water conservation, horticulture.
  • The scheme also focuses on beneficiary works that promote livelihood.
  • The GoI increased the wages under the scheme from Rs 182 to Rs 202 per day.

Extra Shots:

MGNREGA : Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act 2005, is an Indian labour law and social security measure that aims to guarantee the ‘right to work’. This act was passed in September 2005.

  • Official website: nrega.nic.in
  • Launch year: 2006
  • Sector: Rural Employment
  • Launched by (prime minister): Manmohan Singh
  • Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development
  • Status: In force

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated CAT Bench at Jammu

  • Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 18th Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for the Union Territories (UTs) of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh through a Video Conference on 8 June.

Highlights:

  • The setting up of CAT Bench of Jammu will deal exclusively with service matters of government employees.
  • It will reduce the burden of various Courts and will also provide to the persons covered by the Administrative Tribunals speedy relief in respect of their grievances and service matters.
  • All the 3 important agencies of DoPT namely Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Central Information Commission (CIC), and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) are now operational in UTs of J&k and Ladakh.
  • CIC is currently hearing the Right to Information (RTI) Act applications of applicants from the UTs of J&K and Ladakh.

Extra Shots:

Jammu & Kashmir:

  • Capitals- Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
  • Lt Governor- Girish Chandra Murmu
  • National Parks: City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park, Dachigam National Park, Hemis National Park, Kishtwar National Park
  • Wildlife Sanctuaries: Baltal-Thajwas WLS, Changthang Cold Desert WLS, Gulmarg WLS, Jasrota WLS, Karakoram (Nubra Shyok) WLS etc

Tamil Nadu scrapps public examinations for Tenth Standard this year

  • The Tamil Nadu Government has scrapped public examinations for the Tenth Standard this year due to the looming Covid-19 situation.
  • In an order, the government has said all the students have been declared promoted to the next classes.
  • The scores of the students will be assessed with 80 percent weightage for the average marks obtained in the Quarterly and Half Yearly examinations and 20 per cent on the attendance.

Extra Shots:

Tamilnadu

  • Capital: Chennai
  • Chief Minister: Edappadi K.Palanisamy
  • Governor: Banwarilal Purohit
  • Chief Justice of Madras High Court: Vijaya Kamlesh Tahilramani
  • National Park: Guindy NP,Gulf of Mannar Marine NP, Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) NP,             Mudumalai NP, Mukurthi NP.

Manipur CM N. Biren Singh inaugurates “Plant Health Clinic”

  • Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh has inaugurated “Plant Health Clinic” at the Directorate of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Imphal.
  • The aim to open the clinic is to boost the economic growth of Manipur through agriculture and horticulture.
  • Along with the clinic, the Chief Minister also launched a mobile soil testing laboratory van.
  • The state government has decided to give more emphasis on agriculture and horticulture sectors in this hour of the pandemic COVID-19.
  • The initiative taken up by the department to set up such a plant clinic will provide plant health diagnostic services to farmers.

Extra Shots:

Manipur:

  • Capital: Imphal
  • Chief Minster: N. Biren Singh
  • Governor: Najma Heptulla
  • Literacy Rate: 76.94%

Odisha cabinet gives state anthem status to “Bande Utkala Janani”

  • The state cabinet of Odisha has adopted “Bande Utklala Janani” or Glory to mother Utkala as the anthem of Odisha through video-conferencing.
  • The anthem has been written by Kantakabi Laxmikanta Mohapatra in 1912.
  • In 1994 the Assembly of Odisha was set on to sing “Bande Utkala Janani” at the end of every session and considered to make it the anthem of the state.
  • The song reflects the glory and natural beauty of Odisha.

Extra Shots:

Odisha:

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

West Bengal hikes salary of junior doctors, interns amid COVID-19 pandemic

  • The West Bengal government on Monday announced a hike in the salary and stipend of junior doctors, house staff and interns of state-run hospitals to boost their morale during the crisis of coronavirus outbreak.
  • Salary hike is a “token of recognition and appreciation of the selfless work done by the doctors”.
  • The hike will be effective from January 1 this year.
  • The interns will now get a monthly stipend of Rs 28,050, a hike of Rs 4,425, while a house staff will get Rs 5,367 more to receive a remuneration of Rs 43,758 a month.
  • Post-graduate trainees in the first, second, and third years will now get monthly remunerations of Rs 43,758, Rs 47,124, and Rs 50,490 respectively.
  • The minister said the increased stipend of first-year post-doctoral trainees will be Rs 53,856 a month, while that of the second-year and third-year trainees will be Rs 57,222 and Rs 60,588.

Extra Shots:

West Bengal:

  • Established on: 26 January 1950
  • Capital: Kolkata
  • Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar
  • Chief Minister: Mamata Banerjee

Machine to dispense mask and sanitizer installed at Patna railway station

  • In an innovative move aimed at helping passengers travel safely during the Covid-19 pandemic, the first automated Mask and Sanitizer Dispenser (MSD) machine was commissionedby a Delhi based vendor in the East Central Railways.
  • This is the first in the ECR zone at Patna junction and the second in Indian Railways after the first such machine was installed recently at Nagpur railway station on May 18.
  • The MSD machine has been commissioned first at Patna junction’s platform number one, near the main entrance.

About the Machine:

  • This machine has an in-built touchscreen display facility to display the price of the products.
  • The vending machine has an automated system to accept both coins and the paper currency of different denominations and returning the balance amount after deducting the fixed prices of items ordered by the passengers for purchasing.
  • It has capacity of vending 48 different items.
  • As of now, the masks of various safety qualities and the bottle of hand sanitizers of travel-size have been put for automated vending the price list of every item has been displayed on the body of machine for the knowledge of passengers.

Purpose:

  • The machine will help the passengers, who either come to board or pass through the Patna junction by trains, to get the masks or hand sanitizers at affordable prices through the machine.
  • This would be of great help to especially all those passengers, who come to the station or those on board in the trains and have forgotten to bring the mask and sanitizer during the prevailing outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic.

Extra Shots:

Bihar

  • Capital: Patna
  • Chief Minister: Nitish Kumar
  • Governor: Phagu Chauhan
  • Literacy Rate: 63.82%

Madhya Pradesh starts a plantation drive named “Thank Mom”

  • Madhya Pradesh has started a plantation drive named “Thank Mom” on the premises of its Social Justice and Disabled Welfare Directorate on World Environment Day.
  • As per the instruction from Commissioner Renu Tiwari, a variety of plants such as Neem, Guava, Mango, Moonlight, Parijat and Tulsi were planted with a plate in the name of each employee’s mother.
  • On the theme ‘Time for Nature’, online and offline programs were organized in all the districts to focus on conservation of biodiversity across the state.
  • Each employee has been insisted to plant one tree in a year and they should take care of their plant.
  • Essay, painting & discussion among others were organized online to raise awareness on environmental protection in different sections of the society.

Extra Shots:

Madhya Pradesh:

  • Capital: Bhopal
  • Chief Minister: Kamal Nath
  • Governor: Lalji Tandon
  • National Park: Bandhavgarh NP, Fossil NP, Kanha NP, Madhav NP, Panna NP, Pench NP, Sanjay NP, Satpura NP

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Dhaka Metropolitan Police starts Yoga practice for its officers

  • The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has started Yoga practice for its officers to make them physically and mentally fit at a time when Coronavirus is spreading rapidly in the country.
  • A Yoga session was organized on Monday with about 100 police officers participating in various exercises and activities in Dhaka.
  • Over the course of time about 1,200 police personnel will participate in the Yoga sessions organized by the DMP.

Extra Shots:

Bangladesh (Capital/Currency): Dhaka/Taka

  • Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
  • Official Language: Bengali

New Zealand declares itself free from “Coronavirus”

  • The Health Ministry of South-Pacific nation, New Zealand has declared that the nation has become free from “Coronavirus”.
  • The announcement was made when the last person who was being monitored for coronavirus was released from isolation and regarded as recovered.
  • Hence, New Zealand has announced to lift all the coronavirus measures that were implemented in the country and move to national alert level 1 from midnight on 9 June 2020.
  • New Zealand achieved this milestone after 75 days of restrictions including about seven weeks of a strict lockdown during which most businesses were shut and everyone except essential workers had to stay at home.

Extra Shots:

New Zealand (Capital/Currency): Wellington/ New Zealand dollar

  • Prime Minister: Jacinda Ardern
  • Official Languages: English, Maori

RANKS AND INDICES

‘Global Economic Prospects 2020’ of World Bank

  • The World Bank in its latest Global Economic Prospect downgraded its projection of growth of India by -9%.
  • However, the World Bank believes that Indian growth is to bounce back in 2021.
  • The World Bank says that the growth of India has slowed by 4.2% in 2019-20. The other international rating agencies such as Fitch ratings, Moody’s Investor Service, S&P Global Ratings have all predicted India’s growth rate as4% to 5% in the year 2020-21. According to Crisil, this is India’s fourth economic recession since independence.

Key Findings:

 The Key findings of the report about India are as follows

  • The report says that the Government of India has been purchasing government bonds to ease financial conditions.
  • The Indian Government has increased its spending to contain COVID-19. This has been done through: Wage support, Deferral in tax payments, Cash transfer to lower-income households, Loan and liquidity support to small businesses and financial institutions
  • The report says that in the South Asian region, Pakistan and Afghanistan are to experience contractions in the year 2020.
  • Bangladesh is expected to to grow at 1.6% and Nepal is expected to grow at 1.8%.
  • India is the fifth worst hit nations in the world after USA, Brazil, Russia and UK.

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

India, Denmark sign MOU to develop cooperation in the power sector

  • India and Denmark signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Indo-Denmark Energy Cooperation to develop cooperation in the power sector.
  • The MoU was signed between the Ministry of Power, India, and the Ministry for Energy, Utilities, and Climate, Denmark.
  • The MoU was signed by Mr. Sanjiv Nandan Sahai, Secretary (Power) from India and Mr. Freddy Svane, Ambassador of Denmark to India from Denmark.

MoU Highlights:

  • Under the MoU, a strong, deep, and long-term co-operation between two countries in the power sector will be developed on the basis of equality, reciprocity, and mutual benefit.
  • The MoU will establish collaboration in areas like offshore wind, long term energy planning, forecasting, flexibility in the grid, consolidation of grid codes to integrate and operate efficiently variable generation options, flexibility in the power purchase agreements, incentivize power plant flexibility, variability in renewable energy production, etc.
  • The Indian electricity market would benefit from cooperation with Denmark in all the aspects of power.
  • To implement the agreement, a Joint Working Group (JWG) will be established under the MoU.
  • The JWG will be co-chaired by Joint Secretary level officials.
  • JWG will report to a Steering Committee, jointly chaired by the Secretary level officer from both sides.
  • GoI aims to take the necessary steps to encourage and promote strategic and technical co-operation in the power sector for mutual benefit.

Extra Shots:

Denmark (Capital/Currency): Copenhagen/ Danish krone

  • Prime Minister: Mette Frederiksen
  • Official Language: Danish

JNCASR signs MoU with Breathe Applied Sciences for Conversion of Carbon dioxide to clean fuels

  • Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) has entered into an MoU with Breathe Applied Sciences for Conversion of Carbon dioxide to clean fuels such as methanol and other useful chemicals on large scale.
  • Under the agreed terms 300 kilogram of Carbon dioxide will be converted to useful chemicals per day.
  • This will be scaled up to 500 tons after one year. Companies like Tata Steel, and Coal India Limited are in discussion with the Institute for potential to develop the developed technology.
  • The transfer of technology from the Institute to Breathe Applied Sciences and it’s further application on Industrial level will add to the remedial solutions to address environmental issues due to global warming.

Tech Mahindra signs UN Global Compact Initiative to curtail emissions

  • Tech Mahindra has signed a joint declaration with UN Global Compact and hence joined 155 global companies in calling for policies to build resilience against future shocks by supporting the activities targeted to hold global temperature rise to within 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, in order to reach net-zero emissions before 2050.
  • Tech Mahindra seeks to reduce carbon footprint and emissions by moving towards a zero-carbon resilient economy.
  • It will achieve its objective with the use of new-age technologies such as internet of things, artificial intelligence and blockchain.
  • These 155 global companies from across 34 sectors have a combined market capitalization of more than $2.4 trillion, representing five million employees.
  • The business voices of the above signatories will be convened by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and its business ambition for 1.5°C campaign partners, the UN Global Compact and the We Mean Business coalition.

Extra Shots:

Tech Mahindra:

  • CEO: C. P. Gurnani
  • Headquarters: Pune
  • Parent organization: Mahindra Group
  • Founder: Anand Mahindra

The United Nations Global Compact is a non-binding United Nations pact to encourage businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, and to report on their implementation.

  • Headquarters location: New York, New York, United States
  • Founded: 26 July 2000
  • Head: Lise Kingo
  • Type of business: Framework and Mechanism
  • Subsidiaries: Nilfisk, UN Global Compact Network Korea

Maruti partners with NBFCs to push sales in rural markets

  • Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has collaborated with non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to push sales in the rural areas where demand recovery is expected to be quicker than urban areas.
  • More than 35% of Maruti’s total sales come from rural markets.
  • The New Delhi-based vehicle maker has tied up with Cholamandalam Vehicle Finance Ltd, Mahindra Finance Ltd and others to offer lucrative schemes to prospective customers in the rural markets.
  • Most NBFCs operate in the rural areas where banks are either not present or too cautious to extend credit.
  • Under the schemes offered as part of the tie-up with NBFCs, a customer may not have to make monthly payments in the first two to three months or pay monthly instalments of less than Rs1,000 per lakh of credit extended, for the first year, which may increase progressively with each passing year.

Extra Shots:

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd

  • Parent organization: Suzuki
  • CEO: Kenichi Ayukawa
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Founder: Government of India

APPOINTMENT IN NEWS

Hashmat Ali Yatoo gets charge of MD J&K Handloom and Handicrafts Corp

  • The J&K Government today ordered that Hashmat Ali Yatoo, Managing Director, J&K Handicrafts (S&E) Corporation shall hold the charge of Managing Director Jammu & Kashmir Handloom and Handicrafts Corporation.
  • Pertinently, Jammu & Kashmir Handloom and Handicrafts Corporation, has been formed by merging erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir Handloom Development Corporation and Jammu & Kashmir Handicrafts (S&E) Corporation.

DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS

IAF inducts Indigenous Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation

  • The Indian Air Force (IAF) has designed developed and inducted an Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation (ARPIT).
  • This pod will be utilized for the evacuation of critical patients with infectious diseases including the COVID-19 from high altitude areas, isolated and remote places.

Highlight:

  • The first prototype was developed at 3 BRD AF.
  • ARPIT has undergone various modifications.
  • The prototype is in line with Atmanirbhar Bharat and hence only indigenous materials have been used to fabricate this pod.
  • The cost of ARPIT is Rs.60,000 only, which is very less as compared to the imported systems costing up to Rs.60 lakh.
  • The system has been developed as a lightweight isolation system made from aviation certified material.
  • It has a transparent and durable cast Perspex for enhanced patient visibility which is larger, higher, and wider than the existing models.
  • The isolation system caters for a suitable number of air exchanges, integration of medical monitoring instruments, and ventilation to an intubated patient.
  • ARPIT generates high constant negative pressure in the isolation chamber for the prevention of infection risk to aircrew, ground crew, and health care workers involved in air transportation.
  • It utilizes High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) H-13 class filters and supports invasive ventilation using Transport Ventilator.
  • Currently, the IAF is inducting a total of 7 ARPITs.
  • Design requirements are based on the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH), and Centre for Disease Control (CDC), USA.

Extra Shots:

IAF: Indian Air Force

  • Helicopter: Dhruv, Chetak, Cheetah, Mi-8, Mi-17, Rudra, Mi-26, Mi-25/35, Apache AH-64E, CH-47 Chinook
  • Founded: 8 October 1932, India
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Attack: Jaguar, Harpy
  • Role: Aerial warfare
  • Fighters: Dassault Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Dassault Mirage 2000, Mikoyan MiG-29, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, HAL Tejas

WEBPORTALS & APPS IN NEWS

Union Minister Jitendra Singh launches “COVID BEEP” app for COVID-19

  • The Union Minister of India Shri Jitendra Singh recently launched COVID BEEP, the first physiological parameter monitoring system of our country for COVID-19 patient.
  • “COVID BEEP” stands for Continuous Oxygenation & Vital Information Detection Biomed ECIL ESIC Pod.

Highlights:

  • It is the first indigenous wireless cost-effective parameter monitoring system.
  • The COVID BEEP was developed by IIT Hyderabad and ESIC Medical College Hyderabad.
  • It will greatly reduce transmission risk as it will help save resources such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
  • The COVID BEEP incorporated non-invasive blood pressure monitoring, ECG monitoring and also respiratory monitoring.
  • The COVID BEEP has incorporated NIBP (non-invasive blood pressure) monitoring, ECG (electrocardiogram) monitoring and the respiratory rate.
  • Apart from these four vital signs, the fifth vital signs include pain, menstrual cycle, blood glucose level and oxygen saturation.
  • The sixth vital sign refers to end tidal carbon dioxide, shortness of breath, Gait speed (walking speed) or delirium. Delirium is the disturbed state of mind that occurs due to intoxication, fever or restlessness.

Extra Shots:

ESIC:

  • Director General: Ms. Anuradha Prasad
  • Headquarters: New Delhi

ECIL

  • CMD: Rear Admiral Sanjay Chaubey (Retd.)
  • Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana

Andhra Pradesh launches online waste exchange website “APEMC”

  • Online waste exchange website of Andhra Pradesh Environment Management Corporation (APEMC) has been launched by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
  • The website was launched on the occasion of World Environment Day. Andhra Pradesh has become India’s first state to launch waste exchange website.
  • Through this platform, state government seeks to protect environment by covering 100% safe disposal of toxic waste, proper tracking, scrutiny as well as audit of waste.
  • With this platform, Andhra Pradesh government will promote the six ‘R’s namely Reduce, Refurbish, Reuse, Recycle, Redesign and Remanufacture.
  • The platform has been set up by the government as there was a need for an appropriate system for the scientific disposal of the waste generated by the various companies in the state.
  • Hence, APEMC will monitor the generation of waste across the State and will also take effective measures for its scientific disposal.

Extra Shots:

Andhra Pradesh:

  • Capital: Amravati
  • Chief Minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy
  • Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan
  • State Formed in: 1 November 1956
  • Literacy Rate: 67.4 %
  • National Park: Sri Venkateswara National Park, Sri Venkateswara National Park, Papikonda National Park

Rajasthan Goverment launches “Raj Kaushal Portal”

  • “Raj Kaushal Portal” and “Online Shramik Employment Exchange” has been launched by the Rajasthan Goverment.
  • The portal has been developed by the department of Information and Technology (IT) and Rajasthan Skill & Livelihoods Development Corporation (RSLDC).
  • The “Raj Kaushal Portal” aims to improve availability of opportunities for the migrated workers and hence acts as a bridge between industry and labourers.
  • The portal aims to overcome the labour shortage faced by the industries by making it easier for the workers to get employment who are suffering from livelihood losses. The “Online Shramik Employment Exchange” comprises of data of over 12 lakh migrant workers including registered workers of planning offices and building and other construction boards.
  • It also contains data of more than 53 lakh workers and manpower trained in RSLDC and ITI.

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Rajasthan:

  • Capital: Jaipur
  • Chief Minister: Ashok Gehlot
  • Governor: Kalraj Mishra

Karnataka launches “Meghasandesha” App for real time information & ‘Varunamitra’ portal for real-time information on weather

  • Karnataka Revenue Minister R.Ashoka launched Meghasandesha App & Varunamitra web portal to provide real-time information and alerts on weather, rainfall, flooding in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike(BBMP) jurisdiction.
  • These were developed by Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre(KSNDMC), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science(IISc) under the project ‘Urban Flood Model’(UFM) for the city.
  • The project is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
  • The app and web portal helps people & civic agencies to tackle rain related issues.

Highlights of “Meghasandesha” App

  • The bilingual app provides data on 3 main modules namely live weather, forecast, and safe routes. The live weather and forecast tabs provide location based information on the prevailing temperature, rainfall, wind speed and direction.
  • The safe route tab provides information on live rainfall and road flood on all probable routes (location to destination).
  • It provides data from 100 Telemetric Rain Gauges (TRG), 12 telemetric weather stations (TWS) and water level sensors installed and maintained at various locations.
  • An emergency tab will help to connect with BBMP emergency control rooms. The app will provide safety tips on Dos and Don’ts during rain and flooding

Highlights of ‘Varunamitra’ Portal

  • The dedicated web portal aims to leverage technology driven solutions to manage and mitigate the Urban Flood & will also provide details on flood vulnerable areas in each zone.
  • It has a real-time weather dashboard that provides zone wise weather information, location specific rainfall and flood, and colour coded information on flood severity.

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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.

OBITUARY

Former Union minister Arjun Charan Sethi passes away at 79

  • Former Union minister Arjun Charan Sethi died in a hospital due to a brief illness.
  • He was 79. Sethi was admitted to the private hospital on Sunday night, they said.
  • An eight-time MP from Bhadrak Lok Sabha constituency, Sethi was the Union Water Resources Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government from 2000 to 2004.
  • Active in social and political spheres since his youth, soft-spoken Sethi was also elected to the Odisha Assembly twice.
  • Born on September 18, 1941, Sethi was elected to the Lok Sabha from Bhadrak constituency in 1971 and 1980 as a Congress candidate.
  • He was re-elected from the same constituency in 1991 on a Janata Dal ticket and won from the seat in subsequent elections in 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2009 as a Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate.

MISCELLANEOUS

IHBT to provide technical know-how to farmers to to enhance cultivation of heeng and saffron

  • Aimed at enhancing farmer income, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) and Government of Himachal Pradesh have entered into a strategic partnership to boost cultivation of Saffron and Heeng in the country.
  • Annual demand for Saffron in the country is 100 tons per year but its average production is about 7 tons, which results in a large amount of import.
  • Currently about 1200 tons of raw heeng worth 600 crore rupees is being imported from Afghanistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan.
  • To facilitate production of these two most expensive spices in the world, new initiatives of transfer of innovations by means of capacity building and skill development of prospective farmers will be done.
  • Under the partnership, IHBT will provide technical know-how to the farmers, impart training to state agriculture department officers and farmers, and set up corm and seed production centres of Saffron and heeng.
  • Proposal to set up a state of the art tissue-culture lab for large-scale production of quality planting material of these crops has also been outlined by the state government.

Techno India kicks off hackathon

  • Eastern Indian education sector major Techno India Group on Monday kicked off a pan-India hackathon to moot and develop innovative technology solutions that would thrive in a post-Covid world.
  • A 50-hour sprint with more than 500 participating teams comprising 2-10 members will collaborate to build solutions between Monday and Wednesday.
  • The Hackathon will also reward identified bright minds with long-term internship, employment and high-education opportunities.
  • It will host bright individuals and enable them to be entrepreneurs within Techno India Group.

Flipkart introduces voice assistant for grocery

  • Flipkart has launched a voice assistant in its grocery store Supermart to enable consumers discover and buy products easily using voice commands.
  • The voice-first conversational artificial intelligence (AI) platform has been built by Flipkart’s in-house technology team with solutions that are capable of understanding vernacular languages such as Hindi, e-commerce categories and products, and tasks such as searching for a product, understanding product details and placing an order.
  • The indigenously developed AI platform is built to automatically detect the language spoken by the user, and in real-time transcribe, translate, transliterate and understand the user’s intent.
  • It will help consumers build their grocery basket by talking to the assistant, similar to talking to a shopkeeper.
  • The voice assistant for grocery is currently available to all English and Hindi users using Flipkart’s mobile app on Android devices and will be gradually made available on iOS and the website

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