VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE TNPSC Current Affairs AUGUST - 2020
An ISO 9001 : 2015 Institution | Providing Excellence Since 2011 Head Office Old No.52, New No.1, 9th Street, F Block, 1st Avenue Main Road, (Near Istha siddhi Vinayakar Temple), Anna Nagar East – 600102. Phone: 044-2626 5326 | 98844 72636 | 98844 21666 | 98844 32666
Branches
SALEM KOVAI No.189/1, Meyanoor Road, Near ARRS Multiplex, (Near Salem New No.347, D.S.Complex (3rd floor), Nehru Street,Near Gandhipuram bus Stand), Opp. Venkateshwara Complex, Salem - 636004. Central Bus Stand, Ramnagar, Kovai - 9 0427-2330307 | 95001 22022 75021 65390 Educarreerr Location Vivekanandha Educational Institutions for Women, Elayampalayam, Tiruchengode - TK Namakkal District - 637 205. 04288 - 234670 | 91 94437 34670 Patrician College of Arts and Science, 3, Canal Bank Rd, Gandhi Nagar, Opposite to Kotturpuram Railway Station, Adyar, Chennai - 600020. 044 - 24401362 | 044 - 24426913
Sree Saraswathi Thyagaraja College Palani Road, Thippampatti, Pollachi - 642 107 73737 66550 | 94432 66008 | 90951 66009
www.vetriias.com My Dear Aspirants, Greetings to all of you! “What we think we become” Gautama Buddha. We all have dreams. To make dreams come into reality it takes a lot of determination, dedication, self discipline and continuous effort. We at VETRII IAS Study Circle are committed to provide the right guidance, quality coaching and help every aspirants to achieve his or her life’s cherished goal of becoming a civil servant. The class room coaching at VETRII IAS Study Circle is meticulously planned to equip the aspirants with all the relevant facts and fundamentals of the subjects. Further the VETRII IAS Study Circle Study materials aim to support the candidate by providing the most relevant study material in a comprehensive manner.
Wishing You All The Very Best !!
DIRECTOR
(M.Shunmugam) Vetrii IAS Study Circle.
Published by VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE F Block New No. 1, 9th Street, 1st Avenue main Road, Chinthamani, Anna Nagar (E), Chennai – 102. Phone: 044 – 26265326 / 9600124042 / 9840097666 www.vetriias.com E-Mail: [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected] Feedback: [email protected]
© All rights reserved with the publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmit- ted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, will be responsible for the loss and may be punished for compensation under copyright act. INDEX
01 - 16 HISTORY 01 . Important Days . Defence National Security and Terrorism . World Organisations – Pacts and Summits . Eminent Persons . Sports and Games . Books & Authors . Awards & Honours . Cultural Panaroma . India & its Neighbours . Appointments – Who is who?
17 - 18 POLITICAL SCIENCE 17 .India’s Foreign Policy .Latest Court Verdicts .Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility
19 - 20 GEOGRAPHY 19 .Policy on Environment and Ecology .Natural Disasters – Safeguard Measures
20 - 22 ECONOMICS 20 .New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector .Current Socio - Economic Problems 23 23 - 30 SCIENCE .Latest Inventions in Science & Technology . Latest Discoveries on Health Science . Mass Media & Communication
31 31 NATIONAL – DIARY OF EVENTS
48 48 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
53 TAMIL NADU AFFAIRS 53 Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Important Days History
1.1 Important Days
Date Day Theme / Remark
August 19 World Humanitarian Day
World Photography Day August 19 2020 Every year on 20th August, the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi is celebrated as Sadbhavana Diwas or Harmony Day. This year on 20th August 2020, we are going to celebrate the 76th birth August 20 Sadbhavana Diwas anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The Indian National Congress instituted Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award in 1992, a year after his death. Indian Akshay Urja Day or Renewable Energy Day is observed on 20th August every year. Indian Akshay Urja Day was established in 2004 to support renewable energy August 20 Indian Akshay Urja Day development programs and promote its use instead of traditional sources of energy. The very first event relating to Akshay Urja Diwas was organized in New Delhi.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 1 Important Days Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020
World Senior Citizen’s August 21 Day 2020 The theme of WWWeek at Home 2020 is August 24 World Water Week 2020 ‘Water and Climate change: Accelerating Action’.
August 29 National Sports Day
2 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Defence, National Security and Terrorism 1.2 Defence, National Security Hiral Patel, wife of Surat district Collector, Dhaval Patel during a ceremony in Surat. and Terrorism Major Highlights of ICGS C-454 It has a maximum speed of 45 nautical Rajnath Singh launches online portal miles (83 Km/hr- Kilometers per Hour). “SRIJAN” to promote indigenisation It has an excellent seakeeping, in defence production maneuverability and endurance range of 500 nautical miles. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched
an online portal that provides information Note– Till now, L&T has handed over 51 about defence equipment and items out of 54 IB’s ordered by the Indian Coast that can be taken up for indigenisation Guard. by private sector companies. Ministry Additional Info of Defence is observing “Atmanirbhar L&T-Class Fast Interceptor Craft week” from 7 August to 14 August 2020. L&T fast interceptor craft is a series of Two memorandum of understandings high-speed interceptor boats being built (MoUs) were signed between Indian by L&T Shipyard for the Indian Coast Institutes of Technomogy (IITs) and Guard. the defence public sector undertakings The ships are designed for patrol and (DPSUs). rescue operations in India’s Exclusive The aforementioned online portal that Economic Zone (EEZ). will promote indigenisation of defence items’ production is called “SRIJAN”. The Naval Commanders’ Conference The DPSUs, Ordnance Factory Board 2020: 19th – 21st August 2020 (OFB) and headquarters of the armed The Naval Commanders’ Conference forces (SHQs) can display on SRIJAN 2020, a biennial conference was held those items that are being imported in New Delhi, India from August 19 to currently so that the Indian industry can 21, 2020. Rajnath Singh, Union Defence design, develop and manufacture them Minister addressed the opening session domestically as per its capability. of the conference. This is the 1st Naval Commanders’ Conference since the L&T Built Interceptor Boat ‘ICGS institution of the Department of Military C-454’ of Indian Coast Guard Affairs (DMA) and Chief of Defence Staff Launched at Surat (CDS). The 27-meter-long Interceptor Boat (IB) The Conference is the apex level event to ‘ICGS C-454’, built by Larsen and Toubro interact between the Naval Commanders Ltd (L&T) was launched into the service and also between Naval Commanders of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) by Dr with other senior government officials.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 3 Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020
Indian Coast Guard Ship C-449 designing, manufacturing and operating Commissioned in Chennai weapons and military equipment.
Indian Coast Guard Ship C-449 was The forum was organised by the Russian commissioned in Chennai by Tamil Nadu Defence Ministry will be held from Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam. The ship August 23-29 at the Patriot Park near is the Forty Ninth Interceptor Boat of the Moscow, which has been the venue since series, which are indigenously built and 2015. designed by M/s Larsen and Toubro Ltd, Army Commanders Discuss Security Hazira (Surat). Situation Along China Border In It will be commanded by Assistant Eastern Ladakh Commandant Ashish Sharma and will be based at Krishnapatnam under the The top brass of the Indian Army met in administrative and operational control Delhi for two days to discuss the ongoing situation along the northern borders of the Commander, Coast Guard District amid the continuing border tensions with Headquarters No.6, Visakhapatnam, China in Eastern Ladakh. Andhra Pradesh. The Indian Army has further bolstered The ship has been inducted as part of the its combat readiness in eastern Ladakh ongoing efforts by Indian Coast Guard to by deploying troops with shoulder-fired strengthen Maritime and Coastal Security missiles in several sensitive areas in along the East Coast of India. the backdrop of increasing activities by C-449 will enhance the efforts of Chinese helicopters in the region Indian Coast Guards in providing These missiles have a range of two to coastal security, surveillance and aid to five km and they are capable of bringing fishermen in distress along the eastern down low flying helicopters and aircraft. coast in general and Krishnapatnam of Andhra Pradesh coast in particular. Aircraft Carrier INS Viraat, India’s longest serving warship, to be India Pavilion at Army 2020 forum dismantled in Gujarat inaugurated in Russia INS Viraat, the aircraft carrier that served The India Pavilion at the Army-2020 the Indian Navy for 30 years before being International Military and Technical decommissioned three years ago, is likely Forum was inaugurated by Secretary to be towed from Mumbai to Alang in (Defence Production) Raj Kumar and Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district next month Indian Ambassador DB Venkatesh Verma to be dismantled and sold as scrap. at Moscow, Russia. The longest serving warship, inducted The forum will also host discussions into the Indian Navy in 1987, was bought among global military officials, by Shree Ram Group for Rs 38.54 crore at researchers and defence industry experts an auction conducted by the Metal Scrap about the application of 3D technologies in Trade Corporation Limited last month.
4 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 World Organisations – Pacts and Summits 1.3 World Organisations – Pacts and Summits
India plans to host BRICS Games during Khelo India Games 2021 Union Minister of Youth and Sports Kiren Rijiju announced on August 25, 2020 that India is planning to host BRICS Games 2021 during the same time and at the same venues as of Khelo India Games 2021. The Sports Minister made the announcement during a video conference between the Sports Ministers of BRICS nations- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The Minister stated that this will give the Indian players the benefit and opportunity of witnessing BRICS Games from close quarters. The Minister said that the move will be a great morale booster and motivational moment for them. He added saying that India will invite BRICS member countries to showcase their traditional indigenous games during the inaugural or closing ceremony of Khelo India Youth Games 2021.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 5 Eminent Persons Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 1.4 Eminent Persons vocalists, which includes 83-year-old Kishori Amonkar, the doyenne of the Jaipur Atrauli gharana. Former India cricketer Chetan Chauhan passes away Gujarat Names Two Flyover of Former Test batsman Ahmedabad After Late Arun Jaitley & Chetan Chauhan, who Sushma Swaraj shone as a gritty player Chairman of Ahmedabad Municipal against fiery pace Corporation (AMC) Standing Committee, overseas as Sunil Amul Bhatt announced that in Gujarat Gavaskar’s enduring two flyover bridges of Ahmedabad city opening partner in the will be named after late Arun Jaitley and 1970s, died by the Sushma Swaraj. complications due to The flyover bridge at Income Tax circle, Covid-19. Ahmedabad will be named as Arun
In an India career from 1969 to 1981, Jaitley Flyover. Chauhan played 40 Tests and seven The flyover at the Anjali cross road will ODIs. He scored 2,084 Test runs with 16 be named Sushma Swaraj Bridge. half-centuries, but never scored a century, with a best of 97. The prolific domestic Former Supreme Court judge Justice batsman in a two-decade first-class career AR Lakshmanan dies played Ranji Trophy for Maharashtra and Former judge of the Supreme Court then Delhi. Justice AR Lakshmanan passed away. Renowned vocalist Pandit Jasraj Justice Lakshmanan served at the passes away Supreme Court from December 20, 2002 to March 21, 2007. Before his elevation, he
Indian classical vocalist was a judge at the Madras High Court and Pandit Jasraj passed the Kerala High Court. He also served as away following a Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh and cardiac arrest at his Rajasthan High Courts. home in New Jersey. Post-retirement, he was appointed
With a musical career Chairman of the Eighteenth Law spanning almost Commission of India. 80 years, the doyen He was also part of the bench which gave of Indian classical relief to 2.5 lakh government employees vocal music was a recipient of various who were dismissed by J Jayalalithaa prestigious awards and honours invoking the Tamil Nadu Essential including Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan Services Maintenance Act in 2003. and Padma Vibhushan. He represented the last of a generation of classical
6 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Eminent Persons
Social reformer Ayyankali’’s birth Writer Devakottai V.Murthy passed anniversary celebrated away Kerala celebrated the Writer Devakottai V.Murthy (74) passed 157th birth anniversary away due to ill health. of social reformer He has worked tirelessly in the vast Ayyankali with Chief literary field of concept books, short story Minister Pinarayi collections, translated short stories and Vijayan remembering translated poems. his fight “reclaiming” His works ranged from lamp, pancreas, streets. enlightenment to site magazine. Ayyankali (1863- 1941) was a social reformer who worked for the advancement of Dalits, who were considered as untouchables, in the princely state of Travancore. In 1893, Ayyankali challenged the ban on lower caste people using public roads in the erstwhile Travancore kingdom by riding a ‘’Villu Vandi’’ (bullock-cart).
‘Black Panther’ star Chadwick Boseman passes away Black Panther actor, Chadwick Boseman passed away after a four-year battle with colon cancer. He was born and raised in Anderson, South Carolina, and made his acting debut in the TV series “All My Children” in 2003. He made his big-screen debut in 2008 in the biopic The Express: The Ernie Davis Story where he played Floyd Little. He played famous Black Panther role in the Marvel cinematic universe.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 7 Sports and Games Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 1.5 Sports and Games 1.6 Books & Authors
20-year old Indian wins ‘World’s Book “A Bend in Time: Writings by Fastest Human Calculator’ title Children on the Covid-19 pandemic” India’s Neelakanta Bhanu Prakash by Bijal Vachharajani Released has won the ‘World’s Fastest Human A book titled “A Bend in Time: Writings Calculator’ title. The 20-year-old won by Children on the COVID 19 Pandemic”, the first-ever gold for India in Mental the introduction of which is written by Calculation World Championship at award-winning children’s author Bijal Mind Sports Olympiad (MSO) held in Vachharajani. The book is published London recently. by Talking Cub (children’s imprint of Neelakanta Bhanu Prakash belongs Speaking Tiger). to Hyderabad and he is currently Bijal Vachharajani is the winner of the pursuing Mathematics (Hons.) at Delhi Author Children’s Book Award 2020 and University’s St Stephen College. He is also named in the Parag Honour List 2020 the proud owner of four world records of TATA Groups. and 50 Limca records for being the fastest human calculator in the world. Ex-Air Vice Marshal Arjun Prakash’s brain can reportedly calculate Subramaniam Authored a New book quicker than the speed of a calculator. titled, “Full Spectrum: India’s Wars, He has broked the records once held by 1972-2020″ Math maestros like Scott Flansburg and Retired Air vice Shakuntala Devi. Marshal Arjun The is the first time India has won Subramaniam has gold at the Mental Calculation World authored a new Championship at Mind Sports Olympiad. book titled, “Full The MSO is the most prestigious Spectrum: India’s international competition for mental Wars, 1972-2020″. skill games and mind sports. It is held The book portrays annually in London. The championship the comprehensive is equivalent to any other Olympic event account of war and in the realm of physical sports. conflict in contemporary India over the past five decades next month. It will be published by HarperCollins Publishers India Pvt. Ltd. It is the sequel to his 1st book, ‘India’s Wars: A Military History, 1947-1971’.
8 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Books & Authors
“India Tomorrow: Conversations book was released by Bhupendra Yadav, with the Next Generation of Political member of parliament and national Leaders” general secretary over a virtual event in the presence of BJP leader, Kapil Mishra. The book will give a snapshot of ‘Cricket Drona’ A Book on Renowned contemporary Indian Coach Vasudev Jagannath Paranjpe politics through interviews with 20 of to be Released the country’s most ‘Cricket Drona’ a book on one of India’s prominent next- most renowned cricket coaches, Vasudev generation Jagannath Paranjpe will be released on politicians. The book September 2, 2020. The Book is written includes interviews by Vasudev Paranjpe’s son and current of Politicians below national selector Jatin Paranjpe along the age of 50 years only and released in with Cricket Journalist Anand Vasu and August, 2020. published by Penguin. The book is written by American The book talks about the impact of academicians Pradeep Chhibber and Paranjpe on shaping the careers of Harsh Shah and published by Oxford India’s greatest cricketers like Gavaskar, University Press (OUP). Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh releases book on Cancer National Security Challenges: Young Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh Scholars’ Perspective” Authored by launched a book on cancer – “Gastric University students Cancer” edited by Dr Ashok K. Vaid. He General Manoj Mukund (MM) Naravane, is a Noted Oncologist and was awarded Chief of Army Staff released a book Padma Shri in 2009 for his outstanding titled, “National Security Challenges: work in the field of medicine. Young Scholars’ Perspective” authored The book was launched during a special by university students, ranging from session organized during the 3 -day the undergraduate level to doctoral virtual conference on Oncology. candidates. The book contains various themes pertaining to national security. It The Book “Delhi Riots 2020: the aims to develop strategic thinking among Untold Story” is Set to be Published the youth of this country.
The book “Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold The book was published by Centre for Story” authored by Monika Arora, Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), the advocate, Sonali Chitalkar (political Army think-tank. The book is a tribute to Science) and Prerna Malhotra (English) Field Marshal Manekshaw, the strategist teachers at Delhi University is set to be of 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, that resulted published by Garuda Prakashan . The in the liberation of Bangladesh.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 9 Awards & Honours Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 1.7 Awards & Honours and Paralympian M Thangavelu are the other two names. This year’s National Sports Awards Soumya Swaminathan honoured with ceremony is likely to be held virtually Tamil Nadu CM’s special award due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Soumya Swaminathan, Rohit Sharma will be the fourth cricketer Chief Scientist of after legendary Sachin Tendulkar, MS World Health Dhoni and Virat Kohli to be conferred the Organisation(WHO) award. has received Tamil The National Sports Awards include Nadu Chief the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Minister’s(CM’s) the Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award special award on the and the Dhyan Chand Award, which are 74th Independence conferred every year by the President Day celebration at Fort St George, of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in recognition for August 29. her advisory role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in the state ,while Khel Ratna a recognition for my hard the Chief Minister’s Best Practices award work: Mariyappan Thangavelu was bagged by the Department of Tamil Nadu’s Mariyappan Thangavelu Treasuries. was among the four athletes to have been recommended for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2020 Ratna award. The 25-year-old para athlete, hailing from Salem, caught everyone’s attention when he won the high-jump gold at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. The five Khel Ratna winners for the year 2020 would be star csricketer Rohit Sharma, wrestler Vinesh Phogat, Paralympic gold-winner Mariayappan The National Sports Awards selection Thangavelum TT player Manika Batra, committees have recommended four and women’s hockey team captain Rani sportspersons for India’s highest sporting Rampal. honour, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Khel Ratna: Thangavelu Mariyappan 2020. (para athletics) Indian cricketer, Rohit Sharma and Arjuna Award: Sandeep Chaudhary wrestler Vinesh Phogat are among the (para athletics), Manish Narwal ( para four sportspersons. Apart from Rohit and shooting) and Suyash Jadhav (para Vinesh, table tennis player Manika Batra swimming)
10 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Awards & Honours
Dronacharya Lifetime award: Vijay He jumped in to save a group of three Munishwar (para powerlifting), women and three children who stepped Dronacharya award: Gaurav Khanna into the lake. He received a certificate and (para badminton) a cheque for `1 lakh. Sridhar had already Dhyan Chand award: J Ranjit Kumar received the Anna medal for gallantry (para athletics), Sathya Prakash Tiwari from the State government on Republic (para badminton). Day in 2019.
Abhijit Paul’s ‘Am I’ wins first prize in NLCIL bags “Swachhta Hi Seva Online Patriotic Short Film Contest award” for transforming Neyveli A Short film titled ‘Am I?’ directed by Township Abhijit Paul won the first prize and a cash The Government of India Navratna, NLC award of one lakh rupees in the Online India Limited (NLCIL) has bagged the Patriotic Short Film Contest organized award for making an extremely valuable by the Ministry Of Information and contribution in the implementation of the Broadcasting along with National Film “Swachhta Hi Seva Programme”. Development Corporation, NFDC. Rakesh Kumar, CMD of NLCIL hailing the efforts of NLCIL in transforming the Anand Mahindra, Shantanu Narayen entire Neyveli into a plastic-free, clean to Receive 2020 Leadership Awards and green campus, and announcing the from USISPF “Swachhta Hi Seva 2019” Award. US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) announced that Mahindra Mountaineer Anita Kundu to be Group Chairman, Anand Mahindra and honoured with Tenzing Norgay Adobe Chairman & Chief Executive National Adventure Award Officer (CEO), Shantanu Narayen will Mountaineer Anita Kundu has been receive the 2020 Leadership Awards for chosen for the Tenzing Norgay National their exemplary vision and effort towards Adventure Award in the ‘land adventure the promotion of US-India Bilateral Ties. category’. She will be honoured with the award on August 29, 2020. Thanjai youth, recipient of Anna Anita Kundu is a resident of Hisar, Award, wins Centre’s Jeevan Raksha Haryana. She is the first Indian woman Padak to climb Mount Everest from both the Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami Indian and the Chinese sides. awarded the Jeevan Raksha Padak for She gave the credit for her success to 2019 awarded to civilian life savers to her mother. She also thanked the Indian R Sridhar from Thanjavur. He had saved government for selecting her for the six people from drowning in the Velayan award. lake in Orathanadu.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 11 Awards & Honours Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020
Prime Minister’s Awards for The teachers have been selected by the Excellence in Public Administration’ Independent Jury at National Level, constituted by the Union Ministry The Government of India has restructured the Scheme ‘Prime Minister’s Awards for of Education, Department of School Excellence in Public Administration’ to Education & Literacy.
acknowledge, recognize and reward the Ms. Sudha Painuli is the first NAT exemplary work done by Civil Servants Awardee from the Eklavya Model across the country. Residential Schools (EMRS) established under Ministry of Tribal Affairs. She is The Prime Minister’s Awards for 2020 seek to recognize the contribution of serving as the Vice Principal of EMRS- Civil Servants to inclusive development Kalsi, Dehradun, Uttarakhand since its through credit flow to the priority establishment.
sector, promoting people’s movements She has been selected for her innovative through Jan Bhagidari and improving experiments namely Eklavya Birthday service delivery and redressal of public Garden, Theatre in Education, Eklavya grievances. The Awards under the Tribal Museum, Skill Development Innovation category have been broad Workshops etc. based to recognize excellence at Central Britain’s World War II Spy Became the Government, State Government and 1st Indian-origin woman to honoured district levels separately. with a Memorial Blue Plaque The other categories of Awards for 2020 are for the overall progress achieved Noor Inayat Khan (Noor-un-Nissa Inayat under the Aspirational District Program Khan or Nora Baker), Britain’s World and the National Mission for clean Ganga. War II spy, who served in the Special The total number of awards for 2020 are Operations Executive (SOE) became the 15. The Awards shall be conferred on 1st Indian-origin woman to be honoured Rashtriya Ekta Diwas on October 31, with a memorial Blue Plaque at her 2020. former family home in London, United Kingdom(UK). Ms. Sudha Painuli selected for She is 1st musilm war heroine of Britain National Award to Teachers 2020 and 1st female wireless operator sent Ms. Sudha Painuli has from the UK into Nazi-occupied France been selected for to aid the French Resistance during National Award to World War II. Teachers 2020. She is among the 47 outstanding teachers selected for the National Award to Teachers 2020.
12 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Cultural Panorama
Minister Narendra Modi extended his 1.8 Cultural Panorama good wishes to the farmers and wished for their prosperity and good health Discovery of 900 year old Mahavira Nuakhai Juhar is the agricultural festival sculpture at Gandarvakottai is also called Nuakhai Parab or Nuakahi The 900 year old Bhetghat. Mahavira sculpture has Nuakhai is a combination of two words been found at signifies eating of new rice as ‘nua’ means Gandarvakottai, new and ‘khai’ means eat. Pudukkottai district. The 11th century Kerala State Dragonfly Festival 2020 sculpture of the aka “Thumbimahotsavam 2020” Mahavira is one and a half feed wide and three and a half feet high. The sculpture, which is sculpted with an extended chest, is ruined in a few places. Agni River – Jainism: Pudukkottai District Alagi River flows from Kulathur Periyakulam to Gandanwakottai The first ever Kerala State Dragonfly Athangaraivitudi, Karmbakudy, Festival 2020 aka “Thumbimahotsavam Thirumanacheri and then continuously 2020” was launched by the World Wide through Thanjavur District to Ilayathi Fund for Nature (WWF)-India State unit Kollukkadu and Lower Estate for 78 km in collaboration with Society for Odonate and joins the Bay of Bengal. The Agni Studies (SOS) and Thumbipuranam River is the oldest. through a virtual ceremony from Kerala. Dr. Subramanian K.A. Scientist at Nuakhai Juhar’ Festival Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Southern Regional Center, Chennai (Tamil Nadu) addressed the inaugural session. The official mascot of the festival is “Pantalu” which is the genus of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae commonly known as rainpool gliders. On the occasion ‘Nuakhai Juhar’, which Thumbimahotsavam 2020 is part of a is one of the most ancient festivals 3rd edition of national dragonfly festival celebrated in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and 2020. areas of neighbouring states to welcome the new crop of the season, Prime
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 13 Appointments – Who is who? Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 1.9 Appointments – Who is who? Lavasa is set to join the Philippines-based Asian Development Bank as the vice- Kamala Harris appoints an Indian- president from September 2020. He will American as press secretary succeed the incumbent vice-president Diwakar Gupta, who is in charge of
Joe Biden’s Vice private sector operations, and public- Presidential running private partnerships. mate, Senator Kamala Ashok Lavasa is a retired Indian Harris has appointed Administrative Service (IAS) officer of an Indian-American Haryana cadre (Batch 1980) and assumed Sabrina Singh as her charge as the Election Commissioner of press secretary. India on 23rd January, 2018. Singh previously served as the Former Finance Secretary Rajiv spokeswoman of two Democratic Kumar replaces Ashok Lavasa as presidential candidates-New Jersey Election Commissioner Senator Cory Booker and former New Former Finance York mayor Mike Bloomberg. She will Secretary and retired now be leading Harris’ vice-presidential IAS officer Rajiv campaign. Kumar has been With this, Singh has become the first-ever appointed Election Indian-American press secretary to a vice Commissioner (EC). presidential nominee of a major political In pursuance of clause party in the United States. (2) of article 324 of Democrat’s Presidential nominee Joe the Constitution, the Biden had chosen 55-year-old Indian President is pleased to origin, Kamala Harris, as his running appoint Rajiv Kumar, IAS (Retd.) as the mate last week. Election Commissioner with effect from Ashok Lavasa steps down as Election the date he assumes the office vice Ashok Commissioner of India Lavasa, Election Commissioner who has resigned with effect from 31 August, Ashok Lavasa has 2020. stepped down as the Election Commissioner of India. He has submitted his resignation to President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.
14 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Appointments – Who is who?
Madurai-based intersex activist in Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. national council G Satheesh Reddy was appointed to the Gopi Shankar, a post in August 2018 for a tenure of two Madurai-based years. intersex activist, has been appointed by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment as one of the five representatives of the transgender community to the National Council for Transgender Persons. Shankar will be representing states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala, and the southern Union Territories. Gopi had contested the TN Assembly election in 2016, conducted Asia’s first gender-queer pride parade in Madurai, and also set up India’s first helpline for LGBTQI+ at a nonmetropolitan city (Madurai).
Aerospace Scientist G Satheesh Reddy gets Two-Year Extension as Chairman of DRDO Renowned Aerospace Scientist Dr G. Satheesh Reddy was given a two- year extension as Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) & as Secretary of the Department of Defence Research & Development (DoDRD) by the
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 15 Latest Historical Events Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 1.10 Latest Historical Events Earlier there were 29 ASI circles across the country. Manipur celebrates Patriots’ day, In a large state like Tamil Nadu which remembers fallen heroes of Anglo- has thousands of temples and glorious Manipuri war memories of the Chola kings,Trichy has been made a new circle along with In Manipur, the Patriots’ Day is being the circle of Chennai.Karnataka is an observed commemorating the 1891 important state in terms of holiness. Anglo-Manipuri war during which Hampi city in Karnataka is a place many Manipuris sacrificed their liver to of international importance from the safeguard the independence of the State. point of view of archaeological heritage The day is observed every on the 13th therefore the Hampi Sub-Circle now has August to pay homage to the great been made a new full fledged circle. In martyres. It was on this day in 1891, brave West Bengal, Raiganj has been made a Manipuris including the then prince of new circle along with Kolkata, this will Manipur Bir Tikendrajit and Thangal eliminate geographical inconvenience in General were hanged before the general a big state like Bengal. In Gujarat, Rajkot public in the present Imphal area. has been announced a new circle along This year, the day is being held without with Vadodara. involving the public due to COVID-19 Shri Patel announced that Jabalpur has pandemic. been announced a new circle along with Ministry of Culture announces 7 new Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. This will circles of Archaeological Survey of include the monuments from Jabalpur, India Rewa, Shahdol and Sagar divisions. The Minister also informed that Jhansi The Ministry of Culture has announced in Bundelkhand and Meerutin western 7 new circles of Archaeological Survey Uttar Pradesh havebeen announced two of India. This information was shared by new circles along with Lucknow and the Union Minister of State for Culture Agra in Uttar Pradesh. and Tourism (IC). So, Trichy, Raiganj, Rajkot, Jabalpur, The Minister informed that new circles Jhansi and Meerut have been announced have been created in Madhya Pradesh, as new circles and Hampi Mini Circle has Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, been converted into a full fledged circle. West Bengal and Gujarat. He said that Trichy, Raiganj, Rajkot, Jabalpur, Jhansi & Meerut have been announced as new circles. In Archaeology, the Hampi city in Karnataka is a place of international repute hence Hampi Mini Circle has been converted into a full fledged circle.
16 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Govt – Welfare oriented... POLITICAL 2. SCIENCE
2.1 Govt – Welfare oriented 63% work under model village scheme over, Tamil Nadu tops the list Govt schemes, their The Narendra Modi government’s flagship Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana utility (SAGY), for targeted development of Tamil Nadu tops in making use of select villages, has seen 63% of its work e-health platforms completed, according to official data. Tamil Nadu has clocked the best usage, Andhra Pradesh not only is a part of the completed 96% of the projects, followed top five states in utilising the ‘eSanjeevani’ by Uttar Pradesh which finished 88% of digital platform of the ministry of health works. and family welfare but also tops in the The rural welfare programme was health and wellness programmes under launched in October 2014 by Prime the scheme. Minister Narendra Modi to develop Union Health and Family Welfare model Gram Panchayats under the Ministry says State leads in utilising leadership of Members of Parliament Ministry’s eSanjeevani digital platform (MPs). in Doctor-to-Doctor consultations with The project allows MPs to cherry pick a 24,487 interactions while TN tops in OPD village to push development projects. services. So far, 1,418 Gram Panchayats have The top five states which have been prepared Village Development Plans utilising the e-health services being (VDP) with 72,720 projects. offered through this platform are Tamil Apart from West Bengal, Assam (25% Nadu (56,346 consultations), Uttar work completed in each of these), Bihar Pradesh (33,325), Andhra Pradesh (36%), Punjab (37%), Odisha (42%) and (29,400), Himachal Pradesh (26,535) and Maharashtra (44%) are the bigger states Kerala (21,433). where large number of projects are pending.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 17 Govt – Welfare oriented... Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 ‘Mission COVID Suraksha’ 2.2 Latest Court Verdicts The government has proposed setting up a 3 per cent sub-quota for ‘Mission COVID Suraksha’ Arunthathiyars to continue with a corpus of Rs 3,000 The Supreme Court observed that the State crore to accelerate the governments are entitled to provide sub- development and quota within the Scheduled Caste (SC) manufacture of safe and category, thereby providing a temporary effective COVID-19 respite to the Arunthathiyars section in vaccines in the country. the State. The constitution bench of five Aim of the mission will be judges, headed by Justice Arun Mishra, to make the Covid-19 referred the case to a larger bench. vaccine easily available to The demand for a separate quota for the public at affordable rates Arunthathiyars was made in 1984, by The mission will aim to quicken the “Youth Guidance Service”, a group development of at least six Coronavirus formed by the educated youth among vaccine candidates and ensure that they the community in 1980. Later, one of its are licensed and introduced in the market members, Adhiyaman formed the Aadhi for emergency use at the earliest. Tamilar Peravai, which held protests jointly with the CPM, pressing for reservation. In 2009, the State government, headed by the then DMK chief M Karunanidhi, introduced a special quota for the community, combining seven castes out of the 74 listed in the SC category. The sub-quota was introduced based on a report submitted by the Justice Janarthanam Commission, which stated that Arunthathiyars were highly under- represented in government departments and educational institutions.
18 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Policy on Environment and Ecology 3. GEOGRAPHY
3.1 Natural Disasters – Safeguard Measures
Over 200 Elephants in India Kept Highlights of ‘Elephants. Not in Severely Inadequate Conditions: Commodities’: World Animal Protection According to the report, India is home to During the observance of World Elephant the second-highest number of elephants Day 2020, World Animal Protection which are used for tourism in the region released the third edition of the report of Asia. ‘Elephants. Not commodities’ which In the region Asia, there are 21 venues highlighted that over 200 Elephants in housing 509 elephants and out of which India are kept in ‘Severely Inadequate 45% (225) are kept in severely inadequate Conditions’. conditions. The report comprises research spanning over a decade in elephant tourism and assessed the entertainment venues across Thailand, India, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 19 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020
4. ECONOMICS 4.1 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector
PNB launches ‘DIGITAL APNAYEN’ Bullions, viz. gold and silver are already campaign to promote digital banking being traded as individual commodities Punjab National Bank has launched a on the country’s premier commodity campaign named ‘DIGITAL APNAYEN’ exchange. to encourage customers to use digital With gold and silver as underlying, banking channels. Bulldex will have a market lot size of 50 The campaign launched by the bank’s and be cash-settled futures contract. Managing Director S S Mallikarjuna Rao MCX had tested bullion index futures on the occasion of Independence Day is trade in mock trading exercises in July. till March 31, 2021. Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd PNB encourage customers to use digital is an independent commodity exchange channels and participate in the noble based in India. It was established in 2003 cause of donating to the PM CARES Fund and is based in Mumbai. It is India’s for COVID-19. largest commodity derivatives exchange. PNB will contribute Rs 5 towards the PM ‘Jan Bachat Khata’, an Aadhaar CARES Fund on behalf of each customer Authentication Based Digital Savings conducting the first financial transaction Account to activate their RuPay Debit card either on point of sale (PoS) or e-commerce Fino Payments platform, under the campaign ‘DIGITAL Bank Limited APNAYEN’. (Ltd) launched Jan Bachat Khata MCX to launch India’s first bullion (JBK), an index named “Bulldex” Aadhaar Multi Commodity Exchange of India authentication based digital savings (MCX) will launch India’s first bullion account for its customers. JBK will bring index named “Bulldex”, on August 24, neo-banking experience to the consumers. 2020.
20 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector
The primary target segment is low income given the rising number of Covid-19 cases household families and direct benefit and the resultant regional lockdowns. transfer (DBT) beneficiaries. In its report on India Development JBK is in line with the bank’s customer Update, 2020, the Bank also warned centric innovative offerings. that credit risks play out as firms and The customers can open a JBK account households find it more difficult to service only through Aadhaar-based eKYC their interest and repayment obligations (Electronic-Know Your Customer) mode. in a slowing economy.
Indian economy likely to contract by 1st GST Council Meeting to Discuss 16.5% in Q1FY21: SBI report Compensation for Loss of Revenue to States The 41st meeting of goods and services tax (GST) Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, was held via video conferencing to discuss the issue of compensating states on account of revenue loss due to implementation of The Indian economy may report a contraction of 16.5 per cent in April-June GST, and deficit in the compensation cess quarter of FY21, as against previously fund due to the fall in tax collections.
expected contraction of 20 per cent, as During the meet, Centre offered two degrowth in corporate GVA, courtesy borrowing options to states to overcome better-than-expected results of some shortfall in GST compensation cess fund financial and non-financial companies, viz:
has been significantly better than revenue States can either borrow the full degrowth in Q1FY21. compensation deficit of Rs 2.35 lakh crore, which includes revenue loss due to They expect the GDP growth to contract by 15.2 per cent YoY in Q2, and an average transition to GST and also the Covid-led of -4.2 per cent in H22020, dragging slowdown, from the markets, facilitated overall growth by -5.0 per cent in 2020. by the Centre and the RBI, or The shortfall that’s purely due to GST World Bank sees higher GDP fall in implementation of Rs 97,000 crore via the India than 3.2% it projected for FY21 RBI special window. The World Bank announced it was likely to project a steeper contraction in India’s economy than the 3.2 per cent it had forecast for the current financial year,
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 21 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 SBI to Receive Human Capital Management Excellence Award 2020 for its HR initiative, “Nayi Disha” State Bank of India (SBI) to receive Brandon Human Capital Management (HCM) Excellence Award (also known as the Academy Awards of Learning & Development) 2020, a global recognition for its HR initiative, “Nayi Disha”. The award winners will be honored at Brandon Hall Group’s annual HCM Excellence Conference, January 26-28, 2021 at the Hilton West Palm Beach, Florida. ‘ SBI has won the award in The HCM Spring Program under ‘Excellence in Learning and Development’ in 3 categories.
22 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology 5. SCIENCE
5.1 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology
IISc and ISRO developed sustainable alike of the Milky galaxy at 12 billion process to make bricks on lunar light-years away using the Atacama surface Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array Team of researchers of Indian Institute (ALMA) Telescope. of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, Karnataka Research: and Indian Space Research Organisation The team utilised gravitational lensing, (ISRO) developed a sustainable process an effect of using a nearby galaxy as a for making brick-like structures named powerful magnifying glass, to overcome “Space Bricks” on the surface of the moon. the difficulties due to the distance, this The process uses the lunar soil, bacteria allowed ALMA to see into the distant and guar beans to make the space brick. past the unprecedented detail. The process uses the Urea – sourced The galaxy appears as a near-perfect ring from human urine and lunar soil as the of light like the “Einstein Ring”. raw materials for the construction on the The research published in the Journal lunar surface which reduces the overall Nature was led by Francesca Rizzo, PhD expenditure. student from the Max Planck Institute for About Indian Institute of Science (IISc): Astrophysics, Germany. Director– Govindan Rangarajan IIT Madras retains top rank in list of Location– Bengaluru, Karnataka top innovative educational institutes About Indian Space Research in India Organisation (ISRO):
Chairman– Kailasavadivoo Sivan The Indian Institute of Technology, Headquarters– Bengaluru, Karnataka Madras has retained its top rank in the list of top innovative educational institutes in Astronomers Found SPT0418-47, India for the second consecutive year. a Look-alike of the Milky Way at 12 The institute was ranked number-one Billion Light Years Away in the ‘Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements,’ released The Astronomers at the Max Planck by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu in a Institute of Astrophysics found a baby virtual event on August 18, 2020. galaxy called “SPT0418-47” a look-
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 23 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020
The ranking was launched in 2019 by WHO Urged Developed Nations to Join the Innovation Cell of the Ministry of Covax Facility to Counter “Vaccine Education. This year, 674 Institutions of Nationalism” National Importance, Central Universities In order to provide rapid, fair and equitable and centrally funded technical institutions access to COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, participated in the rankings, as compared the World Health Organisation (WHO) to 496 in 2019. has invited countries to join its Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) facility Dwarf Planet Ceres is now an ‘Ocean by August 31, 2020. This facility is led by World’ the WHO, along with the GAVI vaccine Researchers have given Dwarf Planet alliance (formerly the Global Alliance Ceres the status of an “Ocean World”. for Vaccines and Immunisation), and The scientists have analysed the data the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness collected by NASA’s Dawn Spacecraft Innovations (CEPI). and published the findings as a series of Its aim is to deliver 2 billion doses of papers in the journals Nature Astronomy, effective, approved COVID-19 vaccines Nature Communication and Nature by the end of 2021. Geoscience. CERES: First synthesis path for tuberculosis Studies suggest the presence of briny & chikungunya inhibiting flavonoid liquid water (saline) underneath Ceres’s molecules deciphered surface. Flavonoid molecules, like rugosa The findings are crucial since the ocean flavonoids, podocarflavone, and worlds may support life. isoflavone found to prevent tuberculosis The scientists in the paper have and chikungunya, have so far been highlighted that an ocean world in Ceres isolated from plants. For the first time, was not expected, since Ceres is far away scientists have manage to synthesize the from the Sun and is too small to have molecules in the lab, paving the path for radioactive materials to keep oceans ensuring their availability at all seasons liquid for most of Ceres’s history. without overexploiting the medicinal The dwarf planet lies in the asteroid plants that contain them. belt between Mars and Jupiter, it was Scientists from Agharkar Research classified as a dwarf planet in 2006. Institute (ARI), Pune, an autonomous Ceres was first spotted by Giuseppe Piazzi in 1801, and was assumed as the institute of the Department of Science missing planet between Mars and Jupiter. and Technology (DST), have come Ceres is the first dwarf planet to be up with the first synthetic route for orbited by a spacecraft. In 2015 NASA’s producing flavonoids molecules related Dawn spacecraft reached Ceres to study to the treatment of tuberculosis and its surface, composition and history. chikungunya. Preliminary indications
24 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology
are also quite encouraging regarding The discovery of UV light from AUDFs01 probable treatment response to was made by an international team COVID-19. of astronomers from India, France, Switzerland, the USA (United States of China Successfully Launched New America), Japan and The Netherlands Optical Remote-Sensing Satellite which was led by Dr Kanak Saha, “Gaofen-9 05” associate professor of astronomy at the China launched its fifth Gaofen-9 series IUCAA. satellite named “Gaofen-9 05” along with The study is published in “Nature two smaller payloads viz. Tiantuo-5 and Astronomy”. Duo Gongneng Shiyan Weixing through Long March-2D carrier rocket from its Healthcare Workers to get first shots Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre (JSLC) of COVID-19 vaccine, followed by in northwest China. This launch was the senior citizens: WHO 343rd mission of the Long March rocket The World Health organisation has laid series and the 23rd for China in 2020. down the roadmap on the global access of Gaofen-9 (05) is an optical remote coronavirus vaccine by different sections sensing satellite developed by Aerospace of the society. Dongfanghong Satellite Co.Ltd, part of WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom China Academy of Space Technology Ghebreyesus stated that the organisation (CAST), a subsidiary of China Aerospace initially expected that there will be a Science and Technology Corporation shortage of the vaccine around the world. (CASC). He stated that it is important to provide The major upcoming Chinese mission the vaccine to those at highest risk in 2020, probably in November, is the around the globe, adding that healthcare Chang’e-5 lunar sample return. workers at the frontline would be its first recipients. India’s ASTROSAT Detected Extreme The WHO Chief reiterated that the UV light from AUDFs01 Galaxy healthcare workers are critical to saving In accordance with the Inter-University lives and stabilising the overall health Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics system. He added that it would be (IUCAA) in Pune, Maharashtra, followed by those above the age of 65 India’s first multi- wavelength satellite because they are facing a higher “risk of observatory, ASTROSAT, has detected dying” from the virus. an extreme ultraviolet (UV) light from a galaxy called “AUDFs01” which is 9.3 billion light-years away from Earth. The galaxy is located in the Hubble Extreme Deep field (XDF).
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 25 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 VSSUT first to set up Space Dassault Aviation. The deal was signed Innovation-cum-Incubation Centre by Manohar Parrikar as the Defence with ISRO Minister, National Security Advisor Ajit The Veer Surendra Sai University of Doval. Technology (VSSUT), Burla in Odisha’s IIT Hyderabad launches ‘world’s Sambalpur district became the first most affordable’ respirator mask University in the country to set up a Space Innovation-cum-Incubation Centre with In a bid to help people protect themselves the Indian Space Research Organisation against COVID-19, the Indian Institute of (ISRO). Technology, Hyderabad, has launched a This initiative would help to boost the novel respirator mask in the country. talent of young scientists. The protective gear is said to be far better The VSSUT Space innovation centre will than standard N95 respirators in terms of promote advanced space knowledge protection and, the best part is, it will cost among students and create a conducive you just Rs. 13 per day. space culture in India. Officially dubbed US9, the new silicon- based respirator mask has been developed Rafale to join fleet of IAF and commercialized by USafe Healthcare, First Five Rafale aircraft is all set to join the latest entrepreneurial entity from the the fleet of IAF (Indian Air Force) at the Center for Healthcare Entrepreneurship Ambala Air Base on 10th September at IIT-H. this year. The induction ceremony will Delhi police to set up ‘IT cell’ to flag be graced by Florence Parly, the French ‘unlawful content’ on social media counterpart of Rajnath Singh, Indian Defence Minister. As part of a pilot project, the Delhi Police is planning to set up an “IT cell” to flag Background “unlawful content” on social media that The country is already running short may have the potential to disrupt the of 300 fighter aircraft of different types. law-and-order situation. After the much controversy regarding The aim is to flag unlawful content on the corruption in the purchase of Rafale social media, which may cause communal fighter aircrafts the Government of India disharmony or affect the law-and-order in September 2016, gave the contract for situation, and take appropriate action 36 Rafales to the French Firm Dassault against it. Aviation. The contract came to be the largest-ever defence deal signed by Tripura University scientist designs the country worth over Rs 60,000 crore WARBOT to protect doctors of which the majority payments have To extend a big help to the doctors, already been made to the French firm attending the infected patients, a scientist
26 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology at Tripura University has designed a robot which can prevent the doctors, nurses and health staff from getting infected while they come in contact with patients infected with the virus. The robot is named as Covid-19 WARBOT. The “COVID 19 Warbot” stands upon a box-shaped structure that has been attached to four wheels that ensures the free movement of it. The electronic transmission system has been used in it so that it can be operated from 20-meter distance at the most and it has the ability to bear a weight of 30 Kgs.
China Launches Most Advanced Warship Type-054 class for Pakistan Navy China launched the first of the four advanced naval warships, Type-054 class frigates for the Pakistan Navy. The Type-054 class frigate is manufactured by China Shipbuilding Trading Company Ltd (CSTC) and was launched in the Chinese state-owned Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard, Shanghai. The Warship is fitted with the latest surface, subsurface, anti-air weapons, combat management system and sensors and will be one of the technologically- advanced surface platforms of the Pakistan Navy Fleet. In 2017, Pakistan signed a contract with CSTC for the delivery of two Type-054 A/P frigates in 2017.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 27 Mass Media & Communication Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 5.2 Mass Media & like painting, skills, building blocks and others. The Platform is an Athlete Coaching Communication Program for footballers at the grassroot and intermediate levels. It has been Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio launches divided into three parts: My Football ‘Yellow Chain’ e-commerce platform Culture, My Skills and My Training. Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio launched ‘Yellow Chain’ an Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad e-commerce platform during the State launches “Swadeshi Microprocessor level celebration of India’s Independence Challenge Day at Secretariat Plaza, Kohima. The Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister centralized e-commerce platform is of Law & Justice, Communications expected to promote local business & and Electronics & Information entrepreneurship in the state. It is seen as Technology, launched today “Swadeshi a “new era in Naga marketing culture”. Microprocessor Challenge Innovate ‘Yellow chain’ is developed by Investment Solutions for Aatmanirbhar Bharat” to & Development Authority of Nagaland provide further impetus to the strong (IDAN) to promote local business & ecosystem of Start-up, innovation and entrepreneurship. It has also released an research in the country. app for mobile services in the same name. IIT Madras and Center for Development of Advance Computing (CDAC) AIFF and SAI Jointly Launched have developed two microprocessors “E-pathshala” a Web Platform to named SHAKTI (32 bit) and VEGA Promote Football (64 bit) respectively using Open On the occasion of 74th Independence Source Architecture under the aegis Day, The All India Football Federation of Microprocessor Development (AIFF) and the Sports Authority of India Programme of Ministry of Electronics (SAI), jointly launched the E-Pathshala, and IT. a web platform to recognise creativity of “Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge- the children and to develop their interest Innovate Solutions for #Aatmanirbhar in football. Bharat” seeks to invite innovators, E-Pathshala: startups and students to use these microprocessors to develop various E-Pathshala is designed to engage the technology products. footballers across the nation and connect them with SAI and AIFF. The platform develops the children’s interest through cognitive approaches
28 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Mass Media & Communication “Harit Path”: mobile app launched to enables the app developers’ ultimate oversee plantations along National supremacy to the application or web Highways service with programmatic access. APIs Union Minister for Road Transport and are sets of specifications that provide Highways, Sh. Nitin Gadkari launched a control to the apps to communicate and mobile app named ‘Harit Path’ to conduct interact with another. monitoring operation of the plantation Arogya Setu app along the national highways through The app is developed by the National Geo-tagging and web-based GIS-enabled Informatics Centre under the Ministry of tools. Electronics and Information Technology Key Highlights to inform the user about contact tracing, In the virtual meeting on the context syndromic mapping, and self-assessment of ‘New Green Highways Policy to contain COVID-19. (Plantation)’, the road transport ministry IAF launches mobile app ‘MY IAF’ also discussed the need for utilization of modern and green technologies in Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Rakesh highway construction as well as reduction Kumar Singh Bhadauria launched a of road-building costs by 25%. mobile application, “MY IAF”, that ‘Harit Bharat Sankalp’ initiative has been will provide career-related information undertaken by NHAI. to those who want to join the Indian Air Force. The app was launched by Aarogya Setu team launches “Open Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria at Vayu API Service” for better operation Bhawan as part of the ‘Digital India’ initiative. The application, developed in India’s self- assessed association with Centre for Development digital of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), healthcare provides career-related information and service app details for those desirous of joining the Aarogya Setu IAF. It also provides glimpses into the has come up history and stories of valour in the IAF. with a new Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh feature called the Open API Service, launched mobile App, ‘DGNCC’ for which allows the organizations to check NCC Training the health status of their employees or any other user as well without creating Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched any privacy issue. Directorate General National Cadet Corps (DGNCC), a mobile training app which What is ‘Open API Service’? will help in conducting a countrywide An open API is a publicly available application programming interface that
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 29 Mass Media & Communication Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 online training for the National Cadet support, advisory services, along with Corps (NCC). financial incentives like seed funding of Since the training of NCC Cadets is upto Rs 25 lakhs. mostly contact based training, it has been STPI is taking initiatives and measures to affected due to the pandemic. realize the vision of Digital India. NGIS As schools/colleges are not likely to open program is created and aligned with the in near future, Defence Ministry has come vision of NPSP 2019 and it will create a up with DGNCC app to utilise the digital robust ecosystem for software product medium to impart training to the cadets. development in the country. The Mobile Training App will provide NCC cadets the entire training material including syllabus, summary, training videos and frequently asked questions. The app will also have a query option, through which the cadet can post his questions regarding syllabus. It will be answered by a panel of qualified instructors.
Ravi Shankar Prasad launches CHUNAUTI to accelerate startup ecosystem development in India Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister of Telecom and IT, launched CHUNAUTI, a start-up challenge under the Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS) initiative. The NGIS initiative has been brought by the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI). The aim of the incubation scheme is to develop and build an ecosystem for startups in India in partnership with the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) The services provided by NGIS to its beneficiaries include physical infrastructure (including incubation and software product security testing (SPST) facilities), mentoring and guidance, access to venture capitals (VCs) for funding
30 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event 6. NATIONAL – DIARY OF EVENT
1,000 days, 6 lakh villages: Every PM Modi launches National Digital Indian village to be connected with Health Mission optical fibre Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Digital Health Mission, while addressing the nation from Red Fort on India’s 74th Independence Day. Every Indian under the mission would get an ID card containing all relevant information about his/her medical conditions and treatments, tests etc. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Every Indian will get a Health ID card. addressed the nation on the occasion Every they visit a doctor or a pharmacy, of 74th Independence Day. PM Modi or a lab, all the detail will be registered in his Independence Day 2020 speech in this health card. Ranging from announced that India’s mantra must be doctor appointment to the medication “Make for World”. prescribed, medical tests, when were they In the upcoming 1000 days nearly 6 lakh done, every bit of detail will be available Indian villages will be connected with in your health profile. optical fibre. “This goal will be met in The scheme will be rolled out from today the coming thousand days. In the coming through a pilot launch in the Union 1000 days, every village in the country Territories of Chandigarh, Ladakh, Dadra will be connected with optical fibre. and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Before 2014, only 5 dozen panchayats in Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands the country were connected with optical and Lakshadweep,” Harsh Vardhan, fiber. In the last five years, 1.5 lakh gram Minister of Health & Family Welfare. panchayats in the country have been connected with optical fiber. Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa vows to build a “Kalyana Rajya” Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has vowed to build a ‘Kalyana Rajya’, a welfare state with the avowed principle
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 31 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 of ‘development’ as the only Mantra. NITI Aayog’s AIM, NASSCOM launch Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa informed Artificial Intelligence Step-up that the government has come to the modules for school students rescue of farmers in distress by buying National Institution for Transforming Rs 3,175 crore worth of farm products India (NITI Aayog)’s Atal Innovation such as green gram, turdal, groundnut, Mission (AIM) in collaboration with chickpea and copra under the minimum National Association of Software and support price programme from 5.82 lakh Service Companies (NASSCOM) has farmers. launched Artificial Intelligence (AI) based Under Ayushman Bharat scheme health Step-up module for school students. cards are distributed to 1.31 crore people The module was launched in a virtual in the State and offered health coverage platform attended by CEO NITI Aayog to 8.5 lakh beneficiaries. Mr Amitabh Kant, Mission Director Atal Innovation Mission Mr R Ramanan and EU launches Nirmanshree for Odisha NASSCOM President Debjani Ghosh. and Maharashtra Women in Housing Sector About NITI Aayog Establishment– 2015 European CEO– Amitabh Kant Union has Head quarters– New Delhi launched project Department of Biotechnology ’Nirmanshree’ supported National Facility at Venture for enhancing Center, Pune the women The Center for Biopharma Analysis (CBA) skill towards housing construction sector. supported by the National Biopharma This is the first-of-its-kind sustainable Mission (NBM) of Department of housing on a large scale in India with Biotechnology (DBT)- Biotechnology 1-million-euro.The project will be Industry Research Assistance Council implemented in Beed and Osmanabad (BIRAC) at Pune-based technology districts of Maharashtra and the business incubator, Venture Center was Dhenkanal and Jajpur districts of Odisha. inaugurated virtually by Secretary, DBT, A non-profit organisation, Habitat for Dr Renu Swarup. Humanity India has also join hands with CBA will provide high-quality EU for funding this project. analytical services for biopharmaceutical The total cost of the project is EUR 9,49,694 developers and manufacturers. This (INR 7,40,85,628 or US$1,075,307).90 center is envisioned to become a resource percent of fund provides by EU and center for structural and functional remaining 10 percent will be issued by characterization of biologicals and Habitat for Humanity India. biopharmaceuticals that will create long
32 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event lasting value for bioentrepreneurs and which is proposed to be developed at a industry. cost of about Rs 6,000 crore, will connect the boundaries of Rajasthan and Uttar Sikkim to set up education reform Pradesh through Sheopur, Morena and commission Bhind districts of Madhya Pradesh. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang announced his government will Bhupesh Baghel Announces Fund for set up an education reform commission Donations to Ram Van Gaman Path to draw a comprehensive policy in line Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh with the NEP. Baghel announced that a dedicated The state government will set up a Sikkim fund will be constituted for people to Education Reform Commission to draw a contribute towards the development of comprehensive policy and strategy in line his government’s ambitious Ram Van with the National Education Policy, 2020 Gaman tourism circuit project. The government has planned to set Claiming that Chhattisgarh is Ram’s up one model school in each district “maternal place”, Baghel announced with innovative teaching and learning that a dedicated tourism circuit ought methodologies. to be started in the state. “Chhattisgarh The state government has decided to is ‘nanihal‘ (maternal place) of Lord provide incentives to farmers for milk Ram. He had also spent most of his time production and a minimum support price in Chhattisgarh during his exile from (MSP) for ginger, orange, cardamom, Ayodhya. turmeric and buckwheat cultivation. To keep the memories linked to Lord Ram and Mata Kashulayaalive, the state Chambal Progress Way in MP to be government has undertaken the RamVan named after Vajpayee: Chouhan Gaman Tourism Circuit project and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj began its speedy implementation. Singh Chouhan announced that the proposed 300-km long ‘’Chambal Ministry of AYUSH launches campaign Progress Way’’ in the state would be “Ayush for Immunity” named after former Prime Minister Atal A campaign on “Ayush for Immunity” Bihari Vajpayee. has been launched by the Ministry of Chouhan also announced that the state AYUSH. government will observe December 25 The campaign was rolled out during a as ‘’Sushasan Diwas’’ (good governance webinar which featured the participation day) every year to mark Vajpayee’’s of More than 50 thousand people. birthday. The webinar was streamed by the The six-lane Chambal Progress Way, Ministry of AYUSH on its new digital communication platform Ayush Virtual
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 33 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020
Convention Centre (AVCC). based programme ‘Bultu Ke Bol’, Through the campaign “Ayush for ‘Mukhyamantri Slum Swasthya Yojana’, Immunity”, Ministry of AYUSH aims ‘Radhabai Diagnostic Centre Scheme’ to aware people about the valuable will also be introduced and committees information about strengths of various will be set up for new appointments and Ayush-based solutions for enhancing promotions in the state. immunity and preventing diseases. India Post Issued 5 Commemorative Indian Railways Constructing World’s Postage Stamps and 1 Miniature Tallest Pier Bridge across River Ijai in Sheet on UNESCO World Heritage Manipur Sites in India-III As a part of 111 kilometre-long Jiribam- India Post has Tupul-Imphal line project, Indian issued 5 Railways’ North East Frontier Railway Commemorative zone is constructing world’s tallest pier Postage Stamps bridge, having height of 141 metres, namely: Historic across river Ijai in Manipur with an outlay City of of Rs 280 crore. After completion, it will Ahmedabad – surpass the existing height record of Sarkhej Roza, Churches and Convents of 139 meters of the Mala – Rijeka Viaduct, Goa – Church of Bom Jesus, Group of Montenegro in Europe. Monuments at Pattadakal, Khajuraho The 703 meters long bridge is located at Group of Monuments Javeri Temple and the hilly terrain of Marangching village Qutb Minar its Monuments, Delhi. It also in Noney district, about 65 km west of issued 1 miniature sheet consisting of all Imphal, Manipur. the above stamps on UNESCO World The project will be completed in March Heritage Sites in India-III. 2022. Note: Group of Monuments at Chhattisgarh Govt Launched ‘Padhai Pattadakal- Karnataka Tuhar Para’ scheme for school Khajuraho Group of Monuments Javeri students Temple- Madhya Pradesh Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Key Points Baghel launched the ‘Padhai Tuhar Para’ The Sarkhej Roza, is not a part of the scheme to enable school students to learn inscribed ‘Historic Metropolis Of from their respective localities as the Ahmedabad’ which obtained the tag of classes are being suspended due to the India’s 1st UNESCO World Heritage outbreak of the coronavirus. Metropolis in July 2017. He informed that a Bluetooth- The leaflet issued by India Submit with the stamps phrases the Sarkhej Roza as
34 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event
one of many outstanding landmarks of Nitin Gadkari to Lay Foundation Stone the Historic Metropolis of Ahmedabad for for 13 National Highway Projects in its wealthy historical past and reverence. Manipur Union Minister Nitin Gadkari will lay Madhya Pradesh govt launches the foundation stone of highway projects ‘Gandgi Bharat Chhodo’ campaign worth Rs 3,000 crore for Manipur through The Madhya Pradesh government a virtual ceremony. These projects are for launched a special campaign to make the the construction of 316 km of highways. state garbage-free. These projects for inauguration and Launching the “Gandgi Bharat Chhodo foundation laying carry a Road length Madhya Pradesh” (Free India and of 316 kilometers, involving construction Madhya Pradesh from garbage) drive value of about Rs 3,000 crore. Paving the way for development of from Sagar, Urban Administration and Manipur, these roads will enhance better Development Minister Bhupendra Singh connectivity, convenience and economic announced accumulation of garbage is a growth in the state. big problem in cities. During the 15-day campaign, urban Bengal to observe Sept 1 as Police bodies will be ranked as per their Day performance and the best ones will be The West Bengal government will awarded by chief minister. observe September 1 as Police Day in 180-feet bailey bridge to provide recognition of the work done by the connectivity to 20 Uttarakhand men in uniform, chief minister Mamata villages Banerjee announced. They are risking their lives while tackling The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) the Covid-19 pandemic and handling law has constructed a 180-feet bailey bridge and order problems at the same time. in Jauljibi sector of Pithoragarh district Many policemen have been infected by The 50-metre span concrete bridge was the virus. But they have not budged. To completely washed out on July 27, 2020, remember their efforts towards corona when cloudburst hit the area and the virus, the day is to be observed as Police nallas and rivers were flooded which day. caused a mudflow of tremendous force. The bridge was successfully completed, Kerala Assembly gets its own TV which has led to accessing flood-affected space villages and has connected Jauljibi to Sabha TV, an initiative of the Kerala Munsiyari. Legislative Assembly, will serve as
The constructed bridge has resumed road a bridge connecting the people, the communication of 66-kilometre road government, and the Assembly, Lok starting from Jauljibi to Munsiyari. Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced .
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 35 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020
Mr. Birla inaugurated Sabha TV via India ranked 1st in number of organic videoconference. Television broadcasting farmers and 9th in terms of area has transformed over the years. Efforts under organic farming taken by the Kerala Assembly to In accordance with the Ministry of acknowledge the changing times and Agriculture and Farmers Welfare take the Assembly proceedings directly (MoA&FW), India ranked first in number to the people are welcome. of organic farmers and 9th in terms of Viewing of Assembly proceedings in area under organic farming. Notably, their entirety by the people would help Sikkim was the first state in the world improve the functioning of the House. to become completely organic and other states including Tripura and Uttarakhand MPEDA launches Quality Control Lab have set targets to be on the same line. in Porbandar In 2015, two dedicated programs Quality Control Lab has been set up by namely Mission Organic Value Chain the Marine Products Export Development Development for North East Region Authority (MPEDA) in Porbandar, (MOVCD) and Paramparagat Krishi Gujarat. Vikas Yojana (PKVY) were launched to The Quality Control Lab will offer tests encourage chemical free farming. for seafood processors as well as exporters to confirm to product safety as per ‘Dhanwantari Rath’ to bring ayurveda international regulatory requirements. at doorsteps of Delhi Police families A MoU was signed between the All India Manduadih Railway Station in Uttar Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and the Pradesh to be renamed as ‘Banaras’: Delhi Police for extending ayurvedic MHA mode of preventive and promotive Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) health services in the residential colonies approved the renaming of Manduadih of the force. Supported by the AYUSH Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh (UP) as ministry, these services will be provided ‘Banaras’. In 2019, Former Union Minister by AIIA through a mobile unit named Manoj Sinha had written to UP Chief ‘Dhanwantari Rath’ and Police Wellness Minister Yogi Adityanath requesting Centres. the change in name of the Manduadih Railway Station. Indian Railways introduces Drone Manduadih is a place in Varanasi based surveillance system situated about four kilometres from Drone based surveillance system has Varanasi Cantonment Station. been introduced by the Indian Railways Manduadih is a place in Varanasi situated for Railway security. about four kilometres from Varanasi The Railway Protection Force (RPF) Cantonment Station. has decided to employ large number
36 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event
of drones for the purpose of Railway Mobile vans to take tribal products to security. As a result, RPF has procured consumers’ doorstep in 31 cities nine drones at a cost of around Rs 32 lakh Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda at the South Eastern Railway, Central flagged off 57 mobile vans which will Railway, Modern Coaching Factory, carry tribal products to every household Raebareli and South Western Railway. in 31 cities, including Ahmedabad, The deployment of drones aims to Allahabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, provide a force multiplier and increases Coimbatore, Delhi and Guwahati. the effectiveness of the security personnel In these trying times, when COVID-19 has deployed. disrupted lives in more ways than one, Two Ninja UAVs have been procured by people are focusing on healthier ways of the Mumbai Division of Central Railway living and staying as safe as possible. for better security and surveillance in This novel initiative ensures that one Railway areas such as station premises, does not even have to step out to shop Railway track sections, yards as well as for organic, essential natural immunity- workshops. boosting products and adopt a sustainable and wholesome way of living. Meritorious female students to receive free scooty from govt Cancer Linked To Use of Tobacco The Assam government will provide Highest In Northeast: Report free scooty to all female students who Cancers related to the use of tobacco is secured first division in Class 12 board highest in the North East region of India, exams conducted by the Assam Higher announced the National Cancer Registry Secondary Education Council (AHSEC). Programme report for 2020 released by Education Minister, Himanta Biswa The Indian Council of Medical Research Sarma announced that over 22,000 will (ICMR) and National Centre for Disease receive free scooty under the ‘Pragyan Informatics and Research (NCDIR), Bharti’ scheme. Bengaluru.
The government has also decided to The report announced that tobacco- reserve 25% seats in government colleges related cancers are estimated to contribute for state board students. 3.7 lakh or 27.1 per cent of the total cancer The budget for each scooty has been fixed burden in 2020. The study estimated that at Rs 50,000 to 55,000. by 2020, the number of cancer cases in the The distribution of the two-wheelers will country will be at 13.9 lakh, and by 2025, be completed by October 15, 2020, and it is likely to increase to 15.7 lakh based the beneficiaries will not be able to sell on current trends. their vehicles before three years. Between 2012 to 2016, North East recorded the highest cancer incidence rate in the country. Mizoram’s capital,
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 37 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020
Aizawl, reported the highest cancer cases NRA will comprise of representatives among men with an incidence rate of of Ministry of Railways, Ministry of 269.4 per one lakh population. Aizawl Finance/Department of Financial was followed by Meghalaya’s East Khasi Services, the SSC, RRB as well as IBPS. Hills district with an incidence rate NRA is expected to be a specialist body of 227.9 per one lakh population and which will offer the state-of-the-art Assam’s Kamrup (Metro) with 213 cancer technology and best practices to the field cases per one lakh population. of Central Government recruitment. A sum of Rs. 1517.57 crore has been Vijaynagar, one of the remotest parts sanctioned by the Government of India of India, gets mobile connectivity for the National Recruitment Agency Vijaynagar, one of the remotest and (NRA). easternmost parts of the country, has been connected with mobile connectivity. Indore cleanest city in India for the The area is a part of Arunachal Pradesh. fourth time, five others rated 5-star It was connected with mobile connectivity Indore, Ambikapur, Navi Mumbai, Surat, after Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited Rajkot and Mysuru have been rated as installed a network tower that has become five-star cities, 86 cities as three-star and functional now. 64 cities as one-star as per the Ministry BSNL launched 2G mobile service in of Housing and Urban Affairs’ rating Vijaynagar area on August 1, 2020. protocol for garbage-free cities. The area is situated in the easternmost The announcement was made during corner of Arunachal Pradesh bordering the Swachh Survekshan awards declared Myanmar. Vijaynagar is not connected by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. with any motorable road. It is meant to monitor the performance The 2G mobile service will be a boon of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, launched for the people of this isolated place. The in 2014. The survey was conducted in nearest place to the area with a road is 4,242 cities, 62 cantonment boards and 92 Miao, which is located 157 Km away from Ganga towns and was completed in 28 the circle. days. Cabinet approves setting up of Indore city in Madhya Pradesh emerged National Recruitment Agency as the cleanest city for the fourth time in a row, Surat and Navi Mumbai won the The establishment of “National second and third position respectively Recruitment Agency” has received the in the more than 100,000 population Union Cabinet’s approval. category. The National Recruitment Agency (NRA) Mysuru city in Karnataka had won the will result in transformational reform award for the cleanest city of India in the in the recruitment process for central first edition of the survey in 2016, while government jobs.
38 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event
Indore had retained the top position for over an online orientation workshop three consecutive years. organised by Food Safety and Standards Chhattisgarh won the prestigious title Authority of India (FSSAI) as part of its of the cleanest state in the more than Eat Right Challenge. He also launched hundred urban local bodies category, FSSAI’s ‘Eat Right India’ Handbook and while Jharkhand was adjudged the the website eatrightindia.gov.in to help winner in the less than hundred urban various stakeholders scale up ‘Eat Right local bodies category. An additional 117 India’ initiatives across the country. awards were also handed over by the The ‘Eat Right India’ movement initiated Minister. by FSSAI under the aegis of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has been Cabinet gives nod for leasing out creating awareness amongst the people Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur, about safe, healthy and sustainable dietary Guwahati airports through PPP habits. To achieve this end and to convert The Union Cabinet has approved the the program into a people’s movement, proposal for leasing out Jaipur, Guwahati FSSAI recently announced the Eat Right and Thiruvanathapuram airports of Challenge, an annual competition for 197 the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Districts and Cities in a unique way to through Public-Private Partnership. strengthen the food safety and regulatory This is not a permanent move, it has environment, build awareness among the been leased out for 50 years. The revenue consumers and urge them to make better received through this model will be food choices. utilised by the AAI to develop airports in small cities. Secondly, passengers will get Tribal Affairs ministry launches better facilities. tertiary processing centres in The Cabinet had similarly cleared the civil Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra aviation ministry’s proposal to lease out The Tribal Affairs Ministry launched two Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Mangaluru tertiary processing centres in Chhattisgarh airports through PPP to the Adani group and Maharashtra to enhance the income for a period of 50 years. It was the second of tribal forest gatherers by adding value big airport privatisation round after to non-timber forest products collected Delhi and Mumbai were given to private by them. companies GMR and GVK. Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda e-launched the centres under the Dr Harsh Vardhan digitally addresses “TRIFOOD” project being implemented FSSAI’s Eat Right Challenge by Tribal Cooperative Marketing Orientation Workshop Development Federation of India Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of (TRIFED) in association with the Ministry Health and Family Welfare presided of Food Processing.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 39 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020
One of the minor forest produce (MFP) Ring Road Project. processing units will be set up in Raigad, The foundation stone for the 58.25-km- Maharashtra, to add value to tradition long Jammu Ring Road project, which is tribal drink ”mahua”, amla, custard expected to boost the road connectivity apple and jamun and produce mahua and decrease traffic congestion in Jammu, drink, amla juice, candy, jamun juice and was laid in 2018 by Prime Minister custard apple pulp. Narendra Modi. Another multi-commodity processing The foundation stone for the 58.25-km- centre in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, will be long Jammu Ring Road project, which is used for the processing of commodities expected to boost the road connectivity like mahua, amla, honey, cashew, and decrease traffic congestion in Jammu, tamarind, ginger, garlic and other fruits was laid in 2018 by Prime Minister and vegetables. Narendra Modi.
Atal Innovation Mission and India Over 10,000 patients in J&K Sweden Healthcare Innovation benefitted from teleradiology Centre Partners to Boost Startup More than 10,000 people have benefitted Ecosystem from teleradiology system launched in Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI June this year in Jammu and Kashmir. Aayog and Business Sweden on behalf Teleradiology is a branch of telemedicine of India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation in which telecommunication systems are Centre signed a virtual Statement of Intent used to transmit radiological images from (SoI) to boost the culture of innovation in one location to another. Interpretation of India. all noninvasive imaging studies, such as This collaboration aims to promote digitized X-Rays, CT, MRI, ultrasound, the innovative potential of Indian and nuclear medicine studies, can be Entrepreneurs and to boost the dynamic carried out in such a manner. startup ecosystem across India. The services for teleradiology are being India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation provided under National Free diagnostics Centre is a collaboration of All India initiative of National Health Mission Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) (NHM) at identified healthcare facilities (Delhi, Jodhpur) and Business Sweden. in the union territory focusing on rural and far-flung areas in the initial phase. Governor Manoj Sinha Inaugurates In the first phase, 53 healthcare First Phase of Jammu Ring Road institutions including 6 district hospitals Project have been identified to be covered under Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Lieutenant this initiative like extension of free X-ray Governor Manoj Sinha (21 August) services. inaugurated the first phase of the Jammu
40 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event
These free teleradiology services at the “influence the players’ actions in the real identified facilities have been made world, reminding them to take the right available on 24 7 basis. precautions and escape infection.
MP Police’s ‘Ek Sankalp – Bujurgo ke Govt launches online registration of naam’ campaign proves to be boon gold hallmarking centres for senior citizens Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas In the state of Madhya Pradesh, a unique Paswan launched an online system for campaign ‘Ek Sankalp – Bujurgo ke registration and renewal of licence of naam’ (a commitment for elders) is being gold assaying and hallmarking centres. run by the Chhatarpur Police in the midst Gold hallmarking is voluntary in nature. of Pandemic. However, it will be made mandatory The campaign is being run specifically from June 2021. Gold sold by jewellers for the elderly people above the age of 60 will need to have ‘hallmark’ quality years. certification. Facilities like medicines, vegetables, milk, Presently, there are 921 hallmarking essential goods telephone, TV recharge, centres located in 234 districts. online application are being provided to the house of the elderly people. Arunachal Pradesh will provide Renowned social worker Anna Hazare potable water by 2023 has praised this campaign being run Announced by Prime Minister on 15th specifically for the elderly and helpless August, 2019, Jal Jeevan Mission is people. under implementation in partnership with States with the objective to provide Dr Harsh Vardhan launches interactive functional household tap connections first-of-its-kind video game ‘Corona to every rural household of the country Fighters’ to spread awareness by 2024. The goal of the Mission is to Health Minister Dr.Harsh Vardhan has enable every rural household has assured launched an interactive first-of-its-kind availability of potable water at a service game on COVID-19, the Corona Fighters. level of 55 litres per capita per day (lpcd) The Minister also launched two new on regular and long-term basis so as to videos urging adherence to key COVID bring improvements in lives of people Appropriate Behaviours. living in rural areas. The game presents a new and extremely creative way to teach people the right National Commission on Population: tools and behaviours to fight the Covid-19 Projects India’s Population to be pandemic. more feminine by 2036 The game, available on www. The National Commission on Population thecoronafighters.in, was designed to under the Ministry of Health and Family
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 41 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020
Welfare (MoHFW) submitted the Report “Tribes India Showroom” is an initiative of the Technical group on population of TRIFED, Ministry of Tribal Affairs projections July 2020, titled “Population to promote the livelihood of the tribal projections for India and States people marketing. 2011- 2036”. “Tribes India on Wheels” is also launched The report projected that the India’s sex by TRIFED to boost the sales and enhance ratio of the total population (females tribal income in these challenging times. per 1000 males) is expected to be more It is a mobile van stacked fully with Van feminine in 2036 compared to the Dhan natural produce, immunity boosters population as of 2011. including other tribal products and aims Youth population (15-24 years) is expected to deliver these products directly to the to increase from 23.3 crores in 2011 to customer’s doorstep in 150 cities across 25.2 crores in 2021 and then continue to the nation. decrease to 22.7 crores in 2036. The van brings various kinds of immunity Infant Mortality Rate: boosting products like wild honey, India’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is organic haldi, amla, ginger, black pepper reported to be 46 in 2010 which is expected etc. to reduce to 30 by the end of 2031-2035. India’s longest river ropeway Fertility Rate: inaugurated in Assam Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is expected to The longest river ropeway of India has decline from 2.34 during 2011-2015 to been inaugurated in Assam. 1.73 during 2031- 35. The ropeway is 1.8 Km long and connects Sex ratio: Guwahati and North Guwahati over The report estimates the sex ratio to Brahmaputra river. increase from 943 in 2011 to 957 in 2036. The ropeway will be operated from Compared to 2011, the sex ratio in 18 states Kachari Ghat in Guwahati to Dol Govinda except Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra temple in North Guwahati. and Gujarat are expected to increase by The new ropeway service empowered 2036. with state-of-the-art technology will decrease the travel time between Arjun Munda e-inaugurates “Tribes Guwahati and North Guwahati. India Showroom” in Mumbai It is also expected to strengthen the “Tribes India Showroom” has been tourism sector as it will enable people e-inaugurated by the Union Minister for to see the landscapes of Guwahati city, Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda. mighty Brahmaputra including the The showroom has been inaugurated in Umananda Temple on Peacock island. Indian Globe Chambers of LIC Western Zonal Office, Fort, Mumbai.
42 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event National Council for Transgender is the first report to examine export Persons preparedness and performance of the The Centre has constituted the national states of India. Gujarat was identified as council for transgender persons, headed the top performing state in the category of by the Union social justice minister Coastal state and also topped the Overall and comprising representatives from rankings. 10 central departments, five states and The landlocked states, Chhattisgarh and members of the community. Jharkhand had taken several measures The council India’s first and formed to promote exports which can be under Transgender Persons (Protection implemented by the other states with of Rights) Act, 2019 was announced. similar socio-economic challenges.
In exercise of the powers conferred by This data driven effort identifies the core section 16 of the Transgender Persons areas that are significant to promote the (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 (40 of exports at sub national level. 2019), the Central Government has Top 5 in Overall rankings: constituted a National Council for Rank State Export State Transgender Persons vide notification Preparedness Category dated 21 August 2020. 1 Gujarat 75.19 Coastal India to complete construction of 2 Maharashtra 75.14 Coastal highest railway bridge in Jammu and 3 Tamil Nadu 64.93 Coastal Kashmir 4 Rajasthan 62.59 Land Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district will locked soon come up with the world’s highest 5 Odisha 58.23 Coastal railway bridge which will be 35 metres taller than Eiffel Tower. The bridge which Innovations in renewable energy will is being built over Chenab river is likely give boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat to be completed by August 2022. Indian Railways plans to use its surplus The bridge will connect Kashmir valley land to generate 20 GW of renewable with Katra in Jammu and the rest of the energy from ‘Made in India’ solar or country. It will also reduce the journey wind equipment to power its network, time by 5-6 hours from Katra to Srinagar. Commerce, Industry and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal. NITI Aayog Released Export This will go up to 2 billion tonnes in the Preparedness Index (EPI) 2020: next 5 years and will be the world’s first Gujarat Tops the Overall Rankings large railway of this dimension. There is a NITI Aayog in partnership with Institute lot of surplus land and land across tracks of Competitiveness released the Export to generate 20 GW of Made in India solar Preparedness Index (EPI) 2020, this equipment or wind equipment in use. This
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 43 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 will give us 20 GW production capacity Union Minister Piyush Goyal launches of renewable energy and enough kilowatt National GIS-enabled Land Bank hours to power our entire railway system He was addressing CEEW India’s Union Minister for Commerce and programme on ‘Powering Livelihoods: Industry, Piyush Goyal e-launched the Transforming India’s Rural Economy National GIS (Geographic Information with Clean Energy Solutions’. System)-enabled Land Bank system (https://iis.ncog.gov.in/parks) for six Government launches KIRAN helpline states. for mental health The platform will provide a database Thawar Chand Gehlot, Union Minister of industrial areas/clusters across the of Social Justice and Empowerment, country and will serve as a one-stop launched ‘Kiran’ helpline number for solution to the free and easy accessibility rehabilitation of mental health. The toll- of all industrial information. free helpline number (1800-599-0019) has been launched with an aim to resolve the NITI Aayog virtually launches India mental health issues faced by individuals, component of NDC- TIA especially during the ongoing COVID-19 NITI Aayog virtually launched the India pandemic. Component of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) – Transport Delhi Government Launched ‘Healthy Initiative for Asia (TIA). Body, Healthy Mind’ Fitness Campaign The events inform the transport, energy, Delhi Government launched the Fitness and climate stakeholders in India Campaign – “Healthy Body, Healthy about planned project activities for the Mind”, for the students who are confined upcoming year. in their homes because of the lockdown It will also offer the opportunity to imposed on Schools and colleges due to provide input about India’s transport COVID-19 pandemic. challenges and how they relate to CO2 Healthy Body, Healthy Mind: reduction ambitions. As a part of the “Healthy Body, Healthy Mind” campaign, a YouTube channel has Handicraft production centre been started which uploads a video on inaugurated in Guwahati, Assam every wednesday, by which the students In a bid to give a boost to the Aatma can practice for a week to maintain fitness Nirbhar Bharat Mission, a handicraft and make up for the loss of physical production centre is inaugurated in activities amid pandemic. Guwahati by Assam Apex Weavers and Artisans Cooperative Federation Limited- ARTFED. The bamboo and cane based local items
44 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event to be produced in the centre. During the Union Minister Piyush Goyal addresses lockdown period, the weavers under the ASEAN-India Business Council Meet ARTFED produced 13 thousand pieces Union Minister for Commerce and of bedsheets and pillow covers for the Industry, Piyush Goyal addressed the National Health Mission. Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Business Council Virtual Arunachal Pradesh assembly passes Meet. He extended India’s friendship resolution to bring state under Sixth and partnership to ASEAN countries and Schedule expected to achieve a target of 300-billion- The Arunachal Pradesh state assembly dollar trade through Business with them. has passed a resolution to bring the He emphasized 3 C’s Cooperation, state under the Sixth Schedule of the Collaboration & Commitment as guide Constitution. The resolution also amends for the strategic partnership between Article 371(H) by including provisions to India and ASEAN countries. safeguard the tribes of the state. The resolution was moved by Legislative State’s First Marine Ambulance Affairs Minister Bamang Felix on ‘Pratheeksha’ in Kochi August 27, 2020 on behalf of the State Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Government. It was passed by a voice Vijayan inaugurated the State’s First vote following a marathon discussion in fully equipped Marine Ambulance the house. ‘Pratheeksha’. It was acquired by the Fisheries Department at Kochi for rescue BPR&D celebrates its Golden Jubilee operations at sea. ‘Pratheeksha’ – built by Anniversary on 28th August, 2020 Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) is the first of The Bureau of Police Research and the three marine ambulances ordered by Development (BPR&D) celebrated its the state. Golden Jubilee Anniversary on 28th Key Points: August, 2020. The Central institute of Fisheries BPR&D was raised on 28th August, 1970, Technology (CIFT), Kochi provided the through a resolution of Ministry of Home technical advice for building the marine Affairs, Government of India. ambulances. The Bureau was mandated to encourage Pratheeksha will be stationed at Vizhinjam excellence in policing, promote speedy in Thiruvananthapuram, Prathyasa and and systematic study of police problems, Karunya will be stationed at Vypeen in apply science and technology in the Ernakulam and Beypore in Kozhikode. method and techniques by the Police. The bureau has played a vital role in shaping the Indian Police.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 45 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Nari Shakti video for women Asia’s largest aerospace exhibition - in empowerment at POSOCO Bengaluru in February.
National power grid operator POSOCO The ministry took the decision to hold released a video Nari Shakti to celebrate the biennial event as scheduled following and acknowledge the extraordinary role inputs from major stakeholders including played by women employees at POSOCO. the domestic defence industry and POSOCO offers women the best global aerospace majors. The sources opportunities to achieve these goals. announced the main event will be held They are encouraged to challenge the from February 3-5 while the exhibition conventional assumptions, to inspire will be thrown open for general public on teams; they are encouraged to translate February 6 and 7. their ideas into actionable goals and The government will showcase India as results. an attractive destination for investment in the defence manufacturing sector besides ‘Iraada’ Campaign Launched Social highlighting series of initiatives it has Welfare Schemes: J&K taken to promote the domestic industry.
In Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Dr Sagar 51st IFFI to be held in Goa from Nov 20 D.Doifode, Doda District Deputy Commissioner (DCC) launched ‘Iraada’ 51st International Film Festival of India campaign to include eligible left-out (IFFI) will be held in Goa, from November beneficiaries, who have not yet been 20th to 28th. enrolled to receive the financial assistance This film festival is a hybrid film festival benefits under various social welfare due to COVID 19, would screen films on schemes, which includes old age pension, the official digital platform along with the widow and handicap scheme. In other theatrical screenings. words, the campaign is for 100% coverage Kerala to build country’s first under social welfare schemes. International Women Trade Centre The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah launched ‘Vriksharopan Abhiyan’ the In association with United Nations tree plantation campaign of the Coal sustainable development goals Ministry in the presence of Shri Pralhad (SDGs), Kerala will set up India’s first Joshi, Union Minister of Coal, Mines and international women’s trade centre Parliamentary Affairs. (WTC), at Angamaly (a city in Kochi, Kerala). Aero India-2021 to be held in Objective Bengaluru from February 3 to 7 The recent move aims to accelerate The defence ministry has decided to host women entrepreneurship and secure the next edition of Aero India -considered gender parity while providing women with a safe place away from home to
46 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event start new businesses. It will also help set Chinese state-owned Hudong Zhonghua up or expand current business holdings. Shipyard, Shanghai. According to Biju Prabhakar, IAS, The Warship is fitted with the latest Secretary, Department of Social Justice, surface, subsurface, anti-air weapons, Women & Child Development women combat management system and sensors can also get their products marketed and will be one of the technologically- globally. advanced surface platforms of the Organized by FICCI Kerala State Council Pakistan Navy Fleet. the Secretary was making the keynote In 2017, Pakistan signed a contract with while addressing at the webinar on CSTC for the delivery of two Type-054 Scaling up Opportunities for MSME A/P frigates in 2017. Women Entrepreneurs in Kerala. UP govt launches ‘Major Dhyan Chand Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa to flag Vijaypath Yojana’ off first RORO train from Bengaluru Uttar Pradesh (UP) Deputy Chief Minister to Solapur Keshav Prasad Maurya launched ‘Major The maiden ‘Roll On Roll Off’ (RORO) Dhyan Chand Vijaypath Yojana’ scheme train between Bengaluru and Solapur under which 19 International Players will in Maharashtra consisting of open flat get road connectivity to their homes. wagon on which trucks with goods are The initial list includes 19 International loaded will start the South Western Players from the state, and later on more Railway. players are expected to be added to the Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa list. will flag off the RORO train from The list includes Indian Cricketers Nelamagala station on the city outskirts Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Praveen Kumar, at 9.15 am Piyush Chawla and Mohammad Kaif. He will be accompanied by Union A road will be named after Late Cricketer minister of state for railways Suresh and Former Cabinet Minister Chetan Angadi, state revenue minister R Ashoka. Chauhan.
China Launches Most Advanced Warship Type-054 class for Pakistan Navy China launched the first of the four advanced naval warships, Type-054 class frigates for the Pakistan Navy. The Type-054 class frigate is manufactured by China Shipbuilding Trading Company Ltd (CSTC) and was launched in the
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 47 International Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 7. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
13th Session of the India-UAE Joint about hygiene, wearing masks and social Commission Meeting distancing by organising online contests The 13th Session of the India-UAE Joint and producing educational videos. Commission Meeting on Trade, Economic About World Book of Records: and Technical Cooperation was held to The organization was found in 2017 and review the continuing growth of broad honors personalities for their contribution based cooperation between the two towards humanity and universal peace. countries. The session was co-chaired by Dr. Eight teams of scientists from India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister and US selected for pursuing research of External Affairs of India and Sheikh on Covid-19 Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister Eight binational teams of researchers of Foreign Affairs and International from India and the US have been selected Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates. for pursuing cutting-edge research in Ganesh Vilas Lengare Awarded Star pathogenesis and disease management of 2020 Certificate by World Book of Covid-19.
Records, London The teams will pursue research in areas such as antiviral coatings, immune
Solapur based activist Ganesh Vilas modulation, tracking SARS CoV- Lengare has been awarded Star 2020 2 in wastewater, disease detection E-citation Certification by World Book mechanisms, reverse genetics strategies of Records, London. He has been and drug repurposing. awarded for his efforts to help the poor The research awards were announced people during the lockdown caused by by the Indo-US Science and Technology Coronavirus. Forum (IUSSTF), an autonomous
Ganesh Vilas Lengare launched 21 bilateral organisation jointly funded by schemes to assist the people. The Most the governments of India and the US, notable work that he had done was which promotes science, technology, the COVID-19 patient contact tracing, engineering and innovation through which was implemented with the help of substantive interaction among Solapur district authorities. government, academia and industry. Ganesh Vilas Lengare spread awareness
48 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 International Affairs
Kamala Harris becomes first Indian The conference was held with prime American to accept Democratic Party objective of strengthening multilateralism nomination for US Vice President’s and international cooperation in order to post rebuild a better world. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla participated in the inaugural US Senator Kamala Harris has become ceremony of the conference. the first Indian American to accept nomination for the US Vice Presidential India Ranked 57th in Digital Quality of candidate for Democratic Party. Life 2020, Denmark tops: DQL Index During her acceptance speech, she said 2020 by SurfShark that she was honoured to accept the nomination for Vice President of the United States. She spoke about her own story of how growing up has shaped her. She said she was committed to the values of her mother and to the vision that is shared by Joe Biden, where there will be equality for all regardless of what they look like and where they are from. In accordance with the 2nd edition of While mentioning names of George global research “Digital Quality of Life Floyd, Breonna Taylor, she said they have (DQL) Index 2020” released by online got to do the work to fulfill the promise of privacy solutions provider SurfShark, equal justice under law while adding that India ranked 57th out of 85 countries in none of us are free until all of us are free. terms of overall category “Digital Quality of Life 2020” with 0.5 index points which 5th World Conference of Speakers of has been topped by Denmark with 0.79 Parliament held virtually points. The DQL Index 2020 analyzes 85 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (5WCSP) was held virtually. countries around the world covering The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), 6.3 billion people or 81% of the global Geneva, and the Parliament of Austria population in terms of five core pillars: jointly organized the two day Conference internet affordability, internet quality, with the support of the United Nations e-infrastructure, e-security, and (UN). e-government, and results are premised on 12 different factors. The conference was held with the theme “Parliamentary leadership for more Rank Country effective multilateralism” to deliver Digital Quality of Life 2020 peace and sustainable development for 57 India the people and planet. 1 Denmark
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 49 International Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020
2 Sweden found that 50% of young people across the world are possibly subject to anxiety 3 Canada or depression and around 17% of them Internet Affordability are already affected by it. and 38% of 9 India youths do not have a clear idea about the 1 Israel career or future. 2 Canada Note: 3 Azerbaijan Around 12000 responses from 112 Internet Quality countries were received with a major 78 India contribution from the educated youths. 1 Singapore Aim: 2 Sweden To identify the immediate effects of the 3 Netherlands pandemic on the lives of the youths across Electronic (E)-infrastructure the world with regards to employment, 79 India education, mental health, rights and social activism. 1 United Arab Emirates (UAE) 2 Sweden About International Labor Organization (ILO): 3 Denmark ff Director-General– Guy Ryder E-security ff Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland 57 India ff ILO is a specialized body of the United 1 United Kingdom (UK) Nations (UN). 2 France 3 Lithuania 6th Round Table of ASEAN-India E-Government network of think tanks (AINTT) held 15 India Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) 1 Singapore in partnership with the Ministry of 2 UK Foreign Affairs of Thailand organized 3 United States of America (USA) the two-day long 6th Round Table of ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks The ILO’s “Youth and COVID-19: (AINTT) through video conference on Impacts on Jobs, Education, Rights the theme “ASEAN-India: Strengthening and Mental Well-being” Partnership in the Post COVID Era”. ASEAN is an acronym for Association of The United Nations (UN)’s International Southeast Asian Nations. Labour Organization (ILO) published It was inaugurated by Union External the survey report titled “Youth and Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam COVID-19: Impacts on Jobs, Education, Jaishankar and the Deputy Prime Rights and Mental Well-being” which
50 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 International Affairs Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand introduced the machine after considering Don Pramudwinai. ASEAN Secretary the increase in transport and travel General Dato’ Paduka Lim Jock Hoi also services after Unlock-1 Phase. addressed the inaugural session. World Health Organization certifies About Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Africa free from wild Polio ff 2020 Chairmanship– Vietnam The Africa Regional Certification ff Chairman– Nguyen Xuan Phuc Commission (ARCC), an independent body set up by the World Health ff Secretariat – Jakarta, Indonesia Organization (WHO), has certified the ff Membership– 10 States ― Brunei African continent free from wild Polio Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, virus. Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, The landmark feat related to public health Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. 1 has been achieved by the continent after Observer – Papua New Guinea. decades of work along with international India and Uzbekistan Co-chaired health bodies, national and local the First National Coordination governments, community volunteers Committee Meeting and survivors. According to the previous records, about 75,000 children in Africa V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for were paralysed by polio in year 1996. External Affairs, Government of India The last case of Polio was recorded four and Sardor Umurzakov, Deputy Prime years ago in the northern Nigeria. Minister of Uzbekistan co-chaired the first National Coordination Committee 17th meeting of India-Vietnam Joint Meeting. Commission held Issues on bilateral interests like, Line The 17th meeting of the India-Vietnam of Credit (LoC) projects, trade and Joint Commission was held through investments to strengthen the strategic video conference on August 25, 2020. relations between India and Uzbekistan The meeting was co-chaired by India’s were discussed during the meeting. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar First in Indian Railways: Ahmedabad and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Railway Division Introduces Baggage Binh Minh. Sanitization and Wrapping Machine The two sides reviewed recent developments in India-Vietnam Ahmedabad Railway Division launched Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the Baggage Sanitization and Wrapping during the meeting and discussed the Machine at the Ahmedabad Railway future trajectory of their engagement. station to ensure safe travel for the The two sides further agreed to advance passengers during the Pandemic. the economic and defence engagement The Ahmedabad Railway Division has
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 51 International Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 between the two nations and boost closer the then Defence Minister Nirmala cooperation in other areas including Sitharaman and her Singaporean space, marine sciences, civil nuclear counterpart Ng Eng Hen. The agreement energy and new technologies. ensures deep cooperation in maritime activity. Against the backdrop of China’s NCPUL organises “World Urdu increasing military movements in the Conference” in New Delhi Indo-Pacific region both the countries National Council for Promotion of Urdu granted freedom of navigation in critical Language (NCPUL) has organised the sea lanes. “World Urdu Conference” in New Delhi. The inaugural session of the two days India ranks 72 globally in terms of long conference was virtually addressed average monthly wage by Union Education Minister Shri In a global survey conducted by Picodi. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’. com, an international e-commerce During the conference, the minister platform which provides discount added that Government of India will coupons, India is placed at 72 number honor Urdu writers and literators with among 106 nations while Switzerland awards and honours in the name of topping the chart. important personalities of Urdu in order Ranking to encourage Urdu writers for literary The ranking by Picodi.com placed and creative services. Switzerland at the top, where the average wage amounts to Rs 4,49,000 14th India-Singapore Defense Policy while placing Cuba at the lowest rank Dialogue where the average wage is at Rs 2,700. Recently India and Singapore conducted With an average earning of Rs 3,00,900 the fourteenth Defence Policy Dialogue via and Rs 2,64,900 Luxembourg and the video conferencing. The conference was United States, ranked second and third Co-chaired by Defence Secretary Dr Ajay respectively. Kumar Permanent Secretary (Defence), and his Singaporean counterpart Mr Chan Heng Kee. The delegates discussed a number of issues of high importance between both the nations. It was on 24 November 2015, when India and Singapore first signed the agreement for the strategic relationship. The agreement then included a number of high priority agenda. Further taking the agreement ahead in the year 2018,
52 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Tamilnadu Affairs 8. TAMILNADU AFFAIRS
New Education Policy aims at proposed the draft EIA 2020 to replace ensuring 100% gross enrolment in the EIA Notification 2006 and was put in schools by 2030 public domain on March 12 for obtaining In Tamil Nadu, the webinar on New comments from all stakeholders within a Education Policy organized by the Rural period of 60 days. Outreach Bureau, Government of India On June 30, the Delhi High Court in Thanjavur, emphasized the fact that directed the Centre to publish a draft the policy primarily aims at ensuring 100 EIA notification 2020 in all 22 official per cent gross enrolment in schools by languages for the comments of the State 2030. government by August 11. The webinar, held as part of Independence Chennai ranks 45th in Swachh Day celebrations, was one element in a Survekshan 2020 list series of online communication exchange campaigns being organized by the Rural Chennai has been ranked 45th this year in Outreach Bureau. the Swachh Survekshan 2020 released by the Centre. Indore has been adjudged the TN govt forms 12-member panel to cleanest city for the fourth consecutive study new EIA draft year, while the cleanest megacity with Tamil Nadu government has constituted a population of more than 40 lakh is a 12-member State-level committee Ahmedabad in Gujarat. to look into all aspects of merits and Chennai’s rankings are an improvement demerits of the draft Environment from 2019 when it was ranked 61st. In Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2018, it was ranked 100th while in 2017, 2020, issued by the Union Ministry it was ranked 235th. The city has been of Environment, Forest and Climate awarded by the Ministry of Housing and Change. Urban Affairs for the ‘Best innovative The EIA is a process to evaluate the likely practices in Solid Waste Management’ environmental impacts of a proposed among megacities with a population of project or development taking into above 40 lakh. account socio-economic; cultural and human-health impacts. The Centre had
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 53 Tamilnadu Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020
Wabag Wins 2020 Global Water The plant makes Chennai the first Indian Award for Koyambedu TTRO Plant in city to reuse more than 20% of its treated Chennai wastewater freeing up more than 16 million metrics of fresh water each year.
Website launched for artists by Tamil Nadu CM The Department of Tamil Arts and Culture for the year 2018-19, an additional building has been constructed at a cost of Rs.95 Lakhs. The Coimbatore Regional Arts and Cultural Center building has been constructed at a cost of Rs.75 Lakhs Chief Minister Palanisamy inaugurated the buildings. The Chief Minister has launched a Water technology major Va Tech Wabag separate portal for artists on the website bagged the 2020 Global Water Award of the Department of Arts and Culture for its 45 million litres a day Tertiary (www.artandculture.tn.gov.in). We can Treatment Reverse Osmosis (TTRO) find information about the field of art and plant at Koyambedu in Chennai. culture. The plant bagged the distinction award Tamil Nadu women top the list of under the ‘Wastewater project of the MUDRA loan scheme year’ category. The TTRO plant in Koyambedu, Chennai According to the data provided by is one of the largest and technologically Ministry of Finance to Rajya Sabha, Tamil most advanced Water Reuse Plants in Nadu has topped the list of Pradhan India. Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) in availing The plant is designed and built by loans to women. WABAG and IDE Technologies for It was followed by West Bengal and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply & Karnataka. According to the data Sewerage Board (CMWSSB). produced by the Ministry of Finance, The plant uses a multi-stage treatment around 15 crore loans amounting to Rs scheme, including Rapid Gravity Sand 4.78 lakh crores were disbursed to women Filters, Ultrafiltration, Reverse Osmosis, borrowers since the inception of Pradhan and Ozonation and is the first reuse Mantri Mudra Yojana. facility in India to use Ozonation for As of March 31, 2020, Tamil Nadu had disinfection. availed Rs 58,227 crores. The loans
54 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Tamilnadu Affairs provided by other states are as follows. ff West Bengal: Rs 55,232 crores ff Karnataka: Rs 47,714 crores ff Bihar: Rs 44,879 ff Maharashtra: Rs 42,000 crores ff All the above states have received 52% of MUDRA loans for women. The loans were availed to activities allied to agriculture, services, trading, processing, manufacturing, etc. Of the total number of loans provided under MUDRA scheme, 70% of borrowers were women.
Cuddalore Port Palaniswami announced cargo operations would soon commence from the Cuddalore port, which is being upgraded at a cost of Rs 135 crore.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 55